Ready for July and a Redesign

Soon this blog will look different.
I am working on a redesign for the blog and a more concrete tie-in with my  website.
A one-stop shop for everyone who wants to catch up with what's going in, find out what I'm working on, and conversations about good reads.
At least that's the hope.
In the meantime here are a few brief updates:

Summer is sadly moving fast. Already it is July and I was in a store the other day where the employees were putting out notebooks and backpacks. It's too much already.

I'm currently reading The Girl on the Train. I'm enjoying it although I'm about half way through and I think I have figured out the ending. I'll have to let you know if I'm right but there are still lots of pages left and I'm sure all kinds of developments will still come that will make me change my mind. That's what good books do.

Summer has been spent so far doing a few things with our kids: A Twins game, two days of a garage sale and a movie outing this afternoon. Audrey and Lucy (the grands) keep us hopping and laughing at all of the things they are figuring out and learning how to do. They make us laugh every single day.

We hit up one of the big music festivals so far with some friends and that turned out to be a great weekend.. Country music isn't Kirk's favorite type of music but he was a good sport and we had a good time. 

We spend lots of time with my father-in-law and Kirk made some voluntary changes in his job this past winter that we're still getting used to.

 I'm always excited to get writing assignments and I have a few more of those on tap.
I like what I do because I get to learn all kinds of things and meet wonderful people that I might not get a chance to otherwise. I just wrote a wonderful piece about a lady named Crystal Clancy for Central Minnesota Women. She shared her experience with postpartum depression and touched my heart. I'm glad to be able to share her story so that others can see that they are not alone.
I also just finished an article for Her Voice that will come out in a few weeks on a local 14-year-old jiu-jitsu student who has succeeded at the national level. What an inspiration she is for other young girls.I was so impressed by her confidence and how humble she remains for someone her age.
It was a treat to meet both of these gals. I hope people enjoy both of these stories.
I have some other pieces coming up as well in various periodicals and some things that are assigned for the near future and even some for the winter already.
There are also a few personal projects I've finished that I'm going to try to hit publishers with as well this fall.

The Quillmasters writer's group is up and running once again at the Jessie F Hallet Memorial Library in Crosby. We meet the third Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. Please join us if you dabble in writing at all or aspire to start your own career or hobby in front of the keyboard.We are looking to assemble a lively and inspirational group of writers.

My friend, Cathi, and I have taken some awesome classes held over in Staples that were offered by the Five Wings Art Council. There is a break over the summer but they will resume in September but they are targeted for artists of all kinds, including writers, and we have found them to be very informative. I've used all kinds of the information from them already. It has been wonderful getting to know other people from the area that are so talented and learn more about the arts that they are passionate about. The classes cover a variety of useful topics so please look them up on their website if you are interested.

Keep an eye out for my own updated Website and blog. I hope to have both up and running for real  before fall but for now I will continue to update this one more regularly in this present format. 

Enjoy summer!  Read good books! (I welcome suggestions if you read something yourself that you're excited about.) I will let you know what I'm reading next. I have three possibilities sitting next to me on the desk.
Happy July.

Oh happy day

It's May. Beautiful, wonderful, sun-shiny May. And I'll take it.
Rain this week? I'll take that too.

What a wonderful ointment spring can be to the soul.

Made our first trek to Boy River last weekend for the year too - which felt wonderful also.
Oh, and this happened....

I have a feeling it will happen again.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Fa! La! La! and Ho! Ho! Ho! – Egg Nog,.. Lefsa… Mistletoe.

Tis’ the season for holiday cheer.  The presents are wrapped and the kids are all here!!

It’s a busy time of the year, these few months.  Everything seems to happen at once.

The Vikings are stinking. There’s some hope for the Wild –  The carols sound pretty and the weather’s been mild.

Procrastination hit me hard this year.  Christmas seemed far off - And then Bam! It was here.

I still haven’t baked and I’m only now writing… This letter of bountiful, Christmas glad tidings.

Kyle came home in the middle of May – And worked for the city all summer, each day.

He went back in the fall to electrician school.  He likes it, he says, and the classes are cool.

He’s getting hours on break and he’s making some green. And seeing Cierra every chance in between.

Kirstin and Ben are buried in bins – They just bought a house and are still moving in.

It’s here in Baxter not too far of a jog - to the new home of the couple, two kids and their dog.

She works at our hospital as an RN- The ambulance makes a great gig for Ben.

Lucy arrived here the tail end of May - She’s learning to do some thing new every day.

She’s babbling and sitting and tasting new chow. She’s getting more fun every day for us now.

And Audrey – oh Audrey! She’s a crazy, sweet girl. She has added such joy and new fun to our world.

She talks up a storm and climbs like a pro. Every day we’re surprised at the new things she knows.

Kayla is still a big city girl. She works down in Eagan and her free time’s a whirl.

She plays hockey and softball for something to do. And this year she added something else new.

She hits the lanes each week for a night – of some rad bowling action and her game is real tight.

We all get excited when she comes home again. She likes her job and she has lots of friends.    

For the Fourth of July, Kirk and I took a pass. Booked a trip with some friends and traveled First Class.

“This is the way to fly!”  I exclaimed…and then vowed to have a few drinks on the plane.

A sip in the air at 6 a.m. sounded fine!  I had one, then another, and then mmmmaybe some wine.

I was enjoying the flight – as well as the perks… Until, a Mimosa, landed all over Kirk.

So it no longer matters what method I fly. Kirk says all of my travels, henceforth, will be dry.

We went to Key West with our friends and their son, we checked out the sights and had six days of fun.

We rented a house that sat right on the blue; with a pool and a tiki bar, and one breathtaking view.

I stay busy each day and sit at a screen, writing copy on-line and for magazines.

I interview people and share what they say; And keep Audrey and Lucy, too, on some days.

This fall Kirk took care of a bum right-side shoulder –Just one more sign that we’re both getting older.

He stepped down at his job to slow down the pace. And take a breather from the crazy, rat race.

More time for hunting for fishing and friends; More time for grandkids and some down time again.

That’s it in a nutshell, that’s all that we know. And who cares if there’s any Christmas snow?

I’ll still hum with carols and open some gifts, and live in the moment and all of this bliss:

Kids that are here, and babies that coo - and everything we have been able to do.

May your Christmas be jolly and your hearts filled with glee. And a Happy New Year for 2015!!

Love, Sheila and Kirk

Mulling over my options

Since I work from home people often wonder what I do all day. Which is crazy because I "work" from home.
And so this time of year assorted family members also wonder why groceries aren't bought, the Christmas shopping list isn't completed, said gifts from the list aren't wrapped, the stocking stuffers aren't gathered and ready to stuff into stockings and why the house isn't immaculate at the end of every day (well that last one is just me).
And I don't really have an answer for any of that other than writing takes a lot of time and so does everything else.
I read a quote recently that said "Being a writer is like having homework every single day for the rest of your life." But explain that to anyone else who doesn't do it.
So here I am today teetering back and forth between writing the Christmas letter my husband asked whether or not was finished or working on other writing that I actually have to complete at an agreed time in exchange for a paycheck.
Or, you know... wiling away a little time on Facebook and Pintrest and then leaving the house to actually work on some more of that shopping that has to be done.
What would Erma or Jen do? (Bombeck and Lancaster that is. Oh, never mind, I think I know what Jen would do. I'm already warming up the car.)
But, keep an eye out for that Christmas letter. 

Falling

I've never really thought much about fall before
But this year for some reason I have realized it might be my favorite season of them all.
I've long been a lover of spring in fact.
Because I hate the winter so much spring has always been a welcome end to snowy roads and months of captivity indoors.
This year I have a long list of books I am ready to read and a notebook full of story ideas that need to get on paper. And Netflix, wonderful Netflix, means I might not ever have to leave the house other than for work outings. This is going to be great.
Besides, fall also signals the end of the water season in Minnesota. Since water isn't a place I long to be it's nice when everyone else comes in off of it and joins me on shore also.
Besides, by the time we're getting rid of the last of the Christmas wrappings everyone will be heading back onto the lakes anyway - this time in cars and trucks and on ATVs and snowmobiles to try their hand at winter fishing.
That's Minnesota.

Another perk of fall, besides the pop of color that surrounds this time of year, is Halloween.
Because it's all so suspenseful and thrilling.
Besides the costumes and the fun involved it's always a crap shoot to see how the weather might be. And no matter what the forecast calls for you'll never know how it might really be until 24 hours before. 
October 31st will either signify the beginning of a long, snowy winter and the neighborhood children will come calling in heavy jackets and mittens or it could be warm enough to let them shred the jackets all together and go  door to door in costumes alone.
Every year is different.

Changes are also coming to our home this year as well. Big things a little at a time.
I will fill you in very soon and after that you will notice my updates coming a lot faster as we adjust to a new pace of life.
Fall. Beautiful fall.
 

A gasp a gulp and a grimace

The older I get the more I realize what a wuss I am about certain things.
I'm not a great flier so for decades I just avoided doing it. 
But now I realize that I love a good get-away and I hop on a plane when the situation calls for it. (A good stiff drink before take-off  helps.)

And I still hate the water. That has never changed.

Last week we spent the week in the Florida Keys. (More about that in a separate post soon.) Apparently I slept during the Florida part of geography at Cherry High School because I envisioned Key West being in the neighborhood of Miami. (You know, actually connected to the rest of the United States.) SO not true.
The rest of you might know this but it turns out those are seriously surrounded by water. This gave me something to mull over for months before the trip once I was enlightened as to their true location.
 
Then two of my deepest fears were seriously combined when my husband, who sat next to the window of the airplane (I....just....couldn't)  kept commenting on the ocean we were flying over for miles and miles and miles and miles.

While we were in the Keys the opportunity arose for us to take a drive during the sunrise to Key Largo. (Whaaaaat?!?!?! Key Largo?? Shut the front door! )

But then I remembered how proud those locals are about there being only one road from Miami to Key West and we were renting a property somewhere in the middle of it. And I had already heard about the one, huge, unthinkable obstacle that stood between me and Key Largo.
After thinking over all of the pros and cons, including mapping out the one-and-only route to get there, I knew I could never forgive myself if everyone else drove to Key Largo and I stayed at the rental.

So we set our alarms for 5:30 in the morning, and I went.
Gulp!   OVER THIS!

  

For seven miles.

Twice.
Once there and once back.

Remember how you held your breath when you were little to get through tunnels?
Turns out that works if you do it off and on for bridges that extend over miles of deep water too.
And I can still barely look at this picture.
But I have been to Key Largo.

What are some of your fears?  Have you faced any lately? What worked to get you through it? (Snakes, even harmless ones, is another of mine and I have no plans to face that one. )

The good, the bad, and the super ugly

Sometimes, when you live in Minnesota you can just be going along with a push mower, doing your husband a favor, and you'll spot one of these. 

 

Then you may, or may not, throw in the towel and go back into the house and send him a text on your cell phone that says, "Bring home whatever you have to from work tonight to rid the world of this." 

And since he knows you're probably serious, he does.

The real crying shame is the tree looked like this. Except for that. Minnesota is not for wussies.

May is only days away

So now that April is almost over, how come not that much has changed?
The word 'snow flurries' is still in the last forecast I heard. I still can't move the plants that I started indoors to the outdoors. And they're still playing hockey on television every night.
It's almost like it's still February.
Only it's not.
We played basketball on the driveway last weekend.
We sat in lawn chairs in shorts in the sunshine.
And I moved my sweaters into the spare bedroom and pulled out my tank tops.
It's almost like February.
Only not.
It's so much better.

'Tons of Fun' is turning one!!!

She is one. Little A is one today. Time flies so very, very fast. :0)  We couldn't love her more.

A Very Merry Christmas

                                                          

  Merry Christmas to you and Season’s Good Cheer!

Glad Holiday Tidings and Happy New Year!

      Hope your gifts are all wrapped - Your yule log ignited.

That each Christmas carole – finds you simply delighted.

       This year just flew by as most of them do –

(The older we get- this is even more true).

       The theme for this greeting is to break from the stressing –

 and just take a moment to count a few blessings.

      Kayla moved twice and Kirk audibly groaned.

And now Prior Lake is where she’s calling home.

      That BS in Science, is serving her well.

What she does at her work - we can’t fathom (or spell).

      She plays hockey each week and frolics at night.

 She’s still weeding out wrongs - to find her Mr. Right.

      On Halloween, at a party for work, she thought,

“There’ll be tons of Mileys! I’m NOT gonna Twerk.”

      She packed up some clothes on a trip here back home,

and then won the contest - as a pretty good gnome.

      Kirstin graduated, from the college in May –

She’s an RN now and sees patients each day.

      Ben is in the health care field, too –

Working full-time on the ambulance crew.

      In February their family grew bigger by one -

when Audrey arrived (and oh! Is she fun!).

      A few teeth are coming and she’s standing a while.

She plays and she talks and she’s loaded with smiles.

      We just got the news that they’re having another –

In June Audrey will get a sister or brother.

      At the end of last year, they gave Kyle a hat –

with a tassel, and gown (We photographed that!).

      We had a party with cake, and had folks for some chow.

 He’s taking classes at BSU now.

      He’ll learn to balance the fun and the tests.

 It’s his first finals season - we hope for the best. :0) 

      After 16 years of watching hockey and such –

it feels pretty darned weird we’re not running so much.

      Kirk survived this year’s Thanksgiving sale. '

The crowd for the most part behaved pretty well.

      They bought gadgets, and toys and games and TVs.

The kids and I went (cuz it’s somethin’ to see).

      Besides without Kirk, we agreed, “Let’s feast later.”  

On the weekend we chowed on our turkey and taters. 

      He and a friend (who does the same job)  - 

will ice fish after Christmas to forget all those mobs.

      They’re already planning the trip-it’s locked in.   

 (And I think they’ll be packing a little Captain). 

      Lots of places still publish the things that I write.

 I do it from home – I write some days, some nights.

       I do stories and features, some columns, a blog.

This Christmas letter I do yearly, with nog.

     

 I spend time with Audrey when they need a hand. 

Kirk and I both love to see her, whenever we can.

      It’s a delight to see our crew grow a bit…

we have room for lots more and look forward to it.

      Our biggest blessing, this year we both know -

 Is we’re lucky to have our kids all pretty close.

      It looks like at Christmas we should all be together –

 Just crossing my fingers for no winter weather.   

      I’m so blessed to be a mom, grandma and wife;

I turned 50 this year, it’s a pretty great life.

     There are many blessings to count this time of year.

 I hope that you, too, have the ones you love near.

     I hope your fruit cake is fresh and your ham is delicious,

that you realize each one of your holiday wishes.

     That your ribbons and wrapping, match each other fine –

 And that Christmas is truly- a magical time.

      Love,    Sheila and  Kirk

Twists and turns

It has been an eventful summer and fall to say the least at our house.

In a twist...
Kirk was encouraged by his doctor to take eight weeks off of work and concentrate on getting his blood sugar back in check.
His Type 2 diabetes was pretty out of control about July and he just wasn't feeling well. His numbers were skyrocketing, even with medicine, and a newer diagnosis of high blood pressure was thrown into the mix and one medication leads to two, which leads to three and ....  they just decided to slam on the brakes and work on getting things back in check.
Well the eight weeks flew by just like we knew they would and he started back to work this past Monday. Things are still not where they should be but, of course, it's a marathon and not a sprint. He is also going to work on the sleep apnea they told him he had a while back. We've made a lot of changes and there will be more to come.

In a turn... Kyle has left.
Oh, he's not far. Bemidji is only an hour and a half away but after 25 years of kids running around the house with noise and friends and piles of things hither and yon it just seems weird.

About the time Kirk started his leave - Kyle started to pack.
Before we knew what was really happening it was just the two of us and the silly dog. Two people. Just like it was 27 years ago. Except now we are two people with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, five televisions, an acre and a half of a yard to mow and ... oh the silence is so loud.
Since I do all of my work and writing from home we did, however, joke that we got a little taste of what it will be like someday when we win the lottery :0) or, probably more realistically, retire. We're both still here to tell about it so I'm going to declare it somewhat of a success by George.  

Besides,
In another turn ...While Kirk was filling out paperwork to take his leave and Kyle and was putting all of his sweat pants and ball caps in suitcases I turned 50 years old.  Just 50. Practically a baby.
I have all kinds of time before retirement.

Meeting Jen

It probably wasn't nearly as big a day for her.

But for me?

It kinda rocked.

 

My family, all of the members of my book club, most of my close circle of friends, a few people on the street and a handful of other acquaintances have all heard me mention over the past few years that Jen Lancaster is one of my favorite writers.

 And now I've met her.

 

 

 

 

She was just as excited to meet me. (Don't you think she looks excited?)

 

I read a lot of different things by a lot of different writers. Sometimes I read dark and heavy things and some of it is for fun. With Jen, it's for fun. I like her first person, non-fiction stuff about making lots of money, losing all of her money, and then making it big as a writer.

And I like her newer foray into fiction, too. 

She's got a good sense of humor and a lot of her stories are silly but she came to my attention when I needed some light reads. Both of my parents were ill and Jen's take on life was a great diversion while I sat in hospital waiting rooms and dialysis clinics. When I read her first book and found that it was a guilty, but easy way to pass the time I looked for another, then another, then another.

Now that I've read them all I continue to patiently wait for her next book to come out each year.

 

I've seen her appearances on several talk shows.

I've seen the videos of all of her pets on You Tube.

I guess I've read almost every word Jen Lancaster has ever written, too. (I'm kind of a stalker). I read her blog. I follow her on Twitter. (But I would never, ever, go to her house - because she hates that.)

Several times I have said if she ever came to the Twin Cities I was going to see her.  

That worked out a couple of weeks ago when she visited the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Edina.

 

The internet said we would have to get armbands to get in, which they started passing out at 9 a.m. Making the jaunt in the afternoon from Brainerd meant we wouldn't arrive in Edina until 5. I was a little bit nervous but a couple of calls to the bookstore during the day left us thinking we'd still make it in. (But it also meant skipping the decent sit-down dinner with a before book-signing toddy we'd been planning on too.) It also meant sitting in metal folding chairs for over an hour in front of a row of very loud, excitable, noisy Jen fans that lived close enough to the book-signing to have had a before book-signing toddy (possibly several).

 

The crowd was big for Jen's appearance. It was also 99.99999999999 percent female. (One faithful awesome young father bopped in a couple of times to talk to his wife, who was waiting with the rest of us for Jen, but he whispered to her briefly and then quickly disappeared.)  

 

Most of the women were enthusiastic followers. Some of the them wore pearls (which I expected because, well, Jen lovers know Jen loves her pearls.)

Most of the women also toted one or more of her books because Jen vowed to stay until every one was signed. I (might) have had seven. 

My daughters are awesome people and each took a couple of my books up for me to be signed. In fact they are so awesome one drove me down and the other missed her softball game so she could meet us there and I could have my big night. 

 

They have listened to me quote, refer, and comment on Jen Lancaster for years.

They might roll their eyes at me but they respect my respect for her.  (Besides there's a little something called 'Harry Potter' in their lives that I just know would warrant a visit to see J.K. Rowling if there were ever a possibility.)

 

 

                                           (See. See their support and respect?)

 

I gotta say, Jen's book reading was fun!

Even my mocking daughters enjoyed her. 

The questions she took from the audience were answered with the humor I was hoping for. Not surprisingly the first question was from a lady there with some girlfriends who wanted to know if Jen would like to have a drink with them after the book signing. Because the thing about Jen and her books is ... you really do feel like you kind of know her.

She was polite when she declined looking at the crowd and predicting she might be there awhile.  

Everyone laughed through her presentation on trying to live for a year like Martha Stewart. Mostly because it was a crowd that could relate to the silly stories she shared about her life with her husband, her pets, and her everyday trials. (Not legal trials - her struggles with the aforementioned husband and pets).

 

Ah! Good ole' Jen.

She also left us thinking that she might come back to the cities again soon.

I hope so.

I forgot to get one of my books signed.  

 

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

 





Our Little Secret

I do not get in a car and drive to an office everyday.
I do not have a nifty phone connection for calls to get transferred to from a talented, efficient office assistant.
I don't get performance reviews.
I rarely get raises.
And I don't have co-workers to make small talk with or the opportunity to partake in water cooler conversation.

I generally send everyone else in the family off to start their day, then I close the door, throw in a load of laundry and move into the den, alone, to do what I do.
I know, I know, What DO I do all day?
I have heard that one before.

I check my e-mail repeatedly throughout the day. I make calls, I set up interviews. (I could kind of, sort of, use that talented, efficient assistant). I'm not gonna lie - sometimes I spend hours on the Internet, but not on Face book or online games. I'm usually backing up information, looking for sources, new topics to write about and doing research.
Some days I feel like I didn't accomplish much of anything. Some days I have several "Booya" moments when I make a dicey deadline or get positive feedback from sources, editors and readers.

These ladies know what I do all day.
Because they do it too.
Sigh! They are also wonderful writers. All different kinds of writers that write about all different kinds of things.
It's a wonderful little group of talented area women that I imagine get asked all the time what they do all day too. Mostly, it's our awesome little secret.

What's luck got to do with it?

It's a real thing.
People argue with me about that, but if you know us long enough, even you'll suspect I know what I'm talking about.  
It's The Curse of the Helmbergers.

No, Not life in general because we are extremely blessed.

But in lotteries, drawings, games of chance and even, sadly, your basic Bingo outting.
Kirk was one of TWO people left in a pool to win a pretty cool prize recently and, of course, the other guy went home with it.
Fifty-fifty are pretty good odd and we didn't even hold our breath. Powerball? Why bother.

As sure as I am that we'll never win anything of note I also suspect I have the power to rub my crummy luck off on others.
We're at the waning end of another hockey season and I got so wrapped up into the 'good luck,'  'bad luck' thing that my pre-game ritual became a little rediculous (even by my standards). Everyone knows hockey players/coaches/fans are a notoriously superstitious lot.
Shave/don't shave, dye their hair, don't dye their hair, etc. etc.

I got so out of control this season that the coat I wore, the nail polish I applied, my earrings and even my ever-present gray turtleneck (fellow parents - it's okay - I own three) were mainstays just to keep that tempo of a good season rolling. And once I hit on a routine that worked we went gangbusters... winning, winning, winning... even teams we usually don't we beat. 
Then we lost. It was bound to happen but it still stinks and I haven't said anything to many people but I know it's my fault.

I wore the gray turtleneck.
I wore the silver hoop earrings.
I had the Steady Reddy shade of nail polish on.
I even wore the old black coat even though I have a newer, nicer, warmer one in my closet.

But I've lost my bracelet.
And it had to be the bracelet.
It was a hockey themed charm bracelet my sister-in-law gave me at Christmas.
I tried to find it.
Desperately.
I went back and looked at the stores I shopped at that day.
I called the place I met parents at before the game.
I have all but ripped up the carpeting up in my car.
But it's gone.

And so I apologize to the boys on the Warrior hockey team. And their parents. And the other fans in the stands.
I probably jinxed you.

About that Helmberger jinx myth.....Now do you believe me?!

Well, What Do Ya Know....It's a Ho! Ho! Ho!

 

HO! HO! HO! And Mistletoe – Children with their eyes aglow
Seeing Santa everywhere  – “Wait!! He’s here! How come he’s there?”
Bell ringers greet us wherever we go – And just this week…all kinds of snow.
The gifts are hidden so the snoopers around … Can look and look - and they still won’t be found.
The ribbons and wrappings all look just right. The bows are tied, each one perfectly tight.
I’ve finished these things, By George I’m ‘bout done! I’ll rejoice with a toddy (…and a small splash of rum?)
Maybe some cider, a cookie or two – I’ll plug in the tree and I’ll sing a few yules.
You? You settle in and I’ll update you all – From the first of this year straight on through to this fall.

 Kayla finished college and filled out some apps. Got a job and apartment and she’s loving that.

She’s living in Eagan, when the work day is done – it sounds like she manages to fit in some fun.
Ball games and hot spots, she’s found a few – this winter she’s playing lots of hockey there, too.
Kirstin and Ben have been married two years. They live south of town a few miles, but near.
They’ll be a mommy and daddy in 10 weeks or so – A baby girl’s coming (that we can’t wait to hold!!).
They’re thinking of names and getting things set – checking off what they have and the things they need yet.
Kyle,  Oh! Kyle, the wee-ist of all – Is headed to college somewhere in the fall.
We think it’s Bemidji – he’s locked that one in. But he’s full of surprises – we expect that with him.  
The Neon died this year, the tow truck was called – And Kyle got a little Ford truck in the fall.
It’s as old as he is, and he thinks that’s a kick – He’s lovin’ the fact that he’s driving a stick.
 It’s our last 
hockey season – So I’m starting to lobby – for Kirk and I to find a new hobby.
“Bowling!” I said, “Let’s get shirts! Let’s buy shoes! … Won’t that be fun? And who cares if we lose?”
So far he says, “Nah,” it’s not something he’ll do – but I have a whole year to find us something new.

 This year we traveled a couple of times. One trip was for Kirk, the other was mine.

Talladega’s race track was crazy and fun. Enjoyed every second (can’t recall, though, who won.) 
It was Cinco de Mayo and we noted that – at a place decorated with Mexican hats.
Then back home at B-Dubs with those friends for a beer–Someone said “Let’s go to New York, too, this year.”
I looked over at Kirk and he didn’t say, “No,” so I thought…. “Whoooop!! Holy Crap!!  Looks like it’s a go!”
We traveled on planes and buses and subs - and ate fare that was local, raved-about grub.
My friend and I scoured each city street- for somebody famous that we might meet.
We walked and walked and then walked some more – and stopped quick inside the Kardashian store.
Our husbands just snickered - not that impressed. (I think the guard frowned when I just touched a dress.)
“This ain’t no Kohl’s,” I thought to myself, laying a shirt for three hundo back up on the shelf.
Times Square, (where we stayed) hummed every minute. (I love visiting there but could never live in it.)
With some other friends, too, we took R&R - at a Duluth B&B - so this trip wasn’t far.
Walked the length of the boardwalk on a nice August day, then listened a while to blues artists play.
Spent a week in Boy River and some weekend nights. The boys like to hunt and fish when they bite.

Another election has come and then gone. You can argue all day who is right, who is wrong.

Politics Schmolitics some you lose, some you win.  In another four years we’ll do it again.
Ads were endorsed. Facebook friends were un-friended. (I was kind of relieved when all of it ended.)

So, this house seems too big with two people at night – Five beds and four baths, it doesn’t seem right. 

Three floors (and in truth we use mostly two rooms). So, we might do a little downsizing here soon.
2013 will bring us babies and grads – There’s an exciting year ahead to be had.

So Merry Christmas! May your dreams all come true. 
May your season be joyous- whatever you do.
May your travels end safely - your bulbs each one light. 
May 2013 treat you wonderfully right.