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.   

Hey! Thanks for that

A time to give thanks...

It's November and you know what that means...
Yes, turkey legs  and pumpkin pie (although my personal highlight is the stuffing). It also means that people everywhere are giving thanks for the wondrous gifts they have in their life and I'm no
different.
I appreciate the gift I have of a wonderful family, that we all have reasonably good health and
enough money to scrape together a 6,000 calorie meal on this special November day.
But I am honestly thankful for most of those things every day.
I am also thankful for a few other things I might overlook the rest of the year.


I am thankful for 50 degree days in November that lend themselves to hanging Christmas lights without gloves, or hand warmers, or even jackets.

I am thankful for Christmas cards that I still make out and mail so there continues to be one time a year I can acknowledge and hear from people, other than on Facebook, that I never get around to calling and telling I miss otherwise.

I am extremely thankful for our dual control electric blanket. (However, Kirk needs to turn his side down because I'm confused whether I'm just getting too warm under the covers or if I'm actually experiencing the hot flashes I've been on the lookout for).

I am thankful for my relentless personal trainer, Miller (not like the. beer). Our Springer Spaniel with- not-so-much-spring who looks at me every day and says, "Let's do this! You're no wimp!" when it's time to go for our morning walk.

I am ever so thankful for hot coffee in the mornings and hot toddies in the evenings. (OK...maybe not (or maybe) every single night but the option for any number of delicious concoctions is there if I desire one.)

 I am thankful for the gift of hair coloring and a stylist that does it just right, and the bounty of creams and lotions and ointments that lend themselves to a 35 minute routine every night before I get into bed so I can appear to be six months younger than I really am. (Okay, I mostly cheat and really take about four minutes. Okay, sometimes I might use bar soap and a quick rinse.) But I'm thankful I have all those products for when I feel particularly tired or haggard looking.

I am thankful for awesome friends from all of the areas of our life: hockey parents who have shared all those trips out of town and weekend tournaments over the years; childhood friends who know us better than anyone and share the memories of bad home perms and that painful journey through puberty; and those that have come from surprising areas like the places we've  worked and parents of our kids' friends.

I am thankful for small sized feet because I often get to buy my shoes from the girls department at most stores and those darned little pipsqueaks are pretty stylish. (Size 6 women  = size 4 girls).

I am thankful for a family that knows our holidays have to be flexible and don't even question it.
I have always appreciated my children's go-with-the-flow attitude about this.
There are lots of homes where people's jobs mean their turkey is ate at creative times.
(Thank you hospital workers, law enforcement, those that will be there working next to my husband and others that do this all the time). For 25 years Kirk's job, and especially in the earlier years when I worked in radio, has meant our kids have enjoyed some very non-traditional holidayrs. Turkey dinner this year? Not too bad ... on the right day even - just no later than noon.
But my kids will all be home. They're following dad to work a couple of hours later so they can scoop up some bargains. They don't mind crowds and we've created thrifty people.
And I still get to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

I am thankful that this has finally been a year with no bad news.
Kirk and I took a couple of fun trips away together,
Kayla was able to find a job in her major after college,
Kirstin and Ben's family is growing,
and Kyle is enjoying his last year of high school. It is a wonderful life.

Oh yeah, I am ever so thankful for the big things ... and the little things.

A month of words

I am reading more than ever lately.
I think it's the fall weather and the comfort of hunkering down long under a light throw or heavier blanket, depending on the temperature, and the time indoors that lends itself to enjoying a good yard in it's entirety: a beginning and a middle and an end.

Not that I haven't managed to do a little seasonal leaf blowing and a few visits to mom and dad's place to see my brother's family and my nieces. We've followed Kyle's fall hockey team around to weekends in Moorhead, Roseau, and the grands: Grand Rapids and Grand Forks. Lucky for me Kirk isn't a fan of my driving and would rather sit in that seat so I can read on our travels as well. He enjoys a good story himself but enjoys sports on television more so when we've been traveling up and down the roads of northern Minnesota I've been reading 'Gone Girl' to him. (The second time for me after devouring it for book club and suggesting I share it with him.)
The weather men and ladies talk about drizzle, and cooler temps and the possibility even of some light snow in the coming days.
Deer hunting starts in a week.
Next week we turn our clocks back.
It's on to the icky roads and bundling up before we step onto the porch time of year.
But that's OK.
Because for all of the books I've read lately (and I'm in the middle of three right now) there are so many more I'm looking forward to digging into in the coming weeks.

Reality television is a fine dabble but up against an interesting story it's the lesser of the two desires.
So enjoy your fall.
Make a 'must read' list.
Either light the fire or flick the switch to the fire place
And settle back.

FYI:  Books I'm currently reading include:  Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Room for Improvement by Stacey Ballis, and When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald. Kind of lighter reads which is probably why I've been able to flip back and forth between all three. Last night I finished "Let's Pretend this Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson for next week's book club discussion. I laughed out loud more than once.

If you have any suggestions for future reads I'd love to hear them!