Sat 31 Mar

Michael and Taylor are coming for ham dinner and she has to be to work by noon, so I need to get cracking!

Fri 30 Mar

Potluck was good last night, but I ate too much. I don't usually do that but there were things I liked and I filled and emptied my plate. It was warm in church and I had to sit once at the beginning when I felt overwhelmed. As usual, mostly just Newman people went forward for feet washing. Food: 7:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:15 pm 5 Ritz crackers w/tuna salad, med banana 5:50 pm 4 oz broiled steelhead, 1/2 large baked sweet potato w/butter, 1 c steamed broccoli Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 2:40-3:00 pm Walk to church 4:20-4:35 pm Walk home

Thurs 29 Mar

Had a nice hike yesterday to the bottom of the big hill at Rib. Nice weather and considerably less ice, though some mud. Hills were a little slippery with mud, so taking the big hill would likely not have been a good idea. It didn't require the extra energy to slog through ice and snow as it did last week. Food: 7:15 am Hot cross bun, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:50 am 2 eggs, 1/4 c chopped shiitake mushroom, 1/4 c chopped sweet pepper, 2 tbl shredded fancy cheddar Exercise: 8:00-9:20 am Walk w/Kathy Mead loop 9:20-10:20 am Walk to Lincoln Center/library

Wed 28 Mar

Was thinking about the old days of Newman's Easter Vigil this morning, when Bob Kase and a group of brass accompanied, the old Easter season Mass parts that I loved would be debuted for the year, the wonderful little nun would intone the Genesis reading like a grandma reading us a story, Chuck and John would do Horse and Chariot with full voices. Those were the days. Food: 7:50 am Hot cross bun, 104 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 70 g Italian bread, 35 g cheddar 8:15 pm Chili w/sour cream & cheese, slice Italian bread w/butter Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 5:15-7:00 pm Hiking Rib

Tues 27 Mar

Spring break for schools so no tutoring today. Temps should reach mid-40s with sunshine promised in the afternoon, though wind appears to be in the forecast again as well. Nothing on my calendar for today, so maybe I should try to be a little productive and clean house or something. Yesterday felt like it disappeared with spending over three hours at "lunch" with Bill Pyke, Linda Weitz, and Elaine Wrone. We had an excellent time visiting together and didn't leave TSH until after 3 pm. Resurrected one of my old exercise videos. I realized that I have a treasure house of old fitness videos that I need to rediscover as they help work a variety of different muscles and add variety to my workouts. Food: 7:40 am Chocolate pecan pinwheel pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:35 pm 65 g Italian bread, 44 g cheddar cheese Exercise: 9:15-10:15 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 26 Mar

Looking forward to having lunch today with Pyke, Linda Weitz, and Elaine Wrone at Tokyo Steak House. Bill set it up. We should have a good time catching up in a smaller group than Linda's retirement party allowed. Looking at the forecast, Wed is supposed to reach 56° and sunny. Hopefully we can hike that day before the Tritium go-round. Food: 7:40 am Cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 25 Mar

Nice little trip to Madison yesterday, managed to get all our errands run and still make it in time for dinner reservations. We should be ready now to cook for Easter and fill Easter baskets, though I may need a couple more things for Laura's in two weeks. Up early this morning as I have to cantor at 8 am Palm Sunday Mass. Food: 6:25 am Cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 7:10-7:30 am Walk to church 9:25-9:45 am Walk home

Sat 24 Mar

Planning a drive down to Madison today to shop for Easter food and any additional Easter basket items. We have dinner reservations at 5 at Lombardino's. If we eat lunch at home, we only need to eat one meal out to reduce expenses.

Fri 23 Mar

Hiked at Rib last night and ate at the Dane for the first time this year (I believe). We will not eat there regularly every time we hike as we have in the past, but we will occasionally treat ourselves. Hiking is tough this time of year when the trails are covered in several inches of soft and deteriorating ice. It's more of a slog than a comfortable pace. We don't make it even to the base of the big hill before we tire, but we get about an hour and fifteen minutes in. I'm sure our endurance will build as we continue weekly hikes and it will get easier as the ice melts as well. Food: 7:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:00 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, 35 g cheddar cheese, med tomato 7:15 pm Tuna casserole, 8 oz hard cider Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 5:50-6:40 pm Pilates mat

Thurs 22 Mar

Again it seems the weeks just march by and I can't keep up. Next week is already Easter and the start of April. I am looking forward to summer hikes and to the Viking trip, but it seems to come faster than I can imagine. Food: 7:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:20 am 1 slice Omega 3 bread, 1 tbl peanut butter, 1 tbl raspberry jam 12:50 pm 6 pfeffernusse cookies Exercise: 8:00-9:25 am Walk w/Kathy Schmeeckle

Wed 21 Mar

Had a nice lunch with Heather yesterday; reminded me yet again why I'm so glad I proceeded with retirement. Many of the old frustrations with the job have just gotten progressively worse. Unreasonably greater work is expected of everyone with minimal appreciation for what they are doing. More emphasis on paperwork and putting folks in boxes to suit their poor pre-planning than on what folks actually need. People like Heather and Steve who got into this business to help folks are perpetually frustrated. Wish I could help them, but all I can do is be a sympathetic listener. Food: 7:40 am Hot cross bun, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:10 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 1 med whole tomato 1:30 pm Many mint M&Ms 5:50 pm 2 pc veggie pizza, 6 oz kombucha Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 20 Mar

Rather grey out at the moment, but the warmer temps are slowly eroding the snowbanks out front. There is hope. Having lunch with Heather today at Two Harps Pub, the former Middletown Grill/Rhody's. Looking forward to catching up with her. Food: 7:50 am Apricot danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Hamburger w/swiss & fried onions, diet Coke 6:15 pm Salmon filet, 1/2 baked sweet potato w/butter, 2/3 c asparagus Exercise: 10:30-10:40 am Walk to Jefferson 11:45-11:55 am Walk home 11:55-12:00 pm Walk to Two Harps 1:10-1:15 pm Walk home

Mon 19 Mar

Nice weekend in Mayville, beautiful hotel room, nice dinner on Saturday and brunch on Sunday. Walk in Horicon for an hour or so on Saturday afternoon before Mass. Overall very pleasant. Choir went well yesterday with the addition of two competent sopranos to round out our section. Emily Smith is one of them; so nice to sing with her again. Food: 7:45 am Apricot danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 1:35 pm Mushroom wild rice soup Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump Class

Sat 17 Mar

Had a nice birthday celebration for Bob at Watchman's Gone. His original choice of Matsu Ya was closed for the owner's travel to Taiwan, and the second choice was great. Andy gave us the beer with his compliments, and Bob and I couldn't have meat due to Lenten Friday, but we thoroughly enjoyed the walnut patty melts. Michael and Taylor had the Guiness beef roast sandwiches and raved about them, and we all had colcannon on the side which was buttery and delicious. We came back to the house for chocolate Xtra special cake with Anna Mae's mocha brandy frosting, and Michael and Taylor gave him a lovely box of goodies with dried mango, 4 different bottles of kombucha and other snacks for when he watches movies. Food: 9:45 am Cherry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 15 Mar

The Ides of March have arrived. All these named days in the middle of March, from Pi day through St. Patrick's Day, though Bob's birthday is only named in our family. Makes March somewhat self-important that its dates need their own identities. Looking forward to going to the Audubon Inn on Saturday. Weather should be decent for hiking in Horicon. We got in a partial Rib hike, the first of the after-work hiking season for this year, yesterday evening. Food: 7:20 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 pork shanks, 1/2 c fried potato coins, banana cream pie 6:25 pm Mushroom wild rice soup, 8 oz kombucha Exercise: 8:00-9:35 am Bukolt/cemetary loop w/Kathy 5:25-6:15 pm Pilates mat

Wed 14 Mar

Happy Pi Day! I plan to make a small banana cream pie with a boughten graham cracker crust, vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, and sliced bananas to celebrate the day. If I whip it together at lunch time, it will have time to set for supper tonight. Hopefully it will get as warm as predicted and we can hike at Rib this evening We will come home to eat leftover chicken casserole since we splurged and went out to the Two Harps Pub for Irish fare last night, using up Bob's Portage Co gift certificate. Food: 7:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm 2/3 c tuna salad, slice chocolate chip brioche bread 2:00 pm Peeps hearts, German chocolate cupcake, small piece dark chocolate 7:30 pm 5 oz kombucha, chicken broccoli casserole Exercise: 9:10-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 5:30-6:45 pm Hiking partial Rib

Tues 13 Mar

Had fun this morning thinking of all the fun places we've traveled just since I retired: Scotland, Grand Canyon/Utah parks, Riviera Maya, Ixtapa, Vermont, North Shore, Minneapolis... We are so fortunate to be able to travel and to share the joy in so doing. I feel for Linda Weitz who does not seem to have a joyful marriage that will promise good times doing things together in retirement, not even considering her husband's post-stroke disability. I hope she can find activities and pursuits that give her joy in retirement after a long life of working hard with exceptional integrity to make the lives of people with disabilities or infirmities of aging better. She deserves it. Was inspired to make a written list of all the travel, large and small, we have done since I retired and it was staggering! I don't know whether to be embarrassed or simply grateful for all the wonderful opportunities wit which we have been blessed, but I think I'll choose the latter. Food: 7:55 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:45 pm Tuna salad sandwich on a kaiser roll Exercise: 10:30-10:40 am Walk to Jefferson 11:45-11:55 am Walk home

Mon 12 Mar

Yesterday's choir practice was torture for the first part; we sang the entire Vivaldi Gloria with a YouTube accompaniment, but Carrie's computer somehow transposed everything a third higher. For awhile I was the only soprano, then she switched Kat to join me since Carrie's friend Michelle will not be able to sing with us as planned. My voice was shredded from the constant high notes. It's better today. Food: 7:55 am Apricot danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:10 pm 1/2 c 1% cottage cheese, med banana 4:30 pm 8 oz kombucha 6:35 pm Chicken broccoli pasta casserole Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 11 Mar

Totally forgot about Daylight Savings Time when I went to bed last night but thankfully my alarm clock resets automatically. I was quite surprised when I woke at what I thought was 7 am and looked next to the bed to see that it was already 8 am. Bit of a rush for shower/breakfast, but we'll be fine. Food: 8:55 am Cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 1:30 pm 2 slices Omega 3 bread, 1 large egg, 1/4 c skim milk, cinnamon, vanilla, 1 lg banana 6:25 pm 3 oz chicken breast, 1 c roasted veggies/sweet potato Exercise: 9:10-9:30 am Walk to church 11:15-11:35 am Walk home 1:50-2:00 pm Walk to St Steve's 4:05-4:15 pm Walk home

Sat 10 Mar

Sunny, pretty Saturday, albeit cold. Nothing on the agenda today except getting pastries from David. Food: 9:35 am Cherry danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm Leftover orricchete pasta w/crab 6:05 pm Pulled pork on bun, green beans Exercise: 2:40-3:50 pm Walk w/Bob on small Schmeeckle

Fri 9 Mar

Had a wonderful time at Linda Weitz' retirement party at PJ's last night. Saw Dr. Picconatto on the way in to the building and collected a hug. The highlight of the evening was that Christianah came! And Francis came toward the end of the evening to collect her, so I saw him as well. I definitely got my hug quota fulfilled last night, seeing many old friends. Spent quite a bit of time chatting with Christianah and Bill. Very refreshing evening. Food: 8:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm 2 slices thin crust veggie pizza, 131 g strawberries Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 8 Mar

Linda Weitz' retirement party is tonight; looking forward to it. Bill Pyke is picking us up so he has someone to hang with as Paddy is working today. Also looking forward to my walk with Kathy as we missed last week. Food: 7:25 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 10:20 am 2.5 oz Gerber prunes, tea 11:55 am 2 eggs, 1/4 c chopped baby bella, 1/4 c shredded Italian cheese, slice Omega 3 bread w/butter, 122 g strawberries Exercise: 8:00-9:25 am Walk w/Kathy (Mead loop)

Wed 7 Mar

Slowly falling back into normal routines. I had to dry my hair again this morning! In Mexico, after the first day I decided it was sufficiently warm that I could do without, especially since I was usually out in the wind most of the day. It was not at all uncomfortable to leave it wet, and it dried in a reasonable facsimile of neatness, but I would not be comfortable in the cold Wisconsin temperatures if I didn't dry it. Birthday lunch today at Tokyo Steak House, even though it's for a new hire aide that I don't know. It will be good to see the old crew again. Food: 7:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 6 Mar

Home again safely, thank you Lord for watching over our trip. We started out well with both of us witnessing a bright shooting star as we pulled into the Madison airport for our outgoing flight, so I took it as a sign that the Lord was watching over us and well He did. Weather was perfect with only light clouds one morning and sunshine the remainder of the time. A little minor stomach discomfort, one day for me and a couple of episodes for Bob. Beautiful walks along the beach, opportunity to watch a sister resort feed alligators and iguanas and tropical birds, reasonably good food: what more could we ask! Flew home into a blizzardy snowstorm in Mpls, but we landed safely. We had a layover of several hours anticipated, so a slight delay didn't interfere with our departure flight to Madison (which was also delayed a bit). Taylor texted photos of blowing blizzardy snow in Stevens Point and advised against driving home, so we inconvenienced our daughter by asking to come in late and utilize her spare bedroom. We didn't arrive in Madison til about 1:30 am, so she had dozed with her phone nearby and came down to let us in. We just crashed, sleeping in our travel clothes as my summery pajamas were not appropriate for March cold weather, and we took off in the morning right away as Laura had a video interview scheduled at work and was busy. Stopped at Batch for coffee and a pastry to fuel us on our way and drove home safely through on-again, off-again snow. Bob is out with the snowblower now clearing the driveway and sidewalks of several inches of accumulation. Food: 8:15 am Pecan sticky bun, coffee 11:15 am PopKorners sea salt 11:30 am 2 pc light string cheese 2:00 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, 20 g cheddar, butter 6:00 pm Veggie pizza