Fri 28 Nov

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with Michael and Taylor as hosts, and Laura and Axel also in attendance. Delicious shepherd's pie, fruit salad, glazed carrots and slightly underbaked dinner rolls. A scrumptious French 75 champagne cocktail, as well as a good pinot noir and chardonnay. Axel chose to drive back up to Eagle River in the evening, so we had the house to ourselves for getting up early this morning to head to Mpls. 6:35 am Krispy roll, Cutie, coffee

Thurs 27 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving! Should be an interesting day. Michael and Taylor are preparing the (vegan) meal at their house. Axel is planning to drive up from Madison. He initially planned to stay over, but may drive back the same day due to the weather. Remains to be seen. Daughter is driving up to arrive at M/T's around 1:30. Food: 7:55 am Raspberry turnover, Cutie, coffee

Wed 26 Nov

Unexpectedly home today due to excessive snow coming in to Ironwood yesterday afternoon through Thursday. Don't mind a bit having a free day at home. Will get laundry done and try to get the Christmas tree up and decorated if possible. Ironwood was great; did everything we wanted. Found a new restaurant in Wakefield where I actually liked his sauerkraut, and his Detroit deep dish pizza was delicious. Ate too much bakery, alas. Food: 7:55 am Maple frosted long john, Cutie, coffee

Tues 25 Nov

Today my brother Mark would have been 74. Happy Birthday, Mark! Came home a day early from Ironwood as they are expecting about 2 feet of snow starting this afternoon. We drove home in rain all the way, but temps went from 38° up to 46° so nothing froze. There was some foggy mist closer to home.

Wed 19 Nov

Ready to head up to Ironwood for a week. Decided to take our time at home this morning so I can drop off the WPR materials between 10:30-11:00 in Wausau. We will pack up food and assorted other items this morning. Suitcases are already packed. Food: 8:05 am 120 g sourdough cinnamon roll, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 18 Nov

Derm appt this morning, possibly (but unlikely) Spanish group, hair appt, and Tom Pease program tonight. Busy day getting ready for week in Ironwood starting tomorrow. Food: 7:50 am 109 g pecan sticky bun, 99 g blackberries, coffee, elderberry syrup

Mon 17 Nov

Did not sleep well last night at all. Several long periods of waking/restlessness, middle to end of the night. Fortunately did get some adequate deep sleep early and finished with about an hour of light sleep so not a total loss. OBT for the last time in the current digs this afternoon. Choir tonight. Food: 7:55 am 110 g pecan sticky bun, 102 g blackberries, coffee, elderberry syrup

Sun 16 Nov

Had a lot of fun at Music of the Masters, seeing so many friends. Very nice dinner, great entertainment, and didn't have to stay til 10 pm after all as people started leaving after the entertainment ended just before 9. I will definitely try to make that an annual event. Food: 8:00 am Honey bear, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 15 Nov

Halfway through November already - sheesh! Unseasonably warm morning to walk to the Farmer's Market for bakery, eggs, and pickled beets. Tonight I go to Music of the Masters for WPR. My cold has fully developed, so I hope it works itself through quickly. Took some elderberry syrup to help it on its way. Food: 9:00 am 130 g pumpkin cream cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee, 1 tbl elderberry syrup

Fri 14 Nov

I was right not to give Leone a hug or kiss on her birthday, nor Mick, as the cold I felt coming on has arrived. Skipped the shower today. All I have to do is laundry and an 11:30 massage. I'm clean enough that she shouldn't be grossed out that I didn't shower. I certainly won't mention it. The Spanish dinner with wine at Food and Farm was excellent and quite a lot of fun. We couldn't sit with Guy and Sandy as seating had been assigned previously based on folks who made advance requests, but we had a couple at our table where the gentleman was an active volunteer for Food and Farm and was able to give us information. We also talked to the winery representative, who although he was from Chicago, did know the family and will give us an intro when we go to visit in Spain. Food: 7:30 am 85 g Costco coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 13 Nov

Leone made it to 105! Every year checked off is a milestone when you pass 100. Tonight we get to go to the Spanish dinner with wine at the Food and Farm Expo in Plover. We will sit witht Sandy and Guy. Looking forward to talking to the winery representative since the wine is from Murcia, about 2.25 hours east of Denia. Food: 8:00 am 68 g Costco coffee cake, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 12 Nov

Spending time with Leone this morning while Mick attends to some medical stuff. Getting up early wasn't quite so bad this morning. Woke up at 2:30 and realized I hadn't removed my contact last night, but it came out easily with no apparent ill effects. Food: 6:45 am 86 g Costco coffee cake, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 11 Nov

Get to tour our "new" digs at the Hope Center this morning. It was stressful trying to get it arranged as I could only come today and some folks could only come tomorrow. They are apparently going to allow both groups to come, and they sent us a floor plan so we can have an idea of what will be available. Food: 8:05 am 68 g Costco coffee cake, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 10 Nov

Nice trip to Madison and lunch with Axel at La Brioche yesterday. Got some items I wanted at TJs and Costco, including stuff for Leone's birthday. Always weird to go to Madison on Sunday, because the following day feels like it should be Sunday and the days are whacked up. No choir rehearsal tonight, so I hope to try to make those turkey thighs today. Maybe I'll try to get some of the prep in before I go to OBT so I just have to cook them when I get home. Food: 8:05 am 84 g Costco coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 9 Nov

Driving down to Madison today to have lunch with Axel as we haven't seen him for awhile. He sounded delighted to get together. Had a surprise dinner after choir at Bill's Pizza with the Gehrman/Weyers and a couple others from the choir. Guy and Sandy saw us walking home and invited us to join the party, even gave us a ride. It was fun to socialize for a change. Found out that we will also be able to sit with Guy and Sandy at the wine Spanish dinner at Food & Farm on Thursday. Food: 8:00 am 89 g almond kringle, 99 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 8 Nov

Desmond, Su, and Beth stopped by yesterday in the afternoon when Bob was still in Marshfield. I visited with them for a bit, then they went off to watch a women's volleyball game and returned afterward when I was already upstairs in pajamas so they visited with Bob. We sing at Mass with the choir for the first time tonight - their third Mass but we were out of town for the first two. Food: 8:00 am 68 g almond kringle, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 7 Nov

Massage today. Choir Mass tomorrow. Weather is going to get quite chilly for the weekend, so they say. Insurance guy convinced us that the Med Supp plan we have is the best thing for us at this time, given the state of the insurance market. I want to find the info from when I enrolled as there may be things I'm not taking advantage of. For one, I am considering switching to the YMCA and saving the $40/month gym fees if the full cost is covered under the insurance. Food: 7:50 am 89 g almond kringle, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 6 Nov

This morning we finally meet with an insurance agent to hopefully make the switch to Medicare Advantage. John Johnson is the agent Mick recommended, and he is also Dave Poffinbarger's agent so he comes well recommended. Food: 7:55 am 68 g almond kringle, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 5 Nov

Up early today as I'm subbing at OBT this morning. Not used to being at work at 8 except the 2 weeks at Suzuki. I'll survive. Rest of the day free as I wasn't up to a sub shift at Bootstrap this afternoon as well. Food: 6:40 am 68 g OH pumpkin kringle, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 4 Nov

Finally got a callback from the insurance agent that Mick recommended who was also recommended by Dave Poffinbarger. Will meet on Thurs morning to discuss enrolling in Security Advocare. Would be happy to get this taken care of finally so I can put it out of my mind. Food: 8:05 am 64 g OH pumpkin kringle, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 3 Nov

We only have about half of November to be at home normally. We go to Ironwood in 2 1/2 weeks, home for Thanksgiving, off to Mpls to visit Kurt & Barb, home for a few days in early December, then Door Co Christmas market for the weekend. It will be a whirlwind. And in that time, OBT will close its current location and move temporarily to the Salvation Army Hope Center until the new digs can be secured and remodeled. Yikes! Food: 8:00 am 148 g morning bun, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 2 Nov

Morning buns for decadent breakfast today. Haven't had them in quite a while. Fun trip to Madison yesterday. Lunch with daughter at Mint Mark where we had a less-than-healthy lunch with a plate of decadent pastries, and a shared frittata and pozole. Some of the seasonal treats from TJs that I hoped to get again were already gone for the year but we have plenty of yummy things. Got some turkey thighs from Woodman's so I can try the recipe from Cook's Illustrated that looks so good. Had pumpkin pie and string cheese for supper at home. Food: 7:55 am 168 g morning bun, 107 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 1 Nov

Halloween 2025 is history. Back to the days of many trick-or-treaters - we had 243 before I got tired and shut down at around 7:45. Heading to Madison today to have lunch with Laura in a fancy new place. She works out with the chef there. I have quite a list for errands after. I forgot to let Axel know we were coming. Food: 8:05 am 58 g pumpkin kringle, 107 g blackberries, coffee