Universal Studios

Unlike last year when the weather was so cool/cold and I couldn't wait to leave... today was a beautiful day:

On the way to a high of about 80*.


I had a great day with my boys (minus Jon who had a sore throat).

A great day!

Sun and Fun (and warmth) in the Sunshine State

That's right, folks...it was a balmy 73* today with rising temperatures on the horizon and you guessed it...I'm loving it!

We arrived in Florida last night after a rather uneventful drive - other than seeing about a dozen traffic accidents in Chicago and northern Indiana and an onstar malfunction in Southern Georgia which will be fixed next week with the installation of a new radio (under warranty).
It's good to be with family again.  To be in my old neighborhood and visit all the old haunts.  

Zack and my sister at the Ale House in Daytona Beach

Tomorrow we'll be going to Universal Studios courtesy of C.J. who gets free passes, free parking, and 50% off food because he works there. 
Hopefully I will be able to update intermittently even though my parents don't have internet.

Side note:  You would think that after two straight 12 hour days in the car the dog wouldn't want to get near it.  But not our dog...no...this was him this morning:

Unfortunately for him I was only moving the car onto the street.

Christmas Concert

It hardly feels like Christmas around here.  I think because there is no snow on the ground... and today it was a relatively balmy 43*.  I had my share of warm Christmases without snow, after all I have spent every Christmas in Florida since 1999 - either living there or visiting family -  but around here we expect snow and cold.  
But Christmas IS coming...and fast.  And tonight was the annual Middle/High School Choir concert.  I am used to going to this for C.J. but this year, Zack is in the Middle School Choir.

Zack sang as part of a quartet:

I had no idea that my son could sing so well!  He has a very deep bass voice and most of the time when he sings at home he uses more of a higher voice that doesn't sound the greatest.  Tonight he blew me away when he sang with his bass voice!!

 It was another great concert.

**Not happy with my camera.  After getting back from Florida I need to save money for a really good camera.

The View From Here and Random Thoughts

A year ago today we were having a blizzard.  


Today...the weather is vastly different and there is not a spot of snow to be found...yet.

In just one short week we will be heading south for another Florida Christmas.


Zack had his ankle taped and played in his game Thursday night.  He blocked so many shots that I lost count and when, after the 6th or 7th block, they finally called a foul on him, you could hear a collective sigh from the opposing supporters.


We have been enjoying family time with C.J. (but still missing Jon).  We've been doing a lot of eating out and watching the Office.

 And the Packers are 12-0! 
 **Edited later: 13-0 After Sunday's game**
Life is good.

Going Broke Quickly

Just offer my little guy some money and he runs with it.  Last night he was top scorer on his team with 12 points...that to go with the 10 points in the first game and 8 in the second... and I already owe him $16.00...after only 3 games!


Unfortunately, he also sprained his ankle in the game last night so whether or not he'll be able to play tomorrow is up in the air.

What Was I Thinking?

Why oh why did I tell my son that I would give him $1.00 for every basket he made?


Oh yeah, I remember.  Because he only scored 8 points all last year and I was anticipating something similar this year.


Boy was I wrong.  This year he already has 16 points - in only two games.  I'd say he's going to make out very well.  


Lesson learned.

Winter

I have a confession to make.  A confession that comes from the deep, dark parts of my soul where I have tried to hide it from even myself.

Are you ready for it?  Here it comes.  Sometimes... when I lived in Florida...I missed the cold weather!  

There.. I said it.  It is out in the open and no sense in hiding it any more.  

Now that I said it, I must also say...it wasn't often.  But at times, I missed the safe haven of a toasty warm house contrasted with the bitter cold of the air outside.  The moment when you are safely inside the confines of your dwelling, tucked into fleece footy pajamas, and snuggled under a warm electric blanket watching your favorite movie.

There were very few nights in Florida that necessitated fleece footy pajamas or electric blankets.  In fact, I never owned an electric blanket in Florida.   

Now that I am back in the frozen tundra, and have been for a few years now, those Florida memories come flooding back.  Because, beginning December 1st, we could be living that footy pajama, electric blanket scenario each and every night until March 1st - maybe beyond that.  

I feel great this year that we made it to December 1st with no snow (well, it did snow but it melted) and without wickedly cold temps.  While I am enjoying the relative balminess, my other half keeps waiting for the real weather.  The weather I've come to expect of a Wisconsin winter.  And, not to disappoint, Wisconsin seems set to deliver a cold and snowy winter according to our local newspaper.

Time to break out the fleece pajamas and electric blankets.

  

And snuggle in for the long winter ahead.