Winding Rivers

Yesterday, Scott and I took a drive through the country.  We ended up in Lake Geneva; I'll post pictures of that later.  For now, I wanted to share pictures of a couple of rivers we crossed, winding and rolling through the beautiful Wisconsin countryside.  Wisconsin is truly a magnificent state.

One of the waterways is Badfish Creek.  The other is the Yahara River.  I don't know what the third one is.

In addition to being awed by the waterways, we passed this old barn at some point during our journey.  I don't think the barn is used any more, but it made for a couple of good pictures.  

I'll close for now with this picture of a small damn on one of the rivers we passed.  More pictures to come later of our time at Lake Geneva.....

10 Years

It was on this date 10 years ago that I started working for my current employer.  Ten and 15-year anniversaries get special recognition within the company.  This past Thursday, we had a statewide managers meeting.  Turned out that would be the venue for my special recognition.  A big group was present. When I worked in Ohio, we had a total of 7 Program Directors/managers.  Here in Wisconsin, we have a total of 27--it's a substantially larger operation than Ohio.  All 27 managers were present at the meeting this past Thursday, as well as all 4 Area Directors, the statewide office manager, the Quality Assurance Coordinator, the Regional Controller, and my supervisor- the Regional Director. 

After the lunch break, my supervisor called me up in front of the group.  She said a few words about me and my history with the organization.  I was then presented with a "cash" gift (gift card) and a dozen yellow roses- pictured below.  I love yellow roses and these are just beautiful.

I could tell Nancy (statewide Office Manager and my right hand at work) helped to coordinate.  Nancy knows me well.  She knows I love yellow roses and she also knows I love Tiramisu.  So, in addition to the gift card and roses, they brought in Tiramisu for an afternoon treat for the entire group.  It was very nice.

When I reflect back on the past 10 years with the company, I feel a deep sense of gratitude.  Working for this organization has afforded me many great opportunities and it is the sole and direct reason for the quality of life that Scott and I have.  I have a decent benefits package and got "grandfathered" into the old system that I started under, when times were more lucrative, so I don't pay a penny for my health insurance.  That alone is pretty incredible and I'm so thankful for that benefit.

In addition to being generously compensated, working for this company has given me the opportunity to travel.  I have been to the following places for work related trips:  Indiana (not very exciting), New Jersey, Colorado, Minnesota, and Las Vegas.  When I was in Ohio, I had also traveled to Wisconsin twice-- which, of course, now has become my permanent residence.

I've also been blessed with the confidence of some influential people within the organization and that has allowed me to be promoted from Program Manager to Area Director and now to State Director.  While it is similar to a Senior Director position, I am the only person in the company to hold a State Director position.  My transition to Wisconsin was a difficult one, and that's putting it mildly.  In hindsight, I'm appreciative of all the people who supported and encouraged me.  I have finally arrived at the place where I'm glad I made the move.  Scott and I love living up here.  We love our home.  And, although the job is extraordinarily difficult and I'm still in the midst of a learning curve, I have learned (and continue to learn) so much.  I didn't realize how sheltered I was in Ohio until I got to Wisconsin.  It's truly like comparing apples and oranges.   In terms of professional development, coming to Wisconsin has been a good career move.  I feel like if I can master this job, and the jury is still out on that one, I can do just about anything.  I'm fortunate and feel humbled that certain  people thought enough of me to give me a chance.

I am feeling reverent about a decade with my employer.  After my supervisor presented me with my gifts on Thursday, she asked if I wanted to give a speech.  I didn't give a speech, but I did say this to the group:

"It's been an unexpected journey, but it's truly been a privilege and an honor to work for this organization for the past decade."

True story.

Ice Cream

Just as one would expect, in America's Dairyland you can find some good ice cream.  We have cows.  We have dairy.  We have good ice cream.

The best ice cream I have found is a brand named "Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream".  The little movie theatre in downtown Stoughton sells it.  That's right.  You can go there to either see a movie or get an ice cream cone.  Or both.  Or actually you can get a pizza there too.  It's a "Cinema & Cafe".  But, back to ice cream:  other places in Wisconsin sell Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream besides the Stoughton theatre.  The movie theatre is just the closest spot for us.  Here is a shot of the theatre. 

Here is the Chocolate Shoppe logo. 

And what a small container of Chocolate Shoppe ice cream looks like, complete with a cow pattern on the container.

I always get the Zanzibar.  It is the most chocolaty- chocolate ice cream I have ever had.  It's indescribable in words.  It's something to be tasted and experienced.

In addition to the ice cream being scrumptious, I appreciate the nutrition label on Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.  Here it is.  This particular shot is from the back of one of their delivery trucks, but it looks just like the label on the ice cream containers. 

The ice cream is so good, it is low-fat nothin'.  You want nutrition?  Eat carrots.

No thanks.  I'll pass on the carrots.  How about a double scoop of Zanzibar instead?

Hot- Hot- Hot

Like much of the rest of the country, it's hot as h*ll in Wisconsin right now.  Temps in the mid to upper 90's and it looks like it's going to be this way all week.  I will say this about Wisconsin weather:  we have variety.  Heavy snow?  Yep.  Pretty much a guarantee in the winter.  Blizzards?  It happens.  Spring showers?  True.  Colorful falls?  Indeed.  Hot, humid summers?  Word.  We are baking up here right now.

Hot + Humid + Bugs = Gross.

Wisconsin is a beautiful place to be.  But not so much in July.

Yesterday was so hot, my husband decided to do the grown-up version of running through the sprinkler.  In this version, you don't run.  You sit.  And hold a cocktail.   

It's great being a grown up.

Jada

I have posted pictures of the cats on this blog.  And pictures of Rudy-Patoody.  I haven't posted many pictures of Jada, though.  Maybe that's because I don't have many good pictures of her.  She does not like to have her picture taken.  If the camera comes out, she is going the other direction.  Today, though, I sneaked a few shots of her on the deck.

Contrary to the "Hollywood" image, Dobermans are a gentle breed of dogs.  They are smart, loyal, and super  lazy.  Every Doberman I have known has been good natured and a big couch potato.  Jada is one very sweet girl. I think this picture of her and Scott says it all.  Scott is giving her a big kiss on the nose and she is looking at him with adoration in her eyes.  Seriously.  How precious is that?

Christy's Landing

The past couple of weeks at work have been loooong ones.  Very demanding.  Very exhausting.

Two weeks ago, by the time Friday afternoon rolled around, I had reached my limit.  I traveled to Milwaukee early that morning and then had to be back in my office in Madison for a meeting at 1:30.  When the meeting in Madison was over, I jetted out of there.  Sometimes it feels so good to leave work early on a Friday afternoon and get the weekend started.

The weather that day was gorgeous.  Sunny.  Warm.  Not too humid.  Just beautiful. Once I got home, Scott and I decided we would like to find a place to sit outside and have a couple drinks.  Better yet, we'd like to find a place to sit outside near the water and have a couple drinks.  Scott looked on-line and found a place called Christy's Landing located on the shore of Lake Waubesa.

Off we went.

To get to Christy's, you have to travel through absolutely stunning Wisconsin countryside.  Wisconsin really is a beautiful state.

 
At one point, we came to a stop sign at a T in the road.  There was a camera man from one of the local news stations taking shots of a big field.  I would have just driven on.  Scott, being who he is, rolled the window down and asked the guy, "What's out there?"  The camera man told us that there had been some big pot bust in the area.  I guess a farmer found a bunch of marijuana plants on his land.  I'm sure someone was growing it for medicinal purposes.

After winding through more countryside, we found Christy's.  It's situated in a small lake-side neighborhood.  It's right by the lake.  There is a pier so boaters can come up and dock their boats.  Scott and I walked out on the pier, where I took this picture looking back at the place.

I also took this picture from the pier.  Kind of hard to see, but it shows some of the homes and the residents  boat docks that are located next to Christy's.  Scott and I want to live on the water so badly.  It's just so expensive.

Here is a picture taken from where we were sitting.

Yes, that would be my margarita in the forefront of the picture.

Here is another shot from where we were sitting.

I love all the lush greenery that surrounds the lakes here in Wisconsin.  It's like the best of both worlds:  water and land.

I took this shot looking down from my seat at Christy's.  As you can see, right off the deck at Christy's is greenery and then it goes right into the water.  So lovely.

Christy's has a tiki-type bar outside, a patio, and a second-story deck.

How perfect for boaters to come right up, dock their boats, and enjoy a few cocktails at the outdoor bar.  Our goal is to get a boat.  We need to pay off a few bills first.  Maybe next year?  This guy pulled up in a boat.  Where are the rest of the guys from ZZ Top?

So, there you have it.  Christy's.  Nice to have a place to have a few cocktails that's relatively close to our house and right on one of the lakes.  Last picture of Christy's is below.  It's to the immediate left of where I was sitting.  It just shows again how close to the water we were from our outdoor seating.  As you can see, there is a Corona sign on a post (right on) and torches lined up.  I'm sure they light those bad boys on summer evenings to try to keep the mosquitoes down.  The mosquito situation up here is awful.  That's a whole different story though.
 

I took the picture below from the car as we were driving home.  Beautiful rolling Wisconsin countryside.  Someone obviously decided to take advantage of the country road and do a major burn-out.  Whoever did it laid down some serious rubber.  That's one of the longest burn-out marks I have ever seen.  I don't know if you can tell, but the mark goes down that little dip and then up the hill towards the back of the picture.

So, that's that.  A picturesque Friday afternoon.  I do enjoy summer days in Wisconsin.  It's exceptionally beautiful here.

Little Old Girl- Revised

I had my dates wrong.  Rudy was born in July 1996, making her 15 years old this year.

Little old girl, who is loved so much.

Little Old Girl

July is the month of Rudy's birthday.  I don't know exactly what day she was born, but I'm pretty sure it was sometime in July 1997.  As a new born puppy, she was dumped in a field on the south side of Columbus and left to die.  I don't understand how people can be so cruel.  Fortunately, someone found her and she eventually made her way to me.  She was so tiny when I first got her, I could hold her in the palm of my hand.  She had to be bottle fed and she loved being swaddled in a baby blanket and held. 

Fast forward to July 2011.  Rudy turns 14 years old this month.  She has gotten so gray.  She can't hear any more.  Her legs don't work very well sometimes.  She gets confused and her vision is compromised.  It's so hard watching her decline.  I honestly can't imagine my life without her, but I know that day is inevitable.  I've loved that little girl with my whole heart for nearly 1/3 of my life.  Scott is crazy about her too.  We often say this affectionately about her:  "I love that little old girl."

When Scott and I went to The Tornado Room for his birthday dinner, he ordered a ridiculously large bone-in rib-eye steak.  We brought the bone home as a treat for Rudy.  She was one happy dog gnawing on that thing out in the yard.  

 
Happy Birthday Rudy-Patoody.

Vegas

I just got back late last night from a work trip to Vegas.  I have one word for Las Vegas:

No.