Gosh, we’re happy here in the Upper Peninsula in February!
1. Since last Tuesday I have been a wild & crazy blog writer sharing everything from the deeply profound to the mundane. The internal blog writer has something to say every five minutes. Am considering hog-tying her so I can return to some peace & quiet.
2. On Friday night we ate fish fry at the Finns with Deb and Chuck. As you may or may not recall Deb and Chuck traveled to San Diego to attend our son’s wedding. Deb’s son Ryan is our son’s best friend. After most of our family departed for points east the four of us dined on lovely San Diego fare. We looked at each other and inquired, “Why don’t we ever go out at home?” Thus was born our once-a-month restaurant date. Friday night involved fried lake trout and whitefish with sweet potato fries, coleslaw and delicious bread. Oh, and some wine/beer of one’s choosing.
3. My previous three-week detox diet is going out the window if this kind of crazy eating behavior continues.
4. Barry’s been ice fishing on the Keweenaw Bay. Last weekend he caught his limit of lake trout both days. Yesterday he was skunked. He’s trying to decide if he’ll try his luck again today.
What the bay looked like in 2010. Sorry, no current airplane views!
5. This was yesterday’s Facebook status: Received the nicest Valentine card from one of the little girls at school this week. She penned, “You always happy.” Even though it’s not true–you can ask any family member–it was still SO sweet. It’s made me smile at least ten times since then.
6. I thought it was especially funny after just sharing the blog post: Should I bitch more?
7. Another fun happening on Facebook yesterday. (How many times can you have fun on Facebook, she wondered cryptically.) Geneva posted something about loving sisters and how special they are. You’re supposed to click if you love your sister, I surmised. This local woman, Jayne, lamented that she didn’t have any sisters. I remember Jayne from years back (make that YEARS back) when we both had red hair and worked at the hospital. OK, I didn’t remember that she worked at the hospital until she reminded me. I posted that I didn’t have any sisters, either. So we decided to become sisters. You may congratulate me on the addition to the family. (We also decided it appropriate to become FB friends now that we’re sisters.)
8. Here’s the kicker! Jayne has actually–gasp!–read this blog. Can you imagine? A local person AND a family member reading this blog? Unheard of! (Sorry about ending that sentence with a preposition, Mom, if you’re reading.) She might want to start here own blog. I promised to help her. We’ll do anything for our sisters, won’t we?
Brrr, it’s cold out…
9. I may be swearing off blogging for a while. Not sure. Am not going to commit. If you don’t see any blogs for a while, you’ll know it happened. If you see a blog tomorrow, it didn’t.
10. I may have Cabin Fever.
11. You know why? Besides daily blogging, an intense desire to drive into the sunrise or sunset hath arrived. I want to go spend the night in Marquette (78 miles away) and treat myself to a massage. Perhaps even a Thai massage where rumor-buffs say a good-looking fella walks on your back. Doesn’t that sound titillating and the perfect cure for cabin fever? (Hope Barry’s catching lots of lake trout and not reading.) Tee hee, it’s just a joke, you guys. Can someone stomping on your back be titillating?
Or I could just stay home and stoke the wood stove…sixteen million more times.
12. Our current VISA bill must be paid before that happens. Also, our federal tax refund must arrive before that happens. Steady up, Kathy! Do not shoot six holes in your freezer and sing about it like Jimmy Buffett.
13. How many things can I tell you before the fingers quit typing or you quit reading?
14. It’s damn cold outside this morning. Three below zero. (Tree below zero, you know the old joke…)
15. OK! Fifteen points are enough to share on a day when you have nothing to say, Ms. Kathy. Do something daring today like–go to work and do payroll. Doesn’t that sound like fun? No? Well, you can do a tax deposit for your other job. And be happy about it! Remember, you’re always happy. You’re always happy. You’re always happy… There, haven’t you convinced yourself yet?
Lake Superior Spirit 
noooooooooo telling myself shit that isn’t true, though a prod to see alllll of it can help…i suppose it depends upon, things. I DOOOOOOOO BELIEVE IN FAIRIES I DOOO I DOOOOOOOO–i think i am supposed to clap too i can’t remember. I had a couch like that once, it had recliners in the ends. I liked it, until i had toddlers on it. ew
hmm and what if my long list of tending that damn stove is only cabin fever?! there’s a think! yay ty a fresh think
Why are we always telling ourselves stuff that isn’t true? That’s what I want to know, Elisa. And I want to stop Now. Although that so often feels impossible, doesn’t it?
oh wait, i think you would call that sort of think, an observation from a distance, i’m not sure i’m trying very hard to do the best that I am able with what I’ve got, to communicate effectively 😀
*hugs*. Hugs again. and again.
A get-away and a massage sounds PERFECT!! Where do you suppose halfway between western Massachusetts and the UP would be, Kathy? We could meet up, lol!
Lol, just looked it up. Its about 1000 miles between us via the shortest route, and the mid-point appears to be in Canada, about 100 miles west of Niagra Falls.
Karma, the last time I agreed to a meet-up half way between here and Nova Scotia they created a Flat Kathy! Meeting near Niagra Falls sounds good to me…but still a long way away. But wouldn’t it be fun?
Kathy – I keep going back and rereading, “…fried lake trout and whitefish with sweet potato fries, coleslaw and delicious bread. Oh, and some wine/beer of one’s choosing.” Now I’m HUNGRY!
It was good, Laurie. Especially the sweet potato fries. I love those fellas!
I liked everyone of your 15 points except the one about possibly taking a break from blogging – sure, after I told you yesterday that I always read you, you are going to stop blogging–just like my grocery store stops stocking my favourite foods – I am going to get a complex
Well, LouAnn, it’s not like I’ll stop blogging FOREVER. Just enough to get my breath. And to read your blog. There. You won’t get a complex if I have time to stop by and read your blog, will you?
okay, as long as you visit then I won’t miss you
I would love to visit the UP.
It is very lovely, Ma. I hope you can visit some day soon.
Taking a break from blogging? Noooooooooo! Not an option. Your blogging pals would be devastated – me included. And – Even after a massage, blogging’s the thing to do on cold winter days. Maybe you need to end the detox? Solution – Add nourishment and junk food! 🙂
Oh no, dorannrule, not even a tiny blogging break? I’m driving myself crazy writing every day. And, as I just told LouAnn, it will give me more time to visit YOUR blog. As for the detox, it’s ended. And yes have met up with a wee bit of junk food already. 😉
Congratulations on the addition to your family! If she is going to blog…and blogging is awesome with sisters, by the way…you cannot leave because you will be spoiling her fun. You wouldn’t want to do that???
Awww, Katie, I’m sure it will only be a short break. If I don’t take a break every once in a while I start pulling out my hair. (ha ha, just kiddin’.) Haven’t heard any more from my new sister, so we’ll see what she decides to do about the blogging. Hope she decides to do it.
Hi Kathy,
I have no “official” sisters either but adopt as I go thru life. Could you stand to have another one???? 🙂 I do understand cabin fever – I get it a lot and the seasons (sometimes) have nothing to do with it – although winter is THE worst of course. Here’s hoping you get a get-away no matter to what and where!
Hugs
SuZen
Of course I wouldn’t mind another sister, SuZen. The more the merrier! Today was a nice day to get out and go up to Houghton and sip coffee and eat a biscotti and run errands and the like. So maybe the cabin fever will have abated soon. Let’s hope so. Next winter you may be feeling the effects more acutely…
That lake trout sounds awfully good! And that new sister of yours sounds really sweet! I have a couple or three sisters like that–where we agreed we must be sisters or else how could we explain the sisterly tendencies we have toward each other. It’s a lovely arrangement of the best kind.
Yes, Patty, the sister-by-agreement sounds like the best of all. Almost as good as a pen pal! 🙂
Ha. Like I said, “It’s hell to be popular!”
Simply hell, Sybil. ha ha ha ha….
So many wonderful stories. Nice nice nice!!! I’m thankful, and I wait to read more & more from you. I too had a fish feast this Sunday afternoon. What a delight. You made me realize I’m happy too. Sometimes we forget, don’t we?
I am glad that you remembered that you are happy, Sonali. We must keep reminding one another. Life is too short to let too many unhappy moments fill our days. Glad you like the stories.
Honest Kathy…I read the entire blog but I keep going back to the ice fishing. How Barry caught his limit on lake trout but got skunked the next time. Well, you know my love for lake trout and yep, whitefish too but did you know I’ve spent many times ice fishing as well? Sadly, I was mostly skunked. Caught my fish in the summertime. Mom and Dad would take us ice fishing often…they LOVED fishing. Didn’t matter if it was 20 below or driving rain…they wanted to FISH. I have a few stories of our fishing days. The picture of Barry sitting on the couch in the snow is funny. My Mom and Dad usually had lawn chairs out in the snow. I remember once, being at the ice fishing contest on Lake Pepin and by the time the contest was over we were all walking in about 8 inches of water that had come up out of the numerous fishing holes. I thought for sure the whole area would sink and we’d all be lost down the Mississippi River. Strange how no one else was even concerned. lol
Having someone walk on my back does not sound comforting. Let me know if you go and try that and how it feels for you. 🙂
Congratulations on your new family addition…sisters are very special! ♥
Brenda, glad you liked the part about Barry’s ice fishing and how this brought back memories of fishing with your mom and dd. So sweet. Funny story about the eight inches of water and the fear of drowning. Will let you know if the back massage works out. We shall see…there is still a lot of winter left yet…
Oh I just love the “Brrr, it’s cold out…” picture – so that’s what “tree” below zero looks like! Pretty but frigid. But what a warm happening, to have picked up a new sister in your life – I’m happy for you both because sisters are such a blessing.
Barbara, do you have any sisters in real life? Have you adopted any? We’ll see if the new adopted sister scenario actually comes through. It was sure fun playing on Facebook the other night, though.
I have a very dear sister – I cannot imagine life without her. And my sister-in-law and I adopted each other because she is an only-child and she told me that I was the only thing close to a sister she would ever have – we have been as close as sisters for 38 years now!
Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Sisters come in pretty handy. ❤
Do you have any sisters, Stacy? I have two brothers but no sister. Wonder what would be better, a big sister or a little sister?
I have one of each (I’m the middle of three sisters), so it’s hard for me to say that one is better than the other. Let’s say they each have their strengths.<3
I absolutely LOVE that photo of Barry out in the cold, in a snowy armchair! Another great post, Kathy, thank you!
Cindy, isn’t that the coolest pic of Barry on the snowy sofa? I love it! Glad you liked this blog post.
I haven’t checked my Power Ball ticket yet, but I’m about to. If I have a winner I’m coming over with a pile of money and a choice of two round trip tickets to San Diego for you and Barry or a bottle of Lithium. 😉
Excellent, John. I am counting on you. Oh just think–a pile of money! You may give it to me and not Barry because he’s perfectly satisfied ice fishing and doesn’t have the slightest bit of cabin fever. Thank you kindly for it in advance. 🙂
Kathy, isn’t the chorus *i gotta go where it’s warm (i gotta go where it’s warm)*…..or something like that. Referring to Jimmy Buffet but maybe applying to a lot of us this time of year. Crossing my fingers that John has a winner 🙂
I have ALL my fingers & toes crossed, Colleen. When he brings over the money would you like some too? Or do you have enough?
I think you might have been bitching a little there at the end, Kathy. (I caught the preposition, but I wouldn’t have mentioned it…)
Gosh, and I’d thought I’d disguised the bitching, Barb, but you went and caught it. Figures! A girl can hardly sneak in a bitch without someone spotting it. *grin*
I have spent many winters in Michigan and I am an expert – you have a really bad case of cabin fever. 🙂 They sure have good whitefish in the UP. We bought some at the dock at Whitefish Point one year and fried it in a cast iron skillet over a campfire. Yummy. Hang in there – you will make it.
Thank you for the diagnosis, Pat. I was pretty sure it was Cabin Fever but needed a second Michigander opinion. Perhaps the cure is to eat more whitefish. In that cast iron skillet. Thanks for stopping by and reading and making me dream of Fort Myers Beach and Naples…
Take a blog break–in the winter??? But your sofa in the snow is seriously fun–made me happy too! (Tomorrow, I’ll bitch)
Inger, I am so happy to have made you happy! That sofa in the snow picture IS a hoot. But I may just have to take a wee break, anyway. More time to read your blogs!
So many points to respond to, but it’s not my blog, so I won’t blog in your comments 😉
Love the picture of Barry, and am happy he’s had some successful days fishing. We had friends here this weekend, and ruined – demolished – our good-eating days, even though I did make spinach-date-flax-chocolate smoothies for them. Going back on a primarily-veggie routine tomorrow.
I have cabin fever, too. All the time. I would get out more, but then I might never come home 😉 (Do you know that we have already put 8,000 miles on our car…the one we bought in October?!!)
Heather, you are always allowed to blog in my comments. I never mind. People could blog an entire blog in the comments and it wouldn’t matter one whit. Have you really put 8,000 miles on your car in such a short time? Well, the only option is for you to put on another 8,000 miles and come back to the U.P.! You can make me one of the smoothies, thank you kindly, but only if it’s a happy smoothie.
Kathy I wouldn’t dare to make you a smoothie that wasn’t happy 🙂
Sounds like you’re avoiding something. Go out and play in the sunshine and the snow. If there’s a hot tub and a massage at the end of it even better. Maybe Barry could take a class while the ice melts on the lake?
Hmmm, Lisa, wonder what I’m avoiding? OK, I can think of something. Still would love that hot tub and massage, but enjoyed getting out and going to Houghton today. A fun change of pace even though not too wild and/or exciting.