My break started on Thursday, April 9. It was my birthday so it was wonderful to not have school on that day! I slept. A lot. Duane had to work. Brandi woke me up around 7 (she really had to go outside) and then the two of us napped and watched the history channel (another favorite!) on and off for a couple of hours...er...most of the day. Other than a super yummy dinner at Dad and Mary's house that night, about all I did that was worth anything was take Brandi for a walk. Not just any around the block walk. We loaded her in the car and took her to the rest area by the lock and dam. Our intention was to cut up and walk on the bike trail, but as we explored around for an easier entrance to the trail (the real entrance requires crossing the busy intersection at the bottom of the exit ramp off the interstate) we got sidetracked and never did make the trail. Instead we found lots of trees to sniff in the dog walk area, and footpaths that lead to picnic areas near the lock. We met a couple of fisherman on vacation from Milwaukee and Brandi was kind enough to let them rub her belly before we continued on. Near the end of the walk, I had a very tired dog so we went up on the grassy end of the terrace and watched the barges and fishermen out on the river for a while.
Friday was spent working on spring cleaning the house. OK, so maybe not truly spring cleaning but certainly eliminating the dog hair that's been shed. In the middle of the afternoon, Brandi convinced me to take her for another walk. Actually, she took me...at least at first. She was pretty pooped on the return leg and decided that since we had actually made the trail this time she'd better pose for some pictures.
This one is a tired dog panting at the turn around point.
And this one is a still tired dog taking a short break in front of the lock. She loves watching the river. We got home from our walk in time to see Pa off on his bike ride. He left us to go out with "the boys" for an evening of riding. One of his friends needed an oil change so they rode together down to Mason City, stayed with a friend and spent some time cruising that area before heading back on Saturday.
I had to work a few hours Saturday evening, but Brandi spent most of the day waiting at her new-found favorite place to sit waiting for Duane to get home.
She missed him, and was upset that we weren't walking again...but I needed her to save her energy for Sunday!
Easter Sunday, Duane and I headed to WI Dells to visit Andy. We dropped Brandi off with her "cousins" in Tomah (where she spent much time running around outside!) and stayed at the Roadway Inn. The reviews I read (after booking) were terrible, but it turns out that the hotel wasn't that bad. It was a $55 room. No frills. Nothing fancy. A bit weird. But it was clean and affordable, so it was perfect. That evening we went to the Kalahari Resort. We met Andy for a yummy dinner with fun food like Duane's volcano dinner...
...and then he showed us around his amusement park. We had fun Go-Carting (totally new for me...those thing scare me!), bowling (I actually broke 100...TWICE), and playing mini-golf. I forgot that getting Duane and Andy together can be a bit bruising for the ego, they team up to pick on me. But hey, at least I'm not the one riding my golf club around the course!
Monday we headed home, I worked a few hours, then went to bed. Now, back to the real world. 33 days until summer break!
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