A Barcalounger on Wheels

Some time ago I promised pictures of the new Harley. I haven't had much to say lately so I figured it was finally time to share.

This is the Harley Holiday Party in Mason City this last winter. It was the night Duane bought me my leathers so I could be a real passenger.

This is the new "baby". It is a VERY comfortable ride. Hence the barcalounger title on the post.



These are pic's from the flood run that Duane went on with some friends on April 17. I would have LOVED to have gone, but I had to work.

Pit Stop!


Duane, my Harley man!

Duane also recently participated in a Motorcycle Honor Guard for a fallen Marine. I don't have pictures but it was all over the news. It was an honor for him and a very cool thing to do. Let's all pray that he never needs to be called to that duty again.

What's new?

Hi there! Thought I should write because I've had a few days off and have neglected to do so. Spring Break was great but not nearly long enough. I'm ready for summer vacation. The students were done on Tuesday, teachers had inservice on Wednesday to do grades. The bonus is that doing my grades took all of 45 minutes to finalize because I keep up on them daily. All I had to do was check hard copy against computer copy. The rest of the day was spent listening to public radio and working on a puzzle some students started.

I had off from both school and JCP on Thursday and Friday, worked JCP 9-3 on Saturday, and then had Sunday and Monday off again. I guess it was tanking up for the next couple of weeks. We head back to school tomorrow (Tuesday). I work JCP Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Music Boosters and Conferences on Thursday, and work on Friday. I guess I'll really be looking forward to the weekend as it is my scheduled weekend off. I'm also really looking forward to dinner at Dad and Mary's Sunday night...it's been a while. Maybe if the weather holds Duane and I can take a ride on the bike this weekend.

We did ride on Thursday. It was awesome. Enrique brought Bernadine over on his bike and the four of us took off for Features and enjoyed a lovely dinner. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours and we're looking forward to doing it again soon.

Other than that...what's new? The BIGGEST news I have right now is that I have switched fitness clubs. SNAP is a good club and the people were nice but we have been dealing with their inability to get my insurance to work for a year now AND I lack the discipline to make my own efficient routine. So, I joined...


LOVING IT. I was a member a long time ago and loved it until I plateaued. The difference I think now is that I'm going more often (trying for 5-6 times per week instead of 3) and the club is smaller than the one I was in before. The people there take an interest in each other and the owner is always doing different contests and stuff to motivate and keep it fresh enough to prevent the plateau effect. For example, she is holding a special "Zumba" class on Monday's starting in a couple of weeks. I won't be able to participate in this class because the notice is too short to request off from JCP and there is at least one Monday night school event in the those 8 weeks...BUT...I will do it in the future. First up is the weight-management class that is totally FREE. It is being run in conjunction with a "booty camp" starting the last week in April. I WILL be taking part in this. I'll have a few weeks to get used to a routine and then take a huge jump with the Curves diet, class, and camp all starting at the same time. I hope Duane likes the food, the recipes look great and awfully similar to the stuff I've been making for supper lately anyway. What will change is I'll have a better grasp of ways to prepare things lightly and calorie/portion control. I'm sure you'll hear more about it because I'm pretty super stoked. In fact, I've been a member 6 days and I've been in 5 times (they were closed on Easter so I took Brandi walking instead!)

So speaking of eating well...Festival had some Asparagus on special the other day that just LOOKED good. So I bought it and checked out a new recipe. While I started the chicken I marinated it in a baggie (took less oil to coat it and was a lot easier in cleanup.


Tinfoil is my new best friend. I cover my pans with it when I bake chicken (and cover the chicken for the first half of cooking...keeps it juicy) and I put it on a cookie sheet to bake veggies. Asparagus for ten minutes on the top rack at 450 degrees makes for just browning still crisp asparagus. YUM. (We also love the "STEAMERS" veggie combos...SO easy and actually fresh tasting).


I think that's about it for right now. I've got to get back to the laundry I neglected until now.

Just to be cute, I'll leave you with a parting shot of our princess doing what she does best...ripping the stuffing out of things and pretending to be innocent about it. (The living room looked like a pillow exploded!)

DISNEY

For those that don't know it...my family members are Disney FREAKS (in a good way). I thought this might interest them. For the rest of us, the end of the story saying that this phenomenon is not only happening at Disney means one thing for me...and that is that I'm glad I don't work in France!

Ps....I don't think this is a working link, so cut and paste it...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/disneyland-paris-reels-after-double-suicide/story-e6frea73-1225849062407

The Good Wife

Want to know what was for supper tonight?



OK, these pics were pulled off the Internet, they are NOT of the meal I made but they ARE the items that I prepared for dinner.

That's right Tilapia (with veggies) and a sushi appetizer. Of course...I had peanut butter and jelly. That's right. I'm a good wife. I can make Duane fish on occasion because he likes it...even if I can't have any. Spoiled.

A Beautiful Day

Today was a beautiful day. It was 60+ degrees outside today and I had the day OFF. So...as much as I'd rather just curl up on the couch with Duane, I promised I'd update.

It's March. That means March Madness. For me, as a band director, that means all kinds of crazy times. March 4th was National Parade Day (March Forth...hahaha), so we turned it into hug a band member day at school. Since we have nearly 150 kids in band in our JH/HS of under 200, there were hugs everywhere. It was fun to see.


Duane and I got a surprise visit from Wendy. It was a short trip but it was REALLY good to see her. We will get the fortune of another visit in April and both Duane Sr. and Wendy will get to join us in May for our Pops Concert at school (at least, that's the plan right now...) When they do come down I was thinking about some things we might be able to share with them around the area. The Julia Belle is no longer on the river but perhaps a La Crosse Queen Cruise?

And if it's a trip this summer, we could maybe check out the trolley and then Pearl Street Ice Cream. Yum...



We had basketball playoffs for both teams at school. I really don't wish to discuss the details. Both teams lost out early so nothing having to do with any of it is relevant anymore anyway.

Let's see...what else...

I got new shoes. I indulged in the Sketcher's Shape-Ups...although I admit I paid a little less than half of retail due to my JCP benefits (I love that job!) I love the shoes. I'd heard that you feel wobbly for a while because the step is different, but it's really a very marching band step so that adjustment was nothing to me. I DO feel the shoe working though. Best off, since I've started wearing them my feet aren't sore anymore. My back and knees feel really good too, but I have yet to determine if that's the shoes or that I'm just going through a good stretch. Either way, I love the shoes enough that when the time comes I would gladly pay the $110 retail price for a new pair if needed.



Dale did a clinic with my students on Friday. It was awesome. FINALLY, they are understanding some of what I've been trying to get them to do...and then some...because Dale is AWESOME. THANK YOU.

Duane headed to Mason City this weekend to pick up his Bike. He got home Sunday afternoon and what a beautiful day to ride he had! I haven't taken pictures yet, so you'll just have to wait. For now, let's just leave it with I am REALLY looking forward to our ride to Colorado this June.

While Duane was riding home, Brandi and I did some cleaning at home. We also ran some errands together and stopped at the trail in La Crosse to go walking today. She was upset with me for not letting her jump in the river under the bridge but she made up for it by deciding to lay down in a giant puddle in the middle of the trail. She got many people to laugh with her while she played there wagging her tail looking at me like I was the dork! She made many puppy friends today too. We obviously weren't the only ones with the idea to be out and about.

I took some time this weekend to sign up for the advanced dive course course. I hope to dive once or twice before I take the course in August but at least that ONE weekend is reserved for it just in case the opportunity doesn't present itself before then.



I guess that's about it. Well, it's all that I can think of right now anyway. I have a meeting Monday, concert Tuesday, work Wednesday and Thursday...so I'll be begging Duane to take me for a ride on Friday before working the weekend. The week after we have a competition on Monday, but after that life at school becomes more normal and I might be home a couple nights a week. I'll do my best to post when I have something exciting.

This week

Updates. I promise. No later than Sunday evening. More than likely earlier. See you soon.

Rough Day

Tuesday was a REALLY rough day. The weather was icky...no wait...the weather was beautiful but icky to travel in, especially for school buses, so we didn't have school. The rough part actually started Monday night. Duane randomly decided to take me out to dinner. Total surprise. No reason at all. He WAS a butthead about it at first by messing with me and changing his mind and etc... In the end, dinner was yummy!

Then Tuesday. Tuesday is one of the days that Duane regularly has off work. When school got called off we discovered we had a whole day together. It was rough. There was sleeping in, playing Mario Brothers, surfing the Internet, watching movies, napping, snow blowing, reading, playing with Brandi, and more napping. It was exhausting being so lazy.

Good thing school was delayed two hours this morning for icy roads. It let me catch up on sleep after yesterday!