When it comes to football, it can feel like I live in Woodbury, Wisconsin. Transplanted fans from across the St. Croix River make good neighbors in most every way. But they still live close enough to their home state to believe that Vikings fans, here in the state of Minnesota, should meekly endure post-season Packer bravado. Wearers of the green and gold all over Woodbury are practically vibrating with excitement since their beloved Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears and are headed to Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6. Granted, some Minnesotans not only tolerate cheese-headed success but …
I’m not a native Minnesotan. But I’ve lived here long enough to occasionally call dinner supper and a casserole a hotdish. I’ve learned to love Minnesota, and I especially love that my kids are from here. But being a Minnesotan means more than using Midwest slang for food that’s mixed, cooked and served in a hot dish. It sometimes means sitting on a bucket on a frozen lake under an icy bright January sun. Being Minnesotan means ice fishing. Fortunately, my kids are Cub Scouts. So they get to experience this cold-weather, crazy activity without me. Cub Scout Pack 60 recently hosted an ice-…
The activities of my daily life often require driving past the Woodbury Health Care Center located near the intersection of Lake Road and Woodlane Drive. The Woodbury Health Care Center provides nursing care to older adults who require varying levels of services. It’s a place where the activities of people’s daily lives are vastly different from my own. I wonder about the folks who live there. What are they doing while I’m out here? And should one of the activities in my life be helping them make the most of theirs? Of course, these thoughts quickly vanish when the light turns green and I …
This may be a shock for some parents of young children. It was to me. A handful of years ago a friend asked in January if I had enrolled my kiddo in preschool yet. That’s right! January is the time to get your fall 2011 preschool enrollment done. If you’re like I was and haven’t had experience planning anything that far in advance, other than maybe a vacation, I’m sounding the alarm. Some preschool programs fill quickly and it’s time to decide which preschool option might be right for your youngster. The primary purpose of preschool is to prepare children ages 3-5 for school. Most programs …
The New Year rings in with TV commercials depicting fit people in health club promotions and resolutions to shed the signs of over-indulgence. We pressed though December powered by bon-bons and butter with promises to get back into shape next year. Well, next year is here. What are we going to do about it? I'm going to start by throwing out any leftover pie, candy or cookies taunting me from the kitchen countertop. Then I'm going to make a grocery list including ingredients for healthier meals. And I'm going to commit to a few treadmill miles everyday. There are several good fitness center …
It's been said that living through hard times teaches appreciation for good times. That going without helps us to value what we have. Not always. Sometimes uncertainty causes us to cling tighter to things for fear of losing them. The poor economy has triggered a recalibration and refocus toward practical things like how to cook at home, how to do more with less and how to carefully consider our choices instead of impulsively chasing the "BBD" (Bigger, Better Deal). But these times have also brought about an elevated level of anxiety for some, fear about the future and fear of loss. What once …
Many of us will emerge from the gift-giving season—through a wake of crumpled wrapping paper—clutching shiny new electronics. From iPods to eReaders, the most popular high-tech holiday gifts are commanding our attention. I like techy stuff, but I also appreciate a modicum of manners when using them. Cell phones continue to be amazing innovations. But the convenience of a cell phone doesn't mean I should loudly discuss my Friday night plans or my mother's medications in public. So I try to keep public phone conversations brief and quiet. And let's agree to end calls before going through a …
Our household is part "Griswold" (as in Clark Griswold from the movie Christmas Vacation) when it comes to holiday lights. My husband starts in November—hauling down box after bulging box of lights from our garage attic. He diagrams the placement of the lights for beauty and efficiency, noting how many strings can be strung safely together and how much power each available outlet provides. He hauls an extension ladder around the house and hangs icicle lights before the first snow comes. Then it's on to the trees. His masterpiece for years was our 40-foot blue spruce on the front lawn. He …
I once read about a woman who didn't buy new clothes for an entire year. I marveled at this, wondered how it was possible. Then I stopped to think about how often I purchased new clothing for myself. I couldn't answer my own question. If ever I felt a need to replenish or update my wardrobe, I did. If I saw a bargain at a "buy anything and everything" retailer, I'd slip it in the cart alongside my laundry soap and cold medicine. Later, a conversation with a friend focused on the latest trend in jeans—narrower legs, darker wash, etc. She was deciding which of the newest styles to try. I did a …
