The Fishing Shack - Here we go again!

Hey ya'll! We're officially over 10,000 reads on this blog! YAY!

Matt and I have been having a GREAT August. We've been so busy.

A couple days ago, I caught myself making a list of all the things I wanted to write you and after about six titles/posts in, I quickly became defeated and gave up. So, where do I even start?

Many, many moons ago (it feels like) -- which was early August --  Matt and I headed to Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin where the Fennel family owns a house/land near the Mississippi River. Technically, it was Matt's great Grandma and Grandpa Fennel's, Clarence and Virginia. After they passed away, it was handed down generation to generation and now Matt's Dad and uncle own the property and visit often. Matt practically grew up in that little white, house while fishing off the river with his Dad and Grandpa Bert. And after knowing the Fennels and dating Matt for over four years and being married for almost two, I had never visited.

I mean, let's be honest --- fishing is not my cup of tea (especially since going vegan) nor is any outdoor, wilderness, "bugs buzzing around my head", kind of activity.

So after years and years of hearing about Prairie Du Chien, kissing my loving husband off before he left to go fishing with family, and being told that not visiting the shack would end in a horrible curse of divorse from my funny in laws: I decided to bite the bullet and take one for the team/marriage. I went to the Fishing Shack.

How long did it take to get there?

About two hours.

How long were we there?

Less than thirty minutes.

Now, don't get me wrong, people. I wanted to go. I wanted to see this infamous house. But, after we walked around and Matt gave me the official tour, we sort of looked at each other like ---- "well, now what?"

We sure as shit weren't going to fish!


The place is so old and so quaint. I LOVED that. I love little vintage things. I'm a sucker for vintage. In fact, I wanted to take a few things home with us. But there is nothing to do at the house except..........fish. So, we drove around the mega-metropolis of Prairie, ate some Subway, looked over the river, drove through a few small towns, and headed home.


I smile at the thought of our future son, Matthew, and Matt's dad spending weekends fishing in Prairie Du Chien. I - on the other hand -- will be at home relaxing with a nice cup of (real) tea and a book.

Enjoy the pictures.

 AMISH!

The Weight of the Wait

A serious blog.

The Weight of the Wait. I can't even take credit for the cute little title. I saw it online somewhere, so its fresh in my mind.

Waiting SUCKS. Any type of waiting.

Waiting for a vacation
Waiting for pay day
Waiting in the waiting room
Waiting for a promotion
Waiting for a proposal
Waiting for a baby
Waiting for water to boil
Waiting for a miracle
Waiting for Christmas
Waiting for Friday
Waiting for traffic
Waiting for paint to dry

No matter what kind of waiting it is - it sucks. I can't help but admit that I'm a person who lives in the future. Wait. No, I'm not the Terminator. I live FOR the future. Constantly telling Matt: "When we vacation to this place....", "When we live in this house......" , "When we make this much money......", so on and so forth.

And something living about living for the future............... ITS EXHAUSTING. You're constantly.... waiting.

In Dr. Seuss' words:

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.


So, I think you catch my drift that waiting is terrible. And trust me, we've done some waiting. Waiting I won't even BEGIN to explain because A) It would take too long, and I'm hungry and B) I'm not ready to talk about it yet.

And not trying to play the woe is me card, but shit - has it been hard! Just when I think I'm doing okay, my emotions do a complete 180 and I'm crying in bed all night while eating bonbons. (just kidding, I'm vegan!)

So, where am I going with this (if I'm not going to share anything), right?!

My point is - I'm going to try my best to COUNT MY BLESSINGS and thank GOD for all the GIFTS he has already given us. Because - we are SO blessed.

 And remind myself that God's timing is perfect every time. We are WHERE we're supposed to be and it is time to live in the NOW.

My other point is that through the sorrow, heartbreak, frustration and everything else I've felt, its really incredible how God helps bring special people into your life to help you through it. I've made some friends I never thought I would and I've grown closer with people I haven't spoken to in years. Its really amazing how things work out.

So many times Ive been SO angry and so bitter that I cut myself off from the world (family and friends included). I cut ties. I burn bridges. I worry my friends think I've forgotten about them or that I've moved on...
But then there's those few people who stick by your side no matter what. No matter how busy their lives are. No matter how hard their times are. They remind you that you're loved. And its such an amazing feeling.

So for those friends who knew something was wrong before I even picked up the phone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll never be able to put into words how much you've helped me.

And to my husband who held my hand while I wept for hours last night (for no other reason that I simply wanted to cry) -- You are the cream to my coffee and I love you.


Time to cook dinner. Until Next time.


PS: I'm healthy. I'm fine. Just more serious than normal. Sorry Charlies.

IronCat Travelers

We SERIOUSLY love our cats.

While Sleeping

And eating.

We're so sanitary.

I figured now would be a good time as any to let you know our plan about the Iron Man training. ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS ASKED ABOUT IT -- OR CALLED US OUT ON WAITING NEARLY TWO WEEKS FOR AN UPDATE!!!!!!?!!!!!!!

So I said that we would have our gym chosen by August 1st -- and it's officially August 5th (better late than never) and we have made our decision. We will be working out at Prairie Athletic Club. Its a nice facility. Has a pool, track, and mechanical bikes - (Good enough for Iron Man training, right??) and mostly because as AmFam employees, we get an awesome discount AND our health insurance is gong to PAY US to work out. Sweet!

So we're going on our super dee duper awesome road trip next week to the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky (and visiting the Boris' in Indianapolis on the way there AND back), we'll drink a ton of liquor, then return and start a free week trial at Prairie Athletic to make sure we're COMMITTED before signing a year contract. Yes, we're thoooosee kind of people. #annoying (if you know what I mean).

And we better be committed!!

And you better call us out if we're not. So, mark it in your calendars blogger buddies: Monday August 18th -- Matt and I will be going to gym after work to TRAIN FOR THE IRONMAN.

HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.

OH-- And tonight! We booked our trip to New York City for this coming May!

In honor of our lovey, Frank Sinatra

 YAY!!!!!! Happy Tuesday, everyone. Now everyone turn on ABC and watch Extreme Weight Loss! (and think of us doing those workouts, too!)

FOR REAL!!!!