Monday Morning Blues Medication

So this picture up there - that was my MOnday Morning Blues Medication. I woke up with the blues. Not wanting to function, not wanting to get dressed (because of my weight issues and how frustrating it is for me getting ready for work every morning) and my hair issues - all of that, well, I have another blog all about that stuff. Anyhow - I just had the blues. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Kisses always help. I got my morning kiss from the honey. The boys took off to a back cracker appointment and I got ready and beelined out of there fast. I just wanted to be at the lake so I could sulk in my own Monday morning pity pot. It felt hormonal. Like when you are pregnant and just for absolutely no reason at all in the world you just cry. That was me this morning. Just an emotional crybaby for no reason except my own issues. I know everyone has them. You just don't want anything to do with anyone and everything either upsets you or pisses you off. Not even a bloody mary would help this morning. Ok well it wouldn't hurt either folks, I ain't lyin.

So I head down Wright street as I get into Marquette thinking to myself - of ALL of the mornings I go to the lake, why do I never just turn on Wright street. Why do I waste the time going all the way to the roundabout and driving up and down Lakeshore when I can zip right over to the park from Wright street. Dumb. So down I go, excited to get to the lake. As I reach near the last lights on Wright, I can see the lake. And I smile. And I put my foot on the pedal. Off to the park I zoom. I pulled in, usually I have the park to myself that early but others had the same idea. I was thinking the road thru the park was closed, I would have loved to sit at Black Rocks but there is a very good chance (like 100%) that I would have been late for work. So I pulled in and opened the windows, got my breathe of fresh lake air. I got out and sat at a picnic table by the lake. There was a little plaque on it, in memory of someone with dates and a little sentence - He found joy in this place. The very first thing that went thru my head is that I would do something like that for Tony, because he loves the lake so much, I would make sure his name was there with it always. I saw there and stared at the lake and the sun. The picture was my view from the table. I really just wanted to stay there. I could have took a nap, whatever, just chilled. I felt suddenly like a 5 year old. NO! I DON'T WANNA GO TO WORK!! I WANT TO STAY AT THE LAKE!!! Silly, I know. But that is what was going thru me.

I watched the John J Boland take on a load of ore. It was so quiet out at the park this morning, except for the chute of ore sliding into the freighter. It's a great sound. That and the water splashing up on the rocks. I was thinking I have not been rock picking in a while. Maybe it is time again.

I have decided I need a Hammock. It will stay in my car and I will take it to the lake and I will bring a book (which will most likely never get read) because I will fall asleep. I must have one and go napping at the lake. On my bucket list. After I pay bills and get my hair done...sigh...

So Monday at work. Yes, I will be back at the lake today. Either walking or sitting out on Black Rocks. I need some lake time today. I really want to jump off Black Rocks. I either want to do it all alone when no one is there, or I want to do it with someone. Anyone really. I am a chicken.

Have a great Monday everyone and if you are having a shitty one, head down to big ol blue. She puts a smile on your face and an easyness in your heart. I wish I could see her from where I sit in my office. :-)


~Missing big blue...

Ralphs Italian Deli

So this weekend, I had a yard sale. It was kind of a flop. I made a little money but not the crazy crowds of people like I planned. Tony finished his drainage project and it was just hot outside. So no turning the oven on. We could not decide where to go. We finally chose Ralphs Italian Deli in Ishpeming. We have been here a long time, me a year, him 2 years and NEVER set foot inside. I know, shame on us. So right away, I was impressed. I did not know it was also a little store. They had a whole liquor shelf behind the counter, lottery tickets, all kinds of ingredients to make Italian food, fresh breads and a GREAT VINO selection! LOOK AT ALL THE VINO!!!!! My eyes were quickly scanning labels and taking in all of the different flavors they had! There was a small sit down area to the deli which was nice. We decided to get ours to go so we went up to the ordering window and grabbed a menu. The lady who was working was very nice and once she found out it was our first time, was great about telling us what they were famous for (Cudhigi) and Their specials. Tony decided on a Turkey and Swiss Melt or something like that and I decided on the giant ravioli, I am a sucker for pasta, my hips and thighs are proof of that. Half meat filled and half cheese filled! Came with a salad with house Italian dressing and garlic bread! OH it was yummy! I love Italian food. I REALLY love Ralph's Italian food! There is American pasta and then there is yummy really good Italian food. Ralph's is real. Ralph's is good. Oh and we purchased a gigantic cinnamon roll to take home for the morning, which was also fantastic!

You know how I talk about my bad memory once in a while? Well it seems to be that I have forgotten that I am supposed to be eating healthy...dieting, that kind of thing...:-( Ok, so once in a while we fall off the wagon.

Would anyone like to go walking down Lakeshore with me after work from Spring street?? I think that may work better for me than trying to get to the gym all of the time, throwing in 30 minutes and trying to get there a few times a week. I think I will start that today if I can find my gym bag in my car with my sneakers! :-) I heard it is supposed to be hot, which makes sweat! Right?

So I never purchased any wine at Ralph's - YET. Wine is made from fruit right? Fruit is on my diet.....

<3 Loving Ralph's!

~S

Independence Day in Marquette

This post is only, um, a whole week late. I apologize. My memory seems to get worse these days. I really had to concentrate and remember what we did but once I remembered, it was like, OH YA! SO last year, Tony and his son Asa and myself spent the 4th of July on Beaver Island with some great friends of ours. It was a GREAT time and SO beautiful. This year, due to the fact that we just bought a house - we are trying to keep spending down. Not down to 0 but no big expenses. So we decided to stay close to home this year. Asa was out of state visiting his mom and Jon had to work all weekend so it was just Tony and I. What did we do...

Well, if you were in Marquette, you know that the International Food Fest was going on! Food!! If you follow my blog, you know I love food! :-) So I had seen the list of restaurants that had tents there for the weekend and Das Steinhaus was going to be there! YES!!! So Saturday morning we go for a nice drive down Lakeshore and out to Presque Isle. It was beautiful and I love going to the lake with my honey, when we get to share it. I showed him the rock stacks that are all along the shore, very cool, and the painted rock. So we get to the food festival and scope out the vendors - could not find Das Steinhaus at all. We finally found a tent that was not set up and had no sign, it was them! (hint from the guy setting up wearing the Das Steinhaus shirt!) They were just late in setting up and informed us it would be about 20 minutes or so - they were service brats, cheesebrats and pulled pork! YUM! So we opted to check out others in the meantime. This is a food fest right? You don't just try ONE place. So we head over to get Chinese, it was yummy! Has Sweet and Sour chicken and Chicken Teriyaki - From K's Oriental I believe - the chicken teriyaki was delish!!! So we strolled around, people watched. Have you ever just sat and people watched. What is that guys story? OR that lady's story? What had that person accomplished? What if that 90 year old woman was a broadway hit in her day! Who knows what great stories people have! Or freaky! Or weird! Or tragic and devastating! You just don't know! But it is fun to imagine!

So over 30 minutes later, the brats were finally being throw on the grill. The only disappointing part of the day is that they were so late in setting up and very disorganized but the food made up for it in my mind! We ordered Cheesebrats. I had onions on mine. Oh they were on this grilled bread, and it was just a delicious mess!!! Ten points and an A+ to Das Steinhaus for the food!! It was just amazing! I cannot wait to get to their restaurant and try the Schnitzel! I lived in Germany for 4 years and I remember it well!!!

After we ate, it was almost time for Chasin Steel - a great Bluegrass band. We were invited by Adam Carpenter, one of the members, to come and see them. Our first time seeing them and they were fantastic!!! They started off with Dixieland Delight by Alabama and I am sorry - I am a metalhead and 80's hair band girl by heart, I love my Metallica and Korn and Motley Crue and Disturbed every day but I love old school Alabama!!! I was a fan right off! Tony was impressed that they played Steven Earle and they did a GREAT JOB! We are fans and will be seeing them again when they come around! I actually booked Adam and Jake on the side for my company summer picnic! :-)

That was the end of our fun - we headed home and we were LAAAAAZY the rest of the day. Like laid around the house lazy. :-) It is great how you can do that whenever you want! Sunday was a work day. Tony had a drainage project he was putting in and I had yard sale stuff to get ready for, house cleaning. laundry and all of that fun stuff. We didn't even get to the fireworks but we did go watch the Independence Day Parade in Ishpeming on Monday and it was just great! I was very impressed with a lot of the floats, especially the North Iron Church! Ha! It was awesome!

And then back to work.

Loving the holidays in the U.P. -

Sarah