2013 in Review

2013 in Review

2013 was a year full of "firsts" for me:

January - Started the year visiting my grandson Aiden, but unfortunately ended up in urgent care in Arizona because I was so sick. The meds they gave me quickly kicked in and I got better and ventured off to Kauai with my son Joey. First time 4 wheeling through some scary, wet terrain while on vacation with Joey. Back in Winneconne I attended my first Chili Cookoff competition and began a new special friendship. I was hired on an independent contract to manage the Winneconne Rec. League for this year.

February - My car got in a wreck without me. But on a good note, the insurance company and the body shop were great to work with and it was fixed in no time flat. Had my first dinner date with special friend. Saw my first bald eagle (in the wild) on the ice and in trees near the ice covered lake.

March -  Discovered that there is a funky looking duck called a Hoodie. Watched a lot of March Madness. Had the best hair color experience from Laurie at JC Penney Salon in Oshkosh. I hosted the Schroeder Easter egg pecking competition in mom's house on the lake. And I got my first grophen making lesson from Aunt Fodz. Cousins Mary Berndt and Laurie Hartman joined us at Barb's house.

April - I interviewed and got the full time job at the Village of Winneconne that I was praying for. Got to see the Broadway musical Lion King with Sami and Barb. Witnessed sturgeon spawning.Watched Mike Fiers pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers with Milwaukee Mike and my friend in Miller's Park, Milwaukee. Got up before the crack of dawn on a Saturday because I was asked to photograph my first fishing competition in Winneconne. And helped give my god-daughter, Jan a bridal shower.

May - Any month that I have all three of my sons together is a good month. Jon visited for Mother's Day with his friends Ben and Ben from Arizona and we enjoyed visited a few drinking establishments. I got to photograph my second fishing competition in Winneconne. Found out what a cooper was at the Winneconne Historical Society meeting. Attended Chris's graduation from UWO. Got choked up watching my first Winneconne Memorial Day parade. And loved, loved every scented minute of May's lilac bushes all over the area.

June  - A very busy month which started with the Winneconne Area Chamber of Commerce's annual car show. All of the Winneconne rec. league teams have begun their season now. Another fishing tournament to photograph (gosh they have a lot of fishing tournaments). Jon flew back to celebrate his birthday with us in Wisconsin and we spent his day touring breweries in Milwaukee. My god-daughter, Jan got married to Jason Pardon. The Village hosted their annual Brat Fry for the community and I was included in helping serve our residents for the first time. And Barb and I along with other cousins had our second grophen making lesson with Aunt Fodz.

July - Word has gotten out around here about my love of photography. I was asked )and some paid me) to take pictures of the Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament in Oshkosh; the 2013 Summer Vacation Bible Camp, Sovereign State Days (where Eddie's volleyball team took 1st place), the American Legion Badger Boys and Girls banquet and the Rec. League award nights in Winneconne. My oldest son turned 38 years old. My grandson moved to Prescott, Arizona because his mother got a new teaching job. Two very good friends came to visit, TB and Don, who now live in Florida, were here around the 4th of July and Mandy flew in from Arizona to stay with me for over a week during Sovereign State Days.  And for the first time since I moved here I began to take card making classes.

August - St. Mary's Church in Winneconne and Omro both had their annual picnics. The Chamber's Annual Raffle and the American Legion's Bullseye for Youth were successful. I had a small out patient surgery and was well taken care of by Eddie and a special friend. Became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was elected a charter board member of the newly formed Winneconne Area Community Foundation. Aiden started kindergarten. Photographed another triathlon that took place in Winneconne. Helped plan Jaci's 20th anniversary for working for the Village. But by far my most exciting 20 minutes of August was my first helicopter ride over the Village in order to aerial photographs of the area.

September - Football season has arrived and went to watch some of the young boys who played baseball this summer now play football. Photographed two more events - Confirmation at St. Mary's and the American Legion's Sportsman's Banquet. My photos were chosen to be used in the St, Mary's Church quarterly newsletter. The Village's Beautification Committee and the local businesses decorated the entire Village with scarecrows, pumpkins, corn stalks etc. Our Village received many compliments on their fall decorations. I attended my first training class since I've worked here - an all day class on social media. And the Packer season begins! Always miss my mom in September more than any other month.

October - Mike and Jody invited us to their annual hayride and bonfire party in Omro. I turned 60 this month...now that's a first. My entire family and many friends were there to help me celebrate by dancing the night away...well flat Bruce was there in place of the "real" Bruce, but all three of my sons were with me. Yes...Jon flew in once again. Thank God he works at the airlines. We got lots of rain and some photography opportunities were cancelled. Walked through my first haunted buildings during the Halloween season with Dawn and her family. Fritz and Donna from Heber/Overgaard and Donna's parents from Waukesha came to visit my home. I love showing off where I now live. My probation period ended at work, now they can stop calling me proby...but they have replaced that nickname with CSR.

 November - Another month, another birthday celebration. We have a large family, that gives us a reason to get together and party on a regular basis...not that this family needs a reason. Sami turned legal this month, she is now 21 years old. The Winneconne Area Community Foundation had their kick-off event...and I had a date...the same date I began the year with.  I finally got to babysit the Hardy kids and had a great time spoiling them, but then immediately missed my grandson, Aiden. Our Winneconne Wolves took the State Championship for the first time ever!  I was invited to two homes for Thanksgiving and went to both. First Brooke's family had me for the second year in a row. I love that her mom makes dumplings with her turkey - two of my favorite things to eat. Then I went to the Falk's and filled up again with more turkey and all the trimmings. My son Eddie gave me my belated birthday present - a night in Milwaukee, first dinner then the Broadway play White Christmas. I sang along to every song, I'm not too sure the people around me appreciated that. I loved, loved, loved every minute of it. Now I was ready for the Christmas holiday.

December - My son Joey had a birthday this month. I did get to see him but not for as long as I would have liked.The Winneconne Library and the Historical Society put on a Holiday Faire and I took pictures. I decorated the house with the help of Eddie and my friend. One carried my huge tree down from the garage attic and helped set it up, the other delivered mom's nativity set which was safely stored at Brooke's. Got my presents shipped to Arizona and Florida on time. I love Facetime on my ipod because I got to talk and see Aiden and he showed  me his new house and his new room. .My friend came with me on to my brother's home on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day I spent part of the day with friends and received my present from Eddie. Probably the best Christmas holiday that I've had in years. But the partying wasn't over yet. Helped plan a retirement party for Marlene who has been working at the Village for the past 10 years. Then the year ended with me making a prime rib roast for the first time. It didn't turn out too bad for my first time.

Did you see a theme here? I had many, many firsts but I only wrote about a few of them.  2013 was a good year for me and I am looking forward to 2014 and hopefully many more "firsts".