Spring is (Not) Here!?

Well, if you lived in Wisconsin during the month of March, you certainly experienced the truth of the old saying "March comes in like a ___ and out like a _____." In this case, March came in like a lamb, with sunny,calm days that were warm enough to melt the majority of the snow, but definitely a very large lion came out at the end of the month! Cold, sleety and snowy days, combined with winds and dreary skies. All I can say is: Enough already! In fact, I just had my "spring" break but I use that term loosely. There was nothing very spring-like about it. I did have a really great visit at my sister Lisa's house in Colfax. The top 2 pictures are of her youngest daughter, Leila, who will be three on Monday, April 4! Happy Birthday, Leila! The first day of my visit I got to go to the school where my nephew, Michael, and niece, Emma, attend. Pictured here is a statue of the school's mascot, the mighty Viking. I was also fortunate enough to catch some of Emma's volleyball practice. Can you spot her? She is in the middle with the red T-shirt and pink shorts--certainly one of the tallest girls (which is really great for volleyball!). Here she is participating in one of the serving drills they were doing. She whacked that ball over the net! After each girl served the ball, they were supposed to go lay down on the other side of the court while the rest of the girls finished their serves. Volleyball player I am not...and I missed the explanation of why they had to lay in the area where balls were landing...but I'm guessing it's to get them used to balls flying at them? Hmm? The second day of my visit was spent mainly indoors due to cold rain. While the older kids were at school, Lisa and I spent time reading with Leila and sipping coffee and talking together. It was really nice. I also got to spend time with Lisa's husband, Jon, who is often away for his job which requires long hours and distant worksites. Jon's father was not feeling well and was in an Eau Claire hospital, but his condition has improved since and he is faring better. Their cat, Cuddles, spent lots of time meowing at me and even spent a minute stalking me...much like she used to do when she was just a kitten over ten years ago! Cuddles Tah-dah! I was awokened by Emma on my last day in Colfax with her saying,"Don't worry, Lulu, you can keep on sleeping because it is a snowday!" After sleet and freezing rain had fallen in the evening, during the night 6 inches of snow fell, with another4-6 anticipated for the daytime hours. You can see my vehicle covered with the wicked white snow. Lisa and I chuckled at her window hanging which seemed to be mocking us. Springtime in Wisconsin indeed!

Silas

My best friend Ingrid had her second baby, a boy she named Silas, on February 22. I had the opportunity to travel to Springstead and visit the little guy when he was about two weeks old. The top picture shows Ingrid holding sleepy Silas. The black and white is Ingrid making chocolate chip cookies with her other son, Soren.

Silas

He was just 6 lbs here!

Ingrid's husband, Craig.

Craig and Soren wrestle. I think Soren won.

The same weekend I visited Ingrid and Craig, I also got to see my sister and her 2 daughters and John and Jim. We were all staying at Mom and Dad's, of course, and we enjoyed celebrating Mom's 67th birthday!

Leila anticipates trailblazing through the deep woods.

What luck to have such a kind uncle pulling them in the sled!

Emma impressed us all with her skills at making miniature origami pieces.

As delightful as my weekend up north was, we continue to have a tyrannical dark cloud over our lives--that created by our new governor and his henchmen. Both Mark and I have been attending protests at the Capitol (when we can) since the middle of February. The following pictures are images taken from a couple of different rally days.

I get a kick out of this picture: An officer checks his Blackberrry while on horseback.

A firefighter marching amongst the crowd.

At one of the rallies, a woman dressed as Sarah Palin walked around waving to the masses with the sign "This bill's stupid and I know stupid!"

The day of the "counter-protest" brought only a handful of Tea Party supporters. Contrary to the media coverage, there were NOT many pro-Walker supporters there. And as far as mob-like aggression, the debate pictured here between a man and a woman was as "heated" as it ever got.

One woman in support of Walker walks against the crowd.

One of my favorite signs.

Craig and Soren are in the middle of this picture, to the left of the large sign that says: Walker Enemy of this Family.

A Fight for Survival

As I'm sure you all have heard, Wisconsin's new governor has proposed a bill which would strip public workers of their unions' rights to collective bargaining and increase employee health care premiums and paycuts. Excluded from this bill are police officers, firefighters and state troopers who, Republicans concede, would need to 'help' maintain order after it is passed (hmm...should that tell you something right there?). These are also groups that endorsed Walker during his election campaign. I must say, though, that the firefighters ARE NOT AT ALL pleased about the removal of unions. They have come out in full force in complete support of STOPPING THIS BILL. **See top right youtube clip.**

So I, along with thousands of other Wisconsinites, and concerned citizens across our country, have had a very intense week. This bill that was not even introduced until last Friday, was slated to be signed and voted upon with a week. The bill is also not up for discussion by our governor nor by his Republican supporters who now havethe majority of the seats in the state Senate.

A radical removal of laborers' rights with absolutely no allowance for discussion in compromise has resulted in protest. And rightly so. This is going to effect a lot of really hardworking people who do not make a lot of money to begin with and it's not just educators like me, but nurses, prison guards, electricians, daycare providers, DNR workers...

If you have not been following what is going in Wisconsin this week, please do so! States like Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, and Nevada are paying close attention to what is going on here because Republicans are proposing similar measures.

I don't want to turn my blog into a great political lament, but I'm really worried. I fear having my voice silenced by people who don't know or care about what it's like to just get by. People who think that Mark and I are shirking some sort of duty to "pay up like the others" working in the private sector (I think we paid those dues when we lost our business). I fear that this great state that I was born and raised in and take such pride living in, is going to become a place where we can't afford to stay. And that breaks my heart.

So, that being said, I also have felt moments of hope and pride this week as lots of people like us have come out in HUGE numbers in support of workers' rights and unions. It truly has been an incredible thing to witness and partake in and it brings me such joy to see people across the state who are unable to drive to Madison to protest, participating in other forms of protest.

People of all ages are coming out in support of public employees, including this little boy who was quite pleased that I wanted to take his picture. Certain school districts across the state have closed on various days since last Wednesday. My district was closed for 2 days.

And guess what? VOTING IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT!

TV news crews surround the Capitol.

Friday afternoon people gathered to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak.

My brother-in-law, Greg, is a phy ed teacher at West. My brother, John, teaches at UW Madison and he and his partner, Jim, would also be affected by this bill. We all will. It will further empower those who have the most power.

Greg, John and I smiling on the outside. Not really thrilled on the inside.

One of my favorites. This sign reads "Down with the Cheesehead Pharaoh of the Midwest!"

Onlookers climbed trees as the crowd gathered to hear Jesse Jackson.

Friday night

Sun and Snow

Of course, I have to begin this blog with the picture of Mingo laying next to his cousin's dog bed. It would be an understatement to say that Mark is excited for the Superbowl next weekend. And me? I am excited to eat the food that will be prepared by my husband for the Superbowl party we will be attending! Last Sunday we made the short trip to our friends' house located in the beautiful Spring Green countryside. Mark and Mike went pheasant hunting and Barb and I strapped on some snowshoes and walked around their stunning property with little Lily in tow.

Lily didn't go pheasant hunting with Mingo and Barb and Mike's 2 dogs, Fritz and Francine, because she is still incredibly gunshy and skittish around guns. She had a great time with Barb and I though, running like a rabbit and going "snowswimming".

The Teffs' dogs are German Wirehairs. Francine is the old girl in front and Fritz is the inquisitive looking boy in back.

Mark watched the first quarter of the Packers/Bears game at the Teffs. I was more interested in taking this picture of a deer that came out to feed...

Check out my team spirit! Mark insists I have to wear this same sweatshirt (it's his by the way) next weekend--superstitions abound with crazed sports fans. Here we are pictured with our good friends Barb and Mike.

The second half of the game was spent with Mark's family at Van and Judy's house.

Tuckered from the mornings activities.

Lizzy had to share her bed with her cousins!