More Polar Plunge Pics

Here are the official site photos.  Just thought you would enjoy them, they really help fill in the gaps :)  There are 3 pics so make sure you arrow over to the next one.  My favorite is the one with us in the air!

Polar Plunge Pics!

We came, we jumped, we got out!  It was amazingly fast,  yes the anticipation was worse than the doing.  Don't believe me, join me next year. :)  I am gonna do it again.  No doubt about it.  It was a lot of fun, it was for a great cause, and well it's awesome bragging rights.  Now as for my camera men, I had 3 on the job.  2 taking pics, one doing video.  Pic takers did their job, point and click.  Now my video man, apparently not so much.  Point and click.  Hmm, it did not shoot video.  I am so disappointed, I can not tell you.    The video was my only way to see it.  I just wanna cry.   Maybe next year.  Here are the pics as promised :) Hope you enjoy them.  I sure did.

Oh yeah this do this!

Splash!

Oh that's cold!

I think I'm frozen in place.

Me getting my duck.



Yes I was the last one out.  Must have enjoyed  the brisk swim ;)

 All in all not a bad dip, next year I will come better prepared. Thanks again to all my sponsors, I really enjoyed the experience and hope to have you sponsor me again.  

Top 10 Feburary Pics

Attempts at being super snowboarders!

Just Plain Cutie :)

Little Guy Sure likes the Camera.  He wont watch were hes going!

It's So hard to Pose!

Me finishing up from the 15 inch snowfall.

Its hard to see but this is me plowing during the Blizzard.  Cold Work!

My Honey working hard to remove the never ending snow!



My Serena's Birthday is in this Great Month!



My big catch!

Sleepy head can never make it home after a hard day Fishing :)

So far the month of Feb, has been eventful!  Up and Coming, Serena and I will be testing for our Green Stripes this Friday, and on Sunday the 27th  we will be doing the Polar Plunge!

I am close to making my Goal of $350!  I am so excited, can't wait to do this.  Your help is appreciated, please feel free to check out my page at:
https://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/pp11/pledge.asp?id_p=5736

Take care, See you soon with more pics!
~Cindy

Unrest in Wisconsin

I am going to break my code of  "No Politics" for this blog.  If you don't want to read this post, now is a good time to step away.  Come back on Monday and I will have a non political post for you.  I thank you for reading my blog and look forward to having you back.
Now for those of you still with me, there is some serious debate going on all over about Gov. Walkers bill that was supposed to be passed yesterday.   I first have to tell you that I am a non Union worker.  My husband is a Union worker for the Operators Local 139.  (So far they have not called and asked for my husbands support yet, I find their silence disturbing)  I personally do Not like the Union.  My honey and I often disagree on this topic so we don't talk about politics together.  (Very heated debating!)  This bill however will break the Union.  Completely.  I'm not okay with that. Why you ask?
This bill will revoke our state workers (except local police, state troopers and fire fighters) ability to bargaining rights.  This bill will also not allow employers to collect Union Dues.  This bill is mostly about breaking the Union. Most of the state workers are willing to concede to paying into their pensions and health benefits.  Nobody is fighting that.  They are just asking to keep their Bargaining Rights.  That is all Gov. Walker would have to concede to.  If you want to read the facts about this bill click here.  I want to also point out to you though that unfortunately that there are a lot of angry people who are saying awful things about our teachers. People are calling them greedy, ungrateful, and saying that they should be fired for calling in sick to protest losing their bargaining rights.  If I remember correctly, this is about All state employees.  Except the local police, state troopers, and fire fighters.  Oh yeah, Except Gov. Walker, the State Senators and Congressman.  I would like to point also that many police, state troopers and fire fighters are also protesting the unfairness in this bill.   We are truly a torn state.  This is the first time in my life I have ever backed a Union thought. (My husband is happy to finally have me by his side.)  I have family members who whole heartily think that Gov. Walker is correct in this bill.  They believe that this is the answer.  I believe that when this bill passes it is only the beginning of Gov. Walkers bad calls.  I would also like to show you one more article from a local news channel, this is written by UWEC Chancellor,  I feel the worst for the Limited Term Employees (LTE).  If you want to read Chancellor Levin-Stankevich's  letter, click here.  I encourage you to read some of the comments.  You will see that there is alot of uneducated hate spewing.  I guess that peoples unwillingness to educate and read up on issues Before they pass judgement.  Unfortunately our teachers are the 'Patsy's" in this, they are the most targeted for the hate that is growing in favor of Walkers bill.  I apologize for a Political post again, but I could not let it go.  I felt the need to reach out to the haters, and maybe encourage them to simmer down, and educate themselves.  This is not about who has a job and should be grateful.  This is about protecting the rights of people who are working, letting them bargain for their rights.  About keeping Unions....ya that was hard for me to say.  To all the Teachers out there: Keep up the Great work you do.  Thank you for teaching us, thank you for teaching my children.  I am grateful to your service.

Valentines Day

Its the lovey Valentines Day, every woman is happy and hopeful.  Today is the same day my honey asked me to marry him, 9 years ago.  He had really cool romantic plans too.  I not knowing the game plan inadvertently ruined them for him.  (The story of my life, what can I say!)  Here is what we were supposed to do:  We drop my baby girl off at my sisters house to babysit while we go off and have a nice quiet romantic lunch, and afterwords he takes me to Mt. Tom overlooking the city where he proposes.   Sounds nice, thoughtful, basically ooey and gooey.  Ya know things girls want to experience. :)  What I got was a story that went like this:  We drop off my baby girl off at my sisters house to babysit.  "Where ya going out to eat"  she asks?  "I don't know, know anyplace nearby that's good and fairly quick I have to go to work in 3 hours."  I reply.  She tells us about Mardi Gras.  Its a small restaurant nearby and serves food as New Orleans style as us Wisconsinites can take. (I honestly don't remember much of the place, it just was not that great.  We have never been back since.)  We lose a lot of time there and I'm in a hurry to get my little girl and get home to get ready for work.  He keeps talking and trys to deter me from my course, but being a Taurus, my mind was made and there was no stopping me.  We get onto my sisters road, and he screams "Pull over I have to pee!"  I look at him his eyes were wide.  "Really, we are a mile from Kathy's. Can't you wait?"  "No.  I have to go NOW!" was his reply as he's pulling on the door handle.  I pull over,  I'm waiting, and waiting.  How can anyone pee that long, I'm wondering.  I look in the side mirror, he's on his knees behind my truck.  ????  I get out, wondering if the food was bad at the restaurant.  I get behind the truck, there he is holding a box with a ring in it.  "This is Not how I wanted to do this, but you left me no choice.  The whole day didn't go how I wanted it too. "  He starts to explain.  I am in shock, I think its the only time I have ever been speechless in my life.  "So what do ya think"  he asks.  "Do you want to be my wife?"  By this time I managed to be a blubbering idiot.  I'm bawling, wiping my eyes, and nose.  Somehow I managed a yes, and he put the ring on my finger. 

I will never forget Valentines Day, it holds a special place in my heart.  That was the best V-Day I have ever had and I'm glad to say so.  I don't ask for much on V-day anymore, how can you top that?  He is the best present he has ever given me.  Thank you Honey, for giving all of you to me forever.  I love you and always will.  For eternity, because Life is too short.

Resiliency

Yesterday, I was in a meeting and I sat next to an old friend.  We haven't talked much over the past few years, I realized how much I miss her in my life. In all these years, she has never missed my birthday or anniversary. She is an amazing woman, who has endured life's trials and has come out stronger.  I believe that I am a better person just by having known her. She has raised 2 sons on her own, helped one through a drug addiction, and  buried a grandson. She has also quit smoking, another lesson learned from her.  Her life certainly was not easy, but she prevailed. We were given a test on resilient behavior.  I read some of the questions and knew I was not a resilient person.  Test questions were to be numbered  1strongly disagree and 5 strongly agree.  Ex; Are you able to bounce back from a negative experience.   Most of her answers were 4 and 5's.  I believe she answered honestly.  I have watched her for over a decade. She takes God's trials and blessing with ease.  She mourns when she has to, and puts herself together and helps others through their own trials.  She is the epitome of a true woman, she is a caregiver.  I love to hear her laugh, I love also to have the chance to be there when she needs me.  This woman has taught me so much about strength, I see now that there is more to learn from her.

Special Olympics Wisconsin - Give $5

Thank you for helping me help atheletes obtain thier dreams!

Polar Plunge 2011

I wasn't certain that I was crazy, now I am positive that I AM crazy!  Who in their right mind would jump in a lake that recently had chunks cut out of it?  Not this chick... OK... This chick is gonna do it.  I'm scared because I wont even go in a pool that is too cold.  Why am I doing this you ask?  Oh 3 reasons come to mind:

1. Serena- big hazel pouting eyes "Please Mom Please I really want to do this!"
2. Isaac- in class I knew he thought it was cool.
3. Special Olympics, need I say more?

I want to be honest, it took her a week to convince me I should Plunge into ice cold water for no other reason than to raise money for the Special Olympics of Wisconsin. So here I am, "Freezin for a Reason" as the Polar Plunge slogan goes.  I am hoping to raise $350 for our team AKF Martial Arts.  This is all goes to Special Olympics.  It is a great cause.  I'll only ask you to donate what you can.  If it is only a dollar than I am good with that.  Please help me raise this money by emailing this post to your contacts.  I have until Feb. 26th.  We jump on Feb. 27th.  I will post photos and (fingers crossed) I'll get a video uploaded.   If you want to sponsor me you can donate by clicking this link.  Thank you for your support.  Just so you know I am secretly hoping to obtain the top goal of $1, 500.  I have yet to raise top funds for a fund raiser I have personally been in.    With your help I may get my wish.  Thank you for helping me obtain my goals.  Don't forget to come back to look for photos and if all goes well a video!  We only have until Feb. 26th to raise the money for this, be my sponsor, and send this post to your contacts.  I promise you will feel good about it right away, and every time you see a commercial for Special Olympics you will smile because you were a part of a great program.  Together we can do this!

Thank you~ Cindy