After heading to Madison in perfect cool weather yesterday morning, it was a wake-up call to drive back this morning in snowy, slippery conditions.
I got up extra early on accident. I thought we were meeting at 11AM, so I wanted to head out early in order to hit Macy's for my Santa letter and perhaps a slice of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake for Matt and Megan to thank them for letting me stay over that night. Yes, I did send a letter to Santa...mostly because Macy's donates $1 for each letter to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Ok, a little because I hope some of the magic that flies around this time of year might bring me what I wished for this Christmastime. Anyway, I enjoyed wandering around Macy's, my first time ever. What can I say, I've been deprived of couture for a very long time. I think there were only pieces from three collections that could be worn everyday with jeans. The rest were very nice and very very expensive. I bought a couple of angel ornaments on 40% off under $10 to commemorate my visit. Seriously, who pays over two hundred dollars on a piece of clothing they can only wear a couple of times a year??!!
I asked Matt to smile, but when I looked at the camera screen I saw how it turned out. No wonder he didn't hide his face like he normally does!
Anyway, I made it to Madison without completely running out of gas. $2.53 in Madison vs. $2.59 any where else...I know where I'm going! Megan and I went to meet Mom out at Half Price on the westside while Matt took a shower. Found lots of cheaper books for Megan's kids toys drive. Then we all headed over to Pancake Cafe. I had the first burger I've eaten in probably a month. I've really tried to cut down on such things since my blood pressure started to rise. Mmmmmm...burgery goodness! We had a great time for a couple of hours, discussing our strange Christmas traditions and and the future beyond that. We headed to Target so Mom could assist Santa in shopping for practical items for us. We said good-bye to Mom and headed back to Matt and Megan's downtown apartment to drop off Matt's car.
It gets dark so early these days! We were able to get out and enjoy the Rotary Lights show before the concert gates opened. We had floor standing space, and got there so early that we had "second row" spaces....you know, if there had been an official row system, we would've been that close! Lots of great pics and fantastic music from the Zac Brown Band and their three musical guests. Lots of funny songs and stories too! Got home late, went to bed quickly, and woke up to a few inches of snow.
Matt and Megan and their concert tickets ready to go!
I left their place at about 7:30AM...a few minutes and two Pop Tarts after I woke up! Charlie doesn't do well on snow. I am thankful that the other drivers were observant and that we only hit half of the red lights on E. Washington. I did almost slide into another car near Red Letter News as the light turned green. And unlike the usual rear-end slide, this time it was the front that went. Ugh...I'm seriously thinking new tires soon. Most of the snow and slush thinned out quickly after leaving Madison metro limits. Some white-knuckle driving until about Johnson Creek, where very little snow had fallen. By the time I got to Milwaukee, it barely looked like the skies had sent ANYTHING our way! Today it flurried again, but it did not stick.
Well, I'm going to bed. So much to do, including two papers for next week!!!
Hugs, Christi and Lily
