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We agreed to meet Sunday morning by 11am for a couple of celebratory Bloody Marys and perhaps what would be the last bike ride of the season (for the others anyway!!).
It was quite daring to sign-up for a bike ride this time of year...it was 47 degrees outside when I woke up and only 52 degrees when we started off with the sun up..., but everyone showed; their chaps & gloves in tow and off we went.
Our first leg was a mere 35 miles - beautifully colored autumn scenery - nobody seriously bitched, no limbs froze and the company & the Bloodys' were worth the trip.
By the time we set off for our next stop it had warmed up to a comfortable 65 degrees, and I for one could have kept right on riding. Instead we cozily settled in to watch a Green Bay Packer game, sampled mystery shots each time the Packers scored and laughed out loud A LOT (BTW...the Packers kicked butt!!)
It's official...we are going to have to change our affectionate name for the Martin family's home from "the Ranch" to "the Fat Farm", because there was so much food for Saturday's family/friends pig roast that we had to go back Sunday morning to eat more food before properly cleaning up the party site!
Everything was all SO delicious...cheese & sausage platters, custom smoked salmon, fresh garden veggie trays, dips, chips, crackers, candies, grilled sweet corn, and homemade sauerkraut, baked beans, stuffing, pasta salads, potato salads, fruit salads, baked goods, tortes, plus pie and cookies too - never mind the bar & beer truck!!
There was a magic trick that involved a pickup truck and a fire pit, which was our cue to head for home, but other than that a delightful time was had by all :D
For future reference, a near 200-lb pig and trimmings is enough food to feed a village of 200 and too much for a party of 75. No worries though, nothing went to waste and it has been duly noted going forward that A.) Cut back on portions, or B.) Invite more people, strangers if we have to, to the next bash. ~
...so, the alarm is set for 3:30AM - double and triple checked - and for once I have no problem falling asleep without reading. What felt like several minutes later, I dreamily open my eyes, so proud of myself that I beat the alarm, but when the old eyes focus on the clock I scream &%@#?*, jump into a pair of sweats, grab my cell phone, flip-flops and keys and fly out the door.
I waited until I was out of the driveway before placing the apology call to my waiting daughter - I had to let the panic subside, remind myself that she's over 21 and for the love of Pete and she'll manage. Her phone went right to voice mail - a good sign for me - so I left my "Mommy's on her way" message and got down to the business of driving the four-wheeled vehicle, which I have only driven one other time since May.
The condensed version is that her plane was briefly delayed, her luggage took forever and I ended up waiting for her - go figure! So we return home, where I plan to finish my nap before Thursday's all day/night H.O.G. festivities at Miller Park (back in Milwaukee where the airport is!) But the next thing I know, I'm cooking a royal breakfast, the phone is going bonkers, Roger ran to do an errand, my daughter is on the couch and I just want to sleep!
A 3 hour nap did occur and we were well on our way to Milwaukee by 1:30. Again, we made plans to meet up with two other couples and again, after 2 false alarms, over 30 minutes in line for beverages, and 4 cell phone calls between us, we gave up looking for them in the estimated crowd of 80,000 and just started enjoying the day.
We took in a bit of Billy Bob Thornton's Band, some Joan Jett, a couple of national motorcycle stunt teams, comedian Lewis Black, as well as the entire performances of Sugarland and Kid Rock. And...we ran into one of the guys we tried finding the night before in West Bend!!
Another honest to God, you had to see it to believe it event, and other than not meeting up with our friends, which bummed me out, it was another memorably fun, perfect Wisconsin summer day. ~
