Happiest of Day's!! So grateful for Tom...

We are so lucky and blessed to have Tom. He's a coach, teacher, cook, driver and all around loving and great guy. We have a fun weekend celebrating him and thanking him for all that he does for our family.

Tom - you are loved, we wouldn't be the LoudAmericans without you!

LOVE YOU!!!
T.J.K.B.N.M

A blue heron and 2 turtles were our peanut gallery during our golf game - gorgeous! 

The boys played the par 3 at Brookview. Tracy and Billy each parred one hole, not sure the other 2 can say that.... it was fun though!

Fried fish, corn salad, dill carrots and waffle fries with Cane's sauce - yummy!!

The gift of gab and celebrating Fathers day with Jeremiah and the rest of the clan.

Grandpa Jerry's cake (Kids got a bit excited and cut before we could get an unblemished photo)

Dug out old movies and watched grade school sports in the backyard with Doug and Jennifer. Man, our kids are talented (and competitive!)

Obligatory family "dad" photo.  They are too cute and own all my heart.

Speaking of competitive, a lively socially distanced game of cubes....team 1 (with Charlotte in the foreground swimming)

Team 2 with Beans and Aspen

Kay agreed to a photo with Tom since they weren't able to go fishing due to incoming thunderstorms. LOVE that Billy photo bombed it.

Presents!!

Virtual MS150 - their 40 yr anniversary, my 26th ride

As I write this, I'm getting ever nearer to my goal of $5,000 for this years ride. Considering it was a virtual ride due to COVID-19, that's pretty impressive.

I have to admit, I was dreading the virtual ride this year.  Even though I had decided to do 50 miles each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It sounded like a total drag.

Then, Wendy pulled through and had a great idea of reliving and posting all our traditions.  I got excited with the planning and the ideas took off!

And...most importantly, we did it!!  So fun!! Although I do miss and need to get back to the original ride next year.

Some highlights...

Day 1 Ride ... Billy rode with me for 13 miles, Tom rode with me for 14 miles and then I finished off on a long ride. The weather was perfect and it was fun to catch up with my boys. I didn't feel too tired and figured I had done my training well..

Day 1 Traditions - Traditions on the 1st day are big. Usually we take a bus to Duluth, catch up with friends, have a nap and a beer along the way and then set up camp in Proctor, following by dinner at Lil Angies and a walk by Lake Michigan. (Not to mention, trying to sleep while young drunk bikers come back from Canal Park WAY later than us;) This year we modified ....

Tom set up my tent, (normally PorkBellyVentures does this), Birch's on the Lake donated an incredible mexican dinner AND 4 oil cans of their beer (Thanks to Wendy's sister Lisa). I did drink a margarita and then took a walk through the neighborhood listening to the sounds of Lake Michigan thanks to a post from Al Johnsons in Door County. Finally, I DID sleep in my tent and the neighbors obliged the drunk part by sitting around the bonfire and chatting. Perfect.

Day 2 Ride ... My friend Ellie, who's a major biker, joined me for a ride up to Anoka and back. It was a little windy but we managed to pull through ... She had just done 100 miles (a century) 2 days before so I think she was grateful that I don't ride fast;)

Day 2 Traditions - Porto potties, Dominos for 1st lunch and leftovers for 2nd lunch but I did miss seeing Diana at every rest stop- I have no idea how she gets to every rest stop before us on the ride but she does! (more on this later....) !! I did my facial, read my People magazine and then went wandering around the neighborhood with a drink to visit with friends (at Hinkley we usually grab a beer and go visit other tents and find riders we know). I also had smoked pork for dinner, which is what the Target Team Tent usually brings in for us. I wasn't quite in bed by 9pm but did justice with a 10pm curfew and I was TIRED!! Both Maui and Nikki joined me in the tent and its officially their new favorite place to sleep.

Day 3 and the final push!! Jill, a friend through Tammy, Target and non profit leadership road with me out to Waconia and back.  It. Was. Windy. Thank god the Dakota Regional Trail is covered. Yikes - gusts of 20+ mph and a steady headwind at 14mph. But, we were so busy catching up we hardly noticed.  We saw other riders, borrowed toilet paper, ate at the traditional Subway. I always do 1 back end on Sunday during lunch. Just to prove I can. Plus, it feel SO GOOD after bending forward for 150 miles....I also got my traditional massage (thanks Billy and Leshia) and had Tom take my tent down.  Hung up by bike until next year. 

But...the best tradition of all! The support from all my friends....

All of your amazing donations. I'm well over $4,000 and on my way to my goal of $5,000.

Lynn Bond

Eric Moleski

Pamela Georgeson

Leona Werner

Michael Sunnarborg

Angela Zurick

Jennifer Zurick

Audrey Simmons

Dawn McLaughlin

Allison Orvis Thorne

Pam Bryden

Daon Karpan

Shawn Gensch

Paul Balthazor

Angela Lawson

Doug and Jennifer

Kristin Bilardi

Suzy Mattingly Bratsch

Jill Hardy Heath

Christopher Perrigo

Tammy Basil

Paul Stoll Janel Calhoun Kris Kewitsch Sandy Oftedahl Aubrey and Patti Fish and John Overson + 2 anonymous ... Truly blessed by you!!

Here's the weekend in photos...

Super yummy mexican

Pizza! 1st lunch

Cant even count how many of these I used

Day 2 left overs for 2nd lunch

My riding buddy

So grateful he rode with me since I think he secretly hates it

My lone ride

margarita!! and bottomless chips 

Diana from last year, true - 1st lunch is always at 10

Dinner!

Ellie - Day 2 riding buddy 

Face mask and People 

Other riders, what a great community 

Jill - dear friend 

1st Lunch day 2

Once a year I do it to prove I can

Until next year 

My 'help' taking down my tent 

The best part of all 

40 years...

Diana DID come through and make 7 signs that she sent out virtually for rest stops. She's the best. 

Finally stop....

Congratulations to Jimmy and the Class of 2020

Wow as the Grateful Dead Sang "What a long strange trip it's been"

The class of 2020 was born into the world during the tragedy of 9/11 then persevered through the H1N. The election of Donald Trump, new Covid-19 and civil unrest with the death of George Floyd. Through it all these kids persevered, prospered and succeeded - a testament to our future!  The future is bright because of these kids.

Hopkins High School did a fantastic job with getting a Graduation Ceremony in place.  The families all were given times to arrive at the High School, Principal Bolinger meet each car and gave the Graduate their Diploma and then families were lined up in cars by the grade school they went to, Jimmy went to Meadowbrook, then each group began a car parade around the High School where the teachers were lined up and shouted out encouragement accolades and congrats to each of the kids as they drove by.
Then it was off to the grade schools, kind of like a funeral possession. Once we all arrived at the grade school their were teachers past and present who lined the bus lot and cheered for the Graduation rates as we drove though, it was a fantastic tribute and tearful moment.

We had a big banner on the back of the vehicle that was a tribute to Jimmy and all of his Senior football friends along with VMI and Hopkins Banners. Kay allowed us 1 picture, but it was evident that both she and Billy had fun in the parade.That evening the High School had a prerecorded 2 hour Graduation ceremony where each of the Seniors was featured, several students gave speeches, there were a couple of prerecorded band numbers, Jimmy was in one, and many teachers talked about the students, it was well done and very inspiring. The evening ended with the school showing a picture of each of the Graduates and it was a blast to see all the kids.

Doug and Jennifer came over to watch the program with us and we all commented on how much fun it was.

The High School also asked for kids to submit photos of videos and then they put together a VERY touching tribute to the class of 2020, it was amazing to see everyone.  So proud of all those kids.

Jimmy congratulations on your accomplishment. We know the end of your Senior year and high school career was not what you wanted, however watching you navigate through all the challenges you faced, all the hard and tough choices you made and seeing you mature into an outstanding young man was all a pleasure for your mom and I. We love you, we bless you and we are super excited to travel with you through your next chapter in your life!


Video Tribute - someone is featured pretty prominently

22 years of bliss and other stories of COVID-19, 4th edition

Times are strange. Besides a pandemic....

 Kristin went on hospice and the neighborhood is rallying to give her "quality" of life. Her requests: My Burger, concert by Erin/Jay, skinny dipping, seeing the Meadowbrook seniors, a bike ride - we are working it hard!! Its fun, she's still got a great attitude and sense of humor but she is declining rapidly.  Tracy and I have been in tears multiple times but are really focused on making her last weeks everything she loves.

We celebrated 22 years - It was a hectic day but ...we had cajun fish, red beans and rice and then did iPod wars at the fire of our favorite songs. It was a great way to relax. Kay surprised us and made an amazing dessert of meriguine berries chocolate and whipped cream.  YUM!  We've definitely been on an adventure together and I can't imagine doing this without Tom.

Kay is imploding. Between the end of year (a very real risk of not passing classes), up coming drivers test (she hasn't practiced driving in 8 weeks) and her absolute single minded focus on getting a car (remember how Maui came into our lives), she's a hot mess. She's had 5 seriously intense meltdowns. But, she has an amazing sense of self preservation and manages to pick her head up (occassionally) and make ... the afore mentioned dessert, fiery hot cheeto mac/cheese balls and anything else that will make a big mess in the kitchen.  We did have a psych and therapy appointment and they suggested upping her meds. We hate to do that but...it can't feel good to be her and if for sure doesn't feel good to be us.  I will say, however, Kay does manage to manifest what she's wants from the universe out of pure determination, perseverance and picking at your eye balls until you give in.

Graduation - sort of - Jimmy and his friends agreed to a parade past Kristins house so that she can see all the grade school buddies in full cap/gown. Despite protests from all, they had a great time and even stood around talking - forever!  What a great group of kids. More on graduation in the next blog.

The murder of George Floyd, which resulted in peaceful protests which turned to all out civil unrest, curfews, the National Guard, extremist groups and a level of fear, anxiety and uncertainty that won't leave for a long time.  We tried to go donate clean up items however, there were SO MANY people doing the same it was mass chaos. We are going to wait until next week when they'll need more.  It was horrifying and at the same time hopeful.  In a span of 72 hours we saw the worst of humanity and the best of humanity. All while we were trying to honor our seniors, give Kristin some "quality"", celebrate 22 years and deal with a teenager who's struggling with mental health issues.

So, when people ask, how was your weekend....I'm not sure how to answer. Yes? Horrible/Wonderful. Bittersweet. Stressful/Relaxing.  I guess, all of the above. And, the universe sure is teaching us to be present in the moment.

Hope you are all safe and well and finding some way to get through this with healthy habits (as I sip my beer)

Love. Peace.  

The mac and cheese balls

Crab cakes and tomato pie - the taste of summer 

22 years, I feel like I should go back and warn those kids - run, fast, far away!!

Love these kids! 

The gang

Jimmy's 2nd family - so grateful for them. 

Proud proud proud 

The hat....

TOSS.....