The ultimate in blogging

I’ll try to say this delicately.

In my pre-blogging days, I used to joke about people who found it desirable to flood the universe with the minute details of their lives.

Clearly, this was before I found it advisable to show you my new Uggs. It was also before I began following your holiday traditions, complicated families, household disasters, pithy observations, and Brazilian waxes. Collectively, we do put a lot of personal stuff out there.

Last night, hubby and I were talking about his daily report to our daughter about the grandkids' diaper changes: wet vs. poopy, and in the case of the latter, any notable variations in shape, color, consistency, or amount.

And suddenly we had the perfect model for the ultimate too-much-information blog. Let's borrow a title from the description of diamonds: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.

You’re welcome to run with it.

Update 1/29: To illustrate the potential of CCCandC, Hubby inaugurated an imaginary vlog version for a couple of days, periodically calling out things like, "3 p.m., rich chestnut flecked with poppy seeds, ample, nicely firm." or "11 a.m., mustard (Dijon, not Kraft), minimal, amorphous." Clearly, there is plenty of opportunity for cleverness and style. You're still welcome to run with it.

I heart my pink Uggs

You know those cute pink Uggs floating in my blog Wednesday? Where the meme question was "Something you're not wearing?" and I answered "Uggs"?

I'm wearing them today.

I've had a pair of black suede Uggs for years, and I love how warm and comfy they are, and how much traction they have on ice. Something got me started looking at the new ones, with all the lovely colors. And then I discovered this "cardy" style, knit from a merino wool blend. Giant sweater sox with sheepskin inserts and rubbery soles. Not meant for puddles or the coldest of our weather--but then, neither are my unlined leather high-heeled boots.

Yesterday, I decided I HAD to have them. In pink (if you're going to be impractical, may as well go all the way). Ordered them online from Zappos at about 4 p.m. They arrived at 4 p.m. today! And with free shipping!

With suede Uggs, you can wear them straight up or rolled over. With these, you have a third choice--slouched, as in the top left photo. And a fourth, really, because if you roll them over you can unbutton them. Wow, endless possibilities!

Time out for some one-word answers

Golden to Silver Val posted a meme consisting of 35 questions to be answered with one-word responses. She challenged those in her blogroll to try it. It's kinda fun and kinda frustrating; the reward is the Over the Top award posted below.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? short

3. Your mother? missed

4. Your father? elderly

5. Your favorite food? chocolate

6. Your dream last night? anxiety

7. Your favorite drink? tea

8. Your dream/goal? retirement

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? gardening

11. Your fear? itself

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthy

13. Where were you last night? blogging

14. Something you aren’t? royalty

15. Muffins? pumpkin

16. Wish list item? Powerball

17. Where did you grow up? Hibbing

18. Last thing you did? ever?

19. What are you wearing? jammies

20. Your TV? widescreen

21. Your pet? annoying

22. Your friends? dispersed

23. Your life? fulfilling

24. Your mood? enhanced

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? Jeep

27. Something you’re not wearing? Uggs

28. Your favorite store? Amazon

29. Your favorite color? burgundy

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? dunno

32. Your best friend? Augie

33. One place that I go over and over? ballpark

34. One person who emails me regularly? boss

35. Favorite place to eat? den

Try it! If you do, help yourself to the Over the Top patch and link back to me, if you would. I'll be interested to see how you responded.

Honeymoon hotel, 25 years later

When you are the only guests in a small, family-owned hotel, you get lots of attention. When you tell them you honeymooned there 25 years earlier, they welcome you like part of the family. That's how it was for Peter and me this weekend at Schumachers Hotel and Grill in New Prague, Minnesota.

The historic hotel has just six guest suites, all recently updated to include whirlpools, gas fireplaces, and flat-screen televisions. Some old-style amenities are present, too, including beautiful stained-glass windows and really tiny bathrooms. Overall, our room was spacious and comfortable, and we had a lovely time.

Over the years, the hotel had become noted for its restaurant; owner-chef John Schumacher specialized in lavish menus of Czech and German fare. We had gone back several times for dinner without staying the night--most recently just before the place closed in 2005. The establishment changed hands, the deal fell through, and last fall John and Kathleen Schumacher reopened with modernized guest suites and a simplified menu.

Our dinner Sunday night (pork schnitzel for me, Atlantic haddock for Peter) was well prepared, but not as spectacular as in the old days. The young man who served us said they were working hard to get the dishes just right and the kitchen functioning smoothly after the long hiatus. We chatted about our earlier visits, and I told him we'd learned about the hotel's reopening from Far Side of Fifty's blog, as described here. Dessert was on the house, and we shared a wonderful meringue torte with whipped cream, pecans, and chocolate bits.


This morning, Chef Schumacher showed us around the kitchen before cooking a breakfast of scrambled eggs (made to perfection), sausage, and French toast made from homemade cinnamon rolls. Then we headed home, 30 minutes through rolling hills and frosty trees and another 30 minutes by freeway to St. Paul. If you're ever in southern Minnesota, consider a visit to Schumachers. If not, do you have a favorite getaway spot where you can be just a little pampered, and maybe revisit old memories?