Wine and Dine Hunting Adventure!

Yes, wine can be an accessory. No, not like when you spill it on your favorite silky shirt nor when it stains your teeth and matches that burgundy lipstick. There are actually necklace apparatuses (check out www.wineyolk.com, I am serious!)  that you can sleeve your wine glass through. I guess this was invented to allow your hands to be free allowing for that animated conversation you and your girlfriends always seem to be having. Maybe it serves to be placed perfectly between your “great divide” to accentuate what God clearly wanted we women to proudly display. How about the next concert or sporting event- no need to put the glass down now when you feel the need to clap! Or maybe, just maybe, it was meant for some tired woman who endlessly cleans, sweeps, hugs, helps with homework, etc thus does not have time to sit down for her sip of wine. I think Lisa Wallner needs one of these! Who thought of such a contraption? Not sure, who cares! You will be sure to find one or more at this year’s shoe hunt and accessory party! Just for fun.

This was just one of the many entertaining items Kathy, Kelly, and I encountered this past Sunday at Wine and Dine 2013 sponsored by Boston Store. Though this was not technically a “hunting mission”, each one of us came dressed to kill. We were on the hunt for good food, wine and even came across some smooth bourbon and dark malt. While the rain poured and wind gusted outside, inside the only drops were those left in our glasses after a sampling of greats such as Leonitti Cellar winery, Aviation Top Gin, and Sheboygan’s very own Sheeps Brewery. The air was calm and filled with aromatic flavors thanks to Braise, Le Reve, and the Harbor House who were among the over 30 restaurants serving out delectable samples. If you are interested in learning more of these and other great finds in the Milwaukee area, download the “Best of Brew City” free app from the Apple or Google store!

Though this may sound like all play and no work, we did work! Hunting doesn’t just happen and if a hunt is successful, it is essential you know how to prepare it. We signed up for a cooking class presented by the MATC Culinary Arts School. Of all things, we made aioli (fancy for mayo). Here’s a recipe that seems similar: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Aioli/Detail.aspx. In place of the “water” called for in this recipe, just lean forward as the beads of salty sweat drop off your forehead! Because, remember, we had to whisk…and whisk…and whisk. We were paired with Jo, a beautiful woman, who loved to cook as well. We were able to take the aioli home and I sampled it with smoked salmon- yum! This culinary experience reminded me of one of the best dinners I can remember. It came from a culinary school I went to when out visiting my friend Heidi in Bend. I was happy to find out MATC is now doing the same- http://www.matc.edu/cuisine/. 

The highlight of my day was the pleasure of spending it with 2 awesome women. Kathy and Kelly have a long friendship together. I always feel honored to spend time with such talented and giving ladies. In addition, this experience inspired ideas for the Shoe and Accessory Hunt Fundraising Party on December 4th. Besides great wine and beer samplings being offered by Moosenuckles, your entrance to this great event will include delicious food too! After all, hunting burns calories- we need to dine! I look forward to sampling smoked trout, teriyaki venison, and elk meatballs with famous “Two Fat Guys” hot sauce to name a few! Hunting themed cuisine will be available, of course!

Next edition: more about the raffle prizes!

My dad

It was January 12th. My birthday. It was my dad calling. I was anxious to answer the phone. I knew he would be giving me the news about his biopsy report. I responded with pure joy when he told me it was negative. Pleasantly surprised was an understatement. He had been coughing for a few years we think. He always had an excuse- a cold, something in the air, an infection. Then he went to a doctor. He was told it was reflux. I thought that was reasonable considering he did admit to heartburn. He was working the night shift, not eating the best, certainly not working out, drank caffeine and soda to wake him, and had developed a little belly- all recipes for reflux. Then the blood clot came to his leg. He drove more than an hour to work and back, again, made sense. He had a minor hernia repair surgery- something that would happen to a guy who repaired everything, no matter how heavy, on his own. He later told me he likely developed the hernia from a strong cough, a cough that almost made him pass out while driving. He said the surgeon knew the hernia was caused by the cough and didn’t think much of it. We, my sisters and I, continually prodded for him to go to the doctor. He even started to notice his memory was not the best, again many reasons including high stress being blamed. “They don’t do anything”, he claimed, “they just give me cough medicine.” He got inhalers after lung testing showed asthma. Just once I should have gone with him. And finally, he did go after making sure he was seeing the right provider. Scans and scopes were ordered. And finally, a biopsy right around Christmas time. 

He never smoked though was exposed growing up to second hand smoke. He was in the Navy and worked in Tool and Die most his life. He was strong whether it be with opinions or determination. He made THE best Thanksgiving breakfasts. Was an outstanding grandpa. Would give his life for his family…and did.  

On January 14th, he called me again. They got the results mixed up. Yes, this was happening to my family. A family heavy in the healthcare arena. My father was being diagnosed with lung cancer two days after he was told he didn’t have it. I didn’t miss an appointment after that. The news grew worse each day. It was stage IV. He had a huge lesion in his brain. They were amazed he was so functional. He, my mom, and I went to fill out his disability and Medicare paper work as he made the hard decision to quit work. They were afraid he would seizure so put him on high dose steroid which he hated. Russ on steroids…not good. Decreasing the size of the tumor in his brain took top priority so rather than chemotherapy or synchronous therapy, it was felt that whole brain radiation was the best option. Most options did not reveal a significant difference, all stating survival may be improved by 3-6 months. This WBR was a decision I regret immensely to this day…but not because there was a better decision. I just wish there was a better option. At that point, he was fully functional and we were calling hospice- completely surreal because this did not look like a dead man walking. He started asking “what I wanted”. Yuck. Nothing. You…better. 

The WBR really sucked. Or maybe it was the cancer. Within a few weeks, he developed an ileus. He couldn’t eat. He was hospitalized. After a few days, the doc came in for the tough talk. He didn’t think it was a good idea to continue treatments. We brought him home. I stopped working. I went shopping trying to find anything he seemed to like eating. I remember anytime he would eat something, I went out to get 5 more of what he ate. One day, I bought him kombucha tea. I vividly remember that day. It was all happening so fast and I couldn’t even think. I knew how to keep people well. I got paid to help people get better. I believed medicine worked. I believed holistic therapies worked. But there was my dad dying…and all I could think of was to buy him tea. And the look in his eyes that day, I will sadly so never forget. He hated the taste but had a faithful and hopeful look that I was feeding him a cure because he read the label…“fights cancer”.  He later sat me on the couch and said, “there is going to be a day when nothing works.” He died one week later.

On the April 2oth night before his death, I went home to be with my kids. My sisters and I were giving him 24 hour care and I was “off duty”. I slept in my son’s bed snuggled so tight. In the am, moments before my phone rang to wake me that he had passed, my dad came to me. He was in a beautiful dream with his voice telling me he loved me as I felt the whiskers of his beard press firmly on my cheek with his lips giving me a final kiss. I was thankful for all the time we spent together those last few months but those few seconds will be with me for eternity. 

There is so much more to this synosped story that has gone untold for now. Someday I will piece it all together. One thing I have learned- Grieving is a weird phenomenon. I have always been a private person (though this blog hardly speaks to that) and death pulled me in even more. It is extremely hard to imagine anything going on outside my selfish world when trying to understand what is happening. And even years later, the loss is still lost. 

Andrew and I pray each night to Grandpa. It can be a simple “Hi” to a “I wonder what you are doing” to  “I hope you had a good day”. On his 70th birthday this November 1st, he watched over Jordan shoot his first deer with a bow. He laughed out loud when I veered too close to the mailbox with Todd’s truck scraping up the side hearing him say “you never believed me when I said you were too close”. He is ever present.

A few weeks after his correct diagnosis, I called Jillian to tell her. She graciously offered to help through the Chix 4 A Cause donation. “What does he need?” This is what I love about this organization. A gift of love it was. Russ was overwhelmed with a diagnosis of cancer. The only thing he heard at the doctor’s office was that he was going to need a humidifier because he was likely going to get nose bleeds. I remember him being so worried about that side effect. So, as Chix does, you get what you ask for. Doesn’t seem like much but it was! He didn’t want to be responsible for doing one more thing. Within a week, they came to visit with humidifier in hand as well as a prayer shawl, gas cards, and other love items. Their presence was a gift above and beyond. My mother melted in their love. 

It’s another year. I look forward to an event that gives so much to those with this diagnosis.  Thank you Chix 4 A Cause for who you are.

Back and Better Than Ever!

As I log on to my blogger account, a rush of anxiety moves up from my toes to my nose. I have been absent for more than a year! It was not without good reason. I have spent most of 2011 and 2012 in a doctoral program writing countless papers, essays, and cohort responses. My computer was a permanent fixture in my life. The last thing I could think of doing was writing for fun though that certainly would have been quite therapeutic. In December of 2012, I crossed the stage and am proud to call myself a Doctor of Nursing Practice! It was a stressful yet rewarding journey that I, and my body will never forget as evidenced by my reaction I got when reflecting on it today! Well, I am back and happy to write for fun again!

It has only been 7 years since the shoe hunt inception yet so much has changed. Back then, Kathy, Gini, Kelly, and I gathered at the Call of the Wild sharing stories about our husbands'  recent mailings of turkey and deer tags with Kelly nearing the end of a long racing season. We turned our sorrow into joy at the idea of a similar type of hunting/racing experience. Why not go out to hunt for our passion...shoes! Those early years make me laugh. I remember posing with a sales clerk after my "kill" with my "weapon" (credit card!). Kathy and I even made a video of a "hunting show" for girls with a map of local hot spots! We sat outside filming with my cornfield as a backdrop. I have no idea where that video ended up! Back then, we all worked together at Aurora. Today, we are spread out with new jobs, titles, or businesses. Gini has children nearly ready for marriage while Kelly has one in college. What remains is a friendship built on love, faith, and memories...and a continued passion for fashion!

Last year's shoe hunt was handled by Tammy Schladweiler in my absence. And what a job she did! It was held at Timmers. They had vendors and a fashion show. The food was fabulous and turn out was grand! After the 6th year, our hunting group has raised over $10,000 for Chix 4 A Cause. A tradition we plan to continue.

This year's hunting season is in full swing. The invites, whether by mail or Facebook, at out. The planning of the food and raffle baskets are in progress. I just reviewed my "Food and Wine" magazine  and am excited to bring some goodies I found! I am most excited about our venue this year. We have explored different locations over the years. This one gives me the same feel that Imagine Coffee House did. I remember the first year, during a huge snow storm, only 10 people present (including Mike the bartender from Jeff's!), the feeling of thankfulness for making it safely, the warmth and closeness of the ladies, the laughing, and the singing. Though nights like this can never be replicated nor do I want a snowstorm to prevent safe travel, I do love the idea of pulling together kind, inspiring, uplifting, strong women in one room to share in the glory of giving. Moosenuckles in Campbellsport has a rustic feel to it. It is simple yet elegant. It's like Central Perk but with wine and hearty brew...and there will be no Chandler or Ross as it's a gathering of girls. If you have never been, it is another great reason to join us that evening! Ronda, the owner, feels to me like a friend I have known forever and yet have only met her twice. I would imagine you will feel the same.

And as for the hunting, it is primo this season! Andrew got his first deer during the youth gun hunt; Jordan, his first bow kill; and Todd just shot a buck. We enjoyed some of the backstraps mixed in our favorite teriyaki sauce last evening. We have pheasants, turkey, and fish from the summer taking up freezer space among the veggies we harvested from the garden. I have been hunting as well. What, what, what, what...Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz popularized the idea of thrift shopping last year with their hit song. One (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure! Though I do not feel I have got THE pair for the season, I certainly have found some great deals at our local thrift shops! however, my favorite hunting came months ago when I traveled to Nashville with a few of the co-founders of the DNR Shoe & Accessory Hunt. Amidst the country honky tonk music 24/7 were cowboy boots galore! Kelly, I do believe your kill takes the cake for sure!!!! We decided shoe hunt traveling at some point during the year should be an annual tradition.

Of course, this is all for one special night designated to a special organization chix4acause.org. Many details about hunts, the organization, some of the donators, and the fundraiser night will continue to appear on this blog so check back frequently. I also encourage you to send in your stories, pics, and comments! I love the feedback!

The available tags for this year's season are noted below. I appreciate your generosity and look forward to your involvement! Because of the venue size, the space is limited to 50 guests. Please reply quickly to reserve your spot!!!

We hunt for shoes and accessories instead or maybe even in addition to deer. Our hunting season occurs during the deer hunting season. Our goal is to bring friends together to experience what our deer hunter counter parts do. We come together after the hunting season to celebrate. The party is a fundraiser for Chix 4 A Cause. Please wear your "kill" to this event to show off. Prizes are given for the best shoe and best story! 

This year it is even easier to give. Please select from the following tags:

ELK tag $100 includes 4 samples of wine or beer tasting, a Moosenuckles glass, and 5 raffle tickets
BEAR tag &75 includes 2 samples of wine or beer tasting and 3 raffle tickets
DEER tag $50 includes all you can drink water or soda and 3 raffle tickets
PHEASANT tag regretfully cannot make it but will consider a donation to chix4acause.org
DOVE tag for the giving hunter who is donating a valued $50 or more basket for raffle. You can purchase your own drink and raffles the night of the gathering.

"Like us" at DNR Shoe & Accessory Hunt on FB
RSVP on FB or at paulanp71@gmail.com

Be Well!
Paula