College Sports start another Season

So we were off to Madison yet again as we continue the process of nailing down the renovations to our home-away-from-home.  This week it was fireplace surrounds and lighting.  Fortunately, most of our lights are going to be recessed lights so we didn't have too many actual fixtures to decide on.  Much like tile stores, I find lighting stores to be just overwhelming - just too, too many choices.  I asked the lighting lady, they had 80 catalogs from lighting manufactures all of which are roughly the size of the old New York telephone book (for those that can remember what a telephone book looked like).  We did manage to find the lights we needed and hopefully they will amaze you the first time you visit the finished condo.  If not, just fake it for us.

After that is was off to find fireplace finishes.  Not much luck at the first store, but we had success once we moved to a stone retailer.  Found a really cool stone for the mantle in the family room and something that will work for us on the surrounds and the hearths - again remember to ooh and aah the first time.

After all those conversations and selections, we needed a break that included some fun.  So Friday evening we hit a Thai restaurant and then headed over to the UW Field House to watch the Badger's women's volleyball team beat Louisville.  It was a great match and we particularly enjoyed sitting on our names (yes, we broke down and actually bought season tickets this year and don't ask me why no one can ever get Joann's name right - especially since I always spell it and I'm pretty sure I'm not so senile yet that I'm adding an e at the end in my spelling).  Saturday morning after a quick stop to do a little more shopping for another renovation item, we hit the Pancake Cafe to enjoy a hearty breakfast (hearty at our age, means we really didn't need to eat the rest of the day), we then spent the day measuring, debating, and remeasuring various items around the place as we continue to try and figure out this renovation.  We also found some time to get a few more pieces into the puzzle we have ongoing in Madison.

Then it was off to La Hacienda for some Mexican with Kathy and a quick catch up on her happenings - one of which included the Lady Gaga concert in Chicago (pretty cool).  After a very good dinner we headed for round two of  Women's volleyball where our Badgers downed North Carolina in straight sets.  Two for two at the beginning of the season.  Then it was a long drive home to wake up Sunday morning to gray skies and off and on rain.  We spent most of Sunday catching up on reading newspapers and searching for a tub - yep, we are living the wild and crazy life.