Slush N Mush

     All of this talk about mush and slush has indeed turned my brain to mush.  I can’t seem to keep a single thought in my head for more than a moment before it flits away never to be found again.  Some people blame this type of a thing on getting old, others say there’s too much on my mind and me?  I can’t remember what I thought it was from.

     At the forefront of my thoughts is the Winter Tracks Festival coming up at the end of the month.  It’s a great time to come up the Gunflint Trail and get a taste of what real winter is like.  Complete with snow sculptures, a cross-country ski race, snowmobile drag races and much more there is something for everyone.  I will be working the registration table at Trail Center on Friday and on Saturday I’ll be judging the snow sculpture contest, helping set up for the banquet and then announcing raffle winners at the dinner.  It’s going to be a great time so I hope some of you will join us.

     The Mush for a Cure has a bookmark in my brain too.  There are so many things to think of and do for this event and it can be quite overwhelming.  After a recent meeting with the key Mush people we came up with a hundred more ideas for the event that is just a month away from today.  Mingle with the Mushers dinner, skijor for a cure, a parade in Grand Marais and the other 97 ideas I can’t remember.

     Barely a day goes by that the Ham Run Half Marathon doesn’t cross my mind.  I’ll be working on an insurance application for Mush for a Cure and think, "Oh yeah, I should get an extra application for the Ham Run now."  Or I’ll be contacting the DNR for a permit for the Mush for a Cure, a potential sponsor or a volunteer and then I’ll get confused and not remember what event I did who for or who I did what event for or whatever.

     Of course there’s Voyageur to think about.  It’s the time of the year when we’re looking for potential crew members for the summer.  There are applications to read, references to check and interviews to be held.  There’s permits to be reserved, web updates to be made and of course inquiries and reservations to be processed. 

     Then my PTA role keeps me hopping as well.  This last week was our Scholastic Book Fair, Bring your Family to School Week and the start or our Northwoods Raffle.  I love to be in my children’s classrooms so I helped with their Valentine Parties and snowshoeing for both Abby and Josh’s class.

     Somewhere into the mix falls other smaller responsibilities.  Keeping my First Responder certificate up to date, attending GTVFD trainings, my role as a Community Center Board Member, serving on the Arrowhead Round Up Grant Committee and I’m sure there’s something else I’m forgetting.

     There are friends and relatives and relatives and friends who are getting married.  All three of Mike’s siblings decided this was the year for each of them to tie the knot.  One in April, one in June and one in August.  There are showers, dances, dresses to be bought, transportation plans to make and more.

     Last but not least is my sweetheart.  He often gets neglected during the busy days but he surely knows he is in my heart this Valentine’s Day as he is every other day of the year.(more mush!) 

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!