Summer in Wisconsin

I was actually back in Wisconsin twice in less than a month.  I went back in May for a week to spend some time with my family, see my cousin, Nicole, graduate from UW-Madison, celebrate my cousin, Tyler, and my Dad's Birthday, and also attend Tyler & Monica's Bridal Shower.  Unfortunately, my second trip back was specifically for my Grandpa's funeral.  You can read about my Grandpa, Edward, here: My Wonderful Grandpa but we were able to enjoy the few days I was home with some fun as well!

Dad walking the pups!

It was my Dad's first time meeting Rutherford B Hayes, and also Rutherford's first airplane ride.  He got his Wings (Thanks Southwest) since he was such a good traveler and the flight attendants fell in love with him!  Dad was very excited to have a new puppy in the house but I'm not sure our dog back home, Cheli, was very happy about it.  Rutherford figured it out pretty quickly that Cheli would let him kind of 'rough house' with her, meanwhile, she was just annoyed with it, and would try to get away from him, any chance she got.  She even let him play with her toys!  They did have some cute moments together, like when Dad would take both of them for a walk, but they were both pretty tired by the time the trip back to LA came around for Rutherford and I.  We lost Cheli just this month, so it's been a very difficult year of loss for my family and I hope that we can all stay positive and find the lessons that God is trying to teach all of us.

Cheli & Rutherford taking a nap together <3

Bobby and I were able to go and see my Dad do his Trap Shooting one night and after we went and had Dinner at City Club.  There burgers are pretty darn good!  Lindy and Dave came to meet us at Pour Vino, which is always a go-to when I'm back in Wisconsin (especially for half-priced Wine on Tuesday nights). Dad and I planned a Boat Day for Thursday, since Bobby needed to get back to Madison that night and I was heading back to LA on Friday evening.  Lake Winnebago is less than 45 minutes from Plymouth, and I was very excited to see Dad's new boat, although I was skeptical at first, it was very cool.  We always make a stop and get Lunch and I had to get a good old fashion, Wisconsin Bloody Mary (Lyndsey style, of course) while we were there.  Rutherford even joined us on the boat, he's quite the adventurer!  Dad let me drive on the way back which was a lot of fun and it was the perfect sunny day!

Enjoying the Sunshine and a Coors Light on the Lake!

I know that as mad as my Mom would have been that my Dad bought a new boat, once she got on, she would have really enjoyed it!  Even though I know she was with us while we were out that day, it's family moments like that, that make it really tough to not have her physically with us.  I miss her every day.  It was really nice to be home with my Dad for a few days and get to spend some quality time with him :)

June Karaoke!

It was a little slower in the month of June for Karaoke but that just meant my friends got to sing more when they came in to visit!  Plus, we celebrated my Birthday at Karaoke and had some fun with that!

Journey - 'Open Arms'

Staind - 'Right Here Waiting'

Three Doors Down - 'When I'm Gone'

Nirvana - 'Heart-Shaped Box'

Richard Marx - 'Shoulda Known Better'

Fuel - 'Falls On Me'

Patrick Swayze - 'She's Like the Wind'

Seether - 'Broken' with Ace

No Doubt - 'Sunday Morning'

Blessid Union of Souls - 'Standing at the Edge of the Earth'

Tracy Chapman - 'Give Me One Reason'

Fleetwood Mac - 'Gold Dust Woman'
Pat Benatar - 'Invinceable' 

Bruno Mars - 'When I Was Your Man' 

Journey - 'Separate Ways'

Aerosmith - 'Cryin''

Fleetwood Mac - 'Go Your Own Way'

Garbage - 'I'm Only Happy When It Rains'

Liz Phair - 'Why Can't I'

Nirvana - 'Heart-Shaped Box'

Jewel - 'Don't'

Natalie Imbruglia - 'Torn' 

Marty and I singing some Karaoke
on my Birthday!

That first week in June we had a bunch of Super-Sets of songs, including Journey, Staind, Three Doors Down, and Fuel, meaning at least three of us sang songs by that specific artist or band.  It adds a little challenge to Karaoke, making things more interesting and a lot of fun.  That also meant I opened the night with my new song by Journey, 'Open Arms' and closed out the night with 'She's Like The Wind' by Patrick Swayze since I hadn't sang it in forever!  The second week I was back in Wisconsin so when I got back for the third week I kept things low-key.  I took some suggestions from the Karaoke audience throughout the night and ended up doing 'Standing at the Edge of the Earth' by Blessid Union of Souls, one of my favorite bands from back in College, as my new song that night.  I'm going to end the blog with my Birthday Week so in closing out June it was another chill night so my new song was 'Why Can't I' by Liz Phair, which I had been trying to do for a couple weeks but the vibe wasn't right until that night.  It's one of those songs you hear and think it would be great for Karaoke, and it is!  I actually kept my songs all 90's (minus my opener) that night; once again, another way to add some excitement and difficulty to the evening!

My Birthday was on June 19th, so the following Wednesday I had some Themes set for the party.  Everyone had one warm-up song but I made sure to follow the themes after that.  The second song was from the decade you were born in, so I did Pat Benatar's 'Invinceable' as my 1980's song.  Next up was a #1 or Party song, so I did Bruno Mars' 'When I Was Your Man,' which was also my new song that night.  It's a really great song to sing, even for a girl!  Next up was Gender Bender, meaning the guys sang songs by female artists and vice versa, so I did 'Separate Ways,' my favorite Journey song.  We all closed out the night with our Guilty Pleasures, or in my case, the last song I sing on a night because my voice is completely shot after I do it.  That could only mean Aerosmith's 'Cryin'' for me!  If you've never sang it, sing it.  It's a blast!  It was actually a really great Karaoke Birthday :)

Carolyn & I...Photo Bomb compliments of Marty!

Summer is always hit or miss at Karaoke because people aren't in school anymore but it also means people are moving to the neighborhood and checking out Gabe's or are on vacation.  I'm just glad to see some new people coming by and I always welcome my favorite regulars!  Thanks for making my Birthday month so fabulous!

Rutherford B Hayes...my new Puppy!

I had been waiting for this moment my whole life...I became a Mom to this little nugget just a few weeks ago.  I met him when he was five weeks old and while I wasn't sure if he wanted me to be his Mom at first, he proved it by the time I left an hour later, that he was mine, and I was his.

The day I met Rutherford <3

The name Rutherford, sounded so cute to me but I also remembered there was a President, Rutherford B Hayes, and I needed to make sure he was cool enough so that my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy could take on his name and wear it with pride.  RBH was the 19th President (I was born on the 19th), from Ohio, and he brought moderate social reform, was loyal and honest.  In fact, he fought in the Civil War and refused to leave his fellow man behind.  That decided it!  Trust me, I had a list of 30 different names but Rutherford was always the one that stuck out and my little nugget answers to it, seems to enjoy it, and in fact, when he was laying in my lap at five weeks old, I had said a couple things to him, and he only turned and looked at me when I called him Rutherford.  I guess he actually chose his own name; it's just so regal and fitting for him!

Nicole & Rutherford :)

I brought Rutherford (Rutherford Be-Have) home on the 31st of May and thankfully my cousin, Nicole, was with me, because she became the best personal assistant I could have asked for!  RBH was on his best behavior the first couple of days, exploring the apartment, not wandering too far from me, and sleeping peacefully.  I only had to wake up one time in the middle of the night (each night) to take him out (mind you, I do keep late hours so I'm not going to bed until 2 or 3 and wake up between 9 and 10).  We had no accidents until a few days in; then he got more wild and rambunctious and found out that his cute little face could make me melt.  How could I ever be mad or upset when he looked at me with his beautiful eyes and happy little mischievous smile!

There's no true comparison when it comes to raising children and having a dog but it does feel similar at times.  The constant supervision, the fact that Rutherford has completely taken over my life and attention, and me getting any work done takes five times as long, and certain things just get pushed to the wayside and are no longer a priority because he has taken over.  I knew he'd be expensive and time-consuming and he is, we'll just leave it at that.  But when he sleeps on my foot as I'm getting ready in the morning, or snuggles next to me to take a nap, or puts his head on my shoulder when I'm sitting on the floor and he's up on the couch, or follows a command I give him, there is no better feeling in the world than knowing he loves his Mommy, and I sure as heck love him more than I thought was imaginable.

Taking my happy boy to his forever home with me!

So here's to my little boy, Rutherford B (short for Bubba, one of my Mom's nicknames) Hayes, thanks for making me a Mom...I hope I'm making my own Mom proud <3

*You can find me on Instagram at: Lyndsey on Insta or Rutherford's Instagram: Rutherford B Hayes Wegner on Insta.  He also has his own Facebook page because he's such a cutie and wants to share his adventures with the world!  Find him here: Rutherford's Facebook  

**If anyone is looking for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I got him through Victoria at Woodland Cavaliers and I would recommend her to anyone!  Feel free to message me or comment with any questions :)

Monica's Bachelorette Party!

We had my future cousin-in-law, Monica's Bachelorette Party in Huntington Beach over Memorial Day weekend!  My cousin, Nicole, was in town from Wisconsin and all the Bridesmaids and I met up at Monica's family's home and drove to the Pasea Hotel & Spa where we were staying for the evening, which had just opened that weekend!

After checking in, popping some Champagne and exploring around the Hotel and checking out the shopping (also getting the Red Miso Short Rib at Lemonade) we went back to the room to get ready for Dinner.  We went to Sushi on Fire in downtown Huntington Beach and Mama took special care of us!  The food was amazing, the girls were adventurous, and we even drank some sake!  Of course, we had a checklist of Bachelorette Party things that needed to get done before the night was over and there was plenty of success on that!

Monica's Bachelorette Party!

We walked back to the Hotel, drank our complimentary Wine from the Hotel, had some girl talk and got ready for our night on the town!  We ended up going to Hurricane's Bar & Grill, took some shots, got our groove on while out on the dance floor, and had a great time!

Before heading out for the evening in Huntington Beach!

The next day we re-lived the night, shared photos and while searching for a place for breakfast ended up doing IHOP since it was Memorial Day weekend and everything was packed with a waiting list.  I had to get back up to LA since I was going to pick up my new puppy that afternoon!  Nicki was also staying with me in LA for the next couple of days until she flew back to Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The Bachelorette Party was so much fun and it was the first Bachelorette Party I had ever been to which means that any other one is going to have a lot to live up to!  I'm looking forward to hanging with the girls again next week when everyone comes back to California (including all of our family from back in Wisconsin) for the Wedding over the 4th of July weekend.  Congrats to Monica & Tyler...can't wait to celebrate your Wedding soon :)

My Wonderful Grandpa

When I was back in Wisconsin last month we had found out my Grandpa had Cancer.  He never complained in all the years I knew him, but in the past few months he said his back was really bothering him and when they finally did an MRI they found Cancer.  I had come home on Wednesday and had gone to meet my Dad and him at the Hospital on Friday since they said his Kidneys were failing and he needed to be admitted immediately.  I had gone with my Dad to see him on Sunday and that afternoon he was put into Hospice.  Dad and I had gone to visit him again on Monday morning before we went Wine Tasting with my Aunts & Uncles (something we had planned for the past month) and as soon as we got done we went straight back to the Hospice.  Dad and I told stories about Grandpa, my Aunt & Uncle showed up, Bobby had called to say goodbye since he was on tour with his band and in the middle of nowhere and wouldn't have been able to make it home in time, and Grandpa's Priest had come and given the final blessing.  We had told Grandpa that it was ok to go home to to his wife and my Grandma, Isabel, his daughter, Nadene, and my Mom.  We held his hand and he peacefully left us.  It couldn't have been a more gentlemanly way for him to go, and my Dad noticed he had 'stick grip.'  My Grandpa loved airplanes and was always flying so this was completely normal for him as he flew up to Heaven to all of his loved ones that had already passed on.

My wonderful Grandpa, Edward!

Grandma & Grandpa - Milwaukee, WI (1940's)

I wrote this post after he died that evening and parts of it were also used for his Obituary.  'My Grandpa, Edward Wegner, achieved so much in his life and was an inspiration to many.  He passed at 7 pm tonight with family around and holding his hand.  We told stories at his bedside and I found out some wonderful memories he had shared with my Dad just recently.  He was a WWII Veteran, a Pilot that the Air Force tried to weed out because he was a Wisconsin farm boy that couldn't possibly be a good enough Pilot.  Yet, he had learned to fly from a neighbor who had an airplane and did his first solo trip at 16 years old.  A little bit of a rebel, owning a motorcycle his Father didn't know about, he hated cleaning the chicken coop, and bought an Auto Body Shop in Plymouth which became Wegner's Auto Body, that my Dad currently runs.  He got married to my Grandma, Isabel in 1947, had my Aunt Nadene and Dad, and loved taking the family on Summer trips all over the US.  One of his favorite trips with my Grandma was to Ireland.  Grandpa was inducted into the EAA Hall of Fame in 1999 and flew his airplane just this last year at 90 years old!  In fact, he was the first person that I flew in an airplaine with (and usually his open cockpit 1929 C3 Spartan) and if he wasn't working in his woodshop, he was taking walks and talking with everyone.'  I couldn't be more proud to be his Granddaughter.

So many friends and relatives showed up for the funeral to share stories about Grandpa; mostly people he knew from the airport and had only even interacted with just a handful of times.  He clearly made an impression on everyone!  They had Military Rites for him which brought me to tears, it was a wonderful memorial to him!  I never doubt that I hit the family jackpot in all aspects, my Grandparents, my Mom & Dad, and all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and more.  I'm so thankful to have the family that I do and we all have some pretty amazing Angels looking out for all of us <3

The 'Supernatural' Season Finale with Lisa Berry & Alaina Huffman

This season of 'Supernatural' has been incredible and really hooked me as a viewer.  I've been Hosting the 'Supernatural' Aftershow at Afterbuzz for the last three seasons with some awesome co-hosts but this season really takes the cake with excitement, twists and turns, and major plot points.  Not to mention all the wonderful guests that came in to discuss the show this season.  What made this finale even better was that Katie and I joined some of the cast and crew of 'Supernatural' to watch the show and live-tweet with all of them!

Katie and I with Lisa Berry & Alaina Huffman at Afterbuzz TV for the 'Supernatural' Season 11 Finale!

Live-tweeting is really difficult although I'm sure it's a little easier when you're working on the show and actually know what's coming next.  Seeing Lisa, Alaina, Emily (who plays The Darkness), Kathryn, Phil Sgriccia (whom directed the episode), Jim Michaels (produces the show), with Ruth skyping with all of us, was awesome.  I don't know how they keep up with all of it, including retweeting, commenting, and responding.  They'd go from 10 retweets to 357 in a matter of a minute; it's actually kind of mind-blowing!  It was a blast to do and so glad that we were able to be involved!  Thanks to Lisa for inviting us!

On Thursday we had our Finale episode of our Aftershow with Lisa and Alaina joining us in the studio.  We had a great show discussing the episode and what's to come for the series since they're already locked into Season 12.  With the way the show keeps going, I don't think it's ending any time soon!  We had so many predictions and thoughts, there was just so much to talk about.  Although, I felt a little underwhelmed with the ending; this entire time I thought someone was going to die and leave all of us hanging, but that didn't happen.  Granted, The Darkness and God are off together, working on their relationship but we don't know how they'll feel when we come back next season.  I still want to know what happened to Lucifer and how Rowena will come back in to play (plus I want to see a backstory on The Grand Coven) so I guess that keeps things exciting and not underwhelming!  Lisa and Alaina always bring such great insight and thought as to what's going on and with the Women of Letters storyline, I feel like Alaina could come back at any time!  Lisa is certainly waiting to reap Sam & Dean and will when the occasion arises.  These women are fans of the show and to hear their excitement is really entertaining!

To check out the episode click on the video above.  I love hearing from everyone while we're waiting for the new season so find me on Instagram at Lyndsey on Insta or tweet me on Twitter at Lyndsey Tweets.  Use the hashtag: abtvsupernatural and we can discuss anything about the show!  I hope you all enjoyed this season as much as I did :)

May Karaoke!

May was fairly busy at Karaoke including a Creating Arts Company take-over that happened half-way through the month as we had Giana's Going Away Karaoke Party!  It was an Underwater/Sailor Theme so there was even a "Little Mermaid" super-set!  Overall, it was a fun month!

Bush - 'Comedown'

Adele - 'Make You Feel My Love'

Miley Cyrus - 'Wrecking Ball'

Jewel - 'You Were Meant For Me' 

The Little Mermaid - 'Under The Sea'

The Toadies - 'Possum Kingdom'

Concrete Blonde - 'Joey'

Jann Arden - 'Insensitive'

Bryan Adams - 'Everything I Do, I Do It For You'

The Righteous Brothers 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling'

Shania Twain - 'Any Man Of Mine'

Dishwalla - 'Counting Blue Cars'

The first weekend of the month was really busy so I only sang a few times including my new song 'Wrecking Ball' by Miley Cyrus.  Thankfully I had some friends in and everyone joined in for the chorus which made it really fun!  I was in Wisconsin over for the second week of Karaoke but came back in time the following week for Giana's Belated Birthday Bash/Going Away Party!  Lots of our friends showed up and sang nautical/sea songs and we did a "Little Mermaid" super-set so I did my new song, 'Under The Sea' for it!  I also sang 'Joey' by Concrete Blonde which I hadn't sang in forever and miss singing it so much.  It's definitely coming back in my rotation.  That last week of Karaoke I came late because I had to Live-Tweet with the cast of "Supernatural" for the Finale Episode (which was a blast and I'll post a blog about that as well) but it was a really slow night anyway.  We all sang quite a bit and I did The Righteous Brothers 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' as my new song since I had seen "Top Gun" on TV the week before.  That scene with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis is one of my favorites!

This may not be from Karaoke but we all had a blast at Giana's Going Away Party!  Miss you Girlfriend!

June starts my Birthday month and I can't believe we're already almost half-way through the year.  It's flown by so quickly and I honestly hope it slows down a little.  I love being busy but I want to make sure to spend time with all of my friends and make memories and that's just what I've been doing :)