My Week that Was - December 4

The new Fleet Farm in DeForest. 11/27/21 (dwm)

As long-time readers plus family and close friends know, I grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin.  One of the businesses for which it is known is Farm & Fleet, which opened its doors in 1955. 

The father of my best friend K.C. (see last Sunday's blog) drove a truck for Blain Supply which owned and operated the store.  

Farm & Fleet primarily catered to farm families in the beginning and their identity remains closely tied to agriculture, suburban farmers, and rural landowners. 

We shop there for bird seed, boots, work clothes, and  specialty items.  Since we returned to Wisconsin in 2012 Farm & Fleet (one of 44 Farm & Fleet stores) is one of our stores.

The same year Farm & Fleet started, so did Fleet Farm, based in Appleton.  Most of its 47 stores cover Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa with more opening in south Wisconsin (Farm & Fleet country) the last few years.  The latest is in DeForest.

It's similar to Farm & Fleet, but emphasizes its hunting and fishing gear while also carrying a full line of groceries.  I liked seeing merchandise for the Badgers, Brewers, Bucks, and Packers plus a healthy supply of Charlie Berens t-shirts and hats.  

At this time in my life, I'm not in their target demographic, and still prefer the hometown Farm & Fleet.

I wore the SB 45
hat Sunday to start
a new streak.
dwm photo

The Green Bay Packers played a tough, physical game on a cold and blustery day in Lambeau Field defeating the Los Angeles Rams 36 -28.

It was an exciting game as the defense played well, making the Rams work for every yard and picked off a pass, returning it for a touchdown.

Aaron Rodgers, playing with a broken toe, played as if nothing were wrong, throwing more than 300 yards and running it in himself for Green Bay's first touchdown of the day.

The win keeps the Pack in the hunt for the best conference record which could get them a week off and every game at home on their way to the Super Bowl.  They don't play again until December 12 when the Bears come to town.  

Between now and then, hopefully they can get rest, heal a few injured guys, and prepare for the last five regular season games... Go Pack, Go!

Wednesday a small group from work stopped at Otto's for refreshments and conversation.  I don't do that sort of thing often, so it was fun to share in the conversation.  It's nice getting to know colleagues in a setting where you hear more about their life, what they enjoy, and things they are planning to do in the future.  

That's also something which makes December special.  While I wouldn't want to do it every month, it is nice to get together as friends from the office; neighborhood; or other groups.  

Coinciding with the season, we watched a virtual Christmas Concert featuring Amy Grant.  Grant started singing contemporary Christian as a teen-ager in the 1970s.  When I worked at KDMI during college, our station sponsored a concert featuring Grant at the Des Moines Civic Center.  As a staff member I sat in the sixth row.  

Forty years later, she's as talented as ever, and surprisingly... still just three years older than me.  Which reminds me there are just three weeks until Christmas.