Johnny Mo's
On Friday we were looking for a quick bite to eat and ended up at Johnny Mo's at 1301 Milwaukee Avenue in South Milwaukee. I've been there once before with my mom for a burger and it was good, so I figured I could take a friend there and not be disappointed. The bar was crowded with Friday night regulars, but there is a restaurant side with wooden floors and hammered tin ceiling. You can tell this is an old building. Even though we really only wanted a snack, the waitress was cheerful and talkative - she told us that they have karaoke. The food was good, and she kept our beers coming. With a sports theme, the bar seems equipped for watching Packer games with a huge projection screen ready to go. What I thought was unique about this bar is that the ceiling tiles have been converted into oversized business cards, advertisements for the local businesses, one on each tile. We thought that was a pretty cool idea. They have a good variety of food on the menu, and also serve pizzas. What more can you ask for?
Thanks to the commentors that have written me about checking out some other places, I intend to visit them soon. Please let me know if there's a place you'd like to know about.
Homer Gifts
Homer Gift. A Homer gift is a gift intended for the person who gives the gift rather than for the recipient of the gift. The origin of this term is based on a Simpsons show where Homer gives Marge a bowling ball with the name HOMER engraved on the ball.So - if I give my husband a cute vanilla scented candle for our living room, this is a Homer gift. Or - if my husband gives me a Clint Eastwood movie, again, this is a Homer gift.
Parks are not the cause of high taxes-2
Often when there’s a debate over holding the line on taxes, County Park operations are brought up, as if Park expenditures are the fault for our high tax burden. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Last year, for every $100 that a Milwaukee resident paid in total property taxes, only $1.62 went to fund the 15,000-acre park system.
For 2008, the County Executive proposes cutting taxes devoted to Parks by 5.86%, compared to this year. The County Board’s Finance Committee alternative would impose a $24.2 million levy which amounts to a $2.1 million increase over this year’s budget. That increase would equate to an additional $4.41 on the annual property tax bill for a family living in a $130,000 house.
Neither funding alternative reaches the $26.9 million levy that was devoted to Parks in 1983. You read that right: the County is funding Parks at a level that’s less than what existed 25 years ago!
From 1983 to 2007, the County’s overall tax levy grew by 112%, outpacing inflation. Yet, during that same time, the County cut the Parks portion of that levy by 18.3%.
Our Parks aren’t the cause of high property taxes. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
Cudahy Jogger Runs to Pacific Ocean
There is lots of news to report this month. First, I suffered a running-related injury on Oct. 29th and could not run for nearly the whole month of November. Not being able to run was agony. I now realize that I am addicted to running. I finally am recovered and am returning to my training with a vengeance. I am looking forward to training hard in 2008 and competing in a number of races during the year.
In other news, I saw the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 24th. The MSO performed Bethoven’s eighth symphony and two other works. What a beautiful concert! It was a wonderful experience and I will never forget it. (I am a huge fan of Bethoven.)
Ninja Master
The Ninja Master!
Happy Christmas Birthday?
Do any of you have birthdays close to Christmas day? My daughter was born on December 25th and every year she reminds me of the fact that she feels like we've "forgotten" her birthday (I personally think it's a guilt trip she tries in order to get more presents). Of course, she doesn't remember all the kids parties we held in mid-December for her when she was little, but now that she is in her 20's, I do understand. The kids are grown up and have other families to visit and their time is at a premium. So when the family gets together at Christmas lately we tend to do it all together, combining the birthday with the holiday celebration.
Our usual Christmas traditions are slightly adjusted for this - and I've gotten creative over the years. When she turned 21 I baked 21 cupcakes and frosted them with green that looked like leaves. Then I put them in a circle on a large tray so that they looked like a holly wreath, and added a red bow at the bottom. A candle in each cupcake finished her "birthday cake". Another year I made angle food cake with peppermint chips in it. This year she wants a banana cream pie - I don't know why...One thing we always do no matter what - before we get going with holiday stuff we celebrate her birthday by singing her Happy Birthday and giving her separate presents. We make sure the presents are wrapped in birthday paper, and I never combine her presents into one large one that covers both birthday and Christmas. And we always make sure she has her separate "cake".I'll never forget that Christmas Day while I was laboring away in the hospital, my family was sitting down to a turkey dinner at my house - enjoying all I had prepared for our celebration - without me! Except for that year, Christmas is pretty special due to her arrival date. She is my Christmas baby and the holiday is brighter because of her. Happy Birthday to you Kristin, and to anyone else that shares her special day. Some famous people that share her day: Sir Isaac Newton, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Buffet, Barbara Mandrell, and Sissy Spacek to name a few.
Cudahy School District Web Site
If your kids go to any of the Cudahy schools, check out the school district web site: Cudahy School District
In no particular order, I'll list some of the reasons why this site is really nice.
New park patrol program will enhance security for park patrons
The Milwaukee County Executive’s 2008 Recommended Budget proposed the creation of a Park Patrol. On Monday, November 5, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors supported the creation of a Park Patrol when they passed the 2008 Adopted Budget.
Garlick Mustard Pickers to perform in St Francis, South Milwaukee
The Garlic Mustard Pickers are back and are planning performances for 2008! The Garlic Mustard Pickers are having their first concert of 2008 on Monday, January 7th at Fixx. Fixx is a smoke-free coffee shop in St. Francis near the Lakefront Condo’s in St. Francis. The band will perform from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. The address of Fixx is 3558 Sivyer Ave, St Francis, and is located just off Packard Ave about one block north of Howard Avenue. Fixx’s phone number is (414) 482-0919. The Garlic Mustard Pickers is a Celtic Band and performs Celtic and Folk music. I have seen them several time and they are one of my all-time favorite bands. I listen to their CD, “Off to the Woods” all the time and I also have some of the CD’s made by Bohrer Moraim. Bohrer Moraim was a previous celtic band with many of the same members as Garlic Mustard Pickers. If you like Celtic Music you will love this band. If you can’t make the gig on Jan. 7th, the band will be playing more throughout 2008. In addition to Jan. 7th, the Garlic Mustard Pickers will be playing on the following days: Monday, February 4th, at Fixx; Monday, March 3rd at Fixx;Saturday, March 8th at the Grant Park Golf Course Clubhouse. The last date listed, Saturday, March 8th, is the annual “Pullin O’ the Green”. The $10.00 admission gets you a fine Irish meal, a beer or other beverage, and some fine Celtic Music. Food is served starting at 5 pm and the band plays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. This is a major fundraiser for the Friends of Grant Park. Several of the members of The Garlic Mustard Pickers are also active in the Friends of Grant Park. The Garlic Mustard Pickers members are active in the local community and have made major contributions to the upkeep and maintenance of Grant Park. I recently had the opportunity to speak to band member Don Lawson. Don and I got to know each other when our sons were in Boy Scouts together, and I have followed his band since then.According to Don, “We appreciate anything you'd want to say about the musical style of our group. But there's another side to the band that is probably not well known. This band is not just a group of musicians. The band is a corporation that has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS. The band has a strong track record of supporting community service programs”.
“Even though the band is still investing in its future (building up its sound system, setting aside money to produce a second CD), in 2007 we were able to donate 50% of band income to local service projects. We expect that in 2008 that the percentage of donations
will increase”.
Snow, snow, snow, more snow, and a quick video
The snow outside makes me crazy. Snow always makes me crazy.
Maybe this is because I was born in the south and am genetically predisposed to touch snow and run. Maybe this is because I do more shoveling than anyone in my family. Maybe this is because I spent a lot of my teenage and college years without a car, walking in snow, and wearing bad shoes. Or maybe it's because I can't, for the life of me, squeeze our big van out of our alley without spinning the wheels, swearing like crazy, waving off concerned neighbors, and hitting at least one snow bank.
Gift That Keeps on Giving
According to Don, “We appreciate anything you'd want to say about the musical style of our group. But there's another side to the band that is probably not well known. This band is not just a group of musicians. The band is a corporation that has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS. The band has a strong track record of supporting community service programs”.
“Even though the band is still investing in its future (building up its sound system, setting aside money to produce a second CD), in 2007 we were able to donate 50% of band income to local service projects. We expect that in 2008 that the percentage of donations
will increase”.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To my blog readers - have a fun but SAFE New Year's Eve celebration! Talk to you in the new year!
