Don't Vote?
This video makes me think of a friend in California who talks about how disillusioned he is with the voting process. Why vote when it's clear that Obama will win California? Why vote when the election is usually decided before polls in California even close? Why vote when the issues that matter to me or him aren't even discussed in any of the debates?
ADOPTED Are you looking at me?
Betsey is wondering why you haven't visited her yet!
She's not only charming, but this 3-year-old Beagle has chocolate brown eyes that will warm your heart. Naturally curious, Betsey is really starting to blossom after spending many years in the largest breeding facility in Wisconsin with thousands of other dogs. She likes to investigate everything from fallen autumn leaves to interesting textures in the dirt and grass. To Betsey, everything is a new phenomenon worthy of serious study! Oh, and she loves to cuddle after a nice walk in the woods, especially on a warm lap! Interested? See her and all the dogs at www.wihumane.org/animals/dogs.
An Open Letter to Barack Obama
Posted just after 9PM on Election Day, 2008. Most major news services are declaring Obama the likely winner in the Presidential election.
Dear Mr. Obama,
A new beginning
Capping a few weeks of making phone calls for Barack Obama with four days of knocking on doors in support of his bid to become president of the United States not only felt like we were making a contribution, it was pleasant. The weather helped. Blue skies, warm temperatures, light breezes. But a huge part of it was meeting lots of neighbors – we walked primarily South Milwaukee streets – and picturesque, Norman Rockwell neighborhoods with attractive and cozy-looking homes, well-manicured lawns, profusions of flowers and some of the best Halloween decorations we’ve ever seen.
Sure, we were met with stony stares at a couple of houses and a few people didn’t answer their doors – although we did schedule our outing on Sunday to avoid conflicting with the Packers game. We didn’t, however, run into anything as unpleasant as a canvasser who stopped by our daughter’s house and told about a woman walking her dog who had cursed her and about a man who came to his door and said something even more offensive.
Mom Needs Her Own Blog
I've written before about my mom and her group of senior friends. Because she has such funny stories and used to be a journalist, I've been encouraging her to blog for the Community Now websites. She keeps saying no. I think I need to build up her confidence, so if you think that a senior citizen should pipe up once in awhile and talk about the senior centers on the south side of Milwaukee, the world of senior activities, bus trips, favorite shopping places and other challenges, please post a comment. I need to let her know that there are others out there that would love to read about it. She's out of town for a week, so I have this chance to write this now and not get into trouble until she gets back!
I'm taking the tough love approach. Just this week she went out to eat at the new Layton Gardens Restaurant (the old Selen's) in Cudahy, and she wanted to write up a review about it and give it to me. This time I told her, "No, you'll have to get your own blog and write it yourself". She didn't like that.
Hey, SMHS: Respect the Woodland
I had the chance to catch the Greendale - Wisco playoff game with my wife this weekend, and while it was definitely one of the more exciting prep football games I've ever seen, one of the first thoughts running through my mind as we left had little to do with either the Vikings or the Panthers. As it happens, I was actually thinking that next year's South Milwaukee Rockets had better get their act together right now. Next year could be a lot tougher than they expect, and not just because some hoodlums from Cudahy might drop by to spray-paint our field.
You see, for next year the Rockets are leaving the rugged Southeastern Conference, where their enrollment makes them the smallest of nine schools, and (re)joining the Woodland. This is a smallest-to-largest transition for them, because SMHS will-- again, by general enrollment figures only-- immediately become the biggest school in their new conference. And with that status will come some unfair expectations.
In Memoriam: Hon. Robert J. Miech
Our neighborhood lost one of its longest-time residents on Sunday. Bob Miech passed on. That’s what he was known to my husband and me – Bob. To others he was known as ‘the judge’. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Miech and his wife, Betty, were among the first families to move into what more than six years ago became our neighborhood.
Back then – more than forty years ago – their street wasn’t paved and their house, along with the houses of the few neighbors at the time, was surrounded by open fields and woods. That’s where their daughter, Kathy, grew up and played with the Spaltholz kids who lived across the street and the McCarrier children who lived around the corner in what is now our house. From tales neighbor Nancy and Bill Spaltholz and their son, Tom, who is now our son-in-law, have said, it was a fun time that conjures up images of a Norman Rockwell era.
Believe the Blog, Not the Paper
Regular readers of both this blog and the weekly "South Shore NOW" newspaper will by now have noticed that, on occasion, an edited version of one of my posts will appear in that paper. The posts in questions are typically trimmed to fit the available column space by the South Shore NOW editorial staff. This sometimes has the effect of adding language I wouldn't personally use, or trimming key points or amusing anecdotes out of the original post.
I don't typically have a problem with this. It's part of the deal when you write a blog on this site, and I know that it's fun for my family to see me in the paper. Sometimes, though, an editorial review reminds me of why I never pursued a career in journalism. Yep, that's right... editing. Today was a textbook example. My most recent post was run in this morning's paper, but unfortunately a very important element was completely cut. It changed the tone of the post and in my opinion, a) made yours truly look like an arrogant homer and b) placed an unfair expectation on next year's South Milwaukee football team-- a point completely counter to what I was trying to do with the post.
Garlic Mustard Pickers to perform Nov. 23, 30
The Garlic Mustard Pickers are performing Sunday, Nov. 23rd at the Folk Fair Int'l 2008 at State Fair Park in West Allis. The band will play at 2 pm at the Coffeehouse Stage at the Food Court.
If you're not able to attend that day you can see them on Sunday, Nov. 30th at South Milwaukee City Hall located at 2415 15th Avenue in South Milwaukee. The band will perform Renaissance and Celtic Christmas Music from 2:10 to 3 pm. Other bands will be performing as well.
The Fixx
Bay View and Saint Francis has been changing the past few years and as you drive through these cities on the way to Milwaukee, you get a decidedly east side feel to the area. It's like the east side of Milwaukee has drifted a little south into our south side neighborhoods with the new condos along the lake there and the restaurants that have popped up around them. One that is really cute is The Fixx - a coffee shop that feels like one of the trendier east side coffee shops but with a lot more space. With several large comfy leather couches and magazines galore to read, many tall tables and chairs to sit at, great pastry, sandwiches and coffees, you could spend all afternoon there. It's full of flyers that tell you all about happenings in the area, along with all the great events the store itself plans. In fact, they have live music and open mic on Fridays and Saturday nights.
One really unique thing about this coffee house is that the owner realized that since most first dates are in coffee shops, why not bring that to the forefront and make this place all about meeting people? They have a wall of personal ads and a system that allows singles to put up a profile and get messages from interested people - hence the play on the name "The Fixx".
Free Magic Eraser
There was a time when we bragged that none of our kids ever colored on the walls, or furniture, or anything else other than paper. We bragged and bragged.
Well.
Our four year old, with a black sharpie, just drew a "house" on our hard wood floor. Then he drew a "car" with his new markers on his bedroom wall. There is even a purple crayon line on one of our lamp shades.
At school, he got his markers taken away for coloring on his marker case, milk carton, and hands! This new interest in art is making us crazy.
Coincidentally, we found this web site for a free Magic Eraser. This product should be on the permanent shopping list for all parents. It works, it's wonderful, and can take black sharpie off of floors.
Go to this link and click Share of Love.
Abyssianian Guinea Pig
Carlos is no ordinary small animal. He's a fluffy, cute-as-a-button, 10-week-old Abyssinian Guinea Pig! This handsome little guy is one of many amazing small animals currently available for adoption at WHS. See sweet gerbils, rabbits, mice, parakeets, hamsters, rats and even chinchillas at WHS today. Live in a small apartment? Allergic to cats? Don't have time to walk a dog every day? Consider a more petite pal like Carlos. Sure to keep your lap warm in the winter, a guinea pig like Carlos will also warm your heart. Visit www.wihumane.org/smallanimals to learn more about Carlos and his buddies.
BB brain
At least one house in the neighborhood might not look the same this years as in past holiday seasons. In years’ past the front picture window of a house near us would be decorated with painted scenes of snow and snowmen, holly boughs and poinsettias, reindeer and Santa. This year instead of artistic Christmas wonders, the window might contain a single wreath against a backdrop of drawn drapes. The reason? The window inexplicably was used as a target by some drool-brained retard who should never have been trusted with sharp objects much less a BB gun.
BBs shot at our neighbors’ house about 5:15 p.m on Monday – just minutes after the homeowner had closed the drapes for the night – left four holes in the window.
Author! Author! (III)
After touting fellow South Milwaukee authors, Janet Halfmann and Lisa Holewa, and their books in this blog, I'll now tout me and mine.
Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O. J. Simpson was released last week by the University of Missouri Press.
Spreading a little Christmas cheer.. or at least trying to
About this time of year, everyone starts their food drives and holiday soup kitchens.
and about 4 years ago, My family started our yearly pantry clean out, figuring the two would go hand in hand.
Questions and Comments, or How I Deal With Cyberbullies
Thought I'd take a couple quick minutes to outline the way I approach comments on this blog. If you've tried to post a comment here in the past few months, you'll have noticed that I do take advantage of the "moderator" utility that allows the owner of a blog to decide which comments get published on his/her blog. For the most part, comments haven't been a problem-- I enjoy the give and take that occurs between myself and some of my readers. On occasion I've received some objectionable feedback, however.
The amusing thing about nasty blog comments, to me, is how the people who leave them always hide behind an anonymous alias. Here I am, with my name and face out there for all to see, and I have no problem sharing my thoughts and opinions. On the other hand, you've got people who would love to share their petty attempts at cyber-bullying with the world (or at least this corner of it)... so long as they don't have to actually own up to who they are. Personally, I tend to see this kind of behavior as a symptom of deeper psychological issues, but that's their problem, not mine.
Sven's Cafe Coffee Shop in Bay View
I had heard about this little coffee shop from a friend so I made sure I stopped in recently. I was told that it was a little place, tucked into the intersection of KK, Logan, and Russell in Bay View. As I first drove by it, I did miss it altogether, turned around and parked on the side street. Something about it was really appealing, it was unassuming, a tiny building. Then it occurred to me - this used to be a gas station! But it doesn't look like a gas station anymore. As you go inside, it's a cute place with a European flair, with a couple of computers on a counter with internet access, some tables and chairs, and a side room that has been decorated with a gas fireplace, deep leather couch, and a table and chairs. This little side room looks like a den or library in someone's house, and makes you feel instantly comfortable. The coffee was very good, the whole experience was enjoyable.
The owners started out by roasting their own coffee and retailing it through supermarkets. As they expanded, they decided to open a coffee shop that sells their own brewed coffee and tea, breakfast food, soups, salads, and sandwiches. I'm told this place is very busy in the morning. Any coffee shop that provides a great atmosphere to relax in is OK in my book, check it out at: http://www.svenscoffee.com/information
Sesame Street Now Officially on YouTube and Hulu
Can you tell me how to get - how to get to Sesame Street?
Create Your Own Cookbook
I'm not the best cook but, of course, I love food. And I love looking at cookbooks.
Blurb.com is a web site that allows you to create all kinds of books: photo books, biographies, memoirs, and cookbooks. You simply download the free software, choose a template you want, design your book, and purchase it (between $14 to $25). I have not used this web site to create a cookbook. However, I have used the site to create photo albums. Both the web site and the software is fairly easy to use and most importantly, the final product is wonderful.
The Launch and First Signing
Anatomy of a Trial is officially launched. University of Missouri Press released the book last week, sent review copies to a couple dozen reviewers, news releases to a few dozen publications and news outlets, and its fall catalog featuring the book to a few thousand universities and colleges.
And today I had my first signing. Ida and Tom Spack graciously and generously offered to host an event at their place, Nona's Café, on 10th Avenue in town.
