West Side Stories

Last night, while watching season premieres of some of my favorite shows (The Office, Survivor, Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy*), I was alerted to the fact that I missed a national faux holiday. I didn’t realize it, but this week is “National Stay At Home Week.” I just hope the selection at our local Hallmark store isn’t totally picked over.

Apparently, the television powers-that-be have decided that since there isn’t a strike looming large, we should all hunker down with our trans-fats and our remotes, pull up a big couch and do nothing but watch the premieres of their TV shows.

Hmmm…nice try guys, but there are two problems with that concept:  First, here in the Milwaukee area, we are currently in the middle of a seemingly perfect storm – that is, a roller coaster Brewers’ Wild Card race coupled with some of the most beautiful weather of the year. Stay at home? Well, only to watch the Brewers! Secondly, hello….can you say “DVR?” We time-shifting experts have no need for staying at home. We can have our premieres and our social lives!

Look, there will be plenty of opportunity for staying at home. It’s called February. That’s when we need premieres and comfort food and elastic waistbands. We’ll be there for them then. Now, well…we’ll be there, but on our terms and on our clock.

*If, like me, you’re addicted to Grey’s Anatomy and wish to receive my weekly Grey’s Recap e-mails, send me your e-mail address and I’ll add you to my list. It’s fun, it’s snarky and, best of all, it’s FREE! (Or should I say “McFree?”)

Sometimes I’m asked why I blog. (Most other times, people don’t really want to know and I’m looked at with a mixture of scorn and pity as if I just admitted that I collect dead bugs.)

Well, the answer, for me, is that I blog because deep inside, I’m still an adolescent. I’m still that awkward, chubby girl with bad skin, sitting in my bedroom, listening to Elton John and writing madly in my diary. For me, writing has always been the only way to explain what was going on in my head. But that’s only half of it.

I also blog because, if I’m lucky, once a year, somebody will come up to me in the grocery store or at the car wash, and say: “I like what you wrote. You get it.” To me, a simple comment like that makes me walk on air for a week. And it helps me forget when my dad asks me about “that thing you’re doing for free…your…what do you call it – glog?!”

We bloggers are certainly not doing it for the money, because, there is none. And although some bloggers out there on the internet are paid, I have neither the knowledge nor the wherewithal to figure out how to make that happen. Besides, the 10 or 20 Wauwatosa people that stumble on my blog are a decent audience. Heck, that’s a good-sized crowd for Thanksgiving, so who am I to complain?

This week, about 30 of us blogging types gathered at the Journal Sentinel offices. We came from all corners of the metro-Milwaukee area. We all have different reasons to blog and different ways of going about it. Some want to effect change in their communities.  Others, like me, just have the writing bug and wouldn’t mind adding a touch of humor or interest to somebody’s day.

On hand to cheer us on were “the bigs” from the Journal Sentinel: President and Publisher, Betsy Brenner, Sr. VP/Editor Marty Kaiser and Sr. VP/Interactive Media and Audience Development Sharon Prill. They told us that we were “the future” of what’s going on in journalism (Ray Py will love hearing that) and that they were working hard to stay on top of current and emerging trends. We even got a sneak peek at some new website technology that will affect us all, hopefully, in a positive way.

We were given ample opportunity to ask anything we wanted about the Journal Sentinel. The one question that I had, and was asked by someone else, was about the future of the Journal Sentinel. Brenner and Kaiser answered deftly, albeit also vaguely, basically explaining that recent changes made were based on market conditions and information that was available more readily and more up-to-date elsewhere (such as stock quotes). It’s an uphill battle. Sadly (a self-defeating statement coming from a blogger), more and more people are getting their news from the internet. The Journal Sentinel is working hard to get a piece of that action, but I can’t help but be concerned about the future of my favorite early morning routine – reading the local paper. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer of us reading the Journal Sentinel every day. Sigh.

I guess what I’m saying is three-fold: First, if you read my blog or other blogs, thanks. It means a lot. Second, be sure to share your thoughts, either through comments or e-mails. We don’t get paid, but feedback is awesome payback. Third, if you love reading the paper, subscribe to it, talk about it, buy it and talk about it some more. It won’t survive if readership dwindles. If you don’t like what you read, tell them about it. They welcome any and all comments.

We just returned from a brief vacation to the land where Brett now rules the land. Yes, New York City is quite bedazzled by Broadway Brett…at least until he throws that first interception. Then we’ll see if those jersey sales slow down a bit.

Anyway, the one thing that I notice more often when I travel are cell phones and how deeply imbedded they are in our culture. Everywhere you go people are firmly attached to their cell phones. I know. Kind of a “duh” statement but still sort of chilling. No doubt about it, we are in touch, everywhere, no matter where we go.

(Oh and don’t forget that Brett and his cell phone were all a big part of Favre-gate, so at least he’s got that signal down.)

When we used to go on trips, and I’d see something that I think would interest my kids, I’d make a mental note of it and tell them when we got home. Or if I was really prepared, I’d take a photo and later share the accompanying story. Now, I take a photo and send a “pix” message. (And trust me – I do not have a fancy cell phone at all.) Sort of like carrying my kids in my pocket for the trip – very little cost and less attitude.

When we accidentally ran smack-dab into Mercedez Benz Fashion Week, I knew my 16-year old daughter would be jealous but would definitely want to share in the experience. So I snapped cell phone pix and sent them to her. Suddenly, my messages were slightly more cool and less annoying than the week before.

One thing that puzzles me about cell phones are those Bluetooth headset things that people wear around. I think they’re great for people that are driving. Very convenient and slightly more safe than the hands-on option. What I don’t get, however, are the people that use headsets when they’re NOT driving…or doing anything else. Suddenly the weight of a cell phone is more than they can bear? Or, that Bluetooth hanging on your ear is the next big thing in fashion? I don’t think so.

And no discussion of cell phones would be complete without mentioning etiquette. We are definitely still writing those rules. What we should and shouldn’t do with our cell phones. During movies? Bad. On the street? Apparently OK because EVERYONE is doing it….everywhere. We’re texting, we’re checking e-mail. And, as a result, we’re oblivious to our surroundings.

That brings us to the topic of loud cell phone conversations. Here’s my proposal: If you are talking on a cell phone in public, loudly and in front of others, your conversation is everyone’s business. In other words, we get to participate.

For instance, in the airport, I heard one woman talking about how she and her husband were bidding on a house but they and the seller were $9,000 apart on a price. Since she was speaking so loudly that all of us at Gate B3 could hear her, I think we were entitled to say things like: “Girl! You stick to your guns. The market’s bad, honey. Lowball it. You can’t lose!” What? That’s rude but her talking loudly isn’t? I don’t know. Seems fair (and fun) to me!

We could have a slogan for this new rule: “Your loud chat is everyone’s business!” Or, “Go ahead and talk loud. I can’t wait to hear more!” Or “Speak up! Those of us on the other side of the city can’t hear you!” Just imagine the possibilities.

Like many Tosa homeowners, I have several of these on the sidewalk outside my house:

I have had these X's for several weeks. Neither my neighbors nor I are sure what they mean. I think I know, but here is my mailbox:

As you can see, my mailbox is empty. The city has yet to send me anything to tell me what these X's mean. Unfortunately, I think it means something that will cost me money. Upon a quick search on the city's website, I found this item. However, it's pretty old.

So, do you have these same pretty X's in front of your house? Has anybody told you what they mean?