The other night, during the Winter 2008-2009 Inaugural Traffic Snarl, I was bluntly reminded of one of the very few issues I have with Wauwatosa.

You see, as I’ve said here, many times, I’m a Tosa Enthusiast. I love all things Tosa, except for this. What’s the problem, you ask? Well, Tosa during a snowstorm can be like Mt. Everest – pretty to look at but tough to summit.

It was around 6:30 pm and I was returning home after an appointment in West Allis. Generally, that’s a 10 minute trip. I prepared for a delay, but didn’t expect the toughest part to be less than a mile from my home.

I exited the highway at 84^th Street and figured I’d take one of my many super-and-maybe-not-so-secret ways through the village. Great idea, except for during a sorta-snow/ice storm. The Harmonee Bridge was closed. It was gridlock. Nobody was moving.

If you know that area, you know that, near the Tosa Village, there are only two ways to get from south to north – The Harmonee Bridge or 70^th/68^th street. Everything in-between is off-limits…to cars, that is.

The other issue is that “north Tosa” is higher than “south Tosa” and the tiniest bit of ice can make it virtually impossible to get from one end of town to the next.

On a typical day, commuting through Tosa works pretty well. Sure, it’s a little putzy to navigate the streets where you can’t turn left during rush hour, but once you figure it out, it’s fine. During the “traffic snarl,” it was a nightmare. At one point, I considered abandoning my car and walking home. In fact, if I had done that, it probably would have lessened my one hour commute.

And so, in mid-November, I was slapped upside the head by Mother Nature. “It’s winter, dummy! Drive carefully!”

Sigh.

Pssst. Hey - yeah, you. Wanna buy a can of bug spray?

Remember last winter? Who doesn’t?! That endless icy blast of Mother Nature that coated our sidewalks and front steps with potential lawsuits. Back then, the toughest find in Tosa was salt (or ice melter.) No matter who you talked to, conversations always came around to: “So, do you know where I can buy some salt?” Neighbors would call each other with hot tips on a bag or two of calcium chloride.

Fast forward to today and there appear to be a couple of items that are really tough finds here in Tosa. One is weather-related and one is not.

Thanks to the torrential rains of June, our alternate state bird, the mosquito, has overtaken Wisconsin. I’ve been to two outdoor parties recently and the most common activity at both was the slap dance. You know the one where you jump around and hit yourself while trying to have a social conversation? It’s fun…and annoying!

Well, if you haven’t already stocked up, mosquito repellant is virtually impossible to find. Target on 124^th and Capitol was completely out. Not a can to be found. Walgreens was down to its last two cans – seriously. You’re going to have to score one in a back alley somewhere…or find a friend who will share.

Another hard-to-find item is the newest game for the Nintendo Wii – Wii Fit. This hot new exercise game is getting rave reviews for combining fun and fitness. I love fun, but I’m not so big on fitness, so anything that will combine the two is a winner in my book.

The problem is, there isn’t a Wii Fit to be found. Ask at any local electronics retailer and you’ll get an eye roll and a shake of the head. This morning, Target was advertising the game in its Sunday paper insert. My husband and I arrived at 9:00 am. “Sorry, we’ve been sold out since 8:10.” Oh well.

So, I’ve been checking Craig’s List and bidding on eBay, but it doesn’t look like we’ll be Wii Fitting anytime soon.

As far as the bug spray, well, my daughter just returned from her trip to Appalachia with a couple of extra cans. Hmmm….think I can put those up for sale on Craig’s List?

Millie and I (see above) just returned from a walk on Menomonee River Parkway. I do my best blog-thinking on these walks and today was an outstanding day for such a venture. Here are just a few of the gems that popped into my head as we walked:

Let’s hear it for the weather – clap, clap, clap, clap. Fall is, hands-down, my absolutely favorite season. Today is a spectacular example of why I love this time of year. The weather is cool and crisp, the bugs are gone, the sun is shining brightly and there’s a crunch with every footstep. Bravo Mother Nature.

Every time I walk Millie on the parkway, I’m pretty sure I’m violating some county ordinance. I know this because there are a few well-hidden signs that say NO DOGS ALLOWED. I’m guessing this is because of a few crummy dog-walkers who have not picked up after their dogs. You know who you are. Or maybe you don’t because you are one of those elite runners that allows your dog to run behind you unleashed. You’re moving so fast that you don’t know when your dog stops and leaves a souvenir on the pathway. In any case, I think the parkway should be open to well-managed, leashed dogs and their owners. I think we can coexist with the runners, the walkers and the stroller-pushers.

Today while walking, I heard a voice behind me say: “Coming up on your left. I have plenty of room. Thank you.” This was a courteous cyclist. It was also shocking to hear. I’m used to bikes whizzing past me with no warning. They can see me, but neither I nor my dog can see or hear them. The dog gets startled when they suddenly appear and then the cyclist gets mad when the dog inadvertently lunges in their path. If you’re riding behind a dog walker or anyone, give notice. Buy a bell. Give a shout out.

Maybe it was just a tease, but it sure looked like there were road repairs going on just west of Church Street on the parkway. Could it be that the infamous potholes are actually being fixed? We can dream, can’t we?