West Side Stories

The Tiny Trouble With Tosa

2008-11-20T14:59:00Z

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.

Bleak Holiday Forecast? Not at Mayfair!

2008-11-16T14:19:21Z

I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet and it could have been just THE thing to do on a chilly, gloomy Saturday, but based on my visit to Mayfair yesterday, the economy is going to recover just fine, thank you.

My daughter and I headed over to visit Tosa’s largest taxpayer in search of a black dress. We had all day and figured we’d have the place largely to ourselves. Um, no. The mall was packed. Honestly, you’d think it was mid-December a decade ago.

And it wasn’t just mall walkers and people trolling the halls. People had bags, lots of them. The longest lines were at the cash registers. Don’t these people realize they have no money? This is predicted to be the bleakest holiday shopping season in years. Didn’t they get the memo?! Haven’t they watched the news?!

Here’s my take on the situation: Milwaukeeans (and Tosans) are notorious bargain hunters. If there’s a hint of savings, they’ll be all over it in no time. I think our neighbors know a good deal when they smell one. They know that right now, everything is on sale and they’re not going to miss out on that.

So now my wish is that our local (and maybe even national) news organizations take note and start doing stories about surprisingly brisk holiday sales. Imagine that, good news in the middle of our national financial crisis! Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

No TV Dinners, Please

2008-11-13T14:35:00Z

If you know me (and most of you don’t), there are two things you know: 1) I love TV. I watch a lot of it. More than I should, but at this age, some things won’t change. Unlike Tom Gaertner, I have cable and lot of it. 2) I’m easily distracted. I probably can’t walk and chew gum. If you’re talking to me and have some spinach in your teeth, I will not hear a word you’re saying. (Primarily because I will be having an internal argument with myself about whether or not to tell you.)

Sorry, I digressed. The point of this post is to talk about what is, to me, an annoying trend – televisions in restaurants. I eat out a fair amount and there seem to be many restaurants in Tosa that have giant televisions for all to view. This is really starting to bug me.

Let me say, however, that I have no problem with bars that have TVs. I think lots of people visit places like Colonel Hart’s or Leff’s to have a drink and watch a game. That’s just fine with me.

But when I go out to eat, I just can’t stand it when there is a giant TV where I’m having my dinner or my lunch. If I’m facing the TV, I have the most difficult time focusing on my dining companions. If they’re facing the TV, I know they are not paying attention to me. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Here are just a few of the Tosa places where I’ve found TVs: ***'s Chinese Restaurant, Pizzeria Piccola, Firefly Bar & Grill, John’s Sandwich Shop and Cheesecake Factory. At many of these, the sound is turned off. That’s certainly better than competing with the TV sound, but still distracting.

Growing up, watching TV during dinner was a HUGE no-no, with the possible exception of a major news event, like the Lunar Landing or a presidential election. Once in a while, we’d have TV dinners and sit with metal trays in front of us as a special treat. Eating without television forced us to talk to each other, a foreign concept for many of today’s families.

What do you think? Am I being a cranky old lady about this?

The Wiz at DSHA!

2008-11-05T16:18:00Z

Would you like to go to see live theater this weekend, but have a limited budget? Here’s an idea: Go see the Divine Savior Holy Angels production of “The Wiz”! It’s family fun that’s truly affordable!

DSHA High School is presenting the Tony Award winning musical, The Wiz November 6 through 9^th in the Robert and Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre located at 4257 North 100^th Street, Milwaukee.

Travel alongside Dorothy and her infamous friends as they “Ease on Down” the yellow brick road in search of brains, a heart, some courage and a way home. It’s the infamous tale of tornados, witches, flying monkeys, and a journey toward the Emerald City, but be ready for a few surprises along the way. This high energy show (featuring several Tosa students) is packed with new twists around every turn. Get swept away to a land that will have your toes tapping, your sides splitting, and will leave you dancing down the aisles.

Tickets are only $10 for adults and $8 dollars for children under 12. The DSHA Box Office is open Wednesday, 3pm – 6pm, Thursday, 3-5 pm and you can buy tickets at the door. The Box Office is located through the front entrance of DSHA High School or by calling (414) 616-2813. You may also order tickets online by visiting the school website at www.dsha.info . (Click on “Shop DSHA.”)

Performances begin at 7pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2pm for the Sunday matinee. Don’t miss out on an experience the whole family will enjoy!

Election Burnout and a Voter Gone Rogue

2008-10-27T11:45:46Z

I don’t know about you, but I have reached the burnout stage of this election. If I never hear another commercial with the tagline: “I’m _______ and I approve this message,” then life would be pretty good.

There’s an excellent chance that I’m preaching to the choir here, right? And yet, somewhere, in some “war room,” there’s a strategist saying: “We need to make more robo calls!”

Is your answering machine filled with messages from both presidential campaigns? Ours would be except that the brilliant invention known as Caller ID has allowed me to intercept these calls and hang up on them before they get started.

Seriously, who is answering the calls that come from this phone number: 000-000-0000? And my favorite is when that number is paired with the name “O” above it. “Look honey! Oprah’s calling!”

I’m not sure who either campaign thinks they are reaching, but it’s nobody who has paid taxes in this decade. Maybe there’s some poor unsuspecting old school fellow (still watching TV with an analog signal no doubt) who picks up his rotary dial phone and is flattered that John McCain or Barack Obama took time from their campaign to call him.

Just because it’s so popular, we’ll call this guy Joe. Do you think at the end of that call, Joe tries to speak to the candidates and is offended that they ignore his questions and hang up on him? No, I don’t either. Joe doesn’t exist and you can’t help but wonder how much both campaigns would save themselves in dollars and us in annoyance if they suspended that campaign tactic.

Honestly, neither candidate will sway me with their attack ads, their scary mailers (which go right into my handy recycling bin) or their incessant calls. Unlike some of my friends and relatives, I’m not reading the endless stream of rumors about both candidates. I’m not parked in front of my TV watching The Situation Room. I’m on Facebook but I did not “become a fan” of either candidate. At cocktail parties I avoid any and all political discussions.

Yes, that’s right. THIS voter has gone rogue. I’m unreachable and I’m thinking for myself. You can try to throw your mud and your accusations and your frightening worst-case scenarios at me but it’s not going to stick. Somehow, some way, without any help from the mainstream or underground or digital media, I’m going to try and make a thoughtful, intelligent choice.

And then on November 4^th, I’m going to stand in line with my neighbors and do the most amazing thing. I’m going to vote. Join me, won’t you?

Take a hike...around Swan Lake

2008-10-21T12:34:00Z

My friend Sue is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. So when I received an e-mail this past weekend with the subject line "Take a hike!," I figured that I must have blown it...big time. I really should have returned her call sooner. Turns out, Sue was just giving me a great suggestion for a fall excursion. Literally, she was telling me that I should take a hike!

So my husband and I set out last Sunday morning with our faithful dog Millie to follow Sue's route. We entered Underwood Parkway and parked near the Golf Practice area. (You can click on any photo to enlarge.)

We leashed up Millie and walked over to the gravel walkway that surrounds what some call Lake Wauwatosa, but I fondly call Swan Lake...that is when it's filled with water. We headed west on a cool, clear morning.

I have to tell you that I am NOT outdoor girl. I'm deathly afraid of bugs, birds and virtually all wildlife. But walking around Swan Lake, I felt invigorated by nature. I know, weird, huh?

Down in "the lake," which really doesn't have much water, geese and ducks are having a wonderful time.

We continued our walk around Swan Lake. For a while, we were the only people around. The fall colors were really lovely. (This photo doesn't really do it justice.)

We even saw tracks from some critters, here and there.

And I didn't even freak out when an odd little bug crossed our path.

We passed a couple of people with their dogs as well as a few runners. Once we were alone again, we let Millie roam a bit. She was having a great time and for some reason was fascinated by goose poop.

I can tell you that our entire hike took about an hour, looping completely around Swan Lake, even passing under the Swan bridge twice. (Posted signs discourage pedestrians from walking across Swan Boulevard.)

It's funny to drive a mere five minutes from your house and feel like you're miles away. Sure, there might be better and more interesting hiking trails within driving distance, but right here in Tosa, Swan Lake is a great place to start. Follow Sue's advice and take a hike!

Keep Halloween on Halloween!

2008-10-15T14:52:00Z

I need to vent. This is driving me NUTS. I think I’ve blogged about this at least once, no, actually twice! I would like to propose that we take back Halloween and put it back on October 31^st!

On the front page of WauwatosaNow.com, you will see this notice:

Citywide trick or treat takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. A day earlier, the Village of Wauwatosa businesses will stage Trick or Treat in the Village for children ages 3 to 12 starting at 1:30 p.m. at WaterStone Bank, 7500 W. State St.

This year, Halloween is on a Friday. What would be the harm in having citywide trick-or-treat from 5-8 pm on that day? Most neighborhood associations are doing it on Friday. Kids don’t have to worry about being out on a school night. Parents don’t either, for that matter.

I don’t know about everyone in Wauwatosa, but I have virtually NO trick-or-treaters during the Citywide session. I can understand doing the business trick-or-treat ahead of time, but can’t we just have all trick-or-treating on Halloween?!

In this day and age of “less is more,” seems like we should be looking at ways of spending fewer dollars on things like candy and costumes. With the potential for THREE Halloween celebrations in Tosa, that is difficult to do.

What do you think, readers? Are you confused by the multiple trick-or-treating dates? Do you just wish Halloween was on October 31^st?

Mayfair Turns 50

2008-10-12T14:28:35Z

What’s the secret to a successful mall? It’s simple – change or die.

When I first moved to Milwaukee, my husband and I lived just off of Brown Deer Road near Northridge Mall. Back then, 25 years ago, Northridge was THE mall. Everything in and around Northridge was thriving. We’d spend hours wandering the aisles of Northridge, window-shopping and just hanging out.

Because my first job was near Wauwatosa, we bought our first house in Milwaukee on the edge of Tosa. It was a tiny little starter home and on sunny days we’d take walks and gaze across Center Street and dream of the day we’d be able to afford a Tosa home. Eventually, our dream came true and we became true Tosans. And our new mall became Mayfair.

Back in the early ‘80s, Mayfair seemed like the quirkiest mall to me. There was an ice rink in the middle of it! How cool/weird is that?! It didn’t take long before I grew attached to Mayfair. We’d go to movies in the odd little theater in the East parking lot. We’d grab lunch at the cute little café in Marshall Field & Company.

I vividly remember a day in early 1986, standing and watching ice skaters while upstairs in the office building, my doctor was processing my first pregnancy test. That same year, they started making huge changes at Mayfair. They took out the ice rink and started building a second floor. I remember wandering the halls of Mayfair, in an around scaffolding, while I made my way to the Chocolate Factory for lunch. (Prior to the arrival of the food court.)

For many, many years, it seemed like Mayfair was on a steady diet of change. New retailers came and went. Our children have fond memories of the opening of The Disney Store on the first floor of Mayfair. They’d spend HOURS gazing at and sometimes climbing around the tower of stuffed animals in the back of the store. (That is when they weren’t begging for a new toy.) When we could lure the kids out of The Disney Store, my husband and I would drag them over to Scribner’s, where we’d buy books that came with ever-useful blue bookmarks.

To us, it almost seemed like Mayfair grew as our kids grew. When they were at just the right age to become regular movie-goers, the 18-screen theater opened. We were there on that opening weekend when they offered free movies (albeit older films) to show off the new screens. Back then, there was a dinner theater in the General Cinema Theater (now AMC) as well as birthday parties for kids.

Once the theater opened up, the mall began to group stores in the upper level based on demographics. On one end, they put Build-A-Bear and Gap Kids, on the other end, Spencer Gifts and American Eagle.

Soon there was a huge growth spurt that included Crate & Barrel, PF Changs, Maggiano’s and Cheesecake Factory. For several years, we came to expect something new every season.

Mayfair became THE mall in the Milwaukee area, while malls like Northridge, Southridge and Bayshore either folded or barely survived. Unfortunately, with success come challenges and Mayfair had its share of incidents and crime issues. But again, the mall responded in 2007 by instituting the Parental Guidance policy which seems to have been very successful.

With the exception of McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant and a few random retailers, Mayfair has been pretty quiet in the past year or so. Meanwhile, Bayshore and Brookfield Square have spent major dollars to attract shoppers to other sides of town.

Only time will tell if Mayfair and other malls will withstand the shaky economic times that have pinched everyone’s wallets. For 50 years, Mayfair has evolved and flourished. Now it’s up to us to decide if Wauwatosa’s largest taxpayer will be around for another 50 years. As Wauwatosa residents, we have a vested interest in Mayfair Mall.

So what do you think? Do you have any “Mayfair Memories” that you’d like to share? Do you like Mayfair or avoid it like the plague? What changes, if any, would you like to see at Mayfair?

Down and Out

2008-10-06T13:44:35Z

Man, what a bummer. We Wisconsinites have just experienced the ultimate trifecta of sports downers – losses by the Badgers, Packers and, of course, the playoff loss by the Brewers. And, to add insult to injury, our local marathon was won by a guy from Illinois. Nothing like kicking us while we’re down.

Here in our household, we had the good (or bad) fortune to experience two of these maudlin moments – I was at the Brewer game Sunday with a friend and my husband was at the Packer game. Thanks to the wonders of text messaging, we were able to have a digital conversation that went something like this:

Me: Suppan just gave up a three-run homer in the third.

Him: The Packers can’t stop the Falcons.

Me: We’re losing 5-0.

Him: We’re losing 27-17.

Me: It’s over here.

Him: Done here too.

Sigh. No joy in Mudville…or Milwaukee or Green Bay or Madison.

But I hate being a glass half-empty kind of girl. I need a positive thought or two upon which I can hang my hat. So here goes. My feeble attempt to blow sunshine into a room out of which all the happiness has been removed. My top ten reasons to still be happy about Wisconsin sports:

10. Ryan Braun is signed to a long-term contract.

9. The Bucks are still undefeated.

8. 186 Days till Opening Day.

7. The Brewers open at home against the Cubs, meaning there’s a good chance that for once, Miller Park will not be “Wrigley North.”

6. If you don’t have season tickets, this is an excellent time to get seats at a Packer game.

5. We won’t have that dilemma about whether to watch playoff baseball or our favorite TV shows.

4. Unlike other states, our legislators aren’t arguing the pros and cons of building a new stadium. Oh wait. I forgot about the Bradley Center.

3. It would be a stretch, but the Packers could still match last season’s record.

2. There’s no wait for tables at TGI Friday’s at Miller Park.

1. The Brewers won one more playoff games than the Cubs who were SWEPT. Ahhh….

What about you? What are you looking forward to in local sports?

National Couch Potato Week

2008-09-26T19:02:00Z

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?”)

Why I Blog

2008-09-19T21:43:00Z

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.

Prisoners in Everyone's Cell

2008-09-13T19:43:40Z

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.

X Marks the Mystery Spot

2008-09-02T19:10:27Z

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?

Attention Hog

2008-08-30T13:49:00Z

I’m not usually one to stand out in a crowd. Although I enjoy attention, I don’t go out of my way to get it, especially with my clothing choices.

Friday, on the lakefront, I stood out like a sore thumb. Me, with my Bermuda shorts, plain t-shirt and boring sandals. You’d think I was walking around naked. Seriously, people stared. Why? Well, I guess because I wasn’t wearing the requisite leather vest and tattoos.

Honestly, I’ve never felt more out of place. (Wait, there was that middle-school dance I chaperoned where I made the poor choice to go out on the dance floor. Never again.)

Anyway, my husband and I were the recipients of tickets to the Harley-Davidson 105^th Anniversary Celebration. We took Friday afternoon off to wander the Summerfest grounds and soak in some of the festivities.

I have to say, it was an impressive sight. I thought the 100^th was a big deal. I do think this may be way bigger. It took us an hour to get downtown and find parking. Again, our four-wheel transportation looked odd and awkward.

We were there pretty early in the afternoon, so I think we were a bit premature for the party. But I have to say, it was outstanding people-watching. It was fun to read the t-shirts which served as sort of personal license plates, labeling riders with their home states.

The best part, for me, was that unlike Summerfest, my love handles were definitely in style. Harley riders are very inclusive of the “middle-age spread." You gotta love that!

We wandered along the lakefront and over to Veterans’ Park. The contrast of bikes against the Calatrava was awesome to see:

We checked out the “Roadhouse at the Lakefront” where Harley will make amends for Elton by bringing in The Boss. The stage reminded me of the monolith from 2001 - A Space Odyssey:

And here’s the thing that attracted the most attention of all. A large crowd was gathered along the lake looking down at this:

That’s right, a tiny little fox foraging for scraps of food. Like me, it looked a little out of place too.

Extreme Little Red Makeover

2008-08-27T12:07:00Z

Well, it’s not currently red, but I have to say, it’s looking better than ever.

The other day, my husband and I wandered by Wauwatosa’s Little Red Store. Although it’s far from finished, it’s obvious that someone has spent some significant time on our quaint little landmark. (Darn those vandals that broke one of the windows!)

And it’s not a minute too soon, or so it seems based on this article I found on www.WauwatosaNOW.com. On September 10^th, the Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee will meet to determine whether The Little Red Store and two other sites should be designated as Official Milwaukee County Landmarks.

If you’re interested in contributing to the restoration of The Little Red Store, click here.

In the meantime, I’d be interested to hear what you think should be done with this darling little building. It sounds like the Wauwatosa Historical Society would like to make it a visitors’ center. I’m not sure how I feel about that, given its hard-to-find location. I'm also not sure if the long-term use of the Little Red Store is up for debate.

But let's talk about it anyway. Would it be better as a commercial business housed in a historic building? I’m thinking that may be a more reliable way to keep an important structure healthy and viable. Located just off a well-traveled bike path, some people have suggested a candy store or a bike rental shop? Why stop at bikes? Why not cross-country skis and Segways?!

What do you think?

Hurdling the Olympic Coverage

2008-08-20T13:27:00Z

It seems like everyone I know has Olympic fever. They’re watching and talking about the Olympics more than ever before. And how could you not watch them non-stop? They’re everywhere. I mean, really. They’re on NBC, USA Network, Oxygen, MSNBC, Universal HD and of course, online all the time.

Count me among the folks that are just a little bit befuddled by this Olympic experience. I think the problem is that I missed the opening ceremonies, a.k.a. the gateway to Olympic addiction. I was out that night and forgot to record it. I tuned in as the guy lighting the torch was walking along the top of the Bird’s Nest. Let me tell you, Peter Pan’s got nothing on that guy.

Since then, I’ve tried to watch the Olympics, many times. But every time I tune in, I either get boxing (which hurts me to watch), a water polo match, (a ridiculously hard sport that's pretty boring to watch) or a replay of a sport where the results have been splashed all over the internet. Or, I get all excited about an event, only to find that I’m watching a HEAT. Sorry, but nothing could be less exciting to me than a heat. Sort of like pre-season football or spring training. (I know it counts more, but if the athletes don’t care about finishing first, then I don’t either.)

I’m a huge sports fan, but in this day and age of instant information, it’s incredibly tough to get engaged in a medal competition when I can walk over to my computer and find out who won. I just don’t have that much self-control.

And NBC has tried their darnedest to ratchet up the drama. They’ve done background mini-documentaries, complete with tear-jerking music, on virtually every U.S. athlete. Perhaps that’s the problem for me. They over-prepared. Rather than allowing us to experience the real drama as it unfolded, they had to spoon-feed it to us until we practically gagged on it.

Then there’s the big kahuna - Michael Phelps. It’s not his fault. There’s no denying the fact that he’s one of the most amazing athletes of all time and I congratulate him and wish him the very best. I just wish they could have dialed down the over-the-top hysteria and just let us see it as it happened - without the anatomical diagrams explaining why his giant feet and short legs make him such an uber-athlete. I’m going to say this and it might be un-American: I’m Phelps-ed out.

In defense of NBC, how else do you fill HOURS of prime-time television? The time difference of 13 hours makes it unrealistic to show anything in real time. I guess they just crossed their fingers and hoped that people were OK with seeing their sporting events on tape delay. I can’t explain why I’m not. Perhaps it’s just the cynic in me.

Maybe the problem isn’t so much the viewing as it is the listening. I imagine Al Trautwig, Tim Daggett and Rowdy Gaines clutching their NBC-issued Official Glossary of Adjectives as they attempt to explain to us how a seemingly small mistake is really “disastrous” or “catastrophic.” Meanwhile, Bela Karolyi, whose wife coaches the U.S. Women’s gymnasts, makes absolutely no attempt to appear unbiased in his commentary. I guess that’s OK, because I’m rooting for the U.S. women too, but perhaps he shouldn’t be a regular “fixture” in the studio.

Bob Costas, who I usually like a lot, has really disappointed me this time in his role as NBC’s Olympic ring-master. I have never seen a more awkward moment on television than the split triple screen with Costas, Phelps and Mark Spitz. Rather than asking Spitz something mildly compelling like: “How does it feel to no longer be THE Olympic guy?”, he lobbed softballs and instead went for: “Mark, what do you think of what Michael has done?” Gee Bob, what did you think he was going to say? It was all just so painfully predictable as the two multi-medalists practically wrenched their shoulders patting each other on the back.

Now that I’ve totally rained on the Olympic parade, I’ll say that the other day I was brought to tears by the Olympics. It was the medal ceremony for the 55 kilogram wrestling weight class. The gold medal winner was Henry Cejudo of the U.S. who was apparently a surprise medalist. As our national anthem played, the announcers deftly explained that Cejudo is the son of illegal immigrants who had never slept in his own bed until he arrived at Olympic training camp. At that moment, I choked up and beamed with American pride as both Cejudo and his father had tears in their eyes.

Now that’s the kind of Olympic moment that I love.

Trash Talk

2008-08-15T21:34:00Z

The other day was garbage day. I went through my usual routine – picking up garbage throughout the house and bringing it out to our garbage can. And then, because it was recycling week, I made extra sure to find all of the used magazines and papers and cans and bottles that needed to be recycled.

And then a funny thing happened. Just as I was about to roll my garbage and recycling carts to the curb, I looked into them one last time. At that moment I realized that my garbage cart was only half-full and my recycling cart was absolutely packed.

Imagine that. Even here, in our house, where we seem to generate more garbage per person than the average household, recycling works. Who knew?

OK, this part is not about trash (or maybe you’ll think it is.) It’s just sort of a fun little “bonus” to this post. Here’s a music video of a song written by a Tosa college kid. (Yeah, it’s that one.) It will take you exactly 3 minutes and 23 seconds to decide whether it’s trash. I know, I’m shameless.

(Oh, and no, that's not that kid in the video.)

Being Early Makes Me Surly

2008-08-11T18:54:14Z

I’m sorry, but it’s just too early. I don’t care what you say...it is.

In fact, I would argue that being this early will mean that some things around your house will be stale...really stale.

What am I talking about? OK, so on Sunday August 10^th, we were wandering the aisles of Sentry, picking up a few essentials.

Suddenly, just northeast of the produce department, we ran into a GIGANTIC display. I could NOT believe it. I was so stunned that I took a photo with my cell phone. Here it is:

Please forgive the quality, but what you see there is an enormous display of Halloween candy. That’s right, I said Halloween candy. On August 10^th. Exactly 82 days before Halloween.

It's not enough that every neighborhood has multiple dates for Halloween. Now we have to think about those multiple dates nearly three months before they arrive!!!

Like I said, it’s just too early.

Divas Storm the Village

2008-08-06T13:11:07Z

Who says Brett Favre is the only Diva in town these days?!

Judging by the hordes of females roaming the Village on Tuesday night, there are a LOT of Divas right here in Tosa. They were there en masse to participate in Diva Night in the Village.

Diva night was an evening of shopping, wine and summer desserts hosted by several village merchants. The first Diva night was held in February. Tuesday’s glorious summer weather was the perfect backdrop for this semi-annual girls’ night out.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend sent an e-mail to a few of us asking who wanted to be a Diva for a night. Honestly, I didn’t expect very much. For me, it was a good excuse for a night out with my friends. Throw in the fact that it was within walking distance of my house and that sealed the deal.

We met at Vino 100 at around 6:30 pm and the placed was PACKED. We snagged a coveted patio table and caught up on news and such with each other. Honestly, we considered foregoing the Diva "walk," where you carried a card and visited 8 of 14 stores for an opportunity to enter your name in a drawing for prizes. But curiosity prevailed and we hit the streets with cards in hand.

Village merchants that participated in Diva Night included: Vino 100, Magnolia & Co., French Country Pine & Design, Underwood Gallery, Oro di Oliva, Magpie Jewelry, Little Read Book, Juxt Home and Baby, Blue Lapin, Jilly and George, Urban Laundry, and Salamander. (Sorry - I knew that I missed a few!)

All of the merchants opened their doors, displayed their wares and offered food and drinks. Although I live very close to some of these retailers, there were several I had never visited. Diva Night was a great opportunity to check out some new places like Oro di Oliva and some old places that were new to me – Magpie Jewelry.

Judging by the conversations that were floating through the streets and businesses, Diva Night was a great success. Many women commented on how they will definitely be returning to these establishments when they have a little more time to shop. Now that’s music to the ears of any business!

Bravo to the organizers of Diva Night and especially to Vino 100, which served as the event headquarters both before and after the walk. Here’s hoping there will be many more Diva Nights to come!

Me and the Cubs' Fan - Tales from a Poor Sport

2008-08-01T14:00:59Z

Next time, I think we’ll just do lunch.

It all started about a year ago. My grade school friend, Margie, and I were trading e-mails at the end of the 2007 baseball season.

“Tell the Brewers to stop winning!” she pleaded.

“Not a chance,” I replied.

“Next summer, we should go to a game in Milwaukee,” she suggested.

At that point, I should have politely declined and offered to meet her at Six Flags. I hate roller coasters, but even that would have been more fun than yesterday.

Thursday afternoon, I took Margie to the Brewers’ game. I refuse to call it a Cubs’ game even though the crowd was at least 80% Chicago fans. (It was a day game. Don’t these people have jobs?!)

A month ago, this outing seemed like a very bad idea.

Last weekend, it seemed like a great idea.

Monday – less great.

Tuesday – um, well….

Wednesday – oh no!

Still, this was my old friend who I hadn’t seen in a long time. We grew up together on the north side of Chicago. We wore the same ugly plaid uniforms at St. Mary of the Woods grade school. We sat at our high school lunch table together. Back then, Margie made green Rice Krispy treats for everyone’s birthday. We’d catch up on old times and she’d make it fun, right?

When we entered Miller Park, Margie and I apparently looked like an odd couple. She in her Cubs’ t-shirt and hat and me in my really cool Brewers’ jersey. (I now hate the fact that this jersey just happens to be Cubbie blue. Dang it!) The Miller Park employees and vendors shot me pitiful glances, as if to say: “I’m sorry. Did you lose a bet or something?”

I knew it would be tough, but I never expected the force and number of Cubs’ fans that I encountered at Thursday’s game. I felt like the proverbial salmon swimming upstream against the tide of giant “Cs” and Chicago apparel. But I hung on to the hope that MY home team could send them back to Illinois, crestfallen and sorely disappointed. Alas, that was not to be.

At first the game looked like it could be a fair contest, until the home runs started…the Cubs’ home runs. Margie would clap loudly, stand up and then bend over and say: “I’m sorry!” “No you’re not,” I’d reply with a false grin hiding my grim demeanor.

And then the text messages started rolling in. First it was Margie’s sister: “Hey! The Brewers just traded CC and Sheets for Santo! Edmunds rocks!” Then it was our grade school friend, Liz, who sat with a bus-full of flatlanders in the nosebleed section. “Sorry for the delay in my response to your last message. I was distracted by the GRAND SLAM!”

Man, this was a very bad idea.

In the middle of the 8^th inning, when I could no longer sit and watch the massacre, I suggested that we wander up to visit Liz and her friends. Great idea, right? How much worse could things get?

My jersey and I walked up the steep steps into their section and I was greeted by a rousing chorus of boos and jeers as I valiantly waved my newly acquired Brewers’ car flag. This emboldened group, fueled by victory and alcohol, questioned my allegiances, my heritage and my ability to cheer for a team from Milwaukee.

“The Cubs never did anything for me when I lived there,” I started.

“I’ve lived here longer than I lived in Chicago,” I continued.

“They built me a stadium!,” I finally added, somewhat desperately. “It’s nice, isn’t it?” They agreed and said they really, really liked Miller Park. I would too if I were them.

Then they made feeble attempts to console me: “Karen, this will be great. The Cubs will win the division. The Brewers will win the wild card and then the Cubs will win the World Series. Everybody’s happy!” Um, sure. You did well in logic class in college, didn’t you pal?

Finally, it ended. Margie and I waded through the Cubs’ merchandise, the stupid Cubs’ victory songs and the “W” flags (apparently their fans need single-letter explanations for the outcome of a game – perhaps the Tribune sports page is too complicated?) And of course there were the brooms. Yes, we know. You swept us. Now go home. Your mommy needs to clean up the kitchen.

In the end, I’m a die-hard Brewers’ fan. There’s no turning back. The truth is, I’m jealous of their over-the-top euphoria. I’d like to think that we Milwaukeeans would handle it a little less obnoxiously, but I don’t really know that. All I really do know is that there’s only one way to stop this humiliation – just win baby.

In the meantime, Margie and I will stick to lunch….or roller coasters.