West Side Stories - All Comments

re: The Tiny Trouble With Tosa

nancy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:28:32 GMT

I was out Monday night at a meeting. My fellow facilitator never made it, having totaled her car when it was squeezed by two others in a five car pile-up somewhere in the vicinity of I-45 and Wisconsin. It took me two hours to get home from Bluemound and Calhoun, crawling along Bluemound over sheer black ice. I had the same thought that you did as I was approaching 'Tosa. I had planned to turn north onto Mayfair and head toward North Avenue that way, until I remembered that my son needed a prescription that was ready at the Walgreen's next to Sentry. I was really, really dreading the drive up the 68th Street hill, but he needed the medication so I went. Luck was in my favor that night as the hill was clear of ice from Sentry to Milwaukee Avenue. The section between Wells and State was icy, but the section north of State was clear. The capricious bands of snow must have missed that stretch of 68th Street. There have been times when I wasn't so lucky, however, and had to struggle to make it up the hill without sliding into another vehicle. While it's possible to get to the heart of 'Tosa without climbing a hill, it may take some extra planning, time, and travel to avoid them.

(Harwood and 70th/71st Street are very hilly - neither would be a viable solution to the problem of getting from south to north)

re: The Tiny Trouble With Tosa

Gas Pains — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:59:27 GMT

Karen...

I missed most of the troubles that day because I was up north. Anyway, I drove home late in the afternoon and arrived in Tosa after 7 PM. Traffic was moving smoothly by then but I could tell that the first winter driving event had occurred. A saw plenty of cars in the ditch on I-43 and when I got to Milwaukee I noticed wrecked cars on the side of the freeway and a couple of street lights toppled.

When I turned on my block there were two wrecked cars parked in front of my neighbor’s house. They were trashed. Front-ends smashed, front tires askew, airbags deployed. A mess. My guess was that they both collided on 68th Street north of Wells on the downhill slope leading to State. The cops probably pushed them onto my block to get them out of traffic.

Two flatbed wreckers winched them-up and hauled them away that evening and all that was left in the morning were tiny pieces of debris in the street.

re: The Tiny Trouble With Tosa

beckkl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:59:20 GMT

There are a few other ways to get "up the hill". Harwood Ave and 70/71st Street to name a few. Maybe not as direct, but I've taken them in a pinch. Once You hit Milwaukee/Vliet street, you can go cut up any number of streets to hit North Ave.

re: Bleak Holiday Forecast? Not at Mayfair!

Old Tosan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:17:01 GMT

There is nothing wrong with Mayfair. It's owner, General Growth Properties, has debt due and can't re-fi because of the lousy credit marekts. They'll probably do Chapter 11, which will help them deal with the problem.

GM ought to do the same...

re: Bleak Holiday Forecast? Not at Mayfair!

nancy — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:43:07 GMT

I think it would be hard to report on brisk sales at Mayfair without also mentioning that its owners have lost 95% of their value and are on the verge of bankruptcy. That would appear to be the bigger story. I hope they can pull it out. It won't be good for 'Tosa if Mayfair Mall collapses financially. It doesn't sound like this is a problem that can be fixed with healthy holiday sales.

re: Bleak Holiday Forecast? Not at Mayfair!

Rachel Schickowski — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:39:26 GMT

I was there last night too and it was tough to find parking. I think Mayfair Mall is going to be just fine. ;)

re: No TV Dinners, Please

nancy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:22:57 GMT

I haven't noticed this trend, but we don't eat out much. I agree that TVs in bars are fine, but not in restuarants. If my kids and I go out to eat, we do it so we can enjoy the food and the place and each other without distraction (and two of us are highly distractable).

The TV dinner reference was funny. I was just describing TV dinners to my son the other day. We had them once in a while when I was growing up. I liked the idea more than the reality. The food was always a disappointment.

re: No TV Dinners, Please

Ray Py — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:23:42 GMT

Karen--Equally distracting--people who find it necessary to speak long and loud on cell phones, never mind where they are. I've asked two guys doing top-of-the-voice business while I was awaiting care at a medical clinic waiting room. One guy got so furious when I reminded him that most of the people who had to put up with his obnoxious manner did not feel well. He made a dramatic exit to the outdoors but everyone could hear his conversation with his caller about "the nerve of some people!"

I don't enjoy the airmless television jabber in public as you do not, but I agree the television is acceptable in places that frequently show sports to patrons. In my experience, such restaurants as John's and the Pizzeria make their TVs inconspicuous to most diners. (So much so that as many times as I have been to the Pizzeria, I can not recall where the belevision is located) I hate TVs that show us nothing in hosital waiting rooms where the sound and the outdated magazines make that ordeal tough enough.

I was in a waiting situation at the VA hospital with a jabbering television the only other presence in the room. When I asked to attendant to either turn the thing down or turn it off completely, he responded "We're not allowed to touch the TV."

That led me to all manner of recall of a long-ago military experience where similar decisions could only be made by higher ranking people than myself. No doubt the VA has an Officer of the TV who comes by at the end of every duty day to officiate at some kind of official t

Turning Off ceremony similar to Reville or the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham.

re: No TV Dinners, Please

Gas Pains — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:06:51 GMT

Hi Karen...

Cranky? Heck no.

Isn’t it ironic that you and are like-minded on this subject? Me - the unrepentant cultural low-brow and you a television aficionado.

If I go to a bar to watch the game I want there to be televisions – and lots of them strategically located so as to avoid getting a stiff neck.

I dislike televisions in restaurants because they are indeed a distraction. There is nothing worse than having your fish fry interrupted by some nitwit on MSNBC yelling at you in tiny little nonsensical sound bites. Blech.

By the way – My wife and I rearranged all of our furniture and drafted the coffee table into service as a place for the giant conundrum to sit. We got it plugged-in and working. I have to tell you it is pretty cool. I was watching a news anchor just the other night and marveled at how bad her complexion is. The plasma HDTV sure shows every pimple and blemish in large living color.

I ate my dinner last night in front of it.

re: Take a hike...around Swan Lake

Christine McLaughlin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:14:21 GMT

Dang, Karen. Revealing best-kept secrets!

Idgy and I walk there ALL the time. She loves to chase the geese: it's her mission in life.

Tom, the worst horticultural decision I'm aware of in the area is planting a preponderance of ash trees. What WERE they thinking? I'll bet they got 'em cheap. . . But go deeper into the county grounds, near the butterfly area, and you'll see some fine work by Eagle Scouts.

re: Take a hike...around Swan Lake

Karen Waldkirch — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:07:27 GMT

Tom, yes, I agree about the MMSD project. I'm not sure if they're finished or what's going on, but it's currently a very pleasant place. Thanks for saying nice things about Millie. She's a keeper. But no thanks for scaring me with your winter prediction. Now I am freaked out!

re: Take a hike...around Swan Lake

Thomas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:55:06 GMT

Karen...

Thanks for sharing.

There was abundant wailing and gnashing of teeth over this project and it looks like it may turn-out to be a nice passive recreation venue.

I’ve been meaning to get over there and check-out the landscaping – basically to see if MMSD planted native species as promised.

By the way – that is a handsome dog!

Gas Pains

That wooly bear caterpillar is a sign of a severe winter ahead. You’ll probably have snow up to the eaves…

re: Take a hike...around Swan Lake

Jeanne — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:38:05 GMT

Good suggestion! I'm always looking for new places to walk. I might have to check this out.

Nice photos, too!

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

Karen Waldkirch — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:56:32 GMT

Actually, Tosaville, as a very nice reader pointed out, that's the Packer bye week, so it doesn't really interrupt football. I just think it's unnecessary. I have no problem with kids from troubled areas trick-or-treating in our neighborhood, I just wish they'd do it on Halloween with everyone else.

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

tosaville — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:18:55 GMT

The only kids we get on the city's date these days are kids from outside of Wauwatosa, and even then, it's only two or three family groups. Their parents must call city hall and ask for the date and time. With all the neighborhood associations doing it now, who would want to take their kids out in the middle of a Sunday afternoon during football season?

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

glame — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:13:34 GMT

well, you are never too old for free candy.

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

Karen Waldkirch — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:00:35 GMT

Interesting thoughts, everyone! When I get an older kid at my door in a rather vague costume, I always make them explain what it is. If the explanation is poor, they still get candy, but they get a bit of a lecture. Yeah, I'm THAT mean.

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

Christine McLaughlin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:12:11 GMT

Doug, I shared your feelings about too-old trick-or-treaters, until my own kids got "too old" and went door-to-door longer than I thought they should. I don't know who makes these rules that we adults seem to share. But kids love Halloween more than anything, and it's one of the hard things of childhood to give up. At 16, they are as much kid as adult, and the two are constantly at war.

Eventually they do stop. And then they go to Madison. . . personally, I'd rather have them downing candy than beers.

Cut 'em some slack, as long as they are pleasant and courteous.

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

Rachel Schickowski — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:24:42 GMT

Haa.. Doug, your comment cracked me up. In my old neighborhood I used to get teens with two bags. They claimed the extra one was for their "little sister" ... the rock hard gum stash is brilliant!

re: Keep Halloween on Halloween!

Doug Sprague — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:46:42 GMT

Karen-

This is an absolute no brainer- What exactly is the point of "citywide" trick or treat on the 26th? I don't know about you but in my house we eat about half the candy we buy for trick or treaters so this means going to walgreens twice and eating twice as many snickers and three musketeers bars. By the way, why are they called "fun size" when its no fun trying to sweat them off the next 2 weeks?

While I'm whining, what's your policy on 16 year old trick and treaters in half-hearted costumes? I say have two candy bowls- one filled with the good stuff for the small kids and one filled with rock hard cheap ass gum for these weasels.