Bob Bonner's Blog

Friday 1/27/12

This may be it. I have for years disregarded the calls from my wife to get rid of the last bastion of my youth -- my snowmobiles. But the snowless winter of 2012 may be a defining season  for me. Time to put away the frivolous trappings of my younger years and move on to a more sedate, metered existence that doesn't include the risk-taking behavior that I used to thrive on, and my wife, Terri, grudgingly became accustomed to. I love to ride the backwoods trails to commune with nature and get that stinging feeling in my cheeks, the result of the often near-arctic-like winter weather conditions, combined with the breakneck speed that my 13 year old Ski-Doo is still capable of. Can it be time? Not on your life. Think I'll start those babies up this weekend, just to get the smell of that gas/oil mix in my nostrils for the first time this winter. It's gotta snow at some point.

Friday, 1/13/12

Hurray!  My daughter Lizzy, who was badly bashed in a car versus moped accident in early October (Lizzy unfortunately was the moped driver), has made her first real step toward getting back to normal. Even though she still has a long way to go...she decided the other day to head back to her apartment after living with us since her accident. Gonna miss having her around.  We went out to celebrate the milestone Wednesday night...and ended up at Cooper's Tavern on the square.  Cool little place.  I think it used to be the McDonald's.  At any rate, had a great meal.  Pub fare...but I love that. I ordered their veggie sandwich. 
Man was that good.  I highly recommend it.  All the elements are in play.  Sauteed roasted red peppers...ginger carrots...hummus and Feta cheese. Nice. A million beers on tap or in bottles.  They've got it going on.

Ziggy the Poodle was a bit taken aback by his first foray into significant snow.  He seems to really like it, but is wary.  I don't think he likes the cold, though.  Poodles have hair, not fur, so it's a bit like you or I heading outside without a knit cap on. I never thought I'd say it, but maybe will have to buy him a sweater.  A nice red and black argyle I'm thinking.  Good Lord, what have I become.

Friday, 12/16/11

I don't know what to say. We are so lucky.  When I answered the ad I saw in the paper for a standard poodle...I had no idea we would be bringing home the best dog in the world...but it looks like that's the case. Our guy Ziggy is the coolest.  I find myself using words like delightful...and precious when I describe him...and if you know me...that's sorta out of character. But I can't help it.  Ziggy is an absolute joy to have around. He's only six months old, but he's so well behaved and smart.  He's turned into our best pal.  He and I hang out doing yard work.  He follows me everywhere. Even though he's almost fifty pounds...and stands two and a half feet at the shoulders already, we can take him everywhere...and do.  He loves people, and other animals for that matter.  What are the odds!  I'm taking him to get his holiday haircut, so when people see him over the holiday, he'll look his best.  He's very particular about his appearance.  Do I sound obsessed?  Well if I do, I'm not alone...my wife Terri's in love with Ziggy, too.  Happy Holidays from Bob, Terri, B.J., Lizzy and Ziggy!

Friday, 12/2/11

The tradition continues!  Terri and the kids and I have for years, like many other families, jumped in the truck during the holiday season at some point, and went stomping around some field, sometimes in knee-deep snow, to find our Christmas tree.  I always wondered how long everybody would maintain their enthusiasm.  Well, I guess I can keep wondering for a while yet.  The plan for the great holiday chop-your-own excursion for this year is set.  Sunday morning.  The coolest part of this is all involved are fired up about the prospect!  I am so lucky to have a wife and kids that are so cool and down-to-earth and not willing to let our little family tradition fade away. Yeah, it would be easier just to go to some tree lot and pick out an already-cut tree, but that wouldn't be half as fun. I mean, we all love the holidays, and each other's company, so RIGHT ON! (I'm on a campaign to bring that saying back). So Sunday morning. off we go.  To get a tree, look at some captive reindeer, drink lukewarm "hot" apple cider, and kick off the Christmas holiday season officially at the old ranchero.  And as if on cue...gonna be a little bit of snow on Sunday morning. Nice!

Friday, 11/18/11

Well, we have had an interesting five weeks or so.  We got one of the worst phone calls a parent can get.  "Your daughter has been involved in an accident, and she has been injured."  Oh no.  Lizzy was involved in an accident...she was on her moped, and a car turned in front of her. The doctors told us at emergency that she had a broken femur...you know, the big bone in your leg. The first thing that struck me, though, was her face.  One eye swollen shut...black and blue from her forehead to the tip of her chin. She came to our house so we could take care of her. I have to tell you...this is one tough woman.  All the pain she has had to endure would have knocked me out.  It'll be a long road back...but she's working on it.  We are so grateful that we can take care of her, given the alternatives.

Friday, 10/21/11

We said we would not be getting another dog after we had to say goodbye to our 14-year-old Golden Retriever "Katie", but...Terri and I decided the house was empty without a big dog ambling around the place, so we brought home a pup.  Ziggy is a five-month-old Standard Poodle.  No, he not  one of those puff-ball poodles you see in the kennel club shows, to the contrary, he's a real person's kind of poodle.  We named him Ziggy because he has a striking resemblance to one of our fav Reggae guys...Ziggy Marley.  Sort of a Rasta dog mon'.  He's great.  Smart, and really loves to please. Accidents have been minimal, and that is nice.   He and I have become fast friends in the two weeks we've had him.  A real companion!  Terri really digs him, too.  We are planning to take him to Kegonsa this weekend to see how he reacts to the lake. Can't wait.  It's good to have the aroma of a wet dog wafting around the house again.  I really missed that. It completes me.

Friday, 10/7/11

I was finding it hard to believe that the summer had come and gone already, but now I'm sure of it. I always know that fall is officially here when it's time to go to Quivey's Grove for the coolest little beer festival of the year.  Here it is again.  Cool with me.  Drinking different beers from teeny tiny glasses...on a beautiful autumn afternoon. What could be better.  This year though...it'll be like a summer party!  Shorts...t-shirts and sunglasses. Awesome.

Mother Nature can be cruel.  I, like many other gardeners in our neck of the woods, watched all our tomato and pepper plants bite the dust last weekend, when that frost showed up Saturday night.  Crummy deal considering what we're seeing right now. Man, I would have been canning till November. Oh well, enough is enough anyway. Fun while it lasted.

Trying to help Lizzy look for a new (used) car.  Her old car must be replaced by winter, so she and I have been on an almost daily hunt around the city for a vehicle she can rely on.  This process makes me so nervous.  I mean...just because I am a man, does not mean that I have some sort of mechanical gene that gives me an innate sense of what is a good car worth buying, and what isn't.  I am giving it a good try though.  Here's hoping we find something decent that fits into her budget.

Friday 9/9/11

We celebrated BJ's 26th birthday this week.  Enjoyed a nice get together and a great meal at El Dorado Grill.  Lots of fun.  We all hiked over to the Come Back Inn after dinner for drinks.  I really dig that guy.  He's such a unique guy.  Proud of him.  It's weird to have drinks with all of those 'kids' he grew up with.  I've known most of them since they were all middle schoolers.  A great group of people. 

I would be remiss in not acknowledging the 10th anniversary of the   9-11 attacks this weekend.  Such a tragedy.  What really adds insult to injury is the fact that even now the threat of yet another attack looms over the cities of New York and Washington D.C.  Makes you wonder where this all ends...or if it ever will.  Regardless, I'll take time this weekend to remember all those souls who died in those sense acts of violence and hatred.

Friday, 8/26/11 

Okay, made it through another round of moving my kids.  This used to be easier,
so I'm hoping everybody is settled in a place where they'll stay for a while. I mean,
I love my kids dearly and would do anything for them, but hefting boxes and couches
down or up narrow stairways is really not really top of my list of favorite ways to spend a
weekend.  Funny how it always goes from "Hey Dad, can I borrow your truck", to "just
put that box in my bedroom." I never even see it coming. All on all, I wouldn't trade it.
Lizzy got a moped. Never ridden one of these things, very cool!  She bought in from a person in Cottage Grove, so it came to my house before the big move.  Got to take it on a bunch of
fun little jaunts and one long one...I drove it to Lizzy's house in downtown Madison from my
house in Cottage Grove. What a cool thing. Sips gas to boot.

Friday, 8/12/11

Okay, I surrender. I've been doing battle with those plant-wrecking...green devils...Japanese beetles for the past month...and I'm losing the war.  They apparently want my Dahlias bad, and will stop at nothing to suck the life out of the blooms.  No sooner do they open than the marauding horde from the east turn them into crispy, icky brown, shells of their former selves.  It's terribly disheartening.  I have been spraying them with this tobacco juice, dish soap, mouthwash concoction I whipped up. It works, at least I think it does. They writhe around like mini green serpents when they get sprayed with it, but an hour later the doggone blooms are crawling with them again. So today I am officially raising the white flag. If they want those #!*#% Dahlias that bad, they can have them. And I hope they choke on them. I REALLY do!

Friday, 7/29/11

Can this be right?!!!!  It's August?  Hold on, I'm not ready for summer to wane just yet.  I hate to admit this...but I haven't rode my bike but a couple of times yet.  Seems like whenever there's time...it's just been too hot!  Luckily we been working the kayaks pretty hard this summer.  I really recommend going up to Lake Delton for a weekend.  Paddle the lake one day, and then do a trip down the Wisconsin River the next.  You know all those cool rock formations they show you on all the boat tours? I gotta tell you, they look even cooler up close. In fact you can kayak right through many of them. Awesome. We are all so lucky to live in this area. So much beautiful stuff to see and do just minutes away.

Wednesday, 7/13/11

Aah yes.   I love the fast-paced hustle and bustle of the radio news business.  The deadline pressure, the constant need to assimilate and relate changing information that flows like water on the day's events.  Yes...there is little that I like better...except taking a break from it once in a while.  Staying close to home this beak.  No big adventurous extravaganza planned.  Slow and easy for a couple of days.  Necessary and welcome.  That little 'low battery' light has been flashing in the back of my mind for a while now.  You can relate, I'm sure.  Now I just have to convince myself that vacations are for R and R and stay out of my gardens.  We'll see how long that lasts. 

Wednesday, 7/6/11

Well. it was nice while it lasted. For most of the first part of our warm season here I have been working in my garden sans bug spray, but that's all over now.  Like magic, the mosquitoes decided it was brunch time and are now pretty rough.  I just hate that smell of the always-necessary spritz of repellent.  Lord help you if you happen to get any of it in your mouth. Ick!  Small price to pay, I guess. The garden though is cooking.  The zucchini is starting to come into it's own....and I'm sure that soon I'll have the same feeling about it as I did about the asparagus by the end of May.  I love being able to go out, grab what I need...an onion, a pepper, some cabbage or lettuce....and whip up dinner.  I'll never get over that. Plus, fresh is where it's at in my book.

Tuesday, 6/7/11

We gave Lizzy (my now 23 year-old-daughter) a kayak for her birthday.  We knew it would be a great gift given her new penchant for fitness.  So Sunday, we all decided to head to Cherokee Marsh and paddle around. The marsh is an awesome paddle opportunity, just minutes away from anywhere in Madison.  Great day!  We paddled over to the Nautigal for apps and a drink.  I swear that place has the feel of a far-off resort on a hot summer day, when you are sitting out on the deck looking out over the channel.  It really is one of my fav summer spots in Madison.  I do have about forty others, though, but we try and do that Nautigal thing more than once during the season.  Food is always good, too.  Lizzy loved her new boat. It's fire-engine red and she looks cool in it.

Wednesday, 5/25/11

We have come to the point of the year, when I am sick of eating asparagus every meal, but my patch keeps pumping it out.  We always try to figure out the best way to capture that spring time delicacy to enjoy when the weather is cold and the prices are high. One of my favorite
ways to keep the asparagus we grow...is to pickle it. It's awesome as a snack, or out-of-bounds in a Sunday morning Bloody!  It's so good. Just some vinegar, pickling spices, a touch of sugar, a healthy slice of onion and a jalapeno...and baby, you're living.

Tuesday, 5/10/11

We had to say goodbye to our old pal Katie last week.  She was our 14 year-old Golden Retriever.  Her health went downhill quick in the past six months, I mean after all, she was almost 100 years old in people years.  She left us on a beautiful sunny spring afternoon, following a day of hanging out in the yard with us.  She even made the effort to walk around, sniffing and exploring for a last time.  It was about as nice as that day was going to be, because even though she was getting so feeble, it was still awful to let her go. We'll all miss her terribly, but she had a great run. She left us on the same yard she played on...hunted on...napped on and kept watch over...all of her life. So long Katie.

Monday, 4/25/11

There are times, frankly, when I really miss not having our kids at home...but then there are other times when it's a good thing. One of those times is Easter.  Thank goodness there aren't all those jelly beans, peeps and chocolate bunnies laying around for weeks. Believe me...after this winter, I don't need the calories!  Got to get to it here soon.

Went to Bluephies for brunch Easter Sunday.  Try that avocado scrambler...geez, is that a winner.  I actually got full and couldn't finish.  Not a common occurrence for me. If it's really good, I somehow manage to find the room.

Spent the rest of the day getting the garden ready for prime time. It sure is coming slowly this year.  I wish it would warm up some.  It's really been too cold for much to germinate.  I have some spinach and lettuce starting to come...but all the other cool weather stuff isn't
peeking through yet.

Thursday, 4/7/11

First off, congratulations to the electorate of Madison, Dane County and Wisconsin.  Regardless of whether your candidate won or lost on Tuesday, it is certainly heartening to know the spirit of public participation in the electoral process is making a comeback here in our area, as well as the state of Wisconsin in general.  Turnout for the spring elections statewide was in the 33 percent range…nearly fifty percent in Dane County and, in Madison proper, it flirted with 55 percent.  These numbers are almost unheard of in any recent election, much less in a non-presidential year spring election.

When the framers of the constitution sat down to create a more perfect union, I’m sure it was this level of participation, or even greater, that they had in mind. In recent decades, voters across the U.S., and sadly, in our own state, became increasingly complacent, or more accurately apathetic, to the world of politics and the role we all can and should play. But inexplicably, during that period of participatory decline, the sniping and grousing about leadership displayed locally, and in Washington, had also been increasing incrementally.   The problem with that scenario; if you don’t vote, you really have no right to gripe.

But on Tuesday what we saw was a representation of how a truly motivated electorate, with strong opinions about the current state-of-affairs, can and should behave in the democratic process.  Bravo!

Friday, 3/25/11

If you ever get some extra time, take the short trip down to New Glarus and check out the new brewery there.  It is a very cool, state-of-the-art set up.  The people are really nice and they are more than happy to answer questions for you if they have the time.  Plus at the end of the tour, you can sample the great brews New Glarus is putting out!  Terri and I and our friends, Tom and Cheryl, did the tour last weekend.  Before the tour, we stopped in Paoli and had lunch at the School House Shops restaurant.  Really good lunch...in fact, awesome!  After the tour at New Glarus...we figured what the heck and headed down to Monroe...Amy Hudson country...and took the tour at Minhas Brewery.  Fun day!  You really don't have to travel far to have a great time in this area.  Day trips are so cool.

Monday, 3/14/11

Icky days at my house lately.  I fear...in fact I know...we are watching my dog Katie's last days.  This is tough.  She has been with us for all of her 14 years.  We watched her go from a hyperactive pup...to a hyperactive middle aged dog...to now...a gramma dog.  I have to help her upstairs now most days...and because she is still a robust 80 pound girl...that is no easy feat.  Every time I set her down after helping her do things she always did by herself...she gives me a certain look.  I can see in her eyes that she's grateful for the help...but she seems a little embarrassed.  I believe she knows the score. I mean, this is a dog that used to literally spend hours chasing the kids on the ATV at 20 mph out in the field. She loved it!  Chewed the fenders right off the machine.  Something I didn't appreciate at the time.  It was all great sport to her.  I take solace in the fact that she's had a great life.  She'll breathe her last at the same house where she spent her entire life.  Not many of us can say that.  Can't say she didn't frustrate me over the years...but man, what I wouldn't give for a chewed-up shoe...to have a defrosting roast go missing off the counter...or any of that puppy stuff.

Monday, 3/7/11

Hats off to the U.W. Theater Department.  We went to their "Rocky Horror Picture Show" Friday night...and it was great!  Super cast and a very cool set.  I've seen "Rocky" a couple of times...once when B.J. played Riff Raff...and it never gets old...I really dig it.  LET'S DO
THE TIME WARP AGAIN!!!!!! 

My sister Connie and brother-in-law Andy came into town this weekend.  Andy won some tickets for Badger Hockey...so Saturday we went to watch Bucky take out Colorado College.  Man, the Kohl Center is an awesome place.  Like I said, Andy won these tickets, so we were a bit removed from the action, but really there are very few bad seats so it was very cool.  The fact that Andy's prize package included coupons for free hotdogs and drinks made for a very festive evening. Good to see those guys.  We just don't get together enough.

Friday, 2/11/11

Finally...after what seems like months of deep freeze, a break this weekend.  Problem is, above freezing temperatures will probably eat away at the amazing snow cover we have right now around the tri-county area.  It's been just too cold to go snowmobiling much during the last week...even though the snow is mostly knee-deep in the fields. So it's time to hit it hard, before they close the trails again. B.J and I went last weekend, had some good fun.  Gotta get Liz out there yet.  Speaking of Liz. Props to her.  She's doing that workout program...P90X, something some Marine came up with, and it's no hocus pocus.  She's been at it for a couple of weeks now, and progress is evident.  She'll be ripped in no time. Good for you girl!  By the by, check out the corn meal encrusted catfish sandwich at Brickhouse B-B-Q...awesome.

Friday, 1/28/11

This is that weekend in January...when there is precious little to do.  Did our Restaurant Week thing already so sort of at a loss for activity.  I hope Terri comes up with something, or the highlight of my weekend may end up being the Pro Bowl. Good Lord! Have you checked out the new Great Dane off Cottage Grove Road...you know up on the hill where Cloud Nine used to be.  Great food, fresh brewed beer...awesome! It's cool. They are doing it right at the Dane.  Congrats on your new location.

Friday, 1/14/11

I can tell it's truly the "dead of winter" for other reasons than just the obvious.  I am about to use the last onion I harvested from my garden all those months ago.  Don't like that, but it was inevitable.  Store-bought onions for some reason don't seem as good, even though they probably are.  Yep, it's gonna be a long cold...onion-less haul from now to spring. 

Our golden Katie is starting to look her age.  She is 98 in dog years now, and really is starting to look, and act, like a gramma dog.  It's pretty apparent she isn't digging the cold much.  She stays in the house most of the time, and will just look at you like you're nuts when asked if she wants to go out.  Could be because her hearing isn't what it used to be, but more probably because she's smart and would rather stay curled up on the rug in front of the door. Good old girl!

Friday, 12/17/10

Man, can this be. Here is my very last blog for the year.  Looking back, I gotta say I will not be sad when 2010 is over.  Not a great year for many.  But as with any new year, there's always room for optimism...and I'm optimistic about next year.  Can't put my finger on it, but I have a feeling that 2011 will be much better than 2010.  For us...couldn't be much worse, at any rate...on to bigger and better.  Still not completely set for the holiday.  We have been under
construction in the living room as I eluded to in previous blogs...and that has stalled decorations a bit...so we will be on an accelerated program this weekend.  Thank goodness I have a patient and forgiving wife, although if she stubs her toe on one more of my tools...I think she'll flip. But you'll be happy to know that I'm going to finish my construction before the deadline, and even if you aren't happy about it, I know Terri will be. Here's wishing you and yours the best this season!

Friday, 12/3/10

And let the schedule game begin.  Every holiday season, the jockeying starts about where we're going to spend the holiday, with who, and when, and what sort of gift thing we plan on doing and on and on.  I swear, it's the most stressful time of the season.  Once we get through all that preliminary minutia, things are great...until then...not so much.  But far be it from me to whine about that...what with all the junk so many people are facing this year.  Just having a place to set up a tree, and a place to go for the holiday is bonus round these days.  We are about to start Magic's Holiday Wish 2010, and once I start hearing about what others face day-to-day, my problems seem...well, trivial.

Friday, 11/19/10

It's nuts!  For the first time in I can't remember how many years, I don't have to cook for Thanksgiving.  My sis Connie called and said she was doing the honors this year, and all I have to do is show up!  Nice.  I have to admit, though, I am a bit disappointed that I won't have all that leftover stuff to munch on for the following week.  I love that.  What the heck, I may take advantage of the low cost for turkey right now and slam a couple in the freezer and whip something up post-holiday.  This way I can be "out there" and make some off-the-beaten path stuff. Can't do that when you are cooking for a bunch of others. My wife Terri is adventurous and goes along with my often ecclectic culinary offerings...not many others would be okay with it, though, especially when it comes to those traditional holiday meals.

Friday, 11/5/10

Big weekend...of work...planned.  I am putting a faux stone finish on our fireplace this weekend.  I finally finished all the work on the mantles and woodwork.  A 100-year old hand-hewn barn beam cut in half, and the same age barn board for trim.  It looks unreal...better than expected.  Now comes this stone thing.  I have never really done anything like this before...at least indoors.  I hope all the tutorials I've watched online will see me through.  Those things always give you such a cursory overview.  Do this, this and this and voila you're done...yeah, right.  I probably will end up covered in concrete and blood by the time it's done.  I love a challenge, though, and am really looking forward to getting it done by Thanksgiving...and winter...so is my wife!

Friday, 10/22/10

Oh no!  We may have waited too long!  The tourism people say if you want to catch any of the fall color this season...you have to get a move on. They are saying that the north woods is done...and the only color left is here in the south land.  We didn't get a chance to take our annual fall camping trip to Door County this year...that usually gives us our fall color fix...so we missed out there...and now...time is up. The best spots left, they say, are in Iowa and Crawford counties, with Rock County and the Kettle Moraine area running close behind.  That's what we'll do...hop in the car and head to Eagle.  Maybe a stop at Old World Wisconsin is in order.  Haven't been there for a while.  I dig that place.  Wisconsin waaay back in the day.  If you've never been, it's worth going.  Only an hour or so away.  Wave when I pass you on Hwy 67.

Tuesday, 10/12/10

Went to "Wicked" at the Overture Center Saturday night! What a show!  Thoroughly enjoyed it, even though our seats had us "defying gravity" a bit if you know what I'm saying.  Spectacular!  It's one of those shows you can see again and again.  We took our kids B.J. and Lizzy and Beej's cooler-than-heck girlfriend Julie.  Terri's Mom and Dad went with us, as was her awesome Aunt Francis who was in from California.  I really dig her...always a pleasure.  Actually everybody got their tickets for the show from us for Christmas last year, so this has been in the planning stages for some time.  Still meant some last-minute painting and sprucing, though.  Was a wonderful time.  We made brunch for everybody Sunday morning.  Great weather, the pond was clear and the Koi were active and colorful.  Really nice to see everybody.   We don't get together enough.  Hats off to the Overture Center management for lining up such great shows this season.  Again, I have to say how lucky we are here in the Madison area to have a world class theater right in our backyards.

Wednesday, 9/29/10

Ahhhh yes. The fall nip is in the air, the trees are starting to turn, and that can only mean one thing...the Quivey's Grove Beer Fest!   Truly one of the coolest little beer fests in the business.  We have been going for years now and always have a great time...and it's not
just because of the beer, either. It's as much a social event as anything, but the beer is awful good, too!   This year there are going to be 35 different brewers bringing their best stuff...75 beers in all to sample.   That should do it.  All that beer in those teeny tiny glasses.  Hard to beat. See you there.  I'll be the guy in the pretzel necklace.

Tuesday, 9/21/10

Ready or not...here it comes. Autumn is in the air. A sure fire sign is the fact that the smog stressed trees along the belt line start to turn. Time to head north for a weekend to check out the color possibly. Got some folks coming in to stay at the house for a couple of days in a few weeks...so it's the mad scramble to tidy up before they get here. We have to put three people up for the weekend, so it's time to reclaim Lizzy's old bedroom, and turn it into a more adult-friendly setting. She moved out almost two years ago...but the room is still the orange and yellow sponge paint motif she insisted on. A bit like stepping into a Barnum and Bailey side show....but that's what she wanted back in the day. A subdued brown I think should give it the warmth and elegance or guests will appreciate. I hate to paint...but no matter. I have to stay true to my old credo that you never hire someone to do what you can do yourself. One day that may change, but certainly not yet. So here I go.....ready to roll, no rock involved. Well possibly a bit in the background. Maybe I'll run into you in the paint department soon. I'll be the guy with the subdued brown latex stained Aerosmith t-shirt on.

 

Thursday, 8/26/10

You know, I have been to Devil's Lake State Park a million times, but no matter how many times I've climbed those rocks...and took a dip in that lake, I am always thrilled.  Took a little late summer camping excursion to D.L. last weekend and had a blast. No wonder it is the most -visited state park in Wisconsin.  My kids B.J. and Liz came up to camp with us.  Cool they are still interested in hanging with their folks.  B.J.'s girlfriend Julie came up, too.  Some old friends joined us for a day at the beach and campsite dinner on Saturday.  I love that stuff!

It looks like my good friend Doug, who by the way just completed the 500 mile Ragbrai Bike bike ride in Iowa a couple weeks back, has Terri and I almost talked into doing the Door County Century Ride coming up in September.  Terri is apprehensive...she likes to ride...but not for time.  I keep telling her it's not a race, but she doesn't believe me.  There are four distances you can cover:  30, 50, 70 or 100 miles.  Doug and Komiko, who are old pros at the Century, are going for the full 100 miles. Guess what distance Terri and I plan to do.  Should be fun...about 2000 riders from all over get involved.  It all ends with a Packer game on the big screen at the Door County fairgrounds...beer and brats on the menu.

Monday, 8/16/10

Joined the throngs of U-Haulers over the weekend. It was moving weekend for my daughter Lizzy.  Spent lots of the weekend...hefting her stuff up and down undersized stairways.  It was actually fun. Beej pitched in and it turned out to be a great time actually.  She's living in a circa 1840 building in the downtown area.  Interesting place!  Her new roommates are cool people and actually helped us out A LOT on the move-in portion of the adventure.  Thanks you guys.

Terri and I went to Eastgate to see "Inception."  It was a great movie.  Leo DiCaprio was terrific as usual, and that woman from Juno (her name escapes me) was excellent.  A real actress...no flash in the pan there. She's so little, though.  Anyway, got one of those 1800 calorie tubs of popcorn along with the usual Diet Pepsi.  Lots of good that did.

Made it to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.  Tons of people.  Many of them there for the grand opening of the new Madison Children's Museum.  If the line outside on Saturday is any indication, the museum will be a big hit.  Stopped for Bloody Mary's and Mimosa at Savoir Faire, then had a bite to eat and a few drinks at Sardine.  A nice day to sit
outside and take in the lake view. Cool place.

Tuesday, 8/3/10

T and I rode our bikes around the lake the other day.  We were feeling all good about all the exercise we got...and then we started hearing the music from the block party on Atwood. Uh oh.  Yep...a couple of sets (and beers) later, all that exercise was sort of negated. Sort of.
Had a great time, though. Great bands.  Especially that blues deal from Chicago. Very good!  Ran into some old friends.  Always good to see Sara and Keith. Cool people. Been watching calories of late...which is the pits in the full swing of summer. Gotta do it.  Trying to get back in Speedo shape before it's too cold to wear one.  Can't complain about it...just four more days to go and I can...well, continue to watch calories...lest I negate more progress toward staying fit.  Can't help it. Summer is for ribs!  Eating them...not seeing them. Oh yeah, congratulations to my friend Doug. Biked across Iowa in the Ragbrai. Like 500 miles in a week! Good going dude.

Friday, 7/16/10

Terri and I got a chance to see "Wicked" in St. Louis last weekend.  I have to tell you...it blew me away.  The two women who have the leads, Elphiba and Glinda, are awesome! Talk about spine-tingling vocals.  Huge.  This is the same cast that will tear it up at Overture Cnter later this year.  If you have plans to go, you won't be disappointed.  If you are on the fence, get off.  This is not to be missed.  We saw the show at The Fox, downtown St. Louis...what a place!  It's a turn of the century theatre loaded with all kinds of old world opulence.  It was electric.  I gotta say I didn't know about going to St. Louis, frankly.  I'd never been there before and didn't know what to expect, but that is a cool city.  We walked around the downtown, visited the City Garden, an open-air park...just packed with people.  The kids were having a heck of a time in the little pool areas and the dancing water fountains set up for that purpose.  We also walked down to the Arch Park.  Never saw that thing before...it was unbelievable!  We didn't take the ride to the top (it was 100 in the shade) but lots of people did.  Maybe next time. Can't say enough about "Wicked."  Terri had seen it in Chicago several years ago, but I was a first-timer.  Can't wait to catch it again during its Madison run.  Cool deal.  Grab your tickets and get ready to get a little "Wicked." See you at the show!

Thursday, 7/8/10

Is it me...or are the mosquitoes out of control this year. Geez, you walk across the lawn and they tear you up!  We have been so lucky the past couple of years I'm just not used to it, or it's possible I'm just a baby.  Anyway, I'm a deet devotee this year.

Went to the first Concerts on the Square last week.  Awesome night!  Terrific company, tasty food and great music.  It had it all. Get down to one (concert) this year if you haven't for a while, or if you are new to town.   A true Madison event not to be missed.

Heading to St. Louis this weekend.  Gonna see "Wicked."  The same "Wicked" that will be staged at the Overture Center here in Madison later this year.  Tickets are going on sale soon.  And really, it's your opportunity to see a world class show at a world class facility.  Hard to beat an evening at the Overture.

Thursday, 6/24/10

Went to Janesville last weekend to see the band B.J. is singing for. Fragile Utopia. Cool name. Tight stage show.  He's playing out a bunch this summer so it looks like T and I will be spending some serious late-night time in the bars this year.  Tall order for us.  Heck, a late night for us now-a-days is like 10:30!  We'll make it.  Proud of you Beej. You
sound great.

Ever tried collard greens?  Man, they are my new fav.  I had them for the first time over the winter at  Brickhouse Bar-B-Que and fell in love.  This spring I planted a bunch of them...and they are ready.  I made them the other day with a hunk of smoked turkey to keep the fat
down...and were they good.  Salt, pepper, smoked Paprika, chicken broth and a smoked turkey thigh.  Wow, that's soul food baby!  Planted some of those Daikon Radishes, too. Just waiting to make Daikon radish tacos.  Tex Tubbs Taco Palace inspired me on those.  Try them the next time you're there.  To die for.  Talked to Kevin Tubbs the other night when we were at El Dorado on Willy Street.  Cool guy...off the hook chef.  Lots of food talk, I know.  I'll shut up now!

Wednesday, 6/9/10

I am sure of it.  I could live in the woods in my camper no problem.  Considering what the economy is doing to my business, that may be an option to consider here. All that aside, had a wonderful time in D.C. last week.  The fresh air, the beautiful Nicholet Bay, the great food, the cool little shops, and the great company, all the elements were in play.  Our good friends Tom and Cheryl hung with us during the first part of the week.  They didn't rough it like us though.  Stayed at their condo in Egg Harbor.  I shouldn't say they didn't have to live with some challenge.  A pipe was broken on the hot tub, so that was a bit of  an inconvenience.  Anyway, we did all the usual things we do.  Looked through the shops,  had wonderful dinners, once at their place, once at ours, and once we let the geniuses at Mission Grill in Sister Bay do the honors.  Awesome! We went the tapas route this time, and it was a knock out.  Got over to Stone's Throw Winery.  Tasted all their good stock.  Brought some bottles home.....and even had time to hang out on the patio at Shipwrecked for a couple cold ones.  Fun stuff.  Lizzy and the crew came up for the second half of the week.  Good to see all those guys again.  Jer and Johnno have been making the trip with us for like four years now.  This was Nick and Hannah's first Memorial Day camp excursion.  Loads of fast and furious fun.  Had a blast! Goes too fast though.

Friday, 5/28/10

Went to Lion King Sunday. It was their last show before the strike. Cool show.  Everybody in my family had already seen it. B.J. In Vancouver, Terri and Lizzy on Broadway.  I was a first timer.  My in-laws were at the show, actually the tickets were a Christmas gift to everyone from us.  Ended up at the Old Fashioned for a post-show meal and drinks. I had, appropriately enough, an Old Fashioned, so did "T". 

I haven't been to a single Farmer's Market yet. Dropping the ball.  We're hitting the time of year when all the good stuff starts showing up. Speaking of that.  Made a wildly good Raspberry/Rhubarb pie (like I needed that).  It was so good! The rhubarb was mine, the raspberries weren't. Not quite there yet. Soon, though, I bet. Have a nice holiday!

Tuesday, 5/11/10

I have to admit...I'm a bit impatient for the summer to get here. Hasn't been all that great this spring...coolish, don't you think. At any rate, it'll start cranking here soon, and believe me I'm ready. We got some of our garden in...peas, radishes, onions. lettuce, cabbage and broccoli. Even though we had that early warmth before the bottom dropped out, we resisted the temptation to put other stuff in. Good thing. Soon, though...soon.

Looking forward to the first big camping excursion of the summer, too. Going to Peninsula State Park in Door County.  Got a bunch of folks coming with us this time, so that should be fun. Maybe we'll have to take in a fish boil. Nothing makes white fish taste as good as the number two fuel oil they start their fire with. Yum. We'll also have to get the Oilery in Fish Creek, running low on their 25-year old balsamic vinegar. Man, is that stuff awesome. And my annual pizza.  We always go to that place on top of the hill there. Sonnys? I think so. He makes a mean white one. Okay enough of that for now. I'm distracting myself.  Still a couple of weeks away. Adios.

Wednesday, 4/28/10

Been a tough couple of weeks around our house. My sister Bonnie, who lapsed into a coma several weeks ago, only to rally for a time, lost her battle with life-long illness. Tough to take.  Losing a sibling somehow feels different than the other losses I've had during my life. My mom, grammas, grampas...just weird. Bonnie was a wonderful woman...sweet...sensitive. She absolutely loved her family.  It's what she lived for. We"ll all miss her...but she'll always be with us. So long Bon. We love you. And that's all I have to say about that.

Tuesday, 4/6/10

We are happy to welcome my sister Bonnie back from the Twilight Zone or wherever she went for about five days. Actually, she lapsed into a coma...and was sort of caught in the middle in that neither world, scared the heck out of us. Well yesterday, she decided to wake up. What a relief! She still has a long road ahead, but it's nice to see her baby blues open again. Whew!  Welcome back Bon.

Terri and I put in some garden over the weekend. We thought as long as it's going to feel like late spring, we may as well take advantage. Nothing extreme, just the stuff that's tough enough to take any cruel joke cold snap in April.  Peas, radishes, onions...that sort of thing.
Still no sign of life in my asparagus patch. I'm lying in wait. I love that stuff.  We're going to give sweet potatoes a shot this year. They are temperamental and hard to grow here in the north, but we'll see. Another of my favorites. We also put in some Dikon radishes. They are
these big white carrot looking things with a distinctive radish flavor.  Tex Tubbs Taco Palace inspired us.  Tex makes a killer dikon radish taco...and we're going to try and emulate it. Hope they grow. We already have the margaritas ready to go!

Monday, 3/22/10

Really? What is wrong with Monster Garage guy Jesse James. If you were married to one of the most beloved people in Hollywood, would you cheat on her? Unbelievable!  Looks like Sandy has moved out...and may not be coming back. And after all the cool things she said about him during her acceptance speech at the Oscars. How humiliating. I wouldn't come back either. Oh well...life in the fishbowl. I would hate it.

Got out and rode my bike for the first time this year.  Felt great, although it'll be a while before I dare squeeze into those bike shorts!  I looked in the mirror when I tried them on and I actually heard myself gasp. My work is cut out for me.

Went to Penzy's the other day. Got some smoked paprika. If you've never used it...do. It's an unusually good spice. It is to paprika what chipotle is to peppers. Yummy. You couldn't have convinced me that I would at some point in my life spend any amount of time at a place that
sells nothing but spices...but T and I were at Penzy's for the better part of an hour. Great place. Check it out.

By the way, health care reform is now officially added to my list of things that should never come up in friendly casual conversation, along with politics and religion. Wow.

 

 

Monday, 2/22/10

Geez...enough already. Every year about this time, I start getting antsy about spring. I know...I know...I best not hold my breath, but really...I'm done with winter. Our furry rat-like pal Jimmy the Groundhog didn't see his shadow right? So one would imagine that spring is not far off...but how far. The burrowing rodent is so date specific if he does see his shadow. Six more weeks of winter! But what does he mean when he says early spring? I suspect it's relative. So an early spring could mean about anything. By simple deductive reasoning and
extrapolation, it should mean we should see spring  sometime before mid-March right? I mean if it stops snowing by June, are we to believe that Jimmy was accurate in his assessment of an early spring. All I know is it can't come too soon. It's possible that it's just a passing thing and soon I'll get a seasonal "second wind" and start thinking the snow is a beautiful mantle of white to be grateful for, and the icy wind is bracing, and just that mischievous Jack Frost putting a little rose in our cheeks. Not likely. I'm betting that I'll still grumble when the slop goes over the top of my shoes early in the day ensuring 8-10 hours of wet, cold feet. And I'll also have special things to say about that icy wind that makes me shiver to the core as I trudge out the door at 3:45am everyday.  Time to bid the old man of winter adieu, I'd say. Here's hoping the rat is on the money!

Tuesday, 2/9/10

Well, I have to say, it's about time. I was starting to think we were done with snow for the year. Would have made it a long haul till April! I hope they'll let us get out on the snowmobile trails again. Been a long dry spell, but I shouldn't really complain given the last couple of years. It was nothing short of spectacular. Terri doesn't dig the smell, noise or the cold...so...I'm getting used to communing with nature...alone. Heading out to Laredos on Wednesday for dinner. I really like that place. I can't say whether it's the enchiladas...or the two for one Margs. I think it may be the combination. Seriously, though, I love their food. We try to go at least once a month. Got big plans for Valentine's Day this weekend? I'm going to take Terri out for brunch Sunday. Probably the Dane. Never disappointed. Have a good one

Wednesday, 2/3/10

When I was told we were going to feature each of our favorite songs ever for Jim McGaw's 5 @ 5, I laughed. I mean trying to pick my favorite songs of all time is darn near impossible. There are a million songs that, I'll think at any given time, are my favorites! So I guess the songs on my list were my favorites when I wrote this list. I always thought Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" fit her voice and her mojo perfectly. Of all the big talents that came out of Idol, she's got my vote as the best one...as I write this that is. "Maggie May" came out when I was just starting to feel independent. I was in eighth grade and the thought of a clandestine relationship with an exotic older woman sounded so cool. That mandolin didn't hurt. My next picks are completely attributable to my fascination with all things Gaelic.  I love that sort of minor harmony thing that the Cranberries do so well. Makes me shiver! U-2 is U-2. I love the music...I love the message. Bono is just too cool! If I could be just like anybody...I would choose to be...well, Brad Pitt, frankly...but Bono is cool, too. The final song on my list is Dobie Grey's "Drift Away." The quintessential soul song in my book. Always been a fave...always will be. Enjoy.

Tuesday, 1/26/10

Hey! It's my second most favorite time of the year. It's Restaurant Week! If you've never taken advantage of Restaurant Week, you really should. Many area eateries are offering a meals at a really good price, and we're talking the good stuff man. Terri and I plan on making the most of it. We are using this as an excuse to go out with friends who we haven't seen for awhile. It's too easy to hibernate during the winter and any excuse to get out on the town is a good thing. We have reservations at a couple of old haunts and we'll try out some new places, too. Never been to Kickshaw, but I've heard good things. I'll let you know. Their menu online looks good. Last year I gained about five pounds...I could afford to then...not this year! I gotta get back on that treadmill!

Wednesday, 1/13/10

I recently did my part to support the Hollywood studio system. We dragged our friends Tom and Cheryl out to see the epic blockbuster "Avatar." I know, the hype machine is running full tilt on this flick, but I gotta say, it was awesome. We saw it in 3-D at the I-Max on PD.  The
place was packed...and we ended up not getting optimal seats...but man, that was cool. The 3-D pulls you right into the action. Well worth the cash.  The effects were one thing...but the storyline was also cool. Not too hard to tell what director James Cameron thinks of the
military industrial complex. Yikes! He's obviously no fan of the "profit by any means" mentality. It was also great to see Tom and Cheryl again, the first time since Cheryl had her "little" surgery.

Monday, 12/14/09

Wow, this holiday season sure snuck up on me. Here it is 10 days out, and we still haven't got our tree. The tradition has been for the past 20 years or so to get the kids in the car and head out to chop down the tree for the holiday. Well, that was really pretty simple when B.J. and Lizzy were little. I mean after all, it wasn't like they had pressing social engagements when they were nine and 12. Things have changed, though, now. Everybody has their own lives, and getting everybody together on a specific day to go hunting for a tree is tough. No one wants to break the tradition, either, so it keeps getting later and later. Hopefully we can do this one day this week. I hope so, or I'll be spending $60 for a tree that will only be up for a week or so. At least they still insist this be a family event. That is worth waiting for!

Monday, 11/30/09

I'm probably the only one in the greater Madison area that thinks this way...but I would like to see the weather turn a bit more winter like soon. If not...Terri will want to continue to put up holiday decorations. It's pretty much what we did over the Thanksgiving break and barring any turn for the worse (weather-wise) she'll keep pulling boxes of lights and ornamentation out for me to put up. I spent most of Sunday in the trees in our yard. I like the lights and stuff, but man, I'm not as young as I used to be.

Had a great holiday. Got to see my sisters, nieces, nephew and my kids all sitting around the same table for the first time in awhile. It was nice. The food was great, if I do say so myself. The turkey carcass has already been turned into a tasty soup and the stuffing and left over taters are already gone. I love both deeply. Managed to get through the holiday with a minimum of weight gain. Could be all the tree climbing. Could be my new exercise regime.

Wednesday, 11/4/09

Terri and I went to see a huge smelly Sumatran flower at Olbrich Gardens. This is billed as one of the smelliest flowers on the planet. It's the Titan Arum, or the "Corpse Flower." We are very fortunate (or not) to have several of these in our midst. There are a couple at the UW and now Olbrich has one. They grew it from one of the seeds from the UW plant that bloomed a number of years ago. These big Sumatran flowers only bloom about four or five times during their 40 year life cycle...so it's a rare occurrence...and worth seeing...and smelling. The really weird thing about this plant is that it is programmed to smell like rotting flesh when it blooms, in the hopes that a bunch of Carrion Beetles will come and pollinate it. We got there at the end of its bloom cycle so the reek was not intense as it had been. To get a really bad whiff you have to smell this thing during the first two or three days of its blooming. So, alas, we were only mildly gagged. Darn the luck. Maybe next time. I have to admit, it's the only time in my life I spent a dollar to smell something that really reeked.

Tuesday, 9/29/09

If you are looking for a quick fun weekend getaway...check out Mirror Lake State Park. We took off for a weekend pf kayaking and eating too much, and it was perfect. We left Friday morning, and by 12:30, we were set up in a great walk-on spot, and were paddling in Mirror Lake. Just an hour from our driveway, and really, it felt like we were way up north. Friday night we didn't feel like cooking, so we went out. Ended up at the Bronze Oak inside the Ho-Chunk Casino complex. What a deal. We used our Bucky Book coupon we had for the place, and had an amazing dinner and drinks for under $100! I mean this is a nice place, and we both had appetizers, steak, and all the trimmings including my new favorite comfort food lobster mashed potatoes...that's right, lobster mashed potatoes. They were unbelievable! We have since made them at home, and they were just as good. Saturday we paddled around Lake Delton. Saw where the floods last spring overwhelmed the levee and left the lake bone dry. Congrats to the people of Lake Delton and the state of Wisconsin for putting things back together so quickly and seamlessly. Stopped at the bar/restaurant across from the grandstands where the audience for the Tommy Bartlett water ski show sits, and had some snacks and drinks. Cool time. Sunday, we had time to kayak the rest of Mirror Lake, pack up and head home, all by 4:00. Great getaway...I recommend it highly...especially the lobster mashed potatoes!

Monday, 9/14/09

Boy we had a great weekend...hard not to with the weather continuing to cooperate like it has. Went down to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Got our stuff and then stopped at one of my new fav places...Savoir Faire. It's just down from the Old Fashioned on the Square. Stop in sometime, grab a chair outside and have Kathy make you one of her awesome Bloody Mary's...truly one of the best I've ever had...and I've had a few! Later we got a chance to kayak the stretch of the Yahara between Lake Kegonsa and Mud Lake. Beautiful! We put in at Fish Camp Park. Know where that is? Don't feel bad, it's just a little boat launch right at the mouth of the Yahara at Kegonsa. It's only about an hour upstream to Mud Lake and 45 minutes back down, so it's perfect for a day trip. River paddling is really cool. Almost as cool as the paddle around Peninsula State Park in Door County. Well, almost.

Wednesday, 9/2/09

Trying to get back into the swing of things after a little late summer break. We took off toward the big lake for a week in Door County. The first day we made it as far as High Cliff State Park. It sits above the shores of Lake Winnebago...and I mean way above. I've never been before, and it's really a must see. Weirdest deal. There are super high sheer cliffs all over. We're talking 60, maybe 70 feet. Really cool. Just stayed the one night, did a little bike riding to see the lay of the usual land. It may be worth a return visit sometime. We got to Peninsula in D.C. Monday, and set up camp right on the shore of Nicolet Bay. Awesome. We'd wake up every morning to a panoramic snapshot of the bay and the bluffs across the way. Loved it. We met our friends Tom and Cheryl and had some fun. Cheryl cooked at their condo Monday night, and as always, it rocked. Did the wine tastings...and enjoyed a crazy good grilled seafood dinner at the campsite...even if I do say so myself. We always end up at The Oilery in Fish Creek, and stock up. This time we went to dinner at a place in Sister Bay called The Mission Grill. What a meal. You should check that place out if you find yourself on the peninsula anytime soon. Suffice to say, a fun vaca.

Wednesday, 8/5/09

Got to admit it. I'm smitten. I don't even know her name, but, alas, she's all I think about lately. I wait with baited breath till we meet...every Saturday morning, early, when there is still a nip in the air and the sun is just starting its ascent. It's the emu lady. The lady that sells emu meat at the Farmer's Market. I love the stuff. Emu steaks, emu burgers or the incomparable emu brats. I never thought my life would take a turn like this. I am head-over-heels for a flightless bird. I'm lucky I have such a wonderful, understanding wife, who gives me the latitude to harbor such feeling for another. Seriously, though, if you've never tried emu, it may be time. Super high in protein, super low in fat, an almost non-existent amount of saturated fat, and unlike the old saying, it tastes more like beef than chicken. Perfect!

Anyway, hope you're having a lovely summer. Getting ready to do all our canning and preserving soon. Dilly beans, tomato sauce, tomato soup, pickles, etc. Should be awesome. Terri and I are heading into our second rustic phase apparently. Hopefully this rustic phase won't include goat milking and cheese making like the last one did when we lived in LaCrosse decades ago. The cheese was great, the goat smell was, well, a bit too "goaty" for me. Not ready to re-live that. Maybe some emus!

Wednesday, 7/22/09

Alright! Gordon Ramsey is back! I know it's probably a bit strange that I get so fired up about a chef, but I dig "Hell's Kitchen" big time. The new season has started, and this looks like a good one. The threat of fisticuffs and everything. That's TV!

Anyway, here we are, halfway through summer. Are you kidding? I gotta get going man. I haven't done a heck of a lot as I think about it. Spent lots of hours in my gardens, watching my fish and that kind of stuff, but I gotta start having some real fun soon. Got some camping trips coming up, but most of our stuff was scheduled for later in the summer; that's just the way it worked out this time. August is about the only time you can even have a shot at getting into the big lake to the east anyway, but I wonder whether the cool weather this year will keep the waters of Lake Michigan too cool for comfort. We'll see. I'm going to get my boat out on the lakes soon, but it's been so cool I just haven't been excited to do that yet. This is going to happen soon.

Looking forward to restaurant week as always. There is a big, juicy Ruth's Chris steak with my name on it. Can't wait! Can you tell...I'm all about the food.

Thursday, 6/25/09

Mother Nature helped us alter our vacation plans a bit last week. Terri and I were planning to make our annual trek to the backwaters of the Mississippi for some kayaking at Wyalusing, but the weather was decidedly foul. The big storms that hit there would have made Wednesday night in the camper too interesting, and Thursday wasn't much better. So our trip was abbreviated. Still nice to sleep in. Does a body good. It's really hard for me to believe that it's very nearly the 4th of July already. We will be taking in the fireworks this weekend with friends in the perfect undisclosed location. Close to the park, but yet far enough away so the escape after the smoke clears is a heck of a lot easier, and quicker. Looking forward to it.

Tuesday, 6/9/09

Crazy!!! I had the great fortune to meet a fantastic guy, Frank. For health reasons, Frank had to find a new home for his collection of Koi. He told me he had a dozen of them when I answered his ad. He told me they were big ones. Well, I thought, you know, big is relative. But man, was Frank a man of his words. The fish he had were not only big (an average of about 11 pounds) but they were beautiful to boot! So we wrangled them out of Frank's pond, with much help I may add from Frank's extended family, especially his granddaughter Brittany. Thanks Brit, couldn't have done it without you. We brought them back to our pond and released them. They were obviously a bit sheepish at first, but got really used to it quickly. Made themselves right at home. It's an awesome sight! It looks like the doggone Shedd Aquarium! Now there are about 50 fish swimming around in our pond, of all various sizes and colors. We stand there for hours watching them. Who needs blood pressure medication?! Very cool.

Tuesday, 5/19/09

Most years, all we need to do is drain all the antifreeze out of the water lines of our camper and she's already for the season...not this time. This is one of those years when the maintenance is going to cost us. I got a call from my pals at Camper Corral...who by the way are cool as heck. Tires are shot, furnace needs a new part, and of course all the regular beginning-of-season stuff has to be done. Whoa! Small price to pay, though, for lower blood pressure. Can't wait to start another season in the woods. Love it big. We try and camp as much as we can during the summer. Food always tastes better, the company is always good and it gives me an excuse not to shave for a couple of days...without "T" giving me the "look." Hope you have a great holiday weekend! Have a blast.

Tuesday, 5/5/09

The weary traveler returns. Had to travel to O'Hare to pick up Lizzy...our little girl...who just got back from a solo trip to the Emerald Isle. She went to see her old pal Lexie who spent the last year in Belfast studying at Ulster University. A heck of a trip by all accounts. She brought me back a cool t-shirt...and some authentic Irish coffee mugs. She knows me so well. Both will get plenty of use. Welcome home Lizzard!

"T" and I bought a cool new lawn mascot over the weekend. A two-and-a-half foot iron rooster. He's so cool! I think we'll name him Rick. Rick Rooster will stand vigil under the crab tree. I have a thing for lawn statuary. Can't get enough. It's not out of control or anything, but the potential is there. Got to be careful. I'm digging the spring weather, although it could be a little drier. Oh well, can't have everything!

Monday, 4/20/09

Had a pretty cool weekend. Terri and I got a lot of our cool weather stuff in the garden...peas, parsnips, onion sets...spinach and lettuce. Right on schedule which is a bit surprising. As you know, if you garden, it's lots of hard work, but there's something very cool about taking a walk on a warm summer morning with a cup of coffee, and making breakfast out of the stuff you grew from seeds. I dig it. And now that Terri has her greenhouse, she's really dangerous.

By the way, Bunky's has re-opened in its new building on Atwood, just down from the old Bunky's. We had dinner there Sunday evening and man was that great. They got things moved and up and running in like three weeks and the new place looks and feels great. Really comfy and kitschy, just like the Bunky's of old. Congrats you guys!

Wednesday, 4/1/09

Man, I love Mexico about as much as I don't dig the weather here in March. Went to a tiny out-of-the-way fishing village about halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen this year. Not one of the usual locations. We are used to the hustle and bustle of the resort centers, but this was way cool. The reef is about 500 yards from shore. Fantastic. Did some zip lining in the jungle...about 60 feet above the jungle really, snorkeling in the cenotes near Tulum, and of course some eating. Lots of eating. The tropics made for a perfect celebration of Terri and my 24th anniversary. We missed the food so much we had to go to El Pescador Tuesday night for a bit of a reminder meal. By the way, that is one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the city. Try it if you love great Mexican food...it's right there on East Wash.

Monday, 3/9/09

Man...is there anything as long as a rainy weekend? I was actually glad to get back to work on Monday. We ran some errands Sunday, and the rain was just pelting down, that is until it turned to sleet, then to snow! Geez. We went grocery shopping thinking (wrongly) that nobody else would brave the elements and it would be a breeze getting through. Well that was way off. People were out in force. Oh well. When we were driving home along Lien Road on the east side, we saw this beautiful horseshoe waterfall spilling into the ditch...a waterfall I've never seen before. This thing was big, too, I'm not exaggerating. Weird. Lots of water with nowhere to go. I'm not a big fan of this time of year. March...whose idea was this? 65 degrees one day, contemplating long johns the next!

Monday, 3/2/09

What a lousy weekend. We lost our little buddy "G" Friday night. He went on one of his ill-advised adventures, found the busiest road in the area, and was hit and killed by a car. Needless to say we are heartbroken. He was a great little guy. He did everything with us. He went biking with us, he was our camping buddy, he was a big lift when things weren't great. We will miss him more than I can say. It's amazing what a big impression such a little dog can make in one's life. Gonna take a while to get over this for sure...he was a big part of our family. We love ya buddy.

Thursday, 2/19/09

Every year when I read about this, I wonder...what the heck. This Polar Plunge. I know it's a great cause (Special Olympics) but you couldn't pay me to jump in water from the ice that's formed on the surface of it. I will say it's a heck of a spectator sport. If you're interested in watching, or maybe participating, head down to the plunge park...Olin Turville, this Saturday between 11am and 3pm. Post plunging takes place at the Coliseum Bar across John Nolen. That part of it I can handle.

I thought I'd put myself into a spring mood, even though winter is still hanging tough. I went online and bought a couple of pairs of sunglasses...you know getting ready for the that sunny warm weather that I'm sure is just around the corner. Hasn't worked just yet...but anytime I'm sure. I'll let you know.

Let's see, what else is up. Oh yeah, happy birthday to my wife "T" coming up here. That reminds me, I better make a reservation for dinner and call the kids...quick.

Monday, 2/2/09

Well that was a nice mid-winter respite. Restaurant Week, I mean. I know many of you know what I'm talking about, because by all accounts this year was even more successful than last winter's Restaurant Week. We had some remarkable meals, I'll tell you. We're lucky as heck to live in a city with so many great dining options, especially for foodies like "T" and me. Got a chance to check out some places we have never been to before...and now I wonder why not. Some of the real surprises: Inca Heritage on Park. It's a Peruvian place. Really yummy! We also tried Bluephies on Monroe for the first time during the week. AWESOME! And really, if you have never been, check out Le Chardonnay on West Johnson. Sammy has created an awesome menu. If you are a shell fish fan like me, check out the all-you-can eat mussel deal during the week. Fantastic. Hats off to all who participated this year. It was fantastic. Some crazy good chefs in this town!

Friday, 1/23/09

Okay. We are quickly approaching that time of the winter, when everyone has had enough of the wondrous beauty of a stark white landscape, and the exhilarating nip of the cold air on their cheeks. About now, people look out at the mind numbing white sameness and dream of far-away beaches...or at the very least of drinks on the patio in the backyard. But, alas, winter is a cruel mistress. There is no respite in sight yet. No. It'll be...at the very least...weeks before winter will start loosening its icy grip, no matter how ready you or I are for warmer days. So I say, divert your attentions. Eat! Yes, I am planning to take full advantage of restaurant week. It means that I will eat no dinners at my home. I will, in an attempt to break my own restaurant week record, try and patronize a local eatery in each evening of the week. Tough duty, but without goals what are we really? I look at it as my contribution to ending the recession. Actually it's a great way to try the fare at some places you wouldn't normally dare try...for fear that the food would fall short...and the check would overwhelm. So then, this is my plan. I will, of course, be diverting my attention with food cooked by others...in concert with my other objective this winter...the treadmill. Wish me luck. I'll let you know how it went.

Wednesday, 1/7/09

Whoa! Been a while since I wrote to you. New year...time to climb back on the blog horse. Weird metaphor, I know, but you get my drift. Hope your holiday season was great. We had a great time at the Bonner casa. Lots of food and long conversations. That's one of the things I really dig about the winter holidays. It gives everybody a chance to sit down and catch up a bit. Not gonna make any big resolutions. I think it's just setting myself up for failure. I do, however, plan on getting back to the daily workout thing. Last winter I ran everyday and felt fantastic. Got away from that for a while here, so it's time to get serious about that again. My jeans are a little tighter...and a new wardrobe is not in the cards...so it's back to the treadmill. I know everybody says that, but I really mean it. Here's hoping the new guys in Washington can get things back on track.....and everything will be fine in '09!

Tuesday, 11/25/08

We're having Thanksgiving at our house again this year. I bought this goofy big turkey. Dumb since there aren't that many people to serve. I like leftovers, though, so shoot me. We installed some fireplaces several days ago so part of the living room is still a construction site. At least the dust has settled; unfortunately, it's all settled on the tables, the chairs and the lamps. We've got some major spiffing up to do before Thursday. What's new! I gotta say the holidays have been a tad weird since I lost my Mom. Just not the same vibe. She was a riot. Laughed 'til your sides hurt. Always the life of the party. She's probably busy lighting up another room these days. We all miss her. Happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, 11/11/08

Did you go to Metcalfe's open house over the weekend? All kinds of free samples. I just love that. Terri and I grazed our way through the store. Had all kinds of great food! Thanks! Bought some really yummy jam and some new R.P's pasta we tried. Squash. Fantastic. Afterwards we ended up at Barriques on Monroe Street. Had a wonderful time. Witty banter and good Cab. We also stopped at Alchemy (the old Wonders on Atwood) on the way home. Had a really delicious shrimp salad sandwich. So I guess what I'm saying is, we ate like fools all day on Saturday. Next Saturday we are planning to go to do some early Christmas shopping for the kids. If I keep eating like this, I'll have to put new jeans on my list this year. Seriously, though, the sales are early and significant. It's great for those of us who are doing the buying...not great for the store owners, though. Remember, try to buy local. A store you save could be your own.
Thursday, 10/30/08

Well, this is the clubhouse turn. Thank goodness. After almost two solid years of the democratic process, I am ready for a bit of a respite. I don't know about you. I went to my local polling place in Cottage Grove and exercised my privilege to vote early. It was quick and painless. What the heck, I had extra time, and who knows what will be going on Tuesday. I asked the clerk if the interest in early voting was high this time around. She said absolutely...she said they had over 350 people already through the polling place. Wild!

I have to reminisce a bit about our trip to Door County a couple of weeks ago. It was really one of the best vacations I have ever had. Me and "T" and our little dog "G" and all that beautiful countryside. We set up at Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek and it was gorgeous! The colors were at their absolute peak. Fantastic. Gotta live up there someday, I swear.
Friday, 10/17/08

Not much going on for us this weekend. We'll probably start cutting down what used to be lovely flowers and throwing them on the burn pile. Last weekend's trip to Door County was stellar! The weather was absolutely perfect...the colors had to be at their absolute peak...and the bike trails in and around Peninsula State Park are the coolest yet. We went to a local pub on Saturday night in Fish Creek to catch some dinner and the Badger Game and ran into a bunch of cool ladies from Madison. Had a heck of a time. The game could have been better, but can't have everything I guess. Really, though, Door County is the best. No matter how long I live here, Wisconsin still throws me for a loop. We ended up going to a very clandestine location near Jacksonport, asking for, as instructed, a man named Jim. He gave us a Kerr canning jar full of authentic Door County Cherry Bounce. Ever hear of it? Man, it is good. It's basically a jar full of D.C. cherries (pits and all) soaking in rum. This particular jar said it was from '05. Really puts a swirl in your dervish if you know what I'm sayin'! If you happen to find yourself traveling down highway 42 near Algoma, stop at the Flying Pig. What a neat place...statuary...plants...coffee. Cool shop. Hope it goes well for them. Nice people.
Friday, 10/3/08

Hear that? That's Door County calling my name. We try to get up to the peninsula this time of year. It's beautiful and if you're looking, great deals can be had on some early Christmas presents for the art lover on your list. We are thinking about possibly taking a bike tour around the peninsula. Not only is it great exercise, it also gives me an excuse to say no to alot of those purchases "T" wants to make. "Why honey, we can't possibly carry that on our bikes...sorry." But really, few places are prettier this time of year.

Got big hopes for the Badgers this week against Ohio State. Go Bucky! Heading downtown. We'll likely just have to watch the game at a bar. Can't afford the price of admission this time around. I've heard some pretty outrageous prices for tickets. Yikes! Should have bought in while Don Morton was still here. What do they say about hindsight? Oh well!
Friday, 9/26/08

You know I usually like being a news guy. Heck you are often the first to know about stuff....and that can be....most of the time a cool deal. Not so much lately. The news isn't exactly what you'd call....inspiring. It's actually a bit scarey. But as my Grampa K always said.....the good times and the bad times somehow seem to balance out. So if that is true, we're in for a bunch of good times very soon. Hope those guys in Washington know what they're doing. Anyway, on a brighter note, hope you're enjoying the last blast of summer. Incredible bonus round weather wise. Looking forward to Quivey's Beer thing this weekend. The beer is good, but I also love the food at the stable after the beer is gone. Always good eatin'.

Tuesday, 9/16/08

Hard to believe this is already the last day of summer. That doesn't mean the end of the fun. I have to say that fall is my favorite season. I dig that sweatshirt and shorts nip in the air. This is actually the best season for hiking. We'll take off this weekend and do a bit of communing with nature on the Baraboo Bluffs. Sounds like Beej is going to free up and come along. Liz as usual will have to work...but she wanted to come so that counts. Cool that my kids are still interested in hanging out even as they march headlong into their twenties. Looking forward to next weekend's beer fest at Quivey's. We have gone to a lot of these fests over the years...but I like the feel of the Quivey's fest best. The whole gang usually turns out which makes for a great afternoon of late September fun. We're going to ride our bikes there for the first time. That should be an interesting ride...at least on the way back!
Thursday, 9/4/08

Man. That garden we planted is really paying off. This is the first year in about 10 that we did veggies. Usually it's always about the flowers, but we thought because of all the scary talk about the high cost for food, we'd give a veggie garden another go. I have to admit...the weeds got the better of us...but man...the tomatoes, corn, cantaloupe, peas, brussel sprouts and peppers all did okay anyway. This despite our lazy indifference to the onslaught of weeds. We made a bunch of pasta sauce last night. Smelled great in the house. It all reminded me of when I was a kid and my mom went on her annual canning tear. She would bring my two sisters, my Gramma K and whatever aunt would help together and had at it. Mom always had a huge garden. She took meticulous care of it and she would "put up" all kinds of canned goods. I mean we used to eat this stuff all winter when we were on the farm. It was terrific and I can still smell the dill and vinegar that filled the air. Those were the days. Anyway, nothing that elaborate at my house, but harvest time is a vivid memory from my childhood. Some of the best weather in Wisconsin is coming up. Can't wait. We are planning to do some serious late season camping this year. Going for the all-time personal record for camping trips.
Tuesday, 8/26/08

Are you ready for the last big hurrah of summer? Man, did that fly. We took a camping trip to the Lake Michigan shoreline last week. We stayed at Point Beach State Forest. I've never been there - we've always stayed at Kohler Andre when we wanted a lake view - but I gotta say, Point Beach is awesome. They have bike paths through some very wooded spots and is close enough to Two Rivers and Manitowoc that civilization is never too far away. It was a blast.

Starting my new class at MATC this week. I'm going to learn art welding. Always wanted to do yard sculpture but have always put it off...well, no more. Time to release my inner Picasso. It'll be weird to be in a classroom setting again, but hopefully worth it. Hopefully the instructor can buck the trend and teach an "old dog" new tricks.
Wednesday, 8/13/08

Hazy, crazy, lazy days of summer. Heavy on the lazy. Nothing much up. Going to go to the Lake Michigan shoreline to take a look soon. Should be fun. Till then I can be found sitting by the pond looking at my fish. Love those guys. They are the source of great relaxation. B.J.'s play is in full tilt again this weekend. Rocky Horror Show at the Middleton Players Theater at the high school. It's a blast. We're going this week on Saturday....audience participation night. Be the first time I've worn my fish nets in a while! We're taking the in-laws on the Betty Lou Cruise Sunday. They've never been so it will be fun to watch their reaction. If you've never tried a Betty Lou thing....you should. It's worth it. Later.

Wednesday, 8/6/08

Summertime in Wisconsin is awesome for lots of reasons...not the least of which is the summer bounty in my garden. Our corn is finally ready and we had the first ears this week. Wow, is that good. I love the fact that I can go out there...pick a tomato...rub the dirt off on my shirt and eat it like an apple fresh off the vine. I can do this without worrying about some junk that's been sprayed on it...because I don't spray any junk on them. Perfecto!

Speaking of eating, did you enjoy restaurant week as much as I did?! I shouldn't admit this, but Terri and I ate dinner out Monday through Friday. Got to try some places that we normally wouldn't try because of the price. Nothing I hate more than paying big dollars for a meal I didn't even enjoy. Gotta say though, Oceans Grill downtown, Liliannas in Fitchburg and Fresco on top of the Overture Center all wowed me to no end. Really enjoyed it. Fact is, we also ate at some places that we won't be going back to.

This weekend marks the first run of the Middleton Players Theater production of Rocky Horror Show. Opening night is tomorrow night, August 7th. Runs through the weekend and next weekend, too. Go and see it. Support your local theater troupes. They need your help and you'll see a great show to boot.

Tuesday, 7/29/08

Man, I love summer! I have to admit, though, it can get pretty busy. We went camping at a little state park near New Glarus last weekend. Biked both the Sugar River Trail and that Badger State Trail. Both cool. The grade isn't so bad that it kills you, either. It's hard to believe, though, when you drive into the area it's one hill after another. We also kayaked the Sugar River which is right there, too. We somehow got off into a back tributary...and ended up water hiking toward the end. Still cool, though. Looking forward to the "Rocky Horror Show" coming up. The Middleton Players Theater is putting it on August 7th, 8th, 9th and 14th, 15th and 16th. Beej is playing the hunchback guy. That kid can really sing. Hope you can make it. Middleton Performing Arts Center. See you there. It'll be a blast. Welcome home to my good friend Danny. He just got back after serving for two years in the Peace Corps in Albania. Good to see him again. This weekend we are all headed down to Lake Mills to play golf. The first time the "old" foursome has been together in over two years. That will be fun.
Tuesday, 7/22/08

Have you ever been to Paoli? I'm ashamed to say I never have till this past weekend...and I gotta tell ya...we had a great time. They had their little festival on Saturday, so "T" and I thought we'd pop out there, having heard about all the cool little galleries that dot the main drag. I have to say, when we first pulled into town, I thought...well this will take 15 minutes to get through. Was I wrong. This is a gem. The galleries and the shops...like five or six of them...were filled with stuff made by some really gifted people. A band that called itself Harmonious Wail was playing in the town park right there next to the mill stream that springs from the Sugar River. Nice! We had lunch at the School House. It's a new restaurant they are just starting after a remodel, and I gotta say it was awesome. They will start being open for lunch regularly starting in August...worth heading down for. I mean this place is literally 15 minutes from Madison! I recommend it highly for a day trip. Congrats to Mount Horeb on a cool Art Fair. Had a great time...and that gyro...wow. The second one of my lifetime. Where have I been?!
Monday, 7/14/08

Yippeee! Terri and I were on a mission Saturday morning. We wanted to buy a troll from an artist from Slinger that was situated off the square during Art Fair. We saw his stuff last year and have been preparing a place at the house for him since then. We ran down (literally) to the spot where we knew he was set up last year and sure enough, there he was. We announced gleefully that we were there to buy the troll holding the lantern. Jim the artist looked at us and told us "Sorry, he's already been spoken for." We were crushed. But the man who bought him said since he already had a number of Jim's works, he would be willing to wait for another...so we could have him if we wanted. SCORE! He looks sooo cool standing sentry at the bridge over our stream. You know...the whole Three Billy Goats Gruff thing. Everything we wanted. Looking forward to Concerts on the Square this week with Jimmy. Always a cool deal.
Thursday, 7/10/08

Yeah baby. Summer in this city is the coolest deal. This is one of my favorite weekends of the summer for me. I really dig the Art Fair...on and off...equally cool in my mind. Going to the square bright and early. Can't help it...I'm an art geek. Went to Kettle Moraine last weekend. Camped at Pine Woods. Beautiful place. I was a bit surprised to see so many of the sites in the loop unfilled. If you asked about availability...everything was reserved. Apparently many people opted not to use their reservations, though. Too bad. A holiday weekend and the weather was stellar. The mosquitoes were kind of tough at some points...but certainly bearable. Took a bike ride from Dousman to Waukesha Friday the fourth. Had lunch at a great Mexican place. Yummy. Saturday we kayaked the little lake. It was great fun. See you this weekend.
Friday, 5/30/08

We went on our annual Memorial Day weekend camp trip over the just passed weekend, and as usual, big fun was had by all. A bit different this year in that B.J. opted out. He is involved in a play this year, so time was short for him. We missed him. The camp weekend is always a dual purpose get-a-way. We also celebrate Lizzy's birthday. This year was a big one. The baby in our family turned 20. Whoa! That seems a bit surreal, but I'll get over it. I love that camping stuff. If push came to shove and everything went south, I could see living in the woods somewhere no problemo. Hope it doesn't come to that, though. Can't wait to use our new kayaks!
Monday, 5/19/08

What a hassle. The weather just seems to want to wreck my garden and yours. We waited 'til after Mother's Day to put all those delicate annuals in...at least in the veg garden...and what's this! Frost possible! C'mon. We ran around frantically covering up everything we could last night...brought all the container plants into the dining room. It was nuts! It got down to 34 degrees on Monday morning so all the effort was for naught. If we hadn't done it, though, it would have gotten down to 31 sure as shootin'. Oh well. Looking forward to the first camping trip of the summer this coming weekend. Not going far. We have learned our lesson on past Memorial Days...it can be a nasty, wet cold holiday. So if it gets too hinkey, we'll pull up stakes and head home. We'll look at all the beautiful annual flowers in our dining room.
Tuesday, 4/29/08

Okay...what kind of cruel joke is this. Snow? No thanks. Actually, it's sort of okay with me that we are hovering in that 50/60 degree range for awhile. I mean what is this? We go from ten inches of snow on the ground to upper 70s. What happened to spring? Either way, I hope we seen the last of the snowflakes for awhile. Picked the first asparagus of the season last night (after the snowfall) Asparagus could very possibly be my favorite veggie of all. We have a small patch of it in the yard, and man is that good! Yummy.

Looking forward to our May Day deliveries this week. Hope to see you.

Still idling, waiting to get our garden planted. Gonna do the veggie garden for the first time in three years. With the cost of food hovering near intolerable levels, we figure we'll revert back to pickling and freezing stuff from the garden. We used to do that all the time when we were younger. Terri and I used to do about a 1/2 acre back during our rustic phase, but gave up on it because of all the work involved. Back to it. It's always worth the effort when you sit down and chow the fruits (and veggies) of your labor. The garden thing, though, does mean fewer rounds of golf...but I'll survive. Later.

Monday, 4/21/08

Well, that was nice. Terri and I had a great time down south of the border last week. Just me and "T". Cool deal. We did all kinds of stuff. Everything but scuba. Can't bring myself to do that just yet since the "event" last August. Maybe next time. Beautiful weekend, no? Got back on track on Saturday. Unpack...clean the house...all that mundane stuff you do after a vacation, but Sunday was for fun. Went to a fantastic brunch Sunday morning with my sister and brother in-law. B.J. made it...oh, and Terri was there, too. Lizzy was a no show...she's in New York chaperoning the Monona Grove trip. Hard to imagine my little girl is a chaperone. Strange times indeed! Anyway, if you want some good home cookin', at a great price, with a million dollar view, try the East Side Businessman's Club. Wow, right on the lake and good eats! Worth checking out. Got my new bike out to work off some of the brunch. What a cool city! Took the lake loop. Thousands of people out doing the same thing. Welcome summer (almost). Won't be long now and we'll have to put old paint in the water.
Monday, 4/7/08

How was your weekend? Pretty cool, I hope. Got out and saw lots of people doing that spring thing. Terri and I walked along Willy Street Saturday. Stopped at Mother Fools...had a nice cup of coffee. Stopped in at Hempen Goods. Bought a couple of shirts. Neat stuff. We also walked into another little shop, the name of which eludes me now. But I almost took the plunge and bought myself a kilt. I've been threatening to do it for awhile now, and I was surprised to find them locally. Awesome. What do you think? Can a regular guy get away with wearing a kilt in Wisconsin? I'm gonna do it yet. We ended up at Machinery Row Bikes. One of my new commitments. Got a bike from them during their President's Day sale...and over the weekend I thought I'd go in and use my discount certificate they gave me. Got some really cool bike pants and a jersey. Now I'm all set. See you on the trails this summer. By the way... congratulations to you if you were involved with Seussical at Monona Grove over the weekend. Went on Friday and dug it. Good job (as usual). Hard to believe these are high school kids. Geez!
Monday, 3/17/08

Thank goodness. My pal is back on her feet, just in time for a wee bit of pre-St. Patrick's Day celebratin'. Terri and I went out Saturday. In the afternoon I took her to one of her favorite spots, J.Jill. Always a white-knuckle experience for me, but she digs it, and after half a month of being ill, I knew a J.Jill infusion was just what the doctor ordered. I took my spot in the usual place - the chairs in the middle of the store - read my magazine and stayed out of the way.
Afterwards we went to Erin's Snug near American Family and had dinner. My meal was awesome and the atmosphere was just the ticket. They had people running around in leprechaun outfits and even had a bagpipe band playing. It was really cool. I would recommend the place if you've never been. Still too chilly for me to hit the trails with my new bike, but we're getting there. Spring is here...almost.
Tuesday, 3/11/08

Man....have you had this terrible crud at your house? I can honestly say this is the sickest I have ever seen my wife in the 23 years of marriage. She has been really sick for the past 12 days and still isn't up to snuff. Get well soon baby!

Finally some spring weather on tap. Looking forward to breaking out my new Trek I bought over the winter. Gonna get into that big time this summer. Used to bike alot but got away from it in my mid life. That's gonna change this year. With gas brinking on $3.50, I'm gonna try and bike to where I'm going whenever the trip will be two miles or less one way. My little rage against the machine. I read somewhere that if we all did that, it would save millions of gallons of gas a year. I know that sounds idealistic, but hey...it's good for the environment, it's good for my health and it'll be fun. I'll let you know how well it goes!
Tuesday, 3/4/08

It's hard to be sure, given the winter we are living through this year, but I think Saturday may have been the last big snowmobile ride of the year. B.J and I took off early in the day and headed north. We both agree Columbia County is some of the finest snowmobiling in our area. It's so wide open. Dane County is cool but far more developed. I like the wilderness you can ride through up there. Very cool. We stopped at the Green Frog in Columbus Falls for lunch. Pretty decent "bar burger." It's days like these that remind me why I still own sleds. Cool to ride with the kid. Nice guy. Sunday, my sister, her husband Andy and a couple of my nieces came up. We took in the brunch at the Great Dane, Fitchburg. Really good. If you have never been there for brunch, give it a shot. Lots of variety...mighty tasty and some really good microbrew beer if you're into it. Starting to really dig the extra daylight. It'll really start feeling like the season change when we set our clocks ahead an hour. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a little change. I can't say I haven't enjoyed this "old-fashioned" winter but really, how much stark white can a guy take anyway! Looks like I'll make it through without breaking a hip or something...a real bonus for someone of my advancing years!

Tuesday, 2/26/08

Had a wonderful weekend. Did all kinds of fun stuff for Terri's birthday. Friday night we went to Samba...that cool place down on Gorham. Awesome. Parked in their lot...for free. Walked down to Blue Velvet...had a few martinis before. Very good. If you have never been to Samba...try it. We had pork tenderloin, beef tenderloin, duck, lamb and a bunch of fantastic salads and veggies. Cool concept, too. They come to your table after you flip an indicator and carve you off as much or as little of each as you want. Really good meal...loads of fun with friends. Saturday, Terri was left to her own devices while B.J. and I took off on the snowmobiles for a little 100 mile trek. The weather was perfect...upper 20s. The scenery was cool...lots of wildlife out moving around. The company was awesome, too. Beeg is a cool character. Sunday we went to brunch at the Edgewater. Yummy good. Watched all the goings on out on the lake. What a great view. Went downtown to do some shopping after that. Beautiful day again! Enjoyed it thoroughly. It'll take me until Wednesday to rest up from the weekend's activity. More snow on tap as our "winter to remember" continues.

Tuesday, 2/19/08

Man. I have always loved winter. There's snowmobiling, cross country skiing, that nice warm feeling you get when you come in from outdoors to sit next to a warm fire sipping a libation, but I gotta say...spring can get here any day now. This is something to remember. I'm not complaining, mind you, but even the hardiest winter weather loving people are about done for this year. WOW!

Anyhoo, needed something to get my mind off the winter of our discontent. So Terri and I went out and bought a new project to work on. We found this 1994 28-foot stretch limo. It's a Lincoln Town Car. Decent shape body-wise but it needs mechanical work. Should be fun. I have to drop a fresh motor in it so if you run across a 4.8 liter Lincoln motor, let me know. We are going to refurbish the whole thing. We want to rent it out for weddings and proms and stuff like that. Something to do. Who knows...the next time you rent a limo, it'll be me wearing that little hat and the knee high riding boots. See ya.
Monday, 1/21/08

First off, I'll state the obvious: I haven't been blogging for some time. Took awhile to get my feet back under me following my cardiac event of late August, but things are returning now to normal, relatively speaking. That was certainly a weird deal. I gotta say that, until recently, I was still walking around at some points like somebody hit me in the temple with a ball-peen hammer. Rather surreal. Enough said.

Doggone it...I am dissappointed with the Packer loss to the Giants. I'm not gonna lie about it. Just wasn't meant to be I guess. Now all the speculation...in Wisconsin anyway...turns to whether Brett will choose to give it another good go next season. The alternative is to know that the last pass in his NFL career was an INT. Doubtful a guy like Favre could live with that. I'll bet he comes back for an 18th season.

I'm continuing to stick with my workouts. I should have been doing this for the past ten years. I feel terriffic. And even though I liked carrying around that extra 30 pounds (he said with tougue in cheek!) it's cool without it. I really feel good. My friends at Zoned For Fitness are helping me take my quest for total fitness to the next level. It really is a cool health club. Small intimate feeling. It's terriffic if you're looking for a bit of extra one-on-one. Well, so long for now. Time to go shovel more snow.
Tuesday, 8/14/07

Hey all. Cool camp trip to Kohler Andrea Park near Sheboygan. Made a four day weekend of it. The weather wasn't great, but the company and the scenery was. What a great park. If you camp at all, and have never been, I recommend it highly. It's like the "Hamptons of Wisconsin." Almost. Except for the multi-million dollar mansions and the indoor plumbing. Gonna give it another shot next summer. We're bound to hit the weather right one of these years...kinda like the lottery I guess.

We were among the five thousand or so beer lovers at the "Great Taste" last weekend. All I can say is that it always is the coolest crowd. I mean there are all those people...and all those breweries, and everything comes off without a hitch. Hats off to the people at the Brewers Guild...nice job! Again.

Lizzy started her foray into higher education this week. And, yeah, it is different than high school...told ya.

Can't resist commenting on today's announcement from Mayor Dave's office that the push for trolleys downtown is effectively over. You know trolleys are cool...when the cities where you want to put them are big enough to support them. Too many people thought there were better ways to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, I guess. Wonder if his decision had anything to do with the hundreds of negative trolley comments during that southwest side resident meeting on the growing crime problem in the area. Either way, wrong city, wrong time. Man, summer is whipping by...closing in on Labor Day already...woo, that was quick. Later.

Tuesday, 7/31/07

Wow...this summer has been a hot one to be sure. I won't even mention my lawn...forget about it. It seems I spend my evenings doing nothing else but watering deck plants. I refuse to give up, though. I don't have to tell you how much annuals cost so I will persevere. My hands are permanently wrinkled, though, and my Crocs are always squishy damp. People always can hear me coming.

The pond at the house is finished...finally...and is that thing cool! As my kids would say, "It's sic, dude." I have to say that it is pretty sic. At least I don't have to worry about watering the pond plants. Hope your summer is going well...make sure to get some R&R. You know there's a cruel irony about this time of year. It's hot so you shed as much clothing as the law will allow and then they tell you to have another brat, more potato salad...yikes. Hopefully I'll be able to see my shoe tops again sometime this fall!
Monday, 7/9/07

Sometimes really hot weather isn't so bad. We took to the lake in the Chris Craft over the weekend and I gotta say, it was downright pleasant. Had the boat worked on by Tim at the Boat Doctor and I gotta say thanks alot for getting me and "T" on the water this weekend, doctor. Much appreciated. Ran great...loads of fun. A tad windy Sunday, though...had to call it. We rafted up to the barge...floating restaurant that is anchored right after you go under the beltline just before you round the bend to Gilligan's. I had the barge burger and it was fantastic. Check 'em out when you can...yummy...and convenient. That is one of the best ideas somebody has had in a while...smart.
Friday, 6/29/07

We're putting the pond in at the house this weekend. Spent the last several weekends digging the thing. Thought that would be easy enough....after all it's just a hole in the ground, right? Wrong! I could only use the skid steer for part of it....so much of the finishing touches had to be dug the old fashioned way....with a shovel. Never really liked a shovel all that much.....and when you throw hard pan clay into the equation....the chasm between me and the shovel broadened considerably. Anyway, once the hole was done, I figured the hardest part of the deal was done.....'till I went to pick up the liner, and found out it weighed four hundred thirty pounds! Any strong people out there looking for something to do for a couple of hours? Actually I found some guys. Lucked out.

Thursday, 5/31/07

Well, that was fun. Those summer holiday getaways never seem long enough, though. The new camper is pretty cool. The only disappointment was that the hot water heater didn't operate. That meant washing up the old fashioned way...at the campground shower house. Oh well, a trip to the camper dealer should take care of that problem before we hit the road again. Going to Mamma Mia this weekend at the Overture Center. Lots of us are going so it should be fun. We're thinking about going to the fondue place, The Melting Pot, afterward. Never been, but I've heard good things. The online menu sounds yummy. Lizzy's graduation is coming up soon. She's sent out invites for her party that's later in June, so now I'm forced to finish the waterfall project at my house sooner than I first thought. It's going to be tight, but I think we'll make it. No promises. It's already June and the old Chris Craft still isn't set up for the season yet. Lots going on...gonna have to be soon, though...Terri's getting antsy. Later.

Thursday, 5/17/07

We have two of our big annual beds planted this year finally....no thanks to me. I went golfing.....and when I came back.....viola....there they were. Looks great. But now I'm feeling a bit guilty. Terri did all the work. I have to do what I can in the coming weeks to make up for it. Just when I figure I'm pulling even....she notes how much her wrist hurts from trowling so much....by herself....alone. This will take a while. getting ready for the first camping trip of the season. Looking forward to it. Like many people apparently, we're not going far. The gas is just outrageous...so we'll stay pretty close to home....heck I might just pull the camper behind the barn....and pretend it's a far away woods. Looking forward to it though. It's the beginning of a new camping era for us. Gone is the tent....gone is the pop up....we've moved up a tad. It's the travel trailer now. 27 feet of convenience. We'll see. Part of the fun of camping is the roughing part. Not much of that I can see with this new rig. Later...

Thursday, 5/10/07

I got in touch with my heritage last Sunday. Terri and I went to visit my second cousin Harold Bonner. We ate an an old-fashioned supper club near Walworth, The Bigfoot Inn. It was fantastic. Big variety without a big price...cool place. Harold, who is a very young 86, is a regular. Everyone in the area seems to know "Doc" Bonner. You see, Harold was the local vet for years. After we ate, Harold took us to the Bonner Heritage Farm. It's the old farmstead where my Dad was born and raised for much of his childhood, before Grampa Bonner moved his brood to Dover Township. The main compound of the farm was donated by another of my second cousins to the Lake County Illinois Historical Society and is now open to the public for self guided tours. It's awesome! The signs on the paths basically chronicle the Bonner family and their farming experience in the area, dating back to the mid 1800's when my great great Grampa William bought and established the farm after immigrating from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It's all there. Harold told us that the big tree in the front of the 1800's farm house is the same one that he and my Dad played under on hot summer days when they were little guys! Amazing. The majority of the farm was sold off for development. Now where the corn and oats grew tall, there is a community of 3000 square foot impeccably landscaped homes. It's a little like "Field of Dreams" when you step onto the gravel pathways of the farm. It really is a step back in time. The farm and all the buildings are just as they were, save a few expansions, when William first started busting the Illinois prairie to start his farm and the Bonner legacy. It was a rare experience for sure and certainly humbling. It's a cool place. If you ever want to take the hour and a half drive to Milburn, Illinois, you could take a look. There's a big park across the parking lot complete with volleyball nets and grills for BBQ. Google it sometime...Bonner Heritage Farm.

Thursday, 4/26/07

In the recent past, I've kind of gotten away from watching American Idol. But Wednesday night, Criminal Minds was a re-run, so I tuned in. It was the "Idol Gives Back" fundraiser. Man! Was that cool! Annie Lennox, Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson and Jeff Beck, for crying out loud. What a show! I may have to record Criminal Minds for awhile and get back to Idol. If you saw it, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, if you didn't, it was a doggone TV spectacular! Loaded with talent...and emotional...man! What a show...knocked me out.

Going to God's Country - LaCrosse - this weekend. Looking forward to it. Haven't been back in a while. Lived there for the better part of ten years before I came to Madison. Loved it there. The bluffs, the river, Third Street...man those were the days! I hope I run into some of the old gang when I'm there. Used to work at WIZM and the "Magic of the Mississippi" Z-93. Terri is meeting a bunch of her old Viterbo College buddies while she's there so it should be quite a weekend.

Finally got out on the golf course. Didn't go so bad. I figure if I can add my score with a calculator, it's okay. Played Tyranena in Lake Mills with my usual golfing pals....minus one. The fourth of our usual foursome is still in Albania serving in the Peace Corp. It's weird without him. This will be the second summer he's been gone. He's a good friend and we all miss him. The upside is that he'll be back next year. Where he goes after that is still really up in the air. Hope he can stay in the general area so we can have a complete foursome again...at least now and again. Later!

Wednesday, 4/18/07

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the terrible events this week at Virginia Tech. I feel so bad for those families that lost the lights of their lives in such a senseless and violent way. Terri and I talked about it for a long time and both agree it would, at least for us, tough to ever smile again. The hurt must be overwhelming. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. God be with you.

On a lighter note, the Monona Grove production of "Into the Woods" is hilarious. Terri and her Mom and Dad and I went to see it last weekend and we laughed our butts off. Some really talented kids, I'll tell you. Lizzy plays Red Riding Hood's crazy gramma. What a hoot. I recommend it if you have some time this weekend. Friday night, Saturday afternoon and again Saturday night at Monona Grove High School. See ya there!

Went to Cloud 9 for my birthday dinner Saturday night. It's a relatively new restaraunt just off Cottage Grove Road near the "I". If you sit upstairs there is an awesome view of the Capitol and the downtown cityscape. The food is real yummy so the whole package is cool.

Tuesday, 4/10/07

Hey! All is right with the world! Watched the season premier of my fave show "The Sopranos" Sunday. Cool beginning. Can't wait top see all those guys drop like flies...I mean, after all, this is the Waterloo season for Tony and the gang. Also getting back at it is the cast of Dexter. It's a cool show on Showtime. Unfortunately, it's also on Sunday nights at 8pm. Choices, choices.

I took Pat's advice and went to the El Dorado for Easter brunch. Yummy. I would highly recommend it for those of you looking for something outside the usual carved ham and roast beef and made-to-order omelet fare. It's all kind of southwestern and that spinach and feta cheese burrito I had was awesome. B.J. had the poached huevos with a real cool alternative to the standard Hollandaise sauce. It was really good. And that mango mimosa...outrageous! Talked to Kevin Tubbs. Sounds like he's re-working his band a bit. If you've never had a chance to see him...go. Always a fun show. Later.
Wednesday, 4/4/07

Ahh, that's more like it, isn't it. Don't you just love the feel of a nice wind chill on an April morning? Feels like...well I don't have to tell you what it feels like. Just more evidence how cruel a mistress Mother Nature truly is. But, alas, this too shall pass. Went to Miss Saigon at the Union Theater this past weekend. Great show. Our own Amy Abbott was in it. She was perfectly cast as a Vietnamese street walker. At first it was a bit disturbing...but I got next to the idea eventually and ultimately embraced it. I'll never look at Amy the same way again. All joking aside, it was a great evening. Didn't even hear the eerie wail of the tornado sirens I was told later sounded twice during the course of the performance.

I can't believe how incredibly stupid I can be. The other night I was winding down...just watching some TV and drinking a raspberry Snapple. After I finished, I was fiddling with the cap. Can't help it...I'm a fiddler...I come from a long line of fiddlers. Anyway, somehow an incredible suction was created between the cap and my lower lip and chin. Didn't think much of it when it happened only that, boy, that's quite a suction between that cap and my lower lip and chin. Well sure enough, when I pulled it off it left a mark. A perfect round bruise...a Snapple cap hickey if you will. Live and learn. Won't do that again soon. Now, much like Amy, I'll never look at a bottle of raspberry Snapple the same again. Hope it fades soon...the Snapple cap hickey and the vision of Amy Abbott as a lady of the night that I can't seem to get out of my head.

Brought our new camper home. Looks cool. The bed is actually pretty comfy, although it doesn't really matter. I never sleep better than when I'm out in the woods. Looking forward to many adventures this summer. Can't wait.

Wednesday, 3/28/07

I don't know what it is, but lately I can't get enough of Lifetime TV. I know the network enjoys a predominantly female demo but I gotta tell ya, I dig those movies. They all seem to be very similar thematically but I seem to get all wrapped up in them. Last weekend, I watched two of them in a row. Can't a guy enjoy intensely emotional TV fare? I say yes. I know I can't be alone in this...other men...and you know who you are, are watching, too...that is, when no one is watching you.

I stepped back...quite literally...into the seventies the other day. I bought myself a cool pair of Frye Boots. I had the same kind when I was a kid - 1974. They were cool then and they still are cool now. At least I think so. I got 'em at the Shoe Box in Black Earth. Well worth the drive. They had a dizzying selection of boots, made out of just about any kind of skin you can imagine. Snake, ostrich, lizard, alligator...all kinds of stuff. Awesome! I got a great deal on them to boot...pardon the pun. Nothing like those Fryes and a pair of jeans...that's the kind of stuff that'll keep ya young. They even seem to give me cover when I neglect to shave...now I don't look so scruffy...I just look ruggedly handsome...well, rugged anyway. Oh yeah...all the elements are in play. Out.

Monday, 3/19/07

Got a new camper! Actually, had to get a new camper. The hail storm last August totalled the old pop-up, so it was that or forget camping. We thought about it. It was a crossroads for sure. Both of our kids are starting to have their own lives these days and going out to the woods with Mom and Dad for the weekend isn't as thrilling as it used to be. Fact is it's arguable that it ever was what one could call thrilling for them...but we always had loads fun. Still do. Anyway, there were other things we could have spent the money on...world travel, that Corvette convertible we always thought would be cool...tons of Aunt Annie's soft pretzels...all kinds of things. But alas, we decided that camping is still cool and if the kids don't always make it, c'est la vie. This thing is definitely a step up from the old Starcraft. It's got its own bathroom, so no more middle of the night strolls to the park bathroom with Terri. Not that I didn't enjoy those little walks but it will be a lot nicer when she can make the trip without a chaperone. Cool. Actually the thing has an oven and a microwave, a TV for those Badger Saturdays and a stereo, so the days of roughing it in the woods are fading - but I can live with that. Looking forward to some cool weekends this summer.

Tuesday, 2/20/07

We went to "42nd Street" Sunday. It's being put on by the Verona Community Theater group. B.J. is in it. Good time. We all went out to eat at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse in Middleton afterward. I ate too much. Cool atmosphere, great food, great company. Going to one of Lizzy's last choir concerts tonight. Really winding down on this whole high school thing. Kinda sad, but kinda exciting at the same time.
Wednesday, 2/7/07

This is the time of year when every weekend it seems - frigid chill or not - is filled with our kids' activities. It's actually a great mid-winter diversion. Doesn't allow cabin fever to set in...no time. Lizzy is knee-deep in show choir competitions all over the place and B.J. is running his behind off getting ready for the production of "42nd Street" being staged in Verona. He's been sick for weeks during rehearsals so I'm hoping by opening night he'll be back in good form. I dig it all. It not only gives me a chance to go watch my kids do what they really love doing but I also get to eat whatever I want at eateries in other cities with a minimum of guilt. I can justify ordering up carbohydrate laden mashed potatoes or stuffing. Yummy. Oh, and the shows are great, too.
Friday, 2/2/07

Well, that was a pleasant surprise! I got off the air at the usual time Thursday and I got a call from Terri. She told me the snowmobile trails were open again! No way. So I hustled home and mounted up and took off by 10. It was perfect...well, there could be more snow but any port in a storm. The weather was beautiful. Twenty-ish...full-on sunshine...and not another snowmobile in sight. I pretty much was the first sled on the trails, at least on my way out. While I was making my way down to first Marshall...then Deerfield...then Lake Mills...and finally Sullivan, I saw all kinds of cool stuff. What I thought was a dog bounded across the field I was traveling across. When I got closer, I realized it looked like no dog I'd ever seen before. It was a coyote. I named him Wiley C., at least in my head. Awhile later I rounded a corner and eight HUGE turkeys took off in front of me. Those buggers are massive...geez. Also saw a couple of pheasants and some quail. Just another bonus round with snowmobiling. My obsession continues but you'll get no apologies from me. I have to say the conditions are marginal, but I think the trail people made the right call. With the arctic blast gripping us for the next week or so, today was sort of a last chance at running for a while. Thanks. And kudos to whoever is taking care of the Prairie Riders trail system. Whoever is running that groomer sure knows what's up. Not alot to work with out there guys, but you sure did make the best of it. The Prairie Rider stretch was the best I rode all day and that's 150 miles worth of riding.

Wednesday, 1/31/07

Whoa, baby. Put another log on the fire! This is more like it. I know some would find it crazy but I don't mind the winter chill that's apparently set in. It must be some kind of a throw back gene thing. I like the way the icy cold air makes my skin tingle. I'm not kidding. Oh yeah, I'll get tired of it if it sticks too long but for now I'm cool. Super Bowl weekend. Not in the mood to run around too many places...supposed to be chilly. Maybe I'll just hunker down and watch the Bears...yikes. What are you gonna do?! It's the closest thing to our having a dog in that fight. "T" and I are about ready to get the "Seedling Corner" set up in the barn. It's where we propagate our flowers to put out in spring. We plant thousands of flowers every year and if we had to buy all of them already grown and ready for the ground, we'd have to take out a loan every spring. Besides, it's cool to go through the planting beds, plan them out and try to get at least some of the stuff we need started. It's a subtle reminder that spring is right around the corner...sorta.

Friday, 1/26/07

Well, that was fun. We got to ride awhile this week. Between outings with B.J. and Lizzy, we logged about 250 miles on the snowmobiles. They say the weather is supposed to turn decidedly winter-like (temperatures) in the coming days, but Friday, albeit a wonderful warm day, will no doubt leave the trails crummy or closed. Bummer. I love to ride. It's really great. But I gotta say, the old back ain't what it once was. Man, after Tuesday's day-long outing, I was sore. But after Wednesday's ride with Liz, I was really hurting. It's worth it though, it's just good fun. Low-key weekend coming up. Plenty of time to recoup. Maybe T and I will catch a movie or something Saturday night and til then I'll just log some shop time. I'm working on a cool woodwork project. When it gets closer to completion, I'll tell you about it. Pretty ambitious; I hope I can pull it off. I may need to run to one of my favorite places, Home Depot, to grab a tool or two to make the job go easier. I have been angling for that 16 speed drill press, but I gotta clear it with headquarters before I pull the trigger if you know what I mean. Pat's gone the early part of next week, so it'll be Jimmy and me. That's always fun. Jim's one of the most talented guys in our building, but I don't have to tell you that.

Tuesday, 1/23/07

Finally! Enough snow to hit the trails! Been a long time, but worth the wait. I literally dusted off the Ski Doos today and of course had to tinker a bit. Sitting around doing nothing for a long time might do a body good but it doesn't do much for machines. I really don't mind though, since some of my best memories involve tinkering on snowmobiles in the shop. I still dig it. I think I know why the infatuation with snowmobiles persists. It's because my first real feeling of independence came on at the controls of a sled. Heck, I was riding a snowmobile on my own by the time I was 10. I had logged thousands of miles (no kidding) by the time I was 15. It was apparently a different time. Now kids have to take a licensing course and everything. The most fun ever, though, was going on trail rides with my Uncle Cal. That was always cool. He would pull up to our house about nine in the morning with a bunch of other snowmobile buddies and my Mom would make a big breakfast for everybody. Then I'd go outside and fire up the old Ski whiz and off we would go. Hither and yon, and lots of times we wouldn't get back to my house till after midnight. Man, that was fun. Don't often get the chance to go out on major rides anymore...there just doesn't seem to be snow anymore and I miss that, too. Really though, there's nothing like riding through a woods with a light snow falling...about twenty degrees. Enough to give you that little nip in your cheeks, but not too cold to be uncomfortable. Well...I'm gonna take advantage of this year's window of opportunity, before all the sleds hammer the trails into dirt. Don't try to call me after nine in the morning. I won't hear the phone ring over the hum of the rotax.

Friday, 1/19/07

What the heck is up with Orville Redenbacher of Orville Redenbacher popcorn fame. I was watching TV last night and this commercial came on for Orville's corn. But Orville looked weird. The old popcorn magnate either had a face lift out of a "do it yourself" kit or they are trying to pawn off an imposter in a mask on us. I am leaning toward the latter. It creeped me out and I found myself giving the unsettling commercial undo thought, both the rest of evening and now again this morning. Has Orville retired? Has he passed on to the big corn popper in the sky? Have ungrateful, power hungry family members undertaken a secret coup and tied up the real Orville in a dank basement somewhere, sustaining him on a competitor's corn and water?! Oh the horror! Really, though, if Orville can't do the commercials anymore why try to pass off a bad imitation? It's just scary.

I've just been told that the real Orville died in 1995. This makes this even more of an abomination! It's over! Create a new campign for crying out loud or at least just run the ads with the real Orville! Don't give us this computer generated Clutch Cargo mouth moving imitation. Please!

Monday, 1/15/07

WOW! That's about the only way to sum up the 18 show choirs I saw at Monona Grove High School's 5th annual Silver Stage Invitational. Kids from four states (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin) came through some pretty tough conditions in some cases to get here, but man, did they come to play! Unbelievable amount of talent. I mean it. It's often hard to believe that these are high school kids. Congrats to all who took part...well done. And big congratulations to all the students and parents that volunteered their time...hours and hours of time getting ready for the event and pulling it off. Amazing. Cool stuff. Hopefully next year they'll actually find an emcee that can read the cards...oops! Thanks for letting me be a part of this cool event over the years. It was certainly a pleasure.
Wednesday, 1/10/07

First off, congrats Bucky on the big win over Ohio State! Man, if there were any doubt about how good that team is, it must be dispelled now. They look great. And deep. Baby, it's going on!

Getting ready for the annual all day Monona Grove Show Choir competition on Saturday. I've done this ever since B.J. was in school and have continued to do the emcee work all the way through Lizzy's career. End of an era. Lizzy graduates this year and I assume that'll be it. It's been a blast, though. If you get a chance stop by Monona Grove High School Saturday, you'll see loads of talented kids from all over the Midwest.
Monday, 1/8/07

Went to the "Fireside" in Fort over the weekend for their "Hollywood Sings" show. Cool deal. The meal was knock down good as usual...and the show was loads of fun. When the singers started in on the Beatles portion of the show, the audience got into it, singing along and all. Fun!

On Sunday, I took down the last of the Christmas decorations I put up. Stuffed the inflatable snowman and penguin back into their boxes and wound up all the strings of lights. Lots more fun putting them up, I'll tell ya. I hate taking everything down...it always looks so much less festive. Bummer. Still waiting on the snow this year and my snowmobiles just sit there collecting dust...maybe I'll cave to Terri's wishes this year and get rid of them. Anybody want to buy a couple of Ski Doos? Just kidding...they represent the last bastion of my childhood!
Monday, 12/11/06

I'm getting sort of "sweaty palmed" over the prospect of not having a white Christmas. I just heard Charlie Shortino say today that there will be no snow and above average temperatures for the next ten days. Now, I've never been what you'd call a math whiz, but by my calculations that means no snow 'til at least the 21st! Scary. I don't know about you but without snow, Christmas just doesn't seem the same. So hopefully the snow machine will kick in here at some point soon and we can all enjoy a good old-fashioned white Christmas. Let's all pool our "karmic energy" and wish for a white one this year, okay?

Monday, 12/4/06

I suppose there are those among you who have all your Christmas shopping done for the year and now can sit back and enjoy the cookies and egg nog that make the season so bright. Well, I'm not in your club. I just today started realizing how few days are left to get out and start checking things off the wish lists I've solicited this year. Funny, the older my kids get, the more expensive the presents are. Used to be that the kids would be beside themselves with glee with whatever they got. Now, they want stuff for their cars and stuff like that. I usually let the shopping thing go 'til the last minute. I tell myself it adds to the excitment but that's not really true...it really adds to that "under the gun" feeling. Oh well - it's far from too late and the very fact that I'm thinking about it in this early stage of December is actually progress. So watch out retailers...here I come!

Thursday, 11/29/06

Hey cool! I just got an early Christmas present...a new ATV. It's a monster - 700 ccs of hubba hubba. I just love that. Put it to good use over the last week or so running around with those lights Terri is making me put up all over. (They are so heavy). Anyway, I think we must be about done stringing lights - I don't see many open spots on any of the trees or anything. Terri and Liz are holiday decoration task masters! They are pressing me to build an arch that spans the driveway so they can create this North Pole kind of motif. We'll see! Have to break out the sabre saw. Might be fun. I'll update you...hopefully I will still have the use of all my digits...so I can type!
Monday, 11/27/06

LET IT RAIN, LET IT SNOW, WE'RE READY! After days of toiling on the roof, it's done...all buttoned up...tight as a drum. I love it when a plan comes together.

Wasn't this past weekend a dream come true? A real holiday decorating wonderland. Perfect. Lizzy, Terri and I were out until 8:30 last night stringing lights. No gloves, just sweatshirts. Unreal. We got a lot of stuff done: strung lights on the windmill, put a star on top, lighted garland on the deck...the usual. This year, though, we got a great deal on these big inflatable things. A snowman and a penguin - EIGHT FEET TALL! Wow. Hopefully they'll work. Not much holiday inspiration from a lump of brightly colored fabric laying in a heap on the lawn. Like I say, we got a great deal. Here's hoping!
Monday, 11/20/06

Okay, five years ago when last I dragged my old behind up a ladder and re-roofed the house, I swore that was the last time. Well, here I go again. Same routine, except my behind is five years older and, for some reason, the roof seems more slanted this time. It's just against my nature to pay someone to do something I know how to do. I mean, after all, when I was 25 I used to roof three or four houses in a week...so I should be able to do it again, at least one more time right? WHAT WAS I THINKING! Too late to turn back now though...the old roof is off and it's on with the new. My aching back. Terri warned me. It's a bit like root canal...it'll all be over soon.

Can you believe it's darned near the holidays again? We're hosting again this year...so then turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and such are on our list again. I don't much mind the cooking though, it's kinda fun...actually Terri does most of it and that makes it even more fun...for me, anyway. Hey, I didn't ask her to help me heft shingles up on the roof so it all works out! I love Thanksgiving...it gives me the chance to eat a whole bunch of carbs without feeling too guilty, at least until the day after!

Saturday, 10/28/06

It's been a while since I've written anything in my blog....sorry....been preoccupied.

Are you sick of all the political ads yet. I for one am. Elections have really turned into a dirty business. It seems most of the candidates, from either side, spend so much time talking about how terrible their opponants are, that they forget to tell the voters what they are about, and why they deserve a vote. MMM. either way, lots of heavy duty mud slinging.

Freakfest weekend. Here's hoping all the new city policies keep things a party downtown.....and not a riot. Have fun everybody....but please....be cool. Halloween in Madison has been a tradition since I used to come here from God's Country back in the day. Hate to see that tradition come to an end because some people can't play nice.

Thursday, 9/21/06
Hallelujah! Happy days are here again. The new TV season is finally here. No more wondering what the heck to do in the evening anymore. My life is complete. I know that sounds pathetic, but I really missed all my favorites. N.C.I.S...I knew Jethro couldn't stay away. C.S.I. is awesome...solving crimes in Sin City. And one of my new faves...The New Adventures Of Old Christine.....Julia Louis kills me.

Gonna take in a corn maze this year? They are cool. We always made it a point to do that, but now I bring it up and the only people excited about the idea are Terri and I. Time marches on, I guess.

The new season at Overture Center looks promising. Hairspray...Man of LaMancha...I'm in. That facility is a big bonus for the city of Madison.

Have you been out to the new Cloud Nine? The bridge on Cottage Grove Road being out makes the trip kind of tricky but it's well worth it. The menu is great and the view...it's worth a million. Check it out.
Monday, 9/11/06

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this is a weird day. I think back on the events that transpired five years ago and everything that has happened since and it all seems surreal to me. I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. I didn't lose a family member or a good friend that day but there are those that did and for them I feel truly empathetic. But fact of the matter is, we all lost something that day and it's ushered in a new time. I'm most concerned what those fateful events five years ago will mean for the next generation...my kids...your kids. That's the truly scary part. I'm hopeful that someday...not too far down the line...people, despite their differences, will decide it's much better to live together than to die together. I hope this doesn't sound too deep, it's just what I'm thinking about today.
Thursday, 9/7/06

A bunch of my son B.J.'s oldest friends are getting together tonight for dinner to celebrate the big guy's 21st birthday. Yep...21. Interesting that his oldest friends include my oldest friends, too. Happy birthday buddy...I love ya.

Have you tried to make camping reservations online lately? I mean in the past couple of years? It's official, at least at my house, that this Reserve America on line system flat out "don't work." We again tried to make our reservations for next summer - 11 months in advance as they want - and again, we spent literally hours trying to navigate an unnavigable web site. This is ridiculous! I hate to be a complainer...but man...are you joking?! We will again have to call the 800 number to try and get the sites we want. Nice going on that system Bucky.
Tuesday, 9/5/06

AHH....The last hoorah of summer. Did the traditional ribs on the grill for Labor Day...they were tasty...all agreed.

Lizzy joins the thousands of other area school kids going back to class today. She's kind of looking forward to it. Hard to believe our "baby" is a senior in high school already. She's really starting to think about the future...she actually took time out of her busy social calander to have a talk with me...brief as it was...about college and stuff the other day. She's really growing up...it's cool.

Looking forward to my fav season of all...autumn. I love the weather...cool and sunny. Dig it. Nothing like wearing a sweat shirt and shorts...yin and yang don't you know.
Tuesday, 8/15/06

Man...back to school. That sure crept up, didn't it. Now it's time for me to shell out for a new back pack...that Lizzy doesn't really need. And of course she'll need a new wardrobe. I get it. I remember those days. Oh well.

Took a bike ride around the lake the other evening and i gotta tell you, it was perfect. Even made the soreness in my backside after while, tolerable. Loved it.

I gotta say, this bridge out on Cottage Grove Road over the Interstate also is turning out to be a pain in the backside. Running to the bank in Monona and back has now turned into a major trip. They say the construction will take four months. Are you kidding me?! Major style cramper.

Headed to the lovely shores of Lake Michigan this weekend. We know of a stretch of beach on the eastern side of the state that reminds me of the Hamptons...or what I imagine the Hamptons to be like. Hope the big lake cooperates. This time of the year the water can be great or it can be a toe freezer. Always a toss up. There I'll be...looking like a ten pound sausage in a five pound casing in my Speedo.
Monday, 8/7/06

Wow. I gotta tell ya. This was a great weekend for eating out. "T" and I had the opportunity to try a couple of restaraunts we've never been to before during the past several days. The garage sale thing left little extra time for cooking...so eating out somewhere was a neccesity.

We tried the new Mexicali Rose where the old C.J.'s was on BB and Stoughton Road. The actual extrance is on Atlas Avenue but that's the neck of the woods. Anyway, the food was great. I had the Texas style ribs, "T" had a variety plate of some kind. The universal opinion is that it's awesome! Don't let a full parking lot scare you off, either. When we went, the lot was full of cars, but we walked in and got a cool table for two right off. The atmosphere was cool too. Some guy with an acoustic guitar strummed away in the background...making it feel very much like old Mexico. Loved it!

Also, if you are looking for a great Friday night fish fry place, try the out of the way South Bay Lounge. Who knew. We had their perch...and geez...was that super. Lightly breaded, perfectly done. Not the Taj Mahal in terms of decor, but what a comfortable, up north feel. But the real star is the food. That was truly a pleasant surprise. I'll be back.

Packer game Saturday night. Pre-season, but any port in a storm for a die-hard fan. Wonder how that's all gonna go. Everyone in Titletown is saying this is a really talented - albeit young - and inexperienced team. Translation: We don't know how it'll go but are hoping for the best. Like the rest of us I suspect.

Thursday, 8/3/06

Man, I gotta get a haircut. I am a little apprehensive because every time I go to my person, I get the hard sell on coloring my now graying hair. I like to beleive that gray hair is a mark of experience and acquired wisdom. In my case, it's a lot of experience...most of it hair raising...and a smidge of wisdom. Still working on that end. I don't know. Isn't coloring your hair the top of what turns out to be a slippery slope? Once you start...when, if ever, can you stop? I'd hate to have a very youthful shock of hair, with those tell-tale pronounced gray roots. I mean, it's tough for me to get a shave in three times a week...much less sit around in my bathroom..."touching up" my roots. Can't imagine. Maybe I'll buck the pressure and just continue to age naturally...like a nice wheel of Gouda.

It's finally the beginning of the end to my long garage sale nightmare. Yes, it's this weekend. And yes...I will take particular care to take it all in...because after this experience...this will be the last garage sale of my life! I understand that anything worth doing is worth doing right but I swear, this garage sale has been a source of obsession for Terri. I hear her mock negotiating in her sleep at night. Grumbling about the quality of the price stickers she's so meticulously affixed to each of our precious, gently used items, falling off onto the barn floor...leaving her at a loss. The presuure is taking its toll. There hasn't been this much tension in our relationship since we last tried to wallpaper the guest bedroom. I'm exhausted so I can imagine how she feels. At any rate, by Saturday evening, it will all be just a fading memory...until then...it'll be a white knuckle ride. I hope people show up...otherwise what am I supposed to do with all that stuff in my shop?
7/31/06

Okay, this is ridiculous. What the heck is one supposed to do in this heat?! I'm not complaining. I mean, I know that the witch of November is lurking just around the corner, but c'mon. I have to work outside most of the day once I leave the air-conditioned sanctity of the radio ranch and this will certainly be a challenge.

I wish now that Terri wasn't going to sell the pool at her rummage sale. It's a beautiful three ringer and comes in handy on these "hotter than hot" days. I'll have to run through the sprinkler or something...maybe I won't run...maybe I'll lope...or walk...whatever!
7/28/06

Did you get all bailed out from yesterday's monsoon? What a wild deal! I was driving down the Beltline at about 1:30 Thursday afternoon...and yeah...it was raining, but I didn't realize how hard 'til I saw the brake lights in front of me. All lanes slowed to near nothing. Couldn't figure it out at first, but then I hit it...a stretch of eight to ten inch deep water! Geez. Luckily nobody hit that going 50.

I hate to waste a weekend hibernating but what else is there to do? Gotta stay cool so it's the a.c. of the house. Boat Friday, maybe Saturday, but Sunday sounds like a real hide burner. Slather on the sunscreen.

Concerts on the Square was cool this week. Celtic Celebration...I love that stuff. Some really cool people at our table and that always makes it for me. Ovations...nice going on the catering. That is a must-try restaurant. I saw their whole menu and it looked yummy. In the Concourse Hotel, worth checking out. See ya.
7/25/06

It's only Tuesday and already I'm worrying about whether or not "T" will make me work all weekend again on getting ready for, what I believe to be, an ill-advised garage sale. She's all worked up about it. It's the Cottage Grove community sale...I think in a couple of weeks...I'm not sure. I am "up to here", though, with going through all my stuff and trying to decide what I can part with and what is an absolute "must keep".

I really can't believe we paid money for some of the stuff we have in our basement. Stuff I haven't seen for years. Actually, it's no surprise why these things are stuck way in the back. What were we thinking? Did you ever buy something while on vacation or something and think "Oh I gotta have this. This will look great on the south wall of the living room." When you get it home, put it up, stand back and look...and recoil because it's repulsive! I mean, why did I think a brightly colored red and orange Inca death mask would blend right in with an early American motif?! Momentary insanity. Must have been mass hysteria though, because "T" agreed it must come home with us.

Actually, there are some things I am finding it really hard to part with. I still fully intend to hang up that Everlast heavy bag and start training for that amateur bout! And those roller blades. Oh yeah, I should really start doing that more...than once. Either way, it's consuming my home.
7/20/06

Wow, what a storm. When I was driving in this morning, the street lights were out along the beltline in stretches...but luckily the lightening was so frequent, and so bright, it was easy enough to see. Wild for sure. I slept through most of it, believe it or not, and didn't realize the extent of the damage 'til I saw my neighbor's tree on his car! Yikes. I drove back to my house, wiped the sleepy dust out of my eyes and took at least a cursory look around. All hatches, at first blush, seemed to still be battoned. I'll take a good look later today.

I think "T" and I are going to see that new Pirate movie, starring that dreamy Johnny Depp this weekend. LIzzy saw it the night it came out. She and some friends all dressed up like pirates went at midnight to catch the first showing. She claims it's "awesome". So do others so I'm looking forward to it. I loved the first one.

Man, talk about cool shows. Chicago coming to Madison is huge. That brass section will probably knock you out in the acoustic nirvana that is Overture Hall. I heard through the grapevine that my man Ian is also gonna make an appearance in the city, too. Ian Anderson that is...of Jethro Tull fame. October 14th in the Capitol Theater. "In the shuffling madness!" Cool baby. Later.
7/17/06

Weird phenomenon over the just-passed hotter than hot weekend. I did what I said I was going to do...hit the Madison lakes on old paint...had a blast...but was really surprised by how few people there were out there. I thought it would be packed...it wasn't.

We had to tow a boat from the Monona Terrace area of Lake Monona back to Squaw Bay. We came across a beautiful boat just a smokin'. They must have blown that baby up! Word to the wise...reverse your engine often to get rid of the excess weeds on your lower unit, especially if you're traveling near shore alot or down the Yahara channel to Waubesa. Gotta log some more hours this week. I know it seems hotter than heck but the window is small and soon enough the leaves will be falling...and an end will come to boating season.

Kudos to Christy's - an awesome cheeseburger again. Yummy.
7/12/06

Well, here it comes. The heat is on the way and I'm all set to face it. I'll be turning off my phone at 9:00 am this Friday morning and will be out of touch for the long, hot weekend. Going to launch the boat, clear the sea wall at Olbrich, hit the throttle and be gone 'til Monday. Can't wait. Me and "T" and a little dog named "G". Lyrical isn't it? Should be fun. Catch you next week!

7/10/06

What a beautiful summer weekend. Went to the Art Fair. Loved it. Admittedly a bit warm...but hey, who is complaining. Had brunch at the pasta joint on King. Yummy stuff. I ordered a salmon poached egg thing with an Italian name I couldn't pronounce, but I made short work of eating it. Lots of awesome one-of-a-kind pieces. It's no wonder many of the artists that come to Madison for the fair think it's one of the best in the country. Ended the day with my favorite Dane entree, the Monte Christo. Man, that was good.

My sister Connie and my brother-in-law Andy were up from Union Grove for the weekend. They think Madison is the coolest, especially in the summer. Smart people. Sat out on the deck Saturday night at my new Bar-zebo. Got it at Farm and Fleet, of all places. It was truly a great value so the place is living up to its billing.
7/6/06

Had a great holiday weekend...actually it was extended...but you know what I mean. Anyhoo, went to the Monona 4th festival. They had that really cool art fair again. Some really creative people. I wish I were creative enough to make a bird out of washers and re-bar; alas, not my talent I guess. I'll work on it, though. I'm going to take a welding class in the fall and start to experiment...can't wait.

Did a lot of mundane stuff, too. Helped Terri weed and mulch. It seems like that's a lot of what we did but it was cool. Everything is looking good again, if only for a week or so. Double edged sword, those gardens of hers. Nice to look at but man, the work. Terri also decided it was time to clean out the garage. A job that has been discussed but not accomplished for many years. It's a holiday for crying out loud! No matter...it's done. All in anticipation of that ill-advised garage sale "T" claims we should have, where we'll prove to ourselves once and for all that the stuff we don't want isn't coveted by anyone else either.
6/30/06

Man, did we get hammered Wednesday night. We walked around yesterday assessing all the damage caused by our little hail storm. It didn't last long, but long enough to shred stuff. So weird. Nobody to the west got any of it, just us on the eastside. Our Asiatic lillies were just coming out, too. Now they look sick. The big Canna leaves look like green shredded wheat. Oh well.

We have some unwanted visitors in our neighborhood. A pair of coyotes. They have been there for about two weeks now, wreaking havoc on the rabbit populations. It's a bit of a concern, though. I mean, my little dog "G" is about bite size. I haven't seen it yet, but my neighbor Dick says the coyotes have been in my yard sizing up the little guy. We'll have to take special precautions for awhile. How in the heck do you get rid of them? I'm not into guns and shooting stuff, so my options are limited.

Going to the Monona 4th festival this weekend...should be cool. They have a really cool little art fair. We went last year and found some really interesting stuff done by local artisans. Hope we'll find more cool stuff this year. Terri and I use it as a warm up for Art Fair On the Square. Love that event. Ain't summer grand! Congrats to my neighbors, the Wohlers. We'll help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend at Double Days. Cool people.
6/27/06

Wow...am I glad summer is here. The living is easy, right? Well, I don't know about you but it seems like it's the busiest time of the year. Terri is a task master when it comes to her home "to do" list...plus the landscaping business is in full tilt. Run, run, run, da do run run. Cool, though!

We're in the process of getting a new patio built at the house...a dandy. B.J. designed it and is doing the actual install. That kid is talented as heck. I wish he'd get back into a production of some kind. He does lots of musical theater, but says he's too busy during the summer. I can relate.

Terri went on the Attic Angels tour Monday. She said it was fantastic. Some historical houses, some not so historical...all cool as heck according to "T". She got home and was inspired...so this holiday weekend will be taken up with building a shade garden under the maples in the west yard. Here we go again! Actually, it provides some nice "alone time" for she and I...even though we're both sweaty and tired when it's all done.
6/22/06

Terri and her friend Cari are going to Les Mis this Friday put on by the Madison Youth Theatre at the Mitby. This is worth seeing because all the best of the best young actors from area high schools are in this production - they say there are 20 high schools represented. Theatre lives! I can't go because I have an appointment that night.

Sounds like the weekend is going to be PERFECT! Maybe I'll get some stuff done at my house...that would be a change of pace! Most of my summer is taken up improving everyone else's places. Shoemaker's kids syndrome! But I dig it - no pun intended! Still haven't been out on my doggone boat...when's that gonna happen?

6/15/06

Did you get a chance to see the Cows on Parade yet? How cool is that? They are everywhere downtown and Sun Prairie, too. Some of the designs are to die for. There are some really creative people in the state of Wisconsin, that's for sure. It's hard to pick a fave...I like them all. Word is the cows will eventually be auctioned off. I would absolutely love to put one of them in my yard! They say, though, the average cost for a Parade Cow will be in the neighborhood of five grand....at that price I doubt whether any of those painted bovines will be gracing my place. Oh well.

Is anybody else into gardening? If you are, did you have as much trouble as I had this year trying to get things going? It seemed it was either too wet or too cold until a couple of weeks ago. Terri and I finally got our annuals in, but it ended up being weeks late. I just hope my sunflowers will make it. The seeds just went in last weekend. Hopefully they'll have enough time. If not....oh well.

Thought about taking the boat out this weekend.....now that the weather guys are predicting 110 in the shade. Don't know though, I heard Lake Monona is a weedy mess. It has that lovely stinky weed smell. Could be an alternate plan is in order. We'll see. I'll let you know.