Orange you glad you live in Tosa?
Whenever I start feeling too agitated about Wauwatosa politics, I take a deep breath and look to the west. Nothing like a little Brookfield brouhaha to give you a sense of perspective.
When conventional wisdom isn't
It's always seemed like a good idea to question conventional wisdom.
I am thinking of the story of a woman who, after years of cutting off the end of her roasts before cooking, asked her mother why. "That's what my mother did," she replied. Fortunately, Grandma was still alive, so the two called her: "Oh, I never had a pan that was long enough," was the answer.
Another Step Towards Tweenville
It seems that time is just flying by when it comes to my daughter. Each day she amazes me with something new. I have a hard time believing she is still only 5 years old. Here are some of the latest…Enjoy!
Tired ground
Some 32 years ago, Marilyn French wrote a powerful and difficult novel, The Women's Room. It was about women whose only purpose was to reproduce and make possible the lives of the men they'd married--the job for which they'd been carefully bred and over-educated.
Recipe of the Day
I like homemade soup - don't you?
And I'm always on the lookout for a good soup recipe.
Melancholy Mom
Today’s new moms have it pretty good. I was at a baby shower recently and was amazed by the incredible new inventions (the Pee-pee Teepee), conveniences (the Diaper Genie) and designer diaper bags. (My diaper bag looked like ugly luggage.) Plus, new moms have the internet and sites like Milwaukee Moms, which I can only assume is a lifesaver when you’re hunkered down alone with a colicky baby.
Not to sound old, but back when my kids were babies, I was just grateful for cable television, especially at 2:00 am. Gosh, that was so long ago.
Let's really confuse 'em
What we see has more influence than what we hear. And who says the words matters as much as what she says.
Want a spokeswoman for marriage? The National Organization for Marriage has selected Carrie Prejean, Miss California and opponent of gay marriage, who has never been married herself but never mind that. She has all the qualifications for being a wife. . .
On The Road Again - Doing The Blue Crab Shuffle
If you clean a mess of fish there is a really good way to recycle all of the heads, guts and stuff that's left after you have retrieved your valuable and tasty fillets.
You use it to bait crab traps.
What I wish I'd done for Mother's Day
When I was about 9 years old, I spent most of a year's savings on a figurine to give to Mom for Mother's Day. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen: a young girl in a long white dress, lots of frothy lacey procelain pettiskirts, some sort of haloish flowery thing around her head. It was, I now realize, a Catholic first communion piece.
Mom, a Norwegian Lutheran, accepted it with extravagant praise and put it high on a shelf where it would be safe from accidental assault. And even the view of visitors.
Taking Over the Internet One Domain at a Time
As many of my readers know, I've taken up amateur photography over the last few years. I have always had a presence on Flickr, and of course I post some of my work here occasionally. But within the last several months, I have decided to take things more seriously. I am printing and framing more of my work, and have begun to have some of my photography displayed locally. As part of that decision, I have also created a new domain where I am featuring the photography which I display and sell, so head on over and take a look. Besides the gallery section, there is also a blog where I will post information on any shows I have. I would also appreciate any feedback you may have.
The Other Moms
Yesterday Girlfriend and I went for a walk in the woods.
It was a long meandering walk with the pooch following her nose.
TTA Background Paper on Elimination of The QEO
The Governor and Legislature are eliminating the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) as part of the 2009-2011 budget. The requirement for considering the local government’s economic condition as part of the arbitration process is being eliminated as well. The revenue caps however will remain in place.
Now it's up to Wauwatosa
One of the key players in the development of the Milwaukee County Grounds wasn't at the table today. But the Milwaukee County Economic & Community Development committee agreed that nothing will happen with the UWM Foundation plan for the engineering campus and other related development "unless and until (it is) approved by the City of Wauwatosa."
If you've ever wondered why it matters who your local elected officials are, here's your answer. The whole vague area of "ancillary development"--shops, restaurants, "boutique hotels," and anything else that might end up there--depends entirely on the kindness of Wauwatosa zoning.
Tuesday Morning Knopfler
Probably one of the most awesome guitar solos in the music kingdom...
More on the Retinue Recruitment Drive
On Tuesday of this week I took the opportunity to sneak out of the day job so that I could attend the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation's Leadership Luncheon.
Six high school students from the community were recognized for their outstanding leadership achievements - and I was reminded of what a slacker I was in high school.
On The Road Again - The Trouble With Seafood
One of the problems with being on vacation is trying to figure out where your next meal is coming from.
I am being serious.
On The Road Again - Cocktail Hour
I ran across Rollie the oysterman the other day.
We were over at the dock where the shrimpers tie-up and Rollie was tooling about on his ATV.
