West Side Stories
A Tosa resident for almost 20 years, Karen is a mom and freelance writer, addicted to playing tennis. When not on the tennis court, she spends the fall and winter in the stands at Green Bay Packer and Marquette basketball games.
Karen is the author of “Grab a Bite,” a dining out column and the former community columnist for the Wauwatosa NOW newspaper.
This is the oldest I've ever been
.jpg)
This is the blogpost that I really shouldn’t write. Instead, I should stick to writing about crosswalks or restaurants or something somewhat innocuous. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment because I’m coming right out and saying: “Look at me, I’m 50.” That’s right. On October 15th, I am hitting the big five-oh.
Acceptance - The College Application Game
Like many families across the nation, we’re in the midst of playing the game I call “Acceptance.” Participants in the game are high school seniors and their parents. It’s an exciting game fraught with highs and lows. Basically, the game consists of opening the mailbox every day with a mixture of excitement and dread. Sometimes the mailbox is electronic, but nevertheless, everyone waits to find out: Was I accepted by the college of my choice? Did I get the scholarship that I want/deserve/need?
Behind the Scenes at American Idol Auditions
Sunday night, in a hotel room in Chicago, my daughter and I watched the movie He’s Just Not That Into You. Somehow, this sub-par movie, about clueless people wading through adventures in relationships, became a metaphor for our own adventures about to unfold. You see, the next morning, she and I were just two of the more than 12,000 people at the United Center for American Idol Season 9 auditions.
National Couch Potato Week
Last night, while watching season premieres of some of my favorite shows (The Office, Survivor, Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy*), I was alerted to the fact that I missed a national faux holiday. I didn’t realize it, but this week is “National Stay At Home Week.” I just hope the selection at our local Hallmark store isn’t totally picked over.
The Crazy Things Those Tosa College Kids Do
So...I know this college kid from Tosa. And he’s doing a project this summer. No, he’s not painting the house or fixing a car. He’s creating a musical.
Saying So Much With Very Little
The other day, I had the good fortune to hear about some new books from two representatives of Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop. If there’s one thing you know about me, it’s that I have an addiction to buying books. It is rare that I will enter a bookstore and leave empty-handed. For me, it is like walking into a kitchen and being faced with freshly baked brownies and cookies. I cannot resist!
Our Unexpected Angel
Saturday night, as I stood there at Lambeau Field and watched a magical, mythical snowstorm swirl while an unlikely Packer team came from behind to destroy their opponent, I had one thought: “Thank you, Andrew. This was so much fun.”
