Patrick, I Concur...

And, I don't give a rats behind, either.

It's FRIDAY!

Awesome! I've waited all week for this.

Not sure how much blogging will take place. I may end up doing a tad of work to get a lead on my very heavy workload of the next six months.

But at this point I have three things:

- A compatible buttonholer for my sewing machine (finally)
- A cute lawyer with a lakehouse and a sports car
- Ruby Soho by Rancid

Did I mention the word "awesome"?

Yeah, You Work On That

But try not to use the Lord's name in vain, while you're at it.

Is there a message here?

Sure seems like God is striking down Madison, WI.

The Newman of America.

Houston, We Could Have a Problem Someday

So I'm driving and I'm thinking.

We use too much corn. Most people know the corn lobby is strong and that corn products have become like an invasive species in our market. We use more corn than sugar and frankly, our bodies aren't designed for that kind of glycemic load. I think that the rise in obesity in this country is very, very strongly linked to the overuse of corn products and sweeteners.

But there is a bigger problem.

The government mandates of the use of ethanol will continue and escalate. The amount of energy it requires to convert corn to energy isn't worth it and is more expensive. Most people know this, not all people will admit that it's not a solution. I saw a commercial this weekend where a farmer is talking about how "I plant the corn in the spring, it grows in the summer, I harvest it in the fall, and in the winter it's converted to energy that can be put in cars next spring". Here's a better idea Mr. Brainwashed farmer. Let's drill or mine using the clean coal technology, power the grid that way, and have electrical cars. It's faster. And that's environmental protection. I have no issue with alternative energies, and frankly I use the sun and wind for many uses within my own life. But I don't want it legislated.

I digress, but only because I care. Anyway.

People got pretty gregarious at the start of the last century with their farming and it created a very big problem. It was the dust bowl years - a horrible experience that was detrimental to our food supply. And global warming wasn't even invented yet. Again, people got pretty gregarious about increasing the food supply. Think it can't happen again? I think it can. Especially if we're demanding too much from the land. And if we take a good portion of the eggs out of the oil/coal basket and stick 'em in the corn bushel, I'd say that soon enough we're headed for big trouble.

And The Google of the Day Award Goes To....

someone with a pretty good sense of humor

Carspotting With Phel Jones

I took a little swing eastbound on Hwy 18 today from Sullivan. So glad I had my camera with me.

And to the nice fellas at Merkt auto body, sorry about the car alarm, and thanks for letting me get my pic on.

Visit my Carspotting set on Flickr

I Don't Get It

Jim Webb is paraded all over TV and is NEVER held accountable for being a pervert. It's not a "part" of who he is, it IS who he is. It's swept right under the rug. I believe all perverts should be treated equally. Even the ones who are democrats.

Flat Cat Friday

Not to be confused with "Caturday"

Is mah day off :)

Jenny Crain

I used to train for 5k races all the time. And when I did, it was often that Jenny Crain would go floating past me effortlessly. The woman was a graceful machine. It was like being passed by a gazelle.

She won quite a few of the races that I participated in. And if you've ever been in the presence of an elite athlete, you know what I mean when I say it's a little bit breathtaking.

Accidents are accidents. We all have had times where we just weren't looking or paying attention for a split second and it cost us. That's just part of being human. It's tragic that this happened to Jenny, I feel really bad for her and the whole story makes me very sad. It also makes me even further appreciate the preciousness, the magic and majesty of life itself. It's so incredibly grand and at the same time, very fragile. At any moment, it can be gone.

I hope that leading up to that moment, that she was having a really pleasant morning, doing what she has always loved to do.

Visions of Johanna

Hmmm...

I think it's fine for a photo shoot. But that's about it.

Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan?



I can't post the video but I can link to it. If you have time to kill, you'l

And before I sound stodgy and whatnot, see the video for yourself. It seems like they're having Cate act as little as possible so that they can pull the whole thing off.

pffft.

However, Bob did write this one just for me. Without further ado, Je vous presente....




And... just because I feel share-ish today, the words to the song he wrote just for me :)

She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.
She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black.

You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees.
You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees.
But you will wind up peeking through her keyhole
Down upon your knees.

She never stumbles,
She's got no place to fall.
She never stumbles,
She's got no place to fall.
She's nobody's child,
The Law can't touch her at all.

She wears an Egyptian ring
That sparkles before she speaks.
She wears an Egyptian ring
That sparkles before she speaks.
She's a hypnotist collector,
You are a walking antique.

Bow down to her on Sunday,
Salute her when her birthday comes.
Bow down to her on Sunday,
Salute her when her birthday comes.
For Halloween give her a trumpet
And for Christmas, buy her a drum.

By Far, One of the Funniest TV Moments, Ever!

Superbad

Anyone see the movie "Superbad" this weekend?

Ok, yes, I really do want to see it!

Trashing the Trashers

WTF is wrong with you people????

A small percentage (I hope) of women out there are "trashing" their wedding dresses after they get married. All I can say are two things:

1) As dumb as you are to trash a dress that might have costed as much as your wedding ring, it's probably a good thing that you got married. Otherwise, I question whether you have enough sense - financially, emotionally, or intellectually - to get through life on your own. Consider yourself on the Gravy Train.

2) WTF is wrong with you? Don't you know there are people out there who would LOVE the opportunity to buy that dress from you, because they don't have the resources to buy some of these very beautiful and expensive dresses, brand new? Don't you have any regard for the fact that someone else would have been absolutely overwhelmed with delight to be able to wear such a beautiful dress on their special day? Can't you consider what that might have meant to someone else, and the family of another bride who could have been more beautiful than they could have imagined on that day????

And I say one more thing.

Don't they have EBAY wherever you are?

Idiots. Ignorant.

To you other women out there who have a whit of sense or are teetering on the edge of ignorant: stay far, far, far away from "Cosmo" magazine. I'm sure this idea came from the bowels of that type of universe. It can only make you dumber.

That is all

From Where He Sits

Elliot makes an outstanding point this morning:

On Thursday two things happened:

1.) The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial page featured another pro-illegal immigrant editorial

2.) An illegal immigrant killed a teenage boy in a hit and run and apparently ran for Mexico.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial included the phrase:

“These immigrants will not self-deport.”

But of course they will.

Right after they kill a teenager in a hit and run.

Criminals will take care of themselves just fine, thank you. At the liberty of everyone else. They've been doing it for a long time.

It makes me respect the people who endure the long, difficult process of legalization even more. Character will build. Crime will tear apart.

Perfect

My friend's band just had their photo shoot. Yes, it's definitely an unsolicited dose of female pigdom.

That is all.

Flickr Friday

Sonrise Coffee Bar, originally uploaded by James at 41.

My Wallet Isn't Reporting Any Growth Either, But Then Again, I Live In Wisconsin

From the Journal, something we all know:

Wisconsin ranks fifth-lowest in job growth

Wisconsin ranks with some of its neighbors among states with the slowest job growth rates, according to federal data released this morning.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Michigan was the only state to lose jobs in the 12 months since July 2006, declining 63,900 positions or 1.5%.

Wisconsin had the fifth-lowest percentage among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, gaining 0.6% or 17,700 jobs. The highest growth rate in nearby states was Iowa at 1.2%, a net increase of 17,400 jobs from July 2006. Leading all states was Utah at 4.8%, a gain of 53,700 jobs.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday that the state's unemployment rate for July was 4.8%, about even with 4.7% the year before. The department reported a steady job picture overall in Wisconsin, with moderate job growth in line with changes in the state's population.

You don't need to be an economist to know why this is. You just need to be a taxpayer. Citizen, small business owner, or corporate.

The state shall not compete with this so-called private enterprise...noooohho

Dang, I Hate When I Do That!

I got a little overzealous about paying the bills this time around. And I forgot that I paid for my hair appointment via Debit. Yes, my hair does cost that much.

So I won't be going to Crowded House, or any Elvis parties...and probably not Irish Fest. Oh, Snap!

Today's the Big Day, You Know....

The 30th anniversary of Elvis' death.

On YouTube, I read a comment that summed it up pretty well...

"I wish he was here"

Here are a few performances I'm feelin' this morning :)


The ALWAYS wonderful "How Great Thou Art"



A song that I learned through my fanship of Marty Robbins, "You Gave Me a Mountain"



Annnd.....

This one goes out to Brother Mav!!!!!
Suspicious Minds




Still looking for peeps to hit the Ryan Pelton and the Imperials show next week. Not sure if I will don my very own Elvis suit. Yeah, I said it :)

Yes, That's Completely Fair

A Liberal Proposal

By Nick on Stupid Laws

I'm going to make a deal with the liberals who are in love with the fairness doctrine for talk radio. You can have equal time on the public airwaves as soon as my bumper stickers get equal placement on your car traveling on the public roadways.

No My Brother, You've Got to Buy Your Own

I can't count how many times I saw this commercial as a teenager....and how many times I've quoted it! Not exactly sure what made me think to myself... gee...I wonder if it's on YouTube now:



It's very simple, but in...(hmmm) 1986/7, we still had attention spans and didn't need to cut to this/cut to that every six seconds. I knew this one by heart as did all of my friends. Youtube didn't have the very funny parody of this from the movie "House Party" ( Peanut! Make me some of that Dick Gregory!)

Very best line...

"No my brother, you've got to buy your own"

and.... the commercial ends with my theme song :)

Now Taking Bets

Karl Rove is resigning. Goin' back to Texas.

For the balance of Bush's presidency, how much do you want to bet on either of the following scenarios:

- That Karl Rove is obsessively investigated and/or tried now that he is out of Washington.

- That loud but small percentage of the left will consistently and constantly suspect that Karl Rove is secretly behind any Bush actions, strategies, or movements?

- Karl Rove will go missing or presumed dead. Spawning even more conspiracy theories

Let the games begin.

As If I Needed Another Dose of Gene Kelly

silly me, of course I do!!!!

Tails From The Fair

See my photos from the fair here :)

Out of My League

Well lookie here.

Out-flipping-standing. Just look at it!!!!

My bid was surpassed...needless to say...

Wonder if I could duplicate this baby

Wrong

This is irritating.

THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2007, 7:32 a.m.
By Linda Spice

Pit bulls attack 3 outside TMJ4 studios

Four pit bulls that had gotten beyond the secured fence of Milwaukee's TMJ4 studios attacked and bit three people as they left the building about midnight last night, according to Milwaukee police.

The victims were a 57-year-old man, a 41-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman. Two had minor injuries and one was moderate. None were life-threatening, police said.

Police said the dogs appeared to be running together but it is unclear how they ended up on the property at 720 E. Capitol Drive.

...........

It does not appear that the dogs have owners.

.........

Watch raw video from TMJ4

When we were doing our move last week, I saw a doberman and another unidentified mutt romping down the street toward us. I had no idea what their temperments were like, but all I could see was two unsupervised animals that I could only assume were from homes of irresponsible owners. In this neighborhood, it's not uncommon to see pit bulls or other animals with irresponsible owners.

My brother did his best to ward them off, and we were lucky.

But if one of them attacked any member of my family - I'll tell you this....

I would want to be armed, and unafraid to use it.

No different here with WTMJ. If I was one of these people who were attacked I would damned well want to be armed. We can't conceal carry, and it's incidents like these that make me consider open carry.

One more thing

This morning, after spending much well-valued-turned-frustrating-time on something I hadn't planned to (and in place of other valuable, timely projects) I said the following to co-workers and within earshot of others:


Me: Do you have a sec for me to unleash my inner six year old?
Patient co-worker: No, really I don't, I have to --
Me: I don't wanna work on the (project name) anymore. It's STUPID!

Ain't too proud to be a child, sometimes.

Pet Peeve

I don't have many of them, but the ones I have are doozies. Case in point. I HATE these nouveau pop singers who get all breathy when they sing.

Example.

It's pronounced "You".

Not...

"Yaou"

and certainly not "Yaaooouuuuuuuuu"

Please stop it now.

kthx, bye.

La Sergerista

I bought her home last night like a new arrival. She's adopted, as in second hand from the wonderful Frank's Sewing Center in Waukesha. Great service there, btw.

Carried her over the threshold... set her down on the table where I do my serging... I can't wait to start using it. There will be a learning curve, as it took me about an hour to thread the lower looper. Surely there are easier ways of doing this but I can't wrap my mind around them yet.

Ah, my kingdom for a threaded serger!

!

Crowded House is playing at the Riverside next week!!!!

Is anyone going?

Whatever

So Barry Bonds "broke" the record.

Is the media happy now?

That's all I care to hear about it, and even that, is TMI.

Yowza!

Congratulations Sean!!!!!

What a great opportunity for you, and in the end, for the future of the country. Hope to still see updates from you at TAM, and I wish you the best of luck.

Need a Giggle?

I can has countrylanche?

I done did it now!

Sorry to steal the thunder of the person who pointed out this site to moi...

Filed under X

Eight Random Facts

The GREAT! Phil Gerbyshak has tagged me for eight random facts... I am only too happy to oblige, I am a Leo, after all. That little factoid was a freebie.

1. I am a fan of Charo's flamenco guitar playing
2. My pet peeves are door dings, people who litter, and especially people who throw cigarette butts out their car windows
3. I was very overweight for most of my life
4. I am an empath
5. I met Berke Breathed and Carl Sagan in the same evening. I totally lied to Carl Sagan, but I was young and not quite with it yet.
6. I've traveled to eight different countries
7. Despite my extroverted writing style, I am an introvert.
8. My best timing for a 5k is 25:55 minutes

There :)

Now to pick some unsuspecting souls to tag.... Scott, Still Unreal, Fred, Rebecca, Nick, Kate.

Gotcha!

Story of My Life

The story of my life - for the most part so far - resides in this house


This is the room I called my own

This is where I was visited by an angel one time

...but it was much brighter than that.

Here is where I opened my Christmas presents.


Here is the living room where we had numerous holiday parties. Super Bowl games. A mouse or two. A good dog wrestle. A good fight over what to watch on TV.



This is the tent we used to camp out in the backyard countless times. It will enjoy a second life at my hands.



This is a swizzle stick from my great grandpa who worked on the Hiawatha



It was a great place with great times. Some hard times too. It was the place where I learned everything I know, and many things I had to unlearn. It was a gathering place for people, things, ideas, the usual and the unusual.

My old house has gone to a good home. The new owners are in their 30's. Two boys, a baby girl, hoping for one more boy.

Just like it was when my life started there.

They plan to stay for a long time, and I don't blame them.

Thanks, house.

Dearest Harry Reid...

Listen here, Petunia.

Before you start grousing that "the Republicans" spend too much on national security and not enough on infrastructure consider this.

We'd have a hell of a lot more cash on hand if we weren't trying to fund the socialist utopian, war on poverty programs of your ilk.

And once we fund all of the illegals, we'll have even less.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Talk Amongst Yourselves, I'll Give You A Topic

I think I'm done with being talked down to by the noeastcoast.com people

Seriously.

I'm not eight years old.

But their tone, well, sure sounds playground to me.

It Must Be A Slow News Day

Because the JS dragged this little number out of the card files.

Really, this is a display of nothing better to do with one's time.

We're trying to move this city forward. When we make a step forward, don't pull us back. Believe me, we have plenty of people in this city who already do that. They're part of the problem, they ruin it for everyone else who wants to move forward, and the JS is joining them.