Share Your Playlists
Here's a cool way to share songs you like to anyone. Playlist.com allows you to create a list of music you like, save it, and then either listen to it later or share it with friends. This site is very easy to use and a lot of fun.
New Year's 2009
New Year’s resolution Number One. Do a better job of keeping up with posting on South Milwaukee NOW.
First a retrospective.
Letter: Compare costs, benefits of prison alternatives
In a new feature on Across the Board, we'll be highlighting several letters to the editor each week, giving a sneak preview of what will appear later online and in our print editions.
Letters will represent a wide variety of perspectives, with a special focus on those letters that would be enhanced by links to Web sites that provide more context.
4D Movies
Going to the movies with my kids is such a luxury.
The lights go out. The movie starts. Sometimes my youngest son lets me put my arms around him. And then I go to SLEEP. When I go to the movies with my kids, I get at least an hour nap and, as long as they don't notice, it's wonderful.
(I normally put one hand conveniently next to my eyes, which always guarantees my secret.)
The only time this plan backfired was when we were at Wisconsin Dells and decided to see the Noah Ark's Spongebob 4D movie.
(I did NOT know what 4D meant.)
At Noah's Ark, we walked into the theater. We took dark glasses for the movie (very cool - no need to cover my eyes) and we sat down. The lights went out and after a long day of walking, I was so ready for a nap. The movie started. My eyes closed.
Suddenly, my chair moved. I heard my kids laugh and I became startled. My chair then started to shake to the action in the movie!
OK.
The chairs in front of me then sprayed me with every reference to water. This was, as you can imagine, a lot since the plot is about a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Small fans whirled beneath my seat, blowing air on my ankles with every reference to creepy sea animals. I heard both my kids and my husband howl with laughter.
OK.
I was both amused at the sudden revelation of what a 4D movie was and annoyed that I was AWAKE. For the rest of the movie, I gave up all hope for a nap, clung to my chair, and laughed with my family.
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Now that we're home - far, far away from the Dells, 4D movies, water park weather, or money for a movie theater movie - we are always searching for inexpensive entertainment (and a dark room for mom to nap).
Hulu is great place to watch free movies and TV.
South Milwaukee School Board Race
Incumbent David Maass will face Kathee Molus, Nick Szablewski and Zachary Wisniewski for one of two School Board seats that are up for election April 7th.
Incumbent Kay Lussier is not seeking re-election which has left open one new seat.
YAY! ADOPTED! Peaches will keep you warm!
Got room on the couch for a cuddler like Peaches? She'll keep you warm at night and return your love tenfold.
She's a real Wisconsin peach! Miss Peaches is a Beagle who knows what she wants. Tummy rubs. And lots of 'em! This affectionate 3-year-old gazes adoringly into your eyes when you give her any attention, but she sighs with joy when her tummy gets a good scratch.
Two Trendy New Places for a Night Out
Need a fix of motorcycling during the winter? You won't be able to ride, but you can catch a motorcycling mood when you stop in that the Motor bar and restaurant at the new Harley-Davidson Museum. Motor is open to the public and you don't need to purchase a museum ticket to get in. Thursdays are happy hour days with specials starting at 3pm. They also serve a Friday fish fry. The bar is very large with many stools with deep leather cushions. There are a couple of cushy leather chair groupings, along with some long tables with benches for large groups. I've stopped here a few times, and their food is wonderful - especially the appetizers and dessert. The bar is a nice place to unwind, with black leather and an industrial steel look that complements H-D's motorcycle styling. http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/HD_Museum/eat_at_museum.jsp?locale=en_US The complex is located at 400 Canal Street, but the easiest way to get there is to go over the 6th street viaduct - it is at the lights where Canal Street crosses 6th. Every time I bring someone new to the place, they are surprised that no one really knows it's there for anyone to enjoy.
After getting your fill at Motor, drive a couple blocks south on 6th to the Iron Horse Inn, toss the keys to the valet guy, have a drink and a look around. The remodeled warehouse with 102 guest rooms features a two story high lobby bar serving all kinds of drinks with some pretty cool local micro-brews featured on the menu. With a large, open concept area with plenty of couches and chairs to lounge on, you can sip drinks there or sitting at a stool in the bar area. There was a DJ when we were there and they were spinning music that us almost middle-aged folks could enjoy. The exposed brick walls are combined with huge wood beams and wood floors that create a trendy and modern mountain lodge type feel. The place was packed for a Saturday night, but we could still converse without shouting. And I ran into several friends from work there too.
What Do Sleep Positions Say About You?
Here's a link to an interesting article about sleep positions. What Does Your Sleep Position Say About You?
Dogs Invited to Admirals game for WHS
Dog Day Afternoon on Ice
Bring your dog to an Admirals game on Sunday, February 15. For every ticket sold, the Admirals donate a portion to WHS for this very special game. To purchase tickets for adults, kids and dogs, call John at (414) 227-0829. Tickets for dogs are only $2.00! You must mention the secret password, "humane," to get these special tickets.To register online, write down these passwords and click on this link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07004114879276E7?did=humane
Bad news getting better
As Christmas approached, things looked pretty grim for some of the neighbors around here. The passing of one and hospitalization of his wife, surgery and a disturbing diagnosis for another, another also with a medical problem. The snow piling up, phone calls and emails keeping us in touch with each other, all worrying, feeling a little less merry than on Christmases past.
"Our neighborhood is falling apart," lamented one.
Social Search Engines (Searching for the Latest Buzz on the Web)
Like a lot of people, Google is the start page for my browser and I use it constantly.
(... too much.)
I google my name (ego-surfing). I google my friends names. I google my place of employment and hometown and favorite actors and song lyrics and current news and favorite authors and poems and recipes and on and on and on. Here are a couple NEW search engines.
Running Club to Host Half-Marathon April 11
The Badgerland Striders will kick off the outdoor racing season with their annual South Shore Half-Marathon on Saturday, April 11th. The race starts at the South Shore Pavilion at 2900 S Shore Dr in South Shore Park. The race starts at 8:30 am with registration starting at 7 am. Runners can also register by mail or online at www.badgerlandstriders.org .
I have run this race for the past several years. It is always fun and almost always very wet and cold. There is often standing water and mud on the course. Everyone seems to enjoy this race; however, even with the water, mud, wind and cold. This race also gives people a motivation to run during the winter months so they are prepared for the half-marathon in April.
Inauguration Eve
It's obviously not Inauguration Eve. It was when I started writing this, but I got sidetracked by preparations for an Inauguration brunch for a few South Milwaukee friends. The brunch and celebrating with like-minded neighbors was fun. But then I came down with a cold and felt too lousy to do much of anything.
What I was writing last Monday was that here on the eve of the most momentous presidential inauguration in history (at least in my opinion), I'm listening to the many reports of inclusiveness such as Barack Obama inviting Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren to give the inaugural innvocation, Obama meeting with the Republican leadership, having dinner with conservative media columnists -- on their turf, and holding an Inauguration Eve dinner in John McCain's honor. I can't remember an incoming president ever doing such a thing.
Getting Through February For Us Gardening Geeks
I hate the cold of winter. Don't get me wrong, I like the snow, it's pretty. I just don't like this extreme cold we've been having. Rushing in and out of cars and buildings, bundling up, gloves, boots, the wind, I'm tired of it. It's time to think about spring and warm weather. The gardeners that are reading this know, February is the month where we are turning the corner - from winter to spring.
Actually, once February comes around, you can start making plans for your spring garden. Your mailbox should be starting to fill up with seed catalogs - and the pictures are so vivid! How can you not dream about spring after paging through one of them? If you gathered seeds from your plants in the fall, you can start growing them indoors in late February, along with any you purchase that you'd like to start growing. Follow directions on the seed packets. If you really need some indoor color to cheer you up, prune off a couple branches from your crabtrees or pussywillows and force them to bloom indoors. Put them in cool water in a brightly lit area and mist them several times a day until they start to bloom. You can prune outdoor trees and shrubs in late winter, but wait to prune spring blooming shrubs until after they bloom. Summer and fall bloomers can be pruned now. Look for branches that are broken or damaged, or ones that are rubbing each other and prune them out. Refer to a good gardening website or reference book for complete instructions on pruning. To reduce disease, it is recommended to prune oaks and honeylocusts during their dormant winter season. Here's some good links from the UW Extension on gardening: http://wihort.uwex.edu/gardenfacts/X1014.pdf and http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort/index.html
Health Benefits of Community
Warming Up To Obama
So, heres the deal.
I didn't vote for Barack Obama. Not because I don't like him or because I like McCain, And not because I am a Republican (I am a true independent)
Late Resolutions
I know this is a little late, but better late than never. I finally created a list of New Years resolutions.
Classic Superbowl Commercials
To get ready for this weekend, here are some classic Superbowl commercials. Most of the reason to watch the Superbowl are for the commercials.
Our Own Children's Author wins honors galore!
My South Milwaukee friend and fellow author Janet Halfmann received exciting news today.
Her book, Little Skink's Tail, has been named by Mom's Choice Awards as one of three best children's
books for 2009. The book also won gold medals in the Educators' Choice and Animal
Kingdom categories.
