Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
FYI
For the record, and this doesn't diminish my love or admiration for the other three, but I love YaYa and like the young woman she's becoming.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Garth - Live!!!!
Lisa and I saw Garth Brooks in concert tonight. We had great seats, just the two of us on a side aisle in section 207. I didn't take pictures because my phone didn't do the seats justice, and besides I was too busy singing along to every song to even try. Too many great moments to list them here, among them Trisha Yearwood's set, but I was so happy to FINALLY see Garth in concert I teared up a little. This, to me, is on par with seeing Elvis or Michael - he is one of the all- time greats. What a show! :)
Random memories from the concert:
1. The man two rows directly in front of us proposed to his girlfriend during "Unanswered Prayers" (she accepted)
2. In the melee on the way out an older woman tripped and fell in the street, dropping the contents of her purse. I stopped to help her, handing back a wad of twenties that had fallen. Despite there being officers all around, not one stopped to check on her, and it was a nasty fall.
3. We parked on the top floor of the Hyatt and were hustling to get out before the crowd boxed us in the garage for an hour. We got lucky and caught the elevator. As the doors were closing a woman ran for it, asking us to please hold the doors. Not one person in the elevator, including myself, so much as twitched to help her and the door shut almost on her nose. "Well, that wasn't very sportsmanlike of us," I said, getting a laugh from everyone
4. Judging by the (lack of) length on many of the skirts at the venue, I should go to more country concerts.
5. The backup singer clearly outdid Trisha when she sang part of "Georgia Rain", which Yearwood humorously acknowledged.
6. Very proud of Milwaukee for nailing the chorus to Yearwood's " How do I live". I think she was genuinely moved.
7. Gracious of Garth to acknowledge most folks came out for the classics, and even nicer for him to thank the crowd for "treating the new songs like they were the old songs."
8. I love the fact that Garth unabashedly adores the limelight and the affection of the crowd. LOVE IT.
9. Lisa didn't think he'd play "The River", and when he did her eyes lit up and from then she was into the concert 110%
Have I mentioned I love Garth Brooks?? lol
Friday, September 25, 2015
Boehner to Resign
BREAKING NEWS: Speaker of the House John Boehner will resign his seat at the end of October. This comes one day after he wept during Pope Francis's address to Congress, an event Boehner said was the culmination of a twenty year dream for him.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Finally
I just completed my first mock negotiation on behalf of a "client" who was prepared to sue after being a victim of sexual harassment at her university. All parties left satisfied, but we conceded too quick on a punative measure when my client suddenly and publicly gave up a negotiation point in favor of something I feel was of moderate importance, but was obviously the brass ring for her. A lot of fun. Good to be doing something more practical than Socratic Mumbo-Jumbo.
1.2 Billion
Nothing gets some people's knickers in a twist more than having a hugely popular Pope remind them that there are 1.2 billion Catholics in this world. Some comment sections on Facebook were a frenzy of anti-Catholic bigotry overnight. #GetALife
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Halloween is coming!
Fall has begun and costume plans started. In the works: Anna, Rosie the Riveter, a zombie, and Captain America.... With Dan and I going as "brains" n "brawn"....trick or treat here on Halloween night, open invitation to all, a fun night for catching up and carrying on 😉 - Lisa
Prudence
Prudence, the best dang dog that ever walked the Earth, IMHO. Why his original owner, my Uncle Ken named his un-neutered male dog "Prudence" remains a mystery, but I adored him until he passed away. Scratch that - I *still* adore him.
The Beatles Dear Prudence? - Lisa Z
Monday, September 21, 2015
Ike! On the silver screen!!
What a Danny moment! Before the movie The Avalon played old news reels, and lo and behold there was the famous press conference Eisenhower held after his heart attack. What a treat to see!
A Fundraiser for the Alderman
Great time tonight at the Alderman's election fundraising party. Free drinks, a pizza buffet, soda, and popcorn, plus two movies. We only stayed for the first, "A Walk in the Woods" a sweet comedy with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Really a great time with my lady :)
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Small Victories
Feeling a little better, so I replaced the light switch in the dining room and an outlet in the kitchen. That pretty much wiped me out for the moment. I'm just gonna sit here and cough for an hour or so, then see what I can muster up for the rest of the day.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Ugh. I feel awful
I woke up hacking about an hour ago and can't fall back asleep. Let it be known that thirty years from now there's no need to lie in my obituary about my "brave fight with [disease]". Just tell the truth: "Passed away after a sniveling, cowardly, 'Why me?' filled loss to [disease]". I DESPISE BEING SICK.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Illness
Just left the doc, where she confirmed my bronchitis and tossed in a sinus and ear infection for good measure. She gave me five prescriptions, which I deemed as excessive. "I'm gonna look like John Belushi to the pharmacist" I said, but judging from her reaction she's too young to understand the reference.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Neighbor Issues
I finally fall asleep with this miserable cough, and what happens? The neighbors are screaming outside and the woman is banging on her door - it was loud enough where I got up and checked *our* doors before I shook off the cobwebs and understood what was going on. Bosh! Earlier tonight the police were there for an hour and escorted her off the property. I know the city is in the process of eviction (the house was foreclosed on in the recession, bought by the city, and rented out), but c'mon now - speed up the process.This isn't the neighborhood for that B.S.!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Applause, Applause
Applause please. I made it through my classes despite feeling like absolute poop. I know, it's just a cold, and I'm being a baby, but it's a nasty little virus - and far, far worse than the identical bug that hit Lisa a few days ago. ;)
YaY me
Applause please. I made it through my classes despite feeling like absolute poop. I know, it's just a cold, and I'm being a baby, but it's a nasty little virus - and far, far worse than the identical bug that hit Lisa a few days ago. ;)
Monday, September 14, 2015
Our Day
Lisa and I have both been sick with a bad cold all day, so not much got done, at least by me, beyond getting a suspension problem on the Taurus repaired as scheduled. Lisa toughed it out and painted the trim in Junie's room, but then went to bed early. I'm bored as heck, watching Monday Night Football, and wishing Trent Dilfer would just shut up. He talks too much.
Sorry babe, I was tired. Now you're being a sleepy head... But since you have school and work today, it's allowable 😉- Lisa
Election News
It probably escaped your notice (it did mine), but the DNC has scheduled the sixth and final primary debate, in Feb or March of next year, to take place right here, in Milwaukee.
The Age of Adaline
It was a good movie. It became a *damn* good movie once Harrison Ford showed up. If you think his acting chops are lacking, check out his first scene with Blake Lively. My God, the man can act! Lisa is bawling :)
The narration was,cheesy n unnecessary. A- with narration, had potential to be A+. - Lisa
Sunday, September 13, 2015
A Productive Day
I announced to the family that this would be a day of rest, but I guess it just isn't in us. I watched a quarter of the Packers game, then got twitchy and replaced the fixture in Smiley's closet. That alone was a lot for me, as I suck at home repair, but then I went and cut the lawn, which is a big task with that POS mower. Just when I was literally thinking, "F this. I'm buying a mower tomorrow," the dang thing finally started. Meanwhile, Lisa and Smiley tackled painting Junie's room, completing it just before bedtime. A productive day for Team Slap.
We're repainting room by room because many rooms haven't been repainted since we moved in 8 yrs ago. It's a 120 yr old house, always something to fix, lol. - Lisa
You Thought WHAT?
I was watching football today when Junie asked why I bother, since it's not my favorite sport. I told her it was because I'm in fantasy football, which led to an explanation of that pastime.
"Have you ever won?" she asked.
"No," I said. "But I've finished last three times. That's why I had that trophy a couple years ago."
"The one with the toilet seat and the poop glued on?"
"Yes."
"Oh!" she said. "I thought you got that from law school."
Saturday, September 12, 2015
BVCC Food Pantry Charity Walk
#TeamSlap just finished the annual 2.6 mile charity walk to benefit the Bay View Community Center Food Pantry. I almost overslept, if not for the intervention of Pam and Tre; suspiciously, my kids did not alert me to the time. Oh well, I'm sure it was a mistake and not because they wanted to skip it :). Afterwards. as always, BVCC treated everyone to ice cream.
I Foolishly Join a Bowling League
Last night, at the invitation of Alex Q, Lisa and I joined a bowling league. I warned him I sucked, and I lived up the billing, bowling a high of 79. I must admit to getting salty, as I despise not being good at something, but I had a good time aside from, you know, the actual bowling lol. I'm reasonably sure, even as he reads this, that he's kicking himself for the invite, but I'm game and thankful for the time with friends. I *will* improve - in a month or so, I aim to break 80. ;)
A New (to me) car
A friend of mine, Thomas Gr, read my transportation complaints last week and sold me his 2001 Ford Taurus, then en route to the junkyard. I put it in the shop for repairs and got it back Friday That's why Lu and I went to the DMV, to title my new ride. Even with the repairs, which will resume Monday when the shop reopens, it was well worth the cost, and the presence of a second vehicle has already been a blessing, both to our needs and my ego. Thanks Thomas and Kelly G for thinking of us!
Friday, September 11, 2015
Never Forget
9/11 has been honored by nearly everyone I've run into today, even at the DMV, and on every radio station I've heard. #ProudOfMyCountrymen
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