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!
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Saturday, February 18, 2023
National Drink Wine Day
I decided to have a glass of wine tonight. First since NYE. Only after did I realize it's #nationaldrinkwineday
Neat!
- Lisa
The Menu
A young couple travels to an isolated island to visit a very exclusive restaurant, where they will dine on the dishes of a dedicated, world famous Chef - but dinner doesn't go quite as planned when the Chef reveals his sinister new menu.
I was legitimately surprised by how much I enjoyed watching The Menu. It was a genuine treat.
Until I actually saw the film I thought the trailer gave away 90% of the movie, but oops on me. It's not the most complicated plot - it moves from A to B to C in deliberate steps, but there's plenty of little goodies to surprise you along the way. Thankfully, it never takes itself too seriously - enough not to fall into comedy, not so much as to make this a dull lecture on the human condition.
It was fun. And really, that's more than enough.
Grade: A
American Idol
Idol: I think the male 12 was ok, but the choice of the female dozen was nuts. They cut Shelby Dressel and kept the mediocre blonde, which was bad enough, but then they axed Angela Martin. WTH? I had her pegged as a favorite to win. I can only assume her odd & continual personal troubles (Dad killed 1st yr, 6 days in jail yr 2, now her Mom's missing) knocked her out of the running. My early fave to win: Casey James.
Friday, February 17, 2023
Today in Local History
This ship is often visible docked on the river as you drive down the north end of Kinnickinnic Ave going to or from downtown.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
80 years ago today a Milwaukee Woman Was Beheaded on the Hitler's Direct Orders - The Life of Mildred Harnack
As an American grad student in Berlin, she saw Germany swiftly descend into a fascist dictatorship. She and her husband Arvid began holding secret meetings in their apartment. She recruited working-class Germans into the resistance, helped Jews escape, plotted acts of sabotage, and wrote leaflets that denounced Hitler and called for revolution.
The Gestapo arrested her on Sept 7, 1942 and postwar testimony attests to the daily interrogation and torture she endured.
Mildred and 75 of her German co conspirators were tried before the highest military court in Nazi Germany. A panel of judges sentenced her to six years in prison but Hitler personally overruled the decision and ordered her execution
On February 16, 1943 at Plötzensee Prison in Berlin, she was strapped to a guillotine and beheaded. As far as is known, she was the sole American in the leadership of the German resistance during WWII.
May she continue to RIP
Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver, the All-Star catcher whose career spanned four decades, and who later spent another four decades in the broadcast booth, has died of heart failure. He was 81.
He was often criticized for being overly-analytical on TV, but I liked his work, and I can still hear his distinctive voice in my head.
RIP sir. You did well.
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch, the actress and sex symbol whose beauty transcended the decades, died yesterday at 82.
My introduction to her? Watching Fantastic Voyage on TV as a kid, and feeling some grown up feelings when her skintight suit was covered by antibodies that had to be ripped off her body LOL
RIP
The Forecast Was Snow Joke
Look, I'm not saying this is the storm of the century. So far, it's so mid that I think MPS jumped the gun by cancelling school (and to do so yesterday evening? Waaay too soon). Then again, I chose to work from home rather than commute, so who am I to talk?
But it's coming down, and coming down steady. It's a mid snow too, not airy but not completely wet and sticky.
Anyway, to stay ahead of the curve LuLu and I headed out to shovel and cleared the property, and our share of the alley, of the first couple inches of the mess.
Future efforts will be delegated to Dem, Smiley, Lisa, and Junie.
The dogs don't seem to mind it tho
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Enough
Karen alert: I can't go to the dollar tree on Howell anymore. Just no reason for that level of rudeness, to literally not respond to anything a customer asks, to not even offer a total at the register. I know u get paid shit...but I am not responsible for that. - Lisa
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Free
Still need a cute bra for Valentines Day? 34c heart bra. Could fit 34b maybe too. - Lisa (for Lu)
Monday, February 13, 2023
Free
6 clear bags left for vday..would be cute w a donut in it for co workers .....or? Stickers too.
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Dan and Lisa's Day of Fun
Today Lisa and I spent the day together on a "Dan and Lisa's Day of Fun."
It started at 8 am, with dropping Junie off at her job. Then it was on to 49th and North, to have breakfast at McBob's, a Scottish themed restaurant that has garnered significant praise online of late.
Full embarrassing disclosure: they do not have the strongest commercially available chairs, and the rickety wood left me nervous. On the other hand, they held me without incident, so I guess that's a moot complaint.
Lisa got an apple crisp scone with her breakfast.
I ordered "Bacon Benedict" two medium poached eggs with bacon, served with hollandaise over a slice of "bacon bread" (what that is, I am not sure.)
It was a good dish but not spectacular. The eggs were done perfectly, but I should have ordered them over easy. The accompanying hash browns (not pictured) were greasy and not to my liking.
Lisa ordered steak & eggs with American potatoes. The steak was cooked expertly but was a bit cold by the time it reached the table.
The total (including a 18% automatic gratuity) was $49. A little steep, in my opinion. But not completely out of line.
It was good enough to return but not good enough to brag about - yet. Maybe next time.
Then we went thrifting at Goodwill, wasted an hour in the car playing on our phones, and headed to the movies to see the 4k/3D 25th anniversary release of Titanic.
This was our 14th theater viewing of the film, but the first since its original release.
Still a great film. The second half, from iceberg hit onwards? Incredible.
But age grants you a different perspective on art.
Lisa was the first one to say this aloud after the show, but Rose, as seen from the POV of a pair of late forty-somethings who've raised four kids? Well, she's a whole heck of a lot more entitled, spoiled, and bratty than she was in 1997.
She's 17 and rich. She spends the trip partying and sleeping around behind her fiance's back, then paints him as irrational in his anger. She callously abandons her Mother, leaving her to forever mourn her daughter's "death." She literally calls her first class accomodations "a slave ship" carrying her "in chains" because of the burden of living in a stifled, privileged level of society. That's hyperbole of massive proportions.
I mean, she's 101. Did her perspective remain that narrow, even into old age? Why would she be happy her fiance eventually killed himself? It's been 84 years Rose. Forgive a little.
Anyway, afterwards we ran to Walmart, returned home to a meal of walking tacos cooked by JJ, then I went to Collectivo with LuLu to keep her company as she did her homework.
A long, happy, productive day!
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Friday, February 10, 2023
Only she used a different letter in place of "H"
A chat message from Junie this morning:
I might’ve missed this bus bro. Lacing up converse LITERALLY takes three minutes from my day wth. kms.
Thursday, February 9, 2023
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