Grandpa's Day 2023 Pt 1

As I mentioned this morning, today was the 40th Anniversary of Grandpa's Day, the epic trip we took together two weeks before he died.

Earlier in the year I had planned to spend this week in Pigeon Forge TN with the entire family, but schedules - including that of  a new job for Lisa - torpedoed that dream, and as it turns out Lu and Smiley were out of town today and Lisa and I worked, so . . at first glance it didn't seem like there gonna be much of a day to celebrate at all. 

Plus the 2023 component lacked one crucial element - $$. I had thrown the complete balance of my checking account at bills the day before, and with payday being a day away, I had little to drawn on. Which, I admit, is pathetic.

So my plans were adjusted accordingly. I decided to visit the grave, then find something free to do with Junie, my only companion of the afternoon. 

Luckily I did have a jar of coins. Junie offered up her own spare coin bag too, and my mother-in-law threw $10 to the cause. Neither offer, although appreciated, was needed, as when Junie and I stopped at the bank to cash in my coin jar there was enough for the flowers I wanted to put on Grandpa's grave. 

But where to buy them?  This bouquet was at Outpost but I thought it was both a little busy, and a little expensive. 

Luckily we found a more appropriate bouquet at Groppi's. 

I recited some prayers at the gravesite, said my hellos, wiped away a few tears, then decided to show Junie around that old section of the VA cemetery. There are vets there from the Spanish American War, another who died the same year as Little Bighorn, and vets from the War of 1812 (although I couldn't find their graves today). 

Then, a first: Junie noticed the gate into the easement separating the cemetery from another was open, as was its counterpart. So we went exploring. 

Tucked beneath a tree, barely visible unless you looked, was a single grave, that of a young boy who died on his 6 month birthday in 1906. How terribly sad, not only to die that young, but to spend 117 years alone, with no other grave within 20 feet. 

I pointed this one out to Junie as we left: a female veteran of WWII - and Polish too!

"Slay," was Junie's response. 

Then it was back to my Grandparent's grave to share some personal updates on each of the kids, and to say another goodbye to them. 

.

Then it was on to Part II of Grandpa's Day . . . 

Unpopular Opinion (exclusive SE Wisconsin edition)

Marty's Pizza is subpar, largely tasteless fare. 

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Last night, knowing it was a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church, I attended a 6pm Mass. 

I was squeamish about going. My church attendance has been non-existent lately, not from a lack of Faith but just scheduling and old-fashioned human laziness. I was running a couple minutes late but thought I could easily sneak in; after all, there wouldn't be much of a crowd on a Tuesday night and they'd be grateful to have another guest. 

I was right, I easily snuck in, but for the opposite reason - it was so crowded no one noticed. 

Young and old, from infants to elderly; singles and couples, whole families, you name it, they were there. Heck, the parking lot was full, and I had to park "illegally" along the perimeter of the lot. 

I'm not sure why I miss Mass so often, aside from the before-mentioned laziness, because not only don't I find it boring (granted, I have a high tolerance for boredom, as my mind is always running) but I find it very moving and comforting. 

Anyway, $4 a pound. 

Miss You Grandpa

 Happy 40th Grandpa's Day!

The First Day of the 2023-24 School Year

And then there was 1. How'd this happen? Have the best 1st day as an upperclassman Junie! ❤️  - Lisa 

Forgive the crude edit on the sign. I'm under no illusion that you can't figure out Junie's name if you sniff around this site long enough, but why make it easy? 

Last night Lisa picked up Insomnia cookies as a "last day of summer vacation" treat, and Junie walked us through a detailed tour of her new backpack and its accoutrements.

 She also showed off her back-to-school outfit, but this *isn't* the same shirt. Alas, I'm at work and couldn't inquire about the change. 

For the record, I am NOT happy to see her return to school. I was never happy to see my kids go back, not after Summer break, not after Christmas; I enjoy their company, and I view parents that celebrate the day with a fair amount of suspicion. 

Anyway, I've already shed a few tears over this, so I'm signing off before there's more waterworks. 

Have a great first day of Junior year Junie!

- Dad

Our Back to School Gift

School resumes tomorrow, marking the quickest summer ever, in my opinion, and to make sure the students at the high school started the year off right, Lisa and I went and filled the little library out front with goodies. 

Afterwards, along with Lisa's Mom and our doggos, we drove out to Tastee Twist for some treats for ourselves.

Have a great and productive School year!!

Hospital Gowns, Battered Cod, and a New 'Do

Disregard the hospital gown, as nothing was wrong. I was just in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy ordered by my doc because of my age. And no, I'm not as happy to have a camera up my bum as I appear here lol

I had been spooked by a bunch of people warning me the lead up to the procedure  aka the colon cleanse, was torturous. I didn't think it was bad.  Tiring, and I developed a headache from being dehydrated, but that's it. By the time Smiley drove me to the 10am procedure, I just wanted it over and done. 

Unfortunately, the guy in front of me in the queue passed out when getting his IV  - don't get me started on what I think of him - and delayed my time on the table. So I sat in a hospital gown and watched the Simpson's "Dome" episodes while they fanned and doted on the first guy. 

An hour later I woke up from the anesthesia, was told I was good to go for the next ten years, and sent on my way via a ride from Lisa. 

Anyhow, the moral of the story is, if you're an old man like me, listen to your doctor and get the procedure.

*****

After a few hours recovery at home, I took Junie for a haircut and styling at a salon on the East side. 

Here's the before pic: 

The "during" pic: 

And the after: 

Then, not having eaten anything for 46 hours at that point, I feasted on a fish fry from Saraphinos, while Junie had pizza. 

Brewers v Rockies, August 8th

My employer gave me two tickets for section 119 - the best seats I've ever had to be honest- for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, and I went with my friend Tre. 

It was Wade Miley's 300th career start, and the Brewers wasted a six inning, 2 hit, 1 run performance courtesy of a some awful relief work.

 We tied it, but then in the tenth Chafin and Uribe walked in three runs and surrendered another. A pathetic end to an otherwise fun evening on a warm and muggy night. 

Smells Like Nirvana

On Friday, July 28th, Tre and I went to see a Nirvana tribute band, Smells Like Nirvana, play at The Back Room theater the Collectivo Coffee on Prospect Ave. 

The "opening act" for the group was the group themselves, performing original songs under the band name Dead Original. 

I really enjoyed that set. I thought their songs had a great grunge vibe with just enough of a  modern influence to be relevant. It was good enough for me to buy their CD during the intermission. 

I was less impressed by the Nirvana set. The music was fine, but it was hopelessly interrupted by tech issues. The guitar kept falling out tune. The bassist's wireless transmitter failed, then something happened to the amp, and the bass. . . kudos to the band for improvising and filling the awkward delays, but man, what a mess. 

I think it would have been better too had they stuck to a firm set list instead of fulfilling audience requests. And "Rape Me," really? 

It's got a good hook, but even back in '93 I felt it was offensive song and a woefully ignorant lyric of Kurt's. To hear a crowd that included more than one group of young teens sing out "Rape Me" in 2023 . . . nah man.  Pass. 

But overall, it worked well. It's probably as close as I'll ever get to hearing Nirvana live, and I enjoyed it very much. 

Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens, best known as his character Pee Wee Herman, has died at age 70. I wasn't a fan of the Pee Wee character, and best remember him for his unfortunate arrest in an X rated theater. I don't hold that against,him, even as stupid as it was, and respect the fact that he didn't just disappear into the shadows after that embarrassment. 

RIP

St. John's Festival

Today was the first day summer felt like summer. With my new job this is the first time I have been able to enjoy anything "summer". Three generation tilt a whirl pic, lol. Still need to knock out a trip to the beach... Lisa

Sinead O'Connor

 

Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer who seemed to court controversy as much as fame, has died at age 56 of yet to be disclosed causes. 

By her own admission, drugs and mental illness ruled over much of her life, and that puts some of her actions in a different life. But at the height of her career, I doubt it was either that caused her to court drama - tearing up a picture of the Pope on SNL (and John Paul II no less!), getting into a beef with Frank Sinatra, etc. 

Regardless:  the power and sorrow in her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" rights a lot of wrongs, it is a version that will still be played in the decades to come. 

RIP

1000x THIS

Time after time I see people being permanently shoved into this corner because of their past, ESPECIALLY if that person is newly religious; nothing irritates the secular world more than a religious person, of any denomination, speaking out against wrongs they've previously done themselves. 

But like the meme says, that's called growth. It's called forgiving yourself. It's called adulting. 

There is little point to being alive if you prohibited from acknowledging your mistakes or trying to prevent others from falling into the same trap. 

Barbie

I didn't like the movie and yeah, I'm scared to admit it and incur the wrath of every woman I know. 

I thought the first half hour was pretty good, as I was wowed by the wonderful set design and visuals. 

And then, strictly as a movie, I thought it was pretty standard fare, which is okay. There are worse crimes. But the story itself - toys running away and coming to life, the disillusioned adult once more made aware of the magic of childhood - well, it's been done. Obviously. 

I thought the social message was ghastly too. Oh, on the surface it was about empowerment, but, like, it wasn't? You have a ruling class, residing in big mansions and living the good life, who choose to segregate and disenfranchise a people based on their physical characteristics. Even in the end,  when gosh golly we get our happy ending, the Barbie's consciously and callously deny the Ken's equal representation under the law and in the courts. That's . . . awfully 1970's South Africa, no? 

I guess what bothered me the most was that there wasn't a whole lot of joy in the film. Barbie has been a tremendously positive role model for my girls, and taught them that there was a whole world out there waiting to be conquered. In the movie, Barbie just doesn't embody or believe in that premise. That failure to support the very girls that have supported the franchise for half a century - I find that unforgiveable.