Epic '90's Style

If your house or apartment didn't include this pattern in the 1990's . . . actually, there is no punchline because if you existed in the 1990s you did own this pattern.

Lisa and I had sheets, pillowcases, and a comforter with this pattern. If I recall correctly, and I may not, we bought it on a trip to Gurnee Mills.

Like most things from the 90's, I miss it.

A memory of Junie's

Last week when we were at Rocky Rococo's, Junie told me of a memory she has from 5th grade: she won a reading contest, and Mr. Byrne's was handing out free pizza certificates as the reward. Junie listened to instructions and waited until after school to pick it up, but by that time her friend EVIL ONE/Bella had already gone in and claimed Junie's prize. 

Devastated, Junie went home crying and her Momma took her and Smiley for pizza at Rocky's to make up for it. 

Work Selfie

Tales of Time and Space

In middle school my Dad briefly held a part-time job at a motel, a Holiday Inn I think. It might have been just to earn Christmas money, because I wouldn't remember it at all if it wasn't for an employee Breakfast with Santa.

Here's what I recall about that event: I was disappointed as heck in the food, which was cereal and milk - I was used to Federation's grand pancake version.  

Secondly, I loved my gift.   In retrospect, I have to think my Dad put in a suggestion for me, because what middle schooler goes gaga over a paperback of Tales of Time and Space, compiled by editor Ross Olney?

I loved that story collection. That book became a sentimental favorite for me, and one story, Of Missing Persons by Jack Finney shook my world. 

If I still have my copy, it's boxed somewhere and MIA, but it will always linger in my memory. 

Staying Warm

Dan heated up my pj's in the dryer so they were warm when I got home from a long day. It's the little things! Stay warm! - Lisa

Facebook (tiny) drama

A group I'm in on Facebook was more or less besieged by posts asking about the origin of one surname or another, and the moderators of the site we're getting annoyed. So I posted this:

The immediate reaction, to my surprise, was largely negative. I then added this to the post:

Maybe I am misjudging the comments here but it seems like most people are treating it as if this guy was some hack in the back of a comic book who sent me a pre-printed letter saying I was Superman's long lost son.

Not the case. 

He gave me a very detailed four or five page investigation into my name, admitting that he was coming up dry on a definitive origin, but giving me what he could find. He even followed up later.

His information was professional, sourced, and of infinitely more value than a comment on Facebook or the opinions of a random website.

I wholeheartedly recommend him.

To my relief, subsequent commenters also vouched for him and the tide began to turn. SMH

The Iron Claw

Late Tuesday YaYa and Alex invited me to see The Iron Claw at the theater. 

The Iron Claw is the story of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers, almost all of whom met a grim fate. I'll review it as a film first: it was dark and tragic, with little interest in humor or happiness. Start to finish, the movie envelops the viewer in a feeling of dread as, instinctually, you grasp that the so-called curse is very real, if not literal. It's very well done, and Zac Efron was great. I'd grade it a B+

Now, my personal review of the movie: 

I wanted to see this because the Von Erich's were my favorite wrestlers as a kid, and I have great memories of watching  them on World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) on either channel 18 or 24 every Saturday night.  Of the family, Kerry was my favorite, and I was proud that he later wrestled for the WWF, although by then I'd abandoned professional wrestling. 

I remember the Von Erich's feud with the Fabulous Freebirds, and later Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez. The "blinding" of Adams has always stuck with me. I remember reading about David's death and mourning for the family; I remember reading about Chris's death and being shocked; I remember Kerry's death hitting me in the gut. 

So for me, it both odd and exhilarating to see those moments recreated on screen. I caught myself - no lie - almost cheering out loud at one excellent move during a match before restraining myself with a reminder that I wasn't nine years old and this (too) was scripted. 

So for me, personally, as a testament to part of my childhood: I grade it an A+

Wow

Nick Saban has retired from Alabama. 

Pete Carroll was "moved upstairs" in Seattle. 

Bill Belichick "amicably" parted ways with the Patriots. 

In two very short days, the face of football has radically changed. 

My thanks to all of them. Well done. Enjoy your retirements/new jobs. 

The Wrong Way Door

84th 7

I'm sitting here at the movie theater waiting for YaYa and Alex to arrive.  One of the doors in the picture is randomly locked and people inevitably try it, look confused, and try another. 

Where am I going with this?

Many moons ago my grade school had two glass doors on the west side of the school, closest to the church.  Of the two, one opened wonky - it either swung in when it would have gone out, or vice versa. 

So one evening as I was going to a Cub Scout Pack meeting, I entered through the door, instinctively using it the correct way, and had this thought: what if there was a story where the villain, a mole, was outed by trying the door the wrong way when he should know better?

Anyway, end of post.

Snowmageddon

With the media hyping a super snowstorm Tuesday - so called "Snowmageddon" - local schools cancelled, and rather than risk driving 45 minutes to my office I called and booked a study room at the Cudahy Library for the day.

 I set up shop at the head of the table, and Lisa all but forced Junie to go with me so she could work on a diorama for an immigration project.  

By the time we left, a full six hours later, the project included a representation of Zaklikow, our ancestral Polish city, which in 1910 had a significant furniture making industry. The center of the board depicted her Great-Great Grandfather John's arrival in NY in 1910, complete with a copy of his immigration documents. The third section was to represent our hometown and our family's long connection with the Milwaukee Road. 

First tho, before we left,  she had to clean up the room. 

Now Snowmageddon never happened, and it wasn't until we left the library that it snowed at all. But snow it did, in messy but tiny amounts, as we went to the Dollar Tree for additional supplies. 

Then Junie offered to treat me to lunch at Rocky Rococo's by the airport. 

Here's the finished project, with a dollar store mini-Barbie redone as the Statue of Liberty and Legos and Matchbox wheels made into railroad cars. :) 

 

Guess what they're reading?

The picture is from Junie who noticed a fan of this site in the wild.

Update after she refreshed the site:

Always THIS

Deb

Couldn't do prom or homecoming without Deb in the '90's!

- Lisa

Scammed

Scammed twice lately and just now bought something off Facebook again. I'm what they call the kind of person that needs to learn the hard way smh.

- Lisa

Dinner by Smiley

Tonight Smiley made dinner for the family: two delicious meatloaf along with mashed potatoes.

Once the potatoes were boiled I was in charge of seasoning and mashing them and I will admit they turned out no better than average.

The meatloaf however, was one of the best I've ever had. And I'm not saying that to blow smoke. Lisa's made a heck of a meatloaf over the years and so the bar is high - I'm not sure this reached the pinnacle of her efforts but it was sure close. I thought the texture was perfect.

He described the ingredients as rather simple: meat, shredded carrots, Worcestershire sauce, two eggs, garlic, and Dijon mustard with barbecue sauce on top.

I regret I did not get a very good photo of it I was too busy concentrating on the consumption thereof LOL

Good job Smiley 

My New Threads

For Christmas Lisa got me a gift certificate for a suit from the tailor shop next door to my office building. 2 days after christmas, on the 27th when Lulu and I went down to Kenosha I went in for a fitting. 

A couple days ago I picked it up but today was the first day I wore the new Duds. The suit felt notably higher quality than the ones I own from Men's Wearhouse and DXL. And I thought I looked great in in it.

I did receive several compliments during the day about the suit, a few more specifically about the tie, but the most impactful comment probably came from a homeless woman that saw me walking to the courthouse. 

Quoting the woman "You look great.  Today."

LOL

I'm not sure why I look so glum that last picture I guess she just hit the shutter at the wrong second.

What a great gift Lisa thank you!

What a Cute Creation!

Thanks so much to Karisbranddesign for making my dream of a [crocheted] turtle plush come true. They are color matched and practically the exact sizes of them in real life by coincidence. Love it!!!

 - Lulu

Good Advice

Anyone know?

Anyone know a good plumber/hardware store? I went to home depot and a few small stores and was told this part doesn’t exist anymore. I can’t believe that. it’s just a nut. 

It’s 1 1/2 but has a “ledge” before the threading starts.

The ledge or lip is the problem. if you look closely the inner circle is yes indeed 1 1/2 like the nuts they sell at home depot(which i tried) but there is a lip before the threading starts that makes the actual connective part of the nut larger than 1 1/2. I was laughed out of crown hardware (told to replace which isn’t an option atm) and home depot had nothing for me. 

Stores i’ve tried: home depot, crown hardware.

- Lulu

The Marcus Blanket

got my greg marcus blanket (and an email i got back in august when i was asking for them) - Yaya 

Gone too Soon

Horrible news reached us this afternoon.

When YaYa moved to her first apartment a few years ago she befriended Mike Somer, her older neighbor across the hall. I know, your mind goes immediately to "creep" but it wasn't like that.  He was genuinely kind and cared about her as a friend/surrogate daughter, and we all got together for a 4th of July BBQ at their apartment complex last year. 

 As YaYa is fond of telling me,  he told her I seemed much too nice to be a lawyer lol. 

The two stayed in touch even after she moved to her new place.  This was their text last week:

It was to be their last communication. Mike was found dead today in his apartment during a welfare check.

He was nice to my kid and made a positive impact in her life.  That's enough in my book to make him, in the words on my Grandma, a Good Joe. He'll be in my prayers. 

RIP 

Benny

beautiful boy🐈 - Lulu

30 Years Ago

30 years ago today, on New Year's Day 1994, I watched my Wisconsin Badgers defeat the UCLA Bruins 21-16 in the Rose Bowl. 

I watched the game from the living room in my friend Tre's family home. By my recollection we followed it up with a two VHS Metallica concert that was part of a box set Tre bought. 

That Rose Bowl was the culmination of Madison's resurgence under Barry Alvarez. All my life the Badgers had been a joke, relegated to having their pre-taped games broadcast on public TV later on Saturday nights. As of that day though, they were a team to reckon with in the Big Ten. 

Their rise coincided roughly with the Packers returning to contention too, and both franchises suspended 30 years in the spotlight, with only a rebuilding year every now and then. Quite the change from my youth. 

Two Things Worth Remembering

I wanted to post this snippet of conversation for two reasons. 

One, to forever immortalize the day that Junie first utilized her driver's license by being out on her own. She spent New Year's Day evening driving to her friends house, then driving to Lisa's work where the two girls visited for a while, followed by a few errands before Junie dropped off her friend and headed home.

Second, and more importantly, it shows the love and trust that Lulu has for her baby sister.  

Good job to both of you!

Happy New Years

Happy New Year Ya’ll - Smiley