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!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Lu's Trip to the Fireside pt 2
The next morning we woke up and had breakfast. Well, Lisa and Lu did. They just brought some stuff back to the room for Sleepy Dad. While I got ready for the day Lisa took Lu swimming again, and then I packed up while the ladies freshened up.
Soon we were off to the Fireside.
The Fireside is justifiably well known for its extensive gift shops, and with cash left to burn LuLu spent quite some time browsing.
Here are two items I loved (but didn't buy). A birdhouse:
and a fancy music box that played LP sized discs
Soon it was time for lunch.
This is the adult menu for the show:
Signature Aloha Salad
Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mandarin Oranges and Oriental Vegetables over Fresh Garden Greens, sprinkled with Sesame Croutons and glazed with our famous Papaya Chutney Dressing.
Freshly Baked Breads from The Fireside Ovens
Chicken Kona Kai
Skinless Breast of Chicken dipped in a special Egg Batter, rolled in Coconut Panko Bread Crumbs, sautéed to a golden brown and glazed with Brandied Apricot Sauce.
Served with Baked Yukon Gold Potatoes, Edamame Soybeans and Sweet Corn and a Plum Tomato stuffed with Creamed Spinach.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Garnished with ribbons of Caramel and presented on a Graham Cracker Crust.
Coffee, Tea and Milk
Lu's consisted of premium chicken tenders, mac 'n cheese, and corn. I also sprang for a big Shirley Temple for my girl
By the end of lunch LuLu was pooped, and with an hour before the show we retired to the van so she could rest. In the blink of an eye it was time to venture back in for the production of Annie.
The walls inside the theater were decorated in comic strip-esque panels
We took our aisle seats, which had an excellent view, and eagerly waited for the show to begin.
With a little time for horseing around.
Obviously, they don't allow photography during the show. I can tell you it was excellent, and the actress who played Annie was on the top of her game and did very well. I will say, however that our school's performance of "Hard Knock Life" had better choreography and energy. I kid you not.
Oh, and FDR's expansion of the federal government didn't end the Depression, nor was it an economic miracle as hinted at in the play. I just wanted to get that out there ;)
After a quick trip to Justice (a kids clothing shop at the mall) we were home, safe and sound.
And Lu's verdict on the trip?
"EXTREME fun!!!!"
Mission accomplished.
Soon we were off to the Fireside.
The Fireside is justifiably well known for its extensive gift shops, and with cash left to burn LuLu spent quite some time browsing.
Here are two items I loved (but didn't buy). A birdhouse:
and a fancy music box that played LP sized discs
Soon it was time for lunch.
This is the adult menu for the show:
Signature Aloha Salad
Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mandarin Oranges and Oriental Vegetables over Fresh Garden Greens, sprinkled with Sesame Croutons and glazed with our famous Papaya Chutney Dressing.
Freshly Baked Breads from The Fireside Ovens
Chicken Kona Kai
Skinless Breast of Chicken dipped in a special Egg Batter, rolled in Coconut Panko Bread Crumbs, sautéed to a golden brown and glazed with Brandied Apricot Sauce.
Served with Baked Yukon Gold Potatoes, Edamame Soybeans and Sweet Corn and a Plum Tomato stuffed with Creamed Spinach.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Garnished with ribbons of Caramel and presented on a Graham Cracker Crust.
Coffee, Tea and Milk
Lu's consisted of premium chicken tenders, mac 'n cheese, and corn. I also sprang for a big Shirley Temple for my girl
By the end of lunch LuLu was pooped, and with an hour before the show we retired to the van so she could rest. In the blink of an eye it was time to venture back in for the production of Annie.
The walls inside the theater were decorated in comic strip-esque panels
We took our aisle seats, which had an excellent view, and eagerly waited for the show to begin.
With a little time for horseing around.
Obviously, they don't allow photography during the show. I can tell you it was excellent, and the actress who played Annie was on the top of her game and did very well. I will say, however that our school's performance of "Hard Knock Life" had better choreography and energy. I kid you not.
Oh, and FDR's expansion of the federal government didn't end the Depression, nor was it an economic miracle as hinted at in the play. I just wanted to get that out there ;)
After a quick trip to Justice (a kids clothing shop at the mall) we were home, safe and sound.
And Lu's verdict on the trip?
"EXTREME fun!!!!"
Mission accomplished.
An apology, and a short explanation
In six and a half years of writing Slapinions I have only one regret: that in the heat of a contentious American Idol season, this Bo Bice fan called Carrie Underwood a "no talent hack". I was wrong, and I apologize unequivocally.
Back to our regular programming . . .
Or not.
You may have noticed that Blogger, a Google company, went haywire over the last few days. In the end they temporarily wiped all blog entries posted after a certain date/time, to 'reset' the system and restore sanity. As promised, they brought the exorcised posts back, although in the case of this blog, not in the correct order. You'll notice a repeat of at least one post in the next few days. Sorry about that, it isn't my doing.
Which again begs the question of permanence. During Slapinions time on AOL I publicly argued for a print or save option; a year later AOL Journals went belly-up. Blogger has been much more dependable than AOL ever was, but if a Google company can glitch - yikes.
Fred, I'm putting this on you: if something (God forbid) was to ever happen to me, I'd ask that you get a printed/bound copy of this journal into Lisa's hands.
Back to our regular programming . . .
Or not.
You may have noticed that Blogger, a Google company, went haywire over the last few days. In the end they temporarily wiped all blog entries posted after a certain date/time, to 'reset' the system and restore sanity. As promised, they brought the exorcised posts back, although in the case of this blog, not in the correct order. You'll notice a repeat of at least one post in the next few days. Sorry about that, it isn't my doing.
Which again begs the question of permanence. During Slapinions time on AOL I publicly argued for a print or save option; a year later AOL Journals went belly-up. Blogger has been much more dependable than AOL ever was, but if a Google company can glitch - yikes.
Fred, I'm putting this on you: if something (God forbid) was to ever happen to me, I'd ask that you get a printed/bound copy of this journal into Lisa's hands.
Friday, May 13, 2011
It's nearly summer - why not revist the 'Super Blow' Blizzard of Early February?
Feb 1st 09:30 snow drifts up to the middle of my calves in the alley this morning. Could be worse. Probably will be.
14:13 mps [Milwaukee Public Schools] has announced they will close tomorrow. Let the Super Blow blizzard commence.
21:45 
Feb 2nd 00:24 When u can no longer distinguish the sidewalk from the street and lawn, & the wind sounds like a Hollywood sound effects team has set up shop outside ur window . . . Well, then it looks like this blizzard will live up to the hype after all
09:37 6 ft drifts down the length of my alley, 6-8 foot deep hills the length of the side street to my south, and quite literally the largest snow drift I've ever seen on the side of my house. I doubt we'll get the van out on the road until Friday at the earliest.
I know I'm near the lake, but it still boggles my mind how deep the snow drifts get on this block. It's nuts. Six inches = up to my car windows if the wind is right.
15:58 Taking a break from my 2nd round of shoveling in the alley. Noting the wonderful grammar of local anchors who in the course of a few minutes said "props to the city" and "don't go nowhere".
16:12 if anyone digs out and is on the road this evening, I would welcome a quick lift to either Walgreens or the grocery store. Thanks!
Over the next few hours I attacked the alley, and inspired the rest of the neighborhood to do the same. Early on many ventured out to tell me I should quit, that it was 'too much' - but once I kept slugging away the shame got to them, and one by one people came out to shovel their section. Even our neighbor, who we've had many issues with, helped out and at one point helped me push our van.
23:01 We finally got out of the alley at a little after nine, after spending hours clawing a path to freedom. That . . . was a lot of snow to shovel. The worst part? My phone, which was in my coat pocket for one of the many soaking-wet rounds of shoveling, was damaged. It still works as a phone, but all the perks that made my life happier - FB, txt, aps, email - are a no-go.[it was a lost cause]
Feb 3rd, the day the music died:
13:01 Hey city plow drivers - thanks for burying the entrance to the alley under three feet of snow for the *8th* time. The only reason I'd ever own a dog would be so I could have it take a dump on your lawn.
16:47 Just dug out the alley entrance again. The side street to our north is damn impassable, but this yahoo insists on making pass after pass on the driveable street to our south.
17:30 While we were out in the alley LuLu konked me on the side of the head with a steel snow shovel. Full force, on a ridiculously comic backswing. Ouch.
14:13 mps [Milwaukee Public Schools] has announced they will close tomorrow. Let the Super Blow blizzard commence.
21:45 
Feb 2nd 00:24 When u can no longer distinguish the sidewalk from the street and lawn, & the wind sounds like a Hollywood sound effects team has set up shop outside ur window . . . Well, then it looks like this blizzard will live up to the hype after all
09:37 6 ft drifts down the length of my alley, 6-8 foot deep hills the length of the side street to my south, and quite literally the largest snow drift I've ever seen on the side of my house. I doubt we'll get the van out on the road until Friday at the earliest.
I know I'm near the lake, but it still boggles my mind how deep the snow drifts get on this block. It's nuts. Six inches = up to my car windows if the wind is right.
15:58 Taking a break from my 2nd round of shoveling in the alley. Noting the wonderful grammar of local anchors who in the course of a few minutes said "props to the city" and "don't go nowhere".
16:12 if anyone digs out and is on the road this evening, I would welcome a quick lift to either Walgreens or the grocery store. Thanks!
Over the next few hours I attacked the alley, and inspired the rest of the neighborhood to do the same. Early on many ventured out to tell me I should quit, that it was 'too much' - but once I kept slugging away the shame got to them, and one by one people came out to shovel their section. Even our neighbor, who we've had many issues with, helped out and at one point helped me push our van.
23:01 We finally got out of the alley at a little after nine, after spending hours clawing a path to freedom. That . . . was a lot of snow to shovel. The worst part? My phone, which was in my coat pocket for one of the many soaking-wet rounds of shoveling, was damaged. It still works as a phone, but all the perks that made my life happier - FB, txt, aps, email - are a no-go.[it was a lost cause]
Feb 3rd, the day the music died:
13:01 Hey city plow drivers - thanks for burying the entrance to the alley under three feet of snow for the *8th* time. The only reason I'd ever own a dog would be so I could have it take a dump on your lawn.
16:47 Just dug out the alley entrance again. The side street to our north is damn impassable, but this yahoo insists on making pass after pass on the driveable street to our south.
17:30 While we were out in the alley LuLu konked me on the side of the head with a steel snow shovel. Full force, on a ridiculously comic backswing. Ouch.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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