Fox Brook Lake - Sunday August 14th

With her brother and his two oldest girls in town to visit her sick stepfather, Lisa organized an outing to Fox Brook Lake for both families. 

Since he forgot a swimsuit, Mike was stuck with grill duty, firing up jalapeno burgers and brats. 

It was eerie how similar the second-oldest girls were physically, and in temperament. 

No pics of the swimming and diving this time, as I didn't want to risk the camera again. But we did go pedal-boating, with Mike and I taking turns taxiing the kids. 

This is FAKE outrage. Real outrage would have put the camera in the lake LOL

Sadly, as with every trip to the lake, a guest (this time Mike) dropped his phone in the water, rending it a brick :(

This is Samma, Mike's second oldest. 

Aside from the loss of the phone, I think everyone had a blast!

My Thoughts

While my first a$$holish instinct is to let the burned areas of Milwaukee lay fallow, that is wrong and short-sighted. Insurance may not cover the damages, but even if they do the City needs to suck it up and put out whatever incentives, at whatever cost, to ensure those businesses return to that area. If we can build an arena, we can build a damn auto parts store.

[my reply to a comment saying the money should be spread out among the local residents] Why should money spent rebuilding a locally owned store be distributed to the community? These businesses, owned by corporations/locals/outsiders, contribute to the community in four important ways: 1. By providing goods and services 2. By employing locals 3. By maintaining the property value of the area and 4. By paying municipal taxes. I agree, best for the community to have those owners invested personally in the area, but the absence of that doesn't negate their contribution.

And the last thing that area needs is a rash of storefront churches moving in to fill the vacant buildings, paying no taxes and employing no one. Ten years ago that phenomenon almost took National Ave down completely.

And not to get political, but if you're black, why the hell are you voting Democrat? What the hell has that party done for your community since King was silenced? Nothing. If you need the votes of the disadvantaged to win office, logic says you're going to do your best to ensure a steady crop of the poor and angry to STAY in office.

India

YaYa is interested in a Girl Scout trip to India next year, and she didn't have to try hard to convince me - it's the chance of a lifetime, 10 lifetimes even. I'm of the opinion that if you can get your kids to travel, you do it, because they may not have the chance when adult life hits them in the gut. I certainly haven't to date. Scraping together the cash, now that's a different story.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The Hypocrisy is Strong

The 33rd Grandpa's Day

Today is the 33rd Grandpa's Day, the anniversary of a road trip I took with my maternal Grandpa two weeks before he died. We drove the older two to a GSA woodworking event in Waukesha, then LK ran some errands, went to the park, and ate lunch at Landmark. Later, after the kids were home LK and I went to the cemetery, a bookstore, played pinball at the candy store, went back to the park, and went to the grocery store. I still miss you Grandpa!

I'm down one pound, an acceptable result given a couple days I slipped and went carby. I still feel awful from that allergy attack, and was tempted to ask for an appointment when I weighed in at the doctor.

The Others

We watched this today with YaYa. Lisa and I saw this in the theater back in the day, and it's just as great as I remember it. Well done.

Hate and anger are never the answer. - Lisa

A Discussion on Race with Junie

Junie (on  seeing a wanted poster of African-American thieves): Dad, I don't understand. I thought white people did all the bad things.

Me: Every color does good, every color does bad. Where'd you hear that sh**?

Junie: At school. They say we had slaves, and that's why black people have to do stuff so it's our fault.

Me: Who are 'they'?

Junie: My friends.

Me: I know you, and I know your friends. You didn't own no slaves, they didn't pick no cotton. You do right or you do wrong, and it's got jack sh*t to do with people dead and buried. Don't listen to them.

****

There were more questions, and discussion, but it ended when a thief ran out the door with some merchandise, setting off an alarm. A thief, btw, that was not black or white.

On the Riots

Okay, let me get this straight; 

9 people shot

5 dead

NOTHING. 

Police shoot and kill an armed felon who pointed a STOLEN gun at an officer, 

BURNT BUSINESSES and Civil Unrest.

- Carlos, an African-American police officer and friend

What an angel, the prototypical martyr of BLM:

BREAKING: The man shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer Saturday was charged last year in a shooting and then charged again, with trying to intimidate a witness in that same shooting.

Smiley's Back!

Smiley is back from camp! Whoohoo!

YaY

Junie passed her Level 3 swim test today :)

The Polish Birthday Blessing

A few days late - our life is chaotic right now - but I finally got around to Lauren's Polish birthday blessing.