Thank you Junie!

With 5-7" of snow on the ground I called upstairs and said any kid that was awake had to help me shovel. Shockingly, the previous mayhem abruptly stopped and all was silent. Ten minutes later tho my Honey Bunches of Oats Sweet Baby Doll - aka Junie- came out and did the whole front by herself and then helped me in back.

By the way, I know plow drivers are working hard. BUT I've been driving in snow for three decades, and in worse storms, and the roads are junk. Ab-so-lute junk.

The Semester is Done

The last final of the semester is now complete. It was brutal, despite the prior assurances from the Professor that it would be mild and comforting. Bah. I fall back on the old reliable: I'm never *the* dumbest person in the room, and The  Curve Shall Set Me Free.

Gym time

At the gym with Lulu. Tired? Stressed? Busy? Under the weather? Sore? Check X 5. But I've spent enough of my life sitting on my a##, thank you.

My Tax Final

My tax final is done. My analysis was strong and flowed easily enough (IMO) but I choked on the computations. I did not fail, I know that, and with luck someone imploded and the curve will be in my favor.

Hitler: Ascent 1889-1939 by Volker Ullrich

Meticulously researched, comprehensive in scope, scrupulously even handed, and imposing in length, this well written biography of Hitler from birth to the cusp of WWII is superb. I look forward to part two.

John Glenn

RIP. A true American hero.

Junie's Ear and Adenoid Surgery

It's been a long, bad day. Junie spent five hours (!) at the surgery center today having her adenoids removed and yet more work done on her ears. Her left eardrum is now tissue paper thin and partially collapsed, which scared me, but the Doc acted like it was acceptable if not ideal.

Most of those five hours was just waiting for the surgery, but a good chunk was her bumpy recovery. She literally woke up swinging and had to be restrained.  Lisa and I were both desperately covering up a bad cold, which made the time uncomfortable for us too. Then a nap to try and shake this cold, a big argument with YaYa and now more Kleenexes and snot. Not the worst December 7th ever (duh) but ugh.

I just got word from the editor: the Journal-Sentinel will be running my Pearl Harbor piece tomorrow.

Happy St. Nick's!

 Happy St Nick's ya'll..... Enjoy your goodies 

Lisa

Didn't They Notice the Implication?

Re: The Toyota Corolla commercial that advertises lane assist features by showing independent women confidently singing "You Don't Own Me": you do realize what you're actually pushing is the idea that the women are inattentive drivers who would crash if not for the intervention of the car, thereby rendering their independence a lie?

I Remember

I loved this as a kid. I'm not sure I ever got anything out of it from 1977 on, but it was nice dreaming.

Michael "Jim" Delligatti

 The creator of McDonald's iconic Big Mac has died at age 98. RIP. 

Bob Hope at Phu Cat

These are pictures of Bob Hope performing at Phu Cat Airbase in 1968. My Dad was in the audience, but these aren't his pictures; his Vietnam photo album is MIA in their apartment.

A Second YaYa?

I picked up YaYa early from school for an appointment. As per procedure, I called the school, spelled our name, verified my first name and gave my complete address to the woman. Ten minutes later a girl knocked on my car window. It was YaYa - just not MY YaYa. They sent out the wrong kid. When I went in to get it straightened out I wasn't angry (they aren't kindergartners after all) but I did get peeved when they excused it by saying Polish names all look the same. "Is that what you'd tell a Rodriguez when you send out a Gonzalez?" I said.

Some weird coincidences with the other YaYa tho: her Dad's name is Dan, she too goes by Gracie, and she lives on Arthur Ave, the same street I grew up on. "Maybe you ARE my Dad," she said.

Let It Go

Hillary has decided to join Jill Stein's Quixotic Wisconsin recount.

The Gym and Thanksgiving Results

Just back from the gym with Smiley. Today was the first time in his life he showered in a public setting, which was a big deal, so props to him. In other health news, I somehow lost 4 pounds Thanksgiving week, which obviously means I have a fatal tapeworm, bc it truly wasn't deserved. I'm nearing, but not at, my lowest weight of this century.

That's a No from Me

Congratulations on beating an equally inept team, falsely raising hopes for the year, and giving Mike McCarthy a chance to stick around and run us into the ground. But, you know, by all means celebrate all over Facebook.