Friday, January 22, 2016

Combo Post

Well, it's after midnight and I have to leave for the airport at 430am. I haven't packed yet! Yikes!!

No problem, I made a list and washed clothes yesterday. It's a little bit tougher this time as it dips into the 40's at night and 70's during the day.

It's sad to report but the St. Marcus streak is over losing by 1 tonight. Tons of excuses for this loss. Their best player is minutes limited because he plays on the 8th grade team as a 6th grader. Their coach was absent for a conference and the fill in guy did the best job he could. It was a road game and the refs certainly weren't helping them. Four of the kids were crying pretty hard as it wasn't just a loss but their only loss in over 30 games. That's life and don't linger on the excuses but practice hard and get ready for the big tournament next weekend.

I have a sneaking suspicion that these two teams will meet again next week. I'll bet on my Mustangs to remedy the situation!

Later

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Fast Feet

I was watching Coco do some soccer foot drills and the kid is fast. I could never do half of those drills like him. Lets hope it helps him in tomorrow's basketball game.

The Bulls were slaughtered tonight by the best team in the NBA this year, the Golden State Warriors. Rose looked decent though.

I keep reading about the Flint, Michigan water fiasco. The Governor is accepting responsibility. He should. Trying to save a few bucks he poisoned people and some of them will have lifelong complications. Water is the new gold in the very near future and the anti-climate people will just keep messing it up until their town gets sick which will never happen because this would never happen in a wealthier city.

Later

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Sting Is Coming

I heard the rumors a couple of weeks ago but it's official. Sting will be playing Summerfest on July 10th with Peter Gabriel. I've seen both of them before and Sting around 10 times, solo and with the Police twice. Also at a benefit with Don Henley. Finally a show that I can get excited about!

Coco showed me how the new microwave last night. At this rate the kid can never move out or I will be lost on any new appliance or gadget that I get.

What a shame for the people in Flint, Michigan that the state government chose to poison them intentionally with terrible water. Simply listening to environmental experts could have avoided this whole mess.

 Sarah Palin just endorsed Donald Trump for President today. Tina Fey is going to have a filed day with this. Her rambling speech was incoherent at best. Such a joke! Why do I have a feeling that this long national nightmare is just starting???

Later

Monday, January 18, 2016

Take It Easy Glenn Frey

It was a cold day with windchill below zero and that's not the bad news. Glenn Frey passed away and I can't believe it. I grew up on the Eagles music and Glenn was the founder of the band from Detroit who we saw on the recent tour. I was able to see them 3 times in concert and all of them were great. They really owned the 70's and they were legendary musicians with 6 Grammy's. The Eagles won't go onstage again that much I'm sure. Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt knows that it just wouldn't be the same. Truly a legend Glenn and thanks for putting together a Hall of Fame band!

John Back the defensive mastermind assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls during the Jordan championship years passed away at the age of 91. The players loved him and the the basketball world loses a great one.

Gas is down to a 1.65 a gallon. Obama gets blamed if it goes up and no credit when it goes down. Being a President just must suck.

Jim came over and installed the new microwave for us. Thanks Jim. It was quite a project with venting needed and holes being cut into the wall.

Krissy, Jim and Joanne and I ate lunch at the Garage. Great food but the place was 40 degrees. Something wrong with the heat.

Still upset about Glenn Frey. Damn, what a bad day!

Later

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Quantum Race Week

The sailboats are back in Key West for a huge racing week with boaters from all around the world. Despite chilly temps at night it's been fairly decent during the daytime hours.

Coco had a tremendous soccer practice even scoring a couple of breakaway goals. We stopped for burgers on the way back and we're both beat.

Jim came over today and the new microwave is only partially installed. It seems the builder never installed a vent so now that has to be done during the coldest week of the year. Thank you Mr. Builder!

It's been a busy and hectic week. We're leaving Friday for warmer climate so it's going to be busy until our plane takes off.

Later

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Angelo's Piano Bar

It's with great sadness that Angelo passed away today. He ran truly one of the all time great joints in the history of Milwaukee. He had been in ill health the last few years and sold the legendary piano bar in July which is being re-opened in March under the same name because the place is truly legendary.

Angelo was a great character. A local guy who played the trumpet in high school and played it in his joint every night. It was a small place holding around 30 people and anybody could sing. Tom Jones visited the place once when he was in town and Angelo proudly hung the photo of those two together on the wall by the piano. It's a small bar just down the street from us that Krissy and I visited often. Wonderful singers passed through that place. A lot of locals but also Broadway type singers in town performing a show. The place had a reputation for first class singing.

Angelo could always be spotted at his usual place at the end of the bar chomping on a cigar. I ran into him once at a racetrack out of state at the Breeders Cup. For some reason Angelo had two last names. I saw him about a year ago and asked him if he was going to sing but he said he wasn't feeling well. He packed a ton of fun in his 79 years on this earth.

Back in the 80's Angelo beat the Feds on a gambling charge. That's hard to do! He was a Milwaukee legend who shall be missed. I can't wait until the new joint opens for a small toast in your memory. Goodbye Angelo.

Later

Friday, January 15, 2016

The Jar Of Change

So I cashed in my jar of change today fairly confident that it was around 300 bucks. I had a much smaller jar that was worth 200 bucks a couple years ago. Mostly quarters as I recall. This jar gave me a whopping 137.50 so apparently the nickels don't really add up and somebody lied to me. Oh well.

A lady has made 800 bucks in a day on her go fund me page. Apparently, she spent all her money on Powerball expecting to win and now she has no money. I'm not sure what is worse. That she spent all her money on Powerball or people are actually giving this idiot their money.

Ebola has been eradicated in Western Africa with no new outbreaks. Apparently the doctors in the World Health Organization actually know what are doing. Some many people were convinced that everybody over here would get it. Fear mongers must make an awful lot of people hermits these days!

Later

Thursday, January 14, 2016

New York Values

Ted Cruz sure is a smug and obnoxious SOB. I'm not sure how you expect to win any election when you insult a whole state especially the one where your wife works and makes millions. Anytime he doesn't like a question he will states that he disagrees with the premise of the question then go answer something else that suits his fancy. Arrogance at it's finest.

The temps did a 180 and we almost hit 40 degrees today and another nice day in the forecast tomorrow. 

A couple days ago I saw huge rolling waves on Lake Michigan and I couldn't figure out where or how they were getting that big. It was fun to sit and watch a few minutes.

Coco has a big basketball game tomorrow. I can't wait.

Krissy is finally feeling better. When she's not ornery in the morning that will be the sign that she made a full recovery!

Later

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Frost Quake

Krissy slept through it but I heard all the racket. Initially, I thought a large truck was in the neighbor's driveway. It lasted about 30 seconds and I couldn't figure out what it was. The news reported that it was something called a Frost Quake where the sudden drop in temps cause a shattering sound in the ground water or something like. Today, I'm hearing it was possibly a sonic boom instead over the Milwaukee area. Whatever it was it was certainly loud.

Our back screen door broke. The locking mechanism was stuck inside the door frame so Krissy took the whole thing off. It looks nice leaning against the kitchen wall!

Coco is back and his luggage was lost with his coat inside it. He looked like a goof when I picked him up from school. He was swimming and came about 4 feet from a stingray while on vacation.. That's about 4 feet too close in my opinion.

It's the Powerball drawing tonight. I turned in my winning ticket the other night and naturally I let it ride. I have another two chances!

Later

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Jimmy Butler

Downtown is absolutely nuts with the Bulls in town to play the Bucks. I watched the first half on tv and saw Jimmy Butler wearing some prototype Golden Eagle shoes. He'll get a hefty fine as they don't match the uniform but a 90 million dollar contract make those fines more of a inconvenience than anything. He played at Marquette for 4 years.

It's the State of the Union address tonight. People taking shots at the speech before the President even gives it seems kind of silly.

It remained very cold today. I think the high might have hit 10 degrees but not sure. Trying to wash your windows at the gas station is almost impossible as all the fluid is frozen. Dirty windows to match a dirty car I guess. Stay warm out there, relief is coming on Thursday!

Later

Monday, January 11, 2016

Goodbye Mr. Bowie

Legendary rock star David Bowie passed away at the age of 69 from cancer. It was a well guarded secret as so many people seemed surprised today that he had been sick. I was talking to someone last week saying he's on my bucket list to see next time he tours. Unfortunately that won't happen now but thanks for so much great music and you were truly legendary!

It was minus 4 degrees when I woke up this morning. It worked it's way up to 13 degrees but it's the warmest 13 degrees that I can ever remember. There's absolutely no wind and the air seems dry.

Lately I've been watching the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries on PBS. It's set in the 1920's in England and Miss Fisher is ahead of her time as a female detective. There's a lot of good writing and plots and I always love a good period piece.

I was looking at this ladle that Krissy ordered from China. It took almost 6 weeks to get here as the shipping cost way more than the ladle itself. The Chinese label stood out when it arrived. The ladle itself just balance unless you place it just write on the counter. Based on this and recent events I'm not too concerned about China taking over our economy and us speaking Mandarin anytime soon!

Later

Sunday, January 10, 2016

I Had The Powerball

I did get the powerball but unfortunately the powerball number 13 was the only number that I had. I'm historically the worst lottery player in the history of the world. But, I did win 4 bucks by having the powerball and nobody won the big prize. I informed Krissy that I'm going to let it ride!

It was 11 stinking degrees this morning and it didn't go much higher than that all day.

Coco texted me at 8am this morning from Puerto Rico. Then he face timed me this afternoon and gave me a 20 minute tour of Old San Juan which I've been to before. He gave a very nice tour and looked like he was having a great time.

Football games going on and Krissy feeling a bit under the weather. Hopefully, it will warm up a bit and we'll have a great week!

Later

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Hello Powerball

Yep, Krissy and I invested 8 total dollars for the lottery. We won the Kentucky Derby last year so I'm guessing this one is in the bag!

We took down the Christmas decorations and tree today followed by the grocery store. Now we're making dinner and we were getting ready to watch the Packer playoff game and just realized it's a Sunday game. The whole week I thought it was a Saturday game.

The Bears lost offensive coordinator Adam Gase today as he took the Miami Dolphins head coaching job. I might make the Dolphins my second favorite team because I think he's a great coach and it's close to my favorite island Key West!

Well, now we have to figure out the rest of the day. Sometimes planning ahead backfires!

Later


Friday, January 8, 2016

Happy Birthday Elvis

Elvis Presley would have been 81 years old today. It's hard to believe he's been gone almost half his life. Still the greatest entertainer probably ever in the entire world!

Another excellent jobs report today. Some so called experts will try to knock it but it sure beats losing 800,000 jobs a month like 2008. People seem to have a short memory if it doesn't fit their narrative.

No Jimmy Buffett tour dates yet for 2016 but the watch will start in a couple weeks. Fans plan their summer vacations around the week he comes to their city so it's a big deal and gives people a chance to look forward to summer.

Jimmy's loyal guitarist Mac McAnally has a new album out. He's a great songwriter in his own right. It's called AKA Nobody and it can be downloaded free off his website if you google it. We did it last week and it's a winner!

Stay safe out there on this foggy Friday night!

Later

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Shades of Blue

The new Blacklist and the premiere of Shades of Blue were on television tonight. Blacklist has been my favorite show for a while as James Spader is just spectacular. Another of my favorites is the star of Shades of Blue. Ray Liotta is vastly underrated and the premiere was solid so I'll keep watching.

Luke Bryant has been announced as a headliner at Summerfest once again. He has a huge country following.

Yahoo announced they are laying off 10% of their workforce. The CEO will keep her salary intact though and I'm sure she will be running for President someday soon with all the answers just like Carly.

Nobody won Powerball last night. I might have to play Saturday as its approaching 700 million bucks!

Twenty thousand people showed up for a Donald Trump event in Vermont. The place only holds 1400 people so police were turning them away. I'm not sold that Trump is getting that much support. Everybody loves watching a train wreck. Charlie Sheen was packing them in just like this a couple years ago to! 

Later


Wednesday, January 6, 2016

HOF Day

Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr. were elected into baseball's Hall of Fame today. Both were excellent players and deserving of the award.

The thin ice on the river is no more. Usually at this time of year it's rock solid and we place bets onto when it will totally melt which is usually sometime in March. Leave it to the weather to upset are gambling traditions in the Midwest.

No word from Coco on his cruise. He's somewhere warm is all I know!

A slow day but planning a schedule for my first two months of the year in my bid to be more organized. So far it's going pretty good.

Stay safe.

Later

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Indian Burial Mounds

Another above normal day temperature wise in Milwaukee and it's going to be near 40 degrees tomorrow and the rest of the week. Hopefully some of this ice will melt.

I was watching Donald Trump's campaign manager on CNN. If Trump was really serious at the start about being President he would have hired some better front people. Every spokesperson that appears on his behalf is like a rabid dog. It's okay to be calm and likeable instead of an angry white person for crying out loud.

A Key West man was riding his motorcycle at 1:30am on a runway at the Key West International Airport and ran into a parked plane. He was only cited for careless driving. How come I get nearly strip searched but this clown can ride a motorcycle on a runway???

I almost feel sorry for the Ho Chunk Nation. Almost I say. The Wisconsin legislature headed by two Republicans are trying to make it legal to build on the numerous ancient burial mounds which 90 percent still have human remains. Apparently nothing is sacred to this disgusting legislature. The Governor will certainly sign it as he always sells out to the highest bidder and in this case it's many building and commerce associations.

The Ho Chunk Nation has donated millions of dollars to the Governor to keep competition away from their casino business and it has worked brilliantly. The Seminole's offered to build a new Bucks Stadium in conjunction with the Hard Rock for a new casino but were turned down. Now, the taxpayers are footing about 400 million because we just love corporate welfare in Wisconsin.

The Ho Chunk Nation made their bed and were just outbid this time by a deeper pocket white man. Don't worry though. You will still be able to visit your ancestors. You'll just have to shop at a strip mall to do it sadly.

Later

Monday, January 4, 2016

Beth What Can I Do

Yep, it's back to an ordinary daily and weekly grind for most people. The weather stays above normal temps and the ice buildup is still a mess in Milwaukee. Heckuva job there Brownie!

NFL football playoffs this week and every game looks like it will be close as they march towards the Super Bowl.

Coco called me today from his cruise ship. He had a stomach virus that passed and wanted to see if we were ill which we were not. Sounds like he picked up some 24 hour bug.

The stock market dropped quite a bit today on China concerns. I'm always a bit leery of the market when it struggles coming out of the gate. I still have to review last years predictions when I get a bit more time.

No plans yet for this weekend. Probably laying low until we head off for Arizona and L.A later this month. Somehow we have tickets for the taping of the Mike and Molly finale with John and Angela.

VW has been having it's problems lately but they had a great commercial today featuring the song Beth from Kiss. I'm surprised they didn't save ti for the Super Bowl but maybe they needed a punch in the arm real fast.

Later


Sunday, January 3, 2016

Regular NFL Season Finale

The Bears lost their finale but at least it was an entertaining game and once again hope is alive for next season. It looks like this coaching staff at least has a clue.

Coco is on his Disney cruise and boarded the ship already. He's basking in the warm sunshine and Krissy and I plundered out in the 27 degree weather to go grocery shopping. Something seems wrong there.

It appears that Christopher Waltz who starred as Blofeld in Spectre the latest James Bond movie will appear in two more of the films. He is a two time Oscar winner. The only caveat is that Daniel Craig must return which I've said from the beginning of the rumors is that he would return for at least one more. Filming a Bond movie is no easy task especially when he does many of the stunts himself. He was a little edgy after his 4th movie but I'm convinced he will come back for at least one more to be the best Bond of all time!

Tomorrow is Black Monday. Probably around 7 NFL coaches will be fired as the playoff teams make their quest for the Super Bowl!

Later


Saturday, January 2, 2016

The First Saturday

It's been a fairly quiet first Saturday of the New Year. I spent most of the day playing games with Coco and he just departed for Chicago and then onwards to his Disney cruise tomorrow. I won't see him again until the 13th sadly.

Krissy went out with friends today at the West Allis bars of which there is no shortage. There really is a bar on almost every single corner of that town.

I went and picked her up and stayed for a couple. It looks like they've been cleaned up a bit at least. I'm sure they'll be good for another 50 years now!

The Bears finale is tomorrow. Even though they have no chance of a playoff berth I'll still watch. I'm a lifelong fan and it's what we do!

Later

Friday, January 1, 2016

Polar Bear Plunge Day

Congrats to the hundreds of participants at Bradford Beach this morning to do the annual Polar Bear Plunge. No ice on Lake Michigan at this time of the year is certainly unusual!

Legendary singer Natalie Cole passed away today. She is the daughter of Nat King Cole and my son is actually named after him.

A very Happy Birthday to Ashley today. We all went to Maggiano's Little Italy to celebrate today. The chicken piccata is always great!

People still out and about at the bars all day today. Some of them never made it home from NYE celebrations. The Milwaukee bars don't close on NYE and most stay open all night long and stay open all morning!

Later