O Christmas Tree

Yesterday, the kids and I went to get our first real Christmas tree. I have always had a fake one, because I have always been worried about the dogs chewing on the branches. (They chew on the ones outside, so it stands to reason!) At this year's Una Notte Bella, I bid on and won a freshly cut tree from one of the school's faculty. Mr. Huntsburger lives near Green Bay, and on Tuesday morning he cut the size tree I asked for and brought it to the school. My stepfather helped us hoist it onto the top of the Honda and secure it with tie-downs, and we brought it home to decorate. I'm using the old, sturdy tree stand we used when I was a little girl - my brother dug it out of my father's basement for me. Rowan, Devon and I always decorate the tree together and love looking at all the beautiful ornaments. I couldn't get our angel to fit on top - she kept falling off - so I'm in search of a new angel, something vintage and cool. I'm sure the right one will pop out at me. In the meantime, however, we are all pleased at how our tree turned out and it's really helping us get into the holiday mood!

Which 2008 candidate do YOU hate the most?

Which 2008 candidate do you hate the most?

I took the quiz I found on Buttafly and this is what I came up with based on my answers to a few short questions.

"The candidate you like least is Republican Duncan Hunter. He is pro-life, supports the death penalty, is in favor of No Child Left Behind, opposes embryonic stem cell research, opposes banning assault weapons -- this guy is your worst nightmare!"

Take the quiz yourself and let me know what you come up with - click the link!

Take the quiz at Buttafly.com

And the award goes to.....

Sean Penn. At least, he gets the Idiot Celebrity of the Week award, after he spent a day touring Venezuela with Hugo Chavez, finally proclaiming the country "a great place". Sean Penn loves to complain about our own president's many shortcomings, but his idolization of our revolutionary enemy is inexcusable. Penn does not seem to be troubled by Chavez's harrassment of opposition leaders, his frightening treatment of the media, and his attempts to change the country's constitution so that he can keep the presidency indefinitely. How a totalitarian leader who regularly "disappears" journalists who oppose him can be lauded by anyone living in a democratic society is beyond me; then again, this is from the man who, in a jealous rage, left his wife tied to a chair for 3 hours and reportedly force-fed her dog food. Penn should stick to what he does best - turning out award winning acting performances - and leave the politics to someone more qualified.
While Penn is entitled to his opinion, using his celebrity to endorse Chavez's dictatorial leadership of Venezuela is ridiculous. However, he is hardly the first to applaud the man - recent visits by Naomi Campbell and Danny Glover ended in a similar fashion. What is it about celebrities who believe they are entitled to use their popularity in this way? It's baffling. One can only hope they someday realize the extent to which they have been used.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving Day morning, and I'm up before everyone else. Traditionally, I work the holiday in addition to hosting the dinner celebration for both families, mine and John's. This year, we're expecting 12, down from a high of 18 two years ago. Notably absent, of course, is my father, but in addition, John's brother divorced earlier this year, eliminating his wife and her two children and the friends they usually brought along for the festivities. I'll miss them all - I really enjoyed Trudy and her boys.
My dad usually made the pumpkin pies and Trudy made a bunch of things, too. This year my mom is in charge of the pies (except the apple, that's my bag) and I've assigned each family member one small thing to bring. The bulk of the dinner I gladly make myself, planning the meal weeks in advance to try new recipes and resurrect old favorites.
This year I ordered a free range turkey which is brining in the cooler on the deck right now, and bought a ham that's already simmering in the crockpot with a cola/brown sugar/cinnamon concoction as a glaze. The apple pie is in the oven, and I've got everything set out. On the menu aside from the above, a new stuffing recipe (unheard of, I don't usually mess with perfection - LOL!); green bean, watercress and crispy shallot salad; roasted harvest vegetables; cranberry grape compote (already in the fridge!); mashed potatoes and gravy; and assorted dips, crackers, and relishes. It is literally the largest meal I make all year.
Tuesday I'm picking up the Christmas tree that I won in the Una Notte Bella auction, freshly cut from one of the faculty members farms, and I've begun my Christmas shopping in earnest. The season always makes me so happy, but this year when I allow myself to think about it I am unbearably sad to celebrate without my dad. Every day I am stopping at his grave to put a stone on the marker, a tradition that says "I remember you".....it's the only thing I can do.

First Snowfall of the Year

The first snowflakes of the year have started to fall. I just took this photo out of my office window. Big, fluffy flakes!

Thought for Today

Americans consume their own weight in gasoline every 7 days.

Devon's Crossover

After years of Cub Scouting, Devon has finally become a Boy Scout. Last night was the crossover ceremony for his group. Rowan was there to help him with his uniform and see him cross the bridge. It was a special day for him that I know he'll always remember

Tomorrow's Concert

Tomorrow's symphony concert should be a good one with a tribute to the veterans. Plenty of fun marches and a tearjerker with a color guard. Tonight's rehearsal went fairly well, but I am still sick and am having trouble hearing. This time we have 3 piccolos on some of the marches so hearing one another is imperative. What's the saying - how do you get 2 piccolo players to play the same pitch? You shoot one of 'em.
I'm feeling a lot more comfortable playing with the group. Of course there are a few clunkers, but for the most part everyone is nice. Tomorrow night there is a gathering after the concert at the City Grille, and I'm looking forward to a little social time with everyone. Always does wonders for teambuilding.
Rowan's band director plays trumpet in the group, and he caught me on the way in tonight to let me know how well Rowan is doing. Initiall there had been some concern that he was unable to get his mouth to form the right positions, but all of a sudden it just clicked, and he's doing so much better. Jeff, the teacher, seemed truly pleased for him and I'm thankful for a teacher who is going the extra mile. Rowan was all smiles when I told him!

Today's Random Thoughts

Grown men who are not cowboys should not wear cowboy boots.
Socks with birkenstocks in public is never acceptable.
There is no U in the word MORNING unless you are sad.
Eliminate 20 government jobs and no one will care. Eliminate 20 trees and the entire city will cry foul.
Radio jocks who were born after 1980 should ask before attempting to pronounce the names of classic artists like Warren Zevon.
TV news anchors should ask for phonetic spelling on their cue cards so that they never pronounce Antigo An-TEE-go.
And it is not a good idea to walk around the hot tub in the dark to remove the cover wearing one's favorite slippers - especially when one has dogs. Ever.

What?

It happens once a year or so - and today is the day. I've completely lost my voice. I'm just getting over a bout with pneumonia, and though I woke up feeling a lot better this morning, I opened my mouth....and nothing came out.
Not good when you're a radio chick.
I've been drinking hot tea with lemon all morning, trying to coax those vocal cords back into action - but so far it's a no-go. So the pile of ads to record will have to sit on my desk for a day or two until I can once again make more than just a scratchy sound when I try to speak.
Curiously, my husband and children are finding this a cause for celebration......nuts!

Musings from the Desk

Create your own visitor map!

Citizen Wausau

Wausau's very cool blog and community board - citizenwausau.com - is generating some great buzz in the area, so when founder Marcus Nelson suggested I turn my thoughts into type, I decided to go for it. Marcus and I had been together at a dinner when I began spouting off about the ridiculous debate surrounding our municipal airport's need to cut down a group of trees. After thinking about it all weekend, I finally submitted my editorial late last night, and it was posted this morning. Read the musings here.

Football

Sundays in the fall have always been football days - Rowan gives me constant score updates through the window in my office!

Una Notte Bella

Saturday night, John and I attended Una Notte Bella, which in Italian translates to "a beautiful evening". It's the annual fundraiser for the Wausau Conservatory of Music. I serve on their marketing board and my boys get scholarships from them every year to study, so I felt this year it was appropriate to attend and enjoy the night, which we did. Devon's singing group, the Choraliers, performed during the dinner. It was Devon's first performance with the group, and they did very well. He looked so great in his tux shirt, cumberbund and bow tie. We were so proud of him! Rowan stayed home and watched a movie. Maybe next year he'd like to attend.
The auction was amazing - one of the best varieties I've seen at a fundraiser. We ended up going home with a certificate for a fresh cut 7 foot Christmas fir tree, a starbucks gift pack, and an enormous cheese box - very cool.

Fun Weekend

This weekend was my bonus weekend, so I was able to go out and kick it up a little bit. Friday night, Jule and I took Dana out for dinner for her birthday at Iozzo's. We used to love it there but hadn't been out to dinner at that venue in years. Let's just say it will be years before I try it again. Horrible service, overpriced entrees. Food was great - but it just didn't cut it. And it always slays me when an Italian restaurant has crappy house wine - for Pete's sake, it's a staple! We did order a bottle of Ravenswood with dinner that was fabulous - but the house wine was the worst I've had in years.
Afterward we went to hear Area 51 play at a local bar - some great tunes and fun had by all.

Halloween

We love Halloween! Every year we deck our house out pretty well - this year we added another fog machine for extra effects, and had some great spooky music playing through the ipod bose speakers - here are a few photos as we got ready for the trick or treaters!