Kids Jam Session

Kids Jam Session 1
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

Each taking the time to practice last night, the boys decided it would be a lot more fun to practice together - so they had a little jam session in their room. Sounded pretty good!

Long Live the Green Bay Packers....

Special thanks to Chris Schauder in Colorado for providing this editorial from his local newspaper for today's blog entry:


"GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's easy to hate the New York Yankees if you're a Boston Red Sox fan, and vice versa. The same goes for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, Michigan and Ohio State and those originators of the shotgun formation, the Hatfields and McCoys.

But who hates the Green Bay Packers?

Steeped in tradition and often viewed through a prism of sepia-tone nostalgia, the Packers have succeeded against all odds in a tiny and remote market, in a 50-year-old (albeit renovated) stadium with aluminum bench seats, in an era of unfettered free agency and corporate greed.

OK, if you're a Seahawks fan, you're not feeling all warm and fuzzy about Brett Favre and Al Harris right about now. "We want the ball and we're going to score!" might be old news, but the sting lingers.

Really, though, do you hate the Packers?

Not if you know anything about the history of the National Football League. Not if you've seen those grainy images of the 1967 "Ice Bowl" and Bart Starr's fateful quarterback sneak on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Not if you admire the principles on which Vince Lombardi built a dynasty.

Not if you pull for the underdog.

In Wisconsin, there is no other option. You are born into Packerdom here. Your great-grandfather cheered for Curly Lambeau and Don Hutson, your grandpa for Paul Hornung and Willie Wood, your dad for James Lofton and Lynn Dickey. Every kid on your block owns a No. 4 jersey.

What makes the Packers special? Start with the fact that there are 112,015 owners, the vast majority of whom hold one share of stock. Formed in the NFL's primordial mist in 1919, the Packers became a non-profit entity four years later and remain the only publicly owned team among the major professional sports.

The most recent stock sale, in 1998, netted 106,000 new "owners" who paid $200 per share (and sent $24 million straight to the team's bottom line) for certificates that are basically worthless. The stock never pays dividends or appreciates in value. But the emotional investment is priceless. When general manager Ted Thompson signs a free agent, the fans can thump their chests and say, "I helped bring that guy to Green Bay." And it's true.

Of course, Bob Harlan, who has run the Packers for 19 years, first as president and CEO and more recently as chairman of the board, has a stake in the team. He, too, owns exactly one share of stock.

"I paid $25 for my share when I became president," said Harlan, who is retiring after the postseason. "When fans call me, they start out by saying, 'Bob, I'm a fan and a shareholder.' They always point out that they're shareholders. I say, 'Well, I am, too, so let's talk.' "

Did we mention that Harlan answers his own telephone? There is no administrative assistant to run interference, no automated maze to negotiate. You've got a beef with the injured cornerback or the price of tickets, you go straight to the top dog.

The fact that the Packers can even exist in a city of 100,000 is a minor miracle, due in equal parts to fan loyalty throughout the state and revenue sharing in the NFL. Los Angeles can't support a team but this little frozen outpost can? It's one of the mysteries of the universe.

It helps that not much ever happens in Green Bay, other than what occurs at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Lambeau Field -- notice, no naming rights -- is the city's corporate and social epicenter, its source of civic pride, its very heart and soul.

The nearest NCAA Division I football team is 2 1/2 hours away at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Milwaukee is 115 miles to the south, so the Packers are the only game in town.

Their reach extends north into Michigan's Upper Peninsula, south into Chicago Bears turf and west clear to the Dakotas (the team had a 40-year head start on the Minnesota Vikings). And that doesn't count the fans who have relocated or the ones Harlan likens to the "Notre Dame subway alumni."

"People call me and say, 'I'm a lifelong Packers fan and someday I'd love to see Lambeau Field,' " Harlan said. "They've never even been here."

On game days, the far-flung Cheeseheads converge on Green Bay and fill the Lambeau parking lot hours before kickoff. First-time visitors are blown away by the passion, creativity and dedication of the tailgaters. There's nothing quite like the smell of 10,000 bratwursts sizzling on 1,000 grills and the sight of footballs spiraling through 10-degree air.

The Packers-Seahawks game will mark the 268th consecutive sellout at Lambeau, including playoffs. That's every single game since 1960. The waiting list for season tickets is at 76,800. With an average of 70 fans per year giving up their seats, the guy at the end of the list will have to wait 1,000 years, give or take a few decades, for his name to come up.

Season-ticket holders live in all 50 states and several foreign countries, including Japan. Domo arrigato.

The obsession with the team is such that the 10 p.m. TV newscasts in Milwaukee and Green Bay are dominated by Packers developments. The long snapper has an ingrown toenail? That leads the sports report. The price of beer is going up at Lambeau? That's the top story.

Brett Favre retires? We don't even want to think about that one.

The Packers have won 12 championships, more than any other NFL franchise, and three Super Bowl titles. The team has sent 21 players to the Hall of Fame. Green Bay city streets are named after former players and coaches, including Mike Holmgren.

But it's not about all that.

It's about a unique relationship between a professional sports franchise and its fans.

It's about people feeling they're a part of something special, something unique, something good.

The Packers don't need throwback jerseys to evoke their glorious past.

In all the ways that count, it's still 1965 here. And always will be."

Night Sky Lecture at UWMC

On Wednesday night, Devon and I attended the Astronomy lecture at UWMC that was open to the public. Two presenters were there with two different aspects of the presentation. The first half was dedicated to astral photography, where we were treated to images taken by amateurs in the area of galaxies, nebulae, and more. It was amazing, and surprisingly simple to do. The second half used the planetarium and was all about the January night sky, and how to find the constellations easily this time of year. We learned a lot and it was fascinating. I didn't bring Rowan along because he isn't as into it as Devon is, but now I wish I had because I think he would have liked it, too. Devon amazed me with how much he already knew about galaxies in particular, thanks to his Celestia program on his computer. He left there chattering away about what he now wants for his birthday - a better telescope to attach to his camera so he, too, can be an astral photographer. I can't wait for the next lecture in the series.

Authentic Happiness

How happy are you? And what are your personality strengths? My friend Dana Greiner, who is completing her master's degree in psychology, directed me toward this great page full of interesting tests: Authentic Happiness.
There is one in particular that asks 240 questions and comes up with your five greatests strengths. Here are mine:
Your Top Strength - Curiosity and interest in the world
You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.
Your Second Strength - Fairness, equity, and justice
Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.
Your Third Strength - Social intelligence
You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people. You know what to do to fit in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.
Your Fourth Strength - Bravery and valor
You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.
Your Fifth Strength - Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness
Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Take the VIA test and let me know how you did!

Greiner at the Jazz Fest

Greiner at the Jazz Fest
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

Over the weekend, the kids went on a Boy Scout camping trip despite subzero temperatures (no worries, heated cabins!) so we were left to fend for ourselves. John and I both worked but we managed to get out Friday to dinner with friends and Saturday night to attend the jazz festival at Wausau East High School, a collaborative effort with the Wausau Conservatory. My good friend (and Devon's sax teacher) John Greiner was one of the main contributors to the all day clinic which culminated in a concert featuring not only all eight area high school jazz bands, but also Greiner's SwingShift Big Band. The music was terrific and it was wonderful to see so many talented kids working so hard toward obtaining that great jazz sound. It also gave me an opportunity to really test out the features on my camera, as I sat way back in the nosebleeds in a darkened auditorium taking pictures with only the stage light. I was very, very pleased with the results. Using the digital zoom there was definitely noise to deal with but for the most part the images are crisp and clear. I couldn't be happier. Click on the photo to view more shots from the festival on Flickr.

Rowan's First Band Concert

Rowan
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

It's been a busy week, with a lot going on. One of the big events for the family this week was Rowan's first ever band concert Thursday night. I was really happy to hear how far the kids have come in just a few short months. Rowan was excited about it and happy that the whole family came to support his efforts. Check out more photos on my Flickr site by clicking on the photo!

NFL Notes....

Hate Tom Brady...
Hate the Patriots.
Hate them, hate them, hate them.
Have I mentioned? I am not a Patriots fan. Never have been, never will be. Would like to wipe the self-satisfied smirk off Tom Brady's face. Role model, my @ss.
Nice Packer game today, by the way - can't wait for the Dallas game tomorrow, too.
Not sure if you know, but I despise New England. Did you know? LOL.

Wine Club

Today I joined the Cafe le Grand's wine club, which features two selections per month for just $25. I chose the one red/one white option, though I normally prefer all red - because I do enjoy a white once in awhile. They set me up with my membership card and my first two bottles of wine. I had gone for coffee there with Dana Greiner this week and was astounded at their wonderful selection of wines. Who knew? They had some of my absolute favorites - some I've only been able to get through my sister in California in the past. Dana's husband (and Devon's sax teacher) John Greiner works there part time, and he told me all about the wine club - great idea. As I blog, I'm sipping one of my two first bottles from the membership, the New Age wine produced by Bodega Valentin Bianchi in Argentina. It's an interesting white 50/50 blend of Malvasia and Sauvignon Blanc. Halfway through the fermentation, the process is stopped by spinning the wine, resulting in a slightly sweet, semi sparkling wine. It's often served on the rocks with a slice of lime, and that's how I'm sipping it now. Normally I don't like anything "sweet", but paired with the lime it is refreshing and wonderful. Also in the package, the 2006 Hey mambo Sultry Red from the Other Guys division of Don Sebastiani & Sons that I plan to try next weekend. I can hardly wait for February's selections, which will include the Truchard merlot, which I have heard wonderful things about.
I've never met the owners of the Cafe, but the newsletter and blog they publish are wonderful. They are extremely knowledgeable about wine and are striving to bring some of the best labels to the area. I love it - and of course, I live less than a mile away.
The folks that run the Cafe have several wine tastings coming up and I plan to attend one soon. Check out their blog at www.cafelegrand.com!

The Blunders of Technology

I often pontificate about the wonders of technology on this blog. I love the fact that thanks to improvements in internet and audio programs I am now able to stay home to work, something I've been doing for quite a few years now. I work for Mediabase, my full time job, at home, and do my nighttime jock gig on WBCV - 107.9 Wausau - www.bigcheese1079.net - from home. In fact, I haven't even set foot in the studio in well over a year......maybe 2, actually. The music director sends me the music logs for each day and I know where I'm expected to talk (eight times an hour) - so I record those dry and email them to the station, where they are inserted into the studio's computer program to run the show with no one in the building. It's a system that usually works seamlessly, even if there's a live remote, because I can just throw it to the jock as I would if I were in the studio and no one knows the difference. People are always surprised to learn it isn't live, and I'm sitting at my little desk in my office with a mic and a mixing board connected to my Mac. I even recorded a week's worth when I went to Mexico and just went - with no one listening the wiser. Even severe weather is automated down to a science. It's great! That is - until something goes wrong.
Last night, someone forgot to load my tracks into the system. So, instead of NO tracks playing, the system pulled the tracks it had - namely, last week's tracks. So for three hours until someone at the station finally figured it out and made the switch, I was intro-ing and outro-ing all the wrong songs, and talking about things that had already taken place. How horrid. I just have to sit back and laugh - because what else can you do? And I'm guessing they'll be extra careful on their end in the future!

Goodbye to my Misspent Youth

Scott St Pub Teardown 2
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

The Scott St Pub is on it's way down. I was at the bank driveup window across the street and saw the demolition, so I snapped a few photos through the windshield. There was too much traffic to stop and take a proper photo, and I only had my old camera in my purse. There are a couple more shots on my Flickr site. I spent many, many nights hanging at the Pub when I was in my 20's - sad to see it go.

Why Yes.....Yes, they ARE

Palladian Project

While downtown today, I was happy to see that the Palladian Project is coming along nicely. I snapped a photo from down the street and you can get an idea what it will look like. The six story Palladian is being built where the former Plaza Mall used to be, on the corner of 3rd and Jefferson Streets. Part ot it is an extension of the Jefferson Street Inn, and part of it will be high end condos. Initially there had been skepticism as to whether those $250,000 condos would be marketable here in our small town, but from what I understand those properties were snapped up almost immediately. They will be beautiful - and our downtown will look even better once this project is completed this year.

Random Wednesday Thoughts

Today was my day off. I spent the morning at the neurologist's office going over my MRI findings. Nothing too spectacular to report, but it seems the reason I'm having all these headaches is from a rather large area of what they think is scar tissue on my right frontal lobe from an injury. Had to be when I tripped on the step and hit my head on the door a few years ago. Evidently I injured my brain then which is what is causing all the hoopla. The doctor said there isn't anything to do - we'll re-scan in a year or so to make sure the size stays the same since they are, after all, operating on the "most likely" scenario and not an absolute....and he said the best I can hope for is to get down to 1-2 headaches a month. I think with the Topamax we're almost there, and I'm glad there isn't damage in the temporal lobe where I'd be more likely to have seizures.
And no brain tumor, of course. :)
The afternoon was spent at Clay Corner with Julie and Dana painting stuff. I made a wine goblet, Julie made some coffee mugs for her parents, and Dana made a crazy coffee mug. Dana looks much happier in the photo than she was in real life - Julie and I pretty much dragged her there. All in all it was a relaxing afternoon, though
Meanwhile, as I look in the mirror and realize I'm hitting 40 this year, suddenly the lines on my face are appearing all that much more noticeable. Holy crap. Time to buy some supercharged moisturizer....and while I'm at it, I've decided my hair needs an update, too, so I'm getting it cut tomorrow night. I love it long, but it's hard to manage, so I think I'm going to get a couple of inches taken off and have a brand new style. We'll see.

Who Says Mr. Blackwell Is Heartless?

Fashion Critic Mr. Blackwell has put Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham at the top of his 48th annual worst-dressed list. "Forget the fashion spice, wearing a skirt would suffice! In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty posh can really wreck-em," he said in a statement.

1. Victoria Beckham
2. Amy Winehouse - "Exploding beehives above, tacky polka-dots below, she's part 50's carhop horror."
3. Mary-Kate Olsen - "She resembles a tattered toothpick-trapped in a hurricane."
4. Fergie
5. Kelly Clarkson
6. Eva Green
7. Avril Lavigne
8. Jessica Simpson
9. Lindsay Lohan
10. Alison Arngrim

... Missing from the list was Britney Spears, who has made it many times before. "I felt that it was inappropriate at this time to make comment, when her personal life is in such upheaval. I hope 2008 is a better year for her," Blackwell said.

Olympic Highlights [Human Special Effects Performance]

Here's your You Tube laugh of the week! :)

The Color of Bad News

Have you ever noticed how the world seems to change the instant you hear bad news? Earth shattering, life altering news.....it seems to create a subtle change in the hue of the room. Everything turns just a little grayer.....sounds are different.....taste is altered. You have the almost irrepressible urge to grab the laughing teenager in the convenience store line ahead of you, demanding she act appropriately. Or to tell everyone who asks the benign question - "how are you?" the truth about your day. "Have you heard," you desperately want to say. "Do you know what happened?"
Such is the state of affairs today upon learning that my aunt - my only remaining aunt - had bad news on her needle biopsy. That lump she thought was a cyst is breast cancer.
Tomorrow she'll learn her options. Until then, I will hope they caught it early, that it can be removed and treated with radiation rather than chemo.....because I know if faced with chemo she'll choose to let it go and let nature take it's course. I'll post updates when I know.

St. Petersburg Ballet

In three weeks, my mother and I are going with Annaluna to see the St. Petersburg Ballet perform Tchaikovsky's classic ballet, Swan Lake. I can't wait. This story is one of the world’s most popular ballets, a timeless tale for all ages to enjoy. The threat of evil looms. Young love is overwhelmed as deception and jealousy dominate in the darkness. Tragedy seems certain, but gallantry and selflessness triumph as the dawn breaks. Such is the story of Prince Siegfried, Odette, the Swan Maidens, and the Sorcerer of Swan Lake. The St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre brings modern flair to its productions while maintaining the standards that define Russian ballet. Wausau Dance Theatre is one of the sponsors, and Annaluna was kind enough to ask us to go as her guests - we had planned to attend anyway despite the high ticket price. I've never seen Swan Lake performed in person, so I am really looking forward to a great evening at the theatre!

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

This weekend was my January weekend off, and thank goodness because all I wanted to do was curl up next to the fireplace with a good book or two (or four, actually). The weather is terrible - foggy and raining, and all the beautiful snow is melting into a big sludge pile. It's like pea soup outside - you can't see down the block. The world is gray and misty, with the kind of weather that gets into your bones and just makes them ache. Friday night I took the kids out for dinner at Angelo's, and Saturday went for a martini at the Elks club, but other than that I pretty much laid low. The kids went to a birthday party sleepover Saturday night and John had to work, so I had the house to myself, which pretty much never happens when I'm not working. It finally gave me time to recover from the 2nd bout of pneumonia in six weeks and I'm feeling much better than I did last week. I re-read Dennis Lehane's Mystic River, and read Lisa Gardner's Alone, followed by Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian and David Baldacci's latest, Stone Cold. Good stuff.
The rain is disappointing - the kids are going to the school forest this week and were hoping to go cross country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing - but that will have to change unless we get some fresh snow. I, too, have been itching to get out on my "new" x-c skis but was sidelined with the pneumonia - it will just have to wait until the next good snowfall.

Devon

Devon
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

Loving the snow!

Julie, Shereen, Dana

Julie, Shereen, Dana
Originally uploaded by shereenflynn

Here are the three of us at this year's New Year's Eve party at my house. We ate too much, drank too much, and had a good time!

Word A Day Calendar

When I moved home from Oklahoma in 1990, I lived with my dad for a few years. He had started getting a word-a-day calendar every year for Christmas (from Krista, I think) and it became our routine to look at the new word each morning at breakfast and try to use it in a sentence as often as possible throughout the day. Birthday words were special, as were other special dates. It was fun we kept up through the years until his death. When I lived away from him he'd always be sure to bring over the page with the word for my birthday or the kids' birthdays. In my scrapbook I have the word of the day for each of the days my kids were born, too. So it seemed entirely appropriate that we continue the tradition, and I picked up a word-a-day calendar at Barnes & Noble this week. The kids and I thought it would be good to learn a new word every day at breakfast - and it's a small way to remember my dad every morning as well.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

More Holiday Stuff

Last night our holiday festivities continued at John's parents house. I bought John a new Nikon compact digital camera for Christmas and he took a bunch of photos there. At the condo there's a basement room that was perfect for Devon to try out his new RipStik, which is like a skateboard on two caster wheels instead of four. It's supposed to be like snowboarding on wheels. It came with an instructional DVD that he watched before leaving for the Flynns, and he couldn't wait to try it out. He's got such great balance that it worked out well for him and he loved it! One of the other residents showed Rowan a funny ride-on toy her grandchildren use when they visit, and he had fun riding around on it. It made for some fun photos! John's camera is nice, and will fit in his pocket.
Today is my final day of four days off, so we plan to make the most of it. Unfortunately, I woke up with a fever and a raging cold, but I'm plugging myself full of comtrex and advil and I'm determined to have fun with the kids! We plan to try out the toboggan and go to the mall to spend their gift cards. One of Devon's video games didn't work, so we need to return that to Game Stop, and we all received gift cards from Barnes & Noble, too. It should be a great day of fun with the kids, and my cleaning girls are coming so I'll come home to a clean house.....order a pizza, and play a game or two in the evening. First, though, I still have to track my radio show, record two ads and write a quick column for the prep service (I know, on my day off!) - but after that it's all good.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Day is here - the season has flown by, as it always does. Last night the kids participated in the annual pageant at their church. Last year I didn't go, as I was at home caring for my dad, but this year I went, and was glad to sit in the balcony where no one could see me cry. Christmas Eve has always been our family time, from the time I was little - the night we opened gifts and sat around the tree together. It was really hard without my dad for the first time. Everything about the season this year has been hard but I've been trying to keep up a brave front for the kids - I didn't want to ruin their holiday and didn't want them to see me cry. They had a great Christmas and did a wonderful job in the pageant at church - I was very proud. I took video that I will edit and post later tonight or tomorrow.
Devon got his PSP, and Rowan got the digital camcorder he wanted - a terrific Canon I picked up on the internet for a really good deal (better than mine!!!). They also received Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii and a beautiful toboggan from LL Bean - we can't wait to take it out for a spin! Since we had a huge snowstorm over the past two days (fourteen inches!) there's a fresh layer of snow to speed through. I'll take them to the hill either this afternoon or tomorrow.
This morning I made waffles (our holiday tradition) and now we're all in our pajamas by the tree, playing games and reading books. Later we'll go to the Flynns for gifts, dinner, and the usual sarcasm and insults.
John had to work overnight and will work again tonight, so he's spending the day sleeping.

Tis the Season...

Free Skis!

The Sylvan Hill tubing area opened this weekend, and though Rowan is still too sick to go the kids can't wait to tube for the first time this year. Sylvan used to be a ski hill, but it was too small to really compete with our fabulous Granite Peak ski area, so thc county turned it into a tubing hill with two runs. The old tow ropes are still in use so you use that to get up the hill on your tube, and it's cheap fun at only $5 per person for kids. The chalet is warm and toasty with a fire crackling away - usually I take the kids and hang out by the fire with 50 cent hot chocolate and a book. Seeing as though I have been stuck in the house for weeks on end, my workout routine has really suffered, so I was interested to read the article in this week's newspaper talking about Sylvan's cross-country ski trails. I didn't even know they existed! Perfect opportunity for me to get some exercise while the kids are tubing. The only problem? No skis - and with Christmas fast approaching I did not want to spend any money on myself. We have a few pair of cross country skis in the garage that we brought back from John's parents cottage when they sold it, but they have the old style bindings and there are no boots that fit me, so I'd thought of buying boots and replacing the bindings, but even that would be pricey right now. Early yesterday morning I noticed an ad from the Freecycle Network for a pair of waxless Edsbyn skis in my size with boots - also in my size - and a pair of poles up for grabs. I was lucky enough to be the first to respond, and yesterday afternoon I picked up my new skis. They are older but in great shape, and the boots fit really well. It's fate, I tell you! So now I can't wait for next weekend, when I can take the kids to the hill and I can get some x-c ski time in. It's been years since I've done it but I used to love it - so this should be great!

Ho, Ho, Ho - the Altenburgh Show

The show last night at the Grand was great - hard to believe 12 years of fun is coming to an end. Wonderful music and great fun backstage with my brother as always. This is, however, the first time in 12 years I made a joke emceeing that I probably shouldn't have (nothing off-color, it was about the fervor over the airport's trees) but other than that I felt good about it. The party afterward was the usual glitz and glimmer and I didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning. Everyone was there, from the mayor to the police chief to all the downtown business people, lots of media, and all the musicians and their friends. Janet Planet gave a terrific rendition of Amazing Grace, and even former Airkraft frontman Mitch Viegut got into the action with a little "Run, Run, Rudolph" (in the photo); Chris O'Keefe gave a wrap up of his Martha Stewart running anthem, "Martha Stewart's Coming For Christmas (and that's a real 'good thing')" and Otis sang some great tunes as well. Loved John's opening this year, too. Great stuff - now we'll just have to wait for the reunion show in a few years!

Meet the Green Bay Packers

Big Cheese was the media sponsor for this week's Superbowl 32 reunion party and fundraiser for the LeRoy Butler Foundation this week in Stevens Point. Only a few comp tickets were available for the $85 a plate dinner, so we all put our names in a hat and I was one of the few lucky enough to go, and I was able to bring my brother along. The night featured live and silent auctions, a VIP meet and greet which we were a part of, a dinner and more. LeRoy Butler was there, of course, as were fellow teammates from the Superbowl winning team including Mark Chmura, Santana Dotson, Ron Woodson, Bill Schroeder, Gilbert Brown, Chris Jackie, and others. The dinner wasn't great and there were FAR too many people in the VIP room to be a true VIP experience but it was still a fun night and I was glad to be able to treat my brother to a night of rubbing elbows with great athletes like that. Here are just a couple of photos from the evening!

Visitor Maps

I've been playing around for awhile now with different visitor maps on the blog. You'll see the latest version on the left. I just pasted the HTML into the template and I think this one's going to do it. The last one was irritating - it was too big, bleeding over into the post text, and didn't show the detail I wanted it to. Don't worry - it's not that I want you to think Big Brother is watching. I just like to know where people are reading this. It's always fun to see a reader in England, France, or somewhere else that seems exotic to me. It's also comforting to see a click from Milwaukee - I know my cousin's checking (hello, Pete!) - or one from Seattle - (hi, Spike!). Love to see the clicks from Duluth (hello, my dear friend Beth!) Rob in Los Angeles, Wendy in New Mexico (I love you, sister!) Ed in Des Moines, Chris in Colorado - and someone from Minneapolis that I can only assume is my long lost dear friend Paul who never responds to email anymore (shame on you). So humor me, if you will - and I'll let you know how the latest version - this one from ClustrMaps - works out.

Ouch!

Today in school Rowan had a bit of a mishap. He was sitting on a chair backward, rocking...and he fell.....and the chair back smacked him HARD in the face. His front tooth is crooked (hence the enormous orthodontia bills) and the corner of it cut through his entire lip to the other side - all the way through. OH MY GOD. It is so gross. That poor kid! I picked him up right away and took him to the walk in - where I was treated to a TWO HOUR WAIT only to be told that he was lucky enough to have a very straight cut - so no stitches were necessary. If it had been jagged, or if there had been a flap of skin, he would have definitely needed one or two - but this should heal up just fine on it's own. He was so relieved, and so was I. Meanwhile it's swollen up like a big balloon. I took a photo but you can't really tell the magnitude of the swelling in this picture! Eating is hard, of course, and he can't play his baritone for at least a week. Ack! I'm just glad he didn't have to have a stitch! Of course if I hadn't taken him, I'd have wondered for weeks whether I'd done the right thing, so despite the wait and the benign result, I'm glad we went.

Caroling in the Great Hall

Tonight Devon's Choraliers and Choralation choirs led the community caroling event at the PAF's Grand Theatre Great Hall - 30 minutes of fun Christmas carols that finally got me into the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, Devon is the shortest one in the group, and he stood behind a bunch of much taller people! But we knew he was there singing, and we all had a good time.
I've struggled with the holiday blues this year for a variety of reasons, but tonight I finally feel like I'm a little more with it. Here's hoping that feeling lasts.

Altenburgh Show Ahead

The annual Altenburgh Christmas show is coming up soon, and I'll be emceeing it for the 11th and final year. John Altenburgh & Co. announced today this would be the final go-round for this holiday event - hard to believe this is coming to an end. John, who is a cousin of famed jazz musician Pat Metheny, owns Altenburgh records and assembles an eclectic array of talent each year. The show features some of the area's finest jazz and blues talent: John Greiner, Otis McLennon, Chris O'Keefe, Mitch Viegut, Tom Washatka, Randy Sabien, and the amazing vocals of Janet Planet. Some of the band members, including John, are part of the blues band Johnny & the Mo-Tones, which has enjoyed success nationwide these past few years.
Some fun Altenburgh Show facts:
* Over 20, 000 tickets have been sold in the show's history. Last year only one single ticket remained.
* The show actually started at The Scott St. Pub, Wausau, WI as a Christmas Jam session in the late 1980's to early 1990's.
* Altenburgh's Christmas Show has historically created the largest bar night of the year for The PAF. (Not surprising. You should see how much alcohol they go through backstage!)
* Chris O'Keefe (notorious for his obsession with Martha Stewart) predicted Stewart's prison time in his song "Martha Stewart's Christmas in Prison." performed at the show a full year before any public knowledge of her troubles.
* 57 different local people have been mentioned or lampooned in Altenburgh's opening monologue, including two Wausau Mayors - I myself have been mentioned twice!
* Co-owner of City Bike Works, Ricky Walters, donates a bike to give away every year and also runs the spotlights during the show. During a Bike give away routine, where a dart had to be thrown to a seating chart to pick the winner, Otis McLennon missed the board four straight times from six feet away. Otis was quarterback of his high school football team.
* Because most performers live outside of the Wausau area, only one rehearsal is
available with an average of 3 hours of rehearsal time per year.
* Thanks to a manufacturer's defect, the flying toy chicken "give-away" during the 2004 show, all landed in the audience without heads. The heads came off in mid flight.

Oh, the fun we've had - Altenburgh, we're gonna miss you. But let's have one more great year!

Nutcracker Photos

Of all the six years I have attended Central Wisconsin School of Ballet's annual presentation of The Nutcracker, it's quite possible that this year was the finest. Small changes in the show every year keep the show fresh - and this year was no exception. Most notable was the expansion of the role of the Harlequin, who first made an appearance last year. The costumes in Snow were changed slightly, and the choreography in the Battle scene were changed and improved upon. The professional dancers, hired from the American Ballet Theatre, were absolutely perfect. Veronica Yaeger, most recently seen in the highly popular Disney hit High School Musical 2, returned to reprise her role as the Arabian dancer, superb as always.
Devon did a fantastic job as a naughty boy. Last night seeing him onstage - I couldn't have been more proud. As Patrik told me after the show - Devon is an old theatre pro. Years ago Devon's kindergarten teacher told me - "That kid is going to be on Broadway someday - just you wait!" - and you know, she could be right!
Central Wisconsin was hit with a blizzard last night, Mother Nature dumping nearly 16 inches of snow in our area, resulting in a sparse crowd for what is normally a sold out show. Those that braved the weather were rewarded with a holiday treat to remember!
I snapped a few photos, though cameras are prohibited in the theatre, even without a flash. I had to wait until the ushers were looking the other way. Even so, my brother was convinced we were going to be thrown out of the theatre. Scaredy cat!!!! :)

CWSB's Nutcracker from Rehearsal to Perfomance

More footage - this is raw video from rehearsals taken by the photographer covering the story - thanks, Erik!

Behind the Scenes of CWSB's

Great footage from this year's preparations from the Nutcracker. If you look closely, you can see Devon in the opening scenes!

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!