Takin' the Blog for a Walk
Join Waukesha resident Brien Lee and his blog, Sir Fido, as they explore the city and report on the interesting things they find.
Email Brien at howlinblog@yahoo.com.
I'm not whining
The Waukesha County Food Pantry opened at their new location on Sentry Drive this week. I lent a hand in the Saturday move. I'm familiar with the place, which is good, because it probably won't be long before I'm there for another reason.
My pay for 40 hours of work is $60.00 less take home than unemployment. By working full time I lose all unemployment. When I interviewed for the job I was told it paid more than when I was offered the job. If I refuse work I also lose all unemployment. Could you live on little more than $300.00 a week?
working it off
When I can save money, even if it means working it off . . .
Today I'll be manning the Shamrock Club's booth at the Wisconsin Highland Games at the County Expo Grounds. Look for me if you're there between noon and five. I've always known the Games were there, live just a mile from the Expo, but have never attended. I'm looking forward to seeing the caber toss, dancing, costumes, hearing bagpipes and Irish folk music. . . Volunteering will save me the $8.00 price of admission.
what are you doing at 6:00?
If the weather cooperates the Badgerland Skiers will be performing their last show of the season this afternoon at 6:00 on the Fox at Frame Park. WaukeshaNOW paper reported it starting at 7:00, and I wanted to make sure you were aware of the correction and encourage you to attend the superb show.
weapons as fashion accessories
I should've known, but I couldn't believe the amount of weapons at WI Highland Games 2010. I did have a good time. I tried haggis, heard pipers compete, saw athletic competition and ran into some friends. Obviously the origin of Highland games involve weapons, but I really don't need to know how to wield a mace or throw a battle axe with accuracy.
Seen were people of all ages sporting swords as part of their costume or recently purchased. Plastic swords, decorative, homemade, antique... all manner of swords. I too bought a sword a couple years ago at auction, but my wife wouldn't let me play with it. I gave it away.
my ticket to history has expired
My ticket, three actually, expired for lack of use yesterday when we missed the big Brewer game. Pitcher Trevor Hoffman made history with his 600th save, the first major-league reliever to do so.
I didn't get home until almost 7:00 and the game started at 7:10. No one here was in the mood to go with me and, not being a big baseball fan, didn't even know Hoffman was going for the record.
decking the walls of City Hall's hall
Waukesha Art Fest on Main Street wasn't the only place to find a good painting. Volunteers showed up in force to spruce up City Hall Saturday. The team pulled it together and got the huge task done in just two days - way ahead of the time expected and, obviously, saving a lot of money.
The colors, coral and an off-yellow, go pretty good together.
Where Art Thou Art?
I saw many familiar faces while manning the WPR booth at Waukesha Art Fest yesterday. I greeted them at the booth or spotted them from a distance. The clouds parted, the sun came out, had as much fun as last year.
Katie Madsen, Mimi Notestein and Chuck Quirmbach from WHAD were in town for Art Fest.
Similarities?
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Anything different besides the color? I don't see anything. The color photo was taken by me Saturday and posted here Sunday morning. The top photo was printed in Tuesday's Freeman. Funny, I didn't see anyone else taking pictures when I was there.
"You can't complain if you don't vote."
My friend Rod was quoted in today's Freeman speaking yesterday at his polling station. It's funny because I said the same thing. I worked the polls 16 hours yesterday. Huge turnout. Nearly 40 percent. The great weather helped, but 40 percent? I had the feeling more people are paying attention and interested in politics.
Should we expect more complaints?
wish-washing
Wish-wash is defined as speech or writing deemed banal or foolish. You've been warned.
I heard between 9:00 and 10:00 Thursday night the washing machine had broken. I'd survive, but my kid washes his clothes every day; usually in the early morning before anyone else is up.
the Camaro
I finally found an interested person in my son's '89 Camaro Z28.
The car's been sitting here a long time waiting for someone to sink a lot of money in it's repair. We allowed use of the garage because auto repair is the field he's schooling for, and it made a good project car. It was a sweet car at one time with T-tops, but has seen beeter better days. Son's money for it's repair dried up soon after he bought a Harley.
Apple Fest A Peeling
I thought the morning's rain and cooler temps may keep away more than just the wasps. After years of good weather for Retzer's Apple Harvest Festival I wondered if this would be the one time few would show up. Fortunately word has gotten around in the last 24 years of the festival and they came. They came before it officially opened. They came while it was still raining and, long after the parking field was muddy, they came. They brought cloth bags and picked up free recycling bins to carry their fresh apples home in.
This year I learned much more about apples through 3 hours of helping in the apple marketplace tent. We had 50 varieties for sale and an apple expert to answer our many questions. We sold apples by the piece, quarter and half peck, by the peck and by the bushel. Piece cost was only 50 cents each for 49 different varieties, just the honey crisp apples were $2.00 each. All the apples came from three local orchards.
Birch and Irving tonalpohualli
The last time I drove past this house at Birch and Irving I saw a huge blue-tarped half circle almost as large as the side of the house. Had no clue what it was covering.
Today when I drove past I saw a person, as if in prayer, sitting on the grass in front of what looked like the largest Budhist painting I'd ever seen. It was very colorful and detailed similar to a sand mandala.
Walkin' Without the Blog
We've had a week to console ourselves over the loss of our pet. Thanks to all that emailed and comforted us. He was but a poor dog, but he was one of God's creatures and a member of our family.
It's been just a month since he went in for surgery to remove a tooth. If it seems to have happened very fast; then we did the right thing. The tumor on his upper jaw was keeping him from eating and without eating he wasn't taking his pain medicine. We didn't want him to suffer any longer, Pewaukee Veterinary Service was understanding enough to get us in right away, and now he's not suffering so, as hard as it was, we know we did the right thing.
Such a Deal!
It's that time of year again. The St. William's rummage sale begins Thursday 8:00 to 6:00, continues Friday 8:00 to 6:00 and ends Saturday 8:00 to 2:00. As I've mentioned in the past; this large sale in the gym has great value for the money. If this sale is like those in the past expect heavy markdowns by Saturday, but for best selection shop Thursday and Friday.
St. William is on Moreland between Summit and Michigan - 440 N. Moreland Blvd.
