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.
Father, who art in Heaven
What to give to the guy who has everything for Father's Day? Presumably a hug, some time with him and your love? The last thing I gave my dad for Father's Day was a Hallmark card, a nice one that said everything I meant to say, but didn't say near often enough. He never got the chance to read it.
RIP Jim Hilden
A decade ago I wouldn't have pictured myself writing anything good about our 4th District Alderman in Waukesha. Jim was my foe before becoming my friend, and that is why something should be said on his passing.
15 years ago this week
The alarm rang around 1:00 early Sunday morning August 31st, 1997. There was a news report broadcasting from the TV set in our son's bedroom when I went to shut it off on my way to work. Listening to the BBC on the radio on my way to the Journal Sentinel's Dolphin Drive Distribution Center I learned what they'd been discussing on television: Princess Diana had been in a very serious car accident.
10' from action
Thanks to Toyota, was able to squeeze into the nearest spot to Waukesha Civic Theater's rear entrance when the rest of parking lot was filled. Thanks to front row seats was literally ten feet from the action, and with Miss Saigon there is a lot of action.
I Will Always Love You
With Whitney's untimely and tragic passing Saturday we watched the Grammys to hear tributes to an amazing woman.
Poor souls nobody visits on Memorial Day
Waukesha County Northview Cemetery is surprisingly well-maintained for an out of the way, inactive and little-visited final resting place. Bordered by the fairgrounds on the east and the County Highway Department on the west, it's the closest cemetery to my home. I likely was the only one to visit on Memorial Day.
going stir crazy
Was invited to try a new restaurant last night for a friend's birthday. Stir Crazy is an Asian restaurant bordering Brookfield Square on the north at Bluemound. Had a bit of a wait due to the time of day and them not taking reservations, though twas a good time to meet the folks and friends. For my selection I chose the Market Bar. Market Bar is like a salad bar for the wok. You first order a protein and select rice or noodles at the table and receive two bowls. You fill one of the bowls with vegetables, legumes and fruit and the other with sauce. Hand the bowls to a wok chef and they cook it up with the protein right in front of you while you wait. I had shrimp, garlic ginger sauce and brown rice and my wok was delicious and filling without being too hot or spicy. I didn't do anything for St. Pat's day, so I washed it all down with a couple bottles of Guinness.
Fox Bluff fire
It looks like a candle started the apartment fire on North Street Saturday. Fortunately no one was killed or seriously injured. The building, by far the nicest of the three apartment buildings on that stretch of North Street, appears to be a total loss. One has to wonder how, in this age of sprinklers and smoke alarms, could something like this get so out of control so fast. Fortunately many residents were away at the time, but so were the nearest firefighters. Fire Station One is just a block away but they were on another call at the time.
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.
ain't gonna study war no more
Down by the riverside the Memorial Day services were as good as ever. A good crowd turned out after a raincloud had passed through earlier in the morning.
The good news is I'll have more time to Take the Blog for a Walk
The bad news is I lost my job of 24 years.
"I LUV U"
It's not that I don't love each one of you, it's just that I wouldn't come right out and say it like this. By using quotation marks in the title I'm able to avoid any emotional connection.
loss of a friend
Remembered Lou at the nature center today. Retzer was a great place to remember a great man who had just passed away a week ago, during the winter solstice.
my tribute to 50 years of Sound of Music
The Sound of Music opened on Broadway 50 years ago this month at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. I didn't quite realize, until adulthood, the impact the story had on my parents. I guess my mom, also a mother of eight, pulled inspiration from Maria Von Trapp. Years ago, while Maria was still alive, we stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. The mountainous area reminded the family of the Austrian countryside they left behind. I visited a stone chappel on a hill above the resort that the kids had erected, and the gravesite of a few family members located close to the lodge. My mom wrote to Maria while we were there... and Maria responded. It was a good trip.
it was time
Even though he passed away 30 years ago, my grandfather has been in my thoughts lately. All Souls Day, the day we especially remember those who have left us, was the second of Nov.. His last son, my Uncle Lee, was just buried two weeks ago. And the Milwaukee shop he built, I learned, was sold this week.
third year's a charm
It's been three years since the beginning of WaukeshaNOW and this blog. There's still plenty going on to share. The enjoyment I get from writing hasn't receeded, and as long the computer is working, and I still have the time, I'd like to continue.
got coal?
I know St. Nicholas Day was the sixth, but many people, like us, do "stockings" at Christmas. We often tease about putting coal in the socks of naughty children, but have you even given or received coal? Real coal?
D'oh! a deer
The good news is I've gone 17,345 days without hitting a deer. Bad news is the streak ended this morning.
taking the long way home
Tonight I missed my first bus heading back to Waukesha by just a minute. I spent a few minutes in the Grand Ave. Mall waiting for the next one to arrive. It was raining and I haven't been there in a while. I missed the next one by a minute or two because I stayed in the mall too long. There is a third choice for me, the last one of the night going to my stop, but not arriving for another hour. I waited.
Tom's helping hands
I've known Tom for 20+ years. He was in our wedding party 18 years ago and hosted a bachelor party at his house. He's one of the few mechanics who didn't loose their job during last year's restructuring. Because so few mechanics are left, he's been busier than ever, but never too busy for me. He offered to come to Waukesha in April to help me pry my canoe off the bridge support in the Fox River. Recently, he saved me a couple hundred dollars replacing a bearing assembly on our Lumina. He's always been quick with free advice for my many needs. We get along and I consider him a good friend.
when a blogger dies
A fellow blogger passed away a week ago today. He was born and died in June... with eighty years in between. He led a very interesting and full life, spoke many languages and had friends around the world.
how to forgive?
Two weeks ago today a terrible accident shook Oconomowoc. The aftershocks are still felt in the Milwaukee Metro area and now, with talk of changing the laws, in all of Wisconsin. How do you forgive a former doctor for recklessly ending the most innocent of lives?
Predicting the Future
Today is the 18th of March. Tomorrow, the 19th, Sir Arthur C. Clarke will be dead at 90. He will die as he lived... in the future.
the rest of the story
Little Caesars. One of my last posts mentioned a sad individual without balloons and, even though I haven't gone hot air ballooning in months, wasn't referring to me. At least I didn't think so. No, I'm not the clown who lost his balloons. But I am sad that Little Caesars on Summit is closed. Sunday the pizza shop made one last attempt to attract customers by attaching bunches of yellow and orange balloons to a sign in the parking lot and by Monday they were permanently closed. Now I'm not a connoisseur of fine pizza, but did love the fact that we could run in for a quick, hot, inexpensive meal that everyone would eat.
Tim's Valentine's Day
How was your Valentine's Day? Mine was nothing special. Worked during the day and had a meeting at night.
Let me be Frank
I've often felt that one of the best ways to get to know someone comes when it's too late. In the past I've mentioned savoring every word when it's a writer's final column, or a TV or radio personality's last show. Just when I think I know someone well enough, they surprise me by retiring or moving on, and it's only then that we discover fully the interesting person they really are.
I'm sad
I'm sad because I missed Christmas at Carroll this year. It was last weekend. I'd been looking forward to it all year ever since last December's concert. It was the best concert I'd ever been to and I wanted to do it again. I know I can't do everything and there's always next year, but darn!!
