Once again we enjoyed one of Dexter's Pub's Heritage Series dinner events, their 5th overall - the second one was canceled and we skipped the third one (Goose Island Brewery) because we didn't care much for the menu. It happened this past Monday evening, I just totally forgot to write about it all week. We were once again joined by my friend Ted, and we ran into a co-worker of his and his wife/girlfriend. They were a very nice couple, fun and talkative, easy to like. The brewery featured this month was Alaskan Brewing Co. so the food kind of followed an Alaskan theme with salmon pate and bear sausage among the dishes. Overall a good 6 courses, we were satisfied and full by the end. I wasn't even able to finish the chocolate pound cake that was for dessert! Ted's friends had a good idea, they brought to-go containers to take some of the food home. Of course, Dexter's Pub has to-go containers anyway but I've never thought to use them at one of these dinners.
The beers we tried were good but nothing exceptional. There were two IPAs, one a double IPA that I just couldn't get down. My wife and I are not hops fans normally and I found the double IPA to be very perfume-y for my taste. There were no sour beers at this dinner (but we had a couple last night at Malt House, including an 18 dollar, 750 ml bottle of local New Glarus Brewing's Serendipity.) I guess I'm really starting to like the sour beers.
The Alaskan Brewing Company's representative was a young woman, Megan, who had her two kids there to 'help' and her parents showed up late as the dinner was beginning. It actually wasn't terribly annoying, but in my opinion I would have liked a bit more professionalism. We were spending 45 bucks a head for dinner, after all. I enjoy when they give you more history of the brewery and the beers they serve you. One brewery even had a slide show of the brewery and such playing on a nearby TV and the rep would point out certain things as he discussed them. There was no free pint glass for us like the other dinners, but she did do some trivia and gave away some brewery swag and Dexter's gift certificates. Overall another very nice dinner. Probably ranks third of the three we have been to, but still a very good time.
My wife had this past week off for vacation and - among lots of other things - she has weeded the hell out of the stump area. You see the hostas around the stump, and all the other green stuff in the picture, left, is a ground cover called Vinca. She has been trying to get the stuff to cover the area for a year or two now. In fact, there are nine more plants out on the porch right now waiting to be planted. The soil has been a bit wet recently, but they will be in the ground very soon.
I'm also quite proud to announce that she has begun posting recently on our garden website. I am the Sco, and she is the Kat, after all. My posting over the years there has mainly been to keep a record of the happenings of the garden. Sometimes diary-like, and not very exciting. She brings a refreshing view and personality to the site that I didn't. She's off to a great start and I can't wait to read more.
Visit the Scoakat's Garden website and check out her posts!
We had our annual spring party on Saturday. We missed last year due to personal reasons but otherwise have had a spring party every year since we bought the house. Again we invited friends, neighbors and some co-workers to come by for Bratwurst, apple baked beans, several salads and this year we got a quarter barrel of beer - Wisconsin Amber from the local Capital Brewery. I grilled up 60 brats as usual and had the garage all cleaned and set up for the food line and tried to make as much space as I could in case we all had to huddle there. The weather was not ideal, up and down in the 50's, and while it started out pretty damp it did clear up as the party went on. It was nice to see all the people that did show up, despite the weather.
We actually were not sure what to expect this year. We had skipped the year before and all week the weather was looking iffy for Saturday. We had ordered the 1/4 barrel of beer the weekend before, then I got a call mid-week saying they could not get a 1/4 barrel of this amber beer but they could get a 1/6 barrel, 56-12 oz beers. I agreed readily with the weather on my mind. Then on Saturday I went to pick it up and they said 'good news, we got your 1/4 barrel!' Well, I was thinking, I was happy with 1/6 barrel and did not appreciate the switch back without being informed, but I took it. Turns out that even with the less than ideal weather we would have run out with the smaller keg. I also thought it odd that we went through all that beer but only half the brats. I'll chalk that up to better beer and to the ever-growing vegetarian population of the neighborhood. As one of the cute little neighborhood girls told me, it's not that she doesn't like meat but she doesn't like that it comes from animals. I can't argue with that.
Beer Drunk and Disappointed
It was only after the party when it was down to me and Kate with only two other people that I realized I had not taken a single picture all night. I was drunk on beer and very disappointed in myself. Bridget caught my disappointment on her phone and emailed it to me, right. Oh well, I'll have to try to remember next year. And I honestly cannot remember the last time I got drunk on beer. I'll taste beer and even have a beer, it's been happening more and more lately, but beer is not my first drink of choice.
Next day, killin' the keg!
The next day we finished off the Wisconsin Amber, there were only a half dozen or so glasses left in the barrel. I got a picture of Kate, left, getting one of those last glasses. And I got a picture of one thing that we have not had at our home yet, sidewalk chalk! Some of the neighborhood kids created art on our driveway, picture above, and sidewalk during the party yesterday. For some reason I felt almost honored, happy they felt comfortable enough to do so and not worry about the big scary man getting angry. I did have to joke with a couple of the neighbor dads about reporting the vandalism, we laughed and got another beer.
Everyone seemed to have a good time even if it was a bit chilly and windy. I would have liked to talk to each a bit more but that is hard when your are the host, you are the one thing that all those invited have in common. We did not have a firepit afterwards like we have always done in the past because it makes for such a long day. Still, we had plenty of fun and enjoyment to last until next spring! Or at least next weekend!
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On a personal note I would like to send out my best wishes to my father who just had a pacemaker installed and, separately, to my mother who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. See, it's not just me, the whole family is falling apart!
I've been on vacation this past week, taking it easy and getting a project done here and there when the weather has allowed. No big project this time, just a few little things. Finally got the power washer out and washed the house and back steps, 4 days later the rains subsided long enough for the steps to dry enough for me to water seal them. I still want to add another coat but, alas, it continues to rain. Other odd things here and there got done, but the one big thing I put off for later - building a platform for the washer and dryer downstairs. I have all the wood, just need the time and gumption to get it done.
Last night we went with friends to the Goodman Community Center for a Beer and Chocolate tasting fundraiser. They had the gymnasium opened up and there were about a dozen different local craft breweries and about the same number of local chocolatiers set up and handing out samples of their goods. While they did have suggested pairings it was pretty busy and a bit chaotic to try to follow all evening. I filled my card and tried all the sweets available but my wife hit the chocolate wall before she managed. I did not try all the brews but I do believe I tried all that I had a chance of liking. One stood out to me, Unshadowed by Ale Asylum. It was a hazy yellowish beer that had hints of a sour beer but it was not one. I'm told it is available in local grocery stores so I may have to try it again later. A suggestion for the event would be to make garbage cans more widely available and require food tables to provide napkins. On second thought, I guess if you don't give out napkins you don't need a place to throw them away, right? Mmm, sticky...
We went with our friends Terry, Bridget and Zubin. Getting them all to look good for the camera was like herding cats. Zubin is always difficult to nail down, he has googly eyes in this pic. Time to grow up and get over it Z! We had a nice evening of friends, beer, chocolate and even live music. Thankfully the weather held off, I hope it does this afternoon as well...
Elyze Ryd first hit my radar when she had a side gig doing backing vocals on tour with Kamelot back in 2012 when Amaranthe was idle. I knew nothing of her or the band Kamelot, but they were opening for Nightwish on a US tour when the singer Annette Olson became ill(diva-syndrome?) and left them in a bind. Instead of cancelling that night's show, they - with the crowd's approval - had Elyze Ryd and another girl from Kamelot fill in and sing Nightwish's songs, even reading the lyrics from paper. I thought Elyze did a wonderful job and obviously knew Nightwish's material better than the other girl. It was a unique show and I've watched the videos several times, here's a good one. Later I learned that she actually auditioned for the band in 2006, when Annette got the job. Of course, after this last minute replacement singers show the band flew in Floor Jansen from the other side of the world to finish the tour and, eventually, join the band on a more permanent basis. I cannot disagree, Floor has a wonderful voice and stage presence and I think she fits that band better that Elyze could.
The band Amaranthe got my attention again recently when I saw a blurb somewhere about the new video for their song 'Digital World,' and I really liked the song. They are a unique band in that they have three lead singers. Yes, the band has guitar, drums, and bass along with a female clean vocalist, a male clean vocalist, and a male extreme vocalist. From what I have seen so far, they all sing lead parts on every song and it seems to work for them very well.
Here's the video that caught my attention recently:
I had known about the band for some time, but because of the above video I finally did start taking the time to listen to them and watch them on youtube. And I know it is like 'pop' metal, but I enjoy this. It's a good feeling, discovering something new-to-you that makes you feel good - and music makes us feel good, that is why we have it. I went ahead and bought their latest CD from last October called 'Massive Addictive' about a week or two ago. I've been playing it lots and really enjoying the first half of the CD, the second half sounds good and sounds like the whole sound of the album but nothing stands out to me so far. Perhaps when I tire of the first half the second half songs will distinguish themselves to me more.
This is the CD that has helped me test the JBL speakers - with subwoofer - in the new car! I discovered that it has a 6 cd changer in the stereo but I just plug my phone in and play music from there. Thanks, Amaranthe!
And because I love the live stuff, here's one more from the latest album:
This past week my wife Kate was in Arizona for a work conference. You would think I would have had more time for myself but that didn't seem to happen. The cats were a bit off all week, they knew she wasn't there but I still was. I don't know if they thought she was gone for good or what they were thinking, but it was stressful, and even more when she did get back Friday evening. Hamish seemed to take it okay but poor Basil didn't know what to think and dumped on the floor. All was back to normal by bedtime.
She was barely out of town last Monday evening and I was at a car dealership getting a new-used car. It was on the to-do list and I had started looking online over the weekend and found one I liked a whole lot. It's a 2010 Toyota RAV4 Limited, the one pictured on the right. We already have a 2003 Base RAV4 that I just love driving, but I will move up to the 2010, my wife will now drive the 2003, and we will be getting rid of the 1997 Corolla (that we bought in 2000) that has had no radio or a/c for a couple years now. If we weren't before then we are now truly a Toyota family.
If my wife did not smoke she would be the one getting a new vehicle and still parking in the garage, but she wants to be able to smoke in the car she drives. Oh well, my gain. The new car looks like a million other cars on the road these days, it is not unique but it is loaded! It has all the bells and whistles and premium options offered in 2010. Heated seats and mirrors, rear view camera, keyless entry and start, killer stereo, steering wheel controls, dual climate controls, bluetooth calling, sunroof, and much more! It is larger than the 2003, but feels more solid, has a quieter ride and is nicer than anything I have ever driven. Along with the new car I am also getting garage parking rights for the first time in my adult life. Yes, my wife will be parking in the elements now. It goes against how I've always tried to treat her, but I'll try to live with it!
I mowed the lawn for the first time on Wednesday after work. It could have been done last weekend, but I like to give it a good start on the year before whacking it off at a predetermined length on a weekly basis. There are different grasses in different parts of the lawn and not all get started at the same rate. One thing I learned is that I need to take a half hour and scour the lawn for dandelions and dig them out. I hates dandelions!
I also dug out some more rocks from around the base of the tree stump. The flat cinder block type thing on the right I knew was back on the fence line, and I'll find a good use for it. The others were mostly under a layer of dirt - and there still may be two or three more in there. There are plenty of places I can fortify or lengthen the new stone 'wall' in back. I am very much still getting used to not having that big old tree there. I don't miss the worry of when it might break and fall, but I do miss having a tree there, our tree. There are still good size trees in the neighborhood, but we are now treeless.
Thursday after work I made my way around the yard with the camera. I always like to document how/when things grow and happen. It can be interesting to look back and see where things were in years past. I just posted a bunch of pics over at the garden blog, our own little garden diary space on the internet, Click Here to go see!
On a side note: Glad to hear all went well today, Dad, we hope you feel better soon.
Our tree had a ring of good size rocks around it, mostly real rocks but some concrete and cinder block pieces, even one piece of the original curb that still lines our street. When the tree was removed the crew moved about half of those rocks to the fence line, the rest I removed the other day. I think I got them all but only a few good rains will let me know for sure.
This has been the first weekend that I have finally felt that we will stay above the freezing point for the season. Overall it has been a very cool Spring and we have not yet had much rain. There is rain in the forecast, though, and I passed on mowing today but it won't last until next weekend.
Back to the rocks! I spent part of yesterday lining those rocks up parallel to the back fence in front of the hostas that will be bursting forth soon. This was nothing I planned, I didn't know they would remove so many at the time, and I wasn't going to try and re-place them back around a stump. Luckily it was about the right amount of rocks to let me make a good line, from the lilac to almost the compost bin. I like the definition it gives to the hostas - at least I believe I will once the hostas burst forth. These hostas are always a bit later than normal because they never get direct sun.
Facing West
Facing East
So, it was an unexpected project, but I had to do something with the rocks. I've gotten a mostly straight line out of them but I also placed them mostly vertical in the dirt. We'll see how it holds up for now. Also, we're still waiting to see what plants come back in the tree area, but a few good rains would clean it up and grow what will still grow. At least now that it finally seems I can trust it won't freeze again...
And while I'm touting my projects lately, I also cleaned up my work area in the garage a bit and also made myself some handy hooks to install behind the second bedroom door for my hats and clothes. There are many things to be done in the next few weeks, before my time. I can almost count down the days to my first vacation of the year, and probably my most needed in a long time. I have only one big project that I am willing to commit to that week right now, well, maybe. My present thoughts and later actions may differ at this point.
Wednesday this week I took the day off to be at home when our large silver maple tree in the back yard was scheduled to be removed. I hate to see any large tree taken down, let alone ours, but it was dying and we felt it was becoming unsafe. Part of the trunk was showing stress, rot with ants and visibly leaking sap in a stress area. The questionable segment was hanging right above the back end of the garage and gardens, also some of the upper branches, including some above the neighbor's house, had died and started to rot. So rather than wait until gravity became too much, we had it taken down safely. Many thanks to Nikolas' Tree Service!
First off, yes, that is snow on the ground Wednesday morning. In fact, it spit snow almost all day. No light accumulations like what you see here from the overnight hours, but still it was snowing. Again. Actually not bad outside for late November or early December. Too bad it is late April.
Secondly, if you must skip all my yadda yadda, there is a short video at the end and 28 more pictures after the break - click where it says 'Read more' at the end of this post.
The crew showed up by 7:30 am Wednesday morning. I had already been up and taken the 'before' shots you see here. Getting the boom truck into the back yard was the tricky part, and probably took about 20 minutes to accomplish. They were very safe and slow, driving on plywood and putting blocks by the wood edging around the tree as to not destroy it when the tires rolled over. I was impressed by the care they took, not just in getting the truck in and out, but overall. I do not have pictures of getting the truck in because I did not want anyone to get nervous. Anything that might happen to get accidentally destroyed would have been our property, after all.
I took over 140 images, including a dozen or so short videos. I decided to stay well out of their way so they wouldn't have to yell at me or worry where I was. For taking pictures I mostly stuck to just outside the back door on the landing to the front of the house for the tops of the tree. I did watch out the windows and did not try to hide it - I found watching them work pretty fascinating. They knew what they were doing and seemed like a well oiled machine. Talking to Nikolajs at lunch, however, he said how it was going slower because a control in the bucket broke the day before so he had to have one crew member at the base of the boom controlling that particular item manually. To my untrained eye it all seemed like it was supposed to be like that.
One thing that happened that I should have but did not consider, is the squirrels. It all started for us on Easter Sunday 5 years ago, when we had a very long branch break off due to squirrels that made a large hole out of a small hole (probably where a branch broke off years ago - I saw a lot of holes in limbs they brought down where the old branch stub rotted, leaving a hole), and kept weakening the branch until it broke. Squirrels had probably been living in there for years, which still upsets me because we had a crew trim the tree shortly after moving in and they surely noticed but let it go. (Bastards. Nikolajs was a certified arborist. My advice if you have trees is to only hire a certified arborist - and verify insurance.) When he got to that part of the tree this mama squirrel made a mad dash away through the branches and into neighbor Dave's black walnut trees. I watched Nikolajs take down that small part of trunk carefully and vertically, and when it got down one of his guys went through the bedding carefully and found one baby squirrel, eyes still unopened. He carried the squirrel and bedding to the burning bush next to the compost bin and set him up in a little nest on the ground. I went back there while they were at lunch and got a couple pictures. While the crew was cleaning up one of the guys told me he saw mama squirrel carry off the baby over the fence. I'm sure she did because I know she did not go far and I thanked them for caring. Inside I thought: Good! I was thinking maybe we'd be raising a baby squirrel this year - I don't know how the cats would take that!
Although I trusted them I kept an eye on them almost constantly, either outside taking pictures or inside looking for the next stage to go out and take more pictures - it was cold enough to be snowing, remember. And like I said, I found it fascinating to watch. I told him I was taking pictures because it would take me a long time to grow the next one! He actually appreciated it and we arranged for him to stop by the next evening for me to give him a copy of all the pictures and videos I took that day. He mentioned putting new pictures on his website and I would be flattered if he did. I'm no pro, and with our digital camera I do not zoom. If I zoomed in or if I crop to the same parameters it is the same resolution. I'd rather get the whole shot and zoom in later where I need to, if even necessary.
One thing that did surprise me but shouldn't have was the sheer weight of some of the pieces of trunk even 20-25 feet off the ground. I understand why he was cutting them shorter and shorter. When one would fall to the ground you could feel it. He did that with only a few pieces, let them fall without being roped, as he got down to the trunk that was to be brought down in one last piece.
Below is video of the felling of the trunk, Youtube did not give my video a thumbnail for some reason - and I tried re-uploading it twice - but the video works. I think email readers must visit the site to view the video, click here for that! And Read more below!
About 8 hours of tree removal told in 28 more pictures after the break!
Last night was the fourth Heritage Series event at Dexter's Pub, featuring a six course dinner and different beers with each course. We had gone to the first dinner back in January and had a real good time. The second dinner was canceled. The third we opted not to go to due to my wife was disgusted with a goose liver course - there's a fancy name for it that I forget now (I'm sure I wouldn't have eaten it either). So this was the fourth dinner and featured a craft brewery from northern California, Anderson Valley Brewing Company, providing the refreshments.
As regular readers know, I am normally not a big beer connoisseur, but I do have fun with this event and tasting different brews with different foods. Also, my wife and I have found we rather like the sour brews, and there were two featured with dinner. a lighter one with the first course and a much more sour one called The Kimmie, The Yink & The Holy Goze to go with dessert. The beer rep did give us some back story on the brewery and explained each brew as it was presented. The chef also came out with the courses explaining why he picked the dish to go with that particular brew. Informative and tasty, too!
We had two friends along, Ted and Steve/Bob (don't ask), who are members of the local home brewer's guild and definitely know their way around a stout to an ale, IPAs to sour brews, and much more than I will ever know. Although it can be like listening to a different language sometimes, I do like listening to my friend Ted and other beer people talk beer, and I enjoy the enthusiasm they always display. So, they seemed to have a good time as well.
Anyway, my wife and I had much fun for a Monday night and I was still in bed on time with no ill effects this morning (while my wife planned today off, you know, just in case!). Next month there is no Heritage Series dinner at Dexter's due to Madison Craft Beer Week and all the festivities that go with that, but June is Alaskan Brewing Company and July features the local Capitol Brewery from Middleton, WI, right next door. Honestly, the menu dictates our wanting to go to these events. Almost any craft brewery good enough to be featured will be interesting to us to try with different foods.
❄Oh, and it snowed today, Tuesday, 21 April, 2015. No accumulations, just flurries. Certainly not unheard of in this area, but it was tee shirt weather just this past weekend! It may as well have been a day in late November today. Ya gotta love Wisconsin in the Springtime! Um. Well, I don't have to love it but I gotta live with it!
This is exactly why I looked for a larger top for the new cat tree. Now they have it and can both fit comfortably - and they do love the new cat tree, but I still find them on the porch, on the older cat tree stacked on top of each other. It's a good thing they are very close, being brothers. Their third birthday is Monday but they already got their present, maybe I'll just give them some treats that day.
The weather has been okay and the grass is turning green finally. Plants are starting to come up and flowers have appeared here and there. Kate got some planting done in the garden today, see pictures on our garden site. Still, we are going to have overnight temperatures below freezing again early next week. I've been stressing about my long list this spring, but it is still too early for much of it. I want to be done with below freezing temperatures before I get out the power washer. All in due time, I guess. But there will be a dramatic change coming for us this week, stay tuned!
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*Update: The next morning. I got a shot of the cats in their new cat tree for comparison. They're still tight, but at least not on top of each other!
Live in New York last night to open the new tour! I've been listening to the new cd since I received it from Amazon on the US release date, March 31. I have already had them as a Latest Listening Pleasure a few times so did not want to do it again so readily, so this is just a new thing - a LLP Bonus! I came across this video of last night's show in New York to open their US tour and I wanted to post it because it is the newest live video of them since year before last festival season, and we hear the newest songs live! The new album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, opened in the US top 40 last week.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Shudder Before The Beautiful
02. Yours Is An Empty Hope
03. Amaranth
04. She Is My Sin
05. Endless Forms Most Beautiful
06. My Walden
07. The Islander
08. Élan
09. Weak Fantasy
10. Storytime
11. Nemo
12. I Want My Tears Back
13. Stargazers
14. Sleeping Sun
15 The Greatest Show On Earth
Their official birthday is not until April 20, as far as we know, so Basil and Hamish got their gift early this year. We are still waiting on the weather to stay above freezing overnight consistently before I get started with the power washer chores outside, so since I had the time this past weekend I cut a base and assembled the new cat tree early. I also adapted an old TV turntable for one of the new lamps. It feels good to get outside and make stuff out of wood again!
While the new cat tree is larger than the old one, it still has the same type of base, with carpet folded over the edges, so it is not as stable as I would like, especially when they get a running start at it, so I added a base to give it weight and stability. Nothing too difficult to do and it may save a window (or a cat) someday. I should have used a darker stain on the wood, that is something I can go back and redo later if I want. The new cat tree has one less level than the old one, but the levels are larger and overall it is about 6 inches taller. The top area is also larger than the old one so when they share the space now they will not have to lay on top of each other as much as before.
Still tight on top for 2, but better than before!
Also, we used to have a turntable under our old (large, boxy) television so we could turn it to face wherever we needed it to in the living room. Now we have a new, flat screen TV that is mounted on the wall so this was sitting downstairs collecting dust. I made a cardboard template of the base of the swing arm lamp to get an approximate size and trimmed down the turntable so it would fit in the corner and still turn with no problems. Now we can swing the lamp out much more easily to get at the window behind it. Not real exciting, and I did not take pictures.
The old cat tree has been moved to the back porch for the summer. When we have the patio door open I can just see the cats running the length of the house from one cat tree to the other! This fall, once it is cold enough to keep the patio door shut for the season the old one will be trashed. They have had it for two years and it is getting pretty worn. Happy birthday, Basil and Hamish!
Also, tonight the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Duke Blue Devils for the NCAA College Men's Basketball Championship! The Badgers beat the unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night, avenging last year's Final Four loss to them by one point. This team is good enough to get it done. No matter what happens, it has been a wonderful season to follow the Badgers. I see no reason they will not follow through with their stated goal - and bring home a National Championship!
Well, I wound up disappointing my wife in one of those ways that I should have seen coming but I'm a man therefore stupid blind to all hints and unable to understand the simplest gestures until all is lost and apologies are even a last ditch, lame sounding, even-I-don't-believe-me pathetic gesture.
My lovely wife wanted to spend our rare afternoon off together making a short round of our favorite bar/restaurants and have an appropriate drink and appetizer/food item at each place. I don't eat much during the day so did not have much of an appetite when we started out, and well, my lack of appetite at the time made my wife not order anything and it just did not turn out like she wanted. I went about it too casually and should have looked at our time this afternoon more like a date. By not doing so, I let her down.
Mr. Donut may have saved an ugly fight, tonight. After exiting our last stop and realizing how bad I messed up we were stopped in the parking lot just before getting into our car by the owner of a well respected local bakery who insisted on giving us his last box of donuts out of the back of his luxury SUV. His name is Marv and he seemed a very nice man who was in a grand mood. Today was Good Friday so maybe he was out seeing clients and making deliveries and some friends along the way. I don't know why, but the donuts were delicious! The (taped shut) box had 15 in it and you could tell by the freshness that they had been baked that morning. After we (me) ate more than a few and before sugar shock kicked in my wife smartly wrapped and froze half or more of them for another day.
I was Homer Simpson today in more ways than one. Mmm, donuts... Not good.
I feel as though I have been slacking, not writing as often as I should. Nothing has been going on that I have needed to write about, and backing off from posting as frivolously as I had in the past was part of my plan when I took some time off from blogging recently. So I guess I should just get over it. I know I'm not going away, just posting less than I have.
Now, having said that again, to start off this This and Thats post is a blurb from a draft I wrote back in December, after I made my decision to back off a bit.
"In my first year and two thirds, 2009 and 2010, I posted at an amazing rate of about 20 posts a month. I took to it quickly and buying our first house at the same time gave me some material to work with. In 2011 I slowed a bit to about 8 or so posts a month on average. I think I realized how much time I spent on posting crap. 2012 and 2013 - coincidentally have 99 posts each. I found my rhythm. This year was on the same pace, perhaps a few more even, until something... changed. Changed in that my computer, 10-15% of my normal 24 hour day, took a dump on me. Changed how I looked at how I spent my time. Changed because I wanted it to. Hell, I needed it to." - Scoakat's Blog draft from December, 2014.
My most recent post was on a day we reached over 70º F, we haven't been even close to that since. Mother Nature has given us more snow on a few occasions, and I have had to get back out some winter gear for the temperatures. This week we are to settle in with highs mostly in the 60's. Hopefully it can finally be - and stay - spring.
I bought a power washer a few weeks ago. I liked the gas powered ones a lot but I didn't feel I could justify the higher cost and maintenance for the few uses a year it would get so i got an electric. I have assembled it but I have not tested it yet, the temperatures have not been warm enough to start anything. It looks like next weekend I can finally test it out and get started on our foundation - cleaning, sealing and repainting before the flowers come up.
We bought two very nice new floor lamps for the living room recently so the living room is almost how we want it to be. We still need a couple nice end tables to replace the very cheap temporary things I bought a few years ago. And we need to get rid of my La-Z-Boy recliner, it is just too big for the room (and not the best for my back). We need to replace it with a different kind of living room chair, one that fits and matches the space we are creating.
We also bought a very nice light fixture for the bedroom (pictured above). Before, there was just a plain, white ceiling fan without a light. Since we've had the house I would often hit the switch wanting a light to go on, even recently still, so it was time to get rid of the little used fan and replace it with a nice light fixture. We could have gotten a cheap but adequate replacement like we did in the other bedroom, our office, when we moved in, but we wanted something nicer. My wife pointed out one or two of this style and eventually I really warmed up to it. It was for sure expensive, but it looks great in there I think it is worth it.
My next two big projects are to look up tree removal services to utilize in the very near future, and to start looking for a new car. I want both done by summer, and hopefully done by the end of May, my next extended time off from work. I also have a new shelf to assemble downstairs. I write that now to remind myself to do it, it's been down there waiting for 2 weeks.
The new Nightwish album will be released in the US on Tuesday. Amazon says I should receive it that day so it should be here when I get home from work. I can't remember anticipating a new release like this in a long time. Of course, I've had it free from the internet already for about a week, but I do not want to listen to it yet. I want the CD so I can hold it and read it and follow along with the lyrics, like people used to do for a much anticipated release. These days most things are leaked early and shared, long before the artist intended.
I've noted here before how it is a pretty good time to be a sports fan in Wisconsin, and it still is. The Wisconsin Men's Basketball Badgers have reached the Final Four for the second year in a row. They play Kentucky next Saturday in a Final Four rematch from last year when we lost to them by one point. The Badgers are better this year than they were last year, I think they can get by Kentucky and go for the national championship! I'd love to see that happen but it will be tough, only one team in the tourney ends with a 'W' and only the best are left. (Congrats to Michigan State, too. May we meet in the championship game!)
Thanks for stopping by and checking out what my wife and I are up to. I have high hopes, as we do every spring, but our to-do list this year is very specific and there is much on it - and it is to be done very soon.
We also have enough fun things scheduled out that I'm sure I'll have more to share here in the coming months. Weather permitting, of course, it would be nice to be able to fully come out of winter hibernation!
Just a quick note to acknowledge the dramatic change in our weather. In a week our high temperatures raised over 40 degrees, from highs in the teens or lower at the end of the previous week (Grandma's funeral) to over 50º F by the middle of last week. Right now it is 71º F. Very nice. I have to re-learn how to dress myself. Winter coat in the morning, light jacket midday and none in the evening? Who carries two coats around all day? Sigh. I'll adapt, I always do!
Pictured here is the yard on Saturday. The only snow left was in the shade along the back fence. Today there is no snow left in the yard and after work we got a little bit of raking and picking up sticks done. There is always much to do in spring, waiting for the proper time can be difficult, though. I finally got my pressure washer, it will first be used to clean the foundation (and I may as well get the siding while I'm at it) so we can repaint it before the plants come up.
A bit late for the topic, but I must agree. There are no discernible benefits to our bi-annual time shift, so why do we continue what is generally viewed as a useless tradition? Dubya (President George W. Bush) altered the dates for no apparent reason in 2005. That's enough for me now, I blame him!
In reality I think we would all adjust rather easily. The video is entertaining - watch it!
My paternal grandmother passed away on Monday morning. She was 95 years old and had lived independently up until only a couple months ago. I had last seen her on September 9 of last year, my mother and I had met at grandma's place for a visit. I liked visiting with her but I usually always had someone with me, just to help fill the silences. It can be hard to keep a conversation going for a few hours, for me anyway. Grandma loved talking about the farm where she grew up and I was able to get part of one of those stories on video that day. Two days later she called me to wish me a happy birthday - a message that I still have on my phone. I think part of me really thought that it may be the last time I see her, and it was.
We drove down, about an hour and change away, on Wednesday afternoon and checked into a hotel before going to the wake. I had just been here less than two years ago for my maternal grandmother's funeral. Like then, there were several relatives I had not seen in a long time - aunts and uncles, and lots of cousins that have grown up and, in many cases, had moved away. It was very nice to see them all again.
A few years ago I was visiting with her and she asked me to be one of her pall bearers. Of course, I told her, and I was. My brother and sister always used to tease me about being her favorite. I was her first grandchild, but I cannot say that I was the favorite. Maybe they were just rotten kids. I think I'll just go with that. Thursday morning was the last visitation and funeral service. It was nice as far as church things go, grandma didn't need to know I'm agnostic/atheist. The ceremony by the grave site was shortened as it was very cold that morning, barely above zero, so no one lingered long. Afterward was a lunch in a small hall attached to the church. It was a last opportunity to visit with everyone before we all went our separate ways again.
I'm fresh out of grandparents now. A sign of getting older, I guess. RIP Grandma L, I will miss you.
Friday is the work day we all can't wait to arrive but when it has we can't wait for it to be over.
When I went to break this afternoon I checked my phone - I had two texts and a phone message waiting. I never see that type of activity so I knew something was up. It was my wife, she was okay but she got a flat tire just down the road after leaving work and was waiting for Triple-A to come and change her tire so she could get home. I gave her a call while she was waiting for them and after some discussion we decided to go ahead and get new tires, the cheapest available and only on the front. I called the shop right away and arranged for service on Monday.
See, we recently paid off my vehicle so we have no car payment at all now. We have been discussing getting rid of her 1997 low riding ashtray sedan for a newer vehicle. We have had it since 2000, so for 15 years now and it has definitely seen better days. With my broken body it is barely usable for me, I can barely get in and out of the tiny and low car anymore. The plan is to acquire a new vehicle for me so my wife can drive the car I drive now.
My 2003 RAV4, stock
The problem is that I love my car. When we get a new one, I will drive the new car and have garage parking to protect the investment and so my wife can smoke in the older car, a 2003 model, and keep parking that vehicle on the street or driveway in all seasons - as I do with same vehicle now. We always kept her older car in the garage because first; I'm a gentleman and her car is clean and sheltered all seasons, and second; it, frankly, increased the chances of it surviving the last several winters. Being the non-smoker, I will suck it up and drive the new car (when purchased) and enjoy the garage access for the first time in my adult life. I'm sure I'll still be using both cars, they will be more interchangeable for short trips and I will make her keep it cleaner than the old car she drives now. Now for me, let's start talking about heated seats, USB ports, colors and all other options! Okay, maybe too early for that, but we may have to start looking into it soon.
Meanwhile, on to a story my wife - Miss Trouble Walking herself - told me about her younger days after we got home from dinner and drinks tonight:
She and her bff Terry dropped out of a night school gym class after getting caught not walking during an independent walking exercise class, 45 minutes, for school credit, on their own, outside. She said they would walk to the car, parked a block away out of sight, then drive around and smoke, listen to music, you know - do what kids would do. Then they would try to come back like nothing happened - and they got caught.
Like, just take a fucking walk around a block or two, girls! Wow. Youth - we've all been there.
We had a good laugh, and there is more detail to the story but she can post it herself if she wishes. She has always had an open invitation to post but has yet declined.
On Valentine's Day I went to dinner with three lovely young women, my wife Kate, her friend Terry and Terry's sister Becky. In reality, I wasn't lucky enough to have three dates for the holiday, but I was lucky enough to tag along for a different dining experience at the Bourbon Street Grille - on the south side of Madison and located on the Yahara River - on what just happened to be the heart-y holiday evening.
Have you ever heard of a pasta board?
Me neither. And while it was good, it was still eating spaghetti and meatballs off the table.
Actually, it is a specially treated board that covers the table and I'm sure they wash it very thoroughly. The recipe for the sauce was supposedly bought from a local legendary Italian place that is no longer, and it was very good. The meatballs were large and fine-tasting. The pasta was just pasta and the salad and bread were just okay.
The whole thing about this by-reservation-only dinner is the novelty of eating off the table. You use the pasta spoon to pull a pile in front of you and still have your sides and drinks beside it on the table. I'm not really trying to knock it, but now that I've had the dinner for myself, it is still just eating pasta off the table. We actually did have a good time while doing so and because Terry got a great groupon deal it was not expensive, thank you for dinner, Terry! Overall, though, I don't really see myself needing to ever to do that again.
Sorry for the blurry pics, I hate the camera on my phone but that is for another post.
Wow, I haven't posted a LLP post since last June! I have been enjoying mostly the music I always have, even thought I have been looking for and listening to what new music (to me) that I can. I'm always open to new music but sometimes the new music is old music still waiting to be found.
1996 - Download This!
Cradle Of Thorns was first known to me as the CD my latest gal pal in the late mid 90's did not want to lose. The 1996 CD was called Download This!, I had never heard of them, but she could not wait to play it for me, and yes, I agreed it was pretty great, just not as fanatically as she. Okay, she'd say, I'll leave it here but you better take care of it and I want it back! This was a girlfriend that, well, chose me. You know, you're in a dead spot and she's kinda cute and likes you lots. Not sure if you want all your friends to know your seeing her but she does some things very well to and for you to keep you there. That kind of thing.
Not really long story short - she wound up off in Montana and her CD was still at my place, not my fault. It was a really good CD way back then and still is now. It has some of that in between song annoying, inane stuff, to me anyway, but the songs were innovative and differently good to me at the time. Plus it had a great cover of Motley Crue's 'Shout at the Devil!'
1994 - Feed-Us
Recently I had been listening to this CD again and I decided to look them up on YouTube. There is not much to be found. They put out three albums as Cradle Of Thorns, then a later CD as Videodrone in 1999. I have the Videodrone CD from a prior re-interest a few years ago (I guess when I have no new music interests I tend to research my prior favorites more). This time I went back and got their 1994 album, Feed-Us, I ordered the physical CD from my favorite place to shop, Amazon. This CD has things on it that reverberated on 1996's Download This!, but in my opinion not quite as well. But I would expect that, as this came before, and as of right now I've just re-added the 1999 Videodrone CD to my digital library to refresh my memory on that. If I'm still curious later, there is a 1990 CD called Remember It Day out there somewhere, probably waiting to find its way to my collection in another 5 years or so, depending on how bored I get finding new things to listen to.
They have no real 'official' videos that I can find, so try this - the song Flesh, from my newest CD; Cradle Of Thorns, 1994, Feed-Us.
It is winter and not as much happens, thus nothing to write. Plus, now that I have taken a step back from blogging for a bit it does get harder to make myself sit and write. So, since I may jump around a bit we'll make it a This and Thats post!
I've accepted my third promotion in about as many years. Tomorrow I start in my new department, higher in rank and money though not much of either. Still, this department has a whole lot more potential than the department I was in. I will have adjustments to make, like I will have a later schedule and I'll be changing buildings again. I'll be back in the building I first worked in for years, so there will be a lot of familiar faces - whether I like that or not.
And of course on the eve of my new job I get sick. After work on Friday, my wife and I went out for bit before coming home and ordering out dinner. Sometime during the course of the evening the back of my sinuses gave me that feeling and sure enough, when I got up on Saturday I felt terrible and it only got worse the longer I was awake. I only feel slightly better today, still very ill. I can only hope for a miraculous recovery for tomorrow morning or it will probably be a difficult week in training.
For good news, we went out a couple of weeks ago and bought a new bed and it finally got delivered yesterday. Our old bed had been worn out for quite some time. Nyquil, Sudafed and a new mattress helped me sleep okay last night. We also bought a couple new comforters for the new bed and we will also have to buy some more sheets to fit, this bed us much taller than the last.
My thoughts lately have turned to spring, and taking a week off with nicer weather. I feel the need for a vacation very soon and I have projects I would like to work on. But sawing and painting is best done outside in the driveway or garage. It's way too cold for that these days. I still have some designing to do but the final design is always just how it ends up, not always the idea I started with. I like creating as I go so only general plans are usually needed until I start sawing things.
We still have all the snow from a week ago, piled up everywhere. Temps the last couple days have started it melting but we know it is not over yet. At about 27 inches we're about six inches under our average for this date. There's still plenty of time for mother nature to wallop us again. I don't know what Jimmy the goundhog - the local celebrity for the holiday - told the mayor of Sun Prairie but he seemed adamant about it. The local 'hog's bite made news around the world.
Not too shabby having a team like this to root for now. I'm not saying it takes away the hurt from the Packers overtime loss to end their season, but it is certainly a good distraction. Go Badgers!
Yes I am still here, thank you. I realize I have not posted much lately but I have not had much to say and I no longer pressure myself to post even in those droughts. If you read back, I've been trying to be much more relaxed and manage my time better recently. That being said, ever forward!
We celebrated my wife Kate's birthday recently. On Saturday night we had friends over, turned the heat to 80º F, and had a 'tropical' party. We got some cheap decorations on Amazon and my wife put out a very nice tropical spread, only partially seen here. We made the best tropical fun out of a January birthday that one can expect (without hefty expenditure) and enjoyed a good time with our friends.
Then last night, her actual birthday, we had reservations for a local bar/restaurant, Dexter's Pub, that was having their first beer tasting dinner event. They call it their 'Heritage Series,' and they have them scheduled for almost every month for almost 2 years out.
Each month they bring in a different craft brewery that works with their chef to create different dinner courses that compliment various brews from that brewery. I'm sure this type of thing has been happening for quite some time now at other places and in other areas, the craft brew market has exploded in the past decade or more. Seating was limited to the first twenty people, cash up front. We bought our tickets about a month ago when we were there to have dinner with friends, in fact we were the first two to sign up.
We had such a good time that we would highly consider doing it again - but the next one is all seafood and, well, I just can't do that. But that's okay, there are many more events scheduled and it will be nice to see if it runs a bit smoother after they have a few of these under their belts. Also, Dexter's is only probably a 20 minute walk from home so it is very nearby. Just another reason to love our side of town in this capitol city which we live.
Someone brought up new year resolutions to me recently and my first reaction was to chuckle, then I actually stopped to think. It has been a long time since I made a new year resolution, even longer since I made a serious one, probably as a kid. If it works for you then go for it, I hope you get what you want. I guess I can make life resolutions. I know what I have to do to improve myself and I can resolve myself to it any day of the year.
However, no matter how or what kind of resolutions you make, following it through can be the hard part - no matter when you make your resolution. Inner strength and determination are the biggest factors in changing yourself. Do it for you. Do it to be a better you. Good luck, I'm pulling for ya!
*Edit, 5:05 pm: Another thought is that is what new year resolutions are - life resolutions at that specific time. No one said a new year resolution has to start that day. That leads me to the arbitrary choice of that particular day as a time to set those goals. I'm sure there's something out there explaining our need of hope and change and a 'fresh start' with the new year. Sorry, but now I've lost interest since typing that last bit. I'd research a whole lot more odd things if there were more hours in the day. Walking away now...
I know I said there was going to be an end of the year rant coming, I guess I just don't have a rant in me right now. However, it has been some time since I've written much of anything so how about another 'This and Thats' post!
After a very cold November, December has thankfully been much more seasonable. All the snow we had was melted by the middle of the month, so we did not have a white christmas - not that I mind at all. We will be ringing in the new year much cooler starting, well, now. It was -1º F when I left for work this morning. Thats about -18º C for my friends outside America.
This short "break" I have taken from blogging has been good for me. In fact, I'm tempted to extend it but I need to write/rant/unload sometimes and, after all, I do enjoy it. In this time away I have cut down on podcasts and websites that I had almost obsessively kept up on before, so I managed some more time in the living room in the evenings with my wife, and I'm working on reading my first book in several months (I'm The Man by Scott Ian from the band Anthrax). I'm sure I would have cut down my computer time even more but I have been reading a lot of sports sites. The Packers are entering the playoffs, the Badgers football team plays in the Outback Bowl tomorrow and basketball season is under way with the Badgers a top 5 team in the country. It's usually a good thing to be a fan of sports teams from Wisconsin. We may not win championships every year, but we seem to have a realistic shot every year after year.
Let's see, weather - check, address the break - check, sports bragging - check, um. See, I had a couple interruptions from typing so now I have to gather my thoughts again. A sign of getting older? Maybe, so is wanting to stay home on new year's eve, some say. Okay, back on track now, let's talk about that!
Tonight. New Year's Eve 2015. My wife has allowed me to stay home tonight. It was much less dramatic than the last few years. Without looking back to what I've written, we seem to have had a pre-party here and then gone out to the same local tavern for the last several years. While I have had a lot of fun doing that, despite sometimes being a 'whiny little bitch' about it - as my wife said I wrote last year - I am finally staying home this year. I hope to ring in the new year in my sleep. I think this is the 5th consecutive year that the Badgers have played in a new year's day game and I will finally be able to feel good, energetic, and be able to really enjoy a few drinks during the game instead of just having a couple 'hair of the dog' drinks to try and enjoy our college football's last hurrah for the season. I have actual errands to get done before the game, too. Back on topic, though, less friends will be out this year anyway, no one says we all have to do the same thing every year. I do feel a bit bad because I will not get to kiss my wonderful wife at midnight, though...
The water heater has been leaking a bit. It started several weeks ago, actually, and has gotten progressively a bit worse. When we bought the house the inspection said that it was toward the end of its useful life. That was over 5 years ago. Plus, stupid me had no idea there was maintenance for me to drain it clear twice a year. So anyway, the plumbers are showing up here in a few days to install a new water heater. While they're here I have a couple other odd little jobs for them, too. Hell, if you have a plumber at the house you better address all issues that day - to save money, of course. We don't really have other issues other than I want to be able to remove the bathtub drain plug for snaking hair - I've tried but it is old and I can't remove it as it should be able to be removed so want a pro to make it so. Also, we want to get a water filter for under our sink so we don't have to filter our cooking, ice and drinking water through a pitcher filter anymore. Certainly not an absolute necessity in our city, just really our strong preference. I will have to work that day but my lovely wife has off to host the plumbers and oversee their work. I wish I could be here but I do trust this local company to get things done right, they have helped us out before.
I didn't post about Christmas, but we did have a very enjoyable early one with my Mom and Dan and my sister Kelly and her kids James and Lindsey. My brother couldn't make it with his family unfortunately or it could have been probably the best holiday with my sibs and nieces and nephews in forever. In otherwords, I was disappointed it didn't work out that we all were there at the same time, oh well, what works out best for us does not always work best for others. On Christmas Eve we had a nice evening with the my wife's family at her sister's house, the one with our 3 nephews. All seemed to have a good time and some good gifts were given. It is all for the kids to us these days, and I do enjoy these kids, the youngest is a sport. It is kind of fun trying to get them the perfect gift for $$ dollars, and only $$ and not $$$ dollars. They're kids, after all.
I also found out that a good high school friend's wife passed from cancer very recently. My contact info for him is out of date. We kept in touch after high school, I was in his wedding, and we remain friends for many years but I have not talked to him in several. I'm not sure what I would say right now, anyway, but I'd like to let him know that I'm thinking of him and his family. RIP Becky.
I've been writing this post now over several hours now. More typing than I thought I would do tonight and I have had other things going on. My wife just left to go out with a couple friends for the next few hours and I expect to be in bed by 10, okay 10:30 at the latest. Hmm, this posting should be delayed a bit maybe. I do really, really, really want a good nights sleep tonight and I want to be up fairly early for errands and chores before the 11:00 am Badger game so I can have the rest of the holiday for relaxation - basically enjoy it while I can because mandatory overtime at work is almost inevitable after this week.
Happy New Year to you all. The ones I read, the ones I love, all my friends and all of you who take the time to read me. Whether you comment or not, I can see you're there. Thank you.
Steel Panther played here at the Orpheum Theater here in Madison last Sunday night, the 21st. I do like them, and a couple co-workers I know went to the show, but it was on a Sunday night and I just was not willing to get home at midnight or later, not drink at all, and have to get up at 4:30 for my job on a Monday morning. They're pretty good but they're not 'Faster Pussycat' or 'WASP' good - in my book.
Still, they are a pretty good comedy hair metal show. I've watched tons of their stuff on Youtube. Just be obnoxious and have a totally confident, 80's hair metal attitude and dumb chicks jump on your stage, show you their tits and play along. Amazing. Sigh, I wish I had that chance to play 'rock star.' But most guys wish that, so I guess these lucky guys are livin' the dream - at least for today. Hell, Judas Priest almighty just had them opening out on tour!
Here's the best one of the four videos I found tonight from just downtown here this past Sunday. One of our town's finest sluts jumping on stage, I'm sure. I heard there were many more up there that night, but really, I went to every heavy metal concert around here that I could in the late 80's and 90's. The more sluts shit changes the more it stays the same...
Merry Fucking Holidays, people. Don't think too much about it, just Rock Out and Roll along with it. What the hell else can we really do, anyway?
While I was without my desktop I still came across a few things I would have liked to post or write about had I had my computer. Mostly my usual odd reposts, but one thing still stands out to me that I wanted to repost, enough so that I even emailed the author to get permission. That was about a month ago now. See, we've had an election since I'd been away, too, so politics reared it's ugly head and took over all media for some time. I'm not apolitical, but I do not consider it my strong suit. When I hear or read something that I agree with I clearly know it and sometimes wonder how anyone else cannot understand it like me. I'm sure most people get that feeling and most probably do not agree with my views, but I like knowing there are others out there who generally do think like me.
I've been a Dan Piraro (Bizarro) fan for a long time now and for the last several years I have been following his blog. He does more than post his daily comics, he has a bit of fun and shares just enough that you know what kind of guy he is - and I really like the guy (or at least his sense of humor!). Here is his post on immigration, with comic, from November 6 that struck a nerve with me:
"If you find yourself tempted to believe that any substantial amount of America’s problems are being caused by illegal aliens, remind yourself that historically this is an ancient technique by dishonest governments to shift blame. And it almost always works. In this case, the corporations who run our country and their puppet politicians say, “Yes, things are lousy, but it isn’t our fault. It’s their fault!” Then they point to illegals, gay marriage, abortion clinics, terrorists, climate change scientists, whatever “other” they can find to unite the rest of us against something other than those in charge. Don’t fall for it. You’re smarter than that." Dan Piraro, Bizarro Comic Blog November 6, 2014
I encourage you to give him a visit at the link above or in the right column! His new website is a work in progress at the moment, it will be better soon, I'm sure.
While I'm on the subject of comics, one of my all-time favorites is after the break!
I'm nearing 60, married and child-free. My wife and I have a home not far from downtown Madison, Wisconsin, since 2009. I like music, taking pictures and good humor - plus writing about it all here. I am still not on farcebook or other social media, only Blogger and YouTube. Email me at scoakatsblog@gmail.com. I check it every so often.
Once again we enjoyed one of Dexter's Pub's Heritage Series dinner events, their 5th overall - the second one was canceled and we skipped the third one (Goose Island Brewery) because we didn't care much for the menu. It happened this past Monday evening, I just totally forgot to write about it all week. We were once again joined by my friend Ted, and we ran into a co-worker of his and his wife/girlfriend. They were a very nice couple, fun and talkative, easy to like. The brewery featured this month was Alaskan Brewing Co. so the food kind of followed an Alaskan theme with salmon pate and bear sausage among the dishes. Overall a good 6 courses, we were satisfied and full by the end. I wasn't even able to finish the chocolate pound cake that was for dessert! Ted's friends had a good idea, they brought to-go containers to take some of the food home. Of course, Dexter's Pub has to-go containers anyway but I've never thought to use them at one of these dinners.
