A few things on my mind....
Shame to see those wild fires out in Yosemite. I have been there on a family vacation, and the place truly is a sight to be seen. I remember the family heading out early one morning for a daylong hike to see the Giant Sequoias. They are majestic. Hope they are able to get the fires put out without too much more damage.
The Harley's are coming....or are already here! It's the 110th birthday party, and they are rolling out the red carpet here in southeastern Wisconsin. There are highway signs pointing out different attractions, big doings on the Summerfest grounds, and the city is spending time and resources cleaning up the Third Ward--sweeping streets, fixing roads, picking garbage. Seems to me they should be doing this all the time. Some folks are unhappy with the distractions and inconveniences, but I look at the economic impact and am glad to have the visitors. And they'll be gone in a week anyways.
It's back to school time. Every years the kids go back to schools and the Misses goes back to work. I watch the neighborhood population decrease as kids head off to college. I know there are many folks who look forward to having their kids back to school, but it's always kind of a sad time for me. Not only is summertime just about done, but it always means the kids are getting older. I have always liked having my kids around, and I miss them when they are not here. Time marches on.
Of course, this means the NFL season is upon us, and that means Packer football around here. And for many, if not most, fantasy football as well. I've played for years, either having a team of my own, or sharing a team with a neighbor. This year, I am out! I did this a few years ago before being drawn back in, and am looking forward to not worrying about a yard here or an extra point there or who the third string tight end for the Browns is. I won't worry about lineups when I'm out of town, and won't be concerned about some guy from Tampa Bays knee injury. I will probably miss it dearly.
Finally, we have come to the end of an era. The Misses and I have decided there will be no Chuckapalooza this year. We've been having our little get together for 20 years, but have decided to take a break. We need to get the darling daughter back to college, and the getting ready has become more of an effort than I care to put up with. We have had more fun over the years than I can put into words. Gone through hundreds of brats and burgers, pounds of slaw and spuds, and many of gallons of beer. It has been great having neighbors and friends and relatives over, and the memories I will cherish forever. But doing it every year has finally become a chore, and when it becomes work then that's enough. I am pretty sure that this is not the last Chuckapalooza though. After all, we have a bunch of new neighbors who have never had the chance to experience this great event, and I am sure old friends will miss it as well. So, make your plans now for 2014, we'll see you here on the Sunday before Labor Day,,,,,sooner as well I hope!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
One Last Ride
In a couple of hours the Misses and I will pile into the car and take our little boy to St. Louis for his final year of college. It doesn't seem that this is possible. It isn't that long ago that he was being Elmo for Halloween, learning to ride his bicycle, or starting kindergarten, or being a cub scout, or finishing middle school, or learning to drive, or graduating high school. It can't be three years ago that we first moved him into Greis, with that kid who's name I have no idea what is. There is absolutely no way that he will soon be finishing college, can he?
It really is amazing to me how fast these years have passed. I still really have no idea how Stewart choose SLU. We looked at a number of state schools, some smaller schools out of state, and some big public universities. St. Louis has really been a great fit for Stew. He has some wonderful (and interesting) friends and classmates. He has done very well in the classroom, and has traveled all over the place running track. Don't see how things could have worked out any better anywhere else.
Stew is ready to go back. His friends are in St. Louis for the most part now. For all I know, so is his future. I dearly miss him when he isn't here, but have finally come to peace with it. I have decided that I shouldn't be sad that he is gone, instead being happy that I had the eighteen or so years with him here all the time. There is no way that I would have experienced all that I have if Stew and his sister hadn't come along. It has been a pleasure. I am excited for him and his future, and look forward to seeing where things lead him. I wish him all good luck, because he will need it. I am damn proud to be his father, and he has made it easy. Thanks for everything son, thanks.
It really is amazing to me how fast these years have passed. I still really have no idea how Stewart choose SLU. We looked at a number of state schools, some smaller schools out of state, and some big public universities. St. Louis has really been a great fit for Stew. He has some wonderful (and interesting) friends and classmates. He has done very well in the classroom, and has traveled all over the place running track. Don't see how things could have worked out any better anywhere else.
Stew is ready to go back. His friends are in St. Louis for the most part now. For all I know, so is his future. I dearly miss him when he isn't here, but have finally come to peace with it. I have decided that I shouldn't be sad that he is gone, instead being happy that I had the eighteen or so years with him here all the time. There is no way that I would have experienced all that I have if Stew and his sister hadn't come along. It has been a pleasure. I am excited for him and his future, and look forward to seeing where things lead him. I wish him all good luck, because he will need it. I am damn proud to be his father, and he has made it easy. Thanks for everything son, thanks.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Wisconsin State Fair
So yesterday I went to the state fair with the Mrs. and the daughter. We had a nice time, but it got me to thinking that I really have a lot of history with the place.
I have vague memories of going to the fair with my family when I was a kid. I can remember being in one of the old horse barns reading all the names of the horses (or having them read to me), and I remember some kind of acrobats performing in the mall area on these all sway poles, and I remember the old coliseum, a dusty old musty building that stood about where the present day building is. It was white and hot and you sat on folding chairs. It had character. I am pretty sure it came down in 1971-2. I remember seeing Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1968 I believe it was, they wore shinny silver outfits. Ol' Kenny and I go way back. I remember shaking hands (more than once) with Senator Proxmire at the Flower building. I also remember going to the auto races with my Dad in the 60's and 70's. He knew Ted Lake who was the flagman, so we always had nice seats.
I believe it was in 1972 when I was first turned loose at the fair on my own. I mean totally alone--dropped off, and then walking the 18 blocks to my grandparents house to spend the night. It must have been cheap, because I know I couldn't have had much money. I remember looking at the animals, eating a sidewalk sundae (still a favorite), and watching some veil dance at the brand new International Amphitheater. It was quite an adventure for an 11 year old, but I remember a lot of it like it was yesterday.
And then in 1979 I got a job at the fair park working in the building and grounds department. And not just for the fair, but the entire summer. There were Western Days, horse shows, rummage o rama, auto races, all kinds of stuff going on. I learned how to drive standard transmission, tractors, fork lifts, how to fix small engines, build stages, the difference between hay and straw, and how to drink lots of beer. I worked there for 5 years during the summers while I was in college, and also spring and winter breaks. It didn't pay much, but I was glad to have it.
I met lots of interesting people while I worked at the fair. The grounds department was mostly the 10 or so full time people, school teachers and students. And it seemed like most of the people were related, either somebodies kid or cousin or brother or sister. I know I got my younger sister in, and Mom worked for fat Eddie one summer (I had nothing to do with that), and the Mrs. even spent a summer in a information booth. She loved it (ha).
I had lots of good times taking my kids to the fair when they were young. They got to experience many of the same things that I remembered doing, and it always made me happy being there with them. I remember them doing all the activities on children's day, making stuff in the Youth Expo and the DNR area, eating corn and what not. And of course checking out all the animals! Nothing but good memories there....
....but much of the fair park is just memories for me now. I'm old enough to remember the old buildings like the Youth Building and the Women's Building and the old exhibit halls. I remember the Pine Hut, and the Ag Products building. I remember the old grandstand and all the character it had. And the old swine barn and Mexican Village. I remember before all the food stands were permanent buildings and were mostly trailers and tents. I remember the Lutheran Diner and the Red Circle Inn and the Tavern on the Mall (great turkey legs). I remember the cow with the plastic hole in its side so you could see the digestion and the smell. I remember the midway being on the southwest corner of the grounds and the sideshows they had, and the carnies. It seems like there were more things to do at the fair back then. I realize time moves on, but I miss the old stuff.
I always say have fun at the fair, and I mean it, and I do have fun. And I always say I love the fair, and I really do. So many memories with family and friends, and making new ones every year. And so many stories, but they will have to wait for a latter time......
I have vague memories of going to the fair with my family when I was a kid. I can remember being in one of the old horse barns reading all the names of the horses (or having them read to me), and I remember some kind of acrobats performing in the mall area on these all sway poles, and I remember the old coliseum, a dusty old musty building that stood about where the present day building is. It was white and hot and you sat on folding chairs. It had character. I am pretty sure it came down in 1971-2. I remember seeing Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1968 I believe it was, they wore shinny silver outfits. Ol' Kenny and I go way back. I remember shaking hands (more than once) with Senator Proxmire at the Flower building. I also remember going to the auto races with my Dad in the 60's and 70's. He knew Ted Lake who was the flagman, so we always had nice seats.
I believe it was in 1972 when I was first turned loose at the fair on my own. I mean totally alone--dropped off, and then walking the 18 blocks to my grandparents house to spend the night. It must have been cheap, because I know I couldn't have had much money. I remember looking at the animals, eating a sidewalk sundae (still a favorite), and watching some veil dance at the brand new International Amphitheater. It was quite an adventure for an 11 year old, but I remember a lot of it like it was yesterday.
And then in 1979 I got a job at the fair park working in the building and grounds department. And not just for the fair, but the entire summer. There were Western Days, horse shows, rummage o rama, auto races, all kinds of stuff going on. I learned how to drive standard transmission, tractors, fork lifts, how to fix small engines, build stages, the difference between hay and straw, and how to drink lots of beer. I worked there for 5 years during the summers while I was in college, and also spring and winter breaks. It didn't pay much, but I was glad to have it.
I met lots of interesting people while I worked at the fair. The grounds department was mostly the 10 or so full time people, school teachers and students. And it seemed like most of the people were related, either somebodies kid or cousin or brother or sister. I know I got my younger sister in, and Mom worked for fat Eddie one summer (I had nothing to do with that), and the Mrs. even spent a summer in a information booth. She loved it (ha).
I had lots of good times taking my kids to the fair when they were young. They got to experience many of the same things that I remembered doing, and it always made me happy being there with them. I remember them doing all the activities on children's day, making stuff in the Youth Expo and the DNR area, eating corn and what not. And of course checking out all the animals! Nothing but good memories there....
....but much of the fair park is just memories for me now. I'm old enough to remember the old buildings like the Youth Building and the Women's Building and the old exhibit halls. I remember the Pine Hut, and the Ag Products building. I remember the old grandstand and all the character it had. And the old swine barn and Mexican Village. I remember before all the food stands were permanent buildings and were mostly trailers and tents. I remember the Lutheran Diner and the Red Circle Inn and the Tavern on the Mall (great turkey legs). I remember the cow with the plastic hole in its side so you could see the digestion and the smell. I remember the midway being on the southwest corner of the grounds and the sideshows they had, and the carnies. It seems like there were more things to do at the fair back then. I realize time moves on, but I miss the old stuff.
I always say have fun at the fair, and I mean it, and I do have fun. And I always say I love the fair, and I really do. So many memories with family and friends, and making new ones every year. And so many stories, but they will have to wait for a latter time......
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