Tonight, UW takes on Duke - a fact not lost on me as a co-worker showed up in her office best of a UW red skirt emblazoned with the Badgers all over it. Yes, this is Wisconsin and we take this seriously here. Tonight, win or lose, will be an epic night - even if you don't like basketball.
Wisconsin is like that. We are fiercely proud of our sports teams. Hell, we are just fiercely proud of all things Wisconsin. And there are many things uniquely Wisconsin. Let's see...there are these for example:
1. Bubblers. These are those wonderful things you can stop and get a cold drink of water from in almost any park in Wisconsin. Out of staters call them "drinking fountains"! HA! A fountain is the thing that spurts decoratively and lights up at night. A bubbler is the refreshing drink choice of parched play ground kids every where!
2. Cheese curds. We eat them two ways here - fresh or fried. If they are fresh, they better squeak when you bite them! Either way they are the most delicious snack ever created and go very well with any one of the many icy cold Wisconsin brewed beers.
3.House on the Rock. Think about someone building a house, on a cliff, with a serious over hang, and then filling it with as many chotchkes as he could possibly find AND even putting in a full size carousel with life size scary mannequins. Yup, it's frightening and unique and right here in Wisconsin.
4. Brandy. Louis Black says we drink more brandy in Wisconsin at Christmas than the rest of the US does all year long and he's right. We love our brandy. Ask for a brandy old fashion somewhere else in the US and you get a blank stare like you have suddenly grown a second head. But introduce someone to the Mile High Brandy Old Fashion at Gerhard's and they will know. Oh yes, they will know and be forever converted.
5. Fish fries. And fish boils. Depending on where in Wisconsin you are. If you are in the Southern region you go out on Fridays to find a good fish fry which consists of hand battered fish, either cod, wall eye or perch served with French fries, cole slaw and rye bread. If you are in the Northern region it's the fish boil you crave - a large steaming vat of fish, potatoes, and other veg all boiled over an open fire. I'm a fry girl myself.
6. Bratwursts are not glorified hot dogs. If you think they are, you're doing it wrong! First you boil them in beer and then cook them on the grill to get them crisp on the outside. Slap them on a bun with some sauer kraut...oh my yes!!
7. Anyone still wearing a jacket when the temperature reaches 45 degrees is clearly from out of state. Anyone still wearing socks when the temps are in the 50's must be from Florida.
8. Snowy days just means slowing down a bit, not staying home. Closing school is almost unheard of unless the wind chill factor dips below 20 degrees. Otherwise, bundle up kiddo - school is open!
9. Going to Noah's Ark, at least once in your life, is a right of passage for everyone.
And finally...
10. Getting called a Cheesehead never hurts our feelings! We are so proud to be Cheeseheads it's unreal! We are proud Packer Backers, Bucky Lovers, Brew Crew, UW Cheer Leaders that nothing...absolutely NOTHING...could make us feel bad about being called a Cheesehead!
So, let's go Wisconsin! Take on Duke!!
Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2015
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
What did he do now?
Politics in Wisconsin these days is like watching a car wreck. You can't look away from the wreckage but you get sickened by it none the less. I make no bones about the fact that I am not a Gov. Scott Walker fan. I think he is up to his elbows in stupidity and has attempted to do some of the most damaging things while in office.
One thing I will give him is he has at once united and divided the State of Wisconsin. Divided - because the line between Democrat and Republican could not be any clearer right now and, united - because both Pro-Walker and Against Walker factions have come together in a most exciting democratic way. We are hot, angered and not going to take it anymore. And that sentiment lies on both sides of the fence too.
Still, I am amazed on an almost daily basis but Walker's continued march into oblivion. Recently, I read that he managed to quickly pass legislation through that now prohibits attorneys from accessing any state reports in incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. It also prohibits the states own disability rights advocates from obtaining valuable information when there are charges of abuse or neglect in a nursing home. Now what would he do that? Why wouldn't he want this information to be available to those who would need it in order to ensure people are safe in the state's nursing homes? Because he got a whopping campaign contribution from the nursing home and care giver organizations. Not the Union organizations, mind you. No, the private sector. So, if granny is abused, bruised, raped, or even just lying in her own piss...don't even think of suing. No one can get the records.
Thank you, Gov. Walker. You must sleep well at night.
One thing I will give him is he has at once united and divided the State of Wisconsin. Divided - because the line between Democrat and Republican could not be any clearer right now and, united - because both Pro-Walker and Against Walker factions have come together in a most exciting democratic way. We are hot, angered and not going to take it anymore. And that sentiment lies on both sides of the fence too.
Still, I am amazed on an almost daily basis but Walker's continued march into oblivion. Recently, I read that he managed to quickly pass legislation through that now prohibits attorneys from accessing any state reports in incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. It also prohibits the states own disability rights advocates from obtaining valuable information when there are charges of abuse or neglect in a nursing home. Now what would he do that? Why wouldn't he want this information to be available to those who would need it in order to ensure people are safe in the state's nursing homes? Because he got a whopping campaign contribution from the nursing home and care giver organizations. Not the Union organizations, mind you. No, the private sector. So, if granny is abused, bruised, raped, or even just lying in her own piss...don't even think of suing. No one can get the records.
Thank you, Gov. Walker. You must sleep well at night.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Dear Gov. Walker...
When will there be enough people marching outside your office door? What is that magic number that will make you listen?
Maybe you will never listen. Maybe a recall election will get your attention. I did not vote for you. But that's neither here nor there. You see, elections come and go and even if the candidate I endorsed is not elected I still expect the one who is to do the right thing for the people. ALL the people. Not just the top 2% of the economic food chain.
There is one thing I know for sure. You cannot call this bill you signed a "budget reform" bill. Not by any stretch of the definition. Your alliance with those who earn more than god is outstanding. So much so you are willing to commit political suicide for them. You keep referring to Ronald Reagan as the standard for leadership. Really??? I remember the Reagan years and his "trickle down" theory and if you would think back to that time you would see for yourself that "trickle down" just doesn't work. You can't balance a budget or reform state spending when you give the top 2% of the people, those that have a lot, tax breaks and then demand that the rest of us bear the brunt and pay up. It's not gonna happen, Governor. I hate to tell you that but it's just not.
Why?
Because today is our day. Right now, you have managed to do one thing in Wisconsin. You brought the state together in a way that hasn't been seen in years. And we, the workers, union and non-union, are standing together to tell you LOUDLY that you are dead wrong in your actions and in your thoughts. You have unleashed the proverbial working class Kraken!
We stand together with our teachers, fire fighters, police officers, truckers, road workers, state employees, farmers, social workers, and the rest - shoulder to shoulder- and our message is clear, Gov. Walker. YOU NEED TO GO!
And while your at it, take the rest of the slime with you.
In a way, I do want to thank you too. You have done more to waken the sleeping giant in Wisconsin than anyone ever could before. But now that we're awake, we will not be silenced.
IN closing, Gov. Walker, I want to say I hope you have enjoyed your brief stay in our state's capital. It is lovely mansion, isn't it? I hope you haven't settled in too much because you won't be there long. I fully anticipate that soon, very soon, there will be a new sheriff in town. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he or she wasn't someone who, until very recently, was "vacationing" (as you called it) somewhere in Illinois!
Farewell Sir! Please turn the light out and close the door on your way out!
Sincerely yours,
Mary
Maybe you will never listen. Maybe a recall election will get your attention. I did not vote for you. But that's neither here nor there. You see, elections come and go and even if the candidate I endorsed is not elected I still expect the one who is to do the right thing for the people. ALL the people. Not just the top 2% of the economic food chain.
There is one thing I know for sure. You cannot call this bill you signed a "budget reform" bill. Not by any stretch of the definition. Your alliance with those who earn more than god is outstanding. So much so you are willing to commit political suicide for them. You keep referring to Ronald Reagan as the standard for leadership. Really??? I remember the Reagan years and his "trickle down" theory and if you would think back to that time you would see for yourself that "trickle down" just doesn't work. You can't balance a budget or reform state spending when you give the top 2% of the people, those that have a lot, tax breaks and then demand that the rest of us bear the brunt and pay up. It's not gonna happen, Governor. I hate to tell you that but it's just not.
Why?
Because today is our day. Right now, you have managed to do one thing in Wisconsin. You brought the state together in a way that hasn't been seen in years. And we, the workers, union and non-union, are standing together to tell you LOUDLY that you are dead wrong in your actions and in your thoughts. You have unleashed the proverbial working class Kraken!
We stand together with our teachers, fire fighters, police officers, truckers, road workers, state employees, farmers, social workers, and the rest - shoulder to shoulder- and our message is clear, Gov. Walker. YOU NEED TO GO!
And while your at it, take the rest of the slime with you.
In a way, I do want to thank you too. You have done more to waken the sleeping giant in Wisconsin than anyone ever could before. But now that we're awake, we will not be silenced.
IN closing, Gov. Walker, I want to say I hope you have enjoyed your brief stay in our state's capital. It is lovely mansion, isn't it? I hope you haven't settled in too much because you won't be there long. I fully anticipate that soon, very soon, there will be a new sheriff in town. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he or she wasn't someone who, until very recently, was "vacationing" (as you called it) somewhere in Illinois!
Farewell Sir! Please turn the light out and close the door on your way out!
Sincerely yours,
Mary
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Stunned...
I just sitting here, listening to tonight's news, and I am stunned. I cannot think of a time when our government has disappointed me more. If you've been following the news, our governor, Scott Walker, has been trying to "balance the state budget" with a bill that effectively strips public workers of their right to collective bargaining. Call it what you will, it is a blatant attempt to bust the unions in Wisconsin and an attack on the working class and the Democratic party. Scott Walker is an idiot.
Our 14 Democratic State Senators have fled the state in an attempt to get the Republicans to negotiate. They remain in Illinois right now.
Today, the Republican Majority, called a session without a public notice (which is the LAW) and voted on a reformed bill - one that took out all of the actual financial aspect and only addressed the collective bargaining issue. They passed this bill. This, after Gov. Walker spending the last two week LYING about the reasoning behind the bill and trying to get us all to think it was always about the budget. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.
Now I am a bright woman. I know that sometimes in order to keep state spending in tow there has to be some concessions made and even some programs changed or even cut. But I also don't think it is the snow plow driver or school teacher's right to collective bargaining that is messing up the budget. The unions offered to make the suggested financial concessions but Walker would not have it.
I am stunned. This is also happening in other states right now. In Indiana, Democratic senators have also gone into hiding in an attempt to stop a quick vote and a hope there can be some negotiation. It's happening in Ohio, Iowa, and other union friendly states. This is an attack on the middle class in America. It is our own government starting a class war. And doing it in the name of "budget reform".
I am proud of Sen. Bob Wirch and Rep. Peter Barca who are my representative. Sen. Wirch is somewhere in Illinois right now. Rep. Barca stood up during the vote and was shouted down by the Senate Majority Leader. If you haven't seen the video of that moment do look it up. It is a brave and angry man in the face of total governmental disregard.
Time will tell how this plays out. I can tell you there are recall petitions being swung on both sides but overwhelmingly, I have heard only that everyone is outraged by the actions of our governor and these Republican leaders who do not seem to want to listen to the thousands of people who have been protesting at our state capitol for a month now. Apparently, the voice of the people means nothing when you are in the hallowed majority. Well, shame on them. Shame. Recalls are coming and true Democracy will be back.
Our 14 Democratic State Senators have fled the state in an attempt to get the Republicans to negotiate. They remain in Illinois right now.
Today, the Republican Majority, called a session without a public notice (which is the LAW) and voted on a reformed bill - one that took out all of the actual financial aspect and only addressed the collective bargaining issue. They passed this bill. This, after Gov. Walker spending the last two week LYING about the reasoning behind the bill and trying to get us all to think it was always about the budget. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.
Now I am a bright woman. I know that sometimes in order to keep state spending in tow there has to be some concessions made and even some programs changed or even cut. But I also don't think it is the snow plow driver or school teacher's right to collective bargaining that is messing up the budget. The unions offered to make the suggested financial concessions but Walker would not have it.
I am stunned. This is also happening in other states right now. In Indiana, Democratic senators have also gone into hiding in an attempt to stop a quick vote and a hope there can be some negotiation. It's happening in Ohio, Iowa, and other union friendly states. This is an attack on the middle class in America. It is our own government starting a class war. And doing it in the name of "budget reform".
I am proud of Sen. Bob Wirch and Rep. Peter Barca who are my representative. Sen. Wirch is somewhere in Illinois right now. Rep. Barca stood up during the vote and was shouted down by the Senate Majority Leader. If you haven't seen the video of that moment do look it up. It is a brave and angry man in the face of total governmental disregard.
Time will tell how this plays out. I can tell you there are recall petitions being swung on both sides but overwhelmingly, I have heard only that everyone is outraged by the actions of our governor and these Republican leaders who do not seem to want to listen to the thousands of people who have been protesting at our state capitol for a month now. Apparently, the voice of the people means nothing when you are in the hallowed majority. Well, shame on them. Shame. Recalls are coming and true Democracy will be back.
Friday, February 25, 2011
And so it goes....
I've been home from work for the past two days nursing my aching sciatic nerve back to some reasonable facsimile of health again. In the meantime, I've had lots of time to watch what's happening at our state capitol.
What's happening is...well...more of the same. Governor Scott Walker has dug his heels in and is not making any attempt at a resolution. The Democratic senators are still in hiding in Illinois. They're doing their best to keep working via phone and internet but they're holding strong and standing their ground. I,for one, am very proud of them.
Last night, the Gov gave a press conference alluding to the fact that he is ready (almost giddily eager) to start laying off state workers and other public workers. Again, like killing off one hostage at a time until he gets what he wants. Jerk...
The Democratic members of the state assembly did their level best to deter a vote. They stayed up for days and offered debate. But a vote was taken and, as expected since our current state government is overwhelmingly Republican, it passed. Still, they did their best. Even walked out to the Gov's office at one point, demanding to speak to him, but to no avail. He wouldn't let them. Jerk...
Daily, for the past two weeks, thousands of people have been peacefully marching on Madison. Today, the Gov wants to shut down the capitol making is impossible for the protesters to get inside. Police and firefighters are begging him to allow the protesters in for as long as this take. He's not listening. Jerk...
Today, a large group of protesters from Disability Rights WI have converged in Madison wanting to speak to the Gov. There is a portion of this bill that will directly effect those people with disabilities who receive Medicaid insurance coverage. If passed, this bill will change their lives by limiting the already limited health and mental health services they can receive. This bill has a far reaching scope that will negatively impact both the middle and lower economic classes. Oh, by the way, the Gov wouldn't meet with the disabled protesters either. JERK!
This bill is not just about the budget.
This bill is not just about the unions.
This bill is not just about giving those who have more.
This bill is about one JERK being the poster boy for a Republican movement to cut the Democrats off at the knees. Its about calling it a "financial" crisis - pointing at those who have been able get a little bit more than others - and crying "Unfair!" without really coming up with any good solution. Taking away pensions, collective bargaining and whatnot doesn't make it fair. It makes us all settle for poverty standards. "If I can't have it, neither can you!" seems to the battle cry. What I can't understand is why those people aren't screaming at our government saying, "WE'RE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! FIGURE OUT A WAY WE CAN ALL HAVE SOME!!" We let our government off so easy. There should be no poverty in the US. There should be no child having his only decent meal at school. Parents should earn enough to feed their kids. People shouldn't have to settle for whatever doctor takes their insurance, if at all. People should have choice. Other countries have done this. Why can't we?
As long as there are JERKS like Scott Walker around, we will never have anything fair in Wisconsin.
What's happening is...well...more of the same. Governor Scott Walker has dug his heels in and is not making any attempt at a resolution. The Democratic senators are still in hiding in Illinois. They're doing their best to keep working via phone and internet but they're holding strong and standing their ground. I,for one, am very proud of them.
Last night, the Gov gave a press conference alluding to the fact that he is ready (almost giddily eager) to start laying off state workers and other public workers. Again, like killing off one hostage at a time until he gets what he wants. Jerk...
The Democratic members of the state assembly did their level best to deter a vote. They stayed up for days and offered debate. But a vote was taken and, as expected since our current state government is overwhelmingly Republican, it passed. Still, they did their best. Even walked out to the Gov's office at one point, demanding to speak to him, but to no avail. He wouldn't let them. Jerk...
Daily, for the past two weeks, thousands of people have been peacefully marching on Madison. Today, the Gov wants to shut down the capitol making is impossible for the protesters to get inside. Police and firefighters are begging him to allow the protesters in for as long as this take. He's not listening. Jerk...
Today, a large group of protesters from Disability Rights WI have converged in Madison wanting to speak to the Gov. There is a portion of this bill that will directly effect those people with disabilities who receive Medicaid insurance coverage. If passed, this bill will change their lives by limiting the already limited health and mental health services they can receive. This bill has a far reaching scope that will negatively impact both the middle and lower economic classes. Oh, by the way, the Gov wouldn't meet with the disabled protesters either. JERK!
This bill is not just about the budget.
This bill is not just about the unions.
This bill is not just about giving those who have more.
This bill is about one JERK being the poster boy for a Republican movement to cut the Democrats off at the knees. Its about calling it a "financial" crisis - pointing at those who have been able get a little bit more than others - and crying "Unfair!" without really coming up with any good solution. Taking away pensions, collective bargaining and whatnot doesn't make it fair. It makes us all settle for poverty standards. "If I can't have it, neither can you!" seems to the battle cry. What I can't understand is why those people aren't screaming at our government saying, "WE'RE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! FIGURE OUT A WAY WE CAN ALL HAVE SOME!!" We let our government off so easy. There should be no poverty in the US. There should be no child having his only decent meal at school. Parents should earn enough to feed their kids. People shouldn't have to settle for whatever doctor takes their insurance, if at all. People should have choice. Other countries have done this. Why can't we?
As long as there are JERKS like Scott Walker around, we will never have anything fair in Wisconsin.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Politics, sciatica and more from the land of cheese...
First, my sciatic nerve is rising up to kill me this week. Hurts like a sonofabitch...staying home from work tomorrow to rest it up, maybe ice it and some ibuprofen. Usually works.
Second, Wisconsin has been the hot topic of most of the news stations for the past couple of weeks. Lemme see if I can recap it for you non-cheese heads...
a. Gov. Scott Walker tries to cram this cockamamie bill into the senate so it will be passed without allowing the Democrats the chance to even discuss it. In the bill are fun little things such as taking away collective bargaining from Union workers, tampering with Medicare and Medicaid, and making exceptions for those Unions that backed him in the election.
b. Thousands of people - Union workers, public workers, teachers and supporters - have been converging on Madison ever since.
c. The Democratic senators have take off, hiding out, in some undisclosed location because if they show up in the assembly, there is enough for a quoram and then the Republicans can vote. This can happen even if they Dems just show up in the morning and then, say, leave to use the restroom or have lunch. And it can happen if there is even just one of them present.
d. The Unions have already agreed to the financial changes requested by the Gov which would help balance the state budget. I mean, after all, that's what this bill is about, right? Hmmm, well maybe not...he won't hear of it. Yeah, tell me this isn't about more than the budget.
e. Today, Walker was "punk'd" and took a call from someone identifying himself as one of the Koch brothers. The Koch brothers are millionaires who stand to make millions more if this bill is passed. Democratic leaders have been trying to reach Walker for almost two weeks to talk this out to no avail. Someone says their last name is Koch...and he takes the call right away. What does that tell ya!?
f. Tonight on Fox News (yeah, yeah I know...Fox News...) Walker said, in an interview, that since this bill may not be passed by this Friday, he will "be forced to make other cuts" meaning the letting go of about 1500 or more state workers. This is akin to a kidnapper who gets his demands met by threatening to kill one hostage at a time unless he gets what he wants.
g. Scott Walker has tiny beady little eyes that are slightly crossed. Maybe it's just me but I cannot take this man seriously and I cannot believe a word he says. Oh, and he did something like all of this when he was the county executive in Milwaukee. He let go of the county court security workers and gave the contract to a private entity. That private entity screwed it up. The workers who were fired sought arbitration. An independent arbitrator found there was no cause for them to have been let go, so they were reinstated and were paid restitution...to the tune of almost half a million dollars. So much for Walker being able to balance a budget!
Clearly, I am not a fan of our Governor. I think he's a putz. And how he can ignore thousands of people who are clearly against what he is doing is beyond me.
Recall, anyone??
Second, Wisconsin has been the hot topic of most of the news stations for the past couple of weeks. Lemme see if I can recap it for you non-cheese heads...
a. Gov. Scott Walker tries to cram this cockamamie bill into the senate so it will be passed without allowing the Democrats the chance to even discuss it. In the bill are fun little things such as taking away collective bargaining from Union workers, tampering with Medicare and Medicaid, and making exceptions for those Unions that backed him in the election.
b. Thousands of people - Union workers, public workers, teachers and supporters - have been converging on Madison ever since.
c. The Democratic senators have take off, hiding out, in some undisclosed location because if they show up in the assembly, there is enough for a quoram and then the Republicans can vote. This can happen even if they Dems just show up in the morning and then, say, leave to use the restroom or have lunch. And it can happen if there is even just one of them present.
d. The Unions have already agreed to the financial changes requested by the Gov which would help balance the state budget. I mean, after all, that's what this bill is about, right? Hmmm, well maybe not...he won't hear of it. Yeah, tell me this isn't about more than the budget.
e. Today, Walker was "punk'd" and took a call from someone identifying himself as one of the Koch brothers. The Koch brothers are millionaires who stand to make millions more if this bill is passed. Democratic leaders have been trying to reach Walker for almost two weeks to talk this out to no avail. Someone says their last name is Koch...and he takes the call right away. What does that tell ya!?
f. Tonight on Fox News (yeah, yeah I know...Fox News...) Walker said, in an interview, that since this bill may not be passed by this Friday, he will "be forced to make other cuts" meaning the letting go of about 1500 or more state workers. This is akin to a kidnapper who gets his demands met by threatening to kill one hostage at a time unless he gets what he wants.
g. Scott Walker has tiny beady little eyes that are slightly crossed. Maybe it's just me but I cannot take this man seriously and I cannot believe a word he says. Oh, and he did something like all of this when he was the county executive in Milwaukee. He let go of the county court security workers and gave the contract to a private entity. That private entity screwed it up. The workers who were fired sought arbitration. An independent arbitrator found there was no cause for them to have been let go, so they were reinstated and were paid restitution...to the tune of almost half a million dollars. So much for Walker being able to balance a budget!
Clearly, I am not a fan of our Governor. I think he's a putz. And how he can ignore thousands of people who are clearly against what he is doing is beyond me.
Recall, anyone??
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Same Lake, Different Day....
My house is located four houses away from Lake Michigan. I've lived my entire life right next to this wonderful lake. During cold winter nights, I can hear her waves roaring like lions and bashing against the rocks. In summer, on a calm day, her surface is clear blue. So blue it's hard to tell where the water ends and meets the sky. She looks like glass. I've walked along her shores and dove into her cold, cold water. Lake Michigan has been like an old friend to me. I can't really explain the pull the lake has on me. All I know is, everyday, when I leave my house for work in the morning, I look down the street to see how she has adorned herself that day. Sunny or grey, clear skies or rain, she is always a sight to behold!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The funny thing about snow...
Living in Wisconsin, you get pretty used to having a lot of snow around in the winter time. Still, the #1 thing to do here in the winter is complain about the snow. It's funny though because the snow anxiety begins sometime in November when we start to look to the dark skies of a blustery day and say "You think it will snow?" over and over again. Sometime in December, it actually does snow.
The first snowfall of the year is always a big event. Usually, the first snowfall doesn't amount to more than a flurry or two that doesn't have the staying power needed to really make a mess of things. Still, Cheeseheads everywhere look to the roads and start to wonder if the ride home from work will be bad. It generally isn't but we do get a good chuckle the next day around the water cooler about some "idjit" or other that didn't remember to slow down and ended up in a ditch "off of 31". It's at this time each year the love/hate relationship with snow begins. Those who love it (like me) start wishing out loud for more which always leads those who hate it (almost everyone else) to say "Oh SURE! It's nice...if you don't have to go anywhere!" This statement always struck me as completely silly because, of course, we have to go somewhere. We have to work, eat and live so becoming a hermit is not exactly an option for everyone.
Eventually the "big one" does hit. Despite the bitching, people dig in, shovel out and barrel through and get where they need to go. They might get there late but that's a given so no one complains about it. For the next several days Cheeseheads do something I call "The Great Snowbank Story Swap". Everyone gets great pleasure one upping each other about the height, depth and girth of whatever snowbank they themselves had to shovel out of. Then, after a few days of cold winter sun, the snow starts turning "city brown" and the novelty wears off. We all seem to forget about it even though it's still there. We shuffle more when we walk so as not to slip and fall. We drive slower - which in Wisconsin is pretty damn slow since we already drive slower than almost any other state! But we get on with life.
Then it snows again... and again. Somehow, after the first rush of snow activity all subsequent snowfalls become ho-hum. We don't worry as much about the roads. We don't wonder if we'll get out of our drive ways. We have the morning routine of starting the car, heating it up, and scraping off the windows down pat. Last night it snowed a little on the way home from work and this morning my street was blanketed in white. It was silent at 6:30am as I scraped off my windshield and waited for the heat to kick in. I could hear the crunch of old snow covered by the new under my feet as I made my way around the car. Everything was cold, crisp and clean. That's what I love about the snow. It's that initial clean white feeling...the smell of it...the coldness...the occasional crystal shine in the streetlight. It's the part that doesn't last long because as the day and traffic start up the snow begins to melt and turns grey and loses its virginity.
If you've never walked in the new snow in the light of the full moon, you have no idea what I'm talking about. And part of me feels bad that you don't. I wish everyone could experience that once in their lifetime.
The first snowfall of the year is always a big event. Usually, the first snowfall doesn't amount to more than a flurry or two that doesn't have the staying power needed to really make a mess of things. Still, Cheeseheads everywhere look to the roads and start to wonder if the ride home from work will be bad. It generally isn't but we do get a good chuckle the next day around the water cooler about some "idjit" or other that didn't remember to slow down and ended up in a ditch "off of 31". It's at this time each year the love/hate relationship with snow begins. Those who love it (like me) start wishing out loud for more which always leads those who hate it (almost everyone else) to say "Oh SURE! It's nice...if you don't have to go anywhere!" This statement always struck me as completely silly because, of course, we have to go somewhere. We have to work, eat and live so becoming a hermit is not exactly an option for everyone.
Eventually the "big one" does hit. Despite the bitching, people dig in, shovel out and barrel through and get where they need to go. They might get there late but that's a given so no one complains about it. For the next several days Cheeseheads do something I call "The Great Snowbank Story Swap". Everyone gets great pleasure one upping each other about the height, depth and girth of whatever snowbank they themselves had to shovel out of. Then, after a few days of cold winter sun, the snow starts turning "city brown" and the novelty wears off. We all seem to forget about it even though it's still there. We shuffle more when we walk so as not to slip and fall. We drive slower - which in Wisconsin is pretty damn slow since we already drive slower than almost any other state! But we get on with life.
Then it snows again... and again. Somehow, after the first rush of snow activity all subsequent snowfalls become ho-hum. We don't worry as much about the roads. We don't wonder if we'll get out of our drive ways. We have the morning routine of starting the car, heating it up, and scraping off the windows down pat. Last night it snowed a little on the way home from work and this morning my street was blanketed in white. It was silent at 6:30am as I scraped off my windshield and waited for the heat to kick in. I could hear the crunch of old snow covered by the new under my feet as I made my way around the car. Everything was cold, crisp and clean. That's what I love about the snow. It's that initial clean white feeling...the smell of it...the coldness...the occasional crystal shine in the streetlight. It's the part that doesn't last long because as the day and traffic start up the snow begins to melt and turns grey and loses its virginity.
If you've never walked in the new snow in the light of the full moon, you have no idea what I'm talking about. And part of me feels bad that you don't. I wish everyone could experience that once in their lifetime.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Driving an igloo to work....
We got some snow here last night and it's still snowing. Frankly, I'm glad to see it though I have to admit getting out while it's still dark and scraping the windshield is not high on my list of fun things to do. Actually today I had to scrape the entire car. The snow started last night as freezing rain which makes for a nice force field of icy stealth to clean off the car the next day. I tend to leave some on the non-glass parts of the car so I look like a 2001 Dodge Igloo driving down the road in the morning. I figure sooner or later the sun will come out and Mother Nature can clear off the rest.
Living in Wisconsin, you'd think we would all be used to this kind of weather. But the weather is complaint Numero Uno around here at all times. People either complains it's too hot or too cold or too wet or too dry. Not a day goes by when someone doesn't mention it. The phrase "Cold enough for ya?" is a common greeting as is "You ask for this snow?" as if someone has to be to blame. I tend to like weather so living here isn't a problem for me. I love that the seasons change so drastically here. It can be 100 degrees in the summer with 98% humidity or it can get to 15 degrees in the winter with a 20 below wind chill factor. There's something about all that change that keeps it interesting. I get a lot of groans from people when I say things like "Isn't the snow great!?" But it is great. It's beautiful. I can't wait until we have enough to go outside and make a big snowman!
Living in Wisconsin, you'd think we would all be used to this kind of weather. But the weather is complaint Numero Uno around here at all times. People either complains it's too hot or too cold or too wet or too dry. Not a day goes by when someone doesn't mention it. The phrase "Cold enough for ya?" is a common greeting as is "You ask for this snow?" as if someone has to be to blame. I tend to like weather so living here isn't a problem for me. I love that the seasons change so drastically here. It can be 100 degrees in the summer with 98% humidity or it can get to 15 degrees in the winter with a 20 below wind chill factor. There's something about all that change that keeps it interesting. I get a lot of groans from people when I say things like "Isn't the snow great!?" But it is great. It's beautiful. I can't wait until we have enough to go outside and make a big snowman!
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