Archive for the 'local' Category



Snow day 2009!

After the Governor declared a state of emergency for all of Wisconsin, I wondered if we’d have to go to work today, but didn’t want to get my hopes up since I’ve never heard of state offices shutting down for such an event.  But, alas, I bring you snow day 2009 in all its wintery, white, blizzardy glory.

Oh, and here’s an unrelated thought (or something).  The award for the, “Who Cares Story of 2009?” otherwise known as the “This Is News?” award goes to Meredith Baxter (Birney).  Last night I was reading about Baxter (Birney) coming out of the closet and there were a couple of things in the story that left me scratching my head.  Now I don’t want to be insensitive and diminsh anyone’s personal journey or demons or insecurities or whatever, but really, this is pretty much a non-story to begin with.  One, she’s Meredith Baxter (who? say so many).  Two, she’s 62 (now, mom, I’m not saying sixty-ish women aren’t relevant, just that no one really cares about anyone sex’s life once they turn, say, 30 — unless maybe they’re someone super famous, which Meredith Baxter — esp since she lost the Birney — is not).  Three, and most importantly, it’s 2009.  The article ended, though, with this: Baxter declaring that she recently attended a play about Oscar Wilde in LA with her partner and she put her arm around her love.  She said she decided, “Who cares what people think?” or something along those lines.  Um, she was in LA.  At a play about Oscar Wilde.  And she put her arm around her date.  What?  I can’t imagine there was anyone in that audience — at a play about Oscar Wilde (did I mention this?) — who would have blinked at such an event much less had something to say about.  Just struck me as a little dramatic.  But who am I to judge.  Well, I’m me.

Shameless plea for advice

What kind of phone should we get?  We no longer have a landline (haven’t for a few years now  — Ben and I got rid of ours circa 2007, I think) and Aaron and I both have pretty craptastic phones with contracts up so that we are free to do as we please!  Aaron is leaning towards an iPhone, but I am scared of the costs of service (not so much the phone itself as a one-time fee is something I can deal with).  I do want kind of a fancier phone as I’d like to be able to have a real calendar on it and all that.  But maybe that’s silly.  Of course, we also don’t have to do the same thing, but family plans seem cheaper and, of course, then there’s just one bill, which is nice. 

Help! Peeps, please advise.

Step three? I hope you’re seated!

In a shocking turnabout, we’ve decided to take the house (er, condo) off the market.  What?  But, Kate, you just put it on the market!  I know, I know.  But, in getting ready for last week’s open house (to which only one, but seemingly genuinely, guy attended and liked the place); I pretty much came to the conclusion that it was not the right time to move; that I love the place; that I love the location; and that moving now is just not necessary.  I know, peeps, you must be shocked and worried about my mental health.  I assure you all is ok (or, rather, as ok as it has been).

So, stay tuned for possible updates on fixer-upper stuff…And if anyone has advice or suggestions on peeps to talk to/hire about doing kitchen or “lover level” (I’ve decided calling it the basement is just bad sense) remodeling, I’d love to hear it…

And stay tuned for pics from the 3rd annual Cambridge, WI Barktoberfest!  Though damn chilly (the snow held off!), it was a fun time for peeps and hounds.  Wait, wait…here they are!  Make sure to try to fully understand the size of the English Mastiff (200 lbs.); my pics don’t do him justice.

UPDATE: Design appointment scheduled with Big Box Depot on Thursday evening.

Will it be Chicago?

I was up around 5 this morning (well, let’s face it, not UP, but awake) and turned to CNN.  I knew the decision was coming soon, but I didn’t realize it would be today!

So, if Chicago gets the Olympics in 2016, lots of biking would be in Madison. I know peeps have mixed feelings on hosting the Olymps because it costs, say, billions and I think some peeps just don’t like having loads of extra people in their town for a few weeks, but I really, really, really hope it happens. I just think it would be super cool. What I don’t think is the coolest thing about it, though, is that I’ll be 41 in 2016.  Not that that’s inherently uncool or anything, but it has given me pause.

So, we’ll know today whether or not there will be an Athlete’s Village in Madison.

UPDATE:  So sad.  Chicago was eliminated in the first round.  Given that there are only four finalists, I’m not clear on why there are rounds, but there you have it. * I had heard that the favorite was Rio.  We’ll see in a moment, I guess.  I’m bummed.  [And, yes, I know South America has waited a long time for the Olympics, but so has Madison…er, well, yeah.  The end.]

* Apparently, the IOC members vote and if there is no majority in the first round, the vote proceeds to a second round and the city with the fewest votes in the first round drops out.  Oh, poor Chicago.

Chicago

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Tribune’s website.  I just love the shocked faces.  I mean, I don’t love that their shocked and sad, but I think the picture is so great; it makes me giggle a little.

Ok, and this really makes me laugh, which I sorely needed as this whole Polanski bonkers bonanza has my blood pressure at record levels.  It also, nicely I think, ties my previous two posts together.  Sorta.

Step two? Check!

The vintage couch is mine!  And it’s glllllllllllllooooooorious!  Enjoy…

The couch!

Ok, maybe it’s not for everyone, but I just love it.  I wish the curve were on the other side so that it could define the space a little better, but what am I going to do, complain?  Heck no!  I got this sweet couch for $100 and that included delivery.  The kid probably would have taken even less, too, but I didn’t want to be a jerk.  $100 for such a cool couch!  It’s a Valentine-Seaver Original and my trained eye places it at Vintage 1961 (I completely made that up — well, the year, not the brand).  I think it’s just so peachy.  And the best part is that it really made the lower level (not ‘basement,’ people!) so much better for much less than I thought I might have to pay.  I know there’s still more work to be done, but I feel we’re on our way.  And now, I don’t want to leave.  I just love it here.

Also, let me point out to those of you with a critical eye, the space really is not crowded, though it may appear that way in my zoomed photo.  The treadmill is in plenty of space behind the couch and there is a lot of space to the side of the couch, so that the murphy bed can still be pulled down without having to move furniture.  So, there.