Saturday, March 3, 2012

AWOLNATION - "Sail"



This song has been stuck in my head for over a week. I post it here in the hope that by doing so, I exorcise it from my mind.

(Kind of funny to substitute the word fail for sail.  :-P   But not 10 days funny.)

Friday, March 2, 2012

Hot off the Press

Poor deer looking for something to eat.






Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a long, yet productive week. Glad that Friday is here... Here are some random questions.

1) Do you know how to roller skate/ ice skate?

2) How often do you exercise?

3) What name do think is cool for a rock band? (Go ahead and think of one of your own if you want).

4) How much are you willing to pay for gas?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday & Weekend


I couldn't find a Marilyn Friday graphic, so I put my own together.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

What, No Monkees Fans?

"Former Monkee Davy Jones dies at age 66 in Florida"



RIP, Davy. You've taken your Last Train to Clarksville.

"White-collar criminals' code: 'It's not my fault'"

From the Los Angeles Times:

"An armed robber takes his punishment. But the white-collar guys whine."

"By Barry Goldman

"February 28, 2012

"I mediated a case some years ago between a small general contractor and a carpenter. The carpenter had done some work for the contractor, and the contractor didn't pay. Then the contractor went to prison for arson. Once the contractor was out of prison and back in business, the carpenter filed suit to recover the money.

"I met privately with the contractor and went over the facts. Did you hire the carpenter? Yes. Did you agree to pay him such and such an amount? Yes. Did he do the work? Yes. Did you pay him? No.

"I asked why not, and I remember exactly what he said:

"'Did I tell you I was a nice guy? I don't remember saying that.'

"This was not the answer I expected. I expected to hear about his unjust and unfortunate incarceration and resultant financial difficulties and personal challenges. I expected him to duck and dodge and whine and wheedle and make excuses the way most people do.

"A friend of mine who is a federal judge and another who is a retired county prosecutor suggest I shouldn't have been so surprised. 'Give me an armed robber or a dope dealer any day,' they say. 'Of course they try to get the best deal they can, but they know what they did. They took a chance. And when they get caught, they stand up and take the punishment. It's a cost of doing business. The white-collar guys are totally different. Nothing is ever their fault. All they do is whine!'

"I hear that kind of whining over and over in my mediation practice. Employees who were fired for failing to come to work tell me, 'It was really retaliation for my outspoken defense of my constitutional rights.' Managers accused of sexually harassing one subordinate after another say, 'It's a conspiracy cooked up out of nothing by people who are out to destroy my career for no reason.'

"I hear it from my students. They didn't get the wrong answer; the question was ambiguous. They didn't get a lousy score; the curve was too high.

"We hear it from our 'leadership.' Newt Gingrich didn't have an affair because he saw something he wanted and he thought he could grab some without getting caught. Instead:

"'There's no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.'

"It's worthwhile to pause a moment here and marvel at the chutzpah it takes to produce a statement like that."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-goldman-honor-among-thieves-20120228,0,1062223.story

"Barry Goldman is an arbitrator and mediator, and the author of 'The Science of Settlement: Ideas for Negotiators.'"


I came across this in the print edition of today's Journal Times.  Suits won't man up where street thugs will.  Is it any wonder that few of our politicians come clean, even after they're prosecuted? 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

BAD DAY at the offfice...



I've seen some of these clips before, but they go exceptionally well with the song.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my leap year lilies. How are you? First we get smacked with spring, then we get smacked with snow, then we get smacked with spring, then we get smacked with snow. We get smacked around a lot. Still, it’s preferable to a normal winter in Wisconsin. “Normal winter in Wisconsin” – oh dear, I think that’s an oxymoron. The only normal thing about our winters is their abnormality. You might even say that they are irregular.

It’s nice to see the new and improved Racine Uncovered site: http://racineuncovered.org/ Very nicely done. I predict more growth and a larger audience for Ms. Beth.

Oh, and I saw Mr. OrbsCorbs’ link to the story about the Journal Times winning all those awards: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2012/02/journal-times-wins-numerous-wna-awards.html Kudos to them. (I’ve always wanted to say that, “kudos.” I have no idea what it means.)

Happy Leap Birthday to you “leaplings” born on February 29th. Are your celebrations and gifts four times better than regular birthdays?



Thank you for reading my blog. I do so appreciate your visits. My readers are my family, and I love my family. I even love my family’s families.

Stay in touch with family: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy whatever it is we are experiencing in the weather these days. I think it might be an early, prolonged spring, but I dare not predict Mother Nature’s actions. Keep everything handy, from sun block to antifreeze, and know that Madame Zoltar watches over you always. Lalochezia!

Open Blog - Wednesday & Thursday


I guess we're on a roll here.

Monday, February 27, 2012

OrbsCorbs Appears Before City Council



What the forget was I talking about?

Check Out Racine Uncovered's New Look



It's so professional looking now.  I'm glad to see the growth.  Congratulations to Beth and the others who have put so much effort into our community. 

Open Blog - Monday & Tuesday


I don't know what a Marilyn Monday is, but it looks like fun.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Snow on Friday!

This past Friday morning we woke up to a mess outside. I thought we would have been done with this snow. But I forgot I am living in Wisconsin.

I was taking Drew to work and when we got outside we had about an inch of snow on the car already. So the two of us started to clean the car off. It was still snowing but I didn't care because he had to get to work and so did I. When we got the car cleaned off I asked him who was driving and he said you are.

When I left the parking lot I thought great the road was plowed. Then I get down the road to make a turn on to Green Bay Rd and there was a city bus in the ditch. I was like I am going straight to work. That road was not plowed yet. This is a detour we have to take because of road construction and the city did not plow this road. But the rest of the way to Drew's work and my work was plowed. After I got him to work and on my way to work I seen a car in the ditch on Northwestern St.. I was just glad I was going to work and I didn't care I was there and hour early.

On Wednesday we just got two new tires and a wheel alignment done on the car. I was just so happy for that. Because are tires were going bald on the car. With that done I was not sliding around with the car.

One my way home from work I seen how the snow was on the trees and it looked so pretty. I thought to myself I have to grab the camera and get some pictures. So when I got home changed clothes and grabbed the camera so I could get some pictures.

The picture at the top is on Charles St. by the quarry and the one to the right is on four mile rd the Root River. The one by the River I was sitting on the bridge in the middle of the road to take this picture. I made sure no cars where coming. 

I couldn't believe the change in the roads from 5:30 am to 1pm. The roads when I got off of work were so clear to when I went to work. It was so nice to not have to worry.

The snow was wet and heavy here. You should have seen some of the trees with the limbs just hanging. It looked like the branches were going to just brake off the trees. Then when I was driving down the street the snow was falling off the trees and it sounded like ice hitting the top of my car. When the snow fell on the ground it was like slush you would be walking through. 

I hope everyone made it safe on Friday were ever you had to be.

Useless Information

Did you know:

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

Spades - King David

Hearts - Charlemagne

Clubs -Alexander, the Great

Diamonds - Julius Caesar

"The Journal Times wins numerous WNA awards including most improved "

From The Journal Times.com:

"RACINE COUNTY — The Journal Times has received four first-place awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association for editorial excellence in 2011, including Most Improved Newspaper.

"The Journal Times also received two second-place awards and eight third-place awards in news/editorial.

"In advertising, this newspaper won three first-place WNA awards, one second-place and one third-place award."



Bravo!