Ace Wisdom

In case you haven’t noticed, the government has mandated that effective Jan.1, 2012, all light bulbs manufactured must be converted from the normal incandescent bulbs to fluorescent, LED or LCD technology. Supposedly getting your bulbs replaced will save energy. There are lots of decisions including equivalent light, color of light and cost. You may save on energy but the cost of new bulbs is a shocker. My understanding is that fluorescent bulbs all contain mercury needed to produce the glow. Mercury is a hazardous material known to summon Emergency Cleanup Units. My advice is “don’t drop your new bulbs”. Your house may be surrounded by fire trucks.
Just a quick story. When Nana moved into Kindred Hearts Assistant Living, she could not get proper TV reception. When an electrician came to check things out, he discovered that there was one of the new “energy saving” fluorescent light bulbs in the table lamp the home provided next to her bed. He said they caused the problem, so removed the bulb and replaced it with a regular “normal” one. Her TV worked great and she was very happy. I wonder if it affects cell phones?
We start the year with a clean slate. Make up your mind to being bombarded by political radio and TV messages. The Presidential election rhetoric ramps up. The potential Walker recall will generate lots of political mudslinging. Then there is the “occupy something” movement. Imagine if we took the “$ billions” that will be spent on ads and used that money to feed the poor.
For you Packers fans, here is the deal. They have a week off. Then they play the New York Giants at home. That will be followed by a game against New Orleans at home. The Super Bowl in Indianapolis will be a Packer/New England Patriot matchup. There you have it. In a perfect world, I’ve just described the march to the NFL championship.
Badgers lost the Rose Bowl for the same reason they lost two other games: lousy defense. Maybe a little bad luck! It was a very good year for Bucky. Oh well. There is always the losers lament “there is always next year”.
New Year’s Day I shoveled for the first time this winter season.
Stay Warm.
Love,
Dad

The year 2011 is ending. Words like “occupy everything”, “dismal housing market” and “increasing national debt” dominate the news wires. The fortunate rich 1% apparently control everything. The question is “who is included in the 1%”? Not anybody I know.
It was a snowy night on Dec.30, 1961 that Grasshopper No.2 was born. A short trip to the hospital, a one hour wait and presto, a new baby girl entered the world. That was umpty umpt years ago. I was attending Marquette University at the time and I was on semester break. Here is wishing a very Happy Birthday to that Very Special Person.
There is a depressing part of Grasshopper No.2’s birthday. Do you know how old that makes me (and your mother)? Whoa!
I’ve noticed that our economic recession produces interesting twists. Theoretically people are not spending money in fear of the unknown. You know. Things like losing your job! Having to draw down your retirement plans! Medical emergencies. Reduction in benefits. The twist revolves around people paying $250 for a share of Packers stock which really has no value. Where do people get the money? I see that Packer shirts and jerseys are selling out and there is a shortage. The cost per jersey is $250 (unbelieveable). This week at DisneyWorld in Orlando, the crowds are over-whelming and they have to move people around in “shifts” to accommodate everybody. In the midst of a recession, where does all the money come from?
The year ending 2011 marks 12 years of my being retired. It doesn’t seem that long. Time goes fast when you are having fun.
I make no resolutions for next year (2012) because the world is going to end (again). It has something to do with the Myan calendar, alignment of the stars, and some voodoo.
In the meantime, don’t quit your day job just in case the world continues to evolve. If you are an optimist, make your plans for Disney World next December.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Love,
Dad

Happy Birthday brother Jerry (always Jerry Lee to his brothers and sister). 65 and counting.
Grasshopper No.5 is winding her way home. Christmas is over. No more anticipation. No more missed naps. No more over-flowing garbage cans.
The period between Christmas and New Years is always anti-climatic. Many people combine the officially designated holidays with precious vacation and enjoy almost 10 days off of work. It gives you time to read the new books, hook up the new 3D TV’s and return all the clothes that don’t quite fit.
The Packers are now assured of playing home games all the way through January. If they win, win, and win, they will finally get to travel to balmy Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. Damn its great to be an a Packer stockholder. The money just keeps rolling in!
Enjoy the weather. How many times can you remember passing Christmas and not having to shovel.
Love,
Dad

We got a Christmas card from Ike and he included an old newspaper clipping Addie had saved announcing the marriage of your Mom and I back in 1960. I think the clipping came from the Plymouth Review. The parents of Shelby J. announced the nuptial bond of their daughter to Mr. C.E. An—–. My first name was never used. I will be forever remembered by the initials C.E. The only other person I know that went by his first two initials was my Dad (W.C.). So your Mom became Mrs. C.E. An—-. Very interesting!
Today, Dec.23 marks the 25 year anniversary of my Mother’s death. A death in the family 2 days before Christmas is always sad. The Christmas holiday was different in 1986.
Wednesday night the Middleton, Wis. junior varsity basketball team came to town to play the Appleton East Patriots. Grandson Grant is on the team. He is one of the bigger players but alas, not a starter. Because the game was close, not all substitutes played including the Grantster. Appleton led 14-5 early in the game but Middleton turned up the defense, made a few shots and walked away a 41-36 winner. A guard named Luke Schaefer for Middleton scored half the points and was clearly “the man”. Good show! I remember the days.
What is this? Something white is laying on top of my grass. Not much. Just a dusting. If I think it is called snow. Maybe a little more dusting tonight and then sun and clouds into the future. It is actually good news for travelers.
This weekend will be anti-climatic for our Christmas celebration. Hopefully we make a connection with Grasshopper No.3 and family and of course Grasshopper No.5 will be visiting for the holidays.
Packers vs Bears. Christmas night. Lambeau. 28 degrees. Be there (watching on tube).
Happy Holidays,
Love,
Dad

As you know, we celebrated the family Christmas on Sunday, Dec.18. Several Grasshoppers got together and gave your Mom and I a Vizio Home Theater sound system. It has a 32″ power bar that creates a spectacular surround sound effect and a woofer that operates remotely on a Wi-Fi effect. The home theater was given with love. Buried in all the love is a “subtle hint” that maybe my hearing is getting worse and the “surround” would improve my ability to enjoy TV. Your Mom had been asking me to get a new sound system for a year(s). Santa moves in mysterious ways. Now I need to hook it up to my old Sony TV in the basement.
Grandson Grant ventures to town tomorrow to play basketball against Appleton East. He is on the junior varsity squad. Hey this is easy. We don’t have to travel to Madison to witness a game. I think this is the first time Grant is not the star or for that matter, even a starter. He remains my favorite. Ah I remember the junior varsity days.
My dash warning light came on in my car with a “service engine soon” warning again. People have been telling me to check the tightness of the gas cap. I did reset the gas cap several times and the light stayed on. Yesterday I thought I’d try gasoline from a different station. Maybe I was getting bad gas. When I stopped to refill, I carefully examined the seal around the gas cap by running my finger around the fill tube. My finger was black and oily. I took a towelette and wiped the gas tube really well. It, also, was black. After filling with gas and relocking the gas cap, I jumped in my car and turned on the ignition. Damn, the light was off. I have no idea how a gas filler tube can get so dirty. The thought has crossed my mind that the “service department at the garage” might do something to get me coming back. Nope. I just can’t think that way. Service departments are always honest. Happiness is when a dashboard warning light quits flashing.
It is strange to have celebrated Christmas early. A good time was had by all (I think)!
Enjoy the season.
Love,
Dad

Obviously, Santa Claus is one of the 1% rich people in the world (not part of the 99% of normal human beings). That means he has lots of money and resources. He should be made to give up all those riches to the rest of us. So, I’m organizing a “sit-in” at the North Pole. It will be cold. Bring your insulated underwear, thermal boots and snowmobile suits. We will block the entrance to Santa’s shop.
I know Santa is part of the 1% bad guys because he makes toys all year round and delivers them on Christmas around the world. It takes a lot of money to do all that. He has been known to deliver new cars to “big kids”. It is not fair that Santa have all that “wealth”.
In case you doubt Santa’s motives, remember, he watches you through electronic surveillance all year to find out if you’ve been “naughty or nice”. He uses GPS, computer “cookies” to watch your electronic communication and “apps” to monitor your cell phones. What gives him the right to keep watching you and then use the information against you?
To top it off, Santa is guilty of breaking and entering almost every home in the world. He lands on roof tops, probably damaging shingles, then slides uninvited down the chimney. Santa is the only one I know that can enter your living room and nobody reports him. We feed Santa cookies and milk. That makes no sense! We feed a felon.
And then there is the pollution. You can’t tell me eight reindeer led by Rudolph can fly around the world in one night without polluting the environment. There is the flatulance, along with the body discharges. In this day of promoting “green”, Santa’s reindeer are a disgrace.
With my “occupy Santa” effort, I plan to change the world. We will get rid of Christmas once and for all. That certainly will make the world a better place.
By the way, Santa, maybe you could find it in your heart to bring me Obsession After Shave Lotion with moisturizer. It is really expensive at Macy’s. I’ve been good most of the time.
Happy Holidays!
Love,
Dad

The Pack is 13-0. It is easy to get caught up in the unbeaten record. The comparisons continue to teams of years gone by. It makes 14-0 seem important. And 15-0. Or a perfect regular season of 16-0. The truth is the record from this point on means nothing. Green Bay has already won their division. They already have a “bye” for the first weekend of NFL playoffs (one less game to play in the quest for the Lombardi trophy is a big deal). Finally, they are almost assured that all playoff games will be played at Lambeau supported by 72,000 screaming fans. The Pack has done almost everything they need to do to get a favorable path to the Super Bowl. They have achieved most of their early goals. In my book, even if they lose the next 3 games, it doesn’t matter. The record is nothing but bragging rights. The quote goes “if you ain’t got the ring, you ain’t got a thing”. So the focus turns to win in the playoffs and bring home a second ring. Pretty simple. They need to win 3 playoff games. Screw the perfect record.
We attended the Xavier Christmas Stars program last Saturday. It ended the same way it always does. Jesus was born in the manger on Christmas Eve. The promise conveyed by the story is always the same. The presentation varies. Nice.
I have noticed that the “Christmas Card” phenomenon keeps evolving. When I was working, I would get lots of cards from vendors that wanted our business. I sent cards to business associates in the spirit of the season. More cards went to employees I worked with. A few friends got cards (remember I don’t have a lot of close friends). Finally there were family cards.
This year (12 years after retirement), there are no suck up vendor cards. My business associates have forgotten I exist (or they died) and old employees don’t care. Most friends have dropped the expensive Christmas card tradition to save money. All that is left is family. The extended family continues to exchange cards. I think the internet, e-mail and social networks, like Facebook, have reduced the need to send Christmas cards. We are moving towards a paperless Christmas greeting card environment. My only regret is that Christmas was the only time that a “shirt tail” relative might send a card and letter. Ah, I’ll survive.
Ryan Braun is going to have to do some quick talking to explain why he had elevated levels of testosterone in his system. His “World Series ring” seems to have moved further away.
Love,
Dad