Ace Wisdom

Tomorrow your Mom and I will have been married 56 years.  She remains the love of my life.  The journey continues!  Happy Anniversary to us!

Today is April 1.  Tomorrow it snows.

I had a preliminary eye exam yesterday in preparation of laser surgery later in May.  It is described as a “puff-puff” procedure that takes 5 seconds to perform.  The operation is called “removal of a secondary cataract” (I had cataracts removed two years ago).  From what I can tell, it is a slight discoloration of a film in the back of the eye that they need to burn a hole through.  That doesn’t sound like a cataract to me.  It is free!  It is covered by Medicare.  $1,400 for 5 seconds to do a “puff-puff”.  I spent my life in the wrong profession.  We had to sell a lot of cookies to generate $1,400.

The Milwaukee Brewers open the season on Monday, April 4th.  Be still my heart, the excitement is overwhelming.  This a rebuilding year.  Ushers will play the outfield.  “Ball boys” will be infielders.  I think there are a few Miller beer vendors that will pitch (they always “pitching” anyway).  In fairness, baseball is a business.  Paying $25 million dollar salaries is ridiculous.  A “middle market” club like the Brewers really struggles to compete.  Maybe young players with lots of talent will “catch fire” and become winners.  It happened in Kansas City.

The NCAA basketball tournament ends this weekend (Championship on Monday).  It is really not about basketball.  It is about sports bars, chicken wings and beer.  It is a chance to act stupid and not have explain your actions!  People can just be “themselves”.

Chili in the pot.  Snow on the ground.

Love,

Dad

 

I cashed my State Tax Refund check at McDonald’s yesterday!

In all the years of picking teams in the NCAA tournament, I have never headed into the Final Four weekend without a team still competing for the big prize. Yep, I’m “dead in the water”.  Virginia let me down.

You could have lost your Dad yesterday.  I went for my morning walk at Fox River Mall.  As I arrived, I noticed there were no cars in the parking lot! I chalked it up to the “Easter Holiday weekend”.  I was able to walk into the Mall thanks to an employee from the “Limited” holding the door open.  The employee said the Mall access was restricted because there had been an “incident” overnight near the food court.  If I entered I would be walking at my own risk.  My first thought was that ISUS had come to the local mall and blown up a local store. No, I ruled that out because there would have been SWAT teams and fire trucks.  Maybe there had been a shooting?  Maybe ….. ?  Just then one of the Mall Security teams spotted me and escorted me out of the building.  The Mall was in lock-down.  I should never have gotten in.  A “Crime Scene Investigative Team” was on sight and they were in charge.  Really?  Some A–hole or group of A–holes had screwed up my morning routine.  So I went to plan B.  Our treadmill.

Turns out some 16 year old kid with a half developed brain broke into the Mall and headed for the retail outlet Zumiez.  He broke a window and maybe stole a few items.  What could he steal?  Freaky shirts?  Skate Boards?  He is being charged with 11 criminal counts.  I know, I know.  I’m being really insensitive.  He probably came from a broken home and is not responsible for his actions.  I need to be more understanding.

Your Mom and I spent Easter was with Grasshopper No.1 and husband. Bar-B-Que ribs.  Grilled chicken wings.  Good stuff!  All calories had been removed.

March is slipping away.  No remorse!

Love,

Dad

 

I have been streaming “late night” re-runs of the old Johnny Carson show through my indoor antenna.  I had forgotten that he had the same financial adviser that I have, Dr. Fu Ke Yu.  He invested Carson’s money in a Victoria Secret store in Iran.

This is Easter weekend.  I was introduced to the Catholic pageantry when I met your Mom in high school.  I was not familiar with events of Good Friday culminating in the joyous Sunday celebration.  There was a lot of tradition that accompanied Easter.  Nana took your Mom and JoAnn on a Spring shopping trip in anticipation of Easter.  Stylish coats.  Sunday shoes.  Hats. Sometimes a purse. Everything was topped off with white gloves.  The church service was performed with all the parishioners dressed in their finest.  To me it seemed like a contest.  For some reason I remember the Joe S. family (he owned a local cheese making company) marching into church with his wife and ten kids (yes ten).  They would march to the front pews that were seemingly reserved for his family. The entrance was spectacular.

Easter in the Catholic community has changed a little.  The religious traditions are obviously similar but people dress different.  Sweat shirts? Levi jeans?  Absence of pompous hats?  The dress code has changed.  I know, God loves all his children and he is honored that they are in attendance.  How people dress should not matter.

Just a side note, one of my Mom’s favorite movies was “Easter Parade” starring Judy Garland.  Even my Mom loved the pageantry of Easter and of course the songs.

Here is wishing everyone a very joyous Easter.  May Peter Cottontail fill your baskets with lots of “stuff”.

Love,

Dad

 

 

 

An angel landed in my kitchen and left “stuffing” and chicken soup.  How did she know I needed that?

I have been thinking about cancelling my cell phone subscription which includes an “Apple” phone.  The government has sued in court to force “Apple” to break the secure encryption on a terrorist phone.  I don’t want the government cracking the code of my phone.  Apple told the government it wouldn’t try to break the code.  I see the government has asked for a “delay” and said they have an expert in Minneapolis that thinks she can crack the Apple code.  She lives downtown and works for a “an electronic gaming company”.  Maybe I know her.  I know she is a software genius.  If anyone can, she can. Just saying!

Anyone entering the NCAA Bracketology has got to have learned a lesson. Don’t bet against Warren Buffett.  There is reason he offered a $1 million to any employee that could pick the first 48 games correctly.  That is why he is a multi-multi-multi-billionaire and you and I buy in bulk at Costco.  He understands risk.

Would you believe one of the Grasshoppers sent me an e-mail telling me (his Dad) that I didn’t chance in winning the NCAA.  He (yes he not she) is the same one who lost his pick of Michigan State in the first round.  He had MSU going all the way to final game.  Where is the respect?  In the old days, kids would have “let” their Dad win just to share the joy!

More Isus bombings in Brussels.  It is a different world.

White stuff forecast for tomorrow and Thursday.  Isn’t it Spring?

What color is the Easter Bunny?  I think I saw a pink one in the yard.

Love,

Dad

5-6 months ago I had a back molar tooth removed.  The oral extraction did not respond to anesthetic so when the tooth was “pulled” I felt everything. As I was writhing around in the chair I noticed the surgeon relax and he exclaimed “it’s out”.  Those perhaps were the two best words I’ve every heard.  Yesterday I had a second molar removed.  The anesthetic worked this time and when I was told the magic two words “it’s out” it was still the greatest relief.

Speaking of “being out” and about.  Grandson Collin, Audrey (the new Mom) and Great-Grandson Shaeley attended the celebration of his Mom’s birthday at St. Anna last Saturday.  For some reason all our Family babies are cute.  Shaeley Oliver is no exception.  I have been pushing to get a 4 generation “guy” picture as soon as Shaeley was available.  Last Saturday we got a 4-generation shot.  Me, Grasshopper No.3, Grandson Collin and Shaeley.  Ain’t that special.  Now I need to get my hands on a copy of the picture.

“Being out” includes my picks for the NCAA Basketball tournament.  In the first round games on Thursday, there were 16 games and I got 5 wrong.  I didn’t even know Yale had a basketball team.  Don’t they play rugby or lacrosse or something strange at Yale.  Yale brags about elete intellectual standards and are noted for graduating 5 former U.S. Presidents.  Based on the brawl among current Presidential candidates, I’m not sure intellect is required to be President.

Talk about “being out”.  A pitcher for the Chicago White Sox baseball club, Adam LaRoche was at Spring Training camp.  He will make $13 million this year for throwing a baseball.  He brings his son to “work” everyday.  I mean everyday.  In fact the kid has a celebrity locker next to his Dad.  Father and Son are inseparable.  Other members of the Club (who also have children) expressed concern about how much time LaRoche was spending with his son.  The White Sox manager talked to Adam and suggested “toning it down” a little. Adam essentially told  the club to “shove it” and walked away from $13 million. Okay!  I guess you can only push a guy so far.  $13 million?

Spring starts Sunday.

Love,

Dad

 

I filled out my NCAA Basketball brackets.  I’m sure this year I’ve got it right.

Last Sunday, March 6, was National Oreo Day.  For every 10 cookies purchased in the store, 1 is an Oreo.  Put another way, 10% of all cookies consumed in the United states is an Oreo.  That is an incredible number.

Four days later on March 11th, Oreo announced it was moving to Mexico. Whoa? Another national treasure is fleeing to lower manufacturing costs and lower taxes.  Will the Oreo taste the same?  Of course it will.  Will Oreo’s cost less when you buy them on the store shelf? Of course not.

Daughter-in-law Shelby celebrated her birthday at St. Anna last weekend with family and friends.  Shelby has a brother, Scosh (or Scoshi as he was called as a kid).  I happened to sit with him at dinner and found out he lived in Plymouth.  He had been the City Fire Inspector for two years and he was very familiar with the City Club.  I got an update on all the changes that had been made in recent years.  Somethings never change. Some things do. Scosh said he stopped for a steak sandwich several weeks ago.  Steak sandwiches were always a specialty from the grill.  The secret was the “slab” of butter that got lathered over the hot meat just before serving.  I’m sure that the butter isn’t good for cholesterol levels but after a couple of beers, who cares.

So now at family get togethers, Scosh is my connection to the past.  How great is that!

Love,

Dad

 

Daughter-in-law Shelby has a birthday tomorrow.  Nobody knows how old she is going to be however one of the retail stores in town has sold out all their black balloons.  What does that mean?  Happy Birthday Shelby.

Greg Gard got the 5 year contract to coach the UW-Badger basketball team. I was ready to watch the Badgers march through the Big 10 tournament this week end.  Wouldn’t you know the Badgers lost the first round game to Nebraska.  Nebraska?  There goes my weekend.

Xavier High School girls team made it to “State” for the second year in a row. I was going to watch them over the weekend.  They lost yesterday to an “inner city” team from Milwaukee.  Now my weekend really sucks.

Your Mom and I went to see “Cinderella” at the PAC last night.  I can’t believe at my age that I’m going to see fairy tale performances.  I made a trip to the male restroom during intermission.  It was empty.  It dawned on me that the only people at the performance were women. Grandmothers, mothers, and daughters.  I guess it is part of the fantasy that every young lady at sometime in their life hopes to find their Prince Charming.  The play deviated a little from the books.  Cinderella didn’t lose her glass slipper on the palace steps.  She actually threw the slipper to Prince Charming and said “find me”.  Brazen!  It also dawned on me that your Mom also must have had her fantasy about her Prince Charming.  Alas, she found me!

The birds are chirping each morning.  We have several fat, fat morning doves sitting on our back porch.  They should call them “dirty, messy doves”.

Love,

Dad