What a great comeback for the Wisconsin Badgers.  A loss to Michigan State but then last week to knock off #1 Ohio State on National TV,   then to have to go into Iowa and play again on National TV.   And they played a great game and came out with a win.  I had no real  hopes  that they could win in Iowa, at least none I would admit to.    That is so great for those kids.

And how about Missouri.  That a way Mizzuo!  Wally must be happy, and Travis and Clint!  The rankings were upset this weekend.

Wednesday night I wanted to try a Scotch tasting at a local brewpub,  I have always been interested in learning more about scotch.  It was put on by a Glenlivit distributor, and a chance to try 5 scotches.  I thought it would come with some appetizers, and instead it was a 5 course meal.  A good night!

Then Friday was a church fund raiser for St Gabes in Neenah,  my homebrew club has helped them at their beer tasting fund raiser for a number of years.  and they did a better job than ever this year.   Good food, live music, good beers in a small venue.  Noel joined me and we had plenty of time for our own tasting.

And Saturday up to Door County to see Judy.    Jim and Nancy were also up there, and brother Bill.  Unfortunately after no rain all month we have had a rainy weekend.  But we still had a great time.  Sat and talked, went out for a nice meal and breakfast this morning at Judy’s.  Thanks Judy!

Then home and managed to clean the gutters, do a little work on the car and in the garage, and just make some progress on little items.

So a great weekend, again coming to an end.  And how Monday starts will probably have a lot to do with how the Packers play the Vikings tonight!  Go Pack.

Another week gone by! I think with that week has gone our warm weather and heading back to normal.    I hope they turn on the heat at work soon!   But it was a great ride while it lasted.   We finished up a few more things to get ready for winter.  And the highlight of the weekend was having good friend Steve come in from Denver, and he hosting our annual SOB Packer game on Sunday.  Steve’s family has had tickets for many years, and Steve sets aside one game for 6 of us to go to a game each year.   The game was a downer.   They just did not ever seem to get in a groove on Sunday.  Even though they came close by going into overtime, it was never comfortable.  Rogers did not seem to be himself, and I thought had a hard time picking up receivers.  Of course if the defense could have put some pressure on the Miami quarterback things could have been different.

Oh well, the high point of the game day was being with friends.   We were parked and officially tailgating when the first beer opened at 8:10 am.   When you take a bunch of homebrewers tailgating everyone has to try and bring beers to out do the others.  Lot’s of great stuff.  High alcohol prize to Steve for a 15%+ Avery beer.  Lot’s of great tastes.   I made the eggs, chorizo and hash browns for breakfast burrito’s.  and constant food all day.  Bryce made the sirloin tips after the game.  We had a TV and inverter to watch the Viking/Cowboys game. Damn Cowboys.  No need to rush out from Green Bay, the traffic is stop and go for hours after the game.

Now off to the start of the week.   Work is very busy, one of these days I will get caught up.    For now the days seem long, but I will get that back under control.  Have the anti freeze in our tailer,  they said it was in the 20’s in Wautoma this morning.   I guess it’s time to put the short sleeve work shirts away for 6 months.   I will take a good break tomorrow night.   The local brew pub is hosting a scotch tasting, and I have always been interested in understanding more about them!   And Friday night my home brew club has a booth and volunteers at a beer tasting that is a fund raiser for a catholic school in Neenah.  They always put on a nice night,  relaxing and good food to go with the tasting.   Noel and I volunteer together.  And then finish off the weekend by riding up to Door County and visit with Judy and her chickens!

So everyone have a good week.   I think I heard we only have a couple of more weeks of having more political commercials than any place else in the country.

Made it though another week and weekend!  The weather has been beautiful.  We have taken advantage and gotten a lot done over the last week.  The trailers are parked for the winter, the pontoon is out and both boats are cleaned and covered.   The docks are all out and the boat lift in winter place.   So probably the most I have ever had done without doing it in some snow or at least cold rain.

We made it to Milwaukee Friday night.  Met Al Miller, Noel and Jo Ann, Tiff and Steve for a couple of beers and pizza.  They got a head start on us as we stopped by Mom first, and they rubbed it in by going to one of my new favorites, the Sugar Maple.  They have a fantastic tap list of American Micro Brews.   After pizza at DeMarrini’s,  I had the chance to try the Palm Tavern,  owned by the same people as the Sugar Maple and another great tap list dominated by Belgians.  An old south side tavern on KK avenue near Oklahoma.   Not where you would expect to find great beer!

We spent some time with Mom,  who is doing great, and had a chance to stop and see Muriel.  Then home to get some of that work done.  The weather was enjoyable,  last night I was out late in short sleeves with a campfire, burning up some brush.

So now the start of another work week.  Made it through Monday, my worst day of the week!   We are looking for a newer car for me.  The Focus is getting tired, so time to find something else to put most of the miles on.  I really like the newer Malibu’s.   Will see what we can come up with in our price range.

Homebrew club exec board meeting this week,   and we are having the Taurus Investment Club annual meeting Wednesday night.  That is the night we take the significant others out for an open bar and good meal.  Years ago we had bar bills over $1000, now with higher prices we have the meal and bar less than that!  An older smaller club.  But it is still good to get together with them and relax.  The annual meeting used to be to start the year, but now we need to do it before some retired members leave town, and in good driving weather!

So have yourself a good week.  We must have less than a month we have to listen to political advertising……

I am behind on updates.  We were at High Cliff State Park until Saturday.  We had planned to stay until later Sunday,  but with rain Friday night and a high predicted of 52 Saturday,  we decided to head home a little early.   That gave us a chance to start to winterize the trailers, and to be home Saturday to see the Badger game.  Unfortunately the game did not turn out as well as we had hoped.   But we watched the game, worked on Noel’s beers to lighten the trailer.  And did accomplish a lot with the trailers this weekend.    Saturday night we were going to teach the girls how to play cribbage,  but that turned out a lot like the Badger game.

Sunday was church and then some more projects before the Packer game.  Noel got all his seals cleaned up and water lines winterized.  And helped me pull the Bayliner out of the water.  So that is in the boat house,  still needs to be cleaned up and life jackets taken out,  but a good first step.  It sounds like we will have a week of good weather so I hope to get the pontoon out of the water this week also.    Have to take advantage of the good weather while it is here.  It was pretty frosty this morning but that should be the end of that for at least a little longer.

Most of the garden is looking done,  but the mums are in full bloom.

The weeks seem to go by quickly!  Another weekend here already,  thankfully.     After getting home from Albuquerque we have kept busy with meetings and projects.   Last weekend we used a hotel certificate we bought at last years Pius Auction to spend Saturday night in down town Milwaukee.   We made it down early afternoon and our first traditional stop is Real Chili.   So we added the works and built a base for the day!  As good as ever.   And we stopped at Zim’s before heading to the hotel for check in.  College football is back and the bar was crowded.

We checked in at the Hyatt and then headed out on the town.  We lucked out,  after rain in the morning the day kept getting nicer.  And we enjoy walking downtown.   We started with the sky walk though and headed to Grand Avenue.   Far too many empty stores there, that was depressing to see.  There were years there was a lot of activity there.  Hopefully going into the Christmas season more storefronts fill up.  And we came out on Wisconsin Avenue.   A stop at Uhle’s cigar shop to enjoy the ambiance,  and walked the river walk.  Milwaukee has done a wonderful job with the riverwalk.  There were lot’s of people and families walking the entire distance.

We made it into the third ward and the Milwaukee Ale House.  One of my ‘must’ stops.   We sat outside in the sun, had a cigar (one of us), some good drinks and people watched and river watched.    We were surprised to see the pontoon boats still running.  There must be 6-8 that can be rented for parties or you can sign on for a brewery cruise.   We have to get the details but it looks like when you get on they give you a mug the color of your pontoon cruise.  There are bars on the boats, and I am guessing the mug gets you specials at the stops they make on the river.  People get off and enjoy, walk some more, and can come back for a jump back on the boat I am guessing at designated time it comes back to that stop.  A lot of people were having a lot of fun.   I had heard they go from Lakefront Brewery to Milwaukee Ale House and not sure how many stops along the way.

We were walking though.   Made some more stops on the river and eventually back to the hotel for a break.  We went to Water Street Brewery for dinner that night, and ended up listening to some music at Rock Bottom Brewery.    Sunday morning we had brunch at the Hyatt which was part of the package, and was very good.  And we had a late checkout so took another walk.  It was a beautiful morning and downtown is fairly quiet on Sunday Morning.  we did end up late morning at the outside bar at Rock Bottom, watching the river and having a bloody mary.   And eventually check out at the hotel and home.

We live a good life.   tonight to the refurbished Grand Opera House in Oshkosh.  Grand re-opening weekend of the oldest operating opera house in Wisconsin.   A year ago while doing some changes they found major structural problems, not necessarily from the original 1888 but from fixes done in the 60’s.   But a couple of million later it is reopening.  A beautiful facility with great accustics.  So anxious to see that.  Jeff Daniels is opening it up,  last night for the high rollers and tonight for the rest of us.

And Saturday afternoon down to see Mom, then to Noel’s Octoberfest in the evening.  Happy 65 Noel!   Then sometime Sunday back home.  We do have some work to do, and we leave for 10 days of camping at High Cliff State Park on Wednesday.   Noel and Jo Ann and Chris and I have done this a number of years now.   I do make it to work each day,  I get to sleep in since it is closer to work from the park than from home.  But we have an enjoyable relaxing time.   A great time of the year for campfires.

So everyone enjoy!

We are past Labor day and moving to the end of the year.   It seems to go faster each year.   The Wisconsin summer coming to an end.   Already too cool,  you know I like the warm weather,   and days are drastically shorter already.  Time to start considering putting the boats away and taking the docks out.  It seems way too early but the weeks will go by quickly.

We are coming off a great long weekend.   We flew to Albuquerque with friends Dick and Carol to visit Chris’s sister and brother in law.   The flights went well and we had a very relaxing and enjoyable time.  Pictures in the album page (click on a picture and then use the ‘next’ or previous buttons) .  Marie had lots of visits planned.  We ate and visited each day.  And throw in a few beers!   The time went by too quickly.  The weather was warm and sunny each day, wonderful.   We had quality time with old friends Tom and Barb Madrid and got caught up on the family.   And had a wonderful meal at the Madrid’s,  thank you Barb!

I love the food in New Mexico, and the scenery.  There is lot’s of open countryside in Rio Rancho where John and Marie live.  Hilly and a very alive desert,   and the mountains always in sight.  Very pretty.   And the largest balloon fiesta in the country comes up at the end of the month in Albuquerque.  The combination of the elevation, cool nights and still mornings make New Mexico a great place for hot air balloons.  and we saw lots of them out enjoying the mornings.   Chris and I would wake up to the sound of the flames overhead lifting a balloon.  And Dick and I walked each morning and would see many balloons flying over.   They are beautiful against the clear blue skies.

We enjoyed each day celebrating John’s 80th birthday and John and Marie’s 41st anniversary.  Thanks for your hospitality!  Chris and I would enjoy more time in New Mexico.  God willing we will get that chance.

So we are blessed with more good times.   From the good company,  great food, and laughs as I tried to get the timer to work on my camera!  Life really is not about what has to be done at work each day,  but the memories we create with friends.

Having a great time in New Mexico.  Weather is warm with blue skies.  Great friends and relaxing.  Dick and I are walking in the morning, and there are lot’s of balloons flying.    A good time of year for them.   Marie and John are doing well and we have been celebrating their anniversary and John’s birthday each day!  Life is good.  Had a great Mexican breakfast again this morning.

About to head to Milwaukee and start the weekend.   We have been busy but things are good.   Saw the Timber Rattlers win big this week and had a stock club meeting.

Tonight to see Mom and stay there, and in the morning off to the airport to Albuquerque.   We are flying with Dick and Carol, good friends of ours and John and Marie.   To Minneapolis then down to New Mexico.   We come home on Tuesday so have a nice long weekend.   Can’t wait!

So everyone have a great Labor day.  Relax and enjoy.   I’ll try to do an update from New Mexico!

The end of another great weekend.   Something about being away from work.  But this was even more special, it was Irish Fest weekend.    The 30th year for Irishfest in Milwaukee, and we must have made most of them.  We heard some old favorites returning for the anniversary, and found some new bands to listen to.   Wall to wall music, it was a wonderful time as usual.   And of course made better by seeing good friends.   We spent time with Enders, Millers, Shanahan’s, Koss’s and ran into a variety of people we knew.  And I drank more than I should have, and ate more than I should have,  oh well.   I can fast during the week.

We got to Milwaukee late afternoon on Friday,  I was able to leave work early.  And we had some pretty hard rains Friday night.   The bands had to stop during the periods of lightening,  but always continued on.  And by the end of the night the lines at the beer tents had lessened.  So we still were able to take in some favorite bands.   And all day Saturday,  There was a brief shower during the day,  but it ended quickly and turned into a great evening.  And Sunday started as always with mass.   This year Northern Ireland was featured at the fest and a bishop from Northern Ireland said mass.  It is a special way to start the day and we got to share it with a number of friends.   And after a beautiful mass the music stages started back up.   We stayed until around 3 today and then made our way home.

The house was hot and breezes light when we got home.  So Chris and I took a long boat ride.   It was nice and cool on the lake,  you can tell the air is drier.  So now get ready for Monday morning and back to that other life!    Have a great week!

The start of another week already.   The weekends go way too quickly.  We had a relaxing day.   We had some of the neighbors over for brunch today and a good chance just to relax and have conversations.    It was a good time and did not accomplish much more today.   Took a ride to a marina in Oshkosh to get some gas for the pontoon boat.  I try to stay away from any ethanol because it breaks down so quickly and my engine notices it right away!   So well worth a couple of more miles.   And we watched the end of the PGA Championship in Kohler.  It is a beautiful setting and gives the country a different view of Wisconsin.  I can’t imagine golfers not wanting to come and try it just for the views.

The week was OK.  Work continues to be challenging.  But we managed to get some downtime in the evenings.  And Chris and I got out a couple of nights.   And Wednesday night I was in Milwaukee for my stock club.   It is good to see some of the members that I don’t think will be in the club for a lot longer.   So that was fun.  And Friday night Chris and I went out after work and met some other friends for a few good beers and then out to eat.   Life is good.

Saturday a trip to our favorite butcher to pick up some things for todays brunch and this coming Wednesday’s Homebrew club picnic.  some more yard work and Mass on Saturday night.  The church’s picnic was this weekend so we hung around for a sandwich and to browse the silent auction.

But now prepare for the work week.   The next couple of nights prepare for the picnic, Wednesday the picnic, and probably Thursday clean up.  Then Friday night to Milwaukee for the weekend of Irish fest!  We look forward to that every year.   Friday night.  most of the day Saturday, then Sunday for Irish Fest Mass and a few more hours of music before heading home.  Then another weekend will come to an end!

It is cool tonight, at least after the last week of hot and humid weather.   It seems like it has broken the pattern and we have a nice week ahead.  We will take it!   So enjoy your week ahead!