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These opinions are my own and you are welcome to them.

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year

It's over? For us retailers; not quite yet...

Historically, the days after Christmas are almost as busy as the days before Christmas. I think this year, with the weather, the economy, and consumer attitudes, they'll be busier than ever, and much busier than before Christmas.

Enjoy your day off, America, for tomorrow we once again begin the patriotic journey to reboot our stalled economy and renew the hopes of the body politic. What could be a more noble cause?

Tags: christmas, newyears, trees, lightedtrees, christmastree, beloit, wisconsin Thursday December 25, 2008 - 10:24am (CST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Christmas Emails

This is an email exchange between Suzie (my wife) and her sister from last week.
I am reposting it here by kind permission of the parties involved.

From: Suzanne
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008
Subject: Christmas

> Hi Barb and Connie
>
> Are you guys still alive? Haven't talked to you for awhile. Not
> much going on here. Can you believe this snow? And the cold. One good
> thing about the cold---no barking dogs.
>
> Do you have all your Christmas shopping done, how about your christmas
> cards and your holiday baking? Your tree, is it up yet? Did you
> remember to use tinsel and popcorn strings. How about the grift
> wrapping? This holiday drives me nuts. I get asked these questions
> at least twice a day. The looks on their faces when I tell them I'm Jewish.
>
> Hope all is well
>
> Love you,
> Suz
>

From: gypsyhill@merr
To: Suzanne
Sent: Friday, December 5, 2008 7:28:26 AM
Subject: Re: Christmas

You better not cry keep perfectly still.
You better not shout even if you're trampled and killed.
Open the door, get out of our way,
we been waiting in line since yesterday.
Got trees in the living room that have to be trimmed.
What did you say? Murder's a sin?
The sirens are ringing or is that a bell?
Someone saying something about someone who fell.
They want us out of the store but we won't leave,
it's Christmas time; we have a right to believe.

Isn't it amazing what will come from a keyboard in the morning while you finish your morning coffee and get ready for work?

In the photo: Suzie (center) goofing off (as in rolling down the hill like an 8-year old) on Galena's levee on her 50th birthday with sisters Barb (upper left) and Nancy (far upper right), and her mother, Bette, (next to Nancy) looks on in amazement.

Tags: suzie, christmas, email, family Monday December 15, 2008 - 08:28am (CST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Thursday came on Wednesday This Week

In honor of my last treatment for 2008, I took a few photos...

Thursday November 27, 2008 - 06:34pm (CST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment

Bad Health Year

I'm having a bad year in the health department.

Had Scarlet Fever in March.

Torn meniscus in knee in May.

Diverticulitis (serious colon infection) in July.

During the CT scan at the ER for the diverticulitis, they found something in my bladder that didn't look right. So... 3 weeks later, once recovered that, I went to a urologist to get checked for bladder cancer.

Last Monday he removed 2 tumors from the bladder, one was 2 to 3cm and the other not much more than a speck.

I am a very lucky guy. The cancer is localized inside the bladder, and does not appear to penetrate into the muscle tissue. It's very treatable and survivable. Most of the time this kind of cancer isn't discovered until you start peeing blood and by then the cancer is much harder to cure and quite often fatal. I am lucky, huh?

I got the damn catheter off on Saturday! Yea! I should be back to work by September. The cancer treatment protocol to insure the cancer is killed will go on for about 2 years.

Oh... yeah... and when this is surgery is cleared up (next month?) I'll go in for a colonoscopy to check and make sure my colon is OK, too. Joy.

Still... I am way better off than a lot of people. Other than being sore, tired, bored, and restless, I'd say I have nothing to complain about.

I must say, the staff at Beloit Memorial Hospital are outstanding! Each and every one of them, without fail or exception, did an awesome job helping me through all this... from the ER in July to the "Special Care" wing last week! THANKS FOLKS!!!

And - more on the bright side - I'm not in Iraq.

Monday August 18, 2008 - 04:47pm (CDT) Permanent Link | 3 Comments

Progress Day at Beckman Mill - Saturday, May 3rd

It's another year, and a new spring (finally!), and time for another season kick-off event - Progress Day - on May 3rd at the Beckman Mill, just west of Beloit, off Hwy 81.

Easy directions:

Just go out Liberty Avenue (Hwy 81), until the road curves right a little past Paddock Road. There's a left turn there, at the curve. That's West Mill Pond Road and it will take you directly to the parking lot next to Beckman Mill.

If you're riding a bike, and don't mind the rather scary ride out on Liberty, this is the easiest route to get the Mill on bicycle. If you want a better ride, less traffic and prettier scenery, take St. Lawrence Avenue all the way out and go right when you reach County H. (see map below).

Here's to beautiful weather and hoping we see you there!