Cedarburg

Alan's Birthday found us wandering about Cedarburg, Wisconsin after having lunch at a German Festival. We then traveled to Cedarburg and took a tour of the Cedarburg Winery. What was amazing was that it used to be a woolen factory and until the 1960's (or so) had a tunnel that went under the street to the building on the other side. It was used to hide people at certain times in American history. My fanciful imagination imagines it was used during prohibition (long before it was a winery). Alan was enthralled with the idea of becoming a home wine brewer. Out basement would probably be the perfect year round temperature. The process on the other hand - not so easy, and who would drink the wine? But it was very cool. I mean, thinking about how they made wines a hundred years ago and got the yeast mixture to add to it. It was very interesting.

After the tour we went on to do our most favorite activity - Ice cream. I had a sundae - Alan had a float. Behind Alan was a full candy display. It took me back to the days when I was little and my grandma bought me chocolate stars every time we went to the Department store. I gazed at the stars and was instantly transported to 1970, 1971, 1972 at Randhurst Mall. A very nostalgic day. It was very nice.

Long drives and nights out at the local WalMart

I have settled in nicely. The drive to work is long, but my satellite radio keeps me good company. I may need a new one soon. It seems to have antenna issues - but then I switch to my Ipod - the best of both worlds. I especially love all the news feeds - I get Fox News (my favorite) and CNN. Then there is the comedy channels to make me laugh as I get closer to work. I am almost guaranteed to come in with a smile no matter how bad the construction traffic is (and it is bad).

Just once I got stopped by a train and I captured this picture with my camera. Until I get to the highway, the scenery is just beautiful. I can't complain. I bet even the snow will be pretty, slipping and sliding all the way in.

Most of our nights out this summer involved going to places in the Village, concerts on the Square, and our favorite weekly event - the nightly trip to the large Walmart the next town over. Some weekends we try to figure out what to do and go hang out at the Walmart just for fun (seriously). Last night was groceries and appliances. Alan started to do the speed walk through the store when he realized it was 7pm. He was missing Rat Patrol - an old favorite of his available on our cable channel. So at the checkout he abandoned me to get the car and have it waiting for a quick get-away.

Our check-out clerk, young college student, easy on the eye (wink wink) gave me a quizzical look. I said "oh, we have a hot date." He asked what. I laughed and said TV - Rat Patrol is on. He then had to ask "What is Rat Patrol". I told him he was obviously too young to remember that show. I said, you know, this is a day I realized I married my father. And he gave me this shocked look. I said oh, just wait, 20 years into marriage you'll look at your wife and realize you married your mother. He said, "oh, oh, that is sooo sooo Freudian - I don't think so". I said sure you will. That one out there (and I pointed to the exit) listens to Sinatra all the way to Minnesota until I am crazy. 10 hours of Sinatra. He then says "I love Frank, I fall asleep to him". I said "Are you sure you aren't his son?" I then thanked him for my groceries and made a graceful exit (for once). He is probably still trying to figure out who to marry so she is not like his mother! I wish I could put the shocked tone of his voice into this writing!

Well, home I am for the night and we need to clean, do laundry, clean piggers cage and all those good things. But I just want to take a nap. Maybe the nap will win. Ciao!

Men and Electronics Stores

We did the final move yesterday (Wednesday, 8/6). The movers moved the family room furniture that had been taking up living room space into the basement (despite it not being finished), which was nice because it was heavy as can be. Saturday the new carpeting gets installed and hopefully the Illinois House will sell soon.

The TV for the Living Room (27") takes a long time to turn on. It is 15 years old and so a decision was made to replace it with a thiner, sleeker version. So, off to our favorite store, Best Buy. Now time to decide LCD or Plasma, 720p, 1080p. Lots of choices and we haven't even come to size. We settled on 1080p first. Now for size. I voted for 42". The living room is not that big. It would look fine. Alan wanted the 46". Now came the pleading (Imagine a 3 year old in the cereal aisle). Oh, honey, look at the difference, don't you WANT the 46", please, please, please. Then plasma or LCD. LCD is better in sunny rooms (our Living Room is sunny), but Plasma will hold up better to the slobbery dog due to the glass front. So I caved. 46" plasma Panasonic. Settled. Then the bad news. We don't carry that one in this store. So now we had to make another choice. I was pushing for the 42" and hubby said, lets check on the Samsung 46" LCD. While the guy went to check, we noticed it was the only one NOT ON SALE. Almost $1900 for that one. So off the list that one came.

Then, there it was, THE ONE. The ONE HE HAD TO HAVE. Was it 42" - of course not. Was it an LCD - of course not. Was it a 46". Laughable. IT, the dream TV for our little living room was a 50" Plasma Panasonic TV. 20,000 to 1 ratio, 1080p, and so many good things, my head was spinning with "is he insane". Now comes the pleading again. Oh look honey, it is so great, look look look, please, please please - it's cheaper than the Samsung. I whipped out the Iphone and showed him the little living room. NAH. He wasn't buying it. So home it came. We spent the rest of the night setting it up and all he could do is say wow.... Wow.... WOW. He threatened to call in sick today - just to enjoy it. But he didn't.

Now we just have to build the enclosed DVD stand instead of the messy one. I shall take great pleasure in watching Big Brother tonight as one of the first full TV shows on it. And that is why he is never going to Best Buy again.