Dead at the age of 92

R.I.P.

STAN MUSIAL

The front came through!

At 5 pm we had winds gusting to 47 MPH.

Hey! The body isn't even cold and here comes a movie.

According to Perez Hilton's blog, Hollywood is already hard at work on a Lance Armstrong flick.

I'm in for the duration.

I got all my outside stuff done and I'm now, comfortably, sealed in my apartment and ready to hibernate until tomorrow.

I went to the library and picked up THREE movies so I have plenty of entertainment.

I guess everyone else had the same idea.  I never saw the library so busy.  There wasn't a single parking space that was empty.  I do believe every child in La Crosse County under the age of 10 was there.

The latest from the National Weather Service.

NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH OVER THE DAKOTAS INTO WESTERN AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA WERE OCCURRING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT. EXPECT THESE STRONG WINDS TO SPREAD NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM AS THE ARCTIC FRONT MOVES THROUGH...THEN PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING.

THE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH AFTER MIDNIGHT. PLAN ON TEMPERATURES TO PLUMMET AS WELL AS THE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS DRIVE IN ARCTIC AIR. ST CLOUD MINNESOTA DROPPED NEARLY 10 DEGREES IN 1 HOUR WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE ARCTIC FRONT.

EXPECT READINGS ACROSS THE REGION TO FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS AND LOWER TEENS BY MIDNIGHT.

I was just thinking about how amazing the human mind is.

There's a video below of the Everly Brothers singing "Bye Bye Love" to celebrate Phil Everly's birthday today.

I can't remember getting out of bed this morning but I was able to sing along, while I watched that video, and I remembered every word in that song without even thinking about it.

Mind and music is an amazing combination.

USA TODAY has a neat article about the 10 most over rated tourist traps.

Some of these might surprise you.  Before you plan your next vacation Check out this article first. 

Here's a quote I like.

The present is what slips by us

while we're pondering the past

and worrying about the future.

I stayed awake long enough to watch Betty White's "Off Their Rockers" on NBC

I LIKE IT!  I know it's silly, goofy and quirky but it's also slick, quick and the joke is on the young kids every time.  At my age, I think that's funny.

Who knew? My brother is a Bobby Goldsboro fan.

I still have a few tracks by Bobby! Remember that old tearjerker "Sunny" by Goldsboro?

Funny his name comes up. I just saw his name yesterday in a catalog we received, Russell's For Men ... a manly catalog of things like cigar cutters and leather vests and cowboy gear and BB guns.

One of the items offered was a painting by Bobby Goldsboro, pictured in a Hemmingway setting over a desk holding a typewriter and whiskey flask. Seems Bobby is quite the artist now.

I just wanted to take this little doggie and hug him to pieces.

I got this from Rita and Roger and it's the best dog act I've ever seen.

A date to remember.....

Grandpa Solberg died 57 years ago today.

PHIL EVERLY TURNS 73 TODAY

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The latest nasty news from the National Weather Service.

STRONG WINDS WILL FOLLOW AN ARCTIC FRONT PLOWING THROUGH THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION LATE SATURDAY. PLAN ON WINDS SWITCHING TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP OF 40 TO 50 MPH.

LOOK FOR THE WINDS TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL RAPIDLY FALL AS WELL WITH THE STRONG WINDS...DROPPING INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS BY MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT.

Betty White's "Off Their Rockers" at 7 tonight on NBC.

I may have to stay up and watch that.

I have to get used to staying up a little later.  Rita and I are going to the Community theater, Thursday night, to see "Hamlet".  The first production in their new theater.  It starts at 7:30.  That means I could be up until almost 11.  I was, probably, around 40 the last time I stayed up until 11 at night.

Cindy Adams is a critic who tells it like it is.

If you're old enough to think our language, manners and politeness in America has crashed and burned you've got to read her column today.  I couldn't resist sharing it with you from THE NEW YORK POST

Oh! Yes! I like the new AMERICAN AIRLINES LOOK!

You won't miss the tail on those aircraft as they taxi up to the gate!

I went to the store and got some supplies.

If the weatherman is right and we get wind chills as low as 20 below I don't want to go outside and "experience" it.  I already know what 20 below feels like.

Why do we remember our 20's and 30's more vividly than any other time in our life?

I know my strongest and fondest memories have been of my 20's but I always thought it was because my 20's were in the 60's which is one of the most memorable decades of all time.  Turns out that our brain tends to give preference to the memories from that time of life.  It's all in an interesting article you might want to read here.

This is an interesting story for those of us old enough to remember.

It's a story that just won't go away.  What happened on that boat the night Natalie Wood died so long ago.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Is there a doctor in the house?

Rita and I stopped at SUBWAY the other day to pick up some sandwiches.

Little did we know that, a few days later, SUBWAY would be getting more publicity than it would like.  It's all about some guy who bought a Subway Footlong, pulled out a measuring tape, and the "footlong" turned out to be only 11 inches long.  The story went viral on the internet.  My thoughts?  I think it's "shrinkage".  I know about "shrinkage".

You learn something new every day.

I always thought old Abe Lincoln was a good guy and now I like him even better.  Did you know he owned a tavern at one time in Springfield, Illinois!

THE GREAT SAN FRANCISCO COVER-UP

Bob, Lynne, Daniel and Jon on a visit to San Francisco.

I always say I hated living in SAN FRANCISCO but that's not exactly true. What I hated was the weather and the hills in San Francisco. Thick fog and cold drizzle while climbing is just not my thing.

What I did like was living a year in a city that's like no other city on earth. They do stuff in San Francisco that we wouldn't even talk about here. So I had to smile when I read, this morning, about the new city ordinance that goes into effect on February 1.

On that date it will no longer be legal to walk down the street naked. Didn't know public nudity was legal in San Francisco? Ah, yes. They do let it all hang out but that will come to an end in a couple of weeks. But, wait! This is San Francisco where there are always exceptions to the rule.

There are some events in the city by the bay that just wouldn't be the same with your clothes on....like the Folsom Street Fair to name one. So, on those days the city will, gladly, give you a permit to frolic at the fair as naked as the day you were born. And, let me tell you something. After you've attended one of those "frolics", Oktoberfest will look pretty tame.

WARM FOR JANUARY AROUND HERE..HOTTER THAN HELL DOWN UNDER

The ground was white when I got up this morning so we had a light touch of snow overnight.  All of that will move out this morning, bringing sunshine and temperatures up to 43 degrees this afternoon.

They say we can expect lots of wind the next couple of days.  Gusts to 35 MPH tomorrow.

Meanwhile, READY WISCONSIN, part of the emergency management team, is warning residents to get ready for DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY IN WISCONSIN.

While it's winter here it's summer in Australia and it's a summer with a SIZZLE.  Sydney is seeing afternoon highs up to 113 degrees.

BOBBY GOLDSBORO TURNS 72 TODAY

A SAD DAY TO REMEMBER

Uncle Jim passed away 12 years ago today.

A GOOD (QUIET) WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND

Earl and Bubba were quietly sitting in a boat fishing,
chewing tobacco and drinking beer when suddenly
Bubba says, "Think I'm gonna divorce the wife - she
ain't spoke to me in over 2 months."

Earl spits overboard, takes a long slow sip of beer and says, "Better think it over ...women like that are hard to find."

EARLY BLOOMERS

According to MADISON.COM spring flowers are blooming up to a month earlier than they did 70 years ago.  This is an interesting article.

TV SHOOT IN HOUSTON

A new reality show MARSHAL LAW: TEXAS will be filmed in HOUSTON and hit TV screens in late summer on TNT.

IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE DOG..........

SOME SERIOUS WINTER IS ON THE WAY

We've been too lucky this season.  Now, it's time to pay the piper.

Light snow will drop up to an inch on the ground tonight and it could come with LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ICY SPOTS.  This mess will continue into the morning hours.

Saturday will bring a cold front and gusty winds.  MONDAY AND TUESDAY MORNING WIND CHILLS COULD BE AS COLD AS 20 BELOW ZERO.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

I was just checking the showrooms in Vegas to see what's playing.  It might be fun to see DONNIE AND MARIE at the Flamingo but if I could only see one show it would have to be THE JERSEY BOYS at the Paris Las Vegas.

Oh what fun I had with RON AND PENNY on a wild visit to Vegas in our old young and free days.  We made an appearance at LAKE TAHOE on another trip.  Ron embarrased Penny and I on both trips but, I gotta admit, he knew how to get the good seats in the showrooms!

I WISH I HAD A GREEN THUMB

 This fern has been sitting in our lobby, in front of this window, for years.  Peggy keeps it watered but that's about it.  It just keeps growing and growing and growing.  It reminds me of the fern Grandma had on the front sun porch.

I tried to get a fern going when I was living in the Rio Grande Valley.  Within 10 days it was deader than a doornail.

THIS IS WHAT THE WELL DRESSED STURDY VIKING IS WEARING THIS YEAR

Talk about being horny!

HEEEEERRRR'S JOHNNY

The math teacher saw that Johnny wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, 'Johnny! What are 2 and 4 and 28 and 44?' Johnny quickly replied, 'NBC, CBS, ESPN and the Cartoon Network!'

I CAN DREAM.........CAN'T I?

At 9 A.M. it was 16 in La Crosse, 49 in Dripping Springs and 76 at Key West.  Guess where I'd rather be.

THIS GOOD OLD BOY THINKS LIKE I DO

Lady: Do you drink?
Man: Yes
Lady: How much a day?
Man: 3 6 packs
Lady: How much per 6 pack
Man: about $10.00
Lady: And how long have you been drinking?
Man: 15 years
Lady: So one 6 pack cost $10.00 and you have 3 packs a day which puts your spending each month at $900. In one year, it would be $10,800 correct?
Man: Correct
Lady: If in 1 year you spend $10,800 not accounting for inflation, the past 15 years puts your spending at $162,000 correct?
Man: Correct
Lady: Do you know that if you hadn't drunk, that money you could have been put in a step-up interest savings account and after accounting for compound interest for the past 15 years, you could have now bought a Ferrari?
Man: Do you drink?
Lady: No
Man: Where's your Ferrari then?"

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COLD ALL THE WAY TO THE GULF

Willard reports clear skies over Houston with 33 degrees at 7:00 A.M.  He said, "Put the boston fern in the garage.  Too cold to leave it outside."

Haven't heard from Donnie yet but the wind chill in Austin was 33.

DID YOU EVER HEAR BUDDY HACKETT'S DUCK STORY?

MORE KIDS AND PORN

We had that story, yesterday, about the school kids exposed to porn and today I see a story about a PRE-SCHOOL teacher in Normandy who thought she'd show the kids a cartoon while she left the room to take a break.

Guess what.  The teacher down loaded what she thought was a cartoon and left the room BEFORE IT STARTED.  Not a good move. When she got back many minutes later the little tykes were enjoying a porn flick.

Sex education trumps a cartoon every time.

WHEN I BREATH MY NOSE WHISTLES

I'm not quite over my cold yet.

THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL IN THE WORLD OF COMPUTERS?

YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!
Get this tablet that's as thin as a sheet of paper!

I LOVE WGN TV

Have I told you, before, that I love the WGN MORNING NEWS that LIVE STREAMS ON THE INTERNET from 4 to 9 AM.  They've got a great team!

HEY! I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE

While I'm complaining about FACEBOOK, this morning, I MIGHT AS WELL PASS THIS LITTLE ITEM ALONG that reports FACEBOOK lost more than a million users in December.

WHY DOES FACEBOOK HATE ME?

There are a lot of things in this world I don't understand and FACEBOOK is one of them.

Every time I try to log into that damn website I get an "Invalid password" pop-up.  I don't know how many times I have changed my password but it's many, many, many times.  Once I change it I'll get in but when I go back, a few days later, I'll get the old "Invalid Password" again and we start all over.

I have a long list of websites that require a password and I never have any problems signing in until I get to FACEBOOK.

You know what?  I've lived for many decades without FACEBOOK and I think I'll make it through the rest of my life without FACEBOOK too.

I give up!

THOSE OLD KIDNEYS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

I never used to have trouble sleeping and many nights I still don't but there are now other nights that I just forget about sleep and get up.  Last night was one of those nights.  No use to lay there with eyes wide open.

This, of course, is caused by failing kidneys that can't filter out the body's toxins which then invade the organs and bloodstream instead of being eliminated and that's a major UFF DA.

I cheated on my diet when I went to lunch with Janie yesterday.  Ate stuff that is very much forbidden.  I think that's what caused me to be "Sleepless in La Crosse" last night.

I have another round of doctor visits coming up and I'll get some more pills they offered me before to help me sleep.  I've got so many pills now, one more won't be a problem.

I guess I'll have to face the fact that cheating is not worth the price you have to pay.  But, I still have my memories and I'm remembering how great that chili tasted yesterday!

By the way, I read, the other day, that failing kidneys can affect mental health.  HEY! I'm way ahead of them there!  My mental health was affected long before my kidneys started laying down on the job.

HOME IS WHERE THE TREE IS

This looks like something Paul or Friend would like.  Actually, it looks pretty good to me too.  Great summer living!  For more about this great little hide-away go to http://thehemloft.com/

I WISH I HAD KNOWN THIS WHEN I HAD MY COLD/FLU

HEALTH.COM says FENNEL is great for soothing those winter coughs.  It also freshens your breath and slims your tummy.  I've got to find some fennel!

I'm going to save this recipe from allrecipes.com for a couple of months and make a spring salad with fennel and orange.

GO FIGURE!

CAMELS HAIR BRUSHES ARE MADE OUT OF SQUIRREL FUR

ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE END UP IN MARFA

DONNIE or LINDA must have been talking to ELLEN recently.  I turned on the TV to watch the 5:00 local news, last night, and caught the end of her show.

She was talking about MARFA, TEXAS and said she is going there soon because she has been hearing great things about it.

Who knows?  Maybe she saw the pictures on this blog!

IS IT COLD ENOUGH FOR YOU? IT IS IN WISCONSIN!

The sun may be on its way back north but the heat is still in the south.  The sunny blue sky won't help much today with wind chills as low as 4 below in La Crosse.

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT

SPECIAL NOTE TO BERT
I know you liked "LES MISERABLES" (the movie).  I was looking at the LA CROSSE COMMUNITY THEATER WEBSITE and see they're doing "Les Mis", on stage, this season and guess what!  IT'S PLAYING THE WEEK OF OUR BIRTHDAY!

I think that will make a nice little birthday celebration!

EVERY DAY'S A HOLIDAY

THIS IS DITCH NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS DAY.

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT US

AUNT LIB DIED

22 YEARS AGO TODAY

Both JANIE and I used to love the CAVALIER LOUNGE back in the days when we were "young and free". We were talking, today, about the Community Theater moving out of the old 5th AVE theater next door to the Cavalier.

The theater has been bought by the Cavalier and it will be used as an entertainment venue. We decided it would be fun to go down there and have some fun the next time DONNIE is in town. It used to be a favorite spot in his youth too.

Donnie directed me to their FACEBOOK WEB PAGE which is really fun. I see they're already calling it the CAVALIER THEATER and lounge now. This could be an interesting spot to visit and a great new feature for the downtown area.

WIND CHILL VALUES OF 3 BELOW TONIGHT.

I got a kick out of reading the story out of Oxnard, California about the middle school teacher who has been fired after TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DISCOVERED HER IN PORN VIDEOS THAT THEY SAW ON LINE.

Seems to me that if the teachers and students are already surfing for porn, having an ex-porn star for a teacher shouldn't be any big deal.

I was interested to see that most of the folks who addressed this story on Twitter came away with about the same thoughts I had.

(Can we spell hypocrisy?)

BITTER COLD COMING NEXT WEEK
The National weather service says wind chills could reach 20 BELOW ZERO MONDAY AND TUESDAY MORNING.

I wonder if there's an extra seat on that bus Janie is taking to Florida?

JANIE and I enjoyed a TWO HOUR LUNCH at the Arterial so we covered a lot of territory!  It was good to get caught up on all the news.

She's getting all excited about her trip to Florida.  She'll be there the whole month of February.  I'm jealous.  As far as I'm concerned, February is the worst time of the year to be living in the north country!

UNITED AIRLINES says it has inspected all of their 787 DREAMLINERS and they're flying, as scheduled, today.

A really dreary sky over La Crosse today.

INTERESTING ARTICLE FROM FORBES that forecasts lots of store closings this year.  We know SEARS is having a rough time but I was surprised to see that THE GAP plans to close around 700 locations and invest more in other countries.

I don't think I've ever been in The Gap which is probably the reason why they're in financial trouble.

Have you seen the news that WIKIPEDIA has launched a new site for TRAVEL that looks pretty interesting.  I haven't taken a close look at it yet but CHECK IT OUT HERE and see what you think.

I'll bet this old pickup has a lot of tales to tell!  Donnie spotted it when he and Linda were in Marfa.

TODAY IS

NATIONAL

HOT AND SPICY FOOD DAY!

Hey!  This must be the new grill item for the coming summer season.  I saw Martha Stewart do this, the other day, on TV and now All Recipes is featuring it too.

GOT A NICE NOTE FROM LYNNE:

Great to see you are back online as we have checked morning and night. Isn't it terrible being without your computer?

Have you seen this one yet?

I read a report in the Wall Street Journal that says 57% of the people in this country sleep on their sides.  I'm one of those guys.  Usually on my right side.

17% sleep on their backs and 11% on their stomachs.

You know what W.C. FIELDS said about sleep, "Sleep is the most beautiful experience in life.....except drink."

The National Weather Service has backed the SNOW chance back to 30% for today.

The new head coach of the CHICAGO BEARS looks like a little kid!  It's a sad fact that when you get to my age just about everybody looks like a little kid.

Golden years, my ass!

DONNIE AND LINDA AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO NEED MOISTURE

The National Weather Service says we still have "abnormally dry" to "extreme drought" conditions across our part of the country.  We sure could use use a good snowfall or, better yet, a good RAIN.

If it's going to be snow, I want it between now and the last day of February.  Come March I'm in no mood for any more white stuff.

Love the GOOGLE LOGO they're featuring today.

I see the 787 was grounded, again, in Japan with battery problems and a burning smell.  I'd still fly it but I hope they get these electrical bugs worked out soon.  There have been too many incidents. 

NOTE TO ROGER: The last episode of BONANZA ran on NBC on this date in 1973.

It's a special note to Roger because we're both fans of the westerns that run on ME TV weekday afternoons from noon until 3.  Gunsmoke, Bonanza and Big Valley are featured.

I've seen every episode countless times but I never get tired of watching them again.

Haven't watched Memorable Entertainment Television?  You're missing some great old TV shows.  TAKE A LOOK HERE

Interesting report released yesterday that says Wisconsin had more cremations than burials last year.

Do you know the five things you need for a WISCONSIN FISH FRY?  HERE IS A NEAT BLOG about good Wisconsin food.

We're supposed to have a high of 37 today but with wind gusts to 26 MPH it's not going to feel all that warm.

Some of the coldest weather of the winter arrives tonight with wind chills of 2 below overnight and 5 below tomorrow.

Best of luck to Eric and Bert on their upcoming surgery in February and March.

Ole and Sven are walking down a street in Minocqua WI, when they see a sign on a store that reads, Suits $5.00 each, shirts $2.00 each, and trousers $2.50 a pair.

Ole says to his pal, "Looky here! We could buy a whole gob of dese, take 'em back ta Dulute, sell 'em to our friends an' make a fortune.

Now when we go in der, you be quiet, okay? Yust let me do da talkin cuz if dey hear yer accent, dey might tink vee are ignorant an' try to cheat us. No way do vee vant dem to know vee're from Minnesota."

They go in and Ole says with his best Wisconsin accent, "I'll take 50 of those suits at $5.00 each, 100 of those shirts at $2.00 each, and 50 pairs of trousers at $2.50 each. I'll back up my pickup and ...."

The owner of the shop interrupts, "You're from Minnesota, aren't you?" "Vell...yeah," says a surprised Ole, "How'd ya know dat!?" "Because this is a dry-cleaners......"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RONNIE MILSAP!

70 TODAY



Janie and I are having lunch today.  Haven't seen her since last May so she should have some news.

She and Rita have become great friends.  They go to the same church and serve, together, on a committee or two.

The MIDWEST FARM SHOW is being held today and tomorrow at the La Crosse Center.  We'll have 5,000 to 7,000 farmers in town for the show.

40% chance for some snow tonight.

Do you know I'm still walking to Festival!  There's no ice, almost no snow and with the sunshine it was plenty warm to walk today.

There have been a few days I've had to take the bus but not many.  I'm not complaining!

Just before my computer went south, Bert sent this "movie review".  Considering the Golden Globes just presented their awards and the Academy Awards are just around the corner this is still relevant.

"Nick and I saw "The Life of Pi" last week.  We loved it.  What a story.

Yesterday I saw "Les Miserable" with Kath.  It was the first time I've seen the audience give a standing ovation at the end of the movie.  Great filming, acting and music.  I would highly recommend this one too."

Remember the good old days when TV was really fun?

Here's a fact that Donnie sent that I sure didn't know about.

Lead, South Dakota is the 5th snowiest town in America.

It doesn't surprise me.  I remember those "Northern Hills Days".  Winter time meant snow up to your ass well into May and I remember seeing snow on the north side of the hills in Boulder Canyon in July.

Logo Design by FlamingText.com   Six days is a long time to out of touch with the world but I learned one thing.  Be very careful what you click on and learn more about this damn computer!

Another thing I learned.  It may be a good idea to take this thing into the "fix-it-guys" just to have them clean everything out and give it a tune-up once a year.  This baby is running just like it did when it was brand new.  Absolutely NO WAITING for things to load.  I love it!


Over 60 email in the gmail account.  I've been out of touch too long.  It will take a while to wade through all of that!

Love this one from Carl.
I was in Orlando, Florida and I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that read, "I miss Chicago."  So, I broke the window, stole the radio, shot out two tires and left a note that said, "I hope this helps."

Donnie sent this good advice.
From a back-to-school message, from the president to the students, of an upper-end east coast university.

"As we begin this semester, have the courage to spend time alone.  In order to master your fields, in order to be creative, in order to sink deeply into your work, seek out solitude.  Take the time to be silent, to think and to learn."

We could all benefit from this advice.  One of America's biggest problems is that everybody is talking and nobody is listening.  These past days, without the computer, I've been forced to watch some TV and it has become, abundently clear that we need to do a lot more listening and MUCH LESS TALKING.

BOY!  HERE'S ONE I DON'T REMEMBER.
Donnie sent it.  That's a young version of me on a trolley in Vera Cruz, Mexico way back in 1981.

"Raise your words, not your voice.  It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder."
~RUMI~

Sad, but true in many cases.