No Beaks: The End?

Mr. W says happy New Year!

It may be a while since  I post again.  I don't know when or where it will happen again.  2008 was filled with many highs and a couple lows.  There was the death of my grandfather at the start....  the birth of Frannie in the middle, the death of my grandmother near the end and sickness of a loved ones to punctuate the year.  Life is like that...  death, birth and sickness sometimes.  Lets hope that 2009 is a little better!

Git R' Done... for those old school bunch!

Mr. W survived...

His first day back in the grind... and of course was greeted by the 1st snow storm of the winter!  As I trudged outside in the snow, window scraper in hand, it did dawn on me that this may be a sign that I just quit my job and stay home!  But unlike the rest of America, I like paying my mortgage!  The concept of not being foreclosed upon is a relatively strong motivating force for me!

Anyway, I made it through the whole day and scary enough but it hardly felt like I'd ever left.  I remembered most of the kids names, most of the teachers hardly even noticed I was gone and for the most part all was well. 

And the Lil' Boss was fine too!

So all seems well in the W household!  For now...

Mr. W wonders whether Barack's smoking addiction will lead to smoking ban changes...

The reports that Barack Obama smokes...  couldn't be timelier for smokers.  As smoking bans have shrouded the country, smokers are preparing for the long cold winter of huddling outside bars, restaurants and businesses like moths around a spot light!  However, once the inaugurations has past will the smoking President stand up and sign an executive order banning all smoking bans!

Probably not...  but as a former smoker, I hope he does.  I will never stand in somebody's face and tell them not to smoke or ever say that the smoking bans are good!  Yeah...  they played a big role in my stoping smoking (that and Cook County taxes), but something about a hazy bar filling with second hand smoke brings me back to a simpler and more peaceful time...  know what I mean?

Mr. W has decided on a new wardrobe style.

I am basing this choice on two things...  well three really.  The first is my love of random t-shirts, the second the fall weather as we head into winter and three is a particular television show.

I've decided to make the Superhero Logo T-shirt as the basis of my entire wardrobe...  based on the character Sheldon from CBS' The Big Bang Theory.  In each episode, Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons, wears a new Superhero T from the more well known Flash, Superman and Batman to the lesser known Green Lantern and Great American Hero. 

You can check out some of the T's here.  The first on my list is that worn by the Greatest American Hero...  a show I watched as a little boy rather often. 

Remember him...  the Superhero who found a super suit and never really learned how to use it.  And he had the sidekick detective who ate dog biscuits!  Ahhhh... memories!

Anyway...  that's the plan!  For anyone expecting to get me some X-mas presents, you can start with this shirt and then in order of importance: the Green Lantern, the Fantastic 4 (the one with just the 4 logo on it), the Justice Leage, Aquaman, the Flash, Captain America, Batman and Spiderman...  no Superman, he is lame!  If you are interested in knowing which shirt in particular, just send me an email and I'll let you know.

Mr. W is going to enjoy a day without jobs... sort of.

I was going to go back for the last day of early voting...  but that means walking all the way over to Welles Park to probably stand in a line and hope the Bean doesn't start freaking out.  That is just waaaaayyyy too much work for me.  I spent most of the weed loading a small forest of split wood into my car, out of my car and up a flight of stairs onto our deck.  I am thinking I may need a day off...  except I do have to clean out the fireplace of ash.

If I do go out and vote today I'm going to vote for the Green Party except for Rahm Emmanuel because he lives down the street from me.  But... 

Mr. W tried to vote early today...

The Lil' Boss and I took a little trip to the Early Voting Center to cast my votes.  Unfortunately the line was about 30 deep by 10 am and the Lil' Boss wasn't having that!  So, we decided to head out.  I still have six days to cast my early vote...  but since the Election Day Polling Place is right next door, I might as well just wait until then to vote for Ronald Rea... uh, Geor...  errrr, Sarah Pal.. mmmmm, McCai?  Oh hell, I guess I'll just vote for Barack Obama, cause I can't really tell who is actually running for President on the Republican side!

Mr. W was in Kenosha getting wood for the fireplace.

You may ask why it is that I would drive an hour away to purchase wood to burn...  some would just say that is like throwing money in the fireplace to burn!  However, I managed to get enough wood to fill up the back of the Subaru with another load yet to get later this week for only 50 dollars!  For a 1/2 cord of wood, a guy in Kenosha dropped off enough wood to last well into January.  Of course it probably cost me 25-bucks to get there and back in gas...  but consider the alternative!

At Chicago Firewood a 1/8 cord of wood costs 30 bucks!  That lasted us about three weeks.  A 1/2 cord is 80 bucks!  And the quality of wood is very low.  It sits outside all day in this fenced in lot.  The 1/8 cord they gave us was a mish mash of different types of wood that was all gray and weathered.  It burned fairly well, but the wood I picked up in Kenosha is still brown and seems really fresh! 

I'll tell you how it burns later!