Goodbye Clary building

On Friday, the building next to my work got torn down.  Ive been at Fraser now for 6 years and this old busted up building has been sitting there vacant the whole time (although I will say the vacant building sure did beat the methadone clinic that is on the other side of my building.  Every day it is something else. Either getting hollers at (in a "good" way) hollered at (in a not so good way....they yell mean shit at you sometimes) permit spot taken, my car has been hit, parked in, had soda poured on the hood....you name it.  While I like the idea that these people are trying to get help, they can be a bunch of assholes if you ask me.)

Anyhow, back to what I'm getting at.  It got torn down, which was pretty cool to watch.  The next question is will we now get a real, legit playground?  who knows.

80's fun on Friday

Good Afternoon All.  Here is a bit of the 80's/early 90's.  Let me just add, I really need a new system here.  Mixtapeme (what I used today) has a terrible selection that is mostly shit.  The one I used for the throw back mix starts every time you open this blog, and I don't like that so much either.  I'm going to give groove shark a try, see if I can get something else lined up for next Friday.  Until then, enjoy this mix.
Friday 80's mix!


1. Valarie-Steve Winwood.  I love Steve Winwood.  I love traffic, but his later 80's solo career really brings me back to being a kid, growing up in MKE with 96.5 classic rock station....because this is what they consider classic rock.

2. Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson.  When I was a freshman in college, this real dumb band (alien ant farm) did a cover of this song. While that cover was sort of ridiculous, it pushed me to start listening to old MJ.  and I've been loving it ever since.  I hear this song and I'm brought back to a rainy fall day when I was young and skipping class because of the rain.  I used to just jam out to music in my dorm room, hoping that the snotty girls down my hall wouldn't tell me to shut my music down...memories

3. Brass in Pocket-Pretenders.  Bands like the pretenders are why I think music from the 80's isn't so bad.  Some of the "new wave" stuff that was coming out at that time is pretty rad.  Bands like the pretenders, talking heads, Blondie and more were really doing cooler shit that most people give them credit for.

 4. Power of Love-Huey Lewis and the News. Between back to the future and American psycho (and a childhood crush...i think) I dig me some Huey Lewis. cheesetastic, but awesome.

 5 Freedom-George Michael. I really really love this song. I can remember seeing the video as a young kid and thinking it was really making a statement....what that statement was, I had no idea.  I dunno what it is, but this song stands out as a real gem of the 80's.


6. me myself and I- De La Soul. I actually got into this song in high school, thanks to one of my friends that used to make me mixed tapes all the time.  She introduced me to a lot of good tunes, and I'd like to think within the many mixes I made for her,

7. Love is a Battlefield-Pat Benatar.  What's an 80's mix with out Pat Benatar?  need I say more?

8. Who's That Girl-Madonna.  One of my favorite things in life is listening to A sing old school Madonna.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it sort of warms my heart.  Not that A sings all the time or anything, but when Madonna comes on, she always sings and it is so cute-that high raspy voice that hooked me after one conversation....love it.  (thanks why I put Madonna on this mix...also, because she was an 80's (and beyond)god.)  I hope that's fine with everyone.

9. Just Like Heaven-The Cure.  I've always appreciate the cure.  I think most of their music hits you in a certain soft spot.  And while Ive heard this song a million times, for whatever reason it doesn't get old to me. 

10. Time after Time-Cyndi Lauper.  When I was a kid, and because kids have weird ideas/ make shit up, I thought Cyndi Lauper was our neighbor.  I remember thinking this and wondering when we were going to be able to meet Cyndi Lauper.  The main reason why I think I got this idea was because my mom's name is also Cyndi, spelled Cyndi.  Kids think the weirdest stuff.  We make stuff up to entertain ourselves.

11. Kiss-Prince.  It wasn't until I moved to Minnesota that i discovered the art of prince.  sure, I'd heard his stuff before, but when you live here (here comes the purple Yoda, from the heart of Minnesota...") Prince means a little more to you.  You actually understand what he is talking about in Purple Rain when he references Lake Minnetonka. I personally have other prince songs that I like better than Kiss, but like I said earlier, this music source is beyond sketchy.

12. Paul Revere-the Beastie Boys.  My brother was into the beastie boys when we were kids (and still now.)  He was the first person I knew who liked these guys, and would listen to them in his bedroom a lot (sometimes I was hiding in his closet, because I wanted to hang out with him, but I was his kid sister, and he didn't always want me lurking around....not sure if he ever knew that I used to sit in there and listen to him and his friends....)

Alright guys, that's that.  I hope you enjoy the some what shotty mix and I truly hope I have something else figured out before next week.  Cheers, and Happy Weekend!

source source more more another yes lastly

Inspiration

 Meet my cousin, Rob Hoff.  Rob grew up in Wisconsin, but about 12 or so years ago, he moved out west to Jackson Wyoming. 

Growing up, all I wanted in life was to be like my brother and my cousins, Tim and Rob (Tim and Corey are the same age-32, Rob is 35)

They were way into BMX when we were kids.  BMX and skiing, and snowboarding, and snowmobiling and pretty much anything that a 8 year old tomboy thought was amazing, but couldn't do.  But I tried....

Anyhow, Rob is now living the dream in Wyoming.  He and his wife own and run a co-op, he has his own carpentry business in which he and his team make green-friendly homes made from as much local product as possible.  He also happens to be a professional extreme snowmobiler.  And he is really good.

I happened to be looking at his FB page today, you know, to check on how my cousin is doing.

I came upon this poster of him.  I remember buying posters like this as a kid and hanging them on my walls, as if it were enough inspiration to make me somehow get good at these extreme sports that you couldn't really do in Milwaukee.

And after a little google search, I find these posters of my cousin. The same kind of posters that I was inspired by are now making little kids all excited that someday maybe they can be extreme too. 

That's pretty cool, hey?

Below is my cousin Tim.  Tim also lives in Wyoming and runs a bike shop.  He recently built his first "Hoff Frame" a 29'er that I'd love to take out to theo wirth.  He promised me he'd build me one if I could make it out to Wyoming to pick it up.  What the hell am I waiting for...

 

read more about Rob here and also, watch this video of him on his sled.  pretty fucking Rad.

Happy inspirational Wednesday!

Winter takes it's toll

On both my bicycle, and my soul...

After a week of being sick, I was finally able to hop on my bike for the 'ol workday commute. it felt good.

I haven't ridden it in over a week

I was taught by the fine gals of grease rag to clean my bike once a week.  Or at least wipe it down after a messy ride....

Clearly I was not thinking I would get sick and not be able to ride...But I still should be taking some of these tips into account and cleaning my bike a bit more often.

But really, It isn't too bad.  perhaps I'll FINALLY make it to GR next week and I can work it out a bit.  wouldn't that be nice?  But you know what, my ride in today was great.  It almost feels like mid-late February out there.  It's crazy how temps in the teens can make you feel so good.  And really, they do.

Enjoy the roads today, friends.  A big chill is suppose to head our way (again) as soon as Saturday.

the pack is back!/good recipe below!

 THE PACKERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!! I know I know.  most of you don't care about football.  That is just fine with me.  I myself like football, especially the Green Bay Packers.  I have a lot of pride when it comes to my boys, and I'm SO THRILLED that I get to see them hit the road for the Superbowl.  let's blow those Steelers away!

But enough about the pack.  Well, sort of.  For the last 3 weeks, we have been gathering at my buddy Alex's place (a fellow packer lover) for the game and beer and of course, a feast.  Week one of the playoffs we grilled brats and dogs and steak and such.  Last week we had a taco fest.  Last night was a chili feed.  2 kinds of chili, cornbread, chips, onions, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, the works.  We had a batch of the more traditional red chili (thanks Rachel) and then I made a white bean chicken chili.  It turned out to be AWESOME, so I'm going to share the recipe I used.

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
2 small onions(i used yellow)
4 cloves of garlic
1 can (or equivalent) of chicken broth
1 can cannellini beans
1 can great northern beans
1 can whole green chili's
1 can of corn
1/4-1/2 tsp of cumin
1/2 tsp of oregano
3 chicken breast (cooked/cubed)
salt/pepper to taste
dash of red pepper flakes
dash of coriander

Then you do what you usually do with chili:
cook the onions in the oil until they are just about done.  Then throw in your diced/pressed garlic (i used a garlic press....so much easier) as the garlic is starting to cook, chop up the green chili's, but add the juice from the can into the pot.  then add the chili's. from there, it is basically add what you want when you want-beans, corn, chicken, broth and herbs and such.  mix 'er all up, and let it simmer for as long as you want (I made it Saturday afternoon, let it cook for a few hours, and then reheated when I got over to Al's place)
add a little cilantro and sour cream and cheese (and if your me, raw onions) on top and there you have it.

I know some people add more heat, but I'm a wuss.  Also, people like to add tomatoes, but then it isn't white/greenish.  all up to you.
I think it is a pretty good recipe, especially for the weather.
oh yeah... GOPACKGO!

New Mix for a cold Saturday!

Hi Friends.  Here is a little something to warm you up on this cold (burrrrr) Saturday.  Enjoy.

Fugly Friends!

Happy (cold!!!!) Friday!  I'm going to spend a little time talking about a GREAT little item(s) that my pups, Parker and Scarlett received in the mail last week. 

A good friend of mine (Thanks Marissa!!!) sent me a little email recently telling me about a new project she is involved in.  Being that we are both dog lovers, she knew I would be excited. 

 Meet Amore.  Amore is a new friend of the pugs.  While both P and S enjoy their new friend, Amore is right up Scarlett's alley.  There is a little squeaker in his head, and the braided fleece tail (which is similar to the regular old rope design that S loves) is not only SOFT, but pretty durable!

so neat

And this is Cupcake.  Cupcake is Parker's new friend.  P is starting to show his age, but when Cupcake arrived, we saw the youth come back.(more on this below)

Both Cupcake and Amore are part of a new collect of dog happiness, called Fugly Friends (yes, as in F*ing Ugly!) You should head over to Facebook to become a friend of theirs.  And check out their photo albums.

Parker with Amore

you can't hear it, but he is growling because I'm coming to close to his new toy.

I'm going to have to get a video.  This guy fits right in his mouth and as most pugs/dogs do, Parker likes to shake the hell out of it while he searches for the squeaker.

I think this picture is AWESOME.  P staring down his friend/enemy.

And Scarlett with her love.

She loves it!  Each night, Scar goes to the little basket in which A and I fill each morning with all of her toys. She picks out each and every toy, one by one, and brings it to the living room.  It is really cute, but makes a mini mess everyday.  Last night, Amore kept her busy for hours!

You can also hit up their Etsy Store  to take a look at what else they have to offer.  I promise these ugly/cute little guys are worth taking a look at.  They are homemade, handcrafted, WITH LOVE. ENJOY!!!!!
(THANKS MARISSA!!!!!