Monthly Archive: November 2008
Questions From An Overprotective Father
I just returned from my first parent-teacher conference ever for my daughter, and it was a humbling experience. It is odd to see the child that you have spent the better part of 5 years molding and developing reduced down to a couple of strengths and weaknesses (not the words they used but that’s really the point). Overall, there were no surprises, but I was prepared to fight tooth and nail to make sure my daughter wasn’t unfairly criticized. Of course, I’ve already known for some time that I’m going to be a pain of a dad…That being said:
1. Who …
My Cup Runneth Over
I count my blessings every day, and I try to live with as much gratefulness as I can muster. Thanksgiving comes easy to me, and it’s my favorite holiday. All the best food with no gifts.
This year, I am thankful for the small grins my daughter gives me when she’s privately delighted. I’m thankful for the wrinkle in her nose and the downcast eyes when she’s scolded and trying not to cry. I love the soft strawberry blonde curls that swirl around the nape of her neck, and I’m so grateful to have her in my life, healthy and …
Thanks.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us and with it another winter begins. Which means that what I’d like to be doing is curling up in front of the TV and staying there until April. Or at the very least, just relaxing a bit after a busy year.
But it’s not to be; I’m not yet at that point in my life where hibernation is a viable option, so at the very least I can find a few minutes here and there to take stock of my situation and be thankful for what I have - and what better time for …
Shawn Learns a Lesson in Thanks
On Sunday, I taught my son’s Sunday School lesson about Thanksgiving and talking about being thankful for what we have. At one point, I asked the kids (all aged 2-5) what they were thankful for…In no particular order, they were thankful for:
-Mom and Dad
-Their toys
-Their pets
-Their dead goldfish
-Stuffing and Turkey (to be fair, we talked about what we ate at Thanksgiving Dinner)
As I sit here and reflect on what I’m thankful for, I realize that I’m thankful for many of the same things. I’m thankful for my wife and kids, who enrich my life in unmeasurable ways every day. I’m …
My Thankfulness is Measured in Joules
I was thinking about high school, and the word joule came to mind. I have no idea what a joule is, but I think I learned about them in high school. I think I learned a lot of what I am thankful for in high school. But more than that I learned FROM some people who I am thankful for in high school. Men and women who shaped me (some might BLAME THEM for that, but I rather like them).
- Bill Heeren. I had him for Chem, and Geometry. In geometry class we all bombed a test, and he cried in …
Mean Tooth Grin at the Fillmor
Date night with the husband featured live music at The Fillmor as we bundled up against the cold to venture out to see Mean Tooth Grin. Weeks ago I sat in a van with guitarist Tom Jordan and listened to him geek out about guitars and amps with Scott Holt. He invited me to come hear him play in November when he’d open for Steepwater.
Tom Jordan played with a gravity, feeling the weight of all the rock and blues greats who influenced him resting on his shoulders as he leaned into the rock, jamming his …
Questions that Jingle, Jangle and Jiggle
I know it’s premature, but I’m totally getting into the holiday spirit already. I’m trying very hard to resist putting up our Christmas tree so soon. After all, it’ll be the first Christmas when my daughter can grab stuff off of the tree, and I’m not sure I want to give myself another chore to be doing all day long, ie. keeping her away from the tree.
1. The cold weather has arrived. It’s not bitterly cold yet, but it’s still a shock. What activities have you had to halt because of the chilly weather?
2. I was singing Jingle Bells while …
Ad Cents
Frequenters of CW will notice as of a few days ago a new addition to the site: a few conveniently-placed but hopefully not-too-intrusive banners served up by Google. Clicking on the ads gives Citizen Wausau a few cents here and there; money that will be put toward our standard operating costs (hosting, etc) and other side projects.
I hope we can count on your continued support and enthusiasm for the site!
Cheryl Twitters Wausau
Our involvement with Twitter is an ever-changing activity. As I figure out the best and most effective way to share and promote local online content, we’ll be tweaking and adjusting our system and format.
Let me tell you a little bit about Twitter. In a nutshell, it’s microblogging … very small blog posts, just 140 characters or less. You write something like, “I’m at Buffalo Wild Wings with Justin and Jimmy, eating too many wings.” Your friends, the people who “follow” you, will see that post on their Twitter screen. It’ll show up with your name, a little picture, and …
Person of the Year at WDH
Do You Know a Deserving Person?
I do not know if they do this yearly, but my good buddy (and Lil Wayne enthusiast) Rob Mentzer sent me this link. The Editorial Board over at the WDH is looking to award someone, anyone, ANYONE…a person of the year title. All you need to do is nominate them.
I think you need to go through a few channels described in this link, but I think it would be fun for the Citizen Wausau community to engage this process. I suppose you could nominate someone here as well, though I am not going …