by Cheryl Mathis on March 27th, 2009
News story referenced in title linked here.
1. Who do you complain to when you have a gripe?
I diffused a couple husband bombs this week when he came to me with work woes. When I need to complain, he usually hears the tales of tribulation. It’s a handy partnership.
2. Is anyone wrapped around your little finger?
My kids are the joy of my heart, and I’m a sucker for their twinkling eyes and riotous laughter. I don’t give them their hearts’ desires though. That’s bad parenting. I think the closest I ever came to having someone that I submitted to all the time was my orange tabby cat who was my constant companion for many years. She slept on my pillow at night and tasted my food.
3. Do you have a “road not taken”?
There are several points in my life so far where I made a decision and went down a different path than the one I was on. It’s a curvy, winding road I’ve been on in the past 10 years. Now that I’ve embraced stability and security, the curves in my road are more subtle and less drastic, and I don’t get car sick as often. What about you? How often have you switched directions?
4. What do you think about when you hear of a local business going into foreclosure or going out of business?
The Mathis family spent my husband’s birthday at the Lodge at Cedar Creek this last weekend. It was delightful and exhausting. I knew of their money woes, and I was grateful they were still open to host our heyday. I hope they find new owners who will keep up the business, because we have plans to go back there in the fall. When Big Lots announced their closing, we went and dropped a bundle on a variety of items. I usually feel like we failed in our duty as consumers when I hear of a local business failure. “If only we had …”
5. In a similar vein, when your budget is tight, where do you cut back? Where do you refuse to make concessions?
I think it was in the Nicolas Cage movie “It Could Happen to You” where the female lead said that even when money was tight, she always kept Oreos on hand. In our recent budget crisis, we cut back on eating out and home improvements and focused on trying new recipes and free activities. We always kept good coffee in the house, though.
by Cheryl Mathis on March 20th, 2009
Title explanation in link.
1. A slippery slope? Is Congress’ move to tax AIG’s bonuses a good idea or a slippery slope in government control?
I have mixed feelings. My gut response was that it was a great idea, a solution to a difficult problem. AIG was obligated to give the bonuses due to contractual verbiage, but at least we will get most of our money back. The bonus system in these corporations could be one of the symptoms of the culture of excess that has helped to drive their balance sheets to the red. If I’m broke, I don’t use credit cards to buy something fabulous for myself. Perhaps corporations should respond in a similar manner. Or is that socialism?
2. What is your favorite blanket like?
I’m a quilter. I love piecing together fabulous quilts full of cozy prints and comfortable fabrics. I recently finished my first blanket that I kept for myself as my nap blanket. It’s brown and green and pink with a flannel back. Very cozy. What do you love about your favorite blanket? Its size? Color? Texture?
3. Have you ever witnessed a bad traffic accident?
The tragic crash between minivan and city bus happened a few blocks from my house on our walking route. I’m so glad we were napping and not walking that afternoon, because I’d hate for my kids to see that. My first instinct would be to run and help the victims by using my limited medical training. But what would I do with my kids while I helped? This is what happens. I run through these scenarios in my head, wondering what the best course of action would be. Chances are I’ll never witness an accident while with my kids.
4. Is your car interior clean or dirty?
Our only car recently broke down, and it’s parked in our mechanic’s parking lot until he can get to it next week. While this is terribly inconvenient (though we were able to borrow one of my parents’ vehicles), the worst part of it is how dirty our car is. All I can think about is all the crap that is in the backseat and on the floors. I think about it for many minutes a day. I may sneak over there this weekend to clean it out. When it’s just our car, and we’re driving it around, I’m bothered by the mess, but I’m not paranoid about it. But it’s sitting there in the lot, and it’ll be under the scrutiny of my beloved mechanic. I feel exposed and vulnerable, like I’m wearing dirty underpants to the gyno. By the way, my husband is the one responsible for the cleanliness of the car. It’s our deal.
5. Are you ever tempted to puddle jump?
It has been years since I’ve owned a pair of galoshes, and I don’t care to martyr my shoes for the sake of a good, muddy splash. My son has no qualms about it, though. He happily seeks out the puddles. I didn’t teach him this, though I wish I could join him. I consider puddle jumping to be in the same realm of happiness as kicking through a pile of autumn leaves or chalking a sidewalk in the summertime.
by Cheryl Mathis on March 13th, 2009
1. What do you think about the idea of having the school day last longer?
Perhaps to mimic the average workday. This makes some sense to me. Unless one of the parents isn’t working a standard shift, the kids automatically have to go into some kind of after-school care. I wonder how they would fill that extra time?
2. Is home ownership still a good idea? Was it ever?
Ah, the pros and cons of renting. We were thrilled to buy our house and stop renting. We pay nearly the same per month, and we have privacy and equity. No disasters have happened that we couldn’t deal with, and we didn’t overpay for our house. The debate continues in many circles, though. Is it worth it?
3. How do you feel about high school reunions?
My 10-year high school reunion is this year. I’m not ambivalent. I absolutely don’t want to go. I’m a very different person from those days, and I guess a part of me is ashamed. I’m fine with who I am now, but I don’t feel like I have to go and prove myself to those people that I did turn out okay. My parents, on the other hand, go to nearly all of their reunions, and they have a great time.
4. Do you buy souvenirs from places you visit?
My parents have a state magnet collection that is a lot of fun to play with. I used to buy postcards to keep in a photo album. In my life, there have been seashells, jars of sand, pieces of petrified forest, t-shirts, pins… the list goes on.
5. What was the best meal you ate in the past week?
I made chili last week. It was awesome. One of my best efforts. Grate a little cheddar on top, serve piping hot. Yum. The Culver’s chicken cashew salad with sesame ginger dressing was quite exceptional as well.
by Katie Smogoleski on March 6th, 2009
1. Have you ever protested or picketed anything in town?
The Family Planning Clinic on 1st Ave. has people outside with signs in response to banners on the building advertising “Condoms Save Lives.” One sign I saw this morning said “Purity + Abstinence = Wise Choice.” I don’t have the heart to explain the banners or the picketers to my curious 3-year-old son each morning as we drive by. I realize I’ve never protested like this against anything, and I wouldn’t do it over condoms.
2. Where is the best place in town to watch the sun rise and set?
In response to a set of earlier questions, yes, I have an extensive bucket list. It’s in a notebook where I store momentos of my tasks, like a bulletin from the Latin Mass I attended for the first time. It ranges from quiet, easy activities such as “Watch the Godfather trilogy” (completed now) and “Learn a card trick” to more adventurous, expensive things like “Go on an African safari” and “See a play on Broadway.” Despite going through the college experience of drinking and being out until dawn, I have never actually sat down to watch the sun rise or set, and this is on my bucket list. Where is the nicest place in town to see this? Is this sort of activity better done with a loved one or alone? Is it better to do this during a certain season?
3. When was the last time you went to the mall? What stores do you frequent there, and about how much do you spend?
I am not really a shopper. I buy things I need, often small things I want, but I don’t use shopping to cheer myself up, and I don’t give myself makeovers or any thing of that sort to make myself feel better. I basically only go to the mall now so my children can play there, visit Santa or the Easter bunny and ride on the little machines. What do you do there most?
4. Which hotels or inns in the area do you recommend to visitors?
As a wife of a teacher and coach, I am insanely relieved once winter sports are done each year. My husband coaches football, then wrestling, and I’m on point with the kids each night and many Saturdays until he gets home from practices, conferences and meets. I like to allow myself a weekend getaway to celebrate making it through another grueling season, and I think this year, I’d like to stay in town, possibly at a bed and breakfast.
5. Do you enjoy your job? Would you leave your job if you could?
I do. It’s tedious and I’m not saving the world, but I get a sense of contentment from it. I enjoy working, I think I’m good at it, and I can pack up at the end of the day and go home to enjoy my family. With the economy suffering, I think a lot of people are settling in jobs they don’t enjoy because they need to pay bills, and I’m hearing a lot more complaints from people about work.
by Cheryl Mathis on February 20th, 2009
1. Do you have a “bucket” list? A number of things that you want to do before you “kick the bucket”? I don’t, and I’m not sure what that says about me. Perhaps it means that I won’t be disappointed in my twilight years by the whole of my life’s accomplishments. Perhaps it means that I have a stagnant personality. I’m not sure. My list would look like this: Write at least two books. Raise happy children.
2. Did you have a favorite TV show that you loved as a child? As a young child, I was devoted to Mister Rogers and Reading Rainbow. Later on ALF, The Cosby Show and Growing Pains were staples. During high school, Friends and Frasier floated my boat.
3. What are your top 3 favorite books? We have a book critic now at Citizen Wausau, and I like the idea of bringing the literary perspective to the community dialogue. My top three books would include The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera, The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell and The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. They aren’t masterpieces, but they are touchstones for my life. I go back and reread them time and time again, savoring the words and the stories for different reasons. The golden ring silences of Kundera, the flabbergasted British countryside castle comedy of Cannell and the cherishing of memories and love in Pilcher’s Porthkerris.
4. Did you and your father share a favorite activity? From an early age, my dad would challenge me with logic problems. We’d solve them together. I amused him by solving word searches faster than he thought possible, and we would spend silent hours together solving 5000-piece jigsaw puzzles.
5. What would you do if you had an entire day to yourself to spend as you wish? Let’s give you 500 dollars in your pocket as mad money. What would you do? I’d have breakfast at the Mint, spend a couple hours in a lounge chair in the library with the latest fiction release, paint pottery at the Clay Corner, and have lunch at 2510 with Death by Chocolate for dessert. After lunch, I’d snuggle down with an old movie (probably Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House) and take a nap under a sumptuous quilt. After the nap, I’d get a massage at Natural-Care Massage in Schofield followed by a mini shopping spree at JoAnn Fabrics. Dinner would probably be at Wright’s Place with a lighthearted movie afterwards: just me, a large Coke and a bucket of buttery popcorn that would inevitably give me a tummy ache.
by Terry VanOrder on February 13th, 2009
1. The subject of this question is Valentine’s Day and chocolate. You know those heart shaped boxes that, if you’re in a relationship this time of year, you’re almost required by law to buy for your sweetheart? Some of them have the little cheat- sheet guide telling you what each piece of chocolate is, but some don’t. Personally, I like the surprise – the guide takes the fun out of it. So, if life is like a box of chocolates, like Forrest Gump’s mom says, do you want the cheat sheet, or do you want to take your chances and be surprised by what filling you get?
2. And speaking of psychics, have you ever gone to one? Or had your aura read? Or had your astrological chart done? Do you believe in that stuff? Can anybody see the future for you?
3. I have a navy blue work smock that has an embroidered picture of a tow motor and the name “Woody.” I bought it at an estate sale because it spoke to me for some unknown reason. I’ve never worn it but I find contentment in owning it. What is the strangest article of clothing that you own? Do you wear it?
4. How much would someone have to pay you to eat a spider — let’s say a Daddy Longlegs — I mean your absolute minimum price? Would your price go down if you could put ketchup or mayo on it?
5. Serious question. We have a new president of our country, and our country is struggling. I’m a little concerned about us, and I hope he knows what he’s doing. If you, an average citizen, had five minutes with him, would you have some advice or direction for him? What would that be?
by Shawn Sullivan on February 7th, 2009
1. This week, 21 teachers from the Merrill School District were laid off. Until now, education, while hurting, has not yet seen some of the troubles experienced in the private sector. What are your thoughts about this? Should teachers be the last to go, or should they be subject to the same ups and downs the rest of the economy faces?
2. Speaking of education, Rasmussen College presented their plan to expand into Wausau. With them, they will bring jobs and the opportunity to earn a Bachelors Degree in Wausau. We currently support two other colleges in our community. Do we have room for more? What are your thoughts?
3. For as long as I can remember, the Badger State Games have taken place here in Wausau, yet I’ve never seen them. Have you? What keeps you away, or draws you in?
4. Next weekend is Valentine’s Day. Based on your experiences here in Wausau, what is the most ideally romantic night you can put together, using Wausau locations?
5. Finally, just because it’s been bothering me…I’ve been thinking about whether it’s possible for a band to get better when it loses key members. The only ones I can think of that I can make an argument for are: Van Halen (Roth to Hagar, and it’s arguable) & Sabbath (Dio to Ozzy). I’m sure there are more, but most likely, the band ambles towards obscurity (see: Styx and Journey).
6. And now, an encore question. What is the best encore you have ever seen at a music show? I think mine was the encore from the Elton John/ Billy Joel show I saw in Milwaukee County Stadium in August of 1994.
by Cheryl Mathis on January 23rd, 2009
The Oscar nominations were announced recently. Shawn Sullivan called them a travishamockery. Since I saw very few, if any, movies this year, I didn’t pay much attention. I watch the Academy Awards just to look at the pretty dresses. Life is funny that way. I have two kids, a husband, a job, hobbies, an avid intellect, but I still have the same cheap thrills as I did when I was a little girl: a fascination with red carpet fashion and an insane devotion to Mike and Ikes. Here are some questions to kick off your weekend.
1. My husband and I often have long conversations inspired purely by bumper stickers we see while driving. The latest one, “Real Catholics Don’t Vote Pro-Abortion,” lasted two hours. Some stickers are funny, some are crude, some are hopeful, some are political. What bumper stickers are memorable for you? Do you have bumper stickers on your vehicle? Have you ever?
2. In the driving theme, I’m curious about something. What do you all do in the car on a trip of an hour or more? We listen to audiobooks. My sister and I would sing along with the radio at the top of our lungs. When I was little, I would play the license plate game (the shining glory of my collection was a plate from Hawaii). What do you do?
3. My husband and Dino have challenged each other to a Biggest Loser contest over the next six weeks. The weigh-in is on Monday. I am an unofficial participant. This morning, I had no problem getting up the energy to exercise, but I had a mighty craving for donuts afterwards. What do you find more difficult? Eating healthy or exercising on a regular basis?
4. For a segment of the population this week, patriotism has been flying high. In honor of the inauguration of a new president, here’s a political question. What do you think the American dream is today versus what it was in 1776?
by Dino Corvino on January 9th, 2009
I was just hoping you had something to say about…
It looks like the cold is right around the corner, next week is back to a few days that never get above zero. Great, so now where will I use my snowshoes? On Facebook, my friend Adrian baked some bread, and the photos alone look warm. That being said, I was just wondering the following:
1. Which local television news program do you prefer? Channel 7, 9, 12, or whatever number Fox is? Why? Do you think we are moving away from locally produced news coverage?
2. What do you do on the cold snap week we have annually? For me, I am thrilled. I spend as much of it as I can outside. It seems like the only time a year that my Carhartt jacket is ever needed.
3. A young man died on Granite Peak this week. It is safe to say that it is inherently a dangerous activity. What do you do that is dangerous?
4. Are you going to the Sunspot show this weekend?
5. How many things have you purchased specifically because they were waterproof?
6. Looking back on 2008, what are you most proud of our city for doing? Not just the government, but as a whole? But let us throw the government in there too, what are you most proud of them for doing?
7. What are you most disappointed in the Wausau area in regards to 2008? What are you most disappointed in the City Council for?
8. What are you looking forward to the most from the region? From the City Council?
9. What are you most fearful about in 2009?
by Cheryl Mathis on January 2nd, 2009
Isn’t this snow a hoot? I love it. So beautiful. I don’t think I’d love it as much if we didn’t have a snowblower, though. I do not have unconditional love for snow. Anyway. Today’s questions come to us from delightful Citizen Wausau blogger, Grinning Soul. Thank you so much, Lacy!
1. It’s time to toot your own party horn. What do you consider your greatest achievement of 2008?
2. As a prior employee of the retail/service industry, I do my best to be nothing less than cordial with those that must serve me. Have you ever defended a store employee that was being unnecessarily berated by another customer? If not, would you?
3. Let’s just leave 8 tracks out of this. What was the first record you ever purchased? What about cassette tape, CD or digital download?
4. A recent conversation with a friend brought up the topic of Wausau and ethnic restaurants. Granted, the variety in the area has increased slightly but more options can never hurt. What foreign cuisine do you crave but usually have to drive to the “Big City” for?
5. Okay, we are all adults here in some capacity and it’s time to fess up. Did you ever eat paste, bugs, sand or any other not usually edible substance as a kid?
