I joke about investing $200 in the late 1990's for a share of Packer stock. It has very little value because Packer stock is not traded publicly so there is no market price. I have to admit asking myself, "why would I do this"?
I remember now. As I drove to work in Ripon each Monday, if the Packers had won the day before, there was a magical giddiness that seemed to overcome all employees. There was lots of wasted time around the water cooler or in the lunch room discussing a Packer win but there was always a positive bounce in everybody's step. I can't prove it but productivity actually went up. The two years that the Packers went to the Super Bowl in the late 1990's caused the State of Wisconsin to act like "high schoolers".
Yes, the Packers charge too much for tickets for each game.
Yes, we are inundated with syndicated talk shows such as "The Donald Driver Show" or the "Mike McCarthy Show". But you don't have to watch. Fans tune in to keep the magic of a win going.
Yes, merchandise is available everywhere at outrageous prices.
When the Green Bay Packers win, people are happy! Wisconsites won't admit to being happy. We are German, Polish and Dutch descendents and we wouldn't dare show "happiness". But come on Wisconsin! Admit it! You are happy when the Packers win.
I kept witnessing the phenomenon of happiness from a Packer victory. Why wouldn't I want to own a share of Packer stock and maybe someday have a voice in their future. With all the negative fear in the world, the Packer stock purchase may have been one of the best things I ever did. Hey, I'm happy. I remember now.
If you question my theory, I reference Grasshopper No. 4's coaching escapade this season with his youth football team. With job offers coming at a snails pace, you can make a case for believing that sometimes life sucks. But the youth football team kept developing. The team kept winning. No.4's team won the championship and the world seemed to "be right". Don't tell me a positive sports encounter can't be uplifting.
Yes, I remember now. Being around something positive is special. It is necessary. It is fun.
Love,
Dad
In over 50 years of driving an automobile, I have never had a flat tire or "disabling" performance of any type. As you might guess, that was all about to change.
Your mom and I were in Sheboygan last Saturday morning and after a light lunch we were headed back to Appleton. Just outside Sheboygan on Country Trunk Y (adjacent to the Vollrath Company owned Windway estate), our high performance Saab "puked". It just died. It behaved like it was out of gas. The battery and electrical system seemed okay. With only 62,000 miles, you wouldn't think we would have car trouble. Ironically the car was scheduled for a major maintenance service early on Monday morning.
We did have our cell phone and we called our favorite son, Grasshopper No. 4. His response was if we needed his help, "let him know".
Just then a Sheboygan County Sheriff pulled up behind us. He offered help. Within 15 minutes a tow truck was lifting our car onto a flatbed and we were headed back to Appleton. It only costs $3 per mile to haul a car. Because of "tow truck rules", your mom and I had to ride in the car on the back of the truck because patrons were not allowed in the cab. What a picture. "Ma and Pa Kettle headed back to Appleton on the back of a truck". No, I'm just kidding, We rode in the cab and the ride back to Appleton was very pleasant.
The car was dropped off at Bergstrom's and Monday morning it got fixed. I was right. It wasn't getting gas. The fuel pump had failed. So if you add up the towing costs and replacing the fuel pump, $1,000 just about covers the escapade. Fear not. I have towing insurance. I will get reimbursed $50.
So the odyssey ended. We were fortunate that the Sheriff pulled up almost immediately after engine failure.
I put myself in the shoes of Grasshopper No. 4 and ask, "what would I do if my Mom and Dad were broke down on the side of the road"? I would rush immediately to their aid. Where was the help when we needed it?
Those that know me well would predict that there will be a different car in my garage pretty soon!
To avoid many, many disclaimer e-mails and attempts to correct my story, I must say that Grasshopper No. 4 did offer to do whatever necessary to get us home.
Love,
Dad
The City Club in Plymouth had an auction today. It was selling all the items that might have value. Chairs, stools, neon beer signs, blenders and almost anything that wasn't nailed down.
The owner, Harry Stroebel died several months ago. There was no will. He left a tavern/restaurant business. The assets consist of a large old wood building with lots of rooms filled with junk. The task of sorting through the mess goes to the nieces and nephews (children of Harry's siblings). The estate will get split 6 ways. I think Harry had one living sister who gets 1/6 of everything. One brother, previously deceased had nine children. Each child gets 1/9 of 1/6 share. You get the idea. Lots of people to share in the spoils. Probably lots of arguments.
Your mom and I got to tour the City Club. It is for sale! It hasn't changed in 25 years. It also has had very little improvement in 25 years. Roofs need to be repaired, water leaks are prevelent everywhere and there isn't a flat surface in the whole building. Almost every room was filled with some box, furniture or article of clothing. My Grandma Myrna's apartment hadn't been used in 25 years. The kitchen I painted after a fire 50 years ago has the same paint and trim. A temporary shower I installed as a kid 50 years ago is still in place (and it isn't even warping). I missed my calling as a handyman.
The City Club seemed smaller than I remembered. Lots and lots of little rooms. The room that Great Grandpa John Roberts and his wife Mary occupied 45 years ago is still there, totally unchanged.
It baffled me that Harry was making money on the "draft beer" and sandwich operation. I couldn't invision enough cash flow to support the operation.
Little did I know. Harry dumped the draft beer years ago. You could only buy bottled beer and hard liquor. Fish lunches and sandwiches were daily offerings. The real money was in the "gaming" machines. These are electronic machines that allow you to play games of all types. The electronic machines are connected to the internet to allow instant changing of the different games. The people who leased the machines to the City Club knew exactly at any moment, how much money they were making on the machines via the internet. The City Club got a percentage of all "gaming" revenue. Big bucks! Some of the gaming revenue was cash. I don't know how all of that worked?
To revive the City Club would be a tremendous undertaking even if the cash flow was good. The investment to meet code on anything associated with food will be expensive. An argument could be made for tearing it down and building something brand new.
I got to see my childhood family apartment. The kitchen was the same. Bootsy's (our dog) closet was still there. I didn't realize all the floors in the apartment were hardwood. Addie's bedroom was still being used as a bedroom. Yep, it was all there.
The visit to the City Club was a stroll down memory lane. It reaffirmed mental images of what I remember. It was older and more decrepit than I could envision. The City Club represents "an era past". It deserves to remain there.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that you can't go back. Memories are snapshots of times past. My good memories out-number the bad ones. There is no desire on my part to recapture part of the past. Always look ahead!
Love,
Dad
Can a job make you sick?
Recently the New York Yankees (the Evil Empire) fired their manager of 12 years. Joe Torre managed the Yankees into the playoffs every year for 12 years and they ultimately won 4 World Series titles. The Evil Empire buys whatever player it needs to keep winning. Even I might be able to manage the talent pool of the Yankees.
This year the Yankee owner (Darth Vader?), George Steinbrenner, issued the ultimatum to Torre "to win the World Series title or you are fired". Well, the Yankees didn't win the world series. The Yankees did change their mind on Torre however and made him an offer to return. It was a limited one year contract for 30% less pay.
Torre told the Evil Empire to go screw themselves. Good for him! If he had agreed to manage the Yankees it would have been under a cloud of scrutiny. His boss could fire him any day depending on how he felt (I guess that is true of all jobs). Then if he doesn't win the World Series next year, he probably will get fired anyway.
My observation is that nobody needs that kind of stress. That is what causes cancer and dibilitating diseases. Torre trusted his instincts and he "got out". The marriage to the Yankees was over. Torre is moving on. The Yankees will find some new manager to intimidate because they pay a big salary. And the Yankees will probably not win the World Series next year.
Joe Torre is a good guy. The fans love him. The players love him. He strives to invest in his family. He donates his time and resources for great causes. He got rid of a situation that could only make him sick.
The lesson is that there are work situations in life that just don't make sense. Some stress is good because it can drive you to success. When it dibilitates your health, get out! Trust your instincts. I know of situations in our family where people made the "right" decision.
Love,
Dad
My usual Tuesday blog did not get done because my computer "puked" (that is Margaret's description when her computer crashes). It turns out it was a power distribution souce and we got it fixed. So happiness is to be plugged into the world.
Next, I'd like to thank all people who pay social security taxes for the 2.3% raise that all retirees start getting Jan.1, 2008. I don't want to appear ungrateful but as I watch the cost of food, energy and medical insurance rise, 2.3% seems a little light. But hey, it is 2.3% more than I am getting right now. So thank you.
In the corner of the newspaper yesterday was an article that disclosed the first "baby boomer" was going to start receiving social security on Jan. 1, 2008. Baby boomers technically were people that were born after World War II from Jan.1, 1946 to Dec. 31, 1968. As the soldiers returned from the War, there was an explosion of children and everything prospered. The first baby boomer to receive social security turns 62 at 12:01 AM on Jan. 1, 2008.
My brother Jerry Lee was born on Dec. 27, 1946. He was an early baby boomer. Ed Bumby from Ripon Foods was born in Dec. of 1946. It is amazing how those births were almost 9 months after their dads returned home from the war.
I mention the first baby boomers because it is the start of 80 million new additions to the social security rolls over the next 20 years. That means working people will have to support many more retirees than they are supporting now. It will strain the system. The whole system needs to be redesigned or it will crash from lack of sufficient funds. Nobody in the government wants to deal with it. Ah, what the hell, we will worry about that tomorrow.
So I guess I'd better retreat quietly into the night with my 2.3% Social Security raise. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The lesson Grasshoppers is plan your own retirement. Social Security may or may not be there when you reach retirement years.
Love,
Dad
Thursday night! Your mom and I are headed for Elkhart Lake to watch a Thursday night showdown of the two titans of youth football, Elkhart Lake vs. the Sheboygan Badgers (coached by Grasshopper No. 4). If the Badgers keep winning, they have a shot at being the champions. Trophies. Pictures. Banquets. A parade down 8th street. For 11-12 year olds, it doesn't get any better.
It was like stepping back in time and viewing the world from my Dad's eyes. I was watching youth football in all it's innocence. The teams are outfitted in pads, they have cletes on their shoes and helmets. It was very official.
The night was cold. Very cold. It smelled of leaves. It smelled damp. It was definitely a fall football night.
I did learn a few things. First, there is no effort to coordinate color of uniforms. The Badgers were in red. The Elkhart team was in red. Who is tackling who? Actually, Elkhart had a darker red approaching maroon. The players seemed to know who was who.
Then I learned team members don't sit on the bench. One of the Badger coaches kept yelling, "get your asses off the bench and pay attention".
Then I learned you don't talk about anything but football on the sidelines or you get "batted" on the helmet. "Talk football guys, talk football".
Included in my observations was that you always put you biggest player in the center of the defensive line and you clog up any runs that come your way.
On offense, you run simple plays "ad infinitum, ad nauseum". Just about the time you anticipate another simple run is coming from the Badgers, they run a double reverse so that nobody knows who has got the ball. That is when they score.
I have to admit that we left at half time (because of the bone chilling cold) with the Sheboygan Badgers leading 16-0. My assumption is that they won. They certainly had the better team.
I will say that Coach Paul seems to have a "command presence". He totally "runs" the offense and the team responds well. Imagine that. He has a plan and he follows it. The kids like him. The assistant coaches like him. The parents like him. His parents love him!
Oh yeah, Dominic helps out. The last time I looked, he was sliding down a slippery hill next to the field and his mom is going to be washing grass stains for a long time. Fun is fun!
Love,
Dad
The owner of the City Club died several months ago. Harry Strobel had purchased the tavern from the Andrews Family in the early 1980's and continued to operate it until his death. Harry was not married although the love of his life (Doris) had shared his life journey. Unfortunately there was no succession planning or "will" that passed on the business to Doris. That part of the story sucks.
So it ends! The City Club is well over 150 years old. It is basically a wooden structure that sags in a few spots. The chances that someone would purchase it and continue to operate it like Harry/Doris is pretty slim. I know Harry had to scramble to meet all Plymouth electrical, plumbing, and safety codes when he bought the place. I would imagine that building codes have only gotten tougher over the years.
The City Club is in the "dead center" of town. Usually that would be an ideal location but the world is moving to the out-skirts of growing communities to create bigger buildings and easier access to businesses. So the "grand dame" of Plymouth will probably pass into obsurity leaving only memories of a special time.
For me it was the only place I remember for the first 20 years of my life. It was a transition from a young child (remembering Grandpa Chalk/Myrna) through World War II. Then it was watching my Dad transition from the War to Lakeland College followed by some years of operating the City Club. High School was the later part of my tenure. I left the City Club and a "father-less" family to trudge off to college. After that, it was occasional visits to my Mom and family and of course Myrna. Myrna always seemed to be the one constant until she died in the early 1980's. The City Club defined my early life.
The building will probably be sold and turned into a parking lot. Alas, it is like a large ship that has no use. A great ship can be towed out to the deep part of the ocean and sunk. I guess with a building like the City Club, you have to demolish it and then create something new.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that you are surrounded by many things that define you. As you grow older, things that were major influences will become clear to you. Treasure the memories. All good things do eventually end!
Love,
Dad
Madison is usually "jumping" on a Saturday. It is because there is football tradition. Lots of excitement.
This weekend tops all parties. It is the celebration of the annual marijuana crop. It is the Marijuana Harvest Festival. It is done every year and supposedly there is no smoking of the grassy stuff. No "stoners"! It is a lobby to the State Legislature to consider a bill that legalizes marijuana for medical purposes. It has been going on for 31 years. Liberal students away from their parents for the first time, really support is cause.
My knowledge of "stoners" is very limited. I guess they are not very commited to anything other than getting their hands on the next "fix". They are known for not having jobs. So I was listening to my favorite radio station this morning and they were interviewing a man that is the head of a national organization that leads the lobby for making "grass" legal. The radio station noted that they had finally found a "stoner" with a job. If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny.
There will be arrests in Madison. There will be broken windows on State street tomorrow night. There will be people lying in the streets. And oh yeah, there is the lobby for getting marijuana legalized for medical purposes. Again a Saturday. Madison will be jumping only it won't be for football.
I just finished "staining" our outside deck. It was a two day commitment and it really needed it. The wood literally sucked up the stain. My lament is that it probably needs a second coat.
If any family member is interested, we have a 27 inch used TV you can have for free. It is older but still works well. Just call or e-mail if you are interested. The price is right. It is free for the hauling. See Tom, my blog actualy serves as my own "ebay store".
As I end this blog, I can't help but comment on success. The Milwaukee Brewers played baseball that was exciting this year. They were in the pennant race up to the second last day of the season. They drew record crowds, They had terrific revenues. They made money. So the reward to loyal fans for great support is to raise ticket prices 9%. Je--- Chr--. Is this a great country or what?
Love,
Dad
Each and every football season, the UW Badgers have one home game that stands out. It is in effect "the game of the year". In past years, Grasshopper No. 4 seems to dominate in terms of attending that special game. He saw the Badgers beat Michigan in the last minute. He saw the Ohio State Buckeyes go down with a long pass late in the ball game (I think he soaking wet in the rain that night). I could go on and on.
Last Saturday had all the ingredients for being the game of the year. Michigan State was coming in with an unbeaten record of 4-0. The Badgers had stumbled to a 4-0 record. Michigan State was coming off a big victory over Notre Dame. Michigan State has big people on their team. Very big people!
Well Grasshopper No. 4 did not have tickets to this one! Grasshopper No. 1 and the special guy in her life attended. It was one of those days. Warm summer temperatures of 72 degrees. High cirrus overcast. The Outback blimp hovering over the stadium to give televised shots of Camp Randall in all it's glory. Nice breeze out of the south. You couldn't script it any better.
The game was non-stop action. The score at the half was 24-21 with Badgers leading. The achilles heal of the Badgers is they give up a lot of points. That means they have to score a lot of points. The second half did not disappoint and the outcome was in doubt right down to the last minute. Yep. The Badgers eeeked a victory 37-34. That game may turn out to be pivotal for the Badgers in their march to a Big 10 championship and National acclaim.
The thing that was different was that Grasshopper No. 1 replaced No. 4 as the luckiest Badger fan. She probably saw the game of the year. I think she and Tom got the lucky tickets.
The script is not finished. The Badgers have 3 more home games. It is possible that the year ending Michigan game could be the "grand-daddy" of this season. Time will tell. Who will get the Michigan ticket? Maybe I'll go out on "ebay". If the Badgers continue to win, that game may fetch $400-$500 per ticket. I guess then you could say, I had the lucky tickets.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that life comes at you fast. You just never know when you will be fortunate enough to pull the lucky ticket. Smile No. 1.
Love
Dad