nothing like a half-assed apology

It was a horrible end of a wonderful place. There were a lot of hard feelings. More than a few accusations. And still after 2 years, it hurts like hell.

And the one man who (some have argued) could have helped the Weidner Center from drowning is finally leaving town. Many are celebrating.

In Sunday's (June 8, 2008) Green Bay Press Gazette, he might have finally apologized; he may have admitted he was wrong. Can it be true?

There've been tough decisions, but I think they were absolutely necessary ones. The Weidner Center — I feel very good that it's on a financially sustainable basis now, but my biggest mistake was listening to the "experts" about the Weidner Center, instead of the very clear signals the marketplace was sending.

The model of bringing in Broadway shows to cover the overhead was no longer working — every week of Broadway we put out there, we lost a quarter of a million dollars, so as a consequence over a course of about three years, we had $5 million in red ink trying to keep that going under the old model. If I'd done a better job and had more experience, I'd have gone to the new model earlier.

I can only hope that he doesn't screw up lives at the Western Washington University where he is headed.

Good riddance.

good news!

Wisconsin's bee season raises an optimistic buzz

Icicles

Winter in Wisconsin

Updates

• I'm tired. Busy - crazy busy. Happy
• I'm playing my cello tonight for the first time since The Year of the Elbow. Looking forward to it!
  
• Again, I'm feeling Brett's pain from last night's game. It was horrible that they lost, to that team, but it's not the end of the world, and it was fantastic to see that Aaron Rodgers could actually step it up!
  
• It was Joe's birthday last night - fun night had by all!
  
• It's going to snow a lot tomorrow night. Actually looking forward to it! We're under a winter storm watch with up to 7 inches expected. Let the Holidays begin!
  
• Joe gave me an early Christmas present: an HP laptop with Vista and Office 2007 installed. So far, I love it!
• Maddy is doing great and her 4th b'day will be on the 23rd. Oh my stars! How did she get so old?!
  

And for your goofy pleasure:

April's snow storm

Details for Wednesday (Green Bay)

Periods of snow and windy. High 37F. Winds ENE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Wednesday night: Periods of snow and windy. Low 32F. Winds NE at 25 to 35 mph. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.
Details for Thursday
Snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 70%. A slushy accumulation of less than one inch.Thursday night: Becoming mostly clear later with any flurries or snow showers ending by midnight. Low 29F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.

It's blowing very hard and has started to snow. I'm not thrilled about this "silly spring" so far, but it IS April in Wisconsin. It's not as bad as what Madison or Milwaukee are expected to get. Positive thinking, everyone!

Pictures - cabin in early spring

of weather, naps, and UUs...

As promised, spring time isn't quite ready to stay. We have flurries and a high of only 30 today. It is Wisconsin, you know. 7 years ago, it was freezing cold at the end of May. I was nervous that the ground would still be frozen for our outside wedding. T.S. Eliot was right. April is the cruelest month, teasing us with the possibilities of full-blown spring.

Despite Ma Nature's joke, Stacey, Jodi & I have planned the vegetable garden. Last year's was indeed a learning experience.

I've been in a very tired state the past month. A lot of this has to do with the new med I'm on to treat a mild anxiety disorder I've recently been diagnosed with. It's very mild but the worrying and the anxiety I've felt over the littlest things was driving me (and my family) nuts. My doctor prescribed meds and possibly a therapist to hopefully relieve some of this damn "working mommy guilt" I've been feeling. Unfortunately, I haven't been to the fitness center a whole lot the past month. I've been taking that time for napping. I know I need to get back into the routine, but it's been a bit hard. *sigh*

The best news is that we did indeed get to the GB Unitarian Universalist fellowship as I said we would! Last weekend, Joe, Maddy, myself and Jodi checked it out. It's a new fellowship (comparatively anyway) and has about 60 adult members. I loved it. I think what I miss most of all in a church is the community fellowship. We're planning on going again this Sunday.

Be well. :)

springtime ... in Wisconsin

Yesterday, March 25th, Green Bay set a record high of 73 degrees. Only 4 days into the spring season! Today, the forecast is for 75! Holy moly.

We took advantage of the beautiful, fantastic spring weekend with plenty out outside time. We went up to the woods yesterday morning. We went for walks and Maddy LOVES the Red Ryder tricycle that was handed down from Haddy & William.

Of course, it's springtime in Wisconsin. This weekend is only supposed to be in the 40s. Oh well.

the brisk whirl-wind weekend

We spent 6 hours in the car this weekend driving to and from this FUN place in Tomah. It was the second installment of birthday celebrations - this time for Maddy (Dec 23), Alison (Jan 9), William (Jan21), and myself (Jan 24).

It was nasty cold outside, and got colder as the weekend went on. This morning, it was 13 below in Green Bay - schools were closed - wind chills to be about 25 below. Yikes.

Doing the right thing....

This town has been abuzz about the recent arrests and charges against three local teens allegedly planning on committing a Columbine-like attack at Green Bay East High School.

William Cornell, Shawn Sturtz and Bradley Netwal, all of Green Bay, were charged in Brown County court with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit damage to property by use of explosive.

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

What's remarkable is how they were arrested. 17 year old Matt Atkinson, a friend of two of the arrested boys, came forward about what he knew and what he suspected. And today, he's been chosen as ABC's Person of the Week:

Atkinson named ABC's person of week for tip about East plot. A crew from ABC News is expected to be in Green Bay today working on a piece about Matt Atkinson, the 17-year-old Green Bay East High School student who told school officials last week about an alleged plot to attack the school.

Atkinson is expected to be featured as Person of the Week on ABC World News, though ABC told WBAY, Channel 2, that he will not be doing an interview for the piece.

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

Congratulations, Matt. Green Bay is proud of you!

Another reason to love Wisconsin....

Or maybe it's just that we are just "average"...

CNN's story "The most 'representative' state: Wisconsin" is another reason why Wisconsin shouldn't be considered solely a "fly-over land".

Looking for a state that is a microcosm of the whole country? You won't find it in Iowa or New Hampshire -- there are 25 states that come closer to average statewide measures on important characteristics such as race and income. ..... The Badger State comes closer than any other to state-by-state averages on 12 key measures, according to a new analysis by CNN Polling Director Keating Holland that takes a fresh look at U.S. Census data.