*World War II Memorial, Washington DC*

Milwaupaliukes #1’s father is an Army veteran of WWII and

was a POW (captured at the Battle of the Bulge);

he spent 20+ years in the Army

and was stationed around the world.

Milwaupaliukes #1 was in the Air Force for 4 years.

**Korean War Memorial, Washington DC**

Milwaupaliukes #2’s dad spent 4 years in the

United States Marines and is a Korean War veteran,

one of the Chosin Few.

*Thank you members of the United States Armed Forces.*

What is it about the drive thru that causes Milwaupaliukes to break into hysterical laughter? It started probably 2 years ago when we visited the Burger King drive thru for onion rings after a band rehearsal. We had difficulty ordering and flew into a fit of hysterical laughter….which continues to plaque us each time we visit BK. We begin rehearsing what we will order…and then the laughter begins.

So the other day we thought aha! Let’s try a DIFFERENT drive thru – then we won’t have this problem! So after attending a business mtg, instead of eating IN a restaurant, we made a run for the border at the Taco Bell drive thru (had to get home in time to see the last hour of the Idol finale.) Well…we fared even worse. Milwaupaliukes#1 could barely get any words out while he was talking to the speaker – he was laughing so hard. Well, witnessing this caused Milwaupaliukes #2 to join him in the hysterical hilarity. Me eyes were watering from laughing so much. Perhaps Milwaupaliukes is losing their minds and sanity?

BTW, the tacos were muy bien!

Well yesterday was Danny Gokey Day in Milwaukee. For those of you living on another planet in our solar system or perhaps outside our solar system, Danny is one of 3 finalists from this season’s American Idol. He is a Milwaukee native, terrific singer, and positive representative of Milwaukee. Proof that we are more than just cheeseheads and crazy Packer fans.

Unfortunately, Milwaupaliukes were not able to attend the events, due to our work schedules (although we are thankful to be employed.) However, Milwaupaliukes were able to see Danny in route from the Summerfest grounds to Miller park. We waited along Wisconsin Avenue, along with many other fans, for a glimpse. Fans shouted at passing cars to vote for Danny; fans held up signs proudly; cars honked for Danny (as instructed by the signs); visiting Chicago Cub fans probably wondered what the heck all these people were doing hanging along the avenue. But they seemed to be enjoying it also. Then the police escort arrived, along with the stretch SUV and Danny hanging out the window. Fans went wild. Milwaupaliukes took a few photos.

Then Danny was off to the Brewer’s stadium, where he sang a great, traditional rendition of the National Anthem. Then the Milwaukee Brewers clobbered the Chicago cubs. Well, maybe not clobbered but the Brewers WON and the evil cubs LOST.

The weather was perfect for the events of the day, mid 70’s in Milwaukee (hey we had snow once in May). And did we mention the cubs LOST and our Milwaukee Brewers WON???

See Danny’s day in Milwaukee on Tuesday night’s American Idol. Look for the scary looking Bronze Fonz statue, the Harley Davidson Museum, the Elvis motorcycle, the Les Paul guitar exhibit, the incredible Calatrava Art Muesum, the screaming fans, the Green Bay Packers etc.

Milwaupaliukes is VERY relieved that we did not travel to Mexico this year for spring break.

Hero in underpants tackles a ‘roo

Whew! What a relief. When I read the headlines I thought “Oh no, what have my friends done in Australia? Fighting with a kangaroo?? ” They have been known to go after such delightful animals as skunks…..But after reading the article, I was relieved to find out my friends were NOT involved in the kangaroo incident.

Here’s the story..

‘I felt the kangaroo jumping on top of us’

A man in Australia suffered scratched buttocks and shredded underpants wrestling with a kangaroo after it smashed through his bedroom window.

Beat Ettlin, his wife and daughter cowered beneath their blankets as it jumped on their bed.

But it then bounded into the room of the Ettlins’ young son, who screamed, and Mr Ettlin was forced to act.

Mr Ettlin struggled to get the hopping marsupial into a headlock and drag it to the front door.

Shoved outside, wounded, it disappeared into a nearby reserve outside Canberra.

Inside, the animal – which Mr Ettlin said was about his own height, 5 ft 9 in (175cm) – had gouged holes in the furniture and smeared blood over the walls as it bounced around the house.

“I just kept holding the covers over my head and felt the kangaroo jumping on top of us,” recalled Mr Ettlin’s wife, Verity Beman.

She described her husband as “a hero: a hero in Bonds undies” – referring to a brand of underwear popular in Australia.

Mr Ettlin, who is 42 and originally from Switzerland, described himself as a lucky man.

“My initial thought when I was half awake was, ‘it’s a lunatic ninja coming through the window’,” he said.

Kangaroos are common around the outskirts of Canberra, but only rarely invade homes, experts say.

Milwaupaliukes did not review last week’s Idol because ALL the contestants were terrible.  We were very disappointed.  NONE of them should have gone thru.

Even last night, the third group of 12, was a disappointment.  The only one that maybe should go thru is

-Kendall, the blind guy.

Our other ‘top people’ were

Junot

Felicia

blonde country girl

Jorge

…but really, none did their best.

Well the world news tonight has so much to say about the snow / storms on the east coast. But what about Milwaukee? Our lake effect snow today measured at 14.4 inches! Some parts of the city were dumped on by Mother Nature, others had nothing. My area received only around three inches, but these huge snowflakes seemed to be falling from the sky almost all day.

Lesson learned:

one box of Girl Scout Thin Mints does not a serving make.

This is why Milwaupaliukes2 was called the “coookie monster” as a child.

I turned on the television and realize we have a MAJOR problem. You see, some close friends are in Australia.  Prior to their departure, they asked what I would like from the Land Down Under (as if that would make up for not taking me!!)  Well, just between you and me, it was a tough decision….I thought and thought… what would be the perfect remembrance of their travels to this far off land?  What gift could be appreciated daily and not tossed in a drawer to be forgotten about???? Well, Hugh Jackman of course!  But I just turned on the TV and discovered that my Hughy is in Los Angeles hosting the Oscars!  WTF!  They are going to spend their trip searching for him and he’s already here!

Well I didn’t want to do it…but Idol has captured my attention again and I confess to watching it this season. I don’t care for dividing the remaining contestants into 3 groups of 12, with just the top from each group moving forward. But anyway, here is what I thought of the just concluded episode:

The top 2:

-Alexis Grace (wow she really did an incredible job)

-Danny Gokey (good job for this MILWAUKEE singer who recently lost his wife)

Good performances:

-Ricky Braddy (Anyone notice his family wearing Braddy Bunch tshirts?)

-Tatiana Del Torro (I’m almost ashamed to say I enjoyed most of this crazy woman’s performance tonight)

Ok performances:

-Ann Marie Boskovich

-Annop Desai

The remainder of the performers were horrible.

??Who was your favorite??

Here’s the latest from Tyler – this should be a big hit!  Enjoy!

This is being passed around via email. I don’t normally encourage blond jokes, being a natural myself…… however, this joke was cute, and with all the snow we’ve had in Wisconsin….I thought I’d pass it along.. The last 2 days have felt like spring so the next snow will be painful… enjoy the joke:

One winter morning a husband and wife in northern Minnesota were listening to the radio during breakfast. They heard the announcer Say, “We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street, so the Snowplows can get through.” So the good wife went out and moved her car.

A week later while they are eating breakfast again, the radio announcer said, “We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street, so The snowplows can get through.” The good wife went out and moved her car again.

The next week they are again having breakfast, when the radio announcer says, “We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park….” Then the electric power went out. The good wife was very upset, and with a worried look on her face she said, “Honey, I don’t know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so the snowplows can get through?” With the love and understanding in his voice that all men who are married to blondes exhibit, the husband replied, “Why don’t you just leave it in the garage this time?

Today, Ground Hog day, marks the 5th anniversary of my surgery to remove defective parts. February is now known as Freaky February, as later on that same month, MilwaupaliukesBrother had surgery also, for something completely unrelated but to remove his defective bits. After we were sliced and diced, we both stayed over at the MilwaupaliukesParents house for a short time until we could return to our respective homes with stairs.

Happy Anniversary!

Thanks goodness those passengers on the plane in NYC survived the crash.

The low temp in Milwaukee today, so far, was -10. Windchills were -29. Yup. gotta love winter in Wisconsin. But wait, it’s supposed to be even colder tonight, with windchills to -40.

Well, we had the bad winter last year, then the June floods, then the snow in December, and now the dangerous cold. Now we’re wating for the locusts to arrive!!!!

Enough already!

Yesterday we had more snow……….next week we are expecting subzero temps……remind me again why we live in Wisconsin????

It’s winter time in Wisconsin
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Wisconsin
When the snow’s up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I’ll hang around
I could never leave Wisconsin
‘Cause I’m frozen to the ground!

(This little ditty is making is way around the internet….author unknown)

---

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and far out at sea
Our vessel was sailing, as smooth as could be

The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs
With hope that St. Nicholas would find them out there

The children were nestled all snug in their uppers
Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper

And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe
A bit too much sun, in a pool, warm and shallow

When up in the sky, there arose such a clatter
I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter

To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash
Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash

And what to my skeptical eyes should appear
But a great shiny sleigh, and eight flying reindeer

They circled our ship, from starboard to port
As the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort

Who called to his team, in a happy retort
“Now Dasher, now Dancer,” so on and so forth

We raced through our cabin and into the hall
To the very top deck, in time for us all

To be awed by the sight of Old Santa’s sleigh
As he lightly touched down, by the midnight buffet

With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back
He rose in the air and dropped down the smokestack

Santa went straight to work, and later we learned
He found every child’s cabin, from the bow to the stern

Insides and oceanviews, balconies and suites
Santa filled every stocking, with toys and with treats

Until all his deliveries had been handled with care
Then he noted he still had a minute to spare

So he surfed the wave rider, with nary a fall
While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall

And Prancer, who had always been fond of the cold
Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold

And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team
And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams

And I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of view
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.

Written by Alan Fox, with appreciation and apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We are now up to 30 inches of snow this December, which means 2008 ranks second for all time Milwaukee snowfall for the month of December.

We spend part of the day practicing our own special version of holiday songs on our ukes.

Woke up this morning to -5  degrees and -29 wind chill.  Welcome to winter in Wisconsin!

LET IS SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW!!!! And it’s not even officially winter yet! On the bright side, I don’t think we will outdo the 49 inches of snow we had just a few Decembers ago. Today Milwaukee had roughly a foot of snow (officially 11.4?, with surrounding areas 11 – 14 inches). Luckily, I was already scheduled for a day off today and could enjoy the view from the inside. I did venture out the front door and out the garage and was surprised at how cold it was and what a nasty wind. Buses got stuck; drifts were high; schools, libraries, some banks & businesses, and the airport were closed; and roads were impassible.

Why don’t we try for 100 inches this year? Last year for the season, Milwaukee was at 99 inches officially, but most of the city had more. The airport location is always the official depth marker but doesn’t always reflect what happens in most of the city.

Memorable measurements……………………………..

The year 1978 – December snow 27.9 inches

The year 2000 – December snow 49.5 inches

The year 2007 – December snow 29.5 inches

The year 2008 – December snow 27.9 inches and counting – four to seven more inches expected over the weekend along with dangerous temps and wind chills. (Someone please remind me why we live here????)

Here’s a tree in my front yard:

More views of the yard: If you look carefully you might see a parked car shrouded in a snow drift…

The beauty of a snow covered pine tree…