Results, Poll #19, Swimmin'.

Wow, swimming really brings out all the responses, 17 this week - back up to acceptable levels. I thought with the weather getting a little nicer (it was 80 here in MKE last weekend, even if only for mere hours) that people might start thinking about swimming. I know as the temps rose, my thoughts turned to pool fun as a kid. Swimming was probably the best way to get all 5-7 of us out of the house, and it was lucky then that we had a pool (nothing fancy, just 18' in diameter and 4' above ground). Never the less, it was fun all summer. We often spent most of the day in our trunks. Swimming, sunning, eating, and then back to swimming (even at night on occasion).

Anyways, here's how it washed out this week:
> 8 people (27%) chose "1" suit - maybe we all need one more?
> 5 people (44%) chose "2-4" suits - ooh-la-lah, fashion plates!
> 2 people (11%) chose "4-6" suits - I'm going to need pics of all of them, b/c you better be a knockout to own that many swimming suits.
> 1 person (5%) chose "7+" suits - I didn't know supermodels read my blog. And if this is a guy, stop reading my blog.
> 1 person (5%) chose "No swimming for me" - well, that's a shame, you should learn now, seriously it's fun, like a big bath without the soap.

PS - no one noticed (or at least told me) that I used the number four on two of the choices. My bad.

Hey batter, batter!!!

Hit the local ballpark for some fun the other night. This was a worktrip, which is just about the only way I can justify going, what with being a lifelong Cubs fan and all. Of course, Miller Park can't hold a candle to Wrigley, but not many can and almost none try. The best thing about Wrigley is probably its history and age... which is the exact opposite for Miller Park.

This park feels brand-spankin new and has many features that you don't get in the old, comfy ballparks. Tailgating (including bbq-ing), TONS of food and drink choices with locations all around the park (did someone say "churro"?), super views from almost anywhere (see the pics?), fancy LED signage (oooh), cool "club level" and box seating (if you can afford it), etc.

But I suppose a baseball mitt makes a good analogy for baseball parks. Sure, you can look cool with your new mitt and break it in over the years, catching balls all along... but there's nothing like that totally broken-in, molded-to-your-hand feel of the mitt you've been using since you were a kid.

Who's planning a Wrigley trip with me?

For the birds.

In my never-ending quest to find highlights in MKE for myself and everyone, I have stumbled upon the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preserve. This is only about 10 miles from my apartment, with a very scenic drive (or ride) between.

As the name implies, this is supported by the Schlitz family and, as one would expect from "beer money", the place is very well done. Great facilities, 6 miles of hiking/walking trails, and wonderful way to be "in nature" right in the 'burbs. It's also right on the lakefront... could be a great way to explore for the day... after gearing up at Cabella's!

Results, Poll #18, CC Debt.

[remember these old things?]

I went onto Google to find a bit of background info for this post. I wanted to find out what an American's average credit debt amount usually is - this took a little bit of time, finding very easily that it's said to be about $8-9k. However, this figure is tossed out only by dividing America's total credit debt amount by the number of American's holding credit cards... not really the best average, or representative of normal folks. Googling a little deeper (that's what she said), I found these statistics, which came from much better reasoning (imo) -

• Only 29% of households owe $1,000 or more on their cards.
  
• 21% owe $2,000 or more.
  
• 6% owe $8,000 or more.
  
• 4% owe $10,500 or more.
  
• 1% owe $21,400 or more.

About 55% of all households pay off their CCs monthly and do not carry a balance. Of those remaining people (~45%) that do not pay off their card(s), the median balance is roughly $1,900. This seems a lot better/believable than $8-9k.

And here's the results from my poll:

> 1 person (7%) chose "$1-999" - stay low, pay it off!
> 0 people chose "$1000-2499"
> 2 people (14%) chose "$2500-4999" - uh-oh, leave 'em at home!
> 1 person (7%) chose "$5000-7499" - put 'em in the freezer!!
> 0 people chose "$7500-9999"
> 1 person (7%) chose "$10,000+" - cut them all up!!!
> 9 people (64%) chose "None" - show offs.

All in all, t.c readers are ahead of the curve that America's drawing with spending habits. This is good news. And to all of you with no CC debt, I hate you (ok, not really).

Grab a latte with me, won't you?

Most of you don't have a sense of what my 'hood is like here in MKE. Well, if you wanted to grab a latte and take a walk, you could see everything below, on FOOT, within about 25 minutes from my place (one way, not round trip). Most of it is under 10-15 minutes from me. It reminds me a lot of Evanston, but also parts of CHI. You're also never too far from food (three spots on the lakeside) or beer. Beer is everywhere in the city... more than I see in most US spots and rivaling some European cities.


Tennis anyone? This is also a sled hill in the winter. I've not used it much for that though, parents give me funny looks.


This is (IMHO) the flagship Alterra Coffee Roasters location on MKE. MKEians flock to this spot (across from the marina) for coffee, chatting, sunning, etc.


This is a wonderful semi-public garden, coming down just about to the lakefront. I'm told one could rent it our for an event, like a wedding reception, but bring the $bling$.


Now they know how the birds feel.


One of the best spots (IMHO) on the lakefront. It's been given an unofficial name for the summer of "Bradford Beach House". It looks like Miller Lite has puked posters on it... but you can get food, beer, and watch the amateur volleyball players get sand in their shorts. Only about 10 minutes from my place, on foot.


Just a little garden nook on the lakefront. I'd never noticed it until this shot. If I hadn't been on foot, I'd have never seen it. Very "grotto-esque", in my eyes.


This believe this is part of a fancy french bistro style restaurant up on the hill. Great look, but lots of steps to the top.


See, lots of steps, but worth the view.


Just across Lake Memorial Drive from the beaches too.


See, all the sand you could want... even in winter.


And we come full circle back to the Alterra. After that, I deserve a latte... or low-calorie vitamin water.

BuckHead.

I know most of you read t.c to find the best spots in MKE for dining, drinking, and donuts. So, with that in mind, I made my way to one of the youngest crowds in town at the BuckHead Saloon. For those of you not familiar with it already, it's pretty much a cross b/w the worst college bar you can think of and Cabella's (love plugging that series). It combines the cheap drinks, cheap outfits, and cheap personalities very well.

But you're thinking, "Gosh, mk, why were you there?" Moral support. It was a friend's friends' brother's graduation night, so I went along. I suspect I wasn't the only one standing in line outside the bar that was caught unawares as to what lurked inside (I know for a fact the guy's parent's didn't know what they were getting into), but we were in the minority.

The rest of the crowd loves it there, and I can't blame them. I mean, we've all been there... sitting in Kam's at the end of the night... or wondering how we got into the cab after drinking all day at Kinkade's... or wondering why 6 beers at Comet made you unable to ascend stairs and puke before being able to lie down (guessing the average 7% alcohol content of all the beers there)... or not understanding for days how we got mustard on our jeans, until we remember eating a burger at about 3 in the AM at Beaumont's. This is life.

While the night was sure eventful, including the young man dancing with a bar stool. Yes. Not on, or next to, but WITH the barstool, like a someone would dance with Julieanne Hough. But it wound up being way too long of a night, like these places often are. Luckily, Pizza Shuttle came through like aces with some basically leftover pizza, which by the time we got there, was well into Sunday morning.

Having read all that, I'm sure some of you are still thinking "mk, you're making this up!"... thank God I can prove you wrong with pictures. Enjoy.


Ahhh, come in by the fireplace and warm up at Cabella's - WAIT, Buckhead.


Enjoy a tasty Miller product next to the puma rug/wall covering.


Or a Leine's by the stag head.


Or by one of MANY hot-girl-hunters-in-bikini photos... I'm dead (bang bang) serious.


Just don't don't get tangled with your friend and fall down on the way out. Ouch.
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

Positive Thinking.

"Nothing is good or bad, that thinking made it so."
- Hamlet, Will Shakespeare

[snagged from a blog post I liked here]