We have a running joke at OnMilwaukee.com -- or should I say an ongoing ban (which I guess I may or may not have just successfully skirted) -- about stories that start with the kind of phrase that's in the headline. Another one that will get you in trouble is the phrase "century old."
They invariably lead us to guffaw and then launch into versions of Bart Simpson's United Nations class essay. "Webster's defines (blank) as ..." "In conclusion (blank) is a (blank) of contrasts."
But waking up this morning and looking out the window definitely seems cause for a rumination that begins, "Now that autumn is here ..."
We like to say "only in Milwaukee," when we have a sunny, 70-degree end of summer day like yesterday, followed by a dark, wet, cooler, gust-fest like today. Of course, we know this doesn't happen only in Milwaukee. Maybe saying it is a coping mechanism.
As a fan of the seasons, I don't think I'd be happy in a place like Arizona. I love spring and summer and I love autumn, too. The only problem with fall is that it leads to winter.
Really, I don't even hate winter. I might even enjoy it if it lasted two or three months. It's just that by February, when we are, for all intents and purposes, in month four and there's at least one more month to go, I've long since had enough. It's just flogging a dead (well, frozen) horse by then.
Yesterday when Tony the crossing guard said he hoped the day's weather would continue through Turkey Day, I agreed and crossed my fingers. But the digits didn't do their job and kill the jinx.
Now, as I look out my office window, it's a little brighter than it was an hour and a half ago when I arrived on the East Side, but not bright enough. Luckily, the rain has slowed a bit and I think I can make it to Alterra for a warming coffee.
Maybe I'll make it a cappuccino and croissant and pretend I'm enjoying a brisk vacation morning in Paris (yes, cold and rain -- and the smell of diesel fuel -- remind me of vacation. How sad is that?!). Or maybe I'll just say, "I hope it stays like this until Turkey Day," and try to reverse the jinx.
In conclusion, Webster's defines delusion as ...
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
