So how exciting was your high school graduation?
Mine was so dull my parents left early! My graduating class was HUGE, 640 kids, so I really didn't blame Mom and Dad for hitting the road after they got through the D's in the alphabet.
And we didn't do anything nearly as cool as the grads from Wausau East High School a week or so ago.
My fave part of this video? The student at the end of one row who refuses to participate.
I'm not a huge snow fan, but I know there are a lot of you crazies out there. None as crazy though as college students. Do you remember back in 2009 when UW Madison students created a giant snowball?
I was actually looking for a different video when I found this one (the one where college students built a bunch of snowmen in the road a year or so ago.) But I do find the idea of a giant snowball amusing.
I'm sure it started small...and (you've got it) it snowballed.
I love one of the comments on youtube..."I want to go to this fun school."
On Thanksgiving, for the first time ever, I had mashed potatoes with gravy.
"What? You're Irish and don't like potatoes? I wish I had a nickel for every time some one said that. I hated potatoes as a kid and over the last ten or 15 years I've tried new kinds and several years ago decided I liked mashed potatoes..the really buttery garlicky kind, but was still afraid to have them topped with gravy.
Then on Thanksgiving Mike and I went out for turkey dinner and they brought me the potatoes that way, and I had no choice but to try them. And Sam-I-Am, I liked them.
So what does that have to do with Paul McCartney? Not much. But I thought you might like this video of Paul teaching you how to make mashed potatoes. Yes, it's random. And I don't know why he made this video. But it's ADORABLE. And just in time for the holidays!
The World Dairy Expo is in Madison this week..with farmers from all over the world coming here to learn all about new farming technology and genetics.
Now those of you who know me might realize that even though I grew up in a fairly small city in Wisconsin, I am not a farm girl in any way shape or form.
That was proven big time last year when Jonathan and I visited the World Dairy Expo, and Jimmy Voegeli, dairy farmer by day, rock star by night, tried to teach us a few things about farm livin'.
Find out more about Jimmy Voegeli's band The Jimmys here.
"A day at the zoo" can be used as a phrase to describe an easy-going, fun day. But a day at the zoo is not always a day at the zoo...when everything goes wrong for a cute little kid.
Geoffrey was upset little girls seemed to control the day's agenda. He did NOT want to go see the "gentle animals."
Watch and enjoy. And just be glad video cameras weren't around when I was a kid. My rants were a bit more violent.
At one time last night, we had six tornado warnings going on at the same time in Southern Wisconsin. It seems not every body heeds the warnings to find a safe place (like a basement) to ride out the storm.
Don't do what this guy did when a tornado came straight for his Minnesota farm. He takes FOREVERÂ to decide to go to the basement.
It starts out pretty funny, because he has a classic Minnesota accent. Then it gets scary..and then the lights go out. I know it's 8 minutes long, but it's worth watching.
Much maligned in pop culture, Hot Pockets aren't that bad. Yeah, they're processed meat and cheese and a smidge of a vegetable of some sort, encased in a crust made of processed bleached flour and various hydrogenated oils.
But they're convenient, and they're cheap! And Lean Pockets are not so full of fat or sodium. And they even have French ones--Croissant Pockets. Ooh la la!
The comedian Jim Gaffigan is not a fan:
But leave it to Jimmy Fallon to pay proper respect to the World's Most Convenient Food-like Item.
There was some excitement at the post office in downtown Milwaukee yesterday...when a BADGER, Wisconsin's state animal, stopped in for an early morning tour. Employees weren't sure what to do, so they called police, who said "we don't deal with Badgers."Â Eventually the DNR showed up and showed him to the door.
Why does the song "if you want to mail a Badger" keep going through my head?
You've seen the bumper stickers that say "Skateboarding is not a crime," right? I'm not so sure that's completely true...but I will say that when the skateboarder is a bulldog...it's overwhelmingly cute.
You can't help but smile when you watch this video! I love when the dog is adorned with a Canadian flag. Canada pride? You bet your sweet dog biscuits!
It was a little over 20 years ago when the whole world watched rescuers save Baby Jessica from the well.
I can't believe this story didn't get the same worldwide attention. From Utah, it's the story of a curious cow who wandered a little too far from home, and found herself in a peculiar predicament.
Pay close attention to the look on the face of the dog who was reluctantly part of the rescue effort.
When you were in school, you may have had a teacher or two that fancied themselves a stand-up comedian, or liked to play a joke or two on students. But all any one ended up with was a good story. Now those jokes can end up on Youtube! An orchestra teacher (Mr. Kurr) at Middleton High School pulled a fast one on his students on April Fool's Day. Check it out. More than 75-thousand other people already have!
Love 'em or loathe 'em, Marshmallow Peeps are a part of our lives this time of year. Some people LOVE to eat them..fresh, frozen or super-stale... they're a taste treat meant to be savored.
Other people gag at the mere thought of them.
I, on the other hand, get all Martha Stewart when Peeps season comes around.
Enjoy this video. Share it with your friends. And if you've created any Peeps masterpieces of your own, I'd love to see them.
I thought I'd explore my Irish roots and delve into traditional Irish fare. What's it take to whip up a batch of skirts and kidneys?
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Click to watch.
Tired of the same old same old for Valentine's Day? Every one knows handmade Valentines are the best...and they're even better when they're made from recycled materials. Get some fantastic ideas, yes I said FANTASTIC... in Kitty's Craft Corner. Watch out, Martha Stewart.
Yes, Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie predicted an early spring, but what did Snohomish Slew have to say about this situation? As I mentioned in my blog the other day, Jimmy has some non-rodent competition from a bullfrog in Washington State..who actually made his prediction over the weekend.
Despite the fact that this video looks like it came from a fake news source (like the Onion or Fox News) it's really from a Seattle TV station. If you watch 'til the end you'll see the news anchor try to keep from laughing.
Are you tired of all the heartfelt, tug on your heartstrings Christmas songs? Are you ready for one that tells it like it really is? Then you've come to the right place!
And no...it's not Elmo and Patsy singing about Grandma and that reckless reindeer.
It's Robert Earl Keene! Merry Christmas y'all!
(Even if you're not into twangy music...give it a listen..it's pretty funny).
Move over, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen. Paul McCartney for some reason has made a video concocting mashed potatoes! I have no idea why he made this, but it is quite entertaining.
I'd say it's Sir Paul at just about his cutest, post mop-top anyway. Enjoy, and happy thanksgiving!
So are we all in agreement that the Heene Family faked the whole boy in the Jiffy Pop balloon thing to get attention?
I think it stinks that Falcon Heene's parents wanted him to lie on national TV, and find it hilarious that he told the truth, when Dad asked "Why didn't you come out when we called you?" And he said "You guys said it was for the show."Â
I'm glad that the boy is safe (even with whack job parents). And because he's safe, the saga is ripe for parody. Check out this video that already made it onto Youtube. Not exactly drop dead funny...but at least amusing. I do enjoy the X-Files reference!
Jonathan and I both have journalism backgrounds and have covered our share of big stories, but I must say I was a bit  jealous when he scored an interview with Marge Simpson. He had a lot of questions about her upcoming cover story in Playboy Magazine.
I think this may be Jonathan's finest hour as a journalist.
I never thought I had anything in common with Lisa Douglas from Green Acres, until I was put to the Ultimate Farming Test by Jimmy Voegeli, our rock and roll farmer. Not only is Jimmy a great keyboard player, he's also a 5th generation dairy farmer. So we met him out at the Dairy Expo, where he presented us with some challenges. Check out the video!
Until yesterday, I had never been stung by a bee. I've been harassed by bees before, but never before had one inflicted such horrible pain!
Okay, it wasn't that bad, but it did freak me out. Here's how it went down:
I'm riding my bike on a path west of Madison. I see a small blurry projectile heading toward me. Before I can react, the determined insect makes an irritated buzzing sound..and gets me, right in the eyebrow.
Despite my overdramatic tendencies, I did not go into anaphelectic (spelling?) shock, and it stopped hurting after five or ten minutes.
Now I'm just grateful it didn't happen while I was at work. Check out what happened to a news reporter in Syracuse...
I hope for this guy's sake that wasn't on the air live!
When Brett Favre joined the Minnesota Vikings last week, I was so hurt and angry, I wrote a poem. Apparently other people deal with inner conflict and turmoil in creative ways as well. Check out this video I found on Youtube. It's funny for around a minute..and then gets...well...you be the judge.
There are times I'm glad when I don't do the news on TV.
It seems just about every TV show does one of thos adopt-a-pet segments. Here's one that went a little crazy.
The audio is awesome too. Enjoy! Happy Weekend!
Did you watch Sesame Street when you were a kid? I was already a little too old for it by the time it premiered. I already could read and count, but enjoyed the little songs and skits. Like the one where the baker carried in all those pies and they all fell. Hilarious!!
I'm also a big Bert and Ernie fan. So I was a little freaked out when I watched this. And maybe you'll be a little traumatized too when you see it.
I like to subtitle this one "A is for Acid."
Now I'm worried that Mike will never travel with me by air. Ever. That after a Canadian musician named Dave Carroll had a little trouble with United Airlines. Seems they damaged his $3500 Taylor guitar. And after going around and around with the folks at the airlines for a year, he got no satisfaction from them.
So he' s getting even with them. He wrote a little song, made a video, and posted it on Youtube. Now more than 1.2 million views later, I'm wondering if United has changed its tune.
By the way..the song's pretty good too. I'm going to have to look into Dave Carroll's band Sons of Maxwell a bit further.
Hope you enjoy the video, and by the way, I'd advise you don't bring anything fragile on your next airline flight.
Wow! Charlie Shortino at NBC-15 says it's going to be 72-degrees tomorrow. It's time to get the tires pumped up on my bike and go for a ride, and dig some shorts and T-shirts out of storage.
It's also time to break out the shaving cream....and move my legs out of the not-ready-for-the-light-of-day category.
First I think I'll watch this video for motivation.
Sir Paul McCartney was a guest on the Colbert Report---and it was...unusual. Since I'm a huge Beatle fan, I get annoyed when interviewers go up against one of the Beatles and it's obvious they have no idea what they're talking about (Larry King comes to mind).Â
But I really don't know what to think about this one. Obviously, Stephen Colbert is pretending to be a clueless wonder. So does that make this okay? In some ways it makes me feel like the whole thing was scripted..or that it was episode of that weird show from the '90s...Space Ghost Coast to Coast..with Stephen Colbert filling in for Space Ghost.
And is it just me..or does it feel like the two of them weren't even in the same room? Notice there are no shots of them together..unless it's just one of them from the back.
Oh well....even if it was rigged..it's pretty funny. Check it out.
Do you have a Christmas movie that you MUST watch every year?
For me, it's not Christmas if I don't watch It's A Wonderful Life. Even after dozens of viewings, I cry my eyes out at the end when the whole town comes to the aid of George Bailey, making him "the richest man in town."
I'm also a big fan of Miracle on 34th Street, both the Natalie Wood version and more recent ones.
Of recent movies, I'd have to say Elf is my favorite...any gig that Bob Newhart gets in this day and age is a bonus.
And while I didn't like it the first time I saw it, A Christmas Story is so over the top warped, I grew to love it.
What did Siskel and Ebert think of the movie when it first came out? Watch this video to find out. Plus, notice that Roger Ebert and Ralphie have the same glasses.
I've been wondering..what's the bag limit on Chia Pets?
Another question--has any one every bought a Chia Pet for themselves? I conducted a highly scientific survey here in the office and both people said they never have. Although Adam says his brother did get him a Homer (Simpson) Chia Head. We had loads of fun growing Chia Hair in our shared cubicle area.
We did notice that he had a problem with male pattern baldness.
Which brings me to another question. Do they make Chia rogaine?
Apparently I am not the only person who's suddenly become obsessed with all things chia. Check out this video. It's just the right kind of twisted.
For me, the occasional foray into snow sculpting or angel making keeps me satisfied when it comes to enjoying the wonders of winter. But others push themselves beyond the limits of stupidity.
Take for example this video I found on youtube, featuring some inventive individuals in my hometown of Stevens Point. Apparently they're not stimulated enough by snowshoeing or cross country skiing. They've made the streets of the town their own personal ski and snowboard area.
Some of the music is kind of annoying..but this is worth watching to the end because you'll be treated to some nifty wipeouts, and an encounter with the Stevens Point police. My favorite part is that these geniuses actually give their names in the credits...almost encouraging the cops to deliver some belated citations.
Enjoy!
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
So are we all in agreement that the Heene Family faked the whole boy in the Jiffy Pop balloon thing to get attention?
I think it stinks that Falcon Heene's parents wanted him to lie on national TV, and find it hilarious that he told the truth, when Dad asked "Why didn't you come out when we called you?" And he said "You guys said it was for the show."Â
I'm glad that the boy is safe (even with whack job parents). And because he's safe, the saga is ripe for parody. Check out this video that already made it onto Youtube. Not exactly drop dead funny...but at least amusing. I do enjoy the X-Files reference!
