Holiday Spirit

We have our winter wonderland now since the snowfall on Tuesday night. We are expecting a few more inches tonight as well. It was quite the traffic mess on Wednesday morning as the plows didn't get out early enough and they hadn't done a good job of cleaning up the icy mess we had over the weekend. Basically the icy, slushy mess now turned into solid ice and was covered with a fluffy blanket of new snow - not a good combo. The freeways were really messy and had quite a few spinouts. I blame that not only on the weather, but from people not knowing how to drive in the snow. We go through it every year when the snow first comes down. Most people are cautious, but then there are the nutballs who think they are invincible and just fly down the road and don't leave enough room between cars for sudden stops, etc. Makes it ugly for everyone. Unfortunately my niece was a victim of a slippery country road in the middle of the state and ended up rolling her car. Luckily she is fine, but the car is totalled. Pretty scary stuff.

I had a meeting in the morning at Mocha's downtown and had no problem getting from Tosa to downtown Mil. Downtown looked very pretty with a nice coating of the fluffy stuff. I brought my camera to take a few shots but the batteries died. Aargh.

I had a lunch meeting at The Cheesecake Factory in Wauwatosa. I remember when I traveled alot that people used to freak out over having to eat at The Cheesecake Factory - it happened in Chicago, Kansas City, etc. They would wait so long to get in there even when there were so many other restaurant choices because "we just have to eat at The Cheesecake Factory". Well, the same thing happened here when it opened next to Mayfair Mall - people will wait over an hour...it's good, but honestly people. Mike and I went once on a Saturday afternoon around 3pm thinking "this is a good time - mid-afternoon, shouldn't be a problem" - we were sadly mistaken. I think we still waited 45 minutes+ - we cheated and left the restaurant with the "table ready buzzer" and walked over to the mall. It's not like they have a big waiting area to get relax in or get cocktails, etc because people are eating all over the bar area as well. So anyhow...I had a noon meeting and when I got there at 11:50am the place was already packed. Luckily we were seated right away, but I am sure the waitlist started soon after we got our table. The food and service is good - that's about all I'll say. I prefer to patronize our independent restaurants.

Last night I checked out a new salon in Wauwatosa - Harwood Hair Company. Jody did a nice job on my 'do. What I found most interesting was the building that houses the salon - it is the old Underwood Hotel and the salon is in what used to be the dining room. Very cool. I don't know much about Tosa history and did not know of the Underwood Hotel prior to last night. I'll have to see what I can dig up on it.

Tuesday night I took Mike to the Northern Lights Theater in Potawatomi Bingo Casino to see The Brian Setzer Orchestra Holiday Extravaganza. It was awesome. I really like the theater in the casino. I always knew there wasn't a bad seat in the house, but I think I got the worst of the pickings. We were up in the balcony so had to sit on the edge of our seats and a part of the stage was obstructed. I am still not going to complain because the show was great, the view - even though obstructed - of the band and Brian Setzer was still one of the best in the concert going world. He played some Christmas tunes, some Stray Cat stuff and some good old rockabilly. Great show!

Prior to the show we had dinner at Friday's at Miller Park. What an awesome scene - snow falling on the baseball field with the roof wide open. Makes me anxious for baseball already! Friday's always does a great job - a very unique place to enjoy a nice dinner or some cocktails.