Keta Steebs, Of Door County Advocate, Still Remarkable Lady And Writer

I first met Keta Steebs when she was just as beautiful as she is today.  There are some in Door County who understood that I had a ‘crush’ on Keta, even though she was ‘slightly’ older than me.   I was the new hire at WDOR Radio, and she was the established writer at the local paper, the Door County Advocate.   She seemed to know everybody, and better yet, everything about everybody.  Just the type of person I needed to know when starting out in both broadcasting and local politics.  To be around her meant that others would soon flock and amazing conversations would follow.  She has that type of personality that draws others near.

I have met only a rare handful that can turn heads when they enter a room, and Keta could.  That struck me at the age of 20 as quite impressive.  I most enjoyed talking with her during some very long and tedious county board meetings that we covered for our respective newsrooms.  Many a time all she wanted was a cigarette, and I just wanted an adjournment of the proceedings.  We would laugh and kid each other about all sorts of things, and shared political sentiments that made us kindred spirits in staunchly conservative Door County.  

Being a part of the Door County media I knew the writers at the local newspaper, and had the pleasure of trading gossip and insights during the weekly lunches named ‘Pen-n-Mic Club’ where we would all sit and review the world and local scene.  I recall that Keta would sit at another table with a few other women, and I would look over and wonder if she knew the guys at my table were talking about lots of stuff other than sports.  I made sure of that! I so wanted her to be close by and hear her memorable and hard-to-miss laugh.  As I said, I had a ‘crush’ on this lady.

Her columns in the Door County Advocate are just as warm and spirited today as the lady I recall from some 25 years ago.  There is a joy in reading her words, and  I am glad to know that she is still using her skills for the readers who adore her so very much.   And then there are some of us who can almost hear her voice as if she reads them aloud over the internet.  She does leave an impression.

In fact she can be heard on the internet.

And then read her latest column.

 

Technorati Tags: KetaSteebs, DoorCountyAdvocate, DoorCounty, WDOR, Radio,

Congratulations To My Niece Katrina Pfaff!

Last year my 28-year old niece pictured here in 2004 signed up to loose weight through one of our local TV stations (WMTV) city-wide efforts to become healthier.  I saw her recently, and it seems her efforts have paid off.  Congratulations to Katrina! 

She writes, “As a student, I see many of my peers making poor decision when it comes to health and nutrition. I do not want to regret the decisions I make now later in my life. Also, I want to be an inspiration to other young people and show that you do not have to keep that “Freshmen 15”. 

I think this is a great time for all Madison residents to recommit themselves to getting fit for the spring and summer seasons just around the corner.

In our home James has lost weight to the point so now we  can share each others clothes.  This is perfect!

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Spring Is In The Air Over Madison Isthmus….Literally

As I looked out on my neighborhood this afternoon I saw a lady still perched high on her craftsmanstyle-bungalow roof, where she continues chipping away at the ice dam that has encrusted itself high above the city street.  As I watched the slow chip—chip—chip— a very large and loud v-shaped grouping of Canadian geese flew over the Isthmus this afternoon.  In fact it flew right over my neighbor.

After the long white winter the birds flying back from the south are a sign that better days with warming temperatures are very near.  I wonder if my neighboir had time to glance up and welcome spring?  If anyone deserves a respite from Old Man Winter, it is a sweet lady on a roof in an ice-chipping frenzy.

So buck up winter weary residents of Madison!  The best is yet to come.  I know this to be true, as the geese told me so.

Now what did I hear about snow in the forecast for later tonight?

Technorati Tags: Madison, Wisconsin, Winter, Spring

Maine Lynx Out For A Stroll

 

By now most of Wisconsin knows that a cougar has been seen in southern Wisconsin during the past several weeks.  The animal is certainly more scared of us than we are of it, and we can only hope that no one does something rash when it is spotted again.  There is no reason to harm this wonderful creature.

I have a soft spot for wild animals, and James’ mom understands that fact.  Every now and then she sends pictures of different animals that are common to Maine.  I find them most amusing.  But the photos she sent recently of several lynx in Washburn Maine (Aroostook County) really caught my attention.,  They are beautiful creatures, and I would love to see one on the prowl.  You can almost see the swift agile moves they might make, or hear their cry.  These pics were taken by a local resident in Washburn.  Awesome!

Technorati Tags: WashburnMaine, Maine, AroostookCounty, Lynx

Inside Mary Matalin and James Carville’s Home

I have long wondered what the real world of Mary Matalin and James Carville looks like.  How do two extreme partisans with such divergent opinions live together in harmony?  Part of the answer came this month with these pictures.  

I love the building itself which they call home.  A truly classic look which has a historical feel.  And who can deny it is a lovely location overlooking the Potomac River.  Sitting and drinking tea, or eating lunch outside would be fantastic.  What a wonderful view.

But step inside the living room and be prepared to…..well…..yearn for a political brawl to distract from the color scheme.

Now I too love bold colors with a classy look, and while I know their living room was designed by an expensive decorator, I still wonder why anyone would pay for this outcome.  It is hideous!  I do concede I could be wrong about what many people consider ‘good taste’, as these pictures were published in  Architectural Digest in January 2008.

And yet…..

Technorati Tags: ArchitecturalDigest, MaryMatalin, JamesCarville, Design

Madison Braces For Another Winter Slam That Will Be Exciting

I have many readers from places that rarely ever experience any snow, let alone the real winter weather that we have had in Madison since the first major storm blasted the area on December 1, 2007.  For folks in the south who shudder at 40 degrees, or ponder what to do when a dusting of snow hits their highways, I offer below the following glimpse into what us hardy folks in Madison have in store for the next two days.

There is no doubt that after this winter we can all truthfully say that we have experienced a real Wisconsin winter.  We have not had one like this for many years, and we were due.  We have seen it all with nearly 60 inches of snow, and frigid days with wind chills that make it frightful outside.  The weather forecasters have used all their adjectives to describe each eventful weather maker that has ushered more snow and cold our way.  In fact we have had so much snow that I am even starting to think about spring.  And as a lover of winter that takes a lot of the white stuff!

But when I heard the forecasters stress how wild and wicked the storm to hit on Tuesday would be I put my yearning for spring on hold.  This is going to be exciting!  That armchair meteorologist in me has come to life and I am going to enjoy it.  There is nothing we can do about it anyway.  So hold on tight as the winds blow and think a warm thought.

And for the folks down south here are the details.

High wind watch in effect from Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night. Winter storm watch in effect from Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night. Wind chill advisory in effect from 6 PM Tuesday to 12 PM cst Wednesday.

Rest Of Tonight
	Not as cool. Cloudy. Isolated light rain showers…then a chance of light rain showers after midnight. Near steady temperature in the upper 30s. South winds 15 to 25 mph shifting to the southwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Tuesday
	Windy…cloudy. Chance of rain showers…snow showers in the morning…then snow and chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Blowing snow in the afternoon. Snow may be heavy at times late in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Highs in the upper 30s. Temperatures falling into the teens in the afternoon. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 35 mph increasing to northwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts to around 50 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Tuesday Night
	Bitterly cold. Windy. Mostly cloudy with snow likely in the evening…then partly cloudy after midnight. Blowing snow through the night. Snow accumulation around 1 inch. Total snow accumulation 2 to 3 inches. Lows around 6 below. West winds 20 to 30 mph. Gusts up to 60 mph decreasing to 50 mph after midnight. Chance of snow 70 percent. Lowest wind chill readings 19 below to 29 below zero after midnight.

Wednesday
	Bitterly cold. Brisk. Partly sunny. Areas of blowing snow in the morning. Highs around 9. West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 40 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Lowest wind chill readings 23 below to 33 below zero in the morning.

Technorati Tags: Weather, Winterstorm, Madison, Wisconsin, Snow

History Soon To Be Made With Tom Brady At Super Bowl

The Super Bowl this year will be exciting because the New England Patriots have the chance to make football history with just one more win.  Tom Brady and the Patriots delivered every week with solid performances, and there is no reason to think that they do not have one more such victory in them.  I think every person has hopes for the almost impossible, to soon become the possible. Another win with the fighting spirit from Tom Brady will not only deservedly make the Patriots the Super Bowl Champions again, but insure this season will never be forgotten.

While Eli Manning, the New York Giants quarterback, had setbacks this season he delivered an awesome performance on Sunday night in Green Bay.  While the Packers lost, and perhaps the Brett Favre years are now truly over, no one can deny that the New York Giants did not play with heart and soul and deserved the win.  In spite of the ridiculous weather only one team could prevail.  And the best team on the field Sunday night did win.  That is how the sport is played.

Now on to making football history as we back the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Technorati Tags: TomBrady, NewEnglandPatriots, GreenBayPackers, BrettFavre, SuperBowl

Britney Spears’ Life Like Slow Moving Car Crash

I am not a fan of pop culture.  I do not purposely follow the comings and goings of people who are famous only because they are famous.  In fact, I am bored with this type of coverage on TV and in the newspapers.  I find it bizarre and truly sad when the media focus on the likes of Britney Spears who is in the headlines for only self-defeating reasons.  To see someone unravel in public, and self-destruct before our eyes, should not be a public sport.  The fact that so many Americans pay attention to the slow car crash that is Britney Spears’ life says more about the leering public than it does about her addictions and mental state of mind.

We all know where this tragic story likely ends.  We have seen it before with the likes of Anna Nicole Smith.  But now even the major news outlets are preparing for the end of Britney Spears’ life.

The Associated Press (AP) has started to work on her obituary.  While major news operations have a morgue file on a long list of notables they do not concentrate on the young and promising.  Sadly, Britney Spears is now seen as a likely candidate for an early death.

And that is tragic.  Not because she is famous, or good-looking in her sober moments, but because this is a life!  A human being.

And every time we buy the tabloids, or watch the endless entertainment type crap that pretends to be news, we feed into the viscous cycle that keeps her from somehow finding a path off the destructive road that she is now on.

Are we really that far removed from the days of watching gladiatorial battles?

Technorati Tags: BritneySpears, USMagazine, AssociatedPress, AnnaNicoleSmith, Society