58 degrees F is the new 72°
Have to confess, the indentured servants here at Stately Blaska Manor will be disappointed if we don’t get the six to ten inches of snow predicted overnight through Sunday 11-30-25. We’re demented that way.
Would think that the threat (or promise?) of the first heavy snowfall of the season would be a big news story but could find no mention of it in today’s Wisconsin State Journal, our favorite morning daily newspaper here in Madison.
To top it off, the furnace gave up the ghost Thanksgiving Day and the repair man says the required thingamajig won’t be available until Monday — possibly. What fun! We’re burning through our wood pile, no doubt contributing to global climate change despite the fireplace insert’s secondary combustion chamber. (Burn efficiency 70% compared to 90% for natural gas.) Don’t tell that sour-faced Swedish girl.
Reminds us old-timers of putting an ear to the AM radio growing up on the farm, hoping to hear “All Sun Prairie schools” in the list of school closures.
At least our Ariens 24-inch, two-stage snowblower starts now that we stored it in the garage instead of the garden shed where various creatures gnawed the electrical wires every summer, requiring a $500 fix each time. (PS: glue traps work!)
NEWS FLASH!
But socialism doesn’t! To the recent retiree who suggested we start a think tank instead of a local, centrist political party, we already have the Badger Institute. For our Mamdani socialists, it explains why “Madison is a perfect example of why cities should stay out of the grocery business.”
City of Madison politicians have thus far spent over $9 million buying and financing improvements on a 24,000-square foot portion of a new multi-use development right next to the Pick ‘n Save [at 1312 S. Park St. ] that never closed — and that apparently has no plans to close anytime soon. … Within a mile, there are four or five grocery stores. …
Meanwhile, Madison city officials — having already doled out millions — now own a nearby space at 815 Cedar St. that, it appears, was not built to easily house a grocery store.
Who else thinks that long-delayed city public market will be a similar subsidy sponge?
When they call government programs names like “The Affordable Care Act,” you can pretty much guarantee that it isn’t. Since its passage in 2010, employer health care premiums have increased by 96%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Source here)
Attention Scott Walker haters: Foxconn (remember them?) is investing “an additional $569 million” in its Racine County campus, according to the Wall Street Journal. That’s on top of the $2 billion it’s spent in Wisconsin over the past several years.
Guess who’s speaking to Dane County Republicans at their annual Christmas party in a couple weeks? Rebecca Kleefisch! Is she or isn’t she? (Perhaps Miss Clairol knows.) Now there is a woman wronged by Republican king makers! (Tim Michels!)
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Also, long johns, space heaters, boiling tea kettles — maybe a J Henry bourbon. After watching Ken Burns’ account of Valley Forge and reading Andrew Roberts retrace Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow (Hey book club: it’s 926 pages and yes, we skipped a few of his 60 battles) — we think we’ll survive.
Plan B: Fire up the snowblower to clear the driveway and get to some place warm.
4 responses to “But baby it’s cold inside”
LOL, my furnace too went on the fritz last week. Unlike you, I didn’t have to wait a few days for a part. I had to wait a few days for a whole new furnace. Then, while it was being installed, I noticed that my water softener was leaking and that too needs replacing. Then I got some fake spam notices on my desktop and after having it checked, learned that everything was about maxed out and I need a new computer. Looks like the kids will have to go without shoes this Christmas…..
Sounds like you’re in for a three dog night!
Apologies to the Missus it’s just an expression. Perhaps run out and get an electric blanket if you don’t already have one.
The City has a planning and development department that should renamed ” no planning just development”. It and the engineering department that consistently underestimates costs of projects need some looking at. Dane County is no better. Look at what they thought the new jail was going to cost and all or the only bid came in significantly higher.
I’m still waiting for the Public Market to make the city money as the former Mayor Soglin said. Oh that’s right, it isn’t open yet.
maybe need the same people building the ballroom. Or the fence.