Gravestone photos

Headstones in City of Pewaukee cemetery

These photos are for the Lake Country Edition of the Waukesha Freeman for our special on cemeteries in the area. Call me morbid, but I have always enjoyed going to cemeteries and looking at the old, crumbling gravestones and the names and dates written on them. You can really lose track in cemeteries, as I did yesterday, when the sky is overcast and there is a drizzle in the air.

Quote:

"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."

--Mark Twain

Pearls Before Swine

Pearls Before Swine is one of my favorite comic strips. It is consistently humorous and I love the cast of animal characters that bring the strip to life. My favorite is the ever optimistic and naive Pig who loves everyone, even those who are mean to him, and always sees the best in all situations.

Tuesday's comic strip really made an impression on me. Maybe because it's about hamsters. Or maybe it's because of the language Orville uses. Whatever the reason, I cut it out and put it on my computer monitor at work today.

Blogger is not allowing me to upload Tuesday's comic strip, so here is the link for you to check out. I hope that you get a kick out of it too.

http://www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20071016.html

Quote:


"In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day."
--F.Scott Fitzgerald

Early experiences at the Freeman

It's 12:45 am and I can't sleep. Not really surprising when you consider how my evening went. I was assigned to go to the City of Pewaukee's common council meeting tonight. There were a few items of note on the agenda and the council chambers were packed. But the audience and four TV news crews weren't there to find out the new trick or treating hours; they were there to find out if Tonya, of Hartland, would get her escort license. Pewaukee has an ordinance requiring people to have an escort license in order to offer such services in the city. This was the first time anyone had applied for such a license since it was created in 2006.

The room was packed and there were four TV crews flanking the seating. I knew that I would end up in some one's shot. The whole evening turned out to be pretty undramatic when the city attorney said that a license could not be issued if a criminal charge was pending, and there is one in the case of Miss Tonya. She was caught by an undercover police officer who allegedly gave her money in exchange for sexual favors. She was also fined for practicing escort services in a Pewaukee hotel.

With almost no discussion, the council voted unanimously to deny the license to Tonya. She looked so upset as she left the city hall with about 6 reporters and 4 cameras following her out the door. She said to call her lawyer and that she felt like she was treated unfairly. Who could blame the woman? Afterall, she had to pay a $250 application fee for a license she didn't have a chance at. I can't really blame the council members for wanting to keep prostitution out of Pewaukee.

When I got back to the office at 9:45, I had two stories and a brief to write by 11. I went a little later than that, but managed to get it all done. I am still a little wound up from the adrenaline rush of the escort story and then facing such a tight deadline with a lot to do.

So far, I really like the Freeman. I knew that I would be really busy as the night/general assignments reporter, but I hadn't imagined that it would be this busy.

I started the job a little more than three weeks ago, but missed last week because I was diagnosed with mono. It was difficult not to come in for five days, but it has been a bit hard going back too. I am still sicker than I'd like to admit, which I realized this afternoon. So, it was nice to have the earlier part of my day a bit slower than normal, but my evening more than made up for that.

Actually, my favorite part of the job is the adrenaline rushes and keeping so busy. I am almost always happier at work when I am busy versus when things are slow. And, it looks like I won't be having too many slow days at the Freeman.

I also really like my co-workers. They are a great group of people to work with. I have four bosses, but they are all easy-going and very helpful. I feel like I have really lucked out three times now with my co-workers. The first was my fellow teachers at BCM in Seoul, then the great staff at the Enterprise and now the Freeman.

I wonder what the future at the Freeman will bring?

Quote:
"If you don't know what to do, call the media and at least give the appearance of doing something."
-Dave Peterson

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of grape vines against the sky

Quote:

"Til I loved, I never lived."

-Emily Dickinson

Remnants of past use

Quote:

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."

--Epicetus

Photos from my day

"Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music-the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself."

--Henry Miller

Grapes

These grapes are still clinging to the vines in my backyard. So far, my dad has made a couple dozen jars of jelly with them and the wasps and cedar waxwings are enjoying eating them. They were so pretty today with the morning sunshine on them.