The sun will be up earlier again today, 5:11 a.m. to be exact. With a herding dog (Miniature Australian Shepherd) who swears by routine, when the sun comes up a walk must be taken then breakfast (hers, naturally), made with all due haste.
After I dress and open windows (when it’s cool enough) to air out, and cover some artwork to protect it from damage from the blistering morning sun, we’ll set out on the morning routine.
We’ve a stellar view of Lake Michigan toward the northeast. A block away begins a string of County parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of New York’s Central Park fame. Or we can go down to the lake and watch the boats. Or walk up by the University. So many choices. Lulu doesn’t care as long as the morning walk is brief so she can get to the important stuff, like food.
But I like early morning walks, with the dew on the grass and another day to plan while breathing in the lake air and enjoying the respite being along the shoreline brings from the hottest weather yet to come this summer.
The City has spent months preparing for the Republican National Convention, here in just a few weeks. Back in 2020 we planned in the same manner for the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to be here but was mostly done remotely because of COVID. Cities strut out their best for the conventions, and businesses and political parties expect a financial benefit as well as the usual puffery about staging a successful national convention.
That’s why we were so shocked to hear Donald Trump call Milwaukee a “horrible city” yesterday. Out loud. And all the Republican elected officials in the State of Milwaukee made excuses for this inexusable slap in the face to his host city. Now Donald Trump says it’s all cities and it’s about crime. Aside from him visiting as a newly-convicted felon, serious crimes in Milwaukee have gone down by double digits since he was president.
Perhaps Donald Trump wants to start a crime wave in Milwaukee? So many of his work and campaign buddies are already felons. If so, he should stay home. I feel safe here. I walk alone with the dog, and she’d just as soon wiggle her butt (no tail on an Aussie) and get petted than protect me from a potential assailant. In my years as a temporary resident here, I’ve never been afraid in my neighborhood or what Trump thinks is its scary downtown near Fiserv Forum, where the Convention will take place.
Milwaukee is a beautiful city, especially this time of year. I’m a Great Lakes kind of gal, having grown up on Lake Erie. From my earliest years until recently, all I really had to do was switch from the Bills to the Packers, not a real stretch as the Packers were always my second choice in the playoffs when my Bills didn’t make it. There’s the same Northern spirit, with brutally cold, snowy winters contrasted with that much more-appreciated warmer seasons. There’s art and theater, even music at Summerfest, beer and brats. And cheese.
Shame on Donald Trump for denigrating his host city. One wouldn’t think he has to win Wisconsin in order to become president again, eviscerate the Constitution, send women back to the dark ages and make sure he doesn’t spend a day in the Big House (not the White House). Vote as if your life depends upon it. Because it does. Dee
Cooking with Dee 