---

I had brunch Sunday with former neighbors Jack and Dorothy Weirich
and their son John. Jack - at 96 - was in the hospital over New Years with
the flu. He was doing fine Sunday and had his "old" sense of humor back!
He has his 97th birthday coming up on February 8th with Dorothy already
planning a celebration. Dorothy, by the way, is 92!
*****
The "Four Amigos" - Terry, Bob, Dewey and myself - headed to Dewey's
Cafe (no relation to Dewey Christoph) in Lancaster for breakfast on
Saturday. We make trips around the area for Saturday breakfast. We asked
our new Chamber of Commerce Director, Lynn Price, if she wanted to
accompany us. She said sure and we said we would pick her up on our way
since she lives between Rewey and Livingston. We didn't take a GPS with
us since we felt we knew where she lived - mistake! We drove past her
house twice on County E before we got ahold of her on her phone - but just
at that time we found her! We had a good breakfast and Lynn loved their
baked french toast. Being the non-adventurous people we are, the four guys
had eggs, hashbrowns, bacon/sausage and toast!
*****
After breakfast in Lancaster we stopped over at Bob's daughter's house a
few blocks off of the main street- a very old and rustic home. It was beautiful,
complete with a servant's entrance. They are in the process of restoring
it, but it looks great as is. They feel there are a few more tweaks that
need to be done though!
*****
Last Wednesday morning I went to start my car that was in my garage and
whoops it wouldn't start. I decided to push the car out of the garage so I
could bring a vehicle to jump start it. It went out really easily as my driveway
slants downhill. But when I went to jump into the front seat to stop it,
I couldn't get inside until it was out in the street. I figured I couldn't leave
it there so I pushed it forward towards the driveway as much as I could so
a vehicle could at least get past it. Then I proceeded to walk to the Chronicle
office. It was pretty cold and Nikkie Biddick came along and gave me a
ride. I then made a call to Randy's Service & Towing to see if they could
help me out. I was told "they would put me on the list"! Meanwhile the car
was sitting out in the street and I received a call from the Dodgeville Police.
I told them the circumstances and that Randy's would get to me going
ASAP. Soon I received a call from Randy and he told me my battery was
shot. In that case it probably was a good thing I didn't get it started as it
may've died when I was quite a ways from here! They had me up and going
in time to deliver papers around town and then to the west. That was a pretty
cold day!
*****
If any of you haven't tried the "Mint to be in the Chronicle" expresso
drink at Cobblestone Coffee Shop in Cobblestone Court downtown
Dodgeville, you had better try it! I'm not saying that because it is named for
our newspaper, but because it really hits the spot. I get one nearly every day!
See the photo above for Cobblestone Court, the former Courthouse Inn (etc)
on the corner of Iowa and Chapel Streets.
*****
Boy the Packers really made things interesting Sunday, but what a performance
by a "gimpy" Aaron Rodgers. But the credit has to go to his
offensive line for giving him such great protection. He surely found the
open receiver in the second half, especially one great catch/run by Devante
Adams, along with Randall Cobb and Richard Rogers! But again, it was
the offensive line - along with the defense - that played huge in this win!
Now it's on to Seattle, a place that is very tough to play in, and facing former
UW Badgers quarterbackRussell Wilson - who probably manages a
game as good as anyone!