I risk becoming a single-issue Milwaukeean.
Sure, I've got a lot going on. There are big changes in my family right now; I'm working to help get a couple big projects going here at OnMilwaukee.com, in addition to my usual tasks; my third book is nearing publication in Italy; I'm trying to jump start two CD projects there; and it's nearly Christmas break.
But, despite all that, I feel like all I'm doing these days is sleeping, working and shoveling, and I'm really, really sick of it. And, winter is but a couple days' old.
As you can see, my issue -- and perhaps yours -- is snow. Two straight years of this has me thinking that once the economy gets good enough to sell a house in Milwaukee, I'm going to consider getting out of Dodge. I know we all say it, don't we?
I love the Milwaukee summer, spring and autumn (at least through November, usually) and I like being near my family and friends. But the stress -- physical and emotional -- of shoveling nearly every day and often multiple times in a day is taking its toll. I don't mind a normal winter. Don't get me wrong, it's still my least favorite season, but some minor snowfalls and the occasional big one, coupled with chilly and occasionally bitter cold days ... I can deal with that. Hey, I might even enjoy it a little.
However, the daily, repeated onslaughts of snow, ice dams, raking the roof, shoveling out the furnace exhaust and intake pipes, watching the poor dogs try and find a place to make their mark in the backyard, sliding to stops at intersections, the surliness of everyone around me (including me!) are on the verge of sending me into a deep depression.
Today I decided to try and jump start my mood with a little Vitamin D, since I think I might be metereopathic (if that's a word in the English lexicon) and suffering from a lack of sunlight. It can't be lack of exercise, since the snow means I'm burning a lot of calories out there.
Hey, I see it's 41 degrees and partly cloudy in Raleigh today. Got a long-term guest room, Gerry?
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
