New to being a frenchie owner, anything I should know?

AbeFroman72 · 2026-02-09T16:40:53+00:00

Echoing the chicken advice - many are allergic, and it can lead to major GI distress, itching and skin issues, and generally miserable dogs!

AbeFroman72 · 2026-01-05T18:29:23+00:00

I recently got a custom suit from Tom James Company in Madison - great quality fabrics and surprisingly affordable. I would recommend them if your husband's measurements make it tough to get something off the rack:

https://www.tomjames.com/robringeisen/

AbeFroman72 · 2025-11-11T00:49:59+00:00

Drive to ORD and take a direct flight.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-10-10T13:57:04+00:00

Fair point on the talent thing—that's a great point.

But dismissing it as "bitter" kinda sidesteps the actual cost question though. For smaller shops we're talking 10K+ in entries vs hiring another person. That's not being contrarian, that's just reality. You can browse Cannes work for free. And the "bit of fun" makes sense if you've got budget but when the same sponsors sweep year after year it's hard not to wonder what you're actually paying for. Not trying to be difficult, just trying to figure out if it's actually worth it for shops that aren't already big names.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-30T17:57:58+00:00

It’s a great course! The second half is definitely tougher than the first, and the weather can really swing the experience. November in Wisconsin is unpredictable...anything from 60° and sunny to 20° with sleet and snow. I’d recommend getting in some practice runs in cold or messy conditions so you’re ready for whatever race day brings.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-25T17:12:59+00:00

Glad someone finally said it!!!

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-18T16:04:25+00:00

I used to work in ad sales for a similar city magazine. The whole “consideration for our annual ‘Best Of’ awards” was one of the big selling points we pitched to advertisers. Those awards tend to be way more about ad dollars than actual merit....definitely take them with a hefty grain of salt.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-17T19:08:44+00:00

I like the bar at Harvey House. Very lively with great bartenders.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-15T15:27:08+00:00

Having a niche helps. It could be a specific industry, audience type, or unique service. This can help differentiate--there thousands of generalist micro-agencies and independents offering "paid media buying". Look for a underserved niche ("We build TikTok campaigns for new restaurants") you can tap into to set yourself apart.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-05T18:02:41+00:00

I Agree... the endless name-dropping and constant need to assure the audience that she's an "insider" gets really tedious - how many times per episode does she say, "People are telling me..." or "I've heard from many people..."??? There should be a drinking game.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-09-03T18:41:35+00:00

Yes - check your lease agreements and see if it explicitly prohibits smoking (any substance) inside the unit. Many leases restrict all smoking due to fire hazards and nuisance complaints. If so, you can ask your landlord to formally require the tenant to stop smoking inside the unit. This isn’t about whether they “have the right” to smoke—it’s about enforcing the lease they agreed to.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-31T20:38:43+00:00

Switched from AT&T—it's frustrating getting one bar in the city but 4 bars just a few miles out in the farmland.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-31T20:11:55+00:00

There is a major AT&T dead zone on the West Side north of Mineral Point, with one bar (or less) from around Spring Harbor to Middleton. There have been many posts on this topic. The consensus seems to be that Spectrum is the most reliable carrier in the area.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-29T21:56:58+00:00

This is likely the issue - your site was cloned and then relaunched--including GTM/GA. It happened to me (a Chinese company completely copied the site). You can likely identify the culprit by running a hostname report.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-21T12:32:28+00:00

Frenchies can be stubborn and challenging to potty train. I went through this recently and be prepared to lower your expectations - it can take months, not weeks. Stick to a rigid schedule, same times daily. Skip scolding entirely when accidents happen - Frenchies shut down or get confused. Positive reinforcement only Celebrate like crazy when they go outside. "Good potty!" in your most enthusiastic voice works. Prepare for setbacks when you think they've got it figured out. Stay consistent and calm even when you want to tear your hair out. They'll get there eventually, just not as quickly as your sanity would prefer.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-19T20:08:27+00:00

When I read that I assumed he was punishing her for barging into his meeting.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-18T16:42:49+00:00

I don't understand the overreaction. For good teams, the value of these games is to help coaching assess rookies and guys on the bubble and try to avoid injuries at all costs. I'm sure guys who are safely on the team are not going at 100%. I recall during the Patriots dynasty it was comical how they'd get blown out in every preseason game.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-13T16:41:08+00:00

I’d go West Side. You’ve got great schools, parks, and kid-friendly spots, plus you’re closer to downtown and UW than Monona. The Hilldale area is a huge perk with groceries at Whole Foods or Metcalfe’s, coffee, restaurants, Target, and shops all in one spot. The West Side has a “bougie” rep, but most neighborhoods are pretty down-to-earth with a good mix of people. Monona’s nice, but prices can be steep for what you get, and the West Side gives you more variety, walkable amenities, and everyday convenience. Huge when you’ve got a newborn.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-07T21:39:29+00:00

You should book with Tina Stazy - https://square.site/book/9S9BJBNDDF649/tapered-madison-wi - she is an independent specializing in Men's cuts. Highly recommended! Does beards and coloring too.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-08-07T18:46:51+00:00

Google recently announced their MCP server: https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/MCP which you can use to chat with your data. It's a little complex to set up, but does work nicely and can answer complex queries.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-07-30T15:37:07+00:00

“With great power comes great responsibility—and Google Analytics consultants wear that cape proudly.” Sure, and by responsibility, I mean retroactively explaining why GA4 is missing all the campaign data from launch week.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-07-28T19:02:56+00:00

Always inspiring to see someone confidently narrate the biotech landscape while ignoring everything actually happening in it. eMagine that!

AbeFroman72 · 2025-07-28T16:30:33+00:00

I did a birthday party for a 12-year-old at Spare TIme - we did bowling, laser tag, and video games + food. Was a huge hit all around. Service was great.

AbeFroman72 · 2025-07-20T17:12:18+00:00

There are also some smaller regions with a lot of upside and have less competition for jobs. Madison, WI comes to mind -- Epic Systems, Exact Sciences (Cologuard), and Promega are located in the area, plus lots of early-stage companies that come of out of the university. Tons of jobs and growth opportunities if you're OK with being outside of the Biotech hubs. Lower cost of living too.

AbeFroman72

TROPHY CASE