By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Dec 26, 2006 at 9:10 AM
Finding out your cholesterol levels need watching is difficult around the holidays. The day before my numbers came back borderline, I had bought my annual container of egg nog. I have always allowed myself this indulgence at the holiday, although I've been good about buying the "light" version.

Still, every time I see it in the fridge I experience a confused mass of feelings. My instinct is to reach for it and have a nice cool glass of this thick, satisfying treat that says "Christmas" to me more than most anything else. But now I also feel a sort of guilty repulsion.

The drink appears to have been created in England by the upper classes, which had access to milk, unlike the poor folk down the hill. Often it had some sort of alcohol in it, but I drink mine straight. Or, I used to.

Now that I experience guilt -- yes, I still reach for the nog -- I pour less than a cup of it (remember, doc, it's the light kind) and cut it with some skim milk. Still tastes like egg nog and I can feel a little less guilty enjoying this seasonal treat.
Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

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.