Wisconsin

July 18, 2011 In Funny signs, Photos, Wisconsin

things you can buy at wisconsin rest stops

Treats if you’re hungry, like pork hocks and tid bits:

(Exactly what part of the pig is the “tid bit” by the way?)

…cheese curds of course:

…and meat shaped like beer bottles:

If you’re not hungry but want some cool schwag, there’s always the pioneer coon skin cap:

…the deer head:

…beer pong balls:

…ultra classy stickers to “pimp” your ride:

…various ceramic goodies like sorcerer’s:

…sunglass wearing monkey salt & pepper shakers, or religious themed signs:

Then there’s always the bottle opener ring:

(I can’t lie- I actually think the bottle opener ring is cool.)

All that and more in just one stop at the Pioneer Plaza:

Gosh, the only problem with this stop was making the decision on which items I just couldn’t live without.

Hee hee…

July 6, 2011 In Food, Photos, Wisconsin

all-american weekend

What do you get besides fantastic company, a great tan, and lots of laughs during a stay at the lake for a holiday weekend? Skis and boats and lots of fun stuff to play with:

Lunch pot-luck feasts with all the neighbors, complete with taco salads:

…that give funny olive boobs:

…fresh fruit and veggie salads with patriotic colors:

…chairs to sit in and relax over the water:

…and clouds to gaze at while daydreaming:

Gee, and I wonder why I didn’t want to leave.

Thank you to my Mid-West family that has taken me in as if I were their own. I’m counting minutes until I can come back and actually jump in that gorgeous water!

July 5, 2011 In Photos, Wisconsin

red, white and blue

I spotted this in Redgranite, Wisconsin this weekend. Perfect for a 4th of July post:

I love small town America.

June 29, 2011 In Photos, Wisconsin

ahhh…

Nothing says recovery and relaxation like time at a gorgeous lake for a long weekend!

June 1, 2011 In Photos, Wisconsin

well this sounds like quite a fete

Apparently we all just missed this shindig a few nights ago in Madison.

And you thought all they had was cheese in Wisconsin…

May 29, 2011 In Funny signs, Photos, Wisconsin

…and more reasons to love wisconsin

Lofts to sleep in and wake up in the sun:

Coffee and mimosas on the morning patio:

Lazy afternoons by the water:

…and skinny dipping at dusk:

Did I mention hip hop dance parties in the kitchen with my friends dad too? Yeah, those.

May 28, 2011 In Funny signs, Photos, Wisconsin

just a few reasons to love wisconsin

There are grocery stores called Festival as if there were a party inside:

…and there was. String cheese that looks like this? Yeah- that’s a party:

You’ve gotta love a courtesy phone like this in the meat section. Let’s face it- you don’t get this in the big city:

More? There are spots to eat dinner called Elmer’s Place that have signs like this:

So I didn’t participate in the Friday Fish Fry, but yes- I totally ate fried cheese curds for dinner last night and they were delicious. When in Rome…

August 12, 2010 In People, Photos, Wisconsin

meet marcie

In a long overdue post about one crazy, crazy, fun girl:

My friends and I met Marcie at a beach volleyball bar near the campus of UW when I was in Madison a couple weeks ago. The guys I was with wanted to go play a few games and I was along for the ride and some fun. We grabbed a drink and while the guys were waiting for a court, Marcie came traipsing right up to us and asked “Do you guys have a lighter?” Nope sorry, we answered. She then went on to tell us her signature joke, which got us all laughing and pretty much sealed the deal that we were going to have a blast talking to her which we did:

“If we were both squirrels, would you bust your nut in my hole?”

Oh Marcie, Marcie, Marcie…

Now, my friends and I were stone sober, but laughed our butts off. She was a few sheets out and an absolute riot. Drunk or sober, Marcie is the kind of girl you want at your party and one of the reasons I like to meet road people. We took a photo of our crew and Marcie jumped in the background:

Did I mention she later told us she didn’t even need a lighter, that she had one, just wanted an excuse to walk up and talk to us for the hell of it? Hilarious- I love it.

The boys went on to play volleyball for a couple hours while I talked to Marcie and her friends like we knew each other forever. Her crew was a blast. They were all about my road trip and even started giving me names and numbers/info. of folks in Alaska that I could try to meet up with. I told Marcie I’d post her as one of my road people, I mean- how could I not after her stellar joke? Of course I started posting about other food and travel stuff and hadn’t put her up yet, so sure enough she wrote a comment here and asked where she was. Yeah! persistence, I like it! I never thought in a million years she’d remember the name of my blog or log on to look so what a great surprise to hear from her. (Marcie, I cannot find you on Facebook still? I guess you have to friend” me!)

Thanks for being patient while I got you up as one of the road characters Marcie, you are one fun chica. Don’t ever change being that life of the party. The world need more wide open and fun people like you. Cheers to squirrels and nuts!

August 7, 2010 In Canada, De-lish, Photos, Wisconsin

saturday breakfast variety

For someone like me that gets excited by the tiniest of things (especially when traveling) it’s killing me that I can’t stop every 20 minutes and share the next funny, ridiculous or crazy story or photo from Canada. Then again, I’d never get to my destination if I did that and I can’t exactly power up in a bail of hay or a tree. I can however power up in a local diner and look like such a fish out of water you may as well paint my face with; “I’M NOT FROM HERE IN CASE THAT WASN’T PAINFULLY OBVIOUS FROM WHAT I’M WEARING AND THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE PARKED IN THE LOT THAT’S NOT COVERED IN DIRT AND A HUGE TRUCK!!!”

The waitress at the place I’m at definitely used a half bottle of Aqua Net before she came to work this morning. She gave me the twice over like who the hell do you think you are? when I first walked in, but after camping out looking like a complete idiot with my camera and laptop chords all over I think she’s starting to warm up. (I think she feels sorry for me. HA!) She looks like she wants to say something like; Hey sweetie, put that stuff away. We don’t do that around here. Instead she keeps filling my white ceramic coffee cup with that bitter but somehow delicious coffee you get in these places on the road. I am listening to a table of 4 gents behind me gobbling their breakfast. They’re all wearing work jeans with hats, and talking about guns, grizzly bears, loggers, safety hazards and what “they” are doing to the highway these days. Perfect. I’d expect nothing less. There a special place in my heart for people and places like this that are just like the movies and the whatchya see is whatcha get. It’s exactly like where I grew up and will never lose it’s charm or special place in my heart.

Although this quite different from my last Saturday breakfast of fancy-schmancy brioche french toast with fresh berry compote. at Marigold Kitchen in Madison…

…I love it just the same. And I wonder why I can’t figure out what I want to be when I grow up:)

Now three days have passed with no shower and I am so good at rigging my car for sleeping privacy I’m like the firefighters who teach new moms how to strap in the baby seats. After my initial, OUCH- how the heck did I sleep in that position for the last few hours? feeling when I woke up this morning, I had my first thought of Ok Diane, you might be getting a little offensive. That was quickly followed by a, meh- who cares. I don’t really smell that bad, even if I did I really wouldn’t care right now, and besides, this is becoming a game for me. I did think I might get a hotel one night between WI and AK but now? Hell no- I’m fully testing patience and creating the makings of my second longest run with no shower. (My finest record to date is 8 days.) Also, I might be able to charge Honda a huge consulting fee someday when they beg me to help them design the BLR inspired super road-tripping-pimped out convertible sleeper car. My current Honda is like a test lad.

Ooh! A few other gringos just walked in. More out of place travelers like me. Time to order some eggs or something that will not have words like brioche or compote involved , chow down and hit the pavement. (At least I hope it’s paved.)

August 3, 2010 In Cool companies, Wisconsin

i love attentive companies

Check it! I emailed the Ian’s Pizza folks complimenting their product and service yesterday and quickly go this email back from their Management. Talk about on top of it. This place wins points left and right in my book:

Diane,

This is awesome! Thank you so much!
A link is definitely going up on our website and for sure a print-out
is going up in the staff area of the restaurant so we can all give
Jack his 15 minutes of fame!

I totally agree with everything you said — I’ve worked here for 4
years and this is the best group of people I’ve ever had as coworkers,
hands-down. I’m so glad to see someone recognizing the people who work
behind the counter… they do such a good job with such a wide variety
of people (business folks on down to severely drunken coeds)
every single day and they make it look effortless. I’ve worked counter
jobs too, and I know it is one of the most demanding jobs ever (there
are definitely days you have to fake it!) and they all make it look
easy.

Of course it helps that the pizza is excellent (duh!) but in Madison
there are so many places to get top-notch food (it’s almost
ridiculous…) and I think our staff is what really is the key to our
success.

Thank you so much for recognizing that and for all your kind words.
Next time you are rambling through Madison let me know & I’ll hook you
up with a couple of free slices (or a salad & a slice — our salads
are amazing too!).

Thanks again, and safe travels to you!
Staci