Today, take a minute to celebrate the simple beauty around you.

I was born and raised in the Dairy State but a true sense of connection has always eluded me.  Mainly because of all the things that “All Wisconsinites” do that I have never done.

Yesterday, I had a chance to knock a big one off my list.  DH called me at about 2:30 yesterday and I thought he was totally screwing with me.  ”I have here in my left hand a ticket to tonight’s Packer game.”

DUDE!

I know, you’re thinking that I got all excited because my husband was going to a football game but that was not the case.  At all.  See, the hubs is a more casual football fan than I.  He was offering ME the ticket.  To MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!  PACKERS VS. VIKINGS!  LAMBEAU FIELD!

Lambeau Field is Better than Disneyland.

I can’t even put it into words.  Walking up to the stadium with ticket in hand is a magical feeling.  The savory, smoky smell of tailgate barbeque, the sea of green jerseys and other Pack apparel, outlandish hats, cheeseheads… I have been to professional sporting events before but there is nothing like a Packers home game.  I don’t think I saw a single person there without team gear on.  Even the Vikings fans were all-in.  They took a ribbing for it, certainly, but when it’s football and it’s Green Bay, we go big or we stay home.

There’s food.  Of course there’s food.  Lots and lots of food but most of all fried cheese curds and delicious smelling cheese fries.  And beer. Mmmmm…… beer.  And there are friends.  Mostly friends you haven’t met yet. Even if they root for the wrong team.  The person who had the other of the two free tickets, an acquaintance, walked up wearing a Vikings and Randy Moss jersey.  He was the only Vikings fan for several rows in any direction.  Did he take a lot of crap because his team was being routed?  Yes.  But we also (kind of) felt his pain.  And he took the teasing reasonably well too.  But there was no meanness, no cruelty.  There was football.  Football makes people happy.  Like Disneyland but without the crowds and the long lines (unless you count the beer line and the bathroom line but I think Disney’s probably the same there) so, Advantage: Lambeau!

Here’s the view from my seat:

Every true Wisconsinite is a Packer fan.  Every Packer fan dreams of Game Day in Green Bay.  There is nothing in the world like it.    Now, I have seen the Packers play at home.  I am a legitimate Cheesehead.  Feeling fly.

Check out the other pictures from the game here:

Packer Game 11-14-11

The pregame card stunt was particularly awesome. Enjoy.

I am starting a fitness quest and running a great challenge over at Sharp Solutions today. Stop by for a chance to win!

I’m too cranky to kick the bucket any time soon but I do have a list of things I’d like to do in the immediate future.  I’ll be 50 in 6.5 years (EEK!) and I proudly present to you my 50 20 before 50:

1.  Be completely debt free.

2.  Go to Italy.

3.  Get a pedicure (I’ve never had one.  I hear they’re lovely)

4.  Get another article published.

5.  See all 5 of the Great Lakes.

6.  Ride an ATV.

7. Drive a Boat.

8. Visit Acadia.

9.  Have a fully-funded emergency fund.

10.  See more of Europe.

11. Take a fantastic vacation all by myself.

12.  Take a fantastic vacation with my hubby.

13.  Ditch the UAV and pay cash for my dream car.

14. Find my purpose.

15. Climb a mountain.

16.  Learn to swim.

17.  Learn to speak Spanish.

18.  Practice in Spain.

19.  Practice in Mexico.

20.  Create an even greater list of things to do before I’m 60!

In which Wisconsin gets it wrong.  Again.

Lawmakers vote to suspend gun training rule

I have no words to describe what a joke this is.  No training required?  Four hours is too much?  So we’re going to turn every idiot who can pass a background  check and wants to carry can do so.  Fabulous.  I have to re-think my stance on this.  Maybe I should get a permit.

My opinion is that in order to carry a concealed weapon, you should demonstrate an understanding of the rules, some sound judgement and the ability to successfully hit targets with your weapon at 3, 7, 10 and 15 yards.  If you can’t, so sorry.   No permit for you.  If you can, the permit includes the details of the weapon you qualified with.    Competent shooters only need apply.  If you think a class and a trip to the range are too hard, then don’t get the permit and don’t carry.  You’re clearly not smart enough to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came across this lovely little gem while exploring the countryside yesterday.    Anyone wish to hazard a guess as to what possesses one to take fandom to this level?  Come up with a clever caption for this photo.  Leave a comment with your best effort by Midnight, Friday October 7.  The winner – selected by random drawing – wins a $10 Amazon.com gift card!  Ready?  GO!

 

 

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED AND THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR PICKED #5, MY ARCHNEMISIS.  YOUR PRIZE IS ON IT’S WAY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot where this blog was headed in light of a crappy winter, spring, summer and looking to be a crappy fall. This is where I can share my unedited opinions, right? What? It’s my blog and I can do whatever the hell I want? AWESOME!

I used to be a really laid back person. Unflappable. Now I spend nearly all my time in a semi-pissed off haze.  I don’t know where so many people got their sense of entitlement and I’ve really lost a lot of faith in humanity.  As just one example, a student failed DH’s class, requested an appeal, requested to be given the reward for completion and was denied so now “an anonymous individual” requested an investigation into DH’s military record claiming he was “fraudulently promoted”.  One thing, he wasn’t promoted.  He was frocked (yay for remembering how the Army spells it, not me) and he has the memo to prove it.  GOF***Y******F!  Your love of drama should be kept to yourself.  You’re making work for someone who will dig through and find nothing but an impeccable career.  Asshat.

I am also very lonely and bored.  Being unemployed stifles my motivation and creativity which really sucks.  However, I am walking and I am raising money for a cure (it will take a minor miracle for me to raise airfare to actually attend the walk but pray.  It still works sometimes, right?) and I will use that motivation to bring back creative in my life.  I need it.  Stay tuned for pictures of my cool stuff!

Also, two blogs I love at the moment:  FireAlexVian.com and Talking During The Movies.  Give them some love if you can.

If I could be anything instantly right now, it would be a better photographer. I’ve got a decent little camera and sometimes it does a really nice job. When it doesn’t, I know it’s the photographer’s fault. I’m playing with settings and stuff and making a bit of progress.

One of my secret (well, I guess it’s not a secret now, is it?) amusements is to channel my inner child and take pictures of totally random things. This is one example. We were at Solo Point the other day and there’s a train track there. Several trains passed during our short trip and as I looked over at these, a thought crossed my mind. This is totally a picture of dueling robots. What does it look like to you?

Maybe the imperial guard protecting the entrance to the park with their big lighted swords? Be a little ridiculous. It will instantly brighten your day.