Halfway to St. Patrick's Day!

 

Sorry that I haven't blogged for the last few days, but not that much has been going on. Just work, and that's not too exciting. There was a beautiful sunrise the last two days, and Travalon got some good photos, but it's too late to post them now - too much work. So look for those sometime soon. Today I did get a short break from work to stand in the sunshine and watch the Ho-Chunk flag get raised in front of Bascom Hall. They sang and drummed, and several people made speeches, including the new Chancellor and the President of the Ho-Chunk. As I was leaving, someone called my name - it was a coworker from my job at the Press! She is still there, but working from home full-time. Of course I know it's been years, but it was still a shock to hear that her "little" daughter is a junior in high school. Whoa!

This evening I took the southbound bus, which is not nearly as packed as the northbound bus I usually take home, then I sat on Rich's porch, writing in Mariah my diary, until Travalon got off of work. We went to a Shamrock Club "Halfway to St. Patrick's Day" celebration at the Great Dane in Fitchburg, which is not far from Rich's house. I still had a $25 gift card they had sent me after charging me the totally wrong amount for shipping when I ordered a stuffed Great Dane for Travalon, so between that and the fact that our first (and only) beers were paid for by the club, it was a very economical dinner! I really enjoyed the potato and beer cheese soup, though it doesn't seem like a traditional Irish dish. What I remember from our time over there is every meal (except maybe not breakfast) involved potatoes and salmon. We talked to the guy who writes the club newsletter, and I said I would try to write an article about the Irish language. The challenge will be for me (with my degree in Linguistics) to make it not so technical that nobody else wants to read it. It sure is an interesting language - it deserves an interesting article.

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Swanky Soiree at the Art Museum

 

Today I worked from home, then I went to the campus art museum for a swanky soiree. There was an exhibit of historical documents showing when the university had been racist, homophobic, etc., although nothing about sexism. Some of these were not ancient history but were shockingly recent, like in 2016 or 2018. I think my personal favorite was when a black student saw his face photoshopped into a crowd at a Badger game that he had not gone to, in a photo used for recruitment purposes. If you can't find a legit photo of black people having a good time on campus, then maybe you need to change something other than the photos, ya think? I perused the exhibit and listened to the speeches but didn't really get into the part where people stood around drinking wine and eating hors d'oeuvres and making small talk. There were a lot of very important people there, and everyone wanted to talk to them. I don't want to talk to people based on how important they are but how interesting they are, and at that kind of event you can't really discuss the topics that would allow me to know how interesting these people are. I prefer small, intimate gatherings where people discuss the deeper questions of life.

Here are some weird DuoLingo sentences, as promised.

And here's some DuoLingo bragging:

Here are some flowers. First, a pretty one we saw on the walk around Tiedeman's Pond.

And this one in our neighborhood is trying to escape!

"I gotta get outta this joint!" (I'd just like to note that spellcheck recognizes every word in that sentence.) It's good to know that spellcheck knows gotta and outta, but it changes bassline to baseline. What the heck, spellcheck? I'm talking about when the beat drops, not my usual body temperature!

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Anna Banana II's Farewell Party

 

This morning Richard Bonomo sent a text saying that the gate to our church's parking lot wasn't working, so we would have to park on the street or go all the way around to the other entrance. Travalon and I decided to park on the street, but we failed to take into account how far away we were, and that we had already been running a touch late, so by the time we walked through the rain to church, the priest was giving the homily. During Mass, I remembered how someone I knew years ago said with my floppy hat and offbeat ways I was like a side character in a book, and I felt slighted at the time, but this morning it occurred to me that of course I'm a side character - the main character is Jesus! I hope at the end of my life they say, "She was a really fun side character, always saying crazy things and making the place more lively. And she always wore a famous hat."

Rich said the Mass wouldn't count for me unless I got a dispensation, since we got there after the Gospel reading. After the Mass I approached the priest and told him our sad story, and he said, "Not your fault. You can have a dispensation." Then ten of us walked through the rain to the Edgewater for brunch, but they had no room for such a large group, so we walked through the rain partway around the Capitol Square to the Inn on the Park, where they happily accommodated us. It was a big birthday for Hockey Girl, so Travalon and I bought her brunch, but she didn't want a big deal made of it. I told her I was also not excited about that big birthday, but right after that my life became amazing, because I met Travalon and left my horrible job for a much more enjoyable one. 

It rained all day, but I had gotten quite a few steps during our brunch adventure. I really didn't want to watch the Packers game, since somehow I knew they would lose badly to the Vikings, so Travalon and I went antiquing. However, I was wearing a Packers hat and Packers jacket, so probably everyone wondered why I was so lame that I wore fan clothes but then wasn't watching the game. Alas, I was correct, and the Vikings beat the Packers badly. I have thoughts about putting all their money into an aging quarterback instead of investing in all sorts of positions, but anyway I am not expecting a great season this year. Then I needed just 250 more move hour steps right after five, so we went to our church, where everyone was upstairs at Mass, and I planned to sneak into the church hall and get my steps. (Since it was still raining out.) Some young guy followed me, but I thought maybe he was going into the adoration chapel. I passed it, and he passed it, so I asked him, "Can I help you??" He said, "Has Mass started yet?" and I said, "Mass is upstairs," so he turned around and headed upstairs. Sheesh, can't a girl get her move hours in peace?? Once I snuck out during the homily to get my move hours in the church hall, and then Rich came into the church hall too. He said, "What are you doing here during Mass?" and I said, "I could ask you the same thing!" and he said, "I have to get the pyx from the sacristy," so he had a legit reason for being there. I just had to get my move hours.

This evening Rich hosted a farewell party for Anna Banana II, who heads back to North Dakota tomorrow. There were twenty-two people there, and most of us brought vegetables or salads, so it was kind of healthy. Rich, of course, made his famous lasagna. The guy who usually brings two kinds of desserts made two kinds of bread instead, and oh man was it good! Jilly Moose brought garlic bread that went perfectly with the lasagna. Cecil Markovitch made his famous spinach salad, and of course I brought kale. There were other salads, and grape leaves, and jalapeño poppers, and olives, and I'm probably forgetting something. Anna Banana II made a fabulous pear pie, and her brother brought several types of ice cream. The pistachio one was outstanding. As Cecil Markovitch would say, "What a feast!" Only he said something different today. I meant to leave right after dessert, but then we got into a (for me) fascinating conversation about different Eastern Rite and Western Rite liturgies. Cecil went to a Ruthenian one with the Single B-Boy in a suburb of Chicago, and they said the congregation sang through the whole service. I would love that so much! Maybe it's time for another trip to Chicago... Goodbye, Anna Banana II. We'll miss you until your next visit!

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Department Picnic 2022

 

Today started more quietly. I walked with my neighbor while Travalon chillaxed, and as we walked through the nearby restaurant's parking lot, she said she liked to walk there after the cruises come in because she often finds change. I laughed and said she's just like the dog I often dogsit, who once found a shrimp on the ground before I could grab it, so now she always wants to walk in the restaurant parking lot because there might be another shrimp. People: we're not so different from dogs. Then Travalon and I took a walk around Tiedeman's Pond and ran a couple of errands before meeting Anna Banana II, Jilly Moose, OK Cap, and Richard Bonomo for lunch at an Indian restaurant. We got a bunch of appetizers to share, so then I was so full that I only ate part of my main course. As we drove home, my neighbor texted to ask if I wanted to walk again, so we did as soon as I got home.

The big thing I had to do today was go to our department picnic. It was supposed to start at 4:30, but the food wasn't arriving until 5:30, so I figured if I got there around 4:30 I could help set up. To my surprise, the chair had everything set up, and a number of people were already there. I was a bit tired of socializing after my busy week, so at first Travalon and I sat off by ourselves, but a grad student who had brought her dog came over and talked to us, and we started talking about animal communication. I don't really enjoy small talk, but anyone who wants to talk about the deeper questions of life will always find a willing conversational partner in me. We also talked a lot to a grad student who is named after a sign of the zodiac, even though that is not his zodiac sign. The dog LOVED him, and I noted that if he is that good with animals, he could become a dolphin trainer if this doctorate in German gig doesn't work out. The most fascinating person of all was the chair's husband, who was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and ancient Greek Hawaiian shirt, and he seemed like he contained all the wisdom of the world. He told me about a band called Afro Celt Sound System, so after we came home, I listened to a few of their songs and found one called "Fissiri Wali Polka" that makes me feel like I'm becoming enlightened as I listen to it, so I listened to it over and over. The bassline alone is life-changing. This band plays a fusion of West African and traditional Irish music with an electronic twist, and the guy had said I would either love it or hate it, so apparently it's the former. I hope we get a chance to talk to the chair's husband again, because Travalon enjoyed talking to him too. It seems they are both Beatles fanatics.

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Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

 

Today OK Cap drove Jilly Moose, Anna Banana II, Richard Bonomo, and me up to Stevens Point, where we had lunch at Bullheads on the Wisconsin River. We sat at a wonderful table in the shade from which every one of us had a view of the river. I bought OK Cap a dessert in lieu of gas money, and then all the Rosary Ladies ended up getting dessert, either carrot cake or lemon cake. Here's a photo of our view.

Then we went to Rudolph, where a priest even more energetic than the one in Dickeyville had built a garden and grotto. There were lots of flowers everywhere, and it was lovely. Here are some photos of things built of rocks.

In a tiny, musty museum, I found this uber Catholic setup:

There was a two-story "Wonder Cave" full of lit-up pictures like these:

This one had palm trees on it, so I had to take a picture.

We came out on top of the two-story "Wonder Cave" and immediately found this sundial. Rich noted that it was in Standard Time, and I retorted, "That's because it's REAL time!" and he said, "I knew you would appreciate it!"

It was quite a workout going through the Wonder Cave, and it got us four flights of stairs, but not enough steps, so we stopped for a walk at Little Plover River Park and found... the river? a creek? Here I am with Anna Banana II, OK Cap, and Jilly Moose, standing in front of it.

And here we have swapped out me for Rich.

Several of us had bought new rosaries at the grotto gift shop (because of course it had a gift shop, but they don't take credit cards), so we prayed with them on the long ride back to Madison. Once in town, we sat out on the patio of Waypoint and had dinner. The walleye is outstanding! Here is a photo Rich took of me so that you can see the water (and the Beltline!) in the background.

Our waitress took a photo of all of us, with the stone wall in the background.

Speaking of our waitress, when our bills arrived, they said her name was "Extraterrestrial." Since I remembered she had introduced herself as Ellie at the beginning of the evening, I asked if that was short for Extraterrestrial. She sighed and said because her initials are E.T., her supervisor had put her into the system as "Extraterrestrial," and she was unable to change it. That reminded me of the order for Toe Knee, which led to me creating a new dance craze that will surely sweep this nation. It's called the Extraterrestrial, and it couldn't be easier: You holler "Toe!" and touch your toes, you holler "Knee!" and touch your knees, then you wave your hands in the air and holler, "Togo! Togo! Togo!" Now try it with me: "Toe! Knee! Togo! Togo! Togo!" You sing it to the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Grotto."

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Galena Take Two

 

This morning I drove Anna Banana II and Jilly Moose to Galena, insisting I could do it without GPS. I was fine until getting to Galena itself, where there's no sign pointing to where the historical part is (like there is in Mineral Point), but it turns out you just follow Highway 20 and it gets you right there. We managed to find a parking spot right downtown, and then we went shopping. We mostly went to different shops than I went to with Tiffy on Sunday, although we did go to the shop with some New Age stuff and lots of Hawaiian shirts, where I bought the "I'm not a Virgo" necklace, and the proprietress remembered me. Maybe with the hat and the tie-dye, I am a memorable person. Anna Banana II bought a jacket there much like one I bought there some time ago, and she promised not to wear it at the same time I wore mine, but honestly I thought it would be kind of funny if we were all twinsies. I mean, we don't look anything alike. 

We had lunch at a place with mediocre pizza, and then they didn't take credit cards so I was going to pay by check, but the waiter said if I did, I would have to pay the whole bill instead of just my share. Say what?? So I did, and the others gave me cash, but Anna Banana II was pretty annoyed by that so she didn't tip him that well. She and I had leftover pizza, so we went to the shop that just sells every kind of root beer and asked if they sold ice. They didn't, but they did sell coolers and then would give us ice, so I now have a commemorative root beer shop cooler. Other shops: two sock shops, several tea shops, some cookware shops, lots of jewelry shops, a pasta shop (I got Wisconsin Badger pasta, which is just W-shaped pasta in either neutral or red), candle shops, candy shops, coffee shops, and even a sports memorabilia shop that Travalon would like. 

We took a trolley tour of Galena, and Anna Banana II and I had trouble staying awake even though the tour was interesting. I think I need my own personal trolley for those nights I can't sleep. You know those nights: you go read in the living room, and after an hour you finally feel a bit sleepy. What if you could just ride a trolley and fall instantly asleep? They should have one that goes around town after hours for insomniacs to ride, and one of those night owl types could make good money driving it. After the tour we shopped some more, then we heard a brass band playing a free concert in a little park area. Here are some photos. Check it out - their phone number has an area code for our area!

The guy in the red shirt has a white clarinet. The others were saying it was albino.

And this sign kills me - parking since 1855? Who had cars back then?

Then we drove to Mineral Point and had dinner at the brewpub there, but it has changed ownership, and the menu is very limited. Anna Banana II ordered the garbanzo bean salad, which was described as having pesto, but she said it tasted like baked beans. I had a pork quesadilla that was fine but nothing exciting. The street corn soup was good. One thing that did make me very happy was that I was able to get a replacement glass for the one that broke some years ago with a cartoon of a dog on it, saying, "Sit. Stay. Drink. Good human." When I brought it home to Travalon, he was so happy! Maybe I should have gotten two. They are on the menu now, so we can always get more.

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Not Just a Restaurant - the BESTaurant!

Here is a photo from yesterday, when we were walking at Jackson's Landing. Anna Banana II and Jilly Moose are standing on the bridge by the canoe launch.

And here is a photo from this morning, of Travalon wearing the Yellow Submarine shirt I got him in Galena, along with Anna Banana II, before we set off on our adventures and left him to go to work.

This morning Anna Banana II, Jilly Moose, and I hit the road and drove to Sheboygan, where we met Tiffy at a very foodie restaurant called Field to Fork for lunch. We went to a folk art museum in town, and parts of that were interesting, parts were weird, but the bathrooms on the third floor were my favorite part. Check out the men's bathroom!

The sink in the women's bathroom was very cool and funky and hard to figure out how to use.

This museum made me feel a bit saner, because these people were energetically filling their houses and yards with all sorts of art. Now my rosary mandala up in the loft doesn't seem quite so crazy!

Then we went to Kohler-Andrae State Park and hiked on the boardwalk for a bit before taking off our shoes (except for Jilly Moose) and walking in the waves along the beach. It was a gorgeous day. I talked a guy walking along into taking our photo: this is me, Anna Banana II, Jilly Moose, and Tiffy.

We saw a flock of seagulls standing on the beach, and then suddenly they flew into the air. There were so many of them!

After our long walk along the beach, we wanted to get dinner in Port Washington, so Jilly Moose was looking up the best restaurants, and she said, "The bestaurants." I said, "That's it - that's my blog post title!" We ended up at one called the Beacon with a patio right on the water, on the ground floor of a hotel that had a gorgeous swimming pool and hot tub. Travalon and I might just have to make an overnight trip to Port Washington... It was a beautiful evening with the nearly full moon rising over the water, and a great blue heron flew by, squawking loudly. We could hear the gulls crying in the distance. Such a perfect vacation day!

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