Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Eulogy of Sorts

While running this morning, I was thinking about all of the people I would like to thank for where I am today. And by today, I mean literally today. Tuesday, September 20, 2011. Here in Madison, Wisconsin.

I would like to thank the following people:

Melissa, Gretchen, and Emily. Oh - and Pitbull. Oh and Tattoo Boy, too.

Melissa got me in touch with Tattoo Boy. Actually, she pushed this a while back. So for that, I say "Thank you, Melissa!" You are the bomb. Not only have you encouraged me to pursue this, but you have helped me to get here - with work/life/sanity - I owe you.

Gretchen because as I say, I was already happy and she showed me that I could be even happier. She introduced me to boating and tailgating. She showed me how much more fun life can be [not even materially].

Emily helped me prep for some dates. I was a bit of a wreck and boy did she help. And when I texted her from the bathroom on my first date with Tattoo boy, she reminded me that you only live once.....

Which brings me to Pitbull. One of the songs of our summer. "You might not have tomorrow...." So - thank you, Pitbull. And if ever I have room on a boat for one more person, I will bring you, Pitbull. [And not T-Pain].

And then Tattoo Boy - I am not ready to reveal his identity because - well - if you have seen me out with a boy with tattoos, then you know. But thank you to you, too.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Goodman Pool Dog Dip

Naughty Dog!

I don't know what happened but in the past few months, my dog has turned into a very crazy and energetic "geriatric" dog.

She is currently on her side, kicking her paws around, rolling around like a puppy.

She is ten years old. And according to most people, she weighs almost as much as me. Truthfully, she is stronger than me. Way stronger.

For whatever reason, I always take her to all dog excursions. And yesterday was no exception.




"Hey Scout! Wanna go to the Goodman Pool Dog Dip?!?!"




"I just ate a hot dog out of a toddler's hand and while Janie bought the screaming and crying three-year-old a brand new hot dog, I checked out the men's room while she had to wait outside as I trotted around....."


Sunday, September 11, 2011

Yeah Sconnie!


My friend who got me hooked on boating has now turned me on to [don't faint].... tailgating.

If there is one thing I never understood when I moved here, it was the amount of hype leading up to a Badger game. So when my friend was holding her birthday party at the Stadium bar during the Badger opener, I experienced the "hype." There is certainly no lack of team spirit in this town. And I get why people enjoy it so much.

Tailgating is an excuse to drink. Do you think I can even tell you who we played? No. I can't. I don't care. I could care less. I don't know anything about sports. I don't know what "tackle" means. Or what constitutes a "touch down." But I am glad when I hear that we won. And while I stood outside the stadium and saw that the game was over, I had to approach passersby to ask who won and how it went. And tattoo boy had a ticket to the game but never even made it into the stadium. Because clearly, tailgating is more important.

So here is how my conversation with said friend went on Tuesday evening:

JGW: [That's me] Is there a Badger game on Saturday?
SF: [That stands for "said friend" to keep her completely anonymous besides this photo I have of us tailgating] Let me look at my phone. Yes. Oregon State at 11 AM.
JW: There goes our Saturday. Where are we tailgating.

Now, flash forward to yesterday [Saturday, September 10, 2011]

I am up and out at 6 AM. I go running, eat breakfast, shower, get the dog out and make it to Ironman volunteer training by 8 AM. I know, I know - you're all thinking I am a renaissance woman. Which I am, of course. Walk around the farmer's market and by 9:30ish, said friend and I are having a bloody mary on State Street. We then proceed to walk towards the stadium where we drink beers all day and visit with friends. By 7 PM, I am exhausted, have a massive headache and it occurs to me that I still have a dog that is probably starving. Oh wait a minute - she is always starving.

And I was such a huge fan yesterday, that I do know we won 35 to nothing. Take that, Oregon State! I was such a huge fan that here is what I texted my dad [a UW grad student]:

2:10 PM: Yeah Sconnie! [whatever that means....] Did you see the game?
2:29 PM: [Bob Winston, aka "Dad"] No. Details.
2:36 PM: [I would have responded sooner but this was the third out of about 85 times that I dropped my phone on the floor of the bathroom] ME - We won. 35 to nothing. Oregon State.
2:37: I am grandfathered in thanks to you.
2:39: [Dad] Tres
3:00: JGW - Where is ur name on Union South? [He made a donation towards the new Union bldg. But it wasn't like one million dollars or anything like that]

So, as you can see - I am now a huge Badger fan. Oh - and I am sort of into the Packers too. And I love cheese curds. So I am a real Wisconsinite now.