Cat meets cow: a Wisconsin love story.

My cat, Jupiter, is a playful boy who loves to make new friends. I thought that Wisconsin hadn't changed him a bit, but then I caught him getting cozy with a species of a different kind:

What can I say? It's true Wisconsin love.

Unusual things I've seen in Madison: part 2 of many to come.

As promised, I am continuing my serious of photos that document unusual things seen in Madison.

Click here for my first "unusual things" post.

Sighting #3: Melvin, the world's only wacky wheeler. Spotted in Oregon, WI.

 

What can I say? Melvin is proud of his wheels, and he'd like you to call him about it.

Sighting #4: Cops on horses. Spotted at E. Washington Ave. & Milwaukee St.

My friend Elysha could not stop cracking up when the cops on horses crossed a busy, car-filled street.

Sighting #5: World Naked Bike Ride. Spotted on S. Park St.

On my way to meet friends for lunch yesterday, traffic became quite congested when the naked bikers came through. Click here for more information about the ride.

A fascinating place to live, indeed.

Cow cookies at the diner.

I met up with some friends for brunch this morning at Monty's Blue Plate Diner. Located in Schenk-Atwood (aka my soon-to-be neighborhood), it's a tasty place to grab breakfast food (all day, every day) and other goodies. Seriously, who doesn't love a good diner?

I couldn't resist taking a photo of the adorable cookies at the counter:

These gals really stole the show on a display stand with ordinary chocolate chip cookies.

Daily cow: check.

One year in Madison: time for cows!

It's hard to believe that I've lived in Madison for a little over a year. I have a great job, fabulous friends, and I just bought a beautiful condo in the Atwood neighborhood.

When I was new to Madison last year, I wrote my third-ever blog post about Cows On The Concourse, which gave me the opportunity to mingle with cows downtown.

This year, I returned to the event (now in its 33rd year) with my friend, Kat. We petted a fuzzy baby calf and then I got my picture taken with Apple Cider, the Milking Shorthorn:

Apple Cider and her farmer friend were happy to pose for the photo.

Once we had our daily dose of cows, Kat and I went to Mirch Masala for a delicious Indian buffet. When I went to college in Cincinnati, I lived on a street with three Indian restaurants. Since then, it's been my favorite food, and Mirch Masala lived up to the hype.

My dairy dessert: rice pudding and a milk ball.

While downtown, I picked up some organic strawberries at the Farmers' Market:

Look at those beauties!

What can I say? My first year in Wisconsin has been exciting, educational, and memorable. Here's to many more!

In Wisconsin, we drink beer from Das Boot!

I'm not much of a beer drinker. The same cannot be said for most Wisconsinites. At most social gatherings in Madison, I tend to be the only guest who chooses wine over beer. What can I say? I prefer something fruity.

When my coworker Tonya (a Wisconsin native and avid beer fan) returned from traveling internationally, she decided to celebrate her return at one of her favorite downtown Madison bars, the Essen Haus, on May 5th. Tonya guaranteed that the evening would contain blog-worthy material, and as usual, she spoke the truth.

My friend Elysha and I began the evening at her house in true Cinco de Mayo fashion: she made enchiladas and I brought skinny margaritas. Once we were full (and in my case, tipsy), we headed over to the Essen Haus for a true Wisconsin-style celebration.

A sample of Essen Haus decor.

A live polka band provided the mood music while I ordered some bar munchies and we settled down at a table with Tonya and our three new friends. And then, it happened: Das Boot arrived. Das Boot is a large glass boot filled with beer that is shared around a table while adhering to six traditions set by the bar:

1. Das Boot must not touch or be set down on the table.
2. Das Boot must be consumed with the toe pointed out or up.
3. Das Boot must be passed around the table and shared with all.
4. Das Boot must be flicked once one decides to pass it to the next person.
5. The last person to drink from Das Boot before the person who finishes it has to buy the next one.
6. Once Das Boot is down to a level where someone will injest the remaining beer during one's turn, other people at the table must initiate ceremonial table pounding for encouragement. Other patrons at the Essen Haus will also pound on their tables in solidarity.

Elysha proudly models the full Das Boot with our new friend, Rob.

Drinking Das Boot!

Regardless of my fondness of beer, I was required to participate according to tradition #3.

Tonya made sure that I understood all the rules before I was entrusted with Das Boot.

Holding the boot for the first time, and very excited about it!

While others opted to chug Das Boot, I was more of a sipper. I played by the rules and was an avid boot flicker and table pounder.

I've lived in Wisconsin for a tad under a year. I never could have predicted in May 2011 that in a year I'd be spending Cinco de Mayo at a bar in Wisconsin listening to polka music while drinking beer out of a glass boot. But that's the thing about Madison (and my life in general): there's never a dull moment.

Art for thought: my first Madison gallery crawl.

On Friday night, my friend Rebecca and I opted to savor the gorgeous weather and spend the evening walking around Atwood Ave. and Willy St., savoring local artists taking part in the MMoCA's gallery night. The result? Why don't I let the photos spread for themselves:

Pottery by Jackie Matelski.

Tattoo-inspired art by Dana Withers.

Abstract art by Tim Togstad.

Bowls on display at Midwest Clay Project.

Woodwork by Jeff Waldman.

Woodwork by Jeff Waldman.

"Laundry Monster" by Tyler Green (note the knit booties!).

All this and a delicious dinner at Lao Laan Xang? A rockin' Friday night, indeed.

April Poll Results

Here are the results from the April poll, "Pick Your Favorite Pop Culture Cow":

Chick Fil A Cows - 3 votes
Interrupting Cow - 3 votes
Laughing Cow - 2 votes
Happy Cows (from California) - 1 vote

No votes for Chicago Bulls, Hey Diddle Diddle Cow, and Taurus the Zodiac Cow.

Drink up!