Does this look like tailgate food to you? When I'm invited to a tailgate party, even if its at a modern hotel trying to be swanky, I expect grilled meat patties or links and potato salads.
My name was drawn at my local dealer to be a semi-finalist in the Chevy Sonic Badger giveaway. The deadline date on the entry form was my dad's birthday so it gave me a feeling I was going to be lucky. The car was painted white and red with a big Wisconsin W on the hood and Bucky Badger on the side. I really wanted that car!
Names were drawn all over the state so I was one of 40 some finalists, invited to a tailgate party at the Hotel Red, which is directly across the street from Camp Randall stadium. I had never been in this newer hotel so I was curiously looking forward to this tailgate party.
The party wasn't a tailgate party at all. The hotel design I guess tries to be modern but it comes across feeling like a concrete bus station. The hospitality suite was really just a poorly lit room with too few cocktail tables for the contestants and their guests.
The food was crackers & cheese, a "meatloaf" slider, bacon wrapped scallop, and chicken salad in a stale bite sized crust. The 3 guests I could bring were my teenage boys and manly husband. This food was not the tailgate they were expecting. Where were the brats and dogs? This is Wisconsin after all!
When my name wasn't chosen, my dreams were crushed. DH said he really had a feeling I was going to win and he was disappointed too. We still won an autographed football and tickets to the game. We also were allowed to go on the field for pictures.
The game was fun, but it was cold! Bundled up in winter coats, it didn't feel like a "spring game." I know DS13 had the best time and at one point made eye contact with his favorite Badger player, Montee Ball.
If I would have been a finalist, I wouldn't have won because there was a trivia contest about the coach, Bret Bielema. I would have lost it on the last question, "What is Coach Bielema's favorite type of music?" I never in a million years would have guessed Reggae.
Every morning, when I first reach consciousness, there is a different song in my head. Well, that's not exactly true, some songs repeat occasionally. Before we roll out of the cocoon, my husband and I share which song is with us. Some songs are favorites, but sometimes there are not favorites lingering in our heads as well. Whether they are songs we love or songs we're not too crazy about, there is a purpose having these tunes on our minds. I'm truly amazed at the power of music. My son yesterday was asking me why I liked certain songs but not others. Some songs speak to your heart and soul and they stay with you. I enjoy a wide variety of music styles, but some songs I share a connection with. I really don't understand why some traditional schools cut music programs. They don't understand how music strengthens the brain. Music should be a major part of our everyday lives. This video is worth the 6 minutes it takes to watch it. Its amazing to witness the transformation music has on this man. I hope you have a song in your heart that is always singing. If you don't, I encourage you take time to bring music to yourself and to others. "The world needs to come into music."
I was playing with the new to me camera and I used the timer function to snap this shot. I'm still having great difficulty using this camera. Outside, in bright light, its impossible to see what you are taking a picture of and the focus seems to work only 50% of the time.
We took an Easter Day stroll through Petrified Springs with G-Ma. Before the hike, we ate out a huge dinner. In retrospect, I wish I could have reversed the order of those events. DH forgot his hat in the car and it was a little too windy for his head so I gave him the hood from my jacket.
The day before we celebrated big too, at my sister's house. I tried to take a little taste of everything but we had so many options, a little here and there quickly added up to quite a bit.
We had a wonderful weekend visiting with family and it was great my parents were able to make the trip and stay with us all week.
We learned a new board game called Telestrations. Its a mix between telephone and Pictionary and its hilarious. Using dry erase flip boards, you take turns guessing the word or phrase or drawing a picture, continually passing the flip boards around the table to all the players. When everyone has completed drawing or guessing words, you review all the guesses and drawings and it so funny how things get misinterpreted. I think I'm going to have to add this game to our collection someday soon.
Today I need to catch up on errands and laundry before work. Its going to be a busy start of the week. Hope you all have a good one!
I told my family there was a raccoon in the garage. When they opened the door, this is what they saw.
Sorry the image is blurry. I've been trying to use a new to me camera, and I can't get it to focus correctly.
I've been limping along with my broken camera, but lately I'm losing photos. I purchased a new memory card, but it wouldn't work in my broken camera. I broke the camera years ago when I tripped and fell on it. The battery case barely stays closed and the micro setting stopped working. Now that I'm losing photos, I think its time to upgrade.
I should just buy a new camera but shopping for one is not something I look forward to. There are so many options to choose from. Budget wise I'm not looking for a huge SLR. On the other hand, I want something a step up from point and shoot.
My son saw a water proof, impact resistant up to 5 feet camera that also shoots video. Its the Nikon Coolpix AX100. It also has GPS. I'm very tempted but I can't pull the trigger. Its a little over what I wanted to spend, and how do I know I'll really like it? Such a purchase is difficult for me without being able to test it out first. Of course having an impact resistant camera could make sense for clumsy me!
Then there's the question of should I buy a photo camera that also has video or a video camera that takes stills? Should I just use my phone or my son's I-Pod touch?
I have to figure something out, because I'm realizing I'm not taking enough photos and time is passing us by.
Got any camera/video advice for me?
Does this look like tailgate food to you? When I'm invited to a tailgate party, even if its at a modern hotel trying to be swanky, I expect grilled meat patties or links and potato salads. 
