Blogs from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, North America - page 5

Something about this time of year always brings me a sense of gratitude. People become nicer versions of themselves around the holidays. This is not to say that people are not inherently good, but rather that the best side of each individual is exhibited right as the air turns crisp, the snow flurries begin arriving, and the scent of gingerbread wafts through the air. The barista at Starbucks returns a customer's smile. The businessman leaves an extra five on the table for the harried student waiter. Drivers actually observe right of way laws. It is my favorite time of year, and this year, the season is made even more magical by being able to utter those four special words: I have a job. It is hard to explain what it feels like to be offered a ... read more

So its been an eventful week or so since my last blog update, and a lot of stuff has happened, including some bad news on sunday as my roommate found out that his dad died, my thoughts are with him and his family at this extremely tough time. On a lighter note, i have been to quite a few apartments and there student livin is not at all like ours, they have like penthouse suites and stuff like that, any one who saw our house in leeds know that it would have been hard to give it to the homeless as a shelter as they probs would have preferred the layout of their cardboard box, its pretty surreal being in these class apartments gettin smashed playin beer pong. Which by the way is a fuckin awesome ... read more

Right i know its a bit early for one of these but its 8 in the mornin here and i cant sleep cos i think its 2 in the afternoon, not ideal! got here safe, chicago was huuuuge but drivin from there to madison there wasnt much to look at other than random adverts for famous ribs and gentlemens clubs, and as i was hungry for both not stopping at either was killer. Madison is proper nice, dead clean, lots of very american looking streets, the place im stayin is alright was met by two looovely lookin blonde birds on the reception, so immediately started pretending i didnt have a clue what i was doin and they looved it, sooo keane to help me. Unfortunately matt patt they never fed me which i thought may be ... read more

Questions were raised. Curiosity was piqued. Concern abounded. What had happened to her? Well, fear not, dear readers. I am alive and well. I apologize for the many fortnights that have passed since I last put pen to paper (or, rather, fingertip to keyboard). My life has been a whirlwind of activity, though not the sort I had previously anticipated. Let me explain. I returned to the United States after two years spent living, working, studying and traveling throughout China in August of 2008. I imagined a joyful celebration of my return, with parades held in my honor, children lining up on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the worldly traveler, and ticker tape flying through the air over New York City. Alas, as the country fell victim to the global recession, celebratory activities of every ... read more

Cheese Curds (according to Wiki): Cheese curds are the fresh curds of cheese, often cheddar. They are generally available in retail stores operated at cheese factories throughout the countries of Canada and the United States (especially in USA's Upstate New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada's provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick where they can be found in many grocery stores.) Cheese curds are little-known in locations without cheese factories, because they should ideally be eaten within hours of manufacture. The trip to Madison, WI began with our first cheese curd experience and a 'tasting' platter of ten beers at the Great Dane Pub. In fact, I also learned that a proper cheese curd will squeak when chewed. Madison was generally filled with beer, more beer, some brats in between beer 'tastings', and finally some more ... read more