Weekend Snapshots

1. Farmers Market. 2. Penny 3. Self Portrait 4. Red velvet From the New Neighbor. 5. Bloodies at Brunch 6. Reading Companion.

Things We Did This Weekend...

- Entertained Fisch's old roommates who came to town Friday night. Which included happy hour at Pisan's, Das Boot at Essen Haus, exploring State St., and even a ride on the cow at State St. Brats...which is apparently frowned upon...

- I took a belly dance class with my friend Alicia.  Don't think professional belly dance is in our future but it was fun!

-Alicia and I then did some browsing...and eating at the Capitol Farmers Market

-Took a nap.

-Went to see "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" at the budget theater.  Fisch and I agreed we were happy we only paid $6.  The blue raspberry icee and popcorn was delicious, though.

-Cozied up with some blankets and pillows in the back of Fisch's truck on a random country road to watch the meteor shower.

-Fisch fixed my car for the umpteenth time.

- Enjoyed the closing ceremonies of the Olympics...what are we going to do with our time now?!

What did you do this weekend?? :)

One Year Together in Madtown

 

     Last week marked one year since I moved to Madison to be with Fisch and the start of this new chapter of our life together.  It seems as though the year flew by but I suppose that's how every year feels when you look back at it.  A lot has happened in the last year, though.

     When I moved to Madison last year I did not have a job or any close friends in the area.  I kind of knew my way around from visiting but not very well.  And Fisch and I were still just boyfriend/girlfriend.  

     

     Twenty-two days after moving here I got my first full time teaching job.  A week later, school started and I was thrown into the craziness of being a new teacher traveling to three schools in an area to which I was just introduced.  Trying to learn my 300+ students and 100+ colleagues names, a new curriculum, and my way around the district was overwhelming to say the least.  Fisch was there for me though and reassured me that by October I would be comfortable with my new postition.  He was right.

     Along with my new job came new friends, the other new teachers who I bonded with over new surroundings and the other art teachers in the district who became my mentors as well as friends.

     Even though I was always partial to Milwaukee, having lived in the city for 5 years and in the area most of my life, I have fallen for Madison and the surrouding areas.  I love that we are so close to any resturant, store, or entertainmet we could ever need or want but we can still walk across the street and hike in a wooded park (as seen in the picture above), drive 10 minutes and be in the rolling hills of the country, or 40 minutes to enjoy one of our favorite state parks.

     A year ago I was unsure if I had made the right decision moving to a brandnew city, to be with my boyfriend, before we had made anything official, and before I even had a job lined up.  I realize now that I chose the right path, made the right decision and have just had one of the best years of my life.

The Morgan's Come to Madison

Our good friends Megan, Shawn, Jameson and Macie came to visit us in Madison last weekend.  We dragged them to the Children's museum mainly because it is awesome and we thought they would enjoy it but also because it's one of those places Fisch and I always wanted to visit but felt it may be a bit weird without kids along.  Glad we have friends with kids we can barrow because the Madison Children's Museum was really cool!

Totally Madtown

Last Saturday, we had a totally Madtown kind of day.  Our friend Megan was visiting from Kansas city and we wanted to show her some classic Madison things.

We started with breakfast at Mickies Dairy Bar, a Madison classic.  Great old fashion diner with greasy comfort food and malts that still come with the tin (yes, we had chocolate malts for breakfast)!

Then it was on to the farmers market where we picked up a loaf of Stella's spicy cheese bread and some sweet pickles... and of course the mandatory picture in front of the capitol.

We ended the day at Brat Fest.  Yes, we have a festival all about brats.  But it was pretty great because it was free admission, they had live music, and the brats were pretty darn good.

I am so excited for my first full summer in Madison!

Das Boot

Friday night, Fisch and I went with some friends to the Essen Haus, a German bar close to downtown.  The main attraction of the Essen Haus is the nightly, live polka music and "Das Boot".  The boot is actually a drinking game in which the big boot of beer is passed around the table from person to person.  The boot cannot be set down and the person next to the person who finishes the boot is responsible for ordering the next one.  A full set of rules can actually be downloaded from their website.

It was a night of friends, laughing, good beer, and yes, even a little polka dancing :)

A perfect start to Memorial Day weekend!

P.S. Don't worry there were DD's and taxi rides after said boot game was over.

WW: Springtime in Madtown

I love Spring :)

Our Labor Day Weekend

Now that I have a full time job I think I'm going to appreciate weekends a whole lot more.  I knew the weekend was going to be a good one when I saw a rainbow on my way to work.

On Friday night Fisch and I had a rather cultural experience attending the State Champion Cow Chip Throw in Sauk City...yes cow chips are poop.  They literally throw poo. 

 

 

Afterwards, Fisch and I decided to spend the night trying local(ish) beers and watching a little Big Bang Theory.

On Saturday we met a few friends downtown for Taste of Madison.  What a wonderful concept...blocks and blocks of delicious food samples all for under $4! I for one was in heaven...though by the end my stomach was not.  We had everything from fried pickles to reuben roll ups to cheesecake. So yummy!

Sunday, our anniversary, was spent at a party for a friend who was in town from Atlanta, hiking Aztalan State Park, and going to see Larry Crowne at the budget theater.

 And Monday was spent lounging around the house, getting some much needed cleaning done and a little crafting.  Getting into the Autumn spirit I make a fall wreth for our front door.

I am enjoying this much needed break in the hot, humid weather.  Makes for a much more comfortable classroom.

Week 2 here we go!

Celebration and a Sunset

On Tuesday after I found out I got the full time art teaching position, Fisch and I went out to dinner at our favorite little Thai place on State St. Then we took a walk along Lake Mendota and witnessed the most breathtaking sunset.  

An amazing end to an amazing day.

Golfing...Mini Style

Last Friday night, Fisch and I went mini-golfing at Vitense Golfland with our friends, Josh and Aimee. BEST mini-golf courses ever!  Think Happy Gilmore style.  We are definitely going back sometime and not just because we won a free game on the last hole.

2 weeks and Counting...

     The count down has begun...we will both be living in Madison in 2 weeks! Fisch moved there 6 months ago for a new job and now it is my turn to make the move from Smalltown, USA to Madtown, WI.

     The loose ends are beginning to be tied up in nice little bows.  Last week we got word we were approved for the apartment we applied for (A place to live...√ ). I am very excited about it, especially after some of the other ones we saw while searching...like ones we didn't even want to walk into because they were so dark and dirty.  This place feels like a much more grown-up apartment from the ones we have been living in, complete with a dishwasher (never had one of those!), in-unit washer and dryer, wood floors, and a fireplace (the thing I am most excited about).  We have slowly started packing stuff up and moving it down to store in Fisch's garage, in hopes that if we move stuff gradually we can avoid renting a truck...wishful thinking, I know. 

     Next loose end to be tied up is finding me a job.  Being an art teacher, the jobs are already slim pickins' and add in the high demand of Madison and the surrounding towns and the fact that I have no connections to the area...needless to say it had been tough.  But I am staying positive and just waiting for that perfect opportunity to come along.