ON WISCONSIN
Many of you know I love Wisconsin. While I talk a lot about the cheese, the Packers, and the cheese, I think I’m selling my home state short with that list.
Because Wisconsin? Is amazing. No, really. And for lots more reasons than just beer and dairy and football.
First, Wisconsin is be-yoo-tee-ful. I bet you didn’t know that. I bet you thought it was all flat and full of farms, like … Illinois or Iowa or something. (No offense to those states but, sorry, you got nothin’ on ‘Sconsin). Wisconsin is full of rolling hills and it even has beautiful rocks and bluffs. They built a house on one of these rocks and called it … The House on the Rock. (Don’t say our names aren’t … well, accurate.)
And speaking of names, did you know just about every city in Wisconsin has an awesome name? Tomah. Poynette. Baraboo. Oshkosh. Wautoma. Kakauna. I mean, if I had a daughter, I might actually consider naming her Appleton. Okay, not really — I just couldn’t resist the Gwenyth jab.
Laura Ingalls Wilder is from Wisconsin. Awww yeah. Harry Houdini lived there. The largest American ski race, the Birkebiner, is held in Wisconsin. Minnesota might have 10,000 lakes, but we have 8,500 and we don’t need to put that number on our license plates, thank you very much.
Our state has a UFO capital, a bratwurst capital, and a jump-rope capital. (Belleville, Sheboygan, and Bloomer, respectively. And, again with the names! They are so awesome!)
And even though there are no stats to back up this statement, I’d wager that the people in Wisconsin are some of the nicest anywhere. You can’t go into a grocery store, or a movie theater, or a car wash without someone saying hello and chatting.
Wisconsin’s motto might be “Forward,” but I’d suggest perhaps changing it to “More awesome than anything Chuck Norris ever did.”
But that might be hard to fit on a quarter.
9 Responses to “ON WISCONSIN”
July 9th, 2010 at 11:44 am
If you had a son, you could name him Sheboygan. It’s a masculine name, has “boy” right in it.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I love Sheboygan! Don’t tempt me, Margaret. Don’t tempt me.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
(overlooking Iowa jab) Don’t forget the Friday Night Fish Fry! And supper clubs. Although I think my favorite memory from two years living in the W-I is seeing a Packers-themed car driving down the road. Like, a beater car painted green and gold with regular house paint. Very classy
July 9th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Supper clubs! Totally! And I think I saw that SAME car one time. Unless there’s more than one, which I wouldn’t rule out. Hee.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Al Capone’s hideout! And Wisconsin loves you too Lara!!!
July 9th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Awww — thanks, Lora! And thanks for reminding me of Al Capone’s hideout! When I googled it, the results came up with “Al Capone’s Hideaway and Steakhouse,” which I think is so awesome and SO Wisconsin. Just ad steak and, voila, everything is better! http://bit.ly/1hHnVE
July 9th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
HELLO WISCONSIN!
Sorry, That 70s Show fan here
I love this! I learned more about an obscure-ish state. (Heck, they’re all obscure-ish state besides damn NY, CA and TX…) Great post, hehe!
July 9th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Haha, but maybe not as obscure as Idaho, which I hear doesn’t even really exist.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
I had no clue Wisconsin had all those “capitols” I saw someone meniton That 70s Show, and despite the fact I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life I don’t think I’ve watched a single episode of That 70s Show…