Wisconsin is home to one of my adopted American families, so of course I had to drop by on my latest American Adventures. My arrival wasn’t quite as smooth or warm as I was hoping for. Like some wicked witch of the west, I brought in a windy cold front. I’m generally someone who thinks it’s a little weird when plane passengers clap after landing, but this pilot totally deserved the applause.
Once we got back to the Nowacki home I was provided with a welcome meal of cheese curds and a brandy old fashioned poured by Dad Nowacki. There was even a man sharing tips and tricks for various cheeses on tv. What more could you want from America’s dairy state?
Well there was more because I even had my own stocking on the fireplace. It’s the spotty one on the end.
That little poser in front is JJ.
Kyra and I woke up early the next morning to hitch a ride to University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, where Kyra was a student until her transfer to Madison this semester. We arrived early enough to head to the library, which is where much studying napping occurred. We each put a couple of chairs together, draped our winter coats overselves, and prepared for a day of being students.
The first class was Geology where the lecturer spoke about the cold front I brought in the previous evening. Later that day I learnt a little Spanish, like ‘golf’ is Spanish for ‘golf’. I also attended Kyra’s creative writing class, which included a lesson on insight. This is a concept where you don’t spell things out for the reader. You don’t tell them what they should think. I think insight is a useful writing tool, and you should think so too.
Last time I saw Kyra’s sister, Katlyn, she was pregnant with Elyse. That was two years ago. Elyse is now toddling around and attempting to match the musical stylings of Moana. Needless to say I was very excited when Katlyn and her husband, Brad, came over with Elyse.
I even had this adorable little dragon from LEGOLAND UK to give Elyse. I used to be “best friends” with a life size version of this same dragon when I worked at LEGOLAND. His name is Ollie. Would you look at how cute this limited edition plush version of him is.
I presented the adorable gift to Elyse who immediately leaned as far back as she could in Katlyn’s arms with a look of sheer, wide eyed terror, then proceeded to wail.
Ollie never went home with Elyse that night. He now lives by the stairs, and also gets up to other mischief.
During dessert we discovered food is the way to Elyse’s heart, not terrifying soft toys. She’s sitting on my lap here because she wanted to eat my dessert.
Time was spent trying to figure out which chocolate to eat from the advent calendar.
We all had a little dance party in the lounge room where Elyse showed off her diaper swinging dance moves. Elyse was kind enough to let Kyra and I play with her toys.
Later Ollie made another surprise appearance. Throughout the evening two chairs were positioned at the bottom of the stairs to prevent Elyse climbing up them. Dad Nowacki moved the chairs aside and called to Elyse, “Look! The stairs are open.”
Little did she know it was a cruel joke. Her face lit up and she raced over to the stairs. Then she came to a screeching halt with eyes full of terror as she came face to face with the horrifying Ollie, who Dad Nowacki had placed on the second step. Elyse did an about turn and ran for her life. Chairs are no longer required to stop Elyse using the stairs.
The next morning Kyra headed off to Uni, while I slept in, then set off for Milwaukee County Zoo with Mom Nowacki, Katlyn, Elyse, and Maddie.
The entrance housed Christmas trees decorated by various school groups.
We flocked over to some living creatures.
Inside the aquarium we spotted a dead fish floating at the top of a tank. Maddie (3 years) wanted to see it herself. We told her it had gone to heaven. Long story short, Maddie now thinks heaven is a fish tank.
We had some fun in the family farm.
Elyse was caught drinking and driving.
I sang her a little song, and she smiled. I guess she’d forgiven me for that whole dragon incident.
Maddie and Katlyn learnt about cows.
Mom Nowacki and I farewelled our zoo companions, then set off for lunch at Panera. I’d been to Panera in Orlando, but this one was much more homely and warm, partly courtesy of the fire.
That evening we babysat Elyse. She mostly wanted to be with her Grandma, and cried when Kyra and I interacted with her. I even tried telling her a condensed version of the Aussie classic Possum Magic that I’d sent over when she was born. Elyse was not having a bar of the possum or the magic. Maybe there was some residual resentment about the dragon.
Back in the Nowacki home I tried the divisive beverage, egg nog, for the first time. I’m one of those people who love the drink that tastes like liquid custard, which is a childhood sweet I haven’t had in years.
I also went to the DMV for the first time. The service was not as slow as I was expecting.
You might not believe it, but the Wisconsin itinerary became even more thrilling after that DMV trip. Stay tuned to find out what else I got up to in America’s dairy state.
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