Christmas Eve…what a pointless day to work. My concentration certainly isn’t on anything of substance…in fact, I can barely concentrate on anything at all other than the time which is so very slowly ticking by…Perez Hilton held my attention for a solid 10 minutes, but my focus was broken upon my supervisor strolling past my desk.
After starring at an empty computer screen, my eyes glazed down. Instead of the computer screen, I began starring endlessly at our staff directory list laying next to my keyboard…all the names, filed one after the other. And these names, listed immediately with their position title…and that’s where I stopped and finally began to focus.
Community Programs Development Coordinator…..Executive Director of Events and Design…Operations and Sales Support Manager…when you think about it…what is that?! Does a job title define you?! Look at my title…Reservations Coordinator. Yes, I deal with reservations, but let me tell you, I don’t coordinate much. Yet at the same time I do a little more than just take reservations (or make, however you want to look at it), but it’s mostly stuff that gets dumped on me. I feel my job title really doesn’t define my role and responsibility within the organization. However, the title definitely places me within the company, but unquestionably no where near the top of “first people saved if aliens were to come and take over the world” list. Not like Executive Director of Events and Design...holding importance and responsibility, attention grabbing, and so confusing you don’t know what they really do. Plus compared to this, my job title is plane ol’ boring.
“Oh you work where? And as a Reservations Coordinator…interesting. You must have quite the role within your facility!”
-Yeah, I’m hardly sure this is the other side of the conversation I would hear from someone.
So I started to do a little research. It took me seconds before I found just how BS job titles can be. http://www.bullshitjob.com/titles.html
Customer Creative Consultant
Customer Implementation Manager
Human Infrastructure Orchestrator
District Optimization Technician
Dynamic Communications Liaison!!!
These are all more well-worth-it titles…unlike Reservations Coordinator…lacking interest and creativity, plus it’s too obvious yet not obvious enough.
“Oh wow, you work as a Human Infrastructure Orchestrator. That just sounds so fascinating…what a wonderful organization to work for…oh me?! I’m not doing anything as fabulous as that.”
-See the difference? This is the other side of the conversation that I would hear from someone…granted a little exaggerated, but the point is made.
So what do I do? Allow that silly title to define who I am and my role within the company. Oh hell no! Deep inside, I AM a Dynamic Communications Liaison, and as a Dynamic Communications Liaison, I will take on not just this company, but take the world by storm.
Therefore, I’m going to change my title…moving around my supervisor.
Step 1. Staff Directory list. When the new staff directory is made after the Holidays, I will have it “deviously” changed… “Weird! How’d that get there?!”
Step 2. Voicemail change. “Hello, you have reached…Dynamic Communications Liaison to…. I’m currently away from the phone or with another customer at this time, blah blah blah.”
Step 3. Well, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet, but there will be a Step 3.
Before they know it, I will be the Dynamic Communications Liaison of my company. And when I leave this position they will no longer be hiring for Reservations Coordinator, but a Dynamic Communications Liaison…just wait and see.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Milwaukee...always wearing shades
Milwaukee…it’s such an extreme city. In the midst of July you’ll find the beaches…superb. At that moment, Milwaukee transfers you to another place entirely…all without leaving the city. The look is something comparable (in my mind) to a southern California coast…surfers in wetsuits found hovering the waves in the early morning, a trickling of people follow soon after with beach towels in hand, until the beach is filled of sun bathers and frisbee throwers…here you’ll find beautiful 90 degree weather, and a sun so bright…“you gotta wear shades.”
But let’s look 6 months out…barely 6 months…you’ll find a dusting of snow covering the iced waters of Lake Michigan, sidewalks hidden below knee high snow drifts, which require a running start to make it through without getting stuck, and between the buried sidewalks and snow banks…more ice. Wisconsin winter weather is truly a danger for many tailbones out there. And the work it takes to dress before venturing outside…long johns, boots, scarves, hats, gloves, and shades, not to shield your eyes from the sun, but to protect your eyes from the blowing snow (unsure if the wind is blowing snow or if it’s actually snowing)…the attire seems never ending…and never warm enough.
Yeah, I froze my rump on my walk to work this morning (however a walkers club would be proud of the speed and time I had going on)…but you can almost find this weather tolerable with the offerings a snowy Milwaukee can provide. Let’s take a first look at my favorite night to drink…a night before the storm…sitting on a bar stool, anxiously waiting for the first snow flake to fall. This is the green light, a green light to take the first anticipated shot of the evening. And as the snow falls thicker, the booze follows suite. Suddenly you’re slipping out the pub door at bar time on a school night…an ovation is heard from patrons piling out the door, cheering in exhilaration at the heaps of snow that gathered while drinking the night away, and soon a friendly snow fight ensues…you’ll find yourself stumbling into your apartment in the wee morning hours, wet, cold, tired, but having the satisfaction of knowing you had the ultimate evening with your pals, and no worries of having to work in the morning. After all, it’s a guarantee of a city shut down. Every person in that bar knew exactly that…which is why we were all there in the first place.
So what do you do on a snow day?…nothing…absolutely nothing, well, besides the recovery of the hangover. And when the wind finally dies down, you bundle up yet one more time…heading towards your favorite snow hill, but not reaching it until you’ve dug out at least 5 cars who haven’t moved their vehicle off the street since the snow began. But when you reach that snow hill, you’ll see that Milwaukee’s finest has gathered around…with their whiskey and blaze orange High Life cans…toboggans and snowboards, each taking their turn of fate on that hill…steep, long, and so much fun…fun until you tr-uggghh back up it.
However, then the snow plow comes barreling through. Clearly there is no where for the snow to go, other than on top of what was already there…a shelf that was naturally created, where beer cans were placed to chill, and personal items to rest…a member of the gathered mass yelling “move” repeatedly at high volume as the snow plow gets closer, with people frantically grabbing their items, having only seconds to make a split decision…booze or board. Anything could be lost beneath this fresh pile the snow plow is moving off the street, ready to tumble closer to the gathering of people and objects. Hearing either giggles of amusement or ughs of frustration as the snow plow moves past, the damage done…beers lost to freeze.
This is exactly what makes Milwaukee so extreme…those perfect sunny beach days that are followed too quickly by a winter wonderland. And the change seems to happen so rapid…it feels like summer just ended before snow is piling on top of us, but when the last of the snow melts away, the memory of winter seems to be missing.
But it’s a great sensation to see Milwaukeeans enjoy themselves through every season…bomb fires in fall, baseball in spring, music festivals throughout summer…and winter…well, I think you have a good idea about winter...then of course there’s every holiday in between…Cinco de Mayo, St. Patty’s Day, Halloween, Opening Day, Harley Davidson Anniversary (unfortunately that party is an every 5 year holiday). It’s true to say, we make it interesting here. We find the delight that keeps us entertained in our daily lives…we’re good to Milwaukee…and in return, Milwaukee is good to us.
But let’s look 6 months out…barely 6 months…you’ll find a dusting of snow covering the iced waters of Lake Michigan, sidewalks hidden below knee high snow drifts, which require a running start to make it through without getting stuck, and between the buried sidewalks and snow banks…more ice. Wisconsin winter weather is truly a danger for many tailbones out there. And the work it takes to dress before venturing outside…long johns, boots, scarves, hats, gloves, and shades, not to shield your eyes from the sun, but to protect your eyes from the blowing snow (unsure if the wind is blowing snow or if it’s actually snowing)…the attire seems never ending…and never warm enough.
Yeah, I froze my rump on my walk to work this morning (however a walkers club would be proud of the speed and time I had going on)…but you can almost find this weather tolerable with the offerings a snowy Milwaukee can provide. Let’s take a first look at my favorite night to drink…a night before the storm…sitting on a bar stool, anxiously waiting for the first snow flake to fall. This is the green light, a green light to take the first anticipated shot of the evening. And as the snow falls thicker, the booze follows suite. Suddenly you’re slipping out the pub door at bar time on a school night…an ovation is heard from patrons piling out the door, cheering in exhilaration at the heaps of snow that gathered while drinking the night away, and soon a friendly snow fight ensues…you’ll find yourself stumbling into your apartment in the wee morning hours, wet, cold, tired, but having the satisfaction of knowing you had the ultimate evening with your pals, and no worries of having to work in the morning. After all, it’s a guarantee of a city shut down. Every person in that bar knew exactly that…which is why we were all there in the first place.
So what do you do on a snow day?…nothing…absolutely nothing, well, besides the recovery of the hangover. And when the wind finally dies down, you bundle up yet one more time…heading towards your favorite snow hill, but not reaching it until you’ve dug out at least 5 cars who haven’t moved their vehicle off the street since the snow began. But when you reach that snow hill, you’ll see that Milwaukee’s finest has gathered around…with their whiskey and blaze orange High Life cans…toboggans and snowboards, each taking their turn of fate on that hill…steep, long, and so much fun…fun until you tr-uggghh back up it.
However, then the snow plow comes barreling through. Clearly there is no where for the snow to go, other than on top of what was already there…a shelf that was naturally created, where beer cans were placed to chill, and personal items to rest…a member of the gathered mass yelling “move” repeatedly at high volume as the snow plow gets closer, with people frantically grabbing their items, having only seconds to make a split decision…booze or board. Anything could be lost beneath this fresh pile the snow plow is moving off the street, ready to tumble closer to the gathering of people and objects. Hearing either giggles of amusement or ughs of frustration as the snow plow moves past, the damage done…beers lost to freeze.
This is exactly what makes Milwaukee so extreme…those perfect sunny beach days that are followed too quickly by a winter wonderland. And the change seems to happen so rapid…it feels like summer just ended before snow is piling on top of us, but when the last of the snow melts away, the memory of winter seems to be missing.
But it’s a great sensation to see Milwaukeeans enjoy themselves through every season…bomb fires in fall, baseball in spring, music festivals throughout summer…and winter…well, I think you have a good idea about winter...then of course there’s every holiday in between…Cinco de Mayo, St. Patty’s Day, Halloween, Opening Day, Harley Davidson Anniversary (unfortunately that party is an every 5 year holiday). It’s true to say, we make it interesting here. We find the delight that keeps us entertained in our daily lives…we’re good to Milwaukee…and in return, Milwaukee is good to us.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
isn't it weird when you think about it?
So I was just thinking...Twilight and Robert Pattinson popped into my head, but this time it doesn’t have to do with his looks…or his grandeur etiquette. Instead, I’m curious…I get that both the book and film is a fantasy…after all, to the best of my knowledge, vampires don’t exist…but Edward Cullen is supposed to be about 100 years old right?!…and Bella Swanson is supposed to be 16/17 years old…soooo…isn’t that illegal…and if they did do the nasty…wouldn’t that be considered statutory rape? But then you look at the fact he’s not human…ok, so that law doesn’t count...makes sense. But then, wouldn’t Bella be committing bestiality?
I'm confused and gotta stop thinking too much.
I'm confused and gotta stop thinking too much.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Dreams of a Bad Boy: Only Teenage Antics
I’m nearing (a lie, I’m in) my late 20s, yet I believe I’m truly a teenager at heart. Of course everyone is a teenager at heart…take my father for instance, a hilarious man in his late 50’s who loves his toys, picks on family members for his amusement of their annoyance, and drinks Jameson like it’s going out of style. For the most part, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. However, my teenage embrace comes with the love of those fantastic cult movies and the heroic teenage heartthrobs in those films that make the world so wonderfully turn. These heartthrobs are who strengthen my fantasy of the idealistic partner…a partner that clearly doesn’t exist.
Take for instance, Pump Up the Volume….Christian Slater…my first cult film love. So dark, mysterious, and gorgeous…his role as Mark Hunter created an enigma…fascination…you can even call it an obsession for me. He became my idealistic man…a bad boy, but oh so right…the voice of his generation who inspires his peers, slaps authority in the face, and takes Loretta Creswood on a journey of pure lust. But like the mind of a young teenager…out of sight becomes out of mind…particularly as a man like this was no where in sight. Shortly I became preoccupied with other high school dilemmas, and eventually, a new heartthrob came strolling along. Until again, no man around me carried the ideals and characteristics I was looking for…repeating a vicious cycle.
So this brings us to present day…and my fascination continues. Of course, as I become older, the heartthrob becomes less attractive (mostly due to the realism of let downs), but not all is lost. As shown with the latest cult film…Twilight…with beautiful, hypnotic, and oh so gorgeous Robert Pattinson. I close my eyes and imagine him sweeping me away to a world of romanticism. But the true question…is my life so bland that I need these fantasies (I’m quite positive this topic has already been covered in tis a life of a 20-something)? Or is it that the enigmatic man doesn’t exist, forcing me into the realm of fantasy? Or are these two questions, in fact, the same? It’s not just the mystery of Edward Cullen, but the etiquette this character portrays…opening the car door, removing the coat of his date, paying for dinner though he’s not eating himself, showing his protection by placing his arm around her lower back, introducing her so quickly to his family, and being sensitive…yet intense, sensual…yet sexual. It’s the loving affection every female yearns for. Yet it’s the chase…and bad boy image every woman aches for.
I’ve done my fair share of dating the male species…anywhere from 7 years younger to 7 years older than myself. Hell…I’ve even worked as a bartender…constantly surrounded by men swooning over me. And the reason for this swoon is simple, I made them feel better about themselves through the intoxication of alcohol. Yes the attention really boosts your ego, but practicality really awakens you with that drunken thought, along with their “ATM deposits,” “phone calls from heaven,” and “cloths on the floor” pick up lines…proving the idealistic man doesn’t exist, as these swooning men don’t do much in the swooning department.
Since we’re back in reality, I’m sure Robert Pattinson is nothing like his character Edward, and I’m not talking about the vampire aspect either. I don’t know him personally, but taking into account his ripe age of 22 and adding my own personal knowledge of men, the likelihood of him actually having this bad boy image combined with the loving affection I hope for, is very slim-to-none.
Realizing this, I still have these fantasies…in hopes that this male I throb for is out there…waiting for me. In the film Twilight, Edward tells Bella “you don’t have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you.” Considering he’s just shy of 100 years old…and the fact that he ate humans for a good portion of that time (being the absolute bad boy), then you have to ponder the idea that the rest of us are absolutely screwed…seeing as we don’t have 100 years to wait around for the bad boy to be loving and affectionate towards us.
I know all to well, like many women out there, that there is no possibility of hope, which is a contradiction of the hope I described a second ago. And when you do find that “bad boy”…the chase isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be. The loving affection isn’t there, just the bad boy…who pretty much treats you like dirt…never taking your feelings into consideration, and more than likely treating multiple women the same way at the same time. But like many women out there, we hope to change this feature, forcing these boys to give us the loving affection we need. However, I’ve NEVER seen an instance where this actually works out, but rather, the bad boy leaves this tireless effort of change in the dust. But a woman’s brain works like this…we want what we can’t have, as the saying goes. It’s the story of the lamb falling in love with the lion, but the lion mulls the lamb rather than returning that feeling.
But to have these fantasies…is it what keeps us thriving? Or is it a tragedy, giving us a gloomy and cynical attitude on men and relationships…therefore forcing us to grab hold to the first “descent” boy that walks by…but he’s not the man we crave…not the idealistic dream we have hoped for.
Like I said, as my age climbs, the less I find myself enthralled by these heartthrobs. With the men around me failing to impress and following my teenage antics…my mind wonders and soon, out of sight will become out of mind. But it’s the crave, my age, and my past relationships that have me deadlocked and attached to this ideal. It’s truly a depressing thought…so cynical yet so hopeful.
But just maybe I need to take a better look at reality…no one is perfect, including myself. I’m sure I ruined any chance at a normal relationship with these high whimsical expectations of my partner. After all, it’s just a movie…Edward Cullen is not real…or Mark Hunter for that matter. Movies are meant to take you to a world of fantasy…maybe I take that fantasy to far, trying to extend it into my every day life, forcing it upon the “descent” boy. But instead, maybe I need to take him for what he is…and be a little more understanding of the men in my reality. I’m sure I could truly be happy with someone despite him not having the ideals and characteristics I dream for. And maybe that reality will make the relationship even better than I could have hoped. Or maybe I missed my calling as an actress, losing the chance to physically live out my fantasies through film.
I guess I don’t really know where I’m going with this blog…other than I’m currently crushing on Robert Pattinson…or is it Edward Cullen…and hope that he will one day come and sweep me away. But at some point in my life, I will need to stop living in a fantasy world and come to true grips with reality. Damn the man for giving me this idealistic thought of what I need from a man…damn the man for giving this idealistic thought to every woman who watches Christian Bale, Mark Walberg, George Clooney, or Johnny Depp…it ruins hopes…relationships…and fantasies.
But if anything, maybe my future boyfriend will read this blog and know exactly how to electrify me…or he’ll be so frightened with pressure he’ll run for the hills.
Take for instance, Pump Up the Volume….Christian Slater…my first cult film love. So dark, mysterious, and gorgeous…his role as Mark Hunter created an enigma…fascination…you can even call it an obsession for me. He became my idealistic man…a bad boy, but oh so right…the voice of his generation who inspires his peers, slaps authority in the face, and takes Loretta Creswood on a journey of pure lust. But like the mind of a young teenager…out of sight becomes out of mind…particularly as a man like this was no where in sight. Shortly I became preoccupied with other high school dilemmas, and eventually, a new heartthrob came strolling along. Until again, no man around me carried the ideals and characteristics I was looking for…repeating a vicious cycle.
So this brings us to present day…and my fascination continues. Of course, as I become older, the heartthrob becomes less attractive (mostly due to the realism of let downs), but not all is lost. As shown with the latest cult film…Twilight…with beautiful, hypnotic, and oh so gorgeous Robert Pattinson. I close my eyes and imagine him sweeping me away to a world of romanticism. But the true question…is my life so bland that I need these fantasies (I’m quite positive this topic has already been covered in tis a life of a 20-something)? Or is it that the enigmatic man doesn’t exist, forcing me into the realm of fantasy? Or are these two questions, in fact, the same? It’s not just the mystery of Edward Cullen, but the etiquette this character portrays…opening the car door, removing the coat of his date, paying for dinner though he’s not eating himself, showing his protection by placing his arm around her lower back, introducing her so quickly to his family, and being sensitive…yet intense, sensual…yet sexual. It’s the loving affection every female yearns for. Yet it’s the chase…and bad boy image every woman aches for.
I’ve done my fair share of dating the male species…anywhere from 7 years younger to 7 years older than myself. Hell…I’ve even worked as a bartender…constantly surrounded by men swooning over me. And the reason for this swoon is simple, I made them feel better about themselves through the intoxication of alcohol. Yes the attention really boosts your ego, but practicality really awakens you with that drunken thought, along with their “ATM deposits,” “phone calls from heaven,” and “cloths on the floor” pick up lines…proving the idealistic man doesn’t exist, as these swooning men don’t do much in the swooning department.
Since we’re back in reality, I’m sure Robert Pattinson is nothing like his character Edward, and I’m not talking about the vampire aspect either. I don’t know him personally, but taking into account his ripe age of 22 and adding my own personal knowledge of men, the likelihood of him actually having this bad boy image combined with the loving affection I hope for, is very slim-to-none.
Realizing this, I still have these fantasies…in hopes that this male I throb for is out there…waiting for me. In the film Twilight, Edward tells Bella “you don’t have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you.” Considering he’s just shy of 100 years old…and the fact that he ate humans for a good portion of that time (being the absolute bad boy), then you have to ponder the idea that the rest of us are absolutely screwed…seeing as we don’t have 100 years to wait around for the bad boy to be loving and affectionate towards us.
I know all to well, like many women out there, that there is no possibility of hope, which is a contradiction of the hope I described a second ago. And when you do find that “bad boy”…the chase isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be. The loving affection isn’t there, just the bad boy…who pretty much treats you like dirt…never taking your feelings into consideration, and more than likely treating multiple women the same way at the same time. But like many women out there, we hope to change this feature, forcing these boys to give us the loving affection we need. However, I’ve NEVER seen an instance where this actually works out, but rather, the bad boy leaves this tireless effort of change in the dust. But a woman’s brain works like this…we want what we can’t have, as the saying goes. It’s the story of the lamb falling in love with the lion, but the lion mulls the lamb rather than returning that feeling.
But to have these fantasies…is it what keeps us thriving? Or is it a tragedy, giving us a gloomy and cynical attitude on men and relationships…therefore forcing us to grab hold to the first “descent” boy that walks by…but he’s not the man we crave…not the idealistic dream we have hoped for.
Like I said, as my age climbs, the less I find myself enthralled by these heartthrobs. With the men around me failing to impress and following my teenage antics…my mind wonders and soon, out of sight will become out of mind. But it’s the crave, my age, and my past relationships that have me deadlocked and attached to this ideal. It’s truly a depressing thought…so cynical yet so hopeful.
But just maybe I need to take a better look at reality…no one is perfect, including myself. I’m sure I ruined any chance at a normal relationship with these high whimsical expectations of my partner. After all, it’s just a movie…Edward Cullen is not real…or Mark Hunter for that matter. Movies are meant to take you to a world of fantasy…maybe I take that fantasy to far, trying to extend it into my every day life, forcing it upon the “descent” boy. But instead, maybe I need to take him for what he is…and be a little more understanding of the men in my reality. I’m sure I could truly be happy with someone despite him not having the ideals and characteristics I dream for. And maybe that reality will make the relationship even better than I could have hoped. Or maybe I missed my calling as an actress, losing the chance to physically live out my fantasies through film.
I guess I don’t really know where I’m going with this blog…other than I’m currently crushing on Robert Pattinson…or is it Edward Cullen…and hope that he will one day come and sweep me away. But at some point in my life, I will need to stop living in a fantasy world and come to true grips with reality. Damn the man for giving me this idealistic thought of what I need from a man…damn the man for giving this idealistic thought to every woman who watches Christian Bale, Mark Walberg, George Clooney, or Johnny Depp…it ruins hopes…relationships…and fantasies.
But if anything, maybe my future boyfriend will read this blog and know exactly how to electrify me…or he’ll be so frightened with pressure he’ll run for the hills.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Learning the Tradition First Hand
Tailgating is a twelve billion dollar industry. Unbelievable right! And baseball only brings in a mere 7% of that revenue, following concerts, NASCAR racing, and leading the pack, football. Now for some, this fact taken by the American Tailgating Association is no surprise. However for Brewer fans across the state, the thought is absolutely baffling.
I stumbled upon this defining realization after attending the Brewer/Reds series in Cincinnati, Ohio in September 2007. Beautiful open stadium, stunning views of the river and downtown area from the grand stands, and tasty sausages, but the Great American Ball Park was missing one very imperative feature….the all important tailgate. To me, tailgating is part of the ‘package’ when attending a game at Miller Park in Milwaukee. And many, if not all Milwaukee Brewer fans, have the same state of mind.
Of course there is an obvious answer to why Brewers associate tailgating with game days. But let’s pretend to be ignorant for a moment and delve into tailgating a little further, allowing us to get a real sense of its history, and true essence and magnitude of the “tail-greatness” that it is.
What is tailgating? Well…tailgating is a gala affair. It is what sets America apart from countries across the world. It is a time where you will see strangers gather together hours before a game begins, and become chummy friends by the end of the 9th, card tables that are transformed into extravagant dining tables, bratwurst and pasta salads that turn from ordinary foods to flavorful masterpieces (they also hold your game day energy), and beer….with it’s golden color and refreshing, yet bold flavor, never tasted so sweet. That my friend is what tailgating is all about.
There are a number of theories as to where tailgating originated from. Some accredit Ford and its 1927 Model-A Station Wagon with a fold-down tailgate to the beginnings of these magnificent events. That’s right, a true banquet on wheels had evolved….thank you Ford.
My favorite theory states it started in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1919 when the Packers first took the field. Backing their pick-up trucks along the edges of the field, fans would drop their tailgates and relax, drink, eat, and be merry, as they watched the Packers squash their opponents (yes I’m bias—I am a Packer fan after all).
Another theory dates to 1904. A train of private railcars transported Yale fans to the Bulldog’s football game. After pulling into the train station, fans walked the long journey on foot to the stadium. Due to thirst and rumbling bellies upon arriving, fans began packing baskets of food for future games, and so the event was born.
Some believe it dates back to the first college football game played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. Fans traveled to the game by horse and carriage, and grilled various meats at the “tail end” of the horse….hence the name.
How about the granddaddy of American tailgating? In 1861, during the height of the Civil War, Union supporters arrived on the edges of the war field at Bull Run, toting food and drink in hand. Apparently they encouraged soldiers by chanting “Go, Big Blue!”
The next origin is accredited to Pirates. Yes, I said Pirates, and I am not referring to the Pittsburg Pirates. The term buccaneer is derived from the Arawak language Buccan, and is a corrupted version of a French word, boucanier, meaning how to smoke meat or bar-b-que (same root word!). Pirates were the first people noted for cooking meat over an open fire, and therefore could indeed fit into the history of tailgating!! Stretching it slightly…I think not.
The most interesting origin pre-dates the other theories by not just decades, but millenniums. Archeological remains have shown that the ancient Greeks hold the title as the Father of Tailgating. Dating to nearly 300 BC, Greeks gathered days before games (and we thought Brewer fans were hard core) for the Olympics or Harpaston, a sporty ancestor of football, where they roasted animals, held sacrifices, and practically drowned in alcohol….which very much resembles modern day tailgating. I know, some of you may be questioning sacrifices as a part of tailgating today, but trust me when I say I’ve seen my fair share of sacrifices…..broken ankles, burning hair, exposed and naked bodies… of course all for the good and well being of the Brewers and their spectators.
Whatever theory you want to believe is fine by me. However, those are just the beginnings. In come the thirties with the invention of electric lighting. This great discovery changed the scheduling of games, allowing not only day games, but evening ones as well now that fields could be lit. However, this took a toll on tailgaters. Rather than freezing in the cool night air, fans began hosting pre-game parties in their homes, and in fact, created Round Robin cocktail hours lasting until game time. Tailgating was no longer a part of game day. Nevertheless, there was a turn around. Thanks to television, tailgating was resurrected, along with it, the hope to be seen on national TV.
So there you have it….the origin(s) of tailgating. Now this brings us back to Milwaukee and tailgating. Why are Milwaukeeans so fanatic about tailgating (me being one of them of course)?
Tailgating in Milwaukee is definitely a tradition that has been passed on from County Stadium, where originally the Milwaukee Braves played, beginning in the 1970s to say the least. And this is just not any tradition, but a historical one at that. The Braves later moved to Atlanta and the Milwaukee Brewers formed, taking over County Stadium.
County Stadium was old, and in 1995, plans for a new stadium were unveiled. When the logistics of the new stadium (Miller Park) were being determined, one of the reasons the stadium location was not built downtown was due to the lack of tailgating space. Definitely a smart decision made by those in charge, obviously realizing the revenue that tailgating generates. Many stadiums have not been as fortunate as ours when considering the construction location and tailgating.
There have even been other stadiums that have lost tailgating not to new location, but a poor decision in turning the main parking lot into a no-tailgating zone, blaming it on too much alcohol consumption….hmmm….absolutely baffling.
Believe it or not, Miller Park came close to this saddening experience. It was discovered a couple of years ago that for the past 25 years, every alcoholic beverage consumed by baseball fans alike at Miller Park was illegal. The oversight was discovered by Milwaukee police after they took over stadium security from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. Alderman Michael Murphy quickly understood the severity of the situation and within a week, it was brought to the Common Council for vote to correct the situation. I think we all need to send Michael Murphy a big ‘ole “thank you” card!
Personally, I believe we owe an even bigger thank you to Green Bay Packer fans. Although I would love to give the credit to Brewer fans for this innovative pre-party technique, it is unfortunately just not the truth. As Packer fans drifted down to County Stadium for games, so did tailgating ….eventually Milwaukee Brewer fans caught on and inherited their tradition, ultimately turning it into our own. Which gives us a clear understanding why Brewer fans are one of the very few that tailgate for baseball games.
There you have it my friends, the beginning of a fine Milwaukeean tradition. No matter what your beliefs on the beginnings of this great custom are, just remember its great importance. This tradition has been passed from generation to generation, teaching not just through words, but practice. So Milwaukee isn’t one of the theoretical origins. Instead, we took it and made it into something better, something that we all hold so dear to our hearts. What would we do without tailgating? Personally, I could never fathom the idea of attending a baseball game without a tailgating extravaganza.
I stumbled upon this defining realization after attending the Brewer/Reds series in Cincinnati, Ohio in September 2007. Beautiful open stadium, stunning views of the river and downtown area from the grand stands, and tasty sausages, but the Great American Ball Park was missing one very imperative feature….the all important tailgate. To me, tailgating is part of the ‘package’ when attending a game at Miller Park in Milwaukee. And many, if not all Milwaukee Brewer fans, have the same state of mind.
Of course there is an obvious answer to why Brewers associate tailgating with game days. But let’s pretend to be ignorant for a moment and delve into tailgating a little further, allowing us to get a real sense of its history, and true essence and magnitude of the “tail-greatness” that it is.
What is tailgating? Well…tailgating is a gala affair. It is what sets America apart from countries across the world. It is a time where you will see strangers gather together hours before a game begins, and become chummy friends by the end of the 9th, card tables that are transformed into extravagant dining tables, bratwurst and pasta salads that turn from ordinary foods to flavorful masterpieces (they also hold your game day energy), and beer….with it’s golden color and refreshing, yet bold flavor, never tasted so sweet. That my friend is what tailgating is all about.
There are a number of theories as to where tailgating originated from. Some accredit Ford and its 1927 Model-A Station Wagon with a fold-down tailgate to the beginnings of these magnificent events. That’s right, a true banquet on wheels had evolved….thank you Ford.
My favorite theory states it started in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1919 when the Packers first took the field. Backing their pick-up trucks along the edges of the field, fans would drop their tailgates and relax, drink, eat, and be merry, as they watched the Packers squash their opponents (yes I’m bias—I am a Packer fan after all).
Another theory dates to 1904. A train of private railcars transported Yale fans to the Bulldog’s football game. After pulling into the train station, fans walked the long journey on foot to the stadium. Due to thirst and rumbling bellies upon arriving, fans began packing baskets of food for future games, and so the event was born.
Some believe it dates back to the first college football game played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. Fans traveled to the game by horse and carriage, and grilled various meats at the “tail end” of the horse….hence the name.
How about the granddaddy of American tailgating? In 1861, during the height of the Civil War, Union supporters arrived on the edges of the war field at Bull Run, toting food and drink in hand. Apparently they encouraged soldiers by chanting “Go, Big Blue!”
The next origin is accredited to Pirates. Yes, I said Pirates, and I am not referring to the Pittsburg Pirates. The term buccaneer is derived from the Arawak language Buccan, and is a corrupted version of a French word, boucanier, meaning how to smoke meat or bar-b-que (same root word!). Pirates were the first people noted for cooking meat over an open fire, and therefore could indeed fit into the history of tailgating!! Stretching it slightly…I think not.
The most interesting origin pre-dates the other theories by not just decades, but millenniums. Archeological remains have shown that the ancient Greeks hold the title as the Father of Tailgating. Dating to nearly 300 BC, Greeks gathered days before games (and we thought Brewer fans were hard core) for the Olympics or Harpaston, a sporty ancestor of football, where they roasted animals, held sacrifices, and practically drowned in alcohol….which very much resembles modern day tailgating. I know, some of you may be questioning sacrifices as a part of tailgating today, but trust me when I say I’ve seen my fair share of sacrifices…..broken ankles, burning hair, exposed and naked bodies… of course all for the good and well being of the Brewers and their spectators.
Whatever theory you want to believe is fine by me. However, those are just the beginnings. In come the thirties with the invention of electric lighting. This great discovery changed the scheduling of games, allowing not only day games, but evening ones as well now that fields could be lit. However, this took a toll on tailgaters. Rather than freezing in the cool night air, fans began hosting pre-game parties in their homes, and in fact, created Round Robin cocktail hours lasting until game time. Tailgating was no longer a part of game day. Nevertheless, there was a turn around. Thanks to television, tailgating was resurrected, along with it, the hope to be seen on national TV.
So there you have it….the origin(s) of tailgating. Now this brings us back to Milwaukee and tailgating. Why are Milwaukeeans so fanatic about tailgating (me being one of them of course)?
Tailgating in Milwaukee is definitely a tradition that has been passed on from County Stadium, where originally the Milwaukee Braves played, beginning in the 1970s to say the least. And this is just not any tradition, but a historical one at that. The Braves later moved to Atlanta and the Milwaukee Brewers formed, taking over County Stadium.
County Stadium was old, and in 1995, plans for a new stadium were unveiled. When the logistics of the new stadium (Miller Park) were being determined, one of the reasons the stadium location was not built downtown was due to the lack of tailgating space. Definitely a smart decision made by those in charge, obviously realizing the revenue that tailgating generates. Many stadiums have not been as fortunate as ours when considering the construction location and tailgating.
There have even been other stadiums that have lost tailgating not to new location, but a poor decision in turning the main parking lot into a no-tailgating zone, blaming it on too much alcohol consumption….hmmm….absolutely baffling.
Believe it or not, Miller Park came close to this saddening experience. It was discovered a couple of years ago that for the past 25 years, every alcoholic beverage consumed by baseball fans alike at Miller Park was illegal. The oversight was discovered by Milwaukee police after they took over stadium security from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. Alderman Michael Murphy quickly understood the severity of the situation and within a week, it was brought to the Common Council for vote to correct the situation. I think we all need to send Michael Murphy a big ‘ole “thank you” card!
Personally, I believe we owe an even bigger thank you to Green Bay Packer fans. Although I would love to give the credit to Brewer fans for this innovative pre-party technique, it is unfortunately just not the truth. As Packer fans drifted down to County Stadium for games, so did tailgating ….eventually Milwaukee Brewer fans caught on and inherited their tradition, ultimately turning it into our own. Which gives us a clear understanding why Brewer fans are one of the very few that tailgate for baseball games.
There you have it my friends, the beginning of a fine Milwaukeean tradition. No matter what your beliefs on the beginnings of this great custom are, just remember its great importance. This tradition has been passed from generation to generation, teaching not just through words, but practice. So Milwaukee isn’t one of the theoretical origins. Instead, we took it and made it into something better, something that we all hold so dear to our hearts. What would we do without tailgating? Personally, I could never fathom the idea of attending a baseball game without a tailgating extravaganza.
Debaucher was had.
After a little bitching and moaning “I’m a bored 20-something,” “studying for Grad School has taken over my social life,” and “there’s nothing on TV!” I’ve finally done something about it...and that something was a Packer game...attended in mid-December...in 10 degree weather...watching the game on icy steal bench seats...and complete with tailgating and bloody mary’s. How was this time?! A-mazing debauchery! Allowing me to put all my worries and concerns on a cloud to float away.
First off, Wisconsin is special for one very unique aspect that you don’t find too often elsewhere in this country...tailgating...and tailgating in 20 below weather. Wisconsinites go insane for tailgating...you can consider it an expected ritual. Tailgating is part of the game...despite the weather…ignoring rain, sleet, or snow…people will have their grills rolling and flipping utensils in hand.
Green Bay this past weekend was no different. We were quite prepared for this very cold day...both in dress and in food. We had our little hand warmers stuffed in our shoes and down our pants, yummy apple cider and rum to warm our bellies when brats and cheesy hashbrowns weren’t being crammed down our throats, and a beer cozie to keep our brew cold?! Yes, we were prepared...but after walking through that parking lot outside Lambeau Field, we discovered we were completely un-prepared...covered in blaze orange from head to toe, people had full bars set up inside tents with space heaters and blankets. And the food spread they (1) had...looked like something you would only find on Superbowl Sunday.
Head to Madison on a day when the Badger’s are home and you’ll find the same thing...with the exception of FAR more drunken college students and the change of team colors. But besides this tailgating ritual...Wisconsin has one other uniqueness when it comes to tailgating….this ritual is followed to Milwaukee’s baseball stadium (2).
I’ve been to my fair share of baseball stadiums…thus far, Milwaukee is the only baseball stadium that even tailgates. Supposedly there is one more special guy out there (3), I believe up in Minnesota. Because of this unexpected variety, Brewer fans…even Cub fans, take every opportunity they have to join in on the pre-game festivities.
For this fact, I always thought baseball tailgating was more fun than football. But after this past weekend I have my new favorite tailgate. Yes I’ve tailgated at Packer games before…but there is something special about the cold weather tailgate...bundling up in a dozen layers...drinking to drink, but also drinking to stay warm. It’s absolutely wonderful!
And it wasn’t just the tailgate that captured my love...but the game itself. Yes the Packers lost AGAIN within minutes of the end of the fourth quarter, but it was the high-fives being tossed around to the strangers around me when our team reached that first down...and shots of liquor from a cold-rimmed flask being shared by a neighboring seat when the Packers ran past their goal line for a touchdown...even the wave seemed more fun, watching blaze orange arms being tossed high into the sky.
Yes, the game was SO fun it is beyond words to describe it. It is exactly what I have been looking for…and exactly what I needed. A little bit of excitement, a little bit of debauchery, a little bit of cold weather, a little bit of drinking, and a hell of a lot of fun.
(1)When I say “they,” I’m speaking about a good chunk of the attendance in
the stadium’s parking lot. “They” meaning damn near everyone.
(2)I actually wrote an article about the origins and history of tailgating.
It is posted on my blog as Learning the Tradition First Hand.
(3)I had a conversation with a fellow blogger a year back (while I was
writing my origins of tailgating article). He is a very nice gentlemen who
specializes in sports AND tailgating…two wonderful topics. You can check
out the blog about our conversation at
http://theultimatetailgater.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html wrote on
Friday, September 21, 2007 entitled The Plight of a Baseball Tailgater
First off, Wisconsin is special for one very unique aspect that you don’t find too often elsewhere in this country...tailgating...and tailgating in 20 below weather. Wisconsinites go insane for tailgating...you can consider it an expected ritual. Tailgating is part of the game...despite the weather…ignoring rain, sleet, or snow…people will have their grills rolling and flipping utensils in hand.
Green Bay this past weekend was no different. We were quite prepared for this very cold day...both in dress and in food. We had our little hand warmers stuffed in our shoes and down our pants, yummy apple cider and rum to warm our bellies when brats and cheesy hashbrowns weren’t being crammed down our throats, and a beer cozie to keep our brew cold?! Yes, we were prepared...but after walking through that parking lot outside Lambeau Field, we discovered we were completely un-prepared...covered in blaze orange from head to toe, people had full bars set up inside tents with space heaters and blankets. And the food spread they (1) had...looked like something you would only find on Superbowl Sunday.
Head to Madison on a day when the Badger’s are home and you’ll find the same thing...with the exception of FAR more drunken college students and the change of team colors. But besides this tailgating ritual...Wisconsin has one other uniqueness when it comes to tailgating….this ritual is followed to Milwaukee’s baseball stadium (2).
I’ve been to my fair share of baseball stadiums…thus far, Milwaukee is the only baseball stadium that even tailgates. Supposedly there is one more special guy out there (3), I believe up in Minnesota. Because of this unexpected variety, Brewer fans…even Cub fans, take every opportunity they have to join in on the pre-game festivities.
For this fact, I always thought baseball tailgating was more fun than football. But after this past weekend I have my new favorite tailgate. Yes I’ve tailgated at Packer games before…but there is something special about the cold weather tailgate...bundling up in a dozen layers...drinking to drink, but also drinking to stay warm. It’s absolutely wonderful!
And it wasn’t just the tailgate that captured my love...but the game itself. Yes the Packers lost AGAIN within minutes of the end of the fourth quarter, but it was the high-fives being tossed around to the strangers around me when our team reached that first down...and shots of liquor from a cold-rimmed flask being shared by a neighboring seat when the Packers ran past their goal line for a touchdown...even the wave seemed more fun, watching blaze orange arms being tossed high into the sky.
Yes, the game was SO fun it is beyond words to describe it. It is exactly what I have been looking for…and exactly what I needed. A little bit of excitement, a little bit of debauchery, a little bit of cold weather, a little bit of drinking, and a hell of a lot of fun.
(1)When I say “they,” I’m speaking about a good chunk of the attendance in
the stadium’s parking lot. “They” meaning damn near everyone.
(2)I actually wrote an article about the origins and history of tailgating.
It is posted on my blog as Learning the Tradition First Hand.
(3)I had a conversation with a fellow blogger a year back (while I was
writing my origins of tailgating article). He is a very nice gentlemen who
specializes in sports AND tailgating…two wonderful topics. You can check
out the blog about our conversation at
http://theultimatetailgater.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html wrote on
Friday, September 21, 2007 entitled The Plight of a Baseball Tailgater
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Graduate School...a buring question indeed
To attend Grad School or not attend Grad School…tis the question. And what a burning question it is. Obviously Graduate School would be well worth it for my career in the long run…but the prep…the work…the time…and most importantly, the money that goes into it. Applying just alone is a struggle…taking the dreaded GRE, trying to find two recommendations (being out of school for four years and having the same job for the past two really puts a damper on the search), and the thought of having another 70,000 in school loans on top of what I already owe alone deters me from applying…which is probably why I didn’t apply the last time I considered Grad School as an option almost two years ago.
But the fact of the matter is… I need a plan of action. I’m working in a job with no advancement, within or outside my company. I’ve tried applying for travel agent professions, sales positions, and numerous other jobs in a variety of areas… all “satisfactory” jobs that I wouldn’t mind working in outside of what I went to school for…and what did I find within those areas…nothing. I’m still in that same dead end job. I realize the economy is bad, and there are plenty of people competing for those positions. But it becomes a little frustrating after a while…especially when they are jobs that I don’t even know if I would really like…basically I’m applying for something that isn’t my passion. Is that even worth it?
This past week I found two positions in my dream field. Both jobs, of which, I have no chance in hell of getting. So label it as a wake up call in getting my butt back to school.
I actually tried going back to school once last year (not a master’s program, but a technical college)…in interior design, again a “satisfactory” job that I probably wouldn’t mind doing. How did I do you ask? Not well at all. It wasn’t the actual classes…they were fine. It was setting (not finding) time aside for studying and completing the work for the class. What happened…I dropped out within a month of the courses, and lost 400 plus dollars. Now, did I not do the work out of laziness, or did I not do the work because interior design is not my true passion…would I actually do the work in a Master’s program, working towards a career in which I dedicate myself? Again, this is a burning question that I don’t know how to answer. $400 for a lost semester is one thing…but spending $4,000 and dropping out (along with all the work it takes to apply) would be such a bigger waste.
So I go back to my initial question…to attend Grad School or not to attend? I have some great positives on that list…but have realistic negatives that go along with those positives.
And I haven’t even mentioned the foreign language requirement that goes along with my field. I would have one year to be fluent in a foreign language. Can I do it? I would have seven months to teach myself a language before starting Grad School (if I were to be accepted into the program that is). Then I would have another 2 semesters, while in Grad School before having to take a fluency exam…and pass. Otherwise I would be dropped from the program…..eeek! And I am terrible…absolutely terrible at languages. Tried Spanish…not so hot. Attempted Italian…same outcome. Then in college I thought “I need to take Latin…it is the root of all Romantic Languages after all. If I learn Latin, I’ll be able to learn any language.” Beep. Wrong. Latin didn’t work out to well…and in fact, brought my GPA way waaaaaay down.
So what to do? Do I apply…if I’m accepted it’s a sign…right?! And if I’m denied…that’s another sign, and I would keep trucking along until something…hopefully something brilliant…works out for me.
Through this babbling I believe I found my answer…sort of that is. Apply or not to apply…apply and see what happens. It could open a new door…or maybe answer the burning question of “what the hell am I doing with my life?”
But the fact of the matter is… I need a plan of action. I’m working in a job with no advancement, within or outside my company. I’ve tried applying for travel agent professions, sales positions, and numerous other jobs in a variety of areas… all “satisfactory” jobs that I wouldn’t mind working in outside of what I went to school for…and what did I find within those areas…nothing. I’m still in that same dead end job. I realize the economy is bad, and there are plenty of people competing for those positions. But it becomes a little frustrating after a while…especially when they are jobs that I don’t even know if I would really like…basically I’m applying for something that isn’t my passion. Is that even worth it?
This past week I found two positions in my dream field. Both jobs, of which, I have no chance in hell of getting. So label it as a wake up call in getting my butt back to school.
I actually tried going back to school once last year (not a master’s program, but a technical college)…in interior design, again a “satisfactory” job that I probably wouldn’t mind doing. How did I do you ask? Not well at all. It wasn’t the actual classes…they were fine. It was setting (not finding) time aside for studying and completing the work for the class. What happened…I dropped out within a month of the courses, and lost 400 plus dollars. Now, did I not do the work out of laziness, or did I not do the work because interior design is not my true passion…would I actually do the work in a Master’s program, working towards a career in which I dedicate myself? Again, this is a burning question that I don’t know how to answer. $400 for a lost semester is one thing…but spending $4,000 and dropping out (along with all the work it takes to apply) would be such a bigger waste.
So I go back to my initial question…to attend Grad School or not to attend? I have some great positives on that list…but have realistic negatives that go along with those positives.
And I haven’t even mentioned the foreign language requirement that goes along with my field. I would have one year to be fluent in a foreign language. Can I do it? I would have seven months to teach myself a language before starting Grad School (if I were to be accepted into the program that is). Then I would have another 2 semesters, while in Grad School before having to take a fluency exam…and pass. Otherwise I would be dropped from the program…..eeek! And I am terrible…absolutely terrible at languages. Tried Spanish…not so hot. Attempted Italian…same outcome. Then in college I thought “I need to take Latin…it is the root of all Romantic Languages after all. If I learn Latin, I’ll be able to learn any language.” Beep. Wrong. Latin didn’t work out to well…and in fact, brought my GPA way waaaaaay down.
So what to do? Do I apply…if I’m accepted it’s a sign…right?! And if I’m denied…that’s another sign, and I would keep trucking along until something…hopefully something brilliant…works out for me.
Through this babbling I believe I found my answer…sort of that is. Apply or not to apply…apply and see what happens. It could open a new door…or maybe answer the burning question of “what the hell am I doing with my life?”
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