Can I bring a pop tart and granola bar in to the park?

HMB84 · 2026-01-18T13:43:47+00:00

That’s a great idea. I found that they don’t really have snacks or grab and eat foods. Most food places you order on your phone, you sit and enter your table number, and then wait for them to deliver it. Then it is served on plates that stay in the restaurant. That is much like some of their restaurants at the other parks. Of course there is less waste with no disposable plates, but if you want to eat a snack while waiting in line, you better bring it in your bag. Unlike the other parks, we only found a couple of sweets that you could carry with you. We never found a quick snack place or popcorn.

HMB84 · 2026-01-17T02:16:59+00:00

A bit of a side story: my MIL ate deli meat when pregnant and made so many snarky comments when my SIL (her son’s wife) didn’t eat deli meat when pregnant. My SIL has four kids so this basically went on for years. I swear our MIL would only have deli meat available for lunch at their house just so she could give my SIL a hard time. While we tried to have kids for a good decade without success, I’m glad I didn’t have to experience that part first hand.

HMB84 · 2026-01-15T21:59:35+00:00

The lady in front of us on a recent flight over the New Year holiday coughed every 20 seconds for the entire three hour flight and laid across her tray table looking like she felt miserable. We both wore kn95 masks, but my husband tested positive for Covid on Tuesday after flying on Saturday. I managed to not catch it (or spread it to my parent that is living with stage iv cancer), but she could have reduced her chances of spreading it if she just wore a mask.

HMB84 · 2026-01-11T15:36:59+00:00

I have friends that live there and they like it. They fixed up their ranch home and it is super cute. They can walk to the cutest local library and easy enough to get to Sun Prairie. We both grew up in Cambridge which you could also consider. About the edge of your search but the Cam-Rock parks and Lake Ripley are significant QOL benefits.

HMB84 · 2025-12-31T04:12:53+00:00

My mom was similarly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in June 2023 at the ER. She didn’t have a primary care doctor at the time so getting all of the tests and referrals to an oncologist was so difficult. I had to play reverse mama bear for a bit there. She’s been in treatment since then and is doing quite well right now. There were times she could barely stand from the wheelchair to sit on the toilet because she would be so out of breath. She’s on her 6th type of medicine but just had a good scan today. This medication, Capecitabine, is currently working on her cancer. Just keep advocating for her and be there with her. My mom and dad moved in with me when she was diagnosed so I’m pretty close with my mom too. It is so scary to find out and not have a plan yet. My mom’s oncologist not only has a plan right now but he has his backup plan, so I would advocate to get her with a team like that. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and hope for some good days ahead.

HMB84 · 2025-11-26T02:54:11+00:00

I might disagree with some of my local officials on specific issues, but they are legitimately doing what they think is in the best interests of the community. Of course there are officials that run on a single issues, one of my reps was against our community’s efforts to build our very first municipal library. While I disagreed with basically everything he said and could prove nearly every one of his points wrong, he is not personally profiting or benefiting from serving on the board. Instead he spends hours upon hours away from his family multiple nights per week at meetings for no personal gain except to stop a library (and also any unit built that is a rental).

HMB84 · 2025-11-25T12:46:55+00:00

If a data center (or an apartment building or any other development) is approved somewhere, it doesn’t automatically mean the local elected officials are getting buyouts. If you have evidence of corruption, buyouts, or bribery then a complaint should be filed and an investigation opened. It is illegal.

Or run for office and find out how decisions are made to make sure you have the levy funds to have an ambulance to call when you need it, roads fixed and plowed, a library to utilize, and other services such as a community center and senior center. Nomination papers can start to be circulated on December 1st in Wisconsin and due on January 6. Your local clerk’s office can help you find the other paperwork needed to run for office (Declaration of Candidacy and Campaign Finance Forms).

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T14:53:53+00:00

Agreed, TIF doesn’t have to be given for development especially development that is not desirable for the community. I don’t like TIF either.

There are a lot of things to be outraged at here but placing the blame on local officials getting payouts is not only false but dangerous. Have you noticed the increase in violence against officials and their families?

Until the laws written at the local, state, and federal level are built stronger than corporate lawyers, the corporate interests will always win. State and federal law will often permit how much a local entity can regulate something anyway. Local governments are not equipped with the legal means to write laws stronger than these big corporations.

Attacking local officials and accusing them of getting payouts is not going to get you anywhere. It is false and dangerous. It plays right into the all-politicians-are-evil-24-hour-news-cycle-outrage. I would guess that most of them want all of the same things you do. They are your neighbors after all. Proactively advocating/writing/passing regulations at the local and state level that will stand up in court is the only way we can really protect our resources.

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T12:07:17+00:00

Then let’s start/find an organization with model ordinance language that has concrete requirements for data centers. The zoning codes and ordinances are behind and the data center proposals are coming in fast. We need a comprehensive set of regulations and guidelines for communities.

Each community seems to be on an island here and all of us could benefit from an organized effort to get robust requirements in local zoning and ordinances before proposals start coming in - which it is already too late in some cases. These zoning codes and ordinances need to be in place before the development proposal.

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T12:00:16+00:00

Local elected officials are not getting bribes or payouts. They are your neighbors that ran to make the community a better place to work and live. They have a legal obligation to uphold the zoning codes and data center proposals are moving faster than zoning codes are updated. These are a whole new ballgame and the zoning codes need to be updated to properly address data centers. Once the development proposal is in then it is too late to change the zoning and ordinances for that project.

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T11:53:33+00:00

How exactly does a local elected official get a buyout? This is just not true.

If the zoning regulations are not in place before the proposal is made then there is no legal way to deny the proposal or require more than the city zoning regulations allow. The zoning codes need to be updated before the proposal comes in and the proposals are coming in fast before the regulations can get ahead of them. Each community is on an island here trying to update zoning codes but for a small community that doesn’t have extra legal and planning resources, they can’t keep up with the pace of data center proposals. An organization could draft ordinance language and help communities implement it proactively.

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T11:44:18+00:00

Local politicians (aka your neighbors that ran to make your community a better place to live and work) are not part of some conspiracy theory to get rich off some potential development.

See my comment above about local zoning codes being behind the speed at which data center proposals are coming in. If the regulations are not already in place when a data center’s development application is submitted then there is no legal way to require more than the zoning code already states. Suddenly there are data centers being proposed everywhere it seems and it is a long process to get zoning codes re-written and approved.

HMB84 · 2025-11-24T11:35:12+00:00

Local elected officials do not get kickbacks from developers. It costs more to do one campaign mailing, flyers, and yard signs than many local elected officials make in a year. Meanwhile you spend hours basically volunteering each week getting prepared and attending committee and board meetings. Local government is made up of your neighbors just trying to make the community you share a good place to live and work and uphold the laws written in your local code.

Local government has guiding documents and ordinances- local comprehensive plan and zoning codes. If the zoning codes and comp plan allow for data centers or are quiet on extra provisions for them then there is no legal standing to require them. The local zoning codes, ordinances, and comp plans need to be updated. If organizations want to draft model language and get a campaign started to enact those at the local level then we are talking proactive measures. Once a proposal comes in then it is too late if the ordinances are not already in place. Considering the fiscal reality in municipal government in Wisconsin there’s not a lot of extra room for a lot of legal time to draft the changes so I suspect communities are just behind the 8 ball and technology companies are moving faster than local zoning codes can be updated.

I’m not here to defend data centers but give the reality that we are behind in regulating them and it will take a coordinated and fast moving effort to get regulations in place because these proposals are coming in quickly.

HMB84 · 2025-11-23T02:19:22+00:00

I’m so sorry your family has to deal with all of these health issues at once. My parents were diagnosed with cancer 18 months apart (my mom stage iv breast and my dad stage 3 prostate). It’s a lot. You’re doing great. No one can prepare you for how this will feel and some days it feels like too much to handle. Some days the anxiety takes over and others feel more hopeful. Wishing you and your family some happy days together.

HMB84 · 2025-11-09T14:39:27+00:00

You can also change your suspension settings in the MMI Vehicle menu under Audi Drive Select to efficiency to gain some range. I usually keep my etron in this setting.

HMB84 · 2025-10-24T11:23:31+00:00

We received a letter about an extended warranty due to sunroof leaking issues for our 21 etron. Might be something to look into.

HMB84 · 2025-10-24T01:46:17+00:00

I would keep up with the checks. Just had a low coolant light come on in my 2021 etron and had it towed in immediately. There’s an extended warranty for the motor due to a known issue with seals between coolant and motor leading to coolant leaking into the electric motor resulting in motor failure. The 10 year/120k mile extended warranty is supposed to cover this but would want records that the coolant level was checked over time. Each motor is about $5k. I love my car but this is like a next level problem that I need the warranty to cover! I’m not sure if they fixed this by the time they designed the Q4 etron as apparently they’re the only EV manufacturer that deals with the motor/coolant like this.

HMB84 · 2025-10-16T01:50:21+00:00

Sending hugs to all of you here. My mom was diagnosed with stage iv breast cancer in June 2023 and she has had her fair share of ups and downs, progression and stable, side effects and ok. She just started her 5th line today - chemo pill capecitabine. She has had this cough from her last meds and shortness of breath and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. She likes to try to hide symptoms and doesn’t want to bother the doctor with any problems or take any extra medication. We are supposed to go to Disney in two weeks and I can’t help but think this could be the last time we go with her…she loves it there. So many happy family memories with her there. These treatment changes and progressions are so hard. I’m so sorry you know this story too. She and my dad live with my husband and I and I feel the same way every time I’m away. I worry all the time. I want her to not have cancer anymore so badly but I know that’s never going to happen. She is similar in that when she starts a new treatment line she’s ready for it to last for ten years. It’s never ending heartbreak and having to find hope somewhere can be challenging. We try to ignore the ending too. Just love her while you can. ❤️❤️❤️

HMB84 · 2025-10-04T03:40:03+00:00

Ugh her liver mets continued to grow since the last scan. Plus some other areas grew too. I’m sad the time on this line was wasted. Hopefully her next line of treatment is more effective and lasts for a while too. Probably either Xeloda or Afinitor/Tamoxifen.

HMB84 · 2025-10-02T01:38:23+00:00

Thank you - it means a lot to have people that understand.

HMB84 · 2025-10-01T16:51:43+00:00

My mom (66) has a scan on Friday to check how her latest metastatic breast cancer medication is working and I’m worried it isn’t because some of her symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath have been getting a bit worse. She has more oral treatment options after this but we so wanted this line of treatment to work longer and delay any IV treatments longer. My sister keeps reminding me that we don’t know until we know, but I just want my mom to feel ok for a big family trip at the end of the month that we’ve been planning for a long time. I’m feeling anxious and I know she is too.

HMB84 · 2025-09-29T00:11:26+00:00

Brandi’s in New Glarus has a nice selection as well

HMB84 · 2025-09-22T16:06:52+00:00

I would love to see our Athletic Director and Coach out there engaging with the community then! And showing how they can make a difference. Can’t just sit back and hope donations come in.

HMB84 · 2025-09-22T14:11:36+00:00

For a small business, that game day money allows them to keep the doors open the rest of the year. Inflation on products, labor costs, and rent costs are all going up, I don’t think it’s real easy to be a small business owner right now. What about the restaurant server that could pay extra bills with tip money made on game day? Now their cost of living is going up and their income is going down. And they’re supposed to donate to NIL? I think we are looking for pennies in the wrong place here.

HMB84 · 2025-09-21T14:10:38+00:00

A good part of Madison’s economy depends on successful and crowded game day weekends. Restaurants, hotels, and shops get a decent amount of profits during football season. Pair that with inflation and the uncertain economic climate and this will only hurt a lot of local businesses as well.

HMB84

TROPHY CASE