Usually when we do the Chick Trip, Saturday is the main day for activities because Friday and Sunday are travel days. This was the case for CT07, so we tried to pack a lot in the one day. Luckily we got the requisite shopping trip done the night before, so Saturday morning after enjoying our "enhanced Continental breakfast" we headed off to the Miller Brewing Company for a tour of their little beer-making facility. It's a nice little free tour should you find yourself in the area, we learned a lot about how a multi-billion dollar business makes some of their more popular brands, which as you probably know includes the Miller family (Lite, MGD, High Life, the new limey Chill, the Beast, etc.), Hamm's, Plank Road, and Leinenkugel. It also imports Pilsner Urquell and Peroni. Saturday is maintenance day at the brewery so we didn't see much action on the floor, but I'm sure we learned a lot about the process anyway. The nice thing, though, is the free sample portion of the tour, where we received very generously-sized cups of Leinie's Summer Shandy because it's new this summer, and our choice of two of any of the regular Miller brews, Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat or Berry Weiss. After this we decided we REALLY needed to get some food in our tummies. We went to a favorite chain restaurant, P.F. Chang's and shared some delicious Chinese appetizers and entrees. After returning to the hotel to rest a bit, we headed over to Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Miller Park opened in 2001, so it's pretty new. It has a space-age retractable roof which was closed the evening we were there because rain was threatening. It was packed because I suppose you could say the Brewers are doing well this season, unfortunately. I mean, good for them or whatever, but they are competing with the Cubs for the top of the NL Central division and cause me to freak out about daily and honestly it is stressing me out. Anyway, we had great seats and they had neat LED out of town scoreboards as you can see from the photos.


Other highlights of a game at Miller Park are the Sausage Races, their mascot Bernie Brewer who has his own clubhouse and slides down from one level to another when the Brewers get a home run, the parking lot tailgating, and how they sing "Roll out the Barrel" during the 7th inning stretch. A minor complaint - they have a DANCE TEAM - please. I do not approve of a dance squad in baseball. It is just not right. Also it feels weird to be watching baseball inside a building with a roof, but I'm sure never having weather-related delays or cancellations is great. I was reading that Bill Simmons once referred to Brewers fans as "over-protective Little League parents" - I was reminded of this when the fans seriously FLIPPED OUT when someone singled in the 8th inning. I couldn't figure out what the deal was. I asked Kris if I missed a run being batted in or something. But no, they were as excited about the single as they would be a grand slam home run. It was kind of...odd. The Brewers beat the Phillies which I was unhappy about because as mentioned before, it kept the Cubs one game back. But it was fun for all of us Chicks to be together and it was a great time. <3 the Chicks!

I know, I know, it's been a while since we last wrote. But the Nor'easter ended last week. We've gotten back to our regular lives. For three days anyway, and then jetted off again for the middle of America this time - Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

Wayne Campbell: So, do you come to Milwaukee often?
Alice Cooper: Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers began visiting here in the late 16th century.
Pete: Hey, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?
Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete, it is. In fact, it was originally an Algonquin term meaning "the good land."
Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that.
Alice Cooper: I think one of the most interesting things about Milwaukee is that it's the only American city to elect three Socialist mayors.
Wayne Campbell: [to the camera] Does this guy know how to party or what?

---Wayne's World

Anyway, we were breezing in and out of town to have our annual CHICK TRIP. Many of you are already aware of this tradition, but in case you are unfamiliar, five of us girls who went to high school together (some back to middle school, some even to elementary school - here's where Steph says I should mention that she and I took baths together when we were young, do what you'd like with that image) have been making sure to get together for a weekend together at least one time a year for the last eleven years. It's very important to us because although we are still in touch, this time away just the five of us together to hang out and catch up, is special. We often try to meet in a large Midwestern city because then those of us who live in Iowa can drive to it and Kris can fly to the local airport.

Hmm, I have to end this for tonight because Steph wants me to come warm her in bed. Tomorrow, a report on the tour we took of the Miller Brewing Company and the totally crappy game we attended at Miller Park. (It wasn't really crappy, but the Brewers won which kept them first in the division that the Cubs should be at least tied for first in tonight).