Madison

Had our annual meeting in Madison, Wisconsin last week. It was such a nice town - we were maybe 5 blocks from the University of Wisconsin campus. Lots and lots (and lots) of patchouli and hookah pipe establishments between the hotel and campus, and the smell of pot as we would walk by people just smoking on the street. There was also this creepy guy, very old, hobbled over in a wheelchair, skin and bones (getting to the creepy part), NAKED with a pee bag strapped to his leg. Yes, sad, but the creep factor was a bit overwhelming.

We were picked up in a STREEEEEETCH limo - prom style, for the 5 minute ride to the hotel.

The convention center is the Monona Terrace Convention Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It had gorgeous views of Lake Monona. Typical FLW architecture, though - bathrooms tucked way off and inconvenient, weird levels with elevators all over the place but none that go from the bottom all the way to the top. But hey, great view.

There was a big bike race there the day after we arrived, 60 laps around the Capitol. 60!

Weird double bike - bike welded on top of a bike.

Lake Mendota, right on campus. Beautiful - it would be interesting to see these lakes in the winter. They do ice fishing, skating, and that sail skating.