Saturday, July 3, 2004

Wave as my boat goes by I'll be riding in the Glendale Fourth of July Parade tomorrow for what must be at least the 15th year in a row, if not 20th. Jim Dillig will drive his shiny red pickup and tow the Outdoor Wisconsin camera boat with me sitting in it and waving to parade goers. The way the weather report looks right now, I hope there are parade goers! We've had rain once or twice in all the years I've done this parade, but most of the time it has been sunny and hot. Some groups march or ride in several parades on the Fourth. It's a logistical challenge, but it can be done. March in the first half hour or so of a morning parade, then you can high-tail it to an early-afternoon parade, where you march in the middle. Then you run on the the third parade, where you'll bring up the rear. Nancy Frank and I were to ride in three parades one year, starting at Humboldt Park in the morning. Jim Dillig was to tow us in the boat, driving my Jeep. When I got up that morning, though, I couldn't find the Jeep keys, so I called Nancy's cell phone and gave her the bad news. Jim drove his pickup and Nancy and her dog, Snowball, rode in the back, and no one along the parade route was the wiser. I finally found the keys and caught up with them in Glendale. From there, we went on to the Shorewood parade. Or maybe Whitefish Bay, I don't recall. This year, one parade is plenty, especially if it rains. Anyway, if you are anywhere near Kletzsch Park at 10:30 tomorrow morning, find a spot to sit or stand and look for me and Jim. We're No. 56 in a parade of 93 groups that will include U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, several state legislators, the Racing Sausages (not the Campbellsport brat, though), George & Martha Washington, and a host of marching bands, floats, Bernie Brewer, and many more. When I retire, I'll have to come see the parade. Riding in it, I get to see the group ahead and the group behind, but not much more. Happy Fourth! later... 10:18:50 PM    comment []

World Record Brat This afternoon, some folks over in Campbellsport were planning to cook and serve the world's biggest bratwurst and document it for the Guiness Book of Records. Apparently, the old record of 35 feet was broken just recently by a 36-footer. The Campbellsport gang wants to establish a new standard for big brats, so they were aiming for 45 feet. One problem was finding a 50-foot long sausage casing, but they apparently took care of that. They planned to stuff the brat late this afternoon, then carefully put it on a long plank and slide it into a semi, where a giant bun would be waiting. The bun, baked by the folks at Fin 'N' Feather in New Prospect, was to be trucked to Campbellsport for the event. The brat was then to be grilled on a custom-made 48-foot charcoal grill, and turned by a drill team of chefs. Once cooked, the chefs were to lift it into the bun, measure it, then cut it up and serve it. That was the plan as of about noon today, when Michael Feldman of the Whad Ya Know? radio show interviewed one of the planners. I haven't heard whether they managed to pull it off or not, but when I get word from Campbellsport, you'll read it here first! Hey, pass the mustard! Later... 9:54:45 PM    comment []