A. Lincoln Road Trip

I'm just back from a brief road trip to Southern Illinois where I grew up. The trip reminded me of one sharp contrast between living in the Madison area and most other places - people like living here. People generally seem not be so keen on the place they live. When the waitress at the Olive Garden in Springfield, Illinois learned we were from Wisconsin, she couldn't wait to tell us what a boring place it is. I had similar experiences in my hometown of Mt. Vernon . That negative attitude is really quite corrosive over time.

By the way, boring as a place to live it may be, but Springfield is worth a visit for the Lincoln sites. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum is absolutely a must see. The museum opened in 2005 and boasts some eye-popping technology that is well-employed to tell Lincoln's story to modern audiences. It is impossible to visit the museum and not have some important and interesting information leak into your head. The Lincoln Home and the Lincoln Tomb should not be missed. Be sure to take the 20-minute tour of the Lincoln Home.

We also took in a Brewers' fiasco at the new Busch Stadium . Beautiful ballpark, but bring the sunscreen!