...just come along with me, by the light, by the light, by the light of the moon.

What an evening! I hit my first ever (or at least the first that I can recall) Badger Bash at Union South. Not only was the excitement of the crowd grin-inducing, but I got a free Badger t-shirt (one without any other business logos, too!) and a little hacky-sack. The highlight, of course, was the UW Marching Band playing a bit of their halftime songs, plus some of the usual favorites.

When the Bash was over, most of the crowd headed into Camp Randall, while I hurried down to State Street Brats to watch the game with a brat and a beer. That was another first for me. I've never watched a Badger game with such a crowd before. The excitement was palpable, and inebriation was jovial. There was also the satisfaction of, "Well, I didn't get tickets to the game, but I'm still warm and dry," in addition to the satisfaction of watching the Badgers end the Buckeye's winning streak by a touchdown. One week till UW Homecoming, and I may have to head downtown to join in the crowd again.

I ended the night with a trip up to the Orpheum for a drink, and then back down State Street. No rioting fans, even though a lot of people had been drinking all day. Let's hear it for decorum. Now the rain has stopped, the sky is clear and the full moon is out. The bright shining light of the moon.