In my heart, Wisconsin will always be the cheese capital of the world, regardless of what other states -- like California -- try to claim. And I hate that commercial with the cold, unhappy Wisconsin cows.

Today, however, I had a small but meaningful moment of Wisconsin cheese pride. A good friend from San Francisco stayed with us for a long weekend, and bought bags of cheese curds to bring home for his friends as souvenirs.

"What's a Californian doing with CHEESE from Wisconsin? Are you admitting ours is better?" I asked.

"Absolutely," he said without missing a beat. "Wisconsin cheese is made on family farms and California's is from corporate farms."

I haven't had the time or desire to research this as fact, but I like it, and declared it a small victory point for the Wisconsin team. In your face, sun-lovin' Cali cows.