Rolling out the Rules

Taste of USA 2009 voting will begin on Monday, May 4th. It's going to be fast! It's going to be furious! It's going to be FUN! So jump in and vote! There are 3 brackets:

• Freedom,
• Independence,
• Liberty

We have eliminated two states - not because we don't want to go there, not because we don't love them but because we had to eliminate two to make the brackets work. And, being realistic, it would be tough for us to go to Hawaii or Alaska. (sigh. Okay, I'm over it. Let's move on.) The winner will be decided when each bracket has one state standing. Those three states will battle it out for the title of Taste of USA 2009 Champion! The final vote is scheduled for May 29th.

The states have been seeded so that states that visit Highlowaha the most are not competing until later rounds... if another state doesn't knock them out first. There will be 3 polls on the side bar Monday through Friday, one for each bracket.
Over there --------------->

You are voting for where would you like 2009 Taste of USA to be held? Where would you be willing to go to meet us? We want you there with us!

ROUND ONE
Monday, May 4th:
Freedom: Pennsylvania vs. Nebraska
Independence: Kentucky vs. Maine
Liberty: Texas vs. Delaware

Tuesday, May 5th:
Freedom: Alabama vs. New Jersey
Independence: Arkansas vs. New Mexico
Liberty: Colorado vs. North Carolina

Wednesday, May 6th:
Freedom: Utah vs. Lousiana
Independence: Washington vs. Michigan
Liberty: West Virginia vs. Minnesota

Thursday, May 7th:
Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana

Friday, May 8th:
Freedom: Ohio vs. Maryland
Independence: Georgia vs. Vermont
Liberty: Massachussets vs. Kansas

Monday, May 11th:
Freedom: Missouri vs. Tennessee
Independence: Montana vs. South Carolina
Liberty: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma

Tuesday, May 12th:
Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana

Wednesday, May 13th:
Freedom: North Dakota vs. Arizona
Independence: Wyoming vs. Illinois
Liberty: Rhode Island vs. New York

Taste of USA - The Beginning

Welcome to Taste of USA!

This is your cruise director speaking! (I always did want to be Julie McCoy when I was younger!) Get ready for a fun time with Taste of USA sponsored by our very own http://www.highlowaha.com/! Along the way, you're probably going to learn a lot about me, some interesting tidbits about each state and hopefully we will learn from you and other readers what the locals love most about their state. Don't forget, the state with the most participants and the best creativity will win a party with highlowaha.com's very own, Claudia Beeny! (and the crowd goes wild! Ahhhh!) Not only will she bring her-fun-creative-self along with great prizes and good time had by all, but you will get to help shape the creative future of http://www.highlowaha.com/. How does this work, you ask? Highlowaha will announce the states that are due to be featured in the coming week. Go there now to see who is up this week! On the day a state is posted, anyone can post. Tell us about your vacation to this state, give a shout to a friend that lives in the state. Heck, call or email that friend now and ask them to check out the fun, or maybe you just have a funny story or joke about the state. Anything goes and everyone is allowed to share on that states day. If you have a photo that you would like to share, send it to TasteofUSA@gmail.com and I will get it posted! If you are from one of the states featured in the week, come back on the designated date (usually Friday's but double check) and post your favorite thing about your state or even your town. It can be anything! This is your chance to tell us what you are most proud of in your area. You get points for posting. How would you like to earn some extra points for your state? There will be a new challenge each week. Get extra points that week for performing the challenge. The challenges will be announced at the beginning of the week. Complete the challenge by the end of the week and post these items on your assigned posting day. Some challenges will involve photos. You will email the photos to tasteofusa@gmail.com. Did you say, "Darn, I missed my state!" Don't worry! Keep participating with the other states that you have visited and know other people in. And keep checking back! There will be an announcement for make-up days! Just like in school! Clear as mud? Hopefully that explains it but if you have any questions, please just post them and we will do our best to answer them. Don't forget: Participation & Creativity! That's what's really going to count!

So, dust off your pom-poms,

be sure to do some stretches

(especially if you're anything like me), and get ready to tell us what your state is made of!