2014 was a fantastic year.
I am not saying nothing bad happened, of course bad things happened. Some very sad things happened. The loss of the oldest (a grandparent) and the very youngest (an unborn niece/nephew) were hard.
But, there is so much good. My life is very good and I want to take a moment to be thankful for it.
I live in a city I love. Everyday I get up and drive by Lake Superior to get to my job, where I can look at the lake all day (in between business). The lake speaks to my soul, it is my muse. That is incredibly cheesy, but I am finding out as I get older that many many many cheesy things are true. This city is nestled in a state that I also love, that has a sense of decency and community; a state that does well on healthcare, education, environmental policy, job creation.. the list could go on and on.
Oh, and that job I am driving to? Its a job I find fulfilling. I feel like my job has meaning, that it serves a purpose to help my community (the city and state I love). At that job, besides having a lakeview cubicle, I work with people with whom I enjoy spending time, and I believe they like me. My supervisor has confidence in me and I have upward mobility, and am already taking on more projects and more control over my work life.
After work, I drive to daycare. Its a daycare center that I TRUST and believe takes good care of my kids. It offers classes that at times turn it into a little community of support.
And then, of course, I meet my loving, hardworking husband there, and pick up my two healthy, beautiful children. Its amazing that it is plural now, and I can't express the weight that having a second child has lifted. The fear of never having the family we wanted, and havine to settle and get over it, is gone. And my children are growing and learning and changing. They are happy, they love their parents and we love them.
We pick up our Children and usually take them to our house; a house that is cozy and feels like a home to me. It is in a neighborhood that is safe, across from a golf course, within walking distance of a nice little playground, and a high school. We have all the material possessions we need, and many that we just want.
Sometimes instead of going home I take them to their grandparents. My parents, who support us and help us, who I get to laugh several times a week, who I drink beer with, eat good food with, and generally enjoy being around. Similarly, I get to see all my siblings as often as we make time for it. I can go to lunch with my sisters or dinner with my brother with no problem. They baby sit for use, we house sit for them. I love being near our extended family.
And every once in awhile, my in laws come visit. And they are wonderful people who love us and their grandchildren, who are generous and kind, who understand that we cannot be everywhere at once and do not hold it against us. They are welcome as often as they are willing to tolerate our chaotic house and cold weather.
2014 was a year where I was surrounded by love and satisfaction from every direction.
This is the stuff happily ever after is made of.
Showing posts with label memory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memory. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2015
Friday, August 9, 2013
Grandma K, Memorial
My paternal Grandmother was laid to rest today. I was not able to attend the funeral, so I wanted to take a minute to write about her.
Grandma was my last remaining Grandparent. She was 88 years old.
When you are a child, Grandparents are ageless. They are old, but unchanging. Its only later when you see pictures that you see their hair changing from dark to grey to white. As a child, Grandma K meant endless buckets of cookies. I especially remember the sweet chewy toffee cookies, or was it butter brickle? Grandma and Grandpa would arrive in their Suburban, with a third row "short" seat (lower to the ground) for us little ones to ride around with. We would unload their things into the guest room and the gallon ice cream buckets full of cookies to the kitchen. We would be eating them long after Grandma went home.
Grandma and Grandpa K had a beautiful lake house, which it felt like they bought just for us grand children. How many lazy summer days did I spend there? Probably less than my memory would lead me to believe, but those timeless repeating memories are best. I remember arriving after a long drive and the roller coaster hills, stepping into the hot Ohio heat, and then into the cool fresh air conditioning and into Grandma's arms for a hug. The garage had a very particular smell that I never found pleasant - hot rubber? But I would still happily go in there to find a soda or see my Grandpa "play" the player piano. We slept on a trundle bed, and since I was the younger sister, I always got the bottom bed, which remained on the floor. In the morning, we would creep upstairs for breakfast - either personal size cereal boxes where everyone got to pick their own kind (I always chose Raisin Brand), or if we were lucky, pancakes and the most delicious sausage. It is in that roomy stretched out kitchen that I learned to love my sausage with real maple syrup (and actually, to demand real maple syrup in general). Then we would go swimming - race down the hill to the lake and splash away the hours. Grandma never swam with us, but we always knew it was because she was upstairs working her magic in the kitchen. At some point she would ring the bell for lunch and we would all climb up up up the hill to eat fresh cut ham sandwiches, chips and cookies. Often the afternoon brought more swimming - or if not, playing with the electric organ, the pink tea set, board games, cards, or drawing with fruit-smelling markers. We would smell each marker and use it, then carefully put them back away in the sleeves, making sure none got lost. My favorite was black licorice, even though I preferred to color with the pink berry smelling one. Often cousins would join us and we bonded over silly games and lots of laughter. By dinner time, swimsuits were expected to be shed, bodies washed, hair combed. Feeling cozy and warm we would eat another wonderful family meal all together. Later in the evening - desert - usually ice cream or more of those wonderful cookies. Those were my days with Grandma and Grandpa Keener. Full of food, fun and love.
When I got older, in Middle School and High School, I spent different time with them. They took me to museums, and college campuses. They showed me things about their past, told me stories of my father sleeping in a drawer when he was a baby, of how little they had, and how they made due, of what their parents taught them, and how they grew up. I still loved seeing them, and my days with them were filled with food, knowledge, and love.
My Grandpa passed away in 2005, and that is when my Grandma's struggle with dementia (eventually Alzheimer's) began. I was off working in New Jersey that summer, and then back at college in the fall. I wasn't sure how often I would see my Grandma, or what she would be like when I did. Then, fortuitously, I ended up attending Ohio State University for Grad School, only an hours drive from my Grandma's house. Suddenly I was able to see her more often than ever - two to three times a week rather than two to three times a year. When I moved there in 2006, she was still relatively mentally engaged, with only occasional confusion. I drove her down to visit her sister and got to hear the two of them relive the past and eat some wonderful ham and brownies. I cooked desserts for her, she loved lemon. For one of her birthday's I made lemon cake with lemon filling and lemon frosting. I talked to her about her childhood memories, and her nursing stories. She would tell the old stories and laugh and laugh at some of the foolish things from her youth. As time passed, she declined. She became less engaged, less active, less present. I got used to repeating myself, telling her the same thing (that we were waiting for Aunt Karen to arrive, or that dinner was almost ready, or that DH had to work that day) five times in five minutes. And then she stopped asking even those questions. The confusion increased, and with it her frustration with not understanding what was going on. And it is perhaps in these final months I spent with her (before moving back to Minnesota in 2012) when she taught me one of the most important lessons. She had a mantra that she repeated anytime she got frustrated with her inability to grasp what was going on around her. My uncle nicknamed her Doris Day for it. The mantra was "whatever will be will be." She said it because it was something to hold onto, a sentence, a song, that always holds true and makes it OK to not quite know what is going on. I find myself using it sometimes as a mantra when the going in life gets rough.
My Grandma K was a great woman. She was a nurse, she raised my funny and loving father, my genius uncle, and my tender heart aunt. She baked cookies, and hams, and rang that dinner bell. She loved her husband, and her kids, and her grandchildren, and aged as gracefully as fate would allow. I am glad I had so long with her, and glad that her values and love will live on in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Grandma was my last remaining Grandparent. She was 88 years old.
When you are a child, Grandparents are ageless. They are old, but unchanging. Its only later when you see pictures that you see their hair changing from dark to grey to white. As a child, Grandma K meant endless buckets of cookies. I especially remember the sweet chewy toffee cookies, or was it butter brickle? Grandma and Grandpa would arrive in their Suburban, with a third row "short" seat (lower to the ground) for us little ones to ride around with. We would unload their things into the guest room and the gallon ice cream buckets full of cookies to the kitchen. We would be eating them long after Grandma went home.
Grandma and Grandpa K had a beautiful lake house, which it felt like they bought just for us grand children. How many lazy summer days did I spend there? Probably less than my memory would lead me to believe, but those timeless repeating memories are best. I remember arriving after a long drive and the roller coaster hills, stepping into the hot Ohio heat, and then into the cool fresh air conditioning and into Grandma's arms for a hug. The garage had a very particular smell that I never found pleasant - hot rubber? But I would still happily go in there to find a soda or see my Grandpa "play" the player piano. We slept on a trundle bed, and since I was the younger sister, I always got the bottom bed, which remained on the floor. In the morning, we would creep upstairs for breakfast - either personal size cereal boxes where everyone got to pick their own kind (I always chose Raisin Brand), or if we were lucky, pancakes and the most delicious sausage. It is in that roomy stretched out kitchen that I learned to love my sausage with real maple syrup (and actually, to demand real maple syrup in general). Then we would go swimming - race down the hill to the lake and splash away the hours. Grandma never swam with us, but we always knew it was because she was upstairs working her magic in the kitchen. At some point she would ring the bell for lunch and we would all climb up up up the hill to eat fresh cut ham sandwiches, chips and cookies. Often the afternoon brought more swimming - or if not, playing with the electric organ, the pink tea set, board games, cards, or drawing with fruit-smelling markers. We would smell each marker and use it, then carefully put them back away in the sleeves, making sure none got lost. My favorite was black licorice, even though I preferred to color with the pink berry smelling one. Often cousins would join us and we bonded over silly games and lots of laughter. By dinner time, swimsuits were expected to be shed, bodies washed, hair combed. Feeling cozy and warm we would eat another wonderful family meal all together. Later in the evening - desert - usually ice cream or more of those wonderful cookies. Those were my days with Grandma and Grandpa Keener. Full of food, fun and love.
When I got older, in Middle School and High School, I spent different time with them. They took me to museums, and college campuses. They showed me things about their past, told me stories of my father sleeping in a drawer when he was a baby, of how little they had, and how they made due, of what their parents taught them, and how they grew up. I still loved seeing them, and my days with them were filled with food, knowledge, and love.
My Grandpa passed away in 2005, and that is when my Grandma's struggle with dementia (eventually Alzheimer's) began. I was off working in New Jersey that summer, and then back at college in the fall. I wasn't sure how often I would see my Grandma, or what she would be like when I did. Then, fortuitously, I ended up attending Ohio State University for Grad School, only an hours drive from my Grandma's house. Suddenly I was able to see her more often than ever - two to three times a week rather than two to three times a year. When I moved there in 2006, she was still relatively mentally engaged, with only occasional confusion. I drove her down to visit her sister and got to hear the two of them relive the past and eat some wonderful ham and brownies. I cooked desserts for her, she loved lemon. For one of her birthday's I made lemon cake with lemon filling and lemon frosting. I talked to her about her childhood memories, and her nursing stories. She would tell the old stories and laugh and laugh at some of the foolish things from her youth. As time passed, she declined. She became less engaged, less active, less present. I got used to repeating myself, telling her the same thing (that we were waiting for Aunt Karen to arrive, or that dinner was almost ready, or that DH had to work that day) five times in five minutes. And then she stopped asking even those questions. The confusion increased, and with it her frustration with not understanding what was going on. And it is perhaps in these final months I spent with her (before moving back to Minnesota in 2012) when she taught me one of the most important lessons. She had a mantra that she repeated anytime she got frustrated with her inability to grasp what was going on around her. My uncle nicknamed her Doris Day for it. The mantra was "whatever will be will be." She said it because it was something to hold onto, a sentence, a song, that always holds true and makes it OK to not quite know what is going on. I find myself using it sometimes as a mantra when the going in life gets rough.
My Grandma K was a great woman. She was a nurse, she raised my funny and loving father, my genius uncle, and my tender heart aunt. She baked cookies, and hams, and rang that dinner bell. She loved her husband, and her kids, and her grandchildren, and aged as gracefully as fate would allow. I am glad I had so long with her, and glad that her values and love will live on in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Crawler!!
Benjamin started crawling!!
This morning we got up at 8:30am (actually that was DS/DHs second time up, but as a family we we got up at 8:30, LOL). I fed Benjamin and pumped, and then we sauntered downstairs around 9am to start getting ready for our fantasy football draft. I started my coffee and got signed in on the laptop with Benjamin on the floor by my feet while DH signed in to the desktop in the office. And right there, at 9:15am, right before DH and I were both supposed to be doing something that took a good chunk of our attention, he decided that he wanted the laptop cords, and started crawling!! I told DH so he could come see, then grabbed my camera, moved him back away from the cords, and got this:
This morning we got up at 8:30am (actually that was DS/DHs second time up, but as a family we we got up at 8:30, LOL). I fed Benjamin and pumped, and then we sauntered downstairs around 9am to start getting ready for our fantasy football draft. I started my coffee and got signed in on the laptop with Benjamin on the floor by my feet while DH signed in to the desktop in the office. And right there, at 9:15am, right before DH and I were both supposed to be doing something that took a good chunk of our attention, he decided that he wanted the laptop cords, and started crawling!! I told DH so he could come see, then grabbed my camera, moved him back away from the cords, and got this:
OK, so his timing was not great. Ten minutes before DH and I are supposed to have the bulk of our attention on something else and he becomes able to make more trouble than ever! LOL. The draft, which involved a lot of chasing down of baby and last second decision making, went fine. Afterwards we headed out to Target and picked up the baby-proofing basics, then came home and started installing it all (yes.. we are last minute people). We now have outlet covers in, and we have a permanent baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. We still need to do furniture anchoring.
It is really amazing to see him grow and develop. Crawling is such a huge step! I did not realize how awesome (literally awe inspiring) it would be when he started! Our little man is on the go, he is so proud of himself too. I love it! Also, it is amazing how once he did it one time he was totally on the go and expert! Although - he took a long time to be brave enough to try to move from carpet to wood floor, and still will stop at the edge of the tile! Suddenly he also is way more interested in his rolling toys (so thanks Gma Y for bringing one up for him last weekend!)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Our First Mother's Day
Today was my first Mother's Day as a mother, it was a long time coming! We got up at our normal time, DH told me he needed help finishing my mother's day present. So I come downstairs and it is a breakfast tray that says "Our First Mother's Day", with the date and Benjamin's name, and a picture frame, and a place to put Benjamin's hand print. So we painted his little hand blue and slapped in on there! I thought I took a picture, but apparently it did not make it to this computer yet. Then DH took care of baby and made breakfast while I showered. I gave my mom her gift, and we all ate pancakes and bacon.
After some more conversation and preparation we headed out for a day up the shore. My aunt and uncle were still in town from the wedding and they wanted to experience some North Woods beauty. (Also just for my records, we started using size 3 diapers today after a number of blowouts recently. I am putting this here because we stopped to buy a pack on the way up the shore).
We went to Gooseberry Falls State Park and then to one of our favorite little "secrets" along the north shore, Iona's Beach. Then we had lunch at Northern Lights, and I took a nice nap while DH drove us home. It was a really great day and I am very appreciative to have such a great husband, mother, and son, and family to spend it with!
After some more conversation and preparation we headed out for a day up the shore. My aunt and uncle were still in town from the wedding and they wanted to experience some North Woods beauty. (Also just for my records, we started using size 3 diapers today after a number of blowouts recently. I am putting this here because we stopped to buy a pack on the way up the shore).
We went to Gooseberry Falls State Park and then to one of our favorite little "secrets" along the north shore, Iona's Beach. Then we had lunch at Northern Lights, and I took a nice nap while DH drove us home. It was a really great day and I am very appreciative to have such a great husband, mother, and son, and family to spend it with!
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| Our Beautiful Little Family at Gooseberry State Park |
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| My brother playing with Benjamin on Iona Beach |
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| Me! Nice shot with Bry and DH in the background. |
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| Grandma (my mom), me, baby, and DH on Iona Beach |
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| Fitting that my new SIL found a heart shaped rock two days after her wedding! |
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| DH holding Benjamin at Gooseberry |
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Mr and Mrs Little Brother
My little brother got married last night to a great girl. She likes cars and ice racing, she collects stegosauruses, she is afraid of biscuit cans and baby seals, she calls herself a vampire because she is a phlebotomist that works nights. She is perfect for my brother and fits into our goofy family wonderfully.
The wedding was a lot of fun! I have to admit I was a bit nervous about having baby there, whether we would be able to stay the whole time etc, but it went very smoothly. The ceremony was short and sweet, with a basic "what is marriage" speech, a reading from "The Places You'll Go" by Dr Seuss, and vows. I think a lot of people teared up during that part. Baby fell asleep as we were waiting for the wedding to begin and slept through until we applauded at the end, perfect! Then it was up to cocktail hour that involved chocolate mustaches for everyone! Yummy, and useful for disguise. Back at dinner it was a pizza buffet and wings, and an amusing DJ. The dancing was great. They don't really like being the center of attention, so most of the dances (first dance, dance w/parents, etc) rapidly evolved into everyone grooving. I found out my brother does indeed have Shakira hips as it had been rumored. Benjamin did have a bit of a meltdown during the beginning of the dancing, so I spent about an hour rocking him and letting him sleep on me, then I put him in his car seat by the table and he slept the rest of the night. The DJ several fun activities up his sleeve, the most entertaining of which was a cross between a scavenger hunt and musical chairs starting with eight participants sitting on chairs on the dance floor. They were sent off on a number of ridiculous missions, like stealing someones belt, finding someone with a tattoo etc. The best moment of the game, and perhaps the night, was when the final two contestants were instructed they needed to tuck a business card into the groom's pocket. The foot race which ensued involved grown men in suits vaulting multiple chairs, and was hilarious. The other high point of the night for me personally was the macarena... Oh how I love that song and all the good memories it brings back! My friends and I always did the "athletic" version. I got the bride and groom to try it! Instead of just swiveling your hips on the last beats of the verse you go down on the floor and rock back to throw a hand up. I tried to find a video of it, but I am not sure how to even search without watching 100s of macarena videos.
So that is it, my little brother is married. I am extremely happy for him and his new bride, and welcome her to the family!
The wedding was a lot of fun! I have to admit I was a bit nervous about having baby there, whether we would be able to stay the whole time etc, but it went very smoothly. The ceremony was short and sweet, with a basic "what is marriage" speech, a reading from "The Places You'll Go" by Dr Seuss, and vows. I think a lot of people teared up during that part. Baby fell asleep as we were waiting for the wedding to begin and slept through until we applauded at the end, perfect! Then it was up to cocktail hour that involved chocolate mustaches for everyone! Yummy, and useful for disguise. Back at dinner it was a pizza buffet and wings, and an amusing DJ. The dancing was great. They don't really like being the center of attention, so most of the dances (first dance, dance w/parents, etc) rapidly evolved into everyone grooving. I found out my brother does indeed have Shakira hips as it had been rumored. Benjamin did have a bit of a meltdown during the beginning of the dancing, so I spent about an hour rocking him and letting him sleep on me, then I put him in his car seat by the table and he slept the rest of the night. The DJ several fun activities up his sleeve, the most entertaining of which was a cross between a scavenger hunt and musical chairs starting with eight participants sitting on chairs on the dance floor. They were sent off on a number of ridiculous missions, like stealing someones belt, finding someone with a tattoo etc. The best moment of the game, and perhaps the night, was when the final two contestants were instructed they needed to tuck a business card into the groom's pocket. The foot race which ensued involved grown men in suits vaulting multiple chairs, and was hilarious. The other high point of the night for me personally was the macarena... Oh how I love that song and all the good memories it brings back! My friends and I always did the "athletic" version. I got the bride and groom to try it! Instead of just swiveling your hips on the last beats of the verse you go down on the floor and rock back to throw a hand up. I tried to find a video of it, but I am not sure how to even search without watching 100s of macarena videos.
So that is it, my little brother is married. I am extremely happy for him and his new bride, and welcome her to the family!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Perfect Moment
With the weather so nice these days (highs in the 60s or low 70s), DH and I have taken to going on evening walks whenever the baby cooperates. Last night we were walking back up the driveway and we were talking about the transition to parenthood and how much I love being a mother and how much he likes being a father and how glad we are to have Benjamin. At that moment Benjamin, who was sitting in my arms facing us, got a huge grin and started laughing. He laughed for a good minute with a giant smile on his face (and of course we joined him). It is by far the best laughter he has given us. I think it was him saying "I am glad you have me too!" It was a perfect family moment.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Stupid Ankles and other Rambles
You know that ankle I twisted last week? Well, its still bothering me. Partially because I am an idiot and partially because my ankles suck. I am an idiot because I assumed it was not a big deal despite feeling that twinge of sprain and did not elevate, ice, or rest it. My ankles suck because... well, they just do. We have weak ankles in my family. My sisters and I have all had multiple sprained ankles. It was an annual occurence in soccer for me to sprain one, if not both ankles. My first sprain was in 8th grade and I got it walking across a tennis court. Notice: walking, on a flat surface. Talent. The joke has always been that I tripped on one of the lines. Anyways, the point is, my ankle still hurts and I need to start treating it better, you know, like I sprained it.
In other news... um. Maybe I don't have other news. This week is nice. I get tomorrow off. I am going to Trivia tonight. I am getting a lot of reading done. I am reading good books. I had a book club last night that was a lot of fun. I am looking for another book club. I am always looking for more book clubs. We might start one at work. I am already thinking about next years new years resolutions. I have not given up on getting organized, but I need to make it more concrete if it is going to happen. Did I mention I have tomorrow off? And I don't intend to spend it organizing. I do intent to spend it reading. Maybe we will go make a chore chart. DH is taking it off as well, just for kicks.
Um.. I think thats all? Bis spaeter!
OH! And two more books came into the library for me:
Linger by Maggie Steifvater, and
The Scarlett Pimpernel (another book for a book club).
In other news... um. Maybe I don't have other news. This week is nice. I get tomorrow off. I am going to Trivia tonight. I am getting a lot of reading done. I am reading good books. I had a book club last night that was a lot of fun. I am looking for another book club. I am always looking for more book clubs. We might start one at work. I am already thinking about next years new years resolutions. I have not given up on getting organized, but I need to make it more concrete if it is going to happen. Did I mention I have tomorrow off? And I don't intend to spend it organizing. I do intent to spend it reading. Maybe we will go make a chore chart. DH is taking it off as well, just for kicks.
Um.. I think thats all? Bis spaeter!
OH! And two more books came into the library for me:
Linger by Maggie Steifvater, and
The Scarlett Pimpernel (another book for a book club).
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sountrack's for Life
As previously mentioned, there has been a lot of negativity at work. It was particularly bad this morning and I started brainstorming some "cheer me up" songs. I am not just looking for up beat/positive songs, I am looking for songs that remind you that life is not all bad and you need to move forward. Here is what I came up with so far:
"If you ever stopped loving me", featuring the line "Thats alright, I'm OK, it ain't nothing but another day," in its chorus
"It's a Great Day to be alive", featuring the chorus "It's a great day to be alive, I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes, been some hard times in the neighborhood but I wish everyday could be just this good".
"Bad Day" - which just has the right feel despite the fact I can't find the lyrics that make it work
I have mental song lists for other things as well. For awhile I really wanted to make a "driving" sound track, for all the songs that make me feel cool when I drive the 300C (which I get to drive this week BTW because we had a battery issue with it and don't want it to stall in DH's garage again if it turns out to be the alternator because there is no way a tow truck could get in there if need be). That list included "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Meet me on the Equinox" from the Twilight Saga Soundtracks, "Diamond" from the Snatch Sound track, and "Spybreak!" from the lobby scene in The Matrix. However, I have not come up with 8-10 more songs to add to make it a full mixed CD.
So. Any recommendations for either of these playlists? I know I don't have many readers, but would be happy for more ideas if anyone out there has any?
I think creating your own "soundstracks" for life is great. Our senior year of high school we made a 3-disk high school soundtrack. I unfortunately lost the CDs, but I still enjoy the music from them and it is really reminiscent of those years of my life. I also made a soundtrack of songs my family likes. It was called "Volume 1", I think it could be about time to make Volume II. I also think we should have a Christmas Volume. I would also like to make an "Truman Sound track" for my undergraduate years, though I have not made a list for it. The problem with all of this is that I don't have great access to getting the songs I want for these CDs or a good set up/computer to do it on. I have had problems with many of our CD burners. I have not tried the newest laptop, so maybe its better, but alas. My father has an awesome set up for making CDs. I always intend to make some CDs when I go home, but I never have the time (when I am there I would rather spend my time doing other things, like shopping with my Mom or playing board games with family, or cooking, or visiting high school friends, etc). Alas. Alas alas alas.
Oh well :-)
Please comment and help me add to my song lists.
"If you ever stopped loving me", featuring the line "Thats alright, I'm OK, it ain't nothing but another day," in its chorus
"It's a Great Day to be alive", featuring the chorus "It's a great day to be alive, I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes, been some hard times in the neighborhood but I wish everyday could be just this good".
"Bad Day" - which just has the right feel despite the fact I can't find the lyrics that make it work
I have mental song lists for other things as well. For awhile I really wanted to make a "driving" sound track, for all the songs that make me feel cool when I drive the 300C (which I get to drive this week BTW because we had a battery issue with it and don't want it to stall in DH's garage again if it turns out to be the alternator because there is no way a tow truck could get in there if need be). That list included "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Meet me on the Equinox" from the Twilight Saga Soundtracks, "Diamond" from the Snatch Sound track, and "Spybreak!" from the lobby scene in The Matrix. However, I have not come up with 8-10 more songs to add to make it a full mixed CD.
So. Any recommendations for either of these playlists? I know I don't have many readers, but would be happy for more ideas if anyone out there has any?
I think creating your own "soundstracks" for life is great. Our senior year of high school we made a 3-disk high school soundtrack. I unfortunately lost the CDs, but I still enjoy the music from them and it is really reminiscent of those years of my life. I also made a soundtrack of songs my family likes. It was called "Volume 1", I think it could be about time to make Volume II. I also think we should have a Christmas Volume. I would also like to make an "Truman Sound track" for my undergraduate years, though I have not made a list for it. The problem with all of this is that I don't have great access to getting the songs I want for these CDs or a good set up/computer to do it on. I have had problems with many of our CD burners. I have not tried the newest laptop, so maybe its better, but alas. My father has an awesome set up for making CDs. I always intend to make some CDs when I go home, but I never have the time (when I am there I would rather spend my time doing other things, like shopping with my Mom or playing board games with family, or cooking, or visiting high school friends, etc). Alas. Alas alas alas.
Oh well :-)
Please comment and help me add to my song lists.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Four Years Ago Today
Four years ago today I was marrying DH, the love of my life, at Kiener Plaza in St Louis. I cannot believe it has been four years. This weekend in NJ we were totally "the old married couple", even though many of our friends there are roughly the same age. Even though many of our friends there have been with their significant others for the same time (8 yrs as of October). I don't mind being the old married couple. Its actually kind of of cool. Other people come to us for advice.
This evening (no longer at work clearly, this is a multi-phase post), we decided to hit the high class and the low class. First we got all dressed up and went to dinner at Hyde Park, where we tried Japanese beef. Good good, good atmosphere, great service. Then, to counteract that a bit apparently, we went to see the A-Team. It was better than I expected, and we laughed a lot. Its been a great four years - here is to 46 more (good golly thats a long time!!!)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Illinois Getaway
Good times in Illinois for the fourth of July this weekend. Got there at dinner time on Friday, grabbed some BBQ then played games and watched Sports Night (anyone remember this Sports- TV themed dramedy that played briefly?) - not as good as I remembered it being, but it was a pleasant evening. We played trivial pursuit, and while I did not win, I did beat DH, which is a big accomplishment for me, being trivia-challenged.
Saturday morning we watched Germany beat up on Argentina in world cup soccer, then headed out to see the library (and get some movies), and grab lunch. For dessert we went to this really cool Frozen yogurt place by University of Illinois. Its called Coco Mero, and was delicious. It is self serve - you go in with a bowl and mix and match frozen yogurt flavors and toppings as desired, and then it is weighed and you pay by the ounce. I had Tart and Rasberry yogurt (tart tastes like an Indian Lassi, if you have had one of those), and then put blueberries, kiwi, mango, and walnuts on top. It was delicious. We spent the afternoon watching more soccer, then went and through a football around for awhile. As tradition dictated this concluded with me throwing the ball for a game of 500 between B and DH. Back when we were in undergrads this always would end up being the activity. It was usually me and 2-4 guys playing catch, and I had no desire to wrestle them for the ball, so I would be the thrower. Not to mention my general inaccuracy makes it hard for me to "cheat" and favor someone. Saturday evening we grilled steak and had a real sit down dinner, very nice. The evening was filled with Zombieland, which is hilarious and if you have not seen it, and you like that sort of thing, should definitely try it!! (By that sort of thing I mean zombie comedy, like Shaun of the Dead). Remember -- Limber Up.
Sunday morning we went rollerblading -- three miles! It was great, but very hot and sweaty. We grabbed some mexican for lunch (I know, mexican on the fouth of july? But hey, hispanics are largest growing US population and most of them are American's too, so its fitting perhaps). We wiled away the afternoon on Scrabble (ALL TIME CHAMPION!!), a funny kids movie that I subjected them to (the hobbit), and napping. I didn't nap, but the boys did. I read half of Into the Wild, which is interesting but somewhat disturbing. After leftovers for dinner we headed out to claim our spot for the Champaign Fireworks. We got a good seat and enjoyed waiting by playing Beggar Thy Neighbor (also called Egyption War or Egyption Rat Screw). Eventually the fireworks came, and they were quite good. We sat closer than I have ever sat and it was really cool. After the fireworks we hung out a while to wait for some traffic to disipate. DH and I passed the time by throwing around an imaginary football, imitating nearby children that were rolling down a small hill, and generally harrassing B. We made it out of there after not to long and headed to bed.
This morning we got up nice and early and headed to Springfield to visit the Lincoln Library and Museum. It was pretty interesting. They had some cool videos and some cool artifacts. We also had a chance to drive by the Illinois state capital, which was pretty cool. I would rank it second only to the Minnesota State Capital, but I may be bias. It certainly is way cooler than the Ohio one!! After that we drove back to Urbana/Champaign, grabbed lunch, and headed out.
It was a great weekend. Very relaxing. It was also interspersed with Skype conversations and updates from R, B's wife who is currently doing pre-PhD research in Germany. Fun to hear her adventures as well. Very worthwhile trip. Hope everyone else had a good fourth as well!
Saturday morning we watched Germany beat up on Argentina in world cup soccer, then headed out to see the library (and get some movies), and grab lunch. For dessert we went to this really cool Frozen yogurt place by University of Illinois. Its called Coco Mero, and was delicious. It is self serve - you go in with a bowl and mix and match frozen yogurt flavors and toppings as desired, and then it is weighed and you pay by the ounce. I had Tart and Rasberry yogurt (tart tastes like an Indian Lassi, if you have had one of those), and then put blueberries, kiwi, mango, and walnuts on top. It was delicious. We spent the afternoon watching more soccer, then went and through a football around for awhile. As tradition dictated this concluded with me throwing the ball for a game of 500 between B and DH. Back when we were in undergrads this always would end up being the activity. It was usually me and 2-4 guys playing catch, and I had no desire to wrestle them for the ball, so I would be the thrower. Not to mention my general inaccuracy makes it hard for me to "cheat" and favor someone. Saturday evening we grilled steak and had a real sit down dinner, very nice. The evening was filled with Zombieland, which is hilarious and if you have not seen it, and you like that sort of thing, should definitely try it!! (By that sort of thing I mean zombie comedy, like Shaun of the Dead). Remember -- Limber Up.
Sunday morning we went rollerblading -- three miles! It was great, but very hot and sweaty. We grabbed some mexican for lunch (I know, mexican on the fouth of july? But hey, hispanics are largest growing US population and most of them are American's too, so its fitting perhaps). We wiled away the afternoon on Scrabble (ALL TIME CHAMPION!!), a funny kids movie that I subjected them to (the hobbit), and napping. I didn't nap, but the boys did. I read half of Into the Wild, which is interesting but somewhat disturbing. After leftovers for dinner we headed out to claim our spot for the Champaign Fireworks. We got a good seat and enjoyed waiting by playing Beggar Thy Neighbor (also called Egyption War or Egyption Rat Screw). Eventually the fireworks came, and they were quite good. We sat closer than I have ever sat and it was really cool. After the fireworks we hung out a while to wait for some traffic to disipate. DH and I passed the time by throwing around an imaginary football, imitating nearby children that were rolling down a small hill, and generally harrassing B. We made it out of there after not to long and headed to bed.
This morning we got up nice and early and headed to Springfield to visit the Lincoln Library and Museum. It was pretty interesting. They had some cool videos and some cool artifacts. We also had a chance to drive by the Illinois state capital, which was pretty cool. I would rank it second only to the Minnesota State Capital, but I may be bias. It certainly is way cooler than the Ohio one!! After that we drove back to Urbana/Champaign, grabbed lunch, and headed out.
It was a great weekend. Very relaxing. It was also interspersed with Skype conversations and updates from R, B's wife who is currently doing pre-PhD research in Germany. Fun to hear her adventures as well. Very worthwhile trip. Hope everyone else had a good fourth as well!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
In the meantime...
I am writing this while on hold with a hospital in Phoenix. I need their Tax ID number and they can't find someone to give it to me. Meanwhile, I am stuck in the case unable to work on anything else on my computer until I finish up this item on this case, so I figured, why not pull up a notepad and write that long overdue blog entry?
I wrote a blog entry last Thursday or Friday, but Blogger ate it. It went something like this, only more eloquently: "I am pathetic. Watching New Moon w/friends on Tuesday totally cheered me up and turned around my bad mood. And, I am ridiculously excited about attending the "Twilight Experience" on June 29th, a 7 hr movie marathon culminating in the midnight showing of the third, new movie, Eclipse. But hey, whatever makes you happy!"
The weekend sped by in a sort of ridiculously fast manner. I drove up to see my sister on Saturday morning. She only has one week (now less than one week) left here in Ohio, and then she is moving home to Minnesota. I arrived to some chaos with the practice she is working for and we ended up driving in circles for a bit, then we had some good Italian food (yummy cheese ravioli!) and finally made it to our goal for the day: The Garfield Mansion, where President Garfield lived shortly before and while he was president. Of course, he was only very briefly president before he was assassinated, so many changes were made to the house after his death. It is the home of the first "Presidential Library" so to speak, when his wife added a beautiful library in memory of all of his work. It is home to a ridiculous number of antique books that I longed to touch and peruse. It was very difficult to keep my hands off!!
After that we headed to the fabric store and I bought fabric for my first sewing project on my new machine that my MIL got me for my Bday (thanks!!!). My sister taught me how to use it. We spent the rest of the weekend, until Sunday around 6pm, sewing, eating, sleeping, watching New Moon, and above all, enjoying one another's company.
It was a good weekend, it just went SO fast. And now I am in the midst of a busy week. Last night was beading at J's house. Tonight is book club. More thoughts on these things later perhaps, but the call is up and I need to go do some work.
I wrote a blog entry last Thursday or Friday, but Blogger ate it. It went something like this, only more eloquently: "I am pathetic. Watching New Moon w/friends on Tuesday totally cheered me up and turned around my bad mood. And, I am ridiculously excited about attending the "Twilight Experience" on June 29th, a 7 hr movie marathon culminating in the midnight showing of the third, new movie, Eclipse. But hey, whatever makes you happy!"
The weekend sped by in a sort of ridiculously fast manner. I drove up to see my sister on Saturday morning. She only has one week (now less than one week) left here in Ohio, and then she is moving home to Minnesota. I arrived to some chaos with the practice she is working for and we ended up driving in circles for a bit, then we had some good Italian food (yummy cheese ravioli!) and finally made it to our goal for the day: The Garfield Mansion, where President Garfield lived shortly before and while he was president. Of course, he was only very briefly president before he was assassinated, so many changes were made to the house after his death. It is the home of the first "Presidential Library" so to speak, when his wife added a beautiful library in memory of all of his work. It is home to a ridiculous number of antique books that I longed to touch and peruse. It was very difficult to keep my hands off!!
After that we headed to the fabric store and I bought fabric for my first sewing project on my new machine that my MIL got me for my Bday (thanks!!!). My sister taught me how to use it. We spent the rest of the weekend, until Sunday around 6pm, sewing, eating, sleeping, watching New Moon, and above all, enjoying one another's company.
It was a good weekend, it just went SO fast. And now I am in the midst of a busy week. Last night was beading at J's house. Tonight is book club. More thoughts on these things later perhaps, but the call is up and I need to go do some work.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The start of a LONG weekend...!!
Its funny that the phrase "its the start of a long week" has such negative connotations. This week I had a nice, short week, and now I get to start my very positively connotated long weekend. Four days off to be exact. We have memorial day off on Monday and I flexed to take Friday off as well. (When we rearrange our schedules at work we call it flexing).
The main reason I decided to take the whole day off was that my Dad came into town Thursday night. It is funny because this is my Birthday weekend, my birthday is always right alongside memorial day. My dad ALWAYS has a profession conference memorial day weekend, so there were many many years where he was gone for my Birthday (not that we did not celebrate, it just came earlier or later). This is the first time the conference has brought him to me for my birthday!! It is in Baltimore and he decided to stop on the way to see everyone here in Ohio.
I got off work at 5:15pm and he was already parked outside my house waiting on us. It was really great seeing him. Thursday night we walked the dogs and then drove into downtown Columbus and went to my favorite Irish resteraunt in town - O'Shaunneseys. It was delicious! Yesterday it was quite nice to not have to go to work! In the morning we walked the dogs, had breakfast, watched some ESPN and played the requisite Rock Band. I decided that its pretty much required that if you come into my house for more than a couple of hours that you need to be introduced to Rock Band, especially if you read my blog and see me posting about it all the time! He sang Pinball Wizard and then another one I did not know very well while I played guitar, it was a lot of fun.
After that we headed off to Campus where I showed him around - this is the first time since I moved here that he has visited me with any time to spare to look around Columbus! So, I took him to my "old life" as well as my current life- ie we went to the Political Science dept at OSU, met up with some of my friends and went out to lunch, I took him to Raising Canes, DH met us and took the afternoon off.
We picked up the Dogs and headed to Alum Creek to walk on the dam. After we were done walking we took the dogs down by some water to get a drink and they almost pulled Aaron into the water. Grim clearly thought she should be allowed to swim around at will. He eventually got her out with only minimal wetness to his pants and shoes. We sat in the shade, with then nice breeze blowing on us and the dogs laying in the grass and just relaxed for a while to give the dogs a chance to dry off a bit - it was rough. LOL.
We came home with the intentions of heading back out to the baseball game, but after all three of us pretty much fell asleep on the couch we decided we did not need to spend the night out and instead just went out to dinner at the Pig Iron (delicious!!) and then came home and watched the NBA playoff game (Magic/Celtics). My dad got his wish and the Celtics won.
All of last night I could not believe it was Friday night, felt so much like Saturday! This morning I am headed to the farmer's market. Dad left at 7am this morning to drive up to Burton and spend the day following my vet sister around as she is on call. Tomorrow we will meet back up with him at my Grandma's for dinner and Birthay cake , and then head our seperate ways. I am pretty sure by Sunday night it will blow my mind that I have another day off on Monday. LOL.
The main reason I decided to take the whole day off was that my Dad came into town Thursday night. It is funny because this is my Birthday weekend, my birthday is always right alongside memorial day. My dad ALWAYS has a profession conference memorial day weekend, so there were many many years where he was gone for my Birthday (not that we did not celebrate, it just came earlier or later). This is the first time the conference has brought him to me for my birthday!! It is in Baltimore and he decided to stop on the way to see everyone here in Ohio.
I got off work at 5:15pm and he was already parked outside my house waiting on us. It was really great seeing him. Thursday night we walked the dogs and then drove into downtown Columbus and went to my favorite Irish resteraunt in town - O'Shaunneseys. It was delicious! Yesterday it was quite nice to not have to go to work! In the morning we walked the dogs, had breakfast, watched some ESPN and played the requisite Rock Band. I decided that its pretty much required that if you come into my house for more than a couple of hours that you need to be introduced to Rock Band, especially if you read my blog and see me posting about it all the time! He sang Pinball Wizard and then another one I did not know very well while I played guitar, it was a lot of fun.
After that we headed off to Campus where I showed him around - this is the first time since I moved here that he has visited me with any time to spare to look around Columbus! So, I took him to my "old life" as well as my current life- ie we went to the Political Science dept at OSU, met up with some of my friends and went out to lunch, I took him to Raising Canes, DH met us and took the afternoon off.
We picked up the Dogs and headed to Alum Creek to walk on the dam. After we were done walking we took the dogs down by some water to get a drink and they almost pulled Aaron into the water. Grim clearly thought she should be allowed to swim around at will. He eventually got her out with only minimal wetness to his pants and shoes. We sat in the shade, with then nice breeze blowing on us and the dogs laying in the grass and just relaxed for a while to give the dogs a chance to dry off a bit - it was rough. LOL.
We came home with the intentions of heading back out to the baseball game, but after all three of us pretty much fell asleep on the couch we decided we did not need to spend the night out and instead just went out to dinner at the Pig Iron (delicious!!) and then came home and watched the NBA playoff game (Magic/Celtics). My dad got his wish and the Celtics won.
All of last night I could not believe it was Friday night, felt so much like Saturday! This morning I am headed to the farmer's market. Dad left at 7am this morning to drive up to Burton and spend the day following my vet sister around as she is on call. Tomorrow we will meet back up with him at my Grandma's for dinner and Birthay cake , and then head our seperate ways. I am pretty sure by Sunday night it will blow my mind that I have another day off on Monday. LOL.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Barenaked All the Way!
Last night I went to a Barenaked Ladies concert, something I haven't done since High School. It was so much fun! They are pretty much my all time favorite band. I was worried about how this concert would be for three reasons (1) I was not going w/friends who were BNL crazy, just DH who is occasionally BNL tolerant.(2) One of the two lead singers of the band left the group about two years ago due to drug problems(3) While their newest (2010) album certainly had songs I like on it, it did not entirely capture the old magic of previous albums.
As it turned out, these things were nothing to worry about. The band was awesome even down a member. There was only one time all night you could really feel his absence, during one of their hit songs - One Week. The fill-in just did not quite hit the spot. But overall the concert was awesome. It made me want to copy their entire work to my MP3 player and just listen to it all over again (this is a real possability actually, I do own all of their albums and have MP3s of many of their unofficial song). The only song they played that I did not know was the theme song to Big Bang Theory. They did all the the favorites, plus several off of their new album. It was so much fun!
After the concert we went out for a drink with some friends who also attended. It was my friend T's birthday and his BF had purchased the ultra-deluxe tickets that included a meeting with the band. They got to go in before the concert w/about 20 other people and talk to all the band members in a cocktail-style setting. They said it was really neat, and apparently my friend T was completely star struck and had no idea what to say. Anyways, we went out to drinks with them afterwards and they presented me with a birthday present- an autographed copy of the band's latest album! Its so cool. I have never had anything autographed like that. Next time they come through town I may just have to invest in those ridiculous tickets...
Such a fun evening!! I am still hyper over it :-)
As it turned out, these things were nothing to worry about. The band was awesome even down a member. There was only one time all night you could really feel his absence, during one of their hit songs - One Week. The fill-in just did not quite hit the spot. But overall the concert was awesome. It made me want to copy their entire work to my MP3 player and just listen to it all over again (this is a real possability actually, I do own all of their albums and have MP3s of many of their unofficial song). The only song they played that I did not know was the theme song to Big Bang Theory. They did all the the favorites, plus several off of their new album. It was so much fun!
After the concert we went out for a drink with some friends who also attended. It was my friend T's birthday and his BF had purchased the ultra-deluxe tickets that included a meeting with the band. They got to go in before the concert w/about 20 other people and talk to all the band members in a cocktail-style setting. They said it was really neat, and apparently my friend T was completely star struck and had no idea what to say. Anyways, we went out to drinks with them afterwards and they presented me with a birthday present- an autographed copy of the band's latest album! Its so cool. I have never had anything autographed like that. Next time they come through town I may just have to invest in those ridiculous tickets...
Such a fun evening!! I am still hyper over it :-)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mother's Day Visit
This past weekend my In-Laws visited for Mother's Day. They arrived Saturday afternoon. We decided to go to the racetrack for the evening, an activity that DH has done a few times with work and coworkers and I have never done. I am sort of anti-gambling, not from a moral perspective, but from a "I am so risk adverse its not very fun for me" perspective. But, I figured why not give it a try. Turns out I am absolutely horrible at picking horses, and don't even have beginners luck. I got one bet right and got $2.40 from it. (We won't talk about the cost of all the bets I got wrong). Luckily DH is better and won $150 or so, so the evening was not a complete loss. I did enjoy myself, but ultimately left with a bitter taste in my mouth because I just can't help but feel guilty for loosing the money better, no matter how many times DH or ILs tell me that I should just view the money lost as the cost of the evening of entertainment, like I would if we paid for movie or sports tickets. I would go again in a social setting though and probably enjoy it again.
Sunday, in honor of mother's day, we did what MIL wanted, which was a trip to the zoo - something I never object to. However, turns out half the city had the same idea. It was crazy crowded, and so we did not end up actually seeing that much, and we tired easily. We did get to see the new Polar Bears, who were being adorable rolling around in the grass. We also got to see the Bats and the Manatees, which are my favorites. We also saw a wolf burying a stick, which we all found amusing. After the zoo we played some Wii. Turns out I finally found a video game I am goog at without trying - Wii Bowling. LOL. I won, all time champion! My second game score was 193. We then grilled out, ate a delicious dinner, had some Dairy Queen, and watched the season finale of The Amazing Race. It made me want to take a trip to San Fransisco. They got to repel up this tower, it was very cool. It was overall a fun and relaxing weekend, though it went by very quickly. Guess its now our turn to visit St Louis again!
Sunday, in honor of mother's day, we did what MIL wanted, which was a trip to the zoo - something I never object to. However, turns out half the city had the same idea. It was crazy crowded, and so we did not end up actually seeing that much, and we tired easily. We did get to see the new Polar Bears, who were being adorable rolling around in the grass. We also got to see the Bats and the Manatees, which are my favorites. We also saw a wolf burying a stick, which we all found amusing. After the zoo we played some Wii. Turns out I finally found a video game I am goog at without trying - Wii Bowling. LOL. I won, all time champion! My second game score was 193. We then grilled out, ate a delicious dinner, had some Dairy Queen, and watched the season finale of The Amazing Race. It made me want to take a trip to San Fransisco. They got to repel up this tower, it was very cool. It was overall a fun and relaxing weekend, though it went by very quickly. Guess its now our turn to visit St Louis again!
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010, Here We Are!!
Its officially 2010. I am sitting in my family room watching Hell Boy with three cats and a big, sleepy black dog. It is snowing outside. Life is good.
We went to a friends house last night to hang out with some friends, play some board games, watch the ball drop. We mixed black russians and crazy russians and irish coffee and some tasty peach champagne drink. We called my family from the future. We came home and fell asleep watching Little Mermaid.
Farewell to 2009, year of three weddings, two graduations, one friends death. The year when I finally left school with no intentions of returning, when I got my first real job. What excitement will 2010 hold? We will just have to wait and see. :-)
Now, onto New Years Resolutions. Some people make them, some people don't. I understand the perspective of people who say that there is no reason to make a resolution for change on January 1st if you were not willing to make those changes days earlier. But, I think there is something to be said for it - not for January 1st specifically, but for setting clear deadlines, with clear start and end dates, for your goals. It also is helpful if these are widely accepted deadlines that many people agree on, giving a peer group of support for changes. Both DH and I are setting New Years resolutions. DH wants to run 1000 miles and read 10,000 pages. Both good goals. Here are mine.
(1) Get Organized!!! This is my biggest goal, and DH is on board. Lack of organization is a big problem for both of us, in many aspects of life. Neither of us are natural organizers. This goal includes organizing the house (the basement, offices, books, kitchen, garage, DVDs, etc), organizing the business (bills, mail, etc), and organizing time (appointments, phone calls, etc). I hope 2010 can be as much the year of organization as 2009 was the year of personal rediscovery.
(2) Cook More, Eat Healthier Here is another one DH is on board for. This was a goal last year as well that I had some success on, but was never consistent. Lets see if I can do a better job!!
(3) Reading Goal And of course, after how much joy reading brought me in 2009, I want to continue it in 2010. I have debated quite a bit what my specific goal should in. In 2009 I read 107 books, around 35,000 pages. Crazy to think I could keep that pace up for the rest of my life and still not come close to touching the entirety of human creation, not that all of it is worth touching on. Anyways, my goal for 2010 is to read 40,000 pages. I decided on a page goal instead of a book goal so I can get in some of those tomes I have been meaning to read forever - Les Miserables, Ulysses, and others.
(4) Grimmy Grim Give Grim more of what she deserves and get some exercise doing it - take her on more long walks. She gets walked twice a day but it has become very routine and relatively (for her at least) short. With weather permitting, I want to increase the length of her walks. Even in bad weather (below 20, above 75), I still want to make sure she gets one nice long walk per week. When the weather is perfect, 40-75 degrees, my goal is for 4 of her 7 evening walks per week to be nice and long.
Thats it!! Just a few... right? Should be doable. LOL. We will see.
We went to a friends house last night to hang out with some friends, play some board games, watch the ball drop. We mixed black russians and crazy russians and irish coffee and some tasty peach champagne drink. We called my family from the future. We came home and fell asleep watching Little Mermaid.
Farewell to 2009, year of three weddings, two graduations, one friends death. The year when I finally left school with no intentions of returning, when I got my first real job. What excitement will 2010 hold? We will just have to wait and see. :-)
Now, onto New Years Resolutions. Some people make them, some people don't. I understand the perspective of people who say that there is no reason to make a resolution for change on January 1st if you were not willing to make those changes days earlier. But, I think there is something to be said for it - not for January 1st specifically, but for setting clear deadlines, with clear start and end dates, for your goals. It also is helpful if these are widely accepted deadlines that many people agree on, giving a peer group of support for changes. Both DH and I are setting New Years resolutions. DH wants to run 1000 miles and read 10,000 pages. Both good goals. Here are mine.
(1) Get Organized!!! This is my biggest goal, and DH is on board. Lack of organization is a big problem for both of us, in many aspects of life. Neither of us are natural organizers. This goal includes organizing the house (the basement, offices, books, kitchen, garage, DVDs, etc), organizing the business (bills, mail, etc), and organizing time (appointments, phone calls, etc). I hope 2010 can be as much the year of organization as 2009 was the year of personal rediscovery.
(2) Cook More, Eat Healthier Here is another one DH is on board for. This was a goal last year as well that I had some success on, but was never consistent. Lets see if I can do a better job!!
(3) Reading Goal And of course, after how much joy reading brought me in 2009, I want to continue it in 2010. I have debated quite a bit what my specific goal should in. In 2009 I read 107 books, around 35,000 pages. Crazy to think I could keep that pace up for the rest of my life and still not come close to touching the entirety of human creation, not that all of it is worth touching on. Anyways, my goal for 2010 is to read 40,000 pages. I decided on a page goal instead of a book goal so I can get in some of those tomes I have been meaning to read forever - Les Miserables, Ulysses, and others.
(4) Grimmy Grim Give Grim more of what she deserves and get some exercise doing it - take her on more long walks. She gets walked twice a day but it has become very routine and relatively (for her at least) short. With weather permitting, I want to increase the length of her walks. Even in bad weather (below 20, above 75), I still want to make sure she gets one nice long walk per week. When the weather is perfect, 40-75 degrees, my goal is for 4 of her 7 evening walks per week to be nice and long.
Thats it!! Just a few... right? Should be doable. LOL. We will see.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Priorities.
"Three days ago it smelled like hay season outside. (I noticed this on an evening walk with Grim).
Today is smells and feels undeniably like fall. I love it. Love Love Love it. I want to throw open the windows and go for a hike. These desires are probably partially due to a general over-sentimentality I am experiencing at the moment. When Vivaldi's Four Season's came on my MP3 player this morning I had the desire to play it loudly and frolic around the room. Not that I followed through with that, since I happened to be at work at the time.
Some of you are probably wondering what exactly Hay Season is. When you grow up on a Hobby Farm in Northern Minnesota there are four seasons. Autumn is September through October. Winter is November through March. Spring is April through June, and Hay Season is July and August."
I wrote the previous three paragraphs on Friday during a break at work, with the intention of finishing it Friday night, but I never got around to it.
Instead I went out to O'Shaunnesy's with friends and ate fried pickles and chatted. Saturday morning found me meeting friends at the farmer's market, and then picking up another friend to go to the art museum. It has been a busy weekend. Tonight I am going to my Grandma's. We will be celebrating my cousin's birthday.
I am starting to feel the crunch of working an 8 hour day - the weekend has become immensely more valuable to me. I am finding it hard to have time for a lot of the little internet things I used to keep up with, so my internet presense is going to drop (it already has). I am sure you have noticed I have become a weekend blogger. I can't keep up with facebook, which is a minor loss. The best way to get a hold of me is email.
I normally do not post about this sort of high school theorizing and nonsense here but I want to get it out of my system so you will all be my willing victims. The weekend also brought some illuminating things to my social life. I have a friend who I don't get a long with that well. I know, it sounds like an oxymoron or something, but it is true. In my opinion friendship is 1/4 convenience (i.e. it being easy to see them or talk to them), 1/4 familiarity (this could also be called history, its nice to talk to people who know us), 1/4 compatability (how well we get along, how similar tastes are), and 1/4 effort (choice that is). Well this particular friendship, I believe, was hinging largely on convenience and effort, and convenience is now out of the picture since I left OSU. Until this weekend I thought she wanted to try and keep it up, that I should continue with the effort. This weekend I realized she is surrendering to the pressures of life, at least to some degree, and there is no reason for me to pretend I don't want to do the same thing. Since all that was pretty convoluted - in other words - she cancelled going to the Museum with my on Saturday because she decided she had too much school work to do, but simultaneously invited me to a new get together on Sunday which she knew I probably could not come to due to previous conversations. This did not upset me. I had a good time at the museum on Saturday, and am not sad I cannot go today. What it did do is show that she is prioritizing spending time with other people and doing activities she knows she will enjoy.
It is such a logical thing to do. Prioritize time with people you get along with and for activities you know you will like. How did I not think of that? I think I will follow her lead.
Today is smells and feels undeniably like fall. I love it. Love Love Love it. I want to throw open the windows and go for a hike. These desires are probably partially due to a general over-sentimentality I am experiencing at the moment. When Vivaldi's Four Season's came on my MP3 player this morning I had the desire to play it loudly and frolic around the room. Not that I followed through with that, since I happened to be at work at the time.
Some of you are probably wondering what exactly Hay Season is. When you grow up on a Hobby Farm in Northern Minnesota there are four seasons. Autumn is September through October. Winter is November through March. Spring is April through June, and Hay Season is July and August."
I wrote the previous three paragraphs on Friday during a break at work, with the intention of finishing it Friday night, but I never got around to it.
Instead I went out to O'Shaunnesy's with friends and ate fried pickles and chatted. Saturday morning found me meeting friends at the farmer's market, and then picking up another friend to go to the art museum. It has been a busy weekend. Tonight I am going to my Grandma's. We will be celebrating my cousin's birthday.
I am starting to feel the crunch of working an 8 hour day - the weekend has become immensely more valuable to me. I am finding it hard to have time for a lot of the little internet things I used to keep up with, so my internet presense is going to drop (it already has). I am sure you have noticed I have become a weekend blogger. I can't keep up with facebook, which is a minor loss. The best way to get a hold of me is email.
I normally do not post about this sort of high school theorizing and nonsense here but I want to get it out of my system so you will all be my willing victims. The weekend also brought some illuminating things to my social life. I have a friend who I don't get a long with that well. I know, it sounds like an oxymoron or something, but it is true. In my opinion friendship is 1/4 convenience (i.e. it being easy to see them or talk to them), 1/4 familiarity (this could also be called history, its nice to talk to people who know us), 1/4 compatability (how well we get along, how similar tastes are), and 1/4 effort (choice that is). Well this particular friendship, I believe, was hinging largely on convenience and effort, and convenience is now out of the picture since I left OSU. Until this weekend I thought she wanted to try and keep it up, that I should continue with the effort. This weekend I realized she is surrendering to the pressures of life, at least to some degree, and there is no reason for me to pretend I don't want to do the same thing. Since all that was pretty convoluted - in other words - she cancelled going to the Museum with my on Saturday because she decided she had too much school work to do, but simultaneously invited me to a new get together on Sunday which she knew I probably could not come to due to previous conversations. This did not upset me. I had a good time at the museum on Saturday, and am not sad I cannot go today. What it did do is show that she is prioritizing spending time with other people and doing activities she knows she will enjoy.
It is such a logical thing to do. Prioritize time with people you get along with and for activities you know you will like. How did I not think of that? I think I will follow her lead.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Happy Third Anniversary!
Yesterday marked three years of marriage for my and DH. It seems like it has been both not that long and forever.
To celebrate we went to The Refectory. It is a very fancy resteraunt here in Columbus, by far the fanciest resteraunt I have ever been to, and it was a really fun evening. I had the TOMATO SALADE with julienned salami, wild caper vinaigrette, LEMON ROSEMARY DUCK BREASTwith sour cherry bordelaise, and TRADITIONAL VANILLA CREME BRULEE. DH had the REFECTORY CRAB CAKE with mild smoked red bell pepper veloute, BABY RACK OF LAMBwith Bleu d'Auvergne and lamb jus, and RASPBERRY SILK CAKE Almond Daquise layered with Raspberry Gelée, White Chocolate Bavarian and Hazlenut Crunch . Everything was amazing. We think the crab cake and the creme brulee have wrecked cheaper crab cake and creme brulee for us. lol. I might say that the Duck and Lamb did as well, but since we never have those, its a moot point. After dinner we rented a movie and came home and watched it. It was Run Fatboy Run, and was funny and very sweet.
For the past two years I have written in a journal on our anniversary about what happened in the year, who we are friends with, what we do, and what are plans are for the future. It changed a lot from year one to year two, and will change again I am sure for year three since I am not in school anymore!! Someday perhaps it will stabilize. I thought I would share some of the things I wrote this year with my blog readers.
- This is the first year of our Marriage that we did not move. We still are enjoying our first home.
- This year we got a third cat, the fourth pet in the household, Little Caesar, who is shy but so affectionate when he trusts you. He is still skittish but improves every day
- Our friend Ben is still living with us and we still enjoy his company, though he has mentioned moving back to Missouri in the next year for work reasons.
- In the past year, DH was hired on by the state, told they were eliminating his position, and switched back to Accenture
- I quit school with just my masters and have been unemployed for two months now, looking for a job for five months.
- For fun, we play some video games, have people over for rockband, DH plays World of Warcraft (I was into it for awhile but stopped playing when she was travelling so much in May and June). I have been reading A LOT. We don't watch much TV these days - occasionally Leverage. I like Deadliest Catch while Aaron is always trying to change channels to 16 & Pregnant on MTV. We still occasionally go to Crew soccer games and the Dollar Theater, but have been renting a lot more movies recently.
- The Current Events of the year: Obama was elected president (much to our happiness), the Economy crashed, the government put a lot of money into stimulus, the big debate is currently health care reform though not long ago it was climate change, Iraq is not in the news as much and the U.S. is working towards a withdrawal, Afghanistan is still a mess.
- Songs/Music this year that we noted So What by Pink, Love Story by Taylor Swift, J-Pop Videos, Like a Boss spoof
- Movies we saw this year (some!) - Dark Knight, Harry Potter 6, Slumdog Millionaire, Mega Shark vs Giant Octupus, Underworld Rise of the Lichans, Milk, Kite Runner, North Country, The Illusionist, Run Fatboy Run, Twilight
- Then I wrote down what all of our friends are up to. There were three weddings this year, and two new engagements to report, along with the one death.
- For our anniversary we went to The Refectory and had a great dinner.
- Our plans for the future, we hope to stay in Columbus another 2-3 years (DH keeping the same job), and Amanda needs to find a job, or might end up back in school.
To celebrate we went to The Refectory. It is a very fancy resteraunt here in Columbus, by far the fanciest resteraunt I have ever been to, and it was a really fun evening. I had the TOMATO SALADE with julienned salami, wild caper vinaigrette, LEMON ROSEMARY DUCK BREASTwith sour cherry bordelaise, and TRADITIONAL VANILLA CREME BRULEE. DH had the REFECTORY CRAB CAKE with mild smoked red bell pepper veloute, BABY RACK OF LAMBwith Bleu d'Auvergne and lamb jus, and RASPBERRY SILK CAKE Almond Daquise layered with Raspberry Gelée, White Chocolate Bavarian and Hazlenut Crunch . Everything was amazing. We think the crab cake and the creme brulee have wrecked cheaper crab cake and creme brulee for us. lol. I might say that the Duck and Lamb did as well, but since we never have those, its a moot point. After dinner we rented a movie and came home and watched it. It was Run Fatboy Run, and was funny and very sweet.
For the past two years I have written in a journal on our anniversary about what happened in the year, who we are friends with, what we do, and what are plans are for the future. It changed a lot from year one to year two, and will change again I am sure for year three since I am not in school anymore!! Someday perhaps it will stabilize. I thought I would share some of the things I wrote this year with my blog readers.
- This is the first year of our Marriage that we did not move. We still are enjoying our first home.
- This year we got a third cat, the fourth pet in the household, Little Caesar, who is shy but so affectionate when he trusts you. He is still skittish but improves every day
- Our friend Ben is still living with us and we still enjoy his company, though he has mentioned moving back to Missouri in the next year for work reasons.
- In the past year, DH was hired on by the state, told they were eliminating his position, and switched back to Accenture
- I quit school with just my masters and have been unemployed for two months now, looking for a job for five months.
- For fun, we play some video games, have people over for rockband, DH plays World of Warcraft (I was into it for awhile but stopped playing when she was travelling so much in May and June). I have been reading A LOT. We don't watch much TV these days - occasionally Leverage. I like Deadliest Catch while Aaron is always trying to change channels to 16 & Pregnant on MTV. We still occasionally go to Crew soccer games and the Dollar Theater, but have been renting a lot more movies recently.
- The Current Events of the year: Obama was elected president (much to our happiness), the Economy crashed, the government put a lot of money into stimulus, the big debate is currently health care reform though not long ago it was climate change, Iraq is not in the news as much and the U.S. is working towards a withdrawal, Afghanistan is still a mess.
- Songs/Music this year that we noted So What by Pink, Love Story by Taylor Swift, J-Pop Videos, Like a Boss spoof
- Movies we saw this year (some!) - Dark Knight, Harry Potter 6, Slumdog Millionaire, Mega Shark vs Giant Octupus, Underworld Rise of the Lichans, Milk, Kite Runner, North Country, The Illusionist, Run Fatboy Run, Twilight
- Then I wrote down what all of our friends are up to. There were three weddings this year, and two new engagements to report, along with the one death.
- For our anniversary we went to The Refectory and had a great dinner.
- Our plans for the future, we hope to stay in Columbus another 2-3 years (DH keeping the same job), and Amanda needs to find a job, or might end up back in school.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Where I come from...
Al Franken and the Odd Politics of Minnesota
Seriously folks, if you want to know where I come from politically and socially, read this article. My parents might be implants to Minnesota, but I would say they fit in with this description, particularly the "Other states, other voters, express alienation by staying home on Election Day. But Minnesotans take a more civic approach to their estrangement, showing up at the polls and replacing the bums with some choices that scan as odd from a distance."
In the words of my father, "whats the worse that could happen if we elect a third party, we could be at war with a failing economy? wait, that already happened."
Also, I have answered the question "what was up with Jesse Ventura?" countless times in my university career, and have always said, "hey, he did what he promised, he did a lot of good things for the state," and he did. You don't have to be beholden to traditional party politics, just think like a Minnesotan!!
Seriously folks, if you want to know where I come from politically and socially, read this article. My parents might be implants to Minnesota, but I would say they fit in with this description, particularly the "Other states, other voters, express alienation by staying home on Election Day. But Minnesotans take a more civic approach to their estrangement, showing up at the polls and replacing the bums with some choices that scan as odd from a distance."
In the words of my father, "whats the worse that could happen if we elect a third party, we could be at war with a failing economy? wait, that already happened."
Also, I have answered the question "what was up with Jesse Ventura?" countless times in my university career, and have always said, "hey, he did what he promised, he did a lot of good things for the state," and he did. You don't have to be beholden to traditional party politics, just think like a Minnesotan!!
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Full text of the article:
Full text of the article:
July 5, 2009 Independence Days
Al Franken and the Odd Politics of Minnesota
At the St. Paul Civic Center in 1982, what should have been a routine re-election convention for the Republican Gov. Albert Quie was underway, but he had dropped out before it had begun.
A newbie reporter to Minnesota politics, I watched as democracy broke out in earnest on the convention floor over the fight to replace him. There were walkouts, prayer meetings, candidacies that came and went in the blink of an eye, all perpetrated by delegates who had the stamina of Marines. Their various causes righteous, their faces flushed with excitement, they went into extra innings, deep into the night. My head spinning, I climbed up into the bleachers and sat near a shaggy-looking guy in a shiny hockey jacket from Anoka. We watched the full pageantry of electoral politics silently and then I finally looked down the row and spoke. “Is it always like this?”
“Yes,” the man said, turning toward me. I recognized him as someone who should know: Garrison Keillor.
Mr. Keillor was already on his way to legend as the host of “A Prairie Home Companion,” but there he was staring in fascination at one of the most rococo expressions of state democracy in the land. Lately, everyone else has been watching Minnesota politics as well because the race between the Republican senator Norman Coleman and Al Franken, the comedian and radio host, ended in a deadlock. (A third-party candidate, a frequent feature of Minnesota elections, altered the math.) After a ruling of the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday, more than seven long months after the election, Mr. Franken will become Senator No. 60 for the Democrats, a significant number because it could help make the Senate filibuster-proof.
It may not be a stretch to say that the nation’s governance hinges, in part, on the arrival of the man who played Stuart Smalley, a simp who was a bit too eager to put the self in self-help on “Saturday Night Live.” On Wednesday, a question I knew was coming arrived from a friend on the bus: “What is up with Minnesota politics, anyway?”
To which I say, as opposed to what? New York? Florida? California? And as a former Minnesotan who lives in New Jersey, don’t even get me started about politics, Garden State-style.
Yes, Minnesotans vote like crazy. At 77.8 percent, the state had the highest turnout in last year’s very busy presidential election. But yes, sometimes Minnesotans’ votes seem just plain crazy as well.
Other states, other voters, express alienation by staying home on Election Day. But Minnesotans take a more civic approach to their estrangement, showing up at the polls and replacing the bums with some choices that scan as odd from a distance. (We might mention that the Minnesota state bird is actually a loon, but there is other less avian evidence of Minnesotans’ idiosyncrasy.)
In Minnesota, there is a kind of populist approach that is less progressive than a reflex, a notion that politics belongs to citizens, and politicians only rent their positions.
The civic entitlement-engagement of Minnesotans has produced lions on the national political scene — Hubert H. Humphrey and Eugene J. McCarthy — but is fungible enough to produce singular leaders of another sort. There is not only Mr. Franken, but Jesse Ventura, a former pro wrestler who ran as independent in 1998 on the Reform Party and won, dumbfounding the rest of the nation. There was also a dentist from the Iron Range, in the northeast part of the state, Rudy Perpich, who both preceded and followed Mr. Quie and was dubbed “Governor Goofy” by Newsweek for his suggestion that the governor’s mansion be sold and that a chopstick factory be built in northern Minnesota.
Even Senator Paul Wellstone, with his hippy bus of a campaign and outré commercials that took out a sitting senator in 1990, stretched the definition of what constitutes electability. And in the last election in adjoining Congressional districts, Minnesotans elected Keith Ellison, a liberal Democrat who happens to be both black and the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, and Michele Bachmann, a conservative who is an advocate of intelligent design and once entreated a rally against same-sex marriage to “cry out to a holy God.”
Here’s the thing about most of those folks: in the main, it could be argued, they did a pretty good job. Governor Ventura hired a talented crew of state commissioners and came flying off the turnbuckle when he needed to. Governor Perpich was one of the first governors in the nation to realize that international economic efforts by states were increasingly important. Senator Wellstone came swinging out of left field with a raging populist agenda, but promptly made peace with Senator Jesse Helms, the Republican from North Carolina, who made a much better friend than enemy when it came to getting things done.
Behind the state’s unpredictability, there are some political fundamentals at work.
Minnesota was settled by agrarian, church-going folks — Norwegians and Swedes, with many Germans as well, whose subsequent generations continue to take a dim view of political corruption and vote accordingly. The habits of civic life are baked in at early age, with churches and unions — historically strong in Minnesota — reminding members that voting is both an obligation and an opportunity. The presence of distinct regions with separate needs and political agendas — the average union member from the Iron Range has very different expectations from government than a mother from the populous suburbs that ring the Twin Cities — means that each regional constituency shows up at the polling place to make sure its interests are seen to.
In terms of process, Minnesota is deeply married to the precinct caucus approach, which means the grass roots flourish and frequently overwhelm would-be kingmakers. The state’s system of public financing means that anybody who gets organized enough to be in a race will have the wherewithal to campaign. And perhaps most important, Minnesota has same-day registration, which means that a walk-up vote can tilt an election, as it did when Governor Ventura won.
“There are numerous state laws, institutions, and processes that contribute to the highly engaged electorate that often votes independently,” said David Schultz, who teaches election law at Hamline University in St. Paul. “Yes, party membership is high, but there is a sufficiently large enough independent or swing voting bloc that no one party can win elections in a statewide election unless it wins crossover votes.”
Demographics provide very few clues. Overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly Protestant and Lutheran, the state has elected four Jews to the United States Senate in recent times. (Jews makes up less than 1 percent of the state’s population.)
“Because we think we’re such shrewd judges of human nature we’re intensely skeptical of everyone who looks and sounds like us and because we’re so proud of our broad-mindedness, we make a big show of embracing everyone who doesn’t seem like us,” said Brian Lambert, a radio personality and former media critic at The St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Remember that when Ross Perot ran for president as an independent in 1992 he received 24 percent of the state’s vote. Bill Hillsman, a political-advertising savant who helped invent Paul Wellstone, said that this kind of independent showing is less about third party than a third way into politics.
“The reason that different people break through in Minnesota politics is that there is a willingness to entertain a notion,” Mr. Hillsman said. “They look at candidates regardless of the conventional wisdom and orthodoxy.”
“Minnesota Nice” is real. It’s why you see seed art at the Minnesota State Fair, a popular local art form, expressing all kinds of political and cultural thinking. It’s hard to think of another state in the union where you’d see gay-themed art made out of mix of flax and corn seed.
“It is a state of deep contradictions,” said John Rash, an editorial board member of The Star Tribune of Minneapolis and a contributor to WCCO-AM, a radio beacon of all things Minnesotan. “There is a kind of prickly progressivism here. We are extremely reserved right up until we walk up to the ballot box.”
In 2005, I went back to Minnesota with Mr. Franken while he tested the waters for a run. In the past, he had been incredibly impolitic around a microphone —once suggesting that the only person with a lower poll rating than Newt Gingrich was the Unabomber — and had written an indelicately titled book called: “Lies (and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them).” But I found him remarkably skilled at retail politics: I watched him exchange jumper-cable stories with voters from northern Minnesota at a so-called “bean feed” fund-raiser. Still, as I dropped him off at the condo in downtown Minneapolis, I watched this short man with a backpack and no relevant political experience amble toward the front door and thought: “Could this wiseacre be the next senator from Minnesota?” The answer turned out to be yes.
And yes, Mr. Franken’s fast mouth carries with it the possibility of embarrassment, but as people who have to wear the equivalent of a spacesuit to go outside five months a year, Minnesotans are used to the mix of wonder and amusement their state engenders.
Like other curveballs thrown by the Minnesota electorate, Mr. Franken might figure it all out, because, as Stuart Smalley used to say: “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog-gone it, people like me.” At least in Minnesota.Monday, May 11, 2009
Too Much To Say!!
I feel like I am bursting with things to blog!! I have had countless thoughts, experiences, and moments in the last four days that all deserve attention on here, I am overflowing with information!
Unfortunately, as often happens when things are so busy, I have little time to blog about anything at all and am feeling rather tongue-tied, as if the ideas in my head are so crowded they wedge together and form a dam between the brain and the mouth (or in this case hand). But I shall attempt to blog about some of them anyways.
I have spend the last four days (since Thursday night late), in various places in Michigan. I was up their for my sister's graduation. Congratulations Dr. Laurelyn!! She is now a veterinarian! The actual ceremony was Friday afternoon. We spent Friday morning running around Lansing. The boys (my father, FBIL and FBIL's father), were trying to fix the trailer up while LEK (that is Laurelyn, sorry for the acronyms), ran errands on campus. I have no idea where the mother types were during that time period... anyways, these morning errands and tasks took longer than expected, so before we knew it it was time to dress up and head to the ceremony.
LEK had 104 people in her graduating class (if my Mom's count was correct). The ceremony was about two hours long. There were a number of speeches, two of particular unpleasantness and a couple that were fine. The exciting and fascinating part was the hooding, when each student walks across stage and has an academic hood placed on them and is announced as a doctor for the first time. I tried to get a video recording of it on LEKs digital camera, but I don't know if it will turn out soundwise. The bad speeches were one that was pretty much a business ethics lecture, and one that was a political lobbyer trying to get the new graduates to join her organization. But, all in all a great and I think meaningful ceremony. I was surprised by how many people had parents that graduated in the same program. Afterwards, we celebrated with a great dinner at a place called Houlihans, very tasty. We eventually rolled our way back to the hotel and crashed.
Saturday was both very busy and very stationary. We, as a group of seven people, had the task of loading LEK and FBILs lives into two horse trailers, while leaving room for two horses. Luckily I missed most of the packing of things into boxes, since I hate that part. We worked steadily from around 10am until 4pm, and then finally were able to wrap things up at the apartment. The day included such things as five large trapped frogs, seran wrapping a couch, and fitting things puzzle like into the trailers. After we finished packing their were still errands to be run, and then finally a relaxing dinner at La Seniorita Mexican Resteraunt. Tasty Margaritas!! Later at the hotel LEK had a friend over to spend some last-minute time with before leaving the city and we walked the (relatively abandoned) area around the hotel singing random 80's cartoon theme songs.
Sunday was go time!! We tried to leave the stable by 8am. LEK had headed over early to load up the horse stuff and prep her horse for travel - Joey Pony. He is a large horse, definately the largest I have ever been around, but a complete sweet heart. When we got there, he loaded relatively easily and off we went in the two trucks pulling two trailers. We headed straight north for about three hours and then turned towards Lachine, Michigan, the location of the second horse we needed to pick up. It was a crazy road going there, lots of curves for the big trailers, but pretty enough country, apparently the "elk capital" of Michigan is up their. I did not know their were Elk in the lower half of Michigan. We arrived at the farm and went out to meet the horses. My sister the graduate bought herself a graduation present, a Suffolk Punch. This is a breed of draft horse (made for pulling) that is very rare, and known for its good nature. Her new guy is about two years old and named Elmer (or Elmo? Still being discussed). He is a sweety.
Its 10:30pm. I have so much to do tomorrow... I will have to sadly leave you in Lachine, Michigan. I hope you do not find the farm there, with its chickens and cows and horses too boring.
Unfortunately, as often happens when things are so busy, I have little time to blog about anything at all and am feeling rather tongue-tied, as if the ideas in my head are so crowded they wedge together and form a dam between the brain and the mouth (or in this case hand). But I shall attempt to blog about some of them anyways.
I have spend the last four days (since Thursday night late), in various places in Michigan. I was up their for my sister's graduation. Congratulations Dr. Laurelyn!! She is now a veterinarian! The actual ceremony was Friday afternoon. We spent Friday morning running around Lansing. The boys (my father, FBIL and FBIL's father), were trying to fix the trailer up while LEK (that is Laurelyn, sorry for the acronyms), ran errands on campus. I have no idea where the mother types were during that time period... anyways, these morning errands and tasks took longer than expected, so before we knew it it was time to dress up and head to the ceremony.
LEK had 104 people in her graduating class (if my Mom's count was correct). The ceremony was about two hours long. There were a number of speeches, two of particular unpleasantness and a couple that were fine. The exciting and fascinating part was the hooding, when each student walks across stage and has an academic hood placed on them and is announced as a doctor for the first time. I tried to get a video recording of it on LEKs digital camera, but I don't know if it will turn out soundwise. The bad speeches were one that was pretty much a business ethics lecture, and one that was a political lobbyer trying to get the new graduates to join her organization. But, all in all a great and I think meaningful ceremony. I was surprised by how many people had parents that graduated in the same program. Afterwards, we celebrated with a great dinner at a place called Houlihans, very tasty. We eventually rolled our way back to the hotel and crashed.
Saturday was both very busy and very stationary. We, as a group of seven people, had the task of loading LEK and FBILs lives into two horse trailers, while leaving room for two horses. Luckily I missed most of the packing of things into boxes, since I hate that part. We worked steadily from around 10am until 4pm, and then finally were able to wrap things up at the apartment. The day included such things as five large trapped frogs, seran wrapping a couch, and fitting things puzzle like into the trailers. After we finished packing their were still errands to be run, and then finally a relaxing dinner at La Seniorita Mexican Resteraunt. Tasty Margaritas!! Later at the hotel LEK had a friend over to spend some last-minute time with before leaving the city and we walked the (relatively abandoned) area around the hotel singing random 80's cartoon theme songs.
Sunday was go time!! We tried to leave the stable by 8am. LEK had headed over early to load up the horse stuff and prep her horse for travel - Joey Pony. He is a large horse, definately the largest I have ever been around, but a complete sweet heart. When we got there, he loaded relatively easily and off we went in the two trucks pulling two trailers. We headed straight north for about three hours and then turned towards Lachine, Michigan, the location of the second horse we needed to pick up. It was a crazy road going there, lots of curves for the big trailers, but pretty enough country, apparently the "elk capital" of Michigan is up their. I did not know their were Elk in the lower half of Michigan. We arrived at the farm and went out to meet the horses. My sister the graduate bought herself a graduation present, a Suffolk Punch. This is a breed of draft horse (made for pulling) that is very rare, and known for its good nature. Her new guy is about two years old and named Elmer (or Elmo? Still being discussed). He is a sweety.
Its 10:30pm. I have so much to do tomorrow... I will have to sadly leave you in Lachine, Michigan. I hope you do not find the farm there, with its chickens and cows and horses too boring.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Another type-by Tagging
Another tag game is going on, perhaps more amusing than the last, at least to me, and I have been tagged by Lori over at Musings from a VERY Random Mind
. So, I happily play.
Directions: Go to wherever you store your pictures and go into the fourth folder and take the fourth picture. Post it here and explain it, then tag more people.
Here it is. It actually is from the fourth folder that is MINE from the fourth folder of pictures (we have a lot of ILs pictures on this computer).
I was very fortunate that this picture came up. It is one of my favorite pictures of myself in college. It was taken in 2003, Freshman year of college, in my dorm room. I stole this hat from a friend, and DH (then BF) liked it so much we did a mini photo shoot with it on. This picture in color is a little goody, since its a red plan hat and I am wearing a yellow tank top, etc, so I changed it to sepia. It was my profile pic for a really long time.
So, who to tag, who to tag?
I tag Laurelyn and Allison
. So, I happily play.
Directions: Go to wherever you store your pictures and go into the fourth folder and take the fourth picture. Post it here and explain it, then tag more people.
Here it is. It actually is from the fourth folder that is MINE from the fourth folder of pictures (we have a lot of ILs pictures on this computer).
I was very fortunate that this picture came up. It is one of my favorite pictures of myself in college. It was taken in 2003, Freshman year of college, in my dorm room. I stole this hat from a friend, and DH (then BF) liked it so much we did a mini photo shoot with it on. This picture in color is a little goody, since its a red plan hat and I am wearing a yellow tank top, etc, so I changed it to sepia. It was my profile pic for a really long time.
So, who to tag, who to tag?
I tag Laurelyn and Allison
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