Monthly Archives: September 2003

by

Clarification For the Masses

This is an added note to my previous post since I now realize I left out a vital part. BEFORE, I go to Europe and all that good stuff, I AM driving down to California and making Oakland my home base with Dave and John. Then from there I will be visiting Christy and Erika up and down the coast for a couple weeks before flying to Atlanta to see Max. When I get back from Europe I will be flying back to Oakland where I will have yet another week before I fly out to Hawaii.

So no worries, Christy. I am still coming. 🙂 I don’t consider driving to California so much as a road trip as going “home” in Navy terms. As a Navy brat we all know that there were never any real vacations, just moving to a new place or visiting the last place we lived. I’m doing that. But in the true fashion of evolution, as a daughter of a Navy captain, but not a military employee myself, I shall break the cycle of “pseudo-vacations” and go to Europe and Hawaii as well.

Can’t wait to see everyone. If I am skipping you on this trip, believe that I am making plans in my head to tell my next employer “I’m sorry, you did say this package includes 5 weeks vacation, right?”

by

Try to keep up, people.

I know all of you have heard me this year say first that I was going to head to Australia with Leah and then when that didn’t pan out with frequent flyer miles we thought maybe Thailand (yummmm….Thai food). Then Leah decided to do the cruise ship job and go to Australia in March. So I got to thinking about all the people I wanted to see all over the country and seeing as I bought a new car, decided to do a road trip.

I plotted it out, even invited a few potentials to join me here and there, and thought I was set. But after time went by and I really started feeling the reality of driving across Texas and other such sections, I began to weigh my alternatives. How much would it cost in gas? Relatively, $700-$800. Jesus. Well, then how much would it cost if I flew to those people? Then Dave started to remind me that if I flew I would make MVP Gold on Alaska (and anyone who’s anyone knows that MVP Gold on Alaska is like being crowned Queen of the Universe) so we played around with that idea.

Ultimately, it still looked like too much money and I thought I would regret not doing a real trip. I also thought that all of you would give me shit for backing out of yet another plan.

Which makes this last bit sort of funny. I am backing out. But only because I have booked a ticket to London where I will meet Rebecca and Charity and proceed to backpack around Europe. I think that was a great compromise to my “I don’t want to NOT do something amazing” and I am still going to see Max in Atlanta and Aaron in Maine, since that ticket had already been purchased. When I get back from Europe I will finish off my craziness with a family trip to Hawaii and then I will be ready to come home. Well at least home to my sister’s couch or my sister’s old bedroom at my parents’ house (mine was turned into an office long ago).

So that is the plan. Any naysayers, please shove it up your…no no no, feel free to comment. 🙂

by

Wil Wheaton…sex god.

Well, at least that’s what I’ve concluded after reading his Millionaire Playboy interview. Okay, maybe it doesn’t really cover any juicy details, but it’s a fine interview. If you haven’t already followed our links to his blog, you should. I must say, even though I am more of a “Stand By Me” fan than a “Star Trek” fan, I have a great deal of respect for Wil. He intrigues me. (Don’t get me wrong, I like “Star Trek,” I just haven’t watched very much of it since I was a kid, which is funny since I think it is probably far more enjoyable as an adult now.)

Do yourself a favor. Check out his blog. And then check out the interview. Highly entertaining and illuminating. Besides, you have to love anyone who gives Edward Norton the props he deserves.

by

To Purge or Not to Purge

Susie’s blog entry entitled “Stuff” reminded me of something I learned recently. I think either a librarian told this to me or somebody who probably is going to feel slighted that I forgot they had taught me this. Either way, I found it to be INCREDIBLY useful when I was moving.

For all of you who might be in a transitional state, either moving out of a place, or trying to move on in life and therefore doing some “deep cleaning,” try using these guidelines.

When sorting, make four piles.
Pile #1=Things that make you feel GREAT
Pile #2= Things that make you feel GOOD
Pile #3= Things that make you feel BAD
Pile #4= Things that make you feel SAD

Now the definitions for great, good, bad, and sad can be loosely interpreted, but I choose to define them as follows:
GREAT example: pictures of family; videos from childhood; much loved teddy bear
GOOD example: the receipt from an enjoyable dinner you had with a friend once; souvenir from carnival you went to on a date; knick-knack you bought a long time ago to decorate your place.
BAD example: remnants of trinkets given to you by someone who hurt you; papers from a job you were fired from long ago; a note from a former friend/lover who has “done you wrong.”
SAD example: pictures, trinkets, letters, etc. from a loved one who has passed away; even the same such items from a “partner/lover” of the past who meant a great deal to you and a part of your life and growth as a person.

You get the picture.

Now here is the catch. Look at your piles. Now go get the garbage can. Throw all the GOOD and BAD stuff away. All you need to keep are the GREAT and the SAD.

At first I thought, well why wouldn’t I want the GOOD stuff, and why am I keeping the SAD stuff. But when I looked at it, the process of “piling” pretty much satisfied that need I thought I would have to reminisce about the GOOD stuff. “Oh look at this bowl! I bought it when I was sixteen at the Santa Cruz flea market and then it was passed around from friend to friend until it came back to me! I remember those great days. I kept it on my dresser for years!” And then that’s it. I’ve remembered, I’ve done the whole nostalgic thing, and now do I really need to do it again in five years? Probably not.

And as for the SAD things, well that one is obvious. Especially for the things that have to do with people who have passed away. But even the items that are just sad in general, sometimes it’s for historical value (i.e. World Trade Center picture/souvenir from visit there) or for therapy (i.e. letter from first love), and sometimes you find that one day that SAD item has found it’s way into the GREAT pile. It’s happened.

Let’s just say, my dad’s boat barn is heaving a huge sigh of relief that I used this process before storing all my stuff in there. With one exception, my box of Winnie the Pooh stuff and random possible collectors items like my Sporty Spice Barbie doll still in the box. I mean come on, that’s got to be worth money some day, right?

by

Needless Reflection

I was told by a certain someone that I should not, under any circumstances, blog about how I’m about to go through a big life change and pontificate about the “where is my life leading” kind of spew. Hmmm…so what does that leave me?

Well, let’s just say I’m sitting here at my desk looking around at 3.5 years worth of receipts, paperwork, handouts, notes, pictures, white cheddar popcorn wrappers, and cuppa jo coupons and I’m wondering…how the hell am I supposed to fit all this in the itty bitty garbage can they give me? The truth is, I am packing most of it up and putting it in my car to take to my dad’s boat barn where the rest of my life is, but I’m wondering if I have the energy to purge any of it as I go. That’s about all. Nothing even remotely sentimental.

I think the general consensus is “It was a great run, now get out of my way, I’ve got a life to return to.” So begins what I am now referring to as my “cool down period.” (Sidenote: I couldn’t remember the term for post-workout exercise so I had to ask a co-worker, so here is the appropriate props to Ed for reminding me that it is called “cool down” as opposed to the obvious “warm up” that happens before a workout. Man, I must have really fried my brain to have forgotten that.)

Anyhow, with the road trip, Thanksgiving in Hawaii, the possible cruise ship training job, I figure all of this is my way of “cooling down” after a job full of travel. Sometime next summer maybe I’ll finally settle down and find a job like everyone else.

Oh god, that’s depressing.

by

Close Encounters

I forgot to mention two things from yesterday. First of all Karl, the musician, was actually a bit of a celebrity growing up. Or at least his dad was, and when you’re a kid, that usually means you are too, right? Have any of you heard of Baron von Rashcke the wrestler? That’s his dad. I love little things like that.

The second experience yesterday was a little bit bigger than that. Michelle and I were in the bookstore “Bound to be Read” on Grand Ave., one of the greatest streets to kill time, and I took my book of choice up to the register to pay for it. Sitting up on the counter was an autographed copy of Garrison Keillors “Love Me.” I was just about to pick it up when the bookseller asked me about Seattle (after looking at my ID and Bank Card). This distracted me so we started talking. By the time we were done with the transaction and pleasant small talk, Michelle pointed out the “Love Me” book.

To my utter disappointment, the next words out of the booksellers mouth were, “Oh yeah, he was just in here buying a gift for someone so he signed a few of those. You just missed him.” I thought maybe he meant earlier that day so Michelle and I said, “Oh man, that would have been great to have seen him,” to which the bookseller responded, “I mean, JUST here. As you walked up to the counter, he walked away.”

Argh. I can’t believe it. If I had picked up the book the moment I had seen it, maybe I could have met him. Everything would have played out differently and I would have a beautiful Minnesota moment to make Brenda proud.

by

“It’s the Home Stretch, and St. Paul takes the lead!”

On Friday I decided to make my drive north by driving along the Mississippi River until I could cut over into St. Paul. It was raining, but still one of the most beautiful drives I’ve had in a long time.

I decided that a goal of mine one day is to definitely kayak down the Mississippi, from start to finish. Anyone with me?

But more importantly I discovered this weekend that I truly do love St. Paul and Minneapolis. I could live here easily. Yesterday Michelle gave me a tour of her favorite haunts. I cannot express how amazing this state is. We drove along the St. Croix through the cutest little town called Stillwater. We didn’t stop because we were on a goal to…oh wait, we didn’t have any goals. That was the beauty of the day. We just drove and saw so much. We ended up hitting Taylors Falls which is the most amazing place where you can see these huge natural potholes in the rocks that surround this peaceful cove, reminiscent of the gorge at Big Sur where we used to jump off the cliffs into the water when I was in high school.

On the way back we noticed this giant sculpture garden in the middle of nowhere so we stopped and discovered it was actually the Franconia Sculpture Garden and we were glad we stopped.

But the best part of the weekend was when we headed out last night to grab some food and take in some music. First we ate at what I have to say is the best sushi place I’ve ever been to. I’m not exaggerating, people. I’m including Seattle in this, and Fujiya in Minneapolis beats any sushi place I have been to in my life. We sat outside and I ordered some of my standards (maguro, tamago, edamame, miso) but then I tried a roll of theirs called the crunchy wasabi roll. It was amazing, as was the cucumber seaweed salad. I’m going to dream about this place. Maddy, I wish I could fly you out here to go with me. You would love it.

Then we headed over to the Speakeasy to hear Michelle’s friend Karl play with his band. Despite a rude bartender, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this cozy place, appropriately located in the alley, illuminated by a red light outside the door. Of course the highlight was Latchhook which was a three piece band with a cello, light drums, and Karl on guitar and vocals. Even a little piano was thrown in and I have to say, I loved them. There was a certain comfort in the low mumbling song coming from Karl accompanied by a crisp unique sound from the cello or piano. I guess the people in Latchhook must rotate because on the site it says they are a husband wife team with Karl added on guitar. If you go to the website, follow the latchhook link on the bottom of the page and click on the “to mp3s” link to hear three of their songs. My favorite right now is “Hue-Saturation.” I would love to know what some of you think, although it’s not the same if you’re not sitting in the Speakeasy with great company after a great day. Or maybe it is. 🙂

So, who wants to move here with me. Anyone?

by

Raining Obituaries

So I wake up unusually early on my welcomed, not to mention out of the ordinary, day off, it’s 7am and I can’t seem to go back to sleep. Finally I realize it’s because it is pouring rain and I can hear the sloshing of cars driving by and roll of thunder in the distance. Argh. Unless it clears up in the next few hours, I don’t think this hike is going to happen.

You see, I had decided that I would stay this extra day in Prairie du Chien so I could hike up to view the Effigy Mounds. I’d been talking a lot about them to my co-worker and he decided to stay the weekend so he could do some of the hikes. I had already planned on leaving Thursday night to head up to St. Paul, but since I may never be back in this area again I thought I would spend today hiking and then drive up to St. Paul tonight. Alas, it’s a veritable downpour out there.

But since I was up, I went out to have some of the not-so-bad breakfast for an Americinn. I grabbed some eggs, made a little waffle, and a glass of milk then plopped myself down in front of the TV in the lobby only to have “Good Morning America” inform me that today is a sad day. John Ritter and Johnny Cash died.

Now Cash was 71 and I’m not as surprised to hear this, especially since his wife passed away earlier this year, but Ritter? Good ol’ John? Jack Tripper? He was only 54! And I loved him! You may think my love for him is all because of Three’s Company, but it’s not. That’s where it started, but as time went by he earned my respect with some of the characters chose to play. In “Sling Blade” he played a gay store manager and on Felicity {I watched one episode of that show} he seemed to play some ones alcoholic father? Of course, those who knew me in my early college years know we loved to make fun of the Monday Night Movies and “The Colony” was one of our favorites where John Ritter moves his family into a private neighborhood that ends up being like a commune they can’t escape from. Then of course was the time he played the police chief in “Bride of Chucky.” But I think I loved him most of all when he decided to play a robot on Buffy who dates her mother and turns evil.

Not to overshadow Johnny Cash of course who has wowed us with his renditions of favorites such as “Rusty Cage” and “Hurt.” It sort of tickles me to think Cash and Ritter spent the morning taking that walk towards who knows where and maybe they bumped into each other and discovered they really like each other. I can see this being the making of a great “Monday Night Movie” already.

by

Spider Update

There’s this habit in our family to put off pressing responsibilities or work by filling our time with cleaning or organizing. We comvince ourselves that the messy house or the filled e-mail inbox is due for a cleaning and that is a justified priority. So I was not surprised when I came home the other night to my sister’s apartment and the place smelled of amonia and reeked of procrastination.

Lo and behold, not only was the kitchen floor spotless, but the infamous trapped spider was gone. Apparently, it had built itself a web and made itself at home inside the glass so when my sister finally had the guts to pick up the glass, the spider wouldn’t leave. She place the glass right side up outside and we kept checking on him. We couldn’t decide if he were starving or trapped or just plain resting.

Later that night, something hit my ankle as I was washing dishes and I looked down only to find that, no not another spider, but a bee was crawling around by my foot. Now I am slightly less scared of bees so I calmly put a glass over it. The only difference here is that I was calm.

Never fear. After all the guilt I felt over the spider, it only took about five minutes for me to find a piece of card stock to slip under the glass and carry the bee outside. After releasing it I had an afterthought that maybe I should have thrown it into the glass with the spider. I’m pretty sure the spider needs food and water (he’s pretty dry, but not dead) so what do you think? Would the bee have won or would the spider have devoured her?