Best. Day. Ever.

Today rocks! And let me tell you why.
1. I worked with Liz, I think she's my long-lost sister. We say things in the same inflection and at the same time. We finish each others sentences. We laugh A LOT. So whenever we do work together, we're bound to have a good time.
2. There was a free lunch of bagels, OJ, apples, and candy bars in the break room! Never turn down a free meal!
3. Liz and I each walked with over $15 in tips! That never happens, we can't have a jar for tips but we can take them if they are left. And I guess our customers were in a giving mood, a few even said "keep the change" when the change was something like $3.24. Score!
4. One of our regulars brought all us morning people Christmas cards. Each had a little chocolate marshmallow Santa taped to the envelope. We made his drink, exchanged a few chitty chats and he left. Liz and I went to open our cards and on the cover were little elves carrying packages that all said "Nice" on them. Inside, it said "Buy yourself something nice. Merry Christmas." And we opened one more flap and there was a crisp $50 bill. Seriously. He did that for 7 of us. You do the math. Liz and I were stunned into silence. We nearly started crying. I can't believe he did that. Talk about the season of giving. When he first came in and we gushed over the candy, I bet he was thinking "Oh just you wait..." He usually comes back for a second drink later in the morning and he did so today. I couldn't find the words to express our gratitude. He just smiled and told us that we always are so good to him and his employees (he has a business a few floors above our store,) we make him smile, were always in a good mood, he just wanted to say thanks. And then he said "Plus I didn't have anyone else to give it to anyway." Joking, of course. I just couldn't thank him enough. Nothing was going to kill our buzz today!

I guess my customer service skills paid off. Treat them the way you want to be treated and it does come back to you. I did spread the wealth and put some money in the salvation army bucket (although I do that just about every time I walk buy one) and Chuck's daughter and I went a bought Chuck a Christmas present today. But I will do exactly as the card told me and buy myself something nice.

My Christmas card

Is not sending out Christmas card this year. Just sort of slipped my mind. However, to those in my thoughts and deep within my heart, I wish you a wonderful holiday season! May you be told you are loved, get many many hugs, a few rocking gifts, and may the next year will bring more smiles, laughter and better memories than the last! Much love and giggles, Sarah

So if I sent a card, something like this would be written inside it. But it just sot of slipped my mind this year. Plus I've chosen to put the money that would go into those cards into presents for Chuck's girls. Good choice, I think.

My only concern is that because I didn't send one this year, I'm going to get the shaft on cards next year. Cause you know that many people save those cards and tend to send cards the next year to only the people who got sent one to them last year. But I'm not like that. I just don't send them at all. HA! At least this year. I usually love sending out cards, time just got away from me. Next year, I'm going to send them to those near and dear to me, and those whom I'd like to know I still think about.

Merry Holidays!

Again, pictures to come of the season to come!

No charge

I broke my charger for my computer. I tripped over the cord and literally ripped the cord off of the little bit that goes in the computer so it will charge. Bummer. But I have ordered a new one ($80 in a Mac store, $9 on line. Thanks Amazon!) and it should hopefully be here next week.

I thought I'd be totally lost without my little electronic pal, and I probably would be if it weren't for Chuck's computer that he so kindly lets me use. But it turns out I usually only go online when I'm bored. Which is a lot. I'll be sitting on the couch, wanting to go on facebook for no other reasons than I'm not doing anything else. It has sort of become a space filler - rather than just sitting, we have to be just sitting with the internet pulled up. Granted there is the news, and a way to chat with your friends, and funny videos to watch, it is a whole other source of entertainment. And it why not use it.

Stay tuned for photo updates of the holiday season! Once I get my new charger of course.

'Tis the season for Joy

'Tis the time of being joyful and being grateful for things in your life. So seeing as how my Thanksgiving post was completely about how we gorged ourselves on fresh food and not what I was thankful for, I figured I needed to document some items that make me happy.

In no particular order, may I present what I am affectionately calling "My List of Happy."

*Laughter. I do serve coffee for a living and tend to complain about dumb people often, but we laugh more at my job than I think any of the people that I serve. Like big-belly, mouth-open, nose-crinkle, hardy laughs. It's good stuff.
*A really comfy bed. I love sleep and blankets and cuddles and pillows and coziness. And having a cool breeze blowing through the window with an extra blanket on top. Although it's a little bit to chilly for that now.
*Speaking of chilly, I am love, love, loving this snow! Last Friday when it snowed nearly all night, Chuck and I went for a walk in it about midnight. It was lovely, calm, quiet, romantic and serene. Moments like that walk make me happy.
*Shiny, new wrapping paper and big bows! We were wrapping presents last night and it was so fun making them look all pretty and prefect.
*Good movies. Chuck and I saw Love and Other Drugs which was witty and sweet and made us both tear up. I may want to own that movie or at least the soundtrack. And we also saw Burlesque. What a glorious piece of trash! Some costumes from Moulin Rouge, some lighting and glitz from Chicago and the amazing script writing of Showgirls and you have the fantastically awful cinema attraction that is Burlesque! I may have to own the soundtrack to that one too!
*Chuck. Now I don't want to be the girl who talks up her boyfriend, but I totally am. He wants to spend time with me, he tells me I'm pretty, he loves his children more than anything, he makes me laugh all the freaking time, he supports me in all my wild hopes and dreams, he truly is my partner.
*My mom. She is a rock in my life and that never changes. She is always on my list of grateful and my list of happy.
*Chuck's daughters. They are little gems and are so sweet and funny. It's wonderful to get a hug around the middle (or the knees depending on which one hugs me first) right when you walk through the door
*Hugs. Giving, getting, seeing others do the same. I love hugs.

Here's a toast to what make you happy. May the list continue to grow!

Huh.

So I was digging through our cupboards last night looking for something to have for dinner and I came across a can of tomato soup. And then another one. Oh wait, and another one. Somehow we've wound up with 5 cans of tomato soup. And even 2 different brands. Neither Chuck nor I remember buying said cans, but they didn't grow legs and walk here on their own. If you bring the bread and cheese, you are welcome to come over for dinner!

And yes that is a big bottle of half-drunk red wine and a Jesus candle in the background. What? They work well together.

The Day of Thanks, in pictures

So Thanksgiving came and went without a hitch! All the food came out at once, much wine was drank and to quote my honey "Not a single can was harmed in the making if this thanksgiving feast." We had friends over, a hodge-podge of people, most of whom had never met, my mom made it after work for dinner, and some of Chuck's family stopped by throughout the day. There was much debate about how long to cook the turkey, 22 minutes per pound, 17 minutes per pound, till you can wiggle the leg easily. But Chuck trusted his instincts and with a little advice from our friend and restaurant cook Justin, the turkey came out with enough time to rest and be served with the rest of the food. Yum yum yummy! The turkey was moist, the veggies fresh, the potatoes salty and buttery, All in all I'd say for the first time hosting Thanksgiving, it was a success!

I'm going to let the photos taken on the day of thanks tell the story. And seeing as how it is a day of gluttony, most of the photos are of food. Enjoy, salivate, and then go raid your fridge.


I actually found Two Peas in a Pod, whilst shucking the peas from said pods the night before!


Our fridge has never been this full. Nor will it ever be again.


Localy raised, fresh/never frozen, killed the Sunday before the feast, turkey. Isn't she glorious? We named her Maggie.


The Chef, preparing the salads.


I've never been a big fan of cranberries. But I gotta say, when you make them yourself, de-lish!


Canned veggies ain't got nothin' on our fresh greens!


The innards of the turkey, we used them to make gravy. But let me give you some advice, don't ever try to eat a piece. You will never forget the nasty "pop" it makes in your mouth.


Our table. There wound up being so much food there was barely enough room for the diners plates!


The Chef doing the honors!


The happily fed dinner guests.


So it may be a tad morbid and disgusting to take a picture of not only a dead turkey but a fully eaten one as well, but I wanted to show how we devoured the thing!


I turned our bathroom mirror into a place for people to write what they were thankful for. Needless to say it was well received. Among the responses were "I'm thankful there are no clowns here." "I'm thankful for cheese, wine, coffee at 8am." "I'm thankful that all scales are apparently broken and not functioning properly." I'm thankful people will be drinking before eating the stuffing." "I'm thankful for good cooking, friends, my kids."


I think I will be leaving these up for quite a while!

Waste of 45 mintues

So I had an interview today. The company found my resume on monster.com and called me up. It was to sell life/health insurance to seniors. And that was all I knew. Now, it's not like I was jumping out of my skin for this opportunity, but it never hurts to interview. I was supposed to work today but I found someone to take my shift and I chose to take a personal day.

So I got up this morning, put on my only non-cafe black pants and a nice coordinating top and sweater, I even pulled out the curling iron to calm my frizzy ends. And I was ready, confident, calm and set to wow them with my personality and sales ability.

Man, did I set my expectations high. I found the place just fine, in fact I could ride my bike there easily from my apartment. I walk into the building, the stuffy, boring, unspunky building. I get off the elevator and everything is beige. Beige, beige, boring beige. And suddenly my chest tightens and all that is running through my head is "I don't belong here. I don't belong here." So I walk into the office, there is no one at the front desk and I just stand and wait. Then a big man with a deep yet surprisingly loud voice, a lot of hair product in his very little hair comes around the corner and says something about being here for the meeting. Meeting, not interview. Huh, interesting. Then the door opens and the front desk woman comes in along with two other people who are here for the same meeting that I came for. And this is the start of when my expectations came crashing down.

So we are walked into a room that is beige beige beige, given a pamphlet with a bunch of smiling old people on it, and are offered some coffee in tiny styrofoam cups. And the next 45 minutes was me staring at the big man with little hair talking about how this business will never go under and how we can make so much money doing simple things. What I mostly noticed was how drab the place was, with bad, gross fluorescent lighting and it's sad motivational posters. Even the posters were beige. How are you supposed to inspire people with posters that have no color and flare?

What irked me the most is that he mostly focused on the money, without giving us a base salary. Were we going to be making so much a year plus commission, or was it whatever we sold is a portion of what we brought home? He didn't tell us how we spoke to customers, the process of selling the product. Do we just present it and seal the deal and then someone else does all the dirty work? None of this was answered today in my "interview." And I also chose not to ask. I saw no point in asking the questions knowing I didn't want to work there anyway.

I'm thinking of writing to whomever it was that contacted me and telling them that it's false advertising to say I'll be coming in for an interview and then not to interview me!

I learned two things today.
1. I am not going to work for that company. I don't work well on commission. I can sell things but if you don't buy it, no skin off my back. Seniors and retirees are going to need some sort of life/health insurance but I'm not the one to sell it to them. The job entailed many, many things that I don't want to do.
And 2. Beige is the color of a dying, sold-out soul. That is the ugliest dead color I've ever seen. Now, I ask you, why is it that every office is painted that color?! I know offices want to be neutral in color, but there are neutral colors that aren't beige.

So I'm staying in my job, for now. I'm good at it, I like it (most days), I have a great crew, and my regulars are good people. Today was a waste of 45 minutes. But I do know where I don't want to be. And that is in a beige office working on commission.

Simply put

Have you ever heard of StoryPeople?

Click it if you haven't. Click it if you have. And then browse the site. It's wonderful.

One of my favorites went something like this "She cried several times a day. Not because she was sad but because the world was just that beautiful."

A new chapter

Today is 11-11-10 and I have officially been living with Chuck for 11 days. It's been blissful. I have been staying here since around June or July because it was so effing hot out and I didn't have air conditioning. But with the past 11 days I didn't have another apartment to go to if I needed it. And there is no where else I'd rather be.

I get nervous about moving. Not where I'm moving to but the actual act of moving. What if I can't get all my things in the truck or in the new place, what if something breaks, what if what if what if. But once I'm in the new place all is well. Chuck made the move so smooth for me and eased my mind and all my what ifs about moving.

Once all my stuff was in the apartment Chuck looked at me and said, "I like having all your stuff here. It makes the place so cozy." That made my heart smile. I've hung up pictures, put out my books (sidebar, when packing up ALL my books I realized that I should invest in a nook. All my books into a thing that can fit in my purse rather than in 12 different boxes.) I've also overtaken the closet and have doubled the amount of dishes. But we got everything to fit and make it homey. Our stuff fits in the apartment and we fit together.

I look forward to the holiday season anyway but this year I'm really looking forward to it. Chuck and I are hosting Thanksgiving and are both uber excited to decorate for Christmas! We decorated for Halloween and had those fake spiderwebs all over the balcony. And this year our apartment is going to ooze Christmas! With new sparkely things and old items from childhood.

This is a new chapter in my life, living with Chuck. It flows so easy, it's so much fun! We compliment each other so well and laugh more than I could have imagined.
Me + Chuck + his girls + our apartment = a daily life of wonderfulness!

VOTE!

And you better believe I did! I proudly stuck that red circle sticker to my chest when I walked out the door. I had kept my sticker from the Obama election until some time this past winter in my wallet. I was a little sad when the sticky finally dried up and it fell off. I was extremely proud that I had something to do with putting that man in office.

Don't complain if you don't vote! And we all know that isn't going to stick. As Americans there is always something to crap on in our government, but if you voted you know you at least did your part.

Now seeing as how I think humor makes everything better, click here. It's pictures from John Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. That rally was classic! Just as outlandish and ridiculous as nimrod Glenn Beck's rally to restore honor. Only this one was had a sense of humor and people who are willing to fight for equal rights. (Sidebar, I heard someone say once "I think Sarah Pallin has good ideas." My response? "Anyone who doesn't give everyone equal rights does not have good ideas.")

If you didn't know it already, I'm fairly certain you now know where I stand politically. But no matter your views, VOTE!

Dumber than a box of rocks

I work in a book store. And we don't hire people who don't read. If you don't read, how are you going to be able to sell our one and only product?

So I ask you, how does Christine O'Donnell who is running for Senate, get as far as she has without knowing the basis that our country is founded on?

Click here to hear her ridiculousness.

And make sure to read the article. Her quote about the 17th Amendment and bringing her Constitution with her is like the cherry on top.

How are people this stupid getting elected to public office? I know she's not elected yet and frankly Chris Coons is smoking her. But seriously Ms. O'Donnell, do some research, you dumb woman. You're making yourself out to look like a fool. Or perhaps you are putting your best and only face forward and sadly it is a look of confusion. Before getting a job, read into where you'll be working, how it started, what the job is going to require of you. And know that it's OK not to move forward with said job if you don't fit the criteria.

Or keep heading down the road of saying idiotic things. You're doing a great job of painting a sloppy picture of yourself and your party.

Emotions run high

This video is a must watch.

It's a little long, but it's worth it. What a brave soul. And he speaks the truth. Please listen. Everyone.

Gay-friendly and freaking proud of it!

"Happy Coming Out Day! Oh, and if any you think gays and lesbians should be kicked out of the military, banned from marriage, denied visitation rights, not allowed to adopt children or believe in any of this "love this sinner, hate the sin" nonesense, please "out" yourself from my life. Your hateful ignorance is killing children and harshing my mellow. Thank you." --- from my dear friend Marlene Moxness, from her facebook status. She's brilliant, witty, well-read and an equal-rights fighter.

I really don't understand what the hell is wrong with people that think a person doesn't deserve the same rights as everyone else just because they are gay. Just because the are committed to being themselves. Just because they choose to love someone with all their might. Just because they don't have some of the same beliefs as others. Just because.

If you're not going to grant gays the same rights as straights you might as well take away my right to vote and put blacks back in a separate bathroom. Seriously! It's 2010, we should be passed this! It shouldn't be a big deal who people choose to love! At least they are choosing to love rather than hate. At least they are fully being themselves rather than conforming to someone else's idea of a good person. (And if anyone brings the Bible into this so help me, I'll find a way to smite you down myself!)

I'm proud of all my gay friends! I'm proud of all the kids choosing to come out at a young age, middle/high school is hard enough and here they are saying they are proud to be themselves. I'm proud of the gay parents that take in a child given up by it's birth parents and love it whole-heartedly. I'm proud of the parents who accept their gay child with open arms. I'm a better person because of many things, but one of those things is the fact that I allow differences to help form my friendships.

Happy Coming Out Day! Be proud of who you are and know that you are loved!

A makeover

And I wish it was for me. This girl could use a haircut! But I made-over my blog a bit and I wish I could get a big fun header like this lady and this one. I can't figure out how to do that and of course my header wouldn't involve kids seeing as how I don't have any. But you get the idea.

So I've written over 300 posts. In over 2 years. I've also moved to another state and back, lived in 3 soon to be 4 different apartments. I've worked in 3 different positions within the same company. I've left a relationship that needed leaving. I've fallen for someone else who makes me ooze happiness. I've gotten a cat whom I adore when I swore I was more of a dog person. I've started and finished a writing class all on my own. And most of all these changes are documented here in one way or another. I haven't won the lottery or done anything that could be classified as extraordinary. But I couldn't be more pleased with where I am or where I've come from.

So I was thinking of a new job but I've broadened my horizons a bit to school too. Only it's very much in the beginning stages. How do I pay for it, what happens to my 401K if I stop working, where do i get health insurance, can I just step down at work and do school too? So many questions and so many places to find the answers I don't really know where to start.

But mostly right now I am trying to gather up all my stuff to move in officially with Chuck. It's very exciting and I'm so looking forward to it! We both are literally counting down the days. A few nights ago we were going to watch TV but ended up never turning it on because we got caught up in talking to each other. Seriously, he rocks. We rock together.

If anyone can help me personalize my blog more (for free) let me know. Until then, I like my new background. Enjoy!

Shocking hatred

Are we really still living in a world where someones beliefs and who someone chooses to love is a reason to put someone down? Apparently.

For the past few days I've been obsessed with this story. I can't get past the idea that I live in a world where people are capable of doing such an awful thing to someone else. What are the parents like who raised children thinking this is OK?

This is a hate crime, plain and simple. Friends of the accused are saying it wouldn't have been any different if it were a girl in the room and not another man. That still makes it an invasion of privacy, and I'm sure that if it were a girl and a boy those two would still be embarrassed and still have the urge to disappear for a while.

Just imagine being Tyler. You're young, quiet, kind, unsure of who are you as many 18 year old college students are. You are forced to trust your new roommate and it's a friendship that you make because you have to. And then less than a month into school, he betrays you with the worst kind of betrayal. He exposes an intimate moment between you and someone who means something to you. It's awful and I'm not sure there is a punishment that fits the crime.

What kind of soul is in a person who gets a kick out of hurting someone else like this? And to top it off there were two of them. Two people said that this was OK and that is so disappointing. It makes me sad that one of them didn't stand up to the other saying that what they were doing was wrong.

When I first heard about this story I was stunned into silence. Which is hard to do, I always have something to say. I was shocked and not so much sick to my stomach, but a pain much more deep and much more heart-wrenching creeped up from within. People who have the capacity to hurt someone else in ways like this don't deserve to be called a human being.

I'm so angry at the kids who did this. I want to give them a taste of their own medicine but that wouldn't solve the problem. It makes me sad to think that these two aren't the only ones who think this way. What do we have to do to live and let live? Why do people have to hurt someone to make themselves feel better? Why do people feel the need to push their beliefs on someone who is living their life and not bothering anyone else? I don't like that these are unanswerable questions.

Tyler, I'm sure you are missed by many. Know that your story will hopefully help others to reach out and to do the right thing and to stand up for the good of others. You join the ranks of Matthew Shepard and all the other kids who have died too soon because of bullying. May you be happy, unhurt, and loved wherever you are now.

Need a change

Is it bad that I don't have a long term goal other than to be happy living my daily life? I don't have a career objective, I have no plans to get married, I'm not looking to move out of state to try living some place else. I do have a Bucket List but many items on their are not big and life changing. Their little like drive route 66, go to Italy, visit the Louvre, write a book. I did have a plan that I would be married and pregnant by the time I was 25. Well, that clearly didn't happen. I thought I would get hired right out of the Luther College Bubble by a small yet prestigious theatre company as their resident lighting designer. Turns out all the companies already have that coveted position filled and those people aren't going anywhere.

So because of those failed (perhaps failed isn't the right word, I don't feel like a failure) plans I don't tend to make long term goals any more. Does that mean that I'm a slacker of life? I'm not sure. I've held 3 jobs that I've climbed up within the company and have been very proud of that. I'm looking for something new but the bummer of it is is that I have no idea what that new thing should be. I would love to do theatre work again, but sadly I have no health insurance or paid time off or a retirement plan with those gigs. I'd like to go back to school but I don't have the money. And I know many people who have degrees and are not doing anything in that field. Maybe I'm a pessimist right now, but school seems like a waste of time and money at the moment. I already have the BA, I should be able to find something new to do.

Chuck asked me what my dream was, and I said my dream involves not working. We laughed. Can't someone just pay me to connect with people on a daily basis, talk about our similarities and differences, maybe write about it and just be generally awesome? Unfortunately no, the world does not work that way. But imagine if it did... seems pretty cool, huh?

So I'm looking on-line for something new to do. I like my job I'm just ready for a new challenge. I moved to a new store with Pier 1 because I felt I had gotten everything out of the location I was at. Same thing is happening now. I don't feel there is anything else I can gain from this position and unfortunately there is no option for me to move up within that company. Can't move up, time to move on. I'm looking for something that is somewhat creative, involves working with others, enjoys a sense of humor, makes a difference in peoples lives either one at a time or in big groups, mostly allows me to leave my job at my job, gives me benefits. (And don't get me started on the fact that I have to limit my job options to the fact on whether or not I'll have health insurance and other benefits.)

Keep your fingers crossed for me to 1. find something new and 2. to keep my head up when I get discouraged.

Music awesomeness!

I got to see one of my several pretend boyfriends last night, Dave Matthews! (Among the other boyfriends are Matt Damon and Gerard Butler but they don't make it easy for me to see them in a live performance.) My mama bought me tickets to the concert for my birthday! And what a great present! I love Dave so freaking much! I just love his lyrics, his music, watching him and the band just jam. It's awesome!

Our seats were on the top level just a few rows up, but sitting where we are supposed to isn't usually how my man and I work. We snuck into Rock the Garden, every time we go to a Twins game we wind up down near the field. The ticket is just our way in the door, after that it's sort of a game for us to see how close we can get. So once we were in the door, we grabbed a beer, and wandered about. We watched a few songs from the opening band. And in between the openers and DMB we met up with my friend Kerstin for a quick visit. After that we made a quick decision to get down onto the floor and as close as possible before the band started when everyone was moving about, getting drinks, and mingling.

It was easy peasy to walk right in. We just gave security a little nod kept moving. We wound up as close to 20' feet away from the stage and my rock star pretend boyfriend! I didn't hear my favorite song, Two Step, but it was a rocking concert anyways. Last year their sax player died suddenly and I was curious as to who was going to replace him, the sax sound is a crucial sound to their music. There were a few people playing but on one song, Jimmy Thing, suddenly all 4 were out there making amazing music! And we were on the dance floor, I was moving and grooving, it was awesome!

Sadly, I have no pictures because my camera's batteries were dead. And my phone just took blurry yet bright pictures. I'll just have to hold the pictures of the band and its awesomeness in my mind.

Today my body aches. After over a month hiatus from yoga, my body was a bit sore yesterday, I was very aware of my muscles. But after dancing like crazy last night, I'm a hot mess today. My feet are sore, it hurts to lift the milk out of the fridge, the muscles around my rib cage say a crabby hello every time I take a big breath. Note to self, either do more yoga, or go to more concerts were I can dance dance dance. I don't think I'll be doing the latter much so yoga will have to do.

Despite my aches and pains, that concert was a BLAST! Totally AWESOME!

Mmmmmm yoga

I went to yoga tonight for the first time since perhaps the beginning of July. For reasons that are no longer worth the time to write, but I'm back in it tonight. I went back to yoga and it was a good, hard, stretching wonderfulness. I was pushed more than I've been pushed in yoga class in months and months. My arms were shaking in some poses but my legs were quite solid. I'm so stoked to get back to where I was last spring. It's going to be a flexible, good soul hugging, and the best thing I do for myself all week. Again.

PRETTY!

Look what I came home to yesterday! Daisies are my favorite! There was also a de-lish meal of steak and pasta cooking on the stove. Yeah, my boyfriend rocks. It's OK to be jealous.

I think every girl hopes to date a man who will spontaneously bring her flowers. And here I am with just such a man. I may be one of the luckiest girls around right now.

Calm and good

Today's 3 good things
1. I took a nap after Chuck and the kids left this morning. Seeing as how I closed at work today, I got up, had breakfast and then napped. I like doing that. Naps are awesome.
2. I got the application to join the local theatre techs union. I talked with someone last week who had an IATSE shirt on and gave him a brief history of my work and he said I was the type of person they were looking for. And the application is easy! It's like getting-an-A-in-Intro-To-Theatre easy. I'm stoked!
3. This weather is wonderful! I could do without the wind but I never like wind. But the cooler temperature feels so nice. I wrapped myself in my favorite lovely bright blue pashmina from Paris today! (Thanks Judy! I love it!)

What was good in your day today?

It's Saturday and it's good

Today's 3 good things
1. It's day number 1 of 3 days off! And we (Chuck, the girls and I, that is) spent it in our jammies until 1 in the afternoon! Now that's what I call a Saturday!
2. I'm having a glass of wine before dinner. And probably one with. And probably one after.
3. And the best one... I love it here. Our place never stays clean for more then 20 minutes, we are always filling, running, emptying, refilling the dishwasher, I got up at 6:30 this morning because the little one decided she had slept enough, there are toys, books, cups, nothing where it should be, it's controlled chaos in this house. And I wouldn't trade it all for anything.

Happy Labor Day weekend. I'm celebrating Labor Day by not working. Nice.

9/1/10's 3 good things

1. Mama took me to the Fair today! Sadly I didn't get a single picture of us. Right before we got on the sling shot ride would have been a perfect time! Next time, right Mom? I've gone to the fair every year of my life, but my Medora and New Mexico years. I heart the fair. And I love it even more with my mom, she has no plans but is willing to go anywhere while we are there. We wander, we eat, we people watch. And it's fabulous!
2. When I came back to the apartment that I have been calling home and will for real in two months, I am greeted by little kid screams, hugs around the knees and a big kiss from my honey. Who could ask for a better welcome home?!
3. Fall is coming. I can feel it. Can't smell it yet, 'tis one of my favorite smells. But I know it's on its way. Fall is my favorite. Sweaters, scarves, layers, cider, Halloween, breezes through open windows with another blanket on the bed. Mmmmmmm, perfection.

Happy September!

This will surely offend someone

I say build that mosque in NYC. And then either shut your pot holes or find something worthwhile to fight against. I can't believe that this topic is actually taking up news time. There are churches, strip clubs, bars, probably a mosque or two within a few blocks already of Ground Zero, along with a few drug dealers and some hookers. And people are mad that there is going to be a building that doesn't fall under their thoughts and beliefs. I bet they wouldn't feel this way if the people who crashed the planes into the Towers were kids like Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris from Columbine; white people from Christian households.

It really makes me mad and uncomfortable with a lot of people in this country that there seems to be an aura of "I accept everyone." Long pause. "Just people who are like me." And by that I mean, no one of another color, belief system, religious preference, sexual orientation, life style choice, is allowed to do anything that is even close to me and my life.

And yes I realize that I'm really exaggerating here.

But I'm just leaning drastically in the other direction as the people who are leaning away from me. I don't get it.

This rant stems from Glen Beck's rally for "Restoring Honor". First off, Glen Beck is a dumbass with a loud mouth. A recovering alcoholic and drug addict with no college degree, and whose claim to fame is that he "Found Jesus." (I'm paraphrasing here, but here's where I get my info.) (And I didn't know Mr. Christ had gone missing.) And secondly, I was unaware that honor had been degraded which in turn would cause it to have a need to be restored. As an American (sounds so ridiculously patriotic of me) I feel quite honored to live here. Now more than I have in the last 8-10 years. And thirdly, why the hell does a Christian GOD and that damn book that people worship have to shove its judgmental face into everything?!

You don't mix politics with religion. It says so right here.

I don't care who you worship. In fact, I'd rather not know. As long as who and how you worship doesn't affect me and others it shouldn't matter. Worshiping someone or something has nothing to do with running this country and even less to do with honor. Honor goes to those that do good to others without being asked. Honor is earned, not given.

I say build that mosque. That building being put up isn't hurting me, shouldn't hurt anyone else. If it offends you, pull the stick out, take a breath and find a hobby. There are bigger things to be pissed about, better things to put your time into and happier things to focus on.

And while I'm at it, if someone would just made Glen Beck disappear like Jimmy Hoffa, I would silently thank you.

Here is where I step off my soap box. For now.

3rd post for the month, maybe 4th

We went to a wedding last night.

A friend from Chuck's work got married to a sweet Romanian woman and it was the second marriage for both the bride and groom. The wedding was quick and easy, small and simple. The reception was surprisingly fun. We danced all night! And literally were the last ones on the dance floor. We even beat out the high school kids. And I am sore today! I clearly am not as young as I think I am. But I don't care, if there is a good song on I can't leave the dance floor! And some Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder will keep me shaking my groove thing. An open bar, an easy going crowd, good music and my boy makes for a fun evening!

We're going to the State Fair next weekend. Chuck and his girls have never been and I'm so excited to take them! Cheese curds, pronto pups, the giant slide and every animal barn is on my must-do list for that day. Pictures will surly be posted!

3 weeks into August

No news is good news. My life is fantastic! And I just haven't felt an itch to write about it.

Last Saturday evening my wonderful boyfriend took me out on a date. We borrowed my mom's canoe, got a yummy deli sandwich, some wine, and a candle. He paddled me through the city lakes for dinner in the middle of Cedar lake. We set up the paddles to be a sort-of table in the middle of the canoe and toasted to us. It was so romantic! And all his doing. Yep, I am one luck lady. He's amazing and he thinks I'm amazing. Thus far, we're a good fit.

Work is fine. I'm looking at other options. It's time for something new, I think I've learned all I can in my position and would like to move up, but there isn't anything open in a store I want to be at. Plus I'm tired of serving coffee. I love my crew and most of my customers but I want something new. Nothing worth writing about now, but I'm opening my job horizons.

I haven't been staying at my apartment because I don't have AC and it's f***ing hot out. So my dear cat and I have been moved to Chuck's and it's air conditioned comfort. It's been awesome. My cat loves all the extra space and I love the AC. But I have heard through the grapevine of my building that Nutty The Neighbor has moved out. Ding Dong! The Crazy's Gone! Thank god! I'm not even living there right now and I'm grateful she's moved out.

Chuck's daughters are with us this weekend and I'm looking forward to every minute. I came in the door on Wednesday evening and the older of the two came running and gave me a big hug. And the little one was being put to bed, but came out to say hello. I adore these kids and they think I'm pretty cool too.

And in spirit of my old posts, today's 3 good things...
1. Chuck made me lunch to take to work. The yummiest part, plain yogurt with sauteed blueberries into a sweet sauce. It was delicious!
2. Work was a very laid back evening. I didn't feel like getting all stressed on a Friday night serving coffee.
3. I'm off the weekend and I'm going to revel in the joy of little kids and a great beau.

Thank Any High Power!

Three cheers for Judge Vaughn Walker and saying the Prop 8 in California is unconstitutional! Because it is!

It's about God damn time. And God has nothing to do with this. Don't get me started on the Bible and it's nutty beliefs. I'm so tired of people wasting time, money, energy, angry words and tears on something that shouldn't be a law at all. Who people choose to love is no one elses business. And the people who say "I'm for equal rights" yet want to make laws allowing others to not have the same rights just says that they are for equal rights, but only for those who are like them.

I wish people would realize that our differences are what make us who we are. If we all would accept people for being who they are there would be a lot less stress and frustration in the world. As long as what we do doesn't physically hurt another person, we can love whomever we choose!

Equal is equal is equal. Period.

Sigh...

OMG, yes please!

I only dream of having a place like this to be naked in every day.

The word naked in the above sentence made you want to click the link even more, huh?

What a difference a year makes.

About this time of year last summer I was falling in a bar in front of the "Beautiful Marlon Brando Bartender" and he picked me up off the floor, dirty beer stained dress and all. Don't know that story? Click here.

And this year.... it's Saturday night, I've just finished work, and all I wanted to do tonight was go back to my beau's apartment and hang with him and his daughters. By the time I had walked in the door, the little one was asleep, but the "Tween" as she likes to be called since she just turned 9 sat up and chatted about the day with us while Chuck (I don't know if I've ever mentioned the beau's name before) and I had a late dinner of rice and veggies. Tomorrow is a belated birthday party for the Tween and we are all very excited. Leaving for work this morning was the last thing I wanted to do. The sofa bed was pulled out from our movie night last night, they were all still in their jammies watching Saturday morning TV and the remnants of our pancake breakfast was left on the table.

This is my happiness, it's perfect with it's imperfections. I'll take it's ooopses, and flaws. I didn't think I'd ever find a happiness like this, but this is soooo good.

The Coveted Nook

This is what I need. A spot that is mine with a desk that is used and loved and carries with it the words and wishes of it's past writers. This woman pegged the desire and fulfillment of a writer's nook.

It's simply lovely.

Plus her blog is fantastic, poetic, beautiful, charming, honest and a joy to read.

I'm now on a mission to find my dream writing desk. I had a desk in NM that I adored, it was given to me from a friend when he moved and I had to give it to a friend to move back home. And here in my beloved home state I have a desk that I love, my grandpa made it when I was about 10 or 11. But it just doesn't serve my writing needs, emotionally or physically. Yet I can't bear to get rid of it, especially now that Grandpa is no longer here. It's a piece of him I have to hold onto. But I need a desk that has worn, dark wood, many drawers, roughed edges, perhaps a mismatched handle of two. (And yes, it may seem that I like junk, but that's not it. I like things with a history.) I want a desk where I can write my words, dreams, wishes, hopes, rants all the while knowing that the desk has supported other peoples words before me. It may sound odd to those that don't revel in writing, but I think everyone can relate to having your "spot." The place where it's yours, you go to do what makes you happy, what you're good at, to just get away.

Craigslist, garage sales and second hand stores here I come!

My totally awesome birthday weekend!

I have the best boyfriend ever! I'm finally dating someone who knows that when it comes to my birthday, I get more than one day! My beau started my birthday weekend on Friday by picking me up from work with a Wonder Woman card and some chocolates. We did some shopping and come home and he made me delicious ham, pesto, and brie sandwiches. We had wine and some yummy garlic bread as appetizers. And then that night we slept out on the patio. We pulled out the hide-a-bed mattress, with lots of blankets and pillows and fell asleep to the sound of the night. It was a good sleep too.

The next morning I was given 2 breakfasts. The first was fruit with homemade whipped cream and chocolate sauce. A little treat to hold me over till the yummy eggs and potatoes were done. All served with mimosas. That afternoon I was surprised with a pedicure. My feet were in desperate need of some love and were quite happy with bright pink toes at the end. When we came home to make dinner, I was given a lovely bouquet of wild flowers and we started to make dinner. He said he'd been planning this meal for a while. A scrumptious lasagna with Italian sausage, pesto, ricotta cheese. It wasn't soupy or runny the way so many lasagnas are. It was sooooo yummy that it put us in a food coma. And like many of our meals, there was wine and garlic bread.

That night I invited my friends out for karaoke at a bar in NE. What fun that was! My friends are so awesome! We sang and rocked out, shook our groove thing and got down with our bad selves! I love being friends with people who have no problem getting up in front of people and possibly make asses of themselves. That type of attitude makes life so much more fun!

The following day was my actual birthday, and we were lazy in the morning, in front of the TV and doing nothing. It was fabulous. Then it was tacos at my mama's. Family friends that are close enough that I consider them family came over with sangria and wine. Tacos, laughter and a few games of croquet wrapped up the night.

Sadly I have very few pictures of the weekend. Some goofy ones from karaoke, a well lit photo of the delicious lasagna, but no photos of the people that celebrated it with me. I guess I'll just have to hold those memories within my heart. And in case you haven't noticed, the road to my heart is through my stomach. My beau and I love to eat, he loves to cook, and I'm learning with him. Cooking together is so much fun and we really bond over food. It's wonderful.

I'm 31 and am the happiest I have ever been. Happy Birthday to me!

Good things comes so easy

I have a lot to say at the moment. But I'm letting it all mull around in my head for a bit.

In the mean time, a few good things.
1. My mama. She had me and my beau and his girls over for dinner and then even pulled out the Croquet set for a game. We all sucked and I'm sure mom was making up the rules but whatevs.
2. Days off. I used to have no plans and get semi-bored on my days off. I'd watch a lot of Friends. But now I have someone fantastic to spend time with. And the best part, we have a wonderful time doing nothing. Literally nothing. We'll spend a few hours on the patio with wine, discussing life and that right there is nearly perfect.
3. Summer. Despite this damn heat. But it means tank tops, flip flops, painted toenails, patio seating at restaurants, late sunsets, wine on the patio, dips in Minnesota waters, kool-aide (not nearly as fun to drink when it's cold out), art festivals, Pride, parades, flowers, warm summer rains. I could keep going. And what's even funnier? I'll make a list like his for winter too.

Stories

"Forty-three years old, and the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story." ---Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried

I like to think that that is why I write what I do.

PRIDE and 3 good things

It's PRIDE in Minneapolis. I miss my boys that have all moved away to the bigger and bolder cities of Minneapolis. I wait for the year that they are all back in town and we can do up this weekend like we used to. Until then I celebrate without them but in honor of them. And in honor of choice, individuality, friendship and love.

I went to pride today with my beau and his girls. That was fun. We wound up in my usual spot on the same block as Rock Bottom Brewery. I have friends that I see once a year at that same location, a friend's parents come prepared with Bloody Mary's and we have a gay old time. Pun intended.

3 Good Things about Pride
1. The gay families that march in the parade. I get all misty eyed every time. Everyone deserves to be loved. No ifs, ands, or buts. There are people walking with signs that say "I'm proud of my lesbian daughter." and "I love my gay dad." Just makes my heart smile.
2. The people watching. There are some outrageous outfits, some shirts that should have stayed on the hanger, some skin that should be covered. But that is one reason this weekend rocks, you can go out like that because there is always someone dressed more worse than you.
3. I really think this is a weekend full of love. You see it in all forms, holding hands, kisses, hugs, laughter. We truly do live it up right. We eat, drink, and be merry.

A reason to celebrate June 21st

I have rarely celebrated Father's Day. My dad hasn't been around to do so. No need for sympathy, I don't feel bad for myself. I have had great role models in my life to stand in as a father figure. And I feel blessed that they were and still are there.

But this year, I had a reason to celebrate. I'm dating a father and he's so good at it. He loves his girls so much and it makes me fall for him even more. He's caring and compassionate. He'll sit and talk with the older daughter, just talk. And she shares things that are important to her with him. She confides in him and he holds her words carefully within. Their level of trust is so lovely to watch. And the little one, he takes her in his arms and she snuggles into his shoulder with a sigh of comfort. He rocks her to sleep and you can tell he doesn't really want to put her down. She'll dance in her car seat and he watches in the review mirror with a sense of wonder.

For this Father's Day he and I took his girls out in the canoe and paddled through the lakes. We stopped at Hidden Beach and went swimming and got some ice cream from the ice cream man. It was peaceful, calming and fun to just be with him and the girls, the whole reason we were celebrating that day. He was so grateful for the day, the gifts, just to be with his girls. He's a good daddy and those little chicas are proof of his love.

I'll take two tickets to paradise please.

This is surely added to the list of places I have to go before I die. But before that however, is the lottery I must win in order to go to said places. Ahhh well, a girl can dream.

Click here, it's AMAZING!!

a more mellow post

So after my rock star weekend, here are my more mellow 3 Good Things on this HOT Tuesday.

1. My beau's apartment and his AC. And even more than that, he welcomes me in with open arms and a smile. Literally.
2. Homemade chicken soup for dinner. De-lish!
3. The fact that I have tomorrow off! I'm not in need of a day off which makes the fact that I have one that much better! I can choose to be lazy or to be a productive member of society for a few hours at least.

Have a wonderful evening and stay cool! Here's to a fantastic thunderstorm tonight!

We became ROCK STARS this weekend!

It started on Friday afternoon with a goodbye happy hour for a friend from work who is moving back to his homeland of Portland, OR. We had a few beers and good greasy food at Liquor Lyle's. Seriously, I love living across the street from that bar. A total hole-in-the-wall with a great look to it. Not to mention 2 for 1's 3 times a day, pool, darts, a jukebox where if I yell "Someone play some music!" a few minutes later someone is picking out songs. After Lyle's we went downtown to Peavey Plaza for a free concert from a local band called the Hopefuls. My mom used to take me down to Peavey all the time when I was little and I would dance with no shame. Just like I did on Friday. My friends and I danced like our life depended on it. With a stop across the street at Brit's for a beer in between sets. That was my Friday.

Saturday came with an early sunrise and my beau and I had no idea what it had in store for us. My BFF Ryan was in town for the birth of niece/nephew #4 and we had brunch plans at The Egg and I. My BFF and my beau got to meet, which meant a lot to me. All went well. My beau is quite good at just enjoying a moment. So he sat and listened and laughed while Ryan and I got caught up. It was so good to see Ryan, with him living in NYC our time together is limited. But fabulous nonetheless.

And this is where it gets good. My beau and I didn't know what to do after brunch, we had the whole day ahead of us. So Liquor Lyle's it was until we could think of something else. And yes, it was 2 for 1's. SCORE!

Well let me lay out the rest of our day for you.

GARAGE SALES WE STOPPED AT
2 and we would have gone to more except those 2 totally killed my buzz so we made a different plan.

BARS WE HAD A DRINK IN
1. Lyle's
2. Old Chicago (we're trying to do their World Beer Tour)
3. William's Pub
4. Stella's (on the roof top no less!)
5. Cowboy Slim's (yes, that bar I fell in last summer.)

BARS WE WENT IN BUT DIDN'T CONSUME ANY BEVERAGES
1. Famous Dave's (used the potty and took a spin on the dance floor)
2. Cafeteria (a new bar in Calhoun Square. There was a line out the door to get into the elevator to get up onto the rooftop. Ummmm no thanks. I however did climb out the huge window to leave rather than fight my way through the crowd of the newest place in town.)

ITEMS WE PURCHASED ON A WHIM
1. A dress that looks so fantastic on me! And guess who picked it out? My beau. It hangs in all the right places.
2. And a leather coat for my beau. And 7 brand leather coat. For $20 at that! And he looks goooooood in it!

ROCK CONCERTS WE SNUCK INTO
1. Rock the Garden! Yep, we are that awesome! I live a few blocks away from The Sculpture Garden, it had been going on for a few hours, people were starting to leave, and we thought "Lets try and get in." So I just asked people leaving if we could have their bracelets. "Sure" was their response. Two free entrance bracelets, 2 beers at $4 a pop and front row at the end of a rock show sounds like a stellar time to me! And whats better?! We chatted with security, a few of The Current's DJs, took a stroll through backstage just to see if we could. And we did. We got free beer and free food from the vendors afterward just by being brave enough to go ask.



WEDDINGS WE CRASHED
Only one. And when I say crashed I mean we were walking by Suburban World Theatre in Uptown, was told there was a wedding inside, almost continued on our way, but were encouraged by guests standing outside to go in and grab a beer. So we did. We had a beer, danced through a few songs, wished the bride a congratulations, signed the guest book (and I believe I signed something like "Awesome music + good beer + wonderful friends + a happy couple = Happily Ever After. Signed The Wedding Crashers." and i could be paraphrasing here. We didn't want to wear out our welcome so after that we left.

And we made it home thanks to the bus. Another great thing about our rock star weekend? No hangover! The next day was Father's Day. That was so great it deserves another post.

But my 3 Good Things ain't got nothing on this weekend! It was all AWESOME!

Day 3 of 3 good things

In keeping with my promise to myself, today's 3 good things.

1. Target's digital photo printing capabilities. While I have joined the digital camera world, I have yet to develop any of the pictures I've taken. But I needed some photos developed and Target's whole digital kit and caboodle was awesome. So easy, fun, and quick! Not to mention cheap! I'm going to do that more often.

2. Left-overs. I've had left-overs my whole life. And I actually like the first meal re-heated. Today I had the stir-fry my beau and I made last night. And it was just as tasty as it was last night with our boxed wine. I didn't need to buy anything to fill me up at lunch time today.

3. My cat. I used to say that that when you come home dogs are like "OHMYGOD!! I FORGOT HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU! LOVEYOULOVEYOULOVEYOU!" and cats are all "Bitch, you woke me up." But my cat greets me at the door when I come home. Yes, he drives me nuts when he has what some NM friends called "the heebie jeebies" where he just runs and jumps all over things. But mostly he's a sweet cat and it's nice to get the head bump and rub when I pick him up and say hello.

3 Good Things, day 2

Today's 3 good things

1. COFFEE! I went to a wedding on Sunday and didn't get outlandish drunk but certainly haven't caught up on sleep since then. So my coffee this morning, after working over 3 hours of my shift first, was heaven. I did learn at one point to drink my coffee before I go to work, but apparently I didn't learn it well enough. I choose to sleep a few more minutes than drink my coffee. Well, that and I don't have any in the house at the moment.

2. I have a fabulous new piece working in my head, that has the possibility to get published locally. This stems from last night when my beau and I went to Liquor Lyle's, we frequent that bar a lot. And we were chatting with the bouncer who has gotten to know us and were informed it's against the rules to dance in that bar. UMMMM EXCUSE ME?! That has to be a joke. Nope, totally serious. So this piece is on how absolutely ridiculous that idea is.

3. THE SUN IS SHINNING! I like the rain and all, but Christ, that was becoming uncalled for. And Mother Nature had better keep her rain drops in their holding cells through the weekend. My beau and I have plans to enjoy the canoe and the lakes again.

3 Good Things, revised

I was going over my past blogs and was reminded of my "3 good things a day" posts. (You can check out my bitterness, my old posts from a different time and my old 3 good things a day posts here.) When I was living in NM I was very unhappy and had decided to force myself to find 3 good things a day to write about and take joy in.

I don't need to do that now. My life is happy. But I also haven't been writing. Like nothing. I am too busy living my life to write about it. So I'm reverting back to my ways from the desert. But for very different reasons.
1. To get myself to write again.
2. Because one can never have too many good things
3. Because I want to be able to look back and see how great this time was.

So my 3 good things for today, in pictures no less.

This guy. My beau. Us. I have never felt so at ease, comfortable, cared for, wanted, admired, beautiful, hilarious and simply happy in a relationship. We click.


This is a Lotus Flower that I pulled off of a Lily Pad whilst canoeing with the fella above. Flowers are good thing number 2. There are funny looking people, ugly animals, bad architecture, some things you just don't want to look at. But flowers are always pretty.



I took this as we floated through a sea of Lily Pads. It was just so calm and serene. Good thing number 3, how calm I feel, inside. And how I can find that calmness looking out at the rest of the world.

That kind of work, not my thing

Yes, I serve coffee and manage others who serve coffee for a living, but man alive, am I glad I get to leave my work at my job! We belly laugh every day at my job, we people watch, we chat with our cool regulars, we share things about our lives and get advice from each other. It really is a great work environment.

But today this woman.... she irritated me today so badly I almost wanted to slap some sense into her. Literally slap her.
1. I was on a phone call when she rudely interrupted me.
2. She comes up to me and complains about the lack of outlets in our cafe while I'm on the phone. (In her defense, we have no outlets in our cafe like most coffee shops do. But A. not my fault and B. when we were made into a book store from being a bank, sitting in a coffee shop wasn't the IN thing to do, outlets weren't a necessity.)
3. She insisted on asking 4 other people where she could plug-in, like the first person who answered was lying to her. We all gave her the same answer "Over there, under the windows."
4. She kept saying we were a Starbucks. WE'RE NOT A STARBUCKS!!
5. When I got off the phone call, I found her and tried to reasonably explain what I was trying to tell her all the while trying to have my phone conversation too.
6. She wouldn't listen and kept saying she was working, lost important documents and crucial emails.

DUDE, if you're working, maybe you should be at work!!!

Now, I know there are many possibilities here. She did have an accent, European something, (I was to ticked off to really take notice), so she could have been working while here on vacation. Wow, does that suck. When I'm on vacation, I don't work. Period. I'll take a phone call if someone has a question, but work is work and doesn't join me on my non-work days. She could be here from her European home for work. But then shouldn't she be at a desk with her American-based workers doing the stuff she came here for? She could be playing hookey from the office, but if that's the case, why is she working at all?!

My point here is not to bitch about this stupid-I'm-not-listening-to-the-woman-who-works-here lady but to restate how glad I am that I don't have that kind of stress in my job. Sure it's stressful at times, but that is usually done when my shift ends. I have days I don't want to go to work, but so does everyone else. Yes, I'd love to make more money and have thought about going back to school. But today, I am quite content that I manage a coffee shop for a living.

A GREAT day

Yesterday was Memorial Day. And that was a day that my mom usually called to remind me to call my Grandpa, the WWII vet, and wish him a happy Memorial day. Didn't have to call this year. Very odd. Yet I did call my Grandma Jan and wish her a happy one, that day may have been hard for her without Gramps. I can't fathom waking up without your partner of many many years and learning to go about your life.

On a slightly more uplifting note, I had a wonderful Memorial day. I spent it with my beau and his kids. We got up early and went and picked up my mom's canoe, after a stop for McDonald's breakfast. It was late morning when we got the boat in the water, the lake was filled with people, bikes, boats, smiles, cold drinks, laughter. We canoed through Calhoun, Isles, and into Cedar. Took a peek at Hidden Beach, said hi to all the fishies near the surface of the water, enjoyed the shade under the bridges and trees.

And it's not a trip to a Minneapolis lake without some ice cream from Lake Harriet. Seriously, best ice cream in town. And yes I think it's better than Sebastian Joe's, partly for it's prices. We sat and people watched and shared our ice cream with the little one.

And as if we didn't have enough water time, we decided to go swimming once we got back to the apartment. Which I always enjoy and so do both kids. The 3 (his girls and me that is) of us are total water babies and now that we have rafts it's so much more fun!

Then it was dinner time, bed time, wine time. I could have days like that with those exact people over and over again!

Farewell, my superhero

Dear Grandpa,

When I was little you were bigger than life. You could do no wrong, you were a superhero, you were a man who knew everything and could accomplish anything you set out to do. Time marches on and a quote from one of my favorite movies "pretty soon you realize it's marching across your face." I don't remember when you got old. But I do know your spirit and mind stayed as young and spry as it possibly could. You'd hunt with the boys and golf with the Uff-Da Open gang forever if life would allow it. But sadly, we all grow old, everyone has to stop doing things we love when our bodies won't allow it any more. I want you to know that no matter how old you ever were, you were always my superhero Grandpa to me. I like to believe that after we die, we go somewhere to relive the happiest times in our lives over and over again. We're healthy, young, insanely happy and that everyone who was important at those periods of time is somehow there. How that's possible, I have no idea. But Grandpa, I hope you are happy, healthy and loved where ever you may be. Know that you are loved by many still left on this planet. We all will miss you until we meet again.

Forever in my heart,
Your granddaughter, Sarah

I like quotes

I found this quote on a friend's facebook page. And not only do I like it, but it also shows what kind of a person she is. Genuine, honest, absolutely lovable, a real gem of a woman.

"I like flaws and feel more comfortable around people who have them. I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."

Makes me smile to know that there are people out there that have this as a mantra of sorts. And makes me smile even more to know that they are my friends.

Virginia Beach

I heart the beach. When i retire, it must be at a beach. Not a desert, not a forest, or the mountains. A coast with an ocean, not a ginormous lake like Superior. Although that wouldn't be so bad either.


I don't know why it's so great to have your feet burrow down into the sand and then have the waves crash up your shins. It just simply is.


Me and mama.


I can't tell if I angled the camera or if I should rotate the picture. But you get the idea

Happy Mom's Day

So same day, totally different post.

It's Mother's Day and I love my mom so freaking much. She gets smarter, cooler, more amazing the older I get. Or perhaps I just get more humble and more willing. Perhaps.

Top 10 Reasons My Mom Rocks (in sporadic order)
1. She is a dedicated nurse and that dedication translates into her daily life.
2. She loves to read. LOVES IT. And lucky for me, has passed that gene on and I love to read too.
3. She is adventurous and will try almost anything once.
4. She is loyal and will put her loved ones before herself.
5. She is funny. A dork but a funny dork. The best kind.
6. She has kept a house and the same house at that, over my head through the toughest times in her life. And she did it head up and heart open.
7. She can create colorful, amazing, gorgeous quilts that look like works of art. And lately, without a pattern, she can just look at the fabric and go. It's impressive.
8. Her heart always has room for one more. It's big and welcoming and beautiful.
9. She loves to sing. It's endearing to watch and listen to.
10. She loves me. She has taught me so much, instilled good values in my heart, urged my mind to reach for more, nurtured my soul with color and beauty. Has always stood behind me and supported me. But even more she has stood beside being my confidant, my friend.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you more than I could ever say!

Church

So I went to church today. For the first time in at least 4 years. Someone told me once that I'm going to hell (for reasons that were completely un-PC and from what I believe totally untrue) and then with my not attending the weekly service, I thought for sure I'd be blown right back out the door by some mystical force. Yet, it was like walking into any other building. Except for the big cross down in front.

Only one hour out of my day and yet it reaffirms my thought that organized religion and I don't need to be BFF's.

I have a good piece working in my head right now involving church, religion, the actual structure of a church, beliefs, but for now I'll just leave you with a comical little bit. I must be doing something right seeing as how I didn't burst into flames when I walked through the Holy doors.

Spring

This is the first stoop sitting session of the season! And yes that is a bowl with ice and beer in it behind me.

My beau and I enjoyed an evening of beer and people watching not too long ago. My building's front stoop is perfect for that.


If only you could smell this tree through the photo! It's wonderful. I was walking to my apartment and passed below this tree, while the sun was shinning through the blossoms. And came right back out with my camera to take a picture.

Spring is here. I sigh a contented breath of air.

Good advertising

I may serve Starbucks coffee but if I have the choice, I prefer Caribou. For many reasons, but right now it's for their new advertising slant. It's all positive and good vibes and happy thoughts. Their slogan has always been "Life is short. Stay awake for it." And right now their napkins say things like "Stay Awake For: maxing out your passport, ghost stories around a campfire, adopting a four-legged friend, playing an instrument, break dancing, luscious, oh-so-delicious chocolate." They also have post-it's up around their shops, filled out by customers asking what do you stay awake for. And then they have some that say "Life's too short for: grudges, fake anything, putting profits before people, over-roasted coffee, crabby people, waiting for change, wifi you have to pay for."

I totally dig their minimal company plugs with the coffee, chocolate, and free wifi listings. But I just think this advertising slant is so brilliant. Happiness and good things really are simple. Seeing as how I frequent Caribou's more often than I would like to admit, this has gotten me thinking. What do stay awake for?

1. Laughter with my beau
2. Baking cookies with his kids
3. The new show Treme on HBO
4. A good book
5. Yoga, then a bubble bath afterwards
6. A glass of wine. Or 4.
7. Rearranging my one-room palace and creating more space.
8. My new sinfully delicious discovery, cheez-its and cream cheese.
9. Outdoor baseball games
10. New music
11. Cuddling
12. My cat calmly sitting in my lap

The list goes on. What do you stay awake for?

Baseball and my boy

It's official. Baseball season has started. And last night I went to my first outdoor baseball game. Ever. I was raised at the dome and went to a Saints game once but was only there for about 3 innings, so I don't think it counts. And let me tell you, the new outdoor stadium ROCKS! It is so awesome, I spent a good chunk of the time jumping up and down in excitement!


At the entry gate. And yes, that is the boy I'm dating.


The view from our seats. I don't think we sat down until the 7th inning, too busy walking around the stadium and checking it all out!



I heart baseball!


We have a lot of fun together.

Seriously this stadium is so fantastic! You can get your beer, and then turn around and watch the game. There is no big wall or doorway to block your view. And the big screen in the outfield has to be the clearest thing to ever grace baseball. And the hotdogs, oh man. I loved the Dome Dog, but these new ones are grilled the way a hotdog should be. I don't think I watched much of the game, I was so excited to be at the new stadium. Outdoor baseball with a clear sky, beer, hotdogs, my new boy, lots of laughter, sounds like a wonderful night to me!!

Happy happy joy joy

I am happy. Genuinely happy. And have been busy being happy. So haven't had time to think about things and write about said things.

Happiness. Big fat smiles. Honest, hearty laughs. Joyful feelings inside and out. I highly recommend it.

I haven't/I have

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

I haven't blogged, I've rarely written anything new, I haven't gotten very far in book number 3 of this series I'm reading, I haven't cooked much at my place, I haven't gotten that volunteer thing off the ground (although I'm looking at other options), I haven't done anything all that exciting.

But I've been out living and having a wonderful time. I've been cooking up a storm with a friend and making delicious food I might add! Our own BBQ sauce, potato salad, homemade pizza, stir-fry. It's been fun to hang out with someone who loves to eat as much as I do.

I've also been laughing. A LOT. That really doesn't say much considering two things. One, I'm a riot. And two, I laugh at everything. But laughter is better when shared.

I've genuinely enjoyed my days. When not at work (work has been very busy lately, which we like,) but when I'm off I tend to spend that time with a big grin on my face.

I've sent in my second piece to a magazine. I sent a piece written about the Minneapolis public transit system and human connection and I sent it to a local magazine. I'm not going to say which one until I get notified of a yes or no. Keep your fingers crossed!

I've also noticed that spending money on cat toys is stupid. You know when you give a kid a giant present and all they do for the rest of the evening is play in the box it came in? Well my cat is kind of like that. The toys I buy consist of foam balls, catnip filled mice, feathers on springy poles.
The toys he plays with are his tail, twist ties, rubber bands, my hair ties, that damn spring door-stop that is on the bottom corner of many household doors. He will also stalk my sock-monkey slippers as I'm walking around my apartment. It's a very clumsy sneak attack to my ankles and then a mad dash in the other direction. Poorly played, Kitty, poorly played.

But man is he cute. And funny. And snuggly. Best purchase I've made in a long time.

I haven't done much that I thought I was going to do. But I've been having a fabulous time doing everything else!

My Certificate

I DID IT!!

And there is the proof.

I spent a few hours this morning editing a few of my pieces from this finished class to send out to magazines. Am I really going this? Am I really ready to submit my stuff? I guess so.

Wow, I'm proud of myself.

Discrimination in schools

And these people teach our children.

I have found this story thanks to the miracles of facebook. But I have also responded to the schools superintendent and the principal with an email thanks to Dan Savage of Savage Love. You can ignore the first few letters but scroll down to the CONFIDENTIAL TO SAVAGE LOVE READERS section.

I find it so hard to fathom that we really are still sitting in a place of ignorance and hate in this country. I just re-watched the movie Milk last weekend. About the first openly gay person elected to public office, Harvey Milk. He was killed by another public official. All Milk wanted was equal rights. I don't think that is too much to ask.

And here 30 years later, we are still telling people who they should let into their hearts, be attracted to, love. It's ridiculous!

Here is my letter to the shallow people who told Constance she couldn't go to prom with her girlfriend.

Dear Teresa McNeece and Trae Wiygul,
You don't know me and we probably will never meet. But I am writing as a supporter of Constance McMillen. I am appalled at the school for telling Constance "no" when asked if she could take her girlfriend to prom. She was mature enough to ask, that should have been enough for a "yes." I'm appalled at the school board for then canceling prom. What a way to be adults and bury your heads in the sand about an issue that is so much bigger than a dance.
Constance doesn't only deserve to take whomever she chooses to prom, but she also deserves the support of her mentors, her teachers, her guides throughout the tough years of being a teenager. But instead she is pushed aside by adults and now bullied by her peers. It's hard enough to be a teenager, to suffer through high school, but to do it as an openly gay teenager, the people who do that are some of the bravest souls around.
You should be ashamed of yourselves. This has become a nation-wide issue, you and your fears are known to so many others. Constance can come to my city of Minneapolis and go to any prom she would like. I hope you slap yourselves across the face, realize the damage you have done, swallow your pride and your words, support your students, ALL your students and allow each and every one of them to not only go to prom but also to care for one another.

Sincerely,
Sarah Riley

Warning: Not for children's or prudes ears

Nutty the Neighbor is at it again! It's now warm enough where she will sit outside on the stoop for hours, (with no cushion, my rear falls asleep and it's not comfortable) with the lap top and her headphones. Which isn't all that odd, I sit outside too. But I wonder what she can be looking at online for hours. I get bored after a while.

But today was a doozy. I was walking back up from starting a load of laundry and I hear her singing. Now before I give you the link to the song that was spouting from this extremely tone deaf woman's apartment, I need to give warning. First off, it's by Lil' Kim and she is the epitome of nasty. This song is dirrty. (When there are 2 R's you know it's really raunchy.) This song is very inappropriate. If you are easily offended, know that I gave you full warning to NOT click the link and you have no one else to blame but your own curiosity.

And you'll know when you get to the lyrics that Nutty was singing.

THE SONG

Now imagine if you will, that song sang with no key signature chosen, and loudly. Like can hear her around the hallway corner. It's like she stands at her apartment's door and thinks "What can I do that will shock people?" She'll sing that. She'll give the building the Miranda Rights. Yep, it happened. She'll just yell out "I fucked your mom." Heard that too back when I first moved in.

If anything she is entertaining. Well, that's because she's crazy!