Eye of the Tiger

Tell me how it is possible that I JUST downloaded the song, "Eye of the Tiger"?! Seriously, as I'm pumping through to create the most awesome of awesome workout playlists....I realize that I don't have "Eye of the Tiger". I about smacked myself after that revelation. It's me for goodness sake - the girl who loves Rocky....who chose to move to Philly off of that one movie.

So needless to say, it is downloaded and I am ready to find some steps to run up.

By the way - I managed to watch news tonight - news based out of Winnipeg, Canada. I loved it, just when I think my accent is getting the better of me since I've moved back to the northland, I turn on that and feel so much better about self.

Speaking of accents......

Now there is one thing I have mixed feelings about, the new Renee Zellweger movie, "New in Town" - oy.

If you don't know, it's about a fashion laden/career driven girl from Miami who is transported to (gasp!) New Ulm, MN.... Oh the HORROR! I watched the two trailers. First, I will say that it looks cute. But why, of all states, must it be Minnesota?!? Haven't we had enough? I just hate that is gives off all of these mispreceptions about MN. Such as, we are weird talking folks (it's not as bad as they convey it to be), that we have zero sense of fashion (we do...it's just difficult to clomp around in stilettos when there's 3 feet of snow), that we are uncultured (hrm...most theater seats per capita other than NYC...gee, I guess we're a bit behind!) or that we find things, like the lake being frozen enough to drive on, as the main highlight of our day (trust me, it's nice to know when I can drive across the lake but it isn't THAT big of deal).

So, why can't there be a movie that shows what MN is really like? Clean. Healthy. Literate. Politically aware. Humble. And darn tootin' cute. (Just a few ideas)

By the way....for the people who are marketing the movie - New Ulm, MN is NOT considered northern MN....it is south, central MN. Get it straight you you supposedly smart, witty people.

Comfort Inn

A few things I have enjoyed thus far in NoDak -

- What would be crappy hotels in a big city are charming and clean (and offer free wireless)
- Preferred news source - FoxNews
- More political than ever expected
- Speed limit is 75 mph and NO traffic
- Heavy German accents
- Road condition reports go to the Canadian border
- Everyone is pretty darn nice and if they aren't they even come off nice for not being nice (odd, but totally makes sense)

Even though I don't think I'll ever live here I guess the state has made quite the impression on me. Perhaps if I come around to meeting a nice man with 1,000+ acres in the great tundra of NoDak, I'd consider it. Just as long as I was within 1 hr of an airport of some sort.

NoDak

I'm heading to North Dakota for week. Yipee! I'm looking forward to getting out and talking to dairy farmers but I'm not excited to be doing this at the end of January in one of the most coldest/flatest places in the U.S. If I don't return - you'll know where to look ..... somewhere between Bismark and Fargo. I'll be a solid ice cube.

Though, before the trip is to commence, I will be spending a good portion of my Saturday evening reviewing a PowerPoint and mapping my trip across the icy trunda. The big suitcase is already filled with Got Milk? goodies and the 59 min. plane travel from MSP to FAR has been declared. Yes, I'm taking a plane..from Minneapolis to Fargo....I don't like driving, can you tell?

Though, lest we not forget that no trip to New Salem is complete without visiting....
SALEM SUE!

The Gym.

Remember that whole anonymous thing? Well add to the list that I no longer can workout without knowing people. One of my brother's farm employees attends my gym. The part of this is I didn't realize it until about the 5th or 6th time of attending. I had noticed a boy that looked familiar but I chalked it up to being in a small town. Then it seemed weird how he would nervoulsy look away whenever I'd walk by. We never spoke - he always was working the free weights and I was pumping it in the cardio area. Finally it hit me - "He's one of the farm boys!!"

You may think I'm odd seeing I've seen this guy on the farm every morning for the last 6 wks but trust me, people look WAY different when they aren't head to toe in Carhartt and cow poop. Even though I figured this out, we still aren't on talking basis there. We chat at the farm but I'm waiting to see how long it was before he says at least "Hi".

I'm a little excited over this test to see how long it is before he breaks and have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. It's as if I have a secret and now know a lot more about him. (Ummm...yeah, totally know what kinds of funny faces he makes in the mirror when working the weights, hilarious!) So to add to this lazy attempt to play a game with someone it gets even better.

You see, I have been keeping my baby (the Volvo) in the heated shop at the farm so she won't go into shock in the subzero MN weather. I had a list of things to get done today....bring meat to Grandma, drop goodies off and flirt at new house, get meat cooler for DC trip, drinks with M and GYM. I run over to the shop and open the door only to see Worker Boys' pick-up in the way. (GAH!) I debated. Do I just move it or do I steal my dad's pick-up?? Seeing I've missed my baby I hop in hs pick-up and turn the key. VOOORM! Yes, you got it right. The thing is classic ghetto country pick-up with pipes. Love it and still can't figure out why boys like that. Then I hit a gold mine of infomation. While in the pick-up I noticed on the floor of his passenger side a container of whey protein. It hit me....the poor boy wants MUSCLES! I'm sorry, for I'm a huge supporter of whey protein for health reasons - as a means for muscle repair - but I know the motive behind a young 20-something boy. He's not looking to be the picture of health by exercising and replenishing. He's looking for some pipes and is trying to do it be excessive weight lifting and whey protein. Even though I was giddy over this bit of info I felt a little sad too. Maybe I should break my game and talk to him....perhaps an ego boost?

Hrm.

*********************DRINK OF THE WEEK*********************

To celebrate my vacation to western VA for some R&R with my best buddies:

The Manhattan
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 dash Angostura® bitters
1 maraschino cherry
1 twist orange peel

Cheers!

Dear America,

Stop whining about the economy and having false hopes based on rhetoric.

And um, one more thing. Please remember this one thing that you seem to have forgotten over the past 8 years.........

"What is popular isn't always right and what's right isn't always popular."


Just remember America, I like you, even though you're a bit spoiled and have forgotten how good you've had it. I want to keep liking you more than all the others. So please don't ruin yourself with worse spending habits and playing with the bad kids. It's just not healthy. Just sayin'.

God bless you America!

Best,

Me.

Anonymous

I can't lie. I miss being anonymous. It is - to some people - not fun being anonymous but to me, it's a luxury. I moved from a city where I was fairly anonymous even after 1 year. I'm not saying walking around downtown, but even in my neighborhood I loved and loathed it. I loved it...cause it meant that I could go and do whatever I pleased and never have to worry about running into people and doing the forced smalltalk. I loathed it cause it meant that I didn't fit with the community. It meant I didn't belong there.

But now I'm back in the 'hood I grew-up in. I look a bit different and I haven't seen most people for at least 3-5 yrs but they remember me. I can't pick-up my dry cleaning or have lunch at the cafe by myself without running into someone I know - OR knows me. (sidenote: more people know me than I them for the fact that I did a PSA on the public cable network as a dairy ambassador one year. I'm still well known for that, oy!).

I miss the luxury of going to the grocery store for milk in my sweaty garb after the gym and not one person knew more, or even cared! Actually, the only time someone knew me was just another sweaty gym goer doing the same thing.

But I do have to say, it is fun (sometimes) running into relatives at the gas station or seeing some folks from church who I adored growing up. I just hope I remembered to match my socks!

If Only Wonkette.com Hired GOPers

In pj's with slippers on, sitting in comfy chair, laptop running and fireplace burning

C-SPAN & C-SPAN2 on TV


I'm watching the opening of the 111th Congress (while working, thank you very much!). After 2 hrs of non-stop Gchat about what's happening my friend replies -

"You are not allowed to liveblog congress to me."

No MJ for me, thank you very much.

I was going through some old photos with my other the other night. We were laughing at my silly tea party pics and the way I would wear my seed cap hat to mock my brothers' styles but then we came upon some golden ones. One where I was about the age of 10 and up in Brainard visiting Paul Bunyan. My friend and I came upon some cutouts - one of Michael Jackson and one of Ronald Reagan. Guess which one I chose to pose next to? Another photo shows me clad in campaign stickers and t-shirt for a family friend. There were more photos to that liking.

It may explain as to why I'm liveblogging the Opening of the 111th Congress to my friend right now. Or why I read the WSJ religously every day. Or why I workou to CSPAN. Or why my Dad and I will talk for hours about local politics.