Hello...LOVER

So the other day I decided to give all wedding gift registries the middle finger. What is typically a bridal shower gift was purchased by me. A single, no wedding (OR boyfriend) in sight, lady said "screw it" and bought a Crock-Pot.

I had gone to the local Target to get a few items (re: popcorn & Lysol) and went through the kitchen appliance aisle to do a little dream shopping. While there I noticed a price reduction for the 4 qt Crock-Pots. I couldn't believe it. The dream is there and WAY cheap. Okay, it's not like they are expensive but they are space-taker-upers and for a lady who moves on average every nine months, it doesn't seem logical. These types of appliances are logical for those whgo are settling down and cooking for more than one. "Well," I thought to myself, "will I EVER be a girl who settles?" The answer...probably not. In all reality, I don't think I'm the settling type and that's okay! So why wait for the beloved Crock-Pot to make my list for a house warming gift or a wedding reistry?

I didn't and I'm beyond happy about my purchase. I hate to say it, but buying it made me feel a little more liberated.

Happy Crock-Potting people!

Heights

Apparently heights mean nothing where I live. As mentioned many times before, I live on the 2.5th story (there's a garden level), as in it's high enough that I wouldn't care to jump from my windows - EVER. Well, okay, I would if there's a fire.

Heights typically give you an additional privacy but not here!

Exhibit A: As I'm munchin away on my lunch yesterday with the living room window open all of a sudden there's a tail...then a body...and some rustling. Yes, a cute little squirrel had managed to climb up the vines and use my ledge for a little lunch elfresco.
Sorry...no squirrel. I was too lazy to get-up and take a photo of him. But this is where he sits often. I wonder if he likes the view the "I-don't-know-the-name-of" Liquor Store, or perhaps the ONE skyscraper you can see from downtown?

Exhibit B: And right now. I'm typing away at some work when all of a sudden I look out my office window at at the face of a man. A man is on the roof of the neighboring liqour store. Men seem to "work" a lot on the roof of that store and I have yet to figure out what the heck they are tryin to accomplish. Again...not the most relevant photo but a much better one - one of the many beer trucks that unload below my window every day.

A Little Ella

Nothing is more relaxing/satisfying than driving downtown Mpls with the windows down and the sunroof open on the Volvo and blaring a little jazz.

It confuses everyone. And I love it.


***

I like figuring out the ROI on things. On a computer, on a guy, on a new pair of shoes but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out the ROI on my future grad school. I have two choices with two different types of programs and in two different locations. What's the ROI on them? Not a darn clue. Of course one is WAY more expensive than the other & located 1,000 miles away from my family but it does allow for greater networking. The head is tired of thinking but I must choose before the end of this week. Words/advice/wisdom are always welcome.

A Step Back in Ag

Coming from a farming community and, of course, growing-up on a 5th generation dairy farm I have always been a major advocate of crop & animal agriculture on several levels. It, like everything else, is a business. Yes, it's a way of life, but so is being a baker or perhaps a coal miner. Often times you find yourself with your work and more than in life of leisure with little money to show for it. But that isn't the point I'm trying to make. With this as a backgroud and also my future (I have gone to school & only worked in Ag) I have been disheartened by what is out there that belittles such a massive and necessary industry. To top it all of, it's not just a consumer. These are people who I call not only my neighbor but a colleague in the industry. While they feel that they are "defending" the virtues of the family farm they are actually harming it by sending out mixed messages to the consumer who wants to trust us and know us! I can honestly say that 98% of all dairy farms in the U.S. are family owned & operated. 98%. How many products out there do you buy everyday can you say were created at/from a family owned & operated place.

This group..... "Family Farm Defenders" http://www.familyfarmdefenders.org/Main/HomePage

is crazy.

I wanted to use a much more educated word for them but after reviewing all that is posted on their site I cannot think of a better word than, crazy.

They offer backwards messages. They do not give sound, proven facts. They seem only to be driven by emotion. I'm appalled at such bold statements they make with such a narrow view.

Hey "Family Farm Defenders" I want to help out the family farm too! Let's think about using more sound practices to create less waste, or restructing out of date pricing programs (one that makes sense...a floor is almost as bad at a subsidy). Perhaps we should think of the consumer while we're at it! Does that consumer want to open a head of lettuce with bugs in it? Does that consumer want to know where their food came from? Well gee...let's show them but in a more appropriate way.

From the Farm

Sent out to all who like to be fed, clothed & sheltered:

I don't know how many of you have heard about or have seen the movie "Food Inc". We just want everybody to know that the way agriculture is displayed in this movie is misleading and false. Our food supply is the most plentiful and safest on earth. The only way we will be able to feed a growing world population is with the use of modern technology in agriculture. We also know for a fact that farmers and ranchers care more for our animals and our earth than anybody else on this planet. By using modern technology we actually use less energy and resources to produce more product, therefore being more "Green".

I encourage everybody to inform other people of the real truth about agriculture when having a conversation about this movie.

I have attached a link to the website for the movie, check it out.

Sincerely

Everybody at Kuball Dairy Farm

http://www.foodincmovie.com:80/

Styx

If I have learned anything this year it's this...

Don't listen to "Come Sail Away" by Styx on your MP3 player while sitting in a public place (e.g. coffee shop, library, etc.) because it is nearly impossible to NOT break into song.

2nd Day of C

In honor of the 12 Days of me (my birthday is right around the corner) I decided that waking up at 6:30 am was a dumb idea so I slept in. It's not like I have be at work at a certain time, I work mainly from home & for the most part visit my clients offices on an "as need" basis. It's the week of the 4th, NO ONE wants you to visit their office. So after I decided that I needed more sleep I go back to bed and promplty drift off into a deep sleep that included crazy dreams.

Some of the dreams are vague now & weird but then the others were all too pratical and confusing. I say this because I have a tendency to dream about work. I also dream about errands that I need to make or bills that I need to pay. This morning I dreamt that I managed to buy AA batteries, pay my Excel bill & go for a 30 min walk. I was excited to think that I had done so much! But no, I just got bummed when I find my mouse still dead (lacking batteries), my pedometer at 25 steps (coffee trip only) and my excel bill still needing to be paid.

This are minor things which don't have horrible results but when this starts going over work stuff it gets annoying and frustrating. I often will believe I turly did send that email made that call. Heck, this morning I dreamt that one client told me that they were going to get the latest InDesign program. I was so excited but then it hit me...dream. DAMN!

So as I put things on hold with my procrastination & lack of desire to work yet I bring to you the best video of the summer...

Arlington: The Rap

It's Summer...

The squirrels in my back alley are making a killing. I just saw one run off with a FULL muffin that was bigger than the size of his head. I think I need to start a health awareness intiative for my neighborhood squirrels...seeing that we may be worrying about obesity rates soon.

On another note, I was super excited about the idea of summer. I now take that excitement back. I forgot that I don't care for hot weather - more like - anything that makes me sweat while standing in one place.

You see, I don't have AC in my little abode, which 9 months out of 12 that's okay, but apparently it's now warm enough out to make my pad uncomfortable at times. I open the window for a nice breeze but then deal with the noise from the liqour store fans right below (go figure a place that sells coolers full of beer would have so many noisey fans!!). It's all good seeing I do live/work alone, thus I really could work in my undies! (Ha! Got you. Don't worry, I don't...gross!!!) Anyhow, these thoughts have left me with mixed emotions about summer.

Maybe I do need a real job in an office where I'll have to wear a sweater cause they keep it so cold, even though they are facing financial hardship with the economy and are doing a million other things to be "green" ... I always loved the irony there.

Men Win

Yes, I just said that. They win. They win in the fact that they have an easier time saying, "no." No, I won't give you money. No, I won't go to your dumb "party". Just "No". I like it. That's probably why men don't have to face invites to things such as Pampered Chef, Mary Kay or Arbonne parties hosted by their friends. I am obviously not the "market" that these parties typically look for. But is there really a market for them?

We live in an industrialized society that embraces convenience. Since when is it convenient to have to go to somebody's house to look at a bunch of scented candles (which, by the way, give me headaches) and then buy them from a catalogue. Re: They aren't even available that night!

Yes, I just dragged my butt on a 35 miles roundtrip (rarely to people in the city host this kind of crap) to the burbs to LOOK at something that is over-priced and being shown to us by some lady with scary, over-manicured hands and so much gold jewelry on that Mr. T is jealous. Now I'm suppose to whip out my credit card and buy a candle or votive or whatever because I feel guilty that I'm not into the product but my friend won't get the "Hostess" gift if I don't SPEND, SPEND, SPEN!!!

I could have solved my lack of candle issue while running my errands at, let's say, Target. To me, candle is a candle. It serves two purposes - looking pretty or making the room smell less gross. I have found that a $2 candle works just as well as a $10 candle.

If we do get food & drink out of this occasion it's typically wine. Supposedly ALL women like wine. Word. Not all women. I would pefer a G & T or even a whiskey on the rocks...probably the latter of the two seeing I'm surrounded squealing women, pretending to like a pastel candle and how it would go lovely with the beige decor in their livingrooms. Okay, lets make that a double on the rocks.

If I want food containers or candles - I go to Target or some other big box store. I use these items right along with my tp & Klennex's ... I think I'll purchase them together. (If there is a TP buying party, may the Lord help me)

If I want make-up - I believe in places call Target, Macy's, Bloomingdales, etc. There they have a women who can help you at any minute and a lot less girly stuff involved.

If I want a pedicure - I'll support the small biz down the street.

I'm a woman. I want convenience and not to be bothered. I'm busy. If I want to gather with you ladies, I just want to hangout and not feel the need to whip out my checkbook. Throw someting on the tube and place a beer or a G & T in my hand and I'll be happy as a peach.

So yes men, you win. Your "parties" typically involve beer (or liqour) and some chili. Only money lost is from the loser who stinks at poker. Hats off to you and your ability to say no. Because of your ability to do so you don't have to go to tool parties (you guys go to Sears or Home Depot ...where they have hotdogs!) or to card parties (your buddies remind you that Hallmark or drug store is down the road).

I guess the only way I can rid of this bad woman trend is by learning to say, NO!

A Night at Mickey's

This past weekend I played impromptu DD for a buddy of mine. While I was yawning through the night hours in my old 'hood in St. Paul, downing glasses of water to stay awake he and some of his friend BS'd the time away. I was okay with that but I knew I needed to get to bed soon and well, why must we stay till close? But we did and that was that. So when it came to my turn for leadership (i.e. he had too many shots) I whipped the car onto 94E rather than 94W where we should have gone.

Friend: "Wha...what are you doing?!"
Me: "We're going to Mickey's downtown. I want a grilled cheese and you need food."
Friend: "ahhhh..okay."

And that was that!

When we walked into the diner it was as if we stepped onto stage with the cast of "A Prairie Home Companion" we were just missing GK. We managed to snag two stools at the south end of the counter near the debutantes who had just finished a show at the Ftiz. Now I'm sure you're picturing a bunch of young ladies, so stop there. Nope, these ladies were dressed in sparkling periwinkle dresses with matching boas. They were all tanned, only to enhance their time aged faces but they wore bright fuchsia lipstick and brunette wigs. They were shove into a both in the midst of an "after wedding" crowd. Just as we sat down they started to sing "Going to the Chapel" for the obvious reasons.

Just to the left of us there was a young couple who looked as if they hadn't slept or eaten in days. The girl, dressed plainly, just sat there, all quiet and sipping on her soup and coffee. The guy next to her never uttered on word. As people started to fill in through the door and line-up against the wall the noise only got louder on our north end when the wedding groupies started to play music on the mini-jukebox.

As I was scanning the crowd there was everything. Everything demographic that makes what I call Minnesota. Not one person in the cramped 50'x 10' diner was like the next. Also, you couldn't pick a person out of the crowd and throw them into a common stereotype.

We had our food, watched the ladies sing a few more songs and tipped the waitstaff heavily. After leaving we may have had an encounter with a two civilians and a fire truck which will be for an entirely different post.

But that evening made me think. As I was digesting all that I had taken in during our 1 hr stint at the diner with a friend, who had never been to MN but has two great friends from here, he noted something that stuck with me..."You people in MN, you're very independent people aren't you? You can't say that about the rest of the country, you can pinpoint them and tell them what they like, but in MN you can't do that...can you?"

That's right. We're odd. We vote for crazy wrestlers to be Gov. We elect our own Supreme Court. Just because you love to read the markets doesn't mean I won't donate to MPR. We love to sit on ice and fish and then complain about the cold. We don't judge if you have super white legs come April.

Yeah, unique. That's us. Uff da!

The Line - BRMC

Life right now ... the encyclopedia answer.

Title: B.R.M.C. (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) - The Line lyrics

I am the line, I hold you near,
There is no burden left to bear, I can see clear,
You're in suspension, you know no love,
There is no story left to tell, You have no wisdom to pass on,
I am the soul of absolution, No man can hurt his own illusion,
My hands are crippled from the pain, You are the splinter in my vein,
You put your head between your hands, and understand, Nothing it is,
I feel the answers keep you scared, I've put the harm inside myself.

I am the line, I hold you near,
There is no burden left to bear, I can see clear,
I am perfected, I know no void,
I have no conscience to keep clear, I understand there's nothing more,
You try to kid yourself with questions, Pleading in time for some correction,
I found you tied onto the cross, with judgement on your every thought,
You know my words all mean the same, you've buried here to isolate,
And in this prison in your mind, Well you were born without a spine.

When did you stop caring?
When did you stop caring?
Where did you stop caring?
Where did you stop caring?

All along,
I've been waiting on the open invitation,
Your silence shown me no relation,
In the rising calm,
Don't you feel alone,
I'll be standing with your sorrow,
Oh he's left me's gone away tomorow,
And we maynever be here again,
We may never be here again.

Pull me up on either side,
Don't leave me standing alone in the light,
Pull me up on either side,
Don't leave me standing alone in the light.

All along,
I've been waiting on the open invitation,
Your silence shown me no relation,
In the rising calm,
Don't you feel alone,
I'll be standing with your sorrow,
Oh he's left me's gone away tomorow,
And we maynever be here again,
We may never be here again.

I did lose, so back off!

A long time ago (last year) I got a subscription to Campaigns & Elections (C&E) magazine for kicks. Once the subscription was up I didn't renew seeing I moved onto Fortune & Foreign Policy - really, I need to limit my reading to 2 hrs/day.

Well I just got an email from C&E with this note:

According to our records, you may not be receiving Campaigns & Elections' Politics magazine anymore. If you've lost your campaign and changed your name to protect your reputation, that is understandable. Otherwise, we want you back.

I want to call them and say, "Why yes, I did lose and YES I want to save my rep!!" Really curious as to how they would handle that call, a call that they brought on. Hrm...

Drool Worthy

Reading the title you may think I'm doing a post on the hottie down the hall (okay, my memory stinks so I have perhaps have a "hottie" make believe image stored in my head and thusly will make it ever difficult for me to actually recognize him in the lobby from here on out).... but with that said - nope this is about what's happening outside of my window right now.

I don't like to think of myself in need for AA - and trust me - I'm not. But hot damn, there are at least 150 cases of domestic beer hanging out within my vision. As in the line of vision I have while trying to work from home. If anything is considered a tease - this is it. To top it off, it's BEAUTIFUL out. As in, the perfect day to crack open a brewskie while sitting on the porch and watch the day pass by. It is probably good that my work does require me to be on the phone nonstop from 9 am - 6pm or else I would meeting my craving right now. Though, if I would handle both at once I could only imagine my next phone call going something like this....

Me: "PSC schpeaking...who's may I help yous?!"
Pro: "Yes, I'm calling about the BIBSTAFF1 - would be be to use this for....etc."
Me: "Whysch YES! Yous can show the kiddies how's itz done on thez wes side of the country!!" *yelling*
Pro: "Okay? Well, then I would like to make an appointment."
Me: "HRM....." *ruffling of papers* "BLEEECH!" *incoherent mumbling* "OK! Found it!!"
Pro: "Ma'am are you okay?
Me: "SHURZ!! What date?? Oops! I just dropped me beer!"
Pro: "I'll call back later." *snap of phone being slammed down*

I don't think my client would appreciate me handling the PSC that way, so I'll just look longingly at the stockpile and make the two guys who are unloading the truck feel uncomfortable with my staring!

Tis the Derby Season

While I have friends who are donning their cute sundresses, new sunhats and wedges all the while socializing with a nice line of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and pretty horses I'll be here. And by here I mean by self, sitting in last years dress and hat drinking a Red Stripe while watching the fun times on the TeeVee.

While I love Minnesota - they don't get it. Nope. They don't. They don't see all that is wonderful in a good 'ol fashion derby, one where people are actually civilized and present their finest. Nah. We are a group of health freaks who'd rather jump in our canoe or jog around Lake of the Isles. I love both but seem to have a hard time finding a place that does both. What's wrong with gettin' down and dirty in the soil and then going and taking a shower and throwing on your Sunday best? I've never considered myself much of a southerner seeing my southern born girlfriends cringe half the time I open my mouth and respond to me with, "Only a Yankee would think that way!" (Yes, I'm a Yankee to them!) But then again they've trained me to like sweet tea, say "Ya'll" and squeel over a cute sunhat. My mother questions where the heck I came from seeing my taste is about 50 yrs too late. Needless to say, people have a hard time placing me and well, I do have a hard time finding that perfect fit.

So perhaps I'll just need to start a new trend. I'm sure there are plenty of misplaced southerners who are in MN - perhaps they would like a to join me in watching some fine bred horses run the race all the while enjoying a nice mint julep.

Though, while I look for them, I'm gonna try to find a hat just like this.....(but cheaper) Good lordy - $190!!!

Oh...poor Sec. Nappy!

What's the Vig on this Action?

Bad news. Susanna Sue (my Volvo) has issues. For you smarty pants, it isn't because she's a Volvo but more due to the fact that she's old and I think this is her way of getting back at me for bringing her to MN. My mechanic (who is anti foreign cars) just went through a whole list of why I need to get rid of her. I about cried. She's mine and it's the only thing that I actually own with worth of over $1,000. (Not gonna lie - I'm really not into the idea of owning a house.)

So that's it. I guess I'll start looking while she's still healthy enough get me to dealerships. Just not the situation I want to be in - I like her way too much to let go. Who wouldn't love a cute, spacious car that has seat-warmers?!

As for the update on the neighbor - no go. I haven't seen him in over a week. Though, the other neighbor apparently was coming home at the same time that my cousin and I were arriving back after a social night at The Independent. I guess (according to my cousin) that you shouldn't go and knock on someone's door after 3 am. I personally just wanted to make friends and he was nice (also asking us if we were okay due to my key issues - we were but weren't, if that makes any sense). But, of course, this idea didn't come to mind until 30 mins after talking to him in the hall. While I was determined to make a new friend I found my cousin bracing herself against the door, forbidding me of making a house call.

Current # of friends in apt building: 0
# of times I've padded down to the foyer in slippers to get my mail: 12

I hope those statistics aren't related.

Down the Hall

I have a neighbor just down the hall who I am quite curious about. The first time I met him I was struggling to get up the stairs at 2 am, not because I had consumed too much, but because I was carrying life-sized posters of Chad Greenway from the MN Vikings. He was with another buddy and a girl and I felt quite dorky cause this is what I was doing on a Saturday night - clad in a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, carrying milk mustache poster boards. He asked if I needed help (it was very apparent with my grunting and climbing the steps at the speed of a snail) but I refused. Finally, as they waited for eternity to get to the 2nd flight of stairs he upped and grabbed the end and walked me to my door. I was embarrassed to say the least and mumbled a weak "Thank you."

The next time I saw him, I was rushing into our building all sweaty due to being at the gym earlier. He was out having a smoke and tried to make small-talk with me while I attempted to open the door with my poorly cut key. I was feeling kinda dumb, so I kept my eyes on my keys and just mumbled a "hi". Weak, I know.

The last time I saw him I was making a bit of noise at my door (stupid keys) and felt someone staring at me from down the hall. Of course it was him. I smiled and finally made my way into my apartment and slammed the door shut. Even weaker, got it.

I don't know what his deal is. Perhaps I'm a bit amusing to have around seeing I have issues with carrying stuff, opening doors and seem to always be at my worst. I don't know if he's fascinated or or what but it's apparent that he finds some form of fascination with me. I am half tempted to bake some cookies and leave them at his door (of course I'll knock and run away) but I'm afraid that it might give the wrong impression

(Not gonna lie, for years I always wanted to be that neighbor who brought over the "housewarming" casserole....but it just never felt right.)

I think I should attempt to get to know him seeing I am dying for new friends in my new location, but how should I go at it without seeming creepy? (I swear, everything is considered "creepy" or "stalking" these day...)

I guess I'll just have to let it play out; it's bound that we'll run into each other again.

Happy Earth Day and No, I will not give you a dollar.

I would like to consider myself a caring person - one who will donate their time and money for a good cause. I am bothered by homelessness and the increase in it due to our current economic times. But there is just something about a certain person who I saw on the street the other day that made me lose all sympathy.

As I was walking downtown Minneapolis with my friend we walked past numerous beggers. Some tried to talk to you, others just sat there and held a sign. With each one we passed I felt awful and secretly hoped that they weren't actually in such a dire situation. I also made a mental note to sign-up to help out at a shelter soon. As we were about to cross to another street a cigarette box was tossed across our path. We turned to see who had done this, surprisingly enough it was an older gentleman clad in dirty clothes and sitting against the building holding a sign asking for money. (And let me note: there was a trash can 10 ft from the man)

The guilt left me immediately and fury set in. My friend just smiled and kept walking as if she hadn't seen a thing I, on the other hand, went into a rage of why I wouldn't give him a dollar because I just paid that to him with my tax dollars paying to pick-up his trash. I didn't say it directly to him but made sure to say it loud enough while standing at the corner waiting for the light. Call me heartless but if you don't take the time to respect your surroundings, like heck I'm gonna help you out.

Though after my little stumpfest, two blocks later I tripped and pulled a muscle in my foot.

I got the message.

The Post Office

I love the post office - so much to the point that I convinced myself that I needed to get my own P.O. Box (and yes, there's a purpose for it....work). Anyhow, I took a good amount of time picking out my 'local' Post Office based on hours, location, type of building and parking. I found one down on 1st St. in Mpls and with each visit fall a bit more in love with it. That is....until today.

I got cat-called. Twice.

Now I have been cat-called before, by construction workers, on the streets of SanFran and by GW undergrads but never would think that I would be cat-called while walking to Window 7 to send some 1st Class mail and buy some stamps and to top it off, I had just come from the gym. What is so sexy about a girl with sweaty hair, workout pants (loose) and scuffed sneakers and, AND no make-up? I'll tell you. Nothing! I know it's Monday and you're probably still asleep seeing it's 8 in the morning but good gracious, don't cat-call a girl at the Post Office.

I wonder what I would've gotten if I had actually looked nice?

April Fools - Not Engaged

Today is April 1st. I am not participating in anything. Why? Let's see, the last two years I was engaged and the year before ('06) with child. Those are the big cards and well, they've been used and now it's just considered "cryin' wolf" as far as I see it. The sad thing is, so many people believed it for the last three years. I don't know what that says about me.....loose and don't care about future? I'd hope friends/family know me better than that!

Granted, after this past weekend I think I may need to step-up the game of maturing. As in, never agree to a date after midnight and then enhale too much wine.

What I can't wait for today is the announcing of the "Rock the Garden" line-up!!!


And word came out that Ms. Lancaster is doing an '80's theme for her book tour of Pretty in Plaid - how awesome is that? I have a feeling that '09 is all things '80s (re: Rosslyn film line-up). I think I'll have to participate in all that I can.

Ready to Hire

It's 5:10 pm on a Friday and I have a problem.

There are a million happy hours going on around this city and I am co-workerless.

Next on agenda - get assistant and do a lot of happy hours to make up for lost time.

Mother Nature

I don't like you...........


Today is the first day I'm working from home in 4 weeks and guess what? Yeah....you decided to have it rain ALL DAY LONG. Not cool. Not cool at all.

..........Fail

Okay the cake challenge never happened (yet). Instead I have found myself working into the nice hours of the AM each night this past week while spending daylight within the confines of elementary and jr. high schools in Mpls/St.Paul. Please let's say that I now check "Teacher" off of my list of potental career changes.

I am still in a half-furnished apt but it's getting cozy. The roommate is excellent (note: I live alone). But I consider it 400 sq ft of bliss with the biggest walk-in closet I've ever owned. No twenty-something-year-old could ask for more. Okay, yes they could and I've got it - the liquor store & CVS & Jimmy John's are all on the same block. Jealous?

I want to complain and moan about life but really I can't. Other than the crazy woman who sits in my back alley and the man who liked to follow me around a store my life has been pretty dull. Granted I have found that my new 'hood isn't the most fitting for me seeing I'm a caucasian who votes typically (R), doesn't own a guitar and prefers a suit over a peasant skirt. Other than that, it's a perfect match!
I sometimes wonder what my neighbors think of me. I'm here at odd hours (note: work from home most days), I "dance" to the classical music that is played in our lobby and drive a clanking Volvo that is always filled with Vikings/Milk paraphanalia.

And now I'm blasting Styx and Foreigner at top levels....to to you below....love thy neighbor!

The Cake Challenge

Okay people, I've got a new challenge. No, it's not me attempting to find furniture that actually fits my quaint studio or re-vamping a company PowerPoint, nope, I'm doing a useless challenge.

I'm making a spaceship.

In cake form.

I may only have about 13 inches of counter space but I think I'll manage it.

My inspiration (other than beating a 25 yr old who's version of culinary art include noodles and sauce) it this photo......

$14.99

One day while speaking to an old co-worker (while employed at previous place) my co-worker said to me, "You need to write a book about all you do." I looked at her as if she had three eyes and was speaking in Thai. I like to think my life is somewhat adventurous but I have never found it to be book worthy. For example - right now I am sitting in a bed at a crappy hotel that I picked from a fool proof photo (the hotel does not have hot water - I am not a happy camper), I have a cold and each day for two wks I don a red t-shirt and hangout around middle school kids who could care less if I ever existed. Not to mention, when I'm done doing this I head back to my hotel room to have a "fun" night in a deadly city which usually consists of me working, watching/listening to news, exercising and IMing friends.

Don't worry, I'm not boohooing my life right now. I'm more than anything getting jumpy! I'm excited to have my own apt again, but right now it's only a place in which I've paid good money for to sit empty for a full week while I live in a hotel. This time on my little domestic (StL residency) I have gotten to spend time getting to know a few new people who are quite nice and actually intereting. Oh and who doesn't love the randoms they meet on the plane? Like the guy who yelled at me for touching his bag? Or the kind African lady who was ready to give me CPR after nearly collapsing on the plane after running the entire length of ORD for the last flight to MSP?

These people and places have left many-a-good stories for me to reminisce about and I wish I could bank of them, but I'll probably have to settle for them just being blog worthy.

But if I were to have a book....what ever would I title it?


Hrmmmmmm.......

"Adventure of a Dairy Girl"

"Desperately Seeking Princess Kay"

"Mooving My Way"

Cheesy, I know. Which reminds me,

Happy 6th Anniversary 3-A-Day!! Have you had your 3-A-Day of Dairy today?

I miss from the college days.

I watched movies where there were "peace protests" and "sit-ins" and the like but never witnessed too much on my two campuses. Yeah, there were camp outs on the lawn to recognize homelessness and the typical political protests/counter-protests which were more than fun to be a part of. That's college. But obviously I went to a pretty lame school where we didn't have the GREAT REVOLUTION.........

WATCH IT NOW - regardless of your thoughts on the current day democratic process you'll surely laugh your butt off and well, shake your head while praising yourself for never acting like this during your Enlightened Years.


Oh I wished I was an NYU student.

A Couch.

I have a couch theory.


Now in my mid-more to later-twenties I find myself a lot of decent furniture.... a double bed, a twin bed (with frames), peronally designed desk and lingerie bureau, refinished antique monograph stand, smoking stand....etc. I am not without. Except for a couch.

Why? Or how? As in, how is it that I can own all this other furniture and not own a decent couch? How could I have gone from place to place during/after college and never fully aquired my own couch? Sure I had a $20 piece of crap my senior yr and a parental hand-me-down but they weren't worthy of keeping when I moved east on a $100 budget. So I did without and relied on crappy couches that my roommates owned.

But still, as you may wonder, how is it that I am like this? The theory is simple. To me a couch means settling. And if you know me, that is a hard concept for me to swallow right now. People ask me where I live and the best answer is "out of a suitcase". Sure I am currently at my parents house (for the last 3 months) and before that I was out east in two cities and before that I moved between Ames, Fresno, St. Paul and Mpls during my collegiate years. But those were only a few moves of the past before the several moves of the future. So why would I want to invest a quality/heavy piece of furniture when I still have a lotta leaving left to do?

Answer - don't.

Problem - I am now taking over a 6 mo lease in Mpls.

To me this could be temporary or turn into something a little longer. Not sure. But do I want to put up with visitors not having a comfy place to sit when they visit? Would I subject them to sitting on pillows on the floor for an entire six months? I would like to think I'm a bit more hospitable than that but that means I need to swallow my theory and purchase a couch. I don't want to go the college route and buy any old thing that fits in a $50 budget....not I want an adult couch.

So there we have it. I think I need a couch. It stinks. I am trying to save $$ for whatever move the future may bring me (job relocation/grad school/shopping spree to Bloomingdales downtown Chicago ......), you just never know.

But if I am to purchase a couch hopefully I can find something similar to this -




By the way - I never knew this could be so annoying but someone who finishes EVERY sentence you try to say is beyond annoying and will force you to speak faster so they can't figure out what you plan on ending your last comment/thought with.

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.

Cinderella or Ariel?

You know you're at "Grandma's House" when the choice of band-aids include only the following:

Ariel, Dora, Cinderella or Snow White



Why can't they make ones for young adults...? I wouldn't mind Master Shake or Meatwad.

Almost 2009

While I'm attempting to work from home - which can be challenging to say the least - I am also prepping/educating myself for a new blog. Not a Ginny by any means. This blog will solely for the purpose of communication within the Ag industry. I am a very basic person when it comes to knowledge of the web and it's endless tools so that is why I am prepping myself prior to my TBD launch date. Seriously, my knowledge on CSS is very limited to the days when I managed the country websites for my job at the trade council ... let's just say, this may be a long education session.

The reason why I want to do this came out of my desire to get back involved in increasing awareness between the Ag community and the rest of the world. I want to throw in a few new (boring?) twists to it. I don't just want to write/report on how the cow's are doing and talk about the market prices. I want to mix the on-the-farm view of policy happening in ALL regions, nationally and internationally and mix them together.

Test:

In Sept of 2008 in China - what was the big scandel about?
Who won the 2008 World Series?

Which one could you answer more easeily? More people could tell you who won the World Series but are clueless to the melamine in dairy (produced in China) scandel.

New question:

Which one of those events affects your life the most?

Yeah...the melamine issue.

98% of us involved in the Ag/Food industry knew about this but still are limited to geting the info - REAL info - out on what is going on, what this means to us (U.S. Ag) and what this means to YOU (the consumers). That makes me more upset than anything. How could somethin SO huge go unnoticed to so many people?

And that is why I'm going to start a new site. It's just a drop in a very big bucket, but hopefully that drop will be met by many more and lead to an overflowing bucket. I hope that by the time I leave this earh the consumer will actually understand the products they take in on a daily basis.


************

If you see a girl at the gym on a Friday night, bouncing away on the eliptical, pumping her fist in the air and yelling at the TV screen that is airing C-SPAN 2 .... it just might be me.

The C-SPAN Plan

I still have PA license plates and ID but by golly I have a gym membership in the closest city to the farm! Can you see what takes priority in my life? The gym isn't anyting fabulous (though, I have to say, the eye candy is quite nice).

Killer Chic

Can anyone explain this to me? When we live in a era where we idolize what the celebs of the west are doing... adopting 3rd world babies, promoting green tech & so forth - it is hard to understand how these people who consider themsleves so righteous (I mean, they do think they are so great that who the vote for is whom you ought to vote for) wear t-shirts and caps with pics of Che. Che, a man who has killed many under communism, is far from a person you should be associatng yourself with if you have any concern for humanity. If you do not know the history of Che you are a very sad person who has been living under a rock and/or we really need to bring our schools up to speed in the history dept.

This is all the more reason of why I refuse to listen to the crap that celebs tout for many of them are just a bunch of hypocrites concerned with money and fashion.

Check out the latest piece on the fashion trend here.

Shot of the Past

So I moved home to the farm in MN. I'm living with my parents for a short while, helping them get ready for the new house they are building and taking a new gander into what I want to do with my fruture. It's day three and I'm already going a tad crazy - but we'll see if I can get use to it.

Now, I DO love my parents and how they have handled me thus far. I have been trying to thank them for the FREE room & board by helping like crazy and making their meals. I almost went as far as packing my mothers lunch for work tomorrow (but she beat me to it).

It will take a bit to get use to...such as my poor car will never be as clean as it once was now that I'm back on a gravel road. Or the fact that I'm living out of the room that I grew out of when I turned 14. I was very happy to leave my home area in the past and move on....now I'm back in it and on top of that having to re-live good portions of it for I have been spending the last few days going through old momentos of Jr. High, High School & college. I'm cool with college stuff seeing it's still pretty recent but I look back at photos, cards, love letter, etc. of years earlier and I think the same few things over...

- I guess I wasn't THAT ugly
- Wow, I was so immature - can't believe they were even friends with me
- How was I that popular then?
- Glad to never have to re-live those years again

Let's just say I have 3 BIG garbage bags full of the past that will be burned and be kept as the past.

Now onward to the future!

The Last Lunch.

I did it. I made it through a year of uncertainty (only to be followed-up on with more!) and the challenges

Dear Cleaning Dude

You seem like a very nice man.

Corner Work Need Not Apply

I have a friend that needed a hobby. Hobby idea given to her: find me a job and potential housing in MN or DC (yeah, I'm getting back into politics....mayyyyyybe).

Once given the task she sarted to find a lot of random jobs that seemed only to be best marked as "interesting".

Jobs Selected:

- Marketing for random group (okay)
- Karaoke manager (umm, no)
- Ad researcher (sounded shady at best)

Before I could let her go on I decided to lay some ground rules....

1. requirement should not include: Must be able to stand at corner for long periods of time and accepts only cash
2. Costume wearing
3. Maid with costume options
4. Involves going into campus bars late at night
5. Wearing a headset
6. Anything that requires door-knocking

Before eHarmony there was Hoard's Dairyman

I'll admit it for I am very guilty of my own pre-"e" days when I was searching for The One. At a young age a lot of the magazines that littered my dad's desk were farming/dairy based mags. Seeing I loved to read anything available I would pick-up the magazines to read about the latest technology with milking parlors or a new way to handle a displaced abomasum.

Soon I learned that whenever they did an article about a farmer, they ALWAYS included age and location. From then on I started to grab all magazines possible....Hoard's Dairyman, Progressive Dairy, Country, Holstein World, etc. to check out the latest crop of elgible bachelors. It was a great pre-screening process cause when you do a write-up about the farmer you typcially include the stats of the farm. As in, number of acres, techniques used, herd head-count and so on. Pop in a picture to show him by the livestock or tractor and then I know which breed of animal and implements he preferred.

My list was a bit particular:

Holstein
1,000 acres
300+ head
John Deere
Chevy
Age: 25-33
Owner (or co-owner)
Uses technology
Belongs to at least one association

I continued this tradition throughout college - it wasn't hard to go into the Dairy Science Dept. reading room and gather up the magazines. But I found that the habit soon waned off once I moved away from the farm life and lacked the subscriptions. It is also awkward seeing boys that I actually knew from my collegiate days in there. But I have a feeling this may start-up again seeing I'll be located back on the farm for awhile and yup, still single! Yeah, there may be technology to do the screening, like eHarmony, but I prefer to do my market research the old school way.

I think I'll make it my new morning coffee break habit.

Best Evite Ever....... I mean EVER

Okay, you got it. I'm moving. Blah, blah, blah...it was tough for me to move away from MN friends & family and then from DC to Philly but it's only getting worse. More than anything it's gonna be tough leaving the quick access (3 hr drive) to DC for a fun weekend of spirits, sports, friends (urban family), gluttony AND political drivel.

But the last time in DC (as an east-coaster) will be spent at a b-day bash for two buddies. As I opened the Evite for the party I realized that all those times I've asked myself, "How is it that I'm friends with y'all?" this evite pretty much sums it up. We are all very much like one another. Humor - check. Ideals - check. Politcs - check. Check, check, check!

So to share - here's what the Evite said:

Join us to mourn the passing of yet another year for these two political hack Valentine babies. Bring your Halloween fatigue, prepare for holidays and family fatigue, and help the two old fogeys trying to lift themselves out of their post-election doldrums and malaise. (Ok, fine - it's really more Tony who can't tell up from down right now; Chris is taking the loss pretty well.)

November surprises aplenty will be in store. We'll have lots and lots of wings. Seriously. Would Tiger Woods and Mammy Ahmadinejad do any less?

Names A-M bring intoxicating liquid spirits. Wine ok, but NO WINE COOLERS.
Names N-Z bring chips, dips, or otherwise tasty snack products.


Updated Gameday odds:
- The milk-stealing rando from the last Pirate Party comes back. 37:1
- Random gunplay. 15:1
- Tony throws (or golfs) something off the balcony. 7:1
- Chris sings karaoke. 5:1
- Tony throws Chris off the balcony after karaoke. 5:2
- Tony divorces the wife again after she brings wine coolers. 10:3
- Chris says something that transforms Shannon into Chainsaw. 4:1
- Something explodes. 3:1
- Chris & Tony get into a fight over Article II vs. Article I of the Constitution. 2:1
- Running out of Bourbon. EVEN MONEY.

Street parking is available. Crystal City & Pentagon City Metro Stations are closest, and if you really care about the Birthday Boys, you'll be drinking with them and shouldn't be driving.


~~~~~~~~

Yup. I'll miss these guys!

Resignation

It's done and in the books.

Words present: Challenge - Immersion - Success - Prosper - Rewards - Lessons

Last Day - November 24th

It's quite a relief and (shhh!) exciting. I've come to desire the nomadic lifestyle. I will actually miss living out east for two reasons - proximity to so many cities and my 'urban-family' have been awesome. Not to say that I will not enjoy being back in my homeland and near those family and friends - but I know it will be a difficult transition. So, for those of you there, please note that I love you and am excited to be back; it's just that for a while I may be a bit sad and missing what I've called home since 2006.

So the transition weeks are ahead. Here's to hoping I do not have to replace my timing belt/water pump at the expense of $1,100 that I was quoted this morning and that I will get a decent U-haul trailer this time around. Also, here's to saying goodbye to the things I will not miss.....

1. warm winters
2. tolls
3. nasty traffic
4. expensive gas
5. snobs that consider me from "fly-over" country
6. bad grocery stores
7. scary newscasts
9. slimy(er) politics
10. fake aura & rhetoric

Though as I say adios to them with not a tear, I will hug a dear goodbye to:

1. life-long friendships
2. convienence - transportation
3. the ocean
4. D.C. & policy wonkers
5. early America (history)
6. cheeseteaks & Rocky
7. Rosslyn Beach
8. PCC (both)
9. good shoe smiths & cheap dry cleaners
10. frequent flyer miles

Russia will take the lead.

All I have to say is that I am happy to be looking for a new job seeing that much of what I've been working for in these past three years will now be thrown out or heavily challenged.

Oh and look.......

In & Out

I voted. I surprised myself on a few local. But trust me - I'm still wearing red.

Dirty - One Plate & One Cup

My office is a growing office. When I came on board I was no. 7 in the office. Our sample room doubled as our kitchen and there was no room to sit for lunch. Things have changed a bit - we now have our own kitchen, table and chairs, microwave, ect, yet we are lacking real dishes. So from the beginning it was customary to bring in your own cups, mugs, silverware and whatnot to make it through your lunch period. With that I found it best to just go out and buy a set of 4 plastic cups, 2 microwavable plates, a glass bowl and a nice mug. I made my own little pantry area in the kitchen for my dishes & food. People knew it was mine and all was good.

Until a week ago.

The new person.

Has yet to get it.

Today I found victim no. 2 in the sink. My favorite white cup all dirty and it wasn't done by me.

I have yet to 'see' her doing this but it just seems quite coincidental that this all started after she came on board. So what have I done? I stashed the dishes in my desk drawer. Childish - perhaps but she's rubbed me the wrong way since day one so here it is....No more dirting my dishes pal!

Quotable Matter

"The current financial crisis has startled America from a hypnotic trance of self-indulgence and irresponsibility. But as we return to American fundamentals, we may discover that our political, social and economic system -- despite all the current election-cycle hysteria -- is still by far the most resilient in the world."
~Victor Davis Hanson

"Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the late Democratic senator from New York, once set the difference between American capitalism and the older European version by observing that America was the party of liberty, whereas Europe was the party of equality."
~Fouad Ajami

"Thirty years ago, Hubert Humphrey suggested that the measure of any government was "how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
~William McGurn

Hot Under the Collar

I respect freedom of speech in form of civility. I respect your opinion. I respect the electoral system. I respect the office of the President.


I do not respect heckling of average citizens who question the candidates. I do not respect people who make a mockery of an election. I do not respect double standards. I do not respect the media [re: bias].


I believe that voting is a privilege - NOT a right.


I respect the Constitution......

Do you?

Sorry Bob

I can't listen to Bob Seger's song, "Like a Rock" without visions of a Chevy pick-up going through my head. It drives me nuts. I had to take it off my Pandora list for that very reason. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Chevy & and like Seger but that combo when I'm not plopped infront of my TV awaiting for my show to come back on is just plain annoying.

We have a newbie in our office. She's nice. Kinda. Makes me think of an outter suburb mom type. I walked by her office today and well, that perfume sure wafts a LONG DISTANCE. I think it's a sign that you have too much on when someone like me (who has a ruined sniffer!) nearly passes out when walking by your office. Not to mention if you can still smell it when you, the Perfuminator, isn't even in the office. I don't care how 'lovely' it may smell...that is just too much.

And speaking of smelling....

I go to a pretty decent gym. What I mean by that, all the employees and clientle are for the most part curtious, clean and concientious. That was until the other day when I walked into the bathroom section of the women's locker room and smelled it. THE HORRIBLE B.O.! I had horrible flashbacks of 4th grade gym classes with sweaty classmates who had yet to learn about proper hygiene and were nicknamed "smelly" by the other kids. I felt bad those days thinking that they had inattentive parents, but geesh.....when you're a 40+ yr old woman, I think you would catch on to the fact that a little deorderant wouldn't kill yah (and perhaps save a life or two that was in your presence!!).

What else have I done today other than complain like a crazy ol bat and work ??

I shoe shopped. Are they not pretty?!

Yo Playa!

Tonight - GAME ONE OF THE WORLD SERIES! I wasn't excited until it hit me that I may never live again in a city that may potentially be the World Series Champs thus I will embrace my "local" team. **Also it would amuse me to see a huge party-riot happen too....not gonna lie**

I have a mad crush on a Russian in Cali. As in, mad crush on client whom I've never met but has the best voice evah. I'm pretty sure he's probably ugly and scary in real life cause that's how luck typically has it.

What am I doing right now?

Good question and here is a list:

1. Jammin to a new hip-hop fave, People Under the Stairs

2. Quotin' product for another bust in W. Africa

3. Laughing at the poli hatred on YouTube (Karl Rove almost got handcuffed in San Fran)

4. Buzzin' on the Coffee

5. The DRESS came. It's purty. Purty dang hot that is! (pic included) So yup, I'm sitting here and dreaming about twirling around in that dress. Yeah, this is when I know I'm super girly.

Prayer

I typically keep this site for laughs...but I think spreading the word and need for prayer is more important:

A letter recieved this morning -

This is a request for prayer for YWAM missionaries and their churches in Orissa, India. The request came from Mable Hurst, an associate of HCJB Global. Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.

Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India.

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage.... And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media.

Let me explain. A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bare the name of Christ.
Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the bloodthirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in the house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road.... even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000

Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen.

This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long-term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations....
Prayer works!

~~~~~

Please send one for them...

Really people??

Grow up people.

http://worldofwonder.net/archives/2008/Oct/13/sarah_palin_tshirt_cuntroversy.wow

Grow up.

Update:

It just keeps getting better...! Mac Hater & Dog Pooh!

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7658638&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Update.....

Dentist - not so hot. Damn. Not to mention, I have five cavities. Double damn

All offers on table for move were taken away. Ask me for deets for I care not to share no more via the internets.


Let's just say, a bit of sadness and in hellish "gotta get outta here" mood.

Flip-side: I have my Christmas DRESS!!!

Dentist

I'm going to the dentist in t-minus 15 minutes. I'm nervous. This will be my 3rd dentist......ever. I've DATED more guys than that. So, obviously, this is gonna be hard. It's not that I'm really picky, it's more like I have really awful teeth (genetics stink) therefore I'm going for more than just a check-up. These visits actually determine when/where I need caps/crowns/root canals and so on. This is serious teeth business.

Wish me luck! Cause this is a bigger than going on a first date.

(oh and I have high standards now...last dentist was a total hottie!)

Overheard

There are so many things you should never talk about in the locker room....or in public...or ever. Here is an example:

Women's Lockeroom:

Woman #1: "well she went over to his mothers house to clean and it was a mess."
Woman #2: "Why did she do that?!"
Woman #1: "I don't know, but guess what she found in the kitchen?"
Woman #2: "What?"
Woman #1: "A fetus. And I guess she freaked a little...and he told her that it wasn't his or his mom's." "Oh, maybe I shouldn't talk so loud."

The worst part was that neither one was too 'shocked' by what they were saying. I'm sorry...but you just said the word fetus - that is not a normal word in a daily conversation. Unless you're a baby doctor.

After hearing that bit of the conversation I made sure to get the heck out of there and start my workout. But luck be it, they decided to set-up shop on the machines right next to mine and continue rambling on about odd/gross subjects.

Luckily their workout was only 20 mins long. Phew.

Complex of Work

Let me say this ........

On Friday I flew PHL to MSP for a weekend of family/Gopher fun....and a Monday of interviews with an ad company. After interviews I hop on train from interview with possible future company to go to airport to fly from MSP to DCA. Get into DCA, hop on Metro to Pentagon City for the Ritz to attend BOD meeting hosted by previous employer as current employee of member company to previous employer. Spend two days rallying with DC friends and dodging questions by previous boss on future moves for current company.

Headache? Yeah - I've got one.

What's on the table:

I have 2 companies interested (and interviewed), current company offered to move me & another company wanting to interview me but I not wanting to interview with them.

Not sure what's going to happen, but I should soon cause my car registration is due and I'm just that cheap.

Today at work and server is down. Product delayed to Chile. Barely breaking even on China shipment. Ship delayed to Guyana. Jealous?

Want to learn

Want to learn who are your real friends???

Move away.


You learn quickly who are people that you value and value your friendship back.

Game Day

This morning I happily waved my roommate away and got settled down with my laptop....today is GAME DAY.

The Gopher football team plays Ohio State at noon and the Twins are playing KC at 3:44 pm. All I needed was my laptop, my credit card and I was set.

(yes, it is sad...I can't watch Big Ten football because Comcast is dumb and doesn't allow the Big Ten Network and baseball - well that's the joy of living 1,000 miles away from your home team.)

Anynow after setting up for football I had the game listening abilities and suffered through a loss. It hurt. Our offense must have thought the trip to Columbus was too far cause they certainly didn't show up for the game. But I'm still proud of my Gophs - the defensive did an exceptional job for what they were given to clean-up.

Then the Twins game time rolled around. I was ready. I purchased my MLB weekend package for $7.95 and was ready to go, and boom. Nothing. All Saturday games before 7:05 pm are considered blackout. Jerks! After an attempt to call the MLB.tv office to 'discuss' this issue and finding out that they do not have office hours during 80% of game time I finally settled down with listening to the radio broadcast. It's okay. Though, it keeps cutting out every 5-10 mins making it impossible to leave my laptop. So here I am, being a huge bum and listening the the Twins tug at my heartstrings with their lead in the first two innings and then falling behind in the 7th. It's killing me.

And now I'm back to listening to the game and PRAYING FOR A WIN.......

I to We

You know when someone is an a relationship when they start replacing all of their, "I"s with "We"s. Maybe I'll understand that some day. But until then, no, I'll just laugh and shake my head at you.

Kudos to the Senate boys running for POTUS. Way to stir-up the election by attempting to do the actual job you are currently being paid for. Crazy MAVERICK moves!

I managed to replace my headlight this afternoon. Yes, I went to NAPA, purchased the bulb and threw open the hood and BAM! Done. Never shall I be considered a Padiddle.


****PAUSE****

Word just in...current job has now offered for me to work from home. And by home, I mean MN.

Case of the ..... Wednesdays?

I thought I had a "case of the Monday's" on Monday but then it came back on Tuesday and now it's back again....Wednesday. It could be allergies, anxiety, nervousness, boredom, anxiousness and/or disbelief. Yup. Feeling all of those things. Weird and annoying, I know. But I have good reasoning for each of those feelings (by the way, be happy that I HAVE 'feelings')

Allergies - never had them till I moved east. Damn!
Anxiety - over possible job (waiting for 'yay' or 'nay')
Nervousness - cause I have no clue what I want to do next
Boredom - current state has become quite mundane
Anxiousness - all above & the Twins
Disbelief - over all of the crazy poli pundits & int'l buyers who I am working with

Plus the news is even boring or sad right now. Between tainted Chinese milk, Wall Street bailout & the election nothing is that exciting.

I am excited the the Twins are only a game and a half behind the White Sox for the AL Central Division title.

Though...one major thing to look forward to - CURLING season. Yes, people it's just around the corner and you will find me chillin' (literally) on the ice throwin' some stones and rocking it out. (Oh yes, all puns totally intended!!)

Before I shut-up....

PETA ohhhh....how I love you and your inability to make cause for sensible issues. Asking Ben & Jerry's to replace all cow milk with human breast milk in their products is beyond ridiculous. Even I as a major dairy promoter would suggest for them to go the soy route to be considered 'more humane'. Sad.

Waiting.....

I'm waiting to hear news back on the next potential move in my life. It sucks. I am beyond impatient. If you know me, you know that I'm basically sitting there...rambling....thinking of the next possible move and trying NOT to call them and demand why they haven't called me yet.

So I wait.

And I wait.

I hate waiting.

So if this doesn't pan out......anyone in need of a live-in maid? In the Mpls/Stpl area?

Vacation - Questionable

I was on vacation. Or at least that is what my timesheet at work claims. No, I was on a week long networking/meeting filled/poli agenda adventure. I spent a total of 12 hrs with family "relaxing".... 4 of them being at the lake, 2 of them with nieces and nephew, 2 with grandma and the rest with parents and extended family.

This vacation was great because I was able to fit in a million things that I love..

i.e.

MN State Fair

RNC Convention 2008!

Seeing friends

Job interviews (well don't totally love but I enjoy meetings)

RNC CONVENTION!

Meetings (for work - yes - I worked on vacay)

Seeing a great friend get married

Attending a jazz festival (I've been WAITING all year)

RNC CONVENTION!

Driving through farm country while listening to country music

and... yes.... of course...family

oh - and the RNC CONVENTION!

It was exhausting and only one night did I manage to get to bed before midnight.

Though, as fun as it was there are a few things I could've forgone:
- Sleeping on floors (ouch!)
- The'greehouse'
- 30 min. accident with dad's pick-up
- $100 spent on cabs
- $550 spent on rental car
- "Planet of the Apes" cops freaking my cabbie out
- Getting lost in the NE
- My phone dying
- Too many Marshmallow Mateys

Great moment of inspriation...

Teaching the newbie at Sterbs how to make a "Skip & Go Naked" (gin, beer, sour & grenedine)

Don't Stop!

I was attempting during the past two hours to put together the most awesome portfolio for my upcoming job interview. But somewhere in the midst of Googling "MN Stockpot" and finding pics of foodshow displays I ran across my video archives from college.

Time Froze.

I was back in a crazy period of my life called 2004-2006.

Some people look back at the crazy, emotional times of high school and love it. Not me. No, I look back at those two years in college where everything and anything that happened was beyond incredible. Whether it was as simple as making a new friend to a (then) 'devestating' break-up(s). Sure at that time my emotions (and yes, friends will totally agree I was a nutcase. A lot.) were beyond anything but the feeling of 'fondness' at which I now have.

The best part is that it's only 2008 - not too long ago were these significant events, but thankfully they seem like ages ago. I say thankfully because it means that I'm cool with all that was past. Sure I made mistakes, people were dumb .... but overlook some of that silly stuff and there was real STUFF happening that has made me (and my friends) who they are today.

Watching these videos from my drive-thru experience with PopPop on our way to West Regionals, to The Boys being dumb at Music City Bowl to sledding avdentures with one of my best friends - I was in hysterics of laughter. I laughed so hard that at one point I about fell off of my bed. With all of this nostalgia I now find myself listening to Journey (shut-up....Sterbs Jukebox MEMORY!) and looking at pics. I don't think I'll calculate what was spent at the bar during those years (that would just make me cry) but I certainly wouldn't have changed that for the world.

There are some moments that will always be remembered.....

- Begging for $1s to put in the Jukebox at Sterbs
- The corner booth on Wednesday nights
- Water nights with Adj
- Thursday night rallys with the girls at Bullies
- The GREAT SmokeOUT!
- Music Mayhem
- Trudging through snow for Jimmy Johns
- Tour de Seven Corners
- Walks to the Dome
- etc.

And yes...I have now discovered about 1/2 doz pics of Ty in his underwear - BOOYA BUDDY!!

Payback is a __________ - well you get the picture!

So um, now I'm turning up the tunes for a little...."Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world....took the midnight train going ANYWHERE......"

From the Porch

It's a Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting on the porch watching & listening to the sounds of my neighborhood. There are teens on the baskball court shouting whatnots to each other, the buzz of Ridge Ave one block down, the neighbors TV and a few dogs barking in the back of our row. This is certainly not the sounds I grew-up with. I grew-up with cows mooing, the milkhuse pumps humming, a random tractor pull through the north part of the farm and ...... silence. Silence where, at times, all you could 'hear' was the breeze.

Not only has the sounds been bugging me lately, but also the sights, mostly, the stars. While driving to Atlantic City last night I saw stars for the first time in two weeks. We threw the moonroof open and zipped through the night with a ceiling of stars. It was amazing.

So two-and-a-half years later, I find myself wondering if I could take the new version of sound and sight any longer? Perhaps, but it's not cutting it for me right now.

Yeah, I'll miss the little neighbor kids peering out their mail slot at me whenever I come home and asking me where I've been. And that dog that wakes me up every morning howling/crying cause its owner left it for the day in a small, cramped house. And yes, I'll miss the neighbors friends who find our front lawn to be the perfect ashtray. Oh and lest we not forget the guy three houses down who thinks he's beyond awesome and showing it by revving his motorcycleat 11:30 pm. Yes, so much I'll miss.

Itch.

There was a moment when I wanted to just swing my car around, fill it with clothes and leave while on my way to work this morning.

I think I'm done.

End of a Chapter?

I have been around. Not around a lot of places, but have moved and a decent amount of times since my first move at the age of three....across the drive-way.

The last move was from DC to Philly. I didn't think too much about moving to Philly, just ticked it off as "another place to live when I'm young and unattached." I didn't think of a few key things because they were never a worry of mine previously - the number one being - the ability to make new friends. All I have to say, is when you live in a city that hosts a lot of people who were born/grew-up/gonna die here there is little room for a newbie. And I don't blame them. Why let in a new person who probably won't stay around too long? Anyhow, I have found around a handful of people I can call my friends in this current city. Ironically, they are all from somewhere else. But a handful just doesn't cut it in world of being me. I'm just a bit too much of an extrovert who ends up running the handful a bit tired of the needs for activity and time.

So beyond the 'Woo is Me' bit.......

I've decided to get over this place. I, for once, do not have a timeline but certainly am willing to take a looksy-loo around for future opportunities. I'm gonna be somewhat picky but certainly look at all options.

Ideas?

Options?

Networking will be taking place in the Midwest 'hood within a few weeks. Yes, I'm spending my vacation networking. I'm sad or awesome - you choose.

******

The Twins are killing me. In and out of 1st for the AL Central? Killin' ME!

******

Since when has board games at bars become so darn trendy?! Can't people sit around and have great watering-hole debates and conversations?

Breathe........or Stop?

I'm at the gym. I'm stoked about gettin' in a good workout but my regular machines are all taken (yes, I have no clue what they are called...just a mix between an eliptical & stairmaster). Anyhow, seeing that they are full I decide to cruise on the eliptical machine and there happened to be one that was open under the fan (SCORE!!). I hop on and tune up the Ipod.

Then I heard it. "GAHG!! GAHG!! AHHHH ARGHHHH!!"

The guy next to me. Not panting. No. He is literally gasping for life and grunting like a dog. I can't even fully describe how gross I felt being next to him. I've put up wiht bad BO, heavy breathing and the lady who moaned but never a grunting dog noise. There was a point when I wanted to turn to him and say, "Sir, really, if you are having this much difficulty on that easy of a level...you ought to go and visit a Dr. or just sit this one out." But I didn't and instead I just hit the volume button on my Ipod and rocked out to Jock Jams.

Though, speaking of hardcore gym moments (not mine, others) the following day I was there and back on my Eliptimaster and looked over to see my neighbor going to town on a level much harder than myself. As I was putting in only a 30 min. stint he was working toward an hour. After 30 mins he was on one of highest levels and had 5 mins to go..........his "Calorie Count" read 1185. YES! ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE!! I about died - but then I saw that he was about to die and then I was perfectly fine with my measily 450 calories.