Part two! twoooooo!

I just had a four year old growl at me (and a puppet) in self-defense. I tip my hat to this four year old. Not a bad trait.

Roadtrip! Part 2! Otherwise known as SATURDAY..

- We drag our sorry butts into the car. Thus begins a long line of tolls. Ah, tolls.

- We met many tollbooth workers. Some are super excited! Some are very intense.

- We get to the Northern Suburbs... I get to see Speech Tournament in full tournament glory. Teens of all sizes, wearing black suits, with some splash of color. I imagine that the FBI has been taken over by those aged 14-18.

- Onward to Chicago! We drive to the Museum of Science and Industry, for the bestest of tours, given by Davey himself! Davey was standing outside of the museum, waiting for us, in a blazing red lab jacket and a BNW stocking cap. Vaudeville has grown up, and now lives in the greenest house in America, with all of his closest friends.

- The Museum of Science and Industry is amazing. And huuuuuuge. There's no way we had enough time.

- Davey gave us a personalized tour of the U-Boat. (The only German submarine in America! They built the building AROUND it! Wow wow wow!) We get our full-out geek on.

- Saw the baby chicks! Saw the freaky glowing eyed frogs! Saw the Mercury capsule! Saw the submarine! Missed the coal mine.. :(

- We head towards Giordano's on Belmont. We both attempt two slices. It's, like, a half pound of cheese per slice... Heart-cloggingly delicious!

- To Davey's & Tyler's and Lisa's! They have a cherry apartment in Wrigleyville. It's awesome.

- Improvisers start appearing around 10 p.m.. We meet, in the span of maybe 20 minutes, at least 4 ladies who had just moved to Chicago from some other major metropolitan center. Amazing. By 11 p.m., the place has at least 50 people in it.

- I start dropping things. I'm really tired.

- We get hugs, and get out of town. Look, a Motel 8. They kept the light on for us.. kind of.

- We attempt to watch Armadgeddon. Wow. It's still really really really really really really bad.

What will happen tomorrow? Will they drive across Wisconsin?! Will they eat more crap-yet-delicious food?! Will they find themselves in a theater with 2,000 other people, watching flying monkeys!? It remains to be seen!

Onward.

Amanda Palmer is one ballsy m-f'er..

W00t! Stay for the pout at the end!! As far as I can tell, that's her, through and through, no pretense. She's insecure and rabid and ballsy and theatrical and her blog says basically that.. and she's my age (I'm now getting a special thrill from "being-the-same-age-as-really-amazing-cool artists'. As a kid, they were all older. And I can appreciate the younger ones. But oh man... You find someone kickass who was born in the mid70s, and it just makes me giddy.)

And OH NO!!!!

This weekend was crazy. And silly. It was legend - waitforit - dary, but at the same time it was very sweet and simple. Also... I might be making it up. I'm still processing it.

The Chicago road trip that was supposed to begin on Thursday night perhaps wasn't going to happen, as Partner In Crime got a call from the Man. The Man told him (in a semi-threatening tone) to be in town Friday afternoon. Fish need to swim, people need to eat. The Man's threatening tone was not to be ignored. Which left us staring at each other at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.. what do we do?

WE GO!!

We drive 5.5 hours to the beautiful Madison, WI (stopping only at Baldwin, WI for Hardees)

Things I learned #366: Wisconsin wants to make us all fat. (Delicious!)

We purchased Hardees from a man named Bob and a woman with amazing violet eyeshadow up to her brows. We drive into Madison around 10:30 p.m., and rumble our way to the lovely Genna's.

Genna's was honestly aces - - we met two guys named Jack, and decided that this is where we would drink if we lived in Madison, despite the rest of the service being craptacular. Sweet feel, all a mix of grad students and young professional hip types. One of the Jack's gives us directions to State Street. Begin adventure part 2 and the Douchebag parade.

Mannn... there are a lot of douchebags in Madison. And girls with really really really short skirts. In really really really cold weather. We wander, lost amongst the screaming girls and sweatshirted boys, feeling surreal and old.

But that's Okay! ...As the awesome Scott and Danny at BW3's (the one place we stopped to gather ourselves) told us about Paul's Club.

Paul's Club has a tree in it! A FULL SIZED TREE!!

Paul's Club also had the amazing Adam and Nick. And Vicky and Andrea. We made friends with these strangers. We bought a 21 year old (who knew Andrea) a birthday drink. We talked to insanely-drunk girls on the street, with maracas sticking out of their tops (literal maracas, not figurative boobs). I get the hiccups. We shut down Paul's Club.

We then go to Perkins. With Adam and Nick and Vicky and Andrea, strangers no more, at 4 a.m..

The beautiful Andrea offered up her futons and recliners (we were planning on crashing at a hotel.) We woke up on said futon, next to a passed out guy on a couch, in the living room of a college house, to a NWA poster and a twelve pack of Pabst.

We were so friggin' lucky. We had such a good time. Madison, we thank you.

Next stop, a speech tournament! Annnnndddd CHICAGO!!!

Day two (otherwise known as Saturday) on the next post. Will it stack up to Madison? (possibly!) Will I lose my debit card? (yes!) Will my driver's side front door open? (umm.. no. Not yet. My Kia is all, unexpectedly, Dukes of Hazzard).

Onward.

I need to go...

I've occupied this table at Dunn Bros for far too long, I feel. The coffee roaster continues to roast coffee and pretend he's a pirate. The coffee pops like Rice Crispies. I am one of the youngest people here (which, for Grand Avenue by Macalaster, I did not expect!)

I'm not sure what I'm doing this weekend... in a state of a'waiting, which is fine but at the same time... if it doesn't happen, what should I do? (I'm contemplating the kitchen cabinets.. hrmmmm...)

Re-experienced the great Twin Cities estate sale this morning. A payday and a sign created the perfect storm of a Jen-based weak moment. Estate sales are both sad and lovely - - it's like a museum exhibit of someone's life (all of your tchotchke's of your life, on display and on sale. The house still smelled like a clean and comforting grandma's house...) The things were sweet and fine. It made me happy (oh my goodness! A train-based map of the United States - - for display! A glass A&W mug for a $1!) and of course, a little melancholy. (oooohhhh)

Okay. More later.

Onward.

!!!!

oh!

Bwah! Bwahahah! Bwahahah!!!

I can't stop posting stuff.. I had to get off of facebook.. and start posting to my blog. BWAHAHAHAHA!!

Some years ago, I decided I wanted to make money. So, I started classes at Brainco, the now-defunct (I think) Minneapolis School of Advertising and Design. They hired ad professionals to teach the classes. This was either AWESOME, or craptacular (the guy who taught "creativity" can suck my toe. But the guy who taught my first class was the bees knees! So awesome! So enthusiastic!) We learned a little about the culture of the industry, and then started butting our heads against walls. I was grasping at straws until we got to work on television bits, and then I quit. (In my brain, it was either advertising or improv, and I was having a lot more fun in improv. Or at least, could say, I think I can continue to improve at improv, and hang out with people I enjoy). I'm still paying for the school loans. Ah well...

What stuck:
- My first or second critique was supposed to happen on 9/11/01.

- I met a couple of local rrrrock stars. If you work for an ad agency, on the creative side, you might have spent some time in college in a band.

- Billboards should have around 6 words on them. 6. that's about it. The current MN Historical Society billboards make my eyebrows go together.

- Keep your font count down.

- Black sharpies. I have many black sharpies.

- Photoshop. This, I'm so thankful for.

- Kerning.

Anywhoo, begin the moral rollercoaster. It's evil, but it doesn't have to be. It's manipulative, but 'can be used for good. And when it's good, you feel like you spontaneously and simultaneously finished a suduko puzzle and Photohunt, all at the same time. You feel cool. You feel clever. You're in on the joke.

If I'm in a Barnes and Noble, it's sometimes nice to poke through an Advertising Age and pretend. Other times, I don't want to bother, and it makes me grumpy.

So, yea! for here. All of the pleasure, none of the guilt.

Speaking of guilt, I am truly enjoying Entourage. Indulgent. But I now love me some Kevin Donnelly.

'Had a lovely day yesterday.. chatted with a couple of visitors, got my oil changed, had a glass of wine at Gigi's, hung out, and talked. Like real talked. As opposed to "non-real talk". Hrm. Yea! :)

Hoping to see dear friend Ashley in, like, 10 minutes. Hoping to do good today. Hoping to have fun. :)

Onward.

Purty... nice..

Sitting in Starbucks. A sad Tom Waits tune is softly sifting over the calming yellow wood chairs. People are business-meeting to my left. Baristas are happily cheering each other. How odd that Mr. Waits appear here.. For he makes me sad and happy and contemplative and the whole thing is overwhelmingly bittersweet. Much like my latte.

The last couple of days have sped by, and here we are at Wednesday. Museum was a happy bustle of kids, and then got to play with Jake & his keeper. Jake is either is his teens or twenties, but is like a kid.The cute sweet gal who hangs out with Jake is amazing. They were hangin' out at the giant loom, and 'got to bounce a chimp puppet around, which made him laugh and made me happy. Thanks, Jake!

What I learned from the amazingly smart Ruth-of-the-museum:

- She used to be the tarantula lady at the MN Zoo!?! What?! If Ruth was to tell me she was with French Foreign Legion, just right before she pushed Scorcese (sp?) into directing, I would totally believe it.

- DID YOU KNOW... Tarantula hairs are itchy, and will stick in you (as they are covered with barbs), and then you itch like the dickens..

- Which is why you just want to keep a tarantula on your hand, as you don't want that s#!t in your clothes...

- AND, their feetsies are basically claws, so you don't want them on your sweater, or else they could be stuck there...forever (I'm not going to break a tarantula's claws, thank you. *shudder* No offense.)

The thrill of having my mom fly up has now been replaced with nervousness and dread. Horribly unnecessary nervousness and dread. Fickle irrational emotions, thy name is Jen.

'Went to dear friend K's house last night, which also has me contemplative. Sending love and warmest thoughts. I wish no one had to experience grief, but... it's inescapable, I guess. The stuff that reaffirms how amazing and wonderful life is. For all it's affirming capabilities, I wish we didn't have to experience it though, as it is what it is. :( But... K opened up her house and we drank beers and ate pizza and chatted and it was absolutely wonderful. :') Love and hugs all around.

Got to hang out with the boy last night afterwards, which was all shades of wonderful, despite me being full of contemplation and pre-dread.

Onward! Onward! To the museum! To an oil change! Hopefully, to dinner!

Onward.

Morning Hairs...

Stole the remnants of a rostisserie chicken from a certain person's apartment, and now boiling its bones. Bwah! The house is filling with chickeny-garlicly goodness. It may not be soup, but it'll be stock, and that's exciting.

- Figured out how to cut my bangs yesterday. My sister showed me months ago, and finally got brave enough to do it. So pleased with the result, I kept cutting. In fact, I feel like doing more now. Moderation!

- Lovely youth (yut) rehearsal. Any day I don't feel like coming in, usually ends up fine and awesome. Yea to Nels for playin' ping-pong coaching-styles -- good stuff!

- Speaking of ping pong, damn you Josh Eakright!! Man of 1,000 game-related puns. I'm speechless (although thankful my brain worked just enough to lob him a badmitton reference). Well played, sir!

- Thanks to Butch & Tim & Josh & Troy & Nels... More birds! More neck snappings! More bombs in butts! Of course Tim had an amigo.. Of course Troy was a flamingo! Nels was a judge! Butch was a horrible-wonderful dad! Josh took a bomb out of my butt... Giddy with delight, I tell you!

- Oh Green Mill, your siren call of cheap grain belt and good company.. That was aces fun.

- I got a "Dictaters" calendar!!! Please go to dictaters.com (I'll put the actually link in an upcoming blog) Damn funny! Thank you, James and Andy!! :)

And now Monday. I have an impressive amount of stuff to do. Need to hit that. And so I shall.

Socially Akward at the Beat tonight! 8 pm! $3! More comedy! More!

(I kinda wanna go to IKEA...)

Onward.

Ooh!

Joyous amounts of silly fun tonight. Thank you to all who made it happen! (including Pickles, who wanted to throw a bone around outside, as the snow fell light and cold out of the sky).

(I might have met a vampire on my way back to my car. He looked young, was wearing a trenchcoat, had dark floppy hair, and wished me a good night. Beware!)

Onward.

THIS is what grown-ups do...

Do I go downstairs and make coffee? That does sound nice.. Or, do I continue to hide in a darkened bedroom, under fuzz and cover of malti-poo. It's pretty pleasant, if not a little slovenly.

Super sweet crowds at the Museum yesterday. Engaged and numerous -- goodness. Attempted a run afterwards, and it was the gd'd weeinest, sprintingliest run ever. Kenwood, I was the lady running at fast-zombie speed around your corners for 20 minutes -- weenie and cold.

I went home and made au gratin potatoes (white sauce, yer favorite spices, some left over ricotta cheese in the freezer, and as much colby jack as one can take. Bake at 400, first covered, and then uncovered cuz it's better if the cheese gets brown. Done. And..erm.. potatoes.)

Partner in Crime came over (yea!), ate said potates, and we began our Nordeast Adventure!!

First to 331, for an Adult Spelling Bee. Indeed, we walked into a very crowded 331, complete with a man was spelling "auto asphyxiation" (err.. sp?). Welcome to drunken grown-up spelling bee! They also had an Irish jig round -- spell and tap dance -- and an underwear round. We saw some boxer-covered junk, a couple of bras bought at Target, and a bit of lacey-thong ass. It was giggly adult-spelling fun!

Then, onto a construction site (overlooking downtown, very pretty at night) filled with large sleeping backhoes, and onto Elsie's.

The best place to sit at Elsie's, at least last night, is at the tables behind the bowlers: you watch bowling, you chat, your drinks glow with blacklight, you make random DS9 refereces.. It's good.

At Elsie's, we met the waittress L, who we wanted to adopt, and whom, unexpectedly, came over and talked to us.

L didn't go to college despite her mom's nagging. Instead, she took up ballroom dance (seriously!) and began to teach it. In classes, she met a man ("not the love of my life, but a good man"), they married, and one day he looked at her and said, "Where's the one place you'd never want to live?" and she said, "Alaska", to which he said, "I was afraid that you'd say that," followed by, "Give me five years."

And so they packed up their things and two tiny children, and moved to Anchorage. She gave him five years. He's an entrepeneur, and wasn't to give up the opportunities for making more cash. They split amicably, she stayed for one more year with the kids, and then moved herself and the five-year-olds back to Minnesota. She now drives bus ("Of all things.. Can you believe it?") and works a couple of nights at Elsie's.

L could have been a cop (she has that build and the look of ever-alert -- her son is now actually a MP in the army). She took care of us, laughed with us, and then actually sat and chatted with us. We're smitten and lucky.

She also introduced us to her brother, who also works at Elsie's. He makes oyster stew for Xmas -- JUST oysters and water. (Ew.)

Despite promises of oysters, I'm hoping that L might want a couple extra kids for the holidays.

Then, a random showing "Hitchhiker's" while PIC's car recovered. (It was discussed: we have no idea if Zooey Deschanel is a good actress or not.).

A really lovely and lucky night, despite car drama. Actually, car drama became the perfect reason to walk a bit, sit a bit, watch, and just be. Thank you.

Onward.

P.S. Hellendrung, Scott & Associates is up for our last at Improv a Go Go tonight! Now with extra surprise associates! Annnnd, Adorable! Butch and Josh and snotty-teary-me. 8 pm, Brave New Workshop, $1, fools! :)

I hope they don't taste like poo...

I've made corn-meal muffins, and hopefully they taste like cornbread and not like poo. If they do taste like poo, hopefully massive amount of butter and honey will help us ignore that.

Last night, we ended up going to "Tizi Ouzou" by Taos Khazem at Dreamland Arts. Dreamland Arts is a sweet little space. Very comfortable, beautiful flat stage (which screams bare-feet-modern-dance! bare-feet-modern-dance!), and owned by some of the nicest, most-sane people in the world.

The piece itself was lovely, and honestly got better the more Taos got into it. The thing I like about it the most is that it's basically a pretty sad story, but she presented it with such joy. Also, she plays around 12 characters in the show, and it was nice to find oneself reacting with "oh jesus, this ass again" or "oh good, I like her!", instead of "that was a fine portrayal by the actress". Nothing flashy: just a good story, honest acting, good stuff.

Before the show, we ate at Hong Kong Noodles (on Washington by the U), which was one of the most brilliant choices ever. (One gets the feeling that one should go early, as the place might be crammed with entire Grad student population of the Material Science department at any moment.) HUGE MENU! THINGS YOU DON'T SEE AT OTHER PLACES! (there's not much congee floating around Uptown) DELICIOUS!

We then went to Roseville to attempt shopping at a Banana Republic. Hah! I think Banana Republic's stuff is made by the same people who do Gap and Old Navy stuff. But, yet, at Banana, there's an air of Welcoming Elitism, all staffed by well-dressed Generation Y boys.

I also enjoyed how the salesmen/boys seemed to be very concerned about PG's welfare. "Is he doing alright?" "Let me know if he needs anything" "I'm just worried about getting your size." I don't receive this much concern going to the Gyno, but sort of adored the ever-present mother-hen-doting.

I don't know if I could take it (unless, I was at an actual high end store and truly expected it), as there aren't even dressing rooms in some of my favorite place to dig around, but it's a fun game to play. I, also, was very concerned.

Onward.

Well.. It's not about soup...

My post from yesterday, which ranted about very very important soup-related issues, got sent to the wrong address. My little Palm Centro can't handle the conversion cleanly, so... In 40 minutes or so, you can choose to be subjected to all things soup.. Until then...

- Yesterday, I sat in a hallway in the Museum, and chatted idly with friends and strangers. This was lovely. It was like I owned an indoor porch, and got to watch the bustle of the neighborhood (museum) march by, and wave. And then, random lovelies (new and old) would sit on this porch and chat about life and cost of wheat. Delightful! When I'm old (when we all live in malls), I need to figure out how to get on the Audition-Sign-Up-Table-Sitting circuit.

I was asked to portray museum patrons in these auditions.. I ended up doing repetions on a theme:

- the MN mom
- the kid with the worksheet
- the bored dad
- the know it all senior

If you work in a museum or with the public at all, you are probably very familiar with know it all senior. The senior who has done extensive research about a particular subject, will fein to ask you a question, and then will bait and switch and tell YOU all they know about the subject. Clever senior!!!

Afterwards, got taken to the Red Savoy on West 7th. I haven't been there in.. possibly.. 8 years (that's ridiculous!) but it's so damned good. Thin impressively-strong (it holds up deliciously!) crust, salty sauce, and the pizza is served on sparkly lunch lady trays. I like clientele (kids and grown ups of every type), I love the food -- yea for Red Savoy!!

I then woke up 4 times last time. Most of me blames a certain maltipoo and scratchy ears -- the rest of me blames the Red Savoy *sob!*.

Started watching Entourage last night. Between this and Lost, I am reclaiming my inner 22 year old boy. More women in their underwear around pools beaches, I guess.

Listening to the commentary on Lost... JJ Abrahms assures us that every actor he works with is "brilliant". Every one! Like 8 times over... Brilliant. Hollywood is Hollywood.

And speaking of, it's nice to see Jeremy Piven in a role that was handcrafted for Mr. Piven. My dad never like David Arquette for some reason; for me, the 3rd circle of hell might be trapped in a room with Jeremy Piven. Maybe this reaction is because I secretly lovvvve him, but... Have you seen his travel show? Ewwwww!!!

I feel like a lame-o GenX People magazine now. Just a little.

Today is off to the Museum, but with less Porch-sitting.. But hey!!

Socially Akward is up at "Pee Your Pants" at the Bryant Lake Bowl tonight!! 10 pm show? Socially Akward is myself, Katie Moen, James Moore and Dan Jankovich -- Yeaaa!! We're new and akward. Come see!

Annnnd, Hellendrung, Scott & Assoc. is up for our last Improv a Go Go slot this Sunday, and so is Adorable!!! Between the two, I might explode with giddiness, just a little. Chances are I will also probably cry on stage. (When something makes me laugh really hard, my eyes water. Creepy! I've been breaking onstage of late -- I don't mean to, these boys are just damned funny and the surprises have been delightful -- and it's been coming out as snotty nose, watery eyes. ...I think I'm allergic to comedy. I love it though. But for you, I will take a comedy benadryl and will see you there!!)

Onward.

Makin' soup to make yer mama cry....

In college, I learned to make soup. Or, more appropriately, I ate really good soup (and baked goods) almost daily, and couldn't break the pattern. Working for Serbo-Croats taught me that soup should not be wussy, that crackers are for suckers (unless you put peanut butter and jelly on them -- then, you're a genius!), and that starch is key. I will dumpling out your soup faster than you can say please. Yum.

Last night was going to be onion soup, but instead turned into veggie peanut with dumplings.

Jen's soup guidelines:
- Soup likes fat. Cream, sour cream, peanut butter, meat fat... Ooh. Bacon. Also, anything you can sautee or brown (like onion, beef... bacon) before hand will just add to the awesome..

- Soup likes salt. All the delicious starchy and meaty things you throw into soup sucks up salt like mad -- surprise yourself.

- Soup likes base. Boullion cubes (I like veggie boullion) helps the whole flavor thing.

- Soup likes beer. Cookin' with booze is fun, and beer thrown into stews, chilis, cheese-based soups, and others is excellent.

- Soup likes starch. Dumplings, noodles, rice, potatoes, croutons. To be eaten with chunky bread if you've got it. Also, toast will work brilliantly in a pinch. (but remember to add salt.. See above)

There. Now take out whatever you have leftover in your refrigerator, brown the stubborn bits, add water, boullion, beer and salt. Look! Soup!

Will you surprise me with a Taco Bell fourth meal soup? Perhaps mustard and soy milk soup? Who knows! Perhpas your fridge is better stocked than mine. I trust you.

Auditions at the Science Museum have had familiar faces popping through the museum. Again, I truly feel it's one of the nicest things to see people you know at your work.

Thanksgiving is coming and Mom might fly up! My worlds shall collide. She doesn't want to drive the 5.5 hours by herself, and dreads Minneapolis traffic. (Sioux City has 80,000 people in it, yes, but we don't all rush onto the same stretch of roadway at the same time). She's gonna fly! There were flights from SUX (our actual Airport code) to MSP for around $200. Granted, prices are increasing, but.. still.

I was trying to remember the last time she (and dad?) was up. My sister and her husband were still in town. And yet, I don't think dad was around. I think it was maybe after he passed. ...I need to create a personal timeline to keep track of my life, and that feels a tad lame. Oh look, a blog...

(Yes! It was summer 2007! Ha! She stayed at my sister's place, as they moved to Iowa City after the MSP bridge collaspe in August. It was warm, the windows were open, and Kay's neighbors were noisy. Thank you, brain!)

Welcome to Wednesday... Hoping to see more lovelies at the museum..

Onward.

I CAN take a photo! I can!

Can I edit said photos, and get them back to the pho-tee in a timely fashion? Ehhhrghhhh...

- Spent two and a half hours taking pictures of my friend Keri yesterday. Keri's gorgeous and ridiculously photogenic -- while she claims not to know what "to do", she did very well. I now have multiple multiple shots of hot blond-age (and she hopefully has headshots). Yea!

- The light was great, and she was willing to freeze herself outside.. Thank you, Keri! :)

- Had dinner at Green Mill. That was a lot of quesadilla.

- Performed at the Beat. Actually, a lovely night of performances! Very nice, very varied.

- Stand up comedians run up on stage the same way. That weird, quasi-jovial shoulder pat of "good job, buddy" and grabbing the mic swing, acting almost a little surprised. I like it, it's just... funny. (not haha)

- Their acts are based sometimes based on true-or-not insecurities. It has to be hard to date a stand up. I have no clue.

(but aren't we all insecure in some way? These guys just craft a very public joke of it... Eh.)

- Audiences detect non-truth stink like bassett hounds and sharks. Thank you for reminding me, Beat.

To the Museum. You know what I'm gonna do today? Sit ups, workshops, shows, and breath. Yep. That's the docket.

Have a good one!

Onward.

Three days.. three days..!

Seeing if I can write a blog without the pressure of being late for work.. chances are.. non.

- A lovely weekend! Got to see Closing Night at the Workshop. I love that we can all recognize each other by our laughs. That's a pretty sweet thing.

- Late night Mystery Cafe gig. Nice thing: they fed us. How cool is that?

- Wake up Sunday to "what day is it??" thoughts. Indeed. I was blurry.

- Attempted to run around the Lake. My cheeks got very red, my eyes watered and my nose whimpered. The rest of my body followed suit. That was not as successful as one would have liked.

- Davey visited!!! OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! BNI youth and onto..

- Improv a Go Go! W00t! Hellendrung, Scott & Assoc. were up again... YEAAA!!! Troy wears a dress from Target damn well. Happy birthday, Tim!!!! :)

Well, yes.. that was the weekend. It was very lovely, and actually very rejuvenating - - a blur of 'go do stuff' tempered by lovely meals and relaxing. (also tempered by Neuske's Braunschweiger. Otherwise known as "liver sausage". It's the stuff you wake up secretly in the middle of the night to eat, and then stink afterwards. It's been a weekend of pickled beets, pickled herring and liver sausage. I'm your 90 year old grandma. Nice to meetcha.)

We're up at the Beat Coffee House (28th & Hennepin) tonight.. 8 p.m. show! Myself, Katie M., James M., Dan J., and possibly Dave Kapp... Excitement! Delicious excitement!

Jen, go do stuff..

Onward.

I don't mean to be a jerk..

Got treated to dinner at Nye's last night - - I'm the luckiest girl in the world. Yum... Cabbage rolls and pierogies and pickled herring and I'm suddenly burping cabbage...

I don't usually think of Nye's as a dinner place, but.. yes indeed, it's an old school supper club in it's heart of hearts. The manager came up and talked with us, the lettuce is all iceberg, the herring is served with saltine packets.. It made me nostalgic for going out to meals out with my mom and dad.. (the Palmer house or to the Sunshine bakery - - the restaurant inside of the Sunshine Grocery store). Talking with the manager was totally part of the deal. Good stuff.

I could eat pickled herring possibly daily, with utter disgusting abandon. Dear lord.

I made a Minnesotan faux pax right before dinner.. We were in the magazine aisle in the Lunds in Nordeast. However, that aisle is also the check-out aisle. People lined up dutifully behind us, as we unknowingly giggled over magazines. A cashier came up to us and said, "They're waiting in line..." (motioning to the 10 or so people behind us) - - we were suddenly at fault for holding up the entire check out lane, and suddently, the Very Rude People. I spurted out, "We're just looking at stuff!", followed by, "It's their fault if they don't ask!" Indeed. It made me mad at first (goddammit! Why can't strangers just look each other in the eye around here, and ask the very simple question if we were in line? i.e. We weren't..), and also very defensive (I should have been aware.. I should have known..) And finally - - reconciliation. If this had happened in, say, Amsterdam, I would have felt dumb for ignoring a social norm. And educated about how-this-culture-works. It's a double-standard to not do the same here. Stoopid culture. Ah well..

Late night improv gig tonight, but first, hopefully, to go get some BNW on.. Yea. :) (this post is mostly made up of Pickled Herring and complaining, isn't it? Ah well..)

Onward.

Mai fancy...

Indeed!

Saw "George Orwell's Animal Farm" by Jon Ferguson & Ktron last night..

- It was catered by the Red Stag Supper Club, a place I am goony about.. yum. And they served Pigs in a Blanket - - Appropriate!

- Saw some favorite-avorite people! (Hi Scott!) And Mr. Serrand actually seemed to remember me from my brief and pained tenure as Box Office chick at Jeune Lune! Goodness!!

- My goodness, what lovely performances. I only got grumbly and squinty-eyed when a couple of people weren't projecting.. (grumble.. the Southern space is huuuge).. but these times were rare, few and far between.. And the level of performance on the whole was pretty damned impressive. Plus, one of my favorite and most-gorgeous-people-in-the-world were there. (Miss Christiana Clark just rocks my socks..)

- Whoever played old Major (and whoever played the surviving sheep) were just wonderful also.. And the raven and Napolean and.. I know it's a collectively-created-thing, but, oh, for programs with character names in them!

- The only thing that left me grumpy was the damned story itself. It's such a 20th century story (written early on, and then just replayed and replayed again and again..) And it's a story we know. It may be relevant to us 20th century left-overs, but I'm hoping it won't be to our grandchildren. That it will be obvious that that sort of behavior is stupid and destructive. That there will be some sort of evolutionary shift (just as we're getting taller and our skulls are getting thinner) that deems that sort of thought unthinkable. I'm just going to count on that, and leave the politics where they lay. The politics the play addresses are still old and reeking of 1980(4) or so..

- I figured out where I had seen Ktron before. Youth Frontiers auditions. Many many Youth Frontiers auditions.. ;) I was never hired by Youth Frontiers, but, seriously, I tried...

Much Museum-ing. Much snow! (although Aric says it's cocaine, and that makes me giggle). Tonight should hopefully be lovely, followed by Museum and a late late gig tomorrow.. Here's for hoping! w00t!

Onward.

Oh, right.. This is what makes me late...

For work. Late for work. Clarifying.

- There isn't much that can be said about the 4th that hasn't been already (even saying that feels old), but... I love the honest-to-god HOPE and energy buzzing through peeps. Even more, I love that people are now turning over the hope card, and picking up the 'work' card. However, what's work? Tax hikes? Awkward political choices? I don't know, but yet desperately want to get to the work portion. All this renewed hope and beautiful nationalism has me so alive and grateful, and also a tad freaked out. (The pessimist and optimist inside of me aren't talking -- they're both a little stunned. Happily stunned, but still stunned.)

- I love that Barack (can I call you Barack?) promised his girls a puppy. (And, my god, his acceptance speech was perfect..) I also loved McCain's concession speech.. Yes, this was the John McCain we remember...

- I love that Uptown exploded with people happily yelling at each other and fireworks and, I guess, a street dance. Honestly, it made me nervous (what? People excited for their country? We must be three steps awake from drink-the-kool-aid blind patriotism and nuclear weapons in military parades.. Yes, my reaction is paranoid...but I've just never seen this happen before..), and also left me astonished. How cool! How non-cynical! How unlike me...!

- To celebrate the victory also felt a little like celebrating the system... go General Washington! *dancedance* Go Warren G. Harding! *dancedance* Will a renewed interest in our country's history come of this? Will it be hard to get the John Adams HBO miniseries on Netflix? Who knows!

- Nervous and happy. Yep. Let's get quickly to the work part, please...

- Talked to my old high school friend Brett, who is so disinfranchised from the system.. Reminded me that it's all corrupt, bought and sold anyway (part of which I agree with), and that it'll just be anarchy in 40 years (I don't quite agree with that, but who knows), so relax the f out. *grin* Nothing like some honest cynicism to knock a person back down a bit...

- Cynicism aside, Barack is my man. I can cautiously hope with a capitol H too.

- Okay. Must get clean. I think I get to see a fancy show tonight! Yea!! I don't think I get to run today... Booo...

Time to go be a mosquito..

Onward.

Post A-Go-Go haze...

Or truly, a happy post weekend haze.. Happily swimmin' in the fuzz..

- The Youth did great! First teenage improv performance of the year! Holy hannah -- a great turn out, three great sets, proud and pleased adults and teens. Cool beans. :)

- Delicious dinner and company... :) The tuna salad from the Wedge IS the best. (I think the dark secret to egg/chicken/tuna/etc. salads might be the crispies. Those little chopped up bits of celery and onion and all the things I'm too lazy to put in at home. Granted, I don't think I've ever attempted a ham salad, and 'am not sure if I want my ham salad 'crispy', but.. It's good to plan for the future!)

- Improv a Go Go! I'm still all happy blurry from this. Happy blurry Jill and Butch, happy blurry John, happy blurry Tom (holy crap, Tom!! Awesome!!) and happy blurry us. Many thanks to Tim and Troy.. Wheee! I'm caught in perma-smile.

Today I rake. (Tomorrow I vote and hold my breath.) I've realized that the purpose of this blog entry may be just to expound upon the merits of mayonaisse-based salads. No matter!!

Onward.

I am full of clafouti!

Clafouti! A classic french breakfasty/dessert thing. First attempted about 4 years ago with cherries. Found out that fancy "clafouti" is secretly crepe batter (which is secretly runny pancake batter with an extra egg or two) poured over berries and baked. Ha! And so, today was strawberry clafouti. I just like attempting to say clafouti. I'm sure I'm saying it completely incorrect. As I attempted to say the name of the street in NYC ("Houston"... "House-ton".. "huuston".. mer.)

Yea for Saturday. And, also, yea for Friday! Halloween! It's just fun to walk through Uptown and see random wandering pop culture things, possibly dead and/or sexy. Woke up bright and early on Saturday and attempted to run with out a sweatshirt yesterday - - foolish foolish Jen. It was cold!!! Even the geese seemed a'tad nonplussed.

A full day of science-museum-ing, dinner at Jasmine Deli, and then sat and listened to Serge Gainsbourgh. Although the hipsternish inside of me thought I knew this man and was quite familiar with his work, my true self only knew that he was the father of Charlotte Gainsbourgh, and that's it. My take on Serge Gainsbourgh:
- it's the best if you can have someone translating each verse as you listen. The best in the world.
- yes, he WAS incredibly influential. I'm an idiot. Look, there's Leonard Cohen! Look, there's David Byrne! Look, there's Pet Shop Boys! Look, there's a path for Paul Simon to follow into Graceland! Look, there's Pulp! Look, there's Ween! Damn you, Serge Gainsbourgh!
- He was naughty. Oof. Thumbing-your-nose-at-you naughty. "Lemon Incest" has been running through my head for hours.

Onto a wonderful Halloween housewarming party.. it was spoooooky.. and wonderful. Sigh. Eric K. was f'in freaky. And David B. offered one of the damn Tim Gunn impressions ever. (Fred and David might be a super hero team. ... yes.. just like Hawk and Dove.. just sayin'.)

And now I'm full of claflouti. And it's warm out. Time to get off butt. And do clafouti-covered dishes.

Onward.

I'm back, yes. I'm wearing black, technically...

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEENNN!!!

I'm off to the Dale/University Salvation Army, in search of Halloween duds. Last year, the Dale/University Salvation Army was hoppin', in a really happy buzzy way. I hope it's the same..

- Got back in time, after one of the more stressful traveling bits. And I'm not the guy who had the heart attack. ... :(

- Missed a meeting, rescheduled. Took the light rail, took a bus, and then jogged my butt around a lake (in an attempt to start working off the parts of NYC that I drank)

- CREATURE FEATURE! G'dang, this was fun. So please. I was pleased with myself until the end, and then I was not as pleased with myself. But.. Damn, it was lovely. My cohorts were lovely. So funny! (Joe was a killer architect.. how good is a killer architect? So good! And Josh was Blocky. And Hannah was Ranch. And Lauren was a hologram.. it continues!!!)

- It's a pretty happy day at the Museum. There was something seemingly important I was going to blather about. Dammit.

- I'm gonna commit to NaNoWriMo. If I can blather in a blog almost daily, I should try and use that force for good.

- It turns out I write backwards pretty easily. Not well, but easily.

Hellendrung, Scott & Associates will be at Improv A Go Go this Sunday! You want to see it! (and so do we..)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! :)

Onward.

Wednesdaisy...

Hump Day! Hump day is started by "sleeping in" -- NYC is an hour ahead.. It's like I'm sleeping until 9:30 a.m..

- I walk. Screw the subway. Google says its a 40 min walk to my friend Brian's office. Begin!

- It almost snows. Yet I am warm. Except for my nose. And cheeks. And fingers.

- Brian is the puveyor of all things good - music and food. We eat roasted chicken and desserts in the tiniest of cafes, surrounded by NY Fashion Institute students (who are babies.)

- Walk through the flower district (2 blocks), mistakenly enter a wholesale shop (dumb), and walk my way south and west.

- Thank god for the tiny Madison Square park and benches.

- Forbidden Planet! And the Strand bookstore. The Strand takes my ass and hands it back to me...

- I purchase sock puppet portraits from an artist in Union Square. This seems appropriate.

- Wander around the Lower East Side.. wander...

- Collaspe in Kelly's apartment, await her call.

- Schiller's!!! Go to Schiller's!!! I fall in love with Schiller's. I order a glass of red, and they hand me a soft and warm sugar-cinnamon donut. Free. I heart Schiller's.

- Kelly walks me 10 blocks to a sexygritty basement sake bar. It was sexy and gritty.. And delicious.

- Kelly is sick, and wisely retires early. I take one last walk around her neighborhood. I don't want another drink, I'm not hungry, I just want to walk.

- sleep.

I'm at the airport, after a series of public transports. A gentleman just had a heart attack literally 15 feet away from me. Everyone jumped up, ran and called for help, or just stared... It took maybe 7 minutes for the cops and EMTs to arrive. A passenger rushed to grab a difibulator, offduty nurses and medics came out of the woodwork, the rest just stared.

I couldn't see the gentleman, just tried to watch reactions. They finally took him away, all the while hitting his chest. :( No one's happy, except for the creepy grandpa that just kept smiling, and walked his toddler grandson around the scene.

Flight delayed. Woman with monstrous stroller being a jerk to the ticket lady. Blaaaaahhh! Blah. But I'm boarding a plane, and am safe...

I hear its warm in Mpls.

Onward.

now, BLLOOOOOOD!

Yes, NYC would eat me up and spit out my bones. That's okay.

- Grab at slice at Ray's. Ehhhh..

- Kelly and I head to the American Museum of Natural History. YEAAAA!!!!! Geeking out begins.. It's huuuuge and lovely. Beautifully presented. All up to date. So much to see.. Dinosaurs, and an special exhibit on horses, and "Cosmic Collisions" planetarium show... yeaaa!!

- Head towards Chelsea. Spend a long time in a lovely place called "The Half King". Edamame, pigs in a blanket and bread pudding..? Meet some more of Kelly's crew, which is absolutely lovely..

- Onto Blood Manor. They did a really good job! The nice girl in front of me lets me hang onto her bag. I picture our group, lost in an actual horror movie, and wonder which one of us might survive.

- At one part, they hand you these 3Desque glasses to wear. Combined with the blacklights and the dayglow splatters, they're damned effective. One of the kids in front of me wonders to his girlfriend, "I wonder if this what it's like to be on LCD." (adorable, I tell you).

- Onto Mustang Salley's for a last one with Kelly's friend, and then onto a "dive bar in soho" (how was it a dive bar? No clue..) Meet more people, which is nice... (yes, if you're from Brooklyn, you dress like you're in the Hold Steady. Plastic frame glasses and pearl button shirts, please.)

- Then a chipolte chicken taco next to Kelly's place (OH MY GOD!! The most brilliant chipolte chicken taco ever..) and sleep.

Is that what happened yesterday?

It'd be amazing to move here, ...but I'd want to do it with someone. I can play around the edges of this place, but if it was done for reals, I'd want someone to share it with/keep each other sane/not get lonely. You can talk to everyone in the world here, but it's still a lonely place, I think. I love it though.

And who I am to say - - I've only been here for two days, riding the coattails of a dear friend. Very lucky.

Now to meet dear friend Brian.. again, time to attempt subways. Yearrrrgh..

Onward.

Le Coq! ... coq!

Typing this out as quickly as I can, as I should get my butt in gear.. However, this is not a get your butt in gear sort of morning. It's a recover in your friend's modern kitchen morning..

- Navigated the NYC subway system annnnd Manhattan!!! Four little blocks of Manhattan, navigated. I am super proud.

- People watching has begun. Damn, them New Yorkers are well dressed.

- Kelly and I zip our way to Union Square, sample and purchase delicious farmers' market veggies, zip our way to her place (across the street from the goddamn Katz Deli.. the when Harry Met Sally Katz deli). En route, there is a knish purchased.

- Rooftop eats! Bottle of wine! Amazing views! Tiny dogs in unexpected places!

- We wander through Chinatown and Little Italy, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Brooklyn Overpass? something like that...) Drinks and snacks... Bartender was a transplanted too cool for school Roseville-ian. Weird.

- Onto the Galapagos Art Space - - astonishingly beautiful and sexy performance space. The acoustics were a little rough for the material we were seeing (British accents and whatnot.. but the performers figured that out pretty quickly, and the audience listened even better..) hey look, drinks...

- Saw "The Floating Brothel", an amazingly lovely piece. Yes, the title is cringe inducing, but the story was good and honest, and told physically and succinctly (and using only a 3'x6' platform - - as a honest and beautiful storytelling device). And the acting was damned lovely too! Went onto the website, and have found that most of the actors are Yale-trained, and a good chunk of them have studied at Le Coq.

- Le Coq!!!! I wanna do that... Damn you Yale and Le Coq (le coq!!!!!!!!! You pop up in many many things I like.. heh. ew.) Can a 33 year old improviser/interactive comedian/museum theater performer pick herself out of the Midwest and shove her way into a high-falutin' art scene (le coqqqqqq!)... Yes. But, it can also probably be done in the Midwest with the incredibly talented people we get to play with... who didn't go to Yale. (coq) It's fun to ponder though.. Just how artsy do ya wanna be? Are you doing it to tell a story, or just to be artsy? These coq people seem to use it for the forces of good. I still like being a killer hedgehog though...

- ....(coq)

- Onto an Irish pub to meet a lovely friend of Kelly's (lawyer/gallery owner... of course). I find NYCers relatively chatty, and did some lovely chatting... Got invited to a Halloween party at a place called Boucarou.. 12 midnight. The password is Anta. (there's a password!) Hey look, the bartender just gave me another drink.. I didn't even have to ask. New York is magic!

- The cash I took out to pay for snacks and bevvies for the next couple of days is also gone i.e. spent. New York IS magic! That was quick...

- I wake up a painful mess. Somehow, Kelly is dressed and professional. I shower (or, rather, stick head under faucet for 20 minutes). I medicate. I take a nap. Sunny warm NYC has turned to wet, grey, rainy NYC. It hasn't stopped raining for the last.. six hours? Something like that. It's actually intimidating. The dog next door is so sad and howls...

Tonight, we go to a Haunted House. I will pee my pants. *sigh* But it'll be excellent! Time to go get wet... Take that, Manhattan!!

(coq)

Onward.

One misfire away from doom.. DOOOOOM!!!

Just saw Chuck C. at the airport! Yeaa for travel hugs.. He looked remarkably awake and sparkly.. I probably looked ragged and stoned.

Took FMJ's photos with Butch's point and click (which did a damn fine job..) Holy crap, that was fun. Little tiny bit of short fast fun photography...

Stitch, Bitch n' Die had our last performance (hopefully it will come back..) It was madness! Madness, I tell you... The audience was here, and then there, and then when a gun wouldn't go off, we about lost it as a cast, slipping in the word 'impotent'. Both horrifying and delightful..! Aghhh! Yeaa!! We are professionals..!..?..!

PG joined us at BLB, which was lovely...Woke up at 4:40 a.m., which was one of the more difficult waking-uppings, as there was a cuddly bed inside and outside looked cold and grey.

Surrounded by tired and tense Minnesotans.

Onward.

I got over yesterday...

Sometimes you just need a day stuck in your head to realize that you don't exactly want to be there constantly...

- HELL-lo, museum. I got to host a Halloween Contest Competion, which was both awesome, dramatic, and adorable.. Highlights:

- Snake Warrior! Almost skin tight, snake pattern body suit with mask, worn with aqua shoes and a plastic killy thing. "Because I like mythology.." Yes!

- The buck-toothed Paleontologist "Because paleontologists are real people.."

- All of the bad witches... Who wants to be a good witch on Halloween, honestly?

- A shouted Darth Vader impression through a plastic mask... "LUKE!..."

- A dramatic how-i-made-this-costume story...

- The Renaissance Princess with glasses and a lisp.

- Adorable pirates and princesses and honeybees and an American Cheerleader (to which I unwisely said, "I didn't think they existed..." I was unwise..)

- Lesson #358 learned: Stop with the attempts at wit, shut yer gob, and get to the next kid. Astronaut ice cream for the winners (delish!)

The best Stitch n' Bitch audience ever... A delight! Very lucky. :)

Afterwards, instead of attempting the BLB or Herkimer, we found ourselves at "I-Moto" ("Moto-I"?).. Anywhoo, the new Japanese place on Lyndale. What?, you're saying, there's a Japanese place on Lyndale? Yes!! Next to the Theater Garage, in the old Machu Picchu site. And although the decor is rather beautiful and sexy, the beers are only $4-5 and the food is all street food, basically.. No sushi, but more noodles and half chickens and steamed buns ($3 each!) and holy crab cakes, what deliciousness is this? What incredibly perky waittress is this? I WILL have another Surly, young dear, and when you say the word "snnnacks", it might just be over the top. With every serving of snnacks, a different runner would bring out our plate and proclaim quietly, "This is my favorite.." We must have incredible taste (but, honestly, they were all delicious. Waitrons! I believe you!)

Then to watch "Finding Nemo" with healing Partner in Crime, who now has holes in his head where teeth used to be.

It's a stupidly jam-packed day today, but, honestly... It shouldn't be that bad.. It might even be fun, if we let it be...

Onward.

Saturdayyyyy? of note... Poi Jen Pondering...

It's Saturday. Truly? Friday didn't seem like Friday until I realized the Education floor was almost empty at 4 p.m.. Indeed, it was Friday.

Wasn't there something blog-gable?

- Went for a run at insane-o hour this morning. In the moment, it didn't feel like insane-o hour, until I realized that 7:30 a.m. was not meant for jogging, but rather for walk-of-shaming. However, jogging was done!

- Wearing a thrift-store cardigan, t-shirt, and clogs... do you ever realize that you've been dressing within the same theme for the past 15 years? (AGHHH!) The t-shirt have gotten smaller (the 90s were rife with baggy t's), but that's about it...

October shows are winding down!

- Final Creature Feature *sob*, this Thursday, 8 p.m. at the Brave New Workshop. I was the monster last Thursday... a hedgehog. However, I was not as scary as I wanted to be. :( This made me sad. Indeed, perhaps a hedgehog (even with tons of killer quills) is not that scary. (Josh's goddamn giant hamster was suuuuuper scary! And he pooped the entire time! Perhaps I shouldn't have snorfled so much. Dangit. Next time...) Come catch the last one this Thusrday!! :)

- Final two "Stitch, Bitch n' Die!"s tonight, 7 p.m. and tomorrow at 7 p.m., at the Bryant Lake Bowl!! oooohhh! What a maroon! I truly enjoy this show... Please come check it out.. (now with awesome crafting competition at the end!!)

Talked to my sister briefly, who claimed she had "no time to breath". Talked with my uncle just briefly about official things. I'm mostly just sort of stuck in my head, pondering and thinking a lot. That's a silly place to be, but an almost necessary one. This pondering is interrupted at random intervals for "dressing up like a mosquito" time at the museum. Truly.. It's a really silly show. (and if you want to see the CSI exhibit, lemme know!) :)

Onward.

It's so dumb..!

It's so dumb that because of the way my innards are set up, they might randomly seize up every 28 days or so, and cause what are innocently referred to as "cramps". owowow. Thankfully, the chemical compound called "ibuprofen" comes in tasty little pill form. Nom nom nom... (owwwww)

At Java Jacks, which is on Washington Ave N. I am sitting at a bar. They are playing White Stripes. There are outlets everywhere and free wifi. I am hyper-pleased.

Visited the Minneapolis Public School Warehouse sale! Good gracious! I guess they have one every few months or so.

Location:
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROAD TO THE MPLS PUBLIC SCHOOL WAREHOUSE. 1550 Jackson St NE door N should have multiple points of entry, but alas, it does not! You must turn west onto 13th off of Central Ave, and then desperately search for signs. I took me 15 minutes of circling to figure this out. Surprisingly, this didn't bug me as much as I thought it would. I tried to remind myself to be pissy, but couldn't work up the momentum. I love the old warehouses around 13th & Quincy Ave in Nordeast. It's where I used to practice with a band (underneath a mattress warehouse) back when I was cool. And it's so cool to see artists find these warehouses and fill them full of goodness. Neat.

Stuff:
Oh my god! A warehouse, all brick and old, filled with old public school stuff. Pianos (with the letters of the notes written on the keys!) for $5. An old scoreboard. Tables and wash stations and strange cabinets and old shop signs and ahhhh.. awesome. Followed the signs back to the musical instruments.

More Stuff:
It turns out that Minneapolis is closing down it's Musical Repair Department. This is a pity, according to a retired orchestra teacher, and I agree. Who knew that Minneapolis Public Schools had its own inhouse musical instrument repair shop - - isn't that cool. Now, as the teacher told me, it's being outsourced. What does an inhouse musical repair shop have? Beautiful amazing used and new old musical instrument bits (plus full ancient saxophones, dozens of clarinets, darkened flutes, drum heads, brass sousaphone bells.. beautiful!). I hung over the stringed instrument bits (public school orchestra, 8 years...).. Wood! and String! and more wood... aghhhhh!!!!

If anyone's played in band/orchestra, and played off of public school instruments - - there's an underdoggeness to it. Each instrument was precious (even if in horrible shape), and was to be protected and practiced on - - here was your key to this activity you liked to do, and you just had to pay a rental fee for something that might potentially cost $1,000s of dollars. And here were the memories and beloved beaten up instruments from over 50 years of Mpls Public School music programs. Bittersweet and practical all at the same time...

I asked the ladies working the til what might happen to the rest of the stuff if it doesn't get sold, and they said (sadly) that they didn't know. So much wonderful potential (violin bridges, bow hair, piano wire, brass valves, more more more), possibly to go to waste. Argh!

I put down a bid on a cello body (adding to the mystique of the Public School sale.. not only was it impossible to get to.. you didn't know if you could purchase something you wanted or not. Tricky..)

HEY!!! You know what's tonight? CREATURE FEATURE!!! 8 p.m. at the Brave New Workshop. Hells to the yeah, my friends. Please come watch! Possibly scary, should be funny...

Onward.

My life just ain't that excitin'...

..which is okay. It's just been a three week run of funeral/travel/birthday.

Fine day at the museum, which was bright & bustly compared to the greycold sweep of outside. I like that the weather today was sort of a caricature of what a cold, wet autumn day should be -- well played, whoever plans these things.

Throngs of K-2nd graders in uniforms made the museum pretty adorable. Compared to the kindergarteners, the 2nd graders are 7 going on 30.

I prep for a little more travel next week. In an attempt to actively increase my debt, I visit my old college roomie and amazing friend Kelly in NYC on Monday (limited time off + life's too short = go see Kelly now!). Kelly is the loveliest of successful smartypants, beautiful, lives in Manhattan, and can probably drink me under the table. Awesome. I have requested to eat a slice and maybe walk a lot (although the Essex Sea plays in Brooklyn on Wednesday!! Aghhh!!!) If you have any recommendations of who/what/eat, lemme know... :)

For some reason, 2012 has been knocking against my subconsious of late, enough to freak it out a little. Either I've read too much or not enough, but if the end of the world (or global human elightenment) happens, I mostly hope that my pets will be okay.

Onward.

P.S. Creature Feature!! Tomorrow, 8 p.m. at the Brave New Workshop!!! Improvised horror, made just for you (you sick bastard..) Yea!!!

Inflection

Really lovely night, after cleaning the house and exploring the backyard with the dog & cat. (I attempted blue eyeshadow in a non-ironic fashion. Almost succeeded! ... Almost.)

Purchased some cigarettes after lovely dinner of spicy squid (nom nom nom) and a pork omelet (oh, Thai..! We asked nearly everyone at the King & I if they knew Ellie... Ellie's name automatically made everyone smile. Yea!). Slid my ID under the plastic cashier box (the box they keep SuperAmerica cashiers in). The pierced/neck-tattoo'd guy peered at my ID and said, "There's no way you could be _that_ old."

Thank you.. ...?

Ha. Hrm.

But I am and that's alright with me. Very very thankful for you (yes, you!) and feeling loved.. Thank you!!!

(*grin* Now I get to give my mom and sister a hard time for not calling.. My family -- including me.. I am the worst of offenders -- sucks at birthdays...)

Onward.

Hewwww....

The animals just totally bonked head when trying to jump at the same time.

That was pretty adorable.

Onward.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world, you are the bestest of all peeps...

This is a big ol hug. To you and everyone else.

The weekend has sped by -- got back Saturday morning, lost my car in the Humphrey Terminal ramp (I'm an idiot), taught on Saturday afternoon, then Stitch n' Bitch, followed by cast party.. Just lovely. At about 11 p.m., I counted and realized I had been awake for about 20 hours, after 4 hours of sleep. Good night.

Sunday - Got a full 8 hours of sleep, and zoomed into work (being film noir bugs with Bob is super fun), ran around a lake (yea!), had gametime happy hour with dear friend Greg, Stitch n' Bitch, onto a reading (Isaac & I got to play a super fun game.. He is totally a monkey), and then getting to see the boy... Yea!

Woke up at 4:45 am a confused and dazed mess. (I had woke up around 2 am, and couldn't get back to sleep), drove to Adam's house by 5:35 am, carpooled to Rochester and performed for about 300 Ohlmstead County workers. I've never started a day, much less a birthday, by singing "I'm a butt doctor of love!!!!" to the blues. It was really lovely.

Now I'm at D'amico & Sons, spoiling myself to a three salad sample and a glass of wine, pretending that I once studied abroad in Italy, and that this meal reminds me Milan.

I'm overwhelmed and it fills my heart. Very generous, very lovely birthday wishes from very lovely and very generous people.. I am so blessed. Thank you!!!Thank you!!!Thank you!!!Thank you!!! I love you. :)

One tries to be selective about one takes personally... Traffic, try not to take personally. Cold weather, try not to take personally. Lovely wishes from amazing people - - I might take greedily personally, just to experience the love and send it back.

I am a butt doctor of love.

Onward.

(All 33 years of me says thank you!!!) :)

Teeeee

Too-early-to-be-this-happy, red faced, big voiced man to small Japanese adorable boy: WHERE YOU GOIN'?

Amazingly adorable Japanese 2 year old wearing a sweater vest: DISSSSSSSSNEYLAND!!!!

Man, loud enough so the whole plane turns: REALLY? IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE GOIN'?

Adorable 2 yr old: MICKEEEEY MOUSE!!!!!

They should probably have their own tv show -- perhaps as detective partners.

Man: WHAT DID THE LAB REPORT FIND IN THE CHRYSLER?!

Child: BLLLLLLLOOOOD!!

Man: REALLY? IS THAT WHAT YOU FOUND?!

Child: MICKEEEEEEY MOUSE!!!!

The little one would take his coffee in a sippy cup.

Man, Northwest has us packed in here. Why make a plane that anyone over 5'2", your knees will touch the chair in front of you? Why compress the American space bubble even more when you tilt the chairs back? The lady across the aisle from me is about my height, and is compressed between a lady with chair tilted impossibly back, and a guy with a mouthful of snuf. No offense to all my chewin', seat-reclinin' friends, but I worry for the lady's soul.

I'm tired. Taxi driver named Phillip took me from the hotel to the airport at 4:30 a.m. today. He's originally from NYC, moved after 9/11 (couldn't make a living after the attacks) and ended up loving Philly. Still gets back to NYC to visit family and close taxi-drivin' friends (they take him out for "steak and beer", which sounds pretty awesome), but says New Yorkers are two-faced: they act nice, but will stab you in the back. Says Philadelphians are much nicer. Asked him if he has met people, made friends, etc., and he said he meets a lot of people driving cab, and likes the discussions he has everyday. Being social. He made the trip to the airport lovely (even if I was a blurry, sleepy mess).

Detroit has the airport of the future. Who knew? (and cheap egg breakfasts.. I went for the overpriced Lucky Charms).

Onward.

Why so weird, weirdo..?

I'm tuckered. And truth be told, I didn't do that much...

- Woke up and went to the hotel gym thingie. Recycled air makes sweating super icky.

- I heart the Reading Terminal Market. Coffee and a ham & cheese crepe, watching old women in hats & construction workers eating salad & old acquaintences chatting, while I typed on free intenet and browsed a Philly daily. Really lovely.

- Four hours of Forum workshop. Walked back over to the Market during break and got some clam chowder/soup.

- Done!!! Almost. Free 1.5 hours spent wandering through DT Philly to Old Town.

- Saw the Liberty Bell. It's presented in a lovely way, with a whole bunch of signage, made to impress you with HOW IMPORTANT the Liberty Bell.

- Old Town is filled with people who work for the National Park Service. They all wear knatty, green, Dudley DoRight hats.

- To dinner in Chinatown, at Rangoon Burmese. It was delicious!!! People of Burma: I salute your culinary prowess!! Awesome!! My dessert was both red & green, gelatin & dairy.

- Spot a couple of collegues in the now hopping hotel lobby. Catch up with awesome ones at the Continental again.

I like Philadephia. I like the history. I kinda even like the dirt. I like the casual conversation that hides on the Coasts, that the Upper Midwest is so bad at -- strangers can talk to each other and it's not weird or creepy. It's lovely. People say please and thank you and notice each other. Granted, you can also get mugged n' shit, but I felt pretty darn safe the entire time I've been here. I even feel... welcome.

Like most big east coast cities, it's made up of all flavors of people -- abject poverty to men in business suits. But mostly, I think Phillie feels like a place people come to work. I like that.

Being Downtown may be starting to play with me... It feels like a while since I've seen a horizon, or been not-surrounded by tall (albeit rather old and lovely) buildings. Most trips aren't spent entirely in a downtown area, and as much as I dig it, it makes me jumpy and tired too. And I didn't know that. I think I'd grow out of it with prolonged exposure. Just didn't know I'd get the jumpies.

Flight at 6:30 am tomorrow. Argh.

Wish us luck.

Onward.

Ben Franklin invented the internet...

Forum done. It went alright (pretty darn well), with one big reservation that makes me sad and mad - - but really, it went alright. It comes down to - - know yer space. But, with this traveling presentation sort of thing, you rarely if ever know your space. So accessibility issues were crap. But, after the anticipation and stress of presenting the forum to your (very nice, but super smarty pants) peers, and then to have it go well EXCEPT for that accessibility part... I truly can't complain. But did I? yesh.

We had the forum at the Franklin Institute, in a big ole room with a big ole Ben Franklin stuck in it. They recently installed a light show (purty darn cool light show) which visually implies how Ben Franklin not only invented the fire department and bifocals, but also DNA, the airplane, and possibly ladders. Ben Franklin was super smart.

Ended up at the Cherry Street Tavern, and then to one of Philly's "Starr" Restaurants, the Continental , all complete with a rooftop patio and swankiness. I pronounced Yuengling wrong about a million times. (which waiter quizzed me on... "it feels like I'm ordering a panda").

Philadelphia - - cool, underdog town. So far, I dig. Yea!! Super good food, good people, old history, pretty buildings, quietly working against all sorts of crap (or others' opinions of crap) that used to be... This probably isn't the next Portland, but it could be the Brooklyn (shhhhhhhhhh). But without the hipster cool that might come with a Brooklyn... Go Phillies!

(They're giving away Obama/Phillies pins in Chinatown, I guess...)

Wish us all luck.

Onward.

Ain't no pretension...

..at the Reading Terminal Market.

It's blue collar! The food's the real deal! And it's actually used by locals (at least on a Thurs.). The Mpls World Market on Chicago Ave feels like it belong in Mpls (neo-lib, all Heart of the Beast-kinda) and Vancouver's Market feels like it belongs there (Fancy! Polished! Pricey!), and the Terminal belongs here (not fucking around, so many choices, sales people, police, and Pensylvania Dutch wearing Sketchers -- everyone here just to mind their own business and eat. And everyone's, in general, nice.) I'm sitting on lawn furniture in a common eating area: ain't no pretension here. Except for me. Yea!

Go Phillies! Got generously taken to South Philly to watch the game at "The Devil's Den", a beer-snobbery neighborhood pub. (Delicious! They put bacon and cheese on my fries! I win!) I learned the back stories of lots of Phillie's players (good god! No wonder they make trading cards! How do you keep this s#it straight? It was like hearing someone describe a soap opera or an improv set -- but with made-up baseball terms). The bar got louder as the game went longer and everyone got drunker, and then suddenly -- BAM!!!! Phillies to the World Series! The bar explodes! So happy!! Outside, cars start honking. I hear a helicopter.

The helicopter sound continues for the next two hours.

We walk two blocks to my co-worker's friend's row house of spoooky neatness, and then walk to try and catch a bus. Philly is still communicating via happy masculine shouts out of car windows and carhorn-honking. We catch a taxi to the hotel.

I'm still not focusing. Food and coffee. But there's Pennsylvania dutch to feed me. Bring on the scrapple! (..perhaps.)

Wish me luck for tonight. (aghhhh...)

Onward.

Baseball...

..is heart-attack-inducing.

And then they played one of the victory songs from one of the Rocky's.

Seriously.

Tiny little living space...

In the tiniest, little plane! I'm in a single person row! (It's kind of exciting) They 'checked' my carry-on bag at the end of the fly-way... Almost by hand. It's like flying the way our ancestors used to.. ;)

Lindbergh Terminal parking lot was full -- full! The treck to and from the Humphrey was made. If I was 65 and had to walk a half mile through parking ramps, plus then a lightrail trick and a tram, I'd be peeved. However, I'm 32 and have no good excuse.

Onward.

No time for self-reflection! Too busy dancing!

Today was go! Go, chickadee!

Tomorrow I leave for Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love and the Fresh Prince. I can hope that it's secretly akin to Provincetown (ggggGay!), but alas, I think might be filled with just history and cheesesteak. But that's okay! I've heard good things about Philly.

The travel is for ASTC, conference of scientific debauchery. I can only stay two days, but...

- I have to run a forum.

- I have to find a place for possibly 40 people to eat dinner together.

Jesus.

Jesus!! But these things will be done, and I will board a Continental flight and sleep in a DT Marriott.

And that's about all I know.

I leave from the direct from the Museum tomorrow. Travel blathering soon to follow.

Onward.

Shot out of a gentle cannon...

There picture is of the cemetary where grandpa was buried. Note the loveliness, note the corn. Also note the dark mass behind the tree -- that was the ... What do you call those?... dirt scooper. It felt like it was trying to hide from us...

- We sat on cookie-monster-fur covered chairs, underneath a small blue tent (that was actually marked "Bacon".. I guess the name of the funeral company was Bacon, but it was still odd. My grandpa is/was not bacon). Scripture was read, my aunt and uncle said a few things that still make me want to cry. It was beautiful and sad. But, it's good...

- Hal, somehow related, standing on my right during the service, said the Lord's Prayer with the most beautiful lilt I've ever heard. No one says the Lord Prayer like that...

- You notice strange things. The complimentary kleenex come in plastic wrapper that makes a lot of noise if you try to open it. The wind kept playing with the tent and brushing gold leaves off of the trees. The funeral director, "Rob", was kind of a blowhard.

- Funeral directors! Granted, I've only dealt with two, but they're a bit weird. Rob spent what little conversation we had impressing me with where he was from ("small town in Northeastern Illinois.. Maybe you've heard of it? Chicago?"), impressing me with his madskillz ("my brother said 'Rob, you could play your cello for any large metropolitan orchestra... Why do you choose to do what you do, and why in the middle of nowhere?' "), and both loving and belittling my Grandpa's hometown ("And I told him, I love it here. It's Mayberry, y'know. Out there, it's 2008. Here, it's 1957!"). He also managed to slam where I live ("you live in Mpls? Why? *chuckle*") and fein offense when I called him sir. Gack, Rob...

- Went to my grandpa's cousin's house for cookies, photos and coffee. The men all look vaguely the same, all the women give good hugs. Carol's place is basically on a kind-of farm: this equals cats!! and sileage.

- I had to run away wayyy too soon to make it to Mpls for Stitch n' Bitch -- it went really well! Sad to leave family, both extended and close, so soon...

- Met up with the boy at a lovely party for a lovely man (who shares my bday!) :) Good awesome funny people, killerdiller martini too...!

- Relaxed & enjoyed Sunday morning/afternoon...

- Youth Improv has begun!

- Sunday Stitch n' Bitch went well...

- Onto Stereolab with Kevin...?! Really? But it was wonderful. They were great, my dear friend Greg was there, saw James (guy I took my first improv class with!), and danceddanced to the French...

- I have a crush on the band Beatrix*Jar..

Have I actually been to a Beatrix*Jar concert, own any of their songs? No. But pls google them and admire the cuteness. They're beautiful. I introduced myself based strictly on their marketing. Yes, I love that picture that much. (They play with DanceBand on the 29th or so!!)

- Pizza Luce slice and home...

Normally, weekends don't quite stretch across the experience spectrum that much. But.. I was very lucky, and I feel very loved. And.. sad. And okay. Good. I think.

Onward.

Iiiiiiiooooooooowa o whoa whoa oh whoa iiiioooowa

The drive down was lovely.. it's beautiful down here.. and warmer. Even the grass is changing colors, not just the trees. And.. wind farms. I'm nutty for wind farms. Pretty pretty. I like that a very-familiar landscape is being changed in the most science-fiction seeming, yet hopefully very positive, way. The windmills look more like art or aliens, rather than power plants.

Stopped by my alma mater, Iowa State, on my way to Des Moines...

- They've classed the place up! New branding, new bookstore, new changes to the student union. Iowa State now looks all Big 10 n' shit. Stopped by the M-Shop, and was thrilled to find that it still smelled the same.

- Walked around the horoscope on the floor, saw the campanile (sp?); Ralph Nader decided to come visit Ames at the same time. Weird.

- Ames specializes in a warm, glowing variety of fall.. yum.

- Stopped in the music building, which was like homecoming. Saw three teachers I dug and one I didn't. Saw two music secretaries that I adore. Looked at baby pictures from old classmates - - just lovely.

- Walked back to the student union and purchased my first bit of ISU paraphernalia. Tug at my heart, I will buy your stuff.

Drove the rest of the way to Johnston, Iowa, where the hotel is, about 20 minutes from Maxwell. My grandpa was born in Maxwell, he'll be buried there, when it's warm and the leaves are slipping from green to gold. That's kind of lovely.

- Caught up with my mom, sister, brother in law. Us girls, we all look the same.

- Caught up with my aunt, uncle and two cousins from Cali. My two cousins still share their almost telepathic link: a casual intimacy that sibling-ness and button-pushing usually gets in the way of. I want to wonder at it, but that would be rude (so I'll just do it here).

- 'Ate dinner at a supper club, one that specializes in the three hour meal. We shared stories, caught up (it's been a long time); Uncle Dave brought pictures of Grandpa from about 1913 on... Wow. :)

- Put the Scott side of the family together, and, again, we all look the same. However, the Californian Scotts as a whole are beautiful and just southern-Cali polished. They're also smart, sweet, funny and I'm so damned lucky to know them. As far as relatives go, they should be out of my related-to league. :)

- I ate too much.

- I just learned what HBO plays at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday.. aghhhh!! Really??! Oh, of course really... But I also found "Family Matters". Oh. And "Project Runway". Good lord.

Onward to tomorrow.
Good night.

Friday

There's a really needy maltipoo on my lap -- like really needy. If I don't give him tummy rubs, he might explode.

- Yeaaa, Creature Feature! Did Josh Eakright make me a teary mess? Well, yes of course, but then he spent the rest of the time scaring the bejeezus out of me. Josh was the kid you either really really wanted to play Ghost in the Graveyard with or completely the opposite. Scariest goddamn giant hamster...

- Can I tell you how much I love this damn show? And how I'm am continually amazed/surprised/delighted by the cast? It's all ambrosia n' shit... If only I could stop breaking on stage... (p.s. Survivors were a manic delight... Again!! See above comment and apply it to the Survivors boys...)

- Three people I know/love/respect admitted to reading my blog -- thank u! It's so nice to hear, and makes me very grateful that you put up with, well, me..

- Thank you for all the kind words, hugs and well-wishes regarding my granddad... My heart fills up and I am so grateful and so damned lucky.

Leave for Iowa today. That mix of sad happy thoughts.. When every funeral becomes part celebration of that person and part reunion: all loving and still sad. Which leads me to think:

- We all need to have more goddamn parties. Or host your own funeral every five years or so.. (a fun-eral, if you will..) Let the lost loved ones come out of the woodwork... Guilt your friends on the coasts into invading flyover country. Have your mom meet your dealer. Just saying, my dad would have loved his funeral.

- Must pack! Must slide into car and reacquaint one's self with I-35. I see a bunch of people who look like me in a couple of hours...

(I almost just typed Inward... Well.. Yes that too...)

Onward.

Recovering...

Indeed recovering. And putting off emails I need to write, and things I should be shoulding.

- Six Ring Circus was super fun last night. I approve! It's also just fun to play.. I also discovered the reason as to why I've been tear'd-up-runny-nose-giggly on stage, and that reason's name is Josh Eakright. Josh makes me laugh like I'm having an allergic reaction, and I mean that as an utter compliment. I laugh, my eyes water, my nose runs - - it's like a really really funny kodak commercial. Well played, Mr. Eakright!

- Missed Joshtoberfest... :(

- Got sucked into a quasi-politico debate with really good, smart people. This smarty-pantsing was accompanied and fueled by a questionable amount of beverages.

- Got home around 2 a.m.. Foolish, Jen. But it was a lovely evening though, truly...

- Still figuring out Grandpa's funeral arrangements. Everyone's just waiting, still in hover mode.

- It's not cool having to wear your favorite black dress twice in two years for funerals. It's now my favorite-black-funeral dress. I'd rather not go to a funeral for a while after this. And need to wear the dress to a wedding or a brisque (sp?) or something...

- My sister flies in tomorrow (yea!)

Speaking of tomorrow...

CREATURE FEATURE, Tomorrow (Thursday)! 10 p.m. at the Brave New Workshop!!! Life is too short, and this will be damned funny. Come see me be reduced to a giggly teary snotty mess yet again! Who will be the monster? What will be the monster? Survivors of the Undead Plague open!! Zombie funny too? Damn!!

Onward.

What do you do?

When a funeral is four days away, and you have no family in town? You hover... I was lucky enough to have the day off from work (so lucky! I win!) so I... hovered. A lot.

- got props for the museum*

- ran errands (Target! Trader Joe's!)

- ran unsuccessfully around Lake Calhoun

- dropped my delicious Mini Tin fish sandwich on the cement

- was encouraged by strangers to still eat the sandwich (agreed!)

- wasted hours on the internet

- planted the bulbs that Ellie gave me

- created refrigerator pickled carrots

- lit the recipe on fire by nearby candle

- made black bean stew (no recipe, no fire)

- made spicy cornbread

- halloween'd the porch. My porch is now maybe 10% spooky. The black.. thing behind the pumpkin is a bundle of branches I've had for over a year, now tied together with hemp (thanks, the 90s!!!), and then, today, spray painted black. I tried to make something that, in my mind, suckers would pay $25 for at Pier One. I may have however just made spray-painted branches. No matter.

- distracted myself into a unsatisfied but accomplished frenzy.

Talked to both my sister and my uncle. Looking forward to seeing them both...

Onward.
* there was an honest to god pulpit at the thrift store. $99 for your own take home pulpit! It might light up too....

What you can and can't...

Yesterday's Stitch n' Bitch went great, after a yesterday of little-house-things.

The cast was happily mowing away on nachoes (dear lord, I heart nachoes) and drink tickets and chatter, and my cell phone rang. It was my Uncle Dave. dammit.

My Grandpa Scott passed away last night. He was 95 years old. He had been sleeping a lot (like 18 hours a day?) and had been moved into hospice. I knew he hadn't been doing well, but I didn't know that.

I didn't know what to say to my Uncle except I love you and I'm so sorry. All I could think was how my Uncle lost his only brother (my dad) last year and now his father, and how that was so sad. But I couldn't feel anything myself, and so I walked back into the Bryant Lake Bowl and told the cast.

"...but I don't feel anything right now.." I didn't. This really confused me.

"Well, honey, that's because you're in shock," said my director.

"Oh."

I told them a little about my grandpa's situation and how sad I felt for my uncle. And then my director raised his glass and said, "Well, here's to Grandpa Scott." And I laughed and said, "Dammit, you've made it real." and stepped out to go cry.

So very lucky to be with such good people, and 'have them at the right time, in this situation. Called my mom, who told me about her medical and work stuff, and told me that we could use some good news as she's tired of the bad variety. Then talked to my sister, who just felt incredibly guilty, and cried. My brother-in-law called me, which was an affirmation that I have a brother by marriage now, and it was the nicest thing. After paying up at the BLB, 'drove to Drew's house for some incredibly generous hugs and time. (thank you!!)

Death and getting older and I feel sad and go to Iowa on Friday, probably. I get to see people I love and cry some more. There is no script for this stuff, and there's a strange feeling that we don't know if we're doing it right. So I'll blog about it, my sister will cry, and my mom will worry over the practical.

I love Grandpa Scott and now he's in heaven, hangin' with my dad and my grandma. He saw a lot, and was smart, kind, funny, incredibly generous, softspoken, and short. He wore cardigans and was an excellent golfer. He married a beautiful woman way back in the 30s or so, and had two awesome boys who grew up in the 50s. His hair turned a perfect white sometime in the 70s or 80s, and he always looked dapper as hell. So very lucky to know him.

What a day... I might go run around a lake, or I might just stay in my pjs for a bit. Maybe I'll buy some dogfood for the incredibly needy maltipoo on my left.

Onward.

Sunny Friday Sunny day...

Creature Feature last night... oohhhh... I don't know if there's much that makes me happier. I was a teary snotty mess cuz of funny people (albeit, while onstage). If you missed last night, you've missed "Goblin Shark, Party Beach" (alternatively subtitled "Goblin Shark, Dune Buggy") - - Delight! Don't miss another! Next Thursday at 10 p.m. at the Brave New Workshop, and then at 8 p.m. all following Thursdays through October.

My birthday's coming up soon. Yea, go me. I will be a derivative of 11. That's more than I've ever been. Trying to decide what to do (quiet something? loud something? pizza something?). One of the few things that resonates is to have a cereal party (buy a bunch of cereals, milk, soymilk and invite everyone over. I love cereal! Everyone loves cereal! We all win! However, the looming shadow of the boozecereal hangover gives me the creepies.)

Dang. Travel's expensive. Just sayin'.

Boy goes to France today. I'm super excited for him - - France in the fall has a lovely sound. He will eat croissants and drink coffee!! He will see friends and eat yummy food!! He will be missed...

umumum... The place where I was hiding away has been filled with eating chatty people... Curse their adorableness! I'm sure I had something "important" to say... indeed... foiled again!

Come see Stitch n' Bitch, this Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Bryant Lake Bowl! W00t!

Onward. :)