Superhero movie?!

I don't know if I was exhausted because it was a long movie, or because it was nearly midnight when it was over or if it was because the Joker (Heath Ledger) was so dang frightening. Loved 'The Dark Knight' but it could have been called 'The Joker'. I've never seen a superhero movie quite like it.

I'm kinda embarrased to admit that...

...all of this came from my closet. I took all the winter clothes out, everything that doesn't fit, is out of date or is stained, missing buttons or torn. Why did I hang on to so much? That's a good question.

Winter clothes and sweaters vacuum sealed to give away.
Clothes to give away to whomever wants them.
Clothes on the way to the Incinerator.

I LOVE three day weekends!

The possibilities are endless and the plans are few. The perfect storm of a holiday weekend. I've started an online photography class to learn how to use my Nikon D80 SLR camera and I'm ready to get started on the first lesson. I've realized after owning this camera for over a year that I have no clue how to really use it and my pictures suck. I took better pictures with a point and shoot camera, but I've always wanted to do more.

This week I'm listening to John Hiatt - Same Old Man. I went to his concert at the Pantages last Saturday night and loved his show. I'm not sure how I've gone through my whole life without knowing this singer...he's folk, he's John Prine like, he's a singer, songwriter, story-teller like my uncles. He had me at hello.

This week I'm reading 'Queen of Fashion" a frock by frock account of the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette. It's very detailed and quite long so it will take a while to get to the bloody revolution part, but it's well written and engaging. I recently saw a documentary on public tv about her and wanted to learn more. We all know the shocking ending, but I really wanted to understand what led up to that. The brutality and hatred is mind boggling even by todays standards. Good 4th of July reading, don't ya think?

Tom enjoys a little junk food before the fireworks (I think it can be classified as food).
Great fireworks from Stacy's porch (really bad picture)

The raindrops began just as the fireworks ended - was a great show!

I went to a garden party

A beautiful morning for a garden party at KK's

Hillary Clinton says She is not giving up.

Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America just cracked me up. She said 'Hillary says she's NOT giving up. Now what?' It sounds like Sawyer was speaking about a spoiled child, stamping her feet, crossing her arms and stubbornly refusing to quit even though the media at least believe it's fairly clear she should. Saturday, May 31 may be a deciding moment if they put Michigan and Florida delegates back in. Get the big hook - someone may have to drag her (and Bill) off the convention stage kicking and screaming!

Two weeks since surgery and I climbed the Bluff today!

(Click to enlarge)

It was a perfect morning on Barn Bluff
overlooking the Mississippi!
Two weeks ago today I was in the hospital having surgery,
today I climbed the bluff!
It's fascinating how quickly our
bodies can heal after major surgery.
I saw about 10 eagles - notice there is one in this picture.

It's about 2 1/4 miles all the way around the top from the
South trail to the North. The South side is a little easier
with a wider path. The North side is a bit more fun though.

Two Steps Forward

The old saying is true - 'two steps forward, one step back' as I continue healing from surgery. Today I am wiped out physically, this the 9th day since surgery. I'll still go through the motions and take Lily to the park and get my exercise in, but I'm exhausted at the notion of doing much else. Yesterday I worked for the first time (3 hours), then went to Target, the video store, the post office and the park, and had tea on my porch with a friend for a couple of hours. Today...not up and dressed yet. I feel confident this is all more than normal and I'm following the advice of the surgeon and his staff. Listen to your body for the first few weeks as it's still healing. The external stitches look good from the laposcopic tools and I can only assume the internal stitches are healing up too. I've been 100 percent compliant...nothing solid since April 28th and that will continue until May 27th when I can have a soft food. I'm ready for soup - my own chicken noodle soup, Fiesta Mexicana apollo soup, a little nibble of an apple with some peanut butter maybe. Until then it's blueberry smoothies, cottage cheese and tomato soup.

Glenn Beck is an idiot

His 'The Real Story' segment on CNN about Earth Day made my headhurt as he completely distorted the truth and just as I was going to turn him off, he introduced Ray Kurzweil, who wrote 'The Singularity is Near' a book I have and a brilliant man I have heard speak. It was like listening to Elmo trying to interview Einstein - just when it got interesting he cut him off with his kooky eyes and shrugging shoulders and then he made fun of Al Gore, introduced a scientiests who was there to discuss the theory of running a car on compressed air. He kept interrupting him by saying he was still waiting for a flying car and continued to make dumb comments that were completely incoherient. Who does this guy think he is having brilliant scientists on his stupid show and then making fun of their ideas? His point, I think, was that innovation will take care of the environmental problems and that we (us morons that are walking the planet now) need to just shut up and let the generations to come figure out the problems we leave them. grrrrr

dreams and motorcycles

We had our first spectacular thunderstorm last night and I fell asleep listening to the thunder and watching the lightening flash through my window blinds. Then I had a dream that I was riding my motorcycle in the rain, and in the dream I was thinking about a motorcycle accident that actually happened this weekend during the flood run. The paper reported it as 'only one serious accident' which I didn't think much about while awake, but thought about in my dream. Is there a name for that? You know, carrying what actually happens during the day into the dream world? It was kinda weird because even in the dream I had a sense that I was dreaming. Oh, it's all so confusing in the light of day.

LPoD - T-minus one week and counting

The surgery I am having on May 12th requires a two week liquid diet. So, this is the Monday before the Monday that I actually start. How does one cope with two weeks of broth, soy protein shakes, sugar free popsicles and jello? Stay tuned - I'll let you know. For now I'm having one last meal after another with friends/family and I have to remind them and myself that I will eat again. It's about a month of liquid all told as there is nothing solid for two weeks after the surgery either. I'm going to get very Zen about dealing with this. (I hope.) Saturday I ate milk duds because I stopped to buy a paper and cup of coffee and thought I should have milk duds one last time. I don't remember the last time I had them, but for some reason it seemed important. Monday can't come soon enough.

LPoD = Liquid Pre-op Diet

Gonna be a long Monday

Dinner and a Show
Had dinner at 'The Muddy Pig' on Selby in St. Paul Saturday night. The menu consisted of about five pages of alcohol - beer, scotch, wine, Irish whiskey - American and European with dozens of variety of each and a page or so of food. I played it safe and a little boring with the Colorado Fat Tire, but it's so good and not always easy to find in Minnesota, or not easy in Red Wing, Minnesota. We ordered off the appetizer menu - hummus, bruschetta, Quesadilla de Tinga (what's de Tinga? - I have no idea). The bruschetta is worth going back for, that along with the lively atmosphere of the pub. After that it was off to see John Prine. He put on a great show at the State, but....oh and I really hate to say but...it was nothing like the last time I saw him. He got kinda old in just two years. Don't get me wrong his music was great; he just didn't connect with the audience in the same way with his stories. Check out the review at http://www.startribune.com/17646714.html. I'm a loyal fan regardless of the 61 year olds receding hairline and paunchy, Buddha like body. I just hope he has a few more 'Gonna be a long Monday' or 'Lake Marie's' in him. Would love to hear something new.

What I'm reading this week...
I haven't given up on Tolstoy or Anna Karenina, but I started "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss which is my book club read. The first chapter starts with an old guy waiting to die who each day tries to make a point to be seen. Might be a glimpse into my own future.

What I'm listening to this Monday...
I bought three new cd's yesterday while hanging around the Barnes & Noble with a friend. We both love the music shop and listening to a wild range of stuff (that we would never buy) on the headphones. A friend sent me the "Into the Wild" cd which I listened to every day last week, so I'll let that one rest for now - it's very good and the baritone of Eddie Vedder sends a chill down my spine. I have a new Patty Griffin, Children Running Through, which is full of her original work and just beautiful. I managed one run through of the music while I did a little painting last night in one of the bedrooms. I was supposed to be done painting by now (Spring), but I'm lazy and unmotivated most of the time and work better under pressure. In a few weeks I'll have company so I'll be forced to get things sorted out up there. I'll get back to you on the other two cd's - oh, they had an Indie Sale which was buy two get the third one free so I splurged.

What did you read, listen to or see this weekend that gave you inspiration to face a long Monday?

Annie Lennox - Many Rivers to Cross

Madison and Lauren

Madison dancing with the Lullaby League

If you look up the word "cute" in the dictionary,
this is the picture you will see.

Lauren appearing as a Munchkin from Wizard of OZ

The Elks, drunken fruit and Tolstoy

I found a new place to watch city council meetings twice a month. I usually go home, have a glass of wine or a captain/coke and amuse myself from my own living room giggling at my co-workers on TV. Last night I was invited to the Elks for a drink and found out that they watch the council meetings there and call it “The Best Show in Town”. I may join the Elks!

Yesterday, I heard (again) an old wives tale about the health benefits of eating gin soaked raisins, which a good friend who happens to be an Old Italian wife told me about. She swears by them for easing joint pain. This time I asked a few questions. It must be golden raisins and it's easier on the palate if it’s expensive gin. You need a glass pan, a week of time and then you consume 9 a day to eradicate any and all joint pain. Her testimony…before eating this drunken fruit she couldn’t bend her pinky finger and consequently couldn’t deal cards at her poker club, the other ladies had to deal for her. Afterwards, the finger is as flexible as the other nine digits and the cards can practically deal themselves. I’ll be mixing this concoction this weekend and I’ll get back to you in a few weeks as to any benefits. It was suggested that I eat them on my morning oatmeal – hmmm.

I started reading “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy. It’s a pretty long book, over 800 pages and I’m reading from a tiny paperback that I found in a used book store that has a college students notes in the margin. I like that, but the print is so tiny, I’ll have to eat lots of carrots (in addition to those raisins) to sharpen my eyesight. The first line is a classic that everyone should recognize “ALL happy families are like one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The Oblonsky character had me laughing so hard in the very first chapter that I’m hooked. I’m going to give it the 100 page test and if I’m not wildly entertained, I’m going to skip it and wipe it off my list.

Just like a woman

It's been a long winter, or it's taking a long time for Spring to take hold - I'm not sure which. I'm bored with my current routine and look forward to a different pattern. Stacy told me last night she wants to get another tattoo while on vacation this year. I'm opposed. As her mother though, I played along and am hopeful it won't be anything too um...big. Our conversation took an interesting turn as we (I) reminisced about the night she told me something a mother never wants to hear. It was from her highschool days and had to do with her boyfriend. Yes, that's right, these new fangled kids think they gotta tell us old fashioned parents everything. But I was a hip young mother. I could handle any news with cool advice and affirming words. Here's how it went....

Stacy: Mom, long pause.
Me: What? (I'm preoccupied cleaning up the kitchen.)
Stacy: I need to tell you something.
Me: Okay (not really paying attention...yet)
Stacy: blah, blah, blah boyfriend...blah, blah, blah first time
Me: What! How did that happen?!? Wait...
Me: Don't say anything - give me a minute.
Stacy: Sits down at the kitchen counter (she knows me)
Me: I begin emptying the dish washer, clanging away putting silverware in drawers, turning to look at her.
Me: Angry - hands on my hips - I'm calling his Mother! Nope, wait...give me a minute.
Stacy: waiting, quiet...her eyes might have rolled once, but I'm not sure. She's far more mature than me and is watching me interally freak out.
Me: Thinking to myself....I can't believe it, I can't believe what is coming out of my mouth, how can I be so bad at this?
Me: Continue to pile dishes into the cupboard, wiping counters, time is moving in slow motion - this is the moment a mother prepares for, I'm not going to screw this up.
Me: Get him on the phone; he's no longer welcome in this house! Wait, nope, just don't say anything, give me a minute.
Stacy: big tear rolling down cheek
Me: okay, after 30 minutes of internal combustion I can now speak in a rational way, listen and be a mom.

After a long talk we are laying on the sofa together and then the conversation takes an interesting turn.

Stacy: How did you tell Grandma?
Me: Ummm
Stacy: Did she get mad?
Me: well, we haven't had that conversation yet, but no, I don't think she'll be mad. :)

As a woman, I love how close my daughter is to me and how we tell each other everything. It's only as a mother that I have a little trouble from time to time. The good news is, now we are in agreement about where the line is drawn in the sand on the few things we don't need to tell each other.

An April Fool's kind of birthday

A family member, who shall remain nameless, had something happen to them yesterday that I've never seen or heard of. I've been flying on commercial airlines on a regular basis for oh, 20 years or so. Like all of you, I've witnessed some strange things, but usually put myself inside a bubble, kept my headphones on and a book in my hands. So yesterday, said family member was flying, had a little cocktail on the first leg of the trip to celebrate a birthday and then with 34 minutes before the connecting flight was to take off, stopped and ordered a second cocktail. By now the family member is connecting through Minneapolis and has called me to laugh and tell me that since they are alone, and it's their birthday they are going to elicit the reaction of strangers. A rum and coke is consumed while running to the gate. While waiting in line with boarding pass in hand, they joke to the person in line next to them that it's their birthday and they are going to move over to the 'elite' line (which is about two steps to the right). Joking around about the absurdities of the existence of an 'elite' line that has no significant value other than to stroke the egos of business travelers, the family member moves over and steps up at exactly the same point they would have had they stayed in the other line. Once inside the plane and settled, it is announced over the loud speaker that "place name here" is celebrating a birthday and is instructed to move to first class. While those around smile, nod and murmur Happy Birthday, the family member gathers their things and sheepishly moves upfront. Then, every time Timothy, the flight attendant, comes on the sound system to make any sort of announcement he says at the end of his message "And Happy Birthday to 'place name here', don't forget to wish a very happy birthday to our special passenger!" A card is passed around the plane, everyone signs it and writes little consolatory notes, and the family member is presented with the card and bottle of merlot. The captain even comes out to give his personal well wishes to the birthday traveler. Also, the person in line who told the flight attendant about the birthday is invited to first class per family member's request.

Isn't that odd? Have you ever witnessed anything like that while flying? I've actually flown with Lisa and she managed to move a few people around so that we could sit together. This was on my 40th birthday. Oh, sorry Lisa, your family could figure it out anyway, who else in our family has a birthday on April Fool’s Day? I’m grateful to all those people for making your trip special since you were alone out there in the world. I wish I could have enjoyed that bottle of merlot with you last night. Happy Birthday, cousin Lisa!

Into the Wild

Favorite scene from the movie...Holbrook and Hirsch on the rocks. Holbrook says with tender wisdom "...from the bits and pieces I've put together from what you've told me about your family, your mother and dad, and I know you got your problems with the church too - but there is some kind of bigger thing that we can all appreciate and it sounds like you don't mind calling it God - but when you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you..." and then the clouds break and the light shines through a beautiful rainbow and they laugh together, so deeply connected to each other in that moment, but they know it won't last.

• The music - much of it written and performed by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. His voice hits you from the opening scene with it's deep baritone timbre and haunting lyrics.


• The scenery - shot on location around the country including Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, California, South Dakota. It is so stunning and real it's almost hard on the eyes.


• The literature - Tolstoy, London, Thoreau - great quotes and beautiful narration throughout the story.


• The young girl he sings a duet with on stage (Angel from Montgomery - love the Bonnie Rait/John Prine version of that song too).


• Real acting - Hal Holbrook's eyes in the scene in the truck saying goodbye. Those red brimmed eyes, full with tears, but not overflowing really get to me. Can that moment really be acting? A heartbreaking moment of one friend saying goodbye to another that I'll never forget.
  
• The heartbroken sister - who has to do a balancing act between her parents world and their grief and her brother who she longs for. In many ways she is far more insightful about her brother than he is about everything else. She also comments about her mother's pain. She says "I fear for the mother in her, instincts that seem to sense the threat of a loss, so huge and irrefutable that the mind balks to take it's measure" which is brilliant and beyond what a young girl her age should have understood about her mom.
  
• Emile Hirsch transformation on screen from boy to man - I read he lost 41 lbs. Loved how he portrayed Christopher's nature, how silly he was, the scene where he is eating the apple, singing "Trailers for Sale or Rent", his kindness towards people who fall in love with him throughout his journey, his passion.


• Movie better than the book - that rarely happens.
  

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;

There is a rapture on the lonely shore;

There is a society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more...

-Lord Byron

Night on Grand

Last night I stood in line for ice cream at the Grand Ole Creamery on Grand Ave in St. Paul. I suppose by Minnesota standards it was a rather balmy night (somewhere in the high 30's). It's funny to me that we (Minnesota people) would do that. We didn't wait a long time outside the store, maybe 10 minutes, but you can see inside the big front plate glass window and the scent had the good manners to greet you on the sidewalk. Fresh waffle cones are continually coming off of the hot griddle while friendly employees scoop ice cream and recommend favorites. One popular choice is to share a 5 scoop dish mixing your favorites of the 31 flavors. I couldn't see past the mint chocolate chip to do any sharing. Interestingly when someone orders two scoops of different flavors the scoop girl asks which one they want on top. Apparently that matters to people.

Although there was no line outside Huong Sen's the Vietnamese Restaurant on Grand Ave., the food was fantastic. We started off with Imperial egg rolls and curry cream cheese wontons, which were sinfully good – to me the dipping sauces are what make them irresistible. I had a couple of glasses of shiraz and the curried chicken and look forward to going back to try the hundreds of others items on the menu that looked good. The waiter tried to explain ‘lemon grass’ to me, a common ingredient listed on many items – but I’ll have to go back to try the lemon grass chicken with cashews before I get it.

I'll never be lost again...

My new Navigon GPS unit "Nancy" finds home every time. I can now explore those back country roads that I love so much in Minnesota and Wisconsin without spending hours trying to find my way back home. It may take some of the fun out of my Saturday morning road trips, but the trade off is peace of mind. I can be a little more daring when I travel off the beaten path. Also I can turn the sound off so Nancy doesn't nag me to death in her worrisome tone. She tends to sound a bit annoyed when I don't turn in the direction she suggests, however, she quickly adjusts when I go my own way. She does attempt to talk me in to a U-turn to get back on track, but if I ignore her she gives up with just a little fight. It's a great little system.