Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Never quite got the hang of my Monday. The morning was filled with life’s little indignities. Like taking out the trash only to have the bag full of USED CAT LITTER tear open all over my icy back steps. And when I’d cleaned up that mess and made my way to the garbage bins in the alley…they were frozen shut. Felt like that really set the tone for the day. Good thing I chose to hunker down and work from home.
How about five good things?
I could probably benefit from a SAD lamp. The mid-winter February blues have hit me hard all of a sudden. Can’t afford any kind of get away right now. Well, only in my mind. And as much as I detest the prolonged heat and humidity I’m daydreaming about summertime. In happy fun summer news, Northern Spark is moving to St. Paul in June. I know I need to live in the NOW and all that jazz, even if the now is a frozen filthy slush-filled tundra. But it helps to have things to look forward to as well.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Losing weight has become an expensive proposition. This is news to no one, I’m sure. But I’m already broke and racking it up! Threw $10 in the pot for the DietBet (gambling on my will power is sure to be a losing proposition), $30 for a scale, pre-ordered a FitBit Flex for $99, our YWCA membership is $76/month, $99 for a three-month trial membership at the MN Kali Group and yet more money for kickboxing gear. New shoes, kali sticks, boxing gloves, focus mitts, etc. At least I’m enjoying the kickboxing part. A lot. Though last Saturday’s class was grueling, when I was holding pads for an amazingly strong and tall amazon who beat the hell out of me. Tonight was another story. Only two of us showed up for class and there happened to be two instructors on hand. So we were able to work more intensely on form. Which included a lot of elbow strikes. And some grappling. Super awesome.
I sort of blew it on eating a little too well last weekend. Used two Groupons for dinner out - Friday night at Rice Paper and Saturday night at Fuji Ya. And the boyfriend treated me to brunch Sunday at Modern Times. Yesterday was all about salad. So thankful for my vegetable spiralizer. But then I went and used my avocados up to make this chocolate pudding again. That’s semi-healthy, right?
Five good things for this Tuesday:
This coming Saturday will mark the eighth and final show of the Outlet Performance Festival. The boyfriend and I have attended each, and I’ve been photographing them. It has come to seem natural that we should spend our Saturday evenings in the basement of Los Amigos. But after this weekend we’ll just have to find something else to do.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
After years of dragging my feet I finally set up a mint.com account and entered all my info and now it’s scolding me! Thanks, mint. It’s no news that my checking account balance is LOW. Or that I spend too much on rent and groceries. But the pie chart representing these facts sure is pretty.
Five good things on this bitterly cold Thursday:
After school today the boy and I have to rush off to Twin Cities Magic & Costume. To their newest location (they moved again, dammit). Bought a Groupon for Halloween but never got around to using it. The danged thing expires today and they’re only open until 6pm. Oh no, I don’t procrastinate much.
Art Sled Rally 2013 was sort of a sad slippery mess. The hills were so icy I was amazed no one in our group wiped out while just walking around. Still, it was a good time and there were some swell sleds. Our favorites were Lady Rainicorn, a Mario Kart and the yellow submarine. The latter had the most spectacular crash with the sled splintering apart upon impact with a bale of hay (but the sledder was ok, he gave the thumbs up sign and everything). Naturally we got some fresh snow the day after the event. Gee thanks Mother Nature.
Five good things for this Monday:
So I guess it’s ok to eat quinoa. Blurgh, news media. Maybe I need to brush up on my critical thinking skills. After reading pieces in well-regarded publications I don’t know which way is up and which way is down. Speaking of, I’ve got a big backlog of photos to edit. Photos coming out of my ears! Figuratively. But when I’m done I will have more photos from another Outlet performance, the cat show brunch, the cat show itself and more.
Maaaaan. Been feeling like Sisyphus lately. Sometimes the short work / school weeks are so much rougher than our usual five day weeks. Maybe it’s the break from routine (in a household with autism this is definitely a factor). Then there’s trying to cram five days’ worth of work into four. And I have a host of random complaints. At the beginning of the week I was served a legal summons for some unresolved financial crap. Naturally now is the time my beater car needs a new water pump and timing belt. And I should gather all my tax return materials together. Oh, and my iPhone needs to be replaced but I haven’t had time to deal with the Apple Store’s Genius Bar.
Sigh. In the face of all that how about five good things for this Friday?
It wasn’t that it was the new year but rather that it is the year in which I turn 40. I know, I know, age ain’t nothing but a number and all that but I’ve always found milestones to be significant. And this is a pretty significant milestone. So I’m taking better care of myself. I just turned down free donuts at work! And I got roped into a DietBet with friends starting February 1st. Those things are tough and tedious but you know what’s awesome? Kickboxing. Yeah. My very delayed return to this activity has been so incredibly rewarding. Endorphin highs every time! And I’m less and less sore. I look forward to the brutal conditioning at the end of each class. Hell yes.
With the ebbing and flowing of interpersonal relationships in my life…somehow this is the first year since the 90s (pre-motherhood) that I will be partnered up and celebrating Valentine’s Day. The last husband wasn’t into it. And since him I’ve been on again/off again with various beaus…and in OFF mode at just the right time to avoid this loaded faux holiday. But this year? I’m actually EXCITED about it. And the amazing man in my life. Go figure.
Five more good things for this fine Friday:
- So into this idea. I DIG You! A Valentine’s Day picnic among the Bell Museum dioramas, with picnic baskets provided by Barbette. A lot of the best dioramas have already sold but the boyfriend booked us the otter. YES.
- My latest five minute crush? The Casket Girls. Love love love their song Walking on a Wire but I haven’t heard the rest of their first full length, Sleepwalking, yet.
- A friend is attending the Aveda Institute and needed a hair model, with shoulder length hair (which I have now, and then some!) for an updo. It had been years and YEARS since I’d had a good updo so I went in yesterday. It was a finger-wavy faux bob sort of affair. So many bobby pins were sacrificed to keep my crazy thick hair in place but it was super neat. Sadly I was too tired to go out and show it off last night.
- This new production at The Heart of the Beast Theater, Kid Enkidu, looks promising: “A puppet-poem-mashup inspired by The Little Prince, The Epic of Gilgamesh and the anime films of Miyazaki, kid enkidu follows the journey of a mysterious kid hunting for a lost companion. Enkidu searches between veils of the worlds, deciphering love poem patterns of nature to unlock the imagination, unfold the heart, free the spirit, and find the beloved.”
- I left something out of my recent MN winter activity round up because I am skeptical. But still. I am somewhat curious to see the Ice Castles at the Mall of America. Hmm. Anyone been? Is it worth it?
Every week day I feel like such a jerk when I have to wake my son up at 6am. But school is closed both Monday and Tuesday, for the MLK holiday. We’re both excited that we can sleep in for four days in a row! But I’ll be sure that we actually observe the holiday as well, and maybe have a little inauguration party. For my son’s age range / comprehension BrainPop has done a good job of tackling topics in a way he can digest. But we’re also going to have some straight up fun times. Swimming at the Y, vegan donuts from Mojo Monkey, laying around reading comics. The good stuff.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The kickboxing continues. I’m four classes into it now. Thankfully it is getting less hard each time. But I doubt I’ll ever be as fit/strong/fast as my younger self. I plan to keep at it anyway. And hey, I bought my own gloves, focus mitts and kali sticks. Having my own gear to use - that isn’t bathed in the sweat of others - is definitely a motivator.
Five good things:
- Oh humans and our strange bodies. I don’t know that we’ll ever figure out the best way to feed ourselves / feed everyone on the planet. But I will keep trying to figure it out for myself. To that end I finally busted out the Mesu portion control dishes I bought several years ago. And I’m going to be better about employing the 80/20 rule.
- Last night I made my son a vegan chocolate mousse based on…AVOCADOS. I’d tried this one other time but last night’s version was better. It had a touch of coconut oil in it that made all the difference, texture-wise.
- I’m too tired and old and Friday nights are rough for me, after a long week of early rising. So I completely missed the MN Arm Wrestling League for Ladies at the Hexagon. But there are some great photos from City Pages.
- Ahhh winter in MN. Dry skin. Static-y hair. And the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival this Saturday, January 19 from noon - 4 p.m. And the Saturday after that? The Art Sled Rally at Powderhorn Park. Hopefully there will be enough snow for it.
- Not sure how I stumbled on this but when I was in junior high I wanted to be Strawberry Switchblade. As an adult I still admire their cartoonish aesthetic but wow their music isn’t very good. The boyfriend pointed out another amazing video that I hadn’t seen yet: Pentagram Sam
Now for some sadness. I can’t stop thinking about Aaron Swartz’s death. The federal prosecutors can say what they will but I can’t shake the feeling that the government bullied this amazing young man to death. As a friend said, “The fact that scumbag financial industry thieves are free, while this was happening to Swartz, is unspeakable.”
Sigh. In other news…the Outlet Performance Festival continues! Below is a photo from last Saturday’s performance with performance artist Dustin Maxwell and musician Venus DeMars. This coming Saturday with Ghostband/Visionquest and Hardcore Crayons. Come on down to check it out!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Enough with the self-pity! I forced myself back to kickboxing class last night and it was WONDERFUL. I reached that glorious endorphin HIGH. There were a few more ladies in the class but still had a great teacher to student ratio (one teacher per three students). And last night I fought with STICKS for the first time.
Five other good things for this hump day:
- Maaaan, The Oatmeal nailed it again. Made me laugh and cry with “When your house is burning down you should brush your teeth.” Documenting the 20th anniversary of his family home burning to the ground. Make sure to read the actual news article about the event too.
- And speaking of cats (see above, sadness) the Saintly City Cat Show is just a couple of weeks away. An annual reminder of just how weirdly awesome or awesomely weird Saint Paul is. Yeah.
- This is AMAZING. “Send a photo of your face, or your brother’s face, or your ferret’s face, it doesn’t matter whose face it is. I’ll take that photo and give it the GET FACED treatment, a hand-drawn copy of the face that’s “colored in†with photographic textures and/or patterns and/or colors. It’ll be printed on gallery quality archival photo paper and sent back so you can have it to cherish forever and ever! All work is original, one of a kind and signed by David Yow.” Yes, THAT David Yow, of The Jesus Lizard.
- Speaking of David Yow, in a roundabout way…I’m a Minnesotan and long-time St Paulite so I remember Sean Tillmann’s Calvin Krime and Sean Na Na days. His Har Mar Superstar persona has caused me to groan now and again. But I’ve just discovered his podcast, Nocturnal Emotions. And I like what I hear. Especially with awesome guests like David Yow!
- CLAPS + TFATT photos from last Saturday’s Outlet performance. This coming Saturday will see a performance by Venus DeMars and Dustin Maxwell.
As usual there is just so much going on this coming weekend. First off, tomorrow I get a sneak preview of an old friend’s estate sale.
Eccentric and Extraordinary!
Years of scouring estates sales and thrift shops have resulted in the accumulation of many items. This collector is reluctantly parting with items large and small and you will not forgive yourself if you miss this opportunity of a lifetime! The sheer volume of oddities will boggle your mind.
I really don’t need any more “stuff” but knowing her these will be some truly amazing items. I just have to have a look. And then there will be more kickboxing, of course. And the Outlet Performance series. And a birthday party for two lovely friends (who are married to one another). And the MN Unearthed Short Films showcase at the Trylon. And possibly taking the kiddo to see China’s Terracotta Warriors exhibit at the MIA. And a bunch of other happenings I’m sure I’m forgetting at the moment. I really do love the Twin Cities.
Getting old sucks. Saturday I went back to kickboxing for the first time in fourteen years. I was relieved to find I still have the ability to punch and kick. But what I’m lacking? Strength. And the ability to bounce back after pushing myself. That one class left me sore and hobbled. Mostly from the intense sit-ups and resistance training. The rest of my muscles are slowly recovering but my low back is still killing me. I’m not sure if I’ll physically be able to return to class tomorrow. And that’s just pitiful.
Five good things:
- Friday Friday Friday! The MN Arm Wrestling League for Ladies’ Inaugural Brawl will be held at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis. BE THERE.
- I didn’t even know this was in the works or out there: First Listen: Broadcast, ‘Berberian Sound Studio‘
- Wow, do I ever want this sauna for my back yard. Instead I’ll have to settle for the communal one in the YWCA women’s locker room. Sigh.
- My latest five minute crush (via Pinterest of course) - I’m currently baking my second batch of zucchini chips. They are delicious but I feel a little guilty about the amount of energy expended baking them. Two hours at 225 for each batch. And they’re like shrinky dinks, they are so tiny after the two hours of baking. Hmmm. But SO tasty. Dilemma.
- The next season of Archer premieres on the 17th. JUST THE TIP.
Saturday night I made it to the third installment of the Outlet Performance Series (photos to come) but was then too tired to continue on to a show at The Hex that I’d been looking forward to. And then the two out of town bands, The Hecks and Mayor Daley, played another show last night but the venue changed from one that I enjoy and love to one that is physically and mentally uncomfortable so I skipped. My only consolation prize this Monday morning? A mix “tape” from Moniker Records with one of the bands.
Ahhh, another new year. It’s too easy to get my expectations up with these new beginnings (new year’s, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) but I’m trying not to make any resolutions I can’t keep. I am making the usual plans to take better care of myself and my child. We need to floss more regularly, eat a little healthier, exercise more often. That sort of thing. And to that end? I return to kickboxing tomorrow. For the first time since I found out I was pregnant with the little man (who is now thirteen years of age). I sure hope there’s some muscle memory leftover from the 90s.
Five good things to kick off 2013:
We had some lovely times with friends on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. But half of the guests at the latter gathering seem to have been floored by the flu. So far so good for us (knock on wood). Happy New Year everyone!
