Archive for June, 2003
What a terrific weekend. Back to work was was hard this morning – not the waking up and going part, just the getting to work and doing things other than zone out part. Eva and I have been emailing back and forth all day bemoaning that same fact – the back to work blahs, the wish we were still there blues.
Thursday:
Eva and I were scheduled to leave around 10:00am to meet my grandparents for lunch in Davenport. I went to get my oil changed and my car checked around 9:30, expecting it to take half an hour as usual. It took Pep Boys an hour, so we didn’t actually get on the road until 11. Grr. Lunch and nap in Davenport while Gram and Gramp go to a dear friend’s funeral. We stayed until about 4, then headed to Iowa City, where we checked in at the B&B, then went in search of dinner. It was a gorgeous night, sunny and cool, and we were literally three blocks from downtown. We ate at Atlas World Grill – I had a potato garlic soup and molten brie with a sun dried tomato basil tapenade – Eva had sesame sea scallops. A new discovery – mojitos! It was wonderful to sit and talk and absorb the sun and peoplewatch. We stopped at Prairie Lights, then headed back to the B&B. Eva went to bed early, so I went back to Prairie Lights and bought a fun blue journal.
Friday:
Breakfast at the B&B was awesome. We had sugared berries, bran muffins with a citrus glaze, sausage, and french toast with coconut and homemade syrup. Nila chatted with us for an hour, then we headed out to start our letterboxing adventure. We wandered around downtown and went to the library – and lunched at one twenty six – I had a roast chicken sandwich with brie and apples and a spring green salad – Eva had Maryland crab cakes and potato garlic soup. Yum. I had a glass of La Terre Merlot – 2002 – pretty good, despite the fact that I don’t like Merlot. Eva had pecan pie and I had a Key Lime pie – the first I’ve had since 1993. After lunch, somewhat warm and full, we looked for and found the Black Angel letterbox – our first! Hooray!
After lunch and letterboxing, we got a little bit lost around the campus, this being my first time driving in Iowa City. I knew where I needed to be – I just didn’t know how to get there! We hung out with my aunt Ann and her siblings and nieces and nephews – her nephew Kevin was getting married, so the whole (HUGE) family was around. Ann recommended Devotay for dinner, so we went there for tapas. YUM. We shared a liter of sangria and four different tapases (sp?). We had a portabella mushroom roasted with garlic and balsamic vinegar, shrimp and scallops grilled with lime and butter, chicken salad with pears and apples, and crostini with an artichoke spread. Everything was WONDERFUL. By the time we finished dinner we were a little tipsy – so we passed on driving and walked the mile to City Park to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Riverside Theatre. It was a lot of fun – the play, not the walk. The costuming was unique and non-traditional – and I really felt that it made the plot accessible. I loved it. By the end of the play we had sobered up a little – and were ready for the 1 1/2 mile walk back. By the time we got home we were hobbling a little bit – and definitely crashed right away.
Saturday:
9am breakfast came too too early – fresh fruit, banana bread from the Farmer’s Market, waffles with sugared fresh fruit and ice cream, and glazed ham balls. Nila was very excited about the letterbox and encouraged us to plant our own. We laid around until noon, when we met my aunt Nancy at the Peking Buffet in Coralville. The food was excellent – I had something called a sesame ball – yum! We chatted for a couple of hours – Nanc gave me my graduation present, a FABULOUS fountain pen. After lunch and some tearwater tea, we went to the Indian grocer and Reminisce, this great scrapbooking store, then headed out to the Amana colonies. Eva had some good finds – I bought blackberry wine and some local beer. We came back to Iowa City for dinner – we went to Givanni’s and after passing the door test had a WONDERFUL meal. We both had a Ravenswood sampler – three half glasses of Ravenswood Zinfandel 2000 from three different vineyards. It really made the tasting experience – you could compare the three wines at the same time and throughout the meal. We shared a molten goat cheese appetizer, then I had spinach ravioli with shrimp and a lemon dill sauce – Eva had a wonderful mushroom pasta. We left utterly stuffed – and then crashed Ann’s nephew’s wedding reception. Kevin and Josie looked mildly alarmed, but as they’d forgotten some other cousins, it wasn’t a big deal. We all cried at the toasts. It was so sweet. I got a chance to chat with my uncle Tom and to see my little cousins Vic and Maureen run around – then we headed back to the B&B. mmmmm.
Sunday:
Not even hungry when breakfast came around – fresh fruit, a sticky bunnish sort of thing, kielbasa, and applecakes. We planted our letterbox and did a bit of coop tourism, then reluctantly headed back to Davenport to have brunch with my grandparents at the Outing Club. We stayed in Davenport until late afternoon – then headed home. We were both a bit blah and not wanting to be alone, so we got sushi at Nippon and called it a night.
What a wonderful weekend. There’s so much more to say – things we talked about, Connor’s funny toast and Kevin’s sweet and sad one, the bathtub of my dreams, waking up in her arms and then this morning aching because she wasn’t there, reading and silence and just being together in such a fun place, the ache of being so far away from people I love so much, amazing food, and a weekend that was all I could’ve asked for.
June 30th, 2003
My weekend was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Lots of good food, lots of time with my family, lots of walking and sun – and most importantly, lots of time with that girl I love. I’ll write more when I have time tomorrow – right now I have to get unpacked and make my home presentable. I miss her already.
June 29th, 2003
Oak Park was a fucking blast. I had a terrific time with Newman and her friends – it was so nice to just hang out. We went swimming, did part of the Frank Lloyd Wright tour (complete with running through sprinklers), ate some good food, and just chilled. Her gato is adorable and her apartment really suits her. I’m glad she’s happy with where she’s at, for the most part. It’s a start, at least.
And tomorrow Eva and I leave for Iowa City. I’m nervous but it should be fun. My family is all very eager to see us. We’re going to Shakespeare in the Park one night – Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.
Tonight I got some super fab geisha sandals for $8 – wel, they were supposed to be $8 but rang up at like $12. Argh. Guess I get to run back to Target in the morning. I also get to have an oil change – my “service engine soon” light came on yesterday when I left, so I’ve spent the last 36 hours panicking about that. I’m sure it’ll be fine – I just want to make sure all that I can do is put in order.
Well, bedtime calls – I hate sleeping away from Nate and I won’t see him until Monday. :( Sleeping next to her will be wonderful, though not the same. I’m not sure if our place will have internet access or not (gasp, I can’t live without it), so I may be away for a few days. If you’re bored, please refer to my links on the right (or read Harry Potter, dammit). :)
June 25th, 2003
Missed a day yesterday – sorry. About mid-morning I decided that if I stayed at my (hot and humid) apartment, I would be required to Get Things Done – so instead I went to my parents’, did laundry, and swam for most of the afternoon. No funny sunburns this time, just free lunch from A Movable Feast, free laundry (even though I ruined one of Nate’s shirts), and water and sun.
We watched Swimming with Sharks last night after a second friend recommended it, saying it was hilarious. About halfway through the movie, I asked Nate if he wanted to turn it off cos it was depressing me. At the end of the movie, we both looked at each other and said “Did we watch the right movie?”. I saw nothing funny about it – and the reviews I just read on amazon seem to agree with our reaction. About half the people who reviewed the movie loved it; the other half were dismayed. Maybe we missed the punchline?
The garage sale ended up decent. I made $23.25 – I owe Mary J some money for the ad, which I completely forgot to give her yesterday. I’ll have to pay her the next time I see her. We loaded up my car with all the Salvation Army stuff – I drive a Nissan Sentra – a reasonable sized car – and it is packed to the roof with stuff. It didn’t help that I haven’t unloaded the computer stuff from my trunk – but really, there wasn’t much left to go, so I’m not too worried.
Today I’m headed to Oak Park to see Newman. I’ve been to her new place, but never for more than half an hour when we were picking her up or dropping her off. It’ll be nice to see her ‘hood and meet some of her friends.
Oh, and I got Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Eva loaned me her copy as she’s already done. It’s soooo good, and I’m just on chapter 4. I can’t believe it’s here already – but then I’ve been anxiously waiting for it since 2000, when I read all four books in a week. I can’t believe there are just two left!!!
June 24th, 2003
001 When I was one, I got a new baby brother. He’s not new any more.
002 When I was two, I liked dropping rocks in puddles. It made a nice noise.
003 When I was three, just before my fourth birthday, we moved to Rockford.
004 When I was four, I got a new baby sister. She’s not new anymore either.
005 When I was five, I started kindergarten. I told my mom that I had to turn my brain off when I went to school, so…
006 When I was just six, I was moved up to first grade.
007 When I was seven, I was the top reader in my class. The prize? A lousy rubber ball.
008 When I was eight, my classroom had a space theme. I loved it.
009 When I was nine, I had a godawful haircut. No, I won’t show you the photo.
010 When I was ten, I nearly drowned. Not a good year.
011 When I was eleven, I wanted to adopt one of those starving kids from Africa (you know what I mean). Then I broke my clarinet and couldn’t afford it.
012 When I was twelve, I did lots of things, none of which seem really notable at this point. I think twelve is like that.
013 When I was thirteen, I had a wicked crush on the son of my mom’s gynecologist. How weird is that? I also read Anna Karenina and Catcher in the Rye.
014 When I was fourteen, I started high school and took an awesome photo for the yearbook.
015 When I was fifteen, Sarah MacDonald moved in next door. She’s from Canada – and has been my best friend ever since.
016 When I was sixteen, I went to France. I also met an older man with whom I corresponded for two years – and I got my driver’s license. I also got a new baby brother – whom I spent the next year vehemently insisting wasn’t mine.
017 When I was seventeen, we found out that my mom had breast cancer. I also graduated from high school, met my future husband, went to BookExpo, and started college.
018 When I was eighteen, I lost my virginity, came out to my friends, and moved in with my boyfriend, then broke up with him.
019 When I was nineteen, my boyfriend and I got back together. I moved into my own apartment, he followed, and I started sleeping with my other best friend (not Sarah).
020 When I was twenty, I went to London for three months. My heart never fully came back.
021 When I was twenty-one, I graduated from college, got engaged, and started my current job.
022 When I was twenty-two, I fell in love with my best friend, got married, and moved to a new apartment.
023 When I was twenty-three….hey, I’m twenty-three right now!
024 My husband and I are in the process of buying our first home. We close on 11 July 2003.
025 I have two cats. They are both three and are both royal pains.
026 I am a confirmed bibliophile. I might go so far as to say that I am a biblioholic.
027 I spend way too much time on the Internet.
028 I work for a large regional bank in their online support department. See #027.
029 My degree is in English. I am not putting it to good use.
030 I’m bored a lot of the time. I seriously think I should get a freelance job to give me something to do.
031 I was a member of the Honors Program in Liberal Arts in college.
032 I currently live next door to my sister, who lives upstairs from my best friend and her daughter. My downstairs neighbors are pretty cool too.
033 My landlord doesn’t live downstairs or even nearby – but he’s definitely cool.
034 So are most of my coworkers.
035 Especially Dan, who beat me at Trivial Pursuit the other night. Punk.
036 We have an office fish named Vinny. Miss Kate got Vinny last summer, then bequeathed him to the office when she left for Tejas last summer.
037 I miss Miss Kate very much. I don’t think Vinny does.
038 Vinny is pretty much a worthless punk who only likes to attack his frog. Oh, and blog.
039 Our Good Friday BBQ has turned into a very popular party.
040 This year a lot of people ended up playing spin the bottle. This has happened with a startling regularity at recent parties. Don’t you wish you could come!
041 My friend Michelle says that the crazy things that happen at our parties are always blamed on her. That’s not entirely untrue.
042 My friend Jacquie told me that I’m the consummate hostess.
043 This is Dan’s favorite number. Hello Dan!
044 The times I spent in London were some of the best times of my life.
045 While I was there – rather, while I was in Paris – I met The Tea Party at the Elysees Montmartre.
046 I also met my mate Heidi!
047 Heidi and I followed The Tea Party through France, England and Holland, on the guest list all the while. Unbelievable.
048 I won’t lie and say I wasn’t utterly miserable a lot of the time.
049 The time I was in London was the longest I’ve ever been away from my husband and he’ll be the first to tell you I didn’t always (or frequently) handle it well.
050 My roommate Amanda was some sort of saint to put up with me.
051 She and I coined a new word while in Edinburgh: “fubs”
052 A fub is kind of like a dust bunny, only larger. It can also be used as a term of affection.
053 When Amanda and I went to Spain, I didn’t bathe for three days.
054 Speaking of which, I don’t shave my legs very regularly. Like every 4-6 months. My husband is not a fan of that.
055 I also don’t cut my hair very regularly. Like once a year.
056 I’m attracted to skinny white guys. I don’t know why. No offense if you’re not skinny or white or a guy.
057 I’m obsessed with Trivial Pursuit. Only three people have beaten me. Ever. They are: Erik, Steph, and Dan.
058 Erik mainly beats me because I get totally intoxicated when we play.
059 Erik and I used to drink Jack Daniels and smoke together. Erik doesn’t smoke anymore. The last time we played, I was so drunk that I had to call in to work in the morning.
060 I am by birth Christian, by baptism Catholic, and by choice undetermined.
061 I have a few problems with Christian doctrine that keep me from returning. Namely the ban on homosexuality. I can’t understand how God would give us a chance at wonderful and remarkable love – then deny it to us.
062 I am currently obsessed with The Matrix. I was pretty obsessed when it came out originally – and I’m just as obsessed with the second movie.
063 I think Keanu Reeves is hot. I also think Adrien Brody is hot. Lots of people find my site by searching for Adrian/Adrien Brody + girlfriend.
064 I have had eight jobs.
065 I have had six roommates.
066 I played volleyball for five years. Then I stopped.
067 I was in the choir for eight years. Then I stopped.
068 I have a rather bizarre collection of Peeps. People keep giving them to me and I don’t know why.
069 When I was in London, Peeps were the only Easter candy I really craved – and consequently the only Easter candy no one sent me. Maybe that’s why people give them to me with such alarming frequency.
070 My favorite authors are Tom Robbins and Douglas Coupland.
071 I massively adore and admire Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West.
072 I am in love with Jeff Martin and Trent Reznor. Oh yeah, and the rest of The Tea Party.
073 I apparently eat corn on the cob in the strangest way imaginable. Whenever I eat it, people stop and watch. And no, it’s not something erotic or phallic.
074 I love cooking and don’t do nearly enough of it.
075 I wish I could lose some weight. Unfortunately, see #074.
076 I’m planning on doing a massive bike ride next summer.
077 My brother has a super cool girlfriend who doesn’t update her blog nearly often enough.
078 I wish I got more letters.
079 We eat a lot of Chinese food. There are fortune cookie fortunes all over our apartment.
080 I like making photo collages. The side of my refrigerator is covered in photos and clippings. I don’t want to take it down.
081 I have a ridiculously odd sense of humor.
082 I really, really like wearing vinyl. My red vinyl dress is perhaps the best thing I own. Or maybe my catsuit, but I’ve never really worn that anywhere.
083 I used to be more of a hippie than I am now.
084 I guess you could call me a conservative Democrat. My husband is a liberal Republican. Sometimes that works out, sometimes not.
085 I like Tom Jones. It’s a London thing.
086 I think most of these quizzes are totally ridiculous – but it’s nice that there’s a site like this for people with GOOD quizzes.
087 I used to have my own webring associated with my old hosting domain (coquette.org). It was called (muted) and was for all the girls on the domain and the mailing list. Somewhere along the lines we lost touch – most of us at least – and the domain went away.
088 I really like The Naked Chef even though he has given his daughters really lousy names. Daisy Boo?
089 My parents have been together since they were 16. That’s 34 sets of birthdays. I can’t even imagine that.
090 It makes me really, really mad when people don’t take responsibility for their actions.
091 I love water. I love being in the water. I love swimming, bathing, sailing (I guess that’s technically ON the water), etc.
092 When I was in junior high, I really wanted to be a cheerleader. Then it occured to me that I’m not really that coordinated.
093 I would like to live in a place where I didn’t need a car. I miss the terrific public transportation in London.
094 I have a wind-up nun that shoot sparks out her mouth.
095 I have twenty minutes of work left today.
096 I was vegetarian for six years, then I started eating chicken and turkey again. I recently started eating pork products. Last night I had my first brat in at least eight years. I haven’t had any beef since I was 15, if not younger.
097 I have too much crap on my desk.
098 I really, really like getting flowers. Or unexpected gifts.
099 When I was in eighth grade, my friend drew a picture of an elephant and a small mouse for me. I still have it on my desk at my parents’ house.
100 I’m very tired of composing this list.
June 21st, 2003
Hope no one’s put off by the loooong entries. If you are, well, watch out cos I’m working on 100 things. I’m at work until 3, I’ve already read all my everyday blogs, none of my good friends are working – or online for that matter – with the exception of Eva, who goes home in an hour and a half. BORED. That’s becoming a bit of a theme, eh?
As of 3:01pm, I am ON VACATION. Woooooo. Tonight’s plans include packing up my office (home, not work), as I think I can achieve that in an afternoon – and then that’s less work next week. Nate’s running a match all day, so he won’t be home til early evening, when I think we’re going to have a spontaneous Solstice gala. We wanted to use my parents’ pool, but I don’t know if that’ll work out cos they’re coming home tonight. Tomorrow I’m helping Mary J with the garage sale, then relaxing. Maybe I’ll get rid of this wacky suntan. I’m supposed to go see Newman on Tuesday, but I haven’t heard anything from her, so I don’t know if that’s happening.
I am SO looking forward to NOT being at work. It’s not that I don’t like what I do – it just gets to be a bit much at times. It should be a fun couple of weeks in online support – I’m gone this week, Dan’s gone next, then we’re back a week, then conversion. Aaaah! The only thing I’m really bummed about work-wise is that the new (and hot) guy starts on Monday and I won’t get to see him. :)
I’m listening to Haunted and remembering all the weekends in the car driving up to Wausau to see Eva, windows down, smoking and singing, watching the fields fly by. I’m glad I don’t have to make that drive any more, but once in a while it was nice to just get in the car and go.
And Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes out today. Eva already has hers and I’m wicked jealous. I didn’t preorder it cos I always get my kids’ books at Wonderland – it’s a loyalty thing – and now that the day has come, I don’t have the cash to get it. Let’s hope I made some good money at the garage sale today.
June 21st, 2003
The Friday Five:
1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?
Long and straight and THICK
2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?
Lengths and colors have changed, but that’s all me. It was super curly when I was born, but that went away after my first haircut. It was even black once, but that was NOT voluntary.
3. How do your normally wear your hair?
It’s normally down until the early afternoon, at which time I pull it back cos it’s finally dry and it’s starting to annoy me.
4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?
BLUE and even thicker and wicked sexy
5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?
My roommate helped me dye my hair my sophomore year of college. She had really short hair and was used to just dyeing the roots. I had really long hair. Do you see the problem? I had a red ring on my head. It was awful. I wore a hat until my other friend could fix it.
Today will be a long day. We had a staff meeting from 7-8, then I went home and napped for an hour, coming back at 9:30 to work til 7. UGH. At least I feel more human than when I came in before. Mmm nap.
June 20th, 2003
They are assembling fucking cubicles right behind my desk. It is ridiculously loud, making it impossible to hear the customers on the phone or to concentrate on anything other than my now-raging headache. I wasn’t too hungover when I woke up this morning – but I’m certainly hurting now. I think I’m going to take 15 minutes to read about changeling badgers and hope the noise goes away.
June 19th, 2003
Theory #1 regarding what Elizabeth’s been doing with her free time: writing for CosmoGirl under the name Mark Montano.. Sorry guys, it isn’t me. He did hit the party dead on, though – spin the bottle, fondue, heads on sticks, etc.
A quality evening. Food was terrific, Ria brought a Linos’ salad – yum – and Dan and Scandalous Pants brought Schmitt Sohne Riesling. Trivial Pursuit was long and drawn out but terrific fun as usual. Dan beat me – that’s a first – well, a third. Erik beat me a few times and Steph’s beat me once (I think). All in all, a good time.
Wow, I’m surprisingly coherent for drunken blogging. Should try this more often! Well, off to send drunk emails. Yum. To get on my drunk email list, drop me a line.
June 18th, 2003
It is hot out. I suppose that’s sort of a given as it is June and I am in the Midwest, but it’s just hot out. Not overwhelmingly sweltering – that comes later – just the damp hot of the first few days of summer. The solstice is this weekend – I suppose I shouldn’t have expected any less. At least I have an excuse to wear my new dress – black with flowers and thin straps and a floaty sheer thing. I love it.
Tonight am making Spaghetti with Sweet Cherry Tomatoes, Marjoram, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Happy Days with the Naked Chef. I heart Jamie Oliver. yum… Anyway, Nate’s not enthused but I think it will be good – light and cheap – on a hot night like tonight.
Our closing is set for 10:00am on Friday, 11 July. I’m wicked excited. Shit, gotta call the inspector. More from me later.
June 18th, 2003
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