A Good One

Every weekend, I have been able to hang about with friends and family. Courtney returned to Philadelphia this weekend. I am sure I had something to do with the visit, but I know that she was missing Lewis the Cat too. They were able to spend some quality time together as we squeezed in plenty of snacks, backyard time, and beers.

Stephen brought over his ipod speakers and now I have a new tech gadget to long for. There are so many reasons why I should own ipod speakers, but they are all too boring to list here. Stephen was a trooper when Courtney took the reigns of the DJ and shuffled through my diverse guilty pleasure collection on the ipod. Even though Stephen's guilty pleasure is not as embarrassing as my own, he hung in there and enjoyed each funk and/or 80's pop tune because of the company.

The Police

We had fantastic seats at The Police concert. We were under an overhang so if it rained, we'd stay nice and dry. We were straight in front of the stage and the first level of seats. Right by the snack bars and the exit. Perfect.

The first two bands were three member bands like The Police. The Fratelli's who have received a Midwestern Position Music Shoutout were a bit a disappointment. Their musicianship was lacking and it was only made more clear when The Police played. Granted, The Police have been performing longer than The Fratelli's have been alive, but the skills were not there.

It was only after The Police started performing that you realize who talented they are. I was wondering how The Police performed with only three guys. Were they going to be like Tina Turner who has close to 25 people on stage playing all the different instruments? Would they have another guitarist other than Andy Summers?

The answer to this question only made me love them more. It was just the three of them and they played the hell out of their instruments. Sting's voice was perfect. Andy Summer's did some amazing playing and many solos. I was most impressed with Steward Copeland's skills on the drums. Not just drums, but every percussion needed. Gong to chimes.

They played for two hours straight. Check out the set list. Now, go and buy each song on itunes if you do not already have them. By far, the biggest concert that I have been to...at least 30,000 people. By far, my favorite concert that I have been to. That is saying something.

Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking On The Moon
Voices Inside My Head
When The World Is Running Down
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
Truth Hits Everybody
Bed's Too Big Without You
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking In Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roxanne
King Of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next To You

"I Have Stood Here Before Inside the Pouring Rain..."

Thanks to Dana, I will be attending The Police concert in Philadelphia on Thursday. This is my first outdoor concert in such a huge venue. It will be in the baseball stadium where the Phillies play.

To celebrate my Thursday night, which Police song is your favorite? Here are a few ideas. Feel free to justify your choices.

• The King of Pain
• Don't Stand So Close to Me
• Roxanne
• Everything She Does is Magic
• Message in a Bottle
• So Lonely
• Every Breathe You Take
  

The Glamour of My Life

Two words, friends.

Periwinkle trim.

Since moving into my new old house, I have been tormented by the sunshine yellow walls and periwinkle trim in our bedroom. Normally, I do not have anything against periwinkle, but for adult bedroom trim? C'mon. I would describe the former owners of our new old house as aesthetically schizophrenic because our kitchen is painted in a tasteful mocha color, but two bedrooms have periwinkle trim.

I am not sure why we have waited to paint our bedroom only after the dining room, living room, guest room and bathroom, but we did. It will take one coat of primer and two coats of white paint to make the periwinkle nothing but a distant nightmare.

Soon, Toffee Crunch will cover the sunshine yellow and I will be at peace in my calmly painted bedroom.

My painting wardrobe is really something quite special.

If a person didn't know better (and they didn't look too closely at my lil' wrinkles), they might think I was straight out of 1991. I was sporting a hairstyle that I thought was hot back then. You know the one, sides pulled up in a ponytail holder. It has been awhile since my hair has actually been long enough to pull this sexy hairstyle off. However, because I no longer perm my hair, I didn't have to scrunch the sides to get it properly bouncy...and no gel.

Please sense the sarcasm.

Along with the retro hair-don't, I wore my first pair of cut-off jean shorts that I have worn in probably 15 years. It just felt right to cut the jeans off and make them my new painting shorts. I guess all rules are off when you are trying to rid your house of PERIWINKLE TRIM.

Midwestern Recipe: Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a little internet treasure that I stumbled upon, but I consider her my secret internet best friend. She doesn't know it though.

I love her. She cooks and bakes the most amazing things. Using her photos, she documents every step of the process and makes it all look so easy and delicious.

I wanted to hug her when she posted Peach Crisp with Creamy Maple Sauce. I love maple anything. Thank you, Pioneer Woman.

Peach Crisp With Maple Cream Sauce

1 cup flour
½ c. sugar
½ firmly packed light brown sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. salt
½ c. (one stick) butter, cut into bits
5-6 cups, peeled, sliced fresh peaches
Juice and grated zest of ½ lemon
2 T. maple syrup
*Maple cream Sauce, for serving

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with fork or pastry blender until mixture is the consistency of coarse meal. Place peaches in 9-inch square baking pan or smaller baking dish. Gently mix in lemon juice, rind and maple syrup. Top with crumb mixture. Cover tightly with foil and bake about 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20 to 30 minutes more or until top is crisp and brown. You might want to broil for a couple of minutes to ensure good color. Serve warm with maple cream sauce.

*Maple Cream Sauce

1 ½ cups whipping cream
5 T. maple syrup
3 T. light corn syrup

Combine all ingredients in heavy sauce pan; cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly until thickened and reduced by 1/3, approximately 20 minutes. Chill. Drizzle generously over Peach Crisp.

I Know I Might Be Missing Out

There are many movies that I have not seen and probably won't because, well, I have issues.

Issue #1
I do not like to be sad. Not since the mediocre Step Mom have I had a emotional meltdown in the theater. Seriously. I had to wait at least five minutes after the movie ended for me to leave the theater because I was crying too much. It was just too sad.

There is no way of knowing what movie will do it to me. Could be those sappy animal movies where Old Yeller/Skip/Wilbur/Charlotte/Air Bud will create that thump in my throat. Could be that elderly person that has Alzheimer's disease and doesn't remember the life they have just lived. Often, it is a child crying for something.

There are topics that are just too sad. I have tried to watch movies like Sophie's Choice or Saving Private Ryan, but World War II movies are just heart-wrenching sad. Maybe they remind me of my grandfather who couldn't speak of his time in the Pacific without becoming emotional.

Okay. I guess I just have one issue in this area.

Hairspray

Strangely, I have seen the Broadway musical Hairspray three times. The first time, Michael McKean was Edna Turnblad, the mother of the chubby teased-out dancing teenager. The character has always been a drag character since Divine made the role famous in the original John Waters movie in 1988.

The last two times that I went to the musical, Paul C. Vogt played the role brilliantly. The best!

The thing is...the two never changed their voice to make it appear to be a woman's voice. That is part of the humor of Hairspray.

Now, I am well aware that Hairspray the Movie will be hitting theaters this month. I am a little bothered that John Travolta will be playing Edna Turnblad. It only gets worse when I see trailers and photos of Travolta in his dresses and fat suit. He has this goofy southern accent with a ridiculous high voice.

One of the big plot points in Hairspray is that it takes place in Baltimore. Baltimore is not in the south. Also, one of the scenes they always show is when Travolta/Edna says her dream was to own a string of coin operated laundromats. This is not Edna's dream in the musical. Only after Edna gets a fantastic makeover from the Hefty Hideaway that she shares her dream is to design plus-sized clothing.

I read on a entertainment blog that Travolta with all of his Scientology beliefs would not do the character in drag like drag queen fashion. He would dress as a woman but wouldn't play up the drag queen side of things. THAT IS WHY IT IS FUNNY! DRAG QUEENS ARE AWESOME IN EVERY WAY!

I am really hoping that Christopher Walken and Michelle Pfeiffer will save the movie for me. I could be wrong about Travolta, but probably not.

Is anyone wondering why I would go to this musical three times?

Really? A Honk?

I realize that I have complained about drivers many, many times. But I have to. I just have to.

There are so many things that I do not understand about drivers here. And yes, it is only here.

Why do you give me the stink eye when I give you the courtesy to use my blinker to change lanes and give you more than enough room? Is the stink eye really necessary along with the double honk? I KNOW I gave you enough time and space, yet you feel some how wronged in this world that we share. Did I take a chunk out of your manhood as you drive your Honda sedan? By letting a law abiding driver change lanes, will it make your trip any longer? No. I drive at a quick pace and keep the flow going.

What it boils down to is that people who are normally nice and respectful get their ugly on when they are driving. They feel safe because they have all of that steel and glass around them and we are in motion.

Really, it is fine. Go ahead and give me the stink eye because I will just wonder in my mind why you have such anger when you get behind the wheel, but you better hope that you don't honk at the wrong Philaldelphian. I hear they can get nasty when the stink eye is given.

Lewis the Cat

Meet Lewis. He is living with us for three weeks. Tim and I consider ourselves foster pet parents. I have never had a pet any time in my life, but Tim had Susie the Dog and Casper the Cat. He is much more comfortable with animals than I am. However, Lewis and I are getting used to each other.

He spent the first three days in our dusty basement. He has explored the rest of the house today. He likes to do what I call "test rests". He will lay down at a variety of spots around the house, testing them out. He only spends about two minutes in each location. Then, he tests out another spot.

This is Lewis testing out the bottom of the steps.

Takin' a Break

It might seem that I have not been doing anything exciting. However, I have been playing hostess to my mother and her two sisters. I love bringing people to New York City for the first time. I am a bit of an expert on the traditional tourist stuff like the Statue of Liberty and such. However, my new favorite thing in NYC to do with tourists is the double decker bus. It really saves on the feet. It is a hop on/hop off bus where you can get off and enjoy the city or just ride around with a tour guide.

After a short break, I will come back and write. I am just sooo tired and need a little rest. Maybe tomorrow I will write.

Music I Am Diggin: Sara Bareilles

Every once in awhile, a pop song will catch me. It'll take up space in my mind and I can't get enough of it. I drive down the road and sing along. I figure out the lyrics and realize that they have nothing to do with my life. BUT I DON'T CARE! I love this song.
Lyrics I like...
"Head under water
And you tell me
To breathe easy for awhile ."

Philly's Hot (96 degrees) and Humid

1. Go to a movie. Even a mediocre movie will do. Today, I went early and stayed late to the matinee showing of Ocean's 13. Maybe I don't like gambling enough. Maybe the fast moving camera shots were too wild for me. But it was probably just the morning heat that caused me to really only comprehend 60% of the movie. Whatever. I like the Brad Pitt eye candy.

2. Gather all of the fans in your house. Take great pains to place them at a strategic angle so that the maximum amount of fan relief occurs. It is fine if it feels like you are in the middle of hurricane season. It is relief and that is all that matters, friends.

3. Although this might not work for everyone, wear as little amount of clothing as midwesternly possible. By that I mean...put your modesty aside and just wear the embarrassingly short shorts and tank top. BUT ONLY AT HOME.

4. Freezer Pops. Shakes. Iced Coffees. Water. Diet Coke. Just keep it coming. Flowin' nice and easy.

5. Go to the bookstore. After all of the magazines and books that I have put away, I deserve to just sit in a Borders and use their air conditioning. I will read many magazines. I will browse many books. Heck, I could even finish a book.

6. I wish I had a sprinkler. Is it okay for an almost 31 year old woman to run through her own sprinkler without any children near her?

7. Complain. This is only a temporary fix and yields very little in the relief department.

8. Stay at work. This is Tim's strategy.

Free Music for Me

Living in a big city does have its perks. As I have stated before on this blog, I love WXPN, the local public radio station in Philadelphia. Not only do they have amazing music every minute of everyday, but they offer their Free at Noon concert series. Completely free!

All you have to do is register to see some brilliant artists. They are usually artists that are performing somewhere in the city that evening, but if you do not have to work on a Friday at noon, you get to see them for free. There have been many performers that I was unable to see because I was teaching, but summer lets me head to the city for FREE MUSIC.

This Friday, I will see The Polyphonic Spree. From what I have seen on television and read about The Spree, they are to be amazing live. They no longer wear their robes, but I am thrilled to have this opportunity.

Night by Elie Wiesel

This post will serve as another reminder that my high school literature experience was less than exceptional. Along with a number of books that I should have read by now, I have experienced Night by Elie Wiesel for the first time.

The book has sat on my shelf for over two years. I think it sat for a reason. I passed it up for a little fiction or melodramatic memoir because like people, books come into your life at exactly the right moment.

I returned from the United States Holocaust Museum for the first time wanting to know more and understand more about this tragic time in our world history. I have never been one to avoid the indescribable sadness of the Holocaust in movies or books, but I had yet to feel compelled to know more. More or less, I would watch a movie, think about it a little, discuss it a little, and move on to something else.

That is sort of sick, I know. How does a person not become completely affected by these stories? I realized only after my visit to the Holocaust Museum that it was because all of the movies and books that I had seen did not show the horror in all of its horror. It wasn't until I walked through exhibit after exhibit that I came to comprehend the complexity of the Holocaust. Before my visit, I did not realize the events that led up to the concentration camps. The 6 million lives lost.

When I returned home, I found myself remembering parts of the museum experience. The shoes. All of the shoes that belonged to those who died. I remembered Elie Wiesel's quotes on the walls. I knew the book was somewhere on my bookshelf. I dug it out. It sat on my bed stand for two nights. I finally opened it and started to read it.

Like the museum, it was vivid. It held only truths. It was so ugly and it was also so beautiful. The ugliness of hate in the treatment of the Jewish people and the beauty of love that the Jewish people had for one another. Fathers and sons. It usually takes me weeks to finish a book. It took me two days to read Night by Elie Wiesel.

Midwestern Music Shout Out: Kate Walsh

If you don't know who Kate Walsh is, you should. She is an amazing songwriter/singer from England. itunes had Kate Walsh as one of their free downloads a few months ago and it became apparent to me that the music goddesses were looking down on me and smiling. After obsessing over this song, Tonight, I bought her first album, Clocktower Park. However, I was bothered that I could not get her second album, Tim's House yet on itunes because it was only released on the UK itunes. UGH.

I wait no more. Tim's House is out on US itunes and I own it. As you should.

Fish and Farm Fresh Produce

I am taking this summer as an opportunity to discover new grocery markets. I am just tired of the big, unimpressive grocery stores where the produce is just so-so and the deli is a battleground.

The Farm Fresh Produce Market is known for a great deli with a fantastic potato salad, but since I am on the wagon, I am only able to sample the Potato Salad. It was delicious. Yet, the pineapple and grapes were very good and very cheap. Even more important, the green beans were quite special. And by special, I mean 99 cents a pound and garden perfect.

Along with the Farm Fresh Produce Market, I bought some tilapia from a seafood market. I have never cooked fish at home, but I am glad we tried. We grilled it. I am glad to think that I can now add another food to our menu. I was always afraid of fish, but I realized that fish is like all other meats. It could be great. It could be a nightmare.

The Brand New Me

Along with the third birthday of The Midwestern Position, I thought it also needed a face lift. I haven't messed with the look of the blog for quite some time, so I hope you enjoy it.

I am always amazed what a little something new can do for a spirit. I know that I just need a new pair of shoes or a new lip gloss to think that I am really something. Let's hope that this new look can bring some new and creative ideas to The Midwestern Position. I feel like I am on the verge of some rants, ideas, advice, thoughts, and endorsements. Stay tuned.

Whoa...Happy Belated Birthday, TMP

I had completely forgotten to celebrate The Midwestern Position's third birthday!

I have been writing this little nook of the internet for three years now and I still find the experience worthwhile. One of the great things about a blog are the archives. I am able to look back on any given date and check out what I was up to one, two, three years ago.

If this blog serves anything in my life, it serves as documentation that I am livin' the life. Even if that life consists of a good game of Scrabble, a new recipe, an unhealthy obsession with music collection, a deep affair with Dunkin' Donuts, or adventures in my new geographical location.

Midwestern Endorsement: Edy's Fruit Bars

When a chubby person is 'on the wagon', it is a rare thing that she gets to truly enjoy a really yummy treat. However, Edy's Fruit Bars are my salvation from crappy artificially flavored sort-of food. I am going through a Lime Stage so the Edy's Lime Fruit Bars are my favorite.

Go ahead. Try 'em. If you say that any other popsicle is better, we are in a huge fight. Huge. Don't mess with a hungry chubby person.

Meet Charlotte

I know what you are thinking.

"Why would a person need three ipods?"

You are right. A person does not need three, but it is nice when you do. I was recently gifted a new ipod shuffle. It is pink and holds 240 songs. It is small and convenient. It is so much easier to bring with me when I want to exercise.

I gave my mini green ipod to my mother, but she is returning it to me because she never uses it. I have plans to fill it up with Tim's favorite music and give it to him.

I am spoiled because I packed all of my workout clothes and got ready to walk on the track near my school when I realized I had forgotten Charlotte. (That is the name I have given my shuffle...Charlotte the Shuffle....Little sister to Iris the ipod.) I almost considered not doing my two mile walk because I didn't have Charlotte with me. That is ridiculous. So, I just listened to the birds and the wind.

15 Bags of Mulch and Counting

Before:
This is actually a little after we started OPERATION MULCH. My friend Penny visited from Iowa. Penny is a master gardener. This picture doesn't show it, but I had these really tall 'plants' growing in the very back of the landscaping. Penny informed me that these were, in fact, weeds. Very, very tall weeds. I couldn't believe it. They were so hearty and flourishing. I guess that is why they are weeds. So, we came up with a plan. I would pull the weeds, Round-up the weedy area, and mulch. Lots and lots of mulch.

After:
I am not sure this photo does all of my work justice. I have used 9 bags of pine mulch in the front. I have overcome my disdain for worms, spiders, and crawly bugs. I have played the odds and when I didn't know if a plant was a weed or plant, I assumed it was a weed. I have been wrong too many times before. I like that you can actually see the rocks now.

Before:
This is the side of the house. Lots of rocks. Lots of weeds. Lots of ivy and violets. The violets are nice when they are blooming but they have overtaken along with the ivy. Tim and I are in disagreement about the ivy. He likes a lot of it and I don't. Now, you may not be able to see this, but the weeds go back and back. This was about six hours worth of work or as I count my time now...about four bags of mulch.

After:
Right now, it will remain empty until the fall when I divide some of my monster hostas. Tim and I are working on a plan for this area. We need a new fence on this side of the house and we want some sort of rustic path. As you can see, the ivy is taking over. We found some slugs and that was gross. I let the spiders, worms, and crawly things go because I assumed they were doing something worthwhile in my landscaping, but I am not sure about slugs. I think they are trouble.





After:
I know. There is no BEFORE because I forgot. It is for the best really. This was a mess. A lot of overgrown iris plants and weeds. I had no idea there were even rocks under the weeds. Two bags of mulch.

I have started mulching and weeding the back landscaping. I am using black mulch and I like it. I never thought I would have so many opinions about mulch.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

I can't remember if I have written about this obsession before...

Every Saturday night, we watch Cops on Fox. It never gets old. Now, I realize that I have revealed that Tim and I have a mild social life if we are sitting home on Saturday nights, but hey, this is no surprise to most of you.

We are always waiting for the foot pursuit, the tazer, the shirtless excuse, the 'how-did-that-get-there' conversation after the officer finds a crack pipe, and a favorite of ours...the k-9 pursuit. The k-9 pursuit is a rare scene because most perpetrators realize they are no match for the dogs.

Some might think that it is voyeuristic that we watch the sad situations each Saturday night, but it has become habit for us. We are no longer shocked when the police pull up to the domestic situation only to find a shirtless man explaining how he is being abused by his girlfriend or when the police try to pull someone over only to see the car start a chase because he had some warrants.

My favorite Cops episodes take place in Des Moines because I can recognize a few places. I also enjoy Boise, Idaho because they are midwestern folksy. For example, two people were involved in a hit and run and by the end of the episode one of the people involved was crying and apologizing to the other. They hugged before the cops put them in the car. Of course, Las Vegas yields some great episodes.

Again, it never gets old.

Northeast Spectacular

Washington, DC - It was the first time for all of us in our nation's capital. I can't wait to go back because there are so many things that I want to see again and things I didn't get to see. The Holocaust Museum and Arlington Cemetery were somber but among the most interesting sites in DC. By the time that we made it to the Capitol, we were exhausted and a bit ridiculous. We were taking action shots and senior picture poses in front of the Capitol. That's freedom, baby.

New York City - I am a fan of the double decker bus. It wraps up NYC in a nice little lazy package. I didn't have to figure out the subway system to and from certain locations. We'd just hop on and off. We made it to the Top of the Rock again. Forget the Empire State Building. I've done it and waited three hours for it. I have done Top of the Rock three times and never had to wait for the same view. For Jodi and Penny, this was their first time to NYC and we were on a time budget. We had a little more than 24 hours to see the city. We finished off this trip with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Landlord

Have you seen this yet? I love it. Some people were all "a baby shouldn't be saying those words..."

Come on. She is so cute.

On the Move

I visited Washington, DC for the first time. My friends Jodi and Penny are visiting from Iowa and I am taking them on an east coast spectacular with stops in Washington, DC, New York City, and Philadelphia.

I will be giving a full update on Thursday when I have the time to write it up proper.

Movies Schmovies

I should have nothing to complain about when it comes to having a lot of entertainment resources, but of course I will.

I used to be more than content to wait until independent movies were released on DVD when I lived in North Dakota and Iowa. However, since moving to Philadelphia, I have had opportunities to enjoy smaller movies at my favorite movie house, The Bryn Mawr Film Institute. However, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute is a bit of a tease.

I wanted to see the movie Perfume and waited and waited since it was on the "Coming Soon" section of the website. Then, months after the release of the movie and long after it was on the "Coming Soon" section, it never came. They just removed it from the "Coming Soon".

It is fine. I will survive and watch it on DVD this July when it comes out. However, the same thing could happen with another independent movie called Once that I want to see. The music in this movie sounds great. The Bryn Mawr Film Institute is teasing me with placing it in the "Coming Soon".

I like what I see in the trailer too. I just hope that I can understand their Irish accent. At least if I get it on DVD, I can do subtitles.

I Was Runnin

Through the years, I have borrowed a phrase from my friend who used to say that she only ran when she was being chased. This rule has served me well. Actually, no. It has gotten me nice and soft along with my high sugar and carb diet. So, tonight, with the help of my friend, I ran.

Not only did I run, I ran 0.75 miles. This is HUGE, people! This is how I did it. I ran on the outside ring where the slow people run. I walked the first lap, ran the second and the third, walked the fourth, ran 3/4 the fifth, and ran 1/4 of the sixth. Anything that I did that wasn't running was speed walking including the last laps. Altogether, I walked/ran two miles.

This is what I noticed about tonight's happening...

1. When I stare at the ground, it makes me want to fall over.
2. Stop running if you think you are going to lose your cookies. This will serve you well.
3. Having someone to encourage you helps.
   
4. Don't worry about others. Everyone is doing something healthy and that is the important part.
5. Wear the right pants/shorts. My pants kept falling down because they were tie strings rather than elastic.

Don't Get Too Comfortable

Inspired by Rachel, I have decided to share my recent shoe purchase with the readers. If you are a long time reader, you know that I just made the leap of faith to flip-flops last summer. I made some careful decisions and now own a total of three pairs of flip-flops.

This is the flip-flop purchase for summer 2007. My shoe summer shoe philosophy is this...

Don't love them too much because they are going to be nasty by the end of September.

Not deep or pretty, but grossly honest all the same. It is not that I am a gross or nasty person or that my feet are unkempt, but summer just has a way of beating the hell out of shoes. Maybe it is the trips to the park with all of the dirt. Maybe the fact that I go into the summer shoe season with this downer of an outlook, but they are not nice enough or clean enough to keep around until next summer.

And why should you break them out again when there will be a whole new batch of cute flip-flops priced under twenty dollars? This rule really only applies to flip-flops and canvas shoes.

Exception to my flip-flop rule: A good and proper brown sandal can make it through many seasons.

Please Sign the Guestbook

Actually, you don't have to sign my guest book, but I would love it if you did. This is a feature from slide.com. I really like this site and the varieties that it offers for sharing photos.

What is not to love about geography and pictures, right?

Sorry Lookin' Post

I just don't have anything to write about. I wish I did. I will choose a random and vague topic and go to blogger town on it.

Topic #1: The Hotness
Normally, I would reserve this term for some dreamy newscaster, but in this case, I refer to our computer room. No longer will it be called the computer room or former baby cage (it was the nursery for the people who used to live here), but it will be forever named "The Hotness". Not because sexy things happen in that room, but because it is super hot in temperature alone. I wish I could spend lots of time on my cute imac , but The Hotness does not allow it. I can pull a fan in here and that'll work for awhile, but with this old house, I will have to wait for a window unit.

Topic #2: itunes Shame
How many songs is too many songs? I was listening to my "Purchased" playlist in the car and realized how many songs I had actually purchased. Thankfully, I realized that many of the songs were purchased back in the good old days when I could win a free song when I would drink Diet Pepsi and have a winning cap. I miss those days. Plus, I had a lot of caps because the whole school was in on it. At that time, I was the only one with an ipod at the school and people were happy to feed my addiction. So, should I be ashamed at how much I spend on music or should I just buy 'em up.


Topic #3: The Good Life by Jay Mcinerney
I spied this book when it first came out during my Borders tenure, but would never splurge on a hardcover book. So, I picked it up a few weeks ago and have been reading it. It starts the day before September 11, 2001. The plot focuses on bad marriages and how tragedy, in my opinion, gives people a reason to be honest. These characters start changing their life only after this tragedy happens, but the changes they are making could have happened even before this. Sure, I might be being hard on the book, but the dialogue is super cheesy and there is a lot of justified cheating in the book. I give it a C.

New itunes For the Week

Feel free to comment. I like nothing better than to buy music from the past and present.

1. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
2. A Little Respect - Erasure
3. The Distance - Cake
4. Magic Man - Heart
5. One - Cowboy Junkies
6. Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies
7. True Faith - New Order
8. I Who Have Nothing - Jordin Sparks
9. She Doesn't Get It - The Formats

Like The Killers, that song is old. Why did it take until today to love it. I like other songs by The Killers, but Mr. Brightside made sense today. There was a lot of talk about Magic Man this weekend because we were talking about The Virgin Suicides when Trip Fontaine "emerged from baby fat to the delight of girls and mothers alike". So, of course, I had to have that song.

New Places

Last night was a flashback to when I first moved to Philadelphia. Dar Williams, a folk singer who I dig, was playing a concert in a park near our suburb. This suburb is also near the second biggest mall in America. When I first moved here, it was one of the first places that I took an adventure. So, as I was driving, I started thinking about how far I have come.

When I first moved here, I did everything by myself. Tim was busy at work and I was only working part time. I would find my way to new places and neighborhoods and here I was again, finding my way by myself to something new.

The concert wasn't meant to be because even though I had found the park and set up my lawn chair, it was canceled because it began to storm. I was able to catch the first act but wasn't going to get soaked or electrocuted for some folk music.

Midwestern Crush: Keith Olbermann

I guess it isn't normal to develop crushes on television newscasters and commentators, but I do it at such a regular interval that I have to wonder what it is that I love so much.

Take my new news boyfriend, Keith Olbermann. I enjoy watching him on MSNBC every night with his show Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I love his clean cut style and of course, I love his politics. Also, he points out the ridiculous with the news and the news makers. I enjoy any newscast that gives American Idol as much time as the 2008 Presidential race.
Each evening, he shares the worst person in the world. He is the first newscaster to point out when stupid people do stupid things. That either boosts my ego or just makes me laugh. Sure, he's 48, but he is my new boyfriend.

Midwestern Movie: Beautiful Girls

Beautiful Girls is one of my favorite movies. This is a bold endorsement since I do not have many favorite movies that fall out of the mafia genre. However, every once in awhile, I will love all things about a movie.

This movie was made in 1996, but has these themes that affect you at any age. Without going into too much of the movie details, it comes down to a 'getting on with your life' story after characters take a weekend in their hometown to look back on their life of 30 some years.

These are the things that I love about Beautiful Girls
- The soundtrack...11 years later, it is still good.
- Natalie Portman...at 13, she was an amazing actress.
- The weather reminds me of home.
- I think the writing is clever and quick.

So, if you are looking for a movie to add to your queue, I am giving it my highest midwestern endorsement: four casseroles!

Recipe: Bill's Blue Cheese Dressing

This is one of the few dressings that I make from scratch, but it is very good. If you like blue cheese dressing, you'll love this one. I like to serve it with spinach salad, walnuts, and bacon.
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/3 cups mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. Season with mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir in blue cheese. Cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Let's Keep It Simple

Things I Don't Like

1. Shrek and Shrek movies
2. The song by Heart "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You"
3. Purple and all purple related colors
4. Orange flavored desserts
5. People who think they are perfect and try to make everyone else perfect.
   
6. Scheduling appointments.
   
7. Karl Rove
8. South Park
9. Dry markers
10. The Monday night television choices
    

Home Improvement

Does this ever happen to you?

You buy some paint, put the first brush stroke on the wall and utter words that have been uttered many times on Arrested Development, "I've made a terrible mistake".

It always seems to happen but as I continue to brush and reflect, I get use to it. I gave the bathroom a first coat of Svelte Sage covering the lilac. I don't do lilac. Now that the entire bathroom is covered, I am enjoying it.

Home improvement projects just gets longer and longer. Here it is...
- fireplace screen
- find bedroom duvet cover
- paint bedroom
- research and find someone to sew roman shades for the dining room
- find fabric for those roman shades
- maybe a new shower curtain, something light
- research the price of carpet for a few spaces
- weed wack the front yard
- think about what I need in the dining room...it is kind of bare.
- start thinking about the three season porch and what I want to do in that space.

As you can see...it could take me awhile.

Citrus Obsession

I am going through a lime and lemon stage.

I can't get enough of the citrusy wonder. I have had either limeade or lemonade in my refrigerator for about three weeks. I made a key lime pie again for dessert. I just printed out a lemon cake recipe and will leave for the store to gather the ingredients after I write this post.

I know other people obsess about things, but I have a tendency to obsess about food more than most. I just think about how I can get that certain craving in as many ways possible. I am so glad that Tim is a good sport about all of my obsessions. He never says, "Sara, could we make something other than key lime pie? How about peanut butter?" He just eats it.

If you have a suggestion for a new obsession, I 'll consider it. I am in the market for a new one.

Grillin' and Chillin'

One of our new grown up purchases with this house is a new grill. We've mooched off of friends and family for our grilled food fix for many years. It is now up to us to get the brats and steaks done.

I am trying a new thing tonight, grilled shrimp. I am using the following marinade. I'll let you know how it goes. They are marinading right now and it smells fantastic. I am serving it with a mild garlic and oil pasta and salad.

A key lime pie is on deck for tomorrow. I made one last week, but it was far from my dream key lime pie at home. So, I'll give it another try. I am crazy about lemon and lime stuff lately.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
• skewers

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Reserve a small amount for basting later. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag with shrimp. Seal, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
2. Preheat grill for medium-low heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
3. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 5 minutes per side, or until opaque, basting frequently with reserved marinade.

The Zoo

I took in another Philadelphia adventure today, The Philadelphia Zoo. I took the kindergarteners on a field trip. It is a totally different experience taking a group of children to the zoo rather than when I go with Tim.

My feelings about zoos are very conflicted. I feel bad when I see the polar bears sleeping in the hot sun since I know their natural habitat is where it is cold. When I see a crocodile in a pond the size of my bathtub, I know he would be happier somewhere bigger. The elephants are the saddest to me. These are huge animals that go in herds and are confined to a small space. Thankfully, the elephants are moving out of the Philadelphia Zoo to a big land preserve.

On the other hand, I like zoos because I love to see the animals. Today, the big cat house was amazing. All of the cats were active and came right up to the window where the children could be face to face with a real tiger, lion, and puma. The gorilla put his hand up to the glass and the children did too. If it were not for zoos, the children would never see these animals except on television.

I Ate It

I am a little behind the times when it comes to burrito consumption, but tonight I broke free of the refried bean chains that have kept me from a variety of fast food burrito chains that people have been enjoying for years.

I enjoyed my first huge burrito at Santa Fe Burrito. It is comparable to a Chipotle or Qdoba burritos. I have to say...I am not too impressed.

First of all, it is too big. I could only eat this with what I consider level one friends and family. These are people that have seen me at my worst or they don't have a choice but to still love me. It is not a pretty eating experience. I would hate to eat this tortilla mess with co-workers that I do not know very well. Even worse, if I were in the dating scene, eating this on some sort of first to twentieth date. I actually ate this with a person that I am just getting to know, so I have no memory of the taste of the burrito. All of my energy was spent on not making a damn fool of my cheesy self.

For those of you who know me well, you might have guessed that it was the cilantro that has kept me away from the burrito joints. I can't stand cilantro. Cilantro has made its way into most Mexican establishments and I am against it. So, I asked my friend at Santa Fe Burrito if this has a lot of cilantro and he said no, but it was a very unsure no. But, it was okay. I didn't taste any.

You know me, I usually have glowing reviews of things even when I only sort of like it. I like the burrito, but I think I like it for my secret Sara behaviors like barrette wearing and peanut butter on everything.

A Gnome Among Us

I almost bought a garden gnome today. Are they cute? Are they ugly? I am some where in the middle of that argument, yet I felt strangely compelled to buy one.

Like many of my purchasing moments, I was caught up in nostalgia. Bringing me back to my very younger days in northern Minnesota where my grandmother's garden was sprinkled with at minimum of six garden gnomes, my walk through the craft store aisle had me lifting up each gnome looking for the perfect one.

I wonder if Grandma still has these gnomes? Were they sold at her auction? Now that I have a garden of my own, I think I need one.

It was only after a conversation with a friend tonight that I realized that people do not like garden gnomes. What is not to like? He is a short little man who looks slightly slow. His simple purpose in life is to hang out in the garden among friends. His nose always looks like he might have had too many. Wouldn't we all like to be like the garden gnome?

Plant of the Week

I guess you can add gardening to the following list...

coffee
karaoke
friends and family
good television
cooking
reading
scrapbooking

because I am currently obsessed about it. If you recall, I had several photos of mystery plants on the blog. Well, days have passed and things have bloomed. I thought you might want an update for the flowers.

Thanks for helping me identify the holly plant. I plan on trimming that up next weekend.

Remember this plant?
Well, check out what it has turned into...
I still do not know what it is called, but I love the purple flowers that have come out of it. I hope they last all season. If you know what this is called, I'd be glad to know. Click on it to see a bigger view.



Remember this plant?
Well, check it out. It has blossomed into some beautiful hostas. Everyone was right! Thanks for the help. They are sprouting up all over the landscaping. I will be glad when they fill up the space.




So, here is mystery plant/flower of the week? Who knows what this is called?
Here is the full view and the close up view of the flowers. They are so small and delicate. I love them. Seriously, I am in the bottom of my class when it comes to horticulture.

Midwestern Endorsement!

Hello, Nation.

I know I am not the only person out there that loves Stephen Colbert. I love not only his 'truthiness', but also his irony wrapped in the American flag that he delivers every night on Comedy Central.

It's satire, folks. And I love that. There isn't an episode that we don't laugh out loud at his over the top stars and stripes lovin' humor.

Can't Fight the Feelin'

After school today, I went for a walk. The campus has a great trail and it was a beautiful day. I put on the sunscreen, new lime green shorts, and hit the trail. I had the ipod on and enjoyed many good tunes. When I was about three-fourths finished with the trail, I saw this patch of grass and I had the urge to just lay down in it.

I didn't though. Why didn't I? Was I afraid that I would be looked at funny? Was I afraid of a sunburn on the face since I forgot to reapply to the face? Did it just sound like a good idea and I would hate it when bugs were crawling on me?

Who knows? But, next time I have that kind of urge along with that kind of time, I am doing it.

Two Cents on Alec Baldwin

I love 30 Rock. It is one of my favorite shows for many reasons. First of all, Tina Fey writes the dry, clever, and self-deprecating funnies for the show.

And for all of my love for Tina Fey, it is Alec Baldwin that I dig the most on this show. I can't even begin how many personality disorders his character must have, yet he is somehow likable. His raspy voice and completely unemotional advice that he hands out like pearls of wisdom makes you really feel sorry for him. But only after you laugh out loud at what he just said. I love him...on the show. However, I have a beef with him. I know what you are thinking...

Sara, do you really want to start a fight with someone who calls their own daughter a pig?

Yes. Yes, I do because when it comes to my television entertainment, these colors don't run!

Alec Baldwin, I am tired of you saying that you want to leave 30 Rock to concentrate on your relationship with your daughter. What about me? What about millions of other viewers that depend on you each week to be a part of an hour and half of television that I rely on to be my reward for a hard worked week? Alec, you won a Golden Globe for this show! C' mon! I am going to hope that you come to your senses, but with past history being my guide, I won't hold my breath.

Not Much

I want to write something, but I really do not have anything to write. Life has been pretty uneventful and I have not been involved in anything too interesting. So, that leads to what I consider a lazy person's blog entry. Bullets. And not the violent kind. The kind that are simple and concise.

• I saw two men screaming at each other with their man chests all puffed out at each other. It amazes me that human men are just like animals when they come into conflict. Animals react that way.
• I just realized that all of the American Idol finalists are hard-core Jesus lovers. I discovered this as I read their celebrity playlists on itunes. A lot of Michael W. Smith and worship songs. Now, I won't judge them on that. I have a soft spot for the days when I was all saved in junior high.
• American Idol is also singing "life anthems" tonight. I am not sure if I love this season. I am pulling for Jordan Sparks at this point. This is not why I am pulling for her, but I have to say, she just reminds me so much of the crew that I hung with in high school. She can throw a huge smile on whenever it is asked of her. She is overly-excited about everything.
  
• I usually have two 'go to' baby gifts that I give for showers, but this might be added to the list.
• And finally, because you haven't wasted enough time today, try this.
  

Calling All Gardeners

This is my first attempt at gardening. We have this little rectangle space that begged for some flowers. I planted two hostas and five other flowers.

However, I find myself stumped and frustrated as I clean up the other parts of our landscaping. Because we did not landscape, we have mystery annuals. I have enjoyed the daffodils, but there are several that I am clueless about.

My biggest fear is that they are baby trees that are growing all over my yard. I just need answers. This is where you all come in. I am hoping that some expert gardeners read this blog so they can give me insight. I am posting pictures and if you know what these plants are, please comment. Be sure to refer to them as "plant #1" and so on. Also, if you have tips or opinions on loving or leaving this plant, tell me that too.

Plant #1
Click on any of the photos to get a close up.

These are growing in about four different places in my landscaping in the backyard.

Plant #2
They seem to be opening up and this mystery could soon be solved. I am hoping for some lovely flower that will bloom all summer with my love and attention.

Plant/Shrub? #3
These plants do not have any height to them. They just lay there. They have a pretty purplish hue to them along with the green.

Plant #4

This is the view from the top. It stands up to my knees. It doesn't have thorns, but it looks very healthy.

I am feeling horticulturally delayed here. Help me out.