Musical Roots

My mom likes to tell a story about when I was a little toddler. She says that I would carry around one of those little, plastic record players that would play nursery rhymes over and over. She says, "Sara, you've always liked music". I know this is true. Even though I was told that I had weird music taste growing up. All of the bands and musicians that I loved when I was a kid, I still love. There were no fads for me. Once I was hooked, I was hooked.

I am not a music snob. There is very little that I do not like when it comes to music. I like jazz, classical, rock, pop, bluegrass...I even like marching band music.

I remember sitting in my friend Rhiannon's living room when I was in the eighth grade looking at all of her parents' vinyl records and loving it. She took out Fleetwood Mac. She put it on the turntable and said, "This is the song that I was named after." I loved it. I thought this was the best music ever. At the time, hair bands where men wore more make up than women were all the rage. Hair band music is one genre of music that I cannot stand. So, I added Fleetwood Mac to my mental treasure chest of bands that I'd like forever.

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER was a treasure that I discovered in my basement one day. It had been my mom's record and after listening to it, I couldn't believe that it had been buried in my basement without being enjoyed for years. Another friend in junior high had lent me her Cat Stevens tape and I have yet to give it back to her. It was not my intention to borrow it permanently, but I just felt that I could love it more than she could.

My brother and I had several 45s growing up. We would argue over whether to listen to Billy Joel's "It's Only Rock and Roll to Me" or Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" for the thousandth time while playing in our basement.

I like when I discover "new" artists even now. For example, I just started listening to Joni Mitchell. Tim has helped my broaden my musical tastes to include Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Led Zepplin. They may be old news to some, but they are new to me. I have so many favorites when it comes to music I can't even begin to start. There are many sides to my musical psyche, but these are the roots to all modern things I listen to nowadays.

So, the other day in school, one of my students was working on a poster since she was finished with her work. When I leaned over to see what she was working on, I saw an intricate drawing with the words FLEETWOOD MAC in the middle. I must have smiled pretty big since I had five students say, "What is so funny?" I told them how I love the same band that was on the student's poster. I loved the idea that this nine year old was as excited about a band only 15 years earlier I had just fell in love with and 30 years after the band began making music. Afterward, when it was time for music, they all wanted to listen to Fleetwood Mac. So, we did. We enjoyed a little math and a little Mac.

My Enthusiasm

I have been told that I am a woman who obsesses. I like to call it enthusiasm with a dash of exuberance. When I like something, I really like it. My cycle of passions goes something like this...

Step One
I discover object of obsession or am introduced to it.

Step Two
I learn about it through discussions and Internet research.

Step Three
I get as much of the obsession as I possibly can without driving the people around me crazy.

Step Four
a. I still love the obsessed item(s)/idea(s), but it is placed in the mental treasure box in my mind. I revisit the obsession once in awhile for nostalgia.

b. I make it a permanent part of my life.

Now, without sounding like too much a bizarro woman, my obsessions and passions are always innocent and fun. For example, my current obsessions are dried fruit, Six Feet Under, scented soaps, trying to make chicken exciting, and karaoke. Passed obsessions have been making fudge, hand stamping cards, Sopranos, wearing lipstick, itunes, farmers markets. The list goes on and on. Does this make me weird?

Fair Food Fantasies

Even though I have a love of deep fried, sold from a mobile camper, only available at fests, fairs, and auctions, I did not attend the Iowa State Fair. We had great intentions, but never made it. We only live a few miles from the fairgrounds, but avoided it all together. I love fair rides and have no fear when it comes to riding them. Many people say, "Oh, no. I would not ride anything that moves that fast and can be taken apart in an hour or less." I would. However, Tim does not like rides. When we were in DisneyWorld, I had to shame him into riding Space Mountain by pointing at a seven year old girl in line and saying, "If she can do it, you can do it." So, I knew if we went to the fair, we wouldn't be going on any rides. We might look at the farm animals, but I have no appreciation for them. I cannot decipher a prize-winning pig from a hole in the ground. There is usually exhibits about history and exhibits about home-economics, but again...I have no expertise. I would enjoy the quilts and the old artifacts, but it just wasn't enough to get me there.
Now, the fair food was really the main attraction. I love fried cheese curds. I love funnel cake. I love a nice corn dog. I love it all. Since the food was the attraction, I dug deep for the willpower I hold deep inside and did not go to the fair. Because of the "Health Spectacular", I avoided the fair. I would not have ate with dignity, but rather with complete gluttony.

Arcade Guilt

Dating. This is not just limited to single people. I have been married to Tim for four years and we've continued to date. Not other people. We date each other. Last night, we went on a date to the arcade. Usually, I come up with date ideas, but when I asked Tim what he wanted to do, he suggested the arcade. My arcade experiences have been limited to Skee Ball. My video game expertise lies with a friendly game of Tetris. So, when Tim suggested the arcade, I knew I would be an observer.
Tim played some Star Wars game, a race car game, and a Jurassic Park game. He then suggested that I try a game. I usually am against any kind of gun violence role-play, but I didn't think I would know how to play any other game. So, we played a game where I get the bad guys. I was so disturbed by my ability to shoot the bad guy. I have a good shot. I have no experience with guns so where did I come up with such good aim? Tim was finished long before my game was over because he was not as good of a shot. After that game, I was finished. I returned to safe, friendly Skee Ball where I felt no guilt and all the glory of a 40 point score. I earned 30 tickets which I spent on some toys for my prize box at school.

Behind the Times in Television

I used to think that living in North Dakota was an excuse for being behind the times, pop-culture and fashion wise. So, what excuse can I use for the fact that I just started watching the television show "Six Feet Under "? I have seen this show up for Emmys. I have heard water-cooler discussions about it, yet I have missed two full seasons of this show.

Until the other day when I went to the video store to rent a video to watch while I walked on the treadmill. I went to the television section and it caught my eye. My friend, Amy, has shared her love and I trust her taste. She was right.

This is the type of show that a person gets connected to. The characters are deep and complex. The setting and situations are real, but unfamilar to me. I am hooked. I love the feeling of getting hooked. It happens very easily for me. I felt it with The Sopranos, numerous Law & Orders, and the PBS reality shows like Pioneer Quest and Colonial House . For me, it is the characters that I become attached to. It is a little bizarre, but I think about them during the day. I also love talking about my television shows just like I like to talk about movies and books. Since Tim has pretty high standards for television, I know "Six Feet Under" is something special because he will sit down and watch it. I was only able to rent episodes one through three and can't wait until tomorrow to get the rest. It actually makes me want to get on the treadmill.

Apologies

I am sorry for not writing lately. I have not gotten into my blogger groove since starting school. I have felt exhausted after school each day. I had forgotten how the children wear me out. All summer, I would stay up late and write, play scrabble, or write emails. Now, I just go to bed. In the summer, I had lots of energy and lots of goals, now I have one goal, GO TO SCHOOL AND TEACH. I am sure that in a couple weeks after I get into a routine, things will be different. I'll find myself wanting to do something with my time more than just teach.

"Stylin Profilin"

I needed a haircut. Bad. Yesterday, I hit that all-too-familiar haircut plateau where you look in the mirror, one morning, and you can hardly stand yourself. UGH. That was me. I was almost ashamed to go to work, but I managed. I had looked worse. I knew today was the day for a haircut because not only did I make an appointment, but I ran out of hair product. I am a minimalist with most things, but I need hair product. I have thick, very short hair. Without it, I am one fuzzy head. When a person has short hair, they need trims every four weeks. I would like them every week, but my pocket book won't allow it.

I tend to get attached to my hair stylists. Before I moved to Iowa, I went to Tonya. She was hard on me. She would get after me if I waited that one more week where my hair was just embarrassing. She also shamed me if I would use a box highlighter kit. Then, I moved to Iowa where Cindy cut my hair. She was very nice and never "put me in my place" when it came to my hair choices. She even encouraged me to grow my hair out even when it has never been a good idea for me. And when I came to tell her to cut it really short, she did not care about the long-term hair plan on which she had worked so hard. Well, now Cindy has moved to Indiana and I was left to find a new stylist. My new woman in my life is Jessica. She was recommended by a friend and she did just fine. Why am I so self-absorbed to think that only one stylist can cut my hair and I cannot stray? I think this is an opportunity to test the field with my stylists. Sow some wild hair oats. Who knows, I might meet my soul stylist?

"Life to you is a dashing and bold adventure."

This is what my fortune cookie said to me the other day. I have to disagree a little.

Yes, it is true that I enjoy life very much. I am happy person. However, I don’t believe it is the dashing and bold parts of my life that matter to me or for that matter, even happen to me. I prefer the little things.

All the Little Joys in Life…

Fountain Pop
Well-Worn Sandals
A Good Game of Scrabble
Hand-Written Notes
New School Supplies
Quilts
Fruit Scented Candles
A New Haircut
A Mix CD
New Library Books
Laughing
Wedding Dances

Just to name a few…

Pottery Perfection

Pottery class has come to an end. I am glad that I rekindled this hobby. During my junior and senior year of college, I took pottery classes and loved it. With graduate school and then a move, I was unable to start pottery until this summer. I wasn't able to throw as large of items as I once did in college, but I am happy with the products. I like the natural look of pottery that is made on the wheel. It is different than commercial pottery that you'd find in a department store. It is imperfect and I like that. The colors are natural, and that is a subjective term, but I like the browns and oranges. I stuck to mostly cylinders, but made a few bowls. My favorite piece is the two-tone cylinder on the middle level. I am proud of these. It proves that I did something with my time this summer. Check out close up photos of my pots

Life's a Beach

Today, Tim and I went to the beach.

Yes, they have a beach in Iowa. It was at a little state park about 25 minutes from town. It started out great. We packed a nice lunch in my new lunchbox. We brought a large enough blanket. We even remembered our SPF 45. As we walked from our car to the beach, we soon realized that the beach was not clean and smooth as we'd once hoped. But instead, it was newly plowed, hard, and very hot. I felt like I was walking across hot coals and, might I say, looked pretty silly doing it. We finally arrived at our chosen spot, layed out the blanket, and started to relax.

It is unfortunate, but true that we are not beach people. Tim wanted to move up to the grass, and I did not want to walk across the steamy sand. So, we stayed on our blanket and watched a class reunion make huge sand castles. After about one hour, we decided to leave. Neither of us wanted to go into the moss-covered lake and I was feeling red. So, one hour is pretty good for two people who aren't beach people, don't like to swim in green lakes, and have fair skin that burns just by going out in the sun between the hours 12 and 3.

Next time, I'll just go to the pool at our apartment complex.

Buying, Bags, and Bargains

The Jordan Creek Towncenter is the newest commerical venture in Des Moines. This is a mall extravaganza. I am the type of person that they will cater to since I do like to shop. I know there are people who do not find joy in clothes shopping. However, I am not one of them. I LOVE IT! I like dress clothes, casual clothes, shoes, accessories, and purses.

I like to consider myself a moderate in the shopping scene since I know friends who love it more and spend a lot more. However, when it comes to finding the deal, I am a champion. I don't believe that everyone has this gift and I did not come by it naturally. For years, my mother and I would train at the mall on Saturday mornings and hit the racks. She would be patient in my stores and I would be patient in her stores. We would browse the newest product that came into the stores. Eventually, we would move to the back where the sale items were located.

Now, it is not that we were cheap or didn't have enough money. It is something all together different about finding a deal. Some people find joy in buying expensive things and letting people know how expensive they were. We are the opposite. We love to buy things that are wonderful additions to our wardrobe and the added bonus...we saved a ton. It is a rush. I am always so pleased with myself when I do this.

The occasion does arise when I pay full price for something. Usually, it is one of the wardrobe basics like black pants that fit to a T, jeans that are perfection, or new, crisp white turtlenecks to start the winter.

Now that I do not live close to my mom, I have had to find new shopping friends. My pal, Kecia, enjoys my skills and continues to be impressed with my art of the deal. When we go shopping, I am not only looking for deals for myself, but also, for Kecia. I will always love shopping. No matter if I live in a small town and have to make my way down to the local grocery to get my fix or a big city where there is no limit.

Welcome to the World, Will!

Congratulations to Marisa and Tim on the arrival of Will Gregory on August 11.

Can GWB Be Funny?

The political season always comes up with some clever cartoons, skits, and articles. With every serious article that I read, there seems to be a funny article or animation that I watch. My friend Amy is very good at sending me both.

I know that most of the country has seen the JibJab cartoon on Kerry and Bush, but we still like to pull it up for a laugh. We also enjoy the Will Ferrel skit doing his best GWB.

I always think it is interesting how the media can shape how a political person is viewed in the eyes of Americans. I watch all of the political talk shows from The Daily Show to Meet the Press. Since I am already decided, I usually get more joy out of the Daily Show than the "real" political shows. I usually feel like the interviewers are not asking tough enough questions. So, I depend on John Stewart and his gang to make light of the not-so-light issues. Oh, and it is very funny even if you are not into politics.

Movie Time

I have seen advertisements for a film called Napoleon Dynomite. I have no idea what this movie is about, but I want to see it. From what I can tell, it has some dry wit in it and I like that. If my instincts are correct, it will probably fall into the category of movies that I like, but few others have actually seen.

No, that is unfair. My friends usually have the same movie taste as myself. For example, they all enjoy Fargo, Royal Tennebaums, American Splendor, Best In Show, and Amelie. I like a lot of movies. I do not have to watch just dry wit type films. I like big blockbusters like Lord of the Rings. I have been known to watch a romantic comedy, but I usually leave disappointed. Sometimes it is best to list some of my favorites by genre rather than lump them all together. Mob movies are the films I can watch over and over again. I don't mind the violence in these films, but other movies I can't stand it. I like documentaries too. Right now, Spellbound and Trekkies are a few of the good ones. I like documentaries that leave me feeling, "Wow. I had no idea."

I rarely go to the theater, but instead receive all of my movies through Netflix. The theater provides delicious snacks and the big screen, but there seems to be that same person in all of my theaters that talks through the entire movie. I am tempted to visit our new theater for Napoleon Dynomite because of their treat selection. They serve ice cream, hot dogs, ICEEs, kettle corn, and all other standard movie treats. I am the person they are trying to appeal to. I will choose their theater because of the snacks. I am so easy.

My 100 Things

I have finished with my 100 things! Enjoy!

Wake Up, Sleepyhead!

I am in trouble. I cannot wake up in the morning. My summer of sleeping in has now become a curse on my productivity. My normal school routine is to wake around 6:15 and be leaving my house at 7:00 am. I have woken up at 6:15 when the alarm goes off since that is when Tim gets up. I soon roll over and fall back asleep until...9:30!!!

This cannot go on. I am less than a week away from being back in school. My problem is all about self-discipline. I 'know' that I don't have to get up, so I don't. I have no responsibilities or children to tend to. Everything that is waiting for me to get up will be there at 6:15 or 9:30.

I have never been this kind of person until this summer. I used to get annoyed with my friends that would sleep their day away. I would be up early and fresh. I wouldn't put myself in the catagory of sleeping my day away since I do get up in the AM and when I do wake, I am pretty productive. When school starts next week, I will not have a choice. Maybe I should just be okay with sleeping in since this is the last week to do so.

Hummus is My New Best Friend

Another healthy choice was made today. It started out with some curiosity about how to make hummus at home. I went to lunch a couple of weeks ago and ordered a spread plate that had chicken salad, hummus, and something else that I cannot remember. It was delicious. So, today I researched hummus recipes online to find a healthy, yet tasty hummus recipe. The basic ingredients of hummus are healthy with chickpeas/garbonzo beans, garlic, and whatever else you want in it to make it tasty. I didn't want to use olive oil to limit calories. What I came up with is listed below for your enjoyment. I recommend it with whole wheat pita. You can make it in a food processor, blender, or mush it up yourself.

Hummus Recipe

1-14 oz. can of chickpeas or garbonzo beans
2-cloves of garlic
1/3 cup jarred, water packed roasted red peppers
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Blend/puree in appliance of your choice. Enjoy!

100 Things

I recently read a woman's blog where she listed 100 things about herself. At first, I thought, "That is easy. I could write 100 things about myself." I took that assumption to heart and began to list 100 things about myself. However, it is not so easy. I am on number 21. I know that I am interesting person with 100 things to say, but I wanted to choose 100 things about myself that would illustrate a better understanding of myself. Not only to my readers, but also to myself. As I constructed this list, I realized this was not only a list of the things in my past, but also of my future. It said where I had been and where I was going. So, I will continue to work on my 100 Things About Myself list and post it when it is good and ready. I challenge everyone to list 100 things about yourself. I'd be interested in reading it.

I Hate to Brag, But I Love My Job!

Northwest friends at an Iowa Cubs Game!


Last night I went to a party at the home of our school custodian, Barb. Barb is great. She is one of the funniest ladies that I have ever met. Her wit is quick and zinging. She jokes with people, but never at their expense. Her compassion for kids is outstanding. One of my favorite Barb moments came when I was walking down the hall at school and she was sitting in the hallway with about 30 kindergarteners. The children were waiting for their door to be opened and Barb was keeping them busy with their favorite game, "Guess Barb's Tools". She held up a tool and the crowd of 5 year olds would yell, "Needle Nose Plier!". It was great.

Barb is just one of the people at work that make it fun everyday. This is my second school and I couldn't be happier. My work colleagues have a good in school, but we also gather outside of school. I guess being a teacher is just one of those jobs where you work with your friends. I know not every job is like that.

My work colleagues are one reason that I love my job. The children and the creativity that comes from being an elementary teacher makes everyday a new day. There is not a single day that is the same during the school year. This is a great time of year because we all get a fresh start. It is the beginning with new notebooks and crisp ideas. This year will be especially unique since I will be teaching 4th grade with the same group of children that I taught last year in 3rd grade.

Long story short...I like my job and I like with whom I work.

Week One-Healthy Spectacular

I did not do too hot this week for the Sara Gets Healthy Blog Spectacular. I do want to give a few excellent excuses and then, I promise, no more excuses.

Excuse #1
My oven broke this week and required a new thermostat which meant that I could do limited cooking at home. This required us to eat out a few times. I tried to stay away from fast food.

Excuse #2
Sean came to visit and we went out to eat. We also had an ice cream treat. UGH! Ice cream, you devil.

Even though I make excuses, I want to share what I did well. First, I purchased healthy snacks to eat. Rhiannon gave me the advice "If it is not in the house, you won't eat it." I also played two rounds of golf. On Monday, I walked the entire nine holes. On Wednesday, I walked most of the nine holes with a few rides on the cart. I have increased my water intake by an average of five more glasses a day. I have limited my Diet Coke intake to one to two bottles a day. (This is good for me. I adore Diet Coke.)

Finally, I am not giving up. I am inspired. I know that no matter what happens, I can always start again during the next meal or the next day. I will not use this as a crutch, but rather, as inspiration. Tomorrow, I will walk to work in the morning.

Forshadowing is my Curse

I have a gift. I am very good at forshadowing and predicting. When Tim and I watch Law and Order, ER, or any other drama on television, I can usually predict what will happen in the story in the first five minutes. I thought it was just that I watch too much news and can connect the story lines to current events. I thought it was just that these are television stories that I have watched for years and I know what has already happened on previous episodes. But something happened last night that solidified my gift of ruining the ending for myself.

We went to The Village. As many of you might know, The Village is written and directed by the same person who wrote and directed the movies The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. The opinions vary for each of these movies, but most people say that The Sixth Sense was his best. Anyway...about 20 minutes into the movie, I had an 'AHA!' moment where I made my prediction. (I won't tell you what it is because that would ruin the ending for you.) I asked Tim if he wanted me to tell him, and he wanted to know. I felt such pride at the end of the movie that I was able to figure out the ending so soon and with a movie that prides itself on surprise. I am sure others can do the same because there were many hints along the way. Maybe next time I watch a movie like that, I should just sit back and relax and just enjoy the film rather than try to play storyline detective.

Sean is in the Hiz-ouse!

My brother surprised me with a visit this week. He has the week off and chose to spend some of that time with me. This is a good thing since during the school year, we rarely see each other since he works weekends and I do not and vice versa. While I am excited for my brother's visit, I am always concerned at keeping my friends and family entertained while they visit Des Moines. We've been to the zoo together. We've been to Hickory Park. So, this visit, I plan on taking him to a local pub where they serve great tacos only on Tuesday, golf, mini golf, bike trails, new mall opening, and maybe feeding the ducks (I enjoy this, but he might not). Usually, all I have to do to entertain my friends is kind a nice karaoke joint, but Sean does not karaoke. We'll have a great couple days.

The Best Game to Be Bad At...

Why I Like Golf

1. I get to play a sport even though I have traditionally failed at most athletic attempts.

2. It is a very social game with my friends that usually involves cold beverages of some sort.

3. Golf carts are fun.

4. I get to be outside.

5. My friends are very encouraging even though I am the worst in the group.

6. We eat lunch together afterwards.

Why I Hate Golf

1. I am horrendous at golf.

2. I don't always get the ball in the air like it is supposed to do.

3. No matter who joins our group, and no matter how bad they say they are, I am still the worst.

4. I got sunburned today.

Why I Keep Playing Golf

I always think that today will be the day when I play well. I will just keep trying.

Sara's Gets Healthy Blog Spectacular!!!

I believe if this is my one physical/health issue in life, I have it made.
I am quite lucky, so just let me rant a little.

Ok. Something has to stop. It might be the trips to my favorite fast food joints. It might be the laziness which prohibits any physical activity before noon. It might have to be my lifelong love affair with ice cream. It might have to be my craving for chocolate milk, sugar cereals, and cookies. Whatever it is...something has to change. It is not that I do not have the right perspective on weight loss. I get it. I get that I have the power and control over what goes into my mouth. Even better, I have the skills and knowledge about healthy eating choices. My problem lies in motivation. I was motivated only one time before in my life to lose a substantial amount of weight. You would too if you were going to wear a red, spaghetti strap chiffon bridesmaid dress that hugged every unflattering bump on your never before toned body. During that time in my life, I was eating toast with jam for every meal. I won't go back there. I love food and find joy in preparing, thinking, making, discussing, and most importantly eating it. So, using all of my skills and knowledge about healthy eating and my passion for food, I am going to make a bold assumption. I will write about my trials and tribulations in the "Sara Gets Healthy Blog Spectacular" posting each week (doesn't that make my new health plan sound exciting?). Consider this your first posting about this subject.

SO, I am going to share a part of myself with you as I have done all summer, but what I need in return is your knowledge and support. If you have a great suggestion, tell me. If you want to say, something positive, say it. If you want to say something negative, save it.

Here are my goals for this week's Get Healthy Report:

• Begin journaling my food choices.
• Join the YMCA and check out their aerobic schedule.
• Exercise four days this week. Exercise being defined as heart pumping walking, biking, or activities at the YMCA.
• No fast food...not even my favorite McDonald's breakfast sandwich.

Messy Child/Clean Adult

When I was little, it was a constant battle between my mother and me about the cleanliness of my bedroom. I was comfortable with two feet by two feet square that I had cleared on my floor where I would sit. Clothes, books, papers, radio, telephone, and tapes surrounded this space. This space on my floor provided me with everything a 12 to 17 year old would need to have a successful academic and social life. My mom would have preferred that the clothes actually make the clothes hamper, the books be placed on the bookshelf, and everything else have a place rather than sprawled over the floor. Even though my room was a disaster, or as my mom would call it, "a pig sty", I liked being in my room. I took pride in my room. It was my own little space with all the things that I liked. I never had a television in my room, but I didn't need that. All I needed was space, music, and a telephone. So, now that I am an adult with my very own apartment that I share with Tim, I have a much bigger square than two by two feet. If you would have asked my mom 15 years ago if she thought I would keep a clean house, she would have gave a confident NO. Well, I am a woman of surprises. I am a clean person. Sure, the apartment gets messy, but not dirty. I don't enjoy cleaning, but once I start, I have to do a good job. I take the same pride in my apartment that I took in my messy childhood room because I loved being in both places because it is where I am home.

I vote, therefore, I am.

So, I've been watching the Democratic Convention all week. I am not the person that the speakers are trying to convince. I am already convinced that GWB needs to leave the White House. I plan on watching the Republican National Convention because it would only be fair, right? I want to know how I will react to their speeches. I want to see if they are as motivating and positive as the Democratic speeches have been. Maybe all conventions, no matter the political affiliation, are meant to be vague and powerful at the same time. Of course, certain themes will be revisited in both conventions...terror, healthcare, and economy. Some themes will be on tap at the Republican Convention...marriage. So, I look forward to watching it. Just like I enjoy conservative radio, I will enjoy this. It usually justifies and affirms my own liberal political stance.  Oh, some of you did not know I was a liberal...well, I guess the secret is out.

"I love your purse, " she said. "Oh. You mean my handbag?"

 

Disclaimer
One would not consider designer purses a controversial subject, but among some people, it can be a passionate debate.  I was once admonished for calling a purse a purse when I should have called it a handbag!  I write this post with a deep love of purses myself.

 
I love purses.  I prefer small purses.  I like buying many purses in a season that range in colors from a classic black to a vibrant pink.   Even though I might buy some of these purses at department stores, I do not buy the purses that are behind the glass cases.  These purses are for the wealthy in pocket and I cannot justify the cost of these forbidden purses in my mind.  So, I am left to buy the purses left for the regular folks.  
With my recent trip to NYC, I was introduced to the non-Midwestern way of buying these designer purses.  There are men on street corners and people in little stores in China town who specialize in this specific addiction where women want/need designer purses.  You can find purses with coveted letters and labels for more than half the price.  These are called knock-offs and they are good.  I did not buy any because I just didn't feel the need, but I know many people who have enjoyed this indulgence.  I recently enjoyed viewing several of my friend's designer knock-offs.  I like one specific label because the purses are unique and very colorful, but I could not justify the spending on an authentic bag.  Therefore, I don't think I could wear a knock-off.  Does that make sense?  I am not sure if it makes sense to me. 
It makes me ask the question, why do women like designer purses with letters and labels that display exactly how much she probably spent on it?  Why do women buy knock-offs of expensive purses?  Don’t all purses carry the same lipstick, pen, gum, and wallet?  Wouldn’t buying a purse that was less leave more money in that wallet in your designer purse? 
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t judge these women.  It is their money.  Like I said, I really like one designer so much that I almost want to buy a bag from her.  Luckily, there are entrepreneurs in our world who can capitalize on women’s addictions to accessories.  And can you believe it, they are on the Internet!  I was recently told about a company that has a similar marketing plan to Netflix, the online DVD rental company that sends movies in the mail that you request online.  The company, Bag, Borrow, and Steal, receives a monthly rental fee and will send you the designer purses that you request.  When you are finished, you simply return them for your next designer bag.   I do not plan on subscribing to this service, but I know I have friends who might not be able to resist.

Teachers on Parade

I have been in many parades in my life, but this parade I was not required to carry pom-poms or a large brass instrument. I was only required to wave and throw candy. During the Ankeny Summerfest, the educators of the year were asked to ride in the Ankeny Education Association float. I wasn't sure how fun it would be since we don't know many people in Ankeny, but I was surprised. I saw so many students, parents, and fellow teachers along the parade route. They were all excited to see me in the parade, and I threw extra candy at them. However, we did run out of candy because we were a little to enthusiastic at the beginning of the parade route.  

New York City Pictures

I have finally put up some pictures from my trip to NYC. However, I want to say something before you view them. I have never been great at taking pictures...I leave that up to my friends, like Amanda. She takes them and gives them to me. I was the only one who could take these pictures and when I picked them up, I realized, I had hardly taken any pictures. I am okay with that since I was there to experience it all. It also looks like I either wore the same shirt all weekend, or took all of my pictures on the same day. Neither are true. (I probably didn't have to say that last part.) I am never a person who "touches up" any time during the day, but on vacation, I probably should have since I was taking pictures. Oh, well. I learned an important lesson looking at these pictures, I should put a comb in my purse. This sounds negative, but I had a great time and am happy with the pictures because it shows the fun we had. 
Check out the photos!

Road Rage

I am a little bummed today because I was so excited to upload my NYC pictures, but the Hello program is not working so...stay tuned until I can figure it out.  They are worth it.

I drove up to Minneapolis this weekend.  I was proud of myself for driving around the rush hour traffic.  I was cool.  I was collected.  I had to turn my music off, but I did it.  It is hard to believe that I had never driven in Minneapolis up until two years ago.  Since then, I can zoom around the cities without much trouble. 
When I was driving home yesterday, I was stuck in traffic for 40 minutes on Interstate 35.  I was alone so I took the time just to look around and observe the drivers around me.  People were getting so angry and I could tell just by looking at their faces.  They also showed their aggrivation through their crazy driving.  I saw so many people "almost" get into accidents.  It really made me just want to get off that interstate.  I react to traffic clogs with calmness, but I am never in a rush to get anywhere.  Tim reacts with some frustration, but nothing that alters his driving. 

 

A Week Late and a Dollar Short

Apologies first...I know that I have fallen behind in my blog updates, but be assured, I will not falter again.
I am beginning another exciting weekend, but I wanted to share the events of last weekend with you first.  The weekend started with a yummy pan of gooey lasgana served with my yummy garlic knots...it was a big hit.  Steve, Amanda, Sara, and I enjoyed conversation before we ventured to Billy Joe's Lounge where we had hoped to sing some karaoke.  It all started out fine at Billy Joe's with a couple pitchers of beer.  I was able to sing my karaoke standard of "Moving On UP-Th Jefferson Theme Song" right away.  It was a solo of course.  After some slow ballady country songs, it really shook things up.  But, too many people had the same great idea that we had, and we were unable to sing as much as we had liked.  These were the songs that were sung at Billy Joe's...
Jefferson Theme Song
The Gambler
Proud Mary-Tina and Ike version
Thank God I'm a Country Boy
We traveled home to my apartment where we dined on our traditional after bar snack of Club Crackers and Kaukauna Cheese. 
On  Saturday, we toured Ames, Iowa and Iowa State University.  We also ate at my favorite central Iowa BBQ place, Hickory Park...so good.  Their ice cream sundae menu is as big and essential as their regular food menu.
We ate the following sundaes...
Amanda had the Toffee Crunch.
Sara had David Delight.
I enjoyed the Peanut Gallery Parfait.
Because we stayed up late the night before, we went home to rest a little before our evenings events.  Later, we challenged each other a to fiesty game of mini golf.  Amanda lost.  Steve won.  I was the only one who didn't get a hole in one.
So, there it is...I promised that I would write about it and have pictures about it.
Check out all of the pictures!

  

Update Time...Cats and Organization

Here is the situation with the cat.  I want one.  Tim wants one, but doesn't want one right now.  He wants to wait until we start the school year to see if we still feel the same.  I can tell already that he will make a good parent because this is a parenting strategy that was used on me when I was little.  That is okay.  I can wait, but there was this one little cat named Chubb that I really wanted.  Tim assured me that there will be more cute cats when it is time for us to adopt one. 
 
Today I bought hanging folders to update and organize our important papers (contracts, leases, policies, bills).  Yesterday, I programmed all of our financial data into a money program.  I do not know what has come over me that I care about this all of the sudden, but I think it is a good idea.  First, I don't want to be one of those wives who have no idea what is going on in the family's financial matters.  Secondly, I feel pretty "with it" when it comes to everything else in our household, except for this.   Tim is good at it.  I am not good at it.  So, to better myself, I am going to work on understanding all the business part of our lives.  I think this is a good goal.   In order for me to be successful at understanding the finances, I have to have it all set up my way.  No papers and loose folders all around the desk.  I need it organized. 

School in July?

Perfectimundo!  I had an excellent weekend.  I want to tell you all about it, however, I feel like I would be doing it an injustice if I were to do this without the pictures of the weekend.  So, I will write about my weekend tomorrow when I get the pictures from Amanda.
 
Today, I am going to go to school and see how my room is coming.  I am supposed to be getting new carpet in my room.  Since I will be teaching fourth grade this year, I will have to move classrooms.  I am getting the surge of energy that precedes the new school year.  I won't have to worry about my whole new crop of kids since I had them last year.  Even though I promised myself to wait until August to enter my classroom, I might break down and go. 
  
 

Purr...

We are thinking about getting a cat.  Tim grew up with a cat and a dog so he is familiar with the pet responsibilities.  I did not grow up with a pet, but feel like I am a "cat person" rather than a "dog person".  With my summer off, I feel like this would be a great time to get a cat.  I could help it get used to our home and used to us.  I do not worry about the responsibility of a pet, but I do worry that it might be lonely when school starts and I will go back to work.  Tomorrow, I will go down to the Iowa Animal Rescue League and ask some questions about cat adoption.  I might even visit some cats.  I am interested in your views on pets and adopting a cat.

The Karaoke Bill of Rights

A metaphor if I may...
Consider the karaoke bar as a fancy, new restaurant where you are not quite sure what to order. You've been planning on going to this fancy restaurant for sometime. You know that you love fancy food, but what fancy food should you order? What is the etiquette of this fancy restaurant? Are there any "unwritten" rules at this fancy restaurant? Okay...not that great of a metaphor, but they were never my thing. Anyway...this is exactly how I feel when I venture into a new karaoke establishment. To ease any anxiety about singing karaoke, my friends have come up with the Karaoke Rules or as I like to refer to them as The Karaoke Bill of Rights.

Karaoke Bill of Rights

You have the right to a solo. No matter how scared or nervous you are, a solo is liberating.

You have the right to sing a ballad. Chicago, Celine Dion, or Phil Collins would be proud.

You have the right to take yourself too seriously at the risk of being laughed at...it is okay though if you get laughed at, it only means that karaoke is no joke to you.

You have the right to sing along even if you don't have a microphone in your hand. Just because some drunk girl thinks it is a good idea to sing to the Dixie Chicks doesn't mean that she is the ONLY Dixie Chick in the room.

You have the right to a SUICIDE karaoke song...let a friend or DJ pick the song and you just do your best. This is for brave and sometimes experienced karaoke singers.

You have the right to hog the karaoke. It is not your fault if no one else can think of a song to sing and you have already sung five songs in a row.

You have the right to just yell your karaoke song, but beware! You might be given some disapproving looks.

You have the right to give up if the chorus of a song just keeps going and going like Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds...great song, long song.

You have the right to bargain with the karaoke DJ to get your song on...they are just happy that you want to sing usually. This means they don't have to sing.

You have the right to think and sing like you are the greatest Motown singer since Aretha...I know I do.

Midwest Treasures

Geographical treasures are hidden all around the great midwest. I never had the urge to explore them in North Dakota, but since moving to Iowa, I have explored a few of these diamonds in the rough. Perry, Iowa is the home to my friend Louise. She invited my teacher friends and me to Perry to have lunch at the Thymes Remembered Tea Room. We were surrounded by delicate, feminine flower arrangements and offered a variety of dainty treats. After lunch, we walked over to the Hotel Pattee. This historic hotel offers a variety of themed rooms to meet your asthetic needs. We toured a few of the rooms that were vacant such as the Quilt Room, the Needlework Room, and the Betty May Harris Room. The other rooms that I was sad not to see included the Japanese Room, Russian Room, and the Chautauqua Room. Visit the link and view some of these treasures. Thanks to Louise, we had a great Iowa afternoon. 

A New Music Obsession

I am a music junky. And the public library is my corner dealer. I went to check out some books and became distracted by the CD checkout. It was an audio feast where I could choose from jazz to country. I added the predictable CDs to my pile, but one of the reasons that I love checking out music from the library is the risk taking. I like to add CDs that I am unfamiliar with into my pile. I went home without a book, but with plenty of CDs. I put in a new CD and had a moment of obsession that I sometimes have. I loved what I was hearing. Eva Cassidy's Songbird was exactly what I love in music. Her raspy voice sang haunting and emotionally charged songs. Here version of "Some Where Over the Rainbow" and a song called "I Know You By Heart" were repeated several times this afternoon. At that moment, I had to research everything I could about this artist. Why had I not heard of this woman before this? Go to your library and check her CD out.  

A friend is the person whom you dare to be yourself...

It is only Tuesday, but I am already looking forward to the weekend when my friends will visit. Why do some people come into our lives and stay? That is an easy question to answer when it comes to our family members, but more complex when it comes to friendship. When I met Amanda on the first day of ninth grade, who knew that she'd be visiting me a few months shy of my 28th birthday? I couldn't have predicted that Steve would be a friend even after college and the miles between us. And Sara, ours is a friendship that has evolved into something really special to me. She is the most honest and real person that I know. All together, I believe that I have the funniest friends around. We have the ability to laugh about old memories and continue to make new memories. Hip! Hip! 

Is LOVE the best medicine?

Happy Anniversary, Janelle and Ryan! 

A Night Canvas

I am a woman of extremes. In one week, I have watched two different firework spectaculars. The first in New York City where I could see the iconic Statue of Liberty in the background. Last night, I watched the Summerfest fireworks in Prairie Ridge Park in Iowa. I don't even want to say that one is better than the other. I cannot even compare the two. In New York, I was crowded and cramped, but the show was spectacular. In Iowa, I was relaxed in my lawn chair with a funnel cake in my lap. The fireworks were so close that I thought they might fall right down on me. It was the closing event for the annual Summerfest. I used to avoid the fireworks show in North Dakota with work at the ice cream shop. I hated the crowds and the parking. I hated the mosquitos and the search for a "good spot". Most people assume that everyone loves fireworks, but it has been something that I have learned to love and appreciate. But now, it is like most things in my life, once I am there, I love it. I am so glad that I did it.  

My Pain is Real

 

I have always prided myself on my hearty North Dakota spirit. I rarely fall sick. If I do get sick, life goes on. I do not take too much time to dwell on my sickness. On the other hand, a few of my close friends would call me a hypochondriac since I do enjoy webmd.com. I am accutely aware of my body and any changes that occur within my body along with my openess with my friends leads them to the conclusion that I am a hypochondiac. That being said...I really hurt my back. My mother was worried about my travels to New York City and that I wouldn't return. Irony sets in as I return to the "safe" midwest. Bending down to pick up some shoes from my suitcase, I feel a POP in my lower, left back. I knew in an instant it wasn't good. As the day went on, I became more debilitated to the point where Tim acted as my walker when it became too painful to stay in our bed. With a constant regimen of hot and cold compresses and a constant dose of Ibuprofen, I seem to be on the mend. Is there a lesson in all this pain? Can I manage to stay back/hip healthy? And can anyone advice me on how to be back healthy? All I know is that I thought I was tough. Now I know that I am not.

PS...My New York City pictures are on their way. Check back soon to view them.

Big Apple Adventures

I have returned to the Midwest from my New York City July 4th Vacation Spectacular! With the help of my tour guide, Amy Becker, I was able to experience a tailor-made trip. Amy created a NYC itinerary that was designed just for me in mind. Some people may find it important to see every famous landmark ever erected in NYC in this short four-day trip, but we saw important sites and some less visited sites too!

Things that I Did/Saw/Experienced in New York City That I Could Not Do/See/Experience in Iowa...

Thursday
I arrived in New York City and took my first cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Milner, my Russian cab driver, was very nice. I dropped my suitcase off at Amy's office and began my journey around Times Square. It was surreal because so many of the sites were familiar to me, yet I had never been to New York before. I say Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, ABC Studios, and TRL Studios. After Amy finished work, I took my first subway ride back to her place in Brooklyn. She lives in a great neighborhood with a lot of character. We walked over to a restaurant called Alma. It was a rooftop restaurant with a great view of lower Manhattan. We drank Mojitos and had great conversation.
Friday
We started the day by visiting a local bakery in Brooklyn called Mazzola. Amy enjoyed a chocolate croissant and I had a danish. Sitting outside, I enjoyed the Italian man in bright green pants whose job it was to deliver "Zingers" to anyone who passed by. For example, my zinger was, "Whoa. Is that danish for breakfast and lunch?!" I also observed a hearse drive up to the bakery with a tall, skinny Italian man with an oversized coat and a scary looking Italian in the passenger seat wearing a fedora. There was a coffin in the back, but they also needed some bake goods. It felt right since I was in Brooklyn.
After, I enjoyed the Amy Becker walking tour of NYC. We started in lower Manhattan where we saw the site of the World Trade Center. Wall Street and the Stock Exchange were guarded with police officers in full gear and machine guns. At Battery Park, I saw the Statue of Liberty and several men trying to sell purses and watches.
We visited Chinatown where there were lots of opportunities for me to buy knock-off designer handbags, but instead, I purchased some Asian looking handbags...again, I couldn't find that in Ankeny. I was proud of my bargaining skills. I saved $6!
We walked through Little Italy, SoHo, and the Village. We stopped at the Prada store, but it was so artsy-fartsy, I couldn't stand it. It had no sign that said Prada. One is just supposed to know that it is there.
We enjoyed a spicy Polish sausage in Central Park, but not before we stopped at the Plaza to use their bathroom. Bathrooms are scarce in NYC...you have to be aware of your needs at all times. During our lunch on the grass at Central Park, we sat near a man who was being read the Bible by his lady friend as he enjoyed some weed. He later got up to wow us with his flute skills. I don't think he actually knew how to play the flute.
We walked to the Museum of Television and Radio where a person can watch almost any television program every made. Amy and I enjoyed a Days of Our Lives episode where Steve married Kayla on his boat. For all of you fans out there, it was the one where Kayla miraculously got her voice back during her vows. The fashion and hairstyles made us laugh till we cried.
Back in Midtown, we met Wes for a snack at McDonald's before we went to our show. I had my first celebrity spotting! Wes alerted me to Jane Seymour of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman fame getting cash from the cash machine. She looked very classy in her white suit and very beautiful. We enjoyed Hairspray the musical.
We stopped for a couple bottles of wine and sat on Wes's rooftop enjoying the view until about 5 AM. Amy and I took a cab over the Brooklyn Bridge as the sun began to rise. We needed some sleep after such a busy day.
Saturday
We woke up late because of the late night before. We had a brunch and took off for Coney Island. We enjoyed The Cyclone, The Breakdance, and The Wonder Wheel. Amy liked the Cyclone, but I was a fan of the Breakdance because it was half Scrambler and half Tilt-a-Wurl. We almost barfed. It was great. After the rides, we sat on the beach for a couple hours where we enjoyed the people watching. We saw a man with an albino boa constrictor, a topless woman, two weed smoking gentlemen, and one little girl who wanted to hang out with anyone but her mom. Not only did we ride the Breakdance, I was also able to enjoy some boardwalk performers who amazed us with their breakdancing styles.
We walked down to Brighton Beach where we ate Russian food. Amy ate borscht, blintzes, caviar, and lamb kabobs. I ate the blintzes and some of my pork kabobs. The waiter also hit on Amy. We enjoyed the boardwalk musicians with their accordions and organs.
After dinner, we met Wes and his friend at Spectrum in Brooklyn. This is the bar where Saturday Night Fever was filmed. We stayed up late dancing and having a great time.
Sunday
Happy 4th of July! Lunch at Junior's was excellent. Amy made another wise choice that suited me very well. Junior's is famous for its cheesecake, but we had other treats. I enjoyed a pineapple float, mac and cheese, and brisket sandwiches. We traveled to the South Side Seaport where a street fair was being held. Great shopping and food. I bought an Indian style pillowcase that will probably be used for something else. I also used the bathroom at Fraunce's Tavern where George Washington said good-bye to his troops back in the day.
Later, we walked to the Promenade, which is in Brooklyn across from lower Manhattan to view the fireworks. It was crowded and at one point, an angry Latina told me to hold back the people that were coming into our area. I had a feeling that I was not going to be able to control this New York crowd. While I was waiting for the fireworks, a nice man gave me some literature for Jews for Jesus.
The fireworks were synchronized with the Statue of Liberty. I could see the fireworks from lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It was a surreal experience. It felt like I should have been watching it on television, but I was really there.
Box karaoke followed the fireworks. Wes, Amy, and I met their friend Daniel and his friends at Sing Sing where we had our very own karaoke room. Here are a few of the selections of the evening...
-"You Don't Bring Me Flowers"-Amy & Myself
-"It's All Coming Back to Me Know"-Wes
-"Summertime"-Amy and Wes
-"Proud Mary"-Myself
-"Release Me"-Myself
-"We've Only Just Begun"-Wes
Box karaoke is something that I could become addicted to. So fun.
I said good-bye to Wes and we went back to Brooklyn where we stayed up very late talking.
Monday
This was my last day in NYC. Amy and I ate at Savoia where we had wonderful pizza with an oil sauce, cheese, sausage, and red peppers. We were walking to get a treat at Sweet Melissa's when we were caught in a downpour. I purchased my second umbrella in New York at that moment. We made it to Sweet Melissa's to enjoy a cafe au lait and some decadent Chocolate Mousse with a fantastic hazelnut crust. Then, it was time to say good-bye and thank you to Amy. I made it back to Iowa where I have told many people about my NYC adventures. They all say, "Oh, you did so much." I feel the same way. It is because of Amy Becker's thoughtful planning that I had such a wonderful trip. Thanks, Amy.