what's in your freezer?

after 50 pounds of blackberries and 28 pounds of blueberries I think I'm ready for the winter.

signs of old age

in high school my friend lindsey and I went to concerts on a regular basis. hours of standing, loud music blaring into our ears, waiting in line afterwards to get our CDs signed.

then there was that one fateful day when we excitedly waited in line to see a Jackopierce concert. Who is Jackopierce you might ask...and rightfully so. according to wikipedia they are an "american alternative rock band formed by Jack O'Neill and Cary Pierce in Dallas, Texas in 1988. Their style is focused around vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars" yes formed in 1988, the year I turned 4. They broke up in 1997, and released the equivalent of a greatest hits CD in 1998 celebrating nearly a decade of music. in other words....an old-people-music-snob band that I LOVED. (well LOVE since the opening notes of any of their songs still brings a smile to my face)

we entered the beaumont club, a cowboy-dance club which would double as a standing room only concert venue for all my favorite alternative rock bands (check my CD collection....they've nearly all played at beaumont) and were stunned to see chairs. rows of chairs filling the space where we normally stood on sore feet. chairs...humm.....apparently this is what old people concerts are like......I could definitely get used to this.

since then I've strived to find seats at concert venues...I dont need to be front row...my feet like to sit, or perch on stools overlooking the concert floor. we took this up one notch however when we went to see Swell Season. Lawn seats at Ravinia...aka picnic blanket, picnic feast, and laying down listening to music. (note to self...pillows next time) Done and Done. I'm sold concerts should be attended in reclined position.

2 days later we went to see Tonic, another old person band, people here however had not gotten the memo about chairs. my feet hurt. I was bored. I wanted my picnic blanket. I even thought 'perhaps I'm too old for this'. the next night we were back. free sister hazel concert. I was ready for hurt feet and tired legs. then they started playing. and I was happy and dancing. Perhaps I'm not that old yet after all.

books vs. reality

I've been reading a lot so far this summer and my books seem to be more exciting versions of the life I'm leading.

I read about a girl who sails solo around the world on a 26 foot sailboat...as I finish that I get ready for my sailing adventure

I read about a guy who hikes the Appalachian Trail....and am heading into the woods to go camping next weekend.

I'm not sure if this means I should be concerned about book number three that I dive into or I should start to dream big.

How do you measure..measure a summer?

in miles rode?

in rooms cleaned?

in visits to the beach?

in books ready?

in films seen?

in days of website avoidance?

how do you measure, measure a summer?

clearly some are better than others...who wants to clean rooms all summer after all. and so I've chosen 3....which may expand to 4...to measure my summer by and have created my summer log: miles on my bike, books devoured, and days spent avoiding the apartment listings on Craig's List.

summer resolution

to not check Craig's list apt listings for new places to live

since I am still committed to this place for 8 months.

summer vacation

back in the days of student teaching one of my little darlings said to me "ms becker, you went to notre dame, you were a chemistry major, you could make good money....you want to be a teacher now why?"

I looked him straight in the face and said "christmas break and summer vacation"

all seriousness aside - yes as a teacher i get to touch children's lives (not their bodies), impart knowledge on the future generations, awaken in them a love and appreciation of science, help them to become who they are, blah blah blah - I get christmas break and summer vacation.

the kids think its news to me when there are 25 days of school left...sorry I've been counting down since there were 50.

they walk into my room to take their final exam telling me I am sooo done with school. too bad I was soo done weeks ago...remember how the last week you've had work-on-your-study-guide-time.

I am so ready to ride by bike, lay on the beach and ready my book.

could those be off season elf-boots?

we spent the weekend doing laundry downtown which means that I lugged my life on the el...getting on I may have clipped this gentleman's shoes with my rolling suitcase...I turned and apologized quickly, and he assured me it was ok. and then I noticed his shoes.

the last 2 inches of these shoes were too narrow for toes to fit in...and they were all scrunched and tilted. I wanted to discuss these with nick...but he is not always the most observant of his el surroundings like these...so I pulled out my camera.

i've always thought that the sounds digital cameras make were annoying...so I turn them off immediately...and now this move is paying off...spy camera...am I taking a pic to discuss my surroundings later..or am I sending an innocent text message.

let it be known that this man's shoes got even better since when he got off i noticed the ends of the didnt even touch the ground...these shoes I did not understand...unless perhaps he had webbed duck feet. and i needed my pic to discuss. and discuss we did.

if only I'd pulled out the camera for the pic of drunk man with green suspenders...so I'd have a visual element to pair with his story. on the phone...gets asked what time it is...stares at his digital watch for a min or so...then hits a button and gets back to his call...8:30 he says. silly drunk man.

to buy or not to buy, that is the question

aka contemplations of the self-gifter

after a few month of way to high credit card bills and a not so rapidly growing savings account I decided to swear off self present buying for a while. and so far so good...half way into my next credit card cycle, less than a third of my normal purchasing made.

I have been good. after 15 min of contemplating purchases I walked out of the REI store empty handed. I put items in my shopping card at on-line places...but never go to get my credit card. I've window shopped longingly...but remembered the lessons of the girl in the green scarf. I've been strong.

I feel as though this may be changing. I've been thinking a lot about buying an ipod touch...Im one who likes to travel light, but is addicted to staying in touch in my electronic world, and so lug my computer with me on all my adventures. (thank goodness for regular camping trips when I go off-grid and experience a healthy dose of electronics-free time)

the thought of internet that can fit in my pocket is quite appealing. more and more places are offering free wi-fi (Mc. Donalds! really...like you need to surf the net while eating your chicken nuggets and sipping a shamrock shake??) which means traveling light AND feeding my addiction (the technology one...not the shamrock shake one...more on that later)...the desire for which is strong...and I am weak.

I'd buy the baby 8 GB...no need to replace my fabulously large ipod classic still in tip top condition. and really as my oh so astute roommate says I'd actually be "saving money because then you will no longer be tempted to buy an iphone which has monthly phonebills".

but yet the question remains....do I need another present?

perhaps I do...

they get me with the stories

last night I was working away...frantically checking things off my to do list while watching the olympics because well, I. Love. The. Winter. Olympics. and was looking for the opportunity to take a shower. and thought to myself. 'nordic combined....I dont care about that. that sounds like a perfect shower opportunity' but then the had on the story, and I was stuck.

team USA had a chance for gold. these underfunded athletes who despite competing on skis dont benifit from any opportunities of the US ski team. these athletes who were so good that they inspired one of their team members to come out of retirement and compete at his 4th olympics and for the first time ever the usa had a chance to win a medal. ok fine. I'll watch.

open letter to the winter olympics

Dear winter olympics-

I have professed my love before. and I do not deny it today. I love to watch you for hours on end, but I am le tired. Perhaps in the future you might take me into account when laying out your schedule. Perhaps you could include a day when no events happen, so that I might go to bed before 11 just once during your 2 week stretch. I think that this would be much appreciated by many because its not just me who is feeling the effects, even your favorite athletes are feeling the effects.

please consider this in the future,

your loving and devoted watcher

p.s. yes I know that apollo claims that his yawns are a stratergery to allow more oxygen into in lungs right before a race, but you and I know he's been up watching other events as well

winter olympics + canada = best 14 days of my life.

I. LOVE. THE. WINTER. OLYMPICS.

summer 2008 we were glued to the tv watching the summer olympics. schedule printed cheering for our little americans take gold (or at the very least try their very best) I think there were some gymnastics, some running, and maybe some other stuff...we were obsessed. watched for hours on end, planned our outings around medal events. life was good.

and then there was the winter. snowboard cross, and half pipe, mens figure staking, LUGE, ski jumping, CURLING, the hilarity that is the biathlon (skiing and cross country skiing....really?), MOGELS.

and all my favorites were back...since winter olympians have a longer shelf life I believe...Bode miller, F.LOCH, shaun white, lindsey jacobellis, shani davis, evan lysacke, julia mancuso, lindsey vonn, seth wescott, apollo ono, johnny weir, and that crazy russian who won figure skating last year. and my new FAVORITE. PIPS!

ok so her real name may actually be hannah kearney. but check out those pips. I only wish I had goggles when I ride my bike so I can be pips. she is my pip-ing hero. google image hannah kearny...you'll see pips. pips on the slopes, pips at the medal ceremony the next day. she flipping loves her pip. an I flippin love her. (did I mention that ben and jerrys is making a new flavor in honor of her....what is it you ask...coffee ice cream with chocolate cookies. aka MY FAVORITE)

needless to say the TV has been on constantly from 7 till 11 (or later...thanks to vancouver's unfortunate plague ice and snow delays) forgoing my early bedtime resolution to watch one last event, these are the winter olympics after all.

AND they are in Canada.

(I can name all 13 of my providences...can you)

summer life plan retake

so day three of summer life plan evaluation: a little more successful that previous attempts.

morning: bike ride successful...except for the gigantic mud puddle I rode through, getting mud all over my white shirt. 9 mile ride with a stop by the local target to get a bottle to take my smooth to the beach in.


the off to the beach, where I enjoyed sun, sand, my book, and finally worked up the courage to go for a swim in the 63 degree water.

and on my way out of the beach I learned that the beach is only open for swimming at 10:30, and that I was more then welcome to partake in appropriate non-swimming activities as early as 6:00....now to rethink the plan

home for the afternoon, mailed off a GIANT box, managed to do an hours worth of work, and then was distracted by life. though I did manage to make a delicious dinner of poulet saute au herb, cous cous, and oven roasted corn.

tomorrow, life plan may need to be inverted since I have stuff I HAVE to get done before 9 am wed morning...

summer life plan: 2 day evaluation

in the time since I made my summer life plan...I havent exactly followed through very well. Thursday I worked then went to the post office...but went into the evening determined to live out life plan on friday, well a modified life plan since I found out the beaches dont open till 10:30. 10: 30!!! really no one is allowed to enjoy the beach early in the morning???

so friday, took a 10 mile bike ride, THEN went to the beach...where I enjoyed my book reading, ate some cherries, drank some water got into the lake. and walked to the edge of the swimming area and turned around and went back to my towel. that was enough cooling off.

by this time Im too tired to do work...hence the important coffee shop element of my life plan, and so I lay on the couch and do nothing. oops. well do nothing except allow the sunburn to come to the surface...modifcation to life plan number 2: have nick put sunscreen on my back before he leaves in the morning.

but at least I was productive today.

summer life plan

after three days of doing nearly nothing....well having one major accomplishment per day...mailed belated father's day and birthday cards monday, got beach passes tuesday, got library cards today...I've decided that I need to have a plan to be somewhat productive the rest of the summer...and need to find a way to beat this 90 degree heat in my non air conditioned apartment... so here it is.

morning:

• get up and ride bikes to nick's work with him,
  
• then ride to the beach...enjoy my personal reading library finds and beautiful lake michigan till lunch...

noon:

• home for a shower and lunch,

afternoon:

• off to the local coffee shop find (future blog posts promised on this topic) or to the air conditioned public library to work on personal or school stuff for the afternoon,
  
• then home for dinner with nickface and evening fun or summer tv addictions (sytycd anyone?)

and then I was still winning

this is apparently what happens when you have no team loyalties and you go with the safe bet. Damn you Illinois for ruining my perfect bracket.

prepare to watch my fall when my little baby tigers start playing.

at one time I was winning

proof that bubble gum bubble gum in a dish works....at least for awhile

march madness...amy style

so I filled out my first NCAA bracket today. I literally watched from start to finish perhaps a total of 10 college basketball games in my life and most of these were either UMKC games because my dad had free tickets or ND womens games because they were giving free stuff and I had a friend who played.

so in my highly scientific method I began with enney-meeny-miney-mo, but soon I had figured out who would win based on where I started, so then I moved on to bubble gum bubble gum in a dish. and how many pieces do I wish....well now that depends on how they were ranked from the beginning.

I ended up with an MU-KU show down in the final four. and decided against it. when that happens I'll be kicking myself.

new favs+ old favs = all around good time

much needed night out last night with nickface and claires.

night started off with some new fabulous favs. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors whom I now absolutely love. their roadie was impressed by the fact that i bought their CD before they started playing. what can I say. I do my pre-concert research and I know what I like.

of course I took the obligatory concert pics. perfect accessory for the blogity-blog.


which brings me to new fav number 2. the girl on the right. love her hair cut, love her outfit, and she plays the freakin' Mandolin. (as well as the tambourine and maracas)

I really wanted to go up to her after and say "perhaps this may be awkward, but I think you're adorable can we take a pic?" but I didnt. despite my having no problem with such behavior in the past at concerts. perhaps it was the overwelming adorableness.

add to the mix old fav numero 1. the valley kids. always a good time. even when one of them makes us miss three redlines.


and old fav deuce: dave barnes. aways a goofball, always a good time.


end result. all around good time.

make a record, like a record record record?

everyone has a movie (or two) that without a doubt will always put a smile on their face no matter how bad of a day precedes the viewing. for me "That thing you do"

without a doubt with every viewing I laugh, I cry ok so really I laugh and I laugh some more, and I want to watch it again.

how could you not.

"we should go over to your place and talk" "if we go to my place I'm going to make out with you" "ok"

"that's too fast this isn't a polka this rock and roll"

"Where was I? Oh yeah, playing songs on my guitar."

"a man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio"

perhaps the greatest purchase I ever made

Little Bear plays guitar

for valentine's day my mommy sent me a cute little stuffed bear. being all creative we named it Little Bear. not to be confused with nick's baby bear which he has had since he was baby nick.

and then we played some rock band (4 hours of rockband seemed the logical thing to do since our show was one we had already seen)

and little bear helped. she did the solos.