...the best news of all...

The passport arrived yesterday. In perspective, it was most definitely not the worst thing in the world what happened...there is plenty that is MUCH more frustrating and horrifying. We have it pretty good.

Anyway...yay, yay, yay!
Here we come NYC, London, and Swanage!

...the passport saga...

So, last Tuesday I flew to Chicago for the day to apply for a rush passport seeing as how someone (I'm thinking the passport agency) lost my previous application. I had the fun task of stopping a check, reporting a passport lost, and still worrying about all the documents that have all that information "they" warn you to guard just floating about somewhere.
I flew into Midway, and hopped on the orange line of the L. I was excited, because I had yet to ride the L in Chicago! I got to take in the snow that was falling from a very warm, seated position. I got out at the LaSalle Station, and walked around looking for food, and getting my bearings. I ended up in a little Middle Eastern cafe, and snacked on some lentil soup and a spinach feta pie while reading my book. Afterwards, I still had plenty of time until my meeting, but I decided to make my way to the Federal Building anyway, just to locate it. It was a very short walk...Chicago is pretty easy to get around! I wandered the blocks surrounding the building looking for someplace warm to hang out. I ducked into a bookstore for a bit, then found a seemingly fancy Italian cafeteria/espresso bar inside the Bank of America building. Everyone was a suit...I was not, but didn't care. I enjoyed a cafe mocha and took in more of my book (which is "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by the way...Meade was reading it over Thanksgiving, and I finally picked it up.)
After my coffee, I decided it was close enough to the meeting time, so I headed up to the 18th floor of the Federal Building, got my number, and waited to be called up to a window. I was surprised with how many people there are who need their passports within 14 days. I made it to a window, shoved all my papers at them, grudgingly wrote a check, and was assured that it would be mailed to me and would probably arrive on Saturday.
Then I gave Meleah a call to just say hi, since I was in her city. She was on her way to work, but we had a nice chat, filled with much laughter! After that, I figured I might as well head back to the airport. I got back on the orange line, and it took me around the whole loop, which was very cool. I scuttled up to the ticket counter once I made it to Midway, and discovered that I could probably make the 3:00 flight if I hurried, instead of waiting for my 5:00 one. I took as many moving walkways as I could. I considered for a minute just waiting for my original flight so I could check out the Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlor, but then I decided I would much rather get back home sooner than later. So...made the flight, Jer picked me up, we had an early dinner at the Jayhawk, and made it home in plenty of time to catch America's Next Top Model!

As of yesterday, I have still not received my passport!!! I gave them a ring, and they said that they mailed it that day...by regular mail...not priority...not express...so...I wait, and hopefully it will make it in time for the trip. If not, we go to New York and hope it arrives with enough time that Johnny can overnight it to us...if not that...then obviously the Gods must not want us to go. So...I am pretty sure that it will arrive in plenty of time, and we will have a great trip! Be positive, be positive.
If you need a passport, I suggest sending the request many, many months in advance, because they need plenty of time to pull their heads sloooowly out of their asses.

...in the year 2000...

Woah...I haven't written yet in March? Time is slipping through my fingers, though I don't think I ever had a grasp on it.
Today, after dropping off my car to be worked on (yes, again...there is some sort of high-pitched squeak escaping it) I walked down to McClain's bakery, which has been there since my Mom was a kid. I needed to go there actually for my Ma...next Friday is her birthday, and Piper, Nick, Daddad, my Mom, Jer, and I are all going to Governor Stumpy's for dinner, then back to our house for cake and presents. Anyway...I placed an order for her cake and eye-balled all of the other sweets they had for sale...icebox cookies (cherry and regular), fruit bars, cream puffs, macaroons, cupcakes, little pies, m&m cookies, etc. This started my envisioning what life could be like when we have kids...walking to McClain's for cookies!
So, I exited sans sweets and debated whether I should stop on my way back to the house for coffee from the wonderful Bar Roma (best espresso and coffee outside of Europe ever!!! - the other day I got an iced mocha to die for with their own espresso/vanilla whipped cream on top...sigh) or for a coke from QT. I opted for coke...couldn't resist that sweet burn, though now I am slightly wishing for coffee. I took the back way home from QT and transported myself to when our future kids are teens, walking around the neighborhood with sullen looks on their faces.
"Mom...I'm going to QT for a coke (actually probably for a coke and cigarettes...grrr)"
The back way home is full of chain-link fences, no sidewalks or ones that abruptly end in gravel, utility boxes, rampaging weeds, and weird little businesses. At least there is no drainage ditch like what was by my house growing up. I hung out there a lot (unless it was raining...I'm no fool!)

In other news...I'm starting to worry about my passport. I sent in an application to get a new one in my married name at the start of January, and I've sent them emails twice to check on the status of it...they don't have it in their system...uh...we leave in two weeks! Please passport gods...let them find it and process it swiftly!!! I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if they have it yet in their computers, and if not, ask them what I can do.

...glamour nights...

Tonight is the Oscars...I don't know why I love them so much, but I always have. One year in college I even dragged my small, portable t.v. into the weaving studio so I, and the rest of the ladies, could watch them while working at our looms. We were going to watch them with Piper and Nick, but when I got home from work Jeremy was ill...sad face for Jeremy. Nothing drastic, but feeling bad nonetheless.

Friday night while he was working at Muddy's, Jeremy spied Shandi, the local K.C. girl who is currently on America's Next Top Model! We've been rooting for her, not only 'cause she's from our town, but because she rules! I missed chatting with her as I was at my Mom's. Ah well...not a big deal at all.

All of our tickets and lodging are in place for our upcoming trip to New York/London/Swanage! It will be nice to get away, though I always worry about leaving the kitties. I think they get sad, and I miss them a lot. It will be nice to have a few days back in NYC...lots of good folks and memories there. We are also excited to hang out with Joan and Rachel in their British digs.

I think the weather has taken a turn towards spring!!! It's been warm for many days, and today it was very windy and rained, but it wasn't too chilly. C'mon spring! No more snow!

Lately I've been getting back in touch (or they have been with me) with old friends. It's nice that you can get back in sync after misplacing them for a couple of years. I've never enjoyed losing friends...unless they are absolutely wretched, but I don't think I've really had any that I would describe like that.

One last thing...if you ever have the opportunity to do an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, do it! We were involved in one a couple of weeks ago, and had a grand old time.

...emerging...

Work is good! Busy bee, busy bee. I am enjoying my job immensely - the familiar faces who come in, the variety of materials, questions, and having things to do! Yay this job! I hope my feelings for it continue in this vein.

It has been a good past week...both Jeremy and I have reconnected with seemingly lost friends, I've started a new book - "The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick: Selected Literary and Philosophical Writings" and have a couple waiting behind the curtain - "The Red Tent" and "Gravity's Rainbow." The food I've been eating has felt very healthy, and I have been exercising regularly. We once again have fixings for White Russians in the house. We had multiple days in a row of 60 or so degree weather...the snow is all gone, and the birds are out in record numbers. Yesterday at the bank, a gaggle of Canadian geese were taking their sweet time walking along the drive that leads to the teller windows. I watched a woman just wait helplessly in her car until they meandered past. They were actually headed for a specific sidewalk, and walked along it, not going into the grass!

Here is a shout out to Morgan...my future neice...Happy Birthday! You look great for your age!

...jobby job...

Tomorrow I start my job at Utrecht. That's right...I got the job. It will be nice to have money and somewhere to go. I really need schedules created by someone else to motivate me to use the rest of my time in the most efficient manner.

So Valentine's Day came and went. Jeremy and I never do tons for it, but we did some chocolate and flowers, and cooked a nice dinner. It was fun for all.

Nothing much else...for now.

...catch up...ketchup...

Jeremy took me on a date last night to see the final Lord of the Rings movie. It ruled...all 200 minutes of it!

There is a massive icecicle to the left of our front door. The whole neighborhood stands in awe of it. People are making pilgrimages to it just to get a chance for a glimpse. Well...maybe not pilgrimages...it's an impressive icecicle, okay.

I have a interview with Utrecht art supplies store today. I have been told that I am the number one candidate, so I may very well have a part-time job soon. Discount art supplies, whee!

I also dropped off a packet of work last week to a store that carries local artists work. They don't provide a definite time-line of when they get back to you, so I have no idea. Keep your fingers crossed they like my stuff.

Yesterdays mail was excellent...Meleah and Peter's wedding invitation arrived. It was beautiful. Plus I won a contest and received a $20 gift-certificate to the Majestic Steak House...fortunately they have vegetarian options.

This is the month that Einstein Brothers Bagels has chocolate cherry flavored coffee. Mmmm...I love it...drool...

Christine and I are continuing our work-out plan, though after our last session I got an incredible urge for a Slurpee...so I got one...but it was the smallest one...and so worth it...mmmm

This weekend I have to start our little brocolli plants inside. They will hopefully be transplanted into our yet-to-be-dug garden before we leave for England.

I am currently bookless, though I think I am going to start the first Disc World book, and the Lord of the Rings series, and maybe something not so fantastical. We'll see.

...another weekend another storm...

So tonight we are supposedly in for at least 6 inches of snow, and possibly ice before that. THEN, as if that weren't enough, it is going to snow another 6 inches on Sunday. Well...bring it on! I got some grocery shopping done yesterday, I have new art supplies to play with, and new goals to work towards, my husband is here, our cats are here, we have books, movies, and plenty of entertainment. Come on storm! **just don't knock the power out** please!

...mount up...

The other day I was headed out to my car to warm it up so I could chip off the thick layer of ice coating it. It was maybe 10 in the morning, but very quiet outside. As I reached the sidewalk, I had this sinking feeling, and felt as if suddenly huge men coated in furs, and riding Shire horses were going to turn on to our street off of Oak, and start riding towards me. I could almost hear the ram's horn being blown for battle call. I quickened my pace to get to the car in time. Once I unlocked the door, I realized I was totally irrational. It just had that feeling outside...like everyone was gone, and I didn't know it yet, and there are roaming bands of Vikings or something.
Maybe I shouldn't read and watch movies so much...

...blue norther a comin'...

Yesterday there was mass fear of a terrible ice storm, possibly to rival the bad one a couple of years ago that had power out all throughout the metro for a week. This morning when I woke up, there was ice covering everything, but not any more than some previous freezing rain we have already had this season. Regardless, I haven't set one toe outside today...chilly, and no place I have to go.

We received organic seeds in the mail yesterday for our upcoming gardening adventure. Since it will be our first year, we are trying not to be overly ambitious - scarlet nantes carrots, de cicco broccoli, sugar snap snow peas, lettuce/mustard green mix, spinach, brandywine slicing tomatos, yellow pear cherry tomatos, scallions, and tomatillos. Plus I think we will be doing a herb selection: dill, oregano, basil, mint, chives, cilantro...maybe more. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but I think it will be a beneficial endeavor.

I am getting very excited for the weddings that are coming up! Meleah and Peter were in town a week ago to work on some of their wedding plans, and we, along with Jenny, Pat, Julie, and Carrie had a racous evening of eating and drinking. I think their wedding is going to be fabulous. Christine and Evan's wedding planning is in full swing, as is Cynthia and Ross's. It is really interesting to see how different everyone's approach is to getting married.

...farewell...

Yesterday the dental hygenist who was getting ready to work on my teeth said that I had to take out my tongue ring. I have had it over seven years, and had never taken it out, even for the dentist. I went along with her, and she insisted that I would still be able to get it back in.
She took the full set of x-rays...didn't get it back...the doctor did his exam...didn't get it back...she spent an hour cleaning and flossing my teeth all the while lecturing me on how I should really floss, and had I heard that tongue rings can cause severe damage to one's teeth...got it back after all of that. She shooed me into the bathroom to put it back in. I could only get it partway in...the top hole had already healed. Sigh.
I had been considering taking it out, but I wanted it to be my decision. Ah well. If I had cared more I suppose I would have put up a fuss, and not taken it out in the first place. So...no more tongue ring. I keep feeling for it, and am surprised when it is not there. My tongue misses it...though now it can curl into a taco shape again.

The hygenist also said after she had finished throughly scraping the plaque from my teeth, "How much coffee do you drink?"
Oh great I thought...you want to take my coffee away too?! "Not more than a cup a day, if even that" I replied.
"Are there a lot of grounds in your coffee?"
"No (puzzled)"
"Well I found some black powdery looking stuff just underneath your gumline. Do you know what it could be?"
Just then the lightbulb clicked on. It was the monkey brand tooth powder that my mom...uh, I mean Santa...left in Jeremy's stocking. It's an Ayurvedic tooth powder from India, and it is indeed very black, and I had used it just before I went there...must not have rinsed well. I told her about it, and her face kind of twisted into semi-disgust, then she asked in a very condescending manner, "Does it have flouride in it?"
"No."
"You really shouldn't probably use it then. Is there any reason you are?"
"It's refreshing!"
"Hmmm."


I like my dentist a lot. I'm just not so sure about that hygenist.

...scritch scratch blues...

Jeremy has a bit of a cold, and I believe it may be starting to pass to me. So far though, I think my latest trend of exercising regularly, and eating a bit healthier than usual may be keeping it at bay. I have a lot more energy from the workouts...yay!

Today is gray and rainy. I should really get a job, otherwise I am going to spend my life sleeping late, and padding around the house. It's just so hard to motivate when the sun doesn't shine. Blah, blah, blah...:)

...top of the new year...

I was perusing today's newspaper at our neighborhood coffee shop this morning, when my eyes ran over an article about the possible colon cancer fighting properties of drinking coffee. Yay! I knew there had to be something redeeming health-wise with coffee, otherwise why would it taste so damn good!

Before I found myself in the coffee shop, I had been outside walking back from the gas station where I dropped my car. There is a real light snow lazily making it's way down to earth, and melded pellets of ice coat the sidewalks and trees. The branches look so beautiful trapped inside those icy shells. They crack like old bones though, if you run into them.

The holidays were good to us. We felt fortunate to be able to spend so much time with some family and friends. Lots of folks in town for awhile. Lots of good food, though my jeans seem to be more loose than ever...hmmm...unusual.

...hair today, gone tomorrow...

Kristen, Becky, and I explored two of our fine city's lesser known museums today: The hair museum, and the puppetry arts institute. They were both amazing! I want to learn more about the techniques of hair art...it's so beautiful.
This area has such great museums, and after today I am much more motivated to visit them.

...walkin' in a rainy wonderland...

This time of year is out-of-control! In a good way. I think I have been more socially active in the last week than in the past few months combined...well...that's a bit of an exaggeration I suppose. Lots of friends are in town, and it is also a time for seeing lots of friends who are always in town, just busy people.

This is definitely my favorite time of year mail-wise. Today was...well...like Christmas! We received a package from Josh, Julie, and Morgan, as well as about five more holiday cards. I actually did the thing where you hang the cards you receive around a door frame, or something similar. I think it is required that you do that if you have a house. Mainly I just enjoy looking at the interesting cards people make or pick out.

On non-holiday related tips, I have begun reading "Lonesome Dove," and am about a quarter of the way through it. You should read this book! Last year our friend Dylan read it while he stayed in our apartment, and he left his copy. Then, Jeremy's Dad gave us his hard-bound volume before he moved. It has just been sitting on one of our many bookshelves, silently waiting to be picked up. I found myself perusing the shelves for something new to read, and fixed my eyes on it. It has proven to be an excellent choice.

Otherwise...more people are marrying next year, and popping out children...not us...yet. I am hoping that 2004 will be a year filled with much happiness, and not as much sadness, though I enjoy all of my emotions.

As for weather, since I always seem to have something to say about it, today is grey and rainy. Maybe it is because when we were watching a rainy scene in "Igby Goes Down" last night I was thinking about how nice a good rainy day is sometimes. That, of course, would be assuming that my thoughts had great powers, and the world revolved around me...which as far as I know it does not, thankfully. I do not believe that it is supposed to be a snowy Christmas this year, though I guess one never can tell. I just hope for family, friends, peacefulness, yummy food, and a few presents.

...what has happened to this place...

I just got done reading an article on Salon about the protests that happened in Miami at the end of last week. Man...I really don't know what to say. Is there something fundamentally wrong with the human animal? How can you beat back senior citizens, children, all kinds of people, and actually defend that action, and feel good about it?!
The deal is everyone is different, and should have differing opinions. It can make things difficult, but that's the beauty of free thought. No one is better. When I get pissed is when people don't think for themselves. We align ourselves fully with the thoughts of our government, our party, our work co-horts, whoever! It's not bad to agree, but to blindly chant U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A., or to hate someone because you are told to, or to watch T.V. all the time because that's what everyone else is doing...this sucks! Do what you really believe, yet be compassionate along the way.
Ugh.

...weather blog...

More snow! More snow! A couple of days ago the skies opened up and dropped upon us approximately five inches of snow as well as a bunch of sleet before hand. Then, last night, it started again. Pure snow. I ended up spending the night at my sister's house, and when we woke up...snow! The drive home was a teensy scary...slippy-slidey. Once I was back at our house I declared, "No more outings today!" Now it is the perfect Saturday. My belly is full of tomato soup, grilled cheese, and coffee. I can sit inside in warmth and peer out the windows at the still gathering flakes, while sipping on a variety of hot beverages. I love being housebound in the winter! There is so much here I want to do!

...bring it on...

Slowly this morning, I climbed the stairs, trying to balance my cup of juice, glass of water, and bowl of cereal. Placing it all on the table beside the computer, I then plugged in the internet, turned on the computer, and opened up the blinds a tad. I noticed the frost on the window first, then I saw it...snow! Our first snow of the year is only one-half to one inch of accumulation, but it is still snow!

We saw a little bit when we were in Michigan for Thanksgiving, but it came after being there for a couple of days. The trip was very nice. Jeremy and I rolled up Wednesday night, expecting everyone to already be there, having a jolly old time. As we discovered, only Alan arrived before us, and he was at the store when we got there! So, we had a nice chat with him for a couple of hours, and just as he was ready to fall into bed, Josh, Julie, and Morgan arrived. Meade, Lucas, and Liam followed not too long after. The visit was: hiking the dunes on Thanksgiving and being amazed at Morgan's ability, good food and lots of it, competitive scrabble, trivial pursuit, sleeping bag wrestling, talking, talking, talking, Morgan bouncing around and me bouncing around with her, drinking lots of wine, bowling, going to the movies with the boys, very late nights talking, having little Ben- who joined us with his family on Friday-climb into my lap, Jeremy making hot cocoa at one in the morning, just having a good time.

Now it's been back to reality for a couple of days. Ah well. Gotta go work...

...birthday suit...

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband Jeremy! Like a fine wine, he gets better every year (and he was definitely not bad at all to begin with!) Jeremy brings much happiness into my life, and others as well. I don't know what I would do without you sweet potato! I love you!


Last Saturday we paused for lunch at the New York Deli and Bakery, then continued on our walk to Forest Hill Cemetary. This is all only a few blocks from our house, and happens to be the final resting spot of my Mama (Mom's mom), her parents Tola and Herbert, Herbert's parents, his sister and her husband, and Tola's brother and his wife, as well as a future plot for my Daddad...which is a little creepy to look at as he is still very much alive. Anyway, on Sunday was the 15 year anniversary of Mama's passing, so we went to say hello. We ended up walking around the cemetary (which is huge) for over an hour...checking out crazy mausoleums, and interesting tombstones. As we headed for the gates, we noticed that the crows had formed a barrier that we must cross. I got a little nervous, and prepared to offer them something shiny, but they were distracted and took off for some nearby trees. Silly crows.

Saturday night we got to hang out at Scot and Marla's place. It was Scot's birthday, but he failed to tell us that! So...Scot...I'm outing you publically...happy birthday again...late... Anyway, we had a good time, and were the first to arrive and the last to leave. Why, do you ask? Because we are those people.

Sunday was Mary's flute performance. She is getting her PhD in flute, so this was no ordinary, 4th grade concert. It let me see a whole new side of Mary. We enjoyed it a lot.

Today the temperature is in the 70s. Why am I in here typing? Oh yeah...Jer is in the shower, then we are going out. I'm looking forward to these upcoming days as there are many things I get to cook for our two Thanksgiving feast we get to attend...fruit salad, nutloaf, chocolate raspberry birthday cake, Fafa's (my great grandpa Herbert) caramels, Birdie's (my Dad's Mom's mom) swedish pecans, cheddar cheese buttermilk biscuits...drool...plus, soon I will start printing various cards - some to sell and some to send out for the holidays! Yay! I love having things to do. The more I have to do, the better I use my time.

Happy Birthday again, Jer.

...just like josh...


You are the Low-Fidelity All-Star. You were born
with your cool, and it's totally natural. You
run the gamut from Hipster Supreme (only they
can ingest as much coffee as you) to the geeky
hipster (Mario Kart, anyone?).


What Kind of Hipster Are You?
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