must share

I don’t know if this is common to the Midwest or to Minnesota specifically, but when we find a good bargain, we definitely feel the urge/desire/necessity to share the details with those around us.  I am sitting in my room staring at a little pile of bargains I found at garage sales last Saturday and felt the need to share.

1. Brown leather boots, barely worn–$5.  Retail over $100.

2. Boutique strapless dress, never worn–$1.  The girl never wore it!  (I found the brand on ebay and some of the clothes are priced at like $200 retail!)  Crazy.  I have a couple of weddings to attend this fall…now I have my outfit set for at least one of them!

3. Black leather cocktail dress aka the coolest dress you have ever seen–$1.  I am not exactly sure which event in my life will merit a black leather dress, but I am determined to find one!  At the very least, Halloween is covered.

4. The Full Monty soundtrack, brand new/still in plastic–$.25.  My former roommate Lisa had it and I have always wanted to get it because it has some fun songs.  Well, done. 

Moral of the story: Don’t be shy…go check out those garage sales.  I hope you find some bargains worth bragging about!

needed words

With the exception of being offered a job on Monday which is super exciting news (and I’ll talk more about that in a later post), the past few days have been kind of rough…for myself, for those close to me and for our world, frankly.  I read the following prayer in a book of prayers this morning called the Valley of Vision and found the words to be really appropriate.  If you are needing it, perhaps these words will bring you some consolation, too. 

Joy

O Christ,

All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight.

Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.

For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter,

     multiplied thy promises,

     shown me my future happiness,

     given me a living fountain.

Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;

I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;

  give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.

Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,

  at my work, business, duties.

If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.

Let me rest in the thought of thy love,

     pardon for sin, my title to heaven,

     my future unspotted state.

I am unworthy recipient of thy grace.

I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love,

  but can in repentance draw water

  from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness.

Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,

  where the work of redemption, sanctification,

  preservation, glorification

  is finished and perfected for ever,

  where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.

There is no joy like the joy of heaven,

  for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels,

  contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold,

  sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty.

O healthful place where none are sick!

O happy land where all are kings!

O holy assembly where all are priests!

How free a state where none are servants except to Thee!

Bring me speedily to the land of joy.

my summer favorite

I am sure most of you would agree with me that one of the best features of summer is the fact that produce is tastier, more readily available and cheaper.  I was delighted to stop by Cub yesterday and find limes for $.88 per pound, peaches $1 per pound and cucumbers 2 for $1 (that last one maybe isn’t an amazing deal, but it is cheaper than usual).  In any case, one of my favorite things to make as of late has been Greek Salad…chop up a little tomato, red onion, cucumber and feta cheese, splash on some olive oil and pepper and indulge your taste buds in some serious satisfaction. Now, if you are like I was a few years ago, you may steer clear of this treat due to the feta cheese–I get it, not everyone is a fan.  Well, let me tell you about something that changed my world as it pertains to feta:  French feta.  It is just a little lighter and milder than the more robust Greek variety. And, even though I feel slightly traitorous for preferring it to its Greek cousin after my semester in Athens, I must say, it really is superb.  I have found it now at two imported food stores here in Minneapolis (shhh about that whole carbon footprint thing…).  One is Bill’s Imported Foods at Lake and Bryant and the other is the Holy Land on either Central Avenue or in the Midtown Market.  I’m sure other cities have their own import stores/delis that would carry it.  Believe me, if you have stayed away from feta in the past this may be exactly what the doctor ordered.  If you end up trying some, let me know what you think!

The cell from H$LL

Perched atop the nightstand in my parent’s guest bedroom sits a black rotary style telephone.  My guess is that my parents have had it since they got married in the early 70s (or perhaps longer) and it still works just as well as I’m guessing it did back then.  Sure, it takes a few seconds longer to spin the dial and punch in the number you want to reach, but the thing still works and has outlasted a handful of newer, plastic, more “efficient” models.  I was reminded of this phone today when I stopped by my friendly cell phone provider to try to figure out a new phone situation.  I got a new phone on Halloween last fall and had to have it replaced at the end of March this year because it just wasn’t working so hot.  The replacement phone worked okay for a few days/weeks, but even it hasn’t been such a great phone.  I stopped in  a couple of weeks ago to see what my options were and they reset my phone for me in order to try and improve the performance. Unfortunately, it really didn’t do anything. So, today, I stopped in, thinking that I’d even be willing to pay a percentage of the price to get a new phone if they’d offer that to me.  No such luck.  The only thing they could do for me was send me yet another replacement of my current phone and see if this one works any better.  If this one doesn’t work for me, then they might be able to help me.  Grrrrr…

I am frustrated simply because I hate the fact that cell phones (among other modern inventions) aren’t built to last.  Why not just help outfit me in a phone that works and save the money on shipping me a new one?  Or, better yet, create phones in such a way that they last more than just a few years…or months in this case.  I don’t know…maybe that wouldn’t be efficient for them in the long run.  I guess I’m just annoyed that even though the technology that went into creating my cell phone is leaps and bounds more sophisticated than that which went into my parent’s rotary phone, at the end of the day, their phone still functions properly and mine doesn’t.  Perhaps someone will invent a cell phone size ceramic rotary phone?!  That’d be awesome.  

I’ll stop my complaining now and head back to living in my log cabin in the woods…

Touring your hometown

I had the opportunity to go up to Duluth this past weekend and spend some time with one of my good friends from high school, Jess.  Jess and her husband, Matt, flew up from Chicago last week so that he could go on a fishing trip with her dad and some other guys, including his dad who had flown in from California.  While they were out fishing, Jess spent the time with her mom, sisters,  mother in law  and other women in her family.  On Monday, I had the chance to drive up the North Shore with Jess, her mom, her mother-in-law and another high school friend of ours, Gina.  I have done this drive dozens of time, but it really is nice having someone along (Sharon from California) who has never been there before…you really do stop and take the time to appreciate where you are.   We stopped by Gooseberry Falls for some hiking and then went to the Rustic Inn for a great lunch (including amazing pie).  Afterward, we drove up to Split Rock Lighthouse for awhile.  I’ve visited Split Rock a number of times, but can honestly say I’ve never taken the time to watch the little informational video or take the guided tour.  I mean, it isn’t the Acropolis or anything, but it really is an interesting place!   For example, before a road was built connecting the towns on the North Shore, the only way the caretakers or their families could leave or get supplies was by boat…and by lifting them up the 160 or so feet from the bottom.  Also, at one point, Duluth, MN was the world’s busiest port of ships carrying iron ore. Who knew?!  The temp was only 56 degrees up there, so, definitely a little chilly, but still worth the visit.   In addition to our explorations on Monday, yesterday we went out for brunch with my mom at Hell’s Kitchen, which is located in Canal Park.  Duluth unfortunately doesn’t boast too many good breakfast spots, but we were pleasantly surprised by this place.  Black and red decor is a little dark for the morning, but the food is tasty, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for breakfast while you’re in town.  Let me also suggest that if you have any tourists spots in your town that you’ve never visited or haven’t really investigated well, you should stop by…kind of fun to learn more about your city.

   

In addition to seeing Jess and her family, I also had the opportunity to stop and visit with my friends Hal and Anna who were in town from Seattle.  I don’t think I had seen them since last summer, so it was great to catch up with them while they were up at Hal’s parent’s cabin.  One of my favorite things about Minnesota is being able to go out and visit people ”on the lake.” Any lake…so lovely.  

i’m alive

Hey there!  I know some of you have expressed concern about my whereabouts since I haven’t written here in awhile. Rest assured, I am alive and well!  Sorry to keep you worried.  I am currently up in Duluth and will post something soon. :)

Insults of the ELL variety

As I was running up the stairs today to get to the classroom I volunteer in, I noticed a crumpled post-it note on the stairs.  I picked it up and laughed at its greeting, one that anyone who ever went to high school would recall…but, which had an English Language Learner spin on it.  It read”KICC ME.”  Ha.  The lower levels of the building I volunteer in are used as an alternative high school during the day and so I’m guessing one of the kids attempted to play a joke on one of his classmates.  So close.

worth checking out

I had the pleasure of hanging out with my friends Lisa and Stef in St. Paul last night.  We deliberated for a few minutes about where we should go for dinner before Lisa suggested, “there’s a new Indian place on Grand we could try?”  Stef and I were up for it and so we went.  Let me tell you, best decision of the day.  It was delicious.  The place is called India House.  The food was good and affordable, the place was clean, the staff were friendly, all of the tables were occupied, all was well.  My favorite part was when our waiter asked me how spicy I wanted my chicken curry.  He asked, “mild, medium or hot?”  Thinking that I wanted it somewhere in between mild and medium and probably making that show on my face, he responded “mild plus?”  To which I responded, “perfect!”  And, it was.  So, if you are looking for good Indian food in St. Paul, definitely go check it out!  (It is located just west of the Grand Ole Creamery)

the coolest!

I turned on the Today show for a minute this morning to check the weather and was delighted to see my celebrity same-sex crush on the show.  Samantha Brown.  She is just the COOLEST!  I want to be her. She gets to travel all over the world, meet fun people, have crazy experiences, eat awesome food and she is cute as a button to boot (and I mean that in the most platonic way possible).  “Samantha, call me!”

sprung!

Spring has arrived here in Minneapolis and I for one couldn’t be happier.  Here are some of the lovely tulips I spotted while on my walk today (as well as a furry little friend I made).