Wednesday, May 30, 2007

all about

I love technology. I just Gmail chatted with Jake - who is in IRELAND - while he uploaded some digital photos to a computer in IRELAND that he then sent as attachments via Gmail email so I can see what he is seeing halfway across the world. I then took one of his photos, that he just took in IRELAND, and upload it to MY computer and then to blogger, all so I can share our lives with the world. Because really, isn't that what life is all about?

dreams you dream

Just about the best damn night I could have ever had was had last night.

I finally got my danish modern teak dining room table off of craigslist. It was a hell of a deal.

I then treated myself to an AMAZING dinner by myself at Broders' in Minneapolis. I enjoyed a lobster pasta dish and a glass of white wine.

If you haven't ever asked for a table for one, you need to, because there is nothing more confident than dining alone.

After dinner I got lost driving on the parkway in Minneapolis, eventually making it home. The night was on the verge of dusk, the air was rainy and the roads were romantic.

I called an old friend and we talked on the phone all night about...nothing in particular really, just stuff.

I went to bed and dreamed the dreams you dream about...

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

something different

Life has changed for my little circle of friends. Each of us has added something different to the group - whether it is a new baby, dog or a house. We now sit in backyards when we hang out, some of us are breast feeding, and others throw sticks to be fetched. We didn't do this last year. It is wonderful and beautiful to see your friends in different lights, to see them become more of who they are...








Friday, May 25, 2007

two typical

1. New neighbor aka "the block caption" told me in not more than 2 minutes that I had bought all the wrong vegetables to plant in MY garden and that she thought it was a bad idea that I was painting MY dining room a different color.

2. In my robe and ready for bed I couldn't find my slippers. They were on the porch so I tried to unlock the front door (from the inside) but I could NOT turn the old lock for the life of me - I do not know why it wasn't working....so, I put on my heels and went out the back door to open the front door with my key and come inside with my slippers.

Two typical new homeowner experiences I would guess.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

getting a dog

Recently, I have been just a little obsessed with getting a dog. I don't know why I want a dog so badly. Well, sure I do - they are soft and nice and they will always love me no matter what.

BUT...they do bark and poop and dig and sometimes chew on nice things.

I have been calling newspaper ads about puppies and checking the humane society website. I have been reading a puppy book that Paige lent me. I have even started to not let the "oh god" dogs bother me every time they start barking - which is EVERY TIME someone steps into the alley. But it's fine - I'm fine with it. I am changing how I think. I love dogs.

Tonight I even visited the humane society. As I walked in the smell almost turned me around. Then I just stood there - looking at all the cages of cats. So MANY cats. The woman pointed me to the dogs. I walked down this narrow hall to the dogs and opened the door. There was a German Shepard puppy sitting there only moving its head up to look who had come in. There was an old fuzzy poodle whose eyes followed my every move. And then there was a beagle that kept bouncing up and down up and down and trying to hold back its excitement but finally letting out some barks. Tears started to well up in my eyes and I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of that room as fast as I could.

They were so alone.

And there was nothing I could do to help them and it was so so so sad. I am crying right now just thinking about them. Who were these dogs and why were they there? What happened to the people who had them before? I was so sad thinking that no one would ever adopt them and take them home. I went there knowing I could not have taken one home but I went anyway. I felt selfish for going and for looking at them helpless in their cages. I couldn't take it and as I drove home crying I knew I shouldn't have gone, I wasn't ready.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

eight random

Inspiration: Trisha.

Eight random things about me:

1. I love love love plain jane shredded Kraft cheese melted from the microwave onto bite size tortilla chips. I have actually had this for dinner the last two nights this week!

2. I only like chocolate chip ice cream with the shaved chocolate chips not the chunks of chocolate chips.

3. I have a Gustavus sweatshirt that I got on my thirteenth birthday that I wear every Saturday and Sunday in the fall and winter. It is obviously half of what I call my weekend outfit. The other half is a pair of jeans I have had way too long.

4. I bought workout clothes in the hopes it would motivate me to exercise. Some still have the tags on them.

5. I played soccer, volleyball, and ran track in high school.

6. I use ProActive :)

7. I love watching reruns of The Golden Girls and The Cosby Show.

8. Eight is by far my MOST FAVORITE number - has been my entire life, so there was just no way that I was going to settle for just seven random things about me!

Friday, May 18, 2007

top bidder

As you know, we bought a house and officially moved in last Saturday. That afternoon in our new backyard, my parents, Jake, Mary, Ben and I all relaxed in the lawn chairs my parents brought up, enjoying some Red Baron frozen Pizza and Red Stripe beer, after an exhausting morning of moving. Eventually Allisa, Delip and Thelma dropped by and as soon as I started to take in all the excitement, it finally hit me - I HAVE A BACKYARD and MY FRIENDS and FAMILY are going to visit me - HERE, in my BACKYARD. OH my gosh, I was elated and couldn't believe how amazing it felt. So many fun times to come....

So, back to the house - our new cute little 1924 bungalow that has a screened in front porch, living room with a real wood burning fireplace, dining room with built-in buffet, two little bedrooms, and a totally charming retro kitchen (that needs to be remodeled at some point - but we can say it is charming right now because we just moved in). In our tiny little bedrooms we have two tiny little closets and with my love of shopping, I mean, dress code for work, there just isn't enough space for all my clothes or for that matter, Jake's. He is just going to have to fold all 100 of his Threadless t-shirts and move to the basement. His clothes, not him.

With a new house on my mind, every domestic cell in my body has taken over. I NEED FURNITURE. I need curtains, rugs, tables, bed frames, desks, and most importantly a dresser to help contain the explosion, I mean, necessity of all my work clothes.

So craigslist and eBay have become my new best friends.
Hello eBay.

Logging in a few days ago I started my search. danish modern dresser. antique.

Voila!

Of course I find one that I like. Watch this item? Yes, of course. It is added to My eBay. Great. Perfect. I can now watch this item.

Yesterday I get an e-mail from eBay that says - Hey, this item that we have let you watch has only 5 hours left to be watched. Do you want to bid now?

YES I DO WANT TO BID NOW.

I have never "really" bid on eBay. A few days ago Jake started to explain to me how eBay works so I felt confident that I had some idea of how bidding works...the only bids I have made have been out bid, and they were just "pretend" bids because I knew they would be out bid.

I know I know. How can you make a pretend bid on eBay? You can't. But I can think they were pretend if I want to.

I see that bidding starts at $400. Great, I can do that. You have been out bid. Well fine, how about...$450. You have been out bid. At this point, now I am curious - how much are people really going to pay for this dresser? I seriously didn't think my bids were ever going to add up and I just wanted to try one more....I enter $500.

YOU ARE THE TOP BIDDER.

Oh shit. I am? Oh god, NO! I don't really want to pay $500 plus $99 in shipping. Crap.

To make a long story short. I e-mail Jake to let him know what I have done and my situation sparks quite the argument, I mean conversation, between us...money, shopping, clothes and how eBay really works. There were some tears and frustration but eventually we accepted that whatever happens, happens, and it is not really the end of the world.

But there are still 4.5 hours left for the biding to end. Being the optimistic person that I am, I believe that someone is going to out bid me--but Jake, the "realist", thinks I of course will win and we will have to pay $500 plus $99 in shipping, for this dresser.

We decide that we will just have to wait and what better time then right now to dig up our garden in the backyard. Fast forward to 4 hours and 15 minutes later....

15 minutes left to go....Jake and I sit down to enjoy The Office and as the show starts to skip on his computer I get distracted back to reality. I grab my iBook and log-on to my eBay.

4 minutes 35 seconds left....
Refresh.
Refresh.
Refresh.
2 minutes 37 seconds.
Refresh.
2 minutes 27 seconds.
Refresh.
Refresh.
Refresh.
1 minute 13 seconds.

YOU HAVE BEEN OUTBID. BID NOW!

Oh my gosh!!!!!! I've been outbid! I've been outbid!!!

Do I want to bid again, eBay asks?

HELL NO, I just saved $600 dollars and my relationship.

Thank you eBay.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

uhaul



Jake and Ben were returning the UHAUL on Saturday afternoon...while stopped at the intersection of Hamline and Thomas the passenger side window shattered, exploded, glass everywhere. True story.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

baby avery



Another flickr experiment. That is baby Avery from the womb of Amanda - Oh, and that's Paige.

new flickr



I am trying to figure out how to blog from my new flickr account. I don't like how it posts....

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

we moved


We moved to our new house - posts and photos coming soon. Thelma came over to our new backyard and totally had a good time. I love having a house!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

can feel

Last night I awoke to lightning and rain on my windows.

Walking outside this morning the smell in the air reminded me of the storm the night before.

I saw ducks crossing Fairview on my way to work - momma duck followed by six little ducklings.

Looking out my fourth floor office window to the tops of trees and the city of St. Paul.

My window is open and I can feel the breeze on my legs.

Monday, May 07, 2007

never fails

Weekends.

Usually busy, usually a time to catch up on sleep, dishes, cleaning, etc. This excuse seems to catch up with me too often.

I am done with this excuse. If I want to go dancing downtown, then I am going to go dancing downtown. If I want to hang out all night with friends, then I am going to hang out all night with friends.

Saturday night, while out on the town, I realized that I might not be having enough fun in my life and things need to change. Going out, hanging out with friends and having a few cocktails never fails to be a good time.

Friday night - this video took place during "packing" and I can't help but blame this completely random, almost unnecessary video on the above mentioned excuse.



Then we have Saturday night with Joel and me lookin' lovely....

Life is about to change my friends! No more drumming toy bears! At least for now...

Sunday, May 06, 2007

sea of crap

Vimeo quite possibly has changed my life. I told Paige she would have to make me a new shirt that read IM VIDEO BLOGGING THIS.

We started packing today - something I have not been looking forward to AT ALL. First of all, packing sucks. Secondly, I am deep in apartment remorse. I am so sad to leave this amazing apartment. It's true. Third, packing sucks.

We are lucky though because we have until the 16th to move out and the new house is only 1 mile away. Which is great because we can take our time (procrastinate) and slowly transition into the new house....

I might have mentioned that I have a serious problem with hanging up my clothes. I HATE TO DO IT and one could even say that I should seek professional help to overcome my avoidance, neglect, and total disregard for clothing organization.

So today while we were packing I needed to get some boxes at the back of my closet...and during the hurdle, to get to the back of my closet, I strained my back....perfect timing for an intervention, don't you think?

Thursday, May 03, 2007

oh god

We bought a house today.
We have to rake and shovel and mow.
We have to pay for heat and water and garbage removal.
We have neighbors and neighbors dogs and things we don't even know about yet.

But oh does it feel good!

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

seattle

Seattle's famous Farmers Market.

Hello - my KING size feather bed with six delicious pillows. I slept like a dream.

My marble bathroom - tub and shower included.

View number one from my 22nd floor window.

View number two from my 22nd floor window.

View number three from my 22nd floor window.

The flower market at the Farmers Market.

Isn't the color beautiful?

The very first Starbucks store - notice that wonderful original logo.

Self-portrait in Seattle.

videos, seagulls

I love Seattle.

I got back late last night from fours days of sleeping in a king size bed, taking baths in my marble bathroom, and enjoying the view from my 22nd floor room...

The views, the music, the city - were all amazing.

I will post more photos very soon. But to keep you on your toes I have learned how to upload videos to my blog. This is very exciting.

These videos below were taken on a very early morning walk...I had just enjoyed a latte from the very first Starbucks store. They are sorta silly, sorta not that exciting - but welcome to my life.