Just Cuz

I have a few pics on my camera to download, but haven't had a chance to do so yet. In the meantime, here's an office nosegay, contents of which were poached off of various ornamentals around campus. It smells lovely too!

Memorial Day weekend was a bit of a bust since the weather was so shitty. I feel gypped. Though Beth and I did get in a couple of decent bike rides, and I got the grass cut and most of my garden cleared of weeds and planted in a sort of half-assed way. Rather than do a little each day and enjoy it, which I prefer, I crammed it all in to one afternoon...and now I'm paying for it! Mama's not as young as she used to be. Between gardening and falling off my bike (oh yeah, I wiped out on the wooden bridge by the pie shop cuz it was all wet...the bridge, not the pie shop!), I'm moving a bit slowly today.



Here's the bruise so far -- it's about the size of an orange, but if I show it to scale on my leg, everyone will be able to see I'm wearing blue underwear, and we can't have that.

Anyway...back to the garden. This morning, everything I planted was still intact. I'm afraid to look now though, since the squirrels and other destructive critters have had all day to undo what I did. I'm off to get some fencing, STAT.

There *is* some good news, but I don't want to even report it, lest I jinx it!

Rapture Wrap

Well that was a little anticlimactic. Though I will say that on Saturday, we went for a bike ride and noted how empty the bike trail was for such a nice day. Kind of made me wonder... and then be glad that I wasn't raptured wearing bike shorts. So far, no one I know is missing, but then again, maybe that's not saying much.

In mattress news...I'm still waiting.


Maybe I should say...maybe I shouldn't...but I will. I ordered a mattress from Verlo (cuz I like to shop local), and I was sorely disappointed. So back it went, and they are allegedly fixing it to my exacting princess-and-the-pea standards. It was lacking in cush and stability, which was exactly what I liked about the showroom model. So why was it not even close to the one I sampled? Why have a floor model if you're not going to build it to those specs? I appreciate the re do, but it's been a pain in the ass. I've had to give up not one but two Saturday mornings, and of course I'm without a bed while they fix it. That said, I know there are people in tornado ravaged locations who'd be happy with a roof over their heads...I'm just sayin' -- it's annoying when you spend over $800 on something and it's a poor imitation of what you were expecting. Hmf.



So my neighbor Lucy and I are at war with the behind neighbor, because behind neighbor has more dogs than ordinance allows AND they let the damn things bark all the time. Like until after midnight. I don't know their name or phone number, but we both left notes asking if they could please do something about the barking (giving them a fair chance before calling the police), but the response was defensive and just a little crazy. This is the letter that behind neighbor wrote to Lucy. (Click the image to read the first page. It goes on for two pages.) It's worth noting that behind neighbor is the same woman who let Sam the cat roam around the neighborhood all day (referenced in the letter as "loving family pet"). Sam didn't seem like an outside cat -- he was always following me around the yard, trying to sit in my lap and begging to come into my house (which Hoops did not appreciate). Not that I minded, but it's just irresponsible. And, just to clarify, I was the one who found Sam a loving home, not crazy behind neighbor. She was going to take him to a shelter where he likely would have been euthanized. This woman is a nurse somewhere, so I hope she reads orders better than she spells.

But enough of that. Check out the May nosegays! Yes, there's a theme, but I haven't got a whole lot to work with just yet.





Oops, this isn't a nosegay, but it still smells good. It's my new favorite bread to make -- sesame/sunflower seed/walnut. Delicious.

You Go First

Odie obligingly tested out the bridge for safety. Actually, I'm not sure he really knew what I was up to when I said, "Hey, stand over there and I'll take your picture ... yep, a little to the left..." but suffice it to say, the bridge passed the test and our bike ride was able to commence.



Odie took this cool photo of me riding across the new bike bridge in St. Charles.



Here we are after the bike ride at Rosie's...now that's refreshing. My new old favorite beer, Hacker Pschoor...since 1417. (burp)



In weekend other news, I spent $800+. Got me a new Verlo mattress. It should be delivered by Saturday, so after that, I may never get out of bed. The guy in the showroom is also the guy who's going to build my mattress, so I feel we have a special bond. Wish I had thought to take his picture. Then again, maybe that's just weird. So after the mattress buy, Beth and I went over to Ambrose Garden Center and I could not bring myself to spend $5 on a little frog statue for the garden.

Deutschen Unterhaltung

Es war ein Wochenende der deutschen Unterhaltung. Und die Toten Kerl gewonnen.* Not that Sacha Baren Cohen isn’t brilliant, because he definitely carries the gene. It’s just hard to compete with a triple concerto (played by the Elgin Symphony). Some of which was played on a Stradivarius from 1708 (on loan from Samsung to amazing violinist Chee-Yun). All I can say is wow – I don’t know why the triple (as I like to call it) isn’t performed more often, because it really is spectacular. At least to someone who never got past book III in piano lessons (can I help it my teachers kept dying?). While the ESO performance isn’t on YouTube (that I know of), check out this version if you want to hear some. (This is part I of II) I should note I skipped watching MMA fights with my karate friends for this, and I am OK with that.



As for Bruno...it definitely ranks high for shock value. Subtle it’s not, but honestly, there were parts that were so concentrated in humor and other so sublime in their satire, I needed some time to reflect and laugh later. I mean that in a good way. Cohen is most definitely dedicated to his jokes. And, as one reviewer noted, [Homophobia] deserves confrontation, but when done in the manner of the movie here, it is less enlightening than it is just plain squirmingly funny. Also, "The only thing Cohen can do is to throw the character's sexuality in people's faces, but there are several brilliant sequences of baiting and utilizing American gay panic that really hit the satirical button." Yeah, what he said. (gayby ... haha)



The African "gayby" he traded for an iPod...and named OJ.

Speaking of gay...behold the season’s first nosegay! (s)
Two for the price of one! The grape hyacinths are going to town, and a few brave soldiers have even migrated out into the lawn. Also, much to my delight, a few of the alliums have survived squirrel onslaughts and are being borned as we speak.

OK, technically not a nosegay, but Pliget is back in the garden! Along with Pooh, the Speedy Family (turtles) and the Normans (gnomes).



I'm not sure how the garden is going to go this year. Spring seems to be passing us by with little in the way of actual warmth. I bought a few plantlings at the school’s annual sale, but I’m not sure they’re hearty enough to brave the elements just yet. I did harvest one, count 'em, ONE sprig of asparagus. Yum. I ate it raw as I was walking into the house. Sadly, that may be the extent of that crop. It was worth a try.

Odie's home (I’m told) for an early mom’s day outing, which works out well for me, as my sweet new propane generator arrived, but, while it’s billed as "portable," it’s over 100 lbs. So I need brother muscle to move this sucker…where I’m not sure. I still need to hook up the propane tank and test it out. With this purchase, I think I’m pretty much guaranteed the power will not ever go out again. Priceless? We’ll see. I just hope the damn thing works.



This is how it came -- I hope that's not going to be a problem.



*It was a weekend of German entertainment. And the dead guy won.

Teeny Tiny Waterfalls

I forgot about this little video I made of the tiny waterfalls in Trout Park. I don't have a video camera, just a regular digital camera with a video feature, so it's not too polished, but you get the idea. I had fun making it, so in that regard, it's a success. The music is by Congress of Starlings.

Duck and Cover

I know the weather can be fickle, but seriously, in what other profession can you be wrong literally 95 percent of the time and STILL COLLECT A PAYCHECK?? (Besides career politician, of course.)


My footwear readiness says a lot about the current season.

This is the time of year when one must be prepared for all kinds of weather -- often in the same day. However, I am still totally firing the weather channel, and I'm not too thrilled with network weather types either. Last weekend's preview to Armageddon is a prime example. Ever since the two unfortunate flood incidents in my basement, not to mention my neighborhood's propensity for power outages, inclement weather makes me (and I imagine others) a little, shall we say...anxious. So these weather bozos on the tube are NOT helping matters by proclaiming the impending doom with their damn "tor-con" ratings and colorful weather maps showing the entire Midwest under red alert for godknowswhat...only to have it barely SPRINKLE. Enough with the color coding and the weather terror alerts already, people!


BTW, if you google "tornado images," it’s enough to make you wet your pants. One of the guys I worked with at the radio station said he was home alone when he was a kid, and a tornado hit his house. He hid in the basement and survived. He said it really does sound like a train, and he wet his pants. But I digress. I actually set a cot up in my basement and schlepped down a box of food and extra supplies (in addition to my always-at-the-ready plastic bins of social collapse supplies), because I thought I was going to have to spend the night down there. I'm not sure what I'll do about a bathroom, since I took all the fixtures of that nature out after aforementioned flood #2 (no pun intended). I guess I'll have to share Hoops' litter box. Or just use a bucket of litter? Hmm. Anyway... Granted, it got windy. And sure, there were tornadoes ... in other states. And one might be inclined to predict rain when the temperature goes from 80 degrees to 50 in the course of six hours. But still... don't we have enough to worry about these days? Must we sensationalize EVERYTHING, even the weather? I thought the weather guy was going to have an organism right there on the television for godssakes.


Speaking of precipitation, dad and I installed this sweet new kitchen faucet. My old one (which was always a little annoying to me because the spout part was kind of short) started to drip, so I took that as a sign that I should trade up. Note the handy sprayer! It only took one extra trip to Homo Depot for a longer supply hose. And, despite my offers, my dad made the trip and paid for the hose, because even though I’m a self-sufficient grownup damn near approaching menopause, I am still his little girl. Thanks dad!


In other news, I apparently roasted some almonds at one point, because I found this picture in my camera. I believe these were done in rosemary infused oil with a sprinkling of organic dried rosemary (from my garden) and salt. I have not baked any bread lately, because ... well, I don't know why. There may be some baking activity this weekend, though, because, unlike last weekend's summer-like weather, which afforded a lovely bike ride and the first kayak trip of the season (more on that in a minute), it's going to be cold, rainy, and possibly even snowing this weekend. So I think I'll prolly finish filing my taxes, bake bread, nap and get caught up on some Netflix -- including but not limited to Megamind and the final season of Weeds. I just finished Chuck, and I'm a little sad about it. Thank goodness I've still got Dexter and Nurse Jackie in the wings.


And now a word from our sponsors. Not really. I just thought the proximity of these signs in Crapentersville was very funny. Ironical even. I'm not going to explain it, because I think that would detract from the effect. But I wonder if anyone else has wondered, as I have, if the cash for gold place is getting nonstop business from Midas. Hahaha! I crack myself up!


So. Kayaking. Beth and I took the inflatables out for what we thought would be a nice float from Algonquin down to South End. Ha. The wind was so strong, there were literally rolling, ocean-like waves and white caps on the actual river. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera. Normally the current is strong enough to allow for intermittent paddling and a good deal of floating. On this trip, we paddled our butts off and, at one point, I was actually paddling in place because the wind was so strong. So we bailed early and called my dad to come rescue us, which he did, since there were no more faucets to install. It was still a fun trip, the weather was great, and we saw three migrating pelicans riding the winds by Fox River Shores FP.

Congratulations to Odie on his 25-year anniversary with American -- they had a party for him during his 27th year. Better late than never I guess.




I myself am getting my 10-year award tonight. I’m not sure what the actual award is -- my co worker thinks maybe a watch -- but really the main draw is the free food and a chance to see administrators do the Electric Slide. Nothing like crappy overpriced chardonnay to bring out the best in people.

Like our campus police. I got a "warning ticket" a few weeks ago for not parking exactly between the lines. Really? Even our own college president bitches about how small the parking spots are. I always try to get an end spot or a spot next to the walkway, both because our spaces are REALLY narrow, and there have been times when you literally cannot even open your car door because some assbag parks too close or insists on driving a monster truck and then doesn't know how to drive it. I've seen people climb through the backs of their hatchbacks just to get into their car. And, also, I'm sick of getting dings from careless people. Yes, I'm bitter. So, I was next to a walkway and had cheated over as I am want to do, and the bastards gave me a warning ticket. Please. Should this affront to my sensibilities happen again, I will present them with this evidence of their own stellar parking job, which I've seen on numerous occasions and have henceforth been documenting.


I rest my case.

I Like Ike

My friend Sue Eichler, who I've known since at least Jr. High, made the trek west from the big city for a visit last weekend. It's been awhile! We got in lots of trouble during high school/summer softball days, and we pretty much picked up where we left off. Some of us got together for a friend's mom's memorial service (not the best of circumstances, but what can you do?), so Ike spent the day with us Saturday and went back Sunday. Note, in the photo above is the grade school (now senior apartments) she and some of my other friends attended (I was in the "new school" across town), and the infamous sledding hill. We used to build jumps that launched us out into the road...until some poor kid jumped without a lookout and got hit by a car.

I remember the very first time I ever went sledding there; I was probably 6 or 7 (or maybe 16, hard to remember), and it took much whining and badgering before Odie had reluctantly acquiesced to let me tag along. But once I stood at the top of the hill with my little flying saucer clutched to my pink snowsuit, I was too terrified to go down. Hey, it's a BIG hill! At that age, the slope looked SO HUGE. Odie, who had a reputation to uphold that did not include a wimpy kid sister, finally got me to go down (though the first time I think I started from the middle of the hill -- baby steps). I believe he was also responsible for my jumping off a high dive in pre school (!), riding a bike without training wheels, wading through the "red tide" in Florida, slalom water skiing, going down the big kids' water slide at Bang's Lake, jumping off the garage roof and beating up more than a few boys in the 'hood. I used to think it was brotherly love. Now I'm beginning to wonder.

But I digress...

Here's the childhood home, back when life was simple.



The subsequent night out with Sue, Amy and Deanna at Rosie's. Not pictured are significant others who were likely either bored stiff or horrified by the stories of truancy, debauchery and a little bit of the Three Stooges (I am reminded, again, of the game in which the batter managed to get an in-the-park home run on a weak single because Ike took a cutoff, turned, and threw the ball as hard as she could ... right into a wooden light pole. The resounding THUNK was priceless, drowned out only by the entire infield laughing so hard we could not stand up as the runner merrily rounded the bases. Ah ... memories.).

We were not being naughty. This is a reenactment of a team photo for the yearbook in which Deanna had surreptitiously flipped the bird. It was pointing down -- so it was veeeerry subtle.