2012

Last Saturday-Monday I was camping near the relics of an old fort and stage coach stopover in the Mojave National Preserve in California with Arizona friends, including temporarily, the mysterious Sophy the boy. The weekend before that got to have RadioKBLA and her trusty sidekick, Spiderman, at my house for a few days to celebrate Christ. Tomorrow I head to New York for meetings and, incidentally, more quality time with some of my dearest and not-so-very nearest. The end of 2011/beginning of 2012 is going great and I just have to reflect from time to time on how amazing my life is. Not like, regular trips to Bali amazing, but like also booked a ticket to South Africa at the end of December, amazing. No resolutions, just trying to do the best I can for the most people (including myself) as many days of 2012 as I can. Happy New Year.

This Summer, So Far

And there went a month! This summer, more than others, I’ve really been appreciating how great summer is. I think doing it right has a lot to do it with, doing summer-specific things and not just living the same way in warmer weather. There have been a lot of highlights, but the quiet quality and enjoyment has been the best. In the past month of summer, I…

Drove up the Pacific Coast Highway in an orange Camero convertible.

Had a fire and drank wine at the ocean.

Walked bare-armed and sun-kissed home.

Ate tamales and fish tacos with a view of the Pacific.

Trained tomato plants into a trellis cage.

Walked dogs after work, enjoying the extended light.

Hung out by the lake in Michigan.

Read 5 paper back mysteries in a swing over 4 days.

Had two milkshakes one day, and then two rootbeer floats the next.

Drank hard Arnold Palmers at dusk.

Suntanned my legs.

Whacked weeds, watered raspberries, moved indoor plants outdoors.

Wore skirts and dresses to work, most days.

Drank drinks on a patio.

Shopped the farmer's market.

Stopped by, “just for gelato…”

Picked blueberries.

Watched a hula.

Celebrated national Hot Dog day.

Saw old friends, saw new friends, made even newer friends.

And probably a lot more. And still it seems, none of these things enough—but trying and succeeding in being present and thankful and enjoying life, are good things to do in any season.

Snowshoeing!

So after last week's 50+ inches of snow we went on something of an online shopping spree for winter gear. Most notably were snowshoes for both us. They're so fun! Perhaps, as Charlie says, the best snow sport. It is fun that we can go straight out of our backyard into the greenspace and eventually the wash trail and that snowshoeing doesn't require any skill passed walking.

Best snow sport 4 eva!

Ten Years?

Hard to believe it's been ten years since high school-- time has gone very fast and very slow. Actually, exactly ten years ago I suppose we were preparing for our first round of college exams. Although when I think about college, especially the first couple of years, I don't remember the school work at all.
Anyway, like our cohort across the country, the Minneapolis Southwest Class of 1999 had our reunion over Thanksgiving weekend. And it was so fun. No, I mean SO FUN. I was looking forward to it already-- not in some weirdo Romy & Michelle way where I was going to finally prove to the world I am a worthwhile person now, afterall (because, let's be honest, pretty sure I was cool then, pretty sure I am cool now.) But the event totally exceeded my expectations. Everyone was so nice and happy to see each other and... adult. Everyone was relaxed and really in the moment, also so nice to see and be a part of. I was so impressed by what people were doing-- thankfully pretty varied but mostly all interesting and pursuing some kind of passion. It was great to see. Interestingly, there are a glut of attorneys in our class, but as far as I could tell, no medical doctors. I guess we can credit Minneapolis Public Schools for turning out cool kids... just not necessarily on its science curriculum.

ps. I may have tried to get two classmates to make out by tapping one on the shoulder, asking if he is single and suggesting he make out with the other one. Erm... some things never change? Go Lakers!

As Promised...

It's Sophy!

Weekend Recap

The whirlwind weekend in LA was wonderful. On a side note: I will go back, but I will fly there... the drive for just the weekend was ridiculous. Most of the weekend was spent in Roisin's backyard. There were many mimosas, two fabulous brunches and a good deal of Saturday watching my favorite almost-two-year-old frolic in a wading pool. Pics are amazing, would also probably land me in prison. People can be so touchy about naked babies... But there was so much laughing. One one level it seems silly to go all that way to sit around and laugh. On the other hand, if you don't get to do that in regular life, it's just the kind of vacation you need.

7 Good Things (Note: "Seven Pounds" was not one of them)

1. Well, you know, first is probably the JOB I WAS OFFERED TODAY. I start Monday. It's hard to express what a relief it is. If I chose to be cynical, I could describe it as the same job I had before law school but for much less money. But I choose not to be cynical. In reality, it's about the best situation I could be in (like, considering I didn't take the AZ bar, have no contacts in town, etc.). I am really stoked. I will have health insurance and a paycheck and county benefits and hopefully a full week before I remember that working isn't always that awesome.

2. We have a Sunday-only subscription to the NY Times starting this Sunday. This was the first week of Charlie staying out on the reservation, so number 2a is that he'll come home tomorrow night, we'll celebrate #1 with dinner out and the bottle of champagne Karen & Drew passed along for just such an occasion. Yes we moved inexpensive champagne to AZ. What? So 2b will almost certainly be how nice it will be to relax with the Sunday Styles with my boy and my dog in a couple of days, with the knowledge the next day will start my return to contributing member of society.

3. We were able to join in on the end of a summer CSA. Four more weeks of this one, which gave us tomatoes, turnips, beets, salad greens, potatoes, onion, carrots and cucumber last week. I picked up this week's share this afternoon, which was essentially the same but green beans and radishes instead of tomatoes and carrots. Yum!

4. My car insurance is over $200 cheaper per year in Flagstaff over Madison. Like, I have the exact same policy with the exact same insurer. So that's an unexpected perk of the move.

5. This week marks the tenth anniversary of going to college. Monday night we were able to toast it, Erica and I discussed it on the phone last night. It's a good thing. Incidentally, my sister went to college on Monday, too. We can sing Circle of Life together later if you want.

6. I found the natural foods store in town. I had gotten kind of worried/weirded our that I couldn't find a co-op or Whole Foods-type place. Well, Flag has a New Frontiers. Whatever, I don't need to do all my shopping at places like that (nor can I afford it, even with the new dual incomes...) but I was feeling panicky without a place to buy bulk spices-type things. I had some eel rolls with brown rice from there for lunch today. Stamp of approval!

7. Since today was Dog Day... well actually not because of that at all, but because I had to time and the promise of future earnings, I got Aberdeen a fancy new brush, brushed him and washed him in pomegranate fru-la-la dog shampoo that is supposed to reduce shedding. He hated the whole thing. Lucky for him in between the brushing and the washing we went on a walk on one of the nearby trails, where he can be off-leash and explore all the southwestern creepy crawlys he wants. Since his actual Dog Day was more bad than good, I thought I'd honor my constant companion by sharing his funniness. I had kind of gotten used to it and don't think it's so weird anymore, until the Monday visitors saw it and thought it was very funny.

Ok, so this is like what he does. Like immediately after I make the bed.



"Hey, Aberdeen... Aberdeen... You want to go outside?"



.....



He's magical.

So that's all the good things I can think of, there's a lot. Oh, perhaps the most critical of all, everything on clearance at Old Navy is another 50% off. So you can go, and like me, get 3 work-appropriate top-sweater things for $20. And then, like me, you'll be very thrifty as well as very lucky.

Friends

I was very lucky yesterday and today to be a stop on the Great Erin/s and Maggie Road Trip of 2009. I would have been thrilled to host these friends in Madison, where I had friends, but it was especially nice to have guests in this new home where (since Charlie is currently on the Rez, as he will be every week) I know not a single other person. Except the garbage guy, Patrick. Oh, and the CSA lady, Karna. But really, I have not even a real acquaintance here... so friends at all was wonderful. And what was even more wonderful, was that Maggie turned in her dissertation, from my house, this morning. Dr. McConnell! What followed was the best. After a round of high-fives, we went to town and drank bloody marys in the "Coffee and Spirits" shop of a circa 1927 Route 66 motel. So first, I am thrilled to be with people who delight in getting bloody marys at noon on a Tuesday. And we're sitting there, talking about both the common experience of events and people at college, in Brooklyn and beyond. We asked another customer, a middle-aged Chicos-shopping woman to take our picture. She asked where we were visiting from. A flood of un/necessary answers came out, "L.A., well, Pasadena, well, Cambridge... and Oregon and well, I just moved here... and..." Erin offered that Maggie just completed her Ph.D and I just finished a J.D. "Smart women!" the photographer said. And we followed up with, "and she's studying architecture at Harvard and she's getting an MBA and... and... and." She was pleased and overwhelmed. And I was so happy to be with, for lack of a better term, what I consider "Wesleyan-caliber" friends. It's really what I associate with people I know from that place. These are friends earning advanced degrees and doing amazing things who don't think twice about drinking strong bloody marys with you on a Tuesday morning, to celebrate one person's success and us all being together.

Spring Breaks 2 & 3

Spring Break is over. Not surprisingly, the trip continued to be very fun. I put some pictures on Facebook. You should look at them or make friends with someone who can look at them. Or it might work to click here. Anyway, we drove back yesterday and arrived in Madison about 12:45am. Made 8am Immigration all the sweeter, I'll tell you. Now the best thing about the end of this break is that it's not the typical boring end of vacation, because, guess what, we're going to Las Vegas for 4+ days on Thursday. And then I come back Monday and that Thursday, go to Nashville for 4+ days.
It's a good time. Somewhat annoying is still having problems with my foot. I've been more vigilente about the I and C in RICE lately, but I am a little concerned about being the need to R and E as well when I am supposed to be getting ready for Crazylegs.

So, anyway, any suggestions for Vegas? For sprained foots?

Athletic Supporter

This week I was blessed (via the student ticket lottery and my hard-earned U.S American dollars) to attend a Badger Basketball game (I have actually had tickets all season, this is the first one I went to.) Look how awesome my seats are. This is why it is advantageous to be a grad students, and to be teamed up with another student who has gone here for 7 years now.

Also, today I went cross country skiing for the first time in a long time (and I think the 2nd or 3rd time ever.) It was superfun, even if it did involve a lot of falling down. It was a gorgeous day, in the high 30s most of the time we were skiing- or warmer. And a couple hours there where living someplace like Wisconsin, didn't seem so bad.

Good Idea/Bad Idea

Welcome to the latest installment of Good Idea/Bad Idea. Let's get started:

GOOD IDEA:

Being done with finals and leaving for the Dominican Republic. Yes, thank you, I thought it was a good idea, too.

BAD IDEA:

Bettern Peanut Butter. See it here. The consistency is weird and sticky and it is too sweet. And tastes only vaguely like peanuts. Yes, it is a good diet food... because it's gross and you won't eat it but will feel guilty about buying more real peanut butter as long as you have it. We finally overcame this by deciding the best thing to do would be to mix the fake-o peanut butter with real peanut butter. I'll review that later on.

GOOD IDEA:
Getting beautiful regular manis (and less regular pedis.) I just love looking at them and not gnawing on them because they are painted. Friend Danielle provided a good idea that you buy the color you want, have them paint you with that and then you can do touch-ups on your own at home. An even better idea is what I did, use the nail polish she bought for this purpose.

Look how beautiful I look!

BAD IDEA:

"Body Pump" class and "Body Attack" class back to back over two days. Ouch.

Another BAD IDEA:

Letting me out of the house? At Target the other day I bought a 5-piece luggage set. Long story short is that an extra 4 pieces were like $10 more than just the suitcase I came for. So consumerism won, I was super American and bought it, whatever. At check out, the checker says she has to check through the "pieces" trying to make it sound like it was to be sure they were all there, but more importantly probably making sure I wasn't stealing anything in the 5 pieces. So she starts going through the suitcases, which are nested inside one another, and I say:

"If this were Law and Order, I'd be stealing a baby out of the store in those."

Yeah, um, it seems she was not the L & O fan I am. What a weird thing to say to a stranger, Sarah. Jeesus.

GOOD IDEA and BAD IDEA:

Bar Bingo. Or "drinking like you're still in college."



Bad idea for the way I feel (probably contributing to the pump/attack full body pain.) Good idea because I came in 3rd... I mean, if you're going to play, you might as well win, right?


Ok, time to get back to a little packing, a little paper-writing and a little getting ready for the trivia playoffs tonight. My next dispatch may be from the DR... or you, my adoring public (of three?), will have to wait with bated breath until after x-mas.

Happy Holidays but mostly Happy Chanukah.

Musical Reviews

I've gone to concerts for free the past two Friday evenings. You wouldn't know it. In fact, if you only read this, you'd know very little about now.

Friday before last, Charlie won tickets to Langhorne Slim. I've found it very easy to win tickets to minor concerts in Madison. Basically, if we both enter three main sites (Madison.com, the Onion and Muzzle of Bees), we seem to have a better than 50% chance of winning. Overall odds are helped by incidents like where I won tickets to the Avett Bros. from both Madison.com and the Onion. Anyway, the show was really high energy and fun. I didn't really realize his following is approximately 8-10 years younger than me... but it was cool. We just sat in the balcony with the old people. I don't know his music that well, but the other fans did and it always makes me happy to see a bunch of people get SO STOKED when a song comes on.

Last Friday I registered people to vote at the Neko Case show, one of the first acts of Madison's ingaural Forward Music Fest. Yeah. That's right, I exercised my giant muscle of democracy while being entertained by a slightly-less-hot-than-I-remember-but-still-pretty-hot Neko. I am a really good person.

My good personality continued through Saturday morning when I participated in a 5k raising money for public interest law students. It was a lovely day in Madison. Riding to the race along the lakeshore path, I mused that if UW were located in a more temperate climate... it would be the hardest school to get into in the country. Because, let me tell you, on a nice day, it's unbelievably lovely. Post race we did what Wisconsinites do when it's nice outside... start drinking. And kept drinking. All day. Until 10:30 or so at night when I caught 20 minutes or so of SNL and decided that "the free market... not looking so free lately..." was the cleverest joke I'd ever heard. And then I fell asleep.

Now, see, this is why I don't blog more often. I try to talk about music and it turns into some minute by minute rundown of my day to day. Lame.

Show and Blow Sounds Funny

I am back in Madison after more than 3 months and 3600 miles:

View Larger Map

And so there will be more on the end of New Orleans, the road trip, the wedding, the new apartment. But for now, enjoy this:

Dear Student Badger Fan,

Congratulations on receiving your season tickets for football. The Dean of Students Office wants you to have a great experience supporting our team this season. We also would like to make you aware of a program and also ask for your assistance in making game days great.

Our office operates a program called “Show and Blow” that affects students who are ejected from Camp Randall for alcohol related reasons. This program requires students ejected from a game to come to all subsequent games completely sober if they are underage, or legally sober if they are of-age. We implemented this program last year in an effort to address serious alcohol related behavioral issues at football games. There are important changes this season related to student season ticket holders who are required to participate in this program.

Vouchers for any student season ticket holder ejected for alcohol related reasons will be electronically tagged. This means that if a student season ticket holder is in the Show and Blow program and their voucher is used at any of the remaining games, the user of that voucher will be directed to the Show and Blow area to complete a preliminary breath test (PBT) to verify compliance with the program.

Sunday, for God and Fun

Vacay!

I am in the airport, about to take a mini-break. A long weekend away from the Orleans Parish Sheriffs and crazy judges and miserable clients and all of that hotness and absurdity and inhumanity. My boyfriend and I are meeting my wife and her husband and our communal son (godson, kindnessson, real son, potayto, potahto) and family and friends for a weekend at the lake. I am excited and ready to be very happy.

Some thing else that recently made me very happy is this:

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Since I Last Wrote

I turned 27, traveled from New York to Middletown to Madison to Chicago to Milwaukee and back to Madison, and now to St. Paul. I also got reunited and had a lot of fun. The reunion deserves much more blogging, although since I usually forget to when I say I will, maybe I should mini-discuss it. Obama spoke, we drank a lot, it was very much like being in college with all of the good and a little of the bad that college involved. Everyone reverted to 19, we shotgunned beers, befriended some new people and avoided some of the same people. I was extremely sunburnt and burnt out by the end, couldn't wait to get out of there, couldn't handle the "move-out-day" like good-byes. It was really like a microcosm of college. Brilliant and terrible. But mostly brilliant. I can't wait for the next one.

Recent Highlights

Celebrating Cinco de mayo with Margs and Guac, courtesy of my current-professor-future-supervisor lady. Continuing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with beer and then more beer at a place that offered $1 Wisconsin beer special. Studying Evidence some more, getting really, really bored. Eating 3.5 feet of Subway veggie patty sandwiches in the past week. Riding my awesome new bike around Lake Monona and continuing to love it. Also getting a little sun in the process. Also sweating out some of the aforementioned beers and veggie patties. I think that's about it. Exam on Friday, then just some bitty papers.

Oh, and today I also won tickets to the show I was going to on Friday anyway and a cash award for criminal law. This continues to be ridiculous. But also feels nice.

Freakin Weekend

In other activities, it was a good weekend. Friday went straight from executing a good direct examination in trail advocacy class to admitted students dinner where I identified another Wesleyan alum at the law school (a clinical professor, we were both very excited to discover this. Obvi) and talked to people about coming to school here. Then I saw a concert, Bon Iver. He's a friend of a friend here from high school, a Wisconsin falsetto that will break your heart. It was awesome and they came out and played the last song right next to us in the audience. Then we drank beer.

Saturday Charlie's roommate made us a surprise brunch and I transitioned straight from that to talking to admitted students some more. OH-- and sending on applications for an apartment. Assuming that goes through, we'll have a cute place with a lot of built-in shelving near the capitol next year. There is also free laundry.

Later Saturday a banquet and after party, which both ended up being a lot more fun than anticipated. Today we cashed in coupons like crazy, got 2-for-1 lunch, a free do-it-yourself dogwash and 50% off dog treats.

Was there some minutiae I missed? I sure hope not.

If

His bootstraps story weren't enough reason to vote for him. Here are some other good reasons. Click on them.

Never Fear

I have returned from my 10 days of galavanting around the midwest. Before I left, I bought myself a new computer. Impulsive, yes. But between school and SHN and life, I pretty much live on this thing and I was getting sick of so much of that life being spent looking at the little rainbow spinner. And there was a sale, you know I love a sale. So now I have a black macbook. And it's so nice. I won't put it picture of it up, but here is a picture it took of me, eating a sandwich.



And drinking some patriotic tea at grandma's house.


At grandma's house I also tried to show a 92 year old woman how to use a cell phone-- frustration and hilarity ensued. But before that, hey-- remember when we went to Chicago and saw Wilco 4 times? Yeah, that was last weekend. Totally absurd, really. But also very fun. Maybe someday I will blog about it... no, probably not. So here is the mini-rundown: we volunteered with headcount the first night, and had awesome seats the other three nights. Wilco played every song off every album-- and more. I heard She's a Jar in concert, a personal goal (now that I've seen them TEN times?!?!) I was also amazed at how many folks seemed to bring stupid dates who had no idea what was going on and just waned to compare cell phones and yammer to these sold out shows that were impossible to get tickets for... BUT, they were a small annoyance. A+ Xmas/Anniversary/Valentine's gift, for sure.
In Chicago, I also found this delicious beer and mussels belgian restaurant that I was brought to after Pitchfork 2 years ago. And have been dreaming of every since. If we're ever in Chicago together, I will always be down for a beer and "mussels for two" at the Hopleaf. Yum. Yum.



And, finally, in this photo-essay of the past two weeks-- old bessie hit 180,000 on the way home this afternoon. And apparently I missed it.