Enough Said

Productivity Is Not An Option

I'm home from my really fun and relaxing and silly trip to Portland.

I need to buckle down (gross expression) and work on school stuff, preparing for my first semester, which starts in two months. But the real me, the little me inside of the bigger me doesn't really feel like doing anything. Even if it is on the planner.

So I'm not. Doing anything, that is.

It's a nice rainy day and I just got home from a day of staring out at the wet streets while womaning the register at the Bookhouse.

Ho hum.

Song choices of the day:
Mellow Yellow by Donovan
I Don't Do Crowds by Camera Obscura
Walking In Memphis covered by Cher

Book I would be reading if I felt like doing anything:
Ways of Seeing by John Berger

Special note to Riva:
Excuse me, where did you get your belt?

Chin tuck

As many of you know, I have an abnormally long chin which tends to get cut off in pictures due to its length. I used to want reconstructive surgery to take care of the problem. My new idea is to tuck my chin down towards my neck. I think I hold my chin out in front of me too much. If anyone has any tips for how to prevent chin sensory overload, please let me know.

I'm in Portland. Specifically I'm at Portland Community College where Riva is busy learning from some of the great academic minds of our generation. What a snob am I.

For those with extra time on their hands, I really recommend watching this amazing commercial filmed in SF for European audiences. My thanks to Riva for opening my eyes to another pop-culture-not-to-be-missed-by-those-with-information-anxiety-like-me-and-my-mom-gimic: http://www.bravia-advert.com/

We will miss you.

Shika Abui Addo
June 18, 1976 - April 18, 2006

Change of Plans

Kimberley's friend who lives in Minneapolis just comitted suicide so Kimberley is coming to visit tomorrow. They are friends from Stanford. I've never been to a funeral and I'm going to this one on Friday. Saturday I leave for Portland. Kimberley is going to stay at my house until Monday and hang out with Miles while I go west. Suddenly everything is so busy and intense. I'm glad I can be there for my sister right now.

It's Official... We're moving!

We got the place that we like a lot. Here's the craigslist post and some pictures. It's much nicer that these pictures make it look but this gives an idea:

Watch the sunsets from the sunroom of this third floor apartment overlooking Powderhorn Park. All utilities are covered except for electric. It has hardwood floors, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, one which is very large with a porch in back. Nice sized kitchen and dining room with black and white checkered flooring. The closets are huge, tons of storage. Laundry in the basement. This apartment is the highest in the area and has several nice windows, which overlook the surrounding neighborhood.

Not A Cloud In Sight?

Miles and I saw a shooting star tonight.
I think it's a good sign.
I think.

birthday grub

Things I ate on my birthday:

breakfast quesadilla and Nicaraguan coffee with soy milk from French Meadow Bakery

miles' chocolate pudding homemade cake with mint chip Soydream ice cream and a large cup of skim milk

from Pop Restaurant, a stirloin steak with grilled asparagus and whipped potatoes with a Stewart's rootbeer. plus some of miles' chicken and avocado sandwich and fries. plus miles' pickle.

for my second dessert of the day molten chocolate cake with roasted banana pudding, coconut/choc. sauce, and vanilla ice cream.

This is one way you can tell I had the best birthday I've had in a long time.

Gili = Poop

I'm so used to the easy-going Minneapolis lifestyle that all this new stress is too much. Here are the reasons I'm stressed:

1. We have to move because our rent is being raised.

2. I was forced to say I would attend one of the graduate programs I got into and I haven't even heard from one of the schools still.

3. Miles is thinking about doing an extra program at the U where he could get a concentration in Global Health which would mean that we will live here for a third year.

4. My birthday is tomorrow and I'm feeling stressed.

5. Our favorite house that we've looked at is a block from these people that like us more than we like them. It would mean a lot of running into people.

6. I am having writer's mini-block from all the stress.

Here are the good things:

1. It's Passover and we're going to my uncle's for seder tonight.

2. The weather is perfect.

3. I go to Portland to see the back-in-school Riva next week.

Sorry this is boring and unfunny. I was going to write a long report on how to properly butter matzah but I just don't feel very energetic right now. I am a poop.

Third Try: Duluth in pictures

Sandra, thanks for the robots!!! You made my day. It's the 14th, not the 10th. I'll call you tomorrow.
It's so hot outside. Paradise on earth.
Ellen wanted pictures so Ellen's getting pictures. Here's a little glimpse into the exciting life of living in Minnesota:


The first picture is the multi-million dollar rennovation to the hotel we always stay at. Needless to say, I'm not willing to swim in a pool with little kid germs floating everywhere. It's like the new Duluth cesspool. This will become a public health nightmare.


Next is Mom and me at the hotel. Isn't she wonderful?


The Shack is the gross place where we ate for my birthday. At least the company was nice.


And Miles with Lake Superior. How very J. Crew.


The last picture is of my skinny dad and me. Do we look alike? I think we do.

2 of 2 posts: Duluth in pictures FOILED!

I'm sad because I can't upload pictures of Duluth. This will have to wait.

Miles and I are off to look at a new house. Karl, the evil landlord who lives in Massachusetts wants to raise our rent. Okay, he's not evil. We have been living in a huge house with all utilities paid and really cheap rent for almost a year, but still... it stinks to have to move.

We're off to visit a possible new home right on the park.

I'll try and post my pictures later.

xo.

1 of 2 posts: Duluth in Words

I'm back from Duluth. What a lovely trip.

To answer Ellen's question, I do celebrate my birthday more now. The past three years I've had birthday parties (some better than others). Last year Miles threw me a surprise birthday party which was also my times two bat mitzvah party (13 x 2 = 26). Miles found all the music that was popular during my seventh grade year and played it. He got a picture of my bat mitzvah from my parents and blew it up. It was 50 percent humiliating and 50 percent fabulous. We even did the limbo.

This year I think I'm going have an easy-going birthday. Just quality time with me and Miles. It was nice to celebrate with my family this past weekend.

My parents got me binoculars so I can finally spy on the neighbors in depth!!!

On Ellen's request, and because I love pictures, I took a million this weekend.

My bubbie and zaddie and uncle steve love really gross restaurants. It's not like an intentional fetish, they just have really bad taste. So we went to this really untasty place called The Shack. It was Miles' first time in Wisconsin (you have to cross the border to eat food this bad). The hostess remembered my bubbie and zaddie after not seeing them for two years.

All in all it was a great trip with some Lake Superior watching, some amazement at the hotel's new multi-million dollar water park, some shopping, some gift getting, and lots of familyness.

It's good to be back in Minneapolis and see my precious perfect Cornelius.

Duluth, Ho!

I'm off to Duluth with Miles.
We're visiting my bubbie and zaddie (grandma and grandpa for the goyim), Uncle Steve, and my parents.
It's the week before my birthday celebration.
So long until Monday!

1. Write 2. Eat 3. Get a tan 4. Sleep

Last night, I watched what is now one of my favorite movies of all time. Have you ever been sitting through a movie and suddenly you wish you had written the script? That's how I feel about "Flirting". Usually I can't stand Nicole Kidman's face but this was a huge exception. This is an old school Australian love story set at two boarding schools, one for boys and one for girls. Only a lake separates the two schools. Thanks for the recommendation Riva and Street Light Music (which is where I also heard about the most genius televsion show ever: Wonderfalls).

Life in the Cloned Cities is warm and spring-like. Truth be told, I've got nothing new to write about.

Okay, that's not really the truth. I didn't get in to my top school, but it's been two days and I have successfully recovered from my disappointment. Please, let's not dwell, people. I'm going to higher x 2 education, please don't pity me.

Last night, Miles and I meal-planned for the entire summer. We looked through every cookbook we own and made a list of what to eat every night that we eat in (which, by the way, should be about four times a week according to the plan).

I think one big reason Miles and my relationship works is because we both love lists and are capable of doing anything if we write it down in numerical order or outline form.

Which brings me to my next important note:
I'm back on my self care, process, product model for living. That means five times a week, I commit to exercise (self care), creativity (process), and writing (product).

That's right, I'm back on track.

Note to the parents: I found two water-damaged theater books which I will give you this weekend.
Note to Matt: I don't understand anything on your blog, but it's still fabulous to read.
Note to Kimberley: Thanks for the flowers.
Note to self: Pay more attention to Cornelius or she'll keep knocking over your garbage.

parties make me feel lonely

i went to a birthday party this weekend. lots of people i know were there and it could have been fun but i don't think i've ever really liked going to parties. mostly they make me feel like i miss my friends. i miss lying on the couch and hanging out. i miss coffee dates. i miss watching movies and television with people. i'm a one on one or a couple people kind of person. but when you live in a new place, you can't not go to parties. at least i don't think i'm supposed to say no.

in the bay area, i went to parties, but i think many people knew i wasn't a party person. i'm missing my friends.

on a happy note, the weather is gorgeous and spring is finally showing itself. i got 20 french immersion tapes from my work place and i've already learned how to get a porter at the airport and how to show my passport to the airport worker. this is good news.

i'm still reading brown girl, brownstones. i like it so far but it's no carson mccullers.

does anyone know anything about philadelphia? miles and i are thinking about moving there when he graduates from school next year.

that's all i got. i can't wait to get back in my car and learn some more french.

for now, bon rev!

and two and three...

i got into another program! and i got rejected by one. now i have two more to hear from...

yea for choices.