My impulsivity has reached a new low (high?).
This time next week, I will be in the northeast (Boston/Providence, to be more specific).
Damn that’s hot.
Spring Break - here I come! Hooray for cheap tickets!
Don’t worry, I’ll take photos. Oh yes, there will be photos.
An addition to my previous post -
I forgot to mention my time spent in Milwaukee and Madison (I didn’t actually stay in Chicago - I was stuck in the burbs). The hotel in Milwaukee was AWFUL - never stay at the “Executive Inn” - unless you want a nice case of crabs. I chose to stay disease-free and went to the local (nice enough but insanely over-priced) Holiday Inn, not bad for last minute desperate INEEDAPLACETOSLEEP accomodations.
I spent HOURS driving and walking around Chi-town on two separate days, though I didn’t actually sleep there. That should count for something, right?
As my travel companion noted during the trip, it could have been fun to hang out with locals in Chicago. But really, we didn’t have much free time (drive drive drive - 900ish miles in 3 1/2 days). Next time I’m in town, expect to be contacted (you know who you are)!
Any-hoo.
Time for some reality t.v. nonsense.
I love the INXS show!
I caught an episode (one of the first) and then didn’t pay the show any mind - until it was brought up this weekend.
There is a contestent from St. Paul, Jordis, who not only kicks major ass, but also - she went to my high school! How cool is that? Sadly, she’s a youngin’ and we did not attend at the same time.
Go Arts High go!
In strange local news, Jillians is closed.
Say it aint so!
Sure it was an over-priced adult Chuck-E-Cheese (without the rockin’ animatronics), but I dug it.
I went there today to play some games and realized that not only was Jillians gone (no sign, no notice, no nothing - punks), but also that the only place open on the fourth floor of the Mall of America now is Hooters (aside from the gigan(ghet)to movie theater which I doubt will ever close).
Humph!
It turns out that the owner of all the bars on the fourth floor (Dave & Buster’s) closed shop in opposition of the smoking ban as they say it has stunted their business see this link for more information).
Damn.
No more crappy arcade, no more creepy sporty bars, nothin.
Only Hooters.
I hear they have great chicken wings…
I’ve been to a lot of weddings in the past couple of years.
As a rule, I love weddings. I tear up, bask in the sweetness and joy - I soak it all in.
As of late, however, I’ve found weddings to be pretty frustrating.
I’m often the only (out) queer person (or queer couple) at the wedding, which is very tokenizing.
Weddings are full of “this is a union between a MAN and a WOMAN” hoo-ha, which hurts, and as a feminist (or just a humanist, damnit), I am so sick of brides being referred to as “Mrs. John Smith.”
I mean, really.
She loses her identity now?
The changing of the name, fine, whatever. Maybe you’re going with tradition, maybe you just really like his name. It’s your choice.
But losing your entire identity to become Mrs. Joe Somebody?
I can’t get behind that.
I do want to get married someday, regardless of the legality of it all.
I simply wish that more straight couples were respectful of the fact that their GLBT friends (in the majority of the U.S. at least) aren’t afforded the same respect, rights, and privileges that come with their hetero marriage regardless of what path we decide to take (marriage, commitment, or neither of those).
I know a couple getting married next summer who have many gay friends - they were actually set up by some lesbian friends of theirs - and they have already spoken with the pastor about having queer friends and wanting to be respectful (no mention of a union between a man and a woman, etc) and oh my god do I respect them for that. It’s such a simple thing to change, and it means so damn much.
If only more people would catch on.
Anyway, I’m back from Chicago.
I love the town way too much (and would definitely consider moving there, however, I probably won’t for lack of a climate change).
I stopped by my uncle’s restaurant (see my flickr page for photos), but he wasn’t there.
I also wound up at his house purely on accident (and he was at work).
Who knew?!
I rule navigating Chicago - that’s basically what I learned from the weekend.
Though I had never actually driven there before, I visited quite often in my youth (it was my second home up until my aunt died from lung cancer in ‘97) and apparently my head (as well as my heart) are still very attached.
Chicago, I adore you.
Or… make that a goat!
Last Saturday, as I was minding my business purchasing “Smart Water” at a coop in Northfield, I glanced out the window and what did I see?
A GOAT!
An honest-to-goodness goat in downtown (ha) Northfield, Minnesota.
His name is Heathcliffe and I love him.
His (super hippy dippy) owner also has a FAINTING GOAT at home.
Naturally, she couldn’t bring her out for the walk.
A few things:
1) I’m back from Columbus! I had a very gracious host who was more than willing to put up with all of my introspecting, which I appreciate more than I can say.
I also met a few fantastic folks and danced! I had a few “moments of zen” while dancing and was blissfully happy just watching everyone rock out. All hail 80s night. Words cannot express.
Though pictures will be coming shortly.
2) Because I took some time to rest, relax, and repair I have apparently allowed some sort of something into my system. I’m calling it “callergies.” Why callergies, you ask? Well, because I can’t decide if I have a cold, or if it’s just allergies. So, for the moment, I have callergies. Callergies bad enough to make me dizzy and unable to attend school and work today? - Exactly.
Fear the callergens!
3) I recently read the book, “On Subbing,” by Dave Roche.
My roommate recommended it to me (good call).
It’s a collection of his zines from four years of working as a substitute educational assistant in special education classrooms. Can I relate? Boy can I! It’s what I’ve been doing for the past year and will do for one more semester before I student teach in the spring.
I loved the book, loved the author’s punky-vegan-anarchist-bike-riding ways, and I e-mailed him to tell him just that.
And you know what? - He wrote back a great long response!
Now I’ve got an author-crush. Or maybe I’m just indie star-struck.
Whatever the case may be, I highly recommend the book - it’s a steal at $4 a pop!
Go-read-now! (buy it here)
4) Coming Soon - pictures and thoughts on being part of a subculture, within a subculture, within in a — you get the drift.
Update - the pictures have been posted!
Nelly says “I”m from The ‘Lou and I’m proud (definition).”
My friend Joy calls it “Slou” (pronounced slew).
So, which is it?
Can it be both?
Is Nelly’s slang outdated?
Anyone? Bueller?
I’m back from St. Louis.
And it was wonderful!
I love the kind of friends that you don’t get to see very often but when you do see each other, you just click - like no time has passed. That kind of friend, folks, is my friend Joy. These days, everyone calls her “Joy Marie” - I’m having a hard time making the change. I’ll try my best.
The other day, I scrawled as fast as I could (as I was waiting for my flight) all the information that I wanted to remember/document from the trip. Aside from the photos, that is (though I didn’t take many).
Here goes!
Quotes of the weekend:
Joy Marie on Mr. & Mrs. Smith…
“Two hours of Angelina Jolie? - If you see my hands down my pants, just ignore me.”
On boys and cleavage:
Me: “Those cell phone people (at mall kiosks) were so pushy! It was like they had diarrhea of the mouth.”
JM: “Yeah, no kidding!”
Me: “I think they paid me so much attention ‘cuz my boobs were hanging out.”
JM: (imitating the salesmen) “Cell phone… boobs - cellTITTIES - tittyphone!”
(I proceeded to die laughing.)
Other weekend quotes:
“Hoo-ha!” and “GIT-R-DUN!” (repeatedly screamed by me whilst riding roller coasters)
After riding *The Boss* at Six Flags… “Bruce Springsteen kicked my ass!”
Joy Marie, after riding *The Boss* “I feel like my husband’s name is Jethro and I just made a bad pot of coffee!”
“Stalled cars make the baby Jesus cry.” (it was 100+ degrees outside)
“George W. Bush makes the baby Jesus cry.”
“You think it’s hot here? There’s a hotter place!” (on a sign outside a local church)
“Boobie point.” and “Above the boobies.” (said repeatedly in a thick southern accent by the woman working at the t-shirt shop)
Movies seen over the weekend:
Taxi (not as bad as I thought it would be, but still not good, m’kay)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (surprisingly funny and, non-surprisingly, HOT)
Mean Girls (for the bajillionth time. love it.)
Restaurants Eaten At/Places Visited
Delmar area - Fitz’s (mmm… root beer…)
Sweet Tomatoes - a salad buffet restaurant
Steak ‘n Shake
Six Flags
Novaks Bar and Grill/Attitudes/Magnolias
***highlights - hot butch bar back for me - hot femme bartender for Joy - pole dancin’ bartenders
**minuses - teeny tiny dance floor
*did I mention the hot folks? yes, yes I did.
More great things -
Joy making me laugh until I couldn’t breathe.
Tattooed calves (not ours)
The Beatrice Dog
Sweatin’ it out (and getting soaked) at Six Flags with Joy Marie and her co-worker Brittney
I can’t wait to go back!
I love the south!!!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…
MISSOURI IS NOT A PART OF THE MIDWEST. NO WAY NO HOW.
I mean, really!
