Monthly Archives: June 2009

Tids and Bits: Part VI

I feel that enough has gone on in the past few days that it is acceptable to do another Tids and Bits, which we have not had the opportunity to experience since, oh, December-ish? Really, it just means that there’s a potpourri of thoughts in my head, all of which I feel are important (even if some really are just minutae) and none of which I can create an entire post out of at this point in time.

  • Apartment Hunting: The good news is, I’m pretty sure I found one. With a little prodding from Linds and word of some deals, Mom is going to go scout out Hoigaard Village tomorrow and if successful, I’ll go down and apply post-haste after work. That would check off a major life project that was on the to-do list. My first goal was July, my second goal was August (and I would be happy with August), but if I could live really comfortably for a year by saving up for one more month and moving in September 1st, then we’ll roll with that. You’ll know tomorrow night how I fared.
  • Casual Day: Today, we learned that it is casual day for the rest of the week, the caveat being that we must dress in red, white or blue for Tuesday and Wednesday. I look forward to seeing tomorrow’s styles.
  • A little bit closer: I scheduled my appointment with Rabbi Davis today for July 29th. At that point, we will go over my essays and he’ll see how my davening (prayer) skills are. I’m not the least bit apprehensive, but I needed to set a date for me, that way I would get cracking on the whole hebrew practicing thing.
  • R.I.P. MJ: I will forever remember Michael Jackson for “Hold Me” which is that one song from Free Willy. That aside, its hard to reconcile Michael Jackson the superstar with Michael Jackson the pedophile.
  • Lake Time: Martha finally shared the wonder that is her pontoon on Lake Minnetonka and it was a wonder indeed. SUPER relaxing to go out and have sack-dinners after work. And, when we were returning to the club, we managed to avoid bashing the boat into the dock OR the other boat. Marcus and I are driving Up North late night on Thursday in order to fully-enjoy the entire day on Friday as I don’t have to work and he doesn’t either. Then, we’ll get to enjoy Big Pine, Crosslake and the Chain. Really can’t wait.

Working and living out of my Vera Bradley tote are getting to be just a touch bit too hectic for this girl so, I’m pretty excited to figure out like, .5% more of my life and have another weekend in the sun.

Dishwasher!

For our two year, Marcus and I elected to eat Chinese food out of cartons on one of his new couches, whilst watching crappy comedies (like What Happens in Vegas). It was actually pretty awesome.

The painting is finally coming together (another post on that another day) and we’ve found that the natural light is pretty incredible (especially in the morning).

BUT, one of the best parts of the night was that when we were done eating the Chinese food, we got to test out his new dishwasher(nevermind the fact that we didn’t have any soap…I just wanted to use it!), which, while it sounds like a hurricane (it is VERY old), is pretty much the best.

After two years of Marcus not having a dishwasher, I’ve gotta say, it will be really, REALLY nice to not have to deal with mountains of dishes in the sink.

Don’t worry, they’re SUV-proofed.

Usually, for my lunch hour, I run over to Byerly’s and grab a quarter-pound of this salad or that. Its inexpensive, healthier than going to pretty much any of the restaurants in the area and gives me a chance to escape the office to walk around for a bit.

One thing that is most striking about this Byerly’s (and there are many things that I will share with you) is that they’ve SUV-proofed (yes, the good people of Edina are enamored with these vehicles) the parking spaces by putting extra-large lines around each space, so that it is impossible to take up more than one space.

What a wonder of the modern-suburban world.

The United States of Arugula

I’m not really sure how I heard about this book, but I got a gift card to the Bookstore and whilst I was browsing in the cookbook section, I found it and decided that it would probably be a good thing to read.

Mostly, The United States of Arugula just makes you jealous of those who get to live in NYC and California, because of the ridiculous culinary capital they have. It also makes one more thankful for Tim McKee (he does Smalley’s, Solera and Bario amongst other places), who is the Beard Midwest Chef of the year.

Its meant to be about the culinary history/evolution of modern America, which is really quite fascinating in my opinion. You get to read about how free range emerged into something that was popular and desirable and how kitchen and specialty stores like Willams Sonoma and Dean & DeLuca were born.

Probably don’t read it while hungry, because you will never be able to assuage the craving that you get. Unless you’re near a Whole Foods

I think I need you to repeat that.

Carly is the name of a style of Coach purse that I absolutely love. Its a square, slouchy, shoulder bag that can carry all seven of the world’s wonders and then some. And it goes with everything. When I bought it, it was a bit of a reach, but I did so with a coupon and a gift card to soften the blow.

I carried it so much that it started to fray at the top. Which is bizarre for a purse that is of such a supposed high quality. I figured that it just meant that I loved it too much and it was time to be retired to the closet.

Not so, my friends. Two nights ago, another sorority sister walked into Station 4 (where we were watching a friend’s band play) and was toting a new purse (we previously both had the Carly in different styles). She then informed me that not only was the purse found to be defective (because of said rubbing issue) but that Coach felt so bad about the situation that they would either exchange your purse for a new one, or if you didn’t want to hand it over, by bringing it to the store, they would give you a 40% discount on any other handbag. I had been drinking, so it was one of those “I think I just heard you say that I can get a free purse or a way-marked down new one, but that statement sounds like such a lie that I need you to repeat it” moments.

And now I have a new Sabrina. Moral of the story? Loving Coach means never having to say that you’re sorry.

Parking Lot Fox

Parking Lot Fox. It kind of has a nice cadence to it.

We’ve had a fox roaming our neighborhood in Plymouth all summer. Mom always sees him, Dad and Billy sometimes see him, I never see him. I tell Mom that she’s making it up all the time.

So imagine my shock and surprise when a waterlogged, flat-furred fox trotted through my office’s parking lot at 7:50 this morning to un-bury something next to the curb that he had saved to feast upon at a later date.

Personally, I had envisioned seeing the neighborhood fox trot jauntily through our backyard, fluffy and resplendently gleaming red in the sun. Because of the rain, the parking lot fox had a rat-tail with a sad white tip at the end.

Miracles of Technology

As I was updating the Google Maps application on my phone last night, I realized how seriously glued to my phone I have become.

As perplexing as the Memo app used to be, I now keep all manner of lists cycling through. I can read the NYT, tweet, find my mystery location and blog. Really, at this point, I am almost ashamed to say (but really, not at all), that without my phone, my life would be falling apart.

Plus, apparently with this newest version of Google Maps, I can locate where my friends who have the application on their phone are too. How creepy is that?

The Queen & Michelle.

You all know that I love the Queen. And you also all know that I love the Obamas.

This is what the The Telegraph has to say:

The Queen and Michelle Obama forge firm and affectionate relationship

Kippah Quick-Pic

As I violated the blogger’s code with my post about Mom’s handi-crafting ways, I quick-snapped a pic of her work with my cell phone. The reddish-tinge would be the red-eye thingy-on the phone camera (I did not know that they had those!)

Fin.

It’s raining coupons.

Today Punch tweeted out a free Surly with the purchase of a pizza, which is running until the 16th or 18th of June.

When Marcus and I returned from our walk on Lake Calhoun to Punch to get said free beer, I found a buy one-get one free for Noodles on his front stoop.

I guess its just a “deals” sort of day.