#7: A kind of crabby update... better than no update?

A lot of time has passed since my last substantial update about life.  Unfortunately, not much has happened.

My life pretty much consists of work.  Now its work plus coming home to mom who just had knee surgery.  I don't like to see her in pain so being home makes me really uncomfortable.  Its not that I don't want to help her, its just that it scares me so I'm trying to make plans to get out of the house.  Luckily, my friend Allison's wedding is in 40 days and I'm kind of helping plan and I haven't done much to help lately so that will hopefully keep me busy.

This past weekend I made the four-hour trek to the Wisconsin Dells to see my dear friend Tyler.  Tyler lived across the hall from me my last year in Lourdes/at WSU and he is my favorite.  We said good night to each other every night before retreating to our own rooms to sleep so I was happy to sleep over at his house and say good night in person (its just not the same in text message form).  He showed me the town (I can't recall ever visiting the Dells before) and now I never really need to go back, except to see Tyler.  I was happy to see him though it made me really homesick for Winona.

Everyone is going back for RA training in about a week and a half.  I'm happy not to be going back from training but it does feel abnormal that I won't be there with them.  I knew this would be the time that it hits me that I'm done and staying here and not going back so maybe that's adding to my not wanting to be at home and my getting in fights with my sister.  I just posted on my Facebook that summer break is just the right amount of time before Liz and I typically started really fighting and we've hit that time but I have no refuge to seek.  Instead, I'm stuck here and have to watch what I say.  It's adding to my frustration.

I need to remember how lucky I am to have parents that let me come home after graduation and a full time job to help me start paying off loans in a couple months.  I am truly blessed.  But that doesn't make me any less stressed, especially with our super cute puppy who STILL barks at my dad and is beginning to drive me up the wall.  On the upside, his hyperactivity (he's a border collie puppy, I should expect no less) has gotten me up every morning to take him for a walk before work.  On the downside, it doesn't seem to effect his energy level come 10 p.m. when I want to sleep and he wants to play. 

Anyway, I suppose I'm happy but for the most part, I just feel like I'm in limbo.  School seems more and more like what I should be doing with my life and not being at school just feels wrong.  So right now I'm waiting for the next big thing.  While I wait, I'm trying to fill my life with activities.  On the weekend dates that aren't full of wedding business during the last weeks in August, I'm hoping to be working at the WCCO booth at the State Fair (two of my favorite things = WCCO news and the State Fair).  After that and the wedding is over, I need to either find another job (I keep applying at Archiver's and failing- I'M PERFECT FOR A JOB THERE) or start volunteering.  I suppose volunteering would be the right thing to do.  We'll see what happens there.

I hope everyone is enjoying their July.  I'm off to bed before another early morning of walking the dog (and by early, I mean 7:30) and a long day at work (that I enjoy, for the most part). 
----------
I'm reading: I have two books sitting in my room but they're both autobiographical short story compilations that I have to really be in the right mood to read.  Lately has not been the right mood so those may be going back to the library sometime soon...
Picture of the week: Here's a picture of Nina, Liz and me at Nina's fancy 19th birthday dinner.  Peter left that morning to head back to the Air Force while their parents went to a wedding so I felt the need to fill in as family and celebrate her birthday in a big time way.  We went to Salut on Grand where we tried escargot in addition to 2 other appetizers, dinner and 2 desserts (creme brulee at Salut then ice cream at Izzy's).  Even though we were under a tornado warning pretty much the whole time, it was worth it and a night to remember.  

Post Grad Book #3

How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Marc Acito
Finished: July 15, 2010
Page Count: 288
Why I read it:
I think I saw the book in Barnes and Noble and took a picture of it on my phone.  Months later, I finally looked it up at the library and boy was I pleased with the result.

Publisher's Weekly review:
Portland humor columnist Acito debuts with dazzling comic panache in this story of a teenage would-be swindler and budding drama queen. Edward Zanni is dying to escape boring Wallingford, N.J., for the hallowed halls of Juilliard, and he's got a pretty good chance at it. It's summer, and he's palling around with his fellow Play People, who include his gorgeous girlfriend, Kelly, and his hot jock pal, Doug, and dreaming of stardom. The fly in the ointment is Zanni's money-obsessed father, Al, who pulls the financial plug on Edward's Juilliard dream after marrying a trophy babe, a beautiful, icy Teutonic model named Dagmar. Edward counters dad's penny-pinching by moving in with Kelly's family to establish financial independence for a scholarship, but bombs at several minimum-wage jobs. How will he pay for college now that his audition—really a public mental breakdown—got him in? His devious buddy, Nathan, concocts a plan to steal from gold-digging Dagmar, who's been siphoning Al's cash into a secret account. Edward and pals set up a fake nonprofit designed to award a Juilliard scholarship to someone born in Hoboken (Edward)—but there's a problem. Acito nails his scenes one after another, from Edward's shifting (but always enthusiastic) sexuality to the silly messes he gets himself into. The result is a thumbs-up winner from a storyteller whose future looks as bright as that of his young hero.

What I thought:
This was such an intriguing book about a boy in his senior year of high school, trying to navigate life in musical theater, his father remarrying, his mother's absence, and figuring out his sexuality.  It was really funny and interesting, though hard to believe at times (there was a lot of criminal activity that I can't imagine ever doing, though 1984 was a different time in this country).  I liked it because I could relate to being in high school even though this book was set in 1984.  It wasn't too far in the past but wasn't like the crap I've read lately like Gossip Girl and other such "current" high school stories.  I guess I liked it mostly because it was so offbeat- Edward Zanni's life is so totally different from mine yet I understood and could feel for him and his strange life.  I think connecting to a character is one of the best responses to get when reading a book and that's how I felt with this.

Dream #1: Opening a restaurant or bakery... or both

Here are some tasty treats I've made so far this summer.  Be prepared for your mouth to water.

1. Cilantro battered onion rings

2. Summer corn chowder pasta

3. "Star spangled" tart

4. Grilled beef braciole with tomato basil relish

5. Donna's strawberry shortcake (with California strawberries)

6. Poppyseed chicken salad (a collaboration with Dad)

Let me know if you'd like any of these recipes!

Post Grad Book #2

The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnbrger
Finished: June 29, 2010
Page Count: 285

Why I read it:
The title was intriguing.

Google Books review:
In their third collaboration, Kaplan and Schnurnberger stick to the breezy style they created in The Botox Diaries and Mine Are Spectacular! After emptying her nest, Hallie Lawrence Pierpont is looking forward to reconnecting with her husband of 20 years. But then he dumps her for his fitness guru, and Hallie decides to get busy. A serendipitous meeting with the friend of one of her ex-boyfriends gives her an idea: Hallie is going to reconnect with all the men she didn't marry, starting with millionaire Eric; spiritual guru Barry; and her high school sweetheart, Kevin. Hallie's quest takes her to California and an exotic island, but when all is said and done she finds what she wants back in New York. Though her husband leaves her with no warning and she finds herself living alone for the first time in her adult life, Hallie manages the changes in her life with little angst. This is too little, however, to make the novel anything but a pleasant read-fun while it lasts but easily forgotten. Light women's fiction for larger public library collections.

What I thought:
Confession: I love silly romance novels more than intelligent reads.  Confession: I am not ashamed to admit that.  This book was a lot more fun to read than the last on my list.  It was about romance and travel and trying new things.  Yes, it was rather unrealistic that the main character's husband left her then she found three ex-boyfriends, all of whom were single and spent the last 20-years or so thinking about her.  Still, I found it interesting enough to see how each of these ex-boyfriends were so different, doing different things and reacting to her in different ways.  The end tied itself up nicely, something I expect from a silly romance book.  I liked it a lot though I don't feel any smarter now that I've read it though isn't that the point of a summer book?

Post Grad Book #1

Dervishes by Beth Helms
Finished: June 22, 2010
Page Count: 312

Why I read it:
The cover was shiny, the title piqued my interest and I liked what the inside flap said.

Publishers' Weekly Review/Synopsis:
Helms's mesmerizing debut novel (after story collection American Wives) takes readers to Ankara, Turkey, in the mid-1970s, where 12-year old Canada lives with her mother, Grace, and her father, Rand, whose intelligence career is shrouded in secrecy and sends the family to far-flung locales. By the time they're posted to Ankara, Canada is grappling with the inevitable insecurities and yearnings of puberty, and Grace feels trapped in a loveless marriage. Even when Rand is home, he shows little interest in domestic affairs, leaving Grace mainly to socialize with other Western expatriates and a small circle of wealthy Turks. Partly as a consequence of having lived so long in a world of secrets and cover stories, Grace hasn't learned how to relate to people (or how to let them relate to her), while Canada is mired in her own parallel, secretive universe of cruel adolescence. Helms uses dazzling imagery to mine the cultural and economic divides between the diplomatic enclaves and Turkish Ankara, as well as the chasm between Canada and Grace, which widens as they seek validation outside their home, with unforeseen consequences. Elegant prose and exacting insight illuminate Helms's tale of intrigue and deception.

What I thought:
It's taken me about a week and a half to read this.  At first, I was incredibly intrigued and couldn't put it down.  As I got further in, I found myself skimming pages.  It was beautifully written and I really felt like I was there in Turkey with these characters.  However, at times it was overwhelming and hard to read.  I liked the way each chapter switched perspectives between Canada, the young girl, and her mother Grace.  The book talked of lavish parties and life as an army wife in the 70s when Grace's husband was often out on assignment for weeks at a time.  The time period in such a country was interesting to me and as my sister so smartly said this afternoon "You don't see many books about Turkey."  She makes a valid point.  It was good and I would recommend it if you are the kind of reader that sits and really reads everything carefully- I think I missed a lot by skimming as the storyline was complex and a lot seemed to be going on.

#6: Will the rain ever stop?

Don't get me wrong, I love a good thunderstorm.  But 15 of the 17 days in June with rain?  No thank you.  Yesterday, on the most perfect day of the month, I enjoyed it to its fullest with my dear friend Sean out at Lake Calhoun.  I am currently enjoying this severe thunderstorm that could potentially turn into a tornado watch/warning.  I never used to like these scary storms but now, I find them fascinating.

Last Friday I spoke at a Women's Foundation meeting on behalf of Youth Venture.  Youth Venture was an organization that Box City Vigil works with.  For those of you who don't know, I helped organize an event in 2006 called Box City Vigil for Youth Homelessness at the MN State Capitol.  Now in its 5th year, Youth Venture helps foster the leadership team and the growth of the event.  Youth Venture applied for a grant from the Women's Foundation and I was asked to speak about my experience as a woman both while I planned BCV and the impact it all had on me.  I LOVE talking about Box City.  I HATE driving in Minneapolis but it was well worth it when I got there.  I was so pleased to have been asked to talk about my experience. 

This weekend included the World Cup, late night sushi and happy hour drinks, and Lauren Jo's grad party.  It was a lovely time indeed.  This week has been all work except for last night at Lake Calhoun.  Tomorrow I'm excited to see Toy Story 3 with Liz.  On Saturday, I'm driving down to LaCrosse to hang out with my friend Heidi.  I wanted to go to Winona for Steamboat Days but a Summer Solstice party in LAX sounds just as good, if not better. 

I've been meaning to use this blog to record all the wonderful food I've been making but alas, clearly I have forgotten.  I've made lots of tasty treats but neglected to take pictures of anything.  I'm hoping to remember a bit better in the future to bulk up this blog with wonderful pictures of wonderful food!  Or not so wonderful food like the meal I made tonight- if you do not like the taste of black licorice, do not use tarragon in anything.  Believe me, you'll regret it...
----------
I'm reading: Dervishes by Beth Helms.  It's the best book I've read all summer so far.  It's about a girl named Canada whose father works for the government and they move all over the world.  Its set in the 70s and they're living in Turkey.  It definitely is keeping me captivated and wanting to finish reading.  That's a good thing. 
Picture of the week: The super fantastic cupcakes I made for Lauren's grad party.  I'm slowly becoming a cupcake professional, basically.  

#4: Missed a week!

I wish I had a really cool reason why I didn't post last week but in all honesty, I just forgot.

Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and turned out to be a good time (though I wasn't really surprised).  Friday night, Liz, Nina and I saw "Sex & The City 2".  I would not recommend it.  The fashion was wonderful, as it always is, and Aidan made an appearance but the best part of the movie was when Liza Minnelli sang "Single Ladies" at the gay wedding.  And that was within the first half hour.  And then we were there for what seemed like an eternity with Liz saying "I'm so angry" about every five minutes until it was over.

Saturday redeemed my weekend with Liz's birthday bonfire.  I'm happy that some of my friends are her friends too so Trudy, Jaci and Ryan joined us.  We all ended up sitting around the fire late that night and reenacting this YouTube sensation: Mysterious Ticking Noise.  Then I had it stuck in my head for days but it was worth it because it was actually quite fun.

Sunday was Liz's 20th birthday and we spent it at the cabin.  We brought the pupperoo and he was happy to be in such a wide open space.  We went out on the boat and it was wonderful.  We ate good food.  We enjoyed each others' company (until I made Liz angry at dinner but we've moved on, I think).  I love the cabin so I was happy to be there.

The rest of my week has been rather uneventful until now.  I did get to see my friend Justin who has been in Hong Kong for the past semester so that was great because I really missed him.  Then last night, Trudy, Jaci and Allison came over to work on wedding plans for Allison (who is getting married exactly three months from yesterday).  The girls stayed until 2:15 this morning and now I'm waiting for them to come home so we can drive down to Winona and pick up our bridesmaid dresses.  I'm excited not only for the dresses but for a road trip with the girls (which I don't think we've ever done) and to be back in Winona, even if its only briefly.

I guess there's not much more to report at this moment.  I'm happy to be here and I think that's all that matters.

----------
I'm reading: Normal Girl by Molly Jong-Fast.  Its about some 19-year-old socialite who does drugs and thinks she killed her boyfriend.  I'm not super far in to it and I'm not sure if I like it or not but hey, its something to do.
My nails: OPI's "Fit for a Queensland"... I took a picture of my nails and the polish like last time but it was weird and I found this picture to be so much cuter: