lxforever

“No I don’t want to battle from beginning to end / I don’t want to cycle, recycle revenge / I don’t want to follow death and all of his friends”

—Coldplay

“See? They just can’t help hitting on me.”

—Ross, 7/31/08

I could feel the weight of August start even yesterday, pressing. It doesn’t help that it was Pete’s last day, this end of something old dragging the best month into the lesser one, arms heavy, ready to pull down, one week after another. I’m such a jerk, because this August is going to be awesome, filled with way more wonderful things than I deserve, but despite its summer setting, August always feels somewhat like a slug, something steep.

For all the ribbing and jabs and jolts, for all the talk about the continuum and that crap, I just wasn’t ready. I’m still not. But I have to take all the great things August is offering and be grateful.

Nastia/Shawn/Alicia/Etc in Beijing, looking so starstruck and proud! National Night Out, Wino Wednesday, dinner at K-10’s on Thursday. 8-08-08 … THE OLYMPICS!!!!!! The tea shower so lovingly prepared by my sisters, I can’t wait for that. THE OLYMPICS!!!!, the fair, the heat that I cherish while everyone else sinks. The DNC, the RNC, the speculation. The free-er weekends, when they come. And then into September, which will feel better, I hope.

It’ll be a good month, no worries. I’m just getting ready for the next stage.

And tomorrow to Iowa for Allison and Justin’s wedding woooo! I haven’t been there in quite a long time. I’m looking forward to the last wedding of ’08 – except for ours of course, I guess that’s the real last one, but that’s different.

How can I possibly top 2008? We’ll see. Happy August.

Got up and finished some awaiting tasks. Read some of my book in the big comfy chair and showered to cool off. Cooked up a very nice lunch using fresh herbs from our darling garden! Enjoyed a short rainshower. Headed over to Diana’s to feed Trigs and lay out reading my book on her lounge chair (thanks D!) Upon my return I read some more and had a very nice nap while my hardworking fiance did some more yard tasks following up to removing the giant behemoth bush yesterday. Awoke and made us a lovely meal of couscous and chicken (Moroccan Chicken it’s called) and watched some of the pretty TV. Took a nice walk to Pumphouse and had fresh, local cherries and cream ice cream. Walked back and admired the beautiful houses in the neighborhood. How wonderful.

Allison’s wedding, then my shower – I am so excited! Hope everyone is having a super July.

Yesterday was. No time to write. Worked in the garden. Mowed the lawn in perfect weather. Took a nap. Woke up early. Installed bike lights. Went on a long bike ride, discovering new paths, getting lost, seeing craziness at Stone Arch Bridge. Come home and grill out in our beautiful yard in the lovely day. Walk to ice cream and fireworks not five minutes from our house. Incredible…the most perfect day!

“I always get nervous putting things on the car – bike racks, skis, top racks, Christmas trees, canoes, decals.”

—Barb F. Mason

“A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame / is the imprisoned lightning, and her name / Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand / glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command / the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.”

—The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus

“America, America / God mend thy every flaw / Confirm thy soul with self control / Thy liberty in law.”

—America the Beautiful

As a liberal-minded young American—growing up during the reign of possibly the worst president in U.S. history, no less—I am pseudo-obligated to carry a varying degree of distaste and disgust for the actions and errors of my country. When interfacing outside of the country, it wouldn’t be prudent to champion a nation that’s so questionable in the minds of many abroad, and when amongst other left-winging-folk, it would be uncool to associate with something so filled with mistakes.

But this is a big year. It’s an election year: it’s the end of the Bush era and the start of something new, whoever and whatever that may be being an improvement on what’s there now. It’s an Olympic year: even as the Games wane in their popularity, it’s still a time for our citizens to come together and cheer on their fellow Americans, hungrily counting our medals, excitedly lapping up the human interest to the stories. It’s a year when gas rockets past four dollars a gallon, when China stands poised to pick up where we left off, when homes and economies stand in peril, when our superpower status may begin to fade. When uncertainty could be all that binds us together.

I’m trying to change. I’m trying to see hope, and starting to feel it. I’m starting to wonder if maybe we can bring it back together again, if that wasn’t just an idealized notion, if we can take care of the poor, the tired, the tempest-tossed, without angering the rest. If perhaps I can stop worrying about being a ‘cool’ liberal and start being a thoughtful, unifying American…without feeling like that constitutes betrayal. And I think I’ll let this one big year be one big help in these attempts.

Happy 4th of July! I’m off to the northern woods of Wisconsin for a few days of lakewater, friends and family, and reading. Oh yeah and in case this was too dense, you really should check this out—hilarious:
http://quotation-marks.blogspot.com/

“You know, if I was a 20-year-old, I would ask you out on a date.”

—my Grandpa…uh, thanks?…ha ha ha

“I am SURE you will be better than the drunk chick.
Evidence: Do you have a personalized, decorated beer ‘coozie’?
Will you throw borrowed Crocs in the dugout while yelling ‘f*** all of you!!’?
Do you know not to stand on home plate when you bat?”

Christie Bauer

“You’re such a white suburban Caucasian nerd.”

—Jeff Akervik

“the romantic air of your eye patch / called me across the room / I clung there and i danced with you silent / admired your divine tattoo // .. don’t lose yourself…”

—Laura Veirs, Don’t Lose Yourself

Bah! It has come to my attention that if I do not post today, it will be yet another June with no words. It has also come to my attention that a certain boss has been spreading terrible rumors around the office that I have a blog (which reminded me about it, and to update it). WELL I DO. So there.

In any case, obviously it’s been awhile…like, a month…so yeah. What is NEW? (“So…I was just wondering…what’s UP.” -A-K’s friend, hahaha.) It’s summer, my favorite time! It’s almost July, my favorite month! Pretty great if you ask me. I know if I try and recount this month I will miss something, suffice it to say it’s been fun. I had my first dinner party (other than TG07, that is) which was all in all a grand ol’ time and so lovely to see all my lady friends. Susan and Peter’s wedding was wonderful and they loved the quilt, hurrah! I was supposed to go to Madison but there was terrible flooding, leaving me stranded in Minneapolis but allowing me to take another biking adventure. We had a weekend of grad partying/Saints game/bridal showering (Allison) and it was a nice pseudo reunion of sorts. My whole family stayed in our house which was actually really fun. I saw a musical that Melissa K. Hall was in which was really sweet. I’m kind of intimidated to hang out with her now that she’s famous ;). And MJ joined us for a Wednesday night of LXDW hangout time, yeehaw! So yeah. Too much going on, but it’s all good stuff.

So July. Friday is the 4th, duh, one of my favorite holidays if only because of when it falls, and then we head up north for a few days. Very excited to read by the lake, swim, bike (maybe!) around and see our friends. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it!

OK, time to complain. My old sekret blog was all about complaining, and my super-sekret one still is, ha, so, get ready. My complaint. Why do people NOT understand the difference between a car path (the road), a bike path (or sometimes a road), and a walking path (usually a sidewalk)???? Seriously. This is especially vexing along the river/creek paths. Seriously, if I come across one more runner taking up the bike path, don’t be surprised if I smash them with my bike. No, not really, but I do come pretty close. What is the MATTER with you people? A road is for cars. A bike bath is for…wait for it…bikes!!!! A footpath is for…THOSE ON FOOT! I am so tired of morons. I deal with at least 15 of them every day (most of them at the gym, but still).

I had another complaint, however I was just served a dinner of steak (I KNOW!!!! HA. it happens sometimes), potatoes and peppers, grilled by Jeffrey Akervik himself. Pair that with some red wine and brownie batter and you have yourself a noncomplaining situation. Indeed. And tomorrow is hopefully a pool party at Dave’s! WOOOOOOOO pool party. I want a pool. Or a trampoline. But both have been banned (which is probably a good thing).

This is a horrible update. That’s what happens when you force yourself to post for a particular date. LAAAAME. Sorry. I’ll get back at it sometime. Later.

This post just inspired me to make my first political donation in history:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/05/obama-making-imprint-on-dnc-organization/

I have more to say, but for now…

BARACK OBAMA 2008 wooo!
(+ Shawn Johnson too!)

What a year this could be!

“The country runs better with a good looking man in the White House. Look what happened with Nixon… no one wanted to f***him, so he f***ed everyone.”

—Samantha Jones, Sex and the City

“I’m fine…I can play the clarinet, if I could read music, which I can’t.”

—Steve Mason, 5/08

“He’s an archaeologist, an adventurer. He’s a common man, a finder of rare antiquities.”

—Jeff Akervik, 5/08

I’m sitting out in our beautiful backyard as I type this, surrounded by blooming flowers, lovely lilacs, chirping birds, and our slowly growing garden. I just had a breakfast of whole wheat pancakes with real maple syrup, a fried egg, oj, and cherries. I pretty much have the best life ever.

Wonderful things that have happened lately: my mom came to visit, and we planted my garden and picked up my wedding dress, which is lovely. (And oh boy does it JUST fit, haha.) I also got to see her dress which is also lovely. Jeff and I took a 3-hour exploration-adventure bike ride down to Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, into Uptown, and back around Lake Nokomis. This city is absolutely beautiful and we live in such a wonderful place for biking. We saw the Indiana Jones movie which I actually liked, and our quest for Indy Jones light-up plastic cereal-box spoons never ends (we only have the red ones; if someone has another color, I will gladly trade if only for Jeff’s sake!). And of course, we went to Jeff’s grandpa’s grave to say hi.

Hmmmm, what else. Next week/weekend is out of control busy: Susan’s bach party (woo!), SATC (duh!), Susan + Peter’s wedding (yay!), Michael’s art show (congrats!), Alyssa and John move (congrats again!), and possibly softball subbing (if I can fit that in; hope I don’t die). And possibly Steph S’s grad party, to which I was so graciously invited. Vamos a ver! It’s that time of year though and I’m grateful to have so many great things happening in the lives of those around me.

Then: Matt and Megan graduate (my 7th JMM graduation, ha!), Saints game, Allison’s shower. Lots going on.

All right. Time to sew. Have a wonderful Memorial Day! Think of those who have served this country.

“I was living in a devil town / didn’t know it was a devil town / Oh lord it really brings me down / ’bout the devil town // All my friends were vampires / didn’t know they were vampires / turns out I was a vampire myself in the devil”

—Bright Eyes

“All I want is you, will you be my bride? / Take me by the hand and stand by my side / All I want is you, will you stay with me? / Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.”

—Barry Louis Polisar

I’ve done so much and written sooooooo little! Sorry folks. I just can’t keep up. The most recent excitement I can remember is my little midwest tour: Anna/Stephie in Sauk Prairie, shopping with my mom and dining with her and my dad in Middleton, hanging out in Madison briefly, then visiting Jenny in Chicago which was awesome!, and saw Stephie and Mike and Talked Republican (hey, I agree w/ you on SOME things, Steph), then to G&G’s in Baraboo. All in all a lovely trip, and a great surprise to see my SF-bound sister+family! Other recent excitement: finding a bike for Jeff! Woo! Well, we haven’t found IT yet, but we are gonna. I can’t wait to bike the lakes w/ him!

Anyway. I have OLYMPIC FEVER. THREE MONTHS from yesterday aaaaaaaah. I can’t wait.

Diana returns to the US tomorrow. AH-mazing.

My job is totally kickass.

I’m totally getting married in less than six months. Woo!

I finally saw JUNO and it totally got to me!

It’s TOTALLY SPRING.

Obama is TOTALLY WINNING.

Woo! Now, time for a retrospective…

Things I was doing around this time years and years ago:
8 years ago… senior prom, which, contrary to typical-ness, was amazing
7 years ago… end of frosh year in college, arriving back to my hometown of the time, Madison
6 years ago… getting ready to go to YELLOWSTONE with Matt! Put on my weird show for my roommates. Moving into Apt 3!
5 years ago… SPAIN!!!!!!!! First time ever in Europe. Incredible! To see Jenny Jane!
4 years ago… putting up the senior show…graduating with all my friends…”warming up the crowd”
3 years ago… first ‘real’ raise and official officialness at Olive! moved into my first solo apt
2 years ago… weirdly, I don’t remember a lot about this time from two years ago. Sorry. OH yeah I moved to Minneapolis. Yeehaw!
1 year ago… HAMJAM craziness…shortly followed by our engagement, woo!

So, yeah, that was fun.

What else…well I think I covered it. Sorry this is such a LAAAAME update but at least it’s an update. I intend to get to bed early but I no longer feel tired. Dang! That’s all I got. Happy Mothers’ Day!

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail.asp?id=53285

“Never doubt that you’re the one / and you can live your dreams! // …INSPIRING GUITAR SOLO // You’re the best! / Around! / Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down!”

—Joe “Bean” Esposito

“This isn’t play day! There is serious shit going on!”

—Jeff Akervik (‘serious sh*t’ being, Gopher hockey, NCAA basketball, and The Sound of Music being shown on ABCFamily)

“When I listen to your guyses’ conversations, I can feel myself getting dumber.”

—Erik Akervik

“Jenny Mason is correction: having lexi do my taxes over gchat.”

“Alexis Mason (MSN) 1:59
we have a naming convention situation
Adam (MSN) 2:00
I still think you should take his last name….and I don’t think you should call it a situation, more of a discussion”

sorry folks, I have not updated. A real update will be on its way. Things that have kept me from updating: Reading Alex Cross books. Eating Nilla wafers. Freelance freelance freelance. Forcing myself to be social and liking it when I am (ha). Trolling etsy. Making a tea towel. Stalking Diana in India aka checking her blog 23598795047 times a day. Doing Jenny’s taxes over gchat. AND MANY MORE! As you can see, my life is ridiculously exciting as always. YESSSSS. But yeah, more to come. April’s good. ALL is SWELL. Laterz.