labor day and life

Tuesday, September 10, 2003

Life continues to be full and pleasant. I somehow fill my hours and days and weeks. I've assigned priorities to aspects of my life. Family and exercise/health rating towards the top. This journal, obviously, more towards the bottom. I do miss writing. I say that all the time. But when it is a choice between hanging out with friends on the deck or sitting in my office behind the computer, well, you see where this is going. Then there are the nights I'd rather be writing but instead there are bills that need paying and a checkbook that has been neglected. You do what you
have time to do. And I'm okay with that.

Over the Labor day weekend, we went down to Wisconsin to visit my parents. They are selling their 1820-built Victorian to lead a simpler, less house-repair reliant existence. They are building new. Will reside in a condo (with central air, a first!) in the meantime. And are basically pairing down, starting over and going through a general re haul of their lives. I can't explain how odd it is for me to see my mother sell her once-prized Victorian lamps because now she wants "comfy"-inspired decor. The ornate furniture is going away. Plush couches and even a (gasp!) futon are in their future. I didn't think parents were cable of changing their tastes at this stage in the game but apparently they are. And I feel silly for ever assuming otherwise. Change is good and therapeutic. And not only for the young.

During our visit, a garage sale was taking place. And while my brother and sister-in-law manned the cash box, James help me go through my attic-stashed belongings. Old yearbooks. Even my prom dress. A cheerleading skirt. James paraded around with a scrapbook from my youth. "What is this?" he would smile pointing out embarrassing memories of my high school years and I'd revert to the self-conciousness of my high school years. I twiddled down boxes of old cards, books, awards, metals to one box which is still sitting in my office at this very minute. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the contents, but I knew I didn't want to throw them away. Inside the box is a couple of yearbooks, my high school letters for cheerleading, National Honor Society and choir, my cheerleading captain pin, my graduation honors tassel and a book of poems that I wrote in 8th grade about the feelings of a teenage girl (they are actually pretty good which surprised me). Amongst these things is also a journal that contains writings from my first year of college. Last night I read it through page and page with horror and amazement. It took me back to places I wasn't sure I wanted to visit. And while I'm glad I documented this year, I also realized that I have shielded my 30-something brain from many of my 18-year-old memories and experiences. It's hard to keep the perspective of an 18 year old after years of growth and maturity. I made so many mistakes. Obsessed and made a lot of stupid choices. But that is all part of how I became part of who I am today. Without that I wouldn't be me. Still, it's hard to keep your eyes open and admit that that is who were where and those are the choice you made.

Part of me wants to share some of those entries. Talk in more detail about the poor choices I made. But what I wrote on those pieces of paper were never intended for any other audience than myself. That was long before I even knew what the Internet was or had an inkling that I would live a public life here. So I need to keep them to myself. At least for now.

Other than that, we spent our time cycling and visiting friends and family. We did a hilly, 60 mile ride around southern Wisconsin on Sunday. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I really miss the farmland and the cows and miles and miles of hilly pasture. Minnesota just isn't the same and the ride made me yearn for the Wisconsin surroundings. I miss Madison. I really, do.

I also miss my hair salon. I got a cut, tint and foil for half the price that I pay in St. Paul. It looks damn good, too.

We also stocked up on wine at Woodman's grocery store. They are king of the lowest prices anywhere. The same Pepperwood Grove Syrah that I purchase for $7.99 here was as a smashing price of $5.15 a bottle. Can you say case? I did. And gladly paid for it, too.

We got back home late on Monday night after a very awful experience at a Pizza Hut in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Sure it's been years since I'd set foot in a Pizza Hut, but I was craving some trash and figured it would at least satisfy that craving. But no. It was awful. So either I've grown or the food at that location just sucked. I'm thinking it just sucked.

Last week was your typical scrambling-short-week-of-work-having-to-catch-up-after-the-holiday affair. Lots of deadlines at work. Lots of pulling in all directions. Oh yeah, I also got sick and felt miserable. I bitched about it in my blog. Did you expect anything less?

When the weekend came, I was craving sleep. But do to my congested ness (that's not a word but I don't care), sleep was difficult. So I did what any normal workout freak would do. I got up at 7am to go for a bike ride. Actually, I was craving activity. After a week of rest, I was feeling fat and lazy. James and I did a 30 mile loop and I instantly felt better. So good, in fact, that we hit the farmer's market and the grocery store. I cleaned my house, too. We then had friends over for dinner and sat out on the deck after a superb meal eating sinful from-scratch brownies and drinking my favorite Steep and Brew coffee.

The next morning was another earlier one. The reason was the St. Paul Bike Classic. A 31-mile ride where the city shuts off streets so that bicyclists can enjoy them traffic-free. We did the ride with friends and went at a much slower pace that I'm typically accustomed to. But that was okay.

The weather was a bit steamy but beautiful. We finished around noon. For lunch, I joined my buddies at the Highland Grill. Yummy eats. That afternoon, James & I napped in the AC at home. We then cooked up a bunch of our farmer's market grub. Fresh tomatillo salsa, fried green tomatoes, corn & roasted poblano chowder. So, yeah, I ate well all weekend.

And now, here I am, halfway through another week. Work continues to keep me occupied and on my toes. My women's cycling group gathered for a nice, conversation pace Tuesday night ride. Afterwards, we ate at the cafe (my spinach, beet & walnut salad was awesome!) and discussed forming a committee to better organize for next year.

I'm also looking forward to a visit from my brother this weekend. He and his wife are coming up. They've never visited our house before so I'm looking forward to showing it off. Which also means I need to clean and vacuum and get some laundry done. I think we're going to an art gallery reception on Friday. The rest of the weekend is wide open: the art museum? that new Johnny Dep/Antonio Bandar as movie? more cooking?

We'll see.

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