The Most Romantic Thing a Guy Can Do

Ahhh.... I love that this movie moment just never dies.

It's even portrayed in the South Park episode "Raisins."

Bebe: Stan, why don't you show her you love her? If you really want Wendy back, try doing the most romantic thing you can think of.

Stan: [thinks] Okay, so what's the most romantic thing I can think of?

Bebe: If you really want a shot at getting her back, stand outside her window, hold a boombox over your head, and play [closes her eyes] Peter Gabriel.

Of course, no one mentioned that "Shock the Monkey" isn't quite as powerful as "In Your Eyes."

Superheroes.

Yesterday I had a laugh-out-loud moment when I read Mimi Smartypants' latest. Like her daughter Nora, I love the Superfriends. Of course, I am about thirty years older than her. Hmmm..... At any rate, I enjoyed the list of "Totally Serious Superfriends lines." Check 'em out.

Maybe if I had superhero powers my arm wouldn't hurt so much from the tetanus shot I got yesterday.

Today, I stumbled across these little artistic gems. Enjoy.

If you like these be sure to check out Anthony Lister's other work on his website.

"Lord, Beer Me Strength" -- Jim Halpert, The Office

It seems like I always have at least one or two sitcoms in my life that just make my day a wee bit brighter. Forever, it was Friends. And Seinfeld. Now it's The New Adventures of Old Christine and The Office. I just love The Office. I have seen every episode more than once, but that doesn't alter the joy I feel while watching the absurdities of their office world. Michael is remarkably inappropriate. He's so awful... you want to look away, but you just can't do it.

My most recent re-run rendezvous was the "Ben Franklin" episode happily saved by my DVR.

Michael, with his new-found understanding of "separate but equal" insists on both the men and women having strippers for their bachelor/bachelorette parties... at 3:00 pm .... in the middle of the work day. Jim and Dwight are in charge of hiring the entertainment. Instead of a strip club, Jim called the Scholastic Speakers of Pennsylvania. Jim ordered an actor to play Ben Franklin for Phyllis’s party. Angela was quite entertained with the man’s portrayal of the inventor, while the rest of the ladies quietly drank champagne and stewed. The party really got started when the women started asking tantalizing questions to “Ben Franklin.”

Still, nothing brings a smile to my face like the title of this post. In "Product Recall" Jim and Andy must go to a high school and apologize in person for the unfortunate water mark on their recent paper delivery. In the process Andy uses his favorite expression of "beer me" in a number of unusual ways.

Andy Bernard: [in Andy's car] Beer me!
Jim Halpert: What's that?
Andy Bernard: Hand me that water?
[Jim does so]
Andy Bernard: I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.
...............

Too often, I have shared Jim's dismay at some ridiculous moment in my life... now I have a response, Lord, beer me strength.

My Fear of Tornadoes

When I was young, I used to have nightmares about tornadoes and sometimes rabid skunks, actually. On Sunday as I was doing final preparations for my first day of school we were hit with a pretty powerful thunderstorm with crazy lightning. It wasn't until I got in my car that I heard the panicked voices of the radio deejays urging people to abandon cars and seek shelter... giving the minute by minute countdown of where the tornado was and in what path it was moving. I raced across town and found shelter at my mom's, never knowing that this tornado was doing so much damage southwest of my home... For the residents of Northwood, my nightmare had come true... except there were no rabid skunks. Thank goodness. When the 35W bridge collapsed near the U of M campus in the Twin Cities, my friend Rebecca pointed out how that horrible event was going to "do wonders for her mother's fear of driving on bridges." I'm afraid this event is only going to strengthen what I'd mostly dismissed as a childhood obsessive concern.

Today there were pictures in the newspaper that made me gasp with horror. Uprooted trees, houses without roofs, bricks ripped out of buildings, cars from a car lot crumpled. Of course, folks in Kansas see this sort of thing all the time in the summer, but not me. My heart goes out to the folks in this small North Dakota town. 57 homes utterly destroyed. 18 people injured. 1 fatality. And truly everyone, every piece of property within the mile wide path of the tornado suffered at least some damage. May every one of those impacted find peace and hope in the helping hand of a neighbor or friend.

***Update***
Here is a link to some pictures of the Northwood Tornado and damage it caused.

the Art of Sushi

Summer's Fleeting and I'm in Another Meeting....

Today began the first of my back to school inservice meetings, ushering in the end of the summer. Good-bye free time. Some people, teachers, kids admit in hushed tones how they are "tired of summer" and are a little "eager to be back." I must say, that has NEVER been me. I enjoy this blissful taste of early retirement a bit too much. Growing bored is never a problem. In fact, I find I still don't have enough time to get done all the things that require getting done. I should have been shopping for a new car this summer or at least repaired my brakes and changed my oil. I have knitting goals that weren't met. I have books in a stack I've not even touched. I have two half done book club titles I may never finish reading, at this rate. I have weight loss plans that I was just getting started on. Now I feel I've run out of time. Summer's done and my chances for many of my plans seem to be over. It's just too much to cram into my day in addition to the full time job and then some, my life becomes next Monday. So farewell, you perfect 77 degree days with your light breezes and me with nowhere I need to be. I'll see you again next summer.

Of Public Transportation and Border Crossings

On my last day in Vancouver, Emma and I sampled the transportation options... we started by driving to the sky rail and then riding 30 minutes into the downtown, then walking several blocks to Gastown and the nearby streets. We lunched at Flux, a bistro that served a mean linguine. Yum. Then we walked to Canada Place to see if there were any cruise ships on which we could stow-a-way. From there we rode the sea bus to North Vancouver and wandered through some shops there before riding back across and hitting the sky rail and then the city bus in order to follow our waitress's recommendation for a good bookstore. If we had more time there were certainly more things to see, but nothing was particularly close for foot traffic and time was of essence since I was heading south to Seattle later that evening. The book store in question was on Main between 8th and Broadway and it was everything our earlier bookstores were not. Neat, orderly and chock full of great titles and authors. I find that used book stores that sell new titles as well, tend to be the ones I like. Of course the earlier two book shops we investigated might have had some books I desired but who could tell with the dusty, teetering piles of books obstructing many of the narrow walkways between shelves... Pulp Fiction Books is the name of the more savory shop and I'd recommend browsing next time you are in the neighborhood.

My trip home began at 7:30 at the Campbell River Store where my shuttle bus to the Seattle airport picked me up. We passed through the border and had to unload everything and complete a customs document. It hardly seemed believable, even to me, that I hadn't bought a single thing. But the whole process was mostly uneventful with the exception of my discovery that my carry-on bag was bursting at the seams and weighed far more than was comfortable to lug around. Exactly WHY was I so determined not to check my luggage?

I arrived in Seattle about 30 minute late but Josh was there to pick me up and shelter me until my plane left Friday morning. He was a great host, entertaining me with pics from the trip He and Susan took rafting down the Grand Canyon, he fed me fresh picked blackberries, and before I knew it I was on my way back to the airport.

Seattle airport offers free wireless. Minneapolis does not. Sure it's available, but for an extortionist fee. Arghh... So the time I had in Minneapolis airport was spent reading, and watching part of a film on my computer-turned-DVD player. My first flight option was from Seattle direct to Winnipeg, but I waited too long to purchase the ticket and then I had to opt for this connecting flight to get the same price. So I flew to Winnipeg. Flight time--One hour. It's rather funny to hear the pilot say, "We've reached out cruising altitude and you can feel free to move about the cabin for the next ten minutes when we will begin our descent." My trip to Winnipeg was spent chatting with a friendly fellow in a kilt fresh from a bagpipe competition in Madison.

In the Winnipeg airport, I passed through customs again and then after Baked Expectations dessert and an hour and a half drive I did it once more at the Pembina border crossing by car. Wow. If they only knew-- from Canada to the States to Canada to the States.... I have a sneaking suspicion I could have gotten home in less convoluted way, but what fun would that have been?

Stanley Park

Totem Poles

Info on the specific totem poles in Stanley Park

Stairs are Evil.

On Wednesday, Emma and I decided to embrace our woodsy sides and get THAT out of the way. We headed north to Lynn Canyon so we could check out the scary suspension bridge over the falls and then hike around a bit. I found the bridge to be fairly mild... nothing compared to the terror of the rope bridge Carrick-A-Rede on the Antirim coast in Northern Ireland. I get chills thinking about it even now. This one felt like a paved sidewalk by comparison... Still I respect everyone's fear of it's bounciness and terrific plummet to the waters below if something did happen to go wrong.

These signs were particularly entertaining to me:

We read them before going over the bridge and into the woods. I just love how they are sooooo negative and almost celebratory of all the potential deaths you could encounter on this journey around Lynn Canyon and its river. It reminded me of an Edward Gorey book. The alphabet one that describes all the ways one might die... P is for placid waters pulling you under.

The first bit of a hike was really nice and we crossed a little bridge leading us over the water and instead of doubling back we decided to follow that path across the river. Unfortunately it merely led STRAIGHT UP to the parking lot via a lot... I mean, a LOT of steps. I can handle steep terrain in a hike but following wooden steps endlessly is NOT my idea of a good time. I nearly had a heart attack. Seriously.

Next we followed a path to "the pond" and discovered a swimming area with young and old alike dipping into the frigid waters. I went so far as to step out of my tennies and strip off the socks and let the water numb my feet for a few minutes. It was actually quite refreshing.

The Naked Truth

Our first day we stocked the refrigerator and settled in to Emma's apartment, but we couldn't leave it at that. Instead we enjoyed the shops of Fort Langley, visited her campus, and then headed off to the beach following the British culinary delight of cheese on toast! After all, I was treated to the best weather Vancouver had to offer while I was there.

After consulting the guide book I discovered Vancouver has a nude beach... something called Wreck Beach near the university. Instantly I was filled with a desire to check it out... try out nudity on the North American continent... or at least wander around nonchalantly on a clothing optional venue. On my list of 101 things to do is to visit Black's Beach in San Diego, so I figured this might come close. Quickly I realized that even more incredible than going to this beach would be if I managed to talk Emma into it.

We spent our afternoon at White Rock instead. Sampling the best ice cream on the boardwalk and strolling along the pebble strewn beach, mucking about in the seaweed laden sand as the tide rolled in. I contemplated reading but the sun was too hot and I was too tired and so I settled for a great game of knock over the stick or whatever it's formally called. Apparently I am good at this game... but not too bright since I believed that the winner of each round was the one who had to get up and move the stick. Hmmmm.....

Note found in Vancouver Coffee Shop Bathroom.

Nothing Says Fun Like a Statue of Lenin.

When we told Ryan about our "oversized monument" tour, he mentioned we might want to take in a glimpse of the famous statue of Fremont when we got to Seattle. Since this town is truly his home base, he had restaurant tips, parking tips, and apparently crazy statue tips. He suggested we see Fremont and added, "It's a fun neighborhood."

The truth is, he was right. Just as he was about our dinner recommendation in Capitol Hill. We feasted on momos and chicken curry and paneer naan at Annapurna, a Nepalese restaurant. I was also struck by the nifty little sidewalk art that was scattered in this neighborhood. The ballroom dancer in me was thrilled. All around the sidewalks were bronze footprints mapping out the dance steps with arrows explaining the moves for the waltz, the bus stop, the foxtrot and more.

In case you are like me and are a bit mystified by the presence of Lenin in Seattle, read on. This article was taken from here.

The 16-ft. tall bronze originated in Poprad, Slovakia, where it was first erected in 1988. It tumbled along with other heroic (and out of fashion) statues when the Soviets went down in 1989. For a time, the 7-ton Lenin lay face down in the mud at the Poprad dump -- until rescued by American entrepreneur Lewis Carpenter. Carpenter, who admired the artistry, mortgaged his house to buy and transport the statue to Seattle.

Carpenter died in a car accident in 1994. To recover the statue debt, Carpenter's family made an arrangement to loan it to the Fremont district until a buyer emerged. Asking price: $150,000. In 1995, Fremont put the statue up in the center of town, near a Cold War era rocket also displayed as public art.

The statue was controversial and remains so -- especially to Russian immigrants. It's as if someone erected a sculpture of a Klansman in the deep South (wait -- someone has), or Chinese Communists sold tickets for a look at Tibetan temples outside Disney World (oh yeah, that too...). Or someone slapped up a statue of Mark David Chapman, assassin of John Lennon, in Strawberry Fields (not so far).

Sure, Lenin the Man was a violent sociopath, catalyst for wholesale slaughter across half the world. But Lenin the Public Artwork is a beautifully crafted sculpture, and a catalyst for healthy discourse.

Today the statue -- still unsold -- is easily visible up the boulevard, past Organic Espresso and Kwangjai Thai Cuisine. He stands in front of a Taco Del Mar restaurant. Locals and passersby pause in his shadow on their cell phones, or rest on the monument steps after a hard morning of shopping. Ironically, he can’t be photographed without the Mexican fast food signs around him.

In the end, a Capitalist victory? Not really a “We Won” message like the Lenin that once stood in Dallas, the decapitated Lenin in in Las Vegas or Arlington, Virginia.

This one seems to say: "Whenever the world is ready for Communism again, freaky lefty Fremont will be there! Please buy this statue."

Crossing the Country One Coffee Shop at a Time

We passed through the skinny bit of Idaho and spent the night in Spokane on Sunday. Before we hit the road once more, we met our friend Ryan for a bit of coffee/tea/breakfast at the Rockwood Bakery. It was delightful--full of children and dogs and all sorts of folks chatting away or relaxing over a cup of coffee on a Monday morning. I think WE sat for a couple hours and caught up on the life of our adventurous friend. It seems that this trip is turning into a review of all the tea shops and coffeehouses between Middle America and the coast!

Regarding my thoughts on this one--my favorite thing was the delicious yogurt parfait I ate for breakfast, but the cool location of this bakery was great too. It wasn't even remotely in a business district and instead was tucked into a neighborhood.

We Walk on Water.

Me and Emma in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

My Kind of Town.

Aside from the mountains obstructing the view, and the forest fire smoky haze in the air, Missoula seems to be alright! To illustrate that point. Read on. The following is a very loose re-enactment of a conversation potentially overheard while strolling about the downtown of Missoula.

Me: If I had to live in Montana, I think it would be in Bozeman or Missoula. Probably Missoula.

Em: Why?

Me: I like the look of the people on the street. It's more my style. I like the stores. There aren't so many cowboys.

Em: Why live in Montana if you aren't into cowboys?

Me: I said 'If I HAD to live in Montana.'

Em: MmmmHmmmm.

------------------------------------------------

Of course we didn't just explore cool bookstores and funky clothing shops. We also had some tea! Go figure. This time we tried the truly cool Liquid Planet. While it didn't have a small town neighborhood feel to it... it was a bit more slick and beautiful... it had a uniqueness and class that would keep me coming back for more. They sold wines in addition to all kinds of coffee and tea accessories. It was hot beverage heaven.

From there we wandered into a nifty tea shop across the street called Butterfly Herbs. It had floor to ceiling of shelving with glass jars filled with loose teas and more. My favorite herb was called Everlasting Life.

And yes, apparently in honor of the new commemorative postage stamps some of the local post boxes have gone all R2-D2. Like I said, Missoula is cool!

The Butt(e) of Montana

Emma's quest for tea and my curiosity about Bozeman led us through the business districts of both Bozeman and Butte, Montana. While we felt Bozeman might be a nice place to live, we felt quite the opposite about Butte. Perhaps we were in the wrong section of town... on the wrong streets? We drove through the historic district and let me tell you, those buildings were "historic." It resembled a ghost town. At one point Emma mentioned that she expected to see zombies staggering out of the buildings into the empty streets. I almost forgot to mention that all around the city we kept seeing posters warning against "Meth Mouth." Maybe our zombie assessment wasn't too far off.

We did find a rather funky little coffee shop though, so it had some promise, I guess.

One Fish, Two Fish, Grey Fish, Yellow Cutthroat....

I can't say I've ever had the urge to tour a fish hatchery, but having done so, I feel as though I am a better person. George was a splendid tour guide explaining all sorts of details I probably should have written down. We saw fish that were one week old and some that were 5 years old. He explained which fish are mated and when and how. We saw the transport tanks, the outdoor and indoor facilities and even a bear cage, which was also sitting on the property. It sure beats my dad's raccoon cages!

Gravel Roads and Good Friends.

We spent last Saturday in Big Timber, home of Tom Brokaw, Michael Keaton, and my friends Cindy and Cathy and their families. We spent our morning playing with Cindy and George's 4.5 month old baby, traveling south of town to see the home they'll be moving to in the fall, and hiking around the natural bridge that arches over the Boulder river. Their new place has a fruitful apple tree right in the backyard that has been known to attract bears. Later George gave us an educational tour of the fish hatchery where he works and to counter some of the "nature overload" we went shopping in downtown Big Timber.

Main street is pretty small town typical but they do have a few cool shops and boutiques. Emma's fav was the quilt shop, and in fact, that was the ONLY place I bought anything on my entire 8 day trip. I came home with two lovely fat quarters of fabric.

Later in the day we headed north of town to Cathy's ranch where we watched the wee cousins playing and enjoyed key lime squares and tea in her bright sunny kitchen. We strolled around the yard walking the dogs and kids, and I even tried out their paddleboat on the small pond in their yard.

While we didn't see any bears on this trip we did see, mule deer, antelope, hawks, rabbits, sheep, llamas and lesbian goats. The world is our zoo. Go Montana!

What passes for Tourism in North Dakota...

or why it took us 14 hours to get to Big Timber, Montana instead of 11 last Friday....

World's Largest Buffalo

World's Largest Sandhill Crane

Salem Sue

Geese in Flight ... Gateway to the Enchanted Highway
(Can you find me in the picture?)

Painted Canyon -- Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Home of the World's Greatest Hamburger
One of my favorite stops was this restaurant in Bismarck--
The Wood House, where you order by phone from your booth.