At Mick and Kate's wedding
Christie: That was a nice picture of you in the slideshow. When did they take that?
Me: I don't know. Probably the night we went out for Kate and Molly's birthday, which is only a few days before mine.
Chrisite: That's weird - they have the same birthday. Oh wait, they're twins.
Sunday, June 24
Sunday, June 17
Mom
My mom came to visit this week. After three days of my sleeping on the floor (because she had my bed and my cousin had my futon), I convinced her to go to a hotel. My reasoning was that they have air-conditioning. And I would be more pleasant if I weren't sleeping on the floor. (I have beautiful hard wood floors. Beautiful to look at; not beautiful to enjoy via your back.)
I am not sure if Mom had a good time here in Milwaukee. I was very busy so we didn't spend a ton of time together. I worked on the weekdays, because I'm saving my vacationtime for a trip home in July. And I had to continue my house-hunt as the deadline looms. She was invited to come on both house-hunting trips but decided against it. (I am so thankful for this as I don't think she will like the neighborhood to which I am moving.) And it was hot, which she talked about frequently.
However, we did go to the Lakefront Brewery for its Fish Fry. And we sat right in front of the polka band! We did go to the Botanical Garden, which we both enjoy. It's one of the few things we have in common. We like gardens. We both like looking at landscaping. She likes plants for their beauty. I like them for their Latin names. Quercus alba! We also had some great meals. Milwaukee did not let me down in the food department.
I am not sure if Mom had a good time here in Milwaukee. I was very busy so we didn't spend a ton of time together. I worked on the weekdays, because I'm saving my vacationtime for a trip home in July. And I had to continue my house-hunt as the deadline looms. She was invited to come on both house-hunting trips but decided against it. (I am so thankful for this as I don't think she will like the neighborhood to which I am moving.) And it was hot, which she talked about frequently.
However, we did go to the Lakefront Brewery for its Fish Fry. And we sat right in front of the polka band! We did go to the Botanical Garden, which we both enjoy. It's one of the few things we have in common. We like gardens. We both like looking at landscaping. She likes plants for their beauty. I like them for their Latin names. Quercus alba! We also had some great meals. Milwaukee did not let me down in the food department.
Hit the books
This week I started my evening class to prepare me as a teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools. My first homework assignment was due at 11:59 tonight. I submitted it at 11:49 - ten minutes to spare. This is not the best way to start a new career.
Thursday, June 7
Beads
As a member of the Easttown Association, I received 3 free tickets to Milwaukee's Bead and Button show this weekend. Score! And I'm allowed to ask for more if I need them. I'm thinking about going just because it would make an interesting blog entry.
Sunday, June 3
Grilling!
The last time Trevor invited me to grill there was snow on the ground. This time, there were thunderstorms overhead. Despite the rain and cold, we had a great time tonight. Christie summed up the experience well: "I was miserable, but I had a lot of fun." See the pictures below.
What do you think, Christie? Rain?
Funcionality before Fashion.
Christie: I can't tell which ones are the Boca Brats, because they're too charred. Sorry, Trevor. Great job grilling. I like them charred. They're good.
What do you think, Christie? Rain?
Funcionality before Fashion.
Christie: I can't tell which ones are the Boca Brats, because they're too charred. Sorry, Trevor. Great job grilling. I like them charred. They're good.
Tuesday, May 29
The realtor just left my apartment and Christie and I just signed our offer for a house that we want to buy. While we have only been going through this since Sunday, I feel that it has been a lifetime. I am so tired by all of the reading, and talking, and haggling. But I have a good feeling that I am going to become a homeowner. It feels weird to type that, let alone to actually know it.
The building is a duplex - two apartments with the same layout set on top of one another. There is an attic and a basement, both of which we would share. There is a two-door garage and a garden; grass to mow. There is a porch and a balcony. The building is old, more than 100 years. It has character. It also has hard wood floors, a claw-foot bathtub, and a shrubery.
The neighborhood is not the best. But it is certainly not the worst. Riverwest is the area of town where the hippies and the hipsters live. There may be more crime there than in the white picket fences neighborhood, but there's also a stronger neighborhood association, of which our realtor has already invited us to join. The Food Co-op is only two buildings away from the house. And there are two coffee shops within a block as well. We're a block from my favorite bus line - the same one that Christie takes to work. Oh, and there's a sex toy shop on the corner too.
My feelings are all over the board. I'm excited, but extremely nervous. I hope I did not make the wrong decision. I keep thinking of all that can go wrong. And I feel guilty when I catch myself thinking of all that can go right. But mostly I just feel tired.
The building is a duplex - two apartments with the same layout set on top of one another. There is an attic and a basement, both of which we would share. There is a two-door garage and a garden; grass to mow. There is a porch and a balcony. The building is old, more than 100 years. It has character. It also has hard wood floors, a claw-foot bathtub, and a shrubery.
The neighborhood is not the best. But it is certainly not the worst. Riverwest is the area of town where the hippies and the hipsters live. There may be more crime there than in the white picket fences neighborhood, but there's also a stronger neighborhood association, of which our realtor has already invited us to join. The Food Co-op is only two buildings away from the house. And there are two coffee shops within a block as well. We're a block from my favorite bus line - the same one that Christie takes to work. Oh, and there's a sex toy shop on the corner too.
My feelings are all over the board. I'm excited, but extremely nervous. I hope I did not make the wrong decision. I keep thinking of all that can go wrong. And I feel guilty when I catch myself thinking of all that can go right. But mostly I just feel tired.
Monday, May 28
Memorial Day Check List
- Eat frozen custard
- Yard Sales
- Run - twice
- Bike ride
- Finish Sophie's World after months of reading it
- Clean up the house - especially the bathroom
- View house to buy, meet with realtor, place offer on house
- Buy flights home to Pennsylvania
- Buy books
- Swim multiple laps
- Eat sushi
- Cheer for the Memorial Day Parade
Saturday, May 19
One day, lad, all this will be yours!
- PRINCE HERBERT:
- What, the curtains?
- FATHER:
- No. Not the curtains, lad. All that you can see, stretched out over the hills and valleys of this land! This'll be your kingdom, lad.
Tonight I am hanging curtains on the windows of my apartment. They look so much better than the blinds. But more importantly, now I can leave the windows open, and not wear pants!
Today, I learned a valuable lesson about tailgating the car in front of you on the highway. Don't do it. Because the driver may vomit out his window and splatter your car worse than a swarm of bugs. True story.
That sums up my day: vomit on the car and hanging curtains.
Tuesday, May 15
Prayer Rug
I received a Prayer Rug in the mail today. I didn't ask for it; someone sent it me. It's not really a rug. It's a large piece of paper that has been folded up. It has the design of a Persian rug, but then there's a large picture of Jesus in the middle of it. Jesus' eyes are drawn to be closed, but the directions with the rug say that if you look at them long enough they appear to open up. Then you are too kneel on the Prayer Rug (Prayer Sheet of Paper) and ask for what you need. You then write your prayer on the letter that came with the "rug" and send it to another person.
It's a little strange. The weirdest part is that I'm not sure who sent it to me. And I'm suspicious, but I can't find anywhere that I'm to send money. Currently the Prayer Rug is in my garbage. I feel a little strange about that, but I really don't want to hold onto it.
In other news, Tyler commented on the blog. He didn't say much, but it sure is nice to hear from him. I've been writing to him each week since he was sent to Iraq, but I have no idea when (or if) the letters reach him. I wonder if he got the porn I sent him. Maybe the censors "censored" it for themselves. Just kidding, Tyler. There's no porn coming your way from me. But, Adina - she might send you some.
Three paragraphs is all it took for me to get from "Prayer Rug" to "Pornography".
It's a little strange. The weirdest part is that I'm not sure who sent it to me. And I'm suspicious, but I can't find anywhere that I'm to send money. Currently the Prayer Rug is in my garbage. I feel a little strange about that, but I really don't want to hold onto it.
In other news, Tyler commented on the blog. He didn't say much, but it sure is nice to hear from him. I've been writing to him each week since he was sent to Iraq, but I have no idea when (or if) the letters reach him. I wonder if he got the porn I sent him. Maybe the censors "censored" it for themselves. Just kidding, Tyler. There's no porn coming your way from me. But, Adina - she might send you some.
Three paragraphs is all it took for me to get from "Prayer Rug" to "Pornography".
Saturday, May 12
Monday, April 30
Crazy Legs
On Saturday morning, Christie, Trevor, and I drove out to Madison for the 8K Crazylegs Classic. It was an adventure. And even though the details on paper make it sound like a collection of misfortune, we had a great time. But I'm not sure if we'd do it again.
We began the day with some slightly stressful driving around the city as we realized that I had no idea where registration was. Go figure, I thought it would be somewhere near the starting line. Nope, about a mile away from the start. We made it to registration with about 15 minutes to spare. Luckily, we had 60 minutes between registration and the start.
The sun was out, and it looked to be a beautiful day for a run. We made our way to the capital, which was the starting point. No directing signage, so we ended up at the end of the last wave - of walkers. Even after our wave finally began running (35 minutes after the start of the race!), we had to get past all of the walkers and slow-poke runners. We started with about 20 runners behind us. That left about 14,980 in front of us. As Trevor pointed out, we spent the entire race passing people. Not one person passed us. (Except for when that girl dropped her phone and Christie accidentally kicked it while trying to pick it up.) We're not that fast. We were just placed at the back of the slow people.
Despite all of the people that we passed during the running, we apparently didn't get to the finish line early enough, because they RAN...OUT...OF...BEER! Come on! That's how I made it up the hill on Mile 2. I kept repeating, "beer (pant, pant) beer (pant pant) beer" on every step of my right foot. How can they run out? That's the most important part of the race - the rehydration. They don't run out of beer during the Beer Run of Riverwest, or of sausages during the Sausage Race of Miller Park. Unacceptable.
Well, with morale at a low (but not the lowest, that was yet to come), we made the long trek back to the car, which was at the registration area - nowhere near the finish line. Upon seeing the car I reached into my pocket for the car keys, and found out that they were no longer there. Perhaps I had given them back to Christie because it was her car? Nope. I dropped them. We did not panic, which greatly helped the situation. Sure, we were in a strange city, without any certainty of our exact location. Our cell phones - in the car. Our identification - in the car. Our money - in the car, except for a sweaty $15 in Trevor's shoe. We knew no phone numbers, nor anyone's address in the city. The best option was to take the walk back to the stadium and look for the keys. We were fortunate enough that it was still open though we had to ask the staff's permission to look around. Eventually, we went to the Lost and Found. And lo and behold, someone had turned in the keys! Yea! No call to a locksmith!
We went to a bar for a lunch of beer and burgers. I was introduced to Mac-n-cheese wedges. Who knew that one could deep-fry macaroni and cheese into a wedge shape? It was ok, but I'd prefer my mac-n-cheese in a spoon-friendly form.
We began the day with some slightly stressful driving around the city as we realized that I had no idea where registration was. Go figure, I thought it would be somewhere near the starting line. Nope, about a mile away from the start. We made it to registration with about 15 minutes to spare. Luckily, we had 60 minutes between registration and the start.
The sun was out, and it looked to be a beautiful day for a run. We made our way to the capital, which was the starting point. No directing signage, so we ended up at the end of the last wave - of walkers. Even after our wave finally began running (35 minutes after the start of the race!), we had to get past all of the walkers and slow-poke runners. We started with about 20 runners behind us. That left about 14,980 in front of us. As Trevor pointed out, we spent the entire race passing people. Not one person passed us. (Except for when that girl dropped her phone and Christie accidentally kicked it while trying to pick it up.) We're not that fast. We were just placed at the back of the slow people.
Despite all of the people that we passed during the running, we apparently didn't get to the finish line early enough, because they RAN...OUT...OF...BEER! Come on! That's how I made it up the hill on Mile 2. I kept repeating, "beer (pant, pant) beer (pant pant) beer" on every step of my right foot. How can they run out? That's the most important part of the race - the rehydration. They don't run out of beer during the Beer Run of Riverwest, or of sausages during the Sausage Race of Miller Park. Unacceptable.
Well, with morale at a low (but not the lowest, that was yet to come), we made the long trek back to the car, which was at the registration area - nowhere near the finish line. Upon seeing the car I reached into my pocket for the car keys, and found out that they were no longer there. Perhaps I had given them back to Christie because it was her car? Nope. I dropped them. We did not panic, which greatly helped the situation. Sure, we were in a strange city, without any certainty of our exact location. Our cell phones - in the car. Our identification - in the car. Our money - in the car, except for a sweaty $15 in Trevor's shoe. We knew no phone numbers, nor anyone's address in the city. The best option was to take the walk back to the stadium and look for the keys. We were fortunate enough that it was still open though we had to ask the staff's permission to look around. Eventually, we went to the Lost and Found. And lo and behold, someone had turned in the keys! Yea! No call to a locksmith!
We went to a bar for a lunch of beer and burgers. I was introduced to Mac-n-cheese wedges. Who knew that one could deep-fry macaroni and cheese into a wedge shape? It was ok, but I'd prefer my mac-n-cheese in a spoon-friendly form.
Monday, April 23
Music Talk
While in Europe, Charley spent a good deal of time listening to his iPod. At one point he told me that he was listening to Mika, and he recommended that I should give him a try. I remembered this when I was in the music store the other day and noticed that Mika's album had recently come out. I bought it, never having heard a single song on the album.
Within the first few songs of the album, I realized that Life in Cartoon Motion would easily take the position of Gayest Album in my music collection. This, of course, upset those artists whose albums previously had held this position - namely Rufus Wainwright and the Scissor Sisters. While Rufus just had general feelings of hurt and confusion, the Sisters took a much more agressive approach when dealing with the interloper, Mika. I tried to capture their conversation, which includes comments from my other CDs, in the following lines:
Mika: Everybody's gonna love today! ...love me.
RW: (to Donny) [But] I'm only the one you love.
SS: I don't feel like dancin' no sir, no dancin' today.
RW: I don't know what I'm doing / I don't know what I'm saying...
Mika: [Maybe you're] Suckin' too hard on your lollipop. Love's gonna let you down.
SS: ...you're filthy / Oooh, and I'm gorgeous.
Ray Lamontagne, concerned that neither side was listening to the other foresaw problems.
Ray: Trouble. Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.
Corinne Bailey Rae, the other newcomer to the group threw her support behind Mika, and so did the soundtrack of Wicked.
Corinne: Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song.
Wicked: Popular. I'll help you be popular!
Some other albums were against Mika, however.
Thriller: They're out to get you, better leave while you can. Beat it. Just beat it.
Dixie Chicks: I'm not ready to make nice / I'm not ready to back down.
Poor Rufus pressured me to make a decision.
RW: I don't know what it is, But you got to do it...
Luckily though, someone stepped in and silenced everyone.
Black Eyed Peas: Shut up, just shut up, shut up. Shut up, just shut up, shut up.
And until someone stops me, I will continue to listen to any of my CDs as frequently as I wish.
Within the first few songs of the album, I realized that Life in Cartoon Motion would easily take the position of Gayest Album in my music collection. This, of course, upset those artists whose albums previously had held this position - namely Rufus Wainwright and the Scissor Sisters. While Rufus just had general feelings of hurt and confusion, the Sisters took a much more agressive approach when dealing with the interloper, Mika. I tried to capture their conversation, which includes comments from my other CDs, in the following lines:
Mika: Everybody's gonna love today! ...love me.
RW: (to Donny) [But] I'm only the one you love.
SS: I don't feel like dancin' no sir, no dancin' today.
RW: I don't know what I'm doing / I don't know what I'm saying...
Mika: [Maybe you're] Suckin' too hard on your lollipop. Love's gonna let you down.
SS: ...you're filthy / Oooh, and I'm gorgeous.
Ray Lamontagne, concerned that neither side was listening to the other foresaw problems.
Ray: Trouble. Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.
Corinne Bailey Rae, the other newcomer to the group threw her support behind Mika, and so did the soundtrack of Wicked.
Corinne: Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song.
Wicked: Popular. I'll help you be popular!
Some other albums were against Mika, however.
Thriller: They're out to get you, better leave while you can. Beat it. Just beat it.
Dixie Chicks: I'm not ready to make nice / I'm not ready to back down.
Poor Rufus pressured me to make a decision.
RW: I don't know what it is, But you got to do it...
Luckily though, someone stepped in and silenced everyone.
Black Eyed Peas: Shut up, just shut up, shut up. Shut up, just shut up, shut up.
And until someone stops me, I will continue to listen to any of my CDs as frequently as I wish.
Tuesday, April 17
Donny at a Crossroads
Some day I may look back at this week and think, "Yes, that was when everything changed." It's not often that someone realizes he's in the middle of a turning point. It's difficult to recognize the change of the tide. There's too much movement of the waves to notice that the entire body has changed directions.
Of course, my actions this week have been quite deliberate. I'm not being swept away, but choosing my own path.
Of course, my actions this week have been quite deliberate. I'm not being swept away, but choosing my own path.
- This morning I took the PRAXIS I exam. This is the first test needed to become a certified teacher. Last week, I submitted my application to MTEC, a program in the Milwaukee Public Schools, for people of other careers to become teachers. I am giving it a try, because my current career is not right for me. The money is great, but I want fulfillment. If things go as planned I will be teaching math in a high school classroom come September.
- This weekend I led my church's committee in hiring our permanent pastor, who will start in July. My church is going through some rough times, but the pastor will bring an extensive skill-set. She will either turn us around from our struggling financial situation, or drain our savings and cause us to have to close our doors for good. As the chairman of the Staffing Committee, I am in the position to receive the praise or blame for how the appointment plays out.
- I received a call from military this week, as they are doing a background check on Ray. They had many questions, and I managed to know many of the answers. How many of you can remember your dorm room numbers or even your addresses from 7 years ago? I have talked to Ray a few times on the phone now since he got out of basic training. He sounds happy. I hope he is.
- On Saturday night, Christie, Trevor, and I went to a pre-developed housing development outside of the city to watch the stars. The neighborhood we visited only has paved roads and water hook-ups. The land is flat so that we are able to see the stars close to the horizon. We had a nice talk, and I appreciated my friends - even if they have strange senses of humor.
Tuesday, April 10
Oops
I'm at the library studying for my next exam. However, I now realize that I have forgotten to register for my exam. Fantastic.
Sunday, March 25
When Fantasy Congress Become Real
Today I met Congresswoman Gwen Moore, the representative from my district in the House. She was our guest speaker at church. After the service I introduced myself to her. For lack of a better conversation topic, I told her that I have her picked in my fantasy congress league and that I would appreciate it if she would be as active as possible because that would help my score. I explained to her that I get points for all sorts of activity from the passing of her sponsored legislation to just showing up for roll call. I don't think she knew what I was talking about but she did tell me that her aides have mentioned "fantasy congress" before. Perhaps she'll look into it.
I think that I should receive some sort of credit in the league for actually having met someone on my team.
I think that I should receive some sort of credit in the league for actually having met someone on my team.
Sunday, March 18
Wisconsin seasons
Spring officially begins in 2 days, but we couldn't wait any longer. Today we broke out the Weber grill to cook our dinner. Trevor invited Christie, Jon, and me to his apartment for hamburgers and fries. We brought chicken, potato salad, asparagus, and guacamole. We brought too much food, which is what normally happens. And what's worse is that grilled food usually doesn't keep too well in the fridge.
Trevor's neighbors gave us some funny looks as they walked by in their parkas and scarves. Our hands were cold on the beer bottles, but we just moved our chairs closer to the grill for warmth. Jon and Christie argued over who got to sit in the way of the smoke - both of them wanted it.
I can't decide what was my favorite quotation of the night. The contenders are the following.
1. Jon: "The last time I was home, my dad made me watch The Devil Wears Prada. He really likes the fashion industry."
Or
2. Christie, as we sit around the grill: "Well, it looks like most of the snow in your front lawn is melted."
Trevor's neighbors gave us some funny looks as they walked by in their parkas and scarves. Our hands were cold on the beer bottles, but we just moved our chairs closer to the grill for warmth. Jon and Christie argued over who got to sit in the way of the smoke - both of them wanted it.
I can't decide what was my favorite quotation of the night. The contenders are the following.
1. Jon: "The last time I was home, my dad made me watch The Devil Wears Prada. He really likes the fashion industry."
Or
2. Christie, as we sit around the grill: "Well, it looks like most of the snow in your front lawn is melted."
Monday, March 12
Europe by the Numbers
Nine…H & M stores. Two in
Eight… supporting characters in the story:
- Ida, our gracious Parisian hostesss
- Simon, our trusty Belgian guide
- Valerie, our trusty Belgian guide’s sidekick (and fiancée)
- “The Waitress Who Cared” (and who told Felecia that she cannot eat the pita with her meal)
- Our smelly Flying Pig hostel roommate
- Arnold, the Friendly Frenchman, who dreams of visiting
- Charley’s flirtatious reflection
- The dog at the hostel who likes gloves.
Six…days’ worth of pictures that I deleted from my camera.
Five…cigarettes bummed from strangers
Four…countries visited in one week:
Three…traveling companions: Felecia, Charley, and me. Decisions never required a tie-breaker.
Two…musicals, from which we sang a good number of their songs: Wicked – “You’re gonna be popular” and Pete’s Dragon – “It’s a Brazzle Dazzle Day”
One…exhausting week.
Wednesday, February 21
Ash Wednesday
The Latin phrase, "Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris." means "Remember human, that you are dust, and you will return to dust." It's a phrase inspired by Biblical passages and often used during Ash Wednesday services. Contrary to others' ideas, it does not mean, "Eat steak, die happy."
Sunday, February 18
Missed Bops
The Ditty Bops are coming back to Milwaukee, and they'll be playing at Shank Hall, which is three blocks from my apartment. But, alas, I will be in Europe.
Oh yeah - I'm going to Europe - in three weeks. With Felecia and Charley. We're taking it by storm. Flight into Frankfurt, train to Paris, stay there for 3 nights. Travel to Belgium, stay there one night. Train to Amsterdam, enjoy the local culture, stay a night or two and then make our way back to Frankfurt for our flight back.
Oh yeah - I'm going to Europe - in three weeks. With Felecia and Charley. We're taking it by storm. Flight into Frankfurt, train to Paris, stay there for 3 nights. Travel to Belgium, stay there one night. Train to Amsterdam, enjoy the local culture, stay a night or two and then make our way back to Frankfurt for our flight back.
Sunday, February 11
Things I have learned from the Anna Nicole Smith Media Coverage
1. Zsa Zsa Gabor is still alive.
2. Virility Points earned by fathering a child with a former Playboy Playmate are easily lost when the paternity is questioned by, among others, a dead 90 year-old.
3. White men also take royalty as their first names.
4. Giving a baby two names, but melding them together only makes them difficult to pronounce. "Dannielynn." Is it Dannielle Lynn, Dannie Lynn, Dannielle In, or something completely different?
5. I continue to love NPR, who have not yet done a story on this.
2. Virility Points earned by fathering a child with a former Playboy Playmate are easily lost when the paternity is questioned by, among others, a dead 90 year-old.
3. White men also take royalty as their first names.
4. Giving a baby two names, but melding them together only makes them difficult to pronounce. "Dannielynn." Is it Dannielle Lynn, Dannie Lynn, Dannielle In, or something completely different?
5. I continue to love NPR, who have not yet done a story on this.
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