church of delicious

birthday weekend

2008-11-10T09:14:00.002-05:00

An update's been a long time coming...

Although I don't have time to say much, except I had a GREAT birthday weekend; mostly just relaxing and being entertained. Patrick and I saw SAW V which was terrible and a play at Profiles Theatre, which was superb, as always. We drank some good beer, made some great nachos, slept some sound, much-needed sleep.

Note: He gave me a new digital camera so I'm going to be taking pictures and updating more often, I'm sure. :)

how many gyms does a girl need?

2008-02-01T19:22:00.003-05:00

I keep putting off posting an update. I find myself walking and writing posts in my head but when I get home I find about 20 other things to do. I just want it to be made known that I am officially old: I used a Q-tip at Einstein Brothers Bagels the other day and didn't care that I might be grossing out patrons. I wasn't cleaning, just itching. But my fellow ear-sexing bandits will understand the need to do so when the urge hits (I think! I hope!) I also have been wearing a sweatsuit out and about when doing errands, etc., and I don't care. Patrick reminded me of the Seinfeld episode when George was wearing them too much and how Jerry told him that the sweatsuit tellls the rest of the world that you've just given up; that you can't cope in normal society anymore. Hilario. I'm not worried, though. I can cope. At least til I find it's time to hibernate again. I did it a couple weekends ago when I was sick w/ a terrible cold. I, JLK, actually STAYED HOME for an ENTIRE WEEKEND in my pjs and watched movies and read and relaxed. It was great. I'm a convert.

But this winter isn't all about mental and physical relaxation. I joined another gym. It's only 1.5 blks away from my home. I'd never thought seriously about joining it before b/c it's really small and all the cardio equipment is right in the big picture window. For almost 3 yrs I've walked by and shuddered, thinking I'd NEVER EVER EVER workout at a gym where you're on DISPLAY. ick. BUT, one day I was walking by and ... the thought didn't scare me. In fact, the thought of only having to walk 1.5 blks to workout, instead of fighting w/ traffic and parking and all that Chicago horseshit, sounded very appealing. So I joined. I'm still a member of the Y, though... for those days when I need something more and different, like a hot tub and pool; or I want to watch Law & Order while I do my thing (this gym doesn't have any TVs! Revolutionary?)

So that's another example of how I'm officially old b/c I don't care who sees me in my sweats sweating on a treadmill. Hooray!! There's such liberty in being elderly!

Did I tell you I have a purple scarf...?

thanksgiving '07

2007-11-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

i haven't been w/ my family on thanksgiving in quite a while; i usually spend the day cooking it and chowing it up w/ my family of friends. but this year i went to michigan, and patrick came along w/ me. it was an awesome time. lotsolaughs. there's no pictures of dad...hmmm...

Gram in the kitchen - she cooked EVERYTHING.

jon...

patrick in one of a series of poses where he's not too thrilled that i'm taking his picture...

2007-11-24T09:55:00.000-05:00

Mum making a toast

See who's little head is peeking out?

Teddy in the back yard

2007-11-24T09:47:00.000-05:00

Full. Happy. Playing cards.

michigan womyn's fest 2007

2007-08-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

amy, gina and i being silly (kinda trying to forget how frikkin hot it was!)

yo! word to your feminist/femme-uhn-ist/womanly/womynly sister

the beautiful path i walked to get to the downtown area of festival

seating area for eating the vegetarian grub

gina, sandra and i all had to take advantage of the foot soak while amy worked her shit in 'the womb.' my feet felt brand new after this...

2007-08-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

my new cousin theresa w/ her giant puppet, miss lizzie!
her awesome puppets walked in the Femme Parade during fest.

jessica! we hung out mostly on sunday...

went to the movies under the stars to see

a gereat indie comedy, Butch Jaime.

the money w/ LEZ ZEPPLIN. these chicks kick serious rock ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

peaceful me...

in all its lovliness...

2007-07-22T08:51:00.000-05:00

D.C. is not Chicago.

I was there for four days attending a teacher conference. And although it was nice, I was homesick. Well, not the entire time, but a lot of the time. It’s been a long time – I think, forever – that I’ve lived in a place I actually prefer over places I travel to. Last summer doesn’t count… I was going through something. But now? I’ve been noticing more and more how much Chicago really does rock. I was checking out the pictures I took last week on my bike/walk to the lake and it filled me with longing and pride. Even the older chicks on the monument bus ride, who were from Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco all gushed when I said I was from Chicago. Leaves one to ponder what the hell one is thinking when one thinks about moving. But that conversation is for another day.

D.C. Observances:

1) There are no fat people. Anywhere.

2) They run in couples.

3) It’s flat!

The fat people thing is self-explanatory. Everywhere I went I noticed that everyone was thin. Fit, even. Then I started looking for overweight people specifically and there were none. It was weird.

On my second night I went exploring (as the first night I got in late so I just walked around the neighborhood and just ate dinner at the nearest restaurant that wasn’t busy – a Thai place. I had chicken wings stuffed w/ ground chicken and herbs, lightly breaded w/ a sweet sauce. Very inventive. Also, Pad Thai. I haven’t eaten Pad Thai in ages and ages. Anyway.) I was thirsty and hungry but picky. The answer came to me when I ran into a French bar w/ Delirium umbrellas all over the patio. Delirium is one of my latest favorite beers. 9% alcohol. Very Yummy. BUT, it was warm. My second choice was “too cold.” I started feeling like Goldie Locks. The bartender said beer that’s too cold will just foam up. *sigh* So I was given something… I don’t even know what. But it was good. I also ordered a ham and guyere (sp?) crepe w/ a nice mixed salad.

Next, I’d read about a black box, modern rendition of The Tragedy of Dr. Faustus being presented at the District of Columbia Center for the Arts. I found the establishment, walked the long stairs up and was greeted by BLASTS of COLD AIR and very cool art. I stood there for a long while… checked out every piece of art, looked at the shirts 4x (since the air was also blasting on top of the t-shirts) and at the right time proceeded to the black box area. For $10 I was stamped w/ DAMNED on my hand and given a bottle of PBR and a bag of popcorn. Now, this is where I really noticed the hetero couple phenomenon. I was the third person to take a seat in the tiny theatre, after the couple in front of me. I sat there for 10 minutes watching the short stream of people enter and all of them – hetero couplings. There were 23 people at the show and I was the oddball. Uncharacteristically, I was so relieved when someone sat next to me so I didn’t feel or seem like the strange fat obviously single, obvious tourist.

The show was a real entertainment deal. Besides the free beer and snacks, Dr. Faustus was amazingly funny and deep at the same time. At intervals the devil and his cronies told bad Jesus jokes (“How much does Jesus love you? THIS MUCH!” *stretching out arms* and “Why did Jesus cross the road? B/c he was nailed to the chicken!”) and, I have to admit, I was even a but shocked by them. They tried to win over Faustus by giving him special powers “w/ which he became the hot dog eating champion of the world!” (Faustus was played by an Asian actor) and he was credited w/ electing George the Second for another term. When given these special powers the cast broke into the Greatest American Hero theme song. Hilarious! Plus – you see, Faustus goes back and forth “Should I stay w/ the devil or go w/ God?” – when Lucifer had to really work to win over Faustus, he broke into an evangelical performance in which he a) passed out more PBR and b) made audience participants come up to the stage and admit their sins so they could feel good in his acceptance and, you know, go to hell. That was the best part, I think. Anyway, it was more fun than I thought it would be and I left feeling fabulous – like, why don’t I do this more often?? I bought a cool ass DCAC t-shirt.

The next evening I took the Gray Linen “Washington After Dark” bus tour. I got to see a bunch of monuments and learned that the city cannot, by law, build any structure that will end up taller than the Capitol. So that explains that. The tour was cool… I was wishing I’d taken a different tour, though… one that let us check out the monuments a bit longer than 7-25 minutes. I don’t mind timeframes but we were rushed. I would’ve liked to get out and walk the steps of the Capitol, for instance. We saw the White House from very far away (Sorry, Dad. George wasn’t out in the yard so I couldn’t give him the bird for you). The best place was the Lincoln Memorial, wh/ was immense, and I stood in the spot Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech and listened in to a Grandmother recounting her experience to her teenage grandson. That was cool. It nearly brought tears to my eyes.

But the monument that truly did move me was the Vietnam War Memorial. It was a lot longer than I’d imagined. It was intense. Half way through the walk, looking at name after name after name, overhearing a little boy about 6 or 7 yrs old tell his mom, “That’s sad…” I burst into tears. I’m sure it had a lot to do w/ the fact that I was looking at over 50,000 names of people who died that didn’t need to die… but it also made me very grateful that my dad came back from the war. So many kids didn’t have the opportunity I did to get to know their fathers. I cried all the way back to the bus. I had about five minutes to check out the Korean War Memorial but I just couldn’t do it. One last stop at the Imo Jima Memorial (vast, awesome) and I was ready to go back to the hotel.

I was, actually, ready to go back home.

But I had one more day left and I skipped the conference breakfast and last workshop to sleep in, get in a workout at the fitness area, pack, check out and get some coffee. After the conference closing address, I went for my first pedicure (inspired by my colleague who gushed over the woman who did hers the day before) and then my last D.C. dining experience at the Open City Café down the street.

Open City Café is totally my kind of place. It reminds me of something I’d find in Atlanta and actually made me miss Atlanta. If I lived in D.C. I’d go to the Open City Café all the time. It has everything I love about a restaurant – exceptional coffee, service, food and ambiance (wide open space; my kind of music, too.). There’s a huge patio seating area, a huge bar area and inside seating. The first time I went I had a late night snack of a burger that was almost as good as Kuma’s Corner and this time I went for the house salad (topped refreshingly w/ artichokes and roasted red peppers w/ a lemon and herb dressing that made me crazy happy) and the Breath Mint pizza, wh/ had onions, garlic, anchovies and sausage. I’m writing this as I wait for my plane home and I’m wondering if I should be nice and go brush my teeth so the person next to me doesn’t die…). I bought a lb. of TRYST coffee to take home w/ me. My dad buys coffee from Whole Foods when he visits so he can have a “taste of Chicago” every morning. I’m going to have my “taste of D.C.”

So that’s that. Oh ya, I DID go there for work and went to workshops and met w/ my colleagues and was totally inspired to implement certain ideas and books in my classroom but that would probably bore you. Overall, though, great trip. Now, I’m ready to go back to my three sweet kitties, the arms of my sweet lovin’ man, and my sweet home Chicago… p.s. i forgot my camera!!!

new & improved

2007-07-15T14:20:00.001-05:00

Friday I treated myself to getting my mermaid tattoo re-done. She needed color - badly! Esther, a fabulous person and tattoo artist with her own studio called butterfat studios, added blue/green water and created a whole new tattoo in the process. If you are in the Chicago area, I highly recommend her!

Saturday I went on another fitness adventure. I rode my bike half way to Navy Pier and walked the rest. When I got to the beach near NP, I stopped and waded and sat on the beach for a piece. It was marvelous. No agenda. No urgencies. The only thing that sucked was that I couldn't swim b/c of the tattoo (2 weeks!)

sweet continued

2007-07-15T14:17:00.001-05:00

View of the city from where I sat on the beach.

How could I ever want to leave this place, I wonder....

I was soooooooooo envious of the swimmers!!
And look, there are not very people at this beach. Love it.

Part of the Lake Shore path I walked and biked.

sweet

2007-07-12T16:27:00.000-05:00

i met a goal today.

for two years i've been driving along Lake Shore Blvd. on my way home envious of the bikers and walkers who get their fitness on right next to the water. i can do that, i've been thinking to myself. i'll just have to walk or ride my bike a longggg way...

today's a gorgeous day. early 70's, cool breeze, sunny. gorgeous.

i had no agenda. didn't have to be back home until 6ish. i had no excuses.

i rode my bike all the way to Navy Pier. The trail has mile markers to let me know i biked a total of 10 miles (at least) round trip. it was so exhilarating! i found a quiet, shady spot right next to the water and got a view of the city that was entirely fresh. nothing makes me happy quite like blue sun-sparkled water.

summer thus far

2007-07-01T20:50:00.000-05:00

Up at 5 a.m. to teach freshman literature at 7 a.m., out at 11:10 a.m., go to the Y and get in a good workout, hang out w/ Amanda and/or Patrick, drink at the Hopleaf and discover another perfect summer beverage, go to a movie, fix a fabulous dinner off the cuff, swim at the pool down the street and make fun of Iggy Pop wanna-be (after we leave, of course), read a book or finally catch up on the zillion magazines I've collected over the past school year... discover more reasons to love and be loved...

Only one more week...

My baby's 11 years old now. Say "Happy Birthday, George."

asheville, north carolina

2007-07-01T20:45:00.000-05:00

So the scoop is that my thoughts of moving to California have been waning... partly b/c of Amanda's change of plans and partly b/c my parents don't really want to move there. They would if I realllllllllly wanted to... but my sights have changed. I want to be able to own a house. I want a quieter life (although not right this second. I'm enjoying Chicago too much). Several people have always told me that I would love North Carolina so I decided to check it out. Patrick and I made it an extended weekend vacation, as he's lived there before and could be an excellent tour guide - wh/ he was.

The first day we found out about a BBQ festival out in the middle of nowhere... then an art studio crawl (old warehouses converted into studios and galleries... SO AWESOME. Atlanta has a similar setup that I enjoyed when I lived there. We ate fabulous food (biscuits w/ everything), relaxed, drove around... it was nice. Perfect. I didn't take a ton of pictures but here are my favorites.

That's not smoke - it's this really cool mountain mist!
On our way to the BBQ festival,
we stopped to take in the view.

2007-07-01T20:36:00.001-05:00

Fuzzy, but I like this one. He's smiling very naturally.

2007-07-01T20:28:00.000-05:00

Doing the Turkey Leg BBQ Blues

2007-07-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

There isn't another pizza quite like the Mellow Mushroom pizza.

I enjoyed this when I lived in Atlanta and was thrilled
to find out (thanks Gina!) that Asheville has one, too.
YUMMMM.

newsy news

2007-02-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

i know i haven't updated in a while but that's not b/c shit hasn't been happening; it's BECAUSE shit's been happening that i haven't updated. i realize, too, i haven't taken any pictures of anything lately. of course, i haven't been anywhere except all over the city. rest assured; i am alive and doing VERY well. if you're in the loop, you know that. i'll have something here soon.

thanksgiving

2006-11-24T10:09:00.000-05:00

another FABULOUS holiday with friends. we went w/ an elegant feel this year. i cooked everything, except the baked beans, pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate cake (james). amy took all the pictures of the food so i'll post them when she sends them to me; it lookd fab and was really tasty; i am not a braggard but, seriously! i was impressed w/ myself: maple glazed turkey, apple and chesnut stuffing, cider maple gravy, cranberry and grape compote, pumpkin pie, etc. i didn't concern myself w/ my diet restrictions, just enjoyed. right now i'm waiting for my parents to show up for the weekend. i am so thankful, grateful, happy. for everything and everyone in my life.

The interior designer and cook take a moment

the true Money and the Del

we always watch Madonna videos on Thanksgiving

2006-11-24T10:02:00.000-05:00

My kitchen elves found my tools just in time!

Dougie, Gina and James

Gina, and Hawlie as punky brewster

skye

2006-11-22T20:02:00.000-05:00

look at those magnificent blue eyes

she is an extreme snuggle bunny

happy 34th to me

2006-11-18T02:55:00.000-05:00

1. Jon came to town and he, James and I saw Old Crow Medicine Show at the House of Blues. THAT ROCKED. Check out their Wagon Wheel video.

2. Jon & I went to Chinatown and ... umm... chowed down.

3. Sunday, in the middle of the day, I got wasted on Bloody Marys and met the bald brother (I'm still not convinced) to Jon Cusak in Wicker Park. Gina had to come and get us to drive us to the hookah bar.

It was a fabulous birthday weekend.

2006-11-18T02:00:00.000-05:00

george loves his uncle jon

i don't know but why my flash won't work
so this is not drunk vision

this is, though (bloody mary time)

gina and amy's ceremony weekend

2006-10-27T22:59:00.000-05:00

the weekend of october fourteenth a gathering of close friends and family witnessed a beautiful event: the public declaration of love and commitment of two people who are close to my heart. On a small piece of property in Honor, MI, we stayed in cabins, ate, drank, laughed, danced, made merry, worked together and loved each other. i was asked a year ago if i would do the honor of "marrying" them and i'd accepted. i'm so glad i did. i have to say, it was truly one of the most wonderful experiences of my life - to be a part of something so real; so honorable.

Just before the ceremony we blessed the four of us
blessed the rings which picture evergreen trees in silver.

Just before playing minister...!

2006-10-27T22:57:00.000-05:00

It was very cold and dark, but just at the perfect moment the sun shone through the clouds.

2006-10-27T22:52:00.000-05:00

The very cool minstrels, Theresa and Martha

2006-10-27T22:46:00.000-05:00

Our hosts, Nancy and Sandra

Gina showing off the fruits of James' labor

and James enjoying it

2006-10-21T00:42:00.000-05:00

After the ceremony, Courtney, Holly and James and i took a beautiful walk
on a trail leading us to Lake Michigan.
The colors were amazing to me. I miss them.
There aren't colors like this in Chicago.

2006-10-21T00:36:00.000-05:00

"out of this wood do not dare to go"

2006-10-21T00:34:00.000-05:00

Sleeping Bear Dunes

2006-10-21T00:21:00.000-05:00

before we left

we stopped by our [abandoned] dream house

and property.
The place had it all - even a great area for a raspberry farm.
Too bad the lake shore is going to demolish it and make it a Welcome Center...

mapping

2006-10-21T00:17:00.000-05:00

Stopping by the roadside on our way home to capture images of dreamy objects

my saturday night

2006-10-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

okay, it's not as pathetic as it looks; yes, i'm grading papers and even george thinks that is totally uncool and is trying to get me not to do it by getting in my way... but i'm going to see the Detroit Cobras w/ james. i'm excited! i haven't rocked out Detroit style in so long!

sweet summer endings

2006-10-07T08:36:00.000-05:00

last weekend i traveled once more to reno to go to eliot and mckenna's commitment ceremony - and to spend more time w/ my good friends there. i had such an awesome time - every minute of it, whether we were just sitting around chilling or out in the wild, it was an excellent way to say au revoir to the best summer i've ever had. here are some choice pictures...

nick in the backseat ...

the official ladies man of reno

mckenna and eliot

soon after this picture was taken i was a very bad girl and was coerced into jumping a fence and soaking in some off limits hot springs. it was soooooooooo exhilerating and calming at the same time. just what my muscles needed. oh ya, and we got caught by security - cool!

2006-10-07T08:31:00.000-05:00

the next night we camped at Pyramid Lake on the eve of opening day

for fishing. i slept under the stars! such a beautiful time.

the sun rise shining on the opposite side of the lake

2006-10-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

despite boat motor issues, we did catch a few trout

(and cooked them for dinner!). i cleaned my first fish, even.

"And summer arrives with the length of light
And summer blows away and quietly gets swallowed by a wave"

i need to make winter break travel plans. but... where to?

wtf

2006-09-23T16:04:00.000-05:00

biker!

2006-09-06T23:09:00.000-05:00

Amanda felt it was necessary to capture me before going out for a ride.

a beautiful weekend

2006-09-06T22:55:00.000-05:00

as it is every Labor Day weekend, my family got together to celebrate the shared birthday of my dad and my sister, Amanda. this one was pretty special, though, b/c Amanda was w/ us (she was in OR last year); and everyone was happy and healthy -- the positive energy was astounding. it was the best way to end my summer vacation.

thelma & louise ride again...

2006-08-20T00:17:00.000-05:00

although we replaced Wild Turkey (ick) w/pop, shitty coffee and water and we didn't ride off any cliffs (but got tattoos instead...).

we took the northern route, so starting in Oregon we went through a teeny part of Washington, then Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. I know it's not terribly exciting for the people who weren't there in person to see scenic pictures so i'll only share a few.

saying goodbye to the west coast (but not for good!)

2006-08-20T00:15:00.000-05:00

we were fascinated by the rock formations!

I never thought Idaho could be this gorgeous

Montana mountains.
I'm partial to the Montana pics b/c I was born here and was really excited to check it out.

2006-08-20T00:11:00.000-05:00

the remains of someone else's good time right outside our car the morning we left Montana

Driving in Montana early morning

We stopped in this teeny Montana town for lunch.

All they had on the menu was salad, chicken, meatloaf, peas and potatoes.

It was all just what we needed.

Iron scultpure in North Dakota

2006-08-20T00:07:00.000-05:00

This pretty much sums up the scenery in North Dakota. Once we hit
Minnesota and Wisconsin it all looked very much like Michigan so we lost our enthusiasm for pictures; EXCEPT...

...we found this strange statue standing guard at a gas station in Wisconsin.
We were really slap happy by this point.

In all, it took us 5 days to reach Chicago w/ many stops to do the usual things. We didn't stress ourselves out about keeping a schedule but we also didn't want it to be a 2 week driving tour, so we didn't stop at all the cool scenic things we kind of wanted to. Next time -- you know, when we go out there again for good.
Once we got here, we went straight to the tattoo parlor...

i'm a dreamer...

2006-08-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

We've always wanted to get matching tattoos. Within hours of being back in Chicago we went to a tattoo parlor to commemorate our experience.

When I visited Amanda in July we went to the Oregon Country Fair (big hippie fest) and saw this awesome old timey band called the Inkwell Rhythm Makers and fell in love. Then we got the cd and fell in love with that. In the liner notes there's a few cute drawings of hobo musicians and we decided to get the image of the skeleton hobo playing the guitar. My favorite song is "i'm a dreamer (aren't we all?)." Amanda's tattoo is smaller than mine and too scabby to get a good picture of right now. And that's my right inner arm just under my wrist.

This trip was another awesome summer vacation experience that gave me a lot of food for thought. I've had so much to contemplate this year re: what really makes me happy; what I REALLY want in life. I've also come to believe that if you want something bad enough, put it out there in the universe and it will be yours. I think a lot of the crap that's happened was the result of me really wanting it to happen in the first place. That was a difficult realization at first; still is, in a way. So now I need to turn it in the other direction. My dreams have almost always turned into reality when I focus hard enough.

I know Chicago will be the last big city I live in. I love this city and what it has to offer but I don't want to remain here for the rest of my life and have no desire to experience any other big city after this one.

I picture myself living in Humboldt County, CA in a modest house surrounded by tall trees. I have a wood-framed screen door that bangs shut every time I go outside to pick carrots for the salad, get wood for the fireplace, and greet friends who come to visit. I'm not far from the ocean, rivers and streams. I teach, read, write, hike, grow. Life is simple, good, organic and scrumptious.

west coast tour '06

2006-08-06T01:30:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate enough to take this summer off. I was really undecided for a long time b/c I hated the thought of giving up the summer school opportunity but in the end realized it was something I needed to do; get out of town, travel to places I’ve always wanted to see and revisit places I love, and, most importantly, reconnect w/ old friends, my sister…and myself. I left Chicago the day school officially ended, June 16, and returned August 1. I averaged one week in each destination: Long Beach, San Francisco, Reno, Eugene & Portland, OR, Detroit (for a conference) and Tawas, MI and used all modes of transportation (airplane, bus, train, car…bike) and had the time of my life. And the summer isn’t even over yet…!

This is where I spent 90% of the time when I stayed w/ Bernie in Long Beach. It was my first time swimming in the ocean and I LOVED it. The salt took just a day's worth of swimming to get used to. I only worried about sharks when I was bleeding -- well, sort of worried.

After a week in Long Beach, Bernie and I flew to San Francisco.

We stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel on Broadway. It was right between Chinatown and Little Italy -- also in the center of a red light district (I didn't know that when I made the reservations - just lucky!!)

This is the view from the first room I shared w/ Bernie at the hostel.

The main reason I was in San Francisco was to a) go to see Radiohead w/ Jonas and Nick. I didn't know Jonas prior to meeting him in SF but he'd done a lot to find me a ticket for the show, wh/ is partly what made him the coolest ever. Nick was wonderful, too, of course (as always). We drank beers, etc., found a sushi buffet and got to the show just in time. It was a beautiful day.

The b) reason I was in SF was to attend Pride. Here's a delicious dyke on a bike.

2006-08-06T01:20:00.000-05:00

Elvira!

Balloons!

2006-08-06T01:15:00.000-05:00

Ms. Cowgirl 2006

just some hot hunky guys for the guys

Something I'd like to start in my school is a gay/straight alliance. Maybe I'm just a super nerd but usually school-related marchers (in any parade) get me all misty-eyed!!

I love this guy's bicycle outfit!

2006-08-06T01:10:00.000-05:00

BEWARE: NAKED MEN APPROACHING!

After the parade there was this patch of lawn behind fences where men were just stroking it for all to watch. I wonder if I'll get in trouble for posting this pic...

I love this man

Bernie w/ a naked roller skater!

2006-08-06T01:04:00.001-05:00

A girl at the hostel gave me directions to an alley in the Castro district that had some marvelous mural art. Here are some of my favorite images.

2006-08-06T01:04:00.000-05:00

Bernie went back to Long Beach the day after the parade but I stayed on in SF for a couple more days. I had to switch rooms and this was the view from the dorm room.

2006-08-06T00:52:00.000-05:00

I went down to Fisherman's Wharf to check it out...

I settled on the calamari... yummm...

2006-08-06T00:50:00.000-05:00

I was making my way back to the hostel and waiting for a bus when I noticed this place across the street. There was a long line for a sold out Neko Case show. I was told they usually hold tickets at the door so I chanced it and waited in line for almost 2 hrs and got in! It was a great show. John Vanderslice opened and I've liked him for a while, too.

2006-08-06T00:48:00.000-05:00

I think the best decision I made on the whole trip was to divert from my travel plans and go to Reno for a week. When I'd seen Nick in SF he wondered why I hadn't planned on it in the first place and invited me to stay w/ he and Maia. So I had my first Greyhound experience...

We went swimming at Pyramid Lake...

Isn't this gorgeous? Reno has such an awesome vibe about it.
Its part scenery...

And part people. Nick knows the coolest, nicest people. Here's Maia and their friend Melissa at the disc golf bucket thing. Yea - I played disc golf! It was a lot of fun! A great workout, too - lots of walking.

Here's Eliot, ready to play disc golf... or wrestle a crocodile...?

2006-08-06T00:35:00.000-05:00

I found a place for my parents to retire just outside of the city.

The evening before I left Reno, Jonas and I took an exhilerating walk at Keystone Canyon. From the top one can see the entire city but its the surrounding mountains I enjoyed seeing. Especially at sunset. This was the perfect finish to my time in Reno.

2006-08-06T00:20:00.000-05:00

From Reno I took another Greyhound to Eugene, OR

to visit my sister Amanda.

She took me to the coast. It was breathtaking. We think those might be the rocks from The Goonies that the kids had to view thru the coin.. you know what I'm talking about? Or maybe we just want them to be.

This is where the ocean tide touches the lava rock. It arrives in lush waves resembling a breathing dragon; then splashes against the mouth of the cave and sprays the entire area, leaving little creatures, like jellyfish and star fish, in pockets of water that line the surface.

2006-08-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

This might be a good submission to Found magazine.

I asked Amanda if she'd like me to cook her a meal she misses from home and she settled on grilled shrimp and chicken. I'd never grilled before... and after getting smoked out...

it turned out REALLY good & juicy!

Spending time w/ my sister was such a beautiful thing. Besides the trip to the coast, we had lots of fun staying up late watching Sex & the City, checking out some bars and clubs, getting coffee and burgers at 2 am while we talked some serious girltalk - reconnecting. I'd missed my sister a great deal; both seeing her and talking w/ her. It was awesome.

2006-08-06T00:15:00.000-05:00

I've always wanted to check out Portland b/c it seems so hip and I might fit in (b/c you know how I'm so damned hip) so I took a train from Eugene and arrived at this hostel for a 3 night stay. By this time I was losing my traveling momentum - just a little bit. I didn't take many pictures in Portland but I enjoyed myself immensely. The city is so clean and beautiful - and the people are extremely nice. B/c of this fact, I keep saying it was like being in Canada except that there was no sales tax!

I took the bus to the Saturday market. I asked the busdriver wh/ stop to get off at and she wasn't sure so she asked the entire bus. Three people told me what to do, and then the busdriver gave me a transit daypass for free. See! Nice people!

This woman made me a ring w/ blown glass - a dark blue sparkly ring. She talked to me for about a half an hour about how cool Portland is and turned me on to THE BEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD.

On my last full day I rented a bike and rode around A LOT. I realized w/ the bike that Portland is all up hill and down hill - mostly up hill. I road to the top of Mt Tabor and took in the city's view.

2006-08-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

After my west coast experience, I flew home for one night and then was on the road again to go to Detroit for a conference for school. I had 2 nights to hang out and the first night I got in touch w/ my old pal Matt for a night of intoxicating (literally and figuratively) conversation and silliness. The next night was spent on Courtney's couch catching up!

It was really surreal to be in Detroit proper again after being away for 1.5 yrs. Aside from seeing my friends, I didn't like it...

After that, I went w/ my parents up to their cabin in Tawas. It rained the first couple of days (of course! I always bring the rain up north!) ...

Teddy wants to play outside but he'll get all wet and muddy!

During the rain we made the best of it and relaxed, read, watched movies and went out for pizza to celebrate my parents' 37th anniversay.

It seemed like forever but it was only a couple of days before the sun came out and we were able to do all the other fun stuff, like SWIMMMM, kayak and canoe. Lake Huron was way too cold to swim in - it was painful! So we swam in the small lake by the cabin instead.

2006-08-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Even Teddy got in the water
SO it feels kind of strange being in Chicago again after living out of a suitcase for so long. My goal is to take all I've learned about myself and the aspects of life that truly make me happy and apply it to my "real life;" the everyday life I have to lead. It's so easy to fall back into old habits and old ways of thinking; it's going to be a challenge ( -- and I've already been tested) but I'm going to do my best. I came home very excited to be alive and well and drove along Lake Shore Blvd. w/an entirely new outlook on life. When I feel I'm being challenged, I have to remember the incredible elation I had when I swam in the ocean or drove at dusk w/ the convertible top down in Long Beach; or being at the Radiohead show in Berkley; being w/ wonderfully gracious friends in Reno and walking at Keystone Canyon; driving along the Oregon coast w/ my sister; kayaking w/ my mom at Big Island Lake...these and more are the memories of a summer that stands to change my life. In the words of a wise friend, "Magic abounds...You just have to remember."

green mill

2006-06-14T09:23:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, for Jessica's birthday, we went to the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge to break our Chicago poetry reading cherries. The Green Mill is where the orignal Uptown Poetry Slam started, hosted by Marc Smith (so what?!), wh/ evolved into the National Poetry Slam and slams taking place all over the world. When we signed up Smith asked us if we were "'virgins' or 'virgin virgins?'" meaning had we read before somewhere else or was this our first time ever? We told him we were just both simple virgins and ordered drinks to quell our nerves.

It all really went off quite awesome. We even received kudos in the bathroom (intriguing?). Jessica read a dialogue piece (can I call it that?) about being targeted for not wearing a bra in the workplace; it was funny and brutally honest about how insane office politics and managers can be. Reminded me of a conversation for "The Office." Hey - Jess! You should write for TV!

I read 2 old pieces ("el shaddai" and "for my heart, on the occasion of her shattering") and Smith had a jazz trio, Salamander, three young hip guys, backing up the poets (optional). I opted to have silence for "el shaddai" and asked for a crazy jazz construction for the other one. They said, "We can do crazy," and burst into some avant-garde stuff. It was perfect. It was all kind of a blur but it felt so fucking awesome to finally be on a stage again doing what I love. I've written one new poem I'd like to do and started several others. On my trip I plan to complete them and hopefully be inspired for more. I'm anxious for later in the summer returning and doing it again.

Thought - maybe I can test them out in open mics out West. Hot.

loretta

2006-06-05T16:17:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day weekend we finally fulfilled our dream of seeing Loretta Lynn in concert. We drove down to TN to her ranch to see her and stayed in an AWESOME cabin in the middle of nowhere. I miss seeing stars at night, hearing the wind wooshing in the trees...something I forget about living out in the woods is that when you turn off the lights it is completely pitch black dark and i love that. I love the uncertainty of what lays before me... yet the whole time knowing its just some trees or some wild flowers. nonthreatening, beautiful dark.

The concert was very intimate; the poor woman kept forgetting a lot of her lines; and her son and daughters had to help her out. She sang what the crowd called out for her to sing, wh/ was very gracious. I have to admit i was a little disappointed that Jack White wasn't there; but I shoulda known better, I guess. Her drunk son, Earl, made up for it. He was a riot. With their banter back and forth and his outrageous pranks (squeezing the nipples of all bandmates, for instance)... at times I felt I was watching a live episode of Hee Haw.

After the show we found a bar that had karaoke going on. The High Note. Everyone in there looked CRAZY - like they were mental or on meth or both. Really strung out and eyes going every which way. As soon as we entered this really old guy in a pink cowboy hat said to me, "This is a redneck bar, not a hillbilly bar!" and slapped me dead on the back. I told him I liked his pink hat. He hugged me. He hung on to all of us the entire time we were there; encouraging us to sing and trying to get us to dance. He sold his knife to Gina for $5 so he could buy 2 more cans of PBR. It took a while to feel ok/comfortable there b/c it was obvious we didn't fit in. it also took about 3 beers. i finally sang something: Travis Tritt's "Here's a [Fucking] Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares." It rocked. I did adlib and "made it my own," as Simon would say. I got those rednecks smiling. Then...we left b/c someone started arguing w/ someone else (there were some REALLY CRAZY-LOOKING rednecks hanging out) and we wanted to get out before some roadhouse brawl started (although my death wish that kicks in every once in a while made me kinda want to stay and see what would happen...).

Clem doing some mighty thinkin'

Skeeter and Jenny Jo takin' a moment

what's she smiling about...?

The Coal Miner's Daughters ... check local listings

p.s. the new liberation movement is going well. the post-relationship jen is a new animal and she is realizing every day that there are soooo many possibilities surrounding her. i'm getting to know some extremely cool, new people and planning the Big Trip. i actually wrote a couple poems, too. i *might* even read a few at a poetry reading this Wednesday.

liberation

2006-04-10T15:57:00.000-05:00

i wasn't sure how i would feel when she finally left but i feel great. James, Gina and i worked until midnight putting the place back together and the finished product make it look like she never happened - like it was all a bloody nightmare and i finally woke up. thank god. and thank the goddess i have the friends i do. in a team effort, they all made this weekend as painless as possible. they gave me strength to pull through this whole mess w/o losing my marbles... or faith in myself. i'll be forever grateful.

not so bad anymore...

the grape is being replaced w/ eggplant next weekend

an ingenius coffee table!

2006-04-10T15:26:00.000-05:00

the new chapter

2006-03-17T22:39:00.000-05:00

holy god. i met Dorothy Allison last night at the Metro. she was fantastic!!! she was on fire!!! james and i both fell in love w/ her. she was claire, gina and i all rolled into one hot bitch. i had her sign her book of poetry, "The Women Who Hate Me." i didn't want to act like a stalker and bring every book from home w/ me. UGG! The experience was so exhilerating!!! Thanks to Pam, the cool chick who sat beside me through the reading, b/c she pulled me up to Allison when i was freaking out/shy. james told we her we wished we coulda taken her class this spring at Columbia and she said, in her southern drawl, "That woulda been GREAT! You woulda been learning some FUCKED UP SHIT......! And i expect the same from my students!!!" Oh, I wish... to be in academia again...

afterwards, we went to The Closet to join Gina, Amy and Dougie for some Gay Idol. We missed the girls sing but were there for Dougie to sing Alanis Morisette's, "You Oughta Know." Oh so appropriate.

2006-03-17T22:24:00.000-05:00

2005-08-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

George through the water pitcher

2005-08-08T12:53:00.000-05:00

new do

2005-08-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

Navy Pier at dusk

2005-08-08T11:59:00.000-05:00

Mum & Dad atop the ferris wheel at Navy Pier

2005-08-08T11:58:00.000-05:00

Ellen and Hollen from Pittsburgh

2005-08-08T11:54:00.000-05:00

My friend Nick. The Funky Plunkey.

2005-08-08T11:52:00.000-05:00

Nick's girlfriend, Maia, on the back porch

2005-07-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

the margarita that started it all...
here is my mum with Jeff
(visiting from Atlanta)

2005-07-27T14:41:00.000-05:00

Gina and Amy at the surprise meet-up to celebrate Gina's b-day

2004-12-06T10:53:00.000-05:00

the Christmas tree at my parents' house

2004-12-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

teddy the angel

2004-12-06T09:51:00.001-05:00

sparkle, my sister's kitty

2004-12-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

what are they doing to us?

2004-12-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

this kid is my Gram's neighbor. he's under 10 years old and has his own, made-to-fit-his-small-size ski doo, complete w/ helmet. we got a real kick out of him zooming around the backyards on Thanksgiving. oh, this is a taste of how much snow fell the night before. it's all gone now.

2004-11-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

james uncovered a salt and pepper chip with the image of the Madonna on it. or maybe it's Christ. we're not sure. it's a holy chip, though.

2004-10-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

i was fascinated with what the pumpkin looked like on the inside.

2004-10-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

scary pumpkinhead! (aka Theodore)

in my mind, i'm still there

2004-10-26T15:32:00.001-05:00

A couple weekends ago, Becca and I went to Chicago on a whim to visit our friends who recently moved there: Courtney, who moved in March, and Gina and Amy who'd moved there two days prior to our visit. We had an awesome time and I got to see and experience parts of Chicago that I'd never had an opportunity before.

I've gone cat crazy here, yes. Last year I took in a cat from my friend Amber. I named her Amelie and Becca and I went about trying to de-program her b/c she was very skiddish. When Becca moved in with me in November, we gave her to Courtney and they've been best friends ever since. Amelie's really turned into a lovvvely kitty.

2004-10-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

Gina and Amy with our sassy waitress at Melrose.

2004-10-26T15:29:00.000-05:00

I want her back!!!

2004-10-26T15:28:00.001-05:00

Courtney and her baby

2004-10-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

me holding the precious Amelie

2004-10-26T15:27:00.000-05:00

The center of everything good in Chicago: Superdawg!!!

2004-10-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

And me as the Queen...

a tale of two birthdays

2004-09-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

Labor Day weekend always brings the birthdays of both my dad, Ron, and my sister, Amanda. This year we all gathered (sans Gram) up north at the family cabin. Every morning we woke up to the smell of bacon frying and coffee brewing in, what we call, Ron's B&B. As always, we ate good, had a fire, Jon sang songs and played guitar around the campfire (lots of Beck and Ween!), we swam swam swam, and watched The Passion of the Christ. Poor Jon lost his wallet in Lake Huron and we spent a lot of time combing the beach, hoping it would wash up. No luck. Becca went kayaking and found she is a natural. I didn't get to read as much of my book as I wanted to, but had a great time. On Saturday we went to the Tawas farmer's market where I purchased the BEST treasure: a handwoven gray handbag w/ the most exquisite amber-jeweled pin on it. The crafter told me the three kinds of wool that went into the bag but I forgot. Tawas was also hosting an Art in the Park that weekend but it was a lot of the stuff I'd seen before. Lots of salsa tastings and rubber band guns. Monday I didn't want to go home. I envied my parents who were staying another week and pretending they were retired.

2004-09-09T09:35:00.002-05:00

i love my mum!!!

2004-09-09T09:35:00.001-05:00

amanda, dad & mum at a library book sale in Tawas.

2004-09-09T09:35:00.000-05:00

no one should wonder where i "get it."

2004-09-09T09:34:00.001-05:00

the birthday girl whooping it up around the campfire.

2004-09-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

amanda & mum relaxing on the beach at Lake Huron. we want our gram to buy one of those condos in the background.

summer isn't over yet!

2004-09-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

i haven't blogged in a while. i just haven't had time to get the photos up since i do it at work *nudge nudge*. i will, though! soon! i just came back from a 4-day trip up north, to Tawas, or, more specifically, Sand Lake, where my parents' cabin is. i have some cute photos to share. in the meantime, someone reminded me of this one that was posted back in the spring on the Detroit Guerillas website. we've only been to the one event thus far; summer is just such a bad time to schedule ANYTHING. so much is going on. and it continues to go on. there's so much to do this month, plus i'm taking the last two if my graduate classes. eek!

on the road again...

2004-08-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

this weekend and part of next week i'll be gone up north again. as claire predicted, the Higgins Lake water is in my blood now and it called me back. james & i will be swimming, grilling, lazing around and checking out other parts of the northern Lower Penisula, particularly Manistee, wh/ i'm told is rather arty. they even have a gay book store, so it's got to be worth investigating. i also hope to get a good deal into my newly acquired tome, American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. he's my new hunky literary hero. prior to starting my summer class for young adult literature, i read a few on my own. his Coraline was one of them. Fantastic! Becca & i listened to him narrate it on the way to and from Toronto and it's been big mushy love ever since. b/c of my summer class, i didn't have time to read anything else by him until now. i'm excited. can you tell?

2004-08-20T09:52:00.000-05:00

kiss me au revior

everyone needs a night OUT at Hooters!

2004-08-11T17:40:00.000-05:00

Last Friday a bunch of us went out to Hooters to celebrate the birthday of Gina and Bobby's friend, Tracy. I guess she'd wanted to go to Hooters her entire life so that's where they planned her surprise party. Gina and I ordered medium wings to share (I swear, they have THE BEST wings) and some really crappy, "loaded" french fries. Lots of drinking, laughs and short orange shorts.

Afterwards we went to the Adams Apple for karaoke. Very small place but very friendly. Anyone can be a star. I didn't try, but Gina sang some Melissa Etheridge for the birthday girl and Amy sang "Fist City" by Loretta and "Wild Thing" by that rap guy. And I got my bar fix for the month.

2004-08-11T17:30:00.000-05:00

Happy G$

2004-08-11T14:18:00.000-05:00

snap!