on secondhand

wale- next friday

2011-11-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

You've got one week to plan a corduroy-centric fashion statement. Represent. In the meantime, the good folks over at the corduroy appreciation club have come up with 11 worthy diversions for the days leading up to 11/11/11.

best of MN state fair 2011

2011-08-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is a biased review, limited in scope but totally worth noting.

Travis and I attended the State Fair spontaneously for a grand total of 2.5 hours Saturday night. I do not recommend showing up after 8 PM if you love cruising the Undergrand in search of Sham-Wow . The shopping networks close down by 9PM. But if all you want is a saturation of lights, smells, fried food and- what the heck- fireworks, make a fast and furious trip and do these things.

1) butterfly house

2) favorite fried sweet thing

3) juicy turkey sandwich on bun

4) giant slide- skirts welcome

5) pronto pup

6) sweet corn ice cream- just ask Rick

7) simultaneous viewing of fireworks and dance-off on Grandstand bridge-booties will shake

cost:

$12 entry

$12 parking

$3 adult butterfly pass

$6 fried sweet thing

$6 juicy turkey

$2 giant slide

$4 pronto pup

$4 rootbeer

$5 ice cream

FREE FIREWORKS

__________________

about $60

all's fair in MN

2011-08-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Italy

2011-05-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

where I live now

the anti-project

2011-04-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

Downsizing. So many projects aren't worth doing. These were supposed to be a Jil Sander style remake of a school marmish Korean wool dress and a trench dress fashioned from original trench coat, the execution of which had me in a state of mild paralysis. I took them both to the Salvation Army.

cactus cupcake

2011-04-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

re: pillows

2011-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

I was wrong.

corduroy hat

2011-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Two years ago I purchased a swatch of indigo corduroy from Savers thrift store with the intent of making it into a hat. While it would never cross my mind to buy new corduroy, the vibrant blue and the exclusive nature common to all secondhand finds compelled me. If you are someone readily compelled by corduroy, you might want to consider joining the Corduroy Appreciation Club. As established, I am not.

Procrastination is a complicated thing. I have read many riveting articles about how not to procrastinate and several even more riveting articles about the purpose procrastination might serve. Had I been forced to write a dissertation, 'The Purpose of Procrastination' would be my subject of choice. Exhibits A, B and C: my college education. For the most interesting take in recent memory, read this article by James Surowiecki- 'Later- What Does Procrastination Tell Us About Ourselves', The New Yorker, October 11, 2010.

I finally made the hat.

How to:

I made the pattern above using a universal technique for pattern making. I will warn you up front that it involves dumb luck or trial and error, depending how lucky you are.

-Take the garment to be reproduced and identify all seams. You will be copying each separate piece of the garment by lying it flat on top of mid-weight oversized paper (I use old newspapers, which is not ideal) and using a basic sewing pin to perforate the perimeter of each section.

- Prick the garment right along the existing seams for accuracy. It is impossible to lie most pieces of a garment completely flat. This is the luck part. You must manipulate the garment at intervals to best reflect the shape of the actual garment. For a puffed sleeve, this requires far more imagination and/or luck. A puffed sleeve is a great example of referencing patterns to visualize a basic version of what you hope to accomplish.

-Once every piece of the garment is represented, cut out your pattern pieces leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance on all sides.

-Cut these pattern pieces out of the desired fabric and reconstruct the garment according to your intuition.

Tip: It is quite likely that your first attempt at copying a garment will be a highly qualified success. The easiest way to modify your pattern is to pin it as you would a garment. My first attempt at making a version of the hat below was a year ago. It was far too big in circumference. A very experience seamstress told me to pin the center back of each of the central panels to achieve a perfect fit, then reproduce those pinnings on the pattern itself. The end result was a marked improvement.

It remains unclear whether my procrastination in this case was

"the kind that's telling you that what you're supposed to be doing has, deep down, no real point." -James Surowiecki

old t-shirts

2011-03-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

hiatus

Have fun with your old t-shirts while I'm gone.

Friday Saturday pillows

2011-03-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

I visited Jamie in NYC in October. We hit the Flea at Hansen Place. It is top notch thanks to vendors with impeccable style and a well-curated food court featuring kimchi hotdogs and a gelato stand that is willing to sell kiddie portions to anyone who asks. We never leave empty-handed. I bought two embroidered dish towels to craft into pillows. Jamie called me out on it over Christmas. The dish towels were still hanging in aforementioned project closet.

Yesterday was all pillow magic. Two embroidered towels, two pairs of secondhand linen pants (one really huge pair), two thrift store zippers and let's say a couple of hours later...

I love these embroideries. I imagine Sunday is a martini.

How to:

Here is a link to making pillows out of sweaters. You can skip all the felting business, as long as you don't plan to wash the end result in hot water. The premise is universal. I like to add zippers to my pillows for easy cleaning. It complicates the process and may or may not be worth it to you. Check out this tutorial for a basic zipper lesson. If you are shopping deliberately for something old to repurpose into a pillow- shop big. Gigantic pants don't cost more, which is crazy.

chenille bathrobe

2011-03-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Five years ago, the girl I nannied for had a chenille bathrobe that I liked enough to sketch a crude pattern of. Last year, as I was about to donate a chenille bedspread to the Salvation Army, I hung it up in my project closet instead. Last weekend I made a bathrobe. It has a giant hood and accommodating pockets. I plan to fashion a bunny out of white silk to inhabit the pocket indefinitely. His belly will be a zippered pouch to hold gum. Practical.

At any given moment, there is a 50/50 chance I'll be wearing this.

How to:

Any blanket or old sheet is large enough to make into a bathrobe. The pattern shown above is the exact pattern I used. Find an over-sized button-down shirt in your closet, or nab a man friend's shirt, and use its midsection width to find a waist measurement. Each side of the front will be half of this with a seam allowance of 1/2". You can determine the length of sleeves and final length using the button-down as a guide.

Hood is optional. I consider it a napping hood. Pockets are, as always, optional but recommended. I finished the robe by sewing two small strips of fabric as beltloops on either side of the waist and fashioning a long tie of the same material. Basically, each addition takes your original blanket or sheet one step away from toga and one step closer to bathrobe but you can stop wherever you like on the spectrum.

my skeleton closet

2011-03-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

I have a closet dedicated to future projects. I entertain an ongoing dialogue with my older sister regarding my fear of the project. She claims she does not suffer from fear in her painting- just laziness. Having mused over this for months,

I am trying to get to the bottom of it.

Fear vs. laziness.

I'll be doing a project a week until my closet is empty. Most of them are harebrained and/or made out of secondhand pants.

Meanwhile, muse on this.

It is the work of Tamar Mogendorff.

great american junk drawer

2010-08-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I recently encountered a textbook junk drawer. So much junk it boggled the mind. Once I got over my initial aversion to dirtying my hands in it, I thoroughly excavated its interior. I could not help but wonder, as I unearthed increasingly worthless things- what does it all mean?

iScream

2010-08-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

Humphry Slocombe was written up recently in the NY Times Magazine. A worthy spread detailing the not so subtle nuance of flavors available from this ballsy creamery in the Mission District of San Francisco. You can find Humphrey Slocombe ice cream in any number of Bay Area eateries but your best bet is the flagship. I hemmed and hawed over many outlandish flavors and landed on balsamic caramel. Yes, this means vinegar. (Note writing on glass.)

Travis tried the boozy breakfast blend. Both truly amazing ice creams. I can still command an instant mouthwatering upon reflection of this experience.

The surrounding neighborhood is culturally rich, filled with many eclectic shops to peruse while waiting for your second wind.

Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market

2010-07-02T23:41:00.001-07:00

I had to exercise great restraint at the much-touted San Francisco farmers' market at Ferry Plaza. It is the most expensive market around. Consider it a finder's fee, as everything is at your fingertips. I bought meyer lemon marmalade from Frog Hollow Farms, a donut muffin, fairy ring mushrooms from Far West Fungi, one nectarine and a spicy anise chocolate. Total cost- $19. I did not buy a love bun, berries, cheeses, cute as can be chubby Thumbelina carrots, the meyer lemon cake at Frog Hollow Farms Bakery nor their housemade granola, a strawberry apricot turnover, the fish tacos at Primavera that came highly recommended, a gorgeous $5 poppy bouquet, heirloom tomatoes, etc. The next time I attend the Ferry Plaza market, I will bring as many so-called friends as I can find.

Berkeley sweets

2010-06-25T23:06:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of stereotypes associated with Berkeley. Granola comes to mind. Granola again comes to mind. The truth is, the stereotypes are all true. But there is also a thriving treats culture. I have twice this week been caught happily offguard by quirky sweetshops. There is a wonderful store for ice cream and candies called Ici. Their treats are delicious and adorable. The stand they run at the local farmers' market is adorned with a garland of knit ice cream cones. I will support any shop that uses knitting as marketing strategy. It just so happens the ice cream at Ici is also irresistible.

I bought a salted caramel French macaroon from a delicious bakery on Shattuck Avenue. I get a kick out of creepy dolls. I think as long as they stick a hair net on it when the health inspector comes, they should be fine. The cookie was fantastic.

chickens

2010-06-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

we have chickens!

meet mrs. five spice

2010-03-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

via deep fried egg

2010-03-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, this morsel is as amazing as it looks. A creation from Ubuntu. A soft-boiled egg with a crisp, well seasoned exterior and delicious remoulade. It is a delicately arranged pile of good things. Ubuntu has recently shared recipes with the likes of Gourmet, Oprah magazine and Bon Appetit. Everything they make is extraordinary.

recipe for deep fried eggs:

sriracha remoulade
1/2 cup mayo
2 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons sriracha
1 tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chopped pickles
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped tarragon
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped chives
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped capers
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 large hard-boiled eggs

whisk first 10 ingredients in medium bowl. Stir in eggs.

deep-fried eggs
9 large eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons sriracha
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup semolina flour
1 cup panko
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
peanut oil for frying

Gently lower 6 eggs into large saucepan of boiling water, reduce heat to medium and simmer 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs. Drain. Cover eggs with cold water and cool. Very gently crack and peel eggs.

Whisk remaining 3 eggs, buttermilk and sriracha in medium bowl. Whisk both flours in another medium bowl. Mix panko and coarse salt in another medium bowl. Gently roll one egg at a time in flour mixture, then egg mixture, then panko mixture. Place on rimmed baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pour enough oil into saucepan to measure 2 inches. Heat to 375 degrees. In 2 batches, fry eggs until golden brown, about 2 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to ovenproof plate and place in oven 3 minutes to heat through.

Serve atop 1/4 cup of remoulade. Garnish with dandelion greens.

bon appetit february 2010

via deviled egg

2010-03-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

adorn your own favorite recipe for deviled eggs

via KFC

2010-03-14T14:18:00.001-07:00

sriracha straight up

I do not want to pin this on Omnivore's Dilemma but the reading of the book has resulted in two nearly immediate consequences.
-The desire to raise chickens (mark my words)
-A craving for KFC

via brussels sprouts

2010-03-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

These brussels are simple and delicious, inspired by a side dish at the recently visited and much adored Joseph Leonard in NYC. It was the encounter with these brussels sprouts and the simultaneous receipt of February's Bon Appetit magazine from my dear sister that inspired Sriracha Appreciation Week. I will pay due homage to Joseph Leonard's soggy toast at a later date.

recipe for sriracha via brussels sprouts:

1 pound brussels sprouts, give or take
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
few dashes of fish sauce
salt
pepper

Halve brussels sprouts. Mix remaining ingredients to taste in large bowl. Feel free to omit or add ingredients accordingly to personal style. Toss brussels to coat.

Roast at 425 degrees until desired tenderness is achieved, approximately 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

via king crab

2010-03-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

recipe for sriracha via king crab:

1/4 cup canola oil
1 pound Dungeness crab, in shell (or king crab)
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha
3 tablespoons black bean garlic paste
1/4 cup white wine
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons green onions, sliced

In a large wok, heat canola oil over medium-high heat.

Crack crab shells in multiple areas to allow sauce to enter shell without crab shells falling apart.

Add crab to oil and quickly saute for 1 to 3 minutes until crab is hot. Remove crab and drain oil.

Add hoisin, chile hot sauce, black bean paste, and white wine and heat until bubbling. Add crab, toss for 30 seconds. Add sesame oil, and toss for 15 seconds.

Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

guy fieri's recipe

via meatballs

2010-03-09T19:38:00.001-08:00

*

recipe for sriracha via meatballs:

meatballs
1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

hot chili mayo
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon sriracha

bahn mi style: fill crusty baguette with the following, spicy mayo, meatballs, cilantro, pickled veggies, jalapenos (know thyself)

*chopsticks optional

bon appetit, february 2010

via eggs

2010-03-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

recipe for sriracha via eggs:

1 slice toasted, buttered bread

1 fried egg

slather with sriracha remoulade* to taste

*mayonnaise, sriracha, whole grain mustard, vinegar, diced pickles, salt and pepper

sriracha

2010-03-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

minnesnowta

2010-02-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

2010-01-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

'don't be cynical'

-conan o'brien

blur

2009-12-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

this christmas season

DisneyWorld

2009-12-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

chandelier

2009-12-03T21:45:00.001-08:00

mom's tree

2009-12-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

starlight

2009-12-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

I am celebrating lights this December.
Here's a little star light to start things off.

With any luck I will arrive in Black River this evening before Mom's light timers for the trees outside automatically turn off. She warned me of the potential for this. I resisted asking the obvious question- who programmed the lights?

thanksgiving

2009-11-29T16:03:00.001-08:00

'eating is a small, good thing in a time like this'
-raymond carver

black book

2009-11-22T15:35:00.001-08:00

someday this book will be famous

on secondhanding it

2009-11-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

My family is giving secondhand Christmas gifts this year. Two years ago we made Christmas gifts. A fairly successful venture, despite Jessica's mixed CD. Last year we gave books. Another qualified success, given my immediate downward spiral via Twilight series.

Secondhand gifts are complex. They unearth a lot of sensitive subjects. What objects of used clothing make a person squeamish? Does mom know that Mossimo is a brand sold in Target? Is it wrong to cut the Mossimo tag out of a cute blazer so that no one has to know? Does Jamie consistently lie about her shoe size? Does Dad need a black silk kimono? Would that shirt have caught my eye if it wasn't Marc Jacobs? Why did I bid on the painting of a ship in the silent auction at the Central Avenue thrift store? Should I buy everyone housewares? How would Jessica fly home bearing the head of an antelope? At what point is buying Dad another large picturebook a very bad idea?

If nothing else, we're opting out of the system this holiday and opening the door to a whole new level of honesty. And, yes, Dad needs a black silk kimono.

The Precious Object

2009-11-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Cesar Pelli library in downtown Minneapolis has an inspiring exhibit showing now in Cargill Hall through early January. A bold mix of diversity and brevity. Definitely worth a trip through the stacks. *

*this exhibit may contain used band-aids

good fortune

2009-11-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

A year ago I picked up a fortune cookie that someone had dropped on the sidewalk. The wrapper was still intact. I ate the cookie. My fortune read:

You will find your solution where you least expect it.

I tucked it in a clear compartment of my wallet and regularly wondered to myself where I would least expect to find the solution. Never mind that I didn't have a problem that I could pin my finger on. I would enter unlikely places or scenarios and think to myself, 'well, isn't this an unexpected place to find a solution.' Not the point. Answers are everywhere. In a handful of crackers, gracing the tab of my tea, on the sides of buses, in the conversations I pretend not to listen to, in nature- all around us. They will find you.

living room makeover

2009-10-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

I spent $3.50 on a children's costume at the Salvation Army that I thought I could fit into. I then spent 3 hours modifying it in order to get it over my head and on my body. After so much investment ($3.50 + 3 hours = $3.50), I was determined to wear this thing to work at the restaurant today. I could be a goddess of wine or a goddess of beer or a pasta fairy or a .... The costume is so benign it boggles the mind. I gave up on it.

I am dressing up as a living room instead.

what ifs

2009-10-30T23:36:00.000-07:00

We are replacing light blue carpet with a rustic wood floor in the bedroom. All because on the last Sunday of September I thought out loud, 'what if we ripped the carpet out of the bedroom.' Travis is new to my what ifs. He acts on them immediately. I hate to think if we had been friends when I was five. I used to walk around the barn wondering aloud, 'what if our whole family had to live in this horse stall?', 'what if our whole family had to live in the horse trailer? Mom and Dad could live in the tack compartment...', 'What if our whole family had to live in the wagon?'

The floor will be a challenge. (see raw materials)

For the record, I still think we could live in the horse trailer in a pinch.

pumpkin

2009-10-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

for real

11 ft zipper

2009-10-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

I bought a 10 x 11 ft rug on my birthday. I found it at a garage sale for $75, of which I paid $60. In hind site, if anyone practically throws an oversize oriental rug at you for $60, either someone died on it or it smells like cat pee. In both cases, I recommend Nature's Miracle. It turned our 10 x 11 ft litterbox into something I have totally rubbed my nose against while breathing in.

Enough pitch. The rug is way too big. Travis suggested installing a zipper down the center, after removing a cross-section. The idea grew on me with time. The catch- I needed the perfect 11' 4'' zipper. Enter Zippersource. You could make a slipcover for the world. Our zipper arrived in the mail yesterday. It is a heavyweight antique brass work of art. Stay tuned for the finished project.

pastry

2009-10-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting a marble slab for pastry since a visit to my sister's place in April. On Saturday the neighbor placed a 28" square piece of marble next to his garbage can. By Wednesday I was rolling croissant dough from Baking With Julia on the slab, retrofitted to a section of countertop with a saw blade purchased at Menards. $30 for the blade and a leap of faith. On Thursday- croissants for lunch (and dinner). They were exceptional croissants, only because you cannot help but appreciate anything so consuming of two days' time.

alterations

2009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

It is funny how these things happen. I obsess momentarily about whether or not to buy pretzel bread at Kowalski's- a soft pretzel in the form of a demibaguette. I skirt the corner of my favorite coffee shop in order to finish chewing my pretzel bread before entering. I often enter this coffee shop while chewing and have no desire to be that girl who always walks in chewing something. The momentary detour brings me face to face with a sandwich board advertising the adjacent alterations boutique. I swallow, enter the boutique, and offer my free services. Without pause, the owner sizes me up and tells me to show up next Thursday at 11AM.

pillow covers

2009-10-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you want to impress someone, sew a zipper into anything. You are basically taking credit for how inherently cool a zipper is. I have been experimenting with making pillow covers. My new best friend- a little blue seam ripper. There is no method to the madness. First, I sew a zipper into a piece of fabric. Then, I figure out how to make that fabric part of a pillow cover. I've been stealing random squares of mesmerizing vintage fabrics from a few old quilt pieces I have acquired. It is a tricky business, paying respect to the labor of our elders by painstakingly unraveling the fruits of it. Stay tuned for quilted bangle bracelets- a longheld dream.

iDye

2009-10-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Projects beget projects. Last Thursday, a project requiring high-gloss white paint led to a high-gloss white patch on the elbow of my otherwise black jacket. I lifted my arm from the workbench and realized that the lid from the paint can was stuck to me. Never a good sign. I immediately soaked the arm of my jacket, brushed it vigorously with a retired toothbrush, and doused it with paint thinner. All for naught.

Enter iDye. I cannot heap praises on iDye. It requires a large pot and stirring device that will never again be used for preparing food. No one owns a giant pot for uses other than cooking. It's the equivalent of telling my mother that she can never again use her serrated knife to cut the twine from bales of hay down in the barn. I used a cooking pot anyway. A cheap pot we've been thinking of getting rid of and a metal spatula slated for Goodwill. Then thoroughly cleaned them with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser before washing them.

I now have a jet-black jacket with barely distinguishable white stains and bright white pillow shams with barely distinguishable black stains. #1 rule of dovetailing- don't even think of dying something black while brightening your whites.

bikini repair

2009-10-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

How to Not Be Topless in 5 Minutes or Less

4 years ago I bought a tube top bikini on sale at Old Navy. It has nautical stripes and can easily be mistaken for Ralph Lauren if you squint hard enough. It is all I can ask for in a swimsuit with one minor exception. Every instance of me wearing this bikini ends with the top spontaneously falling off me. The clasp is wily and I am stubborn. This sounds more provocative than it actually is. I somehow always manage to pin my arms to my body with a superhuman strength that has failed to manifest itself in any other circumstance, thus preventing toplessness.

2 days ago I finally took action. I removed the clasp entirely and sewed the back ends together. This took all of five minutes. Save for my sudden urges to jump into deep water from heights of 20 feet or more (keep it to yourself, Jame-O), there is virtually no chance that my bikini top will leave my body against my will. Ho hum.

farewell to sushi snake

2009-10-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes turning over a new leaf requires getting rid of a few things. Sorry sushi snake. It was great while it lasted.

I recently got rid of many cherished things. The plastic/yarn needlework pitcher last seen bearing tulips, my blue Dolce Vita suede pumps that I had never worn, the red roses hat made from upholstery pilfered from a chair found by the dumpster, the dress I wore to Matt and Liz's wedding, my Big City Junk book, etc. I cherish things too readily.

This October, I am getting rid of things via making other things out of them. This will involve ripping up many dear old textiles that I have carried with me, unused, for years. I will be adding a zipper to a beautiful 11'x 10' threadbare rug, making curtains out of things not intended to be curtains, experimenting with leather handicrafts, getting my cross-stitch on, and making pillows for the first time. It should be fun.

first project- Curtains made out of top piece of a rather homely quilt. $4 at a garage sale where they apparently believe our grandmothers should be working in sweatshops. I am in the deconstruction stages on this one.

bruises

2009-08-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm sporting a black eye on the right side of my face recently. I have never received so many sympathetic smiles in one week. I appreciate the straight forward approach. The guy at the gym desk asked, 'it's none of my business, but what happened to you?' The grocery store clerk- 'who'd you beat up?' I feel a lot of pressure to be graceful in my everyday activities until my eye clears up. To belie the fact that I brought this upon myself. In truth, I was leaning over a co-worker at the restaurant and gossiping in soft tones when she stood up and bashed the back of her head into my eye. Karma. It could happen to you.

pizza crust

2009-07-20T15:35:00.001-07:00

In August of 2001, within the first month that I lived in New York City, I saw a posting on a New York City job listing site for personal assistant to Jeffrey Steingarten. With my heart in my throat, I applied for this position. I faxed my cover letter and barren resume from a bodega down the street. The owner did not speak English, I did not know the area code of Manhattan, and I paid for my three attempts with a handful of pocket change. The owner of the bodega placed three pennies from my handful of change back in my open palm and told me they were useless to him. He ordered me to take my pennies with me and leave his store. I never heard back from Jeffrey Steingarten. Two weeks later the World Trade Center towers collapsed. I stopped feeling sorry for myself.

Jeffrey Steingarten recently wrote an article about homemade pizza for the New York Times Magazine. I admire Jeffrey Steingarten greatly. Here is the recipe for pizza crust recommended by Jeffrey.

Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour, plus more for dusting

3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

2 1/4 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.

1. The morning or ideally the day before cooking, prepare the dough. Using a hand whisk, combine the flours, yeast and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Switch to a wooden spoon and stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water and olive oil until a rough dough forms. Set the bowl on the mixer and, using the paddle attachment, mix on low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to high and beat for 4 to 6 minutes, until it becomes a wet and vaguely menacing mass. (If it forms into a ball, lower the mixer speed to medium-high. If not, stop the mixer to scrape down the sides once.)

2. Scrape and pour the dough onto a heavily floured work surface. Keeping your fingers, the countertop and the dough well floured, fold one dough end over the other so that half the floured underside covers the rest of the dough. Let rest for 10 minutes.

3. Cut the dough into 2 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Place each ball on a well-oiled plate, generously dust with flour and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it is at least doubled in size, about 3 hours.

4. Punch the dough balls down, shape into rounds and place each in a quart-size freezer bag. Refrigerate dough between 1 and 24 hours. Makes 2 balls. Adapted from Jeffrey Steingarten.

adventures of a beach ball

2009-06-28T18:46:00.001-07:00

the creamery

2009-06-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

The only thing I love more than a great dining experience in good company is an unexpectedly great dining experience in good company. This happened on Thursday. My parents took me to the Red Cedar Bike Trail with the promise of a delicious dinner at The Creamery afterwards. I had never heard of it and always temper my parents' dining critiques with the knowledge that nothing makes mom happier than a whopper with cheese. That being said, mom and dad's greatest dining moments align closely with mine. We have shared most of them. They have funded most of them.

The Creamery boasts the most local menu I have ever seen. Gracing the margins of the menu are a list of local purveyors of every ingredient from dairy to berries to rabbits to grass-fed beef. I was overjoyed to see fiddlehead ferns incorporated into several dishes. I have never tried them. They are elusive and much talked about in certain circles. Esoteric circles, but still. When I inquired about their source of fiddlehead ferns, I was told that the owners went to a nearby location and picked them by hand. Our meal included smoked trout cakes, sushi with pea tendrils, miso glazed halibut, seared scallops with fiddlehead ferns, bison sliders, pea risotto and a complimentary side of fiddlehead ferns on account of my inquiry. For dessert, a flourless chocolate cake and schaum torte. All delicious and accompanied by a sparkling Californian wine. For the record, fiddlehead ferns taste like a cross between green beans and asparagus with a delicate crunch. The essence of spring. But, as a friend pointed out, not recommended for people who tend to see vague resemblances to centipedes in foodstuffs. We ate outside on a bug-proof porch overlooking beautiful gardens. Everything about The Creamery is charming. There is an adjoining bed and breakfast that has recently undergone an eco-friendly makeover. It was recently lauded by CityPages as the Best Weekend Getaway 2009.

molasses and cream

2009-06-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to see what you make of yourself.

fashion show

2009-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

I attended my first fashion show last night. A midwestern swimwear event. I don't know why I feel the need to disclaim. Possibly because the audience was sporting an almost exclusive collection of Mossimo via Target. The show featured Tekno Doll Swimwear and a line of swim coverups by Kristy Simmons of Je Ne Regrette Rien ('I Do Not Regret Anything'). The coverups had an intriguing one-off demure quality. Modest until the bodylength slit revealed itself along with a full back or side view. I love the duality. The line was primarily constructed from fabrics collected in Cameroon by her do-good aunt. Kristy seemed equally beneficent. I accidentally struck up a conversation with her and was mesmerized by her good nature.

power shoes

fresh

2009-06-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Fresh is a documentary film about the food we eat and where it comes from. I saw the movie at Riverview Theatre last week and was greatly inspired by it. Foat Design will be hosting a viewing of the film sometime this summer. I plan to deliver a brief vegetable manifesto. I know- the suspense. Stay tuned for details.

The day after watching the film I went on a shopping spree at the local co-op and also signed up to become a member of Environment Minnesota . There was a college kid flagging down passersby. I was his easy sell of the day. I left the Wedge with two amazing cheeses, organic blueberries, Hope Creamery butter, dried figs, Fage yogurt and a Panda black licorice bar for the road. One bag of groceries has never made me so happy.

dreamcatcher

2009-06-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm 30 today.

thank you sarah and jamie

2009-06-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

your support of dress month was much appreciated

reparation dress

2009-05-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

This dress was given to me by a woman I worked for in NYC. I was the beneficiary of her annual closet cleaning. A major haul that I toted away in Prada gift bags and with higher hopes than anything therein merited. Despite the disappointment, I did score this mysterious little blue silk dress that I have never worn. Truthfully, I didn't leave the apartment in it this time, either.

dress XXXI

I did it. I wore a dress every day in May. I did not drink more sparkling wine than usual, I never once donned a hat, I cheated by wandering around in my undies for the better part of many days until I finally put on a dress, I developed an ironing habit and honed a reckless method of laundering nice things with complete disregard for the washing instructions. On the whole, I felt pretty well-received. The project was mostly about stepping out of a comfort zone. It remains to be seen if I am any more likely to sing karaoke than when this whole thing began.

M by Madge

2009-05-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

I tried this dress on three years ago in H&M on Broadway in Soho. It was part of a line designed by Madonna- 'M by Madonna.' It didn't fit well enough to justify spending $68 on it. I walked away from it. Thursday I encountered this dress at a garage sale in Bloomingdale Hills outside of Chicago. I tried it on in the laundry room of the woman throwing the sale, then bought it for $7. I have been eating a greasy pain au chocolat while typing and it now bears several faint grease stains in the 'between my legs' region.

dress XXX

happy funeral dress

2009-05-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

I was invited to a happy funeral recently and found this dress perfectly suited to the occasion. I picked it up at a Chelsea flea years ago. I love this dress. I cannot breath deeply while wearing it. Great for scuba training.

dress XXIX

equestrian tie-dye

2009-05-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

I dress for utility when I visit home. I found this tie-dye tank dress could be easily modified for an evening horseride. I threw on a ratty pair of dad's lycra tights (lots more where those came from), a down vest, and waterproof equestrian boots. According to mom, both mom and dad almost died on the ride. I would agree with this assessment, though it is a difficult thing to gauge accurately- almost dying. Mom took the picture. Surprisingly, I am not ashamed of this look. Being home shuts off my shame radar entirely. It has something to do with Dad's affinity for spandex.

dress XXVIII

pajamas

2009-05-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

I cheated. I wore my yoga pant jumpsuit all day and decided to wear a dress to bed to make up for it. I am just barely keeping the dream alive. Here I am at 6:30AM in the hotel bathroom of Indian Lakes Resort and Spa. The dress in question was another 99 cent purchase. It came as a set with a matching snap cardigan.

dress XXVII

purple with polka dots

2009-05-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

This dress is a work in progress. I wore it to Foat Design with unhemmed sleeves (they used to be long and I hacked them off that morning) and unhemmed length of skirt. I consulted both Kaja and Ellie, the new summer intern, on my best prospects for the dress. We all agreed on a nearly sleeveless ruffle in place of the short sleeves. I will get around to this task eventually. We were contemplating whether or not the material necessitated a finished hem. I later sucked up half the skirt in an industrial car vac and proved definitively that it is subject to fraying.

dress XXVI

black wrap

2009-05-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day sale at Savers!! I am wholly amused by Savers culture. 50% off sale days are the best examples. Just the sheer notion that Savers relies on its primary demographic having nothing better to do on a national holiday is telling. I show up as the doors open. Savvy. This black wrap dress was originally marked $14.99. I got it for $7.50. It will be a work staple.

dress XXV

dressing down

2009-05-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

A super casual Sunday. Chuck Taylor's will effectively dress down anything. This little patriotic sweater is an H&M piece bought secondhand. I love it. It makes me want to go boating. I saw Star Trek instead. It was everything I hoped it would be.

dress XXIV

night gown

2009-05-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

I think this dress is pajamas. I bought it on my trip to Mankato in March. $8 from the vintage rack at the local Salvation Army. I did not try it on but convinced myself that if it didn't fit me, it would fit one of my sisters. The dress doesn't fit anyone. I sewed some lace binding tape into the side seams to tie in the back, hoping to cinch it in and give it some shape. I also cut an inch or so out of the shoulder straps on either side. The top is puffy and gives the illusion of a bust. This feels unnatural to me. I cut the top layer off the skirt to avoid feeling like a snach of cotton candy.
Hollah.

dress XXIII

diagonal stripe sheath

2009-05-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

I wore this dress for about an hour. On days that I work, it is hard to muster the energy to slip into a dress before changing into a work dress. Mostly because my dress selection has dwindled to a mix of those that need serious tweaking and those that seem too formal to busybody around in. The very notion of a dress being too formal is an idea I am trying to overcome. I bought this BCBG dress at a flea market in Chelsea two years ago. The vendor sold his dresses for $15 each or 2 for $20. I opted for two. He was flamboyant and stylish, which fooled me into thinking that all of his dresses were cool. I have come to realize that the biggest hang-up with wearing certain dresses is not wanting to wash them or iron them afterwards. The last time I washed this dress, I tried to OxiClean it to remove imagined pit stains and the color in the dark blue stripes was completely stripped, leaving behind cream-colored stripes. I refuse to pay more to launder a garment than I paid to obtain it. Conversely, I am happy to pay more to reheel a pair of Payless shoes than to buy a new cheap pair of shoes. It's complicated.

dress XXII

poutrage dress

2009-05-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

I was being pouty today and got even by wearing the same dress as the day before. That will show them. It occurred to me as I walked down Hennepin Avenue with my sunglasses on and my lips pursed in a little knot that my bra and undies might be completely visible in the glare of the afternoon sun.

dress XXI

dress for a heat wave

2009-05-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

Mid-nineties in Minneapolis! Every year when it gets really hot for the first time I interrogate everyone I encounter regarding whether or not they like the heat. I guess I just want to know who's on my side. I hate the heat. Because I sweat a lot. Life is a pain in the ass when you are always sweating. This dress is a black linen GAP dress that I found for 99 cents. Consequently, I expect nothing of it. I was elated to discover it is a perfect bike riding dress. Improbable but true. The slit up the back is long enough to facilitate biking while the entire dress is lengthy enough to prevent full exposure.

dress XX

shroom dress

2009-05-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

My parents sent me a box of morels that they found in a very secret place in Black River Falls. The box arrived unexpectedly in the mail yesterday (note bubble wrap). My dad has only one level of engagement in any activity- fanaticism. He is now a morel fanatic. There is no stopping him. He filled an old Gatorade bottle with water, froze it, centralized it in a box full of wide wale bubble wrap, then carefully laid a dozen giant morels inside and shipped it off to me. Morels sauteed in butter for lunch, after which I might as well call it a day.

dress XIX

blue poly II

2009-05-18T11:54:00.001-07:00

I have owned this dress for 3 years. The hem has nearly come undone. If I were to jump up and down a few times, it would unravel completely. I found it for $3 at the Senior Citizens' secondhand shop in Black River Falls. Everything there has a slight essence of 'someone may have died wearing this.' I was in the company of my little sister at the time. I had just moved from NYC and the notion that I could buy a dress for $3 was unreal to me. I did not hesitate, despite the prospect of death. We are not great shopping partners. We encourage each other to buy everything.

dress XVIII

blue poly I

2009-05-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

I found this blue polyester dress with pleated skirt at the Rose Bowl Flea in Pasadena. It takes place on the 2nd Sunday of every month. There is a bloody mary bar among the concessions. I highly recommend it. A bloody mary helps eliminate indecision. You will simply buy more things. I bought the dress at a dress vendor that carried hundreds of dresses between $8 and $12 dollars. About 90% of them polyester. I don't have a problem with vintage polyester. From an eco-friendly standpoint, the damage is already done. Nothing is easier to care for than polyester. Just remember not to melt it with a hot iron.

dress XVII

anime frock

2009-05-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

This cheap cotton dress only caught my eye because its delicate double straps are intriguing and the print has an element of fantasia about it. There is occasional gold paint in the print. I've only had it a year and have repaired its straps twice. Saturday was 40 degrees, so I wore it with jeans (not shown). It looked super dorky. That's part of this whole dress project. Forcing a comfort level with things I wouldn't ordinarily wear. Like walking into Home Depot in a dress and trying to convince myself people aren't staring at the girl in heels looking for casters and a putty knife. Be cool.

dress XVI

black frills

2009-05-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

I don't consider this dress fancy because it cost me $10. The vibe of it is definitely festive and dressed up. It has a loose, flouncy fit that encourages twirling and/or standing on a windswept corner and hoping the entire outfit doesn't end up over your head. It is Ann Taylor Loft from Savers. I shortened the straps to boost the top of it and completely spaced on the fact that it would boost the entire hemline as well. I hate wearing short things. I made up for it by not leaving my apartment.

dress XV

sunshine dress

2009-05-14T08:20:00.001-07:00

An Urban Outfitters clearance dress. This piece of shit dress falls apart every time I wash it. I get out my white thread and needle and tack it back together for another wear and try like hell not to spill anything on it. A dress this reminiscent of sunshine is like wearing happiness. Definitely a case of tough love.

dress XIV

collegiate wrap

2009-05-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Converse One Star via Target. I found this at the secret Target on 10th Ave. $10 but I was desperate. Heading to Foat design and still sporting yesterday's trapeze dress. The secret Target is about 5 blocks out of the way. High pressure shopping- must find dress and change in the car! Qualified success. The longer I wear it, the more I like it.

dress XIII

trapeze dress

2009-05-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

This Nine West superwide trapeze dress was a Savers find. It is one size too big but wonderfully drapey and soft. I will attempt to gift this dress to either of my sisters when I see them next.

dress XII

deja vu dress

2009-05-11T11:20:00.001-07:00

I often pull on the same exact thing I was wearing the previous day. Sometimes this lasts the span of 3-4 days. I have not permitted myself this luxury during dress month until today. The rewear. A staple of a recently adopted philosophy: don't make everything more difficult than it has to be. Hence, I bear a striking resemblance to yesterday. A little worse for wear.

This dress was a $2.99 purchase at Goodwill in Eau Claire, WI. The shoes $3.99 at the same store. It is a cheap poly/rayon Target dress that looks and feels like cotton. I fear it is in a constant state of becoming completely covered in pilly growths. I hope I am wrong about this.

dress XI

sundae dress

2009-05-10T14:51:00.001-07:00

Celebrating the world's smallest sundae!
red shoes = cherry

dress X

satin shift

2009-05-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

This fits like a bag so I deliberately wore it after work on a day when the entire duration of on time would be approx. two hours. I bought it at Forever 21 for $19 on sale and will definitely wear it as a maternity dress in years to come.

dress IX

black knit dress

2009-05-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

This black knit dress is something I occasionally wear to work. I also wore it to my desk job on Halloween because it went well with the fake tarantula I sewed into my fishnet stockings. It has a plunging neckline that makes it difficult to wear. I'm certain I offended my good friend by showing my would-be cleavage throughout an Easter brunch two years ago. An offense tempered by pineapple upside-down cake martinis.

dress VIII

barn dress

2009-05-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

dress VII

vintage shift

2009-05-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

I found this rather dowdy vintage shift dress at the Salvation Army for $3.99 and the belt for 99 cents. The bold scarf print is very seventies, as is the bag-like shape. I will be making some significant alterations to the dress before wearing it again.

dress VI

party dress

2009-05-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

There is a secret Target overstock store in downtown Minneapolis. It is in the basement of the Salvation Army Thrift Store on 10th Avenue. I found this perfect party dress there for $8. I added ties to the side of the dress to cinch it in the back. I have never received so many compliments on a dress. Everyone should check out the secret Target. There is no dressing room so you have to pull on everything over your clothes. Dress light.

dress V

combo dress

2009-05-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

I bought this dress to practice my tailoring skills a year ago. It is meant to look like a skirt and top. Don't be fooled. It is all one piece. No built in undies. I did a poor job of taking in the entire top half of it and now mask my handiwork with a gold belt. The gold belt was a $2 buy at the Salvation Army on 38th and Nicollet. It is so fragile. I treat it like a living creature. Note the transformer shoes. They will be a staple this month.

dress IV

wrap dress

2009-05-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

I dream of some day owning a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. Check them out. Last fall, Diane von Furstenberg fashioned a brilliant blue wrap dress with a golden yellow feather print. During its residence in the window of a nearby boutique, I was obsessed with whether or not I needed that dress. After Christmas, when the store boasted sales of 50-80% off via a giant vinyl banner, I still could not bring myself to set foot inside. Someday I will own a DVF wrap dress. Until then, this Express clearance rack 93% modal, 3% spandex one will have to do. Its saving grace is that the fabric has not yet begun to pill. Also, I have no problem undertaking reckless projects while wearing it, hence my bleeding toe.

dress III

work dress

2009-05-02T14:54:00.001-07:00

This black dress is from Paris. A cheap shop in Paris akin to Forever 21. That being said, it has lasted 10 years. It is polyester. I have worn it too many times to count because of my requisite black work attire. Very popular service industry hue in NYC and beyond.

dress II

dress myself month

2009-05-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

This May I am wearing dresses all month long. It is unclear exactly how this is going to play out but I have been hording cheap, imperfect dresses for the occasion. I fully anticipate a few consecutive days of my black polyester standby somewhere around May 20th but until then, I'm taking it one day at a time. Feel free to join me. I am secretly hoping to accomplish all of these things:

-Inexpertly tailor several dresses that need help.

-Wear high heels more often and for no reason. Jamie does this and I have always admired her for it. She actually wears heels against all reason.

-Throw on a hat every once in a while.

-Drink more sparkling wine.

This dress is a Guess brand cotton sun dress with a denim vibe. $7.99 at Savers. The tag was ripped out. I only know it is Guess brand because it is impressed on the metal hardware. Not that I care, but it is a comfort to know it isn't from one of the more disposable clothing chains. It was missing a button so one strap was useless. An easy fix that validates my entire button collection. I did something I am usually too scared to do at Savers- tried it on in the dressing room. Now I'm just waiting for H1N1 Influenza to take hold.

dress I

hole in the wall

2009-04-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

There is low water pressure in my apartment. At least that is what the man ripping a hole in the bedroom wall told me. Honestly, I like the look. I am going to request they leave off the beadboard scrap they intend to cover the gaping hole with. My only fear is that giant spiders will crawl forth from it. That fear applies to everything in my life. What should scare me is that the only tool I actually saw in the plumber's possession was twisty ties.

signs of spring

2009-04-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

daffodils

quail eggs

baby octopi

fruits of Mankato, MN

2009-03-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

I visited my grandparents in Mankato, MN a few weeks ago. We spent the day hanging out. This involved a trip to Panera Bread Company where my order of a kid's roast beef sandwich, RB in Panera shorthand, was mistaken for PB and I received a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, instead. I wonder how often that happens.

Grandma and Grandpa took me on a jaunt through the local Salvation Army. Mankato is a mecca of secondhand treasures- and I don't just mean my grandparents' house (though grandma has personally shown me her stash of elastics cut from old mens' undies that she hopes to someday find the perfect use for). I think Mankato's stronghold in the secondhand world has to do with a thriving assisted living community that requires a constant downloading of entire lives' worth of stuff. I returned to Minneapolis with a pair of white cowboy boots, a pink chiffon dress and a complete set of leatherworking tools. Unqualified success.

The G's also took me to Barnes and Noble, where Grandma confided that Grandpa can disappear for hours. She seemed concerned. I was not. One of the things I miss most about living in NYC is my frequent evening visits to Barnes and Noble, where I would regularly disappear for hours. The Mankato store did not disappoint. I leafed heavily through the latest issue of Craft magazine, in which I discovered some very inspiring ladies. Check out Domestic Construction and Valerie Hammond. I am mesmerized by Valerie's lithograph print dresses.

the power of now

2009-03-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Last year I read The Power of Now. I talk about it a lot and always feel sheepish. I imagine that people are just waiting for me to move out of earshot before sharing their glee at my recent descent into the New Age. I smell like patchouli to them. They watch my hands relative to my pockets for the first signs of emerging literature. I am that person.

Truthfully, the book simply had a few wise things to offer me. It then proceeded to reiterate them on every one of its 300+ pages. Despite this, I still have trouble explaining the concept. I recently gave my copy to a friend. I did this knowing full well that the book is all about timing. On a few days of a person's life, this book will mean something to them. On most days, it will read like the guy on the bus you shouldn't make eye contact with.

Here is a passage that I aim to live by:

'Accept- then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.'

sweet potato soup

2009-03-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

I made this soup for cooking club last night. I think it is delicious and a perfect choice for the last day of below freezing temperatures. If you live in Mpls, that would be Wednesday. It is an adaptation from the Inn at Little Washington Cookbook by Patrick O'Connell. By adaptation, I mean I copied it down verbatim in shorthand in one minute's time.
adaptation = margin for human error

sweet potato soup

saute:
3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon curry powder

simmer:
9 cups chicken stock
5-6 sweet potatoes, cubed
1/4 cup maple syrup
2-3 sprigs thyme
pinch cayenne
onion mixture from above

remove thyme sprigs and puree

add:
1 cup cream
1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
salt & pepper

health

2009-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Today the Times Magazine has an article on ailments that prove nearly impossible to diagnose. There is a 30-year old woman whose body is slowly but surely falling apart in ways completely unpredictable to her. She could wake up tomorrow with blood trickling out of her ear or the failure to move any of her limbs and these would not be the most traumatic things to have happened to her. She is an inspiration to me today because I am going to the dentist tomorrow and always feel the distinct possibility of a diagnosis of several root canals. It is good to have someone expose my hypochondria for the self-important waste of time that it is. Once again it has occurred to me that it would benefit the world to have Bill Gates think about every problem facing us for just a few minutes' time.

yoga

2009-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

I am taking a jivamukti yoga class for the first time tonight. My yoga practice has been limited to a 45 minute DVD until now. The same beginner's DVD over and over again for several years. Not that often. And one instance of bikram on the lower east side of NYC. I have been an intern for Kaja for a few months now and she encouraged me to attend the class. Her yoga is strict and precise and painful and I am in no way prepared for it. It has been a while since I did something that has made me feel as inadequate as this and a while also since I have mentally focused on something for an hour at a time. This quote that I encountered yesterday is all things to me - listen to your life

inaugural

2009-01-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

"As the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself."

For the first time in my life, we have a president that is an orator. There is no news, good or bad, that I would not choose to have handed down to me in the resonant words of our 44th president. A voice of reason and wisdom. I have great hope for our president and our country. This is not to say that the problems of our nation will be solved, only that they will fare better at his hands.

being poor

2009-01-16T19:42:00.001-08:00

these are true stories of being poor.

The burger. Since a recent inadvertent downgrade in pay scale, I have been stopping in at McDonald's often. It is true what they say about poor people eating at McDonald's. I am living proof. Corollary, type 2 diabetes just became part of my future.

I found $5 near Medicine Lake on Saturday. Two hours later, I walked past a '$4.99 and less' sale sign outside Urban Outfitters. I felt too poor to step inside. I would later step inside McDonald's but that is beside the point.

My shopping is limited to sales at Savers. If I showed you snapshots of the company I keep there, you would think they were mug shots. Mine wouldn't be. I am the only person shopping on 99 cent Mondays without a heaping cart full of one man's trash. I am the person carrying 3 or 4 pieces of one man's trash.
i.e. treasure

My new year's resolution was to buy all my bread from local bakeries. It should be easy. The nearest is an amazing place two blocks from my apartment. That's 3 blocks closer than the nearest grocery store. And the bakery is, without exception, open before I wake up. But this week I made bread. This was actually more about laziness and it being 20 below zero than poverty. But it's still a true story. Beer quick bread.

Desperation is spreading. I found a secondhand fortune on the closet floor. It must have fallen out of Jon's jeans. Higher truth? Finders keepers.

it's cold

2009-01-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Minneapolis has just embarked on a journey into sub-zero temperatures. It is always an adventure. The kind where you pretty much know what to expect. Extreme awareness of anything that happens to be in your nose because it is now frozen. Extreme awareness of your fingers and toes because they, too, are frozen. Extreme awareness of any exposed patch of skin because it is not only frozen, but probably frostbitten. Nobody loves this weather. People who claim to are just trying to be different.

For a few months, I've been working with some very cool people on a special project that has involved much more outdoor time than I would ever have chosen to spend on my own. Here are some pics of our work thus far. The project is for the art shanty festival on Medicine Lake. A truly crazy affair. Please stop by and witness it for yourself. It is going to be so much fun. Check out the official line-up here.

kelly's birthday

2009-01-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

my friend kelly has exquisite taste. It was her birthday on Sunday and I wanted to make a cake that she would appreciate. I ended up making her a James Jean cake. I did a piss poor job of recreating a beautiful work of art. But all was not lost. kelly did appreciate it. Wishing her the most wonderful year of her life thus far.

things work out

2008-12-29T21:50:00.000-08:00

My grandpa turned eighty-something last week. As we were cutting up his birthday cake, my brother-in-law asked him what he had learned in the last year. He thought for a long while then said that this year had reminded him of something he has long known. Things work out. My grandpa is a very wise man.