Summer = Reunion Time

I don't have a high school reunion planned for quite some time, but every time my friend Nate returns to town, a mini-reunion occurs. This year, I'm in charge of gathering the locals. Oddly, I hardly ever see them, so it's a little weird to call them out of the blue.

I went to the Boardwalk with my friend Laura last night and I ran into about 10 people I knew, including someone I needed to call for Nate. If you want to find someone in Duluth and you don't know where to start, hit the Boardwalk. They're probably there.

Any way, I don't know if it's the weather or just the fact that it's summer, but old friends are flocking to Duluth or reconnecting. Everyone is coming out of hibernation and they're ready to party. It's great!

Movie of the Day: Since You've Been Gone. Ah, reunion movies.

Shouldn't...

Shouldn't there be a way to scoop up all of the flood water and drop it on all of the forrest fires out West? I suppose there are contaminants, but there should be a way to clean it.

Shouldn't the people who have money to burn, feel like giving it to honest charities that would help even things out?

Shouldn't people be responsible about having children and knowing when they can reasonably take care of them verses when they can barely feed/spend time with the kids that they have?

Shouldn't our taxes go to help cure diseases and fight injustice rather than to killing people overseas and boosting the rich?

Movie of the Day: The Rainmaker. What a poignant movie.

Guarded

Do you think everyone is guarded about something? Not just about what to blog or not, but with all of their friends? It could be religious beliefs, money, health issues, or past experiences. It doesn't have to be something big or traumatic for someone to hide it.

How often are these things serious and how often are they little things that people worry about unnecessarily? I don't know. Talk about a difficult study, huh?

"What are you guarded about?"
"Me? Guarded? Um.... nothing!!!! Leave me alone!"

Sadly, if I think about what I'm guarded about, I'm obviously not ready to share it with the world on this blog. I wouldn't ask you to share either. However, think about it. Maybe it's something that could safely be shared with someone.

Movie of the Day: Guarding Tess. Nicholas Cage. Shirley MacLaine. He guards her. Somehow.

I'm Slow

I'm having a slow start to the day. Well, actually, I've just been doing the day in reverse order. I woke up late, walked on my treadmill, and then did yard stuff with my dad. Then, I chatted with two friends on the phone (Hi, K!) and finally am sitting still enough to write.

I'm psyched because I'm at the point where I can make some plans about the summer. What should I do to my house? How often should I skip town? What book should I read next? It's all very thrilling!

Movie of the Day: Spellbound. It's about a spelling bee. Nerve-wracking!!!

Summer!

I'm heading to the Cities today to celebrate the end of school! It's been two weeks already, but this is the first time that it worked to leave town. Whew....

Duluth has quite a few stores, but some of them are lacking. We don't have a JoAnn Fabric, which is a great place to get craft supplies and fun holiday decorations.

We don't have a Half-Price Bookstore, which is so, so sad. That'll be our first stop.

We don't have a Coldwater Creek, which has gorgeous women's clothing. We'll hit that towards the end of the day.

We also don't have a Buca di Bepo restaurant. Lunch!

Yep, it's gonna be a good day!

Movie of the Day: Scenes From a Mall. I don't really like Woody Allen, but the title was too perfect for today.

P.S. If you are reading this and have any clout with any of the above stores, PLEASE come to Duluth!!!! I'll find other reasons to go to the Cities.

Parties

I went to a birthday party yesterday and didn't know anyone besides the hosts. It was an Open House, so I ended up wandering off after a short time. I could have made new friends, but was just feeling too lazy or introverted for it.

Tonight is the Volunteer Appreciation Party for the marathon. The Sports Garden will be PACKED with people. I will probably end up sitting on the floor to eat my pizza and breadsticks. This doesn't seem to faze me though. Why? Maybe it's because there are so many people that I'm more anonymous. Or, it could be because I will be there with friends. Who knows?

Movie of the Day: Hearts In Atlantis. This is a great movie. Anthony Hopkins and Hope Davis are awesome!

How To Cool Off

I live in Duluth. It's warm here, but not consistently hot, hot. So, to cool off, I have one large fan and one mini fan. That's it. No AC. No Central Air. Windows. I have windows. And, I live on a busy street, so I usually can't sleep with them open (mostly out of fear, not noise). If it gets really hot (like in July), I sleep in my basement. If it's super hot during the day, I might head to Lake Superior (which is always cold) and stand in it for a couple minutes.

The only bad thing about summer is that my favorite item of clothing is a black t-shirt. I wear one pretty much every day. Summer gets tough, that way. I'm going to try to deviate from black today and look for flying pigs.

Movie of the Day: Ice Age. Good flick.

I Love Pi

I love Pi, but today I'm going to focus my attention on p-i-e. Tomorrow is the one and only Rhubarb Festival at First Lutheran Church. It's a fundraiser for CHUM, a non-profit organization that runs a homeless shelter, food shelf, and drop-in center.

I am spending the second half of my morning baking pies at church. I'm not much for baking. I can do it if I try, but I don't bake often. Strangely, if I bake something I eat less of it than if someone else made it. I think it has to do with seeing just how much butter went into it or something. Maybe I SHOULD take up baking. Hmmmm...

Movie of the Day: The Fabulous Baker Boys. :)

Whack-O-Mole

Do you ever have a feeling like you're out of whack? It feels like something is wrong, but you can't put your finger on it. The stars are aligned funny. The air feels eerie. "Normal" has been kidnapped and you're looking for the ransom note.

I think I need to meditate. (I tried to do just that yesterday, laying on my livingroom floor, and fell asleep. Oops.)

Movie of the Day: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Things get really out of whack.

Honk If You Want Peace

My mission today is to find an excellent Hippie outfit for Sunday. If I can find multiple outfits to suggest to others, that would rock too. The theme: Peace. Well, I'm thinking "Peace, Baby, Peace," but that's just me.

Start with inner peace and work your way out. That's my goal.

Movie of the Day: Gross Anatomy. Just talked about it with a friend who is visiting. Not to be confused with Grey's Anatomy.

Sorry. Try Again.

About three weeks ago, I mentioned that I went on a date. I know, it was a shock, but weird things happen. Any way, I thought it went well. Maybe it did. Either way, the gentleman has not called. I think four weeks is probably a good indicator that he won't be calling. So, it's time to give up on that option.

When I was in 9th grade, I went through confirmation classes at my church. I remember asking our minister if we could start Methodist nuns. He just laughed. I wasn't really serious, but it felt like I could join up. If I knew I'd still be single in 2006, I probably would have pushed the issue. It could have been a new religious movement! Oh well.

Deep down, though, I want to get married and be a mom. Not sure about the whole pregnancy thing so maybe adoption's the way for me.

Oy.

Movie of the Day: Step Mom. Julia Roberts learns how to be a mom.

Limbo

You know how when you are super busy, you can come up with a long list of things that you would rather be doing at the moment? Then, when things slow down and you look at the list, it's suddenly lost its allure?

That was me this afternoon. I wandered my house, looking at dishes, piles to file, or magazines to read and didn't feel like doing any of it. So, I laid down on my office floor and took a nap. I should get softer carpet.

Movie Style

I went to a movie with my folks yesterday to celebrate Fathers' Day and started thinking about movie-watching styles.

Where do you like to sit: lower, middle, top, or way in front?
Do you sit next to the aisle or the center?
Do you buy food or sneak in food or avoid food?
Do you talk? Only during previews? During the movie? Only quietly?
Do you stay for the credits?
How prompt are you in arriving?
Do you get up and go to the washroom or sit and squirm?
Do you plan ahead and only drink minimal amounts to cut down on bladder issues?

So many questions!

Movie of the Day: The Lake House. Saw it yesterday and really liked it. Roger Ebert mentioned that there were logical issues to ignore, but it was still good. I concur.

Books

I sometimes have a hard time focusing on one activity for very long. Last night, I started watching Amelie and then read for a while, pausing the movie. I would then alternate between the two until I finished the book and gave up on the movie. Is that weird?

I can also read multiple books at once. I have one that I really should finish since I started it about a year ago. It's a cheesy Nicholas Sparks book and I abandoned it for something better. It's sitting there, reminding me to either finish it or read the last couple pages so I know "whodunit". Hmmmm... I have heaps and heaps of books in my office to read. I think my problem is that I love books and wandering the Half Price Bookstore on Ford Pkwy in St. Paul.

In college, there was only ONE book that I didn't finish reading for a class. It was called Pamela and apparently was the first novel written (according to my prof). Well, it was annoyingly sexist and I had other classes to worry about. So, I bluffed my way through that question on the final.

Any way, the Movie of the Day: Death to Smoochy. Weird, weird movie. Funny, too.

Good Job, Runners!

What a week! What a day! I got up at 3:45, showered, ate and headed to the waterstation. We had a ton of great people this year and I've even had an idea or two about what to do next year to get more people or tweak the experience. More on that in posts to come, I'm sure.

The weird thing after volunteering is that you kind of feel like you've been through the mill. (Outdated saying?). Any way, as you are creeping home through traffic and the sunburn is starting to appear, all you really want is lunch, a shower, and a nap.

After the nap (where I'm at now), I'm not sure what to do with the rest of my day. I'm still feeling fuzzy, sunburned, and ready for a quiet celebration. My sister Sara wasn't able to go this morning, but is interested in heading to the tents tonight. The tents have a lot of people, drinking and listening to bands and scoping each other out. I feel like renting 5 movies and crawling under a blanket on my couch. Hmmmmm... Compromise?

Any way, it was a good day and I hope a successful race.

Movie of the Day: Prefontaine. That guy could run.

Less Crabby

I was too crabby to post this morning. Sorry, dear readers (all three of ya). I just didn't want to share the grumpiness so thought silence was better.

Now, with 125 (the exact number) baskets delivered safely to their runners, I am free to chill for the rest of the day. Ah, much better. That, and I went to the spaghetti dinner and carbs help my mood too. Whew.

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day. Michelle did an excellent job of summing it up. Add in the bonus of seeing some of my fun students and the knowledge that I'm not in charge of the whole 200-person/16-table station this year, and it should be an awesome time! (For a couple years, I did the baskets and headed the waterstation. Then, I woke up and realized I was insane!).

Movie of the Day: Waterworld. Saw this in a cheap theater in the Cities during college. Has the girl from Napoleon Dynamite in it. Otherwise, it's a pretty crappy movie. Unless you like Kevin Costner. Wait, why am I recommending this?

Live Bigger

Once the marathon is over (Saturday afternoon), I am going to need a project. Not a house project, a fundraising project (sorry, Linda), or anything "ordinary." I need something creative, fun, and unique to do. Something that would qualify for a "What I Did Over the Summer" essay, if I were still assigned those. (Actually, I've never been assigned one of those essays. We just got down to business right away).

Any way, so Dear Universe, I'm looking for some ideas. I really should find Rob and tell him. (He's our local Buddha. Tell him you want something and it comes true. Just remember to be specific.)

Movie of the Day: X-Men 3. Saw it last night with Michelle. Lots of action. I realized that I don't really like Rogue. Not for any blatant reason, just because she's sulky. Any way, as we were walking out, I had this sudden memory that there might be an Easter egg at the end. So, we stood and stood and stood there waiting, waiting, waiting. Just as we turn to give up, Happy Easter!!!! Whew! It was awesome too. If you go, stay until the end, end, end.

This Morning

I've spent the day making elite runner gift baskets with my parents, my sister, and my friend Rosemary. It's always an challenge to organize and carry out the making of 84 baskets (today). It went well, though. During the process, I thought of all the people who should get baskets too. Not marathon baskets, per se, but gift baskets of some sort:

doctors and nurses
teachers (I like chocolate.)
witty writers (or your favorite, etc.)
pastors
social workers

The list goes on and on. Who do we reward in this country? CEOs. Movie stars. Athletes.

Movie of the Day: Carolina. I have yet to see this one, but just heard about it on Monday. It stars Julia Stiles and Shirley MacLaine. I tried to find it at Block Buster, but my sister found it on the We channel yesterday! Weird, huh?

What? Huh?

I have too many things buzzing around in my head today. I'm scared to even start sentences, for fear that I will lose my train of thought. I'm going to try really hard right now so you don't have too strange of an experience. I have my covenant group tonight and I hope I'm coherent by then. Yikes.

I think what I really need is to sit in some outdoor cafe with some friends and just talk and laugh. Goof off and not worry about things that are in the future. But... alas, it's a day to help the marathon. Coffee later.

Movie of the Day: Shall We Dance? Sweet. A little nerve-wracking. Nice ending.

Plants

So, I finally bought plants yesterday (remember my post about wanting to buy plants about 5 months ago, ha ha). Well, yesterday was the day! As I mentioned, I have a murky green thumb, so my shopping technique is probably murky too.

I hit Home Depot running and filled the cart (and the rack below) with beautiful flowers. Did I read about shade or sun? No. Did I read about just how much water they need? No. Did I decide "I need some yellow."? Yes. Yes, I did. I have purple, orange, red, and yellow. I'm psyched. Will they shrivel up after a couple days? I hope not.

I'll read the labels before I plant them. Well, more specifically, before I sweet talk my dad into helping me plant them. Yep, murky. He's a great dad and probably feels sorry for the plants that are stuck with me!

Movie of the Day: The Break-Up. Saw it last night. It was good. Spiteful, but good.

Jumpy

I'm kind of a jumpy person. Usually I can hear someone coming and I'm okay, but this week a couple people snuck (really, it's sneaked, but who says that?) up on me.

I had a massage Friday afternoon and, as usual, I'm one big knot of Becca. How do you unknot? Yoga? I've done it in the past and I could try it again. I think it's psychological and emotional, though. How does one give up being Type A? Legally, of course. (I know where some of your minds were heading...). Do I need some sort of life-changing experience to put things into perspective? Could the experience be something good instead of a tragedy (which would do the trick, but not be a fun way to spend Summer).

Hmmmm.....

Movie of the Day: Veggie Tales: Where's God When I'm S-Scared? tee hee

Counseling

I think teachers should have an hour-long, mandatory counseling session as they head out the door. A debriefing of sorts, if you will. Some way to find closure to the year. I challenge you to find a teacher who had an easy year this time around, so we could all use a good head-shrinking.

Now, by this time, you are probably thinking, "Will she ever stop talking about school???" The answer is yes. Today. The only time I will talk about school from now until August (when I start worrying about it again) is when I run into a kid and something goofy happens or if something extreme happens.

From now on, I'm gonna talk about my yard. (Just kidding. My green thumb is more of a murky color with brown spots, so that won't be happening.)

Oh, this was interesting. In the last couple days, I've been talking to friends about books or teenage slang or what not and usually refer to a movie. Well, channel surfing last night and this morning produced three of the movies that I referenced! How weird is that? Along Came Polly. The Thornbirds! And one more that I'm forgetting. Odd!

Movie of the Day: Ladder 49. Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta are firefighters. Good drama.

Sweet

Sweet reward! Today is it. The kids are gone. The lockers are getting cleaned out as I type, and my grades are 30 minutes away from completion. How does it feel? Sweet.

It also feels exhausted, a bit sweaty from the heavy book lifting, and a little sad.

Now what?

Movie of the Day: The Incredibles. Make sure you watch the extra: Jack Jack Attack. It's worth the whole rental price.

Do You Want Fries With That?

I have a theory about jobs: they're like restaurants.

Some are drive-thrus and you take it all home with you.
Some are delivery- you don't even leave your house.
Some are fast food- work a little for cheap and leave with just enough, but maybe not filled or healthy.
Some are casual sit down- eat, leave.
Some are fancy- get a little food and pay a lot.
Some are like Perkins- open or on-call all night (think parents and doctors).
Some are like Buca's- way too much food and lots of leftovers.

My job is like a seasonal Buca's. Too much, then closed for the summer.

Movie of the Day: Instinct. Good movie! A little scary.

P.S. Today is the last day of school (for kids)!!!! tee hee.

Free Association

While I don't really feel brain-dead this morning, I also can't think of something brilliant to write. So, here's some free association (probably condensed from the actual brain pattern):

Big Bird
Snuffy
Snuff
Gross
Grouse
hunting
Hunters
Hunters' Park
flower shop
old Dominos
pizza
lunch
hour
not 28 minutes
28 Days
Viggo
A Perfect Murder
Gwyn
Moses
Red Sea
Red, See
Purple glasses (mine)
Astigmatism
No contacts
Contact paper
Not really paper
correcting papers
End of School!

Movie of the Day: The Ten Commandments. TV or old version. Didn't get to see the Dougray Scott version, but he's cool. So....

Itchin' To Be Done

Do you ever have times in your life where you rush, rush, rush around to get everything done for a deadline and once it's over, you have a sort of phantom feeling? You know, like someone who's lost a limb, but still feels their hand or foot itching.

That's how it'll be for me very, very soon. Some years, I've actually gone back to school to make sure I locked my file cabinet or grabbed everything I needed for the summer. I'll wake up thinking "Oh! Did I.....?' Yes, relax. It'll take about a week for the phantom spells to fade.

I don't mind...

Movie of the Day: Phantom of the Opera. Gerard Butler is too hot for the role, but we'll excuse that. Great music. Awesome cinematography. Very cool.

Chill

Each day before school starts, I have the Garden State soundtrack playing in my room. When it finishes, I start it up again. I know this is monotonous, but I like it. Lately, however, I've been switching it up and playing the Beatles "1" (their #1 hits). Why? I don't know. I think it's to get more energy and less "chill" in the room. It's throwing off the kids, though! They especially like The Shins.

Movie of the Day: Dazed and Confused. Story of my work life. Ha ha. Just kidding. Sort of.

Practice

So, I haven't had Spanish as a class in a long time (like 13 years), but I watched Real Women Have Curves last night as a study break and could NOT figure out how to get the subtitles to work. This meant I had the chance to brush up on my Spanish skills. It's a great movie (Movie of the Day, actually). It's about strong women and a girl who longs to break out from her mother's traditional views on women's roles. It's very cool.

Almost There!

Ah, the last weekend before Summer. That time when the weather is great and the hammock is whispering my name. I am indoors correcting homework/tests, etc. and plotting out the last week of work. It's a final sacrifice for the year. Try to end it well. Try to plan ahead to make the crazy week ahead go smoothly. We'll see how it goes...

Movie of the Day: Flatliners. Creepy.

Silly

I feel the need to do something goofy this weekend (maybe even today). Hmmmm...

What should I do?


Movie of the Day: Jack. Robin Williams as a kid. Goofy. Not much different than he is now, I suspect.

Weird

I wrote this morning and the post didn't post. Grrr....

Today has been interesting. I was about to climb the walls after school. My room was stuffy (had the kiddies shut the windows before they left) and I just couldn't face all of my correcting. So, I decided to go to Erbert and Gerberts, but the traffic was insane so I ended up at Perkins. I was one of two patrons! My waiter turned out to be a former student who sat and talked with me while I ate. He said that he and his girlfriend always say I was one of their favorite teachers. That was so nice to hear after a long, kinda rotten day. Whew. I was definitely glad I ended up there.

Still don't have a movie for ya. Do you have a movie recommendation for me?

Repulsed

The NorShor Theater has finally hit rock bottom. I will be boycotting any show or activity there and I encourage every person of moral standing to do the same.

What's going on, you ask? Well, Google NorShor Theater and Duluth and you'll see that the owner has decided to objectify women and cater to the creeps of the area.

As it was, I hated going there because of the fear of being in that neighborhood alone at night (to get to my car, etc.). Now, it'll be worse. Will I go to the neighboring stores? Hell no.

Movie of the Day: I'm too upset to come up with a movie right now. Maybe I'll think of one later.