anne's chit chat

jake and me
Originally uploaded by akl.

Jake and I have been leaving messages to eachother for three days now…never being able to actually talk. He has been to the east coast with his friends (their mission is to climb all the high points in each of the fifty states).

Anyway, I miss you Jake!

This picture was taken last summer in Alaska…and yes those clouds from the ocean are rolling in and over us on the top of this mountain.

Last night I went to a Minnesota Twins baseball game with Miriam and Allisa. We got the cheap seats (which is actually says on the ticket) for only six bucks. Our seats were on the first base line in upper deck (I sound like I know what I am talking about, don’t I?!). Allisa had on Delips’ old 1987 World Series T-shirt. Miriam is a big Twins fan and goes to most of the games, it was great to be there with her.

Top of the 5th we all got hot dogs. They were delicious.

All night I watched the big TV screen…there is such simple happiness in watching others be surprised when they recognize their face on a huge TV screen! The Kiss Cam is one of my favorites. The best couple was a brother and sister…they didn’t kiss but they tried to explain in two seconds that they were siblings, it was hilarious!

So finally at the very end of the game…top of the 9th let’s say…I glance up and recognize Miriam’s purple tank top and then I recognize Allisa and then myself!!!! We made it!!! What are the chances? There were over 23 thousand fans at this game and some camera person choose the three of us…It makes me so happy!

Oh yeah, the Twins won at exactly 10:18 pm, it was just perfect.

I have been trying to post this entry for two days! My “free internet” has not been working! ha!

I worked all day yesterday, 10-6:30 pm. It was raining when I got done and had to bike home in the pouring rain. I was soaked to the bone when I got home, absolutely dripping wet. It was sorta fun though!

My Mom called and as we were talking the city siren went off and we were in a tornado warning or watch, I can never remember which is which. Anyway, the weather was going crazy, rain, hail, wind, black skies, etc.

When the rain cleared I got on my workout clothes and ran a few blocks to Box Office Video (didn’t want to return my movies late because of a tornado!) and then headed to the Y. I had a good workout and when I ran home it was raining again. Twice in one day I got caught in the rain.

I watched the end of a PBS program last night; it was about some New England community supported farms and also about the landscape of our neighborhoods, towns and cities. It was extremely interesting. It focused on one particular New England town that was trying to pass a “development plan.” Their plan involved curved streets (to slow traffic), sidewalks, parks, post offices, markets, and businesses in scale with the streets and houses surrounding them.

They said that we all know what these neighborhoods feel like, they exist and we don’t want to leave them…unfortunately “developments” today do not feel the same. (More like cookie cutter monopoly rows with no sense of a real community).

Every minute two acres of farmland go to new development.

At the very end of the program this was said, “One day someone is going to ask why didn’t we stop this?”

This morning I met my friends at the Farmer’s Market downtown. Amanda and Matt even came up from Northfield! They all purchased some herbs and I bought some flowers for my Grandma. We headed back to Paige and Luke’s loft which is only a few blocks away. Luke had been cooking all morning! We had the most delicious breakfast, omelets with fresh vegetables, roasted potatoes, muffins, scones, and fresh squeezed grapefruit (Luke thought he was buying oranges!!). The morning was fantastic! Chit Chat Club was out in full force!

At one o’clock I met my family at the Old Country Buffet to celebrate my Grandma’s 91st Birthday! After lunch we headed back to my Adeline’s apartment for cheetos, cookies, and lemonade. She is the sweetest most generous woman! I got to catch up with my aunt and uncles, cousins and all their children. The kids (my Grandma’s great grandchildren) always put on a “program” for us all and today was no exception. The play today involved three pigs! It was great!

I am now making some nachos and going to relax watching a little Six Feet Under.

It is absolutely pouring right now! I am sitting in my red chair trying to typing this post but I am mesmerized by the rain…oh, I hear a little thunder! I love a good storm.

I have had a pretty good week. On Wednesday I worked early, went shopping, and then exercised at the YWCA. Lately I have been having some trouble going to the Y on a regular basis. I fall out of my routine and it is hard to get back into it. When I walked into the mall I happened to be in the “fitness attire” area…well, I guess all I need is a new outfit to motivate me to go exercise!

Wednesday was also my Grandmother Adeline’s 91st birthday! I called her and asked her how she felt, she replied, “fat and sassy!” We had a good conversation because she had her hearing aids in and I didn’t have to scream into the phone!! My family is meeting her for lunch on Saturday; she is treating us to an afternoon at the OCB (Old Country Buffet, of course)!

Later that night I picked up my friend Casey from Minneapolis and we headed back to my apartment. We sat at my table and ate a little fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil (from my garden) on crackers. It was delicious. Casey just got back from his first year of graduate school in Boston. We have been friends for over ten years and can’t stop talking when we get together! We were meeting some of my other friends (actually members of the Chit Chat Club, have I mentioned Chit Chat Club before?) at WA Frost, which is an amazing restaurant two blocks from my apartment. It was a fantastic night and we all had such a good time!

Yesterday I had the most horrible experience at the dentist. When I walked into the office building I almost turned around and left. The place was dirty, old and rusty.

Everything was rusty.

My dentist was an older woman and she did all the cleaning herself. She pulled and poked and my mouth really hurt. I just closed my eyes and kept thinking I am almost done...it is almost over…It was an experience!

Well, since I have been typing this post the rain has stopped. Maybe the sun will come out later!?