Tuesday, January 31, 2012

If Only Minneapolis Were the Drift Prairie

Blog, I managed to temporarily get out of the funk I've been in for the month of January by physically removing myself from Minnesota by means of the Empire Builder. I fell asleep shortly after St. Cloud and woke up to a sunrise peeking over the endless North Dakota horizon. It was lovely and quaint and refreshing to be in the open space that seems to reset every doubt and worry I incur in the city. That and I got to hang out with my niece who, as I've stated before, can make anything better; especially if she's eating birthday cake.

I'm sorry. Were you expecting me to keep this party tidy?
The weekend was one of celebration. Emma turned one on Friday and had quite the shindig on Saturday. Since my brother's birthday was just two days later and mine is this coming Sunday, we managed to have our own birthday cake that we set ablaze with candles numbering our combined ages.

Our cake burned with the intensity of 53 birthday candles. Also, Fruity Cheerios.
Emma proved to be a great hostess. I was glad that she decided to sport my birthday gift of a new Tim Mahoney onsie for her party. Who's Tim Mahoney? I'm not sure. But my hipster niece really loves his alt style and tunes so I'm always sure to keep her wardrobe decked out with his stuff.

Guys? Can you please be sure the satellite radio is tuned to "Chill"?
The rest of the weekend was pretty lazy. I have to admit that I spent the first part of it drugged up on an off brand version of Benadryl that was simply named "Allergy" due to a bad headache. My brother and I made a shopping trip to the grocery store that resulted in not only discovering another off brand medication called "Leg Cramps", but also placating a hurried woman who had managed to fling a dozen eggs across the floor. Ian's words of assurance? "Eggs are only like 12 cents apiece."

It has been ten years since I was in Minot, North Dakota. My last trip there was probably when I ran at the state cross country meet in 2001. Seeing the town again didn't bring back any memories whatsoever. Nothing looked familiar, save a hillside that was located by the university. So even though I have been to Minot a number of times in my life, I was blown away by what is going on there at the moment. North Dakota's economy is booming, Blog. And Minot is where it's at. Ian and Heather pointed out house after house, hotel after hotel that hadn't been there when they arrived just a few months ago in October. Even though it's got a decent population (by North Dakota standards) of 40,000, everywhere you go is constantly busy and constantly hiring. There is an amazing energy there that was based in production and making money. Oh the irony, Blog. I had to leave the city and go out to the drift prairie of North Dakota to experience some bustling energy. If I'm honest, it kind of made me want to move there. I mean, how nice would that be to hang out with my hipster niece all the time and make some serious cash working at Hardee's?

Maybe only half of that sounds awesome.

So between day dreaming of how odd it would be to make Western North Dakota my new home and listening to my mom observe every little thing that Emma did as a "Veldhouse trait" (Veldhouses sleep neatly, Veldhouses love ice cream, Veldhouses are all born within the last week of January and the first week of February, etc. etc.), it was a weekend that ended too early despite the Amtrak running two hours late. I'll have to make another trip soon. The dirty, blue collar atmosphere is somehow a refreshing getaway from the suits and petty office complaints that surround me here.

Veldhouses love eating bananas with Grandma.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

List... sigh

I don't know what to write about, Blog. My mind continues to be at a complete loss of words and thoughts that are heavy enough to put here. Sucky sucky sucky times indeed. I guess I'll make a list. It's been my go to in years past. Might as well keep up the habit.

1. I guess I'll start this list off with talking about the list itself. Why do I always feel so defeated when it comes time to make a list on you, Blog? There is nothing wrong with numbered thoughts. They can be fun and easy for others to read. Yet every time I think of making a list, I feel like it's circa 2006 on Myspace and I'm filling out one of those surveys that's asking about if I like chocolate or vanilla, Coke or Pepsi, blonde or brown hair... God.

2. Now I've been inspired to log into my Myspace account which I'm pretty sure has been left alone for at least a couple years. I think I logged into it once back in 2010 just to see if it still was there. It was. I just tried my hand at it again, but it's not working. It could be because my account is defunct, or because my computer has come down with some sort of a virus and isn't letting me on certain sites like Gmail and Google. No big deal.

3. But it is a big deal. This virus thing is hindering my communications with friends and family. I need to figure out how to fix this. Unfortunately I have no idea where to begin with it.

4. Survey! (It's on my mind, I can't help it. I feel 22 all over again.)

Where are you right now? - In my trusty uptown studio apartment.
What do you wish you were doing right now? - Drinking wine. But I just brushed my teeth. And it's a school night. Time for responsibility.
What shirt are you wearing right now? - Oxford University T-shirt. Compliments of Carlis of the O'Clare Kind.
What are you eating right now? - My words. Oh wait no. That will happen tomorrow.
What room are you in right now? - My studio room. Since it's a studio, it only has one.
What underwear are you wearing right now? - Ok, this is a little too personal for Blog. (black thong)
What are you listening to right now? - Passports approved on The Current. I would be firing up the Grooveshark, but that damned virus is being a pain.
What pants are you wearing right now? - Black loungey pants that I bought for flying to England back in 2009. They are a size too small, but what do you do...
What shoes are you wearing right now? - None. It is bed time.
What socks are you wearing right now? - None. It is bed time. What's with knowing the clothed status of my feet?
Who do you wish you were with right now? - I forgot how personal these surveys get. I'm going to play it safe and say my niece.
What time is it right now? - 11:42 pm, CDT.
What is one thing you would change right now? - My underwear. I feel like it's TMI for Blog to know that I'm wearing a thong.
What is next to you right now? - Santa Bear 1986, of course.
What will you do next right now? - Question the grammatical accuracy of that question.

5. Ok, now that I had to copy and paste that from a website, the font is all screwed up on you Blog. Although, I have to admit that survey was kind of fun to take. Maybe I'll start up the trend again. 25 things anyone?

Out.


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

History Channel, You're Doing It Wrong

Well, since I'm sad and unfocused Blog, you're turning into a sort of personal Youtube archive. Today I bring you a little ditty from CGP Grey, who I find to be both informative and amusing on many fronts. I'm also a little jealous of his ability to articulate such vast amounts of information in such short periods of time. This video happens to be short and sweet and still informative and amusing.


He's got lots more at his blog. Get ready to learn about stuff!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Ouch

Blog, I never thought I'd be so good at repeatedly breaking my heart. I fear I'm going to become a cold bitch with all the scar tissue that is encasing me. I know I made a point to avoid talk of boys and just when that guy I was dating started creeping into my entries, all was lost. That guy is no longer the guy I'm dating. He's just that guy I once dated. It was fun while it lasted. I learned a lot and I'm sad. Really sad. I don't want it to be over, but it is. Now for the period of time where I stop eating, and instead cry and sleep. Although this relationship lasted just four months, so I should be out of the thick of it by the time my birthday rolls around. Here's to hoping.

Off to buy Amtrak tickets to Minot so I can attend not only my birthday party, but also my brother's and niece's. Nieces can make anything better, even a broken heart.

Out of my way bitches. I have to make my aunt's day.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Tunez

I only write this post to archive this lovely tune:


You know what I'm talkin' about, boxes. You know.

Now I just want to put on dramatic make up and walk around in slow motion. Thanks Triple J.

Beau Meets Bro

Beau meets Bro, Blog. Beau meets Bro.

For New Years my brother and his wife Heather visited the city to live it up a bit and get away from the current boomtown that is Minot. It's all part of the novelty of them being back in the states and so much closer to us than they were when they were in Italy. This trip was a bit of re-assimilation for them since they haven't been out in a city setting pretty much since they've settled into their new North Dakota home. As a result, lots of crazy stories from their time in Europe came up since that's what they've been up to for the last four years.

That guy I'm dating found them to be quite entertaining. It's amazing how much fun little brothers can be in adulthood. Thank God he's not what he used to be when we were kids. New Years wouldn't have been as much fun had I known that he was going to go through my journal and embarrass me with his giant glasses and crooked teeth. Although he might have trashed up the NYE party we attended at a friend's house with his solo pick up game of "Excalibeer" which is pictured below:


Beau offered to be Bro's "Tape Guy". I think they bonded. No pun intended.
 Slight embarrassment aside, I can't help but think that the guy I'm dating might actually be considered my boyfriend now since he has met family members... and he liked them.


Even if this is happening.
  That guy and I even went to see this movie on Sunday night where we in turn decided that there were too many knowing glances and not enough character name drops to completely understand what the hell was going on. But we knew that Peter was gay. Peter was gay and his homosexuality had absolutely nothing to do with spies and the Cold War. Luckily my hopes for this actor to make an appearance once I realized that the show was full of English dudes came to fruition about an hour in; and that alone made the entire experience worthwhile.

Despite my celebrity crush, I was pretty happy that I got to kiss this guy as we rang in the New Year: