Yo La Tengo

Ira of Yo La Tengo

I always love a good rock show.

But tonight, (sigh), what magic. 

Yo La Tengo. 

Georgia, Ira + James.

No opener, two sets with just me, them & about 200 people. We were all super sweaty from dancing and the summer heat.

At the start of the show they spun a Wheel of Fortune style wheel to determine what the set would be. "S Songs" was the winner, meaning only songs that start with "S" would be played. This insured a favorite, "Stockholm Syndrome" to be played & when it was I closed my eyes intermittently, dancing and singing along, pretty unaware of my surroundings. Yes, I was That Girl. But only for That Song.

I stood in front, 2nd row, for the entire first set smiling with a giddiness I haven't experienced over live music since all ages shows at First Avenue during high school and early college.  A few songs into the second set I gave up my fantastic vantage point for cooler air in the back accompanied by drunkards laughing and talking over the magical music.  But it didn't matter; Yo La Tengo was playing.

xoxx

Heirloom.

Yesterday my Gramps gave me this lovely little painting. In 1939 he purchased it at Dayton's for his mother (my great-grandmother & namesake) as a birthday gift. It was a mere coincidence that it was inscribed, "Delilah", though I suspect that is what spurred Gramps to buy the painting for her as Delilah was her first name.

I never knew her, but I was named for her so I do feel a certain affinity for her. I grew up hearing about her. I know her life story backwards & forwards: the names of all nine of her children, the house she lived in, the house she was born in. Her heartaches & her joy.

Handsome Randy & I have recently begun watching the new HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk Empire takes place in the year 1920, which is the year Gramps was born. As I've been watching this program, I have been struck with thoughts of my great-grandmother, Delilah- Dolly actually is the name she went by- and what life must have been like for her as a woman/mother/wife during that time. Pretty tough.

By 1920, Dolly had bore 7 of 9 children. She was 32 years old. The family lived on what was then considered the outskirts of Minneapolis in Liberty Heights, not so affectionately referred to as "The Sticks," according to Gramps. They had 4 rooms in that little house - 2 bedrooms, a kitchen & sitting room. The bathroom was an outdoor outhouse or "biffy". There were chickens and a pig in the backyard. Working in construction, her husband, Royce was the sole financial supporter of the family while she stayed home with the children and tended to the house. Voting was a brand new right for women.

This is in great contrast to my own life at age 32 today in 2010. I have not born any children. While I live in Minneapolis less than a mile from where Dolly raised her family & lived out her years, I have no animals in my backyard (aside from a house cat) & I have indoor plumbing. My husband Randy and I share household expenses equally and I hold a full time job. I did not have to fight for the right to vote & have exercised this right since I turned 18.

Oh yes, I think about Dolly a lot and needless to say, this little painting is a priceless and prized possession.

I have grown up admiring it and being told that one day, when I was old enough, it would be mine. When I brought it home yesterday I was elated. I rubbed the frame with lemon oil and polished the glass. I held the painting in my hands and imagined what Dolly felt when she saw it for the first time. She smiled, was happy- probably very touched- and said, "Thank you, Doug, " or maybe even, "Thank you, Dougie." I like to think that she called him Dougie for endearment. I don't know where it hung in her home, only that it hung somewhere from that day in 1939 until my grandpa reclaimed it after her death in 1977.

This Little Painting does not only represent my great-grandmother, Dolly, but also my Gramps, Doug Davis. Gramps had it hanging in his living room until a few years ago when he took it down to make way for an art piece he'd received as a gift. It was then moved to an easel and set among family photos on a dining room hutch. This spring the hutch was dismantled ("too much clutter") and The Little Painting was set aside.

The Little Painting brings me back to rides to piano lessons and theatre classes given by Gramps during which he gave history lessons as well as talked past and present day politics with me. These car rides made me feel wise beyond my years and as I grew older the lessons grew into discussions. Now the conversations we used to have in his little Ford Escort take place a few times a week in the living room of his apartment a mere 3 blocks from my own house and a mile or so from Dolly's, his childhood home, where The Little Painting originally hung for 38 years.

I am not exactly certain where I will hang it, but The Little Painting will be in a place that I pass by everyday. And with that passing, I will always be reminded of my great-grandmother Dolly, my Gramps and the impressive stock that I come from.

xoxx

Thirty Two

As I write this I will confess that I am indeed mildly hungover.

I had too much wine last night as I enjoyed our new porch & the fact that I have nothing major to do except to sit, laugh & tell stories alongside my handsome husband and our great next door neighbors.

Oh, and it was my birthday. Thirty Two.

However, a birthday on the heels of an amazing & beautiful wedding reception is really pretty anti-climactic. So we just bummed around all day, hosted National Night Out & then drank entirely too much wine & giggled until about 3am.

What an idealic day, pure bliss.

There is a part of me that feels the need to write a list of some sort to commemorate the new year of my life. A to do list of sorts, or a list of Hopes & Dreams for year 32 of my life. But I start to write it & there are very few things to jot down. This is because at this moment in my life, everything seems absolutely stunningly fine. I live in a fantastic house with an amazing man who I am married to. We both have jobs we enjoy, great friends, and amazing family. I love our life.

And with that, Happy Birthday to me.

xoxx

married.

A few months ago, Randy & I were talking about, well I don't remember what we were talking about, but as we were talking it occurred to me that I should tell him something. So I did.

"Just so you know, I am ready to get married whenever you are."

He stared at me with what I think was curiosity (he may beg to differ), and I went on to articulate exactly what I meant and how I hoped we could go about doing things, when he too was ready, of course.

And so the ball started to roll. We talked often about our impending nuptials, marriage, being married, being a spouse and we talked about our hypothetical wedding. Somehow we seemed to agree on almost everything pertinent to the matter at hand.

And then he was ready. Just like that. As simply as had I told him the month before, he said to me one night, "I'm ready, we should figure all of this out soon."

And the plotting began.

Yesterday morning I woke up and sat at our dining room table listening to the day begin with such intensity. It was snowing outside. My favorite kind of snow, light & fluffy but full bodied flakes. This was the kind of snow that enticed my grandmother to love snowy days. And so on my wedding day, this kind of snow falling down calmed me a little bit & I took it as a little sign that grandma Bette was smiling on me & wishing me a lovely, perfect day.

And I did have a perfect day. I was a little anxious, of course so I kept myself busy with Lunch with one of my oldest friends (Natalie) and the most incredible massage ever at Spot Spa. I gussied myself up a little bit & then drank tea at a coffee house & looked over my vows and reflected on this crazy, new chapter I was about to open. I arrived home with enough tim to giggle with Randy before our small wedding cast arrived.

Randy's witness, Steve, an old friend, arrived first. Then came Dave, our friend & Wedding Officiant. Next it was Annie, my witness and friend since age six. Our friends Skye & Sarah arrived with camera equipment in tow. Soon it was time to dial up The Dads on Skype in Kansas City & Oaxaca, Mexico. Now we only had to wait for The Moms to arrive. They are the most exiting part in this because they had no idea.

Our moms thought they were coming over for a look at our bathroom and to offer advice before a dinner reservation. When each arrived we told them. We cried a lot and hugged each other tightly.

Our ceremony was short and took place in our dining room in front of our fireplace. When Dave started the ceremony I remember reaching into my pockets & squeezing my hands open & closed a few times to make sure it was really happening. I could hardly believe it.

Randy's vows made me cry, I think mine watered him up a little bit too. Everyone applauded when we were announced as married, we corked a bottle of champagne, signed the license and had a few photos taken.

Dinner was amazing. It was just us and The Moms. We were treated like royalty and there were all sorts of crazy presents waiting for us at the table...wine, champagne, Peonies...it was lovely.

A wedding more perfect couldn't have been imagined. I am so lucky and in love with such a great man. And with that, I am confident we have many years of wedded bliss ahead.

xoxx

He Made It.

In the period of time Handsome Randy & I have been together I have developed a few rituals to keep me sane upon his tour arrival & departures. Mainly this involves cleaning & food. On both occasions, I clean our house top to bottom and go to grocery store and splurge on things I typically don't such as Fruity Pebbles & Jell-O Pudding.

This morning at a little bit past 8am he phoned to let me know he was outside. I had only gone to bed an hour before as I spent the night cleaning. It was not all that grueling, I kept getting distracted by things on television such as General Hospital, Law & Order, & Roseanne. This arrival home had a little more weight to it than usual. He left on tour a mere 2 weeks after we purchased our house. I had an incessant need for everything to be perfect. Thus the night was not only spent cleaning, but hanging pictures and finally putting those boxes away in the laundry room.

And he's home. We both can't stop smiling at each other & I can't wait to share a whiskey tonight before we retire to our treehouse bedroom.

xoxx

15 Bags of Leaves.

I felt triumphed when I counted 15 bags. Then I went to work & heard stories of yards that produced 30 bags of leaves or in one case over 90. What amazed me about my first raking experience on Fillmore Street is that I truly enjoyed it & had a sense of pride over it all. Sort of like when one finishes painting a room; it's a nice change that was accomplished by your own hands.

And since I'm writing about the yard & house...there is this walkway next to our garage that I didn't know existed until a week or two after we moved in. I love it. I don't really know why, I suppose it's just one of those things, an added bonus, if you will. I think it's such a pretty spot. If I were about 25 years younger I'd be plotting to build a fort here.

xoxx

Glimpse

There is a glimpse of normalcy in my life once again.

Tonight the job that I have been looking forward to for so very long finally began. Truly. My last shift at the old job happened two weeks ago & since then I have been training at the new one. But, tonight all the gloves were off & it all came to be. So sweet! It is going to be a spectacular place to work & I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.

Also: the limbo is over, sort of. All of our belongings are finally in one place, the old apartment is gleaming clean and this morning I went to our old apartment and dropped off the keys. Phew! This is such a relief! Unfortunately the relief completely dissapates when I walk into our slapdash room (Real Estate Speak, "Bonus Room") and see that it is jam packed with our belongings that we are unsure of what to do with.

But I see it..I can almost taste it. Just being. No boxes to unpack or studying to be done or carpets to shampoo. All I will need to do is be.

xoxx

The House Pre Us

So as I've been tearing down wallpaper, changing out doorknobs & pulling down paneling I haven't been able to help but imagine the lives that were once led in this old house of ours.

Built in 1950, the house was essentially in the same family until us. The daughter of the people who built it bought it along side her husband in 1967. For 42 years they held the title to this house & raised 6 children.

As I enjoy my morning coffee in a very quiet dining room, I imagine those six kids bustling about getting ready for school as their mother chases them to hurry in the morning.

As I tore down the bathroom wallpaper I thought about the person who picked it out, loved it & was excited for it to be completed. I imagined it to be the mother whose name was Joanne. I see her applying the wallpaper during the day when she had the entire house to herself and proud of her work. I also think about how excited she must have been so many years earlier when they gutted the kitchen and added the dining room. The kitchen is state of the art 1971: double oven, countertop range & a dishwasher all in sleek almond. Oh, and all the walls are wood paneling. Groovy.

Sometimes I think about the kids, like when I was painting one of the bedrooms as found traces of pink paint everywhere. I envisioned one of the daughters excited to have her own room to decorate as she wished (which included a super sweet wall of mirrored tiles) and to give her privacy.

Other times I think about Dwaine, the dad & husband. The six hooks that are painstakingly placed at each entrance as well as the 6 outlet power cord that is hardwired into the bathroom wall. And then there's the GIANT garage that has all sorts of intriguing shelves, hooks and capped off outlets.

I grew up in one house, a house which my mother still lives in. The houses each of my parents grew up in are mere blocks away from our house and relatives still live in both of them. I get it, the vibe of the house, and it seems that we are in sync with it.

xoxx

Pure Cowboy Boot Bliss

Today we spent the day in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We slept in and ate homemade carnitas & tamales from a street vendor in the plaza for breakfast. HR had a little bit of work to do after so I wandered the streets of the old city to do some window shopping. I stumbled upon a pretty sizable vintage store and was easily caught up in a dozen or so old cowboy boots in a dusty corner. They were all nicely priced but none were the right size. I meandered some more and followed a sign to the "Western/Ranch" section. I rounded the corner & this is what I saw:












I was in awe; I love cowboy boots. I have a plethora of pairs and wear them with almost everything and as much as possible. There was nothing I could remotely justify buying as we are 6 days from purchasing our house & all the boots were $300 - $1000, but I was in heaven to say the least. Just to be in a room with hundreds of vintage cowboy boots was an experience in itself. They were amazing to look, touch, and in sometimes imagine how fantastic it would be to wear certain pairs out on the town. If we were already in the house I would have taken out my visa in a flash & purchased the green & yellow pair in the top photo without second thought.

Later on as HR & I walked through a shopping complex to escape from the rain, we encountered yet another store filled with boots. These were all brand new and boots were priced $1000+ on average. In this store there was an incredible pair of black boots with colorful peacock feathers stitched down the sides and over the toe. I didn't take a photo unfortunately, but I did realize something from those boots.

Today I acquired a new appreciation for Cowboy Boots as an art form. There are so many designs, colors, stitching, heel styles and such that variance of Cowboy Boots out there is spectacular. They are a canvas and an amazing canvas at that.

Next time I'm in Santa Fe I vow to leave with a new & amazingly beautiful pair of cowboy boots on my feet.

xoxx

Road Trip.

Los Angeles to Minneapolis via the beautiful Southwest. Yesterday we pulled out of Needles, California around 11am stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona for coffee and a walk around 3ish, and ended our day in Santa Fe, New Mexico around midnight. Along the way we drooled a the amazing scenery, laughed at each other while playing very intense and competitive versions of The Roadtrip Alphabet and sang old country songs acapella and a few by Queen and The Who too. More to come.
xoxx

Four Years.

Four years ago today I went to Heart of the Beast Theatre's annual May Day Celebration at Powderhorn Park. I can still remember where I stood to watch the parade that year (27th & Bloomington) & I can still remember what I was wearing (my NE Junior High hoodie and red gingham skirt). After the parade I went to a party at someone's house across the street from the park. All the while I had a very handsome man on my mind: Randy Hawkins.

He was just arriving home from a three month road tour and the final show of the tour was that night at First Avenue. The tour was preceded by a month or so of lingering drinks at 2-4-1 Tuesdays at The Triple Rock followed by a few dates in the days he was getting ready to go on the road.

In those very early days of courtship between us I was preoccupied: my grandmother was terminally ill and I was trying to spend every moment I had free with her. But I'd get these phone calls asking if I wanted to meet at Nye's for a glass of wine or take the new Light Rail to the Mall of America on a Sunday. I wanted to & I did, but I didn't pay much attention to what was really happening. I was falling in love.

While Randy was on the road we talked on the phone nearly every night. I looked forward to when my day was over so I could hear his voice. I relished making him laugh (I still do) & I could listen to his stories of tour and travel all night if he felt like talking that long.

A lot took place during those phone conversations. I don't think we will ever know just how much.

Randy was the first person I called when I left my family the night my grandma died. He happened to be in town for a show the night of her funeral. He tried so hard to get me to go, when I refused he came to my apartment as soon as he could after the show and just held me for two hours while I talked and cried. I'll never forget how it was snowing that night, and I remember walking him to the door of the building and then rushing back to my apartment to watch him walk until he was out of sight. I can still see that image.

So I go to this show on May 1st with the sole purpose of seeing Randy. I'm nervous. The friend I brought along as my +1 asked me what I was so nervous about and I distintively remember responding, "I just feel like it could work out with him." And it has.

That night I think I drank 4 or 5 Black Russians (all booze, only vodka + Kahlua). This is amazing as I am the lightest of light weights and really shouldn't be doing anything after two cocktails let alone 5. But I needed an elixer.

The show ended and I ordered another drink. I remember spying Randy on stage taking things apart. I ran to the foot of the stage & yelled his name. He smiled and came over pulling me to an embrace and suggested we meet upstairs in the VIP lounge after a while.

When he arrived we clasped hands & I don't think I let go until the next day. Through the last four years we have learned so very much about each other and each day I think we fit together more perfectly. And through it all our hands have been clasped together and I think they always will be.

xoxx

Music Splurge

Back in the day when I was just out of college & was making very little money, I used to go to my local record store and drool over new music on a very regular basis. In those days I felt proud of myself if I was able to leave without buying anything and about every fourth trip I would do a major splurge & purchase six or seven new CDs spending around $60. $60 was a lot for someone who had about twice that much a month after all her bills were paid (so this was gas money, groceries, etc). But, I was 23 & was willing to starve or eat at my relatives' if it meant having good music to listen to.

Presently my surplus is greater that $120 after all my bills are paid yet I don't splurge on new music. Ever. I can't remember the last time I did it. I guess in my evolution into full blown adulthood I acquired some self restraint when it comes to buying music.

In the last couple of weeks I have realized that I have a little extra cash & have been meaning to make a trip to my neighborhood record store, The Electric Fetus. Tonight I finally made it and had a list of CDs I wanted. I fulfilled the list and so much more. I don't feel the least bit guilty as I did when I was sacrificing my food money, instead I felt fantastic & could hardly wait to listen & blog about them! Stay tuned for thoughts on some of the following...

Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue
Marvin Gaye, Collections
Antony & The Johnstons, The Crying Light
Thelonious Monk, Prestige Series
Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles, Orange Peels & Rattlesnakes
Neko Case, Middle Cyclone
Handsome Furs, Face Control
Eleni Mandell, Artificial Fire
Mirah, (a)spera

Phew! I've got a lot of listening to do...
xoxx

Will Oldham Live!

Tonight I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Will Oldham perform. I learned of Will Oldham during my first semester of college when he was playing under the names Palace, Palace Music, or Palace Brothers. I was hooked immediately and consumed every recording I could find, listening to them at all hours, all the time.

In my 12 years of Will Oldham Fandom I have never seen him live. I have been either out of town, at rehearsal or not old enough to get into the venue when opportunity arose. Needless to say when I discovered only last Sunday that he was playing in Minneapolis today under the current name, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and that it was sold out my heart sank. I was pretty sad (& mildly self righteous in regards to being such a long time fan) but I decided that I would just go to the venue the day of the show & see what would happen.

I arrived 30 minutes early in hopes of stumbling upon a spare ticket. This show was a hipster convention: lots of beards, lots of skinny jeans, and no one talking. I got in a line with a lot of hope. About 10 minutes later my friend, Mary walked by & said, "You got a ticket!!" I explained to her that no, I hadn't, but was hoping to find someone who had an extra one that I could buy. Upon hearing this, the man ahead of me wordlessly handed me a ticket. I offered to pay, he waved me off and put his headphones on. He never said a word.

When I got into the theatre I scouted a seat in the second row. When the curtain went up revealing Bonnie 'Prince' Billy in their entirety I got goose bumps. Really. After the opening song Will Oldham paid to tribute to his guitarist, Emmett Kelly for breaking a string so early in the show. He continued to poke fun at the guitarist before transitioning to Obama's weekly radio address asking the audience if we listened to it this week. At this point, he could have said anything I would have thought it brilliant. I decided I needed to make more effort to listen to Obama's address. Through out the show every time he addressed the audience I listened carefully vowing to remember it forever. I was absorbed.

Will Oldham is incredibly prolific releasing records what seems to be all the time. His music is ever changing which gives every album a completely different feel, but it always carries the honest and intriguing lyrics that continually draw me in.

Tonight songs were played from all parts of his canon in ways I could have never imagined. (I was) Drunk at the Pulpit was a ten minute improvisation with the lyrics seeming to be the skeleton for the piece. Hard Life & Disorder were played as well, easily recognized but clearly reinvented and beautiful. Will Oldham has a spectacular stage presence; he is always doing kicks, twirls, and many, many gestures. Tonight he was always dancing, clearly in bliss on stage. I cheered when Just to see my Holly Home began. For this one he passed his guitar to violinist, Cheyenne Mize, and picked up a green Melodion. It was fantastic, a highlight of the show. But wait, the entire show was a highlight.

The show ended with Horses, blowing me a away. I couldn't believe it was already over. I gave a standing ovation (like the good Minnesotan that I am) and happily clapped as loud as I could.
This was one of the best shows I've ever been to in my life. I grinned the entire time, I am still grinning and probably will be for a very long time all the while listening to Will Oldham/Bonnie 'Prince' Billy/Palace recordings.
xoxx

Just stop & be.

Downtown Minneapolis has a plethora of street musicians year round, even with our subzero winter. I always leave money in jar of any musician I encounter & walk away feeling grateful to live in a tiny little city filled with such great talent. Rarely, if ever to I stop & actually listen.
Remember, Mister Trumpet Man? I've come to know him well. I see him nearly everyday and savor his music. In recent months I've noticed that he plays a little differently when his fans approach. He is has a subtle smile, his posture tightens and he always peeks through his closed eyes to see if you're still there. He is happy playing his trumpet no matter what, but the presence of an appreciative listening brings him more happiness.

And yet, I rarely stop & truly enjoy. My habit is to pause, say hello, leave a tip, & go on my way. But one who stops & listens makes him so happy. So, lately I've made a point to stop (not pause), leave a tip, say hello & then I just stand there to listen & enjoy. A tip is of course money which is always usable and something I will always leave, but to actually stand and enjoy someone's music is a great compliment above all. Additionally, it forces me to just stop & be. This is a great, great thing.
xoxx

We did the Hukilau.

Once upon a time, Handsome Randy & I boarded a jet plane & flew to Hawaii.
It was an amazingly beautiful trip & much fun was had. We spent time on the islands of Oahu & Kaua'i & became mildly obsessed with Niihau. We went to a luau, hiked around Waimea Canyon, the Kalalau Trail and swam at 'Anini Beach. We a lot of great food, but the best was an Ahi Sandwich from The Shark's Cove Grill in Haliewa on the north shore of Oahu. Here are a few photos highlighting our Hawaiian Holiday.

The view we woke up to every morning...


Waimea Canyon...



At the Luau...



On the Kalalau Trail...




Sadly, we eventually did have to come home to our frozen city, however, we were still singing & dancing the Hukilau upon our arrival & probably will be for a very long time.
xoxx

Stills from Music + Movies.

I love love love to dance. I try to everyday (usually in our dining room by myself). But I do relish those moments, dining room or dance club. So when I saw the man above this evening dancing solo at The Walker's Music + Movies in The Park I felt nothing but love and admiration. Between Jayanthi's (also above) rich and velvety voice and Mr. Dancing Machine's moves I was in seventh heaven for entertainment.

Music + Movies is a highlight of Minneapolis Summer for me. I am sorely disappointed that next week is the last one (!), especially since tonight was the first one I could go to. When you go, you always run into someone you know, giving reason to share your (or their) blanket & wine & snacks. The greatest summer nights ever in Minneapolis happen here.

xoxx

My real weekend: Saturday night.

Julie & Brendan's wedding is one that I've been looking forward to all year long. It finally came & was so much fun. The food was amazing, there was lots of dancing, lots of laughter & their marriage was rung in with such not only the strong love between each other but also from their community of friends & family.

Yay! Best wedding of 2008!

xoxx

Grinning Ear to Ear.

Every once in a while I experience 24 hours that are seemimgly perfect. The 24 hours between 11pm on Saturday 3.29.08 and 10:59 Sunday 3.30.08 were this for me.

I finished with work just before 11pm - a nice treat for a Saturday night. The Minneapolis band, Valet was playing their last show for quite a while and they were due onstage at midnight. Perfect. I had enough time to go home, change and drive over to St. Paul's Turf Club and see their set.

At the show I ran into lots of people I knew and astoundingly, most of them I hadn't seen since probably the last Turf Club Valet show I went to, which was around 2004. I almost felt like I was in a time warp. I danced, I had a beer, I took some photos, and caught up with old friends. I headed home around 1:30 grinning ear to ear.

I went to sleep with Handsome Randy's voice in my ear & awoke to his phone call this morning. We got to tell each other about the events behind us and those on the horizon with lots of laughter. How nice, almost like he's home.

My day was productive. Errands, mostly. But good ones.

Then, this evening, my good friend, Jessie & I got together and played a little music. There is something to be said about playing music with a good friend, especially when you are well tuned into to one another. It's magical. When we were through we sat in her livingroom drinking tea listening to Iron & Wine, telling stories and making each other laugh. I left around 10:30 grinning ear to ear, once again.

The drive home gave me time to listen to Mazzy Star and have a car concert*. I arrived home and sat in our driveway for a while just listening to the music and singing along. I walked in the door of our house, shortly before 11pm feeling so good and still grinning ear to ear.

xoxx

*A Car Concert is when one turns up their car stereo quite loud and sings along as though they themselves are the artist they are listening to. And in those moments, they truly are.

Everett James Forston 3.13.08

Last week my aunt, Stephanie phoned me to confirm that I would available on a Sunday in April for my cousin, Jessie's baby shower. Jessie was due in mid to late April. I confirmed that yes, I was available & that I couldn't wait.

Neither could the baby.

Last Thursday Jessie wasn't feeling well, so she went to the doctor. The doctor took some tests and determined that it was time. By 3pm baby Everett was in the world. A little early (6 weeks) and pretty tiny (4lbs), but doing just fine and the cutest baby ever (next to his cousin, Wyatt of course). Mama Jessie is doing well also. Exciting!!

Babies are everywhere! In addition to Everett's birth last week, college friends Jon & Tiana welcomed their second daughter (name unknown to me) on Tuesday & Millicent was born to our friends, Erick & Andrea on Friday. Three in one week.

I still have 3 more friends due in April and another in May.
And then there are the three friends who just announced their pregnancies and are due in the fall.

xoxx

a pefect sunday.

I caught up over brunch at victor's & a walk around Lake Calhoun with my great friend, Miako who recently played lots of phone tag me and endured many canceled plans on my part. Later, I had a few really nice finds thrifting at Savers. A little time with Handsome Randy before I headed off to psycho suzi's to have a beer and some pickle roll ups with my pal, Josh who was in town from New York. And what would a Sunday night be for me if I didn't end up at my aunt PAL's? I arrived around 11, beer and pickle roll ups on my breath in time to watch the day's episode of Brothers and Sisters (via the technology of VHS recordings, thank you very much) as I enjoyed a nice refreshing RC and caught up on family gossip. My last stop was grumpy's ne where I crashed a "bro down" in order to give Handsome Randy his biking gloves he'd left behind on Thanksgiving. I chugged a small glass of magner's leaving HR and his Bros to continue downing whiskey and old yarns. My final stop was walgreens. My hairdye is on sale this week for $4 off and I thought I'd stock up.

Catching up with 2 good friends, thrift store finds, family gossip over RC, cheap hair dye and being the sole reason a "bro down" takes a recess. Nothing more could have made my sunday more perfect.

xoxx