Tonight was the fourth night of Booty Burning Boot Camp, and tonight, Lawrence the Instructor tried to give us an incentive to sign up for the entire month of April. The boot camp Lisa and I are registered for ends this Friday, meaning we will have had 6 classes in two weeks, which is plenty, in my opinion. Lawrence the Instructor says that if we sign up for the entire month of April, we get the last two weeks of March for free! Still, I am not biting.
Tonight was not as bad as some as the other nights. The first night was probably the worst in aftermath pain. Monday we worked our booties off (because it is Booty Burning Boot Camp), and by Wednesday I couldn't even raise my arms to fix my crooked glasses or brush my hair. Defeatedly, when the kids asked me with as much attitude as they could muster, "Did you even ba-rush your hair today, Ms. McDougalhopper?" I had to respond, "No. No I did not. Now sit back down."
But as the class has gone by, it has gotten marginally easier, and I have almost full range of motion after workouts now, which is good. In fact, I think I might actually be getting stronger. Let's be honest - probably not - but I can let my self have the little, harmless delusions.
After class, tonight, I decided to stop by Wal-Mart since it is between the Martial Arts place and home. I needed some groceries and snacks for tomorrow night. Tomorrow night I am hosting Book Club at my house, which is probably going to be a disaster since I am the youngest one in the bunch and living in a one room apartment, but maybe not. Anyway, point is, I needed some food to feed these people, and I thought it might be pushing it if I decided to go tomorrow after work and still make it home in time to clean up the apartment and make it presentable.
Please keep in mind that I had just finished Booty Burning Boot Camp, my hair was sticking up all over the place since I had forgotten a ponytail holder, and I was in my gym clothes with my good red boots. So I had on black, kind of tight sweatpant capris, an oversized bright green shirt that encourages people to recycle, a hot pink sports bra, and bright red boots with heels. It was a truly awesome look, but I figured that the odds of me seeing anyone were pretty slim.
I need to stop cursing myself like this. Every time I think that, I run into people. This time, I ran into some of my students and their families, which really, if I had thought about it, should have been expected. I was in Wal-Mart near-ish to the school at about dinner time. Unfortunately, I apparently never miss an opportunity to humiliate myself.
On the bright side, one mother, after giving me a weird look, completely ignored me as her son bounced around me and talked to me. We've met before a few times at conferences, but with any luck she forgot or didn't recognize me. Oh! Who am I kidding! She knew exactly who I was! I was wearing my ID badge!
Once home, I dropped onto the couch where I watched the most recent episode of House on TV (kind of a disappointing episode...) and had popcorn and bacon for dinner while Squeaky sat in my lap. Now I'll have to have a snack of maybe some Green Juice and a sandwich. Mmmmm. Sandwich.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday Night at the Opera
Yesterday I attended the Minnesota Opera at The Ordway with a very nice man. We saw Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata", and it was, in my humble opinion, awfully well done.
I wore my new black dress with the lace top and swishy skirt. Luckily, it is still kind of cold, so I got away with making the dress more modest with a black sweater. Unfortunately, the best part of the dress is the top, and the sweater covered up the back. Quite the conundrum - choosing between being warm and more modest or showing off the dress. Of course, my practical, self-conscious self chose the sweater.
The evening began with coffee and chatting, which was fun. It is always nice to go out before or after any sort of opera, symphony, orchestra, play, or any other imaginable sort of live performance. We also managed to make it to the venue in time to catch the very end of the opera talk. I had no idea who the woman was, but she seemed to know what she was talking about, and it was interesting. There was even a brief snippet of singing from a woman.
Then there was more time for chatting near the windows overlooking the little plaza in front of the Landmark Center. Some of the trees had the white lights in them, which made for a pretty view. Much like the coffee or meal before or after a show, in my experience, it really enhances the whole experience to arrive early and have time to enjoy the atmosphere.
The show was performed in three acts with two intermissions and one pause (or mini-intermission, if you will) for scene changes. While the show ran an estimated 3 hours 1 minute, it did not feel like it. I was completely drawn in, engrossed in the music and characters. The intermissions seemed to come so soon!
Naturally, being a tragedy, there is a death at the end. In my experience from watching live operas and operas on DVDs, whenever a lead character dies, it takes approximately an eternity - give or take a decade. The death scene in "La Traviata" is the entire third act, so I expected to get a bit antsy towards the end. However, I was almost disappointed how quickly Violetta died and the show was ended.
And so - Well done, Verdi, for writing such a splendid Opera! Well done, Piave, for the libretto! And Bravo, Minnesota Opera, for your enthralling performance!
Now, you will probably not be as interested as I was when I learned that the movie "Moulin Rouge" is based on the same story. I would really like to get a hold of a copy of that movie and watch it again and do a compare and contrast. I would also like to read the book ("La Dame aux Camelias") that the opera was based on. Then I can see the full scope of the story and see how it has changed from 1848 to 2001.
I wore my new black dress with the lace top and swishy skirt. Luckily, it is still kind of cold, so I got away with making the dress more modest with a black sweater. Unfortunately, the best part of the dress is the top, and the sweater covered up the back. Quite the conundrum - choosing between being warm and more modest or showing off the dress. Of course, my practical, self-conscious self chose the sweater.
The evening began with coffee and chatting, which was fun. It is always nice to go out before or after any sort of opera, symphony, orchestra, play, or any other imaginable sort of live performance. We also managed to make it to the venue in time to catch the very end of the opera talk. I had no idea who the woman was, but she seemed to know what she was talking about, and it was interesting. There was even a brief snippet of singing from a woman.
Then there was more time for chatting near the windows overlooking the little plaza in front of the Landmark Center. Some of the trees had the white lights in them, which made for a pretty view. Much like the coffee or meal before or after a show, in my experience, it really enhances the whole experience to arrive early and have time to enjoy the atmosphere.
The show was performed in three acts with two intermissions and one pause (or mini-intermission, if you will) for scene changes. While the show ran an estimated 3 hours 1 minute, it did not feel like it. I was completely drawn in, engrossed in the music and characters. The intermissions seemed to come so soon!
Naturally, being a tragedy, there is a death at the end. In my experience from watching live operas and operas on DVDs, whenever a lead character dies, it takes approximately an eternity - give or take a decade. The death scene in "La Traviata" is the entire third act, so I expected to get a bit antsy towards the end. However, I was almost disappointed how quickly Violetta died and the show was ended.
And so - Well done, Verdi, for writing such a splendid Opera! Well done, Piave, for the libretto! And Bravo, Minnesota Opera, for your enthralling performance!
Now, you will probably not be as interested as I was when I learned that the movie "Moulin Rouge" is based on the same story. I would really like to get a hold of a copy of that movie and watch it again and do a compare and contrast. I would also like to read the book ("La Dame aux Camelias") that the opera was based on. Then I can see the full scope of the story and see how it has changed from 1848 to 2001.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Missing Montreal
Inspired by what I just read at The Daily Protagitron, I have decided to create my own list of things I miss about Montreal. Some of them are repeats, I know, but that should let you know how wonderful they really are.
* The metro
*The underground city - I got lost more than once in there my first few days in the city, and then I never looked back. It was wonderful getting from one end of the city to the other, never having to go out in the harsh winter weather. And of course, there were shops and people to look at the whole time!
*Language controversies/Language Police - Really? We're going to get upset at the IRISH pub because they have signs labeled in Gaelic bigger than French? Really? No one even reads Gaelic! They are there to help set the mood of the pub! Also, stop signs in France say "Stop", but you're apparently so French yours need to say "Arret".
*Any kind of food from any ethnicity available any time of day at almost any price point
*The multitude of cultural activities - The city is literally bursting at the seams with culture! From museums to concerts to the opera to whatever else you can think of, it is all available.
*Festivals all year round - I specifically miss the movie festival. I really miss watching films outside on the side of "Place Des Arts".
*Speaking French and having the reply be IN FRENCH!
*Giving directions in French and having them be understood
*Hockey-mania
*Living in a walkable city - I used to do so much walking! I could walk to the grocery store, the movie theatre, school, a concert, the museum, just walk to see the city.....
*The Protagitron, as well as a few others (you know who you are!)
*Middle-aged Quebecois men - They always seemed kind of greasy, and try as I might, I could never understand a single word they said to me. For all I know, they were telling hilarious jokes (or being really filthy), because most of the time they'd laugh their smoker's laugh after telling me something.
*The fact that high end shops are sandwiched between exotic dance places - Of course this reminds me mostly of the prominent and historical Club Super Sexe.
*Mont Royal - Between people watching, the nice views of the city, and watching squirrels eat french fries, it was a nice place to spend an afternoon.
*The crazy signs - I LOVE the picture signs in this city. The one that warns you of falling ice is a picture of a stick figure walking under an awning with a GIANT ICICLE coming down directly towards his head. Some you can only guess at the meaning. Don't fall backwards down the hill? Don't run sideways into the lake? Beware of picnic tables?
*Bloc Quebecois - Amazing, amazing political party. Do look them up. A while back, they came up with their own campaign music videos to reel in them young people. Please enjoy.
* The metro
*The underground city - I got lost more than once in there my first few days in the city, and then I never looked back. It was wonderful getting from one end of the city to the other, never having to go out in the harsh winter weather. And of course, there were shops and people to look at the whole time!
*Language controversies/Language Police - Really? We're going to get upset at the IRISH pub because they have signs labeled in Gaelic bigger than French? Really? No one even reads Gaelic! They are there to help set the mood of the pub! Also, stop signs in France say "Stop", but you're apparently so French yours need to say "Arret".
*Any kind of food from any ethnicity available any time of day at almost any price point
*The multitude of cultural activities - The city is literally bursting at the seams with culture! From museums to concerts to the opera to whatever else you can think of, it is all available.
*Festivals all year round - I specifically miss the movie festival. I really miss watching films outside on the side of "Place Des Arts".
*Speaking French and having the reply be IN FRENCH!
*Giving directions in French and having them be understood
*Hockey-mania
*Living in a walkable city - I used to do so much walking! I could walk to the grocery store, the movie theatre, school, a concert, the museum, just walk to see the city.....
*The Protagitron, as well as a few others (you know who you are!)
*Middle-aged Quebecois men - They always seemed kind of greasy, and try as I might, I could never understand a single word they said to me. For all I know, they were telling hilarious jokes (or being really filthy), because most of the time they'd laugh their smoker's laugh after telling me something.
*The fact that high end shops are sandwiched between exotic dance places - Of course this reminds me mostly of the prominent and historical Club Super Sexe.
*Mont Royal - Between people watching, the nice views of the city, and watching squirrels eat french fries, it was a nice place to spend an afternoon.
*The crazy signs - I LOVE the picture signs in this city. The one that warns you of falling ice is a picture of a stick figure walking under an awning with a GIANT ICICLE coming down directly towards his head. Some you can only guess at the meaning. Don't fall backwards down the hill? Don't run sideways into the lake? Beware of picnic tables?
*Bloc Quebecois - Amazing, amazing political party. Do look them up. A while back, they came up with their own campaign music videos to reel in them young people. Please enjoy.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Another Playlist
The following playlist is ideal for cleaning, commuting, or doing tedious tasks. It is meant to be listened to alone so you can really belt it out and dance like a crazy person.
Manic Monday – The Bangles
This marvelous song off The Bangles’ album “Different Light” was fairly popular back in the day. I remember listening to it on cassette tape quite loudly in my father’s car. My mother, too, played this tape, though not quite as loudly. I enjoy it partially for nostalgic purposes, partly because of its upbeatness, and mostly because I feel like most days of the week are “manic Mondays”. Really, this song applies to almost every day.
Resistensen – Kaizers Orchestra
Recommended to me by a man who apparently knows his stuff, this song really reeled me in. After the first listening, I was intrigued, and after the third listening, I was hooked. Can I understand what they are saying? No, not other than the occasional word such as “revolver” or “Hong Kong”, which seem to be the same in Norwegian and English.
I Can Change – LCD Soundsystem
This song was played often on The Current last month, and when I was too lazy or in too much of a hurry to plug in my ipod, my morning choices were The Current or nothing. Please know that I really do enjoy The Current, it just seemed that they were playing the same three songs every day on the way to work. This one kind of grew on me.
Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
Another one from my childhood, this particular Bangles hit is known even by those who don’t know The Bangles. It is fun to dance to in the car, and fun to sing along with. Way-o! Way-o! WA-a-a-ay-O!
I Want You to Want Me – Cheap Trick
While I certainly enjoy the cover by Letters to Cleo, Cheap Trick definitely deserves props for this song. How wonderful are these lyrics? Pretty wonderful. How fun is it to sing to song? Pretty fun. How much more fun is it to recite these lines in a very serious speaking voice to your friends? Incredibly so.
Time is on My Side – The Rolling Stones
This underrated Rolling Stones song is worth a listen, especially if you only know the super-duper big hits. This one is fun to sing while swaying back and forth and gesticulating forcefully (as if drunk) when saying “Yes it is!”
Vare Demoner – Kaizers Orchestra
So much did I enjoy “Resistensen” that I began listening to other songs by Kaizers Orchestra. The opening to this one reminds me of surfing and makes me dance kind of goofy in the car. Granted, I always dance goofy, especially when in the car, but when this song comes on, goofy is my intent. Unfortunately, since I can’t understand anything, I am having a beast of a time singing along. Mostly I just mumble nonsense syllables.
How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down – Silver Jews
Just the title of the song gets a giggle out of me. After that, I enjoy the opening tambourine roll. All in all, a short little song that is fun to sing along to.
Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
Somedays, even though I am not a mother, I feel like I could use one of those little helpers. Sometimes colleagues recommend margaritas, and yet I remain sober. While work may make be extremely batty somedays, I do love my job. Also, as a feminist, I find this song both amusing and repulsive.
What’s Victoria’s Secret – Rick Springfield
After seeing Rick Springfield in concert (which was awesome and not at all lame), I did add a couple of his other songs (songs that are not “Jessie’s Girl”) to my playlist. I like this one because it is so remarkably close to “Jessie’s Girl” it was easy to learn. Good old Rick Springfield found a hit, and tried to make it work again with different lyrics.
A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off – Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields are awesome, and if you don’t listen to them, you should. This one gives some very interesting and amusing imagery. Also, I really love the lyrics and tune during the bridge. “We don’t have to be stars exploding in the night or electric eels under the covers. We don’t have to be anything quite so unreal, let’s just be lovers.”
Mercy – Duffy
This one is super fun to sing and super fun to flail around (ahem…I mean “dance”) to. Not only good for the car, like all others on this list, it is wonderful for cooking or doing dishes to, as well as cleaning the floor, folding laundry, or whatever, as long as you don’t have to have any sort of steady hand. I guarantee that if you start singing along, you will start moving, too.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
This one I like to sing in a silly, pretend serious voice while making a funny face. Of course it is necessary to sing all parts, especially when it comes to the “dadadada”s.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Living It Up Young-People Style
Let me tell you, folks, I have been living it up young-people style!
Over the weekend, several of us went out to the Shout House and saw the dueling pianos. It was amazing! How do the pianists know all the songs? It is one thing to be able to play all the songs by ear and make it work, but they knew all the lyrics, too! How can that be? Incredible!
I should mention that before hand, we went to Pardon My French in Eagan, and that was absolutely delicious, as usual. Towards the end of our time at the Shout House, I was starting to get hungry again. As you may know, I need to eat a little bit every couple of hours. Luckily, Paula is the same way. After a brief discussion (for us anyway - we're terrible at making decisions!), we packed up and headed to Perkins. There, I devoured and enjoyed a short stack and a side of bacon. The most important part is the bacon.
Tonight was my first night of "Booty Burning Bootcamp". My colleague with the classroom next door knows that I am always up for an adventure and have a love for community education, and we decided to take a class together. The original plan was a cooking course, but there was nothing available that we both enjoyed/could eat without dying. So, I let her pick whichever other course she wanted, and we're in the "Booty Burning Bootcamp".
And let me tell you - my booty is getting burned! Tomorrow I will be hobbling around, barely able to lift my arms high enough to use the key to get into the classroom. Although the stairs going down to get out of the apartment may actually pose the biggest threat.
Now, after dinner, I am munching on pizza rolls and considering a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. How old do I think I am?
Over the weekend, several of us went out to the Shout House and saw the dueling pianos. It was amazing! How do the pianists know all the songs? It is one thing to be able to play all the songs by ear and make it work, but they knew all the lyrics, too! How can that be? Incredible!
I should mention that before hand, we went to Pardon My French in Eagan, and that was absolutely delicious, as usual. Towards the end of our time at the Shout House, I was starting to get hungry again. As you may know, I need to eat a little bit every couple of hours. Luckily, Paula is the same way. After a brief discussion (for us anyway - we're terrible at making decisions!), we packed up and headed to Perkins. There, I devoured and enjoyed a short stack and a side of bacon. The most important part is the bacon.
Tonight was my first night of "Booty Burning Bootcamp". My colleague with the classroom next door knows that I am always up for an adventure and have a love for community education, and we decided to take a class together. The original plan was a cooking course, but there was nothing available that we both enjoyed/could eat without dying. So, I let her pick whichever other course she wanted, and we're in the "Booty Burning Bootcamp".
And let me tell you - my booty is getting burned! Tomorrow I will be hobbling around, barely able to lift my arms high enough to use the key to get into the classroom. Although the stairs going down to get out of the apartment may actually pose the biggest threat.
Now, after dinner, I am munching on pizza rolls and considering a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. How old do I think I am?
*Now vote on the cake poll! Who doesn't like cake?*
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Results of the "Favorite Season" Survey
Hello, neighbors! The following are the results of the poll where I asked you what your favorite season is. There were five options because I felt it necessary to differentiate between real winter and the what those pansies in southern states or countries in warmer climates call "winter". It turns out it didn't matter, because no one chose either winter anyway.
Autumn won, though not by much. In my humble opinion, Autumn is by far the most superior season, closely followed by REAL winter with the snow and the blizzards and the ice and the bitterly cold winds. There is a certain beauty to a particularly harsh winter, and the way the sun sparkles on the snow clinging to otherwise bare tree branches is sometimes breathtaking. Furthermore, I enjoy wearing sweaters, boots, scarves, and mittens. And when I wear a coat, I have more pockets for things like keys and candy. However, autumn offers many of the same pocket/mitten/scarf/flannel shirt opportunities, but the warm colors of the leaves, the crisp air, and the sound of crunching leaves provide such gorgeous scenery and contentedness, that it is at the top of my seasons list.
What, Dear Reader, is your favorite season?
Winter | (0%) |
Winter in a place where that actually means snow and cold | (0%) |
Spring | (42%) |
Summer | (0%) |
Autumn | (57%) |
Autumn won, though not by much. In my humble opinion, Autumn is by far the most superior season, closely followed by REAL winter with the snow and the blizzards and the ice and the bitterly cold winds. There is a certain beauty to a particularly harsh winter, and the way the sun sparkles on the snow clinging to otherwise bare tree branches is sometimes breathtaking. Furthermore, I enjoy wearing sweaters, boots, scarves, and mittens. And when I wear a coat, I have more pockets for things like keys and candy. However, autumn offers many of the same pocket/mitten/scarf/flannel shirt opportunities, but the warm colors of the leaves, the crisp air, and the sound of crunching leaves provide such gorgeous scenery and contentedness, that it is at the top of my seasons list.
Friday, March 4, 2011
TENNIS! Again.
Because I just can't be humiliated enough, I eagerly signed up for the next 5 weeks of tennis lessons at Rochester Tennis Connection. On a new night, at a new time, on a new court, and with new classmates, this time will be as much of an adventure as the first.
Our new tennis instructor did not even tell us his name, so I have no idea what to call him. Tennis Instructor Mark is also at this session, but I guess on Fridays he takes the advanced group. Either that or he saw that Ivy Purple Shoes and I were registered again and bribed the other man to take the beginner group. Ivy Purple Shoes was gone today, but there is a gal a couple of years younger than me named Christine, a fierce racquetball player, a very timid but nice woman, and Maggie, my colleague from work.
The good news is that I am not the worst one. While certainly not "good" by even the most liberal definition, I at least occasionally hit it in bounds and over the night. Score for me! We also played a game with the advanced group, and my partner totally carried the team. Still, I made a couple of points and we were the "Kings of the Court" for quite a while.
Maggie kept hitting it into the lights, so I suggested that we keep track of how many times she hits the light. Maybe if she can hit it ten times in one night, we should go out for ice cream. Once she gets this whole tennis thing down, though, she's going to be much, much better than me. I have to really savor this time when we have equal tennis abilities.
Now it is Friday night again at 9pm, and I am already so wiped out from my full day at work, running errands, and then playing tennis, that I came right home, did some dishes, and made a cup of tea. I don't even want to take a shower tonight. I have a pain au chocolat out to rise over night, and that will be my incentive to get up early enough to do some minor cleaning around the house and take a nice leisurely shower before my weekend of multiple birthday festivities begins!
Also, if you are looking for a funny read, might I recommend this post by Non-Sequidurr?
Our new tennis instructor did not even tell us his name, so I have no idea what to call him. Tennis Instructor Mark is also at this session, but I guess on Fridays he takes the advanced group. Either that or he saw that Ivy Purple Shoes and I were registered again and bribed the other man to take the beginner group. Ivy Purple Shoes was gone today, but there is a gal a couple of years younger than me named Christine, a fierce racquetball player, a very timid but nice woman, and Maggie, my colleague from work.
The good news is that I am not the worst one. While certainly not "good" by even the most liberal definition, I at least occasionally hit it in bounds and over the night. Score for me! We also played a game with the advanced group, and my partner totally carried the team. Still, I made a couple of points and we were the "Kings of the Court" for quite a while.
Maggie kept hitting it into the lights, so I suggested that we keep track of how many times she hits the light. Maybe if she can hit it ten times in one night, we should go out for ice cream. Once she gets this whole tennis thing down, though, she's going to be much, much better than me. I have to really savor this time when we have equal tennis abilities.
Now it is Friday night again at 9pm, and I am already so wiped out from my full day at work, running errands, and then playing tennis, that I came right home, did some dishes, and made a cup of tea. I don't even want to take a shower tonight. I have a pain au chocolat out to rise over night, and that will be my incentive to get up early enough to do some minor cleaning around the house and take a nice leisurely shower before my weekend of multiple birthday festivities begins!
Also, if you are looking for a funny read, might I recommend this post by Non-Sequidurr?
*Now vote on the poll! Do it! Otherwise, how will I know what your guys' favorite season is?*
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