yeah. just sitting here waiting for stephen to come home from all the aquatennial festivities. it seems like a good night to go out, but he'll most likely be bushed, which is ok because i've gone out the past two nights... so i went to get a haircut this evening, which is news because i only go to the salon twice a year tops! and since it was such an occasion, i just made the night into a mini shopping extravaganza! got myself some aveda hang straight and a "refreshing" bath bar (hope it's better than the natural deodorant i tried out!) on my way out of the parking lot i noticed that there was a lovely store called the cellars there, so a little swipe and signature later, i was walking out with the summit hefeweizen and sauza that i neeeeeeded... and then, well, you know when you pass the mall of america on a night like tonight, you might as well stop. so i made my way through bloomingdales admiring the cool french connection and free people clothes that are just a little too spendy for me, but damn i wish i could... on and out to j crew for some clearance shopping. i love the end of season sales because they happen before the end of the season, so if you happen to snag something, you still have time to enjoy it! got myself some cute little "going out" shirts that are not in the same category as "wear as a teacher" shirts. they aren't too vixenish, but it's amazing what a little strappy top will do to make a girl of 29 feel less frumpy. which can be a worry for girls of 29 you know. frumpyness. a lady's worst enemy. on and out. next i had to stop by the afternoon, which is a store that gives stephen the dry heaves. come to think of it, it does nearly the same for me. i prefer something like patina if i want to buy overpriced way cool gifts. but back to the matter at hand... the afternoon is like the only place i know of that sells the refills for our co2 wine bottle opener, which totally rocks. but we've been devoid of the cool little doodads for a while, and cork in wine isn't too hot. anyhoo, got out of there and you know, when there is an effing larger than life poster of josh duhamel hanging in the gap, you godda go in for christsakes. so i went in on the second floor, which i was on anyways, and took my sweet ol time walking down to the first floor... the image is between floors! i don't know what's wrong with me. i get all googlyeyed when i see him on screen or in print. in reality, he is too much of a pretty boy for my taste, but he IS a sight for sore eyes. any eyes for that matter. left the gap wiith two more "going out" shirts. get ready! i'm ready to hit the town now =) Then... my oh my. I was at my real destination, which happens to be the new SEPHORA store, mecca of makeup!!!!!!!! but. not so fast. just as i got to the doors, life might as well have been in slow motion as the doors swung shut right in front of my face. too close to closing time i guess, and the empire was cut off in front of my eyes. probably a good thing, because the makeup is way too cool for me to buy all the time. uh. and a little spendy. so my only alternative was to browse victoria's secret for a few minutes. i was busy admiring the super cute "pink" line when a sales clerk nabbed me into signing up for an angels card. well, i thought i was just getting a rewards card, but in less than two minutes, i was approved for a vs credit card that I DO NOT NEED =) maybe. but with it, and along with my free $10 from Origins every birthday and free something from Aveda at Southdale every birthday, i'll get a free $10 from vs. not too bad! and then my readers (all two of you) it was time to go home. alas, along the way, i managed to remember two more things i need to return to stores. 1 red Kolo photo book, and Body Shop Tea Tree oil face stuff. Didn't work for me. Too many things to return. Oh, and i forgot to mention something maybe only girls get happy about. or maybe just me. during the entire mini shopping spree, i got to walk around in the smell of hair products that aren't mine... you know, the post-new-haircut smell that mysteriously leaves once you wash your hair at home... bumble and bumble is smelling pretty sweet tonight. and with that lame statement, lamer than lame just shoot me now, i will attach the gap ad of jd. rock on, rock on.
1. Kari & Rob, Kyle & Michelle 2. Melissa... One of my fellow English teachers-- leaving in a week to teach in Berlin. I'll miss you! 3. Alli, Lynn, Christie 4. Kari and Lynn 5. Erik, Christie, Lynn, Kim, Kari, me, Melissa, Michelle, Alli, Sally, Tony or... Melissa's sig. other, English 8th, Phy Ed, Science 8th, Spanish, English 7th, English, Science, Speech Path, FACS, Science 8th Middle school teachers know how to do it right!
It was a gorgeous night at Brit's. We had a spot right near the lawn bowling. Lots of people to people-watch! I don't know if I could do that scene too much; It's almost exhausting by the end of the night. But it was awesome to be out with the girls (and a few husbands, too. Stephen was at the Aquatennial... he's had his share of these things!) That's all for now!
July 21, 2005
Recent Ventures Saturday, July 16th
MSU Alumni boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka
Stephen, Michelle, Jeremy
While it was a little balmy and we were the youngest alums on the trip, this was something we really otherwise wouldn’t get to do... I’ve lived in Minneapolis for six full years and have never been to Lake Minnetonka. Some of the homes are amazing, but it’s hard enough to keep a small south Mpls home clean... other than ohhhh-ing and ahhhh-ing, I always wonder how much $ it takes to heat and cool those places.
Monday, July 18th
Music and Movies in the Park
Stephen, Michelle, Abbey, Jeremy, and our dog Mia
Yeah for Music and Movies in the park. One of my favorite parts is just people watching. Seems that the dog is quite a hit. Lots of comments on her from people passing by. We are noticing how pets open this door to complete strangers talking to each other. Not too shabby.
Tuesday, July 19th
Took the dog to the vet. She checked out ok, got her rabies shot, has to gain four to five lbs. Yeah, heartworm meds and flea and tick meds are a little spendy. The check up was covered by the MVHS, but the rest wasn’t. $198.12 later, we went home.
That night I had grad class. Only three left this summer! We went to Don Pablo’s afterwards. Can’t beat a raspberry margarita on a hot summer night.
Wednesday, July 20th
Torchlight Parade, Downtown
Mpls Stephen and Michelle (and the dog)
Stephen got a freelance assignment to shoot photos of the candidates for Miss Aquatennial (Aquatennial Queen?) all week, so he’s been out and about chasing after overly done up prom queens... Last night he had to cover them on their parade float, so the three of us headed out. Not too bad, but after the parade, it was kind of creepy. The “sweepers” came out asap. It was like little ants with blow guns descending on the steps of the Basilica, where I happened to be sitting waiting for the hubby to return. Kinda sc-fi how quickly they were out... sirens going off, water trucks blowing, families scattering. Uff-da.
Stephen’s Aunt Pat Krile passed away this week, and her funeral was tonight in North Dakota. He wanted to get back, but couldn’t with his commitment to the Aquatennial. Best wishes for the days to come for the Krile family. Our thoughts are with you.
Tonight, July 21 After class, I’m heading to a 40th bday party for my friend Christie at Brit’s Pub. Should be a late night!
OK... now to the real stuff.
Michelle’s Semi-scientific Experiment
Question: Will Hypoallergenic Herbal Clear Naturally natural deodorant (clear aloe fresh my friends!) do the same job as ... the regular deodorant that I have already thrown away because it was gone (Arrid XX?)
Trial period: two daysOutcome: Hot damn. If I wanted to smell like my NATURAL self, I wouldn’t bother with deodorant at all. List of things to return to stores (the list keeps getting bigger because we always forget to bring the stuff along when we go to the store)
1. Herbal Clear Naturally natural deodorant (Target) Complaint above.
2. Undergarments for Abbey (Target) 9 year olds grow like weeds. We have already bought the bigger size, but haven’t yet returned the too small purchase.
3. Bio-spot flea and tick medicine (Petco) Ok, so I freaked out after I put this on the dog. I went online to find out how long it would take to dry on her back (since there were ALL OF THESE WARNINGS about how bad it was for humans and I felt bad about telling Abbey to be careful not to touch her back over and over). I found things like THIS and THIS. So in a flurry, I had Mia in the bathtub (oh great black hair, yum) with a latex glove on my hand, washing her vigorously, taking care not to get her belly because she was spayed on the 13th... The vet said she wishes they’d take Bio-spot off the market...
4. Plug in covers (Target)
5. Starter bolt (Checker Auto Parts)
6. Misc. shelving end brackets (Menard’s)
7. 4” Crossbars (Home Depot)
The crappy part is that I have to go through some receipts to find the right ones for the covers and the brackets. This wouldn’t be a problem, but I can’t remember if Stephen or I bought them, and we have lots of receipts from those places. Maybe we’ll get this all returned by the end of the summer.
And I end today with some pictures of our yard... grow like weeds has a whole new meaning when you have a yard and a garden! But... we pulled our first tomato two days ago, cukes are coming along, and the #1 best investment for any garden is === romaine lettuce! It grown all summer, too, so once you cut it you just have to wait like a week for that stalk to be ready to eat again. Here’s to fresh lettuce in the summer........................
I've finally put some camping photos on Flickr, so if you're interested...
dumbass to make THIS mistake... So the morning we were to leave for ND, I noticed that I was about a grand off in my banking estimates-- I thought I had more than the bank said I did. After going through my statements this morning, I realized that I accidentally paid our mortgage TWICE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. Who does that??? As it turns out, June 29th, I got this sense of panic and time warp-i-ness and went online to frantically pay the bill that was to be due on July 1st. I thought for some reason that I hadn't sent it in, but... I'm generally good with bills, and I had (and it had cleared at the bank a week earlier.) Not like we have an extra 1600 laying around... Don't think I'll make that mistake again. I've heard of people not making their payments, but making them twice??? I godda get out more. =)
I'll put some hiking pictures up soon.
This one was pretty boring, but I guess I felt the need to share...
Dave and Tanuel-- should I be worried about you two? Are you safe? I don't know how a person could be UNaffected by bombings, but I hope you two and those you know were far away (and as unaffected as can be) from the explosions this morning. Missing you guys, Michelle
