Our annual trip through temperatures around -15 Farenheit are in the forecast. I did my best to get ready for that. My washing machine doesn't work so that means a trip to the laundromat and today when it's +20 is better than later this week when the temperture is well below zero. I made a trip through the grocery store and have everthing to live very well for the coming week. I stopped on the way home from church and topped up the gas tank so there will be no need to stand out in the cold this coming week to pump gas. Last task -- get the trash out so no need for a trip later this week to the curb. Tomorrow is recyling day and that should happen before the worst of the cold arrives.
The last survival activity takes place daily -- my bathtub sits along an exterior wall. When the temperature falls this low, it's necessary to run the shower a bit before getting in to warm the porcelein! And a trick Minnesota women know -- stop wearing pierced ear rings. Temperatures this low cool the post and gives one a very strange feeling as the cold rockets through an ear lobe.
And with gratitude -- our university library shares a building with a public library branch. So after I get myself to work, I can get to the library for new books or DVDs by a combination of walking through tunnels and then over the skyway -- no need to go outdoors!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
DVD Adventures
I really enjoy bringing home DVDs from the public library and also having them shipped from my Netflix account. I've been having fun particularly in the public library finding DVDs of movies made about the time I was born! One I viewed last night is a great example. It is The Miracle of Morgan Creek, starring Betty Hutton and Eddie Bracken. I've never before seen either of these actors. Not to give away too much of the plot, Hutton plays a young woman who becomes pregnant on the night of a "joke marriage." She can't remember who she married because, while dancing earlier in the evening of this event, she was lifted up and hit her head on a chandelier.
A bit strange? Well, the movie on its face was both funny and interesting, but the special features revealed a lot. One special feature on this DVD concerned the censorship in place at the time this movie was made. This entire movie is a spoof to the censors. But the character Hutton plays had to have a marriage because at that time sex among unmarried characteris couldn't even be hinted, and she had to hit her head on a chandelier to explain her memory loss, because drinking alcohol and being drunk couldn't be shown.
And if you want to spend a fine time with a fairly new production that bridges the time from the 1940s to the present, get The Last of the Blonde Bombshells starring Judi Dench.
A bit strange? Well, the movie on its face was both funny and interesting, but the special features revealed a lot. One special feature on this DVD concerned the censorship in place at the time this movie was made. This entire movie is a spoof to the censors. But the character Hutton plays had to have a marriage because at that time sex among unmarried characteris couldn't even be hinted, and she had to hit her head on a chandelier to explain her memory loss, because drinking alcohol and being drunk couldn't be shown.
And if you want to spend a fine time with a fairly new production that bridges the time from the 1940s to the present, get The Last of the Blonde Bombshells starring Judi Dench.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Christmas is Over!
My disabled daughter was not able to give her Christmas gifts to her niece and nephew, so this evening we all went out to dinner. So that my daughter didn't feel left out, we gave her a bit of an early birthday gift. My grandchildren are now almost 10 and 13. They are growing up quickly. My other daughter's birthday is January 1 and she wants massages for her birthday. I've yet to gather up a gift certificate for that. My first choice for this -- the person I wanted is out of the country for six months. So soon I'll have to get to plan B. Glad to get this much of the holidays and birthdays under my belt! Back to seeing if one of my websites for class is all up to date. School is underway again.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Working in a New Place
I'm writing from my new work office. It's on the third floor of an office building and my windows overlook an empty lot, which is right now beautiful with untouched snow. It faces south so was bright with sunlight when I arrived this morning, and almost too warm due to the sunshine. Now that the sun has moved on its path today, I can really tell the difference in the office temperature. I think it will be fine in the summer, too, for by then the sun will be much higher in the sky and not shine in the windows. Once I get settled, this is going to be a lovely office.
P.S. For the first time in a very long time, it was hard to go home. It just seemed so nice at work. The only problem is that I can't get a chair to fit right. Well, in a couple of days I'll ask for an ergonomic consult. Just about have all the pictures hung and it will seem like home soon.
P.S. For the first time in a very long time, it was hard to go home. It just seemed so nice at work. The only problem is that I can't get a chair to fit right. Well, in a couple of days I'll ask for an ergonomic consult. Just about have all the pictures hung and it will seem like home soon.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Only in Minnesota Adventure
Well, maybe Alaska too! Today the temperature at mid day was + 4 with a notice of "feels like -9." I walked up about four blocks to a nearby restaurant to meet another to brainstorm about a session for the Global Volunteers 25th anniversary celebration. Then later in the afternoon I headed out the door again to attend 4:30 PM church. It was -1, real temperature, when I got back into the car.
All this made me remember a grad school classmate. He came to Minnesota from Los Angeles having never lived anywhere else than LA. Our circle of friends were other midwesterners, used to winter. One day at lunch he asked, "When it gets below 32 you don't go outdoors, do you?" The obvious answer is yes, we do. If was one of those winters when we had the actual temperature of -35. I had a Saturday morning class, and was ever so grateful to a classmate who called and asked if I would like a ride to class. It's surely is no fun walking outdoors actually when "it feels like -9" and even less fun when the actual temperature is -35. By the way I've seen -35 only one other time since then.
All this made me remember a grad school classmate. He came to Minnesota from Los Angeles having never lived anywhere else than LA. Our circle of friends were other midwesterners, used to winter. One day at lunch he asked, "When it gets below 32 you don't go outdoors, do you?" The obvious answer is yes, we do. If was one of those winters when we had the actual temperature of -35. I had a Saturday morning class, and was ever so grateful to a classmate who called and asked if I would like a ride to class. It's surely is no fun walking outdoors actually when "it feels like -9" and even less fun when the actual temperature is -35. By the way I've seen -35 only one other time since then.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Whew! No Adventure
Sometimes no adventure is the best kind. In October I went to the credit union and learned to my surprise that there no longer was an escrow account with my mortgage. I was two days overdue for paying property tax and had to pay a penalty. Now the question of insurance has been nagging me.
Today I finally called -- best intentions every day for weeks gets nothing done! I found to my great amazement and delight that my homeowner's insurance is paid through April! A new account will be set up that will allow me to pay monthly, so if I sell the house, I'm not paid too very far ahead. Glad to have a problem solved so easily.
Today I finally called -- best intentions every day for weeks gets nothing done! I found to my great amazement and delight that my homeowner's insurance is paid through April! A new account will be set up that will allow me to pay monthly, so if I sell the house, I'm not paid too very far ahead. Glad to have a problem solved so easily.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope this year is kind to everyone. It is indeed good to see the backside of 2008!
I excited to have a new President and hopefully new ideas moving into the White House. I've just been looking at You-Tube and was surprised and not surprised at the same time to see how many there are for Barak in Saint Paul. I absolutely loved it when he secured the nomination and came to Saint Paul to the Excel Center, where the RNC was scheduled for their convention, saying, "I'm going to Saint Paul first." In looking back on the Minnesota Public Radio site I was reminded the line for admission for Obama's appearance was 1.5 miles long. On January 20 the University President has invited all of us to the Auditorium to see the inauguaration ceremony and then the parade. In between the two events we'll have lunch together as a university community. In all my years of working, I've never seen the Inaugauration regarded in this manner.
I'm already looking forward to my seven weeks in Poland during the summer. The plane ticket is purchased. Now to pay the fees for this volunteer experience. I'll be teaching in Zakopane and Reymonotowka (outside of Siedlce). During my free time I plan to visit Wroclaw and Poznan. Who knows what other adventures may happen? I've just noticed candles on a table setting on a TV program and that reminded me of the night I was in a basement cafe in Torun and the electricity went off. We really did have dinner by candlelight, and wonderful that the candles were lit before the electricity went off! Otherwise it would have been very dark in that basement!
But before going to Poland, I'm also scheduled to be a grandmother for the third time. We still don't know if this little one is a boy or a girl. The daddy wants a boy very much, I'm cheering for a girl. My daughter is just worried about everyone being healthy.
I'll be finishing my last semester as the chair of the Nurisng Department at Metropolitan State. In the best political jargon, this is neither an office I sought or want. On Monday when I return to work, I'll also be unpacking in a new office in a different building. This one will give me a view to the south, but having not spent much time in the office, I don't know if I'll be seeing buildings across the street or that the view will also include the Mississippi River.
This all is surely enough adventure for the first six months.
I excited to have a new President and hopefully new ideas moving into the White House. I've just been looking at You-Tube and was surprised and not surprised at the same time to see how many there are for Barak in Saint Paul. I absolutely loved it when he secured the nomination and came to Saint Paul to the Excel Center, where the RNC was scheduled for their convention, saying, "I'm going to Saint Paul first." In looking back on the Minnesota Public Radio site I was reminded the line for admission for Obama's appearance was 1.5 miles long. On January 20 the University President has invited all of us to the Auditorium to see the inauguaration ceremony and then the parade. In between the two events we'll have lunch together as a university community. In all my years of working, I've never seen the Inaugauration regarded in this manner.
I'm already looking forward to my seven weeks in Poland during the summer. The plane ticket is purchased. Now to pay the fees for this volunteer experience. I'll be teaching in Zakopane and Reymonotowka (outside of Siedlce). During my free time I plan to visit Wroclaw and Poznan. Who knows what other adventures may happen? I've just noticed candles on a table setting on a TV program and that reminded me of the night I was in a basement cafe in Torun and the electricity went off. We really did have dinner by candlelight, and wonderful that the candles were lit before the electricity went off! Otherwise it would have been very dark in that basement!
But before going to Poland, I'm also scheduled to be a grandmother for the third time. We still don't know if this little one is a boy or a girl. The daddy wants a boy very much, I'm cheering for a girl. My daughter is just worried about everyone being healthy.
I'll be finishing my last semester as the chair of the Nurisng Department at Metropolitan State. In the best political jargon, this is neither an office I sought or want. On Monday when I return to work, I'll also be unpacking in a new office in a different building. This one will give me a view to the south, but having not spent much time in the office, I don't know if I'll be seeing buildings across the street or that the view will also include the Mississippi River.
This all is surely enough adventure for the first six months.
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