I usually prefer to tell stories in this space, but unfortunately there aren't too many stories to tell. I remember moments when I thought, "Aha, that is a wonderfully blog-worthy thing to record," but my brain is tired now.
Last night was a weird night - my pal from Teaneck drove away down Brown while we waved from the front step and Brandon asked, "Do you think we'll ever see our pal again?" (dramatic, yes?) In my strange and anxious mood I grumbled no, not for a while at least.
It's been a bizarre season, realizing that we've stayed in one place for so long that now we've actually watched people come and go. Before, we've always been the ones coming and going. This has left me feeling very restless - not just watching others move on to new things, but realizing that I miss not moving on as well.
When you combine this strange feeling of stagnation with Brandon's barely part-time job right now, we are becoming quickly and wholly dissatisfied with staying in Athens any longer. The options for change, however, are overwhelming, so we just kind of stare at each other looking lost whenever one of us brings up the subject of moving.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Rest
I almost forgot about this...
While in Minnesota for way-too-long, week-long training for my "job," I spent every evening in my hotel room. Why waste a week in a new place in your hotel? Because the only other options for outside-the-hotel entertainment were:
1.) Taking a hotel shuttle to the Mall of America (affectionately referred to as the MOA by Minneapolis natives). I don't enjoy malls in general, but I had a hunch that exploring this place by myself would give me an anxiety attack.
2.) Going to the Minnesota State Fair - a far superior option, because as I learned from the Minneapolis daily newscast, the State Fair IS AWESOME. Why so AWESOME? Because the Minnesota State Fair is renowned for its creative use of "things on a stick." Unlike most of your run of the mill state fairs, the Minnesotans do it up right: macaroni and cheese on a stick, walleye on a stick, etc. This is a serious source of pride for Minnesota. You suck, Ohio.
3.) Hanging out with my colleagues, who I'd already spent twelve hours with each day.
So I was somewhat relieved when the phone in my room rang on the very first night. I assumed it would be the front desk, but the voice on the other end inquired, "Hello, T-Pole? This is Marty - Ralph's niece."
Of course it would be Brandon's grandfather's sister's daughter. calling me in an obscure hotel room almost a thousand miles away from home. duh.
The frantic photocopying during the tornado was not in vain; he had tracked me down.
After a lovely convo with Marty (who had not seen B-rod since he was two), she offered to take me to dinner with her family.
Two days later, Marty showed up in her orange eco-mobile and took me away from the stifling hotel. We arrived at the Good Earth (a wonderful "health food" restaurant) to meet her mother and father, husband and brother. Woah, intense, huh? So I dined with these strangers and came to realize that of course they are wonderful and intensely polite and curious people. They're Ralph's people.
I learned all sorts of family trivia, including the fact that B-rod has a cousin who's 6'11" - genetic mystery solved! At least we know where his freak gene lies now...
The parents (Ralph's sister and bro-in-law) were amazing = they travel the country at the age of 87 and stay in elder-hostels. Who knew these existed? Marty and her man were likewise great; they even knew about and were very interested in my "job," because their daughter did the same thing. From what I learned of her, I think this daughter (and distant B-rod cousin) might be my bff if we ever meet.
This brief visit definitely helped me survive my week of boredom. I learned that Minnesota isn't all MOA and skewered walleye; it's the home of some really friendly people who love their state and other people. On my next visit, I'll try to get out more - I've been told by some reliable sources that Minneapolis is a fine city to explore.
While in Minnesota for way-too-long, week-long training for my "job," I spent every evening in my hotel room. Why waste a week in a new place in your hotel? Because the only other options for outside-the-hotel entertainment were:
1.) Taking a hotel shuttle to the Mall of America (affectionately referred to as the MOA by Minneapolis natives). I don't enjoy malls in general, but I had a hunch that exploring this place by myself would give me an anxiety attack.
2.) Going to the Minnesota State Fair - a far superior option, because as I learned from the Minneapolis daily newscast, the State Fair IS AWESOME. Why so AWESOME? Because the Minnesota State Fair is renowned for its creative use of "things on a stick." Unlike most of your run of the mill state fairs, the Minnesotans do it up right: macaroni and cheese on a stick, walleye on a stick, etc. This is a serious source of pride for Minnesota. You suck, Ohio.
3.) Hanging out with my colleagues, who I'd already spent twelve hours with each day.
So I was somewhat relieved when the phone in my room rang on the very first night. I assumed it would be the front desk, but the voice on the other end inquired, "Hello, T-Pole? This is Marty - Ralph's niece."
Of course it would be Brandon's grandfather's sister's daughter. calling me in an obscure hotel room almost a thousand miles away from home. duh.
The frantic photocopying during the tornado was not in vain; he had tracked me down.
After a lovely convo with Marty (who had not seen B-rod since he was two), she offered to take me to dinner with her family.
Two days later, Marty showed up in her orange eco-mobile and took me away from the stifling hotel. We arrived at the Good Earth (a wonderful "health food" restaurant) to meet her mother and father, husband and brother. Woah, intense, huh? So I dined with these strangers and came to realize that of course they are wonderful and intensely polite and curious people. They're Ralph's people.
I learned all sorts of family trivia, including the fact that B-rod has a cousin who's 6'11" - genetic mystery solved! At least we know where his freak gene lies now...
The parents (Ralph's sister and bro-in-law) were amazing = they travel the country at the age of 87 and stay in elder-hostels. Who knew these existed? Marty and her man were likewise great; they even knew about and were very interested in my "job," because their daughter did the same thing. From what I learned of her, I think this daughter (and distant B-rod cousin) might be my bff if we ever meet.
This brief visit definitely helped me survive my week of boredom. I learned that Minnesota isn't all MOA and skewered walleye; it's the home of some really friendly people who love their state and other people. On my next visit, I'll try to get out more - I've been told by some reliable sources that Minneapolis is a fine city to explore.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Prelude
I went to visit some of my favorite people in the world. We sat around a precious little round table in a precious little breakfast nook in a precious little condo to look at photos from my European adventure.
While flipping through the album pages, we heard a loud siren sounding outside. A tornado was coming! We gathered around the television in the den to see a dark red swirl heading right for northern Columbus.
Gma P wanted to head to the basement immediately, but Gpa P insisted "it's nothing." So nothing, in fact, that his next words were, "Hey B-rod, go out to the car and get T-Pole's itinerary for her trip to Minneapolis tomorrow."
"But grandpa, the sirens are going off, and the doppler shows that there's a tornado heading straight for your house!"
"You'll have plenty of warning. Now go get that itinerary. Now."
B-rod returns unharmed and we head to the cozy basement (replete with snacks for the impending doom). As Gma puts it, "If we're going out, we're going out swinging," and she calls for a glass of chardonnay. While we gorge ourselves on Cheez-its, beer and merlot, Gpa remains upstairs in his office - excitedly photocopying my hotel's address and phone number.
To be continued...
While flipping through the album pages, we heard a loud siren sounding outside. A tornado was coming! We gathered around the television in the den to see a dark red swirl heading right for northern Columbus.
Gma P wanted to head to the basement immediately, but Gpa P insisted "it's nothing." So nothing, in fact, that his next words were, "Hey B-rod, go out to the car and get T-Pole's itinerary for her trip to Minneapolis tomorrow."
"But grandpa, the sirens are going off, and the doppler shows that there's a tornado heading straight for your house!"
"You'll have plenty of warning. Now go get that itinerary. Now."
B-rod returns unharmed and we head to the cozy basement (replete with snacks for the impending doom). As Gma puts it, "If we're going out, we're going out swinging," and she calls for a glass of chardonnay. While we gorge ourselves on Cheez-its, beer and merlot, Gpa remains upstairs in his office - excitedly photocopying my hotel's address and phone number.
To be continued...
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