Likes and Dislikes - Part Two

Likes:

- Tuna melts and great french fries
- The coming of fall
- The rich colors of fall fashion that look good on redheads like me
- Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream
- Random elevator conversations that include topics like Schlitz beer t-shirts, and "sallies" lying about the weather
- Peaches
- Walking
- Talking to my favorite people
- Simon's Tavern for its jukebox and beer
- The song title: "Let's Make Love And Listen to Death from Above" by CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy)
- The band name: Death From Above 1979

Dislikes:
- G.W.'s voice, looks, mind, way of governing, and general bullshit. I can't wait for the next two years to end, so we can see an end to this administration, and I don't have to feel like vomiting and turning off the radio or TV every time that he's on it.
- Girls who wear scarves and coats when it's 55 degrees outside, for god's sake, if it were 55 degrees in February or March, you'd see people wearing shorts! It's not that cold out dearies...
- Chinese governmental policies and practices
- Boring jobs that don't exercise and expand my brain
- The hypocrisy of secret C.I.A. torture bases and blatant disregard of Geneva Accord policies that good old G.W. is pushing a bill on. What? The U.S. can do it and get away with it, but it's not fair and humane if someone else does it? Major and total bullshit.

Farewell My Friend

Today, as of 4:00 CST, one of my best friends will be leaving my daily life for good.

You came into my life about five and a half years ago, and there have been few days (excluding my three months out of the country and when you left for two) that you have not been there. It all started when I went through a traumatic break-up. The first boy that I had truly loved tore my heart out, threw it on the ground, and stomped all over it. I was insanely depressed for about a month, crying, not sleeping, not eating, miserable. All of the sudden, I found myself listening to completely different music, and it was making me feel better. I found you, and listened to you in the back of the student loan office in the basement of Williamson Hall while I worked. It was therapeutic. You had me hooked from day one with the music and the personalities. You introduced me to so many musicians that I listen to on a regular basis, but are far too numerous to try to even mention. I've told all of my friends about you, and they know how obsessed I am with you. Tonight, they will comfort me when I tell them that you are gone for good, and not laugh at me for crying over it. A little over two years ago you said you were leaving. I wrote you a love letter (that I will have to dig up and post on here as well) and sent it to you. I meant everything that I said from the bottom of my heart. I listened to you during your final hours, it was heart-wrenching. So much good music, so many emotions, from laughter to tears. Then, miraculously, almost two months later, you sent an email, saying that you were coming back. It was one of the best emails I've ever gotten, and I longed for the day that I could hear you again.

A few weeks ago, you sent the message that you were leaving again, and this time, I don't think there will be any miracles bringing your return to me. I will miss you, along with hundreds of others. Yesterday, you mentioned me to everyone that was listening, and gave me a great compliment. I sat here, with a huge smile on my face, but with tears in my eyes, knowing it would be the last time you said my name, the last time you would do anything for me at my request. I sit here now, listening, only three hours left, feeling my heart slowly breaking. I know you're trying to be strong, but I know that every couple of hours, I hear your voice wavering with emotion.

You did your own thing, didn't listen to anyone who tried to tell you what to do. You said you were independent, and proved it. You played the best music and a few songs that I didn't really care for every once in a while. I loved you unconditionally. I still have everything you ever sent to me, and display it with pride.

I'll never forget the impact that you made on my life. You changed me, and helped mold me into the person that I am today. I'm going to miss you, but I know that I'll have to move on. No, I don't feel like you are tearing out my heart and stepping on it, this isn't that traumatic, but it will still hurt me.

Thank you for everything Barb, Mike, Shivvy, Bryan Jay, Linda, Doug, 97X, and woxy.com.

Quoting Dustin Hoffman, "97X BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll"

Edit: Current Playlist

Pizzicato Five - Happy Sad
Bjork - oga
PJ Harvey - We Float
Lab Partners - Sensations
Captain of Industry - It Might Be Me

Playing Pizzicato Five - a band that the heartbreaker introduced me to, and you actually play over the airwaves. "Happy Sad" - Perfect song for my current feelings.

Produce Delivery!

This week's delivery included:

Broccoli
One beet
Lettuce
3 bananas
2 summer squash
Delicata squash
3 tomatoes
One purple onion
Mizuna Greens
3 red potatoes
2 red pears
2 apples
3 carrots
Cabbage
Cucumber

!!!

I am going to be whipped into a frenzy tonight, and I am going to like it.

Edit: !!! (chk chk chk) does me like no other.

Hobos Play Banjos Too

Sweet jesus, have you ever thought of being a hobo? Between reading Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums and finding this Halfway Hobo, I'm intrigued, especially when I check out the links from the front page. Of course, I wouldn't/couldn't do it alone. Perhaps I could talk my brother into another brother/sister adventure with me.

The travel bug has begun itching again, and I don't know what to do about it. It's like an insatiable thirst and hunger for me at this point, and all I ever do is feel restless. Settle or unsettled? Which is right for me? I know I've said yes to both, and at some points, I definitely lean towards "settled", but at the same time, it seems that I get bored quickly. If I could have my way (and was independently wealthy), I would work at some job that I liked for a couple of months, go off and be a farmer for a couple of months, stay in India for a couple of months, and travel wherever the world takes me for a few months every year and do it over and over again. Fantasies and dreams, right?

How can I get to the point in my life where I am ready to let go of all of my possessions and stop caring about permanency? When will it happen? Can I really just become a wandering bum, without the "bum" look at some point?

Will I ever find a place/thing/person/job that will keep me happy for a long time and in one place?

A New Diversion

I recently signed up for an organic produce co-op that is hosted by a local organic market. They partnered with an organic farm in Wisconsin to make weekly deliveries of fresh fruits and veggies to the city at an affordable price. Most of the stuff is grown at the farm, but some of it is shipped in from other organic farms. For $22/delivery, I get a box full of stuff that will feed me, and at least one other, for the week. I picked up my first shipment this afternoon, and also opted for the "fruit surprise" bag for an extra charge. I'm going to post the list of everything that was included (on a per delivery basis) for each shipment that I receive. So far, it's definitely worth the cost. The only drawback is that it was pretty heavy to carry home, and I ended up taking a bus from the train station, instead of my usual walk. I just might have to invest in one of those "old lady" shopping carts to help me along the way. Here is the list, as promised, and I think I might try to make an additional post with the ways that I use the items:

2 lbs seedless red grapes (too bad I don't like grapes, someone else will be the lucky recipient of these)
4 plouts (don't know, looks like a plum)
3 oranges
1 melon (looks like cantaloupe, but not exactly)
4 white peaches
3 red potatoes
2 tomatoes (including one heirloom variety)
1 zucchini
1 cucumber
1 onion
1 beet
Bag of mixed field greens
Bag of some other green (I'm guessing it's mache, but I could be wrong)
Bag of celery
Head of cauliflower
3 carrots
Small bag of green beans

Woo hoo! Let the cooking and good eating begin!!

Edit: I made a nice mixed salad, and a fruit salad with some of the ingredients last night:



And another: