One of the perks of being a teacher is that you are on the same schedule as students. What that means is that if school gets called off for them, it also gets called off for you. Yeah!!!
Most of the days school gets cancelled is because of snow or ice, that makes the roads impassable for the buses. But today was different it was because of the cold weather. I think that there is some formula that Wisconsin school districts use....if the ambient temperature and the wind chill is below a certain temperature, no school!
It is nice to have an unexpected day off. It reminds me of being a kid. So much potential in what the day holds. So today my plan...taking it easy. I just finished up with breakfast and I am doing a little surfing in the "net." Currently, I have been listening to"the Current" in studio performances while looking for a warm spring break trip get away. Any suggestions, anyone??
I also have been thinking about a "In the Loop" taping through MPR that Tracy and I attended last night. It was pretty interesting it was an open forum, town hall style, about presidential candidate's and Super Tuesday next week. We have attended several of the taping's before about different topics.
What I enjoy the most about "ITL" is listening to other people points of view, face to face. In my opinion today's society the person to person contact seems to be less then what it was in the past. With all the technology advances it is easy to stay home watch TV, download pod casts, You Tube, TiVo something for later, and avoid the public eye. But "ITL" allows you to get out of your comfort zone and experience what other people, who you don't know, have to say.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
An evening at the Xcel.
Make it official!!! The first event of 2008 has happened. We attended the U.S. Figure Skating Spectacular held at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, on Sunday night.
We started off the night by getting some sushi at Sakura. I will have to say, I really enjoy this restaurant. For many reasons…being local, in a great location, and serving up great sushi. Of all the positive aspects, there is one glaring problem. The service needs to improve. This is the second time (out of two visits) that we have be seated in a high traffic area and greeted by sub-par waiters and service. I hate to say it, but I think the next time that I eat Sakura, it maybe from take out.
The showcase of Champions started shortly after 7:00PM. There were 21 scheduled performances from some of the champions and other participants from the week of skating. These skaters performed to a smaller crowd of people (about half of the lower deck of the Xcel was filled).
From the limited knowledge about skating, I was pretty excited to watching it and gain some more in-site of this sport. I did my homework. I read the local paper about the different skaters during the week. In addition to I also watch some of the coverage on TV. I thought this way I would have some idea about who to watch and what to look for. From my observation and findings here is what I learned about skating.
1. There is no skin allowed to show on the women, all parts of the body except for arms must be covered with some kind of fabric.
2. Speaking of fabric the leggings that cover the females skates are done so to make their “line” more appealing.
3. The older the skater, the faster they skate.
4. If you think that the female winner, Mirai Nagasu was small on TV, she is tiny on the ice.
5. Couple pairs are more interesting to watch then dancing pairs.
6. It must take hours of practice, nerves of steel, and countless falls to master the routines of some of the skaters.
7. A triple axel is a jump that the skater takes off from a forward outside edge and spins three times in the air.
8. A lutz jump is done just like the flip (see below), but the takeoff is from a back outside edge of the skate instead of a back inside edge.
9. The flip jump is a move where the skater glides backward on a back inside edge, picks with the other skate, jumps a full revolution in the air, and lands on the back outside edge of the foot.
10. For the scoring…wonder if the subjectivity of it, takes away from the objectivity??
I am glad that I had the opportunity to attend the event (thanks for the tickets Diane!). I have gained a new found appreciation for ice skating and the skaters. Also, I am pretty sure that you won’t catch me on skates or ice any time soon. I really don’t want to break my body…hahahahha
We started off the night by getting some sushi at Sakura. I will have to say, I really enjoy this restaurant. For many reasons…being local, in a great location, and serving up great sushi. Of all the positive aspects, there is one glaring problem. The service needs to improve. This is the second time (out of two visits) that we have be seated in a high traffic area and greeted by sub-par waiters and service. I hate to say it, but I think the next time that I eat Sakura, it maybe from take out.
The showcase of Champions started shortly after 7:00PM. There were 21 scheduled performances from some of the champions and other participants from the week of skating. These skaters performed to a smaller crowd of people (about half of the lower deck of the Xcel was filled).
From the limited knowledge about skating, I was pretty excited to watching it and gain some more in-site of this sport. I did my homework. I read the local paper about the different skaters during the week. In addition to I also watch some of the coverage on TV. I thought this way I would have some idea about who to watch and what to look for. From my observation and findings here is what I learned about skating.
1. There is no skin allowed to show on the women, all parts of the body except for arms must be covered with some kind of fabric.
2. Speaking of fabric the leggings that cover the females skates are done so to make their “line” more appealing.
3. The older the skater, the faster they skate.
4. If you think that the female winner, Mirai Nagasu was small on TV, she is tiny on the ice.
5. Couple pairs are more interesting to watch then dancing pairs.
6. It must take hours of practice, nerves of steel, and countless falls to master the routines of some of the skaters.
7. A triple axel is a jump that the skater takes off from a forward outside edge and spins three times in the air.
8. A lutz jump is done just like the flip (see below), but the takeoff is from a back outside edge of the skate instead of a back inside edge.
9. The flip jump is a move where the skater glides backward on a back inside edge, picks with the other skate, jumps a full revolution in the air, and lands on the back outside edge of the foot.
10. For the scoring…wonder if the subjectivity of it, takes away from the objectivity??
I am glad that I had the opportunity to attend the event (thanks for the tickets Diane!). I have gained a new found appreciation for ice skating and the skaters. Also, I am pretty sure that you won’t catch me on skates or ice any time soon. I really don’t want to break my body…hahahahha
Friday, January 18, 2008
Foundation
Of all the experiences, I have had in my life. There are some that make a bigger impact then others. They set a benchmark that redefines the lifestyle that you are living or the way that you are living your life. It put things in perspective.
It reminds you that the things that matter the most in life, are not things at all.
Then what is it? The answer to that is people and the relationship that you have with them. I am most certain that the positive people around you are responsible of creating the person that you have become. They helped establish values, morals, work-ethic, responsible behavior, and social skills. In times of need, directly or indirectly, these individuals become your support team. This team is full of strong relationships, encouraging words, positive attitude's, thoughtful actions, and helping hands. Together it constructs a sound foundation, to help you though difficult times.
To my family and friends, thank you.
To Dad…I wish you a speedy recovery.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Big Win
Congratulations to our friend and coach, Michael Aish, for his big win today at the Phoenix Rock & Roll Marathon. 
This win was a long time coming and couldn't have happened to a better or more hard-working person. We're proud of you back in Minnesota! (photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)
This win was a long time coming and couldn't have happened to a better or more hard-working person. We're proud of you back in Minnesota! (photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
January Slump....
Hello. I thought I would make a post just to keep in the habit of doing so. Tracy and I haven't really done anything new since New Years. Maybe the reason is because the holiday's have taken the wind out of our sails and just being home feels good. Or is it the colder/darker/snowier weather that has curtailed our activities? Or possibly is it the lack of interesting events taking place in the area? I am not sure what the reason is, but I thought I would blog about it.
One activity that I have been doing (and I hope that Tracy enjoys this). Is I have refined some of my cooking skills. That's right...I have found enjoyment in making a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread and along with other culinary creations. I knew I had turned a corner, when I was pretty amped about getting a new food processor for X-mas (thanks Mom)!
With or without the new food processor I think, I would have still evolved in the kitchen. The reason....because I enjoy it. So maybe having a "slump" in the activities has been a good thing. It has allowed me to find an new found enjoyment....Cooking. So the next time if you see me and it looks like I have packed on a few pounds, you know why.
One activity that I have been doing (and I hope that Tracy enjoys this). Is I have refined some of my cooking skills. That's right...I have found enjoyment in making a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread and along with other culinary creations. I knew I had turned a corner, when I was pretty amped about getting a new food processor for X-mas (thanks Mom)!
With or without the new food processor I think, I would have still evolved in the kitchen. The reason....because I enjoy it. So maybe having a "slump" in the activities has been a good thing. It has allowed me to find an new found enjoyment....Cooking. So the next time if you see me and it looks like I have packed on a few pounds, you know why.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Belated Year-End Review
In the better-late-than-never category, I thought I'd post the following: our top picks from 2007. What a year it was! Here are our favorites, by category:
Events
Thanksgiving in Chicago
Grandma’s Marathon Weekend
Fish Fry at Leesome Pine Campground (Northern Wisconsin)
The Clark and Stock Weddings in Milwaukee
Derek gets cable and the Internet
Trip Destinations
Clearwater, Fla.
Chicago, Ill.
Leesome Lake Campground
Madison/Milwaukee
Duluth, Minn.
Concerts
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Xcel)
Hold Steady (State)
Trampled By Turtles (First Ave.)
Tapes ‘n’ Tapes (Fitzgerald)
Storyhill (Minnesota Zoo)
Performances/Shows
Zenon Dance Company
MPR’s “In the Loop” show taping
TU Dance
The Current Fakebook w/ Chuck Klosterman
New Albums
Cloud Cult—Meaning of 8
New Pornographers—Challengers
Arcade Fire — Neon Bible
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Food Cuisine and Restaurants
Indian — New Delhi
Middle Eastern — Shish
Japanese — Saji Ya
Seafood — Shepards Inn (Clearwater)
Thai — Thai Bazil
Pizza — Pizza Luce
Running Races (when healthy and not injured!)
Human Race 8K (Tracy)
Boston Marathon (Tracy)
Brian Kraft 5K (Derek)
Afton Trail Race 25K (Derek)
MDRA 15K (Derek)
Activities
Eating and drinking coffee
Running (When we are healthy!)
Going to concerts or performances
Traveling
Summer days in the backyard
Spending time with friends and family
Starting this blog
More important than any of these listings, however, are the love and friendships that make our lives so rich. We hope the new year brings you hope, good health and much happiness.
Can't wait for '08...Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Hard to believe it's 2008. Also hard to believe it's been two months, just about, since I last blogged. But just before you think I've acquired silent partner status of the trash can studio blog, here I am...kicking off the new year with a new resolution to blog more. It took me several tries to log on this morning because I forgot my blog username and password. But fear not! I have returned.
My lack of blogging hasn't been the result of a lack of events to report on. The last two months, in fact, have been pretty jam-packed with activities. November highlights included a dance performance and a trip to Chicago for Thanksgiving, where we stayed in a swanky hotel, ate at some fine establishments, visited with Derek's family, and just soaked up the excitement and energy of the city. November quickly turned into December and the holiday season swallowed us up. More events, concerts and performances marked the past month...a food sampling event in St. Paul, the Zenon Dance performance at the Guthrie, the British Ad Awards at the Guthrie followed by dinner at El Meson in Uptown (delicious!), my work holiday party at the Varsity, an evening of dinner at Masa followed by a performance of "A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol," and a trip to Lake Geneva and northern Illinois for the holidays.
In contrast to all the hustle and bustle of city life, we also went up to Clam Falls, Wisconsin for a day, where Derek's dad has a cabin. Here we enjoyed the quiet and calm of the woods, where we snowshoed and ate smoked trout. The next day (this past Saturday), we were back at it, attending a great concert at the Cedar Cultural Center featuring two local bands and a great local solo act: Roma Di Luna, the Pines and Jeremy Messersmith. Finally, on the last day of the month, we closed out the year in true trash can studio fashion: with a great dinner at St. Paul's Sakura, my favorite sushi restaurant, where we ate crab dumplings, marinated octopus, a variety of sushi rolls and a bean paste cake for dessert unlike anything I've ever had before. We closed out the night with drinks at the Muddy Pig, a great, comfortable bar also in St. Paul.
I've been on vacation for the past two weeks and have had a lot of time to reflect on the past year, and this blog represents a lot of what 2007 was for me. It's been a year of transformation and change -- and all for the better. Physically, I've changed addresses and my body itself has changed (no, not in the delayed-onset of puberty kind of way!). I had a somewhat significant injury in mid-2007, which resulted in surgery and pretty much turned a lot of things upside down. This physical transformation left me unable to run or dance -- previously two huge parts of my life. When you run every morning before work and then spend several hours running on the weekend with friends, suddenly not being able to partake in this activity is a little bit of a shock, to say the least. And when you're also dancing three or four times a week, during which you're also enjoying the company of some of your best friends, any changes to this schedule are going to be noticed. So I'm pleasantly surprised at how I handled this change and how my life has taken a turn for the better.
I know it may sound melodramatic, but my injury opened up my eyes to a lot of things and forced me to enjoy more of the smaller moments in life and appreciate the things and people around me. This leads me to another aspect of my "change" in 2007. I think I've changed my outlook and attitude, and, like Derek said in his entry yesterday, I've learned to live and love more than I ever thought possible. Maybe it's unfortunate in some ways that it took an injury to open my eyes to all of the blessings and opportunities in the world around me that I didn't see before, but I'm so, so thankful for it.
I remember lamenting to Derek at one of my lowest points, when I was laid up post-surgery and in a cast, that I didn't know myself anymore and felt like I'd lost control of everything -- my body, my schedule, my routine, my comforts, my security blanket. It turns out, though, that this injury tore down a lot of the remaining barriers that truly were keeping me from fully enjoying everything around me. I guess it took "losing control" to really regain a center and sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong -- a lot of this transformation had already started to occur before the injury, thanks to other changes and developments 2007 brought. But something so minor in the grand scheme of life -- a physical injury -- resulted in a major life shift.
Whether small or big, trivial or significant, I learned a lot in 2007. I like dessert and Thai food. I like the outdoors for more than just running. Cooking and cleaning really are in me -- it just requires a little coaxing to bring them out. Nothing tops a hug and a smile from a loved one. The most important things in life aren't things, but the relationships you grow and maintain.
As Rose Kennedy said, life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. 2007 was comprised of the moments that make a good life. To steal a line from Derek, I look forward to not just living in 2008, but living well. Here's to all the hopes and promises of 2008. I can't wait for more moments that the new year will bring, and look forward to sharing them in this blog.
Peace, love and happiness in '08, everyone!
My lack of blogging hasn't been the result of a lack of events to report on. The last two months, in fact, have been pretty jam-packed with activities. November highlights included a dance performance and a trip to Chicago for Thanksgiving, where we stayed in a swanky hotel, ate at some fine establishments, visited with Derek's family, and just soaked up the excitement and energy of the city. November quickly turned into December and the holiday season swallowed us up. More events, concerts and performances marked the past month...a food sampling event in St. Paul, the Zenon Dance performance at the Guthrie, the British Ad Awards at the Guthrie followed by dinner at El Meson in Uptown (delicious!), my work holiday party at the Varsity, an evening of dinner at Masa followed by a performance of "A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol," and a trip to Lake Geneva and northern Illinois for the holidays.
In contrast to all the hustle and bustle of city life, we also went up to Clam Falls, Wisconsin for a day, where Derek's dad has a cabin. Here we enjoyed the quiet and calm of the woods, where we snowshoed and ate smoked trout. The next day (this past Saturday), we were back at it, attending a great concert at the Cedar Cultural Center featuring two local bands and a great local solo act: Roma Di Luna, the Pines and Jeremy Messersmith. Finally, on the last day of the month, we closed out the year in true trash can studio fashion: with a great dinner at St. Paul's Sakura, my favorite sushi restaurant, where we ate crab dumplings, marinated octopus, a variety of sushi rolls and a bean paste cake for dessert unlike anything I've ever had before. We closed out the night with drinks at the Muddy Pig, a great, comfortable bar also in St. Paul.
I've been on vacation for the past two weeks and have had a lot of time to reflect on the past year, and this blog represents a lot of what 2007 was for me. It's been a year of transformation and change -- and all for the better. Physically, I've changed addresses and my body itself has changed (no, not in the delayed-onset of puberty kind of way!). I had a somewhat significant injury in mid-2007, which resulted in surgery and pretty much turned a lot of things upside down. This physical transformation left me unable to run or dance -- previously two huge parts of my life. When you run every morning before work and then spend several hours running on the weekend with friends, suddenly not being able to partake in this activity is a little bit of a shock, to say the least. And when you're also dancing three or four times a week, during which you're also enjoying the company of some of your best friends, any changes to this schedule are going to be noticed. So I'm pleasantly surprised at how I handled this change and how my life has taken a turn for the better.
I know it may sound melodramatic, but my injury opened up my eyes to a lot of things and forced me to enjoy more of the smaller moments in life and appreciate the things and people around me. This leads me to another aspect of my "change" in 2007. I think I've changed my outlook and attitude, and, like Derek said in his entry yesterday, I've learned to live and love more than I ever thought possible. Maybe it's unfortunate in some ways that it took an injury to open my eyes to all of the blessings and opportunities in the world around me that I didn't see before, but I'm so, so thankful for it.
I remember lamenting to Derek at one of my lowest points, when I was laid up post-surgery and in a cast, that I didn't know myself anymore and felt like I'd lost control of everything -- my body, my schedule, my routine, my comforts, my security blanket. It turns out, though, that this injury tore down a lot of the remaining barriers that truly were keeping me from fully enjoying everything around me. I guess it took "losing control" to really regain a center and sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong -- a lot of this transformation had already started to occur before the injury, thanks to other changes and developments 2007 brought. But something so minor in the grand scheme of life -- a physical injury -- resulted in a major life shift.
Whether small or big, trivial or significant, I learned a lot in 2007. I like dessert and Thai food. I like the outdoors for more than just running. Cooking and cleaning really are in me -- it just requires a little coaxing to bring them out. Nothing tops a hug and a smile from a loved one. The most important things in life aren't things, but the relationships you grow and maintain.
As Rose Kennedy said, life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. 2007 was comprised of the moments that make a good life. To steal a line from Derek, I look forward to not just living in 2008, but living well. Here's to all the hopes and promises of 2008. I can't wait for more moments that the new year will bring, and look forward to sharing them in this blog.
Peace, love and happiness in '08, everyone!
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