Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Great MN Get Together!


Well summer is really winding down in the land of 10,000 lakes. You can feel the crisp air in the morning. I've been watching more people reach for sweaters and close-toed shoes. I must say that I'm excited.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Changing leaves, football, students heading back to the books, and people here begin devising 'winter projects'.

With more months of below freezing than above, many people pick up their 'inside' hobbies once again. For instance, I have learned to knit in the winter months, along with getting back into American Sign Language, French, (a little) German and baking is even attempted.

But I'm not quite prepared to dwell on Old Man Winter just yet...

For now, I'm going to focus on what is currently holding the attention of every Minnesotan. The State Fair! I breathe the fair every day. Seriously, I live across the street from heart attack on a stick. While I was tempted to pass this year, I'm looking forward to the adventure this week. See, last year I worked everyday of the fair. I had just moved up to Minnesota and was looking for work and was placed in the two week position of soda spiller, bee killer, hot dog fetcher and beer tapper. I'm not sure if it was the 13 hour days in the heat, the thousands of people I served or the lack of funds to enjoy my breaks, but I didn't have a great first experience. Fortunately, from the help of locals, they have turned my pessimism for the fair into an event that I now look forward to.

My plans are to head there during the work week in hopes to hit a less massive crowd.

And yes, there are a few things I'm looking forward to trying out. Like, the Tornado Potato! That is the picture that I have in this post. I mean, who wouldn't look forward to eating this?!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Bookstores, visits from friends and GPS

So, I have started reading Marshall McLuhan again. McLuhan was the one that first coined the terms 'global village' and the famous 'medium is the message'. This guy is my media analyst that I run to for support and understanding in the web world we live in. However, as I search for his books, I realize that I am wildly unsuccessful at typical bookstores. I have ventured to Barnes & Nobles, used book stores and several others. No Luck.

Yes, I'm aware that I could venture online, where I do everything else, but there is something about finding the book I desire. I need the challenge. So, by recommendation, I am venturing to a place called Midtown Used and Rare Books. I looked on their site and they do have some McLuhan, but the one I found was $205, first edition. Oh. My checkbook will not like that.

This whole issue started a few weeks ago when a friend of mine ventured through the Twins from Colorado on her way back to North Carolina. No, I don't think she has a good map, but she does have a GPS which she refers to as 'Ms. Magellan.' I'm not sure how much they paid for 'her', but she isn't helping women in the fight against the stereotype of being directionally challenged. I should know, I get lost in J.C. Penny's.

My friend, we'll call her Marsha, is a law student and therefore loves books. On Sunday she wanted to go to a bookstore that she found online. So, I volunteered to drive. Mistake 1. So five of us got into my Jeep and accepted the adventure to Minneapolis. Mistake 2. Now, you must remember that 1) I don't have a sense of direction and 2) I have had car in the Twins for about 3 weeks. Therefore, I'm not used to the highways and city drivers yet.

Ok, so Marsha, her boyfriend, a friend of Marsha's boyfriend, myself and my boyfriend all got into the Jeep. Well, lets just say the trip form Roseville to Minneapolis was filled with Ms. Magellan directing me, Marsha translating, and me missing every possible turn. Honestly.

When we finally got the book store, I told everyone to get out. Sounds harsh? I don't think so. The last thing anyone wants to have are people telling you were all the parking spots are.

Now, my beef with bookstores. My boyfriend has a deep passion for theology and religious text, Marsha was seeking out cook books, I on the other hand, dig journalism, media, radio and communication theory. When they gets 5 bookcases, I have 2 shelves. Ugh.

That is what sparked my search for McLuhan. I thought 'there has to be a bookstore that has his books or books about him.' To that bookstore's defense, they did have one book titled 'Everyman's McLuhan'. I suppose that will have to keep me busy til my mission is completed.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

My Increased Carbon Footprint

I now have a vehicle in the Twin Cities!

It has been one long year, and I really have not gotten you an update. Well, here is some information in a nutshell:

1. I ended up not working for AmeriCorps, but an education company focused on connecting students to their future.
2. I now have my own apartment, conveniently, between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
3. I recently bought a Jeep. Now, I know this is not the most efficient vehicle, but in the words of my parents 'You can move yourself next time... and pull a trailer so we don't have to mail 15 boxes.' I suppose they no longer want to participate in my moving.

I have really grown to love the Twin Cities. I have gone camping just 20 minutes outside the cities, visited museums and I love the libraries here. The downtown library in Minneapolis is a site to behold and an experience.

I also work at a small boutique in St. Paul on the weekends, so that is a nice break in between my communications with educators during the week.

I have also started volunteering at KFAI, a community radio station in Minneapolis. What can I say? I can't get radio out of my head. In that realm, I'm also working toward a certificate in broadcast engineering.

I am sad that this amazing Minnesota summer is coming to an end.

I will be more diligent about my posts this next year. Make sure to shoot me an email or give me a call if you are going to be in the Twins, I would love to show you around.