girl at large

The Meat Sweats

I took Paul up to Cedar Lodge for dinner with Dad last night. I had already explained the fritter appetizer, but I neglected to warn him of the post-dinner meat sweats.

Sometimes It Is The Destination

I'm returning to the Deluxe Hotel in Portland, Oregon tonight for my friend Meg's wedding.

I stayed at the Deluxe my very last night in Portland, two years ago.
I had packed up the house, the truck had left, the apartment was empty
but it was too late and I was too tired to start the drive. So I
treated myself to one last night in my favorite place. They allow dogs
too so Miss Ruby was all cuddled up in the down comforter right away.
I sent out messages to my friends that I would be at the Driftwood
Lounge in the lobby for one last beverage. I expected maybe one or two
to come. They ALL came. It was a lovely night. Meg walked me up to my
room for one last Ruby kiss, then teared up when she said goodbye to
me----she's a tough cookie, not a crier. I will always remember how
touched I was.

I was excited to be moving on, but sad to have failed at yet another
business, another town. I was sad to leave the best, most "Kate"
apartment I'd ever had. I was happy to be returning to family, but
questioning whether I could really stand all the "Wisconsin" things
that I don't like about Wisconsin. I had hopes that I'd be able to
make my dream come true by compromising on the job (it was most
definitely not my dream job) and moving close to family who could
support me. I was planning on having a family someway, some
how---probably on my own. That would never be possible in pdx, so
there I was on my way back to moo town. But that was a stretch too,
the only thing I really knew was that there was no future for me in
Portland. And I wanted to be home.

I had a ten day drive adventure ahead of me, then a whole new life
with a new job I had no idea how to do, a new town I didn't know. I
had no idea what was waiting for me at my destination.

Turns out it was everything I could have ever wished for. And then some. I am a lucky, lucky girl.

Fruit or Fritter?

I dropped in at Dad's on the way back from a last-minute work appointment in Menasha earlier this week. My timing was excellent---they were going to have dinner at Cedar Lodge.

Cedar Lodge does what it does very well. Which is to say, it stuffs you to the gills with red meat and ridiculous extras while it wraps you in cedar-paneled Midwestern warmth. Ordering takes awhile.

Fruit or Fritter?

Lettuce Salad or Cottage Cheese?

Lettuce Salad---House, Ceasar or Bacon Spinach?

French Onion or cold Strawberry soup?

Potato, Rice or Vegetable? 

Potato---Baked, Mashed, Hash Browns or American Fries?

Baked Potato---once or twice?

It was the longest conversation I've ever had that started with "I'll have the tuna". 

Sniff of Spring

It is very satisfying to shovel out my front walk; clearing away the 8" of compacted snow and ice that is at last melting into manageable chunks in today's sunny spring tease. It is back-breaking to do it with a trunk-sized emergency car shovel.

I should get a proper shovel, but I refuse. I'm a renter for a reason! I refuse to let this lazy landlord win!

Unexcused Summer Absences

Wow...I had an eventful, lovely summer, but didn't blog from mid-July through mid-September. Perhaps I wasn't blogging because I was out living. Or perhaps it was because I couldn't find my computer under Mom's crumpled Kleenex's. Either way, it's high time to catch up...

...huh, all my funny summer stories escape me at the moment. 

Family Shit or My Brother Rocks

He's so frickin' funny, he works like a dog and says it like it is. 

The older we get, the more I get to know him, the more I regret not being around more when he was younger. I imagine he had a particularly rough time of it, all alone really when the shit storm hit. 

It's strange and wonderful to see all of us on the other side, hopeful and communicating and enjoying each other when we can, usually in Dad's barn. There's nothing like a manure pile to bring family together.

Blue Morning

 

Lake Michigan early this morning

Sunday Sunshine

 
  

Today's high: Still Cold as Shit

You know it's cold out when the poop bag in your pocket is welcome warmth...

Nothing really ever changes from the 7th grade.

do I email him? do I call him? do I email him? do I call him? has he googled me? do I call him? will he call me? what does he see if he googles me? ok, googled him. do I call him? do I text him? when is he going to call me? call me! call me! call me!

dear lord, this is why I shouldn't even bother.

Warming Up to Winter

The sky this morning is crystal blue, the brittle branches are quite beautiful against it, the snow in the yards lays thick like buttercream frosting, and the dog hops through it like it was put there just for her pleasure. Oh, and potatoes never tasted so good. 

I might just be ok with winter, this year anyway.

While The Getting Is Good

It's a gorgeous, sunny day in November. I'm not going to update here, I'm going out there...see ya!

"Sometimes you just need a Pat."

When Mom leaves for Door County on Tuesday, I'll miss her way with words. My favorites from this summer include: the "un-empty cup of coffee" (bottomless cup of coffee) "crudiments" (accoutrements) being "kerflexed" (combo of kerfuffled and perplexed) "that microwave guy" (Paul Allen)

Storm Warning

Even if the bedroom window had not been open, the thunderstorm earlier this week would have woken me. It was a huge, booming monster of a storm--at one point, the thunder following the lightning by only one second--it was right above the house. I was dreaming when it began, and as the windows rattled from the wind, the storm became intertwined in my dream. As did Buncle Tom's midget story told the previous afternoon. Correction: Buncle Tom's FAMOUS midget story. The story is not famous, the midget was. Back to my story: in my waking and yet still dreaming mind, the storm was Dorothy's tornado, whirling with Oz characters including aforementioned midget, all wielding menacing commercial table legs.

What Part of Wisconsin Are You From?

We had dinner at Fond du Lac's The Sunset Supper Club on Friday night, it was the classic small town Wisconsin evening out. The only way to describe it is to transcribe the ordering conversation: "I'll have the petite filet please". "How would you like that?" "Medium Rare" "Baked Potato, Hash Browns, or Cole Slaw"? "Baked Potato". "House Salad or Cottage Cheese?" "Salad" (with Blue Cheese House Dressing) "Clam Chowder or Tomato Juice"? This is where I lost it...but I had to control myself, not make too much fun and 'when in Rome' the situation. Dad, as he always had in the past, enjoyed my Tomato Juice.

Lenny and Squiggy Live Here

My social calendar has been so full lately that I haven't had much of a chance to explore the town that is Milwaukee. But I will share with you a few of the pleasant places I've enjoyed so far: Once a week, I get to have a treat of a lunch from Larry's Market. Yum. When I need an antique store fix, it's off to three floors of bliss at Blackhawk Antiques Market. For a lovely walk to the lake front, I head down Capitol Drive to Atwater Park and Beach. If I can manage a trek, it's in Estebrook Park. Milwaukee is full of summer festivals, including SummerFest itself, the biggest music festival on the planet. I hope to make it to a few of the summer time Wisconsin events, and to start, I'm off to Walleye Weekend in Fond du Lac next Saturday. Watch for posting of giant fish.

You're Not In Portland Anymore.

I miss Dr. Peter. He was my chiropractor in Portland. Twinkly music, aromatic candles, charming art collection on the walls, gentle speaking voice--the whole stereotypical package, including a tender "you just rest here with this wheat husk pillow under your neck listening to the twinkly music for as long as you like" after he was done doing the cranking and cracking. At first I was highly skeptical, but there's no bigger devotee than a convert. I quickly grew to adore Dr. Peter and all the feel good hockas pockas he stood for. In contrast, Dr. E, my new chiropractor here in no-nonsense Milwaukee is 90% cheaper, and 100% different. No aromatherapy (in fact, what is that funky smell? how old is this carpet?), no twinkly music, and you're in and out of that basement office in 10 minutes flat. He's very old-school, and very skilled--he spent most of his highly-focused energy on my shoulder, and it worked. But a gentle touch, he is not. He's either a brilliant therapist or a retired John Deere mechanic.

What Have I Done?

Some days, there's just no escaping the feeling that I've made a huge mistake.

Weather Is Our April Fools

This was the snow storm last weekend, and we're due for another tomorrow. Ah, April in the midwest!

Morning in Milwaukee

The sunrise in Milwaukee, over Lake Michigan. My drive into work is very pretty, along Lake Drive (the north shore villages of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Bayside), with glimpses of the lake past the big old houses. I get a chance to enjoy the view when I'm waiting for kids to board the school bus. Ah, suburban life! And yes, I was up and on my way to work at that ungodly hour.

Familiar Territory

I went to a tavern tonight. Yes, they call them "taverns". Good times, brought back memories.

Wisconsin: It's Not So Bad

That's this year's motto. So far, in the "Not So Bad" column, mostly food: -Sendik's -the Butter Burger at Culver's -Frozen Custard (take your pick--Kopps, Michael's, or Gilles) -Milwaukee Art Museum -the Lakefront -Leinenkugel's

It's In The Water, Or Maybe In The Corn.

Just a few of the little niceties I'd been missing, so common in the midwest: -grocery baggers -eye contact -getting approached by helpful staff in a big box store -brown people in the suburbs -vestibules -street lamps -paying AFTER you pump (this was only in Nebraska and Kansas, but it was so pleasant to be trusted) -a real person answering the phone -describing how far away something is by travel time -ordering a beer at lunch -folks wearing proper shoes I do miss a few things about the Northwest: -really good coffee -the mountains (the pointy one, the not-so-pointy one and the more white than the others one) -other people with dogs -the green landscape, even in midwinter -marionberry muffins -narrow and hilly streets (Milwaukee, especially here in the burbs is flat and wiiiiiiiide) -sushi And I will always miss a few things about the South: -being called "Miss Kate" and "M'am" with out it being an age thing -"good morning"s and "good evening"s when out walking -the squares -spanish moss -cheap cocktails -locally esteemed wierdos

Settling In

I still have six boxes to go, and lots and lots of fixin' up projects, but it's starting to look like a home.

The Paramount

My new apartment at The Paramount, before I moved in. It's HUGE---1400 square feet! It has three bedrooms, but one of those is really an extra living room/den that I'll be using as an office/studio. It has a freakish number of closets--three large ones in the hallway alone. The second bedroom (and second bathroom!) is for GUESTS--anyone want to visit the charming metropolis on the lake that is Milwaukee? The Paramount was built in the 60's, and has that clean mid-century look I like. But it needs a bit of love---I've already repainted the bathroom cabinet, scrubbed the kitchen, and am up to my eyeballs in contact paper. It's going to be weeks and weeks of projects to get totally settled in, but I have weeks and weeks of still frigid weather ahead in which to get it done.

Cheese Head Travels Home

All Packed Up, Mount Shasta California, The Grand Canyon, Big as Texas, Grandpa Bunny

Thanks For The Help

Ruby takes a break from packing.

Ticking Off

It doesn't interest anyone else, but I'm a list person and an "achiever", so I feel better (literally physically better) when I can mark things off my to-do list: Yesterday and today were "Technology" and "Tune Up" days respectively. I picked up a cheap-o cell phone for the road trip in case of emergency. Don't everyone get all excited that they'll now be able to reach me on my cell phone! I'll be lucky if the little piece of plastic lasts through the road trip. Though I will have to have a Blackberry for the new job, so my time of living Cell Phone Free is certainly coming to an end. I also finally pulled the trigger on a Garmin Nuvi navigation system. I am IN LOVE. This little device with the pleasant voice and confident directions was MADE for people like me. In just two days, I've already tooled around more of Portland than I have in the past four years. I'm a confident driver, but unless the destination is off a flat, corn-lined highway, I can't find my way out of a paperbag. What was I waiting for, why didn't I get one of these gadgets sooner? The little Jetta made it through her 50k tune up this morning, fairing much better than I feared. A new oil pan, tire rotation, the usual adjustments, a new headlight, and a repaired Cruise Control---and now I'm road ready. For an upgrade from the previous ghetto look, I also opted to replace the missing hubcap. So sexy. For being a good girl, I treated her to a wash on the way home. The car insurance is up to date, I've updated my AAA membership and downloaded a list of must-stop roadside eateries from RoadFood. I am good to go! Tomorrow is "Dealing with the City" (moving truck parking permits) and "Awkwardly Saying Goodbye to Co-workers I'm Not Going to Miss" Day. Tick! Tick!

Equipment

I got my snow boots today. They are hideous, so of course they are warm, supportive and incredibly comfortable.

A Long Strange Trip

I'm planning out the road trip, and it's going to be a strange one...heading down to LA first to see Tom , and my friends Kristan and Steve...then across to Nebraska to visit Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bunny, which takes me through Colorado, so I think I'll stop in Boulder. Then through the plains and up to Milwaukee. Any stops I should make along the way, let me know!

Cheese Nun

Funny things happen when two thoughts collide....I was thinking about moving back to Wisconsin, had added a new appropriately titled blog category, "Once a Cheesehead...". I was also taking inventory of my belongings, deciding what to sell, what to toss, and what to take on moving day. It then seemed natural (and not at all the activity of a bored and lonely person) to take inventory of my cheese drawer: -plain Chevre -honey Chevre -crumbled Blue -Roquefort Blue -Oregon Smokey Blue -parmesean in block form -parmesean pre-shredded -Gruyere -cream cheese -Farmer's Cheese -Mimolette Vieux -Feta I think I might have a problem.

You Can't Take It With You

I can't move everything with me across country (again), so here is installment one of "You Can't Take It With You". Bidding is now open, more items to come. Items in the "smaller than a bread box" category will be posted in a few weeks as packing commences. Email me at katemikkelsen@aol.com if you want something, first come first serve! -Twin Bed--mattress, low profile boxspring and metal hollywood frame. (mattress pad and two sets of sheets included) -Glass Lamp with mocha-colored silk shade, three way 12" d, 24" h -Kitchen Butcher Block Cart 24" w, 20" d, 35" h -Kitchen Table 42' d, 30" h white laminated wood top, aluminum base with leveling feet -Outdoor Chairs set of two, stackable in weather proof woven vinyl -Stone-topped Spot Table 13" d, 20" h -Bookshelves 54" w, 12" d, 85" h dark brown rift oak, disassembles

Big Ol' To Do List

-get new job. Check. -quit current job. Check. -upgrade AAA membership. Check. -give 30 day notice to landlord. Check. -do walk through with landlord. Check. -find new apartment! -get snow tires. -get oil change and 50k mile tune up. -get dog tuned up. -get quotes for moving containers/transport. Check. -get DOT street permits for moving containers. Check. -get rid of half the shit I own. -clean out storage space. -cancel/move electric, cable, phone. -completely freak out at overwhelming list of things to do!

Winterizing Wish List

Shoe Traction Devices Severe Weather Travel Kit Puffy Coat Doggy Coat and Boots

A Message From The Universe

Dad sent me four pre-paid B&W photo development envelopes from A&I for Christmas this year, very thoughtful. I have a dozen rolls of film in my kitchen junk drawer--rolls I have transported from home to home and state to state (and even abroad!) for years and years. They languished next to twist ties, duct tape and Ikea allen wrenches, forgotten and undeveloped. Back in December, I sent off four rolls I thought might be from five or six years ago. The very same week that I returned from the World's Longest Interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two of the developed rolls arrived in the mail. Both were all shots of Wisconsin! Pictures of barns, rows of corn, cows, the lake...all taken more than 10 years ago when I went on a 'farewell' tour of my favorite places in Wisconsin, including Door County (where I stayed at the Valmy Hotel).