girl at large

have hook, will travel

I have this weekend off....never been to Seattle...but now I REALLY want to go...for this! Sad? Maybe..but me and my yarn don't care!

hello govn'r

Dad's visit to London to see Peg, Ryan and Baby Stella

Oh Canada!

It's alot easier than you'd think to emigrate to Canada.

over there, over there

"Grandpa Mikkelsen" and "Noodle" Dad just returned from a quick visit (four days! no jetlag recovery time!) to London to see Peg and Ryan and of course, the person of the hour--Stella. I can't get over how much little Stella looks like my sister (it's in the eyes) and how very much Dad looks like his dad, my Grandpa Bunny.

home sick for the southland

Browsing a copy of "1001 Places to See Before You Die" while waiting at the checkout counter; it fell open to "Savannah's Historic District". Hm. Message in a point-of-purchase display?

the sequel

Mom and Bert on Tishie Mae I last summer, Mom one of the five lovely towns of Cinque Terre on the Italian coast last year It's official, late last week Mom found the bigger boat! Tishie Mae II (a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey) smaller than I would have suggested for living in tight quarters on water with your brother--only 37 feet, but she swears they'll make it work. They've survived with only one bathroom in the apartment for this long, what's the trouble with one head? And as long as Mom keeps Bert fed, I think all will be well. It's moored in Viareggo, Italy, near Le Spezia and the Cinque Terre area we loved so much last year. The "crew" will be based there for about a month for training and shake-down cruising before they head off into the horizon...

more of the same.

four month itch

a shot from the November roadtrip....wishing I was back on the road. any road.

The Mighty Pacific

"God pointing down at you" skies spotted frequently at the beach. Where's Uncle Bert when you need him to explain cloud formations? Spent New Year's weekend on The Oregon Coast (in Neskowin, at Proposal Rock)---so glad to see open water again. I'd taken the Med for granted. The Pacific is grey and mean by comparison, but open water just the same. Driving out there (about an hour and half, give or take), we traveled through any number of entirely different weather systems--drizzle, fog and mist, pouring rain, clearish, drizzle, clear and sunny, fog and repeat.

visit to the middle

Miss Ruby enjoying the affections of Grandpa Bunny. Things are much the same in Edgar, Nebraska as I recall from childhood---"the" school is still standing, the jello still wiggles, and coolwhip containers are just as handy as ever. bless. I blame the pending 14-hour drive day for the poor quality of the only shot of me, Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bunny's chin all together:

the square states

at last, images from my cross-country journey. enjoy. lots of square state stuff. corn. road. sky. more to come later.

reflection

this just in from Anna's Thanksgiving visit with the family---"Cloud", the new public sculpture in Chicago's Millenium Park--but everyone's calling it the "Bean". great shot. I really, really miss Chicago--which is strange as I've not lived there in um, a decade? But to me, as I've said before, the holiday season will always be the Q clan and the big shiny city of Chicago. sigh.

What freakin' time is it?

Jet-lag is one thing---jet-lag confusion is quite another. I know I'm jet-lagged, I can feel it---thing is, my body can't figure out WHICH time zone to be je-lagged from!

some things never change, they aren't supposed to

Life in Savannah remains about the same---warm, muggy, relaxed and friendly---even as the storefronts on Broughton Street continue their revolving-business roller-coaster. The squares are lovely, the moss is hanging and cocktails flowing---and I can't help feeling that it's time for me to get going. Savannah was good for me, it was the first big change that allowed me to make all the later changes, some smaller, a few much bigger. It was the first big adventure, the first new place, new culture, new fears, going out there without a rope----I will miss it: that moody, rough-around-the-edges spirit that welcomes kooks and eclectics and makes miracles of crab cakes. I leave on Friday morning. I'll be back, but no, it won't ever really be the same.

storage units, saluting strangers

woo-hoo! All my belongings are safe and sound in the storage unit, and with some editing and creative packing, they should all fit in the rented minivan (not a uhaul truck, an actual minivan, much more comfortable!) without a problem. Now, just have to pick up the rental, get some maps and I'll be all set to hit the road....with some advice from my Dad, I should be in clover: "Finally, remember when driving across Nebraska that it is considered polite to raise your index finger off the steering wheel to greet approaching tractors and pick up trucks, emphasis on INDEX." What is it with dads and driving/car advice?

howdy!

I'm back! What a journey (!), and it's really just begining... The huge suitcases (2) met the wieght limit (70 lbs each) by just a hair--after I removed a few things at the counter into an impromptu carry-on. Ruby was boxed and loaded, tagged and transfered, customs checked, off-loaded and re-loaded, lugged and finally, let loose. To pee on our keeper's carpet. Oops. Flying over the eastern seaboard at night---an unexpected pleasure--the lights of the city grids, harbors and highways were gorgeous ---orange,white and blue designs on black out into the horizon. If only my seat mate had been so attractive. Everything----everything!----is so LARGE. Cars, sandwiches, roads, buildings, --all of it, the scale--I'm thrown. Don't even ask me about the frightening muffins.

bye bye inheritance

Mom and Bert are back from their journey through Spain---I got the call before they arrived: "Have dinner ready!" Spanish food didn't agree with them. The Palmer Johnson boat didn't work out, but on their last day in Barcelona a strong contender for the bigger-boat contest was discovered. A 40ft Island Packet, designed with the retired, gentle cruiser in mind. In addition to being quite heavy, solid and simple to sail (everything is controlled from the cockpit), the interior details have been designed with comfort in mind, for example, all the hatches and stowage bins have pneumatic hinges and interior lights---perfect. Seems she's finally found her personal Winnebago! Mom's got some new claw-ended stick thingy, just arrived in this morning's mail, another thingmabob she bought for the boat. It scares me: the wierd claw-stick and the propensity for purchasing boat equipment both.

no siesta for the bigger boat search

Update from Mom and Bert, somewhere in Spain: The visit to see Pilgrim (I almost said the pilgrimage, but that's just unforgiveable) was not successful. They did manage to find it, to see it, but it didn't come up to expectations--as Mom said in our short phone conversation 'Nothing worked on it." Good call to pass it by if you ask me! So, they're stopping at a few more marinas on their way back, expect to see them here again early next week.

off their rocks

Mom and Bert are driving down through southern France and most of Spain to Gibraltar (a rock the inhabitants share with mean monkeys), determined to see the Pilgrim, a 48ft re-fitted aluminum cruiser originally built for racing by Palmer Johnson in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin back in '71. Bert swears he saw it being launched back in the day. I have a good feeling about this boat, this could be the one. Will the 'bigger boat' quest ever be over?

Oh!Photo!

Voila! Here's Mike and Matt's complete online photo album of their visit to Paris and Antibes---some great shots, those boys are so damn cute. Has it been nearly a week since they left already? Miss 'em so.

Bon Voyage!

Seeing Mike and Matt off on the train this morning.

two friends, three days, a tower, three trains, one bus, a boat, a dozen cafes and goodness knows how many bottles of wine....

taking a tour of the harbor on Tishie Mae (that counts as 'sailing', right?), doing time in the cattle car, taking in the view, tripping down pictureseque lanes and having a hellava good time!

quite a feat

I didn't think it was humanly, nor, mathematically possible for Mom and I to spend more time together. But, this past week in Italy, we did. And no one is dead. I've gained a post-skirmish-guilt handbag (the best kind), but no one is dead. Success! Bert had to take the boat out into the harbor the day we left and has had it there since; all the berths in Port Vaubon are taken for the month of August. So, it's a row in and out for Bert each day, and sleeping on the balcony here at night. Remember sleeping porches? In this heat and humidity, it would be a nice thing, Bert's the lucky one tonight.

la dolce vita

A quick trip over the border: Based in the lively working city of La Spezia, on the large Golfo dei Poeti, we spent an afternoon in the nearby fishing village of La Grazie, another day in beautiful and popular Porto Venere, a long day enjoying the charms of Cinque Terre from land and sea (by ferry boat), and a last, quiet stop in the family-holiday seaside town of Loano. quick thoughts on Italian life: The people watching is outstanding: love seeing the genes go by as families stroll together in the evenings--Mom, Pop, Grandparents and bambinis. Sightings of grandfathers with grandchildren on bicycles too numerous to recall precisely. Food, food and more food. If it's not a mini-meal of munchies served with every cocktail or glass of wine at a cafe, it's the gelato. Or the classic two plates plus an antipasti plus dessert (often gelato). We're still digesting. You can never have too many different floral patterned textiles in a hotel room, that's just a given. And that strange scrambling, scratching noise last night? We're pretending we didn't hear it. Large rat dreams aside, it could have been anything, really. Probably just our imagination. It's so nice to see smiles. And friendly faces unwary of strangers. And to hear the occasionally, proudly pronounced, "thank you" in English. Also "pleasethankyougoodbyehello" makes a fine greeting. One good thing about excessive speed (oh, how the Italians love it): No time to even bother getting seasick on ferry rides. Note to traveling Americans: Please, please, please use your "indoor" voice. They can hear you coming, trust me. Maritime Museums (see second photo of Mom with Huge Anchor): Highly recommended, especially for the "Wall of Knots". On Bert's recommendation, we visited, and could just imagine him spending an hour studying that wall. Does he know how closely it resembles Macrame?

Yeah!

Savannah, 1999/ New York City, 2002......coming soon to this space, "Antibes, 2004".... Mike is coming! Mike is coming! I'm so thrilled--- gorgeous, funny, lovely-in-everyway Mike is coming for a visit in mid-August--just in the nick of time while I'm still here! I better catch up on my sleep...Mike likes to have a good time. (and no, not what you're thinking.)

at last!

in Vintimilla or Ventimiglia

market day in Italy

one small handbag, one large tote (for someone else) and a large summer-weight scarf...how did i forget to get sunglasses? that's what i went there for!...just gonna have to go back next week... and Ryan still needs to get those mandals...

not meant to be

Ryan in Not-Italy after hussling out the door to catch the 11am train we arrived at the station to find that the 11am train was a figment of my imagination (and the online train schedule). a cup of coffee and an hour later we're waiting on the platform for the 12pm train...which is delayed for in "indeterminate" amount of time due to an "electrical" problem....hmm..will we ever get to the market in Ventimille? is the goddess of new Italian shoes telling me that today is just not my day?

Tishie Mae update

mom called tonight---she and Bert are in Andorra, a town in Italy just 50 miles away--they've had to stay there a few days to repair a problem with the rudder, but already mom is love with Italy--a few quotes: "The woman are fat!!" "They've got boobs and hips!" "The kids make noise and the moms yell at them to shut up!" (frenchie kids are eerily well behaved and silent.) "There's alot to be said for smiles!" (frenchies are notoriously straight-faced.) i think my prediction was correct--fairly soon she'll be moving to Italy. for now, they are happy to be heading further down the coast, rudder repaired, tomorrow morning.

stock i wish i'd been able to buy

i'm so jealous. mom's had Krispy Kreme doughnuts in London.

done already?

Haut-de-Cagnes we've been feeling a little house-bound lately, so mom and i decided to spend the afternoon in the medival village of Haut-de-Cagnes (above Cagnes sur Mer), have a little lunch and a wander around in the tiny, charming lanes. lunch was great--the town is dead quiet this time of year, though it wasn't much busier when i was there this past summer (the tourists don't know that much about it and head to nearby and over-run St. Paul instead). i took a few shots for some future work, i'll probably return soon for some sketching--i had done Rue/Haut de Cagnes some time ago from sketches/pics of one of the narrow, moody streets. lunch was great; enough warm sunshine to eat outside with a sliver view of the sea, enjoying a warm slice of apple and pear tart. our wander around was great--though steep--until we inadvertently wandered right out of town! so, we really only killed about three hours and are back in the house again already. oops.

The Custard Then and Now

going through the pics from my trip to Savannah, i've realized that The Custard hasn't really changed a bit in three years, aside from the occassional facial hair experiment and the recent bleach blonde madness. take a look. cooking up some goodness: that is the exact SAME rooster t-shirt, still extra-extra large. i call it 'the dress'. the kitchen environment has improved, mainly because that's now mine (i am admittedly house proud). that goofy face: every time someone tries to get a nice shot of us together, he makes that silly face! i have like two decent pic of us out of hundreds. ugh! the beer: same beer, different day. though it must be said, he's upgraded from only the old school PBR (or Natty Light!) to others, including the occassional rather impressive Guiness.

Georgia Gators

one last night out, Southern Style, to The Crab Shack on Tybee Island.."Where the Elite Eat in Their Bare Feet". and apparently the $1 souvenir beer coozies are the hottest thing going. Bert should be able to make use of it on the boat i think. i got my Low Country Boil and deviled crab. i'm a happy girl. check out the new 'water feature' -cum Gator Lagoon. only in Georgia.

around happy town

Mr. Grant T. Nelson joined us on many nights for cocktails around town..and we were able to pop by his most recent art opening after the rehearsal dinner..conveniently located across the road. Savannah seems so small and quiet to me now. i can't imagine that folks still drive as much as they do there..we drove from my house to Vinny's for heaven's sake! that's like six blocks away. i walked home whenever possible..just to keep the blood flowing. to combat all that Vinny's pizza (nothing like a slice and a beer for four bucks) Chris and i walked all over town, through nearly every square, and even down by the river with a stop off at the Waving Girl. out for our morning stroll, we were once waylaided by a classic Savannah parade (Veteran's Day i think?)..and couldn't get across the street to my coffee and muffin shop. now i NEED my coffee, and when i'm there, i NEED my Big American Muffin. as yet another highschool majorette strolls by, me: "In about two minutes I'm gonna be a bitch!" i got my coffee. and the muffin. whew. at least i give warnings these days. no pictures to document, but Miss Dawn and Miss Sony and i enjoyed catching up over curries (ooh, yum) and cocktails..but not nearly enough time together! Miss Dawn and i had a just enought time for another night at Vinny's as well before she had to head off to attend a wedding of her own. on our way back through City Market, there was a set of the usual horses and carriage..and one of the horses was making a big banging noise and then water was splashing out of his trough: me: "What IS that horse doing?" Dawn: "I think he's kicking the bucket." both of us and a number of bystanders--laughing out loud-ha!

that's a girl in trouble alright

Kevin took this one of Me and The Ex..um, The Boy, um..oh, i don't know. let's just call him The Custard. (more on that later too). i think my exact words when viewing this pic that night on the digital cam were "Oh shit, I am so screwed." note: it's pretty scary when even your mom can spot the FF.

dum-dum-da-dum

we didn't quite get the timing right on this first one, but here we are just about to head off to the wedding reception for our dear friends Angel and Dan, but i remember it more fondly as The Day We Met Bob. (in deference to the couple's big day, i'll save the Bob story for later and concentrate on the nuptial bliss). there they are..Dan and Angel, the newlyweds. And there's Kevin and Chris and Roxann having a little too much fun together. and Kevin with the happy couple. and me with the happy couple. and Kevin and Rox and Angel. me and Rox. Rox and Dan The Groom. then Chris and Kevin enjoying the eats and drinks. me and Blondie (Chris). and Kevin again with Jen..that Kevin gets around. but where's Jamie? how did i not get a picture of him? he had us laughing all weekend. especially when he figured out that indeed i was NOT making it with my Blonde Gay Brother. reception dinner: i haven't seen a plate of food piled up high like this in ages. my god! go ahead and laugh, it's no weirder than my previous shots of french cheeses. toast: Miss Angel had invited me to give a little toast at the wedding, despite my previous toasting horror stories, and i think i pulled it off. it goes without saying, it was easy to do-it's a great story. "I'm Kate, I met Angel here in Savannah at work, though I'm a native of Wisconsin like Dan. I had the priviliege of being with them on their first date, she didn't know if it was a date-date or a friends-date and said "You're from Wisconsin, you'll understand him". We had a great time at a place down by the river, and when Dan went up to the bar to pay the tab, which was substantial (!), Angel turned and said;"So, what do you think? Is he looking for a girlfriend?!" and I said, no lie: "Honey, he is looking for a WIFE!". So, to Dan and Angel, all my love--I knew it all along!". kinda gets ya right there, doesn't it?

happy damp town Savannah

the weather was gorgeous--unseasonably warm even for Southernland, some days in the mid to high 80's. i'd forgotten about that wall of humidity that hits you the minute you leave the airport in Georgia..remember the pool room of the YMCA? or the school trips to the Aquarium? it's like that..thick. and see how green? in November! and the hanging moss..everywhere, Live Oaks dripping with silver green gray moss. MossBoy lives on! one day, it rained for twenty minutes..a downpour, while the sun was still shining. i'd forgotten about that. tried to capture it from the balcony, but i don't think i was successful. but my red chairs still look nice. we enjoyed many a happy night drinking wine (how much for that bottle?!? i've been spoiled, no three euro bottles of vino in the US unless you go for the screwtop--eww) on my beloved little balcony. too bad the balcony is about to fall off. gee thanks for the info, Bob. (more on that later)

what day is this? what's this flight number? where am i now?

a technical malfunction diversion to La Guardia (rather than the planned JFK), a missed connection, a number of hours waiting for a new flight to Paris instead and then another connection to Nice..oh, and then, the lovely last-leg bus ride into town. but i'm back! in one piece, a little groggy but glad to be back in France..glad to see Mom and Ruby both doing well. oh, i missed my little doggie. missed you too mom, don't worry. (between you and me, what i really missed were her meals!) sorry to have been blog-less this past week, was having way too much fun to keep up! wink wink

tails

cocktails are bad things. old friends, jetlag AND cocktails? very, very bad. cocktails, jetlag and seeing your ex-boyfriend? priceless. will have disco-nap to prepare for repeat performance tonight. woo-hoo!

some things never change

Mr. Grant Nelson still has an endless supply of enthusiasm and energy...when he wears green, like he did last night, i am always reminded of that hyperactive Lucky Charms leprachaun bouncing and leapy about, tossing little bits of colored marshmellow happiness over the world. Miss Dawn, with that sweet exterior, can still knock you flat with a totally honest statement out of the blue. i mean totally honest. about things like your tarty past. and usually in front of a dishy guy you've just met. Miss Sony is not at all high maintainence. really, she's not. not one bit. Savannah is muggy and warm..80degrees today, some sun, and lots of humidity. it rained at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon..just out of nowhere, downpour! i'd missed that. i hadn't missed that Savannah smell though..we could even catch a whiff of it in the airplane during our descent! pulp factory, salt water, horse shit. yum.

i've returned to the land of:

NON-DAIRY CREAMER -just think about that for a minute. eeew. ONE SIZE FITS ALL -sure, right. LAST CHANCE FOR STARBUCKS BEFORE TERMINAL TWO -at JFK, i laughed out loud. STYROFOAM CUPS -i swear, that's what's causing all the cancer. MUFFINS BUILT LIKE MISSILE SILOS -they are unbelievable huge. hm, wonder how i got fat? BEVERAGE MAY BE HOT WARNINGS -now, that is just funny. hm, it's a cup of HOT coffee?!?! WE USE REAL MARGARINE -honest, that's what the sign said, and so proudly! THE TO-GO CUP -ok, this one's handy..not finished with your cocktail, friends want to leave? take it with you!

tart it up to toke up

after a nine hour flight to NYC, making my way through customs, getting my suitcase re-checked through to Savannah and i still had two hours to kill. what do you think i wanted more than anything else? a cigarette of course! i know JFK airport..near gate 15 there's a bar, i can have a smoke! and maybe a cocktail, what the heck. wait! NY passed that no smoking anywhere ever law. no smoking--not even in a BAR. you must be kidding me, i just came from France where you can smoke in the doctor's office waiting room! you should have seen me..scrambling up and down escalators, through mouse maze corridors desperate for a way to the outdoors! finally, a glimmer of sunlight through sliding glass doors, and there in the distance, yes..the elusive, secretive creatures known as 'smokers' dejectedly huddled together. now, how do i get out there? that's right, charm the security guard. lesson? always wear a low cut sweater when flying in the American north. by comparison: the Atlanta airport? the stewardess on the flight ANNOUNCED the location of the smoking lounge as we taxied to the gate!!! i love the south! :)

back in the USA

i've arrived safe and sound, despite a 9 hour flight (and that was just the first of three flights) seated next to Louisiana's answer to the Missing Link! i've even managed, to my pleasant surprise to get online at home! the apartment is all in order..very well cared for, the lights are on, i don't know what i was worried about. so...the blog continues...

au revoir, bon voyage!

well, i'm off to America tomorrow morning. to my loyal public, my apologies..blog entries and updates will be few and far between the next ten days. rest assured that when i return there will be loads of pictures and amusing anecdotes, more than a few embarrassingly alchohol related no doubt. bye!

only four more days

it's cold and rainy again today, not at all what i signed up for people! and guess what? it's 75 in Savannah! and i'll be there soon, i leave on Sunday. damn, i've got a lot to do before then. like drop another dress size.

Salut Savannah!

i'm going home! well, for a short visit anyway. i've booked my flight..i'll be in Savannah for Angel and Dan's wedding Nov.2 through Nov. 12. i can't wait to see everyone i've been missing! and i even get to stay in my own happy little home...i've missed my little balcony (pictured above) and view of the square..what's the name of that square again? i never can remember that....

cross-cultural cotton candy

we went to the Cirque Arlette Gruss Thursday evening...a great show, though none of us could understand the bit with the spangly-leotard-clad girl jumping about in a large plastic bowl of water. something was lost in the translation. and much to Bert's disappointment, no midgets (P.C. Peg: "little people! little people!"). but the boys flying about in those pants..now there's a spectacle! the shindig at the boat last night was a big success, but we forgot to bring the camera..we've been negligent in the picture taking department all of this week i'm afraid to say, so here are two shots (sorry, sans flash in consideration of the current hung over state of a certain subject) of our exciting night life at home.

i'm gonna have to wear a sign or something

Ruby and i enjoyed our regular stroll up to Fort Carre this afternoon. the weather is beautiful, the old town is less congested--September has been a big improvement over August. only some people seem to think i'm a lingering tourist: a little french boy saw me with my camera, pointed at me and said to his parents "That tourist brought her dog". thanks alot kid. that's 'artiste', not 'touriste'. is it a good thing or a bad thing that i'm begining to really understand what the frenchies are saying?

15 minutes or 20 euros, whichever goes first

we hopped the 200 bus to Cannes yesterday for a change of scenery and to pick up a few things at the well-stocked art supply store there..or so i thought..mom will use any ruse to go gambling.

this cool old house

my maternal grandfather built this earth-berm concrete dome house in the late 70's, just down the road from the original cottage (a beloved mid-century classic itself) he and the family built some twenty-five years earlier. my brother Thomas and I are both enamored of it (he blogs about it here) and have visions of bringing it back up to snuff (it's been standing vacant for years, no longer in the family) and getting in on some of that Door County goodness. i'd kill to paint up there (the same grandfather was a monumentally talented artist, my favorite works of his were done in that area and era). i'm getting really home sick. must stop thinking about it now.