Why you should never trust a school computer and Mugs continued

Well, I look like an idiot. I just rushed all the way up to the 5th floor for my geography class which starts at 6...but no one was there. That is because the computer lab clocks are all 1 hour ahead of schedule! What the heck!

OK,so now I am back, and here is mug #3: Another big blue mug, but even bigger then my Edgecomb one. This is a more classically shaped mug and has a flora silhouette design. I got this form Target on my annual trip to stock up for Fest (this is not to say that I only make one trip to target a year, quite the contrary, but This one is devoted solely to camping gear and things I think will make me look cool or feel good while spending three weeks in the woods) I thought I would lose it or brake it, but since I kept forgetting it in my tent, it was pretty safe.

#4: this is the tea cup-like mug which I acquired in Michigan, but is not of Michigan. It is a Starbucks mug that Cordeliaknits' roommate sent with her to give to me. This is a good mug for anything in the morning since I usually don't have time for much, so it keeps me in check. It also says 'inspire' on the inside, just under the lip. This way you see it once you have taken your first sip, and instantly remember to inspire people!

Travel mug (#5): Oddly enough, I also acquired this in Michigan from my sister and our friend chnacat. Chnacat had brought the mug for Cordelia, who ended up not needing it, so they past it on to me. This is a good mug, but unfortunately it does not close all the way on top (there is a little drinking hole), so it is bad for the bus and walking and sticking in my bag. Do they make an easy to clean, hot liquid-friendly closeable travel mug? That would be good for me.

I also remembered two more real mugs-

My starbucks mug (#6): this one actually says starbucks and is also from Gayle, cordeliaknits roomie. She forced me to take it home with me from Berkley when I was visiting last spring. This is because they have lots and lots of mugs and needed to get rid of some. I also think Gayle just likes to give people useful things. She also gave me some regifted coffee. How long does ground coffee last? I still have some left...anyway, I keep the starbucks mug at work, which is why I didn't think of it right away.

and lastly, my 'A' mug (#7): This is a very special one to me which I also keep at work. A friend I had in high school, Siri, gave it to me for my 18th birthday. Although I have not been in touch with Siri since I graduated, I will always remember thinking what a great gift it was. It was the first birthday party I had in years (see a future post to find out why celebrating b-days with friends is hard for me) and I had invited friends from school and from my youth group, maybe about 15 people in all. Most of them had never met before and it was pretty weird for everyone. But what I remember most was that I only got about three gifts where I thought, "Wow, they really know me." That mug, handmade by a Vis Kid at Arts High, was one of them.

So, there you have it. I will try to be better about posting during Advent, I promise!

Mug Meme

Well, my mother has chastised me, as she is want to do, and also tagged me to post about 7 mugs in my kitchen. Here's the thing: my kitchen is about the size of most peoples coat closet. So, I have 4 mugs, 1 travel cup and 1 tea cup (actually, one of the 'mugs' is more like a tea cup, but not as dainty, so I call it a mug)

Mug number 1: My big blue mug which I used this morning for hot cocoa. This is a wonderful Edgecomb Pottery mug which I purchsed on one of my summer trips to Maine, previous to me parents moving there. This mug came from Maine to Minnesota, then out to New York with me, then back home to Minnesota where it has survived 3 moves! It's a trooper and I love it!

#2: also from edgecomb, it is pink and is tall and skinny and curvy. This one is really good for warm apple cider, but only if I finish it- it is very hard to clean!

#3: Another big blue mug...

yikes!! You will have to wait for the rest because I just saw the time, I have class in 2 minutes!!

30 Days of Night Review
or The first movie I Didn’t Want Josh Hartnett to Die In

Last Thursday while working at the mall, my coworker mentioned that she was going to the midnight showing of 30 Days of Night, the new vampire film set in Barrow, Alaska based on a graphic novel by Steve Niles. And starring Josh Hartnett.
Let me start by saying that I have nothing personal against Mr. Hartnett, he seems like a decent enough fellow, still hangs out with buds from high school at the local video store, says nice things about his former high school and the teachers there. It’s really more of an artist thing I have (had?) against him - that he was set up for a very long and successful career in acting, interning at the Jungle under famed artists… and then he went and became a teen heart throb. And, in my opinion, he isn’t even very good looking. And he was definitely not ready for film.
Now, the personal connection I have with him is that we went to the same high school (not at the same time). He was just getting famous when I entered high school and I was immediately disgusted by the way everyone oohhed and ahhhed over him and the fact he had gone to South. I got over that sort of thing in elementary school, telling everyone how Rachel Lee Cook braided my sister’s hair in 4th grade. But I don’t hold his fans against him, really I don’t.
I was disgusted by the Faculty, and a little angry at how he brought down Sin City with his mediocre performance. Keep in mind, in many ways I feel he is representing Minnesota, and Minneapolis specifically, every time he is in a film. That’s just the way my directors raised me-to be an ambassador for your home whenever performing.
So, needless to say I was shocked (pleasantly) when I decided to go with my friends to the see 30 days of night, and liked what I saw. When we first meet him, he automatically did something that my conservatory acting teacher would have been shocked by, but what any northerner knows is the truth (something you constantly search for as an actor). He hid his chin in his parka while standing outside. Brilliant! Right off the bat I thought, “wow! Maybe he has turned a new leaf”
This is the only example of brilliance I can recall, but I grew to like his character more and more and by the end I was hoping he wouldn’t die, which is a lot more then I can say for any other movie I have seen him in.
I recommend this film, but don’t expect to be scared or awed by special effects (they take a lot of short cuts, which makes it a lot less bloody, but also a lot less artistic).

quick post from MOA

While I am on brak for lunch, I thought I would write a little post! I am working this morning/afternoon at my retail job (I haven't thought of a good code name yet, any suggestions?) and it is going pretty slow. This is surprising because it is fairly gloomy outside which usually draws people in. Anywho, I am excited because I found a present I can get the rents for x-mas-but I am not telling what it is since they read this! Hopefully at christmas I will get a picture and put it up. I also got a pilot cap with antenna on it for my halloween costume. surprisingly, a hat made for a toddler fits my enormous head, but I think it is just stretchy. I am hoping to start knitting something soon because I am inspired by the cool weather which is a sharp reminder that there are only three months of knitting to go!!! So, start putting in requests, and we'll see if I can get to any of it!

Unfortunately, this hits close to home

You Are a Blue Flower

A blue flower tends to represent peace, openness, and balance. At times, you are very delicate like a cornflower. And at other times, you are wise like an iris. And more than you wish, you're a little cold, like a blue hydrangea.

What Color Flower Are You?

Does this mean I'm Narcissistic?

Your Birth Month is December

You love life and exude an outgoing, cheerful vibe. Blessed with a great sense of humor, you can laugh at adversity. Your soul reflects: Celebration, success, and wealth Your gemstone: Blue Topaz Your flower: Narcissus Your colors: Indigo, green, and blue-green

What Does Your Birth Month Mean?

long time no blog

sorry for the lapse in blogging, but who reads this anyway? It is really more for my benefit then anyone else's, so I will continue to blog when the spirit moves me!


School is school, but at least I feel like I am getting my money's worth 95% of the time! I started working at my old retail job again. I will refrain from using the name here, since I may want to complain at somepoint, and no one wants that on the internet!

Some friends of mine will be performing at a cafe near my apartment on Saturday, and it got me to feeling like I am not doing enough. "Cracker what?!" you may say. Afterall, I am working two jobs and going to school full time, but is there more I could be doing? I am thinking that I may start hanging around after work for a little on Friday evenings so I can practice singing. The big downfall of my apartment is that it is right above the landlords office. So not only do I have to listen to him yelling at maintenence people first thing in the morning, but I can't be "loud" during the day. But on the plus side, no one lives below me, so I can make a lot of noise at night, which I took advantage of last night when I was staying up writing a paper till 3 in the morning! SO, now I am tired but not behind in school work, which is always good!

quick Winsker-do update!

Winifred is doing much better in her new home, as am I. We are finally getting settled, and she no longer runs under the bed to hide every time there is someone in the hall! The "house" is still cluttered, but I made the closets and Kitchen look really nice this weekend. The big project will be the media and finding a place for it all! I have way to many CDs, books, movies and magazines! The curse of my family I suppose. One friend asked why I had so many DVDs and I realized they were almost all gifts! So people, please, no more DVDs!!

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person. However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways. You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order. You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Well, I always knew it! When I was little I was upset that I wasn't a Sagittarius because they are represented by a centaur!

Moved at last...sort of

Well, it was long and painful, but I have now accomplished the fifth move of my life. My new studio looks like a well layed out storage unit since I have not had time (or resources) to unpack and I don't have enough hangers for all my clothes...but I am slowly getting there and am really excited about it.

Winifred is not so excited. For the first 24 hours she hid under a chair, which I moved repeatedly -she moved right along with it. Now she hides under the bed and comes out when I am a) in the kitchen (I think she gets worried about where I am) b) in the bathroom (she has always wanted to know what people do in there) and c) I have turned out the lights and gotten in to bed.

Hopefully she will soon realize that our new home is not so bad and that there are no other cats to bother her! Then we will have fun just hanging out, watching movies and reading.

As promised...Are you there God?

There was one specific part in the book that I want, no need, to talk about. When Margaret's maternal grand-parents come to visit, they immediately start in on Margaret being a Christian. Of course she freaks out. She says "who needs God anyway?!"

And here is where I think her parents failed her. Instead of raising her to understand WHY people have these beliefs and hold these faiths so strongly,they just tell her she can make up her own mind eventually. Obviously, as we have seen throughout the book, Margaret is the kind of person who (at least for now) needs God. She needs to believe there is something bigger then herself-and what 6th grader in the 1970's wouldn't? It was a difficult era politically and (for Margaret among many other American pre-teens) personally. Her parents set her up for failure. When she stopped talking to God I had to put down the book for a few days, I was so mad. I just wanted to run in and be like, "It's OK! You don't even have to call it God if you don't want to! These things you are thinking about are important and something is listening!" But I guess she found that out on her own in the end.

OK, so now I need to go to geography, then it's home to keep packing, getting ready for the exodus!

You Are a Blue Crayon

Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors. You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find. On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody. However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front. Your color wheel opposite is orange. Orange people may be opinionated, but you feel they lack the depth to truly understand what they're saying.

What Color Crayon Are You?

I guess i actually agree with this one! Except that I don't really like blue...

Still Breathing

I have been listening to my new Melissa Ferrick CD (sorry, I don't have time to add a link right now) constantly since I returned home, and she mentions breathing a lot. I have been sighing a lot at work today, which is, I think, due to a lack of good breathing practice.

Also, I realized that by this point in my Michigan Day I would have at least walked to the Janes (porta potties) which I would estimate to be about one of my city blocks, and then possibly played a game of badminton or something. It is definitely a more healthy lifestyle for me there, and today my back is reminding me of that.

Not to mention having a much better breakfast! How I miss those Gals cooking for me!

But alas, now I am home and back to this reality. I am registered for classes and just found out that I will not be able to move in to my new place until Sept. 1st, so hopefully my current landlord will be lienent as to when I have to be moved out! Otherwise I may have to ask some generous friends and relatives for some temporary storage space!

Something on Are you there God, as well as Pan's Labyrinth, next time, I promise!

We don't Need no Stinking Sissys!

Well, this is amusing! When I was in 3rd or 4th grade we did a little skit version of "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh", and I played the coach who "read to us from something called Ulysses". The casting of myself in this role holds the #1 spot for most ridiculous casting, the reasoning behind my landing the role being that, in my class of over 20 students, only my parents owned a copy of the book in question. I think that says more about my upbringing then it doesn't.

I think the description is pretty accurate. People do indeed seem to enjoy my vulgarity...

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Oh, and By the way, I (finally) finished Are you There God? in Michigan, so I will post my thought on that in the next post!

I'm Back!

Well, sorry it has been such a long time. Hopefully my computer will be all better soon and I can start blogging more regularly. I have also been in Michigan at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival for the past three weeks (working on the Brother Sun crew doing childcare for boys age 5-10) so I haven't had a way to get online. Fest was great as usual, although we had an interesting combination of kids that caused some...issues. Of course all the kids are fantastic! but that doesn't mean they all get along all the time! but I guess that's true for all of us. We had a great crew and I hope they all come back to us next year with their awesome attitudes! I will try and get some pictures up soon, but I have to wait till the people who took them get them to me, so it may take a few days. Until then, I hope everyone is having a great summer and I will post again soon about the classes I will be taking this fall! WooHoo!!!

Exciting Apartment News!

Well, I just got an email from the building manager for the apartment I have applied for, and my current landlord finally got back to her about me. So, "unofficially" she says, we can begin to move forward with my renting process. Woohoo!!

The apartment is very small, about the size of my current living room with a bathroom and closets on one side and a kitchen on the other, so I will have to do a lot of purging before I move. But, it is an old building (which is one of the first things I look for) with hard wood floors and...A Claw Foot Bathtub! That is something I have always wanted. It has a controlled access entry and although it is on the first floor, it does not look out right onto street level. Heat and water is paid, which should save me a lot of money come winter. Plus, Winifred is welcome as are dogs (not that I would be getting one anytime soon, but at least I might meet some nice ones!)

So, perhaps some things in my life will be falling into place soon, and by October, I may be back in to a calm rhythm of work, school and movies...ah, that would be the life!

I'm back...for a while

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I was up at the cabin for Family Camp in West Denmark. I have signed on to create a funkier website for it, so I will let you know when that is done so you can check it out and give me feedback.

The sad news right now is that my computer is on the fritz. I am going to see if there are any updates I can get and then see if any of my computer geek friends can help, before having to send it away to Florida, where I bought it from.

Last night CordeliaKnits left and I was immediately sad, which, as our mother pointed out, is silly since I will be seeing her in a little less then four weeks when we go to...

MICHIGAN!!

I am very excited to be back at Brother Sun, but I am currently trying to stay in the moment. I will be moving in to a studio apartment (hopefully) about two weeks after I get back from fest, so I need to be as prepared as possible before I leave!

p.s. I will try to get some pictures up soon, I am hoping to get some of the ones my sister took at fam. camp.

Hot, Sticky and Psyched!

Today is the day! My mom and my sister are arriving from the east coast in just a few hours. I am very excited, although it looks like my mother's flight may be a bit late...as in two hours, although I do not understand how that is possible since the computer said it left on time and it is just coming from Chicago. We shall see.


In the meantime I am waiting in the air conditioned Riverview Cafe having an iced chai. Last I checked it was 95 here in the cities.


I have updated my recent films list. This morning I watched Shop Girl written by Steve Martin with Claire Danes and that guy from Rushmore (as well as Martin himself). It was good, a sort of romantic drama without any real huge conflicts, just life (not my life, but someone's I'm sure). I would recommend this movie only if you can handle awkward situation, which I can't really. Still, the cinematography was awesome with LA playing a kind of character of its own. I loved the music, although it seemed a bit sinister in comparison to the plot. If you see it or have seen it, let me know what you think!

Your results:
You are Dr. Doom

Dr. Doom 60% Poison Ivy 60% Dark Phoenix 57% Magneto 54% Lex Luthor 51% Juggernaut 51% Venom 51% Apocalypse 50% Mr. Freeze 50% Catwoman 48% Mystique 43% Two-Face 43% The Joker 42% Kingpin 39% Riddler 32% Green Goblin 19%

Blessed with smarts and power but burdened by vanity.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz


Darn, I changed my answers 3 times, and I still came out as Dr. Doom! I would have rather been Lex Luther, but I'm not bald. Oh well, maybe someday...I can dream can't I?!?!

Your results:
You are Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 70% Green Lantern 70% Iron Man 65% The Flash 60% Supergirl 60% Spider-Man 55% Catwoman 50% Hulk 50% Superman 50% Batman 30% Robin 25%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...


Eat that Magician!

How My Weekend Has Gone

On Friday I went to a bar with some friends for the Arts High 2002 5 year reunion (I graduated in 2003, but it was a small school). But that bar sucked, so we all went over to the Hexagon Bar (where I ran in to a few of my brother's friends) and hung out there for a while.

On Saturday I went to Breakfast with arts high friends at the French Meadow Bakery and then back home for a nap. In the evening I went out to Prior Lake and babysat for two very sweet girls. The only problem was that I didn't get home till after midnight, so now I am a bit tired.

After coming home from singing at PPUMC (which went well by the way), I played some Mario and then took elliott and emily to PRIDE, which brought me into the general vicinity of Joe's house, so that's where I am now! Later we will be hanging out with another high school friend, Jennifer Mills. I am so excited to see her and hear how her life in New York has been going! (at least, I think that's where she has been...)

Still, with all this excitement, I am feeling a little icky, mainly because it is getting hot again after a short but oh-so-sweet cold snap. Also, my house is still a mess (no body's fault but my own) and AuntieKnickers and CordeliaKnits are arriving on Tuesday. I will have to get on that at some point, but probably not today.

I think I will cheer myself up by looking at dogs on the internet!

This Sunday and Next Week-How Exciting!

After a few weeks (ok, more like a month or two) hiatus, I will be going to Church this Sunday. The funny thing is that I will not be going to Lynnhurst UCC, where I am a member, but instead to Prospect Park United Methodist, where I am the secretary. I am going for two reasons;

1. because it is nice for people to see my face and feel I am a part of their community
2. because I have been asked to sing and, with some trepidation, have said yes

I will be singing Evening Star, a beautiful folksong/hymn that we sing at Family Camp about learning from nature how to behave in the world-at least that's how I see it. I will only sing a few verses because the morning is going to be very full of music with many hymns by a lyricist parishioner.

It is also PRIDE Sunday, so there will be a guest preacher and lots of rainbows! In case you didn't know, the Twin Cities has the largest PRIDE festival in the Midwest and the third largest in the country!

Then next Tuesday, both AuntieKnickers (MommyKnickers to me I suppose) and CordeliaKnits will be arriving for a week or two of pure fun! Many people would not be as excited about there mother and sister coming for a visit, but since I will not have to feed or house them much, I am psyched! Plus, on Friday or Saturday we will be heading up to Luck for the aforementioned Family Camp. WooHoo!!

A Quick Word about Family Camp

One of My favorite things in summer is family camp and it is coming up! It is a little late for registering, but speaking as a new member of the board, we always welcome newcomers (even if they are late-comers!) So here is the link to the West Denmark Family Camp 2007 page

It starts soon, but it may be something for folks to think about doing next year. It is really great for family's, as my mom, AuntieKnickers, recently pointed out in her blog.

I am especially looking forward to discussions this year as we have a green theme as well as a literary theme going on. Watch for my reflections when I get back after the fourth!

Musings on The Magician

I can't tell you how amusing this reading is to me...but I'll try.

I have often found that girls annoy me. I don't understand their round-about way of doing things, though I have adapted to fit in. So now I get this reading and it says that my card is all male and what-not!

An acting teacher in New York once told me that men are linear and women spiral, which is what makes it so difficult for us to communicate at times. But as he described attributes of these things, I realized I was much more linear at heart the spiral.

(on a side note, if you know me you are thinking, ("but elinor you talk so much!" this is true, but it's what I talk about and how I talk about it that's important)

Besides that, I think this card is dead-on for me. What do you (few) readers think?

My Tarot Card

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing,
you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I hope this works-musings on my results in a moment...

Today I am totally bumming around since I don't have to nanny. And I wish I could say that I deserve it, but I don't. I have been doing jack since I got done dog sitting.

I woke up at about 11:30am and took forever getting going. Now I finally got myself to the coffee shop to do some blogging and email checking. However, I should really be at home cleaning and doing laundry.

I am excited because I am going to the Lilly Tomlin concert at orchestra hall tomorrow night-just another reason I love having friends like Dan and Becky! I will tell you all about it on Friday.

In the mean time, you will have to be happy with what I update my blog with today!

So, as promised in my first post, here’s what I mean by counter-culture. (You can also go to wikipedia to read about it.)

While other children my age were watching Fraggle Rock and Britney and Timberlake on the Disney Channel, I was watching reruns of Night Court and Dear John as well as Are You Being Served?

And while some children were being introduced to Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey, I was memorizing the Ramones and Sgt. Pepper’s. Some books I read were current, but many had been bought for my brother in the late 70’s and early 80’s (I’m talking Susan Cooper books and Lynn Reid Banks), and some were older then that (Noel Streatfield, and Judith Kerr).

So, you see, my formative years were spent among the pop-culture of a by-gone era. This caused me, among a few other factors, to grow up slightly outside of the mainstream (which is and was fine by me), making me counter to the culture of my generation.

Why I chose this title and other musings

For many years I have heard of the book, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” But never read it. I knew enough about it that I could laugh at the jokes made on VH1 at the book’s expense, (but, I was laughing because I am a counter-culture member of my generation. Read my next post to see what I mean by that!)but had never bothered with it. So why, being a little Christian girl obsessed with Jews, did I never pick up this book?

At some point I had been told I should read Judy Blume’s book Blubber. Not a good idea. I can not think of a worse book to give a young girl, especially one who has body image issues and, shall we say, “grew up early”. I was traumatized by the atrocities that occurred in this young adult novel.

After this blucky-Blume experience I was less than thrilled at the idea of picking her up again, but the other night at my dog sitting job I had forgotten my book, and so went looking in the various bookshelves around the house. I stumbled upon “Are you there god? It’s me, Margaret.”

So I began to read it.

A little ways in there is a prayer to God before she attends Temple for the first time, which ends with, “…I’ll look for you” I love this idea of a little girl who has never been "formally" introduced to God or Religion just up and going to Temple and looking for God.

I have not finished the book yet, but my initial impression is that Margaret’s attitude to God is refreshing in it naivety. She addresses God as though she were calling him on a cell phone with bad reception, “Hello?! Can you hear me? It’s me! Hello?!” , and then continuing as if she doesn't really care if God can hear or not.

Surprisingly, the ‘real’ book I am reading, “eat, pray, love” by Elizabeth Gilbert, is the memoir of a woman who is learning how to speak to God at a later stage in life, but is much less skilled at it then Margaret. She, too, has a bit I like, about sitting on the bathroom floor and hearing a voice while she is praying (and crying). The voice comes from within her and is beautiful, calm and loving, just what I have been taught God is.

So, I am looking for God, and I realize I may not need to look any further than myself, but I am willing to look in a temple, too.

Currently, my God cell phone is a pay-per-use that I grab only when I’m in dire need, but I hope to buy a plan soon…