Has anyone noticed…. October 31, 2007

Can you view the Blog Stats for Mixed-Up Minds?  I browse it when I view the ones for Chocolate Soup (my personal blog for those who didn’t know and never read me. )  Anyway, a strange thing happens quite often.  People end up on our site by searching Susie’s first and last name.  Hmmm….  I know it’s because she put her name in her Who We Are Section, but makes you think twice about what you post in here….

FYI….if we don’t want to be searchable by search engines, I can change that setting.  Zach said, “No……we like when people stop by,” but you all have a say as well.

Comment… October 29, 2007

Hi Everyone!

My most sincere apologies for neglecting Mixedup Minds. Actually, it’s not an intentional, I’ve been very busy, but nonetheless….But today is my first day without practice for a few months now so I figured, in my additional four hours of leisure, I could leave a quick note to just say “Hi.” I miss Colorado sooo much, more-so the people there. Nebraska is enjoyable but everyone is so uptight here; it drives me nuts. I think we’re so relaxed in CO because is the state w/ the most breweries…That’s my theory anyway. Sorry about the rambling.
Hugs to everyone!
Ryann

Hanover Giraffes Smash Flav’s Gold Teeth October 29, 2007

So far in the match up between the two, Susie is forcing Russ to the ground.  Hopefully it will hold up tonight.

In other new, today is Russ’ 29th birthday and the Rockies went to the World Series and we love them for that, too bad they couldn’t show the world how they got there.

only in vermont. October 26, 2007

i was just on my way home from the store when, what should i pass, but a dark green suburban with flashing lights on its top. yes, it was indeed a vermont state trooper. and no, this wasn’t a brand spankin’ new, suped-up ‘burban. this was old school. with bright yellow-orange lettering. and yes, the trooper was wearing a mounty hat. what more could you ask for, as this was none other than I-91, infamous for it’s use as a major drug thoroughfare up to (more probably, from) canadia (have you seen supertroopers?)–and also the shortest route between my home and the local grocery chain. regardless, this sighting just added to my fondness for vermont. (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=233670)

this is the place where half the residents have a bumper sticker reading, “take back vermont” while the other half have “take vermont forward”. together, these people elected Bernie, the only socialist US senator. (for the record, if i were a vermonter, i’d have voted for him too. he’s good people). and being from colorado, vermonters have a fondness for me too. “where ya from?” “colorado” “that’s great! you must be from boulder!” there seems to be a transcendental connection between burlington, boulder and berkeley. if you’re from one, you might as well be from the other. and yet i’m from aurora. but aurora starts with an a, and a is close to b, so i must be from near boulder, right? well, i don’t want to shatter anyone’s hopes. this is also the state that is still trying to cede from the union. while one of their wealthiest towns/cities is trying to cede from vermont to become part of new hampshire (lower taxes)–no matter that it’s nearly 40 miles west of the vermont-new hamshire border–that’s almost next door! vermont is also the origin of many lovely things: ben & jerrys (who doesn’t love ice cream), woodchuck hard cider (yes, this was the cause of my first hangover), longtrail brewery (too bad i don’t drink beer), cabot creamery (too bad i hate cheese), anything maple-related (i prefer my pancakes with powdered sugar), as well as a gazillion other wonderful artisan-made goods. and yes, most vermonters look like AT thru-hikers, even though they don’t have to (yes, this includes the ladies–wouldn’t want anyone to feel unwelcome. beards are beautiful, right?).

frankly, there’s a certain innocent beauty in vermont. maybe because many roads are still unpaved and lead (literally) to no where inparticular. maybe because vermonters take such pride in their state. maybe because half their highway signs have measurements in meters. maybe because they have no professional sports teams (ok, so they have the expos/lake monsters, but do they really count?!). or maybe, quite simply, because there is state legislation banning signs and billboards larger than 150 square feet. (sadly, this is why there are still no Targets in vermont–they simply won’t amend their signage. much to my chagrin. and in spite of my persistent (ie, weekly) requests for a local franchise). that’s not to say that big is not beautiful, just not in commercial advertising.

whatever it is, hats off to you, vermont! you’ve managed to make unique into the commonplace. that’s gotta take skill, right?

I’m on to you, Fake-Cell-Phone Talker! October 21, 2007

Dear guy on the 10 bus,

Yes, that’s you fake-cell-phone guy. I figured you out. It doesn’t take a genius to know that you weren’t actually carrying on the world’s most one-sided conversation with a real person. Come on, it was only you and me on the 10 bus that day, tough guy–so was it me or the driver you were trying to impress? And of course you couldn’t just carry on a normal conversation with your imaginary friend. Do you always curse at that rate? Wash your mouth out with soap, young man. Apparently this is how you practice your suburban-white-guy Ebonics. I was doing my best to decipher. For example, “Some nigga needs ta slap dat f—in’ fat ho, foo!” I interpreted as, “It may benefit Marci greatly to go on a diet and start working out. For her health. Maybe she needs an African American personal trainer.” …By the way, I think you said that exact line at least 4 times. But here’s hoping that you WERE talking to yourself, though, because if anyone was actually on the other end, they are far more pathetic than you. Next time, try the fake text. It works for me, and it’s far less obvious.

Holy Crap! Were going to the World Series!! October 16, 2007

The Rockies are going to the World Series!! How great is that?!  Perhaps we should get together and watch one of the games and root for the Rocks!  What do you think?

By the way, I posted something about the Rockies today on my blog.  Check it out.  I did not post it here because it was a vent of frustration and I did not want to bring that vibe to the world of Mixed-up Minds!  But still, check it out.

Anyway, GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!

Rockies! October 16, 2007

Well, I can’t say I’m a baseball fan.  Never have been, but I am very proud of our Rockies.  And I even changed the channel to baseball to watch the game last night as I fell asleep and then woke Zach up at 3am to find out the score.  So I guess I was a bit excited as well. 

Anyway, I felt like sharing…..Zach on the other hand it ranting in his blog…..so go check it out.  I’m sure he’d like the comments.

new words. October 7, 2007

I think we need a new category entitled “New Words” (or maybe a spiffier name with the same meaning would be swell too). Do you ever coin a new phrase, or just simply, accidentally or purposefully, invent or discover a new word? Well, I support the use of these novel tidbits. Kinda like I support penguins and starbucks.

I have two words to add to start off the list. Neither is particularly intriguing, but I’m afraid I’ll forget them if I don’t write them somewhere.

1. spartanizing. to spartanize (v.) is to work out and get buff like a spartan. origin: undergrad advisor staff members watched spartan the week before the freshmen arrived and decided they were going to spartanize together to be in shape for the new year. they’re now trying to establish a sign they can make when they cross paths at the gym or while working out to signify they understand the purpose of the endeavor.

2. obnoxiousizing. to obnoxiousize (v.) is to be a susie with her camera wandering the dorm in the twilight hours, taking lots of incriminating pictures and flashing enough photos to nearly blind as many residents as possible. this word is still evolving. it’s a bit like jazzercise. but without the music and exercise except when i’m (since i’m a susie) also belting things out (out of tune) while jumping around chatting with my younguns. they see me coming and giggle that i’m out obnoxiousizing again. this might be my dartmouth legacy.

Recipe for disaster! October 3, 2007

Jenn likes to post recipes and comments on food. I on the other hand post stories that I write and they do tend to be a little… uhh dark shall we say. But sometimes I actually write things on the lighter side. So here is one of those and it concerns FOOD. Also it is a true story. Hope you all enjoy…and hope and pray this never happens to you! I call it……….

“Exploding Soup”

I went to the cupboard one night,

to see if I could find and cook me a bite.

I found it quickly in a cupboard not bare,

A can of New England clam chowder was there.

I opened it then and poured in a bowl

Knowing full well

warm clam chowder is good for the soul.

At least so I thought with nothing to fear,

but being wrong would soon cost me dear.

The microwave was set and cooked it I would

never wondering or doubting at all if I should.

In three and a half minutes more or less

a warm meal was promised

but instead what I got was a damned hot mess.

Out of the oven it came ready it seemed,

I stirred with a spoon and watched as it steamed.

But a lump in the middle had other plans

for me and my kitchen that night.

My chowder it seems went down with a fight.

The spoon dove in and poked at the lump,

and a moment latter I heard a loud thump…

I said to myself that this was not good

for covered in New England clam chowder I stood.

A grand meal this was not!

Did I mention that it was hot?

Good thing my kitchen could not feel pain.

As fine meals go it was pretty lame.

The story you just heard is true. The names have been omitted to protect the stupid. Yes this happened to me. Don’t let it happen to you. Seriously though…I actually received some very painful burns on my left hand (holding the spoon), my left forearm, my neck and my chest. I was wearing a t-shirt. The shirt was covered in and saturated in scalding hot soup! My kitchen was covered in clam chowder. The stove top, the microwave, the ceiling, the refrigerator, the kitchen floor, the dinning room carpet and table (including chairs). My t-shirt was covered in great gobs (or is it globs?) of steaming hot chowder. I tore off the shirt as fast as I could. I washed and had some burn cream which I applied to the burned areas of my person. Then…in pain I had to return to the mess in the kitchen for the hour long clean up process. I kept finding chowder everywhere. I took a(nother) shower in cooler water and reapplied some burn cream to the affected areas. Made myself a PB&J sandwich and went to bed. The burns healed quickly and did not blister. I have never had such a thing happen before. I now prepare all soups stove top manner only. An object lesson here. Do not poke lumps in your soup after cooking in a microwave without first donning a haz-mat suit. The next day I made a nice chocolate cake in the regular oven. No explosive incidents were reported.

Love ya all

Rondad