The comfortiest thing I saw today

There is some road construction taking place outside my office window.

I saw this touching moment the other day:The construction working appeared to be comforting the big digger, it was sweet. Like Danny and the dinosaur.

The Lichtenstein-iest thing I put together to catch you up today.

Roy Lichstenstein is one of my favorite artists; I find his pieces simple and yet profoundly emotional. Plus, they are fun!

I am going to use his works to express my feelings of recent events in my life.

Thanks, Roy!

Just 3 weeks ago today, my 37 year old partner, Todd, had a sudden and destructive major systolic failure, aka a heart attack.


It threw our life into chaos, confusion, fear, and frustration.


After a week in the hospital, we had to face life with major changes and unknowns for what the future holds for Todd's health, his heart, and our life.


We both want to do all that we can to prevent another wallop to his heart.

We are so grateful for wonderful health professionals, advances in cardiology, and fantastic health insurance to help us with this goal.

Of course we are grateful for one another as well, we both have done our best to help one another cope and move forward. Todd has been very brave and willing to sacrifice little things to have a big life.


Dietary change was already on our radar, but now even more foods are dangerous and need to be limited or eliminated. I am now disgusted and angry at many foods.


Even though we have been out of the hospital two weeks, we are still catching up on everyday tasks at work and home. It is discouraging, but I try to cut us some slack. We have put extra emphasis on taking care of ourselves by relaxing, walking, and taking time for ourselves to focus on the more important parts of life- the things that make life grand.

Despite all my best efforts, I still feel out of control. I am drowning in a sea of new information, new concerns, and delayed day-to-day tasks.


I have been exhausted and out of sorts, so aggravated with things I cannot influence. I worry about Todd. I mourn the loss of our prior life and plans. Sometimes I feel very alone and scared.


Through it all, we have been so lucky to have the care and support of family, friends and colleagues. We are so grateful!


We are so lucky to have loved ones who have sent cards, called, brought flowers, made and shared meals, sent resources for sustainability, scrubbed our kitchen, put together care packages, shown patience, shared hugs, taken over managing repairs on our home, helped carry things, assisted in work, sent cook books, shared inspiring stories, LISTENED, and overall just have shown that they value Todd and I.


Everyone has brightened our lives! We are reminded that we can get through this and we do not have to do it alone.


Support from everyone has made me feel loved and hopeful, helped me to feel stronger. I believe Todd would agree.

(This one lives right by my office, and it is gigantic, I should pay it a visit!)

Thank you, everyone! You are not alone either, I value you and am here for you too! So is Roy.

The Steamiest thing I saw today!

It is super snowy outside! Whee!

I just took a half outside/half inside route to run an errand, and upon reaching my office building, this is a peek of what I saw:


A heated sidewalk getting things done- sizzling up those snowflakes!

Everything else was newly white and powdery. I felt a little sad for that slab of concrete, though I enjoyed the contrast.

The sing-a-long-iest thing I saw today.

Saturday night, and friend and I were visiting a burrito place in Dinkytown. Dinkytown is adjacent to my employer and alma mater; as well as the alleged haunt of Bob Dylan and myself when we went there (years apart).

Like any college neighborhood, the place was packed with and staffed by twenty somethings.

While my meal was prepared, a beloved Weezer song came on, and we all started singing along.

That's me in the maroon shoes.

It was fantastic! Everyone kept about their business and we all carried the tune at the same time.

Aw yeah. "That'll be $6.75" All right. "Did you need extra sauce?" Feels good, "No thanks", inside.

If we started a choreographed dance number it would have been just like a sketch on the muppet show!

The Forearm-iest things I saw today.

I was wondering if this post does not really fit into my own blog premise, or if it is something that will only entertain me, but I keep thinking about it, so here goes....

Walking out of a building the other day, I thought I saw a young woman who was an amputee. It looked like she did not have the lower half of her right arm

My mind started whirring, "Huh, it is rare to see a young woman missing her arm. I wonder what happened. She is so young. I hope she was not in the war or in a terrible farm accident. Maybe it was a genetic thing. Wow Genetics are amazing, it is a miracle all the things they can do these days to work with genetics.... "

But my quick train (trains?) of thought were stopped when I realized at second glance that she did have two full length arms.


Oh, never mind, mind.

Then I was thinking, "What an interesting optical illusion, I totally did not see evidence of her full arm. Good thing she was not in an accident. Speaking of accidents, I have been meaning to draw a bike on bike accident I saw....."

My thoughts stopped because within 10 feet of the 2 armed woman, I passed by:

This time I made several glance to confirm that this young woman was missing her right forearm and hand.

My mind was blown, so it took another 10 feet before I started speculating about her story.

Did the Universe send the first woman as foreshadowing for the second woman?? Should I be learning some lesson here? Is it just coincidence? Should I try to reach Art Bell?

The Goal-iest Thing I Accomplished Today!

Around 6 years ago I went to a motivation workshop at work and we had to draw a long term goal for ourselves on a note card. I drew this:It is hard to make out via the scan, but this goal card is the goal to earn a Master's degree. In the bottom right I have drawn myself stressed, but in a good academic sort of way. In the upper right there is a lecturer.

I have had this card posted at my desk ever since, it has followed me through 4 jobs, buying my home, meeting and marrying my partner, and meeting so many wonderful friends.

Today my thesis project was approved! I am DONE. I have met my goal. My work is off to be bound.

I am a Master.

The sick thing is....now I want to draw a new card about me working for a PhD!

Ha!

I am so thrilled to be done.

I hope that you keep your goals posted somewhere and that you can work towards being done too!

The Plain Stupidest Thing I saw today.

This incident occurred whilst I was transferring buses downtown on a lighty snowy day last week.

It was a gorgeous morning, cold, light glittery snow falling with the sun peaking out around the skyline.

Ah.

It was also hella slippery because there is ice everywhere hiding under that glittery snowfall.

I stopped at the lightrail tracks over to my waiting bus because the lightrail train was already dinging away at the station, calling out "Look out, I am a big train and I am moving now."

A young man who apparently does not speak lightrail train came rushing up behind me:



I literally screamed! He ran out right in front of that train to get to a bus that was waiting at a stoplight for the train to pass. I am sorry, but what a self-centered idiot!

In his leap to beat the train, he could have slipped and fell and really been clobbered by that train...or the train might not have been able to stop..wait...one should just ALWAYS assume that the train will not be able to stop!

PLUS, the guy got on a bus to the University, and at that time of day those buses come about once every 3 minutes.

After the train passed, I crossed the tracks and got on the same bus the guy got on. I stood in front of him in the aisle fuming. I could not decide what to say to him. I could have just said, "Good thing you risked your life and the mental health of that train driver to get on this bus that is still stuck at the friggin' stoplight!" or "You are a f-in idiot for running in front of a MOVING TRAIN!".

Of course, being a Minnesotan (see #6 at this link), I did not drudge up the courage to directly confront him before he hopped off on the West Bank campus. I really need to shake off that part of my Minnesotan-ness.

The Next Waviest Thing I saw Today

One of my favorite things in life is what I call a "Bow Tie Doctor". This is, well, a doctor who wears a bow toe.


There is just something comforting, whimsical, and respectable about a physician sporting a bow tie.

I suppose people in other professions look nice in bow ties too, but when I see a lab coat paired with a bow tie I have to smile.

The other day I saw a young bow tie medical student!


I was thrilled to see this breed move forward.

I wonder if there is a "bow tie doctor" scholarship fund.....

The Truly Commited-est thing I saw today

I work in and around a huge medical center that is laid out in a way that resembles a Jackson Pollack painting.

I saw a darling couple the other day trying to navigate around together. Truly together.



They were both struggling to walk and leaning on one another. They were both patiently discussing their next move. They were smiling despite the challenge and both laughed at their situation when I offered to help them.

They warmed my heart.

The Twitchy-est thing I saw today.

It is finals time on campus and students all over are "in the zone". Every nook around here is filled with some student sleeping, reading, crying or complaining about all the work they have left to do into their cell phone.

The other night I left work and saw this girl at a table ready for the long haul:

I'm getting the jitters just thinking about all that caffeine.

The Sharp Dressed Man-iest thing I saw today

I ride the bus to work and I mostly take express buses full of people going to and from work or school at the University where I work. People are usually dressed pretty casual, as opposed to looking "corporate". I suppose the "corporate looking" people don't take the bus to campus.

However, there is one guy who has the corporate spirit!

He carries a briefcase and flies off the bus into a hurried walk down the street AWAY from campus. He walks like he is very important and cannot be slowed for anything. I have wondered (and have heard fellow passengers wonder to each other) "Where is that guy going? Why is always rushing?".

He even has an "important guy" build- broad shoulders, tiny waist, slight tan, sharp haircut, the "important looking" glasses.

Of course he always dresses for success...or tries to anyway.


He has multiple ill-fitting solid colored suits made of synthetic fibers, which apparently come with matching ties. He has lots of synthetic fiber colored shirts too, so he can mix things up.

I have also wondered (and have heard fellow passengers wonder to each other), "Where does he buy those awful suits?".

Oh here is a little about me today!

I was tagged by Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein to write 7 things about myself. see my list below.

I am suppose to tag 7 others to do the same, so if they are game, I would like to hear from:

Up Popped A Fox

Truth Surfer

Random Acts of Motherhood

Citizen of Flinn

Escape From The Scooby Doo Mansion

Black Coffee

Urban Pedestrian

And awaaaaaaaay we go:

1. I do not bring it up often, but I love Garth Brooks and some other late ‘90s country music. I have all of his albums, even that weird alter ego Chris Gaines album- which is not as bad as one might think.



2. If I had the power (or WHEN I have the power) I would ensure that everyone had a paid holiday from work on their birthday. We all deserve at least that day to take time for ourselves guilt and worry free.



3. One of my favorite things to do used to be filing my CD collection in alphabetical order by artist, then in chronological order by artist. When I moved more often, I would save this unpacking task until I could be alone and savor the job. Now that I use digital media for listening to my music most of the time, I get sad when I file away CDs that I have been using. I know that I am less linked to my music collection now and I miss the excitement of an album being released or searching for a used treasure at Cheapo.



4. I was a waitress in college, so I was almost always busy on Friday and Saturday nights. When I had one of those nights off, I cherished it and always did something fun with the time. After I stopped waiting tables, it took me years to allow myself to just relax on Friday and Saturday nights. I had this urge to fill them all with excitement because they were so special in my mind. I am over that now. I spent last Saturday night sewing and watching movies alone- and it was grand.



5. I recently took a weekend job as a counter server at a wonderful artisan bread shop. While the idea of getting to work by 6:30am does not thrill me, the job has actually been fabulous. The shop is always busy, the time flies, the customers are nearly all regulars who love to shop there, there are fun people who work with me and the owners are so dedicated. Surprisingly, I am actually a little bummed when I do not work there on the weekends.
(actual footage)


6. I have a very hard time waking up in the morning. This has been a historical problem. For years I have had multiple alarm clocks and even now my Mom actually calls me every work day to make sure I get up. However, if my bedroom door is closed and you open it I will bolt upright in bed. I guess my subconscious is ready to respond to an intruder.



7. I love when we get a thick snow cover overnight. I love when the trees limbs are heavy with white flakes and the yard is pristine- no foot prints or snow angels or anything. I really wish that everyone could stay home on these mornings to just snuggle up, look out the window, and enjoy the simplicity and calm of the new snow. The ugly truth is that life must move onward and that the new snow causes problems with traffic and tends to make people crabby.
   
   
   
   

The Twistiest thing I saw today.

It has been well over a month since a major freeway bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed here in Minneapolis.

Families affected by the collapse are grieving, healing, and maintain hope for a better tomorrow. People still go an gawk at the site. The city has found ways to keep traffic flowing and to keep us all progressing.

There are benefits going on around town and the University of Minnesota has already launched a class about the disaster and urban life.

And some very strong people are working hard to clean up the concrete and steel and rebar.

The bridge remains are being shipped a bit down river on big barges, lifted up onto the river bank where they are to be pieced together by some people who will try to figure out what happened. My bus drives over the river in view of this "crime lab" each day.

The steel supports lie on the ground in piles- some piles are broken but straight pieces, some look like steel spaghetti piled up. It is hard to fathom that so much life and weight ever depended on that mess.





My thoughts are with those investigators and workers. I am stymied by how they can take a look at all that twisted and broken steel, focus, and make any sensible thought beyond "Whoa." or "Sh_t."

The Diverse-iest thing I saw today

Walking about the University I saw a man walking about displaying a clutch of cultures, breaking down social stereotypes:

He was wearing a nice jogging suit with matching shoes, a kippah, Tzitzit, and long peyos.

He was just your standard Minnesotan African-American Hasidic Jewish man.

The thing is that in Minnesota, even in Minneapolis, the Jewish and African American populations are small compared to bigger cities or cities in other parts of the country or world (Jewish= around 46,685/5,132,799 Minnesotans or 0.9% of the population and African American= around 202,972/5,132,799 Minnesotans or 4.1%) .

So this is the first MAAJM I have ever seen.

I had seen a Hasidic Jewish Reggae performer before, but he was from New York, and he was white. (He was the first white reggae perforner I had seen too.)

Maybe this guy was not from Minnesota, maybe he was just visiting. I guess I should have asked for his place of residence!

Anyway, I was glad to see someone so proud of and commited to displaying their faith.

The preppy-est thing I saw today.

Oh I went to a garden party.....

It was an academic garden party in the steamy rain. There we were, a bunch of people dressed nicely, but not too fashion-y. I believe that despite the weather, there were some gents wearing tweed jackets with oval elbow pads.

And then she walked into the tent to show us all up:

Yes, a crisp white dress with purses printed on it. The ensemble was topped off with a bright colored sun hat, dainty designer handbag and springy sandals.

She KNEW how to dress for a garden party.

Just goes to show that we all excel at something.

"And you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself.."

The Turtley-Awesomest thing I say today.

Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day and it was also the 21st Annual Turtle Derby at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. This is a joyful fundraiser held right on the hospital grounds. Pediatric patients, staff and friends gather to watch little turtles race in heat after heat to see who will be the fastest turtle of them all. The little turtles are sponsored by donations and the grand prize is pride!

Though it sounds like a day at the track, the event is aimed at celebration and fun for the children. Music, beads, clowns and balloons are all over the place. There is ice cream and prizes. Kids who cannot be outside get to watch it all on tv with special visitors and their own treats. Kids who can be outside get to party ‘til the turtles need to go home.

Of course all the kids are darling and some are clearly being treated for some illness. Your heart just goes out to them and as a grown up you well up with awe for their bravery! Can you imagine being so young and facing serious health struggles?

One darling girl was dancing about like it was 1999. (Does that line mean anything anymore?) She was full of joy and moving to the music. She had on some movie star sunglasses and was waving about some long, thick, curly movie star hair.

Though that hair did not belong to her naturally, she looked gorgeous. I fought the urge to go up to her, tell her that she looked fierce and then dance about with her for a bit. I decided to just let her mingle with the music.

“You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
Oooo see that girl, watch that scene, diggin’ the Dancing Queen”
-ABBA

The [Prefix]est first blog ever! Or Deja vu

I am taking the blog plunge into "new blog waters...I may go running back to myspace, we'll just have to see.

This little blog is starting because I wanted a place to put the funniest thing I see each day (or as many days as possible). Nothing revolutionary or preachy or intellectual, just letting you lovelies know what things humans do in this wonderful world that put a smile on my face.

Basically- people are amazing and hilarious; they make, say, do and buy unreal things everyday- but you knew that! Maybe you will be willing to share some of the humanity you witness too! I have modified my platform idea to be not just "the funniest thing I saw today" but the "[fill in the prefix]est thing I saw today".

It could be the "nerdiest" or the "lamest" or the "smelliest" (I'll figure out the scent function in this blogger.com system later), you get the point.

Do you think I can get away with that?

I am cheating and reposting my little blog from myspace since I have not quite decided on the [fill in the prefix]est thing I saw today.

So, here is the funniest thing I saw yesterday:

I am sitting at my desk minding my own when I hear this gruff voice behind me say: "Does this person work with you?"

I turn and this guy walks into my cube and asks if I will sign for a package. He is wearing wearing a dirty Twins hat and a UMN vest of some sort. He is quite short and very bearded- in that homeless/ironic hipster unkempt beard kind of way.

He also had no less than 25 pens attached to the drooping collar of his tee-shirt!

The actual pen section of each pen was INSIDE the shirt and the little clip thingies were outside the shirt. The pens were in a variety of colors.

He hands me the package, grabs a pen from his chest and says:

And then I held the pen as lightly as possible and signed his form. Then he left my office.
I couldn't help but wonder what had happened in his life that made him want to keep all those pens so close to his heart. Maybe I did not wait tables long enough to understand?