Met all my neighbo(u)rs this evening at the newly formed Neighborhood Watch group at Nancy's house. They were all very nice, and there were cookies. The police liaison officer was also called Nancy, which made it easy for me. She lived close by the "County Workhouse". Apparently, there is also a borstal nearby, from which a young lad absconded the other day and car-jacked a woman in her drive-way.
There is a number you can call if you go on holiday, and a nice police-man (who is actually a retiree) will come round once a day and check the house. Unfortunately, although one of the Nancies asked, they do not also feed the dog and water the flowers.
Although I had problems in Geneva following conversations in French, I sometimes suffer the same affliction here with American. Nancy-the-Liasiiaiason-Person was talking about the problem of solicitors coming to your door, and what approach you needed. It took me a few minutes to realise that this was not actually lawyers looking for work.
You can call 911 here even if you don't have an emergency, even if you just knock down a deer - "although in that case, it may take as long as 30 minutes for a policeman to swing by".
We have a bit a coyote problem here, and they sometimes get into your garden causing havoc with the aspidistra (again, I was a bit lost, as I thought this woman was talking about the local football team supporters). She was upset to call this in, as a policeman turned up with a rifle from the appropriately named "Dispatch".
Which brings us nicely to the Deer Management Program which exists in Minnetonka. Although Bridgjo had a good attempt the other night when he came across a herd on the local side-street, they do have an official way to, as they call it, "harvest" them. Twice a year they will cull, and give the venison to the local poor. How very Good King Wencelas Last. Although the Johnsons on the corner were a bit miffed, as they are not supposed to do this in residential areas, yet the DMP put out bait in their drive, sat in a car at the end of it, then left a nice pool (presumably without the chalk-outline) where they normally park their car.
I suggested it might be a nice idea if we knew when there was going to be any shooting in the street.
27 October 2008
26 October 2008
Minnesota Ice
There is a phrase in Minnesota - "Minnesota Nice", which describes people's personality here. However, the weather tends to drop a consonant. We had our first truly cold day today, and received the memorable line from T: "Mummy, what does 'sleet' mean?". I am hoping next week to organize a mums' field-trip to the Bloomington Coat place, for half-price clothing. It's about 60 miles away, and I am not sure I can cope for that distance without giving into temptation and earning myself another speeding ticket.
Tomorrow I am off out to the 'burbs to pick up a free barbecue (I got a crock-pot last week) and cauldron.
This is if we don't get snowed-in.
Tomorrow I am off out to the 'burbs to pick up a free barbecue (I got a crock-pot last week) and cauldron.
This is if we don't get snowed-in.
25 October 2008
How times change...
There was a time, round about eleven, I really did not want to go out of the house dressed as the lagging around a hot water tank. However....the chances of snow tomorrow are quite high, and the "lagging" for sale here, is good for minus 40 degrees (isn't that close to absolute zero? Would you really want to snow-board in that weather?).
I get the impression that the fashion here has been design/approved by someone's auntie, as all the t-shirts come down about 6 inches below your belt buckle, presumably to keep your kidneys warm.The sign next to my gym reads "Do not enter street when snow exceeds 2 meters". Oh aye? And wot sort of fule goes out when the snow is deeper than 2 meters, pray?
22 October 2008
Myths and Fallacies
We were talking about the weather at school this morning. I strongly suspect that this is a topic of conversation which is savaged even more so than in England. I twittered that I'd heard that it gets so cold that a cup of thrown hot coffee will turn to ice. "Not at all," said one of the mums - phew! - "It turns to snow". Oh.
Bridgjo has volunteered me to be a member of the PTA - I may get voted in tomorrow night. I am writing my acceptance speech as we speak, as apparently no other bugger fancies doing it. As long as there is coffee involved. The Parent/Teachers meeting tomorrow is from 6pm - 8pm, but includes baby-sitting and pizza for the kids. I may need to smuggle some gin in.
This evening we put up the pumpkin fairy lights outside for T, and started carving her second pumpkin. I am heartily fed-up of pumpkin soup, although I have only made it once so far, from the remnants of the first pumpkin. I roasted it and pureed it with cream and Gruyere. I figure we need the calories for when the cold sets in.
We are taking Hallowe'en very seriously (although unfortunately the first bag of chocolate "treats" has already met an early demise....).
I did an hour's kick-boxing today. I kept trying to do it with my eyes closed (and falling over), so I didn't need to see my reflection stretching back to infinity, as I am completely unco-ordinated, and it kept reminding me of those reasons why I was always picked last for rounders.
T's and my names are down for ice-skating. T had said that she wanted to do it, then changed her mind and said she didn't. Bridgjo wanted to go along with what T said, but I feel she has sometimes far too much choice for a 5 year-old. She will do ice-skating, and love it! The rink is only about 5 mins away, but the next term doesn't start until January. It is in a little precinct next to the police-station. The speed-limit is 10k there, and, do you know, I keep exactly to that speed (now).
The school at the end of the road has two out-door rinks that they flood with water, although Andrea, who I had coffee with yesterday, said it gets a bit tufty with the grass underneath. I noticed flyers in the toilets at the rink for companies who can come round to your house and flood your back-yard with water to make it skateable.
Bridgjo has volunteered me to be a member of the PTA - I may get voted in tomorrow night. I am writing my acceptance speech as we speak, as apparently no other bugger fancies doing it. As long as there is coffee involved. The Parent/Teachers meeting tomorrow is from 6pm - 8pm, but includes baby-sitting and pizza for the kids. I may need to smuggle some gin in.
This evening we put up the pumpkin fairy lights outside for T, and started carving her second pumpkin. I am heartily fed-up of pumpkin soup, although I have only made it once so far, from the remnants of the first pumpkin. I roasted it and pureed it with cream and Gruyere. I figure we need the calories for when the cold sets in.
We are taking Hallowe'en very seriously (although unfortunately the first bag of chocolate "treats" has already met an early demise....).
I did an hour's kick-boxing today. I kept trying to do it with my eyes closed (and falling over), so I didn't need to see my reflection stretching back to infinity, as I am completely unco-ordinated, and it kept reminding me of those reasons why I was always picked last for rounders.
T's and my names are down for ice-skating. T had said that she wanted to do it, then changed her mind and said she didn't. Bridgjo wanted to go along with what T said, but I feel she has sometimes far too much choice for a 5 year-old. She will do ice-skating, and love it! The rink is only about 5 mins away, but the next term doesn't start until January. It is in a little precinct next to the police-station. The speed-limit is 10k there, and, do you know, I keep exactly to that speed (now).
The school at the end of the road has two out-door rinks that they flood with water, although Andrea, who I had coffee with yesterday, said it gets a bit tufty with the grass underneath. I noticed flyers in the toilets at the rink for companies who can come round to your house and flood your back-yard with water to make it skateable.
21 October 2008
Where are my Knickers (Part 2)
So, Bridgjo forgot to empty his knicker and sock drawer before the hire-furniture removal men took the chest-of-drawers away yesterday.
And whose fault was it?
And whose fault was it?
20 October 2008
A sofa of my own
Today, in a finely choreographed display of little men, the following occurred:
1) The collection of the hire furniture;
2) The delivery of the Ikea sofas and side tables ordered yesterday; and
3) The delivery of all the rest of our belongings from Switzerland.
And they all turned up at 8am.
And refused any tea all day. (I'm used to English workmen saying "If you're making one, love...". They even refused a beer. Very odd).
I have unpacked the kitchen but then lost all hope. Bridgjo says we can turn the East Wing, which we don't currently use, into a storage facility for the next 3 years, and not actually unpack at all. However, I am hoping to make the sort of friends I can invite around for a meal, so hope that even that cavernous area is furnished at least with a rug and comfortable chair by the time guests come by. Of course, this would mean another trip to Ikea.
But at least now I have a sofa of my own....
1) The collection of the hire furniture;
2) The delivery of the Ikea sofas and side tables ordered yesterday; and
3) The delivery of all the rest of our belongings from Switzerland.
And they all turned up at 8am.
And refused any tea all day. (I'm used to English workmen saying "If you're making one, love...". They even refused a beer. Very odd).
I have unpacked the kitchen but then lost all hope. Bridgjo says we can turn the East Wing, which we don't currently use, into a storage facility for the next 3 years, and not actually unpack at all. However, I am hoping to make the sort of friends I can invite around for a meal, so hope that even that cavernous area is furnished at least with a rug and comfortable chair by the time guests come by. Of course, this would mean another trip to Ikea.
But at least now I have a sofa of my own....
19 October 2008
Scrugg....Moge...Flubbel....
We spent the afternoon in Ikea. Towards the end we were not speaking, apart from making up shelving names. This is in spite of having the traditional Ikea row in the car-park before-hand, in order to get it out of the way. In spite of that, we've managed to get about a billion set of curtains (we suffer from a surfeit of open door-ways), a set of shelves, two sofas, a TV, TV-Stand, and, oh look, I've lost interest again.....
Beforehand, we popped next-door to the Mall of America to spoil T before the onslaught of what is Ikea-shopping-Madness by taking her on several rides. We also ate at the Napa Valey resto, which was particularly yummy, and the only place we have ever been to which has a proper children's menu (i.e. real meals, and not mac n cheese, chicken bits etc). We both had steak, eggs and potatoes (rib eye), and T had a three-course meal of celery and carrot, chicken pasta, and real vanilla ice-cream. It came to about $40, so not bad.
We also went to Fort Snelling, where I kept getting alarmed by actors leaping out at me in order to bow. I found myself bobbing towards the end, which never looks good in jeans. Very interesting though and worth the $10 entrance. Unfortunately, I forgot that it is one of the places you can get in for free if you go the local library before-hand.
One of the conversations had here, led me to examine the extremely warm coats options at the Mall. Some excellent ones for minus 20 degrees F for about $179 at Eddie Bauer (http://www.eddiebauer.com/home.jsp). The particularly spunky young officer in question was telling me that it gets so cold here, that you can take a cup of boiling coffee (would Ovaltine work?), throw it up into the air, and it will shatter when it hits the ground. Beats my story about frying eggs on Perth pavements hands-down.
Beforehand, we popped next-door to the Mall of America to spoil T before the onslaught of what is Ikea-shopping-Madness by taking her on several rides. We also ate at the Napa Valey resto, which was particularly yummy, and the only place we have ever been to which has a proper children's menu (i.e. real meals, and not mac n cheese, chicken bits etc). We both had steak, eggs and potatoes (rib eye), and T had a three-course meal of celery and carrot, chicken pasta, and real vanilla ice-cream. It came to about $40, so not bad.
We also went to Fort Snelling, where I kept getting alarmed by actors leaping out at me in order to bow. I found myself bobbing towards the end, which never looks good in jeans. Very interesting though and worth the $10 entrance. Unfortunately, I forgot that it is one of the places you can get in for free if you go the local library before-hand.
One of the conversations had here, led me to examine the extremely warm coats options at the Mall. Some excellent ones for minus 20 degrees F for about $179 at Eddie Bauer (http://www.eddiebauer.com/home.jsp). The particularly spunky young officer in question was telling me that it gets so cold here, that you can take a cup of boiling coffee (would Ovaltine work?), throw it up into the air, and it will shatter when it hits the ground. Beats my story about frying eggs on Perth pavements hands-down.
17 October 2008
Brrrrr!
It's definately working its way up to winter now. Like a petulant child, the weather has shrugged off any warmth and thrown all the leaves to one side. I will now officially turn on the heating ("What?!! Before the 1st November? Are you mad?!?").
Today the gardening man came round to sum up mowing once a fortnight (though normally it's weekly because of all the reticulation no-one actually needs), clearing up and weeding. From November to March he stops his weeding and turns to clearing snow off drive-ways ("whilst you sleep"). I have a sneaky suspicion bridgjo will want to tackle all of this himself, but I really can't see him sticking at it. He claimed he did the mowing in Geneva - no. I did the mowing. You would turn up at 5pm and say "Let me just do this last bit for you". Creepy though it sounds, I think I rather like the idea of someone doing stuff for me whilst I sleep.
I met my official new best friend testerday. She's an English person who's been forced to come round and meet me via someone else from school ("oh you must meet up for a coffee" - from which I inferred "I have no intention of having a coffee with you, but I have a distant desperate acquaintance who might").
Anyhow, she seems nice....although I think it was a bit of a test as she picked up her crying 2.5 year-old and started to feed him. Ummm. (I've sort of always been of the opinion "if they are old enough to ask.....").
Today the gardening man came round to sum up mowing once a fortnight (though normally it's weekly because of all the reticulation no-one actually needs), clearing up and weeding. From November to March he stops his weeding and turns to clearing snow off drive-ways ("whilst you sleep"). I have a sneaky suspicion bridgjo will want to tackle all of this himself, but I really can't see him sticking at it. He claimed he did the mowing in Geneva - no. I did the mowing. You would turn up at 5pm and say "Let me just do this last bit for you". Creepy though it sounds, I think I rather like the idea of someone doing stuff for me whilst I sleep.
I met my official new best friend testerday. She's an English person who's been forced to come round and meet me via someone else from school ("oh you must meet up for a coffee" - from which I inferred "I have no intention of having a coffee with you, but I have a distant desperate acquaintance who might").
Anyhow, she seems nice....although I think it was a bit of a test as she picked up her crying 2.5 year-old and started to feed him. Ummm. (I've sort of always been of the opinion "if they are old enough to ask.....").
13 October 2008
Pride goeth before destruction...
So I was quite chipper getting my Minnesota license - right up to the point I was pulled over for speeding. Yes, I was doing 65. And yes, it was a 50 zone. But, I mean, really. Actually, it was a little bit scarey. Suddenly this Christmas tree came up right behind me about a foot from my back-end. And when I pulled over, and he got out of the car, I could see him in the wing-mirror. I squeaked. I saw him fiddle with his waist-band, and realized Goodness Gracious, he's packin'! So, now, after $148, I am driving very well indeed. Oh - and ways to make yourself look like a complete n*b. He left me saying "Now drive carefully, now y'all" (possibley), and first I put the car in reverse (it is an automatic), and he beeped. And then I drove off with the hand-brake on.
This weekend we went to Linden Hills which gives the impression of being slightly bohemian. First good point is that there is a kids book-shop (Wild Rumpus), which also has animals. In the guid-book I inferred that these were toy ones. Nope, actually you have to move the tabby off the Diana Wynne-Jones, and there is a caged rat under the floor-boards. (And also chinchillas, parakeets, a rather sullen-looking tarantula and some lizards). You mostly can't see the reptiles though, because of aforesaid cats which like to drape themselves over the heat-lamps.
Very handily, just next door, there is Cafe 28. Everything on the menu is under $10 and is the perfect Sunday brekkie/brunch place. Decent coffee too (good yard0stick). I had French toast with caramelized figs and pears, cut slightly with alcohol just to smooth out the sugar (although I was also offered extra maple syrup). Most of it was devoured by a 5 year-old. You can pay for extra sides too, but really it was quite sophisticated and plentiful for the price.
This weekend we went to Linden Hills which gives the impression of being slightly bohemian. First good point is that there is a kids book-shop (Wild Rumpus), which also has animals. In the guid-book I inferred that these were toy ones. Nope, actually you have to move the tabby off the Diana Wynne-Jones, and there is a caged rat under the floor-boards. (And also chinchillas, parakeets, a rather sullen-looking tarantula and some lizards). You mostly can't see the reptiles though, because of aforesaid cats which like to drape themselves over the heat-lamps.
Very handily, just next door, there is Cafe 28. Everything on the menu is under $10 and is the perfect Sunday brekkie/brunch place. Decent coffee too (good yard0stick). I had French toast with caramelized figs and pears, cut slightly with alcohol just to smooth out the sugar (although I was also offered extra maple syrup). Most of it was devoured by a 5 year-old. You can pay for extra sides too, but really it was quite sophisticated and plentiful for the price.
09 October 2008
Gimme coffee, or give me death
T has taken up swimming. It's a really nice swim-school (Foss), conveniently in the same shopping mall as TJ Mexx, in a little class of two other boys. She's swimming under water, and flipping on her back pretending to be a star-fish. We're very proud.
I have finally found a decent coffee house - called the Depot (in case you're ever in the neighborhood - oh look, I've just dropped an 'o'). They play Barb (as in Dylan, as he lived just up the road) and do a real genuine bagel. And good coffee! And they also have The Onion every Thursday which I am currently using for research into American mores (plus it is hysterically, snorting-coffee-out-your-nose funny). I think it is also web-enabled.
Fresh Seasons Market just round the corner is an excellent supermarket. Even has Branston Pickle and Lea& Perrins (two storecupboard stand-by I always have, yet for some strange reason, never actually use. I think I find the labels comforting). The manager immediately recognised I was out-of-town and came and introduced himself, then aftrerwards tracked me down in condiments and gave me a bottle of Garlic Marinade as a welcome-to-the neighbourhood (ah, the 'u' is back again) gift.
As an addendum to the McCain poster-thing - I noticed today all the McCain&Palin posters on people's lawns have been replaced with Another Family for McCain (where Another and Family are written really small, so it reads "Family McCain"). As this was done under cover of darkness, does it mean that he is trying to distance himself from the backcombed-one?
I have finally found a decent coffee house - called the Depot (in case you're ever in the neighborhood - oh look, I've just dropped an 'o'). They play Barb (as in Dylan, as he lived just up the road) and do a real genuine bagel. And good coffee! And they also have The Onion every Thursday which I am currently using for research into American mores (plus it is hysterically, snorting-coffee-out-your-nose funny). I think it is also web-enabled.
Fresh Seasons Market just round the corner is an excellent supermarket. Even has Branston Pickle and Lea& Perrins (two storecupboard stand-by I always have, yet for some strange reason, never actually use. I think I find the labels comforting). The manager immediately recognised I was out-of-town and came and introduced himself, then aftrerwards tracked me down in condiments and gave me a bottle of Garlic Marinade as a welcome-to-the neighbourhood (ah, the 'u' is back again) gift.
As an addendum to the McCain poster-thing - I noticed today all the McCain&Palin posters on people's lawns have been replaced with Another Family for McCain (where Another and Family are written really small, so it reads "Family McCain"). As this was done under cover of darkness, does it mean that he is trying to distance himself from the backcombed-one?
07 October 2008
Oh McCain....you've done it again...
Everyone is McCain crazy in our street. McCain/Palin signs are on everyone's front lawn (which of course do not have the huge English-style leylandii hedges around them). One person has an Obama sign, but they had hid it behind the aspidistra. At Barns & Noble, for the ultimate in propoganda, you can get children's board story books about each candidate - "My Dad John", and "My Dad Barack", if memory serves. I was a bit spaced-out to be honest, having never been in such a massive book-shop, feeling the need to rock forawards and backwards, sobbing quietly "but I can't find a single book.....".
We are now proud owners of cars. I have, in English terms, a massive 4-wheel drive...although I tend to lose it at the supermarket as it is easily dwarved by all the others. I had problems filling-up the other day as the hose kept clicking off. The man came out and explained slowly that the tank was full. "But it's only $35", I stuttered. Bridgjo has a cheese-coloured mini to offset our carbon-footprint. Buying a car meant that we had to take the driving test (written and practical). The examiner drew pictures and explained very carefully what he would be testing us on, and where we might go wrong. I still failed on one thing though; turning left from an unmarked two-lane road to a marked road. Bridgjo failed on two things (I have it in writing that I am the better man), but regardless, we have both passed. Actual licenses take 4-6 weeks to get dispatched. I still feel as if I am breaking the law turning on a red light. Not yet attempted a left-turn on a red light (from one-way to a one-way), as I think that quite frankly, I am going to one day lose all reason and attempt a straight-on on a red-light too.
On Sunday, we went crazy and took advantage of the opening-hours. Even the library was open.
We also braved the kitchens of Mickey's Diner, which was brilliant and cheap. The hash even had brown bits in. After that we went to the kids museum....an easy way to spend a rainy Sunday.
In the meantime, my one big complaint about the US so far is the dearth of decent toilet paper. One-ply surely means you use four-times as much. I did hear that the chap who played Knight Rider insisted his kids could only use two sheets per visit. The love was shared by his daughter, several frustrated years later, by posting a video of him on YouTube attempting to eat a hamburger drunk. Let that be a lesson.
We are now proud owners of cars. I have, in English terms, a massive 4-wheel drive...although I tend to lose it at the supermarket as it is easily dwarved by all the others. I had problems filling-up the other day as the hose kept clicking off. The man came out and explained slowly that the tank was full. "But it's only $35", I stuttered. Bridgjo has a cheese-coloured mini to offset our carbon-footprint. Buying a car meant that we had to take the driving test (written and practical). The examiner drew pictures and explained very carefully what he would be testing us on, and where we might go wrong. I still failed on one thing though; turning left from an unmarked two-lane road to a marked road. Bridgjo failed on two things (I have it in writing that I am the better man), but regardless, we have both passed. Actual licenses take 4-6 weeks to get dispatched. I still feel as if I am breaking the law turning on a red light. Not yet attempted a left-turn on a red light (from one-way to a one-way), as I think that quite frankly, I am going to one day lose all reason and attempt a straight-on on a red-light too.
On Sunday, we went crazy and took advantage of the opening-hours. Even the library was open.
We also braved the kitchens of Mickey's Diner, which was brilliant and cheap. The hash even had brown bits in. After that we went to the kids museum....an easy way to spend a rainy Sunday.
In the meantime, my one big complaint about the US so far is the dearth of decent toilet paper. One-ply surely means you use four-times as much. I did hear that the chap who played Knight Rider insisted his kids could only use two sheets per visit. The love was shared by his daughter, several frustrated years later, by posting a video of him on YouTube attempting to eat a hamburger drunk. Let that be a lesson.
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