Yes, today was the big day. Summer has arrived in Minnesota, no more so than in the House of Bridge, where it transpires this means "several hours at the salon". Bits were exfoliated and expilated as have never seen the light of day before. I may go crazy and buy a bikini (although when I showed bridgjo the one I liked the other week, he nodded sagely and said "Yes, you have to have a good figure to show that one off". He likes to help).
I also had my hair done by a very nice chap called Craig. I always like a man who calls me "dear" and cuts each hair individually. This time my hair was cut exactly how I wanted my hair to be cut last time. Result. I went to a shop afterwards and a lady said "Can I help you, Miss?". Money well spent.
I was very happy to run for 40 mins non-stop yesterday. This is quite an achievement for someone for whom the phrase "Half-Marathon" was an alternative name for "Fun-Sized Snickers".
Isabelle, my Swiss friend, is now my running buddy. She learnt English in Norwich and has quite a strong French accent, except now and again, in broad Norwichian she'll say something like "'Ang on, I just need a pee".
The meal the other night was a great success. I always gauge it by how much was left at the end (just enough for Mr Manners). The kids behaved too - at one point all eight were sitting on the one two-seater settee watching The Mummy.
22 May 2009
Chops Away!
We're having people round tomorrow. this is a first for us in a long time, as, because of the rate we move, socialising generally necessitates the purchasing of spare plates and several pieces of furniture.
I am doing an Indian Feast. Slightly scuppered by the fact that I can't find any lamb ("Well, I give give you these two chops") for a lamb spinach dish, and also that there seems to be very few Indian shops where I get get the pudding from (Gulab Jamun). I've had to use beef instead - which doesn't have quite the same texture, and I'll also do chicken biryani, tandoori (without the lurid food colouring), tomato prawn-y thingy, and something with a rather sad aubergine I discovered in the salad drawer.
I've also got a few bottles of wine (2 expensive ones, then the rest tapering off as the evening wears on), and Indian beer.
Slightly concerned that there will also be about 8 children, who will have to sit in the West Wing on the floor with pizza.
I may send bridgjo off to Ikea first thing....
I am doing an Indian Feast. Slightly scuppered by the fact that I can't find any lamb ("Well, I give give you these two chops") for a lamb spinach dish, and also that there seems to be very few Indian shops where I get get the pudding from (Gulab Jamun). I've had to use beef instead - which doesn't have quite the same texture, and I'll also do chicken biryani, tandoori (without the lurid food colouring), tomato prawn-y thingy, and something with a rather sad aubergine I discovered in the salad drawer.
I've also got a few bottles of wine (2 expensive ones, then the rest tapering off as the evening wears on), and Indian beer.
Slightly concerned that there will also be about 8 children, who will have to sit in the West Wing on the floor with pizza.
I may send bridgjo off to Ikea first thing....
15 May 2009
Comedy - Minnesota style
Last night we went to see a comedy show at the Dudley Riggs Comedy theatre. Called "How Minnesotans make love" - it was very funny indeed; a hoot, if you will. They covered all aspects of lurve, apart from fore-play, which apparently in Minnesota means "taking off your parka".
And somebody told me a good definition of the weather here today : there are two seasons in Minnesota - Winter and August.
And somebody told me a good definition of the weather here today : there are two seasons in Minnesota - Winter and August.
13 May 2009
Pancake Mixes - What is the Point?
The standard recipe for pancakes is flour, eggs, milk.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a pack of Lunds and Byerlys Pancake mix. I couldn't help it, it was on offer. Quite frankly, if they offered me a lemon-iced squid with arugula tabbouleh, I would probably be tempted. (n.b arugula apparently is a type of lettuce, not a contemporary of Julius Caesar. Or possibly, it's the brother of Chipotle).
And to this one has to add: 1 egg, milk, butter.
And then it tasted like crap. Sorry, but it did. It was truly nasty. 0g Trans Fat though, as if that makes a difference ("trans fat" is very almost an anagram of "naff taste").
Next Monday they will be doing an aerial bombardment of the local Gypsy Moth population. Although not dangerous to humans, they have said we need to stay indoors with the windows shut, then to wash down the outside area afterwards. Now, bit of a contentious issue this, but I'm not sure that our host country has had that much success historically with aerial chemicals. I've asked bridgjo if we can be away that week-end....
Two ducks have moved in. In spite of there being a pond across the road, they like nothing better than to steal the squirrels' sweet-corn, and to squabble over the tiny bird-bath. It's quite amusing to see them both perched in there at the same time, quacking contentedly like an old married couple sitting in their car at Morcambe and watching the sea.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a pack of Lunds and Byerlys Pancake mix. I couldn't help it, it was on offer. Quite frankly, if they offered me a lemon-iced squid with arugula tabbouleh, I would probably be tempted. (n.b arugula apparently is a type of lettuce, not a contemporary of Julius Caesar. Or possibly, it's the brother of Chipotle).
And to this one has to add: 1 egg, milk, butter.
And then it tasted like crap. Sorry, but it did. It was truly nasty. 0g Trans Fat though, as if that makes a difference ("trans fat" is very almost an anagram of "naff taste").
Next Monday they will be doing an aerial bombardment of the local Gypsy Moth population. Although not dangerous to humans, they have said we need to stay indoors with the windows shut, then to wash down the outside area afterwards. Now, bit of a contentious issue this, but I'm not sure that our host country has had that much success historically with aerial chemicals. I've asked bridgjo if we can be away that week-end....
Two ducks have moved in. In spite of there being a pond across the road, they like nothing better than to steal the squirrels' sweet-corn, and to squabble over the tiny bird-bath. It's quite amusing to see them both perched in there at the same time, quacking contentedly like an old married couple sitting in their car at Morcambe and watching the sea.
11 May 2009
Nuts to Money!
This is a shameless attempt to win a Kindle from Pertuity , so here goes:
My idea if I was given $25,000 dollars would be to set up a web-site to provide and handle a Cashless Scheme for Minnesota. Based on the idea of the informal baby-sitting circles, people would be able to barter and trade tokens (sometimes called nuts) for Talents. Eg 1 hr of baby-sitting = 1 car-wash.
In effect, it would be setting up a digital bank, allowing people to use artificial currency to provide and pay for services.
This anonymous money can be seen as a tax-free way of exchanging currency, whilst benefiting and supporting the local community.
Services would have to be vetted, and would not be allowed to be advertised anoymously so as to preserve what is the naïve base of the entire system.
People would be able to earn "money" doing what they do best, whilst knowing they were helping out others.
A sort of financial Nirvana, without the heavy rock music.
My idea if I was given $25,000 dollars would be to set up a web-site to provide and handle a Cashless Scheme for Minnesota. Based on the idea of the informal baby-sitting circles, people would be able to barter and trade tokens (sometimes called nuts) for Talents. Eg 1 hr of baby-sitting = 1 car-wash.
In effect, it would be setting up a digital bank, allowing people to use artificial currency to provide and pay for services.
This anonymous money can be seen as a tax-free way of exchanging currency, whilst benefiting and supporting the local community.
Services would have to be vetted, and would not be allowed to be advertised anoymously so as to preserve what is the naïve base of the entire system.
People would be able to earn "money" doing what they do best, whilst knowing they were helping out others.
A sort of financial Nirvana, without the heavy rock music.
01 May 2009
The Right to Bare Arms
The more I think about it, the more I reckon the Second Amendment was in actual fact tentatively suggested by a dyslexic Minnesotan in the mistaken belief it may have guaranteed him a couple of warm days each year. Whatever, the day hit a heady 48 degrees, so I was out there in a t-shirt.
Last night I was awoken by gun-fire. Thought maybe it was fire-works, but nooooooo. I wouldn't have thought there would be that much huntin' around here. In fact, I overheard some sound advice in Famous Dave's the other night "...so I never hunt anything that can hunt me back.....".
Reassuringly though, the Connecticut Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would ban children under 16 years old from handling or shooting machine guns. Super.
I have had my permanent crown put in. He showed it me beforehand and it looked unnervingly (root-canal joke) like a real tooth, and put me in mind of where they used to get the teeth from for false sets during the 1800s. And it feels exactly like the old tooth - all the imperfections and everything - almost as if he'd whipped the old one out and just gave it a polish and popped it right back in again. I'd have the other one I need doing too - but unfortunately my insurance won't pay for it. Ya' in America now, Buddy!
Last night I was awoken by gun-fire. Thought maybe it was fire-works, but nooooooo. I wouldn't have thought there would be that much huntin' around here. In fact, I overheard some sound advice in Famous Dave's the other night "...so I never hunt anything that can hunt me back.....".
Reassuringly though, the Connecticut Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would ban children under 16 years old from handling or shooting machine guns. Super.
I have had my permanent crown put in. He showed it me beforehand and it looked unnervingly (root-canal joke) like a real tooth, and put me in mind of where they used to get the teeth from for false sets during the 1800s. And it feels exactly like the old tooth - all the imperfections and everything - almost as if he'd whipped the old one out and just gave it a polish and popped it right back in again. I'd have the other one I need doing too - but unfortunately my insurance won't pay for it. Ya' in America now, Buddy!
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