For All The World To See!
[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends][User Info]
Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "The Wandering Explorer" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
|
10:35 pm
[Link] |
Come Down, Golden Hair
Last week wasn't a great week for me. Nothing major, thankfully, but still a long week that has left me a bit drained as I prepare to face the next one. There is a hope that things will be better, but I am not consigned to optimism just yet. Perhaps it is Seasonal Affective Disorder, perhaps it is simply a blue mood.
In an attempt to break the bad spirit that seemed to be following me around, I went out Friday with Alexandra to see Tom Stoppard's "Rock'n'Roll." It's a Tom Stoppard biographic, drawn on many of his experiences as Czech ex-pat during the rise and fall of the Soviet Bloc. I really enjoyed it. It never relies on situational drama for its beauty, instead giving us vignettes in the lives of English and Czech characters as they deal with the Czech communists and Velvet Revolution, as well as the role of Rock and Roll in it all. The songs used in the show were recognizeable and well-chosen. It was a good way to escape some reality on a Friday evening after a pasta dinner.
Saturday and Sunday were relaxing enough, with gaming of all varieties and a fair amount of unhealthy food. It's a good way to relax, but tomorrow I'm back at it, into the blizzard and the thick of legal action.
We'll see what comes next.
|
|
11:03 pm
[Link] |
Eating Your Way To The Top -or- Consuming For Fun And Profit
I've spent all my money. It kind of snuck up on me.
It began last Wednesday. Katie K., Rita, and Brandyn joined me on a cold and dark evening in the Warehouse District to scout out the purported best restaurant in the Twin Cities, Bar La Grassa. It has been talked up a great deal, so I was prepared to turn my discerning eye and pallette to the place. I was not disappointed. The food was probably the best I have had in a year. Truly fantastic cooking. The atmosphere was appropriate for the Warehouse District, but with enough of a touch of class to give it a distinctive edge. We had a languid three-hour meal, in the European style, and by the time 10:30 rolled around I was ready for the drive home and bed.
There is something delightful about a drive home in the black of a cold night.
Friday Katie I., Dave B. and I met up at La Grolla and I had a truly excellent pasta carbonara that I have to restrain myself from going into great detail about. I have deleted a paragraph of text describing it, dear readers, for your sake. We then hit the cold streets and walked half a block to the Happy Gnome, where we shoved into a corner with Sam and Amy and laughed the night away.
Wasting no time in the morning, I spent the day sleeping the week off. That night, Anastasia and I swung by Kincaids for dinner and then rushed off to the opera. The Winter Carnival was in full swing, and the subject of the Opera was none other than Queen Elizabeth I, so it seemed a royalist evening. This made my partisan blood boil, but I survived. We ate dinner and watched the Vulcan Krewe light up the night sky with huge gouts of flame, and then stepped into our box seats at the Ordway to take in the show. It was really lovely. A "Stand-and-Sing," as I have dubbed it, the Queen and Roberto Devereux both filled the theater with their sound. It resonated on an emotional level as well, stirring a sense of passion.
Leaving no rest for the weary, I hauled myself out of bed on Sunday, met up with Anastasia (again), her friends Amanda and Emery, and drove up to Cold Spring for my Father's birthday. Amanda and Stasia played some beautiful music for the large crowd that attended, and I enjoyed an otherwise quiet family gathering.
So when Monday struck, I remained quite tired and hit the ground running. It's been a wet and rainy week, something that I've had to struggle with to haul myself out of bed. I had the most delightful dream Tuesday morning, in which it was summer and pleasant. Waking up to bitter cold and a pale moon through the shades was less than pleasant.
Not that the week has been all bad. Tuesday, at a meet-and-greet for law students, I ran into someone I knew from high school. We had been to Germany together, and so the both of us recognized each other and were glad to catch up a bit. Wednesday Harold and Gwen had me over for Pork Wellington, which defeated the Chocolate Ganache Napoleon. And there's been gaming in between.
But you can understand why I've put on some weight and run out of disposable income.
|
|
07:14 pm
[Link] |
Hunt The Hare And turn Around
I would have liked to sleep in on Saturday, as I was up until the wee hours of Friday night and my energy levels were flagging. Sadly, it was not to be. I hauled myself out of bed and stumbled about starting my day.
I began by judging the Hamline National Moot Court team in yet another practice round. Preparing for their national run, I am always glad to lend a hand to the students who are on the verge of national victory. Their coaches are friends of mine, and the energy laid back. Afterwards, Dave B. and I went for lunch at the St. Claire Broiler to discuss the usual manner of things. Dave and I see each other quite frequently, and so it was more small talk and amusing anecdotes than heart-to-hearts.
Afterwards I zipped home briefly enough to then swing up to Ryan and Heather's for a round of "Conquest of the Empire." Jeff, Ryan and a (new) Dave and I battled for control of Rome (I won) and discussed all manner of geeky things. Hitting the road yet again I swept West by South West and ran to Craftsman to have dinner with Natalie and Matt. We ate Charcuterie and Sausage, drank Old Fashioneds and discussed the past few months. I haven't had a chance to spend much time with Natalie and Matt since their return from Europe, and so I was able to finally hear all the excellent stories they brought with them. I was left with a hankering for French cuisine, though the Craftsman's food was excellent.
My final stop of the rainy and cold day was a party thrown by my friends Mary and Jennie as a fund-raiser for Haiti's relief. It was populated mostly by my colleagues from law school, and I arrived with Ms. Katie I to a warm house and a fine glass of wine. We all ate and danced the night away, though I abstained from more than a glass due to the fact that I was driving. By the time we were done dancing, laughing, and drawing odd sketches of Mr. Dorothy, it was 1:00 a.m. and we had raised $800.00+ from a small crowd.
And so I finally made it home, having spent a rainy and icey day running about the cold and damp. It was a fine January day, and I didn't get out of bed on Sunday until Noon.
|
|
12:58 am
[Link] |
And As The Sunset Came To Meet The Evening On The Hill
I watched Conan O'Brien's last show tonight. It made me very sad, as part of something fun and beautiful in this world disappeared. I know it's been in the news a lot lately, and I try to avoid commenting on current events, but I felt the need to record something. Conan O'Brien is literally the funniest man I know. He has written, performed, or directed the things in this life that have made me laugh the hardest: SNL sketches, Simpsons episodes, and his Late Night show. They have produced the catch-phrases and common jokes that unite me with my friends.
There is more to come, but I am always saddened by the inevitable end of the Good Things.
A lot has happened since my last post. After several days of attempted convalesence, I finally decided to step out for a bit. I discovered that the only source of reliable vitamin C in my house was a bag of limes. Generally being ill enough that grocery shopping was a poor choice, so I ended up consuming gallons of lime water for some time. Finally having enough of it, I ventured out to refill food supplies and take in a bit of sunlight. It worked, and I was refreshed.
Last Thursday I got a call a late night at work. It turns out Mr. Tim Ryder was in town for a whirlwind comedy show and wanted to grab a quick dinner. Glad I had stayed in Downtown, I eagerly met him at the Newsroom for a nip and a nosh. And as quickly as that, it was over. The weekend was equally as whirlwind, with a game on Friday night, brunch with the opera folk on Saturday, a few more rounds of this and that, and some Rock Band to wrap up the evening. Sunday was the Vikings game with Sam and Amy, and then off to Cold Spring.
The great Dwyer diaspora continues and on Sunday I saw John off to London, Greece, and beyond. We had a lovely dinner with my great aunts and uncles and grandparents and sang the songs we loved. It was nice to have the whole family singing, though John was undoubtably the leader of the band. We ended on "The Parting Touch," appropriately enough, and I said my goodbyes and went home. The next time I see my siblings, we'll be in Kenya.
Wednesday I met up with Scott and Laura at Black Sheep Pizza. It's a coal-fired pizza joint, and the neopolitan style was just what I needed to get me through the week. Last night Rob M. and I caught my usual excellent seats for the Wild game, where we watched the home team lose in a shoot-out. That was unfortunate, but if you're going to watch the home team lose on a shoot out, our goal-side seats were pretty good. Afterwards we retreated to the Liffey, where Mariah brought me the usual and I was able to leave my troubles behind for a while.
And tonight I was back with the gaming crowd, laughing and having a grand old time. We ended the night with Conan, on a sad note, and I find myself now alone in the dark, thinking on all good things.
More good things are to come, I am sure.
|
|
10:33 am
[Link] |
Was Feelin' About Half-Past Dead
Aside from the illness that seems to have crept past my defenses as I spent last weekend relaxing, this week went fine. That's a bit of a loaded statement, seeing as how without the illness I probably would have had a lot more fun, but I have no complaints. I held out as long as I could, but sleeping for 10-12 hours a day just isn't - exciting - the way people expect a young bachelor like myself to be.
And let's be honest, people don't expect that much excitement from me.
An interesting highlight came on Thursday. After some evening meetings, I went to the Minnesota Capitol to assist my friend Ryan with his Youth in Government program. The State Capitol is an absolutely gorgeous building, designed by the same man who designed the US House of Representatives. It has arcing marble designs, Baroque frescos, and sweeing grandeur. It's a pleasure to visit any time the opportunity presents.
The goal of Youth in Government is, predictably, to expose high school students to the workings of government. Ryan, the man who introduced me to it, is a graduate of the program who cites it as his inspiration for going to law school. I was called in to serve as a judge for a mock oral argument that was taking place. The advocates appearing included my stalwart friend Joshua D. and one of his teammates from Hamline's National Moot Court team. I have judged them before, as recorded here, and I resolved to be nicer this time around. Not a lot nicer, but since other people were watching it seemed appropriate.
The kicker is this. We were sitting in the actual Minnesota Supreme Court, a lavishly decorated room, in the full look at garb of the actual Court. So I, in robe and high backed chair, took on the role of Chief Justice. Pictures confirmed what I suspected - I made it look good.
Now it was, of course, for show. But I always enjoy such things immensely and, since this qualifies as a good cause, it's hard to find fault with me stoking my ego.
So until next time, I will simply say: "Some day."
|
|
06:25 pm
[Link] |
There's Always One More Thing . . .
The new year has come, and New Year's Eve has gone. And what a time it was.
After spending the morning in Court and grabbing a sandwich with Mike and Kieran at (of all places) Kieran's pub. Afterwards I spent the afternoon preparing for my usual New Year's Eve bash. It is my solemn responsibility to host the annual festivities for one of my circles of friends. It is not limited to just that circle, of course, but every year since 2001 I've been in charge of organizing the party - it seems fitting to end the decade with one more.
And so, with a mighty spread of food laid out, bottles of wine set open, and Frank and Bobby singing on the radio, the scene was set. The usual suspects were in attendance, and a good number of fresher faces as well. Friends from law school, college, high school and beyond all came to help me drink my wine and pass the evening.
And so we did. I'm sure you'd like some sordid details from the party, but the simple fact of the matter is that there were no sordid events to report. We had a great deal of fun. Plenty of laughter, good attendance, and good food. Our toast to 2010 was spot on time, but we were awake until the wee hourso of the morning.
And now into 2010. The first meal of 2010 was an omlette from the St. Claire Broiler, the first song was "Galway Girl," and the first game "Arkham Horror." I'm taking it pretty easy - I think it's the right way to begin any year.
|
|
06:23 pm
[Link] |
Let The Wind Blow High, Let The Wind Blow Low
The aforementioned Christmas celebrations have continued. Sunday night I joined my Hamline colleagues for holiday cheer at Cooper's, the newest Irish pub in town. On Tuesday Alexandra and I attended a fantastic dinner hosted by John W. for the holidays. We drank wine as old as I am, ate rare buffalo steak, and passed the evening in comfort. Really, it's been a fine week of dinners, litigation, and playing in the snow.
When I was 16, I recall making a snow fort. Last week, 'round Christmas, I also built a snow fort. Both were excellent. Some things never change. It's hard to believe what has changed over the last decade.
The world events are well-documented, but they have defined my entire adult life. Bush v. Gore and the Florida election. The Terrorist Attacks of September 11. The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hurricane Katrina. The election of Barack Obama. So on and so forth.
Personally, the milestones are equally important. Graduating from high school, college, and law school. Travelling to Germany, London, Washington, D.C., the Grand Canyon, and many other places. When 2000 rolled in, I had only met a handful of the people who I consider to be my close friends - and I'm pleased to note they still are my friends. I could go on and on, but much is already written in these fine pages.
2009 was equally a good year. It saw a new job, a new house, friends married, cities visited, and much more in between. Last year I declared that I would make 2009 a great year. I did just that.
And so for 2010, I will make it an even better year. I'm thinking this will be the Year of Adventure. Stay tuned, loyal readers. Much more will be forthcoming.
|
|
12:56 pm
[Link] |
Just Like The One I Used To Know
The Christmas celebrations have been ongoing for some time now, and aren't going to wrap up even though Christmas day has come and gone. I imagine I'll be celebrating throughout the 12 Days of Christmas, though this is not a bad thing in and of itself.
Last Friday I started out the week of celebrations by attending a party hosted by Anastasia and her house-mates and another party hosted by Joshua Spotts. Both were well attended and well stocked, though of decidedly different tenor. The former was of more subdued and collegial atmosphere, while the latter was louder and in keeping the crowd's usual flare for the absurd.
Saturday I chose to do my Christmas shopping. Having little interest in slogging through malls and parking lots, I exercised my options in the neighborhood and spent several hours strolling up and down Grand Avenue. The shops there provided ample bounty from which to select appropriate gifts and I felt appropriately urban to shop in such a fashion. After lunc with my father and another round of cleaning, I rousted and attended Peter and Julie's Christmas party, which was dedicated to decorating Gingerbread Houses in a competition of sorts. Sadly, no one on my team brought appropriate materials to decorate such a house. Thankfully, Kieran and I were resourceful enough to raid the host's kitchen and so ended up with a unique and otherwise delightful gingerbread house. It may not have been edible, what with the abundance of cinnamon sticks and uncooked grains, but it was pretty.
Sunday Raph and his girlfriend Molly G. flew in to town, and I was back at it. We hit up Andy and Rita's Christmas Brunch, engaged in a quick but fruitful gift exchange, and then wandered about the MIA for a few hours. There is something Christmas-y about wandering the lofty and long halls of the large local art museum, and it is spiritually enriching to see works by the masters. The afternoon spent in loftier pursuits, we then got a rich and long dinner at Pazza Luna to prepare us for the week in full.
Monday I spent most of the daylight in the office, caught in the Christmas rush. That evening Raph and I went down to the Avalanche v. Wild hockey game - the reason for his trip, as the Avs are his favorite team. Our rink-side seats were quite good, but sadly the Wild were defeated. Raph was flush with victory and I spent most of the night watching his back lest angry locals decide to do him in because of his allegiance and jersey.
Tuesday I saw Molly and Raph off after a nice breakfast, was back at the office where I was greeted with a new iPhone and more projects. Finally wrapping it up I swung by Natalie and Matts for a quick hello with those world travellers, as well as Pat and Kelly, and then returned home to meet up with TJ and Shanna, who were coming through on their way to Duluth. Offering them a bit of respite and a bed to sleep on, we had a nice dinner at Bonfire and were up far too late playing a board game Molly had given me called "Ninja v. Ninja" before we hit the hay.
Wednesday after work I made a frantic drive North by Northwest with Kieran, trying to beat the inclement weather home for Christmas. While we did not succeed, our trip was not harried in any real fashion and by some Christmas miracle we left earlier than our agreed upon start time.
Christmas Eve, in the snow and the wind, John and I set out into the woods. John was cutting wood for a fire, I was snow-shoeing for the fun of it. We then went to Pat and Jeanne's for some sledding with Kieran, Emerson and Liam, which devolved into wrestling, snow ball fights, and hauling the car out of their ditch. Best not to ask about that one. Soaked, sore and tired we went home for a lovely Christmas dinner and the family Christmas Eve.
Christmas itself was also very pleasant. After making our parents breakfast and opening presents, John and I set out again to build a snow fort, go sledding some more, and a bit more snowshoeing. We had dinner with my grandparents and a few friends from the neighborhood and, after much feasting, made it home where the order of the day involved heading off to bed.
It is now Boxing Day, and we are moving quite slowly. I am fine with this, as tonight is another family gathering, tomorrow is the Hamline crowd's meet-up, and Monday brings more work. The celebrations continue.
Merry Christmas, loyal readers!
|
|
08:16 pm
[Link] |
Build Up To It!
It was a week of swimming through jello. Hard to get moving. Hard to keep moving. Momentum was elusive. Like all things, the end came and went. The Holiday Season is picking up and I am glad to have it here. Decorations are still absent from my Condo, but they are appearing throughout the cities. It's been nice to have music playing in the building lobbies, and with the recent snowstorms it looks just right for Christmas.
Though I don't host holiday parties, I did decide to host a party this weekend. On Saturday I put my Condo in order, pulled out my gangster outfit, and hosted the "Chicago Caper," a mystery dinner. Set in 1920's Chicago (Chicaga). Anne, Kenneth, Mike, Rita, Alexandra, Dave, Maria and Brandyn piled in, dressed as flappers, molls, gangsters, dappers and more. I was to play "Eddie," the local bouncer and cook. Unfortunately, the game materials identified me as a female server, so I was quickly dubbed "Frenchie." No respect, I say!
The conversation was lively and the accusations quick. The wine flowed plentifully. The company was good. I spent most of the time cooking, but was privy to the most clever discussions. In the end, Alexandra was the culprit, though no one participating was able to finger her ahead of time. We spent the rest of the evening resting comfortably and chatting about the nature of things, relaxing from the frantic pace of the dinner.
Sunday was another quiet day. I needed to sleep in, seeing as how my obsessive nature required me to clean the place entirely before I went to bed. I joined some of my Hamline colleagues for a house-warming party and had dinner with Harold and Gwen before retiring. Now, on a cold and dark winter night, I think it best for me to be early to bed. This week will be long, and there is much more left to do.
|
|
10:13 am
[Link] |
You See Late, One Night, While The Palace Was Asleep
I must admit I was a bit restless when I returned home from Thanksgiving. I think it's a symptom of any vacation. Returning home reminds a person of what they have to do in terms of real work. But the next day (the day I actually had to do work) was surprisingly relaxing. My return to work on Monday found me in good cheer.
And what a week it was. Busy, to say the least, and there's plenty left to do. I have been meaning to post all week long, but the late nights when I drift back to the laptop have found me far too fatigued to do that properly. At first I meant to capture some more moments from Thanksgiving, and the immense fun we had playing with Potato Guns, hiking the woods, and par-boiling ourselves in a Sauna. Then I wanted to recap my week, with a humorous gaming session, a pile of Tater Tots larger than my head from Grumpy's, and the usual shennanigans on top of that.
Now I feel like I should recap my weekend, which has again blown by. Friday night I went down to Richfield to Maria and Brandyn's house for a fondue party. I was a bit hesitant about it at first, fondue parties seeming to be things for middle-aged couples, but M & B were excellent hosts and the company certainly not as stodgy as I had feared. Plus it's good to meet new people, as they haven't heard all my hilarious stories yet. Saturday I spent most of the day putzing about and ventured out into the evening. I had dinner with Sam and Amy at the Muddy Pig, which is my neighborhood bistro, and then hit up an ugly sweater party hosted by some of my Hamline classmates. I enjoy both dinner and holiday parties, so it was an excellent way to escape the fresh winter chill that has descended on Minnesota.
The problem, I suppose, is that I'm too busy out doing the things I want to write about to actually write about them. This is not a bad thing. I recently was reading about George Plimpton, and I have added him to the list of Role-Models. The man lived life by experiencing it. This is how I would like to do it. Find adventures wherever I can, and live the ordinary days of my life enjoying them. It's a tall order, but I am ready to do it.
There is some excitement on the horizon. The holidays will see a number of friends, old and new, stopping by to see my new stomping grounds. I have declared publicly (so as to prevent myself from backing out) that I will be going skydiving in 2010. And it seems now that a trip to Africa to visit my sister Lauren is imminent. I declared 2009 to be "A Good Year." I am thinking 2010 will be delcared to be "A Year of Adventure."
|
|
08:40 pm
[Link] |
Money Doesn't Grow On Trees, But If It Did I'd Be Down On Bended Knee
Thanksgiving seems to have flown by. It didn't, in retrospect, but my days seem to disappear so quickly that it's hard to remember it all. I think this journal serves as a reminder of what I did as much as a tool to let my friends know what I'm up to.
We certainly had our fun today. After rousting for a filling brunch, I hiked about the Oberg Pass Overlook, lobbed potatoes into Lake Superior with a Potatoe Gun, played Nerf War, and otherwise goofed about. As with any Dwyer gathering, a great deal of 500 was played. And like any Dwyer Thanksgiving, we ate far, far too much. As I type this I remain barely conscious, and we haven't even had pie yet. There was a pleasant detente during this year's meal, so the only battle over food was a thumb war between Kieran and I for the last roll. While Kieran won, my defeat was softened by the discovery of additional rolls.
As is my tradition, now is the time to list the multitude of things I am thankful for. I will refrain from listing the mere basics: Food, family, friends and shelter. Know that I am daily thankful for these things - rare is a moment that goes by where I am not thankful for such things. Know this, loyal readers: I am thankful for you. You are my friends and comrades in such things.
This year, I am thankful in particular for peace and prosperity in my life. I am thankful for quiet when I want and excitement when I seek it. I am thankful for a home that I can truthfully call my own. I am thankful for devices that work as they should. I am thankful for friends who show up to help me move. I am thankful for a job when so many do not have one. I am thankful for a chance to see things none have ever seen before. I am thankful for pretty girls, even though none are "my girl." I am thankful for cold winds and warm homes. I am thankful for lazy days and adventures alike. I am thankful for music of all tempos and pitches.
Really, I am just plain thankful for this life.
|
|
08:26 pm
[Link] |
It Wasn't Me - It Was My Idiots.
Another week has rushed on by. I aimed for a quiet weekend, and today wast he first day since I moved in where I didn't venture out from the Condo for a length of time. I think I needed to sit back and relax, but I also realized how much time there is in a day when you're not rushing about to keep schedules and appointments. But a few glasses of Earl Grey into the day, I'm really not complaining.
It was a busy week, to be sure. Work is certainly keeping me going, which is fine. Being busy at work is far better than the alternatives and no one can say I don't have an interesting job. I'm geared up for another busy week, though this one is only a half-week.
Monday night feels like it was ages ago. Laura and Scott swung by to see the new place and we wandered down to Brasa for Creole food. I cannot speak to its authenticity, but the rotisserie chicken was good enough that I don't really care. Wednesday night saw the "house-warmings" continue when Megan, Kaitlyn, Eric and Kelly and Jason showed up for a pork roast and dinner. It's good to keep up with friends - I certainly spend a lot of time doing it.
I didn't make many plans for the weekend intentionally, as I knew I'd need a break before the next two weeks got going. I ended up judging Collegiate Moot Court competitions at Hamline for a few hours, and having dinner with my parents at Kincaid's. It may not be quiet per se, but by my standards it was the equivalent of washing my hair.
Now if you'll excuse me, Cheers is on television. I do love Cheers.
|
|
10:51 pm
[Link] |
Employing Flattery As A Field Commander Employs Artillery
It was a busy Saturday for me. Not perhaps ideal after a long week, but immensely enjoyable nonetheless. I rousted early from my slumber to go up to Hamline to assist my friends Joshua and Nadege in their efforts to coach the National Moot Court Team. I myself coach a team, and so there was some glee I had in tormenting a new group of students to whom I have no sense of attachment. Perhaps tormenting isn't the right word. I was stern and strict - perhaps even pedagogical - but it was not unjustified. If the students wish to emulate an appearance before SCOTUS, they should be prepared for their Justice Scalia moment.
Afterwards, I made my way to Champlain, where I met with Anne, Kenneth and Dave B. for a light lunch, some Rockband, and good company. A quiet afternoon, but still one away from home on a sunny day.
After some good company I made my way back to the Saintly City for the evening's entertainment. I was joined by my good friend Anastasia who happens to be an opera afficianado as well. It was the opening of "Casanova's Homecoming," an opera written specially for the Minnesota theater when it opened. An English opera, it promised to be a bawdy and humorous. It did not disappoint. After dinner at the Downtowner we wandered to the Ordway for the performance.
As with any story about the master charmer, it was risque. (I wanted to call him the master Lothario, but I feel that would be akin to mixing metaphors). A fair amount of innuendo laced the powerful lyrics and rising sounds. There was also a fair amount of action to keep a person's interest. In particular, at the end of the second act, a wave of fog descended over the stage and rushed into the second row where we were sitting. While it did not diminish our view too greatly, it did seem to have an adverse effect on the orchestra. A later conversation with the Maestro confirmed it's unusual effects. Suffice it to say, the entire opera had a number of useful life lessons for someone in my position. Mostly involving charming women and living life to the fullest.
Afterwards came the party at Pop!!!, which we attended by virtue of my new membership in Tempo. Aiming to interest the young professional in the opera, it suits me for its financial breaks and the fairer nature of many of the members. It was well worth attending, especially for the opportunity to meet the various performers. We had a bit more to drink, socialized with friends, and spoke about the performance. Amusingly enough, my 'performance' as a judge had been the talk of some of the town, so several commented on my harsh demeanor.
Not that I mind. Best to be thought of as dangerous under a friendly veneer. Overall, the evening was quite enjoyable.
I found myself enamored of a particular young woman with green eyes. It's hard to part from such company.
|
|
01:24 am
[Link] |
But I Left It In The Sand As I Pulled Away From Land As I Sail
It was a cold and rainy night last night. My footsteps were ringing out over the pavement as I walked home, sounding through the foggy bounds of the street. I was in a sports coat but declined to carry an umbrella or the like. You only get so many chances to stroll through the rain in your life, you might as well seize the opportunity.
I am extremely fortunate in the location of my new condominium, in that it is within easy walking distance of a variety of restaurants and public houses. I've been eager to sound them out and picked Friday as the day to do it. The day was filled with attendance at the Real Estate Institute, a legal education seminar and a "Who's Who" of my opposing counsel. A bit tiring, I was glad to come to the weekend.
I started off with a brief jaunt to Cretin-Durham hall. Stasia teaches at Cretin-Durham and is part of a year-long program run by some local sisters. It was time for their annual fund raiser - the usual smattering of silent auctions, raffles, and excellent appetizers that one expects from such events. I did not tarry long there, as I had a dinner engagement. It was this that took me out in the rain.
Rita and Katie K. were kind enough to join me for dinner at La Grolla. It's a new and rather authentic Italian establishment just a few blocks down Selby from where I live. It seemed like the place to go, but being so close there was no reason to drive. I passed by a number of my recent haunts, and a few other unique establishments in this fine neighborhood. La Grolla itself was quite warm and well patronized, with my food rich and the bread plentiful. I must confess I was also struck by a few of the fairer patrons at the bar, though my opinions in such matters may be biased.
After dinner Katie and I meandered over to Fabulous Ferns, a favorite haunt of my law school colleagues. While I ran into several of them there, I was not impressed by the venue. It was plain, and while energetic didn't stand out to me. Perhaps I will have to visit again under different circumstances. And so it was I set back out into the rain. The fog wasn't thick, but it carried sound quite well. Alone with my thoughts I made my way home and to my bed. A fine beginning to a much needed weekend.
|
|
09:11 pm
[Link] |
Keep Him Away From Staple Guns, And Nail Guns, And Glue Guns And Anything With Word Gun In It
I spent this evening discussing literature over drinks and dinner with my good friend Katie I. Colleagues from Hamline, Katie and I fell in with the same crowd and have been keeping up ever since. I'll be honest: This is the kind of evening I hoped to have when I moved to St. Paul: Sitting in the Happy Gnome discussing the finer things in life, strolling home in the crisp fall air hummnig to myself, sitting in my study reading through a few pages of the history books.
That's a pretty pretentious paragraph, as I read it again.
I had a pretty long week last week, mostly a result from a busy Halloween weekend. I decided to blow off some steam the old fashioned way: Dwyer Shenaningans. Friday night a few of my law school friends stopped over for a quiet soup night. I'm ashamed to say that when things wrapped up 10:00 p.m. I was so tired I finished cleaning and went to bed. Thankfully, Saturday got a bit goofier.
Andy, Rita, Brandyn and I drove up to Cold Spring for some fall sport. After dropping of a load of blankets and having a deli lunch with my parents, we set out to my aunt and uncle's land for our true purpose. We had dragged a large number of pumpkins with us, carved jack-o-laterns mostly, whose time had come. After my brother John joined us, we set them up with loving care on some old lawn chairs. And then, with frightening precision, we mowed them down with shotguns. It was a gourd massacre, and it was surprisingly good fun. After a few hours of blasting pumpkins (and a few clay pidgeons), we retreated back to my parent's house for a classic mexican meal.
By the time Sunday rolled around I was back to the usual routine, including a run to the St. Claire Broiler with Mr. Bernabo and a few good rounds of Borderlands. And it was back to the office this morning. So I was glad to get out with Katie this evening. I like keeping myself busy, even though I need to relax on my own now and then.
And with that, we're into a busy week. In the meantime, I feel the need to brush up on my classic literature. Any recommendations?
|
|
11:53 pm
[Link] |
There's A Tall Thin Man Standing In The Doorway
I really should be asleep. But for whatever reason, I don't want to nod off just yet. I was up late last night too, and I paid for it today. I've really been putting in my time at the office these past few days, and getting home late because of one social event or another. That makes it hard to go straight to bed, as I want to be up a bit and just relax.
After work this evening I went to another opera party. The shift towards Frasier Crane continues. In this instance it was an opportunity to meet the Maestro for the upcoming performances of "Casanova's Homecoming." I'll be attending the opening night and I thought I should meet the man who'll be holding the entire event together. A swarthy Italian type, he was charming in his interview. Overall I really enjoy the opera crowd. It's a genuine community, with regulars and newcomers alike. The evening was helped along by a plentiful amount of pizza - something that makes me feel all the better. I have great confidence in the opening performance now. And I also know the face to blame if things go south. Ah, well, best to get to bed then. There's plenty to do in the morning.
|
|
11:46 pm
[Link] | I made the most of my new whirlpool tub this evening. It seemed the thing to do on a cold fall evening, post a homemade pork-roast dinner and some gaming with the regular crowd. This does mean I am settled into my new condominium. It is excellent - just what I hoped for. I have been meaning to write about it for the past week, but I have been without internet until recently. And they generally frown on blogging while at work. The condo's amenities are quite nice: Hardwood floors, darkwood trim, plenty of windows, and all new appliances. The place is in great shape, and I hope to improve upon it just a bit. The furniture I purchased, despite nearly bankrupting me, also blends in surprisingly well. By some miracle I managed to pick out furniture that matches the decor perfectly. I've still got a few things I need to do to cement the move, but they will happen in due time. It's been quite the couple of weeks. After the move my parents, Anasatasia and her boyfriend Emery were the first to join me for a meal at my new table. Not long after that Harold, Gwen, Andy, Rita, Frank and Patricia were with me for a meal and some gaming. And it's been quite the run since that point. Notably, last Friday I was out at my friend Katie I.'s birthday party. It involved, of all things, a party bus and some good company. I, in my traditional Phantom garb, made quite the stir. The next night Michael and I were at it again, though we spent several more hours in the car than intended thanks to the fact that both St. Paul and Cottage Grove are the worst designed cities ever. And past that, it's been gaming with friends, happy hours with new friends, trips to wine bars with old ones. As it happens, I was discussing today with my employer the significance of ourselves and our lives. Just an existential discussion that happens from time to time at the office. He asked if I was happy, and I could honestly say yes. I'm where I want to be. It may not always be this way, but for the time being, I'm not concerned. Things are good.
|
|
07:55 pm
[Link] |
I've Got To Get A Move On, Before The Sun
Moving is surprisingly easier this time around. It's not done yet, and it's not easy in the normal sense of the word, but it is easier. I could list a number of reasons for this, but I imagine it has something to do with the fact that for the past two months I've been living out of boxes. That and I'm on my own this time, so it's less than half the stuff.
The condo is looking pretty good. I spent an ungodly amount of money on furniture for the place, and will soon be spending more on a television. As my friend Keri said, "It's time for good furniture." And it is. I'm finally reaching the stage I want to be at for the next four years. It's taken a six months longer than I wanted it to, but c'est la vie. As I was strolling about my new neighborhood, I found myself in a great urban environment. Mixed use communities, plenty of store-fronts, and restaurants to drain my wallet. It is what I am hoping for. Sadly, my option to enjoy it prior to winter forcing everyone to use cars is limited. The window of opportunity will close until spring. Thankfully, I plan to be in my new home for several Springs, Summers and Autumns.
Next weekend will bring the final move. Then I begin the monthlong process of settling into the place. I am understandably excited.
|
|
10:05 pm
[Link] |
And If You Can Kill Someone On Your Way Out, I'd Appreciate It.
So, I bought a condo.
Wow. That statement still seems odd.
Obviously, it didn't sneak up on me. It's not as if I walked past one day and decided to purchase it. It's been the product of a long search, beginning in May and culminating in a dash to the finish to get the necessary paperwork together. It's amazing how much time and effort goes into that paperwork, especially because it's only so much effort by a person such as myself to make short work of it.
The locale itself is gorgeous. Immacualte hardwood floors and wood trim and built-ins. Paint in great shape. Brand new appliances. Jacuzzi-style bathtub. I'm now locked in the process of finding furniture that can do the place justice. It looks like it will cost some money - thankfully, that's exactly as much as I can spend.
I feel like quite the adult. I have a mortgage, insurance premiums, and other trappings of modern life. It's not really very exciting. Still, it's nice to be able to pay for the things I enjoy in life.
Wow. Real property. If this were 1789, I could vote now.
|
|
10:09 pm
[Link] |
Rule 5 Should Be "Always Know Where Your Gun Is"
About six some years ago Kieran and I sat down and began working on a comprehensive zombie program known as the "Zombie Protocols." It was a highly effective program, designed to lay out a method for survival in the short and long term in the inevitable advent of Zombie infestation. Sadly, before we were able to get it to print, Max Brooks published a similar book. And the nascent Zombie movement took off. We really should have published early - we could have been at the head of the wave.
I saw Zombieland tonight. It was fun, lighthearted in a Zombie-like way. And I totally thought of it ahead of time. Further reasons to always follow through on your ideas.
I've been following through on my thoughts at the end of last weekend that I should get out more. Monday and Tuesday were kept up with the sports fever that swept through Minnesota. While my passion for the Vikings is rather limited - I like Minnesota winning so I'll root for our football team, my love of the Twins remains strong. The tie-breaker game against Detroit Tuesday night was really something else. Driving home in the dark and the rain, listening to the game on the radio, really brought back a host of memories. I wanted to get a lot done that evening, but spent most of it sitting in front of my television watching a 12-inning game run on in a classic game of baseball.
Wednesday I went to a networking event for young professionals and then wandered down to Moto-I to meet up with Kevin R. and September S. for a late-night drink. Kevin is a old friend of mine from high school whom I've reconnected with after running into his girlfriend (September) at a restaurant in Downtown. It's a surprisingly small world, but they proved to be fun people to reconnect with. Kevin and I had to keep geeking out and poor September bore it with good humor.
Thursday I took Kieran out to celebrate the passage of his bar exam. For this he earns a Big Heaping Spoonful of Congratulations! We met up with a few other passing celebratories and ate far too much at Seven Steakhouse. Again I made my way home, far too late and far too tired.
Today I got in a solid hike before heading off to the movie. You have to keep in shape if you're going to beat the zombies. As this punk-kid copycat in Zombieland said, Cardio counts.
|
[<< Previous 20 entries] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
brotherwilli's journal