Girl Friday

Hula Hoops

In my infinite boredom--which is not to say I'm never busy, just that I'm almost always bored--I'm frequently trying out new hobbies in an attempt to keep the mundane at bay. 

As a result, I have certifications in various things (first responder/AD/CPR, beer brewing, real estate sales), as well as extensive experience in several others (paper-crafting, bookkeeping, the culinary arts).  This partly if not wholly explains my choice 8 years ago to launch Personal Touch, my personal assistance, concierge and errands service; it's the job that never gets tedious.

My infinite boredom is particularly problematic with exercise because a) I hate it, and 2) it's super boring.  I've belonged to gyms (still in the legal process of getting back that $2K Life Time Fitness owes me), bought dance DVDs, everything.  So far the only things I actually enjoy doing are playing kickball, playing badminton, and nighttime bike rides.  Good for perfect weather, but one cannot do all three all year round here.

So my next venture into amusing workout territory is hula hooping.  I've been seeing it peripherally the last couple of years, like at random social events and even in METRO Magazine.  If you can get past the hippie, jam band fan aspect of it, it actually doesn't look too bad.  You do break a sweat and, once you get the hang of the rhythm, you can manage to move around and essentially dance to any music you like.

So I spent five minutes Googling how to make a hula hoop, then bought the supplies.  Home Depot doesn't carry the heavier weight irrigation tubing required (160 PSI), so I drove to Lowe's in Anoka for it.  Electrical tape is easy to find and comes in every color of the rainbow.  Gaffing tape is recommended but I didn't know where to look, so a friend suggested hockey tape, which works just fine.

Hoop assembly was slow going, but I'm getting better at it.  (Since irrigation tubing comes in 100-feet rolls, I'm making a handful of these things and giving them away- no sense in wasting it.)  I've made three black, purple and orange hoops in the last week, one of which is for Coco.  They're not stunning, but they could've turned out a lot worse:

Hula hooping after 20 years off was surprisingly easy; I got rhythm on my first try. The trick is to make a grown-up size hoop, not buy the kiddie version at K-Mart.  The 160 PSI tubing has the right weight, and the hoop height is supposed to be between your navel and the base of your sternum.  Sternum height is recommended for beginners, which I definitely am.

Altered Esthetics Garage Sale Tomorrow

Saturday July 12, 2008 7am-4pm

Altered Esthetics is hosting a big group garage sale in the giant lot next to the gallery.

"We're planning some fun events in addition to the garage sale, including cardboard box games and even some fort building. You know, for the children. (okay, for us.)

"Sale items will include: art supplies, cheap art, comics and graphic novels, canvases, frames, tables, miscellaneous strange supplies and so much more!"

Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55413

Coco and Steve

I bought four nectarines from Lund's last night and they turned already today. I'm always amazed when fruit does this. Is there some airborne chemical at the grocery stores that keeps stuff shiny and perky?  Only to go soft and brown within 24, nay, 12 hours of being brought home?

My nectarines' fate is now sealed.  They shall join the frozen strawberries and blueberries, as well as the ice cream in the freezer, as they meet their death: the immersion blender.  I made chocolate malts last night, but I think fruit and berry shakes sound absolutely delicious for tonight.

I want to thank Breyer's for making this all possible, as they're the ones who finally came out with lactose-free ice cream:

It makes for deliciously gut-friendly shakes and malts.

In other news, I've added two new pets to my household.  You may remember Coco and Steve from a certain film they co-starred in.  Since I didn't think it was fair to end their lives after their task of entertaining humans was completed--yes, I judge--Coco and Steve have found permanent residence in my apartment.

That's Coco sucking rocks in the front, Steve is to the right.  I picked up this handy 2.5 gallon mini-aquarium at Petco, as well as some high-potency food and a couple of live plants.  The fish are happy.

There were originally three fish, but Gay Whore didn't make it 6 hours past her screen debut; she was named for the working title of the film before we decided on "Shades of Orange."  Coco was named for Coco Chanel and her golden accessories rule, which we employed throughout the film's production.  Steve, I think, just came out of nowhere. 

Actually now, courtesy of Steve Marsh recently demonstrating how his Latino immigrant coworkers from an old restaurant job pronounced his name, I've taken to calling Steve "Estebe."  Coco and Estebe.

Pumpernickel Jalapeño Cheddar Pretzel Sandwiches

I guess giving up grocery store junk food for the most part was a pretty stupid idea if it means I've lived without these for two years:

They rock my world.

Snyder's of Hanover Product Info
Entry on Junk Food Blog

Week In Review

Things that happened this week, in no particular order:

• Cafe Havana closed.  It's apparently going to reopen as a different restaurant soon.  Also, they're using the space right now to film this movie.  I have no more information than that, which I got from Johnny.  We like to call him The Man Upstairs.

• vita.mn published the Summer Guide '08, possibly all you need to get through the next three months.  Definitely pick up a hard copy.

• I overheard my mom.  Raucous laughter ensued.

• All this recent talk about fried plantains kicked my own craving into high gear and I had to fry some up with dinner last night.  I went the tostones route, frying green plantain slices once, smooshing them, frying again, then topping them with garlic, fresh lemon juice and kosher salt.  I refuse to admit just how many of them I ate, but I will confess that there was some teeth-baring over the last one (which I scored).

• I got the good news that my friend Kara is now selling her gorgeous jewelry at Cliché in Uptown.

• I went bicycle shopping and came home with nothing.  I can't seem to find any used bikes I like, so I might just bite the bullet and buy a new one.  I'm kinda paranoid about not liking it, though.  How's the resale market for bikes under $200.00?

Art-a-Whirl & Local Jewelry Artists

It's Art-a-Whirl weekend!  The biggest and best party in Minneapolis, happening right here in Northeast from Friday to Sunday.  Grab a map at one of many Art-a-Whirl featured locations or click here and print your own.  NEMAA has their list of special events you won't want to miss (as if it's even possible to attend everything that's going on) and vita.mn has a map, staff picks and a couple of interesting exhibition profiles from Gregory J. Scott.

Don't miss the Art-a-Whirl Musicfest on Saturday at the 331 Club, where Matt and I will be introducing the bands and giving away prizes.  Also at the 331 Club on Saturday will be a vendor fair, featuring fantastic art, clothing and gifts from local artists.  Two fabulous girls I know will be selling jewelry during the event, so make sure you stop and say hi to Kara:

Photos courtesy of Antonio.  I own a couple of pieces of jewelry by Kara, namely my favorite pair of earrings (so cute my older sister tried to steal them).

Jen will also have a booth at Art-a-Whirl, so make sure you say hi to her:

Photos courtesy of Rich.  The V State/Atmosfere store in Calhoun Square has also started selling Jen's jewelry, so if you can't make it to Northeast this weekend--for shame!--then you can check it out there.

Friday... Four

- The Rosedale Sephora opens today.  They're not offering any sweet grand opening discounts, so I'm refusing to go until I need something.  Besides, I just got an Ulta coupon in the mail and their Roseville store will be a ghost town this weekend.

- The Mill City Farmers Market opens for the season tomorrow, 8:00am sharp.

- The Top Valu Liquors Grand Opening Sale also commences tomorrow.  Both new and very improved Columbia Heights locations have been open for a while, and both will be running the same specials: 10% off all liquor, 5% off all beer, 15% off all wine, 15% off all liqueurs, mixers and bar supplies, and 15% off all 375, 200, 100 & 50 mls (isn't that liquor?).  There are also a ton of wine, beer and liquor tastings going on, so click here for all the info.

- Yesterday kicked off the Eastside Food Co-op's special plastics recycling effort.  Now every recyclable plastic item that the city doesn't accept with your trash (like dry-cleaning bags, plasticware, plant pots, yogurt tubs and various kinds of lids) can be brought to the Co-op on Thursdays and Fridays for recycling, 7:00am to 4:30pm.

Bumper Sticker Theft

Well, some jerkoff's finally done it.

Someone stole my Bill Clinton/blowjobs bumper sticker.  I handled it with grace when someone defaced it.  I even laughed it off when someone left an angry note about it on my windshield at the bank.  But to mess with another American's First Amendment rights by stealing?  Not cool.

Seriously, who does that?  This happened over a week ago and I'm finally cooled off enough to mention it, but I was really peeved.  Handsome reward for any information leading to the ass-kicking of the larcenist.

I was thinking I'd just order another one, but the guy that made them doesn't appear to be offering them any longer.  Plan B was to get a Big Lebowski bumper sticker, so I guess that's where I'm at now.  But which one?

I'm really partial to "I know my rights, man," but "a natural zesty enterprise" and "you're not blowing" are also calling my name.

Keep or Return: Peep Toe T-strap Sandals

Found at DSW for $39.95:

I think I already know what you're going to say, so know that I bought them on a whim on one of those "I hate all my shoes!" days.  There are few outfits I couldn't wear them with, but the question is: do I really need them?

One Bag At A Time

I heard this thingy on NPR yesterday about stores that will no longer offer plastic bags as of this year (Whole Foods, IKEA) and what manufacturers are doing to keep up with the "green is the new black" trend among, well, everyone.  They're producing degradable plastic bags, which is exactly what I picked up the last time I needed trash bags but wanted to stop using the Glad ones I'd been buying for years.

The story goes on to debate whether or not these degradable bags are safe for the environment, since they're still plastic.  Jury's still out, of course, since this is a relatively new product.  Anyway, the story got me thinking about some of the changes I've made since realizing just how much plastic we all consume on a daily basis, and the detrimental impact it has on our environment.  With notes:

• Aforementioned degradable plastic kitchen trash bags, which I bought at Whole Foods.  (BTW, check it: the new downtown Whole Foods is going to be huge!).  These bags work just as well as the Glad ForceFlex bags I was using before, though you can't fill them as high, since you use the bag's corners to tie it closed.  But it's a durable product.

• Per ranty's suggestion here, washing and reusing plastic food storage bags.  Holy crap, do I feel like an idiot for never realizing you could use these things over and over and over again.  I was just throwing them away, destroying aquatic life with each careless toss.  They really do hold up, and you can even buy a Bag-E-Wash to hold them in place in the dishwasher.  I just handwash mine, no biggie.

• Cotton cloth produce bags, which I found on Amazon.  The pack of three large bags I bought suits my needs perfectly for bagging up a pound of tomatillos or bunches of leafy greens.  I don't bother bagging larger produce items-- really, why bother?  Since I also buy bulk dried foods on occasion, I went with cotton over the mesh.

• Reusable grocery bags.  I bought this reusable bag at Petco, since all proceeds are donated to the Petco Foundation for animals.  I also sometimes reuse the free paper grocery bags, but most of those get put out on garbage day, full of recyclables.  I have full-on recycling mania.

I usually carry a handbag, which has been infinitely effective in decreasing the number of plastic bags I take home after a day of shopping.  I can stuff a lot of things in there and, when something ends up being too big, I just carry it to the car.

When I really look around the house at all the plastic, the task of reducing my use seems so daunting.  So I'm just cutting it back a little at a time; maybe next month I'll tackle the giant issue of cosmetics and toiletries containers.