pictures first...stories later

zero hour and it's party time

I'm sitting in the living room, hunched over my computer, drinking coffee, thinking about getting up to do the cleaning I meant to do yesterday. I have 30 minutes to take care of that since I have to be at work by 9:30.

Jan is coming to help with the real cleaning this morning. I know that might make me sound lazy but it's the way it is. I'm a bad cleaner, I have really low standards for my own cleaning, and Jan likes doing it. So what?

Regis is not concerned about anything. Now that the hotel rooms are paid for and the dog is on his way to The Paw, things are fine. He says he will pull a t-shirt of the drawer and he will look fine. He's probably right.

I, on the other hand, have been focused on some bizarre details. Should I shower before or after work? Or both? (I smell like toast when I come home from the coffee shop.) Should I put cookies or biscotti in the hospitality bags I'm taking to the hotel for the guys in the band and for our out-of-town guests? When should I pick up the cupcakes and how long can they sit in the car? I guess I just need to make a plan and stop fussing.

Somebody asked me this week why we would hire a band like this and have a giant party. I said because my husband indulges me. I love this band and he wanted to do something nice for me. Isn't that sweet?

This afternoon, I'll put on my new circle skirt, my flame orange nail polish, and my shiny earrings and go down to hear Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys. What a hoot. Regis is taking the camera so there will be pictures.

Crazy friends from Iowa are arriving sometime late afternoon. They're staying in a motel down the street and will be here for a few meals and for socializing on the patio. Could be some legendary action.

Here we go. If you aren't joining us tonight, think about us at 8 when Reverend Raven takes the stage!

my morning journal

I love sitting at my desk in the morning to write. I've been cranking out the River Rock blog on a fairly regular basis and it's easy to focus on that and neglect my own. I think clearing off my desk helped.

Regis and I had a nice day yesterday. Gus went to The Paw and we did a little shopping and went out for lunch. I try to keep the thought in my head that I am trying to clear my house of clutter so I shouldn't buy more stuff but I couldn't resist this orange purse. No pictures. You'll have to see it.

We're in the last two days of birthday party prep which really isn't prep at all since we're having it somewhere else and I'm not doing anything. I decided not to worry about weeding the garden, something I rarely worry about anyway and why would I worry about it now, I wonder.

I like frogs and have a lot of them in my garden. The lawn art kind of frog, not the real, amphibious kind of frog. Not that I have seen the real kind, anyway. Doesn't mean they aren't there. I was walking over to take a picture of another weird happening when I spotted these guys down among the dead leaves and new growth. The laughing one cracks me up.

This is a giant toad stool that appeared on my neighbor's lawn overnight. You can see another one in the background with more of an open umbrella look. I got right down there to photograph this one. It looks like an alien ship. Regis asked me why I called it a toad stool and not a mushroom. Not sure.

I don't eat anything that grows on the lawn, I don't care how much like a mushroom it looks. I had an unfortunate episode with some morel mushrooms a few years back and I don't even mess with them anymore.

When we picked Gus up at The Paw yesterday, we were given this treat bag. It's from Sadie, the dog who celebrated her birthday yesterday. The cookies were for Gus. Haha! How cute is that!

social media and brain clutter

I'm taking a break from the world of social media for which I am paid to do my own personal social media campaign. That's what we call it in the social media world. A campaign.

I spent the last hour cleaning off my desk and trying to clear my part of the office of junk. I have a large desk where my computer sits but I was trying to use if for all of these purposes:

• Make-up and hair drying
• Vitamin storage
• Personal paper correspondence (cards, stationery, stamps, address book)
• Work of my kinds
• Exercise clothes storage (what?)
• Medical records
• Bills

Good grief. No wonder I was over-whelmed.

I've cleaned out everything but the work-related stuff. I have to find another place for all that other junk. I threatened on Facebook to start a bonfire in the middle of the street and start tossing.

I could use that TLC show about clutter...their team...to come in and get me organized.

Now I'm down to four piles.

• A current work pile
• An on-going work pile
• A personal pile
• A miscellaneous pile

Our house is too small to maintain this level of shit accumulation. It's a constant battle to keep the common areas free of junk. I have given up on the basement and the back porch. No, that's not true. But many days I don't have the gumption to face it.

The article that I have but keep losing is now on my desk. Front and center. How to Tackle Your Clutter. There you go.

no pictures...just blather

I went to work out with Rachel this morning. Except that I know this is what I pay her for, I would think she was trying to kill me.

Regis is down there now, probably not faring any better than I did. He's trying to strengthen his knees before he gets one or both replaced.

Like I told her, I'm not complaining. I can do a lot of things that some people half my age can't do and I'm glad for that. One-legged squats, for example. That will serve me well into my old age, right?

Rachel is telling me about what she calls the new wave of fitness whereby you try to stay strong and balanced into your older years. So you can get off the toilet at the nursing home by yourself, presumably.

You see the future and it's not the future you want. Yes, I have been there.

We had such a nice weekend that it's hard to face the day and leave it behind.

It was so much fun to see my mom this weekend. She is such a good sport and so much fun. She likes wine and she likes people so taking her to vineyards was a hoot and a half, as they say.

I'm reading Jim Harrison's books again because I love them. Some people in the reviews complain about his rambling style but it suits me. I find so many sentences that I love. I miss the characters when the book ends.

I do spend some time trying to find new things to read but it's a struggle.

It's the weekend of our big birthday bash. There are parts of this I over-thought and parts I probably under-thought. The guest list, for example, is a real mess. I lost my addresses off my computer so some out-of-towners are going to have a good excuse not to travel. I carried invitations in my purse and sometimes handed them out with reckless abandon. Ah, well. Such is life.

Off into the week. I had fewer blog posts last month than I ever have in the history of the blog so my goal is to do better this month. Here's to June.

weekend in pictures

Hey, these pictures are even in order! Ha! It was a fine, fine weekend. We had so much fun. Thanks for coming everyone!

this week in wine

On Tuesday, Regis and I ventured out to Chankaska Creek Winery. We had a lovely experience...good wine, nice menu, friendly people, and a gorgeous setting. I could live there but it probably would not be good for my health.

They have a beautiful room with a cozy fireplace but it was too warm for even my chilly bones. We sipped a sauvignon blanc and moved into the other room to peruse the merchandise of which there is plenty. Somehow a $55 polo shirt does not interest me. I was wearing, you might be able to tell, a $5 Reverend Raven tank top under my sweater. That's more my price range.

Regis even enjoyed the wine and he is not usually one to partake of the grape. We were easy customers...we liked everything, we liked to chat, and we joined the wine club. Yeah, that was painful.

This is Ingrid. She took care of us by serving us wine, convincing us of the benefits of the wine club, and making the day fun. Of course, I always get to gabbing about River Rock and pretty soon the GM is sending me out the door with a bottle of red wine to use in truffles. Yeah, Katie could do that.

Here is is. My favorite. Those are Riedel wine glasses, by the way. I used to have a couple but they have disappeared I'm pretty sure at the hands of the dish washer which would not be me.

Regis went  to the doctor today for his annual check-up to learn that he is completely out of cartilage in his knees. He has a referral to a doctor who specializes in replacing knees, whatever that is called. Orthopedic surgeon? Beats me.

As soon as he got home, we had to take Gus to the vet because it looks like someone snatched a small round bald spot on his back. It didn't look like an emergency but I don't like unattractive pets and worried that the mange would take over. It isn't mange and her best guess is some allergy thing. She mentioned allergy testing and I inwardly rolled my eyes.

I went along to the appointment because I was afraid Regis would schedule cosmetic surgery and Gus would quickly reach his out-of-pocket maximum. That didn't happen but we got close. I'm keeping this in a file. And yes, the total is $107.20. Good grief.

sunday and monday

There's something about a hot and windy day that makes me want to stay inside with the curtains closed and the lights off. I have been lounging in bed with the ceiling fan running while I read. Nice way to spend the morning.

Our friend, Emily, came for dinner last night. She brought everything and I didn't cook one thing, lazy me! She made pulled pork and polenta, a very pretty jello salad, and a vegetable plate. Regis worked on her computer and Emily read A Gravestone Made of Wheat aloud to me before we watched the movie Sweet Land.

Now, here it is Monday and I haven't made much progress...on anything.

These are the young people I work with at River Rock. Me, Jessica, Josh, Helena, and Phoebe. Helena and Phoebe graduated from GAC yesterday and they had a joint family gathering in the back room. I got to be the hostess! Exactly the kind of work I love.

By the time I got home, the ribs were almost done so we sat outside and relaxed. This is the sweet pepper salad that we love. Sliced peppers, black and green olives, and a balsamic dressing.

These are the ribs. Regis makes a white wine reduction to pour over them. Oh, my. Delicious.

As you can see....we love them.

I'm working on social media this morning. I wrote three blog posts for River Rock and have them on my calendar to post today, Wednesday, and Friday. Might even do one on Saturday. 

Regis took Gus to the dog park in Mankato. They go almost every day for a while. Gus loves it and I think it's the equivalent of the morning coffee group for Regis. Usually Gus needs a bath when he comes home, but even if he doesn't, he gets in the dry tub. It's just his habit. Funny dog. It's his first birthday on the 31st.

Off to do something more active. I've been sitting at the computer for a long time.

week in pictures randomly

Saturday

Ella came over Friday to spend the night. She orchestrated a photo shoot in the morning with all the major players and the major shoes, of which she is enamored. Ella has a great sense of theater. She loves my shoes and asked if she could have them when they don't fit me anymore. I explained that I rarely "grow out of" shoes at this point in my life, but when I don't want to wear them anymore, I would surely pass them on to her.

Saturday

Ella and I with Gus in a photo. Gus is a camera hog and if pictures are being taken, he wants to be in them. We all slept in the king-size bed...me in the middle, Ella on one side and Regis on the other, Gus on the end. We were like puzzle pieces.

Thursday

Regis at Pappageorge in Mankato where he assisted me with the social media marketing plan presentation and we enjoyed a nice meal and some wine. 

Thursday

I'm not a professional. I'm purely amateur but I've learned some things and I get a kick out of it. Layla said she like the fact that I'm not a slick salesman and that I know them and the kind of food they like to serve.

Saturday

Ella and I walked down to the Key City Kennel Club's dog show this morning. These are the Great Danes which are gigantic and beautiful. I think this must have been the field for best of breed. The weather was strange so we headed for home shortly after this.

Saturday

Most of the concessions at the dog show were dog-related but we did find a food stand that sold giant pretzels and we enjoyed this one.

Saturday

We had lunch at Patrick's (a very unsatisfying burger) before taking Ella home. This is the poster for our birthday bash on June 8. I think we had a new server who was not familiar with the concept of serving efficiently. It took a long time and many trips. Ah, we have been through this before and it will get better.

Saturday

Patrick's was a weird mix of families with small children and very hung-over and on-the-edge-of-drunk-again college students as their graduation is tomorrow. It was more stimulation than I needed, believe me. One member of the second jumped out of the booth and did a few push-ups on his way to the bathroom. Gads.

Regis discovered that Neil Young's Americana CD is being released one song at a time on YouTube over the weeks before the CD release, June 5th. We love them and listen to them almost every night. Ella knows some of the songs from school, so we thought she might like them and she did. She sang Oh Susanna over and over this morning until I finally played the video again. In case you don't want to read the whole review, here's a quote:

You've never heard "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" quite like this. For their first album together in nine years, Neil Young and Crazy Horse have taken classic American folk music and reinvigorated these songs with muscle, radiance and a whole lot of electric guitar.

 If you have been following Cousin Deb's hummingbirds, this is the last one to leave the nest. I've shown this photo to lots of people who have never seen a hummingbird nest. I wonder if they don't nest in Minnesota...maybe they choose warmer climes. That would be smart.

Last week, about an hour before I was due to leave for Luverne, I decided to try out these really cheap fake nails that I bought at the dollar store. The girls at the bank told me they were easy to apply. Well, after I had super-glued about three of them to the wrong places, Regis stepped in and assisted. I sort of liked the way they looked except for the crooked one. Today, I wrenched the last of them off as they were starting to look a little green underneath. I don't think I'll do that again. There is a reason that there are professionals to do that sort of thing.

There has been a change to the birthday party plans. We have to provide a meal for the band and we thought we would cook for them here as we would love to do it and maybe they get tired of food in restaurants. Turns out, that's what they want to do. I suppose they thought we would want to socialize which we wouldn't. Ah, well. One less thing to stew about, right?

That's enough for today.

a semi-major coup in the life of a retired school teacher who becomes a promoter

My job has been in a state of flux since I started at River Rock. First I was an office manager, a job I was very bad at because it involved a lot of details and a lot of math. And some art. None of these are my strengths.

Over the year that I have been there, it has evolved to be more promotion and marketing although, marketing to me, sounds more like what McDonald's does.

Over the past month, I have worked at getting River Rock connected with Minnesota Cooks, a project of the Minnesota Farmer's Bureau, an organization that promotes family farms.

Today, we met with Bruce Miller, the director of the Minnesota Cooks calendar project, and accepted his proposal that River Rock be part of their calendar in the coming year.

This is gigantic in my novice promotional world. Not only is it a print publication that is doled out at the State Fair where people love free stuff but it involves being on stage at the Carousel Park, being interviewed by Mary Lahammer of Almanac, and being a part of a day at the fair with some of the really, really big guns in the local food scene in Minnesota.

I think I spent the last years of my career in education floundering in the depths of despair and that probably has leant an exaggerated air of unreality to this endeavor. I am so excited by all of this that it's hard to explain.

So, even though I have loathed the State Fair in the past (too loud, too crowded, too hot), I will be there on August 26th to hobnob with the chefs of Minnesota, to pass out promotional material about River Rock, and to bask in my tiny bit of glory.

Champagne all around!