F Stop

Crazy

2012-01-20T17:58:00.000-06:00

When was the last time you went crazy?

For me, it's food. If I go off of the food plan I follow, I just write in my food diary a word that means crazy to me. It's my own word and it's actual definition doesn't mean crazy. But I know what I mean.

I went crazy. I ate what I wanted, probably not something good or low in calories. I went crazy. I started tearing at the cabinet or the liquor cabinet. And I may regret it later. I dunno. Sometime crazy can change your life for the good or for the worse. You never know.

Stuck

2011-12-08T10:36:00.000-06:00

Stuck

Stuck in a rut

Stuck in the wall

Stuck in a hole

Stuck in my weight

Stuck in my health

Stuck

Sounds like suck

and other bad words

which I say in frustration

And don't I know how to change

or get unstuck

Stuck

To my father, with love

2011-06-19T11:01:00.002-05:00

My parents have a dear friend, Hakon, whom they adore. Hakon is from Norway and is a combination of Paul Bunyan and MacGyver. They’ve told me so many stories of this man, the time when as a boy, Norwegian royalty was about to visit his home and he saw all the food laid out for the visitors and ate it. All. I’ve heard tales of him scaling a mountain that was also a tourist site. After days of climbing, he and a date reach the top. The date, Jean, angrily realizes that this spot could’ve been reached by car in about twenty minutes. This same woman later marries him. My parents went camping with Jean and Hakon and came across a detour. They could’ve driven some ungodly distance around it, but Hakon thought it would be faster to build a bridge and drive over a river or stream to save time. And it worked.

My dad was always a big fan of the TV show, MacGyver. If you don’t know “MacGyver is a resourceful agent able to solve complex problems with everyday materials he finds at hand, along with his ever-present duct tape and Swiss Army knife.” My dad is very MacGyveresque and carries a Swiss Army knife. I was with my parents and they were about to get on a plane. My dad realized at the last second, he had the knife on him and it would get confiscated at the airport. He gave it to me and told me to mail it back to him. It was so comforting to have my dad’s knife on me - I had a hard time getting to post office to mail it back. I'd either arrive at the post office too early or too late.

While my dad hasn’t scaled mountains, or built bridges he has patents. I remember finding out my dad has his name on multiple patents. He was very humble about it. My dad has supported me when I choose the ungodly place of Menomonie WI to go to college. He faithfully drove the 300 some odd miles twice a year to deliver me and my car full of goods. We’d nearly always stop for lunch at Grandma Smrekars in Millston, WI. It was rare for him to eat at a place that would also butcher game. Maybe that was reason. He’s a woodworker and my parent’s house has many pieces of furniture that he’s built. Instead of going to IKEA to buy my sister a fold up bed, he decided to make one. At one point in my childhood, he constructed a geodesic dome in the backyard. Once he let us buy one of those cool mylar balloons so he could dissect it and study the seal on.

This Father’s day, my parents are having dinner with Hakon and will hopefully get more tall tales. While it would be cool to have a dad like Hakon and his crazy adventures, my dad is hero enough to me. I love you dad, Happy Fathers's Day.

Motel dreaming

2011-06-08T15:32:00.001-05:00

Pelican Motel (Front), a photo by jugger-naut on Flickr.

I was at the chiropractor this morning. He left me on the table with the TENS device going to warm up my muscles. I’m wrenched up and couldn’t read the People magazine I brought into the room.

I was in room that faces a busy street in St Paul. It was dark, and the traffic sounds were muted. It sounded like I was in an old retro motel. Like in a postcard. It would be a slightly moldy smelling motel with a dirty carpet, a TV with bad color on the screen, un ugly thin bedspread and a coffee shop nearby with an adequate but not terrible breakfast. But not too good, I just want a few bites of the pancakes, sunny side up eggs and white toast. Please let the coffee be good.

I can’t decide what kind of day I’d want it to be. Is the sun just coming up and it’s kinda misty. Or is raining or a bright blue sunny sky day?

I want good neon signs to be up the road so I can stop and photograph them. A nice diner would be grand to stop and have lunch at. Then up the road to another retro motel.

Happy Birthday Bill

2011-05-21T18:05:00.003-05:00

8 days a week

2011-05-11T08:30:00.001-05:00

Sick people and chicken

2011-04-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Do you remember this commercial from long ago?

I'm not sure why my Jewish mom never made me chicken soup when I was sick. I did eat chicken soup once at my elementary school got the hives and puked it up. Nice.
At least we had an actual nurse's office. And I got out of class. We got toast and honey. And root beer barrel candies for our sore throats.

In the town I grew up in we had Walker's Pancake House. I only recently found out it was a chain. We had KFC and IHOP. We grew up just moments away from the Pancake House and when mom didn't want to cook. This is where we went. The exterior hasn't ever changed which makes me so happy.

When my mom showed her work at art fairs, we usually had KFC for dinner. KFC was on the way home when we took the highway. I remember the day they accidentally put in a piece of Original Recipe chicken. Never again did I want the Extra Crispy. And the coleslaw. God, I love their coleslaw My mom wonders why I became an artist myself.

I decided to move to Minneapolis to go to MCAD, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design to study photography and graphic design. The first time I got really sick living in my apartment, I had this sudden urge for chicken. Sick people need chicken. Not soup, no. Blech. I was in art school. Sick people need KFC. It made me so happy. It was the best justification of being sick and being in art school.

Getting KFC when I don't feel well is kinda my trademark. I can remember feeling sick but yet my boyfriend was going to be coming over. I told him I was getting KFC for dinner (yes Original Recipe - thank you) he mentioned it to a friend and they thought I was the coolest girlfriend ever.

I do feel like chicken tonight. Cough cough.

Dessert Travel

2011-04-13T14:32:00.000-05:00

When friend Amy would tell you about a trip you could be drooling by the end of it. From boredom, no from hunger. She was a voracious eater of sweets. When she'd drive to her parent's home in Nicollet, MN - she'd pass a million Dairy Queens. And she stopped at ALL of them. I remember when I made the trip with her and realized that they were maybe a half hour apart and I was aghast. She seriously would keep stopping to get frozen cokes or shakes or whatever. She was lucky that she had a high metabolism. She was mildly narcoleptic and she thought the sugar would keep her awake. The picture above is her and Todd Rogers taken by me in Lake Nebagamon, WI.

In the Twin Cities, she claimed a Porky's (see last post) milk shake could cure any ills. I've dragged many a friend to Porky's to test the "cure anything" claim. A friend with chest pains (who had been recently released from the ER) was taken there for the cure. His recent visit to his cardiologist revealed he's doing the best he's ever been.

Amy was married at the Little Log House Pioneer Village in Hastings. Here's a little note about the place:

The Bauer’s began their journey in collecting and restoring buildings and artifacts that would have been destroyed, burned down or demolished had they not preserved them as a part of the village.

Just the other day I found out (thanks Pioneer Pamphlet) that Porky's will be moved an will be living at the Little Log House. I was so happy that it would get to run around and play in the pasture with the other old buildings.

I don't know if Amy, in the great beyond, had a hand at arranging this but it feels like she did. Plus there's plenty of Dairy Queen stores on the way if you get hungry on your travels.

Sleep well my sweet pig

2011-04-01T08:52:00.001-05:00

Porky's Drive In, St Paul MN, a photo by Debora Drower on Flickr.

This Sunday, Porky's will be gone. Closed. Destroyed. No more Cruiser Combos or magical shakes that can cure anything. Gone. It will be absorbed into the property next door. Plus, there's going to be hideous construction for the next million years on University and I don't blame the owners for wanting to get out now.

Everyday, I've waved at my Winky McPig (my name). I've made sure his neon eyes were winking in the dark. There will be no first warm summer day that I eat a Porky's meal outside with Pat. All my friends are daring me to buy the sign. There's an auction on Monday. I'll bring my checkbook.

Birthday Presents and Miss Sass

2011-03-16T12:05:00.001-05:00

Birthday Presents a photo by Debora Drower on Flickr.

I miss you, my sweet girl. Wish you were here to help me open my birthday presents. When I wear that doggy necklace, I think of you.

Foamy Ham

2011-03-02T18:13:00.003-06:00

1. Endless Sea #2 - Marin Headlands, California, 2. Bean Hollow Surf #1 - San Mateo County, California, 3. Sun and Storm - Greywhale Cove, California, 4. Garrapata Surf #4 - Big Sur, California, 5. Swift's - 19501218 Life, 6. Mmmm, canned pressed ham!, 7. Swifts Party Recipe Ideas, 8. Wilson Ham

The excerpt is from the book, "A Winter's Tale," by Mark Helprin. This is my favorite book in the whole wide world. Love it. I remember the very moment my sister put it down, I grabbed it and it was love at first read. I love the descriptions Mark Helprin writes.

The foamy ham. That's the best description I can find to explain my brain fog. Thanks to my monthly hormone warfare, I am in a fog. It's a loud foamy ham in my head. It sizzles and it crashes over me. It's the waves and the foam and sand. I cannot focus, I can't reason, I cannot think. There will be no learning anything new today.

I've lost jobs because of how foggy I was. I tried explaining but it was of no avail. That's just how I get at this time. Sound the fog horns, because this ship will be lost for a while. I accidentally typed "lost" and "toast" and got loast. Yes, I am a lost, foggy, soggy, piece of toast. With a slice of ham.

But being inside all this foam and noise is nice. I'm in a cocoon. It's a small vacation from life. Sadly, It won't last and out of the fog the crabs will come out of hiding.

Dear Oscar...

2011-02-27T22:46:00.000-06:00

"Dear Oscar, I was not able to sleep because of you last night and I was up all night long."

That's from the 1996 foreign film winner of the movie, "Kolya." The speech was by Jan Sverák who had a thick accent and made the word,"Oscar" sound like Oss Kar.

Dear Oskcar, every year, it's gotten worse. I feel I am unable to sleep because of you. I must see every movie nominated. In a movie theater.

I used to only watch the Oscar nominated best pictures. Then I added the actors, then the supporting actors. In 2008, I dragged a friend on Valentine's Day to the very bloody, "Apocalypto" I dubbed it my bloody valentine. It was up for three Oscars (Make up and two sound awards) but won none of them. That was a year I crossed nearly every movie off my Oscar check list. Dear Debora, that seems kinda obsessive.

This year has been different. I have had very little interest in seeing most of the movies. I only ended up seeing only these three Best Picture nominated movies:

"The King's Speech”
“Toy Story 3”
“True Grit”

I saw, The King's Speech,” only just last night and it was the best picture winner. Today, I watched online trailers of all the nominated movies. I loved the trailer of the animation short, "The Lost Thing" so I downloaded it. It was so sweet and wonderfully done. And it won!. While I didn't download the short live action film, "God of Love," it looked adorable and it won.

My intuition was really spot on telling what would be the best movies to watch. My movie ennui actually worked in my favor. I didn't spend an inordinate amount of time watching movies that didn't win anything. And much like the little known, "Kolya", I love it when a sweet little movie wins and there's a memorable speech.

Dear Oscar, thanks for giving the awards to movies I really thought should win, for some big wins, and some small ones. Now it's late and time to go to sleep.

Ground Hog Day

2011-02-25T11:10:00.000-06:00

Deb, you already know this. You know it by heart. You love the movie, "Groundhog Day." You quote it all the time. You mention it to friends, you understand the parables it teaches.

How many times do you mention this scene:

You've been to Punxsutawney PA and bought the above cookbook for fun and laughs and to see it every day on your shelf.

Debora. It's Groundhog Day again. Will you walk through the puddle, walk around it or find a new street? Or are you doomed to wake up again to the haunting sounds of Sonny and Cher singing, "I got you, babe." Really. You know how it will go, how it will end up. Yeah, it's got you. It makes you sick.

When are you gonna cook that Groundhog?

Do they Know It's Xmas (Scary Version)

2010-12-27T12:31:00.000-06:00

My band, Scary Numan, made this bit of holiday cheer. Enjoy!

You can find Scary Numan on MySpace (where you can hear more songs) and Facebook.

Where my spark is

2010-11-30T04:18:00.000-06:00

I woke up at 4am this morning feeling alone and scared and started humming these lines from the song Spark:

"She's afraid of the light in the dark.
6.58 are you sure where my spark is?
Here... Here... Here..."

So I dialed up the video and thought it was beautiful.

I didn't know the story behind the song - it's actually about Tori having a miscarriage.

Her explanation of the video:

"You don't really know what's going to happen to her, but that's not the point. She's trusting her instincts in a way she never has before, she's finding something in herself she never knew even existed."

Maybe that's why I woke up humming the song and had to find all the meanings behind it. I need to trust my instincts and know what I did, what I'm doing is right. Am I sure where my spark is? Yes, no maybe so.

State Fair Day 12

2010-09-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

X is a tough one. There is Pibb Xtra. Xantham gum - not gonna do it.

Y is for yogurt. James used to sell Annie's Frozen Yogurt at the fair. The booth is now long gone. The workers remain, we had a beer with them last night at Cafe Caribe.

Z is for Zeppoles. I remember when the deep fried twinkies and candy bars came out. The lines were crazy and the product - not that great.

State Fair Day 11

2010-09-04T09:48:00.000-05:00

V is for Vegie Fries. Sorry, never had them. Why not just have the deep fried cheese curds or anything else. There is one place that makes a big salad. I love that - hidden in the Ball Park.

W is for Walleye. You can get Walleye (and other fish) a few different ways at the fair. Watch my favorite WCCO news anchor, Don, Shelby go fishing at the fair.

State Fair Day 10

2010-09-02T22:05:00.000-05:00

S is for Scotch Egg. If you go to the original photo's page, a recipe for Scotch Eggs is there. I have one plain, with horseradish and maple syrup.

T is for Tom Thumb Mini donuts. The only donuts I eat and only at the MN State Fair. And only by the Ye Old Mill. Look at that design!

I am really stuck on the letter "U." No udon, Ugli fruit or even the Uncola, 7-up (to make your tummy ache better) Booo!

State Fair Day 9

2010-09-02T21:08:00.000-05:00

Q is for Quesadilla. I was looking at places at the fair that sell them. Besides Quesadilla Junction and Tejas you can also get them at French Meadow Bakery and O'Gara's. French or Irish quesadillas. Yah, for sure. I was about to post a link to the Tejas restaurant and just found out it closed.

R is for Roast Sundae. Ok, it's full name is the Pot Roast Sundae - a new food last year that I really loved. I didn't want to double up on root beer. There are a ton of root beer stands.

State Fair Day 8

2010-09-01T09:52:00.001-05:00

Oodles of noodles. Again, love the sign, never had the food. Maybe I should branch out?

P is for Pronto Pup. You can always get Pat to call out their old jingle, "Get yourself a Pronto Pup!" I'll do it if he's not there. P is also for Pizza - really bad thin pizza for James who grew up on 99 cent pizza. Our pizza came from the downtown Uno's. The original Uno's. I have very refined pizza tastes.

State Fair Day 7

2010-08-31T15:10:00.000-05:00

M is for malt. Do you get it inside the Dairy building or outside the Cattle Barn. This is actually a picture of a Kiwanis Malt by the Fine Arts building. M is also for Milk. As in all the Milk you can drink. Back in the olden days, they'd pay you to drink the milk. Ha!

N is for Nitro Ice Cream. Love the neon but no thanks.

State Fair Day 6

2010-08-31T14:39:00.001-05:00

K is for Key Lime Pie on a Stick. Had one long ago, not that great. It is local.

L is for Leinie Lodge. We saw some great music last year at the Leinie Lodge. The singer on stage was enjoying a Leinie's "ice tea" at 11 am. So I got James and I one. An "ice tea" for us at 11 am. Ha!

State Fair Day 5

2010-08-29T16:40:00.000-05:00

I is for Icee. Never had one, but I like the design.

J is for John Deere Home Made Ice Cream. It looks and sounds cute, never had it.

State Fair Day 4

2010-08-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

G is for German Root beer. If you google German Root beer it says most Germans hate root beer. Go figure

H is for Hot Dog. Not one of my favorite fair foods, I could get one at the store, so I don't really care.

State Fair Day 3

2010-08-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

E is for Egg Coffee. Yes, egg coffee. I will sit at the counter and drink cup after cup of this stunning coffee. I know how to make it I just never do.

F is French Fries. I don't get it why some folks need Fair french fries. The stand is always crazy. This is the world's greatest sign.

F is also for Fudge Puppies. The Caramel Apple Puppies with apple baked in and covered with caramel is supposed to be pretty good.

State Fair Day 2

2010-08-27T20:32:00.001-05:00

C is for corn and cheese. Which there is a ton at the fair. And now about the food! Zing! Corn dogs, roasted corn, popped corn, kettle corn. Cheese curds, cheese on a stick, bad cheese pizza (James' fave)

D is Dole Whip. WCCO News anchor, Amelia Santaniello raves about them. I've never had one. Maybe this year.

State Fair Day 1

2010-08-27T10:51:00.000-05:00

I had an idea of doing a MN State Fair alphabet of fair foods. The collective unconscious (or the fair itself) beat me to it. I'm still gonna do it.

A - Apple. I love that you can get a fresh apple in the Agriculture Horticulture building west hall.

B - Bacon. There's this gorgeous chocolate bacon from Famous Daves and the Big Fat maple bacon. I hear there's even more bacon foods. Yum!

Dirty Knife Fight

2010-07-17T22:58:00.000-05:00

I work in a really dirty office with a bunch of bachelor farmers (like the movie,"Brother's Keeper") There's clothes on the floor, yes really. Clothes. Food in the garbage cans and junk all over. Either I can do my work or clean up after these pigs. I used to try to do both but after 8 years, I've given up. I've offered many friends the job of cleaning up the place but it never works out. Family members of these friends are afraid their loved ones will get lost in the mess or be taken advantaged of so it never happens. My dear friend, Craig, (who somehow always ignores the hideous mess) came by the office. James' mom was in for a visit. Somehow we're all in one room talking. Craig needed some canned air. I reminded him of the time I tried talking to him on the phone while he sprayed canned air on his keyboard to clean it. James' mom (who gave up on the bachelor farmer's mess long ago) was incredulous. She asked Craig, "Do you clean your own desk?" Yeah - he replied. And she grabbed him, kissed him on the cheek and said emphatically, "I love you!" Then to placate her own son, kissed him as well. James was so served. He got sloppy seconds from his mom. Someone then needed a knife to open something, both James and Craig pull out their pocket knives. It's pocket knife vs a Swiss Army. Or knife vs knife plus tools. Or a double garage workshop vs a triple bay with a lift. Then they were arguing who had better tools. All because Craig cleans his own desk. And he won't work for Big Bell. I could be mean and mention that he's now toothless but I don't clean anything or carry (my big collection of) knives on me. So, I'm not going there.

Who wins? Me - the story has made me laugh for days.

Dreams

2010-06-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

In my dreams last night, I was in NYC. I stumbled into some office and met this really fun girl. I told her about my band, we watched a few of the videos and she was so impressed, she added a link to Scary Numan on her company's cool web site. Later in the dream, I'm at a new job, here in MN. I walk out into the messy hallway to find the bathroom. There's an open door in the hallway that leads to an apartment that's decorated really fun. The girl waves me in. She shows off her Kobe Bryant/Gary Coleman special edition Mac. (What?) She's doodling around and shows me the company she works for and I see the Scary Numan link on her company web page. I realize it's the fun girl from NYC. I found her again! She introduces me to her friends, some of whom I met in NYC and I'm so excited. She lives here. She lives in the hallway of my boring job where it takes weeks to get paid because it's a Canadian company. I found her again, I found my old new fun friend. I woke up happy because I had found a kindred spirit but who is she? There's no hallway to another apartment at my job. I know, we dream in metaphors. I'm happy I have a new friend, but I'm sad because I don't know who or where she is.

In my dreams the next night, I find the fun girl again and she's talking about friends I have, both here and gone. I woke up missing the fun girl and some of my long gone friends.

Teacher's Answer Key

2010-06-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

I realized in grammar school if I needed the answer to a question, I'd go up to the teacher's desk and wait in line. If the teacher's answer key was open, I could sneak a look, go back to my desk and write in the correct answer. The questions back then were easy and there was only one answer. 2+2=4 I hated if you had to ask the teacher or have to reason it out. I just wanted the answer, no talking and a quick getaway.

Why isn't there a teacher's answer key around now? Is it that there are multiple answers? I want to know if I knew someone in a past life, if the doctor will cure me of my aches and pains, if I'll be successful. The Magic 8 ball doesn't do much good either. I want the real answer, the one true answer. I want an A. I want to know. Don't make me wait in line, don't make me talk to the teacher, just have the damn book open so I can take a look and sneak back to my desk.

Better yet, sell me the book so I can look up the answers when I can't sleep, when I'm pondering these questions. Name the price.

Greatest cover band triple bill this Saturday in St Paul!

2010-06-11T15:51:00.001-05:00

Scary Numan at O'gara's Saturday night 6/12
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Scary Numan is on a mission to take your favourite 80's songs and make them new. Listen to mash-ups, rev-ups, and amped-up versions of dance songs you will fall in love with all over again. Check out their music videos : http://www.youtube.com/user/Scarynuman?feature=mhw5#p/a

Surly Jones separates themselves from other "cover bands" by stepping out of the template of being a modern-day jukebox. They take bands and songs from the greatest decade in music and interpret them in their own fun, fantastic, animated way. Check out their songs: http://www.myspace.com/surlyjones

Red on Red, the Twin Cities best "Rockternative" band, paying tribute to alternative hits of the 80’s, 90’s, and today (with a few tasty extras we can’t resist). So put on something red and get ready to dance. Red on Red is turning the scene upside down. Check out their songs: http://www.reverbnation.com/redonred

The show is from 9:15 pm - 1:30 am, there's a $6 cover charge.

At O’Gara’s O'Gara's Bar & Grill
164 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN

Hope to see you there!

Sunny days

2010-06-05T10:44:00.001-05:00

Rocket slide, Waukon IA
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I used to keep a diary and grade the days. If your clothes and hair looked good and the cute boy you had a crush on noticed you, A+ day. If you got a bad grade, looked dumb you F. I hadn’t thought about that in a while but this week, I had quite a string of A+ days. I thought a picture of a playground in the sun would convey a great day.

Thursday May 20th, my band, Scary Numan played at the 400. It was hot in the bar and not much of a crowd. What was cool was the band that played before us, Bug Girl from Australia. It’s just a brother and sister but they kick ass. Hear for yourself. So they stayed to hear our show and the song, Jessie’s Girl, comes on and they go nuts for their fellow Aussie. They were the most fun fans we ever had dancing and really getting into the music. I wore one of their t-shirts on stage when I sang.

Saturday May 22, Craig and I went exploring. We’d been to the old Cedar Bridge in Long Meadow park from old Shakopee Road side and wondered if you could get to the other side. We found some cool back roads, some abandoned stuff and finally after a few hours of walking, driving through the mud and almost off the road we found the abandoned road. It was grown over but really cool. I kept joking that we we’re going to find a secret Italian restaurant down one of the roads. We got covered in ticks during our travels and kept finding them while eating at Luci (all that talk about Italian food) It was an A+ day of fun, adventure and ticks.

I wrote about the bike car and it arrived on Wednesday May 26th. It was like opening a huge birthday present. I hopped and skipped around the office waiting for the work day to be done. It was a short bus day for Craig (because he has Rowan) and they came by. After they took a solo trek to DQ, Craig, James, Rowan and I “drove “ the bike to her softball game. It was Rowan’s turn to bring treats and Big Bell offered to donated a cooler full of ice cream. The cooler, the softball equipment was all strapped to the bike. We looked like the Joads.

The stares and comments from the people on the sidelines are worth the price of the bike, “What IS that, where did you get it?” Craig’s girlfriend, Kirsten took Rowan’s place on the way home. Both times I sat in back waving like a parade queen. I haven’t laughed that hard in long time.

Toy cars

2010-05-08T12:23:00.000-05:00

My grandma had one of these toy firetrucks in her retro knotty pine basement for us grand kids to play on. It was fun. The ladders came off, the bell rang and we had tons of space to ride this thing around. You could try to go to the scarier part of the basement, past the old furnace (with real flames) to the boiler area where the light was never on. Oooooooohhh. It was fun being the oldest and riding it first but what stung was when I got too big to fit in it and watched my younger cousins having the time of their lives in a toy I couldn't fit in anymore.

At some point, my sister and got our hands on an FAO Schwartz catalog with this toy sulky cart featured. I know it was really expensive. I think for a few weeks we attempted to save our allowance but then calculated the cost by our meager .25 allowance. It would be years. I had a bike but this was toy and bike. It looked like tons more fun.

Later, My sister and I devised a plan where we'd get our parents to buy us a toy baby carriage and something like Calvin and Hobbes we'd push each other around in it. Did we think this plan out? No, we got the baby carriage, tried riding in it and it tipped over. Shit!

I've fallen in love with too many men who have owned motorcycles. I've been looking for a motorcycle to purchase but with no luck. Besides, I'd be riding bitch and I'm too lazy to learn how to ride a motorcycle myself. But I still wanted a toy to ride around on.

A friend emailed a Craigslist posting for this four person Rhoades bike and I had to have it. HAD TO. Was it my too small firetruck, my never acquired sulky, a toy I could drive? I have no idea. But it looked so fun and your friends would be riding along next to you. I found this exact model in Albuquerque and bought it and I'm having it shipped. I hope it arrives soon. Which lucky friends will ride first? Do I have a contest? Make them sing me a song?

Actually, just sit next to me and let's go for ride, this toy has been a long time coming.

Angst Station

2010-04-15T12:31:00.000-05:00

The public phone is right outside my office. I did not know that the angst sign was installed outside my door. Every day, there's one of our workers who makes angsty calls to his girlfriend(s). Holy shit, I wanna get this kid a notebook and a coffee punch card and tell him to get thee to a coffee shop. He has volumes to write in his journal. Everyday, it's these sad, dark calls to someone who won't see him that day, won't see him enough, answer his calls or dissed him in some way shape or form. There's never any bright bits like, "Hey! I saw a robin!" Or "I'm about to eat some ice cream!" You'd think in a place that sells ice cream for the ice cream trucks, you could drum up a tiny ray of sunshine. No wonder that chica don't wanna see you, you're too dark and serious. Lighten up, hon. Oh and hang up the phone correctly so I don't hear that waaa waaa sound of the phone left off the hook. You make me and the phone cry a little every damn day.

Scary Numan at O'Garas in St Paul, MN this Saurday!

2010-04-09T15:34:00.001-05:00

Scary Numan at O'Garas in St Paul, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Who's all coming?

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T09:32:00.001-05:00

Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum ad, 1960s
Originally uploaded by bayswater97

Enjoy some...gum!

Fun Potato Chips

2010-04-03T11:18:00.001-05:00

Nalley's Potato Chips
Originally uploaded by Waffle Whiffer

I was feeling really down and I called a friend. I told them to just talk, read me whatever they had in front of them. It was a bag of potato chips. I was read the ingredients of a bag of chips. It was very comforting.

Some people sing goofy songs from commercials that comfort them. I just like a human voice. It was actually a bag of Old Dutch chips, made in my neighborhood for me.

And you thought they were only for eating.

Promise me

2010-04-01T19:32:00.001-05:00

Impossible Dream :)
Originally uploaded by Ben Heine

Promise me this will work.

That this is it, that this is the end of the road.

Promise, pinky swear, with a lawyer, with a witness. In a court, before god on a bible.

Promise me with all your heart.

Promise that everything will be restored as it was. You'll hand me the keys and I'll get my life back. In full. Promise.

Promise me, guarantee it, write it in blood. Promise that I'll get my body back, I'll get me back.

Swear it on the moon, on your mother's grave. "I promise, Debora, that this will work."

Say it. Say that you promise me.

You won't, will you?

Letters

2010-03-10T23:49:00.001-06:00

Griffin & Sabine
Originally uploaded by Andréa Branco

This photo is of the book, Griffin and Sabine. Which I won't go into. It's gorgeous. I own them all, come over and we'll read them together. In lieu of love letters, I have been tempted to send the Griffin and Sabine books. I haven't had the courage.

I have a ton of letters I'm aching to write and send. Some are sweet, some are angry. I should send a love letter, I should tell my mom what I really think. I'd like to ask a few friends why they stopped talking to me. What was it, what did I do. What do I need to do to make it right? Letters to people I haven't seen since forever.

I have an even larger stack of the letters I'd like to respond to that only consist of edits. I had a long inner rant about one email I had no idea who it was from, who or what they were representing or even referencing. I actually guessed correctly the person, the company and what they were talking about. Then I got back an even more hideous email. I stomped around the house yelling out, "Dear Debora, I am from X company. I'm writing about the email you sent our company on X date. I would like to discuss the matter with you further. Here are the times I am available. Love and Kisses, Name, company and phone number." I know texting is the wave of the future. And of more crap communication.

I'd love to send letters to those who have died. How is heaven? Can you come back for a visit. Would you get in my dreams more often?

This is the most I can do, write a blog about writing the letters I should write. Or the books I should send.

Surprises

2010-02-28T15:36:00.001-06:00

I was recently on a trip and I had a few fun surprises:

Driving out of Kansas City, I found a few more neon signs I hadn't seen. They won't be posted for a while, for me it's November in AZ.

We went to Dover, MO to Terre Beau vineyards. The web site said they were open but the sign on the door said closed. But the door was slightly ajar. We caught the sister of the owner there and we did get to taste and buy some wines. Whew! I have to learn to be social and call. Maybe that's my new month's resolution.

We stayed in the magic city of Moberly, MO. The title "magic" because of explosive growth in 1873. We're members of the Holiday Inn Priority club and we got to stay in a suite - for free! We went back to the Cooper's Oak Winery in Higbee, MO. Yeah, I've talked about the wines, the wine barrels. They recognized us again (I'm going to adopt them as my family - not sure how) and they had a great story about a 17 point buck and a new Deer Beer. And The owner's father, Dale, has his picture on the 2008 Norton wine. Plus, they're about to open a new location. I'm glad to see they're doing so well. I knew their hours because I did call. Funny how that works.

Then off to Ladora, IA. We show up at the Holiday Inn and they had a happy hour going on. Snackies and wine. Yes! And they had upgraded me to a whirlpool suite. It had a kitchen and pull out bed. James and I spreading out all our shit so not needing to call room service (for extra room - zing!) is a bonus. We hurried to the Ladora Bank Bistro. And there was a great cast of characters at the bar. There was a niece of Nancy Drew writer, Mildred Benson, who lived in Ladora and cashed her checks at the Ladora Bank! They have the ledger to prove it. And a hospital CEO charmed us with his skunky wine collection stories. James was impressed by the group of snow mobilers at a big table. The owners have more plans in the works. If I really love a place, I'll call. Maybe it's because I have a recognizable voice and I'm always asked, "Uh did you call before?" I really love the bank bistro.

So James and I are filled with happy stories about to come home. We go past the very cute, St Francisville Toll bridge. I get out James' notebook so we can find out how some bridges can charge a toll. It was privately built. Cool.

We had a really good run of tiny diners. Could we find one last cute ma and pa restaurant open for dinner? We drive through Pine Island, MN. The Historic Rainbow Cafe is open, filled with people. It's a more upscale restaurant, with innovative dishes and wine. Plus historic photos of Pine Island and the interior of the cafe. Joy! It was so unexpected.

BBQ Bucket List

2010-02-23T14:32:00.000-06:00

Today, I had LC's BBQ for the first time. It was ok. Just ok. But it's near Raytown, where we're making the ice cream truck menus.

My favorite KC BBQ is Jack Stack. Martin City. I swear there's a picture of my great Uncle Max there. It was the first Kansas City BBQ I ever had. I'm loyal to my first love. Gates was second. Luckily, you can get Jack shipped maybe we can get some to go. I have a cooler currently filled with ice cream for our best friends.

I'm crazy and would even try to cross off four more BBQ joints. Screw it, five more!

I got this list here. Don't mention the "F" word to me. I have eaten at the F word. Past tense.

Hey, Kansas City

2010-02-19T17:49:00.000-06:00

where everything is up to date.

Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant, Gates, I am heading your way. Get the smokers ready!

Oh and Valomilk, extra candy to the Hen House - STAT.

Attention the Ladora Bank bistro and Cooper's - be on alert - we'll be rolling your way (in more ways than one!) after all that BBQ.

Is there enough links in this post?

You don't know...

2010-02-18T01:13:00.000-06:00

...what the ellipses stand for. For what unfinished thought, I refuse to complete, to admit. You don't know.

You don't know how to ease my pain.

Tonight!!! Scary Numan, at Lee's Liquor Lounge, Minneapolis, MN

2010-02-14T23:33:00.000-06:00

Come spend Mardi Gras with Scary Numan, this Tuesday at 9:30 pm at Lee's Liquor Lounge. No cover!

Address is 101 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Need a map?

Scary Numan is a "psycho retro" new wave dance band. The Youtube link shows video used during the performance and has the best sound sample.

Youtube
MySpace
Facebook

Happy Ballentine's Day

2010-02-14T12:37:00.001-06:00

Happy Ballentine's Day
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Or Valentine's day to you and yours.
love, Debora

Head like a hole

2010-02-11T17:46:00.001-06:00

I know far too many smart people. Smarter than me. They're way too knowledgeable on the bible, politics, music, you name it. I have no idea why they hang out with me. I'm mostly a sleepy paperweight. I must make them look even smarter by comparison. Or they're just coming for the BBQ.

I was thinking how I could get these friends more on my level. I thought what about the old practice of trepanning? I'm not sure if it would reduce their smartitude. It's only a guess. I don't even know what parts of their heads I'd drill. Probably just random spots. Or until they start drooling.

This morning it hit me, not the cruelty or pain of drilling holes in my friend's heads. Nope. What if I was with one of these really smart friends and we were trapped in a collapsed building. Sorry, collapsed building near the bar (I'm not going multiple days without liquor - not even a made up scenario). What if this friend could've used their super smart powers to get us free but since I've reduced them to a drooling paper weight, we'd starve or have the DT's.

Time

2010-02-11T00:47:00.000-06:00

Time has come today. Not today. Not yet.

COUNTDOWNCLOCK

Tick tick tick to heavy metal

2010-02-09T19:53:00.000-06:00

Tick Tock Heavy Metal Clock

Mom o Gram

2010-02-03T07:54:00.001-06:00

Mother's Day Telegram
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Get it? Mom o Gram.
It feels like a hydraulic press.

Scary Numan - canceled.

2010-01-23T13:52:00.001-06:00

Water Towers

2010-01-11T10:59:00.001-06:00

Everyone who knows me, understands (or pretends really well) that I hate HATE the Woodbury, MN logo on the side of their water tower. There aren't many pictures of it (what a shock) How do I hate it? Let me count thy ways:

The "W" looks like a few strips of masking tap and it's too big.
The spacing of the "O"s does make you want to say "woo."
The "db" thing then gets the letters closer but doesn't match the "woo."
The "U" is too big. And dumb. And made again with masking tape.
Then to finally insult you - the "R and Y" are touching. Why?

What is the deal - why is every letter it's own size and spacing? It was sweet to let a small child design and paint the water tower. I'm glad they didn't waste good money on a real logo designer. I guess Landor was too busy working on the old Fortis logo. (Don't get me started on that or even this)

It was this page I stumbled upon reminded me of my own evil water tower. At least I am not alone!

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T10:16:00.001-06:00

Whisky ornament
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Love, Debora and whisky (I really own this!)

Collection of Stars 3.0

2009-12-27T19:23:00.000-06:00

Another Mary Poppins story about stars is in the same book. In this story, Mary takes the children to a small and very dingy shop with old candy and faded decorations. They are there to buy gingerbread with a gilt paper star. The store's proprietress asks what the children do with the paper stars. The children give up their secret hiding places. They leave the store and see the store is no longer there (I won't bore you with how many times that has happened to me!) Later, much to the children's surprise, their stars are stolen and hung in the sky (see illustration). Jane asks, "Are the stars gold paper or is the gold paper stars?"

Collection of Stars 2.0

2009-12-08T22:04:00.000-06:00

Here's another story about stars. This illustration is from the book, "Mary Poppins". The story is called, "The Dancing Cow." It's a story about a red cow who lived a very respectable life and behaved like a perfect lady. She's spend her days teaching her calves how to moo and select the perfect dandelion. One night when "the stars looked like dandelions and the moon a great daisy," it happened. The cow couldn't stop dancing - all sorts of dances but could not sleep because she couldn't stop dancing. In the morning, her calf had to eat the dandelions alone because the red cow couldn't stop dancing. She decides to see the king and he notices a fallen star has caught on her horn. He tells her jumping over the moon is the only way to remove it. She does and returns to her normal life, but she can't stand it. She missed the dancing and the happy feeling it gave her. She figures if she keeps moving, she'll find another fallen star.

The trick is to be able to have both lives, the quiet part and the wild dances and not sacrifice either.

Lincoln head plastic Mold-A-Rama

2009-11-30T10:04:00.001-06:00

Lincoln head plastic Mold-A-Rama machine, Henry Ford Museum, Detroit
Originally uploaded by gruntzooki

Dear IL Lincoln Highway Association, I'll be traveling the Lincoln Highway today in search of one of these. Please do not disappoint me. Love, Debora

Superdawg, Chicago, IL

2009-11-29T18:54:00.001-06:00

Superdawg neon, Chicago, IL
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Today, James and I grabbed a bite at Superdawg. It was GOOD! He had the Superdawg, I had a Supercheesie. Then it went from quiet to crazy crowded. I'm going back for night neon. And so Maurie and Flaurie can wink at me some more.

Thanksgiving, day 2

2009-11-27T11:58:00.000-06:00

This is Debora's Thanksgiving. (thanks to Sex, Drugs and June Cleaver) Why didn't I bring more. Liquor, Prozac and Ativan???

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T16:29:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving Hand Turkey
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Made by my own hand - it is my hand! Love, Debora

Collection of stars

2009-11-23T14:14:00.000-06:00

Looking up at the glow in the dark stars I have in my bedroom - I realized that I have many starry things in my life. My Grandma gave me the book, "Goodnight Moon" it's by my bed. I didn't realize the illustrations showed the room slowly getting darker. I just knew the book would make me sleepy and I could fall asleep. I love that the stars in the book keep getting brighter as the room gets darker.

Heartthrob cafe, St Paul, MN

2009-11-14T12:25:00.001-06:00

Heartthrob cafe, St Paul, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

After spending two weeks of being in the sun, seeing new signs and new towns, it's hard to come home. I wrote about leaving and coming back. I forget how much I love to shoot up the neon - into my camera, my computer, my head. I am an addict. And I only want more. I love you neon and I have no idea why.

Crystal Cafe, Raton, NM

2009-11-10T22:23:00.001-06:00

Crystal Cafe, Raton, NM
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Tonight, James and I are here, Raton, NM. I wanted to see how all the neon in town was doing. In 2007, I arrived around 9 pm so I didn't see the restaurant neon signs lit. James and I drove up and down the business route shooting stuff (me shooting, him driving) We're looking at restaurants trying to decide where to eat dinner. Restaurant one, the neon is beautiful but the decor looked bland. The next restaurant - no neon, so no way. The third place, the Crystal Cafe, has great neon and looks like it has character. First off, there's old photos all around - cool. And we can get a beer. The waitress explains that her boss' mom owned the Golden Rule in town. There's old ads and photos and she tells us that it's all still intact. She was so fun to talk to. I believe if you see the words homemade pie on the menu - by law you must have it for dessert. It was peach cobbler and very very good.

New Mexico Route 66

2009-11-09T21:52:00.001-06:00

New Mexico poster
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Today, James and I are in Tucumcari, NM. We came in last night - and planned to stay one whole day. While I was shooting up a motel (ha ha), we bump into a guy who was forced to stay in Tucumcari because his car broke down and they can't get the parts for it.

We get up today and the sky is grey. Thick grey clouds. My one day of shooting is ruined. I love the blue New Mexico sky. James tells me to be patient - he'd keep saying, "I'm working on it." I'd look outside, grey but with some blue. By the time we get our shit together - the sky has is blue - not one cloud. It worked - he did it! We get in the car and the battery is dead. We get a jump from the lady at the hotel. But I worry what will happen when we stop the car. And what if the clouds come back. We drive up and down Route 66 to charge the battery. We stop at a gas station, turn off the car and the battery is dead again. Shit! No one has any jumper cables. I call the rental car company and ask them what to do. They ask can I drive to my end destination - that would be Denver when we fly out on Friday. And there's no Dollar Rental company in town. Then they give us the o.k. for us to buy a battery.

One really nice guy offers to drive us to the Car Quest for the battery. James has written down the car make and battery model number and the nice guy drives us back to our dead car. We thank him profusely. The battery, technically correct, did not fit. At all. Somehow, James manages to connect the battery at a hideous angle. We drive back to the Car Quest with the hood barely shut. It takes him three tries to find the right car battery that would fit. Luckily, I could get some shots in while James was being Mr Fixit. Finally two hours later, the battery fits, and works and the car starts. And life is good.

We resumed our tooling up and down Route 66 (and also on the main street in town.) We see the guy from last night, and I tell him all our car adventures. I hope he didn't put a curse on us. Actually, if we had this happen out in any of the past spots we've been it - it would've been a hellish nightmare. We made new friends, got to see all the signs and now the car is ready for the next part of our trip

Dennis' Place for games - Belmont & Sheffield - Chicago

2009-11-07T22:47:00.001-06:00

Dennis' Place for GAMES - Belmont & Sheffield - Chicago
Originally uploaded by Mark 2400

I had dinner with my cousins in Albuquerque and this sign came up. Kudos to whomever found this - and uploaded it. I didn't throw up laughing - but I could've. Only your family can make you laugh that hard.

Travel

2009-10-30T14:34:00.001-05:00

1950 travel style
Originally uploaded by myvintagevogue

I really don't like getting ready for a trip. It's the fear of what will I forget. And then I start on with the what will I miss. My bed, my pillows, making my own coffee in the morning. I am a mess when I have to get ready for a trip. There's scattered piles of clothes and whatnot in every room. Then I feel I have to totally clean the whole house and do every project I've been putting off - raking or polishing the floor. Stupid stuff

Miss Lady has a nice worried expression. She's about to abandon her luggage and try to make it through her flight in that tiny waisted dress. I'll be more comfortably attired but as equally worried about my luggage and what oceans are between Minnesota and Phoenix. Shut up - I'm bad at geography.

Then I'm on the trip and I'm used to the new routine and all is well.
Then comes the end. I have to pack up all my dirty clothes and I don't want to go home. I'm used to hotel or gas station coffee and getting food by hunting and gathering (or going to weird places). I come home and it's not where I want to be even though I didn't want to leave in the first place.

But I'll get the itch again, I'll start dreaming of my next road trip and I won't remember any of the angst. Until the day before, among the piles.

Technicolor Yawn

2009-10-27T14:20:00.001-05:00

I woke up at 5 am and and I am so tired. My world looks like a Sid and Marty Krofft show. The overbright colors and weird creatures. And nothing making sense. I've tried watching H.R. Pufnstuf as an adult and I just don't get it. It was easier to watch it in the 1970s. Was it because I was young or because it was the 1970s? I am not understanding any thing today. Not a thing.

If you received a coherent email from me today, it was an anomaly.

Gifts

2009-10-24T23:58:00.001-05:00

Gift Box Confirmation Cake
Originally uploaded by fabcakelady

I love giving gifts. I really do. The best is when you get someone something that really want or need. I would love to buy a friend a birthday cake like this I don't know if they'd freak. Maybe it will just be a small but great cupcake.

One of my favorite gifts was to Caroline. We were out road tripping and I had an alarm clock with a white noise generator. I'd wake up and be so freakin' scared that Caroline was dead. She was out. OUT. I was holding up mirrors to see if she was breathing - that kind of shit. She'd wake up so happy that she slept so soundly. I found a similar clock and sent it to her - unbeknownst to me, her neighbor had begun well drilling or jack hammering and it was making Caroline crazy. The white noise clock arrives the jack hammer - gone. How did I know? I knew she totally dug it a month before while we toured rural Texas. And she still uses it.That's the best, if it's something you totally wanted, or needed. And not a waste of space.

Mickey's Diner, St Paul, MN

2009-10-23T17:44:00.001-05:00

Mickey's Diner, St Paul, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Carrie, we need to go to Mickey's NOW. Get your quarters, and I'll bring mine because we need to get burgers, coffee and play Patsy Cline's "Crazy" until we break the juke box. I'll see you there.

Incense And Peppermints

2009-10-22T11:42:00.001-05:00

I dig this, man. So simple! And a good song.

Map with notes

2009-10-21T15:04:00.001-05:00

Map with notes
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

You know those old movie slates. As a director, you yell, “Action” and clap the slate. It shows what scene is being filmed and was used to sync up the sound and picture. I like to pretend I’m a big time movie director when out shooting. I do yell, “Please clear the shot” but no one ever does. I have dreams of moving annoying power lines or lampposts but my crew never seems to pull the right permits.

The picture is my old way of note taking when I’d go out shooting . At first, I didn’t write any notes – I knew I’d just remember. Ha! Then, I used this old map to record notes of signs shot, not shot, the time. Now with a digital camera, the date and time (no GPS for me) are embedded in the shot. Since I can just empty the camera disk, I have endless shots. So I started shooting the name of the town before I’d grab the sign. And after. I have fun trying to find the name of the town on a great sign. I have a whole laptop filled with images that are in one great big iPhoto event that just says “trip to Albuquerque” And no town names. I’m going back and separating them into each town. Luckily with Google maps, you can make sure that both you and cool motel sign know where it is.

Girl in a white fur coat

2009-10-19T11:24:00.001-05:00

Girl in a white fur coat
Originally uploaded by Eduard Titov

It's been a crappy day. I drove 1000 (seriously) miles this weekend. I am TIRED. It's sunny out again, and I'd really like to be out shooting the shit but I'm stuck in my windowless cubicle. I have a case of the mean reds (take that how you want) To make matters worse, a meeting was called at work. The meeting leader was constantly burping and talking about stupid stuff. My dear teacher, Echo, would sometimes tell us to wear a big protective white coat to ward off the bad vibes. Or evil spirits. I sat in this meeting, not only imagining a white coat, but there was white turtleneck, white fisherman's sweater, white gloves, plus the white fur (if you're a tree hugger - then yours can be fake) It kinda helped. A matching white Russian would really help.

Ball of Confusion

2009-10-08T23:38:00.001-05:00

Ball of Confusion
Originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk

That's me. Ball of confusion.

I have this great piece I'm writing in my head but I just can't make it work on paper. My house is an utter mess. Things are falling off of shelves, onto my feet and yet it gets messier. I decided to organize my movie collection, I put all the movies on the floor and then got bored and walked away. It's too hard to think. I'm not sure why I'm so foggy. I should find a good reason, a good person to blame this on.

All want to do is watch old SNL episodes or respond to Facebook chat Both are fun and silly but it's not getting the dishes done, or paying the bills or making lunch. It's nothing of any substance.

I'll probably flit away to check on my Facebook status, or email, or find a goofy picture of my Jesus ashtray. All at once.

What I need is a good grounding - either to my room with no toys or something to keep me from floating away.

I gotta little black...

2009-10-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

"I gotta little black dress in my closet (closet)
Got a bag, got a toothbrush and a comb…"

It's dark and rainy and I'm singing Pink Floyd. I’m a bit down because James has gone camping and I do have a very cute little black dress in my closet. And in the photo. In a month, there’s an ice cream convention I must attend. In Phoenix. So there’s no big sweaters, no sweatpants I can hide under. Not in Phoenix.

Trying to find some diet and exercise inspiration, I was rereading Lyle McDonald’s Bodyopus pages where he was following a low carb diet and trying to get really cut. He became ketogenic guru of sorts (he hates being called that) and even wrote a book on it. His diaries were funny and well written. The Ketogenic book, while it’s a ton of knowledge, it’s not a ton of fun. It has none of his personality. It’s rather dry--it reads like a research journal.

I thought I’d go hard core low carb in the hopes of dropping a few lbs. I’m looking at those diaries again and I find out Lyle's written more books. I’m looking through the sample chapter of this one book the Rapid Fat Loss Diet. And it’s written like the Body Opus journals and I’m liking his style, dude. It’s an interesting diet using low fat protein and essential fatty acids. He also has some tips on some supplements. I am going to give it a try. I’m a bit apprehensive – long ago I followed a low fat diet (Snackwell's, anyone?) and it killed me. But I ate tons of sugary things (yes, like Snackwells – they were fat free you could eat the whole box – right??) But this looks interesting and I mostly eat low carb anyway. It’s just a minor adjustment.

I am so hoping that in a month, that little black dress will fit again. And I have a glowing letter to send to Lyle Mcdonald.

Red Owl in MN

2009-09-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

I sell a photo of an old Red Owl spice tin I have. Many people have asked me if there are any Red Owl stores still around. I found online that they were bought out by SuperValu. And I assumed that all of the Red Owl stores are gone.

I'm driving around southern MN and I get the urge to head to Le Roy MN. It looks like it might be out of the way, but I go. I pull into town and I see the Red Owl store. The sign looks good - almost new. Could it be real?

Apprehensively, I go in to the grocery store and see that the aisle signs are marked Brownlow's Red Owl.

I ask a clerk, (who is actually Kay the manager) is this a real Red Owl store? I expect the answer to be no but it is a real Red Owl. Kay shows me around the store and introduces me to her dad, Bob Brownlow, the owner. Her daughter is there. She shows me all the Red Owl products, signs, logos that she's collected over the years.

I ask her how it worked since SuperValu owned Red Owl. She told me that they had actually taken down the sign worried that SuperValu would disapprove of them using it. They worked out a deal with SuperValu that lets them be a real Red Owl. In fact, if you call SuperValu asking where to find old Red Owl memorabilia - they'll direct you to Kay. In fact, if you've got any Red Owl branded items, send them to Brownlow's so they can add them their collection. Watch for the movie coming out, "A Serious Man," by the Cohen Brothers. One of the characters works in a Red Owl and many of Kay's items are in the film

You could spend hours there looking at how the logo changed, that Red Owl's Jello was just called Jel and the big watchful eyes of the owl back in the meat department.

I got a Brownlow's Red Owl t-shirt and I was proudly wearing it around. I was asked again if there are still Red Owl stores and instead of shrugging my shoulders, I told them to head south on Hwy 63 to Le Roy, MN and see one of the only two actual Red Owl stores still around. When you're there you can get your own t-shirt plus many other items with the Red Owl logo. You could even do your grocery shopping (they are a real grocery store) or just get a few things for a picnic.

They are up to date and have both a web site and they are on Facebook.

Mister Mayo

2009-09-14T09:18:00.001-05:00

Mister Mayo Jar 1970's
Originally uploaded by gregg_koenig

Yup, I am hanging out with Mr Mayo. His really name is Dr Locke who just gave a speech in Chicago about G.I. issues.

Waiting rooms are boring no matter how pretty they are.

MN State Fair Sonnet - the unfair day 2

2009-09-10T14:09:00.000-05:00

Last year, I was really desperate for other MN State fair items. I was researching how the fair looked when I first saw it in the late 1980s, which booths have changed or stayed the same. I took a trip over to the Minnesota History Center (I may know someone who was born in the parking lot there.) And they have a quite a treasure trove of books on the MN State Fair. I have the book, "Blue Ribbon," by Karal Ann Marling

and, "Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History,"
by Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky

As well as, "Seed Queen," by Colleen Sheehy

and last but yeah least, "State Fair," by Susan Lambert Miller

Let me know if you need a hug or something to get you through until next year's MN State Fair.

MN State Fair Sonnet - the unfair

2009-09-09T14:47:00.001-05:00

State fair items purchased over the years
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I've been working on this photo for a few days. Finally - a good shot. I'd keep forgetting things like the rake or the cup holders. I have these items and just a few more to get me to next year's State Fair.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 12

2009-09-07T10:39:00.000-05:00

Competition.

Doesn’t everyone want a blue ribbon? Even for the best food court.

I’ve submitted art to the State fair’s art show almost every year I’ve been in this state and only a handful of times have I ever gotten in.

I’ve never received a blue ribbon but it is an honor to have your work hanging for the teeming millions to admire. I don't always agree with the judges.

I didn't realize that the crop art winner this year was from Zambia. I have a hard enough time making the deadline and I live down the street from the fair.

From the Pioneer Press:

The story of how 22-year-old Obrien Shipeka's creation got here is almost as interesting as the picture itself: It involves U.S. government outreach, a portrait of President Barack Obama and a Web site dedicated to crop art.

"He's never been in Minnesota, never been in the United States. It's definitely the best piece of crop art in here," said Ron Kelsey, head of crop art contests at the Fair. "The fact that someone would send seed art from Africa and have it arrive in excellent condition, that is somewhat of a surprise."

Shipeka, contacted via e-mail, said the girl in the picture — titled "African Girl" — is his little sister. He spent a month working with millet seeds, roasting them in a hot pan to get the right colors.

He's one of the first to use the technique so extensively, Kelsey said.

"I have been working with seeds to create art for the past five years, since my high school days, with the help of my school art teachers," Shipeka said. "At the moment, I have no formal job, but I spend most of my time creating art through seeds."

The journey of "African Girl" started in Shipeka's hometown of Ndola, the second-largest city in Zambia. His art teacher and mentor there, Danny Chiyesu, read a U.S. Embassy newsletter about cultural outreach and programs.

He sent an e-mail to Sara Stealy, deputy public affairs officer, and attached a seed art portrait of President Barack Obama crafted by Shipeka.

"I was curious — and a little wary! — as I opened the attached photo," Stealy recalled in an e-mail to the Pioneer Press. "A seed mosaic of the president? But the quality completely blew me away, and I asked if I could see the mosaic in person."

Chiyesu journeyed to Lusaka, the capital city, with the picture.

"It was even more interesting in person, and I knew I had to have it!" Stealy said. As is custom in Zambia, Chiyesu asked her to make an offer for the work.

She talked with local contacts about a fair price and did some online research. That led her to cropart.com, a site run by perennial crop art competitor and Pioneer Press employee David Steinlicht.

"It's the magic of the World Wide Web," Steinlicht said. "Everything's out there; everything's available 24 hours a day."

At the site, Stealy saw that the Fair has an annual competition for crop art.

She told Chiyesu on Aug. 1 about the contest, assuming he'd have Shipeka send something in next year.

But Chiyesu's brother, who works at a printing house run by Franciscan friars in the capital, was able to send out "African Girl" by carrier service. The work made the mid-August entry deadline.

Chiyesu checked the Minnesota State Fair Web site for results frequently, but Internet service in Zambia can be spotty, so he didn't find out about Shipeka's win until Monday. Judges gave it the highest score of all 150 entries this year, based on artistic merit, craftsmanship and compliance with the rules. Entries are displayed in the Agriculture-Horticulture building on the Fairgrounds.

"My reaction when I found out about the Fair results was a shock. I hardly could believe it," Shipeka said.

He won $40 for best out-of-state entry and will get a plaque for taking the best-in-show ribbon.

It is fun to get recognition for your work whether it be art, baked goods, animals, crops or what have you. I guess even having the most popular fair food or product would get you a blue ribbon of sorts. I award my own best of show to the newest fair product, the winner - Go Girl. Now I can pee standing up (I have yet to try it.)

There were two outstanding food items the Pot Roast Sundae...

...and the Deep Fried Norwegian Banana Split.

Banana Split photo courtesy of Twin Cities Metromix. Thank you for for photographing all the new state fair food.

The fair is winding down and everyone has to pack up. You get the chance to sell your blue ribbon item or just savior the recognition. Every year, they show a kid with the prize winning animal, they’re auctioning it off and the kid is both happy and sad. It is bittersweet, the end of the fair, saying goodbye to your prized thing that you worked so hard on, and the end of summer.

One last thing I love to do is to watch the final talent show at the Grand stand. They show the cream of the crop (ha) you see them perform and then they announce the winners. You get to watch this all inside the grandstand - usually you have to have a ticket to be inside. It is the best place to watch the fireworks.

There’s the last fireworks show...

...the grand finale and you then go home.

One time, I was at the fair on the last day – the day started out hot and muggy – very summer like. Then it started raining and by the time I got home it was fall. I had to make a fire and eat soup because it had changed to fall in just a few hours. I can see that the weather will do that later in the week – the first cold and rainy days of the season are just ahead. Tomorrow- how to get through the rest of the unfair.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 11

2009-09-05T11:53:00.000-05:00

Entertainment.
I have never paid to see a big name performance at the State fair. I don’t see many concerts any more. I guess it’s never appealed to me because there is so many free concerts to see at the fair.

Pat and I missed out on some of animal barns because they closed early but we did see the rodeo at the coliseum. There were kids roping calves and also Tommie Turvey, the Equine Extremist,

“With his unique acts and his own show stopping style, Tommie Turvey is the most exciting and versatile equine entertainer in the industry. Featuring roman riding, bridle-less riding, and comedy antics that are the hottest and freshest entertainment around.

Tommie did some weird stuff, made out with the horse, he was under the horse doing unnatural things to it besides messing with the horse’s tail, and he crept under a box while the horse was on top of it. The horse was good sport while Tommie sat on the horse’s stomach and moved it’s legs around. I wish the horse had kicked the guy in the nuts. Seriously, the horse was funnier than Tommie. Watch him fall off a horse – here

James and I were researching who and what would be playing and we saw this band Alpensterne at the Leinie lodge. This is the blurb I read, "

"Alpensterne is a musically diversified group performing some of Germany’s most loved folk songs with the yodeling of Jim Strehlke. Jim mastered the art of yodeling from one of Germany’s finest, Sepp Diepolder. Alpensterne likes to involve the crowd by playing “name that tune” on the 15-foot Swiss Alphorn.”

They were pretty good. It was at the Leinie lodge, you need to drink one of Leinie’s “iced teas” as the lead singer was doing. Or as James is doing:

One funny moment – the band is playing Amazing Grace. It’s very solemn and sweet and suddenly the music stops. The singer interrupts the song to ask someone walking past the stage what they were eating. The person had a huge stack of some fried thing and yet, didn’t know or remember what it was. I’ve never seen obvious people watching from a performer. While on stage.

We saw Billy McLaughlin at the Heritage Square after dark. I had heard him play guitar for a quick second on tv and thought it might be a good concert. It was.

Paul Cebar at the Summit stage sounded really good but Pat and I were hunting down Nikki who had lost her cell phone. Luckily when we called “mom” on the lost cell phone – mom was with Nikki at the fair. They were so happy to get the cell phone back.

On the last night of the fair, I try to see the winners of the talent show. Then when it’s done, you get to see the last fireworks show inside from the grandstand seating. It’s all about talent – tomorrow.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 10

2009-09-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Animals.

I’ve heard stories of city kids who had no idea where their food comes from. Pat told me about being in a vet class at U of M and a teacher told a story of a student raising her hand and asking, “Why do we have to kill animals when you can go to store and just buy meat?” I do know that all the cute animals at the fair might end up in my mouth.

I don’t get many chances to pet a sleepy Brown Swiss...

...or hear a barn full of lycra dressed sheep

...or see a bunch of chickens and roosters – some with crazy Tina Turner hair and some with hairy feet.

I don’t get how you get used to the smell of a pig barn. We liked that there were a bunch of pigs from one farm that had Vikings players and cheerleaders for their names. Is it payback for them signing on Brett Favre?

I've never seen a rat in a barn before - but one bored kid put a rubber one on a string and rigged it so he could drop it on unsuspecting victims. It was funny to watch.

Animals more on my level are at the Pet Center. We wanted to watch a dog do agility training but the trainer wanted to bore both the audience and the patient dog with explanations not demonstration. I hope that poor dog isn’t still sitting there waiting for the ball to be thrown.

Tomorrow I have a story about a comedy act that involved a horse and a guy and the horse was funnier than the human.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 9

2009-09-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

Signs and graphic elements
Everyone knows how much I dig nearly any kind of sign or roadside attraction. I already posted two photos that are a compilations of my favorite neon fair signs. There are other graphic elements and signs around the fair that you might not notice.

In 1966, Fairchild the gopher became the official mascot of the State. Fairchild (a play on the institution’s title) got his name after a state-wide naming contest. It is also a tribute to Henry S. Fairchild, the man who suggested the Ramsey County Poor Farm become the permanent site of the State Fair

There's this hidden gem. Steichen's. It’s a cute little store hidden off the main drag and just covered in signs.

One of the world’s greatest fair signs promotes itself. I can’t speak for the product, but the sign rocks day and night. And spins.

Those Pronto Pup arrows (but not the stands) are sadly long gone and also some recording that used to tell you to "Get yourself a Pronto Pup"

Some of the buildings have some interesting elements inside and out – like the chickens on the poultry building:

the L’etoile du Nord the MN State seal:

And a wheat motif on the Horticulture building:

I am a big fan of the big wooden, art deco letters in the Horticulture building. The sign for crop art is art in itself.

These garbage cans are getting more and more scarce. I found these in the parking lot across from the fair.

I don’t know why but the arrows in the Creative Arts building remind me of Grandma’s basement shuffle board game. This way to the egress.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 8

2009-09-02T13:56:00.000-05:00

Architecture.

One wouldn’t think about architecture at a state fair but there’s quite a variety at the MN State Fair. The Minnesota State Fair Foundation has this great walking tour of some of the buildings on the State Fairgrounds. Check out their brochure that include some of these buildings.

Starting with the oldest, the Fine Arts and Progress buildings were both built in 1907. Your art gets to be shown in an work of art. If you’re lucky enough to make the cut.

This cute yellow J.V. Bailey House was built in 1911 was formerly the Greenhouse Superintendent's Quarters. Now it's the home of the MN State Fair Foundation. I'm not sure how, but I want to live in it – they just did a big renovation and it looks beautiful. Wouldn't it be cool to live in the fairgrounds.

It is so hokey, but you have to take a ride on Ye Old Mill – built in 1913. In between looking at the displays you can make out with a loved one in the total darkness. Then go get some Tom Thumb mini donuts next door.

I so love the Ag Hort building built in 1947 – I love the Art Deco look of it both inside and out. And not only does the big tower light up at night, it changes color. How cool is that!

Some buildings aren’t necessarily architectural wonders, but I love them anyway – like the former Spaghetti Village - now Spamville. Goodbye bland Italian food and crappy pizza hello spicy and deep fried Spam.

There is the hideously 1970s Creative Arts building. Thanks MNHS:

Check out this site for more MN State Fair buildings. Tomorrow - graphic elements in the buildings I love.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 7

2009-09-02T10:43:00.001-05:00

Klecko at Saint Agnes booth MN State Fair
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Education
It's funny to think of actually learning something at the fair. It should just be a big snack and go on ride show. There are quite a few learning opportunities – the DNR fish tank and DNR building is a big draw. There's a very Bell Museum kind of animal diorama in the DNR building. I love it. At Heritage Square you can watch a blacksmith and woodturner and learn about newspaper printing – to name a few things. There’s the Miracle of Birth building to see things being squeezed out by animals. And there’s a farm for the city kids. I kinda dig the Territorial Pioneers Museum (they don’t promote it well at the fair on the web) and the State fair history museums because they're old and dusty never change.

Some things are just soft selling products; the new Eco Experience building has all sorts of green stuff to learn about and also has sales reps on hand to sell you the recycled glass counter tops flooring and electric cars. Everyone’s gotta make a buck, somehow.

Long ago, there was a Betty Crocker demo kitchen in the Creative Activities building. It was great – women in aprons making stuff from mixes or canning. Pretty dry stuff. I have some of the recipe brochures they handed out. You wonder why it fell out of favor. Maybe because the core audience was dying out, literally. So Betty packed up and they needed new fresh talent to liven up the joint. They ask Klecko, master baker from Saint Agnes bakery because he knows everyone in the twin cities food biz. And his show is the best at the fair. I’ve even been a guest at his demo kitchen explaining to the crowd about ice cream trucks and novelties. Pictured is Klecko in the State fair demo kitchen.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 6

2009-08-31T13:10:00.000-05:00

Food Art

Some people think way the Sweet Martha’s cookies are stacked in the paper cone, or the Jengaesque, pixie stix stack of French fries are works of art but that’s minor league.

Two of my favorite exhibits are things made with food. The crop art is the best. I have to make my self see the whole Hort Ag building before I allow myself the crop art. I will miss the queen herself, Lillian Colton, the grand champion of all crop art who died in 2007. She’d sit a folding table paitently glueing tiny seeds.
Shown are some 2008 political themed crop art entries.

Next on my list, are the butter heads at the Dairy Building. Princess Kay of the Milky Way; Minnesota's state dairy princess, gets her likeness carved in an 90 lb hunk of butter. The picture shown is of the sculptress and the Princess in the cooler. Linda Christensen has been carving the same heads (they all look the same to me minus the hair) for 38 years. The other booths in the dairy building pale in comparison but what they hey, I’ll add another Fleet Farm key ring to my collection.

The most bogus of all food exhibits is in the Bee Exhibit. I was reading the rules here; making a gift basket with assorted items made with honey.

Or a collection of honey pots or collectibles:

Or should we call it shit I bought at the store or a garage sale. I call no way. Only a few of the entries are actual items people craft instead of buying.

No matter what the skill or bogus level, I love them all.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 5

2009-08-31T09:28:00.000-05:00

I get seasick really easily, so I don’t go on many rides. I am a big fan of the Ferris wheel and the new freak show and uh um not much else. But I do love them. I love the neon and the loud music and the crowd. I walk the whole length of the midway admiring all the craziness. One year, I wanted to shoot all the neon in the midway, so went home, waiting until dark and brought my camera. I was apprehensive being alone at the fair with a big expensive camera. Somehow being behind the lens of my camera protected me, and I wasn’t really there, I was documenting but not really there – I’ve heard other photographers talk about that same feeling of not really being there if you have a camera.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 4

2009-08-30T10:45:00.000-05:00

Hucksters...
...Or anyone selling anything. Nearly every radio station and TV station has a booth at the fair. I am such a sucker for the newscasts at the fair because they’ll feature a new booth or new food. I may just have to get a Dole Whip this year just because Don and Amelia (of WCCO) love them. I miss the KLBB booth next to the roasted corn stand. We would get corn and listen to corny old music. My favorite KLBB moment was when a young hip intern, Brad Savage, was on the air some quiet weekend. All he said was, “I got two turntables and a microphone.” I was probably the only person listening who got the reference. We would tell our stories (like me taping the Super Saver show to send to a friend) to the lackeys running the KLBB booth and purchase all the souvenir crap they had.

I have dragged countless friends and relatives to the Chef Harvey booth for the same spiel. It’s the same guy, same spiel – although I can tell the regular guy sits out much more these days. The Ginzu knife guy, Sushi, Vitamix and anyone in the Grandstand is B list for me. But I still love them.

I've bought and really use a: broom, Micro fiber mop, sprinkler, matt cutter Swiss Peeler, German towel and much more. I love buying the newest gadget at the fair, because for the rest of the year (the unfair – like an unbirthday) I get to savior and play with the item until it because fair time again.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 3

2009-08-29T11:17:00.001-05:00

This year’s crop (ha!) of new foods doesn’t look all that great. It’s all things done with potatoes – a Pot Roast Sundae; a scoop of mashed potatoes, roast beef, gravy, corn, and cherry tomato. Fry Dogs; a French fry covered, deep fried hot dog on-a-stick and a Tornado Potato; a spiral cut potato on-a-stick. Bogus!

Last year, it was a bacon fest, maple bacon, chocolate dipped bacon. Oh good, I loved them both so much, I ordered them multiple times. I can remember the year Pork chop on a stick débuted and the deep fried candy bar (which you have to get fresh and hot or forget it) and then the deep fried twinkie. Since you can go online and read about the new foods, I make up my own list of what and where and bring it with me. Like a shopping list.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 2

2009-08-28T11:50:00.000-05:00

The food. You walk in the fair and you are immediately enveloped in a cloud of grease, chocolate and who knows what. There are some old school foods that scream state fair – cheese curds, foot long hot dogs, Pronto pups and cotton candy. Here’s what I don’t understand. There are people that go nuts over the fries at the fair. Plain old French fries. You can get French fries anywhere. And while I am a fan of Sweet Martha’s cookies, they are warm chocolate chip cookies but you can even buy them frozen and make them in your own oven. But hey, to each their own. My rule is, if I can’t make it home or get it at a restaurant, I’ll get it at the fair – mini donuts, corn dogs or what ever is new. New foods – tomorrow.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 1

2009-08-27T13:42:00.001-05:00

State Fair Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I love the MN State fair because it’s like going to another world. A world of never ending happiness, you can always see the sun day day day or night night… oh wait. It does seem like you leave your world behind when you enter the state fair. The very first time I went, I was with a cynical friend who wanted me to hate it along with him. And I tried, but I couldn’t. I loved and love the State fair. All of it. Now I attend the fair with like minded friends who love it along with me. I’m going to write sonnet to fair every day to prove my love. And I'm going to dig up more photos of the fair. This is a shadow box I show at art fairs of all my fave things at the fair.

Happy Birthday, Amy Louise

2009-08-15T09:47:00.001-05:00

Amy modeling
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Fuck you, you fucking fucker. And I mean that with all the love in my heart. (We said that to each other all the time - not mean but in jest.)

You know, we should be in Lake Nebagamon (the bag man - what?) You staying at the city campground and me at the B&B. I could sneak you and Todd muffins and coffee - Then in a canoe on the Brule and me eating big hunks of cheese. I'd bring the Cub Foods white birthday cake that we'd eat the picnic table by your tent. We could go to the Iron River Blueberry festival and get blueberry sausage and cheap blue sunglasses.

I miss you and I'll have a Captain and coke in your honor.

Running away

2009-08-12T23:38:00.000-05:00

Dear everyone, I am running away.

I am going to a small town with really great neon signs - like the one in the movie, "Cars." I am never coming home. Unless I get hungry for the Edy's Slow Churned ice cream I have in the freezer.

love,
Debora

Powderhorn Art Fair this weekend!

2009-08-05T15:38:00.001-05:00

Jolly Green Giant Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Come this guy and much much more at the Powderhorn Art Fair in Minneapolis, MN
on August 8th 10am - 6pm
and August 9th 10am - 5 pm.

Kinko

2009-07-25T16:47:00.001-05:00

kinkos
Originally uploaded by labanex.com

More favorite things.

Maybe they changed the Kinko's logo because the "O" looked like a toilet seat.

I wish I had a cool indie copy shop that could match Kinko's prices, the credit card reader and being open 24/7. Ah well. Besides, it brings back the days of type class and endless copying, pasting stating and waxing with Carrie.

I just recently used the online print deal thing on Kinkos. That shit is pretty cool. I uploaded a PDF then drove over and picked up 30 folded, collated newsletters. I usually would print out junk on my inkjet and then copy it. This time, the photos weren't just grey boxes. Rock and roll! I do always sing this old sick song when I go there.

Maybe they'll change the song to FedEx the kid loving clown. Probably not.

Few of my favorite things

2009-07-18T12:22:00.001-05:00

Izzy's Ice Cream
Originally uploaded by kaszeta

When I get sick, I get mean. I feel yucky and I want you to feel just as yucky as me. There, the truth. But if I can stay positive, maybe I won't be such a crab.

Last weekend, a few of my Hour Dollars friends asked if I wanted to go to Izzy's Ice Cream in St Paul. I was preparing to order just one scoop. That lil tiny scoop is the Izzy. It would be a big and little scoop. I had my flavors narrowed down. Vicki told me you can get 5 little Izzy scoops in a cup - a Dizzy Izzy. Oh lord. I had the Salted Caramel, the Hot (something) Sugar, the Pirate, Mexican Hot Chocolate and Midnight Snack. I wish they listed all the flavors and descriptions on their web page. Either way. I had 5 tiny flavors of ice cream. Heaven!

Harris Brick Building, Minneapolis, MN

2009-07-06T23:20:00.001-05:00

Harris Brick Building, Minneapolis, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I drove past this area tonight because I was at Magus books in Dinkytown. I decided to stop and take a walk around. The old mills, empty lots and the Intercampus Transitway make for an interesting walk.

Ride Like the Wind

2009-07-04T10:09:00.001-05:00

Ride Like the Wind
Originally uploaded by -Dons

I wish I could decorate my bike and ride in some 4th of July parade. I wish I could go on a picnic or the beach then watch the Dyke Stadium fireworks from the HiLo parking lot in Evanston, IL. I wish I could be sent to bed even while kids are outside setting off small fireworks. I want to be 7.

Riverview Theater, Minneapolis, MN

2009-06-28T12:43:00.001-05:00

Riverview Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

James and I went here to see "The Soloist" not a bad film - not great - not bad. But they serve real butter on the popcorn (a great reason to see ok films).

Then we jay walked (not really) to the Riverview Cafe and had port and two chocolate desserts. The owner, David, said hi to us. A wine bar and a dollar theater - is this heaven, no it's my favorite corner of Minneapolis!.

Goodbye old friends

2009-06-27T09:18:00.001-05:00

These two places in my neighborhood were recently torn down.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T13:01:00.001-05:00

Vintage Ports and my dad
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Our St Paul paper asked people to write in and tell them the important lessons they learned from their dads.

He taught me about money, saving it, investing it, not flaunting it and always buying quality items. His mother said something like, we’re too poor for you to buy cheap things like that after he bought a cheap suit that would later fall apart.

I was the one who’d borrow his tools and never put them back in the right spot (he’d always catch me!) I was certain I could fix things the effortless ways he did. Later, I learned how to use a computer (and somehow taught my dad – although neither of us have any patience) I am fearless when it comes to anything computer, setting them up, web sites or learning new applications. I credit my dad for that.

My dad has always worked hard his whole life. He started work as a dock boy and gradually moved to CEO. It’s a great lesson that everyone starts at the bottom. And while he works hard, he always take time out for fun and rest – traveling, being a mad inventor or napping on the couch.

I am lucky to have the world’s greatest teacher. My dad.

I love you Dad from D.A.D

Waiting...

2009-06-07T21:04:00.001-05:00

...for you. Waiting for god, waiting to see more doctors, waiting for test results. Just waiting. And not so patiently.

Travel

2009-06-05T11:13:00.001-05:00

Silver Streak Travel Trailer
Originally uploaded by Vintage Roadside

In my dreams, I was having all sorts of travel worries - could I park on a side street near the airport, was James going to come to the airport to see me off, could I get my money back if I canceled my tickets at the last second, why did I have a ticket to Minnesota - living in Minnesota? My "if I win the lottery" dream is to get an AirStream trailer and 1950s dresses and go for a long shooting spree. Will it be California - I love San Francisco, or Colorado - my favorites towns are Trinidad and Walsenburg. CA or CO?