'I Need A Human Right By My Side'

Bermuda Highway
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

Robert and I witnessed a spectacular My Morning Jacket show at McMenamin's at Edgefield. I sincerely wish that everyone loves Southern Rock. Jimmy James y crew delivered- rockin' high kicks, falsetto, love ballads, strobe lights,afro-hair iridescent in the sparkling dusky light.... it was a full meal deal. (Plus Seven songs).
Tori courageously led us through the P-Town public transit system. Dave laughed at all our jokes, and unwittingly egged us on. Armpit love vs. Kentucky girls= A shorter bus ride with a couple of drunks.

It was the most gorgeous weekend in Portland ever. The sun was bright and hot. Robert played soccer with some kid and an old shoe. I made a quiche- the first ever, and it didn't kill us from its 4 hour ride in the trunk. It was bacon-y delicious especially with Dave's mountain of tomatoes. We drank bloody marys, beer, and ate! A LOT! The chocolates at Pix were to die for- Thanks Tori& Dave!! We had a marvelous weekend!

Blog-Rite

Fuschia-d Fall
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

I wore leg warmers all day. I rode my bike and my head turned into a block of ice- it was 6:30am. Hayley warned that it would be a 'freezing' 68 degrees. During my ride I created a chart in my mind that compared the expense of proper cold weather bicycle gear vs. costs of gasoline. A balaclava was represented by a nice rosy color bar that outshot the decadence of my hefty thighs.
These are the days of fall that if I were to fast forward to January, I'd be traipsing about in a tshirt, leaving the front door open, and pouring myself a white wine spritzer.
My blog has been sapping my procrastinating energy. If my blog were a discount store it would be bins full of crappy internet lists and haggard cashiers rasping, 'anything else??'...
I'm in the mood to be along for the ride. Sorry, I'm not taking us anywhere. But I'll bring my Chromeo, my Michael Jackson dance moves, iced americano+honey skills, and some PMA to save your day.

Outsourcing Inspiration

1999 sunset
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

I've been waving my hand at a smattering of all things inspirational this week.
I've perused book stores. Did you know that there is a book about all the dirty 'Star' secrets of every literary writer?? AND philosopher's tell jokes. Who knew?
I've been riding my bicycle. An old lady in a 1980 Taurus heckled me and cackled that I needed a helmet. Ugh. I hate bike helmets. I'll sneak in here that I joined a gym. They have a TV on each treadmill. Ah, that's a slice of heaven.
I took a swig of absinthe- stateside this tastes like the Czech moonshine I drank on a bus in Alaska. I may have to wax my chest tomorrow.
I've been acting goofy; dancing in unison with various peeps,watching Harold and Kumar. Some have witnessed me laughing until I fall off the couch.
Robert pimped our ride. I'm cruising around in a waxed, new white wall tired, detailed leather interior Buick LeSabre. Save your jealousy, and ask your Dad to give you a deal.
The icing on the cake is that Saveur finally did a whole issue on Breakfast. I'm suddenly in love with boiled eggs. I'm planning my next NOLA visit to Waffle House- Robert's never been scattered, covered and smothered. My mouth is still open in disbelief.

ZAP!!!!

Beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde
Originally uploaded by mollyinalaska

I brazenly stole this photo... so please don't think that I am eating beignets and drinking a cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde and be excruciatingly jealous.
Robert and I are taking a trip over Halloween to New Orleans and suddenly I am back in a time fifteen years ago... and its hard for me to believe that there is a time called '15 YEARS AGO'. I added two and thirteen together when I was trying to find a 'drinking establishment' I used to frequent and came up with 'NEARING MIDDLE-AGE'.
I attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge for a brief time, before they figured out that I was briefly attending. I gave my parents a lot of grief. I was nineteen. I've always hoped they expected it.
I loved the sickeningly sweet smell of the magnolias. The flying cockroaches that could be killed strategically. The best way to keep a single dorm room is to keep your roommate together with her boyfriend. I drank a lot of Turbo Dog, ate a bit of ettouffe(mmmm 15 pounds worth), and lived out my ill understanding of 'karma'. My professors sang karaoke at a bar called 'The Library'. I thought 'synchronicity' was a daily played horoscope. I was so young.
I paid $7 to see the Counting Crows, The Breeders and Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion. I saw a pulsating Krispy Kreme donut sign for the first time. I finally understood the collegiate 'Greek'- and realized they are easily dislike-able. People in the South are able to smoke in a grocery store! You can purchase a daquiri in a drive thru. Its possible to be generally friendly. Its American to love Southern Rock and fish off any bridge. I am stoutly American.
I succinctly learned that the world outside the Pacific Northwest is dirty, old, friendly and it tastes better. Now I just have to figure out my Halloween costume....

Zombie.

Zombie.
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

I'm sick, and this is what I feel like.

'I Can Lead a Nation With a Microphone.'

Normalcy
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

The title is a line from The Flobots, 'Handlebars'.
I feel compelled to talk about why I get verklempt when I
1. Watch the Democratic National Convention 2008.
2. Listen to 'Pink Houses' while driving home through corn fields. (sheez! wouldn't ANYONE have shed a tear during that one??!)

I'm sure the Olympics warmed me up.

Ever since I listened to Joe Biden's speech at the DNC about his wonderful wife and mother I have been a sucker for family centered sentimental nationalism. Ugh. I have never fallen for this ploy until now..... Damn you Joe. Tim Russett could have put in all in perspective for me, but on my own- I'm overwhelmed. I feel this deep responsibility to be involved.
Joe- It was your grey hair, your genuine smile. You're white. You're old. I was a Hillacrat.
Joe credited his mother with all life's idioms. He tore at my heart for a whole 20 minutes.
I was lucky my husband was watching I-82E through 'Pink Houses' lest he notice me hanging my head out the window to dry my eyes. My voice cracked a couple of times singing along.
After seeing 42 Million peeps at the Mile High Stadium- my expectations are UP. Way UP! I am ready to be a part of the ride.
Dear America-I'm ready to sit down to dinner with y'all. Its vegan treat at my house. I'll meet you outside the voting booth.

The Last Word: Debrouillard.

sakura vs. brock
Originally uploaded by wendysteere

Also known as 'System D'; I'm liberally slathering it all over life. A philosophical duct tape of P.M.A. that McGyver's life's speed bumps. We spent three days in an animated land; Kumori-Con, Portland Oregon. For the citizens of Portland it was Halloween. For the participants it was a gooey, glompy and akward teenage romance- in costume. Hayley sang her most amazing ever. Robert got a *little* choked up.
We ate crepes, saw Star Wars characters (Japanese Anime??), sang along to Steve Miller, tried to feed Shannon ANYTHING and mostly costume watched.
Tori and Dave hospitably endured a cut finger, dirty dishes, WINE! ON DEMAND!, and parted with 'I Like Killing Flies' : A documentary to start/confirm all of your fears about kitchen 'System D', and to renew your faith in the human race.
Life's never happenning the way you planned it. Its 'System D' all the way and hopefully you're attitude and brain power is equipped for the ride.
Its a low-riding Buick, changing into your costume in a Macy's bathroom, a 'diner' sushi rotisserie, a burrito-carnage infested Taco Bell, a plushy sword fight in a parking garage. The fun is never where I expect it. I'm adjusting to an ever surprising mythical teenage life.