Midwest Specifics

Encountering the Mississippi

I know there is a place somewhere in Minnesota where you can hop over the Mississippi , but I prefer a Grand Rapid's full foot submersion instead. 

Headliners

Uniformed

I don't really do the news. I am currently tv-less, only utilize Huffington Post for Kimye updates and never really found my way to NPR. But today I picked up the paper.

Fargo Forum's front page article failed to mention anything about Syria or Miley. It even left out health care reform. Instead, North Dakota's headlining article focused on this year's upcoming winter. My first real winter. I was intrigued. And then...very very scared.

Reading Tea-Leaves, or whatever Farmer's read...

The bulk of the article reported the Farmer's Almanac winter weather predictions. These predictions include:

"A winter with plenty of “piercing cold” and below-normal temperatures."

(PIERCING COLD!!!!)

"The Almanac predicts “significant snowfalls … for parts of every zone."

(SNOWFALLS (what is a snowfalls!?!)!!!!)

"Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois will be among states with “biting cold.”"

(WHICH IS WORSE?? BITING, PIERCING???)

"New England will be “bitterly cold.”"

(WAIT, HOW DOES BITTERLY SCORE?!?!)

"sub-Artic"

(WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!?!?!)

Conclusion

Post-read I learned about the joys of black ice. Post-learning about the joys of black ice I decided to solely rely on dog-sled transportation come the first snowflake.

Midwest Specifics

Life Through My Eyes: 

Friday in Fargo

''

 It only took me two streets to where I was going this morning. And I loved every sidewalk-step. 

Mini Break Holiday

My Patron Saint

Bridget Jones affects my life, constantly. Channeling her coat and undies-only December sprint I once tromped down two blocks of Central European snow in my trusty Rainbow Sandals*. I have the Edge of Reason to thank for my constant paranoia while travelling in Thailand. Visions of her hard-Madonna filled-jail time panged in my mind as I became a vigilante against unintentional drug trafficking. Bridg has inspired me me eat my feelings, break resolutions and to never go back to an ex (no matter how good his hair his). And most importantly she infused three important words into my life: Mini Break Holiday.

*word to the wise: DO NOT DO THAT!! B-Girl smartly wore sneakers! Wear the sneakers!!!

Source

What's In A Name? 

For whatever reason, I love the silliness of the phrase. Apparently the English do not go on trips, getaways or vacations. They holiday. And when time is of the essence, they go on mini break holidays.

According to my Jones-impression a mini break holiday has several essential characteristics:

1.While a mini break holiday can be a visit to friends or family the key participants are romantic partners.

2. A mini break holiday cannot take place in your own city.

3. The duo must road-trip to their destination; convertibles and open windows are encouraged.

4. There must be time spent communing with nature.

And my personal amendment, that I am sure Bridget would approve of:

5. You should probably eat things that entirely wonderful and entirely unhealthy.

The Deets

Preston and my previous mini break holidays include a trip to the Hunter Valley, New South Wales' wine country, and a weekend spent in Oceanside, California. Down under we swam in the morning, wine tasted in the afternoon and saw 942,420,187,048 Christmas lights in the evening. The junk food count consisted of eating cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our second MBH consisted of body surfing, happy hour and Legoland. Room-service, apple fries and two many two-dollar beers landed on our delicious-but-not-nutritious food tally. Our most recent mini break holiday landed us in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. And this trip's yummy time was all about wedding cookies and McDonald's infamous dollar menu.

A photo of our "Photo mini break holiday Souvenir"

You've Got A Friend

A two-way highway laced with evergreens led to an old friend's wedding day. Or rather a new-ish friend with old sentiments. Preston and I met Lenora during the summers we spent at Luther Heights summer camp. And though I've only known Lenora for four years, and hadn't seen her in two the warmth between us has sustained. I think it's because our friendship was built around play. 

A bit of summer camp weirdness
Lenora and I are the ones in the swimsuits

Made-up games, nicknames and lost nights of sleep seem to be the terms of our friendship. Our memories exists in a second childhood. And in that sense we are childhood friends. This kind of friendship is not exclusive to Lenora and I. Rather it seems to dwell between all camp friends. 

Going The Chapel

Lenora and Sam's wedding was entirely them. Their ceremony was filled with perfect harmonies(thanks Concordia Choir guests for carrying the rest of us) and well-loved melodies. The reception was intimate and enchanting; consisting of Norwegian Golf, 4,000 cookies and a lake.

In lieu of glass tapping the couple explained that they would only kiss when a guest serenaded them with a song that included the word "love". I am happy to say that my rendition of "All You Need Is Love" kicked off the kissing. The best man and maid of honor's speeches captured the couple and with the kind of truth that makes you laugh. The evening closed with a bonfire at the groom's parent's house. Two-buck chuck served in red cups and wide stretched smiles sealed in the happiness of the day.

Annika, Lenora & I
And yes, I am a total goober and forgot to get a photo of the bride and groom

Seeings friends has a way of making you feel at home. Moreover returning from a mini break holiday has a way of making you feel at home. So it just so happens I find myself feeling doubly at home in the midwest.

Midwest Specifics

Paul Bunyan

 The Regional Ambassador

Akeley, MN

Moving

After a year of exploring Idaho's mountains, Australia's cities and Thailand's beaches Preston and I finally got around to finding a home. And while home can exist amongst friends, family and familiarity the one we have is the kind with a couch. A thrift store seventies-esque couch to be precise. 

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

And I would like to take this moment to give Preston ALL the credit for getting the heavy beast in our apartment. As much as I shoved, pulled and coaxed the couch would not budge. And as much as Preston tried to "help" my progress by explaining the "correct" way to grasp a ginomours piece of furniture  he ended up schlepping the thing himself. 

basking in it's immovable glory

Lessons from this experience: 

1.Some people were just not meant to lift things. I think my ancient ancestors were the root gathering/hammock dwelling sort. And as a result my wimpy arms and too-short legs have solely evolved for a life of leisurely lemonade drinking and pool swimming. 

2. Boyfriends aren't always the best teachers for their girlfriends. And vice versa. 

The Deets

Our new two bedroom apartment is situated in the Times Square of Fargo North Dakota. Additionally it is garden level, but I prefer to think of it as Hobbit Hole level. It is bright, clean and all of ours for the next twelve months. Which just so happens to be the longest Preston and I have lived in the same place since 2008. Hello new life, new home and new adventure. 

A Final Word to the Wise

You know what they said about bewaring those gift-bearing Greeks, make sure to watch out for package-sending von Kronemanns while you're at it. 

a mysterious extra small package...

A coconut TIKI!!!!
Let's hope there's no relation to the Brady's Hawaiian talisman

Midwest Specifics

Downtown Fargo 

Duke for the win.

P.S. We moved!!!

PANCAKES!!!

Languages may unite. Music can break down borders. But folks, a pancake breakfast just maybe the key to world peace. Native to tiny towns and greenbelt laced suburbs the community pancake breakfast is the ideal fundraiser. It's combined forces of creating community and delivering endless pancakes qualify it as one of the better ways to spend a summer Sunday.

As a former Indian Princess I have spent several weekends of my life selling tickets for and attending the local YMCA's pancake breakfast. Just like the breakfasts of yesteryear, Sunday's  griddle was headed up by some men folk. Battle Lake's Lion's Club members flipped fluffy pancakes, refilled lemonade and delivered costco hot dog-sized sausage links to each long table. 

I spent half of the breakfast thinking that the lions where the guys that drove little cars in parades. Turns out those are actually the shriners. Thousand Oaks' cool club was the Elk's Lodge. Unsure of the particulars myself, I made a quick cheat sheet for the next time you need to identify the group of old men gliding down the parade route. 

Lions 

Originated: Oak Brook, Illinois 

Motto: We Serve

Causes: Diabetes, Environment, Youth Outreach, Sight and Hearing agencies

Garb: Anything with a lion crest

Fun Fact: The female only sector is called the "Lioness Club"

HELLO

Shriners

Originated: Manhattan, New York

Actual Name: Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

Causes: Children's Hospitals

Garb: Red Fezzes

Membership Fact: Only Masons are eligible to become Shriners

Elks

Originated: New York City

Original Name/Cause: The Jolly Corks were drinkers

Causes:Veteran Services, Scholarships, Community Investment

Fun Fact: Exalted Ruler, Lecturing Knight and Organist are all officer positions

You got it? Great, now let's get back to the main event. PANCAKES!!!

My eeeeeaasssssy* Sunday morning was perfected by a jar of smuggled peanut butter. Chances are that the peanut butter was in no way contraband and I didn't need to bundle it up in my purple flannel. But sometimes things are just more fun when you're being a little covert here and there. 

*sung like Lionel Richie's "Easy Like Sunday Morning" duet with Willie Nelson

Midwest Specifics

The world's most picturesque tractor lot is located just beyond the Fergus Falls Subway parking lot.