Midwest Specifics

Fargo's first blanket of snow. 

Jaeda, Nancy & I 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Early Arrival

A funny thing happened in Fargo this week. An early frost of Christmas decorations dusted every doorway and light post with tinsel and holly. When I asked a local about the preemptive festivity, she sighed, "It's too early if you ask me, but it's what they do every year."

Busy Sides, City Sidewalks, Dressed in Holiday Style

Christmas Here & There

While I personally observe a post-Thanksgiving holiday doctrine, I am completely un-offended by the gesture. I've seen much worse. Without the seasonal rhythm of Labor Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving to slow them down, Ozzie stores gush with red and green as early as October 1st. The back to school pencil cases are traded for candy cane colored Whoville contraptions. A summertime Christmas calls for all sorts of different Santa interpretations*. And while those of the mighty Midwest winters may dismiss Californian Christmas as flip-flop weather, there is still a wintery sense amongst the natives.

*think wake boarding Santas and neon Christmas trees

Joining in the Christmas Spirit

Not one to be a stick in the mud, I decided to embrace my new found yuletide surroundings with a bit of shopping.  Typically I prefer to shop for books and picture frames; clothes are not jive. But this new season, named fall, is leading me to dressing rooms and clearance racks. The time of sweaters has been thrust upon me. 

Dressed for the Mall*
*my mom refuses to go to the mall underdressed

Maxxinista

In addition to comfy sweaters, it is also time that I pick up some new jeans. It has come to my attention that a lot happened in the world of denim while I wandered around Thailand last spring. My well worn Levis are no longer cool. I am in need of a serious dose of hip. But not too much. A recent trip to Forever 21 taught me that I may never be the epitome of hip again. It looks like I am destined to be Currently 23, and Eventually 24, and so on. Lucky for me, there is TJ Maxx, which giveth unto me a woven bounty. And with said bounty a monster has been unleashed, e.g. I bought jeggings!?!! Not to mention I have already made plans to go boot searching next week.

Glories of Glories!!!

I cannot wait to surprise all my regulars tomorrow. It turns out my fashion choices have sent out a ripple at my lovely cafe. Typically, I dress for each day as if it were 70 outside, seeing as how I only have clothing for such temperatures. And before I head out the door, I zipper up my bulky and fluffy snow jacket. Once I get to work I shed my wintery layer and double wrap my apron strings. My bare arms never crossed my mind, until the one day I wore a flannel button down (Californians wear those). Over six tables of people and the mail man were shocked at my plaid covered arms. Hopefully my new threads will help me blend in better. And then people will finally cease querying if I have ever seen snow. Come on people, southern California is not Siam.

Pumpkin Patch POINTS!!

This week was our pumpkin week.We planned to paint, chisel and carve jack-o-lanterns Sunday afternoon. Rain, sleet or snow to the pumpkin patch we'd a-go. Flying south to Sydney last October caused a 2012 Fall vacancy. Pumpkins, wool sweaters and cider were needed in double force this year.

The Great Pumpkin

After googling the options, we decided on a local heirloom patch nestled between two highways. Nourished on banana pancakes and Lutheran coffee, we crossed over the Red River into Minnesota. After nearly missing the small segway road, Goldie, our jeep, splashed her way to our puddlely destination. Exhibit A is a glimpse of what we found. 

Exhibit A

Hello? Anybody home?

Midwest Me

Outside Goldie's fogged windows lay a forlorn gourd garden. It seemed that the caretakers abandoned the patch at the first drop of rainy-snow, or snowy-rain, depending on one's personal prerogative. Perhaps these Midwesterns weren't as sturdy as I thought. Or perhaps they are just smarter than two California's willing to wade, doggy paddle and trudge through mud, for the sake of a pumpkin. Whichever the case Thor, the bestower of Midwest Points, awarded me 4 MIDWEST POINTS for my hearty devotion despite ambiguous October precipitation. 

                                                                   Exhibit B

Casually Braving a Snow Sprinkle

                                                        4  MIDWEST POINTS

Slippers Weather

Taking a cue from the community garden caretakers Preston and I headed someplace cozy. Home. Without pumpkins to lobotomize our schedule freed up for some sunday sleepies. It's thirty-two outside and for the first time this year our heat is on. Outside the damp mix of raindrops and snowflakes remind us that winter is coming. BUT NOT BEFORE I GET A PUMPKIN. 

Dressed for the Occasion

Midwest Specifics

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful in the neighborhood.*

*I am actually friends with the downtown pedestrian mailman, now all I need is an a trolley. 

Sunny Day

Unlikely Favorites

I have a thing for the under-dog days of the week. Friday and Saturday are fine by me. But it's Thursday and Sunday that win my heart.

Thursday Totality 

I love the happy anticipation of Thursdays. Historically, my childhood confirmation classes were held on Thursday. Which meant that my three best friends and I (and our respective crushes) were together for two and half giggly hours. High school thursdays were spent studying history in the living room with my dad. Weekend planning and day early cocktails took place during my undergrad years. Midwest Thursdays translate into YMCA yoga and culinary adventures in the realm of Chile Colorado and Seared Lime Chicken. By principle, Thursdays are never busy. The week's diminuendo rises and falls from dawn to dusk; it song is sung dulce. 

Surmising Sunday

Sunday has a less fixed persona. It's character flux stems from its dualistic position. According the bible-fearing folk it is the final day of the week, a day for rest. Yet calendars place it in the number one spot. And in the that sense it is the first chance at a new week. Sunday is a day for big newspapers, hangovers and children's soccer games. To me, Sunday has a wonderful new feeling about it. I like to do what I like to do on Sundays. On the first and last day of the week I read library books, take bubble baths, watch M*A*S*H* reruns, bake granola, call my mom, browse the grocery store aisles, search for dandelions, groove to old records, dust in long socks, smoke the occasional cigar and do my best to wake up for church. And on special day Sundays I eat brunch.

Brunchday

Today was one of those special days. After a half -session at church (looking for missing shoes can lead to such situations) Preston surprised me with a a trip to Fargo's famed Granite City brunch. The packed buffet had enough carbs to nourish the Green Bay Packers. We feasted on luscious french toast, refined eggs benedict, scoops of potato goo, bouquets of bacon, mildly-healthy grilled chicken, strawberry flooded waffles, Tex-Mex biscuits and gravy, dressing drowned Caesar salad, super model-thin cantaloupe slices, hunky prime rib and freakishly tall caramel rolls. We rolled out of the brewery without even touching the omelet station. A walk was desperately needed.

Finding Fall

The scent of autumn filled our Sunday afternoon at Lindednwood park. We walked along the Red River, flopped on too-small seesaws and witnessed 74,390,234,783.56 mom-created photo-shots. A Lindenwood stroll is an ideal way to while away a "warm" October afternoon.

MIDWEST NOTE: All the locals were in shorts and t-shirts, including the five old photo-shoot children. It was 50 out.  
-1 Midwest Point=Wearing a coat and gloves

Now we are home in flannel. Wearing circus tent-sized flannel shirts is another one my Sunday things.

There & Back Again

Back Again, For Real This Time 

Last Sunday Preston and I made a second attempt to reach the illustrious Little Yellowstone. Well informed of the desolate, in a North Dakota kind of desolate, and narrow route we made sure to bring supplies this time.We hit the road with two Subway foot longs and mug half full of coffee.

The Way

A long hour and half later we found a Midwest rarity, a change in elevation. Travel seems to stretch when the way is straight and flat. Paint chipped churches with broken bell-tower windows were the forms that dare break the silence of the prairie scene. Our jeep discovered the ebb and flow of land like a mounting roller coaster. The square grill leaned in and over the highway slope for only a moment before making the plunge into a peak of autumnal color.

There at Last

As RV's packed up and golden retrievers bounded for a final round of catch, Preston and I nestled in for a slightly colder than expected Sunday picnic. We soon discovered that our well earned victory of finally finding Little Yellowstone, did nothing for our body heat. After wolfing down our subs we saddled up in the jeep. It turns out scenic sights are all the more magnificent with the heat on.

Game Day

America is full of regional twangs. Californians know to when to roll "r's" and silent "ll's". New Englanders name their mothers, mum. And in North Dakota, bison are bizon. And don't you say any different. The "correct" pronunciation was one of ESPN College Game Day pre-show lessons.

ESPN in the House  

The show choose little old Fargo for their weekend broadcast. Downtown was transformed from main street America to a Hollywood backlot. I have been to both, so you can quote me on that. Every front page article and morning show topic debated, predicted and anticipated the coming weekend. Starting at 5:30 Saturday morning, tailgaters, die hard fans and college kids began filling up Broadway.

A video of ESPN's rainy welcome

From what I understand College Game Day is a pre-game commentary show. The hosts discuss many of the college games that will be played on a given Saturday. During the broadcast they showcase a particular location. The program ends with a host wearing the mascot head of his predicted winning team. And apparently it is very popular amongst people who like football. 

My Game Day

The cafe I work at is situated on Broadway, meaning my Game Day began at 6am. I served bizon sugar cookies, chai tea lattes and black coffees to many chilly fans. Always a fan of festive wear, a emerald green ribbon tied up my hair and my chosen shirt was hand painted to cheer on Fargo's favorite team. 

Morning was a cool and crisp forty degrees. The day went on to shed its autumnal tones, and by the time I closed up shop at 4 o'clock, the sky was shining summer sun. My saturday work day concluded with beer and whiskey at the Pickled Parrot (I know, I know what an awful name) with a favorite co-worker and favorite boyfriend. 

Picture This 

Since I was hard at work preparing hot chocolates and green teas all of Saturday I wasn't able to adventure around the crowded Game Day set. However I was able to snap a few photos along my walk to work on the rainy Friday morning before. 

Fourth Quarter Remarks

The preparations for Game Day were at times a bit manic and obsessive, there was no way to escape the buzz surrounding the event. While working the front counter last week, I queried each customer about his or her Saturday plans. While the responses varied the sentiments were the same; hometown pride shone in every pair of eyes. All 100,000 citizens of North Dakota's biggest city are not bashful about their love for their chilly and secluded hometown. 

I have heard that Fargo is entering a new era. The city is changing, the population is diversifying and the businesses are becoming local once again. People are proud of where they are from, and there no intention to leave. North Dakota is a home that holds on. And for many, an ESPN TV show was just another confirmation of what a great place they live in. 

Midwest Specifics

Fall is on it's way. 

Fargo, ND