There’s nothing quite as American as tailgating at a baseball game.And even though I’ve been an American all of my life, and have lived remarkably close to a baseball stadium, I don’t think I’ve tailgated more than twice, and not in the past eight or so years.So, when my friend suggested we go tailgating at a Brewers game, I was definitely in.A few years back I followed the Brewers like a good dedicated Wisconsinite.However, at the end of the tumultuous, wonderful season, a handful of my beloved players were traded, and out of spite I stopped watching.Though I haven’t been as dedicated, I still like to see how they’re doing, and occasionally watch a game.
Going to a game, though, is a hundred times better.The crowd gets you all riled up.I love singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Roll Out the Barrel” at halftime.I love the Sausage Race (even though I missed it this time around!) during the 6th.I love seeing my favorite players (Lucroy, Counsel, and, of course, Braun) go up to bat.There’s a fantastic energy in the stadium that can’t be duplicated at home.
And, of course, tailgating is a plus.
We were super awesome tailgaters.Not only did we (and by “we,” I mean my friend’s boyfriend) cook a billion brats (previously cooked in onions and beer (of course)) and burgers, we had grilled beans and asparagus (fancy AND healthy…ish)m, German potato salad, bacon ranch pasta salad, lime taco chips, and strawberry-garnished mini cupcakes.And, obviously, large amounts of hard cider, wine coolers, and good ol’ beer.
It was a fantastic night out.The weather was good, the food was good, the company was good.And the Brewers won 4-0!Success!If you ever visit Milwaukee (or if you live here!) you have to check out a Brewers game, and you must tailgate, to get the whole experience!
Any great tailgating/baseball stories?Did you catch Fielder’s home run ball?Did you get hit by Fielder’s home run ball and then the jerk behind you got to catch it?Let me know in the comments!
I love love love going up north. It's a very typical Wisconsin vacation, goin' up nort'. Most people think that this usually entails staying at a cabin, (ice) fishing or hunting, drinking a lot of beer, etc. etc. Perhaps for some people it does. I wouldn't doubt it. But for me, going up north means staying at my aunt and uncle's gorgeous house in the middle of their fifty acre mini-natural-paradise. It's my go-to place for total relaxation, my escape from the world. We spent the week reading (I finished Veniss Underground for the second time and continued on my trek through The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle), watching movies and television (The Orphanage, The Shadow, The IT Crowd), eating amazing food, playing cribbage and rummy, shopping, walking through the garden, and, the highlight of the trip, lounging in a swimming pool drinking red wine. Am I a Real Housewife of Wisconsin or what?
We also got to take a day trip to Stillwater, MN where we shopped at awesome little shops and massive antique stores. Then we went to Hudson, WI for dinner at an absolutely fabulous restaurant, San Pedro. We had mojitos with rock candy sticks in them (yum!). My aunt got a linguini pasta with shrimp, my mother got cranberry BBQ ribs (to die for, by the way), and I got a jerk-rubbed chicken sandwich with asiago, pico de gallo, fresh spinach, and a tangy herb mayo. It was served with a delightfully light and delicious salad with mango vinaigrette. Be jealous. Be very jealous.
The weather wasn't much different up north, which meant we had to deal with horribly humid and sticky days. Thankfully, though, that meant dinners consisted of huge, delectable salads. One I had at my aunt's friend's house consisted of: mixed greens, mango, blueberries, feta, pumpkin seeds, and chicken, slathered in a balsamic vinaigrette and served with homemade pesto bread. *drools* This one below is the one my aunt, mom, and I made. I've included the recipe for your enjoyment. It's based off of the superbly delicious Apple Orchard salad from Sheridan's, a must-visit restaurant in Cudahy.
Deanie's Apple Orchard Salad
Start with your preferred amount of salad greens; we used about 2/3 spinach and 1/3 mixed greens. Add the following as desired: sliced hard-boiled eggs, chopped bacon, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, roasted (or unroasted) almonds, shaved asiago cheese, sliced chicken.
To make the vinaigrette: 1 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste. This dressing is just a guesstimate, so add or subtract ingredients to taste. Drizzle on the vinaigrette and...
Enjoy!
Oh: PS: I have one more crazy story to share. When we were driving home on the freeway, we noticed this massive bird flying crazily right above some cars in the distance. My aunt thought it was a raven, but it was clearly too big. As we got closer, I spotted the white tail and head. "It's a bald eagle!" the entire car shouted at once. It indeed was one. It was flying and flipping like a stunt pilot, extremely close to the cars on the highway. It was the closest I've ever been to a wild eagle outside of the Audubon. Then all of a sudden it flew straight at the side of the road and reached down to grab something with its talons. I didn't see what it got, but I'm guessing it was going for roadkill. Bald eagles are fish eagles, so they usually don't go for prey that lives outside of water, but they are known to congregate by roadkill. I just hope that bird didn't become roadkill itself. Bald eagles get hit by cars surprisingly often. One of our old eagles at the Audubon was there because she was hit by a car. So, eagles and drivers beware!
Bonjour! Thankfully this week has been more awesome than awkward, and since I've already written about a lot of awesome stuff (Door County) or will be writing about a lot of awesome stuff this weekend (Stillwater/Hudson), this week's A&A is a bit bland. So, to console you, enjoy this photograph of me riding a skunk.
Awkward
This photograph of me riding a skunk.
Not being able to start our campfire two nights in a row.And then having to ask our Eagle Scout campground neighbor, Phil, to help us both nights.We must have looked like the stupidest girls Milwaukee has to offer.I wanted to yell at him, “Sir! Last year we went camping and we made our fire all by ourselves!” but he probably would have just nodded and said, “Sure…”
My really, really, really dark and awful TOMS tan line.Oh dear.Guess I’ll just have to wear TOMS the rest of the summer so no one can tell.
Watching the entire movie, The Orphanage, and being totally brave, even when there were creepy children and jawless dead people and such.And then a door slams in the film and I proceed to both scream and jump (nearly into my aunt’s lap).Wimp, much?
Awesome
Kayaking by myself on a quiet lake, taking in the beautiful view of the bluffs, looking for fish and eagle nests.Tranquility at its best.
Turning a 5-hour trip up north into a 4-hour trip up north.Yay for speeding! (Hopefully none of my readers are cops…)
Homemade chocolate malts.Mmm…
Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer.Read it for the second time yesterday.Such a wonderful science fiction novel that manages to surpass the confines of its genre.It combines myth, religion, science, anthrozoological relations, and art into one short text.The bonus stories at the end are, of course, an added treat for readers.If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this novel yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this enough, but I love Wisconsin.LOVE it.I have yet to visit a state I love more than Wisconsin.With the exception of some European cities, I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else besides Wisconsin.I think our little state gets a bad rap.Sure, we’re not perfect, but we’ve got a lot of great things going on for us: Summerfest, the Milwaukee Art Museum, fantastic shopping, beautiful Lake Michigan, and so much more.Small towns, big cities.Everything you could want.
Besides the Dells, one of Wisconsin’s big tourist towns is Door County.It’s a good three-hour ride from Milwaukee, but well worth the trek.I went camping in Egg Harbor this past weekend with three friends.Here are some highlights from the trip.
Al Johnson's: If you're in DC (as it's called), you must stop by this lovely Norwegian restaurant. The roof, made of grass, is trimmed daily by goats. The restaurant has a regular spread of delicious food, but everyone flocks here for Swedish pancakes, which are just a little bit thicker than crepes and slathered in maple syrup and lingonberries. Can you say yum?
Located right on the water, you have to take advantage of DC's water activities. We went kayaking in the morning, taking in the beautiful sunshine and gorgeous view of the bluffs.
Sweet Treats: DC is the worst place for anyone on a diet, but the best place for anyone with a sweet tooth. I fell in love with The Cherry Hut's fudge, especially the Heath and Praline flavors. And you cannot resist saltwater taffy in huge bathtubs. They're a great snack to take you through a long day of shopping. :)
As I mentioned before, the beautiful lake views make a trip to DC more than worthwhile. The shoreline and beaches are the perfect place for a picnic. Grab an ice cream cone from one of the numerous shops lining the coast and plop down on a bench along the docks. You won't regret it.
Wilson's: If you want a delicious, all-American dinner, look no further than this burger and ice cream shop. The service was beyond speedy and the food was scrumptious. Their cherry Coke came with diced maraschino cherries in it (yum) and their ice cream was killer (double yum). Plus side: a cute patio with a fabulous view of the water.
Cherries Galore: Since DC is famous for their cherries, you cannot pass up the opportunity to sample the many treats DC folks have made from this fruit. Go to The Cherry Hut for free wine tasting, as well as a sampling of cherry vinaigrette, cherry mustard, and (my favorite) cherry salsa. Then pop outside and take a picture with their cherry mascot! That's what I did!
Look...we match!
Shopping: Okay, I admit, I went camping, but really I went shopping. But it's hard to pass up all the cute little stores that offer everything from clothing to DC souvenirs to Swedish recipe books to paintings to antiques to beeswax lotion! We hit up Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, and Ephraim for prime shopping locations.
Flea Markets: One of my favorite things about summer/small towns are the flea markets and antique shops. This one we visited in Sister Bay had vintage hats, old books, classic beer mugs, krumkake presses, jewelry, CDs, and so much more. I found the cutest bow-tie gold necklace for only $3!
Moral of the story? Wisconsin has a lot more to offer than bikers and beer. If you're heading to our lovely state, be sure to stop in Door County to experience homemade food, fabulous shopping, and the great outdoors.
Last night at midnight (well, 12:03am to be precise), I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II at a theatre near my house. I was anxious all day, and just wanted to be sitting in my seat in the theatre, watching that Warner Brothers logo glide across the screen.
HP7.2 (as I like to call it) was probably the most highly anticipated movies of the year, probably in the past ten years. I personally cannot think of a movie I’ve wanted to see more than this one. And seeing it was an experience. So, I want to take a moment to touch on my love for Harry Potter, and what seeing this movie meant to me.
I was first introduced to Harry through my sister. I remember seeing her read a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in her bedroom and wondering what that book was all about. I don’t remember exactly when I first picked up the books myself, but I must have been quite young, eight or nine. It was a good age to start, Harry almost always was the same age as me when I read the books.
I remember being so excited for the first movie. I hardly knew what kind of phenomenal franchise would spring from this silly first film. But spring it did and grow, and by the third film the actors had blossomed and found their footing. Though I complained with the best of them about how the movies weren’t truly faithful to the books, how they cut important details, etc. etc. there was no denying my deep love for the films. They were a visual, audio personification of a series I adored. And they were a way for me to relive the excitement I felt when reading the books for the first time.
That’s why seeing this last film was a bit heartbreaking. Because there will be not more new novels, no more new films. I’ve experienced it all. And that’s a bad thing. There’s closure to that, even if it almost feels unwanted.
I don’t want this post getting too long because honestly, I could write pages and pages on my love for Harry (once for a class, I even wrote a 10 page academic essay on why Christians should read HP).
So: the film. I dressed up, after much debate, deciding that this was truly my last time to don the HP costume. I went to a Ravenclaw student look instead of my usual Gryffindor because it’s time for me to show my true house. I waited in a line that seemed unending and terrifying and somehow, thankfully, got a nice seat in the theatre. The film was, to be honest, not completely perfect in my opinion, but it is an adaptation, so it came as close as possible. The humor was lovely and well-placed, breaking up some of the awfully tense moments in the film: Fred’s death, followed by Tonks and Lupin’s, Snape’s wonderfully and tear-worthy revelations. I didn’t want to cry, but I did, shedding my first real tears when Hermoine hugs Harry goodbye as he leaves for his death. I don’t know why that particular moment struck me, but I think I’ve always seen a bit of myself in Hermoine, and the look on her face, perfect sadness and fear, called upon my own sadness and fear for Harry. And her feeble “I’ll go with you…” channeling my own thoughts. But Harry had to go alone. And the forest scene, with his family—there was something so heartbreaking and real about the moment. Kudos to Daniel Radcliffe for that one.
So yes, lots of tears, lots of sniffling on my part (and pretty much everyone in the theatre). I knew it would get better, the moment would redeem itself, but it was still hard. And the epic moments that were my favorites, that I was waiting for: Neville’s triumph slaughter of Nagini, Molly’s “Not my daughter, you bitch!,” and Narcissa saving Harry’s life. The entire theatre was clapping.
Well, I said this wasn’t going to be long, but you know how those things go. What else can I say? Nothing I suppose. Harry has been a large part of my life for over ten years, and now it’s over. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting him go. Sometime in the future, after grad school perhaps, when I have time, I’m going to reread all of the books (I’ve only read most of them once). They’ll be even better the second time around. I’ll have a movie marathon and watch all eight films until my eyes melt. My children will read Harry Potter and hopefully their children will too.
Perhaps, if I’m lucky, Cambridge will sponsor a Harry Potter costume party. But if not, I’ll just wander the school’s sprawling stone hallways, their Great Hall, their towers and open lawns.I’ll kept my wand hidden in my bag.And I’ll pretend, just for a moment, that I’m in a different world.
Hey, look! It’s actually Thursday. Pretty awesome, right? Go me!
Awkward
Meeting relatives I haven’t seen since I was a kid. Instantly remembering them. They instantly remember me. We hug; we reminisce. They say, “You’ve grown up so much! You’re so beautiful! I remember you were so tiny and beautiful as a child.” On and on and on. Then five minute into the conversation they say something like, “And how is Deanie?” or “When does Deanie leave for Europe?” And there’s a moment where we’re both confused. And then we both realize that they thought I was a different cousin. Oh. (This happened twice in about a half an hour.)
This conversation at New York and Company:
Me: Do they have a NY&Co. in England?
American NY&Co. Employee: I don’t know.
British NY&Co. Employee: No, they don’t unfortunately.
Me: Oh. That sucks.
Brit: Yeah, it does.
Me: Is that why you moved to the States?
Brit: …
Obviously my humor is not for all.
Going to pet my neighbor’s dogs and having them drool all over my TOMS. Good thing those can go in the wash easy-peasy.
Awesome
Filming a mini teaser trailer for our webseries. You may be asking what this webseries is since I haven’t mentioned it yet. That’s because I’m usually hesitant to discuss plots, etc. of projects I’m working on, or to post things I’ve written (it’s a whole copyrighted thing I don’t need to get into). Hence, this may be the first time you’ve heard me mention a webseries. Well, I’ll let you Google the word and then use your imagination. We filmed a trailer on Saturday morning and it was loads of fun. I can’t wait to shoot actual episodes.
Bird Nerd Alert! Getting to hold our brand new kestrel for a SANC program. She was so adorable and chirped when I went to pick her up. Too cute! Also, getting to sit outside in the beautiful sunshine with Barley, the barn owl (see picture). She’s alway up for a photo shoot. J
Tenderloin steak on the grill with grilled potatoes and zucchini. *drools*
I know it’s not until tonight but…HARRY POTTER 7.2 IS COMING TO THEATRES TONIGHT AND OMGKJKLJKDLDSKFSDFSD I AM SOOOOO SUPER EXCITED. WHEW.
Remember last A&A Thursday when I mentioned Wizard Rock? Well, I’m going to explain that to you. I usually like to write about all the enormously interesting things I do in my wonderful state, Wisconsin. However, this past Thursday I went to…wait for it…ILLINOIS! Soooo exciting, I know. So here's the situation.
I went with this awesome kid.
This is the incredibly talented, incredibly nerdy Vincenzo. We drove in the early afternoon and got to Chicago in record time. Why were we going to Chicago, you may ask? Well, to give the city credit, it has some pretty awesome museums, amazing popcorn stores, and lovely theatres. However, we were not visiting for anything of those reasons. Something else drew us into the often antagonized state of Illinois. Two words. Wizard. Rock. (Or, one word: Wrock.)
Wizard Rock is, simply, music based on the Harry Potter universe. Band names, lyrics, etc. all stem from the novels and movies. Nerdy much? Yes. Awesome much. Yes.
The concert took place in Lincoln Square, a cute little area smooshed between a gelato shop and a cafe. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor concert; the air was warm but there was a lovely breeze. People were out with their dogs and strollers, walking the streets, sitting on cafe patios. Vinnie and I got there quite early so we walked around a while, looking in an adorable old bookshop (I wish I could remember the name...it was something clever...) and a fun game shop. We ate sandwiches on a bench in the square, and bought much-too-expensive Cold Stone Creamery ice cream (this was, sadly, before we discovered the gelato shop...for writers we're not very observant). Then we found a really cool, really old antique store.
The store had lovely vintage shoes and fascinators, typewriters and paintings, old bicycles, costume jewelry and pins, trunks and suitcases, and so much more. I wanted to buy everything and decorate my house. Well, maybe someday when I'm rich and famous and actually HAVE my own house.
I'm really looking forward to visiting vintage store and antique shops in England (or elsewhere in Europe). I found a website online that listed the best resale/vintage stores in London. I'm hoping to hit up as many as I can while I'm there. Nothing can beat European vintage!
Okay, enough about that. I'm here to talk about Wizard Rock. So, finally, the bands showed up and started setting up their stuff in Lincoln Square. The bands we went to see were Diagon Alley and, more importantly, Harry and the Potters. As it got closer to the time the concert was going to start, the square started filling up. The majority of the people there were parents with little kids. Really, are these kids even old enough to know what Harry Potter is? Vinnie suggested we go hang out with Joe (of the leads in HatP), their drummer, and two of their friends since they were the only people there around our age. Being the shy, star-struck person that I am (yes, star-struck even by wizard rockers), I was hesitant, but being the bold, star-struck person he is, Vinnie dragged us over there and in a matter of seconds we were hanging out with the band.
After a short time, Diagon Alley took the stage. They were not what I was expecting. Their members consisted of one man wearing a kilt, one man with glasses and a highlighter yellow mohawk, one man wearing all black (including shorts) and a top hat, and one man wearing a hot pink shirt and a Gryffindor tie.
The best part of the band was definitely the fiddler (top hat man (minus his top hat in the picture)). They played a lot of folk rock music, which I love. It actually seemed like they used to be a traditional folk rock band that realized they were more popular with a Harry Potter slant and changed all their lyrics to fit the books. Not that I'm complaining. Their music was fun and a good opener to HatP.
So now for Harry and the Potters. I had listened to their music a bit before seeing them, but didn't know the lyrics to their songs. Still, it didn't keep me from enjoying the concert. They crowd loved them, and they loved the crowd. They were rockers all right. Joe climbed up a tree to sing part of a song and Paul (the other lead, below) ran through the crowd multiple times (He even knocked down a little girl right in front of me. Being the unobservant person I am, I didn't catch her, or even notice she was on the ground until too late. Oops.).
They sang a lot of crowd pleasers, including the epic dang-along "Felix Felicis" and the epic sing-along "Save Ginny Weasley." I have to admit, though I wasn't super excited about the concert before we left, I had a rollicking good time. The two Harrys (as they liked to call themselves) were great performers and quite welcoming.
Vinnie and I drove home, sharing favorite moments from the concert we just left. Then we put in a CD Vinnie had purchased at the concert.
If you can't read that well, it says: Bob Dylan Sings the Songs of Harry and the Potters. What? We couldn't resist buying it for $5, if only to see what this was all about. What it really is? One of the Harrys (I don't know which) singing their songs in the voice of Bob Dylan. And honestly, he sounds just like Bob Dylan! We laughed so hard listening to the songs. $5 well spent.
Overall, an enjoyable experience, even if we did have to go all the way to Illinois. If you want a more audio-visual reenactment of our adventures, watch Vinnie's vlog. I make multiple appearances in the car wearing Vinnie's brother's awesome sunglasses.
If you like this video, you'll love his other videos.
Subscribe to his channel! (PS: I make cameo appearances in the Halloween video, various Ireland videos, the cartwheel video, and more!)
Okay, once more I am posting this on Friday. I'd rather this didn't become a habit, but Thursdays apparently are becoming quite busy for me. This past Thursday I spent almost all day in Chicago with no computer, much less internet access. So there's my excuse this time around.
Awkward
The intense wind we’ve been having. Like wind storm quality. It sure does like throwing my hair about willy-nilly so that when things finally do calm down I look like I’m walking around town with bed head (and not the sexy kind).
I was talking to a woman at the bank. I was cashing a lot of checks that I told her I got from graduation. She noted that the checks were addressed to “Dean,” “Deanie,” and “Dean-Louise.” She then asked what name I go by. I explained what my real name is, what my nicknames are, etc. She then asked what I graduated with. “Dean-Louise,” I replied. “No,” she said. “I mean, what major?” Oh. Duh. *face-palm*
Standing in front of a bunch of little kids at a concert. This also applies to when you sit in front of little kids at a movie theatre. I always feel like I should move so they can see, but then I also think, well, they should have gotten there earlier so they could get good seats/standing spots. And then thinking that kind of makes me feel like a jerk (and not the sexy kind).
Sun tanning in my backyard while my neighbors are doing yard work. I don’t know, just lying out in my bikini while my neighbors plant flowers fifteen feet away is a bit uncomfortable.
Awesome
Burn Notice has started. I know Burn Notice actually started a few weeks ago, but I just got around to watching the first episode. Really, I never get tired of Michael, Fiona, and Sam (and sometimes Jesse) putting on disguises, blowing things up, getting into car chases, and (most fun of all) bantering with each other.
My sister lost her pet rat, Elton, outside about a little over a week ago. And the other day Elton just randomly showed up on the front porch. Craziness! That’s one will to survive. What’s even crazier was that I had a dream my mom would find Elton outside, then I would pick Elton up and bring her inside. And that’s exactly how it happened in real life. My first premonition?
Wizard rock. Don't know what this is? Well, you should. (This post could also possibly go under the "Awkward" category.)
Downton Abbey. Sorry, another show. But it’s summer, which means I actually have time to watch television. But this show is soooo good. It’s British (yay!) and has fantastic actors and actresses. It’s romantic and funny and tense and dramatic. It’s got everything. I can’t wait for Season 2 to come out.
Has your week been awesome, awkward, or a nice combination of the two? I hoping for the last one; a nice balance is always good.
There’s nothing quite as American as tailgating at a baseball game.And even though I’ve been an American all of my life, and have lived remarkably close to a baseball stadium, I don’t think I’ve tailgated more than twice, and not in the past eight or so years.So, when my friend suggested we go tailgating at a Brewers game, I was definitely in.A few years back I followed the Brewers like a good dedicated Wisconsinite.However, at the end of the tumultuous, wonderful season, a handful of my beloved players were traded, and out of spite I stopped watching.Though I haven’t been as dedicated, I still like to see how they’re doing, and occasionally watch a game.
Going to a game, though, is a hundred times better.The crowd gets you all riled up.I love singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Roll Out the Barrel” at halftime.I love the Sausage Race (even though I missed it this time around!) during the 6th.I love seeing my favorite players (Lucroy, Counsel, and, of course, Braun) go up to bat.There’s a fantastic energy in the stadium that can’t be duplicated at home.
And, of course, tailgating is a plus.
We were super awesome tailgaters.Not only did we (and by “we,” I mean my friend’s boyfriend) cook a billion brats (previously cooked in onions and beer (of course)) and burgers, we had grilled beans and asparagus (fancy AND healthy…ish)m, German potato salad, bacon ranch pasta salad, lime taco chips, and strawberry-garnished mini cupcakes.And, obviously, large amounts of hard cider, wine coolers, and good ol’ beer.
It was a fantastic night out.The weather was good, the food was good, the company was good.And the Brewers won 4-0!Success!If you ever visit Milwaukee (or if you live here!) you have to check out a Brewers game, and you must tailgate, to get the whole experience!
Any great tailgating/baseball stories?Did you catch Fielder’s home run ball?Did you get hit by Fielder’s home run ball and then the jerk behind you got to catch it?Let me know in the comments!
I love love love going up north. It's a very typical Wisconsin vacation, goin' up nort'. Most people think that this usually entails staying at a cabin, (ice) fishing or hunting, drinking a lot of beer, etc. etc. Perhaps for some people it does. I wouldn't doubt it. But for me, going up north means staying at my aunt and uncle's gorgeous house in the middle of their fifty acre mini-natural-paradise. It's my go-to place for total relaxation, my escape from the world. We spent the week reading (I finished Veniss Underground for the second time and continued on my trek through The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle), watching movies and television (The Orphanage, The Shadow, The IT Crowd), eating amazing food, playing cribbage and rummy, shopping, walking through the garden, and, the highlight of the trip, lounging in a swimming pool drinking red wine. Am I a Real Housewife of Wisconsin or what?
We also got to take a day trip to Stillwater, MN where we shopped at awesome little shops and massive antique stores. Then we went to Hudson, WI for dinner at an absolutely fabulous restaurant, San Pedro. We had mojitos with rock candy sticks in them (yum!). My aunt got a linguini pasta with shrimp, my mother got cranberry BBQ ribs (to die for, by the way), and I got a jerk-rubbed chicken sandwich with asiago, pico de gallo, fresh spinach, and a tangy herb mayo. It was served with a delightfully light and delicious salad with mango vinaigrette. Be jealous. Be very jealous.
The weather wasn't much different up north, which meant we had to deal with horribly humid and sticky days. Thankfully, though, that meant dinners consisted of huge, delectable salads. One I had at my aunt's friend's house consisted of: mixed greens, mango, blueberries, feta, pumpkin seeds, and chicken, slathered in a balsamic vinaigrette and served with homemade pesto bread. *drools* This one below is the one my aunt, mom, and I made. I've included the recipe for your enjoyment. It's based off of the superbly delicious Apple Orchard salad from Sheridan's, a must-visit restaurant in Cudahy.
Deanie's Apple Orchard Salad
Start with your preferred amount of salad greens; we used about 2/3 spinach and 1/3 mixed greens. Add the following as desired: sliced hard-boiled eggs, chopped bacon, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, roasted (or unroasted) almonds, shaved asiago cheese, sliced chicken.
To make the vinaigrette: 1 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste. This dressing is just a guesstimate, so add or subtract ingredients to taste. Drizzle on the vinaigrette and...
Enjoy!
Oh: PS: I have one more crazy story to share. When we were driving home on the freeway, we noticed this massive bird flying crazily right above some cars in the distance. My aunt thought it was a raven, but it was clearly too big. As we got closer, I spotted the white tail and head. "It's a bald eagle!" the entire car shouted at once. It indeed was one. It was flying and flipping like a stunt pilot, extremely close to the cars on the highway. It was the closest I've ever been to a wild eagle outside of the Audubon. Then all of a sudden it flew straight at the side of the road and reached down to grab something with its talons. I didn't see what it got, but I'm guessing it was going for roadkill. Bald eagles are fish eagles, so they usually don't go for prey that lives outside of water, but they are known to congregate by roadkill. I just hope that bird didn't become roadkill itself. Bald eagles get hit by cars surprisingly often. One of our old eagles at the Audubon was there because she was hit by a car. So, eagles and drivers beware!
Bonjour! Thankfully this week has been more awesome than awkward, and since I've already written about a lot of awesome stuff (Door County) or will be writing about a lot of awesome stuff this weekend (Stillwater/Hudson), this week's A&A is a bit bland. So, to console you, enjoy this photograph of me riding a skunk.
Awkward
This photograph of me riding a skunk.
Not being able to start our campfire two nights in a row.And then having to ask our Eagle Scout campground neighbor, Phil, to help us both nights.We must have looked like the stupidest girls Milwaukee has to offer.I wanted to yell at him, “Sir! Last year we went camping and we made our fire all by ourselves!” but he probably would have just nodded and said, “Sure…”
My really, really, really dark and awful TOMS tan line.Oh dear.Guess I’ll just have to wear TOMS the rest of the summer so no one can tell.
Watching the entire movie, The Orphanage, and being totally brave, even when there were creepy children and jawless dead people and such.And then a door slams in the film and I proceed to both scream and jump (nearly into my aunt’s lap).Wimp, much?
Awesome
Kayaking by myself on a quiet lake, taking in the beautiful view of the bluffs, looking for fish and eagle nests.Tranquility at its best.
Turning a 5-hour trip up north into a 4-hour trip up north.Yay for speeding! (Hopefully none of my readers are cops…)
Homemade chocolate malts.Mmm…
Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer.Read it for the second time yesterday.Such a wonderful science fiction novel that manages to surpass the confines of its genre.It combines myth, religion, science, anthrozoological relations, and art into one short text.The bonus stories at the end are, of course, an added treat for readers.If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this novel yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this enough, but I love Wisconsin.LOVE it.I have yet to visit a state I love more than Wisconsin.With the exception of some European cities, I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else besides Wisconsin.I think our little state gets a bad rap.Sure, we’re not perfect, but we’ve got a lot of great things going on for us: Summerfest, the Milwaukee Art Museum, fantastic shopping, beautiful Lake Michigan, and so much more.Small towns, big cities.Everything you could want.
Besides the Dells, one of Wisconsin’s big tourist towns is Door County.It’s a good three-hour ride from Milwaukee, but well worth the trek.I went camping in Egg Harbor this past weekend with three friends.Here are some highlights from the trip.
Al Johnson's: If you're in DC (as it's called), you must stop by this lovely Norwegian restaurant. The roof, made of grass, is trimmed daily by goats. The restaurant has a regular spread of delicious food, but everyone flocks here for Swedish pancakes, which are just a little bit thicker than crepes and slathered in maple syrup and lingonberries. Can you say yum?
Located right on the water, you have to take advantage of DC's water activities. We went kayaking in the morning, taking in the beautiful sunshine and gorgeous view of the bluffs.
Sweet Treats: DC is the worst place for anyone on a diet, but the best place for anyone with a sweet tooth. I fell in love with The Cherry Hut's fudge, especially the Heath and Praline flavors. And you cannot resist saltwater taffy in huge bathtubs. They're a great snack to take you through a long day of shopping. :)
As I mentioned before, the beautiful lake views make a trip to DC more than worthwhile. The shoreline and beaches are the perfect place for a picnic. Grab an ice cream cone from one of the numerous shops lining the coast and plop down on a bench along the docks. You won't regret it.
Wilson's: If you want a delicious, all-American dinner, look no further than this burger and ice cream shop. The service was beyond speedy and the food was scrumptious. Their cherry Coke came with diced maraschino cherries in it (yum) and their ice cream was killer (double yum). Plus side: a cute patio with a fabulous view of the water.
Cherries Galore: Since DC is famous for their cherries, you cannot pass up the opportunity to sample the many treats DC folks have made from this fruit. Go to The Cherry Hut for free wine tasting, as well as a sampling of cherry vinaigrette, cherry mustard, and (my favorite) cherry salsa. Then pop outside and take a picture with their cherry mascot! That's what I did!
Look...we match!
Shopping: Okay, I admit, I went camping, but really I went shopping. But it's hard to pass up all the cute little stores that offer everything from clothing to DC souvenirs to Swedish recipe books to paintings to antiques to beeswax lotion! We hit up Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, and Ephraim for prime shopping locations.
Flea Markets: One of my favorite things about summer/small towns are the flea markets and antique shops. This one we visited in Sister Bay had vintage hats, old books, classic beer mugs, krumkake presses, jewelry, CDs, and so much more. I found the cutest bow-tie gold necklace for only $3!
Moral of the story? Wisconsin has a lot more to offer than bikers and beer. If you're heading to our lovely state, be sure to stop in Door County to experience homemade food, fabulous shopping, and the great outdoors.
Last night at midnight (well, 12:03am to be precise), I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II at a theatre near my house. I was anxious all day, and just wanted to be sitting in my seat in the theatre, watching that Warner Brothers logo glide across the screen.
HP7.2 (as I like to call it) was probably the most highly anticipated movies of the year, probably in the past ten years. I personally cannot think of a movie I’ve wanted to see more than this one. And seeing it was an experience. So, I want to take a moment to touch on my love for Harry Potter, and what seeing this movie meant to me.
I was first introduced to Harry through my sister. I remember seeing her read a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in her bedroom and wondering what that book was all about. I don’t remember exactly when I first picked up the books myself, but I must have been quite young, eight or nine. It was a good age to start, Harry almost always was the same age as me when I read the books.
I remember being so excited for the first movie. I hardly knew what kind of phenomenal franchise would spring from this silly first film. But spring it did and grow, and by the third film the actors had blossomed and found their footing. Though I complained with the best of them about how the movies weren’t truly faithful to the books, how they cut important details, etc. etc. there was no denying my deep love for the films. They were a visual, audio personification of a series I adored. And they were a way for me to relive the excitement I felt when reading the books for the first time.
That’s why seeing this last film was a bit heartbreaking. Because there will be not more new novels, no more new films. I’ve experienced it all. And that’s a bad thing. There’s closure to that, even if it almost feels unwanted.
I don’t want this post getting too long because honestly, I could write pages and pages on my love for Harry (once for a class, I even wrote a 10 page academic essay on why Christians should read HP).
So: the film. I dressed up, after much debate, deciding that this was truly my last time to don the HP costume. I went to a Ravenclaw student look instead of my usual Gryffindor because it’s time for me to show my true house. I waited in a line that seemed unending and terrifying and somehow, thankfully, got a nice seat in the theatre. The film was, to be honest, not completely perfect in my opinion, but it is an adaptation, so it came as close as possible. The humor was lovely and well-placed, breaking up some of the awfully tense moments in the film: Fred’s death, followed by Tonks and Lupin’s, Snape’s wonderfully and tear-worthy revelations. I didn’t want to cry, but I did, shedding my first real tears when Hermoine hugs Harry goodbye as he leaves for his death. I don’t know why that particular moment struck me, but I think I’ve always seen a bit of myself in Hermoine, and the look on her face, perfect sadness and fear, called upon my own sadness and fear for Harry. And her feeble “I’ll go with you…” channeling my own thoughts. But Harry had to go alone. And the forest scene, with his family—there was something so heartbreaking and real about the moment. Kudos to Daniel Radcliffe for that one.
So yes, lots of tears, lots of sniffling on my part (and pretty much everyone in the theatre). I knew it would get better, the moment would redeem itself, but it was still hard. And the epic moments that were my favorites, that I was waiting for: Neville’s triumph slaughter of Nagini, Molly’s “Not my daughter, you bitch!,” and Narcissa saving Harry’s life. The entire theatre was clapping.
Well, I said this wasn’t going to be long, but you know how those things go. What else can I say? Nothing I suppose. Harry has been a large part of my life for over ten years, and now it’s over. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting him go. Sometime in the future, after grad school perhaps, when I have time, I’m going to reread all of the books (I’ve only read most of them once). They’ll be even better the second time around. I’ll have a movie marathon and watch all eight films until my eyes melt. My children will read Harry Potter and hopefully their children will too.
Perhaps, if I’m lucky, Cambridge will sponsor a Harry Potter costume party. But if not, I’ll just wander the school’s sprawling stone hallways, their Great Hall, their towers and open lawns.I’ll kept my wand hidden in my bag.And I’ll pretend, just for a moment, that I’m in a different world.
Hey, look! It’s actually Thursday. Pretty awesome, right? Go me!
Awkward
Meeting relatives I haven’t seen since I was a kid. Instantly remembering them. They instantly remember me. We hug; we reminisce. They say, “You’ve grown up so much! You’re so beautiful! I remember you were so tiny and beautiful as a child.” On and on and on. Then five minute into the conversation they say something like, “And how is Deanie?” or “When does Deanie leave for Europe?” And there’s a moment where we’re both confused. And then we both realize that they thought I was a different cousin. Oh. (This happened twice in about a half an hour.)
This conversation at New York and Company:
Me: Do they have a NY&Co. in England?
American NY&Co. Employee: I don’t know.
British NY&Co. Employee: No, they don’t unfortunately.
Me: Oh. That sucks.
Brit: Yeah, it does.
Me: Is that why you moved to the States?
Brit: …
Obviously my humor is not for all.
Going to pet my neighbor’s dogs and having them drool all over my TOMS. Good thing those can go in the wash easy-peasy.
Awesome
Filming a mini teaser trailer for our webseries. You may be asking what this webseries is since I haven’t mentioned it yet. That’s because I’m usually hesitant to discuss plots, etc. of projects I’m working on, or to post things I’ve written (it’s a whole copyrighted thing I don’t need to get into). Hence, this may be the first time you’ve heard me mention a webseries. Well, I’ll let you Google the word and then use your imagination. We filmed a trailer on Saturday morning and it was loads of fun. I can’t wait to shoot actual episodes.
Bird Nerd Alert! Getting to hold our brand new kestrel for a SANC program. She was so adorable and chirped when I went to pick her up. Too cute! Also, getting to sit outside in the beautiful sunshine with Barley, the barn owl (see picture). She’s alway up for a photo shoot. J
Tenderloin steak on the grill with grilled potatoes and zucchini. *drools*
I know it’s not until tonight but…HARRY POTTER 7.2 IS COMING TO THEATRES TONIGHT AND OMGKJKLJKDLDSKFSDFSD I AM SOOOOO SUPER EXCITED. WHEW.
Remember last A&A Thursday when I mentioned Wizard Rock? Well, I’m going to explain that to you. I usually like to write about all the enormously interesting things I do in my wonderful state, Wisconsin. However, this past Thursday I went to…wait for it…ILLINOIS! Soooo exciting, I know. So here's the situation.
I went with this awesome kid.
This is the incredibly talented, incredibly nerdy Vincenzo. We drove in the early afternoon and got to Chicago in record time. Why were we going to Chicago, you may ask? Well, to give the city credit, it has some pretty awesome museums, amazing popcorn stores, and lovely theatres. However, we were not visiting for anything of those reasons. Something else drew us into the often antagonized state of Illinois. Two words. Wizard. Rock. (Or, one word: Wrock.)
Wizard Rock is, simply, music based on the Harry Potter universe. Band names, lyrics, etc. all stem from the novels and movies. Nerdy much? Yes. Awesome much. Yes.
The concert took place in Lincoln Square, a cute little area smooshed between a gelato shop and a cafe. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor concert; the air was warm but there was a lovely breeze. People were out with their dogs and strollers, walking the streets, sitting on cafe patios. Vinnie and I got there quite early so we walked around a while, looking in an adorable old bookshop (I wish I could remember the name...it was something clever...) and a fun game shop. We ate sandwiches on a bench in the square, and bought much-too-expensive Cold Stone Creamery ice cream (this was, sadly, before we discovered the gelato shop...for writers we're not very observant). Then we found a really cool, really old antique store.
The store had lovely vintage shoes and fascinators, typewriters and paintings, old bicycles, costume jewelry and pins, trunks and suitcases, and so much more. I wanted to buy everything and decorate my house. Well, maybe someday when I'm rich and famous and actually HAVE my own house.
I'm really looking forward to visiting vintage store and antique shops in England (or elsewhere in Europe). I found a website online that listed the best resale/vintage stores in London. I'm hoping to hit up as many as I can while I'm there. Nothing can beat European vintage!
Okay, enough about that. I'm here to talk about Wizard Rock. So, finally, the bands showed up and started setting up their stuff in Lincoln Square. The bands we went to see were Diagon Alley and, more importantly, Harry and the Potters. As it got closer to the time the concert was going to start, the square started filling up. The majority of the people there were parents with little kids. Really, are these kids even old enough to know what Harry Potter is? Vinnie suggested we go hang out with Joe (of the leads in HatP), their drummer, and two of their friends since they were the only people there around our age. Being the shy, star-struck person that I am (yes, star-struck even by wizard rockers), I was hesitant, but being the bold, star-struck person he is, Vinnie dragged us over there and in a matter of seconds we were hanging out with the band.
After a short time, Diagon Alley took the stage. They were not what I was expecting. Their members consisted of one man wearing a kilt, one man with glasses and a highlighter yellow mohawk, one man wearing all black (including shorts) and a top hat, and one man wearing a hot pink shirt and a Gryffindor tie.
The best part of the band was definitely the fiddler (top hat man (minus his top hat in the picture)). They played a lot of folk rock music, which I love. It actually seemed like they used to be a traditional folk rock band that realized they were more popular with a Harry Potter slant and changed all their lyrics to fit the books. Not that I'm complaining. Their music was fun and a good opener to HatP.
So now for Harry and the Potters. I had listened to their music a bit before seeing them, but didn't know the lyrics to their songs. Still, it didn't keep me from enjoying the concert. They crowd loved them, and they loved the crowd. They were rockers all right. Joe climbed up a tree to sing part of a song and Paul (the other lead, below) ran through the crowd multiple times (He even knocked down a little girl right in front of me. Being the unobservant person I am, I didn't catch her, or even notice she was on the ground until too late. Oops.).
They sang a lot of crowd pleasers, including the epic dang-along "Felix Felicis" and the epic sing-along "Save Ginny Weasley." I have to admit, though I wasn't super excited about the concert before we left, I had a rollicking good time. The two Harrys (as they liked to call themselves) were great performers and quite welcoming.
Vinnie and I drove home, sharing favorite moments from the concert we just left. Then we put in a CD Vinnie had purchased at the concert.
If you can't read that well, it says: Bob Dylan Sings the Songs of Harry and the Potters. What? We couldn't resist buying it for $5, if only to see what this was all about. What it really is? One of the Harrys (I don't know which) singing their songs in the voice of Bob Dylan. And honestly, he sounds just like Bob Dylan! We laughed so hard listening to the songs. $5 well spent.
Overall, an enjoyable experience, even if we did have to go all the way to Illinois. If you want a more audio-visual reenactment of our adventures, watch Vinnie's vlog. I make multiple appearances in the car wearing Vinnie's brother's awesome sunglasses.
If you like this video, you'll love his other videos.
Subscribe to his channel! (PS: I make cameo appearances in the Halloween video, various Ireland videos, the cartwheel video, and more!)
Okay, once more I am posting this on Friday. I'd rather this didn't become a habit, but Thursdays apparently are becoming quite busy for me. This past Thursday I spent almost all day in Chicago with no computer, much less internet access. So there's my excuse this time around.
Awkward
The intense wind we’ve been having. Like wind storm quality. It sure does like throwing my hair about willy-nilly so that when things finally do calm down I look like I’m walking around town with bed head (and not the sexy kind).
I was talking to a woman at the bank. I was cashing a lot of checks that I told her I got from graduation. She noted that the checks were addressed to “Dean,” “Deanie,” and “Dean-Louise.” She then asked what name I go by. I explained what my real name is, what my nicknames are, etc. She then asked what I graduated with. “Dean-Louise,” I replied. “No,” she said. “I mean, what major?” Oh. Duh. *face-palm*
Standing in front of a bunch of little kids at a concert. This also applies to when you sit in front of little kids at a movie theatre. I always feel like I should move so they can see, but then I also think, well, they should have gotten there earlier so they could get good seats/standing spots. And then thinking that kind of makes me feel like a jerk (and not the sexy kind).
Sun tanning in my backyard while my neighbors are doing yard work. I don’t know, just lying out in my bikini while my neighbors plant flowers fifteen feet away is a bit uncomfortable.
Awesome
Burn Notice has started. I know Burn Notice actually started a few weeks ago, but I just got around to watching the first episode. Really, I never get tired of Michael, Fiona, and Sam (and sometimes Jesse) putting on disguises, blowing things up, getting into car chases, and (most fun of all) bantering with each other.
My sister lost her pet rat, Elton, outside about a little over a week ago. And the other day Elton just randomly showed up on the front porch. Craziness! That’s one will to survive. What’s even crazier was that I had a dream my mom would find Elton outside, then I would pick Elton up and bring her inside. And that’s exactly how it happened in real life. My first premonition?
Wizard rock. Don't know what this is? Well, you should. (This post could also possibly go under the "Awkward" category.)
Downton Abbey. Sorry, another show. But it’s summer, which means I actually have time to watch television. But this show is soooo good. It’s British (yay!) and has fantastic actors and actresses. It’s romantic and funny and tense and dramatic. It’s got everything. I can’t wait for Season 2 to come out.
Has your week been awesome, awkward, or a nice combination of the two? I hoping for the last one; a nice balance is always good.
