This post is to tell you how great a book, "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman is.
I am on page 372 of 588, and I don't think I have been this engrossed in a book of this size since the days of Redwall.
Usually, whenever I go somewhere, I bring my backpack, in which I keep everything I could possibly need in whatever situation of idleness or boredom. There's my journal, a wide selection of pens, letter paper, a sketch book, and a couple books to read for different moods.
Well, on the way back from Chicago, my leftovers leaked in my backpack, and I have yet to thoroughly clean it. Meanwhile, I am still out and about, but when it comes time to grab everything I could possibly need, I can just pick up American Gods and call it good. What else would I want? Nothing.
I am really happy that I will be able to have this book under my belt before school starts.
***Spoiler Warning***
Though it is just a speculation.
I THINK that Alison McGovern was taken as a sacrifice. Every year a kid has gone missing, and in winter. Why else would Lakeside be such a safe place for Shadow to be? Isn't Odin a winter guy?
Dun dun Dunnnnn!
Such a great book.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I'm just a poooor, wayfaring straangerrrrr...
Last weekend, Colin and I went to Chicago.
It started as an idea. I got to thinking about how it had been a while since I'd been able to look at a Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton, or a piece of rock from Mars, so I sent Colin a message on Facebook saying that we should go to Chicago someday.
There is a bus company out of Chicago that does express trips for really cheap. They advertise that you can get from Minneapolis to Chicago for a dollar. Our tickets were about $25, but still a good deal. Our bus would leave at 10:30pm and arrive at Union Station at 6:30 the next morning. One week ago, I drove to Colin's house, and we hung out until Friday evening, when I drove to Minneapolis and parked at Augsburg. We were able to briefly visit Paul at his new apartment and talk about how delicious goat meat is.
The Megabusses are pretty neat. They have two levels, and wifi internet. We almost didn't get on the bus, but when we did, we were able to get seats on the top. It didn't feel like I slept that much, but it also didn't feel like I was on a bus for 8 hours. We arrived ahead of schedule in downtown Chicago, and we embarked haphazardly. Seeing Chicago at 7 in the morning on a foggy, wet morning was excellent. No one was out and about, and we got to roam the empty streets. After a stop for breakfast at McDonalds.
Eventually, we decided that we should head up to Navy Pier. By this time, the joggers were out. There might have been a marathon or other similar event taking place, because all over there were groups of people moving in the same direction, and they all wore matching outfits.
... I should post pictures...
After Navy Pier, we headed to the Near North area of Chicago, where we ate some fruit at Starbucks and went exploring. We went into an Oriental Rug store where we touched rugs with price tags labeled up to $100,000! Then we found an architecture museum that we had to buzz from the street to get into. The museum itself was a couple rooms with architectural drawings on the walls. The drawings were of some Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, and I think the Sears Tower. The man in the museum was very helpful. He told us that we should check out Dearborn Ave, because it would be good to see if we liked buildings. He also referred to what we were doing as "backpacking." Until then I hadn't thought of us that way, but when I did, it was awesome.
Oh yeah.
The night before, when I had just got on the bus, I texted my wonderful cousin who I write letters with and who lives in Michigan that there was this great bus that I could get to Chicago on for pretty cheap, and that maybe we could meet in Chicago some time. She replied saying that she would be in Chicago the next day! Woah!
So we made plans to meet for dinner at 6:30. Our hotel was located about 10 miles from down town by the air port, and right at the end of the train line, so we got to try out the L Train! I don't think it was my first time on an L Train. I think Rita took me on one a long time ago. To get to our hotel, we had to walk through a delightful neighborhood of little rectangular houses. It was similar to Millwaukee Ave.
At one point, we smelled something delicious, and we figured that it came from inside one of the houses, but when we reached the end of the block, we discovered a 24 hour tamale stand! We got three. Yum.
Seeing my cousin was the greatest coincidence possible. We ate some really good Chicago pizza, and went our own ways.
That night, I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.
The next day we had planned to go to the Art Museum and the Field Museum, but we got a late start in the morning. Instead, we briefly browsed the Gold Coast Art Show (didn't see anyone I knew) and then went to the Field Museum. It sucked up our time really fast, but it was lots of fun. I really love the halls of stuffed animals. My favorite animal was... the flamingos because their necks are so thin and bendy, and because there was a metal alligator with them. Or the puffins, seagulls, ocelot, or sperm whale jaw.
The special exhibit we chose was Underground and Soil themed. We "shrunk" to 100 times our normal size, and wandered among blazing star roots with grubs, earth worms and crayfish.
The museum closed before we got to see the hall of gems. We did get to see some Mars metal though.
By the time we walked all the way back to Union Station to check the bus stop location, we were pretty worn out. We were able to venture into the very edge of Greek Town for dinner.
Monday morning saw us safely back in Minneapolis.
Now I am at work. I spent Monday working and recovering, and Tuesday and Wednesday being lazy and trying not to believe that I will be moving back to school on Monday.
My feelings are very mixed, but I think that is a subject for another post.
It started as an idea. I got to thinking about how it had been a while since I'd been able to look at a Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton, or a piece of rock from Mars, so I sent Colin a message on Facebook saying that we should go to Chicago someday.
There is a bus company out of Chicago that does express trips for really cheap. They advertise that you can get from Minneapolis to Chicago for a dollar. Our tickets were about $25, but still a good deal. Our bus would leave at 10:30pm and arrive at Union Station at 6:30 the next morning. One week ago, I drove to Colin's house, and we hung out until Friday evening, when I drove to Minneapolis and parked at Augsburg. We were able to briefly visit Paul at his new apartment and talk about how delicious goat meat is.
The Megabusses are pretty neat. They have two levels, and wifi internet. We almost didn't get on the bus, but when we did, we were able to get seats on the top. It didn't feel like I slept that much, but it also didn't feel like I was on a bus for 8 hours. We arrived ahead of schedule in downtown Chicago, and we embarked haphazardly. Seeing Chicago at 7 in the morning on a foggy, wet morning was excellent. No one was out and about, and we got to roam the empty streets. After a stop for breakfast at McDonalds.
Eventually, we decided that we should head up to Navy Pier. By this time, the joggers were out. There might have been a marathon or other similar event taking place, because all over there were groups of people moving in the same direction, and they all wore matching outfits.
... I should post pictures...
After Navy Pier, we headed to the Near North area of Chicago, where we ate some fruit at Starbucks and went exploring. We went into an Oriental Rug store where we touched rugs with price tags labeled up to $100,000! Then we found an architecture museum that we had to buzz from the street to get into. The museum itself was a couple rooms with architectural drawings on the walls. The drawings were of some Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, and I think the Sears Tower. The man in the museum was very helpful. He told us that we should check out Dearborn Ave, because it would be good to see if we liked buildings. He also referred to what we were doing as "backpacking." Until then I hadn't thought of us that way, but when I did, it was awesome.
Oh yeah.
The night before, when I had just got on the bus, I texted my wonderful cousin who I write letters with and who lives in Michigan that there was this great bus that I could get to Chicago on for pretty cheap, and that maybe we could meet in Chicago some time. She replied saying that she would be in Chicago the next day! Woah!
So we made plans to meet for dinner at 6:30. Our hotel was located about 10 miles from down town by the air port, and right at the end of the train line, so we got to try out the L Train! I don't think it was my first time on an L Train. I think Rita took me on one a long time ago. To get to our hotel, we had to walk through a delightful neighborhood of little rectangular houses. It was similar to Millwaukee Ave.
At one point, we smelled something delicious, and we figured that it came from inside one of the houses, but when we reached the end of the block, we discovered a 24 hour tamale stand! We got three. Yum.
Seeing my cousin was the greatest coincidence possible. We ate some really good Chicago pizza, and went our own ways.
That night, I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.
The next day we had planned to go to the Art Museum and the Field Museum, but we got a late start in the morning. Instead, we briefly browsed the Gold Coast Art Show (didn't see anyone I knew) and then went to the Field Museum. It sucked up our time really fast, but it was lots of fun. I really love the halls of stuffed animals. My favorite animal was... the flamingos because their necks are so thin and bendy, and because there was a metal alligator with them. Or the puffins, seagulls, ocelot, or sperm whale jaw.
The special exhibit we chose was Underground and Soil themed. We "shrunk" to 100 times our normal size, and wandered among blazing star roots with grubs, earth worms and crayfish.
The museum closed before we got to see the hall of gems. We did get to see some Mars metal though.
By the time we walked all the way back to Union Station to check the bus stop location, we were pretty worn out. We were able to venture into the very edge of Greek Town for dinner.
Monday morning saw us safely back in Minneapolis.
Now I am at work. I spent Monday working and recovering, and Tuesday and Wednesday being lazy and trying not to believe that I will be moving back to school on Monday.
My feelings are very mixed, but I think that is a subject for another post.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Way Hey Hey, no Ordinary Day!
It is Sunday morning. I am sitting in the KBEK airstudio listening to the broadcast of this morning's service from Cambridge Lutheran. This has been my smoothest Sunday morning, probably ever. I was even able to edit the Pease service with only 2 extra minutes!
I got here at six, and shortly after Tony, a new guy from Cambridge arrived to be trained in. I never thought I'd be training someone in...
August.
After staying for most of July, Colin went home. It was fun having him around, and I think I am just now getting back into my pre-Colin routine. Hopefully, we will be taking the Megabus to Chicago next week!
I will share two cool and musical events.
First, on Friday I went to Sara's house for a jam session. Sara (Clarinet, guitar, piano), Lucas (piano, guitar) and Savannah (trombone, guitar) were there.We have had jam sessions before, but we really need a manager. We are all too easily distracted, and we never have a set plan for what we are going to do. Someday, I would like them to become actual band PRACTICES, but we did make progress this time.
We began by playing through a couple songs we'd done before, and then went our own ways for a while. Then, Lucas started playing chords on the piano, and Savannah joined him on accordion. When I felt brave enough, I joined on trumpet playing long notes in the chord. It reminded me of the graphic notation and crazy weird improv stuff we did in Jazz band last semester; play what you want, but with each other, and let things modulate naturally. Dynamics, articulation, even rhythm patterns. Major breakthroughs happened when we discovered the pre-set beats on Sara's keyboard. We put on a rhythm, and Lucas played the chords, then we just sat in our circle and PLAYED.
Suddenly, I synthesized (or at least started to) what people mean by "What key is it in?" and how to play along with that. It blew my mind how GOOD we actually sounded! We'd groove for a while until someone threw in a solo or a little riff, and then play off each other, or rest for a while.
It gave me hope for my own abilities, and the realistic possibility of actually being in a band one day. Today, when I go home, I am going to study blues guitar, and play my trumpet.
If I am not too tired from yesterday...
WHICH WAS AWESOME.
Second, yesterday was Irish Fair. My parents and I left the house at nine thirty to make it to Wyoming for the dedication of the Wyoming Public Library's new rain garden. My parents' band, "Second Fiddle" was providing music. I hung out in the library and ripped a pile of cds into my computer. I got lots of new stuff; Boston, Blonde on Blonde and another Bob Dylan album, Fleetwood Mac and a bunch more. I am most excited about the 5 or so "World Music" albums I got.
I've been wary of "World Music" because it feels like a lazy North American cop out, but recently I have really wanted to have more to listen to, and to study for my own music. Particularly, I wanted to learn about what modern French music is like, and different trumpet styles, but I was at a standstill because I didn't know where to start. WELL, I struck it rich.
Now I have World BLUES, Latin, Latin/African, New Orleans, Paris and some more. All of the artists are modern, and chosen to present the diversity, history, and culture surrounding the music today. I really can't wait to get home and study!
After the Library show, we left for the Cities. We got to Irish Fair around 5, and were able to wander around a bit. I ate DELICIOUS deep fried corned beef and cabbage rolls. Our neighbor goes to Irish Fair every year. She camps out and stays for each day. My dad noted how easy that would be to do, with everything there is to do! We watched some musical acts, and one dance show, but there were so many tents, with so many great things in each one! Story telling, seminars, dance lessons, sheep dogs, rugby...
In all of Irish Fair's glory, I was most excited for the last concert of the day, Great Big Sea.
Great Big Sea is a band from Newfoundland that I saw when I was 12 when my mom won tickets to a zoo concert from KVSC. I got one of their cds then, and it is still one of my favorites. I know all the words to every song on it. I saw them again on St. Patrick's day a couple years ago (won tickets again!).
I made it to the front of the audience to see them, and it was glorious. There was a little girl in a pink dress up on somebody's shoulders, she must have been about 3 years old and was singing along to every word too! Do you know how great it is to see a small child happily belting out rowdy pirate drinking songs?
I also thoroughly enjoyed how thoroughly joyous everyone there was. Even though it was a free concert at Irish Fair, and that many people might have just stuck around for the fun of it, when the band stopped singing, the whole audience could fill in the chorus. *shudder*
About half way through, it started raining. Lead singer and guitar player, Alan Doyle was glorious. I even heard some girls my age remark, "It's so beautiful, with the wind blowing through his hair while he sings!" I agreed whole heartedly. Even more so, when it was guitar solo time they shined the lights on the rain... I don't know how to properly express it... Long haired Canadian, electric guitar solo, IN THE RAIN, with thunder and lightning. !!!!!!!!!!!!
Joyous.
I got here at six, and shortly after Tony, a new guy from Cambridge arrived to be trained in. I never thought I'd be training someone in...
August.
After staying for most of July, Colin went home. It was fun having him around, and I think I am just now getting back into my pre-Colin routine. Hopefully, we will be taking the Megabus to Chicago next week!
I will share two cool and musical events.
First, on Friday I went to Sara's house for a jam session. Sara (Clarinet, guitar, piano), Lucas (piano, guitar) and Savannah (trombone, guitar) were there.We have had jam sessions before, but we really need a manager. We are all too easily distracted, and we never have a set plan for what we are going to do. Someday, I would like them to become actual band PRACTICES, but we did make progress this time.
We began by playing through a couple songs we'd done before, and then went our own ways for a while. Then, Lucas started playing chords on the piano, and Savannah joined him on accordion. When I felt brave enough, I joined on trumpet playing long notes in the chord. It reminded me of the graphic notation and crazy weird improv stuff we did in Jazz band last semester; play what you want, but with each other, and let things modulate naturally. Dynamics, articulation, even rhythm patterns. Major breakthroughs happened when we discovered the pre-set beats on Sara's keyboard. We put on a rhythm, and Lucas played the chords, then we just sat in our circle and PLAYED.
Suddenly, I synthesized (or at least started to) what people mean by "What key is it in?" and how to play along with that. It blew my mind how GOOD we actually sounded! We'd groove for a while until someone threw in a solo or a little riff, and then play off each other, or rest for a while.
It gave me hope for my own abilities, and the realistic possibility of actually being in a band one day. Today, when I go home, I am going to study blues guitar, and play my trumpet.
If I am not too tired from yesterday...
WHICH WAS AWESOME.
Second, yesterday was Irish Fair. My parents and I left the house at nine thirty to make it to Wyoming for the dedication of the Wyoming Public Library's new rain garden. My parents' band, "Second Fiddle" was providing music. I hung out in the library and ripped a pile of cds into my computer. I got lots of new stuff; Boston, Blonde on Blonde and another Bob Dylan album, Fleetwood Mac and a bunch more. I am most excited about the 5 or so "World Music" albums I got.
I've been wary of "World Music" because it feels like a lazy North American cop out, but recently I have really wanted to have more to listen to, and to study for my own music. Particularly, I wanted to learn about what modern French music is like, and different trumpet styles, but I was at a standstill because I didn't know where to start. WELL, I struck it rich.
Now I have World BLUES, Latin, Latin/African, New Orleans, Paris and some more. All of the artists are modern, and chosen to present the diversity, history, and culture surrounding the music today. I really can't wait to get home and study!
After the Library show, we left for the Cities. We got to Irish Fair around 5, and were able to wander around a bit. I ate DELICIOUS deep fried corned beef and cabbage rolls. Our neighbor goes to Irish Fair every year. She camps out and stays for each day. My dad noted how easy that would be to do, with everything there is to do! We watched some musical acts, and one dance show, but there were so many tents, with so many great things in each one! Story telling, seminars, dance lessons, sheep dogs, rugby...
In all of Irish Fair's glory, I was most excited for the last concert of the day, Great Big Sea.
Great Big Sea is a band from Newfoundland that I saw when I was 12 when my mom won tickets to a zoo concert from KVSC. I got one of their cds then, and it is still one of my favorites. I know all the words to every song on it. I saw them again on St. Patrick's day a couple years ago (won tickets again!).
I made it to the front of the audience to see them, and it was glorious. There was a little girl in a pink dress up on somebody's shoulders, she must have been about 3 years old and was singing along to every word too! Do you know how great it is to see a small child happily belting out rowdy pirate drinking songs?
I also thoroughly enjoyed how thoroughly joyous everyone there was. Even though it was a free concert at Irish Fair, and that many people might have just stuck around for the fun of it, when the band stopped singing, the whole audience could fill in the chorus. *shudder*
About half way through, it started raining. Lead singer and guitar player, Alan Doyle was glorious. I even heard some girls my age remark, "It's so beautiful, with the wind blowing through his hair while he sings!" I agreed whole heartedly. Even more so, when it was guitar solo time they shined the lights on the rain... I don't know how to properly express it... Long haired Canadian, electric guitar solo, IN THE RAIN, with thunder and lightning. !!!!!!!!!!!!
Joyous.
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