Creole Wisdom

good food & flowers

Can I just begin with how shocking it is that July is here already? Sigh. At least I have Christmas to look forward to, and winter will be much less harsh now that I have a car.  Thank you mom!

J was fabulous and took me out to a wonderful dinner at Cafe Ena.  After a very long day at work, not much sleep the night before, and a lunch consisting of an apple (sad, I know), this meal was much appreciated.  I ordered the salmon, and it was blissful...

Now you know I had consumed my fair share of that delightful beverage when I said to J, "these planktons are so good," goodness!  I think I meant to say plantains.  Life is hard.  He thought it was so hilarious he ordered the trés leche cake for dessert. 

If you live here, go there for a dinner date. Not too crowded, good service, and killer food.  I'm not joking.

Yesterday I met dad for dinner at his place.  Afterwards, I dropped in to see J.  I knocked on the door, and when he opened it, he was standing there with these...

Sweet.  He's so remarkable, and remembers so much of what I say.  I am almost shocked, but I suppose you pick up more when you're not running your mouth 24/7.  Several weeks ago I said to him, "if I could be a flower, I would be a sunflower!" LOL.  I am a spaz, but they are so pretty, no?  Sadly, a homeless woman thought this bouquet was for her when J bought it downtown on his way home.  These blossoms make me smile.

We spent the rest of the night laughing and watching a PBS story.  That is so lame, I know, but they are really good!  Don't lie, I know you watch them, too.  Nothing beats when J was telling me about someone he knew, "they were so trifling."  Yep, my buzz word has finally rubbed of.

On another note: Happy 4th.  I'm heading up for girls weekend maximus at Karen's cabin.  I've got two bottles of champagn, fresh berries, and tank full of gas.  Be back with photos and stories galore. xo.

J via Berlin

J is in Berlin, Germany.  Isn't he handsome? He is there for two weeks, and I was missing him today. He has all sorts of great photos in his web album already.  Here are a few of my favorites: a pretty castle and a classic feet photograph–

His e-mails are even more captivating.  I was rolling when I read this:

"I was peacefully reading my book last night in the lobby and a guy checked in.  Apparently he had been having a few rough days since arriving in Europe (mugged in London, got lost in Amsterdam, had his credit cards canceled) however, he is from California and loud so I think he might have deserved it (ha).  Well he sat by me and tried to talk me into going out but i turned him down partly because i was tired and didnt want to go anywhere and partly because i thought if I went anywhere with him I was sure to have some bad luck befall me as well due to his boorish behaviour.  I came back to my room this afternoon to find that they had moved him into my room (uh-oh)! I was nice to him and let him know that U.K. stamps won't work here. We'll see what happens next...."

Rolling! I can just see this crazy kid, trying to use English stamps in Germany, oh dear!

6months.

J and I have now been dating for sixth months. It seems so short in many ways, and also so long, too. I am so glad I met him, and I think he is a brilliant man.

A little background: Karen introduced us, and we had our first meeting the day before winter formal. Then we had our first date at Duplex in uptown. Great dinner!

Double date with my parents. March 2009.

We have done quite a bit together already as a couple:
•Trip to Chicago (fun)
•Celebrated both our birthdays- only one day and a year apart in age.
•Survived a kitchen grease fire. That's another post, I will tell ya! But it was not something caused by him or I
•Met both families including my aunt, grandma, grandpa, and his aunt
•Trip to Duluth (not so fun)
•4 museum trips
•Too many happy hours to count
•A few fights. Always about the same thing.
•My graduation, and his completion of first year of graduate school
•Sixteen Wednesday lunches in the electrical engineering building with pb&j made by me
•Season 3 of Big Love. Yes.
•Too many episodes of Star Trek.
•One trip to Archivers, 2 trips to the Comic Store

I'm not engaged. I'm not close to it. So don't be excited for waiting for "that post." I don't even know if this is "the one." I am learning more about him, and he me. So that is good. After all, we all know what I think about jump-the-gun marriages.  Not wise!

For 6 months Joe surprised me with a picnic... in my backyard on the Ralph Lauren comforter circa dad's Edina house 1999 : ) I love summer pastas! Wasn't that sweet of him?

no scrubs.

I have been thinking recently.  Over my four years of school I have had some stellar learning experiences.  I feel blessed and fulfilled.  One of the major lessons is this: don't settle, because nothing is sadder than a good woman with a really trifling man.  Okay, certain things are worse than that, but this what we're talking about on my blog this fine evening.

Here is what I mean: people caring more about having someone than the caliber of the someone.  Okay, it's not all about what "your man" can do for you (it is for some), but instead what is fair to put up with.

People are not perfect, but there are some things not worth touching...

drugs addictions
serious psychological issues
can't keep a job
can't live on their own (men who live with mom permanently past the age of 20 concern me)
issues with finances
anger problems

Also, being alone is actually ok.  I think nothing bad about women who don't have boyfriends, in fact, many of my sorority sisters who are smart, funny, kind, and gorgeous don't have serious relationships right now.  They won't settle, and I commend them on that.

What is going on with my generation of men?  Oh Lord, here we go, and it is 10:20pm and I've been to Figlio's for dinner and such!  Goodness! But I am being serious.

Not going to school
Living off mom and dad
Expecting sex always and whenever
Smoking pot
Drinking 40s (cannot even be bothered to pop a cork of lovely champagne!)
(and my personal favorite) want to be be a stay-at-home-dad so "my cougar sugar momma can pay the bills"
having kids (you know what I'm talking about)

Either way, there is no "ready made man," but I truly believe that good things come to those who wait.  And yes, in many ways we deserve what we get. 

we go round

I wish I had some cute new photos of J and I to show you all.  But I don't.  I'm exhausted.  I have a million things to do in the next few weeks.  But I will leave you with the above, a favorite of mine.  I love it so much.  I think it is passionate.

J is sweet.  2 recent phone convos:
CW: So, formal is on Friday, and we need to be at AOII at 7:45pm
J: Ok.  I just found out that the University is hosting a concert of Beethoven's 9th symphony.  The 9th is my favorite.
CW: Oh, cool (J paid way more attention in orchestra than I did!)
J: But it's on Friday night, and we're going to go to your formal.  We'll have so much fun and dance

: )

CW: I am so stressed because of x, y, z...
J: Well, it will be okay
CW: I know, you are right
J: Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?
CW: Sure.  I can make it.
J: I just have one small request.  Could you add another sandwich... I get hungry late when I'm in the electrical engineering building.

I'm sorry if it's late and I've lost my mind, but I think he is so sweet for wanting another pb&j to tide him over.  And we've never missed a Wednesday date.  Rain, shine, snow, wind, group meetings...

under an onyx sky

and just like that, spring is here.  thank you lord! after night class, i stood quietly by the bus stop with one of my buddies.  then guess who bounded down the stairs? j. 

"does surprising you creep you out?" nope.

to town hall we went, and under an onyx sky that was warm we drank beers, eat sweet potato fries with creole sauce, and smiled- 

easter ready-early

Saturday we had AOPi Days.  This is a fun activity where the house invites alumna members, and we  do activities.  Obviously, because I like a good party, I was excited to attend.  I love meeting older members, and am looking forward to being a very involved alumni!  On the agenda this year we sang AOII songs, learned some new ones, had an amazing lunch catered by Cafe 421, and made Easter Baskets for a women's shelter. 

I love taking pictures at these, even though my position of Historian is long over.  Aren't those flower arrangements pretty?  And I love using glassine covers on baskets, definitely up my alley.

It was so fun to have the alumni teach us some new songs.  They had so much fun singing for us, and some of them were seriously hilarious. 

Afterwards I made a quick trip to both Old Navy and Target.  I picked up one of the new city dresses, and I am in love with it.  In love.  I wore it yesterday, and I have it on today.  My fashionista days must be over, but long live horizontal stripes-  don't care what people say, I think they look good on me! And others, too. I managed to put together a cute Easter basket for J.  And you know, I am horrible because...

Although Easter isn't until NEXT Sunday, I could NOT wait, and gave it to him right when he came to pick me up.  I hid it, and he had so much fun looking for it.  He came out of my closet with a vase and says, "is this it?" LOL, nope!  Finally he found it and was so happy.  I was actually kind of surprised how happy he was about it, I was kind of doing it more for me than for him.  But... he says as he looks at the toothbrush, "oh I love medium bristles!" (haha) and spent a while looking at all the star wars book. 

I had no idea when he had gotten a basket last.  I asked him, and he says nonchalantly, "last year" LOL! Good thing his mom has a grandchild coming so she can quit spoiling the kids- after all, I didn't get a basket last year ; )

Inside: card, cadberry eggs, peanut butter cups, star wars sticker book (lol), and medium bristle tooth brush! What a lucky man!

exciting news

Do you see this handsome man?

(I got him to smile for this photo by saying: "you are dating a sexy woman" LOL. I'm so ridiculous. Lord help me)

So anyway, this handsome man? Oh wait... I have some more photos to show, they are so fun...

So the exciting news is, J is going to be an uncle.  Come November that is.  How exciting for him!  His sister and brother in law are excited, too.  I think it's going to be a girl, and J a boy.  We already made a huge bet and shook on it.  Sadly for him, I always win these- I can usually tell, don't ask me how, but I can.

stop that!

I have had such a crazy week: four papers and two tests.  I feel like my brain is going to explode, graduation come soon!  So, I have a German History night class, and we had a test- typical deal, blue books and lots of noise from turning pages, pencil erases, coughs, you got it.

I am QUIETLY eating some chocolate covered expresso beans.  They are so delicious.  Just enjoying them as I write away in the blue book about the Weimar Republic, and all of a sudden... a boy sitting a full row ahead of me and down four desks says, out loud, in a disruptive tone- "stop that!  stop eating while I'm taking this!"  I don't know what was going through his mind, but how rude- way to make MORE noise than necessary.  So what did I do?  I look him straight in the eye, and plopped two more expresso beans in my mouth and smiled.  Bet he won't do that again! Bwaha.

Later, near the end of class I checked my phone.  Text message from J: let me know when you're done with class, I want to see you.  As I stepped out, about to call him, he walks right up to me.  He just met me at the door- how sweet! I have an amazing boyfriend.  Really, I'm a very lucky girl.

homemade lunch

Because we're in a recession, and I am an old-fashioned kind of romantic person by nature I was happy when J suggested we make homemade lunches.  I guess he meant that I was going to be making them.  It's been a crazy stressful week- and in times past I've done things like chicken soup and lemon bars, or just a simple pb&j.  On the phone Tuesday night:

CW: So, what should we do about lunch tomorrow?
J: Well... I have some peanut butter.  I could make us some sandwiches
CW: Ok, I will bring us apple, too-

Fast forward to Wednesday.  I meet J with a cute kiss in the Electrical Engineering building. 

J: So, there's wasn't enough peanut butter, so I will buy us lunch right here (there's a little stand where they sell goodies)
CW (trying not to laugh): Ok-

We sat down, now with sushi and string cheese and chex mix (so good) and I thought about how if J was my future main man I would make him a lunch in an old fashioned lunch box, and I imagined him working in overalls walking down a dusty road (do engineers wear overalls?) And of course, this image came to mind: