girl at large

While The Getting Is Good

It's a gorgeous, sunny day in November. I'm not going to update here, I'm going out there...see ya!

"Sometimes you just need a Pat."

When Mom leaves for Door County on Tuesday, I'll miss her way with words. My favorites from this summer include:

the "un-empty cup of coffee" (bottomless cup of coffee)
"crudiments" (accoutrements)
being "kerflexed" (combo of kerfuffled and perplexed)
"that microwave guy" (Paul Allen)

Storm Warning

Even if the bedroom window had not been open, the thunderstorm earlier this week would have woken me. It was a huge, booming monster of a storm--at one point, the thunder following the lightning by only one second--it was right above the house. I was dreaming when it began, and as the windows rattled from the wind, the storm became intertwined in my dream. As did Buncle Tom's midget story told the previous afternoon. Correction: Buncle Tom's FAMOUS midget story. The story is not famous, the midget was.

Back to my story: in my waking and yet still dreaming mind, the storm was Dorothy's tornado, whirling with Oz characters including aforementioned midget, all wielding menacing commercial table legs.

What Part of Wisconsin Are You From?

We had dinner at Fond du Lac's The Sunset Supper Club on Friday night, it was the classic small town Wisconsin evening out. The only way to describe it is to transcribe the ordering conversation:

"I'll have the petite filet please".
"How would you like that?"
"Medium Rare"
"Baked Potato, Hash Browns, or Cole Slaw"?
"Baked Potato".
"House Salad or Cottage Cheese?"
"Salad" (with Blue Cheese House Dressing)
"Clam Chowder or Tomato Juice"?

This is where I lost it...but I had to control myself, not make too much fun and 'when in Rome' the situation. Dad, as he always had in the past, enjoyed my Tomato Juice.

Lenny and Squiggy Live Here

My social calendar has been so full lately that I haven't had much of a chance to explore the town that is Milwaukee. But I will share with you a few of the pleasant places I've enjoyed so far:

Once a week, I get to have a treat of a lunch from Larry's Market. Yum.

When I need an antique store fix, it's off to three floors of bliss at Blackhawk Antiques Market.

For a lovely walk to the lake front, I head down Capitol Drive to Atwater Park and Beach. If I can manage a trek, it's in Estebrook Park.

Milwaukee is full of summer festivals, including SummerFest itself, the biggest music festival on the planet. I hope to make it to a few of the summer time Wisconsin events, and to start, I'm off to Walleye Weekend in Fond du Lac next Saturday. Watch for posting of giant fish.

You're Not In Portland Anymore.

I miss Dr. Peter. He was my chiropractor in Portland. Twinkly music, aromatic candles, charming art collection on the walls, gentle speaking voice--the whole stereotypical package, including a tender "you just rest here with this wheat husk pillow under your neck listening to the twinkly music for as long as you like" after he was done doing the cranking and cracking. At first I was highly skeptical, but there's no bigger devotee than a convert. I quickly grew to adore Dr. Peter and all the feel good hockas pockas he stood for.

In contrast, Dr. E, my new chiropractor here in no-nonsense Milwaukee is 90% cheaper, and 100% different. No aromatherapy (in fact, what is that funky smell? how old is this carpet?), no twinkly music, and you're in and out of that basement office in 10 minutes flat. He's very old-school, and very skilled--he spent most of his highly-focused energy on my shoulder, and it worked. But a gentle touch, he is not. He's either a brilliant therapist or a retired John Deere mechanic.

What Have I Done?

Some days, there's just no escaping the feeling that I've made a huge mistake.

Weather Is Our April Fools

This was the snow storm last weekend, and we're due for another tomorrow. Ah, April in the midwest!

Morning in Milwaukee

The sunrise in Milwaukee, over Lake Michigan. My drive into work is very pretty, along Lake Drive (the north shore villages of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Bayside), with glimpses of the lake past the big old houses. I get a chance to enjoy the view when I'm waiting for kids to board the school bus. Ah, suburban life! And yes, I was up and on my way to work at that ungodly hour.

Familiar Territory

I went to a tavern tonight. Yes, they call them "taverns". Good times, brought back memories.

Wisconsin: It's Not So Bad

That's this year's motto. So far, in the "Not So Bad" column, mostly food:

-Sendik's
-the Butter Burger at Culver's
-Frozen Custard (take your pick--Kopps, Michael's, or Gilles)
-Milwaukee Art Museum
-the Lakefront
-Leinenkugel's

It's In The Water, Or Maybe In The Corn.

Just a few of the little niceties I'd been missing, so common in the midwest:
-grocery baggers
-eye contact
-getting approached by helpful staff in a big box store
-brown people in the suburbs
-vestibules
-street lamps
-paying AFTER you pump (this was only in Nebraska and Kansas, but it was so pleasant to be trusted)
-a real person answering the phone
-describing how far away something is by travel time
-ordering a beer at lunch
-folks wearing proper shoes

I do miss a few things about the Northwest:
-really good coffee
-the mountains (the pointy one, the not-so-pointy one and the more white than the others one)
-other people with dogs
-the green landscape, even in midwinter
-marionberry muffins
-narrow and hilly streets (Milwaukee, especially here in the burbs is flat and wiiiiiiiide)
-sushi

And I will always miss a few things about the South:
-being called "Miss Kate" and "M'am" with out it being an age thing
-"good morning"s and "good evening"s when out walking
-the squares
-spanish moss
-cheap cocktails
-locally esteemed wierdos

Settling In

I still have six boxes to go, and lots and lots of fixin' up projects, but it's starting to look like a home.

The Paramount

My new apartment at The Paramount, before I moved in. It's HUGE---1400 square feet! It has three bedrooms, but one of those is really an extra living room/den that I'll be using as an office/studio. It has a freakish number of closets--three large ones in the hallway alone. The second bedroom (and second bathroom!) is for GUESTS--anyone want to visit the charming metropolis on the lake that is Milwaukee? The Paramount was built in the 60's, and has that clean mid-century look I like. But it needs a bit of love---I've already repainted the bathroom cabinet, scrubbed the kitchen, and am up to my eyeballs in contact paper. It's going to be weeks and weeks of projects to get totally settled in, but I have weeks and weeks of still frigid weather ahead in which to get it done.

Cheese Head Travels Home

All Packed Up, Mount Shasta California, The Grand Canyon, Big as Texas, Grandpa Bunny

Thanks For The Help

Ruby takes a break from packing.

Ticking Off

It doesn't interest anyone else, but I'm a list person and an "achiever", so I feel better (literally physically better) when I can mark things off my to-do list:

Yesterday and today were "Technology" and "Tune Up" days respectively. I picked up a cheap-o cell phone for the road trip in case of emergency. Don't everyone get all excited that they'll now be able to reach me on my cell phone! I'll be lucky if the little piece of plastic lasts through the road trip. Though I will have to have a Blackberry for the new job, so my time of living Cell Phone Free is certainly coming to an end.

I also finally pulled the trigger on a Garmin Nuvi navigation system. I am IN LOVE. This little device with the pleasant voice and confident directions was MADE for people like me. In just two days, I've already tooled around more of Portland than I have in the past four years. I'm a confident driver, but unless the destination is off a flat, corn-lined highway, I can't find my way out of a paperbag. What was I waiting for, why didn't I get one of these gadgets sooner?

The little Jetta made it through her 50k tune up this morning, fairing much better than I feared. A new oil pan, tire rotation, the usual adjustments, a new headlight, and a repaired Cruise Control---and now I'm road ready. For an upgrade from the previous ghetto look, I also opted to replace the missing hubcap. So sexy. For being a good girl, I treated her to a wash on the way home.

The car insurance is up to date, I've updated my AAA membership and downloaded a list of must-stop roadside eateries from RoadFood. I am good to go!

Tomorrow is "Dealing with the City" (moving truck parking permits) and
"Awkwardly Saying Goodbye to Co-workers I'm Not Going to Miss" Day. Tick! Tick!

Equipment

I got my snow boots today. They are hideous, so of course they are warm, supportive and incredibly comfortable.

A Long Strange Trip

I'm planning out the road trip, and it's going to be a strange one...heading down to LA first to see Tom , and my friends Kristan and Steve...then across to Nebraska to visit Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bunny, which takes me through Colorado, so I think I'll stop in Boulder. Then through the plains and up to Milwaukee.

Any stops I should make along the way, let me know!

Home Sweet Home

I finally got an apartment!!! Woo-hoo!

As it turns out, it's the very first apartment I liked, in the building that Aunt Suzanne and I randomly happened to drive by when I was in Milwaukee for the interview. I recognized it from the craigslist ad, it had stuck out as a building similiar to the one I'm currently in (and adore)--Russian prison on the outside, little hidden gem on the inside. Why is it you always end up back at the first thing you saw? If it turns out I should have married my highschool sweetheart, the universe is perversely cruel.

It's been a rough ride, trying to find a place. Milwaukee is behind the curve in dog-acceptance in rental apartments, and garage parking is at a premium. Poor Suzanne has toured every goofy midcentury apartment complex in town. This one was originally above my budget, but I negotiated a better rate. I've never negotiated before--I must say, I'm very proud of myself. It was hard, but as my brother Tom advised, you have to be prepared to walk away. I walked when they wouldn't come down enough, and then a day later--the price I wanted!

I can't explain how exciting that is--I've always just "paid what they ask", no matter the item or circumstance.

So, let the packing commence!

p.s. Um, and it's not actually 'in' Milwaukee. I'm going to be living in the village (yes, 'village') of Shorewood. It's not as peri-menapausal as it sounds.

Cheese Nun

Funny things happen when two thoughts collide....I was thinking about moving back to Wisconsin, had added a new appropriately titled blog category, "Once a Cheesehead...". I was also taking inventory of my belongings, deciding what to sell, what to toss, and what to take on moving day.

It then seemed natural (and not at all the activity of a bored and lonely person) to take inventory of my cheese drawer:

-plain Chevre
-honey Chevre
-crumbled Blue
-Roquefort Blue
-Oregon Smokey Blue
-parmesean in block form
-parmesean pre-shredded
-Gruyere
-cream cheese
-Farmer's Cheese
-Mimolette Vieux
-Feta

I think I might have a problem.

You Can't Take It With You

I can't move everything with me across country (again), so here is installment one of "You Can't Take It With You". Bidding is now open, more items to come. Items in the "smaller than a bread box" category will be posted in a few weeks as packing commences. Email me at katemikkelsen@aol.com if you want something, first come first serve!

-Twin Bed--mattress, low profile boxspring and metal hollywood frame. (mattress pad and two sets of sheets included)
-Glass Lamp with mocha-colored silk shade, three way 12" d, 24" h
-Kitchen Butcher Block Cart 24" w, 20" d, 35" h
-Kitchen Table 42' d, 30" h white laminated wood top, aluminum base with leveling feet
-Outdoor Chairs set of two, stackable in weather proof woven vinyl
-Stone-topped Spot Table 13" d, 20" h
-Bookshelves 54" w, 12" d, 85" h dark brown rift oak, disassembles

Big Ol' To Do List

-get new job. Check.
-quit current job. Check.
-upgrade AAA membership. Check.
-give 30 day notice to landlord. Check.
-do walk through with landlord. Check.
-find new apartment!
-get snow tires.
-get oil change and 50k mile tune up.
-get dog tuned up.
-get quotes for moving containers/transport. Check.
-get DOT street permits for moving containers. Check.
-get rid of half the shit I own.
-clean out storage space.
-cancel/move electric, cable, phone.
-completely freak out at overwhelming list of things to do!

Winterizing Wish List

Shoe Traction Devices
Severe Weather Travel Kit
Puffy Coat
Doggy Coat and Boots

A Message From The Universe

Dad sent me four pre-paid B&W photo development envelopes from A&I for Christmas this year, very thoughtful.

I have a dozen rolls of film in my kitchen junk drawer--rolls I have transported from home to home and state to state (and even abroad!) for years and years. They languished next to twist ties, duct tape and Ikea allen wrenches, forgotten and undeveloped. Back in December, I sent off four rolls I thought might be from five or six years ago.

The very same week that I returned from the World's Longest Interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two of the developed rolls arrived in the mail.

Both were all shots of Wisconsin! Pictures of barns, rows of corn, cows, the lake...all taken more than 10 years ago when I went on a 'farewell' tour of my favorite places in Wisconsin, including Door County (where I stayed at the Valmy Hotel).

It Will Be Good To Be Home

It's amazing--I never knew I still had so many friends still back in Wisconsin! What a perfect time to join Facebook---I've been 'friended' by so many familiar faces!

I'm searching high and low for an apartment in Milwaukee. Portland is so dog-friendly, I'd forgotten that other towns aren't so keen on your four legged friend sharing the apartment. The right one will come along, but it's frustrating to be turned away when everyone knows that dog owners are far superior people, and very desirable renters. Who else will pick up steaming poo first thing in the morning? Isn't that just the kind of person you want as a tenant?

For those who don't know, I'm moving back to Wisconsin. I had to leave my current job, the market being what it is, and I've been wanting to get back to 'home' or at least near family for a few years now. I was originally aiming for Chicago, but the dart landed a little higher, and a little closer to a dairy farm. As it turns out, I'm probably going to love Milwaukee.

Because we lived in Fond du Lac, and visited Chicago so often for our 'big city' fix, we rarely went to Milwaukee when I was growing up. As a third grader, I toured a brewery on a field trip, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of the place. The more research I do, the more I see that it has a heck of a lot in common with Portland--they are such similiar cities in fact, you could call it Portland North. The same population (Milwauke is 20k bigger), similiar demographics, similiar industry/business base, similiar neighborhoods (Pearl District=Third Ward, Riverfront=Riverfront, Shorewood=Sellwood, Brady Street = NW 23rd, Downer Street = Hawthorne, and on and on). Swap the mountains for the lake, rain for snow, and you've got the same place!

Bonus, it's only an hour and half from Chicago...and all the Quinlans!

You Can Go Home Again

I'm going to need sweaters. Lots of sweaters.