The Only Thing Bad is the Music

Looking down the bar at Strange Matter Coffee

Although there are plenty of coffee houses in Lansing, few of them have decent coffee. I am by no means a coffee snob. I just like my coffee strong without an after taste. I do, however, prefer a nice good cup of drip. I don't need espresso, or any other kind of foamy drink, just straight coffee with a splash of milk. Clean and simple. Unfortunately, the local chain here has really bad coffee. I mean, really bad. It's actually kind of gross, so I won't name any names. And it has aforementioned after taste. I've tried it three times thinking it was just a fluke. But it's not. It's bad. The other thing about coffee houses is that most of the ones in East Lansing are swarming with undergrads pretending to study. And I just can't do it. There is one not too far from campus that is actually pretty decent, has a nice atmosphere, and the baristas are nice. But it is packed to the rafters with sweatpants and Uggs.

Upon hearing about a coffee house from one of my classmates that is about five blocks away from my house (yes, you might be thinking "why didn't she just look on the internet for a place?" I can't answer that. Sometimes I live in a cave) I decided to try it. My only hesitation; it is a pour-over joint. This partly makes my teeth cringe, because I just don't care that much about artisan coffee. I will emphasize again, I'm happy with a strong cup of drip with a splash of milk. It's what makes me love Dunkin' Donuts. Just give me a 16 ounce cup of coffee, one cream. I mean geeze, I'm not embarrassed to admit that even when I lived in Seattle I went to Starbucks almost every day for a tall Pike. So, I decided to try this place anyway, and put my feelings about one-hand-crafted-cup-of-coffee made with love from only the best beans that takes about 7 minutes to create, aside. I admit, it was good! And the atmosphere is great! And there is something kind of special about receiving a cup of coffee on a little tray in a beaker with a mug and a small shot of cream on the side. I savored it and read my book while seated at the bar. The one bad thing about this place? Their music station was set to bad music from the late 90's, a la Hootie and the Blowfish. I'm not sure I can forgive this, but I will try.

Walking with a Wicked Wind Chill

On Monday I decided to try a practice walk to campus in the snow. I wanted to see what kind of clothing and footwear I would need to walk the 2.5 miles, mostly concerned about footwear. It has been snowing in Lansing, and all around Michigan, and although I haven't completely accepted that this is my new winter life, I am trying to find ways to cope. (I asked Kevin, in all seriousness, "when will this snow go away?" thinking that you know, snow usually melts in 24 hours because that's the way it is on the West Coast. He replied, "Probably around March or April." I sighed.) I admit, it's awfully strange to ask myself questions like, "Is 7 degrees with a wind chill of -11 too cold to walk?" or "When does walking in this weather become too dangerous?" or "Where are my sunglasses?" You know, because the sun is out too, and wow it's bright. So on with thick wool socks, my trusty pair of hiking boots, and gaiters to protect the slush and salt from staining my jeans.

This was a good first step (ha, no pun intended) for my test walk, although I learned some things. I really need something completely waterproof around my feet. So in my search for perfect boots for Michigan winters, I discovered a whole new world of winter footwear. There are big heavy waterproof everything-proof boots, but even though they are quite fashionable, they are just too heavy. (I bought a pair like this in November and they had to be returned - novice!) Next up, I tried to order LL Bean boots. Unfortunately, they are made to order and will be available to ship in... May. MAY, when all the snow is gone. So I searched some more, and found some boots that I hope will work. Yes, they look as if I might be going on an expedition every time I step outside the house, and yes, they aren't really that fashionable, but I will be able to walk miles in these with toasty toes. Or at least that is the description online. Throw on some gaiters and leg-warmers and I'm good to go. I'll give another footwear update once they arrive!

Some photos of campus - empty and serene.

What Freezing Temperatures Do

There have only been two winter seasons in my life that I have wintered in an area that gets a lot snow. Both of those times were in Spokane, WA, and both were during big transitions in my life. Now that I'm in Michigan, it seems like I have found a pattern. Big changes and transitions in life mean that I move to a place where winter can be harsh. I wish I had chosen a more tropical climate, however maybe there is some lesson here about hardening my exterior to change, while trying to keep my insides warm and adaptable. One physical lesson I have learned since the average temperature in Lansing is now a cool 7 degrees, is that car door locks freeze. I didn't consider this until yesterday, when we discovered that the driver's side door is frozen shut. Fortunately the passenger side opened. Unfortunately, it means crawling over the seats to start the car, then crawling back over to sweep snow off while the car warms. (Then of course, crawling back over again to drive away). This morning, the lock still frozen, we attempted to try to unfreeze it by heating up the key with a lighter, in hopes that the hot key would melt the frozen lock mechanisms. Then we tried to use a heat gun, only to discover that holding it too close starts to melt the plastic door handle area. Oops. You might be asking, "Why don't you just go buy some de-icer for the lock?" Well, we tried. Couldn't find it. We only have something that keeps it from freezing, but FIRST we have to get it unfrozen. Blerg.

Trader Joe's Brother

About a month ago, I received a grocery flyer in the mail for a store called Aldi. As I flipped through it, it seemed promising. There were a lot of different kinds of foods, like gourmet jars of pickles, as well as regular things, all at pretty good prices. Since coming to Lansing, I've had to adjust where I grocery shop, and say goodbye to certain favorite snacks because they aren't available here (Carmen's tortilla chips and Toby's Jalapeno Tofu Pate, sigh). Anyway, I thought, "Hm, this is an interesting store, but could be weird" then recycled the flyer and forgot about it. Until yesterday, when Kevin asked, "Have you heard of the grocery store Aldi?" and I responded that yes, I had, but didn't really understand it. I thought maybe it was a kind of Grocery Outlet place with dented cans of green beans on sale or something. Apparently, there was a little article online in a blog that we read that talked about the fabulousness of this grocery store. And the even more surprising read was that this store is actually run by the brother of Trader Joe's, and is a kind of European miniature version of TJ's. But with less glam. It basically feels like a German grocery store, where it got its roots. We decided to check it out. There are a few things that make this place kind of awesome: plugging a quarter into the grocery carts to use one, then getting it returned when you lock the cart back up, a seated checker who throws your groceries back into your cart so you can push them over to a long counter when you bag them yourself, an assortment of some odd yet enticing condiments, no music so I don't walk out of the store with a Phil Collins song in my head, and everything is shelved in boxes. Seriously. This place is awesome and I'm so glad we finally found it.

Say Goodbye Carol Brady!

I swear that I'm not obsessed with the Brady Bunch. This is only my second post that references the classic television show. And yes, I meant to write classic television show. But it is much deserved. The reason for the Brady Bunch reference: I finally went to get a bonafide haircut. And not just a "trim to let it grow out because I am on austerity measures right now" but a real, true blue haircut. With each passing day that I didn't make an appointment with my hairdresser, my appearance began to look more and more like Carol Brady. And I'm not talking spunky Carol hair from the first few seasons. I'm talking groovy Carol. With the long flip in the back, some might call it a mullet. I referred to that area of my hair as a tiny untamed animal. Yes friends, my hair was all different lengths and layers doing whatever the heck it wanted to do. Even after I gooped it with product, the wispy ends just flew out in whichever way they wanted.

Some might say, "Oh, it wasn't that bad." But when I went to finally get it cut, even Kaylle my hairdresser commented, "wow, yeah, let's cut this stuff off." So I went from far-out to sasstastic in one hour! I sat down and said, "cut it off to the shortest layer!" We then hemmed and hawed about the bangs, and decided to go full-fringe. No more side-sweepies for me. And I can't even tell you how much time I've already saved by not constantly pinning my hair back or flipping it out of the way. All my hair cares have disappeared, so that now I can concentrate on crafting for one more week before the new semester begins. I think Carol would approve. Here's a salon magazine inspired photo of my new 'do.

...and, deep breath in

Over the years, I have often said, "I can barely touch my toes." It's just the way I'm built. I've never been very flexible, and my body proportions are not necessarily the best for, say, the sit and reach test that I had to do during junior high. (I still don't really know why we had to do that?) Anyway, this doesn't mean that I haven't completely given up on the art of lengthening my spine. Also over the years, I have tried doing yoga, although never completely got into it. Maybe it was because of the time of day that never fit my schedule, maybe because of the cost, or maybe because there was that one time, when I was 27, that I had a very terrible and embarrassing "intimate noise" escape my body while in a crouched position during the quiet meditative relaxing part of the class session. But it's a new year! So I'm going to try again. This time with the wonders of the internet, I have access to all sorts of online classes for free! That I can do at any time of day that suites me. It's going well so far, although I do often feel like a Cathy cartoon. ACK! I'm stuck in downward dog!! ACK! When is resting pose?! Maybe by the end of the month I'll be able to finally touch my toes without snapping a hamstring. Here's a little drawing I did that sums it up.

Knitting Into 2015

It's the first day of 2015, and I have a feeling it's going to be a good year. We went over to a friend's house last night to celebrate the New Year. She is a 4th year in the HALE program and will be graduating in May. (I find inspiration from her because she did her PhD in 4 years!) It was the perfect type of New Year celebration; relaxing, low-key, good company, with bacon-wrapped dates.

Today, I plan on continuing last night's theme of relaxing, and will likely do some knitting. I took up knitting again right after my fall semester finished because I needed a new hat. You see, I had two winter hats, one that was long enough to cover my ears but was too thin to actually keep my head warm, and a second that was lined with fleece, but too short to cover my ears. It was a dilemma. So I started shopping around for a new hat when I thought to myself, "Wait! I know how to knit!" So I refreshed my knitting skills and started to work. Yesterday I finally finished my hat, and have decided to call it my Bert Hat, because it kind of looks like Bert's head from Bert and Ernie. (I couldn't resist putting a pom-pom on it) Another great thing about starting up knitting again is discovering how many knitting needs I actually have. Apparently in some former life I was an avid knitter. Additionally, I found an old knitting book that I bought years ago and while flipping through the knitting book I found this gem of a pattern. I might just make some leg-warmers instead for winter walking.

Imagine me strutting campus with this awesome vest!