Party in the Desert - Costumes and Unacceptable Activities

Strange way to do it, but I figured that this would actually be the most expedient method of making sure I don't miss any of you.

If you have any costume requests, need any alterations, etc. for the party in the desert this year, please get them to me within the next 2 weeks. After that I'll try and fulfill needs but may or may not have the time available, especially for larger projects.

Please also keep in mind that if I haven't done costuming

for you in the past, I might not have your measurements

on file and we'll need to coordinate in time to do that as well since I'm working from afar.

Also just as a reminder, there will be no accosting Rhiannon with cold sunscreen this year, so please take note that any perpetrators of this evil, vile, reprehensible and cruel act will be summarily disciplined, probably at 0700 when she wakes up and you've just gotten to bed.

You are warned.

Oy, Jerkface! Your Dog Stinks!

Okay okay, so I am neither angry nor am I frustrated. But I got your attention, now didn't I?

What I really am interested in is getting the word out about Marilynn Macdonald, Dog Groomer Extraordinaire. Not only did Orion come home all sniffing right and adorable, but I didn't have to cut his furs and make a mess everywhere! Not to mention that he looks way better than I have or ever could make him look. Beyond that, rather than the either just shy or over $100 per session that I was looking at in Phoenix, for his furcut and bath it was $38 plus tip. She is loving and affectionate and even I, as neurotic about my dog as I am, feel comfy leaving him in her care.

She doesn't have a website, and I am not going to post someone's personal contact info on the webby, but please, if you are anywhere in the Hastings/St. Paul/S Suburbs you really want her info, just drop me a line.

Please help continue the progression of American energy.

American Clean Energy and Security Act

Use the script on the right, no need for nerves. But we all complain that we aren't doing enough to promote sustainable energy and keep up with the ever-increasing energy needs of the American public. So make sure your Congressperson is working for you!

On a side note, kudos as always to Obama's media team for getting the word out in as many social media fashions. Keep up the great work in getting your voting public involved!

Summertime....

...and the living actually feels like life.

Work a lot, play a lot. That's my modus operandi. This summer has so far been good for my spirits and soul. And to prove that Minnesota has decent weather, I submit the following: proof positive that this freeze-baby can exist in this climate. Enjoy!

Note: yes I know that not only are my sunglasses huge and ugly but also askew...remember that my little eyeballs are very sun sensitive. Even more proof of decent weather occassionally!

New product alert.

And what I mean by new product alert, I mean OMG I NEED THIS! Especially for the art festival coming up in August.

Wine Bra.

Yes, yes indeedy. Integrated Camelback-type bladder replete with bitey straw, made into a bra. Oh boobies, we'll never be the same!

Rock bands and drunken hijinks

Last night I went to go see Skinny Molly, away up in Forest Lake, MN. When I say away up, I mean about an hour outside of civilization, a great vacation spot on the lake with your family in the summer for summer activities lke boating, hiking and the like, in the winter for things like snowmobiling and...um, icefishing? Anyway, an idyllic forested area (hence the name, one supposes) but not exactly a cultural or venue mecca.

Regardless of these facts, the trek was made to go the the great norte to see this band. And I definitely am glad I went. The show itself was great, the performers all lively and obviously had their hearts entirely involved in their music. Absolutely lovely to watch, and the music was solid and kept us going happy. Now we come to the really interesting parts.

So one of the St. Paul/Mpls larger radio stations, KQRS, was there promoting the event. Several of the guys would get on stage and announce something or other, different philanthropic ventures as well as just random announcements. Can't say I really listened or paid too much attention at all. After all, I wasn't interested as well as I had my iPhone so was a happy little texting girl. Well later on, one of the announcy guys came over to me and asked me if I wanted to meet the band. I said no, first because I wasn't interested in accompanying a strange man anyplace as well as secondly, I just am a little too shy to be that kind of person who would want to be all ga ga over any bandpeople. Thanks I reserve my reverence for puppies.

Well, I'm standing in the crowd forever and two notable events happened. One, some very large, disgustingly drunk yokel lady, with frizzy bleached blonde hair and the early 80's bangs to match wet herself near me. Now, do I say this because I have absolute evidence? No. I say this because she had fallen over herself many a time already, and then suddenly, she was standing there and the back and bottom of her acid-washed jeans were wet. In a spreading manner. Ew.

The other interesting thing was there was an older gentleman standing next to me most of the night. Looked native american in heritage, medium-length hair, and wearing a jacket with jeans and sunglasses and a generally 'too cool' manner. Well the only part that actually made him interesting was that he had a red rose boutonniere. Of course I had to inquire about it when the show was over. So I asked him about it. Simple question, and he looks down to me and slowly says, "Don't you know who I am, honey?" I of course could not answer in the affirmitive so I apologized and said no. He pats my cheek like you do with a toddler, and said something to the effect of 'I'm Gene Simmons..." there was more to it than that but I am horrible at verbatim recollecting. So anyway I am all atwitter because I feel like a fool but confused. Short story long, he was not Gene Simmons but some sort of local look-alike but I still felt silly. It was a funny time.

After many and more caffeinated beverages I was inside warming up and getting water in me before the long trek home and the band came in near me. We chatted and they were very nice guys, it was a good time!

So glad Gene Simmons hasn't fallen to the level of the Forest Laker. Sad times for him and his family when he does.

iFitness and Lose It!

I have become at least a person who frequently enjoys climbing in this last year. My already sizeable upper arms are more defined, I can pull my body weight up, I know how to belay and am solidly intermediate in my climbs. However, what does Rhiannon always want? To be better.

In light of this, Kevin had started the trend of working out more outside of the gym and losing weight for the sake of having less to haul up the wall and I've made that my chosen method of getting better at climbing. Makes sense, no?

So I turn to my iPhone for answers, as I often do. I had looked at a couple of different apps and finally settled on these two for my needs: iFitness to specifically target muscles for strengthening better than I can do without a personal trainer, (who has the money for that constantly!?) and Lose It! to make me be honest with myself for my intake. This is day 4 of utilizing these tools and although I have to make myself stop and log things, they make it really easy. And both have very comprehensive resource lists of foods and exercises so it makes it way easier for me. I like easy.

For 1.99 I don't think I can call this anything but a success. Now hopefully my other efforts will similarly be.

OMG WHEN DID I BECOME THE OLD LADY?!

So last night I went on a lovely excursion reacquainting myself with some of the best parts of Minneapolis. Started at the Sculpture Garden and paid homage to the cherry on its spoon newly back from the cleaners, read all the inscriptions in the benches and thought again how much I'd like to meet the authors. Built up a bit of an appetite with all this Great Outdoors, so went over to Bar Lucat for a little nip and a nibble (lovely inexpensive by-the-glass Malbec that had my toes dancing!)

From there it was on to an old Rhiannon and Mike haunt: Chino Latino! Now, let me back up a moment, before I left for my Australian adventure this was a favorite place of the former Dynamic Duo of Rhiannon and Mike to go, meet up with other friends, hang out, nosh, what have you. They have/had happy hour nibbles and drinks for way cheap and the joint was always jumpin'. Well, it was still packed to the gills after all these years, but upon walking in I realized I was among the probably 90th percentile for female age. At 28. D'oh.

Men, well you people are always with pretty young things so that's a different discussion, but man oh man was it an eye-opener. I can't say I felt badly at all, but damn did it make me laugh my ass off to be deferred to by the younger jetset.

Dinner was fantabulous as always and the only annoying factor was that the doors to their little teeny tiny outdoor smoking patio/table area had some manner of hydraulics to keep it from snapping shut on the servers' heels. Now I understand this and it is an admirable function, however with the little bit of breeze going on it had to be manually closed each time it was opened which of course in a busy place the waitstaff didn't have time to do. So chilly willy the Rhiannon kept suddenly getting the shakes.

More adventures in new-home to come.

Silk Soy Products

I have been a fan of Silk soymilk for many many years. As most of you know, cow milk and I aren't exactly on a first-name basis. I started drinking their original soymilk, then along with the explosion of coffeeshops and the like in my early adolescence, started having their vanilla soy in all of my latte products, especially my chai. As an aside, Professor Java's in Hastings, MN used to make a Miel Latte that I've never found duplicated, and generally coffeehouses are loathe to make for me: 2 shots of espresso, honey and a mix of allspice/nutmeg/cinnamon then fill the rest with steamed vanilla soy, delicious!

Yesterday I was at the grocery getting a couple things and I found...Silk yogurt! I was apprehensive, I've tried some rotten soy cheese and rice cheese products over the years, and despite Silk and Tofutti's best efforts, soy cream cheese and sour cream just don't fulfill any of my taste needs. I bought a couple so that I could try different flavors in case I am unhappy with any of them, but the first one I tried, black cherry, was awesome! Happiness is. So I have a new food for breakfasting and snacking, and although 150 calories it definitely hits the spot.

Thank you Silk, for a fantastic new(ish) product!

Sundance Channel's Eco Trip with David de Rothschild

Okay, I absolutely am in love. The Sundance Channel has done a series (all available online, except mysteriously Episode 5, The Light Bulb clip 2) on what our modern lives really cost and impact. David de Rothschild presents EcoTrip on common life topics like bottled water, gold, lights, salmon...and what really drew me in: cell phones.

As most but not all of you are aware, my academic interests and social interests are in people who are kept in a low position by forces outside of their own control. Effectively this means puppies and kittens, children, underprivileged adolescents, and among the plethora of other things, localities in the world where the indigenous people are at the whim of externalities.

My master's thesis was on the Congo and the external forces keeping it destabilized in this world that purports order and democracy for all. Don't get me wrong, I believe in democracy, and I believe in the eventuality of order to come...it's just a matter of at what cost. Take the experience in the US for example, how many lives were lost in the fight against slavery and are still lost in promoting equality for all regardless of race, color, religion and creed? It's the same thing elsewhere, just different problems. Maybe that's oversimplifying but hey, at least we are still on the same page.

So here we have a people who have been kept topsy turvy since the point of their 'discovery' by the Western world (for a start on discussion, easy reading but will break your heart "King Leopold's Ghost") through decolonization and the process of self-government that has been impeded by outside influences since. First there were Cold War interests to protect, then there were just the resources. The resources persist, the people are trying. On the surface of it, the movie Blood Diamond while set in Sierra Leone could just as easily be about the DRC.

In addition to diamonds and other obvious mineral wealth like copper, the DRC is home to vast reserves of Coltan and de Rothschild's EcoTrip brings to light this issue in his episode on cell phones. His program also focuses on the plight of the mountain gorilla, but my interest is in the plight of the humans who live among them. Yes, I know, this is a bit more heavy than my usual post, but it really is worth watching and I am proud to know that someone in the public eye is bringing these issues up. The more we have an interactive dialogue, the less they can be hidden and the truth controverted.

Life-changing events

Way back when, when I was in college, I had to do some analysis of the stressors in my life and their relative magnitude.  At the time I was in the very high stress level, it took into account things like job change, moving, relationship upset and the like.  Well I am fairly certain I am in another one of those periods of flux: moved to MN semi-permanently, close to my family again, new clients, my dog is having to share attentions with other dogs, all my relationships have shifted all around me...but you know, I feel less stressed now than in a very long time.  

What stresses you out and how do you cope?  I've been reading a lot more again and back to my 'drink tea all day to be a good girl and not snack' diet, (before I get flack, you all well know I don't deprive myself of food and just control myself carefully so don't fuss) working out regularly and competing with myself that way, and having the kind of relaxed social interactions that are more my style.  Oh and going dancing with Tim, Amy and Autumn before I left was a lifesaver!  Thank you again!  

Social Media for Rhiannnons

We all know I'm a little slow on the uptake as well as absolutely paralyzed by fear at having my private life shared in an uncontrolled manner.  And yet, here I am thick in the middle of a public blog, in a public internet, sharing my thoughts and life on Twitter, LinkedIn, my blog, Facebook as well as countless messengers and emails.  What's happened to our private little Rhiannon?

Well, the best way of explaining it is by posing a question: Why hoard information to begin with?  Of course there's the security issue and not wanting some dastardly person to be able to break into my world and steal my life.  But you know what?  I'm pretty sure if the person were smart enough and had enough of a reason to that they could no matter how carefully I act on the internet so that's out of the way now.  Is it because I am somehow ashamed of myself and don't want people to know what I really think and do?  Um, nope.  I am unfortunately unabashedly me as you all well know.  So my reasons are gone for being secretive, and I'd like to know your reasons.  What got you to put yourself out there on the internet?  Do you think it's safe?  Have you had any experiences in the last couple years that have made you more wary?