hey ya don cha know

So.  You may have noticed I'm from Minnesota?
Watching the movie Fargo isn't so much funny for me as it is familiar.

There's nothing like making fun of someone else's (R mans) culture for a few months and then get whacked in the head with a plethera of midwestern lingo immediately upon landing in the Minneapolis airport.  Not to mention the lovely bouquet of Sar-glish (Sarah English) sayings that pop out of my mouth every day just because I'm here.

Yer good to go
Geez louise
You still workin' on that?
oh golly, golly geez, gosh darn hey now, yeah!
Get er dun
You betcha
How's it goin'?
Oh my!
(among many many more)
There is a reason why stereotypes about cultures are created, there's always plenty to make fun of no matter where you're from....these little moments with a waitress/bus driver/stranger in line are the moments in a conversation where I truly feel at home.
When I might say, "How ya doin' dere ey?"
and someone responds with, "oh, ya know, just pickin up some beers for da boat up nort at the lake, ya"

I mean...of couse, it's never that perfect, I live in Wisconsin now, so it's more of a "Well, I'm just pickin' up some beers for da big game to go with my slow cooked bbq sauced mini wienies and a cheese tray"
(man does that sound good right now)

While I'm discussing these two great states of the Midwest, I might as well clarify some cultural differences people may notice....

MN: casserole/hot dish of mysterious substance - generally involving a can of meat and a can of soup!
WI: slow cooker filled with meat in BBQ sauce... with some beers

MN: rice crispy bars - WI: beer

MN: Vikings - WI: Packers...yes, always with many, many beers

MN:  Ice fishing - WI Ice fishing...you guessed it!  Plus beers

Don't get me wrong, I love my Scandinavian, Minnesotan, Lutheran, Lefsa eatin', talkin' about the weather, stocking up on spam in the basement for the next great depression heritage!  But...life in Wisconsin aint so bad!

If you say "how's it goin eh?" in Wisconsin, they'll more then likely get the gyst of what yer gettin' at, and heck, that might just offer you a beer to boot!

No matter which particular spot, it's good to be back in the Midwest!

forced summer day hibernation

True story...I'm locked inside my house today not by choice and I'm not coming out all day
...and I like it!

1. It's hot outside....really hot...so I don't want to leave the house
2. R man accidentally took my keys to work along with my bike key...so even if it wasn't hot, I couldn't leave, because I can't even bike to his lab to pick up my keys!
3. There are sporadic thunderstorms scheduled all day, so even if it wasn't hot and I could get back into my house, I could get struck by lightning walking down the sidewalk.
4. I haven't heard from my new kick ass boss about when the next day is that I should work, our fridge is stocked with fresh veggies and cold beverages and I have two good books to read and a lot of writing I'd like to do!

Does this sound kind of well, awesome to anyone else!?!

It's kind of a cool feeling to wake up and the world lets you know its not particularly interested in you participating in it today and the feelings are mutual!

Forced pajama day!  WHOO HOO!!!!!

One of the most ferocious and fearless animals in the world

What could this ferocious animal possibly be!?!?
A hippo?
A baboon?
A pygmy rhino?!?!?
Or perhaps.....

pygmy hippos from the zoo we slept in:

NOPE!

the most non ferocious animal in South Africa
a new born baby pygmy hippo with his eyes closed

Well, if it's not a new born baby pygmy hippo, what could it possibly be?!?!?!?

Now you're dying to know, AREN'T YOU!!!!
FIND OUT this very moment AT MY NEW BLOG!
Click here:
WOMEN ROCKIN' THE ROAD

85 resumes

I've been job hunting and when you job hunt you start to feel a little bit not so special....unqualified, uneducated, unemployable!  This has been going on for weeks now...

Just last week, I got a few interviews with different places....one was at a French style bakery in town, the manager posted her ad for 24 hours online and received 85 resumes, of those 85, she chose 15 to interview...of those 15, there were only 3 part time positions available...

Of those 85 resumes...she chose me to interview...I had a 1 in 5 chance of getting work.

Apparently I still have what it takes to impress because I now have a job!

ROCK!

Croc camp continued - and then what happened?!?

Did I die?!?

Did R man get licked by a monkey?!?

Did the opinionated locals run into a chorus line and sing and dance us the rest of the way to our camp!!!???

Well....I can't tell you....yet.  Tomorrow morning, you'll be able to read it....but not here. 

"What?"  (You ask) 

 "Where then?!?"  You crazy girl!  Confusing me like this!  What's going on?!?"   (You think)  

I'm starting a new blog for women travelers where they can share their stories/thoughts/feelings on travel!

It's a collaborative effort with a fellow lady traveler we met at a bus stop in Malawi Africa last summer!  

(You can check out Kyria's travel blog here!)

Kyria and I in Malawi Africa last summer
(accompanied by Mr. Lovely, the Portuguese god) 

"Why a new blog?"

Well, you see, I've been feeling pretty passionate recently about women communicating and sharing their lives and experiences with each other and I also love talking about traveling! So!  I feel like it's important that I do something active to get women to share and talk about travel with one another!  You can read more about my crazy dream here!  

"SARAH!  Come on!  Let's get to the point!  How do we read the rest of this thrilling story?  I need to know if you die or not!"

Right!  Of course!  Silly me!  Here it is!  The new blog!  Even its name!  So exciting!

You can check out this wonderful new blog/become a follower/admire my photo with a puppy here:

Women rockin the road   

And tomorrow, stop by again to find out what caused R man to stutter when he sees large mammals....

heeheeheehee.....that's not true...or is it?!?