Am I bummed...

that I wasn't able to go to the gym tonight because my car literally got stuck on a flat surface covered with inches of blowing snow?  Nope- only with the fact that I now know that I need new tires.  Need.

November 13th, 2010

Snow.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts:

The Thaw Collection of Native American Art.

and Embarrassment of Riches: Picturing Global Wealth

Then, Pork, sweet potatoes, carrot cake at Spoon River on Chicago.

Finally, Das Boot.

Research: Where to live.

Trying to find a place to live has been slow-going and puzzling.  It's brought me to craigslist, rent.com, and facebook, so I can plead on an individualized basis with friends I know to be looking.  My principals are looking out for me and have put emails out to the staff on my behalf.  I have even gone so far as to sign up for a roommate profile online.  There are normals out there, right?  These are my possible future homes.


Chaska- Home to the Jonathan community.  Driving north on 41 back to Plymouth was really a lovely drive, passing through Deephaven and then Minnetonka.  The places I've been looking at are townhomes near Lake Grace with walking/biking trails and an association that seems to care about the community.  Near the University's Arboretum, good school district, and a pretty area with trees and windy roads.
commute: 10 miles

Shakopee- there have been several offers from fellow teachers to live in townhomes in Shakopee, home to Canterbury and Valleyfair.
commute: 11 miles

Chanhassen- home to...the dinner theater?
commute: 17 miles

Eden Prairie- close to whatever- 494, 212
commute: 20 miles

Jordan- perhaps I've been there done that with the small town thing.  Have Decorah and Princeton been enough?

KG??

moving...

I've recently accepted an elementary school position in Jordan, MN. Which means, well, lots of things.


-leaving my stellar one-in-a-million roommate, Ariane.
-leaving the high school teaching learning curve for another one.
-the chance to feel like a permanent employee with colleagues, students, and parents. And not really competing with the loyalty of the previous (ahem) one.
-many many more options for evening activities. Walk around the lake or arboretum? Trip to the Y? Dinner at Istanbul? Sure.
-Being closer to Paul, a perk that rides atop my list.


Life is a-changin' this month and next. I will be starting new adventures on August 1st and ready to move in to a new place (garage, hardwood floors, 2 BR, roommate, dishwasher, and close to trails and the Cities, please?). Hmmm...


This means that I've begun the cumbersome and somewhat awkward search for an apartment in the Chaska, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie area. I quickly banished Jordan from my list, based on the terrible experience I had with craigslist and rent.com properties (read: mouse poop, slanted floors and ceilings, and exorbitant prices). It was kind of a cute outing, both my parents and sister tagged along, the new Garmin in hand, punching in 3 digit small-town addresses.


Ariane and I have been in denial that we're moving, but it's happening.


I am in need of a summer hobby, and I thought that blogging could be it. We'll see where things go!