Writer's Workshop - Summer Lovin'

For Writer's Workshop today, I'm sharing some photos from last summer that "bring me back" to a time when it was warm, sunny, and green.

In Minnesota, going "up north" is a grand tradition. It's an institution. Many people go to cabins that have been in their families for generations. Others, like us, rent.

We've been going to the same place for about 9 years. It's way up north, away from practically everyone. There are loons on the lake and eagles in the sky. We've seen moose a few times.

We usually hang out at the little beach.

See that white chair. That's where I sit while my daughter and the other kids swim. My husband is usually behind me, on the swing, reading in the shade.

Here's what I see from my chair.

When we don't want to cook, we drive into town for a meal and shopping.

When the day is done, we head back to the cabin to light a fire and relax.

Ahhh, summer.

Writer's Workshop- Life at a Bookstore

For today's Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop, I chose:

4.) A memorable day at work.

I have worked at a small, independent bookstore for almost 4 years. It's located in a great, little neighborhood and has a large variety of customers.

After four years, I've met many different people, looking for a wide variety of books.

I thought I'd probably heard it all. Then one night, I found out I was wrong.

I was working alone one evening when an elderly couple came into the store. I had never seen them before. I welcomed them and smiled at how cute they were. They looked like sweet, little grandma and grandpa types if ever I saw.

Grandpa started perusing the store as Grandma walked over to me.

"Do you have an erotica section?"

I was shocked. Did Grandma just ask me about naked people doing naked people things?

"I'm sorry," I said. "Did you say erotica section?"

"Yes, Dear," she said.

Here I was thinking they were probably looking for All Creatures Great and Small or knitting books or maybe John Grisham if they were feeling daring.

But they were looking for EROTICA!

"No. I'm sorry." I said with complete composure. "We don't have an erotica section."

"Oh, that's too bad," Grandma said in her grandmotherly voice.

She walked back to Grandpa and broke the bad news. "They don't have erotica."

"Oh well," said Grandpa.

Then Grandma took Grandpa's arm and they waved goodbye as they walked out of the store.

Well, I thought. I've seen a new one tonight.

How odd. And yet, reassuring. If 78 year olds are interested in erotica books, more power to them I say.

Writer's Workshop - The Real Me

For Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop today, I chose the prompt: "Share a photo that was taken of you, that you think really captures who you are."

* * * * * * *

The Real Me is always the Summer Me. I'm only truly myself in the summer. Anytime it's warm and sunny, I'm happy. If I'm also with my family and by water, my true self really shines.

Here I'm "Up North" at the cabin.

And here, the photo says it all. It's summer time, I'm with my daughter, my dog and by the lake.

That's the real me.

Writer's Workshop - Five Dogs

For Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop today I chose prompt #2:

"List the names of five dogs from your lifetime. Write about why one sparks a stronger memory to you than the others."

When I was growing up, our dogs were:

1. Anja

2. Gleda

3. Charlie

My dogs now are:

4. Lucia

5. Lily

Anja and Gleda were Norwegian Elkhounds. Thus the Norwegian names. Anja means "favor or grace." Gleda means "one who is happy."

Charlie, who was a beagle-mutt-mix, got her name from the park where we bought her - Charlotten Park. There was a vegetable stand that said, "Puppies and Produce." Who could pass that up?

So Charlie became our very own.

She was an awesome, small dog with a big personality! She had a beagle nose and a penchant for getting into trouble.

One of her "incidents" occurred when my father was getting ready for a backpacking trip out west.

Charlie carefully opened his backpack, slid out a freeze-dried food package, and ate an entire Mexican Dinner for Two. The next day, she lay around bloated and ill, but with a smile on her doggy face.

Another time, Charlie jumped onto a chair, then onto the kitchen counter, where she discovered a pie. But after one bite of the Mincemeat Pie, Charlie decided she liked the crust better than the inside. She nibbled the entire crust off the pie, leaving the actual pie intact.

But most of all, Charlie was always there when you needed a hug and a friend. Good dog.

I hope my daughter has memories like this of our dogs. But mostly, I think she'll remember our cat and how she crazy-loves his furry self.

Lutefisk Dinner

Today I'm linkingup with the Writer's Workshop over at MamaKatsLosinIt. I'm writing in response to the prompt: "Describe your least favorite meal growing up."

Every year, the holiday season brings up memories of cutting down Christmas trees, putting up lights, opening gifts, and eating delicious . . . . Lutefisk?!

Yes, my family is of Scandinavian origin. My maternal grandmother was 100% Norwegian. My paternal grandparents were also Norwegian. Thus, the tradition of eating Lutefisk on Christmas Eve was upheld on both sides of the family.

Lutefisk, for those of you not in the know, is a gelatinous, white fish served with butter (in our family). Some people apparently put cream sauce on their lutefisk, but my mother says that's sacrilegious.

(Courtesy www.whatscookingamerica.net)

Lutefisk starts out as cod. Then it's put through such a monstrous process that it becomes something entirely different. The fish is soaked in LYE. That's right, lye, a "corrosive alkaline substance," often used in soap, oven cleaner, and drain un-cloggers. And Lutefisk preparation.

After the fish is soaked in lye, it's soaked over and over in fresh water to get rid of the lye. At that point, the fish is white, jelly-like, and ready to cook and serve.

(Courtesy wikipedia.)

People of my generation and younger love to make fun of Lutefisk. It smells nasty and looks like mucus.

But, my parents' generation, and all the generations before them, revere the stuff.

I once asked my mom if she likes it so much, why does she only eat it once a year. She answered, "It's a Christmas tradition only."

And that's what it's all about. Tradition. Fortunately, and unfortunately, it's a dying tradition.

The only people who still eat Lutefisk in my family are my mother and uncle. When they are gone, no one will be left to eat Christmas Lutefisk.

That's OK with me.

We still have many Scandinavian food traditions, like Lefse and meatballs, which are delicious.

Lefse - a thin potato bread served with butter, cinnamon and sugar.

(Courtesy www.cuisinecapers.com)

So this Christmas Eve, like every Christmas Eve that I've been alive, we will serve Lutefisk along with our meatballs, potatoes and lefse. Some of us will enjoy eating it. The rest of us will avoid looking at it, smelling it, and generally pretending it's not around, so that we can enjoy the rest of our wonderful Scandinavian meal.

The Proposal and a Breakup

My husband, Paul, and I dated almost 6 years before we got married. We knew each other pretty well by then and we had talked about getting married. In fact, I picked out my own engagement ring.

But I didn't know when he would propose.

It was my first year teaching and things had gotten off to a rocky start. By December, I was ready for a break. We decided to take a weekend get-away to Stillwater, Minnesota.

Stillwater is a beautiful, old town on the St. Croix River. We stayed at a Victorian bed and breakfast and went to dinner at their little, historic restaurant.

We were at the restaurant with perhaps five other couples seated around us. Suddenly, Paul got down on his knee, right there in front of everyone. (This was very surprising because Paul is a private, shy person.)

He offered me the ring and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes.

The restaurant staff was super excited. They brought us glasses of mead. Apparently, in medieval times, it was customary to drink mead on one's honeymoon. We were so happy, the staff was happy, even the other couples clapped and congratulated us.

Except for one couple.

Shortly after the proposal, we heard raised voices from the far table. Then the woman got up and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving the man sitting alone at the table.

Oops!

Paul's romantic, candle-lit proposal had triggered something in the couple's relationship and they had clearly broken-up.

This situation put a tiny damper on things, but not for long. The next morning, our B&B host said we had made her restaurant staff cry. They were so moved by the proposal that they were crying in the kitchen!

Now that's some proposal.

Writer's Workshop - The Roaring Twenties

In the mid-1970's, I lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My brother and I were in elementary school. And one of our favorite restaurants was The Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor!

The Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor was not just a restaurant, it was a musical experience. You walked down a long hall with 1920's photos hanging on the wall. You ordered your pizza at the counter and chose your seats in a booth surrounding the big, open room or at one of the long tables down the middle.

Then you waited.

The lights would dim. A hush would spread through the large crowd.

And up from below, would rise The Mighty Wurlitzer organ playing the theme from Rocky!

It was so exciting! That organ would rise up and the organist would be going to town, banging out those notes loud and strong. Deep pipes vibrating the room and high pipes reaching piercing notes.

People clapped and cheered, the pizza would arrive, and we'd all settle in for an evening of sing-a-long.

My favorite song to sing was:

Daisy, Daisy,

Give me your answer do!

I'm half crazy,

All for the love of you!

It won't be a stylish marriage.

I can't afford a carriage.

But you'll look sweet upon the seat

Of a bicycle built for two.

The Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor is long gone now. The 1928 Wurlitzer organ, after many moves and renovations, has found its home at the Grand Rapids Public Museum where patrons can still hear its mighty music.

Writer's Workshop: 22 Things I Have Done

Thursday is Writer's Workshop Day and I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. The prompt I chose was:

22 Things I Have Done

1. Touched a string ray

2. Published three books for children

3. Gone on the Chicago Gangster Tour (see photo!)

4. Seen the Berlin Wall (when it was still up)

5. Been to Jamaica and did NOT get my long hair braided.

6. Kayaked on Lake Superior

7. Performed on stage

8. Been interviewed on TV

9. Was an “Interstellar Ticket Agent” on Newton’s Apple (PBS)

10. Taught Junior High English

11. Directed West Side Story

12. Broken my finger trying to play volleyball

13. Dressed in Medieval garb

14. Talked in a fake accent all day

15. Brought my child to the Emergency Room

16. Met Barbara Kingsolver and she said, “Hi. My name’s Barbara.”

17. Played a fiddle (poorly)

18. Sold a book.

19. Bought a book.

20. Stole a piece of candy (I was 4)

21. Had a baby that was in the NICU for 10 days

22. Driven my daughter to school in my pajamas

What have you done that was fun, awesome, embarrassing, or goofy?

Writer's Workshop: 10 Things You Should Never Ask Your Spouse

Today is Writer's Workshop day here at Planet Parenting. I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Writing Workshop. Here's the prompt I chose:

A List of Ten Things You Should Never Ask Your Spouse!

1. If you ever had an affair with someone, who would it be with?

2. How much do you weigh?

3. Have you ever heard of Rogaine?

4. Does mental illness run in your family?

5. After your spouse gets in a auto accident, you ask, "Which car was it?" before asking, "Are you OK?"

6. Were you saving that money for something?

7. What's our credit card limit again?

8. How would you feel if I took the kids and lived in Florida during the school year while you stay here and work?

9. Can I go away with my friends for a month while you stay home with the kids and pets?

10. Can you clean my fungus?

Two of these, unfortunately, have actually been said in my household.

Can you guess which two?