a nod and wink to you, beth capper

I've been told many times that it seems I would really like this new movie, Juno. This sort of makes me insulted? A bit, actually. Please, don't take offense, but I've been arguing over this movie; that I don't want to see it. I've seen the preview of Juno enough to pinpoint reasons being: it seems nothing good at all and all its one-liners and god-awful cleverness is not ingenious, but downright annoying and alienates the movie. I find nothing funny in its subject matter and being pregnant at 16 is not cutesy or hip or indie; so cut it with that hip soundtrack and counterculture 'tude. I just read a review on the movie by Bath Capper. I pretty much see eye to eye on her and I am so happy that she exists. Thank you Miss Capper - I hear you loud and clear. Here is that article:

"Alternative to what?"

Hard Times saved my xmas eve.

So, I thought I had heard that the Post Office closed at 2 on Xmas Eve. So, I raced to the one off of Lake and Nicolett. Closed. Raced over to the one by the U. Closed. Then, to the Midway Post Office. The postman was moping the floor. All closed. Poop. It was around 1pm by then and I was so hungry. So, I tempted the thought of just eating at Ginkgo and getting soup, but Seward Cafe just sounded so much better. What I really wanted was a pancake. Off to Seward I went.

The Seward area was much more slippery and slushy than around my apartment in Uptown. So, my car was sliding. I hate driving in snow. I love the snow, but I could do without driving in it...

But anyhow, I made it into the Seward Cafe. Wrote up my order and handed the lovely lady behind the counter my ticket.

Mmhmm, pancake.

Oh sorry, we stopped taking food orders 15 min ago.

Oh, I said. Hmm, I thought out loud. Can I just have a coffee?

Yep.

She handed me a coffee and I handed her a dollar bill.

I went back to my seat and continued on reading No One Belongs Here More Than You. A gift from a lovely one. A one I love.

I heard others pick up their orders and such. Reading along, I was so hungry. I finished up my coffee, closed up my book, and considered going to Hard Times. Thought, they have to open. I put on my coat. Scarfed up. I was ready and out the door. I looked behind me when I got to the door and noticed that I totally disregarded their holiday hours. Looking at the hand written sign, I realized that not only did I try to get food after they stopped taking orders, but I also walked in after they had closed. They had closed at 1pm and I walked in at 1:15pm. So far, I was not having any luck.

I got to my car and it was final - I was going to Hard Times to eat a pancake.

I knew they would be open. I slipped out of the Seward Area and onto the Riverside area. It wasn't easy getting out the Seward area though. When I pulled out of the Seward Cafe's parking lot a car was stuck at the light. Its tire was a spinnin' in the snow. It was going nowhere and I didn't have it in my to help push it. I reversed and went the other way.

Not so far away, I made it to Hard Times. Parked my car and ran across the street. Found a booth. Ordered another cup of coffee, mmmm. Pancake up with some hashbrowns. Yes, thank you Hard Times. I read some more. And some more. I was so happy.

When I was eating my hashbrowns, I was thinking about how LA has nothing like Hard Times. Seward Cafe even. There are so many great things about the Twin Cities, but without Hard Times is like misery. I am so glad it's finally open. Something was missing while it was closed- a Minneapolis void, really.

It's back, and you, Hard Times saved my Xmas Eve.

I had to head to St. Paul for work. Stopping for food, I made it just in time as Mississippi Market closed at 3:30pm closing. With all that, I thought I'd be late for work, but I was 20 minutes early!

One other thing, wrapping children's gifts is a chore of its own kind.
Another thing, I don't understand why people get their cars towed in snow emergencies. I mean I get it if they are out of town. But it's pretty easy to understand where NOT to park your car.
Third thing, I miss my boyfriend. He's out of town for Xmas.
One last thing, I want to see The Savages.

lesson learned

I applied ointment to a burn. I guess that is a no no. Hot glue attached itself to my finger last night by way of a purple button. By way of my shaky hands, really. Tugging at the button, I removed a layer of my skin. EW. It's not so purty to look at and it hurts, but all is safe - it's not going to get infected. Tetanus shots are helpful in that way. Playing with a hot glue gun though made lots of nice gifts for my friends and family. It will heal soon, but yes, it will scar. So, yea lesson learned? Yes, on how to treat burns. Thanks to Dawn. THANK YOU DAWN. Dawn satisfied my pin needs and supplied with me her very own Ref Pin. So, she officially pinned me! Thanks to the Minnesota Rollergirls:

Mani-Ax

A photo I had taken at one the Andrew Bird Guthrie shows is now a certified Jessica Reyes credit:

Xan Aranda

Also, because of Miss Aranda, I came upon:

Chicago Film Brigade

I think I am encouraged to submit a short film of mine. Very cool stuff, I must say.

I had lunch at French Meadow today, but before I made it there, I made a short film:
Title: Know News is No News

*Tagline: In the morning - I don't need that newspaper. At least, THAT newspaper.

And then when I got to French Meadow I had a happy accident:

(accidental photo)

music lately:
bonnie prince billy and matt sweeney
april march with los cincos
POP RIVETS
Elvis Costello and The Attractions Get Happy!

absolute connections

About a half hour ago, a woman with a 22oz from Super America crossed my path at 22nd and Garfield. As I looked up at her, I saw her smiling. She looked over at me and unexpectedly esteemed the night and offered me with question, "It feels beautiful, doesn't it?" I confirmed, "It's nice." Within seconds, a stranger made a human connection with me that meant more than a comment on how the air had warmed over the day. If only she had known that when she said that to me, that just seconds ago, before we approached each other and even as I looked up at her, that I was experiencing pure happiness of my own particular warmth. Ultimately, coming from a different human connection. "It feels beautiful, doesn't it?" "More than you know," would have been a more appropriate response but, "It's nice," explains it well too.

happy holidays!

softies, xmas gifts from germany, and snow that won't melt

so, i have been obsessed with a few different things lately:
ebay (making money)
etsy (buying stuff)
message boards (won't tell you which ones, my own world)
tea and toast (i ran out of spread yesterday, ug)
(double spice chai tea in the mornin')
love
my dreams project
my polka dot rubber boots (for the snow that won't melt)


friday is andrew bird
yes



Swedish craft is swedish cute. a woman behind the softies she makes.

your dreams are just as important to me as they are to you

i am working on a new project. i am trying not to think of it as daunting. i am excited over its profits. profits in the sense that we will benefit from sharing with one another - or rather people will be sharing with me and then i will share them with you. sort of like recycling out in honor of appreciation.

i have come up with the idea to share people's dreams. you know, the ones you have while your sleeping - the ones you cannot control because your unconscious is working like a banshee. whatever that means. anyhow, not the kinda dreams of aspiration. the dreams that make no sense, or tell the future, or make you realize that you're in love with your best friend. yeah, you know, those kind. or also, just dreams that you have that you can barely remember - a montage dream of sort. all kinds of dreams. i want them for my project. so, please don't worry - they are in safe hands. your dreams are as important to me as they are to you.

once i start getting submissions (which has actually happened already) i will start to catalog them in a old library catalog. typing them out and looking all fun and research like. i'll even find a getup of old librarian sort, get some stylish 50s glasses, and do my hair up - you know, when i am working on cataloging. to get into it. i already am into it though!

this is what you have to do right now:
think about your dreams and which ones you'd like to submit.
i am in the works of setting this up.
i will post a another announcement with the email address that you can send your dreams to.
it will be very easy and i am going to love every moment of it.
i will love all your dreams just as if they were my own.
also, please think of how you'd like to be listed. since this will be a library catalog you will be the author of your dream.
if you want to get creative, you can even make your own library catalog card with your dream on it and i will include it in the drawer as its own being. i will only touch it when i put it in as it will be your card, not a jean says creation - just a jean says inspiration.
also ha, think of a title to your dream. all books, articles, and things like that have titles. even you have a titile; your name. so, this dream catalog must title its' dreams.

sound good?
questions? send them over to me.

love and hugs,
jean says

i needed it right there on 35e

dear minnesota snow,

i was so moody yesterday. snow fell all over this past weekend and it's falling again today. yesterday though, i hadn't driven my car since saturday and so when i went out to my car so i could get on my way to my mother's, my car was mounded with snow and sorta wedged in a half like snow bank. so, with my weak mittens and my scraper i started to uncover my little black car. within 5 minutes, my little chubby fingers were so cold and my feet were throbbing from the chill that i had to run back into my apartment where i threw off my shoes and then put my hands under water. i was so moody. i was feeling hate over the snow and the cold. i didn't even think twice about how i was cursing and pouting at what is natural weather for minnesota. it was my choice to live here, you know. anyhow, i finished up my car and eventually got my car onto the road and attempted to get out of the cities. it seemed to take me forever to get out of them though. i ended up in st. paul (like i always do) to do errands and go to the mississippi market. i picked up my coffee, making me feel an ounce better, and headed out onto 35e. it was bumper to bumper for a bit. i was thinking that i'd never get out of the cities and into the woods. just as i was thinking this i looked over to my right for no reason - and what did i see - but it was my favorite house in st. paul! oh, a smile came across my face and i began to appreciate the snow and cold like i did last year and the year before. this will be my third winter here after moving here from sunny and warm california. if it wasn't for the snow, i wouldn't have seen that blinding aqua victorian home on the east side of st. paul. i would have never known that there is a view of it from the freeway. delightful. also, prior to seeing the house by surprise, i could not remember what street it was on. i was just driving by with ryan last year, exploring st. paul, and there it was in all it's beauty. so thank you, snow. you opened my eyes, made me smile, and i needed it right then at that moment on 35e.

love,
jean says
(lives in minneapolis, but seems to be in st. paul like all the time)


for those who are not snow,
i've been listening to
john and yoko's double fantasy
nick lowe's pure pop for now people
the kills keep your mean side
hayden's moving careful
thee headcoatees cessation
"dogs" by nina nastasia
elvis costello's almost blue
magic numbers first record (i am blanking on it's title). it's good.

bye for now.jean.