Thursday, May 25, 2006

26

no, this isn't about the new show on prime time. it's my age, and it gets a little bigger each year, but i am mostly fine with getting older. there's really nothing wrong with getting older in and of itself. i get a little frustrated sometimes, wishing my ankles were stronger or that i was healthier in some other way. but in the last couple years, i've also learned how to take care of my body, which has decreased the number of times i'm getting sick. and i'm trying to get back into better shape too--i might never be able to get back in as good of shape as late high school or college, but these last three years of graduate school have made staying in good shape difficult. i'm just not as surrounded by fun, outside activities most of the time--scheduling in outside time (or at least protecting) is nowhere close to as good as just going outside whenever and ever.

but these last few days, in addition to starting my summer work (which is going to be much more enjoyable than the same job last summer), i've had a bunch of time outside, and i've enjoyed it a lot. i've played soccer, played frisbee, went for runs, went for hikes, went for bike rides--that's the main reason i love late spring (early summer). there have been minimal mosquitoes in eastern south dakota (though they came out last thursday evening for the first time). the ticks haven't been too bad (although i pulled 5 off me last weekend in central south dakota). and i haven't seen any rattlesnakes yet (though i'd be quite surprised if i didn't this weekend).

playing soccer in brookings is great, even though i miss playing large, competitive games sometimes. playing ultimate in brookings is equally fun, even though here i'm a teacher and in the twin cities i would largely be learning. i'm looking forward to being in the twin cities next week because while i knew people there last summer, i never really felt like hanging out much when i was there last year--i was always stressed about summer and thesis work. i'm really excited to go hiking, camping, and exploring this summer as much as possible. and while last week i was a little bit depressed about spreading myself so thin all over the area, so far i feel like i've navigated my time pretty well, and if i keep this up, i'll be quite happy with the summer.

so i hope you've had a good spring, that you're starting a good summer, that you're enjoying the year, that you have a good birthday when you have one. i'll keep pretty happy, and i want you to also. i'll also write here this summer, unlike last summer, though i'm certainly not promising anything much. do expect a few stories sometime soon. and enjoy this song. it's awesome, and it really reminds me of summer.

shhh by atmosphere

I wanted to make a song about where I'm from
You know? Big up my home town, my territory, my state
But, I couldn't figure out much to brag about
Prince lives here, we got 10,000 lakes
But wait, the women are beautiful, to me they are
And we're not infested with pretentious movie stars
And it hit me, Minnesota is dope
If only simply for not what we have but what we don't
It's all fair, it ain't out there, it's in there
It's in the mirror, behind the breast under the hair
Follow the dream doesn't mean leave the love
Roam if you must, but come home when you've seen enough
I love New York and Cali, but I ain't movin'
Too overpopulated saturated with humans
And I'm not big on rappers, actors, or models
If I had to dip, I'd probably skip to Chicago
None of this is to diss no one, nowhere
Like damn, I'm from Minnesota, land of the cold air
Too many mosquitoes and our fair share of egos
But like my man Sabe says, that's where my mommy stays

So if the people laugh and giggle when you tell em where you live
Say shhh, say shhh
And if you know this is where you wanna raise your kids
Say shhh, say shhh
If you're from the Midwest and it doesn't matter where
Say shhh, say shhh
If you can drink tap water and breathe the air
Say shhh, say shhh

Got trees and vegetation in the city I stay
The rent's in the mail and I can always find a parking space
The women outnumber the men two to one
Got parks and zoos and things to do with my son
The nightlife ain't all that, but that's okay
I don't need to be distracted by the devil every day
And the jobs ain't really too hard to find
In fact, you could have mine if you knew how to rhyme
This is for everyone around the planet
That wishes they were from somewhere other than where they standin'
Don't take it for granted, instead take a look around
Quit complaining and build something on that ground
Plant something on that ground, dance and sleep on that ground
Get on your hands and knees and watch the ants walk around that ground
Make a family, make magic, make a mess
Take the stress, feel your motivation and build your nest
It sucks that you think where I'm from is wack
But as long as that's enough to keep your ass from coming back
And with a smile and a hint of sarcasm, he said
“I beg your pardon but this is my secret garden”

All right
In the land of ice and snow
Well okay
In the land of ice and snow
Well all right
In the land of ice and snow
Well okay
Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minneapolis

If the playground is clear of stems and syringes
Say shhh, say shhh
If there's only one store in your town that sells 12-inches
Say shhh, say shhh
If no one in your crew walks around with a gun
Say shhh, say shhh
And if you ain't gonna leave cause this is where you're from
Say shhh, say shhh

Well alright, well okay
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesnowta
Kansas City
St Louis, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Madison
Milwaukee
Cincinnati, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Boulder, Colorado
Lawrence, Kansas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Indianapolis
Say shhh..
Minneapolis