May 2012
12 posts
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Another rainy day at the gym
Yesterday I enjoyed reading posts from some of my favorite blogs while I biked, so this afternoon I attempted to use the elliptical while listening to NPR on my iPad.
Somehow I ended up listening to Talk of the Nation’s “The Politics Of Fat In Black And White,” a segment that discussed how…
“Novelist Alice Randall sparked controversy with an op-ed in The New York...
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A Friday recap – The good, the bad, and the ugly
The good:
Waking up before my alarm
Working through the day steadily but not frantically
Checking annoying but necessary tasks off of my “To Do” list
Baking a healthier version of banana bread using whole wheat flour, honey and applesauce
Running a couple miles, and walking a few more while chatting on the phone with my man and my mama
The bad:
Showing up at Starbucks earlier...
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A little ditty about a little bitty
People often say that smell is the strongest memory trigger in terms of the senses. I’d argue that, for me, hearing — and particularly music — is a more dramatic way to transport my thoughts back in time.
I was driving home from the grocery store on Saturday afternoon when an annoying commercial prompted me to scan my radio presets. At that time, one of the country stations...
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Onward
This morning Lena turned the key in her little Civic and, for the last time, pulled out of the Georgia driveway that for nearly two years has threatened to rip off her bumper with the slightest angle miscalculation. If she had left during the evening, she would have used the North Star as her guide. Well, either Polaris or the unruly GPS that’s duck taped to her dashboard.
My roommie...
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“In traveling, companion. In life, compassion.”
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The Pop Traveler: 10 reasons to visit Savannah! →
I am somewhat amazed by the accuracy of this Savannah city profile. The author, a Savannah native, discusses places and activities that real residents (like me and my coworkers) enjoy.
Occasionally out-of-towners ask me for restaurant and recreation suggestions. From now on, I’m forwarding them here.
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Texts with a soldier
Me: What’s your poison tonight?
Him: Pacifico
Me: Where’s your loyalty to the red, white and blue?
Him: I have PBR in the fridge annnddd I’ve been to war…three times.
Me: Love ittt. Can I put that on my blog?
Him: As long as you don’t reference me.
Me: Okey dokey…you will have a pseudonym.
Him: Can it be Captain America?
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April 2012
5 posts
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WatchI woke up early this morning.
“Early” is defined in the Laura Swanson weekend routine as anytime before 9 a.m.
As my reward for rising before high noon, I watched CBS Sunday Morning. This show has always been one of my parents’ favorites, and it makes me think of home. I also love the magazine-style reporting, which was my preferred type of writing during my broadcast...
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Stunning sidewalks
Yesterday SCAD hosted the 31st Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival at Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah. Each year thousands of visitors line the historic park’s sidewalks to see the extraordinary chalk masterpieces created by SCAD prospective students, current students and alumni.
Lena and I visited the festival just an hour after it began, but the talented artists had already made...
Hot, hot, hot
The high temperature in Savannah was 91 degrees today.
Excuse me, Mr. Weather. You’re a day late for an April fools joke, and I really don’t appreciate your shenanigans. I am not ready for the pain and suffering known as summer in the South. Let’s just go back to 75 and sunny, okey dokey?
March 2012
6 posts
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It's coming; it's coming....
It’s somewhere between Lexington, Kentucky, and Savannah, Georgia, by way of Shenzhen, China; Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong; and Anchorage, Alaska.
Tomorrow I will become the proud owner of a brand spankin’ new iPad, which I have been stalking on UPS.com since I placed my Apple order. I’ve been collecting gift cards for the iPad since my birthday last November, and I grew my...
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Wardrobe malfunction
Me: Will you go running with me when you come visit Savannah?
David: No! Why would I do that?
Me: So you can chase me down the street?
David: I tried jogging last night at the end of my walk with your mom. I could feel my fat suit moving up and down.
Me: Maybe it's time for you to take off your fat suit?
David: It's hard...the zipper's stuck.
Yes, my boyfriend exercises with my mother in my absence. I love them both.
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Lindsay Lohan's Shakopee MN Radio Skit on Last... →
stuffaboutminneapolis:
B108FM On Minnesota’s hottest morning radio show, the energy level is way up but the time is very, very early.
This skit accents a few genuine characteristics of Minnesota’s winter weather. It’s also a little bit horrifying.
February 2012
5 posts
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Fat Tuesday and the Blood Bus
For Christians around the world, Fat Tuesday is seen as a day to commit sins just before beginning repentance on Ash Wednesday. Luckily, these sins usually involve indulgences with drink, gluttony with food and, of course, flashing strangers if you’re in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
When I was living in London, I was introduced to yesterday’s holiday through a different name. The Brits...
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“I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you...”
– – Ellen Degeneres addressing her JCPenney critics
Ellen is simply the best! I think she’s just provided me with the perfect response for why I champion equal rights for people of all sexual orientations.
January 2012
5 posts
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Year of the Rabbit →
In honor of Chinese New Year, Lena and I have been analyzing our zodiac animals. I am a rabbit.
I find these characteristics from chinesezodiac.com particularly insightful in terms of my personality:
The Rabbit symbolizes such character traits as creativity, compassion, and sensitivity.
Rabbits are friendly, outgoing and prefer the company of others.
Classy, sophisticated, expressive, ...
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The pillow that makes long-distance relationships... →
On Friday afternoon one of my coworkers sent me the link above and wrote something like, “Hey, have you seen this? It’s a little extreme…and perhaps a little creepy, but I thought of you.”
After reading about the “interactive pillows that allow lovers to sleep together — even if they’re separated by continents or oceans,” I’ve determined that it is,...
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119 Amazing Facts for National Trivia Day →
The long-lost (and over-fed) blogger returns!
I apologize for the infrequency of my posts this month. I have been busy traveling, celebrating Christmas through binge eating no less than five times, welcoming in a new year, and getting back to work after a rejuvenating 10-day vacation.
I decided to break my silence to wish you all a Happy National Trivia Day!
My friend, Jen, introduced me to the...
December 2011
8 posts
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Smoke Screening →
As you stand in endless lines this holiday season, here’s a comforting thought: all those security measures accomplish nothing, at enormous cost. That’s the conclusion of Charles C. Mann, who put the T.S.A. to the test with the help of one of America’s top security experts.
My coworker, Travis, is such a little darling that he decided to provide me with this article about the flaws in...
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Laura's 10 easy steps for Christmas trip packing
1. Wash all of the clothes you own.
2. Start selecting outfits for the trip ahead.
3. Pick accessories that match each outfit.
4. Begin considering over-analyzing all of the possible activities that may await you, taking into consideration the unlikely chance that you’ll go swimming in Minnesota in December, need a costume, have to transition an outfit from day to night, be too cold, be...
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Goodbye fat pants
For the first time in our three-year history as roommates and our six-year history as friends, Lena and I have lost weight at the same time. This is not supposed to be a post about vanity or our best impression of a Subway “Jared” commercial. I honestly didn’t realize that my clothes had become so incredibly huge until I brought home new pants and compared them to the glorified...
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Holidaze
It’s beginning to look and feel a lot more like Christmas. Last night Lena and I did a little holiday shopping downtown, and we splurged on $1 tacos — hooray for Taco Tuesday and Feliz Navidad to you all.
We also treated ourselves to buy-one-get-one frozen yogurt because of a Christmas promotion. I sampled the fro-yo flavored like egg nog, but I wasn’t impressed enough to commit...
November 2011
10 posts
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Angelic evening
Tonight — in honor of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show — I’m devouring the last piece of my birthday ice cream cake, staying home where neither of the TVs work, listening to Lissie, and thinking about how great it is to indulge in potatoes and nachos whenever I please.
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Northward bound
I am incredibly excited for my upcoming Thanksgiving trip to Minnesota. Tonight I began filling my suitcase even though I don’t fly out until Wednesday, which means my level of anticipation has somehow overcome my intense hatred for packing.
Two of my coworkers took trips to the Midwest within the past few weeks, and they made me jealous with tales from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and...
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WatchThe Petersons were on TV, dontcha know!
Every once in a while my hometown of Cannon Falls makes the local news, and I was happy to see WCCO’s coverage of Turkey Day incorporated Ferndale Market, which is quite an asset to our little community.
During my brief days in television reporting, I learned that the news industry is rarely inclined to share stories about genuinely nice, genuinely...
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Save the Date
Yesterday the cutest little save-the-date postcard showed up in my mailbox. My pals Steph and Erik are getting married in Minnesota in June, and Steph is tackling loads of wedding planning tasks in addition to finishing grad school, prepping for life as a foreign service officer and generally acting as a super human. You go girl.
This postcard directs people to Steph and Erik’s wedding...
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“You have to live, you know, in order to understand the Gospel. You have to live....”
– Garrison Keillor, Prairie Home Companion, Sept. 3, 2011
—- In honor of election day —-
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Twenty-four
Despite my better judgment, I’ve done it.
I’ve moved from my early 20s to my mid 20s. My friend Beth (see No. 1 below) was kind enough to remind me that this age bracket jump is much better than moving from the late 20s to the early 30s. Yet, I know that I’ll blink; I’ll turn 30; I’ll think, “It seems like I just wrote that dang blog post about turning...
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