at least they took my advice to pack a change of clothes in their carry-on
TIMNATH, Colo. -- The parents arrived in Denver this evening. Their luggage did not. What are the odds of the airline losing their bags on the way to NZ and on the way back? But hell, they got vouchers for two flights on United. Every cloud...

"they're so british there"
"You would have loved, New Zealand," my parents told me after I picked them up. Yeah, I know that. How 'bout you take me next time? Actually, I think the airline should fork up a round-trip ticket as compensation for the lost luggage. It's only fair.

can't keep me unsatisfied
My new haircut is driving me nuts. I finally had a haircut I liked last time and now nothing will ever compare. I walked out of the salon with 5 different products in my 'do, which I find quite repulsive. If I can't run my fingers through my lovely locks without feeling the need to immediately scrub them clean, then that's just a bit too much gel.

it has a pool!
Did I mention that we now have a house in Arizona? We'll be living in Chandler, just outside of Tempe, just outside of Phoenix. That's right, I'll be living in a Friend. As Protz reacted: "Could that be any cooler?"

just because i can
TIMNATH, COLO. -- At my grandparents', about 10 minutes outside Ft. Collins. Timnath has a population of 200 and consists of a post office, an elementary school, a bar (whose liquor license the townfolk are trying to revoke) and a church. I explored the entire town on my 30-minute run* yesterday morning. Parents return from New Zealand tomorrow. Hopefully their bags make it with them; it took 3 days for the luggage to make it to New Zealand. My mom's using my suitcase and I kinda would like it back.

*Read: walk. That altitude really gets to me.

camp pictures posted
'Twas a good week. Now in between loads of laundry. Packing for family reunion. Later, yo.

you are so totally jealous of my house right now
So you're wondering who the fabulous people are who bought our house just a day after it was on the office, I know. None other than the NY Times' columnist Fr&d Br0ck*. He's going to be teaching at the K-State School of Journalism and Mass Comm. And he's still going to be writing** his NYT column. Out of my (former) home. Now who wishes they were as cool as my house? I told our neighbor from across the street who works at the KSU J-School that she needs to ferret out any contacts he might have at the NYT Magazine and pass my name along to him/them. Maybe we'll knock the price of the house down for him if he can hook me up with a job.

*The name on the mailbox goes from Brooks to Brock. Ha! The post(wo)man is going to have fun sorting out that mail.

**Confidential to Dan: He also wrote a book that might just go against everything Weagley taught us about saving for retirement...

random thought of the day
Twice-weekly, furtively typed sarcastic Dan posts are just not the same as daily, under-the-breath sarcastic Dan comments.

just a warning
I'll be gone for two weeks. Tomorrow I leave to volunteer as a camp counselor at a church camp I used to attend in high school. The next week, I leave for Colorado and a family reunion. Expected date of arrival back to this Leaky Cauldron: July 6. Feel free to carry on conversation with each other via "neighborly" comments if you so choose.

zonked
I was so tired last night that I squeezed face wash onto my toothbrush instead of toothpaste.

colour me what?
What kind of a copy center doesn't have a color copier? That's crap, if you ask me.

movies i've seen lately*
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (but we knew that already)
Bend it Like Beckham
Whale Rider
Love Actually
Shrek 2
The Princess Diaries
Casablanca
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Monty Python & the Holy Grail
Caddy Shack
plus seasons 1 & 3 Friends DVDs

*Some were my choice, some my sister's. Some were repeat viewings, some were new.

realization of the week
I consider myself a very tolerant person; I can get along with just about everyone. However, the people I am most intolerant of are the people I see as intolerant. Things that make me go hmmm...

a week late
I've been meaning to upload pictures of Normandy in honor of last week's D-Day remembrance ceremonies. I took these during on my tour of France (tour-de-France) the summer after eighth grade. It was weird was to stand in the craters created by the attack on the beaches of Normandy. And all those crosses (and Stars of David) in the memorial cemetary are overwhelming.

moment of silence

ps
Has anyone seen M*ke H*ll on Sports Center yet?

from j-dub's blog
OSTW Public Service Announcement: Every year or two, throw out your old crap, otherwise it will accumulate for the rest of your life and your kids will end up spending two months sorting through it all and throwing it out after you're gone. The More You Know...

Let me corroborate that by saying that I have spent the past three weeks helping my mom clear out the house for the Big Move. Three full bags of trash came from my room alone. I don't even know how many bags came from the basement. yikes...

just kidding
If you didn't get there fast enough, you missed the pictures of my house on the realtor's Web site. That's right, the sign went up yesterday morning, we got an offer that evening and we closed this afternoon. Whew. Now comes the hard part, finding a house in the Tempe/Phoenix area.

here, there and everywhere
My parents leave tomorrow morning for New Zealand (via Ft. Collins, Colo.; Berkeley, Calif.; and Phoenix). They'll be in NZ for two weeks, one of those weeks being a conference at which my dad will be inducted as President of the Council for Educators of Landscape Architecture. I told them I'd go with and entertain my mom while my dad held up his duties as Mr. Big Man Prez, but they mentioned something about a 25th wedding anniversary/second honeymoon. I don't see what the big deal is... (wink wink.) Sheesh. What a summer it has been so far.

my house
Check it out, quick before it's off the market and off-line! Anyone want to make an offer?

grill meister erica
I am Master of the Bar-be-que this summer. Thus far, I've grilled chicken (three different ways), burgers, steaks, salmon, shrimp (in my own marinade concoction, no less!), a pork loin and pork chops. A much better record than the one I set two summers ago: lighting the hair on my forearm.

discovery!
InDesign has a spell check! How fabulous is that?!

the powers that be called last night
My dad accepted an offer from Arizona State University to be the Associate Dean of Architecture and Environmental Design. For the past 22 years, he's been a professor of landscape architecture and design at K-State. He goes on contract with ASU July 1. Shizers! If I'm still jobless come the end of July/beginning of August, when we'd probably be moving, I'll go with my parents to the Tempe/Phoenix area. This is a fabulous opportunity for him; the president of the university is fairly new and according to Metro | AZ, the Phoenix city mag, he has 'freed up money to attract more academic stars and raise the university's 'intellectual energy.'" My dad, the academic star.

keeping in tune with the other soundtrack post
Each year while in college, I compiled a soundtrack. The songs were ones that marked the year; each fits one of the following criteria: describes something that happened, heard a bunch on the radio, brought up in conversation often, saw band in concert, danced to with Alpha Chi. Here are the yearly soundtracks (I've omitted any incriminating songs):

FRESHMAN YEAR
Going Away to College Blink 182
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton John
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" Wizard of Oz movie clip (cheesy, I know)
Country Grammar Nelly
Break Stuff Limp Bizkit
Bulletproof Radiohead
Scott's a Dork Reel Big Fish
I Belong to You Lenny Kravitz
Turn, Turn, Turn The Byrds
Damn, It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta I can't remember the artist
It's Raining Men The Weather Girls
Harry Potter movie trailer
Hogwarts School Song spoof, unknown artist
How Do I Know? Whitney Houston
Bombs Over Baghdad Outkast
Turn the Radio Up Eric Carmen
Bill, I Love You So 5th Dimension
For the Longest time Billy Joel
Who Needs Sleep? Barenaked Ladies
Mizzou Fight Song Marching Mizzou (yeah, yeah, more cheese)

SOPHOMORE YEAR
New York U2
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) Alan Jackson
Everything Lifehouse
Everywhere Michelle Branch
Storm Lifehouse
One Toke Over the Line can't remember artist
Harry Potter Song spoof, unknown artist
Little Apple Girl Ultimate Fakebook
Elevation U2, live in St. Louis
Lullaby Billy Joel
Wrapped Up In You Garth Brooks
Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World U2
Philosophy Ben Folds
I Shot the Sheriff Bob Marley
The Sound of Silence Simon & Garfunkel
She Don't Even Know My Name Ultimate Fakebook
Maxwell's Silver Hammer The Beatles
Fred Jones, Part II Ben Folds
Cheers Theme Phish

JUNIOR YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER
Let's Get Loud Jennifer Lopez
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2
PYT Michael Jackson
Here I Am to Worship unknown artist
The News Jack Johnson
The Rising Bruce Springsteen
Every Breath You Take can't remember the artist
Miami Counting Crows
About An Hour Ago OAR
Heavy Metal Drummer Wilco
The Game of Love Santana, featuring Michelle Branch
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head covered by Ben Folds
In My Place Coldplay

JUNIOR YEAR, SEMESTER IN LONDON
London Calling The Clash
Hey Ma Cameron
My Stupid Mouth John Mayer
Cry Me A River Justin Timberlake
One Love Blue
Billy Jean Michael Jackson
I Think We're Alone Now Tiffany
Can't Get You Out of My Head Kylie Minogue
Like A Virgin Madonna
Dy-Na-Mi-Tee Ms. Dynamite
Work It Missy Elliot
Mundian To Bach Ke Panjabi MC
Tonight Westlife
Freak Like Me Sugababes
Blackbird, live Paul McCartney (Back in the World Tour)
Hidden Agenda Craig David
Make It Clap Busta Rhymes, feat. Spliff Starr
Master of the House Les Miserables
Heaven DJ Sammy & Yanou, feat. Do
Spirit In the Sky Gareth Gates with the Kumars

SENIOR YEAR
Dirrty Christina Aguilera
In My Life The Beatles
Come Downstairs and Say Hello Guster
Where is the Love Black Eyed Peas
Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson
Rock Your Body Justin Timberlake
New York, New York Frank Sinatra
Humble Me Norah Jones
Coffee Shop Girl Ozma
The Scientist Coldplay
New Deep John Mayer
Moon River Frank Sinatra
I'm Just a Lucky So-And-So Louis Armstrong
Yeah Usher, feat. Lil' Jon & Ludacris
Go Your Own Way Fleetwood Mac
You Never Give Me Your Money The Beatles

i took care of the old geezer* next door this weekend
Poor guy can't hear or see, and has lost his ability to bark. It was slightly humorous to watch him continually run into walls, a la the ferret in Along Comes Polly.

*Geezer is the neighbors' dog, quite the fitting name.

harry potter report
The third HP story is the best book in the series and I’d have to say the best movie so far. Cuaron definitely brought the film to a new level and Daniel Radcliffe finally convinced me he was Harry. My prediction: Emma Watson will be the one of the trio to really make it, post-Potter. (P.S. She has a very fantastic birthday.)

i mentioned to my mom that i’d like to try sky-diving sometime
She said only once I had plenty of health insurance, had written up my will and had enough life insurance to pay for my sister’s grief counseling. Don’t know why I shared that. Guess I just felt like sharing.

i’m a commitment-phobe
You know that conversation-starter question, “If your life were a TV show or movie, what tune would play every time you entered the room?” I’ve never been able to select a theme song. It always seemed too much of a burden to choose just one song to embody my philosophy or personality. That, and every year I latch onto a different band who I claim to be my favorite band ever. But about a week ago, Sarah posted a different approach to this question. So here it is: my life, the soundtrack to the screenplay.

Opening credits “In My Life,” The Beatles. However, Sarah already claimed this song, so I’ll settle for “That’s Life,” Frank Sinatra.

Waking up “Rise and Shine,” traditional. My dad woke me up singing this song every morning, elementary through middle school. I grew to despise it.

First date “Moon River,” Frank Sinatra. No reason in particular, other than I really love the line, “Two drifters, off to see the world. There’s such a lot of world to see. We’re after the same rainbow’s end…” (notice the reference at the top of this blog…)

Love scene “Hand’s Down,” Dashboard Confessional. Ibid. “My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me. So won’t you kill me? So I die happy.” Now that I type that out, it seems quite morbid. Really, there’s no need to run to the suicide hotline.

Fight scene “Break Stuff,” Limp Bizkit. Back when I danced for Alpha Chi, we did a dance to this song, choreographed to look like a battle. I want to throw stuff against the wall and yell obscenities when I listen to this song.

Breaking up “Shot Through the Heart,” Bon Jovi. “…and you’re to blame. You give love a bad name.” Nothing’s ever my fault, really.

Life's OK “Mr. Blue Sky,” ELO. I don’t see how anyone cannot bob their head and smile while listening to this song.

Driving “Yellow Submarine,” The Beatles & “Why Georgia,” John Mayer. I’m cheating; I couldn’t pick just one. But really, they’re totally different driving songs. When on family road trips, we would sing “Yellow Submarine,” but change the chorus to, “We all live in a green minivan, green minivan, green minivan,” because it sure felt like we were living in the van on our summer treks across the western half of the continent to California. “Why Georgia” kicked off every one of my trips home sophomore and junior year.

Deep thought “The Scientist,” Coldplay & “New Deep,” John Mayer. Cheating. Again. That’s because both have lines that really seem to echo lines that run in my own thoughts and embody how I’ve changed since before college. “The Scientist”: “I was just guessing at numbers and figures. Pulling the puzzles apart. Questions of science, science and progress do not speak as loud as my heart.” “New Deep”: “Ever since I tried trying not to find every little meaning in my life, it’s been fine, I’ve been cool with my new golden rule.”

Flashback “Come Downstairs and Say Hello,” Guster. If I’ve ever had a theme song for a period of time, this would have been one for the past nine months. Check out the lyrics: “Dorothy moves to click her ruby shoes right in tune to Dark Side of the Moon. Someone, someone could tell me where I belong. Be calm, be brave, it’ll be ok. No more messing around, living underground, or new year’s resolutions. By this time next year, I won’t be here…I look straight at what’s coming ahead and soon it’s gonna change in a new direction.”

Partying “Dirrty,” Christina Aguilera. One of what Sarah would call my guilty pleasure songs. I love it.

Happy Dance “Mundian To Bach Ke,” Panjabi MC. A London favorite. I have no clue what the words are saying, so it means I can really loose myself in the beat.

A long night alone “Mad World,” Gary Jules. I like it and it just fits.

Death scene “Table for Two,” Caedmon’s Call. This song doesn’t really fit here, but it fits less everywhere else, and it had to be included. I guess it kinda fits, if this scene were to be more of a reflection of life. Kinda. Maybe “Last Goodbye” by Jeff Buckley would be better suited.

Closing credits “Every Picture Tells a Story,” Rod Stewart. It captures so much.

one day left
Jealous of Margaret because she went to the London premiere Tuesday.

Posted: Clear Lake pics. Thank god for Daddy's computer at work.

back from the weekend
I spent this Memorial Day weekend in the home state of Fiscus, former roommate Abby and Kristin. Clear Lake, Iowa was as relaxing as it was a year ago and the Protzman family was as hospitable as ever. Sarah, Megan and I did much reading, sleeping, lounging, discussing the pathological liars in our pasts (prompted by another viewing of Shattered Glass) and saving of the world. Pictures will be posted (when I can get to a computer not cursed by dial-up Internet.) Maybe not all 143 of them, but most.

hurry up and wait
Still no confirmation on whether or not the family is moving. The powers that be* are supposed to get back to us by a week from Thursday.
*note the difference from the Power That Be, who seems to be saying it's a go.