insert witty blog title here

Random Pug Shots

2008-06-26T11:55:00.005-05:00

Shannon found this one online. Love!

Random Pug Shots

2008-06-16T11:57:00.011-05:00

All photos from an event Jade and I attended this past Saturday called "Project Pugway". Proceeds went to benefit the Pug Rescue.

(Incidentally, this is also where I received the call that I was an aunt for the second time.)

Aunt, pt. 2: This time it's personal.

2008-06-16T11:38:00.003-05:00

World, meet Caroline. Caroline, this is the world.

Welcome Caroline Nadine Dostal, born on Saturday, June 14, 2008 weighing just over 7 lbs.
Proud parents Matt and Tammy are doing great and big sister Olivia's world is getting ready to be rocked. Good times!

Random Pug Shot

2008-05-08T16:40:00.001-05:00

Baby seals?

European Vacation

2008-05-05T11:12:00.004-05:00

Major changes! We're now going to Amsterdam rather than London. Much drama about the cost of the ticket for the train ride between Paris and London. Damn chunnel.

So, last minute change, but everything's booked and we're all set. Now to talk with my mother about which strain of THC I should think about trying at the local bars... ;)

Random Pug Shot

2008-05-05T10:59:00.002-05:00

A new feature! I will be posting random photos of pugs that make me laugh...sometimes it may even be my own.

Facebook Addiction

2008-04-22T15:21:00.004-05:00

So as many of you know, because you have seen the results firsthand within your own Facebook accounts, I have recently become very addicted to Facebook. I think the transition from just a casual user to full-blown addict occurred during my recent illness, when I found myself lying around for days and days, feeling like crap but unable to talk on the phone or really leave my house.

There's an application on there called "Pieces of Flair" and boyyyyyyy oh boy, I love me some pieces of flair. And it's virtual flair! You don't even have to clutter up a drawer with actual small buttons or buy them and say to yourself, "Now where can I wear this 'Vote for Pedro' button and not be judged harshly by my peers." You can just secretly hoard these little buttons in your own account and then post them and share them with your friends. To top it off, you can even CREATE your own flair!!!!! Taking any kind of picture and turning it into a small, virtual button---well, the opportunites to make someone's day are limitless, my friends.

So, my current flair board looks a little something like this:

An homage to a certain someone in Chicago I haven't seen in a while. Shout out to you, Turtle! Now get your ass on Facebook already, would ya?!

Golden Birthday!

2008-04-21T17:40:00.012-05:00

So, I'm not certain if it's a Minnesotan thing or not, but I had never heard of a "Golden Birthday" prior to moving here. Basically it's when you turn the same age as the number of the date you were born, so when I was 23 on November 23rd, I was having my golden birthday.

My roller BFF and derby wife, Mama Crash, had her Golden Birthday recently (that would be 26 people; yes I rob cradles) and her fondest wish was to celebrate it with a Polkapalooza at a Minneapolis landmark institution---Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit! It's a big German dining hall/restaurant where the servers wear lederhosen and the bar downstairs has a standing polka band and they serve German beer out of glass boots and waitresses ply patrons with snuff. She's dressed in these photos, appropriately enough, in gold.

Gasthof's in NE Minneapolis

My German ancestors would be so proud.

It was a great party and very well attended by her friends, family, and teammates. I was happy to see her enjoying herself so thoroughly and being surrounded by so many people who love her. She's truly an amazing individual.

A few more pics:

Blech!

2008-04-17T11:01:00.002-05:00

Sick again, my friends. I'm on the mend and I'll post over the weekend...I promise!

Money changes everything

2008-03-25T10:19:00.003-05:00

These oranges pretty much represent my mental state of late.

I've been keeping it pretty quiet, but last week my Toyota broke down on the side of the road and she may be a complete loss. It needs a new engine and it isn't worth the amount it will cost to repair it. Isn't it funny that what should be a super simple, cut and dry decision has me majorly pouting and dragging my feet? Add insult to injury that I still owe money on the note I used to buy her in the first place.

I've been grieving the loss of my gas guzzling SUV. Man, I loved that truck. I used and abused the hell out of it, and the idea of going back into something smaller feels so inconvenient and so claustrophobic.

I'm an ungrateful bitch. I'm a lucky girl, because I have a lot of loving friends willing to chip in and help me get around using various extra vehicles.

Paris trip means major cash, car repairs mean major cash, I already am behind the financial eightball because of my random and checkered job history for the past couple of years.

Universe teaching me a lesson about money? Again? Picture me on the floor having a full blown temper tantrum right now.

Crabby pouting crabby pout crab.

Paris trip evolution

2008-03-16T16:49:00.005-05:00

So, if you're a best friend of mine who lives in Chicago and can't remember stories I tell her about my life, here's a refresher:
About four years ago, after a particularly awful birthday fete which further confirmed her superstitions that birthdays ending in "0" and "5" are doomed, my cousin (and BFF) Amy was bemoaning her bad birthday fate, her lack of an awesome life, her singledom, whathaveyou, when I threw out the suggestion that we needed to lift her out of her slump by having a Really Big Life Event to look forward to. Now those of you that know me well know I am a big believer of the RBLE theory and my RBLEs have always skewed towards the kickass trip side of the spectrum. Thus a plan to lift a glass of wine in Paris on her---very important here---39th birthday was hatched.
Now here we are, four years later and the date approaches.
So plans are to be out of the country from May 17th through May 31st.

If anyone knows Amy, you will understand when I say to you that this may be one of the nicer trips I've ever taken with a friend regarding accomodations. Girl will NOT settle for uncomfortable. Rock on!

First few days will be spent here adjusting to the time change and getting our tourist on:
Paris Marriott Rive Gauche hotel

Then we're going to London for a few days. This part hasn't been entirely fleshed out yet.

Then, and this is the part that excites me the most, we're staying in a Parisian flat for an entire week.
Paris Attitude Apartment

So there we have it! A trip to Paris and London, a RBLE, and a friend's 39th birthday party all rolled into one!

Now if I can just decide which is a more important item to purchase while I'm there--a pair of shoes or a handbag....

Random blog of the day

2008-03-13T13:53:00.003-05:00

Arby's has these new chocolate turnover things.
Oh, jeebus. Do we really need to tempt the fat girl with more ways to just drive through somewhere and add more calories to her daily intake?

Paris trip is really starting to take shape! I'll have to dedicate my next post to the plans that are in the works.

...but before I was sick...

2008-03-06T16:24:00.003-06:00

Wendy, Jade, Danielle and CB bag in the snapshot shanty

Wendy was here for a visit! Ahhh, it was so nice to spend some quality time with my girl, W.

We went to see the Art Shanty project on Medicine Lake before the bout on Saturday afternoon. What a beautiful day for it! I had been reading reviews about this little DIY, renegade art project for years now, and was so excited to finally make it out and take it all in. I LOVED it.

I think my favorites were the ice shanty where you were asked to leave something behind that was in your pockets, or purse, or whathaveyou, and they would catalogue it. The shanty was meant to be a commentary on the entire rooms full of junk that scientists will leave abandoned on the ice in Antartica with no thought to ever coming back to clean up the mess.

But several shanties were just hilarious. There was one on a bicycle-like contraption that took about seven people to peddle around a shovelled out course on the ice. It towed a person on a tobaggon behind it. One was meant to be a downed airplane with "survivors"--a bunch of guys, standing around, drinking Icehouse. There was a karaoke shanty. There was an artist who took three random words from passers-by and generated fun drawings for participants based on those words...(Wendy's was totally awesome). I guess NPR had been out doing interviews the week prior, and I have a feeling that this little "fringe" festival may be on the verge of blowing up into an Uptown Art Fair spectacle...and that would be too bad. Part of the charm is the very nature of these vagabond artists just creating their own little world out there on the ice.

One of the shanties was entitled "Snap Shot Shanty" and Wendy, Jade, and I got our picture taken there and found that they had a blog they were posting photos on.

http://thesnapshotshanty.blogspot.com

Such creative, weird, and fun people were out there and we really enjoyed ourselves.
I snapped a few pictures as well, and I'll post them in the next day or so.

If you want to check out the website for this funky little festival, I'll link it below.

http://artshantyprojects.org

Sick

2008-03-01T20:54:00.003-06:00

sicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksick
...went to Target clinic and left with a diagnosis of Bronchitis and an Albuterol inhaler. Second bout with this funk in as many months. They said if I'm not feeling better by Monday, I have to go and have my lungs x-rayed for Pneumonia.

Been stuck in the house with the animals since Wednesday night. Jade is about to kill herself from boredom and Elvis is about to kill himself from Jade barking at him. Me, well all I want to do is sleep, soak in a hot tub, and repeat.

I'm sweaty, coughy, and phlegmy. Good times.

sicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksicksick

Pug in Boots

2008-02-05T22:30:00.000-06:00

Not so much.

Jade can't walk much in the snow because the salt hurts her paws and her paws get cold, so my thoughts were to put her in some booties so she could still get some exercise.

Two booties on the front happened, but still the back feet came up off the ground after half a block in zero weather. Limping pug.

Two booties on the back was obviously going to repeat the same scenario.

Four booties. No movement. Frozen still, concrete pug.

Even after being brought inside and lured with treats. No movement. Refusal.

She wins, this year. Next year, the boots will be accepted! I will not be deterred!

(Oh, and how about that cute coat with the star on it? Total North Star tie in there, and she rocks it! Thank goodness she doesn't seem to mind it.)

Pumped about reading?

2008-02-04T22:41:00.000-06:00

Something terrible has happened to me in the past few years. I've turned into one of those people who hates to read anything longer than 45 glossy pages. (I always turned my nose up at people like me.) My mom is DYING at this new development in my personality, mostly because I couldn't get my nose out of a book as a kid/teenager and because she prides herself on being literary. But I don't know. I fell out of love somehow. People keep pushing books on me, swearing I'll love them and I'm all "meh".

Well dear blog reader (and Mom), something happened to me just last night. I stayed up until 3am READING A HARDCOVER NOVEL. I couldn't put it down! It was so good that I was having those torn feelings about not being able to stop reading it, yet not wanting it to end.

This little book just caught my eye as I was perusing the stacks of the "new arrivals" at the library and I remember having read a couple of reviews and/or articles about this book. Thought I would give it the cursory glance and then end up returning it, unread, to the library as I have with so many other books in the past two years.

But man, she caught me good from almost the beginning, Laurie Lindeen did. It was my total achilles heel for hometown gossip, insider music biz stuff, and a glimpse (in a very well written way) into what it was like to be a girl in the nineties in love with music. It was my dream world, all wrapped up in some kick ass prose.

I LOOOOOOVED IT!

So in case, you wanna see some reviews of the book that rocked my world and may have rekindled my reading desires, I've put some links below.

She's a band leader, she's Paul W.'s wife, and she has MS but she never stopped shopping for vintage purses on the road.

Word.

Roller Derby video

2008-02-01T21:52:00.000-06:00

There's a new video that got loaded on the front page of our website today and I just had the absolute BEST time watching it! It's sooooo frickin' good and it made me so excited and proud to be a part of the North Stars! Plus, if you look really closely, you'll see me in few shots.

Check it out!

Rockin' Roller Girls

Next bout, Feb. 23rd!

I am among the ranks of the permanently employed---FINALLY!

2008-01-31T22:27:00.001-06:00

I had offers on both positions today and excitedly accepted the role at CPC Experiential!!

For the first time in almost 5 years, I will be eligible for paid time off and sick leave, as well as health benefits. That alone makes me soooo happy.

I have a meeting tomorrow morning at 9 am, but then I don't start until next Thursday.

Off to bed now--hopefully I can sleep!

F*$K, it's cold.

2008-01-30T21:34:00.000-06:00

I'm just sayin'.

Star Tribune article and photos

2 job interviews in two days

2008-01-30T21:25:00.000-06:00

It was time to bust out the suit again. I had two job interviews in the past two days. First, Best Buy.com where they're looking for a Product Specialist in their appliance area. It's an internal marketing role, and it's also a contract position. Can I please just say how much I LOVE that corporate HQ they've got lurking over 494 and Penn? An absolute monstrosity from the outside, but man, once you're inside, it's like the best corporate campus you've ever seen. Super high tech, super pretty, super abuzz, lots of amenities... Color me impressed...and that's not the kind of thing I usually go in for.

Next was an interview at CPC Experiential, a marketing agency that's looking for a Staffing Manager. Full time, permanent position. YES! It's a super small office out in Eagan and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about everything until I got there.

Then I got all excited. Which scares me...because I'm afraid if I don't get it, I'm going to be hurt.

But man, from what I can tell, this could be SUCH a fantastic opportunity for me. And a home. A HOME DAMMIT! I am so sick of bouncing around...

So, time will tell.

What's with putting all your things online under 'Steely Danielle'?

2008-01-27T20:32:00.001-06:00

The unfortunate truth about roller derby is such that we are STRONGLY advised never to use our real names online. Anywhere. As much as possible. We're told to try and change our identities to our "stage names" for safety reasons. And we can't give out the names of others on our league to strangers either.

Isn't that sad? And you know there's a part of me that thinks, "well I'll never have that kind of attention anyway", but you never know.

So, safety first, I suppose.

Meet Jade

2008-01-27T11:06:00.000-06:00

Jade at the Morgan's house

This is my new pet, Jade! I adopted her about a month ago...she's a pug that is approximately 6.5 years old and was previously owned by a woman on my roller derby league.

She's been everything I could have hoped for in a dog---she's healthy, housebroken, and a sweet girl. She's lively and has a typically mischievous pug personality. I've had a blast getting to know her and learning to sleep next to a snoring pug.

She's turned Elvis's world upside down, but all in all, he's coping pretty well.

Now if I could just broker a peace treaty between the two animals that includes a barking/hissing and chasing cease fire, we'd be all set.

2008--a fresh start?

2008-01-25T22:19:00.000-06:00

I have so many friends that have the most amazing blogs...I always enjoy reading about their thoughts and activities. I keep thinking about my own sorry blog here, and how neglected it's been.
No resolutions (don't believe in 'em) but trying to turn over a new leaf...new layout, new blog name (*insert witty blog title here*), new blog URL (http://steelydanielle.blogspot.com)...hopefully will lead to more actual writing by me?

Could my wish for myself come true?

hey 19...

2007-10-16T20:05:00.000-05:00

At my apartment, prior to leaving for tryouts.

What the hell ever happened? You said tryouts were in August, then they moved to September 9th...and now it's October 16th and there's still nothing new on the "blog". Why do I even bother checking this stupid website out anyway?

You're not even working. For god's sake, get working on that overdue post NOW missy.

So it was really hard and probably the most fun I've had in a loooong time. There were about 40 potential roller girls vying for the same spot on the league that I wanted.
And they took 17 women to be skaters. And I wasn't one of those seventeen. And to add injury to insult, I totally jacked my knee on the very last drill of the night. Sprain. Bad Sprain. Feeling it still in January sprain.
But word spread about possible referee opportunities...

"So I applied, basically..." "And the next thing you know..."

I was awarded a referee position! Thus, the roller derby referee "Steely Danielle" is born.

Official NSRG web photo

So it's kind of the best of both worlds. Refs get to do everything skaters do, same practices and everything. But we just don't play the game. In a way, it's a completely different skill set to master, but I LOVE IT so far!

NORTH STAR ROLLER GIRLS WEBSITE

Stay posted here for more things derby!

I've been bitten by the Roller Derby bug...

2007-07-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

"Danielle, why don't you tell the class what you did on your summer vacation?"
"I became a ROLLERGIRL!"

Dig if you will, a picture--

The Northstar Rollergirls---the league I'll be trying out for on September 9th.

Don't you just LOVE it?
Well I do! I've fallen head over heels in love with the idea of becoming a Rollergirl and now I need your help...

I'm trying out for a league on September 9th, and if I'm lucky enough, fit enough, and tough enough to be chosen to join the group, I'll need an alias to skate under. Each girl has a "skater name" and number, plus a whole funny bio that they make up about their alter ego to publish on the website, in the program for each bout, etc. I had a name that I was absolutely IN LOVE with, but there's a "National Rollergirl Name Registry" that you have to check any possible names against, because it's discouraged (and considered bad form) to take another skater's name. Of course, my first choice had already been taken.
Since then I've been brainstorming, and I've been asking some friends and family for suggestions, and we've come up with seven choices that aren't already in use. Now the hard part is going to be deciding amongst them all. That's where you come in. I was wondering if you could take the time to vote for a name that you think would be the perfect, best name for my alias. I can't wait to see the results and please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, and/or campaign for your favorite here for others to read as well (the comments are at the very bottom of this post next to my name and the timestamp the blog was published). Also, if you have technical difficulties, please let me know because I REALLY WANT TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE THINKS! Plus, I think this is kinda fun. :)

So that's it...
Thanks in advance for your support, and hopefully on September 9th, I'll have something exciting to email-blast all of you about...:)
With much love,
Danielle

P.S. July 19--Of course, after I sent the initial email out, some people contacted me about a couple of things that were initially confusing. I've fixed the comments section now (at the bottom of the post) so you don't have to register with blogger to vote. Also, Cousin Amy and I had a lot of fun going through the names together of the other women on the league--something you can easily do to by clicking either team's website below and then selecting "Teams and Staff". Finally, if all this got you inspired and now YOU have a great name to add to the mix, feel free to email it to me for consideration (or leave it here in the comments section). God knows, I think I'm witty but you guys are always better!

A little background, if you're interested:
There are two leagues in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Rollergirls were the first league in town, started five years ago, and have developed such a HUGE following that they're now selling consistently over 2500 seats at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium (which, coincidentally, is where cousin Amy and I saw the Foo Fighters and My Morning Jacket, but that's another story). These girls have gotten to be excellent, excellent skaters. To the point where it's kind of intimidating to be around them actually. I fancied trying out for their team this year and then went to an open practice, saw what they were looking for, and had an immediate gut check that I was nowhere NEAR ready to skate at that level.
Minnesota Rollergirls website

Which brings us to the second league in the Twin Cities...the Northstar Rollergirls! This upcoming season will only be their second and the girls on the team that I've met and skated with thus far are super friendly, open, and not at all intimidating. I've been to a practice with their team where they allowed all the interested women who were considering trying out to actually PRACTICE with them and while I left very sore and tired, I had the hugest grin on my face driving home. It is much more of an inclusive feeling league, which feels just right for me.
Northstar Rollergirls website

Minnesota Rollergirls opening bout for the 2007 season, over 3700 fans in attendance

Is there a Roller Derby league near me?
Derby League Roster and Map (Worldwide!)

If anyone's feeling super geeky or bored, here's the link to the National Rollergirl Name Registry...it's pretty funny!
Name Database

(**Ultimate final decision overriding authority will rest with me if all of a sudden I just HAVE to lean one way over another)

Turkey video!

2007-03-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

First sign of spring?

2007-03-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

So, aren't robins the traditional first harbingers of spring? Not so in South Minneapolis!
A dalmatian-spotted domesticated yet wild bunny rabbit showed up at my friend Greg's house on Friday.
It's a neighborhood bunny that he has seen before. Apparently, it escaped from it's hutch several times last year and he helped to get it back home then. Well, word in the neighborhood is that it had escaped for good in the fall and was roaming free.
Apparently it made it through the winter just fine!
Now about those dalmatian-spotted free range baby rabbits next door...

Happy Groundhog Day!

2007-02-02T19:55:00.000-06:00

Punxsutawney Phil meets Punxsutawney "El"

It sure doesn't feel like an early spring in Minneapolis with subzero temperatures forecasted through next weekend!

Ohhhh, to be two years old again!

2007-01-25T20:49:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry, but if you don't smile when you watch these videos, then something is wrong with you!

Yahoo!

January Beach Girl

Dad, Olivia, and the dogs

I've discovered the "video" function on my digital camera

2007-01-25T20:32:00.000-06:00

First attempt at capturing "Old McDonald Had A Farm"

Followed by several other recognizable hits from the kindergarten years:

"Jingle Bells"

"Old McDonald redux" Tammy/Danielle mix

And finally, that oldie but goodie:

"Itsy Bitsy Spider"

Olivia's first attempts at photography

2007-01-25T20:27:00.000-06:00

Mom
Dad