Ay, it’s been almost two weeks since I last updated Questing here, I’ve had my fingers full of Quixotica in that time. Close to finalization
on the Digital Muses redesign.



I updated Linkage last week, so there are a few more places you should check out! Though in doing so I noticed that I had been slacking in actually finding new places for every entry.


What can I say, I get lazy. Heh.


I also spent a great deal of work on the web for my applied Comm Course last week. I was the ‘Techical Director’ (heh) for a Public Relations Web Site about our major. It wasn’t a spectacular design or anything, but a good deal of work, and informative too.


Rigth now I’m skipping my L&M class, (I needed to have some clothes, and the dryers take forever,) and getting organized for this week. Sheesh, finals are next week!

EEEK!

I had two most excellent weekends in a row, neither of which have I taken the time to
tell you about. Last Friday night I went to Galena with Tony and Lou, and had an awesome time exploring main street there, which has all these awesome overpriced stores selling all kinds of things, from toys to candies to pipes. Lou bought
a vintage green dress, Tony some pipe stuff, and I bought some yummy rock candy. To top off
that evening we all went to eat at an incredible italian place. That was the best italian food I have ever
had.


On Sunday I got up way early to drive with Sensei Therese to an Aikido gathering in Milwaukee. I was overwhelmed by Sensei Mamura, and a roomful of people of all wages, in their gear, flipping people around and getting pinned and having a awesome time. I recently officially
joined the Midwest Aikido Federation, and I’m so excited to see all these people who have made a lifestyle of Aikido. They were so helpful and patient with me(being so much a novice). There were many women blackbelts there too. So incredible I almost cried, totally overwhelming.
After we all practiced, everyone folded their hakama pants on the mat and others pulled out
plastic to cover the wonderful practice mats, then set little tables down on top of those for
the potluck. Kneeling and sitting on the mats, we ate on the little tables and talked with people from all over about Aikido and all sorts of things. at the end I filled myself with all sorts of food, even some sushi(yum!!)

This weekend was also incredible. Friday night I went to Dubuque with Tony, and we caught Sean Connery’s new movie Entrapment, which was a really great flick. On Saturday we returned there to go to Comic World.
So Tony could go bankrupt buying comics, and so I could pick up the lastest Astro City comics.
Then, a quick jaunt back to school, I went to 20 min of a picnic and drove 4 hours to chicago to meet Melanie for the very first time and go to an Ani Difranco concert. Mel had a couple extra tickets and sent out a call to anyone on her list that might want them. We had been trying to meet each other for quite some time, so quite suddenly I was driving farther than I ever had to meet someone I met because of the web. And I didn’t feel strange about it, wonder what that says about society/me. Anyway, I navigate myself to her place, and meet up with her and Rob(another web designer) and later Chris and Beryl(who were such a kick.) We all then piled into Melanies car and motored two more hours down the road to Normal, IL. (Which is anything but.) The concert was a blast, Ani leaping and diving all over the stage, great time. There was a really annoying fan behind us, who was loud enough to have been on stage without a mic. At any softer part of every song, she would yell, “I love you Ani!”, shatterting any effect that Ani was trying to do. Yeah, two hours of “I love you Ani!.” But
still, it was a great time. Then, getting out of Normal was an adventure in itself.

For a while it seemed we had wandered into the latest Romeo and Juliet movie, you know, the modern one. We hit
a gas station and when we wandered in it sounded like the local gang was buying candy and soda, We turn around and suddenly people in suits and dresses with flowers and heels were roaming the aisles. (Apparently prom) and the near deserted parking lot was packed three cars deep with some prom entourage caravan–Wacky!



On our way out of Normal we caught McDs’ just as it was closing, and we had the poor guy who was
closing make us up some munchies, and he decided to divulge his life story to Rob, heh, and told him that he was quitting he job tommorrow, heh. We sat there for a while, while the quitting guy swept the floor and locked us in. We talked of Role Playing and Jyhad, oh so many things.


Then, two more hours in the car brough us back to Melanie awesome pad, with music and Dennis Leary to keep us awake(mostly..giggle). Rob laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe,(a happy soul).
Chris and Beryl left us for the night and we stayed up till 4:30 talking about web and design.
The time went so fast for us, we’d turn around and suddenly realize another hour had passed.
It was really a great time, Melanie’s apartment has a great view of the highway! Really she has a great place decorated ..just so nice .. And her two cats were no end of amusement. After a cuppa starbucks coffee and

But my weekend was still in full swing, I drove 4 hours back here, and went differnt route that took me back through Galena, the weather all weekend was perfect for driving. My right arm is sunburnt, heh, from all that driving.


As I rolled into town I saw Boy(Who I hadn’t seen or several weeks) and Tony pulling outta subway. They headed over to Tony’s pad and I joined them for a couple hours before
I had to go get prettied up a little for a Work banquet. After several hours of forced fun, I returned for a couple more hours with Boy and Tony and Jon, then everyone split, and I went to bed early.

Woo! What a time!

Signing off,

Stacie