A confession

Ok, since I already made the confession to Jackie, my sister-in-law, I can go ahead and let everyone know - I'm competing with her blog. Not for quality's sake, mind you, but for quantity.

It was working out pretty well over Christmas break, since I had gobs of time at home on my hands. I was able to post once a day, no problem. And everytime I hit "publish post," I'd feel a special sense of satisfaction and relief, knowing that I could keep up with my prolific sister-in-law.

I don't know how I got to be so competitive, since nothing was really a competition in our household growing up. In fact, one of our favorite board games was the "Ungame," where everyone wins! But, I do remember dragging my feet to play Sorry or Othello with my brother, knowing that my chances of winning were slim.

In the past several years, whenever I have gotten into some type of game or contest situation with friends, they will more often than not exclaim, "I had no IDEA you were so competitive, Liz!"

It really comes through at work, since we are so metrics-driven. I cannot stand when we aren't driving the results expected of us and I hate just meeting expectations. I want to exceed them. Always.

So it's probably good for me that I am conceding the victory to Jackie tonight, even though there was never really a contest in the first place. I'm not going to be blogging at work, that's for sure, (it might keep me from exceeding expectations!) and I'm beginning to accept the fact that there are many evenings when I just won't find the time.

Consequently, I encourage you to visit www.midwayfarm.blogspot.com during my dry spells. I'm sure there will be a new post ready for you to enjoy!

Dorothy, you're not in Annapolis anymore

This very special offer greeted me when I came home from work tonight. I, a newly minted Midwesterner, have been specially selected to participate in a marketing test for the magazine "Midwest Living." The promotional materials boldly proclaim "The Midwest! It's where you are ... and where you love to be!" and "Come home to the one magazine that takes you where you love to be!" And I have been promised a 3-year subscription for the price of one year

I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure if the marketing team at Midwest Living knows my real story. First of all, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I could be living in the Midwest. Because I've heard many Michiganders argue that we live in the Great Lakes, not the Midwest.

Second, even if I am living in the Midwest, it's where I'm learning to love to be! I moved here to get married and yes, I'm growing to enjoy my surroundings. However, if I had remained single, well, I don't think I'd be eligible for Midwest Living subscription offers.

I usually throw away offers like this, as they always seem to dupe you into paying for something you didn't agree to purchase. Yet, since "There's never been a better time to uncover the wonders of the Midwest," perhaps I should give this one a second thought.

I haven't felt like this since high school

Last night marked the end of the longest vacation I have had since I started my current job in September, 2007. I haven't felt a sense of dread like I did last night since high school, when Christmas vacation was coming to an end. In college, returning to classes after winter break was always a little hard, but there was definitely a spirit of optimism and anticipation with the start of a new semester. And in my previous job, well, I just didn't have to get up as early! And the mornings certainly weren't as dark and frigid - factors that make my a.m. runs less enticing.

Really the only thing that got me out of bed this morning was iron will. I don't know how else I crawled from under the covers and into the cold and wind. I just tried not to think about what I was doing, I guess.

And the work day proved to be much as I expected - long.

However, since my mother always likes it when I end things on a positive note, I'll say this - I am so grateful to have a good job, a warm home to retreat to after a long day at work or a predawn run, and a fantastic and loving husband who, when I told him we were having steam burgers for dinner, said "Oh good!!" Maybe things aren't so tough after all.

Oh I hope it's not an InkStop

Over the past six months or so, we've been watching the destruction of the Burger King up the street from our house. And for a while, there was a sign in front of the wreckage that read "Closed for remodeling." But I think it was just giving BK broiler addicts some false hope, because the construction that has recently developed looks like the beginnings of a miniature strip mall and not a renovated fast food joint.

Whenever Matt and I drive by the construction zone, we speculate on what might be in store for our neighborhood. In our most pessimistic moments, we envision an InkStop. And if you've been paying any attention to the placement of InkStops throughout the country, you'll know that they are usually accompanied by a Pet Supplies "Plus." Both would be very unuseful for us, seeing as how we rarely purchase ink and have no pets. There would probably also be a tanning salon. Oh, and perhaps a small Burger King to appease the Whopper fans.

However, when I'm feeling optimistic, I imagine that we're getting a Chipotle, a Starbucks and Dryclean Depot, which cleans most garments for $1.99. If there's room left over, I guess they can bring back the Burger King. I do like french fries and a milkshake from time to time.

Green goes blue

An article ran in today's issue of the Detroit Free Press, recognizing a new eatery in Waterford, MI called Pekoe & Joe (don't you love the name? tea and coffee!), an environmentally friendly drive-through restaurant.

It turns out that Pekoe & Joe is one of only three certified green restaurants in the state of Michigan. One of the other three happens to be right up the street from my house in Berkley, MI -- Amici's Pizza and Living Room.

What I like most about these two eateries is their unassuming locations. Going green is rather trendy these days, and I can think of plenty of towns in metro Detroit that are far hipper than rather blue-collar Waterford or Berkley.

Not that there's anything wrong with these towns! They are both charming in their own right. It's just that an organic, LEED-certified restaurant sort of seems out of place when it's surrounded by a drive-through A&W and other lard-dependent family restaurants, a doll and toy soldier hospital, a stamp shop, and increasingly obsolete print and copy shops.

I'm not sure what makes Waterford and Berkley desirable locations for green eateries. Maybe it's lower tax rates? Maybe we're on the verge of gentrification, and this is just the beginning? In any case, I'm not going to complain!

You can read more about Pekoe & Joe here, on the Free Press' Web site.

Siriusly stressed out

I spent about 2 1/2 hours today running errands and spent a large part of that time in the car. (mainly because I was willing to drive an extra 15 minutes to shop at the brand-new Walmart. And it was worth it.)

As soon as I got about a block away from home, I realized I should have brought a CD I'd been meaning to listen to. Instead of turning around, though, I turned on Sirius Radio. I've had it for more than a year now and even though I enjoy the variety of music and programming available to me, it mainly just stresses me out.

Over 170 channels is just too much for me. I can't listen in contentment to any one song or program, because something better must be playing on another station, right? Or maybe I should be listening to local radio; I don't want it to die the way local newspapers are. And then there's always my 6 CD changer. I should be making use of that, especially when there was a time I had to plug in my Discman to the cigarette lighter and carefully balance it on the cup holders to listen to a CD.

Today I decided to stick with Sirius and learned about the toxins found in anti-perspirant, decor changes made to the White House, Levitical law, the rally today on Wall Street, how breathalizer laws are reducing drunk driving accidents in New Mexico, and couples who are hesitant to marry, but not reluctant to have children. I didn't even make it to the music stations!

In the spirit of cutting back during tough economic times, I'm all for reevaluating our need for satellite radio. But I don't think I'm going to make it past Matt on this one.

Goodbye Chauncey, hello Rodney

I've never been a real fan of NBA basketball. I'd rather watch college hoops.

However, it's difficult not to be slightly endeared to "Dee-troit BASKETBALL!" There's a lot of enthusiasm here for the team and you can't help getting excited with everyone else about some good news coming out the city - a competitive basketball team.

I enjoy learning the personalities of the Piston players and was particularly biased to Chauncey Billups. I think he was the most good-natured guy and personable guy on the team. When he got traded to the Denver Nuggets this November for Allen Iverson, I briefly considered throwing in the towel on Pistons basketball. Not a fair trade in my arguably uneducated opinion.

But, hindsight is always 20-20. If Billups hadn't left for the Nuggets, I might never have realized the merits of up-and-coming star Rodney Stuckey. Only 25 years old and in his second year in the NBA, Stuckey is dazzling Pistons fans with his talent (recently scoring a career high of 40 points in a game) and strong work ethic.

I like that he's young, humble and driven. I'll admit I'm no expert on professional basketball and am only going on first impressions here. But, I have a novice's hunch that I've got my eye on an All-Star.