Never Trust the Italian Post!
Ok, so I think I'm officially the comic relief here. Before I step into my accepted role, I just want to say that you guys are awesome and amazing and inspiring, and I do hope that someday I lead my life to a greater purpose as you all do.
But for now, I hope to brighten your days with a few events typical of the Nora household.
Well, my little cat Bellaboo (as opposed to my gargantuan cat, Octavius, but better known as "der Panzer," or "the tank" in German) imprinted on me as her mother at a young age because I kept her locked in my room when she was a recently-discovered 3-week-old kitten so she wouldn't get eaten by above-mentioned large cat. Well, this means that sometimes she wants to bring me presents. These presents come in the form of dead animals, or, in the case of the other day, not-dead-yet animals that show some fight. Well, apparently this one (a bird) managed to get out of her reach, so she abandoned it in my room. My mom saw some fluttering when she walked by, and she figured out what happened and shut the door until we could deal with it later. She, Jack, and I never found it, so I went to bed wondering. Well, halfway through the new People magazine, the plants on top of my bookcase start rustling, so I get help so someone could open the window as I throw bird-filled plants out into freedom. My dad thought to throw a pillowcase over it to lull the bird, but it got scared and went for my mom's head. She screamed and ran, with me echoing and following on her heels. I later went back in to open windows and remove screens as my dad chased a poor, chirping, injured (as evidenced by the streak of blood and feathers on my ceiling from when it flew too high) swallow around the room with a broomstick. If I didn't feel bad for the bird (which then hid again until my dad disappeared), it would have been an even funnier sight. Unfortunately, I had to leave the windows wide open in the hopes that it would fly out on its own (it did, around 6:30), and this happened on a chilly (!) day in the midst of the 90- and 100-degree heat we've been having (I love the consistency of Chicago weather), so I got a cold. :( But I saved a bird!
In other news, the title of my post deserves some explanation. Well, I sent several packages, all in the official Italian post yellow boxes, so I was surprised when I got a huge, brown box in the mail. Upon opening it, I discovered what were (mostly) the contents of two of my yellow boxes, with some minor changes. First of all, I got some additional material, as in a Dutch soccer jersey for a player named Der Vandersloot or something like that (Jack envies it, but it's MINE, dammit), really nasty old shoes that look like a cross between wrestling and ballet shoes (and smell used), two letters in German written to "Christmas" (in which the writer wonders if Christmas is still there and if it's been busy with work for the past 3 years... Thanks to Jack for translating), and headphones (cheap airline ones from the looks of it). They also took some things (my heineken pint glass!!!!), but they did thoughtfully replace that one with two vials of dandelion extract. I shit you not. I figure I should write a letter because that was a damn hot beer glass, but it's also pretty funny, and now I'll be safe from liver, gall bladder, kidney, and joint problems while treating eczema, cancer, poor digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver while wearing a hot soccer jersey. All thanks to those lovely little flowers, dandelions (and my thoughtful thief/christmas penpal).
- posted by the moj @ 12:49 PM 0 comments

 
Interesting Family Developments
Hey all,
so not too much going on in my life, but we got some big family news yesterday--my cousin Marie, who's 18, is going to have a baby in January. I think it's been really tough on her telling her parents (and I think the huge-ass family reunion at the beginning of August is only going to be harder, because this is quite the scandal for the "perfect" Nora family). My aunt and my mom (and others, I'm sure) have been awesome about it (just congratulating her and offering help if needed), but I think that it was hard on her dad and my grandparents especially to find out (and, unfortunately, I have to admit that I think it's harder for my grandparents because her boyfriend's poor and black, and I think there's tension because some people in the family blame Marie's parents for ignoring trouble signs). So I'd appreciate it if you'd all keep Marie in your thoughts and prayers--I give her credit for telling her parents and having the baby, but it's going to be tough for her.
Thanks.
- posted by the moj @ 3:51 PM 0 comments

 
the cookie of the yookie variety
Hey all. Well, I have to admit that the first time I opened the blog after my return in patria, I panicked at how much had built up and closed the window for perusal at some unknown later date. Well, July 19 was that date, baby! I finally sat down and read, entry by entry, what you guys have been up to. You're all awesome and amazing.
As far as an update on my life... hm... Well, first when I got home we had my grandpa's 90th birthday party, which was really fun. We made this memory book in which people put tributes, stories, photos, and assorted memorabilia (and my mom and I discovered how delightfully anal scrapbooking is), which we read to my grandpa. We just had an awesome day.
Then I've been working a lot. It's actually fun working at the bar. And it's a bar/grille, so I'm finally learning how to cook more things, and I'm having fun pouring peoples' drinks. I have to listen to some crack-pot theories on terrorism and the state of our world, but I get tips for smiling and nodding, although when they venture into racist territory, I admit I get a little less patient. But there are a couple of regulars who are super-nice, so I enjoy myself.
Other than that, I have had a barrage of doctors' visits. Turns out after 21 years of life I am now allergic to my cats. And the day I discover this my cats become much friendlier. oh well. I figure some exposure will help me get over this stage. I am determined to have cats! How else will I be a cat lady!?!?
Anyho, that's about all the news from Lake Woebegone. I have been anti-social thus far, but I finally called my high school best friend back yesterday, and it turns out that she took a crash course in Arabic this summer! So let this be a lesson to all--you stop being anti-social and you discover that suddenly you have something new in common with the girl who's been one of your best friends since 3rd grade.
- posted by the moj @ 10:12 AM 0 comments

 
on faith and friends
hey laura and chicas - i tried to post as a "comment" on big stick's post, but you have to click the link underneath in order to see it. just thought i'd point that out cuz it's sort of hidden :)
- posted by Devon @ 8:19 PM 0 comments