My night

Mia was on her cell phone for two hours as she drove back to St. Cloud from Duluth tonight. It is Thanksgiving weekend. She had just finished her last server training shift at the Timberlodge and must have needed someone to talk to. Someone in particular. Perhaps a sister in west coast time who is still up at 11pm on her Northern Minnesota watch on a Tuesday night. That's where I came in.
Meanwhile, I had been thinking about going to the gym tonight to lift some weights before my run tomorrow (still preparing for the Vegas Half Marathon- especially after hearing Liana had run 10 MILES last night.. I fear I may fall behind this madwoman). Also, going to the gym means not spending any money in this crazy city before the holidays strip me of my so-called income. It also means not watching TV all night (as I shamefully resort to after a long day's work on many occasions). Not to mention the fact that I might feel awesome before hitting the hay.
But tonight was an exception: it was good quality sister time- forging the divide like Oregon Trail that our physical limitation creates- by pushing a few buttons and making the time to really ask "what's goin' on girl?"
I am never shocked to admit the calm that follows a good conversation with someone you don't have to explain everything in detail to, or comparatively, who shows appreciation for details of your horrific first dates or the guys who just won't. go. away. no matter what you say or do. Quite obviously, our conversation is fresh in my mind.
It reminds me of the good grocery shopping talk that Ty and I had last Saturday. Crescent Rolls forgotten had us doubling our time, but it was definitely for the best: the recipe turned out perfectly, and I got Ty for about 45 minutes on prime Saturday night minutes.
Damn it feels good to have a Hall. Or 5.

EBBERS!!

BOIJEE!!

At last...

The blog you have all so eagerly been anticipating...I am sitting here in my second home (the library...boo to all of you college graduates!!), surrounded by lightless lamps (very frustrating) with the peaceful words of Sara Bareilles streaming through my headphones. So pardon me, if a couple of her lyrics slip into this and confuse you...


To be a Hall...We are a strange little band of characters, once trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo (sorry mom...), borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.
Creating a family in this tumultuous world which we live in, is an act of faith, a wager that against all odds, there will be a future...and if you're lucky, one as great as ours. There are countless things that only families have in common, the greatest familiarity in every sense of the word. Memories that no one else can make...and somewhere in the shapes and shades of these memories...I see bits and pieces of me embedded into the thick and rustic history which we all share. A replaying filmstrip in my head, which never ceases to put a smile on my face. The fact that my favorite part of a first date is that of which I am asked about my family. I can't say enough about you all...much love this Christmas season.

Just another day as a Hall...

Christmas list!

This is Sonja's informal christmas list, in no particular order. Aren't you excited? The wait has been killing you, I know.
-a funky, patterned blanket
-a picture frame
-a new scarf
-gloves/hat that are water resistant
-big, colorful, quality Panasonic headphones that go over the ear, not earbuds!
-kitchen stuff: apron, decor (our kitchen is offwhite and green mostly- so maybe something dark to spice it up?)
-nifty rainjacket (size Small or Med, depending on fit)
-warm beret hat or puma/sports beanie hat, but not those tight fitting ones. I like them to fold over, old school style.
-socks and underwear?
-art supplies- specifically art pens/markers, but I need more of everything (always)

I know you've all got great taste, so please use this to catapult from in case you are stuck.