2010 Vikings Training Camp

I woke up on Friday, July 30th, got ready, brought my car in to get the oil changed and went out to breakfast with my sister and nephew.  The day started off great and it would only get better for I'd be leaving to go to Mankato to watch the Vikings take their first practice of training camp.

We got on the road about noon and headed down to Mankato which is around 75 miles from our house but for some reason seems longer since it takes so long with traffic to cut across the Twin Cities from northeast to southwest.  We made our first stop at The Yellow Barn.  We went there last year and for the life of me could not find the name of the place on the building so I had no idea what it was called.  I was able to figure it out this year as there was a sign at the register that said to make checks payable to The Yellow Barn.  I don't know what's more amazing...finally figuring out the name of this place or the fact that they still accept checks.  M stocked up a bunch of goodies and I got a couple of things.  I want to take my nephew to this place someday and let him pick out a bunch of candy but maybe that's not the best auntie idea. Maybe if he just brushes his teeth after every treat it will be ok, right?

We arrived in Mankato sometime in the 2 o'clock hour and checked into our hotel early.  We bummed around a little before walking across the street to the Minnesota State University football fields where we'd get our first glimpse of the purple for the year.

The first person we see while walking through the entrance of the Vikings Village is Chuck Foreman.  He is riding a 10-speed bike around the parking lot.

The second person we see is Zygi Wilf, the principal owner of the Vikings. He was just bumming around the Vikings store purchasing items for his daughter and her friend.  Hey Zygi, you own the team...you don't need to pay for Vikings merchandise!

If you're not a die hard Vikings fan, training camp is probably pretty boring.  This is my sixth year going to training camp but the first year I couldn't believe that all people did was sit on bleachers in the burning hot sun and watch the Vikings practice.  I would say it would be boring for the majority of people but now I love to be there and watch them practice.  Here are some pictures of the very first practice of training camp.

Look below at #7, T-Jack. He's 6' 4".  Now look at #71, Phil Loadholt.  He's 6'8"!

After the practice, the Vikings walk across the street to the locker rooms and shower.  Before and after doing so, some of the players stop and sign autographs for the fans. Here's the guys from after Friday's practice.

After practice, a nap and getting ready, we met M's niece, Kayla, who goes to school at MSU at a Mexican restaurant for a late dinner.  We ended our night at Oleander, a bar which I believe is the oldest bar in southern Minnesota.  We left with a beer in our belly's and less $40 after both M and I thought it would be a good idea to put that much into pull tabs without a winner.  

Because this post was so action-packed I didn't have enough time or energy, I will write about Day Two on another post soon.

Tilt-Shift Photography

At the beginning of June, Ang had a post on her blog showing off her Photoshop created tilt-shift photography techniques. The basic idea is to manipulate the photo to look like a miniature scene. I was amazed by this effect and did some research to find the best way to do this using Photoshop Elements. I loosely followed this tutorial. I spent hours the weekend after Ang originally posted about this and then haven't tried doing it since but I still thought I would show you my results to see what you thought of them. Click on each picture for further detail. All of these pictures were taken by me between 2006-2009.

Parking lot next to 35W

Overlooking Deadwood, South Dakota

View of Minneapolis

View of Minneapolis with St. Paul skyline in the background

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota Vikings game

Texas State Fair

B-I-N-G-O!

At my current employer, there are some girls in the escrow department (the department I used to be in) that go out for happy hour and play bingo once a month. I've only been able to join them once before but I was able to go this time. I skipped out on the happy hour but met up with them at the Bingo hall. I've only gone to play bingo in an establishment four times in my life and this time must have been the right time because I won $99 within the first 4 games played. I was very excited and had a good feeling about how the night was going to go. I didn't win any more throughout the night but one of the girls I was with won $200. We had two winners in our group of five.

Me and my moola.

And finally the best way to show off your money is to put it on your cat

HH in LoTo

The Alphabet Gang's July happy hour was at a place called FACES Mears Park in Lowertown St. Paul. The restaurant itself actually, get this, faces Mears Park across the street. Brilliant, huh?! The restaurant is part of Cray Plaza, or possibly better known to you formerly as Galtier Plaza, which is also the building that Aaron resides in.

All of us were able to make it this time, which is always fun. We've all worked together in the past, some of us with multiple employers but now we are all working separately again. Beth and I worked together at my current employer up until about a week before our happy hour.

We sat on the patio, talked, sipped beer or wine and ate happy hour specials like their daily individual pizza for $4, which was sausage, green pepper and mushroom. While all the ingredients in their food are local and organic, the pizza itself was just plain bland.

We went up to Aaron's apartment for a quick moment as he had moved within the building since the last time we'd been there.

A creek running through Mears Park

The view from Aaron's newest apartment

On Aaron's patio- A, D, C, D, and B!

Macrolicious Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!

This week went by pretty quickly for me and it's weekend again. Enjoy yourselves this weekend!

I'm getting bored with Macrolicious Friday. The concept was a lot better in my head. It might be time to come up with another Friday gimmick.

This is a picture of my bracelet.

St.Paul Sunday

M and I woke up the day after the Cherry Ride and hopped on the motorcycle and went to breakfast at the Coffee Cup. It's a small greasy spoon on Rice Street. I've only been there once before but their breakfast is very good.

Our plans after that were just to explore the city of St. Paul. I love the days when we have no real plans and we can drive around and do whatever we want to. I love St. Paul and I get so tired of people who say that St. Paul has nothing to offer compared to Minneapolis. Yes, St. Paul is smaller and less lively than Minneapolis but despite that, St. Paul has plenty to do and see. I lived in Minneapolis for three years and while I've never lived in St. Paul proper, I've lived in plenty of St. Paul suburbs and still only live six miles from downtown St. Paul. Why can't people love both cities?

We visited the Cathedral Hill and Crocus Hill neighborhoods, downtown, along the Mississippi River and around the Capitol grounds.

Crocus Hill area

Irvine Park in downtown

Off of Shepard Road along the mighty Mississippi

Click on the picture. Do you see us in the mirror?

Here's a better look

A tree in the reflection of Michael's motorcycle mirror

Near the Capitol grounds

A monument about racism

The Capitol Building is getting a makeover





If you have nothing to do, go and explore St. Paul or Minneapolis or any city. Chances are whatever city you visit has something you've never seen before. Get out and enjoy life!