Way too Long

The last Alphabet Gang get together was November 27th.  It was the first time I went out with any of my friends after my dad died.  After going out, I think I realized I still wasn't ready for social interaction.  Unfortunately, we haven't gotten together since then until Wednesday, May 1st.  We actually had plans the last week of April but due to crazy snow, we cancelled...just like we did back in February.  The forecast for May 1st was a lot of snow, like 3-6 inches in the Twin Cities but it never came.  Some flurries and a little rain but it stayed to the south.  Owatonna ended up getting 16 inches of snow!

We went to Ginger Hop in NE Mpls which was the original place we decided in February.  Two of our gang members were unable to meet so it was just five of us. We had great conversations catching up for the last months and months since we met and my friend Catha announced that she is pregnant.  She's had a horrible time with pregnancies, with this time being her 4th time being pregnant, however they only have one child.  This is their last time trying and all early indications look great.

Some of the girls had been to Ginger Hop before this was my first time there.  I'm the one that suggested the place as it's been on my radar for years.  They appeared to have good happy hour food specials but I ordered the pineapple fried rice with ahi tuna.  I loved the rice but I think it would have been just great without the tuna, even though I liked it.

It felt so good getting together with my pals after such a long intermission.  We have a May date set with a little bit different activity so let's hope there's no need for cancellations.

Our one and only pic

Fleetwood Mac

M and I went to see Fleetwood Mac at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday night, April 28th.  It was our second time seeing them.  We saw them one other time in March 2009.  

Before we did that, we walked to Cossetta's for dinner.  It was a beautiful day but the clouds were starting to roll in and it sprinkled a little bit.  Cossetta's was packed with crazy lines everywhere.  Yes, the food is that good.

We had fantastic seats in the lower rows on the right of the stage.  The concert was great, with a lot of it being pretty much the same as it was in March 2009.  They do have a new EP out so they played a couple of new songs as well.

Bad Breakfast

M and I hopped on the motorcycle Sunday, April 28th to go to Minneapolis for breakfast.  First, we stopped at Glam Doll Donuts. M got a donut but I didn't get anything for two reasons; first, they didn't have any vegan donuts and second, we were going to eat our actual breakfast right after.  M was just having a breakfast appetizer.  Everything about this place was cute and appealing.  I heard the donut was pretty good too.  Glam Doll, time to start making a vegan donut.  Thank you.

We walked down to the Bad Waitress for breakfast.  There were a lot of people waiting and when it was our time to be seated, they asked if we would sit in the couch/chair area.  We didn't care and it was kind of fun sitting back there.  We've been to the Bad Waitress multiple times but this time was the worst and I'm never going back. 

I ordered an all vegan breakfast consisting of tofu scramble, potatoes and toast.  It was the worst tofu scrambler I've ever had.  Tofu was dry in texture with dry spices. Potatoes weren't even done.  Vegan pancake was hard as a rock.  I thought it was $1.75 to add a pancake but I was mistaken and didn't know it was $5.25 and if I knew it was that size, I would have never ordered it.  I guess it didn't matter anyways because I barely ate it.  M's ordered a side of chorizo and he didn't eat it because he said was gross.  So, sorry Bad Waitress but your food sucked big time.  

First of the Year Part II

Yesterday I talked about the first day we were able to take out our bicycles for the year.  Today I'm talking about taking out the motorcycle for the first time for the year.  That happened the very next day, Saturday, April 27th.  The weather was perfect!  

First, Fuzzer got to go outside for a little bit on his chain.  He's an indoor cat so when I do let him out for a little bit, he behaves pretty well and is calm, but curious.  He mostly just likes to chew on the grass and hang out. Isn't he pretty?

Fuzzer and his extraordinarily long tail

After Fuzzer had his fun, M cleaned the bike and we hopped on for a ride.  We didn't have anywhere in particular to go but buzzed around enjoying the sunshine.  We ended up stopping at Manitou Station in White Bear Lake for a drink on their patio before cruising around a little more before going home.  

The nice weather was short-lived and we'd have more snow after this date.  This non-Spring has been the weirdest ever. 

First of the Year

Friday, April 26th was the first time we were able to get out our bicycles and cruise around a bit.  We just took a leisurely 5 mile bike ride around the neighborhoods around our house.  The temperature was in the low 70's and we skipped having a high in the 60's and went right to the 70's at this point.  (Us Minnesotans know it was short-lived and we'd have more snow (and cold) after this point.)

Wednesday looked nice

There is a cardinal on the ground--Right in front of dat der snow patch 

What a beautiful contrast, huh?

Taking a break for photo on the road

A Change in Plans

Wednesday, April 24th was the night I was supposed to have dinner with Tanya.  That still happened but just not at the place we decided to go.

I had a conversation with one of my coworker's that afternoon asking him if he had ever had Ethiopian food. He hadn't and when I told him where we were going that evening, he gave me a look.  He used to work for the city of Minneapolis in zoning/ordinance and that restaurant struck a chord with him and what was reported at that restaurant.  We'll leave it at that but we decided not to go there.  We already had our reservations about going there in the first place so this new nugget of info made the decision easy.

We ended up at our good 'ol reliable, Ecopolitan, a vegan, raw, gluten-free and organic restaurant.  I started out with a smoothie, Tanya had a juice and we had zucchini hummus and flax crackers for an appetizer.  She ordered a salad and I was feeling daring and ordered the "Surprise Me" option on the menu.  It was a dill "fettuccine alfredo" using zucchinis as noodles and cashews for the cream sauce with flax crackers on the side. It was pretty good but a little too onion-y for me.  I'm not a fan of raw onions.

We already have our plan for our next outing in May and while it's ethnic, it's not Ethiopian.

Apple Pie Smoothie and Beet Juice

Our appetizer

Tanya's salad

My fettuccine alfredo

Creepy, beautiful tree