Lunch at the MOA

On Wednesday, I met my friend Kristen for lunch at the Mall of America.  Even though it was a quick lunch at Ruby Tuesday's, it was fun to catch up with her again.

Twenty One Candles

M's niece Kayla had her golden birthday on October 21st and on Saturday, a group of family and friends went out to help her celebrate.  M and I were only out briefly as M had to be at the airport the next morning.

They started at Psycho Suzi's in NE Minneapolis around 5 pm and we joined up with them around in the 8 pm hour.  We stayed at Suzi's just briefly before going across the street to Tony Jaros'.  They left Tony's and headed to Stella's in Forest Lake to be a little closer to home and we went home. Kayla seemed to have lots of fun and had her share of shots and drinks for the evening and from what I heard, paid for it the next day.

Kayla, even though it seems like you've been 21 forever, I hope you had a very fun 21st birthday weekend celebration!  

Thanks to Kim for the first two pictures!

Baby Time

On Saturday afternoon, I picked up my mom and my sister and we headed to a baby shower for my cousin's wife, Tammy.  They are having a girl and the due date is January 2nd.  It was in St. Paul Park at her friend's house.  We played a couple of games, Tammy opened presents and we ate lots of yummy Mexican appetizers. As good as I am about taking pictures, my purse was hidden behind a chair when she was opening presents so I didn't get to take any pictures.

I did take some pictures when I was at my sister's house earlier in the day.  She's a Halloween freak so her house is completely decorated including huge spiders which did not thrill me, especially when my nephew says, "Dana!" and I turn around and he has a giant tarantula in my face. He always pushes it to the limit with me when it comes to spiders.  At that age, he thinks it's funny, which I can't blame him for but it's not!  He's going to be Jason for Halloween and the kid is in character when he has his costume on.  He won't talk to you, only stare at you.  I also got to see my nephew Colton not sleeping this time!

Jamie with heels, me with flats and my mom with heels. 

 

If you live in South St. Paul, vote for my BIL for city council!  

Red (and some) Wine

I had won passes for an advanced screening to the movie Red a couple weeks back, however I had forgotten we had plans already for that night so we weren't able to go but I still wanted to see it so M and I went on Friday night to Marcus Theatres in Oakdale.  First, M and I were the youngest people in theatre, if you don't count the five year old that I'm sure enjoyed the movie.  We were surrounded by older couples, which was fine but I questioned it because maybe that means we're morphing into an older couple right before my eyes and I don't even know it.  That's how it happens, you know.

The movie itself was exactly what I expected it to be and worth the time and money.  I think the movie trailers portray the movie accurately.  The acronym for RED is 'Retired-Extremely Dangerous'.  I really like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren but John Malkovich is a brilliant actor and cannot do wrong in my eyes on screen, no matter how odd, strange or creepy he may seem. The weakest link in the movie is Mary Louise-Parker, which partially is by design but I am not a fan of anyways, however I know many people love her in the series, Weeds. Richard Dreyfuss is also in the movie.

If you don't go out and see this movie, I would definitely recommend it as a rental.

Check out the trailer.

After the movie, we cracked a bottle of wine (now the blog title makes sense), lit some candles and debuted our monthly playlist of this month's 100 songs.  Yes, it's not November yet but we couldn't wait.  I was tired and didn't make it very long, as usual. 

TMI---Too Much Information

I don't like talking on the phone.  I talked so much on the phone as a teenager that I have no desire to do so as an adult and because of that, I don't always answer my phone so if it's ringing and in a different area of the house than me, I'm not rushing from where I'm at to answer it. I also never answered my phone if I did not recognize the number, until I received an urgent call last month from an unknown number that I actually did answer.  Since then, I've tried to answer my phone when I'm around whether or not I recognize the number.

I was driving home from work on Friday when I received a call from the 651 area code, which I live in but didn't not recognize the number but answered it anyway.  My conversation went similar to this:

Me: Hello?

Caller:  Dana?!  

Me:  Yeeeessss....

Caller:  Hi, it's Tina!

(Pause)

Caller:  Tina, your hairdresser!

(Pause)

Caller: From (Insert salon name here)

Me:  Oh, hi.

***Ok, first of all, I hate the word "hairdresser" but for a lack of better term, I'll use that word. Second, my "hairdresser" does work at that salon, however her name is Angela and I've been going to her for years. I'm thinking this while I'm on the phone with her and then it dawns on me.  Back around 3 years ago, I tried to make an appointment with Angela, however she was booked and I really wanted to get my haircut on that day.  I decided to "cheat" on Angela and go to the same salon, different location and get my haircut that day.  That's what I did and the woman that cut my hair was named Tina.  Tina was in her late 40's but trendy. She cut my hair that day and all Michael heard later was me crying because it was the worst haircut of my life.  I just hated it.  She didn't listen to what I wanted and because I have a hard time being assertive when getting my haircut and just admitting that I don't like it, I didn't say anything at the salon.  I just paid and walked out knowing I would never be back.*** 

Tina: How've ya been?  

Me:  Pretty good, and you?

Tina:  Well, I just wanted to tell you that I no longer work at (Insert salon name) and that if you want your haircut, I will come right to your house and do it for cheaper than the salon would charge.

Me: Oh, ok.  I'll keep that in mind and program your number into my phone.

Tina:  Great, I won't call you again...I just wanted to let you know that.  

Me: Ok, sounds good, thanks.

Tina:  Yeeeeahhhh.....I was doing a perm for a client and I over processed it and the woman complained....I mean, it was an accident...it's not like I would do that on purpose....people make mistakes.  Anyways, they told me that I could have until the end of November to find another job and then on Tuesday, they come and tell me that they accepted my resignation.  I told them that I didn't put my resignation in and they just kept saying that they accept it.  

Me: Huh.....

Tina:  I mean, I've been there for 17 years!  Those f*ckers just said that I resigned because they don't want to pay me unemployment.  This is the second time this has happened to an employee in three months. 

Me:  Huh....I'm sorry to hear that.

Tina:  Those f*ckers are going to pay.  Oh, sorry about my language.

Me:  That's ok.

Tina:  Don't worry, I'm doing something about this and those f*ckers will be sorry.  Sorry, anyway, I just called to say that so I won't call you again but call me if you need your haircut, ok?

Me:  Ok thanks, take care.

Tina: Bye.

***I wake up Saturday morning and my phone is on vibrate.  Michael tells me that it's "ringing" down in the kitchen.  I missed the call but look to see who it was and my missed call was from Tina....after she told me she wouldn't call me anymore.  I don't even know what to think about the whole situation other than it's strange and she is crazy.***

Vikings vs. Dallas

Last Sunday was a very important game for both the Vikings and the Cowboys.  Both teams were 1-3 going into the game.  Fortunately, the Vikings were on the winning side of that game, with two interceptions by E.J. Henderson and right out the gate starting the second half, Percy Harvin had a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.  It was also Randy Moss's homecoming for a second time around in his Vikings career.  He was very well received by the crowd and had 5 receptions for 55 yards.  Vikings won 24-21. And you know what else we won?  Pizza.  Every game, they have the DiGiorno Pizza Row of the Game.  Each week for the last few years, they pick one row out of the dome to be the Row of the Game.  It just so happens that it was our row so each person in our row won a free pizza coupon for a DiGiorno pizza at the grocery store valued up to $6.  Not a huge prize but the odds of winning aren't very great, (about 25 people win out of 62,000 each week) which makes it kind of exciting.  We also ran into a guy and his son and the space alien blow up doll that they bring to the games.  The dad is from Maryland and the son is from North Carolina.  They have family in northern Minnesota so they come here at least once a year.  The first time we met them was in November 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida to see the Vikes play the Jaguars.  If you look here, you'll might be able to see the dad with his back turned but you'll see the alien from that game in Florida.  Fast forward to September 2009, and we ran into them again here at the dome.  We also saw them earlier this year in August for preseason and then finally this time again.  We found them after the game but it was funny because they were looking for us before the game while we were tailgating but couldn't find us.  We normally park in the same spot but because it was a 3:15 pm game, there were people who got out there earlier than us and got our spot, the spot they looked for us at.  It's awesome to develop a friendship with people all around the country because of the Vikings!

And now on to Green Bay tomorrow!  The Vikes haven't won on the road since November 1, 2009, which was the last time we played the Packers at Lambeau.  I'm not holding my breath but my fingers are crossed.

1st Annual Weenie Roast

M and I went to our friend's Sean and Beth's house on Saturday night to help them celebrate their 1st Annual Weenie Roast.  We met Sean and Beth through M's cousin, Johnny, on the 2009 Cherry Ride.  Since then, they've participated in 2 Cherry Rides and 2 Cherrie Jones Tailgate Parties so of course we wanted to participate in their party.  They live in St. Paul so it wasn't too far of a drive to their house.  Each person brought their own drink and a dish to pass.  All the food was set up in the garage and there was a lot of good food..... hot spinach and artichoke dip and garlic toast, sloppy joe's, baked beans, fruit and dip, pasta salad, deviled eggs, taco salad, s'mores, lots of candy and of course, hot dogs.  I didn't get any good photos of the evening so these will have to do.  Thanks Sean and Beth for a fun time!

Last Wednesday M and I went to Acme Comedy Club to meet up with our friends Loren and Michelle to see a free comedy show.  Wednesday was Acme Insider's Night, which means if you are signed up as an Acme Insider, you get offered two free tickets once a month to see a featured show.  Since M and I are trying to do things that do not cost a lot of money, we thought it would be a perfect mid-week activity with friends. The headlining comic was Jamie Kilstein.  I would describe him as a politic comic, whose views are way to the left. He was very versed and passionate about his material but I can't say it was laugh out loud hilarious.  He was very good at what he does though.  I forgot to take any pictures of the evening so I'll use a photo of Acme that I took last year.  If you are interested in becoming an Acme Insider and get invites to free shows, sign up here.

Sunday Morning

Before football started at noon for the day last Sunday, we got on the bike and took a early morning ride. Once started, we realized quickly how cold it actually was but we were bundled up pretty good.  As with the day before, we had no destination in mind.  We ate a quick breakfast rode around the city we live in, Little Canada and around Lake Gervais. It was a hazy morning.

The house above is my favorite house on the lake

We rode around Lake Phalen and then visited my Grandma and Grandpa at Union Cemetery.  My grandpa died on October 6, 1985, marking the 25th anniversary of his death so I wanted to go to the cemetery that same week. I had remembered on this past Wednesday the 6th that it was the anniversary of his death but that same morning my friend Chris told me that his grandpa had passed away that morning so both of our grandpa's died the same day, 25 years apart.  While at the cemetery, I of course paid visit to my grandma and Aunt Irene too.

Eventually we made our way over by my living Gramma and Grandpa's house in Oakdale.  They moved there the last day of July and I hadn't even seen their new place until that day.  I had told them we were just visiting the cemetery and my grandpa joked saying that he had purchased some property there.  I don't want the day to come any time soon when they'll go but it is nice that all my G-parents will be in the same cemetery. 

We headed back just a little late for the start of football but plopped ourselves down on the couch for the day and relaxed watching a beautiful weekend come to a close.  

A Beautiful Saturday

I have had some less-than-ordinary stress in my life for the last month or so experiencing the day I had last Saturday made me forget some things temporarily.  M and I went on a motorcycle ride mid-morning and wouldn't be back for almost 8 hours.  The weather was unseasonably warm for October with the temperature in the 80's.  We didn't have a destination in mind other than maybe going north.  Follow me on the journey:


We started at Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater, where it was extremely packed.  I want to say there were a thousand cars in the parking areas but I'm sure that's exaggerated.  Because we were on the bike, we didn't have room to buy anything but we bummed around and sampled some apples and honey.

We stopped in upper Stillwater to eat lunch at Acapulco. The worst service ever and we won't be back to that location.  We got on the bike and headed through downtown Stillwater, which was packed.  We weren't sure what was going there but we knew it wasn't just because the weather was so beautiful.  After finally getting through downtown, we headed north up 95 and went to visit Jackson Meadow, which wasn't scary at all this time and then headed to St. Croix Chocolate Company for a treat.  We each had two pieces of chocolate.  This chocolate is the best I've ever had.  

We headed further north to Osceola Landing.  This is the same picnic area that we usually pull into and have our lunch when we are on our annual canoe trip.  Because of a busy summer, we weren't able to go on this trip for the first time in five years.  We'll be going next year for sure.  The day was somewhat hazy so it's reflected in the pictures.  The fall leaves and colors were past their peak but the foliage was still colorful as we crossed into Osceola, Wisconsin and rode around on back roads. 

 

   

When Michael was in his early teens-20's at his job at the time, he "dipped" (put the plastic coating on) this bench. We sat and had some ice cream at the park behind Coffee Connection. 

We headed back south on the Wisconsin side through Somerset where we stopped in on my Aunt Terri and Uncle Ken at their house.  Do you remember that cat that both M and I agonized about taking?  Instead of them taking the cat to the Humane Society, they ended up keeping her, which made me happy. 

We stopped at an old drive-in movie theatre, which we found out is a place where they have outdoor church from May to September.  I've driven by this so many times but have never driven in until now.

Finally, we headed back into Minnesota through Stillwater where the traffic was still bad.  After talking with Ken and Terri, they said there was a pumpkin contest going on in Stillwater and the largest pumpkin weighed in at over 1800 lbs so we decided to check them out.

 

 

The St. Croix River is very high and is flooding areas of walkways by the river. With the setting sun shining on the trees along the river, the colors were much more vibrant. 

On our way home, we stopped by the cemetery to say hi to Cherrie and Rainy just as it was starting to get dark. 

The day was perfect.  Just M, me, the motorcycle and the day's experiences.