Conscious Box- November

November's Conscious Box was ok, as usual.  I like the natural toothpaste I received but what I didn't like was the piece of cheese.  There was a sample piece of cheese so M and I split it.  I hate milk but like cheese.  This cheese was made with raw milk and it was nasty!  I should have brushed my teeth immediately with the new natural toothpaste.  Someone wasn't thinking.

Neighborhood Activity

It was just around 1 am, technically Sunday, November 17th when I was getting off the couch and heading up to bed.  As I was getting up, I saw police lights outside the house flashing through the curtains.  This happens quite a bit as we live on a busy street and cops fly down the street to wherever their call is but last weekend was different.

I tried listening to my county's sheriff department on my phone's app, but I couldn't find out what was going on.  I also tried researching online what happened but it looks like it might be too early to be published.

Both M and I looked outside through our living room window to find that that there was a car pulled over directly in front of our house along with many county sheriff's pulled behind it.

Here's what we saw through our dirty windows throughout the house....lots of lights, guns drawn, sheriff dogs barking, sheriffs yelling and finally two surrendering male and female, both minutes apart.  What happened to lead up to that point, I don't know but I'll update this post when I find out.  Finally, a tow truck came and picked up the car.  My adrenaline was running a little high at that point to go to bed!

Click on each picture to enlarge. 

Sheriffs with guns drawn behind the door of their cars

Second suspect kneeling while they handcuff her with guns still drawn towards the car

Bye-bye car

50 Years

It was 50 years ago today that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.  There are so many conspiracies surrounding the events that took place and I wish there were more concrete information that the was available to the general public.

I asked my mom if she remembers the day and while she was only 8 years old, she does remember a little. She remembers being in her Catholic school and finding out the news.  She remembered everyone praying, sad and in shock.  I wish I could have had my dad's account of this day as well.

I've been to the site of where Kennedy was show on two separate occasions; once in 1998 and again in 2007.  The pictures below are from October 2007.

The book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot Kennedy. 

The other side of the street looking across at the grassy knoll.

On the grassy knoll looking at the street where Kennedy's car was.  If you look in the street in the middle lane, there is an "X" painted in the street right where his car was when he was shot. 

View from sidewalk looking back at the book depository.

Have you visited this place in Dallas?

HH

M and I met our friend John at HammerHeart Brewing shortly after work on Friday, November 15th.  Our plan was just to go for one as M wanted to try Hail to the Dark Gourd, their smoked pumpkin ale, which he loved.

John, Me, Tanner and Photobomb John

After two beers for me, it was already close to 10 pm so we decided to get food.  The three of us went to Grumpy's in Roseville to eat.  Our conversation again was hours long and we didn't end up leaving until 12:30 am, which was really late for me considering I was only going out for one!  I haven't gone out on multiple weekends drinking in ages.  

Surprisingly, We Won

The Vikings played the Washington Redskins on Thursday, November 7th.  It was a game that was televised on the NFL network.  I had a scheduling conflict that night so before I could go to the game, I went to the Westin Edina Galleria for my employer's Director of Servicing's retirement party.  I wanted to stay the whole night at the party but I also wanted to go to the game so I wrestled for months on what I should do and decided on doing both.  I went for a little more than an hour to the party and then hustled downtown where I planned on being a little late.  I ended up arriving up at our seats greeting M with about 8 minutes left on the clock in the first quarter.  The score at that point was 3-0, Redskins.

Ponder started the game and had a decent game (it's all relative, folks) until he had to go out in the 3rd quarter with under 2 minutes left with an injury while going into the end zone for a touchdown, which turned out that he dislocated his shoulder on his non-throwing arm.  Matt Cassel would step in for the remainder of the game.

The score was 27-21, Washington when Ponder left and Cassel stepped in with his first snap being handed off the AP for a touchdown and somehow we pulled off a win.  Adrian Peterson had two touchdowns, Cordarrelle Patterson had his first NFL receiving TD and John Carlson came in and did a great job while Kyle Rudolph was out totaling 98 yards and a touchdown.  Vikings win, 34-27.  The crowd was into the game, more than I have seen this year, which is probably because we were winning.  The crowd was also the loudest I've heard since at least last year.

Cris Carter was elected into the Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and you get a ring presented to you.  Cris wanted that ring to be presented to him in at the Metrodome in front of the fans and so he was presented it during a halftime ceremony.  He spoke for a few minutes and was very humble in his speech.  He is a great speaker, very polished and it was a highlight to be able to see him accept his ring in front of us fans.

A Hellish Dinner

I met Tanya at Hell's Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, November 6th.  I had been there once before sometime around 2005 when they were located now where Devil's Advocate is.  Devil's Advocate replaced Hell's Kitchen?  That's kinda funny, right?

This location of Hell's Kitchen is WAY bigger than the old one.  It's kind of a maze as there are many rooms and hallways.

I had a very strong Purgatory Punch that was too strong so it was a couple hour sipper.  I also saw something on the menu that really intrigued me...Kangaroo.  I had my mind made up that I was going to order it and once I asked the server about it, she said they were out of it.  Grrrr.....

I ended up getting the grilled tuna fillet with pumpkin seed pesto, mashed rutabaga and veggies. It was yummo.

The wall as you walk off the elevator from the parking ramp

Chicken Freaks

Here in the mighty north of the United States, we are not accustomed to fast food restaurants like Chick-fil-A so getting several in the Twin Cities over the last month or so has been kind of a big deal.

If I hadn't watched a special this past summer on cable about Chick-fil-A, I would think the people camping out in the parking lot were even crazier than I already do but at least I knew why they were there.

Every time a new Chick-fil-A store opens, customers are allowed to come into the parking lot 24 hours early to camp out.  Why?  The first 100 people get a box of coupons for 1 free combo meal per week for a year. I don't care how much you like chicken, this just isn't worth it to me, but to each their own.  Some of the rules for camping out include you can't leave the parking lot and you're assigned a number. They call numbers all throughout the night and if you aren't there, you can't get the coupons so you must stay overnight, even if 100 people don't show up.  On the TV show I watched, there was an older lady, grandma-age that was camping out...it was her 40th Chick-fil-A grand opening.  Whoa.
 
I literally drive through the Chick-fil-A parking lot two times per day on my way to and from work so I was just waiting to see the campers.  In the pictures below, that is the morning of Wednesday, November 6th and the one after is the afternoon of the same day with people making makeshift housing out of cardboard.  The restaurant opened on Thursday, November 7th in Bloomington.

The first time I had Chick-fil-A was in 2002 in Maryland.  I've also had it in Florida and Texas but the first time I had it in Minnesota was this past Tuesday...and Wednesday.  Tuesday for lunch and Wednesday for breakfast.  Hey, I hadn't been to the grocery store and it was convenient.  I did tell you I drive through their lot two times a day!  I like the food they have and I like how they have some healthier options and I don't like their some of their social views but I won't go there.

Have you had Chick-fil-A before?  Do you like it?  Do you plan on visiting?  If so, don't go on a Sunday. They're closed!

Old Friends, Music and Beer

M and I went to Pickle Park in Fridley on Saturday, November 2nd to see my friend Heather's husband's band perform.  It's also the band of one of my oldest friends, Rich.  Once we were there, Chris met up with us as well.

This was the grand finals of a battle of the bands-type event where 11 bands played and competed for $35,000 in cash and prizes. They had played 5 rounds of shows over the summer to get to this point. Unfortunately, they did not win, but another band they are friends with did.

Heather's husband Jeremy on stage

Me and Heather

I wasn't sure who would be there but I was pleasantly surprised to see some friends of mine.  I've seen all of the guys below in the last two years but it is a rare event when we are all together so it was a must that M took a picture of us.  Heather and I met Matt and Rich on the same day when they were at the mall with each other the summer before 9th grade.  Once we started high school that year, we saw Rich our first day of school as he was one of the new kids in the district since he went to a private school before. As for Tim, we go back to 5th grade.     

Matt, Me, Tim, Rich

After the show, M, Chris and myself went to Dangerous Man Brewing for a couple.  Both Chris and I had never been there but of course M has multiple times.  He even had his Dangerous Man t-shirt on. (P.S. Michael gets mistaken for the Dangerous Man in the beer community a lot!)

MY Dangerous Man

THE Dangerous Man

The bar was packed and it was early.  We didn't have anywhere to sit at first but found seating after about 45 minutes.  I saw one of the news reporters from KARE 11 there drinking with his family/friends.

I had the pumpkin spice ale which was delicious.  So delicious I had two.  At one point in the night, one of the bartenders/workers got on top of the bar, got everyone's attention and said that they wanted to cheers everyone as it was one of those rare times when the mood, the people, the beer and everything is right and so we all raised our glasses and cheered and continued to sip away.  I was buzzed at this point so I thought that his intermission into our lives while in their establishment was perfect.

M and I dropped off Chris and we went to Applebee's where we had some water, some food and terrible service before going home and calling it a night.

It was a big weekend for me.  I hardly ever go out on weekends let alone both Friday AND Saturday.  I felt young again!

Conscious Box- October

Once again, my monthly Conscious Box was lackluster.  I'm sick of getting duplicates and tiny samples and I no longer find it worth it on a monthly basis to continue but you guys have to hear about it monthly since I prepaid for a year of boxes.  I'll be done whining in March. :)

I had to show you a picture with Fuzzer in it too

Nine

Friday, November 1st marked the nine year anniversary of M and I's relationship.  He surprised me at work by coming in-person to bring me flowers, a card and donuts for my coworkers and to take me out to lunch.  

M capturing my reaction reading his card at my desk

Beautiful colors and flowers that M picked for me.  He know me very well.

That evening, M and I went to Famous Dave's for dinner.  We'd be been craving some sort of BBQ for weeks so we decided to go there.  It hit the spot.

Afterwards, we zoomed up to Lino Lakes to go to HammerHeart Brewing.  M's been there a couple of times before but I hadn't.  My friend Tanner works there so I was happy to see him and catch up.  We were treated very nicely including a tour of the brewing area. I got to eat barley right out of the bag...kind of tastes like grape nuts. Tanner took it upon himself to choose my beer.  It was a bourbon barrel aged something or other which is not really my style however it was delicious but very filling. He even gave us a try of some meat that he had.  Goose, like in Canadian Goose.  It was a meat stick and it was good.  And then I felt bad/sad knowing I was eating those honking birds.

Tanner and Me

We got home around the 11 pm hour and hung out for a little while watching TV.  M, I love you and appreciate being with you each day.  Thank you for enhancing all most of my days. :)  Looking forward to all our future days together.

Halloween

The night before Halloween I made pumpkin spice mini donuts with maple glaze for work.  It was our intern's last day at work and our whole team brought treats in for him.  They were very easy to make with the debut of my Kitchenaid mixer.

On Halloween night, M and I had the Jack-O-Lantern pizza from Papa Murphy's.  He's pretty cute all baked up, isn't he?  We wanted to watch a scary movie but couldn't find one that was scare-worthy for us.

My sister and her family all dressed up.  Jamie was Daphne, Tom was Fred and Colton was Scooby, all from Scooby Doo.  Keith was Dexter.  He shouldn't even know who Dexter is!

The real Dexter.  Keith looks like him

Monday Night Concert

I had the day off Monday, October 28th and woke up feeling less than fine after too much vodka and not enough water from tailgating the night before but it was nothing Perkins pancakes couldn't fix.  I don't know why but I love Perkins pancakes.  I'm not sure if it's the actual pancake or syrup but that combo is delicious. Naturally after breakfast one is exhausted so I lazed around all day and then took a nap until the 4 pm hour.

Just a couple hours later, M and I went to see City and Colour at First Avenue.  We had seen him once before in February 2012.  M bought these tickets in early spring and this concert was the last of five concerts this year that we were really looking forward to.  While getting out of the car, my jeans ripped in the back of my thigh. (It's hard to contain these wonderful legs.)  I am sure no one noticed but man am I happy this happened on this Monday night versus when I wore those jeans to work a couple of days earlier.

The show was all ages, which we are not a fan of but we had a great spot to stand on the lower level in the center.  The place was full but it wasn't packed to the gills like the last time we saw him.  Dallas Green (get it? City and Colour) played for almost 2 hours.  In my opinion, it was too long.  I enjoyed the show but he had changed since the last time we had seen him.  It's as though fame has gotten to him a bit. (He opened up for P!nk several months ago-a very odd combination since their music is nothing alike)  He was impatient with the crowd, sometimes when it was warranted but I feel that he is just fed up with modern society and he wished he lived in a different era.  He's not the kind of guy that smiles or really even laughs but he did make some references to the Twins and Timberwolves and how he feels our pain since he's a Blue Jays and Raptors fan.

Outside next to the famous wall

Here's a video of the first song released from the new album: