Happy Friday

I hope you have a great weekend and I'm hoping for a Vikings win.  Enjoy my nephew in the leaves.

Fogo with Friends

M and I went to Fogo de Chao with Tanya and Chris on a very warm Friday night.  (It was 87 degrees earlier in the day.) It was their first time there and they were going partly to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary, which was yesterday.  M and I went because we had a celebration of sorts also.  It was the 6th anniversary of M and I starting on the path to what would become our current relationship.  Six years ago, M and I went to a playoff Twins game against the Yankees (They lost...sound familiar?) as friends and we ended up kissing that night which would turn around the friendship as we had known it, forever.

Fogo was great.  It was Restaurant Week again so it was very busy but as always, worth it.  After dinner, we went back to Chris and Tanya's house for a fire outside and a beer before heading home around 2 am.  It was a great night and it had been so long since just the four of us had hung out.  I miss hanging out with these two!

A New Week

It's 10-10-10 today.  I happened to ask M what time it was this morning and he said 10:10 am.  (In my best Jim Morrison imitation) "Pretty neat, pretty neat....pretty good, pretty good".  Moving on...

Last week was full of ups and downs for MN sports.  First, the Twins were in the ALDS against the Yankees but just couldn't get it together and ended up losing the series, which the Yankees took in three games.  If there is any good to come out of it, at least I'll be getting a hefty refund of the playoff tickets that I wasn't able to use but I made a payment on Friday for the 2011 Twins season for another partial season ticket package. While I have hung up my Twins jersey for the year, I will instead be focusing on the Vikings...Randy Moss is back, y'all!  Moss was traded to the Vikings on Wednesday from the Patriots.  We need a receiver very badly so I'm hoping that Randy is the answer to a better season. 'The Freak' is back!

To start off what I want to be a good week for you all, watch the video below with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. You'll have to watch the commercial but it will be worth it.  Enjoy!

The Playoffs- Twins vs. Yankees Game 2 ALDS

Last night M and I went to a local bar and watched game 1 on TV.  The game started out great and the Twins were leading the Yankees 3-0 before it all went downhill and we eventually ended up losing 6-4.

Tonight we were able to go to the game 2 (can you believe I'm blogging in real time?!) and obviously we were hoping for a different result than game 1, but that didn't happen.  The Twins lost again to the stupid Yankees 5-2.  Despite the loss, it was still fun to be at a playoff game at Target Field.  We had different seats than my season ticket package and it was the first time that we were able to sit on the lower level (foul ball territory over by right field) but it was different not being able to see the skyline from the seats, which I really missed.  One thing we couldn't complain about was the weather. It was in the low to mid 70's and we took the motorcycle down to the game and it was more than perfect for October.  I wore my jersey with a long sleeved tee under it but I didn't even need it.

Now it's looking very grim for the Twins as we head to New York and the Yanks only have to win one more game to take the series.  Good luck to you on Saturday night, Twins.

MN Weather

This past summer in Minnesota was HOT and if it wasn't HOT, it was RAINY and sometimes it was even HOT and RAINY but once State Fair time hit in late August, it got CHILLY and COLD.  My favorite month of the year is September as I love the smell of the air and pure blue skies and the leaves starting to change and fall off the trees.  This September was not really like that.  September in Minnesota was rainy and chilly with a few nice days mixed in and some pretty hot days too, however since the start of October, it's been exactly the way I wanted September to be but just a little bit cooler so maybe October is now my favorite month.  The sun has been shining incredibly the last few days and will be throughout the week and you can just feel that it's football season, post season baseball and apple orchard time.  I love Minnesota at this time of year!

To say goodbye to MN summer and to say hello to fall, I wanted to share some photos I took before fall started.  Enjoy the pictures of the flowers that were taken at my parents house and remember them as you won't see them again until next summer as well as a couple of pictures while I was taking a walk on the path behind our house and a cat that was at M's sister's house.

Twins Vs. Blue Jays

On Sunday, there wasn't any Vikings football since they had a bye which means it was the perfect day to go see the Twins at Target Field for what would be the last regular season game.  The Twins played the Toronto Blue Jays in a game that really meant nothing and they did lose 2-1, however both M and I had a great time at the game.  It was a beautiful sun-shiny day so we rode the motorcycle down to Target Field.  It was chilly on the bike but once in the stadium and being in the sun for a little bit, I took off the hoodie and wore only a t-shirt.  I love this type of October weather.  I was also able to pick up a bobblehead as part of my partial season ticket package.  I didn't have a choice in who it was but I got Justin Morneau.  The game itself was very short and ended in just two hours.  

Me and Aaron

 

The Twins clinched the AL Central Division back on September 21st, which is unusual for us because it usually comes down to the wire or even a 163rd game of the season.  There has been 10 games since they've clinched and they've lost 8 of them.  The Twins start the playoffs with the Wild Card New York Schmankees on Wednesday and Thursday at home.  We'll be at Thursday's game and if need be, game 5 next Tuesday. Let's do it this time, Twins!  

We'll be using these on Thursday:

Let's hope we can win in less than five games but if we can't and don't lose before then, we'll be using these next Tuesday:

And I hope we get to use these tickets!

Lazy Friday and Saturday

Friday:

The debut of October was also the debut of our monthly music playlist.  M and I got in our comfy clothes, lit some candles, cracked a bottle of Pinot Noir and turned on the music.  Instead of having a sit down dinner, we ate different cheeses and crackers and dipped bread in olive oil and seasonings.  This is one of our favorite things to do when it gets chilly out.

Saturday:

We went to Forest Lake to go to a benefit with Kim and Greg for M's friend dad, who is battling head and neck cancer, but has spread to his lymph nodes.  There's really no more treatment options for him and based on what the doctor's say, he will go fast, which estimates I heard were a month.  The good news is he is in no pain and seems to be in good spirits.  They had a spaghetti dinner and silent auctions at the benefit.  It was a good turnout so I hope they were able to raise a lot of money for him and his family.

After the benefit, we stopped at M's brother Ray's house where him and Dolly were babysitting M's niece, Cheri.  She's just over 13 months old and she can't walk yet, she can stand and balance on her feet and she hops all over the place on her knees.  She's even talking clearly and said the following while we were there: "Hi", "What's this?", and I think "Let me see it".  She's such a good baby.

 

4th Annual Cherrie Jones Tailgate Party

Last Sunday was the 4th annual Cherrie Jones Tailgate Party and it was a success.

With the tailgate party always on the day that the Vikings play the Lions, this year's party came early in the season, only the 2nd home game at the Dome.  We had a great turnout as always, with many of our friends and families from M's side and my side present.  With most parties getting their own tickets this year, we weren't sure exactly how many to expect but to our best estimates and a lazy head count, we had about 80 people come and go throughout the morning before the game.  If you came out and had fun with us, thank you!  If you didn't, maybe you'll consider coming out next year.

The Vikings won on Sunday, 24-10.  The one thing that was pointed out to us on Sunday was that for every tailgate party we've had against Detroit for the last four years, is that the Vikings have always won (already knew that) and that Detroit has always scored just 10 points.

Can you see the cork flying in the picture?