Memorial Weekend

It seems to me that I only blog on weekends.  I usually can't find time during the week or if I do have time, I use it to take a nap.  Even though today is Tuesday, it's really my Sunday.  Here is what I did this weekend.

My sister and I headed Up North to our parents on Saturday.  I worked at the Y in the morning so we had to wait until late afternoon to get out of dodge.  We got up there around 6:30 and didn't do much else.

Sunday morning I helped my dad burn brush.  My dad's brother (my uncle) calls my dad a "fire bug".  Give my dad the opportunity to burn stuff and he'll be happy. Sunday morning ended up being the best time to do it because Sunday through Monday it was way to windy to start a fire.  And with all the rain in their area, the fire danger risk was low.  We got done before lunch and the yard look nice because all the branches and brush were gone.  Then Monday my dad felt he needed to cut down some trees on the neighbor's lot.  Guess what.....the brush pile is back!  He just can't sit still and leave the outdoors alone.

Sunday afternoon we headed over to Crosby to listen (and dance) to some country music.  My mom and dad follow a guitarist... Mark Peterson....and his band.  It's a nice hole in the wall called "The Bridge".  We walked in and to my surprise, my cousin (the before mentioned uncle's son) was playing bass for Mark.  If I could count the times that I have seen A, the majority of the time he's been on stage.  Besides this cousin, my mom's cousins and their extended families were here too.  It was big happy reunion with people I didn't know.  All in all it was a good lazy Sunday.

On Monday, my mom had planned on going to two cemeteries.  One was in Mom's hometown to see her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors.  Much of it is new, but it was fun to see the tombstones that are over 100 years old.  They are gigantic...over 6 feet tall and very slender....and so weather beaten that you can barely make out what's written on them.  And if you could, it would probably be written in German.  We put silk flowers (red gladiolas) on my grandparents grave.  Just looking over all the headstones, it was sight to see.  So gorgeous....all the flowers and crosses, flags and wind-chimes.  Statues and even solar lights.  I wish I had my camera to take pictures.  While we were here we ran into my mom's uncle (by marriage).  He had brought his 9-year-old granddaughter to see her grandma and place flowers on her grave.  We talked for a bit and then continued on.

We headed the 6 miles back to the town that my folks live in; to that cemetery.  Here was my dad's family...parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends.  And again, we ran into more family.  Two young people ( 18 and 22??; siblings, a girl and a boy) who are distant cousins.  Their dad was close to my dad and he passed away unexpectedly two years ago.  A little awkward to run into them at their dad's headstone but we made pleasantries.  **If any of you remember that Lino Lakes police officer being shot at the Anoka firing range a couple of weeks ago, these are his younger siblings.  Update on the police officer: he's doing well, though not 100%.  He was discharge from the hospital and was taking it easy at "the lake".  Hopefully he will return to duty by the end of the summer.**  It was such a gorgeous day that I ended up walking home from the cemetery since it was only like 5 blocks...super close.  The hardest part was crossing the highway in town.  It was a parade of cars, trucks, campers, and boats heading back to the cities.

Other than the two field trips, we really didn't do much else. 

And here we are to today.  My sister and I headed home after lunch and we ended up avoiding much traffic until we hit Big Lake.  That was due to road work versus Memorial Day traffic.  Now we can relax and gear up for tomorrow.  But first I have to do laundry if I want to wear clean clothes. 

Texas Roadhouse

This morning I had a dental seminar with my assistant coworkers and we decided to just go to the Roadhouse.
I took the headcount ( 10 people ) and did my call-ahead 1-1/2 hours prior to the time we agreed upon.   I then texted everyone what time the restaurant wanted us to be there so that they would hold our reservation. And then I had 3 people back out.  Two with legitimate reasons and one because of what I stated in the previous post.

So instead of needing two booths, which possibly could have been in separate areas of the restaurant, we were able to fit at the same table.  YEAH!

We ordered Cherry Limeades and Chicken Fritter and Deep Fried Pickle appetizers to go along with their fresh baked rolls and Cinnamon Honey Butter.  I had the 8 oz.  Sirloin and Half Rack of Ribs ( Note:  Will not order ribs again here.  Millers On Main has WAY better ribs! ) with a side of Mashed Potatoes and a Side Salad.  Too much food.  We were all too full by the time our entrees came.

Little did we know that a storm was a-brewing.  I noticed that the sky was a grey-blue when we were on our way there.  When it was time to leave, the sky was dark grey with a down pour.  We had to use our To-Go Boxes as umbrellas.  And even then, it was a wet t-shirt contest with wet skin-clingy jeans and soaked socks.  The Lowe's parking lot was a flowing river.  Was this the end of the world that was supposed to be today?

Afterwords, some of the girls and I were planning to go to Maxx's Tent Party, but with the tornado warnings we all went home.  I've driven in a tornado before and it was deju vu!  Today, I could at least still see where I was going.  It's 9 o'clock now and I still don't know if I'm going or not.  It's still raining with thunder and lightening and the band has been moved indoors.  That completely defeats the purpose of the "tent" party.  We'll just have to see how the night weather goes.

All in all, it was a pretty nice way to spend with friends.  Oh, and I got on the saddle.  Even though I swore I wasn't going to do that ever again.

Birthday Weekend Plans

****WARNING:  THIS IS A VENT POST.****

Saturday night I am celebrating my birthday with some friends from work.  

The original plan was to go Texas Roadhouse for supper and then head to a local bar for their first tent party of the summer.  For the last couple of years it has always fallen on the weekend of my birthday.

But plans have somehow changed into less about me and what I want to do (not that I'm a narcissist or anything) but more about the attitude of one my "friends".

Here's the deal.  I like her.....most of the time.  We have a ton in common.  We both grew up in Heights.  She has a kid that's my age.  We like the same music and like to go out and have fun together.

The problem....she's looks at everything as the glass is half empty.  I'm a go with the flow, take it as it comes kind of gal.  Complaining and b*ing only gives you wrinkles.  I don't worry about the day's schedule because sooner or later 4 pm is going to come and then I get to go home.  And when we actually get to leave for lunch, she's the pickiest eater I've ever seen and if the waitress gets it wrong, I cringe when she's rude to the wait staff.  Olive Garden is our favorite, but I am starting to loathe going there. 

So....tomorrow.....I somehow invited too many people to go to dinner....eight people.  She wanted it to be a small group of people.  Eight people is 1 more person that last year and it was just fine.   Eight people, I guess, is too big of a party and we won't all be able to sit together at the same table.  Big flippin' deal.   We'll play musical booths.  She told me that she isn't going and the whole thing is called off.  That we're just gonna do the tent party.

Oh  My  Gosh!  I want to punch her.

But I'm not going to let her attitude rain on my parade.  I know I'm a people pleaser, but I need to not be.  I need to stop worrying about what other people are doing or what they want.  It's my weekend and I'm gonna have fun whether she's in a bad mood or not.

All day today I've been getting texts to see if we're still on for tomorrow night.  I kind of wanna say yes and just not tell her.

Little Mister P

Sunday was the day I was most looking forward to.  I was getting together with my cousin to finally give her the 18 month baby clothes I got for her son.

I haven't seen the little guy since his first birthday in February and my, how he's grown!  A couple minutes after first arriving and exchanging hellos and how are you's, he slid off the couch and "ran" to see what daddy was doing in the kitchen.  It was more of a fast walk with a little stumble in his step.  HE CAN WALK!

When asked what a sheep says....he says baa.  HE CAN TALK! 

And I was given a chance to feed him, and he kept "fidgeting" with his hands  (tapping his fingers together).  Melissa was watching and she said that he was telling me that he wanted "more".  HE KNOWS SIGN LANGUAGE!

I read a book to him (Little Critters...Just Me) and watched him ride his horsey.  He got it for Christmas but he might be getting a little too aggressive for it.  He rocks so hard that he almost flies off the back.  Kind of scary and cute at the same time.  If you press the horses left ear it plays a song and Little Mister P puts on a smile that lights up his face.

He's growing up so fast.  I wonder what he'll be doing the next time I see him?

It's Going To Be A Busy One

It's been a busy weekend  and it's not even half way over yet.

I had Friday off from both jobs and I look forward to such days.  I worked out in the morning and then waited for my sister to wake up sometime after noon (as she works nights).  Then we headed to the movies.  We went to the Andover Cinemas to see "Something Borrowed". 

I heart Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski, and Collin Egglesfield. I don't heart Kate Hudson all that much!  ( Ever since she got involved with sleezy A-Rod, I don't think too highly of her. )  I know it's opening weekend so I'll let everyone see it before I say too much.  All I'm going to say is now I want to read the book.  Typically if I read the book first, I don't like the movie.  But if I see the movie first and then read the book, I love both. 

And I love that the story is opposite of the traditional love triangle.  You want to root for the girl that he's cheating with.  You want them to end up together and for the groom/boyfriend to call off the wedding.  But who does he choose?  Who's heart gets broken?  I'm not saying a darn thing.  And I loved that there's little twist at the end.  You think you know what's going to happen.....then BAM!  The End.

Continuing on...later in the evening, my sister and I had tickets to Sticks and the Acme Comedy Club.  I've only been there once before with a bachlorette party (which was super awesome) about 3 years ago.  I had won tickets last fall and they were to expire at the end of June.  I thought I better use 'em up and see someone good.  The comedian for last night was a lady who made it to the 2007 semi-finals of "Last Comic Standing"  Her name is Tracy Ashley.  She was amazingly funny....and clean humor too.  Dirty jokes get old super fast when you have to listen to them for 90 minutes.  I'd definitely see her again.

Then this morning, I had to work at the Y.  Nothing too exciting to mention about that.  Work is work is work.  Wait....it may not sound exciting to you, but it is to me.  We got new shirts to wear to promote our new Lazyman Triathlon.  They are turquoise and look super cute.  I'll wear anything as long as it's not a red polo.  After work, a coworker and I had plans to do some shopping, so we spent the afternoon/ evening walking, talking, and laughing.  Some in the rain, some in the cold, some in the cramped, hot stores.  Spent a lot a money but feel like we got some good deals.

Now I'm relaxing at home in the pj's hoping Sunday isn't too bad.  It's another day packed to the brim with activities.  I have a feeling Monday is going to come too soon.  Oh, wait...I have Monday of too.  YES! 

Movie Monday

The Switch

Date of Viewing: May 1, 2011

Method of Viewing: Redbox

Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis

If you're in the mood for a comedy, this is probably not good enough.  It is funny is certain areas but it's not "falling off my chair" or "I can't breathe so my face is turning red and my eyes are tearing" funny.

It is an entertaining film but drags.  The beginning had my attention, it got lost in the middle, but the climax at the end got it back.

The plot is original: Girl wants baby, girl finds sperm donor, girl has party for sperm donor's donation; girl's best friend gets drunk and finds donation in bathroom and spills it in the sink; girl's best friend replaces donation with his own to cover oops and is too drunk to remember. And it's a long time before they do.


That's the gist of it.  If this piqued your interest, go ahead and rent it.  If not, you're not missing anything.

And Summer Begins...

I'm not going to let the weather define whether summer has arrived.  For me, my summer mentality is already here.

BIKES:  I've already gone on two bike rides, one of which was this afternoon ...before the rain.  Both days the sun was shining.  There was a light breeze.  The first was a ride in the neighborhood and the second my sister and I took our bikes to a local park.  I really enjoyed the ride in the "wilderness"; trees, rustling leaves, wetland, bugs humming, boardwalk.  I can't wait to go again.  And this time my butt was fine; it was my arms that were tired from loading and unloading the bikes from the trunk rack.

GARAGE SALES:  The first weekend in May is the 200+ Johnsville Neighborhood Garage Sale (NW of  Hwy. 242 and Hwy 65 in Blaine).  Traffic is crazy with cars, bikers and pedestrians.  I had Thursday off so my sister and I hit a couple that were open early.  I could have gone on longer than we did but my wallet dried up.  I bought a bunch size 18 months baby clothes for my "Little Cousin" Paul.  They were super cute and in excellent condition.  And I also bought him his first baseball glove and a bunch of "Little Golden Books" along with "The Bernstein Bears", "Amelia Bedelia", "Just Me- Little Critter" and "Arthur" books.

SOFTBALL:  Tonight is my first softball game, but with the rain it may be canceled.  I'm ready to squat, run, throw, hit, slide.  I'm ready to "sacrifice a knee" to score a run.  I want my socks to have the dirt line where my cleats stop.  I want the palm of my hands to be chalky and beige from handling a dirty softball.  I want my voice to be hoarse from cheering on my teammates.  I want to stop for an ice cream cone after having the best summer afternoon ever.

Bike #2

We are now a household that owns bikes. 

On Saturday, my sister and I did a little bike shopping in Coon Rapids.  We found one that she and I liked and one that was on sale.  She was interested in the color and price.  I wanted her to have one that had seat and handle bar shocks, and color and price too.  But I didn't have the bike rack with so we were going to go back on Sunday to purchase it.

Sunday afternoon comes around and we head back to the store.  Saturday there were 2 bikes there and Sunday they were both gone because they were listed in the Sunday ads.  After what seemed like forever to find someone to help us, we were off to Maple Grove.  The CR store said that they had 5 and that MG was going to put one aside for us.  By the time we got to MG, ours was the last one left.  Phew!

I made sure it fit on the bike rack before we purchased it.  My fingers were numb working in the cold that it made getting the rack off difficult.  The store clerk had to escort the bike outside and I made him get a jacket.  May 1st and it's 30 degrees!

So we load it up, drive it off, bring it home and I attempt to put it away....but it's too heavy.  My bike's frame is aluminum and it's weight is similar to a feather.  J's bike is made of steel and weights more than...well, it's more than a feather.  I had to get a little creative with the garage arrangements until we figure out Plan B.

The next step is for August to come around.  Maybe Spring will show up by then.