Look who I ran into

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Look who I ran into at the bookstore.  Well actually I didn't just run into her, I saw that she was doing a book signing at Magers and Quinn Booksellers in Uptown (Minneapolis).  Greg, Celeste and Evelyn said they would go with me so that was nice.  Callista didn't know me at first. She introduced herself and I responded with "and I'm your cousin." Then it took her two tries to get my name right.  First she guess from her mom's side and then she said Kim and her eye's lite up. She said that my hair is so long now. I guess that isn't too bad.  We talked for quite a while about the family and about her parent's 50th Anniversary party. It was nice.  I bought her books and she signed them for me. Evelyn got a book too. It was a good day.  

Early in the day I took Greg, Celeste and Evelyn's Christmas pictures. Some turned out really nice. I can't wait to get their card.

Meanwhile...Eric has been working on his paper.  It is due tomorrow.

2013 Vacation Planning

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Well it less than 70 days until 2013 which means that vacation planning has started.  Actually vacation planning started in early September when MLB released the schedule for next year.  Eric had mentioned that it would be cool if the Twins played at the Rangers and Astros in back-to-back series.  Well, MLB didn’t disappoint...August 30-September 4, the Twins play 3 games in Arlington and 3 games in Houston.   Wow!  That is two years in a row we got lucky. Last year I mentioned that I wanted to see Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and MLB granted the Twins back-to-back series on June this year. Seems like the MLB has been listening to us! Ha!
So we are planning on either driving or flying to Dallas, spend a few days there then drive to Houston for a couple days and visit with my friend, Mary Linda. Other than the two baseball games, I’m not sure what else we will do. I guess I have more planning to do.
Another trip that I’m planning is to Rapid City in late June/early July.  Apparently we are biking/running in part of a Triathlon with Eric’s sister Carrie. She is swimming, I’m biking, Eric is running.  I’m not sure which one she wants to do but I’m thinking it is the Rapid City one which is June 29th.
The other reason that I start my vacation planning in late October is because Eric needs to have his PTO for next year figured out about now.  I know that sounds crazy but because of his union they have to plan this far ahead of time.  Now he doesn’t have to plan every day but if there is a day/week he really needs off, he has to do it now.  Unfortunately, he is last man on the totem pole for next year. In his old area he was close to the top so he got any days he wanted.  When he moved to this new area in late January he went back to the bottom.  That means no PTO the day after Thanksgiving or the Monday before Christmas Eve.  How sad! I guess no Omaha for us next year.  He should be able to get off the two days after Christmas though so that is good. 
This is a good time of year.  I love planning vacations and this is great time to start.

I'm shedding corn

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The annual corn maze weekend has come and gone.  It was such a beautiful day.  We got through the maze in record time. This year's theme is Minnesota Corn.  It was so corny.  After that we checked out the exotic animals.  There was a baby giraffe, kangaroos, owl, camels, lemurs, etc... We watched the animal show where we saw a skunk, some random animal from texas, a kikachu and an owl.  We finally jumped into the shelled corn pit.  I think that is my favorite thing.  It just feels so weird on your skin.  We did the traditional burying of the bodies.  Danielle and Bradley were wrestling too.  I'm still shedding corn. We went to Chili's afterward for lunch and I left a trail of shelled corn to the bathroom. LOL! All in all it was a good time...but me missed Dylan, Nancy and Greg. (more on that later)

Yesterday, Mom and Mike came up early in the morning. We went for lunch at Pizza Ranch and then went to the apple orchard and shopping. It was fun.  After 4:30 Mass, we meet Greg, Celeste and Evelyn at Turtles for some dinner.  It was good as always.  They all came to our house after dinner for mom's amazing caramel apple cheesecake. It was so good.  They hung around until 8.  Mom, Mike, Eric and I went Cosmic bowling after. that. We all sucked but it was so much fun.  I broke 100 in the last game.  

So earlier this week, I got a call that Dylan was having emergency surgery.  His appendix.  Poor guy.  So unfortunately Dylan, Nancy and Greg couldn't come up.  It was too bad but understandable.

Nothing else new from here.

TC van Gogh

Saturday, October 13, 2012

What a busy week at work!  It is quarter end which means I'm already busy but on top of that I'm a Care Captain for the Employee Giving Campaign.  Basically I'm a cheerleader and events coordinator. My job is to cheer people to give money to the charity of their choice and the company will match.  I'm not much of a cheerleader but I'm one heck of an events coordinator.  We had a Putting Contest and a Snack Shack (aka the 19th hole).  It was very successful.  So on top of my normal quarter end craziness, I had to do these events too.

Also this week...
Tuesday was the first volleyball game for the season.  And we had a double header. And we only had 5 players. It was so much fun.  We finished the day 5-3.  I was so sore Wednesday and Thursday. I'm normally sore after the first night of volleyball, but add a double header the soreness was twice as much.  I'm getting old.

TC van Gogh...
So on Thursday my coworker, Steve, wanted me to come help him.  Alice told him I like krackle so he threw two mini candy bars over the cube wall as a bribe to come help him.  It scared the heck out of me!  One of the krackles hit my TC Bear bobble head.  This is what happened to him. (If you haven't noticed, TC's left ear is missing.)  He shall now be known as TC van Gogh (like Vincent...left ear...get it?) TC has had a rough life.  Right after we got him, Evelyn broke off his body from his feet. Super glue did the trick, we will see if super glue will work on his ear.

Amtrak, how unreliable you are...
The only reason I'm up so early on a Saturday is because we are suppose to be picking up Beth at the Amtrak station in St. Paul.  Her train was suppose to get in at 7am.  But since Amtrak is so unreliable, the train is delayed 2 and half hours. I should have seriously slept in. I know that Amtrak is unreliable, I wish I was still sleeping and not blogging. ZZZZ.......

Where did Fall go?

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Not much has happened in the last couple of weeks. Soccer is done and baseball is over (at least for the Twins). Summer is over and Winter is here.  Not sure what happened to Fall.  Just like last year, it was 80 degrees earlier this week and today it barely got over 40.  It has been cold and windy the last couple of days.  Not cool!

I’ve gone for some rides on my new bike, averaging about 10 miles a time, and I love it! Last weekend Eric was looking at my new bike with longing so I suggested we go for a ride.  I rode my trusty Townie and Eric rode my new bike. Half way through we switched bikes.  It was pretty humorous to see Eric ride my blue Townie.  LOL!

Band practice has started back up.  It has been a 2 month break and it was so hard to get back into it.  I really should practice…but I won’t.  Actually, speaking of music, the Minnesota Orchestra musicians are currently on strike.  They don’t want to take a $20,000 pay cut. They currently make over $100K! Even at $80K I’d be happy to just be playing my trombone.  I choose the wrong profession and should have practiced more. :(

Yesterday and today Eric had class so it has been just me and Swirl.  Yesterday when I got home from work I was trying to clean the house and he followed me everywhere…upstairs, downstairs, here, there, EVERYWHERE! Finally I just sat down so you could sit on my lap.  Just like a little kid!

Also yesterday I made Monster Cookies again.  I forgot to make the ¼ recipe and instead halved it.  I was so sick and tired of making cookies.  It was about a 5 hour non-stop venture.  I was able to listen to the Independence/Whitehall football game on the internet while I was making them so that was nice.  Unfortunately, Independence didn’t win their homecoming game.

Volleyball is starting on Tuesday.  I’m so happy to be playing again.  Band and volleyball are the 2 things that get me through the winter.