So, Sonny and I went to the state fair this past week. If you have ever been the the MN state fair, you know that the big draw is to eat things on sticks: ostrich, meatballs, tator tot hotdish (which by the way wasn't bad), reubens, etc. And that's basically what this entry is about...what we ate (whether on a stick or not).
(Side note: Some of you may wonder why I would have an entry about the food that we ate at the state fair...but if you are wondering that, then you obviously don't know the state fair. When I have told people that I went there, they want to know what I ate, so here it is.)
Alright, so this is broken down into foods we shared, foods I ate, and foods Sonny ate. Keep in mind that we got there around 1:30 pm, and were there until around 9 pm or so, and did a lot of walking. But it's still a lot of foods to try.
Our shared list: (1) a sausage sampler consisting of wild rice and jalapeno, italian tuscan, and potato sausage pieces along with peppers and onions on top (this stand is the home of the viper jerky (where they make you sign a waver before you can buy it)), (2) crab cakes, (3) walleye cakes, (4) garlic fries, (5) chicken bruschetta pizza, and (6) Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies.
My individual list: (1) corn on the cob (a MN state fair staple, in my opinion), (2) a marshmallow dipped in chocolate (on a stick), (3) a smores, (4) lefse, and (5) deep fried mushrooms.
Sonny's individual list: (1) teriyaki ostrich on a stick, (2) turkey jerky, (3) a strawberry smoothie, (4) frozen grapes on a stick, (5) a free beer sample, and (6) mini doughnuts.
Sorry to have to confess that even though we sent pictures of the Big Fat Bacon stand and the stand that had Kool-Aid, we failed to have either of these goodies. We also skipped the Pronto Pup this year and the cheese curds. I have no regrets about that but Sonny said that next year, we have to include the cheese curds again. I guess it's not the state fair, for him, without them.
Besides eating, we went on two rides, walked a ton and even played some games and won an stuffed animal for Lukin.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Stacie's Bachelorette Party
Okay, Stacie. So you want a new entry? I suppose you only want a new entry because you want me to write about your bachelorette party...be careful what you wish for. :)
First off, I have to say that I didn't know that planning for a Bachelorette party was so much work. I figured that the Bridal Shower was the one that had all the planning and that a Bachelorette party was just a gathering of girls to have a few cocktails and share a few laughs and go home. I didn't know we had to make trays of sandwiches and a huge bowl of salad and more stuff like that.
I didn't know that there would be an opportunity to play games, but thankfully I planned some at the last minute anyway. I didn't know that the girls' party was so much more detail oriented than the guys' (but I probably could have guessed that).
That all being said, it went pretty well. There was more than enough food (as tends to be the case at our house). There was some laughs, some embarrassing gifts, some games, some prizes, some drinks, and a two-year old stripper (as in he has learned to take his clothes off and felt that the bachelorette party was an appropriate time to do so) and then we all left to go to the bar.
At the bar, I had to play the Joe Cocker song (You are So Beautiful) for Stacie. She MADE me. I also played Milkshake by Kelis for Jill (because of Stacie's 21st birthday party). I had to step in and take action for the behavior that our entire table saw happening (as in I know whose fiance Mike is, and I know whose fiance he is not.) I had to make sure that my sister got home at the end of the night, in her high heels, and that she was okay with her passed out fiance. We were at his house for a good hour in which the best man showed up. Why he showed after 1 am, I am not sure, but it proved a couple good laughs during the tense times of Mike throwing his phone because he couldn't remember his code.
Mom bought a round for all the girls that were around for the bachelorette party...except Stacie and me...what the...? Granny stayed out til close with us and many people knew who she was. I bought a round of shots for four people (only two of them actually wanted the shot). Coincidentally, this was the shot that put Mike over the edge and he was out the door throwing up. (I failed to mention that it was his bachelor party that night too.)
All in all it was a fun night, complete with the little meatballs in bbq sauce at the end of the night. yum! And Stacie, I think I speak for most everyone when I say a good time was had by all, and my favorite line of the night remains when you were walking by the bathroom door into the kitchen when we were at your place at the end of the night and you looked in and said, "Honey, please throw up in the toilet." It was like you were already married. That was classic.
First off, I have to say that I didn't know that planning for a Bachelorette party was so much work. I figured that the Bridal Shower was the one that had all the planning and that a Bachelorette party was just a gathering of girls to have a few cocktails and share a few laughs and go home. I didn't know we had to make trays of sandwiches and a huge bowl of salad and more stuff like that.
I didn't know that there would be an opportunity to play games, but thankfully I planned some at the last minute anyway. I didn't know that the girls' party was so much more detail oriented than the guys' (but I probably could have guessed that).
That all being said, it went pretty well. There was more than enough food (as tends to be the case at our house). There was some laughs, some embarrassing gifts, some games, some prizes, some drinks, and a two-year old stripper (as in he has learned to take his clothes off and felt that the bachelorette party was an appropriate time to do so) and then we all left to go to the bar.
At the bar, I had to play the Joe Cocker song (You are So Beautiful) for Stacie. She MADE me. I also played Milkshake by Kelis for Jill (because of Stacie's 21st birthday party). I had to step in and take action for the behavior that our entire table saw happening (as in I know whose fiance Mike is, and I know whose fiance he is not.) I had to make sure that my sister got home at the end of the night, in her high heels, and that she was okay with her passed out fiance. We were at his house for a good hour in which the best man showed up. Why he showed after 1 am, I am not sure, but it proved a couple good laughs during the tense times of Mike throwing his phone because he couldn't remember his code.
Mom bought a round for all the girls that were around for the bachelorette party...except Stacie and me...what the...? Granny stayed out til close with us and many people knew who she was. I bought a round of shots for four people (only two of them actually wanted the shot). Coincidentally, this was the shot that put Mike over the edge and he was out the door throwing up. (I failed to mention that it was his bachelor party that night too.)
All in all it was a fun night, complete with the little meatballs in bbq sauce at the end of the night. yum! And Stacie, I think I speak for most everyone when I say a good time was had by all, and my favorite line of the night remains when you were walking by the bathroom door into the kitchen when we were at your place at the end of the night and you looked in and said, "Honey, please throw up in the toilet." It was like you were already married. That was classic.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Las Vegas and Bridal Showers
I have been quite busy since my last entry. (Has anyone gotten their postcard yet?) We were fortunate enough to get on the 5:30-ish flight last Tuesday to Vegas. The bad news was that Sonny got to sit in First and I had to sit in Coach. Even worse was that we were only a row apart. When we landed, I leaned forward to ask if he had his bag handy so he could put my book in, and the guy next to me couldn't believe that I was sitting in Coach while he was in First. I just replied, "It was his turn." Because it was.
We had a good time in Vegas. Sonny managed to lose all his money arriving at the AP on the last day with $3 left. I appear to have done better than him arriving at the AP with around $420 left. After getting a seat on the 7:30 plane without Sonny, I gave him $200, of which he gave back $100 and I got on the plane. It was sad to go without him but after they called the last three guys to the plane, two of them showed up and then there were these two girls around Stacie's age in front of us and the lady asked if they were willing to split up if she only had one seat. They thought about it and said 'no.' Sonny had already decided that we were willing to split up because I needed to get back if I had any hope of making my flight home to be at Stacie's bridal shower. I was okay with the idea until it was time to act on it. I cried when some lady offered me $40 for my seat because her friend was getting married on Saturday, but got on the plane at Sonny's insistence. I cried on the plane too for a moment before settling in to MY First Class seat. Too bad for that guy that missed his seat.
The time in Vegas was fun. I learned that I would much rather play blackjack on a machine (where I turned $20 into $140) than at a table with a continuous shoe (where I lost $240). I saw a man wearing capris. I heard so many languages, you would have thought I was at the Olympics. And I sat next to some guy at a dinner show that I don't think spoke English. At least that is what I am telling myself about why he was so creepy during the show. I decided that I like Grandma's favorite game: Super Jackpot Party. That was fun. I miss having Krispie Kremes around. I recommend 'The Deuce' for a break from gambling. Oh and I got a new purse that is big enough to carry everything I need (including my shoes, book, candy and my cosmetics) for $5. Sweet.
Stacie's shower was fun. Rushed, but fun. I couldn't get over the fact that we were being pushed to hurry up, as if there was some big thing going on after that everyone had to rush off to, and if that was true, then why come in the first place? The shower was scheduled to last from 2-4 pm but was done shortly after 3 pm. Good thing you rushed through all your gifts, right Stacie? I am glad that my shower was in a private home where I got to unwrap MY OWN gifts and look at them before passing them on. Sheesh. My poor sister being rushed through her bridal shower.
We had a good time in Vegas. Sonny managed to lose all his money arriving at the AP on the last day with $3 left. I appear to have done better than him arriving at the AP with around $420 left. After getting a seat on the 7:30 plane without Sonny, I gave him $200, of which he gave back $100 and I got on the plane. It was sad to go without him but after they called the last three guys to the plane, two of them showed up and then there were these two girls around Stacie's age in front of us and the lady asked if they were willing to split up if she only had one seat. They thought about it and said 'no.' Sonny had already decided that we were willing to split up because I needed to get back if I had any hope of making my flight home to be at Stacie's bridal shower. I was okay with the idea until it was time to act on it. I cried when some lady offered me $40 for my seat because her friend was getting married on Saturday, but got on the plane at Sonny's insistence. I cried on the plane too for a moment before settling in to MY First Class seat. Too bad for that guy that missed his seat.
The time in Vegas was fun. I learned that I would much rather play blackjack on a machine (where I turned $20 into $140) than at a table with a continuous shoe (where I lost $240). I saw a man wearing capris. I heard so many languages, you would have thought I was at the Olympics. And I sat next to some guy at a dinner show that I don't think spoke English. At least that is what I am telling myself about why he was so creepy during the show. I decided that I like Grandma's favorite game: Super Jackpot Party. That was fun. I miss having Krispie Kremes around. I recommend 'The Deuce' for a break from gambling. Oh and I got a new purse that is big enough to carry everything I need (including my shoes, book, candy and my cosmetics) for $5. Sweet.
Stacie's shower was fun. Rushed, but fun. I couldn't get over the fact that we were being pushed to hurry up, as if there was some big thing going on after that everyone had to rush off to, and if that was true, then why come in the first place? The shower was scheduled to last from 2-4 pm but was done shortly after 3 pm. Good thing you rushed through all your gifts, right Stacie? I am glad that my shower was in a private home where I got to unwrap MY OWN gifts and look at them before passing them on. Sheesh. My poor sister being rushed through her bridal shower.
Monday, August 04, 2008
So much to do...so little time.
Do you ever feel like you have ten thousand things to accomplish and hardly enough time to even take a bathroom break? Then do you ever experience the flip side and have very little to do, if anything? Well, I have had a bit of option 2 this summer but it feels like for the past week, we have had this abundance of things to do everyday. That is good. Except that it makes me tired, so tired that as I sit here I have to force myself to keep my eyes open.
You see, the last two days I have been cramming to get the house all cleaned up and the laundry all done and a bunch of other odds and ends taken care of because tomorrow Sonny and I are off on our annual trip to...well, if you know, you are lucky, if not, you will have to guess. And no, the answer is not GF, even though we do get there often.
You see, the last two days I have been cramming to get the house all cleaned up and the laundry all done and a bunch of other odds and ends taken care of because tomorrow Sonny and I are off on our annual trip to...well, if you know, you are lucky, if not, you will have to guess. And no, the answer is not GF, even though we do get there often.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Vertical Horizon
I forgot to mention that listening to Vertical Horizon also takes me back. It reminds me of moving into my very own apartment, right next door to Amanda and driving to Crookston every morning. Eating my Smores Poptarts, drinking my chocolate milk and singing along with the whole CD. I just remembered this because I was listening to that CD while getting ready and thought about what that reminds me of. I just had to add that.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Memories
Well, there are days when I have nothing to say but make an entry anyway. However, that is not the case today... I would love to go on and on about our week up at Lake Mille Lacs (but I want to include pictures from the trip) or about my job outlook (which I don't want to discuss), but instead of either of those things, I want to talk about memories.
I don't really know why but I was thinking about how certain smells can trigger a memory while I was at the cabin last week. I don't think there were any particular smells that made me think about it, but I just was. You know, smells that maybe remind you of family gathering, or take you back to simpler times. For example, the smell of Strawberry Lemonade perfume from Bath and Body Works or Dr. Pepper chapstick from Lipsmackers remind me of the summer before my first year of college through my first year of college. And you can't really ever pinpoint these things until you smell them and then instantly take you back to whatever memory.
Then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that songs do the same thing. We don't have a stereo in our bathroom. But every once in a great while, when my boys are gone, I will haul out the CD player and hook it up in the bathroom so I can listen to music while I get ready. A while back I randomly grabbed a CD and happened to grab Blues Traveler. I listened to the ones that were from the radio: Run Around and Hook, but then was instantly pulled back in time as I listened to Just Wait. That song also reminds me of my first year of college. Or the song Mourning by Tantric. That reminds me of cramming for the GRE at Tabula with Harmony the week before the test. We were taking a break to get a coffee and she insisted that I listen to that song because I would be able to relate it to things going on in my personal life. To this day, I still relate it to the same time of my life whenever I hear that song...thanks a lot Harmony. ;)
Then tonight, I realized further that sometimes movies do the same thing. I saw part of Serendipity tonight on tv. I own this movie so it's not like I need to see the whole thing to know what is going on but seeing the movie brought back memories of living in West Ridge in Grand Forks while I taught in Hillsboro. There was just something about that movie that led me to watch it almost every night and to fall asleep to it almost every night. That leads me to the fact that I went for almost two months without sleeping in my bedroom at that apartment just because I had created this little haven in my livingroom and that's where I wanted to sleep, and was perfectly content with that.
So who knew that so many things could bring back memories? What things bring back memories for you? Songs? Smells? Movies? Fill me in.
I don't really know why but I was thinking about how certain smells can trigger a memory while I was at the cabin last week. I don't think there were any particular smells that made me think about it, but I just was. You know, smells that maybe remind you of family gathering, or take you back to simpler times. For example, the smell of Strawberry Lemonade perfume from Bath and Body Works or Dr. Pepper chapstick from Lipsmackers remind me of the summer before my first year of college through my first year of college. And you can't really ever pinpoint these things until you smell them and then instantly take you back to whatever memory.
Then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that songs do the same thing. We don't have a stereo in our bathroom. But every once in a great while, when my boys are gone, I will haul out the CD player and hook it up in the bathroom so I can listen to music while I get ready. A while back I randomly grabbed a CD and happened to grab Blues Traveler. I listened to the ones that were from the radio: Run Around and Hook, but then was instantly pulled back in time as I listened to Just Wait. That song also reminds me of my first year of college. Or the song Mourning by Tantric. That reminds me of cramming for the GRE at Tabula with Harmony the week before the test. We were taking a break to get a coffee and she insisted that I listen to that song because I would be able to relate it to things going on in my personal life. To this day, I still relate it to the same time of my life whenever I hear that song...thanks a lot Harmony. ;)
Then tonight, I realized further that sometimes movies do the same thing. I saw part of Serendipity tonight on tv. I own this movie so it's not like I need to see the whole thing to know what is going on but seeing the movie brought back memories of living in West Ridge in Grand Forks while I taught in Hillsboro. There was just something about that movie that led me to watch it almost every night and to fall asleep to it almost every night. That leads me to the fact that I went for almost two months without sleeping in my bedroom at that apartment just because I had created this little haven in my livingroom and that's where I wanted to sleep, and was perfectly content with that.
So who knew that so many things could bring back memories? What things bring back memories for you? Songs? Smells? Movies? Fill me in.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday
So I am home all day but I don't often notice things that have been sitting around in an obvious location (unless it's like crumbs on Lukin or something). Anyway, I was trying to think of something and happened to glance up and realized that the 2008-2009 Fighting Sioux Hockey Schedule is already posted for this year. It was like 90 degrees yesterday, and my husband has posted the hockey schedule. Weird.
I don't really know what I wanted to write about. Perhaps the fact that I got a haircut yesterday and then spent way too much money on a flat iron that I didn't use today because I am afraid to open it because of how much it cost. I think I am afraid because I want to go to the mall to the one hair store and see if they have one that is less expensive (but just as impressive). Of course, as my stylist told me, owning this one means I can throw all my other irons away. This one straightens, flip out, flips under, does spiral curls, three-barrels, everything short of making you breakfast...okay, there was one that a smidge cooler: has a universal adaptor, and turns itself off in 30 minutes if you haven't touched it. But that was another $50, and I wasn't about to go that overboard.
In other news, I got mad at Lukin today. He dropped our bathroom scale on my little toe. I yelled at him, and not that yell when you tell them not to do something, but that one yell that is more guttoral and sounds like someone else's angry voice coming from your diaphragm. He cried so hard when I put him in time out. Yes. He got time out because there wasn't any reason he needed to be lifting the scale. He was crying so hard that a half hour later when time out was over and he was sitting and snuggling with me and had fallen asleep for a nap, he was still doing that gaspy breath thing you do after you cry really hard. Poor little buddy.
Then I got mad again at dinner because he wouldn't eat. That drives me insane. But I think he has learned that he doesn't necessarily need to eat what's for dinner and he knows that he can eat something before bed. So tonight I had had it and decided that he didn't get a piece of cheese, or fruit or a cup of cereal or anything. If he wanted to eat something, he could eat the leftover mac and cheese from yesterdays lunch or the leftover carrots. If he didn't want those, he didn't eat. He must have understood that because he didn't even go to the fridge for milk after supper.
Lastly, Stacie wanted me to include some memory from my memory bank that included her. If I could wait to add it, I could make it something about her wedding...Oh I got it. Remember Stacie's "Wonderful" toast at my wedding. Hindsight being what it is, Amanda said that I should have let her do the toast, but we just did the best man and maid of honor because I hate when you go to weddings and have to listen to everyone of the bridal party (when there is more than one or two) tell some stories about their relationship with the bride or groom. Gag me. If I wanted to know memories that your third bridesmaid, who is your second cousin on your dad's side, has to say about how they feel about you getting married, I will seek them out later. I know I am a bitch but it's not like that was some big secret.
Anyway, that sort of turned into a rant, so yeah Stacie...there's your memory..."Jenny, you are lucky because Sonny is a really great guy. And Sonny, you are lucky because, well, you are. Thank you." I think we could hear the crickets. I don't think I have ever heard that place that quiet. Makes you almost wish you had written something down...makes you nervous for your wedding, doesn't it?
I don't really know what I wanted to write about. Perhaps the fact that I got a haircut yesterday and then spent way too much money on a flat iron that I didn't use today because I am afraid to open it because of how much it cost. I think I am afraid because I want to go to the mall to the one hair store and see if they have one that is less expensive (but just as impressive). Of course, as my stylist told me, owning this one means I can throw all my other irons away. This one straightens, flip out, flips under, does spiral curls, three-barrels, everything short of making you breakfast...okay, there was one that a smidge cooler: has a universal adaptor, and turns itself off in 30 minutes if you haven't touched it. But that was another $50, and I wasn't about to go that overboard.
In other news, I got mad at Lukin today. He dropped our bathroom scale on my little toe. I yelled at him, and not that yell when you tell them not to do something, but that one yell that is more guttoral and sounds like someone else's angry voice coming from your diaphragm. He cried so hard when I put him in time out. Yes. He got time out because there wasn't any reason he needed to be lifting the scale. He was crying so hard that a half hour later when time out was over and he was sitting and snuggling with me and had fallen asleep for a nap, he was still doing that gaspy breath thing you do after you cry really hard. Poor little buddy.
Then I got mad again at dinner because he wouldn't eat. That drives me insane. But I think he has learned that he doesn't necessarily need to eat what's for dinner and he knows that he can eat something before bed. So tonight I had had it and decided that he didn't get a piece of cheese, or fruit or a cup of cereal or anything. If he wanted to eat something, he could eat the leftover mac and cheese from yesterdays lunch or the leftover carrots. If he didn't want those, he didn't eat. He must have understood that because he didn't even go to the fridge for milk after supper.
Lastly, Stacie wanted me to include some memory from my memory bank that included her. If I could wait to add it, I could make it something about her wedding...Oh I got it. Remember Stacie's "Wonderful" toast at my wedding. Hindsight being what it is, Amanda said that I should have let her do the toast, but we just did the best man and maid of honor because I hate when you go to weddings and have to listen to everyone of the bridal party (when there is more than one or two) tell some stories about their relationship with the bride or groom. Gag me. If I wanted to know memories that your third bridesmaid, who is your second cousin on your dad's side, has to say about how they feel about you getting married, I will seek them out later. I know I am a bitch but it's not like that was some big secret.
Anyway, that sort of turned into a rant, so yeah Stacie...there's your memory..."Jenny, you are lucky because Sonny is a really great guy. And Sonny, you are lucky because, well, you are. Thank you." I think we could hear the crickets. I don't think I have ever heard that place that quiet. Makes you almost wish you had written something down...makes you nervous for your wedding, doesn't it?
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