Weekend

Despite the weather, a fun weekend! Friday night I went to a most excellent graduation party for one of our Fuego band members who is graduating - the party happened to be at the Plummer house...and had 3 kinds of Daube's cake including carrot cake with cream cheese frosting...the lower carb diet was out the window at that point :)

Saturday it was cold and rainy, but that didn't deter both Erin and myself from our standing-in-line tasks. We recently found out that the Olmsted Waste/Energy center was again selling very reduced cost compost bins, as well as rain barrels. Based on people who bought them last year, we know we had to be there early. It also happened that Saturday was the release of the Palm Pre phone, something I've been looking at upgrading to since it was released. The Sprint Store opened at 8am (early for the extra demand) and the compost bins/rain barrels were going on sale at the Apache Mall at 9. Erin graciously volunteered to go down to the mall by himself so that I could get to the Sprint Store early and get in line - I owe him one :) We were both successful in our missions - I got home around 10 with a new Palm Pre and he got home around 10:15 with an awesome compost bin and rain barrel - for less than $100 (normally they'd be at least twice that much!)

No rest for the weary, as it was off to Minneapolis to meet up with friends for a boys weekend out. Given the rain, we had to compe up wtih other things to do (had been planning on walking around downtown, possibly a Segue tour, Como Park Zoo) - we settled lunch at the Rock Bottom Brewery downtown and Rosdale Center for an afternoon movie. Everyone of course had the same idea, but we got in ok. We all had several complimentary drink coupons that came with the hotel stay, so we met up for happy hour down in the lounge. After a little more relax time, we headed to Brit's Pub (one of my very favorite places to eat downtown) for a great dinner. We were debating on whether to go out later or not, but with the still-rainy weather we opted for hanging out up in our rooms and relaxing and chatting (and even watching the end of "Titanic" :)

Sunday morning Bill and I got up early for coffee, while everyone else slept. After a leisurely two hour morning coffee downtown, everyone else started to get up and we headed down to the hotel restaurant for our complimentary breakfast - wonderful food - and a waiter who was completing with Erin on who could do the coolest napkin folding (I think it was a draw). With the still-rainy weather, we checked out and split up with the rest of the guys. We wandered around for a bit and finally found a nice Barnes & Noble in Roseville and did some browsing/reading while waiting to meet my family for lunch. Around 2 we met everyone at the Olive Garden in Maplewood to celebrate sister's birthday. Fun to see the nieces! Brother-in-law Chris had 2 things to return to the Maplewood mall so we took the girls and grandma over and wandered around the mall (and got Cinnabons for Erin). The carousel in the mall was even running and they were very excited about getting a ride on that. Finally, around 5, we headed for Rochester and a little relax time before Monday.

And it's still raining....not that I'm not thankful for the rain, but it's too bad it can't come in little doses :)