A Funny Night Out!

We had a department outing (and I was allowed to attend, even though officially I'm not in the department any more. *sniff*) We went for dinner and comedy at ACME Comedy Club.

For $30, you get a nice dinner at Sticks, and then tickets to the show!

I was impressed with the variety of options we had considering it was so inexpensive.  Drinks were additional, but that's reasonable.  I went with one of the fish options:

The red potatoes and roasted veggies were great, too!

 So after a tasty dinner we were seated in the club.  (Front row, of course.)  The MC/Opening act was hilarious, as was the second comic.  The headliner was a total stitch, and it was nice that we could tell that it wasn't all canned comedy -- he took a lot of inspiration from his audience.  (Including some nice IKEA-themed jokes.  Oh, and wondering if we were the most well-behaved bachelorette party ever.)

Trail Race #1!

I can't believe it's already started, but I had my first trail race of the season last night!

This is part of the Lifetime Fitness Trail Series -- it runs every other Thursday for 5 events.  This one was 4.58 miles in Hyland Park Reserve.  The weather was a little on the muggy side, and I was having a hard time with needing my sunglasses for the blazing sun, but being blinded by them in the more wooded areas -- but all in all it was a success!  My goal was to finish in a hour, and I got in at 1:03:38.  Not too shabby at all!

(I think I could have made it.  I didn't push myself tooooo hard.)

The only bummers were that there was no water at the second water stop, and then no water at the finish line.  (Or Gatorade!)

But I'm excited for the next one... or I was, until I just saw that it's 5.4 miles.

Erk.

A really good number!!  Except that I didn't win any prizes.

Warrior Dash!!!

My recommendations to you, if you wish to participate in Warrior Dash:

1. Actually train.  No, seriously.  Running. Pushups. Situps. Hill drills.  Seriously.
2. Do it with friends!
3. Get more than 4 hours of sleep the night before.
4. Don't fly in from anywhere the same morning.

In spite of not following any of my own recommendations, I survived.

Yes, survived.  The thing about having the race at a ski hill is that you've got to run up the hill.  And down.  And up.  There was not a lot of flat.  (And therefore, there was not a lot of running on my part.)
The obstacles were fun to tackle -- I did bow out of two of them, but I think I would give them a tray next time.  There was a length of trail that was really (shoe-sucking) muddy, and that was unfortunate... but I made it across the finish line and got my medal!

The socks got trashed, and the shoes got donated.

WARRIOR HELMET! ...and a medal.

My Denver Drinking Adventure

Okay, so those who know me know I'm not a drinker.

In fact, to my knowledge I've never been drunk.

It's never prevented me from being the life of the party if I chose to, but I thought since I was in a strange city with even stranger friends (who would totally have my back) I'd thought I'd try something new!

It started with a couple blended margaritas from The Denver Rio (peach and mango) as well as some fantastic fish tacos!

(Yeah, it's empty now.)

Then we walked around the corner to the Fox and Hound for further entertainment. I ordered a blackberry long island iced tea (but only drank about 1/4 of it) and since I knew it was important to eat, I also ordered chocolate cake.  They were both delicious, but the cake was finished.  (A friend helped me out with the drink.)  Then I was gifted a Wild Cherry Kamikaze... which I hear is not the strongest thing ever.  (Thank goodness... and it looked less scary than the "Dead Smurf" shot that was the other offering.)



All this happened with many glasses of water (I nearly passed out on Tuesday thanks to Denver's increased elevation and I learned my lesson!) over about 6 hours.

Needless to say, I wasn't overly impressed.  I think I'll be sticking to my Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers.  They're awfully more affordable. ;)

However, a great time was had by all -- and it was a fun adventure!

(What happens in Denver stays in Denver... right?)

Denver - It's Dessert!

Something apple-y and fried and delicious at 3 Margaritas.

A delicious cinnamon cake while out to dinner with my grandma, aunt & uncle!

Denver - It's Art!

One of the places I visited was the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.  It looks pretty bad-ass.

  

The first thing that got me was that there were no doors.  I mean, I'm sure there's a way to secure the building, but you just walk up this concrete ramp and you're in!  (I forget that not everyone has ridiculous winters.)  I was also surprised to discover that I got $1 off my admission because I took the light rail!  Awesome!

So, the whole museum had been transformed for an exhibit called "Another Victory Over the Sun."  They had covered all sources of natural light in the museum, which I didn't think I would really notice -- but I was surprised how good it felt to be out in the sunlight.

Anyway... one of the pieces totally freaked me out.  I like to think I'm not afraid of the dark any more, but this room was pitch black and running a video of a panther (shot in black light) so all you got was angry cat noises an a flash of huge teeth.  Freaked me out. 

Spencer Finch, Between the Moon and the Sea

This was my favorite piece.  (Probably the Asian influence -- and also it didn't growl at me.)

The other surprising piece was from Juan Munoz, called Waiting for Jerry.  It was a mouse hole cut into the wall, with bright light spilling out and the theme from Tom and Jerry playing.

Crazy artists, eh?

It was a nice introduction to Denver, and it was air conditioned. ;)

Denver - Day One!

So, the first thing to remember when you think it's a good idea to catch a SUPER early flight -- is that you most likely will NOT get to check in to your hotel upon arrival.  AND sometimes even though they tell you you'll have a rental car -- you won't.

Thankfully, I had already planned on utilizing Denver's awesome Light Rail to get to Downtown.  What I didn't really plan on was ridiculous heat and a 1 1/2 mile walk to the train station.

But I sucked it up and totally did it.  Here are some photo highlights.

I liked the "kiss and ride" - where people could drop off their loved ones to catch the train/bus.

 

This is the Pedestrian Bridge that gets you across 25 to the train station.  It's long.

Look!  It's IKEA Centennial!

Train approaching!

I couldn't get over how CLEAN the trains are!

A little scenery.

Union Station -- under construction, but I bet it's awesome!

There was more construction around the Eternity Bridge, but all the chainlink was decorated with crochet flowers!

Didn't read about this statue.

Look!  Proof that I was actually there!  (Hard to secure when you're traveling alone.)

It's HP Time!

So I kind of gambled last November...  I didn't go see HP7.1 because I knew I would forget everything that happened by the time 7.2 came out.  I was also convinced that SOMEone would show 7.1 right before the midnight release of 7.2.

And I was right!!!

AMC to save the day... HP7.1 at 9pm, and then 7.2 at midnight!!!

The super-cool part was that we didn't have to get into the line (that was already substantial at 7pm when we arrived at Rosedale) for the midnight show.  We got to stay in our original theatre.

The only way it could have been better would have been if 7.2 was NOT in 3-D.  Nothing against the movie, I just get annoyed wearing the glasses over my glasses.  (But kudos that they were shaped like Harry's glasses.)

HUGE Zoo Day

 Okay, so I live less than 2 miles away from Como Zoo.  This, inevitably, means I never go there.  I drive through there occasionally on my way elsewhere.  I bike through there.  I run near there.

Thankfully I had reason to be there on Sunday.  For, like, 3 hours.

It was ridiculously hot and humid.

But I perservered, and got some nice pics with my phone camera!

Giraffe!  There were 3.  They are tall.

 And these monkeys were teh adorable.  I didn't get a picture of the monkey area with the enormous plastic pickle. (Or is it a cucumber?)

The flowers outside the Visitor Center are gorgeous... but in the heat of the day, I was distracted by the promise of air conditioning!

Trippy and technicolor!

I don't know what these purple flowers are, but I thought they were gorgeous!

Obviously, with the warmth and the steam... it was humid in there.  But, strangely, since I thought it was supposed to be "tropical" it didn't bug me nearly as much as the weather outside.

And a blast from the past... I totally had one of these molded plastic gorillas when I was a kid.  (Definitely under the age of 6!)  I couldn't believe I remembered that, just from the sight of this machine.  It's in the ape house... and they have one in the cat house that does lions!

Oh, and this is a biking post because I totally biked here. ;)

Was lucky enough to get to grab lunch at the Midtown Global Market.  I was tempted by Manny's Tortas, for sure... but my heart really belongs to Vietnamese cuisine -- so Pham's Deli won out!

I love a good noodle bowl, so I selected the pork version... I wasn't expecting the sauce, but it was good.  I usually opt for a meat-free version, and I was kind of missing the fresh mint.  Darn.  Guess I'll have to go back.

Live jazz! Awesome!

Then (and unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture) I grabbed a chocolate Surly cupcake to take to my dad in the hospital.  (Recovering from a knee replacement.)  It was from Salty Tart bakery, and everything they had looked SO GOOD.

 Oh, and then I saw this purple house.

Food Truck Rodeo!

Today I experienced the Food Truck Roundup in downtown St. Paul.

It was delicious.

There they are... all lined up on Kellogg, across from City Hall!

It was about noon (they open at 11:30) and it was totally packed!

This is the Grateful Dog -- Hot Dog with sweet relish, mango chutney, and curry!

 

 

 

 (Also, from the GastroTruck: a Lemongrass soda.)

And no, I didn't just pick the Magic Bus because it was purple.

I get to do such cool stuff.

...today I sewed two t-bone steaks out of felt before 10am.

I have the best job ever.

Just wanted to share.

Do the Du!

Today was the first training session for the Minneapolis Duathalon.

It was also beautiful and gorgeous and I happened to wake up without the aid of an alarm with enough time to get ready.

So I ate, dressed, and loaded my bike into my car. (It still weirds me out a little to just take the wheel off... I'm concerned that one time I won't get it on quite right and it'll fall off while I'm riding.) Thankfully, I had plenty of time built in, because I never did find Peace Coffee (who had agreed to let participants use their parking lot.) -- Later I would discover that I was looking in the complete wrong neighborhood, but oh well, right?)

I hopped on the Greenway right off River road.

The Greenway is Awesome. Capital "A" Awesome.

So it was about 2.5 miles in to Freewheel Bike (a co-sponsor of the training.) They are the only business to have an entrance right off the greenway! They also have a cafe and WiFi and bathrooms and lockers and showers.... AND space you can rent to store a bike, AND a Metro Transit rack you can practice putting your bike on! Freewheel is pretty sweet.

My glorious steed!

So everything was done by time instead of mileage, which I appreciated because it meant I only got passed by everyone during the transitions. It was 15min run, 45min bike, 15min run. I did about 1 mile, then 8.5 miles, and 1 mile again. Tack on the 5 mile round trip to get there and back and it was a really great workout! (And in spite of forgetting sunscreen I didn't get burned. I got lucky.)

Pineapple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. Nom.

I wrapped up the morning with brunch at the Birchwood. 

And now I'm a little wiped out! But in a good way.

To Duluth!! (Link-o-Rama!)

A whirlwind trip to Duluth this weekend.  I came into some surprise concert tickets -- and the show was awesome.  Every hotel within 20 miles was totally booked, and I am thankful that I have generous relatives who will let me crash in their cabin overnight.  Waking up to the sunshine over the lake -- priceless.  Almost enough for me to wish I drank coffee.  I bet that would just add to the enjoyment!

Then into Duluth for a run along the lakeshore on the boardwalk, followed by a delicious breakfast at At Sarah's Table Chester Creek Cafe.  Everyone should go there.  All the time.  I left a postcard to my friend's Fringe Festival show.  Everyone should go to that, too.  Seriously.

THEN a quick stop by the Park Point Art Fair, where I bought a spectacular photo from Pat Parnow Photography (the pear one under "fruits & veggies.")

Oh, and a few rousing games of Road Trip Bingo (thanks to an iPhone app) on the road home!

SO fabulous.

I am SO TIRED.

Buble!

Cell phones are not cameras.  They like to pretend, but they just aren't very good.

Anyway, Saturday night I cruised up to Duluth for a spontaneous night of Michael Buble awesomeness.  I'm a fan, but not a FAN... or at least, I wasn't until after the show!

The opening act was an acapella group called Naturally 7.  They were awesome, and everyone should buy their album.  I did.

It was the last stop of the tour, and I don't know if that influenced this at all -- but Michael was crazy funny.  The best part was definitely his "roast" of each of his band members -- interspersed with him cracking himself up.  He also impersonated Michael Jackson, and a Catholic priest.  Basically he had a great time, and we all did, too.

It was weird to get used to him yelling "How ya doin' Duluth!??!!?"... I was all, "Oh, that's us!"

Amsoil Arena was not a bad venue.  We were in the nosebleed-iest seats available (there were no rows of seats behind ours) but it didn't seem that far away!

A faboo night, to be sure.

'Cause I deserve it!

One of my favorite things to do when I get to Trader Joe's is to buy fresh flowers.  They have a great assortment, beautiful arrangements, and they're affordable!

This was today's selection.

I hope I get to enjoy them before my cat eats them.

I am AWESOME!!!

Okay, just a little horn-tooting here.

I had kickboxing this morning at 6am!

BUT...

I GOT UP AT 5 AND RAN FOR TWO MILES BEFOREHAND!!!!

Considering I knew I'd be at work until after 7, it was a very pleasant day.  Up to run and box, then a shower and breakfast... drive to work, get stuff done... get a hair cut, do the frog dance, take some photos...

It was a great day.

Just a Slice of Life

It was one of those mornings where the sun is peeking out from under a really solid cloud cover, and I just love the light quality.

It was *really* awesome at work, but I didn't have a camera around or anything... however, I grabbed this shot with my camera phone on the commute in.

It;s sad how the camera can never quite capture it!

Awesomely Sore...

My first kickboxing class was yesterday.

Kevin totally kicked my butt.  I never want to try to work any part of me "to failure" ever.

It was fun, though.  Real fun!  The time went fast, and I got to hit things. (But not people.)

I learned how to wrap my hands, and I had gloves, and got to kick stuff, too!

The coolest(?) part was that about halfway through the day the soreness started creeping in... suddenly when I reached for something, it hurt a little.  When I gesticulated wildly in a meeting (as I am prone to do) it kind of hurt! And then later, when I had a nice belly laugh I capped it off with "ouch."

So excited that I'll be doing it again tomorrow at the peak of soreness.

W00t.

Hooray, Tony Awards!

So, this year I went to a bona-fide Tony Awards Viewing Party.  My date is pictured to the left there.  (Okay, not really... but she was one of my favorite parts of the night.  Seriously the teeniest kitty I have ever seen.)

First, the food was fabulous -- INCLUDING a delicious vegan artichoke dip.  I know, right?

Second, Neil Patrick Harris had the most awesome opening number and THEN mentioned IKEA.  And then I Tweeted about it, and then someone said that I was AWESOME!

Third, I managed to pick 12 of the winners on my Tony ballot.  I would have had more, but I was holding on to hope that "Book of Mormon" might relinquish their stranglehold and let "Scottsboro Boys" have a little glory.  No such luck.  However, I was UBER-happy that "War Horse" got a ton of recognition.  The puppetry looks incredible and I will HAVE to see it if it tours.

So... good food, good folks, cute kitty, great show... total awesomeness.