Summer 2014 - Bruno's Return

I left work early today to get Bruno, who was a little scared and a bit smaller than when I left him. He hid under the bed at first, but came out now and then as I worked. He would be scared by sudden movements and run under the bed again. When we went to the living room, he would also run back to the bedroom after sudden noises. But then, we had some bonding time.

Bruno is busy marking things, remembering where all his things are, and adapting to life here without his sharp claws! The vet trimmed his claws, which I understand, and I suppose is good for my furniture, but I feel bad for my Bruno. They should grow back in a few weeks, I guess. So now that Bruno is home, I am home too.

Bruno snuggling my arm.

Summer 2014 - Day 10

It was an early morning for me today - getting up at 6:50. I did get some photos of Bunny and of K's amazing Cabinet of Owls.

I packed up all of my things and headed out of the house to cross the lawns to 98th to get to my car. The construction people were out finishing the curbs. While walking, I thought about what it might have been like to ask the construction people to drive me to my car, and how there might have been such a fuss made of it that it would have been faster for me to walk. Alas, I will never know, because I chose to walk. After getting to the corner, I was finally able to roll my suitcase and get into my car and began driving to the airport.

I also tried to find a decent radio station, but as a riff in Future War once mentioned, it isn't very easy in Minneapolis. I got gas and a nasty cappuccino (which I later tossed) at a Clark's station, and was on the highway. My Google Maps instructions took me to Terminal 1, and I knew I was taking a risk, given how far Terminal 2 was from Terminal 1, but I figured that it would be okay. I returned the rental car and got on the tram, then realized that not only was I at the wrong terminal, I didn't need to take the tram either. Soon enough, I was in the Light Rail Station, very sad to be leaving Minnesota.

I got to the right terminal after 8am for my 9am flight, checked in, and then went through a very short security line. I chatted with people while getting coffee, drank my coffee, then sat down to wait for boarding. Boarding started and I stood in line and talked some more about Minnesota Nice. Then I was on the plane, reading Facebook and prepping blog pages to read after I turned the connection off. We began to taxi.

Then we took off for our first destination, Chicago, and I snapped a photo just before we ascended into the clouds.

Goodbye, Minnesota.

I actually like flights with stops on them.They give me a chance to get up and reconnect to the internet to see what people are up to and post some comments. The flight to Houston had even fewer people than the one to Chicago - where I believe that no one sat in the middle seat in my row. On the way to Houston, I had the row on my side to myself. I had earplugs in, which was good because I could tune out the Dog Saga. Some people had a dog with them and didn't keep it in the case, or their case was too small - I didn't care that much, but the flight attendants must have talked to them like 70 times about it.

The landing was terrible - it was as close to me pulling out the air sickness bag as I want to get, and I wonder if the earplugs had an impact. I got off the plane and made a beeline for a water fountain - well a slow beeline. Then I walked slowly, not using moving sidewalks, out to ground transportation. My taxi driver was surprisingly talkative, telling me about how long he waited at the airport to get a passenger and how he was sick the day before from something he ate. I guess he assumed that I was friendly, because he also swore a few times and talked a little like we were old friends. He was right about me, and I enjoyed the ride. He even went to 49 and took the Fannin exit and dropped me off at the right door. 

When I got to my apartment, it was hot and stuffy, so I turned on the air and went to get my mail. I checked for a package, hoping that the 5-piece Feistaware set in Plum that I asked my mom about for my birthday a month earlier would arrive, but instead, I just got the package I sent on Tuesday, which I had forgotten. On one hand, I was sad because my mom wasn't going to send me purple dishes (the last color I need for my whole set, along with lavender, which they don't have), but, on the other, I did get the package I'd sent myself, so I felt pretty smart, in spite of myself.

At last, I was home, sort of. Bruno was still at the vet, but my own bed was quite nice. 

Summer 2014 - Day 9

I began my last full day in the Midwest by slowly preparing the last bit of pizza and texting people, confirming my State Fair date with EH and J, but also confirming that I would not be able to see KPS and J along with their babies.

Then I called the vet and learned great news - Bruno had pooped! This is a dramatic reenactment of the poop from the guys at Kids in the Hall. I assembled my technology, copied my photos, and began to blog. I guess Bunny, not wanting to feel outdone in the cat elimination arena, decided to puke on the computer desk and part of a keyboard from the top of the cat tree - not my desk or keyboard. I saw J getting up in the bedroom and told him the bad news. As he cleaned up, I told the epic tale of my stomach flu experience back in June.

Eventually, K and J got up and did things and I showered and got dressed for the day. K2 said he was getting off work at 4, and I decided to go over at 4:30 for a visit before my State Fair date. Blogging took a long time, but I was glad to get it done. I also packed all my stuff, ensuring that there was some space left for my pajamas and the clothes I was wearing. K took a nap about 20 minutes before I was about to leave. When I went into the kitchen, Cricket was on top of the fridge, looking very regal, so I took some photos.

I left via the front door and began walking across the lawns, but then doubled back to put my umbrella in my purse since it could possibly rain. I began the drive up 77, which turned into Cedar, and recognized the streets from our drive to Tiny Diner the week before.

No one was home when I got to K2's house, so I sent him a text and sat on the porch. After a few moments, I saw an SUV pull in and K2 and D in it. They drove to the back and eventually, K2 came to the door, asking if I was enjoying being on the rocker. I replied with a few granny lines, and came on inside. K2 pulled out the bag of churds and cheese nibbles that I had left there, but I told him that I was going to the fair and couldn't take the cheese with me, so he might as well keep it. There was some deliberation about whether I should take a bag for EH and J, or if he could eat them. Because they were going to some family function, he kept the cheese for that event. I did tell him that he should put them in the microwave for about 10 or 15 seconds - churds that aren't refrigerated only need 8 seconds, so refrigerated churds will need more to be slightly melty and perfect.

But I wasn't there to get the cheese - which K2 had not realized - I was there for a little visit before my State Fair Date. K2 and D werre actually dressed to go to the gym, but they put that off for a little while so I could visit. The day before, I had only been able to see D for about two minutes before going off for my Pizza Farm Date, so it was nice to have a little more time to talk. I also got some photos of their puppies, Galahad, my buddy from the day before, and Percival, who is a little more smug.

K2 shared that they had found a potential renter for their old house, and then discovered that the potential renter lived about two blocks away, so K2 and I were off to check out their current home. The goal was to see the status of their yard - were they normal or did they have rusted out ovens and old cars on their lawn? Since we weren't in Central Wisconsin, I think the odds against the latter were really good. We went the wrong way at first, then found the house, which was nice. Then he took me to their old house, which was also nearby. K2 told me about a recent race riot at a local High School between Somolian and African American (and maybe other African) kids. He said that he would not want his potential kids going to that school, and that his current house was just across the border from that school district. I disagreed and said that it could teach the kid about racial relations, but I, of course, only say that from a hypothetical standpoint.

When we arrived back to the house, we went to the living room and I did some more bonding with Galahad. K2 mentioned that he didn't like Galahad, right in front of him! So I gave Galahad a few more rubs and more reassurance that I liked him a lot. D also shared a couple videos from his iPhone: a post-wisdom-teeth-removal Ice Bucket Challenge video and another one about another English Bulldog. Then I hugged K2 and had a distance awkward hug (aka no hug at all, followed by an explanation of "the awkward hug" as performed as a prize for a trivia show on some radio station) from D, then took off for the fair. My instructions from the day before came in handy, since I also went to the fair from K2's house then.

I paid $10 to park at the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps and walked to the fair. On the way, I bought a fair ticket from a person with a pin indicating her official status. Given my normal paranoia, I was nervous that I had been ripped off since the ticket said "do not sell after August 20". I also theorized that she and others had bought up a bunch of tickets earlier, for $10, and were just selling them at the normal price ($13) to make some money. Buying the ticket outside did get me in the fair and helped me avoid a line, so it was all good.

EH and J were taking the bus from the U, but it was taking more time than they anticipated and they wouldn't be able to meet me at the Snelling entrance. Instead, they wanted to go to the miracle birthing center. My goal was to see the livestock, and when I went to the Information Booth, I found out that their destination and mine were really close to each other. Score!

When I passed this place that makes hands - real hands, or maybe it was "the original hand making place" - without wax, I got a photo of it because it was weird. However later, when I tried to edit the photo on my phone, my photo editing software ate it, so I got this.

Allegedly called 'Hands Unlimited'

So I began walking, looking for a place to get some [better] deep fried churds. I sent EH an update on my location, and then found a place selling churds. They were better than the ones from the day before, but not as good as the ones I remember having at the Central Wisconsin State Fair. I suppose that I'm not that surprised - it is Minnesota, after all.

My churds were consumed, except for possibly the best one, which fell on the ground and I had to throw away. Then I took a photo of a Rock Tub - a bath tub made out of a massive, solid rock - and emailed it to my mom, telling her that she should get one. I got a photo of another entrance to the Minnesota State Fair and posted it to Facebook with the announcement that I would be seeing the livestock today.

I texted EH and told him that I would be in the Sheep Barn and went in. Most of the sheep were elusive, and the huge sheep was inaccessible, but I did bond with some sheep with dread-lock bangs, as did a few very, um, excited young adults.

I could not get close to the massive sheep.

I bonded with the sheep on the left, mostly. I think her friend was jealous.

This sheep really enjoyed chin scratches.

A text from EH confirmed that he was outside the barn, with churds of his own, so I left the barn, washing my hands first. But before I could dry them, I saw EH and who I assumed was J outside, so I ran out to see them with wet - but clean - hands. Hugs and introductions were shared, as well as amazement at the time that had passed. They had consumed their churds, so we went to the Horse Barn.

Prince was actually very excited when we first approached, if you know what I mean.

Donkeys

There were other horses, including this beautiful Appaloosa. There were a lot of people around, so getting a good photograph was difficult.

The horse says, "stop touching me."

We decided to leave the Horse Barn and go off to the Cow Barn, or maybe it was the Cattle Barn, which would have been more accurate. There was an ice cream place outside the barn, but EH mentioned that he wanted the ice cream in the Dairy Barn. I recalled that place from the day before and was worried about the line, but figured that, since I was with people, it would be okay. We looked at the cattle, and EH wondered why different cattle had different looks - like why the dairy cattle had more prominent spines than the beef cattle. I couldn't give him a definitive answer, but did mention that dairy cattle were bred for certain qualities that made them different from beef cattle. Sex differences could also be a possibility. I remarked on the hip bones on one cow we were near, and EH declared that the cow needed to consult a "chirotractor".

The steer says, "yeah, whatever, man."

One of the winning farms was actually in Wisconsin, which just seems wrong for the Minnesota State Fair, but New Richmond is right across the border. As we went through the barn, people passed by us with their cattle.

After the Cattle Barn, we were in the Swine and Poultry Barn. There was some judging going on, and I believe that EH mentioned that pigs were smarter than goats, who were also in the barn. Then we went to a building where it sounded like they were doing something like the Market Animal Sale. We went in and people were in the ring with their sheep. There was no auction, and they all walked off. We left the building too, and I think we went back through the Horse Barn to get back to the rest of the fair. Food was our next goal, and first, we had Aussie Fries.

As we sat and ate, we heard a rumbling, and it turned out to be a cart with a lot of boxes on it, which I dubbed "the cargo parade". We were done with our fries and kept on a walking, and decided to get some meat on sticks. EH and J got a Pork Chop, while I had the Chicken. I nearly forgot to get a photo of this food until I was nearly done with the chicken.

I gave the rest of the chicken to EH as we went into the Dairy Barn. J told me about the butter sculptures. There is a "Princess Kay of the Milky Way" ( I believe that the Wisconsin analog is Alice in Dairyland) and other princesses, all of whom are carved in butter. At certain points, the princess and the sculptor are in the refrigerated booth to create the sculptures. There was an additional sculpture in there today.

To my delight, the line for ice cream was incredibly short! I got a twist cone served to me by a very friendly dairy person, who mentioned that many people photograph her when receiving their ice cream.

Some dairy people wear red shirts, but all of these were in blue.

We ate our ice cream, and then went into the building with the vegetables. I told the story about how my sister always got best in show for her cauliflower at that point.

These pumpkins are in a different category, I guess.

Then we went off to see the seed sculptures. Earlier that day, another friend posted photos of the second place winners, wondering why they were only in second place. I have to agree with her on that.

These were in the same category and I disagree on the judges' decision.

We went out and looked around more, then went into an arts and crafts building. EH's cousin (I think), or maybe friend or friend's kid had something in the fair, but we didn't know where, so we looked around. We were then in a building where organizations and schools had booths. We looked around for one from SCSU, but they were not there - we assumed they were being represented by the MnSCU booth.

Then we found more artwork, and were looking for EH's 13 year old's artwork, but didn't find it. I took a photograph of a photograph. In this category, the blue ribbon went to a drawing of wolves.

Meow

We were unable to find the artwork, so I followed J as he followed EH to another location. EH still wanted to play some carnival games at the midway, but it was 8:30, and I needed to go home. We hugged goodbye and I left the fair, without a hand stamp because they weren't offering them. While waiting to cross the street, I got a photo of the marquee for the Grandstand Act for that evening.

On the way back, I saw a bag with a Hmong Story Cloth on it and asked how much it was. It was only $20, which was shockingly low, so I bought the bag. I got back in my car and drove back for what felt like an eternity on Snelling, I think, and was then near K's house, but parked on 98th. I used my phone as a light to guide my way across the lawns from 98th, even though it turned out that I could have parked on 14th. I chatted with K and J, then watched the first episode of a British show called Happy Valley, I think. This episode turned out to basically be Fargo, but set in Yorkshire, and before anyone could go in the wood-chipper, I decided to go to bed, saying goodbye to my gracious hosts for much of the vacation.

Summer 2014 - Day 8

Early in the morning, K2 opened the door and announced that D was also going to work early, so I could sleep in. I'm not quite sure why him not going in early would have prevented me from sleeping in, but it wasn't that important, so I kept sleeping until about 10. Galahad was my morning companion as I got ready to shower.

Galahad was just being shy. He's a real sweet doggie.

The shower curtain was the Periodic Table of Elements, which I brushed up on while washing. Then I used the wrong towel to dry myself - K2 had put out a red towel on a rack that I did not see. Instead, I grabbed the green towel that was folded in their mini drug store/bathroom storage area.

Galahad stayed with me as I got dressed, packed all my stuff, and took it downstairs. It was planning time: planning for the fair, planning for the Meat Raffle, planning to see people (or not), planning for my Surprise October Vacay, and planning to send post cards.

At last, I packed my car up and took off for the fair at 12:30. The State Fair lot was already full, so I found parking at a yellow house on Frankson for $15. I got two bottles of water for $1 from two guys on a corner as I walked toward the fair. One was wearing a Vikings shirt, and I forgave him for that, then mentioned that "at least [he wasn't] a Bears fan". He gave me a pretty strong high five and his friend groaned because he was a Bears fan. SMH

I kept on a walkin' down the street until I was there - the entrance to The Minnesota State Fair.

Come to the fair!

I took a quick selfie while waiting to cross the road, then I bought my discounted ticket ($11 instead of $13) cuz it was 'Thrifty Thursday', and was in the gates! The KARE 11 barn was my first destination, to see P, so I made a beeline to the Information booth, got a map, then found out where my destination was. I was on my way when I got distracted by the DFL tent and started walking in the wrong direction. After a couple blocks, I realized how lost I was and started a course correction. Unfortunately, like most other places in Minnesota, there were not always street signs on the corners. The guys at the Direct TV (I think) tent gave me some help, then we chatted for a bit before I went on my way.

Soon, I was back on Dan Patch and passing by people eating roasted sweet corn. I followed the bend in the road and kept on a walkin'. Down one street was the Deep Fried Candy Bar stand. I made a note of it as I decided that it would not be one of "the things" that I had pledged to "eat all of". Nor was roast sweet corn, for the record.

I arrived upon the KARE 11 barn and delighted to see a smashed souvenir penny machine. It turned out that not only did KARE 11 not charge for this machine, they provided new, shiny pennies! Just so I could make myself a promotional item for their station! Sarcasm aside, I was super excited and did make one because I collect souvenir smashed pennies. Then, I asked a guy if I could visit P Y, mentioning that we were college buds. He took me back, behind a curtain and to the producers' trailer!

And there she was!

We chatted, and I even talked a little with the KARE 11 political reporter about the use of information in the energy industry. Some weather reporters came up to chat and I thanked them for the nice weather during my trip. I had to leave to see more of the fair, but did ask what I should eat. I remembered "Aussie Fries" and "Food Building". P also told me to photograph all of my food, which was a great idea. Sadly, I couldn't hang with P after her show was done at 4:30 because I had plans to go to a Meat Raffle. We did get a photo.

P then took an Important Producer call from a band, telling them that she had planned to interview them, then they would play into and out of commercial breaks. I took the photo of her and the trailer, and was off for more fair. First, I went to the Dairy Barn where I got a photo of a butter sculpture. There was also ice cream in the Dairy Barn, but there appeared to be a long line, so I skipped it.

I left the Dairy Barn to see a little parade going on. I just walked about, looking at things and trying to decide what to eat. A corndog sounded good, so I got one.

Corndogs: Ain't nothin' wrong with that.

I noticed the Minnesota Territorial Pioneer building, so I ate my corndog, then took a photo of the big ol' lady statue - built to honor the Women of Minnesota, 1857-1957.

The inventor of "Hot Dish".

After going in the Territorial Pioneer building, where I mailed my post cards, then bought more post cards and post card stamps, I came out and saw more of the random parade.

Then, I saw a Root Beer Barrel and snapped a photo for a friend that works in them in Milwaukee.

I just kept walking, and then I spotted Bacon Ice Cream, so I had some. The Maple Ice Cream base was really good, but the bacon was just a distraction. It also made me sort of wish I had gotten my Flurry from Belts' with the maple, since it was available.

If you never eat this, you didn't miss much.

So I kept on a' walkin', back past places I had been to before. I got some photos of food stands with interesting foods that I wouldn't be eating. There was the Deep Fried Candy Bar place, a place to go get buckets of cookies, and some cereal bars that I've only ever seen in Minnesota.

Seriously, no Special K bars? LAME

I snapped a photo of the Grandstand building, found The Food Building, decided I didn't want to eat much in there, and got some Lefse because, you know, Minnesota. There was also a nice tile mural outside of the building, where I stopped and chatted with someone wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt for, you know, solidarity.

It was lefeselicious

I've read that Wisconsin has more lakes.

I walked down the street and saw more things, including the ever famous Deep Fried Twinkie. The stand smelled horrible - like really, really bad - but I braved it for this abomination.

I can't believe I ate this. It was delicious, but never again.

There was also a children's section with one of those singers that sings children's songs to remind me that I don't want children. I ambled along, finding the 4-H building and the bathroom, more crowd, and a vendor that was not selling things on sticks.

JD is anti-stick.

It was getting close to when I had to leave for the Meat Raffle, but I still had not gotten churds. There was a place in The Food Building with churds, but there was a line for that, and I cannot abide lines. Soon, I found some mouse place and got my churds really quickly.

They were disappointing and cold.

I had a sit to eat some of them and people-watch. I ended up talking to a nice lady who worked in a place that promoted literacy. It was sprinkling just as I left.

I got a "hand stamp" on my arm, just in case I wanted to come back later in the day, then walked to where I parked. A man came out of the house with a black and white beard - or maybe it was his hair. It turned out that I had misplaced my keys in a very strange place, but it was all okay. I gave him the sweet corn my parents gave me the day before. I had already distributed copious amounts of cheese to several people, and figured that the sweet corn would be overkill, but someone needed to eat it. I hope the family enjoyed it.

Then I followed my Google Maps directions to the Meat Raffle, which inexplicably took me through an apartment parking lot. I found myself on the right street, in Dinkytown.

But it wasn't the right place. After parking and walking part way to the supposed address, I realized that I left my phone in my car, so I went back to get it. Then I walked to where I thought Jimmy's was, but it was not there. A random guy on the street had never heard of a Jimmy's either. When I looked it up, I realized my error - I was at the Southeast part of 4th St, and Jimmy's was at the Northeast part. I walked back to the car, paid $3 to the U of M for parking, and drove to the right location, just a half hour late.

I parked out back and walked in to find a dark, dingy neighborhood bar, full of various people. This review sums the place up well, and I really wished I had read it first so I could have gotten a beer stick. As soon as I got in, I asked how the Meat Raffle worked and declared my newb status. At first, I was there to observe, but at the bar, I bought a ticket. A regular chatted with me for a bit, and was surprised that they did not have Meat Raffles in Texas.

I did not win, but 13 did come up during another round. I went up and tried to claim a prize, but some other guy also had 13. I think I should have won because I was a newb, but I didn't, and that was okay too.

I hung out for a little while longer, then drove back to K's house. I unpacked all of the things from my car (and there were many things), then moved it off to 98th street since the curbs were being put in on Friday. Back in the house, I had pizza and chatted. Later, K and I watched The Craft* as I planned to send more post cards and blogged before bed.

* K's Review: How did they make this with a straight face?
   My Review: What if all of the stupid games you played at slumber parties when you were 15 were actually true?