Wednesday, August 16, 2017

August 14 - 20, 2017, MN

SWednesday, August 16.  I agreed to help with before and after school pickup with the grandkids this week, as the program is a bit different this week.  The other Grandparents are on vacation and Charlotte is going to YMCA camp. It has made for busy days.


I got the trailer licensed in Minnesota on Monday, after only a 1.5 hour wait.  It's done now and I feel good about another transition to being a resident is behind me.  Another accomplishment this week was to get a library card.  I think I am a Minnesotan.


I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of it before, but last week while I was walking Frisco, I thought that it might make sense to move my stuff into storage over the winter (about $100 a month) compared to paying rent/storage for this apartment at $900 a month.  Makes sense to me.  Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to tell the landlady yet and I know that she has been counting on me to stay through the spring, although our agreement is a month to month rental.


Friday, August 18. I did finally talk to Elizabeth on Thursday and let her know I would be leaving, either October 1 or 15 (15 would be preferred as it would allow me more time to get my stuff packed and moved to a storage unit) and she said she would try to make that happen.


Tom came up on Wednesday morning and we drove to Lake Calhoun to walk the path around the lake, missing a turnoff on the path on the south side of the lake so rather than go the entire distance around, we turned and walked back e same way - about a 3-mile jaunt.  


I had Camille and Norah pickup duty that day, so Tom stayed at my apartment while I hung out with the girls.  And then we headed to McCoy's for a beer and a burger, as I had a coupon for a free burger. It was a yummy burger and a nice, local joint, not far from my apartment.


I had invited Tom for dinner on Thursday night, so we had ribeye steak, sautéed mushrooms, baked potato and salad and shared a bottle of wine. A walk, Farkel, and an old movie topped off the night.


After school this afternoon, I picked Camille and Norah up and brought them to my apartment or a change of pace and they loved it.  Different snacks, dressing up in some of my clothes, some drawing and coloring, and reading a monster book filled the couple of hours and made for a very pleasant afternoon.  I stayed for dinner at their house and we had a yummy homemade pizza.


Sunday, August 20.  Yesterday was my oldest son, Pat's 48th Birthday - boy, does that make me feel old.  We had a nice phone conversation, but I won't be making it to Stoughton for a few weeks but will be sure to celebrate when I get there.


I was up early and headed to Faribault, as Tom and I had plans to go to the Steele County Fair in Owatonna.  We got there around 11:30, found a place to park and started out with a yummy pulled pork sandwich, the stand just happened to be across from the swine buildings - our next stop. We checked out the chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows, goats, horses and even llamas.


The living history museum that we missed last week was open, so we went through all of those cool, old buildings.  When searching for the beer tent, we got turned around and covered most of the grounds once more. But then, a nice, cold beer was very refreshing while listening to some old rock and roll tunes.


I had to get back to feed and walk Frisco, but we kind of thought it might be fun to go back to see the Enduro race and the highlighter band, but then neither of us really felt like doing the 20 mile trip again.  


Today was prep day for next week's camping trip with Charlotte and some of my best friends at Ft. McCoy, WI.  It didn't help that I slept in until 9:30 (huh? A total surprise) but I managed to get through my to do list and as I write this, I am showered and ready to head out by 7:30 or so in the morning.