Minnesohhhta

We're in Minnesota for a few days of vacation. Our "guys", Wich and Sho (international students living with us while they study ESL at WESLI in Madison) came with us for the weekend. I think, I hope, they had a good time up here. We did the State Fair... I love the Minnesota State Fair. We spent six hours walking the Fairgrounds: viewing the 10-day-old piglets and the biggest pig in the state, petting the goats, sheep, and the alpacas, eating cheese curds, pronto pups, milkshakes from the dairy barn, and Tom Thumb mini-donuts, buying from vendors giving a schpeel at various booths, taking in the sights and sounds of the Minnesota State Fair. Cell phones are a wonder too, aren't they? Twice we were in communication with friends/family who we knew would also be at the Fair, to say, "What barn are you in? We'll be right there..." Fun. Gotta love technology at the Fairgrounds.

Sunday morning Sho went to church with us at Bethlehem, and sometime I need to blog about that experience-I sat through the service thinking of things through his eyes and mind.. It was his first time at a Christian church.

Sunday afternoon the guys went tubing at Camp Hansen! Nancy is Joan (my mother-in-law)'s cousin. Nancy has a small speedboat, a place on Lake Johanna.. and we had a blast! After the first ride around the lake with 5 humans and two dogs-both dogs named Abby-Nancy said we needed to lose some humans in order to pull a tube. The boat was too weighted down. So then I "spotted", which means I basically just watched the tubers, making sure they were ok, while I also held my camera, trying to take both video and still shots of Sho and Wich tubing. When Wich was tubing, our Abby was in the boat, and very concerned about Wich out in the water, so I also had to hold onto her the whole time, keeping her from going to the edge of the boat. While Wich tubed, Sho and Jim kayaked. And while Sho tubed, Jim kayaked.. Wich needed to rest after tubing! Joan and Dan joined us, bringing goodies and pop to enjoy, before Nancy took the guys out to each have a turn at driving the boat. Thanks, Nancy. It was such a fun afternoon for all of us.

Sunday night we went to Ted and Marilyn's for coffee and dessert. (Jim's Uncle and Aunt). Sho and Wich got a complete meet-and-greet weekend! Uncle Ted also gave the guys a tour of the senior residence they live in. We had the tour last year, and I love it there. I'm almost ready to move in! Coffee and dessert were of course excellent, but conversation was also good, and I always love being with family and friends.

This morning the guys got up early, and Jim, Wich, Sho and I went to Al's for breakfast. Al's is an experience. Some prefer dining establishments which impress health inspectors more.. some of us love Al's. Al's has been around for over 50 years, in Dinkytown by the University of Minnesota. The counter from which we eat, the plates, silverware, coffee mugs... these are all clean. But look up and you'll see dust hanging from the lights, torn walls, and grease just about everywhere. But it's worth it. They have the best pancakes- Wally Blues, Walnut and Blueberry pancakes. This morning Al's did not disappoint. We had to wait for a few minutes for seats.. but only a few minutes. Our favorite server wasn't there, but the guy who served was good and funny and very Al's-y. Doug, one of the Co-Owners, was cooking.. yelling at the wait staff (in a friendly way), the kitchen staff yelled out at Doug..the pancakes were to die for, and the staff was fun and funny.

After Al's, we had a few minutes before needing to drop the guys off at the Greyhound station, so we went downtown Minneapolis for some pictures-along a stone arch bridge, in the old mill ruins district, picture of the Mississippi... and the city behind.

All in all, a good weekend with the guys... in Minnesota.