Awww, no problem!

Why, you're very welcome!

Thanksgiving 2022

For Thanksgiving this year we dined at Coach's Pub and Grill. The verdict? The restaurant was way too loud to have a conversation, and the service (even given it was a crowded holiday) was below expectations. The food was good, but not spectacular.

 I don't regret going there, but I doubt we'll go back, at least for a holiday. 

ISO

Iso holiday picks in gold or copper..browns..or? Trying to make my tree topper kinda wild like the example and my tree is golds/coppers/ivory - Lisa

An Odd Dream

Saturday night I had a dream that there was dirt under my fingernails. I started to clean them out with a nail pick, but to my surprise it wasn't dirt. As I watched in disgust I pulled out a long, pitch-black, spiked worm that had burrowed under the skin beneath my nail. 

Time and again I pulled one out, two or three from every finger, each leaving an open wound under my fingernail. 

In the dream I remember being perplexed, not by their presence, but by all the many, many times I'd cleaned my nails before without realizing they weren't dirty at all. 

A Big Change

Sometimes it's hard to see any change. Other times I see it. I saw it today. Here's a before and during. I've been reluctant to admit I'm trying to be healthier because accountability is scary. Lisa

Barbara Park

Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B Jones series that introduced YaYa to reading and gave Junie her well deserved nickname, has sucumbed to cancer at 66.

RIP - you made a difference to this family.

Chuck Carr

Former MLB outfielder Chuck Carr, who  led the league in stolen bases for the Marlins and entered Brewers lore with an epic quote, has died at age 55, reportedly of cancer. 

In 1997, when told to take a pitch, he swung and popped out.  Brewers manager Phil Garner was furious and a screaming match erupted. Carr's response  was so great it may echo in eternity with Brewers fans: 

"That ain't Chuckie's game. Chuckie hacks on 2-0."

He was cut soon after. 

RIP

 

The Significance of the Lanyard Colors

Oh, btw - in the photo's from the cruise, the silver color of our lanyards is significant. It means we are are veterans of Disney Cruise Line, and believe it or not there were times folks without one treated us with deference and awe. LOL. From what I understand, you need to cruise 5 times to earn a gold lanyard, and 15 or more to earn a platinum one. So, at our established rate, we'll earn a gold one by, oh, 2038 :)

Rosedale Center Mall

We're currently at the Rosedale Mall, which is buzzing with shoppers. These Minnesotans enjoy a good mall, let me tell you.

Right before this we ate at a Cane's Chicken across the street after a miserable 20 minute wait in the drive thru.  It was good, but not worth the wait or the laurels it receives.  We don't have them back home, and after tonight I'm in no real hurry to have them move in.

Prior to that Lisa spent the day at a training conference at the hotel while I milled about replacing my wiper blades, stopping at a Burlington for a 2023 planner, getting Arby's, and napping in our room. Then Lisa had us stop at the local office of her employer so she could say hello to people she deals with daily on the phone. 

I'm not sure what our plans are yet. We may return home tonight or stay again - probably the former.

Matt's Bar and the Original Jucy Lucy

Lisa and I are in Minneapolis for the weekend, and at the recommendation of a co-worker of hers who lives here we had dinner at Matt's Bar.

Dig even casually on the web and you'll find plenty of info on the place.  It was founded in 1954, has been on numerous foodie TV shows, still only accepts cash, offers no ice in your drink, no utensils or plates, and its menu is short and to the point. The atmosphere is casual and fun and not at all rehearsed - it feels very comfortable. 

We got there at just the right time.  While we were seated right away, a line of expectant diners began to form, eventually stretching out the front door. 

Their claim to fame is as the purported creator of the Jucy Lucy - spelled just like that - a burger with the cheese inside.  Take a bite and it literally squirts back out at you. 

I don't eat cheeseburgers, but I was compelled to take a bite of Lisa's, and it was very good. 

Me? I just ordered a burger. 

I don't know what seasoning they use, but OH MY WORD. Every bite was heaven. I honestly think it may just surpass Mazos in my book.  Blasphemy, I know.  But I speak the truth. 

A great meal at a great dive bar.  Visit it when you're in the Twin Cities.

Animal Kingdom Day Three

Animal Kingdom Day Three

ll

Gallagher

 

Watermelon-smashing prop comedian Gallagher has died at age 76 after "a short health battle." 

I remember watching his Showtime specials as a kid and thinking he was hilarious, but I haven't seen so much as a clip of him in years. 

RIP sir.  Thanks for the laughs. 

This year I’ve taken SO many senior portraits. The yearbook editor to photographer pipeline is real.  - YaYa

Attack of the (ineffective) November Hornets!

It is November 10th, 2022, and I spent my lunch sitting on the patio at work, blissfully enjoying a 74 degree day. 

That alone is remarkable: November, almost mid-November, and it is warm enough in Wisconsin to sit outside without a coat or long sleeves. Wow. 

(Although a cold front is moving in that will restore us to a stereotypical November by this time tomorrow),

Alas, my meal featured numerous attacks by hornets, also a rare sight this late in the year, hornets who seemed as irked by their unusually extended life as I was. 

This guy in the picture was unusually aggressive, refusing multiple efforts to thwart his advance on my drink. In fit of manly courage I swatted him, knocking him to the ground, then stepped on him. Sometimes a 700x size advantage helps. 

Immediately, however, his buddy dive bombed me, looking for payback. I swung my plate at him, meeting him halfway. There was an audible "thonk," like a tennis ball hitting a racket, and no more was seen of the pesky but loyal-to-his-brethren hornet. 

So endeth the tale.

Shady Goodwill, Shady

- YaYa

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