If anyone needs me on Saturday....

....I'll be here. I'll be the one in red. I'll probably have a cool backpack thing too.

Whirlwind....

My first official trip home has come to an end. I’m feeling rather conflicted about the whole deal….I’m so happy I got to see my amazing friends and family, but I’m happy to be going home. It truly was a wonderful weekend. I appreciate my time to myself more than most, and unfortunately on this trip, I had little to none most of the time. Not that I’m complaining in the least, but it’ll be nice to get back into my groove until the next time I trek back to Minneapolis.

I’ll recap the family reunion portion in a separate entry – this will be Wednesday, Sunday and Monday.

I knew I didn’t want to do anything to extravagant on Wednesday night….travel makes me crabby to begin with, and doing it on little to no sleep makes it worse. My friend Rob was kind enough to give me a ride to the airport at 5:30 in the AM…mad props to you – thank you.

I landed around 3 and sister picked me up. A quick shopping trip was in order as I am quickly running out of tank tops in NOLA. If I’d stay out of truck pools with them, I probably wouldn’t go through them so quickly. I hate shopping anyway, and I really see no need to pay tax on clothing, so we swung through Heartbreaker and I stocked up. Found a super cute skirt and a dress for this Saturday’s Red Dress Run. After that, she dropped me off at the hotel.

Trent was able to hook me up with a ridiculous suite at the W, gratis. Mucho thanks to you, man. The room was AMAZING. It was actually a “Wow” suite, and good lord was I wowed. I’m pretty sure it was bigger than my old apartment. I’m pretty sure it was bigger than my current apartment, actually. Anyhow, it was awesome. Ran a couple errands, showered and met up with Nicole for champagne. Well, prosecco, but whatever…

Catherine and Stephen picked us up for dinner, which was scheduled at Corner Table. It’s one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city, though I’ve only eaten there twice. A friend of a friend joined us with his girlfriend and we ate and drank until our faces fell off. Amazing food and wonderful wine. Great company….all the things in life that make me unbelievably happy.

Thursday morning my sister’s fiancé picked me up and we went golfing with my dad and some of his friends. I haven’t played since I left MN, so I wasn’t sure how I’d do. I borrowed a set of clubs and somehow hit them straighter than I ever have in my life. If I could quit three-putting, I’d probably score pretty well! After golf, we headed down to Worthington for the major festivities.

Sunday I was dropped off at my mothers – it was her birthday and I was taking them out to dinner. We went to a new restaurant called Apertif and I wasn’t crazy about it. The food was ok, our server was ultra cheery, but it was missing something. It’s like it was trying to be Redstone without being Redstone. It was nothing special, and I likely wouldn’t return when I come back to town. Monday we got up and headed downtown. I stayed at my old hotel, and my cousin was coming down to cut and dye our hair. We had a nice lunch (the black bean burger at Northern Shores Grille is really good – though next time I’d get it with cheese), ran a couple errands and got our hairs did. Good solid family bonding time.

Monday night was happy hour with my friends…the only real opportunity to spend time with them over the weekend. It was a later night than I’m used to, and the debauchery will stay in the minds of those present. Suffice to say it was a great time, and a spectacular sendoff for me. My flight was oversold this morning, and I’m surprised I had the presence of mind to pull it together to give up my seat. I arrive two hours earlier and am 300 Southwest Airlines dollars richer. My suitcase will sadly not arrive with me, so I’ll have to trek back to the airport later, but I’ve got another flight up my sleeve…wherever will I go next?!

Anyone know a good...

Doctor? I need one. One that can make 'tear duct removal' a necessary procedure for me. See, the thing is, I hate crying. And I know I'm likely jumping the gun a bit, but see, there's a day next year that I know will make me cry, and it's a moment in life that I'd like to be able to pull it together for.

My amazing sister. She's so unbelievably lucky. On September 2, 2011, she gets to wear the most stunning dress, and get walked down the aisle by her amazing fathers (I think), and she gets to marry the man of her dreams. He's lucky too; she's freaking hot. Like sunlike hot. Back to the point.

She has given me the most amazing honor one could ask of a sister or best friend (and I'm hoping I'm both). She's asked, and I've accepted, the honor of standing up for her as her maid of honor. I'm humbled beyond words, and so grateful and sad at the same time. It's painful to be away from such a great part of her life, in this amazing journey over the next year. I want so badly to be there every step of the way, and I can't.

I'll elaborate more further, but the chicken mcnugget kick she got me on over the weekend is kicking my butt right now. Forever the planner than I am, I'm already thinking about the speech. I know how to start it, and where to go with it, and I can't wait to share this ridiculously special evening with them. I really can't. I want it to be this labor day. To celebrate the incredible love that they share, and to be there to start an incredible journey. To be a part of it. Words can't describe. It's easy to type....but to say it, out loud, in front of people that I love with every fiber of my being....yeah. I'm gonna need that tear duct surgery.

Molly. Thomas. I love you, and am happy beyond description. I'm so excited for you, and grateful that you've asked me to be a part of a day you'll never forget. You both mean the world to me and I couldn't be happier for you if I tried.

And I TOTALLY know what I'm getting you. And if you yell at me about it, I'll fight you. Even if you're the bride. :)

I love you both with ever fiber of my being, and I can't wait to be a part of your special day. Thank you. Truly, thank you.

Three Martini Lunch

Yes please! I met Hannah at the England/USA game. Last week was her birthday. A Facebook invite was sent out, and because our schedules are both crazy, I hadn't seen her since the day I met her. I immediately responded that I would be there - if the three course lunch didn't catch my eye, the $.25 martinis sure did!!

There were about 15 of us, most of them her colleagues. I was seated with a bunch of random people I didn't know and will likely never see again. There was good conversation, laughs by most (I didn't get most of their jokes - being an outsider sucks!), but overall it was a great time.

My total bill was $40, for a delightful watermelon gazpacho, a chilled shrimp salad with peppers and a coconut curry dressing, and a peach sorbet with honey cinnamon. Oh, and three cosmos. 3. Best. Deal. Ever! I highly recommend Commander's Palace. Except for one of our servers for rolling her eyes at one of my table mates. I know he was asking a lot, but don't roll your eyes on the floor. That's absurd. Especially considering the price point of your food. You're better than that.

After lunch, we sat around chatting for a bit, then one of the girls wanted to get a tattoo. So the five of us headed over to the tattoo parlor and she got her fleur de lis. I know it's super cliche, but I really am starting to want one. I have no idea where I'd put it, due to the two that are already on my ankles....my shoulder blade and lower back, well any part of my back, are out completely, I have no desire to have one on my arm, so that leaves my hip. And I'm really not digging that placement. What if I get fat again? What if for some reason I rethink my stance on children? Ok, so the second question is a stretch. So that would leave legs and feet. Maybe the top of my foot? Maybe? I think it would be cool to get one for every place I've lived...though if all goes according to plan, that would pretty much cover me...hmmm. Going to ponder this a while.

Anyway, after the tattoos, we all headed home, to nap, shower, whatever before the bigger party that evening. I opted out of the festivities on account of my early morning, but all in all it was a great day. I met a lot of people, ate some really good food, saw more of the city and laughed lots. We have plans for a girls night next week - complete with a stripper pole class!! I really am enjoying myself here. Come visit please.

Drinking team...

with a Kickball problem.

I FINALLY played in my first kickball game last week. I've missed the first three weeks due to my bum knee, but decided this was the week I was going to test it out. I decided that for this momentous occasion, I needed a costume of some sort. Something. Anything. I remember as a child I wanted to be a ballerina. Apparently someone out there had other plans for me, since I quickly exceeded the maximum height for ballet classes. Anyhow, I finally got my chance. I made a tutu to match our team colors!

The first two innings were tied, and in the bottom of the third our coach yelled my name. I was fourth up with two outs and a runner on. The only thought that went through my head was "don't fuck this up. get on base." I had goosebumps, if I wouldn't have been sweating profusely to begin with, I would have been by now. "Don't fuck this up. get on base. don't be the last out."

I sashayed out to home plate, heard some comments about the tutu (finally!!), and I waited for the pitch to come. I kicked it almost perfectly....it dropped right between the pitcher and the second baseman. I made it safely to first!!! Woo hoo!!!! Sadly, we didn't score in the inning, but I got a hit!!

I also somehow managed an assist in the field, though I'm not sure that's an actual statistic. Someone thought it would be a good idea to kick a ball right to me, really hard. I tried to make the catch, but it went right through my hands. Thankfully our centerfielder is amazing and was in the exact right spot to make the actual catch. We ended up being tied, but for us that counts as a win.

And since it counted as a win, our coach bought the drinks. When we lose, he buys the shots. I guess I joined the right team - we sure do like to drink. We're the two time defending flip cup champions. I have yet to participate, but only because the existing team is AMAZING. To get on the team, I'd have to challenge someone in a flip-off, and I really don't think I could beat them. I don't mean to sell myself short, I just know my abilities and know how amazing my team really is.

I'm sad I'm going to miss this week, but I'll be there the rest of the season - in my tutu.