Tripping Out
This damn cold has knocked me on my butt for the past three days, but I decided that it's finally time for an update.
Last Wednesday, I flew to Minneapolis to visit almond_joyz. She lives about two hours away, but she booked us a hotel near the airport - and also near the Mall of America. Up until now I'd only heard rumors about the mall. But I have to say that it really lives up to its name. It's like a city unto itself, with its own police force. There are stores in there for which I'd only seen catalogs before. The weather was breezy, overcast and cool, with only a little bit of rain on Wednesday evening.
I got to meet her hilarious sister princesspeapod on Wednesday night, where we had cocktails (well, they did - I had my usual) and dinner at T.G.I. Friday's. Later, we went to see the movie "Knowing" ("The Haunting in Connecticut", and "State of Play" were also in the running); it was a good movie, for the most part - the special effects were spectacular. The end...I'm not so sure about, though. It was one of those WTF kind of moments.
Thursday we did the Mall of America thing. The very nice magicofisis picked us up at the hotel, and we went to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe where we ate surrounded by huge aquariums full of tropical fish and a jungle motif, while sharing 'crazy mom' stories, and fan fiction-related stuff. Then we went to Bloomingdale's, where I had a makeover at the Clinique counter. It turned out really good, especially around the eyes which I consider my best feature. (almond_joyz has the pictures on her camera... *hint hint*) I didn't buy make-up, but I did get the 3-Step Cleansing System which works great.
After magicofisis left, we walked around for a while, and then we took the shuttle back to the hotel where we met princesspeapod, who made her 'famous' chocolate martinis. I tasted one, but I'm not a big drinker so it didn't agree with me. almond_joyz finished it. Then reallycorking came over (*bounces*); she partook of a chocolate martini while we watched an episode of "Seinfeld" that just happened to be on TV, and then we went to dinner at Cantina One, which is on the top floor at the Mall of America.
Although I hope I didn't, I probably made RC a little uncomfortable with my gushing; I've wanted to meet her for the longest time, and I was a little nervous. But she's awesome and fun. I'm glad she was able to spend some time with us. I tried a strawberry daiquiri, of which I drank maybe 1/4 - yes, it's shameful, but I consider it a small victory that I even ordered one to begin with. princesspeapod had a drink in a coconut shell, which was something she'd always wanted to try. The four of us chatted and laughed for about two hours. RC did an impromptu sketch of an inebriated!Harry for almond_joyz on the back of her receipt, and then we went back to the hotel. It was a blast. :)
Friday was "Family Day". almond_joyz made the two hour drive to her home in Alexandria, where I finally was able to meet her husband, James, and two adorable kids, Emily and Aaron; as well as one of her daycare charges, Alexa (aka "Lexi"), who is absolutely the cutest (not to mention the tiniest) four year-old ever. She adores almond_joyz, and she bounced all over the place when we came in, she was so excited to see her back. While Sammy the cat was a bit shy, I bonded a little with Callie, who was a sweetie. She's very playful, exactly my Weasley's age.
We brought all sorts of leftovers from our various lunches & dinners, which we had for lunch while we waited for the kids to come home from school (James still can't quite get over the idea of anyone putting rice in a burrito, lol). Once Lexi's dad picked her up, we piled into the car for the drive to the hotel. We ate at Outback Steakhouse, and then the kids played in the pool while the grown-ups played Harry Potter Clue (we "saved" Luna and Ron). I lost both games, but it was a lot more fun than regular Clue.
Saturday we spent the morning at the Mall of America, where the kids and almond_joyz went on a few rides at the Nickelodeon Universe (while in my nervous 'travel mode' I didn't go on anything); then we met princesspeapod and her husband at a local restaurant for lunch before I was dropped off at the airport. My time there was so short; but it was very busy, and lots of fun. almond_joyz's daughter Emily made a pretty drawing of a fruit basket for me which is now hanging on my refrigerator door as a reminder of the trip. :)
Last Wednesday, I flew to Minneapolis to visit almond_joyz. She lives about two hours away, but she booked us a hotel near the airport - and also near the Mall of America. Up until now I'd only heard rumors about the mall. But I have to say that it really lives up to its name. It's like a city unto itself, with its own police force. There are stores in there for which I'd only seen catalogs before. The weather was breezy, overcast and cool, with only a little bit of rain on Wednesday evening.
I got to meet her hilarious sister princesspeapod on Wednesday night, where we had cocktails (well, they did - I had my usual) and dinner at T.G.I. Friday's. Later, we went to see the movie "Knowing" ("The Haunting in Connecticut", and "State of Play" were also in the running); it was a good movie, for the most part - the special effects were spectacular. The end...I'm not so sure about, though. It was one of those WTF kind of moments.
Thursday we did the Mall of America thing. The very nice magicofisis picked us up at the hotel, and we went to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe where we ate surrounded by huge aquariums full of tropical fish and a jungle motif, while sharing 'crazy mom' stories, and fan fiction-related stuff. Then we went to Bloomingdale's, where I had a makeover at the Clinique counter. It turned out really good, especially around the eyes which I consider my best feature. (almond_joyz has the pictures on her camera... *hint hint*) I didn't buy make-up, but I did get the 3-Step Cleansing System which works great.
After magicofisis left, we walked around for a while, and then we took the shuttle back to the hotel where we met princesspeapod, who made her 'famous' chocolate martinis. I tasted one, but I'm not a big drinker so it didn't agree with me. almond_joyz finished it. Then reallycorking came over (*bounces*); she partook of a chocolate martini while we watched an episode of "Seinfeld" that just happened to be on TV, and then we went to dinner at Cantina One, which is on the top floor at the Mall of America.
Although I hope I didn't, I probably made RC a little uncomfortable with my gushing; I've wanted to meet her for the longest time, and I was a little nervous. But she's awesome and fun. I'm glad she was able to spend some time with us. I tried a strawberry daiquiri, of which I drank maybe 1/4 - yes, it's shameful, but I consider it a small victory that I even ordered one to begin with. princesspeapod had a drink in a coconut shell, which was something she'd always wanted to try. The four of us chatted and laughed for about two hours. RC did an impromptu sketch of an inebriated!Harry for almond_joyz on the back of her receipt, and then we went back to the hotel. It was a blast. :)
Friday was "Family Day". almond_joyz made the two hour drive to her home in Alexandria, where I finally was able to meet her husband, James, and two adorable kids, Emily and Aaron; as well as one of her daycare charges, Alexa (aka "Lexi"), who is absolutely the cutest (not to mention the tiniest) four year-old ever. She adores almond_joyz, and she bounced all over the place when we came in, she was so excited to see her back. While Sammy the cat was a bit shy, I bonded a little with Callie, who was a sweetie. She's very playful, exactly my Weasley's age.
We brought all sorts of leftovers from our various lunches & dinners, which we had for lunch while we waited for the kids to come home from school (James still can't quite get over the idea of anyone putting rice in a burrito, lol). Once Lexi's dad picked her up, we piled into the car for the drive to the hotel. We ate at Outback Steakhouse, and then the kids played in the pool while the grown-ups played Harry Potter Clue (we "saved" Luna and Ron). I lost both games, but it was a lot more fun than regular Clue.
Saturday we spent the morning at the Mall of America, where the kids and almond_joyz went on a few rides at the Nickelodeon Universe (while in my nervous 'travel mode' I didn't go on anything); then we met princesspeapod and her husband at a local restaurant for lunch before I was dropped off at the airport. My time there was so short; but it was very busy, and lots of fun. almond_joyz's daughter Emily made a pretty drawing of a fruit basket for me which is now hanging on my refrigerator door as a reminder of the trip. :)