As promised, here's highlights from my time in Minnesota.
- My first time making candy-cane cookies all by my lonesome. I daresay they turned out pretty well.
- The family gift exchange on the 28th. My family (read: my sister) received a fancy-pants digital camera from my father. I received a number of sundry items that I will detail when the final count has been made.
- Samantha arrived on the 31st. :) We spent some time with Joseph and Steve before going to a crowded and extremely loud show at Station 4 in St. Paul. Champagne was had.
- Saw Phantom of the Opera on the 1st. This should have been on my list. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Emmy Rossum was not too hard on the eyes or the ears.
- Khan's Mongolian BBQ with Matt Peters and his girlfriend Sacha. No, Erik was not there, the punk.
- A moving party for Kari Pearson (and Peter, in absentia), followed by sandwiches at Cecil's Deli. Samantha got a crash course in my largest group of St. Olaf friends. Which she passed with flying colors.
- Breakfast at the Original Pancake House in Edina at 7. Freaking. AM. This was awesome, needless to say. Or, in other words, it was definitely not hand-made. Spent the rest of the morning at the Mall of America as well as a stop at the public library in Hopkins (a former workplace of mine).
- Got our book nerd on by browsing one of the antiquarian bookstores in Stillwater. Yes, there are more than one. I love my hometown.
- Attended a shindig celebrating the centennial of the Minnesota Capitol Building. In case you're curious, the only reason I went was because Kantorei was singing. Managed to catch up with Jeremy and Gillian (and later, Brad Miller) afterward.
All in all, an excellent visit. I saw almost everyone I wanted to see (sorry, Matt!) and introduced Samantha to many of the important parts of my life in Minnesota. I'm very glad she could make the trip and I hope we can find time to visit again. I still need to walk the hallowed groves on Manitou Heights with her... :)
I am now plunged back into the routine here in Bloomington. Nothing like 7 hours at the Chemistry Library to start off your week. First reports on classes coming soon. Peace!