Trip Pix

New Years


&

Christmas

Thanksgiving Pix

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving in Willmar. http://picasaweb.google.com/willo11/Turkey08#

Tory and Jill's Wedding Pix

Here are some pix from our 25 hours of bliss in Orange County

http://picasaweb.google.com/willo11/TKJBOCWedding11808#

T-minus...

The packing has begun. Trip #2 to drop stuff off is happening. The books, the dishes, the junk we never unpacked from Seattle :) is going. We are headed to Caledonia for the weekend. But next weekend it will be so long MPLS for the summer. Can't believe that: 1) summer is already here, 2) We've been here nearly 2 years, 3) Kirsten's 1/3 of the way done and I'm 1/2 done with school. Yikes!

End of an Era, Part II: Congrats Stevie Bengt

Big Ups to my brother-in-law, Stephen M. Bengtson, for graduating from North Park this past weekend. Although the university is losing a fine young man, and an even better bowler, the city of Chicago and the Lincolnwood Oliver Garden are still in good shape. Here are some pix of the man and the myth, and a weekend that saw too much road construction, not enough Swedes or Mark's old college friends, too much camera case, and not enough sleep...

Lots to catch up on

I know the blog has been quiet. But it's because we're finally having a life again. Probably the most social I've been since the Seattle days.


To list a few...


Kallaus Wedding (congrats, btw)
Thunder home opener (see below)
Presidents show with Nick (videos/pix to come)
St. Anthony Falls Sunburn
Sangria II (the Roseville edition)
Avett brothers
Chicago '08
Etc.


Hopefully I can get some posts going soon. Since we're in the process of moving out of our apartment and wrapping up our respective school years things are a bit crazy. Hence the blog is a bit inconsistent. Sorry.


Until next time...

One of 4,215

Beautiful day in the Twin Cities meant a perfect day for soccer. While it was no MLS or no Sounders, it was a good match. Now I just need a Thunder scarf. Hopefully I can make it out for the Sounders opener. But until then I will be Thunder struck :)

Here's the recap: Thunder Win Home Opener 1-0 Over Rochester

Week old pix

Old news, I know. But blogger wasn't working, or I'm upload-challenged. Anywho, here are a few pix from the Kopicky-SRI extravaganza. Kirsten's transformer phone could have done better, but user-errors are to blame.

Weekend Update

We just returned the SNL 25th Anniversary. And while I love SNL's history much more than the actual show (that is a whole 'nother post anyway), I at least regularly enjoy the news recap. Hence the ripe rip-off.

Ballard's Finest (or Ryan to my non-SPU friends) was the main attraction this weekend. Followed closely by SRI and the cold weather. Friday night, after a day of cleaning which will help with the up coming move, Ryan came in to MSP at 8:24 CST. First stop, the Edina Grill. Highly recommend one of the 4 locations; sweat potato fries are a must. But the new tap, the Hennepin is no Stella; don't let them fool you. After that it was on to Brits, where there is a strong possibility that we met the owner...crazy old guy with a thick British accent who had a fancy for gold coins (change the accent and he could have been a leprechaun).

Saturday morning brought back memories of the other Northwest. Goonies on TBS; does it get any better! Fifty dawla bills! Anyway, then off to the Bad Waitress for a short stack. Too bad Ryan's pancakes were bigger than the entire plate. As I mentioned, the weather was terrible. I thought I could put the snow coat away. Wrong. So the city tour had to be a car, rather than foot tour. The upside is we saw both cities.

Saturday night was the SRI dinner, awards, skits extravaganza. I can't say I recommend the wings at Townhall, but the catering at the U was tasty. I also have to give a shout out to the Talcott Parsons Project. Especially Joachim; more cowbell...um...professor.

Sunday meant Ryan sleeping in for the first time in months. And finally some sun. But the temperature here is still a joke.

For weekend update....(Jimmy Fallon pencil toss)

Sangria Season

After a brutally long winter, four days is all it takes for me to dust off the sangria pot. Tomorrow we will also be dusting off the BBQ season as well. Since sangria is a delicate beverage and it takes much time and careful crafting, it had to be started today. Thank goodness I got out of class tonight 45 minutes early, and thus had ample time to undertake the hard work.

Kirsten teases me that my writing is epic, so I had to live up to it again (see above). Anyway, enjoy the post, enjoy the pics, and check the link for the sangria recipe. If you have any questions on fine tuning the sangria, just let me know. Oh, and as Tory says, the key is there can never be too much brandy.

Sangria - The World's Best
http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/1234

Welcome...Bryant

So it begins.

I've always wanted a blog, but I've wanted it to be impressive out of the gate. My lofty aspirations would have led to nothing. So here's a start. With reckless abandonment (big words help me feel cooler):

Another finally. Winter is over. Well, fingers crossed anyway. 4 days of sun and warmth are encouraging and refreshing. And while the last four days have been nice, today was our first chance to get out and make the most of it. So we did, with our newest friend: Bryant. Nick and Shannon got a puppy, and he's fun. Since I'm not a dog person, I don't know what kind he is. But pictures will follow.