It's going well. I've seen a few of my friends and have plans to see others. I'm staying with with some family friends who have their family here visiting. It's nice to see them all grown up - I'm finally like a big cousin! For the first time in my life. It's been colder than I expected though, so my long sleeves are getting worn more often than not! Despite the weather, we've grilled 2 nights. I've been out for dinner 1 night, and I spend my days driving around gettin' things done.
Ooh! And I'm the proud new owner of a nice, modest little video camera. So, there are videos of Bemidji and Minneapolis yet to come! Stay tuned.
*No actual holidays were observed during the making of this vacation.
I now sit in the living room of a home where I spent a lot of time in my youth: my aunt and uncle's place on Lake Minnewashta. I love this house. It's old but yet new, fun, exciting and busy, quiet when it needs to be, comforting and warm. I've had a great visit with friends, family, and even got some business done. Unfortunately, things haven't entirely gone the way I had hoped.
Yesterday, for example, I was driving along highway 494 planning to exit onto 394 into Minneapolis. (I was in fact, headed to my car dealership to have everything checked out before I park my car for another few months.) Suddenly, I hear my car drop out of gear, like into neutral. Well, I immediately think it's the transmission failing for the third time. After having the car towed to the shop, being told they wouldn't even look at it until this morning, and pestering them with calls all afternoon, I finally got the word. The problem is NOT the transmission, but a totally unrelated problem. Expensive, but unrelated. It should be fixed juuuust in time for me to drive home. In the interim, I've been driving my aunt's car and mainly just relaxing at the house. It's ok -- I'm on vay-CAY-shun!
Ooh, and I bought lots of pretty (and yummy) things at the MOA today! :)
List of places to go in the loaner car tomorrow:
- Lunch with K.M.M.? (Hopefully at Annie's Parlour near the U. Burger 'n' malt, here I come!)
- Smitten Kitten (Not a pet shop! ^^ I'm hoping to meet Laura Rad)
- Lunds for cheese I can stow in my luggage. (Questionable I know)
- We'll see if I have any time left over. I won't if I don't go to bed now!
The last couple days of my trip couldn't have been better, really. My car came out of the shop in time and got me all the way to Bemidji without incident. I ate at all the rest of the places I'd been wanting to, and got all packed up under airline weight restrictions! It was a good time. Thank you to L & V, and Auntie S & Uncle D for everything. It was nice to be back home, but I also felt glad to return to Korea.
