Walker art, bar rides, and Bristol

Rewind to last Thursday. We had a special work event at the new Walker Art Center in Mpls. The food was good, the company (Jason and Krissi) was great, but the art was weird. Give me Monet any day...but the modern art at the Walker was just odd. Oh hey, look at that little kid's plastic chair with a kleenex box on it...what's that doing in the middle of the floor? Oh, that's a piece of artwork? You don't say.

Last Friday night was another crazy bar ride courtesy of Superteam Racing and friends. For those of you not familiar with the bar ride, it's a simple concept--ride your bike from bar to bar (with about 30 other people). The night was a success considering no one got hit by a car, or got arrested. I haven't confirmed this, but I think even Dahl made it home (with his bike this time). I think I knew it was time go home when Wessman ordered up the deep-fried weinies and tater tots...and I ate them. Pete and Candace and I had a long, dark ride home. I was glad I had brought my headlamp, but it was still really dark on the bike paths. I think we finally Rollo-ed in around 2 am. (The photo shows a typical bike pile from a previous bar ride).

Saturday we slept in and then went for bike ride out to where Pete works in the burbs. It was a beautiful day, and it was a nice, easy-paced ride. And I got to see two 747's landing since we were essentially biking along the flight path to the airport--the average person probably could care less, but for those of us fascinated with airplanes who know that there aren't that many 747s in the Northwest fleet, it was like seeing a rare bird...twice. (I know, I'm a total dork, but it really was cool...even Pete thought so). We also got a tour of Dan and Allison's house and their newly constructed rainwater garden since they were sitting outside stretching (after doing an 18-mile run) as we were riding by.

As soon as we got home from riding we got cleaned up and headed to the hospital to meet Clare Schwake who was born the day before. Clare is the second daughter of my friends Michelle and Scott, and she's adorable! She had tons of hair--not the crazy baby hair that makes them look like those little troll dolls--but the really cute, little-girl-with-a-yellow-bow-in-my-hair kind of hair. Did you know they use KY jelly to stick those bows on babies heads? Now you know.

After meeting Clare, we headed out to the burbs again for a BBQ/Bristol party at my sister's and her boyfriend's house. My other sister and my nephews were there too...the boys were even sporting their "party hair"--my sister puts product in their hair, and spikes it. Or, as Brenden put it, "my hair is frozen". I had come prepared by wearing my sweet DJ NASCAR tank top that I got at the NASCAR race when we were in Vegas last March (it was a rough night for DJ...not my proudest NASCAR moment...so no need for details...all of you NASCAR fans know what I'm talking about). But did you see those cute jeans DJ was wearing when he left the race and the TNT reporter was trying to chase him down? Not bad for an old guy! After the race was over, we headed downstairs for some pool and some QT with Jen and Steve. We had some interesting conversations...and that's all I'll say for now! (Note to self...encourage Steve to drink more often). Kidding "Jas", it was fun...thanks!!

In preparation for cyclocross season, Pete and I decided we should start running a little. So Monday night, we decided to start out small, and run just a little loop...probably 1/4 mile...maybe almost a 1/2 mile. Baby steps. We started running, and it just hurt--my knees hurt, my arms hurt, my lungs hurt, my ribs hurt...running's hard! Our biker muscles were not used to this kind of exercise! And Pete was all worried about other runners passing us...I needed to remind him that it wasn't a bike race, and it was okay if others passed us. And to top it off, I'm so sore today...from a 1/4 mile run. I have so much respect for all of my crazy friends who are running the Twin Cities marathon (and other marathons too)--Amy, Renee, Dan, Allison, and Nathan.

On a total side note, I'm finally reading "The Da Vinci Code". What an awesome book...I'm totally sucked in, and hate having to put it down at night. I'm only halfway through it, and I highly recommend it! I bought the illustrated edition, which is even cooler because it includes photos of many of the famous paintings, buildings, and symbols that the book references. Which reminds me...I gotta go read.

Thanks for reading!

S.S.