"I'm looking California and feeling Minnesota" --Soundgarden

Day 2

Slept in late, having remembered to put the "Do Not Disturb" notice up. Unless you enjoy getting up at the butt crack of dawn, never forget to put that sign up. Maids love to see if your room needs cleaning at 8:00 am.

Showered and then went for a walk around the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge across the street.


Failed at my attempts to become a famous wildlife photographer:




Had lunch at the hotel restaurant. Crab and walleye cakes with a mango honey sauce. Quite delicious.


The ahi tuna and bacon sandwich was rather dry.


Flew home. The end.

I'm off to Vancouver this Thursday night for a regional convention we are holding there. I've never been to British Columbia and have always wanted to see it. I'll be working most of the time, but I'll do my best to see a few sights too. Check in next week for a full report and pictures.

If I found my way to Minnesoter

In case you didn't catch the reference, that's from one of my favorite songs, Minnesoter, by The Dandy Warhols. I just returned from my first business trip with the company I work for. I was near the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport over the weekend for a big meeting we held there. My job is to plan these meetings, and they wanted me to see one in person so I have a better idea what they're like and can improve my planning techniques.

Anyway, here are some pictures and highlights from my trip:

I stayed at the Airport Hilton where our meeting was held in the ballroom.

I had a nice view of the river from my room.

Checked out the Mall of America:


And ate a shrimp Cobb salad at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. -- a Forrest Gump themed restaurant.


When you need a server, you flip your sign to Stop Forrest Stop. If you are good, you leave it on Run Forrest Run. It's a good plan, except that they make the servers say Stop Forrest Stop when they get stopped. It's quite demoralizing.


I went to see The Matador after wandering through the mall for awhile.

We had a huge turnout for our meeting that night. Almost 1000 people.

A group of us went out for a late dinner at Murray's, a nice steakhouse downtown. I got the Escargot and New York Strip Sirloin. Delicious.

Day 2 coming soon.

So Close, Yet So Far Away

I'm about a week into my new place and really enjoying it. I'm leaking money like a broken pipe, but the place is starting to come together. I came through on my promise to hook my sister up with a job at my company. She starts Wednesday. Now that my house is in order, she will be moving in this week.

For those following the Chloe saga, she's living 10 minutes from my doorstep, going to BYU, and we still haven't met in person. Every time I talk to her on the phone I think it will be the last time. Any emotional investment I may have had before is gone. I'm merely along for the ride now. If she wants to meet, I'll meet. But I'm not going to hold my breath if she doesn't show again.