The Color Run - Twin Cities 2013

Kim and I were up at 5 am to head over to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the 2013 Twin Cities Color Run!  We volunteered for the morning shift to throw color and we chose PiNK!  The weather was overcast and we were very thankful. 

This is the morning crew, looking pretty clean, but excited!  After almost 2-1/2 hours of nonstop people coming through our color, we were all color and exhausted.  The year before I ran The Happiest 5k on the Planet with Lorraine and Ginny, so I figured I could give back this year and volunteer instead.  If I make it for a third year, I may choose something less colorful for volunteering and then run again in the afternoon. 

If you haven't been a part of it, you may not see the fascination with getting filthy full of gorgeous colors, right?  But when you're part of something larger than life and full of happy, smiley people...  just for a moment you can be a kid again and enjoy the moment!  Adults wearing tu-tu's, some carrying onesies in front of their baby bellies for future babies, children running in full color.  Simply crazy, wonderful fun.  I even saw a few people come through with a small canvas collecting color.  Great idea for some wall art and/or matted frame of a photo from the day.

This event sells out every year, in every city.  Something amazing for charity happening here.

Happy Easter 2013

My morning started rather quietly...  JP went off to sing all four services at church, and I plopped myself on the couch for a bit.  The silence was interrupted about 8:20 am with the beautiful sounds of church bells ringing across the street at St. Joe's, accompanied by the birds in the trees.

I rousted the boys from slumber about 9:45 am and took them over to Bruegger's for a bagel breakfast.  Non-traditional, but satisfying.

As we walked into the church to find our pew for the 11:00 am service, Henry declares, "What does Dad call these people again?"

A little more quietly, I reply with "C&E'ers". 

"Yeah, that's it," he says, "do you recognize any of them?!"

True, son...  not many look familiar.  Let's hope that most of those attending were out-of-town family and not folks who only choose to come twice a year. Only one son's father reached out to shake my hand that was familiar to me at all.  We were lucky enough to get our front seat too!  Yeah, I know...  not really ours, by any stretch of the imagination, but not many people like to sit right up front.  I do, no distractions between me and The Word. 

I like Spring.  I love Easter.  I was sharing with a few folks last week how this season of church is my absolute favorite... because our church does such a wonderful job of a solemn Friday service (dark church, leave quietly, most with tears) to Sunday morning - dimly lit church, birds chirping and then {BAM!!!} - in comes the trumpets, choir, praising and singing - the cloth is lifted from the hanging cross and I get goosebumps and tears - every.single.time!

This year, Oliver sang on Good Friday with the children's chorus, and the kids all came forward to hammer the nails into the cross.  Tradition is good.  And when we entered the pew to take our seats on Easter morning, this is the beauty of the darkened church pulpit.
 

And then the magic begins...



Kudos go to so many musicians and behind-the-scenes individuals who make this what it is each year.  I really enjoyed sitting in the pew with ma boys, listening to the music and the message by our interim Pastor TJ, soaking it all in.  It was another beautiful service! 

Then it was back to the house for a very simple Easter Sunday.  No real meal planned, taking in an orphan or two, and playing a couple rounds of cards.  It was a nice end to a busy weekend.



Cousins

Best Friends

A game of "golf" and a good meal

Happy Easter from our house to yours!

Norah, Kara & Me

We started out with a bottle of chardonnay, onion rings {cuz we're classy like that} and some pasta at Rock Bottom Brewery.  The restaurant was directly across the street from the concert venue, so we had plenty of time to visit. 

Two girlfriends,
more like sisters,
bonded for life
catching up on gossip
enjoying a rare night out... 
without any boys! 

Kara and I went to see Norah last Sunday evening.  What a phenomenal voice!  Even in a larger theater, it seemed intimate, etheral and awe-inspiring!  The opening act was a pleasant surprise to us too!

Okay, I do have one little complaint but it has nothing to do with her or the opening act.  There was a single man who sat DIRECTLY in front of me.  No worries, right?  Move one way or another and you can see again (we were stage right).  Yeah, not so much.  This man was a bobble-head... and the WHOLE night he moved his head and/or his body back and forth and back and forth and...  yeah.  Grrrrrr.

Back to the music... I had never heard of of the opening act before that event, but was pleasantly surprised! Cory Chisel is an Americana folk artist who grew up in the Midwest. He is known around town as Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, but he sang with a woman. I had to google to find her name... Adriel Harris. Beautiful songbird that plays the ivories, tamborine and sings alongside Cory. I would definitely consider a few of their songs for download. Check out some of their music online if you're looking for something new!

And then, along came Norah.  Quick intermission and stage change... beautifully suspended origami birds appeared above the set.  Twinkling lights and a band of about five others completed the ensemble.  Norah was absolutely incredible, and so worth the ticket price (and yes, another birthday present to me).  She sang both new and old songs (the haunting Miriam, Chasing Pirates) and the crowd sat mesmerized.

All musicians were on stage at one point, similar to this video, and it was vocally amazing!  The bass, keyboard, squeezbox, voices...  loved every single minute of it.  Norah ended the evening with two encore songs, and Come Away with Me, one of my all time favorites!  Definitely, a night to remember.

And I'm not sure, but I think the two-week long of birthday celebrations have finally ended... anything from this point forward I will lump into the beginning of anniversary celebration!

Thanks for joining me for another celebration, Kara!

color run 2012

It was a HOT day for bathing in color...  but so very worth it in the end!  How much fun can one person have with a cast of thousands?!  Ginny, Lorraine and I completed our first COLOR RUN at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds this past Sunday.  I heard about the Minnesota location opening up two more start times and convinved these two to join me.  My niece and nephew also ran it - and when I say ran, they probably did run!  The three of us ended up walking most of it.  Sorry, but I'm not a runner to begin with, and with 85* humid weather by 10 o'clock...  well, there was no possible way I would even try.

Already looking forward to the next challenge!  Maybe it's the Warrior Dash next year, who knows?!





Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. 
~ Danny Kaye

the {new} Guthrie & {old} friends

Ginny, David and I had a nice adventure last night in Minneapolis.  We had dinner at Grumpy's Bar in Minneapolis.  Greasy, battered and oh so yummy!  I thought I was being so good by ordering the sweet potato fries with my meal...  until I realized that it didn't come with Ranch dressing, but marshmellow cream instead.  oh.my!  It was all over after that (the calorie watching) and I just dove right in!  The three of us went to high school together and manage to sneak in an outing or two a year when David returns from Australia.

We watched the wonderful cast, including Harriet Harris, perform Hay Fever at the Guthrie.  This was my first time in the new location and I was entralled with the place.  Gorgeous, simplistic, stunning views, and that's all before you enter the theater seating area!  I would definitely recommend taking in a show if you're in the area and haven't yet had a chance.

Hay Fever stage

inside looking out (forgive the reflections)

overlooking the Stone Arch Bridge

~ high school friends ~

historical flour mill

Weekend Catch-Up!

Sometimes I wonder how I manage to cram so much into a weekend?  But it is always possible.

Picked up the puppies from the DaySpa (aka PetSmart) on my way home from work Friday. 

My girlfriend, Cheryl, came over and enjoyed dinner with us.  Afterward, we went to see the AHS performance of School House Rock.  Lots of energy, color and a fun night of reiminsicing about sitting in front of the television as a kid!

Saturday morning was spent at the Community Center once again watching the boys playoff games.  Two more weekends to go!  Happy to report that both teams won.

Saturday evening we had Ginny & Troy over for dinner.  An absolutely scrumptious evening menu was planned:  bacon-wrapped scallops, salad, brussel sprouts, twice-baked sweet potatoes, homemade olive bread, red wine and chocolate mousse with strawberries & chocolate shavings.  Yeah, you can bet I saved up my caloric intake for dinner!

Sunday was another morning at church, rehearsal for Oliver (Mother's Day musical coming up), and a meeting for LAX in the evening. 

In between, I found time to start a new book, and a got addicted to a new game app (Draw Something free).  Unfortunately, I didn't make time to work out.  I hope to rectify that next weekend.

Bring on Spring and the warmer weather this week...  looking forward to it!

Who loves Elmo!? I do, I do!

Wonder if I'll be able to keep still if a familiar song comes on the big screen tonight?

Wanna bet the average audience member is 40-something?

Going to see Becoming Elmo with Nancy & Cheryl.  Soooooo excited.  What a great story to be told about a kid visionary who knew what he wanted to be when he grew up!

Will return back and update with my review tomorrow!




After the movie review:  Great documentary!  Short and sweet.  It was a heart-warming story of how Kevin Clash followed his dream, despite all teasing and odds against him.  The friendship he developed with Kermit Love (what a name?!) and Jim Henson are equally touching.  Seeing the story come full circle and watching Kevin sharing his passion with young kids, who are battling illness or who want to be puppeteers, was a testament to the LOVE both he and Elmo have for children everywhere.

Elmo made an impression in our house once upon a time!

Oliver's 2nd Birthday - with Grandpa

Chicken-Dance Elmo

ELMO LOVES YOU!

Trail Ride

It was a crisp, autumn day...

perfect for getting out and enjoying

before the first snow flies this week

Perfect for getting out with a friend
bundled up and outdoors on the back of a horse.

I rode Houdini

 He liked to walk slow, and brought up the rear of the trail,

along with Cheryl's horse, Snowcap.

The sun came out halfway through the hour-long ride.

Our afternoon ended with a sampling of

hard cider, cheese & crackers.

The Pacific Pear was my favorite!

yum

Finding my inner creativity... again

Quite some time ago I purchased a Groupon for a mosaic tile making class. The Groupon was about to expire at the end of the month. Oops. I am not sure if I talked Ginny into buying one also, or if we were just on the same wavelength again, but we finally took this class together on Saturday morning. It wasn't what I thought it would be, but turned out to be a fun way to nurture the creative side of me I so seldom take the time to do. Hopefully I will find a little nook in my eclectic house to hang this little creation.

I absolutely love spending Saturday mornings doing something creative and fun with my girlfriends!

The folks from the studio got to do the messy part of the project.  Phew!

Although not planned, it has a little Halloween theme to it!

Smooches!

love ya, girlfriend!

...a little bit of celebration, with just a touch of bittersweet this weekend
as we get ready to send Kara's son Sam off to basic training...

good luck & God bless, Sam!