Christmas Fun

So we ventured up north this week to celebrate Christmas with my vast array of relatives. A winter storm hampered travel conditions quite a bit, but we made it. Jarad & I stopped in the east end of Duluth, near Lester River, to get some pics of Lake Superior and the snow. Self portrait below:



We made it to my brother's house in Two Harbors, then carpooled back to Hermantown for the Christmas Eve feast at Mom & Bob's. Opening gifts came after stuffing ourselves - and what do we have here, but some damn good-looking siblings in some damn nice Vikes jersies? Heck yeah! (Mine was a birthday gift, the boys got theirs for Xmas.)

We were pretty much snowed in on Christmas Day, so we spent it just hanging at Brian & Jessica's. Intermittent trips outdoors to shovel proved to be plenty - that stuff was heavy!

The day after Christmas, we made it to Dad & Colleen's, where we once again stuffed ourselves with good food. All seven Gjerdahl/Beck/Dugas siblings were present, so a family picture was demanded (by me, of course). It's been 15 years since we last accomplished this feat - it seemed like a good time!

We headed back to the Cities on Saturday night. It wasn't too bad, but I was glad Jarad was driving - he took very good care of us on the roads! Pudder was ecstatic to have us back, and our own bed was a welcome sight. Now, to get ready for New Year's...

Vikings Visit

No, I wasn't visited by Vikings - football Vikings or other Vikings. (Although, Jared Allen could visit and I wouldn't be too upset!)

My brother Brian & his wife Jessica went to the Vikings game last Sunday against Seattle, so I got to host them and my niece, Livia, on Saturday night. Come game day, it was Auntie Di's chance to babysit!!

Fun was had by all - the Vikes won, Auntie Di & Livia played and had an indoor "picnic" and fed the ducks...it just made my weekend to see them!!

Now, only a month 'til Christmas, when I get to see them all again!!

Love Me, Love My Cat

Without a doubt, I think cats are excellent judges of character. They fluff up and hiss when something isn't right, they purr when things are fine and dandy, and they seek out those with whom they are comfortable and safe.

Pudder has definitely found someone else she can cuddle up with, and they seem to get along just fine. She is even allowed to bed down in the empty guitar case when Jarad is practicing a new tune...yep, love me, love my cat!

Minnehaha Creek Adventures

Just this past weekend, with a bit of sunshine and some late-fall temperatures on our side, Jarad & I took some time to walk along Minnehaha Creek. What a beautiful gem, right within the Cities! We will definitely be back, possibly with bikes, to explore some more.

Self-portrait on a bridge passing over the creek...

...just a great day altogether!!

Autumn

"Autumn is a second spring when

every leaf is a flower."

~ Albert Camus

A quick visit to Lakefront Park in Prior Lake this week turned up some beautiful fall colors. I wish we'd had more of these images this autumn, but for now, I will take what I can get. And...

...there's always next year!

Nine Month Anniversary

Saturday marked nine months since a very special person came into my life. I could get sappy, but sufficed to say, I'm a lucky gal.

We went to Maynard's in Excelsior for dinner, then out to Dunn Bros. to listen to some live acoustic music. It was a great night to be out with the one I love.

Fall Fun at the Corn Maze!!

So I finally got to visit Sever's Corn Maze - this totally random fall attraction in the Cities. This farm near Canterbury makes a maze out of their cornfield - awesome! They also have a pumpkin catapult called "The Slinger", pig races, a petting zoo, and all kinds of fun. I convinced Jarad, Joy, and Scot to come with me - good times were had by all!! (Well, by me for sure - I think everyone else enjoyed it, too!)


Jarad and I get acquainted with our agricultural sides...

Joy and I bask in our cuteness...

and I wind up for the pumpkin catapult...way too much fun!

My Family is Awesome

This weekend, we held the 2nd annual Smoger/Dugas/Otten/Rubesch fall picnic in Lester Park (Duluth, MN). My brother Jeff, his wife Sarah, and their son Ben were in attendance - I finally got to meet this cutie nephew of mine! We had a beautiful day and really got to enjoy one another!

Sunday brought a chance to watch the Vikings season opener together, which is always a treat. Jarad & I stayed through the 3rd quarter - the Vikes had it in the bag by then! My mom sported her Adrian Peterson jersey, and Bob enjoyed an amazing Skyline Bloody Mary - check that bad boy out, people!!

Weekend Getaway

This weekend, I took a few days off from TCF so Jarad & I could head up north for a little getaway. Destination: Leech Lake. Along the way, Jarad made a special trip into St. Cloud so I could see the Munsinger Clemens Gardens. This beautiful garden features various sections of beautiful flowers, foliage, and fountains. I particularly liked the hibiscus:


And there are several working fountains that just begged me to take pictures:


After this delightful pit stop, we were on our way up to Leech Lake. Jarad's mom and stepdad have a sailboat, The Renaissance, which they keep in a Marina at the Shores of Leech Lake. We were able to get up there and out on the water for a lovely sail. We anchored in a shallow end of the the bay, and had a great lunch cooked on the grill. Jarad and I both took turns sailing - I even learned a bit of sailor language (not the dirty kind - I already knew that!). But I think I figured out which side is "port" and what it means to "tack". Very exciting!!

Sunday morning, Jarad & I woke up early enough to see the sun rise over Leech Lake. There was a beautiful fog on the water, and the clouds were just striated enough for a really cool effect. It was chilly - down in the lower 40's - but it was worth it to get this view!

After a nice breakfast and some coffee, we took a bike ride of about 7 miles, seeing some more of the lake shore and enjoying the great trails that run around the lake. All in all, a wonderful little weekend getaway - I felt refreshed and ready to face Monday when we got back to town!

The Real Deal

It's been 7 months - seven amazing, wonderful, exhilirating months - since Jarad & I first met. This is the real deal, people...bask with me...c'mon, you know you want to!

A Killer in My Midst

Jarad & I were hanging out at my place the other day, having just finished breakfast and coffee. As we were planning our next steps for the day, in from the great outdoors walks Pudder...with something in her mouth! And this wasn't a little thing, like a grasshopper. Nope, it was BIG and gray and had a tail!

Pudder sauntered right past us and sat down over by the kitchen, where she proceeded to drop said item and hunker down as if to (gulp) gnaw on it. I, being the untutored cat owner that I am, leaped to my feet to get her away from it. She had it clamped back in her mouth by now; I scooped her up by her belly and had to admonish her into dropping it again.

There it lay, gray unmoving mouse on my living room floor. Meanwhile, I'm cuddling Pudder to keep her away from it, and I'm trying not to cry. I think this is where I should have praised her and been impressed with her hunting skills, because she obviously caught it and brought it into the house for me. But I was too distraught to have this reaction...maybe next time.

Jarad, gallant hero of mine, got rid of the mouse (it was dead, thank God...half-alive would have been even more awful) and I was able to put Pudder back down. She prowled around the house for a while, as if trying to find her newly captured prey. Eventually, she gave up and went back to hanging out on the stoop. No big deal, apparently - she was able to resume her normal activities, no problem.

I, however, may never be the same. My gentle, sweet, loving Pudder...a killer. Why did she have to go and remind me she's actually a cat? Why, Pudder, why?

Good Times in Wisconsin

Yes, you read the title right - we had a good time. In Wisconsin!!



Jarad's band, North of Nowhere, played a grand opening this weekend at The Windsor Supper Club, owned by Rick's sister. (Rick is the singer in North of Nowhere.) The guys put on a great show, played 50 or so songs, and had a really good time!



I managed to snap some pictures (shocker) and consume some beer (double shocker) throughout the day. Yes, I know - I never do either one of those things! We did deviate a bit from the norm, though, when we decided to do a shot up at the bar...yikes. I'm too old for that crap, seriously. But it wasn't so bad, I just washed it down with more beer and went back to the party!

Jarad rocked out his new-but-used "band shirt" and looked awesome. The guys had some lights set up on the stage and looked especially cool after sunset - it was a fun day overall!

Keep on rockin' in the free world, honey. You sounded great!!

Our Trip to Colorado

So for the holiday weekend (July 1st - 5th), Jarad & I flew out to Colorado. He has family out there, and they were all gathering for his grandma's 85th birthday. We flew into Denver, and then drove out to a small town outside of Colorado Springs for our stay.

While on the trip, Jarad's immediate family and I went atop Pikes Peak, and then visited the rock formations at Garden of the Gods. Colorado is unlike anything I've seen in the Midwest. It's beautiful, rugged, and just plain amazing!

Garden of the Gods had gorgeous red rock formations and these great old trees that grew in between the rocks. They were this awesome shade of burnt orange, and some of the formations looked like specific things - ships, camels, etc. What a neat place to explore! We scrambled around on the rocks like kids at a playground - very cool.

From the top of Pikes Peak, the view was surreal. We were literally in the clouds, but could also see quite a way across the mountains and down into the valleys. Pikes Peak is over 14,000 feet high, so it was quite a bit chillier at the top than at the bottom. Even so, it was breathtaking to see the view from there, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

And of course, once were back down the mountain, there was ample opportunity for me to traipse around with my camera, shooting at will. One of my favorites is of the natural wildflowers found in the area:
And last, but certainly not least, Colorado has 7-Eleven!! I was so excited to see this as we drove into the town of Monument... Jarad's family likely thought I was nuts, but I miss 7-Eleven and their delicious Slurpees!! It was a family favorite when we were kids, and I still get one anyc hance I get. I managed to wrangle a ride from Jarad's sister Kimi with the express purpose of obtaining a Slurpee...mission accomplished! (See how sassy and happy I look?!)

Overall, it was an excellent trip. I met a lot of Jarad's extended family, who were really nice. We celebrated Grandma Betty's birthday as planned, and rang in the 4th of July, Colorado-style. I'll definitely go back to that area - I see why people are so enthused about it when they travel there. My experience was certainly a good one...no, scratch that. It was GREAT!!

How I Became a Cat Person

I never thought it would happen to me...

Despite an allergy to felines, I have become a cat person to some degree. Don't get me wrong - I am still very fond of dogs, love puppies, and of course, want a slew of guinea pigs some day. But over the course of a few years, I've really come to appreciate cats, too.

I think it started in earnest when I moved in to Charlie's, up in Forest Lake. In residence was Pokey, the enormous, testy tabby. Pokey and I were very slow to warm up to one another, but after Charlie went to New Zealand for two months and left Pokey's care to me, Pokey & I were best buds. He still remembers me when I visit Charlie's house - how cute is that!?

In the course of falling in love with Pokey, and seeing how much he meant to Charlie, I encouraged Charlie to get another cat. Enter Pudder. She came from a foster home, where she had been for awhile after being in the shelter. But it wasn't meant to be - Pudder did not want anything to do with Pokey, and spent the whole first month of her residence with us in hiding -- in my room.

So, when it came time for me to move to my condo in St. Louis Park, Charlie decided to give me a housewarming present -- Pudder. She's been my little baby ever since then. She has made coming home a delight, and I look forward to her snuggling and purring and various cat antics. She makes me laugh, drives me nuts, and just generally rounds out my life.

So I get it. I get what Natalie and others have long tried to explain or express to me about cats. I'm one of "those people" now, and darn proud of it. So is Pudder...

Such A Big Girl

My adorable little niece, Livia, turned 4 this weekend - sooooooo big!!! She is beautiful, articulate, and just plain amazing (not that I'm biased or anything). We had a great time together over the weekend!

And boy, can she work the camera...check out the modeling action here!

We had a lot of fun celebrating; she got a BumbleBee Transformer of her very own from her Daddy. Here she is playing with BumbleBee and StarShooter - chip off the ol' block, I'd say!

Her birthday also fell on Father's Day this year, so she spent some time with Daddy and all her Grandpa's. Good times, playing on the jungle gym and fishing, both with Daddy:

Can it get any more frickin' cute? I think not.

So Proud of My Sis!

Amy graduated from Two Harbors High School on May 30, 2009. She looked great up there getting her "diploma" (it's just an empty case - they mail the real thing later) and turning her tassel - I was extremely proud.

Let it be said, for the record, that I managed not to:
a) cry like a baby
b) shout like a banshee
c) reminisce like an old lady

I did, of course, insist on many, many pictures, some of which I will subject you to here:

Amy, peeking over her shoulder while the processional wraps up.

George, the proud papa (he totally cried, by the way...but not me!).

Amy & Katie, after the ceremony concluded. No family resemblance there. Nope.

The siblings - Diane, Nathan, & Brian (back row); Amy, Katie & Leah (front row).

And our niece, Livia, who is (obviously) too cool for school.

The Cutest Thing

So coming back from my afternoon Caribou run, I was waiting for the light to change at Ye Olde Busy Intersection. To my dismay I see mama duck & 5 ducklings...dead center in traffic! (The pic below isn't from today, but just to illustrate the cuteness!)

Just as I see them, another driver does, too...a wizened little old man in a beat-up Ford. He stops next to them, blocking traffic in every direction. Out of the car he climbs, goes around to the side of his car where the ducks are, and gently shoos them off the road towards the pond on the other side (all the while holding his hand out to traffic, as if he were a traffic cop!).

People were clapping in their cars!! It was great!! No one ran over the ducks or the little old guy, and only one idiot honked in (I assume) irritation. Not too shabby!

Why We Love Joe

We love Joe Mauer for many reasons - but it's plays like this that remind us why he's so awesome. It's not just his batting prowess, his awesome sideburns, or that bodacious butt.

Check this out! http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/45266457.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciaec8O7EyUsl

Maaaaaaaa

My mom hates it when us kids refer to her as "Ma". So of course, what do we all do? Yep, we call her exactly that. In fact, we drag it out, so it sounds a bit like sheep calling out to one another: "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

This gets put away only a few days each year, namely Mother's Day and mom's birthday. I got to have brunch with mom & Bob on Mother's Day, as they were making a rare appearance in the Cities. Bob snapped this adorable mother-daughter pic of us outside of Granite City.

If I were blonde, or she brunette, there'd by a pretty good resemblance, dontchathink?

I'm With the Band

I love dating a musician. Not only does he play awesome tunes for me, but when he has gigs, I can go and hang with the band! Here's some of the crew before their gig at Niesen's last week:

Chris Mohr (C-Mohr), Diane, Charlie Mac, & Jarad

Western North Dakota...It's All That!

So last weekend, Jarad & I took a bit of a road trip to western North Dakota (Dickinson, to be exact). The purpose of this lovely scenic drive? To visit/meet his dad, stepmom, & little sister (Jack, Arlyce, & Eden). It was Eden's 13th birthday last week, and Jarad had planned a trip out there some time ago. Along came me, and suddenly, there were two reasons to go out west!

The trip went really well, if I do say so myself. I think I made a good impression on the 'rents, and I definitely bonded with Eden. Having sisters her age of my own, I'm pretty good w/ the teenagers! Oh, and I used to teach kids that age - that may have helped.

We did some nice family things, and spent a day out in the Badlands. What a beautiful, rugged place! I went a little nuts upon seeing buffalo up close & personal - it was like "Dances With Wolves" but without the scalping! There was also a trip down The Enchanted Highway, known for its huge metal sculptures made by a local welder & artist. Very cool stuff, indeed.

Overall, some milestones were reached. Jarad & I spent 9 hours straight in a car together and got along just fine. I've now met all of his parents and they dig me (Jack said I'm "a keeper"!). And last but not least, I saw all that North Dakota has to offer. From Fargo to Dickinson, and back again. Will I run back out and do it again soon? Probably not - but I can now add ND to my list of places I've been!