mn party time

Ok. So, I've been bad about taking pictures, and worse about posting things. But, here's a little sampler of some MN scenes.

Snow! Lots and lots of snow. And frost. (and the neighbors' house)

Snow covered Locust Street

We also had a family jam session. Brother rocked that xylophone.

Grandpa-Grandson recorder duet.

Self portrait with Sada Jane!

Sada!
Hi Hi Hi

Norman dressed up to welcome me home. Go Twins!


I know I should have more pictures, but I really don't. However, I am currently featured prominently on Jenny's blog. So you feel free to check it.

t-minus 3 days, 3 hours and 5 minutes ...

until I land in MN! (but, who's counting?)

chrishmos time is heeah

Lizzie got us this sweet xmas tree!

Parade!

We saw Santa walking down the street earlier in the day.

And then we wen to the Oakland holiday parade! I love parades.
This was not as good as the 4th of July parade. But it did have more bands (above) and giant blow up characters (below) and fewer trucks.

Santa! And his team of tap-dancing ladies.

the CA cav

I am officially the owner of my car. And it is officially registered in California. I handed over my MN plates at the DMV on Thursday.

The DMV is all about lines. I had an appointment (big time saver ... not) for Thursday morning. So, I show up at the DMV wait in the shorter appointment line (10 min, as opposed to 15) get paperwork to fill out and instructions to get my car and wait outside in the vehicle inspection line. I take the paperwork, get my car and get in the inspection line. Wait 30 min. There's nobody else in the inspection line and none of the DMV people seem to care that I'm there, so I finally back out and get in the "behind the wheel" car line. Wait 1 hour. DMV lady finally comes to talk to me and starts the inspection. She checks my VIN numbers and looks under the hood, but when she goes to check my odometer, the light just would come on. I panic and try turning the car on and off repeatedly, explaining to her that this sometimes happens and pleading with her to use the mileage recorded by the smog check (another fun experience) dude the night before. But, she won't and tells me I need to get out of line (and suggests I either sit in the parking lot working on the light situation or visit a garage to have it checked out). AWESOME. So, I go back to the lot, call mom in a panic and follow her advice to bang my fist on the dashboard (and I have the bruised wrist to prove it). But, it worked! Light comes back on, I get back in car line. 30 min (short this time!). I get hassled by the pretend cop who stands outside the door to keep the riff raff out because I'm back in the behind the wheel line instead of the inspection line and I won't turn my interior lights off (if you can explain to me why she would possibly care about this, I'm all ears). Finally, the DMV dude (who wears a lab coat) comes to help me, realizes that I'd been there all morning and quickly records the odometer reading and finishes up the inspection (I passed, hooray). So, I go back inside, wait in paperwork line again, trade my completed paperwork for a line number and hit the waiting room. I then talk to another DMV employee, who was nice (and formerly named Harms), but didn't know how to register an out of state vehicle. But, she asks around and eventually figures it out, finishes my paperwork, and sends me to another desk pick up my plates. FINALLY I get my plates, put them on and head back to work.

F-U-N at the DMV. I love lines. And waiting. And mean pretend cops.

Almond Bark

They don't seem to have it in California. I feel like I'm crazy. I've checked 7 grocery stores (well, 6 and Target) and it's nowhere to be found. And when I ask the clerks they just look really confused and then direct me to holiday candy (where there is sometimes pre-made peppermint bark). How will I ever make almond bark pretzels and spread holiday cheer?

PSA

For those of you who (like me) may have been under the impression that Hardee's and Carl's Jr. are basically the same place with different names, let it be known: they're not. Carl's Jr. DOES NOT have biscuits.

(We stopped off for b'fast snacks in Blythe on the way home. BTW, Brother - Blythe has both a Carl's Jr. AND a Big K. Talk about party time.)

it's a fuzzy bug!

Is this a tarantula?
It was hanging out in the McNamaras' back yard.