Well I just got back from vacation with my girlfriend Emma and it was quite the adventure! We took about four days (not counting the recovery day) and drove roughly 550 miles all around Minnesota and Wisconsin. In case you didn't know we took a trip to Stillwater and then went to a second chance prom in Siren. I had so much fun and really came to appreciate Emma's companionship during the journey.I find it so hard to find people who I can tolerate for a long road trip, but also finding people who can tolerate me. Let me give you a brief account of our journey through the power of electronic text! Bam!
We left on Thursday at around 5, heading South on I-35. It was a pain in the ass making sure we had everything we needed (and some things we didn't) but eventually we made it out of there. So on our way down the freeway we stopped at Tobies, a restaurant that I guess is a pretty big deal to travelers who frequent I-35. Emma grabbed a couple of pastries to bring back to her mother and we headed out.
We got to our destination, Stillwater Minnesota that night. We met my mother at a B & B that one of my uncles owns and she had prepared for us a most amazing chicken pot pie and foccacia bread. We had grabbed some stuff from a liquor store that night and enjoyed a few brandy manhattans, vodka martinis, and a leinenkugels spring sample pack of beer. Later in the night we had ourselves a wonderful bath in the big whirlpool in our room and then fell asleep in my first memory foam mattress. Great stuff!
We had planned to wake up at 10 or so on Friday morning but it turns out we need a couple more hours. Around 12:30 we enjoyed a steam shower (I need to own one of these) and a small breakfast of almond muffins, courtesy of my mother once again. (Julie kicks some serious ass when it comes to cooking, baking and other motherly things) We left for the Mall of America and had trouble deciding what to do first. Emma had not yet found a dress for the prom we were going to be attending in Siren so that was a priority, but I first wanted to go to the new Sea Life aquarium because I love marine life. We toured the aquarium, which was awesome, and we also got this backstage tour thing where you get to go behind the scenes of the aquarium. It wasn't as cool as we were hoping but it was worth the six bucks it cost because we got to get super close to a green sea turtle and a couple of sharks. I recommended the place to any who digs sea creatures.
After the aquarium we went to get something to eat from this fancy restaurant that did all kind of cuisines. We had a little sushi, some Korean chicken nuggets, an avocado turkey burger, and some really great pasta. After the meal we did some shopping. We went to the new Lego store and it was AWESOME. The cashier that we had there was this dude who was funny and absolutely insane. He kind of reminded me of Christopher Lloyd. The only shitty parts about our trip to the mall were that just couldn't find a dress that Emma liked that was a decent price. We also tried to get our hair done at Regis but they gave us kind of shitty cuts. We came back home and we were so exhausted that we ended up just bathing and then going to bed. It sounds like a lame Friday night but I was so content after our bath that I didn't care.
The next day we went to downtown Stillwater where we did a little gift shopping. I got an awesome shaker and martini glass set that I am very proud of. And Emma got her mom some kitchen stuff. We went to an antique shop and Emma tried on a ring that was about $500. I didn't buy it for her. We ate at this bar/restaurant call Whitey's and it was awesome. We went back to the inn to say goodbye to my mom and then headed for Siren.
Emma wanted to drive to and had a lot of fun doing it because we took one of those crazy up and down curvy roads that turns your car ride into a roller coaster. When we got to Siren we went to the tuxedo shop to pick up my tux. I looked rather dashing if I do say so myself. They we killed a little time before checking into our hotel. After about three and a half hours of preparation (for me it was probably 30 minutes :P) we headed to the place where the prom was being held. It was lot's of fun and we both got pretty drunk. We also both won really dumb door prizes. Emma got a $5 quiznos gift card and I got a flower planter. Emma tried to put the planter on her head like a crown and the pot fell on her head. So funny. We ended the night in a drunken stupor, passing out in our hotel room.
The next Day I woke up about half an hour before checkout. I roused an extremely hungover Emma and got us out of the hotel and on our way to Chippewa Falls. We got there and met up with Stecker, then went to this great restaurant where I had one of the best bloody marys I've ever had. When we were done eating we went to the Lenenkugel's brewery to tour it and buy some Leine's stuff. It was heaven and I wish I lived there.
When we were done we said goodbye to Stecker and headed back to Duluth. We were so exhausted that when we got home all we could do was curl up and watch Heroes. All in all it was one of the best weekends I've ever had with someone else, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun, Mike! I'm sure it was mostly because you were with Emma. Being with the one you love makes anything more worthwhile, doesn't it? Even if you're just strolling around the mall or enjoying a movie at home, the simplest of moments become extraordinary when you're with your special someone. :) Btw, I can relate to your appreciation of baths in hotels. Ha ha!
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