Friday, September 10, 2010

Are you ready for some football?

Alex was able to get awesome seats at the Metrodome for the Vikings preseason game against the Broncos. I was particularly interested in this game because Brady Quinn now plays for the Broncos. It was actually a Notre Dame football reunion. There are quite a few former Irish standouts that play for the Broncos including Miamisburg, Ohio native David Bruton.


Tim Tebow also is a quarterback for the Broncos. However, I don't care for him and he prevents Brady from playing. So I was rooting for the Vikings 2/3rds of the game, hoping they would make Tebow look bad so Brady would come in. When Brady finally did come in to play, I switched and rooted for the Broncos.


The next day we headed down to Chicago to meet up with my family for the Notre Dame game the following day. We got what I would consider a late start . . . but we got there nonetheless. We were able to "tailgate" for a minute, get over to the bookstore, and see the band march by us on the way to the stadium. I was hoping to get a game of cornhole in with my new set, but some snotty ND fans took over the entire area around our car, so we weren't able to play. We had great seats for the game and the Irish looked great. Especially since they won. It was a good start to the season, let's hope it continues.


After the game we bumped into Nate Montana, the famous Joe Montana's son, and were able to get a picture with him. It is about as close as we'll ever get to Joe, since he refuses to give autographs, photographs or even handshakes.


We also found that ND has erected statues of all of the championship coaches at each of the gates to the stadium. My favorite depicts a classic moment between the greatest Notre Dame coach in my lifetime, Lou Holtz, with two of the greatest players to ever play at Notre Dame, Tim Brown and Tony Rice.


As much I have seen my family this summer, you would never know that we live 12 hours apart. I was a little sad to say good bye to them this time, just because the next time I'd see them would be in a month for the wedding. Which is coming up way too fast. I have moments of panic but know that everything will all work out.

Restoring Honor - 8/28 Rally

For our last family trip, just the 4 of us, my parents wanted to go back to DC. It surprised me a bit, especially since we all agreed we would not go when we did not agree with the sitting President. However, my mom became very interested in the 8/28 Rally "Restoring Honor" organized by Glenn Beck. You can say whatever you want to say about Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin for that matter, but until you experience something of this magnitude and see the people that attended, it would probably be best to withhold judgement.

We spent Friday walking around DC visiting places we weren't able to visit 2 years ago. We saw Ford's Theater and received a very educational lecture about the evening Lincoln was assassinated. We headed over to the Smithsonian to view "Old Glory." I would have to say that was probably a big highlight. Across the street was Environmental Protection Agency where I hugged a tree.



Saturday morning we woke up early (not as early I as I would have liked) in hopes of getting on the Metro to get over the Lincoln Memorial at a decent time. When we got to the station, there were hundreds of people already lined up. There was no room to spare. When the Metro train came to our station it was already packed full of people. It was a little daunting, but kind of exciting too!


When we got off the Metro, there were crowds of people heading toward the Lincoln Memorial. I was starting to get excited that people were excited and passionate enough to travel from all over the country to stand together and make an important statement. We can differ in opinion, but we must remember how and why our country was formed, and the people who along the way fought for our freedoms.


Secretly, I was hoping for some protestors. But I only saw one, and he was incredibly outnumbered. The quality and class of people was second to none. After the rally, everyone picked up after themselves, and put their trash by the waste bins.


The next morning we headed over to Georgetown. I wish we could have stayed longer because it was an absolutely adorable town. The weather was unbearably hot. We were only able to get in a visit to Kate Spade and the only existing pre-Revolutionary War building. I was bothered when I found out that the British taxed for closet space. Yikes! I would have to pay a hefty tax for all of my shoes. Let's HOPE it doesn't CHANGE back to that way. ;o)



It was a great weekend spent with my family. Again, I was sad to say goodbye, but I knew I would see them the following weekend at Notre Dame.

Wedding Bootcamp

This past July my parents came up to visit and help out with a lot of wedding details and planning. We were so thankful to have them for the long weekend and were very appreciative of all of the support and guidance they provided.

The weekend started off with the local meat raffle. I thought it would be fun to let my parents experience a Minnesota activity. Needless to say, we were not very lucky at all with the meat raffle or even the pull tabs. We had fun nonetheless.


That evening I scheduled invitation assembly. Thank goodness they were there to help out. If I had done it all by myself . . . it would have taken me all weekend. We got all of the invitations made and stuffed. We finished sealing the envelopes the next morning and got them in the mail. No turning back now!



For a break, I booked a lunch boat ride on Lake Minnetonka. It was a beautiful afternoon with tasty food and beautiful scenery. Not to mention the company.


My parents also got to experience the Target fireworks which were absolutely amazing. They agreed that it was the best fireworks show they had seen.


The rest of the weekend involved my mom and I shopping while Alex and my dad bonded at the gun range. A dress fitting, meeting with the florist, meeting with the golf club and probably a few other things that I can't remember that we did. We got a lot accomplished, which only made room for the other growing list of things to do.

I was sad to see them leave, but knew I would see them shortly in DC.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

I miss Brady!

Every so often, I will get an email from the ND Alumni Association listing upcoming events in the area. One particular email caught my eye - a chance to meet legendary ND football standouts including Brady Quinn at a golf outing. I thought at first we had to play golf, but we could come to a dinner after the outing, and "eat dinner" with them and participate in a Q&A
panel.

Alex and I had a great time at the event. When Brady walked into the room, I was determined to not make a fool of myself, like I did with Sarah Palin. Fortunately, I was able to maintain my composure long enough to get a picture with him and Alex, as well as tell him that we are huge supporters of him. He was very gracious and genuinely cared what we had to say.


Good Luck Brady! We are rooting for you!


In addition to recent Notre Dame players in attendance at the event, the Honorable Justice Alan Page was present. Justice Page played for Notre Dame and is a Minnesota Viking legend. It was very cool to meet him!