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.

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!

Coming soon . . .

I have been incredibly delinquent in posting this summer. We have been very busy wedding planning but have been able to sneak in a few trips and visits. Look for in the coming weeks posts about . . .

1. 30th Birthday in Bayfield, Wisconsin

2. Meeting Brady Quinn – Check

3. Mom and Dad visit – Check

4. Restoring Honor in DC – Check

5. Broncos v Vikings – Check

6. Beginning of the Brian Kelly chapter – Check

7. Home makeover

Aveda Team Bowling League

In need of some serious laughter at work, a select few members of the Creative team decided to go bowling . . . in the office. It wasn't planned. A quick walk across the street to Walgreens for a pop break led to the discovery of a bowling set suitable for indoors and appropriately for ages 3+.

Needless to say, we put the $7 bowling set to good use. Even on the days that it is difficult to muster the strength to go to work, I can count always count on my fabulous friends (April, Anna, Jason and Liz) to make it worth the effort.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a Severe Weather Alert . . .

That is what we are used to hearing in Ohio. However, after two years in the State of Minnesota and what I would consider several "severe" thunderstorms . . . we heard it for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

Apparently Minnesotans wait for the sky to turn green, then pitch black, then purple with torrential downpours and dime sized hail to interrupt tv for a quick weather update.

It has been awhile and I know that weather graphics evolve over time but this is what we got to look at . . . this is missing the keyboard that popped up every few seconds for the weatherman to add another graphic to the screen.

Any idea what the black boxes represent? Never saw those in my life. Probably best I don't know what they mean either.

"Oh Good Grief, Charlie Brown!"

Did you know that Charles M. Schulz creator of Peanuts was born in Minneapolis and raised in St. Paul? To commemorate the iconic figure, there are Peanuts statues all around Rice Park in downtown St. Paul.