Meghan and I returned from Minnesota this past Monday where we toured the booming metropolis of Woodbury, Minnesota. It makes the twin cities look like trailer park! Actually, I am just joking. Woodbury was a beautiful suburb of the twin cities - which were beautiful as well. We took a boatride up the Mississippi (did I get all those double letter sets in there? - I think I got 'em) toward Minneapolis and then turned around. We went through one lock - which was an awesome experience. It really gave us a feel for how the older travel technology worked back in the day. We also visited friends in Rochester (home of the famous Mayo Clinic). That is also a beautiful and quaint city. For some reason it reminds me of Syracuse.

I loved our trip to MN. So I've created a short list.

THINGS FREQUENTLY HEARD IN MN

"Hey, I didn't know they have Target out here!"

"What is that? It looks like a civilization of people! Jeez, there are people who live in Minnesota? How did that happen!"

"Yes, New Yorkers there are other cities, towns and -- yes, even Targets outside of NY."

"Ooh yah?"

"Yah noa?"

THINGS NOT HEARD IN MN

"Man, the Texas humidity sure beats this 70 degree, breezy, dry-air weather. I can't wait to get back to the San Antonio Steampit!"

"Is smoking permitted in this casino?"

I'm going to include a few pictures from the wedding and then one from our visit with our good friends Brendan Barry and Arianna Pescatore. Brendan works feverishly as a comb fatality analyst. It's really a lucrative profession. You'd be surprised how many people mame themselves with general household items like combs. Arianna is the "mud-mixer" for the Rochester Women's Mud Wrestling Team. It's quite an esteemed position she holds. We had lots of fun with them. They are close friends from graduate school and are downright damn good people!



We were also able to visit the Mall of America. This is the one that has roller coasters running through it. We ate some fantastic sushi that papa-san would go nuts for!