Well, it wasn't too bad during my visit, at least. Of course, the weatherman did say it was 20 degrees warmer than the average temperature for the end of November, so perhaps I should just consider myself lucky.
Great hosts
The parents of my college roommate Alissa were kind enough to shuttle me around Minneapolis and let me stay at their beautiful home on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. On Friday, her mom and I spent the day at the Mall of America. That is one huge mall! We walked and shopped and walked and shopped ... and finally made it all the way around one level of the mall. I think it has every mall store that's ever existed — and two or three locations of some stores. Plus, of course, the amusement park and other attractions.
After spending the 2 1/2 years since their wedding in Australia, Alissa and Rob returned to America earlier this year. They're currently living in Des Moines, where Alissa found a job, but they worked out their schedule so they could visit Minnesota while I was there. Alissa and Rob took me out in Uptown Minneapolis on Friday night, where we had some fancy drinks (complete with little plastic elephants) and delicious food.
Thanksgiving No. 1
On Saturday, the Singers invited me to share their early Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas decorating. Alissa's brother and sister-in-law came over, too, for a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and all the fixings. So, I didn't make it home for Thanksgiving, but that was holiday meal No. 1 for me.
My Minnesota trip was planned around the wedding of two great college friends, Laura and Cristof. Both were in Marching Mizzou with me, and Laura was one of the first friends I met in college (at band camp, of course). They had a beautiful wedding at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. During the ceremony, the beautifully lit state Capitol was in the background. The ceremony was followed by an amazing assortment of desserts and drinks, as well as some good dancing. Andrea, another college friend originally from Minnesota, was kind enough to give me a ride (it's tough being car-less), and we had a great time at the wedding.
I visited a couple art museums while in Minneapolis. Alissa and Rob took me to the Walker Art Center and sculpture garden on a day that, luckily, had beautiful weather. We saw the famous "Spoonbridge and Cherry" (see photo at top of this post) and even found some sculptures we could play on. The inside of the art center was less impressive. Although we saw some nice art, many of the current displays were a bit too modern and existential for us to appreciate.
Before my flight left on Tuesday, I saw a bit more art at the Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota campus. Alissa's dad and I stopped by for a visit before he dropped me off at the airport. I also had a chance to see his workplace, the McNamara Alumni Center, one more time. It has some really cool architecture, which looked especially nice in the light that was passing through the rainclouds that morning.
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