Since settling into Minneapolis, I've made a few small adventures! Recent events include a Twins baseball game, a Minnesota Gopher women's volleyball game, and a trip back to Fond du Lac, WI to see family, friends, and godparents. Here are just a few more recent adventures to life in Minneapolis. Adjusting and visitng, being visited and having a great time.
For the Twins game, it was a last minute surprise to be sure! I received a phone call from my Aunt, when I was about to step on the bus to go home, asking if I would like to be her fourth for the Twins vs. New York Yankees game that night! I absolutely agreed!! I spent another hour downtown until we headed to the game, but really there was so much to see. I took a stroll through downtown and spent some quality time in Loring Park. I tried to sit and enjoy the park but these pesky little begging squirrels ruined it. All I did was sit on a bench. I was surrounded by a
half-dozen squirrels! All sitting and begging for food. Just as I tried to ignore their little peevish stares, I felt something on my foot. Naturally I kicked out my foot. Two squirrels ran out from under the bench. I was terrified, not to mention disgusted! I continued on to another bench. And then another. And another. It took me nearly six benches to find some solidarity in the park. Talk about environment adaptation, right? It was about another half hour until I was to meet with my Aunt and her two friends to head to the game. We lived up to all stereotype and expectation of the ball game. We picked up Minnesota beers and concession foods- not to mention we shouted and cheered the entire game. Sometimes for the wrong team. To be honest, it was quite difficult to tell one jersey from another from where we were sitting! One of my Aunt's friends wasn't familiar with the sport; being from England, she was more familiar with rounders. I got to sit next to her and explain the game. Little did I realize, I know the rules- most of them any way!During the following weekend my friend Ashley came to visit! Ashley and I first met when I was her Community Advisor (think of it as a RA or Housefellow) at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. After a semester she was hired on to our staff and we worked together for the next year and a half. Throughout those two years and the continuing two, we shared loads of friendship perks and played intramural volleyball together. Ashley works in Minnesota and we found that we are within a
two hour drive from each other! Ashley came in on Saturday afternoon and I drove her downtown to see the Art Festival my Aunt and Uncle's church put on. We walked across the bridge leading to the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden and check out a number of the sculptures. Afterwards, we came back to the house and helped prepare dinner with my Aunt and Uncle. Once we finished dinner, we headed over to the University of Minnesota campus to see the women's volleyball team (Gophers) play against Penn State. Unfortunately we (Minnesota) lost, but it was still a great game to watch! We had planned that after game, we would head downtown and check out the dueling piano bar, Shout House! It worked out perfectly for timing because a friend of mine from high school actually works there, too! We stayed longer than we probably should have, but it was such a great environment to stay and listen to! I must go back. Perhaps for my birthday...The following weekend I drove home with my friend Jenni- for company and to deliver her to her parents. They were upset for not getting to see her since early last spring. We stopped briefly in Stevens Point for a quick hair cut from the ever-so-lovely-and-talented Miss Mona!! We stayed around for less than an hour before we picked up some secondary snacks, caffeine and gasoline and headed on to Fond du Lac. I was headed to my parent's house to see my godfather who was visiting from North Carolina. We had plans to go to Madison on Saturday and watch the live show of Michael Feldman's radio show, Whad'ya Know? (Not much, you?). I went when I was in high school but this time was even better. When you arrive at the show, they provide a notecard for you to write your name, occupation, hometown and something interesting- it could be about yourself, a fact, a joke, you name it! I wrote down almost exactly what I did the last time I saw it. But this time, I got to be on the radio!! My card read as follows: "I am an August 2012 graduate with a job in my field. I can say the alphabet faster than anyone here. I dare you to try." If you click the link I included above, you can listen to the recording of the 6 Oct, 2012 show. I'm about 20-25 minutes in, with my rendition of the alphabet backwards. Which, I do dare you to try. I have never found anyone who can do it quite as fast!
I am sure you haven't been dying for updates from me, but I certainly feel like I have been slacking. My most sincere apologies. I'll get right back to work here! I have more to share but not enough battery to type it tonight!
Enjoy the radio show!
Sarah Marsh
