Christmas 2011

A catch up post on Christmas.

What a time, what a day, what a couple of days.

Thanks to Mom & Dad, Naomi, Eric & Emily, Ella & Edith and Mark & Megan, Mattingly & Myla for coming all the way to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas.

Here's a look.

Mill City Museum
Work
Shopping late night with Katy, Em and Mom
Breakfast pastries
Christmas Dinner
Korv
Swedish food
Playing at the playground
Opening Presents
No Snow
And so much more!

I had a great time and we're glad everyone came to Minnesota.

Packers v. Giants NYC

Well, last weekend was the weekend.

Saturday PM
Paul, Lance and I took off from snowy Minnesota and landed in warm New England.  We were delayed a little bit getting out of Minnesota due to de-icing but soon enough we were in tree-branch fallen Connecticut.

We got to bed and took a four hour nap, 1am to 5am.  We hit the NYC bound train from Union Station to Grand Central Station.  By about 8:30 am we were in NYC ready to tackle the pavement until 3pm or so before the Packers-Giants game.

We jumped off the southbound train from New Haven and Dad got us on a tour bus and started our trek south.

We rode down to Battery Park and  took a view from afar of the Statue of Liberty before walking back up to the World Trade Center and taking a look at the progress of Freedom Tower.  We also walked by the fire station just next door to the World Trade Center.

We saw where the Occupy Wall Streeters were...

We did miss out on seeing the new 9/11 Memorial however.  We could have but you had to be early or get tickets online.

After this we did alot of walking.  Paul, Lance and Dad let me see the J.Crew Liquor Store.

After this we walked up towards the Pop Up Flea, walking by all kinds of shopping though SoHo and NoHo!

So we hit the Pop Up Flea and I was able to say hello to Kat McMillian, of Pierrepont Hicks.  It was fun to say hi and see her because she and a number of other local businesses had a pop up shop before Christmas where I said I was going to try and come to the Pop Up Flea and see her.  It was fun to hear her encourage me to stop by and say hi to her in NYC.  I appreciated that.  So, I said hello and Dad talked to her for a bit before my time was up, we had to keep moving.

Also, while at the Pop Up Flea, I saw Ty Pennington dart in and make his way to Dehen 1920 https://www.dehen1920.com/collection.  Crazy nice vintage wool sweaters and outerwear.

Sometime after that we kind of got side tracked and delayed waiting for our bus in Chinatown or there abouts.  But we made it back to Rockefeller Center before heading on the train to the Meadowlands.

And it was gametime!  It was great weather-high 40's to low 50's and blue sky.  For the first weekend of December we couldn't have asked for much better weather.

It was a great game.  The Packers didn't play really well but well enough to win and have control late in the game.  However, the Packers D let the Giants tie the game up at 35 with :58 left.  However, Aaron Rodgers shredded the Giants D in the final minute and Mason Crosby hit the game winning field goal, seen above.

After jumping back on the train to NYC we walked through Rockefeller Center and Times Square.

So, we were in NYC from early morning to late evening.  There's so much to see and do that you can't possibly get it all done, you can only hope to get back before you forget what you have to do.

The rest of the trip in CT on Monday was nice too.  We hung out at home, went to Yale in New Haven and saw Meg, Mattingly and Myla.

Chicken Coop

Christmas is over.  New Year's is over.  I have alot of blogging to do.  I have yet to finish the Packers-Giants, NYC experience too.  

But right now I feel like a chicken in a coop.  I've left the house two times in four days.  Saturday I went to work and Sunday I went to the ER.  Monday nowhere.  Tuesday same.    

It was quite the New Year's Eve for me and Katy.  I shut down Herb's and we ordered pizza from Old Chicago, which I grabbed on my way home.  We ate watched some tv and the Lincoln Lawyer.  I had to work at 7am Sunday so we were in bed a little later than planned at 11pm or so.  

Unfortunately, the flu got me.  BAD.  I woke up at 1:30 am with my stomach not feeling very good and from that point on until about 7 or 7:30am I vomited about every 20-30 minutes.  It made for a long, long night.  

Do you ever wonder why you don't get sick during the day?  I mean, the last time I remember vomiting during the day was in front of everyone in class in elementary school.  This time?  Middle of the night.  Last time from the bad calamari at Matty B's in Minneapolis?  Paul found me in the hall after I threw up in the middle of the night.  Countless more times in my memory did I throw up at night, the middle of the night.  Why is it that I always get really sick and vomit in the middle of the night?  Just curious.  

So, after my stomach had been cleared three times over I slept for a couple hours before trying some gatorade and water and a popsicle.  Well, that took its' time but that came out as well.  Sunday afternoon we finally decided that I couldn't hold anything down, I wanted to get this thing figured out and get hydrated so we went to the ER.  I got stuck with an IV for almost four hours, slept for a couple and took in some nausea medicine and morphine in the mix.  I also drank some Maalox and something "cocktail." Well, that was also nasty.  Good thing I didn't throw that up.  

I spend all day yesterday in bed or on the couch and I have yet to step foot outside today either.  That's why this is called "chicken coop."  I suppose it could have been called "squirrel trap" too or something similar but I'm wanting to get out of here.  But I still haven't eaten much and the shower I just took was a chore.  So, back on the couch is my behind.  Luckily I haven't vomited in a day or two and I can still feel it in my abs.  Ever want to get some good ab ripping exercises in, just get the flu and vomit for 6 straight hours.  

Anyhow, I hope this wasn't in the air since you guys were all here.  I hope you didn't get it and that Katy avoids it at all costs.  

Merry Christmas.

Happy New Year.  

Avoid the flu.  Wash your hands.  Drink water.