My Trip to Minnesota

I designed this to help my family keep updated on me even from far away in New York!!! I know there is facebook and all but this will give a little more detail.

I just returned from Minneapolis Minnesota. I was at a Sectional meet recruiting high school seniors. I had alot of good conversations with swimmers as well as coaches and parents. I was a little nervous to begin with but got the hang of going up to people I had never spoken to before cold turkey. Thats a little out of my comfort zone!!!! But I loved it! I feel that I made some real connections there. The trip was a little long but I got to go to cool places . I went to the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Minneapolis on Wedneday night. I was across the street from the Target Center, where the Twins play.There was a parade going on so parking was crazy. One thing I learned about living in a big city that I didnt like was you have to pay to park everywhere. Thursday night, I went and had dinner in downtown St Paul. Once again I had to pay to park but the dinner was really good and I was across from the Excel energy center where I think the minnesota wild play. On Saturday after prelims, I went and walked around the Minnesota Campus ( gorgeous campus) and down to the area called Dinkytown, where there were cool places to eat and shop and a belly dancing place. I didnt do that. By Sunday, I as ready to go home. I got up early to try and get on an earlier flight but no luck : (. SO i decided to turn in the rental car and take the rail system to the Mall of America. I got there around 9 in the morning so nothing was open except Starbucks. I started Eat, Pray, Love. I really want to finish it before the movie comes out August 13th with Julia Roberts. I like the book so far plus I cant wait to see the movie since Julia Roberts is in it( she's my favorite). After that i went to the Aquarium, I had never been to an aquarium where you go through a tunnel and sharks are swimming all around you. I think there is one at Seaworld but when I went there with Nana and Papa , i think I was too scared of sharks. At this Mall of America they had the world's largest jellyfish collection. I thought it was the world's largest jellyfish. But it was still pretty cool with all of them in glass tubes in a dark room and pink and orange lights on them. After the Aquarium, I walked around the Mall killing about 6 hrs. Can you believe they have a wedding chapel in there? Really who gets married at the Mall of America. Talk about doing things on impulse. Hey lets go shopping, hey lets get married. Thats Crazy to me. I had lunch at this Mexican place called Cantina # 1. It wasnt very good : ( There is a live action video game where you actually play in the game and a mirror maze at the mall. In the middle of the mall are roller coasters and water rides. It is an amusement park in of itself. After a full day of shopping, I took the railway back to the Airport and flew home. i slept most of the way home.

When I got to my house, I had one happy puppy to see me. He gave me lots of kisses. I have already made some great friends that took care of scobee for me when I was gone. She would send me update status and pictures throughout the week. She said he was a good snuggler and they watched Julie and Julia. He has already seen that one but I am sure he didnt mind snuggling. Courtney had him at my house when I returned so I didnt have to sleep alone in my apt last night. That meant alot to me.

I was happy that scobee was in such good hands when I was gone because of what had happened the week before.

I am excited for my mom to come in on thursday!!!! I already have a full weekend of places i want to take her!!!

I hope all is well!!!