Duluth!

Quite awhile ago, Pete, Andy, Candace and I went to Duluth for a day trip and see what we could see. We of course started our day at the famous tourist site of the Graffiti Graveyard. Candace, Pete and Andy hadn't seen it yet, and I thought they might enjoy it; and they did! We saw some HUGS and gave some hugs as well.

HUGS lives on!

Andy and I in a typical tourist pose at a typical tourist attraction.

Then we went on a cruise around the harbor and out onto the lake. It was really fun to be on the lake. I don't think I have been on Lake Superior ever, so it was really cool to see Duluth from afar. In the harbor there is also an area for wind turbines to be delivered. I was really excited to see that and took many pictures. The tour guides on the boat kept referring to the turbines and "wind mills" and I wanted to correct them, but I held my tongue.

On the boat.

A view of Duluth from the water.

A big boat!

Wind turbine blades in the harbor.

On the rocks.

Pete looking statuesque in front of the lift bridge.

After our boat tour we dined at the Anchor Bar in Superior, which is a fine establishment. It reminds me of the Saloon in Rockville with a nautical theme. I had a delicious olive burger and a beer and it was a reasonable price too! If you're ever in the area, I suggest trying out the Anchor Bar. It's delicious!

With our tummies full we headed up to Enger Tower to see Duluth from above. It was starting to get windier and was quite exciting to climb to the top of the tower. The clouds started to roll in and began to rain. That was our cue then that it was time to head home. Duluth is a fun city and it was a fun day!

Pete climbing the hill to Enger Tower.

Ringing my bell.

View of Duluth from Enger Park.

Superfly and Made of Steel

How I spent my Easter Vacation. This past weekend Tony, his girlfriend Laura, Clare and I took a jaunt to Indiana to celebrate Easter with my family. It was quite fun, I enjoy going home and spending some quiet time with my parents and animals. My cat Tipper is really fat now and it's funny. Chip is as rambunctious as ever, though getting greyer around his eyes.

Windmills just south of Rockford, IL.

Friday we got home in time to get some food. Clare and I took pictures at the old graveyard. It was rather sad, there were a lot of infant graves. Though it was cool to see really old head stones, mostly from the mid 1800s. After we got back there was a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit, where I strategically chose Clare as my partner because I knew she would kick ass. And we won.

Anne Death's death was no laughing matter. Nor did anyone see it coming.

Saturday was a bit entertaining. Tony's friends who go to Purdue, Jon and Peter came for a visit. We decided to take the ATV Dad had purchased a few weeks ago for a ramble through the woods while Mom and Dad hid eggs for the egg hunt. It started all well and fine, we were having a good time. Until I decided to try my hand at the wheel and travelling up a steep embankment with a curve. My lack of experience driving 4-wheelers/anything with a motor for the past 7 months came into play when I didn't let off the throttle, didn't turn hard enough, and missed the brake. I hit a bump (that bump that occurs when you go off a trail), flew off, and rolled down the hill a bit until I hit a small tree. The ATV hit a larger tree.

Before.

After.

The amazing thing about this fall is that despite flying through the air aways, hitting the ground, and rolling down a hill - I'm okay. I was super sore and in lots of pain Saturday, but that's mostly gone away. I probably have a total of 4 small bruises. The most injured part of my body is my right foot that got all scratched up because somehow my shoe AND sock fell off. So now I'm just horrified that I managed to break something really expensive. Though the ATV starts now, it'll probably cost a lot to fix it. Not to mention how un-fun it is to push something like that up a hill.

After we finally made it back to the house, we had our Easter egg hunt, which was loads of fun as usual. Then we had delicious dinner. That night we watched The Wind that Shakes the Barley, which made my day, even if we had to keep stopping it to let the DVD cool down.

The ride home was incredibly not fun, especially since my muscles were really stiff, and got stiffer the more I didn't move. Also, now I have a healthy fear of anything with a motor. The whole time I was driving I kept feeling like I was going to lose control of the car and we'd all go flying into a ditch. So I'm really glad I don't drive, and that I power my own way of getting around on my bike.

Things that make me happy: Tony got a Peachy-Pooh finally from Maple Corner.

Not as delicious as it sounds.

I also flossed last night.