After a great birthday week Nicole and I kept it pretty low key this weekend. Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes this week. After turning 33 on Thursday I am still feeling young and still very motivated to do a lot of things in my life. (it's amazing how fast years go by).
On my birthday we worked like any normal Thursday. I went out of drinks after work (Hotel Ivy) with one of my coworkers (we cut out a little early) and Nicole was still working. After that Nicole and I went to dinner at a small restaurant in S. Minneapolis called Cafe Levain. It is a French restaurant and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend it and I would recommend it quickly because I am afraid they are going to go out of business. On a Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. we were the only diners there. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves with a well-known chef and 3-4 waitstaff. Nicole joked with our waittress that she rented out the whole restaurant for my birthday. We enjoyed great food and dessert and a very nice bottle of wine. It was our first bottle of Caymus, a wonderful Cabernet from Napa Valley (Rutherford to be exact). Well worth the hype.
Nicole got me some golf attire for my birthday, she wants me to look more like Rickie Fowler minus the good looks and good golf game. I am thinking about growing my hair backout circa 1998.
We gave up our Gopher hockey tickets for Friday night so we could relax at home and watch the game. It was a great weekend for the seniors as the Gophers swept Michigan Tech. They continue to improve their position and hope to see them do well in the WCHA playoffs that are coming up, and hope to make the NCAA tourney.
The Wards
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Another Winter Storm
Nicole and I went to Chicago for the weekend to look at a different vehicle. We found one we liked on Saturday and made the purchase. We flew to Chicago on Friday and stayed on the Gold Coast, an area just off Michigan on the north side. Our friends Chris and Gina Windslade live near this area in Lincoln Park and Nicole stayed with them in December when I went to Palm Springs with the guys.
We didn't intrude on them this weekend, but we checked out a lot of shops and restaurants and wine bars over the 2 nights.
On Friday we got settled into our hotel around 9:45 p.m. We headed out for dinner at Joes Stone Crab and Steakhouse. This place came highly recommended and it was very good. Nicole had the great idea of sharing a big steak rather than each trying to conquer our own and we then enjoyed the sides and dessert, and of course some good cocktails.
Saturday was a quick breakfast and then off to Howard Orloff's dealership. We enjoyed our experience with the salesman, whom we had communicated with for a few weeks before making the trek. The business manager was another story, we asked about an extended warranty for the vehicle, which I always think is a good idea, but he was a loser. First he was very sick and shouldn't have been at work in the first place, his nose was running all over the place and he could barely speak and he kept wanting to shake our hands (who does that)! We were both grossed out and wanted out of there. I am still considering the extended warranty, but couldn't get out of Larry's office fast enough.
Saturday night was a marathon. We started out by having a great burger at The Luxbar which is on Rush St, just off Michigan. It was great. From there we hit up some shops (Nicole's favorites). I'm just a husband that walks along and find a comfortable chair with my coffee and messes around on my cell phone while she shops. I don't get into it, in fact, she gets most of my clothes because I don't have much style. She got that gift. After shopping we took a little nap and then headed out for the night. We went to Eno (which is a great wine bar) that we went to many years ago with Ryan and Emily. In fact, there are some pictures of the 4 of us in their stairwell (my highpoint in life) taken at Eno. They have great cheeses and of course HUNDREDS of different wines. We love trying new wines and this place always has exactly that. From there, we headed to dinner at Japonais which is a place Nicole loved when she went there in December with Gina and the girls. She absolutely raved about it and wanted to take me there. We had the same server she had when she was there and he said he remembered her (lie in my opinion). Not that she isn't memorable (she is, trust me), but how could he remember one girl when he sees that many people since December. I think he was working on his tip. It was a very cool place, food was great, I should say sushi was great, we had some Japanese ribs that were just ok, but why would you order ribs at a Japanese place (they looked good at the time), but I thought of that after I ate them. Stick to the fish when you go to a sushi place, get your meat elsewhere. Atmosphere was great and we had a lot of fun.
Sunday was an early rise and on the road for a 9 hour trek through a pretty good snowstorm. It rained for the first 3 hours and the next 6 were very slow/treacherous. We counted 34 cars in the ditch and thankfully this time we were not involved in a crash in a snowstorm with our new vehicle.
I have the day off today (President's Day) and I drove Nicole to work so I am sitting at Starbucks' on Grand. I am meeting Nicole for lunch so just relaxing today.
Enjoy the day and be safe on the roads. St. Paul reported 17 inches, but I'm thinking Hudson got less than 10 inches.
We didn't intrude on them this weekend, but we checked out a lot of shops and restaurants and wine bars over the 2 nights.
On Friday we got settled into our hotel around 9:45 p.m. We headed out for dinner at Joes Stone Crab and Steakhouse. This place came highly recommended and it was very good. Nicole had the great idea of sharing a big steak rather than each trying to conquer our own and we then enjoyed the sides and dessert, and of course some good cocktails.
Saturday was a quick breakfast and then off to Howard Orloff's dealership. We enjoyed our experience with the salesman, whom we had communicated with for a few weeks before making the trek. The business manager was another story, we asked about an extended warranty for the vehicle, which I always think is a good idea, but he was a loser. First he was very sick and shouldn't have been at work in the first place, his nose was running all over the place and he could barely speak and he kept wanting to shake our hands (who does that)! We were both grossed out and wanted out of there. I am still considering the extended warranty, but couldn't get out of Larry's office fast enough.
Saturday night was a marathon. We started out by having a great burger at The Luxbar which is on Rush St, just off Michigan. It was great. From there we hit up some shops (Nicole's favorites). I'm just a husband that walks along and find a comfortable chair with my coffee and messes around on my cell phone while she shops. I don't get into it, in fact, she gets most of my clothes because I don't have much style. She got that gift. After shopping we took a little nap and then headed out for the night. We went to Eno (which is a great wine bar) that we went to many years ago with Ryan and Emily. In fact, there are some pictures of the 4 of us in their stairwell (my highpoint in life) taken at Eno. They have great cheeses and of course HUNDREDS of different wines. We love trying new wines and this place always has exactly that. From there, we headed to dinner at Japonais which is a place Nicole loved when she went there in December with Gina and the girls. She absolutely raved about it and wanted to take me there. We had the same server she had when she was there and he said he remembered her (lie in my opinion). Not that she isn't memorable (she is, trust me), but how could he remember one girl when he sees that many people since December. I think he was working on his tip. It was a very cool place, food was great, I should say sushi was great, we had some Japanese ribs that were just ok, but why would you order ribs at a Japanese place (they looked good at the time), but I thought of that after I ate them. Stick to the fish when you go to a sushi place, get your meat elsewhere. Atmosphere was great and we had a lot of fun.
Sunday was an early rise and on the road for a 9 hour trek through a pretty good snowstorm. It rained for the first 3 hours and the next 6 were very slow/treacherous. We counted 34 cars in the ditch and thankfully this time we were not involved in a crash in a snowstorm with our new vehicle.
I have the day off today (President's Day) and I drove Nicole to work so I am sitting at Starbucks' on Grand. I am meeting Nicole for lunch so just relaxing today.
Enjoy the day and be safe on the roads. St. Paul reported 17 inches, but I'm thinking Hudson got less than 10 inches.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Beautiful Winter Day in Minnesota
We finally broke the cold this weekend and what a day it was. We got up early today and had to take care of a few things. Nicole got a haircut and I had a Troy Village Homeowner's Meeting. After both were done we headed WEST to Wayzata. We went to check out the Chilly Open, which is a golf tournament they have on Lake Minnetonka. We had never been to this and wanted to check it out to see if it was something we would participate in next year. By the time we had heard abou it this year it was filled up. So, basically they blaze fairways on the lake and line them with evergreens and make 2 different 18 hole courses. What we really learned is that it is a BIG PARTY on the lake. There is a 19th hole which is a big tent with a live band and a chili cookoff. Area restaurants give free chili and you vote on the best one. They don't sell alcohol so everyone brings their own. We noticed lots of people pulling a sled with either a kid in it or cases of beer, or both. It was very fun out there (the weather helped because it was warm and sunny) and I think it is something we will try to do next year.
After watching some of the golf we ate lunch at Sunsets in downtown Wayzata on the lake and then we stopped at Anthropologie (Nicole's favorite store) in Edina on our way home.
Now we are watching the Gophers beat the Pioneers of Denver (up 3-0 after 1st period). We went to the game last night and watched them lose a great/close game 2-1. My buddy Brent Snyder went to DU so I was talking some trash to him abou the Gophers taking down his 4th ranked team, but they just couldn't get it done last night. A split this weekend would be great!
Also wanted to let you all know that my cousin Kristin (Will) Pierson had her first baby this past week and we have another boy in the Will family. They named him Will Gregory Pierson. Congrats Mike and Kristin.
Get out and enjoy the weather everyone!!
After watching some of the golf we ate lunch at Sunsets in downtown Wayzata on the lake and then we stopped at Anthropologie (Nicole's favorite store) in Edina on our way home.
Now we are watching the Gophers beat the Pioneers of Denver (up 3-0 after 1st period). We went to the game last night and watched them lose a great/close game 2-1. My buddy Brent Snyder went to DU so I was talking some trash to him abou the Gophers taking down his 4th ranked team, but they just couldn't get it done last night. A split this weekend would be great!
Also wanted to let you all know that my cousin Kristin (Will) Pierson had her first baby this past week and we have another boy in the Will family. They named him Will Gregory Pierson. Congrats Mike and Kristin.
Get out and enjoy the weather everyone!!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Truck Update 2
Well, I said I would post some pictures when we got the truck back last week, but we never got the truck back last week. State Farm made a last minute decision to total the vehicle (damage = 70% of vehicles' value). They said our vehicle was close enough to the line that they would give us the choice of whether we would get the vehicle back or take a check for the Kelly Blue Book value. We decided to take the check and never look back. We did get to see the vehicle one last time to get our personal belongings. It looked brand new after 2 months of parts/labor so hopefully it finds a good home and holds up for the new owner. Talk about close, we were within 2% of getting the vehicle back. Unfortunately for State Farm their original assessment of the vehicles' damage was WRONG and the cost inflated on them as the vehicle was being fixed as they continued to find more parts that needed fixing. I'm sure we'll pay the piper in the form of higher insurance rates, but what can we do I guess.
So, we are car shopping again. No fun! We hate the haggle and negotiation of buying cars and our favorite place to buy (Morries' in Golden Valley) doesn't have any Land Rover's so we are out looking. My dad always hated the "wheel and the deal" of people trying to beat him down on prices too, he would have loved the way some dealers are doing business now in the metro, no hassle pricing.
So, that is the update on the truck.
Stay warm and congrats to my cousin Megan and her husband Vinh on the birth of their new son Gavin. Welcome to the family! We are awaiting the birth of my cousin Kristin's baby anyday now too.
So, we are car shopping again. No fun! We hate the haggle and negotiation of buying cars and our favorite place to buy (Morries' in Golden Valley) doesn't have any Land Rover's so we are out looking. My dad always hated the "wheel and the deal" of people trying to beat him down on prices too, he would have loved the way some dealers are doing business now in the metro, no hassle pricing.
So, that is the update on the truck.
Stay warm and congrats to my cousin Megan and her husband Vinh on the birth of their new son Gavin. Welcome to the family! We are awaiting the birth of my cousin Kristin's baby anyday now too.
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