Mona has been a bit lost since I am now gone many hours of the day.She is used to me being her daily pal and long walks in the afternoon or snuggling on the couch in the sunshine while I read a book.Here she is with her blankies in the sunshine spot.That green thing is her squeekie.It sounds like a mouse and she thinks it is her friend.She takes it with her around the house.

Now when I leave I cover her with a blanket to keep her warm.When I come home, she sometimes is still in the same spot nice and toasty warm.Here she is our cutie girl just poking her head up when I got home from work.She still has her sleepy eyes

A couple local guys, Dave and Nick, invented a new bike.It’s called ……..ta da…… drum roll please……..The Big Dummy.They ride bikes all year round and found a couple things difficult.  1–transporting large cargo like from Home Depot  2–stability in the winter  3–multiple loads like kids and groceries at the same time.So, they made a long heavier looking frame that has extra room for saddle bags, big fat tires and storage compartments.They sold out all 90 of the first ones in four hours.There is now a backload of customers.  

It looks Dutch to me.All that is missing here is the Dutch attitude…..ride down the middle of the street at a speed to your liking.Never mind that you are blocking traffic for a caravan behind you.Of course, here in Minnesota that would be called suicide attempt.

Sam, maybe you want to rename your bike….the little smartie  

Sometimes my big brother gets bright ideas.I won’t describe most of them but his latest was a great idea.He thought that he and his two younger siblings should get together on even months.It took me a while to understand the concept because I thought he meant all months with an even number of days in it.No….he meant the 2nd, 4th, 6th months….like that.Ok, I get the concept.  He said as we get older and our families expand, then we spend alot of time with them but not with our original family members.He said he would organize the first get together(2nd month) and we met at the chinese buffet in Hutchinson, Mn.Of course, he told me one buffet and David pulled up to a ‘closed on Sundays’ buffet.heheheheheheThank goodness for cell phones so we all ended up at the same buffet. 

So, the bright idea was for Gary, me and David and our spouses to get together on even months.Anyone else in the family available can also come.Here is our first sibling gathering.David and his wife Doreen are in the back row with Asha(tho only other available person).Gary is in the stripes next to his wife Orleen.And on the left are the famous Blips and Maxima.It was really alot of fun.Now it is my turn to organize the next one in the 4th month.Let’s see if I can make sure to tell everyone the SAME restaurant.

We were listening to the news the other day and heard that Minnesota is first in golf courses.Yah, kinda wacko but they said Minnesota has the most golf courses per capita in the United States.That is one golf course for each 40,000 people.That sounds a little crowded to me.Good thing I don’t golf.In fact, I have openly mocked golf since I was a kid.No need to stop now.

 For our anniversary I was able to sneak a card and some cashews into Blips luggage without him knowing.He found it when he got to the hotel in Washington. I am usually the one who can surprise him.BUT, for Valentines day, he did surprise me.There was a card on the table when I got up.And hiding beneath it was a box of chocolates, my favorite.ohhhhhhh he did surprise me and they were gone in 2 hours. (it was a small box)

Then, we had talked about going to the Led Zeppelin concert the end of March.It is *not exactly* Led Zeppelin but the Minnesota Orchestra playing the music of Led Zeppelin.So, I got tickets for Valentines day.It is at a theatre in Minneapolis.You know how I hate to go to Mpls.I am a St Paul girl.Last time I went to Mpls was for Phantom of the Opera two years ago.But this concert we are very excited about.And we have great seats.So, I think I did surprise him also.

….and she’s buying a stairway to heaven

yes, naked sushi is coming to Minnesota.The Temple Restaurant in Minneapolis is starting naked sushi next month.Anything look delicious to you????I hope they have brown rice …….white rice is too high a glycemic index

     euuwwwwwww

ohhhhhhhhhh I have not blogged in such a long time that I don’t think anyone is still reading this.I am not sure I even remember how to post a blog.Or do I blog a blog? hmmmm

This is what I have been up to since November 18th.

We welcomed Miles on Nov 23rd.He is our great nephew.I think he likes peace and quiet (see his hand over his ear).He has a full head of white blonde hair and is adoreable.

Celebrate Thanksgiving.

Celebrate Christmas: bake and send cookies, decorate the house, buy all the presents, undecorate the house including taking down the outside lights except for the red/white/blue tree.We light that on Friday nights so the neighbors coming home know it is the weekend.

We welcomed our first grandson on Januari 7th.His name is Jarne.Here is the whole family including our oldest granddaughter, Jonna.Now M and G-J have *the king’s wish*, a boy and a girl.We are very very happy for them.I just want to reach in there and hug our grandchildren.I love them sooooo much!

Blips was in Seattle for four days over our 7th anniversary, so I went out to Chinese Buffet by myself.Our wedding reception was shared with family at a Chinese Restaurant, so I was remembering how long and short ago that day was.  It seems like we just got married.Mona got my fortune cookie when I got home. 

We celebrated our middle grandchilds birthday.Nancy is two now and looking more and more like a sweet little girl instead of a toddler.K tells us that we are referred to as Opa and Amerika.We know who Opa is so I must be Amerika. That is soooo cute!

We went organic now that we have a Trader Joe’s in Woodbury.After multiple young relatives and friends have been diagnosed with cancer, it is just something that is important to us.That means we rarely eat out anymore since it probably is not organic.(Chinese buffet is excluded from this rule)So, more shopping and cooking and cleaning up at home.

We go to the YMCA for fitness exercises 5-6 times a week.This takes up most of our evenings.Blips has lost 20 pounds and I have found 10 of them.?????I know, don’t ask!It just makes me want to scream.

I have been looking for a job and today I got hired.Actually, I got hired by two places this week.One is just 3-5 hours a week starting this spring, so I will do both jobs.I am hopeing to eventually settle on a schedule of working Tue, Wed, and Thursdays with one day for community errands and one day to get things done around the house.We are used to me being available at anytime to do whatever is needed.I hope things go smoothly. I start Friday with orientation.