a much-needed respit in shakopee.

so after all of that crazy driving through chicago and wisconsin, i was definitely ready for a chance to relax. i made it fairly easily to brian's place - though i think maggie-ellen had some fun with the directions and decided to give me the scenic route of minneapolis highways at rush hour. thanks m-e. - and settled in for a few days of quality down time with brian and his sophie-cat.

sophie's a sweetie, until she attacks.
but then she stands up like a prairie dog, and overwhelming cuteness returns.
it's her strategy, i think.

so how does one relax, shakopee-style? glorious mornings of sleeping in, adventures to mall of america for lunch with brian's friend tim and his parents, surprising everyone with my wii bowling skillz, surprising no one with my lack of ddr-like-fireworks-game skillz, batman-movie-going (so so good, but creeeepy heath ledger!), mini-high school reunions (where erica again showed off her lack of eye-hand coordination in her bean-bag throwing - thankfully i didn't try the darts :), family gathering for brother's birthday, riding in antique cars, fantastic hibachi-sushi dinners complete with clown-like birthday masks, and even a few law & order and marathons to boot. ooooh and ax men! (such a cool show.)

mostly it was great being able to hang out with bri, meet a few of his friends and family, and not really have to obsess like the crazy i am (usually) about the rest of this trip... and what i'm really getting myself into. quite enjoyable, on the whole :)

me & bri at his parents'

*deep breath*

somehow the weekend went by superquick, and suddenly it was monday morning - bri had to be downtown fairly early, so we were up fairly early - early enough to see an incredible sunrise over the canterbury racetrack from his porch.

not a bad way to start the morning.

monday morning couldn't be held off much longer, though, so bri headed off to work, and i was on my way to meeting kate for lunch and the next stop on my minnesota adventure... faribault! (extra credit to anyone non-minnesotan who can pronounce that one correctly.)