I Do Not Love My Cub!

I really didn't need another reason not go to the Cub Foods store located basically in my backyard, what with it's crazy aisle layout and complete disorganization of canned beans, but I read this in the paper today and now I'm sold.

WEST ST. PAUL, Minn.
A Twin Cities bank was held up twice in one day -- by different robbers.
It happened yesterday at a TCF Bank in a Cub Foods in West St. Paul.
The FBI says the first robbery happened around nine in the morning, when a man presented a demand note to a bank teller and implied he had a gun.
The man got an undisclosed amount of cash, then left the grocery store and ran away to a wooded area. Police searched but could not find the suspect.
Just before two in the afternoon, the second robber struck. He showed bank employees a handgun tucked into his waistband, then also ran away into the nearby woods with an undisclosed amount of cash.
He's also at large.

Those "nearby woods"? My backyard.
I almost feel sorry for robber #2. All that robbery preparation only to find that someone beat you to the job a mere 5 hours earlier. Too bad.

Bakin' Chicken Willy

What a fun, busy weekend!

It all started Friday, my last day of work on 4400. Pretty good day, but hard to leave. Emptied out junk from mailbox and locker and gave lots of hugs.

From work, drove 3 hours to the WI Dells to meet WSU friends Rhi, Rachel and Carolyn. Arrived around 7pm at our hotel, the Copa Cabana, offering two beds, two sinks, and two Asian Beetles. All for a low, low price! R,R & C all live in the Milwaukee area, and it was great to catch up on everything. Went to Houlihan's for dinner. It was delightful once we moved to a table in a less smokey area. Can't really believe smoking is still allowed in restaurants. Had the French Dip on sourdough which, although edible, I would never order again.
The next morning, went shopping at an outlet mall, then ate lunch at the Moose Jaw. Had to move to a different table again, this time so we weren't in the cold entryway. (Seriously, the 4 of us are the most easy-going, non-complaining people you will find. For some reason when we're all together, we make quite the high-maintenance quartet.)
After lunch, Carolyn's car decided to freak out. Lots of clicks and flashing lights, but no starting. Called the AAA people, and Mike's Towing came over and gave us a jump. Thank goodness!

Drove back to the cities, then went to Meg's Old School Slumber Party. Lots of food and chattering, very little slumbering. Drove home the next morning, then got picked up by Meg, Joel and the kids, and headed to Deena & Tim's house in Apple Valley for a Viking/Packer party. More food and chattering, very little Viking scoring. Got home around 4-ish, then crashed.

I almost finished painting my kitchen today. Only one more coat left, then it's done! Found out that I go to computer training tomorrow at Abbott NW, then start in the ED Wed and Thurs evenings. This last-minute scheduling is driving me a little crazy, but I know it will get better.

Happy belated 32nd anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald! (November 10, 1975.) And thank you, Gordon Lightfoot, for your tribute to the ship, the sea, and the men who lost their lives. Your song has been running through my head all weekend.

Goodbye Wallpaper!

The wallpaper in my kitchen is gone, gone, gone! I hired 2 guys to do the job, and it was money well spent. They got all that nasty wallpaper off in less than 3 hours! I bought paint and supplies today at Home Depot, spackled and sanded, and I'll try to get the primer on tonight.

I just got a call from the scheduler for the Emergency Dept, and my first day of training is a week from tomorrow. EEEK!!! My last day on 4400 is this Friday. I cannot believe how fast this is all happening.

I walked around the Mall of America this afternoon and bought a ton of scrubs at Ragstock. They were in the Halloween section for 50% off. They are super old but soft, and only $2 (on sale from $4) - unbelievable! That reminds me, I have some laundry to do...

If a good cry is what you need...

...then you have to check out this Nova documentary on PBS called "Marathon Challenge". It aired on Tuesday, but I taped it and watched it today. Here is the description:

How do you run 26.2 miles if you have trouble making it around the block? With good coach­ing, discipline, and lots of group support, as NOVA shows when it follows 13 generally sedentary people through a training regimen designed to prepare them for an ultimate test of stamina and endurance. "Marathon Challenge" takes viewers on a unique adventure inside the human body, tracking the physiological changes that exercise can bring about.

Maybe it's because I just went through a similar experience, but I cried through the entire hour of this. I'm not sure if or when it will air again, but I have it on tape if you care to watch it. Or you can probably watch it online at pbs.org. And it's narrated by Liev Schreiber.