Three weekends ago, friends of ours, Jim and Lori, asked us to join them and family members up at their cabin on the Whitefish chain in Minnesota. Neither Travis nor I have spent time in that area. It was beautiful. The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect. We tooled around the lake during the day and stopped for lunch at Moonlight Bay, jumped in the lake, and watched fireworks from the boat during the Hay Lake Fireworks show.
Lunch on the lake with Sarah, Lori, Mike, Jim, Diane, Dick, me, & Travis
Lori & I took a jump in the lake
Hay Lake Fireworks show on Whitefish
We came home on that Sunday to no power from a storm that had come through the cities on the Friday night. Unfortunately, we had a bunch of food we had to discard. Fortunately though, I don’t have a slew of medical equipment like I used to. I would have had to figure out where to find power!
That Sunday night, I reminisced as we went to a concert. Back in the day, twenty years ago, I used to meet some friends every Sunday night to hear a particular band. “Greazy Meal” is a soul funk band that used to play every Sunday at the Cabooze. They did a reunion concert and I wasn’t going to miss it!
Travis and I met up with our good friend, Annie. Ironically, Annie and I didn’t know each other back then, but we figured out a few years ago that we both spent every Sunday at the Cabooze. We probably were rubbing elbows singing our hearts out together and didn’t even know it!
Another friend, Andy, who used to go every week also joined us. It took a little convincing to get him out since he had just come home from the cabin with his family. But he was reluctant to stay away. The band sounded exactly the same and just like twenty years ago, we sang our hearts out!
It ain’t easy being Greazy with Annie, me, & Andy
A couple of weeks ago, Travis was nice enough to captain a few of us girls out on the boat. The weather has been so wonderful, it was great to go grab dinner and enjoy the water with amazing gals.
Cruising home from dinner with Aimee, Annie, Farrah, & myself
While Travis is a little out of commission with his bum hand, I was mowing the lawn. Yes ME, mowing the lawn! Don’t worry, it’s small, it only takes eleven minutes. Just like shoveling in the winter, I enjoy it! Before my new lungs, I could never do these things.
I have never been stung by a bee, hornet, or yellow jacket ever before. Without knowing, I mowed over a yellow jacket nest. I now know, with loud noise or vibrations, the little buggers will protect their home by stinging, can’t blame them. It sure hurts but the good thing I found out, I am not allergic 🙂
Fifteen years ago, a group of us friends started a pub crawl in downtown Minneapolis. It almost always took place on the last weekend of the running of the bulls in Spain. The pub crawl was called “Running of the BS’ers”.
Everyone would buy a custom designed white shirt, red sash, and red bandana. There would be 5 – 7 guys dressed like bulls. They would wear all black with bull horns on their head attached to a helmet.
15th & Final Running of the BS’ers
By the third year, we had over five hundred BS’ers running down the streets of Minneapolis. The cops would block off the street so we could run from one place to another. When we would show up and invade the next bar, people were amazed. That many people wearing the same thing is fun to see.
We not only started this for a good time, but all the proceeds from the shirt distribution have gone to charity. During the last fifteen years, over forty thousand dollars has been donated.
Now to finish catching you up. This last Friday, Travis and I drove up to Perham, Minnesota for a golf tournament. Travis was hoping to be golfing in the 31st annual Tuffy Nelson Golf Classic, but due to his injured hand, he’ll have to wait until next year. We drove up so I could say a few grateful words as the Nelson’s from KLN Family Brands made a very generous donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We’re glad to report there were a record number of golfers who helped to make it all possible.
After lunch on the golf course we drove back to the cities and attended a farewell party for our good friend, Jamie, who is moving to Arizona. We wish her and her kids the best of luck as she embarks on her new career with the Arizona Coyotes.
After a few hugs goodbye to Jamie, Travis and I then left to spend the evening with more windshield time together. We drove on to Des Moines, Iowa and arrived at 2:30a.m. That pushed our grand total to a little over 1o hours in the car that day.
Travis had to be at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa the next morning. One of the company’s he works with sponsors the Menards NASCAR racing car. Fortunately for me, Travis had to work in the hospitality tent before the race began which meant, once again, I got to tag along 🙂
We both attended our first NASCAR race at the fastest short track in America. We loved it! It is a very exciting place to watch a race. Since it is a short track, you are able to see all the cars at all times.
Beautiful sunset during the race
Before the race, Brandon Jones, who by the way is only eighteen years old, was the driver for the Menards car at this particular race. He came up to speak to everyone in the tent and take photos. He is a very well spoken and nice young man. We hope he has a long future ahead of him.
Travis, Brandon #33, & me
We were very fortunate at the race. We had all access, “hot” passes. We went down before the race and checked out the garages, pit crew, race trailers, and cars.
Thumbs up for Menard’s car #33 garage
We watched most of the race from the tent but went down to watch the end in the pit. It is so cool to be so close to cars cruising by at such speed. And to be right there next to the car when the pit crews were changing the tires so fast!
In the pit during the race
Pit stop
Lastly, a health update. This month, I will celebrate my two year lungiversary. Last Monday, I had all my annual studies for my transplant. I’m sorry I didn’t post anything earlier. We have been so busy around here as you have just read. I am so excited and thrilled to notify you, I had my best lung functions yet!!!
I have mentioned before I am like a turtle, slow and steady wins the race. I love how my lungs continue to slowly and steadily expand. I look forward to continuing down this path with my new pretty pink lungs.
Nikki's New Lungs 