Back from a rare trip to the Twin Cities in August

I do miss regularly updating my blog. I'm still not into writing daily like I used to. Yet, I have a lot to share and write about.

In early August, I returned to the Twin Cities for a concert. It was awesome. I had a great time.

It made sense that the band that I had discovered for the first time was in the Twin Cities. Guster was the opening act for John Mayer. This band blew me away and I have been a fan ever since. I returned to see this band, as they rarely cross the border.

It was also nice to return to the Twin Cities in the summertime. I am normally there for a hockey game, when it's colder. I enjoyed wearing shorts and a t-shirt every day.

Let's see if I can write more regularly. I'll start with perhaps once a week and see how all that goes.

Moth visits

Last Sunday, I came back from another trip to the Twin Cities. I visited both my late friend and my mentor at two different cemeteries while I was there. The former requires a day trip down to northern Iowa.

In Chinese culture, when you see a moth, it's a sign that someone who has passed on is visiting you. I saw a moth that hung out with me for quite some time. I'm not sure which friend it was. I will go with my mentor because he was the last person I visited.

I wouldn't say that I'm an overly superstitious person. However, when it comes to spirits from my past visiting me in the form of moths, I have a decent record. I'm glad that they do drop by. It's nice. 

Nose bleeds

My first nose bleed occurred when I was in grade two. I was standing in line for something with my class. There were two guys in front of me. They were fighting. A fist landed on my nose and blood came out of my right nostril.

My teacher and I headed to the washroom. She got my nose bleed under control. I pinched the top part of my nose and we cleaned myself up.

My next nose bleed occurred last December. I was in the Twin Cities. I managed to get it controlled after 45 minutes. It was trying to get something cold on my head and pinch the top part of my nose. It was tricky, but I got it done.

On my most recent trip, I had a nose bleed three times. I realized that it was way too dry in my room and where I was. I got a portable humidifier that I had on my nightstand and in my car. It helped me out a lot.

The third nose bleed out of the series was scary. I don't recall how long it took me to control it, but I didn't have anything close that did the job to cool my forehead. It felt like an eternity.

I now always travel with a humidifier. I have my home humidifier every night before I go to bed. I need it when I return to Minnesota for sure.

I'm back... again!

It has been well over a month since I last wrote here. It has been both busy and good on my end.

I spent the last 1.5 weeks heading back to the Twin Cities. I took in two Minnesota Wild games. I also made the trip down to Des Moines, IA for the first time to see the farm team, the Iowa Wild.

The drive from Minneapolis to Des Moines is roughly four hours. I don't get why there are so many drivers who simply plop themselves in the left lane and drive the normal speed limit in it. The left lane is for passing, people.

There seemed to be a higher number of folks on this particular route, both northbound and southbound, who occupied the left lane and should have moved over to the right lane. Ugh!

I hope to write more. It has been tough, especially when I'm on the road with my work laptop and don't want to blog from it.

Back from a last-minute trip back to the Twin Cities

Hello! I hope that you're doing well.

I got playoff ticket for the Minnesota Wild. Two Sundays ago, I flew down to the Twin Cities. It was the most rushed trip that I have ever done, but it worked out well.

I saw the Wild lose their first game, but win their second one. It was my first and second times seeing the Wild in playoff hockey mode. I had wonderful experiences.

Taking a break from blogging is both needed and missed. I am currently writing on a Microsoft Surface laptop. I never thought that I'd get one, but I like it so far. The touchscreen takes getting used to!

I returned home on Sunday night. I am relatively settled again to blog. I find writing here to be therapeutic, which I have missed.

Weekend cooking and trip planing

The weekend is here. Yay!

I'm thinking of making shakshouka this weekend. I have never made it before, but the combination of eggs with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices makes me want to give it a try.

I booked my plane ticket to return to the Twin Cities. I'm taking in a couple of hockey games. It'll be a combination of work and time off.

Have a great weekend!

Leafing through magazines and memories

Last night, I found stacks of magazines as far back as 2005. It has been therapeutic throwing them out.

I end up leafing through the magazines before I chuck them out. It's nice to have a snapshot of what things were like years ago.

Some goodies include the following:

• A flyer from Zellers. The final two Zellers stores that remained in Canada closed a couple of months ago.
• A billing statement from Columbia House Canada. Yes, I loved subscribing to that service and getting CDs
• A rather heavy December copy of the Mpls St. Paul Magazine. I also managed to get a paper cut from it.
• A few credit card statements that served as bookmarks. I'm happy to say that all those accounts have been paid off and closed.

Good times on a Friday night. Have a great weekend!

Travel, comfort, and change

I made it safely to the Twin Cities. It has been a long day, but I am happy and still alert!

I like Eagan, a suburb of what seems to be St. Paul. I have found a hotel that I like. It feels comfortable, modern, and cozy.

Perhaps that's one reason why I am still up at this hour. I feel like I'm at home, writing in my blog. I just happen to be in a different city, country, and environment.

Change isn't all that bad. Then again, it doesn't feel like a whole lot of change at all.

My first Wild hockey game!

I have booked a trip to the Twin Cities. I am finally going to see a Minnesota Wild game.

I lived in Minnesota for a couple of years. I was there during the hockey team's inaugural year.

I couldn't get tickets during my entire time there. I put down a deposit, hoping to get tickets. Well, it has taken nearly two decades. I have a ten-pack of tickets.

My first game is in a few days. Naturally, I can't go, so I'm selling that ticket.

In October, I'm going down for my first game ever. I am so excited. I spent Saturday booking everything, so I'm ready!