Minneapolis in November!

This year, much like last year has been full of travels.  It's been great!  We found cheap tickets and decided to squeeze in another vacation before the end of the year.  It was great!  It wasn't centered around any event, so it felt like we could do anything we wanted to do and really see the city.  We arrived on the night of the 10th.  Shawn, being a state emplpyee, had Thursday, Veterans Day, off and he took us around the city.  We rode the light rail and walked around downtown.  We went to Target Field, the Twins Stadium. 

 We went to the Guthrie Theater to see the great views, including the Stone Arch Bridge and the old mills.

 The Minneapolis Central Library was a cool building, and so huge!  We took a break from the great outdoors to look inside for a few minutes.

   

 Rachel's dad was also in town so that night we all grabbed dinner at The Nook.  Adam and I got a taste of our first Juicy Lucy's!  They were absolutely delicious!

On Friday Rachel and Shawn were back to work.  Adam and I headed to the Mall of America.  We spent about 4 hours there and barely made a dent in the place.  We did some clothes shopping and both left with good buys.  After MoA the we had dinner at a place called Liquor Lyle's with the Combs Walding's and some of their friends then headed to a concert at a church. 

 We skipped out on the concert early and went to Nye's Polonaise Room.  Nye's came complete with The World's Most Dangerous Polka Band that plays every Friday and Saturday night!  Unfortunately I I forgot to take a picture of the band.  They were delightful and added a lot to the atmosphere.  

On Saturday morning we woke up to a whole lotta snow and a french toast and bacon breakfast!  We didn't leave the house until later in the day.  

We did some driving deciding what to do and ended up at Donny Dirk's Zombie Den.  That place was awesome!  The decor was cool and they were playing old zombie movies.  They also had a creative and tasty drink menu!  The bartender and server were dressed to the 9's!  We have already toyed with the idea of opening a zombie bar of our own.  :)

We then headed to Surly Brewery for a fundraiser dinner.  We ate, drank and had a tour of the place.  The brewery was started by people Shawn knows through playing ultimate frisbee. 

As if our night wasn't exciting enough, after the brewery we went to a party at Shawn's sister Erin and her roommate Mandie's place.

Sunday was another slow paced day.  We did some more shopping and went out to eat...again.  We planned to eat and bowl at Bryant Lake Bowl, but they were having an event so we only ate.  

It was a sad day on Monday when we had to head home to reality.  It was a wonderful vacation!  Turns out I really love that city, not to mention some of the people there! 

It takes a special kind of person...

Whenever someone asks what I do for a living and I respond "Child Protective Services" after the I'm so sorry look on their face they always say, it takes a special kind of person to do that kind of work.  I think it takes a special kind of person to do all kinds of work.  It takes someone very not like me to do what my father does.  His dedication to his works of art has amazed me since I was of age to appreciate what he does.  It takes a special kind of person, again, not at all like me to be a structural engineer.  Sitting at a desk all day doing math :), while extremely important to mankind takes a very special kind of person.  How about running a business with your spouse?  Teaching children?  Raising children?  There are all kinds of jobs that need special people to do them, my job included.

The whole year I have been doing this particular job I have spent a lot of time thinking, am I the kind of person who should be in the role I am in?  It can be a difficult job.  Most times because of the number of reports that come through on a daily basis, the paperwork, the confrontation with parents, learning the difference between true bad parenting and what I think I would do differently as a parent.  Sometimes it's the anticipation of going to court and having a responsibility of having a case and "messing with" a family even if its the most necessary and right thing to do.  I get to see the good, the bad and the ugly.  Sometimes unbelievably ugly. There are many reasons why the job takes a special kind of person. 

Today is a day when I don't feel so special.