2014 New Year's Resolution

I started out with this "funny" list:

1. Get this list done on time next year
2. Grow my hair out long like Jesus.
3. Go to the MN state pie-eating finals.
4. Spend more money...for the economy.
5. Ride a bike.
6. Cut off terrible hippie hair.
7. Everyone knows #7 is a freebie that doesn't mean anything, so I'll say... date someone funny like Kristen Wiig or super sassy like Sara Bareilles.
8. I forget what eight was for...
9. Be thankful.
10. Uhh, I've been making these up since #3, no mas.

But after thinking about it a bit more, I have come up with a single idea based on 2013. To review, 2013 was a very fun year of "firsts". Regular readers will have seen the pics of these firsts all year long, including, a trip to the NorthShore (MN), a trip to the NorthWoods (WI), and all manner of restaurants, outings and fun deals.

So, my resolution for 2014 is simple, continue to seek out and accept adventures that get me more "firsts". It's kind of easy to say that having done it for much of 2013, but I think that's ok. There will be some easy ones, go to a movie with a co-worker, change cellphone companies, make a date with someone new, but maybe some hard ones... maybe sky-diving? Spelunking? What about getting Lasik done on my eyes? Who knows what will come up, but I will have this helpful, nagging thought in the back of my mind all year. 

With that already in mind, I had a fairly good-sized first already this week. I drove my car right onto a frozen lake. While driving on frozen lakes is fairly common here in MN, I'd never done it before, or realized it's possible only a few miles from my residence. At my local Bush Lake, I drove on and off at two different spots. Mind you, I didn't have much reason to be on the lake for long, not owning ice-fishing gear, so it didn't even take much time... I did it on my way home from work.

More of these to come...

4onthefloor, First Ave, 12/21, Minneapolis, MN

Do you know this little seated area, where you can relax out of the way of others and listen to the great music you came to see? I'd recommend it.

Northern Iowa White Out

What could make a 6 hour drive more fun? How about snow, blowing snow, and semis - check, check, and check. Yes!

I don't recommend this.

You thought your car tires were expensive?

Price out a set of these badboys! 

I passed this oversized load on I-80 as I travelled through Iowa. I believe they mate to the Caterpillar 797 series dump trucks. Goto: 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_797

Merry Christmas

Honeypie Cafe, Bayview, MKE, WI, Take 2

In what can only be described as a Christmas Eve Eve miracle, I was able to swing back into MKE and have dinner at this great spot in Bayview.

I don't have pictures of all our food, but it was all delicious. We were so hungry that even the pics I do post are of half-eaten plates...because it looked to good to wait and the vultures I went with gave me no time for pics. (kidding on the vultures part) How about starting the meal with Pork Fries? Think Irish Nachos with pulled pork on top. And on a super cold winter night, how about a Chicken Biscuit Pie? Fuggettaboutit!

Finally, the pie. This was a long time coming and totally worth the wait. We had our thinking caps on and "reserved" two slices even before being seated for dinner. This pie is the stuff of legends. Cookies n' Cream and Butterscotch. Wow.

Bradstreet Crafthouse, Minneapolis, MN

You know this restaurant and cocktail lounge is located in the Graves Hotel, right? Have you been able to check it out yet? No. Why not? Go ahead, get over there for some tasty small plates and one-drink-is-probably-enough cocktails.

Oh, the cocktails shown below are non-alcoholic, so they have that option covered too...and they were equally delicious.