Nursing a Saturday Hangover and Other Tales

Just got back from a nice weekend visit to Northfield. I told y’all I’d be doing more of these, right? (And, there's a surprise at the end of this post that suggests that soon I will be doing A LOT more of these posts).

This time, I actually rode out of town on Highway 3 through Farmington (which apparently has a Carbone’s now??!) Yep, yep . . . then left onto Highway 46 and right at Cedar--I was heading to Burnsville via the Best Buy in Apple Valley. This was a rather spontaneous route; but, I made the mistake of taking 35 N to Minneapolis Friday night; so, it wasn’t completely without reason.

It was definitely beginning to look a lot like the end of fall near the Cannon this weekend; gah! And it was especially gloomy this afternoon. I’m glad I didn’t run over that college student while looking at the gloomy sky. It would have turned an already gloomy day into--well, a tragedy... for both of us. For my wallet and freedom and for her, well, being alivedness.

Despite the fact that one has to look out for college kids like deer at dusk and dawn, I like winter.

At least, I like winter more than I like the hottest part of summer. But, there’s something bone chilling about that transition from fall to winter. All the aches that have been hiding since last winter creep back into the body and let their presence known without much warning.

Like trees coming down the Cannon, hoping all winter to get away from Faribault, only to get stuck at the Ames Mill waterfall; my bones are waiting all summer long to get away from the heat and humidity, only to get stuck by dropping temps. I age by about 87 years each winter. 

(No, not literally 87--more like 83).

Though I came to Northfield for the weekend, on Friday night I dropped the baby off with grandma and grandpa and headed up north with the lady friend to a Halloween party. It was good time rock and roll right off of Nicollet and I had an epic Saturday hangover to prove it.

Plus, they had a drumset. I love parties with drumsets.

Before leaving for party time, Shells and I rocked it at Applebee’s in Dundas. Man, I love that place. Didn’t like working there too much (I actually worked at the Lakeville Bee’s); but, eating their food is never disappointing--neither is drinking their beers.

Yep, we had few post-baby-dropping-off/pre-party-going-to beers and shared a 2 for $25 meal. And you know what? It was nice to actually eat at the bar again--I mean, we’ve been TO the bar plenty since Fiona came along; but, it’s only when we’re running sans baby that we sit AT the bar. 

Car seats and bar stools are mortal enemies.

So, while I nursed my mean Saturday hangover, Shells and my sisters and my dad helped my grandpa grab some furniture from a family friend’s house. If you wait long enough you’re bound to get a pretty sweet couch for nothing in Northfield--so long as you’re OK with moving it yourself.

And I wasn’t OK. Plus, I don’t really need another couch.

Then again, I guess it’s about family helping family. Well, whenever I have people who I need to help me move stuff, they usually know a few days before (at the latest); I wasn’t told until the morning of my hangover that shit needed moving.

I think there’s a law that says I was in the right by refusing my services. It’s part of the Bro Code if anything.

Ah well, I feel bad anyway. And I felt really bad driving by grandpa and dad raking the leaves this afternoon on my way to Best Buy too; but, I got over that pretty quickly. When you’ve got the baby in the car seat, it’s easy to be like, “Eff those guys--we’re going to Best Buy. . . . baby!”

Sunday arrived early this morning. Like 6 AM early. Honestly, way too early.

I spent the weekend sleeping on floors and froze both nights. So, really, I spent the weekend not quite sleeping on floors. But, I suppose that’s what you gotta do when you want a night off from the little one. It’s OK; I think the hard floors actually worked out a kink in my back.

Too bad there wasn’t a bed to move.

Never made it to Best Buy; however, I find that the electronics section of Target is beginning to carry all the requisite electronics to fill my “Dude, check out this thing” itch. And, I’m broke as shit, so I’m always just sad after going in Best Buy. 

I’ve started to keep a virtual vision board on my phone though (no, I don’t mean Pinterest--but maybe that’d be better). Anyway, now I’ve got a Lincoln MKZ and a $400 SLR camera to look forward to whenever I reach the “come to fruition” part of my vision board journey.

Speaking of Best Buy, has anyone noticed how forceful they’re starting to get to sell you shit? I suppose showrooming has really hurt their business; but, MAN, I feel like I’m going into Wells Fargo whenever I go into Best Buy. 

"No, no . . .  I do not want a thirty fifth checking account--and I don’t need a new $4,000 computer either.

"Thanks guy; but, I don’t actually have any questions about DVD technology. And, since we’re at it, who DOES?? I’m just looking for Season 4 of The Wire, so back the eff up braj--I’ve got this."

But, I DO appreciate that Target is taking the lead from Costco and giving free samples. Today I had about 350 calories of free chocolate covered pretzels. And then I bought a $3 pizza.

Po’ folk gotta eat too, y’all.

Shelly made her quarterly trip to Oil Can Henry’s (yes, dad, we know it’s called Casteroil or some shit like that now). Wasn’t a great trip this time I don’t think--they forgot to re-attach the headlamp screws.

It was a gloomy day all around; but, Shells can at least see through the fog with her new headlights. So, that’s a plus.

Look, I’m not here to bash any business in Northfield--except maybe Tiny’s for no longer being around--but, what I will say is, geeze, I can’t believe ANOTHER autoparts store is coming to town.

Haven’t heard? Well, I was eating a hangover softening Culver’s burger and saw that there was a new building going up right before me--according to Grandpa, they’re putting in an O’Reilly Auto Parts. So, with NAPA, Advanced Auto Parts, and shit, the other one over by Malt-o-Meal, that seems to be a fair amount of competition for the auto parts niche. I guess if you’re into fixing up your whip, you’re probably going to get a fair deal on prices. Quite unlike the liquor store market in Northfield--or should I say city monopoly?

The only other price gouging--no, that’s not right--price fixing--no, that’s not quite right either--price making--business in Northfield that affects me as much as the Muni is, well, the Indian Restaurant market in Northfield. Someone told me that might be changing though . . . there used to be two not that long ago! And a new one is supposed to be going up--these could just be sick rumors to keep me craving better priced ghee though.

Man, I LOVE Indian food; and I miss the old joint out by the James Gang--that place was pretty dank diggity.

BTW, when WILL Tiny’s come back? I have missed those chili dogs man. I suppose the stories were right all along, and so they must have run out of Tiny. (According to legend, Tiny himself was the main ingredient in the awesome chili dog sauce--and by “legend” I mean what my dad used to tell my brother and me).

Well enough of this post -- I need to get back to something productive: there is still a SHIT ton of Downton Abbey that needs watching--and I’m the only one here to do it.

Next time I will be covering my move back to Northfield . . .

Yes, I am coming back. But, I’ll always be an out-of-townie.

Peace y’all.

-Anton