Heading NORTH for the Winter

My bosses laughed at me when I said I was taking Friday off to fly to Minneapolis. Sure, I have friends in Miami, Los Angeles, Austin, New Orleans, and other warm weather locales - but Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart.

When I lived in Minneapolis, I spend a lot of time working, fencing, and volunteering with my fraternity. And the relationships I made there were strong, and suprisingly resilient enough to last through my moving to the South, my friend's deployments to the Mideast, and even another's return to his home in Norway. I can be friendly and gregarious, but hanging with my friends in Minneapolis - I feel like I am at home.



After all, Minneapolis has a lot going for it, as you can see.

Most of my time was spent with a glass in my hand, and a glassy look in my eye. Unfortunately, that plan didn't do much for my fencing on Sunday morning, but competing in an epee tournamen was an afterthought. It's funny, because of the new 3-1-1 rule for liquids I need to check my bag if I want to bring my shaving products and cologne. And its just as easy for me to check my fencing bag (with my toiletries stored within) as it is to check my normal travel bag. Before that TSA bright idea - I probably would have let fencing go to avoid baggage claim and spent all Saturday night hanging out with these ladies...



It's just as well... I needed the tournament experience. Besides, even though I was in a hotel in the suburbs, I never once felt alone... I am sure to be back soon.