Giggle

December Heat Wave

It is currently, December 26, 2011 in Woodbury, Minnesota and the above is the current weather outside. Yes, it is 52 F outside in December in MINNESOTA!

So out of curiousity I decided that I would use Weather.com to check the current temps in other cities around the United States. I thought I would look up places where we know people.  Those in RED are warmer and those in BLUE are colder than it is here. The one city in black our temps are the same - imagine that!

• Cary, NC: 52 F {my sister Brooke lives in Cary, she is on her way to Minnesota though}
• Ft. Lauderdale: 79 F {Dave's parents are currently vacationing in Florida -- it's 43 F back in Monona}
• San Diego, CA: 67 F
• Seattle, WA: 43 F {My friend Carmel lives in Seattle - sorry I doubt it will be 52 when you are here in January...but one could hope!}
• Duluth, MN: 46 F {My parents live in Duluth and this is where I grew up}
• Atlanta, GA: 51 F {Dave's cousins Bridgett and Bob live near Atlanta}
• San Francisco, CA: 48 F {My friend Liz lives here}
• Rogers, AR: 37 F {My cousin Dan and Molly live here}
• Bradenton, FL: 77 F {Dave's friend Dave G lives here}
• Phoenix, AZ: 62 F {My college friend's Christie & Brad lived here until this August they are now living in Minnesota}

That's all the temps I'm going to take the time to look up. But what is the temp near you right now at 3pm on December 26? I'm just curious!

10 Years Ago Today...

10 years ago today I was sitting in my living room watching the Today Show while putting my make-up on for work.

I was watching the TV more than putting on my make-up about the explosion at the World Trade Center. At that time they still did not know what happened.

As I sat watching I saw a plane in the background of the TV.  Then it kept getting closer and closer.

Before I could even think what was going to happen next the plane crashed into the South Tower.

I started screaming.

Matt and Katie made a comment about the explosion and I started shouting at the the TV, "no it was a plane! It was a passenger plane that crashed into the World Trade Center!!"

I was so noisy I woke up the police officer who worked the night shift living in the apartment below me and he was soon madly POUNDING on my apartment door. I opened the door and he started to yell at me and I just shook my head at him and yelled, "SHUT UP!" then pulled him by the arm into my apartment and showed him the TV.  I told him a passenger plan crashed into the World Trade Center and that was why I was screaming and stomping on the floor. He turned white and looked as horrified as I felt looking at the images on the TV.

He then said, "that's no accident that is terrorism! Then he left. 

Not knowing what what to do and not wanting to be alone I went to work that day in shock over the events of that morning. I called my parents, they had no idea what had happened. To keep from crying I laughed as I told them what I had witnessed on the television. I remember my mom scolding me that this is no laughing matter and I said I know it's the only way to keep from crying.

The rest of the day was a blur. I remember watching the news coverage on a television in the conference room and coming home that evening and being glued to the television.

To this day if I close my eyes and think about the image of the plane approaching the south tower on the television I can still see it in my memory. It is burned there and is something I will never forget. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be there at ground zero that day. It was horrific enough to see the events unfold while watching live on television.

HOT! HOT! HOT!

It is so hot that the house is sweating because it is cooler IN our house than it is outside. It's just crazy! Not sure why I bothered to blow dry my hair today...once I step outside it's going to FRIZZ like crazy. 

I think we'll be hanging out in the pool after nap time this afternoon...it's a good day for it! Well...as long as it doesn't thunderstorm like the above suggests. However, the radar is clear.

If you feel like swimming later today and would like to join us just give us a ring.

now...I just need to find the shade for Elaina's little swim raft.

Minnesota Government Shutdown...

Dozens flow in at outset of Minnesota Zoo reopening

• Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
• Updated: July 3, 2011 - 2:38 PM

The Minnesota Zoo dodged the state government shutdown bullet and reopened Sunday, thanks to a judge's ruling over the weekend, and dozens of patrons filed through the entrance in the opening moments.

"We are excited to announce that we reopened our doors at 9 a.m. this morning," said Kelly Lessard, spokeswoman for the zoo in Apple Valley. "It's a beautiful day to visit the Minnesota Zoo."

About 75 people entered the zoo in the first moments of business Sunday, Lessard said.

"I cannot thank [Ramsey County District] Judge [Kathleen] Gearin enough for her thoughtful consideration and timely disposition in this case," said Lee Ehmke, the zoo's director and CEO.

Gearin agreed with the argument posed by the zoo's attorneys, who said it should be able to open using a state law that directs zoo gate revenue back to the facility. Because it has a standing appropriation, they said, it should be allowed to open.

Although the zoo isn't a "core function" of state government, it doesn't require a legislative appropriation to operate, Gearin found.

However, Canterbury Park's bid to continue horse races at its Shakopee track was shot down. Gearin issued an order denying the track management's request to be included among so-called essential state functions. She also denied the petition filed by owners of the Running Aces harness racing track in the north metro area that would have allowed it to stay open.

Yeah! The MN ZOO is OPEN!

   
Minnesota Zoo is Back in Business
Judge Gearin Rules in Favor of Zoo Petition

The Minnesota Zoo plans to re-open on Sunday, July 3 - at 9:00 a.m.  Judge Kathleen Gearin today ruled in favor of the Minnesota Zoo's petition to remain open during a state government shutdown.  The Members' After Hours Events Preview of 3M Penguins on the African Coast will take place as scheduled!