Home from Vacation

After my trip to Ft. Snelling, things got really busy with the bike race. It started on Wednesday, and finished up Sunday afternoon. I had a really, really, really great time, but if you want to read the details, you'll have to visit the officiating blog.

After the race was over, I parted ways with the rest of the officiating crew, and headed back to the Minneapolis International Hostel. This is where I was staying the whole time I was gone, for a mere $38.98 per night, including tax. It was a really lovely place, and it was kind of interesting to walk in after each day and discover a whole new group of people in the common room.

On Sunday evening, I had dinner at a really awesome restaurant, the Black Forest Inn. I had one of the best German meals I've ever had here in the states, and there was even a duo playing and singing music, with an accordion and a trumpet. Made me very nostalgic. This restaurant was only 4 or 5 blocks from the hostel, and just across the street from another place I ate earlier in the week, called The Bad Waitress. Their food was also good, and the service wasn't as bad as they'd like you to think.

I drove home on Monday, and tested the fuel economy of the car. My gas mileage wasn't great, but I *did* get all the way from Minneapolis, MN, to Lawrence, KS, on only ONE tank of gas. This only means that I have a 21-gallon tank in my "new" car (a '96 Volvo wagon)...

And now it is time to get back to work. 10 days off was very nice, but I have plenty to do now that I am back!