December 31, 2002
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Yesterday, I had to get up at 5:30 a.m. to go get my thyroid gland biopsied. Aside from the fact that I absolutely hate getting up that early, starting my day by having someone dig in my neck with needles is, of course, one of my favorite ways to spend a morning.
One good thing about starting so early was that I was out of there by 9:00, so Dan and I had planned to go pick up our grandkids from their daycare and take them to the Christmas exhibit in the downtown Minneapolis Marshall Field’s store. Each Christmas season, they have a children’s story depicted in life sized animated figures and arranged in multiple vignettes in their auditorium. Before Christmas, the lines are horrendous, stretching around corners, down escalators and through merchandise aisles for many floors. The wait takes hours. After Christmas, you walk right in. There are just enough other people going through to make it festive, but not enough to make it tedious.
Anyway, this year’s exposition is Paddington Bear. The kids loved it. Pages from the story are mounted next to each scene, so you can read the story to the children as you go along. They sell gingerbread men at the end and they bake them on site, so the whole place is filled with the wonderful holiday aroma of baking cookies. How can you not buy one after smelling them for half an hour??!!
Here is a picture of the kids and me near the beginning of the story.
I thought the lighting in this photo of Madison by one of the storybook pages was interesting.
Here is a picture of the kids in front of one of the scenes. Ryan looks bored, but he wasn’t. I don’t think he liked being turned so he could not see the story figures.
After we finished viewing the story exhibit and had our cookie snack, we walked over to look at the Block e development that is partially open now in downtown Minneapolis. The city put many of its hookers out of business by developing their stomping grounds into an elaborate entertainment area. (Yes, I know hookers also fall under the classification of “entertainment,” but this is a different kind of entertainment.) Block e is between the downtown shopping area and the Target Center, forming a nice bridge between the two.
We also took the kids to see the holiday decorations in the stores and then went to lunch in Dayton’s Skyroom (I know it is Marshall Field’s, but it will always be Dayton’s to me – I have strong feelings about it.) They have a great pasta place there, so Dan, Ryan, and I pigged out on ravioli and penne pasta while Madison had pepperoni pizza. Then it was back to daycare for naps.
After we dropped the kids off, we shopped for food and beverages for our New Year’s Eve party and then saw The Two Towers, so it was a long and busy day.
Our party tonight will be pretty tame. I don’t know how many people will be here – probably around 15. We will talk and play games. There will be a buffet of munchies. I will have plenty of adult beverages available, but knowing our friends, most of what is consumed will be soda. We will bring the New Year in with a toast with Asti and then I will serve some wild rice soup. Very calm party, but fun.
Everyone have a safe and Happy New Year!
Animations courtesy of Pepsiluver.
Comments (14)
Nice…nice pics. Have fun and party up to bring in the New Year.
You are using your Christmas present well already , the one of Madison is great . We are going out for a drink soon (its 7pm as I write this ) and then on to Mums to let in the New Year
Great Paddington display… I bet all the kids loved it!!
A Wonderfull and Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Wonderful New Year to you. Somebody needs to invent mechanical thyroids, so we could get rid of those things at age 5. Will keep you in my thoughts.
I love Paddington Bear!!!!!!!!!!! Awwww – I would love to have seen that. I agree, I really really like the photo of Madison in silhouette. I think that is how you spell it?
I have to run to jump on Mart to try to find 2 people in a 1.4million square foot haystack. Should be fun
Take care and I of course wish you a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!
Well I do not envy you having the thyroid test. However I too went to the dr, only today. Oy, first I got new meds and a new nebulizer then the brought in the podiatrist. He cut a lot of skin off my heal to find out if that would help with the needle pushing feeling I get in it. IT DID NOT WORK! Now I have to deal with it for another month, and then go to see him again. lol Still need to go back to first dr. for back and swelling again. That exhibit sounds awesome! Looks it too. We dont’ get things like that here, really is a shame! Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! ! ! Much love and hugs! ! ! ! May God bless our New Year with Peace, Joy and Love! ! ! ! God bless you and yours! ! ! !
Happy NY!
I’m sending up prayers about the biopsy. Paddington is one of my granddaughter’s favorite characters, and mine too!! Happy New Year, Nance!!
Let us know how the biopsy goes. I couldn’t stand someone sticking a needle in my throat! Happy New Year’s!
I miss Minneapolis. It was at Dayton’s that I found Lori Line. Do you know who she is? Before she became famous! I bought one of her first tapes. People liked her music and would ask for tapes, so she had her husband make a few. Look at her now! Here’s hoping you have a good year 2003. I hope the thyroid thing turns out well for you. Sincerely.
Happy New Year to you and your family, {V}
May it be filled with love and happiness along with good health!
Nice pictures. I HATE tests, sorry you had to go through that. Happy New Year!
Cute pics! What? You don’t love the doc’s? Especially in the morning with pain?
Praying for God’s best for you in the ‘bibopsy’ (did you see My Big Fat Greek Wedding??) Happy New Year to you, new friend! 
Hmmmm, fun location, I always get mental images. Thanks, took me back to the year in the old condo, our first home purchase, very small master bath. So far, the best year of my life – was 1987.
Hope your 1st week, 2003 is going well. Oh, and 15 sounds like a crowd to me!