Expectation Vs. Reality

Lately I've been contemplating the difference between expectations and reality.  Often what we visualize, expect, or even plan for, is not always what we end up with.  But, is that always such a bad thing?

I'll give you a few recent examples.  Two years ago when we got our adorable Maltese named Loki, I had visions of him running through our yard with his pure white hair flowing in the breeze, on a beautiful spring day.  Here is my expectation versus reality.

In reality on our first "spring day" this year, Loki decided to channel his inner piggy and give himself a mud bath.  It was a pain in the butt to clean him, the carpet and myself up, but my son and I did it together, and it was nice to spend that time with him.  He saw it as an adventure.

I've been seeing pictures of friends wearing their hair in a gorgeous bun with the use of a sock.  It's called the sock bun. Despite watching multiple youtube videos on how to create this look this is what my expectation versus reality looked like.

I look ridiculous, but I laughed my butt off.  I may never master the sock bun, but I know I don't take myself too seriously.

After contemplating all of this I realized something.  I realized that I may not always end up where I expect, but sometimes the reality turns out to be even better.  I end up learning patience, laughing harder and enjoying the simplicity of a less complicated endeavor.

At the end of the day I'm content in my perfectly imperfect world.  I'm thankful that things don't always turn out how we expect them to.  If they did, I think we might miss out on things we didn't even know we were missing.

Mommalicious Joins the Excelsior Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce

There has not been a better partnership since Lewis and Clark, or Lucy and Ethel.  I've joined forces with the Excelsior Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce and have become one of their newest members.

Given my involvement in the community aka:" How I'm always sticking my nose in other people's business.", it seemed only fitting that I officially became a member.  Plus their meetings are served over a yummy sit down lunch at Biella in downtown Excelsior, and their parties tend to involve copious amounts of wine, which is just fine by me.

As part of this new partnership I'm working with the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission on a community TV show called "Out and About".  Basically it will highlight the latest and greatest happenings in Excelsior and surrounding communities.

At today's monthly Chamber luncheon at Biella, we shot our first edition of "Out and About". Later I'll be able to share it on my blog.  Below is a photo of me doing my first on camera shots. I'm not loving the bright spotlight. I look best in candle light, but the Production Manager Chris Vogt said shooting our show using candle light was just not going to happen.

Out and About TV 

Normally I hate meetings and avoid them like the dentist. It turns out that these Chamber luncheons are quite informative, and I'm so glad I went.  Here are the highlights that have me excited:

• As soon as the weather warms up Twin Town Pedicabs will have about 8 cabs running in and around Excelsior.  For a small fee they will bike your drunk butt home after a night out on the town, providing you don't live that far.  I suppose families will also enjoy a pedicab around town. 

• Biella is expanding and will be moving to the corner of 2nd Street and Water St.  They will be adding a steak menu. There will NOT be a separate steakhouse in that spot.  They are shooting for an end of June opening.

• Because of the strike or walk out or something involving the Minnesota Orchestra, at this year's 4th of July celebration "The Wolverine Orchestra" will be headlining in their place.

• The Chamber's "Celebration of Community and Person of the Year" party is on April 19th from 6-9pm. I checked and yes there will be wine.  You can get tickets at this link: "A Chamber Celebration of Community and The Person of the Year Award"

Excelsior Historian and Author Bob Williams was the guest speaker today. He was quite charming and full of anecdotes of what life was like in Excelsior during the depression era.  Bob just turned 91 this past December.  I'm amazed with what he can remember and share, when I couldn't tell you what I had for lunch two days ago.

Here is a little video of my pedicab ride down Water St. today.

Adventures in the Excelsior Luck O' The Lake 5K

As you may have read earlier on my blog, I've signed up for three 5Ks but I had never done one, until this past Saturday.  The Jake O'Connor's Luck O' the Lake 5K was my very first!

Tina and I modeling our race attire. Photo by Susan Austin

From the left: Deb and Tina who ran ahead, me and Jill who stuck with me. Photo by Susan Austin

About 500 people dressed in a variety of St. Patrick's Day outfits showed up for the run in Excelsior.  The run benefited the Excelsior - Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce and the community events it supports. It started at the Excelsior Brewery, and ended at Jake O'Connor's Public House aka: our local Irish Pub. 

If you know me, you know I am NOT a runner.  But, boy did I run when that race started.  I ran until there wasn't a camera in sight.  Then I started walking.  I'm out of shape, and not crazy.  Vain, but not crazy.

Evidence of my running.

Eventually I realized I was in the back of the pack, and pulling up the rear.  Apparently the police car behind me was not my personal escort, but was the cop car at the end of the run protecting the runners. I tried not to take the occasional gunning of his engine as a "Hurry the heck up", but more as a sign of support.

Two of my girlfriends (Jill and Alex), who are in much better shape than I, abandoned their dignity and stuck with me, even though I had to mostly walk.  The cold 19 degree winter air wasn't doing my Hawaiian lungs any favors either.  

Being one to make lemonade out of lemons, I treated the last mile as a parade, breaking out my pageant wave to the passing cars and volunteers on the sidelines.  I thought of asking the police officer behind me if I could ride on his car and wave, like in a real parade, but my girlfriends said it wouldn't count as finishing the 5K if I did that.

At just under 50 minutes after starting, I crossed the finish line.  Not so much to fanfare, as to the sound of people breaking down tables and packing up.  Even my police escort abandoned me a block earlier.  My two girlfriends stood with me arm in arm and we crossed the finish line, completing my first ever, and possibly last 5K.

If it hadn't been for the Chiropractic treatment I've been getting at SuNu Wellness Center, especially for my knee, I may not have been able to finish at all. I'm a work in progress.  Maybe by the time the 2nd Annual Luck O' The Lake rolls around next year, I'll be ready to do more running in it, or at least not come in last.

Much fun and celebration followed at Jake O'Connor's Irish Pub.

After party with the girls.

Note: Thank you Susan Austin Images for two of the above photos.

Why I'm Obsessed with Antiquity Rose

Photo by: Al Whitaker

One of my favorite lunch spots in Excelsior is Antiquity Rose. I'm there at least twice a week having lunch with my sister or friends. It's where we go when we want some home cooked goodness in a comforting atmosphere.

The waitresses and staff are like family, and are a real hoot to hang out with while you enjoy lunch or breakfast.  Don't be surprised to see a little good natured ribbing between a particular waitress named Martha, and the cook Sheila. They deserve their own reality show.

From Vege Wraps and Salads, to Casseroles and Homemade Desserts, they have it all.  Right now I'm obsessed with their Garden Salad with a scoop of Tuna. I order it without the Cheese and Croutons, and with extra cucumbers.

My Current Obsession

I'm also a huge fan of their Chef Salad.  They make their own Blue Cheese dressing, that is amazing!  I always order it on the side.

Chef Salad

Their food is homemade, along with their desserts.  Feast your eyes on their Pecan Pie. It's so good!

Homemade Pecan Pie

Antiquity Rose is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00am till 2:30pm for Lunch. For Breakfast they are open Saturday from 8:00am-10:30am.  It's a fun place to meet up, catch up and enjoy a fabulous meal.

Why I'm Giving Up Swearing Like a Sailor for the Middle East

If there is one bug I have it's the "Travel Bug".  In way it's kind of odd that I love to travel so much, as I hate going more than 10 minutes from my home for any of my day to day activities such as: the grocery store, happy hour, the gym, happy hour, or whatever else.  The gym I hate overall, but I've been twice this week, which is a record for me and why I included it.

I've fondled the nipples of sculptures in Paris, I've experienced the all-inclusive gluttony of Mexico.  I've gotten lost in the streets of London and have jet skied in Aruba.  I've stayed up all night in Vegas and have spent hours taking in the beauty of Central Park in New York during the Fall.  From road trips to Mount Rushmore to ghost hunting in New Orleans, I've hit many but not all of the hot spots in the U.S.

Well, there has been one international destination on my bucket list that I have contemplated, which will become a reality later this year. This Fall I'm going to Dubai!

Dubai

Dubai is known for many things, including its opulence.  My travel partner for this grand adventure will be none other than one of my very best friends, James.  James traveled with my sister and I to Hawaii last year when we scattered my mom's ashes.  Below is a photo of James after he protected us in the waters of Hawaii by fighting off a Tiger Shark.  I still think it was a local fish, but we are going along with the "Shark" story.

James protecting us from "Sharks".

If you are a long time reader of my blog, you know that James and I have had many adventures together.  I'll be spending the next several months learning what I can about Dubai, the culture, the etiquette there, and I'll also learn some basic Arabic.

The thing I know right off the bat is that I have to stop swearing like a sailor, as you can NOT swear out loud in public in Dubai.  Yesterday I said the "S" word only once, so I'm off to a good start. I told James he should do the same and start now, as his potty mouth makes me sound like a Kindergarten teacher.

We will explore the parties, the fashion, the sights but also the people and the culture.  I'm really looking forward to learning more about Dubai and its people.  One thing we won't be doing is going to their indoor ski park.  I'm not leaving snowy Minnesota for the desert to go skiing.

Big Thrill Factory in Minnetonka

Hurricane Grill & Wings NOW OPEN

Hurricane Grill and Wings  is a restaurant from Florida with locations around the Southern United States and now Minnesota.  One is in Burnsville and one opens on Monday March 4th right here in Minnetonka on Highway 7 and 101.

The other night I was able to preview Hurricane Grill before their opening this week.  The Stud Muffin and I met up with another couple at our friends Bob and Cindi's house. The men folk were in rare form and excited about trying a new place.

Stud Muffin and the men folk before heading out.

 When we arrived at Hurricane Grill we spent a little time at the bar while our table was being prepared.  Our friends Eric and Jill introduced us to a beer called Landshark.  The Stud Muffin and I don't often drink beer but when we do, it's usually from the Excelsior Brewery. It is our hope that Hurricane Grill will  support our local brewery and starts carrying a beer or two from the Excelsior Brewery.  Having said that, the Landshark was enjoyable.  The men folk seemed particularly put in a party mood by it.

The Stud Muffin and Eric at our table.

For our first appetizer we had their Shrimp BLT Quesadilla, and it was yummy. I must admit, it was my first time having shrimp and bacon together.  They did a great job of giving the quesadilla that nice, crunchy, toasted taste.

 Our second appetizer was also new to me.  It was their Conch Fritters. I considered stabbing my friends with my fork so that I could have all the Conch Fritters for myself, but reconsidered after the Stud Muffin pointed out we could always order more.  Jill was smart enough to snap a photo, while I was focused on shoveling these into my mouth.

Photo by Jill

Our waitstaff were fabulous, and very upbeat, which went well with the beachy Florida feel of Hurricane Grill.  A nice escape during a Minnesota winter.  Our meal progressed with pork sandwiches, chicken wings and salmon.  The pork sandwiches were very tasty as were the fries, which I think were flavored with a touch of parmesan cheese.  The salmon was a bit dry and not something we would order again.

They have a ton of sauces, which will be fun to experiment with when trying their chicken wings. All in all, it's a fun place to take friends or the family for a taste of Florida.