Friday

Today we went to shop for warmies. We have insulated scooting jackets from a store in Michigan, but boy my legs are freezing! Cory was introduced to the acclaimed Fleet Farm, where we found silk long underwear, windproof gloves, and toasty socks. We ate lunch at P.F. Chang's in Maple Grove, which is an up-and-coming suburb of Minneapolis. I like to call it The Sea of Consumerism, because it resembles a vast ocean of nearly any chain store you'd ever want to visit. We spent another hour gaping at everything in REI. I bought a laptop backpack, cause I don't know how we're going to fit all of our stuff in those saddle bags. Also I got a little compass zipper pull, because I know my propensity for disorientation. And if I can get lost in a city, surrounded by landmarks, who knows what could happen in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin! Cory bought some walkie-talkie thingers that have voice-activated headsets that we can wear under our helmets. We haven't tested them out yet. I assume they will be useful, my love of laconic scooting notwithstanding.

I have to say, if 5 years ago someone told me I would be riding on the back of a motorcycle wearing a white, full-face helmet and an armored riding jacket which coordinated with the jacket of the big shaved-head dude in front of me who was driving said motorcycle, I never would have believed them. It's that little phrase "76 miles per gallon" that really changed my mind. I've never hated motorcycles; I never had much reason to form an opinion. Most of the time I don't mind riding on one. If the weather's nice, and we're just scooting around town, I genuinely enjoy it. Sometimes it really freaks me out. If it weren't for the fuel efficiency, I would never buy one. I like being able to listen to a radio, roll up a window, turn up heat or A/C, and throw things over my shoulder into a backseat.

The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, but then rainy Sunday and most likely Monday as well, so I'm not sure when we'll be heading home. Tomorrow we are going to the Twin Cities Dachshund Lovers Group's costume party. Even though our doggies are at home, it is still fun to see little wiener dogs in costumes. Then hopefully to see a movie; there are many films showing here that I would like to see! Also, Camp Darfur will be at the capitol building in St. Paul tomorrow, so maybe there will be time to go there too.

Mills Fleet Farm is a retail chain of 30 large stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. The company was founded in 1955 by the Mills family, who still owns the business.

The stores sell hunting and fishing equipment, appliances, housewares, automotive goods, apparel, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, paint, pet supplies, sporting goods, tools, and farm supplies.

Their motto is variously stated to be "The Man's Mall," "Supplies For Life," "Fleet Boutique" or "If Fleet Farm Doesn't Have It, You Don't Need It."