First Ride in 50+ years: 2023 Update

[yoothgeye]

Food looks great.

Pretty sure that BMX bike is actually a trials bike based on the fat tires, heavy duty fork and low gearing.

 

[jerrykr]

mmmm, burgers, bikes, and malts!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Hey Two Spot, Glad you like the pics and they trigger some nostalgia for you
Don't blame you for leaving the winters behind, especially for health reasons
St Paul Boy eh? Me too, I was born and raised in Como Park
I converted to a Mpls fan when I got bar-going age
and the best music venues where in Mpls (back in the day...)

Thanks for the info on that BMX bike Justin
Yeah the tires was really meaty
It said "Motul" on the frame and "... Trial" on the HD fork (?)

Yeah Jerry, Mmmmm!

It had been cloudy and windy most of the week before
So I picked up FIL a little earlier to check out the Mpls Lake chain
And try a new burger place over there

I really miss the beauty of the lakes (near Uptown where I used to live)
Lake Harriet had some ice on the south end
but on the northside, with the wind, it was still open. Awesome sunset

FIL came down to the shore with me and hung out but he was kinda cold

Drove just a bit north to south end of Lake Calhoun
FIL sat this one out while I was trying to get the ice and the sky lighting up
He usually people-watches while I'm goofing around
And we saw several dozen people walking, running, riding

Went around Calhoun and up to Lake of the Isles
FIL looked comfy in the warm car and heated seat, so I said I'd be back in a minute
Lake of the Isle had a full thin film of ice across it and looked great

Then it got dark and we were getting hungry
We went a few block to Burger Jones, for the first time
It was okay but we didn't take advantage of the many burger extras
The space was nice but not not really as fun

At the end of the meal FIL went to the restroom
I kinda kept an eye out for him so he would know where I was
It's a smaller restaurant but he still got confused when he was done
Wanted to give him some space so not to guess that he couldn't
But went over and got him so he wouldn't be wondering

No Malt (just forgot?!) so FIL asked about DQ (like he needed that excuse LOL)
We stopped by DQ but now it's closed for the season
Went and got some chocolate chip cookies instead


Think we both had a good time
Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[jerrykr]

DQ closed for the season???? what the? NOTHING closes for the season here, except the water parks! BTW: what is that white looking stuff?

 

[MplsCoaster]

Yeah Jerry, most DQs close for the season, Indoor water parks get crazy busy...
Business may fall off a bit for ice cream when it freezing out side LOL
Think you're getting some of that white stuff too now aren't ya?

I can't see where the new format has titles for the individual posts
So here is "Diner and DQ"

Last Sunday it was pretty cold so I didn't have the motivation to go too many places
So I took FIL to a old style diner called "Mickey's"
The original (not this one) is a old train car in the heart of St. Paul
http://www.mickeysdiningcar.com/

This Mickey's diner is easier to park and a little closer
But still has some of that old school feel to it

We ordered Burgers, of course and we had fun people watching
The poor fry cook didn't have a waitress so he was doing it all himself
Luckily we got in before the dinner rush
The food was good quality and the baked beans were really good Mmmm

To diverge, the week before my wife was out of town
so I was feeding FIL supper during the week
The first 3 days he said, "So now we're going to DQ"
Then I'd say "Not tonight and anyway they are closed now"
First, he really thinks of me as the "DQ Guy" LOL
Second, his mind starts working the angle..
FIL says" So aren't there some DQs that serve it inside?" (innocently)
I had to give in and say "There is that one in Highland Park
but we still weren't going during the week"
Surprising how he happens to remember that particular fact LOL

So,after the diner, I took him to the Highland Park DQ and he was very happy

Tomorrow we have his family's side Christmas Get Together
I'll see if I can get a few good shots with my wife's smart phone
My beater camera finally died after years of abuse
and I'm waiting for my early Christmas present from my wife

Thanks for Looking
Steve

 

[aka_locojoe]

The evening lake shots are nice.
Looks like a cool little diner. Does DQ offer rewards points or something? I think you and FIL should have earned some freebies by now

 

[jerrykr]

Yeah, we got some white stuff this weekend, but not the good kind (snow) - 2-3 inches of sleet and ice at my house.
The whole DFW metro-mess is still in a deep freeze. Lots of people without power and gridlock on I-35 north of here.
We are not used to this or really prepared for it, but this weather event is over the top.

Only damage I got was my patio umbrella. I tried to let it down, but it was already too heavy when I got home after work.



My Miata probably won't thaw out for a week. Two days later and it still has this ice on it.



We got cabin fever yesterday and went for a walk. Ice was crunchy, but not bad.



Our walk today was much slicker, as the surface re-froze and was no longer granular.

Fun!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Thanks Randy glad you like them I think they were kinda lost on FIL LOL
I should check in to a senior discount or even better "senior bonus size" LOL

Jerry, it sure looks like a mess, Yeah that's not the fun stuff
Looks like you're making "lemonade out of lemons" though
Great shots and video of the mayhem, thanks for sharing


So it was FIL and FILB (FIL's Brother) family Christmas last Sunday (8Dec13)
Sorry about the OOF shots, I wasn't so good with my wife's smart phone
but I appreciate her letting me use it, Thanks Honey!


We had it at FILB's place and everybody brought lots of really good food
They have a tradition of playing a gift game:
roll doubles and get to switch the kinda generic gifts people brought
I decided to be the photographer
[

FIL got this gift and had a super funny face figuring out what it was LOL

It was an LED automatic night light
He kept throwing doubles so he ended up geting a big can of mixed nuts
So he won't trade or get it back right away
Once he rolled doubles, he gets up walks around and then just sits back down without trading as a joke on everybody and we all laughed


There was lots of sweets which everybody (especially FIL and me) enjoyed
Then they played another game with quarters and right, left, and center dice (?)
Turns out after 3 rounds, FIL takes home the pot
Bet he was thinking about how many DQs he could buy with it LOL

FILB (FIL's Brother) wasn't quite his his jovial self and we learned later he is going in to surgery tomorrow (Mon 16Dec) so maybe you can keep him in your thoughts
I'll update when I can


Today (Sun15Dec) FIL's other daughter, grandaugther, and 2 great grand kids are in town
So we're going to have a pizza party. Great to have J (JerimahIsRad) back in town
And we'll get together, talk bikes, and maybe work on some stuff too

Thanks for Looking
Steve

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Nice pics, Steve!

 

[Onewheelsqueel]

Best of luck with filbs surgery.

Great reading.

 

[pick]

Best of luck with filbs surgery.

Great reading.

+1

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

I didn't know you have a first generation Miata. I had a '96 for four years. Liked it very much. In some ways more than the '07 Mustang convertible I replaced it with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MplsCoaster]

Thanks Schwinnray, glad you like them
Thanks Kevin and Pick
FILB is doing better now and we plan to see him again soon

IIFISFM Miatas are a lot of fun
Hopefully Jerry gets his out of the snow soon
Had a red 96 and had a blast with it

Been having the Christmas gatherings lately
My wife's family came in from Oregon
FIL seemed glad to see them
It was great to talk about bikes with Jerimiah(IsRad) and he showed me the video games he's been doing (they're pretty cool)

Think FIL went into overload once in a while with all the mayhem
Especially during the football game
He was smiling as soon as someone mentioned cake and ice cream

FIl and me took a break today after a week of visitors
We'll be hanging out this week some more

Hope everybody has a great Christmas!!
And hopefully get out biking

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[jerrykr]

nice set of family pictures. Merry Christmas Steve, to you and all of the family!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Thanks Jerry! I like your New Year Video celebration too (including dog LOL)

We've been taking a bit of a break with the holidays.

We had fun putting Little Guy's Legos together and had a good meal for Christmas.

I also started playing "Kings Corners" with FIL because it's based on Solitaire (which he plays a lot).
It's good having something a little different to do together.

We've had to take a break for the bitterly cold weather
Last Sunday it went was below zero (Saturday 46F then -8F in 8 hours ?!) so we didn't go anywhere

Today (Sunday 5Jan14) it's -10F with a -30F wind chill.
We need to (unfortunately) just stay inside and ride it out.
Tomorrow morning we are supposed to break records with -26F with -52F wind chill, Arghhh!

It's also supposed to warm up by next weekend so we'll start doing some stuff again.
At least it's really sunny and the days are getting longer!

Happy New Year!
Thanks for looking, stay warm
Steve

 

[kingfish254]

Happy New Year! Glad that FILB is doing well and that FIL is so good at playing Quarters

 

[RAK]

Reading this thread from start to today prompted me to join this forum. I am so impressed with how you care for your FIL.

 

[jerrykr]

Stay warm up there. We played RLC at Thanksgiving. Fun to have a game that even the little kids can understand.

 

[ODDER]

Reading this thread from start to today prompted me to join this forum. I am so impressed with how you care for your FIL.

I lurk this thread too.
Steve, You are a great guy. I miss MN, until this time of year.

 

[Skipton]

Just got caught up on this thread Steve.
Looks like you guys are having a good time together.

Here in Chicago the Super Cold just got here.The HIGH for Monday is NEGATIVE 12 WITH 25 TO 30 mph winds

Keep up the great work.... and stay warm!