Here are a few of the photos I snapped on Saturday, August 22nd, opening day of the 2009 Minnesota Renaissance Festival season. It was so much fun having a nice camera at Fest this year!! If I shoot more photos another day I’ll have to try to find something to enter in the unofficial “Phodo” contest they’re throwing on Facebook. *grin*

I got to do the most amazing thing last night! Totally Northern Tribal, a tribal group improv style belly dance troupe, had their first night of open rehearsal! The ladies I got to meet were all SO friendly and welcoming, I can’t wait to go back next week. The group improv style is fascinating. It’s like learning a new language! One dancer leads the others through a series of cues and they move as a cohesive unit. I think I prefer it to choreography because it allows for so much freedom. Once you know the cues and steps, you can dance to anything!

I’m a rather kinesthetic person, so it’s ridiculously nice to have an outlet for my energy. I’m so glad I gave belly dance a shot, and that my bestest girl friend Mara went along with me in the beginning to help get me started. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done and I hope I can make it a part of my life for a looooong time!

Minneapolis is just gorgeous. Isn’t it?

I nearly lived by Loring Park when I first moved up here almost 9 years ago, but I ended up in the suburbs instead… *sigh*

Also? I’d really like a DSLR. A Nikon D60 (with a 35mm f/1.8G AF-S lens) would be just fine, and it’d only cost about… $700..? *doublesigh*

So, I joined the 2009 Commuter Challenge at work on Saturday. I didn’t join last year, or the year before, etc. because I already bike to work 95% of the time, when there’s no snow anyway. Basically, I already do it, so why sign a piece of paper? But, this year… this year I didn’t get to say “No, thanks” to the 40yr old woman. Nope. Instead, I was faced with that woman’s 10yr old daughter, so I ended up caving with an “Ok, why not” instead.  That’s a cheap stunt right there – getting the young generation to guilt ya, heh. *chuckle*

As much as I’d dig winning a prize, I’ll feel a little guilty if I do, since I’m not actually changing my (already decent) transportation habits, and the whole point is to get people thinking of ways they can change their habits, right?

We did a bunch of apartment hunting today. The place we were really looking forward to seeing ended up being more expensive than we hoped it would be. On their website they mentioned “one free month”, but they won’t pro-rate that savings over the length of the lease. Also, they only have one laundry room and it’s waaaaay too far from the available apartments. So yeah, it’s pretty much out of the running despite it’s gorgeous location and all the “extras” it offered.

We looked at two additional places that ended up being much higher on our “maybe” list. One is walking distance to my work, which is amazing for me, but it has very few amenities and is a little bit small at 950sqft. However, the price is right… only $900/month with heat included.

The other? It’s about 3 miles farther away from my work, when compared to where we live now, which might make biking less appealing. It’d likely turn my 20-25min ride into more of a 45min ride. It’d be fantastic exercise, but it’d also leave me a sweaty mess upon arrival. If I decide to take the bus instead, it’d be difficult for me to get home on the weekends without rearranging my work schedule. But, it’s larger, at 1000sqft, and has a washer and dryer in-unit. And an indoor pool, fitness room, and underground parking. However, it’s also $978/month, and you have to pay for your own gas/heat.

I dunno. Maybe I overestimate the effect of the price difference, especially considering the more expensive option is 3 miles closer to work for Jon, which means less gasoline. And we wouldn’t be using quarters for laundry, which would be nice. I can’t help but wonder though, will I get enough value out of the amenities to make up for the extra long commute? I’m not sure I would. *sigh* It’s tough though, because I know how much Jon would love to live there.

I wish this was easier!