On June 1st restaurants in Minnesota were allowed to reopen, although with restrictions.  Outdoor seating only can be used, and capacity is limited to a maximum of 50 people. I made a reservation for my wife and I, along with two of our friends to eat at our favorite restaurant.  It was a warm evening, and the sun was directly in my line of sight, but I didn’t care.  It was nice to be out, and feel a little bit more normal. I didn’t even mind the bill, since it had been so long since we’d had a full meal […] Read more »

Today is my daughter’s high school graduation day. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she will not be having the traditional graduation ceremony.  Her school is holding a “drive up” ceremony in which each family (one car per family) drives through the school parking lot.  When a car reaches the front of the school, the graduate gets out, walks up on a stage and receives their diploma.  They then walk off the stage where a photographer will take their picture next to a stone panther (the school mascot) before the graduate gets back in their car. Given the restrictions our state […] Read more »

Memorial Day weekend is when my wife and I throw a party in celebration of the start of summer.  It started as a house warming party for our first house with a few family members and has grown to last year’s event attended by over 180 people. This year would have been the 24th consecutive year.  Then along came a little thing we call COVID-19.  We’ll be saving money by not have a huge party, but honestly…..I’d rather have the party. At least we can fist pump for my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump […] Read more »

My wife and I ate at our favorite restaurant tonight!  Well, not really.  Restaurants are looking to re-open dining rooms on 6/1 in Minnesota but as of right now they are still closed. BUT, our favorite restaurant is selling grilling packs.  Tonight we bought one that included 8 gourmet burger patties, buns, bacon, cheese and a special garlic mayo.  I grilled the burgers, toasted the buns and my family put on the fixings they wanted.  It was delicious, and a little taste of normal. Fist pump for normal, and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist […] Read more »

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and due to the stay at home order from my governor, I won’t be seeing my mother.  At least not in person.  I’m hoping to at least talk to her, if not use Skype to talk to her (and my dad). Locally, our cul-de-sac is having a “Social Distance” brunch.  Everyone is making something and putting it at the end of their driveway.  I’m making omelets on my gas powered griddle.  Then, we can all walk separately around the cul-de-sac and pick up food to eat.  We’ll then all sit in chairs at the end […] Read more »

Rumors are swirling the closure of a large pork processing plant in South Dakota may make pork products harder to find in the near future.  I don’t personally think that’s gonna happen but it did spark an idea of what I wanted to do during another weekend  quarantined at home. I’ve got four pork shoulders and seven racks of ribs I’ll be throwing on the smoker.  Pork shoulder for pulled pork on Saturday, ribs on Sunday. It’ll be good practice honing my smoking skills and it will make many, many meals I’ll vacuum seal and put in the freezer for […] Read more »

I’ve now been working from home for 8,432 weeks. Ok, it just seems like it. I am grateful to have a job I am able to do from home, but cabin fever is setting in. One thing that is helping me keep sane is the ability to also workout at home. Included in my occasional trips to Walmart is a trip to the sporting goods section in search of workout equipment. They get a small number of items in sporadically.  Over time I’ve been able to collect a weight bench and rack, a weight tree, a curl bar, a straight […] Read more »

Happy Friday, EOD Nation!  I know it’s hard to differentiate between days at this point. At least it is for me. The governor or Minnesota has extended the Stay At Home order until May 4th. I’m staying sane by working out using the home gym equipment I purchased, firing up my grill and smokers (I’ve got brisket and pork shoulder on as I’m writing this) and resurrecting old PlayStation 2 games.  What are you doing to keep your mind off being quarantined? Fist pump for staying sane AND my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump […] Read more »

Two weeks ago I started working from home as my employer suggested we do so on  a voluntary basis.  Last week working from home became mandatory for the foreseeable future. I could complain about how the days run together, and how I’ve been spending the bulk of my time sitting at my kitchen table with my laptop and giant secondary monitor I retrieved from my office.  But, the truth is I’m grateful.  I’m thankful that I have a job I can do from home, and that I have a home in which I can stay safe with only occasional trips […] Read more »

I’m a week into working from home mode.  I leave the house to get my wife to and from work (as a paraprofessional for the school district she is currently providing child care for essential emergency workers), and to go to the grocery store.  That’s it.  There are rumors the governor of Minnesota will eventually declare a state of shelter in place.  That wouldn’t change my life at all at this point.  So far things are going alright, at least I don’t have to hurry to take a shower in the morning! Fist pump for working in jammies and my […] Read more »

The Coronavirus hysteria has reached my employer.  I received an email from my employer late yesterday afternoon recommending those who can work from home should seriously consider doing so. Therefore, starting today I’m working from home until further notice. I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things and found the shelves very empty.  Not just the toilet paper aisle, almost everything. I just wish it was nice enough outside for me to sit on my deck and work. Fist pump for working from home and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist […] Read more »

Welcome to another weekend, EOD Nation. I like to save money as much as the next guy, but I have no problem spending money on worthwhile activities and experiences. For example, this weekend I’m headed to a Food and Wine Expo where I wonder around a large facility sampling wines from across the country as well as food from restaurants in the area. Not only is it a fun filled 5 hours, but it also exposes me to different food and wines I may want to buy later for enjoyment at other gatherings.  The face value of the ticket is […] Read more »