Wait. Let me put my arms down.

Dear 27,
Family in town always makes a weekend more fun.

Drake football (big win, much to my guests' dismay), wowing the Palmers with the Farmer's Market and many toasts to my city. Thanks for making the trip fam.
xo-LP

Most of what was said was simply unfit for print.

Dear 27,

I'm not sure I'm a scotch fan. I love butterscotch sundaes from Dairy Queen. I have played hopscotch (a truly pointless game). But this week I sample the real stuff. Scotch that cost more than most of the shoes I own. And wore plaid.

Thanks to Tim, about 10 of us gathered for a what seemed to be a semi-formal scotch tasting. There was a circle of people in jackets, some tweed, there were glass tumblers, there were Anchorman references and a map of Scotland. It was certainly the best, and only, scotch tasting I've even been to.

Here's the details on the spirits:

 *   Auchenstoshan "three wood" - $57.49. From the Lowlands region. 

 *   Craggenmore 12-year "distiller's edition" - $80. From Speyside.
 *   Highland Park 18 year - $95. Highlands region. 

There was lots of talk of the "finish," the "nose" of the scotch, what water does to open up the flavor and whether or not the scotch was chewy. I definitely learned a lot. And made a few new friends-- in part due to my homemade breadsticks.

My favorite scotch of the night was the Auchentoshan. It had more of a bourbon flavor (with something like toffee notes, a caramel color and a long finish...or however the official tasters would describe it.)

Great Scotch-- it was a fun night.

Looking forward to the second ISLAY club night. This time I'll drink more water.

xo-LP

Wildcat Den!

Dear 27,
Four days in Tampa with the family made for one terrific vacation. The Bilmar Beach Resort gave us beautiful sunsets, unbeatable happy hour specials and the perfect place for an O'Connor family reunion. Congrats to Carrie and Drew! The weekend was memorable in the best way.

We lounged by the pool, laughed a whole bunch and even managed to witness (or if you're Jenny or Denny participated in) some karaoke. Wildcat Den, Mim and the Bomber Sisters were a hit-- miss you all already.

 

 Home from Tampa and onto Minneapolis. 

xo-LP

The Florida sun will be a change of pace.

Dear 27,
Last week I was in San Diego...now I'm Tampa bound.

A little airport time and soon will meet up with the whole fam at TPA.

xo-LP

The first step to overcoming the addiction.

Dear 27,
During the three months without a functioning television last year I read all the time. There was not much else to do, but I also found myself enjoying the distraction-free living. And then, Netflix happened. Netflix on demand has changed my life. I can watch TV and movies at all hours of the day, whenever I want, from my bed, my kitchen, or a booth at Smokey Row.

I find myself watching some of the worst movies and shows I've ever seen: sucked in by their on-demand-ness. And now, I'm looking at my list and, as many have pointed out, I'm only three books into that 27 goal with a short six months left.

What books can you suggest that are quick and interesting reads?

I'm Laura. And I'm a Netflix on demand addict.
xo-LP

Hey good lookin'.

Dear 27,
After a long day of catching up at the office, I ran home to grab tongs, a paring knife, a chef's knife, a dish towel, a dish cloth, a vegetable peeler and $12 before heading over to Hoover High School.

Karen, Laura, Emily and I hovered over stoves in the home-ec room with about 8 other ladies (most of whom were old enough to be our mothers) channeling our inner Paula Deen. Class began with a fried chicken tutorial that used, without exaggeration, 48 ounces of Crisco and ended with a Southern Cooking buffet made by the four of us and our fall-themed sweater wearing classmates. 

A full plate of fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens (that were cooked in a pot with a ham hock), macaroni and cheese, grits, fried cabbage and creamed corn and peach cobbler. Really I think I ate my weight in southern style goodness.

So the corn burned a bit to the bottom of the pan and was really salty...people still ate and enjoyed it. I made sure to use extra butter on everything, bring an apron and say y'all at least once. Thanks Laura, Karen and Emily for joining me on this high caloric evening.
I'm still full. And smell like fried Crisco.
xo-LP

Just google "Des Moines Adventures"

Dear 27,
After not running a 5k on Sunday, I was not tired. I was a little sun burned (damn you fair freckled cheeks), but that didn't stop me from visiting a few new places in DSM.

After much deliberation, many menu items at the Rock Bottom Brewery and even a call to a place in Indianola that offers hot air balloon rides on Sundays, we settled on venturing to the northeast side.
The Brass Armadillo is a magical place.

Filled to the brim with "antiques" (Gothika on DVD is not, nor ever will it be an antique, hence the quotation marks. Some things didn't really qualify), the B.A. is the size of a small village and could furnish each one of the apartments at 3000 Grand, maybe. Vendors empty the contents of their basements, like literally everything they have that may or may not be of value to someone else, into booths that hold everything from baby mannequin heads to old-school-sleds. Anthony, Craig and I browsed up and down the aisles finding all kinds of treasures. I came home with this little postcard (and a bunch of sneezing).

The next few weeks are full of travel and adventures. Including tonight. Where I'll get cookin.

xo-LP

No packet pick up on race day.

Dear 27,

After a long trek back from CA, I was gearing up for the secret 5k Jenni and I have been "training" for. Yes. Training. I was, as some of you know, a runner at one point in life, but years have passed since Washburn and we decided in the spirit of my list of 27 things we'd add a bonus 5k!

Here's what we learned Sunday at the Des Moines Marathon (which included the 3 mile race as well):

1. It's cold in Iowa on October mornings.
2. The marathon makes your feet hurt.
3. 9 year old boys and 62 year old women run faster than you.
4. More cowbell is a good idea.
5. You and Jenni will always dress alike even at 7am.
6. Johnny's, no matter how hard you try, will not open until 11 on Sundays.
7. Hand holding, fist pumping and pointing to the sky will get the crowd revved up as you cross the finish line.
8. You're not allowed to run without a bib number. And oh yes, bib numbers have to be picked up before the race day. Like on Friday. Or even Saturday. But not Sunday morning.

We were surprisingly bummed, but not sad enough to run the race "just for fun" and not for time. We had a great day of cheering on the many runners (congrats to my friends who ran the races-- 13 miles is a big time accomplishment!)

Looks like we'll have to give this 5k another go...
xo-LP

It was all a dream.

Dear 27,
It was one hell of a party that exceeded even my highest expectations. 299 people. Bad Dreamin' at the Des Moines Art Center. I guided tours through an incredible exhibit that I had one point five hours to learn about...and don't think I was that bad at it.

 Thanks JUICE. You're awesome. All of you. As people. And as party promoters. And as attendees.
You're awesome. Just absolutely awesome. (how was that? too much? or accurate? Edited. By an editor.)

I was so lucky to have so many of my friends shell out the cash, get all dolled up and come to the ball.
Thanks a bunch friends-- You're more awesome than Juice.
There might be too many uses of the word "awesome" in this post, but really, that's the only adjective I can come up with right now. Big time awesome, indeed.
xo-LP

"So you just rode a roller coaster (by yourself?) in the middle of the work day in California."*

Dear 27,
I've seen a whole bunch of cool people and places since arriving in San Diego.
I met for coffee in the art deco San Diego county building where I saw 4 couples getting married, a woman dressed like a monk, 3 people I assumed were paying parking tickets and lots of tile.

Phil and Skyla introduced me to Craft & Commerce where I tried the Hell's Kitchen and noshed on Devils on Horseback. I didn't mean to pick things associated with satan. It just happened that way. (Thank you P and S for finding such a classy spot for me to drink Rye and get to know you both!)

Met up with John and talked Phonathon over tacos at Ranchos.

 

Cruised Ocean Beach and found noon. The shop gal was delightful and I couldn't resist picking up a pair of handmade earrings. The girls of noon have specialty paper goods and lots of jewelry to choose from.

I browsed COW and thumbed through records and posters.

But the highlight of the trip was Belmont Park.

I paid my $6 for a roller coaster ride. The Giant Dipper in all its rickety splendor. One minute and forty five seconds of whirling around turns. I could see the ocean the entire time I wasn't closing my eyes. It was thrilling. And I almost rode it again. Because it was that much fun.
xo-LP

* Blog title quote thanks to the venerable Tim Paluch.