What I Did On My Spring Break Vacation

I had a few days off for my Spring Break, so I took two off from work and went down to Minneapolis to visit Mom & Dad, and whomever else was available. Arriving Friday afternoon, we decided to go for pizza lunch and met up with my son too, which was very nice. He's lost some weight, sporting a new haircut, and looked really good. He gives the best hugs! I swear!
For lunch we had Davanni's (in Golden Valley), featuring my favourite: a traditional white veggie pizza plus spinach! Mmmm, oh the garlic and cheese!

Tried to sort playing some volleyball for the evening, but my friend Steph was busy with her friends, and as it turned out my family wanted to keep me to themselves as well. Sweet really. I haven't been down to visit since Thanksgiving, so having family time was top of the list. I was maybe to meet another online friend, but it was to be during the day at the same time we met with my son, and he had no other time to meet at all due to having his kids for the weekend. Such is life. Maybe one day, maybe not. *shrugs*

Anyway, we visited, shopped, worked on my dad's computer, did homework (like that was a priority) and just relaxed really. It wasn't the most exciting time, but it was O.K. overall. Nice to get away, and just be around "offline" people. My people.

Today my bro and his wife came over and we took mom and went to lunch to El Loro, an excellent authentic Mexican restaurant in Crystal. My sis-in-law had her favourite - tamales with beans, I had the pollo enchiladas verde (3 of them!), my brother had the enchilada's mole, my mom had a soft chimichanga hold the cheese - our three dishes came with some very delicious rice. The cheese was brought out as a side in a dipping dish. Warm, flavourful melted cheese. We could have sworn it was something else, like a queso dip, it was that creamy smooth. Yum!

Afterwards, we walked around the corner and visited Panaderia La Loma - A Mexican Bakery

Around to the right, they've also opened a grocery, filled with many Mexican, Latin and South American goodies, as well as a meat market and fresh veggies.Later, we went to pick up an order I placed for my daughter for Chow Mein from Jin's around the corner. My ex's parents got us into Jins, and we've never tried anything but the chow mein, it's just that good.

I wish we had more places like those here in Dull-uth. We have Mexico Lindo in Cloquet, soon to be opening a second franchise here in the Fitger's complex. I can't wait as their food is DELISH and a million times better than any local Mexican fare. (including the former Chi-Chi's, Baja Billy's, or Hacienda, and FOR SURE a gazillion times better than the Maya and their frozen food turd goods. Another reason I wished I lived in Mpls. or somewhere with many authentic and cultural restaurants, and groceries. I love it all.

After I returning back to Duluth, I delivered some of the treats I had brought for a friend, and then went home to unload the car of all the goodies. Then I had to have a taste of the cream cheese and jalapeno filled roll from Loma's. OMG it was sooo good I wished I had purchased more. The bread inside was so soft, flavourful and fresh, and the cream cheese had jalapenos and other veggies - muy bueno!Mom and Dad also sent home some of Rainbow's fresh Asagio Cheese and Jalapeno Bagels OMG!OMG!OMG! See how the cheese is there filling in the bottom (I couldn't resist picking it out of the other one.) Mmmmm cheese!