10,000 Lakes

Actually, Minnesota has about 12,000 lakes, according to a quiz I took during my visit there this weekend. Tomorrow, thoughts on the new Kerry-Edwards ticket. For now, other highlights of the vacation:
* Treated Brad to a taste of Norske Nook
* Breakfasted with Jane, walked around Lake Harriet with Jane and Erin, saw Erin's cool new apartment, and met Erin's mother
* Canoed on Lake of the Isles
* Ate at Chiang Mai Thai
* Found used, and therefore purchased, two Booker Prize winners: The Sea, The Sea and Disgrace
* Spent equal numbers of hours convinced Kerry's VP pick would be Gephardt, Vilsack, Edwards, and someone out of the blue; discussed these convictions with others of similar political persuasion
* Enjoyed Minneapolis fireworks, during which gay and lesbian campaign slogans against President Bush were discussed; see below
* Saw Spider-Man 2
* Dined at the sumptuous table of Paul Tuite, Marilee's fiance, whose kitchen qualifies as a shrine of good cooking
* Had the good sense to listen to Paul Allen and buy CDs from Gavin DeGraw and Olympic Hopefuls
* Had more conversation with Brad in two car rides than we usually find time for in a month
* Saw Minneapolis light rail with my own eyes
* Enjoyed remarkable hospitality all weekend long

And a few lowlights:
* Sat next to people who shouted at the screen during Spider-Man 2
* Drove through intense storms which, paired with road construction in Wisconsin, extended both drives by at least an hour
* Extended streak of falling ill while vacationing, returning to Illinois with a sore throat, obnoxious headache, and general fatigue

As for the campaign slogans, I'm told the lesbian community is rallying around the phrase "Lick Bush," while the gay male community is preparing to "Say No to Bush." (The suggestion was made that these phrases would work just as well with Dick Cheney's first name, though clearly the gender roles would be reversed.) Looks like campaigning against the president will come pretty easy for the gay folk this year...