Minnesota -- Mall of America, A Visit to G&K Services, Movies

The next two days were rainy and humid, so they were great days to spend in the ginormous Mall of America. Here are some interesting facts I learned about the Mall of America:

• .57 miles is the walking distance around one level of the Mall.
• $650+ million cost to build the Mall of America.

• 4.3 miles of total store front footage.
• 7 Yankee stadiums can fit inside Mall of America.
• 32 Boeing 747s could fit inside the Mall.
• 258 Statue of Liberties could lie inside the Mall.
• 520+ stores are located in the Mall.

• 25 rides and attractions in Nickelodeon Universe located in the center of the Mall.

 

I brought my own lunch to eat at the Mall.

Doesn't my food look yummy?!?

During my long walks all around the Mall of America, I noticed there were very few vacant store fronts. I came upon this construction wall partition and noticed a floor mat stuck under the partition.

Knowing Glen's involvement in mats of this sort with his company, I thought to myself that it would be very difficult for the company supplying the mats to change that mat out. The wall was heavy and there would be no removing that mat until the wall came down.

Then I looked closer... It was a GK mat!! Glen's company services the Mall of America! I sent him a picture of this debacle and asked how in the world his company was going to deal with this! Funny stuff!!

The first Mall day Glen got dropped off at the Mall after work and we had dinner there at Cadillac Ranch.

 Glen looks like Fred Flintstone with his rack of ribs.

Here is Glen's dessert.

Before arriving at the Mall on my second Mall of America day, I went to visit Glen at work and met his team members.

This is the view from our hotel room--the Marriott Hotel Glen stays at every week--which looks down on the G&K Services building. He literally walks next door to work. He doesn't even have to cross a street to get to work. It's crazy convenient for him, and for me the day I was invited over for a visit.

As I was visiting with Glen's co-workers, I wanted so badly to take a picture of them in the conference room where they work. But, I figured there were some top secret things written on the boards all around them and I probably shouldn't be posting that on the blog. Afterward Glen said I could have taken a picture in there. Shucks!! I should have asked!

I decided to watch a movie when I got to the Mall that day.

It was a pretty good movie that kept my interest (or should I say that kept me awake). I forgot to mention Glen and I saw this movie on the weekend. It was really good.

Dinner that evening was at Champps.

Our trip to Minnesota was coming to an end...

Quotes of the Week

"We are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given life. And it's up to you to make it good or bad." 

 -- Ward Foley 

"Work for a cause, not for applause. Live your life to express, not to impress, don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt."  

-- Author Unknown

"Too often, we carry around those things from our past that hurt us the most. Don't let past pain rob you of your present happiness. You had to live through it in the past, and that cannot be changed, but if the only place it lives today is in your mind, then forgive, let go, and be free." 

 -- Doe Zantamata 

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

I knew the day was finally going to come when Glen would have to go back to work and I would be on my own. One of his team members suggested the Arboretum and I liked the idea.

There were lots of trails with many different kinds of plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. Everything was labeled. Thankfully all the trails were labeled as well and with my trusty map, I didn't have to worry about getting lost in the woods.

Sometimes I felt totally alone on that vast property. Outside enjoying nature. Just me...and nature.

In the areas closer to the visitor center I didn't feel so isolated. I had to view this area from a distance because the workers were paving the walkways.

I found the Sculpture Garden up on Memorial Grove High Point.

Everything was so pleasing to the eye. I love the placement of the trees and bushes that provide such a variety of colors for the eye to behold. I noticed the leaves were starting to change colors.

In the hedge area, there was a maze garden.  

This is water. The whole forefront of the picture is water covered with a bright green film of something occurring in nature.

I saw a waterfall.

Artist Craig Mitchell Smith had his "Nature in Glass" creations on exhibit all throughout the Aboretum. There were 32 of them placed strategically to enhance the natural scenery around them.

He sold some of his glass work in the gift shop. A small glass angel ornament sells for $75. A 12-inch glass flower has a price tag over $300. Just imagine how much each one of his sculptures costs.

The birds are fake--made out of glass.

The hosta glade was my absolute most favorite part of the whole Arboretum. That is where the shade-tolerant, ornamental foliage plants were growing. I sat on a bench for a long time in that area just admiring the beauty. 

I definitely didn't think it needed the fake green-leaf glass sculpture (sitting on the pedestal in the right-hand corner of the photo) to enhance the scenery.

More of the hosta glade with the fall leaves making their appearance.

No fake glass flowers in this scene. I loved the beauty of this hanging flower display in front of the lattice fencing.

Out in front of the visitor center there were more glass creations on display.

Even though I had enjoyed my day immensely all by myself, I was super happy when Glen finished work and we could be together again. Here is my delicious dinner at Good Earth.

After dinner we took a walk on the pathways that wound all around and behind the hotel. We came upon this little lake or pond. Excuse my photographer who once again got his hand in the picture.

We found more water. It was so beautiful as it got later in the day and we could see the moon in the sky.

We walked around what felt like forever trying to find our way back to the hotel. This was a beautiful sight to behold when we finally spotted it and were able to make our way back.

What another beautiful day in Minneapolis. Loved it!!!