May Day meets Cinco de Mayo

Baby woke me up early kicking me so I got up and made oatmeal for breakfast. 

I usually have to wake up Scott so he can take my picture. 

Poor Scott has had to listen to me whine all week about how much the baby moves. Some days I don't think it sleeps at all. 

I like how people are still surprised she's pregnant. Clearly she's with squirrel.

We had to get going to the May Day parade right away. I was feeling hungry again so I made a smoothie to go. 

We always pick the same spot every year where it's not as packed so we can sit down. This year I didn't think I'd be able to sit on the curb so we had to bring chairs. 

Eventually this girl and her family sat next to us. It was her birthday. Apparently that gives you carte blanche to interrupt an entire parade.

It seems they made a lot of puppets for the parade that wouldn't show up in the actual show. I guess the bear puppet was never in the play either. Thus the dog puppet wouldn't make the cut.

Hula hoops seem to be having a renaissance. Next thing we'll see people other than bros and Carlson School students (which are mutually exclusive) rollerblading. 

We figured these guys would have been in the ceremony later, but they weren't.

I guess some crusty punks (or is it crust punk?) felt left out of the super bike machine (see below).

The kids next to us got excited every time saying, "Las Atzecas are coming!"

And then there was this kid, riding on his own! Two training wheels in tow, he couldn't be stopped.

Santa wouldn't have looked out of a place a few days earlier.

Once it starts getting into the political part of the parade we head over to Powderhorn Park.

There are always interesting happenings along the parade route. 

I always laugh at the cars that don't realize that there's a parade going on.

Instead of getting overpriced food truck fair at the park we stopped at Taco Taxi on the way. Kind of fitting as it's also Cinco de Mayo. 

Dear, Taco Taxi. You need to clean your windows. 

We got the perfect spot to see the ceremony this year.

Unfortunately Mr. Giraffe couldn't find his friends.

The show took forever to start. So I peered through my zoom lens across the pond.

All ready, but still no show.

Finally the show started.

During the performance people kept filling down the aisles. This security guard was getting peeved. They usually have puppeteers run down the aisles, but there weren't any this year. So, I guess this wasn't a problem. It was just annoying.

I have to admit the ceremony this year wasn't as good as other years.

In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, will you please stop adding more languages to the show? I know the cities are full of diverse people, but it makes for a dull show.

We walked around the park looking for the free plants they hand out each year.

Instead we ran into the cloud bike (or something like that). Somehow we missed it in the parade.

They added a half-pipe on top of the existing bike shanty, traveling grill and eight person super-bike that leads the way. 

It's quickly become the highlight of May Day. A bizzaro ode to Minneapolis' bike culture.

The plants were in a different spot this year. We got kale and collards.

They were actually right next to the stage. We went all the way around for no reason. I guess the cloud bike was worth it.

Tyler, Emma and Olive are out in sunny Seattle. So, we are keeping an eye on their plants while they're gone. We stopped over at their house on our way home.

We had plans to make nachos for dinner but since we were gone all day we didn't have time to make the beans and meat. A late dinner it will be.

I made venison variation of beer-braised carnitas and the usual refried beans.

We snacked on Buster Bars in the meantime.

We also watched the last two parts of The Pacific.

I'm kind of sad they skipped over the occupation of Japan. I guess it wouldn't have made sense since none of the characters on the show were there in real life. Great show nonetheless. 

The meat was taking too long so we made dinner without it.

Bean nachos and off to bed it is.