Boone Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum

This last Sunday (5/27/12) I went to Boone with some of my cousins to go on this Scenic Valley Train. I didn't really know what to expect since I never really thought of Iowa much than a few hills and corn fields but it wasn't so bad. There's actually a few different rides you can go on, there's the basic Excursion Train, Dessert Train, Dinner Train, and Picnic Train. We picked the Picnic Train where we would bring our own food onto the 2 hour train ride. We just went to our local Hy-Vee and picked up some random stuff to eat on the train, I ended up getting a BLT wrap and a salad. 

      

  

       

I thought the trip was okay. I might have been expecting a little too much since for some reason I was having the feeling of Harry Potter and we were on our way for our first year at Hogwarts. For the most part of the train ride there was a lot of trees, so many trees that it would be all you can see. Probably the best part of the ride was going over a real high bridge. It was exciting to look straight down and unfortunately the pictures I've taken does not really show how high we really were but believe me it's quite fun to experience. I really enjoyed myself with the company I had but I just really wished it more scenic, I would think that the train ride would have more to look at come Autumn with all of the different colors so I would highly suggest to come during that time.

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Boone Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum

225 10th St

Boone, IA50036

http://www.scenic-valleyrr.com/

Pho and Beer = Love

I had such a craving of Pho last week and of course I have only one go to person when it comes to eating, especially pho. So I texted up my friend Cory and set a time to go to Rolling Wok later that night. Been to Rolling Wok few times and since I was with my homies I was thinking we need some beers with our dinner.

Apparently the restaurant does not serve alcohol but there is a little note on each table that they're okay to bring out own beer. Just so happens that a convenient store is in walking distance so we ordered our food and got a 6 pack of Heineken from the local QuikTrip. Definitely fulfilled my pho craving. :)


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Rolling Wok
1534 East Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316

Stencil Artist at Liar's Club

My cousin's boyfriend, Robert Dencklau is a stencil artist and currently he's working on one of Des Moines's hottest clubs, "Liar's Club." I had a lunch with them last Saturday morning and he invited us to go up there during nonbusiness hours to check it out. Here's a just a few pictures.

  

 

Here is another one of his work at the "Gaslamp" 

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Liar's Club

216 Court Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

Gas Lamp

1501 Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

Hunger Games is all Hype

I’ve read the first Hunger Games and I have to say, am I the only one who thinks it’s not that great? Everyone is hyping this book up thinking it’s the biggest thing ever but I just really don’t feel that way. I’ve only read the first book so and I just started with the next book. I know you’re probably thinking if you didn’t really enjoy the first one why continue? My answer is simply there’s only 3 books and I’ve already started one so I’ll just move on to the next one. 

Maybe it’s the writing or maybe it’s just too young for me perhaps? Which I don’t know if that’s valid because Harry Potter series was so great and kept me wanting more. I also watched the movie after reading the book. The movie is actually worse in my opinion, I guess people are just being told that it’s so great that they believe it. Either way I’m glad people are still reading. 

My little cousin Barry

Just met my little baby cousin Barry for the first time today. He was born yesterday (May 15, 2012) he actually came out with a lot of hair. Hopefully he'll be a well behaved kid unlike his older brother that we all aren't very big fans of.