Some people enjoy nature by hiking, camping, or planning well-thought-out excursions. Tim enjoys nature by driving around aimlessly in subzero temperatures, chasing bald eagles, and taking photos until his fingers stop working properly.
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Meanwhile, we finally had a warm day, so naturally, we celebrated it by going indoors. More specifically, we spent the day at Mall of America, letting the kids run wild with all-day ride passes, discovering our son’s new sneaker obsession, and witnessing an actual, real-life round of the “penis game.” (If you know, you know.)
But before we get into the chaos, let’s start with Tim’s new side hustle: amateur nature photographer.
Tim’s Nature Walks, But With a Car and a Starbucks
Ever have a random hobby sneak up on you? Tim didn’t intend to become a man who takes photos of eagles in negative 13-degree weather, but here we are.
- It started with a fog-covered Mississippi River on a frigid morning.
- Then, it escalated to tracking down an actual bald eagle’s nest.
- And finally, full commitment—marching into someone’s yard, with no hat or gloves, just to get the shot.
Sadly, nature photography is a cruel business. Just as he lined up the perfect shot, one eagle flew away, ruining everything. Such is life.
Mall of America: The Most Overhated Place in Minnesota?
It was 50 degrees outside, but instead of joining the crowds outside, we strategically avoided them by heading to Mall of America.
Here’s what went down:
🎡 Nickelodeon Universe all-day ride passes? Huge win.
👟 Jude’s sneaker obsession has begun. He walked into Nike and walked out with a wildly colorful pair of Giannis Antetokounmpo sneakers that he is now deeply invested in.
📢 The “penis game” is alive and well. We overheard a group of tweens playing it in line for a ride, and honestly, it was comforting to know that some things never change.
🤔 Mall parking mystery? We noticed weird red and green lights in the parking ramp, which should indicate open spaces. But… they don’t. We’ll report back once we crack the code.
Hot take: Mall of America is actually great. People love to hate on it, but if you go in with no agenda, it’s fun.
Oscars 2024: Best Picture Race Heats Up
We are three movies away from finishing all the Best Picture nominees, and we have thoughts.
Here’s where we stand on the ones we’ve seen so far:
🎥 Nickel Boys – A visually stunning, first-person perspective film that takes a while to adjust to but is incredibly immersive. One of our top contenders.
🎥 Conclave – Beautifully shot, feels like an oil painting come to life. But is it Best Picture-worthy? We’re torn.
🎥 Anora – Brutal, unflinching, and definitely not a family movie. But the performances? Incredible.
🎥 Wicked – Fun, big-budget spectacle. Not a real contender, but Ariana Grande crushed it.
🎥 Amelia Perez – An ambitious swing that didn’t quite land. We wanted to like it more.
With only four movies to go, we’re almost ready to make our predictions. But this year? It’s tough.
Final Thoughts: Parenting, Movies, and Tim’s Deep Dives into Everything
- Tim has strong opinions on MOA’s parking system and will get to the bottom of it.
- Jude is officially a sneakerhead. Clementine, however, just wanted tater tots with a side of French fries.
- Oscar predictions are coming next episode! We’ll lock in our final picks and see how close we get.
🎧 Listen to the full episode and let us know: What’s your Best Picture pick?
