nutcracker ballet, minnesota version

 in the afternoon i went to burnsville and saw a minnesota version of the nutcracker ballet. i had an upper-level ticket, first time at this venue in over a year. it surprised me a little that it registered on my 'laugh meter', but it did. there was when the personified wind-up toys were carried out at the end of a scene. then there was when the captain of the boat picked up a little fish girl. i had heard some of these songs before, and now it made more sense to hear them all in the same show. i think there was times when i would hear a song in a commercial, such as for m and m's, likely used due to the high chance of recognition by viewers. i was a little under-dressed there, wearing a hoodie. many of the ladies were wearing dresses. at intermission i did look around and saw souvenirs available but passed on the postcards. those were only available as a five-card set, and more than what i normally pay. i said the one with the boat was what i liked the most. i had some pizza for lunch before reaching the venue from a nearby speedway gas station. i laughed when i saw a display near the front door. figured i should explain myself to the cashier, saying 'love that elf guy!' there was also a grinch on the other end of the table, a plush one, buddy elf was a cardboard cutout. after the show i went to eagan, to the barnes and noble book shop. even though the time magazine i was looking for wasn't there, i found other things of interest. an employee found me a small charlie brown book i didn't have, and during that search i saw an adaptation of the first 'ghostbusters' movie where the cast is schoolmates. then i had some coffee. i walked over to the copy store to print an event ticket, and on the way back i went to use the bathroom at the cub foods. i found out this store has the winter carnival buttons and bought the one with the city's skyline on it. 'the simpsons' was about krusty's aunt saying, 'the problem is you'. then i did the dishes. later on i went on a walk and found 1 dollar 79 cents.