Sioux Falls, South Dakota

All week has been a constant state of, "Am I really in South Dakota? Have I really spent a week in North Dakota AND a week in South Dakota?" Yes, I am in South Dakota, Sioux Falls to be exact, the largest city in the state.

When we asked locals what there is to do here, every single one replied "party" or "drink". Most of our after work time has been spent at a bar called Shenanigans in the Empire Mall. We partook in a gallon of beer on Sunday, $2 bottles on Wednesday, and tonight is buy one, get one shots and all you can drink for $9. They also have kareoke. Other than Shenanigan's, we hit up Bracco's which is a more island themed restaurant/bar which had a a nice outside patio.

On Monday night we hit up the Royal River casino on a reservation about 40 minutes away. They only had blackjack and poker as table games, no craps, but $3 minimum was nice. Lost money, as I usually do at casinos, but had fun and played blackjack for awhile.

Staying at the Residence Inn by the Empire Mall, which as all Residence Inn's are, is awesome. Free dinners Tuesday-Thursday nights (beer and wine included), friendly staff, full kitchen with an attached one bedroom, huge comfy bed, free internet, free breakfast, cookies at the front desk, alright exercise room, and business center that wasn't working the first few nights.
Sidenote- why do the business centers/printers at hotels never work? Residence Inn's remain my favorite hotel because they feel the least like a hotel I think. Plus everything is free!

So hello and good bye South Dakota, it's been alright, but not the most exciting state in the world. Does make this 22nd state in the past year! And...4 more days till I've been with JJ's for a year!

Ankeny, IA

Back to work and back to Iowa again. I got to Des Moines this time around, it's about 10 minutes away from here and saw Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Civic Center. The Civic Center was a nice performance space, but it is so different seeing a Broadway touring cast here as opposed to Chicago. I think the theater sat about 2000, but it was not ornate at all, no rows in the center of the aisles (you could only enter from the sides, and if you were in the middle, like I was, you had to climb over 40 people to get there). The ambiance of the theater aside, it was a very cute show. Don't expect any substance, but you'll be entertained. But, only $5 to park!

Staying at the Fairfield Inn. Nice size rooms, they refill my shampoo, conditioner, and lotion every day, free internet, relatively comfy bed, loud noisy heater, free breakfast, microwave and mini-fridge, good selection of tv channels, business center, pool, hot tub, and my favorite part so far, free cookies at the front desk. For those hotels that want to make me happy, give me shampoo and conditioner every day and give me cookies. Nothing else necessary.

Nothing much really to do in Ankeny itself, it's pretty much a suburb of Des Moines. I did go to the Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona. Nice casino, only bad part is everyone is smoking inside. I've found out that casinos are a good place to go if you are by yourself and just want to waste an hour or two. You can play penny slots, win or lose a little bit of money, talk to those around you, and no one thinks you're weird for being there alone. Plus you can drink if you so please.

Oh, also if you're in this area, go to Tasty Tacos and get a flour taco. Damn good.