What Is Going On Here?

So here we have Dr. & Mrs. Kelley between General Petraeus and his wife.  I don't know who the barracuda on the left is.

So if I have this correctly, Ms. Kelley receives threatening emails to stay away from General Petraeus and that is the beginning of the end for the general.

Today we learn that Ms. Kelley has emailed over 30,000 pages of material to General Allen in Afghanistan.  My, this mother of three seems to have, (a) great connections in the military, and (b) a lot of time on her hands to cause lots of trouble.

I understand that Ms. Kelley phoned the local police, claiming to have "honorary consul general" immunity and would the police please get the press off her lawn.  According to the Geneva Convention honorary consuls don't have any such rights, and I bet the boys in blue had a good laugh at that one.

Dr. Kelley, what the hell is going on in your family?  General Petraeus - Really?  This group doesn't look like trouble?

Goodness

A Friend Moves On, the Election, Republicans, and the Power of Skype

My New Theme...

From Andrew Sullivan at the Daily Beast is an article about mental illness.  Here is a quote from the author, Jon Crispin,  that touched me, " I think the stigma of mental illness has evolved from something shameful to something that’s much more medical and much more accepted. It just happens to people."  Last week a friend quit his job suddenly and I hope that he can get some peace and help so that his years of retirement are pleasant.  Life certainly is challenging and there but for the grace of God....

Winter is here this morning.  It is 22° with a 14 mph wind.  I am riding with Karyl.  Saturday it was 65° and then early Sunday morning you could hear the rain and wind and the new front came in.  Yesterday the temperature seemed to drop all day long.

The election was last week and Barack Obama won a second term in office.  Nate Silver's "538" site did an excellent job of calling the election.  I love that arithmetic can tell us what is going to happen and how to manage what we want to have happen.  Obama's people seem to have studied each precinct quite thoroughly and they determined where they needed to get out the vote.

For Republicans, it is time to rethink the message and who we want in the party.  There are not enough white people to support the immigration, abortion, Tea Party platforms that have been the standard of late.  I can foresee a time when the Tea Party becomes its own party...A scary thought...

We Skyped with Gaylord and Jon last night.  It was nice to see them.  Skype is wonderful, even when your daughter is telling you that she has news that you won't like.  That was two Skypes ago.  So now we are planning for an early January wedding of some type in Boston.  Details to follow...

So In Rolls November...

I need to learn this.

Tonight is November third.  The election is on the sixth.  Months ago, truth died.  I am so tired of all these commercials that state partial truths, or just out-and-out lie.

Months ago, after the first debate, I thought this election was in the bag.  It turns out that I have all the political foresight of a blind badger.  Over the last ten days, as I listen to Romney's political rallies, he reminds me of Obama in 2008.  Remember the Obama rally in Portland?  All those thousands of people along the river....It don't like the way the wind is blowing...

Fingers are still crossed.

*******

So, Halloween.  This Halloween was one for the record books.  Maura called, as trick-or-treaters periodically dropped by, to tell us that she wants to get married to Serkan in January.  The way she framed the discussion, I thought she was going to tell us that she was with child.  So, I was happy at first, but as the days have pasted, I have had other thoughts.

What if I had married the person I was in love with when I was 21?

Now I have to search for the words.... God help me.

From "Newsroom"...
"gather ye rose buds, while ye may" - fucking a Bubba...

Leaves Here, Leaves There, and a World Series

Bagged leaves last weekend.

Buried roses, put up chicken wire, and added leaves today.

 Tis that time of year.  Last weekend I raked up the leaves in the back of the yard.  I discovered that in the midst of all this raking that it is actually some pretty good exercise.  It felt good for the shoulders.

Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants, Game Four of World Series

Today, I finished burying the roses.  Then I took some stakes and cable-tied the chicken wire around the rose garden.  Last year the dog and squirrels ran through the area so much that my cover of leaves was pretty well gone by the end of the winter.  Hopefully the wire will keep everyone out.  I don't think I will feed the birds back there - and that should keep the squirrels and rabbits out....






This is Game Four of the World Series.  The Tigers are leading 2-1 after four innings.  The Giants are up 3-0 in games, but it is not over, until you win that fourth one.

This is a picture of Matt Cain, the Giants pitcher in Game Four.  Go Giants....

265.

My Day in Pictures...

I woke up this morning to a foggy, cool day.  This panoramic picture from my phone doesn't really give a great idea of how foggy it was.

Foggy morning.

To celebrate Moonie's 11th birthday, I brought her along on my weekend trip up north to visit Dad.  After a patient wait in the car we tried to head to Elm Creek Park Reserve.  We thought we could make it to the park before the road closed, but no luck there.    Here is what we found.

Eagles nest with two adults.

We did make it to the reserve after muck circumnavigating.  We didn't find any shots that were as good as the eagles, but Moonie had great fun out and about.



















Next it was home to rake up leaves and give the shoulders a little much-needed work.  Here is Moonie at 11.

Finally, as I was unloading pictures on my camera, I found this.  Joe Mauer catching a pop fly...

Joe Mauer with the catch in fair territory versus the Tigers.

Peace.
262

Debate Number One....

I am surprised by all the talk of a "Romney Win".  I would only count this as a win for Mitt if you have very low expectations for Governor Romney.  He avoided major pitfalls and gaffs, but he looked anything but presidential for much of the evening. 

Romney had a couple of set lines that he tried to use, but he isn't that good of a public speaker to make them work.  They sounded as forced as they were....

I am glad we got to see that we have two distinct choices....that much is pretty clear.

Romney win...I didn't see it.  He won if you mean he didn't complete screw up - by that measure, he won.

257

The Axe Falls in Minnesota...

Former First-Base Coach - Jerry White

Former Bullpen Coach - Rick Stelmeszak

Yesterday, Twin's general manager, Terry Ryan, made some surprising moves that seem to clearly send the message that 195 loses over two years is not going to be accepted.  Longtime Twin's coaches Rick Stelmeszak, Steve Liddle, and first-base coach Jerry White were all handed their papers yesterday and let go.  Hitting coach, Joe Verva, and bench coach, Scotty Ullger were reassigned to other duties and manager, Ron Gardenhre, and pitching coach, Rick Anderson were given one-year contracts.

Former Bench & Third-Base Coach - Steve Liddle

These moves surprise me because the Twin's have long been known for not making big shake-ups and hiring new people from within.  In my thirty years here, we have had four managers, and two of them have managed the team for the last 25 years.  That is not a lot of change.

The message to our manager, Ron Gardenhire and everyone else seems pretty clear - its time to get back to the play-offs.

Well, okay - game on.

In some senses, this had to be done at some time.  While we think of ourselves as a great defensive, smart baseball team - the reality is others have passed us by and we are average.  We led the league in double-plays, but that might be because we have let too many runners on base.  I think Gardenhire has done well with how we use pitchers, but our grasp of defense and base running has been less than model.

I am a bit surprised that Gardenhire would stick around after all his buddies were asked to leave.  I suppose he is too old to start over in a different organization and work himself back to the top, and he is too young to just walk off into the sunset.

Well, the message has been sent, we shall see how the boys roll with the news...

257

Nebraska vs. Wisconsin .......Go Huskers...

So, Homecoming weekend, and after a wonderful meal at Maude's, I am at home watching the start of Wisconsin at Nebraska.  Nebraska is wearing black helmets with a red "N" and Wisconsin is wearing white uniforms with red shoulders, and a red "W".

7 Wisconsin and 0 Nebraska after the first possession.  This would be an upset if it were to continue.  Nebraska is at home, and they are ranked #22.  Wisconsin has struggled (fired their line coach after the second game).

It looks as if Wisconsin is about to go up by two touchdowns.  The first one was runs by Ball, but I have no idea how the second one came about.  This is shaping up to be quite the game for the Badgers.

Update:  11 minutes to go in the second quarter and it is 20-3 Wisconsin.  Wow, and this game is in Lincoln.  Ouch.

*****
Twitter has our (Breck's) football team beating SPA/MPA 14-6.   Congratulations to the Mustangs for battling on a very warm day.

*****

Madeline Williams

Former athletic director, Joe Kordosky, and Master of Ceremonies, Keith Ylinen, Class of 1986.

Gavin Hoffman - Class of 1997

Chris Reinertson (sp?) Class of 1985
Kevin, Chris, Dale Carter from Class of 1950, and former coach, Dan Doheny.

Last night I attended the Breck Alumni Hall-of-Fame ceremony at Breck.  Gavin Hoffman, Chris Reinertson, and Madeline Williams (a woman who predates my time at Breck) were inducted.  I was supposed to take pictures, but I had the 85mm lens that fritzed so I had a tough time getting good pictures.   Chris R. gave a great talk about the benefits of being positive and encouraging young athletes.  All of the inductees gave great talks.  Ms. Williams talked about how Title Nine changed her life and now as a member of the United States Foreign Service, she is able to give back to others.

Lost In the Fog....

Some how I managed to miss the story about Mitt Romney and the 47% video.  So the question now is, does this story have legs?  Karyl and I watched a clip from the Daily Show - from September 19, about the video and Jon Stewart just shredded Mitt Romney and the Fox Network.

On Friday, when we were driving home, there was and article on MPR about the possibility of Romney being a drag on the Republican ticket.  I began to wonder if I had ventured into some alternate reality.  Last I had kinda of heard - Romney was doing well.  True the Democratic Convention had a little bit of bounce, but this race looks neck and neck.  Still there are 43 days or so until the election.  I do have to say that nothing would make me happier than to learn that Romney was, in fact, a drag on the Republican ticket.

I will say I am impressed with how absolutely clueless Mitt Romney is.  What are the possibilities for this story?   One, Mitt actually believes that 47% pay no taxes and get all sorts of entitlements from the government.  So if this is what he believes, then he is sadly misinformed.  Two, he doesn't believe this, but he is speaking to a bunch of right-wing nut jobs and so he needs to say stupid things to get money for his campaign, or even just to garner a little political buzz from the Tea Partu/Republicans.  The more I think about this, the more possibility number two seems more likely.  If Romney is really disconnected enough from the factual reality enough to think that 47% of Americans pay no taxes and just suck money out of the system.....wow, that would be the scariest possibility.

250 today.

Three Days with the Mighty Phinn

Here I am in Brooklyn visiting Gaylord, Jon, and their new addition the Mighty Phineas.  It has been wonderful to be around a newborn again, to watch his face as he goes through a range of emotions.  It is interesting to hear the different cries and try to understand what the little man is going through and what will give him comfort.  Most of all, I love to have him on my shoulder and smell him as he looks out at the world and tries to make sense of it all.

Go get 'em Phin, we are pulling for you.

Afghanistan....Time to Say "Good-bye"

Dear Representative Ellison, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator Frankin,

It is time to get our soldiers out of Afghanistan.  As you know, over 2,000 members of our service have died there and at this point, I no longer see the benefit to continuing the fight.  The numerous recent attacks on our soldiers from uniformed members of the Afghan army seem to indicate that we are not wanted there, and that seems fine to me.

I realize that this means the Taliban and perhaps Al-Qaeda will benefit from our absence and regain or re-establish a presence there, but it is time to let the people of Afghanistan take over this fight.  I am happy to supply them with the tools to resist, but it is time for the heavy lifting to be done by the people of Afghanistan.

Sincerely yours,

Byron Rice

Pawlenty 0-2...

So the Twitterosphere has Pat Ryan as Mitt Romney's vice-presidential candidate.  That would make the last two elections where former Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, has been the bridesmaid, not the bride.  That is fine with me, because he consistently put his political career ahead of what was best for Minnesotans.

Ryan is supposed to be very bright, but is he a guy that is going to pull more people to vote for the Republicans?  I don't know that Ryan pulls more people into the election.  Is there not a conservative Hispanic woman anywhere in the country?

I can't wait to see what the pundits have to say about this pick.

I love that Pawlenty sold us out, and he can't get anyone to pull the trigger and have him be part of the group.

Not Even a Stop Light...

So this morning, I woke my father up, fed him breakfast, showered him (much to his delight), clipped the toe nails, piled him in the car with his clothes, and headed north.

At one point during our two hour ride north Dad asked why were doing this, and I explained that his brain had quit filtering and he was putting his hands on people and that kept getting people upset.  We are hoping that the new combination of drugs will make it so that he doesn't bother anyone.

So we get up to Onamia - and find the hospital, and then the senior center.  They interview dad and then they tell me I can go.  I go into room 30 and dad is laying down sideways on the bed.  I say, "Goodbye" and head out to the car.

I am touched that dad just trusts that all this is in his best interest.  I know that later that morning he will wake up and not know where he is, why he is there, or what is going on.  I hope this works out for all.

I don't know what we will do if they aren't able to figure something out.  No one will want to take dad, and then we are really up against it.

237

Searching For the Right Door

Today's sojourn.

So in the SMR travel tour, today we head north to Mille Lacs, and the geriatric/psych unit up there.  Paula at Wellstead helped get up in there, which is nice - but I wonder if this is her way of dumping dad.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no drug cocktail that cools down the libido, and so we are entering the realm of voodoo medicine.  They will throw the dice and try to find something that works at cooling Dad off.  If by, chance that works, then - presumably, Dad could re-enter at Wellstead.

So, I think the bottom line is, that I need to search for a new home for Dad.

I try to be helpful to the places that house dad, but it is always clear that the people who run these really think about their building first and they are less concerned about how this effects you...

I hope Mille Lacs isn't too scary today....

237

Notes for 6 August 2012

1. Hat tip to the men and women of NASA.  You stuck the landing.  Here is the first shot the Curiosity mailed back to earth after successful landing on Mars.

2. We remember.  6 August 1945.  Hiroshima.

3. Yesterday morning, Garret Reid was found dead at the age of 29 in the Lehigh dorms where the Eagles are having their training camp.  My heart goes out to Andy Reid.  I can't imagine the pain of losing a child.

4. Dad has been doing his General McArthur imitation, "I shall return".  He is back with us after being a rude guest at the Wellstead of Rogers.  They are seeking a place where Dad can be hospitalized until this behavior is under control.

5. Dad's plans have changed mine, but I shall have to adjust and move on.  Time to belly up to the bar and do some history reading.

6. Women's soccer is on at 11:00 a.m.  Japan vs. France.  It shouldn't be hard to get behind Japan in that match.  The US women play after that.  Is this a great day or what!

Valencia & Nishi....

So the Twins made a trade today, and you have to wonder what the sub-text is.  Danny Valencia, former third baseman, who has been rightly banished to Rochester this season was traded to Boston just before today's game.  At the end of the game we learned that Tsuyoshi Nishioka has been recalled from Rochester to take Valencia's place.  It will be interested to see what Nishi's game looks like now.  I assume they will throw him in there when he comes up.

Twin's color commentator, Dan Gladden, suggested that this move had nothing to do with batting average, but everything to do with clubhouse.  Given his Twitter picture is from the University of Miami, you can see Gladden's point.

Last night, during the late innings in the game against Boston, Gladden and our announcer, Cory Purvis (?), commented that in the eighth inning, when the Twins needed a pinch-hitter, Valencia was chatting at the fence with teammates as compared to getting batting gloves on, and taking a couple of swings to warm up in case the team needed him.  

So today Valencia is gone.  Connection -- Who knows?
Valencia was gracious to the Twins in his Twitter account.  Hat tip to Danny for that good move.  I wish him well in Pawtucket.  I hope he takes advantage of the fresh start.

237

Focus....A Metaphor for...

 Last week I went up to visit Dad and then I stopped of at Elm Creek Park Reserve and walked around a bit.  I found this baby bird in the bottom of a tree and in the shot immediately below you see one of its parents who would swoop it with food.

I have been trying to take some pictures this summer and so far it has been more frustration than reward.  As with much in life, focus seems to be the key.  I do feel like I am learning, but the baby steps seem pretty small at this point.  There is taking the pictures, then getting them to look decent on the computer and the ten million settings to fool with on the camera....All things in time I suppose.

American Goldfinch in the middle background, chowing on something.

Sigh.

A Summer of Fun with a Great Team

Kia L, Lucy L, Mee P, Kate B, Solomon A, Chee C  - BSP 2012

Taking the Black Dog out....

Mill City Farmer's Market  - Saturday, 28 July

Some thing about the burlap bags (corn), the wood crates,
cardboard box, et al ... called to me.  I should have waited for the woman
to clear the area.

Looking for a little adventure we headed off to the Mill City Farmer's Market for some good food, and a chance to chase a case of the blues away.

As I was exiting the Mill City Museum I looked up to see some author (pasted on the side of the Gutherie Theater) staring at me.  I don't know who the author is, but I was struck by his presence as the rest of us moved around the traditional fare of a farmer's market.  I was drawn by the feeling that many others had been here well before me...

Karyl and I navigated the hound between organic candles and soaps, natural honeys, baked goods, and SE Asian cooking.  The weather cooperated to make the venture one that chipped away at my "stuck" frame of mind.

We brought Moonie after getting her stitches out this morning and that always adds several degrees of difficultly to the project, but I think Moonie likes outings.

Stainless Steel Sculpture with Karyl and Moonie

Every time I venture down this way I imagine what it might be like to live in one of the lofts that are in the area.  While it would be great to live down here, that is probably a couple of very serious bank jobs away from my reality.  Still, I love imagining the stories that I feel in being in a different space.

The exercise did me good.  We parked on the far side of the Stone Arch bridge and walked across to the market, wandered, ate, and returned.  I feel the better for it.

Close-up of Karyl and Moonie

Stone Arch Bridge of downtown Mpls side.

Part of the Gold Medal Flour Mill that makes
up the Mill City Museum.  

We watched the locks open for two small pleasure boats and
a couple of kayaks.  Seems like a lot of trouble for just
recreational knuckleheads.

Maura's Birthday

Maura and Bubbles.  July 25, 2012

New cake pans were less than helpful.  Tasted great though.

Clearly too slow a shutter speed.  Oops.

Maura celebrated her 21st birthday at home with us.  Here are some shots....Okay, so the photography needs work....

1.69" and a Killer Pothole...

Rain totals for the storm from last night and this morning.

So at 4:25 a.m. I rolled out of bed to a gentle rain and period claps of thunder.  I stumbled my way through breakfast and then began to rethink my morning plans to bike to MPA - 22 miles away in East St. Paul.

I was going to ride the 1978 Trek 710 that I recently refurbished, but given the increasing amount of rain, it seemed to make more sense to break out the water proof panniers and ride the ole Trek 520.  So at 5 a.m. I took my pannier and went to the garage where I put my touring wheels on the 520 and then I waited for a break in the lightening before heading out at 5:20ish.

By the time I was at the end of the block, I was soaked.  So much for the rain gear.  I was somewhat anxious as the lightening continued to boom.  It got especially bad along Minnehaha parkway were there were a couple of pops of lightening that were way too close.  I pulled under a picnic shelter just before the Ford Bridge, hoping for a break in the weather.  Fortunately, a gap in the storm came along and I headed out again.

All was going well as I was headed downhill on the east side of Saint Paul headed for the bike trail - and then the pothole.

How I didn't crash I will never know.  My left hand and foot came off the handlebars and then my chest hit the handlebars.  Some how I managed to break with my right hand as I steadied the bike and slowed to a stop at the bottom of the hill.  A construction worker who was there, and saw the whole scene, commented that, "That was a close call."  I agreed.  God love the 520.

Today it rained 1.69" in the Twin Cities and I think I say each drop....

I am happy to be home and in one piece....

I Have No Words for This

70 people shot, and twelve dead at this point.

They were going to a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises".  Unbelievable.  Just when you think you have crossed every bridge, someone moves the goal posts.

I can't begin to imagine the pain this community must be suffering.

I have no words...

233

Over the Line....Way Over...

Dear Representative Bachman,

I take great offense at your accusations that Huma Abedin is tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.  What makes your accusations even more egregious is that you understand that the connections between Ms. Abedin and the Brotherhood are over twenty years old.  I suspect that your smearing of a fine American, engaged in public service, is just to raise money for your own political aspirations.

You have been elected to represent Minnesotans in Congress and pass laws that improve our lives.  I fail to see how inciting racial and ethnic divisions within our country improves our lot.  Making outlandish claims that stir the political pot do not you represent Minnesota more effectively.  Your cynical approach to governing is very disappointing.

Sincerely,

Byron Rice

233

Job Opening....Syrian Defense Minister

Dawoud Rajha, Former Syrian Defense Minister

The news from Syria is that the civil war has now entered Damascus.  Earlier today, according to NPR, a suicide bomber attacked the Defense ministry, killing the defense minister.

Once again, you have to wonder when the fine people in Assad's regime are going to do the wise up, take the money, the family, and head for safety.  Yes, you have held out longer than Tunisia, Egypt, or Libya -- but, in the end, the song has the same chorus.

I wonder if these guys hang on because of loyalty or fear?  What would I do if I had ended up working in the Assad government and things started to slip?  I tend to be the loyal sort, but do any of these fine gentlemen read history books?  I am sure they must.  It would be easy to paint them as evil knuckledraggers, but I suspect there is a lot more to the story.  Someone must be interviewing these guys and asking the sort of questions that I have...

Did General Rajha ever have doubts about where is journey had taken him?  I wish I knew.

Back From the Dead....So to Speak...

1. Forgot my password...hence the long absence.
2. License plate 233 today.
3. Mark II plus 50 & 24-70 (See Moonie)
4. 16 July 2012 - first night reading on the patio (95° - thank you very much).  Finished Sparrow Road and started The Great Divide. 
5. Enjoying BSP this summer.  I feel like I have a better sense of what I need to do to be helpful to new teachers.  Great fun.
6. I have a Trek 710 circa 1978 with 105 components put together that is fun, fun, fun.  23 pounds of Reynolds 531 steel that whistles along.
7. Twice this summer I have tried to ride my bike to work and I haven't made it home either time.
8. Moonie, as you can see, had surgery last week on her left ACL.  The bones are screwed together know until they bond together.
9. Frank and Cary are in France.
10. Erik was here a week ago.  His visit was great.
11. Dad has been moved to The Wellstead of Rogers, a men only memory care unit.  He is much cleaner and well cared for by someone other than me.  I feel bad that I kind of farmed my own father out, but taking care of Dad was a lot of effort. 
12. Earlier this summer I watched part of the European Championships in soccer.  Spain beat Italy in the final.  The Italians flop.  I understand there is a commercial that shows peaking through a fence at a Italian practice and they were working on flopping.  Too funny.  I like that they are mocked for this.
13. All is good...

233

"You Seem Off Your Game Today..."

Ah, the summer months in Minnesota.  Sirens going off...is that repeated thunder in the background or is that a tornado?  Sounds east of here.

I have come to love Minnesota for its many virtues.  These storms however,  not my favorite.  I suppose this is the price for living in such a nice place.  Sigh.

Last night I bought a copy of Robert Caro's Passage to Power on the recommendation of a colleague at work.  It looks to big to take to DC later this week.  We shall see.  I don't need to be lugging around a doorstop while I am in the heat of DC.

I have been reading up on the 20D that I have so that I will be able to take better pictures.  The Internet is wonderful.

Friday night I was exhausted and I had a couple of tequila/Kahlua/& milks as I vegetated on the sofa while Dad watched a ball game.  Saturday morning I was working at the bike shop when a young man with his son looked at me and said, "Are you okay?  You seem off your game today."  I was completely taken aback.  I looked hard at the young man trying to figure if we had met before, and whether I knew him. 

I finally managed to utter, "No, I haven't had much sleep this week."  He let it go.  In the years in between those two comments my mind raced.  One, was I not speaking in complete sentences?  What is going on that this stranger thinks I am struggling?   And then there are the whole host of comments about trying to figure out if my two beverages really disabled me to the extent that I wasn't functioning as one would expect.  That's a happy thought.

Sunday morning I shared the above story with my cohorts, and I got quite a few laughs.  Terry, the Dentist, called me later (a first) and left me a message that if I weren't "off my game" given what I am dealing with - then something would be truly wrong.  What a great message.  I am one of the group.  Good stuff.

So, when I get back from DC and finish up my commitments for school - then it will be time to find Dad a better facility.  The people at Jones-Harrison seem to like calm, rich clients who don't cause problems.  No one I know seems very impressed with the job they are doing.

Please Tag Up...

Denard Span - running, something he did not do in the game to date.

1. Denard Span hits a double to open tonight's game in Milwaukee.
2. Brian Dozier crushes the ball to deep center, and Span doesn't tag up.  Denard, if he doesn't catch the ball you will still score.
3. Joe Mauer hits a fly ball to deep left field, and still no tag-up.  Sigh.

Josh Willingham

4. Fortunately for Span, Willingham hits the ball into the seats, and so Span's base running faux pas are erased.

Other thoughts....Scott Diamond has his third start tonight, but his first with Mauer catching.  Joe, this needs to go well.  We can't have Drew Butera catch every game....Which leads to the larger question, is Joe Mauer worth 20 million a year?  Yes, he is a catcher that hits and throws well, but if all the pitchers do better with Butera - it makes me wonder the intelligence of the huge long term contract.

The Romantic...

Scott Diamond mows down the Angels...May, 2012

The Minnesota Twins are not off to a good start in 2012.  I believe we have won nine games, and today it is May 12 - say no more.  I realize that being excited by Diamond and Walters as starting pitching is the romantic in me.  The statistics probably suggest these are average guys and not to expect too much - but wouldn't you just love for a couple of rookie arms to carry the team back to respectability.  Let's go young guns.

Update:  Diamond just won his second start.  Perhaps this is the start of something. 

Levon Helm....

A couple of weeks ago Levon Helm died, and I think he took part of my adolescence with him.

I was introduced to the Band via Bob Dylan, and I came to love a great many of their songs (both together and apart).  Levon's voice has a unique place in my memory....I love his singing in "When I Paint My Masterpiece".

Dear Mr. Helm,

Thank you very much for sharing all the great music you and your friends created.  Your music has served as bookmarks for many key markers in my life.  I will miss having your around.

Best wishes,
Byron

Joseph Campbell Reads My Mail

"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."  Joseph Campbell....

Today, at Liz Orlady Johnson's funeral, I am talking to Frank Eustis and it dawns on my why this last two weeks have been so tender.  Again and again I have been forced to confront the reality that life isn't like the plans in the Matt Daemon film, The Adjustment Bureau.  There are no thick books detailing all the twists and turns that happen.  As much as I want to control all the elements in my life and family, it ain't gonna happen.

•••••

Great talk at the funeral by Grace O.  She knocked it out of the yard.  Well done.

Tuesday in the Emerald City....

Pikes Place Public Market - Cold and windy day.

So we headed downtown for some macaroni and cheese at Pike's Place.  The wind was up, with lots of white caps on the bay.  Over my left shoulder (right side of the picture) is a big container ship that was anchored in the bay.  I am amazed at how many layers of container they pack on the ship above the deck.  I counted three and four layers of container above the deck.

Here we are at the fish market, one of my favorite places to visit.

We walked along looking at the art work.  I saw some beautiful salmon made out of steel, Jeff found some pepper jelly that he liked.  Peer did a great job of taking these pictures (I left my camera at home.)  Our final stop was the fish market, and I have to say that the salmon looked a little tired.  Here we are chatting with one of the men at the fish market.

Mac and cheese at its best.

Here we are eating mac and cheese.  They had the spicy, I had the basic, which was unbelievable.

Inside the Seattle Public Library.

 Next we hiked up the hill to the Seattle Public Library that was designed by a man from the Netherlands.  Peer was interested in seeing the building.

Next it was back home to put fender on Jodi's bike.  Peer was a champ at getting this done.  It went faster with the two of us working on it.

Great times.

Fenders on the bike.