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...

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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

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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...

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