"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.

The Rose City for a Day

Stumptown Hot Chocolate - Best looking, worst tasting.

Took Amtrak to Portland and met Erik and Jordin.  Had some great walnut pancakes at the City State Diner, followed much later by some great doughnuts at VooDoo Doughnut.  Stumptown Roasters, however, gets the brickbat award for the worst cup of hot chocolate I have ever had.  Beautiful design, but really poor chocolate flavoring. 

Erik & Jordin's bedroom.

It was great to see Erik.  He looks fantastic.  He seems as poor as a church mouse.  I wish I was in a position to be a bit more of a help to him, but I am not.  Sigh.

Union Station in Portland.  Waiting for the 507 North.

I was a bit overwhelmed during my dad in the Rose City.  I think my worries about not having any money amplified my concerns about Erik and his future.

I hit Voodoo Doughnut and then I made it to the train station.  Here is a shot of the inside of Union Station as I waited for my trip back up to Seattle.