In 1968 Tiny Tim released his first album, God Bless Tiny Tim, and his falsetto Tiptoe Through the Tulips became a worldwide phenomenon. In 1996 he had a heart attack on stage at the Minneapolis Women’s Club, and was pronounced dead at the nearby Hennepin County Medical Center. It seemed strangely appropriate to start my hike to Tiny… Continue reading Trek to Tiny Tim’s Tomb
Year: 2016
My Shortest Urban Hike Ever
Around the turn of the nineteenth century, movers and shakers built some standout homes on Lowry Hill, Minneapolis. Last week I decided to get to know part of the neighborhood a little better. I’d had surgery the previous week, and the chosen day promised to be the hottest in four years. This would be my shortest urban hike,… Continue reading My Shortest Urban Hike Ever
Lego Technic Therapy
My mind goes to a different place when I build models with Lego Technic and Mindstorms. This week, as I recover from surgery, a dose of Technic seemed like a good idea. I decided to work on my Lego Technic design aesthetic. Yoshihito Isogawa produces wonderful Technic books that demonstrate a pleasing balance of form… Continue reading Lego Technic Therapy
Steps to Fitness After Prostate Cancer Surgery
This week I’ll walk into a hospital feeling fit, with no symptoms. Dr. “Zap” will sit at a console at the side of an operating room. Across the room, a da Vinci robot will carry out his instructions via five small incisions. Good riddance to my prostate, a ticking time bomb. (I’ll miss it, though.)… Continue reading Steps to Fitness After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Small Experiences on a Big Journey
We stood behind a crowd at Edinburgh Castle waiting for the one-o’clock cannon to fire. Many eyes were fixed on cell phones to catch the moment to share on Facebook. Bodies in Edinburgh, minds in other places. Meanwhile, my nephews were determined to climb up rocks where climbing was not allowed. Last month’s trip… Continue reading Small Experiences on a Big Journey
A Tale of Two Falls
At the start of today’s hike in Northumberland, England, we came upon a hiker who had slipped and made a faceplant on the street. He was elderly, and his vision was sub-par. He was bleeding from cuts beside one eye and on his wrist. My brother-in-law had a surprising variety of wound dressings in his… Continue reading A Tale of Two Falls
Travels With Our Nephews, June 2016
Today we start an adventure with our nephews (7 and 8) and their parents.
Lost Stories
My mother-in-law has acquired a photo mat with 17 cutouts. 17 just happens to be the right number for her to be surrounded by baby photos of her children, her children’s partners, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchild. 16 babies, one matriarch. My partner’s photo is a vertical-format portrait, which means he’s deprived of his cranium… Continue reading Lost Stories
Travel Gear: Wot, No Passport?
On a recent flight from Tokyo to San Francisco, I found a Canadian passport. The owner of the passport would have been in for a surprise when he reached for his passport at US Border Control. Maybe he had a NEXUS card, or maybe United Airlines would have to fly him back to Tokyo where he… Continue reading Travel Gear: Wot, No Passport?
Cycling Around Hakata Station
I had thirty minutes to kill before boarding a bullet train, enough time for a bicycle-themed walk. I was outside Hakata Station, the busiest train station on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. I tried to walk predictably so as not to confuse cyclists who shared the sidewalk with pedestrians. About 17% of… Continue reading Cycling Around Hakata Station