The first frost of the season nipped Minneapolis this week, signaling less cycling and more hiking. My boots are squeaky clean and ready. Boots are bulky, which is an issue when flying with a small carry-on backpack. It’s amazing how much you can stuff into boots, then further reduce the bulk by tying the laces… Continue reading Travel Gear: Packing Hiking Boots
Year: 2017
A Manual for New Homeowners
This week we hand off our house to new owners. In recent days I have been putting together an online manual for the buyers to make it easier for them to settle in. The display of the manual adapts to the device being used. The following five screenshots show the manual formatted for smartphones. There… Continue reading A Manual for New Homeowners
Poms Don’t Tub
Cab service improved in Minneapolis in the 1990’s. Cabs started to be well-maintained, drivers were clean and respectful, Minnesota Public Radio, rather than loud rock, was playing quietly. The driver may have worked as a physician or a teacher or an engineer in Somalia, but now he was working his way back up. In the… Continue reading Poms Don’t Tub
Minneapolis Bronze Statues
Yesterday, I went cycling with my friend, Dave, as we do every week in the warmer months. Sometimes we cycle a loop, sometimes we pick a theme, sometimes we meander. On Dave’s suggestion we went in search of Minneapolis bronze statues. We met next to the baseball park at Target Field light rail station. Dave… Continue reading Minneapolis Bronze Statues
The Consequences of Being Too Paperless
A few years ago we decided we would eliminate as much paper as possible. Eliminating paper has been a satisfying but imperfect journey. Our records are available to us when we travel, we no longer have a filing cabinet. 100% of our tax records, including receipts, are electronic and meet Internal Revenue Service standards. However, along the… Continue reading The Consequences of Being Too Paperless
Looking Forward to Winter
It’s State Fair time in Minnesota, which means winter is just around the corner. Winters in Minnesota can be lovely, with blue skies and bright sun reflecting off fresh snow. But there’s so much winter: it appears in November, and lingers through April. Some days can be brutally cold. It’s time to nail down winter… Continue reading Looking Forward to Winter
Letting Go of the Big Stuff
We’re not getting any younger. It’s time to move from our home of 25 years to a condo where stairs are optional, and maintenance is someone else’s responsibility. Initially, we are leasing a place with less than half the floor area of our house while our condo is being built. We’ve been getting rid of… Continue reading Letting Go of the Big Stuff
Defending Seoul
Seoul, South Korea, April 17, 2017. I knew I was in trouble. The silence was broken by a whirring sound close behind me. A military security camera was locking onto me. I quickly put my camera away, but it was too late: an armed soldier was walking down an embankment towards me. A couple hours… Continue reading Defending Seoul
9 Things I did around San Diego
USS Midway. I’m just back from a few days in San Diego. My partner was attending a conference, so I took advantage of a Delta Airlines two-for-one coupon, and a “free” hotel room. I explored parts of San Diego, and also went down the coast to the Mexican border and up the coast towards Los… Continue reading 9 Things I did around San Diego
Scenes from a Bridge
I love this bridge. Built for rail in 1883, Stone Arch Bridge crosses the Mississippi then curves through the Mill District into downtown Minneapolis. When I traverse it on bike or foot, I think of immigrants arriving from the East being welcomed by this scene before starting a new life in Minneapolis or points beyond.… Continue reading Scenes from a Bridge