October 1983, Hawaii Big Island: I stand against an expanse of blackness, some of the newest terrain on Earth. I set the self-timer on my Canon AE-1 film camera, then dash into the field of view for a self-portrait. “Selfies” would have to wait until the 21st century. I walk around nearby Halemaumau Crater as…… Continue reading Standing at the Edge of Creation
Author: Tom Wilson
A Suspicious-Looking Backpack
[wp_quiz id=”1930″] Picture the scene yesterday. We’re in the meticulously restored Minnesota Governor’s reception room. The older nephew is listening intently to a short presentation. The younger one is wandering around at the back of the room looking for some object that he could climb. Dwight and I stand by, waiting to intervene if necessary.…… Continue reading A Suspicious-Looking Backpack
Smooth Sauces Every Time
Here’s two techniques I often use to create guaranteed lump-free sauces. In both cases, the secret is to get rid of water. I wish I had known these methods in my early cooking days. Roux Butter contains water; water and flour form lumps. When creating a roux, I don’t add the flour until the butter stops…… Continue reading Smooth Sauces Every Time
Green Box on Rusty Bridge
[wp_quiz id=”1740″] I love to prop my bike against a railing on this iron bridge and stare at the rail yard below. The bridge is new, replacing another iron bridge that was starting to fail. Failing bridges are a serious concern all over the United States. The concern becomes visceral in Minneapolis with memories of…… Continue reading Green Box on Rusty Bridge
Jamie on a Bed in Leningrad
August 1975. Four young women sit on a bed in a budget hotel in Leningrad (today’s St. Petersburg). Three of the women appear to be intent on listening to someone in the room, off-camera. But one is staring straight at me, mugging, as I snap a Kodachrome. This is Jamie, the embodiment of all my…… Continue reading Jamie on a Bed in Leningrad
Portnoy’s Complaint in Moscow
It’s the summer of 1975. My brother and I are wandering around Moscow. A young Russian man comes up to us and starts a conversation. Once a certain level of trust is achieved, he brings up the subject of books banned in the USSR. “Would you mail me a copy of Portnoy’s Complaint?” he asks.…… Continue reading Portnoy’s Complaint in Moscow
My New Blog Site
My need to write a blog post generally starts with a bunch of thoughts swirling around my mind, begging to be tamed. My process of writing is largely an exercise in simplification, focus, and organization. Simplification starts with throwing out as many thoughts as possible. Most thoughts end up on the floor, others are filed…… Continue reading My New Blog Site
Milwaukee Avenue: When Citizens #Resist
Earlier this week a friend and I explored the length of Milwaukee Avenue in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. In a city where an avenue can stretch for a hundred blocks, Milwaukee Avenue is just two blocks. I was struck by the rows of small houses built on lots that are a quarter the size…… Continue reading Milwaukee Avenue: When Citizens #Resist
Travel Gear: Carry-On Backpack
I love to travel with just one piece of luggage: a backpack small enough to carry on to flights. Earlier this year, I decided it was time to buy a new backpack. The final impetus was a flight I would be taking from Miami MIA to Lisbon LIS, Portugal. I would be traveling with only…… Continue reading Travel Gear: Carry-On Backpack
Snapshots: Hadrian’s Wall Path
My daily routine is pretty simple these days: After a full English cooked breakfast, continue walking east across England, following the line of Hadrian’s (Roman) Wall. If available, stop at a tearoom for a pot of tea and cake. At the end of the afternoon arrive at a comfortable bed and breakfast or inn for…… Continue reading Snapshots: Hadrian’s Wall Path