Today I walked through a solemn space filled with sounds of flowing water, wishing for an alternate history that does not lead to this place. Circular route to entrance, water a constant theme. Underground. Concrete pressed with cedar panels. Bench. Falling water. Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims.
Author: Tom Wilson
Snapshots: Circling and Framing a Volcano
Sakurajima dominates the view across the bay from Kagoshima, southern Japan. It’s one of the world’s most active volcanoes, regularly raining ash on the city. Surfaces can feel gritty, accumulations of dust are a hazard to cyclists. Hotel rooms with a view of Sakurajima fetch a premium. Directions are expressed relative to the volcano; e.g.,…… Continue reading Snapshots: Circling and Framing a Volcano
Using Social Media to Resolve an Issue with United Airlines
We’re off to New Zealand in December. There are no nonstop flights from hometown Minneapolis (MSP) to New Zealand, but I found one-stop itineraries through Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco, and Houston. These are good cities to connect through in the winter: they don’t get shut down by snow. Everything was fine until United changed…… Continue reading Using Social Media to Resolve an Issue with United Airlines
Snapshots: Superior Hiking Trail 2017
Each October we drive up to the North Shore of Lake Superior to hike sections of the Superior Hiking Trail. Walk to breakfast, Bluefin Bay Resort. We had a rhythm to each day: we fortified ourselves with a cooked breakfast, then hit a trail. Some days we did an in and out originating at our…… Continue reading Snapshots: Superior Hiking Trail 2017
Travel Gear: Packing Hiking Boots
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
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