Sometimes I set a theme for my walks. Today’s was the flag of our neighbor to the north. I spotted this one next to a deflated US flag outside a downtown office building housing a consulate.
Category: In This Together
A sign of the times
I spotted this graffiti moniker today while walking between tanker cars across the river from where we live. These markings, often including a name and date, are a railroad tradition dating back to the late 1800s. A little online research revealed similarly themed monikers by Impeach/Mpeach, a member of the graffiti crew, AMFM. These monikers feature the same guillotine and rolling head imagery, but with different text.
Keeping it local: food shopping at our co-op
On my walk, I stopped by Seward Community Co-op, owned by over 23,000 households, including our own. The large bags on the left contain teff flour, a staple for many customers with Somali heritage. On the right there’s a well-managed produce department where I can pick up a single potato if that’s all I need. I left with a heavy daypack filled with root vegetables, lamb chops, and crusty bread.
Walking the talk
I’m glad to report that diversity, equity, and inclusion were thriving in the classroom today. Our words and actions align.
Helping myself to help English language learners become caregivers
Tomorrow, I’ll be helping English language learners prepare for their Personal Care Assistant (PCA) certification test. So, I decided to take the online course and test today to earn my own PCA certificate. I’m grateful for the people willing to do this work. It can be challenging, and the pay isn’t ideal.
Tibetan shrine room at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Today, we visited the Tibetan Shrine Room, a temporary exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Buddhist artifacts are arranged as they might be found in an affluent Tibetan home. Buddhism’s emphasis on kindness to others is a valuable lesson for our times.
Reimagining common spaces in a digital age
Retreating from the cold wind, I sought refuge in the skyways. Here, I’m walking through the Central Library, a place I rarely visit since I primarily borrow e-books online. My mind drifted to the stunning Mediatheque in Sendai, Japan, designed by Toyo Ito. I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon there, sheltering from an inbound typhoon, experiencing how libraries can be reimagined and be relevant and popular in the future.
My first baby shower
Well, that was something new for me today: I attended my first baby shower. Our nephew and his wife, who are expecting a daughter, flew up from Houston, TX, for the event at my sister-in-law’s house. It was a chance to reconnect with family and enjoy some cake.
By the dawn’s early light, self-evident truths
Looked up at these simple truths as I waited this morning for the bus to a school where immigrants, regardless of their legal status, are highly motivated to learn. In my first class, I worked with learners preparing to become certified nursing assistants, addressing a critical need in Minnesota.
Saving a classroom plant
Over tonkotsu ramen, Dwight and I compared notes about our day–he in the greenhouse, me in the classroom. I showed him photos of a sad-looking plant in the classroom. He suspected overwatering and advised deionized water would be better than tap. He also suggested the plant needed to climb and might benefit from fertilizer after its dormant period. I’d previously used Google Lens on the plant, and it had led to similar advice.