Started digitizing and (digitally) pinning photos to a map of Japan. Dwight’s uncle took the photos when he was a soldier in the occupying army when World War II ended. We may visit some of the locations when we explore Japan with our nephews (13 and 14).
Category: In This Together
Tasting the Air
As I pedalled I could taste the air. Because of Canadian forest fires, exacerbated by drought, we have the poorest air quality ever measured in Minnesota. Meanwhile, another mile of shale oil extracted from the Bakken formation of North Dakota made its way east.
Remnant of WWII
On my cycle ride: World War II guard tower built to protect a Norden bombsight factory. Today, tenants of the old factory buildings include a distillery and a company that develops LEGO military model kits. (The LEGO Company has a strict policy against selling military models.)
Pride
Cycled to the Pride Festival. Here, Nick Kor (chatting with a cyclist) is standing for city council. His mom has cut our hair since he was a baby. In 2012 he worked full-time to defeat an amendment to the MN constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
Civil War Veterans
Cycled through Hillside Cemetery with a friend, taking in great views of downtown Minneapolis. The big surprise for us was a section for Civil War veterans. The markers honor veterans who joined units in states other than Minnesota.
Celebrating July 4
On our July 4 walk: the neighborhood was a backdrop for a group of Hmong women in traditional dresses. The Twin Cities are home to over 65,000 Hmong people.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic
Cycled to a clinic to get blood drawn by a phlebotomist. Later, held a biweekly ESL (English as a second language) Zoom session with an adult student who is studying to be a phlebotomist. We’re working through a text book learning to say words like “ethylenediaminetetraacetic.”
Grateful for Normal
Grateful for Normal. Cycled to Longfellow Grill for lunch. The vaccines keep on giving.
Peonies With a Story
Peonies on display in our home from a bush Dwight’s grandmother planted in North Dakota maybe 100 years ago. A few years ago we moved the bush to his sister’s yard near the Twin Cities. It has a pleasant scent, unlike modern hybrids.
(Almost) Self-Sustaining Building
On our walk: a mill worker depicted at the Pillsbury A-Mill. Completed in 1881, it was the world’s largest flour mill for 40 years. Today the building is well-appointed artist lofts; a hydroelectric generator, combined with geothermal, produces 75% of the building’s energy needs.