In a moment of boredom, I mapped out the Japanese prefectures I’ve visited (blue), many of them multiple times. While I’ve traveled through the yellow prefectures near Tokyo, I don’t count those. The younger me might’ve felt the need to visit every prefecture to ‘complete the set,’ but these days I embrace the imperfection: a bit of travel wabi-sabi.
Category: Living
A morning of fine print
Spent most of the morning reviewing our insurance. I confirmed our home’s “All Perils” policy doesn’t list covered events; instead, it only lists exclusions. For example, damage from a burst pipe is covered simply because it isn’t excluded. I also checked the fine print for our 2026 health plan to confirm it provides worldwide coverage and purchased an annual medical repatriation subscription, something we had allowed to lapse during the pandemic.
A tool for protected speech
A shiny whistle arrived today for my daypack. Three short blasts: ICE nearby. One long blast: ICE is detaining someone.
Icy ascent to bus number 7
My hiking pole came in handy for boarding the bus, as I climbed onto the icy hard-packed snow left by a snowplow. Eventually, this snow will be loaded onto trucks and taken to a snow-melting facility.
Navigating negative space
On a cold day like today, with sidewalks slick from yesterday’s snow dump, I’m a part-time fan of the 10-mile Minneapolis Skyway system. At times, it feels like sensory deprivation while navigating twisting tubes through and between buildings. Today, I found myself imagining its odd lines at a more abstract level, then asked AI to do the same with a photo I took. Click through for the original.
White spaces
The world gradually turned white as snow fell all day. Indoor activities won out, including this jigsaw puzzle featuring the art of Keith Haring. Once we’ve assembled all of Haring’s instantly recognizable symbols, the white space between the symbols will be a bigger challenge.
Next stop: the world
Family get-together at Misono. This was one plate among many. It’s definitely American sushi, but I’d like to think even Japanese people would enjoy it. Enjoyed the company, including my nephews, now 17 and 18. I encouraged them to travel to Sweden, Hokkaido, or beyond… I’d gladly pay for their tickets.
Hue and haze
Inside, colorful American Indian mosaics and artwork blend traditional and non-traditional materials. Outside, the world fades to grey in the mist. This morning at the Walker Art Center.
Christmas 2025
LEGO houses by Dwight. 4-seasons handmade lamp (including stained glass) by a colleague of Dwight’s as a retirement gift. Tree (Minnesota deadfall cherrywood) assembled by Tom. Christmas meal: a joint effort.
A tale of two fishes
My walk included four stores for a few last-minute items. Here, I eschewed the lutefisk, preserved in sodium hydroxide and favored by descendants of Norwegians who want to re-create a better time when there was no refrigeration. I did pick up a tub of pickled herring, though, preserved in vinegar.