National Guard Armory

On my cycle ride: a howitzer outside a National Guard Armory was supplied by the British Government to recognize Minnesota’s 34th Infantry as the first American troops to engage the Germans in combat in World War II. Last week, the armory was surrounded by coiled razor wire.

Categorized as Living

A Day With No News

Today we’re taking a vacation from the news. This morning we cycled, stopped for haircuts, then a bar lunch at a picnic table outside. My phone and tablet are turned off, I’m reading a paperback novel rather than an eBook. We’ll catch up with the news tomorrow.

Secret Panel

Discovered our vacuum cleaner has a secret panel hiding a HEPA filter. We bought the appliance in 2011 and have never replaced the filter. Filters are two bucks apiece, so I ordered a bunch and added a recurring reminder in our calendar to replace the filter.

Looking Up to Hubert Humphrey

On my cycle ride, looked up to former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. When he became mayor in 1945, job and housing discrimination against Jews and African Americans were legal in Minneapolis. He put processes in place to reform the system and stop blatant discrimination.

Emoji Convention

On our walk: in place of friends and family, emojis gathered to celebrate a graduate.

Categorized as Walk

Horsey Horsey

Came home to this sight. At first I thought it was a pretend covered wagon, a thought I found unsettling. Turned out, Dwight was just air-drying a heated mattress pad he’d laundered before storing it for the winter.

Innocence

Spotted this innocent scene while cycling along a residential street: Barbie and friends, oblivious to systemic racism, Covid-19, and each other. A little girl was down the block, playing with a friend, on to the next thing.

Locked in the Loo

After the events of last night it felt good to resolve a small crisis today. A neighbors’ grandchild had locked herself in their bathroom. Eventually I figured out the right tool to unlock a door from the outside. Relief and joy ensued.