Chatted with AI about the Chinese eggplant I’d picked up at the farmers market. Arrived at a recipe for which I had all the ingredients. AI called it Smoky Braised Chinese Eggplant with Fennel and Tomatoes, and provided an ingredient list and a self-evident recipe for a braise. The dish did not catch fire: the smoky flavor comes from smoked paprika.
Category: Living
4 a.m. wakeup call
A storm brought an early start to my day. Looking west from our home, I watched the storm approaching around 4 a.m., well before sunrise. There were periods of constant lightning in the clouds, illuminating the area. I never did see ground strikes. Visibility was poor due to a downpour, which delivered over an inch of rain.
Beware of the DOG(E)
While cycling to get a haircut, I did a double take when I saw this yard sign. Humor is a surprisingly effective antidote to autocracy.
Surrounded by runways
Today was my annual ‘Cycle to the Airport’ day. I rode through tunnels under runways to a viewpoint surrounded by four runways, where I watched planes take off and land on parallel runways. I just missed the departing Tokyo flight, which was probably for the best, as I would have only imagined myself on it.
Art truck at the House of Balls
On our walk, I introduced my friends to the House of Balls, where we saw sculptures all over the property made from found materials—including this whimsical art truck. Artist Allen Christian has been doing this for over 30 years. The property appears in articles with titles like “Weirdest Museums in Minnesota” and “Twin Cities’ Most Fantastically Odd Museum.”
Trails and treats
Riding with a friend, we biked a route that included two new trail sections along the Mississippi River, one passing under a freight rail bridge and another beneath a busy road. We stopped at the new Aki’s BreadHaus and WunderBar, enjoying delicious pastries that brought back childhood memories for my friend. We continued our trip carrying freshly baked baguettes for later.
Trackers: a solution in search of problems
A tracker I’d ordered arrived in the mail room today. Now, the challenge is to explore use cases. The first idea is to help me remember my daypack, especially in coffee shops! When I walk 30 to 60 feet away from the tracker, my phone vibrates and displays: “Hey, did you leave your backpack behind?” Next up: tracking my bicycle if it’s stolen.
Reading the rails at Northtown Yard
On the maiden voyage of Dwight’s new bike, we stopped at Northtown Yard. The absence of dozens of locomotives in storage suggests the economy is doing well right now. I’ll be watching this metric in the coming months as tariffs kick in and government statistics become unreliable. Way in the distance, through the smoke from Canadian wildfires, you can just make out the profile of downtown Minneapolis.
Bicycle for an upright citizen
After 30 years, Dwight was ready for a new bike, one with a more upright posture that eases the pressure on his wrists. Today he picked it up and brought it into our home to fiddle with the attachments and admire his purchase. It’ll soon be relegated to a rack in the basement garage. And no, it’s not electric.
A safe space
Worked with an English Language Learner at this workspace in Franklin Library. It’s normally very quiet, but the librarians have put my mind at ease, confirming that it’s okay to talk. We sometimes pause to smile when a group of little kids gathers for a summer program. This is a safe and welcoming space, which I consider important for my adult learner.