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.
Category: Living
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.
Not-so-dangerous adventures: going boldly through a portal
Cycled a short loop up one side of the Mississippi and down the other. At Ole Olson Park, I rode a new section of trail that’s opening soon. Extensive regrading has carved out a gradual slope under a somewhat dilapidated but still operating freight rail bridge. (Yes, I’ve sometimes crossed the river on that bridge.) A permanent steel framework over the trail looks strong enough to protect trail users if the bridge falls apart.
Testing campus doors
A steamy bike ride with a friend took us to three St. Paul college campuses. As is our tradition, we occasionally tested doors. At St. Thomas, we got into the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, shown here. The doors to the Weyerhaeuser Chapel at Macalester were firmly closed, though students could tap in. At St. Catherine’s O’Shaughnessy (arts theater), we could only reach the lobby before hitting locked doors.
A watch that dares not show its face
In a moment of boredom, I decided to build my own watch face. I designed it on a PC then loaded it onto my watch. My goal was minimal form and maximal function, but the result was surprisingly displeasing and best forgotten.
Fireworks and apple pie
Watched fireworks from our balcony. Friends were set to join us, but our colds, sadly, put a stop to that. Still, they kindly dropped off slices of freshly baked apple pie. “Feed a cold with apple pie” is an adage I happily live with.
Homemade biscotti: just what the doctor ordered
We both now have colds, so it was an at-home day, except I dragged myself five blocks to Trader’s. Dwight had promised to make his world-famous biscotti, but we were running low on staples.
Kicking the can down the road
Cycled over to the university for Pluvicto infusion #2. I’m grateful I can keep buying time with new treatments that weren’t available when I was first diagnosed. For the next few days, I’ll try to maintain a safe distance from everyone, including Dwight—a distance about the wheelbase of a bicycle. I’ll show the card I’m holding if I set off a radiation detector.
Did I just glimpse the future?
Spotted this in our neighborhood this morning: low-carbon transit. It looks like a great way for students to earn cash competing against short-distance rideshares while staying fit. And, for now, it’s immune to the onslaught of AI. Given our extensive bicycle infrastructure, I could easily imagine this being faster than a car during busy times.