Put on one of my “ramen tees,” which still bears the faint evidence of previous splashes that no amount of washing will completely hide. Then, I headed over to the U for a morning of pokes, stabs, and staying motionless for 25 minutes. Afterward, a bowl of tonkotsu udon took me straight to a happy place where everything is all right.
Category: Living
Breathing unhealthy air
Viewed downtown through smoky air on our usual Sunday morning walk. American and Canadian firefighters are working side-by-side to control blazes in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, even as the president threatens to impose tariffs on Canada over their forest fire smoke, a power he actually lacks. Meanwhile, the administration is busy rebranding terms like “climate change,” canceling wind farm developments, and promoting the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
Intermission
There were no takers for pre-show drinks outside, where it was a sweltering 90-plus degrees, but inside Orchestra Hall, the AC was doing a grand job. Following medical scans this afternoon, with more lined up for Monday, a glass of wine and an escape into the world of Britten, Beethoven, and Schumann were most welcome.
Turbocharging my killer cells
Walked home from the U through smoke after consenting to a Phase 1 clinical trial. If tests over the next week continue to qualify me, I’ll receive a “Tri-Specific Killer Engager” (!) immunotherapy agent that may harness my immune system to kill tumor cells. I’ve been on Phase 2 and 3 trials; this one is more experimental, but I’m hopeful it will kick the can further down the road.
Eliminating trial and error with a dynamic breaker map
Mapped circuit breakers to outlets, appliances, and lights on a floor plan, then added a QR code to the breaker box linking to it. There are a few orphan outlets left to figure out, but adding them to the digital plan later means I won’t need to update the physical QR code.
Topping off the tanks at Duluth Junction
Cycled home from Stillwater. At Duluth Junction, a nod to the rail trails we were riding, we stopped for a water break. There, we had a nice chat with our photographer: a woman who lives in a seniors’ building and was out for her daily 15-miler.
Cycle to Stillwater for the night
Cycled to Stillwater, off-road trails all the way, taking about four hours. It was scorching hot, but the trails were often shaded, and we cooled off at lunch in a dark dive bar. We’re spending the night in Stillwater, then heading home tomorrow. Here, we’re taking an after-dinner stroll, about to cross the St. Croix River, looking toward Wisconsin.
The real thing
A bag of rice arrived today, grown in Niigata, Japan. Because Japan exports very little of its crop, I had to specially order it. In a traditional multi-course meal, plain rice is served just before dessert to be enjoyed entirely on its own. Adding soy sauce is considered rude. Having failed to replicate that perfect glossy texture and subtle flavor at home, I’m finally going to try cooking the real thing.
The ability to suffer (and the anticipation of a fall)
I’ve never seen so many homegrown protest signs as I have this past year. I spotted this one on the way to Seward Co-op to pick up veggies for dinner. Displays like this really help keep hope alive. Some historians tie the Humpty Dumpty rhyme to the fall of King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. We eagerly anticipate a great fall for our own wannabe king.
How I spent my afternoon
Came home to a tripped breaker cutting power to several lights and outlets, including the balcony. Workers had just applied a base finish to our balcony concrete that morning. The project manager was cooperative, and we agreed to wait until the finish dried. Armed with a multimeter and screwdriver I tried to isolate the problem, but no luck. Eventually, the problem resolved itself. Power washing must have penetrated the outdoor outlet, causing enough ground leakage to trip the modern AFCI breaker.