Sub-zero (Fahrenheit) sunrise this morning. The Mississippi was unusually calm, mist rising from the near-freezing water. Another day to stay inside.
Category: Living
Time to get ready to be snowbirds
Woke up to Gold Medal Park, Guthrie Theater and Mill City Museum in a snow globe. A perfect day to stay in, ride an exercycle, and start packing for our annual snowbird trip. New this year: we’ve arranged for bikes, so I’ll be gathering our helmets, locks, and some tools.
A day of unexpected steps
I thought I hadn’t gone for a walk today. I’d just gone about my day: coffee with friends, my monthly labs for the clinical study, and picking up ice cream for Sausage Saturday. Then I glanced at my watch and realized I had gone for a walk! (The fire symbol indicates calories burned.)
My Thursday commute: a shaman and a protest
Waited at the bus stop after my Thursday class. Thanks to Google Maps’ real-time bus arrival info, I minimized my wait time on a chilly day. A temporary light pole was slowly becoming a community bulletin board. A sign advertised “Chaman y Curandero”–Shaman and Healer services. Another notice detailed a street protest against actions of the current Administration which damage our community.
Making the most of stale bread
For a few days it’s tip-the-fridge time. Here, I’ve assembled ingredients for a strata egg bake. We collect stale bread in the freezer, then periodically incorporate it into bakes, Italian bread salads, stuffings, etc. For the strata, I cubed the bread then dried it in the microwave.
What’s the purpose of having law?
It was too cold to walk, so I pedaled an exercycle while being unchallenged by my Japanese serial drama. Keito, the central character, is a highly ethical reporter working for a weekly tabloid that covers corrupt politicians and other scandals. As she uncovers yet another case with mitigating circumstances, she asks, “What’s the purpose of having law?”–A good question for the times we live in.
On today’s walk: US flag needs air, Canada’s is just fine
Sometimes I set a theme for my walks. Today’s was the flag of our neighbor to the north. I spotted this one next to a deflated US flag outside a downtown office building housing a consulate.
Checking on an economical plant watering system for a neighbor
Checked on a neighbor’s plant watering system. I set it up for them in December, and it’s been working perfectly for six weeks. The controller (with a built-in pump), tubing, and drippers cost around $35. The only drawback is the controller’s battery, which needs recharging about once a month. An $8 smart plug allows them to remotely initiate charging from Arizona.
A sign of the times
I spotted this graffiti moniker today while walking between tanker cars across the river from where we live. These markings, often including a name and date, are a railroad tradition dating back to the late 1800s. A little online research revealed similarly themed monikers by Impeach/Mpeach, a member of the graffiti crew, AMFM. These monikers feature the same guillotine and rolling head imagery, but with different text.
Keeping it local: food shopping at our co-op
On my walk, I stopped by Seward Community Co-op, owned by over 23,000 households, including our own. The large bags on the left contain teff flour, a staple for many customers with Somali heritage. On the right there’s a well-managed produce department where I can pick up a single potato if that’s all I need. I left with a heavy daypack filled with root vegetables, lamb chops, and crusty bread.