Microblog

My walk included four stores for a few last-minute items. Here, I eschewed the lutefisk, preserved in sodium hydroxide and favored by descendants of Norwegians who want to re-create a better time when there was no refrigeration. I did pick up a tub of pickled herring, though, preserved in vinegar.

At Minnehaha Park, I couldn’t resist taking yet another photo of the falls before meeting up with a friend for a walk, great conversation, and a cuppa.

The clouds seemed to mimic the icy Mississippi as I walked from a lab draw at the U (in the distance) to our co-op for Christmas ingredients. My phone buzzed occasionally, creating short-lived anxiety as more lab results became available.

I thought this was inspired, though I hope no company policies were violated! Today I found a stash of free Delta earbuds in our building’s workout room, likely left by a neighbor who works for the airline. Instead of complaining about people playing music out loud, you can simply hand them a pair. Even if their phone doesn’t have a jack, it’s a positive way to address the behavior.

Our local farmers market is a more modest affair during the winter. Instead of being outside, it’s held in the lobby of the Mill City Museum. Picked up bacon sausages from a local farm, along with some crusty bread and savory croissants from a small local bakery.

​Dwight had minor hand surgery this morning (carpal tunnel release). Some time after he disappeared into the den this afternoon, I decided I’d better do a welfare check. Despite the surgery, it turns out he’d been busy staging this LEGO Christmas village.

Picked up a coffee at Open Book, with its welcoming marquee, before catching a bus to school. The route passed the second marquee in Cedar-Riverside (“Little Mogadishu”). In my first class, I worked with Somali-American women studying to be Certified Nursing Assistants. In the final class, students marked the end of the semester by bringing an abundance of delicious Somali food, including, of course, the obligatory sambusas.

​At Palm Springs PSP, enjoying the warmth for a little while longer. Behind us, a Delta tail peeks out through desert vegetation. Delta’s nonstop PSP/MSP service makes this an easy warm-weather destination for us.

One final hike in the hills above Palm Springs: the South Lykken Trail. It was dry, dusty, and hot (80s), but offered great views and a well-maintained path. We took a Lyft to the trailhead and walked back into town from the finish. A beer at Blackbook never tasted better.

Tonight, the sold-out A Swingin’ Little Christmas, starring Jane Lynch, famous for her enthusiastic tyranny (Glee, Best in Show, etc.). The show delivered talented performers and reasonable doses of holiday schmaltz. This was a chance to experience the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre, which just reopened this month after a major renovation.

Hiked one-way with city transit at each end. We marched (kinda) up a hill, gaining a total of 1,300 feet. Here, we’ve wandered across the high ground and are part-way down the next hill. Palm Springs is spread out below us, as we watched landings and takeoffs at PSP (top-left).

Mid-century modern is taken seriously in these parts, except when it isn’t. Walked through neighborhoods of homes, some that once belonged to Hollywood royalty, generally left undecorated for the season, presumably in pursuit of consistent taste.

Granite walls gradually closed in as we hiked a shaded trail up a canyon to this spot. The trail must’ve crossed the stream a dozen times, giving us multiple opportunities to balance on slick rocks. Although we were surrounded by desert, the stream fed one long oasis, a winding line of palms.

On our hike through Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a barrel cactus looked ready for some fancy dance moves. We’ve hiked these trails so many times over the years, and each time it seems to require a little more effort, particularly on the ascents.

This morning: hiked a snowy landscape with temperatures in the 50s. ​This afternoon: desert hiking in the 80s. ​All thanks to an 8,000-foot elevation difference and an aerial tramway. ​Both hikes were cut short: the first by ice, the second by dehydration.

Arrived in sunny Palm Springs for a short respite from the Minnesota winter. After a much-anticipated grilled cheese sandwich late lunch at Blackbook, a downtown haunt for, um, friends of Dorothy, we filled a cart with groceries at Albertsons, then checked into our rental. Here, we’re sitting on our balcony in the dusk staring at palm trees and the San Jacinto Mountains.