Microblog

A friend asked us to sample two types of brownies baked by his wife, then choose our favorite. They got shaken in my backpack on a cycle ride, but that didn’t affect the experience. Halved each to be sure we each sampled each type. Concluded they were equally good.

On my cycle ride: World War II guard tower built to protect a Norden bombsight factory. Today, tenants of the old factory buildings include a distillery and a company that develops LEGO military model kits. (The LEGO Company has a strict policy against selling military models.)

Spent my Sunday afternoon with a crimper, a heat gun, and a soldering iron. Built the wiring harness for up to seven capacitive soil moisture sensors for a 3-level rack of houseplants. The box holds a microcomputer that wirelessly communicates with our home automation hub.

Watched the Aquatennial fireworks from our balcony.

Posted Chicago Day Trip.

Circuit boards mimicked a fern as they waited for their red, moisture-resistant coatings to cure.

Cycled with a friend, our longest ride this year.

Plane MSP–MDW, train, foot, bike. Old Glory, Muddy Waters, former Marshall Fields clock. Lakefront Trail. Lake fish, fries, local brew at beach bar. The 606 High Line. Only said “f___ you” once (as I swerved past a driver chatting on his phone). ORD–MSP

Prepared for an early flight tomorrow morning to Chicago. I’ll explore on foot and shared bicycles (hence the helmet) then fly back in the evening.

The prairie grasses on our balcony are looking happy. Today I upgraded the irrigation system electronics: it delivers water via 48 micro-drippers; moisture is measured by capacitive sensors in the soil at three points; the system communicates wirelessly with a Hubitat hub.

Cycled to the Pride Festival. Here, Nick Kor (chatting with a cyclist) is standing for city council. His mom has cut our hair since he was a baby. In 2012 he worked full-time to defeat an amendment to the MN constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Shared a room with the full Minnesota Orchestra, something I no longer take for granted.

On my cycle ride: something I’ve never seen before. It was moving at about twenty miles per hour. Normally this line carries mile-long freight trains and commuter trains.

Cycled through Hillside Cemetery with a friend, taking in great views of downtown Minneapolis. The big surprise for us was a section for Civil War veterans. The markers honor veterans who joined units in states other than Minnesota.

Cycled past the carefully named Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center where over one-third of our county’s (population 1.3 million) waste is burned and turned into electricity and steam for district heating. More than 11,000 tons of metal are recovered annually.

On our Sunday morning walk: not quite Instagram-worthy.