Microblog

On my walk in St. Paul’s Union Park district, “discovered” the Aldine Street Pedestrian Bridge. It falls short of modern standards, dating back to the early days of I94, below. It’s a reminder of the communities divided and eliminated by the construction

Walked around Downtown with a friend, picking out favorite buildings. This beauty was built as a facility for manufacturing farm equipment. Today, it’s a hotel with dramatic public spaces. An atrium, with exposed timber beams, soars through all six levels

Walked to a store that’s been in business for almost seventy years to load my backpack with locally made, multicultural goodies: pierogi (Poland), lefse (Norway), and bangers (UK/Ireland).

Wheeled my bicycle over to Freewheel for a service. So many worn parts are being replaced, it’ll practically be a new bike.

Started entering data for our first joint tax return.

This weekend I’m cooking with ingredients I’ve never used before. Today: Thai eggplant. Tomorrow: oxtail.

On my walk, stopped to watch a long freight train go by. Every freight car was transporting military vehicles.

Picked up gai lan, Chinese broccoli, from an Asian supermarket. My new favorite vegetable has a stronger, slightly more bitter taste than regular broccoli. We stir-fry the stalks for a while, then add the rest. We might include garlic, fresh ginger, sugar, shoyu, and fish sauce.

Appreciated the warmth in the sun as we walked with a friend. Couldn’t resist taking this standard shot of Stone Arch Bridge and Downtown.

Preventing another concussion was probably not uppermost in his mind when a friend presented me with this old-time football helmet that had belonged to his uncle. Coincidentally, the Vikings football stadium is behind me.

Right now, we’re not going to warm places, but we can bring warm places to us. Thank you, Dwight.

On our walk at Bde (Dakota for Lake) Maka Ska: Your Dog ice sculpture. The Minneapolis Institute of Art has this sculpture by Japanese artist, Yoshitomo Nara, in fiberglass in their collection. Inevitably, for me, it evokes anime or manga.

On my walk: Aphrodisiac Telephone ice sculpture. The Minneapolis Institute of Art has this Salvador Dali surrealist object in plastic and metal in its collection. Yes, that’s a lobster on top of the handset.

Walked to the Dinkytown neighborhood to a place that’s just opened up specializing in pasties. Bought two for us to enjoy today, and two to freeze for another time. I’m partial to British-style savories en croute

Walked through almost deserted skyways and tunnels in downtown Minneapolis. Stopped for an Americano and pastry in a comfortable place I haven’t visited in over a year. Looked forward to a time these places will be bustling again and commerce will be in full swing.

Spent way too many hours hacking data streaming out of a game controller. I don’t do video games, I’m figuring out how to use it to control seven servo-motors