Microblog

Cycled across South Minneapolis looking for some of the extensive street art created, mostly with permission, on the plywood of boarded-up businesses. The artist painted this “in hopes of healing and hope for the future.” “Say his name. George Floyd. He was a human being.”

While Dwight received instruction from his yoga teacher via FaceTime in one room, my GED student and I reasoned through language arts via Zoom in another room.

Included West St. Paul on our cycle ride. At Pickerel Lake, spotted an eagles nest sitting directly on a power line. Eventually, two eaglets peered out, probably impatient for food to be delivered.

Posted A Day Without News Media.

On my cycle ride: a howitzer outside a National Guard Armory was supplied by the British Government to recognize Minnesota’s 34th Infantry as the first American troops to engage the Germans in combat in World War II. Last week, the armory was surrounded by coiled razor wire.

Today we’re taking a vacation from the news. This morning we cycled, stopped for haircuts, then a bar lunch at a picnic table outside. My phone and tablet are turned off, I’m reading a paperback novel rather than an eBook. We’ll catch up with the news tomorrow.

Discovered our vacuum cleaner has a secret panel hiding a HEPA filter. We bought the appliance in 2011 and have never replaced the filter. Filters are two bucks apiece, so I ordered a bunch and added a recurring reminder in our calendar to replace the filter.

On my cycle ride, looked up to former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. When he became mayor in 1945, job and housing discrimination against Jews and African Americans were legal in Minneapolis. He put processes in place to reform the system and stop blatant discrimination.

On our walk: in place of friends and family, emojis gathered to celebrate a graduate.

Came home to this sight. At first I thought it was a pretend covered wagon, a thought I found unsettling. Turned out, Dwight was just air-drying a heated mattress pad he’d laundered before storing it for the winter.

Spotted this innocent scene while cycling along a residential street: Barbie and friends, oblivious to systemic racism, Covid-19, and each other. A little girl was down the block, playing with a friend, on to the next thing.

Grateful for excellent healthcare, even if it’s a screening colonoscopy.

After the events of last night it felt good to resolve a small crisis today. A neighbors’ grandchild had locked herself in their bathroom. Eventually I figured out the right tool to unlock a door from the outside. Relief and joy ensued.

Walked under the 10th Avenue Bridge, currently undergoing major rehabilitation. It’s next to the Interstate 35W Bridge that replaces a bridge that collapsed, without warning, during rush hour in August 2007.

Cycled down to Lake Street where we joined many hundreds of people with brooms and dustpans to do cleanup.

It’s a day for quiet reflection, a day to say nothing that could fan the flames.