Microblog

Walked my bicycle down a dirt road behind the derelict Harris Machinery Company building at the edge of the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus. I love this crumbling edifice, but until today thought it was beyond redemption.

I’m cooking basic baby back ribs this afternoon: rub with fresh garlic and a dry rub, then cook low and slow (225°F). The simple dry rub varies, but I usually include paprika, salt, brown sugar, and black pepper. A dish of water on the lower rack increases the humidity.

On my way to pick up meds at Walgreens, dismounted at the Central Library for Taiko drumming. A guy used a calligraphy brush to interpret the piece, “Impermanent Wind.” The drumming and my meds speak to my own impermanence, and that’s OK. Mono no aware.

Posted Antequera: the Case for B-List Travel.

Braced myself for a routine dental cleaning and checkup. There were no unexpected extractions from my wallet.

Cycled through St. Paul with a friend looking for vestiges of the past. Spotted this lamplighter, frozen in time, on a residential street.

Cycled in search of objects, hidden in plain sight, that I’ve missed on previous cycle rides. Found Saturn. This and five other installations by Minneapolis sculptor, Zoran Mojsilov, occupy a small sculpture garden in Camden, North Minneapolis.

Stopped for breakfast beside Lake Harriet.

Read a newspaper on my phone while waiting for a haircut.

Cycled past colorful commercial buildings in a predominantly residential area of South Minneapolis.

Watched the riverfront Red, White and Boom fireworks display from our balcony. Over several hours, thousands gathered below.

The video screen showed stunning rainfall on the island of Kyushu, southern Japan, a place I love, while I quietly slurped ramen.

Cycled over to St. Paul’s East Side with a friend to visit another Carnegie Library: East Side Freedom Library. Formerly a public library, this institution is a nonprofit with a mission to “inspire solidarity, advocate for justice and work toward equity for all.”

Traveling by Numbers…

5:30 a.m., Marbella Bus Station. Today we’ll fly to Paris CDG then nonstop to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MSP.

Immediately after a most satisfying seafood dinner, the boys did jumps and spins on trampolines. Meanwhile, we watched while finishing our drinks in the restaurant.