Microblog

Posted The Time I Sneaked onto a Night Train from Communist East Berlin to Prague.

The University of Minnesota’s covered walkway across the Mississippi provided a welcome respite from rain and slush. Later, I was glad to warm up on one of the light rail trains that run on the lower deck of this bridge.

Walked to a Home Depot to choose picture hangers and drywall anchors. On the way, stopped to enjoy the 1928 Art Moderne former Cream of Wheat headquarters and factory, now condos.

Enjoyed Christmas pudding, ice cream, and whipped cream. Later we had Christmas cake which a friend made in the UK and managed to get through customs.

While I walked, canoes waited for the ice to melt on Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis.

Took home a piece of Hawaii.

First Christmas gathering of the season at our nephews’ and their parents’ home. Our nephews had insisted on Christmas crackers (a British tradition). We’ve brought them up well.

British seasonal fare: Dwight made (sweet) mince pies and I made/assembled sausage rolls.

Posted A Motorized Ottoman and Other Specialized Household Items.

Took a train to Minnehaha Park, looked at the Falls, walked home.

I’ve walked past this bike rack many times on my way to my Wednesday gig. Today I realized it’s seasonally appropriate, so I took a photo and performed a little image manipulation.

Wandered around the University of Minnesota West Bank campus with a friend, testing doors. If a door was unlocked, we walked in. Discovered this re-creation of 221b Baker Street. The University has the world’s largest collection of Sherlock Holmes/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle material.

The green roof of the Minneapolis City Hall (built 1888–1909) popped against blue on my Downtown walk. Probably the best-known occupant of City Hall was Hubert Humphrey, mayor from 1945-1948. He became a US Senator, then Vice President in the Johnson administration.

On my neighborhood walk, it was hard to walk past Midwest Mountaineering, a top-notch, locally owned outdoor gear and apparel store. Yesterday I did walk in and buy mittens fit for an Arctic expedition.

Stared down a former resident of Minnesota: a woolly mammoth.

The view became sepia on my walk to Theodore Wirth Park.