Microblog

Yesterday Dwight picked up Shiitake and (new to us) Trumpet mushrooms at the farmers market. Tonight I’ll put them in a risotto. Many suggest not washing mushrooms, but I prefer to run them through a bowl of water, then dry them. Shiitake stems are full of umami, but sadly they’re tough and stringy, so they… Continue reading Mushrooms: My Two Cents’ Worth

It was raining, so I decided to walk. From East River Road, near the Franklin Avenue Bridge, I heard the sound of rushing water. Peering over a wall, I stumbled upon a hidden gem: Bridal Veil Falls. The stream has been tamed by a culvert, and the Falls diminished by development, and it lacks even a name sign. I later found photos of its untamed beauty. Click through for a glimpse of its past.

It was a drippy morning, so a walk was in order. I stopped for coffee at Downtown’s Spyhouse, a place I usually associate with winter. At various points today, including while sipping my coffee, I continued my research on bicycle balance. So far, I’ve seen enough convincing evidence that a bicycle can maintain equilibrium without… Continue reading Maintaining Balance

On my meander through a residential neighborhood, found an old-fashioned Italian deli where I sat down for lunch, listening in on local chatter. Two large meatballs in tomato sauce with bread and butter served on real dinnerware was about $8.

On the way home from a dental cleaning and checkup I realized the bus would stop opposite moto-i. I had to get off and enjoy a very serviceable bowl of tonkotsu ramen, my go-to comfort food. Maybe it was a reward for not having to see the dentist again until April 2025. I’m proud to… Continue reading A Taste of Somewhere Else

Last weekend there was a street art festival on Nicollet Mall in Downtown. The sidewalk chalk art had survived quite well when I reviewed it today, minus crowds.

We try not to miss Jake Shimabukuro when he’s in town. His musical style has grown increasingly complex and interesting over the years. He began the evening with his composition, “Sakura, Sakura” played Koto-style (Japanese instrument) on the ukulele. Later he played a piece that opened him to a wider audience in 2006, an interpretation… Continue reading Elevating the Ukulele

Our 14-year-old Dell was slowing down, so I gave it a new lease on life today by dual-booting Windows 10 and Linux (Ubuntu). Running Linux, it’s blazingly fast and handles almost everything Dwight and I need. Total outlay: $0.00 + too much of my time.

While cycling on a public road, I spotted this tangled industrial scene and stopped to capture it. A security guard told me to stop, threatened to call the police, then gave the middle finger when I said “go ahead.” I doubt anyone at General Mills will be upset with this photo of their grain silos.

Today was the day for my annual bike ride to the airport. My route included Fort Snelling State Park, which reopened this morning after flooding had subsided. I turned around at Terminal 2 and took the LRT home. I’ve never actually flown out of this terminal because I favor airlines in Skyteam or Star Alliance… Continue reading Two Wheels to T2

Over a welcome beer at our local, Dwight described his time at the greenhouse battling pests and mold on these grapevines. Meanwhile, I’d been caught in a Catch-22, ping-ponging between a vendor and Amex over fraudulent charges. Eventually, Amex took responsibility and issued a refund, leaving me free to enjoy my beer.

The cycling and walking paths beside the channel connecting Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska were underwater this morning. I knew from experience my feet would have been submerged even on a bike, and the water’s resistance would have been a challenge. Meanwhile, the canoeists seemed right at home.

On my random cycle ride down the Mississippi: a motorcade of black SUVs left Eastcliff, temporary home of our Governor, escorting Tim Walz to MSP. We’re delighted with the choice of this former high school teacher whose values align with ours. He’s authentic.

Downtown had its head in the clouds, it rained pretty much all day: time for LEGO. Instead of relying solely on a solid state gyroscope, I wanted to develop a better intuitive grasp of the physics involved. So, I built a test rig with an actual spinning flywheel. It flew apart, leaving my electronic robot… Continue reading Practical Physics

As usual our Sunday morning walk took us across Boom Island. Workers were busy tearing down after a two-day music festival, the Basilica Block Party. There was visual evidence this had been a large event.

Cycled through this calm place on my random steamy ride. Industrial areas like this one in St. Paul are best explored on weekends, away from the hustle of weekday truck traffic.