Worked throught TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exercises with an adult learner. It's always a joy to work with people who want to learn. Categories: Volunteer Read more

On my walk, Old Man River was frisky. It crests this week, but flooding won’t be an issue in our immediate neighborhood because it flows through a gorge. Categories: Our Neighborhood Read more

After reviewing an upcoming trip to Japan with a nephew and his dad, the rest of the family joined us for a trip to a Japanese restaurant. With two teenagers in tow, this photo represents a fraction of what was eaten. Categories: Eat, Family Read more

Started assembling materials for a show-and-tell tomorrow with our 15-year-old nephew and his dad. We’ll be backpacking in Japan for three weeks, traveling by train using national rail passes, and staying in mostly budget hotels. Categories: Japan, Plan Read more

Lined up the ingredients for Spam musubi, a Hawaiian take on Japanese onigiri. I’ll pretend it’s healthy: the Spam has 25% less sodium, and the brown sugar is organic. The nonstick musubi mold is convenient, but a Spam can lined with plastic wrap also does the job. Categories: Cook Read more

On my cycle ride, spotted changes that had occurred over the winter. Apartment buildings were popping up, a traffic circle eliminated the need for traffic lights. Here, a crew is dropping off clips that will fasten rails to railroad ties for the Green Line LRT extension. Categories: Cycle, Twin Cities Read more

Today’s high was a record 88°, so we cycled downriver to Longfellow Grill for dinner. Snow is forecast for Sunday, such is our continental climate. Categories: Seasonal Read more