Miscellaneous Missives

Yesterday I joined a group of six other friends from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin to ride the Root River Trail (Lanesboro, Minnesota area).  Although I've heard a lot about this trail, I'd never ridden it.  It's one of the smoothest trails I've ever ridden.  It really was a glorious day. Going into the ride, I was worried because I'm not getting in the miles this year that I have in the past due to all the cancelled rides including the week long RAGBRAI ride. A friend offered to ride is fat tire bike, so I'd be more comfortable.  I had no idea he'd really do it.  It must have been a brutal ride for him, and I stayed back to ride with him.  We had interesting conversations about police.  He's a former cop.  I still strongly believe (especially in Minneapolis) that police should be defunded, but it was interesting to get his perspectives.  I'm glad we were able to spend the time together.   I'm thankful for summer, friends, and bike ...

I played 18 holes of golf today.  On the first nine holes, I lost five balls.  Typically, I play with a bright pink ball (five of which went in swamp grass, water, and trees).  After 9 holes, I went in the clubhouse and bought three new orange balls (at $3 a piece... crazy).  On the second nine, I only lost one.  Maybe changing my attitude and mindset helped, but I think it might have been the new orange golf balls.   At one point in the golf game, I made some comment about the need (or not) for two cop cars outside the clubhouse.  My golfing partner said, "Well, since you want to defund the police, there wont' be any police."   I replied, "Why does no one complain and think we'll no longer have teachers when they defund public schools?"  I then looked at the two we were playing golf with and apologized for going off about defunding.  Luckily, they both agreed with me and took my side.  One was a chemical engineer.  I...

I do not miss Zoom meetings.  That being said, I watched two Zoom interviews today which were absolutely delightful.  The first was an interview with Ibram X. Kendi about his book Antiracist Baby .  The questions and conversation was informative .  Resources were also given throughout.  Of course, I preordered the picture book.  Although it's meant for grades K-3, I know I"ll be able to use it as we talk about community.  It's pretty cool!!  Next, I listened to a Zoom interview with Angie Thomas , author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up).  I guess I didn't realize she was so young.  Well, young to me.  She had quite a bit of insight about BLM and our current situation.  It went further than her books, and I appreciated it.   Tonight I'll have a Zoom meeting for my home owners' association board.  We're going to have yet one more conversation about landscaping.  It will not be nearly as enlightening....

Today my brother and I drove to visit our dad for Fathers Day (Father's Day, Fathers' Day??).  We live equidistant from him, so we planned on leaving at the same time and arriving around noon.  I left a little late because I was trying to find the picture of him reading to me when I was a child.  It's my favorite.  My other excuse was that I was brining the steaks, salad, and potatoes, but I was smart enough not to use that as an excuse.  Anyway, my brother and I raked rocks that needed evening and pulled weeds.  Most of the time Dad watched, but he couldn't resist pulling weeds in the once flower garden.  All the time as my brother and I were sweating profusely, we sarcastically repeated, "Isn't this gardening so relaxing.... so therapeutic...).  It's obvious why I choose to live in a condo.

Today I played a round of golf in the morning.  I returned home to watch a roundtable called Make it Matter.   It was the second in a set of three.  The conversation is needed and is not unique to Minnesota.  I hope this continues.  Please check it out. I also sat outside and read Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas.  I've read a lot of articles about him but this memoir gave me insight that is important.   Some of my highlights: "'Consider yourself lucky." I didn't. I was just mystified.  But what was becoming clear-- and what I started internalizing... was that race was tangible, tortuous, black- or -white thing in a country where conservations about how you identify and who you represent largely fall into two extremes.  Nonblack, nonwhite people hat to figure out." "I learned that race was as much about behavior-- perceived behavior, expected behavior-- so it was about physicality, 'Don't be too whit...

I've always gone to the Midtown Farmers' Market even though it is not the closest to me.  It's my favorite.  As the name says, it's located in Midtown.  More importantly, it's located a couple of blocks to the former Third Precinct.  My drive to the market takes me down Lake Street through miles of devastation now turned into plywood art.  The city seems as though it's on the verge of something.   Today was my first day at the market.  The market has changed:  wash hands, social distance, follow the through the vendors in a circle.  No more perusing all the vendors and then going back (or at least it makes it more difficult).  It's early in the season, so I wasn't able to get snap peas as I had hoped.  My purchases included lettuce, lemon ricotta cookies, pickles, and empanadas.  Perhaps not much produce, but I do enjoy the market.   As I was walking out past Moon Palace Books (the location of the market), I noti...

I've been concerned about an oil leak in my car.  When I took it in for the last oil change, they recommended keeping an eye on it.  They saw some trouble areas but nothing that needed immediate action.  Lately, I've had a bit of oil under my car, so I decided to take it in.  Typically, I take my car to a place in Boji.  I know the service manager and feel comfortable and trusting of the operation.  Yesterday, I took my car to a local place since I have an out of town trip planned for next week.  The diagnosis for my car was horrible.  Not only did I have some oil leak problems, I also had a huge radiator problem. Now, my car is a 2003 Rav4 with 237,000 miles.  The cost of the repair is $1,300.  Dang!  I contacted a couple people and the service master from Boji.  She showed the pictures and cost estimates to her mechanics.  She said there's no way I should be driving it which is what the mechanic here had mentioned. ...

Yesterday I had another zoom meet.  It was basically someone from the district talking way to long and ignoring comments.  After a little over an hour, we were given time to meet with our dyad partner to discuss how to put the reading standards into ELA.  It was easy.  Both of us agreed and knocked it out. The day was delightful because I hired a cleaning person for a one time clean.  Luckily the power went off after she was done with the vacuum, so she could continue.  It was delightful.   That means today was my first day of vacation.  I basically did nothing all day.  It was a needed break.  All I did was read ( The Warmth of Other Suns ), eat, and go for a walk.   I'm not sure what summer will bring, but my hope is that it's fun and relaxing.

I don't really have the words for the last two weeks.  If you follow me on FB, you've seen the pictures. Monday,  May 27th George Floyd was killed in the street. Tuesday, June 28th Riots started in Minneapolis with some arson. I went out to see the damage to my city/neighborhood. Wednesday, June 29th The Third Precinct was burned.  Although I'm upset about the destruction (arson, looting) to the neighborhood businesses which were mainly owned/managed by POC, I feel the precinct needed to go. Thursday, June 30th I road my bike to Midtown to check out the destruction once again.  Even midday, buildings were still burning.  People were already in the streets with brooms cleaning up the area. Friday and Saturday the looting came within a block from my house.  I wasn't too concerned because they were going after businesses, but I did have an escape plan.  When a black friend who lives in a southern inner suburb said she'd come get me, I told her that her bl...