Miscellaneous Missives

Today is the last day of July. It's crazy.  I promised myself that I would start working on school stuff in August.  Tomorrow's August, so I decided to use today to finish scanning pictures.  A few weeks ago when it rained, I went through old photo albums and marked photos to be saved.  It was a crazy "trip down memory lane."  Today I finished scanning them and returned the old albums to the basement.  If felt good to get the tub out of my dining area.   I love this picture of my brother and I.  Obviously, he was not interested in what I was doing. There were also these lovelies of my in/on the inner tube.  I guess floating devices have changed a lot over the years.   Goodbye July :(

This summer has been fairly uneventful, and it saddens me.  All of the big fun rides have been cancelled.  The Covid outbreak in NW Iowa is horrible, so I don't want to go back to Boji to visit.  Basically, I feel a bit stuck in Minneapolis seeing the same folks (who really are delightful).  Last weekend, however, I went to Cedar Falls. Iowa to play golf and bike with friends.  It was all low key, and we were never in a group of more than five people.  It felt good to get away.   On the ride through Waterloo, I back tracked to get a picture of this sculpture.  Notice the cassette even has a pencil in it (for those who remember cassettes).  I thought it was pretty cool. Yesterday I went on a ride following a new (to me) trail in Minneapolis.  I also back tracked to take this picture.  I'm not sure why, but I found it interesting.   Finally, my last week of outings brought me in touch with these two dogs.  Dogs lik...

Summer is a different thing this year.  I'm not on my bike as much as usual.  Covid has changed many of my socializing opportunities.  It's not all bad.  I've been reading and watching webinars.   I recently read Wes Moore's Five Days, the Fiery Reckoning of an American City.   It was amazing.  Although I've read Wes Moore's The Other Wes Moore: One Name Two Fates , I didn't know much about Wes Moore the writer (and so much more).  In preparation to watch last night's Webinar with Wes Moore, I started reading Wes Moore's My Work:  My Search for a Life that Matters.   It resonates with me as much as any of his other books.  Last night as I watched him speak and answer questions, I was reminded that I need to keep reading and watching these Webinars in order to become a better teacher and citizen.   Today I watched a Town Hall Meeting about the right of education .   I didn't know anything about the Lawsuit f...

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.