The 35W Bridge

Annie, Silvi and I went down to see what remains of the 35W bridge last night. The authorities have blocked off a large area around the bridge, so we weren't able to get close to it. We used the bridge each week to visit my parents; on our return trip in the evenings, crossing the bridge presented a panoramic view of downtown Minneapolis and the river. Here are some of the pictures I took last night.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

Minnesota surfer

You can follow my exciting mid-life crisis, I mean adventures, over here.

I am a Minnesotan

As I walked back from a fast food restaurant on my lunch break, on this brisk 36 degree afternoon, with no jacket, scarf, gloves or hat on, drinking a milk shake, I realized that I truely have become a Minnesotan.

You betcha.

Feeling my age

I'm a little sore this morning. Last week as we were cleaning out our closets, I stumbled across my old rollerblades. It's been at least ten years since I strapped them on and I only used them a few times at that. Last night was one of those perfect summer nights, the kind when it's still 80 degrees at nine at night and the air is sweet and thick. Under the cover of darkness I went down to our lake, Lake Harriet, and strapped on my blades. I was sure I would remember how to use them, and would be catching air in no time.

I did in fact catch air, just not how I intended to. I had hoped the lake would be deserted, yet it seemed that everyone had the same idea. I landed flat on my gluteous maximus in front of a carload of teenagers. It was a great fall. Feet flying out in front. Hands clutching for the air. I don't know how the teens responded because I was in pain. Yet I kept at it for the better part of an hour, trying to keep a little of my dignity.

Lake Harriet is gorgeous; I love that I can see the city in the background, and one of my favorite fountains is on the east side. My plan is to be able to rollerblade completly around the lake, then make my way through the park to the adjoining Lake Calhoun. After I soak in hot tub for a few hours. And I think I'll wear those wrist guards, too. Rollerblading is fun, but I already broke my wrist once trying to take a ramp my first time snowboarding. I hope I've learned my lesson. Probably not.

Mercado Central

Yesterday morning was daddy - daughter time. At least once a week I like to kidnap my little girl and explore. We often go to the Mercado Central in the Latino part of town. It's a small mall with kiosks full of clothes and jewelry and loud music. We are often the only Anglos there, and elicit a look or two. It really does feel like you have crossed the border into Mexico. There's a food court where I can get delicious empanadas and apple soda. Silvi and I shared an excellent pastry and lots of new sights and smells. I hope she remembers these times, or at least that they create a "feel" within her.

Linden Hills

We live in the best neighborhood in Minneapolis. Hands down. Linden Hills is in the heart of the city, yet it feels like a true community. It's almost like living in a small European neighborhood. We spent the weekend down at the park, letting Silvi explore and "bark" at passing dogs. Met a few friends to play frisbee and sit by the water.

When you get a chance, read more about Linden Hills here.

Holy Land Deli

Best place to watch the World Cup in Minneapolis: Upstairs in the Holy Land Deli. (Of course, you may have to pause for the mid-day prayer call over the very loud PA system.)

Temptation

It's been so nice out lately; I'm very tempted.

Walking

On days when my wife takes the car, I walk to a restaurant for lunch. Taco Bell. KFC. Subway. At least once a week, someone yells something at me as they drive by. I never really catch what they are yelling.

Bloomington isn't a good place to walk. Weir, Germany is a good place to walk. Athens is not. Seattle is, if you don't mind the hills. West Palm Beach isn't; no sidewalks and too hot. Chicago is probably the best city that I've lived in to take a walk. No one ever yelled at me there.

Bloomington, MN

I make videos for many of the corporations in Bloomington, Minnesota. Training videos, promotional videos, interactive and educational videos. I shoot these videos, edit them on a very nice computer in a very dark suite, and then distribute these videos, usually as DVDs, although lately, clients have been asking for streaming media.

There are two Bloomingtons. One Bloomington is beautiful: expensive houses overlooking pristine lakes, a ski area, quiet neighborhoods, a college campus. The other Bloomington, where I work, is the industrial part of Bloomington. Railroad tracks, equipment rental facilities, massive corporate headquarters, the Mall of America, hotels, freeways, tourists from Iowa. John Deere. Caterpillar. Donaldson Company. Toro. Thermo King.

Bloomington suffers from schizophrenia. Beautiful and ugly. Delicate and coarse. Lexus and 18-wheeler, side-by-side.

This is where I spend most of my days. Welcome.

Garrison Keillor

Last night we introduced Silvi to the spokesman of all things Minnesota, Garrison Keillor. He was reading from his new book, an anthology of his favorite poems, and read his excellent introduction to the book. I was encouraged to hear him say that it is still quite hard for him to write, that he still has to sweat his way through the process. It seems to come so naturally to him. Catch the audio from last night on MPR radio's live webcasts.

Vacation

We had a great time away. Our first vacation with Silvi. We picked a fantastic hotel overlooking Lake Superior, with views of beautiful sunrises over the water each morning. The first day was so foggy that we literally could not see more than a few feet in front of the car. We drove around the bluffs, exploring what we could. The next day was gorgeous, sunny and warm. We kicked back on a boat ride along the coast, where we were dwarfed by the huge ocean freighters from all over the world. Silvi slept on my lap, the wind blowing her hair that is always sticking straight up. She wasn't too impressed with her first boat ride.

We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting down by the water and wandering through bookstores and eating ice cream. We capped the day off at an Omni Theater showing of the Mysteries of the Nile, where Silvi sat and watched wide-eyed. Sometimes, when I swing Silvi a little too high, she throws her hands out to stabilize herself. She did that a few times during some of the helicopter shots. I'm just glad she didn't get sick.

It was one of the best times we've had in a while. We weren't sure in the beginning when the lightning struck the transformer down the street, knocking out our cable tv for an afternoon. But as Trading Spaces suddenly lit our screen, we knew all was well in the world.

North Shore

We decided to drive up to the North Shore along Lake Superior and play at a water park (if it will stop raining). We've booked a room with a balcony overlooking the small beach, and are just going to swim in the pool and eat and watch some cable tv and eat some more.

See you in a few...