Being down – and how I (temporarily) fixed it.

Several weeks now, I’ve been kinda down. Lots of reasons. But, once I knew BFF Rick was going to come over (originally yesterday but we moved it today), I got my stupid, sorry, depressed ass off the couch, out of bed, out of the funk, out of the mope, whatever, and started cleaning and tidying; I’m the type who doesn’t make the bed each day; and I sometimes ‘laugh’ (or, roll my eyes) when I see … [Read more...]

Watching a really old movie

In the hotel room, working on a (new) modeling project, BUT, with the tv on, which is playing “Hunt for Red October”! That movie never ever gets old. Yes, I’m pretty sure I know almost every line almost everyone says. [jk] “Somebody must have a burr up his a$$ to do a stunt like this”. “Jack, next time, just write a <…> damn memo” Etc. Etc. Etc. … [Read more...]

Bread making – grocery store run

Went to the grocery store this morning, intending on getting the required ingredients for the new Bread Making machine: Bread Flour Dry Milk (didn’t realize there was such a thing) Sugar Salt (already had it) Butter (same) And this little important thing called Active Yeast. Thinking it would run me less than twenty bucks. Ended up spending ~$160. Obviously more than just the above. Just … [Read more...]

TV shows I’m watching

A friend of a friend (of another friend) during Thanksgiving dinner recommended watching Amazon Prime Video’s new show “Homecoming” (with Julia Roberts). I’d seen the preview trailers but couldn’t decide if I would be interested or not. I’m glad this younger gentleman suggested it. Been binge watching for last couple of days, and I’m about to watch the last episode of Season One. Not going to tell … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving day, Pies!

After the usual turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, rolls, etc., our host had, not one, not two, not...[ok, we get the idea], but five, count them five different deserts from a (wonderful) desert place called Wouletts. They were: Pumpkin pie Cherry pie Apple pie Triple berry pie, and a Cranberry tart. The thing is, there were only nine of us there for … [Read more...]

Bread Maker arriving today

On my way home on the bus, I remembered my new Bread Maker was being delivered today. The Amazon product listing did not mention whether or not the maker included an initial bread making mix, so I thought I should go buy some after getting off the bus. Knowing Cub Foods would probably be overwhelmed with people doing last minute shopping for the holiday, and because I also needed to go to Michaels … [Read more...]

Going to see Holst’s Planets – NOT!

Had a pretty tough decision to make this past week. Couldn’t decide, so no decision was made. The quandary was, which night should I go see MN Orchestra, playing Holst’s Planets, Fri evening or Saturday evening? Didn’t want to “stay” at the office for 2-3 hours waiting until the 8pm performance, so after I left the office for home yesterday afternoon, I chose to let the decision default to … [Read more...]

Movie: Peacock

Watched a really different movie tonight, “Peacock”, staring Cillian Murphy (whom I find to be always seemingly play very bizarre characters), Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon, and Bill Pullman. It’s kinda mystery, psycho thriller. Not scary though. If you intend to watch it, don’t read up on it before watching - it’ll ruin one of the many plot twists. Less than ninety mins long. … [Read more...]

Leisurely Sunday – Biking down the River Kwai

Embellishments follow. Lots of embellishments. Got invited to go on a bike ride today. Knowing I’d not been on my bike since 3-4 yrs ago, they said, “It’ll be fun - don’t worry, it’ll be an easy ride - just round the neighborhood, one time around” Ok, I said. For whatever reason, they convinced me to put on a blindfold as I got into their car, with my bike. The car stopped, and I was allowed … [Read more...]

Photo of The Little Girl – INTL Day of Music – Downtown MPLS

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Friday in the park – with The Little Girl

[sorry for the lack of paragraphs.] Re: Friday evening. The four of us get to the local park around 6:30, and the band is playing 80’s oldies (specifically, Chicago’s “Saturday in the park”). It’s cloudy out, not too hot. We set up our chairs more toward the water gizmo area, than our usual area near the music/stage. GranMaRose gets out the blanket and lays it out on the grass. The little girl is … [Read more...]

Friday in the park – “checkin in”

Place: Kelley Park (coordinates:  44.72846993248, -93.204396725) With the little girl, Baby Ruby (who still isn’t saying much to me), and GranMaRose, listening big band playing hits from Chicago (could be a rock band too, I guess) More later. Nice cool evening out here … [Read more...]

Loring Park Art Festival – part 2

As posted earlier today, we went to the Loring Park Art Festival yesterday. These are the two photographs I picked up. The photograph of Lake Calhoun looking toward the MPLS downtown skyline is truly awesome, and was the first one that caught my eye by this particular photographer. Its 10x14, with a 3” mat surrounding it, meaning I’m going to have to get a 16x20 frame for it. I know exactly where … [Read more...]

Loring Park Art Festival – part 1

Forgot to “check in” yesterday. Had a really nice day, looking at all the creative art that people produce. I came across a photographer who is local to the twin cities so he had a lot of downtown MPLS photos, and I had chosen one photograph print to buy (either 11x17 or maybe 16x20), unframed since the framed version was three times the cost of the unframed. As I was paying for it, another … [Read more...]

Movies – Molly’s Game

Went to see “I, Tonya” at the Uptown Theater, getting there ten minutes before the movie started - thinking it would be pretty easy to get in. Holy Crowd, Batman! It was sold out! Fortunately, the Lagoon Theater is just a block away, and had a choice of seeing Star Wars, “Three Billboards”, or something called “Molly’s Game”. Didn’t know a thing about the 2nd or 3rd movies, but noticed that … [Read more...]

Knight and Day – With me, without me

From the spy comedy movie "Knight and Day": Tom Cruise is talking to Cameron Diaz, about her life expectancy...raising his hand, then lowering it, raising his hand, and lowering it. "...out there on your own, with me, without me, WITH ME, without me." [guess you had to be there - to see his hand gestures.] The scene is about one minute and twenty seconds in. youtube of knight and day … [Read more...]

Eating, and Chocolate

Talking about eating... As mentioned in a previous post, Rick and I were having lunch yesterday, and I remarked that lately, I have an urge for chocolate immediately after having a meal "to cleanse my palette", resulting with my snarking down a chocolate bar, ("immediately") after dinner, etc. Astonishingly, he told me he also has the urge/feeling/desire, and does the same. Anyone else do this? … [Read more...]

Writing as a hobby – something to help me

I was at Tar'get last night, getting my "school supplies" for the new job. A couple of notebooks, notepads, and some pens. I came across this "book" called: "300 writing prompts" First prompt: What's your favorite way to spend a lazy day? Totally random page opening: if you had an opportunity to write as a career, what would you write? (Yes, I kid you not - totally random page). Another … [Read more...]

Afternoon with a former colleague

Had a great day yesterday! A former USPS colleague and I met for lunch and a movie. She and I worked together for about a year or two, before she retired. We've always talked about getting together for lunch or whatever, but "never got around to it". She enjoys some of the same things as I do: theatre, movies, etc. Well, we finally got together yesterday, and we just had the best time. We met at … [Read more...]

Misc thoughts about the past weekend

Just not in the right mood to write today for some reason. But, let's try and see what I can come up with: Had a truly nice evening on Friday with Lailah (and her GranMaRose), first opening my b-day presents (play-doh "ice cream cone" making toy, and a nice photo collage frame that will hold 5-6 pics of Lailah, as well as a gift card to IHOP). For some reason, I think both the play-doh toy and … [Read more...]