July 08, 2008
 Inspired by the photo exhibit we saw today, I took a walk late this afternoon in the south part of downtown Minneapolis, down by Franklin Avenue. Above is an apartment building.  The entire mammoth Minneapolis Convention Center is as stark as the picture of a small part of it above.  I don't know how I'd survive staring out a window into my neighbor's window––especially given my hatred for curtains––but living in a building like this wouldn't be all bad.  Just keep walking in the downtown of a large city and you will be treated to all sorts of serendipitous surprises.  Even the older residential areas can serve up a treat.  Or two.
Another Minneapolis Museum Believe it or not this picture was taken in 1911. It is of a Jewish teacher in Russia. I was alerted to this Library of Congress online exhibit by my Aunt Beth, who saw some of the plates at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis today. Didn't know there was a big museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis, much less in the United States? Neither did I.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts Today, Lance and I visited Minneapolis Institute of Arts to see the Lee Friedlander photography exhibition. It was very good. Our eyes were worn out after seeing the photos, so we passed on seeing the other parts of the collection. But it was my first trip to what is a very impressive building. I will be going back!
July 07, 2008
I was a bit worried last week. I called Olla and she sounded as if everything was wound up and finished after the family reunion tour of Home Lake. She had paid all her bills. The bird feeder was filled. All in all, Olla was sounding uncharacteristically valedictory. But yesterday when I went to the Hilton, she was back into form. She always hesitates to tell me plans which involve me. I don't know why. I haven't kaboshed any of them yet. But after a long stroll outside with Olla in the wheelchair, during which time we used up an entire roll of film, Olla revealed her most recent plans. As I suspected, those plans involve her birthday. Because many of those involved also read this weblog, I will not name names, but suffice it to say there will be phone calls. Because Olla figures her 97th will be her last birthday, ("gosh, I hope so"), Olla is going to allow people to bring whatever they want for the potluck and see how it pans out. This permissiveness stands in stark contrast to the last two years where she was dictating the thickness of the egg salad on the buns. However, the food is to be served in my garage, not in the kitchen. I don't know where she got that one, but that is part of the Vision for the Birthday Party of 2008, so I will just let it go. The details kept flowing. Included is Olla's desire that the men visit on the porch while the women visit inside. I think this harkens back to the Depression or something. We'll see how that pans out. I am not quite sure how to tell the guests that they are to divide up by gender and go visit about appropriate things in the appropriate place, but there is no harm in trying. Olla's health has improved, although she is still quite weak. She still has problems with her eyes. It is difficult to tell whether it is an actual vision problem, or hallucinations. She did say she saw a fly on my nose. We have an eye appointment scheduled, and she is hoping that they can clear it up, but I am not so sure. So, once again there is a goal.
July 05, 2008
Here is a fascinating, if lengthy, article which lays out a history of the patriotism issue over the past decades. I think it is spot on, and I think it shows the depths of Obama's understanding of what ground he has to make up on that issue and many others. The slander that somebody who is liberal hates his country has stuck. But you can't tell me that great liberals like Hubert Humphery and Franklin Roosevelt hated their country. Obama is steadily knocking out the pillars from beneath the justification for a McCain presidency, although it isn't pretty to watch. For instance, why did he meet with a roomful of white nut case ministers after ditching his own nut case minister? Let's just get the nut case ministers out of politics! Let them tend to the souls of their flock, like the many good and decent ministers do who aren't addicted to political power and television time. When Franklin Graham pressed Obama on whether he was secretly a Muslim and whether he believed in the divinity of Christ and other doctrinal matters, there sat Obama once again making it sound like he agreed that being a Muslim was the worst thing in the world and that goodness sakes, he is the farthest thing from a Muslim and he really has no Muslim heritage, blah, blah, blah––that stuff isn't pretty. And it serves him right. You'll never convince those people, anyway. Once the loop-de-doops make up their mind that you're a secret Muslim, you're a secret Muslim and a liar on top of it for claiming otherwise. I remain strongly convinced that Barack Obama is going to make a great president. The campaign he has run so far has been one of the smoothest and savviest of recent times, especially for the usually bone-headed Democrats. He is cool under fire. He takes the long view and is willing to take a hit now for long-term benefit. He is wearing down his haters, and they are many. Fox News hates his guts, Rush Limbaugh hates his guts, Charles Krauthammer hates his guts, even Paul Krugman hates Obama's guts. They don't just disagree with his policies, they hate him. And Karl Rove has been using the pages of the Wall Street Journalto make repeated personal attacks against Obama's alleged arrogance. If you can judge a man by his enemies and by the level of their hatred and frustration, Obama's doing something right. Although Obama's policies, if implemented, will cost me money, I think we need a dose of pragmatic government programs (such as universal health coverage) and principled constitutionalism to counteract the erosion of faith in government, faith in public service, fiscal responsibility and respect for the rule of law that has gone on over the past decades.
While walking the streets of Boston one evening two weeks ago, I looked over and there was Michael Dukakis two feet away. I wondered what he was up to. He looks a bit bent over, but he was dressed impeccably and was carrying a briefcase. Now, I know. Here is a fascinating interview of Dukakis by Fox News.
July 01, 2008
 This big rumbler is hovering just east of the big Red Lakes and extends all the way to the Boundary Waters, according to the radar. From here, it looks like a mountain range. Some of the less clouds trailing the big one look good in the setting sun as well.
June 29, 2008
Twins centerfielder Carlos Gomez, already a fan favorite, expounds on his haunted hotel room in Milwaukee, his habit of chewing his fingernails, and his penchant for very bright clothing.
Power poles on the prairie 
 These four stately cottonwoods in front of Walle Lutheran Church south of Grand Forks aren't as tall as redwoods, but they are every bit as grand.
After nine months of anticipation, Aunt Olla succeeded in giving the Erickson clan a tour of their ancestral stomping grounds southeast of Twin Valley yesterday. It poured rain. But no matter. They brought umbrellas and rain ponchos and an estimated thirty people drove in a caravan over muddy roads to look at a couple of farmsteads with historic significance as well as a few empty fields where their family homes used to stand. Olla talked into a microphone which sent a signal to a remote speaker which one of the family members held. It was remarkable how many of the family endured the mud bath in good humor. Olla told about how the Ericksons were looked up to because they had a three hole outhouse. Olla and her friend Ruth would sit in the outhouse for hours so they wouldn't have to work. Afterwards, the whole crew went to the cafe in Twin Valley for lunch. The poor staff was overwhelmed, but they did a good job. The food was pretty darn good. Aunt Olla was all decked out for the occasion. The staff at the Hilton got her ready for the big day, and she was able to get in the pickup with no problem. She turned down the wheelchair and walked down the sidewalk into the cafe, which surprised me. In fact, Olla has improved a great deal in the past two weeks. Her voice has improved and so has her general vigor. I have yet to find out what Olla's next goal will be. She's getting awfully close to her 97th birthday, so perhaps she will start looking forward to that.
June 27, 2008
 Traveled to Oklee this afternoon to perform for a group of Senior Citizens at the fair there. On the way home, I spotted these roses just east of Brooks. "Brooks" is an appropriate name for a town with this beautiful scene of wild roses growing by a brook. It was one of the most charming scenes I have ever run across in this area. After a nap, I headed to Grand Forks to speak to a stevne, a group of Norwegians from a particular county in Norway, I am not sure which. After the meeting, which was enjoyable, I headed across some back roads out in the valley.  June is a grand time in the Red River Valley. The crops are green. The sun stays up late. Thunderstorms pass over and form mountain ranges to the east. The colors are more vivid as the evening progresses. Once off the main road, I ran into this church, Walle Lutheran. From the yard of the church, this view to the east struck me. The cemetery looked neat and dignified.  Only three miles to the east stood East Walle church. There were probably one or two active farmsteads between the two churches. One hundred years ago, enough population existed in the countryside to require two churches.
June 26, 2008
Last night I was the entertainment for about 150 accountants of the county departments of Human Services throughout Minnesota. They were having their convention at Breezy Point Resort near Pequot Lakes. I always try to figure out what the group will be like ahead of time, so as I was quizzing the woman who hired me, she finally said, "We're really a bunch of nerds!" Well, that was a relief. It was a fun group. I adjusted my regular presentation a little to include more accountant-related material. At one point, I was completely lost and just had to stop and figure out where I was. I never really figured it out, but I think at that point I was done. In addition to a nice fee, I got a free room at the resort, a dinner of prime rib and a breakfast buffet that was pretty darn good. So, it was a nice break. Lots of driving, however. I then went to Fargo to visit the yard of weblog reader Renee. I don't usually go out visiting yards, but in this case, it was a birthday gift to Renee from her husband! So, that was fun. Renee treated me to one of the best glasses of lemonade I have ever drank. Today was a lemonade day. Tomorrow night, I speak to a group of Norwegians in Grand Forks. I thought that was the only engagement for the day until Elaine called from Oklee. "Just confirming that you are going to speak to us on Friday at one o'clock!" Oh, you betcha, I said, I'll be there! If she hadn't called, I would have missed it completely. That one slipped through the cracks. Then, Saturday I am hauling Aunt Olla down to Home Lake township where she is going to deliver a lecture on family history to the Erickson family. Should be interesting. I will bring my camera. THOSE TWINS! What has gotten into them? They are playing well. They are mopping up on the National League, which is exactly what they needed to do. They are now seven games over .500, which really is a dream! And the Mets? Aided by the mighty Johan Santana, they have lost more than they have won. Of course, the Twins can't get too cocky: Today, the pitcher they shipped to Tampa Bay for Delmon Young, Matt Garza, threw a one-hitter for the surprising Rays. Meanwhile, Delmon Young is riding the bench for the Twins. He has been a major disappointment.
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