Peter has a childhood friend whom we always see in (and is a reason for going to) the Minneapolis area. He and his wife are life long locals who moved to Edina, Minnesota right around the time they had children. We saw them at their wedding; during our trip across country; and now, each time…
Category: Uncategorized
Minneapolis in 2 Days #3: Downtown to First Avenue
Peter booked a hotel within walking distance of First Avenue, so we could easily get there by foot, rideshare, or Skyway. We stayed at the Millennium Hotel which had the regular suite of amenities you can expect at a top hotel. As we found out, it also had a sauna. As we were going to…
Minneapolis in 2 Days #2: The Mall of America
The Mall of America near the Minneapolis airport was big news the first time I visited Minneapolis in 1999, but now everyone is used to the fact that the Biggest Mall in the United States exists. How big is it? Well, it’s so big it has an amusement park in the middle — as well…
Minneapolis in 2 Days #1: How Did I Get There?
A few weeks ago, Peter checked his email and found out that one of this favorite bands from his misbegotten youth, The Suburbs, was going to be playing in their home town of Minneapolis on Valentine’s Day. “Wanna go?” he said, and I said, “Sure. ” And since we are in Nashville, Minneapolis is only…
Destroying People and Freedom with the Power of the Perpetually Offended
I’ve been a Southerner now for less than 3 years, short enough to still be considered a West Coast Weirdo to the locals, yet long enough for it to be a complete surprise to me that the Confederate Flag, aka the Stars and Bars, is now the representation of Nazi White Supremacy. I have yet…
A Summer of East Coast Travel (Part 2)
I left my blogging for several months, and returned to find out I’d given my audience a cliff-hanger. As promised in Part 1 of my East Coast travel journey, I had more to talk about for the rest of the summer. It’s a spoiler, but the rest of our road trips that summer were visiting…
Social Justice Kills Womens’ Opportunities
I’m a volunteer firefighter in my county, and a woman. Yesterday, I was in training to learn how to decontaminate people and hazmat technicians after they’ve been in a “hot” zone. Part of the process includes getting suited up in a chemical suit which has to be taped up around the firefighter’s respirator mask, the…
You’re In The South Now
We’ve now been living in Tennessee for just over a year, and it’s beginning to feel more like home. I may be redundant, but it is still disorienting that we now drive to the family (in Columbus, Ohio and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) which used to fly out to see us, and I’m no longer busting out…
Hanging out with Charlie Daniels in the Cheese Aisle
We have unpacked one 16 foot POD and two smaller 7 foot PODS, so our house isn’t completely bare on the inside. It’s chaotic as we continue to unpack (and wait for new carpet in the bonus room/Pete’s new office), but that’s going to be the case for a while. Meanwhile, I’m getting to know…
Nearly Executed by Hot Chicken
I have now lived in Tennessee for almost a month, but my mind continues to be blown every day. I went to a local Toastmasters meeting yesterday. My former group was an Improv Toastmasters group, and a more experienced member warned me that other groups can be much more formal, and will actually fine…