Sunday 09/19/10

Minneapolis, MN

Good Morning,

August and the hot and humid weather has led us into the chill of September and its cooler days and evenings, a welcome pleasure. A delightful time of the year.

To-day in our town is a double whammy sports day. The Minnesota Twins on a prolonged hot streak have all but sewen up the division title and ahead of the ailing Chicago White sox by 10 games. This late in the season almost an impossible task to catch up.

The Vikings on the other hand still struggle (even with Bret Favre at the helm) have a difficult time winning. All of this sports activity results in humungous traffic comming into Minneapolis streets and filling the many parking facilities and finding room to park those game buses that the business's provide as long as you spend money with them before and after the games.

Doris and I watch the traffic from our 14th floor balcony as the Twins crowd travels North to Target Field and the Vikings fans travel South to Mall of America Stadium (formally called the Dome). I suspect they wave when passing on Washington Avenue. Thanks to television we are able to escape all this crazynes while enjoying both games at the same time in the comfort of our home.

Last week was uneventful at our house. No medical emergency's no bad weahter to report, just our normal day to day activities. Doris is of coarse awaiting the call from Kenwood School for assistance with the kids and I am as usual spending my days at the shop trying to help and not be a drag.

Grandaughter Dawn was here to visited her two grandmothers his week end. She is a new Bride (last June) and resides in the small community of Sabeka, Minnesota. She works at a nursing home and husband Dave works as an auto mechanic. Dawn spent a fairly good time learing to filet fish (mostly walleyes) at Minnesota,s, Morey's Fish Company in northern in Northern Minnesota. She claims she worked there just long enough to become a pro at fileting Walleyes, Minnesota's favorite fish. "A smelly job she say's as you might expect. Tells us most all the fish that are purchased by that company (mostly from the Indian popoulation) arrive frozen, thawed, cleaned and shipped to back via restautrants and grocery stores. I don't want to be a pessimist, however, I watched a group of Native American's clean these famous walleyes on the shore of Lake Mille-lacs. I was turned off to see those fish that are caught in gill nets, die, are then left hanging till they are harvested. It was not a pleasent experience.

I stopped writing at the last paragraph to peek at the two games that were in progress here in Minneapolis, the Twins and the Vikings. Both lost so I must get my thoughts back together to continue. The Twins have won, are far enough ahead and not to wrry.

I can't say the same fro the Vikings. Three games three losses. I am happy that I am not an avid sports fan.

A few weeks ago I went Fishing with Daughter Jill at Jane and Garys home on Lake Morrison, about 160 miles north of Minneapolis. While were getting ready to leave for home, I unknowingly dropped one of my hearing aids in the bedroom on the way out. As I left I must have steeped on it. When Jane found it after Jill and I had gone it was completely smashed. I had to by a new one which is'nt an easy task. New fitting of the ear canal, three weeks wait while hearing at half volume. I finally got the new aid back and have been enjoying the new sounds when disaster struck for a second time. We were at lunch with daughter Jill and her friend Jill. Yes, a second Jill. When leaving the restaurant and hugging the girls good bye, my original hearing aid fell out of my ear. Must have been that great hug I recieved. Any way, before anybody could find it, disaster struck a second time. Yes, it ways destroyed by someones foot. So, now, I must go thru the same process and cost for a new second aid. The good thing is, it was the old hearing aid that was destroyed, not the one I just replaced. At leased I will again have a matched pair. We did catch fish at Janes and we did have agreat lunch with the two Jill's. I shall survive.

We hope all of you out there have a great September and are looking forward to the fall colors. Here in Minnesota there is only a hint of some tired leaves. We are looking forward to the hard wood trees to dress themselves in those beatiful fall colors. Everthing is still green and blooming and only a few trees are showing signs of the comming fall season.

Along with the leaves falling soon there are some other things you might remember that have disappered. See if you can remember the things that were part of our vocabulary a while back?

Fender Skirts, Steering Knobs, Continental Kits, Dimmer Switch on the floor of the car, Running Boards, how about the phrase Store Bought, Coast to Coast or Wall to Wall. When was the last last you heard "in a family Way". Brassieere's have become Bra's and supper has become Dinner.

See how many you can list.

I hope all have a great week comming up. Enjoy September and the fall weather. Remember that winter is not far behind.

Enjoy and keep in touch.

Jim and Doris

Minnepolis

Sunday,

September 12, 2010

This week in the Great Upper Midwest the weather has been terrific. No high temps, no high humidity just temps, delightful to work and play.

The football seaason has started and the baseball season is winding down. The Twins are in first place by 6 games or so in front of their nemisis the Chicago White Sox. We have (sort of) become fans of the Twins. The new Target stadium is not far from our door step and is is fun to see fans of all shapes, and sizes walking past before and after. It's a great facility. I have been to one game and was awed by the new stadium. There is parking, bus and train station right at the door. There are also numorous watering holes and the large number of bars and beer joints nearby to take care of the large crowds that have been attending the games to experience the new seats, food, and drink and thus far the winning season that the boy's of summer have provided. Tickets are hard to come by and expensive. No matter, as there is always a sell out. beer goes for 7 bucks, a coke and a hot dog are 4 bucks each. Best advice from old Jim is, eat and drink before you arrive at Target Field. It's a great facility and I believe the best in the Am erican Leauge. There always are the naysayers who said it wouldnt work, to close to downtown, to close to the garbage burner to much downtown traffic, and on and on. The bottom line ----- it works great and its almost impossible to get tickets.

School has started and as usual, Doris is getting ready to begin her 40th year at Kenwood. See volunteered for quite a few years, before realizing they would pay her for the same effort. She now receives a pension check each month that is hers, and enjoys being back on the volunteer list again. Daughter Jane, (Eide Saw) has rented part of the secure parking lot to a 5 school bus firm. This is exciting. I don't see them leave in the morning as I never get there till later, but it is fun to see them return, back into their spots and return in the PM to collect the kids they droped off in the morning.

Speaking of Eide Saw, Jane fell at church on a wet spot, (broke her left elbow of all things) She is a lefty and is having a devil of a time trying to get used to the inconvenience. No cast has been applied as they are havung her exercize the joint regulary.

Grand Daughter Jennifer paid us a short visit last Friday. She lives in Alabama and is here because husband Steve and Son James are spending time on the river with the new boat and motor Steve brought home one day. He is from Wisconsin so he know's boats. Sounds like a great plan to me. I hope they kept a journal of their adventure.

Last Saturday was 9/11. A lot of contriversy all over the country, especially New York. A difficult time for those who lost loved ones. In Minneapolis it is the third anniversary of the I-35 bridge collapes. Their is a memorial planned for the 13 who died in this disaster. The steel beams from the collapsed bridge have been saved as there are ongoing law suits in progress and the beams are evidence. I would guess it will be a long time before all the lawers have had thier day in court.

I have been cleaning out all of the electronic garbage I thought I could not live without. The condo management team has a place that rids us of all that stuff that is now usless to us but a gold mine to those who know how to retrieve the recycled parts. My closet is now available again. My Dad had a lot of camera equiptment in his day. I some how inherited it. I found a fellow who duplicates film to CD's and he is able to find those still interested in film and is glad to take it. I still have my 35m camera and lenses etc. I will keep this in case one of the great gand kids someday expresses an interested in how we old timers recorded pictures of big fish the elctronic age.

I am never sure who is interested in this blog that was created by our Grand Children.

I publish it and never know who or how many out there read it. I mail it to those who are not yet interested or unable to join in the computer revolution. I have been told that every one has a choice, read it or delete it. I do enjoy doing it, as it forces me to comunicate. In my past life I did not write letters. Many peolple still do not write. This is OK. I never had good penmanship and the computer has solved that for me. I still have a few problems with spelling but am able for the most part to solve that. They call it (spell checker)

In a small Minnesta town that shall be nameless;

A fire started at a local chemical plant and exploded into flames. The company president announced " all our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the building and must be saved. I will give $100,000 to the fire department that brings them out intact". The flames held the fire fighters off. In the distance, a siren was heard as an older fire truck came into sight, it was the Township Vounteer Fire Company of Norwegians over age 65. The engine roared past the newer engines right into the center of the inferno. The other fireman watched in awe as the Norwegian Old Timers drove right into the middle of the fire and brought the vault out, a performance never before witnesed. The Norse old timers extinguished the blaze and saved the secret formulas. The company president thanked each of the fire fighters personally.

A reporter asked the Norweigen chief ,"what are you going to do with all that money?

"Vell" said the 80 year old chief, Da first ting ve gonna do is fix da brakes on the gol dang truck".

Thanks for tuning us in.

Have a gr jim and Doriseat week end and keep in touch with each other.

Monday, September 9

Labor Day, 2010

To-day I woke to a Minnesota temperature of 61 delightful degrees.

Gone are the hot and humid days of July. In a day gone by I was able to do hard manual labor in any kind of weather, however as I age, my body wilts as did my tomatoes in the July heat.

To-day is the final day of "The Great Minnesota Get-together" the Minnesota State Fair.

Doris and I attended on the 27th of August. It was a warm day but not especially hot and humid as in days past. We listened to some awful loud music (I for a short time and Doris for almost the whole day). The music that I liked at the fair in past years is now given way to loud crazy stuff I do not enjoy. I did make the rounds at the fair, bought a few things that I could not live without and 1 hot dog and a Coke. Doris sat at the grandstand and listned to that awful music most all day except for a trip of two to the ladies room and some cheese curds and french fries. Wow what a diet. I left eary afternoon and as usual Doris hung out until the gates closed. We travel to the fair by bus so I did not have the responsability of driving home, just get on the non-stop bus, (50 cents) and enjoy the ride to a short block to our 14th floor home.

The attendance this year broke a record each day as it will to-day, labor Day. The polititions tend to crowd each other and are always a big draw this election year. I never listen as the news and TV are full of the complaints about the other person (the women candidates are no exception to complain about the incubunts and visa/versa).

Many people travel to our fair. It is the largest just behind Texas. The reason Texas is larger is that it runs 30 days, Minnesota 10 days. People from neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas are part of the success of Minnesota's annual event. On this past Friday there were almost 1/4 of a million folks that passed through the turnstiles. Up here were hung up on food on a stick. From walleye to what ever you can imagination to this years pig's ear on a stick. Because of Doris and my scandinavian upbringing we pass on everything except the infamous pronto pups/corn dogs and the greatest french fries you have ever eaten. Travel up to Minnesota some time to visitand we will treat you to a delitful bus ride and a day at the fair. Travel up some other day and we will treat you to a great day of sight seeing and food.

Doris has taken delivery of her new prescription shoes, She is now happy as a clam and traveling behind her walker with the 4 wheel brakes. She is still the 2nd worlds greatest bingo player just behind Grandma Carlson who will always hold a place in our hearts for bingo attendance in Rockford, Il. She traveled with her friends once each week all the while Doris and I were dating.

Not that another school year has begun Doris is preparing for the call from Kenwood School to return (her 40th year) to assisting the K thru 6 kids that find it difficult keeping up. Many are from single parent families and some are unfortunate to have uncaring parents and some just have trouble with school.

There is exciting news on our 14 th floor home ! We finally (after the summer is over) popped for a new balcony screen door. Now the bee's, hornets and flies will have to find a new home. We have at long last shut the critters out! Why did we wait so Long? We don't know. Just one of those things. Yesterday we were honored when Jim and Gina came for Dinner and Jay and our youngest grand children came to be spoiled by grand parents. They love the balcony and my small steam engine that seems to amaze them when we fire it up.

Doris and I have been in a tossing out phase. All those things that we coul'ndt live without are now gone and forgotten. After watching Oprah arrange to un-klutter homes on her program we thought "Why Not" and it's gone forever. We seem to be part of a society of people who cannot bear to through things out. There might be the time when we need those things so we tend to hang on. Get smart and throw it away. If you need one later call one of the kids.

Road construction is still moving at high speed here in Minnesota. Week end closures and detours are part of the motoiring life we all seem to lead. We have to push like crazy in upper midwest because of long winters and short road construction time in the snow country. Doris and I try to stay in our own back yard most of the time. I am not sure anymore how much longer I will be able to deal with all of the traffic. I do well where I am familiar and not comfortable when having to deal with traffic in unfamiliar places. I have only had 1, yes 1 speeding ticket in my lifetime of driving (got my license at age 15) and no serious accidents.

A few fender bumpers is all I can remember. I am one of those guys you hate to get behind!

We joined AAA and carry a cell phone as I refuse to exit the car if it stops or a tire gives out. Pull over as far as you can and be patient!

Have you heard about the 83 year old gentleman who talked himself out of a speeding ticket by telling the young officer he had to get there before he forgot where he was going!

Have a great day and enjoy.

Keep in touch, we love to hear from you.

Jim and Doris