Attention bike fiends

I (David) just saw a flyer for a bicycle film contest for some film/art organization in or near the UofM. I’ve got a camera, and will soon have the means of producing video on DVD (one of the acceptable mediums). I also have some ideas, but like the idea of collaborating. If any of you folks are interested in making something to submit for the contest, let me know. Until I can find a web page that explains the contest, just e-mail me for details. There is only a month to work on it (and I’ll be gone for a portion of that time), so time is of the essence. Just to give you all a couple of ideas about what I’m thinking: Humor (perhaps something that involves pies), and avoiding the anti-car cliché. Of course, I’m open to suggestions and negotiations.….. aaaand, end scene.

Green grass exemption

Finally there is a reasonable candidate for mayor. Perhaps having a green mayor would put a stop to this Gestapo enforcement of short grass mandates that the city has been threatening us with. On Saturday, both our neighbors and us received notices in the mail that our lawns were too tall (the city workers must not have realized that they were using a metric tape measure). If we didn’t cut them, the city would do it and charge us something like $250. Neither of us had working mowers at the time. Perhaps there is a conspiracy that involves hardware stores and big box retailers. If one of us goes to Elizabeth Dickinson’s announcement today, then perhaps we can ask her thoughts on the matter.

Fiery hot chili cont...

During some down time at work today, I (Heather) found another link to Tomo's recent accomplishment. And here's a link to brother Jason's win two years ago and his Blazing 8 chili recipe.

Fiery hot chili

Congratulations to Tomo for beating out his brother, Jason, in the firefighters’ chili contest. Jason was a former grand champion. Not only had he won the local level contest, but he went on to win in some broader category.

Though we have yet to sample Tomo’s chili, we did manage, by great coincidence, to sample Jason’s prize-winning chili some time ago. When we were looking for a house a year and a half ago, we asked our realtor to show us a newly listed house on Montreal Ave. The realtor wasn’t sure if there would be anyone home, so before opening the key box, she rang the doorbell. To our surprise, Jason answered. He invited us in to look at the house. Before we left, we chatted about his task at hand. He was just finishing a batch of chili to be entered into a contest. He gave us each a taste. Though I (David) am not big on beefy foods, I must admit, it was of prize-winning caliber.

I can’t imagine what Tomo must have done to top that. Of course, from what I remember, the making of good food runs in their family. But, one thing I can’t remember, is who’s idea it was to sample Nugget’s dog food back in our childcare days. I’m fairly certain that it wasn’t me.

# 2

Our second anniversary was celebrated on board the Covington Inn. We arrived on the boat just as the 1st annual blues festival got under way on Navy Island. As we situated ourselves on the private patio for relaxing evening, we were treated to free blues tunes by which to watch boat traffic on the Mississippi. We thoroughly enjoyed the pilot house suite. David slept soundly for many hours. Heather took a while to adjust to the foreign sounds of the river, but woke up well rested the next day nonetheless. Breakfast was just as yummy as we remembered it, and Liz, the innkeeper, even made Heather’s breakfast without bananas (which is a good thing). Come check out time, we were sad to leave. But we made sure we’d have plenty of opportunities to come back again, because we booked ourselves for the 3rd weekend of June for the next few years. Hopefully next year one of the blues bands will be someone we have actually heard of.

The next SHSK show

Saturday, July 9th

Westbound Train, The P. Lacquers, The Second Hand Ska Kings, and Mikey & the Disagreements

@ the Red Sea
doors at 5, $8 ALL AGES

Lethal brew

David’s old school chum Roger gave a call on Friday. He was looking to buy us a dinner and catch up on things. So we met him at the Savoy Inn where David split the worst Savoy pizza he’s ever eaten with Roger (which was still a good tasting pizza). Then it was back to the house to watch a 9-11 conspiracy theory documentary. Heather spent that time prepping for a conference which occupied the rest of her weekend.

While Heather was at the conference on Saturday, I (David) went on the “dead brewery tour” (photos) which was apparently put on by Surly. Though I didn’t learn much new information about the breweries, the ride itself was fun. Except for the sunburns, it’s nice to go on the occasional daytime group rides.

On Sunday, after running some errands, I decided to do some yard work in an effort to even out my tan lines / burn lines. Of course, during my breaks from yard work I’d check in on the Nascar. After an intensely mysterious finish, Martin took 5th. I’ll have to call Andy to figure out where Kenseth disappeared to. Since I didn’t watch the entire race, I don’t know why, or to where he dropped back.

This week, Heather gets to see the end of the academic year. That means she’ll only be working 2 jobs this summer. What will she do with all that free time?

Guilty!

I (David) received a summons for Jury duty the other day. It seems that the county knew exactly when I had a vacation planned, and they wanted to ruin it. I put in for a postponement. If they reject it for some reason, then they’re going to have a tough time finding a jury for me to sit on. Do the manufacturers of novelties make temporary tattoos in the shape of a swastika?

If the postponement is successful though, then all should work out well, provided that I don’t get stuck on a long trial. My employer is only willing to pay me for 2 weeks of jury duty. Despite my recent raise, I don’t think I can afford to take any unpaid leave. Worst-case scenario, though, would simply leave me as a juror who nods off during the proceedings. One of the advantages of working nights is that I’d still have a half hour after work to make it to the courthouse. On the odd chance you’re charged with a serious crime in Ramsey County in the next few months, make sure your lawyer brings some No-doz with him/her.

The wedding party

Last weekend was devoted to celebrating John and Kelly’s wedding with some belated parties. On Friday, dad (Jerry) finally got to see the house. Fortunately, he had been given a ticket to fly out here in first class. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to tolerate such a long flight. I (David) think I’ll have to give that a try sometime. After catching up with dad, Heather came home, and we got ready for the first of parties (more photos available on John’s blog). Despite the lack of deafening mariachi bands, we had a great time. Saturday was the second party. It seems that some of those who couldn’t make it to the first party were there for the second one (like JR, his growing family, and grandma Ruthie). Apparently Dr. Wainwright Jr. Esq. was at the Friday party as well as Saturday’s, but he arrived Friday after we left.

Joel said that he is thinking of joining a band in Chiapas, but all they have there are ska bands. I write this while taking a break from my first attempt at writing lyrics (for a ska band, of course) since the mid 1980s. Back then, my original first attempt at lyric writing (modeled after top 40 hits of that era) was quickly drug through a vast open field of public shame by Joel, John, and one or two others. Apparently, my interpretation of top 40 material was far cheesier than the pop music alternatives (with writers such as the Cure’s Robert Smith) that they were switching over to. So if Joel joins a band, and I learn Spanish, it would be interesting to see how our modern lyrical content might compare.