As I’ve indicated in previous posts, I have fashion aspirations but little capability of pulling them off. I see many things I like, but never get the gumption to take action while browsing around a store. I’m a steady reader of The Sartorialist blog and envy those who put themselves out there with their clothing choices. It might be the reserve from my Scandinavian heritage holding me back, but I just can’t go there. At least not yet.
But, I’ve had some recent revelations that have led me to pursue items …

It’s not too often I come across some music that really moves me. I’ve got a lot of varied music in my small collection, but haven’t been compelled to add anything new over the past few months. Thus, when flicking through the channels shortly before bed this past weekend, I stumbled upon Austin City Limits (almost never a bad show), saw the night’s lineup contained a group named “The Avett Brothers“, and didn’t think much of it.
Austin City Limits has done me well over its years. It’s given me exposure …

Growing up in the predominately Scandinavian, Midwest culture of the 70s and 80s, food’s primary role was to provide only the most basic aspects of nourishment. That’s not to say the food was bad – it just seemed to be on a steady race to mediocrity. Vegetables came from a can, fruit needed to be drained before incorporating into some type of dairy or wiggly medium, and breads were whiter than a December snowfall. It was rare to see a dish that did not incorporate yellow-dyed cheese, a potato in …

There were a lot of things about this Christmas that didn’t quite go as planned – mainly due to the uncooperative weather. The Cities, along with a much larger section of Minnesota, were stuck in the middle of a three-day storm that pushed right through the holiday season. All told, I have at least 12 inches of snow that wasn’t in my yard at the beginning of the week.
That also means that I needed to act upon a change in travel plans. Prior to the storm, the plans were to …

First, a super secret admission.
Although I watch very little regular TV, I make it a point to stop everything and watch episodes of Project Runway.
Heidi Klum is reason enough to watch the show, but I truly like all aspects of fashion. I’m not sure why (I’d like to think I have a few “artsy” elements inside me), but I’ve always thought fashion was cool and I’ve enjoyed how it completely defines a period in time.
But it’s always been cool at a distance – because I really can’t pull it off …

Sunday afternoon, I’m working on my Damn Yard™ clearing leaves from approximately 8000 trees and look into the sky. Figuring how low the sun is hanging along the horizon, I determine it’s got to be fairly close to 5pm. Maybe even 6:30pm.
Nope – it was only 2:30pm.
Is it just me, or does the sun seem to be setting earlier and earlier each day?
Fall in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere makes for a very brooding place to live. Every day is shorter than the last. Snow is only a …

I’ve been known to travel.
Not just a little bit.
A lot, actually.
Too much, really.
I know a lot of people who glamourize travel. To them, travel represents a vacation or possibly some type of adventure to a new, never-seen place. It started out that way for me as well.
My first “grown up” trip took place when I was around 22 years old. Prior that, the only time I had been on an airplane was a family trip to DisneyWorld in 1979. 14 years later, I was initiated into the world of business …

A couple of months ago, I was sitting at my desk pouring through the usual flood of emails and came across an electronic newsletter from Lifescience Alley. In it, I saw a call out to members of the medical device industry from a professor at the University of Minnesota. He is a professor in the Biomedical Engineering department and was looking for guest lecturers to provide support to his senior design class.
At my current job, I am responsible for what is commonly known as “Design Controls” – which fits very …

If there is anything that I have learned about my numerous years on the bike, it is that riding is in the blood. It is always there and can never be completely suppressed.
In my case, I took a 10-year hiatus from riding shortly after completing college. Fulltime job, marriage, new house, young daughter – all contributed to no time or energy to ride. But there was no permanent separation from the bike. Eventually, I got back on Old Steed™ and have been riding – albeit haphazardly – over the …

While I was researching the details for the Midtown Greenway ride, I noticed that they were participating in an upcoming event called the Tour de Fat. This event is sponsored by one of my favorite companies, New Belgium Brewery, and is all about bike-centric culture. It is a traveling festival that features a bike parade followed by an outdoor concert/festival with odd-ball acts on several stages. No surprise that it also focuses on beer – as New Belgium highlights their special brews, especially with Fat Tire, their trademark brand from …