Horseshoe Seven

New (Interim) Prez at DSU: David Borofski

2012-01-26T10:09:00.003-06:00

The South Dakota Board of Regents just announced our interim president at DSU for the coming year as they search for a new president to replace Dr. Doug Knowlton. It's Dr. David Borofski, currently the provost and chief academic officer at Westwood College, a for-profit school with its headquarters in Denver, CO.

Let's hope he's the man for the job. He won't be a candidate to replace Knowlton.

At Home at the Yarn Farm

2012-01-14T22:47:00.002-06:00

The wife, who has taken knitting under her wing, is discovering how cast-off sweaters you might find in a thrift store are really hiding places for balls of yarn. It seems to be working out that way, as the photo to the left shows. Having teased the seams apart, we then spooled the sections into balls, the balls into loops, the loops then soaked and cleaned. Now, she's waiting for the five different sections (front/back/sleeves/turtleneck) to dry. She's got 820 yards of wool yarn to work with, less than four bucks invested (but a fair chunk of time).

Walt Whitman and Robert Frost: Pitchmen

2012-01-14T16:24:00.003-06:00

When I heard Walt Whitman's long-lost recording of "America" used in an ad for Levi's jeans, it didn't ring wrong to me; the recording is in the public domain, and the commercial seemed a soft sell, pitching American values and freedom more than any particular product. The match between the video images and the audio (with subtitles) is nice, and the visibility it gives to the poet seems to me to be okay. But would it hurt to name the poet? Give him some credit.

Things seem different in the new Jeep Wrangler commercial, which shows the Jeep navigating a snowy road as an audio recording of Robert Frost reading from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." A small text tag at the end identifies the poet, the poem, and the copyright holder: Henry Holt. What's next?

"Dust of War" Trailer--SD After the Apocalypse

2012-01-11T22:12:00.002-06:00

DUST OF WAR TRAILER from Andrew Kightlinger on Vimeo.
Friends and former students were in on the filming of this cool-looking movie using the backdrop of the territory near Pierre, SD. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Those costumes look great, thanks to our own Kelly Macleod here in good old Madison, SD.

Cosmic Reminder: You're Double-Lucky

2012-01-11T18:21:00.001-06:00

January 11, 2012

Check the name of the blog: it's a Horseshoe Seven, my grandfather's brand. It's a symbol that calls upon two kinds of luck--the lucky horseshoe, the lucky seven. So today, as we relish our first snow fall of the year, and the first snow fall of the winter, and a little of that good old South Dakota wind and cold, it's fitting that the day also bring something more.

And here it is, the seed catalog that says spring is not that far out, friends, and even as you're thinking that a spring break trip might be just the ticket, you'd better also be thinking about which tomato plants you're going to go with this summer.

Coming to the End of Another Semester

2011-12-20T18:55:00.000-06:00

Things always get a little hairy and busy at the end of a long semester, and the fall term has a special difficulty with Christmas nipping at my heels as I try to get all my grading done and the final grades in. But I'm closing the gap now as I edge ever closer to the end point, and it's fun to see the result of the student work all through the 16-week period. One of those things I can share is my students' work on some little informational videos we post on a blog site. It's here: http://compdsu.blogspot.com/

Sure, the videos are a little uneven, but consider the students put these together after finishing their long researched essay (some of which were condensed to the video text) and they only had a week to work on it. Nice. I'll keep doing it.

The Tinder Box Heats Up Mochavino's

2011-12-01T21:35:00.001-06:00

The Tinder Box at Mochavino's

Mochavino's was graced tonight with the cool bluegrass fusion band The Tinder Box this evening. These guys have a unique sound, mixing banjo, guitar, and trumpet with some high lonesome vocals, a snare, and a bass drum. Nothing plugs in!
Their original music, available on a free CD they offer at each appearance, is haunting and beautiful, and I find myself playing the songs over again and singing along. Check out some of their music on their Facebook page or on their Youtube page.
The three guys are Dominic Osterloh on banjo, Chad Konrad on guitar, etc., and John Wallner, trumpet. Chad and John offer up some great harmonies while Dominic picks away on the banjo. You might think the combination sounds a little odd, but these guys have it worked out. It's really amazing what a philosophy, sociology, and psychology major can put their collective minds to. Their songs are often haunting and sorrowful, but then they'll do a foot-stomping blues number and shake things up. Nice.
Combine that with some good food, good company, and good conversation, and things are . . . good.

First Fire

2011-12-01T06:46:00.001-06:00

All through the summer, back into spring, back to last winter and beyond, and even now, as winter rolls in and the roads and fields finally turn white with snow, I've been stocking up for the cold, stacking wood, splitting, stacking again into the back yard. And now it's time to fire up the stove, finally, and turn that wood into heat for the house. And for Walter, the old dog whose big trick is to find the warmest place in the warmest room. Now he can find a spot that's too warm for even him. He won't go to the edge of the fire, creep too near the stove.
We've had such good weather coming into this winter that a fire in the stove hasn't seemed right, so the big heater has stayed cool until last night, when the right thing seemed to be, bring the ash can and log holder up from the basement, lay the fire tools near the stove, bring newspapers in to get the ball rolling, gather up kindling to be the first to flame, then add the first logs to the fire. Fast forward an hour or so and the stove is blazing and the thermometer, set at 70 degrees, now shows the room to be at 75. Finally, the payoff for cutting, hauling, splitting, stacking, bringing into the house. Walter, now snoring by the fire, seems thankful.

Nate Berkus Likes My Brother's Pottery

2011-11-22T16:18:00.001-06:00

Okay, so the name Nate Berkus didn't spring to my mind as a mover and shaker that I had heard of, but once I started the video I recognized him from some morning shows. And LO! He recently recognized my brother Jered's Pottery as a great source of some inexpensive, but finely crafted pieces.

And now I can say, "Nate likes it. You might too!" He's on Etsy, and 'he's also got his own site: http://www.jeredspottery.com/. It's beautiful stuff. You'll like it too, and it makes great gifts.

Looking Forward to a Darn Tough Winter

2011-11-20T23:10:00.001-06:00

Winter has come. Snow has fallen, wind driven and cold, covering most of the leaves that never got raked, the wood that didn't get moved yet, the snowmobiles that have rested since spring came, the porch floor that didn't get painted. So now some of those are hidden, temporarily, until spring comes round again. Meanwhile, the wife and I are happily facing a short week, just one long day and one short one, then a Wednesday free from duties, then a Thursday for giving thanks.

One item on my thankful list is this dandy pair of Darn Tough socks, a gift from my daughter and her beau. They're guaranteed to last as long as I hope their relationship does--meaning, for a lifetime.

I've been dogging on the blogging, but we have been busy, gone to Sioux Falls for a weekend getaway on Veterans Day, where we enjoyed a stay at the Holiday Inn, dinners at Parker's Bistro, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Bros Brasserie Americano. All great places to eat.

In addition, we enjoyed an evening with the Carpe Diem String Quartet and picked up a copy of their Montana CD, which extends the enjoyment of the weekend. It's awesome, tough and beautiful, like Montana itself and this fine Vermont pair of socks.

Sun-Dogging the Night Sky

2011-11-08T23:37:00.000-06:00

The full moon isn't until Thursday, but it was shining bright tonight so that I had to try for a photo of what appeared to be moon-dogs around the moon so big and bold in the clear cool sky. I had a little trouble finding a setting that would work; it turned out to be the "sunset" setting on my little Nikon Coolpix S3000. The moon-dogs were fading as I struggled with the camera, but the result is pretty cool anyway, I think. Don't you?

A Key, With Air Bags

2011-11-07T20:33:00.000-06:00

You'd think the BMW had air bags enough, but apparently the new key we ordered needs the kind of protection you might expect for your own brain pan. When I get a package like this from Amazon or some other place, protecting a thing like a key or some other tiny gizmo, I can't help imagining some worker in a warehouse. In this case, he's got the little envelope in hand, wandering along looking for a box: "Nope, too small, too small, too small . . . AHA, just right! All I need now is a half-dozen pillows to protect this delicate key." I'm sure there's a reason for such packaging, but don't these people know about padded envelopes?

Sunrise, Sunset

2011-11-07T20:24:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning I cruised up to Browns Valley, MN, where I used to live, sort of, and where some of the former in-laws live, for a funeral. It was a beautiful daybreak and sunset, as you see here in the pictures, and it was a good visit with two of my kids, Mr. CO, and lots of people I hadn't seen in a long time. It was time to say goodbye to Aloma, who had made herself comfortable with the folks at Sisseton Wahpeton College as their archivist. She will be missed, but like the beautiful sunrise and sunset, we've all got a limited time before our light fades.

Early Holiday Present, Eskimo Style

2011-11-03T23:02:00.003-05:00

Sure, it's a little early to be singing the Hallelujah Chorus, and you might not expect the folks young and old in a little Yupiq Eskimo village to be the internet sensation they seem to be, but there they are, putting on their version of George Frideric Handel's Messiah. Enjoy. Thanks, Nancy!

I've got to say I enjoyed it more than the cute little girls in pink singing to Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass." Nicki singing it herself, that's another matter. I hope the kids didn't learn the song by watching the video.

A Call to the Courthouse

2011-11-02T08:07:00.001-05:00

I've been called before, but never served. Maybe this year they'll pick me from the crowd and have me judge, but I'll be fine either way. Being called upon to serve my county, though, that's okay. It's not the "good roads day" my dad had pictures of in Wyoming, when the good citizens turned out to tame the wild roads after a mucky spring, but it's a little thing we do besides pay taxes. Interesting, though, as I'm reading papers that make arguments about the nature of justified killing, that I get the call, the juror summons.

Even Bavarians Make Mistakes

2011-11-01T20:28:00.002-05:00

If you've got a junk yard, used car business, and a scrap metal business, it's no surprise if sometimes odd and wonderful things come across your line of vision, and you just have to divert the scrap from the scrap pile. That's what happened to Mr. Lee Roy Hartung, who died in May and whose automobile, motorcycle, and bicycle collection will be sold off in bits and pieces. The car here is one of those, a 1949 Veritas, with running gear by BMW and a body by Spohn, a German company. Take a look at The New York Times article on Hartung here and a site called Bring a Trailer with lots of pictures of the old beast here. Now I'm a big fan of some of the good work the Bavarian Motor Works has done, but this thing looks more like the whale that Captain Ahab was hunting than the spritely convertible the wife and I brought back from Seattle.

Saddle up with the Ghouls and Boys

2011-10-31T21:45:00.000-05:00

What other time of the year can you get a visit from not one, but two cowgirls, Snow White, three Eskimo girls, the Grim Reaper, Rapunzel, a ghoul, a scary blue-haired girl, and a pepper shaker? Did I forget Elmo? Gotta have a cute Elmo to round things out. Tack on a gangsta computer wizard with blue tresses, and it's another great Halloween on 3rd Street.

Kelly MacLeod and the Metamorphoses of DSU

2011-10-31T15:56:00.001-05:00

My friend Kelly MacLeod knows how to get something great out of the people she works with. Wouldn't it be great if we could all elicit similar things from our students? She's good, and the work her students did with the play at DSU on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night (when we went) is a testament to her ability to inspire. They did a contemporary twist on Ovid's Metamorphoses and rocked it solid. Thanks, Kelly! Thanks, students!

Cool New DSU Commercials

2011-10-29T09:15:00.000-05:00

DSU "Vampire" Commercial, 2011 from Dakota State on Vimeo.Dr. Knowlton says our new commercials were slated to run during the World Series game last night, when Mr. Crisler's Cardinals whipped the Rangers to win the title of world champs. They're going to get the attention of young people looking for cool factor, that's for sure. What do you think?

DSU 'Techie' Commercial 2011 from Dakota State on Vimeo.

"Sledgehammer" Moviemaking--You Thought You Couldn't Make Movies

2011-10-26T18:26:00.001-05:00

How's about making that horror movie you always knew you had in you. Don't have a huge production budget? No problem. Get out the video camera, flip video, or whatever, and see if you can top this little number. Think it's bad? Come on! Do better.

A Sweet Birthday Celebration for the Wife

2011-10-26T18:14:00.003-05:00

Yesterday the wife celebrated her birthday once again, and, like usual, the shower of gifts got to me, too, and in just the way I like. One of our friends whose cooking talents are a gift she shares with us (you know who you are, CB) offered up her knock-out bread pudding and her makes-me-wanna-shout caramel topping as a birthday gift. Yes, our trousers are little tighter as a result, but it's worth the squeeze! Thank you, birthday goddess! And, happy birthday, dear wife!

The Long Arm of the Tripod

2011-10-23T20:40:00.001-05:00

Daughter, daughter's guy, wife, me in camera as they two folks from Minneapolis aimed to return with their newly acquired transportation. Turns out, their other car had trouble on the way home and I'm still waiting to find out how the trouble evolves. We enjoyed having them here and don't like the idea that there's trouble in their lives. Keep good wishes in mind, please.

Crowded Schedule

2011-10-23T09:34:00.002-05:00

"Time is what keeps everything from happening at once." Ray Cummings.

Ray, is time a thing that moves in a stream, or comes in clumps like cottage cheese? Does it flow like a river, come down from north like a wind, or does it rumble from time to time like California earthquakes? I'd like to know, because lately it seems as though the long stretches of quiet, the bowl of sun and space with nothing to stir it but my own steps forward, these seem gone, or become the dumped contents of a pair of salad tongs. One arm of the tongs is me. What is the other?

This week, in addition to my teaching, I've done a prep session for students getting ready for the CAAP exam, co-hosted, sort of, a conference for the GPACW, participated in a panel discussion of the English for New Media program at DSU, and led a workshop (with a colleague) on the multimedia authoring software Sophie, which neither of us knew before we took on the workshop.

Nothing wrong with keeping busy, except when it invades the need for quiet, or time with family. It just so happens my sister and her man came through this week on their RV journey west after selling their home, quitting their jobs, and packing everything into an 18 year old motor home and leaving Nashville for California via St. Louis, South Dakota, Boise, Portland, and maybe even Seattle. Then my daughter and her man arrived for a visit from Minneapolis. So it's great having them here, but I wish, Ray, that there could be less of it all happening at once.

It's all good.

Characters in a Pinon Tree

2011-10-18T22:26:00.001-05:00

Our tan-clad hero cooks up some new kind of trouble every episode, and the wife and I are Breaking Bad fans, following the troubled twosome of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, unlikely allies in making meth for Albuquerque. Sure, we came to the party late, but that doesn't make us any less enthusiastic.

The wife reminded me that each episode is a reminder of what I tell my creative writing students about how they should put their characters up a tree (or any difficulty) and then keep pelting them with trouble until something happens. Trouble seems to be at their elbows at every turn. That's what keeps us coming back.

Our Slightly-Open Door Policy

2011-10-18T07:59:00.000-05:00

Early this month we had our first visitors to our offering on Airbnb, which we used to book our place in Seattle when we traveled there last summer. The deal was, list your own place to stay and you get 20 bucks off, so we did. Little did we know that people would want to stay here! But, apparently, they would!

In fact, while we were IN Seattle in July, we had our first request to stay, but that wouldn't work, so it wasn't until October, when two traveling Wisconsonites, seen here in a corny photo shot in Mitchel after they left, booked with us and actually stayed. Same day as our return from the marathon? Sure. They were a lively pair, and we enjoyed having them stay with us on their journey west. We look forward to having more visitors.

As of today, our August House is the ONLY place in eastern South Dakota to stay using Airbnb.

A Sonnet to Vandalize Your Car

2011-10-13T23:14:00.000-05:00

My students are writing sonnets. Go figure. Makes me want to do one or two myself, so I do.

Sonnet XIII

This bad sonnet wants to punch you in the gut

Make your momma cry and your dad get drunk

The rhyme makes you think you woke with a slut

Or made bad sexy with a tattooed punk,

You get done reading and your mind’s gone wild

Like a tornado pickup truck four wheel drive

Ripping up a cornfield like a crazed meth child,

Wondering if you wanted still to be alive.

But a sonnet can’t hit, and your dad don’t drink,

Your momma seems happy and your loved one mild,

And the scene with the pickup truck—just spilled ink,

Lines on a page, like this one (there, you smiled).

A sonnet can turn like that, bad to good,

Or come out swinging like Mrs. Tiger Wood(s).

Great Day, October, South Dakota Style

2011-10-11T21:52:00.003-05:00

What could be better? Another beautiful October day, temps in the 70's, a light breeze, the smell of fall in the air, full moon hanging over the back yard with clouds cris-crossing beneath it, a light show on the horizon. A nice lunch, good class, and then a good bike ride with a friend out east and north of town, followed by a soothing shower, a great salad, a stop at some friends for a great time with kids, then capped off with a trip to the BrickHouse for some photos, art work, gelato, and kuchen. And home to come to. Thanks to the people who make it happen.

Yours Truly in the News

2011-10-11T10:21:00.002-05:00

Chuck Clement covered the doings at the Smith Zimmermann Museum on Sunday afternoon and wrote up this fine story. The paper version of the story featured a photo of yours truly. Story on the Madison Daily Leader.

Milton Conference Coming Up

2011-10-11T07:59:00.003-05:00

Poster for the John R. Milton Writer's Conference, 2011

Looking forward to the John R. Milton Writer's Conference in Vermillion, SD, at the end of October, the 27-29th. It's going to feature a number of good writers and teachers of writing, giving readings and presentations. I hope to take a group of students there and have them rub elbows with the folks there.

Smith-Zimmermann's 50th Anniversary

2011-10-09T12:28:00.001-05:00

Here's a video I made to give a sense of what the dedication was like in 1961 of the Smith-Zimmermann Museum in Madison, SD.

An Ode to Speed, Corvette Style

2011-10-04T10:30:00.001-05:00

My friend EJ is a curious fellow,

heavy is his foot, and his jacket yellow.

When his car came back a new Corvette,

He told himself, it isn't tested yet,

so he went out east where the road is flat,

bucked up his belt and pulled down his hat.

He looked both ways, put the hammer down,

watched that speedometer go around.

He hunkered down low, the road whizzing by,

and discovered a speed limit, way up high.

But another was watching, with a little red pen,

and he told EJ not to speed again.

But EJ knows, though he has to pay,

the Corvette rumbles for another fray.

A Marathon From Back in the Pack

2011-10-03T15:19:00.001-05:00

I know from long experience--over 20 years of it--that running marathons is no piece of cake, but it's hard to realize just how more traumatic it is when you're out there for the extra-long run, like four and a half hours. I once ran with a friend in Omaha way back in the pack, taking things slow and easy, and it was one of the hardest I'd ever done, until Sunday's Twin Cities Marathon. Yesterday I finished in about four hours and 27 minutes, with the final 2.2 miles taking me almost a half an hour, and I was "running " the whole time. But slowly.

But I was only slightly behind the average finishing time of 4:20. So there were still a lot of people behind me, coming in at 4972nd of 8535 finishers. The marathon results page here shows a lot of information on each runner, including where you were in the pack. There's even video, where you can watch yours truly come across the finish line. Sadly, my data shows me slipping gradually back through the pack a thousand at a time, with people streaming by all through the miles that went by. I started too fast, hitting the half-way mark at just two hours, and as the race wore on, and my stuffy head and sore throat took their toll on me, I slowed more and more, with a constant wave of runners passing me.

But, there's a good possibility I'll try it again. I may never reach the 3:04 marathon time that stands as my PR, but maybe a Boston qualifying time is still a possibility.

Minimize the Me

2011-10-03T15:06:00.002-05:00

A note to my writers in the composition class I'm teaching: minimize the "me." I'm often reading papers that have, at their center, the experiences of the writer, with any other ideas, information, narratives, and examples playing second fiddle to those experiences. I encourage them to pull in, and draw out, the comments and experiences and ideas of others. Once they see how powerful that can make their writing, and how it can enhance their own narratives, they get on board. Most of them.

Sometimes You Gotta Let Go

2011-09-29T06:33:00.001-05:00

I'm not a hoarder. I might have the pile of chocolate bars that once seemed a great deal, even though now they're faded glory. I've got a lot of notebooks with poetry, notes, doodles, story ideas, drawings, lists. I've got piles of books I have or have not read. Right now I've got three motorcycles, two that don't run. I've got a pickup. I've got three cars. But I've just reduced my car inventory by one. I watched yesterday as the Interstate Auto Transport guy drove away with my sexy little German up on the ramp.

It just didn't work out. I was tentatively hopeful when I loaded the little yellow roadster onto a trailer from north of Madison and brought it home, but eventually it became clear that what it needed was more than I could give. Too bad. In the mean time, I'm going to turn my attention to other matters, doing my work, getting some writing done, and maybe seeing what those two dead motorcycles need.

artshortfilms--Check it out.

2011-09-26T09:22:00.000-05:00

The Alphabet 2 from n9ve on Vimeo.
I enjoyed this video from artshortfilms--good for fun, but teaching spelling? I don't think so. D is for destruction. Which seems to be a bit of a theme.

A New Top Dog in the Marathon (no, it's not me).

2011-09-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

As I consider what it will take to complete the Twin Cities Marathon a week from today, I know what it takes, or at least what it has taken in the past, when I was younger, thinner, in better shape. It's a good thing that aging happens slowly, because it's hard enough to take the way it is.

But it's inspiring to see what the human body can do, and I don't mean mine. Yes, I think I'll be able to survive the 26.2 miles that the marathon requires. I need to do that to earn my finisher's t-shirt. But I am amazed when I think of what some of the speed demons do, like Haile Gabreselassie, who won gold medals in the 10k in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and owned the world record in the marathon at 2:03:59. At least until today.

Running in Berlin on a flat and fast course, Gabreselassie ran up front until late in the race, when he stopped for a minute, rejoined the race, and then stopped again for good. It may be his last days as a marathoner.

In the meantime, a new runner claimed the world record, which means running FASTER than Gabreselassie 's 4:44 per mile pace. It's Patrick Makau, who churned through the marathon in 2:03:38, 21 seconds faster (less than one second per mile).

Nobody will run that fast in the Twin Cities, but at about two hours and eleven minutes or so, I'll imagine what it must be like to be finishing at that time. And then I'll run (and walk) the last 12 miles or so.

From Tree to Flame

2011-09-22T22:20:00.001-05:00

The back yard has been noisy many evenings as I've been busy making big blocks of wood into small blocks of wood. The wood splitter has a new engine, and it's been working well, making the process much smoother with a steady, reliable power plant.

As the winter comes on, we'll move the wood to a handier spot near the back door and begin the winter-long process of feeding our nifty wood stove and enjoying the wood as it transforms from fuel into heat. I love it when the wood is finally aflame, and I'm relaxing in the radiant glow.

Temporary Tomato Shelter

2011-09-15T08:14:00.001-05:00

Tomato Yurt

Dire warnings were out last night for a hard freeze, which would have meant the end of the line for our gigantuan tomato, tomatillo, and pepper plants. So, we took precautions, employing almost all sheets and blankets, pillow cases, painting tarps, and car covers. Then, it didn't freeze, although it was 32 degrees when I came down in the dark this morning. No worries tonight, so the temporary shelters will need to come down.

We weren't the only ones prepping for a freeze. A nippy drive around town in the convertible last evening (enjoying a TCBY "Waffle Cone Wednesday" treat) revealed others in town who weren't taking any risks with their tomatoes.

Sky Full of Contrails

2011-09-12T23:06:00.001-05:00

When I was in junior high, we had a textbook titled Contrails, a reading textbook, I think, that opened the doors to many stories and led me on to the kind of reading that developed into a Ph.D. in English. While I was working on that Ph.D., teaching at DSU and taking classes at USD, I spent a lot of time driving between Sisseton, Madison, and Vermillion, putting many miles on my little Honda Civic, watching the contrails expand across the vast South Dakota sky. Everyone going somewhere.

On September 11, 2001, my morning class composition class at DSU was interrupted by a student who was notorious for either sleeping in class or browsing the internet. "Someone flew a plane into the World Trade Center," he announced. It was the first classroom contribution he'd ever made, and I admonished him, told him to get off the internet and get back to work.

Later I learned what was unfolding in New York. Later yet that day I got in my car and as I drove down to Vermillion for class, I noticed how empty the sky was, how from brim to brim the blue curve of the sky was empty, unlined. It felt to me, now full of the knowledge of the collapsed towers, the crashed plane, the burning pentagon, that the vast criss-crossing of contrails was a web that had come unraveled, a basket broken through. It felt a little as though I were suddenly working without a net, that some woven underpinning to my life had come undone.

Contrails over South Dakota, 9-11-11

But yesterday, as the wife and I returned from Sioux Falls, where before the half-marathon we stood in restless silence to remember those who fell from the web of life ten years ago, I noticed the sky again. Blue sky, cloudless, crossed again and again by the contrails left by airplanes carrying their trusting passengers from one end of the country to another. I leaned back in my seat, looked over at my wife driving me home again, and felt as though that web, that basket, were being woven again, that it was being mended.

Four at the Forecast Saturday Night

2011-09-12T22:17:00.002-05:00

Alfredo pasta with chicken

The Forecast Restaurant in Howard finally drew us in for dinner (now "supper" on the menu) to celebrate the father-in-law's 75th birthday. The wife and I joined her folks and enjoyed four of the dishes on the menu. Since I was running the Sioux Falls Half Marathon on Sunday, I wanted the hand-made pasta. Rich and creamy, the pasta was very tasty and included a nice salad, as did all the other dishes. I added the chicken.

The birthday guy ordered the braised pork belly, which we all tried. The pork was tasty, but the cabbage and spatzle, a German specialty mini-dumpling, was especially good.

Braised pork belly with spatzle and cabbage

Chicken with red pepper coulis

The wife ordered the chicken with red pepper coulis, a thick peppery sauce, just a little spicy, with a good peppery taste.

Walleye with vegetables

Mrs. Birthday ordered the walleye, after being told it was out, then hearing word more was ready (popular that night). It came in a parchment envelope, steamy and cooked with veggies, just right.

New York style cheesecake with blackberries

Desserts were nothing to crow about, but all were very tasty, including the cheesecake, the chocolate mousse, and the lemon pie.

Chocolate mousse

Lemon pie

The folks at the Forecast are working hard to get it right. It's a start-up, and I suspect some of the wait staff has never enjoyed the experience of dining in the kind of high-class restaurant the Forecast is aiming for. I hope they get there. The chef has the right touch, and he's working his tail feathers off to get it right.

Get on over there and try the fare. Then let the chef know what you think of his work.

The Grasshopper and the Ant

2011-09-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

Roasted tomatoes for sauce

This evening the wife spent putting away some of the summer harvest, cooking tomatoes and making sauce, chopping jalapenos and making jelly, then canning them up and setting them aside for later.

Meanwhile, someone else was having a bowl of ice cream, browsing the web, fixing the router, sending email, and wondering how eating ice cream was going to get him through the half-marathon on Sunday in Sioux Falls. Maybe if he saw The Tinder Box on Saturday, that would help.

Jelly and sauce in process

Finished jalapeno jelly and tomato sauce

The Wave of Things to Come

2011-08-31T07:22:00.000-05:00

As the school year begins, it's like a big wave of students suddenly appears on the scene, washing over the quiet and isolation that might have prevailed over the summer months as teachers pursued their own individual studies, working at their scholarly ambitions. But teaching is where it's at, and like the surfers in the video below, the teachers take on the challenge with a hope that the wave will take them all to the shore.

He Cooks! He Makes Zucchini Disappear!

2011-08-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

Yes, he can cook. How about a little Italian Zucchini Pie? Right out of South Dakota Magazine, this little number dispatched several of the garden club-sized vegetables that seem so abundant these days, and it fed us both with plenty left over for round two. Yummy!

The recipe is in the July/August issue of SD Magazine, print version. Enjoy!

What I Learned on My Ride to Rutland

2011-08-08T17:56:00.000-05:00

I got on my Trek road bike this morning and put in some miles in the cloudy hours, although today was such a good day, pleasant weather, that a ride any time of the day would have been pleasant. No wind, no killer heat, no killer humidity. I didn't learn much, but I'll count these things.

It's much nicer to ride when there are no dogs to knock you into the road.
A little sprinkle on the back end of a long ride can be a good thing.
You can't see much of the Carper corn empire from the road.
The row of junker cars up by the Rutland turn (including the old Cadillac hearse) is still awaiting rescue.
Getting to the Rutland turn off County Hwy 20 is satisfying enough without going into Rutland.
Filling the water bottle with ice cubes and then topping off with water is a good idea.
It's good to have a nice road bike.
Keeping a 20mph pace is not easy.
The downhill run to our house in the last quarter mile is a nice way to end a ride.

Kudos to the Jimi Hendrix Neighborhood

2011-07-23T23:47:00.000-05:00

Afternote: We enjoyed our stay with Laura in her home in Seattle, which we found on Airbnb.com. She's this one! Thank you, Laura! She even let us stay an extra day!

First Leg, Roundabout Journey Home

2011-07-23T23:44:00.000-05:00

The wife is pretty happy with this quick
point-and-shoot of Narada Falls as it tried
to mist up her camera lens.

A long hike resulted in this self-portrait with
the mountain crowding into the shot. Pushy mountain.

We are happy to share our BMW with the mountain!

We hustled out of Seattle today and watched Mt. Rainier loom closer and closer until--there we were, in the park, sun shining, car making smooth German BMW noises all along, top down, wind in her hair. Yep. Sunshine, a day Seattleites dream of. After a stomach and budget stretching last evening in Seattle, it was time for bagels and peanut-butter, which we picked up at the Safeway in Enumclaw, where Creation Fest was buzzing and the teenage Creationists were hogging the Safeway unisex bathroom. But it was happy days on the mountain, with lots of viewing and some vigorous hking, after which we managed to find our way to the happy little Relax Inn in Chehalis, WA. Then for some pie at the Kit Carson Cafe, and we're all set for the night.

Our Return Flight

2011-07-23T09:37:00.000-05:00

1995 BMW 325iC

We'll forego our flight on Delta Airlines for a trip home in this little number, which I hope is ready for the long journey. Today it's supposed to be a sunny 78 degrees in Seattle, which bodes well for our journey home.

Somewhat Busy in Seattle

2011-07-23T00:33:00.000-05:00

Yep, we've been on the run. Up in Seattle via the air, then traveling galore, foot, bus, light rail, train, car, and more and more feet. Been to the Space Needle, yup. On a ferry out to Bainbridge Island, yessir. Up and down Pike and Pine more than once, check. Up to the U of W and canoeing on Lake Washington, yeah. Bought a car, got it. Sampled beer and coffee and seafood and other delights, oh yez. Tramped our legs off, ja. Now it time to start wending our way homeward, maybe after a sideline to Mt. Rainier, a cruise up Snake River Canyon, stop in Boise, that kind of thing.

New Ulm Loses its Bohemian and Family

2011-07-05T08:01:00.001-05:00

Photo from Star Tribune

Friend TQ notes that the city of New Ulm is trying to cope with the loss of its premier bed and breakfast, the Bohemian, which burned to the ground a few days ago with its owner and family inside. Some guests were also killed in the blaze.

It's a sad loss for the town and a loss for us too, having stayed there on one of our anniversary trips. We told friends about it and encouraged them also to stay there, which TQ and wife did. It was a beauty of a place, very comfortable, and Bobbi McCrea made a great host and cook. Too bad. Star Tribune story is here, follow-ups here and here.

Coming into Independence

2011-07-03T16:55:00.001-05:00

Back on this day in 1977, I was a 20-year-old newly-dismissed soldier hitch-hiking across Europe. On July 3, I woke up in Switzerland, having spent the night beneath a roadside sign that offered some protection from the lights of the traffic passing by, but little from the morning sun that greeted me on the first day of my freedom from Uncle Sam's schedule and requirements. I was a free bird, and I spent the next night in a little hotel in view of the Swiss alps, having chatted that evening with a mountain climber who was spending a few days of his own freedom doing some serious mountaineering.

I wouldn't get home until September, spending the next several weeks meeting people in Italy, Greece, and England, where I hung out with my sister, who was just finishing her own military stint in Lakenheath AFB.

It was an eye-opening several weeks for me, trying to shape up and shake out the lethargy of barracks life, a kind of journey of discovery that had many twists and turns, ups and downs (which included having all my American Express travelers checks stolen in Greece), and finally brought me home. Even the final stages of my journey, hitchhiking from Sioux Falls to Ramona, then to Fort Pierre, were memorable and instructive. But finally I was taken back into the embrace of my family, who were surprised when I arrived, about 26 months after I had boarded the plane bound for Germany.

Happy Independence Day, all!

Guerrilla Knitters Down Under and Above

2011-07-01T06:31:00.000-05:00

The wife an a friend of ours have been knit-meisters for over a year, turning string into a wide variety of items for gifts and their own use, wearable and otherwise. But they haven't knitted a toilet-cozy. Not a toilet SEAT cozy. A public toilet cozy. Yep. Check out the vid. Those Australians!

You might enjoy looking for other evidence of "yarn bombing," which in Vancouver has an "International Yarn Bombing Day" devoted to it. I may have to encourage the wife to create a decorative knit cover for her bike like this one.

My Little Rustic Tart

2011-06-25T07:31:00.000-05:00

Fruity, crusty

Sweet, fruity, definite crust but soft and warm inside, that's how I like my rustic tarts, as the wife calls her little creation last night, a delight after a delicious meal. Peaches, blueberry, and some kind of sweetness. Very tasty! I'm feeling better already!

Video from the Flooding

2011-06-23T09:33:00.000-05:00

More video of the flooding in Ft. Pierre (my hometown) and Pierre.

All Hail the Pie that Heals

2011-06-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

The wife has taken such good care of me over the past few days, keeping things easy and feeding me well as I rest on the couch, keeping my leg up and healing. All I had to do was peel some apples, and she managed the rest, making the crust and the goodie.

And this was after also making homemade pizza. The pie goes especially well with Twin Peaks, where Agent Cooper shows his own affection for the pinnacle of foodstuffs. (He prefers cherry, while apple is my choice).

Knees Before and After

2011-06-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it doesn't look like much, just a couple of small holes, one punched on each side of the knee for camera and roto-rooter access. But here's hoping the little procedure does the trick and takes the cringe out of running. It's really not that painful, what with my medications and all, and I'm able to walk about and do pretty much as I please as long as generally I'm keeping the knee elevated and icing it on schedule. I've got high hopes!

Meanwhile, we've started watching Twin Peaks on Netflix and are enjoying the bizarre soap-opera/mystery/drama/comedy in order. Oh, Laura Palmer, what has become of you?

My Minesectomy and Explanation

2011-06-21T08:11:00.000-05:00

d
I've been gimping along with a sore knee for over a year, but I hope it's largely over now with yesterday's minesectomy, explained in this video by Dr. Allan Mishra. My doctor is Dr. Pete Rodman, who's retiring this year after a long and successful career, which was recapped in an article that just happened to appear in yesterday's Argus Leader.

I'll follow their directives, take good care of the wounded knee, and try to get back to running and biking ASAP.

Flowers Ahead of the Rain

2011-06-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

Summer flowers

The wife just came in with flowers she means to keep from the coming storms tonight. I took my hand at identifying--goat's beard, lilies, daisies, roses, and . . . um . . . that's as far as I got. They're beauties!

Food Fairies at Work Yet Again

2011-06-20T18:56:00.001-05:00

ETEZYOOADME

While the wife and I were down in SF today getting my knee repaired, friends came by and left the kind of generous and thoughtful gift that comes from caring people. And they're teaching their children their ways. Here's a depiction of me and Anna on a bicycle after my knee gets better. Well, maybe just practicing, since my knees in the drawing don't seem to be fully flexible.

Prizes to those who post a proper translation of the caption offered by a beginning speller.

Thank you, fairies!

A Cinematic Dream, 80 Years Old

2011-06-14T06:24:00.000-05:00

I was a 19-year-year-old hick from South Dakota who loved movies like "Vanishing Point" and "Evel Knievel" when I was introduced to "Un Chien Andalou" at a David Bowie concert at the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt in 1976. It blew my mind, opening up a whole new film experience for me. Check out this brief introduction from A. O. Scott at The New York Times.

Water Street Meets Water Avenue

2011-06-13T22:27:00.001-05:00

Photo by Patrick M. Callahan, PMC Moving Photo

Pat Callahan has been busy taking great photos of a bad situation in Pierre and Ft. Pierre. Check out the photos on Facebook here.

Bicycle Madness

2011-06-13T08:23:00.000-05:00

I enjoy riding my bicycle, whether it's to get to work or shopping, or whether I'm out for a ride to get some air and exercise. I'm pretty content these days to keep both wheels on the road, not leaping over curbs, gaps in the sidewalk, or my friend Mark Huebner when we were in middle school. Then a bike was a serious matter, an extension of ourselves, and often our sole means of transportation that we could control without parental intervention.

So, these guys that soar in the air and do flips galore, releasing the bike and flying through the air, they just don't quite make sense to me, but you've got to admire their grit.

More Big Muddy than Anyone Wants

2011-06-08T07:29:00.000-05:00

Aerial view of Fort Pierre homes from Capital Journal on Vimeo. The Might Mo has put the kabosh on croquet games on the lawn at most of the homes between Ft. Pierre and the Oahe Dam. Things look very wet in Ft. Pierre and Pierre.

My Bogus Lexus

2011-06-07T15:53:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I've been shopping for a convertible (again), and a Lexus appeared on the Keloland Automall that seemed too good to be true. How could some calamity benefit me and give me a ride I would almost be ashamed to be seen in? $5500 bucks! I checked NADA and KBB and it listed for about $18 grand. Whoop! I wrote to the owner, almost panting. "She" wrote back:

Hello there,

The car is still for sale.. Thanks for being interested in buying my 2002 Lexus SC 430. It is in a good condition, no scratches, no damages, never been implicated in any accidents, no problems at the engine, runs very well. It has an 8-Cylinder STRONG 4.3 L engine, 76,000 miles, clear title in my name, a perfect car. The last price is not negotiable, $5,500.00 firm. YOU WILL NOT FIND ANOTHER LEXUS with only 76K MILES FOR THIS PRICE! The only thing because I am selling it, because I divorced with my husband and after the divorce I own this car, now as a woman with two little girls I don`t need it...

I can provide vin# to check on your own. Just let me know if you are still interested.
Here are some more pics... http://imageshack.us/g/718/kgrhqeoki8e2cmsis6ubnyr.jpg/

Thank you very much,
Darlene Riggs

Look at those photos! What a ride! But no phone number. Hmm. I wrote again, indicating I was a willing buyer, ignoring the hints--grammatical mistakes, emphatic caps, etc.

"She" replies:

Hi again,
Here is the VIN#: JTHFN48Y120015251. The car is located and registered in Great Neck, NY (I just moved here in Great Neck after divorce), we will use eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection, so we can both be protected and insured.. I just need your full name and full address so eBay can send you the invoice in which you'll see how to make this transaction. I supposed to ship the car to another buyer, then he told me that he found another vehicle so is no longer interested. He already paid the shipping charges, the shipping is paid. I will send the car with all the papers (vehicle registration, warranty papers, transfer papers etc) I am just waiting your full name and address to complete the shipping papers and start the delivery process. I have advertised the car in different locations just to increase my chance to sell it faster because I need the money to pay something asap.
If you are really interested don't forget to send me your full details for shipping reservation!

Thank you very much,

Darlene

Oh, so it's NOT in Storm Lake, Iowa. Okay, now all the wind is out of my sails, and it's clear it's a scam Scam SCAM! Rats. Oh, well. So I went out to Lake Herman Auto and drove the Mercedes SLK convertible out there. It helped a little.

A City with Class

2011-06-07T06:54:00.000-05:00

The city of Grand Rapids set out to prove that they're not the dying city that some were describing, and in the process they created a lively look at their city and the commitment to it that their residents have. 5000 people participated in this "lip-dub" of Don McLean's "American Pie," all nine minutes of it. Check it out. Thanks, Christina, for the link!

House is Listed

2011-06-04T22:34:00.002-05:00

The house is now listed on the MLS. Check it out here; you're welcome to ask to see it!

Are We Done Yet? 621 North Washington

2011-06-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

Okay, so since January JH, the wife, and I have been working on a house that we're hoping to make a little $$. And save an historic house, built in 1899. It's a dandy, and it's now got a "for sale" sign out in front. Check it out, and tell me how great it looks. Tell the wife too, and tell your friends, especially the ones looking for a cool, friendly, historical house with some pizazz. Check out the photos, and I'll put the link up to the listing when I have it.

621northwashington

The Adventure Begins with a Raft

2011-05-22T23:17:00.000-05:00

My brother and I, as we grew up on the Missouri River, were always dreaming and scheming about jumping on a raft and heading out for the territories. Not having a raft created some difficulties there.

These four boys, spotted this afternoon preparing to disappear down the stream, reminded me of my own time on the river. They got the rafts safely in the stream, then realized they were sitting on the ground. I told them to be safe. It looked like fun.

A Rapturous Sunset

2011-05-21T20:50:00.000-05:00

The wife and I are still here, it seems, but the sunset through our living room window is heavenly enough for me today. Rapture comes in many forms.

Dogs in Madison

2011-05-18T08:27:00.000-05:00

A recent dog attack in Madison has led to some increased attention on dog regulations and requirements. As a person who spends time out on the road and about town on foot or bike, I've noticed that many people do not adhere to the requirement that dogs be on a leash or be fenced in. Many mornings I'm confronted with a barking dog running out onto the street where I'm jogging. I see people walking their dog and having it make a pit-stop, leaving a surprise souvenir for the yard owner. I hear dogs whose owners apparently don't recognize how annoying their constantly barking dog is. I see dogs chained in the yard with no visible water or food. I don't think the new regulations will address all these things, but maybe it will help people recognize that owning a dog requires more than bringing it home and feeding it.

Billygoats in the Yard? Voters say, "Yes!"

2011-05-15T09:41:00.001-05:00

Okay, so 18 people voted on the goats-in-the-yard issue. In an overwhelming response, 83% chose to support goats in our yard. I was tempted to shift the language of the question to ask whether voters would want goats in their yard, but I didn't. I'm sure that everyone would clamor for our goat(s) to visit once we got it/them. Now, the results are not a binding vote, but rather an opinion poll, right? And, though the voters responded favorably to the issue, they didn't approve a budget for said goat(s?). A quick search of the local goat-outlet shows some availability recently, but without an approved budged, it's only window-shopping there. It's the Duin Exotic Animal Farm down in Iowa, where, instead of a goat or five, I could get some chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, horses, or turkeys. No raccoons or squirrels. We've got a strong supply of rabbits, thanks. Now maybe if there were a rabbit-hunting goat, we'd be in business.

A Recycling Love Story

2011-05-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

JB pointed me to this video. I liked it!

A Love Story… In Milk from Catsnake on Vimeo.

A Funeral Season

2011-05-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

It seems like we've lost a share of people over the last few weeks. Two friends have lost their mothers, another his wife, another his brother. Their pain is shared by those who know them, friends who feel the tug of their loss, the falling away from the living. It's a sense in keeping with my belief that we live in a kind of social fabric, woven together like threads in a greater cloth that is growing and wearing out as though it were a living skin, shedding and adding constantly as people come and go into our lives. Some might say it's easier if the ties are thin, the threads few. We would hurt less often. But it seems to me that this flurry of losses is a reminder that we're blessed with many friends, much family, many ties. With so rich a fabric, it's no wonder our losses come. So do our additions. Thank you, friends, for sharing with us.

Spring Arrives to our Busy Weekend

2011-05-07T08:26:00.000-05:00

As the semester closes out and some of us seek to finish grading to turn in final grades, the activities seem to pile up, starting with the AAUW progressive dinner, with appetizers out by the golf course, dinner at our place, and dessert at a third place. Cleaning up and getting the house ready after being neglected over the spring as I've been working on a third house was a challenge. Now today is graduation day for those students, then the annual Kentucky Derby party out on the lake, then a retirement ranch party out in the country. Tomorrow? Mother's day! I don't know what the schedule is for that yet. Whew!

Meanwhile, lots of other things wait for my attention, most importantly finishing up the cool old house so we can put it on the market.

Why Paper (Sometimes) Rocks

2011-05-04T11:29:00.000-05:00

While my students were diligently working away at their final exams, on paper, thank you very much, I tried to get on the D2L server where all their other electronic submissions are was greeted by the message here. Little did my students know that they were in the clear while others were facing trouble as they tried to create and submit files for their final exams.

Grass Powered Mowing

2011-05-04T00:28:00.000-05:00

The wife is forever advocating that we get some sort of additional creature to cuddle with on the interior of our house and another creature to take care of the mowing (and provide hair for yarn, I suspect). On both counts, my resistance is durable, but I was intrigued tonight to see an article on the NYTimes describing how some small farmers are putting away the tractor (and its fuel requirements) and putting the stick to the ox. The oxen do require fuel, but is fairly abundant. The wife likes the idea of a goat. Do you like the idea of a goat in our yard? Hmm.

Blowing the Stripes Right Off the Road

2011-05-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were out west of town when I noticed that the wind had blown so hard over the past few days that even the stripes on highway 34 were peeling up and blowing away. Now how about that?

Mr. Ryan on the Drill Team, Purdue

2011-04-26T21:05:00.001-05:00

I loved seeing my friend and colleague Terry Ryan in this reunion demonstration of the drill teams that drilled the competition to win national championships for Purdue from 1952-57 and in '59 and '60, led those last two years by Mr. Ryan himself. He's here in row 3, front.

On Easter, Digging Up Flowers, etc.

2011-04-25T07:27:00.000-05:00

A patch of flowers near the farm.

We spent much of the day out at the in-laws' farm, enjoying an Easter feast and relishing the sunny day we had finally been granted. The wife wanted to gather some flowers, so we headed to a spot where she knew some early blooms would be, and we even dug some up, since about all they're blooming for here is the side-delivery rake that waits for the summer harvest of alfalfa or grass. Now we have a little patch of these blooms (what are they?) in our own back yard.

Let me know if you have a name for them. For now, I'm calling them lily on the mountain, my own concoction. Better to have the right name.

People I Know at ARTCRANK MSP 2011

2011-04-24T21:53:00.000-05:00

ARTCRANK MSP 2011 from ARTCRANK™ on Vimeo.

Daughter April notes that she and her man Chester and her brother David are caught in this video for Artcrank MSP 2011 (at 0:32). It's a biking show and happening in the Twin Cities, the top biking spot in the states. Cool!

Norton Brings a Man to Tears

2011-04-17T08:04:00.001-05:00

You gotta love a video that includes motorcycles, thievery, a blizzard, and a happy dad in tears.

Life on the River John

2011-04-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

North Section of the River John

The James River gets all the news when the spring thaw sets in and the rain comes down and swells the banks, inundating houses, covering fields, threatening livestock and generally wreaking havoc. But what about his older brother, the River John? Not a word. But still, the same thing happens on the north part of the country I live in, where runoff from the highlands north of our home come raging down through the trees along the border, then gathering in ponds in the back yard. So I've had to construct a vast canal system to channel the flood waters around the garage and down the driveway. Luckily, our budget allowed for the investment in dike construction, leaf-accumulation monitoring, and gutter management.

The Best Coffee in Seattle, Hand-Delivered

2011-04-02T07:54:00.000-05:00

Tully's Coffee, Fresh from Seatlle

Our representative MB recently returned from Seattle, having researched and purchased the best coffee available. She's certainly to be trusted, a student of pharmaceutics at South Dakota State University, who knows a lot about the medicinal application of things like caffeine. I think she may have had a good time otherwise, and there seems to have been a conference of some sort, but her primary mission, seeking and sampling the best the rainy city has to offer, has been accomplished. And she brought some home for us!

The winner? It's Tully's Coffee, their Full City roast, which they describe as smooth, spicy, and sweet. Having checked out their website, I see they also have a Madison Blend. Now isn't that curious?

It's great coffee! Thank you, Megan!

Knit Me a Heart, Honey

2011-03-31T16:05:00.002-05:00

Sarah Illenberger, Andreas Achmann's
Knitted Organ

The wife has been busy with knitting lately, making lots of cool things for other people, for me, and for herself, but she hasn't knit any organs, yet.

This image is courtesy of the efforts at Living Mediations: Biology, Technology and Art, a project by HASTAC, the Humanities, Art, and Science Advanced Collaboratory.

See their forum on this and other forms of combining and exploring relationships among the various disciplines.

48-Hour Gut Check

2011-03-30T16:24:00.000-05:00

Just learned about a phenomenal opportunity to submit myself to a couple days of torture--riding across South Dakota on Lonesome Highway 212, through some of the most isolated parts of the US of A. On a bicycle! Just think, I'd pass through Belle Fourche, Fruitdale, Nisland, Newell, Mud Butte, Faith, Red Elm, Dupree, Lantry, Eagle Butte, Parade, Ridgeview, LaPlant, the Missouri River Bridge, Forest City, Gettysburg, Seneca, Faulkton, Redfield, Frankfort, Doland, Clark, Henry, Watertown, Krantzburg, and Dawson. All those miles (412 of them) and only go past one Wal-Mart, in Watertown.

The fun starts August 12, high noon, unless you're doing the "Hell and Back" version (824 miles), going both ways, which starts August 10. If you've traveled this road, you know what a zen-like state you'll be in when you arrive in Minnesota.

It's the Gut Check 212. Check your gut! Starts here and ends here. The record is 20 hours and 48 minutes, ridden by Bruce Martens in 2010. Way to go, Bruce! Just short of 20 miles per hour. Yikes.

Good Deeds Are 1. Their Own Reward 2. Rewarded With Pie

2011-03-26T23:20:00.000-05:00

We kept that IOU on the fridge for months, but somehow it all paid off, as a late night driver arrived with a specially made chocolate pie. The pieces may look large, yes, but when the pie is fresh, it's wise to move quickly just to show the depth of your gratitude. Our gratitude is deep.

Funny, we've still got the IOU. We'll keep you updated!

More Snow

2011-03-23T08:47:00.000-05:00

The little shoots of rhubarb that were giving their green thumbs-up to the warm weather that we had last week are now feeling a little frosty. The 50's are gone, and the 30's are back, even the 20's. Yikes. Meanwhile, the melting snow and new rain and snow are forming a small lake in my garage and back yard. Blah. My little bag of kitty litter for cleaning up oil spills is now trying to suck up a backyard pond.

At least we have it better than Sisseton, where they're dealing with 10 inches of new snow, wet, heavy, and full of moisture for these water-soaked folks.

Japan

2011-03-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

There's no stepping away from the disaster in Japan, from the earthquake, to the tsunami, to the threat of nuclear disaster. This video illustrates the power of the wave of water in one small community. There's plenty more to see, but the mix of flooding and observers watching their homes get swept away is moving. How we move forward to help is the next question. A good first step? The Red Cross.

Spelling Bee--Sending Ryder Heitz to Washington

2011-03-12T11:42:00.000-06:00

"Amarillo" (with two L's) got Ryder Heitz, a seventh-grader from Newell Middle School, an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, for the Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1 and 2. She also had to spell 31 other words correctly, as the contest lasted 32 rounds.

The state contest took place at Dakota State University in Madison, SD, sponsored by the Madison Daily Leader.

The word "extravaganza" took out local winner, sixth-grader Lexis Sherron, at round 31 after going toe-to-toe with Ryder for round after round. Lillie Dennis of Patrick Henry Middle School in Sioux Falls took home 3rd place after stumbling on "incorruptible," and Riley O'Neil got 4th when he misspelled "dungaree."

Pronouncer was yours truly, with judges Stacey Berry, Deana Hueners-Nelson, and Donna Hazelwood. Jay Niedert was the host, and the whole event was organized by Marcia Schoeberl for the Madison Daily Leader.

Go Ryder! The big event is only 82 days away!

Snow. There. I Said It.

2011-03-08T21:27:00.000-06:00

I am getting somewhat weary of the snow. It's snowing again today, after snowing last night and the day before. Blah. It's covered up some of the messes that the last thaw made, but all those messes will have to appear again before it's all over. I'm hoping to see some progress in the coming week. Go Snow! Come on, Spring!

Among My (Edible) Souvenirs

2011-02-27T13:14:00.000-06:00

Awesome apple pie from Al's Oasis

I haven't been to Al's Oasis out in Oacoma (Chamberlain, sort of), for quite a while, but I'm enjoying a pie from there, thanks to our intrepid snow-traveler who spends time with us each month during the school year. Thanks, DW!

Josh Ritter Video

2011-02-18T14:48:00.003-06:00

Saw a reference to Josh Ritter and thought I'd check it out. Here's a cool stop-motion video featuring his song, "Long Shadows." Video by James Holland.

Long Shadows from James Holland on Vimeo.

Pine Ridge is Now a Wet Bummerville

2011-02-17T22:16:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry to see the trouble they're having out in Pine Ridge. We've all had a lot of snow and when the warm weather comes around, we've got unfinished business.

A Tall Cold Drink of Water. Very Tall. Very Cold.

2011-02-09T15:51:00.001-06:00

Howard Water Tower

There's a very cold tiger beneath all that ice on the Howard water tower. Apparently a leak has let the water flow out and the cold took care of the rest. Who wants to be on that crane? Anyone? When it warms up later this week, watch out below.

More photos here: http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=181947971870

Google Art Project--Look Closely!

2011-02-07T15:46:00.000-06:00

Here's a little take on Google Art Project, another ambitious and beautiful work from Google that allows viewers to look at famous works of art in museums around the world. The zoom feature is something special, since it enables a look at the works that brings all those brush strokes to life.

Vince's Trophy Back in Titletown

2011-02-07T07:08:00.000-06:00

The wife and I enjoyed the big game yesterday with some friends out at the Moose house, where we ate too much and watched just enough football to see the Packers put away the Steelers 31-25. We enjoyed too the high-rent commercial spots that featured some cute animals (and insects) and some downright steamy scenes.

There were two that caught me off guard. One was this Groupon ad that tried to wrench humor out of a difficult situation in Tibet. What? Tibetans in danger of losing their culture? Let's eat!

The other was this ad for the Mini that asks viewers to "cram it in the boot" of the little car. Is that a super-long sandwich he's sliding in? Why is our contestant so uncomfortable with the question?

These two made my list of the tackiest ads.

Pickup, Snowdrift, and a Friendly Farmer

2011-02-02T23:53:00.000-06:00

So, a friend calls, and our hero goes out on a rescue mission. It's been cold, and it's been snowy, and the wind has been doing its typical thing in these parts, turning the snow into snowdrifts that function like concrete road barricades. Our hero jumps in his Ford pickup, confidently heading to his friend's house, confidently navigating north, into the wind, on a day when the temperature reads -15. Confident, because he's got FOUR WHEEL DRIVE and MUD GRIP TIRES. Almost the same as snow-grip tires, right? Almost. He's got HOT COFFEE! Well, our hero turns off the Firecracker road and sees that someone has already driven down this road. Yesterday. BW. Before the concrete-producing wind. He can see the tops of fence-posts. He can see the remnants of a plowing from days gone by. And he can see snow. Lots. His confidence fades, but he takes another sip of hot coffee and hits the gas. Then he hits the brakes and waits, thinking. He steps outside and trudges through the snow, most of it somewhere between his boot-tops and his knees. The wind blows much of his coffee-induced, four-wheel-drive confidence away.

Our hero's father always claimed that people with four wheel drives got stuck more often than people without.

Our hero decides his pickup can handle the snow. He drives in. Stops. Backs out. Looks over one daunting drift. Shovels some of it away. Drives through the drift, into more drift. He stops, one wheel dangerously tempting the ditch. He feels a kind of sinking that hot coffee cannot buoy, a kind of wind-whipped flag beginning to tatter and pop, so that someone seeing the tattered flag might wonder, "Why would anyone leave a raggedy flag like that up?" Our hero musters a hint of confidence again, shovels some snow away, peers beneath the FOUR WHEEL DRIVE pickup to see he's clear of the snow. He's clear.

He backs up, away from the tempting ditch, back through the daunting drift, following his tracks, except his tracks don't go into the ditch, where he now finds himself. He's got a cell phone, so he calls for a tow. Todd's Towing. Quick answer. He'll be right out.

Then, his friend calls. Farmer on the way. Soon, over the hill, the smoke and vapor of a tractor appears, then the tractor itself, its bucket down, scraping a path through concrete barriers that fail to daunt. Our hero calls back Todd, who says he'll wait to see whether the tow is necessary. The tractor passes by. Then returns, backing up, then a friendly farmer emerges from the cab, a log chain in hand.

"On a rescue mission?"
"I was."

Our hero hears how the farmer is clearing the road for his wife.

"She's got a swimming lesson at Lake Campbell."
"She's a tough old bird," our hero retorts.

The pickup comes out nicely.

Our hero calls Todd, calls the friend, calls the wife. His coffee has cooled. He arrives home safely. He is confident there is hot coffee at home.

TCM Time Again

2011-02-02T14:42:00.000-06:00

I've crossed the finish line in a lot of marathons, 26.2 miles at a time, gradually moving back into the pack where things are crowded, where people look a lot like people I see every day at work, in class, at the grocery store. They're not, like I once thought of myself, the go-getters, the demons, the dedicated souls who jump at the sound of their alarm clocks going off at 5 am and spring from their beds and are soon out the door, music in their ears, the dreams of a good finish driving them forward. I'm back in the pack now, with the people in costumes, people with love handles, people who months ago decided they'd like to try one marathon to tick it off their bucket list. Who knows why I'm doing it now, throwing down the gauntlet once again like I did today, forking over the entry fee for the Twin Cities Marathon, whose registration opened today and will soon fill. Yes, 11,500 of us will pony up the cash, while only a few elite sprites will jockey in the lead pack, gliding through Minneapolis and St. Paul, grinding it out until they reach the Summit hill and ease down into the finish chute just short of the capitol building. They'll finish in two hours and change, while many of us are chugging along through miles 16, 17, 18, hoping not to crash, eating our Gu and high-fiving the enthusiastic children lining the streets, hoping to glimpse those who love us enough to make signs and rise early to cheer us on. October 2, 2011.

Dynamic Video Footage of a Kidnapping?

2011-01-31T07:36:00.001-06:00

You have to feel for this poor soul attacked in the forest in this clever, moving video.
December from 328 Stories on Vimeo.

Food Fairies at Work Again

2011-01-30T10:05:00.000-06:00

Egg Bake and Banana Muffins!

It's always a great thing when food arrives unbidden, like a pizza delivery guy who shows up with a steaming pepperoni you didn't order and don't have to pay for. Okay, that's never happened to me--no free delivered pizza. But food--good food--no, great food!--sometimes arrives at our house at unexpected moments. It happened yesterday, thanks to our friends the B's, who knew we were hard at work all day on a house. They've done it before, and, knowing these good people, I've got faith that someday, when we don't expect it, they'll do it again.

I hope they don't mind that we had the egg-bake and muffins not only for breakfast this morning, but also for supper last night. Yum! Thank you, B's!

Engaged with the White House

2011-01-26T07:59:00.000-06:00

The State of the Union Address last night was interesting not only for what Obama said in the speech itself (broadcast at Whitehouse.gov), but also for the many ways in which a viewer could engage with the discussion. From participating in the Twitter feed at #SOTU to presenting a question and answer session immediately after on Facebook and again on Youtube today, this White House is making use of New Media, that's for sure. It blogs, it tweets, it chats, it streams live, it posts photos and podcasts, and it engages the "viewer" in many ways other than just sending out signals. Yeah, White House!