Thinking today about my wiener dog, Herman.

For my tenth birthday my folks gave me the world's most wonderful daschund. He was sleek, had a reddish-brown coat, and his chest dragged a bit on the ground when he ran. We named him Herman. 60 years later I still think of my dog, and almost wonder whether I should get another pet just like him. Except there is/was only one Herman.

Fuck this Shit: Are these Socks in bad tase?

These socks were a gift. Presented with a smile and a twinkle in the eye.  I'm not sure whether to wear them in public, or leave them on display here. 

 

Bruno leads the family on an apres-turkey adventure on Barn Island.

Thanksgiving rain had passed, we were stuffed with turkey and pecan pie, and all agreed a walk was in order. Stonington's Barn Island nature preserve was hand's-down choice for a family adventure.  Dad and the boys were on bikes, Mom and I were on foot, doing a decent job keeping up with Bruno.  So much beauty to behold, breath to catch, new doggie friends for Bruno to make. AND, so many photo ops, including this one,  reminiscent of a Wyeth. 

 

Pachaug State Park in CT commemorates the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Signs of the Times - Fall 2020 in Stonington, CT

On the way to Pawcatuck one can be sure to be safe and saved - all with a helpful dose of good humor.

Someone told me the combo outfit I was wearing the day this was shot was perfect attire for new owner of old Raleigh 16" wheel folder.

Nothing velo about this shot.  There must be 100 small boats, stored upside down for the winter, at the Stonington Town Dock.  I love that nearly a dozen consecutive seasonal registration stickers continue to festoon the bow of this craft.  

 The Weekapaug Inn in the eponymous Rhode Island resort town is a pretty swell place. To celebrate the fall season Inn management assembled more local bounty than this correspondent had ever seen in one place.  Bike here is a Giant "Expressway" foldy that I'd ridden up the coast from Misquamicut Beach.

Kind of brings back that kid-like feeling, especially if you have a passenger.

Ahhh let’s see.... we got it as sort of a bike truck so we can haul stuff to our garden and I can use it for hauling tools from my shop. Also kind of nice to use as a people hauler 

Bakfiets.nl is a brand but Bakfeits is also the term for a cargo bike. Literally boxbike. They’ve been around for 100 years so the idea is anything but new.  Bakfiets.nl is regarded as the gold standard of cargo bikes here but there are a lot of other good brands too. This one was coincidentally what I was looking for for a decent price. 

It cycles remarkably easily,  and it’s not too heavy. No hills here though so that’s no prob but it’s pretty easy to get it over bridges. It has an internal 8 speed hub so you have a pretty good gear range and it’s a blast to ride. Kind of brings back that kid like feeling, especially if you have a passenger.

Lots of fun! I’ve always wanted one and had some money burning a hole in my pocket so here it is! 

Young friends in the Netherlands don't own a car, go everywhere on their bikes.

A young couple I know in the Netherlands don't own a car - don't miss it much, either.  They  travel everywhere under pedal power.  "We just acquired a Bakfiets cargo bike, took turns pedaling 25 miles to dinner with friends in another town.  Had a nice ride home late under the crescent moon along a big canal. The view from in the box as passenger - intoxicating. Can’t do that in a car!" 

Skies over former Lake Calhoun made for perfect riding conditions today.

Bright blue sky and puffy white clouds over Lake Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis today = major benefit of COVID lock-down. Bikes in abundance in parks and around lakes, all over town this afternoon, but far fewer cars than normal = an atmosphere that Native Dakota peoples counted on when they inhabited our world, nearly 200 years ago.

Jesus Loves You and Doesn't Want You to Catch COVID-19

Driving west yesterday on 42nd Ave in Robbinsdale.  Homemade sign by parishioners lifts spirits, gives us all hope!!

Legendary Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown about to have vanity plates installed on her Mercedes.

In this foto the late Helen Gurley Brown, who built Cosmopolitan into the most influential young women's magazine in the world, is about to have New York State COSMO vanity plate installed on her Mercedes-Benz.  HGB hardly needed more notoriety, but what fun we all had when the late Editor-in-Chief of Cosmo's dozens of international editions, was awarded yet another accolade in her long list of accomplishments. The "we," by the way, is the editorial and advertising staff of Cosmo at the time, including the not-so-handy publisher,  Seth Hoyt. Photo circa 1996.

Plenty of snowy diversions here to keep you from going to Florida.

Back yard 'boggining - fearless, fun, not too fancy. 

Lake Bde Maka Ska municipal kayaks hibernating safely and serenely.

Snowshoer and pet Choc Lab about to walk 18 on the Spring Hill course.

This guy even rides to work on his twin engine, battery powered skate board. He can do twenty MPH with those studded tires, and the battery might last 25 minutes in sub-zero  temps.  And it was below zero the day I met man and machine. 

"Beleza" means "beauty" in the Portuguese language.   I kept waiting for a gorgeous California lady to slip behind the wheel of this RAV, but she never showed up. 

I learned on my walk around Bde Maka Ska that the first home in Minneapolis was  built for missionaries who'd come to the area to convert American Indians to Christianity. Too much snow on the plaque to read the date of construction.

The City of Minneapolis has invested enthusiastically in educating walkers, bikers, X-country skiers, boaters, et al, on the history and origins of this remarkable body of water, formerly known as Lake Calhoun. 

"Ferg" in same hat he wore as a kid.

I'm pretty sure this is the Jamis that my oldest daughter rode when she was in college.

I was only too happy to get this bike for my most wonderful daughter when she was an undergrad. Over the years the Jamis has been passed around from family member to family member, and it's still going strong. Now, about that seat .....

I helped "One Street" develop World-Ready Shift Levers by kicking in to KickStarter.

Five or so years back I connected with Sue Knaup in Prescott, AZ. She told me that her "One Street" nonprofit hoped to raise $$ via Kick Starter to  create and distribute a special "technology" to permit anybody anywhere to make replacement components for bikes.   Sue's market was developing countries where bikes were the main means of transport, but repair shops w/spare parts were few and far between. 

The concept to be funded initially:  a small "back yard" blast furnace and mold in the shape of a shift lever.  Aluminum cans could be melted down by anyone, and molten metal poured into the mold, let sit and: voila! Repair problems solved. 

Prototypes were made, the concept was well received, but manufacturing glitches came up that prevented the fruition of the project. For my modest contribution Sue sent me a shifter that I keep on my desk as a reminder of how much need there is in the world, and how one smart, savvy, enthusiastic dreamer-entrepreneur can . make a difference. 

Likely the best bakery and coffee shop in Wayzata, MN.

Certainly the only one with a French accent!

Ken Weir explains Patek Phillipe collaboration with Weir Jewelers on occasion of the Dublin store's 150th year in business.

Ken's family started the business a century and a half ago.  To celebrate 150 years, current Dublin owners picked Swiss watch maker Patek Phillipe to design a special, limited edition chronograph. Price: a mere 90,000 euros!

Weir "Style" magazine tells the story.