365 Pix in 365 Days 2015: A New Hope, Images 001 through 004

I intentionally put myself on hiatus from my blog posting and picture taking during the last quarter of the year. I was getting too far behind with my picture posts and I wasn't feeling all that inspired to write anything else. I had looked at the photos I had taken and thought if these aren't interesting to me, they certainly won't be interesting to anyone else. So, like any business with a product in the waning stages of its life cycle, I decided to close shop and retool.

I didn't lose my interest in blogging and from time to time would read some of my posts. The writing was rough in some cases, but I could still elicit a laugh every now and again, and I knew the punchline was coming. Even the picture posts were interesting. I tried to make these more compelling for the reader with my tweet-like, one liner style captions, and some worked and some didn't. For me, the pictures were a reminder of things I had seen and places I had been during the year. Reviewing some of the pictures on my camera I didn't post brought me right back to the day I took them.

I think the chronicling aspect of the photos should be my reason for taking the pictures and making the posts. I was too focused on trying to find something interesting to capture when rarely is there a year when something interesting happens EVERY SINGLE DAY. There are going to be days I spend just doing laundry or other chores and maybe a rainbow stack of folded towels is how I will remember it. Finding something clever to say about it will be the hard part.

So, with a new attitude, a New Year, and maybe eventually a new camera, I'm going to start a new 365 Pictures in 365 Days project.  Third times a charm, right?

Image 001:  01-01-2015

Last year, the shot of choice to ring in the New Year were
"baby Guinness." This year was Fireball whiskey and Manhattans
made from Anejo Patron and Dashfire bitters. The result was a
snow angel made while in my underwear. Batman underwear.

Image 002:  01-02-2015

You heard of crop circles? Minnesota has "lake circles."

Image 003:  01-03-2015

The frozen Mississippi River below downtown St. Paul. This past
June these steps and the park above them were underwater when
the river flooded its banks.

Image 004:  01-04-2015

St. Paul from the east side and the river is still frozen. I was, too,
after taking this picture as the weather dropped to single digits.
I don't think those barges are moving anytime soon.

365 in 365 for 2014: Images 062 through 068

First full week of March and I had run out of ideas to take pictures.  Wandered onto Grand Avenue for a couple days.  Mother Nature was a tease and brought some warmish weather, but that quickly dissipated.  The start of Spring was only weeks away and it couldn't come soon enough.  Minnesota had been cold and dreary since the end of October and it wears on a person.  Here are some pictures from the "turn."  The home stretch will soon follow.

No. 062:  03-03-2014

The Wife and I had one of the last meals served at
this closed Greek restaurant on Grand Avenue.

No. 063:  03-04-2014

This is La Cucaracha near the corner of Dale Street and
Grand Avenue.  I proposed to my Wife here on Valentine's Day.

No. 064:  03-05-2014

Do you know the old joke about who's buried in Grant's tomb? This
is Tavern on Grand.  Guess what street it's on?

No. 065:  03-06-2014

Warmer weather caused some snow melt on the roads and
pathways around Lake of the Isles.

No. 066:  03-07-2014

Ah, the first crow of Spring and the rejuvenation of life.
What?  Crows are associated with death?  Never mind.

No. 067:  03-08-2014

An old bridge support in the Mississippi River.  It will be a 
shame when it tumbles years from now.

No. 068:  03-09-2014

Interesting ice display outside the Weisman Museum.

365 in 365 for 2014: Images 013 through 019

The winter isn't even a month old and the season has already weighed heavily on most Minnesotans.  There are the die-hards with their outdoor hockey and ice fishing and extreme jogging (this is the same as regular jogging, but in sub-zero temperatures), but I don't associate with these people.  The ones I do are as tired of the cold and snow as I am.  I had to shovel snow again this weekend, but had some help with a very sunny day. The front walk looks better, but all I could manage on the driveway was to make the snow pack as flat as possible.

Although I'm not part of the cold weather crowd, I did have a run-in with one of their number.  Friday night was a special hockey night as I believe both the women's and men's U of MN hockey teams were playing outdoors in TCF Bank Stadium, the regular home of the college football team and the temporary one for the Vikings starting next year as the new stadium is built (the Metrodome/Mall of America Field was deflated on Saturday).  I was stopped at a red light on University Avenue on campus when a taxi pulled up next to me.  I heard some sort of vocalization and when I looked, there was a lumberjack-looking man, complete with auburn Viking mustache, leaning out the front passenger window.  I rolled down my window with trepidation.

"Game time," he said.  There wasn't any sort of inflection in his statement, so I didn't know if he was asking or telling me.

"I'm sorry.  I don't know," I replied.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

A look of shock and confusion suffused his face.  "You don't . . . you're not going to the game?"

I was dreading where this line of questioning was going.  Mercifully, the light turned green and his taxi sped away.  Nothing more was exchanged between us, but I'm sure he said "what an asshole" to his fellow passengers.

I'm still not sure what he was wanting from me.  I suppose to engage in some pre-game ritual to get each other fired up for the upcoming contest.  Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and he chose the wrong person.  I guess my response should have been something like "OH, IT'S ON NOW!  FUCK YEAH!"  This would be followed by a series of grunts, shouts and hoots.  

So, I missed my chance to bond with the hardcore Minnesotans.  Maybe I will practice this type of exchange at G-Bug's next volleyball tourney.  I'm sure I can get away with some rough cursing around teen aged girls and their parents.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Until then, here are the next week of pictures.  Enjoy!

No. 013:  01-13-2014

The only other time I could get this picture would be in a canoe.

No. 014:  01-14-2014

Near full moon behind an apartment building in NE Mpls.

No. 015:  01-15-2014

A view of Mpls overlooking Lake of the Isles

No. 016:  01-16-2014

The imposing edifice of the Cathedral of St. Paul

No. 017:  01-17-2014

TCF Bank Stadium hosting Gopher hockey

No. 018:  01-18-2014

Growing up in West Hartford, CT, there was a small, two screen
theater called The Elm that showed late run movies for $.99.
The Riverview reminds me of The Elm.

No. 019:  01-19-2014

The Intimidator back at the net.  She doesn't need to jump to get
her hands over the net.  A force to be reckoned with.

365 in 365: Images 161 through 167

The weather is growing cooler in Minnesota now that's its September and summer is winding down.  On the plus side, I can relive my summer by posting a week's worth of pictures for the next couple of weeks.  Where has the time gone?  Truth be told, September and October are my favorite months of the year, so I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks.  But first, let's review what I saw at the beginning of June.

No. 161:  06-10-2013 (placeholder)

Better than the hand painted panel vans I see cruising in my
neighborhood.  Like the throwback look.

No. 162:  06-11-2013

Summer is here once the ice and dead fish are replaced by
lily pads on Beaver Lake.  Giggity!

No. 163:  06-12-2013 (placeholder)

Part of the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis

No. 164:  06-13-2013

Sunset over the Mississippi River

No. 165:  06-14-2013

The Grain Belt Beer sign is actually on a high school's grounds.
The compromise to tearing it down is never lighting it up.

No. 166:  06-15-2013

A classic car showing as part of the Father Hennepin Park Art Fair

No. 167:  06-16-2013 Father's Day

A wonderfully bright, warm day to celebrate being a Dad

365 in 365: Images 140 through 146

I didn't want to overload my readership with multiple postings of weekly pictures.  Yes, I'm WAY behind in posting pictures, but I wanted to break up the monotony with posts about other topics - any topic.  I have one posting under my belt about my Cape Cod vacation, and there are several others to write, but I have to get some of these weekly picture posts done.  This week's pictures can be titled "Springtime in Minneapolis."

No. 140:  05-20-2013

Some cherry blossom trees on Lake of the Isles

No. 141:  05-21-2013 (placeholder)

A rainy, foggy day in Minneapolis.  Yes, this is a part of Spring.

No. 142:  05-22-2013

The top of the Hennepin Ave. Bridge from the River Road.

No. 143:  05-23-2013

A celebrity sighting in Minnesota!

No. 144:  05-24-2013 (placeholder)

The Lake Calhoun Armada

No. 145:  05-25-2013 (placeholder)

Went to Marinette, WI to visit the Wifey's family for Memorial Day
weekend.  This is a scene from a nature walk we took, NOT
downtown Marinette.

No. 146:  05-26-2013

The sign pretty much captions itself.

365 in 365: Images 133 through 139

This series of pictures shows what a lovely place Minnesota can be once the snow stops and the weather starts to warm.  The Red Sox came into town at the end of the week.  I was able to catch the middle game in the three game set.  Nothing like a baseball game to get you into the summer spirit.

No. 133:  05-13-2013

Without leaves on the trees, canoes racked and stacked by the lake
are the first sign of Spring

No. 134:  05-14-2013

Once the weather hits 60 degrees, the clothes start to come off.  
Spontaneous volleyball on Lake Calhoun

No. 135:  05-15-2013

Lake of the Isles without ice on it

No. 136:  05-16-2013 (placeholder)

On the left you can see the buildings of St. Paul.  As you follow
the tree line, you can see the buildings of Minneapolis

No. 137:  05-17-2013 (placeholder)

From the SRO area behind right field at Target Field

No. 138:  05-18-2013

If I had a baseball, I could have hit Daniel Nava; if I also had the
aim and arm strength.  Ironically, he hit a home run about 10 feet
from where I was standing.

No. 139:  05-19-2013 (placeholder)

A panoramic view of Target Field

365 in 365: Images 119 through 125

Finally getting into May pictures for the weekly series.  I hate to repeat myself, but Minnesota had another snowfall on May 3rd.  The weather warmed soon after and melted it away.  It's been an odd spring this year with alternating warm and precipitating days; the type of precipitation also alternating between rain and snow.  Thankfully, the summer has been very nice and I should be posting pictures of this great season in short order.

This series features mostly Minneapolis skyline.

No.119:  04-29-2013

Some of the lakeside homes around Lake of the Isles

No. 120:  04-30-2013

The building drawing the most attention is The Carlyle, pricey
high-rise condos.  I would love to write a story about some of
the people who might live there.

No. 121:  05-01-2013 (placeholder)

A panoramic view of the Minneapolis skyline

No. 122:  05-02-2013

Have you ever noticed how interesting parking lots can be?
Me, neither.

No. 123:  05-03-2013

Yep.  More snow.

No. 124:  05-04-2013 (placeholder)

One of the statuaries on the Mississippi River bank in St. Paul

No. 125:  05-05-2013

Interesting fact:  I have dropped a deuce on both of these boats