365 in 365: Images 063 to 069

Week 10 of my picture project.  Had to use a place holder for this week.  The weather is starting to warm and I will be getting into my work travel schedule, so I should have opportunity to find images without snow in them.  Appreciate the 30 - 60 seconds of perusal needed to scroll through the pics.

No. 063:  03-04-13

Main building of Metropolitan State University in St. Paul

No. 064:  03-05-13

Bridge crossing to Nicollet Island with Minneapolis in the background

No. 065:  03-06-13

Scariest looking bus ad I've ever seen

No. 066:  03-07-13

Closest St. Paul can come to matching
Philadelphia's Rocky statue, Herb Brooks

No. 067:  03-08-13 (place holder)

Rice Park in St. Paul.  The St. Paul Hotel is in the background

No. 068:  03-09-13

An old Sherwin-Williams location in downtown Mpls

No. 069:  03-10-13

"That's the Mississippi, Russ.  The Mighty Mississip.  Ole Miss.
The Old Man.  Dee-eep river!"

Liquor in the front, Poker in the rear

In the beginning of ‘Eight Mile,’ Eminem is seen vomiting in the bathroom from nervousness in anticipation of his rap battle.  I, on the other hand, had the hard boiled eggs with breakfast repeat on me before my impending participation in a Texas Hold’Em poker tournament at the St. Croix Casino.  At least I didn’t leave any evidence on my clothes.  I didn’t want to show any weakness.

This was the sixth time I have participated in a poker tournament; the others being at a bar (where I won $50), at the Tropicana in Las Vegas (where I won $400 in one of the two tournaments I bought into), a WSOP satellite event at Treasure Island in MN (almost placed in the top 50 percentile), and another circuit event at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, IA (where I was 5 seats away from being “in the money”).

I think my touchy stomach is a mix of the anticipation of possibly winning and the uncertain level of disappointment on losing, but mostly involves the anxiety of looking like an asshole.  In previous tournaments I have bet out of turn, folded rather than checked with the big blind, and got confused when changing a large chip for the blind and ante.  So, I’ve looked like a donkey before, but survived it, and I think that knowledge keeps me wanting to play.

This tournament was a $65 buy-in with a $10 fee with the option to re-buy should a player bust before the first break.  Every player received 10K in chips to start and had a chance to add-on another 5K in chips for $20 cash.  There were about 65 different players, but several re-buys drove the prize pool.  First place could have won about $1,500.

365 in 365: Images 056 to 062

My picture project is starting to back-up on me.  Tomorrow will be the end of week 11, and this set of pictures is for Week 9.  Having a typical Minnesota winter this year is making it difficult to find images that aren't almost soul-crushingly dreary.  However, I soldier on.

No. 056:  02-25-13

Either by boat, by car, or by train, there are 
numerous ways to exit St. Paul

No. 057:  02-26-13

Some relics of the past under the Hennepin Ave. Bridge

No. 058:  02-27-13

Lighthouse on Boom Island north of Minneapolis

A Road Runs By It

Friday is casual day at my work and I usually take advantage of the day to take a “casual” commute.  One of my favorite drives is along the Mississippi River Boulevard.  I connect with the road in St. Paul where it is known as Warner Road and Shepard Road and am afforded a lot of picturesque views of the river as I make my way west.  The name change to Mississippi River Boulevard happens at the crossing of Highway 5 and that’s where I met this rafter of wild turkeys (yes, I looked it up).

This wasn’t my only run-in with wild life while traveling on the river road.  This past October, I stopped at an overlook near Lock and Dam No. 1 across from the defunct Ford Ranger Assembly plant to take some pictures of the fall foliage.  After getting a couple shots of a very bright sugar maple, I was returning to my car when I heard an unusual screech.  I looked into the trees on the river side of the road and saw a bald eagle perched on a limb.  I approached him slowly and took a couple pictures.  I watched him for a few minutes and then caught a flash of movement in another tree further down.  There was a second eagle, which I presumed was its mate.

Another time, during the warmer months, I was driving and slowed to a stop before disturbing a red tailed hawk standing in the road.  A rabbit was unsuccessful in crossing the road and the hawk, being a skilled opportunist as well as hunter, was standing over the carcass.  The hawk seemed to be debating his next move.  A car approached from the other side and also stopped a respectful distance away.  Now, with a growing audience, the hawk made a quick decision, grabbed the rabbit in its talons, and took off toward the trees.  I think the rabbit might have been a little too large as the hawk stayed very low to the ground.  As I passed the other driver, we gave each other a “thumbs-up’ to the scene we just witnessed.

One early morning last year, I saw what first looked like a dog come tearing around the corner of the Ford Plant, dash across the street, and ran toward the woody bank of the river.  When it passed my car, I got a better look and realized it was a grey wolf.

Also near the Ford Plant is a second overlook to the Hidden Falls – Crosby Farm Regional Park.  I had pulled into the parking lot to get some pictures of the sunset.  I walked toward the stone wall separating the lot and the steep bank of the river and was immediately face-to-face with a doe.  We looked at each other in surprise, as if asking “what are you doing here?”  I had my camera in my jacket pocket and I knew any sudden movement would spook the deer.  I slowly pulled the camera out and took a couple pictures.  The deer never moved.  So, I selected the video feature and recorded about 30 seconds of the deer chewing a leaf.  I slowly backed away from the stone wall and took some pictures of the surrounding countryside and setting sun.  Unfortunately, all that evidence was lost to a computer virus.

My last memorable run-in with wild life was with a pig, who gave me a speeding ticket for going 35 miles per hour in a 25mph zone.  Just kidding!  I mean, I did get a speeding ticket, but I have nothing but respect for our men and women in blue.

As I mentioned before, when not encountering wildlife, there are some amazing vistas to see on the River Road.

365 in 365: Images 049 to 055

Some more pictures from in and around Minnesota.  Wish I could have done something more interesting for Image No. 050, but if you couple it with Image No. 051, you can get a side-by-side comparison of the Twin Cities.  So, this week's pics has THAT going for them.

No. 049:  02-18-13

A St. Paul landmark, the Fitzgerald Theater,
home to The Prairie Home Companion

No. 050:  02-19-13

"Side view" of Minneapolis, taken from 35W entrance ramp

No. 051:  02-20-13

St. Paul on a frigidly cold morning

No. 052:  02-21-13

Mears Park in downtown St. Paul

No. 053:  02-22-13

What am I doing, driving to work in this slop?
Better question, why am I taking a picture while driving 
to work in this slop?

No. 054:  02-23-13

Me with the St. Croix Casino mascot in Turtle Lake, WI

No. 055:  02-24-13

Warmer weather means dangerous icicles dangling from the eaves

Real Boys of Genius

Years ago, when I was visiting my family in Connecticut, my brother explained a little bit about his parenting style.  At the time, his two sons were very young and his attitude about raising them could only be described as laissez faire.  He wasn't a bad dad, in fact he took very good care of his kids, but they could get pretty wild.

His light discipline was his way to prevent them from feeling bad.  He revealed he was constantly reminded of times that were embarrassing or demoralizing for him and he didn't want his boys to feel the same way.  I knew exactly what he meant; I suffer from the same ailment.

One episode that continually burbles from my memory at odd times was when I was in Mrs. Griswold's second grade class.  As I look back now, we were probably doing a segment on the five senses.  We had a guest speaker who would ask for volunteers.  Being an eager child back then, I would raise my hand each time but was denied the chance to shine.  We reached the fifth and final sense and she asked for volunteers.  Undaunted, I raised my hand again and was lucky enough to be selected.

My luck further improved when I saw her reveal a cookie brought from the cafeteria.  I was going to get a treat, too!  She asked my name and then the loaded question, "How can you tell this is a good cookie?"

Instead of defining "good" as either "delicious" or "pleasing," I decided to take the tack of "not evil."

"You should break it apart to see if there are any pins in it," I replied. 

I like to think my answer was influenced because Halloween was approaching and we were drilled to be careful of the candy we eat after Trick-o-Treating.  We were warned there were sickos out there who could put things in candy to hurt little kids.  Even as an eight-year old, I refused to become a statistic. 

What followed were gales of laughter and I can still see clearly in my mind's eye Jeffrey Simmons putting his head in his hands in the front row.  It gets worse. 

“Okay.  But how can you tell if this is a good cookie,” she tried again.  Rather than changing my answer, I assumed she didn’t hear me the first time (ironic as we were learning about the senses) and gave the same answer.  Seeing as this line of questioning was going nowhere, she then whispered "taste."

I realized then what my mistake was and affected a look of epiphany and triumphantly exclaimed, “TASTE!”  She invited me to taste the cookie and I took a bite.  I nodded my approval.  "It's good."  And pin-free.  I ate the rest of the cookie at my desk.

To this day, peanut butter cookies taste like failure.

365 in 365: Images 042 to 048

Here is the next batch of pictures to round out the week ending today.  I should be all caught up now.  Some highlights of the upcoming week is my 50th picture of the project.  I'll try to do something special for all of you have stuck it out with me for the last 48 pictures so far.
No. 042:  02-11-13

Crappy cell phone picture.  It's a model of the Wright Brothers airplane
with a banner with my company name flowing behind.
Orville was born in Dayton & both brothers died there.

No. 043:  02-12-13

The dining room at the Masonic Center in Dayton

No. 044:  02-13-13

Does a new day start after midnight or after a few hours sleep?
Some "dead soldiers" left in the wee hours of 02/13.

No. 045:  02-14-13

Valentine's Day
In Minnesota, we get it on just to stay warm!

365 in 365: Images 035 to 041

Gonna do a double whammy this week on the Year in Pictures project as I had to travel to Dayton for work on Sunday and my work computer does not have all the bells and whistles necessary to do a decent blog post.  Otherwise, I would have been right there in my hotel room, blogging away.  So here is Week 6 of pictures.

No. 035:  02-04-13

Amateur snow sculptures near Lake Calhoun

No. 036:  02-05-13

Capitol Building in St. Paul

No. 037:  02-06-13

Jill digging around in the snow.  My friends and family in
New England will be unimpressed with the snow level.

A Financial Ventry

I’ve got 99 problems and money is involved in all of them.  I suppose I should look at all the good things I have and consider myself lucky, but then how do I feel the enjoyment of bitching?  After a pretty tough 2012 and looking at a looming financial horizon, what with G-Bug three years away from graduating high school, I wanted to get on a more disciplined path.  I’ve taken much of the doom & gloom reporting about retirement and the saving habits of the average American to heart and wanted to avoid being another statistic.

For New Year’s, I gave myself a moderate resolution of having an additional $360 in savings by the end of 2013.  For someone who lives from check to check, socking away $15 from 24 out of 26 paychecks in a year seemed a decent place to start.  I also wanted to bump up my 401K contribution rate to 5%, the top level where my company would match (100% match for the first 3%, then 50% match for the next 2%).  There are also a few debts I wanted to pay down in 2013, so I felt I had a good plan in place to save some, pay some, and be on my way to build up a good nest egg by the time G-Bug goes to college.

I took time to put together a rudimentary family cash flow plan to track and time all expenses I was responsible for paying as well as my pay days.  I would have to borrow repeatedly against my overdraft protection with ING throughout the year, but I did the same for all of 2012, so I was prepared for it.  When money got really tight, I was able to plan when I would late pay a bill or two until after a pay day, so I wouldn’t be playing so close to the hilt.  If I could budget accordingly, we would start seeing some marked improvement after the summer.

How does that expression go about ‘best laid plans?’  

365 in 365: Images 028 through 034

My next week of photos include a couple from my business trip to Dallas.  I was attending the ASHRAE show, a trade show for HVAC manufacturers and ksdlafhd sjghadskjh dsg . . . Sorry.  Even I got bored and dozed off.  

This was my first trip, business or otherwise, for 2013.  Interestingly enough, at least for me, the last business trip I took back in October, was also to Dallas.  My next trip will be to Dayton this Sunday, then who knows?  I will make sure to take some pictures, wherever it may be.  Enjoy this week's pics, a little late due to some Super Bowl celebrations.

No. 028:  01-28-13

A statue raised by the Daughters of the Confederacy
outside the Dallas Convention Center

 

No. 029:  01-29-13

Next to the statue outside the Convention Center is the
Pioneer Cemetery for the settlers of Dallas back in 1850's

 

No. 030:  01-30-13

Visited the Dallas Zoo and saw one of the 'Ghosts of the Bayou'

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