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Wanted this one, but my size NO MOR

Pic posted March 18, 2024

We will see what Boston has tomorrow, but the Twins team store is running very low on 2024 stuff. Guess we will need to come earlier next time (or I need a smaller head)


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We found a throwback Target 🎯

Pic posted March 18, 2024

Fort Myers has a Super Target near our hotel that is…not really following the latest Target design standards


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Have a seat

Pic posted March 11, 2024

The new entryway bench has arrived 👍


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Link: iJustine on the new M3 MacBook Airs

Linked March 7, 2024


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Purchase and install ski racks ✅

Pic posted February 16, 2024

Just like olden times ⛷️


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90 Years of Old Dutch

Pic posted February 6, 2024

Love the throw-back design


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Descente Success! ⛷️

Pic posted February 6, 2024

A store in Wayzata going out of business due to the retirement of the owners had one men’s jacket left – it fit and was on big markdown 😎


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🫡 Rough morning for errands

Posted February 5, 2024

This morning I planned to hit all the errands I didn’t get to do last week before heading to the office. Went 0-for-3: the Cottage Grove DMV wouldn’t sell me a state parks license plate, a ski shop the Descente website sent me to in Long Long didn’t actually have any jackets (neither did Hoigaard’s or Joe’s) and Rack Attack had no realistic options for Oliver.

Onward to other plans…


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The Club Doctor Is In

Pic posted January 30, 2024

It was a pleasure to meet Stan Steuter before he retires from the Golf Club Hospital (after 57 years). Re-gripped all my irons with the Golf Pride style recommended by Stan (and Doug). Said the kids next door (Tenant) are very nice…


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Goldy stickers acquired ✅

Pic posted January 29, 2024

Haven’t been in Coffman in a million years. Bucky up next…


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HAPPY OLIVER DAY! 🇬🇧

Pic posted January 27, 2024

Took delivery today in Golden Valley 🏁


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OK, this was an automatic purchase

Pic posted January 26, 2024

Very clever (although I see the back lists PAL times)


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State Fair Benches, NO MOR

Posted January 21, 2024

It’s no secret our family loves the Minnesota State Fair. I’ve still managed to go every year of my life, and realized the same is true for my daughters too. One of the long-time items on my bucket list was to “Sit on a Kingsbury Bench at the State Fair,” which up to this point involved a $2500 donation to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.

Given the large financial commitment, I’ve had it pretty low on my list of priorities. There is a yellow “Dave and Colleen” bench from a different family (pictured above), and my aunt and uncle got a green bench a few years ago for their grandchildren that usually ends up on Machinery Hill.

Last week, someone on Mastodon mentioned that the program was going to end this year because they don’t have enough storage space to add more. I hadn’t read anything on the news and the fair did not email us about it (which they are usually really good about). When I checked the foundation website, it did say the program was ending soon and to get your orders in quickly.

I talked it over with Colleen the next day and we decided we should just do it (and agreed on a yellow “Kingsbury” bench). When I went back to place the order, that page now unfortunately said “…after 15-plus years, we have ended the recognition bench and table program. All bench and table donations made as of January 17, 2024 will be honored.” I emailed the foundation right away and received this response:

Unfortunately, we are completely sold out. We will not have a waitlist as the way that we were able to keep the opportunity fair we only accepted submissions with all information and that were fully funded. Our apologies, but stay tuned in future years for more recognition opportunities on the fairgrounds.

I’m no marketing genius, but it seems to me that if you are a non-profit trying to raise money, you should probably figure out a way to take it from people that want to give it to you. It’s fine if you need to end a program for logistical reasons, but the way this program ended doesn’t seem like it was done in a manner that would optimize the financial success of the foundation.

I still love the fair, but it will be hard to hear any future fundraising requests without thinking about how the end of the bench program was managed. Maybe the other Dave and Colleen will share theirs with us…


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New Charlie Parr album alert 🚨

Pic posted January 9, 2024

“Little Sun” to be released March 22, 2024


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🫡 Oh no, Amazon, you are messing up

Pic posted December 28, 2023

Prime at $99/year was worth it, but then you switched me to a more expensive monthly charge without telling me and now you want to add shitty ads to Prime Video? Cya, Benzos…


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The tree has arrived 🎄

Pic posted December 17, 2023

A week out is late, but was shocked to see the selection down to a half dozen trees at Lilydale Garden Center


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AE1 Night with the Timberwolves 🏀

Pic posted December 16, 2023

Think I might get the black and white ones when they are released. Wolves beat the Pacers, 127-109


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Jerry has some good deli meals

Pic posted December 16, 2023

3-piece fried chicken, corn and wedge fries 💯


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What a cluster!

Pic posted December 12, 2023

Haven’t tried any of these yet, but anything that’s lasted since 1912 must be solid


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Third Man Records Nashville ✅

Pic posted December 12, 2023

Not a very big store, but so much unique stuff 💯


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AEW Dynamite/Rampage ✅

Pic posted November 29, 2023

$850 seems a lot easier than training for a belt


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Pearl Jam @ Xcel September 2023

Posted November 25, 2023

After writing my Eagles post, I realized I started a draft for the Pearl Jam show back in September, but never finished it off. Colleen has been in the Ten Club for a very long time and Setlist says we’ve seen them ten times now, tied for the most of any artist. Every time they go on tour, fan club members are offered the opportunity to buy tickets and we would’ve gone to both Saint Paul nights if it hadn’t been for our conflict with Duran Duran at the state fair grandstand.

On this tour, Pearl Jam was doing two shows in each city, with a night off in between. Since we couldn’t do the first night, we ordered two tickets to the Saturday show (reviewed by Jon Bream of the Star Tribune). Tickets are supposed to be assigned via seniority in the club, but we’ve never received great spots in the past. This year was not a great experience – they moved us *three* times before telling us that was our actual spot (each time we got farther and farther from the stage, unfortunately).

After reading Ron Hubbard’s review of the Thursday show, I had some serious FOMO that I missed this:

The volume and adrenaline gradually rose with each song before lead guitarist Mike McCready kicked his folding wooden chair aside during the fifth number and rose to launch into a soaring guitar solo on “Black” from the band’s 1991 debut album. Soon Vedder was up, then guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, and the rocking had clearly begun.

Black is my favorite PJ song and of course they didn’t play it again on Saturday. Our show overall turned out to be just fine (as they always are) – just different (setlist and pics after the jump). I’m sure there are lots of Saturday fans that were happy we got Jeremy, Better Man and I Am Mine that the Thursday crowd did not. Wasn’t crazy about the Purple Rain cover, but a lot of people liked that we got that one (I believe for the first time in Minnesota). My highlight was definitely McCready playing the solo in Alive behind his head. I guess the lesson is to just go to both shows in the future – competing shows be damned.

The other lesson is to buy your merch ahead of time (even outside before the shows, as was offered for this tour). We got there when doors opened, skipped the outside trailer and got right in line. They had date-specific shirts, posters and stickers for each night and our shirt was already gone by the time we got to the front of the line (I did get the sticker, pictured above). It was sad to see them listed on eBay after we got to our seats (and not available for purchase on the PJ website like other bands do). The Saint Paul hockey jerseys looked cool, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger at that price. Props to the band for selling “authorized bootlegs” of every show, though – just downloaded that tonight…

Setlist (first five songs seated)

  • Pendulum
  • Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
  • Off He Goes
  • Nothing as It Seems
  • Daughter
  • Do the Evolution
  • Last Exit
  • Once
  • Who Ever Said
  • Brain Damage (Pink Floyd cover)
  • I Am Mine
  • Take the Long Way
  • Even Flow
  • Severed Hand
  • In Hiding
  • Unthought Known
  • Corduroy
  • Porch
  • Encore:
  • I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty cover)
  • Last Kiss
  • Got Some
  • Jeremy
  • Better Man
  • Alive
  • Purple Rain (Prince cover)

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Happy Thanksgiving 2023 🦃

Pic posted November 23, 2023

Saint Paul Farmer’s Market – Christmas was trying to invade again


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Successful day trip to Duluth ✅

Pic posted November 12, 2023

Found a new work bag at Frost River, got caramel apples at the candy store, bought some seasonal decorations at the Christmas farmer’s market and stopped in to see LK


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Halloween clearance @ Jerry’s Foods

Pic posted November 5, 2023

How could I pass these babies up? Boo Berry and Franken Berry for under $2 each!


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