We can see a greener future

Taking in the flourishing view from the Flora Observatory
Originally published by DK on January 22, 2021 at 9:54 amTaking in the flourishing view from the Flora Observatory
Originally published by DK on January 22, 2021 at 9:54 amWe found an oasis of fun @TwoDots
Originally published by DK on January 16, 2021 at 9:41 amAnotherloverholenyohead
Originally published by DK on January 10, 2021 at 9:36 pmIt’s a dizzying trip along these Spiraling Streets
Originally published by DK on January 9, 2021 at 12:33 amGuess you need seven perfect rounds to re-enter the top 50
Originally published by DK on December 31, 2020 at 2:55 pmI was convinced a few we’re missing…
Originally published by DK on December 30, 2020 at 1:41 amThese have been awesome – thanks, Brian and Patti!
Originally published by DK on December 28, 2020 at 8:34 amWe came in contact with a new type of life in the Biolab Boulevard
Originally published by DK on December 20, 2020 at 10:12 amFrom different corners of the world, we still found each other…
Originally published by DK on December 20, 2020 at 7:51 amTwo Dots is my pandemic lifeline
Originally published by DK on December 15, 2020 at 4:02 pmThe “new zoo” has been impacted in unique ways by the pandemic, so we were happy to help support them via the drive-thru Nature Illuminated experience that runs through January 17. Prices vary by day, with discounts for zoo members (we paid $50 for our car of four people). The inflatable animals and lighting are set up in the eastern parking lots (near the school that SK and MK attended), which you enter and exit from the main zoo entrance on McAndrews. There is an audio program you can stream from your phone that ties in with the sequence of the animals, who are grouped much like the zoo itself. You are asked to drive with just your parking lights and the leisurely pace was just right, allowing for photos and an overall time of about 40 minutes.
Still shooting for top 100
Originally published by DK on December 10, 2020 at 7:16 pmScenes from a walk, part 396
Originally published by DK on December 10, 2020 at 4:34 pmWe flew through the Binary Borough
Originally published by DK on December 10, 2020 at 12:28 am…in the Enchanted Kingdom
Originally published by DK on December 2, 2020 at 9:37 pmThe lock is no match for these locks!
Originally published by DK on November 26, 2020 at 10:14 pmThanks for the mental break, Two Dots
Originally published by DK on November 25, 2020 at 2:12 pmMiss the treadmill (never thought I’d say those words)
Originally published by DK on November 21, 2020 at 6:19 pmThe wyrm watches our every step in the Tempting Trove
Originally published by DK on November 11, 2020 at 8:07 amA giant fortune awaits you…
Originally published by DK on November 2, 2020 at 10:18 pmBrake Bread 🍞
Originally published by DK on October 22, 2020 at 1:24 pmDon’t stray from the path in the Howling Hollow
Originally published by DK on October 17, 2020 at 8:02 amHaven’t seen world rankings like that for a while
Originally published by DK on October 15, 2020 at 11:17 pmGhost Dots, Pods, and Zappers, oh my!
Originally published by DK on October 12, 2020 at 8:14 pmCome freak out at the Spooky Soirée
Originally published by DK on October 4, 2020 at 5:09 pmMade it to 3000 (almost all with three stars)
Originally published by DK on October 1, 2020 at 8:30 pmDo it yourself in 2020
Originally published by DK on September 22, 2020 at 6:50 pmFind wondrous beauty in a sunken city
Originally published by DK on September 20, 2020 at 9:21 amShe is so talented
Originally published by DK on September 16, 2020 at 11:29 pmWe went nuts over this Flip!
Originally published by DK on September 14, 2020 at 7:38 pmCalmly drift along the colonnades of the Pearly Palace…
Originally published by DK on September 4, 2020 at 4:54 pmLower Pentair lobby @ USBS
Originally published by DK on August 20, 2020 at 9:52 pmWe unearthed a hidden empire beyond the seaweed sanctuary
Originally published by DK on August 19, 2020 at 11:45 pmThat one took a while, Two Dots
Originally published by DK on August 17, 2020 at 9:20 amConstantly changing costumes in the Wondrous Wardrobe!
Originally published by DK on August 6, 2020 at 12:35 am…in our Tiny Wonderland
Originally published by DK on July 29, 2020 at 8:47 pmhttp://extension765.com/soderblogh/18-raiders
Originally published by DK on July 29, 2020 at 10:18 amToo bad there won’t be a fourth
Originally published by DK on July 27, 2020 at 4:34 pmWe’ve got a backstage pass
Originally published by DK on July 26, 2020 at 11:01 pmGot this one done just under the wire
Originally published by DK on July 25, 2020 at 9:58 pmIggy from the block
Originally published by DK on July 24, 2020 at 12:43 amUp, up and away!
Originally published by DK on July 22, 2020 at 10:14 pmWe basked in the light…
Originally published by DK on July 11, 2020 at 10:24 pmOutside Octo Fishbar, Lowertown
Originally published by DK on June 27, 2020 at 12:05 amIt’s opening night at the Premiere Playhouse
Originally published by DK on June 25, 2020 at 1:35 pmWish I could’ve pulled the other two colors
Originally published by DK on June 22, 2020 at 8:22 pmBest Father’s Day card ever
Originally published by DK on June 21, 2020 at 5:35 pmSuch pretty graphic design
Originally published by DK on June 19, 2020 at 1:55 pmBasking in the glow of the lofty lighthouse
Originally published by DK on June 13, 2020 at 6:41 amSix Satisfying Years!
Originally published by DK on June 10, 2020 at 7:19 amThe Beaver House
Originally published by DK on June 8, 2020 at 1:53 pm…at Puffin Point
Originally published by DK on June 1, 2020 at 1:31 amI found all the goodies, Two Dots
Originally published by DK on May 29, 2020 at 1:50 pmThese are my people
Originally published by DK on May 23, 2020 at 10:45 amI think I was four spots too high
Originally published by DK on May 21, 2020 at 10:44 pmShe’s just a baby bird
Originally published by DK on May 13, 2020 at 12:25 pmStudying nature’s colors
Originally published by DK on May 13, 2020 at 1:57 amIn honor of Mother’s Day 2020, I thought I would finally start the “Hummel Project.” As part of the sale of the house on Lombard, I bubble-wrapped most of mom’s Hummel figurines and filled several bins that now take up half of my dining room. I’m not sure what to do with them – the market for Hummels was bad even before the current situation. My goal is to take photos of each one, then try to find them new homes.
If you see any you’d like (or know of a place that might be interested in them), please drop me a note. Photo gallery of the first bin after the jump.
Thanks again, Two Dots, for the entertainment
Originally published by DK on May 3, 2020 at 1:15 pmFollowing the flow in Mergansers Bay
Originally published by DK on April 30, 2020 at 12:22 amI’ll keep trying for a two digit ranking…
Originally published by DK on April 16, 2020 at 11:08 pmDelightful treasures littered the Canine Collection
Originally published by DK on April 15, 2020 at 3:54 pmSocial distancing is hard
Originally published by DK on April 8, 2020 at 10:28 amBut my mom really liked it
Originally published by DK on April 5, 2020 at 4:18 pm…in the Launch Pad Lair
Originally published by DK on April 4, 2020 at 9:54 amNot too shabby for limited attention
Originally published by DK on April 2, 2020 at 2:30 pmLike many people around the world, the pandemic has been a difficult thing for me to process. I don’t have any particular expertise in the science behind it, but I’m married to the Corona Queen, I like to follow sites like this and I spent a lot of time last week getting our office configured and trained for an indefinite work from home scenario. Most of the things listed in my Twitter bio have shut down and it will likely be months before things return to some semblance of normal.
But we are very fortunate to still get outside to walk, run or bike, have money to order take-out from our favorite local restaurants and have reliable high-speed internet to cross off shows we always wanted to watch from our Netflix and HBO lists (and, of course, work from home). MK is doing the distance learning thing for the rest of the school year and SK has picked up some hours here and there helping out the Nive Man with take-out downstairs.
The Minnesota COVID-19 numbers so far pale with those in the hardest hit parts of the country (and world). The reports out of places like New York and Italy are terrifying and I worry about those on the front lines, like my Twitter friend @susanruns, who bravely works long hours to save lives in unimaginable conditions. My colleague was scheduled to start a new position in Hong Kong on April 1, but he is currently in limbo until the international travel and quarantine picture becomes clearer. I’m not sure what will happen with my work, but I’ve been trying to mentally prepare for all the different possibilities.
On the medical front, I had a 17-month MRI check-up this week at Hennepin Healthcare (which I thought might get cancelled under the non-essential procedure executive order). The new clinic building was empty – I was the only one in radiology and only saw one other person in the general waiting room. I never really had claustrophobia before, but now that MRI equipment feels like a torture chamber. Thankfully, the tech was done after two shorts scans (one 30 seconds, one four minutes). The resident that met with me pulled up the image and said everything looked great. Dr. Tummala will make the final call, but I shouldn’t have to go back for two more years. At that point, they will decide if it will be another MRI or a more invasive CT angiogram.
Lastly, the situation with my father’s estate made significant progress the past two weeks. With assistance from our friend John Schuster at Richfield Bloomington Honda, we were able to pay off his car loan and sell the car. Today, with the help of Kary Marpe from Edina Realty, we sold the house on Lombard. I thought that process was going to be challenging, given the hoarding nature of my mom (that would be one of my elementary school pictures above), various repairs needed and the pandemic’s impact on the economy. Kary was amazing, though, accurately pricing and listing the property, resulting in multiple offers by day two. If all goes according to plan, we will close on April 10. All that will be left is my dad’s taxes for 2019 (which shouldn’t be too hard).
Stay safe, y’all!
Originally published by DK on March 28, 2020 at 9:10 pmBack to nothing to do again
Originally published by DK on March 26, 2020 at 11:05 pmInspired by Miyazaki-san
Originally published by DK on March 20, 2020 at 3:08 pm