As part of my recently completed online class, The Science of Well-Being, I took a survey that purports to identify my top character strengths:

• Love of Learning
• Curiosity
• Kindness
• Honesty
• Judgement
• Love
• Creativity

There were a couple I thought would be higher, but overall, that’s close…

First time seeing this complex – looks cool

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-jazz-pianist-and-composer-carei-thomas-dies-at-81/570996872/

Congrats again to SK on your college degree

2020 MSHSL Boys Hockey Class A

So. Much. Football.

The boat no longer goes to Loserville!

https://www.usgbc.org/articles/vote-2019-malcolm-lewis-impact-award

Probably should’ve gone to this

Go, MK, go! Proud of you…

She was truly one in a million – sincere condolences to Paul and the family

Field study to the BWCA for MK

Presentation completed with flying colors – on to graduation!

MK @ Saint Paul College intro program

The snow can be pretty (even when it’s a pain in the ass)

Nicely done, MK – proud of you!

Last year at SES

MK in lane five @ Falcon Ridge

Last weekend we did a very quick jaunt up to Grand Marais to shoot senior pictures for kid two. Sites included Jay Cooke State Park, Grand Portage National Monument, Naniboujou Lodge, Croftville Road, Grand Marais lighthouse and Gooseberry State Park. Not the greatest weather (and light), but we ended up with a bunch of good ones (full gallery after the jump).

Side note: a photographer friend of ours recommended West Photo in Minneapolis for gear rental. I priced out renting a Nikon D750 with a nice portrait lens for the weekend and found the $150 fee to be reasonable, but then they asked for a “first-time renter” deposit of $4200. Ah, nope.

So we ended up with my trusty old (like really old – 2004?) Nikon D70 and my iPhone X with portrait mode. Surprisingly, I was happiest with the majority of the iPhone shots and only a handful of the Nikon shots. Anxious to get my new silver iPhone Xs later this week, since Gruber wrote a ton about the upgraded camera features on that model. Still not taking the D850 off my wish list, but it’s surprising how the world of photography is changing.

Kid two, first day of senior year ❤️

Back in my high school days, I had the option to take more than your average amount of history classes: Ancient Civilizations, Western Civilizations, American Experience. St. Paul Central’s Quest program was an early precursor to AP and IB type coursework and Mr. Demers, the history teacher, was one of my all-time favorites. I also was a fan of geography, so when you mixed in the opportunity to travel that my mom’s work allowed, history literally came alive for me.

This past week I’ve been watching the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick ten-part documentary on the Vietnam War. It amazes me how much I didn’t know about this historical event that played out during my lifetime – especially since my father participated in it directly (and it’s the reason I’m not a native Minnesotan). Now I’m looking forward to lunch with him and having an opportunity to ask questions about a topic we’ve never really discussed much (something I wish I’d done with my grandfather and World War II).

I found it interesting to see so many similarities between then and now politically. We like to think that our current environment is the most divisive ever, but this has really been America for a long time. As Thomas Polgar, the Saigon station chief for the C.I.A. wrote in his last cable from the embassy: “Those who fail to learn from history are forced to repeat it. Let us hope that we will not have another Vietnam experience and that we have learned our lesson.”

Note to self: research how so many Midwest politicians rose to play such prominent roles during this period of history (Humphrey and McCarthy in Minnesota, McGovern in South Dakota).

Last Friday was MK’s first School of Environmental Studies prom, which was held in the Wabasha Street Caves. We took a few pictures of the fancy couple at the top of Ramsey Hill before a pit stop at Big River Pizza and their dinner at Louis (pics after the jump).

Only one year left. ?

MSHSL State Soccer Championship Day ⚽️

School conferences in Apple Valley for kid two

What’s the right line to walk?

Only one of these left :-/

MK with the Abba to close out her high school choir career (and she lettered!)

MK playing baritone over on the right

MK wins another academic letter award from EVHS

Finally got to see MK play lax (final game of the year), Shakopee South

SK took a study break at my office 

Took the train for lunch @ Cane’s U of M location

Crosby, Toews and a midget Zach Parise

Gonzaga vs. North Carolina @ 6pm local

I do have a dog in this fight

And we’re not talking WELY

Spring break band trip to the old country for MK

Kid one @ Sea Change

MK didn’t think so, but they sounded great

Go, baritones, go

Inaugural St. Paul Central High School Honor Society, 1986

From ancient times – grade school at Linwood?

MK @ EVHS Choir

Gophers vs. The Mount

No phone makes MK something, something

First MSHSL state championship game in the stadium (soccer semi between Andover & Stillwater)

Eastview High School Symphonic Band

Kid two all fancy-like

Dr. Rossi and his crew from Rochester STEM Academy

Prince and Princess @ EVHS

MK and Abe

MK @ Mattie’s South St. Paul

First Day of School 2016

It’s not everyday one of your kids graduates from high school. It’s even rarer that the commencement ceremony happens in a zoo (with bare feet). Then again the School of Environmental Studies isn’t your typical high school.

I’m happy to report that kid one officially made it on June 2, 2016. We held a party to celebrate the following night over at Trapp Farm Park in Eagan. So proud of my beautiful, creative, talented, artistic, outspoken, expressive and kind daughter.

So proud of SK 😎💯 ❤️

Freshman Select @ EVHS – Seasons of Love

Sneak peek of the decorations 

Eastview Academic Excellence Awards

SK rocked it – so proud of her ❤️

Randolph Heights and Ramsey Junior High, St. Paul

They are everywhere

SK in the art department, St. Paul

The very first Eastview principal (1997)

MK @ her beautiful choir concert

Admissions Night @ Hamline with SK

Surface carts at TCF Bank Stadium

The Bob and Sandy Klas section of TCF Bank Stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium from the U of M

Coffman Union, University of Minnesota