tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349087648130159072024-03-06T02:52:59.124-06:00Figures and SpeechA man of words and a woman of numbers.ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12463090330839264535noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-25612297332789977732013-12-20T19:17:00.003-06:002013-12-20T19:17:52.653-06:00Maggie’s First Thanksgiving<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Editor's Note: This posting was actually written right after Thanksgiving but delayed because of pressing baby-related concerns</i>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The biggest achievement of the past week came last Tuesday when Maggie
had a major breakthrough with holding her head up. Previously, all tummy time
was filled with tears, but she suddenly began to like it, propping her arms up
and looking around with her head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The newspaper published a day early so we were able to leave
Wednesday afternoon for Ashley’s grandparents’ house in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Somerville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Tenn.</st1:state></st1:place>
When we got there, Maggie was in a very good mood, and we tried on a Santa
outfit Ashley’s grandmama got her. It was very festive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday, we feasted with Ashley’s family. Charlie
appreciated slices of cheddar cheese being added to the menu, along with the
ham, sourdough bread and new snickerdoodle bread along with many other
delicacies. Ashley continued her venerable tradition of reviewing her parents’
and aunt and uncle’s wedding albums. She says she gleans new information every
time, and this year proved no different; she discovered a similar look in her
granddaddy and his father in photos from different weddings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That afternoon we left on the long, long drive across <st1:state w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:state> on I-40 to visit
Charlie’s parents. Maggie again traveled very well, sleeping up until about 15
minutes from our destination. Unfortunately, that also meant she had not eaten
in six hours. She was at full pitch when we arrived; her lung capacity
impressed our hosts. After a good meal, though, she was her jolly self, and
Pap, Gran and Auntie Em enjoyed playing with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Black Friday shopping was limited to a trip to the <st1:city w:st="on">Oak Ridge</st1:city> goodwill, where
we scavenged several items for the Wallace family’s used gift exchange.
Visitors to see Maggie included Pop and Tanya and Lauren.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday, we visited Aunt Donna’s house for
Thanksgiving/Grandmother and Granddaddy’s 60<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary
surprise party. The happy couple received tickets to the Biltmore mansion and a
book with 52 questions about their life from family members, which they are to
fill in one week at a time. A worn-out Maggie took perhaps her longest daytime
nap ever, more than two hours. She even slept through Uncle Mark drilling a
hole in the same room she was sleeping as part of a complicated attempt to
install a cellphone signal booster at the remote log cabin on the lake. After
we got home, she tricked Gran and Emily by yawning and looking sleepy, but
waking up after they put her sleep sack on her. After that she was very happy
and laughed while sitting in the recliner. A true Smith, no doubt, who loves a
good easy chair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maggie slept throughout the visit in a pack and play in Gran
and Pap’s room. They really loved having her there, and Pap was very fast to
pick her up at the slightest stirring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maggie’s development continued at a rapid pace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the culmination of a trend, Maggie finally enjoyed her
bath on Saturday night, which Pap and Gran administered. She also began wearing
this week her sleep sack for both naps and night-time sleep, which seemed to
lessen how much she fought sleep. Her love of ceiling fans, first discovered at
church in Indianola, continued to blossom. She discovered them within minutes
of entering DJ’s house and church in Somerville. She continued talking more and enjoys interactive
“conversations” where she can smile and laugh and make sounds back.</span><br />
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Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12111085817581660564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-24755158989780801982013-11-22T21:28:00.000-06:002013-11-22T21:28:57.890-06:00Maggie: A synopsis<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our blogging hiatus has ended after more than a year. We'll skip all the boring details and go straight to the part where the baby is born:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your birth went about as smoothly as those ordeals go, and you immediately showed an alert curiosity in the world around you -- and a preference for being held. Luckily, all four grandparents and Uncle Mitchell were there and more than willing. Pap and Gran stayed with us for a week and helped take care of you. Aunt Emily visited on Saturday. All agreed that you were very sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gigi and Uncle Mitchell stayed for a week, and visitors also included Uncle Michael and Aunt Allison, Great Granddaddy and Grandmama and Gramps. Similar conclusions about your sweet nature.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLXqzIYGm4k8_4LMfHbnDbrIHLDtg9WoaCvrvSqcrDu50PjQQY6fErOkYZA-MqFJ2pviXLp6qfSfFk4dEG46Tb7Ps-qgl7uuIvpRJGlQxeRG2ZR4vAiYG7J-25PSoG-ftIek_95auqUBV/s1600/blog+1+month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLXqzIYGm4k8_4LMfHbnDbrIHLDtg9WoaCvrvSqcrDu50PjQQY6fErOkYZA-MqFJ2pviXLp6qfSfFk4dEG46Tb7Ps-qgl7uuIvpRJGlQxeRG2ZR4vAiYG7J-25PSoG-ftIek_95auqUBV/s320/blog+1+month.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ah, but things change. This was a sleepless time, as you stayed up late and would generally only rest being held atop your mother's belly. Perhaps you wanted back in. The purchase of a Rock’n’play sleeping device (sort of like a baby-safe hammock) proved to be a lifesaver. We think stomach problems contributed to your angst. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Week 9: We began a procedure, which we read about in a book, of laying you down in your crib and whenever you cried, picking you up to calm you down. As soon as you were satisfied, we’d put you back down. We exchanged shifts for about an hour and a half at a time for one very long night. But after that first night, you did really well on your own in the crib. We were so proud.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Week 10: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pap and Gran visited again, and Gran discovered your art appreciation, even at this tender age, and would take you around to look at paintings on the walls throughout the house; she also read books to you, and Pap would sing VBS songs, which you really liked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Week 11: We visited the Frogfest in Leland, which is the birthplace of Muppet and Sesame Street creator Jim Henson. You rode in your stroller and had a good time, although we didn’t stay long. There was an unfortunate confrontation with an overzealous blood donor recruiter, who wouldn’t take no for an answer about giving blood, although she had to eventually. You handled her with remarkable poise for an 11-week-old.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You began to really get good at grabbing things. For about a week beforehand, you would frantically open and close your hands, as if practicing, and get frustrated. But you soon mastered the skill. Two favorite targets were Mama’s hair and a satin blanket. You also dressed as a ladybug for Halloween.</span></div>
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ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12463090330839264535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-15334126672138628162012-09-22T16:45:00.003-05:002012-09-22T16:47:25.482-05:00Seattle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We ventured northwest for Ashley's 23rd major league stadium: Safeco Field in Seattle. The game was great: A 3-2 comeback win for the home team in the bottom of the ninth over the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately, we decided, in lieu of the day game the next day, to go to the Museum of Flight. Thus, we experienced an underwhelming tour full of arcane information written by engineers instead of witnessing Felix Hernandez pitch the 23rd perfect game in baseball history. But we learned an important lesson: Baseball always trumps science.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpWjSLdiW6w5txCOr_EL19ga0AuduRmdn5rbYXXi8HGCj-O9Rz5AnCKnlXC-W0x4mslqN5Xi1T6hXWKau4JWBYsk2wODJx65ylyDMSXwf7UoKR3b2KDd3J783JrQCMDLOGbwvzXhO6eiW/s1600/DSC00015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpWjSLdiW6w5txCOr_EL19ga0AuduRmdn5rbYXXi8HGCj-O9Rz5AnCKnlXC-W0x4mslqN5Xi1T6hXWKau4JWBYsk2wODJx65ylyDMSXwf7UoKR3b2KDd3J783JrQCMDLOGbwvzXhO6eiW/s400/DSC00015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view from the Space Needle. We ate at the restaurant, which rotates at the top. The food was really good for an expensive tourist trap. The view was great.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ72OXJSi0UT5JuULxIK0058V-PZA_aBG64wLGKQRoU527d31Q0p2fI3UnYKzj-ojGiZd5Dkx7E50hCcLv1kOuIyvFww5mDdwz8lIYMViYgKxuBhBHRMoX2jDuBTFjYjxXsS8U77CqI41d/s1600/Buhner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ72OXJSi0UT5JuULxIK0058V-PZA_aBG64wLGKQRoU527d31Q0p2fI3UnYKzj-ojGiZd5Dkx7E50hCcLv1kOuIyvFww5mDdwz8lIYMViYgKxuBhBHRMoX2jDuBTFjYjxXsS8U77CqI41d/s400/Buhner.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Jay Buhner exhibit in the Mariners Hall of Fame fulfilled a nearly lifelong yearning of Charlie's.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRPWFt9pMQ53vWqK3NCTL7cTjvL8SMCl1bp_j3Ytv_03LxZ7pYa9iyipoCKI9YBmgCG0t4bajZ_96Z13IxZN70y1s_Eaqu384p7-D0coDVVARRh9LeeB0-u7ZBi0rN1JgHA-xQLndsVzx/s1600/Charlie's+cafe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRPWFt9pMQ53vWqK3NCTL7cTjvL8SMCl1bp_j3Ytv_03LxZ7pYa9iyipoCKI9YBmgCG0t4bajZ_96Z13IxZN70y1s_Eaqu384p7-D0coDVVARRh9LeeB0-u7ZBi0rN1JgHA-xQLndsVzx/s400/Charlie's+cafe.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As was visiting a restaurant bearing his name. No word if they refuse to put onions in any entree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the waterfront.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This prototype flying car, which actually flew, was the highlight of the underwhelming Museum of Flight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley leaps within the Grove of the Patriarchs in the National Park surrounding Mount Ranier. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ttp2VCi04DqmEfkqLJyAaJXa0JhE-VBpSR9NfyuOPVSZz7Qg7vSr95NOh34jFWwpjh2fYBSZhPBspDWwZ-GKrPBnutmeSNpWuZn3_E4fM3HFzcOhElhNa6zo1Try4OTFo3z9VejQ3gzf/s1600/DSC09736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ttp2VCi04DqmEfkqLJyAaJXa0JhE-VBpSR9NfyuOPVSZz7Qg7vSr95NOh34jFWwpjh2fYBSZhPBspDWwZ-GKrPBnutmeSNpWuZn3_E4fM3HFzcOhElhNa6zo1Try4OTFo3z9VejQ3gzf/s400/DSC09736.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she ascends in a gondola toward a view of the mountain at a ski resort open to regular tourists in the summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Mount Ranier.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safeco Field from our preferred seats, upper deck, behind home plate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fatal struggle of the salmon reminds us all of the vanity of life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">And Chief Seattle's stony countenance to be wary when the white man offers you a land deal.<br />
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Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12111085817581660564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-66984532052714054332012-09-15T11:25:00.004-05:002012-09-15T11:25:55.718-05:00Crackerjack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In shocking defiance of everything he has previously stood for, Charlie is now a co-owner of a dog. Yes, he occasionally jumps away when Crackerjack jumps toward him and doesn't trust him to eat food out of his hand without biting. But overall, the two have bonded well. The connection was cemented when Crackerjack instinctively knew using the bathroom in Charlie's car would be a very, very bad idea, so he held it in until rest breaks after we picked him up from one of Ashley's friends in Nashville.</div>
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He was the runt of an 11-pup litter, but is growing a lot already over the two weeks we have had him. His hobbies include chewing leaves, chewing toys, chewing sticks, eating deer droppings and having Ashley rub his belly. His nine-week shots are coming up at the vet on Tuesday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmPqmn0E1FCloa5CopEWoVPS4G9y4KMVQegeMTVbUFG5LWp0kISMEdMlz942wYjaIFx-g4_EsecWbO4PziB7tJceSSY781FQoc5MJfiLj_QBX49X8TmhvbKSVv1ab2C8T7MG8mAtuHIzq/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crackerjack in the woods" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmPqmn0E1FCloa5CopEWoVPS4G9y4KMVQegeMTVbUFG5LWp0kISMEdMlz942wYjaIFx-g4_EsecWbO4PziB7tJceSSY781FQoc5MJfiLj_QBX49X8TmhvbKSVv1ab2C8T7MG8mAtuHIzq/s320/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" title="In the woods" width="237" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHEuHqcIyxV6focU7RPU8j2c9evjt_IPWCcJs9kKEQ7GT2CYxsX2EJkRB6Ye-UqiXaOhQsRM3lVpWFCVGSMuCm4hiM-u3kKWbU8zbO3MJPjSEQAJ5xgnSiT6t9ywZ-fd9Jk4XwTTj_0aY/s1600/looking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHEuHqcIyxV6focU7RPU8j2c9evjt_IPWCcJs9kKEQ7GT2CYxsX2EJkRB6Ye-UqiXaOhQsRM3lVpWFCVGSMuCm4hiM-u3kKWbU8zbO3MJPjSEQAJ5xgnSiT6t9ywZ-fd9Jk4XwTTj_0aY/s320/looking.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvZkmndHwsRVcv60pBQR3bXPkzzm06ywsiDzLSvnrNcf6-9PwH-PcUIICwNi2fVId5lv3-WqL6jtyEXd8LC6tsXn54X9ugbob7CTQ9T17QJTHUuBBBEbOL0sESaBAztHrIoRLQ07PM9KY/s1600/youngster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvZkmndHwsRVcv60pBQR3bXPkzzm06ywsiDzLSvnrNcf6-9PwH-PcUIICwNi2fVId5lv3-WqL6jtyEXd8LC6tsXn54X9ugbob7CTQ9T17QJTHUuBBBEbOL0sESaBAztHrIoRLQ07PM9KY/s320/youngster.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12111085817581660564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-52332946509355294332012-07-22T21:04:00.004-05:002012-07-25T17:00:46.410-05:00The Land of 10,000 Lakes (and Dan Gladden)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We visited Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., from June 26 to 30. Our initial plan was to notch another ballpark in Ashley's quest to visit all 30 active major league parks. Target Field, in only its third year after replacing the dreary Metrodome, ended up being No. 22 for her (and No. 15 for Charlie).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we were pleasantly surprised by what else was offered in the Twin Cities. Here's a photo tour of travels.</span></div>
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Downtown</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNKl2mmRrR4P-BEKKUrnwm9UqEQ3Ztc8BncRsBSBk06MomVmy23xM9vZt8h38uOcpZzsejtG2k6k-gn8etdocNnh89m8FqgWwutKXKIpSW0s_ASXL47QC142JYUMBBw1aEPspFCDZKAB/s1600/DSC08533+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNKl2mmRrR4P-BEKKUrnwm9UqEQ3Ztc8BncRsBSBk06MomVmy23xM9vZt8h38uOcpZzsejtG2k6k-gn8etdocNnh89m8FqgWwutKXKIpSW0s_ASXL47QC142JYUMBBw1aEPspFCDZKAB/s400/DSC08533+-+Copy.JPG" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Our first destination: The downtown, two-story Target, the flagship store for the Minneapolis-based chain. Ashley, a Target </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">aficionado</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, was delighted. The store is part of Nicollete Mall, a series of shops located downtown connected by skyways. Our </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">attempts</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> to navigate the maze-like skyway, which apparently is quite useful during the winter, mostly proved unsuccessful. We instead took to the streets, enjoying the beautiful weather, gleaming skyscrapers and </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">multitudinous</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> panhandlers.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Target didn't disappoint, although there's nothing especially different from a regular Target store besides being on two stories, which necessitates a special escalator for shopping carts.</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We only rented a car one day of the trip and mostly got around using Minneapolis' light rail system. It's relatively new and very good. We never had to wait long, and it only costs $2.25 per trip per person, sometimes less during certain hours. The line goes from Target Field, through downtown, to the airport and finally to the Mall of America. It's roughly a 40-minute trip from one end to the other. We walked to a stop about two blocks from our hotel, the Marquette, which Ashley scheduled using her points accumulated during years of work travel.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The most noteworthy thing about this Mary Tyler Moore statue is that the bronze used to mold it is more malleable than Moore's actual face, which has been permanently frozen into a Jokeresque smile by plastic surgery.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Target Field proved to be one of Ashley's favorite ballparks. They took care to make it uniquely Minnesotan, building it with sandstone mined from the state.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For years, Charlie has desired to find a photo for an off-the-wall blog dedicated to pictures of people wearing jerseys of obscure professional athletes. Sadly, the blog is no longer active since we found this picture of a Mike Lamb fan. Lamb hit just .233 with one home run during a partial season with the Twins in 2008.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Former American League MVP Kevin Youkilis, in only his second game with the visiting White Sox after being traded from Boston, takes a cut at a pitch. I think he was late on it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeJUsDkMYqaW4I90aZILl7vIbj23iOeT4FPEpqNNR7532OHxffTKsSL9N5XfwKPBxSWgJOKqkJku2jgxKwjWgPvXC6JMWlRgtz2bTA1wBeJgUfDtMWZ3q807cgeRCw5M6_OEZxBapSSj1/s1600/DSC08638+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeJUsDkMYqaW4I90aZILl7vIbj23iOeT4FPEpqNNR7532OHxffTKsSL9N5XfwKPBxSWgJOKqkJku2jgxKwjWgPvXC6JMWlRgtz2bTA1wBeJgUfDtMWZ3q807cgeRCw5M6_OEZxBapSSj1/s400/DSC08638+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the Minnesota skyline from our seats.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHMvf_iPGsyqC5dSQX442njzd6ebQML2c5H-k9q3m1z-ZI6fKlgLdyRHzBvS3QZAjiTKQO62TCS7SYQEe3aXYcaRvKOEkn_6WK-i4UTWdYXODA58SFWS4WmgMl8NWgvlrgjiyjtU18bLz/s1600/DSC08622+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHMvf_iPGsyqC5dSQX442njzd6ebQML2c5H-k9q3m1z-ZI6fKlgLdyRHzBvS3QZAjiTKQO62TCS7SYQEe3aXYcaRvKOEkn_6WK-i4UTWdYXODA58SFWS4WmgMl8NWgvlrgjiyjtU18bLz/s400/DSC08622+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This delightful sign in centerfield depicts the camaraderie between Minneapolis and St. Paul.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbwhMDtlmCA66R4VcJbI7Ws4stSetapbXaJCDCnzrE_o7iKDhg6kGTuVm4c8hOCaXjlR2qOXYRiOk1CwaxRZJS-4tqUbBFM8OZM4KZgC5T_u2qBXG-G9zgomHYQpp-LGwCDBZ4olEJOzD/s1600/DSC08860+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbwhMDtlmCA66R4VcJbI7Ws4stSetapbXaJCDCnzrE_o7iKDhg6kGTuVm4c8hOCaXjlR2qOXYRiOk1CwaxRZJS-4tqUbBFM8OZM4KZgC5T_u2qBXG-G9zgomHYQpp-LGwCDBZ4olEJOzD/s400/DSC08860+(2).JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The same sign at night. We went to two games: A day game on June 27 against the Chicago White Sox, and a night game on June 29 versus the Kansas City Royals. We rooted for the home team on both occasions, although the Twins dropped both games.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kxb49BQII9oyRA8oHs2MEEe1QJxrljTngXg57eUnajonZOw-o2GiYyut1n4ekl3mLP0ZDQgcxNLkuZMYZFP7vmhjrIY3jQKhjr3v7s8RM1kNdXetfeHFCNdPKtssuQ_hKm0oTE6aONBo/s1600/DSC08563+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kxb49BQII9oyRA8oHs2MEEe1QJxrljTngXg57eUnajonZOw-o2GiYyut1n4ekl3mLP0ZDQgcxNLkuZMYZFP7vmhjrIY3jQKhjr3v7s8RM1kNdXetfeHFCNdPKtssuQ_hKm0oTE6aONBo/s400/DSC08563+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A fellow fan agreed to take this shot for us, one of the few non-self portraits of the vacation.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5joa6bR6QxwZzHWVhTYCJcvVFhVL53H5CUFviK5r9uMUDUMGgWG6j_mAcS0_pQACH57KaKaDBbKQS4Tr_pu2G1TDvxWn13imZt5P-uvT3R5KqQX13dOT2uwxGIoHwBU_ZIqlYnS2zeYi/s1600/DSC08871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5joa6bR6QxwZzHWVhTYCJcvVFhVL53H5CUFviK5r9uMUDUMGgWG6j_mAcS0_pQACH57KaKaDBbKQS4Tr_pu2G1TDvxWn13imZt5P-uvT3R5KqQX13dOT2uwxGIoHwBU_ZIqlYnS2zeYi/s400/DSC08871.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDYQ6J5WUh7LCJglt78zJ_FHDHwhAZU2IZYjgWW3mEdctsTe_u8MHjFYuFqf5BIXreGflhj7AuKEL846dF0ka8_sgUNnsIvBahxiHlEuSLu2D_mE0JVL47t4RH90EgPmJetv6MHC_oi1y/s1600/DSC08875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDYQ6J5WUh7LCJglt78zJ_FHDHwhAZU2IZYjgWW3mEdctsTe_u8MHjFYuFqf5BIXreGflhj7AuKEL846dF0ka8_sgUNnsIvBahxiHlEuSLu2D_mE0JVL47t4RH90EgPmJetv6MHC_oi1y/s400/DSC08875.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The highlight of the Royals game was a rather speedy fan who taunted a host of security guards for some time as he darted around the outfield. The crowd cheered him on, but eventually security mauled him (see lower photo).</span></td></tr>
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Segway tour</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most highly anticipated segment of the trip, for Charlie, was a tour of downtown Minneapolis on Segways, the two-wheeled people movers balanced by gyros. Our tour group consisted of about 11 people, and the trip wound around for about seven miles. It lived up to expectations.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy21GWo5COCHUEq5iwkMxqoJY-TxOtqY1IpiK8izgReu8zyL6ehjSixc7AEoS3BV4yawWWpCstUO4Pzr4l6xGjDYhD_Gc-JDXUyZ2QZewowpTPN9-gPdSHadEHjnzAYqrZz4UEs39bFFga/s1600/DSC08743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy21GWo5COCHUEq5iwkMxqoJY-TxOtqY1IpiK8izgReu8zyL6ehjSixc7AEoS3BV4yawWWpCstUO4Pzr4l6xGjDYhD_Gc-JDXUyZ2QZewowpTPN9-gPdSHadEHjnzAYqrZz4UEs39bFFga/s400/DSC08743.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The tour began in a former flour mill district across the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis. We watched a safety video, which greatly exaggerated the dangers of Segway travel, thus, scaring many of the tourists.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thankfully, the guides led us to a concrete pad for some practice. After a few minutes, it became very easy to navigate around. You do it by leaning forward or backward. The hardest thing is standing still; you tend to move a little backward when trying to do so.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our tour was led by the peerless Gary, a free spirit who seemed to have ridden straight out of the '60s (on a Segway). We had several stops along the 7-mile tour where he'd talk about the history of the area.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is St. Anthony's Falls, which powered Minneapolis' flour mills for years, as seen from an arch bridge built by 19th century railroad magnate James J. Hill. It crosses the bridge diagonally. The interstate bridge that collapsed in 2007 is just down river and has been rebuilt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We crossed back over the river (this is a smaller bridge over something other than the Mighty Mississippi) to Nicollet Island, which has a quaint community and a high school.</span></td></tr>
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St. Paul</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQm1vhUdl1LX7SZkTzPTReXJyjt_BqVYOf6jVNktGjmoSup8JSGnwojvn756pXfd4JtUHHEFRvLdWlsnbIjkJT-wIOaXQZe1ewgMZaK8hatBHRpLNHVmYvgG94Mr-h4reG_fQQwdWLFJd/s1600/DSC08659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQm1vhUdl1LX7SZkTzPTReXJyjt_BqVYOf6jVNktGjmoSup8JSGnwojvn756pXfd4JtUHHEFRvLdWlsnbIjkJT-wIOaXQZe1ewgMZaK8hatBHRpLNHVmYvgG94Mr-h4reG_fQQwdWLFJd/s640/DSC08659.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">James J. Hill (1838-1916) earned a fortune building the
Great Northern Railroad, which went from Minnesota to the Pacific. He was one
of the richest men in America and a well-known figure in his day. He built a
36,000 square foot mansion on St. Paul’s elite Summit Avenue to house his wife, 10
children and ego. It was completed in 1891 and had all the stuff that the
poorest people today have: running water, electric lights and gas. The common
rabble have gotten the last laugh on James J. Hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTcebxGPwKMJhwL6GuS-EBz81lyCaqvebxsEaDorwHZ6mA6In-xHIBuSDggFo8_zIf1zvkJNHv-q0VwLvYynSNWV0WlV250-h29C9CscJtQfYiOn2BNlSjhAQ5LujAnDqrIkCVRGDkjwl/s1600/DSC08665+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTcebxGPwKMJhwL6GuS-EBz81lyCaqvebxsEaDorwHZ6mA6In-xHIBuSDggFo8_zIf1zvkJNHv-q0VwLvYynSNWV0WlV250-h29C9CscJtQfYiOn2BNlSjhAQ5LujAnDqrIkCVRGDkjwl/s400/DSC08665+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well, I guess they don't have cathedral-sized organs in their art galleries.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lJGFOnL99_pmBCPJREPXlt2GUMWe-MRUEi0NI5ccuThaBv-F-vlYNgzeB8CokxwmgFbwo9fixybFun4FoAuyoVLUoNHE_aIbSMBTP2pMh9S2XxIkv8ZjWPOo0Nh7b_EWeI7S3gbEfm9P/s1600/DSC08667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lJGFOnL99_pmBCPJREPXlt2GUMWe-MRUEi0NI5ccuThaBv-F-vlYNgzeB8CokxwmgFbwo9fixybFun4FoAuyoVLUoNHE_aIbSMBTP2pMh9S2XxIkv8ZjWPOo0Nh7b_EWeI7S3gbEfm9P/s400/DSC08667.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or ornate staircases wide enough to carry a couch up sideways (Movers love it).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Tq_2qFhOV2GNgGtVRJPMjtLNQEDfPrjB6PEAaDeLLOUESB4vRUH_UXY_Em8sJaux_sBkP3vfckUQIh4ylKsFWrCogjSzYE9k_J6Xs_ZBih0k4Zpph0d_erJeIVPM_bsb-SCN2meakDVV/s1600/DSC08673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Tq_2qFhOV2GNgGtVRJPMjtLNQEDfPrjB6PEAaDeLLOUESB4vRUH_UXY_Em8sJaux_sBkP3vfckUQIh4ylKsFWrCogjSzYE9k_J6Xs_ZBih0k4Zpph0d_erJeIVPM_bsb-SCN2meakDVV/s400/DSC08673.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or stained glass displays.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsynOzR-G3hkkIOT3GlxVDsCFDZs-w9se-Ft2rY2kUiMEZwrx5I9gG_9pHZk5U66bKp5YF_XF1veDgufd1LnizPaHEfY8UpbszvN9Mxa6PeVi-ch9c3IQVOpNoYGq3fzsCv77gpo-73an/s1600/DSC08677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsynOzR-G3hkkIOT3GlxVDsCFDZs-w9se-Ft2rY2kUiMEZwrx5I9gG_9pHZk5U66bKp5YF_XF1veDgufd1LnizPaHEfY8UpbszvN9Mxa6PeVi-ch9c3IQVOpNoYGq3fzsCv77gpo-73an/s400/DSC08677.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or stunning views of St. Paul's Cathedral (built after the home, according to our tour guide, who was very good).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIosEhLjwnn-qhTue__2O4wYIFLDKgl3Zeg5GCJkawqietbagnh_H45u55G3Ys9l-ximpuMyOyCCg5LxsaT_iHArxG-h5E30_j5ybhdbjqQlcOyQdCdW06s-SRcl-3FHniWGAQ_P0PUdu/s1600/DSC08691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIosEhLjwnn-qhTue__2O4wYIFLDKgl3Zeg5GCJkawqietbagnh_H45u55G3Ys9l-ximpuMyOyCCg5LxsaT_iHArxG-h5E30_j5ybhdbjqQlcOyQdCdW06s-SRcl-3FHniWGAQ_P0PUdu/s400/DSC08691.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The great man himself.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAWiH-6-XRjDJT_V6bFBpgxqcLVsD6OytkxYqYHVIxQyOZNDcCcc1lA_776H0vnGThChkwJvk62uC8oW6jzhyphenhyphenmoImmYuJPw7r6ahDYtXOs7WoqxGTEH4t-VNwnDpHIwkpr2CVBn8e_B6i/s1600/DSC08701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAWiH-6-XRjDJT_V6bFBpgxqcLVsD6OytkxYqYHVIxQyOZNDcCcc1lA_776H0vnGThChkwJvk62uC8oW6jzhyphenhyphenmoImmYuJPw7r6ahDYtXOs7WoqxGTEH4t-VNwnDpHIwkpr2CVBn8e_B6i/s400/DSC08701.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not quite getting our fill of Gilded Age finery, we walked to the nearby Cathedral of Saint Paul. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NuY5JCJI29qY3HvvC4t28eo0OKY0_eQKo4XPf8tMgwJzickKpQNPLZ_Z2o6wM2I0gFCF8kghiS-rpVH6uO8jQyG-AH3elHOaj4rP45O2OAIDaht6q-waUSOgoNYIsb33iXJTwUBLrukz/s1600/DSC08704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NuY5JCJI29qY3HvvC4t28eo0OKY0_eQKo4XPf8tMgwJzickKpQNPLZ_Z2o6wM2I0gFCF8kghiS-rpVH6uO8jQyG-AH3elHOaj4rP45O2OAIDaht6q-waUSOgoNYIsb33iXJTwUBLrukz/s400/DSC08704.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">It’s
open daily to the public on hours when when mass isn’t being held. Suffice it
to say, the only recognizable feature for us was the tract rack in the back
(Ashley picked up a couple about Catholic doctrines).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn0Er7xwZ4MXhHsvt8xF2NYwm78TwfTN8jJHE5Q5TSzbZn4ia6gh-ehpCahgLkAJDahjpN6cse_pI8gH_wDu30P_A9dyeCZsigydlXeSNor1HicKEnpjEVL-AUZpHzV-SrAHej-elyLSJ/s1600/DSC08707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn0Er7xwZ4MXhHsvt8xF2NYwm78TwfTN8jJHE5Q5TSzbZn4ia6gh-ehpCahgLkAJDahjpN6cse_pI8gH_wDu30P_A9dyeCZsigydlXeSNor1HicKEnpjEVL-AUZpHzV-SrAHej-elyLSJ/s400/DSC08707.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The
1915 structure is truly grand in its design; it’s something you’d expect to see
only in Europe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02gEq2WeD3M9Jig1LYYCrcldISDFXchHCk4oraJy3Lo8mbyE4ZGAtNuAQMr9EEu_j17O1iQj9lYq7rKzBksWUZrq8IjPL3jeZF-2zCHrushAbF6Roy9Ai_ltMQkWiI_F-HhZ6-rsM3rWG/s1600/DSC08711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02gEq2WeD3M9Jig1LYYCrcldISDFXchHCk4oraJy3Lo8mbyE4ZGAtNuAQMr9EEu_j17O1iQj9lYq7rKzBksWUZrq8IjPL3jeZF-2zCHrushAbF6Roy9Ai_ltMQkWiI_F-HhZ6-rsM3rWG/s400/DSC08711.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">But
we noted the irony of this ornate building dedicated to a man who spent his
life enduring shipwrecks, fighting wild beasts, being stoned and left for dead, and “being
made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things (1 Cor. 4:13)”
for the gospel’s sake. (“Offscouring of all things” has always been a favorite
phrase of mine. It brings to mind the gunk you scrape off a grill after
cooking). A more fitting tribute to Paul would seem to be, in his own words, to
become ourselves “a habitation of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:22).”</span></td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Mall of America</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0CPnwfJG30QLDEcx-FZMf0UFiuHpM89Qm9FvqZq8QrWQ16GZNM1bNeWSEs6tAIraEU2UVtGwj56invVY8QXr2no2WN2K-BoTlCIgbkTOg9NxXosnlXIn45fBxHj1GUMzT4UUFAPXzahz/s1600/DSC08647+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0CPnwfJG30QLDEcx-FZMf0UFiuHpM89Qm9FvqZq8QrWQ16GZNM1bNeWSEs6tAIraEU2UVtGwj56invVY8QXr2no2WN2K-BoTlCIgbkTOg9NxXosnlXIn45fBxHj1GUMzT4UUFAPXzahz/s640/DSC08647+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ashley rejoices at the thought of entering the Cathedral of Capitalism, also known as the Mall of America. We spent about three and a half hours there and didn't go to every store. It's pretty overwhelming and lives up to its name. To sum it up, there's a store there that sells only socks. When I started to get cranky, Ashley directed me to the food court, where an Arby's roast beef sandwich revived my failing countenance. I also picked up some Wisconsin squeeky cheese, making the day a success. Ashley showed remarkable purchasing restraint buying only a few items, inclucing some on-sale shoes for me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSFg1dJtD-YLlCJxcw9P1S1rTl3lHG8uPQBTRxrWFf0UGeFZzZ1WjTtGkMEUGE1XdmPkAqwS6NPYCwS92RaqikR4EpLubN_jML5IxtnPPAAtoBs2IeA3wFNAlwBfEnhUE6yay0SNX9mI3/s1600/DSC08649+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSFg1dJtD-YLlCJxcw9P1S1rTl3lHG8uPQBTRxrWFf0UGeFZzZ1WjTtGkMEUGE1XdmPkAqwS6NPYCwS92RaqikR4EpLubN_jML5IxtnPPAAtoBs2IeA3wFNAlwBfEnhUE6yay0SNX9mI3/s640/DSC08649+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The amusement park inside the mall has a lot of rides. We rode one roller coaster, which was a lot of fun.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
The Mill City<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FDVeeYVggIpQWlI6Wa4cdkUjfOdBUu9g7WftsOPQPyuvSwYpagmJyQ2J6fX9K0LO_J-tTyl8luBStEk3lOQTlaGL9TOoGAOA-5Ao6O64rpcWj9J0YEgP-xOYc77u0V3lTJNxOyo6mDjl/s1600/DSC08807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FDVeeYVggIpQWlI6Wa4cdkUjfOdBUu9g7WftsOPQPyuvSwYpagmJyQ2J6fX9K0LO_J-tTyl8luBStEk3lOQTlaGL9TOoGAOA-5Ao6O64rpcWj9J0YEgP-xOYc77u0V3lTJNxOyo6mDjl/s640/DSC08807.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Segway tour included free admission to the Mill City Museum, located in a former flour mill. Minneapolis grew to prominence, we learned, using the water fall on the Mississippi to mill wheat into flour. What would become Pillsbury and General Mills had factories on opposite sides of the river. We're standing in one of them here.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz0naWXqTelc6WKhg3h50ZnyIJ8ltyh6tgf7d4suk5Ad1Vzopd-RIQyEdp68dQbfTFwezINxSVSs3vdjYXaiCfP8tRUZKTNdmMj36h9gfkmtCciPnFxTANu0u-w_QBMN-5aoEAEkDebbA/s1600/DSC08783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz0naWXqTelc6WKhg3h50ZnyIJ8ltyh6tgf7d4suk5Ad1Vzopd-RIQyEdp68dQbfTFwezINxSVSs3vdjYXaiCfP8tRUZKTNdmMj36h9gfkmtCciPnFxTANu0u-w_QBMN-5aoEAEkDebbA/s400/DSC08783.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mill was abandoned for decades before eventually burning down. They built the museum out of the ruins. The tour included an elevator ride up the nine-story structure with re-creations of what went on at that level when the mill was functioning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoIpUI7Z_HjfEBnTM5oWm5IZBzixKCIP9-flCQyeiEOPH1PcJ6afXE9vbHuQRZzJO03MrtHdKxA0sLtMF0-yI9btmmXexw6TSxssGCcU7QKaQs8LjkBrc6SZXEJeJh5aJIesbO-ynuEx5/s1600/DSC08817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoIpUI7Z_HjfEBnTM5oWm5IZBzixKCIP9-flCQyeiEOPH1PcJ6afXE9vbHuQRZzJO03MrtHdKxA0sLtMF0-yI9btmmXexw6TSxssGCcU7QKaQs8LjkBrc6SZXEJeJh5aJIesbO-ynuEx5/s400/DSC08817.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The odes to Bisquick, Wheaties and the like were large and frequent. We were both surprised about how interesting a museum dedicated to flour could be. We were glad we went.</span></td></tr>
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</div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12111085817581660564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434908764813015907.post-84187034267923494382012-07-13T14:30:00.001-05:002012-07-13T14:30:19.844-05:00IntroductionWe're starting this blog mainly as a way to communicate with family and friends about our lives. We've not
yet decided on an exact theme or approach we'll take, but here are a few options under consideration (Note: We reserve the right to take some literary license to exciten things):<br />
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1. A young couple living in the Deep South strikes off a new adventure: albino pumpkin farming. With the help of their animal friends, earthworms and the like, they try to conquer the wiles of the wild and the cunning of their animal enemies, deer, raccoon and the like. It all culminates with a hayride for the ages.<br />
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2. A cautionary tale about undertaking do-it-yourself projects when you possess no mechanical ability.<br />
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3. A travelogue of various Major League Baseball parks, with in-depth reviews of concession offerings and tips for dealing with the ignoramuses who inevitably sit behind you.<br />
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4. An ambitious accountant teams with a fledgling reporter to document every aspect of their lives with an auditor's attention to detail and a journalist's commitment to honoring the First Amendment right to speak truth to power.<br />
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Perhaps in time we'll integrate all those ideas. We welcome suggestions.<br />
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Coming up first is the story of our recent trip to the Mill City and its low-key twin.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12111085817581660564noreply@blogger.com1