Hello gentle readers!
Okay Day/Date: September 29th, (happy Birthday to Jef’s wife Sharon, and four days late.
Place: Our new home at an RV park very close to the festival
Wearing: shorts, ponytail, smile
On the TV: Anthony Bourdain in Rome. I’m hungry and want a cocktail now too.
Before we go any further, I want you to stop what you’re reading, refresh your Browser, and really enjoy the animated gif below.
Why do I write in the format I do?
Is this how you see me
I give you all the same info every time I write, day, place, wearing and TV… so that you have a clearer picture of your gentle author… I wonder how you’d think I looked if I didn’t –see that first photo?
I suppose that I should (briefly) tell you why we no longer reside at our loading dock home… We knew all along that it was not strictly legal, but no one seemed to care. Until, that is, the owners of the company whose loading dock we were utilizing got angry that the employees of the other business that share their building were parking in the spaces reserved for our friends’ retail shop. One of the owners complained to the other company, and this apparently set-off a pissing match which involved complaining about US to the city of Arden Hills. The jig was finally up, not only did the city get involved, but the owners of the building where both businesses lease space were also made aware that we were there.
There are some negatives to the move, of course.
It is hard to beat the price of FREE, which is what we’ve always paid to stay there. We’ll miss both the Cub Foods and YMCA pool/gym across the street… We’ll miss a five minute jaunt to the AMC movies, and being able to walk to most of the places we cared to do commerce at during the week too.
But there are a load of positives too.
The rent here is very manageable, and we don’t have to sneakily drain grey water, or pay to have our tanks pumped. We have a nice, shaded yard and two great playgrounds. We’re only a few miles from groceries, and literally five minutes from the festival; as opposed to that miserable hour-long trip we used to have to make each way on the weekends. There’s a pool, and Laundromat… We think we’ll stay here for the next few years.
We’re also closer to my Kayak –pusher Byron
[portfolio_slideshow include="1071,1072,1073,1074,1075"]
I had my boat with me the entire time since I left Arizona, and of course; didn’t use it once. Since I am back hanging around with Byron , we’ve taken two rather spectacular trips. Our first was a long (16mile)winding paddle down the Minnesota river, starting a few miles south of the Festival (the Minnesota travels South-to-north!) and putting out (the boats, not me!) on the muddy muddy banks of the campground Byron lives at. We were joined by another friend, (also a miller, but no relation) who plays the insulter at this fair. We saw eagles, and beautiful scenery. We sailed behind the fair, and around massive logjams. We sailed under bridges, and got to witness Byron doing a funny dance as he tried to simultaneously pee, swat a massive black cloud of hungry mosquitoes away from his willey as he danced to avoid sinking into the mud. Thankfully, I do not have the video of that!
We took our little troublemaker to the State Fair
Taking our two-and-a-half-year-old to the Fair wasn’t as clever as we’d hoped. We bundled up for the surprisingly chill weather and went with Byron and Arleen to check things out… We love this event, as “kitschy” as it is, but with two children (Malcolm is their young son), one of which is breastfeeding, and two disparate agendas… we spent a lot of time waiting around. We did get to spend a little time in my favorite building – The green and alternative energy display. I got to stand next to one of my dream cars – the Tesla. We hit most of the State Fair Food requirements (for me: French Fries with salt and vinegar, cone of cookies).We missed a few too; Heather never did get her corn dog. It was a time that was made more pleasant with the purchase of a red wagon with big tires and an oversized set of wheels… Scarlett’s mobile napping facility!
Before we go on, I was thinking about using this as our next t-shirt design – Just Kidding
Scarlett is at an interesting age
[portfolio_slideshow include="1076,1077,1078,1079,1080,1081"]
Being on this end of town, made it easier to socialize
We got to attend the birthday party for former leader of Ten Seconds of Harmony, and current friend Bruce. We had teppanyaki and sushi, and got to witness a pretty startling site when the Chef, ignorant of the fact the Riki hasn’t had a drink in SIX YEARS fountained an un-ending stream of sake into his mouth. Good times! We joined with the Millers (again) in taking advantage of the baby-sitting offered by my drum-goddess Meghan, so that we could go to this AMAZING Restaurant just a few miles from our door. The chef, a native of Cambodia, studied culinary arts in the French portion of Switzerland before coming to Minnesota. The food may-well-be the best we eat all year.
Let’s take a moment and reflect on the glory that is Justin Bieber
There is something odd about that Bieber fellow
That wacky little boy is more famous than ever I’ll be… but such is the business I’m in.
We managed a much shorter, more interesting Kayak trip last week.
[portfolio_slideshow include="1083,1084,1085,1086,1087,1088,1089"]
Since long before I owned a kayak, I have wanted to paddle down the mighty Mississip. We managed to arrange not only that, but cruising right through the heart of downtown Minneapolis, and descending through three different locks. I first had to manage a little on-the-spot (and By “spot” I mean “Byron’s front yard”) Kayak repair… notice my so-sexy pajamas to keep me warm on this trip?
We first dropped off Byron’s Vehicle at the pick-up point, where I discovered this cave… I’d LOVE to convince Heather that we should own one of these… But as Byron pointed out Heather is rather fond of windows. We then took the second vehicle to appropriately named “Boom Island”; Nine tenths of a mile from a waterfall that would surely have killed us. It was kind of sobering as we waited for the barge before us to clear, and the lock to reset, knowing that if we were too lax, the Mississippi would be completely indifferent to, but quite capable of drowning us and crushing our little boats – and bodies on the rocks below. My smiling face reflected none of this concern.
For those not conversant:
A lock is a mechanical device that allows a boat to ascend (or descend) what would otherwise be a non-navigable change in the elevation of the land (and therefore the river). I knew all about them in theory, but in practice – wow. It was a humbling experience, showing the magnificence of both nature, and our mastery over parts of it. I took a series of photos of the second biggest (and definitely the fasted dropping) lock on our journey. When the lock was completely full, the edge was maybe six or eight feet above us. After a very brief time and with many interested glances at what Byron referred to as the “King Kong Villagers doors” we found ourselves fifty feet lower than mere minutes before. Then to paddle though the downriver gates opening before us into a massive man made valley of concrete… so cool!
Our Minnesota Meet & Greet went very well indeed.
Ably assisted by (Left to right) Chapter head and fine neckwear model Tracie Pogue, Her second-in-command Richelle, and circus Strongman and loving husband Larry Pogue (also recovering from a stint in the hospital). We had a fabulous night. There was bowling, and drinking and laser tag and pizza. It was (once again) a genuinely good time. As always we Twins tried to split up, and visit with each and every one of our over forty guests… I hope everyone got ample time with us.
There was yet another night on the town.
We managed to get to visit a Minneapolis one-of-a-kind watering hole Psycho Suzie’s Motor Lodge. We had a fine time with the girl who plays Twig the Fairy, her dashing beau, and a good friend of mine, who also happens to be the owner of the AZ and NC Renaissance Festivals. I wish the photo was just a little clearer, as Jeff and I are standing in front a sign labeled “Dicks”. There are many folks who think they know either one of us that would certainly agree to that label.
It has been an interesting year, and “Money-sota” has been good to us again
[portfolio_slideshow include="1090,1091,1092"]
Judging from our personal metrics, the recession is slowly coming to an end. Tips and DVD sales have been climbing back up for the Tortugas, but drum sales have been suffering. My employees (and friends) Justin and Meghan have been working hard and doing the best they can. Finally their work, and our belief and patience seems to be paying off. The past few weeks has provided us with a shovel, to dig ourselves out of the hole that was slowly forming at our feet all year. I’m excited to see not only how drums do in 2011 – since this is our last drum-selling show of the year, but also how Heather’s new business does. For those that don’t know – Heather has worked hard to bring Nomadic Dreams Boutique to reality here in Minnesota… and it is not only a smashing success, but it also has LOADS of potential.
It is time to bring this to a close
Our final weekend begins in two days. We just had a feast at the Casino’s Seafood Buffet - wanna guess who with? We’re excited to get to Carolina, and see our wonderful friends there (I’m looking at YOU Sharyn and Frankie D!) but we sure wouldn’t mind another month here either. We have lots of interesting things going on with the Blue team, and blended Blue and Gold teams; Jeff is only doing four of seven Charlotte weekends, and one of three Louisiana weekends. I have loads of work to do in Louisiana, construction and whatnot, and with student days and rose management and sheeeesh.
I joke that I don’t have a day off until January.
So that’s it for September. I’ll write again in October if I can find the time.
