Just under a year ago, Medora said “Yes, of course!” We’re now counting down the days to July 17 and I can’t really explain how giddy we are. There’s a wedding website (just a splash page at the moment) up, the invites are being designed, and all the big plans are made. So close!

Pretty obvious, no?

• I obviously can’t keep up the blogging thing. I put a “For Sale” notice up on my car and never bothered to show off my new one.
• This site does a horrible job of featuring my paintings, even though I haven’t finished one in quite a while. Maybe if the site actually filled its role as a quality portfolio, I’d be more inclined to continue working on said portfolio.
• This site also does a horrible job of showing off my web work. Unlike painting, I actually have been doing a good bit of work here. Some of it is online, but I haven’t been updating that site much lately, either.
• …many, many more reasons I don’t feel like listing (read: laziness).

So, what am I going to do? I dunno. I’ll leave it as is, for now. I’ve got a pile of ideas for new, better, cooler sites that actually serve a purpose. Clearly, this isn’t going to work and no amount of expansion/rejiggering is going to solve it. I need to blow it up and start over. I’ve got a couple other domains at my disposal, and just might make use of them. We shall see.

And just in case you do not feel like visiting the CarSoup page, here are the specs:

• 2000 VW Jetta GLS
• Canyon Red (rare color discontinued after this model year)
• Gray cloth
• Sunroof
• 5-speed manual
• 2.0L 110hp engine
• 8-speaker Monsoon premium sound system with amplifier
• CD player
• A/C
• Airbags
• Power locks, windows, brakes, mirrors, steering
• Anti-Lock Brakes
• 17″ alloy wheels with summer performance tires
• 15″ alloy wheels with Blizzak snow tires
• ~72000 miles

Again, check it out!

• CarSoup page
• Photo gallery

This is my hearty recommendation that you visit the film’s website, learn more about it, find a screening in your city, and go see it. You will not be disappointed, especially if graphic design and the discussion thereof makes you feel a little funny inside.

In spring training of 1996, he woke up one day and couldn’t see out of his right eye. Suddenly his 12-year career was over. For Twins fans my age, the mere idea of a baseball season without Kirby was unheard of. We’d never seen anyone else play center field or bat third for the Twins. Every day I would check box scores and league leaders in the paper to see how close he was to the top of the batting average, RBI, hits lists—but he wasn’t there any more. Something was missing from our national pastime, and he wore a huge smile and number 34. I’ll say it again, Kirby Puckett was baseball.

And now, he’s gone. Ten years ago, his career was cut short. Five years ago, he entered the Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility. And just a few short hours ago, Kirby entered heaven. If there’s any consolation, it’s that Bob Casey’s death last year means that as Puck passed through the Pearly Gates this afternoon, he did so to the sound of “In center field, number 34, Kirr-beeeeeeeeeyyyyyy Puckett!“

We’ll always love you, 34.

Kirby at the StarTribune

See my photo gallery Watch a short movie of the cottage

Mom got to my place in the evening on June 30th. We then headed south to Albert Lea to pick up my brother at Dad’s parents’ farm. The next morning (which happened to be Mom and Dad’s 26th anniversary), we left for Iowa City. My cousin Matt, his wife Erin, and their daughter Grace live north of Iowa City as Matt does his pediatric residency at the hospital there. None of us had gotten a chance to meet Grace (she’s two) and Andy and I hadn’t seen Matt and Erin in something like five years. We had a very pleasant stay that afternoon, evening, and next morning before moving on to stop number two.

Early Saturday morning, the three of us headed east to Ann Arbor. My Aunt Karen (Mom’s sister) and Uncle Bob live just east of town in a nice country-like area. Andy and I hadn’t seen them in two and a half years. Some awful traffic and construction on I-80 through Chicago caused us to miss the Saturday evening church service we wanted to attend, but we had a very nice visit regardless.

Finally, on to the lake. We headed north midway through the day on Sunday and got to the cottage about three in the afternoon. The weather was hot and sunny and the cool, clear water begged for attention. The whole family got in on the action, as Andy, Mom, Aunt Jenean (Mom’s sister) and Uncle Jack, Uncle Kurt (Mom’s brother), Ben, Sam, Tony and his girlfriend Katie, Grammy, Papa, and I all went for a swim. I’m not much of a swimmer or much of a water person, but this lake is the one place where I want nothing more than to go swimming.

Lake Avalon is not a big lake, but it is over 70 feet deep in places and as it is spring fed, the water is amazingly clear. The clarity was measured this spring and it rated as one of only two lakes in Michigan with a visibility of 50 feet or more. The cold spring water also keeps the water too cool for much plant life, so weeds, reeds, and algae are virtually non-existent. Simply put, it’s aquatic heaven.

Tony, Andy, and I also went water-skiing that evening, and Tony showed us his wake-boarding skills. I’m not a great water-skiier, but I’m learning again after an eight year or so hiatus. My brother is quite good and Tony makes us all look foolish. After the sun went down, we celebrated America’s birthday with fireworks, as did numerous other residents around the water. It was a fine, fine way to start the visit to the cottage.

Aunt Jenean, Uncle Jack, Tony, and Katie all had to leave the next day after Uncle Kurt had left the day before. Uncle Kurt’s boys Ben and Sam got to stay behind with us, and they were absolutely thrilled. The weather cooled a bit, but we all found a way to have fun.

We woke up on the 5th to thunderstorms and ugly clouds and cool temps. We wouldn’t be going in the water for sure and our tee time looked to be in jeopardy. Papa, Andy, and I went to the golf course regardless and hoped the drizzle would stop. It did. Unfortunately, the course ate us alive anyway. I’d golfed the front nine before and it was manageable. However, the back nine was new to me, much more difficult, and made us all look ridiculous. We decided to donate the score card to the kindling pile. The rest of the day was spent wishing for the weather to clear (it didn’t) and reading. Ben and Sam were quite restless, but we kept them entertained.

The 6th’s weather wasn’t much better. Fortunately, the rain went away quickly and it was merely cool and windy. Again, Andy, Papa, and I headed to the golf course (a different one this time) to knock balls around. The sun stayed out the entire 18 and it steadily warmed up through the day. When we got back to the cottage, Andy and I talked Ben into swimming, but none of us stayed out long in the cold breeze.

After eating that evening, the wind died down, the sun kept shining, the lake calmed down, and we went water-skiing again. Gliding over the crystal-clear water behind a boat was a glorious way to wrap up the day. Aunt Roxanne, Ben and Sam’s mom, came up to get her boys that evening. She’s due to have her third son within the month, so she rested for the night and left the next morning.

Andy and I decided we were going to leave the evening of the 7th and drive through the night to maximize our time on the lake. The weather was incredible, so we water-skiied both before and after lunch. A fast-improving two-planker, I decided I’d try dropping a ski and learn to slalom. Three failed attempts early in the day and two more later in the day had me quite frustrated. I decided to just do one more trip around the lake on two skis and call it a day.

Not being one to back down from a challenge, I decided to try dropping a ski one last time. It worked! I was skiing on one ski! Unfortunately, by this point my arms, legs, and back were worn out and I only made it about a third of the way around the lake before sending the boat for home. It was well worth it and I’d been sufficiently bitten by the water-skiing bug. I need to ski more���much more. Good thing I live in the state of 10,000 lakes.

We left after a fantastic steak and potatoes dinner. Mom is going to stay in Michigan with her family through the end of July, so we had to say our goodbyes. Twelve hours later, Andy and I were safe and sound in St. Cloud at my apartment. It was a fantastic trip of which I enjoyed every last minute. I got to see all sorts of family for the first time in years, I got to spend several days at my own personal heaven on earth, and I’m rested, refreshed, sunburned and ready for my first day at a new job tomorrow. Ahhh….