What a Difference a º Makes

Yesterday brought on the first noticeable signs of the turn of seasons. It only hit the mid 40ºs, but in true Minnesotan style, spring was in the air. I took Waylon for a walk and we were competing with the bikes on the sidewalks of Uptown. Puddles were blocking paths and intersections where snow was melting too fast to run off. The local sports were already encamped outside Bryant Lake Bowl & Herkimer for happy hour. People were out, smiling and happy without layers of winter wear.

I myself got out in the backyard and scooped up some of those winter poop piles. Then dusted off the new back patio to make room for a lawn chair or two. Hopes were high to bring the fire pit up and throw a log on the fire over the weekend. Alas - today is a return to dreary grey gloom. There is a mist of something like rain and the temps have returned to the measly 30s. Will it ever rear its head oh might March?

Easter greetings

Found via Facebook - some vintage and bizarre looks at the spring ritual of Easter, eggs & bunnies. Looks pretty awkward in print sometimes.

Back From Oblivion

Mastadon

Every once in a while something with science really grabs my interest. And certainly anything involving animals. This article in from the (Scientific) Journal and concerns a TEDx conference presented by National Geographic. It involves a new phenomenon called "de-extinction." DNA cells from extinct species are extracted and put into incubated embryonic cells that have been stripped of their own genomes. It basically reignites the species. The full process of growing the animal into full surrogate birth via and similar species is the tricky part.

Quagga - plains zebra

It has been done once by doctors in Spain & France with a wild goat that only lived for 10 minutes. But it seems more and more so possible. At this juncture - 22 extinct species have been deemed researchable for reintroduction. We can't quite go back to Jurassic times with it. But the list does include Mastdons and Wooly Mammoths. In addition to auks, dodo  birds, various hens & woodpeckers, Tasmanian Tigers & Quaggas! Cool or playing  God?

Glam Doll Donuts

It is with great pleasure that I announce a fabulous new bakery in S Mpls. I have been a nut for great donuts since childhood days in Erie PA where I remember the smell of fresh baked sweet dough coming out of the oven around the corner on E 9th St Sunday mornings. We also had infamous Mighty Fine donuts which have somehow lost their spark on visits home a half a century later from what I remember.

I have always been puzzled that the Twin Cities gravitates to scones and muffins more than not. Our sole Dunkin' Donuts dried up 20 years ago on Hennepin and our party with Krispy Kreme was short lived to say the least. Cupcakes have been the current craze. Mojo Monkey in St Paul has been turning the tide on the other side of the river, but far too small and always out of stock. Mello Glaze is highly over rated in my book. And Baker's Wife is a good fix when I am not distracted by the 1000's of other items in the case.

Thus, Jeffrey and I were thrilled yesterday when we checked out Glam Doll right down the street on Nicollet via friend tipster. It is exactly as the name would suggest - a counter of girly girls that could be sisters of Rosie the Riveter or else the MN Rollergirls at their day jobs. Yeah, you can say that they are a bit pricey - but these are not the pop-in-your mouth type that can down a half dozen in a sitting. They are true pastries and 2 at the most is a belly filler.There are signature donuts with names like Star Girl (with sprinkles) or Calendar Girl (with salted caramel & chocolate) Jeff tried a twist called the Misfit with orange, ginger and cinnamon glaze. I went for a savory Girl Next Door; which is provolone & meunster with a curry glaze and also the Bombshell; with spicy Mexican chocolate and cayenne pecans. A funky vibe like a 60's basement pad complete with a photo booth. Needless to say we will be going back. 
 

 

Cure for HIV?

And a new perspective on HIV and an eventual cure. However, it is coming from the NY Times and in the Opinion Page at that - so hardly scientific fact. This on the heels of an announcement that an American infant was recently cured from the virus with harsh and immediate treatment.

This finding comes from France and a small study of 14 patients who were adults. It seems as if a sort of long-term inoculation where they were treated with anti-viral drugs in the early stages of their diagnoses. And at different points, their bodies were able to stop the onset and control massive takeover independently afterwards. They note that "cure" is an offensive word to use since the virus does not actual leave the body. It merely becomes so invisible that it does not register or merit a threat. Much like a heavy blast of chemo or radiation in a cancer patient. This is considered "functional cure"

It does however give hope to a gap of 15% who are treated early and then are able to live healthy lives without the toxic effects of medication. I would like to be part of that 15% if offered it!

Paul Kubek photo collection

I found this link on YouTube today. The video clip is not all that much in itself, but I was unable to find the images by themselves. Paul Kubek did not take these photos although he is a wedding photog himself. He goes on to explain that he stumbled onto a vintage image and was taken by it, and thus began he quest to find more and document them as a collection.

The subject in mind is early man to man photos of intimacy that seem to show relationship bonds long before we would consider them commonplace in society. It is questionable how many of them are actually couples vs just candid friend shots. But with the sepia tones and settings, they do ponder some thought and make one wonder. The clip is a short minute and a half and had me wanting to see more. For some reason it was not able to embed and load so I am attaching the link.

Paul Kubek Invocation

Good Friends

This one is in homage to dear friend Rob Kvilhaug - who refuses to acknowledge modern technology of blogging and social media.

With my recent difficult bout of kidney stones, he along with Jeffrey has been steadfast in making sure I am okay. He was one of the first calls made because I consult with him and his nurses training on any physical ailment. Moments after an AM phone call, he was knocking at the front door to see what could be done. Daily phone calls followed to check in and see if progress was happening. And then last night, in typical Rob fashion - he cooked a meal of comfort food for the two of us that left nothing lacking. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, carrots and of course decadent almond, coconut cupcakes to send home.

Our history of neighbors goes back decades ago to a time when cell phones and chat sites were unheard of and our connection was done via a personal ad for roommates, where you had to write a long hand piece of correspondence to a mail box for reply. I am trying in vain to bring him into the digital age 25 years later. His wry humor and teasing is a mask for his very warm heart and at times like this it is much appreciated. And I am hoping he finds this shout out on a blog.

Kidney Stones suck

 

All who know me are aware that I am plagued by the occasional kidney stone. I first had them as a reaction to some of my meds in the early 2000s. Since then I have what are called residual shards - which means my back is sort of like an active volcano that gets minor eruptions every once in a while. Today was one of those days and the volcano is roaring.

Although it does not rate the 10 of the original hospitalization, it sits at a pretty high 7-8. I will share a few details in the hopes that in a day or two they will be comic capers. Everything was going along fine until a sat down to put on my shoes for work and was stabbed in the back a few times. It sent me sprawling on the bedroom floor where I was whimpering and howling. For some odd reasons Jeffrey thought I was playing with the dog?? After about 10 mins he finally realized there was no game being played. What followed next was an excruciating hour of trying to figure out how to get me from face down on the wood floor to some sort of position that was functional and possibly a bit of comfort. But every movement of more than an inch or two sent me reeling into shock. For a while I had a thought that if he dragged me to the stair unit it might support my weight to upright. Wrong! I finally deduced that it was going to hurt and I just needed to grunt and punt. So I whipped myself around and had Jeffrey hoist me to a standing position while I clutched to the bedroom door for both balance and life. This then brought on a wave of dizziness and nausea while he held me from behind.

The rest of the day has been about tentative care with a variety of methods and success. Jeff, being a google geek, came up with a few remedies. One is a concoction of olive oil and lemon juice which will supposedly lubricate the kidney channels and soften the edges of the stone. Thank God he has some electronic probes from his back injury and the gentle jets have been a constant stream of release. I just have to be careful not to move to abruptly - literal baby steps. Enough water and cranberry juice so that I am making hourly trips to the "loo." I tried to take a nap on the couch for relief until I attempted to awake and rise - the stabbing pains were right back near square one. So I am best alternating between sitting breaks in a strong upright chair and very slow laps around the dining rooms table.

I would never wish this on anyone and am so lucky to have someone here to care for me in my need.

Coming Home

It is a great thing to be said when returning home, after even a short travel away, that there is comfort here. Even with the worst of travel plans, there is always a sense of adventure, newness and sometimes anxiety in the new world. The trick is finding the right amount of balance with that adventure and relaxation.

But it is with wonder that I am always amazed on returning - that it truly is home. When driving, it is the familiar sight of the skyline as you round the tall bend in Burnsville on 35 coming North. By air it is usually on crossing the St Croix with the landmark bridge and starting to identify the familiar sights below as St Paul eventually comes in to view. Coming home to a clean house, a partner and a dog wagging his tail. Even in the middle of a continuing cold winter where everything remains a blanket of white instead of green that we would so like to see. It makes one feel like they belong here and all is right. There is truly no place like home.

Center of the Universe

Still on my trip and maybe I am just getting old. Or tired. But the game plan after the judging gig in NJ, was to enjoy NYC and spend time with friends.

As it has played out, I am much more content to spend my small quality time upstate on the Hudson and in suburban New Jersey. Coffee shops, grocery stores and geocaching.

My time in the city itself has been a mere two hours. It is indeed colorful, invigorating and exhausting. No shows, no museums and only a mere bagel with a few snapshots. Here is the center of the Manhattan universe in one quick snapshot on my camera for posterity sake.

Snakes on a Plane

I am in the middle of a trip out East and was flying the arrival in to Newark. It was a rare incident where I actually have no beef with the airline this time: Delta. This time it is with the humanity of passengers I traveled with.

We all know that the human race is generally reduced to mere animal form while traveling. Instead of being the sane mammal we are destined to be, we somehow revert to most inane of species when the element of travel is in our path. The inevitable panic jumps in. We ask ridiculous questions and make even stupider choices based on the answers we get. We might as well evolve from the lemmings family.

It began when the flight was delayed a slight bit at the gate. Why bother to ask if the plane is late when you can see their is nothing outside the gate on the tarmac??? And then I was surrounded by ninnies. No idea what was going on with the business passenger behind me in his seat - either it was a wild sex romp at my back or a horrible nightmare with tossing and turning! And then a nervous Asian exchange student across from me who had the unusual habit of whistling to her iPod. Not a slight hum to the melody - but a bizarre whistle that carried throughout the whole plane. And worst of all was the neurotic New Jersey guy behind me that was sharing his life history as if he was on the Actors Studio. I learned about his stint in rehab, how his GF is a terrible cook and he is great at Italian meals like ziti, how he auditioned for some hot new film with Andy Garcia and how fabulous he was in a community production of Brighton Beach..... On and on. And he was fueled in this by the giggly woman next to him. Too many cocktails or a mad cougar crush. Dreadful 3 hours without a parachute!