A Long Couple Weeks

When the news keeps pounding like it has the past few weeks, we all seem to go into some sense of self-preservation. I know I have. I have been personally preoccupied with finishing the editing of The Tuning Slide book so it will be available for trumpet camp.I am getting near the final okay to print. (It better be soon- time is getting short.) I have also been working on a few other writing projects all of which has led me to more distraction than usual.

Then along came the deaths in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis. Before we even began to assimilate those there was the sniper killing 5 police officers in Dallas. I spent two days wanting to shout to anyone who would listen.

For. God's. Sake. Stop! Now!

I read the incredible pain in postings on Facebook. Everyone was hurt, angry, reeling, sad, stunned. It just seems to keep on going. These are hardly past the mourning period from Orlando, which was hardly past the mourning from San Bernardino. We are getting battered over and over with death, seen in ever more graphic detail thanks to our smartphone cameras.

I experienced the pain, starting with the fact that one of the deaths was in our Minnesota "backyard" and people I know knew someone who knew Philando. I heard the cries of law enforcement friends. Then I saw the reactions from Dallas, which, thankfully, began to turn the narrative in a different direction. While there were some highly one-sided posts, most were not. Most began to see the deadly insanity that is infecting so much of our thinking. Some pointed to the killer in Dallas as an example of the Black Lives Matter movement. Most saw him for what he was- another deranged individual, acting on his own as any of the number of serial killers have in the past years.

It didn't slow the anger of some in Minneapolis, but it did help the nation begin to deal with it. Former President Bush nailed it with his few but pointed words:

“Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions.”

People have tried to deepen divisions by trying to say things about Bush or Obama at the memorial service.

Stop it!

Why do we have to keep going there? Why does one have to be the good guy and the other the bad guy when they are standing there together? The partisanship goes on and on and on.

Stop it!

I don't want police officers to be in the kind of dangers they face.

I don't want African-Americans to be afraid if a police officer walks up the street toward them, let alone at a traffic stop.

I don't want police officers to be afraid of the African-American they are talking to.

I want both sides to talk and meet each other on equal grounds. I want both sides to be able to express their fears and frustrations without being told they are wrong. I want both sides- and all of us who support both sides- to celebrate that we are all Americans! Period! None better, none lesser. That's what we celebrated last week. Let's not leave it stuck there.

We Do It Again In Less Than Two Weeks

One of the great joys the past two summers has been to be part of the Trumpets at Twins event. Over 100 trumpet players get to stand out in centerfield and play the National Anthem. What a kick. It's the sound, the crowd, the noise, the sight we get to see. It's the ability to play the National Anthem! We do it again this year on Monday, June 8 when the Twins host Kansas City.

Here's the video I put together from last year's event. Enjoy.

All-Star Game Festivities: 1

It all started on Sunday at Target Field. A beauty of a day with all the pomp and fun of baseball - the summer game.

Bullseye with the ball outside the field.

The outfield ready for The Festivities!

The Futures lineup of teams. Flags for each country.

The MVP, Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers prospect,  hit a two-run homer in the sixth. It hit the Chevy Truck on the concourse. He may very well become a star!

The Legends and Celebrities softball teams.

Vikings football star Adrian Peterson hugging Snoopy.

Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers warming up with Peterson. Yes, Fingers still has his mustache.

Keep tuned. There's lots more to come.

A Perfect Night for Baseball

Perhaps the best evening to go to a ball game- the longest day of the year. Last Friday was the annual Trumpets at Twins event where 130 of us played the National Anthem at Target Field.

Good weather. Sun. Clouds. Fun.

And sunset was at:   

T C Bear and friends showed up on the scoreboard for the 7th Inning Stretch.

But it was in the 9th that things got a little out of hand. You see the Twins were ahead 4-2. Closer Glenn Perkins could not manage to hold the score 

and blew the save.

Score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th.

Up comes Brian Dozier.

Fuld and Escobar on base.

Look closely- this was taken just at the moment before the ball and bat connect.  

It's a good solid hit.

But there was also a good throw in to the catcher.

Base runner Escobar comes sliding head first.

Note the ball in the picture-

coming toward the catcher showing up in the space 

between the mitt and the runner.

A quick challenge to the call of "safe" at home was overruled.

Twins Win! 5-4. A great evening.

(Note: Posting of Trumpets at Twins at another time.)

A Great Weekend

Spent a four-day weekend in the Twin Cities, doing some fun things. But before we left I had my first gig of the summer with the Rochester Salvation Army, celebrating Donut Day. I stayed calm- and watched a lot of donuts being enjoyed.

Friday evening went to see the movie, Chef. Don't miss it. It is fun and engaging with excellent cinematography of food. It also has a heart-warming story. Nothing radical or revolutionary. Just a very well-done story that makes you feel good.


While at the Guthrie Theater on Saturday we got a good look at the mighty Mississippi. It was tearing across St. Anthony Falls and under the stone arch bridge like there was no tomorrow.

 

Sunday was a baseball day. Too bad the Twins lost, but it was still fun being there in the spring sun. Lots of jumping around, though.

Monday we first went to Como Conservatory. As usual the flowers were magnificent. The second picture below is a Bonsai bougainvillea in bloom. The white wall behind it and the light makes it look like a ceramic model. No, it was as real and as stunning (if not more) than the picture shows.

Finally, a stop at the Mall of America where the GRAMMY Museum of LA has a traveling exhibition of The Beatles. I had to try the guitar with skiffle great Lonnie Donegan and sit at Ringo's drums. Hey, compared to the still living Beatles, I'm still young.

I Look At Trees From Both Sides

First from one side...

Early sign of spring with

a willow along the

Minnesota River

And then the other.

With the right lighting

the golden colors take on

all kinds of hues at the

Fort Snelling State Park in

Minneapolis.

Another Final Game

Yes, I am a die-hard Green and Gold Packer fan.

But I am also a sports fan who has lived in Minnesota for almost 15 years now.

In fact my daughter and I were at the last Twins game at the Metrodome before they moved to their own cozy comfort of Target Field.

Yesterday was the final Vikings game at the Dome. So we were there for that, too.

Pictures will be coming.

But for today this infographic here on the left was on the Vikings website last week. It is football related, but that was what yesterday was about.

Fare-thee-well old Dome.

I guess the most fun fact on the list (for me, anyway) is that the Dome is the only stadium in the WORLD that has hosted a

..Major League Baseball All-star game
..Baseball World Series (twice)
..NCAA Basketball Final Four (twice)
and a
..NFL Super Bowl

AND,

..the great non-sports related event of over 50,000 sober alcoholics at the 2000 AA World Convention.

More later.

Bye Bye

 Today, November leaves.

.

A Hymn to the Father of Day and Night

Mill City Museum

Minneapolis, MN

August 4, 2013

Get Away, Bee

Bee and Flower

Mississippi River

Minneapolis, MN

August 4, 2013

Farewell to "Mo", The Sandman

The "other" # 42.

Mariano Rivera

A Champion of Champions

Metrodome, Minneapolis

10/11/2009

A Place of Remembrance

Remembering and Honoring Memorial

Fort Snelling State Park

Minneapolis, MN

August 5, 2013

The Rushing Waters

“Hark!” she said; “I hear a rushing,
Hear a roaring and a rushing,
Hear the Falls of Minnehaha
Calling to me from a distance!

From the Old Mill Ruins

Stone Arch Bridge & Old Mill Ruins

Mill City Museum

Minneapolis, MN

August 4, 2013

(Effects added with Gimp)

From the Top Level

Two Steeples

Minneapolis Skyline from Target Field Parking Ramp

5/12/13

A Legend in Bronze

Rod Carew Statue

Target Field

Minneapolis, MN

May 12, 2013

Chekov at the Market

Anton Chekov on outside wall of Guthrie Theater

Watches over Mill City Farmer's Market

Minneapolis, MN

June 30, 2012

Sir Tyrone and the Flowers

Picture of Sir Tyrone Guthrie

Outside Wall of The Guthrie Theater

Minneapolis, MN

June 30, 2012

The Muddy River

Stopped by Locks and Dam #1 on Saturday in Minneapolis. The river is still muddy and quite high from the rains the past few weeks. Made for an interesting bridge and reflection.
Date: 6/30/2012

Dent in the Wall

The reflecting wall of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis has a dent. I liked the way the reflection became a Black White Hole with the tents from the Mill City Market in the background being reflected.
Date: 6/30/12