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Post by Kapitan on Aug 10, 2021 13:11:15 GMT
Over the weekend I pointed out that my friend and I ended up skipping the Timberwolves' open scrimmage. But what I didn't make note of at the time was downtown Minneapolis, which (as you'll know from last year's news) suffered pretty massively during the post-Floyd riots, not to mention pandemic issues.
So, after bailing on our initial plans, we decided to grab a bite to eat and a couple beers. Downtown, as you'd expect of a reasonably sized city, has always been full of options. We were not looking for fine dining (being dressed for summer league basketball...), but any old casual bar & grill type of place would suit us fine. In the 20+ years I've been working downtown pre-pandemic, there were always dozens of such options. A person could walk a block or less in any direction from any spot downtown and find one.
We walked more than a mile's worth, up and down blocks, trying to find one. And we weren't being picky! I think we passed half a dozen former spots that were either permanently closed and boarded up, or simply closed for the day--open for lunches during the day but closed by mid-afternoon--before finding a place. This was on a Friday night at 6:30-7 pm!
The city isn't the post-apocalyptic hellhole some conservative media like to misrepresent it as, but it is still really suffering the effects of 2020.
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Post by carllove on Aug 10, 2021 15:41:11 GMT
Kapitan - That is so sad! I used to go to downtown Minneapolis a lot back in the mid 90's when the company I worked for was based in Chaska. I used to think how cool the downtown area was and wished Kansas City had such a cool vibe. It was very safe and walkable.
The Power and Light District really improved Kansas City's downtown, but I haven't been there since COVID started. I'm sort of burying my head in the sand. I probably listen to too much Conservative talk radio, so now I think that if I go Downtown, I will be shot, robbed and raped. Of course, I barely have the energy to even turn on my TV on the weekends lately so that could have something to do with it as well. We haven't had a fire in the pit on the patio since my coworker left to help IT implement the new lab information system. Three people used to do my job. Now it's just me. At least I got a big raise and all of the hours I could ever want (and more!).
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Post by carllove on Aug 10, 2021 15:55:26 GMT
So, the work fire is one of those typical "hurry up and wait" type situations that tends to be the bane of my existence in my middle management position. But, just a mini rant here. There was a time when time off was really time off. You could detach, and not have to worry about your job until you were back in the office. Now, thanks to technology, you can be reached at the drop of a hat. I had to handle a work matter when my wife and I were in Jamaica five years ago. I had to jump into a remote meeting literally while packing up the car for vacation last month. Now, since this issue does not have a resolution, and I'm still fucking leaving the office at 11am, I have to let people know that I will have my God forsaken laptop with me on vacation, and can be reached. I will say, that usually when I'm away, it's not too often that I get contacted, but the very idea that I can be contacted at any time adds a little extra weight when I'm supposed to be enjoying time with my family. I get it, work is important, but I really think that people mentally need to be able to detach from professional obligations and....here's a novel concept...enjoy their lives. And this concept isn't just with my job. I feel it's a very ugly part of working in US culture. EDIT - I also fully realize the irony that I'm vented and posting on a BB Forum while at work, while complaining about work infringing on my personal life, but again, there's a lot of "hurry up and wait" with my job. My boss has been trying really hard to keep me from burning out, and she actually has tried to help by sending out a communication that I would no longer be taking call after hours, etc. We even put out a trouble shooting guide, with a list of steps to take or phone numbers to call, when I am "off" work. So now, when everyone calls me, they are like "I know I'm not supposed to call you after hours, but....". I have work email on my phone, and at least half of the staff at the hospitals are in my contact list, so they love to text me with questions. The worst part is I have to try and keep track of all of these 5 minute interractions to keep HR happy. The good thing is I don't have to take my phone out with me to the garden. I've also stopped answering my phone when I'm in bed, halfway asleep. I've also stopped "attending" meetings when I am on vacation. Yes, I called into a meeting once when I was in a tent! Baby steps....
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 10, 2021 17:52:46 GMT
My Beach Boys' buddy, who usually organizes our Beach Boys' concert-going for four or five of us, got tickets to see Light Out Presents The Jersey Beach Boys last night in Mount Gretna, PA. The tickets were only $20.00 and it was worth it. It was a very nice show. The backing band and sound was impressive; it sounded like a real Beach Boys' concert. The five singers divided lead vocals, and the harmonies were impressive. Highlights included "Do It Again" (it rocked), "Be True To Your School" (they did the single version and included every single part; these guys are obviously fans), "Sloop John B" (the guitar player played that intricate guitar part that Carl used to play live), and, believe it or not, "Kokomo" (it came off better than Mike & Bruce's version and they even included a joke about Stamos). They sounded even better on the Four Seasons' songs. One of the singers has Frankie Valli down pat.
I thought it would be a cheesy show but it wasn't. I'm including a promo video below, but, actually it doesn't due justice to the live presentation:
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 11, 2021 11:49:52 GMT
We've had a couple of rain showers in the past week, maybe three or so. I'm not complaining, because it was (and still is) much needed.
But my gosh, my garden! It went from pretty darn clean, if I do say so myself, to carpeted in weeds in what I swear was overnight with each shower. I weeded after the first day or so of it, cleaned it all out, and it's as if I've never touched it. Nature is really ironic that the actual vegetables and fruits take months to grow, but those weeds spread everywhere and sprout inches in what I swear is 24 hours.
On another note entirely, I spent nearly all of yesterday thinking it was Wednesday. Obviously, it wasn't: today is Wednesday. Is anything more deflating than realizing there's another workday to go beyond what you had mentally adjusted to!?
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Post by carllove on Aug 11, 2021 12:57:58 GMT
Your veggie garden sounds like my veggie garden! Mine is 25 x 75 , so sometimes weeding gets to be too much, especially considering I have two corner flower gardens, one raised front bed and two beds on the side of the house, as well as 12 hanging baskets, three large urns of flowers and herbs in pots. Thank goodness my aloe doesn't require much work. First thing I do when I get home from work is water stuff. I need to hire a gardener. How do those weeds grow so fast?
At least I finally had enough tomatoes to do some canning this weekend. I'm usually canning by mid June, so that is the latest I have ever started.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 11, 2021 13:19:36 GMT
Wow, I can't imagine working a garden that big. I'm too lazy! I'd guess mine is only about 12x6, and I find that a major annoyance to weed!
Up here, tomatoes are usually coming in fast in the middle to latter part of July. This year that has been late, too, thanks to the lack of rain. They've been trickling in, mostly the grape tomatoes (but not even them in typical numbers). The only thing really doing well other than some hardy herbs like thyme and savory are some chili peppers that were labeled as "red fajita peppers." Obviously that's not the real name, but I don't know what they are: they almost are like Thai bird peppers, smaller than cayennes or even serranos, red when ripe, and quite hot. Those have been doing really well! Everything else ... not so great.
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Post by kds on Aug 11, 2021 14:46:16 GMT
So, the work fire is one of those typical "hurry up and wait" type situations that tends to be the bane of my existence in my middle management position. But, just a mini rant here. There was a time when time off was really time off. You could detach, and not have to worry about your job until you were back in the office. Now, thanks to technology, you can be reached at the drop of a hat. I had to handle a work matter when my wife and I were in Jamaica five years ago. I had to jump into a remote meeting literally while packing up the car for vacation last month. Now, since this issue does not have a resolution, and I'm still fucking leaving the office at 11am, I have to let people know that I will have my God forsaken laptop with me on vacation, and can be reached. I will say, that usually when I'm away, it's not too often that I get contacted, but the very idea that I can be contacted at any time adds a little extra weight when I'm supposed to be enjoying time with my family. I get it, work is important, but I really think that people mentally need to be able to detach from professional obligations and....here's a novel concept...enjoy their lives. And this concept isn't just with my job. I feel it's a very ugly part of working in US culture. EDIT - I also fully realize the irony that I'm vented and posting on a BB Forum while at work, while complaining about work infringing on my personal life, but again, there's a lot of "hurry up and wait" with my job. My boss has been trying really hard to keep me from burning out, and she actually has tried to help by sending out a communication that I would no longer be taking call after hours, etc. We even put out a trouble shooting guide, with a list of steps to take or phone numbers to call, when I am "off" work. So now, when everyone calls me, they are like "I know I'm not supposed to call you after hours, but....". I have work email on my phone, and at least half of the staff at the hospitals are in my contact list, so they love to text me with questions. The worst part is I have to try and keep track of all of these 5 minute interractions to keep HR happy. The good thing is I don't have to take my phone out with me to the garden. I've also stopped answering my phone when I'm in bed, halfway asleep. I've also stopped "attending" meetings when I am on vacation. Yes, I called into a meeting once when I was in a tent! Baby steps.... The good news is that, while I was out of town, I got no texts or calls from work. So, between a possible COVID scare to a work fire, getting out of town for a couple days to relax was a real bitch. And, now it's in the rearview.
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Post by kds on Aug 11, 2021 20:11:30 GMT
More first world gripes from the desk of KDS.
So, I think I posted in the summer thread. I usually take 3-4 trips to the beach in any given summer.
We just got back from one, and our last one will be Labor Day Weekend.
So, I was sort of looking forward to some low key weekends for the rest of August, especially since the month tends to be hectic at work.
In the last just over 24 hours, I've become aware of a possible three parties I may or may not be obligated to attend in August. Ugh.
And, these aren't even kiddie parties. These are for grown ass people. I just don't understand the need for all these damn get togethers.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 13, 2021 14:31:11 GMT
If I may whine for just a moment, it really feels like this week has taken forever. Perhaps this is why: On another note entirely, I spent nearly all of yesterday thinking it was Wednesday. Obviously, it wasn't: today is Wednesday. Is anything more deflating than realizing there's another workday to go beyond what you had mentally adjusted to!?
But regardless, at least today is Friday (and it's several hours into the workday, at that). So before long, my whiny-ass self can shut the hell up and enjoy the weekend.
Apologies for the coarseness, I just have to talk tough with myself, or I'll walk all over me.
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Post by kds on Aug 15, 2021 1:24:42 GMT
It's 9:23pm EDT. 81 and humid. I'm on the deck with a glass of rose and summer music. Life is good.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 16, 2021 13:18:04 GMT
The forecast says we're going to have more wildfire smoke moving in this week. Hopefully it's not as bad as that last round was back in July: that was really torturous.
What I'd prefer the forecast to say would be something about rain. Minnesota is currently 80% in severe or worse drought conditions (with half of that in extreme drought conditions), meaning we're at risk for our own wildfires, not to mention pretty bad crop failures, which is bad for the whole country. Remember, we grow a lot of your corn, peas, soybeans, wheat, and livestock here!
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Post by kds on Aug 16, 2021 13:20:27 GMT
I noticed that tonight's sunset in Baltimore will take place at 7:59pm. When the sun starts going down before 8pm, that's when it starts to feel like the beginning of the end of summer.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 16, 2021 13:22:22 GMT
Similarly, I've noticed darker mornings. No longer is it bright and sunny as I'm rolling out of bed around 5:45or so. Sunrise is officially listed as being at 6:17 today. It's nice for lazy days, weekends, but not so good when I want the metaphorical kick in the pants to get up and moving.
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Post by kds on Aug 16, 2021 13:27:17 GMT
I think this morning was the first time I really noticed that. I think it was the first time that it was still dark when my alarm went off.
Sunrise in Baltimore was 6:21am today.
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