Insights

***I picked this photo randomly, without even looking at it. It is from the awesome dog park at Minnehaha Falls, on and just across the river from St. Paul, in Minneapolis. Bernie was about 10 in this photo, and interestingly, it was one of the first times I genuinelly recognized she was getting older, just lots more walking than our typical running. She still swam in the Mississippi River that day, though! September, 2005***

Today I'm thankful for sunshine, bicycles, water, IPods, good tunes, good books, good beer, good places, the Midtown Greenway, all the pretty ladies who were out and about today, and my genes. Though I haven't a clue from whom my genes were passed, they allow me to engage in the physical play of a 12 year old on a continuous basis. Come to think of it, I'm thankful for all that stuff every day--today I simply got to enjoy them all together. It's a good weekend to live in the Twin Cities.

I kind of "hung out with Bernie" all weekend, meaning I played at my house a lot instead of going out and about, it was always fun to do that with her here to talk with and stuff. She always use to rise around 11pm or so when we were hanging out, walk up to me, and look at me. It was time for bed, she was saying! They say dogs don't have a sense of time, but I think that's baloney. Maybe they don't have a sense of, like, how long you've been gone from the house, but they certainly have a circadian rhythym. Girlfriend knew when it was time for bed. If I didn't budge when she pointed out the time, she'd go curl up on her bed in a semi-permanent sleeping pose.

I had good intentions going into the weekend, of working on an editing project, but after about an hour of that on Saturday, I cast it aside. It's cool, Dennis doesn't read my blog, so I can confess to having greater priorities (screwing off) than his book. I found a good Amazon tour option for Brazil partner Becca and me to investigate further. I spent hours--hours--doing necessary maintenance on my ITunes (Josh, your Radiohead is ready, to the tune of five CDs. This meant I got to spend a lot of time with said band in my ear last night, always a perfect night.). Further, I finally finished downloading necessary prep music for next week's gathering at the Walker Art Center's Sculpture Garden, cause . . .

Next weekend is another good weekend to live in the Twin Cities, as 89.3 The Current's Rock the Garden fills the day at the Sculpture Garden, and I and 15,000 of my closest friends, as well as bands Calexico, Yeasayer, Solid Gold (local), and everybody's little indie-pop darlin, The Decemberists, will entertain with some good tunes. Hopefully copious sunshine will be part of the equation, too. Those four bands' latest albums add up to 56 songs, 52 of which I listened to riding my bike today and while reading. Really solid stuff, those albums, but I really have to give a nod to Calexico. Their latest album, "Carried to Dust," is outstanding. The Decemberists', well, they are very good at what they do. Solid Gold, a keyboard heavy act, which often scares me off, totally exceeded my expectations. And Yeasayer makes you wanna lay in the grass and look at the sky while listening, very nice.

I thought about, on my ride home, that it is really, really nice to not "have to be home," to just roam if you want to. I've always known this, and that's my default mode of existence, but now it's allowed to play out since my little buddy gets to run by my side now wherever I go! It's all good, I miss her and think of her a healthy amount, but am totally enjoying my more free spirt existence.

I stink and need a quick nap, thus I'm also thankful for showers and my bed. Tchau!