We took care of our mini ones. What is everyone else doing for the summer?*
63 thoughts on “July 20. 2021: Plans”
Do we get to rate our plans?
you mean, "We get to rate our plans!"
Is it a guaranteed rate?
Minor Details has been posted.
Mrs. Runner and I are spending a couple weeks in CO Springs ahead of Labor Day weekend. Probably do some hiking, take the cog railway to Pike's Peak, etc...hopefully cooler than StL is that time of year.
The cog railway is a hoot. Looking forward to a return trip with the Poissonnière someday; the donuts at the top will be sufficient motivation, even if she winds up with a fear of heights.
The UP's Big Boy locomotive is picking up its tour that was interrupted by the pandemic, and finally stopping in StL...but when we're in CO. The good news is that it's heading next to Denver, so on our leisurely return home we should be able to intercept it along the route and see it then; based on the schedule, I'm guessing at Hays, KS.
UP stopped shipping east for a week. That's annoying...
Technically not summer, since I will be leaving September 1, but I am going to Peru and hiking the Ausangate for 8 days.
Technically.... is summer, since the equinox is September 22.
But seriously, that sounds like an amazing trip.
Grumblegrumbleastrologicalvs.meterologicalgrumble. Technically he's in the southern hemisphere too, so now it's a winter trip, right?
okay, don't be trolling Mike (and the rest of us) with "astrology vs astronomy"
Might as well be when it comes to season though, right? Defining our lived experiences by the relative position of heavenly bodies?
Might as well throw out sunrise and sunset too! Day vs Night is totally worthless -- they aren't defined by fixed times!
Just be glad we don't use sidereal times for anything non-astronomical.
I'm team Summer = Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Weekend.
That's close to meteorological summer so good enough for me.
Last weekend, we brought the kids to the Jeffers Petroglyph. On the way back, we hit Schmidt's Meat Market and Minnesota's Largest Candy Store.
We've also planned a trip to Milwaukee in a couple weeks with a stop at the Dells on the way home.
Jeffers Petroglyphs? And you didn't stop by?
We went to a concert at Lake Harriet Friday night that kept the Justice up more than an hour past her bedtime. We didn't want to inflict her upon anyone the next day.
I'm just giving you grief. We weren't even around this weekend - end of year baseball tournament.
with a stop at the Dells on the way home
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I live about a half hour away from the Petroglyph and I've never made a visit *hang head in shame *
I've been there before, but not since I moved so close.
I thought when MLB brought MiLB into its fold things were supposed to be better for the players
that's a double whammy. Having to pay to work, and having to stay at a hotel in Stockton.
The Double-A teams for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres begin a series tomorrow in San Antonio. This is where the Cardinals players were forced to sleep last night. pic.twitter.com/A0YjP6g6DB
I really hope the Twins are taking care of their players
stepping up and being the first paying them through the pandemic, I would hope that's still the case
Kitten update: Sleep, eat, poop, play, repeat.
Oooh, that means you're close to adding "knock shit over" to the list.
We took the camper out to Huntington Beach and Sequoia National Park in June, but that was the end of our travel for summer. Oh, and I took a day trip to Death Valley a week and a half ago, to see what the extreme temperatures feel like. Official temperature was 128, but I got a reading of 135 right next to the car. Definitely an experience.
Instead of traveling more, my in-laws came to visit, and my mom is coming next week. Normally we would go see them instead, but we couldn't leave after June because my wife is pregnant (as a surrogate for a second time, so once again not our baby), and is due soon. Her induction date is August 5, if she makes it that long.
I took a day trip to Death Valley a week and a half ago, to see what the extreme temperatures feel like.
Have you considered therapy?
That’s what everyone else says, but I’ve wanted to go there during the summer heat for years. I always figured someone else would be interested, but no one else has ever been willing to go with me, so I just went by myself. It was quite an experience. You know how when you lean too far over the oven door as you open it, and your eyes feel super hot like they are being burned or something? The wind felt kind of like that.
We went in the winter this year, and it’s a spectacular place to visit and hike when it is cooler. I can’t recommend that enough, at least during the cooler months.
vaguely apropos, the summer before my freshman year in h.s., we took a family trip through the southwest. My dad chose to drive during the daytime from the Grand Canyon to Barstow. In the middle of July. With no air conditioning.
My parents rode in the cab of the pickup. I was in the back, under a black topper and on top of a mattress. I think I lost about 10 lbs that day to sweat.
The things wrong with that experience are hard to count, there were so many.
I drove through "100 miles no services" Utah in August in the 80's on my move from MN to CA in my little Civic with 103°F and no AC -- pretty much found the absorption limit of the back of my t-shirt
When I was in 29 Palms, we used to wait until 2am to go outside to play basketball. But, as people were fond of reminding me, hey, it’s a dry heat.
I enjoyed asking them what they thought the relative humidity is in Hell.
When we lived in Irvine, my now-wife’s cousin would drive down from 29 Palms to stay with her just about every weekend, whether he was invited or not. At the time I didn’t really get why, but now having a better understanding where that is, and what’s out there, it makes a lot more sense.
Once he moved to Camp Pendleton, he stopped visiting.
29 Palms is a great Robert Plant song.
I've made my plans for the great minnesota get together. I'm hoping for good weather on the opening day so that I can maximize the removal of foodstuffs from sticks.
We are in the midst of driving for two weeks:
- Cuyahoga Valley NP
- But spent just as much time in a cemetery in CLE
- Niagara Falls
- Anchor Bar wings
- Cooperstown
- With friends near Hartford, CT
- With 3 other sets of friends in NJ
- Gettysburg
- Ending at a drum corps event in La Crosse on Jul 30
It’s been a blast!
Did you enjoy Niagara? I never really got the layout of the falls until we were there, and it became obvious why everyone touts the view from the Canadian side.
We enjoyed. I don’t know if I like it as a destination, but as part of a larger trip it’s very nice IMO.
We did the boardwalk below the bridal veil and we all got a kick out of it. If I ever go back (after the kids are out of the house) we’d definitely stay in a hotel with a view on the Canadian side.
There are a few nice wineries in Canada not far from the falls, and a nice restaurant on the south shore of Lake Ontario (I forget the name) with a view of Toronto in the far distance)
I assume that was the other Gettysburg. Otherwise, I'd be disappointed that you didn't stop to say hello!
🤣
Oh, the friend we’re visiting is from Murdo. You probably know his dad, a long-time family practice doctor there.
I don't actually know him, although I've heard the name. Murdo is over a hundred miles from here, so unfortunately I don't know very many people there.
Ah, Midwest geography! He said his dad’s clinic group spreads to Gettysburg. Gotta drive, drive, drive in the Dakotas. 🙂
They're probably part of the Avera system. Avera is pretty much all over South Dakota.
I lived within walking distance of the Anchor Bar during grad school. I ate a lot of those wings. My favorite time to visit the falls was in the winter when everything on the American side is completely encased in ice. Also, pro tip, don't try to walk across the boarder without your ID.
Ah! It turns out right now you can still walk part way across the rainbow bridge. You can “leave” the US without entering Canada. Even though you never enter Canada, you still have to clear customs (with your passport) upon your “return.” I wonder how many people have gotten in trouble with this over the past year?
Same deal going from Israel to Jordan. You walk thru a long, lonely terminal on the Israeli side, over a no-man's land, then into the Jordanian customs. So technically you are no-where for a while.
- With friends near Hartford, CT
And no shout out to NBB whilst in H'istan! (Natch - we were in Lake Tahoe at the time...)
But I'm still here! Only 5.5 miles, and a river, away from the border
bjhess, sean:
Hey dudes, how about 1) lunch; 2) Heublein/Talcott Mtn hike (~45min); 3) golf; 4) Yard Goats? I could also smoke some pork belly + firepit.
Lunch would be best right now. I have time on Friday if you want to do something then.
Lunch on Friday works - let's pick something in the middle.
Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, 2152 Poquonock Ave Windsor, 12PM - does that work for you?
Do we get to rate our plans?
you mean, "We get to rate our plans!"
Is it a guaranteed rate?
Minor Details has been posted.
Mrs. Runner and I are spending a couple weeks in CO Springs ahead of Labor Day weekend. Probably do some hiking, take the cog railway to Pike's Peak, etc...hopefully cooler than StL is that time of year.
The cog railway is a hoot. Looking forward to a return trip with the Poissonnière someday; the donuts at the top will be sufficient motivation, even if she winds up with a fear of heights.
The UP's Big Boy locomotive is picking up its tour that was interrupted by the pandemic, and finally stopping in StL...but when we're in CO. The good news is that it's heading next to Denver, so on our leisurely return home we should be able to intercept it along the route and see it then; based on the schedule, I'm guessing at Hays, KS.
UP stopped shipping east for a week. That's annoying...
Technically not summer, since I will be leaving September 1, but I am going to Peru and hiking the Ausangate for 8 days.
https://killaexpeditions.com/trek/extended-ausangate-rainbow-trek-machu-picchu-package-9d8n/
Technically.... is summer, since the equinox is September 22.
But seriously, that sounds like an amazing trip.
Grumblegrumbleastrologicalvs.meterologicalgrumble. Technically he's in the southern hemisphere too, so now it's a winter trip, right?
okay, don't be trolling Mike (and the rest of us) with "astrology vs astronomy"
Might as well be when it comes to season though, right? Defining our lived experiences by the relative position of heavenly bodies?
Might as well throw out sunrise and sunset too! Day vs Night is totally worthless -- they aren't defined by fixed times!
Just be glad we don't use sidereal times for anything non-astronomical.
I'm team Summer = Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Weekend.
That's close to meteorological summer so good enough for me.
Last weekend, we brought the kids to the Jeffers Petroglyph. On the way back, we hit Schmidt's Meat Market and Minnesota's Largest Candy Store.
We've also planned a trip to Milwaukee in a couple weeks with a stop at the Dells on the way home.
Jeffers Petroglyphs? And you didn't stop by?
We went to a concert at Lake Harriet Friday night that kept the Justice up more than an hour past her bedtime. We didn't want to inflict her upon anyone the next day.
I'm just giving you grief. We weren't even around this weekend - end of year baseball tournament.
with a stop at the Dells on the way home
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I live about a half hour away from the Petroglyph and I've never made a visit *hang head in shame *
I've been there before, but not since I moved so close.
I thought when MLB brought MiLB into its fold things were supposed to be better for the players
lets add the link
For Oakland A's single-A players in Stockton, the team hotel charge alone exceeds their paychecks
that's a double whammy. Having to pay to work, and having to stay at a hotel in Stockton.
Unacceptable
I really hope the Twins are taking care of their players
stepping up and being the first paying them through the pandemic, I would hope that's still the case
Kitten update: Sleep, eat, poop, play, repeat.
Oooh, that means you're close to adding "knock shit over" to the list.
We took the camper out to Huntington Beach and Sequoia National Park in June, but that was the end of our travel for summer. Oh, and I took a day trip to Death Valley a week and a half ago, to see what the extreme temperatures feel like. Official temperature was 128, but I got a reading of 135 right next to the car. Definitely an experience.
Instead of traveling more, my in-laws came to visit, and my mom is coming next week. Normally we would go see them instead, but we couldn't leave after June because my wife is pregnant (as a surrogate for a second time, so once again not our baby), and is due soon. Her induction date is August 5, if she makes it that long.
Have you considered therapy?
That’s what everyone else says, but I’ve wanted to go there during the summer heat for years. I always figured someone else would be interested, but no one else has ever been willing to go with me, so I just went by myself. It was quite an experience. You know how when you lean too far over the oven door as you open it, and your eyes feel super hot like they are being burned or something? The wind felt kind of like that.
We went in the winter this year, and it’s a spectacular place to visit and hike when it is cooler. I can’t recommend that enough, at least during the cooler months.
vaguely apropos, the summer before my freshman year in h.s., we took a family trip through the southwest. My dad chose to drive during the daytime from the Grand Canyon to Barstow. In the middle of July. With no air conditioning.
My parents rode in the cab of the pickup. I was in the back, under a black topper and on top of a mattress. I think I lost about 10 lbs that day to sweat.
The things wrong with that experience are hard to count, there were so many.
I drove through "100 miles no services" Utah in August in the 80's on my move from MN to CA in my little Civic with 103°F and no AC -- pretty much found the absorption limit of the back of my t-shirt
When I was in 29 Palms, we used to wait until 2am to go outside to play basketball. But, as people were fond of reminding me, hey, it’s a dry heat.
I enjoyed asking them what they thought the relative humidity is in Hell.
When we lived in Irvine, my now-wife’s cousin would drive down from 29 Palms to stay with her just about every weekend, whether he was invited or not. At the time I didn’t really get why, but now having a better understanding where that is, and what’s out there, it makes a lot more sense.
Once he moved to Camp Pendleton, he stopped visiting.
29 Palms is a great Robert Plant song.
I've made my plans for the great minnesota get together. I'm hoping for good weather on the opening day so that I can maximize the removal of foodstuffs from sticks.
We are in the midst of driving for two weeks:
- Cuyahoga Valley NP
- But spent just as much time in a cemetery in CLE
- Niagara Falls
- Anchor Bar wings
- Cooperstown
- With friends near Hartford, CT
- With 3 other sets of friends in NJ
- Gettysburg
- Ending at a drum corps event in La Crosse on Jul 30
It’s been a blast!
Did you enjoy Niagara? I never really got the layout of the falls until we were there, and it became obvious why everyone touts the view from the Canadian side.
We enjoyed. I don’t know if I like it as a destination, but as part of a larger trip it’s very nice IMO.
We did the boardwalk below the bridal veil and we all got a kick out of it. If I ever go back (after the kids are out of the house) we’d definitely stay in a hotel with a view on the Canadian side.
There are a few nice wineries in Canada not far from the falls, and a nice restaurant on the south shore of Lake Ontario (I forget the name) with a view of Toronto in the far distance)
I assume that was the other Gettysburg. Otherwise, I'd be disappointed that you didn't stop to say hello!
🤣
Oh, the friend we’re visiting is from Murdo. You probably know his dad, a long-time family practice doctor there.
I don't actually know him, although I've heard the name. Murdo is over a hundred miles from here, so unfortunately I don't know very many people there.
Ah, Midwest geography! He said his dad’s clinic group spreads to Gettysburg. Gotta drive, drive, drive in the Dakotas. 🙂
They're probably part of the Avera system. Avera is pretty much all over South Dakota.
I lived within walking distance of the Anchor Bar during grad school. I ate a lot of those wings. My favorite time to visit the falls was in the winter when everything on the American side is completely encased in ice. Also, pro tip, don't try to walk across the boarder without your ID.
Ah! It turns out right now you can still walk part way across the rainbow bridge. You can “leave” the US without entering Canada. Even though you never enter Canada, you still have to clear customs (with your passport) upon your “return.” I wonder how many people have gotten in trouble with this over the past year?
Same deal going from Israel to Jordan. You walk thru a long, lonely terminal on the Israeli side, over a no-man's land, then into the Jordanian customs. So technically you are no-where for a while.
- With friends near Hartford, CT
And no shout out to NBB whilst in H'istan! (Natch - we were in Lake Tahoe at the time...)
But I'm still here! Only 5.5 miles, and a river, away from the border
bjhess, sean:
Hey dudes, how about 1) lunch; 2) Heublein/Talcott Mtn hike (~45min); 3) golf; 4) Yard Goats? I could also smoke some pork belly + firepit.
Lunch would be best right now. I have time on Friday if you want to do something then.
Lunch on Friday works - let's pick something in the middle.
Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, 2152 Poquonock Ave Windsor, 12PM - does that work for you?
https://bearsbbq.com/hfw-menu
Do they have outdoor dining? Not sure I'm ready for indoors dining just yet.
They have 3 picnic tables on their outside patio.
That works for me. I'll be there tomorrow at noon.
That sounds awesome! Unfortunately we have moved on to Jersey. We did hike Talcott, though!
Have fun!
I am the worst!