Last Sunday at the Minneapolis Institute of Art we happened by this bust — Roman? — that caught me completely off guard. At first glance I actually thought it was a joke!!
I’ve never notice a classical statue or bust with hair like this and a mustache to boot! I thought, “Wow, 1974.” Son-in-law Matt said, “What it is Romans!”
I don’t know why I kept the photo as the background on my phone for four days. I usually have a sky or some great graffiti. I guess I’m just shocked at the look — and that’s probably because I wore sideburns and a mustache exactly like this Dude — in 1974.
It looks a lot better on him than me. No doubt.
Proves once again that everything in fashion just keeps coming around again.
March 10, 2011
By Robert
…who is the person semi-permanently immortalized on this rail car; Sue?
March 5, 2011
By Robert
I woke up a bit disturbed this morning, a little frustrated with my situation in general; work, bills, relationships, worried about the kids. Etc. Etc. Generally this means either I don’t want to be bothered with having to do what needs doing (inconvenience), or that I’m fearful about something — or everything.
Morning readings to the rescue.
My Daily Reflections reading was about hope; “…the key that unlocks the door of discouragement.”
From The Promise of a New Day: topic — self-control, “Only by choosing self-control will I achieve freedom.”
From In God’s Care, “Progress not perfection is the hallmark of our program.”
And finally, from Touchstones, “I will accept life on its own terms and rejoice in it.”
This got me going enough to make some tea; make breakfast for the kids and get them off to school; hop on t he treadmill for a big workout; make a protein shake and sit down to write this.
Some mornings I can do readings and its like driving nails under my fingernails — I just can’t hear it. But I know I get what I need when I am willing to listen for it. Right when I need it.
Like this morning.
Thank goodness — time to get cracking!
(I got all four books here)
March 2, 2011
By Robert
A friend of mine was in California recently and sent me this photo from his phone.
It struck me as really odd; not God odd, just odd.
This is a reminder to me of just how different people, places and things can be right around the corner from where I live. I saw it in Florida two weeks ago when I was down there; pelicans crashing into the gulf going after fish, coastal communities that revolve completely around boating and tourism, clothing stores with no winter items in them. Most of what is going on is not like home here in Minnesota.
Despite the homogenizing and generalizing that goes on culturally, every place is unique — and so is who I am and how I react to where I am. To me this sign is a reminder that where I live and what I do and what we have here is unique; I can’t get it anywhere else.
Glad I’m here.
Feb. 21, 2011
By Robert
This snowman has been saying ‘Thank You’ to everyone at the Eagan, MN Byerly’s Supermarket drive through pick-up since well before Christmas. He (or she) is awesome. I enjoyed seeing him created, added to, kept in great shape by the kids working in the parcel pickup this winter. It became a ‘thing’ — a nice continuity thing.
With temps hitting the 50’s I’m not sure how long he lasted into the week.
I took this photo a week or so ago; but he was completely gone last night.
But, it’s supposed to snow 10–14″ tonight. Maybe, he’ll be back again someday.
Feb. 18, 2011
By Robert
Tomorrow is Friday. I always have a lot of gratitude on Friday.
Not sure why.
By Friday I have gotten back into whatever part of my routine I screwed up early in the week; made up for meetings I skipped last weekend; spent time getting caught up on writing. Plus, Thursday is pretty locked in; I’ve had a karate class on Wednesday night, then Thursday morning starts with coffee at 6 am with Craig, coffee at 7 am with Terry, business meetings in the morning and date night — all like clockwork. As a finely tuned machine — I need routine…like clockwork.
By Friday I’m usually on the beam. By a noon meeting I’m looking forward to the weekend, brimming with gratitude for what’s coming up and grateful for my life; for all I am being given. For being me.
Not sure who sprayed the graffiti on the railroad car in the photo — I just know I’m not where they are.
I love Fridays.
Feb. 18, 2011
By Robert
Last week in Ft Myers Beach, Florida.
Bird ID’s:
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Brown Pelican
White Egret
Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Belted Kingfisher
Greater Yellowlegs
Herring Gull
and that quizative and arrogant-on-the beach Royal Tern.
These were just the positive ID’s.
The winner, however, really adorable “groups” of tiny Sandpipers scurrying around like a swarm of bees along the surf each day. Awesome.
Thanks for the photo: www.inaweofnature.com/birds.htm
Feb. 7, 2011
By Robert
After five days in Ft Myers Beach all I can say is, this is tough duty.
Going to bed early, sleeping late, reading, wandering in and out of every t-shirt shop on Estero is about as tough as it gets.
This whole souvenir t-shirt business is fascinating. It’s a microcosm of the retail fashion biz. There’s expensive upscale players, “designers”, high-end private label retailers, discounters, limited assortment clearance houses and “Odd Lot” players; all in about five blocks. From dumpster-ready tank tops to “Retirement Sheik”. All operated by people really hanging on trying to make a living, living in their little slice of paradise.
I’ve gotten by only buying one jersey — but I’m not safely on the plane home yet…
Feb. 3, 2011
By Robert
The Uptowner Grill in St. Paul, Mn. has a whole wall full of pictures done in crayon, apparently people simply describing how much they like the Uptowner. Which has awesome breakfast and early morning hours too.
All the drawings are fun or cool; some, like this one make me think, “Wow, who did that? Who drew those lips. Amazing.”
There were a ton of drawings on the wall; maybe a hundred.
Art all over.
Jan. 21, 2011
By Robert
