Father's Day

Breakfast in bed, brunch with my dad at La's, a hike around Minnehaha Falls, and a beer & 'za at Unmapped Brewing's tap room.

Fairmont

As the girls have been desperately craving some kind of escape from quarantine life, having not left the neighborhood since March we finally caved, relaxed our "rules", and headed to Fairmont for a day-and-a-half trip on the water... and it was just what the doctor ordered. 

While we struck out fishing, S had a blast playing boat captain (even navigating the channels solo) and E got up on skis for the first time.  Lots of fun kayaking and on the lily pad, as well.  And, discovered a new tap room on they way in Chapel Brewing in Dundas, MN.

Ripsticks & River Rats

Lots of ripsticking on the daily walks with B this week, goofin' in the garage... and a cousin picnic, our first time all together in at least four months, and fun in the Minnehaha Creek at Burwell Park to cap off the weekend.

Last week of school!

Another school year officially in the books.  Actually, one for the history books at that.  Nearly three months of "distanced learning", where students received their daily lectures and homework via apps & emails and completed all learning and assignments in isolation.  When stumped, students would have to wrangle moms and dads away from the the jobs they were doing while also "distanced working".  While this new format meant the girls could bang out a full day of school in a few hours or less, the kids desperately missed their friends, teachers and the interaction.  Fingers crossed the curve flattens or treatments are found sooner than later, enabling a more "normal" 2020-2021 school year.

Speaking of next year, our baby E will be MIDDLE SCHOOLER when that time comes! 

My, my, my... time does fly.

Here's the year-end interview...

What were your favorite things about 3rd grade/5th grade?
E: Having the marble party where we got to go outside and stuff.  Having Annika and Isabella in my class.

S: Virtual track & field day. Or, maybe snow tubing.

What will you miss most about 3rd grade/5th grade?
E: Miss Lee as my teacher.
S: Probably Miss Huet. Or, maybe Jack being in my class. 

What won't you miss about 3rd grade/5th grade?
E: E-learning, distanced learning.
S: Health. It's just really boring and we have to do it every day and they show us these picture cards and we have to say emotions.

George Floyd

This year's Memorial Day weekend became what will most certainly be most memorable of our lifetimes when the horrific murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer was the straw that broke the country's back on the topic of police brutality, and more broadly institutional racism and civil (in)justice.

Minneapolis became the epicenter when tweeted video of Floyd murder went viral and peaceful protests turned violent, evoking a rage that literally sparked a fire in Minneapolis that spread across the country and globe. 

Highways closed, curfews we imposed, the National Guard was deployed.  By the end of the weekend nearly 500 businesses were vandalized, looted and/or burned to ground. Police stations and vehicles were attacked. Thousands of protesters were tear gassed.  Hundreds were arrested.

Credible news sources flipped hourly on who was cited as the instigators.  Terrorist organizations, the KKK, organized crime, undercover police, the outraged black community.  New videos surfaced hourly of anarchy on the streets by the people, and brutal retaliation from authorities.  

The President hid in a bunker one day, threatened war the next and bullied State government.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll rate exceed 100,000, had yet to plateau, and metropolitan streets in every single state were flooded with social activists arm-in-arm.  

It felt like the end of the world.  

Hopefully, instead, it's the beginning of real change that is way past due.

COVID Lockdown, Week 11

Week 11 brought the heat, with temps in 90s for the first time this year.  So, what do Minnesotans do when the going get hot?  They find a lake!

E, S & I loaded up the canoe and hit up Fish Lake for some pan fishing, a picnic on the water and a cool down swim to shore.

Meanwhile, back at home, the heat is becoming too unbearable for Buster, so the poor guy winds up being on the outside looking in... or, I guess, on the inside looking out when the family is having their fun in the sun.

Editor's Note: This will be the last COVID Lockdown post. After 11 long weeks, while cases and deaths continue to rise, the State is feeling more prepared and informed to manage COVID's impact in hospitals.  The economy is choking and desperately needs to start its turnaround.  The season is turning, the school year is ending, and people are losing patience and will power to continue "staying in place".  Government is cautiously loosening restrictions.  While we're not out of the weeds, and while we're still far from the way things were, many aspects of life are heading toward a "new normal" via a phased approach to cautiously re-open the state and country.