Visit to Minnesota and Iowa (November 14 - 18)

Here's a few notes on a short trip to the Midwest that Patricia and I took mid November, pretty much arranged at the last minute.

We flew into MSP airport on Friday, November 14; MBS was chauffeur to airport; light crowds at airports and car rental etc. (almost like there's a recession going on or something); had a bit of lunch; then drove up to the House house. We had a chance to see all the kitchen renovations there, it certainly turned out great. Chatted with Steve and Margaret awhile; Cecilia showed up from work; eventually we went out to dinner.

Ate at a local pizza place named Barley John's; very fine stuff ("Barley John's own extra hot chipotle paste, topped with seasoned grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, red onion and cheddar cheese. This is one hot pizza, there is no mild." They weren't kidding); plus they were doing their own beers; then drove into downtown Minneapolis and saw the new office location for Cecilia; walked through the public spaces in the new Guthrie center (basically right across the street); the Cue at Guthrie looked so inviting that we had a glass of wine and listened to the live jazz a bit; etc. So all this was quite fun, even though we almost froze every time we stepped out of the car, and had a bit of a misadventure trying to get out of the Guthrie parking lot (eventually rescued by the attendant). Too bad, we didn't get any photos of these adventures.

Cold and rainy evening; we drove down to Therese's condo; met her fiance, Mark Gaertner. Therese had a fine array of snacks and beverages and was kind enough to serve us even though we were really behind schedule. Very nice late-evening; pretty easy to see why she likes Mr. Gaertner. All this lasted until 1a or whatever, so it was a very full day.

Saturday morning - went for coffee (via the Clover) and pastry (via standby Bread and Chocolate) - delicious. Did a bit of grocery shopping, looked over potential wedding reception sites, had lunch at WA Frost. A very pretty autumn day - sunny, some leaves still on the trees, low sun angle; had kind of forgotten all this as I don't believe we've been in that part of the world in late November since 1985.

Then an easy road trip to Iowa. More gorgeous skies along the way; sunset was delightful, the sun pretty much just hung out there as we drove south and turned west. Got to St. Joe in time for pork patties, dessert, lots of conversation. Fun night.

Sunday: went to Mass at 8a. Long conversation with Mark Bormann family after; breakfast; Steve came over from Mason City; also Dolores, Art, Tom, Kieran from Storm Lake. We appreciated they made the trip on very short notice. Grandma made some kind of pork roast that eventually served us well for several meals. Got to hear some flute music; Euchre (rematch of Patricia/Tom v. Grandpa/Kieran); lots and lots of conversation about all sorts of things. Fun. Later looked over a bunch of EMG photos, talked, etc.

Monday: hung around the house in the morning; Patricia went to look over the house on the farm with Grandpa and Grandma (and ended up getting some very nice photos, three of which are included in this post); I made an attempt at some sort of exercise by walking briskly around the cemetery hill a half dozen times (which worked well except when walking into the wind, as temp and wind speed both were in the 20s). Patricia and I went over and played cards with Clarence and Caroline in the afternoon at their place (Grandma had card club); also had dinner over there and lots o' conversation, very fun per usual plus Clarence and I actually won a big majority of the games; back to St. Joe for more fine chatting etc.

Tuesday: enjoyed the morning around the house in St. Joe; eventually got organized and packed; Grandma had some nice souvenirs for me; we went to "Maggie B's" in Algona for lunch - they're serving good food there; plus quite a bit of theorizing with Sheys and Lickteigs; all this followed by an easy return trip to Phoenix. MB took us to the house; at this point we were hungry so had dinner at Richardson's. Which made it seem like a very extended evening, since it was dark even before we left the gate in Minneapolis.

Pinnacle Peak

There is a well known hiking trail in north Scottsdale that goes up Pinnacle Peak. During all these years we never tried it. Until last Friday (11/7). The trail goes about 1.75 mi in one direction, then you return the same route; overall elevation gain about 1300 feet. It's all very gentle and nice with great views all along the way.

We had wonderful weather; high in the upper 70s. The only thing about the hike is that it's a bit too antiseptic - you never reach a point where you're not looking out over fabulous North Scottsdale residences. But that's a minor complaint.

There is a tourist trap restaurant basically right at the bottom of the trail, named "Pinnacle Peak Patio." Basically they serve cowboy food to out of town folks. The place supposedly does a nice job with steaks and burgers, but is primarily known for a tradition - going on several decades now - of enforcing an informal dress code by cutting off ties worn by unsuspecting visitors, and hanging them (the ties, not the visitors) from the ceiling. This is a bit weird, actually. We had fun checking it out.

Photos top to bottom:

1. Patricia with "Pinnacle Peak" in background

2. Typical view from the trail

3. Typical view on the trail

4. Me admiring spiffy steers atop tourist trap

5. Some of the ties

The other song from the fall concert

Here is Hanson's "Song of Democracy." Based on a Walt Whitman poem (printed below) (I think this was from his well-known Leaves of Grass, 1900).

We (ASU Choral Union) performed this on October 24, 2008 along with the Battle Hymn of the Republic (concert described here).

An old man’s thought of School;
An old man, gathering youthful memories and blooms, that youth itself cannot.

Now only do I know you!
O fair auroral skies! O morning dew upon the grass!

And these I see—these sparkling eyes,
These stores of mystic meaning—these young lives,
Building, equipping, like a fleet of ships—immortal ships!
Soon to sail out over the measureless seas,
On the Soul’s voyage.

Only a lot of boys and girls?
Only the tiresome spelling, writing, ciphering classes?
Only a Public School?

Ah more—infinitely more;
(As George Fox rais’d his warning cry, “Is it this pile of brick and
 mortar—these dead floors, windows, rails—you call the church?
Why this is not the church at all—the Church is living, ever living Souls.”)

And you, America,
Cast you the real reckoning for your present?
The lights and shadows of your future—good or evil?
To girlhood, boyhood look—the Teacher and the School.