Minneapolis Millers Pennant

The plans called for attending the second game of the Twins/Royals split doubleheader. The Twins won the 'lidlifter' 7-2. I listened to some of it on the radio while doing the typical errand running.
I got plenty done today, including printing a few things at the library. I also went back to South St. Paul to get another historical marker picture from the town's stockyard days. I was researching it online this week and found out there was another one near the Armour gates. It was on a 'historical marker database' so it became easier to find since it listed the cross streets it was near. I parked across the street long enough to take the picture, may not have even been noticed by anyone. Another thing I did was go to Walgreen and get more pictures onto a CD, after getting the ones I wanted of this marker. I'd like to change my profile picture on Facebook, and just plain add one to LinkedIn. The one on Facebook now is the original from when I joined, so it isn't that recent. It was a few years old even when I added it.
   Then it was on to the train station with my date to ride to the game, which took place in the early evening. We did get the giveaway item, a Minneapolis Millers pennant. Smaller than typical, but I like having it. Twins also won the nightcap, 5-1. The starting pitcher went 6 innings, which helped greatly. He did benefit from run support, 3 home runs though two of them were solo shots. We stopped to get a picture of a big piggy bank in the U.S. Bank section before leaving the stadium. It was mentioned often during the game, as 'feeding the pig' meant the proceeds would go to flood relief in Duluth. I put some pocket change in the pig. I decided to pick up a third pennant in my row, which was abandoned, and will likely be giving it to a colleague at work.

Reruns Of 'Monk'

While I was waiting for the bus the morning, I saw 3 abandoned drinks. They were from Superamerica. Being who I am, I dumped them out and tossed them in the nearby trash barrel. Thankful I found enough time to do it before the bus arrived, though it doesn't take long. On the bus after work I saw a man wearing an Oakland Raiders hat and he had a silver whistle around his neck. I haven't seen a whistle that fancy before.
     Tonight was about getting cleaned up around the home. While watching back-to-back syndicated reruns of 'Monk' I did things like shred junk mail and read through some magazines. I was paying attention fairly well, the first episode involved a school board election and a proposed school closure. Monk was a bodyguard who placed a hand grenade in a refrigerator, but being obsessive-compulsive he had to re-arrange it so it nearly exploded in his hand. The second was about poisoned candy for halloween, and his brother who was a hoarder and hardly ever left the house. The brother thought he had eaten some of the poisoned candy but in the ambulance on the way to the hospital it was determined he had not, based on the candy wrappers, as they were looked at more closely. I know these two were later episodes, based on the show's introduction. I prefer those, as I like the Randy Newman song 'It's a jungle out there' which is the theme song.
    One of the things I read is the Minneapolis paper, as there was a nice article about the Minneapolis Millers. This was the minor-league baseball team that played in the area before the major-league Minnesota Twins arrived. The millers will be saluted this weekend with throwback uniforms and a pennant giveaway.

Dueling Bridge Walks

I noticed a colleague doing a bridge walk at lunchtime, on the other side of the road. I wanted to complete the bridge before turning around, so I was behind for a while. But I was able to catch up due to the traffic light. Eventually I did pass my colleague, though I found out I wasn't spotted outside. I let them know after we both had made it back to the office. So if it was a competition of dueling bridge walks, it was unofficial. Maybe it was just as well that I didn't try walking with them, as it likely wouldn't have been in lockstep. I'm a brisk walker, and the bridge over the Mississippi River I can do round-trip in 10 minutes. Some say it takes longer, I tell them 'not the way I walk it'.
   I did jokes about being in Great Britain at the 400 bar in Minneapolis tonight, it went over well. Also filmed it on my video camera, still need to watch it. I entrusted another comic to have it on their table, resting on top of a tote bag. But I was told after I left the stage how they picked it up as it was hard to see me over the crowdmembers in the way. I got another picture of the wall art there, as it's a well-known music bar. This time it was of a Jayhawks album, though I don't own one. I do own some of the others featured on the walls there, like Soul Asylum and the Replacements. Actually, the Grave Dancers Union album by Soul Asylum is there more than once.
  After the show I went over to the Bobby and Steve's near 35W. As some would expect, I did pick up 2 small Godfather's pizzas. I like the smell of new tires in that shop, along with all of the wall art related to Coca-Cola.  

Not Because Of Novocain

I had a dental appointment after work, and due to some of the work done I was advised not to have a beer at the comedy club tonight. I told the bartender to give me a Pepsi instead, and why. He asked if it was due to the novocain, I said I didn't have any done on me. I know I didn't have to say why, but it helps remind me not to order a beer since I'm fairly well-known  there. It's to the level that they see me and ask if I want my usual, and of course I wouldn't want anything to go to waste. The dental assistant liked to talk to me quite a bit as usual, asking me about things like if I had been to any concerts lately and if I was going to any at the state fair at the end of the summer. At this point, i have no plans to attend any state fair concerts, but attending the state fair at least once likely is.
  It was a  good crowd tonight at the comedy club, much bigger than typical. There were some big fans running in the back as it was warm.
    The attendance party at the office was nice, it was in the afternoon in a 'cubbyhole conference room' which is just a game room for ping-pong and basketball. There were 3 choices of Edy's ice cream, I had the black/raspberry at first and later finished up the vanilla, but there wasn't much left by then. I did shoot some baskets after eating ice cream, one colleague was doing way better than me and I noticed he was getting mostly 3-pointers in. It was getting competitive on the ping-pong game, between some of the managers. I had to retrieve the ball once, since it was hit near me.

Free McDonald's Breakfast

I was reading a 'community paper' and a McDonald's employee came out and offered me a free breakfast, 3 pancakes and eggs. First I had to ask why, was told they had made too many and didn't want it to go to waste. Definitely liked the eggs, ate them right away- after getting to the office, of course. Wanted to be on time for work. Also got a pink lemonade frosting cupcake, a colleague made them. I think this colleague also makes suckers, but not the typical kind. These are the types where they're in clear plastic wrap and in a little cup.
  The 'community paper' is a system I do like seeing. Somebody buys a paper, reads it, and leaves it behind for the next person in the downtown St. Paul skyway. So I read it and leave it behind for the next person as well. Then I don't need to buy my own paper everyday. I just like having my own copy of the Friday edition, as I like having the baseball standings and the movie times for the weekend.
   The search for the index cards finally ended, decided to re-order them with my loyalty points.  I picked them up at the Best Buy in Roseville tonight. Went to the nearby library first and printed the baseball tickets I had ordered about an hour earlier, for the Twins on saturday and the Saints next week. Donated the rest of my points, after the index cards were ordered, to various school projects being advertised online. Chose one as there was a snoopy image, it was about needing ear buds. Others I chose due to it being for history class, or my native state, Iowa. A few Des Moines schools were listed. Wanted the 12 remaining points to go somewhere, those points are expiring soon.
    Heard the lounge singer version of Green Day's 'American Idiot' at the comedy club after the show was over. Found out the band that does a catchy song with lyrics 'Don't listen to a word I say' is from Iceland. It seems to be a hotbed for musical talent, as Bjork is from there. The song I had been hearing on the radio is 'Little Talks' by Of Monsters and Men. Don't know if I read about that band in particular when reading the Icelandair magazine, but there was an article about the music scene in Reykavik, the capital city.
   Also notable tonight was deciding to retire all of the plastic hangers I still could find, five in all. Now the wire hangers will get used more. Also decided to retire a short sleeve company shirt, as I was noticing some small holes in it near one of the sleeves. I started to rip it while still at the comedy club, and finished it after getting home. I should get a replacement shirt soon, since I do have a Target gift card to use. The postcard from Great Britain finally arrived at the office, about three weeks after sending it.

Sign Language on the Bus

I saw an older couple communicate in sign language on the bus in the evening. The man looked like somebody I had seen before. He had 1980's style plastic framed glasses, and a graybeard. He was wearing denim shorts, and crocs instead of shoes. I say he looked familiar as I think he once tried to speak to me in sign language, but of course I didn't respond so he knew I wasn't fluent. I just recall it being one of the few times when I was sitting near the back of the bus, since I usually sit near the front. Easier to remember when and where your stop is, in my opinion, when sitting near the front. Though I like knowing how when one is near the back, then one is close to the back door, which tends to be lower traffic when needing to leave. It helps that nobody's trying to board there, as it can be annoying when somebody tries to board when not everybody has exited yet.
   This of course is a different sign language couple than what I was used to seeing before, as the other couple looked much younger than the couple I saw today.
   At the comedy club tonight, there was a copy of the New Yorker magazine on a table so I flipped through it a little. There was an article about actor Ben Stiller in it, but I didn't read it very closely. Eventually I saw somebody return and claim it, they must have been in the bathroom. I did speak with them briefly, I didn't know them at all. They must have been a newer comic.

Anoka County Farms

I made it out to Anoka County Farms in Andover with my date at midday. In the morning, we went to the pancake breakfast at Kaposia Days in South St. Paul at Fury Motors, a Chrysler dealer. It looks like we have seen those two Charlie Brown and Snoopy statues before. There was also one of a turtle. Before leaving, I did speak with the man mowing the grass who sounded like the owner. He tells me he had just bought them and plans on adding another. Since there is a pumpkin patch at this place, and of course more activity in the fall, there is a fun reason to return at a later time. On the way there, I decided to get a picture of the Pearson Candy sign, as they are celebrating a centennial.
   More wedding pictures from Great Britain were uploaded today to a place called Shutterfly if I'm not mistaken. We did this while watching 'Final Season', a movie about the baseball team in Norway, Iowa. I did visit the museum last October, in a former bank, since it is not far from Iowa City.
   In the evening I got around to my errand running, including laundry. One man at the laundromat spoke of how he was tired, then felt fine after drinking from Coca-Cola. Well I say many already know about this concept, it's called caffeine. He had a 2-liter bottle he was drinking from there. Since it was evening, I knew full well to stay inside after getting there. It meant bringing everything in, like my drink and the paper from Friday I wanted to read. Didn't want to repeat the mistake of getting locked out. Then eventually it was on to groceries, dishes, and trash. I was getting a little frustrated with the new trash bag as I was unable to get it open. So I cut a piece off from the side and this did the trick! It's hard to tell that I did it, one has to look really close at it to know.