Carson's Bay, last morning in May

Bridge 27629 Canoe Landing

City of Minnetonka:
Lake Minnetonka water level is 929 ft. above sea level. That is high. I was expecting a rumbling and thrashing Minnehaha Creek. When I arrived at Minnetonka Bridge 27629 it was early. The crows protested my presence. The Creek was high but flowing mildly. I wondered if the Gray’s Bay Dam had been closed.

Memorial Day From the St. Albans Bicycle Bridge

I stood on Minnesota Bridge 27A27 (Continental Bridge actually has their 800 number posted) over the narrows entering St. Albans Bay. I waited patiently to shoot photos of engaging & entertaining boat names. But as boat after boat cruised underneath me, I began to mutter. Doesn't anyone name their boats... or just like my fishing excursion, was I just having a little bad luck?

In search of Lake Minnetonka boat names

Above: A Previously featured boat name.

I plan to fish for creative boat names this long weekend. It is a feature I posted a few times in the past. Last year my search left me pretty much empty handed. This is as close to fishing I get, so I will be trolling for boat names, and I will post them when I have my quota.

In honor of Bob Dylan on his Birthday. The lyrics: The Ballad of a Thin Man

You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, "Who is that man?"
You try so hard
But you don't understand
Just what you'll say
When you get home
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones

You raise up your head
And you ask, "Is this where it is?"
And somebody points to you and says
"It's his"
And you say, "What's mine?"
And somebody else says, "Where what is?"
And you say, "Oh my God
Am I here all alone?"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones

You hand in your ticket
And you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you
When he hears you speak
And says, "How does it feel
To be such a freak?"
And you say, "Impossible"
As he hands you a bone
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones

You have many contacts
Among the lumberjacks
To get you facts
When somebody attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect
Anyway they already expect you
To just give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
You've been with the professors
And they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have
Discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of
F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well read
It's well known
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is

Do you, Mister Jones
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you
And then he kneels
He crosses himself
And then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice
He asks you how it feels
And he says, "Here is your throat back
Thanks for the loan"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones
Now you see this one-eyed midget
Shouting the word "NOW"
And you say, "For what reason?"
And he says, "How?"
And you say, "What does this mean?"
And he screams back, "You're a cow
Give me some milk
Or else go home"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones
Well, you walk into the room
Like a camel and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket
And your nose to the ground
There ought to be a law
Against you comin' around
You should be made
To wear earphones
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

I know it is juvenile of me to post lyrics, but Dylan has always been and idol of mine -just check my profile....

Store Front in the morning rain.

In the window: Advertising for the Cottagewood Yard Sale on June 2.

A Kaiser Manhatten on 101

Parked outside Leighton’s “We Fix Cars” Garage was a vintage 50s Kaiser Manhatten. I have very little memory of this Kaiser, but it was a post WW2 auto manuafactured to fill the needs of the true baby boomers who had come back from WW2 and started families.

monday morning still

I was a windy weekend. Sunday was a rainy cool day.... but this morning all was calm. A young woman in orange ran by as I stood by the road taking this picture. I was heading to work, and a morning run looked inviting.

70 years ago in Cottagewood

In 1942-1944 the Cottagewood General Store was boarded up and closed for 2 years.
Today:
The Cottagewood General Store is open, along with a sharp new web site that is fun to browse. Congratulations and thanks to the designers of the site. The Cottagewood Store events are posted along with historical information.

Code Yellow

Plastered with shipping tape to the streetlights, parking signs and semifores are public declarations of political, social and commercial content. 14th AVe N. Dinkytown.
I resist the temptation to earn 50.00 in 2 hours while being grilled by college interns as they scan my brain with temporal orders ala Clockwork Orange. Alas, I am over 30.



I could take a few days off to travel to Chicago with WAMM to protest Nato. The co-mingling of Chicago Cops, Occupy and pepper spray fills my head. At the base of a Street a sign says "Good Jobs". It is 7am near the U.

An old favorite re-posted for the fishermen.

A few people asked me if I was going to head over to Waconia to watch our Governor kick off the fishing opener. I could not, but I will post this for all the fishermen/women. I drew it quickly during a lunch break.

A stop at the Exelsior Streecar Museum

I was walking by the Streetcar Museum Saturday morning. As I stood back to take a few sunwashed photos of the popular tourist attraction the conductor shouted out to me "You don't have to stand outside, come on in and take some shots, you don't have to buy a ticket!" The conductor's name was Todd. His enthusiasm was as bright as the sunny day. As I took a few interior shots he told me about the Trolley controls, brakes...then broke away to greet a 5 year old boy who was just getting on board.

Call!

Connie Doepke, Republican, votes for the Stadium

"Both of Lake Minnetonka's state representatives voted in favor of a new Vikings stadium late Monday.

State Representative Connie Doepke (R-33B), who represents many of Lake Minnetonka's eastern communities, and Rep. Steve Smith (R-33A), who represents the western side of the lake, were among 73 lawmakers—33 of which were Republicans—who supported a bill that would build a new stadium on the site of the Metrodome."

This taken from "The Lake Minnetonka Patch" Web Site. Credits to Jay Corn

My wife and I sat underneath the green outdoor canopy at the Cottagewood General Store and chatted at length with Connie Doepke. She was running for the office of State Senator and wanted our support. She assured us she was conservative and would not support public funding for another sports stadium.

I just want to make it clear to everyone how she represented her candidacy to me and the voters.

Ripple, feather and honk.

Wayzata Bay with the moon waning

Agility World Team Tryouts in Hopkins

I listened to a judge talking about the agility competition. "These are the best dogs around, you won't find this quality at many dog shows". He was right of course, their performance were amazing. One mistake and you lose. He then went on to talk about the personality of the Shetland Sheep Dog versus the Border Collie. The Shelty is quirky and skittish and varies enough that one can go on for pages describing them,. Only two words needed to describe the other breed; "Border Collie".



Winner of the Small Dog Agility Competition "Cheer" and Owner is Jean Lavelley of Tennessee.





Pensively waiting their turn.

Early Friday mornng. Wayzata.

A Day After May Day

The Catholic Church is often chided for adopting the festivals of others for its own relgious purposes. May Day is similar in an odd way. Marxist Atheists have similarly taken the Euro-Celtic Spring Festival (May 1) for their own political/socialist celebration.
- But I celebrated May Day for my personal Celtic heritage. I mowed the lawn just before a Spring shower.