CTO Spotlight: Candid Conversations wth Minnesotan Leaders

I got a chance to join Jac Stark and Nels Pederson of Tech.MN for this CTO Spotlight conversation. We covered a wide range of topics. It was a good conversation. We recorded this in August 2020, but it didn’t get published until December.

We all watched Soul tonight and liked it a lot. The story, message, visuals were all awesome! We will definitely watch it again. 🍿

We had a fabulous afternoon XC skiing at Theodore Wirth today. It was our first time out as a family, and we had a blast!

Watched Ad Astra tonight. Enjoyed it. It was pretty much what I expected, which was just fine with me. 🍿🚀

1,000 Subscribers

I’ve had a “soft” goal for the Weekly Thing to get to 1,000 subscribers and it got there today! Plus it is fun that Buttondown sends a note like this.

We watched Ralph Breaks the Internet tonight and everyone liked it. I loved all the various references to different websites. Wish there would have been a blog or two though! 🍿

Tammy and the kids took their new Christmas Ice Skates out for the first time. We went to a frozen pond in Pamela Park. Everyone had a great time! ⛸🤩 Me? I’m not so comfortable on ice skates. 😬

I always like the fireworks on the Apple Watch on the New Year. 🥳

Kicking off our family New Year’s Eve with a French 75 and getting the fondue started! 🥂 Sinatra, Brubeck, and the New Standards are on shuffle. 🎶

Fondue is our tradition for New Year’s Eve. Cheese Fondue to start.

Then the Tenderloin fondue.

We also play Clue every New Year’s Eve. This year Mazie won!

Tyler completed his LEGO® Nintendo Entertainment System™ project in just three days! He got very focused on it and worked through all 2,646 pieces. The finished project is very cool. The cartridge slides into the console and presses down just like an original Nintendo does. The controller feels normal sized in your hand and the cable disconnects.

The TV was a big part of the project and it operates like a track that you turn a handle and it moves. Mario is on a slide and bounces around on the course as you move it.

Here is the scene before going into the TV.

See console done and beginning.

Making some more Wicky Thing Candles tonight. All candles made with 🔥 and ❤️. 😊

Lucky enjoying her 1st Birthday with one of her favorite bones! 🦴 🐶

I finished my LEGO® International Space Station Christmas project. This was a fun LEGO to assemble. 🛰

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Tyler is making great progress on his “biggest ever” LEGO® project. The Nintendo Console, Super Mario Bros cartridge and the Game Controller are assembled and look cool!

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I took the top off to show how the cartridge action works.

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Lucky (Bernedoodle) is right at home in the snow. ❄️

The kids are starting their biggest LEGO® projects ever. Mazie is building the IDEAS Grand Piano with 3,662 pieces and Tyler the Nintendo Entertainment System™ with 2,646 pieces. These will be awesome when finished! 😲

We’ve made a tradition of making Tammy a custom puzzle for Christmas. With some help from her sister Michelle, they put it together. It is built off of our Yellowstone trip.

Best can coozy ever.

Ready for Christmas! I’m slightly infatuated with all things Swedish, and love these Adam 7 Swedish candelabras.

Working on “bottom starting” the Big Green Egg. It’s frozen shut and I need to make our traditional Christmas Eve tenderloin steaks! 3 °F 🥶❄️🔥