Minnesota State Fair in Two Hours

What do you do when the only opportunity for the State Fair is to arrive a couple hours before the Brandi Carlile concert in the Grandstand? There is much to do, and not much time. Move fast!

✅ Sweet Martha’s Cookies
✅ Meet old friends at Lulu’s
✅ Dinner at Baba’s
✅ Giant Sing Along
✅ Fine Arts Building
✅ Prize winning student art in Education Building
✅ Cheese Curds from Mouse Trap in Food Building
✅ Crop Art in Horriculture Building
✅ Butter heads and Ice Cream at Dairy Building
✅ Giant Slide

Renaissance Festival 2023

We made our regular visit to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival today! We hit all of our favorites. Both kids made their regular attempts at Jacob’s Ladder but it still eludes them. Cheese curds, Turtles on a stick, and a Beef Stick for me.

Family selfie at the King’s Gate.

Knights Guard.

There was a race up the climbing wall, and then Mazie and Tyler both did it again.

Tyler trying out the archery.

Tyler likes to whip tomatoes while being insulted.

It is a tradition that I have to do the sledge hammer each year. I dinged it!


Both kids love the trampoline jumping.


We see Tuey everytime we go to the RenFest. He’s been performing at the RenFest for 42 years! (He’s 61 years old!)

Annual tradition at Renaissance Festival — Ring the bell! Dinged it 2 of 5 times. 💪

A few years ago we got a simple flat top grill at the lake and it has become one of our favorite ways to cook outside. I decided to upgrade and ordered this Blackstone 36" with a ton of accessories and air fryers which is a new thing for me to try. 🔥👨‍🍳

Made Swedish Pancakes this morning with my Mom. She prepared the batter and I worked the flat top. These pancakes are one of Tyler’s very favorite things.

Tammy and I have both been digging into Peter Attia’s new book Outlive. The way he frames these health and wellness topics resonates strongly with me. So much that I decided to subscribe to gain access to the deeper dives on specific topics like blood pressure.

Picked up Mason Jennings records and a songbook.

Mason Jennings Album Release Show

Mason Jennings did a great Album Release show tonight at the Parkway. He played a wide range of new songs and old. He was joined on stage by Dan Lawonn on bass and amazing cello performances. The crowd was so into it they got him out for two encores!

Sailboats on Lake Harriet.

Birds resting on rocks at Lake Harriet this morning.

32 Years of Ukraine Independence

Ukraine is commemorating its 32nd year of independence today! 🇺🇦 It also marks the 547th day fighting Russia’s invasion. A stark reminder that independence isn’t simple or free.

I’ve been a subscriber of the Kyiv Independent since it launched. This is the best way to get direct English language news from Ukraine. Join me with a Kyiv Independent membership to be better informed and support independent journalism in Ukraine.

Today is also good day to read “Everything you didn’t know about Ukraine’s flag”. 🇺🇦


Wearing my Kyiv Archangel shirt and Ukraine colored heart pin I received from our team in Kyiv.

I just registered 55419.eth and 55021.eth since the previous registrant let them lapse. The subnames capabilities in ENS make these zip code names interesting.

Making Sense: Health & Longevity with Peter Attia

The Health & Longevity episode of Making Sense with Sam Harris is a great overview of Peter Attia’s new book Outlive.

Sam Harris speaks with Peter Attia about his book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. They discuss “healthspan,” centenarians, diet and nutrition, sugar, macronutrients, alcohol, fasting and time-restricted eating, exercise, Zone 2 training, heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, brain health, metabolic disorders, proactive medical testing, medication side effects, Rapamycin, emotional health, and other topics.

I actually listened to all three hours myself, and then listened again as a whole family. As a subscriber to Making Sense, I can now share the full length episode for anyone to listen to.

It is worth a listen and am now reading the book.

I got my Good Enough Zine today! Thanks @bjhess and team — I’m looking forward to thoroughly going through this. 🥳 Want your own? See details in their newsletter.

It was our families first time seeing Pink, but it was my Sister Alona and Craig’s fourth time. The show was amazing. So much energy, and the acrobatics were incredible. Such a range too with quiet moments and huge ones. An amazing night! 🎶

Our 13th time seeing Brandi Carlile, this time opening up for Pink. Fabulous show as always! 🎶

See list of Brandi Carlile shows.

First time any of us have been to the FARGODOME!

We got to see the SmallTown Strings (Brandi and band kids)play an afternoon show at Sidestreet Bar in Fargo.

Fargo from the 13th floor of the amazing Jasper Hotel.

Took Tesla to Fargo for concert so using the Superchargers today. Mazie getting some lunges in while we charge.