The Embodiment of Dug

Every time I see this scene, I think of my son.



He's still so innocent in many ways, so trusting and honest, so full of energy and life. I hope he never looses that spirit, that love for people. Though, he could stand to work on the attention span a little bit :-).

I want to remember him this way, as the pure soul who came and knocked on doors with me in St. Paul with MN United for All Families for 4 hours in the cold. Aidan didn't understand what we were doing, and I don't know that he'll remember it. But one day, perhaps not so very long from now, I'm going to be able to tell him what we did and why it was so important. Best of all, MN citizens succeeded in defeating that hurtful amendment. 

Politics are exhausting, but worth it for the greater good. 

Circus at Home, and Circus Abroad for a Good Cause

As I've mentioned, my son attends a circus class for kids ages 3-4 in St. Paul, MN. Circus Juventas has been wonderful to us, and Aidan always has a great time in class. I wanted to share two recent videos.

The first (pardon the orientation) is Aidan's first attempt at the Spanish Web.

(Note: Anyone know an easy way to flip this video?)

Spanish Web was, coincidentally, my main act when I did circus at French Woods Festival. Here's a photo my dad took of me c1998. The white on some of my fingertips are bandages from some of the nastiest rope burn you've ever seen.

Anyway, the second video is Aidan's first go at Low Casting - a low to the ground, half flying trapeze aparatus if you will. For not even being 3 yet, I think he did a great job giving it a go - what a brave boy!

Like what you see? Find out more:
Circus Juventas, St. Paul, MN: http://www.circusjuventas.org/
French Woods Festival, Hancock, NY: http://www.frenchwoods.com/


I also wanted to briefly mention a benefit one of Aidan's coaches, Chimgee, is having for her Mission Manduhai: she's working to raise money to help stop domestic abuse in her home country of Mongolia.

Sunday, June 26th

4 p.m. Tickets $20 each

at The Celtic Junction

836 Prior Ave, St. Paul, MN-55104

More about Circus Manduhai: http://www.circusmanduhai.com/www.circusmanduhai.com/Welcome.html
More about Mission Manduhai: http://www.circusmanduhai.com/www.circusmanduhai.com/Fundraiser.html

You can also make a tax-deductible donation: checks can be written to: “Heritage and Traditions” with “Mission Manduhai” in the memo line. Mail to 5509 28th Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Morning at Lake Harriet

Chad, Aidan, and I spent the morning in Minneapolis today. First stop was 46 Patisserie where we had some delicious food. We spent the rest of the morning walking/biking around Lake Harriet, and playing on the beach and in the water. For my part, I did *not* partake in the icy cold water, nor did Chad venture passed his ankles. Aidan, seemingly impervious to the cold, splashed around up to his armpits.

I near died and went to heaven with these.

I paid dearly for eating this one, but it was sooo worth it!

Ice cold water

Preparing a "Drippy-Wet" sand castle

Aidan spies a pretty girl!

Chad's first "drippy wet" sand castle.

Beautiful Lake Harriet

Chad's second "Drippy Wet" sand castle, right before Aidan destroys it :-).

Aidan-zilla!

Chad the tree-hugger.

Como Park Zoo

On Wednesday, a friend of mine invited me to join her, her daughters, and a friend at Como Park Zoo in St. Paul, MN. We took her up on her offer and had a great time! We even got to bring Alan with us. Enjoy the photos :).

Alan gets to visit real giraffes!

The seals and sea lions were a big hit! They actually seemed to enjoy hamming it up for the kids (unlike the lioness...more on that later).

Captivated.

Nom nom nom...

The best way to end a trip to the zoo is to be covered in sticky ice cream

** So about the lioness...

I should preface this by saying that, while I greatly enjoy visiting zoos, I also feel bad for the animals in captivity. I recognize that zoos provide an invaluable education and conservation resource, but I never take for granted what I am seeing. To be that close to a gorilla or a snow leopard (one of my favorites) is a great honor. Were it not for zoos, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing most of my favorite animals alive and breathing. Compared to the real thing, National Geographic just isn't the same.

Some animals seem to tolerate captivity better than others. The seals, sea lions, and otters, for example, seem fairly pleased with their lot in life. Other animals, like the lioness we saw in the indoor exhibit today, are clearly not digging the wards of screaming kids banging on the glass each day. The lioness got so ticked off, in fact, that she started growing at the glass. Of course, this only egged on the kids. When I left her she was snarling, clawing, swatting, charging, and biting at the glass - clearly agitated - while the warden was asking the kids to leave her alone. I can only hope they gave her a break from exhibition for a good long while.

Lioness-tormenting aside, it was a great day and we will definitely be back!

Autumn Apple Picking

Photos taken at Fireside Orchard & Gardens, Northfield, MN last Sunday.