Swoosh in for Nike Adventure at MOA

Customize your own shirt, shoes, service at the new Nike store at the Mall of America. Visually appealing with a high-energy crew willing (the 2nd day they were open anyway) to 'splain what's up to anyone who will listen.

A great visual infusion for this MidLifeVenus.

Grand Opening this weekend.

Beyond the Vatican Splendors - The Cathedral of St. Paul

St. Paul is the last stop on a short tour of the U.S. for the Vatican Splendors.

Expectations were high as we inched toward the timed entry point. Promises of Michelangelo artifacts, papal mitres and venerated relics drew us through the darkened maze.

"Exhibition designers want visitors to feel transported to the Vatican, from the underground catacombs where the remains of Saint Peter were discovered to the magnificent papal chambers found above ground," according to the website. Had I viewed the site before attending, I would been more forgiving of the dim lighting and sketchy details that accompanied some of the displays.

One of the highlights (I thought) was the Tiara of Pope Pius VII.

THE BEST OF THE STORY: The tiara was presented to the pope in 1804 by Napoleon to mark his wedding to Josephine. Some of the jewels and decoration for the multi-tiered tiara came from earlier tiaras that were smashed and stolen by French troops in 1798.

Ever attempting to compensate for his short stature Napoleon used this occasion to let the pope know who was really in charge - the tiara was deliberately made too small, and at 18 pounds too heavy, for the pope to wear.

Taking a Break to Just Enjoy the Ride

It's been a busy week highlighted by a sprint to the finish in preparation for a client's trade show. After spending the day working at the client's offices, I happily departed knowing that I was not required to return the next day to rinse and repeat.

Music and radio provided more input than I could tolerate. So, I drove along enjoying the muffled sounds of an evening commute between St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Try it. Soon.

Figs are 3 weeks late - Is that a big deal?

Never thought much about figs. Until I was shopping with Grandma Rose a few weeks ago. She was on a mission for figs during our last trip to the grocery.

Truth be told, I didn't have a clue where to find them. We were directed to the dried fruit section - we departed, figless.

Turns out, all was not lost. I stumbled upon figs while at my grocery store this weekend. The friendly specialty produce guy was happily slashing boxes, disgorging their contents and neatly arranging them. He informed me that figs were about 3 weeks late arriving this year and schooled me on the tastiest variety (pictured above).

I shipped them off to Grandma.

Porcelain repair project

Winter has forced my cast iron cooking experiments indoors. I had nearly perfected the multi-step, multi-hour religious experience of cooking ribs in a cast iron roaster on the gas grill outside.

I couldn't resist trying the magic in the oven. The cooking technique worked well on pork loin ribs.

I completed the ritual by scrubbing the prehistoric pot with no soap in water hotter than I could stand. Unfortunately, the top slipped from my grip as I set it on the stove top to complete the drying process.

Here, you see the result...chipped porcelain finish on white stove, poo, I said to myself. I was off to Home Depot in search of a porcelain repair kit. (I had honed my filling skills on the previous 50-year old stove.)

Still sanding and buffing lightly for the desired result...stay tuned.

Veterans Day on the deck of the Midway

USS Midway was commissioned in 1945 and served as the flagship for Desert Storm in 1991. It was opened as a museum in 2004 at Navy Pier, San Diego.

I got up close and personal with aircraft from all eras on the flight deck. Standing beside Sidewinder missiles (minus the dangerous parts) evoked a sense of why "War is Hell."

Veterans Day 2008

Birds of a Feather Grow Together

Can't resist the visual repetition of patterns in nature...

A field of Bird of Paradise flowers populate the grounds of the NBC building in San Diego.

Back in Time: Shopping with Grandma Rose

"Pleeeeeeease Grandma!"

I couldn't resist traveling back 40 years in time on a recent trip to the grocery with my Grandma, Rose.

She got a real kick out of it too as I begged for a pack of plastic sparkly kiddie toys displayed at eye level in the cereal aisle.

At 95, she leans a little more on the cart than she used to but who cares? Spending time with her and my Grandpa Tony, 97, has shown me first-hand the joyful results of a life fully lived.