Sugar Says

Fugu

Devil's Pool

I want to do this!!! Thanks, Jane for the link.

Existential Stripper Zombies

Yes. That is right. I don't know what else to say.

My Free Range Kids

Free Range Kids Is a super blog that was recently started after the author wrote an article about allowing her child to ride the subway alone. My own experience as mother started out in the overprotective mode. Fine when they are tiny tots and need to be watched, but thankfully by the time they were young adolescents, I had calmed. Living in one of the most populated parts of a large city, was an opportunity for each to develop independence and for me to develop trust.

Starting with being allowed to go to the bus stop alone around age 7 and go down to the little store in the next building to buy a snack or last minute grocery need, then going to the park or further adventures on foot or by bus. They both started to develop a sense of their place. They new which neighbors would always have an eye for them, which were a little off their kilter and which to avoid as much as possible. They developed playground friendships with whoever might be playing in the park (almost always under their own parents watchful eyes.) I am sure there were parents that thought, my poor kids must be terribly neglected when their mother or father wasn't at the park with them most days.

Our new neighborhood is just 8 blocks further south, in rich and diverse area. One block for a row of great little restaurants, Asian markets the kids have the opportunity to explore the city a bit on their own terms and in their way.

My son (AN), 10yrs has a favorite Military Surplus store that enjoys stopping into. It was three blocks from our old residence, now it is 10 blocks away. It is run by an old man, from

North Dakota

. (there is a story that you will have to ask CVRick to write) Soon after moving in, he asked in his way to go explore. Well, really the conversation was this:

AN: I am sure I can’t go outside and play by myself.

ME: Why can’t you?

AN: Well, I can’t go for a walk by myself.

ME: Why can’t you?

AN: I think I know how to get the military store, but I know I can’t walk there right now.

ME: Why not right now?

AN: Because you don’t want to go with me?

ME: No I don’t right now, do you NEED me to go with you?

AN: No!

So, he walked to his military store by himself, no map, no cell phone, no directions or confirmation of directions on how to get there or how to get home. The only thing he needed was his own knowledge of where our new house was in respect to his favorite store and how he might be able to find his way.

He came home an hour later and told me how he found his way. He was clearly excited and proud to be able traverse the distance and figure it out. Of course, we remind him to watch for traffic, what to do if someone is bothering him, etc. He is impulsive but very smart and I trust that his going to be safe. Safe simply must be balanced with freedom.

Summer 2008 - Look Book

Diana Ross Never Sounded So Good

Micheal Jackson Never Looked So Good

TED

I hope that I get to attend, someday. It would also be super to be super enough to present. I haven't watched all the videos, but plan to. It is hugely inspiring.

www.ted.com

Musashi - Restaurant Review

I tried the new (well, relatively speaking, I think it has been open since December) Japanese Restaurant on the corner of 6^th Street and Hennepin Ave.

The space that used to be an Olive Garden and long before that La Cucaracha, now houses a lovely, if some what standard Sushi bar, teppanyaki and separate bar for the heavy drinking crowd. Another stretch, as it doesn’t seem like there has been a crowd as yet. (I was there on a Friday – during happy hour and the bar was empty. (Downtown, really an empty bar downtown at happy hour is sad.)) 

I sat at a table in the nearly empty restaurant side and ordered some sake and some sushi. There was a little confusion over the sake order, as my server tried to up-sell me. I don’t mind the practice of pointing out other things that relate to a choice made, but I do mind if that then means it takes much longer for her to deliver any choice to my table. She first wanted me to taste another and I said sure. It was fine, so I was open to switching, but then she came back again to ask if I maybe wanted the bottle. No, I didn’t want the bottle and feel like there might have been one more question, before any sake was delivered. Bare in mind that for each of these queries, she went away and didn’t return for a matter of a minute or two.

This exchange is not going to sour my overall experience, however as I often get the worst server a joint has to offer. I expect it, have ways to counter act it next time. 

The rest of the staff seemed quite capable and the host (possible owner) was super sweet and nice.

The sushi was good. Happy Hour prices were great and they had some interesting specialty rolls, as well as the standards. The favorite was the Godzilla Roll, with salmon, yellow tail, white fish and avocado that is Tempura deep-fried. Bringing together my love of deep-fried foods and sushi is something to be celebrated! 

My only complaint was the music playing in the restaurant. It was out of character for the restaurant and simply not good. It was sort of a salsa-mix-music with jazz undertones. Not right.

Planning another trip, will report back. Who wants to join me?

Social Summit Site

I don't drink beer, I also don't re-enact Viking Sword Fights, but you can enjoy both here. The Social Element site is one of the cooler ways to sell your brand/product while building and engaging in the community.

The site features videos of unique social groups, events and zombies around town. Fun to explore and possibly able to inspire more people do something - anything that is in real life, fun and social. Beer often helps spur these sorts of social gatherings, so it is on brand as well. Cool.