Science Museum of Minnesota

This past weekend I went to the Science Museum of MN. I used to go to there all the time when I was a kid as my parents had a membership. My favorite exhibit was always the dinosaur bones. I was fascinated with dinosaurs! (still am) And all of the exhibits, as a kid, seemed to go on forever and ever. And no trip to the Science Museum was complete without getting grossed out by the mummy.

Well I hadn’t been to the Science Museum since it moved in 2000 to its new location downtown St. Paul. I was really excited to see it as I had fond childhood memories. However, as I’ve learned time and time again, once you revisit a place from your childhood one always feels a bit under whelmed. As a kid a place that seemed vast and wondrous to a grown up can seem small and uninteresting. So I went in with hopeful, but low expectations.

I have to say that while the museum was certainly not as big as I remembered as a kid it was still fun. And the dinosaur bones exhibit, hands down was still the best. Oh and I got grossed out by the mummy again. Ewww…. If your looking for something to do on a Saturday and you’re in the St. Paul area you should check it out!

Here’s a few pics.

Therapeutic

Since August I’ve switched accounts at work, much to my dismay. I left the most enjoyable and rewarding account I’ve worked on in my advertising career for easily the worst and most frustrating by far. Not a fair trade you say? I’d more than agree with you, but I didn’t have a choice. The only upside is the account shift carried with it a big promotion and a raise. However, I’m finding out that money isn’t everything. But that’s not the purpose of this entry, I’m getting side-tracked…

I finally got around this afternoon to cleaning out my office at work. I had a file cabinet and bookcase packed full of 2 years worth of old files for accounts I used to work on, and today I cleaned house. I tell you it was like my own therapy session. 'What’s this? Who knows … throw it!' I cleaned house (or the office, I guess) ... in essence for a brief moment it was like throwing away responsibility. Who knew cleaning could be this cathartic?

Well for the moment I now have a clean office. I bet by tomorrow it will be all junked up again.

El Pistolero

I have a problem that I’m willing to admit. Those close to me (friends and family) have known about the problem for many years. Only the last year or so have I really come to grips with the problem and learned to control it. The source of my problem … the camera.

It’s not something I normally do in daily life, only when someone is snapping pictures of me. I thought I had it under control however just last week I was reminded once again that this is a problem I need to keep constant watch over and be mindful of.

Last week, Juan (a Spanish friend of mine) started calling me by a nickname, which I was honestly honored by and made me laugh … a lot. The name, El Pistolero. It means … The Gunman. Yes, I’m that guy.

I’m the guy that in just about every picture you see me in I end up making “the guns” motion with my hands. I’m not sure how I started down this path of photo-posing destruction, but here I am and admitting the problem is the first step. Right?

Honestly, with the new nickname (el pistolero … the gunman) I’ve come to embrace my problem, identify it and take the appropriate steps towards correction. I’m ready to step into a braver, larger, “gun free” world.

In the hopes that coming to grips with my problem will help me down my path of corrective action here is the perfect sample of my infamous gun pose. Bang. Bang.

Taylors Falls

Well after being pretty much sick and overworked the entire summer I finally escaped for a day with the girlfriend. We went down for the day to Taylors Falls, and what a good day it was! I hadn’t been to Taylors Falls since I was a kid, and well let’s face it when you’re a kid you can’t appreciate anything, right? Right!!

It was sooo beautiful a top the rocky cliffs overlooking hundreds of trees turning color with the river running far far below. You should go if you get the chance!! The leaves are turning now and it’s beautiful. Only less than an hour’s drive from Minneapolis. If you do go be sure to go over to the Wisconsin side and drive next to the cliffs by the river and walk around on the trails. You won’t be disappointed.

Well as I do with every adventure, I of course had to bust out the old trusty camera and take a bunch of pictures. For you impatient readers enjoy a few selects below. Otherwise to see them all click HERE.

Why I DON’T drink bleach underneath the sink

Today I was once again reminded of the usefulness and purpose of Mr. Yuck stickers warning us what NOT to drink underneath the sink.

Over my lunch break today from work I took my car down the street to gas up and get a car wash at Bobby & Steve’s Auto World downtown Minneapolis. I pulled next to the gas pump, got out of my car and as soon as I did I had the feeling like something was incredibly wrong. I heard shouting. I looked around and notice everyone had locked themselves inside their cars, and a crazy unkempt looking woman in hysterics was running around waving her hands and screaming “They stole my $5,000!!!! They stole it from me!!! I have proof!!!”

As I was the only one (stupid enough) to be outside their car at the time she immediately ran over to me and started pulling at my shirt saying, “They stole my $5,000!! That’s a lot of money right? They stole it!” To which I responded, “I’m sorry … that sucks!”

Startled by the woman’s forcefulness I took one look at her and caught an eyeful of a whole lotta DAMN going on. The woman’s hair was long, stringy and tangled. Her clothes were dirty and ripped. She reeked and her mouth looked like a train wreck! There were several missing teeth and the few precious remaining ‘chompers’ were a jagged mess and two of them stuck straight out. Yikes! To quote one of my favorite Simpsons lines, “I call the BIG one ‘Chomper’!”

Well I immediately kept my eyes focused on the ground and the gas pump (as if my life depended on it) all while the woman kept asking me questions and tried to get me to believe that magical forces “stole” her money she put away in a secret room. Meanwhile I thought to myself the whole time, “Please don’t kill me freaky Jason!” Luckily enough the manager of Bobby & Steve’s Auto World finally saw her and ran out, pulled her aside and got her to leave. The cops showed up shortly after the incident and after she had left. Yikes!!

Let this be a resounding warning to all the kiddies and bored adults out there. The chemicals underneath the sink are NOT for drinking!! They may seem colorful, mysterious and even tempting, but they cause brain damage and can make you think that you’ve lost large sums of money from a magical room!! A word to the wise! BEWARE!

IKEA Sunday

About a month ago, one of my dresser drawers finally broke. I say "finally" because I've been using the same dresser since I was born. It was handed down to me from my Dad who had it quite a few years before I was even born. So sort of a crappy family heirloom, if you want to think of it that way. Well I didn't want to drop a ton of cash on a new bedroom set before I buy a house and buy all new stuff again, so where can I get some good looking furniture for cheap? What's that ... IKEA you say?

Well I picked out a new dresser and matching nightstand about 3 weeks ago at Ikea after battling all the annoying couples, screaming babies and kids running around knocking over everything in sight. I finally get to the warehouse part of the store to pick up my items and ... SOLD OUT! CRRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!! So, since IKEA doesn't hold anything for you (great customer service) after a couple of more fruitless trips to the Swedish Wonder they finally had my furniture in. At last!!

So Sunday I picked up a brand new dresser and nightstand from IKEA. One thing left to do; ASSEMBLE IT! This is where the realization of "cheap furniture" comes in. You get the IKEA box home, dump out 100 billion pieces, a dinky Alan wrench, confusing picture instructions and good luck to ya! You'd think you were trying to assemble a rocket to the moon with a little less than a video of watching a shuttle launch towards the sky. Umm...thanks that helps a lot. Well after a couple of hours I got them all assembled.

I finally have a new dresser and night stand thanks to IKEA. They are no Corey Brower masterpiece, but they'll do for now.

Random Pic

In honor of random picture day, here's a pic I took of two unsuspecting people asleep on a train in Tokyo, Japan.

Sick Day

Well today I had a sick day (and looks like tomorrow too), cause I am well ... really sick!! Despite it being super frustrating being sick (I HATE it), it has allowed me to do a couple of things:

- Take time off of work so I don't go insane, which was quickly approaching.

- Drive to the doctor's office, while sick ... not fun.

- Made me appreciate being healthy!

- Just about finish reading Harry Potter: The Deathly Hollows. An AMAZING book, read it now!!

- Lastly, realize why I have a job and don't sit around all day watching crappy TV.

Hmm ... okay well this is kind of a lame post but I'm bored so ... here's a random pic from last Halloween. News Team ASSEMBLE!!!

P.S. - I love lamp!

A walk through the Scuplture Garden

What a better way to spend a nice summer Sunday night than a walk through the Sculpture Gardens downtown Minneapolis? Well, the girlfriend and I thought so anyways.

Here's a few pics of the adventure otherwise click here for more (and larger versions).

What we call the news

The below link will take you to a video that perfectly (and entertainingly ... is that a word?) explains why I do NOT watch the news. Thank you Jib Jab!

What We Call The News - Video (click and behold)

Enjoy all.

MN Zoo

Well this past weekend the girlfriend and I checked out the MN Zoo. I'd been really looking forward to visiting the MN Zoo since I hadn't been there since I was about 15 years old. I LOVE the Zoo!! And what a trip back to my childhood. Only thing is once going back to a place you knew as a child ... that place inevitably always seem to shrink. And this was no exception.

Overall, just a really fun day! The exhibit highlight for me was watching the River Otters play and swim. Looked like they were having sooo much fun. I could watch those little guys all day long. Also, if you ever get a chance check out the butterfly tent. Amazing butterflies and flowers everywhere. There's a great shot every 2 inches it seems. (I got a little carried away.) It's a photographer's dream come true!

Also, I got to see my friend Corey's handy work on the MN Trail with some nice (and incidentally great smelling) new hardwood floors. Props to Corey! They look pretty darn spiffy.

Well below are a few pics of my MN Zoo adventure, or click here for more of them.

Random Pic

Stop looking at me Swan!!

Antibiotics

It's amazing what a little modern medicine can do!

To back up. I was sick with bronchitis in June and was given a perscription to make the symptoms go away, but not actually long enough to "treat" the problem. So for the month of July the symptoms flared back up again, and I've been sick off and on and it's really been a pain cause I seem to get sick on the weekends during the rarely amazing summer months in Minnesota. We have such precious little time in the summer in MN and I'm supposed to out enjoying it. Not stuck in side with a sore throat and a fever.

Well last weekend the infection (or whatever it was) decided to make a unified assult on my body and I felt awful! So off to urgent care I went to see a doctor and get some medicine. Well I freaked the doctors out a bit (since I was so sick) that they ended up jabbing me with a needle about 50 different times for a bunch of tests. Oh boy, what fun! But not really.

Well the hero in this pointless tale is twofold. The first hero is Antibotics! After getting some antibiotics in my system, first through an IV and next via pills. I feel a billion times better! The second hero in the tale is finding a doctor who will listen to the patient and take a preventative approach to medicine, versus cautious approach of doing nothing. That's what got me into this mess in the first place.

So after a somewhat sick and frustrating summer, I think I maybe finally on the path to feeling better! Thanks Antibotics!!

35W Bridge Collapse

Well I'm alive. I happened to cross the 35W bridge a few hours before it collapsed on my way to and back from lunch, since I work right next to it. Man that's scary! How does a bridge just collapse for no reason?

This morning I (along with everyone else in Minneapolis) went to the Mississippi River to survey the damage. A truly sobering experience as you can see vehicles strewn about the bridge, which lay in shambles and rescue workers all over the scene.

My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of those that weren't so fortunate.

What I'm listening to...

Cake - B-Sides and Rarities. After pre-ordering the album and waiting 4-5 months it FINALLY arrived today after much frustration! Well all I can say is good stuff and worth the wait! Long live the CAKE!

Twisted, yet funny!

Work has been quite intense the past few months with helping out on a piece of work my co-workers lovingly refer to as "the hell account" around the Ad Agency. Thank goodness it's only temporary and I can get back to my normal work in the near future!!

Well, I was over at someecards.com and found the below e-card and started to laugh uncontrollably. If you've never been over there, click yourself through the interweb and enjoy the humor (some say twisted) of someecards.com (ecards for when you care enough to hit send).

Bike

Well I can't quite believe it, but I FINALLY got a bike. After about 3-5 years of Pete and Mikey B bugging me I finally broke down and purchased a bike. Actually, I bought Mikey B's bike since he was getting a new one (for him). I'm still a runner at heart, so it'll probably just sit there and collect dust, but at least I've taken the first step into a larger world.

So to Pete and Mikey B this is your official notice to S.T.F.U. on the whole "Get a Bike" issue. I finally got one. ;)

Have a bike-tastic day everyone!

Camping Trip Pics

Well last weekend the PL Pride crew (Eric, Kris, Mikey B, Pete, Corey, Mel, Aimee, Anne, and Liz) and I all ventured out to camp at Lake Bemidji State Park. Let me assure you that good times were had by all! It was great to get away from the daily grind and enjoy some time outdoors with some good friends.

For all the pictures of the great american camping adventure click here. Otherwise, scroll down for some highlights/let downs and a few select pics.

The Highlights:

- Itasca State Park (standing on the headwaters of the Mississippi, and climbing the Fire Tower)
- Discovering Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Smores
- Running along the Paul Bunyan Expressway (is that the name?)
- Enjoying nature and all that crap
- Camping with an air matress to sleep on
- Ending the trip with Taco Johns ... Oh Yeah!!

The Let Downs:

- The Lost Forty (40 acres of mosquitos, not trees ... skip it)
- Chiggers (Swimmer's Itch warnings for Lake Bemidji. Didn't go swimming!)
- Forgetting the air matress to sleep on the first night. Ouch!

Atop the FIRE TOWER!!

Headwaters of the Mississippi

Bonfire Bonding



The Zoey Monster



Best Food Ever!

Things I don't understand #34: Women's Sunglasses

Seems like wherever I go (be it shopping, running around the lakes, or even just grabbing some lunch during the workday) I see women wearing gargantuan sunglasses. It's as if there is a secret unspoken competition among women to see who can wear the biggest sunglasses.

Why is this? I don't understand. Is it a skin aversion to sunblock, so instead you try to cover your entire face with sunglasses? And every time I look the sunglasses get bigger. I saw a pair yesterday, as I was out running around Lake Harriet, that would put Harry Caray to shame.

Is this just one of those things that guys will never understand? One of those secret unspoken things, like the reason women always go to the bathroom in groups is cause they have pool and foosball tables in their bathrooms?

I guess I'll never know.

07.07.07

Well a weird date demands a weird week. Man, what a strange week this has been. A series of high's and low's.

The highs ... 4th of July and some good times with friends and family.

The lows ... an insanely busy work week clocking in over 60 hellish hours and working on the weekend. Yuck! And today Africa Hot temps in the 90's.

Well at least I have some more of the weekend to enjoy and focus on my big camping trip for next weekend up in Bemidji State Park with some good friends. High Five.

The Question

Well I'm jumping on the bandwagon here. Mikey B, Corey and Mel have all posted this so why shouldn't I?

The question: "What do you want to do before you die?"

• Learn Karate
• Learn to sword fight (no, seriously I want to do this!)
• Do Voice Over work professionally (I'd love to quit my job and just do this)
• Work on and help make a big-budget film (that doesn't suck)
• Learn to play the guitar (better), and play the drums (and then play in a band)
• Travel – Pyramids in Egypt, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, anywhere in South America, and Chicago (never been believe it or not)
• Paint a picture
• Own a house on a lake
• Run a marathon
• Write a book or short story

To name a few...

Ghetto-fabulous

Recently, I discovered a new route on my drive home from work. This new route is much quicker and easier, which is good. Yay! However, it happens to take me through the ghetto in Minneapolis, which is bad. Booo!

Well yesterday on my drive home from work I’m traveling down Portland Ave. S and going about 45 MPH. A little fast, but hey who does the speed limit anymore, right? I get to about 33rd St. E and I notice a couple car lengths ahead of me off to the right a yard full of black people waving their fists and arms in the air and yelling at each other. (A regular occurrence in the ghetto.) However, then I notice most of the attention is focused on 3 guys closer to the street (and my car) yelling at each other. One guy (will call Tyrone Shoelaces) out of no where proceeds to punch guy two (umm…will call him Basketball Jones) in the chest and take something from him. Not believing what I just saw I’m glued to the ordeal like watching a fight in the ghetto. Oh wait?!?

Immediately, after punching and stealing, Tyrone takes off running (at me, into traffic) at full speed being chased by Basketball Jones and another black guy (will call him Bob). I immediately hit the breaks and swerve to avoid hitting Tyrone. What an idiot!

I look back in my rearview mirror and I see Tyrone running away from the other two guys as fast as his legs will take him. “Run like you stole it!” I yell out. Cause well … it looks like he did. Well Tyrone, not being blessed with brains nor coordination, gets a little further then trips over his own feet and falls (rather painfully) to the ground. SMACK! A couple of more cars swerve to avoid hitting him. Then Tyrone immediately gets up (for fear of being beat within an inch of his life from Basketball and Bob) and RUNS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. He proceeds to run across the street dodging cars and making them swerve to narrowly avoid becoming street pizza. Wow! Basketball and Bob not being as dumb as Tyrone, choose life over imminent death and decide not to run into oncoming traffic, but instead do choose to yell obscenities at Tyrone waving their hands in the air.

Well all of this happened in the course of about 30 seconds, but man what a ghetto-fabulous adventure! Maybe I should just stick to my old route home from work? Nah, this is much more entertaining.

Strap yourselves in and lock the doors! We’re going for a ride through the ghetto. ;) Good times.

Live Free or Die Hard - A Review

My Review: Go See This Movie! Enough said.

-----
Okay I'll elaborate a bit. If you are looking for a fun summer action movie that will have you cheering for the good guy, and leave the audience clapping at the end. Then look no further! Bruce Willis is back as everyone's favorite underdog NY cop John McClane and from the one liners to the action-packed explosions I suspended my disbelif and was truly entertained. I bearly even noticed the lack of swearing I was used to ala
Die Hard 1-3.

Overall, a great flick! I'd give this movie 3.5 out of 4 stars.

Take that Klepto!

Win one for the good guys. Earlier this week some jackass got into my car and stole (among other things) the faceplate off my CD player. The inept thief chose to leave the CD player (thank God), but for whatever reason deemed it necessary to steal the faceplate off my Pioneer CD player. (Ahh...what would you do with just a faceplate?)

Well, after a frustrating morning discovering all of this, I did a quick Yahoo search and found a Pioneer Electronics website (www.pioneerdirect.com) devoted solely to replacement parts for various electronics like replacing my stolen faceplate. Yahtzee!! After a quick search and finding my model number I had my new faceplate ordered in a matter of mins. And 3 days later it arrived via UPS (United Package Smashers) today!! Talk about quick service! I just ran out to the car and the new CD Player faceplate works like a charm. (No more singing my own songs to get me through the drive home.)

What started out as a very frustrating ordeal had a stress-free happy ending thanks to the wonderful people at Pioneer Electronics! Win one for the good guys. Snoochie boochies Pioneer noochies!

Irony

Funny pic of the day. Good thing this guy had the BIG zoom lens. lol.

Worst Week Ever

Well I think I’m “on record” having the worst week ever. Not only am I completely out of it from being sick with a bronchial infection (see below) that has left me dizzy, sore throat and a number of other things I won’t go into. I was also put on the “hell” account at work this week. The account is called the “hell” account because it has crazy clients, insane deadlines, and anyone that works on it goes nuts and works an ungodly amount of hours. I’m on this account only temporary to help out while they are hiring more people. And if that wasn’t enough, somehow someone got into my car yesterday evening (not sure how) and stole the faceplate off my CD player, rendering it useless. What the heck? I looked around my car and nothing was broken or anything. Looks like they made away with some CDs, loose change and a few pens as well. Hmm ... is this the work of an annoying klepto? So I guess my car is still okay, and I do still have my CD player … I just can’t listen to it.

This week has got to get better!

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Update: 6/20 at 11AM

Things are looking up! I'm starting to feel a lot better and ditching this sickness that has plagued me the past week. And last night I found a Pioneer website where you can order replacement faceplates for CD Players. Got one ordered and it will be arriving next week. Take that klepto! And the heatwave has finally subsided. So it would appear the week is getting better!

Magical Pills

So I've been sick off and on for the last week, and it really hit me this weekend. With my throat on fire and coughing up a lung, enough was enough. I ventured out to the Park Nicollet Clinic urgent care to go see a doctor. The diagnosis ... some sort of low-level bronchcial infection. Which I guess just translates to a bad cold. He gave me some magical pills and I'm supposed to be cured in the next couple of days.

Only problem is the pills (while I'm taking them) make my skin sensitive to the sun and prone to burn easier. Burn easier? I've got to be one of the whitest guys in America; I don't think I need help in that arena! Oh well, if these magical pills cure me, I'll put up with living like a vampire indoors avoiding the sun the next few days.

Africa Hot

Well I was downtown MPLS over lunch yesterday and I noticed some elephants and few gazelle wandering about among the people along Nicollet Ave. I guess that must mean that it's Africa Hot out this week! (Incidentally, I later had to cross the street to make way for a pride of lions.)

That's our crazy MN weather for you. First it's way too cold (winter), then it's way too hot (summer). Never just right. And when it's cold we want it hot and when it's hot out we want it cold. I guess we are never truly happy. Oh well, I'd rather have it really hot than really cold temps. What are you going to do? Try to enjoy it I guess. We get so few summer months in Minnesota.

Well in the meantime I'll be hugging my air conditioner. Enjoy the Africa Hot this week, everybody!

The Bad and The Good

Things I’m sick of right now:

- Match.com web ads on MySpace with webcam shots of hot girls wanting to talk to you. Trust me they don’t want to talk to you.

- A-Hole slow drivers who hurry up and pull out in front of me then go slow. (Seriously, just wait 1 more second till I drive past you! Lots of room back there!)

- People who wait until 4pm on Friday to give me work, or get back to me.

- McDonalds … yet I still eat it.

- Really windy days. (I like to run, but a little difficult lately with the 25+ MPH winds we’ve been having. Feels like I’m running into Hurricane Andrew. Hey that's my name! Nevermind.)

- Being bored at work at this particular moment. I just want to go home!

Things I’m happy about right now:

- Seinfeld Season 8 on DVD. Sweet! Just picked this up from Target.

- Package from BestBuy.com. There’s not a feeling so great as getting a package in the mail. Yahtzee!

- Going running after work, and enjoying the wonderful weather!

- My iPod Shuffle. I use that thing all the time for working out and it’s AMAZING!

- Found a new route home from work that is quicker and not many people use. It’s like I’ve discovered some magical secret, yet it’s not really magical. Hmm…

- Got to hang out with Twins Players last night and was a lot of fun.

- The fact it’s FRIDAY!!!! The weekend is upon us my friends. In words of Rick James, “It’s a celebration, bitches.” Enjoy it!

Bowling with Johan

So this is kinda funny. I have to go to this charity/fundraiser event for work tonight. It's actually Johan Santana's Bowling Event. At this event each team bowls with a MN Twins Player. Sounds pretty fun, except that the only thing is that well ... I suck at bowling! So now I get to go humiliate myself in front of our hometown sports heros. Sweet!

"Hey, Johan check this one out! (Bowling ball jumps three lanes and hits a spectator). Whoops, sorry!!! Nevermind."

I can't wait! Should be interesting. :|

-------------------------
UPDATE: Friday, June 8th (the day after)

Well the event took place last night and I didn't embarass myself, which is good thing! We bowled 2 games and my score broke 100 both times, which was my goal. Whew! Also, the baseball stars were out in full force. Got to talk with and got autographs from Johan Santana, Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, and Juan Rincon to name a few. Also, talked with John Gordon for a while (voice of Twins game broadcasts).

I have to say the star of the night for me was Juan Rincon (relief pitcher for the Twins). I bowled next to him all night and we got to talking; this was the second time he'd ever been bowling in his life and he did a GREAT job. I think his score was 150 by the second game, which beat me! Not bad for a guy who's never bowled. And heck of a nice guy.

All in all, a great/fun event with lots of stars, media, food/beverages, and prizes. Fun was had by all.

Wii (pronounced: Weeeeeeeeeeee)

Well I was over at my friend Pete's place on Saturday to help him celebrate an early B-Day. (Happy B-Day Pete!!) And later on in the evening me and a few friends found Pete's Nintendo Wii system. Now I've played the Wii a couple of times before at various friends' houses, but I was reminded once again what a unique and wonderful video game system the Wii truly is!!

I have to say that the best part about it is that you actually have to get up and move your body to use it. Anyone that's played Wii Sports - Boxing will know what I'm talking about. One minute into that game and I'm working up a sweat, and I stay in shape! No wonder it's helping fat kids lose weight, and even retirement communities are requesting them for their seniors. Just a great system! Plus, it's backwards compatible with GameCube games and you can get all the old Nintendo games (for a fee). Brilliant idea.

Now, if the stores around here could get more than one system every three months, maybe I could get one.

Side Note: Writing this entry just help me remember. Actually, I was in Tokyo, Japan back in Dec. '06 when the Nintendo Wii first launched and I saw Japanese Ads for the Wii EVERYWHERE!! Funny stuff, let me tell you.

A summer cold

How did this happen? I ask you. Well this week I've come down with a cold just at the beginning of summer. When it's been 80 degrees out! Aren't you only supposed to get colds in the winter?

Well hopefully it'll be gone in a few days, but for the time being it sure does suck!

What NOT to do … a dog owner's guide

This past Memorial Day weekend people were out in full force enjoying our nice short-lived MN weather. As I was out and about around the lakes in Minneapolis I happened to notice several “DON’Ts” for any dog owner and for the benefit of mankind I’ve chosen to illustrate what NOT to do to your dog.

This may (and should) seem like common sense to most.

Tip #1: Do NOT put a hat on your dog!

It’s pretty sad, but I saw several hats on dogs this weekend. You may be a middle-aged woman longing for a child and want to dress them up, but your dog is not a substitute and you must resist this urge at all costs (also see Tip 3). Do NOT put a hat on your dog. They don’t want it, and it humiliates you both! See photo.

I saw several hats on dogs this weekend and in each instance (besides it looking totally frickin’ ridiculous) the dog was humiliated (tail down) and kept clawing at it in an attempt to remove the uncomfortable torture device.

Tip #2: Do NOT put goggles on your dog!

Another pet fashion catastrophe I noticed was people putting sport goggles on their dogs. I saw this several times. In each case the dog kept shaking it’s head violently to try and remove the goggles. I couldn’t but help feel sorry for the dog each time. And what I kept thinking was, "If the dog keeps shaking its head the goggles will end up hurting its eyes rather than protect them, right?" It took all my willpower to not run over to the dog, take the goggles off, and yell at the owner for being an idiot and torturing their pet.

Think about it, dogs are animals and better equipped than us for outdoor harsh situations. Also, chances are if it’s 85 degrees outside, sunny and mild your dog is not going to need protective eyeware.

Tip #3: Do NOT put your dog into outfits, no matter how small it is.

Lastly, I will point out that it's not cool to dress your dog up in various “cute” themed outfits. I saw an older lady this weekend carrying around her very small dog, as if it was her child, in what I can only guess was a Teddy Bear themed outfit. She thought it was adorable, however everyone else around her thought it was about the saddest thing they’d ever seen. No dressing up your dog in so-called “cute” themed outfits! I know your dog can’t talk, but I know they don’t like it. Trust me! Again, it humiliates you both.

So overall I hope we’ve learned some important tips on being a responsible dog owner here today. (I should also point out the same goes for cat owners.)

Today’s Lesson: DO NOT DRESS UP YOUR DOG! It humiliates you both!

May 25th, 1977

Today marks the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest movies of our time ... Star Wars.

Like so many out there this was the first movie that really got me interested and opened my eyes to the realm of movies/film. I still remember watching it for the first time as a kid with my Dad. Just magical; I was hooked instantly.

Happy 30th Star Wars!!

Ice Cream Man

Today I was reminded of the power of the Ice Cream Man.

I should back up a bit here; today was my ad agency's "Ledge Party" marking the official start of summer and the opening of "The Ledge" where co-workers can sit outside, hang out and most importantly ... GRILL over the lunch hour!! All while overlooking picturesque Downtown Minneapolis and the Metrodome.

So to mark the opening of The Ledge our President and Owner grilled up a storm (burgers and brats) along with a full spread of food and drinks. Quite the good time!

However, this party all ended with a trip down to the parking lot where the Ice Cream Man with his truck was waiting for all of us with dessert. It was amazing to see my fellow co-workers transform into 12-year-old children instantly. One look at that truck and all of the tasty ice cream options posted on the side and I started having flashbacks to when I was a kid.

I think where the Ice Cream Man truly derives his power from is that "distinct" sound/song the truck makes. That sound is magical and INSTANTLY recognizable. The second you heard it (when you were a kid), doesn't matter what you were doing (or if you were half dressed), you immediately ran out of your house like a shotgun blast yelling, "ICE CREAM MAN!!!" I remember doing this and simultaneously watching all the other neighbor kids doing the same. The power this song created was so overwhelming that most times I would notice kids running up to the Ice Cream Truck, beckoned by the siren call, who totally forgot their money and were forced to run back and chance it or beg and plead from friends for spare change.

I wonder does the Ice Cream Man know the power he holds? Could he harness this power, this magical sound, and say ... run for President with promises of ice cream treats for all? Perhaps that's just the beginning...

At any rate, summer is finally here and it's officially ice cream season. High Five!

What are some good movies out?

Being the lover of movies that I am I often get asked, "Andy, what's good out now that I should go see?" Well look no further! Here are my recommendations on what you should go see this weekend if you're looking for a good flick.

Hot Fuzz
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

From the makers for Shaun of the Dead, here's another brilliant comedy poking fun at all the cop thriller/action movies out there. This movie had me (and the audience) laughing from beginning to end. Easily one of the more brilliant comedic films of 2007!

Disturbia
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, David Morse, and Carrie-Anne Moss

In this Rear Window-like remake, a teen (Shia LaBeouf) is living under house arrest and becomes convinced and obsessed that his neighbor is a serial killer. Truly a great popcorn thriller flick, with flashes of hot teen action, that will have you glued to the screen from beginning to end. I remember walking out of the theater with the feeling of being energized after seeing a great movie, and also on the lookout for creepy neighbors. Beware!

28 Weeks Later

The sequel to 28 Days Later. In this horror flick we join six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of the British Isles, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes to plan. Well of course it doesn't, we need some zombies, right?!? RIGHT!! Scary, intense zombie rage adrenaline-pumping action ensues. Nuff said. Enjoy!

Spiderman 3
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace, James Franco and Thomas Haden Church

Not much to say here. 3rd Spiderman movie. Too many characters, not enough time. Cool looking villans and effects, but the story suffers as there's not enough time to explore all of this tale's threads. However, if you like the first two Spiderman flicks chances are you'll enjoy this one. How can a zillion movie goers and dollars made be wrong? Lastly, Topher Grace (in my opinion) steals the show with his smart ass, wise cracking attitude.
Go Topher!!