Author: Justin

The Woman for Me

I don’t know who is the right woman, but I do know about her.

She may be someone I already know (or am talking to her every day but need to spend time with her to know her), or perhaps I have yet to meet her or meet her again.

I read an article and thought, “Hell yes!” It was written for a female audience, but I identified with it in some ways.

Capture

Now, I’m going to say I’m a ‘Goddamn Warrior’, but the article describes me and, the reason I’m writing, the woman I think would be right for me. In short, someone who’s stubborn and crazy. I’ll run through some quotes:

“When it comes to taking bets on your heart, he is going to be high stakes—all the way.”
I have usually done this, but I just need a woman who won’t hold back either.

“This warrior of yours will crave your strength, and your intensity.”
Most women feign from intensity. I love when I have a conversation, and the smiles get bigger and bigger and quicker and quicker, as if it’s leading to some kind of conversational climax.

“[He] won’t be someone that you can manipulate or play with as you have in the past.”
While I’m a high stakes kind of guy (above), I’m terrible at playing games. Some people play games to slow down the “getting to know you” process. My subtleties have a shelf life of about a week.

“The difference is, unlike the others, he isn’t going to be scared off.”
Talk to women I’ve liked. I don’t scare, I don’t quit, sometimes to their distress….. (as in “just stop calling/trying to rendezvous”, not “I filed a restraining order”).

“Don’t try to run this time.”

If she runs, she shouldn’t run too fast because i should be able to catch her. But she should run, meaning 5Ks. That’d be solid fun.

“[He needs to know you’ll] still be there when he craves his freedom and ventures off into this world for a bit. You won’t always need to follow him, just as he won’t always follow you.”
I’ve become a very independent person, and it’s best if she was too.

A woman can be stubborn, and that’s fine. She doesn’t ever need to lose or give up. As the Piano Man explains:
She never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

Life is awesome.

P.S. I’m a fucking warrior. I don’t need to numerate my badassness.

Renaissance Festival Future

Ren Fest 0

There seems to be confusion about what’s going on with the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Is this it’s last year? Is next year? Will prices go up even more?
I spoke to an insider and have the answers.

First of all, no, this is not the last year. One of my clients is a partnership that has very strong connections in the leadership, so not only did I get several tickets to visit, but I also talked to Gregory, the man who is in charge of the partnership, and this is what he said:
The Ren Fest will definitely be there for the 2016 season. The lease on the lad expires after December 31, 2016.

Ren Fest 1However, the developers are looking at other land, and he said the most likely parcels are within 15 miles of the current one.

Further, the Ren Fest will buy the land, instead of leasing it.
More importantly, he said that should lead to such non-Renaissance luxuries such as running water and electricity. I’m pretty sure the electricity will be for things like ovens and credit card machines.

He told me more interesting things about the Fest itself. He said the shops are actually owned by the merchants. As such, one of the considerations the festival is making is how much to comp people for their shop.

Ren Fest 2Gregory told me that some shop keepers have been there for over 30 years (it opened in 1971), and see the move as a natural end to a good run.

Naturally, this makes room for ‘new’ and ‘innovative’ Renaissance artisans (quote because it’s the Renaissance, folks. There’s nothing new about it).

He told me that as buildings and shops needed replacement, for the last 5 years or so shops have been build with kind of a detachable fou
ndation.

He assured me that the Renaissance Festival is not going awayanytime soon, so we’ll all be able to go to it and see what we love.

Ren Fest 3

Civilized in Saint Paul

Yes, you heard that right. I am one of the few residents of Saint Paul with a civilized mailbox.

First of all, let me describe:

20150919_120239-1_resizedIn fancy neighborhoods, like Midway, the mailman or mailwoman walks up to each house and delivers mail at the front door into a slot. About 70 years ago, someone decided it would be a good idea to deliver it to the front of the house, not necessarily the door. It was more insulated.
That was a great idea. In theory, Let me show you a futuristic computer graphic of this concept:

Mail1
Red is the outside slot. Mail is easily taken from the inside.

Unfortunately, this makes the mail slot have a very low capacity.
Well, our postal couriers, being the clever folk that they are, plus they don’t have time to figure out every single house, like to find a magazine, roll it up (or fold it in half), and stick the letters, client checks, and whatever else you have, and just jam it in the slot. Another technical schematic is needed:
Mail2So I had the task of making it bigger.

It must have been installed before the house was finished, because there was a large metal box in between the walls.
First ripped off the front slot. You can see the top of the metal box.

20150919_120245_resizedHere;s what the inside looked like (sort of):
20150919_120336_resizedThe wall was in the way:
20150919_120341_resized20150919_120933_resized

You can see the metal box in the prior picture, If you can’t, it’s better in this one:

20150919_121126_resized

Now to make the replacement. For a couple days, mail just went into a basket that I set on top of the insulation to help guide mail onto the floor (it rarely caught it)

20150919_134137-1_resizedAt the store (Saving BIG Money, as one can only do in Midway), I got materials to make a new, bigger, better mail slot (I call it a “mail box”). I needed wood, trim, paint, a hinge, and a knob. I was looking at knobs and saw the perfect one. I loved everything about it.

Except I was looking to spend $2.50 on a knob, so I chose something a little more boring.

 

In the end, with a little fanagling and lot lot of help from my Dad, I had a quality finished product so I can finally have a good mailbox.

20150928_214524_resized

Problem for three yeas solved! Thanks for the help Dad!

Oh So Happy

I just had an awesome night at the American Swedish Institute tonight.

The ASI is a big mansion. Tonight they threw a big party they call Cocktails at the Castle.
I went to it with one of my ballroom dance friends, Meredith. I knew there was dancing there, and I knew she’d be up for some random dancing, which she totally was. And yes, she’s just a friend.

There was a concert – a guataring duo, on the Veranda (pictured)

The Gothenburg Combo
The Gothenburg Combo

It was rock ‘n’ roll theme, but they had some really good music. Naturally, there was a room in the mansion dedicated to ABBA (a band from Sweden, btw).

I started the night with a 25% charge on my phone and forgot my charger. That’s why I don’t have many pictures.

But some of the details were just super fun!

There was a tent there called The Dance Shanty.
Initially, Meredith danced with me in there. We did some swing dancing and a little disco. It was just big enough to do them, so we did. Not for too long. Then we explored the mansion. We saw a really cool aeralist on a string performing. Meredith said she used to do that sort of thing, too (cool).

Aerialist

Eventually, she got tired and read in a quieter area upstairs. Then she just let me buzz down and have fun.

HumanMarionetteHgSo I did. There was a human marionette. It was so cool and fun! I’ve ever really seen it done like this.

Then I went into the Dance Shanty again. I’m incredibly happy right now. This is awesome because everyone else loves it. I mean, I’m just myself. and when I’m happy and having fun, I’m a total goof.

I was in a state I call “shit-full-of-energy”. Maybe it’s because of the music, maybe it’s because of the wine, but I could move fast.

Anyways, I was dancing like a super happy energetic person (“silly, goofy spaz”), and everyone loved it. I can’t explain what happens, but when I look at someone, they return my look of cheerfulness. We hang out, often dance together for a little bit, then I move on. I’m just there to have fun, not make connections (even though I got a couple of business cards). The Dance Shanty was packed, meaning I just jumped around with everyone else. Although, there is usually room for me to do a quick spin (read “spaz” above)(I love my shoes because I am very agile in them. They’re business shoes, bought because they have smooth leather souls and allow me to move).

Eventually, Meredith came down because I told her she had to check it out. Initially, we went into the Dance Shanty for a little bit. Then, as we were going to leave, there was awesome music in the front area. At the point, I was in my essence, so she told me I could go dance for a couple songs. And I did, and people loved dancing with me. Again. Definitely a weird night!

I love that place. In general, I’m going to get more involved soon.

Avoiding Fair Traffic

We all know we’re going to wait in lines at the Fair, but who wants to wait in line to wait in line?
Of course, I’m talking about Fair Traffic.

Since I’m a local, I know the ins and outs, and because I probably like you, I’m going to tell you how to get close (to a Energy Park Drive Park & Ride or within walking distance without paying for parking).

Step 1:
AVOID SNELLING

Now I’ll tell you how to do that:

From the South (southeast or southwest, it’s all the same):

  • Take 494 to 5
  • Take 5, avoid airport and 55
  • Take the Edgecomb/Shepard exit.
    • Stay on Edgecomb (north) whenever road forks
      CONTINUED AT |||||||
  • If that exit is closed because of construction (not sure if that’s done), follow 5, which turns into W 7th
    • Turn Left (north) onto Davern
    • Turn left (west) on St. Paul Ave
    • Turn right (north) on Edgecomb/Fairview
    • Stay on Edgecomb/Fairview when road forks
      CONTINUED AT |||||||

From the East/West

  • Take either Lexington (if from East) or Cretin (if from West) exit
  • Go South until Marshall
  • If from East, take Marshall West, if from West, take Marshall East
  • Turn north onto Fairview
    CONTINUED AT |||||||
  • ||||||| CONTINUED
  • Stay on Fairview (north), under 94, past University light
  • Stay on Fairview past Minnehaha stop sign and Hewitt stop sign
  • Turn right (east) onto pierce Butler Ave
  • Take Snelling North exit (north, but exit on right [south] side of street)
  • Snelling North Exit should turn into Energy Park Drive exit
  • Turn left (east) onto Energy Park Drive.
  • Find a Park & Ride

From the North:

  • Never going this way myself, I’ve heard there is parking in the neighborhoods around Como. Good luck!
traffic jams in the city, road, rush hour
traffic jams in the city, road, rush hour

Under the Bridges of Paris

After checking in, I decided to go to my favorite place, the Seine River. Naturally, I would love to waltz under the bridges of Paris, so I set out on my adventure to find a waltz!
(Those of you who are not familiar, there is a waltz called Under the Bridges of Paris. It’s one of my favorite waltzes, but it’s never played at any ballroom dances because it is short and too slow for most social ballroom dances)

Under the bridges of Paris.... See? Several bridges!
Under the bridges of Paris…. See? Several bridges!

(This post is silly, and it is primarily or solely to showcase my some of my photos from the first part of Day 1 in Paris in my 2015 trip)

DSC_0056 - croppedOnce I got checked in, the first place I ventured was Châtelet, which is a big metro HUB, but it’s also right by the Seine (between Notre Dame and La Louvre).

I got to the Seine and took some pictures.I saw a woman who said she had a nice camera and knew how to take pictures. So after passing the “let use my camera” rule (“I could definitely outrun this person, therefore I can be nice and accept their offer to take my picture”), I gave her my camera to take some pictures. I’ll post a couple pictures. The second is out of focus, but I like how she coached me to line it up (and yes, that is my passport and cards around my neck. I’ll make a post about traveling safety)
meinparismeinparisagainThen I went on my adventure to find my waltz!
There are stairs to go by the bank, and there’s a nice sidewalk all along the river. It closes at night, though.

Along the sidewalk, there is a naturally occurring beach with nice sand.
The beach with a cute kid playing

I then saw something that was peculiar and kind of cool. I figured he was a street artist, and I was pretty entertained. They were just setting up when I arrived.

This is what Santa Claus does in the off season
This is what Santa Claus does in the off season

After about 10 minutes, I saw the believed street artist leaving. It turned out wasn’t a street artist at all, but it was just a guy who had an idea for a crazy-fun picture. His friend was wearing a Santa hat. I wonder where they were heading to next!

…. but I continued…..
Next, I saw what was certainly an international Foosball competition.
foosballWell that was a sport, and I see a large wooden floor, but that’s not waltzing…. so I continued….
I got distracted by the wonderful views, especially from down low, and I did have a camera in my hand, so I took a couple of quick snapshots.
snap1Le SeineBut as I kept walking…. I found it! I found a place where they have dance lessons Under the Bridges of Paris! They were closed, but I can come back later, right?
I looked at their schedule.
scheduleI was wrong the whole time. There is not waltz under the bridges of Paris, at least nothing organized.

I’ll have to bring a partner and sound system with me next time I go.

So ended my search for a waltz Under the Bridges of Paris.

Luckily, that was only one of several adventures in Paris. I’ll tell more stories and post more pictures for a while. While I was only in Paris for 3 days (plus travel), I have a lot of stories to share.

Until I make another post, you should read some other stories from traveling.