Conner's Blog

Because I’m lazy and hate coming up with new post ideas, I’m starting a new feature to compliment Wednesday Where?  It’s Friday five.  It’s five items that have something in common.  It may be five things that drove me nuts this week.  Five funny words, five posts I think you should read.  Basically the only rule is I limit it to five items and there has to be a common thread.  Today I give you five things that made me smile this week.

• Via Flickr user blueintheburge a lion who is a caption just waiting for writing.  (She does a damn good job on her own.
• Art and Emily review U Otter Stop Inn and I agree with everything they say.  In fact I was there on Tuesday night this week.  Don’t worry though I didn’t dance like Art did.
• My friends Marissa and Adam got a new family member, if that photo doesn’t bring a smile to your face I can’t help you.
• Kaeti shared this letter and after I got done being misty eyed, I took it as a challenge to see the good in things.
• I doubt you will find this inspirational poster on many office walls, but I think the point should be noted.

I should mention that this idea was stolen in part from Bob Collins who authors the News Cut blog for MPR.  His Five at eight feature is never a disappointment and is a must read if you enjoy learning new things or getting the real story behind the headlines.

After an awful night at home, one that would have been a total disaster if it wasn’t for the Fighting Sioux defeating the despised Golden Gophers, I woke up this morning and headed to St. Paul to try Nina’s Coffee Shop.  I had a meeting  in the building Nina’s is located in so I spent two hour relaxing and drinking coffee.  The quick review is it’s a place with it’s own atmosphere, plenty of customers, and an ambiance that allows for 30 people to all sit around talking and you never really hear anything.  They have a lot of great artwork on the walls, and the interior architecture is really nice.  The Blair House building itself is worth checking out even if you don’t intend on stopping at Nina’s.

I managed to forget my camera, a true sin of blogging, so I didn’t get any pictures.  I would have felt awkward taking photos while I was there so I’m fine with it.  Overall I was impressed and if I lived in the neighborhood I could see myself heading down to Nina’s on the weekends frequently.  Since I live in Burnsville though, I doubt I’ll be back anytime soon, it was a good experience just not one that’s worth a twenty minute drive.

It’s been a while since I posted anything.  I took the entire Thanksgiving weekend off of participating in social media of any sort, including my blog.  I posted approximatly 3 Twitter updates all weekend.  It was a nice break, but now I’m back.  Here are the latest thoughts and links from the world at large.

• If you ever wondered how not to write an about us for your website, check out the CIA’s HR page for details.
• Alexis posted this wonderful looking recipe for Corn and Chayote Soup.  I may make it this week and let you know the results.
• Ana Marie Cox posts a letter she received and her response.  I do hold out some hope for future generations.
• Via Kottke.  Photography is for Jerkoffs funny but definitely not safe for work.
• I believe I’ve mentioned Margaret and Helen before, but as long as the two of them continue to write I’ll keep linking.  Margaret’s last post is great, but her Thanksgiving letter to her family deserves a gold star.  Here is an actual thought; this is why the Internet is great, where else can a couple of wise old ladies be heard by thousands of people, we all need to get our grandparents a blog.
• In case you wondered, the Timberwolves do have a playbook and it supposedly contains 75 plays.  I’m not sure if this includes out of bounds plays or not but either way this is further proof Randy Whittman is insane.
• I went out to moto-i on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  It was a great experience, really good food and the sake is as good as advertised.  The atmosphere was more bar like than expected but I still give it my recommendation.
• Finally, a zoo in Japan discovered something any 15 year old who lives on a farm would know.  You can’t mate two polar bears of the same sex.  It’s just not possible.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Remember to avoid the stores at all costs for the next three weeks, and if you are traveling for the holidays be safe.