Conner's Blog

My trip to Duluth was intended to be a photo journey.  I ended up spending the day in a bar thinking there was nothing worth photographing.  Finally, after being told I had to go take photos of the waves I ended up doing just that.  I had an incredible time.  It was probably the most challenging photography experience I’ve had.  The winds were gusting at over 40 mph and the rain was coming at you vertically.  I had an umbrella and a jacket to protect my gear, but it was almost impossible to keep the lens dry.  Happily, I managed to get a few shots I’m happy with and the experience only added fuel to my passion for photography.

Here are a few of the shots I took.  As usual, the rest can be found on Flickr.

The last time I was in Duluth I was there for a job interview and didn’t have much time to enjoy myself.  I loved seeing the ships on the lake.  It stills amazes me just how big Superior is.

The waves were incredible, I talked to a few locals while walking along the shore and they all said they don’t usually see waves this large this early in the season.

One of the residents of Duluth directed me to this beach where people were surfing.  I’d heard this was possible but had never seen it until I took these photos.

Unfortunately, the rain and clouds didn’t lead to many great fall color shots.  On the plus side I did get to hang out with Piper again.  She is getting big but she is still dang cute.

I’m going to move soon, only I’m moving in the wrong direction.  I’ve decided I need to pack up and head south.  I went through this stage last year after spring took too long to get here, but this year it’s not just the weather making me consider leaving the great state of Minnesota.

True, the weather has been annoying.  Granted, days where the sun shines and the temps get above 40 are great.  The problem with Minnesota spring is the tease before it actually arrives. I know it’s coming every year, but it still gets to me.  I’m not sure how to cope, I was going to fly south in February earlier this year, but I decided to spend my money smartly and pay down some debt instead.  On top of that, I ended up getting sick this Saturday and staying in bed Sunday and Monday.  This meant I missed most of the nice weather this week.  I know I just need to get over it but still, if anyone knows how to combat the annoyance of the Minnesota pseudo-spring please let me know.

However, the weather is not the main reason I’m on the verge of renting a U-haul.  It’s our messed up congressional situation.  By now, everyone and his or her pet bird know we still do not have a second Senator.  If you don’t know about the two imbeciles who basically tied you should set your time machine for 2009 and come join us.  I haven’t written about it because I don’t think either Franken or Coleman deserve the seat, but the law is the law.  It’s just sad it’s going to be six months into the term before Minnesota has a full voice in the Senate

You would think that the recount would be enough idiocy.  But no, Michelle Bachman, who proved herself crazy during the run up to the general election has opened her mouth again.  This time instead of accusing members of Congress of holding anti-American views, she is claiming we are running out of rich people.  I am not sure what to say to this.  Good?  Waaa?  WTF? I had forgiven her district for re-electing her, but honestly what were those people thinking. It’s a mystery to me how someone like this got elected, and how she continues to hold onto that seat.

You can see my dilemma, first I have to put up with Minnesota weather, something I came to terms with before I moved here.  Like other Minnesotans though, complaining about the weather is just what we do.  I did think this congressional thing was different, until I thought about it a bit and realized that I did move to the state that elected Jesse Ventura governor.  It was then that I realized I had made my own bed, and would stick with this state through the winters and the elections.  It may be a little messed up, but Minnesota knows how to combat the insanity.

With cold weather finally descending on Minneapolis, it’s time for those of us lucky enough to live in the frozen tundra to come up with ways to stay warm.  As I grew up in Montana and went to college in Grand Forks I have plenty of experience keeping warm.  For those of you that are not ready for the cold, here are a few tips from someone crazy enough to live in the cold for 20+ years.

1. If you are going to be outside for more than five minutes at a time, bundle up with wool socks and long underwear.  These make a big difference.
2. Of course you should always wear gloves, but for extra protection, buy some extra large mittens and put them on over your gloves.  You will be amazed at how much longer your fingers can go without going numb.
3. Avoiding the wind is critical.  Today’s temperature was below 0, but with windchill it felt like -30.  The wind is the killer and should be avoided. If you can’t park inside, try to park on the side of your building away from the wind.  Anything you can do to avoid being buffeted by the gale force winds will help you stay warm for longer.
4. Warm your car up.  Though some say this is not necessary to do this for your car, it’s critical for your own comfort.  Let your car run for five minutes before you leave and you might get warmth out of your vents before you get to the office.
5. Turn down your thermostat.  This isn’t going to keep you from freezing, but not only will it save you money, but it won’t feel quite so cold outside.  This is completely psychological but sometimes it’s effective.

None of these are overly creative, but they do work.  Post your own tips in the comments.

I drove to Iowa over Christmas. The state was just finishing up clearing the roads from a fairly major snow storm. As I drove down I-35 I noticed a ton of cars in the ditch, which was kind of odd I thought. Turns out that the state of Iowa imposes a tow ban during a major snow storm.

I’m not sure what to think of this, seems like overkill, but the more I thought about it the better I liked the idea. It keeps tow trucks from getting on the road and causing accident, directly or indirectly. It also might keep people off the roads who know that if they do go in the ditch they can’t get their car out. Sounds like a great plan considering the amount of traffic you find on the roads in Minneapolis during any given snowstorm.