Dave's Blog

Suffering For Fun

Yesterday I rode in my first road race, the Minnesota State Championship in Plainview, down near Rochester. It would have been a humiliating experience but for three things: one, I am used to being dropped (left behind) when I ride with serious cyclists; two, I was hurting too much to really care about how I looked riding all alone for 55 miles, the peleton in the far distance ahead of me; and three, everyone along the course was so supportive and encouraging that I only felt a little like the fat boy huffing and puffing to try and keep up with the other kids in gym class. This hill was where I lost my group. It's a mile long, and we had to climb it four times. Brutal. Coming back down into the valley, however, on a steep 40 MPH winding descent, was a thrill that almost made up for the rest of the pain.

Block E

Every Minneapolitan who's been here for a few years knows all about Block E, how it was the last vestige of skid row for many years, and was filled with sketchy businesses like Moby's bar (which, as legend has it, would trade you a shot of whiskey for an AA sobriety medallion) and various sex shops and scary artist and musician's studios and stuff. So, about 15 years ago, they tore it all down, everything, and made it a parking lot, which is how it remained for about a decade. Then they built this, a big styrofoam shopping center and hotel complex that looks like it should be in Scottsdale or Orlando. And this wonderland is now equipped with a large Rush Limbaugh sign and a brand-new Hooters! Face it, Minneapolis, this little square of earth is cursed...

Kevin

Kevin O'Boyle may not look like the management type, but manger he is, and a good one. He's in charge of our warehouse (shipping, receiving, inventory, etc.), which would be a nightmare if I were to try it, so thank God for this guy. Kevin is originally from Boston and was a schoolteacher before coming to work for us. His tough-guy Southie roots become apparent when you see him rolling through town on his bike on a windy 10 degree morning in January or when you watch him unloading a shipping container on a 90 degree afternoon in August, but his enlightened thinking and higher education come to light when he opens his mouth to speak in his soft, gentle manner. He is a gentleman and a scholar and a judge of fine whiskey, as my Dad always puts it.

Champion

This is the kid next door, Nick Lebedoff, who was always hitting tennis balls against his garage door, trying to be like his big brother, John. Only the other day, when we moved into this house, he was seven years old. On Friday afternoon, he won the Minnesota State Class 1A Tennis Championship for the second time. His play was inspiring... cool, surgical, tenacious. The boy grew up real good. Congratulations, Nick!

Warhol

The grass in this Stone Face pot died; I think Andy himself would have been pleased with the result.

Why Is Peter Sleeping?

...because he's been working his ass off for our kids, that's why.

Just got home from our end-of-year 4th grade class camping trip, which was awesome, and again marveled at the loving patience and hard (underpaid) work of Eli's teacher, Peter Lawton. There's probably a Peter Lawton somewhere in your life; let's take a moment to give thanks to and for good teachers. They are so important.