We had the first real snowfall of the year on the 15th. I think I should have mowed my grass one last time this year, but it looks like I missed my window of oppourtunity. I wish I could say I cared and make it sound believable. We’ll see if I have to pay for this laziness in the spring.

I can always fool myself that winter isn’t quite here yet, right up until the snow and sleet starting coming down. Now the truth is inescapable.  

The usual walk around Langton Lake today was rather chilly. Most of my friends wimped out since it was too blustery. It’s time for me to get my act together and get a real winter coat. 

It was so cold last night the pond out back was covered in ice this morning. I hope this current cold snap is not a hint at how cold the rest of winter will be. 

Dave pointed me towards the WikiTravel site for Minneapolis. I think it’s missing a lot of information. Time to create an account and add your favorite Minneapolis haunts.

… and btw Dave thanks for pointing me to the salmon flavored soda. I do appreciate the occasional disgusting link.

So how bad is your crime when you are posthumously executed?

[Link Courtesy of Primate Brow Flash] 

The Civil War – A Film by Ken Burns

by Paramount Home Video

I’ve finally reached "The Civil War" in my Netflix queue.

 I love this documentary. I love the soft music and the shots panning the photographs. I love listening to the letters home — eloquent, poignant and full of emotion. I love the rich voices of the narrators. I even love the slow pacing of the movie.

The photographs haunt me. (As an aside, it’s Orwellian that the current administration seeks to control the phtographic images the public sees. This policy dishonors the dead and debases their sacrifice. You can learn more at Camera/Iraq or see photos at The Memory Hole.)

At our house Sunday is candy day. We let the kids dip into their Halloween stash of candy and pick out an item or two to savor. Today Elise picked out the small gummi rat. She bit off the rats head and chewed it up. I asked her "what do rats taste like?" — "Daddy, they taste like glue" was her response. I don’t want to know how she knows what glue tastes like. Thus begins the era in my fathering where I don’t feel I have to know everything about my daughter.

Taste of Scandanavia located in North Oaks.

I’ve lived in the area for years and never been into this restaurant until September. I thought it was a bakery and so just walked right on past several times, eating at the Panino restaurant a few doors down.

I happened to be in the area and my kids were hungry and I didn’t want to make dinner. I was intending to go to the Panino’s. I walked past the restaurant and realized, hey it’s more than a bakery. I walked in and was instantly at home.

It is my new favorite place near my house. They have very reasonable prices and great soup and salad combo. The raspberry vinagrette is amazing. I’ve had several tasty soups including Carrot Ginger, Borscht, and Squash. All of the soups were amazing.

I made peanut soup on Friday night. It was super easy to make and cheap to boot. I pretty much consists of milk, peanut butter and some spices.  It was pretty good but not amazing. The home-made croutons really made the dish. After making croutons from scratch I can’t figure out why anyone would ever buy croutons at the store. They are so easy to make at home.

The ColdFront show was high energy and loud as usual. This time I was there for "Basket Case" which they played in the first set.

My favorite local heavy metal cover band, ColdFront is playing tonight at The Firehouse in Circle Pines. I plan to be there, you should too. Unfortunately, I can’t stay until closing time tonight.

 
(Note: The bar is in Anoka County so smoking is allowed; you might want to burn your clothes after the show. You might also want to bring some earplugs along since the boys are a little loud.)