Busy Weekend: Part, the Third

Went hiking around Minnehaha Falls on Sunday afternoon. (The rest of the weekend was really busy, but I shan't bore you with any more pictures.) It's a short loop, so we did it a couple times. The weather was gorgeous, so everyone and their mothers were out.

Busy Weekend: Part, the Second

Aloysius C. Wiederhold

Inaugural Row
John was so kind to give Eric and me the honor of rowing his and Al's boat for the very first time on Thursday night.

And, of course, what better way to end the night than eating more?

Busy Weekend: Part, the First

Thursday night: Christening of the Aloysius C. Wiederhold,
in honor of the late MBC novice rowing coach

Beautiful new Kaschper 2x. It's a sweet row.

There is always eating involved at the boat club.

Champagne would've been too fancy for Al.

I probably shouldn't have been in this picture,
but I wanted a certificate
(or at least a picture of me with someone else's).
John promised me my own novice graduation certificate soon.

My Niece

Genova Kate was born on June 24, 2008, to my brother and sister-in-law, and both mommy and baby are doing well (despite being three weeks early). She weighed 6lbs, 9oz, and has amazingly long fingers and toes, and very pretty dark hair.

Auntie Linnea is going to spoil you rotten, kid, every chance she gets!

Quote of the Moment

"Expert opinion is only an ordinary guess in evening clothes." -Justice Curtis Bok

A Midsummer Night's Dream

It may be a few days yet before the official start of summer, but last night was definitely feeling mid-summerish, what with perfect weather (low humidity, lots of sun, and it's finally starting to warm up around here) and a good play by Shakespeare at the Guthrie. Joe Dowling's interpretation of the classic tale is delightful: completely off the wall in costuming and genre, extremely well-acted, and, most important, hilarious. I haven't laughed so hard at a play since I went to see these guys in London do all of Shakespeare's 37 plays in 97 minutes. (I think the only difference in level of laughter is the Reduced Shakespeare Company packs the same number of laughs into 97 minutes that Dowling does in just over 3 hours of Midsummer.)

Midsummer Night's Dream is only at the Guthrie for a few more days, but if you get the chance, go see it. I highly recommend it.

More from Mpls Sprints: The Fours

I rowed in two fours on Saturday at Lake Nokomis. Here are some pictures of those two boats (same lineups, so they look very much alike, except we used slightly different oars). I'm told that in the Masters Women's 4- our team took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

My Idea of Housework

Mpls Sprints 2008 - 2x

Lake Nokomis

June 14, 2008

Jeanette and Me
MW2x

Seeds v. Seeds

For some strange reason, I don't mind eating these little white seeds:

...but can't stand these other ones (and, therefore, they must be picked, cut or spit out, at whatever cost): (By the way, aren't watermelons supposed to be seedless nowadays, anyway? Just because they're white, doesn't make the seeds nonexistent.)

Unacceptable Ways to Tell Your Lawyer He's Fired

I think the #1 reason is: Punch him in the face in the courtroom.

A quote from the story on Revelle Loving, the man who punched out his defense lawyer in between the verdict and sentencing for killing his ex-girlfriend (and mother of his child) and her new boyfriend:

"Attacks on defense attorneys are not common, but they do occur. Last month, the state Court of Appeals rejected an appeal for a new trial from a St. Louis County man who punched his defense lawyer repeatedly in the face. The court ruled the man gave up his right to counsel and he went on to unsuccessfully represent himself."

In this case, Loving's (seriously, that's his name? Loving?) lawyer, William Selman, continued to represent him through the end of sentencing, saying "I'm an ex-hockey player." I guess he can take his lumps. However, when Selman said, "We're disappointed in the jury's verdict. We respect their decision. We just disagree with the verdict," I don't know know how anyone could take him seriously.

I don't understand the mentality of these criminals, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by someone who had killed the mother of his child in cold blood thinking it would be a good idea to hit his own defense lawyer in a court house, or doing it without thinking of the consequences. That's probably what got them in trouble in the first place - insanely thinking they are above the law (I mean, seriously: check out this guy's mug shot - talk about a smirk), or just letting their rage take over.

Loving fired an AK-47 numerous times into the parked car where his ex and her new boyfriend were sitting, killing them (with his brother Ronelle Loving's help). And then he has the audacity to say to their four-year-old daughter through the court (since she's in foster care currently), "I love you and miss you. Sorry Daddy can't be with you. Sorry your mother can't be with you, but, you know, life goes on."

Life goes on? It would've gone on for the little girl's mother, too, if he hadn't killed her.

The story goes on to say Loving's ex-girlfriend planned to try to get a restraining order against him, who had twice been charged with assaulting her. But she was killed the day before her court appointment, the prosecutor said. I hate to say it, but even if she had gotten the restraining order, it probably would not have stopped him. Paper cannot stop guys like these.

Frontenac State Park Pics

My friend, Kim, and I are going to be hiking around Mont Blanc in Europe this fall. We decided some training is in order (besides the rowing we both do a lot of). We may not have the altitude, but we do have a bit of river bluff around here on which to hike. So, off we went on Sunday with another friend, and the three of us traversed the muddy Frontenac State Park down in Red Wing. It was overcast, horribly humid in the torrential-downpours-are-imminent kind of way, and everything was very muddy, but we had a great time. We were probably a sight to behold when we went out to eat after the hike was over with, but they still served us (miraculously).