Another Day, Another Exotic Natural Phenomena

Coming in this morning from walking Lucy around our temporary Minnesota neighborhood, I noticed something curious. Where we had been seemed like a regular, grassy field, so how come my sneakers are orange?

A quick google revealed that the grasses growing there are probably suffering from "leaf rust" a condition caused by rust fungi. Wet conditions and a lack of nitrogen may make some grasses more susceptible, but evidently, it is easily treatable, and most lawns can fully recover on their own.

But what about my shoes?

Tornadic

Even though my mom lives out here, until this summer, I have not spent very much time in the midwest. In addition to the dog parks, I am loving the weather. Sure, there have been a few downpours, and even a couple of hot and muggy days, but generally the days have been a good 10-20 degrees cooler than ours at home.

There was one weather phenomena that slipped my mind, though. Despite being a big Wizard of Oz fan, the thought of any kind of tornado? Fuggeddaboutit! So you can imagine my interest when this afternoon's episode of Jeopardy was interrupted for live weather reporting about the big storms to our west.

Every update is rainbow colored and anchored by a very earnest bespectacled young meteorologist in shirtsleeves, counting down the minutes and specifics of the local warnings, including the height of the clouds, the size of the hail, and the communities that should be sheltering in their safe spots, far away from cars and mobile homes. Incidentally, every update also has the city of Rochester on its map. Oh, we're not in the target zone, but there are definitely some twisters out there!

Oh, and I also learned a new adjective.

Different Rubrics

And the dog park tour of Minnesota continues...

To date? We have been to 4 dog parks in the Twin Cities and 2 in Rochester. Each has had its own character, and Lucy's reactions were not always the same as mine. Out here in the midwest where land is not quite at the same premium as it is in the DMV, most dog parks are expansive and green, and it's fun to either watch Lucy run with abandon or explore field and wood and water all within a protective boundary.

So today when we had the chance to visit the Lyndale Farmstead Dog Park, I kind of expected more of the same. Not so... despite the name, this DP was a vacant lot with a chainlink fence and a crushed gravel surface. Shoehorned in between the Minneapolis Parks and Rec boat yard, a trash and recycling site, and some other industrial infrasructure, the only thing I liked was the canopy that protected us from the drizzle.

 Lucy, on the other hand looooooved it! Perhaps it was because it reminded her of the dog parks at home, or maybe it was just that spunky shepherd-lab mix, Cassius, who ran and wrestled with her just the way she likes, but whatever it was, she had a great time there.

Old Man River

We made a run to yet another nearby dog park this morning-- Just 10 minutes away, the reviews rated it 5! stars.

And
it
was!

Located in Minnehaha Park, a single chainlink gate led to a steady downhill forested trail. There must have been at least 10 dogs and their owners gleefully tramping along with us as we made our way down, down, down...

to the Mississippi River!

Yes! The park included a dog beach that ran along the shores of a lazy bend in that iconic river. Perhaps a hundred feet across from us boaters backed their trailers down a ramp before speeding off to fish, explore, and ski, but on . our side it was all dog! They dashed and splashed and swam and ran joyfully. Lucy loved it!

And when at last it was time for us to head back up the trail to our car, there was a spring in our step and satisfaction all around.

One Way

"That's a stop sign!" my mom warned me as I sped toward an intersection on our way to Target.

I slowed in time, and then shrugged. "It was four-way," I laughed, but I was also problem-solving the near miss.

We had just passed the YMCA near her home, and Mom had asked me where ours was at home. As I eased through the stop sign, I realized that I was 1000 miles away in the navigation part of my brain, visualizing the directions to get to the Y in Arlington. When I almost missed the next turn, I ended the conversation and focused on the route ahead.

Turns out? I can't be in two places at once and follow the rules of the road!

Urban Legend

We were walking Lucy down a nice, middle class neighborhood street yesterday when a beat up van with tinted windows pulled up beside us. Inside were a sketchy-looking couple in their thirties. She was driving; he rolled down the window; she leaned over and called to us. "Have you seen our puppies? They got out, and they're missing!"

"That's terrible!" Heidi replied. "But no, we haven't seen them. Sorry."

The van rolled slowly away.

"Oh my gosh!" I said. "They need another approach! I totally thought they were going to offer us candy and ask us to get in and help them look!" 

Intersection

Worlds collide here at the Mayo.

I stood at a 7th floor window looking down on the weekly summer festival that they have every Thursday here in Rochester. An hour before, Heidi, my mom, and I been down there, sitting at a cafe table in the shade of a high rise enjoying lobster rolls, rotisserie chicken and fish tacos. The main stage was below me, and the canopies and carts stretched beyond my sight, but I knew the arts and crafts and henna and CBD and dog fashion and popcorn and giant cookies and fine food and beverages were offered along three blocks, ending in a whole other stage.

Two women in colorful head scarfs chatted on a bench. Five folks on scooters (Lyme just rolled them out here last week) rolled up to a raised garden and parked along the circle right outside the Gonda Building 2nd street entrance. A young couple, both colorfully tattooed, pushed a patient in a wheel chair toward the elevator. To my right, I caught the strains of a conversation I couldn't ignore: Ashley has the championship pig! a woman told the man in the ball cap sitting next to her in a plush leather chair.

The diversity was staggering. And yet? I knew we were are all drawn there by human need.

Just then, Heidi and my mom returned from the ladies room and we headed to the elevator.