Traveling Fool

It seemed like it took forever to get here, and then, POOF! it was done. No, I'm not talking about my recent milestone birthday (which I'm still celebrating, by the way). I'm talking about Super Bowl LII (or as some airport train ads had it, SuperB owl LII). We waited for US Bank Stadium to be finished; we waited for the interminable construction on Nicollet Mall to finish; then the set up of the outdoor activities; the activities; and then, oh yeah, the game (and half-time show). After five hours of football, at least it always seems like that, it ended. Workers are still taking down some of tents and other temporary structures, but the visitors have returned home, probably to a much warmer climate. It was fun, we enjoyed having out of town guests, especially those big names, like Sting, Justin Timberlake, Pink, and more that I know I missed. I loved showing off our metro area, even the cold and snow, because everyone would have complained or commented that it's really...

The Aoife Scott Band, 2017 It was our second year at the Irish Fair, and this time my friend and I went Saturday and Sunday; Saturday was a beautiful warm, sunny day. A grand day for listening to The Aoife (ay-fuh) Scott Band. Aoife is a member of one of the first families of Irish music, the Black Family (her mother is Frances Black; Mary Black, her aunt, and Roisin O, her cousin), but she totally stands on her own. She is relatively new, at least as far as recordings, having one album ("Carry the Day") under her belt, but she engaged the audience right from the beginning, and it seemed there was quite a good crowd at the main stage. There were covers, but also original tunes, and she told the stories behind their inspiration or creation. Her band was fabulous, including a guitarist (her 'fella'), a fiddler/bouzouki player, bodrhan/flute player (the bodrhan is a hand held Irish drum), who also wowed us with some crazy leg Irish dancing at the end of the set. ...

Since Spring has sprung a month early, I have started up my weekend walks and found a treasure trove of stuff now that the snows have receded (don't tell me there's no global warming). I'm really not sure what these are. And perhaps I don't want to know. "Help, I'm trapped" Stray hearing protection

If it's anything we appreciate here in Minnesota it's gorgeous weather, and free shit. So today was the culmination of both things. The Irish Fair of Minnesota is the largest free Irish fair in the country. It was held on Harriet Island in St. Paul for a beautiful three days. My friend and I went on Sunday. We parked a mile or so away ($5 - another good deal) and walked, delightful. There is an area set aside for the marketplace which is full of local, national and I imagine, but didn't confirm, international vendors selling kilts (maybe next time), soccer jerseys, scarves, music and jewelry; there are food vendors, local pubs and Irish/Celtic clubs providing beer, lemonade, fish & chips etc.; and various music stages, dancing stages, activities for kids; and in the cultural building they had an exhibit dedicated to the centenary of the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin. There was even a hurling demonstration, kind of like field hockey meets lacrosse meets make up your own...