Day 13 :: 3rd Grade Fieldtrip

Today's outing seemed to call on my more 'mature' side. Which, as many of you know, is a bit of a stretch for me. I volunteered to chaperone for a field trip that Addie's 3rd grade class was taking. The destination was the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake.

I arrived much earlier than needed. I thought the class was leaving at noon, so I arrived at 11:45. The class didn't depart until 12:25. The upside was that I really got to observe Addie in her class setting. It was fun to see how she interacts with the other kids. I don't really have anything profound to say about it, but it was a proud moment for me, and quite enjoyable.

We eventually made our way to the busses, and journeyed up to the Wildlife Science Center. Because the entire 3rd grade was on this trip, we split up into four groups. Each group went to a different 'station' and rotated. The stations were; 1. raptors (specifically, owls), 2. misc. mammals, 3. inside talk about misc. mammals, and 4. outside wolves. Our group went in that order.

The time spent talking about owls was pretty fascinating. The woman speaking really had the kids attention and taught us things like... 1. owls, like most birds, have hollow bones, 2. owls eyeballs are almost a third of their head size, 3. a long-eared owl only weighs 3/4 of a pound, 4. an owl can rotate it's head almost 270˚, and so on.

We then moved on to the second station, but as we walked from point A to point B, we walked past what seemed to be a scene from a horror movie... we walked by a gated area, where the gate slowed squeeked open... and on the other side... not a pile, but a mass, of dead deer carcasses. It was fairly grotesque, and instigated many screams and gasps from the unexpecting group of 3rd graders passing by.

We checked out the coyotes, the grey fox, the porcupine, and the two mountain lions. Other than the sleeping grey fox, the animals were quite animated and provided plenty of entertainment for the audience.

The next station brought us inside for a 25-minute interactive talk providing some history of the wolves, and some general information about the three north American wild canines: 1. foxes, 2. coyotes, and 3. wolves.

The final station was a tour of the wolves on the property. Apparently, we witnessed some unusual activity during this phase. We got to witness the two Mexican Wolves eat a fresh carcass, and demonstrate the dominant behavior of the Alpha over the other wolf. The second wolf neared the carcass with hesitation and it's tail between it's legs. As the Alpha ate first, it would often growl and bear it's teeth as the second wolf neared.

We then moved on to the Tundra Grey Wolves. This Alpha pair of male and female apparently don't squabble, but have a mutual respect for each other. However, in this particular case, the male didn't seem to have much of an appetite as the female crunched through the ribs of the deer to get to the heart.

The next two wolves were red wolves. They are very near extinction and there are only a few left in the wild. The two on exhibit were a male and a female, but the female apparently hasn't found this male very fetching, and has turned down any of his advances. Because the Center is trying to produce cubs, they may swap out the female with another.

The final group of wolves was a pack of grey wolves generally found in northern Minnesota and other nearby states. They seemed to be the most active, and they were quite large - 80-100 lbs each.

I've actually been to the Center once before, so not much of this was brand new to me. However, going as chaperone and seeing it through the kids' eyes was the new experience. They were so fascinated by these majestic animals. I've asked Addie many times in the past what she wants to be when she grows up, and she just always says "I dunno." However, today, on the way home, she announced without prompting, "When I grow up, I want to work with animals, and be the person who teaches other people about them." Ah, another proud moment. The highlight of the trip.

Day 12 :: Minneapolis Institute of the Arts

Kid Friendly: yes
Pet Friendly: no
Cost: Generally, $0/person, but they request small donations... we put in $2
Total Budget: $33/$50




Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!! Yep. That would be the alarm I set off tonight at the museum. More on that later.


I had to work a bit later tonight to wrap up some work, so I thought that I'd have to toss the idea of the museum out the window. But, as it turns out, things worked out beautifully. I left work around 5:30, and Addie and I were on the road by 6:00. We arrived at the museum around 6:30, which gave us an hour and a half 'til closing time. Considering that both Addie and I are known for our short attention spans, that was a perfect amount of time.


We started off on the main floor where there was an exhibit of children's art. Apparently, kids of all ages could take art classes there, and then have their art work displayed in a gallery setting. I would have loved that as a kid, and would like to further look into that for Addie. I think it could be a real boost to a kid's esteem as they pursue the world of art.


We continued up to the second floor where the areas were divided into artwork from different regions around the world. We began with Greece, then moved over to the Far East section, and eventually made it to the 'Americas' exhibit. Addie really enjoyed the Japanese scroll work and was impressed by the width of some of the paintings. She and I were also in awe by the age of some of the artifacts... some miniature sculptures from Egypt dating back to 3,000 BC!!


We then headed up to the European paintings (not sure the official name of the exhibit). We walked into a particular room where Addie immediately tried distracting me from a specific painting... "Daddy, don't look over there..." I knew there had to be a nude painting in the room. Sure enough, "Nude on a Couch," by Gustave Caillebotte was there hanging on the wall. So, the artist in me and the parent in me collided, and I felt I needed to show Addie a bit about the 'beauty of the human figure.' So, I brought her over to the painting and in an attempt to break that 'shame' barrier, I began to point out all the color and brush strokes that Caillebotte used to paint a small section of the woman's foot. And, of course, how could I do that without pointing to the area only two inches away from the painting... After all, I needed to be specific about the detail I was referring to. And in that second... I became a criminal.

The area that led to my criminal status:

So, I'm not sure how many of you know Addie that well, but she's a rule follower to say the least. If she gets it in her head that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things, watch out. The loud alarm being set off was bad enough, but the security guard who quickly confronted me, and then followed me with his eyes for the next ten minutes didn't help my case. For the remainder of our visit, Addie was sure to keep me at least five feet away from any piece of art work... relentlessly.

We continued to view additional exhibits... modern art, prairie America, etc., but nothing really measured up to the incident of the crime. 8:00 rolled around, and it was time to go. Addie made a final comment about how she enjoyed the large glass sun in the entry way, and then by her recommendation, we raced each other to the car in the frigid wind... always a good time. After all, the museum was nice, but she was REALLY looking forward to watching the next episode of the animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbender" on Netflix. Ah,... my little art connoisseur!

Dale Chihuly, "Sunburst"

Day 11 :: Nothing Planned - A Day of 'Smaller' Things

Now, it's not completely true that I had nothing planned. I had miscellaneous things planned, but nothing really that qualified for this post. As the day unfolded, and the other 'smaller' things came and went, a friend of mine made a great suggestion. He's an avid car 'assessor' (meaning he loves to informally formulate opinions and critiques on all the newest cars). His past assessments have often brought him to car dealerships, where he frequently test drives cars to measure their merit. Just for fun. And this was his suggestion for my activity for tonight... that he and I spend two hours testing cars, and then I blog about their value... perceived or otherwise. I loved the idea, and was ready to commit.

Until my drive home.

On my drive home, I started reviewing the 'smaller' things that occurred throughout the day, and quickly assessed that they indeed were really not that small. To the degree that I needed to call and postpone my flagship experience of being a car critic. Instead, I needed to shift completely into celebratory mode and take my wife out to dinner. This came as a result of one of those 'smaller' things.

Today, my wife, Laura, got a job.

That's no small thing. Don't misunderstand me...  in my opinion, she is highly qualified for many jobs, and has the personality that would lift the spirits of any work environment. So, her getting the job is of little surprise to me. What's 'big' about this, is what it is doing for her spirits. I, myself, went through a period of unemployment not too long ago, and it is safe to say, those were some of the darker days I've experienced in the recent years. She too, was feeling the weight of having to 'date' all over again. It's an awkward dance of questioning your own value as a valid contributor to the general workforce. Well, today, the question was swept away, when her new employer called her with excitement in their voice indicating that Laura, and only Laura, was the perfect candidate. No small thing indeed.

Another thing, not so small, has to do with Martha Stewart. Yes, that Martha Stewart. Recently, my employer, MindWare, received a call from the Martha Stewart Show, requesting we send a bunch of our product to their producers for consideration on an upcoming episode dedicated to all sorts of puzzles. As the Product Development Team (here's a shout out to Teza, Kristin and Tracie - whoop, whoop) was compiling product to send, we decided it would be fun to quickly create a customized Extreme Dot-to-Dot of Martha herself, to send with our product. Long story short, Martha's people selected the Dot-to-Dots that I illustrated as the feature give-away that day. In addition, they are taking the Martha Dot-to-Dot, blowing it up large, and will have the guest comedian on stage completing the dot-to-dot during the show. Also, they have requested my name and bio... not sure why... they may or may not make mention of my name. And, lastly, per my request, they reserved two tickets for Laura and I to be in the audience... tickets we will be using, because Laura and I are flying out to New York in a week and a half to take them up on those tickets. The show is on February 22nd. Again,... no small thing.

The final thing that was out of the ordinary today, was truly in the fashion of this 30-Day experiment. An opportunity has shown itself recently for me to get involved as a volunteer at my church. My previous job at a Las Vegas church had me deeply involved in the creative aspects of that church. And as much as I loved it, it was still my job... I was paid to do it. I wondered at that time if I'd be even remotely involved if it was on a purely volunteer basis. Well, today, I launched into a new journey that will quickly answer that question. I met with Jason, the creative director (not his 'official' title, but really true to all that he has taken on) of our current church. On a side note, he's officially the 'Worship Director,' and is an amazing musician. But, as mentioned, he also oversees ALL of the creative elements of the weekend services, as well as special services, such as the Good Friday service. And that was the subject we discussed.

Jason was gracious enough to take me out to Indian food (which I covet) for lunch, and we got to hear each other's background stories. Then, we got into the planning. He filled me in on the direction, and we had an official Creative Planning Meeting. It was great. I miss that from Las Vegas. I miss the comradery that comes out of that. I miss the purpose that bubbles to the surface in those moments. Jason is a kindred spirit. He would have fit in quite well with the Vegas crew. Today was good. And, with feeling, it was no small thing.


Laura Being Offered A Job Cost: $0
Being in Communication With Martha's Folks: $0
Going to Lunch With Jason: $0 (he paid)Total Budget: 
$31/$50

Day 10 :: Spinning

I'll be honest... spinning always sounded sort of 'girly' to me. I know that's shallow and somewhat sexist, but it just didn't seem like something I wanted to brag about doing. However, after tonight, I could honestly hold my head high as I tell others of the 'spinning class' I took... as they mock me for being girly.

'Spinning' is just a horrible name for a strenuous workout on a stationary bike. Tonight's 'cycling' excursion lasted 45 minutes. Thanks to my friend, Reina, I was able to enter the gates of the enormous Lifetime Fitness on a guest pass.

Although I endured the entirety of the 45-minute workout, I did so at my own pace. The instructor set the pace for a certain heart attack, but I chose to avoid the early death, and went on more of a 'stroll' in the country. Never-the-less, my legs are still putty, and three hours later, I'm still a bit light headed.

For those of you out there, seeking to find continuous ways to keep healthy, I recommend this one. Mostly because you could set your own pace, without too much shame. I chose to keep my 'seat' on the seat when others were 'climbing the hill,' and I didn't even get any dirty looks. Everyone's a winner!


Tomorrow
Regarding tomorrow night, I have nothing planned yet. The ice-fishing thing hasn't been secured. I considered another art museum, but I believe I'll have three or four by the time the 30-days are over. Other options, like the Como Zoo, close at 4:00 or 5:00. I may go check out the Guthrie, or possibly stay home and work on an ice sculpture. I'm sort of wiped out and fresh out of any great ideas. If anyone has any suggestions... feel free to fling them my way.

Day 9 :: The Museum of Russian Art

Kid Friendly: maybe
Pet Friendly: no
Cost: Generally, $7/person, but $0 if you get tickets at the library, as we did
Total Budget: $31/$50

Today I was joined by my lovely wife, Laura. Together, we were able to share an experience that has special meaning to her. The meaning comes in the form of a stirred memory, first created while we were living in Las Vegas. At that time, Laura had the opportunity to travel overseas for the first time in her life. She and some others from our church made up a team setting out on a short-term mission trip to Belarus, in Eastern Europe.

Today's outing was to the Museum of Russian Art. Although Belarus is not a part of Russia, it did at one time share a common government and culture while under the umbrella of the U.S.S.R. As we made our way through the museum, Laura was reminded of familiar rural scenes, clothing styles and forms of artistic expression that she encountered while she was there.

I was expecting to see a museum full of matryoshka dolls and other stereotypical Russian souvenirs. But, instead, we were welcomed by a refreshing trio of exhibits that amazed and astonished us. The three exhibits were; a collection of oil paintings by the 'Master' artist, Vasili Nechitailo; a collection of Russian lacquer miniatures, and a collection of Imperial Porcelain that belonged to the Romanovs.

All three exhibits represented works done by the most skilled of hands. Both Laura and I went from display to display with jaws wide open at the time and pure talent that was behind each work. The brush strokes of Nechitailo were broad, sweeping and somewhat messy when looked at in close proximity, but when stepping back and looking at the piece as a whole, it was pure beauty... with every stroke representing appropriate light and shadow.

The historical significance of the porcelain ware was just as intriguing as the effort behind each piece's creation. Delicate strokes followed established patterns representative of each royal Romanov throne in a calculated manner.

Lastly, I can barely imagine the intense concentration and steady hands needed to create the lacquer miniatures. They became the outlet of artistic expression after the Romanov family was extinguished and the Bolsheviks put strict outlines on what was acceptable, and what would put you into an early grave. Images, or icons, depicting religion, the opiate of the masses, was strictly prohibited. Therefore, these tightly detailed images, painted by miniscule brushes, generally portrayed cultural and social imagery.

I'm not an art critic, so don't take too much of the above at my word. Although I enjoy picking up a paint brush myself, I generally don't enjoy art museums that much. I have had a difficult time in the past connecting to the efforts and expression of other artists. However, today, I feel like I was able to see the entire creative process of these artists. I don't know if it's because of my recent attempts at oil painting, or simply because the Russian Museum of Art has done a fantastic job at holistically representing the artists, the art, the history, the society and the process.

As far as recommendations... if you enjoy history, art or culture, I recommend you check this one out. It's a jewel in the rough. But, be sure to read all the plaques that give context and history. I feel it's safe to say, you won't regret it.

Some oil paintings of Vasili Nechitailo on exhibit at the Museum of Russian Art

An example of a Russian Lacuer Miniature

Day 8 :: Long Walk

I'm tired. I'm sore. Yet, unlike the Steelers, I feel victorious.

I was fairly close to withdrawing my plan to walk today... it just seemed a bit excessive, and not very interesting to write about,... and I was planning on justifying it by calling the Super Bowl viewing my 'activity.' But, alas, I felt I had to follow through with the task that I had promised. I owe it to my loyal 'followers,'... all four of them.

So, to those who are on the edge of your seat, anticipating the deep parallels to life that one can draw from a walk like this, this vision quest, well here it is... it was a walk. A long walk. Sadly, I didn't have any epiphanies or life-altering moments. However, with that said, it was a wonderful walk.

Everything you hope to get from a walk, this turned out to be. I started off at SilverWood Park on the shores of Silver Lake. I was able to spend a very serene 45 minutes wandering through it's paths and inquiring into its offerings. No car motors or loud crowds mixed with the hushed sounds of the wind in the trees and the sounds of my own footsteps. I ventured out onto the lake a bit, and explored the lake's islands a bit. As I drew back around, I walked near the only open water I have seen all winter. I'm still unsure the exact reason for the open water, but the ducks and Canadian Geese that filled that pond didn't seem to care about it's purpose... they just gloried in its availability.

I continued through the park's paths, passing by trees that apparently house some nesting owls (but alluded me). I finally made my way to Silver Lake road, where those previously absent noises of city life reappeared.

The walk from then on became more of an endurance challenge. The neighborhoods I walked through offered the usual; people shoveling their driveways, cars zipping by late for an appointment, etc., etc,. However, once in a while, I'd encounter a pleasant pedestrian inquiring about my day, or a small woodpecker so engaged in pursuing a meal that he barely noticed my approach.

I even experienced a moral dilemma. I had my mind set on walking the train tracks for a bit. But, when I came upon the tracks, I was welcomed with a pretty visible sign that clarified the illegal activity that walking those tracks would be. After staring at them for a good two minutes while the angel and devil on my shoulders had it out with each other, the devil went whimpering home, and I crossed the tracks and continued on the street.

One final encounter worth mentioning is that I happened across a train yard just as the train was coming to its final stop of the day. I meandered into the area and was able to catch the engineer just as he finished his last adjustments on the train, gathered his belongings and began walking toward the lone building in the yard. He was happy to share with me about how Steven's Point is where these trains originate from with all there cargo. He continued to go in greater detail, but my mind was sort of a blur at that time, as I had been walking for two hours straight by then.

I eventually made it home at about 2 and a half hours after I set out. I was exhausted. My toe hurt. My legs were jelly. There was only one thing to do.

I went outside and worked on my igloo.

The Woodpecker

My Moral Dillema

Pole Yard near Train Yard

Train Yard

Thin Ice

Calendar of the 30 Days

This particular blog will act as a 'living' calendar of the 30 days. I will update this and keep it as current as I can as I fill in the blanks for upcoming days.

Done
Day 1 (Sunday, Jan. 30) :: Snow Sculptures (observed) - $0
Day 2 (Monday) :: oil painting (created) - $0
Day 3 (Tuesday) :: built igloo - $0
Day 4 (Wednesday) :: Night at the Library - Roseville Library - $3
Day 5 (Thursday) :: Bakken Museum - $5
Day 6 (Friday Feb.4) :: poker tournament (participated) -
Day 7 (Saturday. Feb.5) :: puppet show (observed) and workshop (participated) - $18
Day 8 (Sun., Feb.6) :: walk for 3 hours - $0
Day 9 (Mon. Feb.7) :: Museum of Russian Art - with my wife, Laura - $0
Day 10 (Tue. Feb.8) :: Spinning Class - with friend, Reina  - $0
Day 11 (Wed. Feb.9) :: Nothing Planned - A Day of "Smaller" Things - $0
Day 12 (Thur. Feb.10) :: Minneapolis Institute of the Arts  -$2
Day 13 (Fri. Feb.11) :: chaperone 3rd grade group visiting Wildlife Center in Forest Lake - with Addie -$0
Day 14 (Sat. Feb.12) :: Winter Camping - $0

Day 15 (Sun. Feb.13) :: Urban Expedition: Nepal -$0

Day 16 (Mon. Feb.14) :: Health Care - $0
Day 17 (Tue. Feb.15) :: speed skating - 9:00pm - with friend, Jason -$0
Day 18 (Wed. Feb.16) :: ice sculpture - $0


Subtotal=$33/$50


Coming

Red = Set in stone Black = Flexible

Day 19 (Thu. Feb.17) :: The Cellars - wine tasting - "North by Northwest" - 7:00 - 8:00pm - $0
Day 20 (Fri. Feb.18) :: carnival at Addie's school - $0
Day 21 (Sat. Feb. 19) :: Winter Plunge  -$0
Day 22 (Sun. Feb 20) :: Something in New York- ??
Day 23 (Mon. Feb. 21) :: visit Ground Zero in New York - $0
Day 24 (Tue. Feb. 22) :: be in the audience at the Martha Stewart Show -$0
Day 25 (Wed. Feb. 23) :: Something in New York- ?
Day 26 (Thu. Feb. 24) :: Walker Art Center -$0
Day 27 (Fri. Feb. 25) :: ?? 
Day 28 (Sat. Feb. 26) :: Snowmobiling or something similar 
Day 29 (Sun. Feb. 27) :: ?? 
Day 30 (Monday, Feb. 28, 2011) :: ??


Subtotal = $0
Total = $33