News for August 2008

Donald Bjornstad

http://www.in-forum.com/Obituaries/articles/212685

Jodi’s Dad, My Father-in-law, Lydia and Elsa’s Grandpa. 

We returned from North Dakota today after 2 1/2 weeks of back and forth between our home in St. Paul, the hospital in Fargo, and Jodi’s hometown of Walhalla ND.  It has been a physically and emotionally draining time.  Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.  

Posted: August 31st, 2008
Categories: family
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making room

The inevitable is coming.  Winter.  The coats will come out.  The gloves will go on.  My language will go south, my body will stay north.  The car will want to be in the garage.  And there is no room for it.  The bikes have taken over.  Obviously I like bikes better than cars.  But I hate scraping windshields even more than I love bikes.  What does all this mean?  Bikes for sale. 

I posted 3 bikes and a minivan on craig’s list the other night.  Within 20 minutes the first bike was sold.  He picked it up the next day.  Today the second bike sold.  The guy who bought it was driving a vegetable oil powered car.  What’s not to love?  I haven’t had any takers on the 3 wheeler and only one call on the minivan but we’ll see.

So the garage is two bikes closer to getting a car in it.  The car always wins. 

dang it.

Posted: August 15th, 2008
Categories: bike, transportation
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Smart Kids

Elsa, age 1.  New Skill:  I say, “Elsa put that in the garbage.”  She takes said object, walks to the kitchen, opens the cupboard under the sink, puts it in the trash, closes the cupboard, and comes back smiling.

Lydia, age 5.  a.k.a. Word girl.  This morning she started writing letters.  Spelling out friends’ names, drawing pictures, signing her name, putting it in an envelope and delivering it to her friends.  At breakfast, after writing a letter to her friend Mirka, she says, “Mom what do you call people that write to each other back and forth and stuff?”

“Pen Pals.”

Word Girl says, “I think my friendship has altered.  Now Mirka and I are going to be pen pals.”

Altered.  The word is Altered.

Meanwhile I was picking lint out of my bellybutton and staring into space.  I swear any day now people are gonna start asking if they were adopted. 

Posted: August 14th, 2008
Categories: family
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Juno Olympics

Olympic fever has hit Juno Ave.  And yes, I am a gold medal contender.

Last night a dozen kids from the neighborhood ended up in front of our house playing tag.  I myself don’t mind the running, but I’ve never been keen on touch so I abstained despite the pleading and puppy dog eyes of many an adoring rug rat.  I also abstained because everyone else was half my size and under 8 years old and given my ‘nimble like a jersey cow’ nature I had a feeling that I’d totally bowl some unsuspecting toddler down to the sidewalk in a fit of tears and iwantmymommy screams.  And I can’t imagine the toddler would fare much better.

But when it turned from tag to the 50 foot dash I realized I had a chance.  I totally dominated.  There was only one 2nd grader that came close to beating me and the one lone 8th grader who tied me.  But the wee ones?  I kicked their nick jr. butts.  Sometimes to rub it in I’d skip instead of run just to show off my multi faceted track and field skills.   Oh, and did I mention?  I was in my crocs.   Booya!

I am so gold medal material. 

Posted: August 13th, 2008
Categories: games
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So brave, strong, and Natelike

so braveHere’s what I read during my recent travels – and it was excellent.  And here’s a fun parallel – I started the book in Minnesota the day before I left and the book starts in Minnesota.  I finished it three days later in California and the book ends in California.  I love it when stuff like that happens.  Go read it!

Posted: August 1st, 2008
Categories: fact, travel
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