Germany is efficient. France is flirtatious. Canada apologizes for being in your way, even though I don’t know anyone on their way to the North Pole other than Will Steiger. But America? If you want to understand America, skip the textbooks or history lessons. At a distance, just observe the month of July.
Representative Michelle Fischbach has failed to stand up for Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. Her support for the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) — despite its devastating consequences for rural communities — reflects political loyalty over constituent needs.
He began with frogging. Then jigging. By noon, he said, he’d be hula popping. I kept nodding, as though these were natural things for a man to say while I was drinking my first cup of coffee. Or ever.
Now that my oldest child has resumed his military work after his couple of month leave in Minnesota, and has returned to New York, that of course, means my grandmother has resumed her cookie baking mission.
What a week. We’ve had hot and dry, hot and wet, sunny, rainy, gray and dreary. There’s something in there for everyone, but very little moderation.
Thank you to Erik Osberg for meeting with voters in Montevideo last week. As a DFL candidate challenging Rep. Michelle Fischbach, Osberg’s positions were a welcome contrast — especially as the consequences of Rep. Fischbach’s “yes” vote on the so-called Big Beautiful Bill come into focus. That bill slashes Medicaid and SNAP funding — but conveniently, the worst of it doesn’t take effect until after the 2026 election. Imagine that!
On Saturday evening, I was finally able to enjoy a night off from all various jobs duties and so we decided that it would be lovely to go for a dip in the cold spring, enjoy a dinner out of town, and take in a movie. The heat and humidity made the dip in the cold spring lovely, and having the chance to dine out somewhere we don’t get to very often was also lovely.
So far this summer, the few fishing adventures I’ve managed to be able to fit into the schedule have involved mostly catching small, not very strong fish. That was not the case last week, attempting to fish near the dam in Granite Falls. Instead, I fought multiple very large fish, with not a heavy enough line to do so.
Goodness gracious. Got up at 5 to 83 degrees. Unbelievable.
The energy in the auditorium was already electric. Every single act in the middle school variety show received thunderous applause, a standing ovation. It was the last day of school and the audience was determined to love everything. Then the next act brought out a T-shirt gun.