Friday afternoon, we were headed southeast on I-90, midway between La Crosse and Madison, when we passed a tractor trailer parked in a field. "TRUMP" was painted on the side in big, bold letters. But somebody had taken spray paint and covered that up with bigger, bolder letters that spelled "LOSER." That was the moment … Continue reading Wisconsin or Bust, Part I: Cheese Curds, Raging Grannies, & Make Mine a Sour!
Category: Travel
Reunited with Alexa and it feels so good.
I got back from my work trip Friday afternoon and immediately went home, as I'd put in a bunch of extra hours in the evenings. This allowed me to sit on the patio and relax, despite the heat and humidity. I soldiered through with cold beer and music. I was happy to be reunited with … Continue reading Reunited with Alexa and it feels so good.
The further on the edge, the hotter the intensity.
My parents were supposed to be visiting this week. They made it as far as Dallas Friday night before a confluence of events wreaked havoc with those plans. Thunderstorms, diverted flights, planes without crews to fly them. And then, the coup de grace: cancelled flights. They ended up sleeping on the floor of the airport, … Continue reading The further on the edge, the hotter the intensity.
Eyeroll for the Autograph
Colorado really is a different state of mind. The "Rocky Mountain high" jokes just write themselves. We had a pretty great weekend getaway. Many highlights, but Built to Spill the first night had to be tops. We even got Doug Martsch to sign a concert poster for us. Had to endure an eye roll to … Continue reading Eyeroll for the Autograph
Our tomatoes survived the big chill better than Kevin Costner.
It's been cold here. So cold, we had record lows the past two nights. At one point Saturday, my wipers were beating furiously to keep snow from accumulating on my windshield. Believe it or not, snow in May isn't all that unusual here. Most years, we at least get a dusting. But usually at the … Continue reading Our tomatoes survived the big chill better than Kevin Costner.
Time zones will be the death of me.
Tuesday afternoon. I'm in Hartford, South Dakota, working away on my laptop. Two interviews are in the can; the third is scheduled for 3 p.m., half an hour away, so I've got time. Or so I think. An email pops up, interrupting my work. We hope everything is okay. We waited at the shop for … Continue reading Time zones will be the death of me.
I skipped Florida for a brothel instead.
I’m the only member of the marketing department in the office until Thursday. Everybody else on my team is basking in sunny Fort Lauderdale. Actually, they’re not basking. They’re conferencing. Which makes me feel a little better about being stuck behind. And if I’m being totally honest, I’m not much of a Florida person anyway. … Continue reading I skipped Florida for a brothel instead.
We’ll Be Saving Our Road Trips for Months Not Ending in -uary.
Well, we made it to Buffalo and back safe and sound. But we almost didn't. And by the way, Google Maps, that's Buffalo, Wyoming. Not New York. It does not take 21 hours to travel 210 miles...though for a while there, I thought it might. Before we set out on our trip, I was worried … Continue reading We’ll Be Saving Our Road Trips for Months Not Ending in -uary.
Life Would Be Simpler if Bricks Were Like LEGOs
I was listening to the radio on the way to work and the morning show hosts were talking with a caller who happened to be a bricklayer. And I thought, what a ridiculously easy job that must be. I’ve been able to stack since I was two years old. But I realized there was probably … Continue reading Life Would Be Simpler if Bricks Were Like LEGOs
Powdered Sugar Landscape
Today was 39 degrees warmer than yesterday. Welcome to the Great Plains rollercoaster! This week it's going to be as warm as 45º and as cold as -10º. Probably within a 48-hour span. If variety is the spice of life, we're what you would call aggressively seasoned. We decided to take advantage of our heatwave … Continue reading Powdered Sugar Landscape
Mark Petruska 