Stone Arch Bridge.

Ok, there's almost no denying that MN is one of the top summer places (and perhaps winter as well). Hot days and cool nights, with many many "lakes" right in the middle of the city. They play hard all winter outside, and really gear up for summer fun too.

Want to rent a paddle boat or kayak on the lake? No problem. Would you like to do a century around a lake one day? I've heard of a few people doing this. Would you like to see an MLB game indoors? Ok, no one wants to do this, which is why next year they have a new outdoor stadium opening.

And this is the Stone Arch Bridge.

[this pis is from the weblink's site]

It's taken me a while to find out about it, but I know now. It's an old rail bridge that, at the time, was the only thing crossing the Mississippi (boy that pnemonic device from gradeschool comes in handy!). Now, it's a bit small for real traffic, so they have turned it into a pedestrian and cyclist crossing. It's pretty cool, with literal "ruins" down below it on the riverfront (which people can explore).

[there's a ton of spillway and a huge set of locks]

Results, Poll #56, March Madness.

Ok, it's July. There's not much to say about NCAA basketball now, but I do love the tourney.

3 people love the tourney - thank you.
2 people always get mad at their S.O. (SO's, are you listening?)
1 person gets driven crazy - crazy good or crazy bad?
3 people hate sports - ouch.

New poll up very very soon.

"What do we have for him, Johnny?!!!!!"....

.... "A new CAR !!!!"

Ok, the FaceBook experiment (at least for me) is over. Too many people making it seem rather impersonal. I mean, not everyone I've ever met needs to know I had a mole removed, right? Just my closest family and friends want to know that. So, this is my pledge to resurrect tc.

With that in mind, it's time to let everyone know (if you previously knew what I drove) that I no longer have my blue truck (for one small young man, he will no longer be able to call me, "Blue Truck Marty"). I have finally been able to work out the financing-ish and get something more fuel-efficient (not too hard), at a better monthly payment (phew), and at a lower interest rate (from 8% to 0%, thank you economy).

The winning car is the Chevy Aveo. I know what you're thinking, "that's lame". Well, in a way it is, but in a way it reminds me of all the small, fuel-efficient cars I've loved in the past. I pretty much learned to drive in a Dodge Omni (ok, really on the family lawn tractor). Then there was the uncle's rusty ole Toyota Corolla (lots of practice push starting with a manual transmission), and even a bit of time spent driving one of my favorite cars of all time, the Ford Festiva (no joke).

I do loose the four-wheel drive and a truck bed, but I gained three more doors, lower fuel costs and 34MPG higway... that will help me forget the, er, what was I driving before?


[this is a pic off the web, I didn't buy it in England]

Cabela's #4 - Camo Revisited.

It's been some time since the last post, but perhaps thinking about posts in terms of quality and not quantity will be best moving forward.

Recently, I stopped in the IL Cabela's and couldn't resist some more pics of camo and oddities. I hope this camo-palooza doesn't disappoint, enjoy.


A hot camo-bikini or your lady huntress?


Are the camo belts in the men's dept. or women's?

Alive or dead?

Alive or dead? (don't be too hasty, it's Cabela's)

Just the item to make a good impression at the office.

Antler pulls for the kitchen anyone?

Dress your little bundle of joy correctly for the big fall hunting trip!

Three sides of fileting possibilities.

No brainer.

Finally!!!

martinpatrick3.

I had seen this "man store" in a few local magazines and only just the other day stumbled upon one in Minneapolis' warehouse district. This is #3, and I presume they have at least two other locations. Check it out with me, won't you...


Well, so far, so good. It looks like man stores I've been in before (Chicago, NYC, etc)...


They have lots of leather goods, manbags, watches, travel kits...


Some choice clothing items, hats, belts, buckles... Well, you get the idea. They had some very unique items too, like a range of stainless steel wallets, made with woven bits of steel - pretty cool. They also had trendy reading glasses, pens, unique cards, and things one would light to make their dwelling smell nice. Overall, I though it was one of the best man stores I'd ever encountered. Good job, Mr. Martin Patrick.


I'm just going to let this one speak for itself. And no, they do not allow you to "read" this book in the store.

License Plate Revival.

I found one more plate to add to the fun... and I still can't seem to get out from behind the Cheese Curtain, even in another state.

Results, Poll #55, Engagement.

These results are long overdue and from the looks of the responses, not many of you will care or even know why I posted it. Let's see though:

> 2 people (18%) chose 'yes, i let them know it's very great' - i should hope you let them know. it's not everyday someone you've known for over ten years (at least for me) gets engaged.
> 1 person (9%) chose 'yes, i sent/said something' - ooohhh, rub it in. you're better than me. i didn't send anything. maybe i can go to the engagement party or the actual wedding and make up for it (with my presence of course, not a lavish, over-the-top gift).
> 0 people chose... why bother.
> 0 people chose... who cares.
> 8 people (72%) chose 'uhhh, george and marissa?' - you're loss, dudes. really. i mean, you're the majority by far (possibly more than any other poll), but still.

FYI - George is a good friend from the University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (my first time down there) and has recently been engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Marissa. They gross me out with niceness and a commensurate amount of bickering whenever I'm around, so I'm sure it's true love.