I recently took an airplane flight to and from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Just before landing, I queued up the Simon & Garfunkel song “America” to play on my headphones. I listened to this song as we landed because one line of the lyrics goes, “Michigan seems like a dream to me now,” and just after that, the Michigan city of Saginaw is name-dropped. This was about the best song I could think of in the moment that had some sort of connection to Michigan.

I do this often when traveling by air.

Here are a few other places I’ve traveled to in the past couple of years, along with the song I listened to during the final few minutes of the flight…

-Chicago, IL / “25 or 6 to 4,” by Chicago

-Memphis, TN / “Graceland,” by Paul Simon

-Honolulu, HI / “In Blue Hawaii,” by Brian Wilson

-Washington, DC / “When the President Talks to God,” by Bright Eyes

-Albany, NY / “New York State of Mind,” by Billy Joel

-San Diego, CA / “California,” by Mason Jennings

-Tulsa, OK / “My Oklahoma Home,” by Bruce Springsteen

-Washington, DC (again) / “Ronnie’s Rap,” by Ron and the DC Crew

-Los Angeles, CA / “Beverly Hills,” by Weezer

-Honolulu, HI (again) / “Rocking Chair in Hawaii,” by George Harrison

-Washington, DC (again again) / “American Idiot,” by Green Day

There have also been a few places I’ve flown to, and I couldn’t think of a song that would fit well (and that I’d like to listen to). This includes Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, and Portland. So, if you know of any good songs that might fit in with any of those places, let me know. I might need to use them if I ever return to those places.

Also it appears my next time on an airplane will be a flight that takes me to Salt Lake City, Utah. And…I don’t know which song to play. Any ideas?

On the 21st of this month, I flew to my sister’s place near Grand Rapids, Michigan. The reason for going was to housesit for her and her husband while they went on a vacation to New York. So, naturally, I found a couple fun things to do while I was there.

On Thursday, I ventured to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. This was a very affordable and interesting museum, primarily because I couldn’t find an overarching theme. I mean, there was a display of vintage dolls, a fin back whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling, an exhibit about clothing, some antique Japanese artwork, something about coins, a huge engine that was actually running, an arcade with classic video and pinball games, and a prop plane.

Here are some photos from my day there:

The museum also had a planetarium. On Thursday, I attended a stargazing showing, in which a docent showed us what the night sky looks like this time of year – he pointed out constellations and planets. It was visually interesting. However, on Saturday, I returned to the planetarium, this time to see “Dark Side: Light Show,” which, as you might guess, featured Dark Side of the Moon, played in its entirety, and set to matching, dazzling displays. When I first sat down, the man next to me noted to his wife that one of the clouds projected on the ceiling looked like a dog. The couple, old enough to be my parents, laughed about it for quite a while. I agree, the cloud did look like a dog…but I wasn’t sure what was so funny, until I realized that, of course, they are high. So things were off to a good start.

Anyway, it was awesome. Five stars, would do again.

The day after attending the St. Paul Almanac’s release party (see the post immediately preceding this one), Isla and I participated in another noteworthy event. This time, we logged in to a virtual painting class. The class, which lasted about two hours, was held by the school I am currently attending, Southern New Hampshire University. I am currently working on my Master’s degree there and hope to graduate before I die.

Anyway, this special activity was part of homecoming week, and since the theme was farming, we were instructed in how to paint a cow.

Here’s how it went (thanks to Brycie for taking the photos!):

On Thursday the 16th, I attended the St. Paul Almanac’s release party. This was their 20th-anniversary celebration, and the Almanac’s 14th edition.

This was a big deal to me because, unlike previous editions, this was one in which I served as an editor. In fact, if you check out the link, above, you can probably find a photo of me somewhere on the site.

Like other editions, I have an essay that appears in the Almanac. I am participating in a reading on December 21st, so let me know if you’d like to attend.

However, this edition is even extra-special because my very creative daughter, Isla, also had a piece published in this edition. That’s right: her very own creation of poetry. And since this release party featured readings from several of the poets, Isla was invited to participate. Here she is:

Besides me, Isla had audience support from her mom, grandma, and both brothers. There was live music, and cake to celebrate. Isla did a wonderful job reading her poem aloud, and attendees even approached her afterward to get her autograph in their copy of the Almanac.

On the 11th, Brycie, I, and four of our kids went on a walking tour of Minneapolis. It was put on by You Betcha Tours. The man facilitating the tour is a former colleague of Brycie’s, and so he convinced us to join him on this morning.

Emmett was a bit skeptical beforehand, he asked why we’d go on a tour of a place we live so close to. My response was that it was something new to try, I think it’d be interesting, and we’d get some good exercising in.

It was a little cold when the tour started, but the six of us had a great time seeing places in a new light, with new information. We also went into a couple of places, and walked to a few places I’d never been to before. The tour got better as the morning warmed. We walked over two miles, and ended the tour in the Guthrie Theater.

Sorry, I didn’t take any photos.

However, just as we were ending the tour, Emmett told me he was glad we participated, and he was having a good time. So, I consider that a win.

I definitely recommend this for anyone who lives in or visits the Twin Cities. All proceeds from the tour are donated to a local non-profit.