all that's past is prologue...

As many of you know, we've had a lot to deal with this week. Added to the normal work, and house project, and community activism, and last week of summer issues, our dog Geronimo is very ill, and we're treating him and not sure he'll make it. Luckily, our friends and family have really helped. Our neighbors had us over for dinner (and margaritas!) over the weekend. My book club host gave us some yummy garden produce. Our friend and temporary roommate Sarah gave us her malt coupon from the State Fair coupon book. Our friends Julio and Jeaneth invited us to a "Frozen" viewing party, and then had Beatrix over yesterday for games and dinner, so we could get some things done. And today, my father took Beatrix down to the History Center for the morning, to which he reports "Being a grandfather is the best thing in my life!" So thank you all (and so many more) — it truly takes a village, and we are very fortunate to be so supported! ETA: And while I wa

Because when Julio and Jeaneth do movie night, they do it right.

Beatrix's Montessori school was a full-year program, so this was the first year I dealt with summer camps for her. By mid-spring I was in full camp mode, with brochures spread out around me and color-coded schedules everywhere.  Now, in late August, I have the rare feeling of feeling like the rockstar mom, because Beatrix absolutely loved every camp she went to. They were: YMCA Camp Daycroix - 3 weeks of traditional camp experience in Hudson (there was a bus). Science Museum Camp Warner - the Science Museum has a nature center in Marine, where she tracked animals for the week. Circus Camp at Circus Juventas Australia/New Zealand camp at Artstart - 2 weeks at a great cultural camp, where she did everything from dance to felting. Gibbs Farm Camp - this seems to be the favorite of little girls everywhere, and Beatrix was no exception. Summer Blast at Edgecumbe Rec - the free afternoon program we used to fill in where we had some open spots. Dance Camp - with Miss Amy at

It's been a tough week for Twitter. I feel fortunate that citizen journalists are broadcasting what's going on, especially in #Ferguson, but it makes for a tough stream. So today, I was happy ti see Twitter as a Force of Good…. A typical morning in the Gladhill/Rhone household. Patrick was working on a grant proposal, I was working on a budget. He asked if he could put on music, to which I said ok, and in a moment the first few strains of "The Last Five Years" began to play (which, I have to admit, made the spreadsheet easier). A few minutes in, I wondered "I wonder what ever happened to Jamie and Cathy." Then, as I often do, I tweeted it: Wanting to ask Jason Robert Brown where the Last 5 Years characters are 13 years later. After a few more minutes, I realized there was a better way. So I looked up Jason Robert Brown's handle, and tweeted: Hey, @MrJasonRBrown - what has happened to Jamie and Cathy 13 years later?  To which he shot back: @be

Having just had a birthday, I can wholeheartedly agree with the almost-universal sentiment that the "Wish So-and-So a Happy Birthday" feature is the best part of Facebook. It's so easy for the well-wisherto do, while bringing so much joy to the recipient. And there's no reciprocation required! Which brings to mind a recent discussion Patrick and I had about the current use of the term "karma." The term, which is actually difficult to pin down in Buddhism due to its many permutations, is dictionary-defined as: kar·ma ˈkärmə/ noun noun:  karma (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. But how many times have you heard the term bantered about as if it was some kind of exchangeable currency, something you can "build" now so you can "redeem" later? How often have you heard someone bemoan a situation, alon

Our fascination with lakes continues. These photos are from a great "social sail" our friends Eric and Rachel took us on last night on Lake Minnetonka. Eric is quite the sailor (and Rachel has certainly picked it up as well), but last night was about pure enjoyment. And what a perfect night it was!

The middle part of the summer has been full of great mini-trips — two of them to the family cabin on Lake Osakis! The first trip up was actually not so restful. The first night, Geronimo ate some of the mouse poison, which can be miserably fatal (hint: the way it kills rodents is it makes them bleed out). Luckily, thanks to the wonderful vets in Alexandria, he's just fine now. Here's us at the "Big Ole" statue in Alexandria, saying "GERONIMO LIVES!!!" Our next time up was far more relaxing (despite the projects detailed earlier). For one, we went up on Thursday, after her camp, which gave us some time for the traditional Space Aliens dinner stop (what exactly do they put in those baked potatoes?), and shopping at the outlet mall. Having 3 full days also made all the difference in the world. We had plenty of time to do our projects, and also to experience some of the nearby sights. We went into Long Prairie, to go to our favorite little antique place

You may not know that the family cabin we borrow is really a "complex." As well as the cottage, there is a boathouse, guest house, tool shed, wood shed, and outhouse — the thing being, they are all in one outbuilding! The main area is the boathouse/guesthouse (where, like in the main cabin, the two double beds are murphy beds). It had been quite some time since it had been cleaned out, and that was our charge for the weekend. We are notorious for forgetting to take "before" pictures, but here is a during after we had removed: fire pit, canoe, paddles, mower, boar gear, boat ladder, float anchor and other gear, a chair, over 20 inflatables, 4 badminton sets, beach toys, topsoil, weed whip, gas can, fishing gear (including bamboo poles), pipes, boat tarp, birdbath stand, "luggable loo", tarps, pieces of wood, pipes, lifejackets, 2 stepladders, folding chairs, and other items: So step one, clean out all the dirt and debris. That's washing down the c

The cabin Madeline Island The pool Friday night pool parties Staying up too late Reading reading reading My birthday Bonfires Street festivals Fringe Ice cream Stone fruits Berries Cold cold beer Rose Rhubarbaritas Fish grilled on the salt block Caprese Grilled corn Crickets Patios Patio Night National Night Out State Fair Mosquito bites St. Paul Farmers Market My garden

Ok, I admit it. I love my Toms (my ironic teenage self hates me for this). They are SO comfortable, in a way that knock-offs can't match. Plus I have ugly toes, so I am always looking for cute summer shoes that don't show them. But I digress…. The first pair I got developed an ugly hole within weeks. I wore them a little anyway, while fervently hoping that the pairs they donate to kids in Africa are made of sturdier stuff. I found some picture on Pinterest (natch!) of covered Toms, and thought they looked cute, but had not taken the time to try it. Tonight, I decided to take on the project, only to realize I did not have fabric glue. And the folding and origami-ing and such the shoes was looking a little tricky. Until I glanced over at my ribbon stash (much depleted now that I have a ribbon-stealing child), and thought maybe some ribbon and hot glue might work. And I think it did! It's not perfect, and the jury is still out on durability. But hey, I figured it

When I was in junior high school, my friend Kathy and I began our love for the Beatles. I learned all the lyrics to pretty much every song (and much of my brainspace is still devoted to that). In a pre-internet age, I learned everything I could about them — saved clippings, caught occasional clips on TV, played the albums (especially Sgt. Pepper) over and over again. And, of course, my favorite was John. So when my friend Geri invited me to the paul McCartney concert with her, I jumped at the chance. Yes, as her son Ravi said "I don't know why you're so excited. He's your worst Beatle." But still, when you get a chance to see Paul McCartney… And man, he did not disappoint. This 72-year-old powered through three hours of the most high-energy concert I have ever seen (ok, I don't get to a lot of concerts, and certainly not the kind with big fancy sound and lights and where they release fireworks as part of "Live and Let Die." But I digress.) May