all that's past is prologue...

I've been trying to enter reviews in "Opinionated About Dining" — well, because it's fun and I was hoping to earn a gift card. But their system seems to be having a glitch, so I thought I would enlighten you all! Maybe I'll still get the gift card (or you will take me out to lunch...) Al Vento Consistently good food at very reasonable prices. Sometimes the plethora of discount options can be confusing ("can I use the Groupon with the prixe fix option?"), so just skip on the planning and go for reasonable food with fine service. Avoid the patio though — it's kind of hot and soulless. Don't miss the olive oil cake! Ngon Have been going here more lately to support them during University Avenue construction. Really lovely atmosphere, and I appreciate the commitment to sustainable food. That said, the meal sometimes feels lacking *something,* — maybe I need to get to know the dessert menu better. Barrio I know this p...

Like everyone else I know, I can't stop looking at my daughter today. I can't stop wanting to hold her close. I can't stop the nagging worry about taking her out, to places she knows and loves, because something might happen to her. And if that's how I feel, I can't even imagine what it feels like to be closer to the Newtown tragedy, or god forbid, someone involved with it. That level of searing pain is just beyond comprehension. I respect my friends who are incensed enough by this to focus on gun control, on solving a system that is not working, and I wish them well. But I will posit that this kind of reform is completely and utterly ineffective unless we take on the much deeper task of healthcare in this country, and by that I mean particularly mental health. Until access to all health resources, including mental health, is free, and easily available, and not stigmatized. Until people throughout the system are trained to realize potential crises, and empowered...

This is the post I wanted to write yesterday, but then I got too caught up in righteous traffic indignation to do so. It's probably a more important post, but less ranty so likely not as fun. My friend Laura wrote a really brilliant post earlier this week called " In defense of yes ." Go ahead and read it, it's short and I will still be here when you get back. That's why Laura is brilliant. Because she can say, in just a few well-crafted and evocative words, what I have been trying to express. I've been oft-criticized for how much I take on. For agreeing to do too much. For (sometimes) putting myself out to do something for others. For not saying no. I've been told, perhaps too often, that "Saying Yes is just saying No to other things." And sure, often those comments are correct. And of course, I can't say yes to everything. And of course, if I do one thing it means I can't do another. But I'm going to say this. Every time...

Dear City of Saint Paul, Anyone who knows me knows that I am fiercely loyal to, and proud of, my city. I extol your merits constantly, and in general I can overlook your issues (such as a lack of single-sort recycling.) But you have messed-up mightily, and you need to make amends. Yes, it was a Big Storm. Not ridiculously big, but the first one of the year. Sunday everyone snuggled at home in their pajamas and made soup and thought "snow day!" Yesterday, we all knew it would be a little hairy. But TODAY? 48 hours after the snow? You've been ridiculous. I don't honestly remember the road ever as bad as they were today — so slick at intersections that people can't help but slide through, tutted and washboarded in between — and those are the snow emergency routes. The regular streets are 8" deep still in snow. Various city folks have been making excuses all day, blaming it on the warmth of the roads when it started snowing, the cold that followed the snow,...