Day 30 - NaBloPoMo Is Over, Again, Again!

It is over!!  I am done.  Do not let me ever tell you that I will do NaBloPoMo again, it will be a lie.  I am not sure what I was thinking doing it again this year.  I will try to update more often throughout the next year to make up for the missing 30 posts next November.  Yeah, I know I have said that before maybe this time I will be telling the truth.  Stay tuned to find out.

Day 29 - The Jackson Family Revisited

You may remember a post I did a couple years ago about a gathering of family on my Mom's side if not you can check out that post by clicking here.  This year we had another gathering of the Jackson family at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Eau Claire.  The special part this time was that all seven of the siblings were going to be there.  This would be the first time that all seven of the siblings would be together since my Grandma Jackson's funeral in the late 1990's.  I was tasked to get some pictures from the gathering for everyone. The original plan was to be outside on the river's edge but the cool temps and threats of rain moved us back inside.  The party was not affected by the move inside but it did hurt the overall quality of the photos I think.  Alright, enough with the words let's move onto pictures (this blog is called jdz photography after all).  I ended up taking about 375 photos so narrowing it down to a few to post was not that easy.  In order to not bore my reader completely I have decided to concentrate on the seven siblings for this post, I will post some others at some point.

Ron

Bruce

Tom

Linda

Vicki

Debbie (my Mom)

Jim

The Jackson seven wearing matching shirts that my Mom and I made for them

Day 28 - Minnesota Twins

As I mentioned in my post about Joe Mauer winning the MVP I was working on getting some photos from Twins games I attend this year posted.  Now with only 3 days left in NaBloPoMo I am getting around to posting it.

As anyone reading this likely knows I follow the Twins closely and enjoy going to games when I can.  This year I was only able to get to two regular season games.  While I would have loved to make it to many more games I was happy with the two I did make.

The first game for me this year was the Twins Home Opener on April 6th against the Seattle Mariners.  This game would be the last Home Opener ever held at the Metrodome as the Twins make to move back outdoors in 2010!!  I had never been to the Opener before but after a great time at the game I will be trying to make this an annual tradition.  I ended up having to get the tickets from Ticket King since the game had sold out before I even knew if I was able to get a vacation day at work.  The seats were not the best and I had paid almost face value for them but the time at the game made it well worth it.

Banner above the Home Run Porch seats counting down the games until Target Field in 2010

National  Guard troops displaying the flag during the National Anthem

After the middle of the 5th inning the banner counted down to 80 games left at the Metrodome

I do not have any game actions shots that turned out from this game. I am blaming the combination of bringing my point & shoot camera and the fact that the seats were down the 3rd base side in the corner.

The second game I attended was on August 30th against the Texas Rangers.  I took my Mom to this game for her birthday while she was in town for a family reunion.  We did not have tickets bought for the game before hand since we had not planned too far in advance.  We ended up getting great seats in about the 7th row just past 1st base from a scalper for less than face value.  These were the best seats I have ever sat in for a regular season game.

A view from our seats along the 1st base side

Only 16 regular season games left at the dome before the game started

Justin Morneau bats in the bottom of the 1st inning

Only 15 games left after the game becomes official in the bottom of the 5th

Minnesota Twins celebrate a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers

As much as I enjoyed the two games I got to during the 2009 season I am looking forward to getting to Target Field A LOT MORE often next year!  Only 128 days until Home Opener 2010!

Day 27 - Nine Mile Creek

Today's trip back into the archives brings us to Nine Mile Creek in July 2005.

I have a 16x20 of this photo framed above my fireplace

Vertical this time for a slightly different look

One of my favorite photos, it took at least 15 photos to get the wings just right

Day 26 - Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving!

Continuing a tradition I started last year I am posting a photo of my Thanksgiving dinner.  I was not planning on having turkey this year until I remember that I had a Jennie-O Turkey meal in the freezer.  I'll be honest, it was not that great but it was still filling.  I made some stuffing (my favorite part of Thanksgiving), corn and salad to go along with it.

And for those of you that do not work with me the book in the background is CopBook by Richard Greelis.  Richard served 27 years as an Officer/K9 handler/Detective where I work and writes of many of the experiences that he had during his career.  I am not finished reading the book yet but I feel confident in recommending it based on what I have read.  It would make a great Christmas gift for the reader on your list.

Day 25 - Spoonbridge and Cherry

Continuing the search through older photos today I found these of the Spoonbridge and Cherry at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden taken in July of 2005.

Downtown Minneapolis skyline in the background

Basilica of Saint Mary in the background

As seen from the pedestrian bridge over I-94

Spoonbridge and Cherry framed by a sculpture of a backhoe

Day 24 - A Return to Minnehaha Park

I was looking back through old photos again today and found these un-posted photos Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis.  You might remember some others of the falls that I posted a couple years ago.  These photos were obviously taken when the water levels were MUCH lower.  These photos were taken in April of 2004, if I remember correctly the falls were lower that Spring then anyone remembers them being.

The water did not look too dangerous that day

Another example of my "self portraits"

Day 23 - MVP MVP MVP

I was already working on a post with some photos from Twins games this season when it was announced today that Joe Mauer was named American League Most Valuable Player for 2009!!  Congratulations to Joe Mauer for a history making season.  Now can the Twins please get around to signing Joe to a life long contract?  Give him a percentage of the team if that is what it takes.

Day 22 - From The Stone Arch Bridge

As I was trying to figure out what to post today I started looking back through some of the older photos that I have taken and found these 2004 photos of The Stone Arch Bridge that I have not posted before.  These photos were all taken while still on the bridge as I started a day of walking around downtown Minneapolis looking for photos.

Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam

Mill City Museum

Day 21 - The Great Minnesota Eat-Together

In yesterday's recap of my visit to the Minnesota State Fair I skipped over the most important part, the food.  I think we all know that the only reason a lot of people go to the Fair is to eat the food you only get a chance to eat for those 12 days a year.  I had two food items that I knew I wanted to try to find, alligator and chocolate covered bacon.  I of course was also going to indulge in some of the classics too.  I'm starting to get a stomach ache just thinking about the crap I ate so let's get started.

Starting off with a classic Corn Dog right inside the gate

Finishing off a Chocolate Shake from the Dairy Barn

I found the alligator!

I went with the deep fried alligator and fries.  I was not sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it and will get it again the next time I have a chance.

Mini Donuts shared amongst several of us

Fresh French Fries shared amongst many

Cheese Curds for dinner?  What would my Mom say?  Well she better not say anything since that is what she had as well.

And the finale, Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I never did find the chocolate covered bacon anywhere, I passed on the Big Bacon on a stick in hopes of finding it.  Maybe next time.

Looking back at it I really did not have that much to eat when you remember that it was spread out over about 10 hours.  But it still makes my stomach a little queasy thinking about all that grease.  That being said, of course I would it all again.  It is not a State Fair experience without the food!

Day 20 - The Great Minnesota Get-Together

For the first time in probably at least 10 years I ventured to the Minnesota State Fair this August.  It's not that I don't like the fair, but if I don't go I don't feel like I missed anything.  This year my Mom and sister Amy were back in Minnesota for a family reunion during the fair and wanted to go.  Amy's "friend" (it's a long story) Mike joined us for the day at the fair.

The crowds were already there in full force when we arrived

The only spot that I knew I wanted to stop by at the fair was the live broadcast of Garage Logic on AM-1500.  I have listened to their State Fair episodes for years and wanted to get to see one in person.  It did not disappoint, in fact it might be something that would make me consider going to the Fair more often.

Joe Soucheray talks to Princess Kay and The Lake Detective

After Mom and I watched Garage Logic for awhile we found Amy and Mike again, they had been joined by Mike's Mom Charlie and Dave.  We headed off to The Midway so Dave and Mike could try their hand at winning some of the giant stuffed animals.

Mike of course was drawn to the game involving beer bottles

The beer bottle game didn't work, maybe ring toss will lead to success

While Dave and Mike continued to play different games I took a walk down The Midway to see if I could find some photographic inspiration.  While I was not super excited by the photos I thought a couple turned out ok.

Success!  Mike finally wins the giant animal (we think it was supposed to be a lion)

As quickly as he won it he handed it off to Amy who is not quite sure what to think

Dave had quite a bit of success too, winning 2 giant Scooby's and a couple unicorns

A newly born calf as we made a quick stop by the Miracle of Birth Center on the way out

A sheep waiting to give birth at the Miracle of Birth Center

Mike, Winston The Lion, and Amy on the way home

No, I did not forget about the food.  Believe me we/I had plenty to eat, but that will have to be another post.  (Give me a break I still have 10 more posts to do this month.)