Minnesota to Russia - Odds and end - ramblings and pics

My buddy Scott, JR mate, from Oz living in Hong Kong. Married to a good woman from Wisconsin. And his wonderful daughter starring in the pic.
Rick, Senteo mate, trying to capture an ad he wanted for his files at the Newark Airport on our way home from many days in NYC.
A Pioneer Press capture of the fireworks over downtown St Paul. Reminded me of a wedding I went to with Carly that was scheduled so we could watch the fireworks live from the balcony at the Science Museum - the only reason to be the guest at at wedding!
Always find it amazing that this huge, fascinating structure sits on the hill in St Paul just down the street from my house. And what a beautiful capture of the building.
Russians are posers -they work the camera......maybe Margie was Russian in another life....
Nice little church getting some renovation on one of my routes from the office/grocery store - tucked into a corner of one street

I suppose this is the start of the Odd - Marcia and I. Two great friends connected by a job where we sat back to back for a few weeks and then she dumped wine all over me at the Christmas Party at the bosses house a few weeks later - it was white. We have enjoyed so much together ever since.



I left St Paul with temps hovering near 32C. Woke up this morning way too close to 6C - a foggy grey rainy day. Conversions for you Abby. Don't expect it to make it to 50 today.
Couldn't have asked for a nicer weather week in Minnesota last week. Got many of projects completed and saw family and friends - never seem to get as much of that done as I hope.
With warm clothes in my bag I am ready for the fall and winter ahead in Moscow.
Kept saying that the Georgia activities are not impacting my existence - wow, you just never know. One of our staff was there visiting family. She was it by a grenade and lost family members. She is fine and back to Moscow and work - would never know the first comment I made was true.
I went through immigration at the fastest pace ever this trip - so things only looked better last night in that regard.
Got out of St Paul before the Republicans took over the Twin Cities - unfortunately for all of us and the guests, St Paul won't look much like a city you want to visit. At least not the core zone around the convention center and downtown. Lots of fencing and barbed wire showing up even before I left. I hope it is quiet for all.
And it is now 3C tonight, one more Abby. Cool one for September 1.
We have our summer birthday celebration on the roof deck planned for Friday night - hope that sun gets back to Moscow before then.

Saint Paul - Biking and BBQing

A perfect summer day. Lots of friends, family and fun.

Moscow - hot, steamy and more surprising spots to enjoy 2

It seems like most of the old churches are in the renovation process as well. You don't have to wander too far in any direction to find a church - a lot like St Paul. I remember in the 80s when St Paul hosted the National Conference of Mayors and George Latimer, St Paul Mayor, was speaking to them at a social function.
He recalled how many people over the last several days how many people had asked him if St Paul was a very religious city with such high rate of churches to people. He suggested at this party that it probably wasn't that the people of St Paul were that good. Rather that after the previous 6 days they needed a to get back on track for our behavior. Moscow is a world much like that.
It is amazing what you find when you wander inside. I was in one today that must have to have reinforced floors to hold up the floor to ceiling and every inch in between of brass structures, altars, candle sticks, lamps, etc. Hardly room to move and pray!

Moscow - hot, steamy and more surprising spots to enjoy

August is holiday month in Europe. And Russia and Moscow is exactly the same. It is quiet around the city, or as quiet as any monster city ever gets. And since it is summer we had another week where the heat, humidity and dew points all raced to their highs.
People head to the sand beaches along the Moscow River if you are in the City. I haven't worked on that adventure yet. Maybe tomorrow - another hot one expected.
The first think I noticed in the neighborhoods that I wandered today was that almost all of the buildings had been renovated or were in the process of being updated. There is so much building and renovation going on here. You can see that in a few more years, if things stay on the track they are here, that this will once again be a stunning place.