Let’s say you were sending a care package to someone. You want it to reflect Duluth. The female recipient is in college out of state and isn’t from Duluth (although her parents are recent transplants). What would you send?

Our 8 year old has a manual typewriter. The budding writer needs her typewriter oiled. Although her parents did type in college it was on two Macintosh computers and they have no idea how to do it. Any local shops/repair services you recommend?

Next Friday is Science Night at UWS. Bring your kids, it is always a good time. Mine (age 5 and 8 ) have been asking when the next science night is since about this time last year.

Friday April 8, 2011 from 6-9pm

Wessman Arena on UWS’s campus (this is a new location since our science building is under renovation). Hosted by the UWS Students of Science Club.

Admission is FREE! Come see demonstrations, look at displays, enjoy yourself and learn a little!

My pharmacy is closing and I need recommendations for a new one. I live in Lakeside and will not use Walgreens. I would prefer to go to the ER before having another prescription filled by them.

The whole story:
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Anyone else find the Duluth Public Schools website absolutely abominable?

I had reason to call three elementary schools, one of which I needed the address for. Sure I could use my handy-dandy phone book — oh, wait, this is 2010 I don’t have a phone book! Not to mention I’m sitting at my desk, with my high-speed world wide web right here.
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A friend is organizing a global work party.

Sunday, 10.10.10 (10am-noon)

Bring your children so we can teach them to care for the Earth! Please bring own garbage bags. We’ll meet at the Tot Lot, disseminate (perhaps farther down the beach), and then meet back for a photo. Hope to see you there!

My dog happens to be the least alpha dog there is. He barks rarely. In fact when I got him from Animal Allies I wondered if he had been de-barked because he didn’t bark for 3 days. This morning he barked at something out the front door window.

I went over to look, thinking it could be a delivery person or something. Turns out it is someone who let their dog poop in my front yard and then was walking away from it, not picking it up. I turned on my Minnesota, passive aggressive self, “Excuse me do you need a bag or shovel to help pick that up? I’ve got a trash can right here you can put it in.” (point to trowel and trashcan literally feet from where she is).

Reminder dog owners: pick it up. If you happen to come by my house, feel free to use the doggie trash can perched in the front yard. That’s what it is there for.

Hundreds of these guys are gobbling up the leaves on our boulevard tree. Help! Do we spray? Do we put our heads between our knees and wait for the Russian bomb?

What are they and what should we do?

I spent the holiday getting my tires/tie rods/alignment replaced/done. If that doesn’t say holiday, I don’t know what does. It was hours upon hours at the service center, me without my laptop and not much to do.

Guy comes in with a combat wounded plate. Service shop is finishing up his transaction and employee says, “Thanks for your service, were you in Nam?”

Turns out he was. Turns out the customer service guy was as well. They talk about locations/dates and it turns out that it is highly possible the guy selling tires once upon a time flew the customer in a helicopter someplace over the jungle in Vietnam. Wow, they can’t make this up. Pair of them tell a few stories, shake hands. Thank each other for their service.

A 20-something woman waiting in line behind the Vietnam vet is waiting less than patiently. Vet leaves. Woman says something like, “What’s all the fuss?”

Just another day at the auto repair shop.

We need a new rubber seal for the blender – you know the “o” that goes between the jar and the blade.

The original one got caught in the blade and was destroyed. Shortly after that happened, Big E did a little surgery on something purchased at Marshall Hardware and managed to cobble together something that works semi-decent. The rubber has gotten hard and it no longer seals well, I’d like to get a bona fide blender part.

I can order online for 4 bucks for the part + at least that much in shipping. I’m in search of a local place to buy one of those o-ring rubber seals for a blender.

Back in January 1997 I witnessed an unidentified flying object. It was very thrilling and exciting. I’ll never forget it.

It was early evening. I was on the Midway Road. The object appeared as a bright star but larger than other stars. Within seconds it shot down to about 20 or 30 feet above me. I couldn’t see the top of the UFO, but the bottom shined in glowing red, green, blue and other lights. It hovered above me with such beautiful colors, blowing in the night. Within 15 to 25 seconds, it shot out in the night. It was over Cloquet within about 10 seconds. Nothing manmade could ever fly that fast.

That was my first and only sighting. I firmly believe it was a message from God that someday the Scenic Railroad should park those coal cars somewhere else.  And also, Tim Pawlenty would make a really rotten governor, let alone President.

Who knows what the future holds; only God knows for sure.

Saturday evening, a fabulous time to head over to Brighton Beach. A few other families thought so as well. We get out of the car and basically have to navigate our way over a few raspberry bushes to get to the beach. This being Duluth, they were still full of berries. They are no longer, so no need to consult there in your berry quest.