Bad Parenting

Rachel is teaching Ellen how to use the potty.

I'm teaching her to read the newspaper while she goes.

My fair city

A fabulous view of the Minneapolis skyline from one of the hidden balconies at the Weisman Art Museum.

At the car wash

I'm a bad car-parent. When it needs a wash, it really needs one.

Burrito time

Late lunch from Chipotle. One of my few chain restaurant cravings.

The judges' chairs

Waiting in a campus office to be interviewed, surrounded by a semicircle of empty chairs. It feels like they're watching me.

Accident

I'm not sure what this is. I think I accidentally snapped a picture in my car. The camera was moving, and this might be a distorted look up through the windshield. It's kind of interesting-looking, actually.

Big Bird

I brined and roasted a chicken. Yummy.

Campus

Another job interview, another beautiful campus. I hope this one works out.

Freecycling!

Although we have some very confusing recycling policies, it's nice that Hennepin County provides free recycling of electronics for residents. I was able to drop off an old CRT TV, broken CD player, and speaker without even getting out of my car.

Failure

Sorry about the crappy picture quality. This is the fourth floor of the Mall of America. Although the Mall is a huge success story, nobody talks about the fourth floor. (It's not because Bluebeard has forbidden you to go up there.) When MOA opened, this was the much-ballyhooed entertainment zone. It's huge, with what used to be about a dozen restaurants, bars, and dance clubs. There was a country-western dance club (complete with electric bull), a comedy club, a frozen daiquiri bar, a video arcade, Planet Hollywood, Hooters, a wine bar & restaurant, a steakhouse, and some that I'm forgetting.

It never took off. One by one, the places closed down, and nothing replaced them. Now, it's a vast semicircular hall of empty storefronts. The only place that is still open is Hooters.

Unconvincing

Homey rocking chairs near the Northwest gates at LaGuardia. Several airports have stolen this idea from Charlotte. I'm not getting that same Southern hospitality vibe here.

Blackout

I walked by the United section of LaGuardia just as they lost all power. Fortunately, I was on a different airline. The rest of the airport was fine. I wonder if United forgot to pay a bill.

Art & Ivy

Modern art against the ivy-covered wall at my latest college interview. The color, light, and composition in this piece really tickle me. Not bad for the iPhone.

Rainy days and Mondays

Wet weather at O'Hare. My flight was delayed an hour or so. I consider that getting off lucky when it comes to O'Hare.