Summer?

Where did the summer go?
That June vacation seems so long ago,
Yet the summer left so quickly
I can only shake my head and sigh.

-KJC

Beer Making: A Pictorial Guide

My new beer book is out in paperback! Click HERE
to find it!

Burnsville Art & All That Jazz

Here is a clip from the Burnsville Art & All That Jazz event Saturday night. This is Mick Sterling & the Irresistibles.

Sauk Centre Mini-Trip

My wife and I have gone to Sauk Centre for a quick fishing trip last year and the year before that. So when we decided to go this year, not much changed as far as where we went or what we did. The Bear Trap has a new addition (first photo)! We found a better motel, in that it was cheaper and there was no noisy bar below. We stayed at The Gopher Prairie Motel this year. Aside from fishing at the pier and the dam, we also shopped and explored. I've included a few photos below, including one inside the Palmer House and one of the writing desk of Sauk Centre's own, Sinclair Lewis. At the time Lewis penned his novel Main Street, the townspeople weren't too happy about how they were portrayed. Now, however, he is celebrated in his home town.

In the last photo, Cutris tells others that "this is an interpretive center, where you can interpret things."

Late Afternoon Hike

Here are some photos I took while hiking the proposed state trail in the Long Meadow Lake unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Walking Away

After six years working for the school district and the last four working in technology at the alternative high school in Eagan, I set the school's computer equipment up as best as I could for the new school year--and then I turned in my keys and left.

I am leaving for a new job that I was able to tryout this summer--working for a company that creates wireless networks for under-served (rural) areas.

The school district is low on money, and the result for the employees is that we are losing pay, benefits and facing lay-offs. I decided to walk away from that.

In spite of what some Republicans would tell you, the problem in my opinion is not that public employees are paid too much. At least not those working on the "front lines." I did, however, see abuses of power even at the school I worked at. It seems that at least some of those at the top are costing the tax payers lots of money.

Just as an example, the principal of the school I was working at has for her own personal use, one desktop PC, one color printer/scanner/fax, two laptops, an iPad and a smart phone. In addition, though there are three secretaries supporting the programs, she has employed her own daughter for at lease three years as a long-term temp. When teachers and support staff are being laid off, I find it distressing that this is allowed; while at the same time any and all reasons are being sought to eliminate employees from much lower paid positions--because "it is necessary to lower costs."

I will refrain from speaking about how the HR Dept. has somehow actually grown during these cutbacks in staffing...

I really hope that public education doesn't suffer any more budget cuts. I also hope that those people in power will have to be more accountable in the future. The future of our children, our country and our world depends on everyone.

Gordon W. Frederickson

My wife and I went to the Dakota County Fair yesterday evening. I met Gordon W. Frederickson there. We talked a bit about the difficulties of becoming a published author. Click on his name above to visit his website.

Decision

I've been trying out a new job over the summer and now I have to make a decision. With the financial problems the public schools are facing, my technology job is changing, and I think downsizing and cuts are likely in the next year or so.

The new job is with a company that creates and supports wireless networks. It is very different from the school, but this small company seems financially sound.

Cholesterol

Last February I had a physical exam and while I was deemed healthy, the one concern was that my cholesterol was too high. My doctor thought I should go on a low dose of statin, because I was "already in good shape, and probably couldn't do much to change it."

Now, five months later I have been checked again and fall well into the "normal" categories. My doctor assumed it was the medication, but I haven't taken any! I used diet, exercise, lost a few pounds and take one fish oil pill each day.

Incidentally, my brother Jim (the mechanic) told me about fish oil. So why didn't my doctor tell me? Maybe the reason people take too much medication is because the doctors want to prescribe it. Obviously I didn't need medicine. I had never really "watched" my diet before. Now I do...

Beer Making: A Pictorial Guide

Click here for the eBook by Kevin J. Curtis.

Beer Book

Watch for my new beer making book coming soon!

Little Log House Show

Yesterday we spent five hours in the heat at the Little Log House Show. Here are some photos.