I am CuTRis

Having known Bryan, Jr. from my days working at the school he attended, I am happy that his dad is being released. I'm also sickened by a justice system that failed this man and his entire family. https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/bryan-hooper-sr-exonerated-after-27-years-in-prison-for-wrongful-murder-conviction/

Happy Father's Day. This year is my first one without my dad. However, I do have a son, and a wife, and my mom... and I am most fortunate. Father's Day is a good time to remember that more important than being a father, is being a good dad. A dad is there for his kids when they need him, and even when they don't. He's ready to help, and spend time, and teach, and even intervene before things go wrong. It's a big responsibility. The fathers who put their families first, are setting an example for future generations, and they have my admiration.

Last evening, I had a message waiting for me from my aunt Sharon. It was a link to an obituary for my younger cousin. He passed earlier in the week. I have to admit, that sometimes I'm bombarded with so many messages that it's hard to get through all of them. And the Facebook posts that are shares and resends get to be too much and eventually I turn them off. But this message was important. And it kind of brought a few things back into perspective. I've been dealing with an upcoming job change that has been forced upon me. I didn't realize that when I saw my cousin Jason last month at my dad's funeral, that that would be the last time I would talk to him. How would any of us know that he would die unexpectedly a month later? But yet it happened. In between all of that, we had an election and another outcome that will thrust change upon us. We live in a high-paced, ever-changing world. And it seems as though people are growing meaner and more impatient. Perhaps when...

This weekend we took a trip deep into Wisconsin (behind the cheddar curtain) to a funeral in Sheboygan. So, a quick stop at Lambeau Field, and also Lake Michigan was in order.

Almost 25 years ago, after previously working at Hennepin County Library, which I found to be the most corrupt place I had ever worked at, I interviewed and transferred to the Hennepin County Chemical Health Division. While I soon learned that corruption and bad managers also existed at the new job, I was destined to receive an education about poverty, addiction, good and evil, and even a bit of the supernatural—within the walls of 1800 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. At that time, there were a lot of accusations about racism, and it was a card being used to win, over truth and logic. That’s why I’m not surprised to see people still using it now; because true or not, it usually worked. Regardless of the stress, violence and heartbreak I witnessed there, I made some great friends, and a couple of nemeses. But the friends, were special. Occasionally, someone might make a friend at a job who they stay in touch with. But most often, the friendship dies when one or the other leaves the empl...

My son was editing his juice box at Noodles & Company. The box was sweating from condensation, so the "non" that he was trying to put in front of the word "organic," didn't turn out very well. The interesting thing about this is, I know exactly where he gets this stuff from...

My wife sometimes uses the wrong words, or makes up words, so I don't always know what she's saying. Sometimes, she doesn't answer me. But, we've been together for 18 years, and married for 16. We started by hiking together. So, most anniversaries, we try to take off from work and go hiking. The weather can be anything early in May. In fact, it rained on our wedding day. The judge said it meant good luck. I would have to agree. We've been through a lot, but we have a wonderful son and I can't think of anyone else who I would rather be with.

Sledding was fun, but the wind was nasty. I had the distance record, until my son beat it on the last run. I probably pushed him too hard... Ready! Record Marker He beat it by inches. Pro Tip: Always yell, "yay I win!" If you didn't win, it's still a good strategy in sledding or political elections!

The mayor of Minneapolis made a joke the other day about those of us working from home turning into "losers." For the life of me, I am not seeing anything except "win" about my situation of working from home! I don't have to pay parking to work downtown, I don't have to pay extra money for gasoline, which is not only good for my bank account, but it's good for the environment too. I also have more time for my family, more personal time, and that lack of sitting in traffic means my stress level is not as high. If all of these things make me a loser, then so be it! I'm very happy.

My wife was asking me about her snake plant because something was growing in it. I told her that it was about to bloom. She had lots of questions so I told her to Google it. Apparently snake plants rarely bloom. This one used to belong to my mother-in-law before she died. I told my wife that her mom was just saying "hello."

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A little over 11 years ago, there was a picture of me with my son hiking. My wife thought we should remake that picture today. My son was a good sport and went along with it. Somehow, it didn't look right though. I think it mostly had to do with the fact that I was wearing sunglasses in the first picture, and I didn't have sunglasses with me today...

Here is proof that my son likes hiking (even though he says he doesn't). It was 2012, and he was just 2 months old, and he kept up with me step for step!