You know you’ve truly gotten used to living in Minnesota when you go outside to get the mail in 20 degree weather (as opposed to 5 degree weather), and you describe it to the Sidekick as “warm”. Oh, and you don’t wear a coat, hat, or gloves because it seems so balmy.
I bought a snowblower.
It’s snowing here. Just ask Lileks:
The Water Feature repairmen returned. In parkas. It does not bode well when the gentlemen trying to fix a leak are dressed for a polar expedition.
Spent the day with the sidekick getting driver’s licenses (at one location) and license plates (at another location), filing for the Homestead tax exemption, and getting library cards.
Even had to take a knowledge test at the license bureau since I was transferring into Minnesota from out of state.
Fun, fun, fun.
Now to install new license plates.
What does it mean to be your brother’s keeper?
If you’re a law enforcement officer in Minnesota, it means getting a company like Target to donate supplies and resources - and shuttling down an entire strike team of officers to New Orleans to help out:
We are rolling, all 70 or so vehicles. We are running a little late so I called NOPD to let them know. The officer’s response was, “When ya’ll get here we’re gonna kiss ya! We just crossed into Louisiana. Seeing a lot of military vehicles going north. Storm damage is increasing. Seeing a lot of trees down along the highway. Driving too fast to get some good photos.
This email from a resident of Mississippi is featured on their 9/16 update page.
Dear Sir or Madam:
On my way to work today I saw a long-ish line of police-type vehicles, & as I made my turn I could see on their sides “Minneapolis”!
Please extend our sincere thanks to all of the folks from Minneapolis, as well as Bloomington, Ramsey County, Roseville, and Maplewood, who have come down to help, and to those who are pitching in at home to make their trip possible.
Thanks!!
Robert
It has to be quite a sight to see 70 Minnesota Police cars flying down the highway towards New Orleans….
Too tired and busy last night to post the final update on the 1400 mile drive, but here is the update.
I made it to Woodbury, Minnesota around 430pm CST yesterday, having followed the path below:
One sees many interesting things on a 1400 mile drive, but the only one I took a picture of was outside of Madison, Wisconsin at a rest area. It’s the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial:
I’ve now bought the new washer and dryer and a new grill - looked at some other things and have much to do. Closing is tomorrow at 10am.
You might have also heard of that bitch, Katrina? Yeah, thought you had. That’s on my mind too tonight.
Pulled out of Boston’s Nine-Zero Hotel this morning at 5:45am EST, pulled into the Residence Inn in Toledo Ohio about 7pm EST. The cat managed to not puke until we got to the hotel, so that’s an improvement over what has happened in the past.
Here’s the map for you Google Geeks out there:
It’s about 774 miles - I drive a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid, and averaged 40.4 MPG for this trip, so my fuel used was only around 19.16 gallons so far.
In fact, at 500 miles, I took this picture with the Treo 650:
Now for pizza, some old James Bond on the telly, and out the door by 6am for the remaining 660 miles to go to the new home in Minnesota. Closing is Monday morning….
Back in January, I accepted a promotion to a position in Minneapolis with the understanding that I would be commuting there until the fall when the sidekick was finished with Graduate School.
And so seven months later, we’re almost to the end point.
On Wednesday, the movers come to pack. Thursday, they load the truck. Friday, I set out with Galadriel for Woodbury, Minnesota with an overnight stop in Toledo, Ohio. Fun.