If I were in charge, a sculpture-surprise would greet you around every corner. The artists would thrive. The city’s would shine. And we’d all find ourselves laughing or thinking profound thoughts every time we encountered a work of art.

For now, here’s a lovely piece from Mazatlan, Mexico—along their gorgeous malecon (sea-wall promenade alongside the beach). There are MANY sculptures there—yet another reason to BreakAway to sunny Mexico!

Minnesota’s state government has taken FOREVER to pass a bill disallowing playing with your cell phone while driving. Well, they finally did. The law takes effect on August 1. You can still do “one-touch” activities and voice activation and such. Okay, fine.

By my best guess-timate, about 44.55% of drivers are doing something with their phone while driving. Talking? Texting? SM-ing? Watching reality shows? Buying toilet paper on Amazon? All the above? If we actually give citations, the cops will be swamped and the state will get rich.  I hope so.

Life is better in 3D than on your screen. Driving too. So, like, BreakAway from that addictive toy and take a real vacation. Talk to someone. Go hear live music or see a play. Plant flowers. Walk.

Most important: Drive.

There’s nothing better than living in endless summer. Which is not to say that it doesn’t have its problems. Like poop. From seagulls, and enemies of the people, and things. So we employ Eagles and things. To keep them away.

Which works well, mostly, until the Eagle loses his head.

GBA.

Happy 4^th of July (weekend)! Happy long days. It’s summer vacation season. So get up and go somewhere. Be happy go lucky!

I’m not really in Denmark, though I really wish I were! But some years back, I dragged my kids through some of their Scandinavian root grounds (+ fun touristy kid areas), for several weeks around the Solstice. Here, a witch (not a real one) burns on a beach as part of a midsummer celebration called Sankt Hans Aften.

This ritual dates back hundreds of years—like so many things in Denmark—and has many histories, symbolisms, and even controversies attached to it. From my POV, it was a glorious, mysterious evening with beautiful people, sentimental singing, tasty beer, and midnight light. My celebration this year will be less fiery, and probably rainy to boot. : (

Still, Happy Solstice!

Nature is great, right? Hmmmm… When my daughter knocked on one of my birdhouses recently, this creature emerged. A sibling remained inside, thank God.

They’re baby flying squirrels—something you rarely see around here. Nocturnal by nature, they use those big eyes to, well, freak me out! I don’t know why they were in the birdhouse, although they do fly (glide, really, or so I’m told). I just hope they stay away—maybe go hang out with the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz or something.

Graduation brings much excitement, emotion, and exhaustion. That’s why I ducked in to Princeton University Chapel a few days ago—after events had ended and people were disappearing.

I found the silence and reflection I was looking for, in addition to these lovely orange-centric flowers saluting the college colors. My son is now done there, and I am filled with gratitude for his world-class education and experience. And yet, I will miss that place. He’ll miss it more, as college provides the ultimate BreakAway for youth coming of age.

When it comes to sunsets, everyone’s an excellent photographer—because sundowns are so awesome, at least when the clouds cooperate. Sunrises can be equally lovely. But most of us aren’t floating on a boat with friends sipping a cocktail at that hour.

Wildfires from Canada are again sending smoke to Minnesota that makes for hazy skies, but stunning sunsets. We’re all busy: I know. But please stop and watch one of our planets most magical moments when you can. It’s free. And you’ll feel better about whatever’s bugging you.

I’ve been travelling a lot lately, which both delivers the promise of one of this site’s charters and keeps me trained for the rigors of rambling. In the last five weeks, I’ve done long weekends in Kansas City, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Okoboji (IA). Expect reports from the fields and beaches soon…

Meantime, this shot happened during sundown from a deck in Okoboji, a beloved getaway  of mine since childhood. Obviously, the dock crews work harder than vacationers know. Here, hundreds of docks and lifts await their annual migration back to the lake, in a twisted and noisy dance not unlike the spring rituals of the birds and animals hiding all around.

Soon, the weather (and water) will warm up, the vacationers will barge in by the thousands, and summer will spring into hot action. Then the season will fade away, like a beautiful but too-brief sunset. Summer is short. Step out and find your warm comfort zone before fall and the chilled docks come cashing ashore again!