20th Anniversary Bayfront Blues Festival - NEXT Weekend

Duluth, Minnesota will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bayfront Blues Festival this year, the four-day event promising a wealth of blues music for fans in the Great Lakes area. The 2008 Bayfront Blues Festival kicks off on Thursday, August 7th and runs through Sunday, August 10th, with this year's event featuring headliners Bobby Rush, Shemekia Copeland, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and John Lee Hooker, Jr.

Note:

I was wrong in my post last night. I jumped the gun - this weekend is not the Blues Festival, but this weekend IS our Maritime Festival. See my next post.

Signing the Bus - Fighting for Cancer

Well, our American Cancer Society's Advocacy "Fight Back Express" bus arrived in Duluth this afternoon. I was not able to attend the Huskies game for the festivities planned around the bus before the game and at 7th inning stretch, because my husband was at a golf tournament, and not available to go with me. Since I've seen my share of baseball games through all the years our son played baseball, and due to be attending a Twins game soon, I really didn't want to go. But, I did go out to Wade Stadium where the bus was parked, so that I could sign it. Boy, it's been around a lot of states already, many signatures on the bus, hard to find a spot to sign, but we all found spots, many climbing the ladder to find areas to sign our names. These signatures will go to our nation's capitol in September. Here are some photos.

Fight Back Express at Huskies Game July 31st!

Why not take in a Duluth Huskies baseball game tomorrow night, and take the opportunity there to sign the Fight Back Express Bus (see post below). The weather is going to be great for a pleasant evening at the ball game, at Wade Stadium! If you can't make the game, stop down by Bayfront tomorrow at 3 pm and sign the bus!
Send a message to our nation's legislators!

Fight Back Express is coming to Duluth Tomorrow!

We're Fighting Back on Wheels
Visit the Fight Back Express when it comes through your town! (Duluth tomorrow, July 31)America has a problem. Millions of people need cancer care and are unable to get the care they need. Forty percent of cancer patients find themselves unable to pay for food, heat, and housing when paying for medical costs. To draw attention to this issue, a bus called the Fight Back Express will be visiting 48 states in a six-month journey across the United States. It is coming to DULUTH tomorrow. It will be at Bayfront behind the DECC by the waterfront at 3 pm. It will then be going to Wade Stadium to the HUSKIES Baseball game. Today it was in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Sign our "Petition on Wheels" Visitors to the Fight Back Express will be able to sign the bus, creating a “petition on wheels” that no elected official at any level of government will be able to ignore. Signers will become part of a grassroots movement united in its mission to defeat cancer and determined to put cancer at the top of the nation’s agenda. You can help show the government and our presidential contenders that you think health care should be a priority by coming out and visiting the bus when it comes near you. The strength of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), our sister advocacy organization, is in the voices of the people behind it, and we are counting on your voice this year more than any other. Once both parties have a presidential nominee, we will be asking each candidate to make the fight against cancer a priority for their administration. Think the issue of access to care doesn't apply to you? If you or someone you know has had cancer, think again. Every cancer story, whether it has a happy ending or not, is a story of access to care. Some people have access to good care, get screened regularly for cancer, and have a good chance of detecting their cancer early, when it's most treatable. Many others are not getting the preventative care they need, and their cancers are being found late, when the chance of survival is not as good. Our strategy is to collect as many stories as possible from people who have faced a cancer diagnosis and then struggled with how they are going to pay for treatment. Perhaps you are the wife, or husband, or daughter of someone whose treatment was compromised because of the overwhelming expense. We know there are people who have simply given up because of the financial burden it would put on their family. This is wrong. Learn more about this important campaign and find out how you can be part of this grassroots movement by visiting acscan.org and coming out to visit the bus. Visit the web site, for you readers from other states to find out when the bus comes to your town!

Finn Fest 2008 in Duluth

Speaking of tourists in Duluth, all last week was the "2008 Finn Fest" Festival. The Finnish flag was flying in Duluth all last week and weekend. As you may or may not know, we have many Duluth residents who have a Finnish background.

“Sharing the Spirit of Finland” was the title of this year’s FinnFest, with programs focusing around four major themes: Finnish culture; the music of Finland; the contributions of women of Finnish heritage, and the Finnish-Anishinaabe connection. The title underscores the organizers’ deep commitment to involving the entire community – not just people of Finnish descent.

"Contribution of Women Leaders". Women representing various leadership positions spoke at a panel on Sunday at the DECC. One of those women was the President of Finland Tarja Halonen herself, "I think this kind of thinking, to be creative, and to have possibilies for networking, I think that's a very good thing." University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor Kathryn Martin also spoke. She touched on the importance of exploring leadership roles and some of the challenges and opportunities for women leaders. In particular, Martin focused on the nature and importance of building strong female relationships in promoting change, "We need to know the importance of each one of us being central to the decisions in the area in which we function and be willing to take the risks to collaborate, to cooperate, to make a better society."

My best friend is Finnish, as is her husband. They were at the festival last weekend and said it was wonderful and fun!

Bayfront Blues Festival this Weekend

All you blues lovers. This weekend is the Annual Bayfront Blues Festival at Bayfront Park in Duluth, MN. Don't miss it. Many out of towners come in to be part of this great festival.

(P.S.- We almost lost this wonderful annual event because the city got a bit greedy about wanting more of a financial cut from it!)

"Wanna Rock and Roll"

Our City of Duluth Administration and the City Council have a lot of issues to work out these days. Many of the issues result in controversy. The latest one has a whole page devoted to it in today's News Tribune "Northland Forum" section. The headline in big bold print is "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night!" Concerts late into the evening at Bayfront Festival Park is the issue that has a debate going. Some Duluthians that live near the park are annoyed by the late concerts, saying they are too loud and hinder their sleep. Others want the music to play on. The City Council is poised to discuss an ending time for the shows. Our Mayor advocates ending shows by 10 pm, to please those that are against the later hour. Many of the groups that come to Duluth won't go on till later at night, says the Duluth Event Coordinator. According to those in favor of the later hour the council needs to be "bringing business into the city, instead of chasing it away." "Bigger and better concerts are good for Duluth's bottom line. They attract out of towners who book hotel rooms, eat meals in our restaurants and bolster Duluth's tourism tax. They give the city a buzz and help to build its positive reputation. And they help attract and retain young professionals, some of them creative energetic types who'll start businesses here, create jobs and improve Duluth's economy."

Not everyone who lives on the hillside are complaining. Some were interviewed for the article and stated that noise can be expected when you live in a city. One said "she'd rather hear the music than constant sirens, neighbors and kids making noise."

The event coordinator said that Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and other groups that have played here in the past, would never have played if they knew they would have to "wrap up not long after the sun went down".

What do you readers think? Please give your comments, I'd be interested in hearing from you. Personally I think they should be allowed to play at least until midnight. Someone suggested using the DECC, but I don't think a concert should be inside in the summer, when we have a beautiful Bayfront Park by the lake! (It's just not as effective). My son said that Bob Dylan only played at the DECC once, and the next time he came he wanted to play at Bayfront!

Put in your vote! E mail City Councilors if you feel strong either way, let them hear from you! To comment here, click on "comments" below.

"The Last Lecture"

"Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who became a YouTube phenomenon with his "Last Lecture," died Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 47. He died at his home in southern Virginia." (USA News)


Another book I enjoyed reading this summer was "The Last Lecture", written by Randy Pausch, a Carnegie-Melon Professor, who put together a lecture for his students*. It hit the internet, and he put it in a book, that became a best seller, you may have heard about him and the book. He was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on TV Primetime.

I gave the book to our Grandson as a H S Graduation gift, along with the cash, that he really wanted. He must have heard of the professor, because he seemed excited about the book and thanked me for it. I hope that he takes time this summer to read it. Randy had been dealing with pancreatic cancer, a cancer that most people do not survive. He passed away last Friday, and lived 6 months longer than the doctors thought he would. I'm sure it was due to his will and attitude, which flows from his writing.

Professor Pausch said if he could leave his students just one direction in life it would be:
to tell the truth, and if he could leave two things, it would be: tell the truth - all the time!

Another important thing he stressed to his students and his readers is this:

"You can't change the cards you are dealt with, just the way you play them".
Isn't that the truth!

*While he gave this lecture at his school, he said that it was really written for his children, to leave them some guidance, since he would not be there.

Randy Pausch left 3 young children and a wife. Let's continue our fight against cancer!

"The Shack"

The book I couldn't quit reading last week. It is a "different" kind of story, very interesting and good reading! I can see why my friend said everyone should read this story. We are passing it around. I finished it on my lunch hour today so that I could pass it to one of the girls in my Tuesday evening group.

"The Shack" by William P. Young

http://www.theshackbook.com

Where Have I Been???

Kids games at relay
Our Hope UMC Campsite ------------ Maddy helped to fill luminaria bags

A friend who reads my blog e mailed to me today and commented that I must be very busy since I haven't written a post for awhile, yes - it has been a busy couple of weeks again. I have so much I've been wanting to write about, but seems like I have no time (and sometimes no energy) to write. I was going to write this past weekend for SURE...but didn't get it done. (I was "relaxing" too much!)

The weekend of July 18th was our Duluth Community Relay For Life event, Friday night. My daughter and her family came up from Hudson. I wanted to write about her attending her 20th H S Class reunion! (2o years??!!) We had a nice visit with her and her family that weekend.

I took my Granddaughter to the relay. She loved it, and had a good time walking with Grandma, and going around to the different campsites, vendors, and eating! She was our team "mascot", carried our sign. She made it till after midnight before she admitted she was tired and wanted to go home. Of course, I didn't write that whole week before the relay, because at work I was helping the staff prepare for 3 area relays that were held that Friday night, so was pretty tired by the time the end of the days came. I would say March and July are the two busiest/craziest months at my job.

One evening last week a friend invited me to attend a jazz concert with her at Weber Hall at UMD. That was relaxing for both of us...part of UMD's Summer Festival series.

Another evening our covenant group went to "Sara's Table at Chester Creek" for dinner after our meeting, that is always a nice place to go. Another relaxing evening. I was glad for these two relaxing evenings, after some very hectic work days!

This past weekend I spent a lot of time sitting on our deck in the beautiful weather, reading a book a friend gave me that she told me "everyone should read". I'll write about it in another post. I also went to the Lakewalk and spent some time down there by the lake, enjoying the nice weather. This past weekend's weather was just perfect over the hill here... 70's, low 80's and a breeze. Downtown, it was 80's, humid and no breeze. It's not often that it's warmer downtown than up over the hill, but this last weekend it was.

I thought I'd make an effort to write this week, as the weekend will be busy. Our grandson and his friend will be coming up for the weekend. Two of his cousins, that now live in Duluth, are in the Denfeld's production of "Grease", and we are all going to go see it. Can't wait to see them. Also, can't wait to see GREASE, one of my favorite musicals!!

So...that's what I've been up to. This week I will try to find the time to write about a lot of things that I thought about writing the last few weeks. Below are a few I've written tonight.

Mutt Mitts

To show you that Duluth's Lakewalk is clean! Dogs are allowed,

but Mutt Mitts are a must. The city offers them free!

Perfect Weather Weekend

The last few days the weather in Duluth has been just perfect! Yesterday afternoon I took a walk at the lakewalk, there were a lot of people on the walk, and on the beach area by the downtown part of the lake. I'll bet there were even more out on Park Point's Beach! Here are some photos. It was a good day to be down there... but as I said in a previous post, it actually was warmer there, than at our house over the hill... it was even more pleasant in our neighborhood!

Goodbye Diane

And speaking again of Hope UMC. Last week was the last week for our wonderful Church Secretary, Diane. She is leaving us to start a new chapter in her life in one of the suburbs of St. Paul! Her children are grown, one lives down there, the other in college and no relatives here in Duluth, so she is making a move to be closer to her girls. We are losing a great secretary and a great friend of many of us. She has been a real asset for our pastor and our church. We will miss her dearly!

I used to be a church secretary for 7 years, I know how hard she worked, and know the bond she feels to the church. She promises to keep in touch, and she told me, "I will continue to read your blog, Linda". Last Wednesday we surprised her with a luncheon at church, and what a nice turn out we had to wish her well. Our quilting group made a quilt and presented it to her, and we also gave her a framed photo of Rose Garden (lest she should forget). I was able to "sneak" away during my lunch period and attend the luncheon, as I wanted to be sure to wish her well.

Diane, if you are reading this, know how much you are loved, and how much we appreciate all that you did for Hope! We all wish you and your girls the best life has to offer. God Bless You!

Fun Sunday

Yesterday morning was a "fun Sunday" at HOPE UMC. We had a HYMN SING. You know, us U. Methodists LOVE to sing! There is no loss for hands in the air of people wanting to get their favorite hymn in. Of course, I have SO many, many favorite hymns that it's always hard for me to choose just one...but I always can find a special one that pops into my head. This time one of my Mother's favorite popped into my head right away. She used to sing, hum and often times even WHISTLE hymns around the house when I was growing up. She also had many favorites. One came into my head on Saturday, and I knew it would be the one I would choose for Sunday's Hymn Sing. We were also to tell why it was "our favorite". I named the hymn in memory of my Mother, as one of her favorites that she would hum or whistle around the house.

Bob and I helped with coffee fellowship after church. One of our favorite couples that are in their 80's asked Bob and I if we would serve with them, and we of course said sure! At my Tuesday evening group, some of the girls commented that it would be fun to have "something different" at coffee time, like sundaes or root beer floats. I ran that idea by Lois, and she liked the idea too.... so she brought the ice cream and I brought the root beer. I bought large colorful plastic cups, spoons and straws. Everyone was delighted. It was a warm morning, and everyone thought the floats were a real treat. It was fun to do something different. Of course, we still made coffee for the dire hard coffee drinkers and had cinnamon rolls to go with the floats.

It was also very neat to work with Lois and Fred, and to see that there age was not going to stop them from helping and being involved! They are a real special couple, just one of many special people at Hope! What fun!

Focusing

Another thing that's kept me busy.... is since June 10th I have been really "focusing" on my new food plan (not a diet) and healthy living. This takes lots of focus, and attention & time given to everything I put into my mouth, and trying to make time to excerise, and extra time shopping for groceries, looking at all the labels for low carbs, low sodium and protein. Do you know how many things I can't eat/buy because there is too much sodium?! A lot! When I first started this plan in June, I dropped 12 lb in three days... I was told that was proof that I was "retaining fluids" and that I am "sodium sensitive", thus the sodium vilgilance. Whenever I have dieted in the past, I never looked at sodium, never even thought of the sodium aspect! I have been following this plan to the t every day, the first time I have followed a "plan" in many years. It certainly does help when you "get help" from a dietician...I finally had to give in and admit I just couldn't do this on my own... I have dropped 24 lbs. and I'm already feeling a lot better. Now I am working on my second 20...20 pounds at a time, is my goal. 20 lbs at a time, AND one day at a time. Focusing....focusing....

Duluth Community Relay For Life Event 07.18.08

Theme this year: Cancer Takes No Holidays - photo above - "Nurse Betty" from our team

Maddy face painting
one of many campsites
Opening Ceremony

The weekend of July 18th was our Duluth Community Relay For Life event, Friday night. My daughter and her family came up from Hudson. I took my Granddaughter to the relay. She loved it, and had a good time walking with Grandma, and going around to the different campsites, vendors, and eating! She was our team "mascot", carried our sign. She made it till after midnight before she admitted she was tired and wanted to go home. We had a great time. I usually stay all night, but since I had Maddy this year, I didn't. Most of our team stayed all night. The Luminaria Ceremony at dusk, where all the luminarias are lit, and we all join hands around the track, was as always, the most inspirational moments of the evening.

This was the first year the Duluth Relay had raised over $100,000 before the relay night. What a great start to our $140,000 goal this year. As of yesterday, we are almost at $130,000. Money is still coming in, and we have until August 31st to reach our goal.

Our Hope UMC team broke $5,000 last week!

Bike Ride for Cancer

Our Annual Duluth Relay For Life is coming up next Friday, and again I'm happy to say that Hope UMC has a team for the event. Our Pastor Dan felt bad that he would not be able to be at the event, and as a team member he offered to do a "100 Mile" Bike ride as a fundraiser for the team!

This morning at approximately 8:15 am he left Brighton Beach, will travel up the Old North Shore Hwy 61 through Two Harbors, Gooseberry Falls, Beaver Bay to Grand Marais. He orginally planned to turn around at Beaver Bay and come back. However, the winds are very high today, and are to get more windy by afternoon, which would have him riding against the wind. For his sake and safety's sake, he will do the 100 miles going the whole way to Grand Marais. His wife will pick him up there. We were planning a huge get together at Brighton Beach upon his return, now we are making changes on the cheering, etc. A group is meeting him this morning at Knife River and Two Harbors to cheer him on. I was going to be with the group, but was dismayed to find my battery went dead as I was taking photos of his preparation for the ride. I am back home, recharging it, and took off my photos that I took, so I can show them to you this morning! After this post, hoping the battery is recharged, as I will be on my way back up the shore to cheer him on, somewhere along the way.

Our congregation is supporting him by giving him pledges for the 100 miles. We have almost $500 raised so far!

By the way, other than the winds today, it is a most gorgeous day...forecast to stay in the 70's and sunny and clear! So far, it's great! This is perfect weather for the bicycle ride!!! Look how blue the lake is!!

PS - Pastor Dan said that the "butter" was one of the most important things for the trip, hence the photo!

Leif Erickson Park - Duluth, MN

Statue of Leif Erickson

The stage is used for festivals and there are many weddings on this stage throughout the summer. We attended one there, and it was a great setting!

Rose Garden - Duluth, MN

The roses aren't at their peak yet, but they are still beautiful!