Michael’s Musings

Northstar Train

I was bummed to read that the Northstar commuter train was vastly underperforming in regard to utilization and revenue. I’m not a regular rider of the train but have used it to attend Twins and Vikings games in downtown Minneapolis. The Northstar line runs 40 miles between Big Lake and Target...

The Old Man and the Imp

Whether you’re Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day is a fun time for celebration and perhaps a wee bit o’ mischief, so I wrote a wee bit o’ flash fiction to help set the mood. The Old Man and the Imp The old man swung tired legs over the edge of a rickety wooden cot tucked into the corner of a small...

Spring Training

Last week’s weather warm-up has got many folks thinking spring, myself included. Spring means different things to different people, but for me, it means spring training and baseball. The Minnesota Twins are currently in Fort Myers, Florida, for the annual migration to participate in the Grapefruit...

Spiritual fasting

The end of February is only a day away and March brings many things in the form of renewal, including a time for a renewed spirit. Ash Wednesday is on March 5. Lent is sometimes marked by a period where religious observers often give something up, food and drink being a common sacrifice known as...

Community Supported Agriculture

“The price of eggs” is a phrase we see and hear in today’s media quite frequently. Bird flu, inflation, finger pointing by our esteemed politicians, whatever the source, the price of eggs has become a daily topic of conversation. I don’t believe there is any single person or group at fault;...

Candy Hearts

Do you love ‘em or leave ‘em? I’m referring to those iconic, pastel-colored, bite-sized candy hearts stamped with affectionate messages like “Be Mine,” “Kiss Me,” and “Love You.” I remember getting little cardboard packages filled with these tiny hearts as a kid during classroom Valentine’s Day...

Super Bowl blues

Super Bowl Sunday is only a few short days away. What is meant to be the biggest game of the year and final curtain-call to a long season, leaves me a bit melancholy this time around. The matchup is great, with plenty of story headlines keeping sports writers, podcasters, and fans excited, but...

Birthdays

I recently completed “another trip around the sun,” as the saying goes. Birthdays are always fun in my opinion, even as you get older, but I’ve never really stopped to pause and consider why we celebrate them. Is it so Hallmark can sell more cards? Perhaps, but the tradition must run a little...

Money talks

A recent sports headline caused me a moment of reflection. Carson Beck, a college quarterback who played for the Georgia Bulldogs this past season, made news by transferring to the University of Miami, accompanied by a substantial NIL deal reportedly worth between three to four million dollars...

Hot sauna and cold plunge

The combination of hot saunas and cold plunges is popular among wellness enthusiasts, athletes, and hearty souls looking for adventure. The practice is nothing new, rooted in ancient cultures and traditions, offering a unique and refreshing way to boost physical and mental well-being. The...