What this blog is REALLY about....

Growing up in upstate New York I intrinsically figured that there could be no more a hick town than the one I grew up in. Then my family up and moved us to Minnesota where I was sorely proven wrong. That first year living here, and the next few to follow, was a nightmare not only because our family had to make a lot of unwanted changes and adjustments, but because it was a time of grieving for everything that we had left behind: our roots, our identity, our home. And we had to do it alone.



I high tailed it out of here at the age of twenty-one, swearing to myself that I would never, ever return. I had my adventures, I did, of drifting from state to state, desperately trying to find a place where I could re-invent myself and call it home. But it failed me. Two years ago (going on three), I had no choice but to return. So here I am, again, in this place that first chewed me up and spit me out. I’m now beginning to slowly grow permanent roots in this land, but I still find it quite damaging to my spirit.



However, as much as I hate Minnesota for what it did to my family fifteen years ago, I’m desperately trying to discover Its redeeming qualities. I’ve decided that if I’m going to stay here, I need to make this marriage work.



So. After an enlightening afternoon of drifting thoughts, I came up with an idea….



Twelve years ago I stood under a wintry night sky and saw twelve shooting starts twelve days before Christmas. Twelve is a personal number for me, so, twelve it is. I have decided to choose twelve places, cities, landmarks throughout the entire state of Minnesota to visit and write about here on this blog. My goal is to finish this within one year. In each place I travel to I will write an extensive, hopefully amusing, essay on my experiences. Some of it will be educational and informative on Minnesota’s history and wildlife and culture, and much of it will be about my personal growths. And most of it, I’m afraid, will be a lot of blunt, honest, offensive opinions. Take it or leave it. I’m trying to love your State; I really, truly am.

JC's Travel Tips

I finally have some quippy tips to share with y'all. I try my best to be informative AND amusing.

Tip #1: Heading Up North? There's a long stretch of The Paul Bunyan Expressway that has no bathroom or gas station for about two hours. Be sure to be empty of urine and full of gas before you get onto it.

Tip#2: Do not, I repeat, do NOT park next to a Minnesota lake and get out of your car without bug spray on. You WILL get eaten alive by mosquitos.

Tip#3: Paul Bunyan is a fictional, make-believe person. If you see him waving to you at a rest stop in Brainerd, do not be alarmed. It's just a statue. However, whether or not he comes to life in the night time when no one is looking, I cannot say...

Tip#4: Going to visit St. Francis, Minnesota in Anoka county for some odd, random reason? Stop by Bridge Street Coffee (across from the gazebo on Bridge Street) for some excellent beverages, home-made waffles, and in the summer time, some home-made ice cream.

Tip#5: Going to Roseau, Minnesota? Stop by their beautiful City Center and check out their history museum and extraordinary library. The library was my favorite site.

Tip#6: For the less gifted with common sense, make sure you map out your return directions just as thoroughly as your go-to directions. Trying to do your go-to directions backwards is not very fun... I do both of them on two different colored, seperate sheets of paper.

Tip#7: Never, ever, ever leave your house to go on a trip without a camera. It's just, WRONG if you do. And don't be afraid to take pictures of EVERYTHING. You can always delete the lame ones later... Hmm...I'm thinking I should make a page of photo tips, now....
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Merlin's Rest

My Minnesota in Winter

The Renaissance Festival

The Renaissance Festival

Stink Bugs and Apples

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy

Skin damage from the poison ivy and the meds

Apple River Hideaway

The Hairy Mosquito

Roseau MN

Pioneer Days '10

My Minnesota