New WCCO Building

So today there was an article in the strib about WCCO's construction and plans. This is what we've been living at work for the past 6 months. It should be pretty cool when it is completed though. But who knows if I'll be around:).

http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/5507523.html

All photographs copyright Maria Neels 2005

Uff Da And Other MN Oddities

This state is like a foreign country at times. The state government actually shut down a few weeks back because they couldn't agree on a budget. At one point, they didn't even pretend to be negotiating.

Umm, hello. Can we say 1st grade here? State workers were really ticked off because they all weren't getting pay checks while the lawmakers, who didn't meet their deadline were. Truthfully, if it were me I'd be a bit ticked off too.

Last week they came to a temporary agreement and so workers started back on Monday but they had to have a permanent agreement by midnight last night. They barely avoided a second state shutdown. I'm sure come re-election time, a lot of those people won't be heading back to the Capitol.

So on to another oddity here. One of the funniest things we have heard around here since we have lived here is "Uff da." People say it all the time and it was even said in one of our news casts. The explanation below is from a Star Tribune article I read today.

You learn something new every day:).


Uff da

What does the "oofda" mean? It's not in the dictionary and I hear people around here say it all the time.

It's "uff da." It's a Norwegian expression used to express compassion, empathy or annoyance. You can safely say it, for example, when your co-worker slams a finger in the drawer, when you walk into a door or when your mouser drags a dead rat into the kitchen.

From Viking Newsletter, Stockon Calif.

All photographs copyright Maria Neels 2005

Dinner With The Dills

So despite some frustrating technical problems, today ended up being quite a good day. I created a panoramic shot of WCCO's rooftop garden. You can see it on our server. Now I so want to do this for Busch Stadium.

Jim and I had dinner with the Dill family and it was relaxing. After such an early morning and having to work, it was nice to have dinner with good friends.

At mass we had some awesome music and a really inspiring missionary. She was a medical sister who had been throughout Africa and Brazil serving the poor. It was really neat to hear her speak. Jim and I have always felt called to do some type of missionary work like that and maybe some day, we will for a few years. I think it is really inspiring.

Now the pictures of the day. There are so many because the Dill kids are so darn cute.

James, left and Christopher swinging on the new fixed swing.



Joshua, awake and smiling.



Christopher.



James getting very tired.



Bill, Tiff and Joshua. We always have fun at their house.



Bill being himself:).



Jim climbing the tree in the first attempt to fix the tree swing.




All photographs copyright Maria Neels 2005