Monday: The Birthday Tour, Dreams, & The MIC. Updated: 5/4 7:37 AM

It's Monday! Yes....! I was in the Homeland for my birthday weekend, and right now it's sunny outside, and the air is cool. Unlike Minnesota where it felt as if there was enough moisture in the air to rain another day, it's nice out. In Minnesota clouds and cool air could mean anything. Fortunately, it was sunny most of my birthday. I liked the weather in either case, but I thought walking/running lake Calhoun might be more enjoyable in the sun than in the rain. LOL. My birthday turned out to be the best day out of all of them. The rest of the days fit the mood of the City..., but that didn't stop me from making the best of it, all of it, in the few days that I was there. So, I think a little bit of coverage on the Prince stuff, karaoke bars, the 'same old, same old' as it is for lots of people there in my hometown. There are some definite signs of change in the horizon. So, strap yourself in cause it's time for another weekly edition of Rants from a Midwest Guy In The Land of Milk & Honey in The HOMELAND.
Day 1: Thursday
As is my custom, I fly the red-eye home. They're usually packed. I was hoping for an isle seat, but it turned out the flight was over-sold no opportunity to change seats. This is usually not a big deal, but the ever prevailing ass-pain was acting up earlier in the night and seemed to be getting worse as if my ass was anticipating a long sit! An isle seat might've given me the casual opportunity to stand-up as needed, but I was in the middle seat, and there's nothing worse than being stuck in the middle seat than being stuck in the middle seat with ass-pain. I take that back. There is something worse than that...being stuck in the middle seat with ass-pain and having a weight challenged passenger on both sides of you. Fortunately, this was not the case this time around. What I got was an 18 year old pro-skate boarder chick! LOL. It turned out the gal was super chill and polite and really down to Earth. Nicole Hause is her name. (www.nicolehause.com) A senior at Stillwater High school that had gone pro at the age of 14 was sitting next to me on the plane. She showed me a few videos of her doing board stunts, and the actual difficulty of the moves made me appreciate the sport a lot more. I sat and listened wondering how the gal managed to stay in one piece. After some back and forth, on how I ended up in Malibu, I gave her my office card and told her to stop on in when she made it out to California. "Famous Minnesota people should stay in touch when they can!" I mentioned to her as began my get-away from the plane also noting that I had to achieve 'famous' status still. She smiled, laughed, and agreed.

I took the long way to the car rental area walking through the main terminal to see all the stores and shops while Prince played on my music player. I was home, and  various memories from past trips came to mind as I walked. "I made it back," I thought and half laughed as I walked. The weekends in California when I lived in the Homeland were always good even if they had their ups and downs, and the flights back to the Homeland usually came with a sense of urgency to get back there. But, now I am in California, and the urge to be in either place had gone from me, as I made my way to the rental car area.

It didn't take too long before I was on the road driving and trying to decide where I should go first. I mean..sure I had a plan of events for the morning, but I was in a car and in the Homeland, and there were so many things I wanted to do. The trouble was is was only 6:15 AM, and nobody or anything is really open at that time. So I just drove toward the downtown skyline noting the 'black elephant' that occupies it now. Eventually I made it to one of my friend's coffee shops to chit-chatted about the trip and things I hoped to do alone and with her. This happened after I made it to my normal Starbucks in Minneapolis because her shop hadn't opened on time! Hahaha. I figured I was likely to see a few of the regular coffee friends I had back in the day and get a few minutes to recollect all that had happened. It was, after all, a blur because of the restless flight in and the cold air and light rain didn't help, but I was in the Homeland, and it was all good.

The first important part of the day was to find my grandma. Yes! She has a tendency to disappear and finding her early is key. When I finally got to her, she had already cooked me one of her classic meals-rice and steak. She brought me up to speed with what was going on with her, her health, and the family as she understood it. She shared with me a couple of her dreams that she had had as of late because they seemed to worry her, and somehow she wanted me to tell her what I thought they meant. I guess. Whenever the old ones share things with you from their dreams, you should listen because they are closer to eternity than we are; everything we cannot see or feel because they're not as distracted by all the stuff we are by still being in the middle of our lives. They, on the other hand, are getting closer to finishing their time, and I believe they know and feel it all around them more so. I listened to her tell me about her dreams. I'm not Joseph the interpreter of dreams, the dreamer of Bible, but I understand and feel when people think they're seeing the signs in their life. My grandmother may disagree on my abilities in so far as dream interpretation goes cause I know how to read the signs (most of the time). In the end, we laughed some, and I reassured her she would see me again soon if not for the State Fair season so as to change her thoughts on her dreams.

Then I was off to 'the office' to see my buddy Burke and his side-kick Dani. We roller tabled a bit after exchanging some adjusting. I complained about my ass-pain, and he complained about not being able to golf. LOL. Eventually we got lunch and talked about their future and mine in the supplement industry. Chiropractic is a hard industry not because of the chiropractic part of it, although it does take its toll on you, but rather because of the business side of it considering a not-so-friendly medically based health care insurance system or other chiropractors as it is. It's always good to catch up with your office mates and friends when you get a chance. True story.

Before long, I was out and on my way to catch up with a couple of other friends, but ended up on Lake street getting tacos that eventually lead to the UPTOWN VFW karaoke night with one of my local chic friends. It wasn't the birthday event, but I figured I was in the neighborhood, and a little rehearsing might be needed. Hahaha. A couple of drinks essentially closed out the night for me bringing me into my birthday.

Day 2: Friday Birthday Day
There is a plan of events that I usually follow for my birthday, but this year was not the case at all. I managed to wake up and make it to Al's Breakfast as planned but not with all the original people that were supposed to make it. As usual, it was standing room only, but the wait was minimal. My usual dish, The Jose Dark, was just as good as it's always been 22 years later! I mean even the cook was the same guy I used to get my breakfast from back in the day. It's definitely a greasy-spoon place, but it's so much like the breakfast counter I used to work at the State Fair that I can't help but enjoy it. Yea... I'm a big State Fair fan. It is what being Minnesota Man is also about. The people watching is pretty good. The clowns that work the place are actually funny to watch, and when it's really busy and people have to wait more than 15 minutes to get even close to getting a seat, it's fun to see if you guessed right on who was gonna bail first and not wait. Hahahah. Best of all, you can get the best expresso/bean coffee around hands down. All of this great food and entertainment (Not to mention the memories) for the cost of a couple of five dollar bills. Cheap!!

Eventually, I drove downtown where I would finally begin the pilgrimage to all things Purple. Finding a spot directly across the street from First Avenue's North wall where the star bearing Prince's name was a shot of luck. I didn't even bother to pay for the meter. It seemed no one else did either as other SUV's pulled over and people walked over to the pile of flowers and other things left behind for the Purple One. The song's guitar started to play in my mind as other people took off their hats, sun glasses, and silenced themselves for a few moments of respect. One of the limo drivers that I knew from my days of security management was even there. We nodded in acknowledgement of the other but didn't speak. It was too hard to it seemed for both of us. Him because it was the Black 9/11 as Chappelle put it. Me because I'm me. When it came time to leave, my Finnish friend took a few pictures and we left to walk around a bit before I dropped her off at her home.

Her place had changed so much from the days I helped her tear out the floor and dig a 50 foot trench lining the side of her house. I saw where her cat NUPU was buried. His grave was marked with a flat grey stone. She pointed it out to me again as I wasn't there when the stone was placed. She would periodically say, "He was a good cat," when he came up or her new kitten, Makke, went running by much like a panther...mostly because he was jet black with piercing yellow eyes. I understood her loss, and although she likely didn't know it, he, Nupu, was the second animal I had lost indirectly over the last year. The other one was named Leo; he was put to rest one year ago this month in California by my former. It was then that her memory crept into my birthday tour experience. As I thought about my Finnish friend (also a former girlfriend) and Kelley (my recent former), I couldn't help but feel a bit confused about everything that had lead to present day. I put her out of my mind as I continued the tour of the garage improvements, the home interior painting projects, and the subtle but growing sense that I missed being home in Minnesota. Well parts of it at any rate. The rest of the day was spent shopping around Uptown and all the stores that I enjoy walking into to find treasures till it was karaoke time!

When the time came, I found my brother and a few other familiar people at the newly renovated VFW. The place had a clean and posh look on one side of the bar with an additional area that was hosting a Prince dance party on the other side of it. A narrow staircase between the two sides brought you back to the normal, hole-in-the-wall VFW that I knew and where the karaoke MIC was to be found. The host was one of the regular singers I had watched sing in trips past. He was good, and the place was getting full. My brother and one of my local friends was with me, and it hadn't dawned on me that he had never heard me sing before. LOL. I didn't think of it till I got up to sing a 'warm up' song. It continues to give me small sense of giddy when I hear my stage named called by the host, "Fil Thunder is up next!" What usually happens after I sing a second song is the crowd beginning to cheer before I sing.

There's something about getting that kind of a crowd response that I like. Hahahaha. I know I got the song right when the bar starts to join in and sing followed by random girls letting me know they may be free later if I can sing them another song or two! I laughed because at my table was a beautiful, tall, and long-haired girl that was playing my potential sober cab home for the night. That, or I've just gotten that much more buff (Just a little bit)! LOL. When it was all said and done, I made my way to my buddy's condo's guest room off of Lake Calhoun. It was great spot with a hot tub and pool that was open all night. Yup. I ended up in the hot tub for a bit and then bed. I can't even remember getting into it from being so tired; tired from the lack of sleep the flight in; tired from the time change; tired from the lack of working-out. The tiredness I was hoping to literally work out of me later the next day.

Day 3: Saturday
Saturday was a bit more relaxed. I got up and had coffee with the Moo and eventually made it out to West St. Paul where my mom lives for lunch. The drive in always reminds me of how much I don't miss living in St. Paul as a kid or the time I lived there when I had just gotten back from California in 2013, but it's where I started out my life...the West Side as it's know. I met my 3rd nephew for the second time, and the kid is growing fast. My sister and her new husband as of last month were there doing their thing. I could tell my sister was careful of things not to say in front of me, but I'm no sucker as she has learned in the past. Although I love my sister, there are things I don't approve of in her life or the way she explains her inability to perform and function like most adults in life.

My mother was funny. She was insistent we went out to eat somewhere cause I still think she believes I'm not eating enough! LOL. It's always different. One trip I'm fat. The next trip I'm too skinny. Hahaha. But that's my mom. We drove through the old hood while I played her all the Prince songs I used to hear on the radio when it was that she drove me to various places. We laughed at the lyrics this time, but when I was a kid, I'd usually get a shoe or something across the butt or wherever my mom could get me as I moved to dodge her chastising. The visit was short and eventually ended with seeing the next door neighbors who just had one of their family members pass away. I gave them my condolences and wished them easier days as time moved forward. The clouds were out making the sentiment a bit grim.

My brother met me at the gym. It was right as I was about to go into the place that I cracked my head into the doorway of my rental and thought I was going to see the creator. I hit the door frame with enough force that the entire right side of my face when numb, my ear rang, and my vision was temporarily gone in my right eye. As I massaged my anterior neck muscles to relieve some of the cramping, I braced myself against my car. If I was gonna pass out, I wanted to go out behind it so someone might see that I went down and not run over me if I was in between cars. My phone was dead, and my brother already inside the facility. "This is how it ends?" I thought as more of my face went numb and my breathing became more labored. "This is how I go out..on my birthday visit alone in a parking lot, and I don't even have my Jeep!" As I continued to massage my neck the spasm in my SCM began to give, and eventually I could breath easy again. I stumbled toward the gym entry way and eventually into the front counter. My brother noticed something was off, but he wasn't sure what. As I began to tell the desk guy what just happened, I realized the whole reason I cracked my head on the door frame-to grab my wallet-didn't actually happen. Hahahaha. The shock of it and pre-determining I was about to check out completely made me forget it there. I sent my brother out to get it.

Eventually my vision returned to normal and the tingling sensation went down. I turned my head with both hands to determine if I had fractured anything or just gave myself the hardest occiput adjustment  ever. Whatever the case, my neck felt much more loose in movement less the lingering muscle spasms at the base of my skull. I laughed after I got ready recapping to my brother what had just happened to me in the parking lot. He laughed but then kept an eye on me in case I gave myself a concussion, which might've explained the temporary loss of vision and mild fuzziness. What was supposed to be a work-out turned into a stretch and core session, and it was needed after two days of no gym time and more food than I might normally eat any given day of the week. Hahaha. Dinner was being made for me on the other side of town. I didn't know this at first, but after I gave Moo the head crashing story, she felt it might be a good idea to eat and chill just in case I was still having head issues.

I wasn't sure what to expect when a gourmet chef says they want to cook you dinner as a birthday gift, but it turned out wine was gonna be needed, and before long, a three course meal  was out on the table. Lamb, salad, and a rice pudding made my belly full but also sucked up all of my energy, and before too long I was ready to call it a night. The air was cool, but the sky was clear, and it made for some small talk.

Day 4: The Last Day.
Sundays are fun for lots of reasons when in the Homeland. You can listen to Cities 97 Acoustic
Sunrise music. You can people watch. You can grab coffee and walk the lake. So many things you can do. I ended up doing a little bit of all of the above. Somewhere in my driving time the night before, I caught wind of a country song that I couldn't quiet get the lyrics out of my head. So I looked it up. Garth Brooks' More Than A Memory was one of them. It was the end of the trip, and I was thinking about my home in California and all the things and people associated with it.."because when you're talking out loud and there's nobody there, and you look like hell and you just don't care. When you're drinking more than you ever drank..sinking down lower than you've ever sank...that's when she's more than a memory." Cause that feeling comes over you when you go by places that you once shared with others. I wrote it all down in my journal for this year's birthday review and future outlook entry. I had lots to write about, but I didn't. There was lots to remember, but I didn't want to for the most part. There wasn't very much feeling, and this was likely the thing that made me wonder about it all.

I saw my Finnish friend again and shared a coffee and short walk with her. She shared her on-going yard plans with me, and I listened. I felt happy I was able to see her again and have her share a little bit more of her life with me as a friend. The road to my grannies house was blocked by thick traffic because of freeway construction, I made it back Moo's to have lunch and say good-bye so I could catch another friend at the airport-Anican Skywalker as I call him. LOL. Like old grad school days, we laughed over a few cups of joe and water while figuring out what the future for him might look like with all the changes coming into his life. The time fly by, and it was good to hear what was happening in the Homeland and in my friends' lives. Now getting home was gonna be the last task of the day.

For the first time since I've been in California, I didn't leave my Jeep at the airport Parking Lot C place. I had one of my friends drop me off. What I was hoping was that another would pick me up and maybe make it down to King's Head for a late night song, but what happened was...nothing. I had to get on a FlyAway bus so I could catch an Uber Cab to my town. I've only done it one other time, and I didn't realize I hadn't changed the "HOME" address to my current one. It was only when the driver turned down the wrong road that lead to my former's address that I figured this out. A few seconds later we turned around to cross back over the 101 and to my 'home'. I laughed, but also wondered. My housemates were home playing Mortal Combat because that's all they seem to do now and days. Hahahaha.

There were lots of things that took place, but it's Monday, and I've got to get to it already.
Till next edition, "Stay well. Do good work, and come on back." G. Keiller.