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As the worst of the cold appears to be over, the snow slowly melts away when temps get above freezing for a few hours, and the ice on creeks starts thinning or melts completely, revealing debris that has ended up in them. I found these on what you might call a sand bank, though its mostly pebbles. Not sure what the fabric items are, but I wasn’t going to pick them up to figure it out. The creek somehow arranges things in a streamlined manner.

I woke up this morning on an island off the coast of Thailand. Tomorrow I will wake up in a closet-sized bedroom in the Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong (yes, it's as atrocious as it sounds, but at $11/night - in a city more expensive than NYC - it's unbeatable). And Sunday, I will be back in the United States.The last two days left the perfect sense of closure for our Southeast Asian adventure. After several days of traveling like crazy and sleeping minimally, Andy and I caught a cab to Ko Samet, a 7-km by 5-km island off the coast of Thailand. It was an absolute paradise, and we entertained ourselves for 48 hours by swimming in the ocean and playing frisbee and soccer on the beach, which changed to dominoes inside when the sun got intense.Today the traveling recommenced with a long and cramped minibus ride to Bangkok followed by a metro/cab ride to the airport. Andy and I split at the airport; since my Chinese residency permit expired on Jan 29 I'd have to apply for another visa (at least $100 process) to return. So Andy, who has a year-long contract, is returning to Shenzhen tonight and will bring my suitcases to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. As I've thought so many times in my life, it's so nice to have good friends.Traveling solo today revitalized my sense of adventure and excitement for my next destination, but also saddened me as the reality sunk in that my time in Asia has come to an end. When I prepared to leave the US in September, I figured the optimal ending to my China life would be sadness, meaning I would have found a "home" that wasn't easy to leave. I guess that's what I got. Yet right now, even with my evident excitement to return home (I've been having trouble sleeping), the sadness still feels like sadness. I guess that is the bittersweet flavor of change.So, to wrap up this segment of my travels, here's a numerical summary of my 26-day trip:Countries visited: 7 (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China)Flights: 6Pairs of shoes: 2, Pants: 1, Shorts: 1, Skirts: 2, Dresses: 1, Shirts: 6 (yep, I got a little stinky, but it made for very light & easy travels!)Pictures taken: ~1500Metamucil capsules swallowed (TMI? Sorry, you're the one that chose to read my personal blog ;)): 220Mountains climbed: 1Sharks seen: 4Books read: 5 (The Logic of Life, Running with Scissors, River Town, Love in the Time of Cholera, They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky)Languages heard spoken: I don't know if I can count that highAustralian/German tourists encountered: I definitely can't count that highCameras, wallets, cell phones, passports lost: ZERO. (And now that I've sufficiently jinxed myself I'm going to go back to my closet-room and make sure the door is still locked. Just kidding... But seriously.)See you in Africa.

In a speech at the Fourth of July picnic in 1868, Dr. Thomas Preston Foster, founder of the first newspaper in Duluth Minnesota, coined the expression "The Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas". Things were looking up for Duluth. The 1855 opening of the canal at Sault Ste. Marie and the recently announced coming of the railroads made Duluth the only port with access to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The lumber industry, railroads and mining were all growing so quickly that the influx of workers could hardly keep up with demand.

Web Pages © 1999-2008 Mark Ryan. All color photographs by Mark Ryan. © 1998, 1999 Mark Ryan. Photographs credited to William Overland Collection or to Douglas Overland Collection are © William Overland, and © Douglas Overland, respectively.

Funding from the Federal Highway Administration may be available for road and bridge projects. We invite you to hear from city of Duluth Planning and Engineering staff about projects proposed for Skyline Parkway and would like your input.

Each bed and breakfast inn offers beautifully appointed suites with private bathrooms, and many feature antiques, fireplaces, whirlpools, lake views, porches, gardens, televisions, wireless Internet access and special packages.  All inns are inspected and Quality Assured by the Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association.

Duluth has 23 major creek ravines - most are now spectacular city parks. The highest point in Duluth is Enger Tower. Skyline Parkway is the former shore of Lake Superior. Hawk Ridge has seen 40,000 hawks migrate in a single day.

This self-guided walking tour will help you appreciate some of the history and features of the Lakeside and Lester Park neighborhoods on the far east end of Duluth. Bring this brochure, wear comfortable walking shoes, and step back in time as you visit the 12 stops along about a 31⁄2 mile loop. Allow about 11⁄2 hours to complete the tour. Lake Superior and streams State Legislature Chapter XII Section 5 January 8, 1891 The common council of the city

I don't live down there but the residents didn't mention it and I wasn't seeing a whole lot of droppings. The main problems were the competition for the garden flowers and veggies and some holes in the ground. The population is lower than it's been in past years too - there are plenty of predators around to keep the bunnies in check.

Uniquely Duluth gifts by my friends Wendy Grethen and Terry Brown. Notepads, magnets, cards, puzzles

Uniquely Duluth gifts by my friends Wendy Grethen and Terry Brown.

Please contact the organizer at WendyUpNorth@yahoo.com or 218-525-5098 to check on availability of space. To ensure variety of art/craft types decisions will be made to create variation within all the fairs.

Learn more about the Dulcimer, take lessons, join a club. Mark your calendar for May 2, 2009 for Dulcimer Day in Duluth folk music festival #8.

Twin Port Action Coalition invites you to join the fun on Feb. 13By Kimberly DansereauValentine's Dance and Silent Auction will be held on Friday Feb. 13 from 7 p.m. until midnight at the Venue at Mohaupt Block, 2024 West Superior St. Proceeds from sales of ticket will go to the Twin Ports Action Coalition. Tickets are $7 for one and $12 for two. Love and valentine are to many people synonymous with each other. But how are we defining the word love? Do we mean the first stolen kiss from our first" true love" back in junior high school? Or do we mean the love a mother has for her child as she holds him or her gently in her arms, or the love of a protective father? Or, perhaps, the love of a friend or a family member?Maybe to you love means pride for your city, state and country.Whatever definition of love suits you best, love is something that should celebrated and should be passed along. I volunteer along with other residents of Duluth and Superior for the Twin Ports Action Coalition, an organization that is dedicated to helping the homeless, the formerly homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless. We deal with many things political and social to help end homelessness, and we try to give people who fit into either of those qualities a chance to be heard and to be rightfully informed on what affects them.We have a love for this city and for the people who live here. We love the people who have been forgotten by many others, we love the people who are struggling to make ends meet, especially in these very tough times. We love people who are struggling for a place to call home, food to eat and to feed their children, good health care, a voice of their own and respect as human beings. We love them because we have been in similar situations.We at Twin Ports Action Coalition believe that no one should be denied a safe place to call home, good health care, and food for themselves and their families, a chance to be heard and, a chance to be informed about issues that affect their everyday lives. It is simply common decency and respect for others that we should all have as human beings. If you believe this and you feel that you would like to help out in some way please join us Friday, Feb. 13 for a Valentine's Dance and Silent Auction from 7 p.m. ‘till midnight. There will be dancing, music from a great D.J. plus much laughter, enjoyment, refreshments, snacks, door prizes and wonderful items to bid on, but, most importantly, there will be love.Tickets are $7 for one and $12 for two. Proceeds will go to the Twin Ports Action Coalition.

If you would like an application to join the United Methodist Women's Green Advocacy for Environmental Justice please contact me and I will send you an application.Here is a sample of the type of questions that you will need to answer:Basic information like your name, address, etc.What you live and the size of town and the size of you UMW unit Your racial/ethnic background and age range. Languages that you speak.Answer these questions/statements:Please describe your particular area of environmental concern and experience in organizing/mobilizing people to advocate on an issue:Please describe your experience working with a team and the role you played in this group.What do you see as your strength or gifts as a leader?

Does a place contribute to the making of a person?  My dictionary defines place  as a particular position or point in space. This sounds as specific as cooking...add two teaspoons of Madagascar then stir until mixed. 

Event Photography, news and feature writing. We love to cover non-profit groups working for justice.We are passionate about educating people to tread on the earth lightly.Currently we have a electronic newsletter named, "Ask Prof. Cricket."

Carol writes about art, photography, sustainability, architecture, nutrition,etc.

Websites that are part of the City Daily Photo progject.