This past weekend was the graduation of my cousins, Katlin and Shelby. They are the daughters of my mother’s two brothers, and even though I’m 23 years older than they are, I still feel young!

Both ladies are quite involved and very smart! I wish them the very best as they go on to college next year!

Enjoy the photos in Flickr!

I visited Coldwater Spring this week in Minneapolis. Coldwater Spring is the last natural spring in the city of Minneapolis, and was the site of much controversy during the building of the new Highway 55 which passes nearby. In the late 1990s, Camp Coldwater and the area near Coldwater Spring was the site of the largest urban occupation of land in recorded history in the United States. Through the many efforts of neighbors, the native community, and environmental activists, Coldwater Spring was preserved, and the original plans for the highway were revised to avoid the spring.

Though it was saved, the area has been under the control of the Bureau of Mines until recently. Now, the National Parks Service is both maintaining, improving, and preserving the site. Over the next few years they will be tearing down the old abandoned buildings and making way for a natural grassland prairie in the 43 acres around the spring. However, controversies still exist about public opinion of who should have control of Camp Coldwater.

Enjoy the photos on Flickr.

For more information:
Friends of Coldwater Spring
Preserve Camp Coldwater

This week I turned 41 years old!

I really think that age is indeed just a number, and that anyone can be “forever young” or “feel old” – and that it’s a choice as to which one of those you feel! Today, when I stopped into my bank to make a deposit, the teller said, “Oh! By the way, Happy Birthday!”

After a second or two of wondering how my birthday information just automatically appeared on her computer screen, I asked her, “Now you get to guess my age without looking at your computer screen!”

She pondered a bit and said, “Hmm… 29?”

“You can look at your screen now!”

She looked back in disbelief but then said, “Good for you! I’m only a year older than you!”

I did come to the bank by bike, and was wearing my bike helmet, so that could account for the bad age-guessing. And speaking of bikes, when I *was* 29, I don’t think I ever would have imagined going car-free and using a bicycle for transportation around town at 30, let alone 40 or 41!

I *will* live to be 100! That’s my goal! Hopefully I’ll be a nice 75-looking guy by then!

May you all stay forever young!

Yesterday, I took some photos of the office I’m working in at Meridian Bodywork in St. Louis Park, MN.

So far it’s been just a wonderful experience. Since I have another business, doing web design at my company, HolisticGeek.com, I decided to work at an existing clinic, so I had more time to focus on web design. Yes, I know, this defies all of my past conventions of being a self-starter, total-control entreprenuer, etc. But it’s really working out! Andrew Raak at Meridian Bodywork is completely on track for building a very strong integrative clinic for alternative bodywork!

Sometimes giving up lots of control has a ton of benefits. The clinic provides all of the furnishings, linens, and LAUNDRY! You have no idea how much of a time saver this is!

There are currently three of us working at Meridian Bodywork – Andrew, Mary, and Me. Come check us out!

I’m going to let a big cat out of the bag with this post. My partner and I are going to be moving to Minneapolis at some point this summer. We’ve been longing to be near friends and family, and to be in a place that genuinely supports us as a Car-Free couple.

Yes, we’ve been without a car for well over a year now! I sold my car in February of 2009, when I realized I was driving it once a week to the other side of the street, and weighed a car payment and insurance payment against what Michael and I were making in income at that time. I’ll admit, it was a bit difficult at first, but around the 8th month, the goal of a year being car-free was just too tempting for us to go back and “buy a car.”

So, while Michael’s been interviewing for transit-related jobs, I’ve set up shop two days per week at Meridian Bodywork in St. Louis Park (a first ring suburb of Minneapolis). Every Sunday, I hop on the afternoon Jefferson Lines bus to travel to the twin cities, stay with a good friend, and do massage and Reiki on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The sweet part – my “commute” only costs me $24 round-trip on Jefferson Lines, and I can take MetroTransit EVERYWHERE in the twin cities. I don’t even think that gas in a car would be that cheap for the ride from Duluth to Minneapolis one way! Definitely a good exploit of the system!

But yes, I’ve already spent the $20 on my GoTo Card in the last 3 weeks in Minneapolis with not only going to and from my office, but to the MayDay Parade, coffees and lunches with friends and clients, and just some general explorations of the city again. All worth that $20 though!

I miss having a bike down here though! The Cedar Lake Trail passes right near my office building in St. Louis Park, and I just long to hop on it to go back to Minneapolis. From the looks of the direct path it takes, I’m sure it’s faster than my bus trip between St. Louis Park and Downtown Minneapolis.

I’ll have to look into transporting my bike on the bus…

Happy Commuting everyone!

Last week I was in Minneapolis for the 2010 Mayday Parade. This annual parade is a celebration of life and is put together by In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. With over 50,000 spectators and attendees at the festival in Powderhorn Park, I’d say that MayDay was a huge success!

Enjoy the photos on my Flickr Photo space!

I’ve been a fan of some of the teachings of Ramtha ever since I saw the movie, What the Bleep Do We Know. Whether or not you feel that Ramtha is indeed a channeled ancient being, or if you think this is a way for JZ Knight to bring forth her radical ideas that parallel the notions of quantum physics – take a look at this video for the things it has to say.

• How can we desire what we can’t even think about?
• What IS the value of pre-conceived knowledge?
• Is ascension just a “cop-out” to not exploring the vastness of our life as beings?
• Does knowledge disappear when it becomes “philosophy”?

Let’s take a look at your life!

Lots of food for thought with this short video.  Enjoy!

A very well-deserved hiatus has helped me to re-think and re-frame the NorthernDruid website. In the coming weeks, there will be some radical changes to this site! I’m taking a page out of the principles of Permaculture , where I will “integrate rather than segregate” the sharing of my passions, skills, and learning with you all.

NorthernDruid.net will become my playground as a Reformed Druid, Blogger, Musician, Artist, Healer, Bicyclist, Bus-Rider, Unschooler, Reiki Master, and Person! Because I believe that we come to this world as integrated, whole people, with a MULTITUDE of talents, thoughts, and aspirations, it only follows that I should present this project as an integrated unfolding.

It’s time to make radical change, and to experience the multitude of “what is alive in us” and for all of us to explore how we are all just a thin veil away from becoming the BEINGS of greatness that we are destined to be. This is the notion that I will build this site upon.

It’s time to go on a journey!

Many Blessings to you all!
-Scott