Ugh I have Taylor Swift album thoughts. You know that mean girl from high school who became a nurse and has three sons with weird names and goes on and on about her "hubby"? This album was written for her. And that's fine! But I'm happily taking recommendations for albums that are the opposite.

Car free life, nearing end of month 6 update: Current estimated savings: $1500ish (gas, insurance, oil change, parking fees) But I've also gained so much joy and ease in my day to day travels. I walk or bike almost every day, I'm more confident using the bus for multiple errands, just happier.

We're interviewing a DNR fish expert tomorrow on the podcast! What's your burning questions regarding fisheries, hatcheries, walleye, trouts and more?

I'm the woman your math problems warned you about. #PickleBall2025

If you can, consider donating blood/platelets/plasma. I was a longtime plasma donor and every now and again I would get an update/thank you from a patient or care team. It really does make a difference.

Minneapolis is beautiful. The people of this city are remarkable. Today is excruciating.

This week in Car Free life: mid century modern end table from FB Marketplace. Pretty solid wood construction, but still wanted to detach the legs and wrap in a blanket. $20, 20 minutes each way, and now I have a lovely little table for my living room. Easy peasy.

Minneapolis bike pals! Anyone looking for a 1 bedroom apartment (first floor) in a quadplex of other bike people? Locked garage available, secure underground storage too, cat friendly, and you get to be my neighbor! Rent is approx $1,000 a month and includes water, trash, heat.

I need a booktok/bookstagram/booksky pal who can recommend me every cool fiction that came out while I was in undergrad+grad school. Like what were the ACOTARs of 2011-2019 pls and thank you

This week I got to take @metrotransitmn.bsky.social to a show at the Armory, and then rent a scooter on my way home after the show in amazing weather. No car, no parking, no problem!

Getting solicited at National Night Out wasn't on my bingo card for 2025 but here we are. Bonus points because he did call me "Princess" and asked if I was 22. (Chat, I am 32).

What if next year we don't do fireworks after midnight? Sincerely, your neighborhood gal with awful anxiety and every dog in the county.

If you need some warm fuzzies in your heart, I strongly encourage this thread

Can someone ask their dad if we actually needed this rain?

Oh hey Minneapolis pals, can you keep an eye out for my tandem bike? It was swiped from my Lyndale garage, and it's on the middle of repairs so I'm sure it'll be ditched soon. Missing one back pedal, weird back seat post, significant rust. But this bike means a lot to us and we'd like it back.

Can someone ask their dad if we really needed this rain?

Habemus Papam: we have a new Pope. Cali cat is thrilled. For the 1.4 Catholics in the world (and even for us non-practicing former CCD kids), today is a huge occasion. And even for non-Catholics, the Pope serves as a world leader and holds a lot of influence.

In honor of Pope Watch 2025, please enjoy this clip of Conclave my partner edited together, of just the non sequestered scenes. Anywho, first vote is tomorrow evening Vatican time (7 hours ahead of Central time here in MN) youtu.be/jEfx7qFd6tM?...

#MPLS downtown bike commuters, what's my good bike parking options? I'm a little hesitant to use the racks in the parking ramp by my office, but is a good strong lock on a street facing rack a good idea?

Woah other milestone. Last week was 2 years of being alcohol-free. And honestly, it's so easy now. There's tons of fancy mocktails on menus these days. Sometimes I just choose water and then order a dessert to share. However, my La croix budget is a little high.

#carfree rental car returned so now it's the good life. Route 18 took us to tacos, tasty bevs with friends, and then home. Easy peasy. And thanks to adopting my bus stops by my house, today's rides were free!

#30daysofbiking Although I have the rental car to get to my last 2 weeks of work, this is my main vehicle. Quick grocery run: two panniers (they clip onto the cart!) and a backpack. Easy peasy. Even $5 egg carton made it home safe.

#carfree thoughts continue. I will save $600 a year by not needing my parking space at home. And $210 on my registration sticker. And approx. $1800+ in gasoline. Stay tuned for more cost saving tips from Stina!

As of 12:00 noon on April 9, 2025, I am car-free. I signed over the title on my crunched car to my insurance. And thus begins a new era. It's a little scary, but I can do this. Day 1. Carpooling with a coworker. It's weird to depend on someone for something so crucial like my job start time.

Welp, my car-free curiosity is now becoming car-free realty thanks to totaling my car this week. I'm...nervous. I hope I can do it, and Minneapolis is a great place for biking and transit, but wow it's a huge change. And I have been thinking about it for a while, just not quite like this.

I'm changing jobs very soon! And part of that means I'm having that sneaky feeling, the imposter syndrome. "What if I take the chance for this new gig, and what if I fail?" But what if I succeed? What if I love it? And what if this is the best thing for me and my career? /1

Moving an entire apartment via bicycles! @ianrbuck.bsky.social is moving across town, so we got three ebikes and a few trailers and got to work. 2 trips later and Ian's place has desks, a bed, table, bookshelf and a couch!

Sunset, March something 2025. Uptown-isn Minneapolis.

We recently outfitted our team of sign installers with a customized electric cargo bike they can use to travel from stop-to-stop, replacing decals and performing other maintenance activities. Using these bikes is a simple and effective way to reduce our carbon footprint! See you out there!

"when we have friends around us who are built of sunshine, how could I ever be afraid of the dark?" Context: a quip about how happy I am that 2 pals invited us to a party this weekend.

The sea today was the color of Ian's eyes. Not sky blue, not regular watery blue, not green. But deep Caribbean blue-green that I can't explain.

@moreneighbors.org shall we get a duplex/triplex/quad mascot outfit?

The world is an absolute dumpster fire right now. I take comfort in knowing that somewhere in Paris there’s a woman feeling quite chuffed that she managed to get this chair home safe and sound. Long may she ride and reign.

Welcome back to another round of "I want to give my partner a good gift for a capitalist holiday" So you want to get your sweetie flowers for Valentine's Day? I got you! First, unless they adore roses, do not buy them roses. They are $$$ and overdone. (Unless your hottie really likes them!!)

I am begging new coffee shops to leave the "luxury vinyl plank" flooring (it's just cheap plastic wood) and landlord white paint with inspirational word art in 2020. It's not giving the classy, clean vibe they think it is. It's cold, uninviting, and boring AF.

The "Metro-Wide Metro-Ride" is BACK and it's heading to the western suburbs this year. Don't miss out on your chance to ride the Twin Cities Bike Tour. Get in at the lowest price we'll be offering all year! bikemn.org/tcbt #bikesky

Feels like -36° but it's always a good day for ice cream and side-by-side reading!

I went to two stores today and at one, someone told me that I smelled amazing and at the other, someone loved my nails. It's such a little thing, but I feel so wonderful because two different women complimented me. So if you see something delightful, say something delightful!

Quick reminder that it is not just tech bros and celebrities that live in LA. A lot of teachers, bartenders, nurses, stay at home parents, grocery workers, therapists, people like you and me, lost their homes. So if you see a go fund me for an LA family, drop them some $ if you can.

📚💙 My other half and I just finished the audiobook for #ProjectHailMary and we are happy happy happy. The narration is top notch and was so perfect for us to listen to while traveling. If you can, grab it from your local library and give it a listen.

Your favorite podcast power couple is back and this time we're talking trails with Sierra Club's @jhoudek.bsky.social What's your favorite trail near #mpls ?

#minneapolis what's the vibe on christmas-y things after the 25th? I feel like I'm always so busy before Christmas but I still want to go to markets and things when I get back from visiting the family.

Lyndale, Kingfield, Uptown pals, anyone recognize this cat? Dilute calico, very treat and food motivated, tolerates being picked up, very loud meow. She's warm inside my house but I can't keep her in the bathroom for more than the weekend.

Has anyone taken a self defense class and found it useful? Or at least empowering or healing? And no, I do not mean concealed carry, I do not want to go that route. My partner and I were mugged at 9:30am this past Friday by 5 dudes, three had guns. And I'm sick of feeling helpless right now.

If we want better fashion culture in the US, we have to lower the cost of housing and commercial real estate, support independent craftspeople, build denser neighborhoods, improve walkability, and get rid of overly restrictive zoning laws. Let kook culture thrive.

We hit a new level of relationship cuteness. Matching winter bikes! Welcome to the pack, Presidio. *For reference, Ian's bike is an XL and mine is XS.

What's everyone's snowless wintertime activities? Trying to come up with more cutesy dates with the boy. And we've got snow and ice dates down, but what about those gray, chilly days we have here?

Love your friends with your entire soul. Love them to pieces. Platonic love is one of the purest things on this earth and it's so important.