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"...[NOT] the perfect time to start hauling a fishing boat...." From my news feed this morning: " Hundreds of crashes, spinouts as heavy snow impacts Minnesota travel " Adam Uren, Bring Me The News (November 26, 2025) "...Among those off the road is this driver in west-central Minnesota, who decided a blizzard is the perfect time to start hauling a fishing boat ...." [emphasis mine] I don't know who made that decision, or why. But I'm glad it wasn't me.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Someone learned why a blizzard is not the perfect time to start hauling a boat. Good news, though: so far, nobody died in this storm.)

This was an unusually good Sunday morning for me. Our part of Sauk Centre has been getting new paving, sidewalks, and utilities. Or, rather, the old ones are being replaced. The folks doing it have been working in stages, so no one address had their street access cut off for more than a few days to a week or so. Except for Our Lady of the Angels, the parish church for this household. When the street and sidewalk on the church's north side was torn up, we'd been told that the job would be done and we could use the church again by the end of summer. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (We have been sharing facilities with another parish since spring. A job that should have been finished during summer got complicated.)

Kids started going back to school here in Sauk Centre on Wednesday. No shots rang out, and nobody got killed. That, happily, is routine. But sometimes bad things happen. Classes started last week at the Church of the Annunciation's school in Minneapolis. Since it's a Catholic school, they started the day with Mass at the church next door. Then somebody killed two of the students and injured many other folks before killing himself. The priest who was celebrating Mass made some good points in the following Sunday's homily. I'll be talking about that, and somewhat-related topics: Church of the Annunciation: After the Killings Remembering Who's In Charge Repairing the Damage Cleanup Procedures Heroes, Hope, and Prayer America: Death, Changing Attitudes, and Good News ... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (After killings at the Church of the Annunciation: what their priest said, an Archbishop Hebda video, how I see student actions, changing Americ...

One week ago today, in my state's largest urban area, someone went to the Church of the Annunciation. Then he killed two children who were celebrating Mass, wounded several other folks, and finally killed himself.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A week after murder and suicide, Masses are being held at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis. My views, briefly; and a quote from an old movie.)

Two children, ages eight and 10, went to school this morning. They won't be going home. Somebody decided that this would be a good morning to spray bullets into a church full of people. Why the 20-something (probably) man made that decision is an open question, and may remain so. He killed himself after committing murder.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, MN, interrupted by someone shooting into the building. Two children dead. So is the killer. A terse summary of what happened, links to what I've said about suicide, murder, human life, and emotions.)

I took that picture of the Stearns County Fair while coming back from an errand last Saturday. It's about as close to being there as I've gotten in the last several years. But since this household isn't much more than a thousand feet from the fairground entrance, I get to see folks parked on the side street. Or, rather, I see the vehicles they've parked there. Sometimes my timing is right and I see them heading toward or returning from the festivities. My favorite memory this year was seeing a young family — dad and a little girl — heading back to their car.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Experiencing the Stearns County Fair second hand: a favorite memory, and justifiable caution during a Friday night storm.)

First it was storms, now (I'm writing this Sunday evening) sincerely noticeable heat.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A quick review of how weather affected this family, and an even quicker look ahead.)

Although there's the occasional glint of good news in my news feed — like " Firefighters Free Sauk Centre Man from Submerged Tanker " (KNSI (June 17, 2025)) — most of what I see is no reason for celebration. That said, attacks on politicians in Minnesota — bad as they were — could have ended with many more dead bodies and hurting families. Even so, there's precious little to celebrate. This week I'll be looking at what happened, what's being said about it, and both how I feel and what I think of the situation. Murders, Motives, and Responses A "Deeply Religious" Assassin What Two Bishops and an Executive Director Said Gladness, Regret, Life, and Beliefs Taking My Faith Seriously Each Human Life Matters .... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A week after lethal attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, I look at responses and viewpoints, and how what I believe affects my reaction to the deaths and arrest. )

I've lived in Minnesota for most of my life. My home state doesn't often make international news, and I'm not happy about why it' making headlines today... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (One couple is dead, another may survive. The killer was impersonating a police officer. There is little I can do. But I can pray, so I will.)

I mentioned "wildfires in Minnesota’s Arrowhead region" in last week's post. They're still going, and still not national news.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A screenshot of a Google Maps air quality display for central North America (June 3, 2025), and a glance wildfire headlines in Minnesota.)

Two tourists in Canada asked someone which city they were in. The man replied, "Saskatoon, Saskatchewan". One of the tourists said "oh! They don't speak English here!" I haven't heard that one in more than a half-century, there's a lead-up that makes it funnier, but never mind. This week I'm talking about a place in Minnesota, and a salesman who asked for help. Destination: Bemidji A Reasonable Question, Basically Rentals and Regional Transportation Routes and Decisions Deep in the Heart of Darkest Minnesota — Perceptions and Living in Minnesota An Impression, and Something to Remember More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Asking questions makes sense. So does remembering that what everybody knows may not be accurate. That goes double for unconsidered impressions.)

Growing up, my folks and I would go to Itasca State Park, north of Park Rapids, in Minnesota's lake country. The place has changed since then, a little. The place I remember as a parking area, a little north of the Mississippi headwaters, where the river officially starts, isn't there any more. It was about a thousand feet east of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. Google Maps says that spot is the "Headwaters Concession Ruins".... ...New buildings. A place I remember labeled as a ruins. Change happens.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering the time my father found the perfect spot for taking a picture: the middle of a poison ivy patch.)

Former President Jimmy Carter's funeral was at the top of my news feed briefly, earlier this morning. Then the California wildfire headlines bobbed back up: reminding me that living in the frozen north does have advantages. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Fire, winter storm warnings, a weather map, headlines: and why I prefer living in central Minnesota. We have experience, dealing with our weather.)

This week I started writing about a holiday visit from family up in North Dakota. By Friday afternoon I was looking at depression and a prayer: Good Times, Good Visit Mass in Minnesota: Freezing Fog and Celebrating Anyway Babies and Expectations Holiday Weirdness Meanwhile, at Our House Two Incidents After Mass Desolation, Dissatisfaction, Depression, and a Prayer ... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A family visit, freezing fog for Christmas, celebrating anyway. A little holiday weirdness. Depression, a prayer, and St. Ignatius of Loyola: very briefly.)

...That's not the only place in Minnesota with flooding problems this week. This spring was the first time in two years that no place in Minnesota was experiencing a drought. That’s good news, but the flooding isn't.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Mankato-area Rapidan Dam is missing a substation, and may fail. Two years we've had drought, now flooding. A very quick look at a Minnesota Monday.)

Monday, I wondered what I was going to write about this week. Then I read that scientists found methane and carbon dioxide in a not-really-Earth-like planet's atmosphere — and saw a silly headline or two.... ...Anyway, K2-18's atmosphere is mostly on hold for now. Instead, I'll talk about (alleged) space alien bodies, Nazca Lines and (human) mummies. And I'll take a look at NASA's UAP report. A quick look. It's been one of those weeks. Nice Weather, a Drought, and Me "Two mummified alien corpses..." ??? "Experts", Extraterrestrials, and Exclamation Marks "Nazca Mummies" and — — The Skull of Doom Speculation and the Nazca Lines K2-18b: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and — Plankton?! Existing UAP Reports: Acknowledging Possibilities Attitudes Questions More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (My take on science news this week: allegedly alien mummies, K2-18b and organic gasses, a NASA UAP report. Unwarranted ass...

These days, the first Monday in September is Labor Day. Officially, it's when we "honor the energy and innovation of working Americans": and, maybe, unions.... ...Unofficially, it's the last day of summer: when many Americans take vacations and/or pull out of their lake places. I expect to see a familiar boat or two parked in back yards next week.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Why I am staying home Labor Day weekend. Plus a quick look at official and unofficial reasons for celebrating, and a very little history.)

This week I'm sharing what Fr. Mark Botzet said during Mass on the last Sunday in June. I was going to just post his homily and let it go at that. But then I thought his focus on fear might make more sense if I put it in context of what's been happening in my part of the world. So I've put a short (for me) look at life in central Minnesota, and the big picture, after Fr. Botzet's homily. Fr. Mark Botzet's Homily — June 25, 2023 Four Decades, Two Millennia and the Long Haul (Brian H. Gill) Under the Circumstances... Promises and the Best News Ever More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Dealing with changes in Parishes on the Prairie ACC. Remembering priorities. Not letting fear distract us from what is important.)

I like being an American. There. I've said it. I like living in a country where freedom of speech is part of our heritage. And where freedom of expression extends even to folks whose ideas aren't approved by The Establishment's current iteration. Usually.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A quick look at America over the last century: good times, droughts, politics; and getting through anyway. Why being a good citizen matters: to me, anyway.)

Glancing at my news feed this month, I've noticed that Europe is burning, California is ablaze, and Alaska has caught fire. All because of climate change.... ...Blazing California suburbs have been routine summer news for decades. European and Alaskan wildfires, not so much. I'll grant that this has been an unusually fire-prone year. On the other hand, I won't "trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries" over the doom and gloom presumably facing us all. Trying to pretend that Earth’s climate doesn't change — or shouldn't, at any rate — doesn't make any more sense than jumping on the gloom wagon. Not to me. Neither does believing that we're in the secular equivalent of End Times. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . Climate change happens. So does sound and fury. Headlines, a good idea or two, the Little Ice Age and a crisis at the dawn of civilization: maybe.