Newer and cleaner than EricByers.comTumblr (3.0; @bradnelson)http://bradnelson.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5116a2556054dd60092877e59ebafe56/tumblr_meuf3sltpD1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is a place I really loved. The memories of it are so incredibly fond, and I’m not really even sure why. I was pretty much by myself in a foreign country, away from most everything that mattered, and yet to stand here on a quiet wintery night was so serene. It was peaceful and it was consoling. He can find you anywhere, even when you’re not really trying to be found. I long to go back, partly because the next time will be even better than the last.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/37680159469http://bradnelson.com/post/37680159469Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:35:00 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdpt9ye8si1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This might just be one of the best places on earth. Okay, so I’m partial to this town after living here for ten years, but I’m still just a little bit amazed by it every time I see it. So beautiful. And such a great place to be. I love this place.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/36041192641http://bradnelson.com/post/36041192641Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:23:06 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdb4w1aMqn1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Commuting nearly an hour each way never seems like a pleasant experience. But the combination of Minnesota countryside and a job you love makes it a valuable part of the day. A little time alone every morning and afternoon. Peaceful.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/35463370323http://bradnelson.com/post/35463370323Sat, 10 Nov 2012 23:14:32 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbcc8g3c4A1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Room 119</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/32835559747http://bradnelson.com/post/32835559747Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:36:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maltnladxo1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Some moments are just perfect. Many of them can be unremarkable, but perfect nonetheless. Sometimes we are stunned by it or it gives us pause. Sometimes we don’t recognize it until it has passed. But it is so gratifying to have those perfect moments. Necessary, even. Because that’s the pleasure of life. </p> <p>This summer brought frequent camping trips around Minnesota. The beauty of nature is that you can’t really enjoy it unless you are in it. Then you can channel your inner Muir or Thoreau and enjoy just being away from the world. That’s a good place to be.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/31863295928http://bradnelson.com/post/31863295928Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:57:21 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m83z4yRgb31qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Nothing justifies frustrating repetition like final perfection. Doing something and failing seems like a complete waste of time and energy. But doing it until it works produces feelings of achievement and satisfaction. Maybe this is all cliche, but a failed first attempt usually dissuades the second, and there is no gratification. </p> <p>Making bread has long been a fascination. Somehow it seems a greater accomplishment than most other forms of cooking. After years of meager attempts and wandering goals, I finally started a sourdough. The first five or six loaves got tossed. But now, knowledge and intuition produce something good and consistent. Flour, water, and salt, combined only by my hands, and baked. It amazes me every time.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/28532191205http://bradnelson.com/post/28532191205Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:31:46 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7sxiobCCi1qai5xqo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Okay, so it’s not really working out. As you can see, it has been nearly seven months since I have updated my website. I have for so long reserved it for the long-form writing that I claim to enjoy, but never actually do. So, clearly the time has come to face reality and change the way things are done.</p> <p>At the same time, I have stopped updating my Flickr account. This is partly due to my realization that I am not a photographer, and partly due to Flickr’s failure to remain a relevant social network. So I’ve given up on them. Instead, I’ll just be posting my photos here. My Instagram photos…because they are the only ones that look cool. And because Instagram has failed to consider that I might wish to share my photos with people who don’t have smart phones or Facebook.</p> <p>So now I’ll be combining the two. Some photos and some words, maybe long, maybe short. I might even run some of my favorite Flickr photos through Instagram and post them here.</p> <p>Now, my mom and my loyalist readers will know that the most common content on this website is an explanation of how my format or content is changing. I apologize for doing it again. I have finally submitted to the idea of this just being a normal personal blog. But there won’t be any links to cute, funny, or interesting things that other people have said or done. Everything will be original. It may not be interesting or worth reading, but it will be mine. And this time, there will be photos. Like this big boat.</p>http://bradnelson.com/post/28106027162http://bradnelson.com/post/28106027162Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:23:00 -0500In the final weeks of the year, commentators and pundits took it upon themselves to pass judgement...http://bradnelson.com/post/15281901116http://bradnelson.com/post/15281901116Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:15:19 -0600The eagerness to end my reading sabbatical was matched only by the pursuit of my first book in some...http://bradnelson.com/post/4488074232http://bradnelson.com/post/4488074232Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:13:00 -0500On Monday I finally worked up the energy to go and see if my bees were still thriving through the...http://bradnelson.com/post/3413005748http://bradnelson.com/post/3413005748Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:13:29 -0600It&#8217;s quite a dream come true for a kid to grow up across the street from his grandparents. You...http://bradnelson.com/post/1559418138http://bradnelson.com/post/1559418138Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:22:00 -0600Apparently there exists a universal expectation that if you have a blog, you&#8217;re supposed to...http://bradnelson.com/post/1489250430http://bradnelson.com/post/1489250430Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:26:00 -0500It&#8217;s difficult to deal with going to college for the third time. Something about the...http://bradnelson.com/post/652364909http://bradnelson.com/post/652364909Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:46:00 -0500Calvin made a profound impression on me. He didn&#8217;t know it and certainly never will. In fact,...http://bradnelson.com/post/502046489http://bradnelson.com/post/502046489Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:45:44 -0500I don&#8217;t understand the American vacation. The average employed worker has just over two weeks...http://bradnelson.com/post/451852801http://bradnelson.com/post/451852801Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:01:23 -0500I haven&#8217;t updated this website in around four months. That&#8217;s one-third of an entire...http://bradnelson.com/post/335382952http://bradnelson.com/post/335382952Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:11:00 -0600