This photo was taken more than a year ago after class one day. Today? Today the lakes are still frozen... but it was supposed to snow tonight, and instead it only rained -- and I'll take that as a win. I think (hope! pray!) that we are finally done with the snow. Because seeing the flakes come down at 8 pm when it's still light out or early in the morning while all the birds are chirping? That's just not right.

We woke up this morning to a blanket of snow. Since I didn't have class and it was above 30 degrees, I took Merlin for a stroll first thing, and it was so nice to be the first one out on a snow day. Seeing all the critter tracks (possum, raccoon, rabbit) and what Merlin tracked was kinda fun as well. By the time I got home from work, all the snow was gone. But don't you worry, it's supposed to snow again tonight...

Because I'm growing antsy, I checked the weather in Palm Springs today, and by the end of the week it's going to get up to 99. What do I have to do to get some 80 degree weather? My Lord.

The internet share of the day is totally self-serving -- it's a story about me that a fellow Minneapolis photographer (who I amazingly haven't met in person yet!) posted on her blog. Enjoy!

Yup, on Earth Day in Minnesota you get another blizzard. This morning all the snow was gone -- for the first time since last week's storm. I actually thought as I was pulling out of the driveway, "Maybe I should photograph the front yard today, since I can finally SEE IT." And six hours later, it's covered again. Completely.

The sidewalk by itself was too boring to shoot, so I thought I'd have Merlin walk toward me and photograph his beautiful mane blowing in the wind. Except he's so sick of the snow that when I told him to stay, he just laid down and audibly groaned. Yup.

Honestly, I think it's beautiful. I was angry about the late snow a few weeks ago, but now that I've given up on shovelling, I'm in a much happier place.

Also, as I said above, today is Earth Day, and that means that it was 10 years ago today that we brought Memphis home from the rescue. She was so small that she slept in a box on the floor next to the bed, and I left my arm hanging over the side of the mattress all night into her box so she would stop crying. What an adorable pain-in-the-ass from the beginning. Damn, I miss her.

For your internet share of the day, I have to give credit to my husband. This is the best find ever, it's called RunPee. It's an app that you put on your phone, and you start it when the movie begins at the theater. It will alert you when the best time to take a bathroom break is by having your phone vibrate -- then, it tells you how long you have to get back to the theater for the good stuff, AND it tells you what you missed! HOW AWESOME IS THAT? If my mom had a smart phone, she would totally dig this as she could then time her smoke breaks.

Warning: The site I'm sending you to is hideous. While this is a great idea for an app, they need some design help stat.

Since The Evening Rig didn't go on until after midnight last night, I'm using them for my photo from today. I should also say that the guy on the right, Jason, is the lead singer for the Rig. The guy on the left? He's ... uh... an enthusiastic audience member who works(ed?) at the Fetus and who I used to see all over town but don't know his name (embarrassingly). However, he was a very enthusiastic fan of the Rig, so his points just shot up tenfold in my book.

I didn't shoot much fresh this afternoon because I was in a dark movie theater enjoying "Oblivion." Man, this girl LOVES a good sci-fi movie -- even if it does have Tom Cruise in it.

I've made it a goal for 2013 not to work on Sundays, and I'm happy to report that despite a random hour or two here or there, I've stuck with it -- we'll see if I can keep it up through the summer. But my favorite part of this new rule is that the house is clean, laundry folded and a wonderful meal in our tummy by the time Mad Men starts at 9. Not a bad way to live.

For my internet share of the day, I'm sending you over to the Guardian in London. It is one of my very favorite newspapers -- I fell head-over-heals for their reporting and design when I studied in London in 2008. They published this take on the terror attacks in Boston, and always think an outsider's viewpoint is refreshing. Plus? I happen to agree with this 1000% percent. Enjoy.

Today is like a High Holiday for the Plessers. We looooove Record Store Day, and we usually visit 2-3 shops and pick up a few items at each just to support the local stores and the community. Today we started at Treehouse Records (as seen above) where I picked up the new Metz on vinyl and the special Titus Andronicus RSD release. It was PACKED in that tiny store. I loved it!

Next we mosied over to the Electric Fetus where I looked endlessly for the new Chvrches EP (couldn't find it) as well as the new Telekenises on vinyl, which looked to be sold out. Ah well, just more affirmation to support these stores 365 days a year. But while we were there we got some delicious Intelligentsia coffee, an amazing Nate Dog with carmelized onions and spicy mustard (yum!) and we got to see the Black Angels put on a free show. See? WE LOVE THIS DAY.

Also? It was 40 degrees and sunny today, which means we saw people in SHORTS and a SIDEWALK SALE and someone in their convertable with the TOP DOWN. Ha! That's how cold it's been -- we celebrate 40-degree days in shorts!

Tonight we're following up with a party at Aesthetic Apparatus for their scratch'n'dent sale (as if I need more screen prints in my life...) and then finally to watch The Evening Rig's last performance. Yes. You read that right. One of my favorite local bands is "going on hiatus," and I will be there taking photos and crying in my beerwater over it. So sad.

Between all the work today and keeping up on the news, I took a few walks with this guy to get a little relief. The sun came out for the first time in probably 10 days, so we took a long walk in the early afternoon, and then in the late afternoon I was going to walk up to the wine store for a bottle of Tempranillo to serve with dinner. The wine store is three blocks away, so I thought I'd bring the boy along. I have noticed on my past few visits that they have a sign on the door saying dogs are welcome, along with a big bowl of water on the floor. So off we went.

Merlin is so well behaved that I wasn't too concerned about how he'd react in a store full of expensive bottles of wine (despite his 85 lbs and tail), but I was concerned at the volume of his squealing if another dog was in the shop. Lucky for us, he was the only canine. Since it was his first trip running errands with Mom, I thought I'd photograph it. I had him sit and stay while I took off my gloves, set down my backpack and unpacked my camera. Then I stepped back to shoot 10-15 frames of him sitting and waiting for me. There were shoppers throughout the store, and he sat there patiently. I OWN THE BEST DOG ON THE PLANET.

And when we checked out, they wanted to pet him and give him treats. I think this is great because a) we know we can bring him back and b) should he ever get a rebellious streak and run away from home, now we know where he'll go.

This morning I looked out the window, and all of the snow in the front yard was melted. And now? Now it's completely covered again. This blizzard moved in today, and last I heard we had gotten up to 9 inches of snow in some areas. On April 18.

But I'm going to tell you that it was a lovely snow. Huge, thick, wet flakes perfect for snowballs and snowmen. I luckily found a traffic-free route home (thank you Google maps!) and then Jamie and I walked four blocks to a neighborhood Italian restaurant that has AMAZING food for super high prices. But that pot roast? Worth every penny.

After dinner, I took my boy Merlin for a snowy walk, and then we all gathered to watch Jeopardy, because I have a friend/former coworker on the show this week AND SHE WON $21,000 TODAY! How exciting is THAT? So if you watch, cheer on Judy tomorrow. I know I will.

My internet share of the day is an op/ed piece by Gabby Giffords on the Senate's vote on gun control. "They should have honored the legacy of the thousands of victims of gun violence and their families, who have begged for action, not because it would bring their loved ones back, but so that others might be spared their agony."

I was poking around my archives today for some photos for vita.mn (which miraculously did come together today, hallelujah) and I stumbled upon these (as well as some adorable shots of Memphis). This is Kali, and I photographed her and her family on April first last year. The family was in short sleeves and bare legs. The grass was green. The sun was out. And we are supposed to get 6 more inches of snow tomorrow. Ahem.

Also, fun fact I learned at work today: July is the only month that has never had snow in Minnesota. So if THAT isn't depressing, I don't know what is.

For my internet share of the day, I have *two* things to share. The first is something Jamie found, which is a fascinating look at how women see themselves vs. how others see us. I love this. It's done by Dove, a company who I love for celebrating real women.

The second item is the trailer to the new Superman movie. The very best part? If you look closely at the 2:20 mark, you can see that Clark Kent is a Jayhawk fan. OF COURSE HE IS. Everybody loves the Jayhawks -- even Superman.