Alley-Blog!

Alley-blog! is now on Facebook

2009-08-05T00:34:00.002-05:00

Always on the cutting edge of 2 years ago, Alley-blog! has moved to Facebook. If you have an account, just do a quick search and become a fan. If you're not on Facebook, then you're that one person everyone talks about when you're in the other room.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.15 :: Welcome to Shredkato, or: What's Coleman hiding?

2009-06-15T13:25:00.001-05:00

This is at least the third or fourth document shredding company we've seen pass through our fine alley in the past year. What's going on? Does this seem odd to you? And is it just a coincidence that Norm Coleman has an office nearby???

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.12 :: PoPo

2009-06-12T21:42:00.007-05:00

Protecting & serving, Alley-blog! style.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.12 :: Free Advertising

2009-06-12T21:42:00.005-05:00

This Alley-blog! is brought to you by Ron Boelter Window & Siding.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.12 :: Grill 'em up, Grill Boy!

2009-06-12T21:42:00.003-05:00

Good day for a picnic in the park.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.12 :: Who watches the Watchmen?

2009-06-12T21:42:00.001-05:00

ME!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.05 :: Lower Foods?Not a Full.

2009-06-05T13:22:00.001-05:00

Upper foods, a full
How your carrier contents
Unknown, tease me so.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.02 :: Fear and Loathing in Alley-blog!land

2009-06-02T13:52:00.000-05:00

I respect the men and women in uniform who serve city, state and country. BUT if your job was to ticket vehicles for exceeding a ridiculous 2-hour limit in a lot that, during weekday business hours, was *never* more than 33% full -- thereby denying no one easy access to area businesses -- wouldn't you hate yourself just a little bit? I love YOU, Ms. Parking Police Lady, but I hate what you do.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.02 :: Mystery photo!

2009-06-02T13:41:00.001-05:00

Can you guess what this is???

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.02 :: The Red, White & Blue

2009-06-02T13:38:00.000-05:00

They display the national colors of France proudly at the county Republican headquarters, fer shur.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.06.02 :: Sweet truckster

2009-06-02T13:35:00.001-05:00

Nice wheels, Mister!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.05.01 :: RampWatch: A Very Special Series Finale

2009-05-01T14:38:00.001-05:00

...and just like that, it's all over. Who were the mystery workers? What were they doing? Did they find the quarter I dropped out there a while back? We'll never know for certain. RampWatch is gone, but not forgotten.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.05.01 :: RampWatch-Day 2

2009-05-01T08:11:00.001-05:00

STILL don't know what they're doing, other than sending oil slicks down the ramp...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.30 :: RampWatch Update

2009-04-30T13:34:00.001-05:00

I still have no idea what they're doing.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.30 :: Little Red Corvette

2009-04-30T07:56:00.005-05:00

Baby you're much 2 fast

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.30 :: What's taters, master?

2009-04-30T07:56:00.003-05:00

"Perhaps people just like things from Ireland. On second thought... It could just be the taste."
I'm sure Jameson Irish Whiskey is a very fine product, but I think I'll stick with potatoes. And maybe U2.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.30 :: Breaking(!) Cute Little Parking Ramp News

2009-04-30T07:56:00.001-05:00

This morning multiple dudes assembled multiple safety cones in a line across the top side of our cute little parking ramp.
Stand by...
...FOR NEWS!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.29 :: Got parts? They'll wash 'em.

2009-04-29T07:58:00.001-05:00

I really wish they'd be more specific...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.29 :: "Gar-bazh"

2009-04-29T07:57:00.001-05:00

Why does anyone just say "garbage" anymore, when it's WAY more fun to say "gar-bazh"? Seriously. I think I need to create a National Pronounce Garbage "Gar-bazh" Day. Who's with me?

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.27 :: Danger! Danger!

2009-04-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

I know this is waaaaaayyyyy off the alley, but I believe it to be in the transportation-slash-pedestrian-slash-safety spirit of Alley-blog!
And it makes me giggle.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.24 :: Hey buddy, got a Lite?

2009-04-24T07:50:00.001-05:00

Greater taste than a dirt clod, less filling than a bucket of chicken.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.22 :: TEA'd off

2009-04-23T09:19:00.001-05:00

Leftover Lipton at Republican HQ

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.17 :: Escape from the Alley of the Apes

2009-04-18T10:44:00.003-05:00

I know it's only a hoodie hanging from the side of that service truck, but it kind of looks like someone got squished by the passing vehicle. Yeah, maybe it's just me.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.17 :: Take Your Kids To Alley-blog! Day

2009-04-18T10:44:00.001-05:00

Did everyone pack a brown bag lunch? Don't forget your jackets. Timmy, please don't put gum in Susie's hair. Alright, who threw up in the back? That's disgusting.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.15 :: I Know Where You Walked This Morning

2009-04-16T08:02:00.003-05:00

Actually, I only know where *I* walked this morning (the big parking ramp stairwell), if you want to get technical.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.15 :: Got moped?

2009-04-16T08:02:00.001-05:00

Shane does, and I'm jealous. There, I've said it. I've got scooter envy. (Anyone have a number for a 12-step program?)

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.14 :: Paul Blart, Parking Lot Cop

2009-04-16T07:54:00.001-05:00

My enemy now has a name. I shall call him Paul Blart. CURSE YOU, PAUL BLART!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.10 :: Alert! Teen driver spotted near alley!

2009-04-10T13:36:00.001-05:00

All points bulletin: Be on the lookout for a caucasian female driving a late '90s green sedan. She is armed with volatile teen angst, and will charge if threatened.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.06 :: Mating season

2009-04-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

It's mating season once again in the alley. The males are rutting, while the females in estrus -- such as this beautiful and rare White-cheeked Boozehauler -- expose their hindquarters in hopes of finding a mate.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.04.02 :: Sign & Heard

2009-04-02T07:52:00.001-05:00

Walking through the old mall on the way to work this morning...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.23 :: What's the extension, Kenneth?

2009-03-26T23:18:00.002-05:00

TOO MUCH COFFEE!!!!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.26 :: Diebold? Really? DIEBOLD?

2009-03-26T23:18:00.001-05:00

A couple of Diebold vans were parked in our cute little lot on Thursday. What's up with that? Are they in charge of counting my company's Suggestion Box entries or something? God help us all.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.19 :: Brad Pitt

2009-03-19T08:26:00.000-05:00

Curious indeed...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.16 :: Playing chicken

2009-03-19T08:19:00.001-05:00

Remember that really early black-and-white motion picture clip of two old locomotives smashing into each other head-on? Yeah, that was cool.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.13 :: Does photoblogging count?

2009-03-19T08:14:00.001-05:00

I'd just like to prosecute someone else for a change.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.11 :: Baby it's cold outside

2009-03-11T13:39:00.001-05:00

Woke up to below-zero temps today, much colder than it's been in a month. Brrr! At least the sun's shining, I suppose...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.10 :: The Walker

2009-03-11T13:34:00.001-05:00

I don't recall his real name, but this gentleman and his wife are known as "The Walkers." They walk (sometimes bicycle) everywhere, and own no car. Doesn't matter where they're going or what the weather. Whatever their motivation -- economic, environmental, health -- I'm impressed.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.09 :: Mini-convoy

2009-03-11T13:26:00.001-05:00

It only takes two to make make a mini-convoy. In MY book, anyway. (Side note: I don't think I've seen that "NM" semi before...)

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.05 :: Sneaky shredder

2009-03-05T08:02:00.001-06:00

I know what you're up to, Shred-it, and I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. FOR SHAME.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.04 :: Li'l Yellow Truck

2009-03-04T13:04:00.007-06:00

Li'l yellow truck, li'l yellow truck, li'l yellow truck...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.04 :: Jetteriffic!

2009-03-04T13:04:00.005-06:00

Somebody's gettin' cleaned out today!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.04 :: Parking lot or alley?

2009-03-04T13:04:00.003-06:00

Nice parking job there, Jeeves.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.03.04 :: W

2009-03-04T13:04:00.001-06:00

This one's for you, Anonymous.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.26 :: Help has arrived!

2009-02-26T14:17:00.001-06:00

Huzzah! We're plowed out! Thank you, Mr. Snow-man!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.26 :: It's baaaack!

2009-02-26T13:11:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure why I thought we were done with winter.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.25 :: Bridge to Nowhere

2009-02-25T13:05:00.001-06:00

Word on the street is that the downtown Hy-Vee will be torn down to make way for a civic center expansion of some sort. Discuss.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.13 :: 13th Inning Stretch

2009-02-13T16:10:00.001-06:00

I think it was Elle McPherson coming to say "hi" but suddenly was too shy to speak to me and ordered the driver to keep going.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.13 :: Belly of the Beast

2009-02-13T07:54:00.000-06:00

Like Jacque Cousteau exploring the magnificent beauty of Earth's undersea realm, Alley-blog! is fearless in its pursuit of the truth of the street. Word.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.12 :: The official end of Christmas

2009-02-13T07:47:00.001-06:00

The city crew finally took down the holiday decorations outside Alley-blog! HQ on Thursday, Feb. 12th. SUMMER IS HERE!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.06 :: Friday Two-fer

2009-02-09T13:19:00.001-06:00

Fed-Ex and Mystery Truck. Slow day in Alley-blog!land...

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.03 :: I (heart) the GOP

2009-02-03T23:40:00.000-06:00

Love is in the air at the county Republican headquarters. Actually, the big wreath in the lower right corner looks like something you'd see at a funeral. Poor choice of arrangement, IMHO.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.02 :: Shredder du jour

2009-02-03T23:37:00.001-06:00

Move over, bacon. There's a new shredder in town!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.02.02 :: Beermuda Triangle

2009-02-03T23:36:00.001-06:00

Another day, another 73 kegs vanish in Alley-blog!land.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.30 :: Breakfast

2009-01-30T13:52:00.001-06:00

Alley-blog! HQ welcomes its Friday morning breakfast delivery. (For the record, we prefer our kegs sunny side up.)

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.29 :: Face off!

2009-01-30T13:47:00.001-06:00

In a world gone mad... Only ONE TRUCK can live...!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.27 :: Yellow No. 5

2009-01-27T23:02:00.001-06:00

It's always been about The Children here at Alley-blog! ... Don't let 'em tell ya any different. My daughter was actually on this bus, as part of a field trip exploring the blogosphere's most fascinating alleys. Believe it or not, not a one of 'em upchucked the whole time.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.27 :: Reflect-o-Vision!

2009-01-27T22:55:00.001-06:00

Mark another "first" in your Alley-blog! logbooks: Alley activity as seen reflected in my very own building's window.
I gotta tell ya... This is the stuff of LEGEND.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.27 :: Cartmen

2009-01-27T22:49:00.001-06:00

From last week sometime, 2 guys pushing cargo around the alley.

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.27 :: Sneaky cold

2009-01-27T22:46:00.001-06:00

Sure, it looks like a lovely winter day, but this was actually one of those insanely cold days from 2 weeks back, when it was -25 F and windy. Blech!!!

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.16 :: View from the top

2009-01-16T19:47:00.001-06:00

Friday night on the top of the Hilton. That's swanky... Alley-blog!-style. :-)

Alley-blog! :: 2009.01.12 :: Blue Monday

2009-01-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

Alley-blog! welcomes 2009 in with a blue bang of snow. Sounds like this is going to be a hellish week for the alley...

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.30 :: Goodbye 2008!

2008-12-30T14:01:00.001-06:00

...and for the final Alley-blog! post of 2008: Snow. We're expected to get another 2-3 inches today to cap off an all-time record-snowy December. Just what we needed -- a fluffy white topping to the layer of ice we've already got. Yay! :-)
See y'all in the '09...

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.21 :: A Very Alley-blog! Christmas

2008-12-21T09:05:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from my alley to yours. Salut!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.21 :: Workin' for a living

2008-12-21T09:02:00.001-06:00

Just a little shout-out to our hard-working friends in the truck-driving and delivery business. Holla.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.21 :: Emergency response

2008-12-21T09:01:00.005-06:00

I did not find out how this all turned out.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.21 :: Canadian content!!!

2008-12-21T09:01:00.003-06:00

Anyone sporting a Labatt Blue jacket deserves special recognition on Alley-blog! Good day, eh?

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.21 :: Sure beats shoveling the stuff...

2008-12-21T09:01:00.001-06:00

Alley-blog! happily accepts all modes of snow removal.

Coming soon to Alley-blog!

2008-12-19T14:34:00.001-06:00

Many updates are on their way, true believers! Stand by!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.10 :: Open up...

2008-12-10T21:12:00.007-06:00

...and say "ULF!"

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.01 :: Christmas lights

2008-12-10T21:12:00.005-06:00

These days I don't need to work late to view the luminous majesty of Alley-blog!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.10 :: Drummers truck

2008-12-10T21:12:00.003-06:00

Looks like the Drummers truck is on the hunt for wild flora. Yee-haw!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.10 :: Parcel heist?

2008-12-10T21:12:00.001-06:00

I think dude was just *pretending* to be a delivery guy, so he could make off with this parcel drop box. In broad daylight, you ask? Of course! It's the perfect cover! Duh!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.06 :: Ye Olde Holiday Parking Lot

2008-12-06T20:10:00.001-06:00

Don't let anyone tell you we don't have the Christmas spirit here at Alley-blog!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.05 :: Economy stinks? Drink!

2008-12-05T13:06:00.001-06:00

The Coors continues to flow, recession or no.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.05 :: Friday Two-fers

2008-12-05T13:05:00.000-06:00

When one booze delivery truck just isn't enough.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.12.03 :: Snow

2008-12-03T21:03:00.001-06:00

We got 2-3" of snow overnight, but Alley-blog! is here to report that The Haze has been cleared and is open for business.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.25 :: Alley-blog! throw-back post

2008-11-25T13:03:00.001-06:00

A shot like this takes me back. Back to simpler times -- when the skies were cleaner and the rivers ran pure... when you saw chewing tobacco ads in places other than just above gas station pumps... when massive Dodo Bird herds roamed the Minnesota prairie.
Just a delivery truck, a pickup and a car.
Beautiful.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.25 :: Twilight

2008-11-25T07:29:00.001-06:00

If you look really closely, you can just make out Edward and Bella down there a ways along Riverfront Ave.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.25 :: Law & Order

2008-11-25T07:17:00.001-06:00

The order is implied.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.25 :: Art, not advert

2008-11-25T07:15:00.001-06:00

Please remember that to preserve its purity, Alley-blog! does not accept advertising, only social commentary. Discuss.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.17 :: More decorating

2008-11-18T07:52:00.000-06:00

...and the Christmas lights keep on a-coming to Alley-blog!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.14 :: The Adventures of ULF Man

2008-11-16T22:05:00.003-06:00

Run over by an 18-wheeler hauling radioactive cargo, young Mac Turbo not only survived, but miraculously gained amazing semi-truck powers, such as the ability to carry things super-long distances and eat super-greasy food at truckstops. But with great power comes great responsibility: ULF Man must be ever vigilant for his cruel arch-enemy, No-Zone.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.14 :: Christmas time is here...

2008-11-16T22:05:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time there was a cute little park next to a very busy alley, and every year magical city faeries would lace the trees with colorful lights, and then go for incredibly long smoke breaks at the taxpayers' expense.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.13 :: The Dark Knight

2008-11-13T13:15:00.001-06:00

Nice homemade sign outside the second-run theater in the mall next door.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.13 :: Holiday prep

2008-11-13T13:14:00.001-06:00

The city started putting up Christmas-- er, holiday lights outside Alley-blog! HQ yesterday, and we're still chomping on Halloween candy!

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.07 :: First snow of the season

2008-11-07T12:07:00.001-06:00

Anybody take Nov. 7 in the Snow Pool?

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.06 :: Chivas

2008-11-06T11:49:00.001-06:00

A new boozy graphics package comes to the alley...

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.05 :: Only Smike?

2008-11-06T11:46:00.001-06:00

This contraption is along a walkway in the big parking ramp (not the wee one made famous on Alley-blog! due to its infrastructural inadequacies).
Any ideas on what "only smike" means?

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.04 :: Election Day babe alert!

2008-11-06T11:42:00.001-06:00

The only thing better than voting? Getting picked up by a babe in a sweet ride to go vote. :-)

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.03 :: Road trip!

2008-11-03T20:01:00.001-06:00

We don't know for certain, but this bus is believed to have been filled with fanatical, bloodthirsty Republican operatives, sent to destroy craven infidels with flaming swords of justice.

That's the word on the streets anyway. Awaiting confirmation from Fox News.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.03 :: Introducing MVT

2008-11-03T19:41:00.001-06:00

If we've ever seen Minnesota Valley Transport come through here, it's been a very long time, so I'm just going to say that this is their Alley-blog! debut.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.03 :: Two-dog night

2008-11-03T19:36:00.001-06:00

One of the odder things I've seen come through the alley: a pair of dogs connected to each other with a harness, roaming loose. Understanding Boss was waiting for them to try to pass on both sides of a lamppost -- all cartoony style -- but no such frivolity ensued.
(Hopefully they found their owner before getting into too much trouble.)

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.03 :: Palin/McCain '08?

2008-11-03T19:29:00.002-06:00

On my walk from the parking ramp to the office, I passed a local Republican Party temporary campaign headquarters. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought the giant sign read just "Palin" -- with no "McCain" -- causing me to jerk to a stop. Thankfully the heebie-jeebies faded quickly, and I was able to go on with my day.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.11.03 :: Putting the "P" in personalization

2008-11-03T19:20:00.000-06:00

One of the biggest days in Alley-blog! History began with a great personalized license plate I saw on the way to work. Looking back, this was clearly a harbinger of much more juicy goodness to come...

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.31 :: Spooky infrastructure!

2008-10-31T21:43:00.001-05:00

We promised you something scary on Alley-blog! for Halloween, and we've delivered...
Unsafe Wiring!!!
If *that* doesn't give you nightmares, I don't know what will.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.30 :: Breaking the 4th wall

2008-10-30T14:05:00.001-05:00

Just in case anyone gets so caught up in the consummate majesty of Alley-blog! that they mistake it for their own reality, here's a photo that should bring you back to solid ground. It's all just special effects, folks. Smoke and mirrors. Industrial Light & Magic. Chico & the Man. Etc, etc.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.30 :: A worm's-eye view

2008-10-30T13:53:00.001-05:00

MGD represent'n.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.30 :: Fair & balanced

2008-10-30T13:51:00.001-05:00

We don't want anyone to think we've got a pro-FedEx bias, so here's some sweet UPSman action for ya.
Alley-blog! We report. You decide.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.29 :: Damp delivery

2008-10-29T21:00:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since we featured Mr. FedEx Truck Man. So... yeah.

Alley-blog! :: 2008.10.29 :: Where there's a helpful smile, in every bucket truck!

2008-10-29T21:00:00.001-05:00

Have our friends at Hy-Vee received any Alley-blog! love before? No? Well, here's your love.