Todd Swank: Standing Tall From Maryland to Minnesota

August 18, 2024

Standing Tall From Maryland to Minnesota

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for August 18, 2024

My week started off with a work trip to Baltimore, Maryland—my first time visiting the city. As I looked out the plane window, the view was beautiful, and I snapped a picture of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Little did I realize at the time, this was the same bridge that tragically collapsed earlier this year after a cargo ship collided with it. It’s a crazy reminder of how quickly circumstances can shift, even when all seems well.

Over two nights in Baltimore, I had three customer meetings, all within walking distance of the beautiful harbor. I’m always drawn to water, and as I admired the view, I wished Miss Sheri were with me. I snapped this picture and sent it to her, telling her just that. It was a sweet moment—assuming she actually got the message and didn’t block my texts while I’m out of town.

I always get excited when I spot some critters, and this time was no exception. The harbor was crawling with these huge, beautiful blue crabs, and I even managed to spot an American eel—though it’s playing a bit of hide-and-seek in this photo. I’ll take any excuse to watch wildlife in action, even if it’s just for a few minutes. I’m sure the locals nearby were wondering if I’d lost my mind staring so intently at what they probably thought was just some rocks.

On Thursday night, we were headed out with Sue and Ron Korkowski in Lakeville when they asked about how things were going with Avery and Abby’s new house. Since we were practically in the neighborhood, I casually suggested we drop by. I think the kids were happy to see us once they got over the surprise invasion, that is!

We were actually headed to an event called Taste of Lakeville—a local festival where restaurants and wineries offer samples of their best, all for a good cause. But, as usual, it quickly spiraled into a night of gluttony and debauchery. We seem to have a knack for turning these charity events into our own personal feast-fest. I guess we’re just really good at overindulging for a good cause.

It was a good night, especially after they handed me a free bucket hat and sunglasses. Nothing says VIP treatment like looking like you raided the lost-and-found! At that point, I figured I had two choices: blend in with the crowd or fully embrace my new look. Spoiler alert—I went full bucket hat mode and owned it. When life gives you freebies, you might as well make a fashion statement, right?

Miss Sheri's birthday is Monday, so naturally, I asked what she wanted to do to celebrate. Without missing a beat, she said she wanted to visit Como Zoo & Conservatory. That’s when I realized why we’ve made it through 30 years of marriage—she chose a place with no entry fee for her birthday! It’s the little things that keep a relationship going strong. Who needs fancy dinners or expensive gifts when you can enjoy a day surrounded by nature? Turns out, the best love stories come with free admission.

We’ve been coming to Como Zoo for decades, and we always enjoy this view of the Sunken Garden. It’s serene, peaceful, and inspiring—a perfect spot to pause and take it all in. Honestly, it’s the kind of place where you can’t help but feel a little more zen... or at least pretend you’ve got life all figured out while secretly debating if it’s too early to hit the snack bar. Either way, this garden always delivers.

The Japanese Garden at Como Zoo is one of those spots that makes you want to slow down and really absorb the scenery. The rocks are meticulously placed, the water is still, and everything feels perfectly balanced. It’s peaceful, but you can’t help but wonder how much effort it takes to make something look so effortless.

All in all, it was a great visit to the zoo. Even though we still feel a bit conflicted about the animals being in captivity, seeing them up close is always a blast. This guy especially stood out—he was just so cool. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind as he sat there, perfectly still. Maybe it was something like, “You enjoy your visit, humans—I’ll just be here, planning my vengeance.”

Here's a few TikTok videos I created this week that capture some of the fun moments along the way.