Just A Peck 0040 // Easter, Artemis, Raiders

Just A Peck

Welcome to the latest issue of Just A Peck. I’m glad you’re here!


JOURNAL

Last Sunday was Easter and all of the kids except Spencer were able to be home. My mom and sister are on a trip to Korea and Japan, and we had planned on my dad driving up by himself, but a double-whammy snowstorm over the weekend made him change his mind. Jody’s sister and brother were able to join us though. We colored eggs, had an Easter egg and Easter basket hunt which involved a cool puzzle designed by Jody, and our traditional Easter lunch. April is also the birthday month for Kaylee, Corey, and Jody’s sister Diane, so we had a small “Birster” celebration too with Moon Cake (partially inspired by the Artemis II mission).

Easter dinner with family
Easter bags and eggs
Birster
Easter family group photo

Speaking of the Artemis II mission, the astronauts made it back safely! What an inspiring feat of science, engineering, and cooperation.

Artemis II return

Singing with the Stars, the annual fundraiser for the Playhouse, was this week. It’s always such an incredible event, with contestants from the community who have worked so hard and an audience that is ecstatically supportive–all in support of a great organization. The Playhouse staff crushed it again, as always.

Singing With The Stars program and stage at Duluth Playhouse
Justin and Jody at Singing With The Stars

Our ex-pat friends Dan and Christine stopped back in Duluth for a few days and scheduled a get together. It was so great to catch up briefly. I’m hoping to visit them in Amsterdam sometime this year.

Visit with the Stockes

Jody got us tickets to see Raiders of the Lost Ark at Symphony Hall with the DSSO playing the score live. It was amazing. Our symphony orchestra is so freaking good, y’all. Get to one of these if you have the chance.

Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert at Symphony Hall

WHAT I WATCHED THIS WEEK

Raiders of the Lost Ark movie poster
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). As mentioned above, I watched this with the DSSO playing the score live. It's still a brilliant piece of cinema. Because he's been making audience-pleasing blockbusters for so long, it's easy to forget that Spielberg is a cinematic savant.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK

Finished:

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann - book cover
The Director, by Daniel Kehlmann. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. This was our book club book, and after two hours of conversation about it, I feel like I could still go on. Astonishing, nightmarish, expressionistic, cinematic, hilarious. Highly, highly recommended.

In Progress:


MEMORIES

Twenty Years Ago Lots of Easter photos in my photo memories. Here are a few from twenty years ago at our house in Spooner.

Easter twenty years ago
Easter twenty years ago
Easter twenty years ago


WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

The Playhouse just announced their new season and it looks great! Get your memberships here.

Duluth Playhouse 2026/2027 Main Stage Season

The Odd Couple opens this week at the Boat Club. One of the funniest plays ever written with a great cast and production team. Don’t miss it!

The Odd Couple at Boat Club

SpongeBob also opens this week at UMD, directed and choreographed by my friend and neighbor, the incomparable Matthew Wagner. Get those tix!

SpongeBob Musical at UMD

MY FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“How did anyone even manage back then to keep getting out of bed in the morning, day after day? Heaved up and drifting along on a broad wave of absurdity, although we knew and saw it, which made it all the worse! But in the end this very knowledge was what kept us alive, while others far better than we were swallowed up.”

Heimito von Doderer


That’s it for this week. Stay safe, friends. Thanks for reading!

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