[OK, I couldn’t help myself.  We drive by this sign on CR22 every time we go to town, or that direction.  The number changes semi-regularly, but seldom concurs with other population signs on the various other city boundaries (some still have us in the 10,000’s, others in the 11,000’s).  I think different jurisdictions have control over each one.  This is the first time we’ve gone over 13,000 on this one.  So, I propose a toast to our growing megalopolis!  🙂 ]

[Last Thursday, Chuck Wencl, of the Red Willow Arts Coalition, introduced Jazz Dot Combo as the evening’s entertainment on the courthouse lawn.]

John Herdan is a fellow Alex class of 65er and the long-time band director at St. Cloud Cathedral (and still lives in St. Joseph with a lake home on Latoka).  He has been leading Jazz Dot Combo for 13 years, made up of high school kids from several locations.  Apparently only the key board player (going to Concordia) and the lead girl saxophone player (going to the U of M) have graduated.  Sorry ’bout the video quality.  A combination of a right eye cataract and trying to video with a slight telephoto.

“Now’s The Time”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Ah0OZuWoc

[John directs . . . Bill Riggs, center, is NOT a high school student.]

[The competition . . . always the competition.  😉 ]

“Girl From Ipanema”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wge81LvfAAQ

“Minnie The Moocher”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tne6vFxMQcM

[Bruce Nelson joined for a vocal.]

“What’s Goin’ On”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFsczqEGTYc

[The kids were impressive – John and Bill were OK for their age group.]

“Channel One Suite”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShfWqOviZ3s

[The previous night we enjoyed a wine tasting class immediately after the meeting of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, West Central Lakes Chapter . . . and I mean immediately after (do not pass “Go,” do not collect $200).  Possibly because they took place exactly one table apart.  This is our teacher, wine connoisseur Patty Gaetz, World Class Wines Sales representative, who knows her stuff, and we all have fun together.  This was our 2nd of three tastings.  All photos taken here are courtesy of the supervisor with her Samsung Galaxy.]

[The proprietor and His Worship were on hand.]

[Lake Mary was well represented.]

[Oh, and they were there too.]

[Earlier that day I captured some of the lovely gardens around the Alexandria Golf Club.]

[And here’s our gardener, Steph Olson, who is not only terrific at her job, but shows she can balance on a stack of garden pavers.]

[The night before was the last week of Theatre L’Homme Dieu for the season.  The play Almost, Maine rounded out a terrific season.  Earlier that day I discovered, what I had I had suspected for some time, that I have a cataract in my right eye.  And somehow the auto focus of my pocket camera snapped this out of focus shot of the supervisor with Don Waldeland, outside at intermission, which looks about the same as what my vision currently is out of my right eye.  Go figure?  You’re really not aware it is happening to this degree because the good eye compensates.]

[I snapped again to get them in focus but they were already ambling back to their seats.]

[It was come as a Mainer night, and these retired teachers, who I believe requested anonymity . . .]

[Were unofficial (?) winners!  😉 ]

[The supervisor leaves the après-play party in her rendition of L. L. Bean.]

[Earlier that day, more shots of Steph’s gardens at the golf club.]

[And we end the day with some of the club’s VIPs.  Here president Roger Riley points to where his golf ball unexpectedly game to rest – some 10 feet up a greenside evergreen!  😉 (Photo courtesy A. Grundei.) ]

[And Kaitlin Becker of beverage cart and Alexandria volleyball fame . . .]

[And now, I believe, back at St. Thomas where she is beginning her junior year.]

[And now we go all the way back to July 26, the first time I “covered” the supervisor’s flower beds, by direct suggestion from her.]

[The hard part here will be to not totally duplicate those posted on “Home After Camp,” s0 apologies.]

[And then it was on to the winery for one of Alia’s pizzas!  😉 ]

[Mmmmmm, pizza! . . . Oh yeah, and Patchouli was there too.]

[And here they are!]

[I posed with their beaver (Bemidji State for me).]

[Julie]

“The Woodlands”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ZceElYxq4

[Bruce]

“Flamaluna”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjG8GHJR4oE

[Bruce and Julie will be at SAWA on August 23 . . . we’ll (well, see at the and).]

[And two days before that we took the son-in-law for his first ever visit to the Maritime Museum . . .]

[Because Matt Harlan, Charlie Roth, and Brian Hudson (in that order and l-r) were performing in the Maritime Gardens that night.]

[And they are.]

[And here was our vantage.]

[Strolling . . .]

[Another beautiful night in Vacationland USA.]

[C’mon down.  You’ll love it!]

[Danny bought one of Brian’s CD’s – played it at camp!  😉 ]

[The supervisor and Danny search for a shaded view.]

[Perfect at sunset.]

The supervisor is now going to whisk me away to the far side of the planet.  I will have blogging material for months!  Fortunately, in our absence, Danny will be back in state to keep an on eye on things for us.  Bon soir!