alexandriacardinals

[To know me is to know bread is my middle name (OK, I had it changed).  The supervisor brought this home for me yesterday.  If it were dropped from the roof of a two-story building, it would flatten an SUV.  But I digress . . . ]

[Last night was the high school fall choir concert, the first school event to take place in the new auditorium.  I was there because . . . well, it’s my job.  As usual I had the wrong time and arrived a half hour early.  As I entered the building I was nearly run down by a young lady who may have been all of 5-feet tall and 80 pounds barreling down the hall barefooted while lifting her black dress as to not impede her speed.  If she would have hit me, I may have ended up in Miltona.  The football coaches have been duly notified of this prospect.]

There are five concert videos contained herein.  Take a look.  They’ll restore your faith in the future of humanity.

[Because I was such an early arrival I had my choice of seats.  So I took back row center for a direct bead on Mr. Dietz as he put his charges through a little pre-game workout.]

[It was then I noticed these did not appear to be usual choir attire . . . ]

[Hey, how ’bout that new grand piano?  A gift to the school from the community!  🙂  ]

[“It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday, the regular crowd shuffles in . . .”]

[The Girls Chorus.  I tried to video “Shenandoah” but I had technical difficulties.  You may have noticed I’m at a different angle now.  To be explained . . . ]

[Still the Girls Chorus, composed largely of underclasswomen.  To be explained . . . ]

[The Boys Chorus.]

[Les Marquise, a/k/a, the Ladies in PJ’s]

[Silhouettes]

[Pop Group]

[Select Women’s Choir]

[Now the “to be explained . . .” part.  That’s Mark Ripley.  You may recognize him as “The Competition” in many previous posts.  He’s the school’s photographer/media guy.  He has retired twice but keeps coming back because . . . he loves the job and the kids, and he wanted to be part of the new school.  Oh, as for the multiple shots of the choirs, the Amazing Mr. Ripley was having them all pose for the official school pictures, as long as they were all there and in “uniform.”  I was sitting next to his set-up when I first arrived, but as “the regular crowd shuffled in” I could see I was going to have sight line problems for my photographic efforts.  So I moved to where Ruthie and I sat for the first Central Lakes Concert Association event.  The 2nd CLCA concert is tonight but the supervisor will go with Jami as I “have” to cover the first football section playoff game on the other side of the building.]

[Select Women’s Choir, again.  And just for fun, the oft-featured in this site, Josie Nelson, is in this choir.  Can you find her?]

[Alexandria Concert Choir]

[The super and Jami were at the school as well for a Comm Ed class.  We met at Doolittle’s afterwards . . . a beautiful evening to sit out at the fire pit with a taste of the grape!  And did a flash and no flash.  🙂  ]

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.  ~ Steven Wright

[Editor’s note:  OK, except for last night.]

Up next:  The football game?

Now that I have your attention . . .

First, please watch the following short video.  You’ll know or recognize the people and places. It was locally produced and does a terrific job of explaining the needs of the area:

This will be a double posting, on Facebook and my blog, because, well, they’re available. I was a little concerned about using the blog for this because it was established mainly to report on high school events.  But then I remembered I have solicited for the Education Foundation on the blog, certainly school related, and the school sponsors an annual Empty Bowls fundraiser that segues perfectly into . . .

I was asked to join the United Way (UW) team because I’m an older person . . . OK, an old person. UW has done very well locally within the business community and other organizations where it can pinpoint potential donor groups.  There is a substantial group of potential donors in town that can’t be targeted in a group manner – and that would be retirees.  That’s where I come in – I’m a retiree.  But retirees are a disparate group, on any given moment you couldn’t locate half of them and at the first hint of a snowflake half of them flee south.  So, what seemed like the best idea was a social media blast.  So, here it is!

http://www.uwdp.org/home.aspx

You can donate by going to the above website, or by visiting the office in the old bowling alley. Oh, and at this time of year, we are also accepting donations of winter clothing.  If you can, please donate.  And whether you can make a donation at this time or not, it would be appreciated if you would “share” this message with your Facebook and e-mail friends.  The broader the distribution, the better results we should get . . . if logic serves.  So, thanks a bunch!

Always do whatever’s next.  ~  George Carlin

Up next:  Depends on how many donations we get?

The 20th Annual . . .

[Haven’t seen these guys for a while . . . like 3rd game of the year.  They’ve had a good year but probably not as good as they expected.  They were defending conference champs coming into the year and are now a mostly senior team.  I was a late arrival and play had already begun against Wadena-Deer Creek, who I believe were state champs in their class just two years ago.]

[The double high fives is generally indicative of a point for us.  😉  ]

[So, from left to right, we have Liz Schultz (1-senior), Amanda Haack (11-senior), Alexis Stern (8-junior), Kalley Bistodeau (2-senior), Morgan Melrose (4-junior), and Brooke Swanson (6-senior).]

[And Katie Dolan (7-senior).]

[Kalley (K2), Brooke, and Amanda]

[Another point for the Cards.]

[Rock, hammer, scissors?  I just noticed I did the first 7 photos in reverse chronological order . . . but no one would know that, so I’m not going to change it.]

[In these all day tournaments, it’s best 2 out of 3 (rather than the usual match of 3 of 5).  The Cards dispatched the Wolverines by identical 25 – 19 scores.]

[Next up was the Mounds View Mustangs, who required a two-photo pre-match team meeting!]

[Yay for us!  Now including Jordyn Lamb (12-sophomore) and Gretchen Watkins (3-senior).]

[Gretchen attempts the daring, no-look high five.]

[K2 with a good fist pump.]

[We did good!]

[These are getting to be my favorite photos – the defensive formations.  Did they bring in a nickel back?]

[Brooke and Amanda patrolling the net.]

[Though Amanda is usually the setter, every once in a while that quick leftie hit over.]

[K2 and Brooke attempt a block.]

[Try that again!]

[Looks like Brooke and Amanda got that one.]

[Liz’s jump serve was consistent all day.  In fact, I thought she had a great all-around day.]

[OK, hit ’em where they ain’t.]

[Brooke, if I can hide behind you, they’ll never see me.]

[OK, up on 3!]

[Woo-woo!]

[Amanda’s jump serve . . . ]

[K2]

[Watch out for ye ole Statue of Liberty play!]

[Stuff!!  Brooke had her fair share of them.]

[Double team attempted stuff.]

[Amanda tries the sneak in behind Liz trick.]

[K2 signals the play . . . slider, low and away.]

[Oh, oh, that one is outa here!]

[Amanda waits for the helium leak.]

[Another K2 fist pump.]

[That was good!]

[ . . . I’m thinking hot fudge with crushed black walnuts.]

[Alexis]

[Liz serving; don’t know the guy standing.]

[Three up front lineman with one linebacker.]

[K2 receives]

[Amanda serving behind Liz; still don’t know the guys.]

[Jordyn and Liz]

[K2]

[Katie; same guys]

[Gretchen]

[Block or tap back?]

[Blocked?]

[Gretchen serves while K2 momentarily zones out.]

[We win!  Again two games to none.]

[Good game, good game, nice game, good game, have a nice trip home, good game . . .  There was an hour break after the Wadena games, I lounged at Dunn Bros.  There was a two hour break after these games so I went home, watched the Gophers, did my nails, washed out a few dainties, the usual household duties . . .]

[I came back in time for the Grand Rapids games to round out the round robin.  Before entering the gym, I had to play around with the large touch-screen in the hall where I called up the Class of ’65 yearbook.  😉  ]

[Well. that was a trip down memory lane . . . though those passing in the hall stopped to offer condolences.]

[Liz and Amanda, synchronized ballet, as battle begins against the Thunderhawks.]

[Where’d it go?]

[Just noticed I have a stretch here featuring Liz.  Well, all day long, if she got a clean hit, it wasn’t coming back.  I would have kept feeding her under she cried, “No mas!”]

[Liz]

[Liz]

[People get ready . . . ]

[Well, now we’re on the other side of the net.  We inexplicably lost game one after carrying a nice lead throughout – then we hit a stretch where the wheels come off for a while?]

[Nice block here though by Liz and Jordyn.  Again we jumped out to a nice early lead.]

[Liz and friend.]

[Ooops!]

[And we let what looked like an easy win become a nail biter.  But it was then on to game 3.]

[In or out?]

[Jordyn goes for one.]

[Liz and Morgan]

[Looks like K2 just hit one.]

[Hope that thing is sailing out?]

[K2 again]

[We again had a nice early lead . . . then hit that invincible wall.  The Thunderhawks came back to win game 3 and the match.]

[Noonan’s Park on the way home.  The dummy swans don’t seem to be a deterrent to the Canada geese anymore.  😦  ]

Yesterday I saw a chicken crossing the road. I asked it why. It told me it was none of my business.  ~ Steven Wright

Up next:  Something.

 

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in election season around here.  While I do not normally include such things (I have a blog in remission that does), the following seemed seasonal, photogenic, and . . . it was fun!  Oh, GOTV?  Get Out The Vote.  🙂

The Peak Supper Club, Clitherall, Minnesota

[The supervisor’s red maple was approaching peak as we left for . . . The Peak.]

[Bounding through the roly-poly of western Minnesota cornfields in the fall to . . . ]

[So, how do you get to The Peak?, I hear you ask.  Well, it’s about 25 miles from our house, at the base of Inspiration Peak (the 3rd highest elevation in the state).  You drive through Urbank, population 54, and continue until you’re within the vicinity of Clitherall, population 112.  So, now you know.]

[We were here for a little rock ‘n roll, a little dining – and some political stuff.  Jay Sieling and Jim Miltich are running for the Minnesota House in Districts 8B and 8A, respectively.]

[Jim just happens to be Anthony’s brother  – and you’ve seen Anthony many times in these pages . . . ]

[It’s a par-tay, so I ‘moosed’ be having fun!]

[Then Anthony teams with Jay.  We demand our candidates also be musicians.  🙂  ]

[Red wine and ‘Hallelujah,’ please.]

[The brothers Miltich, then Anthony flies solo.]

[Bonnie makes sure the candidates mind their p’s and q’s – and show up for the parade in Miltona!]

[Jim]

[And Jay, a lovely duo with a shared great hairstylist!]

Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

[So, now it’s Friday, two days later.  The “steam” was coming off beautiful Lake Darling that morning as we prepared for a political trip to The Cities.  As usual, we hit a dense fog on the way to Osakis.]

[But we eventually made it.  Parked in our usual state hockey tournament ramp and meandered through Dinkytown.]

[And on to the mall at the ‘U.’  It was turning into the quite delightful day.]

[The look across campus to Coffman Memorial Union . . . ]

[But we were heading into the newly renovated Northrop Auditorium.  The ‘we’ were the supervisor, Jami, and Jami’s friend Ella.  I don’t recall being in Northrop since I took a freshman economics course there from Walter Heller, President Kennedy’s chief economic advisor, a mere 49 years ago.]

[We arrived early – by about two hours – to stand in line for the advertised appearances of Governor Mark Dayton, Senator Al Franken, and President William Jefferson Clinton.  Although Clinton was my boss for eight years, I don’t recall ever seeing him live?  And while standing in line, I noticed my cousin Barb Arrell, a St. Paulite, a couple groups behind us.]

[Exercising my predilection for photographing photographers, we later became BFF’s and e-mail pals.   OK, maybe not all that, but we learned she is Lara Leimbach, Senator Franken’s campaign photographer.]

[In line “selfie.”]

[Chillin’]

[We were protesting war when I left the ‘U’ in the late 60’s . . . and we’re still protesting war.]

[We sent Lara our photos of  her.  She was delighted – said she’s never on the receiving end of such missives.  🙂  ]

[After two hours of standing, we’re moving on in.  And I was now in a better position to see the protesters.  Oh, BTW, while we were standing in line, ‘they’ came by to make sure we had our RSVP’s and then handed us a ticket.  The supervisor, ever on the alert for such things, noted that people on the next switchback over had different color tickets.  She checked with one of the people holding such and discovered they had better seats!!!  Horrors!  The super immediately flagged down the ticket giver-outer to complain – we were here first, how come we got worse seats?  Well, they said it was an “oops” and brought us the correct tickets.  🙂  ]

[We’re in!]

[The young man above is from Blaine and was right behind us in line.  He was the super’s ‘assistant’ in assuring we got the correct tickets!]

[The super found Mike Obermueller.  He’s running for U. S. Congress in the 2nd District.]

[The supervisor spots Lara in front of us – they exchange contact information.]

[U of M students, obviously the brightest of their generation!]

[Steve Simon, candidate for Secretary of State.]

[Betsy Hodges, mayor of Minneapolis.]

[And then by big surprise, Senator Amy Klobuchar.]

[You didn’t know I was coming, did you?]

[Thank you!  Now go vote!]

[Followed by Governor Dayton . . . ]

[Followed by Senator Franken . . . ]

[Before giving way to the President . . . ]

[Senator Franken . . . ]

[The President in a rapidly evolving mosh pit.  Cousin Barb in the black and white stripes is making her way forward.]

[Looking back into the new Northrop.]

[Barb is fighting her way in – this is the best shot I got.  I was being jostled, lost a lens cap (found trampled on the floor), but I did see Barb stretch out and shake the President’s hand as I was being pummeled to the floor.  I’d lost track of Jami and the super in the crowd – Jami reported she got to shake Franken’s hand, the super said she got a salute and a big smile from him!  🙂  ]

[And these final three were taken by Lara – nice to see the difference in professional photography!  BYW, Jami’s t-shirt was a big hit and she posed for lots of pictures.]

[We rushed out as I wanted to get home in time for the Alex – Bemidji football game.  Bemidji is ranked No. 3 in the state in class 5A.  As the resident “black cloud,” I arrived about halfway through the 1st quarter just in time to see our quarterback get injured – and not return to the game.  Any chance the Cards may have had were gone then.  So, the only photos I got were of arrival (top) and leaving at halftime (the bottom two – I hadn’t eaten all day!)]

Conservatives say if you don’t give the rich more money, they will lose their incentive to invest. As for the poor, they tell us they’ve lost all incentive because we’ve given them too much money.  ~  George Carlin

Up next:  Would you believe . . . volleyball?