alexandriacardinals

WE’RE GOING TO STATE, AGAIN!  🙂

[The morning after . . .]

[The evening before . . . the supervisor and I celebrated Valentine’s Day, and our anniversary, at Doolittle’s . . .]

[For the first time in recorded history we did not go to the girls’ hockey section finals (the supervisor claims to have forgotten how many anniversaries we have spent with “the girls”).  For age-related reasons, we did not want to venture out on the interstate, at night, during winter, any more . . .]

[Fortunately, the team ventured alone to the MAC in St. Cloud and was able to handle Fergus Falls without us, 4 – 1.  So we’re off to our 9th state tournament next week.  We’ll be there to see the face-off v. Blake @ 11:00 am on Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center.  Weather permitting, of course.  Photo courtesy Echo Press.]

[Back to the morning after . . .]

[That afternoon, Harper’s Chord was at the winery . . .]

[We were there with dozens of our close personal friends . . .]

[To see, once again, Roger Fink, Jill Moore, and Paul Drinkwine . . .]

[You’ll recall from previous postings that Jill is from Little Falls (the guys are from St. Cloud) . . .]

[She has three young kids: Henry, George, and Harper.  So, she likes older names.  Hmmm, I thought . . . Henry Moore?]

[This is a Henry Moore.  Taken by moi at the sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn Museum on the mall in Washington, D. C.  😉  ]

[We both had/have grandmothers named Evelyn.  I mentioned that my Evelyn once modeled for Dayton’s when she was a young teenager.  I couldn’t find the Minneapolis Tribune copy with her modeling photo in it (it’s in a box somewhere), but . . .]

[But here’s Granny with Dad, with a photo of them on the wall.  As I recall, she was 16 when Dad was born, so she was even younger when she was modeling.]

[Yup, she looked like a model.  🙂  ]

[We learned all that because all her kids are involved in hockey – even 4-year old Harper.]

[So, we were there all afternoon.  And interspersed between the photos are the six videos I shot during the day.  The place was packed, so, as usual, there is a hint of background noise.]

“Two Churches, No Bar”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHvEfZtMmxY

[Paul plays a few instruments . . .]

“Don’t Tell Your Mother What I’ve Done”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH2miFIMWjE

“My Love Will Keep”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UEoDHKBu1o

“Out of the Rain”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k__EeXlQBFw

“Helplessly Hoping”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtqia9VBfe8

“I Was Here”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_V5wPko80I

[The couple with Paul were “designated table holders.”  They came all the way from The Cities to do so.]

The big finale:

[Thanks, guys!]

[And the morning again . . .]

[And again.]

Back to the night before, we couldn’t just go home after eating on our “special day.”  So we decided to go to the boys’ basketball game, again with dozens of our close personal friends.  We had not been to a game all year, and we didn’t have to leave town.  The Cards have had a bit of an unorthodox season, but I had heard some good things about the team.  We started strong, then hit a stretch where we lost 6 of 7 games?  Going into this game against Moorhead, we were on a 6-game winning streak, including beating the Spuds at their place.  We got there in time to see a good bit of the JV and 9-grade (“B”?) games.  The Cards killed the Spuds in both games!  I wondered what was going on here?  It looks like we have a lot of athletes coming up.  They both played fast, up-tempo games – get it and go!  When the varsity came out, we noticed our usual lack of height – but we made up for it with a lack of bulk.  I thought both played a significant role in the final result.  [Our guest columnist photo is of Devyn Johnson.  How can you not feature a girl high school wrestler?  She’s a 106-pounder for Osakis, and she won her opening match in their section 16 – 1.  Wow!  Photo courtesy Echo Press.]

[We were also there as special guests of Mr. and Mrs. Boy Tenor, who just happen to be the parents of the referee.  🙂  ]

[John has actually refed several games here over the years, coming all the way from The Cities.]

[It’s airborne.  The gigantic Spud having the advantage over Chase Kohler (yup, better known as Kendall’s older brother).  🙂 ]

[Look out below!  Chase (43), is a 6’4″ senior.]

[Coming down.]

[Brandon Bistodeau (5), 6’2″ senior guard]

OK, we lost, 61 – 57.  We started fast, an early 18 – 7 lead.  I believe we had 13-point leads in both the 1st and 2nd halves.  We did this just like the girls do – score fast off of turnovers.  We basically have a team of five guards.  And that caught up with us later in the game.  We wore out.  The Spuds were bigger and stronger, dominated the boards, and by the end beat us from the free throw line – they made theirs, we kept leaving ours short, a true sign we had no legs left.  Oh, and they had a 6’3″ player who had a phenomenal 2nd half – I think he swished every 3 he attempted, and seemed to be able to drive to the basket for lay-ups at will.

[David Krivinak (33), 6’2″ senior guard]

[I believe he was conference player-of-the-week recently.]

[Did it?]

[Dee-fense!]

[Coach Forrest Witt in the background offering words of advice.]

[A 6’7″ Spud!]

[One of our guys.]

[Another big Spud!]

[But at the half, we were looking good.]

[At the half, the works of the students who will take care of us in the future were displayed.  🙂  ]

[Those in charge.]

[I labeled this one “the Freddie Cox” (OK, dating myself there).  It traveled all over the gym kicking “field goals.”]

[The young lady in the pink pants was intent on fielding every “kick.”]

[OK, back to work.]

[This one’s for mom and dad, sitting to my immediate left.]

[Brandon – gotta be volleyballer Kalley’s older brother?]

[Chase, though allegedly our center, seems to be mostly a 3-point shooter.  I bet he and Kendall have some good games of h-o-r-s-e.]

[This is what happened more and more at the end.  With mostly guards, we dribble a lot.  When you’re tired, you get stripped.]

[Joe Gorghuber (21), 6’3 senior.  I remember his older brother.  And we’ll see you again next time.]

p.s.  Did I mention that I’d recommend dietary supplements for the team consisting of bags of doughnuts washed down with pepperoni pizzas?   Oh, yeah, that’s my diet plan.  Never mind.

From the Cardinal Connection:The Alexandria Concert Choir was selected to perform in the 9^th Annual ACDA of Minnesota/Concordia University-St. Paul Choral Arts Finale on Sunday, April 6, 2014.

Selection for this prestigious event includes all travel expenses provided, a $500 award, commemorative plaque, an opportunity to work with nationally renowned Choral Conductor, Dr. Geoffrey Boers (University of Washington), and an opportunity for our students to perform in the newly renovated Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The choir auditioned by sending a recording in early January. Six choirs from around the state were selected to participate in the festival.

 [Lest you hadn’t heard, the most romantic restaurant in Minnesota.  Photo courtesy Echo Press.]

[Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!  Photo courtesy Echo Press.]

[Soon to be home.  Photo courtesy her website.]

Today, February 14th, is actually Valentine’s Day.  It’s also our anniversary.  Our lucky 13th anniversary.  According to Emily Post (or Betty Friedan, or someone?), the 13th is doilies.  We wish to thank you all for your greetings and well wishes.  Just remind me when it comes around again next year.

Curmudgeon quote of the post:  Romantic love is a mental illness.  But it’s a pleasurable one.  It’s a drug.  It distorts reality, and that’s the point of it.  I would be impossible to fall in love with someone that you really ‘saw.’ ~ Fran Lebowitz 

Special bonus coverage:

[The supervisor was pretty excited recently when it appears a couple of deer decided to bed down for the night in our front yard.]

[Or maybe they were just here to imbibe from our hose?]

[She does feed other critters of the winter.]

[These guys get popcorn on our lakeside deck.]

[Yesterday they had to search for it under the fresh snow.]

[If she forgets to feed them however . . .]

[They graffiti our house!]

When we walked into the RCC on Tuesday night, the first person we saw was Assistant Coach Ashley Holmes.  We asked how everyone was feeling about this section semi-final game against Detroit Lakes.  She replied, “A little nervous.”  To which I mumbled something to the effect that was good because it’s a tournament game.  The Cards were the No. 1 seed, DL was seeded 4th, and we beat them twice during the regular season – all the reasons to be a little nervous.  [Your guest columnist photo here are our nieces, Sophie and Jessica, of Stafford, Virginia.  They are basketball fans.  I have no idea why I put them in a hockey post?]

[Your 2013-14 Alexandria Cardinals . . .]

[And without all the “debris” around them.]

[The last game ever at the RCC for the four seniors:  Taylor Ellingson, Melissa Drown, Rachel Drew, and Taylor Bollman.]

[Dave, Bob, the coaches, and the refs – everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame.]

[A different angle on the team.]

[Little Rev fires one into the Lakers zone.]

I started the game, as I often do, with a video.  DL got a solo break-out early and scored on the first shot of the game.  That pretty much bagged the idea of a video.  As so often happens, DL did not score again until their last shot (I think) of the game (I have no idea if it’s true, so it’s just poetic license).

[Mari at the head of a Cardinal scrum at the DL goal.  No goal.]

[Little Rev readies to take on a Laker coming out from behind her goal.]

[The Laker goalie smothers another attempt.  No goal.]

[Mel’s close but the puck’s between her skates.]

[Karina and Nicole will be back as a pair next year, too . . . unless Nicole gets moved to forward.]

[Nicole holding point.]

[Mel, looks like Karina, and Micaela,]

[Now where’d that darn thing go?]

[Mel looking for a break at center ice.]

[And here she comes!]

[The fans rise in anticipation . . . ]

[The Lakers shut off her rush.]

[Now we’re in the 2nd period – down 1 – 0 from that first shot.]

[Looks like Hanah’s in front, can’t tell who has the puck?]

[Mari battles out front.]

[The puck’s still available.]

[That looks like Hanah moving in, Rachel has her back.]

[Mari’s on the far side post.]

[The shot . . .]

[No goal.]

[We had many such opportunities  in the game – odd man rushes, solos in alone – sometimes you just have to tip you hat to the opposition goalie.  She kept keeping us off the board.  ]

[The play continued into a rush hour traffic situation with minor fender benders.]

[Mel’s at point-blank range.]

[Still, no goal.]

[Arrgghhh, the puck’s making a getaway again.]

[Here we come again!  (Yeah, I know, Dave Clark Five. )]

[Mari, Rachel, and Hanah]

[Micaela joins the party.]

[No goal.]

[And the puck scurries away again.  Uffda!]

And yet another super sequence of Melissa:

[Mel’s in a on a solo . . .]

[Of course, we all rise in anticipation . . . ]

[The set-up . . . ]

[Looking for the opening . . . ]

[Here it comes . . . ]

[Looks like she’s selected glove-side top . . .]

[And it’s away . . .]

[Ohhhh, off the goalie’s shoulder . . . ]

[We expect Mel to score every time in these situations . . . ]

[But of course nobody can.  Kudos again to the Laker goalie.]

[Mel, Micaela, and Nicole on attack again.]

[The front of goal scrum!]

[No goal.]

[Mel and Mari ready for face-off in the offensive zone.]

[Little Rev and Lauren, a pair for the next two years.]

[??????]

[I see the puck!]

[No goal.]

Viewing reminder:  You can double click on any photo to make it full screen size.  For the photos on this end of the ice (our offensive zone in the 2nd period), it’s fun to watch the expressions on the faces of the Cardinals-of-the-future behind the glass.  They’re watching their role models.  Gotta love it.

[“The Boys in the Booth”]

[Taylor had to be an assistant coach for this game . . .]

[And again for the section championship.  I think she’ll be available if we make state.]

[We’re still down 1 – 0 as the 3rd period begins.]

[Our front line has gotten behind theirs.]

[Face-off in their zone, time to make a move!]

[Micaela begins from center ice . . .]

[Into the zone . . .]

[Go, Micaela!]

[Mel, Micaela, and Kaila coming in again.]

[Front net action . . . ]

[I see the puck right in front!]

[Finally!!  Mel said enough is enough and tied it up.]

[We’re halfway through the final period and that’s Melissa time.]

[OK, we finally cracked the safe.  Now let’s get another one.]

[We’re in again!]

[Mel w/ Micaela on the draw.]

[We kept it in . . .]

[Then Melissa continued her special senior year as she virtually carried two defenders to the net and still got off a scoring shot.  If Mel gets one goal, she always gets two . . .    ]

[We finally have the lead for the first time.  Oh, did you notice?  They finally give the ladies goal judges when the tournament starts.  Love to see the red light come on!]

[The ref points, “Yup, it’s a goal.”]

[Way to go, Mel!!]

[And now a really sweet one . . . and the game winner.]

[The other senior on the ice this night was Rachel.]

[She carried the puck in fending off two defenders . . .]

[She got to the goal and shot a backhander – it was blocked but she stuck with it and backhanded in the rebound!  Great goal!]

[And then she fell on her babushka (in this case, not meaning her Russian grandmother).]

[The bench was delighted!]

[After scoring no goals for 2 1/2 periods, we now had 3 in a matter of minutes.]

[But even then we weren’t done (yeah, it’s blurry?)]

[Mel put a pass across the front of the goal to Kaila on the far side, who promptly tapped it in!]

[GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!  It was now 4 – 1 – game over!]

[Yeah, they scored on a blueline slapshot in the final minute to make the score 4 – 2.]

So now it’s off to the section final, Friday night at the MAC in St. Cloud, where once again the opponent will be Fergus Falls.

Curmudgeon quote of the post:  By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll be happy.  If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.  ~ Socrates

– the flakes drifted down lazy and white like dandelion fluff.  The out-doors felt cozy, the air scrubbed clean by ice crystal ions, all sound muffled in soft white snow . . .

It was currently six below, not counting the windchill . . . Plus, this was Minnesota.  If the temperature topped zero in January, we referred to it as a “warm snap.”  I didn’t expect to see above-freezing temps until March.  That was fine be me – winter is a magical season, if you have the heart for it.  ~ Mira James speaking in January Thaw, Jess Lourey’s recent murder-by-month mystery novel, p. 1-2.

Editor’s note:  Snowbirds love hearing about our weather, so let’s oblige!  😉  The top photo is our stairwell down to the lake.  Lotsa luck getting there . . . maybe by hang glider.  This winter will not be a record setter – lots of colder ones in the 1800’s (I believe Crazy remembers those days).  But we are currently – when I say we, it’s what we get from Twin Cities TV – in about a 3-week straight stretch of daily sub-zero temperatures.   And by Wednesday, when they’re finally forecasting “normal” temps (in the 20’s), the Cities will have had 46 days this winter season with sub-zero temperatures.  As a local wag said, add 10 more days to that for Alex.  I know those who don’t live here can’t believe you adjust.  A couple of days ago I went to the gym at sunrise and it was 14 below – I thought not bad, there was no wind.  Unbelievably, however, we’re currently in a stretch of a week without snow – that’s by far the longest stretch this season.  But always remember, for you older folks out there, doesn’t matter where you live you still spend 95 per cent of your time inside – and if you live where it’s 100 degrees all summer, you don’t go out much then either.  As I’ve always babbled, air conditioning changed the demographics of the entire world.  But this posting is all about . . . California Dreamin’, as I recall.  🙂

[It’s now January 2 (yeah, I know, I’m getting way behind)  and here’s the quintessential California photo op – a lifeguard tower on a beach.  I expected to see Sam Elliott and Anne Archer come strolling down the beach in Lifeguard (pretty good B movie in 1976).]

[This was probably my favorite sight-seeing day.  Just head to the Coast Highway and go north.  And in the morning, we could enjoy the marine layer.  On this day, however, the marine layer hung around most of the day.  I love the marine layer!  🙂   ]

[FAA grounded all avians because of the limited visibility.]

[So this is where we were,  a tad south of Laguna Beach.]

[Ocean front property for those making slightly more than minimum wage.]

[Families waiting for the burn-off that never happened.]

[From out of the gloaming comes . . . The Attack of the Killer Palm Trees!]

[No rain here since 1945, but the marine layer laid some puddles on the sidewalks.]

[The kind of place Sherlock Holmes would admire.]

[Houses with an ocean view.]

[We did have a destination in mind.  We just didn’t know where to park.  We left the car at Aliso Beach and walked up the Coast Highway.  Often times on the Coast Highway, dodging BMW convertibles, in areas where there was no sidewalk.]

[The Biddies ISO . . .  whatever.]

[Pretty flowers (personal assessment).]

[Looking back at whence we came – still gloaming back there.]

[Looking ahead.  This may be hard to believe (it was for us) but this (and four previous) is a county park.  I can be done with a mere sprinkling of $$$$.  A squadron of pelicans does a fly-over.]]

[This is nice!  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – The Biddies know “nice.”]

[This is nice.   If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – I know “nice.”]

[Describing “nice,” above.]

[And The Biddies are off again, heading for the quarter pole.]

[Kinda like our view of beautiful Lake Darling.]

[This beach was made for walking . . . ]

[The Biddies forge ahead, our destination in sight.]

[The beginning of Montage Laguna Beach, a luxury resort hotel complex.  I could stay here.]

[Just for the walking views.]

[The main lodge.]

[Their stairway to the beach (unlike those on beautiful Lake Darling, not covered by snow over the railings).]

[Those pretty red flowers again . . . I believe their scientific name is “pretty red flower.”]

[Loverly!]

[Overlook ahead.]

[Still part of the resort.]

[Again, looking back at whence we came.]

[Remember, this is all a county park!]

[The Biddies went down here.  I didn’t want to get sand in my shoes.]

[The California hide-out for the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.]

[Loverly, part deux.]

[We’ll get to the overlook soon.  And then we’ll see what we’re overlooking.]

[Curling is on the Olympics right now.  Ooops, getting my story lines confused.]

[Overlook, at last!]

[This was an interesting surprise to come upon in the overlook . . . ]

[I, obviously, was willing to lead a search party to find the owner of the misplaced garment.  In the cool of the marine layer morning, she could catch a death of cold!]

[Yeah, I like this one too.]

[We’re down!]

[A paddle surfboarder.]

[The Biddies go exploring.]

[A daughter’s first beach photo shoot.]

[Too cute!]

[All I can see is fog?]

The following seven photos are submitted courtesy of the supervisor:

[Tide level.]

[Beachcombers]

[The Hole-in-the-Wall from sea level.]

[MASTER OF ALL HE SURVEYS!]

[So he keeps on surveying!]

[“Reets” and me!]

[A plant . . . a red one, I believe!  Thanks supervisor for these contributions.  🙂  ]

[OK, where’d the ocean go?]

[One of the “limp” plants?]

[“Reets” beats me back to “Voyager.”]

[She’s a cutie!]

[Let’s get some more pictures of that.]

[A different angle looking back over the ocean.]

[Another “limper.”]

[Bird of Paradise]

[redux]

[For the diary, walking back to Aliso Beach, the supervisor liked these garage doors.]

[Ocean air is salty – beat the rust with a stainless steel house!]

[The hills still covered by the marine layer.]

[Back to Aliso Beach.]

[By accident, the sea gull made the photo.]

[Still in the gloaming on the beach.  But I’m a guy who loves light jacket weather.  🙂 ]

[On to San Juan Capistrano.  You’re inland a bit here, so we were out of the marine layer.]

[I had been here before; I believe “Reets” had too.  The supervisor said she had been to hundreds of other missions, so going in wasn’t a necessity.  We thought the entry price exorbitant . . .]

[So, walking back to the car, I stuck my camera over the wall and shot blindly . . . ]

[Had pretty good luck, too.  😉  ]

[Then it was on to Dana Point, just a couple miles to the west of Capistrano.]

[Dana Point is named for Richard Henry Dana, Jr., author of Two Years Before the Mast, and this is a replica of his ship, Pilgrim.]

[The beach, in the harbor.]

[The harbor]

[The ubiquitous California houses on the hill.]

[The Biddies study up local lore.]

[Paddleboarding to the breakwater.]

[Welcome back, marine layer.]

[The point in Dana Point.]

[It was getting all Londony again.]

[Head on with the point.]

[We’ll go up here soon.]

[The Ocean Institute – we were going to take the tour but were running out of time.]

[The Biddies plot strategy.]

[We some how all got lost from each other here?]

[That’s where to the tour would have been.]

[Back to the Pilgrim.]

[We’ve now driven up to the top of the point . . .]

[Looks like there’s an overlook out there . . .]

[Wending my way . . .]

[On the trail . . . ]

[Whoa! . . . ]

[Loved it out here . . . ]

[I could have spent a lot of time here . . . ]

[But we were running out of daylight . . . ]

[Still, there’s nothing cooler than gloaming shots . . . ]

[This guy apparently had been out here for quite a while, setting up the perfect photo(s).]

[Three other people came as I was leaving.  I was really surprised by the lack of photographers out here?]

[Fire away, ladies.  The end of a perfectly lovely vacation day.]

Curmudgeon quote of the post:  When you’re in love it’s the most glorious two-and-a-half days of your life.  ~  Richard Lewis

 Girls hockey sections begin tonight!