alexandriacardinals

[Carlos Creek Winery, February 1]

[The supervisor]

[Anthony Miltich]

“Same Auld Lang Syne”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1_fScB2j2g&list=UUDt6CCFM-8cxXEwOQhEwkiA&feature=c4-overview

We arrived at 2:00 and were getting ready to leave at 4:00.  Then Deb and Paul Trumm came in – so we stayed until 6:00.  Worked out great, because the last hour with Anthony was about as much fun as we’ve had out there with performer-audience interaction.  🙂

[And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar . . . And that’s when the supervisor rushes up and does it!  🙂  ]

[The neighborhood, January 28, two days after the weekend blizzard.]

[It was 18 below zero.  I was coming home from the gym @ 9:00 am.  I was wearing a fall weight jacket and t-shirt.  I was good for a couple of minutes.  If I could have just stood there for about 20 minutes, I would have burned enough calories to maintain core body temperature to lose 10 pounds.]

[Taking out the garbage, January 27, wind chill minus 44.]

[If I’m not back within a half hour, send the St. Bernard with the cask of brandy!]

[That afternoon our neighbor Arnie came with his Bobcat to dig us out.  He said he didn’t think he’d come out on this day – it was still minus 18.]

[The supervisor said her eye lashes kept freezing together.]

[January 22]

[January 19]

The local paper said we dropped below zero on 22 days in January (I would have thought more?), with 7 days minus 20 or colder.  The Twin Cities (generally 5 degrees warmer than Alex) have had 31 days below zero for the season.  With the forecast of below zero temps for the next 6 days, we are approaching the all-time season record of 40 days below zero.

[I think it appropriate we begin here.  Karly “tickles the twine,” the first of her back-to-back made free throws early . . . in 2nd half.  Karly sparked the Cards in that half when we pulled away from the upstart ‘Streeters.  And for a little basketball lore, “tickles the twine” is an original of legendary Big 5 announcer, Les Keiter.  I’m sure you all remember him?]

The Sauk Centre Mainstreeters came to town Saturday night.  Now the ‘Streeters are only a class AA school (Alex is class AAA), but they have been a power in their class the last several years (state tournament trip type stuff) and are again this year – their only loss coming against class AAA Albany,  who were undefeated until their last game.  So, the Cards knew they had to be on their game.  And before it started, fellow Super Fan and classmate, Ruth Helie Anderson, came over and told us that Sauk Centre had an unstoppable 8th-grader on their JV team who would likely play in the varsity game as well.  We looked up her name on the roster – Kelsey Peschel.   I remembered that name – their recent state tournament teams had a Peschel who went on to play Division 1 basketball at Iowa, where she is now a sophomore.  Kelsey now is 5’5″, but her big sister I believe is 6’1″ so she may have a growth spurt ahead yet.  Ruth was right – Kelsey played a lot in the varsity game, and she is very talented, but it’s a little different playing against the varsity rather than the JV.  We stole the ball from her often when she attempted to dribble through traffic. [Today’s guest photos are on loan from Brittney Bruzek’s Facebook page.  That’s Brittney on the right, sister Gracie on the left, and the last Bruzek sister, Sarah, is a starter on the basketball team.  All three were multi-sport athletes for the Cards.]

[Let’s do warm-ups!  Karly, Amanda C, and Kendall having the times of their lives.]

[Macy, Emily, Karly, and Cheyenne (who so far gets “most improved” for her play as the back-up center)]

[Ponytails!]

[Jaylen]

[Kendall]

[Karly on the line, which proved fruitful as noted by the opening photo.]

[The first of a 3-photo sequence of Amanda C.]

[I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say she’s a great shooter . . .]

[Her 3-point and free throw shooting percentages say so.  She missed a free throw in this game.  There was an audible gasp from the assembled masses.  In the start-of-game video, coming up soon, Amanda twice had catch and shoot while on the move 3’s and made both of them.]

[The scrum, or the area of the court in warm-ups where one is likely to take a couple off the noggin.]

[Amanda C again – hard not to watch a master craftsman.]

[Swish!]

[The heir apparent.  Kendall appears posed to assume the mantle of the long range shooter.]

[Though still just a freshman, seems to prefer 3’s from the NBA line!  😉  ]

[Macy, also a freshman, appears poised to be lead ball handler for several years.]

[Amanda G]

[Macy]

[Intros . . .]

[Kendall is the greeter.]

[Here comes Amanda C . . .]

[The choreography . . .]

[Macy]

[That’s Macy’s mom, and ass’t coach, Julie, in the background.]

[Sarah (see her sisters above), preparing to launch . . .]

[We have ignition!]

[Karly . . .]

[And ignition!]

[And Brooke]

[Boom shakalaka . . .]

[Macy’s and Kendall’s moms . . .]

[A/k/a, the coaches]

The jump ball and first 6 minutes of the game are in the following video.  There are turnovers – it happens when both teams are fast paced and pressing: 

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

[Brooke on a baseline jumper.]

[(I hope Kendall doesn’t trip over my feet.)]

[(OK, I’ll back up a bit.)]

[Kendall makes a break away from my feet.]

[The ‘Streeters attempt to take it into the teeth of . . . Karly!]

[Enter the Karly zone at your own risk.]

[She’s hiding in plain sight between the two ‘Streeter guards.]

[Huddle up.]

[The old pro and the kid.  An indication of passing the torch for next year?]

[Liked it enough I sent it to the head coach.]

[Or maybe this was the one?]

[Karly]

[Good!]

[Do it again?]

[Yeah, it was close.  Kohler acknowledged it would be when we came out in a man-to-man defense, instead of the usual 1-3-1.  If a team can pass against the 1-3-1, and shoot 3’s, it can be beat.  The Mainstreeters could better than most teams.]

[The 2nd half was Karly time.  Here she’s at the line where she made the first free throw – the first photo in this story . . .]

[Then she made the 2nd one.]

[Kendall attempting her version of Karly mayhem.]

[Yup, the field goal kick is a move practiced by all at the head of the 1-3-1.]

[It was nice to have Amanda G’s length back in there (she was in civvies our last game).  Plus, I think she’s one of our best rebounders, and we’ve been having issues in that regard.]

[Defense concentration.]

[The bane of photographers when you pass your camera past the light show that is the scorer’s table.  Almost looks like they dimmed the lights.]

[OK, I think we’re wearing them out by making them shoot so many free throws!  In the 2nd half, the ‘Streeters only made three baskets from the floor.]

[The Karly whirlwind sees Kendall underneath.]

[So, how did Kendall end up shooting a 3?  😉  ]

[Now to the D.]

[Also learning to be as expressive as Amanda C.]

[Ms Automatic.  🙂  ]

[Again . . .]

[Macy]

[And again.  With our lead, the ‘Streeters were fouling.  We’re a pretty good free throw shooting team.]

[Brooke readies for her turn . . .]

[The set . . .]

[And the release . . . GAME OVER!  🙂  ]

Next:  More California, a hockey game in the can, another basketball game tonight?]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[I sacked in on New Year’s Eve.  It was Rita’s birthday in San Marcos.  Undoubtedly it would be party, party, party all day long.  And we were still recovering from the long flight from Indianapolis.]

[Local creatures were up and about next door on Lake San Marcos.  It appears to be a fine selection of cormorants, mallards, egrets, herons, and coots (in the water).  California has always been noted for its diversity.]

[The birthday girl was up and about on her deck porch.   Hello, Charles Schwab?  My sister and brother-on-law are here, and they expect to be ferried all over Southern California the next two weeks.  I just want to make sure my investments can cover that? ]

[We went exploring that first morning.  We actually beat the Tom-Tom in finding Dangerous Dan’s old place . . .]

[Which just happened to be on the other side of Lake San Marcos from where we were.  Regular readers of the blog are aware that Dangerous Dan is one of the lead character actors of this venue.]

[Recent photo of Dangerous Dan with the supervisor.]

[Then it was on to one of “my” restaurants . . . ]

[Which are known far and wide through out the area.]

[But ultimately, of course, California is about going to the beach . . .]

[So here are The Biddies at what we later learned was South Carlsbad State Park, a/k/a Ponto Beach, which was about 12 miles straight west from where we were in San Marcos.]

[Surfer dudes (and dudettes?)]

[Do we have a tan yet?]

[Did we get a tan since the previous photo?]

[Well, if we’re not tan yet, we’re going to the tanning booth!]

[Is that a tanning booth?]

[A beach flower – purple, I believe.]

[A body of water comparable to the chain of lakes.]

[Either a beach rock formation . . . or a Henry Moore sculpture?]

[Give me back our Moby Obie and we’ll show these guys how to really surf!  As a diplomaed geographer, it behooves me to point out that surfers in California wear wet suits because that water is cold.  The California current flows down from the north bringing the cooler water with it.  And that’s why Southern California is also known for its marine layer, a usually morning fog as a result of the cool air over the water meeting the warmer air of the land.  I’m sure you already knew that . . . but just in case.]

[Let’s go surfin’ now, everybody’s learning how . . .]

[Another cluster of Happy Birthday wishes!  Watch that cliff, Rita!]

[Beachcombers!]

[A/k/a, the Pacific Coast Highway]

[Not wanting to over do sun exposure that first day, here we are crossing the Lake San Marcos bride on the way back to our “home” on the east side.]

[A low flying egret over the lake.  At that altitude, the FAA generally requires flashing lights.]

[It turns out part of Rita’s rental contract included catering to other house “guests.”]

[On second thought, we didn’t get enough sun . . . and it’s wine time!]

[So, a little song, a little dance, a little seltzer, down your pants!]

[Rental Sweet Rental]

[Obviously, we’re on a pontoon ride around the lake, courtesy of Rita’s landlord.  🙂  ]

[Egret ]

[Ornamental grass (?) in the wild, likely a gift from some birds.]

[The dam at the end of the man-made lake.]

[It’s a 40-foot drop on the other side.  Damn!  Lotsa houses on hillsides where they occasionally come down the hill in a mudslide.]

[The Biddies and Beth as we’ve turned around heading for home.  As you’ve noticed, it’s not a big lake but it is still wild at this end.]

[Well, I guess it’s not really buildable on the right side . . . ]

[Egret and coot (not to be confused with the 4 coots on the pontoon.]

[Approaching civilization again.]

[The cormorant tree at sundown . . . ]

[The contrail provided at no extra cost.]

[I guess this is their bedroom?]

[Have a good evening you solid-boned diving ducks.]

[Oh, you’re still here.  Well, I really liked these shots.  🙂  ]

[Back to the house.]

[James, the landlord from Joisey, at the helm.]

[Ahead on the left is the resort complex, under renovation.  And on the right is the bridge we crossed a few photos back.]

[A white swan, who has friends, who calls the lake home.]

[Heron]

[Cormorants drying in the sun.]

[One is stretching its wings to dry.]

[We will later go up to the “mountain tops” overlooking the lake . . . and the ocean.]

[The lake has 4 black swans, who are fed of course by the locals.]

[Rita and her New Year’s Eve birthday gift of Schramsberg blanc de noir . . .   ]

[And the supervisor’s New Year’s Day birthday gift of blanc de blanc.   I think we all preferred the blanc de blanc.]

[Many thanks again, Rita!  We had a great time!  And remember now when you’re out driving around with Scott and Vicki, be sure to keep an eye out for those big ass trucks!  😉   ]

Up next:  Lots more California, and a girls’ basketball game is in the queue.

[The blizzard sun, late this afternoon.]

Two things are necessary: provisions and reading material.   Well, we’ve obviously had a lot of practice this year.  Today is Sunday, a blizzard was predicted, it arrived beginning last night as we ventured home after the girls’ basketball game (to be posted).  As I write this, Interstate 94 between Alex and Moorhead is closed.  That’s always a given with these things as the prairie winds turn the roadways into whiteouts of blowing snow.  The AAAA theatre’s matinee performance of “Alice in Wonderland” was postponed.  This morning, our neighbor Arnie came over with his Bobcat and cleaned out our driveway, mostly from the drifting.  This afternoon we heard that our friends from Fort Wayne, who kind of last second (after much prodding from us) decided to go visit Rita in her San Diego rental, were delayed leaving Fort Wayne because of  the weather and missed their connection in Detroit.  As of this hour, we not sure when they expect to get to San Diego?  [Editor’s note:  This week’s columnist photo is courtesy of brother Cam.  It’s the Obert family at Christmas in 1978, and I appear to be having issues with my nasal passages.]

Regarding reading material, we had the good fortune to have a doubleheader on Friday. Two of our favorite writers were in town, returning to the place where they once each lived.  On Friday, Jess Lourey was at Cherry Street Books debuting the most recent of her murder-by-month mysteries, January Thaw:

We always enjoy our visits with Jess and look forward to delving into the latest adventures of Mira and Mrs. Berns!  🙂

Then we thought we were meeting Jo Colvin, past reporter for the Echo Press, at SAWA that evening.  She wasn’t there?  The supervisor posted a “Jo, where R U?” on  Facebook, but we thought maybe she didn’t come up from The Cities because of the weather.  Then about 9:00 she came in with daughter Brianna and friends saying she was going to meet us Saturday night (I had the wrong day, of course).  But it worked out.  Jo had been at Bella’s celebrating Brianna’s birthday with her friends, saw our post, and walked around the corner.  And because of the weather, she was going back to The Cities on Saturday:

We were reminded about getting provisions on Saturday morning by a couple obviously doing the same from our lakeside cottonwood tree:

Then today we basically decided we weren’t going anywhere.  I ventured out in mid-morning to get the newspaper and plot a trail course for Monday morning.  Dangerous wind chills are forecast for tomorrow but our trash company says they’re like the Postal Service – they never miss a regular collection day.  So, in the morning, in the dark, I’ll have to schlepp the garbage can and the over-sized recycling can through the snowdrifts out to the end of the driveway.  I suspect most places will be closed tomorrow.  Here’s the gathered reading material obtained over the holidays:

But before I could begin, there was this Ole Slushball weather report:

Ole Slushball’s video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WutDLVYUEsM

Now back to the reading material:

A final good-bye to the blizzard of Sunday, January 26.

Curmudgeon quote of the day:  A bachelor never quite gets over the idea that he is a thing of beauty and a boy forever.  ~  Helen Rowland  [Editor’s note:  Works for me.]