[“Stuffed like a can of sardines” came to mind . . . ]
[I gathered you here today because . . . ]
[Nicole and theatre board president, Fred Bursch, prepare for opening remarks, while Erik Schultz tickles his strings in the background . . . ]
[Party on . . . ]
[And now, anouncing the new season . . . ]
[Good ones coming, seeking a couple more!]
[And the Super adds hers . . . ]
[My applogies to Nicole and Fred . . . ]
Later that evening . . .
[It was a doubleheader hockey night – the girls won their game first. This would be my first look at the boys team, also expecting a superior season . . . ]
[But as you can see above, the result was obvious early. Some of the “boys on the rail” left then, a non-competitive game, and had probably seen a good part of the girls’ game.]
[I believe this was a score by Andrew Revering (2), sophomore defenseman, in the 2nd period. I was sitting with his parents then, who also happen to be the parents of last year’s all-state tournament player, McKenzie, now in her freshman scholarship year at UMD.]
[The final score was 12 – 2.]
[And the very next day, the Boys of ’65 visited Melby Outpost for our monthly lunch . . . ]
[And Uncle Mo enjoying the seasonal weather in Washington, D. C. (I believe sister Gretch employing her first time ever smart phone).]
Because you just can’t get this any place else . . .
November 29
Bradley buys a new TV, brings it to his mad scientist lair, and I get my first ever cell phone because the Super killed our landline . . .
November 30
Class of ’65 fine dining event; this month at Fat Daddy’s . . .
December 1
“Annie” at the Andria. The Super gives it a big thumbs up. We unwittingly arrived a half hour early so strolled a bit on Broadway . . .
December 2
Let’s drive out to the winery . . .
[At the winery with Paul Drinkwine . . . ]
[The Super getting her “Missing U at . . . ” photos . . . ]
[‘Tis the season!]
A song of the season . . .
[So let’s be jolly!]
[The sun sinks, to be seen again on the following morning.]
[The old wagon has a certain presents at this time of year.]
[Because the Super likes mooses – one without flash, one with, to be donated to the “Save the Mooses Fund.” The moose, incidentally, is the one on the left.]
[The Super’s flag pole adorned with a seasonal flag, soon to be changed.]
[Enough outdoor decorating for this year.]
But it’s only a Super Moon . . .
[When an afternoon at the winery just isn’t enough . . . ]
[Because it’s time for the Cheese Bots at the Garden Bar on 6th . . . ]
[And a good time was had by all!]
The crisp path through the field in this December snow, in the deep dark, where we trod the buried grass like ghosts on dry toast. ~ Dylan Thomas
Up Next: I think there’s some games and stuff . . .
For reasons that will only become clear in mid-January (likely), we will not be able to produce a timely Merry Christmas (no “war on” here!) blog this year. I know a number of you may endure miniscule hardships as a result . . . my apologies. In lieu thereof, the Christmas letter of 1990 was significant in that there were major family events . . . and it was the first year I shamelessly pilfered Dave Barry’s Year-in-Review format:
1990 HOLIDAY YEAR IN REVIEW
January 1 – The new year begins and I refuse to go near a scale.
February – Temperatures far above normal – an abnormal warming trend that meteorologists claim is the result of pent-up desires of a record number of golfers eager to return to the links.
March 24 – April 4 – Aunt Pearl and Uncle Ted host Ruth and me in Colorado for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Ruth and Ted ski; being of allegedly sound mind and body, I sit in the safe and warm comfiness of the lodge and contemplate more serious matters.
April 9 – We grieve the loss of Uncle Dick, a lifelong joy to family and friends. We are heartened that he was able to return to his beloved Minnesota and, as the world’s No. 1 sports fan, see his Golden Gophers come within one shot of going to the Final Four shortly before he died.
May 1 – A Hallmark holiday without much meaning for those long since graduated from elementary school.
June 21 – Katy, Karen, and Cam [pre-Michael John] move back to Minnesota – the state subsequently succumbed to political weirdness as the fall elections approached!
July 4 – Chris sends Jessica to bail out leaking boat.
July 5 – Chris sends Nich to bail out leaking boat.
July 6 – Chris sends Janet to bail out leaking boat.
July 7 – Chris shoots leaking boat.
July 27 – Ruth drops several carloads of clothes at Rose McMullen’s new consignment shop – becomes independently wealthy in a matter of weeks.
August 4 – 10 – Resorters Golf Tournament in Alexandria where I totally embarrass myself and Cam gets blitzed by a 14-year old. Cousin Barb saves family face by capturing the women’s title.
August 17 – 19 – 25th High School Class Reunion and I’m obviously (as everyone else also thought) the youngest looking person there!
August 20 – Natalia relieved that the run of summer guests is finally over. But as we all know, THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR LIVING ON A LAKE IN MINNESOTA (or, “Minnesota, My Minnesota,” the state anthem)!
August 31 – Gretchen (“I’ll never get married!”) gets married! What else can one say? – Welcome to the family, Mohamed.
October 13 – On a hot, muggy day, the Mavericks win 5 softball games in a row for the severely aging team’s first championship in three years. Several muscles are pulled in the ensuing celebration.
October 20 – Basketball Dan and Pam arrive from New Jersey for a bike trip to Mount Vernon. No serious injuries are reported.
October 21 – At long last Basketball Dan is taken for his dream meal at the Cozy Inn (a rustic country inn?) in Thurmont (Camp David), Maryland. He discovers a touristy, pig-out joint and promises never to forgive me.
October 25 – 27 – Fishing trip to the Outer Banks is cut short by a nor’easter which collapses the Oregon Inlet Bridge – one can only bowl so many games.
November 7 – Newt Gingrich wins reelection by .6% – claims national mandate. [Well,she turned me into a newt!]
November 21 – For the first time in memory (?), I arrive at work and discover and find that my underwear is on inside out. Yet another sign of creeping senility [Editorialcomment: And that was 17 years ago!]
November 27 – USA Today makes my day by headlining that “thinning hair is in.”
December 3 – The Government announces further, in a continuing series of, hiring freezes. The youngest remaining bureaucrat allegedly is eligible to retire within three years.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR
It really was quite a year! (All photos were subsequently added strictly for purposes of this blog.)
We end this missive, as usual, with Lisa . . .
Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. You know, the birth of Santa? ~ Matt Groening
[The day began with a strong wind continuing to create open water on Lake Darling.]
[By evening, game time – pick up Brad and head for the high school. We saw most of the 2nd half of the JV’s victory.]
[And now meet the 2017-18 edition of the Cardinal girls basketball team. It’s brand spanking new because we graduated 11 players, including the starting 5, off last year’s state tournament team.]
[Kohler shares some pre-game moments with the Big Lake coach.]
[The classic lay-up drill . . . ]
[OK, ladies, here’s the plan . . . ]
[Whenever they have the ball, just steal it from them!]
[The ref is making sure nothing nefarious is going on here.]
[Ms. Duwenhoegger is ready for the jump . . . ]
[She won it, but the Hornets came away with the ball.]
[The Cardinals’ signature “D” . . . ]
[Courtney gets a freebie . . . ]
[Kaye starts a drive . . . ]
[Her defender, No. 30, is a D1 recruit.]
[A truly focused ref . . . ]
[Courtney’s in a crowd . . . Christmas shopping?]
[Clean-up on aisle 3!!]
[Kohler signals . . . something?]
[Nooo, over there!]
[Where’d the ball go?]
[Oh, there it is!]
[Kaye setting the offense . . . ]
[Ella chases a Hornet . . . ]
[In stealth defensive mode, she hides behind her guardee . . . ]
[In a half that seemed every Hornet shot went in, we fought back from being 13 down at one point to only trail by 5 at the half.]
[The flow began to change when we put the 5’11” Emma at the point of the defense . . . ]
[Making it difficult for the Hornets to get the ball past the top of the key . . . ]
[And we started getting more aggressive offensively . . . ]
[Getting to the free throw line . . . ]
[McKenzie here . . . ]
[We actually got the lead at 36-35. But just as suddenly, the Hornets hit a bunch of 3’s again and opened up another 10-point lead. It looked bleak for the Cards with only about 4 minutes left in the game. But this trio of sophomore guard Mia McGrane (5), Kaye, and Ella lead an amazing defensive charge . . . ]
[Kohler blew the dust off the ole 1-3-1 trap, and Cards kept getting steals and either scoring or getting to the foul line. Ella here . . . ]
[Ella finished with 14 points and 8 boards . . . ]
[Mia closed it out with a couple of free throws, and a game leading 15 points, as the Cards picked up a historic victory for Kohler.]
[Yay, coach!!!]
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds. ~ Wilt Chamberlain
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