alexandriacardinals

The annual Christmas Concert by the high school orchestra and choirs took place last Sunday.  I’ve come to think of it as the local event of the year as Brad Lambrecht, orchestra; Steve Deitz, choir; and Bob Hines, narration, do a marvelous job of arranging and choreographing this major production, as it seems every student in the school participates in one or the other.  There are 8 videos dispursed herein.

The concert opening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcWxSFvFq1I

I was going to include this concert on the “Christmas Card,” but the card was getting a tad long (in the immortal words of brother Cam, “Duh, d’ya think?”).

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HGE5cr1ajg

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtEAYs5hlpA

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxu4i73Uwko

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i88ybvFcF2U

And the very next night, a 5-course Christmas dinner at the place Where everyone knows your name!  😉

[Introductions by the wine guy, Pete of Paustis Wines in St. Cloud, to a full and happy house.]

[The supervisor displays the first course.  She’s not really a shrimper, so I got about half of hers too!  🙂  ]

[Happily displaying course 2, I had never had smoked duck before so it was a leading contender for the desire to attend.  Unlike most “new” things, it didn’t taste like chicken – it tasted like ham.  And it was a substantial portion – we were pretty much full with three courses to go.  Nevertheless, I never felt the need to say, “I’d like to return this duck.”]

[Three medallions each – uffda!  They were each a substantial filet – wonderfully delicious, but we had to box up three to take home.  And oy, the au gratin potatoes – to die for!  🙂  ]

[Then for the 3rd day in a row, we were entertained by the Jefferson High School Carolers.  We were now on a first name basis with many of them.  😉  We were advised by a source, who is a roadie for the group, that this was their 49th performance of the season!]

The Carolers:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaqDasTek_4

Part II:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw603uAwVKA

And Part III:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtS5bV-t2Tk

Thank you Steve Deitz . . . and the source!

[Then it was time for the cheese course (I  had loosened my belt a notch by then).  If only “Weakie” had attended, he would have finally attained Alexandria “A List” status.  😉  ]

[The dessert course made the supervisor swoon . . .]

[The chocolate fruit cake was fabulous!  And the ice wine was a dessert all by itself.]

[Probably because of our seating location, in the niche where the talent usually performs, I finally noticed the sign on the building across the street.  It’s also the name of a famous colonial style restaurant in Leesburg, Virginia – a place oft sought on Basketball Dan’s multiple forays into the nation’s capital.  A highly recommended dining experience.]

[We left under the glow of the city’s Christmas lights.  🙂  ]

[The kids and grandson arrive early in the morning.  We’ll leave a light on for them!  🙂  (Shot with my Honeywell Pentax, 35mm, SLR, with a macro lens on Okinawa in 1971.)]

[MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012!  OK, this is from last year.  Christmas for this year hasn’t arrived yet.]

For reasons totally within our control, we have decided to join Newsweek and go paperless this year.  We have trepidations.  We know it’s the green thing to do – save a tree and transportation costs, et al, but also know it hurts an already hurting Minnesota paper industry and the postal service.  But life is a compromise – except for the United States Congress.

There are extenuating circumstances.  Our antique computer printer has taken to crimping the left lead corner of the paper as it passes through.  We refuse to send an inferior product.  Ron’s Warehouse was out of envelopes.  Our Forever postage stamps reached forever and thus expired – it’s the first time that’s been known to happen?  And we got tired of the paper cuts – older Minnesota skin becomes drier and more brittle at this time of year.

[The supervisor’s Christmas tree, this year.  🙂 ]

[In keeping with the spirit of the season, here’s our other “daughter” (see “This Week in Music” herein), Lisa Lynn, performing at SAWA on December 15.  She presents our lead-off Christmas song below.]

“Merry Christmas, Darling”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJjwYD5MLjM

Lisa was in her 6th hour of performing that day – she had done three hours earlier at a grocery store in Little Falls where she had to play in fingerless gloves because they stationed her in the frozen food section.  Then she came to SAWA from her home in St. Joseph (an hour drive from Alex) on a bad weather night when most Alexandrians weren’t even going into town.  Whatta trooper!  🙂

Christmas letters are basically a means of telling everybody in your address book all the wonderful things you did (and they didn’t) this year.  It’s hard for us.  Our daily diary is on THE WEB and is followed by tens of people.  Some of you may even remember things we did this year that we’ve already forgotten.  When I look back on the calendar I usually think, that was this year?  Where did we go for spring break, for instance?

[Earlier on December 15, our Jefferson High School (JHS) Carolers performed at the winery.]

JHS Carolers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVJREGpSBQI

JHS Carolers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZnZnKmuVmg

We did not win the $588 million Powerball jackpot on November 28.  We’re sorry.  Stuff happens.

[What could be more fun?]

[Open up the doors and let the snow shine in!!]

[And take the road less travelled . . .]

[Admire nature’s handiwork . . .]

[Check in on your neighbors . . .]

[Start a fire in the fire place . . .]

[Shake the presents under the tree . . .]

[Admire nature’s handiwork, again . . .]

[Drive the pick-up up and down the driveway, creating an escape route. 😉 ]

Because we have no “news,” we needed a theme for this missive.  We thought maybe something historical to the days of our youth.  But the supervisor noted she has little photographic evidence of her childhood – allegedly because she was poor and couldn’t afford a camera.  Dad worked for a newspaper, so a camera was a tool of the trade – the Obert family has lots of evidence!  We couldn’t keep it “fair and balanced.”  So we decided maybe just a bit of a Christmasy retrospective on our 11 wonderful years here in Vacationland USA on the shores of beautiful Lake Darling.  And maybe just a skosh of some other old stuff.

[Historical anthropologists have concluded this may have been my first venture into the all time-consuming avocation of the annual Christmas letter.  It was 1989 – the supervisor and I were in our “just friends” mode as neighbors in the Astoria condominium, Arlington, Virginia.]

[“Greetings from the top of the Empire State Building.”  Our first trip together was to the Big Apple in 1989.  Cameras at that time used something called film upon which to produce the photograph.]

[The same trip, the supervisor in Central Park.]

[We did winters in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire – here in 1994 with Rose and Dick McMullen . . .]

[Where I sharpened my hard water skills.]

[The sisters Callecod with the two moms at the White House.]

[Then it was on to Minnesota . . .]

[And two feet of snow.]

[The supervisor, a native Hoosier, tried ice skating for the first time at the RCC in 2003.]

[Shopping for fresh lutefisk in 2007.  (OK, it’s the Atlanta aquarium, and yes, I did take the photo.)]

[As e-mailed at the time, June 9, 2007: While driving home from Minneapolis this morning, having attended niece Katy’s graduation party the night before, we got as far as Albany when we decided – “enough of the same mindless blandness of I-94, let’s turn off here.”   So we did . . . and we encountered some charming, tree-lined, hilly, twisty roads of rural Minnesota.  Then somewhere north of Big Birch Lake, between Ward Springs and Grey Eagle (OK, about 10 miles east of Sauk Centre, boyhood home of Sinclair Lewis, home of the Mainstreeters . . . but I digress), we rounded a bend in the road and came upon this!!  Proof positive that this planet has been visited by extraterrestrials, and probably in the not too distant past!!]

The beauty of the season . . .

[Vivian Annen and the supervisor at Terrace Mill, 2006.]

[Lake Cowdry, 2007]

[Andes Tower Hills, 2007, above and the two below (which may have been the temperature).]

[Lake Darling, 2008]

A short video clip from the first game of the 2008 Girl’s State Hockey Tournament, the year the Cardinals were champions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9zmeyHYOjA

[Waseca’s Field of Dreams, 2008.  It took us two days to get home from Indiana that Christmas because of the weather.  We got off the Interstates, which were a demolition derby, and took the back highways (we weren’t in a rush).  We saw parts of the Midwest we’d never seen before (Galena, Illinois, the Christmas town; Wartburg College; The Little Brown Chuch in the Vale . . .) or hadn’t seen in a long while (Waseca, site of the 1962 VFW state baseball tournament).]

[Carl Sandburg’s birthplace, 2008, Galesburg, Illinois, like too many such places closed due to a lack of funding.]

[The supervisor and her moose, Black River Falls, Wisconsin, 2009]

[Darling Heights Place from . . . Lake Darling!  We’re in the middle house, Arnie and Jo are on the left, and Dangerous Dan is on right.  I’m obviously out a couple hundred yards onto the lake – the ice at Christmas time is generally around 8 inches thick.]

[Grandson Tom cross-country skiing the neighborhood.]

[Noonan’s Park, above and below, 2010.  Almost the lead photos for this posting because what place better defines winter in Alexandria?]

[One of my favorite photos.  I hope they’re playing David Francey’s Skating Rink CD over the loud speakers.  🙂 ]

[Home, Sweet, Home, 2010]

A short video clip walking the neighborhood, Christmas Eve, 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb13SeM2C7I&list=UUK-k-D4lV7DWBiHTrlFvnsQ&index=118

[The supervisor and grandson shoveling out Home, Sweet, Home, 2010.]

[The supervisor calls for help, 2010.  A St. Bernard with a keg of brandy was immediately dispatched.]

[Christmas Day, last year, I kid you not.  What a difference a year makes!]

[The supervisee’s normal shoveling attire, 2010.]

[Moon over Lake Darling, 2011]

[Downtown Alexandria, above and below, this year.]

Family . . .

[The Callecods, 2002]

[The Oberts, 1964]

[Ruthie’s mom, Janella, 2009]

[My mom, Natalia, 2008]

[And with son Rob, 2008]

[And with Grumpy Old Men in Wabasha]

[Ruthie and Rita, the sisters Callecod]

[Christmas tree shopping, a long time ago.]

[Voted most likely to be toppled by a gentle breeze, Okinawa, 1971.]

[PEACE]

Summer highlights . . .

[Home, Sweet, Home, above and below, from the air.]

[This year’s sophomores break ground for the new high school.  They will be the first class to graduate from such in 2015.]

In conclusion, life is a flash mob . . .

Barcelona flash mob: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be

[Skol!]

[Attribution:  All the photos, videos, and words (well, their placement) contained herein were invented by me, except for those that I didn’t (like, I didn’t go to Barcelona).  I did not invent WordPress, the internet, or the computer, all necessary for the dissemination of the photos, videos, and words that I did.]

The Cardinal girl pumpkin pushers ventured to Sauk Centre on the same night we were covering the home girls’ hockey game against Willmar.  We later discovered this game, against the 3rd-ranked team in the state in class AA, was covered by the staff photographer.  🙂  In his own words:

Hi Tom and Ruth, 

I just finished putting the pictures from girls’ basketball at Sauk Centre on the shutterfly site.  I got to travel to see them with Val, Lauren and Sam!  It was a gas to go to a game with my daughters, I don’t think that it has happened before as usually we’re going to see them.  

The BB girls had a good first half and then . . .  They play an inspired defense that will keep them in many a game.  As it turned out they only needed to score 13 points in the second half to win the game, BUT they only scored 6!  I felt for them as they worked their butts off.  I still think the scoring and hence the team will improve as the season progresses.  ~ Your staff photographer,  Greg

p.s.  Your shots of Victoria Heights fascinate me!  I grew up on Knut St in Ellison’s old house and then eventually across the street!  [Editor’s note:  Some editing here to protect the innocent . . . and/or the guilty.]

[Starting with the JV game . . . appears to be Kendall Kohler (45).]

[Kendall’s fellow 8th-grader, Macy Hatlestad (11).]

[Kendall on D.]

[Let’s talk about this . . .]

[JV coach Julie Hatlestad]

[The Mainstreeters must be building a basketball dynasty – I believe that was the JV’s first loss.]

[The varsity’s Kalli Bowser]

If I may be so bold as to make a fashion comment . . . and who better?  I prefer the JV’s road uniforms.  I like the large script better than the small block letters on the varsity’s (and is that orange rather than red?).  Just an observation, though I have to admit I’ve never been contacted by Alexander Julian for advice.

[And you have to complete this game before 9:00 – that’s when the DQ closes!]

[Your only option after 9:00 is The House of Lutefisk.]

[Sarah Bruzek (15) holds the role of “greeter” during player intros.  It’s kinda like being the Sousaphone player who dots the “i” for the Ohio State marching band.]

[First up, Amanda Christianson (5).]

[Karly Betterman (21)]

[Kalli (35)]

[Amanda, Dani Strater (13), Karly, Jess Syvrud (23), and Kalli]

[Greetings from Amanda.]

[Dani]

[Karly]

[Jess]

[Kalli]

[Aaaayyyyyyy!!!!]

[Amanda on the opening tip.  Looks like the ‘Streeters got a home court toss!  😉 ]

[Jess looks for a cutter.]

[Kalli at the line.]

[Karly from Amanda.]

[The Cards got off to a fast start, with Sarah (15) coming of the bench to get a quick 7 points.]

[Amanda’s role is whatever is needed.]

[Tall ‘Streeter on the line.]

[We’ve got to score, ladies.]

[Amanda]

[We’d like to limit these “meetings” because of the 9:00 DQ deadline!]

[Karly]

[Kalli leaps above the fray.]

[Did she get to keep it?]

[Kalli fights for post position.]

[Then she swishes a free throw.]

[The staff photographer ended coverage with the Cards “defending” the free throw.  😦 ]

OK, now we come to my favorite part of the program where I indulge in a little (OK, a lot) self-aggrandisement, a/k/a, the reader’s write:

Terry Lang (Ray Lang’s son) lives nearby and gives me lots of photo advice. Terry’s a pro (30 years as a Navy photographer).  I just dabble, but I know good photos when I seem them!  Nice job.  ~ KBT

Truly enjoyed the story, pictures and play by play.  See you at the game.  ~  Beth

Thank you for blogging our girls’ sports.  I am very interested in being included.  Please add my email to your list.  Thank you.  ~ Kelly

Tom,  I would love to be added to your blog spot updates!  I am Hanah Hansen’s step father!  Your photography is absolutely amazing!  Sure would love to meet you and your wife at one of the games!  ~ Kris 

Hi!  Greg and I will jump on [the Cardinal bandwagon]…whenever we can!  🙂   ~ Val

They do from the Super FANS! [Respect for girls’ sports!]  🙂   ~ Marnee’

Good morning, Tom!  Thanks for the great coverage on Abby!  So nice of you to do that. Also, sooo nice of the 4 of you to come watch. Both games!! Is it possible for me to somehow get those pictures you took of the weekend???  I am not very computer savvy, so appreciate any direction here!!!  Thanks for your help!!!  ~ Martha

Tom, You are the best!  ~ Paul

Glad you have your Priorities straight!!!  [Girls hockey trumps all.] ~ Marnee’

You never cease to amaze me!   ~ Crazy

You will have to notice my cousin’s name and picture in the U of M Basketball memorabilia:  Eric Magdanz from South High School in Minneapolis.  ~ Loveya, Julie

$3 for a “circ” on the hospital bill??  Note the size of the evergreens on hole 14!  ~ Big Al

One other thing – I too have the hospital bill for my birth – It was cheaper to be born out in the hinterlands – My bill  was in the 40’s – and my mom stayed for a week.  Now I pay that much for a co-pay.  ~ Lorlee

I wish I had that pink sweater back – one of my favorites.  I was playing chess with Michael Perreton when we got the news that Kennedy had been shot.  And I didn’t believe him.  And I can’t believe it – someone has more crap than I do.  ~ Lorlee

Oh Dear! I did NOT know you caught this on camera!  😉   Hahaha! Thanks for sending it to us!  ~ Sue

Love the eagle pictures!  ~ Marnee’

Alex boys lost to Fergus 52 to 51  [December 11].  Mike Millard of Fergus scored 23.  Alex boys: Doyle 16, Deitz 15, Gorguber 8, Krivanek 8. Our defense under the net was loose. Alex also threw the ball away many times with sloppy handling, but it was a good, close game. ~ Mike

OMG! I missed this on the blog.  I totally did not realize he lost the WHOLE FINGER!  Still smiling, though.  That’s our Cam!  He needs to get ambidextrous, especially at the store… ~ Jami

A BELATED HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE LEES.  Terrific articles and pictures, you have found a wonderful journey for traveling down the road of retirement.  Both of you are looking younger and happy as you occupy your time with the wonderful interests you have found in your retirement.  When your time comes to sit in your rocking chair, if that ever happens, you will be able to write a novel on how to retire and stay young and busy.  Thanks so much for sharing.  We enjoy all and it was fun to see Alexandria all decked out for Christmas and the morning pictures of Lake Darling are terrific.   Arnie and I went with friends to a terrific restaurant at Ponce Inlet.  Good dinner with turkey and all the trimmings and interesting watching the boats and birds etc. while dining.  Keep up the good work.  We are lucky that you built in our neighborhood.  Have a good day ~ Arnie and Jo 

Yes, ladies and gents, that was painted on underwear in the photo!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!  🙂   ~ Jami

It won’t be the same without you!!!!!  ~ Annie

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!  ~ Rachel

You look really good in Green!  ~ Rita

HYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTERICAL! Where did you find that? LOVE IT!  ~ Gail

Tom:  Thanks for the nice coverage of our annual golf party!  Your photos are excellent!!   ~ Mar/Rich

Thanks for the photos…..perhaps sometime you could get an employee to take a few pictures, then we could see if you were actually present.  Merry Christmas.  ~ Paul

You are too good!!  We loved your answer!  Merry Christmas!  ~ Ruth & Jim

[Editor’s note:  Over time, it has finely dawned on me – another chromosome issue.  Women e-mail in blue Calibri 11; men e-mail in black Times New Roman or Ariel 12.  Is there a logical basis for this?]

p.s.  We did get out and about yesterday despite the dire weather forecasts.  The winery was first to see Anthony Miltich and the high school carolers.  And in keeping with recent blog discussions, I ran into an “old(?)” Victoria Heights neighbor there who I hadn’t seen in 47 years.  🙂

[Terri McCabe Steidl is obviously much younger than I am, but I grew up in the Heights playing all manner of ball with her oldest brother, and my classmate, Chris.]

[And Anthony Miltich was terrific – a James Taylor look-a-like and sound-a-like!  😉 ]

A Miltich YouTube video of “Copper Line,” a supervisor favorite and on the CD, with who appears to be Dave Stoddard, another talented Fergus Falls musician:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utAFAUmnQhM

[Miltich is an english, writing, and film professor at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, and we added his autographed CD to our collection of “local” performers.]

The carolers are saved for the Christmas newsletter.  😉

p.p.s.  I stripped the bed this morning – it’s my job and I do it annually whether it needs it or not – and found about 47 pairs of the supervisor’s socks at the foot of the bed?  Obviously addled by this unexpected turn of events, I immediately went downstairs and stuck the sheets in the dryer to . . . wash them?

Last night we celebrated the 3rd or 4th Annual Richie Braun’s For Those Who Stay Behind Pasta or Stir Fry How’s Everybody Doing Get Together at the Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria, Minnesota.  It all began to see if anyone from the Alexandria Golf Club’s senior morning men’s leagues actually stayed here beyond the sighting of the first snow flake.  Those who leave think we’re nuts; we think those who leave are wimps!

Dispersed throughout this posting will be videos of the Jefferson High School Carolers from over the years.  You will get this kind of service no where else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFRGDpakNx4

[Editor’s note:  I have noticed on other postings that while there were many “visitors,” the videos seldom are watched?  Is it a question of how?  All you have to do is double click on the red underlined line above, and a YouTube video will appear like magic.  It is that way through all the postings on this blog.  So, enjoy!  🙂 ]

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzC6MBXIwdI

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THyGwQ9bg2Y

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrU4mdvCGIU

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2mVD-_Q_CE

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fFyadxc5j4

[Many thanks again to Al and Diann Guenther!  🙂 ]

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK04GgiR0Hk

[And thanks again to Richie and Roger for providing the Wednesday golf cookies and scones, respectively!]

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPcGrthXiY

And finally, all the attendees wish to pass along our best wishes to Jack Juettner.  We missed Jack and Alice this year but will look forward to their attendance again next year.  Paul and Merry Donley also were unable to attend.  Paul spent much of his career as an elementary school principal, so the tragic event that occurred at the school in Connecticut yesterday was just too much.

p.s.  It was scheduled to be a dynamite entertainment weekend.  Anthony Miltich and the high school carolers at the winery this afternoon, Lisa Lynn (coming from St. Joseph) at SAWA tonight, and the choir’s Christmas concert at the high school tomorrow.  But where last weekend was snowed out, this weekend we have rain, sleet, snow, and ice.  Don’t know what we’re going to lose . . . event-wise, but the boys’ hockey game at St. Cloud tonight has already been postponed.