alexandriacardinals

[Junior Taylor Ellingson.  Every once in a while you luck into a photo you think is kinda neat.  This one looks like Taylor is modeling for the statue on the top of a hockey trophy!]

[In the ongoing battles between the Cardinals, last night ours bested Willmar’s.]

It was nice to get back to the RCC again.  It seems it had been a while since we’d had a home game, in any sport – it makes the supervisor antsy, i.e., what can she find in the job jar to do?  It was a doubleheader night – the girls played the first game with the boys’ game following.  We like that.  It means a 5:15 (instead of 7:00) start . . . for we older folk it means we don’t fall asleep on the way home!  🙂  Well, unless it’s date night – like last night.  After the game we went to SAWA with fellow Super Fans, the Annens, for a little fine dining and music by Terry and Al.

We would loved to have stayed to watch they boys play as well.  They have been on quite a roll since their opener against Moorhead – and it continued with a 12 – 0 thumping of the other Cards.  Both the boys’ and girls’ JV teams won too, so it was a good night for our Cards on the hard water.  Oh, we did have to sacrifice the Christmas party at the Maritime Museum, where the high school carolers were performing, because it conflicted with the girls’ game.  Just one of the things you contend with in a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area such as Alexandria – you have to pick and choose every night from multiple venues.  Wouldn’t it be neat if you could “DVD” the events you had miss and watch (participate in) them when you got home?  😉

[The team celebrates Shelby Iverson’s first period goal.]

[Yay, Shelby!  🙂 ]

[For reasons explained following, that concludes first period photographic coverage.]

I started a video of the opening period, as I usually do, but after a few seconds the camera battery went dead.  I put in a back-up and decided to wait for the start of the second period to get some moving pictures.  It turned out to be a fortuitous move, for less than one minute into that period Shelby Iverson scored her second of her three goals on the night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9mXuOZ12qs

[Video complete, Shelby asks Bailey (goalie) what she’s doing for dinner after the game?]

[Madi (12) taking the face-off.  The senior Willmar goalie proved a tough nut to crack.]

[There goes Shelby – she came close to a 4 or 5 goal game!]

[Madi knows where the opportunities are when you’re in the zone.]

[Shelby checks to see if the pizza delivery man arrived?   Looks like the Willmar boys behind the glass.]

[Back to business – the guys will keep an eye out for the pizza guy.]

[“Let the festivities commence!”]

[Nicole (23), as Becca (37) pivots away at a high rate of speed.  It was good to have Becca back – she missed 3 or 4 (?) games after receiving a blow to the head in the Moorhead game.  Sources report she did not feel good (“good” is the correct word usage here, though you will often hear people use “well” because in many instances “good” is used when it should be “well,” or somethinig like that) the day of this game, but no doubt wasn’t going to miss any more games because of health reasons!]

[Nicole sweeps into the corner.]

[Becca and Nicole move in . . .]

[After following the sport for almost a decade now, I have come to the conclusion that it takes a real man to play girls’ hockey – thus disqualifying me in both instances.]

[Anna Carlsen controls the puck . . .]

[But appears to whiff on the pass – we granted her a mulligan.]

[Taylor hangs back on D while Lauren (21) completes here defense rush.  Lauren’s mom, Rene, checked in with us between periods – they lived in the Heights for 14 years in the house we knew as the Gorham’s!  🙂 ]

[Kaila (7) says, “Give me my stick back!”]

[Kaila, “What did you do with my stick?]

[Kaila, “Well, now that I have my stick back, gimme to &^*+#@ puck!”]

[The puck can’t keep up with Hanah!]

[Becca, “I see it!”]

[“Oy, that thing is so elusive!”]

[“I’m still trying to catch it!”]

[“And I’m not giving up!”]

[“Weren’t we just over here?”]

[A goalie’s life can be a lonely life.]

[And now here we are in rush hour traffic again.]

[Becca lets Bailey know she has her back.]

[The coaches are still trying new combinations – here Hanah (11) centers Maru (18) and Kaila (7).]

[Go get ’em, Hanah!]

[Melissa (6) and Anna thinking, “Now how’d it get over there?”]

[Ms. Iverson still digging.]

[And knocking on the door again . . .]

[And at the end of two, Shelby has her hat trick!  🙂 ]

[And it’s time for the Puck Shoot.]

[A player’s relative?]

[And “Weakie” makes his 2nd appearance.  A couple years ago, we both just missed the $100 (the middle slot).  I knew I was close because of talent and hand-eye coordination, but “Weakie” was just lucky.  I told him this time he wouldn’t even hit the board . . .]

[He took a golf chip shot swing, mishit it, it dribbled ever so slowly toward the goal, and just as it died, knicked a corner of the board!  Whatta guy!]

[How do you get these mouthpieces to sit right?]

[I think I hooked a tonsil?]

[Is that the pizza guy?]

[Don’t you dare shoot at my goalie!]

[Ouch!]

[Photographic magic.  Shanee’, who appears not to be moving, is blurry; Taylor is moving and is sharp; the ads on the boards aren’t moving but are sharp.  Maybe it had something to do with the adjustments Shanee’ made to her mouthpiece?  Beats me?]

[You go this way, I’ll go that way, and we’ll confuse ’em!]

[Aaaackkkkk, get it out of there!!!  (The supervisor)]

[Momma said there’d be days like this . . .]

[Mari (18) and McKenzie (29)]

[A player of indeterminate origin.]

[Kaila]

[McKenzie]

[Willmar called a time-out with less than a minute left to pull their goalie and attempt to tie the game with a 6-on-5 situation.  After a short scare, Anna broke free and got the clinching empty net goal.  🙂 ]

[I’m gonna Wang Dang Doodle all night long! 😉 ]

[The boardwalk at Reheboth Beach, Delaware, September 1963.  I’m standing here with my Uncle Dick (St. Louis Cardinals cap; and subject of “The World’s Greatest Sports Fan!” contained herein, which will explain a lot about what’s contained . . . herein?), and three cousins from Wilmington, Delaware – Danny, Bruce, and Herb Conner.]

You may recall the weather incident we had over the weekend.  The supervisor thought, therefore, it would be a good time to tackle the basement walk-in closet, loaded with plastic storage bins.  I believe her exact words were, “Get rid of stuff you don’t want to move!”  I’m not sure how her consolidation went, but I turned three of my bins into slightly less than one (still a lot to go though).  The closet looks much emptier now.  But the closet space’s gain is academia’s loss.  After hoarding for lo these many years, out went notebooks from high school and college days.  Much of those were dated anyway – I believe we have subsequently discovered that the world is not flat.  I did recall an anthropology professor positing that Americans were too clean – that there is no need to bathe daily.  And then I recalled that I must have showered 10 times a day going through high school as I tried to comprehend the change (never did) and believed pimples were the result of a personal hygiene deficiency.  (Mom, “I can’t believe you have any skin left on your body!”  Me, “Well, at least I’m clean.”)

[Uncle Dick and Danny at the site of many Conner family vacations, with Mrs. Pepper at Fenwick Island, Delaware.  I’m not sure if the Pepper cottages are still there – the last time I was in the vicinity they were flanked on all sides by high rise condominiums.]

The stuff that wasn’t tossed is what’s being inflicted upon you now.  But then this site doubles as a personal diary and family history site.  So I beg your indulgence until the next local sports or other entertainment event.  So, from mostly 50 years ago . . .

[I don’t know why there was no Third District?  The school bus ride to Waseca I’m sure was the longest such ride I ever endured in my long, yet undistinguished, athletic career.]

[We finished 2nd!  But by the championship game, we (Alex, population 6,000) had run out of pitchers against Bloomington (population 80,000).  Nevertheless, as a result of this showing, our high school team was ranked 2nd in the state my senior year.]

[Victoria Heights, June 1962 (you can see that on the right side of the photo, duh).  On the left is Rick Gorham, a lad a couple of years younger than the other two guys.  Rick went on to become the first Alexandrian ever to win the Resorters Golf Tournament, no doubt attributable to the company he kept in his youth.  The guy on the right is “Jungle” Pete Hintzen, who went on to a stellar Cardinal career in both football and baseball.  Pete actually trained with weights then – I don’t recall anyone else who did?  He got the nickname “Jungle” because he started shaving in elementary school and by high school required several touch-ups daily.  The guy in the middle wore an orange shirt for no apparent reason.]

[Uncle Dick and Pete play badminton in the middle of lightly traveled Knut Street.  Old-timers will recognize Archie and Amelia Holt’s house on the left.]

[Uncle Dick, Pete, and I enjoy a sit on the front stoop.  Little brother Cam, as usual, can be seen lurking behind the screen door.]

[Grandma Thompson, mother to Uncle Dick and Mom, joins the party.]

[Eventually purchased by the McCoys, who live there to this day.  🙂 ]

[Still June ’62, Grandma Thompson in her apartment at 516 University Avenue, SE, Minneapolis, where she lived with Uncle Dick and her parakeet, Petey.]

[Yes, we used to play Breckenridge.]

[Many of these players are still known to Alexandrians to this day!  Or are them!]

[I actually remember this game because playing a team from the Cities was unique.]

[And we beat ’em!  🙂 ]

[We’ve played the Spuds forever.]

[Looks like we lost it at the free throw line.  😦 ]

[Yup, played at JHS that year!]

[As long as we’re doing basketball, many times during this era I took the train (remember them?) to Minneapolis to see Gopher games with Uncle Dick.]

[I had several programs from ’63, but you get the idea.  I actually have more programs from Gopher football, but the cover photos were just of campus buildings . . . ]

[And then in ’64 – diversity arrived.  What fun it was following the Lou Hudson, Archie Clark, Don Yates teams!  🙂 ]

[Before the Twins, there were the Cardinals (and the Tigers) because of Uncle Dick.  My first ever yearbook, for a mere $.50.  Today they probably run, what . . . $20.00?]

Which leads us back to our 1963 trip to visit the Delaware cousins.  They, of course, were Philly fans.  So they took us to games at Connie Mack Stadium, its last season ever.  Both the Phillies and the Cards were really good that year.  And for the 2nd, and last, time in my life I sought autographs (the 1st being the ’62 Gopher football team).  I’m now glad I did – for here I got Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Curt Food, Ken Boyer, Red Schoendienst, Johnny Keane, and announcer Jack Buck – All-Stars all!  🙂 ]

[Stan Musial, my first baseball hero.  Unfortunately, it looks like we must have used his autographed 8×10 glossy as home plate!  😦 ]

[Outside Connie Mack.]

[The Cardinals’ bus.]

[Positioning for autographs.]

[Keeping score.]

[On the field after the game.]

[My note says Cards won 7-5 on Boyer’s 2-run homer in 11th.  Whatta game!  🙂 ]

[And then it was off to Independence Hall.]

Meanwhile, back at Fenwick Island . . .

[Unfortunately, Aunt Louise (Mom’s sister), bless her heart, was occasionally known to lop the heads off her photographic subjects.  Here I was partially decapitated – probably an improvement (nice tush though, huh?).]

[I may have tippy-toed out of the frame here as I appear to have been surprised by the background wave action.  That’s Cousin Kathy with us, the eldest of the Conner children at my age.  Hard to believe the people were are “covering” now are the same age as the high schoolers in this photo.  Each state at this time selected two presidential scholars (not sure of the exact title) for a trip to the White House – Kathy was one of the two from Delaware!  🙂 ]

[Little did we know at the time that our family would soon be moving East, so our next visit to the ocean was just a couple years away.]

How ’bout them Twins? . . .

[Whatta year!  🙂 ]

Say, how ’bout that class of 65? . . .

[Graduation notice – not “shredded” at the bottom, it was designed that way! 🙂 ]

[Brad, a/k/a “Art”]

[Terry.  OK, not an Alex alum.  From Litchfield, class of ’65.  My college roommate.  The Jim Ahlfors of Litchfield.  All-around good athlete.]

[Mary Jane]

[Lorlee.  Still e-mail pals.]

[Ramona]

[Gary]

[Greg, a/k/a “Mayo”]

[Mike, Greg’s younger brother and thus not from our class.  I have no idea how I got his photo?]

[Jackie]

[Tom, a/k/a “Professor Doctor Colonel”]

[Dick.  Apparently didn’t get his twin brother Bob.]

[Butch]

[Pat, a/k/a “Mort.”  OK, not an Alex alum.  From Seymour, Indiana, class of ’65.  Lived across the hall at the ‘U.’  Rita, this is the guy who went back to Seymour and established his own funeral home (hence his nickname, “Mort.”  😉 ]

[“Tilt.”  The name given by my sister because of the angle of the photo.]

[Mike.  Kicked my butt at chess in the JHS cafeteria.]

[Judy.  Co-valedictorian.]

[Robert.  Apparently didn’t get his twin brother Richard.]

[Kath, a/k/a “The HQ.”  Apparently didn’t get a real class photo from her?]

[Oooops!!  Here she is.  Sorry.]

Apparently (is anyone counting “apparentlys”?) these were the only classmates who could be bribed into exchanging class photos.

[p.s.  Brad, Greg, Tom, and I were voted most likely, as a group, to have an affinity for pocket protectors.]

College and beyond . . .

[Certainly a highlight of my intramural athletic career at the ‘U.’  I remember Rog Erola (from the Minnesota metropolis of Deer River, along with his 6’6″ older brother Ray) was part of a marauding group in the one and only panty raid I can recall – he returned from Comstock Hall with a pair of panties on his head.  He was so proud!  The tongue-in-cheek reference to Gary Mertz at the end leads me to suspect this may have been from a dorm newsletter (?) rather than the actual real campus newpaper, The Minnesota Daily.  Gary was not a ballplayer but was a trombonist in the marching band.  He was from Olivia, and somehow we both ended up in Okinawa when we were in the army (below).]

[Yup, an A & W Root Beer stand on Okinawa in 1971.]

Some more sports as we head to the finish . . .

[Remember this?]

[Remember this?]

[Or this?]

[On leave from Okinawa, August 1971.  With Dad and Cam at Lake Geneva.  I loved that jacket (an Obert male family tradition to prize such outer wear).]

[With Mom . . .]

[And Dad.]

[And fishin’ . . .]

[With grandpa (Obert), a highlight in anyone’s life!  🙂 ]

[Golfing, with Uncle Dick.  Do you recognize the 14th hole at the AGC?]

Odds & ends . . .

[Cousin Herb fishing the Chesapeake Bay in 1965.]

[Brother Chris, July 1970, the Manson years.  😉 ]

[Postcard from this era.]

[Hey, I was born for less than a 100 bucks!  But Mom was in the hospital for five days – standard practice in those days?]

[When I first saw this, I thought I had an unknown criminal past?  Then I saw the collar insignia (Specialist 5th-class) and realized it’s just a military ID photo.  😉 ]

Hang in there – we have a girls’ hockey game Thursday night!

[EDITOR’S ERATA:  WordPress has been changing its use procedures for the past week or so.  That’s very upsetting to a person on Medicare!   So I have accidentally deleted the “background” photos for the posts going back to the start of the hockey season.  You can still save the photos as they appear in the posts by right clicking and “save us.”  It’s just that now when you double click on them, you can’t get to a larger format.  If that’s an issue for a photo you’d like to save, just let me know.  All the other posts should be OK in terms of double clicking to a larger format.  Please excuse the incompetence,]

. . . of lake effect snow off beautiful Lake Darling?

The supervisor loves to shovel snow – but that’s not the reason for this story . . .

While we have to recognize the demise of the Twinkie . . .

LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!

Our teams have been on the road now for a long, long time.  In lieu of any new coverage, we are delighted to present, courtesy of the staff photographer, THE VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURT – his coverage of the girls’ basketball home opener against Little Falls:

[As you may recall, junior guard Karly Betterman.]

[Senior guard Jess Syvrud]

[Jess]

[Senior forward Dani Strater]

[Setting a play in the offensive zone.  Sarah Bruzek’s parents look on from the back row.]

[Karly, Amanda C (5), and the blue garbage can apply all out pressure.  Cardinals of the future occupy the first row, the Holm family the 4th.]

[Heard they were giving away free lutefisk bites . . .]

[Karly – good knee bend, good finger placement on the ball, probably went in.]

[Dani lays one . . . in?]

[Amanda C – as I recall, missed the 1st, made the 2nd.]

[Amanda C credits much of her success to occasionally grazing the scorer’s table for a little popcorn.]

[Ms. Betterman]

[Ms. Christianson.  Nicely done by the staff photographer – focused on Amanda to the exclusion of all around her!  😉 ]

[Ms. Strater]

[Kohler]

[The boys’ team provides a loyal fan base.]

[Junior Sarah Bruzek]

[Ooops, cut her dad’s head off!]

[Junior forward/center Amanda G.  Cardinal dad from days of yore lurks just inside the door.]

[Line change.]

[Ms. Syvrud, above and below.]

[Junior forward Emily and Dani]

[Sarah in the LT role.]

[Amanda G and Dani]

[Emily]

[Amanda G shows her baseline jumper.]

[Senior center Kalli]

[Junior guard Jaylen Rodel-Olson]

[Jaylen]

[Amanda C whips a cross-court pass.]

[Amanda C whips a cross-court pass.  (Didn’t I just say that?)]

[Amanda G calls for the ball in the post.]

[Amanda C takes it to the hole . . . as they say.]

[Junior forward Samantha Frederick]

[Jaylen inbounds to Karly.]

[Emily inbounds, Scatter!]

[Junior forward Alyssa Freiderich]

[Samantha, above and below.]

[Cardinal defenders are taught early on to ululate.]

[Sophomore guard Gretchen Revering – I have to ask the class, is she hockey player McKenzie’s sister?]

[Sophomore forward Halley Score (a great last name for a basketball player, eh?)]

[Gretchen.  My sister’s name is Gretchen.  We call her Toody.]

[Coaches Kohler and Engebretson]

[What the boys’ team was waiting for – THE KIDS replacing the kids.  Kohler’s 8th-grade daughter, Kendall, makes her varsity debut.]

[No doubt getting helpful pointers?]

[Remained calm despite the hubbub going on around her.  🙂 ]

[And Coach Hatlestad’s 8th-grade daughter, Macy, also made her varsity debut.]

[The next and future point guard?]

[Kendall on D.]

[Mom’s says playing time is dependent on our ability to get in your kitchen.]

[Macy on D.]

[Macy pointguarding.]

[Kendall, above and below, defending the point.]

And I believe “Tavelin’ Man” Rog has wrapped up his Sequoia trip:

[Crystal Cave]

[General Sherman.  I always wanted to have a sequoia named after me . . . well, maybe a hackberry.]

[Hart Trees]

[Moro Rock view]

[Sugar Bowl Grove]

[This is on the grid.  Do you know where?  😉 ]

Remember the uproarious laughter at the beginning?  It was a par-tay!

[Very good, Kathy!]

And here’s what they were laughing at:

[And Al says, Yesss!!!!  (I believe forwarded from an MPR site.)]

[This just in from Marcus:   A young man, probably Jewish, was about to go to his first big dance.  His mother had given him two ties, a red tie and a blue tie.  He asked his mother, “Which one shall I wear?” She said, “Which do you like?”  “The blue one,” he said.  “What’s a matter, don’t you like the red one?”]

The Cardinal boys’ hockey team hosted the Sartell Sabres Tuesday night.  The Cardinal girls’ hockey team was on the road at Sartell/Sauk Rapids.  Both games ended in 2-2 ties.  This reporter covered neither.  I did, however, receive the following report from Super Fan (and regular substitute teacher) Mike Shaughnessy on the boys’ game:

The boys tied 2 –2 and went into a 7 minute overtime with no additional score.                1st period, Tom Schmidt scored early on with an assist. End of period Alex 1: Sartell 0, but Sartell led with shots on goal 10:7.                                                                                         2nd period, no score, so still 1-0 Alex with Sartell still leading with cumulative shots on goal 19:14. Alex spent a lot of time in defense in their end.                                                      3rd period, Sartell scored within first 30 seconds. Then Alex put one in the net but no goal counted? Toby Helgeson came back with a goal, but Sartell countered that to tie the game. Alex was much stronger 3rd period, so in spite of tied score, Alex lead in shots on goal now at 42:29.                                                                                                                        Period ended in tie, so there was a 7-minute overtime which still ended in the tie. Alex again spent most of the 7 minutes defending. Alex still was ahead with shots on goal 42:29.

Good game.  Most interesting play was when Ben Allen almost stopped a Sartell shot, but it climbed up the length of his stick and fell down into the net.  ~ Mike

[My response, gleaned from the Strib website]

Thanks for the poop!  I was going to go to the game, but we had the Theatre L,Homme Dieu membership soiree’ at Interlachen last night – Ruthie, “I never win anything,” won a free season ticket for next year on a blind draw – ha!  By the time we got out of there, it was going on 8:00, so decided not to go the game.  I’ll get to a game soon, I hope.  Listened to part of the girls’ game on the radio on the way home.  We were at Sartell/Sauk Rapids.  The last half of the 2nd period, we were peppering shots on goal but couldn’t get one in.  We came back from a 2-0 first period deficit to also finish in a 2-2 tie.  We outshot them 45-22!!!  Good sign, as the Stormin’ Sabres were in 1st place and undefeated in the conference.  So, early on, we tied the two best teams (besides us) in the conference at their places. Goals:  Mari (from Rachel and Kaila) in the 2nd, Madi (from Shelby) in the 3rd.

p.s.  Knew you’d all love the lead photo . . . and the one following.  🙂

As noted above, we missed the boys’ hockey game to attend the TLHD event at Interlachen.  I was greeted at the door by one of Santa’s helpers.  Be among the first on your block to have the TLHD schedule for next year.

Dear TOM, We had a great night at the Season Announcement Party last night.  I want to send a big thanks to Gayle and her wonderful staff at the Interlachen Inn for hosting such a lovely event.  I would guess that there were close to 100 people there to witness the announcement of the upcoming season, and many were among the first to purchase their Season and Flex Passes in the process. So YOU don’t feel left out, here is the lineup for next season: When A Man Loves A Diva ~ June 25-30 Lombardi ~ July 9-14 Legacy-A Tribute to the King of Pop (encore run) ~ July 16-21 Sisters ~ July 23-28 Sunset Boulevard ~ August 6-11 Almost, Maine ~ August 13-18 For more information on each of our wonderful shows, or for information on our Season and Flex Passes, as well as our amazing Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off Sale through the end of the year, please visit our website by clicking here. We know that the end of the year is quickly approaching and we also know that you have many choices of places to send an end-of-year donation.  Please consider us when making your donations.  All donations are tax deductible, and they all help us to bring you the quality entertainment you have grown to know and love.  To make a donation online, please click on the donate link on our homepage by clicking here or by mail at: Theatre L’Homme Dieu, PO Box 1086, Alexandria, MN 56308. As always, we can be reached any time at tlhd@tlhd.org or by phone at (320) 846-3150.  Please leave a message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons, Joanna K. Hoch Executive Director

The highlight of the evening is when the supervisor, a/k/a, I never win anything, won again!  Out of the hundreds of people who turned out for the TLHD event, she was one of 4 winners in blind drawings – hers being the largest, a season flex ticket for next summer’s plays!  🙂  No, that isn’t the supevisor above.  Dangerous Dan and his daughter, Kris, were her surrogates, a/k/a, my dates, at the Education Founation’s first Jeans & Jewels event in 2009.  And the supervisor won a jewels drawing there in absentia – Kris posed with Ruthie’s prize.  I believe this photo is still being used in the Foundation’s literature.

[The supervisor’s tree.  She said it wasn’t ready yet?  I thought it looked great.  The “ready” tree will be in the Christmas letter.]

A few notes from FOB’s (Friends of the Blog):

Happy Thanksgiving!  I wanted to forward a blog to all the parents that Tom Obert does mainly on Alexandria High School girls’ sports as well as the happenings in and around Alexandria.  I wasn’t sure if everyone is aware of the blog.  Tom and Ruthie are the ring leaders of a group called the Super Fans!  They were formed a few years back to support girls’ athletics in Alexandria.  This is the latest blog on our game with Moorhead.  If you continue down in the blog you will see all our home games as well as his visit to see Abby Williams.  He explains how the Super Fans were started.  Roger Riley who sings the National Anthem at our games is a member of the group.  Roger is joined sometimes by wife Barb and Dusty Johnson.  The Super Fans are made up of parents of former players and people who retired to the Alexandria area.  We are very lucky to have such wonderful support to girls’ athletics in Alexandria.  They sit and stand at center ice of our games.  If you are interested in receiving his blog you can send Tom an email and he would be more than happy to add you to the list!  If you’re not shy introduce yourself to Tom, Ruthie and the Super Fans! 

See you tomorrow night!  GO CARDS!  ~ Marnee’

[Editor’s note:  Thanks to this missive from my agent, blog readership has increased by 10’s!  🙂 ]

[A “fallen” caroler?  Discovered when we were out and about on Saturday.]

Tom,  Nice to see that you have discovered Bridget’s Cross.  It’s our favorite place when we’re in Bemidji.  You also made the right choice with the Shepherd’s pie – although, in all humility, it’s not as good as mine (she doesn’t make hers with lamb, and that makes a real difference)  We had a cabin a few miles north of there until a few years ago, and used to spend our summers there when we were teaching in Pennsylvania.  Next time up, you might want to try Tutto Bene.  It’s had it’s ups and downs, but the last time we were there, I had a really good osso buco. ~ Jim

[Editor’s note:  Also does a good job hosting the adult education foreign film festival.]

[The Salty Dogs were at the winery on Saturday.  😉 ]

Thanks Tom!  We are both going to Austin for Thomas’ game tonight.  This is his final year, and has been playing very well which has some D1 coaches interested in him.  So need to go there tonight and meet up with them.  We feel very fortunate and hope something pans out for him.  Talked with Ab and all is good for tomorrow.  Will let you know when we plan on getting to Bem. Probably tom.  Thanks for being such wonderful fans, it means a lot to us and to Abby.  Looking forward to seeing you all!! ~ Martha

[Editor’s note:  Yup, the Abster’s mom.]

[Tenor Tom’s voice was out of commission, but he provided strong moral support.]

Tom — Thanks for the hockey report.  If the NHL season goes as it has for the past month-plus, the Cardinals may be the ONLY hockey this hockey-starved fan may get to see.  Keep the reports coming!!  ~ Betsy

[Editor’s note:  Family friend from Arlington, Virginia, big sports fan, but no connection to Alex other than the Oberts.  🙂 ]

[Tom’s wife Jeanne filled in for him on his part in “The Weight (Take a Load Off, Annie).”]

When we left the winery, it was all Christmasy (except for lack of snow):

This is the Thomas Gaither.  Built in 1956 by the Dravo Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, it is 85′ long and 26′ wide.  We just happen to have a grandson named Thomas Gaither.  🙂

We lost Dave Brubeck this week.  The kids may not know him.  They should.  Here are two of the classic jazz pieces of all time: 

“Take Five”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJE92phKzI 

“Unsquare Dance”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA0HXOdCBgo&playnext=1&list=PL0BF2B5F1C491DCF3&feature=results_video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQCPe_1znuc

Enjoy!

And we end with . . .

An Open Letter to the Girls’ Basketball Team

So, after your home opener, you had to hit the road.  And apparently your shooting eyes didn’t come with you.  It happens.  In fact, every year.  Many of you are playing extended varsity minutes for the first time.  It’s hard enough to play on the road anytime, but really tough the first few times.  You’ll get better at it.  If it’s any consolation I watched the Timberwolves play at Boston last night, and I had to wonder why they pay those guys millions of dollars to miss free throws?

Enjoy your road trips!  It’s travel at government expense.  You get to go to new and different places.  What’s not to like about DL?  They have a nice lake and We Fest.  OK, don’t go to We Fest yet – you’re too young.  And Fergus?  They have a beautiful Fish and Wildlife Service prairie wetlands area – visit it some time.  🙂  Road trips are a chance to bond with your teammates . . . for the veterans to get to know the new kids, and vice-versa.  It will make you better as a team.

Just remember, your defense will keep you in every game.  And on the nights when the shots aren’t dropping, don’t lose your confidence.  We’ve seen you shoot in warm-ups – you all make shots from everywhere.  So, you know you can do it.  Don’t hesitate – if you have an open shot in the flow of the offense, let it fly!  When they start dropping it’s gets easier for the whole team to make them!  And mostly, just have fun – we do just watching you play!

~ Your Super Fans

p.s.  I’ve seen Elgin Baylor play in the Jefferson High School gym (OK, you may have to look that one up, but he’s an NBA Hall of Famer and maybe the best small forward of all time); I was at the Philadelphia Spectrum in 1976 when Indiana became the last undefeated NCAA basketball champions; I have been to numerous NCAA Final Fours; I have stood in a concession stand line directly behind John Wooden; I made 36 free throws in a row at the Y a mere two years ago; I have been on the same airplane with Chuck Berry, Judy Collins, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Chief Justice Warren Burger (a fellow Minnesotan) and I were once the only two customers in a Capitol Hill liquor store (OK, don’t go in a liquor store – you’re too young) . . . well, I think you’re getting the idea (that I must be really old?), yet at this point in our fandom careers we’d just as soon go to a Cardinal girls’ basketball game.  Thank you for that!  🙂