alexandriacardinals

Can there possibly be a better way to spend a gray, autumn morning, then afternoon, than by watching girls’ high school hockey amongst and between the hockey moms (search ode to hockey moms in this site)?  I think not!

If you are a regular to this site, you know that girls’ high school hockey is our first love.  We started with the 2003 team and have been hooked ever since.  And as northerners, we enjoy sitting at an event where we don’t get . . . too hot!  The Cardinal season actually doesn’t start for a couple weeks yet.  This was a pre-season scrimmage invite that took place on Saturday.  It revived the requirement to blog.

The following is a video of the 1st game warm-ups:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-fHOnXMxU

As usual, I wandered into the wrong rink.  I arrived in plenty of time to set up the camera on the monopod – in the Main Rink – and sat and waited for the team to come out.  A team did come out . . . and then another . . . but neither were the Cardinals?  We’re the host team – I was sure this would our rink.  So I gathered up my “stuff” (I need a photographer’s assistant), hustled through a phalanx of uniformed hockey players, and eventually made my way into the West rink where the Cards were already into their warm-ups.  Uffda!  I set up my “stuff” again and began the video.  As I stood there, camera steadily ensconced on its perch, I looked around and discovered Dan Kopischke (father of Alia, from last year’s team), who had the good sense to pick up a schedule on his way in.  The schedule reported the teams were St. Cloud, Owatonna, St. Cloud, and River Lakes.  It was a round robin event – everybody played everybody else.  But the Cards played all their games in the West rink (limited stands, much colder than the Main rink.)  Games started on the hour from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, each game lasting an hour on running time.  The Cards, and so I supppose all the teams, have only been practicing for a week – this was like a conditioning marathon!

[We were playing Holy Angels first.  This is a private school from the Cities that is not quite up to the level of the some of the other privates – but they’re trying to catch up.  They had a very young team.  The Cards pretty much overwhelmed them 5 – 1.]

[I was glad Dan was there – and later Marnee’ – because it seemed the players just grabbed jerseys at random.  There weren’t any programs – these were just scrimmages – so we had a heck of a time identifying players.  If the foreground player is No. 4, it’s Shelby Iverson, a senior center.]

[I think I “knew” defensemen 45 and 47 during the game – have since forgot.  Our surplus is on defense.  Taylor Ellingson, a two-year regular on D has been moved to forward.  One of our D on this day was an 8th-grader, who had game.]

[I believe this is our freshman goalie.  Bailey Serum, from last year, is a sophomore.  And we have a 3rd young goalie.  Our goalies are young – but they will be a strength!]

[We could recognize the “veterans.”  In this shot, on the front line from l-r are seniors Madi Houska, Shelby Iverson, and Becca Illies.  The defenseman on the right is Nicole Bartels, who I believe is a sophomore.  37 escapes me.  We were trying to think of the other seniors – Shanee’ Herd on defense, and I believe there is one other.  Danielle Carlson, I think.  So we will be young but I think pretty good.  Oh, Sara Schmidt, a blog favorite in the past, has decided to be a manager in her senior year.]

[I would guess by the bunched players this was just after a goal.  Madi got the 1st goal in this game (and in game 3 v. Owatonna).  The other problem as a fan for this event, the Cards were always going for the goal at the far end.  It was difficult to tell who scored if it came as a result of a scrum in front of the net.]

[After a meeting w/ lunch, I returned for the 3:00 game.  I sat upstairs in the warming house this time because it was 32 degrees at ice level, and my blood hasn’t been winterized yet.  The hockey moms had the same idea.  🙂  Of course a problem “shooting” from here is the netting (until the telephotos later).]

[Our goalies discuss meal options for later prior to the Owatonna game.  As I recall, we won 4 – 2.  We beat River Lakes, 3 – 2, in the game I missed.]

[The auto focus was of the opinion I wanted a photo of the net?  😦 ]

[Shelby says hello to an Owatonnan.]

[Darn, I wish I could remember the freshman goalie’s name – she was pretty smooth.]

[Shelby, 4, is taking the draw.  No. 2 to her left is Melissa Drown, who as I recall is a junior?  Now you know where the expression, You can’t tell the players without a program, comes from.]

[Obviously, a goal for the Cards with a focus on the net!]

[Cards win!]

[Taco Saturday?]

[Last game against the St. Cloud Icebreakers, which is of course a consortium from Tech, Apollo, and Cathedral.  I switched to telephoto here to take the net out of play.  The Icebreakers have an excellent goalie – we pelted her throughout the game.  But they got one flukey goal, the only score in the game.  I found out later from my source that both teams agreed to take their front line players out during the game midway – they all had to be pooped.  The Cards 3rd and 4th lines kept up constant pressure and looked good!  🙂 ]

[There were two 14’s in the game . . . and two 17’s.  So I’m not sure who this is?]

[31, anyone?  The moms recognize players by their gloves.]

[Well, 6 is Shanee’.]

[Into the 4th hour of hockey – still hustling.]

[Icebreakers “blanket” a Card.]

[Oh, it’s 14 again?]

[I hope we’ve been teaching the Abby Williams face-off techniques?  Another source has noted that Abby’s been winning a significant majority of her face-offs for Bemidji State this year.]

[Shelby’s working on her peripheral vision.]

[The stupid photographer didn’t wait for a jersey number to be exposed – not that those have been much help!  😉 ]

[Card looking for a breakaway.]

[And the race is on!]

[Cards rest.]

[The final photo.  Our 3rd goalie, 35 in white jersey, got playing time.  Coach Andy Shriver on the right.  We’re looking forward to the start of the season!  🙂 ]

Finally, we want to pass on our best wishes to junior Kalley Krangenbring.  Kalley had hoped to be able to play this year, but she is still in recovery from a concussion she suffered last season.  While we know she would love to be out there, and still has hopes for being able to play her senior year, we just want her to get healthy.

Congrats to Tom Lehman for winning the Schwab Cup again.  I e-mailed Colin Covert at the Strib thanking him for his articles on John Hawkes, Tom’s Alex classmate and noted that John Hammergren, McKesson Corp. CEO, was also of that class.  The class of ’65 was noted for being 12 years older than those guys.  Congrats also to Bethany and Megan Hasz for finishing 3rd and 6th, respectively, at the state cross-country meet.  And congrats to Sarah Bruzek for making the state all-tournament team in soccer.

[You know we’re fans of “long hair” hockey!  Well, we’re also fans of “long hair” music!  😉  Last monday was the high school’s fall orchestra concert.]

[Because it’s fun to watch, and support, the kids in all their venues.]

[We were concerned when it was reported during the school board election forum that participation in extra-curricular activities were dropping.  They are extraordinarily important for a well rounded education.]

[So, we love to attend these events . . .]

[And marvel at the talent and enthusiam.]

[Director Brad Lambrecht noted, and we were well aware, that it was a tad warm in the ole gym.  And with the hard bleacher seats, these are mercifully an hour long in duration.  Two more years to the new high school and auditorium!]

[I believe these are called string instruments!]

[More strings!]

[The full orchestra is impressive.]

[The final piece was by Bach.  Or Baacchhhhh!  Brad said it’s fun to see the sophomores look at a Bach piece for the first time.  He said their mouths just drop open over the number of notes!  Ha!]

[Bonus points will be awarded for identifying what’s going on in the three above photos.]

[Finally, Halloween was a beautiful day here on the shores of beautiful Lake Darling.]

Next up:  There’s some sort of national election.

[Is it crazy that I’ve never….actually….had a Nut Goodie?  ~ Lisa] 

In keeping with our “promise” to Jess Lourey to promote her new book, December Dread (previously featured herein), here’s an excerpt from the latest in the series of murder mysteries that take place in Battle Lake, Minnesota.  Our protagonist, Mira James, has a severe addiction to Nut Goodies.  For years, when we still lived in D.C., the locals there eagerly awaited our return from Minnesota vacations knowing we would bring boxes of Nut Goodies.  I must admit as a kid, it was the candy of choice.  It’s hard for me to eat them now as I then have to go into therapy:

Page 6:  “Wait” only one Nut Goodie?  I scrambled around the bottom of the can.  I’d stuffed in a half dozen of the candy bars when I’d first created the winter survival kit three weeks ago.  How could there only be one left?  I dumped the contents into the trunk sifted through them, but there was no changing the facts: only a single Nut Goodie remained.

The Minnesota original candy bar was my crack, my cigarettes, my chocolate ecstasy all rolled together.  As big as the palm of your hand, it’s a delight of chocolate and nuts wrapped around a maple candy center and encased year-round in a manic Christmas package of red, white, and green.  I refused to keep them in the house because I couldn’t stop eating them once I started.  I’d hoped the inner reaches of my car would serve as a demilitarized zone.  I’d been fooling only myself.

I glanced guiltily at the house.  Maybe Luna [her dog] was right.  Possibly, I wasn’t doing myself any favors with the Nut Goodie breakfasts.  The thing is, the candy is my heroin, and I’m weak.  I held the Nut Goodie in my hand, confronted with a “Sophie’s Choice” moment: immediate gratification or long-term survival?  My knees and fingers were growing stiff with the cold, but I couldn’t decide.  One the one hand, I was already heavy on saliva imagining the frozen chocolate melting in my mouth into a warm pool of happy.  On the other, some sane part of me knew I shouldn’t snarf down “all” the food in the emergency kit.  Then I remembered: I had granola bars on the house!  They could be my survival food.  Why hadn’t I thought of that before?  I pocketed the candy, repacked the coffee can and popped the lid back on, and charged toward the house before my skin froze off.

Luna forgave me my weakness, greeting me at the front door with an energetic wag like I’d been gone for a week.  I patted her head, doffed my boots and coat, and planted myself at the kitchen counter to enjoy my chocolate breakfast and read yesterday’s mail.

. . . Using a side tooth, I pried off a chunk of hard-frozen Nut Goodie and continued sorting . . .

The supervisor has finished the book and pronounced it really good – the further she got into it, the more she couldn’t put it down.

We’re between seasons now.  So, it’s an opportunity to catch up on stuff.  It’s been a while since I’ve let you know what the others of you are saying about . . . stuff.  Well, it’s nice stuff about the blog – which I really appreciate (honestly, who wouldn’t?) – and gives me an opportunity to inflict a few more photos upon you.  For example, the one above was taken just today of activities at the new high school construction site – we have lights (at athletic fields, I’m going to posit) – in our continuing efforts to provide progress reports. 

In most instances I did not obtain permission to use the following quotes.  Thus, I will not be using full names in an effort to fend off any lawsuits that could affect the financing of our long-term health care.  We begin with the following submitted just minutes ago from sister Gretchen as the nation’s capital hunkers down for the arrival of Frankenstorm – her political commentary has been redacted lest there are children in the room:

DC is like a ghost town today.  Everything closed — from my job, federal gov’t, local gov’ts, schools, colleges, universities, subway, buses, Amtrak, VRE, airport, and about every other place you can think of except STARBUCKS, Quiznos and drug stores!! Too funny. Let me get specific. Kind of reminds me of DC on 9/11 and the following day — very quiet and no one walking on the sidewalks. Let me take that back — there are ALWAYS the joggers (men and women) who want to prove to someone (surely not me) that they are strong and brave and won’t let the elements prevent them from doing their morning sprint.  😦

I thought we had stocked up over the weekend for the big storm but found out my hubby drank more milk than I thought so I needed to do a milk run. I also needed to go to the bank.  Put on my rain slicker and took the car. All banks — except for a Wells Fargo bank that’s right downtown were closed. My bank was closed. Great!!! Not every Starbucks was open but quite a few were — depending upon whether they were closer to the residential areas of DC. However, most of the drug stores were open and our Quiznos and Dominoes located across the street from us were open.  You have to wonder how all these minimum wage (or maybe just over minimum wage) clerks either at Quiznos or the drug stores or Starbucks — or even the front desk receptionist and the maintenance crew in our apt. bldg. — were able to make it to work but the rest of us couldn’t. I suspect because they were told they had to show up (either by cab or their personal car) and because they probably were part-time employees with no benefits — so they needed to get that day’s pay. Surely they would have the same day care or babysitting issues like everyone else since the kids were home from school today. Who takes care of their kids? Hmmm.

The worst of it is supposed to hit us tonight. Strong winds which means in this area — trees falling down over power lines and huge power outages. Thank God we live in a section of DC where the power lines are underground. Flashlights and batteries were gone in stores over the weekend as well as bottled water. I was surprised I found milk at the drug store today because milk is usually one stable to go if any kind of weather emergency is announced.  Oh — and to my “local friends” — stay safe!  ~ Gretch

[New high school site today.]

Anne, would you please forward this to the troops?  This has been a special time and I would like to share it.  I sincerely feel you are a unique and special group of parents!

You guys have been much in my thoughts, so I decided to copy Anne’s list and express an opinion.  For any who know me well, you know I always have one!

I wanted to thank you and tell you how proud and happy I have been to join you guys in the “family rooting section” at volleyball games.  At all times you have been a credit to your girls, our school and our community!  Your purpose in being there has definitely been to support and encourage the kids.  Your sportsmanship has been outstanding and your interest has been in the girl’s success and gain, and never for what those things would reflect upon you.

By the same token I hope your girls realize what a credit they are to you, the school and themselves.  I never once saw a bit of poor sportsmanlike conduct.  I never witnessed any unkind remarks or gestures between them or to the other team when things didn’t go well.  They were always supporting and encouraging each other.  You were reflected upon by them and in a very wonderful way!  And they reflect your love, caring and dedication of time.  I wished I were a great singer and could have lead a rousing chorus of the school song in the lobby up there to acknowledge that as we were loading up.  Jackie wanted something and that was all I could think of, but you were lucky you were spared that without a band behind me. 

They have a real loss.  For the seniors especially. They have practically lived together for several years in school and JO.  They need this time now to pursue other things and the younger girls will continue to pursue a record for Alexandria.

Thank you!!  I will have to join Cliff next year and watch the team continue and grow!

~ Kathryn LeBrassuer (Tara’s grandma) [Editor’s note:  I actually got permission to use this – it was addressed to the parents of the volleyball players.  It also expresses the opinion of all we fans! 🙂 ]

[New high school site today.]

Here’s a little more info on Kathryn.  She’s connected to your family!! ~ Marnee’

Interesting!  Thanks.  He must be son of John Obert.  My mother was Innis LeRoy who worked at the Echo for 45 years.  John was there before being lured to Washington DC.  My summer jobs were there for several years and so worked with John. 

Lots of wonderful pictures!  ~ Kathryn  [Editor’s note:  And I certainly remember Mrs. LeRoy.  She was a multiple award winner for her society section of the newspaper.  I would see her every time I went into the Echo to hit Dad up for a buck.  😉 ]

[New high school site today.]

Thanks for the wonderful coverage of the team!  You truly are the best!  Thanks so much for all the photos of Shanee’ and team.  I never would’ve have such great pics without you!  No pressure but I hope we get the same in hockey!  ~ Marnee’ [Editor’s note:  I would expect no less.  She’s my agent.]

If you never get recognized for your dedication to Cardinal girl’s sports in your lifetime be assured I will personally erect a statue of you and Ruth in front of the new high school. I promise. 

I will also make sure there will be a lanyard around your neck with Donley’s smiling face attached.  ~ Crazy Dave [Editor’s note:  He’s my agent’s agent.]

[New high school site today.]

You are so funny – and so correct! Harley did write for the Minneapolis Tribune and was an online columnist in San Francisco. I never met him but am one-degree-of-separation from him and many of my peers here. Always love hearing from you.  🙂 ~ Gail

TOO FUNNY!!!! There’s nothing better than getting to say poopie butt when it really is warranted!  ~ Jo [Editor’s note:  See if you can connect a common profession among the last two?]

I look really young for my age.  ~ Jo

[New high school site today.]

Hi…

Lauren LOVES college….NDSU is good for her!  It’s nice for her and Sam to have each other on campus…they do some things together, but seem to give each other their space too.  “Sisters are Special!” 🙂

We were up there last weekend for family weekend…and had a delightful time!  We ate a lot…and watched the Bison lose on Saturday (something a little more rare these days since they became national champs last year)…and of course shopping!

Thanks for asking…and for the interest that you and Ruth always show for our girls…

~ Val  🙂

My favorite pic is the pumpkinbutts! ~ Marnee’

Big Booty is what they call their fire up cheer.  ~ Marnee’

But remember you have better equipment! 🙂 ~ Marnee’

That’s why we love you!!  ~ Marnee’

Do you know what time it is?!?!?!?!?!  ~ Marnee’ [Editor’s note:  Now you know why she’s my agent.]

[New high school site today.]

You are wonderful!!!  I was just sitting here thinking about the fact that I need to get Adrianne’s volleyball poster done today for the school hallway!  Oh well.  At least now I’ve got some great photos to use, thanks to you!!!  🙂  ~ Amy [Editor’s note:  Well, we’re both on the Education Foundation board.]

Your retirement job is making your community more aware of how wonderful it is.  I would bet that there are many people who look forward to your updates to see themselves, see their kids, enjoy the laughs and find goodness in their community.  I do think it’s great that you are getting lots of kudos of late – you definitely work hard and it DOES pay off.  I know that Danny and I wanted a photo of the smart car while we were in MN and he ended up pulling your blog up to find it!

Thanks for all the great stories – they mean a lot to us and obviously mean even more to the local folks… in so many ways.  It’s time to start that book… ~ Jami [Editor’s note:  Well, she’s our daughter.]

[New high school site today.]

No problem! You can’t remember everything!  You were busy taking in your first Lions meet at Arrowwood. 🙂  You did a wonderful job on your blog about it.  You more than congratulated her!  ~ Marnee’

Dear Tom…Thanks so much for sending this to us..the pictures are wonderful  and YOU are AMAZING! This community is truly blessed to have you and Ruth among us…you are both such great people! Have a super week!  ~ Dave and Carol

Where do you find this stuff!!???  It’s hilarious!  ~ Marnee’

What can I say??!?!?!?!  ~ Marnee’

You are so loved!!  That has to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling.  She is so right!  ~ Marnee’

[We got good feedback on the aerial views of the Hole No. 7 reconstruction at the Alexandria Golf Club.  A chronological view from ground level will provide a nice respite from a multitude of quotes.  This is looking from the 6th fairway toward No.  7 and Lake Darling on September 19.]

Hi Guys,  As each day brings us closer to to doing less and less of the things we did in our productive years, you can’t imagine what it means to be able to follow your emails and feel we can still be apart of of all the things that interest us , but can no longer do on our own.  After belonging to the club for 47 years, we still feel the ownership but are unable to keep up on our own.  Thank you for keeping us on you your email list.  It means a lot to us.  We have lived in Alex since 1958, so almost all your comments bring back happy memories. Your writing is great and the pictures superb.  How lucky you were to find such a supportive and capable wife as the Supervisor.  We love you both.  ~ Dick and Lollie [Editor’s note:  Obviously, this meant a lot to us!  🙂 ]

[September 19.]

Always good to see an alum who is not in jail! ~ Lyle

Funny!  ~ The Nanner [Editor’s note:  And I think The Nanner is funny.]

[September 19.]

You gave me the best laugh of my day. LOVE THIS!! Thanks for writing. Yes, doggy bags are so American – for better or worse!  Happy Day!  ~ Gail

I am honored and humbled to have one of my pictures grace an article from the Cub Reporter.  Lake Louise might just become famous now!  ~ Roogggggg

[September 19.]

Tom, Thanks for all the photos. We had a good time looking at them. I especially like how you made dad the ‘the man of attention’ for us to laugh with. ~ Brian

Love it!!!!  ~ Corlis [Editor’s note:  No, not the local Corlis.  Though I’m sure she’d say the same thing.  😉 ]

[September 20.]

Hi… I love the sitting on your ass pictures!  Very creative!  We can never pass up a photo op with the donkey when we are in Dorset either! ~ Val 🙂

Hi Tom,  I very much enjoyed reading your blog!  You have such a great sense of humor!  🙂  Not only are the roster numbers incorrect, but we really do have a shorter team than what the roster shows, Allie, Jenni and Natalie’s heights are a bit off, but I’m sure Jenni is going to get taller before the season is over. ~ Amy

[September 20.]

You look thinner – have you lost weight?  ~ Rosie [Editor’s response: I love you!]

Great picture show, Tom.  Your Uncle Dick was a lucky man to have such a loving and caring family along with friends who cared about him.  As a Maverick, I enjoyed getting to meet him and talk with him, though briefly.  Overall, it seems he had a happy life to remember.  As for being the favorite nephew, you were lucky.  ~ Fitz 

[September 20.]

Tom, I really like the fair pictures at dusk. Especially the ones framed by the tree.  ~ Deb

Awesome!  Thank you for the pics!  That was a fun day….and kids had fun too!  You two are amazing….love seeing you every time!  ~ Julie

[September 20.]

I always dreamed that someday I would be a sailing broadcaster…ahoy matey.  ~ Crazy Dave [Editor’s note:  Hence the nickname.]

Thank You Thank YOU THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL PHOTOS AND COVERAGE!  ~ Marnee’

[September 20.]

Thanks again for sharing your wonderful expertise, Tom.  This is amazing!  I’ll be following you over the months ahead! ~ Therese

This is great, Tom!    I love all the hockey photos!  You are a FANtastic Fan and champion for good livin!  ~ Amy

[September 20.]

Hi Tom, I don’t know if it is good or not, but your photography is so good that I feel I don’t need to travel or go to games.  Your pictures are better then I see when I go.. Thanks again…GREAT JOB….Jerry

[September 20.]

Hi Tom and Ruth, Thanks to the both of you for all you do!  You have been such a blessing to our girls and to us as well.  I’ve been in such a busy time that I haven’t been able to stop and say THANKS.

You two are such great mentors for us future Super Fans!  I hope you know how appreciated you both are.  OK before you think I’m trying my hand at Hallmark cards, I’ll also say I finally got the softball pictures done.  Val took most but I had a hand in it as well – there are 2 games and the banquet.  ~ YOUR fan, Greg

[September 26.]

Awesome pictures! Ones I didn’t think to take….the sign, picture boards, the house from the lake. THANK YOU! You set such a good example of what living life to the fullest looks like.

We go to St. Kate’s tomorrow to register Quinn for classes. One step closer to the next stage in her life.  Have a great day!  ~ Chris

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

[September 26.]

Thanks again everybody!  We really appreciate, and look forward to, hearing from you.  Now, we bid adieu to the fall sports season with this classic photo by the staff photographer!  🙂

Unfortunately, I have to report that the team did lose to Bemidji in the section semi-finals.  But they had a fun and exciting year – best wishes to our seniors.  We’ll end the season by wrapping up the seniors’ final home game, the section quarter-final win over Detroit Lakes (continued).

[Before Game 3, even more horns.]

[Even more horns yet!]

[Celebrater-in-chief Adrianne has her eyes on the prize . . .]

[Then goes up and swats it.]

[Amanda C makes her move.]

[Good job, Allie; good job, Jenni . . .]

[Hey, did anyone place the DQ order yet?]

[I’ll be back!  🙂 ]

[Senior Nicole Canavati serves.]

[Her teammates celebrate a point.]

[So, she serves again.]

[Then Jenni serves.]

[Then Shanee’.]

[Cheer . . .]

[ . . . oh cheer . . .]

[ . . . for . . .]

[Alex!]

[The ball balances precariously . . .]

[Let’s wrap it up, ladies!]

[Tara and Jenni.  Did they get it?]

[The cub reporter is excited about the possibility of getting out of here in an hour.]

[I can’t help but wonder about the lack of Kim Kardashian sightings this year?]

[The DQ closes in a half an hour.]

[Weren’t we just in this position a minute ago?]

[Adrianne serves.]

[Shanee’ and Dani are the last line of defense.]

[We won!  Three games to a bagel.]

[Celebrate . . .]

[ . . . celebrate . . . ]

[ . . . dance to the music.]

[You had to feel for their libero, No. 2 in red.  Emma Wood is a senior and had just played her last game . . . and she realized it.]

[Retired teacher, coach, and announcer . . . ]

[And now leading the easy life as a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives.]

[Then, this was my first ever attempt at covering the Player-of-the-Game . . . ]

[This was always the job of the staff photographer.  Fortunately, Adrianne made the job easy.  🙂 ]

[Of course, as the staff photographer always said, we’re just trying to get a good shot of Dave.]

[The evening before, the new University of Minnesota athletic director, Norwood Teague, made an appearance at Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale.]

[And then with our local athletic directors.]

[The morning after the game, the supervisor and I awoke to our first snowfall of the season.  OK, it wasn’t much and it didn’t last the morning.]

[But it was pretty.]

And then we thought we should express our feelings about our final games against The Blake School and Bemidji:

OK, just kidding.  I’m sure those teams have wonderful athletes who are kind to their parents.

Now we will cheer on the Hasz sisters in the state cross-country meet next week – and look forward to the coming hockey and basketball seasons!  🙂

[Two famous local writers . . . and a guy.]

Hey, how ’bout our Cardinal football team??  Our young men of the gridiron were in a rebuilding year – only one win, and that thankfully on homecoming.  They opened the playoffs with a 39-12 pounding of St. Cloud Tech.  As I recall Tech beat us by a similar score on the first game of the season?   Next up, at Moorhead – we played them close the first time.

Our girls soccer tournament is playing Blake in the state tournament tonight (Thursday).  No doubt we’ll now that score before we finish this posting.   [It’s now the next day (funny how that happens) so we have a report:

Blake 2, Alexandria 0: Lydia Sutton’s 12th and 13th goals of the season led Blake to a 2-0 victory over Alexandria in the first round of Class 1A state tournament at Roseville High School.

The second-seeded Bears showcased speed, crisp passing, flow and air-tight defense all game, but Cardinals junior goalkeeper Sarah Bruzek stole the show early, stonewalling Blake until Sutton scored with 1:14 left in the first half. A perfect lead pass from Natalie Sill set up Sutton. Her second goal came in the 73rd minute.  [StarTribune, October 26, 2012.]

The Blake School is the defending state champion (never play anybody named “The Something School”).  The Cardinals’ coach said they were the best team he has ever seen in 14 years of coaching.  Which once again begs the question, for the sake of competitive integrity, why aren’t private schools in their own class?  Nevertheless, we congratulate our Cards for a great season and making it to state!!  🙂

We also learned that the Hasz sisters, Megan and Bethany, finished 1 – 2 in the cross-country section final meet in Bemidji yesterday – they were just .3 second apart and beat the No. 2-ranked runner in the state, Bemidji’s Jenna Truedson.  Alex finished 4th (of 16)as a team, but the Hasz sisters will go to state as individuals.  The boys team finished 7th (of 16) but lost a key runner to injury during the race.  Congratulations to all the Cards!]

And now back to (or starting?) our story . . .

[WE WON!  In the sport I’ve chosen to cover this fall, the volleyball team began section playoffs on Wednesday with an impressive 3-game throttling of Detroit Lakes.  This is the post-game celebration.  Some time soon they travel to Bemidji for a re-match with the big, bad Lumberjacks.]

But, speaking of writers, we’re going to take a brief interlude for a visit with Mr. Maintenance.  You may recall the above book from an earlier posting.  It’s a very fun read, even for someone with two left thumbs.  I’m sure many of the male readers in the audience will agree that a husband, as we all ultimately learn, should be a handyman, a lawn guy, and someone who regularly takes out the garbage.  I satisfy number 3.  Nevertheless, we still find such as the following amazing and think, gee, I wish I had the handyman gene.  From the book, Chapter Six:

This is the most complicated thing I ever built (Tom Hartwig, who is the Tom of Visiting Tom), he says, hands on his hips as he stares at the sawmill.  Took me two years.  Two winters.  We went out and looked at about twelve sawsmills before we built this one.  There’s over a hunnerd pounds’a welding rods in that thing.

The sawmill is mounted on a set of old truck wheels and balanced by seven screw jacks distributed fore and aft.  From tongue to tail it is forty-five feet long.  A gangly boom projects out at a right angle and terminates over a pile of sawdust that has been swept there by the paddles on a droopy chain. . . .

Fella had some sawmill parts that had been lying in his iron pile for forty years and I gave him seventy-five dollars for those.  That included the arbor and the wheels.  All the rest I built.  He lifts away a hinged piece of sheet metal to reveal the guts of the mill, and now he’s describing the minutiae, how he set up the clutching mechanism with sheets of Masonite and two truck tires that roll against each other, how he built the keyed hubs on his lathe, how the roller chain setup is intended to counter the negative effects of torque, how the push stick he uses to run the log carriage back and forth is hooked by means of an iron wheel to a setup that engages a Chevrolet transmission hooked to the rear end of a Ford Pinto, which in turn rotates a cable drum that pulls the log into the saw or runs it back when you throw the stick the other direction . . . You’re trying to follow but all you see is a maze of shafts and bolts and roller chains and grease-caked bearings and flanges.  In Tom’s head, it’s all laid out real clear.

And that’s how you cut lumber.  I don’t understand it – but I love it.  And really admire people who can do this stuff!  🙂

[Meanwhile, back at the JHS gym – team introductions and the National Anthem.  This is also an opportunity to re-introduce the blue garbage can, which had a co-starring role in most of last year’s postings.]

[I wasn’t quite sure who I had here in the VIP section until I got it home on a big screen.  We have Sarah “Baby Bruiser” Bruzek, No. 13, star goalie on the soccer team . . .]

[And Karly Betterman, No. 5, of the cross-country team.  They will be teammates on the basketball team.]

[“Baby Bruiser” is “Baby Bruiser” because . . . of this photo.  Taken by moi on February 24 2006 at the Xcel Energy Center.  Her oldest sister, Brittney, a/k/a, “The Bruiser,” was a forward on our state tournament hockey team that year.  Plus, her dad, Bud, was my high school classmate.  And now Sarah has played on a state tournament team herself.  🙂 ]

[This was the last home game of the year.  Thus, instead of usual pickled vegetable toss, the players threw stuff they found in the back of their lockers – DQ debris was reported among the objects.  Oh, No. 11 again is sophomore Amanda Haack.]

[Senior Jessica Burns]

[Junior Emily Kuennen]

[Senior Dani Strater]

[Sophomore Kalley Bistodeau]

[Sophomore Brooke Swanson]

[Senior Allie Noetzelman]

[Senior Jenni Wild]

[Senior Adrianne Wensman]

[Junior Amanda Christianson, who throws a basketball the length of the court, hit the top row.]

[Senior Natalie Watkins decides to go near side, thus stifling the defense.]

[As does senior Tara LeBrassuer.]

[Senior Shanee’ Herd hesitates . . .]

[Then goes far side.  Was that a hockey puck?]

[Hi, Lakers!  Welcome to Alex.]

[Lakers, as you may recall from your studies, refers to a body of water larger than a pond but smaller than a DQ quarter-tonner.]

[Do sa do and Allemande left!]

[I’m thinking extra fudge with my DQ . . .]

[Adrianne and Amanda C stuff it like it was a Thanksgiving turkey!]

[The Cards jumped out to a big early lead.  It was obvious it was going to be a long (and thus, short) night for the Lakers.]

[The Cards were hitting on all cylinders – if birds can be said to have cylinders?]

[Allie sets, Adrianne swoops in for the kill.  Maybe my best ever “set” photo?  😉 ]

[The Lakers are thinking, Oh, no!]

[Where’d it go?]

[Shanee’ digs.]

[Amanda C thinks of extra fudge, Adrianne waves to a fan?]

[A group rejoice (my favorite play) is indicative of a won point.]

[A group rejoice is also where apres game festivities are discussed.]

[Allie demonstrates to Amanda C the proper procedures for de-lidding a Blizzard.]

[Natalie serves . . .]

[We win a point.]

[We won a lot of points when Natalie served.]

[Now remember, de-lidding is all in the wrists.]

[Natalie’s on a roll!]

[The student section is abuzz with excitement!  Shanee’ advised them DQ coupons may be available at area kiosks!]

[Allie and Amanda C stare into the Laker backfield – trying to steal signs?]

[Point (well taken?)]

[“The Voice of the Cardinals” hurriedly addresses his stat line as the Cards score again.  He was obviously kept busy in the game – his ever present Coke looks untouched.]

[Have I double high-fived you yet?]

[I heard the Blizzard-of-the-week was the double jamoca almond fudge with Skittles! ]

[Allie signals for ‘five’ extra toppings on her double jamoca almond fudge!]

[Natalie prepares for receipt . . .]

[And Amanda C slams it over.]

[Emily “hides” behind Natalie and Tara . . .]

[Then goes up for a block with Tara.]

[Time-out]

[We’re doin’ good!]

[Hydrate!  If you’re doing Blizzards later, you must hydrate!]

[Shanee’ receives.]

[Adrianne celebrates!  🙂 ]

[We win game 1!]

[The photographer is so excited he takes a blurry photo of a still object!]

[Horns.]

[More horns.]

[Adrianne blocks.]

[Amanda C and Adrianne block.]

[The student fans . . . block?]

[Let there be love, joy, and happiness . . .]

[After a crushing kill!  (Though no harm intended.)]

[Is that really the new Blizzard menu?]

[A last second inadvertent glance to the left by Shanee’ created a 6-player pile up at center court.  Fortunately, there were no major injuries . . . come to think of it, there were no minor injuries either.]

[Jenni, Tara, and Emily man the net.  Has it ever been determined whether “man” is the correct verb in these circumstances?]

[Emily and Tara block.]

[Emily does a sweep right around Tara.]

[I’m not really sure what Emily’s intentions are here, but Natalie seems oblivious to them.]

[Emily, Adrianne, and Natalie at the net.  I think we’ve now presented every combination of frontliners we use.  I continue to not understand rotation patterns.]

[Good for us!]

[Keep it up!]

[The backline never gets enough coverage.  It’s harder.  You always know there’ll be activity at the net, so there’s a major tendency to aim the camera there.]

[And here it’s Jessica, Shanee’, and Jenni.]

[I wonder if the guy on other side got a better photo?]

[Game 2, never in doubt.]

Due to extraordinary length, to be continued . . .