alexandriacardinals

[So, right up front, we won!!  🙂 ]

After the parade, we kept right on hiking – to the tailgate party beyond the North end zone.  We enjoyed a burger in the crisp sunshine (the crispness kept the yellow jacket menace in check) – with a side order of water and no cookie (a hint as to what’s happening to my calorie intake).  It was still two hours to game time, so we thought about a field trip to the winery for Uncle Willie’s Gut Bucket Blues Band . . . until we realized it was was still one hour to Uncle Willie.  To home and a nap.

Refreshed from a little couch time, we made it back to the high school by game time.  We thought the “wind chill” would be such that we would be unlikely to last the entire game.  Plus, our young Cardinals were playing another 0 – 3 team in St. Cloud Apollo – both teams appear to looking up at a conference loaded with good teams this year.

We had missed the only other home game so far because of a scheduling conflict, so this would be a game of first impression . . . meaning we had no idea what to expect.

[The Eagles were in formation for the National Anthem . . .]

[Played by the band in the new (to my recollection?) bleachers in the South end zone.]

[I must have been distracted during kick-off . . .]

[But I believe this was the Cardinals’ first play from scrimmage – a sweep left.]

[Appeared to be about a 5-yard gain.]

[Down the field our Cardinals continued to march . . .]

We momentarily interrupt this program to honor those who bring it to you . . . well, in the digital picture or video form:

All of which leads me to wonder whether I could get field credentials if I threw my “Press” hat into the ring?

Meanwhile, back at the game . . .

[Junior quarterback, John Vogeler (7), awaited the next play call.]

[It was a quarterback keeper.]

[And was tackled.]

[The next play was a misdirection.]

[It’s a Touchdown!  Cardinals lead 7 – 0 after the first drive of the game.  Sophomore Jake Bear scored the TD, though he is totally lost in the pile.  And it looks like we have an excellent place kicker, senior Chandler Davis.]

As good a time as any for the roster.  You can see we’re young.  And I’ve heard we have good talent coming up with the freshmen class and in this sophomore class.

[Then we kicked off after the TD.  Senior kicker, Tyler Lenarz, showed a strong leg, including a touchback.]

[Give me an “A”!]

[Give me an “L”!]

[Give me an “E”!]

[Give me an “X”!  What’s that spell?  (After all, we do send them to school to learn how to spell.)]

[As I recall, on the first play after the kick-off, the Eagles fumbled and the Cards recovered.]

[We ran a couple of plays . . .]

[And scored again!  🙂 ]

[The Eagles have a quick little scatback who hurt us with long kick returns all game.  After the 2nd Cardinal touchdown, the Eagles working with a relatively short field marched smartly for a touchdown of their own.  They have a 6’2″, 205-pound sophomore quarterback who looked very good with a strong arm.]

The first quarter was fraught with excitement.  (Always savor a little fraught in your life; too much, however, may require medication.)  At 14 – 7 it looked like it was going to be a real shoot-out.  But as you already know, there was only one more touchdown the rest of the game.

[This has to be the 2nd quarter because the Eagles are going the other way.  It’s hard to get anything by me!]

[Inquiring minds want to know – is this Nan Haggerty’s daughter or merely the school mascot?]

[Blog contributor, Al Grundei, headed to the restroom or to the field for halftime alumni introductions, whichever came first.]

At half-time, Homecoming royalty were introduced:

[Queen Shelby Iverson, Hall-of-Famer Joani Nielson, and King Kyle Blank.]

[Though we think of her as a hockey player, she’s had a terrific season in cross-country, too.]

[Sophomore attendants Justin Cumberbatch and Ellie Bergstrand.]

[I’m going to guess seniors Patrick Leary and Maggie Shay stepping out.]

[Becca Illies giggling knowing (?) I got caught by the bane of the telephoto lens – a giant head in the foreground!  😉 ]

[A giant head interrupts Shelby.]

[“Hi, Joani!”]

[Dennis Stark led the football alumni onto the field.]

[Joined by Grundei.]

[“Lookin’ good, Al!”]

[Two generations of Kluvers – everybody except Lisa!]

[Take a bow, Al.]

[The cheerleaders had to layer up a couple of times.]

[What’s it gonna do?  We’re in the 2nd half now.  We did not think we would still be at the game.  Uncle Willie awaited at the winery . . . but.  It actually was kind of a nice day sitting in the somewhat protected stands on a sunny day.  It was kind of an interesting game, despite a plethora of turnovers and penalties.  So, we stuck it out.]

[Well, I think I’ll pick it up then.]

[I’ll try to capture that.]

[Did you get it?]

[Trying to pass the Eagles back into contention.  After their first drive, however, the Cardinals’ pass defense was stellar!]

[In the 4th quarter . . .]

[Vogeler scored for the Cards . . .]

[And that wrapped up the game.]

[Celebrate . . .]

[And kick the extra point.]

[The Eagle and the Apollo fans maintained some hope to the end because the “replacement refs” took over.  We interecepted a pass, had a nice return on it, and then after the tackle we were hit with two 15-yard penalties – both were walked off to the tune of 30 yards.  Denny Kalpin, ex-Cardinal coach, said on radio after the game he had never seen back-to-back 15-yard penalties walked off on the same play.  And when Apollo was throwing long bombs at the end of the game, the Cards were hit with about four pass interference penalites – in each case our defender was behind (i.e., in position) the receiver, and when they’d both go up for the ball together, they’d call defensive pass interference.  You hate to question refs who give of their time to work high school games, but several of us the stands did voice our displeasure.  Fortunately, it wasn’t costly – I think we were called for 11 penalties in the game to their two.]

[It’s over!!  🙂  Good game team – it should provide confidance for the future.  We weren’t surprised to hear junior Aaron Steidl was named defensive player of the game, though we remembered him as a running back.  At defensive end, I think he had 11 tackles and 2 sacks.   Senior lineman Chase Duwenhoegger was named offensive player of the game, leading the blocking for the running game.]

[We missed Uncle Willie at the winery – but we did catch Lisa Lynn at SAWA.  Really, she was there! 😉 ]

[We love Lisa, but it had been a long day.  She understood when we couldn’t make it all the way through her last set.]

One last thing.  Our Tuesday morning golf league is losing competitors to snowbirdom and chilly morning weather.  We only had 12 guys this week.  We form teams by blind draw.  We noticed coming in the back 9 that our last foursome was the group below – their youngest member is 85!

[Standing, 1-r:  Dar Hentz, 87; Harry Ramaley, 85; Gordy Anderson, 91.  Sitting:  Don Hansen, 87.  Whatta group!  I think 3 of the 4 shot their age this day.  An inspiration to all.]

Next up:  Volleyball

[Liz Schultz in the Echo.]

[Marge Van Gorp.  There were several good possibilities for the lead-off photo for this column – including those that included me, for Pete’s sake!  But how could it not be Marge?  She played softball with my Mom!  And she still writes the “100 Years Ago . . .” column for the Echo.  Marge, you are our parade queen!  🙂 ]

[Runner-up:  Mrs. Alexandria, Patty Wicken, on the right; her daughter, Terri, in the middle; and Lisa Schultz on the right.  I thought they were cute.]

[Runner-up:  Al Grundei’s (Class of ’67) mom, Rosemary (Class of ’38).  With Margaret Krey Lempka (Class of ’67).  I thought they were cute.]

[Runner-up:  C’mon!  I had to be in there somewhere!  My teammates, however, probably thought I brought them down.  Marlene Zimmel Bettin, on the left, and Bev Roers Korkowski, on the right (obviously), are the first classmates, other than the redoubtable Joe Drexler (2 times), to ever join me on the Homecoming jaunt down Broadway (we did not Boogaloo Down Broadway, I hate that song.)  Yup, cute.]

The parade began again this year at the fairgrounds.  That’s fine – makes assembly easier.  But it totally confused me as to reportorial coverage – well, a lot of things confuse me.  In the years the parade begins at the Catholic church, I’m able to stand at the front of the formation and get photos of the Homecoming court and the grand marshals (or is it grands marshal?).  But this year, as I entered the fairgrounds two cameras in hand, I noticed all the convertibles at the start of the line-up, but their passengers were out-and-about doing meet-and-greets.  So, I continued on – photo ops abounded with floats and alumni of all shapes, sizes, and ages in various conveyances.  I think I was somewhere behind a 4H building when movement began – I would never be able to get to the front of the parade to capture the royalty.  Classmate Bev (aforementioned) phoned ahead to her husband Cliff to see if he could get them as they came down Broadway.  We’re thankful for those he was able to get.

[The other passengers in the Grundeimobile.  Tom Lempka, Doug Drexler, and Al, all Class of ’67.  Cute?]

[Class of ’56.  (Oh, you can read that.)]

[Class of ’56 was multi-vehicled.]

[Class of ’54 snuck in (and he knows who he is), allegedly as a spouse to a ’56er.]

[The football team, with some groupie alumni women!]

[Tom Akenson’s (rain coat) classic ’38 fire engine ferries the Class of ’68 – at least until they hit Broadway, or so they say.  Current fire marshal, Dennis Stark (l), inspects the rig.]

[And here they are!  Yeah, they can still walk.]

You may have noticed people look a little bundled up.  As you may recall, we had beautiful weather for the last three Homecomings.  And it was lovely (sunny – hey, we’re in a drought!) this time as well, but a tad on the chilly side – 50-ish.  With a slight breeze, the supervisor and I began talking ourselves into only staying for half of the football game (as you will learn later, we stuck it out to the end).  Today was the first day of fall – I celebrated by making the first pot of chili of the season.

[Classes of ’61 and ’63.]

[Class of ’48, as was the birth of their tractor.]

[A mixed group – we have become progressive enough to allow the commingling of classes.]

[The band followed the team.]

[The East Gate entry (and exit) to the fairgrounds from whence the parade began.]

[Somewhere behind the teeming masses was either a grand marshal or Homecoming royalty.]

[Oh, here’s Hall-of-Fame grand marshal, Joani Nielson, better known to Super Fans as a hockey mom.]

[Cheer, oh cheer for Alex . . .]

[The line-up of older people . . . er, alumni.]

[I think we’re moving . . .]

[Cheerleaders.  (Oh, you guessed that?)]

[We’re heading down Fairgrounds Road to Broadway.]

[The 70’s?  And they’re riding?  😉 ]

[I believe this was the figure skating club.]

[There’s Bev and Marlene ahead.  Since I was always stopping for photos, I had a tough time keeping up.  They set a mean pace.  So, despite my years of training with the Fat Boys Walking Club, 5 miles per day, 6 days a week, I was working up a sweat in 50-degree weather!]

[The cheerleaders lead us onto Broadway.]

[That’s Bev in the foreground; kids seeking candy in the background.]

[And they all came to see the Class of ’65!]

[Bev and Marlene receive a standing ovation!]

[Reminder:  The Secret Garden is in its 2nd and last week at the AAAA!]

[Marlene’s thinking, “I should have done this every year . . .”]

[“I never knew I had so many fans?”]

[We risk life and limb heading into the 8th Avenue “dip.”]

[The “dip” provides some contrasting topography – without the need for a building permit.]

[Trying the keep an eye on the cheerleaders so they don’t disappear in the “dip.”]

[OK, some of the ’68ers walked . . . and threw candy.]

[Bev and Marlene keep on truckin’.]

[You may recognize this as the article photo above.  🙂 ]

[Candy and children litter the street.]

[The rest of the parade falls into the “dip.”]

[And then we were buzzed (to be explained anon).]

Remember Bev’s phone call to Cliff?  The next 9 photos are his taken from the “dip”:

[Marchers who realize they are now more than halfway to the high school!]

[Then a P-51 Mustang flew over . . .]

[And the crowd gaped!!  (Thanks for these photos, Cliff!)]

[Waiting for the next pass . . .]

[And here it comes again.  A tribute to Hall of Famer and WWII ace, “Bud” Peterson.]

[Good-bye.]

[Meanwhile, back at the parade.]

[The Grundeimobile “marches” on.]

[As do Bev and Marlene, as we near the end of trekking Broadway.]

[Broadway telephotoed.]

[I don’t know who she is . . .]

[But she made the photo!  (The school has advised:  She’s Jodi Crouse-Wanner, Lenore Crouse’s (search blog, also played softball with Mom) granddaughter.  🙂 ]

[And now commencing our turn on 15th to the high school.]

[School, dead ahead.]

[The volleyball team!  🙂 ]

[Aaaayyyyyyyyyyy!]

[The swim team?]

[The parade is over . . .]

[Is she a future Cardinal star?]

Next:  The game.

Homecoming is still about royalty, isn’t it?  OK, that’s just the lead-in to the photo filched from the front pages of the Echo Press.  I have to admit to a certain bias here.  I grew up across the street from my class’s homecoming queen and have antagonized her over the years by continually displaying her in this blog.  And this year I have to admit to a certain Super Fan bias – meaning as such our sole purpose in our retired lives is to support the girls’ hockey team (oh, and to pay the bills, too).  And the homecoming queen this year, donning her crown (tiara?) above, is Shelby Iverson, a center on the hockey team.  Becca Illies, to her left in the green (teal? well, any color is just a guess?) dress is a member of her court and a winger on her hockey line.  Shelby will also be a co-captain of the hockey team – and she and Becca will be bellwethers as to how well the team does this year.  And here’s the rest of the court, none of whom (to my knowledge) have had issues such as those recently experienced by the occupants of Buckingham Palace.

[Also from the Echo.]

Thanks to the Education Foundation, on which I proudly serve (until the end of this year, unless there is a Constitutional amendment to abolish term limits), Homecoming, beginning a couple years ago, is now a two-day event.  The Friday is for the Hall of Fame luncheon and the Jeans & Jewels evening soiree and fund raiser; and the Saturday hosts the parade at noon and the football game in mid-afternoon.  We participate in numbers 1 through 3, but for the football we merely spectate.  (They post “spies” at the entrance to field trying to round up almuni football players for the featured halftime “show.”  I, as a fellow now large enough to be a middle linebacker and wearing an almuni t-shirt, am always asked if I was a football player.  My reply is always, “No, because a fellow could get hurt out there, and I needed to stay healthy to withstand the ravages of chess club.”)

It never hurts to advertise:

The Hall of Fame inductees this year were:

Their plaques, like those of their 15 predecessor, will be hung on the Hall of Fame wall by the school system’s administrative offices in Woodland Elementary School.

Lunch was held at the Broadway Ballroom.  Newest board member, Chad Larson, did a terrific job hosting the event – though claiming being the “newest” was how he got the job.  The 230 attendees heard wonderful acceptance speeches from the inductees, or in Bud Peterson’s case, his son.  John sent a video because he was in Spain promoting a movie – but he hopes to make a live appearance at a future event.  Though the program ran just a tad long, I don’t think anyone minded – they were all so heartfelt.

[“Bud” Peterson’s P-51 Mustang fighter plane, named “Hurry Home, Honey,” as his fiance signed letters to him.]

[The supervisor checks out the seating arrangements.]

[For the Jeans & Jewels event that evening.]

[The high school provided the talented musicians.]

[Coverage competition?]

[Our table enjoys the music, our lunch, and, particularly in my case, the Snickers center piece.]

[General pre-program milling around.]

[Then we all came back a few hours later for Jeans & Jewels.]

[Hats off to you!  The evening’s theme, recognizing members of the 206 Club.]

[And the “heavy” hors d’oeuvres are here!  😉 ]

[206 Club members get to have their graduation photos projected on the walls!]

[Kathleen Pohlig won an iPad (by purchasing the lucky password).  It was only fitting – she and Bruce won the ACE (A Champion in Education) award during the Hall of Fame luncheon as recognition for all they have done in support of local education.  🙂 ]

[The Henrys and Mulders report having a great time.]

[Old and new 206 members share stories about their first-grade teachers – or Kim Kardashian (as also Super Fans), I can’t remember which?]

[Promises of future donations?]

[Bob shows off the watch Vivian won.  Why he had it, I don’t know?]

[In the absence of any other ideas on how to wrap this up, sunrise over beautiful Lake Darling on the 18th.]

Next:  The parade and . . . the game!

[I don’t know who there are?  We’ve lost the schedule.  But it was the first entertainment we saw when we entered the winery.  They seemed to attract a good crowd.]

Now one of the biggest events on the Alexandria social calendar, the Stomp attracted huge crowds again – from all reports reaching the 15,000+ attendance mark again.  With such as arts, crafts, food, wine, music, comedy, dancing, contests, juggling, chain saw carving, painting, glass blowing, lion taming, rollercoasters, “find the Norwegian,” (OK, I made up the last three), and . . . grape stomping, what’s not like?

The supervisor and I still, still recovering from the excitement of company and Dorset, did not make it to Friday’s stomp and Saturday just kinda lolled around the house in a semi-comatose state.  Sunday was the last day . . . and to my memory, we had never missed a Stomp (well, maybe those like three years in a row when it was hit with deluges that turned the parking “lot” into a muddy quagmire – then this year, fighting the drought, hiking in from the parking “lot” through mini dust storms), so we rounded up all the materials necessary for the adventure (“bring our own chairs, because it will be packed”), planned on getting there before noon when it began (Skilly & Duff on the Marquette Stage), and somehow, in spite of ourselves, hit a bit of a traffic snag as we arrived precisely at noon.  In spite of her bad foot, the supervisor immediately bolted toward the event center, not waiting for the tractor trolley, and lugging our chairs in case all the seating was gone.  Of course it wasn’t -and we had a lovely afternoon just listening to music and watching the world go by.

[I subsequently found the flyer . . . but still don’t know who they are?]

[And what local event would ever be complete without “pork chops and fresh cut fries?”]

[Mikko regaling the audience with tales from Ireland while Annie and Bruce listen on.]

[Bruce doing his own regalement.]

Many are probably unaware of the strategic role the supervisor plays in a Skilly & Duff performance.  She leads audience participation when the group performs Black Velvet Band:

[Her eyes , they shone like diamonds . . .]

[You’d think she was queen of the land . . .]

[And her hair hung over her shoulders . . .]

[Tied up with a black velvet band.]

[Still don’t know?]

[Before the SRO Skilly & Duff crowds arrived . . .]

[Some of the vendors.]

[Mikko chatting with an Osakis neighbor who has started a distillery.]

[Marilyn searching for the perfect angle.]

[There they are again?]

[The group is joined by Osakin (Osakisite?) [?] Gibbons, of the Gibbons Brothers Band.  He is a grandson of Tommy Gibbons, who once fought Jack Dempsey.  That Kevin Bacon connection thing again – Gene Tunney’s son was just in town.]

Mikko’s classic version of From Clare to Here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9xFIE1At4

[Ziba Gypsy Belly Dancers]

[Some more vendors.]

[After 3 hours with Skilly & Duff, we went to the hippodrome (that’s what I still call it?) to see Tucker’d Out, a group we like from Fargo and generally only get to see once or twice a year.  The day before, we heard this place with SRO with wine tasting and music.  I guess when you get down to the last hour of the last day, most are home taking naps!]

[So, we had an almost private concert by the boys . . .]

[And bought a couple of their CD’s when they were done.]

[Nope?]