alexandriacardinals

Last night was the member social.  I don’t think we’d been there since last year’s social – not enough new visitors to Darling Heights Place, I guess.  Museum director, Bruce Olson, gave us all an enthusiastic tour of all that’s going on there now.  The place had a totally different look, I thought.  A better and softer ambience.  And now the outdoor gardens and performing areas are starting to take shape.  That’s been a bit of a struggle the last couple of years, however, as the museum depends on landscape volunteers to do the work.  And the wet springs and summers have made that difficult – when it is dry enough, the landscapers are obliged to do their business work.  I can hardly wait to see it finished – looks like it will be a great place for outdoor concerts.  Oh, and before I proceed any further, because this did start mainly as a girls hockey blog, I feel obliged to advise longtime readers and Super Fans that Bruce’s and Marie’s daughter, Ahna, a defenseman for our Cards in mid-decade, is now in her 2nd year of grad school in Portland in a medical field.

[Ahna, standing, with Abby Williams, Courtney Walsh, and Kat DelZoppo.]

[The North wing – there will be a whole new display here soon.]

[The supervisor enjoys a wicker rest – still dealing with plantar fasciitis.]

[Little Falls Flyer – car and boat.]

[I believe Bruce said this was rated the No. 1 antique boat in the country.  A Gar Wood.  Google that name.  He was quite the amazing guy.  His love of water and boats was established on Lake Osakis.  He went on to invent many things – such as the dump truck – and built and raced boats.]

[Wood once hit 124 mph with an 1,800 hp boat engine.]

[Let’s see how things are going in the backyard – a double waterfall, three gazebos, a walk through a natural area, and a performance area.]

[Looking toward the Runestone Museum.]

[The performance stage.]

[Back inside – the South (front) wing of the building.]

[All hand made.]

[Donated by Bill Becker, our neighbor across the street with the 6-acre ranchette.]

[Geez, I forgot to get a shot of the new front desk – in maritime style.  Well, I guess you’ll just have to go see it yourselves.]

As previously noted, we both felt like we had been runover by a bus, so we decided to call it a day from the rest of the evening’s festivities.  But we decided to drive by the courthouse just to see how Doc’s Dixieland were doing.

[Uffda, and it was such a beautiful night for a sit out on the lawn!]

Finally, a nice evening!  While the supervisor was off getting election judge training, I joined a sizeable cadre of folks anxious to get out of the house for some quality entertainment at the winery.  They done good!

[Using a technique honed through years of study at the Peeping Tom Institute of Papparazzi (PTIP), photographing the photographer – Marilyn, this is your moment.]

[Mikko in silhouette.]

[Late arrivals (moi)  found seats in the back row – so I went for a stroll.]

[An impish Mikko ducks under the lens.]

[PTIP strategies capture Jewett.]

[And Amy.]

[I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now.]

[Mary Pohl, the North Carolina nightingale.]

[Noted fans of the Trumm sisters.]

Terry Kennedy, a retired orthopedic surgeon ventured in the realm of obstetrics for what he calls a medley of his one hit – “Swimming Alone in the Dark”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ri9nJgho0A

[At performance end, a brother and sister – and I’m sure I’ll be advised by someone again as to who they are – did a quick couple of songs.  Terrific!  I was told she appears in this U of M flash mob performance, but I’ll be darned if I could find her.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH8FvERQHtM

[Next up:  The Boats!]

Friends,

[Editor’s note:  Whenever you receive a missive that begins “Friends,” you can be sure it will be about one of two things.  You will either be asked for money . . . or it will be a tale of woe.  Woe is me!]

Yesterday morning I was moping around, concerned about my inability to play golf again on that day.  Ten days ago, I pulled my right glute playing golf.  It takes a pretty special player to be able to do that.  I was playing well, so I continued to play.  Four holes later I took an “arrow” to that same spot and the strain went into my hammy.  I was done – and I figured likely for at least a few weeks.  And I was moping around because the weather limited any other options – though I did read my first William Kent Krueger novel – and I had nothing to blog.  We had hit the dead zone athletically.  So, I resorted to the excitement of deep and current archival material – Ballgame and Cruise.  I was able to make it out to the winery on the solstice for storytelling – ah, blog material.  Then yesterday I was struck with other issues – a summer cold was making an entry into my already wracked body.  The limp I developed from favoring the “arrow” shot pain reactivated my old sciatica issues.  Then by yesterday afternoon laryngitis decided to pay a visit.  All this time I had been touting myself as the only member of the Fat Boys Walking Club who wasn’t on meds or regular doctor visits.  I was (and am) a mess.  That’s why I’m up at 12:30 am doing this – sleep is going to have to come and knock me out.

Yesterday afternoon, the supervisor went to the chiropractor (yes, she has issues too) while I was napping.  She brought home Chinese for dinner.  She forgot we had three events that evening.  The first was a member social at the maritime museum.  They had food and beverage.  Oy.  Lots of good things going on there – so I took lots of pictures (more blog material).  Then we were going to the courthouse for Doc’s Dixieland – and then to SAWA for Al and Terry.  But we had had it after the museum and went home.  😦  Right before we left for the museum, I got a “note” from the staff photographer.  He had posted the last two softball games and the postseason banquet.  Now I have lots of blog material!  Just as well – it appears I will be laid up for a while.

[I forgot where this took place, so I’ll stick ’em in here.  These are Tom’s photos of their cave tubing adventure.  We older folk thought it might be too rigorous for us.  They said we would have been fine.]

[Meanwhile, back on board ship.]

[And back off again.]

[The supervisor was really getting into this ferrying situation.]

[Our Mayan ruins tour guide, Gabby.]

[Black coral (sounds like a poisonous snake?)]

[In the ruins.]

[“Master of all he surveys.”]

[A flower – of the botanical variety.]

[A new use for my new Bob Marley bandana.]

[To the beach!]

[Mmmmm, lunch.  Not Taco Bell’s.]

[Tom sun blocks grandma.]

[Not a bad place!  🙂 ]

[A young man and his ocean.]

[Adios, Cozumel!]

[Origami]

[The epitome of suave and debonair.]

[Methinks the cruise is finally over.  😦 ]

[Jami at the bow – guiding us out of Tampa Bay.]

And the answer to the question is . . . maybe?  Try as I might, I could not be everywhere on the trip.  So these are contributed photos from other family members, mostly Danny.  And if I’m not taking the photos, that means I might . . . be in ’em!  😉

[The Montreal sisters.  Among our favorite “other” passengers.]

[J learned quick!]

[It may have been a signal?]

[Ahhhh!]

[Ahhhh 2!]

[Ship restaurant mural that caught our attention.  Dorothy Lamour?]

[Woo-woo!  First stop – Roatan, Honduras.]

[Jace (below), our tour guide, was probably hassled daily by the local authorities??]

[Coconut!]

[Rita liked it!]

[Jami gets her dreads.  Several people came back to the ship with them that day.  🙂 ]

[Rita buys sunglasses at Bananarama.]

[The water was clearer than in our bathtub – particularly after I get out!]

[Dorothy Lamour?]

[Who do we pay and how much?]

[Would probably have been amazing.]

[Cheeseburger in paradise?]

[And away we go.]

[Whatever it is, tell them to bring us a cold one!  (I’m the bald one.)]

[I heard the Slauson cutoff was closed?]

[An infinite number of Dannys.]

[Tom takes a load off.]

[Help!  Help!  I’m trapped in my state room!]

[It’s OK.  I wanted to be here anyway!]

[The kids room in the star.]

[Jami and the supervisor always managed to get front row seats?]

[Possibly TSA agents looking to frisk me . . . again!  I slipped into a perfumery and made my getaway.]

[I believe a 2nd cousin – he knew Aunt Inga?]

[Just say no to crack!]

[The siesta – the true sign of a civilized society!]

[Rita and I in the background asking that eternal question, “Lunch?”]

[Jami once again rubs elbows with the stars!  😉 ]

[Yup, that’s my boat!]

[The lower level – where we finally lunched.]

[Just be careful regarding your employment of the above sign.]

[We barged right in on this woman and her baby – she was pleasant enough despite this.]

[Too cute!  Destined to be in many cruise memory books.]

[It’s a PAR-TAY!]

[ 😉 ]

[And just watch the world go by.]

[Oh, taxi!]

[Danny found my cousin!]

[It’s not easy being green!]

Next up?  The next stop!