alexandriacardinals

[December 4, 2009]  As I sit here on my stability ball (though becoming more unstable all the time) in my new “office” staring out on the wonders that winter is wroughting (newly coined word), I understand why I take decidedly more photographs in the snowy, white beauty that is this season.  There is a lovely, light snowfall again today – and the last two evenings have wrought (there’s the base word) the first sub-zero wind chills since . . . well, July.  Anyway, we can now see the annual ice blanket begin to creep its way across the lake.  Soon Lake Darling will feature multi-hued fish house communities.

I find it difficult to write the Christmas letter or anything for the blog as I continually gaze absent-mindedly (OK, my usual condition) at the sights outside my window.  Maybe it’s writer’s block – though I understand you have to be a writer first before you can be blocked.  So, for now, it’s best that I return to the couch, continue reading the Molly Ivins biography, and hope to be inspired.

Think you should do some rendition of the 12 days of Christmas for the your fans  It doest have to be 12 days it could be any kind of days ….like musing days…you’ve got the eagle in a Linden tree…you got swans a swimming…you’ve go all you beautiful photos, plus your ardent fan photos…just a thought.   ~ A fan

PS  I think of you not as Easel Adams… but  as Tripod Adams

[April 30, 2009 – Snowstorm of March 1957]  That was a lulu. Pete Geiser and I with his son and another boy went to the basketball tourney in Moorhead. By luck we got as far back as Fergus Falls and didn’t get back to Alex until about noon the next day.  ~ Dr. Bill Heegaard

If it’s the one I remember, it was during the basketball tournaments.  Everyone got caught out of town.  My mom and I were home at the Indian Mounds.  On Saturday a man made it to our door. He wanted to leave his truck.  Nothing had really been plowed, but he needed to get to his farm north of Lake Ida.  His wife and children would be running out of firewood. So off he walked…He returned for his truck several days later. ~ Diane Hoffman O’Brien

That was me, Diane, and I’ve never forgiven you for not loaning me two logs for the fire! ~ Paul Donley (responding to Diane O.)

This was probably the snowstorm where my dad and I got as close to the side door of the bakery as possible and then dug a tunnel in to the door.  I remember how surprised we were when we started to widen the tunnel and discovered a car bumper on either side.  There was no sign of any cars when we started digging and we just happened to hit the right spot. ~ John Herdan

And it shows the paper only cost 5 cents.  ~ Jo Lee

Linda: Jill Kremintz, Kurt’s wife still has his ashes. And no one is certain what she has or is going to do with them. I wish I had an answer for you. Cheers.  ~ Joe Vonnegut, e-mailing Ruthie’s cousin, Linda Zambanini, regarding the location of Kurt Vonnegut’s body [oops, wrong issue]

Hey Tom and Ruthie – reminds me of the fellow who told his wife it was time she quit drinkin’ because her face was starting to get blurry. Cheers from Seattle…  ~  Mikko and Tudy Cowdery [oops, wrong issue again]

I agree with you 100%!!! (the convention, Margaret, caucus you name it). ~ Beth Teeuwen [again?]

You really do take great photos  🙂   ~ The HQ [I quit]

[May 12, 2010]  My 45^th reunion is also this year in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We are so damn old. ~  The Nanner

[June 11, 2010]  A certain classmate has raised an issued . . . that I’m sure has been keeping most of you awake at night [I’m sure she’ll recognize her inquiry]:

I am continually impressed by the amount of film….I would never have been able to afford the film let alone the processing…And where did you store all these photos….I think you belong in Guinness Book of Records or Ripley’s Believe it or not.   Also your wall liquor was another wow.

So, here’s the poop.  On the right side of the attached photos is a brown box with a small cube on top.  Each cube contains 40 slides, each box contains 16 cubes.  I have 5+ boxes.  Slides were the way to go when I bought my first SLR camera in 1970.  They were much cheaper than prints.  Since Ruthie was so kind as to be me a slide scanner, I can now digitize those several thousand slides.

When I discovered the limitations of the slides, I went to prints.  The green box on the left in the photos contains prints – probably a 200-300 hundred.  I have 16 boxes.

With the advent of the digital camera, I just store everything electronically.  Many thousands of those now.  Ruthie occasionally makes prints off of those – she’s a scrapbooker.  TMI?

Well, back to scanning . . . I’m somewhere in New England now.  Kinda fits my personality as forever being a font of useless information.

[June 12, 2010]  In view of the following responses I received on this missive, one would have thought I said I spend my weekends drowning baby bunnies:

– Do you regularly wear a hat with your pajamas?

– Yes, the delete button on the computer works as well.

– There are some pictures that you really should not keep. These would fall into that category.

– Is this new facial hair? Did I start something by what I said last week?!? 

Accordingly, it is certainly within my prerogative to forward photos of recent gifts from the missus from the new Ron’s Warehouse in the old Alex Marine Building.

[June 17, 2010]  I don’t want to brag or make anybody jealous or anything,
but I can still fit into the earrings I wore in high school. ~ The HQ

[July 4, 2010 – Revisiting “Angst”]  A few months ago there was an interesting e-mail discussion (well, at least to the participants) regarding the subject word.  It was brought to mind again recently when I received an e-mail commenting on my physical appearance (favorably?) from some 30 years ago and wondering why she [anonymity provided to protect the dreadfully near-sighted] had no recollections of me ever wandering (well, mostly I ambled) the halls of Jefferson High School.  With yet another reunion on the horizon, we pause to reflect again on those glorious “angst” filled high school years.

Tom,  I haven’t really had a chance to get to know you, even sitting across from you in English. I haven’t got a chance to get to know you. Hope it works out better next year. Til then, good luck in everything you do. ~ Diane

Tom,  I don’t recall you ever saying anything in high school? ~ Russell Rolandson (almost every time I see him now)

“Girl Repellent” cologne worked – I was the proverbial invisible man (or was blessed with Steve Martin’s powers of non-observation).  And so it was many years before I dipped a toe into the societal dating pool – and only then with the courage wrought from a new chocolate Toyota Corolla (a real chick mobile), my locally-famous chili recipe, and the obscure ability to balance a champagne flute on my nose.

[April 7, 2010]  Later revisits of “Angst.”  A great word – right up there with “ilk” and “nuance.”  It is a synonym for writing.  I recently complimented a writer friend about her best angst-ridden column.  She was concerned she had written others?  But all writing reflects angst.

Here are two John C. Obert columns dealing heavily in angst.  Makes me proud to be his progeny.  I have a certain advantage regarding the paunchiness of aging, however – spandex t-shirts!

Angst really is a great word.  I’m so proud to be referred to in the famous writer Tom Obert’s email. I have now achieved success. ~ Jo

[April 8, 2011]  But, of course, I totally agree with you – and a lovely column for Spencer to peruse in his dodderingdom.  By the way, your toilet is overflowing!

I love that word you made up. I’m going to try to use dodderingdom in my next one – perhaps throw in some angst.  And I’m way too smart to fall for the toilet thing. ~ Jo

[August 21, 2010]  Some of you will recognize the woman sitting on the left.  She is “The Nanner.”  She has established a certain cult following on the ‘net for zinging me.  😉  She recently got a new job as Administrator for Centennial Planning for the 2013 Centennial of the US Department of Labor.  By sheer coincidence, her class is celebrating its 45th reunion in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this weekend.  Before she left, here was her parting shot:

I’m sorry, but you look like an idiot.  What happened to you?  You used to be cute.

So, last night, our 45th began wonderfully hosted by Betty Larson Butcher, and her husband Perry, and Chairman Bob Watson on the shores of beautiful Lake Darling.  Pontoon rides, good eats, good drinks, good friends.  While some of us are required to return home when the sun sets, rumors have it that others went on to Bug-A-Boo Bay or Interlachen.  Further reports to follow.  Anyway, I spent the entire evening desperately trying to recover my cuteness!

We like to see cute and happy.  Good going!  ~ Worldstory

[August 22, 2010]  We’ll try to space these out some, but we’re already getting requests from people who aren’t even from Alex, weren’t part of the event, but want to see the pix!  Go figure. 

[Old(er) people having fun!!  (But they probably should be chaperoned.)]

So, on Friday afternoon we arrived from the SW side of big Darling to the west side of Little Darling [Editor’s note:  People who live there do not much care for the term “Little Darling.”  Can’t say as I blame them.  How ’bout the north bay of Lake Darling?].  The Larson Butcher and Watson compound had a “Parking” sign up in the car window.  All were greeted by various valets on golf carts (Ruthie got a lift from Perry Butcher).  Once around to the lakeside, we discovered the HQ chatting with Bonita Olson Gilbertson and somebody partially obscured.  The view of Lake Darling was just great [have you ever noticed how waterside shots are enhanced by having Adirondack chairs in the foreground?].  The Chairman greeted Kathy Josephs Faust from the helm of his limo, and Bonita and the HQ yucked it up with Karen Meyer Bird.  Finally, John Herdan and hostess Betty Larson Butcher discussed the finer points of trumpet fingering on Mahler’s “Adagietto from Symphony No. 5.”  More anon.

[A new record 199 “visitors” yesterday – everyone must have wanted to see snow!]

[November 21, 2008]  Maybe some of you longtime lake residents have seen this before, but I have never seen a lake the size of Darling totally ice over in less than 12 hours?  Last night the lake was wide open . . . and this is what it looks like this morning!  [Of course, the temp dropped down to about zero last night and the wind was almost calm this morning.  Maybe the start of hockey season?]

I have seen it.  It is such a gift from God when the lakes freeze smooth as glass before the snow falls and the wind blows.  I remember ice skating across Latoka, the lake like a mirror, not a wrinkle in the surface or a flake of snow anywhere, the ice about 8″ thick, cracking and popping in long slices in front of me with the weeds, logs and even fish clearly visible.  Incredible.  Let’s hope we don’t get any snow to speak of for a few days.  Fingers crossed, I am so there!  ~ Patty

Back in the mid-’90s, a bit later in the season, we had such a smooth surface on Lake Osakis, completely unobstructed by snow, that I drove to Minneapolis to purchase an ice-bicycle.  It had a long front fork with an ice-skate blade at the bottom, in place of a front wheel. The back wheel was covered with a metal rim with metal studs all over it. It worked like a charm, and I still cherish the blissful notions that were dancing in my brain as I pedaled across the smooth ice on that gorgeous and sunshiney January day.  Then in a nano-second the little skate blade dropped into a crack in the ice and the bike stopped – but I continued forward at about 20 mph, finally touching down in a perfect three point landing (one chin & two feet) a good ten yards from the crashed bicycle. Ahh, the blessed memories of Winter in Minnesota. ~ Mikko

I’m with you Patti….growing up on Le Homme Dieu I couldn’t wait to get home from school to skate…. Once I spotted my sailor’s hat that had blown off that past summer.    Thanks Tommy for bringing back that fond memory… ~ Diane

[December 30, 2008 – Little Elks]  I didn’t notice the historical significance of this until I scanned it.  This was March 1, 1954, probably just before the Pledge was revised to “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty . . .”

 

Anyway, it’s a picture of me with my best buddy at the time, Pete Hintzen.  I believe the gentleman is Pete’s grandfather.  Pete’s dad, Carl, founded Carl’s Fireside Steakhouse, which became Sonny’s, which became Weston Station, which will become . . . well, we don’t know yet.

I have one of these photos, too.  The father-son banquet!   Dad took Bobby Noyes and me (circa 1954).  Bob is now a commercial real estate appraiser.  Come to think of it, if it was 1954, (I look like I’m 5), we were at the same function.  :o)  ~ Paul

I love it.  Thank you, dear friend, for sharing this photo and others with me over the past year.  The photos are classics and should be put into an album for future generations.  Thank you for the reminder about the Pledge of Allegiance.  I hope you ignore all negativity; and while I absolutely laugh out loud every time your friend Nancy zings you, I hope you don’t get too much of a life in 2009 and will continue to e-mail any and all photos and stories to me!

Much love, peace and prosperity to you and Ruthie and to all on your e-mail blast.

~ Patty (We’re up to our ass in snow over here on Lake Taylor.  I can’t get to the fish house. )

[December 30, 2008]  We thought we’d wish you all a Happy New Year and present a toast with the extraordinarily exclusive champagne I got Ruthie for Christmas.  But we have been shoveling snow all day and Ruthie refused to make an appearance in front of the camera without at least an hour’s prelude in the bathroom.  As I guy, after an hour in the bathroom, I’d probably look worse.  So here I am – with a zit on the end of my nose and still wearing my work clothes – wishing you all, on behalf of the both of us – Happy New Year!

 

Thanks so much for the fun and informative emails, some days they are the only thing that makes me smile and laugh out loud.  ~ Beth

[February 3, 2009 – Cub Reporter finally receives national recognition]  Tom Obert learned today that he apparently has become a tracking statistic for the CDC, a result of his recent (and continuing) bout with a staph infection.  He’s so proud!  For those who have not been previously apprised, the Cub [I continue to refer to myself in the third person because it’s so jockish and it seems to go with the “Subject” line] discovered about a week ago that he had this infection on his right cheek – that cheek which is just slightly south and east of his navel.  When said infection was about the size, shape, and hardness of a hockey puck, he decided it was time to go to a doctor.  This was an incredibly difficult decision because he is quite proud of the fact that he does not know anyone else over 60 who is not on some sort of prescription medication – probably because of his long time avoidance of doctors, who tend to hang out where all the sick people are!

Anyway, the first doctor was young, pretty, and most importantly, female.  I [OK, back to first person] must admit that Ruthie discovered this first and giggled – I got the last giggle, however, when the doctor had to grope my tushy.  But then came the immediate referral to Doctor de Sade, who told me he would have to drill a hole in my ***.   I knew I was in trouble when I saw the “hole maker” was going to be a gas-powered ice auger.

I didn’t cry much – although I later discovered there were several noise ordinance complaints filed with the local constabulary.  After the rusty, jagged auger was removed from my body, it was time to evacuate the diseased biomass.  Aha, thought I – free liposuction!  Well, there was neither “lipo,” nor was there “suction” – there was, however, a front-end loader!  After successive days of similar treatments, I was good to go.

Of course, the loss of significant biomass on my right side caused me to list dangerously to the left.  Fortunately, my crackerjack retired federal employee health insurance coverage permitted, with a mere $23,000 co-pay, the insertion of a microscopic gyroscope into my right ear for balance purposes.  A side benefit of the fast spinning gyro is that it keeps ear hair maintenance to a minimum.

I will continue to be monitored and take antibiotics for another week.  The doctor describes the staph as something I either had to pick up at a hospital (nope) or at a community site (the stability ball at the gym where I do arthritic back exercises – oh, oh? – which became painful because of where the infection was and that the back exercises are basically belly dancing while sitting on the ball).  The doctor advised that I am not a hazard to other people – unless, of course, I should find myself in agreement with (those who disagree with me), about anything!

HEY, WHERE’S THE PHOTOS????  If this would have been ***** we would have had photos!  ~ (Name withheld for reasons of anonymity)

[June 28, 2009 – 25^th Annual Vikingland Band Festival]  Beautiful day for it, eh?  Some time around min-morning I received my assignment from Mrs. OB to cover said event.  No, not my Mrs. OB, but Mrs. O’Brien.  So, it would seem I’m a victim of “The Man Song” – times two!  My Mrs. OB is recovering from oral surgery and went out shopping with the kids & grandkid.  I was running late – of the 22 marching bands, Alex was scheduled first – so I took the train (fortunately, I was able to get a photo of the proper way to hold on while a train is in motion . . . I was talking about the guy by the door!).  I got off at 5th and Broadway – bands had already passed and were heading south.  I hustled up to 15th and Broadway where I arrived just in time for the Alex band.  Their theme was Hair, which I took as a personal affront though it did pay homage to our generation.  The other bands seemed to running about two blocks behind each other – so I hustled home to earn brownie points by mowing the lawn for my ailing Mrs. OB (yes, she usually mows . . . and honestly would rather do that than golf!).  Typical of the way things have been going for the last couple of weeks (we both have 4-figure repair bills on our aging road vehicles, and the computer crashed), the damn steering wheel broke while I was mowing.  Somehow I was able to overcome my severe case of white-collaredness, and fixed the mower well enough to finish the job.  It’s time for a well-deserved nap.

Great job . . . I sure didn’t mean to guilt you into going to the parade . . . well worth it though . . . you photo holding on is an award winner . . . gives new meaning to HOLDING ON BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH should read HOLDING ON BY THE SKIN OF YOUR CHEEKS.  ~ Diane (Mrs. OB)

[August 23, 2009]  I REALIZE THAT YOU ALWAYS SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ATTRACTIVE WOMEN WHICH CONSTITUTES THE SMILE ON YOU FACE. ~ Ole Arn

[August 30, 2009 – A history of pastries from Alex bakeries]  Just to set the record straight…  The fried rolls came from Tubbys.  My dad would have beat my butt if he had known I was sneaking over to The Fountain to eat them.  The Blue Ribbon was famous for Cream Horns and Crispies or as you guys always called them and you still correct me when I say it wrong, “Cow Pies!”  The current Blue Ribbon (Roer’s Family Bakery) makes fried rolls exactly like Tubby did.  Now I can eat them guilt free.  You can ask June Roers if I didn’t just stop in last Saturday and pick up a half dozen of them.  (They also still have cream horns and cow pies) We’ll be back at the lake this weekend so if you want to pick up a few and bring them out to North Lake Latoka to visit, feel free!  ~ John Herdan

[Editor’s note:  It is difficult to Google a photo of a “fried roll.”  It must be a mostly local thing.  Therefore, the next time I go to get some (and is it really that often between such trips?), I will take my own photo and replace the one above.   (This just in!  I subsequently went out and purchased the subject material – I then photographed it, placed it in the blog, and . . . ATE IT!  Mmmmm!)]

[Noonan Park]

The end (at least for now) of Winters In Alexandria.

[Across the street from our house – a 6-acre ranchette, with horsies!]

[Over the years, I’ve been trying to “capture” them frolicking in the snow.  They’re just like little kids – they roll around on their backs and make snow angels!]

[Maple Street (the 2 above) – the most Christmasy street in town.]

[Guess?]

[Darling Heights Place]

And we have 4 contributed photos:

[From the Fieldhammers – sunset over Lake Darling just last night, 12-27-11.]

[AGC members who summer on Lake Darling but flee (or is it “flea”?) to Sarasota in winter.]

[In Long Prairie – I believe from the Echo Press.]

[Home again.]

[“We’re done!”]

[Our front doors have since moved on to perform their duties in the kids’ pole barn, 9 miles north of Itasca State Park.]

More Winters In Alexandria.

[A/k/a, the hockey arena]

[17 inches on our bedroom deck.]

[Waist-deep to get down to the lake.]

[Your routine November sunrise over the lake.]

[The maritime museum]

[With Bob & Vivian Annen, our annual (well, for two years) visit to Terrace Mill at Christmas time.]

[Terrace Mill]

[One of my all-time favorites, the “octopus” tree by Dean Melton Park on Fillmore Street.]

[“The Amazon” – the channel between Lakes Cowdry and Darling.]

[The bike trail heading toward the Cowdry-Darling channel.]

[“My winter employment – first established under the WPA as a shovel-ready infrastructure project.”]

[And yet another sun dog.]

[Sun dog!]

[Sun dog!  (OK, borrowed from the StarTribune.)]

[“There’s a snow plow a’ comin’, dear ‘Liza, dear ‘Liza.”]

[Another all-timer – on South Le Homme Dieu Drive by the golf course.]

[The three above all from Noonan Park.]