alexandriacardinals

[* a/k/a The Lake Walk.]

Elkhart Lake is the name of the town . . . and the lake.  Every year at Camp Brosius, there is a morning when all campers are invited to take the Lake Walk.  It’s a leisurely two to two and half hours amble around the 300 acre lake.  Unique to this lake, at least to those of us living on lake property in Alex, is that the path all the way around the lake (with a short exception) is on private property.  I cannot imagine that happening here – maybe it was an original by-law of the town?  Anyway, as a hiker it seems a bit intrusive – you’re hiking through peoples yards as they are gardening, sunning on their docks, whatever, and we generally just wave to each other.

[As we left waterfront, Vickie and Scott were taking a canoe ride.]

[One of the first lawns we wandered through had this lovely garden sculpture – I want one!]

[We made it to town . . . or in this case, the big condo complex . . . which is on the far side of the lake from camp.]

[Elkhart Lake was part of a road racing circuit.  It is now home to Road America.  Paul Newman once owned a home on the lake when he raced; we believe Tom Cruise still does.]

[Danny and the supervisor discovered an old Norse ruin . . . or is it an old ruined Norse?]

[Again, while out and about, THE most important sign!]

[These little wooden maps all around the lake path show you where you are – red dot!]

[Camp Brosius is sighted!]

[“Home” is just across the bay.]

[WE MADE IT!]

The soccer team won again on Thursday night, beating Sauk Rapids 2-0 and moving their record to 4-1-2.  Someday I’ll make a game so I can provide something beyond the scope of the staff photographer’s photos – but then again, a picture is worth a thousand words.  And Thursday nights are date nights with the supervisor – overthrown only when the event is comfortably indoors (or football).  The lead photo is of Lauren Trumm streaking across the field.  “Streaking” in this instance is not synonymous with what little brother did at the University of South Carolina in the early ’70’s (on national TV, no less).  The following photo is of Grandma and Grandpa Trumm – and then the game photos.  Unfortunately, our volleyball team lost, 3-1, that same night at Sauk Rapids, and the football team lost 28-14 at Fergus.  I still like the potential of both those teams.

And from Echo Press, in descending order, Shanee’ Herd, 5’6″ junior libero; Danielle Warren, 5’8″ senior outside hitter (yup, at 5’8″ 😉 ); and Adrianne Wensman, 5’9″ junior middle hitter:

[Oh, and I just noticed, Adrianne’s reach kinda splits Super Fan, and fellow class of 65er, Ruth Helie Anderson, in half!  🙂  ]

Before we get to the “Stomp,” a little local news.  Unbeknownst to me, and apparently most people, the old American Legion was on the demolition block this week.  By pure happenstance, we were driving by as it was happening last Monday so we circled the block and got the following photos, which subsequently went “viral” on local e-mail and Facebook.  😉

And yesterday, the Carlos-Darling bridge re-opened as construction on the County Road 34/County Road 11 interchange was completed:

Yesterday began with a visit to the Carlos Town Hall for Bill Malvin’s 85th birthday party – and who doesn’t like a good birthday party?  Bill and Barb are featured in the current Douglas County DFL brochure.  That’s Bill in the suspenders holding forth at the entrance with a display of family photos.  And of course there were good eats.

It seems likely Bill will be around for many more birthdays.  Both his parents lived to be over 100 (as I was advised there, though beware the anecdote!).

Then it was on to the winery and the annual Grape Stomp.  We were concerned that the not-too-good weather (gray and raw), which has afflicted the event for the past several years, would affect attendance.  What a shock then that it appeared to draw record crowds – it was tough just moving through the elbow-to-elbow traffic wherever one went.  We made our way to the hippodrome where just planted ourselves to spend the afternoon with The Salty Dogs and Tuckered Out.

From wine what sudden friendship springs!  ~  John Gay

Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good.  ~  Samuel Johnson

One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.  ~  Samuel Johnson

The Salty Dogs setting up and performing “Running Scared”:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/a/u/1/wvcPr9CdYY4

Up next, Tuckered Out, a new group for us from Fargo.  Enjoyed them a lot!  Here they are doing “Forever Young.”

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/a/u/0/EXbKNA_-9-w

[Texas Chainsaw Massacre?]

Finally, the last event of the day.  The Salty Dogs (yes, again), and friends.  We gave it up about 9:30 – the wind was really picking up then.  The “crowd” was small to begin with – we’re hoping that was because of the weather and other events in town that night.  But Tuckered Out made an appearance, which we appreciated, and did an a cappella song called “Torn Screen Door.”  I should have videoed it but didn’t – in lieu thereof, here is a choir’s version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqrsh4tqGEw

And, no, The Diamonds weren’t there – it’s just always nice to give them air time:

http://www.flixxy.com/the-diamonds-little-darlin-1957-2004.htm

[Editor’s note:  We received our first rain of the month last night . . . and it is continuing into the day.  Events on today’s schedule, therefore, maybe muddied out!  😦  ]

a win, confidence, luck, continuity, consistency, any or all of the preceding.  The volleyball team went down to Willmar on Tuesday night, 3 games to 1, in a fashion similar to other recent losses.  Stretches of excellence are short lived and usually give way to longer stretches of sloppy play.  There is still time to jell – it appears the athletic ability is there  It’s just a matter of hitting a good groove . . . and keeping it there.  [Editor’s note:  The above photo really has nothing to do with the story.  Al Grundei submitted it as a really old photo of Alex (1907).  If you look closely, you can see the beginning of construction on Jefferson High School.]

[Our Cards only win.] 

[It was parents’ night.  It was also nice to see Mr. and Mrs. Staff Photographer at the game although their lone remaining high school progeny plays soccer in the fall.]

[Mr. and Mrs. Staff Photographer’s daughter in the spring tools of ignorance – she is visiting with Emily Kuenen, a 5’10” sophomore volleyballer, who has the abilities to be very good in both sports.  Photo pilfered from the Echo Press.]

[Our hockey players:  Shanee’ Herd above; Quinn Kragenbring below.]

[Beth, white skirt above, works at the golf club in summer, and otherwise teaches and assitant coaches volleyball; Linda, below, takes care of the golf club’s senior men’s league.]

[Well, I’ll try anything for a connection.  Speaking of which, while pilfering the Echo Press archives, I came across these last two photos from the state basketball tournament last winter – the Cards v. Hill-Murray.  You will notice in the first photo of Cara Wood trying to shoot over the Pioneers (?) 7’9″ center (with Alli Haar on the right), that I am in the stands to the immediate left of the ball with brother Cam from Mounds View (and there under duress though I believe he got into it) next to me in the white t-shirt.  The other photo features Joie Warnes and Sam Trumm.]

 

[The halftime score held up!]

I have little to report here.  I wasn’t at the game, which took place on September 6 while I was at the volleyball game.  But we can entertain you with the photos from the staff photographer.  This win improved the team’s record to 3-0-1 – they subsequently lost their first game of the year to St. CLoud Tech, 2-0.  They appear to be a team worth following.  🙂

[Fly, Cards, fly!]

[Goalie Sarah “Baby Bruiser” Bruzek.]

[The Obert brothers learned the overhead throw-in by passing rolls at the dinner table.]

[Dad finally finds his daughter!]

[Under the lights provides a nice ambience!  😉  ]