alexandriacardinals

But first, Broadway, Alexandria, Minnesota, December 2009, from the Daily Grind (now, unfortunately, having joined the list of closed eateries in our fair city):

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/u/74/5prosxavzTI

And continuing in the genre of archival videos, I have added five videos of the time to “The Background”, January 4, the story of the state hockey championship in this blog.

Further, we would like to express our appreciation to Hizzoner, a/k/a, Your Worship, the mayor of Alexandria, for sending the following photo today. For tomorrow morning the Senior Center is our destination for a Kiwanis pancake feed:

And finally, before we get to the Trumm files, we feel a certain responsibility to those featured herein who attain a certain degree of notoriety as a result of being exposed to a readership that reaches into the 10’s.  So here, for your consideration, is Lady Gaga’s approach to fame:  Basically, if you have nothing—no money, no fame—you can still feel fame—you can still feel beautiful and dirty rich. It’s about making choices, and having references—things you pull from your life that you believe in. It’s about self-discovery and being creative. I like to funnel interesting ideas to the rest of the world through a pop lens.  We trust that helps to fill a void.

And finally, finally, before we get to the Trumm files, THIS all began as means of keeping snowbirds informed of the goings on in their summertime community.  Certain of the snowbirds, by virtue of their roles as substitute teachers, have emotional attachments to the players and the teams.  Nationwide communication links were virtually burning up the night of the girls’ hockey championship game in ’08 – people in Texas were texting websites to people in California, and such.  Now, thank goodness, KXRA has gone global.

We recently heard from Marlene and Richie Braun, snowbirding in Florida, who are delighted to receive the news and sports reports from home.  The following week will be in the uppers 70’s there [Editor: That’s too hot!], and JoAnne and Corky Krogstad will be visiting them next week.  “Dr.” Gretchen Nelson has checked in twice since they recently snowbirded to California.  Gretchen has a fierce emotional attachment to every player on every team she watches.  She has been known to repair to the outer concourses during tense games.  Dave Serie, slugging 3^rd baseman on the Cardinals 1965 2^nd-ranked in the state baseball team, notes he follows the blog and that his daughter Sarah plays for Champlin Park’s basketball team.  He thought it would be fun to have Alex play Champlin Park sometime.  I checked – Champlin Park high school has over 2,800 students; Alex has about 1,100.  Oy!  Terry Lang, whose family left Alex in 1960 and has since called Bremerton, Washington home: Had to reply to your latest post. I don’t usually get sentimental but I love being called “Master Chief” as that is what I was in the Navy. And, I was stationed in Iceland from ‘64-66 and I could never prove it, but my Icelandic friends would roll on the floor laughing when Steve Allen said  “Schmock, Schmock.” Seems that schmock is Icelandic for condom. Have a great day. It’s suppose to rain again out here.  Crazy Dave Owen and Jim McElwain check in from Florida; Harry Ramaley, Jon Haaven, Loren Berg, and Paul Fieldhammer check in from Arizona.  “Dr.” Kiehne, a full-time Texan, checks in from his UT office in Austin.  And the cub reporter-in-training, in his first year as a snowbird, sends only misguided political commentary from a hideaway somewhere in Sarasota.  If I have forgotten anybody it is because it is my usual tendency to do so.

And now, the Trumm files:

[Joyce and Ken Leslie – the Otto and Luella of their time – occupy the same seats on the right side (as it faces the floor) of the stage for every game.]

[Pep band, Willmar game.]

[Wendy visits with Willmar coach.]

[Super Fans, row 2, Willmar game.  Note divided attentions except when cheerleaders are performing.]

We return to the ever expressive Ms. Haar.  The Mikko Cowdery of the distaff side – someone who promotes a smile merely by their presence.  Alli was player of the game v. Willmar – her first game back from two games missed with an ankle sprain.  During the pre-game warm-ups, she was whipping two-handed overhead passes to a teammate on the other side of the floor.  One pass skipped between her teammate’s legs, bounced two rows into the stands, where her grandpa Martin made a nice catch and promptly returned the ball to play.  During the game, whenever Alli would rip down (appropriate verb) a defensive rebound, she would cradle it in one arm, twirl around, and give any opponent in the vicinity a look that said, “Don’t even think of trying to get this ball away from me!”

[Dave Harris makes a nice catch at KXRA announcing table – pass from Alli?]

[Beatle’s “Abbey Road” cover photo? (v. Willmar)]

[Organizing for the Abbey Road cover shoot.]

Point guard, 5’9″ junior, Cara Wood:

[The last three, Cara tries to prevent the opposition from reaching the safety of the blue garbage can!]

Joie and Sam meet the press:

Brianna points out the Super Fans to Sam:

The Super Fans can hardly contain themselves:

Kendra Holm, junior, manager:

[Regular readers of this blog should think, “Holm, that sounds familiar?”  Yup, her grandpa, El, is the famous pasty maker – and her parents are sitting right in front of the Super Fans 4 photos up.  So, it all ties together eventually.]

First stop – the Senior Center for a chili feed, a fundraiser for the library to purchase big print books. The supervisor was slightly distracted there by the existence of a silent auction. Then it was on to Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale for the usual Thursday date night – except I had to go on to the girls’ basketball game against St. Cloud Apollo. The supervisor chose to stay at SAWA for a night with Funky Gumbo Trio where she was to be joined by Sue “Scoop” Justice – we did not know if Teddy Hockey would be there or not as the Cards boys’ hockey team was hosting Sauk Rapids at the RCC. I advised the supervisor as I left that I would probably back early as I did not expect a close game.

I arrived at the JHS gym to find Robo seated with Martin Haar. I believe this was his first appearance of the season for girls’ basketball. The Rogosheskes have a tendency to take winter trips, and we had lost track of them again. Their latest adventure, from which they had just returned, was a hunting trip to Kansas. He was interested to see what all the hoopla was about. Roger Riley soon joined us, as did Mike Scarborough. As a prelude to commencement of game activities, we staged a membership meeting of the Alexandria Golf Club. I videoed the player introductions and the first five minutes of the game:

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

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/a/u/2/185_8rsXXWc

Not unexpectedly, the Cards built a big lead by halftime.  Lauren had 20 points, more than the entire Eagles team.  Though the rest of the team was slightly off-kilter offensively (though Cara started the game by hitting two 3’s), the defense was as impressive as ever.  My main concern during the first half was there was no sign of the staff photographer (he and Val eventually arrived halfway through the half), and my Elph isn’t up to quality action photos.  By the first break in the 2^nd half, the Cards had a 42-14 lead so I bade my adieu to the boys and headed back to SAWA.  The final score was 57-23, improving their record to 17-2.  I listened to the boys’ hockey game on the way back to SAWA – they had a 3-0 lead at the time and went on to an impressive 5-0 win.

[My one effort at still photography last night – Joie at the free throw line.] 

SAWA was rockin’.  I fought my way to our table where Ruthie was hosting “Scoop” and “Teddy Hockey” (who worked outside all day and the thought of then going to the “cold” boys’ hockey game was too much), and “Dangerous” Dan.  Funky Gumbo Trio (tonight a quintet, sometimes a quartet) was jamming to the delight of all.  Drummer Bill Engebretson leads the group that is usually composed of students from the University of Minnesota, Morris.  Sometimes the group will include a guitar and a bass; sometimes a keyboard and a saxophone; tonight Bill brought an entire ensemble that included, for the first time, Alexandria high schooler, Spencer Christensen, on guitar.  Spencer’s proud parents, Brad, and Jo Colvin were there.  Jo, crack Echo Press columnist, had an entire table full of Spencer groupies next to us – she said Spencer had lengthy auditions with the group and then two 6-hour rehearsals to prove his mettle.  So, the “trio” had Mike Gill on sax, Luke Skrove on trumpet, Craig Sandberg on bass, Bill on drums, and Spencer on guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/a/u/0/R1StCVya32M

[Proud mom.]

[Dangerous Dan and “Scoop.”]

This morning we received an e-mail from Marnee’ Herd forwarding the following photo of Verd Anez’s funeral from the Hanowski family (a family name synonymous with hockey in Little Falls).   Last night Michelle played her first game for Wisconsin-River Falls since her dad’s death – she scored a goal, was +3 for the night, as the Falcons improved their undefeated season record to 18-0-3.

Well, we’ll get to the subject line later.* Legendary sportswriter Red Smith once said, “There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” Hey, sometimes it happens. It’s the evening after three games, and I ain’t got nuthin’ yet. The boys’ basketball and hockey teams were home last night. Despite weather forecasts of near fatal wind chill conditions, the show(’s coverage) must go on. The hockey game seemed to offer a more competitive game – Sartell is playing for a #1 tournament seed but the Cardinals figured to be competitive at home (Sartell did win, 3-0, on three power plays). The roundballers were playing last place Sauk Rapids – we like to cover wins! And besides, Dr. Larry McCoy called earlier and said he and Dr. Laura McCoy were interested in going to the basketball game, so I joined them at the gym (I call them “Dr.” because they are educators*).

The boys’ basketball team is quick and plays a game similar to the girls’ team (a flattering comparison). However, their helter-skelter game style was mostly skelter in the first half – as many turnovers as points. The Cards had the lead at the half, but it was close. They tidied up the “take care of the ball” issues in the 2nd half and pulled away to a 73-51 victory. This is a team that has had its shooting issues. Last night was the best I have ever seen them shoot – several players made 3’s, and they did a good job from the free throw line. On a given night . . . and always remember to get the ball inside to Dylan!

The girls’ hockey team traveled to Moorhead last night because they “love” to play class 2A teams on the road. (Next year, they plan on scheduling several NHL teams.)  Again, the game was closer than the score – the Spuds scored two goals in the last minute of the game. Shanee’ Herd scored the Cards goal – we take additional pleasure from that because we have been covering her for four years now (and she’s still only a sophomore), and her Mom has been a major liaison between the team and the Super Fans. That was the last game of the regular season – the seedings were to come out today for the Road to the Xcel Center.

[Shanee’ and Marnee’]

[Shanee’ as a 7th-grader.]

This just in – from Marnee’ Herd in her own words:

We got the 3 seed. Fergus is 1 and Morris Benson 2. We play Long Prairie on Sat at home at 7. The bracket is on the MSHSL.org web site. We are section 6A.

Thanks for noticing Shanee’s goal! She had the whole net but instead went 5 hole! 🙂 I guess she likes a challenge! She went coast to coast.

[Editor’s oy: The Saturday schedule already includes – Kiwanis pancake feed (morning), clay workshop and reception (1:00, part of Legacy weekend), Salty Dogs @ the winery (2:00), wine & chocolate @ SAWA (2:30, Legacy weekend), girls basketball v. Bemidji (6:00, fight cancer), boys basketball v. Bemidji (7:30)]

Have you ever wondered . . . why meteorologists are introduced by their profession on TV. If they are forecasting the weather, is that not a given? The anchorperson is never introduced as ‘journalist” so-and-so. And why is it only that way with some professions and not others? If I go to a medical facility because of a medical issue, and a person walks in the room wearing a smock (or, as Steve Allen would say, “Schmock! Schmock!”) and a stethoscope, they will introduce themselves as Dr. Jones. I will respond, “Well, I certainly hope so. I would have been disappointed if you were Meteorologist Jones. Now what’s your real name?” 

[A brief pause for an overnight doze.]  Now, where were we?  Oh yeah!  In sports, folks are often referred to by their profession – “Hi, Coach!,” “Hey, Ref!,” “You blew that one, Ump!,”  In my formative years as an alleged student at the U of M, men’s hockey was a small community.  We, as fans, in the small rink on the west side of Williams Arena, often were up close and personal with the family of refs who officiated the Gopher games – “Hey, Bill, are you blind?”  Whatever happened to that familiarity?  But again, the formal position title only applies in certain instances.

In all my years serving our country as a professional bureaucrat, I never recall being referred to as “Economist.”  Well, not that I was one, but it was my job title for a while.  Now I kinda preferred Specialist 5^th Class, Retired.  College professors are either “Professor” or “Prof.” Plumbers never seem to be called “Plumber?”  Senators are always “Senator,” congresswomen are always “Congresswoman,” and the President gets an additional non-personal sobriquet of “Mr. President.”

As an urchin growing up in Victoria Heights, I recall a time when a young girl merrily addressed the garbage man with a hale and hearty, “Hi, Garbage.”  This was not meant to be derogatory – more of a, “How are you?,” and “Thanks for picking up our garbage.”   It seems to me garbage men (or women) deserve such consideration as much as the masters of the universe on Wall Street.  They greatly enhance our quality of life, prevent disease, and improve the esthetics of the neighborhood.

Have you ever wondered . . . what ever happened to Linda Ronstadt? The guys of my generation would like to know.

Just wondering?

Al Edenloff, editor of the Echo Press, called this morning. He said he had heard about this blog site (OK, who squealed?). At first I thought he was going to issue a subpoena for violating the Echo’s non-compete clause within a 10-mile radius of Big Ole. But as it turned out, he was just interested. I told him it was about sports, music, and stuff I found silly (the one area in which I excel). He asked, “Like your pretzel letter?”

[An August 31, 2009 submittal to the Echo – it was subsequently “killed” by the author because he found them. Pete’s, to this day, stocks Snyder’s in boxes, but not in the chips and nuts aisle (?).]

I went shopping today. It was the second day in a row. I do not like to shop. I’m a man, and an older one at that. The object of my endeavors does not appear to be available in our fair city any longer . . . and as a creature of habit, that bothers me.

[The only “true” pretzel; except for the large soft ones, warmed and served with mustard at athletic events, or sold by street vendors in large cities.]

I was shopping for pretzels. While I obviously have not covered all possibilities, I have shopped the “biggies,” and pretzels aren’t there anymore. Now it’s true you can find bags of things in these stores that are labeled pretzels. They aren’t. They are sticks and twigs with salt on them. Some of them claim to be buttered (or faux buttered) or have other alien substances on them. Some have cute, twisty exteriors; some are called rods (an automatic disqualification from pretzeldom); and some actually have a true pretzel shape, but are of the wrong size (tiny) and ingredients. A real pretzel should be at least as thick as your little finger, should have the distinctive pretzel shape, should be dry, crunchy, and crumby, and should not have any artificial flavorings . . . and should be low in calories.

The latter is of extreme importance because I am the typical older American male occasionally in search of the waistline of my youth. Unfortunately, the metabolism of my youth (under age 50) went into a coma about 12 years ago. It is not expected to revive during my lifetime. The low calorie pretzel fills a niche in my daily routine previously filled by cookies, potato chips, or M&M peanuts. In fact, there is a pretzel diet. So please – I need help here. Caramel rolls are off the menu at least until I think about having one again.”

And since we’re talking about food.  Old guys mall walk together – old guys don’t talk about girls (usually) or sports (usually), we talk about food. And because we are “old” guys, the repartee’ reaches a decibel level heard by people anywhere in the mall. The true chefs among us often discuss recipes – and these recipes become the gist of inquiry from other people who just happened to be in the mall at the time. El Holm, while also a retired teacher from the Alex school system, was mostly known to his fellow walkers as a pasty maker. After days of continuing discussion, El said he would bring us homemade pasties (probably as a means of changing the subject). The following e-mail included a photo that El found thoroughly delightful – an unabashed display of his product:

[February 13, 2010.] Honestly, I wanted Ruthie to be the model here – but her hair wasn’t done (women are strange that way). Anyway, Bob Annen and I have been mall walking with Elsworth Holm for some time now. El came to Alex in 1964 to teach business at the high school. He is a native of Michigan’s UP, and his father was a noted pasty maker there. The pasty is the cornerstone of UP (as well as Minnesota’s Iron ‘Ranche’) gastronomic delights – a handy-dandy, all-in-one meal that is a lunchtime favorite for such as loggers and iron miners. Basically, a sandwich style potpie featuring beef, potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, et al. El’s wife makes the crust, El the innards. Well, apparently, February is pasty month so we have been badgering El to bring us a homemade pasty. So, here is the result – Ruthie pronounced it a ’10’!! Yummy!