alexandriacardinals

Another milestone has come and gone.  If I can somehow manage to remain among the living for another 3 years and 4 months, I will be able to say I lived in NINE decades.  Now that’s a milestone!  And a sign that I probably can’t throw a 50-yard pass anymore!

The Build-up to the Big Day . . . 

August 24

[OK, it was time to cover the Super’s gardens . . . because it’s necessary to the peace and tranquility of the household.]

[And at no extra charge, Noonan Park gardens.]

[And then it was time for another Class of ’65 luncheon, returning to Bug-A-Boo.  When Barb arrived we all knew why nobody wanted to follow her speech at the 50th reunion last year.]

August 26

[Anthony’s at the winery w/ Frontenac grapes growing on the pergola (over the seating area).]

August 27

[I picked up old high school classmate Brad for a 5-team football scrimmage at AAHS.  Our Cardinals are projected to be very good – and certainly exciting.  The Cards (in white) were very impressive.  And I got to spend the two hours visiting with Wayne Elton, our senior class’s principal.]

[And then back to the winery for Harper’s Chord (oh, you can see that hanging in the background) – that’s Dave, Jill, Micah, and Roger.]

[There are 4 videos herein.  I took 10 (they’re all on YouTube) because I needed updates with the new members, Dave and Micah.]

August 28

[Josie]

August 30

[Danny with Big Ole, the Vikings, and DMac (Voice of the Alexandria Cardinals)!]

[It happened on this day – at exactly 3:17 PM. That moment of perfect weather! It was so nice it made one feel privileged to have survived to almost 69! This summer will go down as one of the all-time greats, anywhere on the planet . . .  (p.s.  Dr. Mark Sealey subsequently reported from the state fair that this is the 4th hottest summer in Minnesota history and the 8th wettest – Alex somehow managed to avoid the bad parts of that!)]

They tell you that you’ll lose your mind when you grow older. What they don’t tell you is that you won’t miss it very much.  ~  By Malcolm Cowley

Up Next:  Part deux

April 30

~ Rothenburg

[This was our Viking Daily.  It ran 4 pages everyday, setting forth the day’s happenings.  Yes, I forgot to include these on the previous days . . . so I have gone back and done so.  I would highly recommend keeping these, or their equivalents, from your travels – it helps when trying to remember where you were and what you did.]

[We awoke under the bridge in Markbreit, though it was not readily apparent what or where Markbreit was?  This was technically just a drop-off point for those (most) taking a bus trip to Rothenburg.  This was our one and only (though Pam and Tom took many) optional tour – because everyone advised we had to.  And they were right.]

[While we bused to Rothenburg, the boat went on to Wurzburg where we would all meet up again in the afternoon.  Here’s another field of rapeseed.]

[After copious Google research, I have reason to believe this is Giebelstadt Army Airfield. It was specifically noted by our tour guide and here’s what I found out:  Giebelstadt airfield is an airfield 16 kilometers/10 miles south of Wurzburg in Bavaria, Germany.  Without a doubt Giebelstadt is one of the airfields in Germany with the richest traditions.  Construction of the airfield began in the summer of 1934 as the Höhenflugzentrale Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (High Flight Center German Airline Pilot School).  The official name was a camouflage, as Germany was not permitted to have an air force under the Versailles Treaty.  After being turned over to the German government in 2006, Giebelstadt Airfield has become a commercial airport used by general aviation aircraft.  After the closure of the airfield it was found that there were more than 200 unexploded ordinances within the range of the unmarried barracks and its surrounding grounds.  What remains of the airfields historical buildings is varied.  Due to the frequent wartime bombing attacks, much of the wartime airfield was destroyed.  (After an original idea by Paul Freeman.First published 7 Nov 2010. This collection of airfields is © 2010 – 2016 RonaldV)]

[Yup, just like home – a deer stand.  They were ubiquitous along our route through Germany.]

[Rothenburg, we are here!]

[From our boat’s “Daily”:  The best preserved medieval town in Germany, Rothenburg perfectly fits the notion of romance  [along our just traveled “Romance Road”].  Scarcely changed in appearance for hundreds of years, it’s an exceptionally pretty town.  If you’re feeling fit, walk the 1.5-mile wall that encircles . . . (the city’s Middle Ages architecture).  The wall connects five medieval gates, complete with guard towers that date from the 13th to 16th centuries.]

[Off the bus and ready for adventure.]

[You are here ‘X’!]

[The Viking Aegir unleashes its passengers on an unsuspecting village.]

[Pam shoots the “handwriting on the wall.”  John no doubt noted the “WC” sign over his head.  The first task, always, is to locate your water closets!]

[Creep down the alleyway . . . (Simon and Garfunkel’s “Somewhere They Can’t Find Me”)]

[Hey, “Rock Cafe”]

[Ach du lieber!  Well, that’s about the extent of my German, danke.]

[The Super is excited – a wine bottle tree.]

[The traffic on the city streets was horrendous!]

[St. James Church (a church we never entered?)]

[Shooting Pam shooting something . . . ]

[Well, how would you like to wake up in the morning to find a gaggle of old Germans ambling down your street?]

[The Super says guten tag to Heinrich and Bertha.]

[Town Hall in City Center . . . ]

[And other City Center stuff . . . ]

[The Clock Tower (I remember this because it has a clock).]

[A neat pedestal in City Center.  There probably is a further explanation somewhere.]

[The Super’s head’s on a swivel.]

[Here’s 4 of the Super’s efforts in City Center (her tablet was starting to fail on the right side of her photos).]

[We’re heading down this street to the Burggarten (that little nose sticking out to the west on the map.]

[Something captures the Super’s fancy.]

[A/k/a, the Rainbow Rider]

[A glance back at a receding City Center.]

[Our guide (red strap), who was excellent, releases us to our own devices.]

[A side street to an overlook along the city wall.]

[Another clock tower (again, the clock is a dead give away), this the entrance to the Burggarten.]

[The Super checking out play dates and show times.]

[One last archway]

[And we’re in – a quite lovely garden indeed!]

[I stand corrected – our guide is still with us.  I believe now he said meander on your own.]

[Helen shoots back at whence we came.]

[The trees were more than a couple years old.]

[And the back side of the clock tower from inside the garden.]

[A building made of stone.  Both the building and the stones were quite old.]

[A now a view of the town and its vicinity from the surrounding wall.]

[Gorgeous!]

[Gorgeous, part zwei]

[A sommerlinde (summer lime) tree – quite large!]

[How green is my valley?]

[And then we all just strolled on our own . . . ]

[And 2 of the Super’s in the garden (hug a summer lime!)]

[Coming out of the garden to the “stockyards.”]

[Dr. Kiehne oversees the photography of a small child.]

[What happens if you have negative things to say about bratwurst.]

[When I bust outa here, gonna have an Oscar Mayer weiner!]

[OK, maybe it wasn’t about bratwurst.]

[Mmmmmm, pretzels and other goodies!]

[Had to hustle the Super past this lest she became distracted.]

[And now it was time to walk the wall.]

[Up we go – the stairs were steep and narrow.]

[And now we’re on top.]

[Claustrophobia and acrophobia came into play here (as you’ll recall from past readings, that’s fear of Santa Claus and acrobats).]

[Look inward at the city – there’s St. James Church.]

[Tom and Pam do a little wall hugging.]

[Ohhhh, my knees!]

[Once off the wall, we split – first to find WC’s, then some went shopping and some went back to City Center (as instructed by our guide).]

[A stork nest in an antenna.]

[Back to the relative safety of City Center.]

[We were all separated and were suppose to meet here before going to lunch.]

[But the Super never came back?  She ran into Violeta (remember, our program director)    while shopping and was directed directly to our restaurant.  I was eventually so advised and had to run (?) to catch up to the group!]

[And where she was . . . ]

[Said restaurant]

[Not Oscar Mayer weiners.]

[Could it be . . . strudel?]

[Did everybody get enough to eat?]

[And now it’s time to return to the bus, and Wurzburg, and the boat . . . ]

[Good-bye, Rothenburg, its been good to know you!]

If you hate what you’re seeing, you call it sex and violence. If you like it, you call it “romance and adventure.”  ~ Joe Bob Briggs

Up Next:  Whatever will be, will be.

August 25

After an auspicious debut for Cardinal sports teams last night – a volleyball victory over Bemidji; and the boys and girls soccer teams garnered a win and a tie, respectively, against East Grand Forks – I hasten to add this bad news from the Echo Press:

The next 46 minutes gave the Cardinals (0-0-1) their first taste of true adversity of the fall, allowing the equalizing goal in the waning stretch of the first and suffering an apparent serious injury to a senior captain in McKenzie Revering late in the 1-1 match.

“She had a real nasty looking fall and it didn’t look good. You see players go down in a very awkward manner, whether it’s soccer, football, or whatever, and you just cringe,” head coach Tom Roos said on Revering. “That was a moment where you kind of cringed, so we’re hoping for the best.”

Rev is also, of course, the key player on the hockey team and has accepted a scholarship to play for UMD next year.  We wish her all the best and hope for a speedy recovery.

[For our purposes, the Class of ’65 was represented at the volleyball game.  It was Brad’s first ever indoor sporting event at AAHS.  While standing in line for tickets, girls’ basetball coach, Wendy Kohler, stopped by for a chat.  So, I had to get Brad’s picture with her daughter, Kendall.  Kendall is also on the soccer team, so Wendy was on her way over for that game.  Brad marveled at his ability, as a proven old person, to purchase tickets for 10 games at $20!]

[Sophomore McKenzie Duwenhoegger (11) warms up – last year’s somewhat timid freshmen has blossomed into a solid all-around player.]

[Boom!]

[While McKenzie pirouettes in the background, the mother of a previous Cardinal libero, who is now performing such as a senior at St. Kate’s, accidentally (?) enters the camera’s field of vision.]

[Boom (again, as Marnee ducks in the foreground), by sophomore Mya Lesnar (10), yes, Brock’s daughter.]

[Give me a head with hair; long, beautiful hair . . . sophomore Erika Roderick (7).]

[Junior Emily Aker (8), boom (and also likely the first boom).]

[It’s always nice to have a big hitting lefty – sophomore Kendra Hardy (13).]

[It was also early season training for the cub reporter (third person ‘me’).  For convenience, Brad and I plopped down on the wrong side of the court.  We would have found it an inconvenience to subsequently move – so we didn’t.  It was a bad place from which to shoot photos, particularly during player introductions.  So I didn’t get them all. But here I did get the aforementioned Ms. Roderick (7), she of the “hair.”]

[Ms. Aker (8) fires her goodies into the stands.]

[Then Ms. Lesnar (10) . . . ]

[Then senior Jordyn Lamb (1), who with senior Abbe Pohlen (5) were the leading returning scorers from last year, as the kid in the background was either signalling touchdown or I want candy.  Jordyn would go on to be our leading “killer” for the match.]

[Senior Kayla Feldhake (12), who is our center in basketball and our setter (?) in volleyball.]

[Ms. Duwenhoegger (11), exposing the Michael Jordan penchant for tongue sticky outy.]

[Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi,hi . . . ]

[Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi!]

[And we’re off as a Lumberjack shot flies by the double block of McKenzie and junior Tori Jeseritz (2).]

[McKenzie serves while the gray garbage can in the background ruins my feng shui.]

[And now Ms. Pohlen (5).]

[Abby signals allemande right and Kayla obliges.]

[Kendra, Abby, and Kayla on the blocking line.]

[Abby to serve . . . ]

[The Cardinal red garbage can in the left background is much more feng shui-ey.]

[And now McKenzie, Tori, and Jordyn . . . ]

[Senior Syri Williams (3) is our libero and apologies for not giving her more coverage in this match.  Not only was she our leading server in this match (based on my impressions), but she was also a member of our state champion track team!]

[We win game 1!]

[Anatomy of the jump serve as demonstrated by junior Alana Rodas (6).]

[This must be the hardest shot in this sport . . . ]

[Most years only one or two players at most are even allowed to attempt this in games . . . ]

[Alana put several in play, with a little heat on them, to begin with . . . ]

[But later, probably as she tired, she missed a couple . . . ]

[I recall her last service of the match was flat-footed to get it in play.]

[Jordyn at one time in game 2 smoked three kills in a row.]

[Tori and . . . friend (Jordyn?) attempt a block.]

[Where’s it going?]

[Tori and Jordyn]

[Then Kayla and Tori go up to block.]

[As the ball flies away behind them.]

[Airborne ‘Jacks]

[ I found a great new restaurant in Sebeka!]

[The front line stare-down.]

[And let’s see if Ms. Rodas can do that jump serve again.]

[Not quite a tall as her teammates, she gives it pretty good thump from high altitude.]

[Now that old guy in the stands is taking our picture again.  Just try to ignore him.]

[So, do you know the flavor of the day at Culver’s?]

[The Justice League of America!]

[OMG, is this another Kim Kardashian sighting delay?   (BTW, does anyone know the anatomical basis for girls’ hands on hips thumbs forward, while for boys it’s thumbs behind?)]

[The blockers go up . . . ]

[The blockers come down . . . ]

[The blockers cheer!]

[That shot could be a tad high?]

[All eyes on the ball . . . ]

[The ‘Jacks No. 4 appears to have made a diving save.]

[Ooops, was Abby double-stuffed?]

[But the Cards win game four and the match 3 – 1.  We won game two, 25 – 6, and as so often happens after an easy win, lost game three, 23- 25.]

[Good game, good game, good game, good game, good game, good game . . . ]

My boyfriend told me I had to choose between him and volleyball….big mistake…I’m really gonna miss him!!  ~  Heidi

Up next:  Football scrimmage . . . or Germany?

Editor’s note:  I recently received an inquiry from a blog “subscriber” wondering whatever happened to the rest of the European river cruise?  Well, this, for one thing.  And the six blog posts from camp. And just the general hubbub that is summer.  I hope to pick up the cruise again asap – we last left you in Bamberg, Germany.  And I’d better hurry – the high school fall sports season is just around the corner!

August 12

[Anthony and Big Ole, sporting his recent makeover, are summer entertainment mainstays in Vacationland USA.]

August 14

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

August 16

[Friends from the Far East – far eastern U.S. that is – arrived at the end of their family Laura Ingalls Wilder odyssey through the Upper Midwest for a couple days of relaxation along the shores of beautiful Lake Darling.  Anne and Bill Gross, who blog followers will recognize as our regular cruise partners, came with their progeny, Carrie and Kevin, and Carrie’s 8-year old daughter, Penny.]

[So, what do you do for fun here in lake country – pontoon ride on the chain of lakes!  Absent the dearly departed, Moby Obie, we went to Carlos Marina for a rental on what turned to be just another perfect day in these environs!]

[With Penny as the pontoon’s figurehead, we charged off in the direction of Carlos State Park while I worked to regain my mariner skills.]

[Yep, surfing on boat wakes.  Becoming all the rage now on inland waterways.]

[Surprisingly acceding to Penny’s requests, we stopped at an ole swimming hole on Lake Carlos for our first refreshing dip.]

[And after a swim, what could be more fun than driving the boat?]

[The passengers snacked while our pilot took a break to navigate from the prow . . . ]

[And then wrestled with Uncle Kevin.]

[L’Homme Dieu View townhomes, Mom’s old stomping grounds.]

[Once Penny learned how to change speeds, we were at her mercy.]

[I somehow missed coverage when we slipped briefly into Lake Le Homme Dieu for a pit stop at Rotary Beach.  Now we’re in beautiful Lake Darling, wading between the points separating Big Darling from Little Darling.]

[Do you see any sharks?]

[Just a big backyard swimming pool.]

[Heading back into Lake Carlos again, checking on the swallow nests on the bridge girders.]

[Kevin found a sun shield.  Gilligan was on a 3-hour tour – ours was for 4 hours in bright sunshine the whole time.]

[Our pilot was intent on tracking our status via the dashboard gauges.]

[No, those aren’t MY sandals!]

[We boated by Bug-A-Boo Bay to show all where we would be going later for dinner.  So, here’s later . . . ]

[Menu perusal while looking over Lake Le Homme Dieu.]

[Penny wanted all photographers to follow her to the bouncy-bouncy.]

[Get my picture while I’m jumping!]

[Meanwhile, the beers sit unattended at the table . . . ]

[And then the tourist photo op.]

August 18

[Thanks again, Ed!!  (Well, you had to be there.)]

August 19

[Freakshow, a favorite wine, a cool bottle!]

[And a good SAWA turnout for MOTU!]

[Bill, on percussion and whose family was having the reunion above; Dave on keyboard and voice; and Wally on steel drum, horn, other stuff, and voice.  We were in for a fun night featuring reggae.]

[Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause everything little thing gonna be alright!]

August 20

[Their only scheduled Alex visit this year . . . until they arrived and have now booked SAWA for October 1.  Smiley face!]

[A one and a half day break from the summer heat – it was chilly (OK, 60) and windy and the assembled masses had their hoodies up and were wrapped in blankets.]

[The wind made it appear that Karin was shopping incognito at the Patchouli memorabilia table.  I don’t know if she made a purchase.]

August 21

[51-degree morning produced our first “fall” steam coming off Lake Darling.]

[But it was absolutely perfect by the time the Salty Dogs took the stage at the winery.]

[I believe someone introduced Annie, Greg, Erik, and Tom as a newspaper publisher, a city attorney, and two old(er) finance guys.]

August 22

[A dining day in the life of retired people.  Little Mayo Johnson came up from Burnsville for his monthly lunch with the Boyz of ’65.  This was at La Ferme.]

[That evening was pizza night at The Depot.  Since the Super had had lunch at the club, we decided could could probably put our stove up for sale.]

[Breakfast?]

August 23

[Yup, eating out again.  The annual spaghetti feed fundraiser for the Cardinal football team at the new and improved Elks Club.  The boys say they’re going to state!]

It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.  ~ Yogi Berra

Up Next:  We’ll try Europe again.