alexandriacardinals

. . . yes, summer continues after the 4th, but the heat and humidity pretty much keep me under the A/C until the end of August while dreams of Pickle Lake coolness dance in my head.

[There comes a time when you have to release them back into the world again. On July 7, Tom and Celia left to return to Purdue with strict instructions to get advanced degrees and to save mankind from itself. Jami and Danny drove out with them as far as the Cities where they spent the night with Aunt Karen and Uncle Cam and turned into prunes floating in the backyard swimming pool. (Bonus coverage of the Supervisor’s handy work.)]

[This is our nude sunbathing deck, available for rent by the hour. Rates depend on the season, of course.]

Later . . .

[A star-studded performance at Theatre L’Homme Dieu that drew raves from us and everyone we talked to!]

And then on the 8th . . .

[Drove through the golf club – the 100th anniversary celebration is this Friday.]

[Drove by one of the Super’s all-time favorite lake cottages.  Half of the property was sold; half of the cabin had to come down.]

[And ultimately to the Arrowwood deck for a musical interlude with Professor Miltich.]

The 9th . . .

[Souvenir Jefferson High School brick? Here’s the poop, the whole poop, and nothing but the poop. There were unsubstantiated rumors (spread mostly by the likes of me) that they were available at the demolition site. I was thus receiving inquiries from alumni from around the known inhabited world regarding such. After extensive time-consuming research, I went to the site on this morning. Took the following pictures. But did not notice an available brick pile? So, we paid a visit to Orb corporate headquarters, where we were given an on-site contact. We checked with him and . . . yes, if you enter from the Lake Street side (the penultimate photo), east of the school, you will reach an open gate. Despite the No Trespassing sign, you can enter that gate and there is a pile of available bricks outside the next perimeter fence. You’re welcome. (Oh, the last photo is our first venture through the part of Kenwood Street that now goes through what was the Washington School playground).]

Later, SAWA’s 9th birthday, with Components . . .

[C’mon in folks, the water’s fine!]

The 11th . . .

[The weekend, so far, in Amazon Basin weather. The Salty Dogs at the winery; Anthony Miltich at Bug-A-Boo-Bay; the kids at their internationally-renowned, Harn (house barn), up North; and . . . ]

The 12th . . .

[Josie Nelson at the winery; and me, home early from Josie due to weather induced nausea.  Not a fan of weather where you sit outside in a puddle of your own sweat and then go home to remove your clothing with a paint scraper.]

Later . . .

[Despite initial concerns expressed by my identical twin brother, we did indeed end the weekend with Tunesy Day! Sunday was officially Orrin Foslien Day in Alexandria as he received the Excellence in Service Award from the National Association of Music Merchants at Carlson Music Center.  Emceed by her honor, Sarah Carlson, Alexandria’s mayor, and Ron Carlson, proprietor; and interviewed by Dennis Anhalt, Alexandria celebrity, thousands of Tunsey’s friends and relatives enjoyed the show . . . ]

[Tunesy and I at the winery in 2005.  Because we were both educated in Alexandria, we concurred that must have been about 10 years ago.

And then the big time storm hit in the midst of a multi-hour tornado warning . . .

[The final four after storm photos were posted by blog staff on Facebook, in chronological order, Al Grundei, Scott Keehn, Jay Kulp, and Diane O’Brien.  Great job, staff!]

Finally . . .

[“2 Sugars, Room for Cream,” if you’re in the mood for a lot of laughs. Shanan Custer and Carolyn Pool were a hoot . . . and so talented they admitted to ad libbing about 25 per cent of last night’s (July 14) show.  Thanks to staff photographer Sara Schwabe for the last photo at the apres party with the entire cast, 2nd and 3rd from the left, front row.]

There is a kind of beauty in imperfection.  ~  Conrad Hall

Up next:  Getting closer to the next vacation.

. . . and some of the surrounding days.

June 29

[Cousin Barb, who has won a State Public Links and two Resorters tournaments, got her first hole-in-one at Majestic Oaks in the Cities.  All I can say is, “Well, Barb, you finally caught up to me.”]

[That evening, the sun as it appeared through the humidity, dew point, and Canadian wildfires.]

June 30

[Do you suppose it has anything to do with this year being our class’s 50th reunion that they decided to tear down our high school?]

[And Cardinal Country posted by Kohler on the 2nd.]

What’s goin’ on downtown?

[Our 2008 Girls’ State Hockey Champions?]

[“The talent” (David Christman) putting up the marquis?  I wouldn’t do that without a net!]

[Then Corliss went and did the retirement thing on all of us!  Corliss . . . see you at the ball games!  (Well, and hockey games.)]

What, the day’s still not done?

[Of course, the holiday is all about getting together with family – with the family on the lake.  Fortunately, we live far enough away that only the grandson made the trek, with his new close personal friend.  Celia and Tom will be both be seniors at Purdue this year.  As such, Tom is allowed to drive the Super’s car . . . and I’m not?]

July 1

[Let’s take the kids to the Arrowwood deck for an evening with Glen Everhart.  Tom went for the double deck cheeseburger and won a quarter off me for eating the whole thing, much to the dismay of Celia.]

July 2

[Well, we had to take them to SAWA to see the Salty Dogs.  They’re old enough to drink now, but I told them that means one glass of wine per year until they’re 55.  The Super did not permit wine drinking by Cecilia (a close relative of the fiddler), who napped immediately on her shoulder.  The duck car owner is a close relative of the tenor.]

[Aunt Toody, a/k/a, sister Gretchen, enjoying the good life in our nation’s capital.]

July 3

[The humidity, dew point, and Canadian wildfires joined forces to form what I call an air conditioning and ice cubes kind of day.  We had to venture out to see the Hoosier kids who rented a wave rider from Arrowwood and were going to raise havoc on the chain.  At the end of our dock I looked left, then straight ahead, then right where Arnie, Barbie, and Bodie were enjoying a swim.  Then the kids came – Tom driving first, then Celia.  They ventured all the way to Carlos State Park.]

The 4th

[For years we did the Lake Carlos Boat Parade.  But now the Moby Obie has been gone for two years.  The Super and I decided to take the convertible out to see what we could see.]

[Approaching the Carlos-Darling bridge.]

[Heard from other sources that it might have been the biggest turnout ever.]

[Mmmmmmm!!   Ribs, beans, cole slaw, deviled eggs, chips, and . . . Corona!]

[Our neighbors were out trying to catch their holiday dinner.]

[Lucy and friends at Bug-A-Boo Bay.]

[Because last year’s posting from Paris just wasn’t snooty enough.]

July 5

[And off go the kids and the grandkids to the northern property . . . ]

[The Super and I ventured out to the winery for Jim and Anthony Miltich bookending Victor Facio.  I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in a puddle of my own sweat.]

[Apparently well known in bicycling circles?]

I married beneath me – all women do.  ~  Nancy Astor

Up next:  Aren’t we about due for another vacation?

*  Meaning it’s like Florida . . . I don’t like that one bit!

[The night before and opening night for theatre performance for the season . . . ]

[Two famous Hoosiers meet again.]

[Mr. Shelby introduces VocalEssence for a little . . . ]

[Shenandoah]

[Theatre night, the logo is back . . . ]

[And Shelby meets another Hoosier!]

[What can I add?  The Super was there for her free weenie!]

And so it was lake pump time . . .

[Jami did the tough job of dragging the line out into the water, which she pronounced as wonderful.  With a minimum amount of cussing and swearing, we got the pump hooked up and running.  Except water wasn’t making it to the top of the hill.  Danny subsequently discovered we had a leak in the pipe halfway up the hill.  Fortunately, while it’s still not operating, we put it in quite late this year because we’ve had plenty of rain . . . which continues.  But 14 years in the house, things are starting to fall apart.]

Later that same day . . .

[We would be next door at the Runestone Museum soon . . . in the meantime, it was time for a stroll through the now almost completed Maritime Gardens.  A great venue for summer music and other stuff!]

[They’re worldwide, you know . . . ]

[Music in the Garden will begin soon . . . ]

[Loon nests]

[The maritime-themed gate was made by sculptor Larry Meyer.]

[And, of course, the reason we were there, the Brandenburg Exhibit.  It will be at the museum through October.  How highly would we recommend it?  We had to go back for another glass of wine halfway through the 90 photos!  🙂  ]

Friday . . .

The start of Awake the Lakes (i.e., summer) weekend to include the Ribfest, the Vikingland Band Parade, Girls Hockeyfest, Legion Baseball Tournament, Buggsy Malone, and other things I’m sure I’ve already forgotten, all of which we could not attend because . . .

[Josie at the winery (from her FB post).]

[We laugh because it always seems she hits bad weather when she performs here.  She started setting up outside but then moved in when the weather arrived.]

[Her fan club.]

Later . . .

[Photo courtesy Terry Kennedy.]

[It rained here too, but it was a marvelous show that we hope will be reprised in other venues.]

The next day . . .

[So, we were here at 9:00 am to help.  It didn’t rain, but it was hot!  Oh, and Big Ole is 50 years old now and needs a complete makeover.  I know I needed a makeover at 50!!]

[Where we are.]

[Our old buddy Al Skaar.]

[An 18-pound walleye??]

[The Cub Reporter makes his contribution to save Big Ole.  Is this photo proof enough for the IRS?]

[Kids drawing “selfie” backgrounds.]

[Mmmm, blueberry pancakes!]

[Yeah, I got it all under control!]

[There’s just not enough mustard . . . Oh, my forehead tattoo – my job to pass out to the kids.]

[I was All-World hopscotch.]

[Brad, our immediate supervisor.]

[A voyageur (not to be confused with a voyeur).]

[Brad posting the storytelling times.]

[Paulette, the storyteller.  Of course I joined the kids in class – I’d never heard the story how dogs lost their tails!]

[I’m still here!]

[The gunslingers . . . ]

[The musicians.]

Next . . .

[A short stop at City Park, first looking across at whence we came where they were now setting up for Ribfest.]

[Then it was on to the winery for an oh too short visit with Julie and Bruce, a/k/a Patchouli.]

[The Super chipped in with some good ones!  🙂  ]

[Then it was back to City Park to hear a state of the state from Representative Erin Murphy, St. Paul.]

Next . . .

[Then it was off to Bug-A-Boo Bay to see the Salty Dogs, where, of course, it rained again.]

And Sunday . . .

[Josie was back at the winery.  She finally got a nice day . . . ]

[We only stayed for two sets.  We were pooped.  We learned all our friends showed up after we left?  😉  ]

It is hard, if not impossible, to snub a beautiful woman – they remain beautiful and the snub recoils.  ~  Winston Churchill

Up next:  Que sera sera.

The first day of summer – Father’s Day.  The Super and I lost our dads three decades ago.  I am not a dad.  Nevertheless, I received Father’s Day gifts today?  A quarter of a century ago the Super and I got together and I “inherited” her two young adult children.  They think I’m weird, I think they’re a hoot, and things seem to be going OK.  But now that they’re in their mid-40’s, any attempts at disciplinary actions on my part are simply met with scoffs. I’ve been dad to two cats, am currently foster granddad to two cats, and am not aware of any other parental responsibilities.  The point is, what were we to do on Father’s Day when the rest of the world is tied up with DAD activities?  You got it . . . road trip!

We received the following Facebook message yesterday:

If you are blessed enough to be heading up to the Bowlus area to ride on the Soo Line bike trail and enjoy a fantastic brunch in the garden at Jordie’s Trail Side Cafe Sunday, you may see this (hair shorter now!) – I’ll be playing in the gorgeous and really special garden 12-3.  Miracles happen here….I’d stop by if I were you. ~  Lisa

Well, we’re in our Explore Minnesota mode and had never been to Bowlus.  So why not? We hadn’t seen Lisa Lynn for a long time since she moved out of geographically desirable range for performing in Alex.  So off we went, from Sauk Centre to Bowlus was new country for us as we meandered through the farmlands of Central Minnesota.

[Through the new metropolises to us – Bowlus weighs in at about 290 inhabitants.]

[Hello, we’re here!]

[The Super was the first to shoot Lisa.  It was good to see her again.]

[Still on top of her game and having fun!  🙂  ]

[Jordie’s is a neat little place with a lovely garden.  The garden has a story, but you have to go there.  Lisa introduced us to Jordie, and I asked if she knew Duane Bobick (remember him?)?  She said very well, that he was 65 now and living in a VA facility – all those years of boxing took its toll.  Lisa has moved to Sartell now, so we hope to see her soon on the Alex music scene again.]

Remembering Dad . . .

I was a goody-goody growing up here.  I mean a gag-me-with-a-spoon goody-goody. And I know, even if just subconsciously, it was out of love and respect for Dad.  I did not want to do anything that would embarrass him as the editor of the city newspaper.  We were never a religious family, but we always took more than a little pride in knowing that some of the local clergy thought of Dad as the most moral man they knew.  It seems like we were always entertaining gentlemen of the cloth at our house as they just liked to stop in for a chat – the coffee pot, as they say, was always on.  Thanks, Dad, as I like to think we’ve all maintained those family values you taught us.

OK, I sired this blog, and it remains a dependent to this day.  ~  Cub Reporter

Up next:  How to support the arts even if you reply to, “Would you like fois gras?” with . . . “Whaaaa . . . ?”