Fact Or Fiction? (175)
The mayor of Dorsett, Minnesota is 3 years old. The mayor of Ellendale is 81 years old. The female of his residence tells the mayor of Dorsett what color slacks to wear daily. Do you suppose the female of his residence tells the mayor of Ellendale what color slacks to wear daily?
The last Bike-a-Thon in Freeborn County will be Saturday, May 7. Genie and I worked the Bike-a-Thon a few years when our son Dan was a rider, about eight non-consecutive years. Genie and I have worked the Bike-a-Thon the last four years and we plan on helping the last year.
What do the co-founders of the Geneva Cancer Auction, started in 1985, have in common? They each got married 59 years ago—to each other! Whitey and LaJune, you are a success not only in saying “I do” in the belief of fighting cancer, but also “I do” in the belief of long-term marriages. Way to go.
A count is done annually in mid-January of the bald eagles at Beaver Lake. This is done over a two-day period with the count being 50 this year. I am confused, as 50 seems like a lot of eagles. Why is the Game and Fish Division of Arkansas conducting the survey?
The Minnesota Game and Fish changed their thinking. If you want to, you can fish Mille Lacs Lake with live bait in 2016.
Genie reminded me of giving her a May basket. Let this be a reminder to you. (You can give one to her, too!)
How did the Easter bunny solve the problem of losing part of his tail? Sharp bunny, he went to a retail store.
Who are Donna and Amber of Hartland, Minnesota? They are two of the best deliverers of the Albert Lea Tribune in Albert Lea.
Many thanks to Jamie, former manager of DQ south in Albert Lea, for all the years of great service.
Per our son Dan in Vermont, the people living there know three people from Minnesota (Paul, Jesse and Garrison). While the people living in Minnesota know only one person from Vermont (Bernie), most Vermonteers know the last name of the three Minnesotans while Minnesotans don’t know the last name of Bernie. As a Minnesotan, do you know the last name of Bernie?
In expressing my concern over the Twins’ bad start with so many losses, the Twins’ higher-ups told me not to worry. They informed me the decision was to get most of the losses out of the way first. As a true Twins fan, I believe the Twins’ higher-ups. Do you think I should be a believer?
F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church is taking a bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins on Tuesday, July 26. Departure is 4 p.m. from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea, with $45 to hold a seat. More details later. Call me at (507) 373-8655 to hold a seat. Remember, the Twins should win, as they got rid of most of their losses early in the season.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
It is time for another “running of the words” column. (Remember, you decide whether the column is “fact or fiction.”)
If you want to hobnob with some of the Albert Lea area’s best bowlers, Central Freeborn Lutheran Church is the place to do so. Levi and dad Reverend Matt Griggs were the winners of the Youth-Parent Winter Bumper League team McDoubles. John and James Amorosa were winners of the McDonald’s Friday Youth Bowling League. Bev Indrelie is constantly a winner of the weekly high games or high series for women. Jim Larson is constantly a winner of the weekly high games or high series for men. (Yes, these great bowlers are all members of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.)
The pair of bald eagles has returned from the South and once again taken up nesting residence at their St. John’s seasonal home in Albert Lea.
Hey, moms: Do you want the good news first, or the bad news first? The good news is if you’re a resident Minnesota mom, you can go fishing in Minnesota for free May 7-8, 2016. The bad news is if you want to keep a walleye, you must wait until after you have purchased a Minnesota 2016 fishing license, which allows you to keep a walleye beginning Mother’s Day weekend, May 14. (Keeping a walleye is illegal at Mille Lacs Lake.)
If you don’t like the causing of the death of any kind of fish yet you like to fish, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has created a fishery for you. You must use artificial bait and release any walleye caught in Mille Lacs Lake.
Speaking of Mother’s Day, living or deceased, tell Mom “thanks.” Just remember – she was one of the great reasons for your being in this world.
A sure way of knowing you’re eligible for all senior discounts is when your youngest is in their fifties. Happy birthday, Dan.
The guess of when all the snow would be gone on the west side of the parking lot plus adjacent ground at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church was Kris Amorosa with the date of April 4. Rumor has it that Kris had a padlock on the freezer (she had the only key) to be sure she got her fair share of the DQ ice cream cake that was the winning prize.
Genie and I cried as we dropped two envelopes in the mailbox Monday, April 18. At least we had extra days to pay this year. By the way, cats or dogs do not qualify for dependents. (I checked, as the instructions didn’t specify humans only.)
In doing research on Yogi Bera and his sayings, I found many great Yogi-isms. When he was asked what he attributed all his success to, he replied, “The surroundings make the man.”
Visit the office of dentist George R. Lundstrom, look at all those pretty female surroundings and you will understand the Yogi-ism, “The surroundings make the man.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
DuWayne Kirchner, born May 24, 1937, died March 30, 2016. On March 30, 2016 DuWayne was honored with, “I have called you and you are mine.” DuWayne is now occupying that room prepared for him by his Lord and Savior.
DuWayne was my mentor when I became an AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. He helped me through many of the bumps in the road to become a successful AAL agent. I know that without DuWayne’s guidance, Genie and I would not have been able to retire early, nor would we have the finances to live so comfortably.
DuWayne – a heartfelt, many, many thanks.
Bernadette Clark, born July 3, 1955, died March 31, 2016. On March 31, 2016, Bernie was honored with, “I have called you and you are mine.” Bernie is now occupying that room prepared for her by her Lord and Savior.
Bernie was an AAL branch officer at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church when I was the AAL agent assigned to Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. How Bernie found time to be the branch secretary while raising three young boys was just amazing.
I can vividly recall when the three young boys stayed with Genie and I at our cabin on Beaver Lake for a long weekend while Bernie and Wayne enjoyed a much-needed break. The boys surprised me by being such excellent dock bluegill fishermen that catch-and-release was necessary as they caught over 300. A fish fry was a must with their parents listening to all the fish stories before the boys went home Sunday evening.
Bernie – many, many thanks for the memories.
I believe that DuWayne and Bernie both knew the following poem by an unknown author:
“The Clock of Life”
The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell when its hands will stop
At an early or late hour.
To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,
But to lose one’s health is more
But to lose one’s soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
Now is the only time you have,
So live long and work it well
And have no confidence in tomorrow,
For the clock may then be still!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
We got home from Arkansas late Saturday, March 19. Late Saturday-early Sunday it snowed enough to make everything white. By Monday evening, the snow was gone as it melted away.
I got up Tuesday morning, had my usual cereal breakfast and made a major decision. Based on the sun shining, no wind, the temperature in the high fifties, I decided it is that time of the year to start my spring/summer/fall walk around Fountain Lake of an hour or two, depending on the route I take.
As I was walking I decided winter is over and spring is here, with summer just around the corner based on the following:
1. Per the calendar, it is now spring.
2. The ice is out of Fountain Lake.
3. Fishermen are open-water fishing.
4. I see boats on Fountain Lake.
5. Lots of ducks and geese are on Fountain Lake.
6. Youth are playing basketball outside in the park by Valley Street.
7. Youth are using the skateboard park.
8. I see robins—one momma robin tells me she has had snow on her back three times, so it is time to nest.
9. No snow to be seen.
Yogi Bera was a man of many talents. He was the catcher for the New York Yankees for many years and then the manager. Yogi helped the Yankees establish the fact of the team being the powerhouse in baseball for many years.
Yogi is better known for his Yogi-isms. The following is his best known and how it came to be:
Yogi was the catcher when the Yankees were playing the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore. At the end of two innings, Baltimore was ahead 15-0 The sportswriter for the Baltimore Sun newspaper started giving Yogi a tough time, even going so far as to ask Yogi for one of his Yogi-isms to summarize how bad the Yankees were playing.
Yogi let fly with a stream of chewing tobacco into the dugout tobacco can as he said, “It’s not over ‘til it’s over,” to the Baltimore sportswriter.
The Yankees made a fantastic comeback and won the game 20-18. The sportswriter ate crow as he wrote in his column about the game, including the conversation in the dugout with Yogi. Now you know what brought about the best Yogi-ism.
In the beginning of this column I wrote about how I knew winter was over. I, too, must eat crow as I forgot about Yogi and his Yogi-isms.
Late Wednesday, early Thursday winter was still here as a blizzard with a foot of wet snow, bringing things to a standstill in this area. Yes, Yogi, “it’s not over ‘til it’s over.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
On Sunday, March 13, after church, Genie and I loaded our red HHR Chevrolet, set the cruise at 75 mph as we got on I35 and headed south for Harrison, Arkansas.
After crossing into Missouri, we pulled into the first rest stop. The temperature was 71, making all the nearby frogs sing their get-together spring song. An interesting sight was an Indian brave on his horse herding five huge buffalo near the rest stop.
A few miles later, we pulled into the Comfort Inn at Bethany, Missouri. We ate a very good evening meal at the “Toot, Toot Restaurant” there.
We took Missouri Highway 13 south off of I35 at Bethany to Highway 65 at Springfield, Missouri. Thus, we missed going through Kansas City, and it was about 20 miles shorter.
In a small town along 13 south at a church where the letters on the outside board are changed by hand was a great Easter message: “Easter is more than something to dye for.”
On our spring break to visit relatives Sandy and Frank Meng in Harrison, Arkansas, we stayed at the Quality Inn in Harrison. We walked in and were welcomed back by employees Janie and Carrie. Sandy and Frank took us on tours of the countryside outside of Harrison. We enjoyed lunch with Joe and Susan at their hobby farm (even a creek with a waterfall).
We had lunch at the Cliff House Inn and Restaurant overlooking the Grand Canyon of Arkansas.
Tonya, the town character, took us to the DQ for an ice cream cone while saying the treat was on her (I later found out it was free DQ cone day all across the U.S.).
Genie and I think all customer-related personnel should take a two-week training session with the Harrison Quality Inn employees to recognize how to get repeat customers. A prime example of seizing the moment to please the customer was when employees Tammy, Stacy, Katrina, Lucinda, April, Shaunna, Janie, Thomas, Tyler, Carrie, Jan, Bobby and Clancy all wore green on St. Patrick’s Day. They even served green tea at the motel guests’ free breakfast.
As we leave for home on Friday morning, Janie checks us out of the Quality Inn while giving her slow Southern drawl of a comeback, “You’re always welcome.”
We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Bethany on our way home and ate the evening meal at the “Toot, Toot Restaurant” with the same waitress as before. She remembered us, and asked if we would like the same meal as before. Genie and I looked at each other and said, “Sure.”
Madi, your rating on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best waitress, is 12. Yes, readers, Madi remembered what we ate before and brought us exactly the same meal. When we walked into the restaurant, the hostess asked if it was O.K. if we sat at a table for six with two other people as the place was very busy and that way we wouldn’t have to wait to be seated. We gave the hostess our O.K., and she checked with the other party and they said O.K, too.
We introduced ourselves. A fourth-grade young lady and her mom from Princeton, Missouri, were most impressive. Her name was Gracie and she decided to keep Mom company while her three sisters were at their farm with Dad. Gracie, you were the highlight of our Bethany, Missouri experience.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
Did you know that Tuesday, March 8, 2016 was National Pancake Day? I’m not referring to stalling an airplane and letting the plane drop flat to make a pancake landing — I’m referring to what the Sommers brothers of Ellendale fame and Dennis Brue of Albert Lea are known for flipping as you watch while your taste buds salivate in anticipation.
On Sunday, March 6, Senior Resources of Albert Lea scheduled their fundraiser brunch-breakfast at Bayview in Albert Lea. Surprisingly, the main entrée was pancakes flipped by Dennis Brue.
I’m not sure if any of the Senior Resources board members knew it was the week of National Pancakes or not. Either way, it was very successful with about 400 served.
Members of the Senior Resources board, employers and family members kept things flowing smoothly. If you left with your tummy not fully expanded, it was your own fault.
It was a pleasure to watch the workers perform as a team. Everyone had their own job, whether it was taking donations, serving food, pouring beverages, seating, or just making the event enjoyable.
Molly Lund, Maggie Lund, Shelby Evans, Kaylee Evans and Mallory Evans were the five school-age young ladies bussing the tables and keeping the seating area organized (to those of you who follow basketball, they were the “fab five”). I wonder where the five learned their great work ethic, as they really kept things running smoothly.
It took me a while to figure out what the job of Todd Domke was just standing by Wayne Indrelie as we went through the line. Finally, a light-bulb answer: “Todd’s job was to portion-control the amount of bologna Wayne was dishing out.”
Many thanks to Todd and staff at Bayview for the use of the facility.
Onto another “hello spring, good bye winter” event. Some people called this a prime example of cabin fever. Central Freeborn Lutheran Church of rural Albert Lea had a “guess when the snow on the west side of the parking lot would all be gone” contest. The contest was sponsored by F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) with the winner receiving a DQ ice cream cake. The guessing ended after church on Sunday, March 6.
The weather turned unseasonably warm the next day (March 7). T’was then the security camera showed lots of car activity driving in to look at how much snow was left.
As of this writing, there is some snow left with the vehicle activity greatly increased per the security camera. Genie guessed March 10, and I guessed April 6. As of this writing, Genie is out and I’m still in the contest.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
As I sit here getting ready to write this column, I look at the March calendar. March came in like a small lion. I wonder if it will go out like a small lamb.
Did all of you correct your clocks on March 13? Did anybody change the hour the wrong way?
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, the same date as the publish date of this newspaper this year. “Erin go braugh” translates to “Ireland go on forever.” My Irish grandfather maintained there were two kinds of people, “Those that were Irish, and those that wished they were Irish.”
Sunday, March 20 is Palm Sunday, the first day of spring and also equinox — equal length in day and night, each 12 hours long.
Friday, March 25 is Good Friday, followed by Easter Sunday, March 27. “He is risen, yes, He is risen indeed.”
March 31 is on a Thursday. Most of the annual migration is completed by then, including the two-legged Minnesota snowbirds.
Only an April fool knows what happens the first day in April.
I was very fortunate to have a Norwegian grandfather and an Irish grandfather. I was the first grandchild for each and each one did his best to spoil me. Seeing as how this month honors the Irish, I will do the same.
Grandpa Henry (and Grandma) McFarland had a farm by Hope, Minnesota. In the summertime I would ride my bicycle from our farm just north of St. Olaf Lake to their farm (about 15 miles). I would stay at their place three or four times each summer for at least a week each time.
Grandma was quite musical, as she taught me piano and guitar. Although she tried to get me to take lessons, I never did, as it was more fun to tag along with Grandpa.
The Straight River went through the middle of their farm, so Grandpa would take me fishing or let me go alone (the Northern fishing was always good). They had a flat field with two mounds in the middle. Grandpa said they were Indian burial grounds. We would search the ground by the mounds and found a few arrowheads.
Grandpa would let me go along to Hope when taking the milk to the creamer after we milked the Guernsey cows. On one trip we stopped at the Hope Tavern on the way back to the farm. Grandpa knew the owner/bartender as he ordered two glasses of tap beer each costing a dime. T’was then I learned how to put salt between your thumb and first finger as you drank tap beer. Grandpa told me it was about time I learned this, so I did at the old age of fourteen.
Grandpa was not much of a church-going person. He told me that when it was time, the man upstairs would take you—maybe you would know, and maybe you wouldn’t know. I was serving in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict when I got the message that Grandpa had been in a serious tractor accident on the farm. I tried to get an emergency leave to go home, but was turned down.
Shortly after the accident, Grandpa told my mother to get the preacher man, as it was time. She did, he arrived and a short time after arriving, Grandpa died.
One of the first things I did after being discharged and getting home was to go see Grandpa in the cemetery. We had a long conversation as I talked and heard his familiar voice reply.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
It was “poutin’” time again so a-poutin’ Genie and I did go. We left Albert Lea (for the four-day event) early Thursday, February 18, 2016. The Eelpout Festival was Thursday-noon Sunday, on Leech Lake, Walker, Minnesota.
Can you imagine a town of just under 1,000 trying to find parking for 14,000 people? The weather was in the high forties Friday and Saturday, after about eight inches of snow the previous weekend. This was the 37th Annual Eelpout Festival and the second time vehicles were limited on the lake. Because of the snow, thinner-than-normal ice (about 24 inches compared to 48 inches) and warm temps with rain, the decision was made to restrict traffic on the lake beginning at noon on Friday. Traffic was limited to four-wheelers, snowmobiles and on foot. It took at least a half hour to find a car parking place within walking distance of the lake activities.
All the planned activities out on the ice were held. You had to walk through slush and water, keeping in mind that old saying, “The show must go on.”
The Friday and Saturday night dance with live entertainment was a success after sump pumps were used to pump off the water on the ice floor (the dance was held under a big tent out on the ice).
The Polar Plunge had about 400 plungers. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton impersonators were at the plunge but they refused to jump into Leech Lake. Both gave the excuse “it would wreck their hairdo” (between $40-50 thousand was raised for breast cancer).
The largest eelpout caught was 13½ lbs. Because of having to park off the lake, the Walker businesses did quite well. It was estimated that about $2 million was spent in Walker.
There was a traffic warning sign as you came into Walker stating, “Beware of heavy traffic.”
We stayed the four nights at the Palace Hotel (as we usually do) in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Once again the employees treated us with a “welcome back,” a handshake or a hug and “it’s good to see you.”
We visited Sandy Roscoe in Longville, MN. Sandy is a former resident of Albert Lea and an associate member of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea.
We attended the Sunday service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake. Please say a prayer for Charlie and Grace (members of Trinity with health problems).
Short shorts:
Who is the most well-known man of the cloth in the Cass Lake area? Father George Ross, that’s who.
Who is the “key” man at the Palace Hotel? Frank, the maker of room keys, that’s who.
Who is the Hy-Vee employee that is in the TV ad for Polar Plunging? Kellon Kassa of Albert Lea, that’s who.
Who is the ruffled grouse that has adopted the mailboxes in Puposky, Minnesota? Fred, that’s who.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
Five years ago we attended a wedding in Algona, Iowa where all the male participants wore flip-flops. The reception was held at the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg, Iowa. While there, I filled out a form and the casino gave me a deck of cards.
Just before my birthday, I got a nice letter from the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg stating they missed me, as I hadn’t been there since my first time there five years ago.
The letter went on to say if I would come back on a certain date, they will provide a free buffet meal to me and a guest of mine.
All of my fellow Norwegians (plus most of the rest of you) know a true Norwegian will travel miles for a reduced price meal. If the meal is free we will really travel miles – like about 110 miles to Emmetsburg. Genie and I did just that and enjoyed a very good meal – even coconut cream pie with a marshmallow sundae on the side.
As we entered the restaurant we were told that because they expected 105 birthday invitees plus guests, they would like us to sit with people we didn’t know. Genie and I said O.K.
We were escorted to a table of six. After sitting down, we introduced ourselves to the other two couples. Both couples said they were from Iowa. Genie replied that she was originally from Clear Lake, Iowa. One man said he was originally from Clear Lake also.
The conversation was very interesting between them. He lived on a farm, Genie lived in town, as they both attended and graduated from Clear Lake High School (Genie was three classes ahead of him). They both left Clear Lake for further schooling. Both of them came back to Clear Lake to get married at the same Lutheran church by the same pastor. Both left Clear Lake because of their jobs.
I learned two things from all this:
1. Small World!
2. There is no free buffet, as I counted how much money I had as we left the casino versus how much I had when we entered.
Time for 10 short shorts:
1. What appears on the lower left hand corner of the Star Eagle newspaper front page?
2. When the politicians left Iowa, the temperature dropped 18 degrees. (The politicians took all their hot air with them.)
3. Presidential caucus summary in Iowa: “You think the only good candidate is the one you voted for, but you’re not certain.”
4. “Charter” is now “Spectrum” for most area cable TV customers.
5. When was the last time you saw a jackrabbit in Southern Minnesota?
6. A little more than 9,000 people entered the ice fishing contest on Gull Lake outside of Brainerd, Minnesota in February.
7. A flock of (about 20) robins is hanging around Good Samaritan Center just north of Albert Lea.
8. A flock of (about 30) mourning doves is hanging around Betty and Bob’s (as you drive into the Albert Lea Dump – the place on your left).
9. Duane Aitchson has been seen hanging around Beaver Lake a lot since February 2, 2016. (He believes the groundhog).
10. If you don't know the name Carlie Wagner, you don’t know NRHEG land.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
Early Tuesday morning, February 2, 2016, Genie got an e-mail message from a relative living in Clear Lake, Iowa. It read, “Great things are happening in Iowa – Trump got Trumped, the groundhog didn't see his shadow (thus, no six more weeks of winter – making for an early spring).”
By the way, gas is always 10¢ to 20¢ per gallon cheaper in Iowa than Minnesota. We will let you know when the Barrel Drive-in is opening – come on down, the chicken dinner is on us at the Barrel.
We live on a street that runs east and west in Albert Lea. Arlene Murray lives on a street that runs east and west in Albert Lea. Both homes are on the north side of the street laid out such that we can see the front side of her garage and she can see the back side of our garage. Over the years Arlene and Genie have developed their own definition of a blizzard: “When one can’t see the other’s garage because of snow and wind.” Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 2016 met their definition of a blizzard.
On February 2, 2016, Genie and I were glad we’re members of NOS-SIC (Norwegians Over Seventy Stay Inside Club). We did just what the eligibility requirements are: either be a Norwegian or know a Norwegian and stay inside for at least 24 consecutive hours during severe weather. (The severity was up to 40 mph winds and a grand total of seven inches of snow. My Norwegian summarization of the blizzard was “UFF DA!”
I am not a go-to-the-movies fan. Genie wanted to go to Star Wars but I wasn’t interested. Genie dangled the carrot by saying she would pay the admission fee. Being a cheap Norwegian I said, “Okay, I’ll go.” We went to Star Wars Number Seven (I hadn’t seen any of the previous six) at the Flame Theatre in Wells, Minnesota on a Sunday afternoon. As we were driving into Wells, Genie asked me to buy each of us a box of buttered popcorn as she had been told it was really good. I said okay, seeing as how she was paying to get in.
As we enter, a man and a younger lady are right behind us, so I hold the door for them. As they enter he says, “I’ll get the door on the way out.” Genie buys the tickets, $3 for each, and I buy the buttered box of popcorn, $4 for each box. (Once again, Genie proved her ability of bargain buying.)
Genie and I proceed on into the theatre and sit in two seats at the end of a row. The man and young lady sit right behind us and strike up a conversation. They introduce themselves – he is a farmer just outside of Wells and she is his daughter (an employee of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester).
The movie starts and Genie helps me catch on. (The wrap-around sound effects were excellent.)
The movie ends and we visit some more on the way out. As we get to the door, the dad says “my turn” and holds the door for us.
As we leave he says, “The Force be with you.” ‘Twas then I knew farmer Rick Feist was a member of the Wells “Minnesota Nice Club.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
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Because of the severe weather warning of -20 degrees with -45 degree wind chills for Sunday, January 17, Genie and I go grocery shopping on Saturday, Jan. 16. We load up on the basic items—soup, coffee, milk, etc. to last for a few days—and head home. After putting away the groceries, Genie says we have a telephone message. The message is from two young relatives in St. Peter. They ask us to check our e-mail messages as they have sent us a very, very important message.
Genie prints the message and hands it to me. It reads: “We would like you to join the NOS-SIC. We know you qualify, but to join you must go nowhere tomorrow.”
We send an e-mail back saying, “Thanks, but we plan on going to church tomorrow.”
Sunday weather lives up to the forecast. Just like many of you, no church due to the severe cold. On Sunday evening, we send them an e-mail asking if we can join as we didn’t go anywhere that day. A reply comes back stating we are now members of the NOS-SIC and an embossed plastic membership for each of us along with the membership rules will be sent to us in the mail.
A few days later the card with the rules arrives in the mail. NOS-SIC is short for “Norwegian Over Seventy Stay Inside Club.” Two rules for eligibility are: 1. Be over seventy and either be Norwegian or know a Norwegian. 2. Stay inside for at least 24 consecutive hours when a severe weather warning is issued for your area.
In checking with the youngsters’ parents, we find out that this is a “Random Act of Kindness” program in their school. The idea is to keep in touch with the Norwegian, over-seventy qualifiers that didn’t go south for the winter.
More good news to certain people. I am a chocoholic. When Genie hides chocolate in the house, I can find it within 10 minutes—especially dark chocolate. The good news is, a British research group has published their findings in the British Medical Journal “Heart.” The study shows that chocolate reduces stroke and heart disease rates. (I am now eating only chocolate made in Great Britain.)
Another study, as put out by the American Parking Lots Association, shows most parking lot accidents are caused by people backing out of where they were parked. The new recommendation is to park such that you can drive out when you leave the parking lot.
Welcome “Hometown Pizza & BBQ” to the Top of the Hill in Ellendale. A suggestion to the Helle family owners: delivery to both hard water and soft water fishermen at the boat ramp on Beaver Lake.
The front page picture in the Star Eagle paper showed Virgil Thofson and the new owner of the Village Inn of Hartland. The caption was “An Old Favorite Returns to Hartland.” Virgil, we all know you’re old, but we didn’t know you’ve been gone!
Did you know, about one out of three boy babies born the weekend of January 22-24 on the East Coast were named Jonas?
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
As the door greeter at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church on Sundays, some mornings are really cold. On one of those negative-temperature Sunday mornings, I decided to conduct a survey of the males over 20 years of age as they entered the church. My survey question was, “What do you like about long johns?”
Many times, the answer was, “They are really good with a hot cup of coffee and a donut, especially those with a filling like those you can get at Nancy Jane’s Bakery in New Richland.” Other answers were, “They’re for wimps,” or “Only at a home Vikings football game are they O.K.”
Of all the males surveyed, only two were presently wearing the full-body long johns undergarment (I was one of the two).
You can purchase a full or half (up to the waist) pair of long johns. The reason they are called long johns (plural) – because of two legs (per Webster’s Dictionary). The long johns’ usual colors are red, white, gray, blaze orange or camouflage.
I have a pair of camouflage for bow or blaze orange for rifle to wear if it is very cold during deer hunting. At the same time, I carry two red corncobs and one white one. The white one is to see if I need another red one or not.
When it is very cold, and I’m not deer hunting, I have a red pair with a flap on the backside that I unbutton if needed. The red one is of the old design of about 50 years ago with a hero sewn on the front chest. Mine has Superman.
To get a visual of the old design, I suggest you stop in at Dad’s Good Stuff in New Richland. Wayne has a pair of old red long johns with Roy Rogers sewn on the front. Stop in only on a warm day, as otherwise he might be wearing them.
Trivia question: How many buttons on the flap in the back of an old pair of red long johns? (Answer at the end of this column.)
Things you should know this time of the year:
1. A continuous small stream of water will help keep your inside water pipes from freezing.
2. A wet tongue needs no glue to attach itself to an outdoor piece of metal.
3. The year is 2016.
4. The groundhog will decide the rest of winter on February 2.
5. February has 29 days this year.
6. As of January 23, I’m in practice for a year to become a full-fledged octogenarian.
7. The answer is none. The flap has only button holes.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
This is my 15th year of writing this column. I plan on writing this column as long as I’m able to do so (maybe not every week, but at least monthly). This column has always been “Fact or Fiction: You Decide Which.” The main emphasis was and will continue to be how well you enjoy it. I like to hear about your enjoyment – just keep reading ‘til you enjoy a column – then let me know. Thanks.
And now, onto another enjoyable-or-not column.
The Albert Lea Tribune has very, very sharp management. They know that Friday has the least number of papers sold each week. They keep tabs on who the buyers are of extra papers with a buyers’ interest published in that paper.
They match photos and articles to the extra paper buyers’ interests in the Friday paper. Classic example: The Friday, January 1, 2016 paper. Violinist Clair LaFrance was pictured playing her violin at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Now, you know that Grandpa and Grandma LaFrance from Cabin 97 at Beaver Lake are two of the most extra Friday paper buyers of the Albert Lea Tribune (proud parents are Kevin and Elizabeth LaFrance).
Genie and I each purchased one of the “old folks” cell phones. You can set when your cell phone will not ring for three hours. We set ours for before 8 a.m. Monday-Friday, before 9 a.m. on Saturday and before 10 a.m. on Sunday. The caller receives the message that the phone won’t ring if calling before the above times. The “old folks” phone has given us much-needed a.m. snooze time!
The “Village Inn” in Hartland is now open from early a.m. to mid-afternoon, Monday-Saturday. Stop and say, “Hi,” to the new owners, while thanking former owner Judy Hendrickson for all the food and fun Judy will be present helping the new owners get orientated for a few weeks.
As you’re well aware, many freak accidents happen around the house. Genie had one of those freak accidents. In napping in the Lazy Boy, her foot slipped off the footrest and she twisted her knee, causing it to swell. Genie and Dr. Edwards are now in the process of inventing side rails for Lazy Boy recliners.
In case any naughty person is wondering why Santa didn’t give out coal this year, it was because coal is a “no-no” environmental item.
For those of you that like to plan in advance: F.R.O.G. of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church plans on sponsoring a bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins vs. Milwaukee Braves on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, leaving at 4 p.m. from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea (further details later).
Fun and fellowship makes for a good Valentine’s party. Call (507) 373-8655 and for $5 we’ll reserve a set for three hours of fun and fellowship beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 to eat pizza, play Norwegian Bingo and eat an ice cream dessert at a Valentine’s party held at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.
This is another of my “hopscotch” columns (a running of the words in street language).
Have you noticed how a fellow columnist is now writing with a bit of humor? Could it be due to a four-wheeled vehicle called a Studebaker?
The people of Portugal and Spain will traditionally eat 12 grapes just as the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve. This is to ensure 12 happy months in the coming year.
I missed being able to tour the Christmas decorations at the Vince Peterson farm (Vince retired this year after four decades).
Have you been to the new business by Ellendale called Casey’s? Be sure and say “hi” to Larry on your next visit.
The Wagner Watch is a most appreciated ad in the Star Eagle.
An NRHEG alumni asked me to say “hi” to her fellow alumni (she goes by the handle, “Debbie Baas”).
Once again, modern technology blew me away. Genie received a letter from a classmate (Sandy Hargens) with a postage stamp that was a picture of Sandy’s dog, Echo. Yes, you can print a postage stamp of your liking from your computer.
We received a homemade pecan pie from Dan and Laurie (they live on top of the Green Mountains just outside of Burlington, Vermont) via USPS Priority Mail. It took longer to get here than it did for us to eat it. We eat good things fast.
Police statistic: The least number of cars stolen is on Christmas Day. The most number of cars stolen is on New Year’s Day.
Many stores in Mason City are entered via the door on the left and exited via the door on the right.
The sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog,” uses every letter of the alphabet.
In his end-of-the-year meeting with the heads of the U.S. church bodies, President Obama let them know he was aware that most church bodies were suffering financially. He asked if there was anything he could do to help their finances. The unanimous answer was, “Quit making $1 bills.”
While waiting to order at the busy local KFC, I started to talk with a lady also waiting to order. She let me know she lived in New Richland and worked in Albert Lea. I stated that I was a graduate of New Richland and asked her last name. She looked at me and said, “I recognize you, you write a column in the New Richland paper and if I tell you my name it will be in the paper and I don’t want that.”
She did okay giving her description: “About five feet, six inches tall, under age 40 with the outstanding feature of wearing pink shoes.” Tell her you saw her description in this column.
A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.
There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.
Her name is Sharon, his name is Jim; her name is Genie, his name is Bob. At the Senior Citizen Christmas Party, Sharon was the lucky winner of bottled wine. Genie was the lucky winner of a food certificate good for cocktail shrimp. Jim and Bob are waiting for the consuming party that they promised to invite them to.
How did Genie and I celebrate New Year’s Eve? At the stroke of 12, we each ate 12 grapes.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.