Fact Or Fiction? (175)
The signs and literature at four area Lutheran Churches (Ascension, Salem, Trinity and Central Freeborn) read Vacation Bible School June 15-18 at Edgewater Park in Albert Lea, 9 a.m.-12 noon for pre-school and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for grades 1-6.
Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14 at Trinity with pizza and root beer floats. Vacation Bible School attendees could bring anyone but the family pet. (Genie and I got back from Arkansas just in time to attend).
Joan Anderson and Diane Dopperhammer from Ascension, Amber Deming from Salem, Annette Hansen and Greg Anderson from Trinity, and Genie Hanson from Central Freeborn, were the church adult representatives responsible to tie everything together for a successful vacation bible school. (Yes it was!!)
This year, (similar to the last few years) a team from Okobji Lutheran Bible Camp taught the grades 1-6 while Genie taught the pre-school (19 youngsters) with Maggie Eggum, Lorrie Hensche, Bre Brown, Kylee Brown, and Shelley Bush the scheduled helpers for Genie and the team. My job was gopher – go fer this, go fer that, go fer food to feed the Okoboji team, go fer a drive to the swimming pool in Geneva to let Samuel Christensen meet his ride home. (I learned a lot about cars from Sam)
The Okoboji team was Samantha Walter, Gale Winter, Louisa Jastram, Emma Potter, and Ryan McCullough. I asked them where they were from. Louisa answered Sioux Falls, South Dakata. The rest all said Tenwa. Not wanting to look stupid, I didn’t ask where Tenwa was. I checked the encyclopedia, my atlas of North America, a computer listing of all the towns in the world with a population in excess of 250 — nothing, no “Tenwa.”
Genia and I brought the Okoboji team a Chinese meal on Thursday evening. We were a little early as I thought maybe I could find out where Tenwa was. I pointed out we were a little early with the food as I liked the old saying, “the early bird gets the worm.” The team pointed out that was a good saying, but one must also remember the old Chinese proverb, “the second mouse gets the cheese,” (that ended my evening quest for where Tenwa was.)
The great week ended with singing and a skit put on by the Okoboji team plus attendees. It was followed by a pot luck supper in the Edgewater pavilion.
After supper, we helped the team load their maroon van with Iowa license plates. When the van was loaded, I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I asked, “Where is Tenwa?” As they got into the van, rolled down the windows and started to drive away, they answered in unison, “The answer is on our license plate.”
It was then a brilliant light bulb flashed in my mind. To the younger generation, in their texting language, Iowa is Tenwa.
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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.
Many Vermont natives need a few days in Minnesota to learn “Minnesota Nice.” Exceptions who could move to Minnesota and fit right in were: Liz, who we met in a café overlooking the lake in Burlington; Brittany at the Quality Inn desk (she refers to herself as “A Little Ray of Sunshine” – she most certainly is!); and the Bobbsey Twins, who take care of the breakfast bar at the Quality Inn (almost all the staff were of the Minnesota Nice standard).
We noticed Vermont promotes “Keep it Green.” The Highway Patrol cars are green. One taxicab company uses hybrid cars that are green – thus they call themselves “the Green Cab Company.” They have a statewide “Keep It Green Day” with green garbage bags given out to pick up trash yearly on May 1.
There is a business in Burlington staffed by all females. Their ad shows a beautiful lady winking at you. They go by the handle of “Girlington Garage.” Yes, they are a car-related business.
Cell phone service was very limited in the Huntington area plus some areas along the way in Canada. While driving in Vermont (also Ontario, Canada) all hand-held electronics are prohibited.
Just when you think you’ve seen all road signs, we saw a sign in Vermont that said “Moose Crossing” below the sign of an antlered deer.
In driving through the Heroes Islands, there was a sign along U.S. Highway 2: “Caution: Turtle Crossing.” A real live snapping turtle crossed as we went by!
A campaign sign on a lawn on a reservation read “Eric Thompson for Chief (Northern New York).” Did Eric move away from Clarks Grove?
Coming home on Canadian Highway 17 we saw a lot of blood on the highway where a big bull moose had been hit and killed by a semi. A native told me, if the meat is okay they give it to the local school for about six luncheons of moose burgers, and vegetable moose soup for about 10 luncheons. (I think I believe him but I’m not sure.)
By Fish Creek along Highway 2 in Wisconsin we saw a beautiful sculpture of a walleye with a red and white bass plug in its mouth. I guess they’re promoting a bass plug for all fishing occasions.
We saw a black bear running into the woods by a house in Wisconsin. We saw a female red fox guarding her den by the road in Wisconsin.
The last day of driving we saw five sand hill cranes, plus a pair with three chicks.
It seems that roundabouts have become the way to take care of stop signs, as we saw them in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Vermont. All of them had yield signs – no stop signs.
We followed the same route going to and coming from Vermont. It was a good drive even though we saw snow on the way there. After leaving May 11 and getting home June 4, Genie and I both agree the house sign “325 Burr Oak Drive” was most welcome. NPLH (in texting, No Place Like Home).
Whether you read this before or after July 4, remember: Democracy is what makes this a great nation! Amen.
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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.
Many Vermont natives need a few days in Minnesota to learn “Minnesota Nice.” Exceptions who could move to Minnesota and fit right in were: Liz, who we met in a café overlooking the lake in Burlington; Brittany at the Quality Inn desk (she refers to herself as “A Little Ray of Sunshine” – she most certainly is!); and the Bobbsey Twins, who take care of the breakfast bar at the Quality Inn (almost all the staff were of the Minnesota Nice standard).
We noticed Vermont promotes “Keep it Green.” The Highway Patrol cars are green. One taxicab company uses hybrid cars that are green – thus they call themselves “the Green Cab Company.” They have a statewide “Keep It Green Day” with green garbage bags given out to pick up trash yearly on May 1.
There is a business in Burlington staffed by all females. Their ad shows a beautiful lady winking at you. They go by the handle of “Girlington Garage.” Yes, they are a car-related business.
Cell phone service was very limited in the Huntington area plus some areas along the way in Canada. While driving in Vermont (also Ontario, Canada) all hand-held electronics are prohibited.
Just when you think you’ve seen all road signs, we saw a sign in Vermont that said “Moose Crossing” below the sign of an antlered deer.
In driving through the Heroes Islands, there was a sign along U.S. Highway 2: “Caution: Turtle Crossing.” A real live snapping turtle crossed as we went by!
A campaign sign on a lawn on a reservation read “Eric Thompson for Chief (Northern New York).” Did Eric move away from Clarks Grove?
Coming home on Canadian Highway 17 we saw a lot of blood on the highway where a big bull moose had been hit and killed by a semi. A native told me, if the meat is okay they give it to the local school for about six luncheons of moose burgers, and vegetable moose soup for about 10 luncheons. (I think I believe him but I’m not sure.)
By Fish Creek along Highway 2 in Wisconsin we saw a beautiful sculpture of a walleye with a red and white bass plug in its mouth. I guess they’re promoting a bass plug for all fishing occasions.
We saw a black bear running into the woods by a house in Wisconsin. We saw a female red fox guarding her den by the road in Wisconsin.
The last day of driving we saw five sand hill cranes, plus a pair with three chicks.
It seems that roundabouts have become the way to take care of stop signs, as we saw them in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Vermont. All of them had yield signs – no stop signs.
We followed the same route going to and coming from Vermont. It was a good drive even though we saw snow on the way there. After leaving May 11 and getting home June 4, Genie and I both agree the house sign “325 Burr Oak Drive” was most welcome. NPLH (in texting, No Place Like Home).
Whether you read this before or after July 4, remember: Democracy is what makes this a great nation! Amen.
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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.
While at the top-of-the mountain home of Dan and Laurie, I got to play lumberjack by cutting and splitting wood, as their main source of heat is wood.
I hiked up to a gravesite of a mountain man who passed away of cancer at age 40.
There is a gazebo out in the woods looking out at Camel’s Hump. In a plastic bag is a notebook in which you are supposed to leave a message of your experience of being there – this I did both times. Camel’s Hump is a climbing challenge, as for the last leg you’re on your hands and knees going up sheer rock. (I made it to the top on the third try.)
Genie and I got to see a male woodcock performing for a female woodcock in a grassy opening in the woods by their house at dusk. He would do aerial displays, fly in circles, make a funny call, land, and repeat the process.
The hot water heater decided it was done heating late on Saturday. Our thanks to a young feller named Justin from Falcon Plumbing, who replaced it late Saturday evening.
Their location is so beautiful, we didn’t go down the mountain very much. We bought groceries in the small neighboring town of Hinesburg. The store, like everything else, is built on rock. (Part of the floor is rock.)
We attended the community church in Huntington, a small Baptist church built in 1861. It was a very friendly congregation in a quaint setting.
We drove over to the local 18-hole golf course on a dairy farm. The dairy farmer liked to golf so at retirement he turned the dairy farm over to his son. He then built the golf courses with a driving range. The neat thing is, all the yard markers are wooden Holstein cows.
Somehow a wood tick found my back and enjoyed Norwegian blood for about two days.
Dan and Laurie were to be back Sunday evening, May 31, and we would leave their home to stay at the Quality Inn in Colchester, Vermont. Late Sunday afternoon Dan called from the emergency room at the hospital in Syracuse, New York. Laurie had a TIA (transient ischemic attack – a small stroke) and they were running tests while keeping her overnight. She was released to her primary physician in Burlington the next day for further tests. Please pray for her. Thanks.
They returned to their home on Monday and Genie and I checked into the Quality Inn in Colchester, where we stayed for a week.
We noticed the cost of living is a lot higher in the Burlington area compared to Southern Minnesota.
While at the Quality Inn we toured Church Street in Burlington, Vermont (so named because of a big church at the end). It is a blocked-off section of streets (about six blocks) with pedestrian traffic only and no smoking. The stores are small on three levels. Macy’s department store is at the end of a building a block long off Church Street, thus you have to walk past a lot of small stores to get to a big store – smart protection for the small stores.
A building was removed, thus leaving two exposed walls off Church Street. The walls were then painted with small murals about Vermont. One was John Deere (the person, the founder of John Deere), being a resident of Vermont.
On our last Sunday we attended the community church in Huntington, Vermont. At the end of the service the attendees formed a circle while holding hands. The pastor (Rev. Larry Tetweiler) asked for prayer concerns. Genie asked for a prayer for Laurie, which was honored. Thank you to those present.
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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.
The famous saying of “Go West, Young Man,” applies to a different generation from Genie and me. Thus, we decided to “Go East” and Go East we did.
Early Monday morning, May 11, we set the GPS for Burlington, Vermont, by way of Canada — crossing at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
The first night we stayed at the Bad River Casino and Motel in Odanah, Wisconsin on Highway 2. We visited with my old Navy veteran friend, Norm, who is an Elder of the reservation. Once again, I tried to get a seat on the tribal board (I would be a Norwegian minority representative). Once again, I was turned down.
The second day was a long straight drive with part of it a little over 100 miles on Michigan Highway 8. We watched to see how many miles it would be before we saw a can or bottle along the Michigan Highway 28. The first one was 32 miles. Minnesota would have been less than a mile. The difference is mainly due to the 10 cents per can or bottle deposit refund law. (Minnesota most certainly would be cleaner if we had a 10 cents deposit law.)
We stayed at Sault Ste. Marie on the USA side crossing into Sault Ste. Marie, Canada the next day.
The third night was stayed in Matawa, Ontario, Canada. Just beautiful, right on the Ottawa River.
The native walleye fishermen were catching a walleye just about every cast. The Ottawa River is very heavily polluted with mercury – thus the fishermen were mainly catch and release. Some of the walleye were deformed with a bent body. The suggested recommendation is, don’t eat more than one or two of the smaller walleye (10 to 12 inchers) per month.
The mercury level doesn’t bother the loons as they were really noisy at dusk. (Our room had a balcony looking out over the river — fantastic).
In the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Canada there is a yellow line in the water to tell Minnesota and Canada apart. In the Ottawa River there are a lot of rocks on the bottom painted yellow to tell the border between English speaking Ontario, Canada and French-speaking Quebec, Canada.
The fourth night we stayed at the Quality Inn of Colchester, Vermont.
The next day we moved into the top of the Green Mountain home of Dan and Laurie to babysit their three cats, two birds and one dog while they were on vacation to Kelley’s Island in Ohio on Lake Erie.
The reason we go through Canada and then drop down to their home (1,407 miles) is because the drive is prettier, one toll in of $3 and one toll out of $3.50, compared to the U.S. tolls on the freeway of $40 to $75. It is also a little shorter by way of Canada.
The next two columns will be about our 10 days at their mountaintop home, our seven days at the Quality Inn, Colchester, Vermont, plus our trip back to Albert Lea.
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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 write this column, I’m sitting at the top of part of the Green Mountain chain in Vermont. I’m looking at Camel’s Hump, a tough hike to the top, which I accomplished after the third try. Genie and I are staying at Dan and Laurie’s, house-sitting while they are vacationing. I will write about our trip, by car, to Vermont when we get home.
I have a favor to ask of all my fellow veterans to do on Sunday, June 15. Put on your shined-up black shoes, click your heels with a snappy salute to Old Glory, as it is Flag Day. A “Thank You, Lord” as you bring your right arm down would be most appropriate.
To anyone reading this column, pay tribute to Old Glory as you remember “This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land,” that our flag flies over.
Sunday, June 21, 2015 is the official first day of summer. I’m ready for summer. Are you ready?
Sunday, June 21 is also an important day for you to show recognition to your father, whether living or deceased. Just remember, he was one of the main characters in your creation.
The women of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church are sponsoring a coach bus trip to Church Basement Ladies on Sunday, June 28. The bus leaves at 11 a.m. from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea. Center section reserved seats, with a CD for all attending. The cost is $53 per person including buffet supper at KFC in Owatonna on the way home. For reservations with payment in advance to hold a seat call Bob or Genie at 507-373-8655.
How about those Twins? F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) of Central Freeborn Lutheran church isI sponsoring a coach bus trip to the Twins vs. Pittsburgh on Tuesday, July 28, leaving at 4 p.m. from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea with reserved seating behind home plate in the Home Plate View section. Your name will be on the scoreboard if your birthday is July 28. Four people from the bus will be selected to be on the field and help lead in singing the National Anthem. The cost is $45 per person with payment in advance. To hold a seat, call Bob or Genie Hanson at 507-373-8655 or Wayne or Bev Indrelie at 507-826-3267. Go Twins!
A sign we saw on the outside of an old hand-changed church read-a-board: “Our Lifeguard Walks On Water.”
On a blacktop road by a dairy farm in Wisconsin we saw a huge pile of round hay bales with each bale covered in white plastic. The flat side of the bales faced the road with huge dark colored lettering that read, “On the Eighth Day, God made John Deere.” What was parked next to the bales? A John Deere tractor, of course!
(Editor’s note: Though the flag of the United States has many names, some of them have particular historical significance.)
The “Star Spangled Banner” which had 15 stars and 15 stripes (for the 13 colonies and newly annexed Vermont and Kentucky), was created during the War of 1812, and flew over Fort McHenry while the British attacked, and Francis Scott Key was on a ship nearby.
“Old Glory” was the name for the 24-star flag given in 1831 to Salem shipmaster Captain William Driver, who was on his way to rescue the mutineers of the Bounty. It was hidden away for protection when the Civil War broke out, but was taken from its hiding place (in the lining of Capt. Driver’s bed) to be flown in 1862 when Union forces took Nashville.
“The Stars and Stripes” is the proper name for the United States flag as it exists today. The design, a field of regularly spaced (in rows or staggered) stars against a backdrop of 13 stripes for the original colonies, has been maintained since 1818. — RW
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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.
A certain Ellendale VIP named Dale got a May basket from his CEO name Barb.
A certain Star Eagle columnist got a May basket from his CEO named Genie.
Genie and I like to watch the TV show “Wheel of Fortune.” Thursday evening, April 30, we tuned in, and lo an behold there was John and Mary Kittleson from Blooming Prairie. They did quite well – to the tune of $13,000 plus in cash and prizes.
If you happened to hear a young lady sing the National Anthem at the Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea on Saturday, May 2, you heard my kind of singing. You could understand the words! Maggie Eggum, you aced it.
Are you smarter than a fifth grader? If yes, how about a first grader? As a volunteer retired registered nurse, Genie helps give tours to area school students at the Albert Lea Medical Center. While giving a tour to first graders, she asked if anyone knew how many bones were in a human body. Much to her surprise, a first-grade boy gave the right answer of 206.
Genie and I were enjoying a senior coffee at McDonald’s in Albert Lea. This easygoing feller from Ellendale stops and says “I’ll talk to you if you promise not to put my name in your column.”
I agreed, so we yakked. Not putting his name in this column, I can tell you he usually drives a red pickup truck with lettering on the door. His initials are the same as Genie’s (G.H.). Enough said.
The Orioles, Hummers, Wrens and Indigo Buntings arrived Sunday May 3 (in time for church!!).
A combined choir from East Freeborn Lutheran Church, Central Freeborn Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church of Glenville under the direction of Janae Clausen sang “Come to Jesus” at the funeral service of Reverend David Hernes, on Monday, May 4, 2015, held at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Genie and I were in the combined choir. Soloist Ryan Rasmussen sang the ending. (Many a choir member had tears as Ryan sang – myself included.)
Hugh Hall: Thanks for the memories. Genie and I attended his memorial service on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at Salem Lutheran Church. His easygoing music on KATE Radio Sunday evenings under his radio name of “The Alley Cat” had a large following. Genie and I especially enjoyed his music while sitting on our deck at Beaver Lake. Hugh and Pauline also had a cabin at Beaver Lake. When the entire Hall clan would be there for about a week in the summer, I referred to it as a “Tent City.” Hugh had a slow, perfectly enunciated voice that was a pleasure to listen to.
Genie and I attended the Lutheran Convention in Rochester on May 8 and 9.
Normally I can hold my own, but when the president of Lutheran Men in Mission (Russ Tesch of Waseca) and one sharp Lutheran pastor from New Richland (Rev. Paul Andree) joined forces, I got blown away.
Thanks to Karen Surprenant (the convention photographer) I was paid what I was worth for modeling at the convention (one dollar).
While at the convention, I observed two ladies (last names of Kemp and Johnson) from rural Waseca County keep their Lutheran pastor under control.
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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 will be another one of my hop-scotch columns (a running of the words).
Fire Boss is the name of a new airplane on floats used to fight forest fires. It cam scoop up to 820 gallons of water in 30 seconds and be on its way to the fire. I have seen the older big belly plane that can scoop up to 2,000 gallons and fly away (this was in Ontario, Canada).
What is the longest female name in the English language that can be spelled backward and forward and be the same? Try Hannah.
A sharp Lutheran church secretary in Albert Lea tried to explain the therapy program she uses when down in the dumps. She gets some U.S. currency, hops in her car and heads for the Mall of America. The medical term for this is Retail Therapy. I refer you to LeAnn for further information, either at church or her home in Geneva.
Did you know insects outnumber humans 100,000,000 to one? I guess you could say it’s a buggy world.
Something to think about. How do you know you’re old? When every relative is younger than you at your family reunion picnic.
The Sunday bulletin at a good sized church read, “Traditional sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water.’ Youth sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’”
Can you name the mother and daughter who took second place in the Albert Lea Tribune Mother and Child Lookalike Contest? Hubby Randy Heideman can.
Shortly after my column on Bob Goetz, Bob Hanson and Paul Proft figuring out how to revert to the good old days of keeping six walleyes, I got an e-mail from a Dr. I.M. Fishy, chief of Minnesota DNR Enforcement. The good doctor congratulated us on how we lawfully caught six walleyes in the good old days. He said there would be a roadside checkpoint at Keliher, Minn., — just south of Red Lake — on Saturday, May 9. With the license plate number of our vehicle he would see that we weren’t detained at the checkpoint.
We knew he was baiting the older, very cagy and very gold walleye fishermen that we are. We read the 2015 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. True, the limit was one at Mille Lacs, four at Leach and two walleyes at Red Lake, per person in possession. There was a sentence that said the total possession was six walleyes per person in possession. Trouble!
We laid out one penny, four pennies and two pennies. We then counted and recounted, getting seven each time. This meant we would be one walleye too many and Dr. I.M. Fishy would nail us.
Now you know why three older, very cagy and very good walleye fishermen didn’t go walleye fishing the day of the opener, May 9, 2015, in the great state of Minnesota.
By the way, there is no possession limit on suckers that we three would have been.
P.S. These three older, very cagy, very good walleye fishermen are rethinking the days of bullhead fishing. It was real simple. Maybe it’s the current way to fish!
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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.
The following was told to me by a very unreliable turkey hunter named Bob Goetz from Austin, MN.
“If a turkey looks up to gobble when it’s raining, it can drown. That is why turkeys don’t gobble when it’s raining.”
He further stated, “If you see a turkey gobbling just as a heavy rain starts, give the turkey CPR if it keels over (pheasants, ducks, grouse, quail or partridge don’t have the above problem).
As an older walleye fisherman or fisherlady, I’m sure you can remember when the walleye limit was six daily in Minnesota. Like everything else changing, the limit has changed (to as few as just one on some lakes).
Three older, very cagy, and very good walleye fishermen have decided to go back to the Good Old Days of six being the limit per person in Minnesota. The following is what they plan on doing Opening Day, Saturday, May 9 in Minnesota:
They will start fishing early A.M. on Mille Lacs Lake and each catch the limit of one walleye. On to Leech Lake and each catch the limit of four walleyes. On to Red Lake and each catch the limit of two walleyes. With their limit of six walleyes as they leave Red lake that same day, they will reminisce the previous annual 39 years of being part of the AAL Fishing Team.
Who are these expert, non-mathematical fishermen? Bob Goetz of Austin, Bob Hanson of Albert Lea, and Paul Proft of Owatonna will proudly claim their ability to think outside the box.
Farmers State Bank is sponsoring a fishing contest from April 1 to November 30. The big prizes will be awarded only to Farmers State Bank customers. You must email a photo of your lunker along with a length and where caught. The three older, very cagy, and very good walleye fishermen (Bob, Bob and Paul) will become Farmers State Bank customers after their Big Lunkers are caught (once again thinking outside the box).
Would you like to meet at least one of the three outside-the-box thinkers? This is your chance. The CEO of Bob Hanson and her VIP lady friends of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church have scheduled a coach bus leaving from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 28 to the performance by the Church Basement Ladies at the Plymouth Playhouse Theater. Prior to napping on the bus between Owatonna and Albert Lea, the bus will stop at KFC Buffet Supper in Owatonna.
The bus, the performance and KFC Buffet are all included in the prices of$53.0 per person paid in advance. Call Genie at 3507-788-0004 or Bob at 507-3737-8655 for reservations.
Reader, the Bus Trip is fact, the rest is fiction!
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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 one of my hop-scotch columns. (A running of the words in street talk language.)
Words of wisdom to every deer hunter when illegally dumping the deer carcass: “Remove the deer license tag first.”
All hikers when petting black and white kitties will learn there are two kinds: “Those that are odorless and those that aren’t.”
Genie observed two cottontail rabbits eating her pretty red and yellow tulips. (The rabbits preferred the yellow tulips.) As my CEO, Genie told me to solve the problem. I got out my old daisy air rifle and created a good and a bad random act of kindness in two shots. The good was for Genie and the tulips, the bad was for the two rabbits. (We each enjoyed two meals of Hasenpfeffer Rabbit with a glass of red wine.)
A few days after eating the rabbits a man in a conservation uniform knocked on our door. He said he had a search warrant for our freezer. He looked in our freezer and started mumbling to himself. He told me he was aware that I liked to hunt and fish but there was nothing in the freezer to prove it.
I explained that I didn’t get a deer last fall, didn’t catch any fish this winter and we no longer had a cabin at Beaver Lake, thus no pan fish to bring from the lake. He asked if I was aware of the two rabbits (that he had received a TIP that had shot) were not in season. Genie answered that when she got done marinating them they were very much in season. As he walked out we heard him muttering, “You can always tell a Norwegian but you can’t tell them much.”
Paula of Beaver Lake fame told me she wasn’t going to have any more birthdays so I didn’t give her the as usual Hallmark birthday card with a picture of Jackson on one side and In God We Trust on the other side of a Federal Reserve note.
I wanted an extra copy of the Albert Lea Tribune paper dated April 9. There weren’t any to be bought. In checking I found out long time residents of Beaver Lake had purchased all of them. It was because a kindergarten student at Lakeview Elementary School in Albert Lea with the same last name had a worksheet about an Easter Bunny in the paper. Claire LaFrance, you sold out the Albert Lea paper that day.
Look at May 9-10 on your calendar. All Minnesota resident moms fish free the entire weekend. Whether living or deceased, honor that great mom of yours on May 10. Ask yourself if Mom had anything to do with your being in this great world.
Ole of Grand Marais, Minnesota decided it was safe to try one more fishing outing on his ATV before the ice went out. Ole now knows a grappling hook is the best lure to use when fishing for an ATV.
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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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Do you think “Tis better to give than receive” or “Tis better to receive than give”?
The following is how you can have it both ways.
You must be a sophisticated AARP qualified significant other with ties to the Ellendale-Geneva area and your last name is one of the following: Altern, Aitchison, Arnfelt, Brekke, Broskoff, Buckingham, Christensen, Cornelius, Crabtree, Dahl, DenHerder, Evans, Fogel, Groth, Grunwald, Hagen, Hanson, Holland, Ingram, Jensen, Johnson, Kaplan, Keyes, Kottke, Klemmensen, Korman, LaFrance, Larson, Lee, Lerberg, Mrotz, Mucha, Nelson, Newell, Pecht, Sommers, Sorenson, Swearingen, Thompson, Toft, Torgerson, Wayne, White or Worrell.
As Clint Eastwood said “Go ahead, make my day.” Here is your chance, make a 1st of May basket for that significant other. (Dandelions will be just fine for the flower.) If you’re a female make a big “May 10” or a male make a big “June 21” and put in the basket with no signature. And deliver mysteriously.
Come the day you put in the basket, you will get your reward.
If no reward, that person is just like the northbound vehicle on I-35 as it passes the Hope exit. “Beyond Hope.”
March came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb. Mama Robin has had snow on her back three times since arriving here. The ice is out of the lake. Gulls are getting fries in McDonald’s parking lot. All this tells us spring has sprung.
It makes one proud to observe rural America. For example:
In March the Willows restaurant and lounge donated to the area Girl Scouts from their brunch on Sunday, March 15. They also donated to the Area Food Shelf from their brunch on Sunday, March 22.
An info. ad, the “Wagner Watch” appeared each week of the Big Ten season for the Minnesota women’s basketball team in the Star Eagle.
The big kitty in the Star Eagle office will completely ignore you.
This is the fourteenth year of this column. I have decided not to write every week but will continue as long as I’m able on a yearround basis.
Trivia:
A pair of bald eagles are nesting within the city limits of Albert Lea.
The Red Leaf Café in New Richland does catering.
Tootsie Roll Pop suckers are also now shaped like Easter eggs.
The roof on the grandstand at the Fairgrounds in Albert Lea is red, white and blue.
All ages can give a May Day basket.
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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.
After church on Sunday, March 15, Genie and I got in the HHR Chevrolet and put the cruise on as we entered I-35 southbound to our Spring Break destination with Sandy and Frank Meng at their residence in Harrison, Arkansas.
Our first night’s stay was the Comfort Inn at Bethany, Missouri. At the recommendation of the desk clerk, we ate the evening meal at the Toot Toot Restaurant in Bethany. The price was right, the food was good, and the articles on the wall were most interesting, for example, the pictorial display of the first to the last Studebaker car made.
We enjoyed breakfast the next morning at the Comfort Inn with Rob Reed of Ontario, Canada and Maureen and Julian Smischney of the Keliher, Minnesota area. Rob reminded us to drive safely and “Remember, for every one mile of freeway there are two miles of ditches.” Many years ago while visiting at Keliher, I helped put in the sidewalk at their church. (Small world, isn’t it?)
Up and away the next day, we arrived at our Harrison, Arkansas destination early that evening, staying at the Quality Inn.
We noticed a major similarity between Missouri and Arkansas housing. If you lived in town, the house had a porch facing the street. If you lived in the country, you had Black Angus cattle with a man-made pond in addition to the house with a porch.
The temperature on the way to Harrison was in the 70s with sunshine.
With the nice day, many of the chairs and rockers on the porches were occupied. Every porch resident waved when I honked the horn as we went by. Once again the friendliness of the South was very evident. (Genie and I decided to sit on the porch at the Norwegian Meng residence – sure enough, the cars honked and waved as they went by.)
Also staying at the Quality Inn was the Lake Region State College baseball team from Devils Lake, North Dakota. Per the coach, the team was very consistent. One of the team members explained the consistency as meaning their trip to play Southern teams was 0-7.
While we were at the Quality Inn, the NCAA Basketball Tournament was being played. Talk was about the Elite Eight. I checked and the reference was to Carrie, Jan, Ernie, Tiffany, Tom, Tyler, Andrew and Janie (the front desk crew at the Quality Inn).
Frank and Sandy took us to Cliff House Restaurant overlooking the Arkansas Grand Canyon. Wow! They also took us to The Diner, the local persons café where the customers know the employees as well as each other by first name.
Trivia of the one-week spring break:
Tonya has the ability to eat her cocoanut cake and part of mine even though I objected.
Two maintenance employees were prom mates in high school – now they’re married mates. Mark is only a supervisor at work while April is a CEO at home.
Newton County, Arkansas has the county seat at Jasper. Jasper County in Iowa has the county seat at Newton.
“Minnesota Nice” is an excellent definition of the housekeeping department of the Quality Inn in Harrison, Arkansas.
The Ozark Mountains are in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Genie and I celebrated the first day of spring by going to the DQ!
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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.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (in the Old Testament of the Bible) tells us there is a right time for everything.
“I have called you by name, Bud, you are Mine” read the banner on the wall. Thus, it was time to celebrate the memory of Bud Tollefson on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at LeSueur River Lutheran Church, rural New Richland, Minnesota.
You could tell it was going to be a great celebration of his life as, at his viewing prior to the service, Bud was holding a Riverview Golf Course golf ball along with wearing a special handmade tie of flashlights. With “Bud Tollefson” on the outside of the coffin, you got the feeling that he was a much-loved person.
Pastor Brian Gegel led the service, telling many great memories of Bud.
Son Tom Tollefson gave the family memories of Bud – all of a good, kind, caring man.
Granddaughter Abigail Tollefson sang a solo, “Day By Day.” Abigail, about age 10, was later joined by Emma Tollefson and Jason Fry to sing “Amazing Grace” with Chris Tollefson the accompanist.
Just north of St. Olaf Lake, about 70 years ago, two out of three neighbors were related. The families of Hanson, Haug and Tollefson all had the same grandparents who were siblings. Growing up as boy relatives, many had nicknames such as Buddy or Bobby. As the boy grew older the name became “Bud” or in my case “Bob.” Yes, Bud and I were part of the related neighbors. Yes, the unrelated neighbors knew us “real good” and vice versa.
Genie and I found out the crappies were biting at Beaver Lake. We rented a boat from Noel Thompson, bought minnows, soda pop, and candy bars, and went fishing. After cleaning 30 crappies, word got to Bud and Kathryn. I’m not sure how it happened or who attended, but we ended up with a late Saturday night-early Sunday morning fish fry at the Tollefson farm in 1961 (a fond memory).
Bud and Kathryn attended most of the Soup and Pie Suppers held yearly in September at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. He always let me know the LeSueur River Tribe was there (another fond memory).
The last time I talked to Bud, I asked how it was that he had such talented grandchildren. The answer was one word: “Stock,” and then his infectious laugh (my best memory: the laugh).
To me, this was most certainly an accepting funeral. Thank you, Bud, for the memories.
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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.
How cold was it at the Walker eelpout festival?
Written by Jim LutgensEarly Thursday morning, February 19, with the GPS on the HHR Chevrolet set for due north, we headed for the 36th International Eelpout Festival at Walker, Minnesota on Leech Lake. (We have attended about 30.) Our first stop was for a fish sandwich, fries and coffee at McDonald’s in Garrison, Minnesota on the shore of Mille Lacs Lakes. (Garrison is the smallest U.S. town to have a McDonald’s.)
Our next stop was the State Farm Insurance office in Brainerd, Minnesota. Most of you have seen the State Farm Insurance ad on TV featuring “Jake” from State Farm. Brainerd is where Jake has his office. Yes, he was wearing khaki slacks! (For real, the State Farm agent in Brainerd answers to the handle of “Jake.”)
We drove through Walker as most of the 15,000 people were arriving on our way to the Palace Hotel where we stayed for four nights in Cass Lake, Minnesota. (It was estimated $3 million was spent in the area.) Kortni greeted us with a hearty welcome back handshake and a big smile as we checked into the Palace Hotel.
From Walker to Cass Lake we saw three road kill deer in the ditch. Each deer was surrounded by ravens with a huge bird in the middle eating the deer. The bird was all black with a white head and white tail feathers.
Kristin, in security, asked if I was going to mention the old-timers at the Palace in this article, I said yes. She then told me change is normal and I should change. Just like the NCAA Basketball Tournament of the Elite Eight, there are Eight Elite new employees at the Palace that would like to see their name in this article.
Not being one to try and correct a lady, the Elite Eight are as follows: Lowell and Sandy – vault; Brad and Kuna – shipping and receiving; Brian – drop team; Alice – shift manager; Brady – security; Susan – table games.
We attended the Eelpout Festival Friday and Saturday. There were more fish houses than any other year – even Yetti fish houses with white Yetti-dressed sales people. Ice castle fish houses were the most popular with financing on the spot.
An interesting first time we’ve seen it was six small airplanes flew in and lit on the lake. There were also drones at the Polar Plunge.
We attended Trinity Lutheran Church, Cass Lake, on Sunday morning. As usual a warm greeting by four of the church decons (namely Larry Glass, Jane Christianson, Gene Patten and Bev Larson.) Bev is the mother of NRHEG wrestling coach Shawn Larson. Two of the decons even treated us to lunch after church (Grace and Charlie Nason.)
The weather was just great until Saturday afternoon, when it turned cold with a rapidly dropping temperature. Sunday morning low was -30 with a high of -11, and -21 Monday morning as we left.
The hotel has a higher ceiling you can look over that gives a great echo. Excellent sounds as Genie played her good bye song on her flute just before we departed. Awesome.
How cold was it Sunday morning? It was so cold that my teeth froze in place and I couldn’t get my frozen mouth open to sing in 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.