This was my birthweek (why just have a single day?)! This one was a biggie as the birth day was the ultimate confirmation that I have been alive (and kicking) in eight decades . . .

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest. ~ Rev. Larry Lorenzoni

September 1

[It’s always nice when a local candidate for state office stops by for a visit as the Fat Boys Walking Club ambled along the bike trail in the wee small hours of the morning . . . ]

September 2

[And even more so when she does it on a regular basis . . . ]

[Thanks, Carol!]

Paid letter: Wenner is capable and compassionate to lead House District 8B

Sep 2nd 2020 – 10am Echo Press

To the editor:

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, Speaking words of wisdom, do something about it!

Carol Wenner has always been one to not let it be. So in these times of trouble, Carol is running as the DFL candidate for Minnesota House District 8B. Please vote for Carol.

Carol’s campaign slogan is capable and compassionate. Now how could you not vote for someone who is capable and compassionate? Carol’s whole life has been defined by those words. She works at Kids Against Hunger Alexandria, has worked for the Chamber of Commerce, did fundraising and grant writing for the Knute Nelson Foundation, and volunteers for a variety of local activities such as United Way, Habitat for Humanity, children’s sports and activities, and diversity and cultural inclusiveness programs. And in her spare time, she’s just plain nice to people.

Nice and decent are words not often mentioned when discussing candidates for public office. Carol is so nice that when she encounters the Fat Boys Walking Club on the bike trail, she walks backwards to more easily carry on a conversation. Nice and decent are great qualities. Be nice. Vote for Carol.

Ruth and Tom Obert

Alexandria, MN

(A paid political letter)

[Birthday cupcakes at our Alexandria Golf Club Wednesday fine dining night. The Super brought them for Ken Esala and me (joint birthdays on the 4th) to share with the cast of several . . . ]

[The proper technique for devouring a cupcake . . . ]

Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime you have not committed. ~ Anthony Powell

My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it. ~ Boris Johnson

[Thanks again to Marlene and Richie . . . ]

There is still no cure for the common birthday. ~ John Glenn

[And a fine looking group we are . . . ]

[Birthday cupcakes help make that so . . . ]

[The spoils of birthdays . . . ]

September 4 (The Day)

[Thanks to the Super, won’t have to rely on the neighbors for precipitation results . . . ]

[Birthday dinner with Deb and Paul at the Garden Bar alley . . . ]

[And assorted other Alexandrians . . . ]

[And some heavy metal music courtesy of Terry, Bill, and Jim . . . ]

[The local constabulary threatened a disturbance of the peace citation, but the friendly patrons were able to dissuade them from doing so by brandishing their menacing asparagus stalks . . . ]

[Looks like someone has a birthday present . . . ]

[No asparagus stalks here (yet) officer . . . ]

[And out pops the present (it was a yummy breakfast the next morning) . . . ]

[Thanks, guys!]

[Some day I’ll show you how to make an apple disappear . . . ]

[Fortunately, I’m not Kyle . . . ]

September 5

[A taste of the coming season – a touch of steam coming off Lake H2Obert . . . ]

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not. ~ Mark Twain

[A road trip of a mere 8 miles from home. Nevertheless, we almost lost our lives twice on the way! On the main highway, a pickup truck towing a boat was upset we were only going the speed limit and passed us as we were making a right turn. But a truck was making a right hand turn entering the highway, had to swerve to the shoulder to miss the boat guy, horns blaring all around. Then we were on a dirt road to the farm and came to an intersection, a car coming from the left had stopped at a stop sign, then took off right in front of us apparently thinking we had a stop sign too – we didn’t. Uff da!]

[We arrived safely with a sigh of relief . . . ]

[This was a much larger operation than I thought it was. I was little nervous inside so went back outside. There were more people here than at the average college football game . . . ]

[The Super bought some cookies and a 10-pound caramel apple pie – it was very good!]

[Big orchard – lots of families came pick their own apples . . . ]

[Sweet Tangos were the apples du jour . . . ]

[So we walked down the hill to see what it was all about . . . ]

[Looking back the hill to the store . . . ]

[Back in the big city, Ollie’s Used Cars (where the gorilla’s would wave at the passers-by) at the corner of 3rd and Nokomis is now gone. A new Casey’s convenience store (the 3rd one in Alex) will take over this busy intersection . . . ]

[And the Super, all by her own self, completed “Minneapolis – Mill City” . . . ]

September 6

[Anthony Miltich at Lure Lakebar . . . ]

[Same guy . . . ]

[A fine way to wrap up birthweek . . . ]

[Not a perfect day – gray and quite windy (the Super had to make a diving save on her wine glass) – but a good time was had by all . . . ]

[The wind and the shadow made the video a challenge. But Anthony does a great job channeling his fellow Minnesotan – and we were having fun watching the guy across the street trying to trim a tree (the big branch came down shortly after the video stopped) . . . ]

When the rain Is blowing in your face, And the whole world Is on your case, I could offer you A warm embrace, To make you feel my love. ~ Dylan

[Background entertainment on Lake Le Homme Dieu. A very young lady was waterskiing – I guessed she was 3, Karin said 7. She’s likely right . . . ]

[Remember this family from the Garden Bar?]

[The Super went over to check them out . . . ]

[We were tabled with Karin and Dave . . . ]

[She had amazing stamina, as she appeared to ski by for the whole two hours we were there . . . ]

The way I see it, you should live everyday like it’s your birthday. ~ Paris Hilton

[And, as usual, the rush to put bread in the jar of the piano (guitar) man . . . ]

[The Super loves that gig . . . ]

A man is getting old when he walks around a puddle instead of through it. ~ R. C. Ferguson

September 7 – Labor Day

[It’s a gray, cool, and windy day. Stayed home, didn’t do much, worked on this blog, and now getting ready to binge watch the last 3 episodes of season 1 of Modus . . . ]

[What was that previous meme about showing off one’s spheroids?]

As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two. ~ Sir Norman Wisdom

First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you forget to pull your zipper down. ~ Leo Rosenberg

Up Next: Working some old negatives . . .