Alex Stuff

September 26

Well, stuff happens . . .

America is my country and Paris is my hometown. ~ Gertrude Stein

Place is so important to me. The Midwest is like a ghost in my life. It’s present as I look out the window now. I see Texas, but if I close my eyes and look out the same window, I’m back in my hometown in Worthington, Minnesota, and I cherish those values and that diction. ~ Tim O’Brien

It’s not necessary to go far and wide. I mean, you can really find exciting and inspiring things within your hometown. ~ Daryl Hannah

September 15

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

[This was a first time effort. All involved were more than happy at the result . . . ]

This (America) is a land of rich diversity, from the towering skyscrapers of Manhatan all the way to the towering mounds of garbage piled up next to the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan. ~ Dave Barry

[This overhead shot was posted by someone else whose name has fled from my memory . . . ]

Where each man claims his freedom as a matter of right, the freedom he accords to other men is a matter of toleration. ~ Walter Lippmann

[OK, the rest are mine . . . ]

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~ George Bernard Shaw

The true value of a human being can be found to the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self. ~ Albert Einstein

Look within yourself. After self-reflection, one’s eyes may open and see things in an honest light, and view people and things with appreciation for all their natural beauty. ~ Tao Principle

Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? ~ Gauguin

Because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. ~ Anne Frank

We have it all. We have great diversity of people, we have a wonderful land, and we have great possibilities. So all those things combined there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. ~ Bob Rae

When you’ve got too much religion that you can’t mingle with people, that you’re afraid of certain people, you’ve got too much religion. ~ C. L. Franklin

Since my daughter is only half-Jewish, could she go in the water up to her knees? ~ Groucho Marx

When they say come and sing, that’s the medicine. ~ Ella Fitzgerald

Honor diversity in all seasons. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I’m actually starting to like more and more people who have convictions that are unpopular. ~ Bono

It doesn’t matter how long my hair is or what color my skin is or whether I’m a woman or a man. ~ John Lennon

It’s funny how heterosexuals have lives and the rest of us have “lifestyles.” ~ Sonia Johnson

September 16

Some people, through luck and skill, end up with a lot of assets. If you’re good at kicking a ball, writing software, investing in stocks, it pays extremely well. ~ Bill Gates

[If there can be such a thing as a rebuilding year in high school football, our Cardinals are experiencing it. Our star is a 150 pound sophomore place kicker, Daniel Jackson, whose kickoffs routinely end in touchbacks . . . ]

An ardent supporter of the hometown team should go to a game prepared to take offense, no matter what happens. ~ Robert Benchley

Daniel looks really good and is still the only Class of 2025 kicker on the KW Hot Prospect List. He’s already getting looks from colleges and if he can string together a good volume of kicks in-game this year I think he might snag an early college offer in his sophomore year. He transitioned to a 1″ FG block and 1″ KO tee and should be ready to roll by the start of his HS freshman season. Young prospect with lots of potential. (kickingworld. com)

Tennis was a game invented by a woman named Samantha Tennis in 1839, in the village of Lobsworth, County of Kent, as a diversion for the wealthy and titled Englishmen of the region, who had nothing better to do at the time but drink, belch and wear funny clothes. ~ Dan Jenkins

I would compare kicking to being a closer in baseball. This whole game gets played, or the cake is made in front of you, so to speak, and you have to turn around and put the icing on the cake. ~ Adam Vinatieri

Everything that moved, I was kicking it. You can ask my mum and dad. A stone, a can, whatever. ~ Ashley Young

Field goal kicking is wildly exciting for all the wrong reasons. We regularly interrupt games to go for a ride on the equivalent of Disney’s stomach-in-throat Tower of Terror. ~ Skip Bayless

[His last kickoff in the game looked like it almost split the uprights – a 70-yard field goal?]

September 23

I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; “Dear Jack, Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.” ~ John F. Kennedy

[WE VOTED!]

[Voted on sister-in-law Carolyn’s 70th birthday (legally acquainted with Ruthie’s brother Dan) . . . ]

September 24

TLHD Year End Patio Party!

Saturday, September 24, 2022

3:00 – 4:00 Reception

4:00 Awards / Recognition

4:10 – 6:00 Live Music – Bruce Archer

Complimentary snacks, wine & beer

This party is not open to the public.

People invited have volunteered with us, held 2022 season passes, or donated $250+ in the 2022 calendar year. We have made our best attempt to include everyone. If you hear of someone who was missed on this invitation please let us know asap. 

Dear Volunteers, Sponsors, Pass Holders and Donors,

Thanks to you, our 2022 Season was a great success!

• Sold out shows
• Enhanced environment
• The popular new patio
• Indoor & outdoor programming
• Great shows and great experiences!

We’ve decided to host one last exclusive event for those of you who helped make it happen! 

Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful. ~ Margaret Mead

Diversity doesn’t mean black and white only. ~ Henry Louis Gates

Minnesota’s diversity should be its greatest strength, but our neglect of nonwhite students has stifled our progress toward growth and equity. ~ Ilhan Omar

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[The view from the stage – imagine 272 smiling faces!]

If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. ~ John F. Kennedy

[Volunteer awards – thanks again to all of them . . . ]

Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same. ~ Angelina Jolie

[The theatre’s executive Director Nicole Mulder addressed the assembled masses . . . ]

All religions must be tolerated…for every man must get to heaven in his own way. ~ Epictetus

Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion. ~ Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

Today’s special guest: Bruce Archer Bruce Archer plays a rollicking combination of blues, bluegrass, country, and folk that doesn’t fit tidily into a single genre. His finger-picking and slide guitar display a level of talent and mastery that can only come from 40-plus years of sifting through musical styles and keeping the bits that resonate with him. He coaxes from his guitar an instrumental voice that is authentically his own.

[As the sign says, Bruce Archer (from Baxter, Minnesota) . . . ]

Statistics show that diversity in the media is pretty dismal. Critical voices from women and people of color are missing from many important conversations. ~ Cameron Russell

At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

There is nobody who is inferior and there is nobody who is superior – there are no distinctions. ~ Osho

Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

If it tastes funny, don’t eat it. If it looks funny, call a doctor. If it is funny, it must have been something I said. ~ Unknown

[Looking back to the staging area where the drinks and goodies were presented . . . ]

Share our similarities, celebrate our differences. ~ M. Scott Peck

[Hosts of the nonfiction book club and fans of blues music and looking angelic in the glow of the stage lights . . . ]

To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater. ~ Bono

Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future. ~ Michael Palin

[Discovered wandering the grounds looking for recyclables . . . ]

[Deb and Ruthie say, “Vote for Sandy Susag for school board!”]

We must be ready to learn from one another, not claiming that we alone possess all truth and that somehow we have a corner on God. ~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. ~ Harper Lee

As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others. ~ Robert H. Schuller

We are, at almost every point of our day, immersed in cultural diversity: faces, clothes, smells, attitudes, values, traditions, behaviours, beliefs, rituals. ~ Randa Abdel-Fattah

If giving points to some students to achieve greater diversity is a quota system in violation of the Constitution, how can the awarding of points to the children of a less diverse alumni be upheld? ~ Adam Schiff

The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness. ~ Antonio Guterres

September 25

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~ Ronald Reagan

[A trip to Rolling Forks Vineyards for an afternoon with the Cheese Bots. There was a strong northerly wind that made the visit questionable. The usual performance area faces north – we did not know they had a set up in the winemaking room facing south . . . ]

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without. ~ Confucius

I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch. ~ George Burns

[Ruthie, inside door #1; the Cheese Bots inside door #2 . . . ]

When a piece gets difficult, make faces. ~ Artur Schnabel

[The Cheese Bots are Lindy (limburger), Jim (fromage du jour), and Marty (longhorn colby) . . . ]

Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk in order to provide articles for people who can’t read. ~ Frank Zappa

Good music is good music, and everything else can go to hell. ~ Dave Matthews

No opera plot can be sensible, for in sensible situations people do not sing. ~ W.H. Auden

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open. ~ Frank Zappa

My music is best understood by children and animals. ~ Igor Stravinsky

Cause all of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. ~ John Legend

Baby it’s you. You’re the one I love, You’re the one I need, You’re the only one I see. ~ Beyoncé

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours. ~ Elton John

If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know. ~ Louis Armstrong

The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive. ~ Coco Chanel

[We did not know upon arrival that Charlie Roth would be following the Bots on stage. We had already been there for 3 1/2 hours and needed to get home for a nap. Sorry, Charlie – catch you next time . . . ]

[Remember winds noted at the beginning that changed the venue? Well, we drove one-mile down hill from the winery and were surprised there weren’t surfers on Lake Minnewaska . . . ]

I’m surfing the giant life wave. ~ William Shatner

Just take your time – wave comes. Let the other guys go, catch another one. ~ Duke Kahanamoku

It’s a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you can look at other challenges in your life. ~ Jeff Bridges

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

There are no facts, only interpretations. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche 

We have to have a diversity of age represented in Congress, too. ~ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Up Next: More Alex stuff . . .