It’s Me Again (Part 6)

January 28

If you want an interesting party, combine cocktails and a fresh box of crayons for everyone. ~ Robert Fulghum

Still in the midst of my big catch up campaign . . .

So tonight I’m going to party like it’s 1999. ~ Prince

January 1

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Ruthie, Happy Birthday to you . . .

January 2

What fire could ever equal the sunshine of a winter’s day? ~ Henry David Thoreau

Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful show. ~ T. S. Eliot

Snowing is an attempt of God to make the dirty world look clean. ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan

I like the cold weather. It means you get work done. ~ Noam Chomsky

The first fall of snow is not only an event but it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up to find yourself in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, where is it to be found? ~ J.B. Priestly

How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year! ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus

[A visit to our old home on Lake Darling . . . ]

[S]ummer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever. ~ George R.R. Martin

Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality. ~ Andy Goldsworthy

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant . . . ~ Anne Bradstreet

Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a wintry fireside . . . ~ Thomas De Quincey

Only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself. ~ Ruth Stout

[Hello, dear!]

People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy. ~ Anton Chekhov

[Lake Louise]

And if you think my winter is too cold, You don’t deserve my spring. ~ Erin Hanson

Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost. ~ Erol Ozan

January 3

The hospital of the future will start in people’s homes. ~ Liz Kendall

[Another trip to St. Cloud Hospital where my ancient gameboy still serves . . . ]

It’s ludicrous that someone can be fired from their job, refused care at a hospital or denied housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. ~ John Fetterman

[After the hospital visit, we rushed home and wolfed down a Culver’s burger basket . . . ]

January 4

I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies, they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime. ~ Will Rogers

[The parking lot at Luke Lakebar seems to have worked out to be a great place for beautiful winter photos . . . ]

If winter helps you curl up and more that makes it one of the best of the seasons. ~ Murray Pura

One kind word can warm three winter months. ~ Japanese Proverb

January 5

Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. ~ Kurt Vonnegut

[Christmas for Jami and Danny . . . ]

Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. ~ Boris Pasternak

She had a pretty gift for quotation, which is a serviceable substitute for wit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham

If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself. ~ Charles M. Schulz

[Mom was laughing when she found their gift at Grape Stomp . . . ]

January 6

I haven’t been able to slam-dunk the basketball for the past five years. Or, for the thirty-eight years before that, either. ~ Dave Barry

[I haven’t been able to cover much high school sports this year. This night was not that fun. The Alex boys basketball team is very good (top 5 in the state in class AAA), but they were taking on a rebuilding St. Cloud Apollo team. This scoreboard shot is the halftime score of the JV game . . . ]

He makes plays you can’t coach, and he makes plays that look like he’s never been coached. ~ Bill Self

[And, unfortunately, the final score . . . ]

All I know is, as long as I led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, my grades would be fine. ~ Charles Barkley

[Our Cards warming up . . . ]

I have had some bad shooting games, but that doesn’t stop me from getting the ball to my teammates. ~ Jason Kidd

[The corridor for team introductions . . . ]

UK and Louisville are in the commonwealth of Kentucky, where basketball is an optional box for religious affiliation. ~ Dana O’Neill, ESPN

[The school contracts with the Amazing Mr. Ripley to take the official photographs . . . ]

I hope he comes out for basketball. ~ Kansas Coach Phog Allen, when told that Wilt Chamberlain had decided to go to Kansas

[Cardinal 6’9″ junior center Grayson Grove . . . ]

Nobody roots for Goliath. ~ Wilt Chamberlain

[And he greets the referees, requesting protection from excessive hacking . . . ]

The NBA is like a small sorority. We’re like brothers. ~ Rashad Lewis

I always like to get transfers, especially from the Pac-10. They already have their cars paid for. ~ Jerry Tarkanian

[Grayson wins the opening tip . . . ]

I wouldn’t bank on it. I would still say, right now, he’s probably doubtful, but that could become questionable. But I don’t think it’s probable. ~ Bill Self

Jeremy Lin may be the first person with an economics degree from Harvard who is doing something positive with his life. ~ Andy Borowitz

Sorry, when I said I have the stamina of an NBA player in bed I meant I take 10 timeouts in the final 2 minutes. ~ Terry F

Yeah, Ernie, it’s called defense, I mean, I wouldn’t know anything about it personally, but I’ve heard about it through the grapevine. ~ Charles Barkley

[Grayson blocks a shot from the corner . . . ]

I’d watch basketball more often if one player from each team had to carry a pool noodle at all times. ~ Zachary?

When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do. ~ Darryl Dawkins

[Grayson . . . ]

Kentucky has several potential first-round picks who have impressed scouts by dribbling into five defenders and committing extremely athletic turnovers. ~ Michael Rosenberg

[Senior Jaxon Schoenrock shoots a free throw . . . ]

They shot the ball well early. What comes out of the microwave hot doesn’t always stay hot. I know because I eat bagels in the morning. ~ Shaquille O’Neal

[Grayson goes airborne at the spot on the floor where magically gravity does not exist . . . ]

The Badgers will try to slow it down against Syracuse. The Badgers run less than $50 panty hose. ~ Rick Reilly

[Supersubs waiting to check in: Dawson Roderick, 6’1″ junior, and Jacob Balcome, 6’6″ senior . . . ]

True: When Austin Peay University had a player named Fly Williams, the students would chant, “The Fly is open! Let’s go Peay!”

[The above mentioned Jacob on the line . . . ]

Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievements for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody. ~ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

[Cardinals on defense: Freshman Mason Witt (33) with Dawson Roderick behind . . . ]

Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war. ~ Al McGuire

[Halftime . . . ]

This year, we plan to run and shoot. Next season we hope to run and score. ~ Billy Tubbs

[Another dunk by Grayson . . . ]

The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not. ~ Charles Barkley

[Final score assuaged somewhat by running time over the last 8 minutes . . . ]

January 7

In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

[On to the Runestone Community Center for girls hockey against Maple Grove . . . ]

It’s a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water. ~ Franklin P. Jones

[The Cards scored first against the highly-ranked metro area school . . . ]

I’ve never been ice skating, ever. I’m traumatized by the idea of it. ~ Sebastian Stan

[And then we scored again . . . ]

I had a hard time with that hockey. I hadn’t grown up skating, so that was my biggest challenge. We worked on it and worked on it. But then when we first shot it, it was so hard for me. ~ Woody Harrelson

[Celebrating the goal . . . ]

My dad became a soap opera actor, and I was an extra in a skating rink scene on the soap. I didn’t audition. It was nepotism all the way. ~ Jennifer Aniston

[Faceoff in the Maple Grove end . . . ]

I want kids to enjoy skating and I think it’s a great workout. ~ Oksana Baiul

[Things were looking great for the Cards . . . ]

I was really a spoiled brat when I was a kid skating. Meals are cooked for you, you are driven to the rink, they make costumes for you. Your parents sit around and watch admiringly while you skate. You don’t have to think about anything but skating. You’re just plain spoiled. ~ Dorothy Hamill

[They scored on a tipped shot with 5 seconds left on the period . . . ]

When I was skating you had to participate in every thing. ~ Eric Heiden

[Where the ‘boys on the rail’ used to stand . . . ]

As soon as I was introduced to ice speed skating, I was instantly hooked. I never thought about pursuing skating professionally; I just enjoyed doing it. ~ Shani Davis

[Zambonied ice . . . ]

All the suits I buy have to be tailored, no matter what. But it’s not just because of my height; it’s because I’ve been skating for so long. My waist is very small, but my legs are just huge. ~ Apolo Ohno

[2nd period faceoff with Lauren Maras for the Cards. She will further pursue hockey at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire . . . ]

But I never really thought that I would be extraordinarily successful at skating, it’s just something that happened, you know. ~ Scott Hamilton

[Freshman Lillian Dutton (26) . . . ]

Male figure skating is different than female figure skating; we’re not America’s sweetheart. ~ Scott Hamilton

[Sophomore Julia Doherty on the draw, senior Aubrey Porter (23) on the point . . . ]

[Maple Grove scored to tie the game . . . ]

I would recommend anybody who gets a chance to see short track skating, make it a point to go out there when Apolo is skating because you won’t see anybody better. ~ Eric Heiden

[The Cards scored again to take a 3 – 2 lead . . . ]

My dad worked several jobs to pay for my expense in skating. ~ Nancy Kerrigan

[So, two goals in the first two minutes of the period . . . ]

The skill set for hockey is so specific to skating and if you haven’t been skating as a kid it’s impossible to play – and I wasn’t a skater. ~ Liev Schreiber

[Then inexplicably the roof caved in the Cards, and I shall bother you no further . . . ]

January 10

Basketball is a full-court game, so every drill must be done full court. ~ Bobby Knight

[Cardinal girls warming up to host the Moorhead Spuds . . . ]

He’s a skilled player. He’s like a unicorn. ~ Kevin Durant 

[Hadley Thul, the Cards 6’2″ do everything sophomore . . . ]

Passing is your best weapon against man-to-man. Dribble penetration is your best weapon against zone. ~ Bobby Knight

[I sent (Coach) Wendy Kohler a note that the Spuds had a size advantage at every position – including coach!]

Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever. ~ Kobe Bryant

We’re going to start asking people to go to bars and do some stuff. A little street cred would help us. ~ Gregg Popovich 

Toronto, to me, is a clean New York. ~ Charles Barkley

Toronto, to me, is a clean New York. ~ Charles Barkley

We’re losing games but our basketball has not been bad basketball it’s been ‘not good enough to win’ basketball. ~ George Karl

[The introductions corridor . . . ]

[Point guard 5’7″ sophomore Allie Haabala (33), is introduced . . . ]

Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat. ~ Dean Smith

[Hadley wins the opening tap . . . ]

You can’t teach the beast. It’s either in you or it isn’t. You can’t just go to the store and buy a six-pack of beast. ~ Kevin Garnett

[Hadley on the line . . . ]

If you don’t want to get hacked then work on your ******* free throws. ~ Kevin Durant

[Hadley on the line (she gets there a lot) . . . ]

I needed a way out of poverty. My kids don’t. ~ LeBron James

[MaCee Linow (21) on the line . . . ]

I don’t even understand the word happy. Happy is a stupid word. It really is. It makes no sense. ~ Gregg Popovich

[I believe that’s senior Ella Steussy (1), 5’6″, defending someone of equivalent height . . . ]

Winning is more related to good defense than good offense. ~ Dr. Jack Ramsay

[Kaia Emter, 5’7″ junior, on defense . . . ]

A tough day at the office is even tougher when your office contains spectator seating. ~ Nik Posa

[The Cards are prepping to make some serious noise in the postseason . . . ]

Looking forward to following our basketball teams for the rest of the season. ~ Me

Kids are great. That’s one of the best things about our business, all the kids you get to meet. It’s a shame they have to grow up to be regular people and come to the games and call you names. ~ Charles Barkley

Up Next: Even still more in catch up mode . . .