Author: tomobert63

The Journey Begins Thanks for joining me! This is the follow-up to the original, “alexandriacardinals.wordpress.com,” which overwhelmed the system’s ability to handle it any more. Thus, this is “Part 2.” As the original was initially described: 10-26-07-4 “It all began in a 5,000 watt radio station in Fresno, California” . . . wait a minute, that was Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore Show! Let’s see . . . oh yeah, it all began in 2003 when retirees, i.e., old people, in Alexandria, Minnesota, who had no desire to become snow birds, went looking for mid-winter entertainment here in the frozen tundra of West Central Minnesota. We discovered girls’ high school hockey, fell in love immediately, and it remains our favorite spectator sport to this day. Initially, and for several years, reports on these games were e-mailed to those who were actually snowbirds but wanted to keep abreast of things “back home.” It was ultimately decided a blog would be more efficient, and it evolved into a personal diary of many things that attracts tens of readers on occasion. It remains a source of personal mental therapy and has yet to elicit any lawsuits. ~ The Editor, May 9, 2014 p.s. The photo border around the blog is the Cardinal girls’ hockey team after just beating Breck for the state championship in 2008. It’s of the all-tournament team. The visible Breck player on the left is Milica McMillen, then an 8th-grader – she is now an All-American for the Gophers. The Roseau player in the stocking cap I believe is Mary Loken, who went on to play for UND; and the Cardinal player on the right, No. 3, is Abby Williams, the player we blame most for making us girls’ hockey fans who went on to play for Bemidji State. *********************************************************************************** Photos contained herein are available for personal use. All you have to do is double click on any of the photos and they will become full screen size. You can then save them into your personal “My Pictures” file. They make lovely parting or hostess gifts, or holiday gifts for such as Uncle Ernie who wants to see how his grand niece is doing on the hockey team. If any are sold for personal profit, however, to, for example, the Audubon Society, National Geographic, Sven’s Home Workshop Monthly, Curling By The Numbers, or the World Wrestling Federation, I only request that you make a donation to the charitable organization of your choice. You have two hours and fifteen minutes. Pencils ready? Begin! **********************************************************************************

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 14)*

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

The musician is perhaps the most modest of animals, but he is also the proudest. It is he who invented the sublime art of ruining poetry. ~ Erik Satie

I’m now in the middle of 2016 and all I can come up with are some Woody Allen quotes: “Photons have mass? I didn’t even know they were Catholic.” “I don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.” “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” Thank you Mr. Allen – and now continuing 2016 . . .

Skippin Stones (Tim Sunde, Elsa Lee & Russell Schmidt) @ CCW, June 2016

(Elsa would oft return as a solo act after this . . . )

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, July 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, July 2016

CCW, July 2016

CCW, July 2016

Components @ SAWA, July 2016

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, July 2016

(w/ Terry Kennedy)

Mitch Sterling & the Superfriends of Soul @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2016

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, July 2016

Purdy River Band @ CCW, July 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, July 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, August 2016

Harper’s Chord (Dave Lumley, new member on left) @ CCW, August 2016

(Micah Barrett w/ Jill)

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2016

MOTU @ SAWA, August 2016

Patchouli @ CCW, August 2016

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2016

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. ~ John Lennon

I don’t know anything about music, In my line you don’t have to. ~ Elvis Presley

Up Next: Finishing 2016

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 13)*

October 31

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

There’s nothing like the eureka moment of knocking off a song that didn’t exist before – I won’t compare it to sex, but it lasts longer. ~ Paul McCartney

While it’s still a tad early to determine whether there were any notable births in 2016, musically we did lose Prince, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Bobby Vee, Leonard Cohen, and Leon Russell. We also lost Abe Vigoda who, as I recall, said he never got many jobs after “Barney Miller” because everyone thought he was dead. Now, 2016 locally . . .

Components @ SAWA, January 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, January 2016

CCW, February 2016

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, February 2016

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, February 2016

Josie Nelson @ AAHS, March 2016

Djangleville @ SAWA, March 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, March 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, April 2016

Components @ SAWA, April 2016

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, April 2016

Mel Lamar Trio @ Interlachen, April 2016

(with Mary Lou Thunselle)

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, April 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, April 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, May 2016

BAT @ SAWA, May 2016

BAT @ CCW, May 2016

BAT @ CCW, May 2016

CCW, May 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, May 2016

Salty Dogs @ CCW, May 2016

Salty Dogs w/ Father Steve @ SAWA, May 2016

SAWA, May 2016

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, June 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, June 2016

(When you have fans, and you’re at a winery . . . )

Anthony Miltich @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, June 2016

CCW, June 2016

CCW, June 2016

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, June 2016

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, June 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2016

A Day in the Life

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal. ~ Igor Stravinsky

Up Next: 2016, Part 2

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 12)*

October 31

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I smash guitars because I like them. ~ Pete Townshend

It’s Halloween. It seems, therefore, somewhat incongruous that we’re leading off the last half of our 2015 presentation on this scary day with the countenance of Josie . . .

Josie Nelson @ City Park, July 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, July 2015

Michelle & Chuck Wencl @ City Park, July 2015

Patchouli @ City Park, July 2015

Reverend Raven & the Chain Smoking Altar Boys @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, July 2015

Duck Mobile @ SAWA, July 2015

Enterprise @ Courthouse, August 2015

Unknown @ CCW, August 2015 (need some help here, as far as I know their only appearance?)

Components @ SAWA, August 2015

Finestra (Wally Warhol, Arlyn Swenson & Jay Johnson) @ CCW, August 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, August 2015

Pistol Whippin Party Penguins @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, August 2015

Salty Dogs @ Ashby Park, August 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2015

BAT @ SAWA, September 2015

BAT @ CCW, September 2015

CCW, September 2015

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, September 2015

Finestra @ CCW, September 2015

Josie Nelson (w/ Roadies) @ CCW, September 2015

CCW, October 2015

Lisa Lynn (w/ Jason) @ SAWA, October 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, October 2015

(w/ a young fan)

Erik Schultz @ SAWA, December 2015

Erik Schultz and Greg & Lesley Donahue @ SAWA, December 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, December 2015

SAWA, December 2015

Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door . . .

I love Wagner, but the music I prefer is that of a cat hung up by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws. ~ Charles-Pierre Baudelaire

Up Next: 2016

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 11)*

October 30

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

Art is the means we have for undoing the damage of haste. It’s what everything else isn’t. ~ Theodore Roethke

Today’s lead quote was learned yesterday during the last class of the Senior College Fall Season. The class, “Why We Need Poetry,” was taught by Joyce Sutphen from Gustavus Adolphus and is Minnesota’s Poet Laureate. And to think prior to class I was going to lead with: “Last night at Carnegie Hall, Jack Benny played Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn lost.” ~ Harold C. Schonberg

Anyway, here’s to 2015!

Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, January 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, February 2015

SAWA, February 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, March 2015

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, March 2015

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, March 2015

Miko Cowdery & Friends @ Andria Theater, March 2015

SAWA, March 2015 (the Wall of Fame)

Andrew Walesch @ SAWA, April 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, April 2015

CCW, April 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, April 2015

SAWA, April 2015

BAT @ Arrowwood, May 2015

BAT @ SAWA, May 2015

BAT @ CCW, May 2015

CCW, May 2015

Fabulous Armadillos @ Andria Theater, May 2015

MOTU @ SAWA, May 2015

[Dave Strom, Bill Engebretson & Wally Warhol]

Patchouli @ SAWA, May 2015

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, June 2015

(Micah Barrett on bass)

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2015

Lisa Lynn @ Jordie’s Trailside Cafe, Bowlus, June 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, June 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, June 2015

Anthony Miltich @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, July 2015

CCW, July 2015 (OK, not mine)

Components @ SAWA, July 2015

(Craig Peterson on bass)

Glen Everhart @ Arrowwood, July 2015

Jim & Anthony Miltich and Victor Facio @ CCW, July 2015

Things We Said Today . . .

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Up Next: Finish 2015

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 10)*

October 28

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing. ~ Not Jake

Another highlight of the year was eating at Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown, another first. Nevertheless, in spite of that landmark event, “many think of 1776 as the most defining year of American history, the year we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self-government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as crucial to our nation’s identity, when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded Cuba, and then the Philippines, becoming a meddling . . . (the first of a continuing string of unflattering adjectives as only Vowell can do) . . . superpower practically overnight.” ~ Book liner

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, June 2014

Patchouli @ CCW, June 2014

Salty Dogs @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, June 2014

Harper’s Chord @ SAWA, July 2014

High School Band Combo (Paul Meland, Kirby Karpin & ?) @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, July 2014

Katie Ray @ CCW, July 2014

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, July 2014

Reverend Raven & the Chain Smoking Altar Boys @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2014

Components (Dave Strom, Bill Engebretson, Marty Sarlette & Bryan Poyzer) @ SAWA, August 2014

Jim & Anthony Miltich, w/ Victor Facio @ CCW, August 2014

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2014

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2014

BAT @ SAWA, September 2014

BAT @ CCW, September 2014

CCW, September 2014

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, September 2014

Patchouli @ CCW, September 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, September 2014

Tucker’d Out @ CCW, September 2014

W/ Annie O’Flynn

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ The Peak, October 2014

Anthony Miltich & Jay Seiling @ The Peak, October 2014

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, November 2014

Erik Schultz & Mary Lou Thunselle @ SAWA, November 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, November 2014

Yellow Submarines & Walruses . . .

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house & told my cat. We laughed a lot. ~ Also Not Jake

Up Next: Moving on to 2015 . . .

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 9)*

October 27

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

Nothing soothes me more after a long and maddening course of pianoforte recitals than to sit and have my teeth drilled. ~ George Bernard Shaw

I remember 2014 like it was just 6 years ago. It was the one and only time we personally attended “Prairie Home Companion” at the Fitzgerald Theater. I didn’t know that, of course, without looking back in the blog. A personal diary nonpareil . . .

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, March 2014

[Acting out Piano Man . . . ]

[And they sit at the bar . . . ]

[and put bread in my jar . . . ]

CCW, March 2014

CCW, March 2014

CCW, March 2014

Jamie & Craig Sandberg @ SAWA, March 2014

Julie & Matt Velline @ SAWA, March 2014

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, March 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, March 2014

CCW, March 14 (The Big Hair Boys)

Skilly & Duff w/ Chuck Wencl @ Carlson Music Center, March 2014

Mel Lamar Trio w/ Mary Lou Thunselle @ SAWA, March 2014

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, April 2014 (and the new acoustic ceiling)

Components @ SAWA, April 2014

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, April 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, April 2014

[I think I put out a caption contest on this one . . . ]

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, May 2014 (w/ a long ago neighbor in Grand Rapids)

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, May 2014

[This is the full monty . . . ]

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[Of the Piano Man scenario . . . ]

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[And they sit at the bar . . . ]

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[and put bread in my jar . . . ]

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BAT @ SAWA, May 2014

Katie Ray @ CCW, May 2014

Kevin Klimek @ SAWA, May 2014

Locally, “the Day the Music Died” . . .

Go to alexandriacardinals.blog and type “Bruce Kelly” in the search block . . .

Annie O’Flynn @ CCW, June 2014

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2014

To My Knowledge, Never Met Josie . . .

I love Wagner, but the music I prefer is that of a cat hung up by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws. ~ Charles-Pierre Baudelaire

Up Next: Wrapping up 2014?

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 8)*

October 27

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I think John would have liked Free As A Bird. In fact, I hope somebody does this to all my crap demos when I’m dead, making them into hit songs. ~ George Harrison

All humans are stupid, but the smarter ones at least have a handle on their own ignorance. ~ John Cleese

Pete Seeger Died @ Age 94, January 2014

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, February 2014

CCW, February 2014

Djangleville (or Salty Dogs) @ SAWA, February 2014

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, February 2014

[Paul Drinkwine . . . ]

[Roger Fink . . . ]

[Jill Moore . . . ]

[BTW, “Harper’s Chord” was named for Jill’s daughter, Harper . . . ]

[Paul w/ fans . . . ]

[Well, it was a good day for photos, and we were all on a roll . . . ]

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, February 2014

Salty Dogs (or Djangleville) @ SAWA, February 2014

[Did you notice the ole name switcheroo?]

Vellines @ SAWA, February 2014

Anthony Miltich & Debi Kilde @ CCW, March 2014

Eleanor Rigby and Anna . . .

I stole everything I ever heard, but mostly I stole from the horns. ~ Ella Fitzgerald

Up Next: Movin’ on in 2014 . . .

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 7)*

October 27

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

Dogs smoke in France. ~ Ozzy Osbourne

This should wrap up 2013, which as I recall occurred seven years ago. That leaves just the years from 2104 to 2020 to go. Which begs the question, what the hell have I gotten myself into this time?

Salty Dogs @ CCW, September 2013

SAWA, September 2013

Adam Astrup, Kirby Karpan, and Paul Meland @ SAWA, October 2013

Harper’s Chord @ SAWA, October 2013

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, October 2013

Patchouli @ CCW, October 2013

SAWA, October 2013

Annie O’Flynn @ CCW, November 2013

Anthony Miltich & Debi Kilde @ CCW, November 2013

Bruce Kelly @ CCW, November 2013

David Francey @ Carlson Music Center, November 2013

Josie Nelson @ CCW, November 2013

Lisa Lynn & fans @ SAWA, November 2013

High School Carolers @ Legacy of the Lakes (nee Maritime) Museum, December 2013

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, December 2013

SAWA (starring Vic Rima), December 2013

Goo goo g’joob . . .

In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of. ~ Robert Schumann

Up Next: 2014, a brand new year . . .

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 6)*

October 27

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

It’s easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. ~ Johann Sebastian Bach

I started this one @ 3:30 a.m. and am finding it difficult to come up with any snappy repartee . . .

Matt Harlan, Charlie Roth & Brian Hudson @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2013

Patchouli @ CCW, July 2013

Skilly & Duff @ CCW, July 2013

Uncle Willie’s Gut Bucket Blues Band @ CCW, July 2013

[Uncle Willie & fan . . . ]

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, August 2013

Arlyn Swenson @ Courthouse Lawn, August 2013

CCW, August 2013 (the Super with lots of Trumms)

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2013

Pistol Whippin Party Penguins @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, August 2013

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2013

Sami Steidl @ Courthouse Lawn, August 2013

CCW, September 2013 (parade of the Lucy look-alikes) . . .

Components w/ Sami Steidl (and Al Lieffort cameo) @ SAWA, September 2013

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, September 2013

[At the table, awaiting their next shift . . . ]

Skilly & Duff w/ Abby Williams @ Bennigan’s, September 2013

Josie Nelson @ CCW, September 2013

Mel Lamar Trio @ CCW, September 2013

[With Mary Lou Thunselle . . . ]

[Accidental artsy . . . ]

Broke up when I was on Okinawa (I do not consider myself responsible) . . .

Rock ‘n’ roll will never die. There’ll always be some arrogant little brat who wants to make music with a guitar. ~ Dave Edmunds

Up Next: Part 7 appears likely . . . (And much belatedly, if you desire to see previous posts go to the bottom of this page (right above “leave a reply”) and on the left side, in small, pale print, is the title of the previous post. Click there to go to that previous post. At that post there will be titles of both the previous and proceeding (on the right side bottom) posts, so you can arrow yourself around.)

A Complete Abridged History of Music (Part 5)*

October 25

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means ‘put down’. ~ Bob Newhart

Continuing with the banner year of 2013 . . .

Patchouli @ CCW, May 2013

SAWA, May 2013

Skilly & Duff w/ actor fan @ CCW, May 2013

Her eyes they shown like diamonds . . .

I thought her the queen of the land . . .

And her hair, it hung over her shoulder . . .

Tied up with a black velvet band . . .

Black Velvet Band

CCW, June 2013

CCW, June 2013 (with Alia (nee) Kopischke, former Cardinal hockey player and operating the counter above, and her parents also work/worked for the winery . . . )