Good-by February - We've Had Enough of You!

"Yay, Susie. Almost finished with February."

          "The longest month."

"Yes. You've always said that. And it's longer than ever this year. Maybe that's what's bugging Mouse. Hasn't laid an egg in 5 days. The other day she was looking at Florida travel brochures."

"The highest temperature this week was 35 degrees. You don't even want to know what the lowest temperature was. Poor Smeagol, his balls are the size of BBs."

"I think I can smell the bread or maybe just wishful 'smelling'. I should'ave baked it in the oven. It would look pretty pathetic - standing over the bread machine trying to warm my hands!"

"It's so cold, I brought a beer in from the garage and had to put it in the microwave so I could drink it!"

"It's so cold, the woodpeckers are using a chisel to get at the suet!"

"It's so cold, the birds are standing on the ice to warm their feet!"

"OK, OK. I's probably Not That Cold in New Jersey. The Minnesotans are arriving in droves. The word filtered back about our zero degree heat wave."

"Peachy hasn't had any grass in more than a month. So I bought some Wheatgrass seeds from Amazon. I sprouted more than enough. Too many maybe. Peachy might have share with the cats. I even stole some for the bread that's baking in the machine."

"Sad. It's all over the news and Facebook. Leonard Nimoy passed away. Today I think. He was 83."

"Remember I mentioned my appointment with the Shore Heart Group? After I spent months nagging you about going to a doctor, I felt guilty about never going to a doctor myself until it was almost too late - so I didn't really have much choice."

"Well, it was so much fun I made three more appointments with Dr. Spano. The first one was this past Tuesday. It was an all day 'Thing' from 11:00 am 'till 4:00. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a chance to be examined by cute Ms. Spano,"

"Anyway, it was a Myo heart stress test. Myoview is actually the name of the radioactive isotope that was added to my blood. My heart didn't really get much stress. Most of the time I was either sitting around or trying to stay awake while lying on my back during most of an hour of 'imaging' my radioactive heart. It's no wonder it was hard to stay awake - I wasn't allowed my morning coffee! The stress part of the test was mostly walking on a treadmill for about 10-15 minutes followed by a few minutes of jogging."

"So my heart's in great shape like the rest of me. Actually, a lot better than my hearing, my memory, my knees, and well, some other parts. So I've got great genes and a lot of years left."

"Really wish I could exchange some of those years."

"Good-night Susie."

Lord, just let me get back alive.

"I've really tried to focus on getting things done. It's not working. I'm just too distracted."

"For months Tita was being neglected and lost a lot of weight. I've increased the protein in her diet and have seven meals a day scheduled -- so she has gained a little of it back -- but only because she constantly reminds me to feed her another meal. And I forget her medication even though I put up sticky notes. Good thing we're not in California. I'd be arrested for sure."

"Thought I should round up some of the "stuff" from your super-fund site before the hazmat suits arrive.  But before I got upstairs I remembered a few Christmas decorations and put them away. Of course I forgot why I was going upstairs."

"I'm working on a never-ending project to get the dozens of photos off the posters and into something resembling an organization. No organization so far but I get to spend hours looking at the photos. There are so many of you that I've never seen before."

"There's one of you and Cindy standing in front of a Christmas tree. You're both in, what could be, red prison uniforms and look like you just woke up."




"You and Elaine are in another one.
It might have been taken in the spring. You have your signature red hair in that photo."

"I missed a lot in those years."


"There is one photo I took of you when we were on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. We set up camp on at little island on Cummings Lake. It's July, 1981 and you're wearing a sweater. Did we have cool weather that day or were you just keeping the mosquitoes at bay?"

"You have a big smile and I think you were getting ready to put that oar to work."

"Our destination was Buck Lake and a mess-of-fish."

"Little did we know that the recent drought, plus a change in the weather, had a big surprise for us. Our map had a quarter mile portage but the low water made it closer to three miles. The water was calm when we started out but on the way back we were bucking a head wind. The white caps on the water were soon joined by a thick fog. But with a good compass, a great guide - yours truly, and a lot of luck we made it back safely. I remember you kissed the ground and crawled on hands and knees back to the tent."

"When I asked if would might like to have some fried fish before we turned in for the night, you just groaned."

"There's some distractions I wouldn't want to miss. Over and over again"

"By the way, I was trying to get some mail from your MacBook the other day. Phooey, when are you going to get a real computer?"

          "When are you going to get a hair cut?"

"What? Just one hair?"

          "Wouldn't want to over-tax your math skills."

"Touche."

Ortonville, Minnesota

Just over the state line from Big Stone City, South Dakota is its sister city of Ortonville, Minnesota. Separating them is the long (26 miles) and narrow (1 mile) Big Stone Lake. Like Big Stone City, Ortonville’s history often is told in the history of the lake. The photos here are of the old, the Columbian Hotel built in 1892, and the new, the Big Stone Lake/Whetstone River Project completed in 1985. The Whetstone River Project created the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge south of Ortonville.

Big Stone City, South Dakota

Our trip west for the reunion brought some interesting sights. Lots of Birds. Some life birds for Best Wife. Lots of walking in the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Odessa, Minnesota. (It impacts environments in both Minnesota and South Dakota.) Plus the environs of Big Stone City, South Dakota.

All Class Reunion - Bellingham, Minnesota

June, 12, 13 and 14. An All-class Reunion was held this year at the old schoolhouse. It commemorated the passing of an era. No more classes. No more schoolhouse; it's up for sale. Bellingham serves a small rural community in western Minnesota. Like me, most graduates leave the farms they grew up on.

The reunion was well attended. When I made my late registration there were 820 already on the list. This may not sound like a lot until you realize that an average class was probably around 25 students. Mine, the class of '61, graduated 14. Half of us where there. Annella, Ardis, Carol, Leon, Lloyd, Pearl and myself.