Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!

My title is from "Three Little Fishies" by Kay Keyser and His Orchestra from 1941. Most of you over 50 remember the song. It was a jukebox favorite and sold over a million copies. Don't know why but David has turned out to be a very good fisherman. The only person that ever fished with him was Grandpa Myron (the man in the picture) so we're giving him credit. We did take him fishing at the Dells when he was about 10yrs old (starving fish, lots of worms and 10 bucks a lb for whatever you caught) but you really couldn't call it real fishing, obviously. David recently went "real fishing" to a place called Spider Lake up in Grand Rapids in the Chippawa National Forest and caught a 43" Shoepack Musky. Even though it was trophy-worthy he had to throw it back for another catch on another day because the lake is on a reserve. Too bad. Grandpa would have been so proud!

How the Other Half Lives

Michael and I took a bike trip from home out to Bloomington to visit some previous neighbors for a surprise visit. They lived two doors down from us and were wonderful neighbors. I didn't want to go unless we called them first but they were so surprised and happy to see us and we had a wonderful visit with them. Their new home made the "old neighborhood" look like the projects. They had moved 3 years ago into a very high test beautiful house. Katy is an interior designer and her and her hubby met why teaching art classes (she was his instructor). The rest is history. They are great friends and such interesting people. Without invading their privacy I asked if I could take some pictures of various rooms for benefit of the blog. Enjoy.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

What can I say about a picture of someone who has MAYBE fished once in their life and here she is at 86 years young fishing on a lake in Buffalo Minnesota with a group of peers? Just like back in the 1940s the men baited the ladies hooks. What a rush!!

Two's company, three's not available

The other night I decided to ask Karen if she would go with me over to the Hopkins trail for a short afternoon bike ride. Michael had a migraine and it's always more fun to bike with someone even if it's a "smarty-pants, no-hands" daughter. We made 6 miles and went home but it was enough to say we had a workout and was a good time for the two of us to socialize together. Personally I would love to see all three of them learn to enjoy biking as it is free and so very good for you. Don't know if she will do it again but it's a start.

The Saints Have Marched In Already

We have been remodeling our crawl space to give us some storage room and Michael discovered some fabric that had been stuffed into one corner to block out the wind maybe during the winter (we think). Anyway, when we pulled the fabric down we found out it was a pair of pants. After looking them over and an internet search we discovered that they were pants from World War 1. The pictures don't show the buttons but they are metal and are inscribed with "U.S. Army" on them. The pants are 100% dark green wool and the legs have lacing down the sides. Unfortunately they got stuck on a nail when I pulled them down out of the crawl space corner and fearing a bat or gigantic spider falling on me I continued to rip them away from the wood. I could have reached up and carefully moved them around the nail but I doubt the original owner needs them anymore.

Mainstreet enjoyment

My mom invited Karen and I over for dinner in the dining room last Monday evening for a meal of ribs and corn on the cob. We were entertained by a Dixieland jazz band who's members were not much younger than those living there. There is something going on all the time at Mainstreet. I don't know how she keeps up with all her friends, card games and of course dinners with entertainment. The last time it was a singer that she knew from 20 years ago when she and dad were at the Medina Ballroom. Even though it was kind of bittersweet she enjoyed it completely and got to talk with the gal afterward. She even got to go fishing last month with 9 others; something she hasn't done for at least 30 years. What a rush!

Life is good when you're Karen

When Karen was little we as her parents worried that she would be able to find her way in life. She was so shy and never seemed to stand up for herself against a sometimes very harsh world. She proved she could this past week by finishing up her 6-month internship in Music Therapy after 5+ years of study and hard work. A party was definitely in order and was planned in (where else) but Eau Claire. She sent out invitations through email and Facebook, we rented a pavilion right next to a beautiful lake in Carson Park where the football games were held and fired up the grill. Friends came and we all celebrated. It was so great. She got worried at one point because Michael and I and my mom were sitting off to the side after eating and she thought we were bored. I told her I hoped that someday she would understand the thrill of enjoying life by watching your children enjoy life especially when they have worked so hard to achieve their dreams. Extra special was the job she secured when she got back to the Twin Cities. With the economy the way it is what more can one ask for? "Good times, good times" (private joke for Karen). The two girls in the one picture are fellow music therapy majors not yet graduated.