As advertised. . .

The directions are clear. Deck boards should be rain-free for two days before application of product. Allow 24 hours of drying time after application.
This requires a predictable weather-window not common to August in this state. Nonetheless, we took the word of the local forecasters and proceeded. At 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon we applied the final swipe of Thompson's stain and sealer and waited.
Exactly 24 hours later, at 3:30 p.m. today, the heavens opened. A massive downpour, 3.5 inches reported in Shakopee. The fairways are flooded, streams over-topped. Drivers stranded.
And sure enough, the water on the newly sealed beaded up sweet as can be  . . .  just as advertised in the brochure.
We've asked Kathleen to buy a lottery ticket on her way home -- if she can make it through the waters.

Stonewalling

Miguel says he's used to working in the hot sun, which is good,  because it got warm and sticky today. We're building a retaining wall to create a drainage swail to direct rainwater away from Joe's place next door. Miguel is an experienced landscaper, he's worked in the area for years. He has kids in the Shakopee schools, his wife stopped by and gave him a thumbs up on his latest project. Should be filled, raked and sodded by this time tomorrow.

Midway in the Deck Project

Before...

Two of the posts succumbed to rot from all the freeze, thaw, snow, rain, sun exposure. They'll be replaced.
Ballusters will be retained, we'll support them with new cedar rails.

After. . .

We've added a landing. We'll reattach railing soon. 

Apologies to Prof. Deutsch

Men of Easy Company, 506th PIR, in Normandy

Guilt, perhaps as much as anything else, sparked Stan’s interest in World War II history, which has now inspired a September study trip to retrace the assault on Europe by the famous 101st Airborne Division.

Stan skipped virtually every lecture and ignored all required readings for Prof. Harold Deutsch’s "History of the Second World War" at the University of Minnesota. There were excuses. It was a miserable cold winter quarter in 1969, the lectures began at 7:50 a.m. in a huge anonymous auditorium on the West Bank -- plus, he worked full-time as a night dispatcher at the Blood Bank. He had other priorities — like maintaining a 2S deferment.

Prof. Deutsch was a gifted lecturer and internationally-praised author. Well-respected for his command of fascinating aspects of the war, from cloak-and-dagger spy stuff to the horror of the Eastern Front. Stan skipped it all.

He had enrolled in the course as a Pass-Fail proposition to fulfill some graduation requirements. With help from a friend who had already taken it, Stan passed and received his ill-gotten credit without cracking a book.

Was it a guilty conscience that sparked a life-long interest in the topic? The countless books, movies, documentaries, museums over the years? Even Winston Churchill’s ponderous five-volume work devoured. And now this.

In September Stan will join 35 like-minded souls on a “Band of Brothers” study trip that begins in Taccoa, Georgia and terminates in Hitler’s Eagle’s nest in the Bavarian Alps. The group will meticulously relive the experiences of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Division on its epic path through six countries.

We'll retrace E Company route from Georgia to Hitler's nest.
(We won't parachute into Normandy, however.)

The "students" learned today that they will be accompanied and lectured by renown historian Ronald Drez, author of numerous books on the topic, and also the interviewer and personal friend of many of the surviving heroes of this airborne company. Ron was Stephen Ambrose's primary researcher for the book, Band of Brothers. They were great friends and Ambrose was Ron’s mentor. It was Stephen Ambrose’s book that caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and HBO. Ambrose was an executive producer on the HBO series, which was based on his book.

Now Stan is studying hard, motivated, reading and re-reading materials, looking forward to chatting with experts.

Were Prof. Deutsch alive today, we’re sure he’d say “Enjoy your extra credit, all is forgiven.”

===============

Photo, left. 

In 2014 Stan met Tom Blakeley, 90, at the World War II museum in New Orleans. A member of The Greatest Generation, Tom jumped into Normandy with the 82nd Airborne, landing in a cemetery near St. Mere Eglise. Stan will be there in September.

Hickory sticks, plus-fours

Ties and saddle shoes. Classy.

Wood shaft will bend, won't break.

We happened on this retro foursome yesterday, merrily making their way, garbed in very cool throwback attire. We had to pull over and ask, to be sure we weren't in a time warp. Turns out, they not only were wearing gentle togs, but were using authentic golf clubs, persimmon heads, hickory shafts and all. Jeff enthusiastically promised to email some info as to their why and wherefore, then they were off to No. 17. Good luck to them, so far no email. Perhaps a handwritten note will arrive in the mailbox next week, Hope they use enough postage.

Had to settle for a golf cart. No caddies available. Bags stuffed with antique clubs, used for entire round.

Back to School?

There are earrings to match, natch.

It was hard to tell just who had more fun today, Grandma or Emily, clothes-shopping for a pre-teen at the new favorite store -- Justice.
Emily's now too big for Gymboree, of course. Justice is a new - more hip place for our growing girl, increasingly aware of trends and fashion. Grandma happily escorted her throughout the store, chatting and sorting and watching her try on this and that, all the while reveling in the many years ahead performing this most delightful duty.

At right: Emily calls this outfit "Paris."

Fiftieth Class Reunion

All the ladies are 68.

Sosie is welcome to pick her own corsage from
the backyard. Joe's got roses.

Here's a snapshot from the 1950s show "I've Got a Secret." The secret was that this is an entire graduating class. . . celebrating their 50th High School reunion. (That would make them 68 years old in the photo).
This photo is making the rounds in anticipation of the upcoming 50th Reunion of the Alexandria Jefferson High class of 1966. Stan's sister Sosie is about to arrive from California to join the celebration.
We eagerly anticipate. We doubt she'll be wearing a corsage. And we're positive she'll look much better than this sweet sextet.

Drat

Over 15 years, water has crept into the tiny crack between post and fascia.
Freeze, thaw, sun, rain, snow, ice, heat, cold.
We've cleared the rot, now the patch and replacement post.

And more. Hardware, not holes, this time.

What started out as a simple maintenance task has developed into a month's worth of this and that with the discovery of cedar rot on the front deck. We considered starting over. . . an investment of $3,000 perhaps. . . and opted for the wait and see, let's fix 'er up approach.
A visit to the local home store produced a pile of green-treated sticks for replacement parts. Some clever new hardware updates promised to make the job quick and easy. We sprung for it.


Despite this new setback for the homeowners, things just keep getting better for the old Army guy. Home Depot has erected a sign in the parking lot next to the handicapped zone: This space "Reserved for Veterans. Thank you for Your Service."
Who woulda thunk it? Our own parking spot!

27 holes -- pickles and pilsners

Andrew preferred McClure's garlic pickles over the dill Gedney pack.

The last time Stan and Andrew Sampson hit the links, it was in January of 1998 in the shadow of LA's famed Griffith Observatory with Randy Anderson and the late Paul Matthies. The event was memorialized on the cover of the the mythic Golf magazine, a copy of which came out last night after the duo completed 27 holes on a sultry day in New Prague. Much to discuss over pickles and apple cider. A point of agreement? Swings have improved over the years ... and they'll definitely do this again.