1948 chevy, be it ever so humble

The elder statesman towers over Rambler upstart in Lake Andrew driveway.

The only known photograph of my first car, purchased for $50 from Johnny Seim. Ran terrific except spilled oil from breather pipe. Needed 25 cent quart of reprocessed oil every 50 miles, necessitating a curb-side stop in Fergus Falls on the way to college in Moorhead. No engine check light. Dry lifters went rat-a-tat-tat to remind you. Always carried a trunk-load of spare oil bottles beside a big tire. Interior dolled up with carpet scraps from my summer job at Engstrom Furniture. Sat up straight with lots of headroom, vision. Room for three in front. Girls sat over beside you if things were special. Otherwise no.
My roommate had an accident with it, severely damaging opponent. No harm reported to my car.
In photo above, it appears to be getting a "jump" in May 1967 from Mom's Rambler, age 3. Or was it the other way around?
Donated away in 1967 when I moved to Mpls, the 1948 Chevy was tough. Auto factories had recently retooled from building tanks for the Army and apparently had plenty of steel and habits left on hand. It lorded over the younger models as legendary champion of Fargo, North Dakota, demolition derby until death finally claimed it at age 20.
"You just couldn't kill it," one bemused spectator observed to me later.
So proud.

Harmony

Circa 1970, Mom gathered three sons and a son-in-law for a hearty sing. Virgil, Stan, Steve and Ron.

A shed, just beyond the edge of the sacred ground at Omaha Beach, was the site of the court-martial of an American solider who raped a local woman, shortly after the landing. He was executed immediately on Eisenhower’s orders. The Russians, the Germans, the Japanese tolerated, even encouraged rape as a practical means of terrorizing “inferiors.” The Americans did not. These and other values were defended with Allied blood, and we must see they never slip quietly away.

Hunter's grad party

Hunter and Paulina in front of trophy and memory display

Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines was the site Friday of an Ice Cream Party honoring Hunter Underwood, high school graduate. Virgil, Kim and Stan joined Ron and Linda at the gala affair, attended by classmates, teachers, friends and coaches. A magnificent display of trophies and honors, accumulated since grade school, was set off by glorious graduation centerpieces acquired and nurtured by his Grandma Becky. Purpose of our visit, of course, was to reunite family members, and this we did. We met Hunter's girlfriend and were impressed, Erik and his daughters were there, though Shana was too sick to join. Adam and Kim and Landon greeted us as well as the hosts, of course, Dave and Amy. Did I mention Al? He was happily there too of course, along with an Underwood contingent and lots of other friends we didn't meet. Did I forget someone? The drive to Des Moines was deemed worthwhile, with a special breakfast Saturday morning at Becky and Al's new townhome.

Rolfsrud "children." Virg, Linda, Becky, Stan. Hunter is Becky's grandchild. Amy's eldest.

At Hotel California, you can check out anytime you please. . .

Tomorrow is Get Away Day. Back to Minnesota to see the Twins on live tv. Don't get them here. :(

Father and son yellow-tail

Yellow-tail tuna

Andrew took a break from his medical studies in St. Louis and flew here for a fishing trip with his Dad. They got the expected results on their day trip into Mexican waters. There was work time, too, finishing a dust-free storage closet in the garage for the salon supplies. Stan and Andrew both fly back on Wednesday.

Secret ingredient to storage shed? Lots of
glue and factory edges. Nail gun hard on
sensitive ears, hence the earphones.

The party's over

Three short days later, the party is over. All hung-over. What goes up must come down, but so soon?

Fifteen cactus blooms greet Hotel California visitor

Perfectly celebrating the arrival of a special guest at Hotel California, our window-ledge cactus bloomed overnight, offering 15 blossoms at once, in a magnificent display rarely seen in this ordinary barrel cactus species. Welcome Andrew!

Nice, new faucet and drain

Hotel California just got a new waterfall bathroom spigot, the first of its kind at the imaginary five-star hotel! We like it. The water falls softly out the spigot, no splashing. And the new popup drain will likely encourage us to fill the basin rather than just let the water run.

Spent the morning installing it. Got it delivered overnight from Amazon but had to wait days for delivery of the magic tool in order to install it. That part went really well. The drain install, not so much. That was a struggle, not getting the washers and nuts in right sequence etc. The drain came packed without instructions so it was installed blind, kind of trial and error under the sink, which is not a good place to be for a 72 year old. :) Or anyone, for that matter.

Unhappy about having no instructions included by the Chinese makers, I said so when the seller asked me for some feedback, as they often do on Amazon sites. I complained that inserting some English directions to the Chinese goods wouldn’t add that much cost. Trial and error is not a good installation technique. I submitted my requested feedback.

Anyway, Amazon’s artificial intelligence was right on the job. Within 15 minutes of my complaint, it replied by email. The email-answering robot didn’t offer me instructions. No, it said it would be glad to have an expert come out and install it for $150!

Interesting world, isn’t it?

Hai Hai

A new restaurant has opened in Northeast Minneapolis. 
We don't know if it is any good, haven't eaten there yet. But given the name, we'll have to journey there to sample the offerings. Maybe we can get someone special to come with us.

The new Green Room (same shade)

Today's project

Finished the paint job before the new plant takes over. Sun did a job on some of the old paint on the redwood but the wood is holding up fine. Time to relax and cheer for Twins.

Our reward

Our reward for enduring day-long rain in southern California.

Friends from Chicago

Our good friends, the Stapletons, were in Minneapolis from Chicago today. Unfortunately, Stan was in California. Oh well. They spent the day at Canterbury and Dave had his two bits on Maximum Security and was a winner for all of 15 minutes until his horse was disqualified. Called them at their Prior Lake friends house, (Jeff and Patty,) tonight and promised to post my picture with his red nose ball and my crooked tooth appliance. Can't find it, so here's a picture from last time we were together. I 'm wearing my prized Bastogne shirt, purchased for me by Dave on our World War II tour, with his classic reminder, "We'll always have Bastogne!"

Exacta Box

For those looking here for Kentucky Derby advice, St. Paul Katie touts these: #6 Improbable. #8 Maximum Security. #9 Tacitus. #15 Game Winner. # 16 Roadster.

If any of these come in First or Second, you are a winner. Good Luck!

Emily is Thirteen

Officially a teen!

Party tonight at Savoy's in Eden Prairie. School night, so a bit limited.

Mom, Emily, Grandma