The science of not getting too close

Our neighbors, Tom Story and John Gerken, are retired government workers. For decades, they served this nation by directing airplanes safely over the country's web of sky ways. Huddled unseen over radar scopes in a cavelike room in Farmington, they faithfully labored days, nights and weekends to protect travelers from danger.

Now deemed too old and befuddled to continue in this exacting role, the pair has been pensioned off, yes, but not tossed on the heap of retired rubble. Yet, anyway.

Monday through Thursday Tom and John teach the skills of air traffic control to young men and women, who are eager to follow their lead, learning to guide planes through safe air space. This they do at the nearby Aviation Center at Flying Cloud Airport. In the photo, above, Tom and John fake it in a multi-million dollar simulation lab that provides realistic experiences to the apprentice.

Prof. Tom only recently joined Prof. John in this post-retirement pursuit. Tom has held other part-time jobs. He also has his own business as a tax preparer.

But his favorite line of work is, (gulp) driving a bus. Yes. Tom drives one of those big long haul charter Jefferson Lines buses. He trained, qualified and got his license. Not surprising that he qualified, of course. Tom flew helicopters in Vietnam so he knows navigation. But why? Why would anyone, with all of Tom's talent, want the hassle of driving a bus through traffic, waiting for seniors to board, and killing time in a cheap hotel until the party is over and everyone wants to be driven home in the middle of the night?

Tom has never fully explained his yen to anyone. It is just something he has always been passionate about, since he was a lad, seated attentively right behind the bus driver, watching him work the controls. When asked why a distinguished air traffic control veteran would wish to wander the highways in his dotage, his partner just throws up his hands in despair. His wife just shrugs and laughs that "there is something sexy about a man in a uniform."

Today Tom stabbed at explaining his passion. He forwarded an Associated Press clip with the simple note: "This speaks for itself."

Prime Minister longs to drive bus
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago says the one remaining ambition he wants to achieve in life is to drive a bus.
Patrick Manning, who has held the post twice, made the confession during a speech to the People's National Movement.
"I don't know if I ever told you all a secret desire I have, and I'll do it before I die, is to drive a bus," he said, according to the Trinidad Express Newspaper.
"I haven't made it yet, but one day I want to drive one of the long ones, you know the articulated ones."
The nation’s Public Transport Service Corporation’s Chief Executive Vincent Lynch however said it takes at least a month to qualify to drive a bus, Prime Minister or not.
Mr Lynch also said the PM must have a heavy-T driver's licence before even applying to become a bus-driver.
"You must have some feel for a heavy vehicle. There are laws governing the operation of public service vehicles," he insisted.

Birthday Egg Rolls for Boss

Hai Dang and his wife, Thuy Nugyen, presented Stan with his usual birthday platter of authentic homemade Vietnamese Egg Rolls for white guys. Thuy (little twee) makes 'em, Hai delivers them. Hai has been an invaluable employee and close friend for the past 10 years. The egg rolls are just one of many benefits to a wonderful relationship that has enriched Stan's life greatly over time. Hai just calls him "Boss." Hai doesn't like having his picture taken -- or his story told -- because he's more bashful than a Norwegian immigrant farmer. But it is Stan's birthday so Stan gets his wish, and this really great shot. Don't you think so?

Hey Lorlee, you okay?

Fire shut down I-35 in Dallas, Texas, today, where our loyal blog fan, Lorlee Bartos, works in a downtown office building. She lives and gardens in a classic neighborhood near a freeway. Fire started at around 9:30 so we assume you got to work, Lorlee, but how you getting home? Check in, Lorlee. And be careful out there in Dallas.

Ladies lunch at Patrick's in Bachman's

The monthly luncheon meeting of school chums M'liss Bock and Kathleen Neilson was held today in the leafy green recesses of the Bachman's Garden Center on Lyndale, in Patrick's Bakery and Cafe. The meeting lasted the usual four hours. Despite sticky weather and the lack of air conditioning, participants were reasonably comfortable and managed to not sweat much at all.

Old business (Chuck and Stan) was discussed and approved.

New business included thorough discussions about the old St. Paul neighborhood, children and grandchildren, last night's CNN debate as well as the following topics:

• Can Linda Letnes really predict your property taxes?
• Texas Hold 'em strategy
• Locations of upcoming poker games
• Benefits of comfort height toilets
• Baby Vikings outfit for Sosie to take to Norway
• Husbands stuffing their garages with useless building materials
• Having your picture taken under an umbrella so it looks like a hat
• Getting leaks out of M'liss' much-loved camping trailer with gorilla tape
• Fraidy holes

A proposed discussion item on topical estrogen vs. oral estrogen was tabled by M'liss. Tonight's supper for Chuck or Stan did not come up.

Respectfully submitted.

Beauty, sex & death in the coneflowers

A carefree butterfly enjoyed a romp in the coneflowers Monday, totally oblivious to the fate of her cousins just below.

She's back at the beautiful St. Kate's

Briggs Rolfsrud Siitari has returned to the beautiful campus of the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. It is her alma mater and she was married (above - click to see detail - particularly proud papa) in the chapel last fall. She's working there a bit already this summer as she recuperates from her accident and prepares for her Fall at Harvard.

Steve Rolfsrud writes:
Dear Family and Friends:
Briggs has left the nest! Wednesday she and Bill returned to their apartment in St. Paul. Thursday she even returned to work on a very part-time basis at the College of St. Catherine.
She is working two hours a day, slowly trying to work herself back into condition. Her circadian sleep cycle remains quite skewed--although overall she is able to get adequate rest. She has learned to pace herself which seems to have resolved her recent bouts with nausea.
Two pelvic fractures remain unhealed yet, meaning that she remains limited to walking short distances--a problem solved by a special parking permit at work.
She's not allowed to lift anything, but that problem has been solved by her husband Bill's able back. Bill has also returned to work.
They continue their optimistic preparations for moving to Boston come Sept. 1.
Thanks for checking in.
Steve

Yes Sosie, it isn't Kansas anymore

Garden nymphs cavorted amongst the Karen Rolfsrud Kirmis and Don Kirmis wildflower plantings on the brink of the vast Missouri River basin in western North Dakota.

The vista stretches beyond the river toward Williston near the Montana border. North Dakota is filled with surprises, as noted by sister Solveig Rolfsrud Shearer, a bit of a garden nymph herself, in a posting today:

Click on these images to enlarge.

Sosie writes: [This photo] takes me back to my only trip to western North Dakota and my surprise at all the beautiful vistas and gorgeous wildflowers. I had not imagined there would be hills; I expected flat plains, as in the three states below North Dakota. I expected wheat fields with only an occasional oil derrick. Not so!

The interior of Don and Karen's log cabin reflects the expansiveness of the open country. Colors are taken from the surrounding flora.

A steep drop-off on the east side of the cabin is picturesque as well. It is also the site of a poorly-kept family secret.

Sometimes you just gotta let go

Doing his best Julie Andrews impression, Al Jerdee twirled and burst into a chorus from The Sound of Music while hiking the hills behind the Rolfsrud homestead. Al is the husband of Rebecca Rolfsrud Jerdee, who is in the white blouse, just ignoring him. Click to enlarge and see Al's joyful expression.

Larry Veeder always liked to draw

Fifty-one years ago Stan Rolfsrud sat as still as he could on a stool in Aunt Agnes' bright and cheery North Dakota farm kitchen while Cousin Larry Veeder drew this portrait with pencils, chalk and charcoal. Larry's mother was very proud of what her young Minnesota art school student could so easily create. All of Nils and Rebecca Rolfsrud's children appreciated creative work.

Last week the subject and artist were gathered at the Watford City Roosevelt Inn, along with Larry's wife, Carolyn, and daughter, Julia Crozier. Carolyn was Larry's high school sweetheart. While getting ready to drive out to the Rolfsrud Reunion, a pick up truck roared up and out jumped... Carolyn's favorite high school dance partner, who had just happened to hear a rumor that Carolyn was back in town. Larry never was much of a dancer, Carolyn explained later. Veeders and Rolfsruds just never have been much when it comes to moving around a dance floor, she laughed.

Larry says he was sort of a dreamer back then and didn't take much to farming either. He was a lot more interested in hunting, fishing and drawing. In 1955 he went to art school in Minnesota, then married Carolyn.

He worked in commercial art for about 13 years while living in Red Wing, Minnesota, where they had two daughters. Eventually Larry quit commercial art to become a fulltime painter, and he and Carolyn have done a lot of traveling, marketing his paintings all over the country.

Photo: Rosalie Veeder (Larry's sister), Larry, Carolyn, his brother, David, and his wife, Linnea. Agnes and Sidney Veeder's fourth child, LeRoy, died in 2003.

Their oldest is Kathy, a registered dietician, with two daughters, Lauren (1982) and Andrea (1986). She is married to Dennis Boos.

Their youngest is Julia, an artist who works in watercolor and oil pastel. She and Bill Crozier have three daughters, Alice (1983); Bridgette (1986) and Theresa (1989). Theresa accompanied her mother and grandparents to the reunion. She plans on attending Mankato University in the fall. She is interested in history. (photo at left, with her mother).

Carolyn and Larry spend winters at their home in Arizona.

Below, brother and sister, Larry and Rosalie -- she lives at Johnson Corners, very near the old Veeder family farm -- had a chat during the field trip. Rosalie was a principal organizer of the reunion.