Just another beginning

The air is crip and cool. Yep, we all know what that means. It means a new season of boating. Well, boating laying up that is.

There are many things to do if you winterize yourself. There is just one thing to do if you pay someone to winterize for you. But do you know what you are paying for and do you know if it has been done correctly?

I am truely amazed as to how many people call themselves boaters but don't even know what is needed to be done to the boat to make it safe for winter. Even if you pay someone, they make mistakes and YOU should be able to know if the right things have been done and done right.

I would expect the free seminar the Hiawatha Valley Sail & Power Squadrond is doing on 23/Sep/10 would be plumb full.

Kids no matter the age

A kid is a kid.
No matter the age.
They want to sail and boat and play.
You look and you ponder why these old men,
Spend such times,
Spend such cents.
To build such a boat that really shouldn't get wet.
Look to their insides,

...and then you get it.

Jean was happy

 
Last years "Splash Bash" was a blast...or should I say "splash"? Jean P was happy she could get her favorite beer. This year's start of the new boating season will be be different.

It will be a GREAT BIG Birthday Party to celebrate HVSPS' 10 Year Anniversary. Make sure to register at www.hiawathavalleyps.org

A Grandma & her phone

I had a Grandma who lived on a small rural farm in western Minnesota. She was not a very progressive person because "all these new things are so complicated". I can definately understand given that she lived in a house with no in door running water until the late 60's. But that was more about money than conviniences.

I remember when she upgraded the in door bathroom (yes, my Dad used an out house growing up) and moved the shower. The shower was in the middle of her basement so it could use one and only drain in the house. Because this shower was in the middle of the basement, it had a circular curtain around the shower head. You can imagine the 6 in the family would make the trip down to the basement in order to shower in the middle of the basement. Not what you would call practical use of space but it was practical use of money and time. However it was kind of cool when you reached out of the shower to grab the shampoo and you ended up with a jar of homemade strawberry jam.

Then there was the progression from the party phone line to an idividual phoneline with a great rotary dial on it. I am not sure when this happened but it was a step for her. One that didn't revolve around money but around convenience. No longer having to deal with the neighbor down the way (1+ miles away that is) listening in on your private conversation.

But that is where it stopped. No need to move to the touch-tone phone or the wireless phone because they were all too complicated and the rotary phone worked just fine. She made this switch probabley in here late 50's or early 60's. Then she was set for life. No need to change, grow, or learn new and different ways.

I look at things a little differently. If you don't change and get out of your comfort zone from time to time you will grow old and start to believe the world is too complicated and because it is too complicated, you will cut yourself off from other options.

I write this at a time when I see people wanting to have everything on paper and electronically. There are pros and cons to both. But in a volunteer organization I see spending the time to send out the same communications in both formats a redundace of time, effort and communications.

I understand the people who like their rotary phone. I understand the people who like their wireless phone. But do these people understand that it takes more time and effort from volunteers to maintain and administer both types of phones?

-9 and high +10

Is it so wrong to be living in MN and dreaming of warmer weather from Oct until May? Is it cheating on MN if you are here but your heart wants to be sailing the miles of open seas and not the confines of a lake or the narrows of a river?

What is On Al's Mind?

Now that Al is in retirement, what do you think Al is thinking so hard about? If he does this too much he might have a "brain strain".

Post a response as to what you think would be the best caption for this photo.

D10 Summer Rendezvous

Hello ...

Here's a few quick notes on the D/10 Summer Rendezvous:

We drove over on Friday ... a five hour drive ... in some heavy rains. However, the Friday evening "Over the Transom" cookoff competition went off, in spite of some muggy temps! Although we came in 4th (of 7 teams -- right in the middle of the pack) we had a BLAST. Okay, I guess Minnetonka won ... too bad I didn't get a photo of the Transom Mike Skelly built. Did anyone else? There was a LOT of food ... Ribs, shrimp boil, skewers and "eggs in a bag" (which I hope we try later this summer!).

Here's a shot Lyle Peschke took of me while we were setting up. It shows our theme ... "HIAWATHA VALLEY STICKS IT ... we think outside the bun!" (FYI - we put Meat, veggies and dessert on skewers!) We all wore red, white & blue (see our tablecloths under the sign).

Here's a shot of Al Harmon with a few of our chicken and beef satays and veggie skewers:

I'm so sorry I missed a shot of our dessert ... squares of angel food cake, strawberries and blueberries on a skewer ... with chocolate or strawberry syrup -- delish!

Al ran a magnificent dinghy rodeo on Saturday. Since we participated, I forgot to get some photos ... maybe we can come up with some from some other attendees? Al can give you all the details on this event. He really pulled out a winner. People really loved it. Nine teams competed ... everyone running the events in Dick Baker's dinghy (thank you Dick & Cindy Baker). (NOTE: Denny and I are hoping Dinghy Rodeo can be a squadron event one day soon!)

Now, there were a LOT of posters ... I think I heard there were over 60 of them. Again, I was asleep at the wheel ... but did get a picture of each of the winners posters (but not necessarily their names). I hope some of you can fill in the details.

Here is the one poster that is going on to NATIONAL! It was by Jack Bjelland of Shakopee (Linnea - I'm guessing that is one of the Scouts?):

I LOVED this poster ... I believe Mike Skelly (holding the poster) said these kids would be notified of their placement at the DISTRICT level!

The following 2 posters each came in 3rd place in their age category (and therefore don't go on to national ... but still did very well!):

(Is this the one by Tom & Joanne's grandson?)

And is this one done by a relative of John Lawrence?

Okay, so I didn't do so well taking photos ... but we had a great time and we were kept BUSY doing activities and eating. (The amount of food in Oshkosh is always AMAZING ... we had Fajitas on Saturday night ... and the beef was grilled beef tenderloin. I tell you, Suzanne Carmen is amazing with her ideas for fun meals with "whatever is on special" that week. Or should I be thanking Piggly Wiggly for putting the tenderloin on sale?)

The weather was simply gorgeous on Saturday. It was high 80s, and, although a little breezy for one of Al's rodeo events, a perfect day for lazing by the lake!

Others on the list who attended, please add as you see fit! If you have questions, or have photographs to add ... please do so.

TTFN

Jean Peterson