Birdbath, Bingo Booth, and Trade Show

Getting caught up:

July 19, 2011. I see I didn't mention it that day, but on the 19th, our birdbath basin reappeared. It blew away in the July 10 storm. Someone must have found it, and figured out where it came from. And left it by the birdbath column. Thank you!

New-to-us pool table. July 3, 2011.

My wife bought a pool table around July 3, at a rummage sale. It's not perfectly flat - but it took a bit of play to be sure about that. The folks who had it asked for about 1/10 to 1/100 of what I've seen this sort of thing selling for - and I'm pretty sure that they knew it wasn't exactly up to tournament standards. So I think it was a satisfactory trade for both of us.

I've gotten another bulletin out for the Knights of Columbus local council. We're getting the Bingo booth set up at the Stearns County Fair. And for the first time in many years - I won't be calling numbers at the 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday shift.

I've got a pretty good reason for not being there. My son-in-law and #2 daughter are taking me to a trade show in Philadelphia: where I'll be the company gopher and booth-sitter-in-residence. It's the first time in many years that I've been at a convention and trade show, and the first time ever being in Philadelphia. Near the city, actually. It's going to be a long week, the trade show lasts Monday through Friday: but I think it's going to be a good experience.

Sort-of-related posts, not necessarily in this blog:

• "Trade Show Time: Catholic Marketing Network"
  (July 27, 2011)
• "Of Exercise, Heat, and Melting Butter"
  (July 19, 2011)
• "Sinclair Lewis Days Parade, and Storm Photos"
  Sauk Centre Journal Blog (July 17, 2011)
• "Sauk Centre Storm July 10: No Power, No Internet, No Injuries"
  Sauk Centre Journal Blog (July 12, 2011)

Sunday: Another Week in Fast-Forward

As if with a whizzing sound, another week went by.

Wedding preparations are keeping my wife and #2 daughter busy: I've been staying out of the way, for the most part. I've been on my usual routine of researching and writing, and #1 daughter has been winding up her summer job. School's coming up, and she'll be back at her commercial art studies soon.

#2 daughter gave my son a haircut Thursday. He's used to my wife doing that, and was none too confident at first. He's okay with the results, though.

To my considerable satisfaction, I saw hummingbirds Thursday and Friday. Saturday I cleaned and re-filled the feeder, and I haven't seen them since. I haven't been looking out there either, so there could be a swarm of them for all I know.

#2 daughter and I spent the bulk of Friday afternoon going to St. Cloud, picking out a black suit for me to wear at her wedding, and getting a few things for her dress. I enjoyed spending those hours with her.

One of my brothers-in-law got a job in Iraq. He has a broad range of marketable skills, but his jobs tend to be elsewhere than Minnesota.

Stearns County Fair started Wednesday - or Thursday, depending on what milestone you choose to use as a marker. I've been over, taking a few photos and getting what I hope can be made into a short video.

#1 daughter has been over, too, several times. She impressed someone at the Conservation barn: she was able to identify many of the skins they had there.

#1 daughter went to the fair again Saturday. She reports that the Conservation barn is temporary home to a couple of (very cute) baby raccoons. She also went on a few rides: and came back with a bag of kettle corn. She says what she gets at the fair is by far better than what's available in stores. I suspect that, with the high turnover of inventory at the fair, their kettle corn is by far fresher.

I've grilled burgers yesterday and today, in company with #1 daughter and her rabbit, Giol. The rabbit's inside, as I write this: getting some of his 'people time' for the day, and being inside where it's a bit cooler.

One of my wife's sisters was over for a while this afternoon: probably here for the fair.

#3 daughter has been doing something or other this week: writing, I think. Also enjoying this time with #2 daughter.

Friday: Afternoon at the Fair

Good grief! It's almost two weeks since I added to this!

I went to see my father last weekend, picking up #1 daughter in Alexandria, and #2 daughter in Moorhead. A mile or so before the 8th Street exit on I-94, traffic slowed to a crawl. From the occasional law enforcement vehicle parked along the Interstate, I knew that something had happened, but a semitrailer blocked most of the view ahead.

That wasn't a problem for #1 daughter and me. We got about a half-hour more conversation in than we usually do, coming to pick up #2 daughter. Traffic was backed up on the 8th Street bridge, too, which got my attention. Saturday's Fargo Forum gave the explanation. Nobody had been killed, thankfully, when a truck was driven under the bridge, with its lift box in the 'up' position. A good-sized divot was knocked out of the bridge, and hit a car.

Aside from that, the trip was routine.

I enjoyed a talk or two with my father, but mostly I slept: at night, with several naps during the days we were there. I think I may have been getting caught up.

Routine? Not quite. #1 daughter brought her rabbit, Giol, along. Also his pet carrier and leash. Giol's harness had been left behind in Alexandria. Happily, #2 daughter located some cloth at the house and made a harness for the rabbit.

Giol was quite a hit at the nursing home. After my father got acquainted with Giol, my daughters took the rabbit for a walk up and down the hall. They visited quite a few rooms on their way.

Daisy, the home's resident friendly Labrador, had to be in her kennel while Giol was there. Toward the end of the visit, I sat next to Daisy, to keep her company.

Yesterday, my son announced that he can now raise his left eyebrow without right one coming along. I wasn't able to do that until around the mid-teens.

The two of us went to the Stearns County Fair this afternoon. It's one of the 'wristband' days, when a bargain-priced wristband will get youngsters onto any number of rides, between 1 and 5 in the afternoon.

My son made good use of his wristband, getting two rides on a perennial favorite of his, the Gravitron: a sort of spinning pie tin of a ride. He went on others, too, but skipped one that he knew would be too much for the way he was feeling. He's okay, but recognized a slight tendency toward queasiness. Hot days haven't helped that.

That lad has good sense.

We took a break from the midway around mid-afternoon, to look at the 4H and Conservation Club exhibits. The Conservation Club had reindeer this year, and a laid-back porcupine, among other creatures.

By the time my son and I got back home, we'd been out ten minutes short of four hours: and a find time it was.

Right now, as I write this, my wife, #3 daughter, and my son are playing "Cue Me" in the living room. And, judging from the laughter, having a good time.

Parade, County Fair, and Karaoke

The bank time and temperature sign across from Sauk Centre's post office showed 94 degrees when I parked. By the time I came out it was cooler: 93 degrees.

My father-in-law's recovery is in a rather tedious phase. His knees are about the same from one day to another, but there's improvement, week to week.

This week's Sauk Herald cleared up what the ambulance run after the Sinclair Lewis Days parade. A 7-year-old Melrose boy jumped off a float a little early as the parade units were going into the Stearns County Fair grounds.

The trailer rolled over his leg, giving him really bad road rash. He was taken to St. Mike's, then to St. Cloud hospital. Six days and three surgeries later, he's back home: and hoping to walk to school this fall.

Nothing that spectacular has happened to my family, happily.

The week after Sinclair Lewis Days, Stearns County Fair came to town. I didn't see as many folks Thursday afternoon as I expected, but maybe the severe thunderstorm warning had something to do that.

My son and a cousin went on the rides Friday afternoon, taking advantage of the one wristband / unlimited rides offer. Our oldest daughter and I were there, too, getting video of the fair (me) and seeing the exhibits (my daughter).

This year the fair had Karaoke night. It's a first for the Stearns County fair, I understand. I didn't go. I spent two hours of the evening calling numbers at the Knights of Columbus Bingo booth. Singing after that didn't seem like like the best use of my time. Our oldest daughter sang, though. Twice, I understand.

There isn't much left of the fair today, except for two or three trailers parked where the midway was.