Our life

Sorry folks, I just can’t seem to write this up in a way that truly gives the event justice. I’ve tried and tried, but it hasn’t worked out. But I don’t want to keep you waiting. Its been a week, dag naabbit! So here’s my haphazard attempt to culminate the events of the 74th Annual Kolacky Days.

Now typically, Kolacky Days starts for us (C and I) on Friday night, volunteering down at the beer garden. There’s normally a fantastic band and lots of beer. Always a great time. But this year, we opted not to. Instead, we went up to the cities.

Saturday

The day started out down at Memorial Park for the annual Kiddie Parade. Surprisingly, its a parade of kids. Since we now have one, she asked if she could go. We, of course, obliged. So dd and jj were in their very first parade as official princesses¹! I heard that dd was the youngest entrant ever.

Not wanting to feel left out, dad needed to be crowned as well. We’re all about accommodation round here.

After the parade, we made a pit stop at the house, then uptown to check out the car show. Between dad and I drooling, I was able to snap a few pics to try to capture the mood. This is the pic that I put up this year on Wikipedia.

Everything from Model T’s to a Ford GT40 were there. The car show is one of the favorite events of Kolacky Days. It typically runs Saturday, from 8am until about 3pm.

Some good lookin family posed for a pic for us, after lunch at Brad’s Home Plate, complete with

Arm wrestling and

Dancing.

After the car show and lunch, we cruised through Big Honza’s Museum of Unnatural History to see what new contraptions Dr. Monty Gomery, PHD², unearthed. JJ loved this place. I understand that later, the good doctor’s cousin John gave her a behind the scenes tour.

Spent some time at home, recuperating, and allowing Dr. D to get his obligatory dd time. DD saw the inflatable park down at Memorial Park, and begged to go. So dad and I took her down there to watch. She had a fantastic time, making new bff’s, finding new uses for inflatable playgrounds, and just being a kid.

At some point during the playground, she saw the Domaci Dancers getting ready to begin their show. So, as dad and I grabbed something to eat, she found her way to the seating area to watch the show.

After quite a bit of time down at the park, we headed back to the house to rest up a bit. The Angel came up to spend some time babysitting dd and jj so the adults could head down to the beer garden. A few beers and some good fair food. Very cool.

Sunday

Now, if you can only make it one day for Kolacky Days, then this is the day. Our parade is, by far, the best in the state³.

Knowing Franke’s Bakery tends to bake up a fresh batch of Kolacky’s on Sunday, I tried a few times to make it up there when they opened. On my first round up at 630am, folks already had their chairs out and ready to go. On my 830 trip, I had the camera with to show you.

Franke’s still wasn’t open. They ended up opening about 10am, and I made it in time to pick up a dozen for the family.

Brought everyone uptown about 11am to get settled in for the parade. Took another pic as the crowds grew.

Even Abe Lincoln decided to grace us with his presence.

Getting closer to the noon whistle, the streets started really filling up.

And like clockwork, the noon whistle blows, and the parade begins. As always, a fantastic parade. A couple of decent pics in the gallery at the bottom of the page here.

As the parade progressed, we saw it. The giant chinese dragon. JJ saw it too…

Little did she know what it was intending to do.

After the parade, we headed back up to the park for some food, and to watch the Kolacky Eating contest. We joked a few times that dad should enter. Little did we know he would.

Not only did he enter the Kolacky Eating contest in our small town, but he competed against a couple of important guys: our mayor, Mick McGuire (right, black shirt); and the Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Rybak (right, blue shirt).

After the Kolacky eating contest, we walked around and checked out the vendor booths and the Log Cabin History center, then headed home for some rest and relaxation from a fantastic weekend.

Conclusion

Once again, Kolacky Days was a success. With Mobilize Montgomery running it, I don’t foresee it being able to fail. Oz, GB and the whole city really pull this off perfectly. They really know how to celebrate a town’s heritage. Its a blast. For those that have yet to experience Kolacky Days, what’s your excuse? Get up/down/over here next year.

I’m sure Mobilize has thanked their sponsors and such. I would just like to thank them for yet another fantabulous Kolacky Days! We look forward to it again next year, and the year after, and the year after….

1. I apologize for a lack of public pictures for the kiddie parade. JJ was with her, and I feel the same way about posting jj’s face pics as I do dd’s. I understand that jj’s grandmom is a reader here. If you post a comment and let me know its you , I’ll send jj’s pics directly to you. The comments are moderated, so I’ll see it before the public does. [↩]
2. Promulgator of Honzonian Data [↩]
3. if you’re a native, be sure to check out the annual Torchlight Parade. Ours puts the one in Minneapolis to shame [↩]

Okay okay… so it’s Sunday and I’m still writing about Friday. Sorry! I’m a little behind. My free time is measured in minutes right now. I know you’re chomping at the bit to hear about dd’s first Kolacky Days Festival, and her entry in the Kiddie Parade. I’ll tell you about that later. Right now, I’ll tell you about a southern gal and the Mall of America.

For those who don’t know yet, Minnesota is home to the Mall of America. In case you didn’t click the link to find out more, the M.O.A. is the largest shopping mall in America (in terms of physical floor space). Currently, the MOA is the 2nd largest in North America (2nd to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton Canada) and 17th largest in the world. Asia has been busy over the past 5 years or so.

This place is a monstrosity. From the outside, its boring. No fanfare. No bright lights. No cool vantage points. Its a box, across the street from an airport. Inside, however, is a power shopper’s paradise. Store after store after store. Over 500 stores and a boatload of restaurants. Plus, there’s the giant indoor amusement park, Camp Nickelodeon (Formerly Camp Snoopy). Shopping for the parents, distractions (incentive?) for the kids. Its also one of Minnesota’s largest tourist attractions. As such, dad and jj figured they’d like to check it out.

Now the plan was to go in, shop a tad, then check out Camp Nickelodeon. For anyone who has ever dealt with a wide eyed little gal, then you can already see where this went. We entered on the somewhat vacant (but once hopping) 4th floor, cruised down to the first floor, and started shopping. Made it 1/4 of the way around before the sounds of the park found their way to jj’s ear. That’s all it took. The rest of our stay was spent watching her eyes go from pennies to dish plates. I guess there’s something really flippin amazing about roller coasters and swings and water rides inside a mall to a gal jj’s age.

Dad was dragged around that joint for the better part of an hour and a half, and only got 2 rides in: those swings, and one of the three roller coasters.

Of course, the only pics we were able to really get were the swings. Watching jj zoom around, acting like a kid, was fantastic and telling. There is nothing as cool as seeing that childlike wonder and amazement, pure and unadulterated¹. Kids do that best, don’t they? Live. They make friends with strangers in the park, and never worry (that’s our job). I hear parents say stuff like “grow up” or “act your age”. Why? Were they not kids once too? What’s the hurry? Be amazed, right along with them.

She was a trip. We barely got the shopping done that we wanted to, but that’s okay. What lasts longer: things or memories? This whole little excursion made me realize that, one day, we will be seeing the same zest for life in the eyes of dd. She will remind us both, on a daily basis, what’s truly important in life…. living.

1. unadulterated. Think about that. “Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter; pure.”. It is us, as adults, that complicate things. Think about that the next time your kid is doing what they do best: act like a child. [↩]

Tuesday started off quietly. C had this wonderful idea. You see, Dad is a golfer. He plays by the Alabama rules, but is really dang good. I, on the other hand, am not. The past few years, when he and I would get together, I’d get a refresher course on how to play golf again.

So, at C’s request, I lined up a Tee time for 816 at our local golf club. We got there, carted up, and headed out for 18 holes. In hindsight, 9 holes might have been a better idea. Midway through the front 9, I commented to dad how, when I take my practice swing, I always bring the club in. For instance, if I line up with the club at 24″ from my feet, when I swing it’ll come through at 23″. I’ve always tried to compensate midswing, which is why there are so many limping squirrels and broken windows where I’ve played. He made the genius suggestion to line up with that compensation on the ball (line up for 24″, with the ball sitting at 23″). Wildlife cheered when I hit that first drive “straight” using this new technique.

Looks like another problem is I lift my leg.

Had a great time. We laughed. We cried. We teased the self-important. Just a great time. Started losing our steam near the 12th hole. Finished up 18 and headed home, red and smiling.

Remainder of the day was spent O.A.A.ing dd and just hanging out with the family. Found out that I’m not the only one in this household that forgets stuff all the time. C and I made the trip to the grocery store a couple of times. Forgot the trash bags just as many times. Match made in heaven: we’re both idiots. Dad took jj up to Big Honza’s Bunzo Factory for some frozen custard. Apparently, the paintings on the walls inside proved to appear too real for her. If you’re ever in town, do stop in. Even if only for a Frozen Custard and to admire the artwork¹.

Momma whipped up dinner, and we forced Oz to join us again. Stuffed Shells in a meat sauce, complete with Oz and C’s garlic bread, and a salad. Nummy! Ate like a king. Then more hanging out, just lookin around.

Another super cool day. Wednesday, we plan to go to the Minnesota Zoo. Should be a damn good time.

1. special note: Kolacky Day weekend, Big Honza’s Museum of Unnatural History will be open. The curator of the Museum, Dr. Monty Gomery PHD, has done a wonderful job unearthing Big Honza the Gigantaczech’s tools [↩]

Sorry for the delay folks. We’ve been otherwise entertained.

Okay, so Dad and family made it up from Alabama about 1030 Sunday night. I believe the final tally was 1100 miles over 2 days. 2/3rds of the drive is Missouri and Iowa, so I bet it seems longer. Totally awesome to see them!

So after the introductions, and a quick game of “hot baby” (like hot potato, but with a newborn), we all settled in for the night. I couldn’t tell you who was the most excited to hold dd. Monday morning, the house slowly awakened to coffee, cigarettes, cereal, and crying. More “hot baby”, complete with the oogling, ahhing, and awwing that seem to accompany us everywhere. Cruised uptown to take her to the doc, accompanied by our niece, “jj”, who did an awesome job helping push dd in her stroller. Got there late because we ran into the Mayor (though, I think we might have been running a touch late anyways). Doc made sure we knew we were “tardy”. Yep, she used that word. Funny.

After the doc, went to Mobilize to see how Kolacky Days planning was coming, and to see Grandmom Oz. More oogling, ahhing, and awwing¹. Then to the bank for $50 in quarters, in preparation for our “swear jar”, and so dd could meet the bank president. I’m on the fence here folks. We’re penalizing ourselves for swearing, by putting a quarter in the piggy bank for dd. This money will go towards her college fund. So, in the essence of protecting and supporting my daughter, wouldn’t it be beneficial for me to cuss like a sailor?

After the visit uptown, we had a surprise for dad. You see, for the past 2 years, C and I have donated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. We became “partners in hope”. Makes us feel good. Well, when K102 does their yearly radio-a-thon, they tend to give things away for signing up. “For the next 20 callers, we will throw in tickets to X” or “your name in a drawing for a trip here to see this band” kinda deals. Last year, we tried the drawing. This year, we got in on a special concert with a fella most everyone knows, that just happened to occur on July 21st. Last week, when the radio station called to confirm, I figured I would try some of that infamous Meadows Charm, and see if I could score a couple of extra tickets to the event. I ended up getting one.

So dad had no idea why we were going up to the city. He just knew it was a surprise. We got to the station, and met in the lobby. They asked me directly “are you guys here to meet (the guys name)”. I said yep, and we got our snazzy wristbands. When I asked dad if he now knows, he missed her saying who. Cool. So we went over to the bathroom area, on the other side of the elevators. For some reason, we didn’t make it back to where everyone else hung out. C and I started to wonder how they’ll get him in the building. Back door? Secret underground parking? Helicopter? She and dad had their backs to the door when he walked in behind them. He passed dad by no more than 5 feet. So when I asked if dad saw who it was, he only saw his back. Once again, cool. And as we walked into the studio about 45 minutes later, the scrolling LED sign above the door going in said his name… just as dad passed under it.

Yep, he kept missing who it was by seconds at best. So we’re sitting in the “road house” at K102, awaiting his arrival. This is a room about 60 by 40, with 4 rows of chairs arranged around a 15 or 20 foot round stage that stands only a foot off the ground. Its dark with selective lighting. Amy St. James was the one who let the cat out of the bag for us when she asked if we were ready to meet Randy Owen (Lead singer to the multi-platinum selling band Alabama). At that point, the surprise became apparent.

See, when I was growing up², dad was in a band. Not just any band. No sir/ma’am. He was the bassist in “The Band Called Choyce”. The #1 country cover band in Lake County IL at the time. Now, in the late 70s, early 80s, one of the top country artists was Alabama. So of course, he knew their music pretty darn good. Plus, being from Alabama helped too.

The stage was just Randy, a guitar, and his pianist Steve. They did a handful of songs I knew, and some I didn’t. Story-telling in between songs. Explaining why this song was written, or what was going on in his life when that song was recorded. A couple times, right in the middle of a song, he’d stop to tell a story, or point something out (like his security guard falling asleep). Some Q&A. Some requests. Just fun. It was like that VH1 Story Tellers series, only live and in 3D.

Dad got to introduce himself, and of course announce his reason for being here. Asked him to play “My home’s in Alabama”. After the song, Randy asked where abouts in Alabama. Dad told him where, and that it was near where they played a few years back, at the baseball field of the high school in the next town over, which Randy recalled. So that was really neat.

C asked him later what his favorite song is to perform. He said “Mountain Music“, so she asked if he would play it. He responded with “I thought you’d never ask” or “It’s about time”. Something like that. The girl ahead of us turned around and said to us “didn’t you guys ask him to play that earlier?”. We did. But it was neat getting that dialog between C and Randy.

The last song was “Angels Among Us”. Now that is one tough song. Superbly written and performed, the chorus is used as the backdrop during the radio-a-thon to tell the stories of the children. So hearing the song live was amazing. ³

At the end of the show, we got to line up for autographs, and get our pics taken with Randy. I let him know that the first concert I ever went to was theirs back in the early 80s at Rosemount Horizon (now Allstate Arena). He told me that when they played there, they were told to keep the volume a bit low due to the collapse of the arena during construction. Never really put that together before he said that.

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Made it home in time for dinner and see our little bundle of joy all cleaned up and ready for bed. Grandmom Oz cooked up some Sloppy Joes and brought them over for us. Yum! After dinner, we worked out some more comfortable sleeping arrangements, and spend some quality time with dd. This is our first time (but surely not our last) hosting more than 1 couple for more than one night, so we’re still figuring out how to be hosts and that kinda stuff. I tell you what, though. I’m glad our hot water heater worked so well!

So that’s what’s happened thus far. Monday was just a super cool day.

1. I think I’ll define this as “O.A.A.” for the future [↩]
2. growing up = getting older as a kid in this instance. I’m not done growing up yet [↩]
3. note about the vid. I was shooting them from the CHDK firmware. That might be why they’re a bit choppy. [↩]