The Dirty Thirty

As I watched the Cyclones play Army last night, I had a strange sensation. As always, I was rooting strenuously for good old ISU. I have been accused (rightly) of rooting for the Hawkeyes in the past. But after the first couple of plays of this year's Iowa/ISU game, I knew I was for the Clones. Maybe I don't root for the Clones with the intensity of many Plasticvillians, but I AM A CLONES FAN!

Anyone who knows me and my politics knows that I am not predisposed to cheer FOR Army. But I had a rather odd soft spot in my heart for the scrappy, undersized Army squad. Then it came to me. My first football consciousness (if that is not an oxymoron) was the "Dirty Thirty." 1959. Tommy Watkins. Clay Stapleton - the coach, and the host of what must have been the worst football highlight show of all time. I swear the guy was made out of wood. Sponsored by good old Iowa Butter. Big Red and I watched it religiously. The first college football game I attended was the San Jose State game that year. A glorious 55-0 victory on a sunny November day at Clyde Williams Field. The Clones made it "all the way to Lincoln Way" lots of times that day. If they had beaten Oklahoma the next week they would have gone to the Orange Bowl. Predictably, they didn't.

So I was a little conflicted last night as I watched. And it all worked out just as it should, I suppose. The Army squad played over their heads, put up a valiant fight, and lost a close one. Over the years the Clones have had plenty of "come from ahead losses." It's only fitting that they get to play the role of the superior team once in a while.

Stan

Labor Day Weekend at Cranberry Lake

Barn & Annette and Dan & Francine joined Stan, Kate & Peter for a wonderful Labor Day weekend at Cranberry Lake (Madeline having returned to Madison to support the Mighty Badgers). It was a truly lovely get together. Now that the Crosses have joined us for two years in a row we believe we have yet another Train Party Tradition going.

Watching the sunset on the dock is always great. And true to one of the themes of the weekend, boundaries were pushed and examined. Perhaps not surprisingly, Barny was doing much of the pushing - in this instance by throwing a wine bottle in the lake.

A long discussion of the propriety of hitting golf balls and throwing wine bottles into this lake or any other ensued. Off and on the discussion lasted through dinner. And oh, the dinners! The food and wine editor was on top of her game.

The weekend menu included:
Friday - Lunch
Baby Spinach Salad with Mango, Strawberry, Blueberry, Gorgonzola, Toasted Pecans and Balsamic Vinagrette

Dinner
Capanata on Artisan Bread
Organic Farm Raised Salmon with Lingonberry Sauce
Roasted Vegetable Torte
Lemon-Zested Jasmine Rice aux Petit Pois
Tarte aux Pommes

Saturday - Lunch
Greek Salad with Bruschetta

Dinner
Roasted Pepper Eggplant, Feta, Calamata Olives and Pita
Cumin-Rubbed Lamb Skewers with Roasted Peppers
Curried Couscous with Carrots, Parsley and Scallions
Vanilla Sugar Peach Pie

Sunday - Lunch
Gazapacho (intentionally misspelled in honor of the Middle East situation)

Dinner
Greek Antipasto [Deleted due to serious consumption]
Cranberry Lake Style Paella
Tart aux Fruits of Summer

The weekend "campers" went away happy and well satisfied.

Even the birds seemed to have a great time.

A beautiful weekend in a beautiful place.

Rudolf Lets Giant City Contract - Your Tax Dollars At Work?

Having just mysteriously come into possession of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, Mayor Crown Rudolf has hired a team of undocumented workers to install a new deck at the mayorial palace. Eschewing a long-standing offer of free labor and design advice from "the boys", Rudolf announced, in Spanish, that he has hired a group of "compadres" to install his paver-based deck. He appears to believe that the boys as work force don't do quality work and are too independent.

"I was sittin' around hopin' Curt might call when sure enough he did!" said an obviously excited Rudolf. "Curt said he had a pack of guys who fixed up his deck, and did I want them to do mine. Some kinda two-fer-one deal. But if it's good enough for Curt and Mary, I'm sure it's good enough for me and Darlene."

Look for the new deck at the big fall celebration that the Mayor is planning upon his return from his upcoming 5 week trip to his ranch in Oregon.

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