Hi all...finally an update. We had a bit of a lull following the State Fair but a couple of events this past weekend to tell you about. And one of the more interesting side trips we've done yet. Let's just say for now that there was a lot of laundry to be done.
Let's start on Friday night with Oak Grove.
Oak Grove is a community in Anoka County, right in between Ramsey and Andover. Now, I grew up in Anoka, Andover, Big Lake and Elk River (we moved a couple times...I guess I call them all home). Oak Grove is right next to them. Until meeting their royalty a month ago, I had never heard of Oak Grove. Weird. Maybe I should pay attention.
With the Isanti Ambassadors
Anyway, Commodore Mary and I left work Friday night (in case you don't remember, Madame Commodore and I work at WCCO Radio together) and headed to the U of M campus to pick up Queen of the Lakes Tara and Princess Jaclyn. Both are U of M students and last week was the first week of their sophomore years.
As as aside, thank goodness the 35W bridge is set to open very soon (should be open within 2 weeks). It is just a mess trying to get around that area and over the river (and through the woods, to Grandmothers house we go.....sorry, couldn't resist. Yes, I'm singing while I write this. Lovely). Took forever to get down University Avenue. Also, what about the traffic over there once the new U football stadium opens? Ride your bike I guess.
We arrived in Oak Grove and did some minglining before the coronation....our good friends from Cambridge and Anoka were there, Columbia Heights, Big Lake (Go Hornets!) and many more. It had been a while since I'd seen some of them so it was good to catch up.
Oak Grove does it a little differently...they crown girls in four seperate classes. They have the usual high school seniors/juniors but then they add 3 more ages all the way down to 1st/2nd grade (I think...I seem to remember hearing 2nd grade but I may be a year or two off). There were about 4 in each class.
With the new Oak Grove Ambassadors
Here's a little inside info for you...how we kind of work behind the scenes.
It was the first coronation I've done in a while with Commodore Mary. Now, when we are split up, I do the majority of the speaking, the awards, etc. When Mary is there, my job is just to introduce our group and then turn it over to her. Well, I'm used to speaking! I don't typically "prepare" anything. I just kind of wing it. I usually think of a couple of things I pick up while there.
Your friendly, neighborhood Captain blabbering on stage!
Mary (and Tara and Charissa before her, former Princess Jenna, Captain Rob, etc.) tend to work on what they're going to say. They practice it ahead of time with each other (or with me). I started the year doing that. But I've found I do a better job when I just go up and start talking, usually about who I've met, what I've seen or something like that.
Mary is the best public speaker I think I've ever met. She works hard on it and it shows. She does a fantastic job.
I guess why I'm telling you this is because I've noticed we have really become good at this. Not a bragging thing here (I hope this doesn't sound as pompous as I think it does while writing it...not inteded that way). I just think that early in the year, we were not nearly as polished as we are right now. The last few events I did, the two we did over this past weekend and everything I've seen us do lately has been really spot on. Weird how all of a sudded the lightbulb just kind of came on and now we are so much better. Not that we were bad....we're just better.
OK....enough about how great we are. Just wanted to share. I guess that's why I'm writing this! To feed my ego. And if you can't tell, that's sarcasm!!!!
Now, back to Oak Grove. It did happen to be a very long coronation....I mean, obviously they had a lot to do when you crown four classes of royalty. It takes a while. It was entertaining and we enjoyed ourselves. Terrific people and we were glad we could make it.
What little girl doesn't love a Princess?
But by the time I got home, I was spent. At WCCO, we had just emerged from 2 weeks of State Fair and Republican National Convention.....HUGE events for us at work and we really busted our tails on those. So by midnight Friday, the last thing I wanted was to go to another event. Luckily, Saturday was not just another event. It was Gibbon.
If you've been reading this, you know that our former Aquatennial Princess that gave up her crown in July is Jenna Forstner from Gibbon. And we have been looking forward to making it back there for weeks (if not months). We've become such good friends with the people in Gibbon who are involved with their program not to mention many of Jenna's family and friends. This would prove to be as much fun as we've had all year.
Gibbon, as a refresher, is a small town (pop. 880 or so) on highway 19 in Sibley County. It's probably an hour and forty-five minutes or so from Minneapolis (to the south and west). It's mostly agricultural, they LOVE their baseball and some of you who have been around a while will remember the famous Gibbon Ballroom. Which is still there by the way. Coronation was in an adjacent building. But more on that later.
Captain Rob, his wife Amy, Princess Jaclyn and I set out for Gibbon Saturday afternoon. Commodore Mary, Queen Tara and Princess Emily were meeting us there. Rob, Amy and I were also staying overnight at Jenna's parents house. It was going to be a late night so why not just stay, right?
We arrived at Jenna's and she greeted us at the front door. I'd been there before but first time for everyone else. Jenna had Macy, her Rat-Terrier with her. Rob, apparantly not thinking at all, wanted to hold Macy. Have you ever held an over-excited, not been out to do her business in a
while, skittish to begin with dog? What happens? Yep. They pee on you. Nice decision Captain.
Yep...that's going to leave a mark.
So, a change of shirts later and we headed out to Bode Farms where Jenna works part-time milking cows. She wanted us to see what she does which was really fun.
Where the magic happens...and the gloves go on!
Now, I'm not exactly farmer Bill but I've been around farms and farm animals in my life. I've milked a cow before (when I was a kid, we had cows on one side, horses on the other....I'm familiar with the smell). This, however, is a large operation. 350 head (that's number of cows...yeah, I know the terminology!) of cattle that need milking twice a day. That, my friends, is a LOT of work. And a lot of milk.
Rob and I both shot milk on our shirts....don't point that thing at yourself. Helpful tip.
Whooops....Now I need a new shirt!
There....that's better.
We also met one of the calves...very cute. He'd suck on your finger like it was a bottle. Rob (are you sensing a theme here?) was absolutely slimed by him. Think Bill Murray in Ghostbusters...."It got me Ray. I feel so funky!".
Just born the day before...so cute!
Then, it was back to Jenna's to change and get to dinner.
Dinner was where we met the candidates for the first time....and saw Steph, Nickie and Katie who run the program. They've become good friends of ours this year and, naturally, loyal readers of the Captain's Blog!
The candidates did a commercial for their sponsor which was the last bit of judging that was done. And yes, that was all I had to see before I picked a winner. I'm officially getting good at that. I was told before the year got going by former Aqua Ambassadors that by the end, you'll know immediately who will win. They were right. I guess that's why they always ask them to be judges.
And another quick aside....Jenna's mom and Anna Albrecht's mom (Anna was Gibbon's candidate at Aquatennial this year) made dinner. And they did so very well!!! Great cooks. Thanks moms!
Anna with Commodore Mary and the "Two Crazy Captains" as
our reputation apparently now precedes us!
Coronation was great...and unique. It was the first one I can remember that was basically in a bar. It was in conjunction with the Fireman's Dance in Gibbon so they do coronation as a part of that event. It was really fun. HUGE crowd. I think half the town was there. Plus, we could go get a beer after. I'm good with that!
We got up on stage and it was nice to be able to congratulate Jenna in her hometown. As I've said before, she is just a very special person and has become a great friend. Her family and friends, I know, are all very proud of her and what she's done. But I was glad we were able to stand there in front of them and tell them how much she means to us.
Jenna on the left...that's the farm's owner on the right.
Anytime we've been in the hometown of one of the girls, it just takes on a whole new energy. We were in Cokato a while back with Emily and I mentioned that and we still have Anoka coming up which is where our other former Princess, Tzvet is from.
We also surprised Steph with an Honorary Commodore's Award. Nickie secretly nominated her and it was great to shock her with that. We also gave one to Wade Werner who is someone we met way back in April when we were in Winthrop. Again, giving out these awards is always great but when it's someone we know and call a friend, it makes it that much better.
Our Group with Jenna following Coronation
Following coronation, it was party time. They had a great live band and we spent the night dancing (or trying to in my case), talking, catching up, meeting new people and just having a great time. It was a really fun event to be a part of and wonderful friends to share it with. Not only the folks from Gibbon but Princess Jaclyn's parents came down from Hutchinson and it gave us a chance to get to know them better as well.
Our first photo with the new Aquatennial Family!
And it happened in Gibbon!
Well, that is it for a couple weeks. Next up, we have Oktoberfest in LaCrosse which is the last weekend in September. That will be a large event for us so I'm sure lots of stories will come out of that one. Should be really fun.
Everyone keep in touch....lot of photos here but many more on Facebook if you're into that sort of thing. Talk to you in a couple of weeks and for good mojo sake, go Vikings, beat the Pack!!!!!!!!
Lindsey Peterson
2008 Captain
Minneapolis Aquatennial
And Wearing them at the party....I guess the message worked!
Rob and I thought we should wear the shirts for the party. I agreed. And yes, we looked like a couple all night. We had to wear matching polos during Aquatennial week a couple of times and people still make fun of us. Apparantly when a couple of fellas wear matching shirts, you look a little.......how do I say this? Not straight.
We were joined by a lot of Rob and Amy's family, my friends and other people who are not totally familiar with Aquatennial. This was not a good way to break them in.
So, the party went well into the night (and the poor Mauzy's woke up to a living room full of people....thanks for accomodating us!) and fun was had by all. Well, except maybe for Jenna who seemed to be a target of teasing by a couple of my friends. Sorry Princess!
