High water

Hello everyone. Tom and I just returned from a weekend in Kulm visiting Randy, and then going to Jamestown for a concert. The JC choir and band performed Karl Orff's "Carmina Burana", a very entertaining and exciting work. You would all recognize parts of it that have become famous through commercials and soundtracks. They did a fantastic job with the piece; we were very impressed. Austin was in a nice color photo on the front page of the Collegian, taken during a rehearsal. After the concert he got to pose for some other photos with Korean students - you'll have to ask him about that!

It was a very cold and windy day, but we had to check out all the high water around Jamestown. It's like nothing I've ever seen. Never thought I'd see water flowing into the "Glory Hole" but here it is. We talked about how Dad would have been so interested in monitoring and photographing this whole high water scenario, and how glad we are that he wanted to build their house on a hillside, where Mom is high and dry!
A quick trip out to the lake gave us a view of water, water, and more water. The ice is all gone, and the level seems no higher than when Mom took pictures on Tuesday, but it must still be flowing in. Our spring is very active and there are still some snowbanks around. Had to drive through some water on the road when you turn north.

Things seem to be okay around the cabin. When you stand on the front deck and look straight down, there is about a foot of ground before the water starts. But the trees are still out of the water. The burn pile is mostly underwater. A loon was swimming right out in front.

Looking forward t0 fun with all of you this summer at the original Prentice Landing!

it is saturday

Here is a class project I did from the video Jeff posted in December when my dad looks like Jeff. I took a screenshot of it and then used a drawing technique to transfer oil pastel onto a new sheet of paper (what you see). Kind of looks like a poorly printed poster or something but I thought it was interesting.

I have 2 weeks, count them, 14 days until I graduate on May 9! I am very thrilled to not have to do homework. Summer plans are still TBD but I will be in Minnesota at home for at least the first month. I will also be planning a wedding.

In good news, it was 81 degrees and sunny here in Chicago yesterday!!!! Hooray for summer!

Flooded with stories and such

Hi to all,

I feel like this post is really really overdue, but I figure now is a good time to post. To begin, many if not all of you knew of my recent choir tour during spring break, where we sang at several churches on our way to the Big Apple. I've been to New York before but being there again was pretty cool, because I felt like I knew where I was going without getting lost :). It was fun to hear our improvement as our tour went along and I'm glad to have joined choir here at JC. One of the highlights of the trip was singing in St. John the Divine Cathedral in NYC (the biggest cathedral in the world). We were able to sing one of our songs while we were there and it was AMAZING!! The echo was about 5 seconds and the whole experience was once-in-a-lifetime! The entire trip was exhausting, yet totally worthwhile.

Fast forward a bit..........it is now April with all the snow gone (despite the small fall today), the grass growing, the sun shining for the most part, and smiles seen just about anywhere on campus because of the warmer weather that has already and is yet to come. :)

In bigger news, Valley City is completely evacuated because of the flooding situation and Jamestown is in a little bit of trouble as well. I don't know if any of you have heard details of the flooding but the water is very close to overflowing what they call "the Glory Hole" (the big cement contraption which is opposite the dam), so as of now, Jamestown is fine but it could be in trouble if it rains a whole bunch this weekend. I think pictures of the flood and the glory hole can be seen online, if you are interested. These have definitely been some crazy times because of all the sandbagging that has been going the past month and the fact that school has been cancelled on separate occasions to help those efforts. One of those occasions being the first time in 15 years!!

Many other stories and pics will be shared this summer at Spiritwood of the choir tour, sandbagging and other recent adventures!!

Here are some of the pics. Enjoy!

Times Square

Madison Square Garden (right across the street from our hotel, Hotel Pennsylvania)

A church in Albany, NY (across the street from the one we sang at)

Apparently this is how they park in NYC (called Unparalled Parking)

Our version of the Arc de Triumph (small scale)

the Statue of Liberty from behind the World Financial Center

Here is my favorite picture of the choir trip, taken with my phone.

Niagra Falls

Love ya, AKLand

Here's to Dad!

Here's to Dad.
He's really not that bad!
In fact I'd say he's great,
the best Dad to date.
Maybe it was fate.
Or maybe his mate.
Either way, I like who he is today.
I mean, look, I've turned out okay.
The times that we argue sure stink,
but in the end, they've built character...
good... I think.
He's strong-willed, loud and outspoken oft,
but he keeps his heart soft.
People say how good his boys are
and he really left us no choice.
We had to listen to Dad's voice!
If there was one thing in this time of uncertainty
that I wish and hope I can be,
it is to be like my Dad
and raise a family like he.



Love you Dad,
Joel