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Whenever we travel we send daily journals about our travels. Below are the entries for our Louisville trip.

Tuesday, June 29
This is Dad. Out first day out, as often, was a big one. We were on the road for 10 hours with few stops. But we made 576 miles. So, we're only about 4 hours from Louisville and will have a short day tomorrow (Wednesday). Mom will provide more details of the days events.

Mom here: we went to Busters Restaurant, which was decorated with real diamond shaped road signs hanging from the ceiling and about 200 license plates from everywhere on all walls. Buster said he bought the first 30; and since then, people give them to him.

We drove through mostly farm country of every description in Wisconsin and Illinois, all of it very beautiful. Road construction provided Dad with a chance to let off just a bit of steam, but overall it was a very nice trip. My endurance was good all day but when we finally got to the hotel I really crashed. Got a good rest last night, tho.

Wednesday, June 30
Dad got up about 7 today, Wednesday morning and went jogging for a couple miles. Weather sunny, bright, temp about 60, 85 forecasted the day's high.

We made the last 200 miles to Louisville today very easily, reaching our hotel at about 3:00. I'll let Mom add details.

Lunch was at a cafeteria just south of Indianapolis - - huge - - can serve 800 people at one sitting. We wondered why it was so empty then realized that we were not yet in Eastern time zone, yet, so the joke was on us.

As for to our Louisville Hotel: historic but totally renovated Galt House East right on the Ohio river. Beautiful room suite with both a living room and separate bedroom. We splurged like we often never do and had dinner at the top of the hotel in a rotating scenic restaurant. Food was prepared beautifully and scenery was of the river.

Tonight, we made a dry run to the contest site arena and I think Saturday I will be able to manage with no wheelchair, which will make things go much smoother. But I am glad I had it, Dawn, since at some of these places I would have had no choice.

Will try and get photos to you tomorrow via our web site. (Tomorrow the hotel is suppose to fix our high speed Internet access.)

Thursday, July 1
Quiet day today. Dad had a luncheon meeting with the Contest Administrator judge Category Specialist about the computer program he wrote for them that they use at contests. Chorus rehearsal is at 3:00 PM. More later.

Rehearsal went very well. Had a quiet buffet dinner in the hotel. Trying this evening to decide where to go to buy souvenirs. Nothing that we want in the hotel gift shop.

Friday & Saturday will be quite busy so messages will short to non-existence and pictures probably won't come till we get home.

Friday, July 2
Dad up at 7 again and jogged down along the Ohio River for a couple miles.

The judging community of the Society gave Dad a very nice award presented in front of all of the other judges in the Society for all the work he's done on their contest scoring system over the many years. And then the chorus echoed the sentiments at the rehearsal this afternoon.

While the chorus rehearsed, Theresa found a gift/souvenir shop and bought some souvenirs for the "kids".

The Land O' Lakes District pep fest this afternoon was a... a pep fest. Singing were our own Minneapolis based 16 mixed member double octet, called "Friends". The LOL district quartet representative, Bravo!, who placed 24th moving up from 39th last year, also sang . Finally Great Northern Union sang 3 numbers and our chief District competitors from Greendale, Midwest Vocal Express sang 2 numbers.
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What a group of friends we have here: many well-wishers for Roger and his achievements (6,000 free computer hours in the past 3 years alone); and well wishes for me and my health issues. (This is Theresa. He asked me if this is ready to go; I told him that it reads like a newspaper article.) So I have been charged with adding something. Unfortunately I have no stamina and am ready for bed at 5 PM, so will make this short. I certainly am nothing (health-wise) like last ear at International.

I want him to go out to the quartet contest alone but he seems to think he should do something with me; so we had a light supper in the room and are now thinking of what to do.

Anyhow Roger had "derby pie" for dessert, a sorry excuse for pecan pie. Mostly "candy". We got lunch free today because they screwed up the delivery and ate it now. L-ooo-n-g story short.

Tomorrow the drill includes being in costume at 11 AM, then final preparations, and finally onto busses to the contest site. I will go over a little earlier.

The computer situation here is such that photos will have to wait. Pop & Marlys, we did get your Email - Kathy, too.

Saturday, July 3
Last night after we sent off our message, we fell asleep for a late afternoon nap and then got up and went "out on the town." First we rode the "Toonerville" trolley around downtown Louisville. Then we went to our hotel coffee shop, met some GNU friends, and had soup and dessert. Finally, went to bed early. This whole trip is more tiring than others.

Louisville is a nice city. It is16th in size in US; but only one million people in 7 counties, including 4 in Southern Indiana, across the river. There is certainly a bit of the Southern hospitality and aura here. Also the fun thing they have on their streets here are horses, pop art sculptures of every kind, and all life size. (I believe Chicago, Calgary and Anchorage all have cows; Toronto has Moose; St Paul has Charley Brown characters; and so on.) The other big thing here is the "Louisville Slugger" thing going on. There is a museum with a 5 story bat outside.

Roger didn't run this morning, but instead went down for an early breakfast in order to beat the eating crowd. Had a nice conversation with a couple from Lansing, MI.

The last rehearsal went well; Theresa stayed for the first part and went to the corus contest a bit late.

By now some of you know that GNU placed number 7, one place AHEAD of the other chorus in the district by only a few points; and behind two surprises: Denver and a new Ohio chorus. Considering that they (GNU) did something unheard of and switched songs only 2 months ago they feel they did well.

The chore now is to fit into into the new rules for next year: those not winning in their district, but with good scores MIGHT be invited to a pre-International contest on Thursday of International week... from which they MIGHT win a chance to sing in the "real" contest. Oh well... always something.

It is after supper now and before the evening quartet finals and we are beginning to pack. We are going to Joan & Larry's on Sunday outside Chicago and Roger seems to feel that getting at that city at 5:00 pm will be a big traffic jam. (Although I think I have moderated his fears... holiday and all.

We road the bus over to the contest site auditorium and watched the first half of the Quartet Finals, and then came back. So now I'll send this and fill in more details tomorrow.

Sunday, July 4 & Monday, July 5
Happy Birthday, Pop. Yes, everyone, today is my Dad's birthday. He was born on July 4, 1916. So, he is 88 years young today.

We got up this morning... and headed north toward Chicago.
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The above was written on Sunday morning. It is now Tuesday morning and we're home.

Sunday we drove from Louisville to Ingleside, Illinois, north of Chicago about 60 miles, where we stayed with Theresa's cousin, Joan & Larry Albrecht. Had a wonderful dinner and then went out on the peninsula of a lake near their home and watched fireworks.

Monday, then, we drove home, all very uneventful. Tried to contact Chuck and Karen at Winona, but they were not home. Beautiful roadside flowers of every description along miles and miles of good looking farms. Trees are full and green; most fields look healthy. (Looks like we dodged a weather - bullet in Louisville: they just had a big thunderstorm blow through last night.) Trip was wonderful. No terrible roads, although we had a few one-laners. A lot of partly cloudy days so it cut down on sun glare.

So the next big event is Theresa's knee replacement surgery on July 23rd. Several appointments to get through before then. She will be glad when rehab is over... just in time for the second knee, right after Halloween time.

The chorus is feeling okay about the placement at International: two places higher than last year, and above the other same-district contestant. On Thursday of this week, the chorus is entertaining the Swedish chorus; and the next thing to do is to get a new slate of chapter officers. Roger is the chairman of the nominating committee. Then in September we go to Fairmont MN for a GNU concert; and also have the annual banquet in Sept.

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