Stargazing - by Eli Lutgens

Living for wrestling matches like these

I had the pleasure of attending the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament last week in Minneapolis. It was a pleasure, as always. Special thank you to Matthew Petsinger for allowing me the courtesy to share his suite with him during the long in-between periods of the matches. ...

Unknown science behind the pain

I had the pleasure of attending another Minnesota Sessions Priority event with the Waseca Chamber of Commerce this past week. We were introduced to many candidates for governor, including Senator Amy Klobuchar and local representative Peggy Bennett. Those were the two we had pictures taken with,...

Final leg of trip leading to Everglades

I am returning home this week after a relaxing, event- and friend-filled vacation, with the final leg the weekend of Jan. 31 bringing me and company to the Everglades. This past weekend I picked up editor/writer Deb Bently and her sister-in-law Joan from the Orlando International Airport...

Downtown Miami Brickell Outdoor Mall

Miami: a wedding, jellyfish and food

This week, Thursday morning, I drove to Miami for my friend Paul and Heathers’ wedding scheduled for Saturday. A three and half hour drive, arrival at the hotel and unpacking was followed by Paul’s Bachelor party. I use the term party loosely. Our destination was a large, semi-outdoor,...

Ice cream on a cold day in New York

Last week I wrote about the first part of my long-term trip, describing my time in Philadelphia and New York City, and mentioning my next destination was the home of my friends in Florida. Now I am writing this column while sitting on Anastasiia and Kyle’s couch in the Orlando area. I have two...

Traveling through Philadelphia

After two days of driving, I arrived in Philadelphia Wednesday evening. This is the beginning of a vacation of sorts for me. The first leg of the trip I am visiting one of my childhood best friends here in Pennsylvania. Wednesday evening was spent reminiscing at a local diner. Regrettably...

Spending time with friends, family

On Tuesday I left for vacation–although thanks to modern communication, I will still be performing most of my typical duties for the newspaper. As part of my preparations, and because I will be out of town for a while, I decided I would spend the time prior to my departure cramming in as much...

Learning life lessons at Christmas

I hope everybody had a good Christmas and a happy new year. Christmas this year started for me on Christmas Eve. My dad and I went to church together at 3:30. Afterwards we went to his house to open presents. From there, we went to my mother‘s house for dinner and another round of...

Sharing the 'state of the newspaper'

Last year at about this time it was recommended to me by Waseca City manager Carl Sonnenberg that I speak to the city council and give a “state of the newspaper” summary. Tuesday evening I shared the following message via speech to the Waseca City Council. Good evening council members...

My dad will always be my favorite writer

Two weeks ago my dad and I attended the Waseca State Championship football game at US Bank stadium. If anyone had told my dad and me at any point in our lives that we would attend two state championship games together, both covering Waseca sports, standing on the sidelines/court together, I don’t...