#remember i worked in the trenches in wdw

[tonystarkssnipples]

please don't hate on disney

if youre gonna hate, hate on CORPORATE disney

don't hate on animators, actors, imaginears, or cast members

[hellohollydolly]

20 Things To Love About Our Albert Lea Community

im·prove·ment / noun.  The action of improving or being improved.

1. We try hard, & we are persistent a bunch. We had the old Wal-Mart sit vacant for just a “few” years. Many whispers of new tenants floated around over time, & then one fine day last year, a 12 year lease was signed to Bomgaars. Thanks to efforts of Hoffman, ALEDA & I’m certain many other small & large working parts, shit got done, together. 2. The movement isn’t like wild fire, it’s more methodical. Wind Down Wednesday came to life about 5 years ago. Since then, it has grown & become a Summer event that’s marked on everyone’s calendar. It has spurred other events downtown, & continues to thrive. By hands, brains, time, & work of Albert Leans. Tami, Susie & everyone on deck thru the years, continue to break their backs on events like WDW because seeing Albert Lea thrive fills their hearts. When you really care, you take an active role.

3. Our restaurants are only as successful as their patrons make them, & we’ve got some awesome ones. Places like B&B, The Elbow Room, Taco King, 112 on Broadway, AND Crescendos have almost cult followings, I know this, because I “drink the kool-aid” from all of these places. These owners took chances on Albert Lea, took the leap, dove into OUR community head & heart first. In the first year of a restaurant business, they are more then 90% likely to fail. We know what we like, be it pancakes, tacos, or seared tuna, & thankfully they are just up or down the street! 4. A dog park! A splash pad! Holy crap! Sometimes the movement IS like wildfire. Sometimes people saddle up, grab the reigns & plow thru adversity for the better of the community. Sheila & others did this because our four legged pals needed to have a park for us to enjoy with them too! (In case you haven’t counted yourself, I think we are over 40 park/rec areas just in town!) And a freaking splash pad just around the corner for Summer?! The committee itself is filled with DOERS, but the outpouring of outside support has been an awesome example of what coming together can accomplish! I mean, there’s those tshirts & sweatshirts, that I know you either have a few of, or want a few of. And then there was a dunk tank, a 5k, & countless BIG donations. These things are perfect examples of needs being met. 5. LAKES! Please direct all excitement for our improvements in our local waterways to the fine folks down at the Shell Rock RWD, also, Laura & her crew with the Lakes Foundation. They are in the trenches, fighting for our water, YOUR water. 6. Oh, do you need something fun to do on the lake? The Boathouse has you covered! Canoes, kayaks, paddle boards for the Summer, & snow shoes in the Winter. Archery too! Scott has a passion for bringing new, different, & fun things into our hands. Could you imagine if everyone took that sort of initiative? In case all of those things listed above aren’t for you, there’s still ice skating, rock climbing, pickle ball, swimming, horse shoes, biking, tennis, fishing, ok, ok, I’ll stop...geocaching, roller blading, boating... you know, things you have to DO, actively. 7. There’s something going on every day, you just have to look. I’ve found the search for activities has actually gained me some pretty awesome friends, as well as activities. Did you know you can snag a game night weekly & monthly downtown at The Interchange & the Legion? Jenni always has her hands working on something for the kiddos thru the city, the theatre continues to expand it’s calendar beyond the great ACT performances, & volunteerism is a two way benefit, you could always try that, call Ann! 8. Our arts community is growing! Obviously the apple of my eye, the arts, are coming along beautifully! The feedback I get from families at my collective creative arts space (Meraki, yes that plug just happened), is a feverish “MORE”. Our families are flourishing, whether it’s guitar lessons, dance lessons (young & old), or our newly added cartooning courses. Our families did not just say thanks, they are asking for more. They are hungry, & this fuels my passion for fulfilling that need. Join me, in building our arts community. It’s in need of unity, but more so, it needs you. 9. Our streets are pretty! I’ve seen & heard the effort that has gone into making our downtown the beauty that it’s becoming. Through oppositions, & the normal set of barriers that change brings, it continues to get more friendly & glorious, from outdoor seating options at the coffee shop, Legion & 112, to all the blooming pots & colorful banners! It’s in the details, & sometimes we don’t appreciate how much time & money the little stuff takes! 10. Rock hunting; it’s a real thing Kari & Dori graced our community with this great, active, family AND budget friendly game! Anytime I see a painted rock hidden next to my studio door or by our flower pot, I smile. How many times has AL Rocks brought a little joy into your day? Probably more then you give recognition to! They saw a way to share joy & leaped at the opportunity to give it wings! 11. We’ve got a ton of really great community service peoples. You know at least 5 men & women that serve as a fireman, first responder, nurse, dispatcher, or policeman. They are real people, involved in countless other ways, besides the obvious, to help our community. Knowing that someone is just around the corner, any corner, willing to help with knowledge & heart, puts us all at ease.  

12. Shred at the Skatepark I couldn’t find the birthdate of the skatepark, but over 10 years is a certainty. Anytime I drive or walk by the beach, there’s more action at the skatepark! This gives a place for our youngsters (how freaking old am I, that I’m using that word?!) to go and feel free. Not only a positive for the kids, but for everyone as they’re not tempted to trespass on other areas of town to get some boarding in. 13. Shop Local Yes, we don’t have the stores of Burnsville Center, BUT we do have fabulous clothing retailers that NO ONE else has, like Country Soule, Between Friends, & BG Loft. Toys R Us doesn’t hold a candle to the personal service Tami & her dolls will give you at Celebrations. The list goes on; Pet Authority knows it’s customers by name, The Color Wheel is filled with local artisan gifts & beautiful decor, and Junction Market allows us to pick up all our Pinterest-loving-ideas, without having to actually dip a brush in paint. 14. Our City wants feedback. It seems our city officials always have an ear to the ground, which is not as common as you’d think in other cities. They hold Mayor Mondays, & send out newsletters with events concerning citizens on a variety of levels, of the serious kind, or pleasure. You can even watch the council meetings on youtube from the comforts of your couch, if you can’t make the meetings in person. They care for their business owners, knowing that only together, can we do great things. 15. Everyone knows you, and that’s a good thing. I sometimes scurry out to Walmart or HyVee looking like quite the disheveled un-showered human, and ALWAYS run into at least 3 people I know. But I find comfort in that. There’s no cloak of mystery here, people I sit in professional meetings with during the week, are the same people I run into at Harold’s having a few beers on a Friday night. You can be real. People here really get to be themselves, & you’re never really alone. 16. Evolution of the mall. Remember not that long ago when Skyline was the dead zone for retail space? And now, it’s pretty cooking!? Yes, Northbridge has seen brighter days, but malls in general are having to completely evolve in order to make it “work”. I have no fear that over the next 10 years, it will get it’s groove back into something better then before. Showing patronage to the current stores doesn’t hurt either, so go grab a tan, get your nails done, then sip a margarita (or two), & catch something on the big screen! I feel like that could be a fun afternoon, add that to the activities list! 17. Area small towns, call this their town too I grew up in Alden, and I know anyone from Glenville, Geneva, Hartland, etc. will all say the same thing when you’re 50 miles from home and asked “where are you from”, response: “Albert Lea”. I mean, it’s where we get groceries, where we come to get our hair done, when we’re sick we come for help, it’s all of ours. That’s what community means.

18. 30 under 40 Our community is at the cusp of something pretty awesome right now, the next generation is stepping up, planting roots, investing in us. I know this, because my husband & I fall into this category, and so do a lot of our friends. While there will always be people, young AND old, that will shit on the work of others, we’ll still be here working our tales off for the better of the world. Millennials aren’t so bad, neither are the Generations Xers, or Baby-Boomers, there’s just rotten eggs in any age group. It’s our job to put our heads down, & keep putting in the work, together.

19. Perspective can alter the course of everything. While in the last few years I’ve found myself back on this soap box, my guilt is lessening each time I start to type or speak. No I don’t think it’s necessary to rebuttal in the effort I have here, every single time, but I do think the opposition to Albert Lea shaming needs to be felt at every negative word or comment made. Being silent, when someone is being bullied, has equal the damage. Stand up. Be proud. Make your voice be heard. Do great things here.

20. If you leave, you’ll most likely be back....I did. I graduated high school, was around for a year or so, and then took off to the cities. I stayed up there for about 3 years. I loved my job, but in the end, I couldn’t find a decent space for myself & my Louie dog to stay, so I came back. I was uncertain how I felt about it, but I did know, I always called it “Home”. And it continues to feel more like mine, each day I’m here. Each time I glance out my office window and see families walking the lake, or neighbors going to grab a bite to eat on their lunch break together. As the wings of Meraki catch flight, I realize that in order for it to be Meraki, it needed to be here. This is home. I chose it, & in return, it chose me.