Hot Days, Cold Drinks, Great People

 

Hot Days, Cold Drinks, Great People

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for July 13, 2025

We went to Clear Lake, Iowa for the 4th of July and met up with Krazy Kory, his daughter, and her friend to kick things off. They brought the energy, I brought the need for shade and lower back support. I used to party all night—now I just hope to stay awake past sunset. Still a great way to celebrate freedom… until the next morning reminds you how old you are.

We had a special treat this year when my stepsister Lori and her husband David came to town for her 40th high school reunion and casually turned our 4th of July into a VIP experience. I always thought I had some local clout, but apparently all it takes is showing up with Lori to have doors open, crowds part, and prime spots magically appear. I’m not saying she runs Clear Lake now—but I’m definitely not saying she doesn’t.

The 4th of July parade is always fun, but this year Lori’s friend was able to reserve a front row table inside Rookies and had a couple extra seats for us. Watching the madness from an air-conditioned bar with cold beers and table service? Let’s just say it’s hard to go back to sidewalk seating after that level of freedom.

The VIP experience continued when Lori’s friends Kelly and Al Dickes invited us over before taking us out on the lake. We started with a tour of Al’s man cave, which felt less like a garage and more like a fully functional museum of Midwestern greatness. Tools, toys, neon signs—this place had everything but a gift shop.

Kelly and Al were awesome hosts, giving us a cruise around Clear Lake that brought back a bunch of childhood memories. I grew up on this lake with my dad and his boat—he was obsessed with keeping it spotless, drying it down and waxing it after every ride. Being back out there on the 4th felt great… mostly because no one made me towel-dry a windshield afterward.

We always have fun hitting the carnival downtown, and this year’s Bingo tent did not disappoint. We ran into Mike Glaser and his family mid-game, which was great—especially since Miss Sheri walked away $38 richer. It’s not about the money, of course… unless you win. Then it absolutely is.

I always seem to run into Todd Rule when I’m in Clear Lake, which is great since he lives in Houston and we rarely get to catch up. This year he brought his wife Lenaine, and we squeezed in a quick visit at the VFW—just enough time to swap what’s new before disappearing again for another year. It’s the kind of reliable randomness I’ve come to expect from Clear Lake.

We also bumped into Casey and Michele Craven, which always feels like reconnecting with the home team. Michele was in the same grade as Krazy Kory and me, so there’s this automatic bond—like no matter how much time passes, we just pick up right where we left off. The Class of 1988 may be scattered now, but for a few days each summer, it feels like we never left.

Back in Minnesota, the reunions kept rolling. Jason and Jen are in town for the summer, so we met up with them and invited Brad to join us at Duke’s on 7 in Minnetonka. Good food, great company, and just enough sarcasm at the table to make it feel like we never took a break.

On Wednesday, we met up with Miss Sheri’s cousin Deb, her husband Al, their daughter Jenny, and her crew for a little family catch-up. They were in full vacation mode, and we were a brief pause between all the action. The kids were happy to see us—at least until they remembered there were way more exciting things to do than hang out with adults talking over pancakes.

On Friday night we hit up Prior Lake’s Lakefront Music Fest for Rock Night. Always a good time—even when it’s 85 degrees, the crowd feels like a human wall, and your chair sinks two inches into the grass. The rain held off, the music was loud, and nobody around us sang in key… which honestly made it even better.

We ran into a bunch of great friends at Lakefront Music Fest and ended up sitting with Sue and Ron Korkowski—two people who never need convincing when it comes to having a good time. If there’s music, sunshine, and a reason to laugh, they’re already there.

Loverboy opened Rock Night with a tight, no-nonsense set that hit all the right notes. They launched into “Notorious” and didn’t let up. When they hit “Working for the Weekend,” they got everyone on their feet—even the people who looked pretty settled in for the night.

By the time 38 Special took the stage, the sun was down, the beer gardens were busy, and the crowd was fully warmed up. They kicked things off with “Rockin’ Into the Night” and didn’t slow down from there. Tight guitars, clean vocals, and nothing fancy—just a well-oiled Southern rock machine doing exactly what we came to see. When they closed with “Hold On Loosely,” every voice in that field was shouting it back.

Foreigner closed out Rock Night with a full-blown light show and a setlist straight off a Greatest Hits CD. They opened with “Double Vision” and rolled through anthem after anthem like they had something to prove. By the time they hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” with a local choir and a sea of phone lights, it felt less like a concert and more like a moment everyone was going to remember.

@toddswank

A Megapod of Dolphins - We thought we were out for a peaceful cruise in San Diego. Then the ocean exploded. Over 1,000 dolphins—stampeding in sync—racing alongside us like we accidentally joined nature’s VIP rave. This went on for 15 minutes. No joke. I finally finished editing the full footage—and I still can’t believe it was real. Watch to the end. You’ll start questioning which species is really in charge out there. #Dolphins #MegaPod #SanDiego #WildlifeEncounters #OceanEnergy #swankventures

♬ original sound - Todd Swank

Clear Lake, Full Sun, Can’t Golf

 

Clear Lake, Full Sun, Can’t Golf

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for May 11, 2025

On Saturday, I rolled back into Clear Lake to catch up with a couple of my high school buddies — Krazy Kory Madson and Jammin’ Jason Davis. We stood by the lake, soaked in the sun, and swapped stories, updates, and a few unsolicited observations about the current size of my midsection. We even got into some of the medical curveballs life’s been throwing lately — because that’s what happens when your friendships survive the awkward years, the wild years, and whatever this stage is supposed to be.

For some reason, the guys thought it’d be fun to reconnect over golf — which is bold, considering it’s a sport I’ve officially accepted I’ll never be even remotely average at. Thankfully, they picked Oak Hills, my favorite course mostly because the holes are short and so is the humiliation. I used to think I’d improve with age, but in my case, golf skill peaked around the time Nintendo was still making cartridges. Still, we had an absolute blast playing 18 holes, talking about everything from the present to the past — and occasionally, I even hit a fairway.

While we were out on the course, I happened to stumble across this tree and plaque honoring Matt Amos — an old friend I’d often run into when I came back to Oak Hills. I didn’t know this memorial had been placed here, and seeing it stopped me in my tracks. Life moves fast, and it doesn’t always give you a heads-up when it’s about to change. But it was comforting to stand there, in the sunshine, remembering a good guy in a place he loved. We don’t always get to say goodbye, but sometimes we get a quiet reminder to be grateful for the time we had.

After golf, we grabbed lunch at The Other Place — my favorite hometown spot — and were surprised to be served by Olivia, Matt Amos’s daughter. She’s kind, quick with a smile, and it was genuinely nice seeing her. I went with my usual: the grinder. A hot, cheesy masterpiece packed with seasoned meat and melted nostalgia. Some meals just taste like home.

Another highlight this week was checking out the new ScreenX setup at Marcus Southbridge Crossing Cinema in Shakopee. ScreenX is a 270-degree panoramic viewing experience that extends select scenes onto the side walls of the auditorium, creating an immersive environment that surrounds you with visuals beyond the traditional screen. We saw Thunderbolts, which was... fine. But when the ScreenX kicked in, it was like the movie suddenly remembered it had a budget. The side walls lit up with action, pulling me into the scenes in a way that standard screens just can't. It wasn’t used throughout the entire film, but when it was, it added a cool layer to the experience. I’m curious to see how this technology evolves, especially with films that aren't another Marvel superhero rehash.

Extending the week’s theme of reconnecting, I grabbed lunch Thursday with a couple of Oracle comrades I hadn’t seen in months — Will Easton and George Petruck. In just 45 minutes, we caught up on old times, solved at least three global crises, and welcomed our new Pope from Chicago. Not bad for one plate of brisket and some overdue laughs.

Thursday night, we hit Game 2 of the Wolves vs. Warriors playoff series — and after the flaming disaster that was Game 1, expectations were… cautiously grim. Steph Curry was out with a hamstring strain, but Golden State still somehow managed to look terrifying in Game 1. Inside the arena, though, the vibe was electric — whiteout shirts everywhere, fans locked in, and the kind of playoff energy that makes you forget how much you paid for parking. There’s just something about being in a packed arena that turns even casual fans into die-hard screamers with popcorn in their laps and hope in their hearts.

It was Luke’s turn to join me for the game, and he came ready. He loves the Wolves almost as much as I do — which is saying something, considering how many years of heartbreak we’ve both powered through. We showed up geared up and ready to scream our lungs out for the home team, and the free playoff shirts waiting on our seats didn’t hurt either. Nothing bonds a father and son quite like yelling at millionaire athletes in matching shirts, hoping this is finally the year it all comes together.

We were thrilled to join the chorus of boos every time Jimmy Butler touched the ball. Once a fan favorite during his brief stint with the Timberwolves, Butler's departure left a sour taste. After requesting a trade in 2018, he reportedly lashed out at teammates and the front office during a practice session, leading to his eventual trade to the Philadelphia 76ers . His exit set the franchise back a few years, and his pattern of forcing trades has continued throughout his career. So, when he stepped onto the court at Target Center, the boos were not just expected—they were cathartic.

Draymond Green hasn’t exactly been beloved in Minnesota since he put Rudy Gobert in a headlock back in November 2023 — a move that earned him a five-game suspension and permanent villain status in Target Center. The crowd was relatively chill toward him at first, but once he nailed Naz Reid with a flying elbow and picked up yet another technical, the gloves came off. “Draymond sucks” echoed through the arena every time he touched the ball. Meanwhile, across the court, I spotted a guy watching pregame warmups through a pair of Apple Vision Pros like he was waiting for a virtual Draymond redemption arc. Spoiler alert: not happening.

Unfortunately, the one Golden State guy we all tend to actually like was in street clothes. Steph Curry injured his hamstring in the second quarter of Game 1, which meant no jaw-dropping threes or logo heat checks in Game 2. And yeah, that sucks — because as much as we want the Wolves to win, it’s way more satisfying when you take down the best at full strength. Steph’s arguably the greatest shooter the game’s ever seen, and the series just feels a little dimmer without him lighting it up. Hopefully he gets a shot to come back before it’s all said and done.

I found this both fascinating and borderline insane — Crunch climbing what had to be at least a 30-foot tower of ladders just to hype up the crowd. The man (or whatever's inside that suit) risked life and fluffy tail to get us loud, and it worked. But seriously, how is this allowed? I was equally entertained and one shaky rung away from filing an incident report in my head.

Anthony Edwards came out looking like a man on a mission in Game 2 — which makes sense, considering he basically ghosted the first half of Game 1. He dropped 20 points, snagged 9 rebounds, and even limped off at one point just to give the Warriors a little hope before jogging back in like, “Relax, I’m fine.” The Wolves built a 25–7 lead early and never looked back.  They won 117 - 93 to tie the series at 1 game each. Edwards may not have lit up the stat sheet, but he set the tone — and reminded everyone whose team this really is.

Today, the kids and I took Miss Sheri and Grandma Linda out for a well-earned Mother's Day brunch — because if anyone deserves a royal treatment (and a break from pretending we’re low-maintenance), it’s these two incredible women. Their strength, kindness, and ability to put up with us day after day is nothing short of heroic. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there — we literally wouldn’t be here without you.

@toddswank Just two Vikings fans posing in front of a 1,000-year-old cathedral in Bath, England… Then it collapsed behind us like a movie scene—thanks to Kling AI. No actual buildings were harmed. No people either. Just pixels. #KlingAI #AIvideo #BathAbbey #VikingsFans #GenerativeAI #FakeHistory #AIhumor #TravelGoneWrong ♬ Building collapsed by blast - CanonCable

@toddswank Let’s go Wolves! #timberwolves #warriors #nba #playoffs ♬ original sound - Todd Swank

@toddswank We were at Stonehenge. The clouds parted. The Hand of God reached down and placed the final stone. Nobody else seemed to notice. So I captured it… with a little help from RunwayML. I’m not saying this is how it happened. But I’m also not not saying it. #Stonehenge #RunwayML #AIvideo #spiritinthesky #HandOfGod ♬ Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Dancing Through History in Clear Lake, Iowa

 

Dancing Through History in Clear Lake, Iowa

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for February 2, 2025

This week I spent two nights in Houston at Oracle's Data & AI Forum, a great event where I had the chance to meet with several customers and prospects. It’s clear that every company is eager to figure out how they can leverage generative AI to drive their business forward, and I’m fortunate to work for an awesome company like Oracle that delivers the powerful solutions they need to make that happen.

Friday night, we hit the road with our good friends Sue and Ron Korkowski, heading to Clear Lake, Iowa, for the Winter Dance Party. But first, we carbo-loaded at The Other Place (The OP) with pizza and sandwiches—because nothing says "ready to dance" like a belly full of melted cheese and regret.

While grabbing dinner, I ran into one of my oldest friends, Randy Chesterman. Back when I was in elementary school in Mason City, Randy worked at The Record Vault—an awesome record store back when those were still a thing. I’d walk to Regency Mall and pester him while he was trying to do his job, flipping through vinyl like I actually knew what I was looking at. Little did I know, the guy behind the counter would go on to become The Voice of North Iowa and land himself in the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… and I was just the annoying kid in the background of his origin story.

My home town of Clear Lake, Iowa is home to the Surf Ballroom, the site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper’s final show before the day the music died. But in true Midwest fashion, we turned tragedy into a party. The Winter Dance Party started in 1979 and has been rocking ever since, proving that in Clear Lake, the music doesn’t die—it just gets louder.

It was Sue’s idea to hit this year’s Winter Dance Party, and somehow Miss Sheri and I had never been. Since we were back in town, we went all in—right down to visiting the crash site in the middle of a frozen cornfield. Back in high school, it was just an empty field with a grim story. Now, they’ve got Buddy Holly’s giant glasses marking the spot, making it easier to find tragedy with a side of photo op.

It was freezing cold with the kind of wind that feels like it’s trying to slap some sense into you. I’d been to the crash site a few times, but I forgot how far you have to trek into the cornfield to reach it. By the time we got there, I couldn’t feel my face, but at least the memorial looked more elaborate than I remembered. Lots of tributes. Probably because people were trying to distract themselves from the frostbite.

Replicas of their most popular records were front and center, surrounded by a random assortment of oddities—some weird coins, a bunch of guitar picks, fake flowers trying their best to look alive, and an unexpected collection of sunglasses. Because when you're paying tribute to rock 'n' roll icons, nothing says respect quite like turning their crash site into a lost-and-found for accessories.

We hit up the Rockin' N Boppin' Record Show during the Winter Dance Party, where you can find everything from vinyl and vintage posters to cassette decks that probably still have mix tapes from 1987 stuck inside. Sue went to school with Bobby Vee's kids, so every time we spotted one of his albums, we made sure to shove it in her face. Judging by her smile, it worked like a charm—either that or she’s just really good at humoring us.

Krazy Kory rolled in to meet us for dinner at Prime N Wine, one of our Mason City favorites. We only had a couple of hours with him, but when you’re dining with a guy called Krazy Kory, that’s basically a full weekend’s worth of entertainment packed into one meal.

The Winter Dance Party runs for three nights, but we only needed Saturday to get our fix. The opening act? A wild group of ladies called The Midnight Cowgirls. Imagine if country, new wave, post-punk, and rockabilly had a chaotic love child, and then dressed it up in cowboy hats and glitter. They’re like the soundtrack to a rodeo that accidentally wandered into a punk rock dive bar—and somehow, it works.

Ran into Nelson Crabb, the long-time mayor of Clear Lake. Every time he sees me, he brings up that high school party where I tried to make a swift exit and ended up face-first in his rose bushes. He’s been mayor for over 20 years now, which is impressive, especially considering he’s still willing to talk to the kid who used his landscaping as a crash pad. The city’s in good hands… even if my dignity isn’t.

I always seem to run into Chris Barragy when I’m back in Clear Lake. He’s a fantastic photographer, covering all the big events—aka, the exact places I tend to show up and distract him. I’ve known his family since high school, so it’s always great to see him, even if I’m basically the human equivalent of a photo bomb while he’s trying to do his job.

Next up were Albert Lee and Jeremy Clyde—absolute legends with resumes longer than a CVS receipt. Albert’s been shredding guitars with everyone from Clapton to Emmylou Harris, and Jeremy’s got hits and acting chops to spare. But despite all that star power, their set had us feeling less like we were at a rock show and more like we were waiting for our turn at the DMV.

The Duprees hit the stage and suddenly it felt like we’d wandered into a live version of Jersey Boys. Smooth harmonies, sharp suits, and songs that made you feel like you should be slow dancing in a high school gym circa 1962. I actually enjoyed a lot of their set, but halfway through I started checking over my shoulder for a mob boss in the corner booth giving someone the nod.

Miss Sheri was floored when she turned around and saw Lynne Jensen, an old friend from her Camp Sunnyside days. One minute she’s jamming out at the Winter Dance Party, the next she’s back in her college years, reminiscing about summer camp adventures. Turns out Lynne’s moving to Clear Lake—because apparently, small-world moments come with a change of address.

Chubby Checker closed out the night, and I’ll be honest—I was expecting a nostalgic shuffle and maybe a polite wave goodbye. But no, the man’s 83 and performed like he had a time machine stashed backstage. He had the crowd twisting, shouting, and hanging on every move for 90 minutes straight without so much as a water break. I went in skeptical and came out wondering if I need to hit the gym just to keep up with Chubby.

We had way more fun at the Winter Dance Party than any of us expected. Sure, standing by the stage all night left our feet screaming for mercy, but honestly, it was worth it. By the end, we were all wondering—could this become an annual thing? I mean, if the day the music died taught us anything, it’s that you gotta enjoy the tunes while you still can.

Explosive Fun and Old Chums: Clear Lake's 4th of July Extravaganza

 

Explosive Fun & Old Chums: Clear Lake's 4th of July Extravaganza

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for July 7, 2024

My step-mom, Joyce Swank, passed away yesterday.  She was 82 years old and suffered a pretty nasty heart attack that eventually ended up being too much for her body to handle.  Joyce had moved out to California to be with my step-sisters, Lori & Martha, many years ago.  We were fortunate enough to see her one last time back in June before her grandson's wedding.  My dad died on July 1, 2008 and ironically this photo of them ended up in my inbox this week.  It was a memory from my blog post the week he died and it just happened to appear right before she joined him in heaven.  I like to think it's some kind of sign they are now reunited.  

May she rest in peace.

Miss Sheri's college friend, Kim Hohensee, was in town from Colorado.  We met up with Cathy & Jeff for dinner and reminisced about their good ole days at Wartburg college.  A good time was had by all.

It was 4th of July this week and we spent 3 nights in Clear Lake, Iowa which is my favorite place in the world to celebrate Independence Day.  We were lucky enough to have Luke, Avery, & Abby choose to join us.

There was lots of talks of rain spoiling the celebration, but we were pretty lucky for the most part.  We enjoyed our favorite activities including the parade that marches down the center of Main Street.

Miss Sheri's mom, Leona, joined us for the celebration.  Grandma is 93 years old and enjoyed watching the festivities from the car.  Walking with the crowds downtown was a bit out of scope for her, so we get didn't spend as much time with them as we'd have liked.

The parade was fun like usual including an appearance with men in funny hats driving strange little cars.  I wish I had a hat like that.

Here's a video I took during the parade:

@toddswank Happy 4th of July from Clear Lake, Iowa! #4thofjuly #parade #clearlake #iowa ♬ God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood

Normally I'd spend the 4th of July with Krazy Kory, but he wasn't able to be in town on the 4th.  We were fortunate enough to spend some time with him and his family at the carnival later in our trip.

We were able to get our Madson fix when Kory's son, Ben, and brother, Kelly, joined up with us at the parade.  We always have a good time with these guys.

The kids found it funny that I bump into so many people I know in Clear Lake.  That's one of my favorite reasons for going there!  We went on the Lady of the Lake to get a drink and I saw Brad Whalen who I haven't seen in decades.  It was great catching up with him for a few minutes.

I went to the top of the boat and saw Jon Anderson who I lived nearby in elementary and middle school in Mason City.  We played little league baseball together back when I was still considered a major athletic threat.  

At the carnival we connected with old friends, Brad Bernemann, June & Bob Bunn and their amazing daughters.  We had a lot good laughs right outside the Bingo tent.

We went downtown to watch the fireworks on the night of the 4th of July, but didn't know where we were going to watch them.  We thought we had great seats at the rooftop bar 173 Craft Distillery until they told us we had to leave at 8:30pm.  Apparently they sell these seats during the fireworks so that plan went out the window.

We'd seen Rich & Becky Finstad during one of our walks and they were kind enough to invite us to watch the fireworks in their yard.  They have a beautiful house on the lake so we thought that sounded like an amazing idea.  That was very nice of them!

While we were talking to Rich and Becky, their grandson Jack told me his dad would like me to come say Hi.  Jack's dad, John & I were roommates in college and they live just a few doors down.  We ended up spending the evening with John and his family and had an incredible time telling the kids about our shenanigans back at UNI.  We had such a good time!

Abby told me when we were leaving that she wishes she would have had the chance to hang out with "College Todd".  If she did, she would have been able to be part of fun videos like this one I made with John back in 1989:

Todd Rule stopped by to say Hi and it was fun to see him also.  

I gotta get me a shirt like that.

Before we knew it, the sky started lighting up with fireworks and we were mesmerized for the next 45 minutes or so.  It made me proud to be an American.

@toddswank Clear Lake, Iowa 4th of July fireworks! #fireworks #4thofjuly #clearlake #iowa ♬ original sound - MashBit

Friday night, we met up with Ron & Kristie Myers and their family at the Northwestern Steakhouse in Mason City.  It continues to be one of the best steaks I've ever eaten anywhere!

I have one more TikTok video I wanted to share even though technically it's from last week's trip to see the Korkowski's in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  Smoke up me up another shot of whiskey!

@toddswank Smoke me up another shot of whiskey! #tipsy #whiskey #smoked #4thofjuly ♬ A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey