Al, Author at Albert Lea Tribune - Page 16 of 78

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: For great horned owls, courtship begins in December or January

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. I can’t tell if it’s late last night or early tomorrow morning. ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: Sometimes attitude is all we can control

“I hate to complain about anything, but I love complaining about everything.” You hear things like that when the local Pessimist Club meets. The members are ... Read more

by Al Batt, Tuesday, January 21, 2020 8:03 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: The daddy longlegs is an arachnid, but that doesn’t mean it’s a spider

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. I’ve been watching some high school basketball games. I remember when the ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, January 18, 2020 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: Happiness is having a warm head in the cold

I had just escaped the clutches of a colossal cold.  Once defrosted, I headed to a gig at a fine Minnesota college where I’d decided to ... Read more

by Al Batt, Tuesday, January 14, 2020 10:17 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: The age-old question — Is a tomato a fruit or is it a vegetable?

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. New Year’s is a holiday created by the calendar companies who don’t ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:30 am

Columnists

Al Batt: A fathead like me should never get a head cold

I wanted to shuffle my way far from the maddening cold. I’d spent an inordinate amount of time among the sneezing, sniffling, coughing and nose-blowing people ... Read more

by Al Batt, Tuesday, January 7, 2020 9:12 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: Why do snowy owls fly south in the winter if they’re snowy?

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. Once you get past the first day of winter, there are only ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, January 4, 2020 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: Swami, how I love you, how I love you so

My doorbell rang. I opened the door and a robed visitor accompanied by sitar music walked in out of the dimming twilight. The renowned mystic from ... Read more

by Al Batt, Wednesday, January 1, 2020 4:30 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: Robins and cedar waxwings in winter, and other nature answers

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic.” “What time is it?” I wonder aloud. Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, December 28, 2019 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: Say it ain’t snow —winter is technically here

It’s another beautiful 60°. Indoors. It has become that time of the year when it always feels as if someone has left a door open. It’s ... Read more

by Al Batt, Wednesday, December 25, 2019 7:03 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: Juncos breed across North America, including in northeast Minnesota

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. Dogs are following me around. I wish it were because I’d eaten too ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, December 21, 2019 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: Be in the present this Christmas like a cat

“Aisle do it! I said that because someone had to run to the store to get a couple of things. I was that designated someone to ... Read more

by Al Batt, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 8:43 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: Pheasants can go 2 weeks without food during severe weather

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. “Everything is nearly copacetic. I saw some big tracks in the snow. Maybe my kangaroo is ... Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, December 14, 2019 9:00 am

Columnists

Al Batt: To each ear his own with Christmas music

Bare Naked Ladies. I wasn’t looking at them. I was listening to them. They weren’t bare, naked ladies. They were Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan ... Read more

by Al Batt, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 8:31 pm

Arts & Culture

Al Batt: Is there more than one kind of cattail in the state of Minnesota?

My neighbor Crandall stops by. “How are you doing?” I ask. Read more

by Al Batt, Saturday, December 7, 2019 9:00 am

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