Post Christmas

Sure is nice to be home for a five-day stretch! It's a rare occurrence since I took the state job. Rare too was the 60 degree day yesterday - quickly replaced by the 20 with freezing rain this a.m. Oh well...it IS Iowa.

No big plans for News Year's Eve for us - I'm just happy to stay home. It's an overblown holiday if you ask me. Sure I've had some fun in years past on NYE. But more often than not, I've had high expectations that have been unfulfilled.

Isn't that the way it goes? I find I have the most fun when I don't set myself up with high expectations - unrealistic expectation in most cases. Do you do that? Picture how much fun you'll have - at Christmas with your perfect family with the perfect food - never a harsh word for each other. All the gifts are great - clothes fit, other stuff is just what the giftee wants/needs.

Reality? Bringing a bunch of adults together - out of their usual routines, cram them together for long time periods - crabbiness is bound to happen. At least on my part. Not all that much - for the most part the Goldsmiths got along pretty well at Christmas.

But we had our moments. That my friends is why adult children grow up and move into their own homes. Everyone needs their space. I need alone time. Hell I even get sick of me sometimes!

Regarding New Years or other big party times - I just don't like large gatherings with lots of people I have to make nice with. I do that all week long - when I need to - at my job. I don't want to dress up. I don't do that all week - jeans are my normal attire at the Wallace Building, though I do put on better clothes when I have a meeting, unlike some of my co-workers.

So I hope all those wild celebraters have a great time. I hope my children are safe. And I wish all of my fam and friends a fab 2011. 2010 was a good one. I'm excited to see what this next year brings!

Watching one's Weight

I've complained for years that I just don't know how to eat healthy. That I need to learn better eating habits. Wa Wa Wa Wa Waaa. (it's the Charlie Brown Mom noise)

So I finally put my money where my mouth (and stomach) are. And joined Weight Watchers at the Wallace Building. Jan, the personnel gal has tried a couple times to get a group started there, but this time it took. We needed 15 people - struggled to get the magic number the first week, but week 2 more showed up.

It's not cheap! $180 for 14 weeks. You get this online tool, with a Blackberry app but frankly it's not too easy to use - I prefer to log stuff on my laptop. And we meet at noon each Monday (11:45 for weigh in) I know - sucky day to get weighed - just after the weekend.

Most of the people in my group are repeat offenders. I mean they've been in WW before. But WW rolled out a whole new program just last month - Points Plus, so it's new for everyone. All the food has new point values, and many fruits and veggies are 0, which does encourage me to eat better.

We weighed in the first day and our rep figured our point total we're allowed. I get 29 points each day - plus everyone gets 49 bonus points every week. That is eye opening for me - just how much each type of food counts and how much a person my size and age is supposed to eat. Not a lot if it's high point stuff!

Of course last weekend with the fancy schmantzy food we ate I was way over my total - didn't even try to track it. As my New Years resolution, I want to include more fresh foods - hard to do with my commuting schedule. But I'll give it a shot! It can't hurt!

Rest 'o the trip

Ah Christmas din din at the Pottorffs. Yum. That EPott (Eric) he knows how to cook a prime rib! He is the guy in charge of all the food places across Beaver Creek and Vail. He's got some "juice". His wife Bonnie is fun - got to know her pretty well the summer after Dad died. She came along with Cindy to Marco Island as we stayed at the Gulfview one last time. Bonnie is fun and funny - I like her a lot. Their son is Byron - a junior at Cal Long Beach.

The rest of the cast of eating characters:
The Sanders family comes every year too - Jim (vegetarian, so the lovely lump 'o meat is wasted on him), Shaloy, Kelsey (who just finished her senior year at NWMSU - a scant hour from Crestonia - with a full ride soccer scholly), and Reeve. Michelle - chatty but nice, works at the van place sending happy (and unhappy) touristas to and fro. And Frank wine guru, who brought his fun filled wine suitcase.

Plus Goldsmiths (who get to horn in thanks to Lefebvres) We had a tasty cranberry salad and a green salad, asparagus and really good vegetarian potatoes with rolls to go with the meat. For dessert, you ask? Bonnie had some ginger cookies that she layered on a beautiful cake dish with real whip cream and chocolate sauce. We served it with lemon sorbet and raspberries. I helped serve - so it was kinda crushed by the time I cut it - nevertheless it was tasty! I told anyone who complained - "hey, I attend agricultural college!"

The prior afternoon the fellas all went with Bolder to the Charlie's warehouse to prepare inventory for all the Charlie's T-Shirt stores for Sunday. Jud got a nice sweatshirt in payment and I even scored a Vail tee shirt. (I didn't do anything!) Cindy and I took Odie for a short walk (I even carried the little lazy girl part of the way). Then we drove to Cindy's office to get free ski tickets (yes FREE) for Jud and Paul.

On Sunday Jud, Amy and Paul got up early and went skiing. I was a little jealous. I could have gone. But I kept reminding myself that I'm the gal that falls down stairs and flips off short stools. I don't need to tempt fate! Cindy came to Riverwalk (where we stay) and we shopped a bit and had lunch at the French Press.

That night Colby and Cindy cooked for us. Colby made Beef Wellington - really good tender beef with puff pastry on the outside covering tender mushrooms. Cindy made some good creamy potatoes. I was stuffed.

Too soon it was time to go. All the sudden I was a blubbering idiot - crying when I had to say goodbye to Amy. I don't know when we'll see her again and I was so sad. I hate goodbyes anyway...
That night I hardly slept - finished my book and finally dozed off about 4 a.m. Paul woke me up to leave at 5:30 a.m. Was there caffeine in those potatoes? Long drive to Iowa. Laundry to do when we got home, but our great neighbors had shoveled our driveway! Another good trip - safe and sound. Love my fam.

Colorado trip so far

We're having a great trip. The weather has cooperated - in fact it's been perfect. Don't miss the cold and snow of Iowa at all! Vail is even warm and sunny. We got to Denver at 5 PM Wednesday and took Amy and roomie Carrie out to eat. So good to see my baby. Then headed to Aunt Martha's for the night. Juddy stayed at Amy's.

Loved having time to talk with Marty and Bill at their home Thursday a.m. Jud, Paul and I went to the movie remake True Grit that afternoon and ate at a barbeque joint, Moe's - where Colby works occasionally. He works at their other branch a lot. We stopped at the liquor store and bought some booze for Lefebvres and got wine at Marczyks and a gift card for Colbs. Last minute shopping!

That night we headed to my cousin Amy Brownlee's house for a great lasagna supper. Her hubby Tom was there along with son Matt - a 7th grader. Gorgeous daughter Kate, a HS soph was off to a Colorado Avalanche hockey game. She's a busy teen ya know. Marty and Bill were there, and my cuzzie Richard Amy's bro. Amy also invited her neighbor Gwen. Our Amy arrived after work. It was lots of fun sharing holiday cheer with relatives! I'm so mad I didn't take any pics.

Friday it was up to Vail after we stopped at Amy's to pick up Odie. Jud waited for Am to get off work at 4, but we took off around 1 PM. Cindo was in party prep mode when we got here. Got checked into Riverwalk and came back for the party - A&J arrived about 6:30 PM - starving! Good thing Colby had brought the Moe's (there's one here in the area too) wings. Plus meatballs, cheeses. We popped in the wiener winks.

People started arriving - the place was hopping! The fun thing is this is year 3 for the Goldsmiths to be here - we know people now. I got hugs and air kisses! Paul and I are honorary Kitchenettes. Amy was exhausted from her work schedule and took a nap. Bolder did the first set of songs about 8 PM. We were awful singers - it was great! About 9:30 the place was at a dull roar. There had been several spills and people were pleasantly liquored up. Not me though - I nursed my drink this year (I know - I surprise myself).

Colby played a drum and led a string of kids in with grass skirts. (tradition) It was mele kalikimaka time! He popped it on the CD player and we all chimed in. It is hilarious! Boldie is so serious in his reading glasses, leading the songs like Lawrence Welk, Jr. Kelsey thought he was struggling and hurried to his side to help. When people don't know the words they sing "hanna hanna hanna"

Too soon - or not soon enough it was over. This year, people didn't bring wild children and allow them to run amok. My sis didn't have to snap. People left at a decent hour. We all enjoyed it! Amy came back to spend the night with us at the motel so we could have some quality time. Jud stayed to bond with his cousin Colby whom he used to torment and Colby used to bite him. Now they love each other! World peace!

This a.m. we came back to open gifts and Amy had to rush off to work at Beano's. Church you ask. I know - there is no Catholic Church here. (okay there probably is, but we don't look it up). Our Christmas is about family. After Amy headed to work, Cindo and I went for a nice walk with Odie (I had to carry her for part of it) and the boys went to Charlie's (Boldie's work) to put together T-shirt orders for all their shops for tomorrow. A nap is in order! Merry Christmas to all!

Heading out

We're going to Colorado tomorrow - get to see Odie's sis (and Jud's too). Can't wait! Planned to leave Thursday but Mom Nature planned some snow that day - so we're heading out early to get ahead of it. Odie is going along and she's quite excited (or she will be as soon as she figures it out).

We're staying with my Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill. Marty is Dad's sis - so it's like a little visit with Dad. We're not heading up to Vail until Friday so we'll need to come up with some tourist activity for Thursday all day. That night we're eating supper at my cousin Amy's - and her fam hubby Tom and kids Kate and Matthew. Hope my cuzzy Richard makes it too.

Friday we're off to my sissy Cindo's. It's the annual ("I'm never doing this again" I quote my sis from last year) Lefebvre Christmas party. My bro-in-law Bolder sets up a music stand and leads Christmas caroling in a pope hat. I kid you not. If you stay late enough, people put on grass skirts for that Hawaiian song. People let their children run wild in a home that is not set up for crazy children. (thus Cindy's vow from last year). I'm looking forward to it. And when I'm tire of it, I'll retire to my motel room.

Christmas Day we'll all gather back at Lefebvres to open gifts. We're dragging ours along. Jud and Paul plan to ski and Amy will snowboard. I will wave at them with my book as I've proven to be too clumsy and brittle to ski any longer - hell I can break my foot on stairs! Plus I'd like to purchase something with my $1 gazillion that it now costs to ski. Shoes...yeah!

Tonight Paul prepared his annual fab Christmas Prime Rib - with special gravy made with grape jelly. Uh Oh - all our jelly is old?!? My God we're def turning into our parents - all our food is old. When Jud's GF Kara was here we served her pop that was best by 2009. Now 2009 and 2008 jelly. My New Years Resolution is to clean out our old crappy food and pop.

foot coverings

I did it again. Bought some more shoes, much to my spousal unit's chagrin. Little does he know - real women have many more shoes than I do! This time of year I'm on the constant lookout for shoes to wear every day - to keep my feet warm at work and at home.

I have notoriously bad circulation. Thanks Pat Bullock. My feet are always cold! They sweat and they are freezing. I walk through snow between the parking ramp at the Wallace Building. I wear good socks - and have a few pairs of shoes/bootlike things I wear regularly. I suppose I could wear real boots and switch into shoes at work. But that's complicated. I'd rather just wear shoes that double as both.

So I'm always on the lookout. I got black Simple shoe/boots this fall at Jax in Ames. (they came with that $1 pair of Dansko clogs) The clogs are great but aren't that warm. I got some brown wool clog Merrills on sale at Marshall's this fall. Wear those a lot. But I'm on the lookout for some other bargains for the rest of the winter.

After Pablo and I met for lunch at Elms Club last Friday we sauntered over to Family Shoe (home of Steve McCann, Dr. Shoe - fam acquaintance for 25 years) to check out his stock. He carries all the good stuff - Merrill, Dansko, Clarks, Born and boots for Paul plus all athletic brands. Nothing on sale in my size upstairs. I decided to hit the "Bargain Basement". Paul decided to skip out to go back to work. His mistake!

I scored these great Merrill Mary Janes - and even though the box said $70, the sticker inside said $50 and Steve agreed to sell them for the Crazee Daze price (it's in July). Okay so they're not warm winter foot coverings. I can wait to wear them!

In the meantime imagine the fun I'll have looking for deals on warm shoes!

Tragedy and Faith

Three years ago tragedy struck Iowa when a plane load of young talented professionals from a firm called Two Rivers Marketing crashed in Illinois returning from a trip. While I didn't have a direct connection with anyone on that flight, I did know the pilot Mitch Trewet, Atlantic native and I know the parents of one of the other people on the plane - Tom Dunphy. Paul and I have known the Dunphy family for 25 years now - since we moved to Creston - Tom's brother Todd and his uncle and namesake Tom and his wife Charlene who are now neighbors of ours.

I remember when the accident happened, how sad I felt for Ron and Dottie, Tom's parents to have lost a son - one who sounded like such a genuinely great guy. I recall reading the stories in the Register about all the amazing people who died that day. I felt so bad to read about Mitch Trewet, the pilot, whom I had known as a kid - we were on the swim team together. Pilot error and overloading the plane were blamed for the accident.

When I started at DNR two years ago, I met Heather Jacobs - and found out she was the widow of Eric Jacobs one of the plane wreck victims. Now she is the single parent of five children - four boys and a baby girl born after her father died. Heather works one day a week for the Pollution Prevention Program in my section at DNR. Our paths don't cross often but when I have had a chance to talk to Heather I've found her to be a very cool lady - funny and...a Cyclone fan too.

Last Sunday Paul picked up a Des Moines Register and I began reading a series in the paper - "Eric's Last Wishes". I was surprised to discover it was about Heather - the story of her life with her husband, his tragic death and her life since then. The most striking part of the series to me was the fact that when Eric died, he left behind a CD - he had recorded just weeks before. He had awakened in the middle of the night with a feeling he could die young. He got up, went downstairs, sat at his computer and recorded a message for his wife and family.

Was it a message from God? That really gets to me! I haven't watched the video. Too painful to consider watching it.
Link to series is here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=specialsection&keyword=erics-last-wishes

Check out photo 22 of photos.
....Another funny thing is that in part 3 of the series, there is a photo from Heather tailgating at an ISU game - and Jud and I are in the background! (it makes my butt look big!)

I talked to Heather on Wednesday at work - she brought her daughter in (she's 3 now and was was wearing a crown and a crazy pink outfit) briefly to fill out a form. I told her the small world thing about me being in her photo. But I also told her how much I appreciated her baring her life for the series. I said that Paul and I had lost a baby and that back then I read everything I could about people who had gone through losing a child. I needed to see that people could survive it. This series will help others I'm sure, I told her.

Heather said she'd already received many supportive emails. I'm glad. It is often easy to lose faith - to begin to think this is it, and then you die. Stories like Eric's help me believe in a higher power!

Rascally Readin' Friends

It was home again on Thursday after work for me. I got to listen to the first of Stieg Larsson's trilogy series - "Girl the the Dragon Tattoo". I happened on number 3 book on CD about a month ago - "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" and jumped right into the tale on accident. My goodness what a great writer - too bad the guy dropped dead after he wrote these...

It was our holiday Book Club gathering - held this year at Dyan Huffman's due to work being done on permanent hostess Thea's kitchen. I knew I wouldn't be able to cook anything flying into town at 5 PM, so I bought some crackers at the muy largo (very large) HyVee in WDM Wednesday night. I can't ever find anything at that place - finally had to break down and ask someone who saw me stumbling around where the crax were. Last time I was there I searched in vain for the liquor! Finally found that it had its own corner behind the pharmacy. Did finally score some cranberry lime Smirnoff bevvies though - none to be found in Creston.

I took the crax, olive bruschetta I'd bought at World Market and some chocolate pretzels. Plus a cranberry bevvie on ice - ooooh so nice. Dyan had her house so nicely decorated and eight ladies showed up to discuss "Flamingo Rising" a book that I didn't really get into. Nevertheless I printed discussion Questions as I always do. I had tried to read it - and somewhat sped through it.

We always have a good time a club - a group of ladies most of whom just met each other due to our mutual love of books. The discussion questions for this book were good ones - asking questions about our lives and feelings as well as the book. One was something about - do you think it's nature or nurture that makes us the way we are? Oh there was something about one of the book's characters in there but this was what we concentrated on. These kind of Qs make club more interesting for those who didn't have time to read the book or didn't like it.

We get into serious discussions too - the very first question was about losing faith. People shared stories about their experiences with organized religion etc. We talked about this emotional series in the DMR this week - about a woman I work with. More about that later. I love these ladies!

One hard workin'

Kick Ass hard working civil servant - that's me! The staties in the Wallace Building don't turn the real lights on until 6:30 a.m. (it's a power saving thing ya know) Oh there are some lights on - a few here and there - enough to get around the joint. And I, Early Bird, that I am, usually get to see the Lighting Fairy do her magic! The lights go on at the appointed hour.

I usually leave at 5 p.m. when the lights are still going strong. But tonight...since I was out of the office at a meeting during the meatiest part of the day...I stayed until 5:30. And blink! The lights went back out then. I might as well live there - pitch a tent or somethin.

I snapped at the meeting I attended today. Bad attendee. Geesh. Put a muzzle on me! My mouth didn't foam and I didn't swear...but gee, I did tell a guy I resented something he said. My supervisor was there. Um and our Bureau Chief. Not good. Why do I let "those people" get to me? Next meeting I vow to meditate first. I wasn't prepared for Tony's crap this time. And that's stupid - he does it every time.

My Supe

Jen Wright has issues with my habit of ending sentences with a preposition at. I didn't really need to end that sentence with at. I just wanted to end it with a preposition. Ha - take that!

I'm writing two pieces for a FABA (stands for Financial and Business Assistance) section newsletter. For each piece I'm supposed to write a couple paragraphs that will appear on the front "page" of the newsletter. Each will also be linked to another page with the rest of the article.

So I need to make the first couple paragraphs interesting, right!? I wrote them in my usual style - just like I talk. Jen is a more formal kinda gal. (I didn't use words like I do in this blog that aren't real words like kinda) But I did, evidently end two sentences with with. A preposition. Shit!

I am not a bad writer, but suppose I've gotten a bit sloppy when it comes to English Rules. Jen's father was some kinda English guru. So she's a stickler for those rules. I ended up re-writing the first paragraph of one of my articles - twice. I honestly think the article did end up better in the end.

It hurts my big giant ego when people rip my writing. But I took this pretty well. Jen says the rest of the section people wrote their articles in a more formal style than I did. More her style. I think they're prolly boring!

Frosty greeted me tonight

Last year's frozen car sicle! Yikes - please don't let this happen again!

We had our first blizzard of the season. I'm trying not to complain because complain just last year (wavy lines...the way back machine) Joan, Krissy and I were snowed in one day. It was a terrible storm! And we watched "Fly Away Home" where the girl has to teach the lil ducks to fly south. (insert tears)

Then Joan got the snowblower going and I thought she was going to do the whole neighborhood including the street! Krissy and I helped with the shoveling. It was cold and windy. Damn we went through a lot of ice melt last winter. Another time my car was so iced over I couldn't get it open, so I worked at Joan's that day too! Finally about noon I was able to break open the tailgate and start shattering the ice layer.

I didn't think we got much snow in Creston during this storm, so I was surprised last night when Paul and I picked up Deb to attend the Southwestern Community College Christmas Concert. There were several inches of snow in town! At our house, the wind sent it all flying down the street to Nancy Anthony's evidently!

Breakfast with the homegirls was fun as usual this a.m. I spent the weekend trying to eat a lot - to bulk up for my Weight Watchers weigh in today. I signed up at work - it's pretty pricey - $180 for 15 weeks, for their new Points Plus program. I get my online sign up info next week. There are 15 of us DNR folks, at least folks meeting at the Wallace Building at lunchtime each Monday. You must be at least 5 lb over weight to qualify for the program - I had several people at work say, "you won't qualify!" Ha! I was more than 10 lb over the weight they list for my height. I guess they didn't account for my bone structure!

I haven't really adopted this thing whole hog (oops shouldn't use food references). I need to read the pamphlet the gave us - the Weekly Reader. Just like back in my Washington Elementary School days! Good 'ol Weekly Reader (I thought it was Reekly Reader, until I learned to read and discovered what it said). There are some good recipes - that's my goal, to learn to cook with fresh veggies and eat real food. Of course tonight I drove thru McDonald's for a salad...and when I got to Joan's - Frosty greeted me like an old friend in the yard. Joan put him up over the weekend. Yay!

Mary Poppins

Can't wait to attend Mary Poppins - the play at the Civic Center tomorrow night. Amy and Jud got me the ticket for my bday. Those darn kids are getting good at this present thing!

I remember attending MP back when I was a kid - though I'm not sure where we went to see it. Probably Omaha, where our fam did most everything back then. We used drive to Omaha to shop. When we were little Mom would dress us up for the big shopping extravaganzas. Little dresses and patent leather shoes - walking around downtown Omaha.

Then came the malls - first Crossroads and then Westroads. By then we could wear jeans to shop. We loved to eat at Bishops Buffet - first in downtown but there was one in Westroads too. They had a delectable roast beef sannie, with thick fries and their signature Bishops chocolate pie - with the chocolate curlie cues on top. Of course I would get full and not be able to eat the whole piece!

Mom had a couple "go-to" shops she liked to take us too when we kids. First Lollipop Lane - for the youngsters, and for the pre-teen, Gadabout. We had good luck there. We shop before school and come home with tons of clothes (or so it seemed!). When I got older, I liked the department stores - Brandeis and Younkers too.

Of course I loved seeing Mary Poppins the movie - Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke were in it. Two of my fave actors. Plus there were cartoons in it and great songs. What's not to like? Can't wait to see the show tomorrow - even though it's in DM instead of the Big O

Phone angst

Do you ever have phone angst when you can't answer yours? Monday while driving in stop and go after work traffic on I-235, my phone rang. Of course I had gloves on and it was buried on my belt clip under my jacket.

Yes, I'm a dang nerd who wears her phone on a belt clip. I can't help it. I realize it looks nerdy and doesn't help when it comes to fashion. But dating back to my landfill years (hey - everyone should have landfill years), I found I had to have my phone accessible, you know because of my great importance. The chance of a huge trash emergency and stuff...

Anyway, the phone rang and I made the intelligent choice not to try to answer it amidst all the traffic. But then, as I sat in traffic. Stopping and going. I began to fret. What if it was an important call? An emergency - someone in my fam was ill or hurt? Or what if it was my roomie Joan calling to ask me out to eat? Maybe Jud was calling to say he'd received a job offer! Or Amy had a problem she needed help with. It was eating me up! I wished I had my Bluetooth hooked up and going - I could have answered it since I was driving Pablo's car.

But I waited until I arrived at my destination and then listened to the voicemail. It was Sahar's calling to remind me of my hair appointment. Wow. Important! NOT. Good thing I didn't wreck the car answering the phone!

True confessions

I'm a closet dance tune liker. I know - I'm the queen of classic rock! But now, I like the top 40 dance tunes. I don't know how it happened. First, I heard a few at weddings I was attending - the DJ slipped them in when I wasn't paying attention. They were fun to dance to. I "Put My Hands in The Air". The next thing I know, I'm listening to 107.5 jiving to Rihanna. How'd that happen? I do like to "Raise my Glass!"

Moose and Steve would not be happy. Those are my college buddies who were rabidly anti-disco! All we had to do to make them snarl was to mention the word disco. One year they went skiing with us, and one of them (I don't even remember which) was sleeping in the room next to us, and talked in his sleep about a disco song. "This song, it sucks!" he proclaimed. I'm sure the dance tunes of today compare to disco. Don't tell them my secret!

And another thing.

I'm not the only one who thinks about Patrick this time of year. Amy was five when Patrick was born. She was in kindergarten and she was very much affected by the turn of events - a little girl who had a great deal of empathy for others. This was the girl who, when visiting the nursing home at age 4 with the Sunday School Kids, thought the old folks would be able to walk again after hearing the children sing!

After Patrick died, nearly every week Amy made a drawing for us and about our family. She tried so hard to make me feel better through her pictures! And even years later, she wrote many stories and papers about this moving event in her life. Even today around Patrick's birthday she is saddened by his loss, and I feel bad that I've not recognized this more - only thinking about myself and Paul as the parents.

Jud was nearly three, but he was young and doesn't remember a thing about that time. He is oblivious except for what we've told him. I'm sure someday - when and if he's a parent he'll understand. Wednesday is the anniversary of Patrick's death - another tough date in our lives.

Note:
My roomie Joan hit a deer with her precious new Jeep that she mostly keeps locked away in her garage. Minor damage only - tiny little crack in a bumper that she won't even need to get fixed. Lucky her!

The old telephone game

Remember that telephone game we used to play when when we were kids? The one where somebody started off by whispering a "secret" in someone's ear? And he/she whispered to the next person and so on. By the time it got to the end of the trail, the original message was usually warped!

I recall disliking the game because, as you know fair readers, I dislike having my personal space violated. And that game involved having dirty little kids spitting into my ear! Ick. And some people just can't whisper...they just can't talk that quietly.

That telephone game is like living in a small town. Somebody (usually an old retired guy at coffee) says something like "Leslie Goldsmith has Cadillac." and the next thing you know it's Leslie was doing somebody in the back of her Caddy.

So Diana McKim started her own rumor last week in Creston! She attended the new exercise craze - Zoomba. It's a dance/aerobic thing and classes are huge. It was Wednesday - Ladies Night at Crestmoor, the golf club, so her car veered there after class. She was still all sweaty and flushed from her workout.

Groups of ladies looked up like - "whatchoo been up to girl?" Diana, self-conscious said, "I've been doing Zoomba!" And one woman (didn't catch the name) said, puzzled, "Galen Zumbach?" Our just retired longtime Future Farmers of America instructor at the high school.

I nearly spewed when I heard that one. Well when I figured out what she was saying - cuz to be frank, I couldn't wrap my mind around that whole Diana "doing somebody" thing. I listened intently to the story, thinking it was real gossip about somebody in the neighborhood - a woman named Gaylin who for all I know (though I'm doubtful) could have been doing Zumbach. So all my homies were chuckling it up at Dee's story and I was puzzled. They had to 'splain it to me - like I'm Lucy Ball! Then I thought it was a hoot.

Of course Diana had to go home from Crestmoor and self report to Don her husband. My God it will be all over town! A roomful of ladies and that statement. Good stuff.

Warms my heart

I posted something about Patrick's birthday on my Facebook status. His name and that it was his birthday RIP. Friends and family took time to post something. I know it's just stupid FB, but it brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.

Some of the people that posted are the people that helped when Patrick was diagnosed. Nancy Groth and Kenton helped drive us back and forth. Mendy helped watch the kids. Other people like Peg and Connie just said prayers.

And of course the family. My sis Cindo sends a real card every year - snail mail! That is love. Bets and Wayne loaned us money - because back then, we decided we wanted to try again to have another child. It didn't quite work out that way. But I'm convinced it's just another step we needed to go through to get through that ordeal.

Sometimes I feel like nobody else remembers Patrick - except Paul and Amy. Jud was so little that he doesn't even remember it happening. I think everyone else has forgotten our little bundle of joy that turned into the most difficult thing I've ever gone through. Now I know - they haven't. They just don't know what/when to say something. And face it, dead babies aren't something people bring up a lot. I get that.

I'm feeling a little weepy about Patrick this year. Good thing I have all those friends to prop me up.

Happy Birthday Little Buddy

Ah Patrick George it's been 19 years now since your short life. 12/2/91 - 12/8/91 forever ingrained in my memory - lest you think I've forgotten. Yep - you're not of this world. We didn't have to save for your college fund (we've had fund spending that $$ by the way - guess you know that).

I think of you often. You'd be in college now. Another ISU kid? Or...a rebel Hawkeye perhaps? Who knows. Maybe a sports-hating band kid who struggled in school, destined for technical college. Those are the questions I ponder. Would you look like your sis and bro?

And just where the hell are you now? Is there a place called heaven? Are you with the rest of our relatives? Golfing and fishing with your grampas? Knocking back a bourbon with your grandma (no not Laura - you'd play the organ with her). Or are you just in some zen place? The big mystery.

Your birth was a terrible and wonderful time. I wouldn't take it back for anything. Our families, friends and the Creston community held us in their arms - that was the true miracle of the event of your birth. They didn't make it all better, but it sure helped.

Here's to you Patrick - you've made me a better person. Happy 19th!

Back to work

It's harder to go back to work after five nights at home. I get all settled in or something. Now I'm in Des Moines through Friday as I have a conference call meeting that day. Long Week.

Amy is a good story teller. She entertained me as we drove (I rode) home from Earlville on the phone - thank goodness my cellie didn't cut out in the badlands - the hills north of Creston. The place Amy works, Marzyck's, a gourmet market owned by a couple brothers Pete and Paul Marzyck (thus, the name) provides much of the fodder for Amy's stories. It reminds me of the crazy grocery wholesaler I used to work for. Maybe it's the food business that's nutty. (Nuts ARE food...hmmm maybe I'm onto something)

Today (it's now Tuesday) I began writing this on Monday and didn't get too far. It's November 30, Joan McFee Bentley, my roommate's (landlady actually) birthday. Joan is one of the nicest people I have ever known - but not one of those "so sweet I want to smack her upside the head" sweeties. You know the kind. They make my teeth rot. They seem fakey, like they're putting on an act, and when they get behind closed doors their head swivels all the way around and they breath fire!

Nope, Joan is the real deal. I've known her for twenty years now - since Jud was one - that's how I remember. Back then we went skiing with Jeff (her bro) & Bobbie and Moose & Kay, Dennie & Mendy and Joanie & her fiance Kevin who was recovering from colon cancer treatment. But after that he had a recurrence and unfortunately it got the best of him. She never got to marry the love of her life.

She stayed single for a long time - moved to Kansas City with Fed Ex and back to DSM. Paul even helped Jeff moved her and her gazillion shoes. A few years ago she married a guy from Diagonal whom she dated after high school - Billy Bentley. He's here tonight after bringing her roses and taking her to supper. They spend weekends together, mostly at his place in Diagonal. Happy Bday roomie!

Goldsmith Christmas

Dave and Jean (Santa's elf)

Kids wait ever so patiently for presents! Hannah, Ryan, Eric, Carson and Mark

The day after Thanksgiving has been Goldsmith Christmas for many years now. George and Laura had to compete with lots of in-laws for real Christmas, so they decided long ago that the day after Thanksgiving would be a good time to get together.

We used to meet at their place in Earlville. It was ideal because the basement (or the "cellar" as Laura called it" was fully carpeted - even the walls. Good for sound absorbtion! And George and Laura left the Christmas tree decorated in the furnace room, just covered with a sheet. So setup was easy! Paul's old Hot Wheels set was down there along with a few other toys to entertain the kids.

Some of us out of towners even stayed at the house and there was a bedroom downstairs. No it wasn't carpeted on the walls, but it did contain beds that I think were from the 1940's - I think the mattresses were made with horse hair! If you got to stay down there, everytime someone walked up stairs you heard the floor creaking.

The old kitchen table from the farm was downstairs, so George felt quite at home sitting their during present time. The kids would be very excited of course to open gifts. We usually had a special exchange for them. Then each child usually received a gift from his/her godparent and from G&L. Through the years the adults decided it would be fun to do a system where each person who wanted to participate brought a gift and drew a number. When it was your turn you picked a gift - either from the stack or from someone who already had picked. Each gift could change hands 3 times max. It gets quite rowdy at times!

Once G&L moved to assisted living, we began hold Goldsmith Christmas at the Earlville Mealsite. It works out very well for the large group. The acoustics aren't good but it's nice that our large group can fit in! This year there was over 40 people. Since this year marks the occasion of Carol, Paul's oldest sis's 70th birthday, all 3 of her children were here - a first in many years.

Jud thought all the little kids would drive him crazy! I thought that was funny cuz back when he was one of the loud lil kids - these kids' parent were the college kids bitching about him! They were loud, but they were having good clean fun - no eyes were poked out.
Attendance:

1. Carol Goldsmith Meyer Kragenbrink



2. her son Tom Meyer and wife Misty along with kids Quenntin, and twins Lane and Aaron (they're just 2)



3. her son Terry Meyer and wife Bonnie and son Ryan 5, Hannah 3



4. her Daughter Barb and husband Mike Archer and their kids Mandy 12 and Greyson 13?



5. Jean Goldsmith Fox and husband Dave



6. their daughter Kris Fox Cook and her husband Chris - his kids Aron and Megan - in high school and their son Carson who is 5



7. Dennis Goldsmith and wife Kelli



8. their daughter Karen and husband Andy Krueger and their boys Erick 5, and Mark 2



9. Larry Goldsmith and wife Regina



10. Their son Craig



11. Their son Kurt and wife Erin



12. Pat Goldsmith Vorwald and husband Dave



13. Ken Goldsmith - wife Mary was working at the CR Library



14. Daughter Katie Goldsmith Lee and husband Albert and son Jacob age 1



15. Son John



16. Dorie Goldsmith Nielsen and husband John



17. Son Chris



18. Paul Goldsmith and me



19. Son Judson

It'a always hard to get around and talk to everyone. I never did get to talk to Kris Fox and then it was time for them to go. The exchange was fun - the golfballs I took were popular, and so were the movies the guys took. I ended up with an ISU stocking cap and Paul got some tools. Jud got a nice thermal lunch box. A good time was had by all!

A strange dichotomy

I'm a strange one. I put lots of my life out here online, yes I do. Intimate thoughts at times. Personal stuff. Yet I consider myself an introvert when it comes to some things.

Like having people visit our home. Jud invited his friend Kara to Creston Sunday evening for supper and over night. I'm not a natural entertainer (though I cover it well - I think) and I find it a bit uncomfortable to have people up close and personal like that. At least until I know them better. Though Kara was easy to talk to - it's all my own lack of confidence.

Plus I don't like people up close and personal - in my space. Getting my hair cut is a stretch. I wouldn't like a friend to comb my hair for example and am not comfy rubbing a friends shoulders. I'm just not a touchy feely person.

So I am okay with laying some stuff out there - with words. But other stuff - bodily functions, and touching, are okay to talk and laugh about. Yep, I'm weird.

Thanksgiving was very relaxing and low key with Jud and Paul. Missed our baby girl - she was entertaining guests at her place in Denver. Today we head to Earlville for Goldsmith Christmas. Odie has to stay here as the motel we're staying in has no room in the Inn for dogs (shhh don't tell her!).

Many Thanks

I started out Thanksgiving morn the way I like to - by attending Mass. It's really one of my favorite masses of the year. I always liked Midnight Mass as it was fun to see all the families home for the holidays - though the past couple years we've been in Vail, Colorado. But Thanksgiving Mass is small - it's not a holy day or a Sunday, so people don't have to be there. So it's small.

Why do I like it? Because it's truly a chance for me to take time to give thanks - to whomever is out there...a higher power, nature...for all of the good things in my life. Because even though at the very time I was at church, our water heater was being replaced for $700 (after the old one chose Thanksgiving Eve to leak all over our newly cleaned downstairs).

And there are some other things I'm worried about, and to not be so thankful for. Like our two-party system. WTF!?! They seem to have become the parties of obstruction of each other - not about governing for the best of the people. Supergerms - how are we going to conquer these things? Aging - I can't be nearly in my mid 50's can I? I hope we stay healthy because we are enjoying this stage of our lives. Jobs - what are Paul and I going to do when we grow up? Will Iowa's new Gov cut my job? Is the environment going to hell in a handbasket?

But stuff to be thankful for totally outshines those things - at least on a day-to-day basis!

• Our family - Amy and Jud are growing up to be great, responsible, fun loving people.
• The rest of the fam - Goldsmiths/Bullocks - who could ask for more? No bad actors dipping joy out of our buckets. My niece's wedding in LA last summer was such fun - seeing extended family. We'll see lots of Goldsmiths tomorrow - can't wait! George/Laura & Pat/Dave would be so proud.
• Friends - I've said it before how blessed we are with friends. If friends were cash we'd Oprah and Bill Gates. Starting with friends from early childhood - like Robyn, Sal, and Christie Jo to the rest of my Atlantic buddies - too many to list. What a great group! On to college - the people I really grew up with. Jane, Vicki, Sally (again), Moose and Steve and then Paul and his friends.
• Creston - our hometown and the people here. As we ponder our future - where should we live? It sucks to live in 2 places, we know that much is true. No matter what happens parts of our hearts will always lie here - with the town and the people who helped raise 2 wonderful kids, and helped us mourn for the baby that didn't make it.
• Iowa State University - the place I really grew up. I truly love it there, even though it wasn't easy. I had to learn to study and parcel out my time between social time and school. I learned to cheer for the Cyclones - a very humbling experience which has lead me to wonderful highs and depressing lows. Though I never pressed it I was pleased when both Amy and Jud chose to attend ISU.
• A wonderful warm house - with water that should soon be hot! And for attentive service providers like Glenn Orr who took time out of his own Thanksgiving to install our water heater.
• For Lila and Bill, and the Taylors our pet sitters. They make it so we're able to leave town knowing our pets are safe.
• My job at the Department of Natural Resources - I feel like all my other jobs were leading up to this one! I can't believe I've been there two years already, and hope the new gov is selective about cuts. I love what I do.
• Books! I love to read. My laptop - keeps me in touch and is my creative outlet for things like this blog.
• My Subaru - please little car, don't hit any more critters and keep trucking through anything this winter throws at us!
• Time to go make the Scalloped Corn - another thing I'm thankful for...Mom's recipe. Yum!
• Oh - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Poolboy - my husband Paul. My rock and lover.

Snappy marital repartee

for those of you who aren't into vocabulary, the word means "banter". Paul and I traded texts yesterday that kept me smiling internally all day. Ya see I appreciate cleverness - even if it's my own, but especially when it comes from others close to me.
Paul tried to talk me into coming home Tuesday night from Des Moines - I kept trying to justify it, but felt I needed to be at the office Wednesday morning after being out Tuesday all day at a meeting. Plus I had dropped a glove at Valley West Mall last week (I hoped it was at Joan's but no such luck).

It when like this: I had a wild hair and sent this text to Paul yesterday a.m.
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right....but I must stay here tonight for operation glove rescue at Valley West Mall. And work.

He sent back:
Nice line. now i know i rank just below gloves.

And I said:
you're above mittens though!

He said:
Whew!

Now that's funny! We're good together - he and I, even after all these years. He gets me. And when I start treating him badly - taking him for granted, he finally snaps and treats me badly back so I snap out of it. And when he gets all into himself hunting and watching the Packers, I get bitchy and he figures out that he should be sorry. Give and take - that's what marriage is all about.

In our house there is very little yelling and few angry words - at least directed at each other. I grew up with some of that, and learned I don't much like conflict. Of course I am 53 now and occasionally can be provoked at work or a sporting event - too little estrogen left to oppose all the testosterone I suppose. Or, perhaps it's all those years of squelching my true feelings - all those times I wanted to say, "hell no I don't want to clean up after the men at work and get paid $.50 to their $1.00." But didn't. My muffler slips off every once in a while. But not usually with my beloved Pablo the Poolboy.

I did go on my Glove seach mission - no luck. So I bought a new pair and returned to Joan's place in Waukee. When I popped open my computer and took a look at the weather I saw that today may hold some freezing rain. Crap! I thought it over while I ate supper, and Joan came in. Then I made the break - around 7:45 PM I headed for Creston. Paul got his way after all - and he ranks above those gloves after all!

Turkey week

Memories of turkey day at the Bullocks. It's been so many years since I've celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandparents' home at 909 Poplar in Atlantic. It was a cool old house and we spent many holidays there - the rambling three story place plus an attic.

My grandparents passed away in 1982, and they had lived in a condo on 28th street? several years at that time. But they lived in the old place through my early high school years at least. By the last few years though, Mom was in charge of holiday cooking.

Momo, my gran, was a great cook in her day. The house had a big dining area with a long beautiful table (I think Susi has it now) to fit the whole fam. We even invited Bubba's bro Uncle Max (they called him Nig cuz he was a tan old guy - I know, not very PC). His wife was Mary Lou. They weren't the friendliest folks to kids.

Momo and Bub didn't have lots of toys, but they did have some of Dad, Aunt Marty and Aunt Jean's old game and books. We'd play tiddly winks into a corn bread container. The attic and the basement were each kinda scary! The attic had fiberglass insulation that I was told I would fall through. So I stayed away! There were old prom dresses up there and Nancy Drew books! The basement had a coal chute and and old gas range.

One year Uncle Max was carving the turkey on a card table, when the table collapsed! Mom whisked the turkey back into the kitchen and wiped it off - when she brought it back out she said, "lucky I had a spare!" Witty Zora! Another time she had gotten extra turkey legs to cook with the bird as we always had people wanting legs - and she joked that it was a 4-legged turkey! We loved to put the black olives from the relish plate on our fingers.

After supper I remember Dad laying on the floor complaining about how full he was. The girls always had to help with the dishes. (sexist - no?) I learned to live with it though, and now I'm more comfy on dish duty than cooking.

Thursday this year will just be Jud, Paul and me - but we'll have all those relatives in our hearts!

Colbymeister

Colby Lefebvre is under the knife. He's having surgery on his jaw - a congenital defect that left him without nine permanent teeth. It's a family thing - I'm missing four myself. Three of the baby teeth are still hanging on.

One gave up at age forty when it started causing me problems. Dave Buck pulled it and after it healed I was fitted for a bridge. What a deal that was! I remember going in for a wax impression of my jawline. The mistake I made was eating a giant cheeseburger first! Why oh why did no one tell me the waxy stuff would be causing me to gag - threatening to cause said cheeseburger to reappear in Dave's dentist office.

I was lucky that I got a Maryland bridge - so they didn't have to file down my other teeth like they do with regular bridges. But the thing has come loose a couple times in the past twelve years. One time whilst Debbie P and I were kayaking on the Upper Iowa river. We always take snacks along, (hey we burn lots of calories) and I had a nice box of Milk Duds.

It wasn't a scorching hot day and the Duds were kinda firm - so when I chewed them, my bridge (which is a fake tooth with metal sticking out to attach to other teeth) stuck to the gooey caramel. I proudly showed the gob of candy/tooth mixture to Deb, laughing! I had to put the whole sticky mess in a baggie until we got back to the motel that night. Chuckle. At least it's a ways back in my mouth so I'm not noticeably a Hillbilly.

Back to Colby Breton Lefebvre. He is Cindy (my sis - #2 Bullock girl 3+ years older than me and Brian (Bolder) Lefebvre. They live in Edwards, near Vail, Colorado. Colbs is four months younger than Jud. He is a culinary whiz kid - his chef team won the national competition in high school and he got a scholarship. He attends Johnson and Wales in Denver - finished the culinary part of his school after two years and is finishing a BS in management now.

He and Jud are polar opposites. Even when they were little they didn't get along. Jud would egg Colby on and Colbs would bite him. Ironic as Colby ended up missing so many teeth! They had to wait until his jaw was full frown (he was a late bloomer like Jud - grew several inches after high school). Colby has never been interested in team sports - even watching football doesn't seem to interest him much. Though as the boys grow older they get along better. And Amy and Colby are buddies - especially after she spent a winter living with the Lefebvres two years ago when she worked on the mountain.

His jaw is being broken - top and bottom. The top is being broken in 5 places. ARgh! Cindy is shopping for liquid nutrition. I'm sure it will be wired for several weeks. Then the plan is to eventually insert implants - fake teeth. It's all costing a fortune, very little of which is covered by insurance. Still, his parents have to feel fortunate that it's not some serious illness. I'm sure this doesn't feel to easy about now though!

In a few months, okay maybe it will be years - after all his teeth are screwed in, this will be a distant memory. And my baby teeth will be falling out! I am very careful with Milk Duds...

I could teach Time Management Training

Today nearly everyone I work with attended a training session on Time Management. I aced it. Or I would have, had we been graded on our present lifestyle.

I already knew I was an organized person. And I live with another organized person - Paul George Goldsmith. In many ways he's more organized than I. And there was "the Big O" Jolene MaGill - who organized our ski trip sophomore year - down to who brought what article of food - very specific (in a crazy way). But I digress - I was talking all about me!

Our trainer, Carol Tripp teaches several courses for the State of Iowa and teaches for Phoenix University as well. She's an Iowa native who did her graduate work in California and lived there for many years until she and her husband (a Cali guy) moved back to Marshall County. Interestingly (to we trash folk) he's an IT guy for a large garbage company who owns a hauling company and a transfer station in Ventura, California. He does his work online.

Back to me. We worked our way through a booklet she put together - talking about being organized in our own personal lives, and at work. Carol spoke of being on time. "If you're not early, you're late!" Thank you Dave Bullock for teaching me for that. I think we have successfully trained Amy and Jud on this important point.

Prepare for morning the night before. Aha! Again - I'm ahead of the curve by putting my purse in the same chair each night at Joan's. On the nights before I head home, I take my laundry bag out to the car so I don't have as much to carry. On Sundays of course, I pack my bag and put stuff in the car for the next a.m.

So did I learn anything new at this training? Yep! We talked about peak times. I've known for most of my life that I'm a morning person, but have never considered that I should schedule my toughest jobs during that time. Also I am not a phone person - I avoid calling people if I can. Carol suggested scheduling tasks you usually procrastinate doing - just set a time to do that each day.

We also talked quite a bit about trimming the unnecessary things out of our day. I must say I don't have a lot of interruptions at work. If anything I go bother others when I'm bored. And I tend to be my own worst work flow interrupter - stopping to check personal emails and read media etc. I have work ADD at times I guess!

The training got a little long in the afternoon (after all, I do already know it all...) and I was heading home to Creston after the class. So I was ready for it to be over at 4 PM. Overall a pretty good day though. I will go back and be a little better organized thanks to this training.

My car is fixed

Thank goodness! I'm so glad to get it back to normal. I picked it up a couple weeks ago - but there was a part missing. And I discovered my squirter wasn't squirting. I'm mean the washer squirter. It seems they hooked the rear squirter up to the front squirter motor and viceversa. Duh!

Last night I stopped at Valley West Mall after getting my hair hi-lighted. I ended up buying 4 used CDs for $20. At first I picked out 3 - and the check out chick told me it was cheaper to get 4. So it took another 20 minutes to pick out the last CD. My musical taste in used CDs is eclectic. I selected: U2, Divas - including Celine, Aretha, Mariah, Gloria Estefan, and Rascal Flatts.

Then I selected a 2 CD Disco set - with such classics as YMCA and lots of other good songs. Alas when I got to Joan's to pop the CDs in the computer, that disco CD was a dud. It was the wrong disc - a ringer. So I took it back and got the Dixie Chicks - which took another 20 minutes to select! You know, it's amazing how many of the CDs I saw yesterday were gone - those things move baby!

Road Trip

McKims and Goldsmiths take a road trip to Boulder! Headed out in the cold rain around noon Friday after Donnie finished checking eyeballs (he's an eye doc). Luckily Diana brought deer sausage and cheese so we didn't have to stop to eat. We made good time!

We stopped at a gas station about 7:30 PM, and it was time for a drink - Donnie was driving by then as we drove into Boulder and made our way into the Millenium (I called it Millenium Falcon - you may recall that's the name of the airship on Star Wars). It was a large older motel, rambling and huge. The rooms were okay. We found the bar right away, as we got credit with our room for $100 for drinks and food. Shazam!

Service wasn't the greatest in the bar, but we made sure to get both. Several drinks, wings and a wrap later I poured myself into bed. I made sure to take my migraine med so I didn't suffer from a giant headache hangover the next day. I needed to tailgate! We got up and ate breakfast in the motel (we still had more credit to use up dammit) along with lots of other Clone fans.

Then we headed out to the tailgate party in the grassy knoll - with our fellow Iowa State University Alumni and friends. They were serving Bloody Marys, beer, other mixed drinks and breakfast burritos. The place was rockin' with a huge flat screen TV featuring the Iowa game at Northwestern. Hawks were losin'. yay! Amy showed up - fresh from her ride on the bus from Denver. So fun to see her! I fixed her right up with a Clone jacket. Her dad got her a drink and a breakfast burrito (and some cash).

Amy took off to tailgate with her buddies and we talked with other Clones including star player Jake Knott's mom and her sis. Soon it was time to head to the game - only a short walk on a scenic sidewalk to Folsom Field. We tracked down our tickets and headed into the stadium after checking out the Buff statue and recycle bins. We walked through a field house that looked suspiciously like ISU's Amory where I took Riflery back in 1979. We found our seats in the 15th row amongst lots of Cyclone Fans - saw my buddy and co-worker Becky. Then Amy and roommate Carrie stopped by.

Ralphie the live buffalo tethered by several handlers led the Colorado team into the stadium. It was quite the show. Unfortunately the game wasn't. The Cyclones had a Husker Hangover. Ick. Icky Ick. They were bad. We gave ourselves a half hour to pout. Then we were over it. After the game we went back to the hotel for some additional coupon redemption - we had a total of $400 between the 4 of us to use in 2 days and we were up to the challege! It was only 4 PM so we took a break to shop so we didn't turn into total lushes drinking straight through the night. We ended by eating in the bar again (surprise) with a couple from Lenox, Iowa.

The next day we hit the road jack. Nine hours back to Ioway - Donnie and Pablo driving Dee and Leslie. A good trip was had by all. ('cept for the game part)