Lost tailgate

I did a volunteer gig yesterday at my beloved Alma Mater instead of tailgating. It was a BIG donation on my part. I gave where it hurts! Of my time. My relaxation, fun with my homies and family time.

What was I doing? Digging through garbage to get stinky beer bottles to recycle. It was EPA's Gameday Challege - a friendly competition for US colleges and university to promote waste reduction and recycling. The school's are tracking recycling and waste generation during a game event and competing against all the other schools. Only a couple schools in Iowa were competing (not U of I) and a couple in the Big 12.

My buddy from the Iowa Waste Exchange, Shelly Codner was running the event and my next door cubicle neighbor's (Tom Anderson) lady friend Merry Rankin, the ISU Sustainability Coordinator also played a role. A facilities person named Allison drove a Gator around - she had the hands-on knowledge of the stadium and routine. There were around 10 volunteers including me and Theresa Kurtz, the Director of the Iowa Recycling Association. Her children attend ISU but she had never been to a game (gasp!!).

We drove up yesterday up with McFees - left early, around 7ish so I could shop the shoe sale at Jax (gots ta have priorities!). Scored some new black Simple boots and some yellow Dansko clogs for $1. Then the gang dropped me off at 10 a.m. We slowly gathered and got our instructions (that weren't the most clear but I figured hey, how hard could it be..). They fed us hot dogs and brownies and then we were off. I missed breakfast burritos and Bloody Marys...

I had a couple helpers with me at Gate 5 - where we enter games each week. They were a couple kids - Shelly's nephews from Marshalltown, probably 14 years old. They needed lots of direction, but would do stuff when I asked them to. It was slow until around a half hour before the game - then people began to use the containers. I jumped in front of container row - asking people to drink up and use recycling bins. Urging them to chug in some cases! I made noises when they tossed recyclables into the trash. Ot ot Ooooh. I'm the recycling fairy. Nazi.

It was kinda fun. Then we dug stinky half filled beers out of trash and into recycling containers - not so fun. People are slobs! Most want to do the right thing, but won't take time to figure out what that right thing is, especially when they're drinking. It was stinky, filthy work. When the game got started I walked the concourse checking to make sure cardboard from concessions was being recycled.

Halftime was hard work again - checking containers outside the gate, finding lots of containers in the trash and having to sorting and pull drippy bags. We stacked them in the trash area by the Jake building. Then we got a little break with yummy brownies under the Jake - I took advantage my sneaking out by the band and snapping a few photos. Soon the game was over and it was time to pick up the Clear Stream recycling bins.

Then my job was done - 7 hours after I started. All those hours on my feet - a long time for this old gal. It reminded me of my old days as recycling coordinator - events like tire recycling day. And oh - the Cyclones sucked in the first half, but came up big during quarter 3 when I was busy outside the gate. Win #5. Ready for next week when the Big 4 ride again! Sally is coming from Portland so Vicki is supposed to drive down from MN and Jane from Waukee. Can't wait - should be more fun than recycling!

My Colorado kid

As a college student, I pictured myself moving to Colorado when I grew up. After all my sissie, Cindo-bean headed there after graduating from Drake in 1976. But I never quite made it past South Dakota and the eastern edge of Nebraska - Omaha, before moving back into the great state of Iowa with Paul.

Thinking it over Colorado doesn't have many small towns like Iowa does. There is Denver and some other small cities like Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Greeley. But I don't believe there are many towns with populations of 5-10,000. Paul and I decided that was where we wanted to bring up our cherubs.

So now Amy's gone and done it. She's become a real Colorado girl! She got a license - for herself and for Dave, her Honda Fit. When Cindo moved to Vail, Colorado it was still a fairly small town and all the cops knew her. She kept her Iowa plates for several years until finally one of the cops said, "Cindy we all know you live here, you need to get Colorado plates."

Denver isn't quite that way, but it was time for Amy to get new plates. No use pretending to be an Iowan! Hard to believe she's been gone from Iowa for two whole years now. Just like all my sisters though - you can take the girl out of Iowa, but you'll never take Iowa out of the girl.

My fave movie of all time

I have confidence - at least that's what I sing to myself when I need a boost. It's one of the songs I love from my favorite movies of all time, "The Sound of Music". I first saw the movie at one of the fancy theaters - probably in Omaha, but I was young enough that I'm not sure. It was likely 1965 so I was 8.

I have blogged about the movie before - mostly about Deb and my adventure attending "Sing Along Sound of Music" a few years ago. Today I watched the S O M reunion show on Oprah - got home from my week in DSM just in time to catch most of the show. There was even a clip of the real Maria with Julie Andrews singing Edelweiss together - excellent!


It's a long movie with an intermission in the middle - so folks can go get popcorn and go tinkle. I love the movie start to finish - from the opening shot of Maria lost in the beauty of the "hills" that are alive. Then of course she realizes she's late to chapel and the nuns are singing about her. The Reverend Mother sends her to be a nanny.

She wears that ugly dress and rides the bus - singing the confidence song. That song has helped me on the way to job interviews and speaking engagements through the years. If Fraulein Maria can get through those rowdy children and the Nazis I can deal with my life! On to teaching the children how to sing and falling in love with the Captain.

Every kid loves the puppet show part of the movie! Oh how I wanted to operate those puppets - the little goats. My most favorite part of the movie is during the party - the children are dancing. Maria tries to show Frederich how to do the Austrian folk dance, the Landler when Captain steps in. So romantic! And the adorable children do the goodbye song.

Of course the evil Baroness can't help herself, she has to drive Maria away. The wise Reverend Mother sends Maria back telling her to climb every mountain. I walked up the aisle to the S O M Wedding March 28 years ago. And no - nobody sang "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Leslie".

The silly bowing woman at the sad sweet show at the end when the whole family sings for Austria always cracks me up. I always hope Rolf won't blow his whistle in the cemetery - but he does. And those kick-ass nuns go confess they have sinned by messing up the Nazi car distributor caps.

The last we see of the Von Trapps, they are climbing the beautiful mountains to freedom. Ah how I love the movie! This is the 45th Anniversary of the movie and the children are coming out with a book soon. I think I need to watch it again soon...

Miss Iowa

Our daughter has won the Miss Iowa contest! No not really. Our alter egos - alternative Paul and Leslie's daughter Rebecca is the new beauty queen of our fair state. She's had a mission to serve in this capacity for a few years now. Her victory is testimony to her persistence. Congrats Rebecca and to Paul and Leslie!

Paul was supposed to have his knee replaced by now. The old one is plumb shot. Alas he got pneumonia a few days before his surgery was scheduled, so surgery was scrubbed. Inconvenient for everyone's schedules - his, since he is county attorney. His poor wife, since she is usually a teacher and had scheduled time off work to be nursemaid.

Now plans are to do the replacement on November 9th I believe. AL (Alt. Leslie) and I plan to get together while he's still in the hospital. One can only stare at Paul Goldsmith in a hospital gown for so long. Then one must do lunch!

In other news my Paul is using his knees to march all over central South Dakota in rain and high wind hunting pheasants. He's having a good time.

My Pablo is gone

He's hunting pheasants in South Dakota. He left about noon today (Sunday). That's kind of a switcharoo - Paul leaving me behind at home. I don't like this feeling!


The guy packed enough for a month away. My goodness what's he going to be doing there? He took 2 suitcases for 4 days.

He's meeting a college buddy and his friend in Sioux Falls today and then they're heading to Faulkton to stay in a house where they'll hunt from. It's a smaller than usual group this year.

The guys used to come to Iowa - to our place back in the day. When SW Iowa had lots of pheasants. Wet years and ice storms have taken care of the pheasant population around here. So the group went off to more populated pheasant pastures and I haven't gotten to see them in recent years. ;>(

Mike Huston was our best man at our wedding. Paul has known him since his freshman year at ISU. I've talked about his family - his parents Clark and Joyce are my role models. We camped at their place in Ridgeland, WI for some 15 years post college over the 4th of July until the kids got busy with activities.

Mike is a heck of a nice guy - he and wife Paula are veterinarians just outside LaCrosse, Wisconsin. His friend Ben has come along for the hunt for many years. They are bringing four dogs. Paul left Odie here.

Tom Sullivan another ISU buddy usually goes along on this trip. But we had a big shock last weekend when Paul heard that Tom and wife Allison are divorcing. So Tom isn't going on the trip. Sullivan Family Pet Clinic is under fire as they fight over their practice (they too are vets - their practice is in Johnston).

This has shaken Paul and me - one of those things you just don't think could happen. But what the hell do we know? We haven't been around Tom and Allison much for many years and know nothing of the state of their marriage. They were Catholic and married the same year we did - 1982. They have 2 daughters around our children's ages. They work very hard and suffered a financial setback with some investments. I'm so sad about it. The girls won't talk to Tom any more. He has begun a relationship with a long ago love. The divorce will be final soon. I've thought about it a great deal this past week. Sadly.

I'm now watching American Pickers - (Whaaa? No football? Dude - Paul isn't here...) I miss him.

The spiritual me

After hearing about my sports-related ego, you would probably be surprised to hear about my faith. I struggle at times, as all people do. Being Catholic is a joy and a burden.

I love the basis of the church, but dislike the politics of the people that run the joint. And the business of it. I love the routine of Mass, even all the kneeling, sitting and standing. I like the prayers and the sameness.

We Catholics are known for lousy music (at least our little church is). The music booklets we use don't even show harmony - just the basic tune - so I have to give it my best shot because I'm a recovering soprano trying to go alto. I love the hymns - many are so simple but contain such powerful messages. Here is one we sang last week that I found online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD58ekAzJyA

In case you don't want to take time to listen, the words of the song are: "Open my eyes Lord, help me to see your face
Open my my ears Lord, help me to hear your voice...
Open my heart Lord, help me to love like you...
I live within you...rest now in me.

This is a message I vowed to be mindful of during the week. Powerful stuff huh?

During Mass I also find that my mind wanders to things like "what shall I have for supper?" and I worry about the children. Mass is a good time for me to take time to think over how things are going - as the words say - in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. And asking for forgiveness. Powerful stuff!

I've threatened to quit the church all together because of the political crap they do, and the guy club they have. The men make me crazy furious! But for now I know that quitting won't help, it will just leave me looking for a church replacement to get my spiritual fix. And it will leave Paul upset.

I truly hope Amy and Jud someday find a spiritual outlet that fits them. It's good to have a base like that. I'm not sure what I believe - a supreme being, a blessed trinity or what.

All I know is I'm not just on this Earth to live me little life and die - there is a more powerful force beyond myself at work. It's a good thing too, because I'm sure not perfect! Just like my goals to improve my diet and my physical self, I have other types of goals. (just in case you're worried about my swearing, partying ways...)

Victory is mine

I love our coaching staff - Paul Rhoads is a player's coach and gets every ounce of effort from his players. They celebrate the big victory - first ever over Texas in football.

Just because I cheer for a team that won. Pretty lame, I know. But that's what trips my trigger. I roll with the ISU Cyclones win or lose. Throughout my 34 years as a Clone fan, they've mostly been losers. It's rough to cheer for a loser.

But one gets used to being kicked and being down. Oh I never accept it. I have a chip on my shoulder, as do most real Cyclone fans. We feel there is a media bias in Iowa - at least there is when one reads through cardinal and gold specs. And the refs usually favor the big money teams, right? Texas and Oklahoma have budgets and donations that make ISU's paltry sums laughable. Yet our teams continue to compete.

This past summer the Big 12 Conference nearly broke up - in fact 2 teams left including our neighbor to the left Nebraska. The other is Colorado - two of our original conference the Big 8. Yet it seemed the local press - television and newspaper personalities and writers were giddy over the potential demise of ISU, who might have been left high and dry. Why would they want the Cyclones to be left out of a major conference?

I thought they said some things I thought were spiteful and mean. When ISU ended up forging a deal with the remaining Big 12 teams, all were shocked and tried to downplay their earlier predictions of my school's demise. Screw 'em.

That is why a victory like this one, over the very team who all said control the Big 12, feels so damn good. It may not be the Texas of years past, but they still have all that 5 star talent, were ranked #22 and the same coaching staff. Plus the ego of the fan base is unreal. How dare lowly Iowa State beat them on their home field!

I admit I was waiting the whole game for the real Texas team to show up. The Cyclone players pretty much whipped them up and down the field, not giving up a touchdown until late in the game. This is the same team that just gave up 100+ points to Utah and OU that past 2 weeks. Humble thy name is ISU.

I guess that's why they play the games Longhorns - you don't get to win just because your supposed to! And Cyclone fans get rewarded, just like last year's win at Nebraska, with a delightful surprising victory. So sweet.

Fender bender and cracker

After millions (okay maybe tens of thousands) of miles under my belt, I'm going to have an insurance claim thanks to what I now think was a dog. At first I thought perhaps it was a small deer that caused the havoc. But Sherlock Pablo has studied the evidence - hair and poop left on my car - and he has proclaimed, "deer don't have poop like that." Which makes me sad. I didn't want it to be a dog. ;>(

I had a long day on the road Thursday, starting at 6 a.m. in a state van. I picked up Angie and Becky in Newton. We headed on to an all meeting outside Dubuque at a beautiful little winery. No we didn't get to drink wine all day - it was work, remember!?! We were talking Environmental Management Systems - my baby, my program - the one I made a video about etc. We didn't get back to Newton until 6 PM, DSM 7ish, so it was nearly 8 PM when I got to that stretch of road in my own little Subaru.

The animal came shooting into the night from the i-80 median right before the Earlham exit. I had a fraction of a second of it in my vision - not enough time to even react, thank goodness because they say you shouldn't and the Interstate was fairly crowded. So it was a quick bump/thump. I can't recall if I passed over it, but Odie sure has been interested in the undercarriage of the Subaru since I got home. (Watson/Odie to Paul's Sherlock?)

I was concerned about damage of course so I whipped off at the Earlham exit at the Kum and Go to check out what I could see. Fog light looked gone. Cracked bumper but no damage to the tire and no rubbing on wheel. Phew. Dripping is a bad sign, but opening the hood I saw that it was the wiper fluid only. My adrenalin seeped away. I had to drive the rest of the way home so I needed to calm down.

I dislike night driving. I dislike the hassle of working with insurance companies. Damn! This is hard to believe - knock on wood and all other substances of luck - but we haven't had an vehicle insurance claim in over ten years. Maybe longer. Shocking when you consider we now have 2 twenty-something children.

Good job Amy and Jud on getting through your teen years without mishap! Please continue your good driving habits all throughout your lives and you'll be rewarded with lower insurance rates. I'm awaiting a call now from our friendly (I hope) insurance adjuster. Tick, tick, tick.

My Alma Mater

Paul and I stayed in Ames overnight after the last football game. So the next day, a gorgeous Sunday, instead of going to church, we went to the Iowa State University campus. It's so beautiful there.

I have many favorite spots. The campanile of course is a campus icon. And forever more I'll think of daughter Amy when I see the stretch of sidewalk between Beardshear and Curtiss on central campus. Yep, she streaked there. We're so proud. We look forward Jud following her footsteps. Ha!

We tried to peek in at my mostest fave spot on campus - but the brainiacs that be found a way to enclose it so I can't even see it any more. It's a lovely relief carved on a wall above a fountain on a inner wall on the Dairy Industry. When I was a student, I used to stop there for quiet moments to relax - away from others. It was my secret place.

There are many gorgeous spots - we wandered and took photos. It was a walk down memory lane. The years spent walking between classes. Hurrying, stomping mad, sad, happy, excited, TGIF, and on my way to FAC.

It had been a long time since we'd been on campus. I'm glad we did it. Then we met the kids at another Ames icon - Hickory Park for lunch. Yum.

I'm pooped, Flu Shot

That's a Pat Bullock term, but I'm using it accurately. I had a late night meeting Monday when I went with a group of co-workers to Onawa in Monona County - nearly to Sioux City.

Alex, Chad, Matt and I were invited to that County's Solid Waste Agency Annual Meeting. Ooooh you say - how fun that sounds, and I detect some jealousy out there in readerland. It was actually a nice deal - it was at the Onawa Country Club. They invited all employees, dignitaries (mayors, County Supervisors, even a State Senator) and their own board. Old man Gill was there from the Nebraska landfill where the trash from their transfer station goes.

Plus - doo doo doo doooooo (the music of doom): Cindy Turkle their consultant. I can get along with Cindy, but recently we had a run in about this very place. A very nice meal preceded the main event - I felt that it was me. I was introduced and thrown to the wolves to explain tough things about their comp plans. It actually wasn't all that bad. I think they even liked me. Cindy had to have the last word of course. Grrr

We didn't get out of there until around 9:30 PM which put us back in DSM after midnight. Yawn! Past this old gal's bedtime. So to quote Pat - today I'm pooped, even though I slept in all the way until 6:30 AM a while hour later than normal.

I got my flu shot at work today for a mere $10. It didn't hurt a bit until just now. My arm is finally getting sore. But it didn't hurt a bit when the nurse gave me the shot.

That wasn't the case when Mom used to drag us into the med clinic in Atlantic for our annual torture flu shots. Now those hurt back in the day - talk about burn! I hated it and vowed back then I'd never get another. And I kept that vow until last year, when I decided my elderlyness and work in a large venue made it a good idea to protect myself. Thank goodness they took the burn out.

Race day

This is one of Joan's 2008 shots - the IMT shot mentioned below is from the other side. It's really cool of Deb who has a jubilant look on her face.

It was Des Moines 1/2 marathon day, but I didn't race this year. But while I was walking this week in Waukee I decided it would be nice to go support my friends who were walking - Deb, Patti and Susan. I knew Bobbie's daughter and my lil buddy Kristina was running the race for the first time. Krissy lived with Joanie when I moved in as the third wheel. She was never an athletic type while a CHS student, though she was "flag girl". I know it doesn't sound athletic, but they practiced a great deal and it looked like hard work. So Bobbie and I took off at 7:30 this a.m. and had a leisurely breakfast before getting to the race site to await our friends/fam. Krissy's hubby Caleb was running too - we expected him at around 2 hours, so we situated ourselves along the route. I saw my sis-in-law Regina run by and tried catch up with her, but missed. In the meantime Caleb and Krissy finished - I missed the whole thing! Krissy rocked the race in a blistering pace - great job! After all that excitement we knew the homegirls would be coming in around 2 hr. 45 minutes - so back to the route watch. True to form the gals came jogging by at a pace of around 12 minute miles. Patti was driving them to walk their little asses very quickly. Slave driver! They were happy to see friendly faces cheering them on. I continue to be in awe of how great these women are - at training, walking and as people. And they are poster girls - the whole big group from 2008 is shown in a photo on the back of the IMT Marathon newsletter on the finish line. I finished a ways back from them - my 'ol bod just can't keep up the pace those ladies set. But I'll never forget that feeling of finishing in 2008, our first year. Training by myself - walking all those hours with time to ponder my future and to just plain think. So crossing that finish line was very emotional - my husband and friends were there to cheer me on. It was cool. So this year I was jealous that it wasn't me getting all the attention. Which gives me the incentive to train again for next year. Then walking back to the car my foot, broken last year, hurt. Must have been from watching all those tired walkers. Bobbie and I walked an hour this afternoon. It's a gorgeous day! I'm a lucky girl to have great (and very fit) friends. We talked of doing a race at a different venue next year. Points to ponder.

Goals

Amy just passed the milestone of her 25th birthday. She's lamenting that she has lots of goals she's not yet met. I'm glad she's not all hunkered down and satisfied with her life as it is. I think we should always be striving for more.

So as my 53rd birthday looms large, I've decided I need to set some goals. Will I meet all of them? I don't know - but it's good to have visions for the future. It's boring to stay the same, stagnated.

• I want to get back in shape. I've been on a slow slide out of shape in the last two year since I took the DNR job. Is it harder to work out and be in shape with my current lifestyle? Of course. But I can do a better job.
• I will eat vegetarian 1 day a week. Just to see how it makes me feel. I'm not sure if this will include eating fish or not. I need to see what kinds of things I can include in my diet. I'll do this during the week so as not to disrupt Pablo's life.
• Along those same lines, I want to return to eating healthier. I've gotting very lax about my diet. Junk food galore. I'll get the healthy cooking books back out and we will eat at home more.
• Stay in touch with family - not only Amy and Juddy of course, but my aunts and uncles and cousins. I feel very strongly about the importance of family - even extended ties.
• I'll work towards a promotion at DNR. I hope with my new responsibilities with the Environmental Management System program that will work out.
• I will look for volunteer opportunities - at least when it makes sense in my life again. I'm still in such a flex situation between home/DSM that I am very possessive of my time. But some day I will work with young girls.

I'm sure there will be more I come up with. There are other fun things I'd like to do. Travel of course! Paul and I are talking about going to Canada - but it would be more fun if we could get others to go with us. The Cali Cousins asked if we're doing Cannon Beach again soon - I think the plan is 2012.

I'm not planning any meltdown for my 53rd birthday. No over drinking of cheap Zinfandel. Midway to 55. Yikes - this is getting serious!

Beloved's birthday

When you look up Amy in one of those baby name books, you'll see that the name means "beloved". Fitting for our first born. Last year I blogged about the joyous day of her birth, because it was our routine on her birthday for me to tell the story of that day.

This year I will talk about her first birthday. Paul and I were planning our big move to Creston, Iowa but were still living in Osage. We had purchased a yellow bus riding toy for her - one she could walk behind while she held one, or she could ride on. The seat opened up for storage and it had Sesame Street characters on it.

Amy started to walk on her own right around the week of her birthday - all stiff legged like a lil Frankenstein. We didn't have relatives in town, but the babysitter family, the Wubbens helped us celebrate. I made chocolate cupcakes and Amy did a great job of mashing one all over her face and Fisher Price high chair.

I can just picture her with a yellow outfit on and those little white Nikes one with a pink swoosh that Leslie Alvillar had worn first. Amy was starting to talk - saying words like cookie (of course food would be her first choice). I kept track of her accomplishments on a special calendar that had stickers, and I made little journal notes (in ink but kinda like this blog).

Amy was a cheerful baby girl. She nearly always had a smile on her face. Just the kid to train two rookie parents - breaking us in for #2! Happy birthday baby girl. Even though you're now 25, you'll always be our baby.

Short takes

I took a short cut from work to Merle Hay Mall today. Now I know where Birdland is! There was a big levy. No Chevy. And the river was right there so I can see why it floods all the time. Get a clue people - move higher.

Stress and being busy at work is finally taking their toll. My eye is twitching and my shoulders are tight. I might be looking at a massage again soon. It's been a while since I stressed like this - like since I first started.

There is an owl outside of Joan's place. But the loud croaking bullfrogs are now gone. Or someone cut their little vocal cords.

Amy put her thinking cap on and is compiling another interesting Halloween costume. I forgot to ask what she's going to be but you can make it with: an apron, Monopoly money, and a Beanie Baby little black dog. She mentioned something about getting a top hat. Bringing back memories of the Vlassic pickle girl, the Statue of Liberty and the Tooth Fairy.

Our carpet is getting cleaned tomorrow. Yay! I don't have to do it with that machine that needs its dirty water dumped every few minutes.

Our cat has a sinus infection. Paul had to take her to get a shot at the vet on Monday. He said she made noises like he's never heard before, but she did not bite the vet like she did the last time I took her in. (a few years ago - she managed to bite him even though she was in a plastic protective box)

I kinda like the show that's on ABC before Modern Family called Better with You. This adorable young couple was fighting when the hot body young guy, Casey, took off his clothes. The girl said, "What are you doing?" and he said "Nuding it up - you can't be mad at a nude guy." Funny - and he does have a got bod.

Modern Family continues to be funny. The two sisters - teens, fight like Cindy and me. Last week the older one told the younger one everyone thought she was a Lesbian - at least her sandals made her look like one. See - Cindo and me!

Can't wait to go home tomorrow! Except fans will be blowing on my newly cleaned carpet.

Cali Cousins

I met my cousin Steve Legarra and his family - wife Karen, and daughters Andra and Elisa for lunch today. They were in Iowa tracing family roots, stopping in Cedar Rapids to see where my Grandparents and their mom and (my Aunt Dorothy) grew up.

I remember visiting my grandparents in CR - even though I was only ten years old or so when they retired to Mease Manor, a high rise filled with old folks and crafts in Dunedin, FL. When they lived in CR, first they lived in one house, and then they moved next door into a smaller house where my mom's Uncle Lloyd and her Grandma formerly lived. There was a metal patio chair set outside one of those homes - I stuck my finger in a hole in the chair and it got wedged in there. Ouch!

We called my grandparents Pops and Gramma. Pops was tall (in my youthful eyes) and skinny and Granny was, well kinda dumpy and short. She had some kind of altar in a corner of the living room. Downstairs there were little doll trunks filled with Mom's dolls and toys. Even though I wasn't much of a doll player (unless they were GI Joes) those old dolls were cool. Gramma was a little scary though!

My cousins live in and around Sacramento, California. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle John moved to that state in the 40's. So they lived a long way from Iowa and we didn't see them often. I recall being very excited when nearly everyone was back for Pops and Gramma's 50th Anniversary in 1965. Cindy talked me into doing an "egg" dive off the high board at the motel pool and I nearly died. Or so it seemed.

After having lunch with my cousin Steve Legarra and fam, I feel a little bit sad that we didn't get to know the Legarras more. His sisters Barbara and Bonnie came to niece Leslie's wedding in Pasadena this past July. All of the Legarras including bro Jim and the grand Dame Aunt Dot were with us in Cannon Beach in 2002 for the family reunion.

Why didn't we get together as kids? Was the distance too much? Were are families just too busy? Why didn't the Bullocks ever head to sunny CA for vacations? After all, Mom and Susi spent time there when Dad was in Korea. I guess we'll never know. All we can do now is make the most of opportunities we might have in the future. Today's lunch is a great start!

Second chance

How gross is it to find gum stuck on the bottom of a table. Or even worse, on the bottom of your shoe? That always aggravates! Now some places in Europe are even starting to host recycle bins for "spent" gum. See this link to read about the gum litter campaign 2011: http://www.gumdropbin.com/
The world's first chewing gum bin made from recycled gum.

So stop swallowing that gum - it can stay in your stomach seven years ya know. Okay, I know - old wives' tale. Just make a giant ball out of it, and wait for the Gumdrop bins to hit the US!

Fantastic fam day

Saturday was one of those days - you know what I mean. The stars align - weather gods smile, everything clicks and the whole family ended up on the same page on the same google map in Ames, Iowa.

Amy drove all day Friday across the plateau of Nebraska to her home state of Ioway. She partied in Des Moines that night with college roomies Jenna and Rochelle along with home girl Stormdog. Jud and I had a looong day wheeling it to KC for the day for his job interview. He hotfooted it on to Ames that night while I melted into my easy chair in Crestonia alongside Pablo.

But Saturday our worlds collided at the campus of our beautiful Alma Mater, Iowa State University. Tailgating anyway. Paul and I took off just after 9 a.m. as we had some shoppin' to do at Jordan Creek. He needed a case for his bow and I wanted to get that purse I'd been eyeing at Dayton's. Plus we needed to help Jud out by getting his bday gift for Amy.

Got to McKim's RV about noon - only to find out that poor Donnie had the flu! We sprung into action helping set things up. Paul only got a few giant spots of grease on his shorts grilling. Geez! People started showing up to tailgate around 2:30 a.m. We served burgers and brats - Jud and roomies were hungry. Amy and Rachelle arrived around 3. So fun to see the kids together.

Later my buddy Deb showed up with her sidekick Larry. Jud's friend Kara even appeared before game time! It was such a gorgeous day - I was in 7th heaven. At least until the Clones got their asses handed to them by #10 Utah.

After the game Donnie was feeling better and McKims and Goldsmiths made history by being the oldest fans on Welch Avenue in the bars. We met the kids in Mickey's Pub and had a couple drinks. Man was it loud! Fun though - Jud was in such a great mood despite the ugly football game. Something I thought I'd never see. Amy and Rachelle were laughing about old times. Memories being made.

I'm still basking in the afterglow of it all. I'm a lucky gal!

Visit with Candice

I got together with an Atlantic Homie Candice Drake - now Morey yesterday whilst Judson was hanging with Jacques P. (JC Penney) in Lenexa, KS. Candice grew up about 2 blocks from our house, but now lives in the KC area. We hadn't seen each other for several years so it was nice of her to take time to meet me at Panera. We hardly took a breath for 1.5 hours because we were talking so fast. During the drive back to Creston I took a lil walk down memory lane.

I've known Candice a long time. Her house was more like 3 blocks away if you walked on the street/sidewalk but a long 1 if you cut through the "woods" the narrow strip of trees adjoining our yard and the Freese's yard, which ran the length of the block. There was a narrow path through the woods I could take if it wasn't muddy, which popped out near Candice's house. I recall even cutting through people's yards. Can't imagine doing that now, but you know how kids are - "the world is my oyster, I'll walk anywhere I want!"

I would walk to Candice's house so we could arrive at school together. When we were a bit older Candice's sister Claudia (her dad was Claude the Frito Lay man) would give us a ride in her cool classic car. One time we were in a wreck in my winding neighborhood - BAM! It was only a fender bender, but got my attention - before seat belt days ya know. Nobody hurt, thank goodness.

Candice (never Candy) and I were in the same very large group of "popular" girls. The original group of us all attended Washington Elementary. We were a clique our sixth grade teachers would say. Today I'd have to agree. In 4th grade we were just kids having fun. Girls do get kinda (really) mean!

Remember Tiger Beat with lil Michael Jackson and Mark Lester (from Oliver)? They were hanging on my wall. Some of us (not me) had discovered local boys by 5th grade. But to go along with the crowd I picked one from another school - Jack Bunce, for my boyfriend. Our mothers were friends and he went to Lincoln School (Lincoln Stinkin we called it). We had a quite long successful relationship - 5th-7th grade. I guess never seeing each other or talking is good for young love (like).

Starting around 6th grade, when the boys (they had a big group of friends too) had slumber parties (maybe they didn't call them that - it sounds kinda girlie)...and the girls did too, we'd plot a get-together. Sometimes we'd meet with they guys with the parental units' permission during the evening hours. Other times, after hours we'd sneak out and meet them later. Looking back, it seems like the sneaking out and the trip part (walking during the night) were way more exciting than actually seeing them though...

In Junior High - 7th grade, Candice and I were both elected to Student Council and she hosted a party (dance) for members of the council on her back patio. I'm sure lots of Frito Lay products were made available (her dad delivered 'em, get it!?!) and Coke of course (Atlantic is a big Coke town thanks to the Tyler fam but that's a whole 'nother story). I'm sure we talked school stuff first - but then, social stuff.

We had extension cords to a record player and were slow dancing in the shadows in the back yard. Robyn was with her long-time BF Greg Younger, Candice with Todd Pellett, and I was with Jack. I'm sure a Michael Jackson tune or Chicago (Colour My World) was playing. During a break, Robyn reported her first kiss - how exciting!

Word spread and the next thing you know, during the next slow song, I turned to talk to Jack and he gave me a give 'ol smack on the lips. Whoa! I remember being stunned but peer pressure is powerful. If kissing was good for Robyn, then I wanted to be doing that too! I know, I know - if she had jumped off a cliff, would I have done so too? Oh, at 13...probably...

Then the party was ending and Greg told Robyn "not to tell anyone" about the kiss. Right - like Rob could keep those lips sealed about anything! It was already on the marquis by the courthouse Gregy! Oh those innocent days when 13 year-olds weren't savvy to all of today's sexual terms.

We were the lucky ones with loving involved parents, able to ramble about our cozy rural Iowa town without fear of being molested. Our drama was who liked whom and girlie spats, not drugs and whether or not we'd have food at our homes. I know we can't turn back the hands of time but it doesn't hurt being nostalgic for the good old days once in a while. Good to see ya Candice!

Trip with my boy Elroy, Baby girl's Iowa trip

Of course his name is really Judson David Goldsmith. He's named after my dog Jud. Who was named after my dad David Judson Bullock. The two of us drove to Kansas City at the Butt Crack of darkness this a.m.

Jud had an appointment with JC Penney - job shadow and interview at 9 a.m. We weren't sure how long it would take for us to get there, and exactly where we were going - the logistics warehouse in Lenexa. Google Map wasn't clear. So we left before 5 a.m.

Why did I go along? He called me Tuesday hemming and hawing (one of my mother's terms that I like to use) about whether or not he should go. It was a long drive from Ames for just job shadowing - what he thought he was asked to do. I spoke in favor of it, and offered to go along. He's going to Minneapolis Sunday to interview Monday for another job. Lots of driving.

But it was a very long drive earlier this week to Bettendorf and back to Des Moines. And I was tired from the conference - and the premier of the EMS video. Stressful and exciting! I arrived home last night exhausted with prep to do for today's trip to KC plus tailgating in Ames Saturday. Geez!

Lucky for me Pablo was all over dinner with a roast in the oven. Jud was in Creston already - doing laundry getting ready for his big day in KC. I needed to iron or he would call his rumpled clothes "good" and go as wrinkly college guy to his interview. Not over my dead body with an iron clutched in my hand!

I had a minor meltdown regarding tailgating prep. Paul got stuff for baked beans - though between the two of us they didn't get quite prepared correctly. Diana had to add the vinegar tonight!

I was also stressed about making the weekend perfect for our baby girl's trip to Ames. I don't feel like I've had adequate time to prepare. I hate that! At least the weather is cooperating. Yeah for Mother Nature! Watch for photos after Saturday.

Jud's JC Penney visit went well - I spent the morning in a Panera with a high school friend, Candice Drake, catching up. What fun! Then shopped a bit and picked Jud up around 2 PM and we were on our way home.

It was nice having the kid all to myself for those 6 hours during the drive. He told me about his other interviews and about a certain gal he's been "hanging out" with. Car time is a good non-threatening time to visit with kids I've learned. Good trip!

On the wagon is a dusty dry place...

I've been away - at the annual Iowa Recycling and Waste Management Conference. This year it was in Bettendorf one of the Quad Cities. I drove over Monday after driving to DSM early that a.m. The Environmental Management System (EMS) video was on my desk when I got in. Thank God!

You may recall I'd been working on the video for the past couple weeks, after traveling Iowa sporadically the past couple months with the videographers. Soon I should be able to put the website link on here so you too are able to watch it online - all 8 minutes. Okay, maybe you won't be quite as thrilled about a new way for planning areas to manage things at the landfill, recycling facility, etc. Don't get me started. I guess you didn't - I did it my own self.

I headed East on I-80 and you guessed it - the Outlet Mall at Williamsburg called to me during my lunch break. Eddie Bauer and Jockey. Yay. Got to the venue - a Casino and Event Center late afternoon, and got the DNR display set up. Kudos to me, as it's a bit like a legos set. Then I started working the room talking to the peeps. My Trash Peeps.

At five o'clock the reception started. Food and free drinks. Hmm. I had decided that I didn't need to be partaking in alcoholic bevvies while at the conference - because I am representing DNR. This vow proved to be harder than I thought. Damn! I chatted with the EPA rep, and various planning area people. My roomie for the night Susan showed up. We turned in pretty early, but some conference goers were gambling.

Early the next day my supervisors showed up - Brian was the first speaker, and Jen was just there to meet and greet. I was nervous because I was a speaker at the EMS program set for 11 a.m. The video showing was set for then. Gulp! A critical audience. No wonder I didn't sleep well.

We had a full slate of speakers during our program. EMS Council Chair Sara Bixby, Fab EMS Consultant Laura Fiffick, Marie DeVries from Cedar Rapids and Rodger Kaster from Appanoose County - representing 2 of the pilot areas and me with my video. It went great. Lots of compliments after the program - about EMS and of the video - from my boss Brian and several others. That makes me happy!

I enjoyed catching up with my little buddy Christine Collier Richter - former consultant/engineer in my former life. She helped me tear down my DNR booth later yesterday. We don't get to talk much anymore now that we don't cross paths in our jobs much. I miss her. I scored a laptop backpack/golf shirts/golf balls and more for $40 in a silent auction. Other were drinking bevvies. Me - the picture of self control.

There was a pub crawl as the entertainment that evening. I rode along with a group to the first stop - Modern Woodman Park, as Sara Bixby was being honored. -She's just been elected president of the Solid Waste Association of North America. Big stuff! We toasted her at the ballpark in Davenport where the semi-pro baseball the Riverbandits team plays. Sara is an umpire in her spare time. She was pretty touched - it was cool when they put her name and photo on the big scoreboard!

But no drinking by me. But oh I did feel thirsty. Liquor can be a crutch in somewhat awkward social situations. It's relaxing. I could have used it. But I'm proud of myself that I didn't. So I'm making a big deal out of it.

I think I'll get shit-faced this weekend. haha

Rockin' good time

If this one looks fuzzy that's cuz Pablo was fuzzy...Donnie introduced him to BV.

Ah what fun we had last yesterday and last night. It was one of those days you wish you could bottle!

Life is short - the older I get, I realize I need to make the most of it. Work can be stressful. We worry about our children and other relatives. People get sick and the grim reaper hangs out awaiting a wrong move or some illness. That person looking at me in the mirror is some older woman I don't always recognize. So what the hell. Let's have some fun along the way! Party like it's...2010.

I admit, some Saturdays, especially when ISU has several home games in a row, I don't always feel like heading back up I-80 to Ames for a game. (after getting home from Des Moines on Thursday or Friday) Especially when our team is struggling. Hello - the Cyclones are known for struggling. It's what we do!

But this is Jud's senior year, and we're so fortunate to have friends who help make tailgating so fun - planning food (and yes, I admit it - liquor) together. And the McKim RV setup is the topper. to have a place out of the weather with a potty, frig, microwave/stove along with flat screen TV outside and now - do.do.do.do (in a musical fashion) Don has installed speakers outside for tunes and postgame radio coverage! People love to stop at our tailgates, and we love it when they do.

A day like yesterday is the topper, the cream the kind of game and atmosphere that plants into one's memory bank. This is what it's all about! It was a bit chilly but the sun was great. Bobbie had gotten 12 pounds of ribeye at Fareway sliced for sandwiches. Cheesy potatoes, Mexican dip (hot), apple and pumpkin bars along with lots of other snackie stuff. Damn those sannies were fine!

Jud and roomies were loving them. We went through several cases of beer. I myself was partaking in a few Cranberry Lime bevvies - something new from Smirnoff. But I've not been drinking much at games this year. Just enjoying myself "naturally" if you can believe it!

Bobbie's birthday is October 3rd and her whole family was there. Jeff broke loose from farming for the day and Krissy and Caleb were down from Clear Lake. Kim is a senior at ISU like Judson. Bobbie scored a cool iPod from the fam for her bday.

Then the gals got out our gift of the day. A Cyclone Snuggie for Bobbie. And no Snuggie is complete without Snuggie friends for all its friends - so Sharon, Diana and I got them too. As Donnie's tunes played, we danced and showed off our new gear.

The actual football game was as good as the tailgate. The Clones jumped out to a big lead, and in true Clone fashion let the Texas Tech (a team we haven't defeated in many years) back into the game - tied at 24's late in the 3rd quarter. It was a very dramatic victory with an onside kick run back for a touchdown at the end (by ISU). Good guys win 52-38. We all wore our good luck Snuggies. It was in the low 40's by the end of the game. What a day!

Still Leslie

Book club the other night was a small group - only six of us. It was a mish-match of women of all ages and interests. Our love of books has brought us together! A couple recently out of college gals, one chiropractor, a newly retired chick and two old (longtime) friends.

We read a book on early onset Alzheimer's called "Still Alice", written from the viewpoint of Alice - so the quality of the writing understandably went downhill through the book. I wondered if the younger women would enjoy the book as Deb (my bestest bud) and I did, since they're not close to 50 yet, the age when this dreaded illness overtook Alice, a Harvard Professor.

They liked it! We all agreed, writing the book from Alice's perspective was the key to making this book a winner. It scared the hell out of us! Alice had a series of questions in her Blackberry and told herself if she couldn't answer the Qs to go to a file on her computer. We find out later for suicide information. The book was terrifying - to see what Alice went through. Losing her mind slowly and knowing it.

Of course by that time she's too far gone to understand. Sad. We had some good conversations about "what would we do?" It's easy for me to think I'd like to "end it" when I got to the point that I was going to just be a burden. But when one got to that point, you wouldn't be able to do it yourself!

Our brother-in-law Irvin "Hap" Meyer died from this disease when he was only in his mid 50's. He was Paul's sister Carol's husband. I remember when the illness began - at least was recognized. Hap would obsess about a low tire over and over. Eventually he was in a nursing home and then a secure facility - the progression took only 5 years or so, though I'm sure it had been going on before we even knew.
Hap died sadly and badly in a nursing home too young.

While reading this book, I drove to Wal Mart in Creston and realized I'd forgotten my purse at home. Great...the disease is starting! Plus I've got all those names swimming around in my head but can I come up with the ones I want - sometimes no. It's maddening!

For now I'm putting it off to hormones and normal aging and stress. I'm not ready to get the suicide kit ready. But my sis Cindo and I have joked about slipping something into each other's sorbet when the time is right, so we can slip gently into oblivion. She says her son Colby won't go to prison for her. But hell...I'll be a little old lady myself - who would suspect me? For now I'm still alive and kicking and I'm going to have some fun!