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!