Busy times

Chris - the local guy, Jeff (in the vest - my co-worker) and Jen, my supe, check out recycled book selection.

Yesterday I was in charge of an Environmental Management System Audit in Centerville. Four of us DNR types headed down from DSM - I drove my own car, and two others were in a van. We stopped in Pleasantville to pick up my co-worker Becky, because that's where she lives. It took about two hours to get there. Here are a few pics from the day.

Jennifer is the education coordinator - and brains of the outfit

The big fella with silver hair is Rodger - the director. Quite a character. Nice guy.

The nice folks at the Rathbun Area Solid Waste Agency served us pizza for lunch as we worked away on auditing their program. Got out of there about 2 PM. It was a long week! I was glad to get home, and tailgating planning went quite well. The guys didn't even fall off the RV when they re-attached the air conditioner cover (after a few cocktails...).

Bull(ock) in a China Shop

I always feel so awkward in Victoria's Secret stores. I stopped in one recently to pick up a gift for a person who shall not be named. Like a bull in a china shop - ready to trip and knock a bunch of thongs over. Is it due to the nerdy phone on my belt? Um, nope. I think I'd feel just that nerdy anyway. Perhaps my second X chromosome didn't fully form.

I've explained before in this blog how inept I feel when I try to do girlie things like use a curling iron or put on makeup. Those things just don't come natural to me like say, digging manure out of a horse hoof with a hoof pick.

Hey, they're talking about umbrella being feminine on a TV show I'm watching right now - and I avoid carrying them. Again - my lack a fully formed second X. Lucky for me I didn't turn out transgender. Not that there's anything wrong with that - but it would have made life even tougher than feeling awkward in chick stores.

I took my leftover Jason's Deli sandwich out to Governor's Square for lunch today - mid 70's and gorgeous. My kinda weather. The first bench I picked was near these beautiful flowers.

You probably can't see it - but there's bumble bees buzzing around in there. The next bench I looked at was near this.

Hard to see - a grasshopper - yuck!

I hate grasshoppers! Finally I found a nice quiet bench. This was the view on the walk back.

Enhancing communication

Today I attended a training session on Communication Enhancement. State Gov provides training courses like this periodically - usually at the Hoover Building, which is kinda ugly - built in the same era as the Wallace Building. Here it is, with a scupture in front of it.

The trainer was a therapist from Kansas City - a nice guy, and good presenter. He wasn't afraid to wing it, and had a lot of good examples. My favorite part of the training was figuring out what type of person I am, and then how to deal with other personality types.

There are many ways to do this, but the one today broke it down into four quadrants -

• Relators are people who react with feelings. They're very empathetic. You can drive them wild with uncaring conflict.
• Socializers - like creative fun and want attention. Boredom and being ignored is their enemy and they attack with sarcasm.
• Thinkers are very deliberate. They into facts and details. They do not like being rushed and not having all the facts.
• Directors want to cut to the chase, without messing around. Wasting time and indecision makes them crazy.

In the excercise we did today, we answered a series of questions that helped us map out a rectangle on a quadrant that showed where we fall in these personality types when representing the State of Iowa. I came out as a mostly Thinker, Director. Which isn't really the whole story - as it mostly depends on what I'm doing. Being flexible is good!

I walked to Jimmy John's in the East Village for lunch. I enjoyed my Big John and reading Nan, my Nook.

 As I walked back to the Hoover Building from the Village, I walked by the Korean War Memorial on the south side of the Capitol Building. I took a couple photos in honor of Dad, who served there.

After work I went to Kohls and at Jason's Deli. I snapped this photo of work going on there in that shopping area - of the new Whole Foods coming soon (right of Best Buy) as Best Buy scootched over and downsized.

Got in a nice walk when I got to Joan's. Enjoying listening to my new tunes. So far Collection Soul is my fave new group. GooGoo Dolls not so much. Need to check out Kings of Leon tomorrow - haven't taken time to listen to them yet.

Age 53, maturity age 10....

Some people will never grow up! And I'm one of them. I made myself laugh today. Several times. By myself. Just now again....

Today the two sections that I work in - Solid Waste and Financial and Business Assistance (FABA) of Iowa DNR met at Walnut Woods to do a Strategic Planning session  - all day. The leader of the Land Quality Bureau, Brian Tormey lead us in several exercises to help set up how we'll move forward through the next several months. In order to get started, we did an "ice breaker".

The purpose of the little exercises was to solve 30 questions - figuring out what numbers the statements stood for (the answers were the numbers 1-30). Our group of some 22 or so people was broken up into three groups. I was with Becky, Laura, Theresa, Matt, Kathleen, Jeff - and our FABA supervisor Jen chimed in once in a while. The questions started out easy - stuff like "A typical round of golf is this many holes."  Answer 18.

They quickly got hard! There were things like the square root of 256. And the British race track is the M____.

But the one that got me laughing at me and my big juvie mouth was: The number of planets in the solar system is? I asked Jeff, who was sitting beside me the answer. He said - 9. Without thinking I said, "Did you include Uranus?" It still makes me laugh. Out loud. Jen heard me say it and laughed too. Sometimes I can't help myself...it's like a little evil witty person lives inside me. Turned out the answer was 8 - they tossed Pluto out not so long ago...not Jeff's anus...I mean Uranus.

We grilled burgers and brats (supplied by the managers) for lunch along with potluck. I took calico beans that I put together yesterday with Paul's help and lots of good salads and desserts. It was all very good.

Walnut Woods was a cool place to meet - though the wooden benches got a bit hard after a while. And the walnuts hitting the wooden roof of the lodge was a bit distracting at times. Glad one didn't hit me in the head (though I prolly deserved it..) The walnuts reminded me of our old house - the walnut tree and the shed out back. Bam!

Let's hope the day away from the office translates to a great plan for our two sections.

***********

On a totally unrelated note, my sis Bets sent us this cute framed print last week, as it made her think of Odie, my darling dachshund. Thanks sis!

My boyfriend's back

Bearded mountain man look

I'm finally caught up on my sleep. Paul arrived home Friday from his hunting trip about 12:30 a.m. So of course we had to talk and get caught up on each others' lives - which took a couple hours. Setting me back on my beauty sleep. I'm used to talking to the guy each and every day. We tell each other pretty much everything. So I was kinda lost without him and our daily talks.

It always bugs me when somebody says "Where's your better half?" But when he was gone, I didn't feel like something was missing. So I'm glad Paul is back. He seems glad to be home. And happy to have real food.

Paul lost about 10 pounds on the hunting diet. MRE's (meals ready to eat) and oatmeal were the main fare. Just add boiling water and it's a meal! Instant coffee too. Yum. Plus he did lots of hiking in high elevations near Snowmass, Colorado. The scenery was beautiful he said, and the photos show it to be true. He had one shot only at a 5x5 elk bull, and unfortunately missed. (or...did I really want a giant elk head someplace in my house?)

He enjoyed the many hours of conversation with Kevin Reynolds, his hunting partner - and former roomie some 30 or so years ago. They used to shoot mice along their floorboards in the old farmhouse they lived in. I'm glad they traveled safely, and my honey - my better half is now home with me.

A work of art

Beth, Alex, Evan, Todd and Olivia in front with
Jaxie the dog (named after Jack Trice - so you know their Cyclone fans!)

This is our neighbors - Todd and Beth Neilsons' home. It's homecoming week in Crestonia. What a work of art! And I'm sure this isn't the first time this week Olivia, Evan (sophomore twins) and Alex (freshman) have been TP'd.

You see, in Creston, students take homecoming week duties quite seriously. They must waste (I know - it's the waste reduction coordinator in me coming out) rolls and rolls of toilet paper late at night decorating fellow students and school staff members' homes.

We used to TP back in my day. But not as a mission from GOD! We'd grab a few extra rolls from our homes and sneak out from slumber parties to giggle whilst we decorated a few trees at a certain boy's house. We didn't go to Wal-Mart (which wasn't invented yet) and buy a 24 pack of tissue to strategically dominate a house. Kids today - so competitive!

We attended last night's homecoming football game. Creston dominated Red Oak, so we left at half time - leading 41-0. They were announcing the homecoming queen and her princesses as they walked across the field with their parents.

Always reminds me of how proud Paul and I were to walk across the field with Amy, a princess. Queen was Haley Walters, and other princesses Shawna Miller, Amanda Miller, and Amy Duree. That year Creston was playing Atlantic - kind of ironic for me. As we lined up on the visitor's side of the field to walk our beautiful girl across, who should be sitting there but our former Activities Director from AHS, Rollie Dyer - in a lawn chair. I introduced myself, Amy and Paul. A proud moment for me. (I'm sure he was thinking that do-nothing has a kid that is that successful? As they listed all Amy's awards and activities.

Not the best photo - but that's us, crossing the field

And then how proud we were of Jud during his senior year, surprising everyone as an All District punter. Standing by him down on the track for Senior Night was such a thrill. He seemed so tall, strong and handsome. And watching his 60+ yard punt against Harlan - I was a parent basking in the reflected glory of my child.

This must be the "first day of school" pic - Amy's senior year, Jud is a frosh.

Amy lined up this date for Jud - with the hottie new girl in town, Mary McCracken. Look how young he was!

By his senior year, Jud was a little more filled out and about a foot taller...

Last night was other parents time to bask. I was a little chilly. It was my time to go home early. I was beat from waking up in the middle of the night to greet my wayward husband and lay awake hearing about his hunting adventure for 2 hours.

Update

Last night was a late work night for me. Alex Moon, one of my Supervisors and I traveled with a couple young women from Metro Waste Authority (MWA) to Greenfield to explain the shingle recycling program to the good folks out there. The landfill is closing in Adair County, and they're looking for ways to reduce what they have to pay to have landfilled when they transfer waste in trailers to the MWA facility north of Perry. And recycling shingles into new roads is pretty cool!

As a bonus along the way, Sara and Rhonda from MWA decided we should eat at the Rusty Duck in Dexter, a little burg along the way. Recently, a local TV station voted the burgers served there "best in Iowa." Or some such. Our goal - to check 'em out. I'd been there before with Creston friends, but had never eaten one of their burgers. If you're on Facebook - check out their page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rusty-Duck/55437159539

We took off from DSM about 4 PM, arriving in Dexter about 20 til 5. Rusty Duck - door locked - sign says - Open at 5. Oops! Our meeting in Greenfield - a half hour from Dexter, was at 6:30, so we had time. I scoped out main street, noting a VFW down the street - so we stopped in there and had a nice flat diet coke at the bar. A couple guys quizzed us - "where you from, what do you do?" Nice and friendly though. One was a distant relative to Dave Driscoll - always a Creston connection wherever I go! He was drinking BV and OJ I noted...most popular whiskey in Iowa - right Donnie?

At 5 we tried the door again - successfully rattling enough to get them to open up! We each ordered their loaded burger. They came - mine was larger than my head, violating the B. Kliban cartoon saying "Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head". Of course I only ate half! It was excellent. My fave burger still has to be the Paul G. Goldsmith Burger - with avocado. And I'm not just saying that because he's been gone 10 days.

Speaking of the Poolboy. He's on his way home from his Colorado hunting trip! Should be here late tonight. No elk that I know of. Had a good opportunity to shoot one. Missed. Know he'll be kicking himself about it. I have mixed emotions. I know what a thrill it would have been for him. But I didn't want a giant elk head mounted...anywhere in my house. Can't wait to see him and catch up on everything. And just get a hug. I missed hugs.

Wendy Weather Girl

Wendy Weather Girl here just checking in. You see my husband man on the mountain texted me earlier today with a brief message. "What is the weather going to be like the rest of the week in Snomass?" That's near where he's hunting. I'm glad to be of service. I checked a couple weather sites on my trusty desktop at work and texted him back.

Plus I wanted to find out just what day he plans to arrive back home. Friday he says. The weather does look good the rest of the week for elk hunting. Hope he's having an enjoyable time using his senses and his manliness to attempt to bring home the elk bacon. He does appreciate his time to be one with nature.

Me, I left work a bit early to take the Subaru to Ramsey. The headlight we put in last week wasn't seated quite right, so I needed the experts to take a look. For $18 they fixed it up. Then I went to the Urbandale Library - still expanding my music library. I select my old faves and pick new group each week too. This week it is the Kings of Leon plus I picked up Mark Knopfler (never heard of him) & Emmylou Harris (See I'm not old - I'm open to new things!).

Then I got a few things at Target - like wrinkle cream that's like a crack filler, supposed to puff the flesh back up (okay - I'm a bit old and desperate). When I got to Joanie's, I played cleaning lady in my little corner of the house. Vacuuming, wiping and sweeping. Then I danced. With swiffer wet and dry - one on each foot. I know how to make cleaning fun! Still young at heart - and foot.

It was a beautiful day

Thanks so much mother nature - for saving it for Monday! Phew - had an insecure moment just now. I worried that Lila didn't pick Odie the dog up this morning after I left her at our house. So I texted Lila, and she reassured me that yes, she did pick up my wienie dog baby. Phew!

I came right home to Joan's after work tonight so I could go for a walk. I just had to get outside. Joan had the same idea. So we walked and talked - something we did very little of this summer. Cuz it was so damn hot. Joan is in recovery - she got into something when she was in Diagonal at her husband's recently. Poison oak or ivy? But the damn stuff keeps spreading, even now, a couple weeks later. She has welts that itch and make her miserable. Poor girl. She's been doctoring it herself with benedryl and calamine stuff.

I got to talk to Pablo yesterday briefly - as and Kevin finally made it to the hunting area. They've been delayed by bad weather - rain, sleet, and even snow. It was good to hear his voice. He was anxious to hear about the Cyclone game, and wanted me to keep him posted about the Packer game yesterday. I texted him later with the score - the Pack won ugly. He texted back - aren't cell phones amazing, he's on top of a frigging mountain!?!? He wanted to know what the problem was, did they have a lot of turnovers? And by the way - he missed me. HA! He just threw that in at the end of the text. He really just wanted football info. LOL My honey...I know what his priorities are.

Mom Nature 1, Kayakers 0

My girls Pam Nelson Jepperson and Chris Watson and I talked about kayaking at our class reunion get-together this summer. Summer slipped away, but we forged ahead with our plan to go - but this weekend. We were going to go on the West Nishnabotna - starting at an outfitter's - Rubber Ducky, in Hancock. My buddy Deb was going along.

The weather didn't look the best - but rain was supposed to hold off until later in the day. So I put the kayak rack on the Subaru. I packed all the gear in the car, and put the stuff my bag that I needed. Planning on being chilly afterward - so I put sweats in, and socks. Then I watched the Cyclones eek out a victory over UConn in football - but they were underdogs, and a win is big. 3-0 baby! Deb stopped by to help me load my boat onto my car.

Saturday morning, it was in the low 50's and misting. Yuck! I headed to Deb's and we loaded up her kayak - then off we went. After we were on the road for a half hour, Chris called to say the Rubber Duckie (dorkie name) folks cancelled their kayak rental for the day. So kayaking was out - the heavy mist refused to quit.

Deb and I pow-wowed about our plans for the day. We decided to drop our kayaks off at a friend of hers in Villisca and head to Omaha. We made plans to meet Chris and Pam at the Upstream Brewing Company in the Old Market at 12:30. That gave us time to shop a bit. Good thing, as I need to find something besides kayak clothes to wear.

I picked up some gray chinos on sale at Kohl's, and had the clerk scan them on me on my way out. Deb bought some jeans and we both purchased a bit of makeup at Target. We were good to go!

Deb got along swimmingly with my high school homies, like I knew she would. Chris and Pam are single ladies, Pam is a Grandma and Chris still has a high schooler. They're fun to talk to. We decided we're still going to plan to kayak together some day.

Even the gum is funny...

Shopping in the Old Market is such fun. I love the store with magnets and greeting cards.


We ended the day by driving to the Bob Kerrey Footbridge

and walking over to Iowa and back. A bit chilly but enjoyable - especially with friends like that.

Ridin' solo

And I don't like it. For one thing - being home alone is lonely. No offense Kitty and Odie. You keep me warm at night, but you're not much for conversation. And keeping the house running? Over-rated!

Today, I realized I hadn't checked the kitty litter and food since I'd gotten home. I know! How awful of me! I used to always be the one in charge of all pet activities and food/output. Until I got pregnant that first time and read about the parasite cat poop can carry - causing toxoplasmosis. I jumped right on that! And Pablo took over cat scooping duties and has carried them out admirably ever since - some 26+ years. And I'm not even of child-bearing age any more (I think he knows I no longer have a uterus).

Suddenly this morning it hit me - I bet the cat didn't stop pooping, just since Paul left. Sure enough, she didn't! There was a nice little mess on the floor to clean up. Kitty does not like dirty litter.  I guess I don't blame her. I decided the litter area needed the once over before the cat-care providers (the neighbors the Taylors) come tomorrow. so I got out the shop-vac and the mop this afternoon after church. Now the place looks spic and span again. Kitty should be pleased.

Spot off

Pat Bullock was no domestic goddess, but she was hell on spots. That woman had a way with getting all sorts of substances out of clothes. She'd dab the affected item with this and that, and soak it. This was before there were so many wonderful products on the market to help get rid of spots.

Me not so much, on the spot removal. So I was pretty proud today, when I took my pink V-neck t-shirt out of the dryer, I was overjoyed to see the spray from my Tuesday night Shrimp Scampi was gone. I noticed it right after Paul and I dined at the Club Car - a little joint in West Des Moines. It was greasy tomatoey stuff - not good. As soon as I got to Joan's I sprang into action and washed it out with some soap and cold water. In the morning I could still see the spots so I gave it a thorough dose of Spray and Wash. Then I let it air dry until I did laundry today.

Supper tonight was a little more exciting than cereal. A frozen fish filet in the microwave - lemon pepper. And I decided to finally cook the frozen box of "winter squash" I purchased last spring in a fit of healthy eating. It tasted like poo. Even with brown sugar on it. Yuck! The garbage disposal got it.

Tomorrow the girls are going kayaking. In the gloom and doom. Take that Mother Nature!

Night 1, Home Alone

Odie was happy to see me. We went through our usual ritual. She made happy noises and wagged her tail, giving me a kiss on the cheek when I bent down. Then she made for the closet by the washer for her weekly "Momma's Home" chewy Dingo treat. Pavlov's dog has nothing on her.

I usually beat Pablo home from work, so things didn't seem lonely until 5 p.m. when he usually backs his car up the driveway and into the garage. Yes, for some reason, he likes to be backed in and ready to go. Then he comes through the door to a chorus of me saying, "Daddy's home!" to the pets. Oh, I used to say it to the kids - but they's all growed up now. Odie - if not too distracted by still chewing the Dingo (they're small and only take her around 20 minutes to polish off..) makes a big deal out of his return. We must keep in mind that during the week, he is Odie's lifeline...so he's an important figure in her life.

Then he asks me to turn the TV to ESPN's Sport Center, for all the sports news of the day. He plops into his recliner, and we catch up on our days. Then we both surf the Net on our laptops - side-by-side. Me on various newspapers, blogs, Cyclone sites. Paul checks out hunting, Cyclone and Green Bay Packer sites. We watch national and local news and round up some supper. He often cooks - more than I do.

So tonight - I had cereal. Yep, without him I'd prolly be a little old cat lady. I'm listening to a book where the main character is a woman of about age 30 who is going through some angst of her life. She's still a cocktail waitress and is going nowhere fast. She says, "I might as well go to the shelter and get my 7 cats now." I thought that was a pretty good line. Yes, the Poolboy stands between me and crazy old-ladyhood.

I have a whole weekend of menus to plan (hmmm what kinda cereal should I eat next)...so I'd better get going!

Lover man

Oh where can you be?

Do you remember Lady Sings the Blues? My high school homies and I loved that movie about the legendary blues singer (and heroin addict) Billie Holiday. The movie featured Miss Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams - before his Star Wars days. Sexy. I purchased the record album and memorized it.

My frosh year of college Robyn and Chris D. came to visit me in the the dorm - back in the day when dorms weren't nearly cushy like they are today. You had to go down the hall to the shower - and there just happened to be 3 of them lined up in a row. We three girls showered at the same time and somehow started belting out, "Lady sings the blues. She's got 'em bad. She feels so sad. Wants the world to know. Just what her blues is all about." The theme song from the movie. And let me tell ya - them gals can sing! (and I fake it pretty well in the shower).

So today, as Paul headed off to Colorado hunting, out of cell phone reach, another of the movie songs, "Lover Man oh Where Can You Be?" popped into my head. At least he left a map showing the area where he'll be. And Amy called to check on me already. ;>) 

On a little tiny farm

That was the punch line to one of Dad's stories. He liked being the gentleman farmer lingerie salesman in at the Gulfview, the condo in Marco Island, Florida. Mom and Dad made lots of great friends during their time there. People from Michigan, Wisconsin and the East coast too.

They treated our parents like the farm experts. Little did they know that Mom and Dad learned their farm and gardening knowledge pretty much by osmosis! Mom grew tomatoes a couple times by the garage, and Bubba, our Grandpa had farmland that he cash rented. And just like me, they heard crop talk (though they went to that other school, and didn't graduate from an agricultural college as I did).

One time at a cocktail party at the Gulfview, someone served those little pickled cocktail corn ears. They're so cute, I just love 'em! Somebody said, "Dave, where does that little corn come from?" Dad said, without missing a beat, "little farms!" Of course!

My roomie Joan has developed her very own little tomatoes. I helped water them this summer as she grew 'em in a pot out back. She called them cherry tomatoes, but I think they're more like pea tomatoes. We laugh every time she "harvests" them.

I found a gem

I've been checking music out from the library again. And I found a gem of a song - heard it whilst walking into the sun setting over a cornfield in the fall of the year (yep, it's hard to believe but it's looking like fall and that corn looks like it's nearly ready to harvest) in Waukee, Iowa.

The quality of the light was muted, and it had a beauty to it I can't describe with words. But it went very well with Pretty Donna by Collective Soul - an instrumental piece - mostly strings.
it does feel like a piece of my soul...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRAgBkrpmm0

I started thinking about the fact that my beloved Pablo is leaving me. No not permanently because I'm an obstinate biatch! On Wednesday Paul's going bow hunting for elk in Colorado for 10 days. This will be the longest stretch I'll go without seeing him...well...since last time he went hunting in Colorado 12 years ago.

When he leaves, it reminds me how very much I rely on him. It's scary. So it's probably good that he goes a way - to remind me that I am a mature (getting more so every day) adult woman that can take care of myself. Pretty Donna - the song, made me get just a few tears in my eyes though - for the beauty of Iowa, and the sadness I'm feeling.

Speaking of heart attacks

The ISU Cyclones tried to give me one yesterday. I had to go stand in my lucky spot (at least it was during last week's UNI game) just to help beat the Iowa Hawkeyes  in TRIPLE overtime. But it was worth it in the end. What a perfect day - the friends, the weather, the big V. I wish Amy could have been there, but she was texting me from her place of viewing - a bar in Denver. What a day - Thank You football gods!

It was a little sad though...no pissy Iowa fans called me any names or anything! In fact everyone on both sides was quite civilized around us. The thing that made me the most irked (another Pat Bullock fave word) was a shirt Connor Pals had on that said "Clowns" obviously mean Cyclones. But after the game I said Clown, huh? That was it.

Bobbie and Jeff picked us up at 5 a.m. We arrived to lots of traffic around 7 a.m. I had my first Bloody Mary at 7:45 a.m. or so - we sprang into action making eggs for the burritos, getting set up for the feast there was no time to drink early. Prolly a good thing! Diana popped the pecan sticky buns in the oven.

Bobbie and I had come up with the idea to surprise Diana (D) for her 50th birthday. Yeah, I know...it was really June 29th. Remember when you were a kid. All the kids with summer birthdays celebrated during the school year anyway.  We'd sing, "Happy pretend birthday to youuuuuu". D refused to let us throw a party for her real bday. So guess what! Gotcha. I got a nice Happy 50th Birthday banner to hang up by the food. And a cool sash for her to wear. It was black and said "Fifty and Frisky!" I forgot a crown though - that woulda been cool.

Bobbie got her a great cake.

Sharon, Bobbie and I got her a real present too - a nice thermal picnic type server thingy. ISU of course so she loved it. Paul wrapped it in Christmas wrap.

Jud and his college buddies showed up. I got lots of hugs from them. Loved it, and catching up with them. Kara came a bit later. They both lucked out to get tickets - Jud says best game he's ever seen! We made sure all of them were well fed. Some Creston folks showed up as well. Our food spread was pretty swell if I do say so myself! Sharon brought some delish treat, I think it was sinful.

Finally it was game time! Paul put the Jeremiah Weed I decided to partake in, into his side pocket. I did not take my backpack. The pageantry of the event was great - the bands, the air force flyover, team entry and sirens. I did miss having D sit next to me - she let her son Ryan and buddy have tickets while she and Donnie sat by Conovers. How were we to do Jesus hands during the dicey plays? (text message of course..)

Matt Williamson was in his Cyclone overalls. It got hot...the temp and the action. Clones were good - just made some key mistakes. With 4 minutes to go, down 7 I decided I'd better get into my good luck spot from the UNI game! As I got into position, we scored to tie it up. Overtime baby! The usher said Ma'am (do I LOOK like a ma'am?) you can't stand there. It's my lucky spot you idiot!

So I went down and stood by an older couple right behind the seated people. My new friends. Back and forth the teams went. And one point, ISU was to 4th down - we had to score a TD or lose. I ran up and stood by the lucky railing - hell with the usher! We scored! Once again he shooed me away. My new friends welcomed me back to the other spot. My mouth went dry as a bone - I filled my empty water (alas my weed and water was gone) up with tap water.

I shut my eyes. I pleaded with anyone available to assist. Dad, Pete Taylor? I bargained and cajoled - it's our turn to finally win one like this I told myself and whoever else listens in on my thoughts. It didn't look good. We couldn't stop the black and gold. Until we did! They had to settle for a field goal. Then. I'm not quite sure what happened. I'd make a terrible witness in a crime. Was I in my lucky spot for the touchdown? Or just shutting my eyes. Hmmm. Maybe?!

I heard the roar of the crowd and ran for the base of Section B - awaiting my real people. In the meantime I high fived every Cyclone fan that went by me - young and old (even some baby 5s for tots). Finally Paul emerged and we hugged and jumped up and down in unison. The joy that only long suffering Cyclone fans can feel!

That hug was to be repeated with D when we got to the RV. And Apple Pucker shots. And then much later...I got to hug A.J. Klein #47 stud linebacker (I think he charted 8 tackles for the game) as he stopped by our tailgate. His parents tailgate next to McKims. He is so very cute. I know...he's younger than my son.

There you have it. My best day as a Cyclone fan. There are bound to be more to come with Paul Rhoads as our coach!

update on my bro-in-law Wayne

Just wanted to give an update on Wayne Kohan - Betso's husband with the chest pain issues, and then flu. He felt better later in the week, so Friday he went to Spokane for a procedure. Here's what Bets had to report:

 My husband had the best case scenario of all of the possibilities with his heart--one slightly blocked artery.  They decided since he is very active to place the stent to keep it clear.  We returned home yesterday and are feeling well rested today.

Wayne is supposed to take it easy for a while. That will be tough on him since he's an active guy who likes to bike, golf, and especially fly fish. Get well soon Wayne!

9/11 memories

September 11, 2001. It's one of those days. I'll never forget what I was doing, when I learned that we who live in United States aren't immune from people who hate us for just living in this country.  Terror doesn't just happen in those other countries.

restored Depot

That day I was working for the Union County Landfill Commission - in my little office located over the Creston Meal site in the historic Restored railroad depot in downtown Creston. The announcement came on Creston Radio - the only station I could get in the building. An explosion they said. Information started coming over the airwaves - getting my attention. Shutting down flights. Don't travel etc.

I was on pins and needles awaiting word of our nephew David Alvillar's where-abouts. Praying he was safe! David lived near the Empire State Building and worked in the financial district. Was he okay? My sis Susi got word out to the family as soon as she could - he had to walk a long ways in gray ashy air, but was fine. Phew!

Soon, it became apparent I wasn't going to get any recycling education work done - I gave up and went home. How would I answer the kids' questions? I didn't know. Amy was a High School Sophomore, and there was a scheduled volleyball match in Glenwood. Not hearing anything different, we proceeded to the match. During the drive we experienced a flyover by military planes. Later we decided it must have been President Bush leaving Offutt Air Force Base, where he had been stashed for safekeeping during the events of the day.

In the days to come, we found out the devastating stories. And heard tell of the heroism. We cried, and prayed, hurt and felt pride. We pulled together, like I wish we could do more often - before without the crisis! We showed how we're proud to be Americans!

It's a different America today. We're all a little edgier - even our in rural Iowa. We look around the world to other countries. Why the hate? All in the name of Allah, God, a higher power? Or money, oil, lifestyle envy? What a sad waste.

Bits

I had lunch yesterday with my recy-buddy Susan Salterberg. It was good to catch up. I met Susan in 1997, my first year in the biz (as we in the solid waste profession call it. No we really don't, but I'm going to...). We were at a workshop for a waste sort, and were both newly minted recycling educators - she for rural Van Buren County and I for Adams, Taylor and Union.

We decided to room together (to save $ for our taxpayers) at the upcoming Recycling Conference in Sioux City, and a friendship was born. The first night we lay awake in our room at the Holiday Inn, chatting about our lives until the wee hours. Hey - we're rooming together again at the conference coming up in Dubuque.

Last night we met at McKims to figure out menu/food/drink needs for tomorrow's big ISU/Iowa football game. And we practiced tailgating. As a rare show of sportsmanship we allowed Paul (Hawk fan complete with hat) and Lucy Eckhoff to attend. We didn't stay too late as the Green Bay Packers were on TV and they're Paul's first love - even before the Cyclones or me...

Today I got my eyes checked by Dr. Don McKim - I made sure he didn't drink too much brown water last night. I wanted him sharp to do a good job on my wacky eyesight. My right eye isn't good. And my left eye is really bad. Unusual and hard to correct. My correction didn't change too much but I'm getting new glasses anyway - I consider them a fashion statement and do need a backup pair. The new pair are brown with blue and sparkles!

We're leaving early for the game tomorrow - 5:30 a.m.? McFees are driving. Breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls. BMs (bloody marys). I'm going to whip up a couple lemon drops just for fun and citrus. Then I'll sweat bullets over my Clones. Let's hope they show up. I'd like nothing more than to be called an Old F'ing Hag by a drunken young Hawkeye fan, upset by a surprise loss!

Like Christmas for my ears

Urbandale - yes it perhaps is the dumbest name for a town since West Des Moines (WDM). I like to fancy the name up and call it...drumroll - Urb an dole uh. A lil fancier. Kinda French sounding - no?

WDM - now that took some thinking. Why didn't they stick with Valley Junction? Were they concerned it would be confused with Petticoat Junction? At least they'd have had a cute little jingle to go along with their town name!

Anyway, Urbandale Public Libary has a fabulous CD collection that is like Christmas for my ears...since I'm tired of my regular music collection. One can only listen to Dave Matthews for so long before getting burned out. So I'm making my way through the Urb Collection.

That gives me new ways to drown out Hylton at work. He's the guy in contaminated sites that has the broadcast radio voice. Sometimes it just gets to me! That's when I slip in those iPod buds and let the tunes take me away.

Pablo is in town today - so I stopped by the Sheraton where he had his meeting to visit him after work. He looked nice in his suit, surrounded by folks concerned with conserving our soil. I guess it's only fair since he hung out with the trashies in Nashville. I didn't stay too long though - since I didn't have a banquet ticket.

Then I was off to do errands - on a mission for tailgating. Last but not least I stopped in Urbandale at the Library. Christmas ya know!

Capitol Cafe

I had a late lunch today and snapped these photos with my trusty Blackberry. No matter how many times I eat by the Capitol, I still find it breathtaking.

And this is a shot I snapped of the Capitol as reflected in the Wallace Building (my office) last week after work one night.

I love my work neighborhood. If only the inside of the Wallace Building were only as snazzy as the area outside!

Heart pounding

The medical hits keep on coming! Now it's my other bro-in-law. The youngest one ! Ever so young - Wayne Kohan, Betso's husband. He's a year younger than I am.

Bets says he didn't feel well late last week, but felt good enough Sunday to try a bike ride. After ten minutes his chest tightened up and he decided he needed to get checked out. He had an EKG and echocardiogram.  Both were fairly normal but they decided to do a nuclear stress test Monday.

 He did not have a heart attack and had no muscle damage, but he failed the stress test, which makes them think there might be blockages.  So, the next step is a cardiac cath, where they thread the catheter with scope up through the groin to the heart to take a look. Jeepers! WTF is going on with our fam? 2011 has been quite the year.

Tomorrow is the day - he's going to Spokane to have the procedure since he's a doc and they don't do this stuff at his hospital in Kennewick where they live in Washington state. Fingers crossed meds can take care of whatever it is. Or a stent. Let's hope it's not as dramatic as open heart surgery!

To make things more exciting, baby David (I know...he's 13 now - but he was born the year mom died. So he'll always be baby David to all of the rest of the cousins and aunties) was supposed to be on a big class trip, but started throwing up last night. Then Sarah woke up feeling puckish as well. David went on the trip, but I understand he's holed up in the sick bay.

At this rate Betsy will be in a bed right beside Wayne with heart palpitations! Twins Alex (Washington State U) and Paul (Washington U) are college seniors and Eric is a new frosh at Gonzaga this year. So far they seem to be healthy. Prayers for the family appreciated. They need their daddy healthy! Stay tuned for news about the Kohan family health - after Wayne's procedure tomorrow a.m.

J&K, Labor Day

Jud and Kara stopped by late yesterday afternoon for a meal on their way back to Kansas City. They had been in Iowa City camping with K's fam. It sounds like they had a good time - though poor Juddy - Kara's family plays a lot of board and card games and he sucked at all of them. And it sounds like they love to give him crap. Good thing he's gotten good at taking a beating!

Kara had to put up with hearing all about the Cyclone game when she got to our place. She could care less about football - so they each had to put up with "stuff"! They brought sweet corn along, and it was great. We also did chicken on the grill and baked focacia bread. I threw a salad together with greens, nuts and cranberries.

Labor Day: I'm glad I have had the benefit of working in factories during my life. That experience has given me appreciation for those who toil week after week to produce the things that make our towns/nation/world go. (How would you like to sort the same widget day after day?) I also have an appreciation for service workers - waiters, travel industry workers etc. (dealing with the public? yuck!) These can often be thankless jobs. A tip of my hat to you all this Labor Day!

It's becoming more obvious to me that the tide is turning against labor. In the 70's - even through the 90's when I worked at Gits, the workers represented by a labor union had some pull. As a non-union person I thought it was over the top. And hearing what auto workers got - when it came to wages and perks, over-the-top. Back then I didn't really know anything about public unions, except that our school teachers had one. Again - I knew their insurance deal was way better than anything the rest of the workers had.

Somewhere along the line, the unions over-did it. So now politicians and others are determined to crush them. Due to that and the fact that they've traditionally supported Dem pols. It's all pretty sleazy, just like most politics are.

One editorial piece I read today said they might as well re-name today's holiday Capital Day - because the people making the $ on their investments have all the pull. Not the worker bees. That seems true to me. The wealth is all at the top, and the owners don't seem to want to distribute it to the workers any more. I don't understand it. How rich is rich enough? I guess you can't be too rich.

Meanwhile the workers, in many cases have been laid off and have had to take concessions in wages and pay more in health care etc. The middle class is losing ground. Does the upper class truly think this is healthy for our country?

When I was little I'd play Monopoly with my sister Cindy. Of course she was wily and would soon end up with all the wealth - so I would get bored/mad and quit. Is that what the rich want? They may want to consider letting a few orange or green properties trickle down into the working class hands...

Okay rant over! It's a beautiful day! I think I'll go read outside. Perhaps a little kayaking later.

Nearly a bust!

Wow - the first game was nearly a bust! Between rain and week play by the Clones, I was disappointed. Until the exciting end of the game - when we made some plays and pulled out a victory. Whewee coach!

We started out the day by picking up Bobbie and Jeff early so we could stop at the Farmer's Market on our way to the game.

It's started sprinkling while we were at the farmer's market in downtown DSM. Right after I had my breakfast burrito. I know, I'm not doing very well on my vow to cut down on eating post-vacation. Perhaps it will have to be post-tailgating. We got in on a Flash-Mob dance - kinda. Some dance group did a variety of dances in an intersection - hip hop stuff. Very cute. The seasons nuts that were roasting got my nod for best smelling food of the event.

On up to Ames, as it started raining right along. Yuck! We decided to hit the ISU bookstore for more Cyclone gear (as if we need anything). Paul got a visor - I lusted over a Sticks ISU print $40. It would have to be matted and framed, but I love those things - they have everything in there. Off to the game - still sprinkling. Diana was glad to see us. Don's folks - Fred and Margaret were there along with Diana's father, Jim. You might recall one year ago Diana's mom tragically died in a car wreck. We still miss her lil Italian self.

Jeff and Paul jumped into action - putting tents up. While Bobbie and I jumped into action whipping up lemon drops with the mix I found at Marshall's - Freshies. Just the kick start we needed on a crappy weather day! We used my new lemon squeezer - quite effective. Once Paul was done erecting tents he started on BMs. Bloody Marys silly! We did a taste test with several brands and Zing Zang was popular. I didn't have one - I'm waiting for next week's game.

Marilyn and Dwight showed up from Okoboji. It was M's bday! We had lots of great food. Donnie and Ryan showed up about 2 - Donnie had to do eye exams all a.m. Paul grilled thinly sliced ribeyes. They were delish! Bobbie and I shared one. We also had lil cheese cakes, pecan bars. Some really good dips and salads. Very good.

Game time. I put on crop jeans after wearing shorts all day - concerned about a cold front rumored to hit. Packed up my backpack as usual - with coat, trash bags for rain etc. When we got to the gate - I got turned away by the new security outfit due to their NO Backpack rule. WHAT? I hadn't heard a thing about it. My options? Leave my bag outside the gate for later or walk back. I fought a huge crowd going back - getting more furious with each step...others were getting in with all sorts of bags. What's up with backpacks?

When I got to the RV - all the way out nearly by Hilton Coliseum. I had a pouty drink with the McKim parents. Then walked back - I had missed nearly a while quarter of football. Bastards! I walked in behind a woman carrying a baby with...a backpack on who didn't even get questioned - she just walked in! Grrrr. And we were already behind 3-0.

The game was pretty dismal. It sprinkled, then the wind came up when cleared off. We had no offense. I didn't continue to imbibe alcohol. Our defense wasn't good. Luckily - somehow our team managed a TD right before halftime and we led 7-6. Late in the 4th quarter I decided to go to the restroom. It was such a frustrating game, we couldn't do a thing on either side of the ball - UNI was dominating. And while I was down on the concourse, we scored! Being down there must be good luck.

They scored on the next play. Oops. I decided to stay down there. 2.5 minutes left. We run it back to the 40 and start driving - heart thumping we end up scoring with 40 seconds left and thwart their last second heroics to get a field goal. Cyclones win 20-19. What an ending. I may spend the season on the concourse!