And then... in Colorado

Saturday a.m. we enjoyed breakfast at Cindo's fave Mexican restaurant. I think it's because the waiter is so darn cute. Then Paul and Amy headed out for a hike in East Vail, leaving Cindy and me reading magazines in the sun on the martini deck off the master bedroom at her place. Nirvana!

Later we did a bit of shopping. She was such a trooper hobbling on her crutch, her puffy knee due to her partial joint replacement a month ago. She bought a purse. I got jeans. I like hanging with her.

Amy said Paul was very informative during their hike - as he seemed to look upon this occasion as a chance to educate her in the ways of flora and fauna.

I haven't heard the story of this tree...

Guess they couldn't get a squirrel to get a shot of them both...

That night, we went to a graduation party that Cindy and Bolder were invited to - for Reeve, the son of Jim and Shaloy, some of the people we have enjoyed hanging with the past three years since Amy moved to Denver. Their daughter Kelsey came all the way to NW Missouri State for a soccer scholarship - graduating last spring from there. Reeve will play football in SW Colorado. The party was held in conjunction with several other kids at a big gorgeous log home. They had me at Stella Artois keg and string band....

The band was really good along with the view!

Monday we headed back to Denver - Amy had to work a bit, and I had planned to meet high school buddy Julia Hoilien for lunch in Bolder. We had some time to kill so we stopped for coffee at a little place downtown and discovered there was an art show going on. I dragged Pablo through the exhibit area - it was a beautiful morning! I love the pianos placed around downtown Denver.

pssst I wasn't really playing...

So fun seeing Jules and her husband Jeff Mason. I'm just sorry I didn't get a pic of their cutie patootie daughter Marcella.

Jules and her husband Jeff

 
That night Amy's roomie Carrie was back from Minneapolis - her hometown, where she'd been for a wedding. The four of us walked to Hamburger Mary's where we met Amy's friend Patrick for supper. In case you're wondering - yes it's a gay joint, but no, none of us are. The food was good and the back patio is a great venue! It was fun.

Carrie works for Integer a marketing firm and Patrick works for Pepsi - he majored in logistics like Jud did

Our room at the Lamm home - good sheets and Marty always has nice lotion in the bathrooms

Later we got to spend some time with one of my favorite aunties and Uncle Bill. Then we spent one more night at their home.

Tuesday we took the long drive home, listening to a book on CD by CJ Box - featuring Joe Pickett, a game warden character in Wyoming who deals with murder. Something for Paul and my taste! We were home before 5 p.m.

Friday night in big D (enver)

Amy had plans for us in Denver Friday night. First, we picked up Amy's friend Becca on our way downtown for a drink. Becca is an Iowa girl - she grew up in Muscatine and like her daddy works for the investment firm, Edward D. Jones. Becca is a University of Iowa grad who worked in Santa Barbara for a few years after college. Besides being Amy's friend, she also assists our daughter with her IRA account.

We parked in a city lot downtown (and chatting, stupidly forgot to pay the man...cha-ching $60 fine later when we came out. OUCH). We headed up to a mod lounge at the top of a hotel on something like the 27th floor. It had a beautiful view of downtown and the mountains. A few minutes after we got settled, Amy's friend Rachel, an English teacher, arrived with her Mom who was visiting from Urbandale along with a friend of hers from Adel. We had a nice adult bevvie and chatted about jobs and Iowa stuff.

Later we dropped Becca off on our way to Amy's surprise for her daddy (her daddy's day gift)- an evening at Denver's oldest restaurant:
Buckhorn Exchange
http://www.buckhorn.com/

This guy smiled at me whilst I ate

We shared a meal of bison, elk and a tiny bird, with an appetizer of fried artichoke. We so enjoyed an evening of catching up on Creston talk and hearing about Amy's life in Denver. The meat was all so tender and the atmosphere unique and interesting. Quite a night.

This guy stared at me whilst I ate...

Saturday we were off fairly early - heading for the hills...but not without stopping at the Duffyroll joint. Uncle Bill usually gets these unique rolls when we stay with them. We picked up Amy and our first stop with Silverthorne where they have, you guessed it, a Columbia Outlet Store. We ate a Noodle Joint, arriving at Lefebvre's just before 2 p.m.

Really...it's a rooster with a boulder in it...from Iowa with love! And check out Bolder's shorts!

Bolder - the mayor

Bolder and Cindo loved the Boulder Rooster (or faked it well). It was our first chance to see Cindo after her partial knee replacement surgery. She's still on one crutch, but it getting around pretty well. In July she'll get the other one done. We had a nice drink at E-Town, where Bolder spends time shooting the breeze with the fellas.

That night friends Bonnie and Eric and our nephew chef supreme Colby came over to Lefebvre's for a fab supper.

Colby lives in his own apartment these days and works in the valley for a chain of barbecue restaurants. Good food, conversation, and a good time - celebrating Bolder's completion of radiation.

We know where Colby gets his cookin' genes!

That concludes our Saturday. We did miss our Juddy - who was busy helping GF Kara move to a new apartment in Kansas City.

Our Colorado Trip

Paul and Amy at Udi's at lunchtime

I was ready for a road trip. And some time away from work. I know...it's not been that long since our April Florida vacation. But a girl my age needs some breaks, ya know. Especially when her hubby lives in a different town from her some of the week.

We took off Thursday after work and reached Kearney, Nebraska (it's pronounced Car nee for those of you who aren't familiar). We stay at a Microtel there for around $60 with a AAA discount. It's a short drive from there into Denver - we arrived in time to take Amy (hugs welcome since we hadn't seen her since Christmas) to lunch at Udi's - a deli-like place near her work.

After lunch we met John, Matt, and the other Matt - all co-worker/supervisors at Custom Made Meals. In Amy's office, we got to see some projects Amy has been working on.

Amy had to work that afternoon, so Paul and I decided to head to REI - a huge outdoor activity store. We both salivate when we see the wares there...

I got a chuckle out of this shot from their shoe area. The salesman said I'd get extra credit for knowing who this referred to...are you kidding man? She's my idol, except for the being corrupt part...

I didn't end up buying any shoes there - just socks - Smart Wool on sale. Paul got a solar charger for his cell phone for when he goes elk hunting. Beam me up, Scotty! Then we sat on the deck at my Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill's deck. Yep, we're staying at their lovely abode again. We could spring for a crappy hotel, but choose to stay free at their place - and they're not even there. (I used all forms of there in that sentence you language peeps) They have a great second home in Estes Park where they are this weekend.

Next episode...our evening with our girl.

My week - like a Maytag repairman...

Ol Lonely...Paul is back living in Creston (I originally wrote Des Moines...must be wishful thinking). Joan is on vacation. This sucks! Plus my shoulder continues to be problematic. Thank goodness for physical therapy and Geri my therapist with the sweet hands. Geri works at Penn Medical near Lutheran Hospital which is just across I-235 from my workplace, the beautiful (not) Wallace Building.

Balloons landed by our house in 2005

It's a small world ya know. Geri and family are hot air balloonists who trek to Creston annually to...you guessed it - Balloon Days, held every September. The weather isn't usually cooperative. But there have been a few good weekends. I remember a couple times they flew over the Friday night football game. One time they practically landed on our house! And the parade. The family Geri's fam has bonded with is the Stevens family - Reggie is the dad. Amy played basketball when the daughter Josie was on varisty. Geri has fond feelings for Creston, aww. Makes me feel good that she likes my town. (and that she makes my shoulder feel better...)

Sunday Paul and I enjoyed a nice walk with Odie the Wonder Dog at Green Valley State Park, North of Creston. You may recall the lake had needed repairs - and the summer Jud worked there, 2008, he actually help "pull the plug" to open the gate to allow the water to drain. DNR has been dredging and riprapping ever since! Until quite recently when it started filling up again, finally! Odie likes walking out there - all those smells!

Monday night I got to meet the interns for our Pollution Prevention Program as we host them for a meal out near Johnston City Hall at a historic Barn. I snapped a couple photos.

I'm not sure if the barn was there or if it was moved in from elsewhere...interns will do projects all over Iowa - reducing waste, water and energy use at business and industry. Cool stuff.

While shopping for a wedding gift I came across this product (No I didn't buy it).

It's a Snow Cone Machine!

It brought to mind something I had when I was a kid! Click here:  Hasbro Snoman Sno Cone

Jeez - I had all the cool toys. I was a pretty lucky kid...and an even more lucky adult. Counting my blessings! Even during a lonely week...

DSM Farmer's Market

After a fun evening Friday night at the Lobby (the bar was celebrating the first anniversary of opening. They had a DJ and food, and cosmos), Pablo and I got up early and headed to the Farmer's Market in DSM. We were on a mission to find something for the Lefebvre's lawn. (We're heading to Denver and Vail Memorial Weekend - can't wait to see Amy and my sis and Bolder) And we needed a breakfast burrito fix.
I'd gotten a lawn poker (a welded design you can poke into your lawn) for Cindo last fall for Christmas...alas we forgot to pack it, and it sat in our garage all winter. And became rusty, I discovered when we cleaned the garage last weekend. So it became my lawn poker - a cute hummingbird!

Bomb Squad

Paul and I decided to park near the loft we recently spent 3 months in - for sentimental and clean getaway reasons. We discovered they'd closed the Court Avenue Bridge for a Public Services Fair - the City of DSM was showing off all their equipment, including the one near and dear to me, the garbage truck. Semi celeb Bill Stowe was there. Next police were out in full force with all their mobile units, helicopters, bomb squads. Pretty cool!

Baby Patrick rode in one similar to this

The crowd behind Paul is slowly growing - some people don't like the dogs, but I love seeing them

The rooster rocks in the wind - so ugly it's cute!

Right when we crossed the bridge we found the vendor we were looking for, and we bought a cool metal rooster for the Lefebvre yard. I won't let my sis forget she's an Iowa native! It was only 8:30 a.m. but the crowd was already large! We made a beeline for the burrito area.

Burrito Tent

The burritos are done by a family from Prescott, Iowa which is near Creston. I think they've put several people through college on money made from this endeavor. But it's got to be hard work setting up to sell burritos May through October every Saturday.

We stood in line behind Jeff Angelo, former State Senator and Crestonite and his wife Tara. Though the line was fairly long it moved right along, because those farmboys (and girls) have the set up down to an art. When we got to the cash register and the woman taking orders said, "Are you from Creston? Goldsmith, right? Leslie?" Wow - I didn't know her - but she's a Prescott person and her husband, Craig Mittag works at the New Advertiser. She must have recognized me from my newspaper column writing days - when my photo was in the paper. (In the small world department - we saw her again that night at a high school grad party in Creston...). The burrito was marvy!

Later we split a Dutch Letter...

The other things that caught my eye on this excursion...

Chocolate dipped bacon

$10 all you can drink?? game on...next time perhaps.

Susi is a grandma!

We welcome Jonah David Alvillar, son of David and Ashley Alvillar, into the Bullock family. David has been a part of the fam for 30 years (yikes!). That's how long Susi and Jim have been married.

That's David on the left in the Superman shirt - in Estes Park with the fam

Paul and I remember well the trip to Grand Junction for their wedding. We were engaged to be married in August that year, 1982. Paul had just hurt his knee playing golf - a flair up of a high school football injury. I think he was on crutches, forced to hobble down the airplane steps after we flew into the small Grand Junction airport. Soon after landing, we met our new instant family members. Jim and David Alvillar.

Jim was an intense athletic, swarthy handsome guy. David was a 3-year old cutie pie. He was smart as a whip and Susi already loved him I could tell. David's Mom Betty also lives in Grand Junction, so David spent time with each parent - as many children of divorce do. While he didn't attend all of our family get-togethers, we have been lucky enough to see David quite a bit through the years. Plus Susi kept us up on what he was up to - after High School graduation, Clermont College followed by a career on Wall Street. We got to meet Ashley, by then David's fiance at my niece (his sister Leslie's) wedding in LA in 2010. She seems like a great gal and all the A's love her.

The Alvillars surround Ashley last Thanksgiving when she and David announced baby would be forthcoming

Priceless!

 I'm sure I'll get to meet Jonah someday at a fam get-together. Can't wait! In the meantime there are important questions to be answered. What the hell is Baby going to call the new grandparents? Gran and Gramps? We called our grandparents Momo and Bubba. On Mom's side they were Pops and Grandma. Hmm somehow I don't picture Jim as any of those.

You're on your own Jonah. I'm sure you'll be adorable enough to get away with calling them something cute. I can't wait to see Jim melt into a puddle.

A mother's angst

I got my hair cut today - and heard in person about my stylist's Mother's Day angst. It seems her son Conner (or his teacher) had invited her to a Mother's Day tea, complete with funny hats. It was set for last Friday. But sadly, Sarah never got the invite - which was sent home in Connor's backpack. She found out that morning about the event - and there was no way to change her schedule at that point.

So last Friday, all the kids in class, except Connor, enjoyed having their moms visit class. And, according to another mom, Connor's look of disappointment was so pitiful that day. When he got home he told his mom how bad he felt. And she was crushed! She told me she cried her eyes out. My heart went out to her. Sara said at bedtime she apologized again and tried to explain to Connor why she missed the Mom's Day lunch. She said tears welled up in his eyes - and her heart nearly burst. Only a mom can feel that kinda pain! 

What mom hasn't felt that inadequate at some point? Like you don't measure up - or aren't worthy to even have kids. Heck I often felt like I was over my head when it came to parenting. But between Paul and me, we muddled through it - and somehow our kids survived to become pretty cool people.

Sarah is taking Friday off work to spend the day at school with Connor. It's some special day - I don't remember what they're doing, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to share it with his Mom. That's a good thing about children - they have short memories. (or they'll torture with your shortcomings the rest of your life by saying "remember the time Mom didn't come to the Mother's Day Tea and I felt like an orphan?).

Impinged

Is that like being unhinged? Anyway - I've become so. At least my shoulder has - according to the physical therapist. After a couple months of progressively worse should pain, I decided to see my nurse practitioner, Sheryl Young here in Des Moines to see what my options were. She set me up with Iowa Health's Therapy Center near Lutheran Hospital - it's close to my work.

Today I headed there today and felt better right away. And that was even before treatment. I decided I felt better after seeing many of the other patients at Penn Medical Center. The ones with walkers, canes and various disabilities more obvious than mine. I'm a wimp.

Therapist Geri was so helpful. I finally had a name for my pain! Where did it come from? Dancing to Wii in our loft? Perhaps. Carting my laptop and other various bags and my purse into the the Wallace Building every Monday? Maybe. Regardless, my right arm isn't sliding around on the socket correctly.

Geri worked me through some exercises and movements. She poked her finger right into the spot where my muscle is spasming. She used my smart phone to video my back - to show me how my shoulder blade is winging out wrong. It needs to be re-trained. Last I had a nice hot pack on my shoulder.  I'm lined up to go back a few more times - can't wait. I want to get better.

On my way home I realized how very heavy my purse is on my shoulder. That can't be good! So I bought a new much smaller one tonight - on sale! I think I'll line up a massage.

All my heart and gizzard

Love this pic - the denim look

With cousins Colby and Jordan at Christmas

I never knew it would be this way. That having kids and loving them would be such an overwhelming emotional experience. I love their father, of course. But he is my equal - my partner. It's a different kind of love that I have for Amy, Jud and Patrick (our little angel in heaven). The kind that knows no bounds.

From the first time I felt that fluttering in my belly when I was pregnant with Amy, I was hooked. I had been through one miscarriage and the sadness that goes with the loss of a pregnancy. So it was exciting that I could now feel that someone was really "in there" and letting me know it. Soon after that, Paul bought me a diamond necklace to celebrate my first Mother's Day, even though our child wasn't yet born. It's still my favorite necklace - I wear it nearly every day. I guess I feel like it's a good luck charm all these years later.

My love for my children has sometimes played out as Momma Tiger. School bullying has been a hot topic lately. Neither of our kids was picked on a great deal - but I can think of times when Amy and Jud each came home crying about something that happened at school. I'm all for kids working it out but in these cases, Momma Tiger kicked in! In each case, I spoke to the other child's mom - you better believe it. Let's just say Tyler Linderman didn't make fun of Jud's jeans again. And Jimmy Ide didn't mess with Amy's purse either. (I'm not as much of a Tigress as my sis Betso, but I can growl if need to).

And when they played sports, I've got to admit, sometimes I was That Mom. The one that yelled at the ref a little too much. But hey, I didn't carry my own score book for my kid...And I never called the coach to see why my little baby wasn't playing more. (Even though I thought he/she should be).

Watching Amy and Jud each receive first high school and then college diplomas (in 4 years no less) made my heart burst with pride. Visiting Jud in St. Joe and Amy in Denver and hearing about their new lives as young adults also makes Paul and me proud. I wasn't prepared for those kind of feelings when I signed up for this parenthood thing. Yeah, it's not all hearts and butterflies - there is some not so fun stuff in there. Like getting phone calls about things they need help dealing with. (I'm glad Paul gets the car and grill calls). And we don't always get along the greatest when we're together for long periods, especially when we try to stay in the same hotel room. We're not used to each other's quirks anymore I guess...

Today for Mom's Day, my children gave me a fab gift (a gift certificate for shoes!) and both contacted me. I feel really good about the people they're turning out to be. They are the gifts that keep on giving. Feelin' the love with all my heart and gizzard (one of Amy's sayings when she was little).

My Momma

I was in the gawky "I can't smile or do my hair years" okay?

I was the in the gawky "I have a baby and don't have time for me years" okay?

I've been missing my mom this week. And my second mom, Laura Goldsmith too. I'm jealous of all my friends who are able to get together with their mommas today, Mother's Day 2012.

I've said before that later in my mother's life I didn't always like her. She had a mean streak that was fueled by alcohol, or perhaps she had some depression going on. Regardless of the cause, none of us enjoyed being around Mom in the throes of that monster. Thankfully, the monster came in spurts, surrounded by good Mom.

Today I'm remembering the good Mom. Smart - she graduated with the honor of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Iowa. I didn't get this great intelligence of mine out of the air ya know...haha. She loved to travel and learn new things. When she had a trip planned, she'd buy a book on the location - Greek Isles, or coast of California. Then she'd plot her attack!

Mom tried to figure out what type of kid each one of we four girls were - to help us find a college and course of study right for us.

• Susi - Temple Buell Women's College in Denver for Sociology
• Cindy - Drake University - Art Education
• Me - Iowa State University for Pre-Vet (yep, didn't last too long - after I figured out one need straight As to get into vet school, and I wasn't good at chem OR biology. Mom and I whiffed on that one!)
• Betsy - Creighton for Registered Nursing

Then Mom decided she'd like to take each of us on a trip. This was after she'd gone to Scotland on a golf trip with Dad and Harv and Joyce Whissler - old friends. Mom came home from that trip with a knee length suede coat, lined with shearling. You could hardly bend your arms in it, but she loved it so much, we cleaned it out of her closet years later when she passed away...

Our trips:

• Betso went to England and Ireland
• Cindo got to tour the European countries like France, Germany, Amsterdam
• Susi and Mom went to Turkey and Greece
• I flew into Norway with Mom and we went by train to Sweden, flew to Finland and back and went to denmark by ferry. That was in 1983 - the year after Paul and I got married.

Of course Mom did all the research ahead of time and could explain the history of what we were seeing to me before the tour guide did!

Mom and I also did a couple stateside trips. In 1992 we flew to Betsy's in SE Washington State, rented a car and drove down the coast of California on Highway 101? to San Francisco for my cousin David's wedding. Mom had researched the trip and had us staying someplace interesting each night (a resort that took us to rooms in VW buses, a resort made from 1 giant redwood tree). All I had to do was drive! I was still in recovering after losing Baby Patrick the year before - and it was a nice little break from raising two kids. (Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder!).

Mom and me at a champagne plant 1992

Then in 1996, the year Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer (heavy smoker, that girl) she and I did a road trip to NE Iowa. We took Amy to meet Paul's sister in Galena, so Amy could stay with cousin Sarah for a few days. Then Mom and I headed up to Cassville(?) (Mom would remember all these names/places) where there was a ferry back across the river to Iowa. There was a button to push on a board to let the ferry know to come pick us up. A group of women from Dubuque were also waiting. Soon the ferry arrived and we drove the car on - away we went! We stayed in Marquette at a hotel on a bluff with a large pink elephant to greet us. I had my first riverboat casino experience. Probably lost my usual $20!

The next day we visited the Bily Clocks in Spillville, and Governor Larabie's Mansion in Clermont. She had planned it all out of course. That night we ended up in Independence where she had spent some time in her childhood. Mom grew up in Cedar Rapids, the youngest of 3. She must have been an oops - 10 years younger than her sibs. We walked the cemetery trying to find her people.

I must say those trips were my favorite times with my mother. Away from the pressures of being Pat Bullock, she was fun and we really enjoyed each other's company. I wish I could have known her longer. I wish my children could have gotten to know her better.

Rural power walk and loss

I spent a lot of time walking and taking pictures of the scenery when we had our DSM loft period. Friday I decided to take my phone along for my power walk here in Creston - after all the view here can be pretty cool too.

First though, Paul and I met Steve Crittenden for lunch at the Elms Club. We hadn't seen him in well...forever! His wife Barb is the Southwestern Community College President, and the school was preparing for the Second Lady, Jill Biden's visit that night for the college graduation ceremony. The Secret Service had been here all week, scoping things out. Such excitement in Crestonia.

It was nice to get caught up with Steve. I always end up feeling a bit sad though at how his life has changed. How people affected by suicide just have that touch of sadness in their eyes. Steve and Barb's son Eric took his own life at age 19. Eric would have turned 25 in April. I remember when he was born -I worked at First National Bank with Steve then. Steve was so darn proud!

It's been a long painful road since Eric's death. Steve says life has gotten better the past couple years, but he doubts he will never experience the joy he once did. I hope he's wrong - that it gets better and better for Steve and his family. After all he and Barb still have beautiful and smart daughter Kayli - and who knows, maybe grandkids someday.

After lunch I read my book on the deck. Lovely afternoon. Then I couldn't put it off any longer - I needed to walk off those giant cookies from my Iowa City trip, and that homemade cake from Joan's neighbor Paul (who is like 70, but I think he has a crush on Joan).

I did my usual route - up through Calvary - the Catholic cemetery. I like the quiet there. Then I head up the road next to Summit Lake, that isn't really a lake right now since the dam got iffy and they drained the lake to fix it. Looks like it's about done so Deb, Paul and I will be able to kayak there again.

These horses weren't quite sure they wanted me looking at them. I liked the looks of the gray. Then I headded to the street that goes by Todd and Lori Scott's house. It was one that took major damage from the tornado. Bobbie and Jeff were there tornado night when Paul called and got Bobbie on the phone, right after we heard about the storm. Scott's house was pretty devastated (just like they were). Bobbie said the fam was in shock really. Workers were there yesterday fixing the roof and walls.

This last photo is of a house we looked at twice and really thought about purchasing. It had an old not-working in ground pool - they must have jackhammered that out. The lot to the east was also a part of the property then. The house and barn needed a lot of work and was out of our price range. Plus it had lots of steps. I'm glad we waited and got the house we live in now.