Debbie Does Des Moines

And it wasn't nearly as excting as when Debbie did Dallas...
But we did have fun! My best bud Deb was in town for some work training early this week. By Tuesday night she'd had enough time bonding with her Planned Parenthood workmates and she texted me. I was on my way home from my exciting trip to Kellerton and Coin...and my phone starting twitching in that very special way...

Yes. It was a text from Deb. She asked if I wanted to get together and we quickly arranged a meeting at Paul and my fave spot - The Standard, a martini bar just off Court Avenue on 3rd Street. Then, since my roomie Joan doesn't have texting on her phone, I switched into email mode and sent her a message (all from the back seat of a state van - isn't technology amazing folks?). Joan agreed to join us downtown too!

Later, when I parked on Court and rounded the corner, Deb was sitting on a bench waiting for me. She had walked down from her hotel. It was a lovely late afternoon - about 5:30 p.m. one day before this dreadful heat took ahold. We sat and talked, waiting for Joan to arrive from her job as dispatcher at FedEx on SW 9th. When she trotted around the corner, we headed into the cool coolness of The Standard and each selected a lovely $5 martini. My fave bartender Jeff was not on duty, but a young women did a nice job standing in for him.

My lemondrop surveys my friends and likes what it sees!

Joan and Deb know each other, but not all that well. I was so happy to get two of my fave peeps together in my fave bar! We sipped and chatted. It made me miss my time living there with Pablo when we did this every night!

Deb with my in my DNR shirt

Then we ordered sannies - Joan got fish tacos. We were having such fun, we decided to have a beer at Court Avenue Brewing (CAB) on their sidewalk cafe. Joan had some type of bubbly raspberry beer. Deb and I had blue moon type pale ales.

Then Deb and I walked up the east side of the river to the ped bridge and back down to Court before I took off for parts west and she to her hotel. I love those girls!

Look at the pretty flowers Norman Borlaug presides over at the World Food Prize building - as seen on our walk

I love evenings out like that - and love having a chance to hang with my friends!


The next day the heat hit - here is what my car looked like at nearly 7 p.m.

SW Iowa work trip

I tried out my new camera on our work trip through Southwest Iowa Tuesday. It was my usual trip crew of Jim and Scott, but this time Angie came with us. Angie is our Bureau Chief Brian's Administrative Assistant (she's got some other official sounding title) - she's smart and proficient at many things around the office. She's worked at DNR since college (she's closing in on all of 30 now...) and is really good at getting stuff done. She's married with 2 young boys and lives in rural Monroe (where she grew up) - east of DSM.

Tim in red talking to Jim, Angie and Scott in Kellerton

Throughout her DNR career, Angie hasn't had a chance to get out of the office much, so this year Brian suggested she go along with staff members as they go out in the field. That way when she takes minutes at meetings describing staff activities, she'll have a better idea what she's writing about. Angie was a nice addition to our travel party.

Our first stop was Kellerton where we visited Divine Waste, a trash hauling company that is starting up a curbside recycling program in rural Iowa. Tim, the owner has purchased the carts and is getting the building ready to install a baler. (It's a machine that smashes the materials together into nice big cubes to sell). Tim's plan is to sort material and bale it, then market it in various locations - paper, plastic and metal. Tim's a big dreamer and talker - I am hopeful he can show others how a small hauler can make this model work.

I couldn't resist - had to stop on our way out of town, snapping this shot of Neon Jesus and the bike sculpture across the street - East Village DSM has nothing on Kellerton!

After Kellerton, we headed back east on Highway 2 to the Wayne, Ringgold, Decatur (WRD) Landfill located just south of Grand River. Doug, the all-around guy there filled us in on what was going on. We talked to him about shingle recycling - working with roofers to deliver them to a separate area where they can be recycled into asphalt. It's been very successful in other areas - especially when oil prices are high.

Doug shows DNR staff a product used to "cover" at night - it's mixed with water and sprayed on trash at closing time.

Next we were off to Clarinda, home of Glenn Miller the big band guy. I spent a bit of time in this town - during my own sports career (I was an Atlantic Trojann-yes it's spelled right) and then following the kids. Amy stomped around there during her brief stint in marching band (before she figured out it would interfere with volleyball tourneys). We ate lunch on the square at a place we all thought was quite good - at least until Angie saw the guy who took our cash touch the food he was cooking. Icky! She and I had spaghetti and Jim and Scott each ordered a small pizza.

The town of Coin was our next destination. Alas the town decided they don't quite have enough of it to accept the grant they've been awarded to demolish this derelict building - the former school building. When we drove in we weren't quite sure where the building was, but in a small town like Coin we found it pretty quickly! We were greeted by a posse of small dogs running loose.

Looking for the reported ghost...just kidding. There are still some lightbulbs in the joint.

Coin is a small town with a sense of humor though..

town bar/lunch place

On mainstreet

bales of metal cans

Last we headed north to the Page County Landfill run by Myron Magwitz. I think that's a cool name. Page County received a large grant/low interest loan that helped them build a large recycling facility with a baler. They utilize low cost prison help (non violent offenders - we don't let real bad dudes around our commodities) at the facility. I talked to Myron about shingle recycling too and they filled us in about their operation. This stops are a good time to share information.

Guys in orange shirts - prison dudes

Myron in red with his assistant Mike in bibs.

Jim took Highway 71 back up to Atlantic on the way back - we went by Villisca, resisting driving into town to see the Axe Murder House. We jogged over on 6/83 through Anita and then on up to I-80 arriving back in DSM about 4:15 p.m. It was a good trip with a great team. Fun folks to travel with - providing value to our stakeholders.

No Slow Ride

It was retro night in Creston when Foghat came to town. It was a fundraiser for McKinley Park - the beautiful city park perched across from our home. A few years ago park board people came up with the idea to host a big concert at the old band shell that's been somewhat refurbished. Funds go towards fixing up both the park and the lake - a great cause. Amazingly, they've been able to attract some pretty good but, yes, past their prime bands to our little burg.

Last year it was Marshall Tucker. We were in San Antonio with McFees and Higgins, but I heard they weren't all that great. This year? Foghat! Okay - there was only one original guy, the drummer. And when interviewed for the article in the paper he said something like "rock and roll is slang for copulate and nobody is unhappy when they're copulating" Um, Kyle (article writer), did you look up that word? I hope you don't get a bunch of nasty letters from old folks.

The event day didn't start out too promising, weather-wise with rain. But that put all the farmers in a good mood. That makes everyone else happy because they don't have to put up with mopey farmers asking my husband, "When are we going to get rain"? Like he's the dang rain god...We went to evening Mass and Bobbie and Jeff came over for a drink with munchies after. We could hear a warm up band playing as we sat at the kitchen table and chatted. Odie was nervous - the music sounded a bit like thunder!

We headed over about 7:30 p.m. Mayor Woods took our tickets - there were lots of volunteers helping. Sponsors had forked over $ to help pay for the band. Fareway and the Knotty Pine were cooking up sannies. There were a couple bevvie booths and for those with special wristbands, beer and hard lemonade was available. For $3! Take that DSM...it's not $6! And we didn't pay to park. I got a Summer Shandy tallboy and we made the rounds to decide where to park our chairs. We saw Deb, Baileys and Stormy's Mom. It's fun to chat with people you haven't seen for a while.

McKim's hometown buddies came to visit

McKims were parked at a sponsor table as Don had purchased 10 tickets, so we set up our chairs in front of that area. The band wasn't bad - played some Collective Soul and some other recognizable stuff. Foghat was due at 9 p.m. Deb's hubby Larry was heading back from DSM where he'd been for son Keith's bachelor party dinner. Jud was at the event along with many HS buddies. Larry didn't stay for the party bus part of the night. Jud did! Can't wait to hear about it - not too many details though...Keith and Jud have been friends since age 3.

Keith, Jud - First Communion - thus the ties

I wasn't expecting all that much from Foghat frankly. Despite the fact that there's only one original guy, the good news is that the band has filled in with a bunch of talented musicians. The bass player - excellent! Guitar player could rock. Vocalist could play guitar and sing. None of them were spring chickens either - probably in their 40s and up. A big bouncer stood guard on the stage, and a ring of volunteer stage guards helped keep the drunks off the platform.

We started out sitting in our chairs a decent distance away. A nice couple from Marshall town was near us - they said they'd come to celebrate their 29th Anniversary. He was a Lennox Heating/AC guy and his wife commutes to work in a downtown DSM bank. I told them it's our 30th this year, and Deb and Larry just passed theirs in May. We bumped knuckles! The guy said the secret is to keep having fun together - and doing stuff like this. I have to agree! They didn't know any of the Marshalltown people I know like Pam Blake and Casee Piel. He said if Casee is a cop he'd like to keep it that way...anyways...fun to talk to them. (On a funny note, my new friend said he'd found Southern Iowa to be..."different"). Ha! We like it that way.

view from afar

view up close

Jeff decided we'd better go down close to the stage to get the "whole experience". So we did. There were a lot of drunks down there, but it was a fun way to see it. I enjoyed watching the band members work their instruments. And during the instrumentals some of the dancing couples were working it too! We had to move for a fight at one point. A small shaven head guy in leathers and tats was drinking Mike's Hard Lemonade dancing by himself near us. I got a kick out of that...c'mon man. Harley guy can't choke down a Bud? A group of nerdy young guys took of their shirts and gyrated together - yep that's going to attract the chicks. Susan Dunphy came over and yelled, "I'm having a flashback!" Agreed!

rockers

crowd was crazy

There were a lot of people I didn't know. And many I did. More of my homegirls showed up - Pat and Susan. The band played songs I didn't know so well and then the faves - Fool For the City, I Just Want to Make Love to You, and lastly, Slow Ride. Flashback for sure. I love live music!  Fun night in Crestonia.

Shoulder and Peg - it will come back to you *(politics)

One of my favorite peeps was visiting Iowa this week. It worked out nicely into our schedule - the most excellent Bruce Hornsby concert Wednesday night - Paul rode up with Petersons and stayed all night with me at Joan's. I'm so lucky to have a nice roomie! ;>)

The next morning, we had a quick breakfast at Panera (did you know there's such thing as a French Toast bagel?) before my appointment with the shoulder surgeon at DMOS. That's the same place I went for the removal of Imelda, my shoe loving tumor (see my blog from March for more on this...). Unfortunately, the arm surgeon doesn't do shoulders. So that day I saw Dr. Kary Schulte.

First, because the computers at DMOS don't speak to the computers at Southwest Fam Physicians I had to have more X-Rays. I don't like that, but what are you going to do. At least I didn't have to disrobe and it was quick. Dr. Schulte reminded me a lot of my Doc Bro-In-Law - Betso's husband, Wayne Kohan. He's probably in his late 40's, soft-spoken, but someone you listen to. He put me through a series of movements and poked around. It didn't take him long to decide that scar tissue is my problem - not a torn rotator cuff, which I had feared.

I had a few options, but as bad as it's gotten, I've decided to have him put me under in mid July (as early as our schedules allow) and he'll crank that sucker and pop the scar tissue. Yeah, I know - sounds very painful. Paul had that done after his knee surgery and it was worse than the surgery! The same day of the procedure I'll begin physical therapy to prevent new scar tissue from laying down. This time I'll have to work through the pain instead of babying the thing - which is what I must have done that cause this whole problem. When it got sore, I quit using it. How are you supposed to know? And I didn't go to the doctor until it was too late - it was frozen by then. So a lesson to you all - treat injuries early! In between now and July 18, I'll Advil will be my friend and sleep hard to come by. Now that I know nothing is torn in there I'm going to get back to working out - no more whoa is me.

After my appointment (I was glad to have Pablo there for moral support and to ask questions), Paul dropped me off so I could work for a couple hours and he stopped at LifeServe Blood Center to donate. Yes - I turned him into a donor during our time living in the East Village. (Score one for me). I tried to donate at Valley West later, alas my blood pressure was too low. I hate getting rejected!

Dave Fox, Jean, (with Kelli - Denny's wife - not in this blog...)

Then we headed to Webster City for a mini-Goldsmith gathering - a chance to see my girl Peg Fox, who was coming back for her 25 high school reunion and to see family of course. In addition Paul's sisters were visiting: Pat, with husband Dave from Freeport, IL, Carol from Northwood and of course Peg's folks Paul's sis Jean and Husband Dave who have lived in Webster for a long time. Peg and her wife Brooke and twins Alex and Logan, age 4 arrived around 5:30 p.m. Sib pictures from last summer's fam reunion. Didn't seem to get one of Pat and Dave...

Carol and Jean

Peg is the second oldest of the Fox clan. Steve her bro lives in San Diego, Peg in New York City, Kris in Houston and Annette just west of the Twin Cities. So they are spread far and wide. When Peg moved to NYC in the mid 1990s, Jean and I went to visit her there. She attended the New School and worked part time. She had already gotten her undergrad and masters at UNI. It was then when I began to suspect that she was gay, but it was unspoken - I don't think I even said anything to Paul about it.

In 2000, Amy, Jean and I took a trip to NYC. Peg was temping at an insurance company and got us their box seat tickets to Tina Turner at Madison Square Garden. How's that for your first concert experience, Amy? We saw Lion King at the New Amsterdam Theater and had a great time throughout the whole trip! I love talking to Peg - she's a caring, intelligent, funny person. She always asks about our family and takes a true interest in their lives.

I can't say I was surprised a couple years later when Jean told Paul and me that Peg had come out to them - that she is gay. It was hard on Jean and Dave. I don't wish to bring this up every time I talk about her - the fact that Peg is gay certainly doesn't define her - but so many people still don't get it. I can't remember how long ago Peg and Brooke got married in Canada. Four years ago Peg gave birth to the boys - with the help of donor sperm. They are a committed couple raising their family just like any other couple. Oh wait - lots of children don't have 2 parents raising them...

Brooke, Logan, Alex, Peg

Anyway, for all of you out there who are against gay marriage - I wish you could meet Peg and her wife Brooke. Peg didn't choose to be attracted to women - she was born that way. The same with Brooke. Would it make all of us feel better if they faked it and married men? I'd prefer happy people marrying the ones they really love. If Dave Fox can accept this (he started out very conservative and his mind changed through the years), I think many of you out there can. When you have people who have been married and divorced multiple times arguing about the sanctity of marriage....

I'm glad we got to see them. The boys are full of energy - especially after a day of traveling. Like any good auntie I took sidewalk chalk - they enjoyed drawing "ant traps". It was a busy day, but paid off in hugs!

*Peg It Will Come Back to You is a song by Steely Dan

That's Just The Way It Is

Yes my friends - I saw one of my all time fave artists, Bruce Hornsby up close and personal this week. I didn't even know he was going to be in Des Moines until my buddy Deb mentioned last weekend that he was going to be at Nitefall on the River Wednesday. She and Larry were planning to go. I talked to Pablo and we hatched a plan to attend, since I've been a big fan since the 90's.

BB (Before Bruce) at lunchtime Wednesday, DNR had a dunk tank. We were raising money for the Foodbank, something we do all year round. The new director Chuck Gipp went for a dip early - I missed that, but I went out for a hot dog (price - 2 canned goods) when the deputy director took a dive. He's Bruce Trautman, a former USDA NRCS Area Conservationist - a friend of Paul's. For a new guy, he seems to already know quite a few people...at least several employees wanted to put him in the water! He's a jokester, and he heckled people in between throws.

Trautman drops

Rogue's gallery watches

After lunch, I forked over $5 for my pal Scott to toss a few balls at the big red dot to mess up our co-worker Tom's hair. Our supe Jen's sister Cindy works in Admin. Her sons even got in the act - their mom was dressed like a witch! It was a fun time for a good cause.

Jen, at right, coaches her nephew to nail the target, dunking her sis who is dressed like a witch

I'm not quite sure why Mel was decked out in a sailor outfit. Tom looks damp.

 

Scott waits for another shot at dunking Tom

Later that day, Paul rode up to DSM with Larry and Deb, and we met at Culvers on Jordan Creek Parkway. I was sad that out of the whole week, this one day turned out rainy - just our luck! I got an email that the concert venue was switched to the Val Air Ballroom, kind of a dumpy old place. But somehow it's got character - it has seen a lot of shows in its day.

Violinist was good!

And now Bruce was here - his first time in Iowa in 25 years! When we got there, Cornmeal was playing - a string band from Chicago. I know - doesn't seem like it goes together string band - Chicago. A string band should be from Nashville or Montana. But I enjoyed the songs I heard them play. People were sitting all around the sides, but the middle of the floor was open, so that's where we headed after getting a couple beers.

with mondolin

Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers came on about 8 PM. He's such a talented musican! That guy can tickle the ivories. Makes me wish I would have stuck it out with piano lessons. Plus he plays mandolin and the accordian too - a could never dream of doing that. He asked the violinist from Cornmeal to play along with the band. She was great and I loved the interaction between all the musicians.  



see how close we were



I dig live music - so the versions of Mandolin Rain, and Just the Way It Is were great of course. I heard some new songs that were great too. We were so close to him in the Val Air - I got some pics and video. They played for a couple hours. Then Deb and Larry dropped us off back at our car - Pablo stated the night at Joan's. It was a fun night!  

Check that - share artists...not music

A friend of mine posted this article on Facebook. It's a letter to an Intern at NPR (that's National Public Radio for those of you who aren't nerdie)
Letter to a music copier

Here's another article about the NPR intern - Emily White. It sounds like she got an earful after she blogged about having 11,000 songs, and has only purchased some 15 CDs in her life. She says she's supported musicians by attending concerts. Hmmm
NYTimes article

And I've been pondering again. Both articles make excellent points. I shouldn't be enjoying shared music without paying for it. My recent blog talked about how Amy and I share music. It's a great way for me to hear new artists. So I don't think stopping this practice altogether is a good idea. After all I've purchased tunes of artists she's turned me onto thanks to her assistance!

But I need to be more mindful of this practice. Just because it's so easy doesn't mean it's right. So I vow to treat Amy's CDs as samples. The songs I like, I'll buy. After all - musicians gotta make a living!

And I didn't even try

I picked a great father for my children...without really even trying!

Sometimes when I talk to my oldest friends, they tell me that I talked long ago about what I was looking for in a mate. I don't recall this at all. Evidently my words had more of an impact on them than they did me! Or I was blowing smoke up their asses...

I wasn't like my roomie Sally - gorgeous blond and 5 foot 11". She always had guys lined up to date her. Othere roomies: Vic and Fred were destined for each other. Jane dated several guys (I'll never forget Stan). I'd had the HS boyfriend - the oh so nice Mike McCauley. Too nice for me. So nice that I broke up with him by our senior year, and dabbled a bit with Craig Both. He was more of a bad boy. But I didn't really have an ISU bf (Mark who broke my heart at the end of freshman year was a fairly brief dalliance). Moose wasn't bf material back then. I remember listening to sad love songs wondering if I'd ever find "the guy". Karla Bonoff - "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me". Oh the angst.

I've seen TV shows where advice is given that women should come up with a list of what they're looking for in a guy. But I don't remember doing that. Blond Catholic farm boy that will someday make a great father would not have been on my list! Somehow, despite myself, I lucked out. And so did our children.

How so? I think the best thing Paul Goldsmith does for Amy and Jud (and don't forget Patrick) is to love their mother well. In my opinion that is one thing many parents today do wrong - they elevate the children above the mate/marriage, putting too much stress on the kids. Sure the little monsters (children) might seem like they enjoy being the center of attention. But really it's stressful for them to feel as if the burden of the family depends on them.

In addition to treating me well, Paul also is a pretty darn good daddy. (Amy still calls him that and I love it, Jud opts for the traditional Dad). I expected it from the start and he came through - changing diapers, feeding the baby, getting up in the night. He was really good at the expected stuff - teaching the kids about sports, outdoors, mowing. He coached them through every sport - remaining fair to all the children, not inflating our kid's playing time. Paul is a wonderful role model, sharing household duties with me, we make a good team. Plus he's a good provider - demonstrating just what a good employee is for USDA all these years.

Now that A&J are mostly growed up, they still call Paul for advice on many things - cars, job stuff, investments, work. They call me too - it just depends on the nature of the question. I am in awe of the reliable, awesome guy he is. Sometimes I get lulled by it..taking him for granted as I'm sure our children do too.

Today, on his 25th Father's Day I am filled with appreciation that 30 years ago I was lucky enough to marry this wonderful father. Thanks to George and Laura Goldsmith for raising such a wonderful man.

Paul on last year's Elk hunting trip in Colorado

I miss my daddy David Judson Bullock. He's been gone 5 years now. I got to know him so much better in his later years than I did when I was young. He was such a friendly guy - could talk to anyone. Happy Dad's Day Dave Bullfrog!

Mom and Dad - Thanksgiving in Grand Junction one year

Music hugs and walk thoughts

Through the years, Amy and I somehow got into the habit of making CDs for each other. She actually started this practice - making gift music CDs years ago - probably as a cheap way to give us something for Mother's and Father's Days - stuff like that. I specifically remember a CD of deer-hunting tunes she prepared for her father. Awww. But I've surprised her with a couple too - especially since I found out about the cache of CDs the Urbandale Public Library has. She scored some Rihanna tunes from me baby! Her cousin Jordan was surprised that her Auntie like the raunchy stuff...

Since our girl lives some 600 miles away, she often prepares a set of tunes for us for our trip when we drive back from the Mile High City. This past Memorial Day, Paul and I were listening to a CJ Box book (combines a game warden and murder - something for each of us!) on the way back from Denver, so we didn't have time to break out the music. In fact we had to listen to the last couple chapters of the book on the Bose in our very own living room!

So the first time I remembered to have a listen to the tunes she prepared was last weekend! It's always like a lil hug from her to hear what she selected. Here are a few tunes she's helped me enjoy lately:
Railroad Earth Long Way to Go
Steve Martin was right when he said nothing can sound sad when you put a banjo in there. Death, destruction...
I like string bands. I hadn't heard of Railroad Earth before.

This song is a sad one, originally done and loved by me - by Bonnie Raitt. The one Amy recorded is a sung by Bruce Hornsby an octave highter than he does in this Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSEjDoE-QEI



For some reason this song always reminds of my besties. All the beautiful women in my life. Not because I wanna be their baby fathers..but because they're so beautiful to me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOzN0eihsE
It makes me smile!

Amy's latest CD compilation: ( I had to google for titles and artists so I may have whiffed on a few...)
Best of My Love - Emotions
Blood Lyrics - Middle East
In Your Eyes - Rogue Wave
The Girl - City and Colour
Head Full of Doubt - Avett Brothers
I Can't Make You Love Me, Prairiedog Town, Sticks and Stones - Bruce Hornsby
It Girl, Ridin' Solo - Jason Derulo
I saw You First - Mellencamp
Sweet Disposition - Temper Trap
Lighting Candles - the Weepies
Long Way to Go - Railroad Earth
I Don't Want To Wait in Vain - Annie Lennox
I also bought Dixie Chicks - The Long Way Around after she linked it on her blog.

Beautiful was on her last compilation. Some of my other all time faves she's shared are Michael Franti and Mumford and Sons.
Think about sharing music with your friends and fam. All it takes is a little time, and you can share those hugs over and over.
__________________________________________________________________

During my walk yesterday, I thought about how much history Creston holds for me. Just glancing around on that walk tells a great deal. First, this stone in Calvary - the Catholic cemetery that is such a special place to me. I didn't know this man, obviously - though we did know another Tom Walsh who passed away recently. But the message on the stone has always resonated with me. "Be quiet, let us reason"

After trotting through the final resting place of many, I headed west on Adams - quite hilly. Once I got past the first couple houses, the Summit Lake Dam project made its appearance along with some horses. I can't wait until the dam is done and we can get the kayaks back out there again.

I love the gazebo at the White home. This home used to be owned by Landon "Bud" Brooks - who was the CEO at Gits Manufacturing when I worked there. He got cancer, and passed away in the mid 1990s. Jeanne Piel and Cynthia Wolf were two of my friends who knew him well and his death was hard on them and the many other friends and loved ones.

The home was purchased by Steve and Suzie White, sister to Barb Crittenden. I worked with Barb's husband Steve at First National Bank. Paul and Steve are good friends. I don't know the Whites well, but I remember that when I worked at the bank, they tragically lost a child when she was with her grandpa and knocked the truck into gear and it rolled into a pond and she drowned. I think she was two years old at the time. That was before we lost baby Patrick, but I thought of them after we too lost a child. The Crittendens and Whites are aunts and uncles of Jim Ide whose wedding I blogged about a couple weeks ago. (Suzie and Barb are sisters of Jim's dad Dan Ide).

When I see the gazebo, I think of Bud Brooks, buried at Calgary and the White fam who now lives in this beautiful home

On up the road there is the "Dieter Addition" , a small housing development that was the dream of a guy that worked with Bobbie at Mederer - the original Creston Gummi-bear plant now owned by Wrigley. We've know various people who have lived in this are through the years - including blond twins Darrah and Sheena Dawson who played volleyball with Amy. Their parents were nice. They moved away around the time the girls graduated from HS. /the cornerstone home in that area, called Fort Knock - was built by Joe Knock, owner of Iowa State Savings Bank. Jud was friends with Chris Allen, classmate at St. Malachy who lived in that home during his school years.

As I continued west, I spied a mailbox painted with Bailey Farms. Home of the parents of the Bailey boys and Carol Sharp - neighbor across the street from our first home in Creston on Prairie. The Sharp's daughter Amy was our babysitter when our Amy was a tot. We watched their sons play in their yard. The Sharp fam is the Miller beer distributor in the area - so most of Creston is Miller country. At the top of the hill - my turning around point for my walk, was Stormy Lee's house. Stormy is Amy's bestest Creston friend. I blogged about her wedding last winter. Her parents built this home when she was in HS. I see her mom jog by with the dogs periodically.

The view on the walk home - homes on the road around the corner from ours. Recent rains were welcome for crops!

So you can tell - I have a great deal of history packed into my head about this town. Sad and happy stories. The stories of life. Most of the people around here know my story too. Small towns are like that. Talking to Amy about her life in Denver - it's not so different, just bigger so more spread out. Last weekend she ran into people she knew at a Rockies game and another event.

Isn't life interesting?

Girl Talk - no boys allowed

Like the fire of a thousand suns...the hot flash!

Unless you can stand hearing about things like Uteruses. Or is the plural Uteri? Don't ask me, I have fuzzy brain. Why you ask? If you're not asking - this blog's not for you!

Start up the way back machine. Going on three years ago now I had a hysterectomy - DaVinci style (it's a type of computer assisted surgery) - quite artistic. I decided prior to surgery that I wished to retain my ovaries so I wouldn't be plunged into immediate menopause, but Dr. Dornbier found a large cyst on leftie - so out she went. Since surgery I haven't had any monthly - well reminders of my womanliness. So I haven't been quite sure whether or not I've gone through the change or not.

Mom had a hysterectomy at an early age - so I didn't have her to go by. Sister Cindo had one in her 40's. But Suso - she kept going strong with periods until past age 55! So I wasn't sure what to expect. When could I expect to go through menopause? When would I be in the Big M Club? Some of my friends had their last period in their 40's whilst others are still experiencing the monthly joy of hemorrhaging with cramps. And buying all those feminine products at top prices.

A few weeks ago I noticed I felt intense heat washing over me. Hot! Then it was over. Could this be one of those hot flashes I'd heard my girlies talk about? I must admit I'd made fun of them - but now I feel their pain! It's kind of like when I laughed about girls getting their periods in 7th grade - and then I got mine...no fun. For 40 years with timeout only for pregnancies! Hot flashes became a multiple time daily event. Yoo hoo.

But the worse part? Fuzzy brain. I'm having problems with word retrieval. People's names? Gone. Even words perched on the edge of my brain just waiting to pop into a sentence. But no. Said word is stuck, wedged in a brain crevice not to get to my tongue. Until later - when I'm not trying to come up with it. And there was that lil episode at the bridal shower when I signed Patti's name on the card with her maiden name. And I didn't even know her when she was a maiden! Damn you hormones.

Some days I go through brief periods when I don't even feel like myself. What the hell!?! Am I finally growing up? Or is it all the damn hormones ebbing and flowing?

I had my annual physical with Sheryl Young ARNP this week. She's such a nice lady, and she took time to talk to me about my life - not just check my various orifices and organs. I've known Sheryl for 20 years or so - so that also makes it easy for me to spill my guts (no not literally) to her. She mentioned the possibility of hormone replacement, but I'm holding out for now. I need to get this dented wing of mine (shoulder injury) fixed before I think about the next thing.

So if you're talking to me, and a bead of perspiration breaks out on my upper lip, and I forget a name or a word. Or even my whole train of thought of where I was going with the whole story - just laugh with me and offer me a beer! Unless we're at work of course...

They say this too shall pass. And I'll be sharp as a - one of those things you beat horses with - again. Oh yeah - a whip!

My week - visit with Mary

It's been a pretty good week - thanks mostly to a kindly invitation from a friend. I met Mary Morman-Graham many years ago - so long ago I can't quite remember when! She's a good friend of a good friend of mine, Kay Lauritsen Wilt. Okay, Mary knew Kay first. They were college buddies. We got to know Kay post-college when she began to date our pal Moose (Steve).

I saw Mary last summer when Wilts and Behrs were visiting and we came up from Creston to Des Moines to the Farmers Market. After that we became Facebook Friends. This week she invited me over for a beverage at the home she shares with her her hubby Kerry in the Drake area of Des Moines. I got a 'lil tour of the main floor of their lovely home - Mary has so many cool antiques including this mannequin, Eileen.

Eileen is wearing pearls for Memorial Day

The hostas are going strong

 Mary and Cary have five cats. It made me miss Samantha (not that I called her that - she'll always be just plain Kitty to me).

They put this brick in just recently - it's recycled. Isn't it cool!

Then we headed to the beautiful and relaxing garden. Mary had made homemade salsa and get this - her own humus. I didn't know that was possible! It was very good too. Not to mention the nice walk down memory lane we had, establishing just who the mutual people were we knew from our time at ISU. (She's a whole year older than I am-and she probably met my Pablo the Poolboy before I did). Bob Fitzpatrick, Steve Schneider, Brad, Tom, Catfish - we talked about all of 'em. (But I picked the best one...awww).

I enjoyed hearing about her family - her parents are still living in their own home, her father is in his 90's. But they are struggling with keeping things up - like mowing. Her dad has some health problems now and the fam is considering assisted living - tough though after all those years in a family home.

We decided we need to get together again - and arrange for another mutual friend to join us. Jane Flack Conn, my college roomie who later became Mary's roomie and her sis Susan should come too! There's no friends like old friends. Then I backed out of Mary's driveway and tried to smash her recycling bin - how that's for a trash queen? haha

And another thing...
On my walk at lunchtime in the East Village this week, I spied a new store opening soon - vintage. Looks interesting.

I work near a group of people who work on developing Iowa's rivers for canoeing and kayaking. They put this sign up on their cubicle area recently. I thought it was funny.