Another week past...

The countdown is on. Two more weeks until the movers are here. We'll be putting the "stuff" of our lives into a big truck. That's weird.

Hope he's not a back seat driver!

At this moment 2 deer heads are in my car to take to my former roomie Joan's place (shhh - she doesn't know she'll have a couple little friends staring at her for a while yet). The movers wanted $1,000 each to move them - crating and uncrating. No thanks! There are 2 more in the basement awaiting transport later. Paul parted with one - it's at the Holy Spirit ReRun Shop if you have a burning desire for a deer head.

This week Paul is pheasant hunting in South Dakota with college buddies, Mike Huston and Tom Sullivan. He's done this hunt the past few years and he always has a great time hanging with his buddies, and they get a few birds too. I plan to get together with Joan while he's gone - we need to catch up!

Great ISU game day yesterday with a victory over Baylor! McFees rode up with us and we drove by our new home on the way to the game. Bobbie and Jeff said they think they can find their way back - we'll have a room for them on Cody Drive! This week we purchased the dining table, a love seat and some art from the sellers. On a similar note, we sold our table/chairs and some other stuff to our home buyers. That worked out great! Our realtors have been swell on this regard. Shout out to Roger Saxton and Marg Hull.

Check out radiant heater - ahhhh

Paul chats with Jud's buddy Mitch

 

It was a chilly day, but Don's niece brought a radiant heater. It was great! It was soup day - 4 kinds of soups were perfect! Plus pumpkin and apple bars - and bevvies of your choice. Jud wasn't there (he and Kara were at her cousin's wedding in Tampa) but his buddies showed up in force and we still love them - and they helped us eat soup! Donnie's college roomie Jim and wife Patty were there - they just moved to Denver from St. Louis, because their 2 children live there. Paul and I attended the Spirit Walk to High 5 the players entering the stadium for the game.

The team runs to the students and sings the fight song

And then our beloved Cyclones came through with a glorious Homecoming victory. It was college football at its finest. The 54K crowd was lovin' it! We did The Wave 3 ways - regular, slow and on crack (really fast). It was really fun. The alumni band played with the Iowa State University VARSITY (Not the JV dammit) Marching Band played. The sound system played all the good tunes that old ladies like to dance to. Diana and I stood on one leg to help the defense stop Baylor on third down situations. (We do what we can).

CPR - on left

After the game we had passes (because McKim's son Ryan is on the coaching staff) to go in the "Jake" building where the team locker room is. Former Cyclone great Seneca Wallace was there. Coach Rhoads came out. Everyone was joyful!

The drive home was late, but Jeff has imbibed enough liquor to entertain us most of the way. His head started bobbing about ten minutes from home. We are happy and blessed people!

Brother-In-Law Bolder Report: Bolder was not able to have his first full chemo due to low platelets. He did have a partial one. They'll try again soon. Please keep Bold and my sister Cindy and their son Colby in your prayers. They will need all our strength and good thoughts during this time.  

Plagiarism

I just watched a story on plagiarism on the Sunday Morning Show. I thought I better fess up that my whole blog is plagiarized. Yep. I am stealing this stuff from some other chick who has a wierd life and thoughts...so don't blame me. Except for the stealing part. haha

Aww...I'm just teasing. You can't make this stuff up. It's my life and welcome to it. Sometimes it's funny when I start telling someone what I'm up to and they already know - because they read my blog! I'm an open book. Blog.

That happened just last night at church when my friend Cheri told me she knew we'd sold our Creston home. Before I told her in person. It will be a good way for people to keep up on what the Goldsmiths are up to...if they continue to care once we move to the big city. Now if I can just figure out a way to keep up on their lives...

Prior to moving, Paul and I are cleansing - our home of stuff we no longer want or need. I texted Amy yesterday to see if she still wants the 2 boxes of stuffed animals we had stored downstairs. She texted back, "Well I just saw Toy Story 3 so it's an even more sensitive subject than usual!" I'm sure she was half-serious. The kid loved her stuffed toys. In that movie, the little boy donates his toys to a daycare where they're doomed to the baby room and they get drooled on day after day...I split the difference and picked out a few faves and put the rest in the "give away" box.

Then it was time to go through books. Many memories there - the beloved ones I read the kids must stay. But there are others I have no emotional ties to. The back of my car is full of stuff destined for my buddy Deb to take to the staging area for the Planned Parenthood booksale. They accept videos puzzles and games too - so they're getting all our old VHS tapes. (I took some to Creston's Friends of the Library Booksale too) Disney to Adventures in Babysitting. There are many memories with the kids there too. I also bagged up all my leftover feminine hygiene products - pads/tampons to give to Deb for use at our local Planned Parenthood. Those products are expensive - no use tossing them out!

I'm keeping the Playmobiles, the Duplos and Legos and other toys that will be fun for little ones who come visit our home someday. Amy's old dolls will be there too - the American Girls and the Cabbage Patch - all well played with, complete with the little hair care kit she made. Jud's "guys" superhero plastic things and some metal vehicles will stay too. He saved the "important" to him stuff - electronic games. How sentimental!

The right chemistry

I didn't have it...with Chem - the class. It started out in high school when our wonderful chemistry instructor ran off part way through the school year - with a guy. There went any chance I had of understanding the stuff. Evidently they had good chemistry. Her replacement was lame. My understanding of the subject - also lame.

When I got to college - all pumped about my pre-vet major, I quickly got side-tracked by my weak science background and desire to learn about science. Ironically, the very same Mrs. Beaver had landed in Ames (with her new honey) and I recall Roger Underwood and I went to get some tutoring from her on Chem. It didn't help. I had to hire a tutor to scrape out a "C". It didn't help that the Teaching Assistants were Chinese and they said the word Mole (a key word in chem) like More - which really threw me off...

I ended up changing majors...I had realized the science path wasn't for me. Pithing frogs made me sick. I didn't enjoy studying body parts. My dream of being a vet was just that - a pipe dream, based on the fact that I like animals. I also like sports, but I knew I wasn't going to be a professional athlete. So I ended up in a major eventually that fit my skills and personality - Public Service and Administration. And Gee - look at me now!

But ten years ago, when I ended up in a job that was on a path towards working with chemicals at a Household Hazardous Material Facility, I wondered - could I do it? In this case I didn't have to worry about Moles. The chemicals were more real - stuff like paint, thinner, bug killer and cleansers. I found out that I actually enjoyed this type of work - categorizing each product and putting it in its place for proper treatment and/or disposal by a contractor. I received special training and had annual updates. If I had questions, there were professionals I could ask.

I delivered this type of stuff I delivered to my old place of employment today, because we're moving.
Prairie Solid Waste Agency
If you live in Iowa, most likely there is a facility like this near you - check out this link to find out where:
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/HouseholdHazardousMaterials/RegionalCollectionCenters.aspx
If you don't live in Iowa, just Google or call local officials to find out where to take it.

Movers won't accept HHM (Household Hazardous Materials) in their trucks. Why? Key word - hazardous. All it takes is a couple of those products to mix together and your stuff is toast - fire can break out. Blackened and charred. Or worse yet, an explosive fireball. We all tend to think of this stuff as harmless but it can be deadly when not used right or when combined with other stuff. (That's how terrorists do it.) The usable stuff I delivered will be put in the SWAP Shop for others to take home FREE! (if the staff doesn't get it first...).

Opening the HHM facility is still one of the things I'm most proud of in my career. Chemistry irony!

The Chase

We began our stay at The Chase this week. It's an extended stay motel in West Des Moines. Our home during the workweeks, until we can get into our new townhome - we hope that's mid-November. Our loan guy in Creston is hedging on whether he can put the deal together that fast, but we're pushing hard. We need to get into the new joint! Or we'll be homeless - I picture myself living in my cubicle, washing my armpits in the sinks in the Wallace Building sink. Not pretty.

It's kinda bleak at the Chase Inn. Not as fun living there as the loft we lived in earlier this year. But the leaves across the street are gorgeous!

And they left this nice little welcome.

Goodies

 

If only those vertical blinds closed better - perhaps we'd sleep more soundly at Chase...

Tonight we went to Homemaker's Furniture and looked at bedroom sets and dining sets. Getting an idea of what we're looking for there. We have had my grandparents' table since 1982 - the year we got married. It's Ethan Allen, but its time is past. My bedroom set is a hand-me-down from Dad's place (his 2nd wife Pat2 picked it out for their 2nd bedroom). So it's time for me to get my own stuff!

Our new home - a townhouse



View from Cody Drive - West Des Moines, just north of Jordan Creek Mall

 

These weeks are pretty stressful. There are a gazillion things to do relating to this move - the brunt falling on Paul. This weekend we need to work on more at our house, preparing for the move. Work is busy. I'm just back from a 2-day trip to Dubuque and Davenport. Paul is in a new job and is learning the ropes. We're not sleeping well. We're worried about my Bro-in-law Bolder, struggling with cancer. But hey, we're together. That's what it's all about!

 

When the going gets rough...what do we do? Party!

 

Mark your calendars for the Goldsmith's Big Going Away Bash - November 10th at the Lobby Bar in Creston. Billy O will DJ and provide Karaoke. Put on your dancin' shoes! Should be fun.

 

The very next week the movers will be hauling our stuff outta town. Hope that loan gets done in time! 

 



Hail, Hail

Some of the gang was all here - in Ames for the ISU vs. Kansas State game. While our beloved Cyclones weren't victorious over #5 KSU (despite some great opportunities), a good time was had, as usual when we get together with these oldie but goodie friends.

First of all, a real Cyclone was forecast weather-wise, at least earlier in the week. I think those weather forecasters are just bored and were excited to get Iowans jacked up about rain and wind. It did end up raining, but the weather gods smiled down as it only misted a bit at the beginning of the game and the sun even tried to pop out a couple times. The wind they forecast didn't really even amount to much.

Pablo and I got up early - to much-needed rain in Crestonia. We headed north, arriving just before 8 a.m. Diana and I jumped into cooked eggs and heating up sausage for breakfast burritos. Moose and Kay arrived first - they came in from Chicago, but drove over to Cedar Rapids the night before. Mike and Paula Huston arrived from the LaCrosse area next, with Behrs arriving from Northfield (Kelli and Toby from Mpls) right before game time - 11 a.m.

McKims were nice enough to give us their two tickets so Mike and Paula could attend the game - the others had tickets to sit on the grass (which despite the rain, was not soaking wet). So we got to catch up with the Hustons during the first half. Mike was the Best Man at our wedding and he and Paul will go pheasant hunting in SoDak soon.

It was so cute when we arrived later than usual at the game - the guy that sits right by us (I regret I don't know his name...) said, "where have you been? I've been worried about you!" Ahhh we're missed.

Vic - first buddy I met my frosh year!

At halftime, I headed down to sit with the gang. No, I couldn't see the game too well - but that was okay. It was fun chatting. It was Freddie B's Birthday! At one point, Kelli Behr (Vic's daughter, Amy's age who brought her fiance Toby - we finally got to meet him, and yes, he passed the test) said, "Just look at this - how great, how you all have stuck together - college friends." It's true! We are the lucky ones.

One thing that helped is that Mike Huston invited us to camp at his family's farm at Ridgeland, Wisconsin to go tubing on the Apple River. So we took him up on it...for 15 years. Through those years, we got married, became young parents, and bonded for life. Our kids grew up like cousins. So even though we eventually got busy with school activities and didn't see each other quite as often, Amy and Kelli have a "thing" like her mom and I. They can pick up right where they left off, whether it was a month since they talked, or six. And now Amy has the honor of being a bridesmaid in Kelli's wedding next June.

Kel and Amy

The Wilt girls, Jaime and Alyssa are like littler cousins to the Behr girls. They went on vacation together. Our kids don't know them quite as well...but Amy did stay at their place in Chicago once. And Jud...he's a guy so he didn't try as much to bond, you know how that goes.

After the game, Mary Morman and her husband Cary came up to hang out with us. She was Kay's roomie in college. I have hung out with her in DSM. I was sorry Vic and my roomie Jane (lives in Waukee) couldn't make it. And Sal - who lives in Oregon.

But I think it's pretty cool. Aren't friendships grand?

Shout out to my Baby Girl on her Day 'O Birth. Hard to believe it was 27 years ago that she popped out (was pulled out with forceps) but then again seems like she's always been with us. We couldn't ask for a finer daughter.

Love you Amy! And so glad to Jud and Kara were able to be with you on your day.

The Big Why

Buddies - Bolder and Pablo

Bolder's cancer is back. He's my sis Cindy's husband (real name Brian) - age 59 and he battled aggressive prostate cancer last year through early this spring. It was rough - surgery, chemo, radiation. There were lots of ups and many downs. But in the end, his PSA, the test they do to see if the cancer is gone, came back good! We were happy.

The Lefebvres went big last summer - traveling to Vegas for their friends renewal of vows celebration. Elvis married Bonnie and Eric with Bolder and Cindo along side. Their son Colby was there too.

Then our great trip to Cannon Beach - we all had a fantastic time. Bold and Cindo got the Master Suite in the beautiful house near the beach and were in hog heaven. Boldie even brought out the pope hat to help celebrate Betsy's 50th birthday. He got to know the wait staff at the local bar, which he loves doing. And they all love him! Paul even shared his martinis. Later he took us to a cool bar in Portland with a frost strip to keep our drinks chilled.

In August, the Lefebvres went back to Massachusetts to Bolder's niece's wedding. Cindo said that was a super trip too - they got to see Boldie's mom Claire who is in her mid 80's, and his bro. They love the food back there, and it's fun for Bold to return to his home.

Amy and some friends were just up in Vail a couple weekends ago, and had a great time. The Lefebvres are such great entertainers. Then Bolder had a checkup, and though his PSA levels still look great, some blood results caused the docs to order CAT and bone scans. The results were bad. He has cancer in his liver and several areas in his bones.

I'm beside myself. How does this happen? Why?

Now he has another fight on his hands. Their community is rallying around them, as friends do. Our family is waiting to figure out just what we can do. Because that's what fams do. For now - I just hurt, and pray. And send vibes their way. I ask for your help on that.

Thank you.

Paul's Reception/Book Club Goodbyes

I headed home early Thursday to attend Paul's NRCS Open House. His clerk Dixie did a great job setting up for a nice reception at his office - complete with a Cyclone cake, mints and punch. Folks from the county, people he's worked with for years (26, count 'em). I got to see some guys Paul trained through the years who have gone on to become District Conservationists like he is.

Steve in the dark hat is one of Paul's good buddies

Deb and Larry on left
 

Joan and Ginny chat with me
 

When I got there, Sharon and Steve were there, representing First National Bank - my first employer and our bank for the past quarter century. And those two are our friends too! Then Joan W. and Ginny stopped by, taking time out from their hospital jobs to wish us well. Our boys played sports together through the years - lots of commuting and bench time with those ladies. We discussed getting together midway between Creston and DSM at Dexter's Rusty Duck. We want to stay in touch with these peeps!

Towards the end of the event, Franklin Kinkade shuffled in...he used to be on Paul's board and is the guy who installed our ground source heat at our home. He had some kind of "letter to the editor" he was handing out, so I avoided him. He's in his 80's - a local character. I headed home before it was over - exhausted from a long week.

But I perked up just after 6:30 PM, cuz I was picking up Deb for book club. She wanted to go early because Pat Moeller was holding some kind of Home party in the side room at the Lobby. Some of the Book Club chicks were already in place, but I saw some of my homegirls were in ordering stuff at the Home party, so went in to say "hi" to Susan, Patti, Dee, Nancy and of course Pat.

Then it was time to discuss "Night Circus" with Book Chicks. Vidette brought delicious chocolate cupcakes from Upper Crust bakery. Elizabeth told us she's moving back to California later this month. Barb and her daughter-in-law Katherine, the new kids at book club were there. Barb brought us all cool bookmarks. Diane brought pics of her new kitty - adorable! The girls gave me a card, which made me feel quite sentimental. We planned on taking a photo but then forgot dammit! I hate this goodbye stuff. We had a good discussion of the book, though not everyone had completed reading it. On the way out, I gave away leftover cake from Paul's reception to Lobby barflies.

As usual Deb and I sat in her driveway chatting for 20 minutes. Oh I'm so going to miss this lady. My mind and heart are a sea of emotions...

We kind of celebrated last night

Our house is SOLD. We think. I won't believe it until we get the big check. It's complicated since we're participating in the Federal Government Relocation program - so technically it's not our house to sell. We sold it through a local realtor, Stewart Realty's Roger Saxton.

We went with Stewart Realty because that's who helped up buy our first home in town - Betty Brown, RIP. And owner Stew Stewart helped us purchase this house and sell our home on Prairie Street. So we have a good track record with Stewart Realty. I worked with Roger's wife Mary at First National Bank many years ago. Roger used to be a Creston police officer, and has been in real estate for many years now. He's a very nice guy.

To our good fortune, we ended up selling the house before all the federal hoops were completed - appraisals, inspections etc. Phew - what a whirlwind. Even though we accepted the buyer's offer, the feds are the ones who have to okay the financing. We think they did, but that's why I'm still being cautious about the whole thing...show me the money.

Now Pablo and I need to get busy with Marg Hull-Jackson, our realtor in DSM. We have looked at properties there just one full day. We do know now that we don't want an older house in DSM. I love that area, but want a ranch style home more. We like some places we looked at near the Jordan Creek area - a townhome and a new house. I'm not convinced Paul is ready to give up taking care of a yard altogether. It wouldn't bother me at all. We start living in town this week, so will be checking out more properties.

The townhouse near Jordan Creek that we like

Eastern Iowa, Goodbye Joan's place

Area behind Marriott, Coralville - gorgeous!

I headed to "the dark side" Monday and Tuesday - Coralville (a suburb of Iowa City) for the annual Iowa Recycling Association (IRA) and Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations conference. Knowing I'd be in the heart of Hawkeye country, I threw in my Cyclone quarter zip. Good thing too, because the Marriott Conference Center was freezing!

The City Carton Recycling folks broke out their Hawk polos across from our DNR booth. Somebody had to represent the good guys. Though nobody else had on the cardinal and gold, I had plenty of supportive comments - and took no crap. I guess it helps when you win the big game 2 years in a row! So proud.

Colleague Scott Flagg and I arrived early Monday for a Bottle Bill meeting. Same 'ol stuff - some glass recyclers plan to submit legislation to expand the bill once again this year. I'm not expecting much, but I do agree with them. The present system is dying on the vine as handlers haven't gotten a raise from the $.01 per bottle/can they got in 1988 when the bill passed. Small town redemption centers are dropping right and left. People are getting frustrated because there are fewer and fewer places to take their deposit items.

The beverage and distributors will fight any expansion. I wish we could find some middle ground that would keep items out of ditches and landfills and keep our recycling rate at the near 90% rate the present system provides. That's a tall order though. I can understand why grocers don't want them back in their doors, but haven't they had over 30 years to come up with alternatives? The outside areas/separate entrances work.

After lunch Scott and I went on a tour of Iowa City's new East Side Recycling Facility. I've reported on it before, since they are part of my program - Environmental Management System. Awesome education facility with a drop off for used motor oil, place where people can get compost. They also partner with Habitat for Humanity and the Salvage Barn.

After that, we toured a couple places that have located in town because Proctor and Gamble manufacture shampoo and other home products there. First we visited ALPLA - they make many of the containers P&G products go in. Blow mold, injection - you name it. They wouldn't allow us to take photos as they make their own equipment. I had a burning desire to use my phone to snap a quick shot, but I squelched it...didn't want my arm broken, or encased in plastic! Very interesting place - operated by surprisingly few people.

Next we walked to Heritage Environmental. They started up in town to assist an un-named client with off-specification products. (Proctor and Gamble is my guess!). The place smelled like shampoo - they de-package it, explaining typically this product is colored wrong, or touched the floor - stuff like that. I decided America needs to get over our "perfection" requirement. How about a store for stuff that's not quite right? Like the old bread store?

Anyway Heritage has found uses for the slickery stuff. They use it to help asphalt slide out of trucks. Genius! They're also coming up with new uses all the time. They are also dabbling in other things like carpet recycling, and water filter recycling. Interesting company - with the home base in Indiana.

That night was schmoozing time. Nice to see people I hadn't chatted with for a while. This is when my history - having been "one of them" for 10 years helps! Got to see my pal Susan Salterberg, and lil buddy Christine Richter - though my conversations with her came in short bursts between interruptions from her clients (they took priority - darn them!). I also talked to Kjrsten Bobb - who I'm FB Friends with - but I hadn't seen in person in forever!

On Wednesday Scott and I went to supper with Susan and a couple women about my age. They tried drilling Scott about the baddest thing he's ever done. It was hilarious - like he was under a bright light. He didn't spill his guts though.

Wednesday was my big day. Consultant Cory Sander and I gave a program "EMS Jeopardy" to market our Environmental Management System Program - my baby. We thought using the Jeopardy format might seem less preachy than the traditional ed format. We were right! Jason, the education guy from Cedar Rapids is good with technology and they have these clickers that we handed out to the 25 people who attended. The computer program kept track of $ scores and we handed out prizes for the top 3 in various categories. Water bottles, flashlights etc. I filled in bits of information on answers of questions. Phew - glad it's over.

When I got back to DSM, I spent my last night in Waukee at Joan's. I am somewhat at a loss about that. It's been such a great situation for me - and I've so enjoyed getting to know Joan better through this past nearly 4 years. She joked that I kept her informed on family stuff (through her bro Jeff, and he said the same thing...) And I sure slept well (most of the time) in the big bed in the basement. It's nice and cool and quiet down there. Even though I know I'll continue to see Joan periodically since we'll be living in town, it won't be the same as living with her. It was hard to clean my stuff out of the drawers. I'll miss her!