The Smiths

We been hanging with the the Gsmiths the past 2 days. It's been great. First, we had an invite to our niece Barb's in Norwalk (right south of the 5 Bypass) for Thanksgiving. Bless her for getting me out of the whole turkey day production! We took wine, bread and a relish tray that we put together ourselves. No HyVee tray for us.

Barb and Carol

Barb's mom Carol (Paul's sis) helped with the food prep the day before. Good thinking! Barb's fam includes husband Mike, daughter Mandy a frosh at Dowling and Mike's son Grayson a college frosh at NYU/in NYC. Paul's sis Jean from Webster City was there with her husband Dave. Ham and turkey - with all the fixins'. It was all great - followed by pie and cheesecake. #reallyfull.

Dice golf

Dave shows us how to tie a shoe left-handed

After the big meal some of the gang played golf. No, not really. The dice kind. I'm not a game player - memories of playing with George Goldsmith, Paul's dad. The guy played for blood! I prefer to chat and enjoy life when I'm being social. It's always fun to catch up on everyone's lives - the kids and grandkids. Kara fit in well and she was nice to listen to Dave Fox stories. Jud said it was because she hates football that much. The Packers got drilled, but the Cowboys came through.

Food art by Jud and Kara - pilgrim hats and turkey cookies

After we returned home, while the guys finished watching the game, Kara and I worked on a craft. That's right - you heard me. A craft. She had sent information to Paul to cut out pieces of wood. I painted my ass off and got craft paint all over my hands. By the time we were done, a Bond movie was on. Kara and her mom are big crafters. She and Jud even did food craft!

Friday we headed to Earlville for the Goldsmith fam get-together. It was to be a smaller than usual gathering. Back in the day we used to get upwards of 40 people at this event, but now the the kids are growing up - many have their own kids. Friday only 15 were there and Jud (really Kara) was the youngest. Still it was fun. The Wisconsinites were there and Larry and Regina with son Craig - Kara's first opportunity to meet all of them. She didn't run screaming into the street - a good sign! Again there were more games, and snacks. It was a long drive for the day, but well worth the trip. Love those Goldsmiths!

Farkle

Fabulous gifts!

Add caption

Christmas Fairy Jean is wearing a Duck Dynasty hat...

Amy got to pick first!

Cheers!

The cherubs arrived on Wednesday. Paul picked Amy up at the airport as I finished up DNR work at home. It's so great that DNR allows me to do that - since nobody else was going to be at work that day anyway and I had a bunch of grant agreements to work on. It was about 1 when Amy and Paul pulled in - Odie and I were so happy to see Sissy. (That's what Odie thinks Amy's name is...)

While I was working, I had an idea. Unfortunately it wasn't work related. I'll admit it...I was daydreaming a bit. I would have been doing that if I was in my cubicle too...
Amy planned to drive to Creston for the night to stay with her friend Stormy. Jud and Kara were driving up from Kansas City. My idea: We could ride down to Creston with Amy and have a few drinks - eat at A&G like the olden days and ride home with Kara and Jud, who would meet us there. Brilliant! I texted Paul, Jud and Creston pals to fill them in.

I also texted my pal/eye doc Donnie to see if I could slip in to see him - my left eye has been a bit wackier than usual lately. I feel/see a shadow going across it when I read especially. I figured it was a "floater", which is something you can't treat - but wanted to make sure. He nicely fit me into his late afternoon schedule. We pulled in about 4:45 p.m. and he stared intently into my eye - and put icky drops in them. I also took that peripheral vision test. Yep - sounds like a floater. Don says my old eyes are like an old basketball with bulges. Great! Don also took a look at Amy's post Lasix surgery eyes - doing fine!

Beautiful sunset over the rail/agricultural town

We saw him scant minutes later at the Lobby. It's like walking into the "Cheers" bar when we walk into a Creston establishment. So nice to see so many familiar faces. Along with several other friends who were there for a drink. Patti, Pat, Susan - several of the exercise gang was there. It was so nice to see them. The McFee girls were there, Krissy with husband Caleb and Kim, who is back studying at ISU. Bobbie and Jeff came after Jeff was done with chores. My BFF Deb stopped by.

 

Jud and Kara arrived about 5:30 p.m. Fun to see Jud introduce his honey to Crestonians, and to chat with hometown friends. I took lousy pics - I was in a hurry, so excited to talk to my buddies. I had a good long chat with Patti, but not much chance to talk to any others. We MUST arrange a winter brunch and shopping trip in DSM.

After the Lobby, eleven of us headed to A&G for supper - pizza mostly. Amy went off to Stormy's for the evening. She said the downtown crowd had turned into mostly younger generations - though she got to talk to some friends like Dusty Mullin and Zack Schaeffer. We hopped in Jud's car for WDM about 9 p.m. My brainstorm was a good one!

Vodka Rules

When it comes to liquor in Iowa, vodka rules. Nummy! Some more than others, of course...and the top seller in my state, it's the rot-gut low cost Hawkeye that leads the pack. In my old age, I prefer something a bit more top shelf - say Ketel One, or Citron.

The Des Moines Register did an article on liquor sales in the state this week. A record $256 million in sales was sold this past fiscal year ending June 30th. That was nearly a 6% increase over last year. Flavored liquor sales are up - beer down. Wine sales are also up 6%.

In Iowa, the topper of all brands is Donnie's favorite: Black Velvet Whiskey (he and Dee taught my poor husband to drink this brown water - one halfsie at a time), with sales of over 125,000 cases. Hawkeye Vodka brings up a distant second with 95,000 cases. The Captain - Captain Morgan Spiced Rum sold 85,000 cases. Then sales drop down to 57,000 cases.

The next analysis was regarding which county sold the most liquor per adult. Dickinson County - home of Okoboji, Iowa's Great Lakes - a true vacation destination in the state sold an amazing 6.45 gallons of liquor per person. What - do they fill the lake up with the stuff? The next closest is Cerro Gordo (Mason City) at 3.28. Of course I was interested to see how our former home county compared. It came in 26th at 2.10 gallons, behind my childhood home county - Cass, 20th at 2.31 gallons. Our new county - Dallas is a measly 61st. Polk County - right next door, makes up for it, ranking 3rd. The whole problem with the ranking system is that lots of Crestonites purchase liquor in Polk and Dallas County. Or...in Missouri if they're smart!

All the liquor reading made me think about my use of liquor through the years. I started out as a beer only gal. My daddy weaned me (okay it was a little later than that) on ice cold Old Milwaukee. He'd put a couple in the freezer and set the oven timer for 45 minutes - while he drank his bourbon (Ancient Age) and water. I remember visiting the Iowa Liquor Store with Dad years ago before Iowa's laws changed. Back then he'd fill out an order form and they'd give him "the stuff". Do you think marijuana shops are like that now? Anyway, from the time I was young, Dad would let me have a sip of his "beer popsicle".

So when I "grew up" to high school age - and decided it was time to drink alcohol, beer was the stuff! I didn't drink anything else (even when my buddies were drinking sophisticated stuff like Annie Green Spring wine) until the summer after I graduated from high school and began to go to bars. Who bought beer for underage losers like me? Aw - I wasn't that big a loser. (At least I know how to spell loser - unlike many Internet users who spell it looser.) I suspect it was Pam Nelson's older boyfriend. Or Chris Deardorff's bro. OR we found it in the ditch.

The cool beers (or translate cheap, if college students were buying) of my day?

The men of Stevenson House at ISU made me drink this stuff

Cherry vodka wasn't listed on the Iowa most favorite booze list. But flavored vodkas are in! White cake vodka is popular. Another liquor I cut my teeth on (that the sound of turns my stomach now) is tequila sunrise. Ick. I moved on to Tom Collins - with a side of fruit! Next came vodka sours, and a variety of fruity rum drinks at Aunt Maude's.

We also discovered shots - back when they still tasted like liquor! (Think of the female lead on Raiders of the Lost Ark - when she drinks the Turkish guy under the table). Kamikazes and tequila. Of course in college - dime draws and $1.50 pitchers made beer continue to be the drink of choice.

Shots are much better these days - carmel apple, or chocolate milk and cake vodka

Football and shots - go together!

These days - I'm still mostly a vodka drinker. I stick to vodka and tonic or soda with lime. But I love dirty martinis too. I am really a binge drinker, drinking on occasion, but at times too much.

Liquor can be a friend or an enemy. I've seen what it does to people who rely on it daily. Some people's personalities change a great deal when they drink alcohol. Some become aggressive and don't know when to quit - no stop button. It can be fun - but too much of a good thing...

Big Chill

I'm not ready for this weather...my goodness, I had to start wearing my fingerless gloves at work at least a month early! It's ridiculous I know - but my body temp runs consistently way below the human average 98.6. As I get older, the chillier I feel. I believe a warmer climate is my destiny in years ahead - during the winter anyway!

I heard from my college roommate Jane Flack Conn last weekend. We'd vowed to get together more often, and she wanted to schedule a meeting. We settled on Friday lunch at Cheesecake Factory - which kind of defeated the beauty of that place, since drinks weren't in order. Oh, they serve them then - but we both had too much to do to get sidetracked in a booth at Jordan Creek Mall all afternoon. (Though it sounded great...).

It was nice to see Jane a catch up. She is such a lovely lady - who has had a rough patch lately. I know all her family too, since we have known each other since age 18. Plus she knows all of our mutual college friends and my fam - so lots to discuss! Jane's daughter Morgan is a frosh at ISU - another full circle thing. She has two high school age sons at home in Waukee. Too soon lunch was over and Jane was off to pick up Morgan at school. I hope to see her again soon! With drinks.

Friday night Paul and I had an invite to Grimes to nephew Karl and wife Lee's house. Karl's brother Craig was in town to run in the Living History Farms Mud Run. Craig is a Triathlete and computer engineer working in Cedar Rapids. Karl teaches Chemistry at Valley High School. He entertained us with stories of demonstrations for students. Some involved the loss of hair on his arms. I wish I would have had a chem instructor like Karl when I was in High School - I might not have needed Ellen the Bitchy tutor in college! Lee is a biologist who has worked for an arboretum and has done some education gigs. She's planning to get a new job soon.

It was really fun to catch up with those kids - the boys are Paul's brother Larry's boys. Growing up, they lived at the farm in Earlville, Iowa - Paul's home place. Even though Amy and Jud are younger than they are, they always enjoyed hanging out with our kids and we'd leave the kids at their house for overnights. They'd play Ninja Turtles and explore the farmstead of Paul's youth. I'm glad the cousins bonded like that. Jud was an usher in Karl and Lee's wedding a few years ago.

Boys play and await waffles at Waveland

Saturday Paul and I breakfasted at our fave - the Waveland. I always enjoy people watching there. The red-haired waitress said her husband had filled a flask for her for the KC Chiefs game today. She told some of her customers - who must have been friends that her husband, Shep, called it "pants off juice". I thought that was hilarious.

Then we went to my new fave place to look around - Mills Fleet Farm. They have everything! Paul wanted to go to Sportsman's Warehouse nearby - he's lusting after a cammo down coat. We attended afternoon Mass only to find Father Leonard Kenkel was the celebrant! We were pleased that Fr. Kenkel got through it okay - the guy isn't getting any younger! They didn't even give him a deacon to help.

Paul snubbed purchase of yard deer at Fleet Farm

Paul's always said he'd take rogue wives and children on "hunting trips" and take care of them...

After church we ended up at Legends for a drink and supper (I had gumbo!) before settling into our chairs for the football game. Yes, it was a home game and we could have gone. I vetoed it. I just couldn't do it. Yay for the Cyclones for playing great in tough conditions and pitching the shutout against the Kansas Jayhawks. Bravo to all fans who attended! My green chair is now 2 for 2 - lucky on home games. We won the Oklahoma State Game when Paul and I didn't attend 2 years ago.

Today - it's prep day! Our kids are heading this way for the holiday! I need to clean and get groceries. Also my pal Debbie is supposed to be in town. Now - off to swim laps. There has been a great post on Facebook by Atlantic former swim team members helping me walk down memory lane on that topic. Fun!

Go Team!

Recently I was hanging out with friends who partook in a few drinks. I, however, was stone sober - thanks to a wicked sinus infection that was giving me migraines. I didn't think adding liquor onto that combo would be a good idea.

Liquor can be like truth serum. After drinking, stuff comes out that one might not say otherwise -which can be good or bad. In this case - that person hit the nail on the head.

The first thing they said was, "My spouse makes me a better person." I think all of us together that day would agree - that is true, true, true. In my case, Pablo is and does many of the things I can't/won't do. And he would probably say the same about me. It's corny, but I think it's the movie Ghost, with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze where one of them says "you complete me". I dislike it when someone calls their spouse "their better half". Let's hope we're all complete people! But my honey does square out my edges.

The next deep drunken thing the person said was, "Couples today give up on marriage too easily." We discussed that too. I think it's true. Here's a little analogy.

I met my partner when I was pretty young. It wasn't smooth sailing with this partner and I shopped around a bit. but when it came down to it - I decided to stick with that partner. It hasn't always been easy. There have been down years where perhaps I didn't pay attention like I should have. Especially when my partner was having a bad year - not having success like I'd hoped. But I never wavered in my loyalty. Some people seem to change partners at the drop of a hat. Others are forced to change allegiances due to circumstances. Still others are left behind by their partners through no fault of their own.

My partner? Iowa State University and Cyclone athletic teams. You may have thought I was talking about Paul. Nope - I hadn't met him yet when I first went to college. I was thinking about how marriage can be like allegiance to a school or team. Yeah, it's kinda weak - but go with me here.

dorm party

In my case, after I went to ISU, I wasn't sure the large school was for me. I struggled with classes to start with. I was used to breezing through classes without studying. So when my grades weren't good, I started to shop around for smaller schools to attend. I thought maybe a smaller school would be a better partner for me.

Eric Hoiberg

• By then I'd met some really nice friends though. And school was fun - except for the school work part! So I decided to learn to study. I even had to get a tutor for Chemistry - my weakest subject. "Ellen the Bitch" tutor (She probably though of my as (Leslie the dumbshit student) helped me attain a C in that subject.
• I bonded with ISU through my years there. I figured out what I wanted to major in and ended up with Eric Hoiberg as my advisor - his son is now our Men's Basketball Coach. My friends and I purchased season football tickets every year and I began my love affair with Cyclone sports. Hell - I bought my first ISU clothes, even a cowboy hat. I learned to love the buildings on campus - especially the older buildings - the ones with the most personality.

One of the things I love about my partner (ISU) - the buildings like Dairy Industries

• After graduation we went back for a game every year - getting together with our college friends - so important for mental health. Today we attend games with Creston friends - and sometimes college friends come too.
• There have been better years and not so good years - but I have always proud to wear the cardinal and gold. I never considered changing allegiances to a flashier, more winning program.

  

  What the stadium looked like in 1976

• I've seen other ISU fans criticize the team (coach/certain players) - even when we win. Some so-called fans are never satisfied. They have to point out just what the players did wrong. I'd hate to be married to somebody like that! Gee - thanks for cleaning the house, cooking dinner, doing the dishes and by the way - the meat was dry. Like shoe leather. Did you overcook it? (Why don't you cook it yourself next time you $#&$*)

So - how could I possibly compare marriage to being a Cyclone Fan? Yeah, I know - pretty lame. You could use any team though - it doesn't have to be the Cyclones. The point is that it takes a while to build a relationship with your partner. You don't just look for somebody that looks good (like Alabama right now in NCAA Football) and say - "yep - that's my team". After the initial romance you need to be prepared for some adversity.

Life isn't always like being engaged and the initial high of newlywed life. And even if they're winners - the bloom eventually wears off. See USC, Texas, and Auburn. Beware - some potential partners look good, but they're setting you up. You might try to cheer for others, but your heart isn't in it. When Jud was about 10, he was sick of cheering for ISU. He decided he'd be a Kansas basketball fan. But it didn't stick - because he was faking it! You can't do that over time.

There is a couple we know who have gone through some tough times in their marriage. But they have stuck it out and are still together today. Bravo! Many young couples just give up at the first sign of trouble - like divorce is the answer. I know it can be. I have encouraged a couple friends to leave bad marriages. I know not all marriages are worth staying in. But it makes me sad when perfectly good families break without giving it the 'ol college try. Then they all seem to remarry - and you know those marriages can't be perfect either. None are.

Then there are the married people who forget which team they're supposed to be cheering for. They start watching other teams - forgetting their allegiance to the team they're pledged to...Don't forget to pay attention to your spouse - they're your teammate!

Anyway - that's what I'm thinking about as I watch ISU play Kansas on TV. I didn't go watch the 4 degree game in person. I'm the person who wears fingerless gloves at my job - indoors. I don't do cold well. My body temperature starts at about 97 degrees instead of the usual 98.6. I'm a chilly willy, what can I say. Hated missing Senior Day, but hate being cold more.

I was on a rant roll today

I think I was in touch with my inner Maxine. You know - that old bitchy lady in the cartoon? I was just feeling a bit put out with some things going on at work - and to quote an old movie - finally I became Mad as Hell and I wasn't going to take it anymore.

I love my job. Some of the people there are knuckleheads. I could be one of them! I saw another soup can in the trash can when I tossed my banana peel after lunch. Grrr. We're the DNR. Shouldn't people who work there be environmentally conscientious? The recycling bins are 3 steps from the trash.

I went back to my desk and emailed Communications for a copy of the poster containing recycling information for the building. Then I opened the Microsoft Publisher program and made a sign that said something like "Tree Huggers - recycling bins are that way. Rinse out soup cans and yogurt containers along with other recyclable stuff listed on and sign above (stuck the recycling poster on the wall above my sign) and help protect our environment". I taped both right above the trash can.

We'll see if the dummy can read. Who could work for DNR and not recycle? And another thing...


Henry Wallace

You have probably heard me complain about my workplace - the Wallace Building, named after former Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace born in Adair County, just north of our former home in Creston. Sorry Henry - your building sucks. It was built during an era (early 1970s) that in my opinion, few beautiful buildings were designed. On top of that, the rumor is they cheaped it up due to budget issues - no surprise there!

I put up with a lot. Then the paper towel dispenser in the restroom began mis-firing. You had to crank it about 15 times to get a sheet of the brown no ply paper big enough to somewhat dry your hands. The teeth on the Kimberly Clark machine were shot! There are also two hand dryers on the wall in the 5th floor women's room, but nobody uses them. One doesn't seem to work and the other is flakey. When I've tried to use it in the past it is slow to start and stops quickly.

About a month ago, after all of the women on my floor had struggled with the towel machine for weeks, I emailed the operations gal for DNR, Lisa to let her know "Kimberly" had lost her teeth. I also told her the dryer was a no go. Weeks went by. The custodian finally began placing the giant roll of towels on the counter with a note instructing us NOT to swipe it for coffee spills in the break area.

This week Lisa sent me a forwarded string of emails. It seems the operations guys had tested the dryer and it blows just fine. The director of that department said they would not replace a dryer just to replace it. Hmmm. Yes. That makes sense - but did they not notice that it was flaky?

I sent an email thanking them for checking into it - and suggested perhaps we've all gotten used to those vortex machines that blow really hard, so we're impatient. I went on to state that nobody uses the machine because of some reason...so even though it blows, it might as well be a wall ornament. Since nobody uses the dryer we'll continue to use many paper towels. So there - take that! (which I didn't say)

Today I in one of those moods.
If you're female...you know what I'm talking about!
I was ready to snap. The soggy giant roll of paper towels was getting to me. This was after I had dealt with the wayward soup can tosser. I was all set to stick another sign up in the restroom.
Bathroom Users Unite! Rebel against soggy towels and a crappy dryer! But a clearer head prevailed.

Instead of white towels insert worthless brown ones...

I forwarded the email string about the dryer to our bureau chief and explained the towel situation. I told him I was fuming.
Lo and behold a new towel dispenser was installed later this afternoon. Squeaky wheel!  

Pablo arrived home from a work trip to Madison, Wisconsin today. Odie and I are happy to see him. I am going to lunch tomorrow with my longtime pal Jane Flack Conn. Can't wait to hear how her daughter Morgan is doing - freshman at ISU.

Finally a Winner

We got up early Sunday to head back north to Iowa. We were on a mission - to attend the ISU basketball game at 4 p.m. We arrived at home about 1:15 p.m. Odie was happy to see us. Our new pretend dog sitter Jordan did a fine job as she was alive and everything! I say pretend because Jordan refused to accept payment for her services, ruling out a repeat performance. What a nice kid!

We took off about an hour later to head to Hilton Coliseum where Dickie V. (ESPN's Dick Vitale) would be appearing for the very first time to call the a game here. Michigan, ranked number 7 was coming to town. I could feel the excitement as soon as I set foot in the building! We ran into Crestonian Bill Kunert on our way to our seats in section 217. Then we made our way to the cheap seats - but still a pretty good view.

Dick V. made nice with the students - bald guy by the poster

 As an added bonus, the 'ol coach - one of my favorite guys Johnny Orr was in the house. He has history with both these program - as the winningest coach with each program. Johnny is now 86 years old - but he's still got it. The band played "Here's Johnny" the theme from the Tonight Show, just like the did back in the day. His former player - now Coach, Fred Hoiberg got a little teary-eyed they say when both men appeared on the floor together. And then he said we wasn't sure Johnny was ever going to leave. It was a touching moment.

The great Johnny Orr

The game was a back and forth affair with lots of drama. When it was over, the good guys came out on top! Just what the doctor ordered for the win-starved Cyclone fans. The students rushed the floor and soon the joyful sounds of Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline rang out over the sound system. Love was in the air. Clone love. We have ourselves a basketball team to watch this winter!

Students rush the court - we did not

Paul and I hustled out the door toward our next appointment. High School friends Robyn and Julia were awaiting at the airport Fairfield Inn, after spending a few days in Iowa with friends and family. Love seeing my gals. Rob made me a nice drink, and then we went out to eat at Johnny's Steakhouse (no relation to Johnny Orr) next door. I was pooped ladies and gents. I could barely keep my itty bitty eyes open. Somehow a lovely birthday cheesecake appeared before me before we said goodbye. Wish I had more time with the girls, but Paul and I had to work Monday. And I'm old. I wish I would have taken a pic of Jules and Rob. Duh.

It was a wonderful way to end a great weekend! I can't stress it enough - we are very blessed.

Packed weekend

Whooo coach - I'm still exhausted. That was a brisk pace for this not quite so youngster. We got up Friday morning and headed south on I-35 towards Oklahoma. There is a toll road through Kansas and they collect some change, boy - $12! But we finally crossed the line into the windy state - and it was whipping on the plains.

About 10 minutes after we checked into the Sooner Legends Hotel, the McKims pulled in the parking lot - Don, Diana along with Diana's sis Barb and Katie's pup Lena. Quite a hotel - full of Sooner memorabilia. Later, Ryan's girlfriend was due to arrive with her folks - they're from Clinton. Laura is still in school at ISU and is a nanny for the children of one of the ISU coach's children.

We stopped at the attached bar for a couple drinks - but we sat outside so Lena could join us. Oklahoma allows smokers in their bars - it was like a time warp. Yuck! We had supper plans for a local legend restaurant - The Mont.

We headed there to meet up with the Conovers. Dwight, Marilyn and their son Phillip had driven down from Des Moines, arriving shortly after we did. They with friends they were staying with from Tulsa who own a condo in town. After we were there a while, Don's sister Denise showed up with McKim's daughter Katie who had stayed been bunking with them. OU Sooner staffer Ryan McKim joined us as well. Along with the Sooner marching band...playing - you guessed it - Boomer Sooner. I had a nice chat with Denise - she is a guidance counselor at a school near Dallas. Nice lady, as are all the McKims.

Saturday was game day baby! Thanks to our local hosts and tickets and a parking pass courtesy of Ryan McKim, we had a great time. If only the Cyclones could have played a whole game! Tailgating at OU is quite gentrified - not at all rowdy as it can be in Ames. That might be due to the early start (11 a.m.) but I was amazed how quiet everyone was. No rowdy music or loud cornhole games going on in the parking lot!

The guys went to pick up our tickets at Will Call and ended up at the Conover's hosts' tailgate location - right by the OU Daily paper building on campus. I enjoyed walking on campus - there were actually trees there! I pushed a strange button on my camera so pay no attention to the weird face on the photo!

 

Marilyn and Phil with Laura (Ryan's GF) and Dee in the background

 

Paul with Laura's dad on the left

Dwight points out the thing to Laura's Mom

Finally, it was game time. The good stuff all happened when we sat in our real seats. We eventually moved down by Laura and her folks - next to all the OU recruits. It's fun to sit that close to the action - but I wish ISU could have supplied some excitement. We did get to see OU coach Barry Switzer up close and personal.  The second half was brutal - OU scored something like 38 points straight.

Love this couple's reaction to ISU scoring first!

Barry Switzer - red shirt

After the game - we needed a drink!

We drove out to see the football coach's mansion (from outside the gate) after the game. Then we watched football in our hotel room and ordered pizza. The next day we had a big ISU basketball game to catch! But that's another blog...

Selfie - an OU guy carved from a tree stump

Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plain

We're headed to Oklahoma - tomorrow. It will be my first time there. Oh we've driven through the corner before, but that doesn't really count. We're going Norman, Oklahoma to attend the ISU vs. Oklahoma Sooners football game. Why would we want to do that? I know - it's been a rough year for our beloved team. Sucky, in fact. We'll think of this as our bowl game - in Norman.


Ryan - the cutie on the right

Our friends the McKims and the Conovers will be going. Ryan McKim, Don and Diana's son is on the staff for the Sooners after working for ISU since 2006 in various roles. Oh he tried quitting his football habit - graduated college with a degree in Biology and all. He even took a year off, worked at a bank and tried coaching high school football and working at jobs the 'ol home town - Creston.

Then the NCAA coaching siren song (and ISU Coach Paul Rhoads) proved too strong. So Ryan - who is daughter Amy's age (We call him number 2 - because he was ranked 2nd in their class while Amy was numero uno - McKims call her cheater, but they don't really mean it) went back to work as a graduate assistant in 2012. Translated that means low pay and long hours doing the thing you love.

Last summer Ryan got an opportunity to jump ship - to take a real paid position with the Oklahoma Sooners as an assistant special teams coach. Iowa State doesn't even have such a position! So he loaded up the Malibu and moved to Beverly - um Norman. Leaving behind his girlfriend, Laura and all of us Cyclone groupies. But we're happy for the kid! Ryan is living with a video guy and seeing what life coaching football beyond Iowa is like. Saturday we'll get to see him in action - as he helps his team most likely kick our team's butts.

Dwight and Marilyn Conover will be there - along with their son Phil. Laura (the GF) is coming too - along with her parents. It should be a fun group of Ryan and ISU supporters! I'm sure I'll report more later.

When we get back from Oklahoma, we'll rush right up to Ames to see the men's basketball team take on Michigan. Former Coach Johnny Orr will be there along with commentator Dick Vitale - his first ever visit to Ames. Then for the topper of the weekend - our pals Robyn and Julia will be in town. We get to get together with them. Can't wait!

More tidbits:

Amy gave me this cool bank for my birthday. I'm starting to fill it up for my next big adventure!

 

While shopping at Costco tonight, I noticed the piano man (no not Billy Joel) had this baby for sale. Note the buttons and whistles. If I would have had this instrument back when I took piano lessons I could have just pushed buttons and pretended to practice. I wonder if it plays chopsticks? So probably a good thing that wooden piano we had (that Betsy scratched her name in with a nail) didn't have buttons...

Clavanova Jr.

I received my DNR security card one of the first weeks I worked there - nearly five years ago now.

The card allows me to enter the Wallace Building through the west door, but has never worked at the North door. I finally emailed the Director's Administrative Assistant to ask what the scoop was. I suggested that perhaps it is my unfortunate hairdo in this photo that prevented building access. Karen emailed Capitol Security (yeah - they're like cops, but at the Capitol), and they said I really didn't have any levels on my card. Geez. I've seen worse hair than that around the joint. Anyway - now I've got 113 Access - whatever that means. No new photo though.

Thanks to Sarah Carper Darby at Sahar for fixing me up with a new hairdo about a week after this pic was taken - and for keeping me on the better hair path since then. It IS more work. I can't just wash and wear - but it's worth it. 

Veteran's Day - and the anniversary of losing our beloved Boldie

In some ways it feels like I just saw my brother-in-law Brian "Bolder" Lefebvre last summer. In others, I feel like I've missed him for longer than the year he's been gone. Bolder passed away a year ago today. I miss him terribly - but mostly so because I know of the huge hole his loss has left in my sister Cindy's life. Their son Colby is feeling the loss too.

Terrible picture...but one of all 4 of us so couldn't resist...plus Boldie's lil legs

Paul and I were preparing to move to West Des Moines last year when we heard of Bolder's serious reoccurrence of cancer. Virulent the doctor said. Our whole family rushed out to see him and to support Colby and Cindy during this time. The Alvillar girls were there with their mom, Susi. We gathered around for just a bit - and then left the Lefebvres to deal with hospice and...the end. Their wonderful friends, especially the Pottorffs. Eric was with Cindy and Bolder at the very end.

In the past year Cindy has gone through all the tough things. She was called "widow" by the pastor doing the memorial service. Man...that's reality calling. That word sounds like it should be reserved for some spaghetti Western movie, or rich older women dressed in black, riding in a limo. Not a five year old Subaru.

Cindy took part in grief sessions early in 2013. They were set up for people who lost someone - so included those going through divorce as well as death of a loved one. She shared some of the other stories with me. When we lost our son Patrick I read everything I could about others who lived through the loss of a child - reassuring myself that it could be done! There is something to be said for connecting with others going through similar circumstances to help you see that what your doing isn't all that crazy. Crying in your breakfast cereal, no energy - no interest in the typical things you used to enjoy. I wish those sessions could have gone on...but in some ways, it's good to move on.

So Cindy did. She is an awesome inspiration to me. I know she has gone through some tough times - and she keeps those to herself. Just like Eddie Murphy's character in the movie Trading Places - he says he's a "Karate Man" they bruise on the inside. Cindo doesn't like to show her bruises to the general public...or even her family too much. It's the English background you know - stiff upper lip!

I wish I lived closer so we could help more with the physical stuff - changing light bulbs and furnace filters etc. One day I called and her toilet had backed up...to the tune of $600, thanks to a root in the yard. That's when it's nice to have a partner to help share things with - the raking, pet duties, house, financial worries.

Great pic of 3 of my fave peeps!

Then there's being half a couple. I thought about that recently. Yesterday's blog about tailgating and hanging with friends - who were all couples. What a difference it would make if I were single. I doubt I would get football tickets. The thrill would be gone without Pablo to discuss the games with! And who would pack the car and drive me back and forth? I might go to a game or two...but not the whole season. One would have to make a concerted effort to get back into a social scene. And it would be hard.

I told Cindy recently how much we miss Bolder and how proud I am of her. She is making her way in this world and surviving. She isn't retreating into a total shell. This weekend she went to Denver shopping with Bonnie - and bought boots thank you very much! There is a lot of life left for my soon (April 9th) to be 60 sissy (and what a babe at that age!). Bless you Boldie (Coast Guard Veteran) where ever you are. Love to you and the rest of the Lefebvres.

Thanks to all veterans!

Dave served our country and Jean held down the fort while he was gone

Larry and wife Regina

• Our brother-in-law Dave Fox served in Viet Nam and then in the National Guard around the world.
• Paul's brother Larry Goldsmith was injured in Viet Nam. Paul remembers his parents getting the news.
• My dad served in Korea - we loved looking at his uniforms in the closet downstairs. Paula Bacon and I wore parts of the uni's for Halloween one year - including the boots!



Dad in military school uniform with Aunt Marty

• My great, great grand-dad Adnah David Bullock was one of the last living Civil War Vets in western Iowa. A Sherbourne New York native who mustered out of the army at age 18, he died in Atlantic, Iowa in 1941. Ironically, he married a Waukee gal, Ella Fuller, and I've now settled so close to there.

In another small world thing, note where Adnah David's brother lived, listed in the Obit - Earlville - where Paul is from. Things that make you go, hmmmm. Plus I liked how they noted he only had 2 of his own teeth and didn't drink. My grandfather obviously changed that trend - with the liquor thing anyway.  Wouldn't that make today's obits more interesting?

My dad's namesake, and Judson David's too...