As long as I'm waxing on about characters

I might as well continue talking about my youth. Best evah! Our family had all the cool stuff families of that era were supposed to - a swing set, complete with a couple swings and a slide. When I was really young it was beside our house - really in someone else's yard. Yep we were swing set squatters.

Is there anything better than swinging? It's like flying without wings. And - if you get tired of swinging, you can always wind yourself up and then take your feet off the ground to let yourself spin wildly. Whew!

Swinging was even more fun on the industrial sized swings at Washington Elementary School - Robyn and I would compete to see who could go higher and then at the last moment we'd jump from the swings - landing on our feet. If we were lucky. Rob must have been on a growth spurt that time she jumped and split her dress right up the back when she leaped!

Washington Elementary

We also had a wooden sandbox at our house - every year or two a truck would pull up and refill the sand. I'm not sure who was in charge of sifting out the cat poop. I loved crafting roads and houses and the cool sand - the box was in the shade. Sometimes we'd pour water in it to help with engineering.

I've talked before about the fabulous play house my grandfather Morehead had built for us. It was trucked in from Cedar Rapids on a flatbed truck. It was stained the same gray color as our home and had a flat roof just like our house. My grandfather designed our house in Atlantic (may it rest in peace - as the people who live there now have killed it). We had a lot of fun in that little one room place. One of my sisters mentioned that she played doctor with Jeff Grayson there...or did I make that up?

The neighbors around our house were all characters - and we treated all of their yards like they were our own. The Millers lived on the corner. Mrs. Miller did a bit of babysitting for mom I think - I remember her singing to Betsy anyway. My Godparents, the Harley and Mildred Baxter, lived across the street. In my mind's eye when I think of Harley I picture Paul's dad - probably because Harley had a big garden out back and he wore overalls. One time Harley fed me a raw potato with salt on it - heady stuff for a city girl! The Baxter's daughter Barb was the best pal of my Aunt Jean as she grew up in A-Town.

The Reinertsons lived next door to us. Best next door neighbors you could wish for. We were at each others' houses constantly. Cruise control friends - no thought necessary. I'd love to see Laurie again - to talk about the time we spent together. We were outside in nice weather putting on plays in the back yard with our big sisters as directors. We built forts and tree houses in the narrow strip of trees next to our house that we called "the Woods" sometimes using the playhouse as our home.

She and I moved many of our books into the playhouse and started a library. Doug Younger was the only kid who ever checked out a book. RIP Doug - hope there are good books and music in heaven! She and I took all of our crappy old games and put them in our wagon and tried to sell them door-to-door. I still can't figure out why Mrs. Brown didn't want to purchase a slightly used Life game for $5.

We spend a great deal of time spying on old Mrs. Dutton (I picture a white haired lady with a bun - but I don't know if this is a memory or made up) up the street. Her back yard was fenced (yep - we were blocked from entry!) had a large stone in the back. Could it have been...her husband's gravestone? We did the ring and run thing a few times. I bet Pat Hayes (the fam that ran the Forum)  - who lived across the street from there watched us do it. If you were bored - a quick ride around the neighborhood on one's bike could usually scrounge up someone to harass or chat with.

Jud the dog on a visit to Sally's house - born in 1958, he was like a brother

Down the hill from our house was another whole neighborhood - Fairlawns. Thar lay the Mallon boys. For some reason they clashed with our group. We were lucky though - we had protection. We had Jud. The dog I mean - our full sized wiener dog who followed us everywhere like a guardian angel. One time when my parents were distracted, little baby Betso wandered off - across the backyards. I remember Mom sobbing because Betsy was lost. The phone rang and a woman said, "Your dog is here and there's a little girl with him."


All I had to say to Jud was "sic 'em" and he'd bark his ass off at the Mallon boys. They'd retreat - because his bark was - well he never bit anyone that I recall. Fairlawns was chock full of kids to hang with. That's a whole 'nother story!     

Speaking of characters...

Isn't it interesting that as I am writing a series of blogs on characters, a big character emails me pics of a group of my high school classmates - including himself.

Todd Pellett, Jeff Becker, Kirk Wickman, Jack Bunce, Roger Underwood met up in NYC recently where they all dressed like CEOs

That person is Roger Underwood of course. I didn't know Rog until we reached Junior High School in Atlantic, Iowa. That's where all the presidents (the elementary schools in town are named after Washington, Lincoln and Jackson) spewed forth the kids to come together into one student body. He was in Mrs. Royalty's reading class with me.

I took notice of Roger when I heard he was going to be a big brother. He was the youngest kid in the family. How embarrassing! Cuz we were like 13 years old, and I knew where babies came from at that point. Golly. Roger's mother eventually gave birth to Roger's brother Jeff - and the family was complete. I got over the trauma of thinking about where babies come from.

I think Roger must have been one of those kids who was born a grown up. You know the type - they can act silly and have fun, but even then they seem a bit more mature than the average kid. They converse well with adults and seem to have a plan for everything.

It turned out pretty well for Roger - after a successful four year stint at Iowa State University (he served as my roomie Sally's campaign chair for her successful run for Student Senate), he started a company with another classmate Jeff Becker. The company grew and grew until the two eventually sold it. I think they're members of the idle rich class now - but the seem to keep pretty busy with other businesses they dabble in. Roger likes to wear bow ties. He's married to Connie and they have a couple sons that are in their early 20's.

Seeing the guys in the photo really takes me back. In my opinion, I grew up in the "Wonder Years". A big group of girls and a large group of boys - in about sixth grade we began to notice each other. We started to rendezvous on weekends - to "play football" in the fall. Silly me, I really wanted to play football. I hadn't yet been struck by the hormone stick. Some of my friends had - they were all about flirting figuring out who liked whom. I wanted to run plays and score touchdowns (the football kind). Such a simple girl.

We had a lot of slumber parties during those years. Our poor parents - 12 screaming girls for a whole night? And guess what - the boys would usually have slumber parties the same nights we did. Coincidence? I think not. We often found a way to get together at least part of the night. I think it drove poor Anne Wickman (Kirk's mother) crazy - the whole girls after her son thing.

One time at Sherry Smith's party, the boys actually came in for a while. Greg Parker lived nearby and he had a houseful of guys. I think Betty and Ralph Smith got a kick of it. I remember getting to ride Robin Kautz's mini-bike in that neighborhood too. My parents would have freaked had they known.

I was oblivious as to how lucky I was to have:
a. such a big group of friends
b. a bunch of guys interested in hanging out with me and my friends
c.  parents that were willing to put up with our antics - slumber parties, schlepping around town to meet up with guys to "play football"
Today, at a ripe old age, I realize how blessed I was.

When we got a bit older we even started sneaking out to meet the boys. I mean um those other girls did that... not me Mom...it was all those boys' faults.

More characters

I considered writing about many of the wonderful...and some not so great teachers in the Atlantic School System. There were some of the good ones were - Lowell Clausen, Richard (Senor) Seufort, Jeanne Howarth, Thane Hascall, Larry Lyons. Others...I could go on.

During my college years I met some interesting folks too - there was that gal from our dorm floor who picked her nose in the TV room. She was in vet school - I'll bet she fit right in with the animals.

A rare shot of Hauser and Moose washing dishes...

I know this breaks my vow to not talk about people I still hang out with...but this is about them long ago - so it's like other people right? We first met our friends Moose and Steve Hauser when they volunteered to coach our dorm floor in flag football. They were (are?) quite the characters too. Moose would punch Hauser in the arm and Hauser would yell, "You clipped me Moose at the top of his lungs." We loved hanging out on their dorm floor, Stevenson House in Birch with their friends Pig Farmer, Yellow Fever, Dirger and Dairy Cow and Shit for Brains. They had a broomball team and Vicki and I were their groupies. When we moved to our apartment at 230 Campus Avenue, those two would always flip the circuit breaker when they'd visit - turning out all the lights. Talk about a dramatic entrance!

My first job after earning that college degree was in Sioux Falls, S.D. Just where all the cool kids want to go! I worked for a grocery wholesaler as the office manager. I know - I was just happy as a clam to have a job making a whopping $12,500. Plus I didn't have to go home and live with my parents.

The manager of the Sioux Falls branch of Gamble Robinson was Kermet Torgersen - a good name for Norwegian guy from South Dakota. He seemed pretty old to someone right out of college. He was a WWII vet, and was probably in his early 60's at the time. (yeah, pretty young really!)

Through out my working career, several of my supervisors must have attended the same business school. The one where they teach you to leave the employee alone to self-train for long periods. Then, when an ego boost is needed, call the new employee in to "show 'em your stuff" - how adept you are at a skill, or how much "juice" you have with the company.

Kermet was that kind of boss. I was all of 22 and hadn't had many bosses at that point...but I was learning "on the job".  I knew, when he called out "Leslie" clean through the Assistant Manager's office, through two doors and a glass panel that I was to jump up and run in for a "lesson". Kermet loved to pontificate and I was the sponge to soak up his knowledge. I was a greenhorn when it came to buying and selling produce. But Kermet was teaching a PhD level of fruits and veggies.

But in my view the old boy was in the process of losing his marbles. It many ways, it was good for the company! He took his own "Kermet" discounts for was he perceived as bad fruit. As Office Manager, I reconciled the invoices with receipt tickets and wrote huge checks for loads of oranges. And sometimes we did have shipments arrive with a great deal of spoilage. In that case we would have to document what was not sellable.

Both he and I had to sign checks. (He'd sign with a flourish - using the cursive method taught back in the day that was so beautiful compared to my crappy post college crimped note taking writing) One load of oranges could cost $40,000 - and Kermet would out of the blue just cross off the amount on the invoice and deduct, say $5,000 for "bad fruit". He'd say - "some of that one was not good." And he got away with it! They might call and complain when they got the check.

In South Dakota there is a sect of German Americans similar to the Amish called Hutterites. The ones that came into Gamble Robinson could drive trucks - but only black ones. The Hutterites sold truckloads of sweet corn and tomatoes to our company. Kermet liked to get those 'ol boys in his office and put them through their paces too. We usually paid them right when they delivered their product to us.

One time when I was popping into Kermet's office for a signature, he whipped a huge pistol out of his desk drawer, showing it off to the Hutterite guy who must have drawn the short straw and got stuck taking the corn to market in Kermetland. Kermet said "This is what one of your German cousins shot at me with"! I didn't stick around to see if it was loaded or not.

It was shortly after that, Kermet was put out to pasture. I never heard what happened to the guy, since I soon transferred to the Omaha, NE branch of the business. Next time I'll fill you in on the character I met at the Omaha Gamble Robinson. The produce biz is chock full of nuts.

Quite a character

In my last blog I talked about a priest - and character, Father Kiernan. It made me ponder the characters I've known in my life. There have been a few.

Atlantic, Iowa had its share of characters. The first who comes to mind is Fantastic Faye Erickson. He was a learning disabled man adopted by pretty much the whole town. Faye rode his bike all over - he named it "Silver". You'd see him at Sunnyside Pool in the summer months - just hanging out in long pants and a button down shirt. It would be buttoned up all the way, and his hair would be combed nicely.

He must have lived north of town - I think the Pellett family kept an eye on him after his family passed on. An Atlantic-ite on Facebook who attended Pymosa School (the country school North on Olive Street that eventually closed up), said Faye would drop by there almost every day and all the teachers were nice to him, except one. I wonder what her problem was?

Faye liked to play his guitar - and he wasn't half bad. He wasn't really half good either, but we gave him an "A" for effort. He'd sing, "You Are My Sunshine" and we invited him to some of our school dances because we liked his rousing rendition of "Roll Out the Barrel". When he forgot the words he'd just sing Roll out the barrel, nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh. Works for me! Everyone would sing along. He'd say, "I gotta keep my figure for the girls." When Faye passed away in 1999 I was surprised to see that he was six years older than my dad. Faye was quite a guy.

why did peanuts taste better out of these machines?

Another Atlantic character was my former boss Harry Hjortshoj. For those of you not from Atlantic, it's pronounced something like this: Hyortsoy. Harry ran the service station our family frequented - remember when you purchased gas at the same place you bought tires and had your car worked on? When I was little, I remember Dad buying me peanuts out of one of those coin machines and Harry lifting me on the hoist. Always an adventure at Harry's station!

When I turned 16 it was time to get a job. Cindy had detasseled corn, but with my allergies, that was out for me. Dad had asked Harry if he ever needed any help and I don't think he really did, but he put me to work a few hours a week. I loved that guy - one of the nicest men ever! And ornery - oooheeeh.  (My Johnny Orr impression). My duties at Hjortshoj Fina:

• Keep the books - from all the gas charge slips from the day before. This was before many people used charge cards locally.
• Pump gas - it was hard because the Ethel (yes there was such a thing) actually ran up at half of what it really was because that pump didn't go high enough $. One time a lady wanted $5 worth and I forgot so she really got $10. Crap!
• Go get donuts (this happened almost daily because old men like my Grandpa would stop for coffee there). I learned to love warm just off the press cake donuts.
• Run for parts - to Napa, Deter Cheverolet, wherever I needed to
• Go with Harry to pick up a car for service. This was an adventure because Harry had tire strips on the bumper of his old truck and he'd bump into the car I was driving at stop signs. Then he'd wave at me. Knucklehead!
• Fill the pop machine up - back when they had glass bottles in them. I was surprised to see Harry kept a couple beers in the bottom for later in the afternoon.

I learned Harry's signature jokes and came to relish hearing them. He had a peculiar nasal voice and intense rheumy eyes. I can just picture him - when I was on my way to shop in the big city of Omaha he'd say "Don't get your tonsils sunburned". (Looking up at the tall buildings with my mouth gaping open).

When someone wanted air in their tires he'd say, "We've got a special today, colored air." You could just see them thinking it over...is that possible? He'd just smile. While he'd pump their gas he'd always wipe their windshield with an oily rag.

If all businessmen were as honorable and kind as Harry, the world would be a better place. I am lucky to have started my career there.

Characters make our lives richer. Anybody can be ordinary. I'm hoping to get more wacky as I grow up so people tell stories about me some day. Oh maybe they already do...

Sunday Ponderings

I don't like to attend Mass on Sunday mornings. (or sometimes at all...but that's another story) It makes Sundays too much like a workday - shower, get dressed etc. But we watched the Cyclone men on TV during our regular Saturday evening church time, so we attended this Sunday morning at 8 a.m.

It turned out well because St. Francis had substitute "tell it like it is" priest, Father Jim Kiernan. He's 79 years old, and does Mass "his way", inserting lots of jokes, instructions and interesting information. I enjoy Fr. Jim - who used to also sub in Creston. He's retired and lives here in Des Moines. He's a character - one of many I've been blessed to know in my life.

The Padre told us of his childhood just SW of West Des Moines - in Booneville. He said the town made the paper twice - both times when the bank was robbed. He and his brothers were the only Irish Catholics on the bus, and his father said he often went off "half-cocked". It sounds like he was a bit of a partier.

Fr. Jim said that another person who had tenancies to be half-cocked was St. Peter - the apostle Jesus picked to succeed him when his time on earth was growing short. I appreciate it when a priest helps me to feel more connected to religion by humanizing the people who lived thousands of years ago. It's easy for me to thing of those bible characters - as well, just that. Fr. Jim does that very well - he brings Jesus and the apostles to life for me. He even talked about Judas - explaining why he thinks the man did what he did.

Father Jim also inserts personal touches into Mass. When the gifts were being carried up the aisle he told us to think of what we were putting in the basket as our gift (not letting us off easy for just sticking in a check or cash). He suggested - aches and pains from the week (oldsters) and homework done - for the kids. Then...during the sign of peace, he suggested we think of ourselves as greeting our enemy. Paul was a stand in for a certain politician. He chuckled and told me later that I didn't seem very sincere. I'm hurt.

So - 8 a.m. mass turned out to be a good thing. We DVRd the Sunday Morning Show - so that helped my Sunday morning get back on track. Later today we're going to Ballroom Dance - to make up for last Thursday's cancelled class. I watched the end of the movie "Shall We Dance" Thursday. I'm going to pretend I'm dancing with Richard Gere....

Movie Critic - my Aunt Marty

Aunt Marty (who is now 81 years old) texted me a month ago to say "80 year-olds should not see Wolf of Wall Street". Hmmm. I could tell from the television commercials that the movie was chock full of crude language and sex. I'd heard that the F-bomb is dropped 2,465 times in it. (I made that number up - it could be more).

My aunt worked as an elementary school teacher in the 1960s. Uncle Bill was a bond attorney. I doubt they heard the type of language a lot in their chosen careers. I on the other hand have been exposed swear words all throughout my career - working at a grocery wholesaler, a manufacturing plants and then at a landfill. Sometimes those words were coming out of my own mouth. Yep - my grandmother would have taken a bar of soap to me. I don't have a lot of vices, but I love me some swear words. They must be well-placed though - no constant stream...

I hadn't planned to see the movie Wolf of Wall Street when I received that text from Aunt Marty. The advertisements and movie trailers I'd seen didn't appeal to me. I've never been a Leonardo DiCaprio fan - thinking of the guy as more of a teen heart throb. Then I saw an interview of Leo on the CBS Sunday Morning Show last weekend.

I was intrigued - by they man and the movie, which is based on a true story. The interview got Paul's interest too. It's a date, we said. Thursday night, post "huge blizzard that really wasn't" we headed across the street to Jordan Creek Mall to see the movie with 8 of our best friends (people we've never met). I'm sure the rain, hail, snow mix that had turned into slush didn't help attendance. Two attendees left during the movie - they told us the ticket salesperson said they could get a refund if the movie proved too profane for them. We stuck it out.

In Wolf of Wall Street, Leo plays Jordan Belfort, a likable glutinous (liquor/drugs, money, sex, toys) guy. His company is the Johnny Come Lately  - new money gauche interloper in a moneyed world. I was still prepared not to like the movie - my anti-Leo bias still a bit in place. I did soften towards him now that I know more about his childhood. Unlike the royal born rat-pack kids he grew up in the rough part of Los Angeles with prostitutes on the corner of his street. He earned his placed in Hollywood the hard way.

I really liked the movie. It was very raunchy and I had to hide my eyes during some of the, um disturbing parts. Isn't it sad - now instead of doing that at horror movies - I'm so matronly that I can't stand to see embarrassing public raunchy sex and things showing people being humiliated.

I feel sad for the people who live like that. They remind me of worker ants - all frantic, but with no joy. They frantically gather the things they think they deserve in life - money (he with the most wins), women, toys and mind altering drugs and alcohol - to numb them to the fact that none of the afore mentioned is making them feel better. I feel that even those who hide it better than the Jordan Belforts of the world are gluttons. How many millions is enough for you all? Pretty soon they'll have to live in walled communities, trucking worker bees in to serve them. Oh wait - they already live like that.

Leo played the part to the hilt - he became Jordan Belfort, the hard partying addict and corrupt stockbroker. I loved the directing. I enjoyed that the main character narrated the train wreck of his life speaking directly to the audience. The movie was long, but went by quickly. It was fascinating - like a car wreck. A really cool, expensive car. All the people were injured, but they escaped. Kind of.

My revised Fave Movies list:
Nebraska is still my dark horse - though low budget, I can't any Oscars winners there
Wolf of Wall Street - while the characters were despicable, they had some likable characteristics
August in Osage County - very dark, but some laughs. Great acting by Meryl - painful to watch
Saving Mr. Banks - good acting and story but not stellar
American Hustle - good acting, but didn't like the characters. They were not nice people.

The mother of Reinvention

My sister Betsy posted this poster on Facebook today. It's oh so true, right? You can't stop it. Change can be like a tidal wave - something big. Or change takes place as subtly as the tide. You're enjoying sunbathing and the next thing you know, waves are lapping up against your towel.

That's why, in my opinion, we need to learn to reinvent ourselves - or that tide just might go over our heads. It's true for individuals, teams, restaurants, towns, anything really. You can't stay the same and expect to succeed just because you are successful right now. It's likely others are checking you out aiming to overtake you as you read this!

I was pondering this while driving recently. I thought about Pizza Hut. The restaurant used to be IT in Atlantic, Iowa, my hometown. It was our town's first restaurant franchise, I think - opening in the early 1970's on Highway 6. It was run by the Ortiz family. Rick Ortiz (unpolitically correctly called "Taco" by classmates) was in my class. His father, he and his sister Renee all worked at the restaurant. Rick and I briefly "went together" in about 9th grade. I don't think we even held hands or went to a movie. Guess it didn't take! He worked a lot. At Pizza Hut.

I loved Pizza Hut! Thin and Crispy Pepperoni and a salad with Italian dressing. Betsy liked that creamy Italian so much she licked the bowl. The other prime menu offering was their Italian Hoagie sandwich- crispy Italian bread with pepperoni, Canadian Bacon lettuce and that same dressing - put through the pizza oven. Dang that was good. They'd wrap it in a foil bag if you purchased it "to-go".

Pizza Hut was king of the hill. There was no competition. I liked the oil cloth table coverings - old Italy look. They featured frosty mugs for beer. Of course I was about 15 years old - beer was out for a while. But I lusted in my heart. Pizza Hut rested on their laurels and they could afford to back then. Then in the 1980's few other companies came out that hawk pizza. PepsiCo purchased Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut discontinued the Hoagie (knucklehead idea if you ask me), but continues to come out with new and different types of pizza. They added wings - yum! Restaurants need to continually reinvent themselves. The chain has had some staying power. Look at Olive Garden and Red Lobster - struggling. And they're much younger chains. People still pack them in here in DSM at those chains - but they must have lost their luster elsewhere. By now, Pizza Hut has too. Too much competition. And no Hoagie.

Betsy works as a sales rep for the Longaberger Company. That company started by marketing wooden baskets - I first became aware of them in the 1980's. That company has branched out to many other types of products through the years. I have their pottery and several baskets. Betso gave us a very nice knife for Christmas. Nice stuff.
http://www.longaberger.com/ourProducts.aspx

People reinvent themselves too. Often it's by necessity - the stages in one's life. College graduation, marriage - and a big one: parenthood. Hey, knucklehead - you're someone's mommy now. Start acting all, um, parental. Too bad there's no nurture switch to flip.

I should have had a makeover - reinventing my hair. Oooh that mullet

I enjoyed the makeover to "empty nester". Beyond those defined changes in my life, there were other times that I knew I needed to change. After Jud was born,  I decided my career as a banker was over - I would work part time and stay home with the kids. I delivered oxygen to people in their homes and in nursing homes for a friend's business. Hey - it wasn't something I'd ever dreamed of doing, but it helped us make ends meet. We could send the kids to the sitter less often. (that's probably why they're a bit off kilter now that I think of it...) haha.

Through that time period I knew I needed to find "my calling". I visited our community college to figure out just what it was. I took a test to point me in the right direction and briefly considered attending grad school for a masters degree in library science. Then I looked at those two kids who would also need college degrees someday and decided spending lots of $ on more school for me wasn't the thing to do. Luckily I fell into a job as an environmental educator - and invented a career for myself in that industry.

When I went to work in the big city I upgraded my landfill clothes and hair too. But I'm still me - I'll never be a high maintenance kinda gal - so most people didn't even notice the change. The next two weeks I'll be taking classes in WordPress. I like to keep learning. I even dragged Paul into the Ballroom dance thing.

Yes, sometimes I'd like things to stay the same. I get pissy about change. I've not adapted to Netflix. We've got changes coming at work with two sections joining the Land Quality Bureau. That means more people are moving onto our side of 5th Floor of the Wallace building.  While I get to stay in the cubicle I moved to a few months ago, nearly everyone else in our section is moving around me. Everyone I work with is a buzz with talk of the changes. Theresa Stiner was coughing today and jokingly, Mike Smith said, "if you croak, I get your cubicle." Yes, we're all pulling together...

Paint Gene and my funny Valentine friends

I didn't get it. The art gene I mean. My grandfather had it. Though you never would have known it to look at him or talk to him. He was kind of a crusty quiet guy as I remember - though I was his young granddaughter. So I didn't know him to chat.

After he retired, my grandfather, Wally, (Wallace Bullock) decided to take oil painting lessons in Omaha with his pal Louis Reinig. He turned out to be pretty good! He did his first pic for my sister Susi. Somehow I ended up with it. It's pretty basic - but is historical - and that's why I love it. So maybe there is still hope for me. Bub received awards in local art shows with his paintings - Mom and Dad had several. I chose this southern landscape.

My Aunt Marty is also a good artist. She has done pottery and painted a cute table - nothing along the more classical lines like her father that I know of. She did serve as a docent for the Denver Museum of Art and loves to collect pieces from around the world.

My sister Cindy was the "artsy" sister in our fam, no thanks to Mrs. Nebola the AHS art teacher. I was always so jealous at how easily she whipped up drawings of people. It was a struggle for me, second nature to her. Cindy attended Drake University, graduating in Art Education. Of course she headed right out to Vail,  Colorado after college graduation - refusing to teach art in Bumf#%@, Iowa. She produced some great pieces during her school years - paintings, jewelry and pottery. Lots of talent, my sis.

And then there's our baby girl, Amy Elizabeth. She was practically born drawing. When the local newspaper asked each Kindergartener what they wanted to be when they grew up, she said artist. She nailed it! In 3rd grade when other kids were stressing about poster content during educational fairs, Amy would add that flair to her posters to make sure they "popped". She made the font readable.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to paint. Flop. I do have my creative side...really! But it doesn't seem to involve acrylic paint. Bobbie asked me to go with her and Joan to a place called Social Canvas in Waukee. The place was full - canvas, liquor, paint what's not to like? I wasn't wild about the design but we moved right along - I'm not creative enough to come up with my own design. I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a copy cat!

I nursed a Stella Artois beer and was sad that I had to be so involved in my painting - so I really didn't have time to chat with Bobbie and my former roomie (landlady really) Joan. It took about 2 hours start to finish - $35. I'd like to go again sometime, but would check on the design first. I'm not a "words" person.

Bobbie, left, Joan in the middle - is Bobbie's husband Jeff's sis.

Couldn't go with Live Love Laugh...wish my flower was bigger - just had to go so fast! Are my dots shaped like a kayak? Subliminal...do love my pals and like laughing with them!

That night our friends Jane Ertl and Ken Root came over for Chili. It was great to see them - we chatted and watched the Olympics.

Odie keeps Jane's lap warm

Paul gave Ken one of his shed antlers for a knife hilt - can't wait to see the finished product!

Today Mother Nature let it be known that she's going through "the change". First, rain and 26 degrees. Paul was off due to the Prez Day holiday, so I commuted by myself - icy side streets but the Freeway was okay. After I reached work - where it was misting, it started snowing to beat the band - around 2 inches of wet stuff.

I'd gotten a text from my buddy Julia Hoilien - in town from Boulder on a $100ish airline ticket. She's got longtime friends up near Ames. We'd decided to do an early lunch before her flight home and I asked Jane Ertl who was still in town as Ken had an MCing gig (he's a radio dude -he's got a great radio voice) that day. We went to Smokey Roe for an early lunch together - a delightful time!

I'm the luckiest girl to have such wonderful people in my life. What a great Valentines weekend.

Yessir - that's my buddy! Love my Jules - we've become such good friends
 

Have known this kiddo since sophomore year in college - love and admire her greatly!

Valentine pressure and feeling the love

A media type dismissed the idea that school children should be "forced" to give Valentines to everyone in their class. See the story: Pity Valentine.

That story was linked in a Facebook post by former Creston News Advertiser publisher Arvid Huisman. In the post Arvid explained how he'd not been the most popular lad in school - picked last for athletic teams and he was teased for less than fashionable clothes. Arvid wrote about a Val Day tradition that I remember well - making a box for Valentines. His point was that he looked forward to Valentine's Day - knowing that he would be afforded cards from all - despite his lowly standing at the time.

At Washington Elementary in Atlantic, Iowa, we prepared for the big heart day by taking a proper container to school to use for a card collection bin. I suppose it was an "art" activity. One year I took a cardboard oatmeal canister. Then we spent art class time decorating the box/bin - paste, glue, colors - the whole bit. I believe there was a contest involved, but I'm sure I never won or it would most certainly be rising to the top of my memory bank. Back then people weren't so worried about bruising our little egos by not awarding everyone for competing - there were winners. The rest of us lost.

my Val boxes were never this clever...

Before the "Big Day" we'd head to downtown Atlantic (no Wal-Mart in those days) to Ben Franklin, Bonnesen's 5 & 10 or Woolworth's to purchase Valentines for the class and teacher (she'd get the big one). Maybe Rex Pharmacy even sold a few. We'd also purchase candy to affix to each small card. What would it be? Gum, Smarties, Lifesavers? Candy companies were just getting wise about marketing small size packages for this special day.

Every child in class would get one. That was important! Make no mistake - I spent a little time making sure my favorite cards went to my fave people. I sure didn't want to give the wrong idea to some stinky boy in class. My fave peeps needed to get the "best" stuff. Sally, Robyn, Paula, Chris D., Candice, Theresa - I'm sure they got the good stuff!

I have a feeling teachers stepped in to supply cards/candy and containers for those children who weren't able to bring them from home. I was so oblivious then  and didn't worry much about not getting Valentines, nor about those other children that I recall. How many kids in our class were worried about such things? I'm sure there were a few whose parents could afford to, or didn't choose to participate in such things. How nice for me that I didn't have to even think of it. My own safe little world.

Yes it was safe in Leslie Land - through about 4th grade anyway, before I knew much about the difference between girls and boys. This was also before girls began truly began maneuvering to attract boys. (Again I was clueless). It happens much earlier these days. Much to my chagrin, some of the parents encourage it. What - you don't have your own lives? Your kid will have time to grow up...in the meantime, why don't you.

Back to me. This story does have a fabulous ending. In the end, after I grew up, I found my lucky Valentine! I went to the Chocolate Storybook today to buy him chocolates and caramels - his fave.

The elves at CS wear hats that look like boxes of chocolates!

Last night (finishing this blog Saturday a.m.) my Val and I went on a date to John and Nick's Steakhouse. There was a bit of a wait. We weren't the only ones with that idea! We spent an hour sitting at the bar. It's a newer place that is based on an old fashioned family formula - good menu, giant salad bar and leather booths.

We each had a martini - dirty and delish. We ended up sitting by an older couple and their son - Cyclone fans originally from the Westside, Iowa in the Carroll area. They now live in WDM - I think the folks do too, after managing a dairy farm and bringing up six boys who attended Kuemper, the Catholic School in Carroll. Our Creston Panthers competed against them and we enjoyed talking about that and all things ISU. The son texted his Dowling frosh daughter who knows our great niece Mandy. Small world. Finally, the restaurant called our name - our turn to eat and the prime rib was fab. I have left overs for later. Grand evening with my honey.

This morning we awoke to a beautiful sunrise on our way to "you know where" (Waveland) for breakfast. Steely Dan's Aja album played while we ate - more good memories from our misspent youth.

While awaiting the big events in life, sometimes I neglect the joy that little things like that can bring. As I grow older, I'm doing better though.

I have many Valentines in my life - my main man, our children, family and friends. I heart all of you!

Betty Lou

Betty Louise (Betty Lou) Pellett was an incredible person that passed through my life years ago. I'm sorry I was too young - and then too self-centered to really appreciate her before she passed away in 1986. She and her husband Paul were my parents' friends. Their children were our friends.

Betty was Mom's mentor in the Red Cross Swimming program. Blup (yes, we started the whole Brangelena/ making up names from initials and shortening it WAY back in the 70's) was the chief of the summer Red Cross swimming lessons. Mom was assistant chief. They both sported whistles and cut quite the figures all authoritative and shit. "I said flutter kick, dammit!"

Three Bullocks had Pellett classmates. Drew is a couple? years older than Susi. Marlene (known as Mutsy) is Susi's age, Clark is Cindo's age, Todd is my age and Christine is a couple years younger than Betso.  They were all pool rats as we were while their mamma oversaw swimming lessons. Then as we all grew up - we began to serve as teacher's aides and then instructors. In my mind's eye, when I picture the Pelletts, they're all wearing swimsuits. It's okay though - they were nice looking.

Paul and Betty Lou lived in a lovely two-story rural home just north of Atlantic. The family operated a propane and LP gas business. (My classmate Todd now runs that biz - he and wife Suzie live in Omaha). Paul and Betty had a menagerie out there - and I loved to visit their house.

In preschool or Kindergarten did a firetruck take us to their house? (Paula Bacon remembers this story). And I got to see kitties - puppies? I loved them all! Todd remembers having to invite me to his birthday party - he said he didn't wanna. Not a GIRL. I thought it was great - there was a piñata that I got to try to whack.

The Pelletts also invited the Bullocks out to their home to ice skate on the Nishna Botna River in the frosty winter. There was a bonfire and we roasted marshmallows. They had a pony with a sleigh. The Pelletts were one of those families that seemed to do all that stuff only seen on movies.

My favorite Pellett parties were the swimming lesson aide parties. These were held to thank all the teacher's helpers - the ones who got into the cold water to help the skinny kid from Cumberland try to back float. The aides did the rough stuff! Often the real teacher stood all dry and warm on the pool deck.

Every year the teachers put on the Aide party at the Pelletts - and Mom even came when she was involved with lessons. They'd feed us hot dogs and would set up "games" for us to play at various sites around the house and yard. Except the games were Punk'd. They even got Mom with the old ping pong ball war game.

You take a pan of water. Tell 2 people they're going to compete by blowing a ping pong ball - the first one to get it to the other side wins. They get their faces down by the water. The "starter" holds the ball in her hand  - ready to place it in the middle and says "On your Mark, Get Set" On GO, she splashes the ball into the water, getting the competitors as wet as possible. It was so funny seeing my mom get fooled.

Another game I remember was: have a plank big enough for someone to stand on. Blindfold somebody and tell them you're lifting them and they'll need to jump into a pile of pillows (or something soft). Have strong people to lift the person up. When they lift the person on the plank - it will feel like they are 6 feet in the air - but they will really be only 1 foot or 18 inches up. When they jump it will be a shock to hit the ground that fast. I know - sounds risky. But we didn't think of that stuff in the 70's.

The last one was a little kinky. "Under the blanket". Cover person with big blanket. Tell the person under the blanket to take off something they don't need. They start removing articles of clothing - it goes fast in summer - not much on. The joke - it's the blanket that they don't need!

Betty Lou was the instructor when several of us decided to become Water Safety Instructors (WSI). Robyn, Candice, Sally, Ted, Todd and me. Since it was spring, we took class at Harlan at the indoor pool at their high school. Betty said she would drive - uh oh! She was a notoriously crazy fast driver and she had a couple Old English Sheep Dogs. Every time we took off from Pelletts, Betty would tear out to beat the dogs. They'd chase us until we cleared the old metal bridge. The riders in the back would be howling with laughter and the front seat rider would struggle to make conversation with BL without cracking up. Whenever I swim I hear BL telling me that I my crawl stroke was beautiful - high praise and a proud memory.

Betty loved to travel - and she did. She went to China and I believe she ended up with an illness that turned into swelling on the brain. She passed away in 1986. Way too early. I didn't appreciate her enough - a strong woman like my mom, showing the way for others to follow.

Honey Creek, Friends, Beer and Fun

It was just what the doctor ordered. And by doctor I mean me. I ordered myself to get away and have some fun with friends. That prescription was filled and I'd like to report the patient is doing better.

We left West Des Moines around 4 p.m. on Friday - dropping Odie of at Logan's house. She got to spend the weekend with teenage twin girls, a 10-year-old girl, a 75 pound boxer, a chinchilla. This group's mother, Leslee, is the daughter of Connie who lives in Diamond Brooke, our townhouse complex.

Then we were off on our South Central Iowa Adventure - to Honey Creek. (click link) It's the resort the Department of Natural Resources built on Lake Rathbun back in 2009ish. Yep - right when the economy bombed. It's been a tough go financially for the place - DNR just paid off the bonds this year, but it's yet to sniff a profit. It's still a pretty well-kept secret if you ask me. Remote? Yes...it's in the middle of no-where. I suppose that's part of the beauty of the place. It's a great place for family reunions and destination gatherings. There was a wedding reception going on this weekend.

There is a huge beautiful lodge with a full restaurant, bar and several meeting rooms. On the other end of the place there is a large water park - the kids were loving that place. The pool closes down for adults only from 9-10 p.m. Good thinking!

We met our longtime pals Bobbie and Jeff McFee there. We thought about asking other friends to go too, but some of them have their own cabins on a different lake, so we figured their lake places would be higher priority for them - not a jaunt to south central Iowa. I did dream about our fave south of the border lake last night - there was a bear involved. (not Bare Don).

I'd been to Honey Creek for meetings before, but not to stay. It had been a while though. I'd forgotten how impressive the place looks when you first drive in. The staff is friendly and we got checked in quickly. The rooms are nothing special, but were attractive and clean. We ended up in disabled friendly King rooms right next to each other. We dragged along enough liquor for 10 people - forgetting that we're now in our mid-50's.

The first night we ate at the HC Restaurant and sat in the spa after 9 p.m. when the cherubs were sent off to bed. We sent ourselves to bed shortly after 10. Breakfast was offered back at the same restaurant - and we enjoyed watching bald eagles swoop over the marina dock outside the window. We chatted long after our food was gone, enjoying good coffee and company.

McFees were in charge of BMs after that. Yep - Bloody Marys in their room. Later, on our way to the car for a tour of 2 area towns, I insisted we do a photo session "out back".  Nobody wanted to sit in the icy Adirondack chairs - so we stood by them.

Bobbie and Jeff



Wish the place woulda been hoppin'

First we headed north to the small town of Albia where the Albia Brewing Company had opened in late 2012. Few patrons were out on a chilly Saturday afternoon so we hogged the owners' attention. Brian and Barbara Lindberg and their daughter gave us plenty of love. (The daughter now lives in Prairie City and knows my co-worker Angie. Small world). We enjoyed 2 paddles of beer plus delish appetizers. We each selected our fave before Brian gave us a tour of the joint. He sells Shelter Insurance but has always loved brewing - so started this venture.

Brian brews on Sundays. I liked the beer called Black Betty

Next we headed to Centerville, 20 miles south in Appanoose County, in search of a bar with a TV so we could watch the ISU basketball game. We ended up at the historic Continental where again we received personal service and attention - until the oldsters started shuffling in for supper at 5 p.m. Bobbie and I walked around the square visiting several excellent gift stores and Browns Shoe Fit (I held back and didn't purchase shoes...so proud). The Cyclones came through with a bball victory. Yay! Maybe I should shop during games more often!



Continental - lobby

Making the turn on the square, Bobbie saw some unfortunate soul's butt crack - and that was our kinky high (or low) light of the day. I was lucky enough to miss it - she didn't shout out fast enough. And it was like a car wreck and she couldn't avert her eyes long enough during the brief view to see if it was a man or a woman. In this weather, I'd think they'd have felt the chill.



Love the sign

Next we walked a block to the Majestic Theater owned by the same group. A guy gives Arthur Murray ballroom dance lessons frequently there we were told. The theater must not be updated to digital. The bar and drink areas are delightful and would be a great place for a small wedding reception or party. We ordered bevvies from the lone bartender (it turned out he knew Creston's Mike Gerleman) and settled into the comfy leather couch/chair area.

Hungry, we ordered pizza from the local Greek joint George and Nick's. It was delivered to be delivered to us there and was quite yummy. I couldn't talk Paul into trying out the dance floor with our newly learned Foxtrot and Waltz moves.

Beautiful dance floor - it was calling to us

We headed back to Honey Creek by 9 p.m. and once again were in bed by 10. Hell, we're old!


We made ourselves at home..at the Majestic

The breakfast buffet this a.m. was great - it included an omelet bar. There were even more eagles than yesterday. We chatted by the fireplace before packing up and heading home. I'd recommend this trip to anybody and Paul and I plan to come back in warm weather with our kayaks! It was sure nice to hang out with our friends - I might make it through a few more weeks of winter now.









Facebook Anniversary

My Facebook Anniversary film says I've been on FB since 2008.

In honor of FB's 10th anniversary Facebook put together little video (with music no less) slide show of some of the pics and posts from my timeline. (They did this for everyone evidently). My pal Mary Morman-Graham mentioned that hers made her think of something that might be played at her funeral...I do think they might have selected spunkier music.

Homecoming princess

Facebook didn't quite get it right on my history though. They missed my "Amy" stalking years. You see when my kiddo went off to college in 2004 I felt so left out of her life. When she was in high school, her activities kept us very busy. It's not like we were best friends, but I did like participating in her life. And I'd heard of this new thing for college kids (back then you needed a .edu email address) - Facebook.

Amy felt sorry for me. She clued me in on her FB password and I began my secret life in Amy's inner circle. I had to promise not to read her messages, but other than that, FB provided me a fantastic bridge into the world of the college student.

This is what FB looked like in 2004 - but it's obviously NOT Amy's...
 

I only posted as Amy a couple times - as a joke - just messing with her social life a little. I don't even remember what I did but it WAS funny. Sometimes I saw some very eye opening posts I must say. But I was operating in the "dome of silence" - unless it would have been something life or health threatening.

Amy's HS peeps - they were a class ahead of her

FB helped me keep up on kids from Amy's high school - where were they now? Who were they dating? Was she keeping in touch with them? I missed some of them - was used to seeing them from high school sports and social events. I kept up on who was dating whom and who broke up.

Through this new "Social Media" medium I was also able to "meet" Amy's new friends. So when she talked about people I could look them up - where were they from? What were their posts like? Did they seem nice? Were they cute?

Amy and college pal Brian - and yes I knew all about him...

Was I obsessed with FB? No, I still had my own exciting life in Creston - I was busy with Jud's sports activities and my job at Prairie Solid Waste Agency. Paul and I had season football tickets and saw Amy fairly frequently in person. She had the usual college drama - short term boyfriends, roommates and classes.

In 2008, Facebook and I had both grown up. FB had opened up availability to others (besides .edu emails) by then. So I finally started by own identity! I still tried to keep up on Amy - she was a college senior. That was confusing! I found myself posting stuff on her page, thinking I was on mine. Bad Mommy! So I eventually quit accessing Amy's FB. We are FB friends though - AND I'm friends with some of her college pals! They keep their pages so boring these days...sigh.

darling boy - what's not to like?

When I started my own FB page, I learned how to post photos to it - and put some scanned baby/child photos of the children on there. Jud was in college. Shortly I received a text from my son, "I am NOT your friend any more". I assumed he meant on FB. Aww who wouldn't like those cute baby pics posted - all the chicks would dig those right? He had "unfriended" me. I learned not to "tag" photos. Jud has become less sensitive since then - and I have learned to be more sensitive about what people might like or not like to have tagged. We're friends once again.

Of course my fam has their lives bared for all to see here in this blog...so now they're used to it! I don't know what will be next after Facebook - but I thank Mark Zuckerberg et al for inventing this vehicle. It keeps me up on friends' lives, has put me in touch with old friends, family that I wouldn't otherwise hear from so regularly and peeps that I know in other ways. It gives me a way to save my photos. Especially since I started commuting and then after we moved away from Creston. I like it.

I don't like the games so as long as they give me a way to turn those off - yay. Bravo Facebook - you are what we make of you. I do have concerns about privacy, but so far the benefits outweigh those. Please don't screw it up.

Diamond Girls

Sure do shine. I went out with the Diamond Brooke ladies last night. It was a small group - just six of us. We went to PF Changs - just on the other side of Jordan Creek Mall. It's our neighborhood.

Connie sets up the nights out - the first Monday of each month. She sends an email to each unit - there are 68 of them, but not all have women in them...we usually have around 10 or 12 gals there, but in the winter there are fewer. The month we met at one of the units in the association there were over 20 of us!

Leslie and Connie

I enjoyed having a smaller group. It made it easier to have just one conversation. We talked about the weather, of course - that storm a couple weeks ago when people had such a long commute home. It took Leslie B. 2+ hours to travel from Urbandale to her place. Other Leslie (not to be confused with Alternate Leslie Goldsmith) lives down the street from us. She is a radio exec with the company that owns several radio stations around here. She and her husband (he travels) moved back to Iowa from Atlanta to be closer to children. Their son is a doc who just finished his residency in Omaha and now practices in DSM. They have grandkids.

Sue Tyler and Sally

Movies were another topic. Nobody liked American Hustle, though we agreed the acting was great and the clothes were awesome. I sure don't remember women wearing clothes where their breasts nearly popped out though - at least not in Atlantic, Iowa. My mom sported a wiglet (hairpiece) sometime during that era. I was too young to pay attention to when she wore it and how it looked. I think it was a short-lived fashion effort on her part.

Me with Linda

Connie recently took herself to the animated moving Frozen. I wish I could have gone with her. When Jud was here over the weekend, we watched Wreck It Ralph on Starzz. It wasn't something I could have ever interested Paul in without Jud's influence. I like animated movies and told Connie to call me next time she needs someone to go with.

I sat by Linda. I hadn't really talked to her before. She and her spouse Dave lived her for a long time but then moved for his job to Minneapolis and then Kansas City. Then they moved back here when Dave retired as their kids live here. I showed her where Jud's girlfriend Kara lives and she said that was really close to where they lived in KC.

Sally and Sue Tyler and fun to talk to as they are Des Moines natives - so they know all the locals and the original joints. I told Sue that I know another Sue Tyler from Atlantic. Sue just moved to Diamond Brooke not long before we did and she loves it here. Her husband - a former DM Register employee - report? passed away a few years ago and Sue decided to sell the home they owned on 50th Street in West Des Moines. She says she likes having all the people around - she plays bridge on Wednesdays with a group.

Sally is a retired teacher. She told about her church - Plymouth Congregational. They operate a program that outfits women for job interviews. They have helped over 1,000 women so far. I plan to start saving my clothes for Sally to take there from now on.

I plan to meet with Connie tomorrow night. We're going to arrange a meeting of Odie, our dog, with her granddaughter Logan who is 16. If it works, we could have a new dog sitter. Fingers crossed! Connie used to live in KC too, and worked for an outfit that helped independent hardware companies. So she knows the Cappels from Atlantic and the Seckingtons in Creston. Small world.


The toilet did it!

We came home from work early today - it was snowing and we wanted to beat the idiots. We stopped at HyVee on Grand for - what else milk and bread. Plus some other stuff. I couldn't resist snapping a couple pics. Odie is getting used to snow - she didn't even wait for Paul to sweep the walk when we arrived home - she leaved off the steps and tinkled. #sleddog.

Oh man - how pretty would I be in these?

Dancing update, boy here

Our dancing FAIL continues - but hey, that's why we're taking lessons. Too bad they didn't offer remedial lessons though. We're moving too fast - and I don't mean our dance moves. We really should stay on each type of dance longer. We're not bad at the regular Fox Trot by now, but anything fancy added on? Iffy at best.

Then we started Swing at the end of class two Thursdays ago. Finally - something we understand! Right. The basic step is easy - it's when you start swinging around that the difficulty increases. The guy has to "start" the moves. Paul seems to be a slow starter, according to our instructor.

We both wore better dancing shoes (soles that don't stick) this week - so we didn't have the "bad shoes" excuse to fall back on for our lack of smoothness. We didn't practice dancing at home though. Bad us. We had planned to practice Wednesday night, but my partner got a better deal - he got together with work buddies who were in town for training. I couldn't fault him for wanting to have time with his pals...poor planning on our part.

I admit it ever since we married I have tried to lead when we have danced. So learning to allow Paul to lead has been difficult. The pressure is all on him now as he's got to decide all the extra moves. It's like that exercise where I am supposed to close my eyes and fall back into other people's awaiting arms. It's all about trust! Sometimes I still anticipate moves when he hasn't started them.

This isn't us...

Of course I trust Paul - but I'm a control freak. (Give it up Leslie...) We need to practice so he is comfortable making his moves earlier - so they become routine. So I know what the heck is coming. Cuddle, left turn, his spin? There are so many options! And we've only just begun. Next week? We'll finish up swing (insert sadness - I would like to do more of this Swing stuff) and start several weeks of the waltz.  

Dancing together has been fun. We've laughed a lot - even though it's been frustrating at times, and I've been irritated. At him and at myself. Gee - it's been kinda like marriage!

When we're dancing I've looked into Paul's face and eyes more than I have in a long time. He's cute! I have enjoyed seeing his many expressions.

There are many distractions in this world. So even when we are dining together at restaurants or eating together here - we don't tend to do that for long stretches.

Dancing isn't all about the dance...

My honey and me

Jud arrived yesterday - a bit under the weather, poor boy. He may have a touch of a stomach bug. After his birthday celebration with his girl Kara Thursday, he didn't sleep well that night and - well you know how it is when you have digestive issues. I will spare you the details.

He's not really having any other symptoms - perhaps a slight headache last night, after he arrived at our place. But he wasn't up for going out for supper. Bummer. Chicken noodle soup out of a can for his birthday meal. Woo hoo. I am making 5-Hour Oven Stew for tonight - one of his favorite meals. Paul and Jud are attending the ISU vs. Oklahoma game together - a little guy time.

This morning - his initial voyage on the good ship Waveland Café. I know. Paul and I are obsessed. Call it our little piece of small town Des Moines that we like to share with others.

The guys had a great time at the game. They took time to snap a "selfie" on their way in - texted it to Amy and me, saying they were at the Mecca.

The oven stew came out great - and we spent the evening gorging ourselves on basketball on TV. Jud stayed today through halftime of the Superbowl game - which was quite a letdown after all the week of hype. Even the commercials were not all that great.

It was fun to have Jud at home. We picked up some wings at Jethro's and put some Little Smokies in the crock pot. This time of year it's just a good time to hang out in the house - though we did venture over to Jordan Creek for a little while.

We made it through January - one step closer to spring!