I forgot a couple and Younkers...

I thought of a couple of the people I forgot about - I'm missing their Facebook posts.

• I bet Mary Mormon Graham is posting up a storm - readying for the garden she's planting.
• I'm wondering how my cousin Bob Stewart's hip is doing. And he's probably posted a couple pics of his cute grandkids.

Also - Thanks to my niece Leslie for sending my some James photos - my great nephew is growing up so fast! It seems like we were just having a baby shower...

If you don't live in Iowa, don't get the news or didn't see the glow on the horizon early Saturday morning in downtown Des Moines, then you may not know the historic Younkers (it's a department store) building burned down. I guess it technically didn't burn all the way down - but pretty close. I snapped a photo today.

It was hard to see - they had the street cordoned off. Here is a link to Des Moines Register photos - with some historic ones from days when the place was hopping. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/picture-gallery/news/local/des-moines/2014/03/31/45-photos-younkers-fire-devastation-on-monday/7131815/

Our family shopped in Omaha - so I don't have a lot of memories of the Des Moines downtown Younkers. Younkers was one of Dad's big Lorraine Lingerie accounts. There are stores in all of the major cities in Iowa - and border towns like Omaha and Sioux Falls. The downtown store here has been closed since 2005.

I remember shopping at the downtown Younkers during the Iowa Girls' State Tournament - when Atlantic High School's Girls Recreation Association (GRA) would send us to the Big City in school buses to watch the games. They'd park at Vets Auditorium and we hoofed it from there all over downtown Des Moines. We would arrive early and made a day of it - with shopping and lunch before the Consolation game and the Finals. Great memories with my schoolmates. You'd see girls all around town in their letter jackets.

Later, when I was in college, I decided to get a perm. Permanent wave. Big in the late 1970's and I had never had one before. I decided to make an appointment to get one at Younkers on my way driving home to Atlantic for Christmas Break. An African American stylist worked on me - and I ended up with a total afro. Her race probably had nothing to do with it...but being a small town girl, I just didn't know what to expect and when I looked into the mirror - I saw Afro! And I didn't know how to tame it. I panicked and washed it right away. It stayed puffy. I purchased a black power hair pick and went with it. Ah...the afro years. Thanks Younkers!

Later, when I was soon to be a mommy, Paul and I shopped at the Younkers Home Store downtown. We purchased a nifty bassinet - red and portable with snap on covers to protect the little bambino. It was on sale because it was missing the shoulder straps - so a costly piece was affordable for us. That thing was used by many babies - it sat on our dresser in our room with our newborns. A real thanks for that Younkers.

I wish now that I'd been able to visit the Tea Room. Tonight on the news there was a story about how many of the pieces were salvaged from the building before it was sold to be made into condos. A store in the East Village features a chandelier. West End Salvage has many of the ceiling tins. This is a sad loss for the City of Des Moines. I hope they can salvage more of the exterior.

My grandparents' house is for sale

My grandparents' former home in Atlantic is for sale. Link: 909 Poplar. It's a cool house - you should buy it.

Looking at the photos sure brings back memories! My Dad and aunts grew up there. My aunts say they think the place shrunk! I think perhaps we all turned into giants. It looks like the people who have been living there have kept it in nice shape. The present owner sure loves light blue. I'd forgotten how many built in cupboards and features there are in the house. So pretty and you don't get that in homes today.

This pic is taken in the same room as the 6th pic on the link - with the tiffany lamp. Momo and Bubba are in the pic along with Mom's mom - who we simply called Grandma. Susi has our dog Jud on her lap. Betso was not yet born.
 

When I was a kid, 909 Poplar was a grand old two story house complete with a dank, dark basement and an attic with creaky stairs and insulation showing between the rafters. My sisters told me not to step on that puffy insulation stuff, because I would sink into oblivion. And I believed 'em! It looks as if somewhere along the line someone finished that attic and it's used now as an office.

When we visited my grandparents, we'd park in the alley behind their detached single car garage. Momo always had flowering peony bushes planted in the back. The kitchen looks about the same as it did back then - I remember the excitement when Momo got her first dishwasher installed. Back then, the formal dining area contained a beautiful table that sat 12 or so easily.

I like how the owner has the entry decorated. My favorite piece in the house was there when we were kids - a pine chest of drawers that held the toys and games. There a board game - Speed Racer? It was Dad's. And a suede bag of marbles and tiddly winks. We used Momo's wrought iron corn muffin pan to "wink" into. I grew up thinking that was part of the game, until I was older and figured out those corn shaped things were for baking. Genius!

The end of the house was the combo room - living/family room. To the left - Momo and Bub's easy chairs and the center of their universes (by that time they were getting up there in years) - the color console television. Bubba's pipe collection and tobacco sat by his chair. I loved to smell the stuff, wrapped in foil packages. Momo always had her Salem cigarettes by her side, along with her fingernail file.

On the other end of the room sat Momo's upright piano - she could play by ear. In between there was a gorgeous wood burning fireplace and a floral print couch. Momo's prized mirror (she never would tell anyone what it set her back $$) was in the room too. There were built in book shelves that contained Momo's cruet collection. Connecting the living room and the kitchen was a long bathroom - stool, sink and a large bathtub. I bet it's got a shower now.

The door to the dark basement was in that room. On the wall, in the plaster in the stairwell were my handprint belonging to Dad and his sisters Martha and Jean. The basement included the washer and dryer, and huge hold stove and the room where the coal was kept before gas heat was installed. There was a little area where we were sent to play - there were a few toys down there. But we never stayed long. It was cold and dark.

Stairs in the entry way lead up to the four bedrooms and bath. I didn't remember all those built in cupboards on the way up those stairs. Bub had the largest room, and by then Momo slept in her own room. Bubba was an oil painter - he took it up after he retired. His paints and painting in various stages took over one bedroom. The fourth bedroom was where we stayed when we overnighted with our grandparents - it was a good jumping bed too!

In the middle of all those bedrooms was the door that led to the attic (it looks like the door is gone now), up creaky wooden stairs. Back then it contained various treasures including my aunties prom dresses. Along the steps there was a built in bookshelf where I found many beloved books - Happy Hollisters, Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and more left behind by Dad and his sisters. I still have a few of those books.

I'm glad to see that today the home still looks loved - much more so than our old house at 202 Crombie in Atlantic. The people that own that house don't even paint the exterior. I'm glad my Aunt Jeanie's friend let us know that the house is for sale - so we could take a walk down memory lane, right through our Dad's childhood home.

Wondering about you

I stole this pic of Amy off her Facebook earlier this year

Since my Facebook crash diet I've been pondering - has this stuff been going on without me on the site?

Creston

• Did Kathy and Dave Rieck finish their remodeling job on their house? How is Callie's foot?
• I heard Kyle Anthony and his wife Jess had a baby boy. How's it going? What's he look like? Have Nancy and Jim been down doting? Is Kendra a doting auntie? Do her dogs (and Nancy's) lick the baby's face?
• Just who has been hugging Barb Coenen lately? What nutty thing has Barb been reporting on from her biz, Maple Street Memories. Does Tyler like his new job in Dallas?
• How is the Nielson kids' senior year winding down? I'm sure Beth is posting some great pics. Come to think of it, Peg Eblen is prolly posting about Levi too. They both have likely appreciated the Cyclones' great run during the Big 12 tourney and to the Sweet 16.
• Larry Peterson is lamenting his picks in the NCAA tourney (I kinda know this because he is a Twitter guy too). Is Deb kicking his butt in the CNA pool?
• The McKims have probably also appreciated the Cyclones run. Plus, I've heard from Pablo that Donnie posted cool pics from the lake place place. Jealousy rears its ugly head - the last thing you'd want to happen during Lent!
• Lena McKim - Katie's dog has probably had her photo posted several times in all of her adorableness.
• Phil Conover most likely has been posting from cool places with cool people - including Damon Dotson and cute girls.

Atlantic

• Has Kathy Hjortshoj Larsen been posting pics of her home on the beautiful watershed structure (think large pond or small lake) on Highway 71 outside of Atlantic. I've always eyed that area as we drove between Creston and Atlantic. We'd go through my fave small town in Iowa - Bridgewater. What a pretty name for a town. I liked seeing Doris Department Store - you can't find that in suburban WDM, IA. Those were the types of stores that my father made a living selling lingerie to for 30+ years.
• Toni Robinson Mason - what's granddaughter Evelyn up to? Is she walking? Haha - she's only a few months old but growing up fast. And their (her husband Dan is also my HS classmate) son is a frosh at ISU, while she and Dan are Iowa grads. I hope he survived this brutal winter! He is an Arizona boy - Toni has reminded us frequently all winter by providing the week's forecast when Iowa was going through yet another awful stretch.
• Becky Nelson Case probably posted pics of more snow in Minnesota
• Pam Nelson Jepperson might have traveled again to Seattle to see her daughter - that's when she posts pics. Her grandson is a cutie.
• Candice Drake Morey (another HS classmate) is probably posting information about her daughter's wedding. Pablo and I tried to look Candice up the weekend of the Big 12 tourney. She works at JCrew on the Plaza. Candice's daughter is marrying a former Hawkeye football athlete who now plays for the Houston Texans.
• Sandy Larsen Alleman has probably posted some cute animal videos that I'm missing out on.
• Sue Tyler (forget her married name) has probably posted some stuff about the spring sports of her Wisconsin high school spring sports. And about her sons - cute kids.
• Mona Jones likely posted some stuff about her kids and the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Probably her hat she's going to wear and mint juleps.
• Cindy Dean posted about her cat, son, school and food - or all of the afore mentioned
• I bet Ted Simpson talked about Nebraska hoops until they lost (good run by them) and then was complimentary of ISU, because he's a nice guy. Plus he likely posted pics healthy food choices.
• I hope Jennifer Deter posted pics of new colts. They're so adorable. I got to see pics of Jane and her on vaca in sunny Florida right before I checked out.  
• Robyn Bredensteiner Uehling probably posted some animal clips or other inspiring stuff - she's a newbie to FB. Missing my Robbiedob.
• Roger Underwood and wife Connie are likely in some exotic location.
• Jane Buck - has probably posted on so many things and I miss them.

Treehuggers

• Shelly Codner is posting stuff about her fam - those gingers she gave birth to. That fam seems like a close one and I like reading about their doins'. Plus Shelly posts about her work as an Iowa Waste Exchange rep.
• Theresa Stiner either posted pics of her latest foster dog (they take in puppies on a temp basis from the shelter) or nature pics that are very nice.
• Becky Jolly and Angie Clark put probably put pics on FB of their fams that make me smile and remember our kids when they were young.

Jud and Kara's Facebook selfie

Family and others

• Karen Krueger, Paul's niece with 3 young sons, makes me laugh with her rare posts. Life at their house is crazy, but in a loving, fun way.
• Katie Goldsmith Lee and hubbie Albert both have likely posted pics of their fam - good thing Katie blogs so I can get a bit of a fix that way!
• I got to see the annual Meyer fam pics Mardis Gras from North Carolina. Our nephew Terry a New Orleans gal...and Bonnie took her traditions along with her to their new home. Their kids and friends enjoy it!
• I bet my niece Jordie has posted more adorable pics of my great nephews Jonah and James. The two boys are probably grown up and have their licenses since I last saw them. Sob. Okay so they're 9 months and going on 2. Jordie has also probably posted what's in her ear. How is her new job going? Aunties want to know!
• What's my niece Leslie up to anyway...she prolly posted more cute baby pics.
• Kelli Behr Hoskins has probably posted some interesting pics of food and upcoming shows in Mpls. Or a family shot of my peeps the Behrs.
• Speaking of relative..my sis Betso is winding down on daughter Sarah's senior year. And likely posted a couple Hawaii pics too. I missed all that. Blink back tears.
• Amy has been busy starting up her new graphic design biz - the website is still in development. Here's the Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aegdesignco/    If you need a logo/brand or an invitation (like wedding invitation) or brochure, help with your resume look - contact the kiddo. Other than that - she's probably posted a few cute pics.
• Bonnie P. could have gone on another quick trip with her HS friend with cheap airfare anywear.
• Jud most likely posted about sports and his recent trip for his buddy Jeff's bachelor party. He's got a new job. So his last day at Altec was Friday. Now he'll be posting about a new adventure - finding a place to live in St. Louis and starting a new job at Boeing.
• Jud's GF Kara has probably posted a few quips joshing about Jud's intensity about sports. Plus she got together recently with some high school friends in the Twin Cities.     

I probably missed some people - because I'm old and forgetful and it's been a while since I've been on the site. Many of the other people who are my pals on FB are infrequent posters - people who are more comfortable reading about others' antics than they are posting about their own. (My husband is one of those)  

Surfin' the Wave again (after the Cyclone loss)

All good eggs! Barb, Steve, Jean, Paul, Mike

Same song - different verse. It's the Wave on 47th in case anyone wonders. Pablo and I DO need to make our way to the one in Booneville one of these days. But we've grown accustomed to our University waitresses faces.

Mom and son

You know it's not really even the food - which is good but not fabulous. It's just breakfast and is priced accordingly. Unlike some of the franchise joints...

Our Brother-In-Law continues to progress in in treatment after a brain injury from a fall two weeks ago. Jean and Dave's son Steve, who lives in San Diego with wife Jen and 3 children, was here for a couple days. It was nice to hang out with Steve who was a Mass server at our wedding back in 1982. His mom played the organ.

Steve and fam don't make it back to Iowa much - busy lives raising those kids. The oldest, Will, is on the surf team. Caroline takes dance lessons at a place where Phil Mickelson's daughter does. They sat by the Mickelson family at the dance recital. Jen's mom is a Phil groupie so she got the Phil seat - right next to him. You don't get stuff like that at Leslie's Dance Emporium (Creston) recitals...where Amy was a pickle in her one and only recital. Okay - maybe she wasn't a pickle, but we did recycle the leotard she wore (those things are expensive) into a Vlassic for Halloween.

Our niece Barb (sister Carol's daughter) and husband Mike are back from their spring break trip to Tampa. So they were able to meet us at the Waveland Café for breakfast too. Daughter Mandy - a frosh at Dowling Catholic, was busy.

We're all Cyclone Fans. We had decided to meet at the Waveland at 8:30 a.m. - "crazy busy" time at that place. When I woke up this morning, I knew Pablo and I needed to get there early to stake out the one and only big table in the joint. We hovered over the fam finishing up there. That was a good plan.

Once everyone arrived, the early talk was all about the ISU vs. UCON game of course. Steve and Barb are both ISU accounting grads, Mike - logistics like Jud. So we lamented. No matter what, it sure was a magical season - one where we won many games right at the end. This team loves each other and we love them. Oh sure, if we only had Georges, our player who broke his foot a couple games ago. We mighta...but that's sports. And life. I'm encouraged about the direction of this program. Go Cyclones!

We talked about the real reason we were together - the patient - Dave. He's progressing well but he and Jean will still have struggles ahead. The medical team is trying to get his meds right - so he's not agitated but not droopy. We want to old Dave back! When he goes home he won't be able to be alone for a while, so that will be a burden. My how life can change quickly.

Seeing Steve was fun, though we'd rather do it for a good reason - not an injury! Paul and I agree - it's nice to be in DSM to be able to see family more on occasions like this.

One week until sunny Florida! #countdown.

Book hoarders, college date..disaster

Paul first experienced the Planned Parenthood book sale Thursday and he saw them first hand. They're either book hoarders or people incredibly gifted at taking other people's stuff and parlaying it into millions by selling it on eBay. They cart it out by the grocery cart-load.

Here are some of the finds we didn't take with us. (Paul has a few hoarding tenancies but my inner Pat Bullock will not allow it to take over) We did find a few gems though - books for our Florida trip. I have an E-reader and like it, but there's nothing like real paper in my hands if you ask me. In fact I just received word from Barnes and Noble that my coupon from a settlement due to price-fixing by publishers is now in my account. I was excited to see it. It's a whopping $.73!
(I must admit I haven't spent a lot on E-Books but wow - that's almost 3/4 of a dollar special book.)

Ahoy matey! That's a real compass on the cover



This is why I have a rule that Paul cannot hunt animals that hunt him back...



A tempting find for a graduate or a worrier
 

What's trending on my iPod? Speaking of the library, I like to pick up tune-age there in the form of music CDs to listen to at work. It's been especially loud at work with utility guys moving my co-workers into new cubicles all week. Bang, crunch!

I picked up:

Robin Thicke - The Evolution of Robin Thicke
Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream
Dave Matthews - Away from the World
Ella Fitzgerald - Cole Porter Songbook

Wow - what a variety of music! I don't always listen to them in that order.

Why Cole Porter songs? Crank up the "Way Back" machine. When I was in college I once had a date with a guy named Jerry King. He had dated a gal that lived next to Vic and me and the dorm - 6th floor Maple. By now we were living at 230 Campus Avenue  -  It must have been our junior year. Julie had broken up with Jerry.

Jerry asked me on a date. That was rare for me - unlike our roomie Sal, I wasn't the type of girl guys randomly asked on dates. Sally, on the other hand, had them lined up. (and she routinely shot them down). We were going to a Cole Porter Review at the Maintenance Shop - the club located at the Memorial Union on campus.

There was a live band with horns etc. and singers. It was marvelous - and unlike most things I'd gone to during my years on campus. Jackson Browne, Billy Joel, and disco was hot then too. I must have been nervously handling the program as we sat and watched the show. At one point I went to the restroom and found that the ink from the thing was all over my face! Argh. Later, when he took me home, my roommates hovered in the kitchen like 3 mothers as we sat in the living room. Needless to say, we didn't really hit it off. But I always think of Jerry when I hear Cole Porter. Such clever lyrics. Check out De-lovely here.  



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Lonely Goat herd

 

 

From the newsletter we receive at work each week - this one's a gem.

 

It's about my favorite movie of all time, The Sound of Music. My college roommates - Sal, Vic and Jane also loved the movie. Once, during our college years, we traveled to the Fleur theater in DSM just to see the movie when it made the rounds again on the big screen. We also liked to play the album during our beer parties. I have a lasting memory of Russ Euken dancing to the Lonely Goatherd late, late on night. I think Marci Merrick was involved.

 

If you're from Atlantic, you might remember the Eukens - they're from Cumberland. Sherry Nichol's big sis Jill married his older brother. Another brother came along with Russ to our parties. Or was that a cousin? He was pretty cute. I always think of Russ when I hear that song!

remember how the eyelashes batted?

There was really foam on the steins in the movie...

 

Iowa Outdoors

Celebrating 25 Years of REAP

Famous Puppet Collection Protected for Generations in Mason City

 

 

Thanks in part to Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Funds, the “lowly goat herd” – an icon of the big screen - has been preserved.

The lowly goat herd puppets were a feature of the 1965 Academy Awards Best Picture, The Sound of Music” and the creation of Mason City native Bil Baird.

As the 25^th anniversary of REAP is celebrated, one of the great accomplishments from the program has been the preservation of some of Iowa’s most iconic historical and cultural treasures such as the Bil Baird puppet collection at the MacNider Art Museum in Mason City.

Baird was one of the world’s best-known puppet masters.  Based out of his New York City studio, once a Capone-era whisky still, Baird produced such works as the “Goat Herd” marionette performance in The Sound of Music.  He also performed extensively throughout Russia and India.

Before animation, Baird’s puppets were hugely popular in the advertising and promotional world.  His clients ranged from AT&T to governments promoting healthy agricultural practice — he even commemorated the USA moon landing. Baird became friends with founding MacNider museum director Richard Leet, and in 1979 began donating his collection of wood and newly engineered plastic puppets to his hometown, where he still visited family. 

The puppets came smashed and crammed haphazardly in old dusty wooden meat boxes with no clear labeling system.  In 2008, REAP funds matched by private donations enabled museum director Edith Blanchard to contract Sarah Carlson to inventory and photograph the collection with the help of Mara Linksey-Deegan, documenting condition and repairs. Now stored one puppet per chemical-free box, organized strings and fiber-filled bags support fragile structures ensuring proper preservation. 

The museum also features a collection of Bil Baird films, interviews, demo tapes, commercials and productions that have been converted from their original 16mm film format to digital DVDs.  Edward R. Murrow’s Person to Person interview with Baird and his wife, Cora, in their studio is included.  REAP funds purchased a special freezer that safeguards the flammable self-toxic filmstrips.

“These aren’t just puppets he owned.  He made all these puppets, that’s why we’re trying to save them in the way we are and preserve them,” said Blanchard.  “Baird is uniquely Iowan, very creative and educated both in the Mason City school system, and at the University of Iowa.  It really shows what talent you have possible in Iowa and we want to preserve that for future generations.”

 

I was sad to see that Maria Von Trapp - the last of the famous singing children passed away in February.

Of course they didn't call her Maria in the movie - that would have been too confusing since the nun's name was Maria. She's beautiful. Much more so than actresses who try to hold back the hands of time through surgery. I prefer the wrinkles. (though not on myself...)

When I am facing a touch situation (like a job interview) I still like to bolster myself with a rousing "I Have Confidence". I try not to wear an ugly dress like Maria did though...
I need to get to that museum in Mason City one of these days. the puppet-master. Genius.

 

Sweet Victory, New Neighbor

I put the outfit on one more time - cardinal and gold shirts, jeans and the earrings and necklace I wore during the Big 12 Tournament Weekend. They must be good luck, right?!

The mojo worked great on Sunday when the Cyclones defeated the North Carolina Tarheels. Maybe not so much the Friday before when the team won, but it seemed like a loss, because we lost a star player to a season-ending injury right at the end of the game. On Sunday, ISU needed all the help they could get though - a player down from Niang's injury and behind by 8 points late.

This team had the Tarheels right where they wanted 'em! They thrive on that stuff. So proud - it's not just for the football team. At the end of the game, when our guy Kane made a layup for the win with time ticking away. Paul and I were hugging and jumping. I love this team! And they seem to love each other and their coach, Fred Hoiberg. Who must have made a bet with the team, because he did dance in the locker room. Freddie Dance.  

For the team - on to Madison Square Garden. I'll be wearing the earrings.

My new cubicle neighbor moved in....Scott. He's got cube stuff.

Lovin' the PEZ dispensers

After work I decided that it's still too cold to walk outside so a stroll at Jordan Creek was in order. Uh oh...so distracting! A cruise into Scheel's showed lots of excited Cyclone fans shopping for gear. The Sweet 16 shirts were selling like hotcakes. Paul scored a red one. (after I texted him a pic)

Whilst walking, any time I came across a fellow Cyclone fan (lots of folks are sporting the gear - and I had a Cyclone T-shirt on), we smiled at each other happily. It's a great time to be a Cyclone! I wonder what people who aren't sports fans get all nutty about? I mean I had that extra smile all day Monday and even today I was still pretty jacked up. If one doesn't like sports, what puts that smile on their face? Just wondering. Oh...maybe stuff like helping people and making the world better? Okay, you win.

I came up with an analogy - Twitter vs. Facebook for Lent.

You know when you give up chocolate for Lent...so you think well, at least I can still have carob. You know that stuff that's like chocolate, but is better for you. Ummm, not nearly as good.

Missing FB and dreamin'

So let me get this straight. I've become so accustomed to my Facebook friends that now even my dreams have started inserting information about them. I gave up Facebook for Lent and I'm in withdrawal. I know...I'm not really supposed to talk about my sacrifice. It's part of the deal...no wrenching of my robes about what I'm doing without. But it's what I do - write about stuff.

Heritage House in Atlantic

This morning I dreamed one of my FB friend's dad is in a care facility in SW Iowa and can't really talk anymore. But he can still play cards. Hmmm. Where did that come from? I think the guy still lives happily at home with his wife. Paul and I WERE just discussing Long Term Care insurance yesterday. What to do about it...dilemma.

Facebook isn't my life - but I'd grown to depend on it a great deal for daily interaction. What's everyone up to? Who is having a birthday? What's happening in Creston and with my relatives? The other really tough thing for me...probably the biggest sacrifice. Not being able to share random photos and thoughts with my peeps. Oh there's Twitter - but I don't use that Social Media tool that way.

palm trees, pool - the sandy beach and gulf are just beyond the pool

Thank goodness for this Blog. Without seeing comments back though, which are mostly posted on Facebook, the Blog isn't as satisfying. But I'll keep plugging away. Just think how many comments I'll get to read on April 20th. April 20th...that's a long time from now. I get to go on vaca (our annual Marco Island, FL trip with sister Cindo) in the meantime, so that time shall fairly fly by.

Paul and Dave Fox had a rousing game of air hockey at Mercy hospital today. He is recovering well - but has some weakness physically. Brain injuries are awful things and each is different. Your continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Sisters, Chiya, Big win, big break

We met Paul's sisters at the Cheesecake Factory for a drink and a bit of supper last night. Carol came down from her home in Northwood to check on the patient, Dave who continues to improve. Jean reported that one of the fellows who found him on the walking trail after his fall called them yesterday. She knew him - he's someone who had been one of Dave's clients at the barber shop.

I'm glad the guy called. There had been a lot of speculation about just what had transpired when Dave fell. Did he fall into the creek? It doesn't sound like it. Though it was fairly warm in Des Moines that day, in Webster City the trail was still a bit icy. It was nice of the guy to call - to help clear things up.

While we were having a nice drink at "the Factory" I received a text on my cell from someone I hadn't heard from for a long time - my former Little Sis - from the Big Sis Little Sis program, Chiya. It was exactly a year ago that we had our first get together - the day ISU lost to Ohio State. I picked her up that day about halftime and brought her back to our place to bake cookies - so I really didn't even pay attention to the game. I know - hard to believe for a die-hard fan like myself!

first date

You can't believe how tickled I was to hear from Chiya. She left last summer to be in her cousin's wedding in Mississippi and went right to Boston to live with her mom for the year - and I never had a chance to say goodbye. In Des Moines she lived with her Grandma. We texted a couple times, and I heard from the Big Bro Big Sis folks - but I didn't really get in closure. They asked if I wanted to be matched up with someone else.

Chiya had told me she alternates living with her Gran and her mom. And even though she's now "aged out" of the BB=BS program I want to stick with the kid. She asked me last night if we could get together this summer when she comes back - I told her "Yes, I kinda like you kid!" She didn't say if she'd stay for the school year. I don't care though - I'm just glad I get to see her again. I felt like I was just getting to know her when she left. Her texts last night made me smile. She told me to tell Paul "Hi". And now daughter Amy has signed up to be a Big Sis in Denver. In my experience it's a very rewarding thing to do.

This morning Jean went to the hospital early because Dave started therapy, but Carol agreed to meet us at the Waveland. So we posed for the usual photo...they recently updated the window for Easter/St. Patrick's Day. Another Newbie broken into "The Wave".

Carol, Paul and me - reflection

My nephew David and wife Ashley called yesterday to thank us for the step stool Paul built for their little guy Jonah. He's adorable - and loves to say "stool" when it's time to brush his teeth and climb into bed. Great Uncle Paul really came through and it was nice of them to call to tell us in person. They live in Manhattan and we don't get to see them much. :>(

Yes he could be a baby model...

Workin' shorts

Friday is laundry day at the Goldsmith abode. As I hung Paul's shirts up on his side of the closet, I got a glimpse of them. Paul's work shorts. And in that moment I had a flashback - to my husband's first ever work shorts. At least the first ones he had as a married man - some 31 years ago.

The shorts remind me a little (a very little) of a favorite Mary Chapin Carpenter song, "This Shirt". The song is a ballad about all the memories relating to a shirt. I've had some clothes like that - a few articles I really can't part with - but I don't really wear them. And they aren't as ugly as those shorts...

Paul's official 2013 work shorts

They were tennis shorts (and quite short in keeping with the era, early 1980's) and white - or should I say formerly white. By that time they had a gray pallor. And a black icky splotch of tar or black paint on the butt. Oh I hated those shorts.

And now - the current version - Dockers shorts. He loves to wear those things while he landscapes, sweating and digging in the dirt. Dirt that doesn't wash out. I don't even try to "Spray 'n Wash" them. Hell - the dirt and grease are badges of glory to my husband, born a farm boy.

I put my foot down - he should not wear them to stores in West Des Moines. He sneaks out to Lowes in them without me. I cringe. Don McKim has his garage shoes, Paul's got the shorts. I love him anyway.

Paul's niece Peg was here from Brooklyn visiting her dad Dave who is recovering from a head injury at Mercy here in DSM. I snapped this pic before she and her mom Jean took off this a.m. I always love getting together with those ladies but wish it were under better circumstances this time. Note neither of them had "work shorts" on.

Burned snot, Wallace antics

Do you work somewhere with paperwork like this?

The top right forms are labeled "snot score"

I've been seeing someone. Kinda like the State Farm guy - but he's an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist at the Iowa ENT Center named Dr. Simplot. He didn't care to score my snot though...I happen to think I have top notch stuff...

They did a CT Scan of my sinuses. Nothing much in there. So we are trying "chemical cauterization" of my sinuses. I'm trying this to keep migraines away. Sinus pain seems to be one of the triggers to the damn things. The doc shot a number of noxious chemicals into my nostrils last week. In a few weeks they'll repeat this fun. Can't wait - hope it helps.

It's Spring Break week in DSM. Lots of people are gone at work - so it's a bit quiet there. Except for the fact that it's moving week. Our Bureau is undergoing a change. We are adding a couple sections and they are joining us on beautiful 5th Floor Wallace.

Right now the empty cubicles around the joint are located randomly here and there. To make room, we all need to scrunch together with our fellow Section members. Lucky for me, I don't need to move. But lots of people are - and there is a cleaning frenzy going on! I'm glad DNR provided plenty of recycling container - in keeping with our mission.

Jeff fills the 4th or 5th container...what a feeling!

It was Amy W.'s birthday today - and in keeping with good government tradition, she brought her own treat. It was a fabulous 3 layer cake in great Pinterest fashion.

Tom gave her a great gift - decorating her office a bit (he's a Hawk/Panther Fan).


Yes that's the ISU hoops poster with Tom's face pasted onto each player

Becky used to reside in the cubicle next to mine. Now it looks like this. I can no longer just call to her over the wall.

That's Becky - all the way down the hall now...insert tears

Don't worry about me though - Scott is moving into Becky's vacant space. So I'll have him close by to harass!
All-in-all it was a good day at work. We had cake!

Good News from the Kid

Jud and Paul ready to head into the championship game - Big 12 Basketball

Jud's moving. He's staying in Missouri...but moving east to St. Louis. Technically it's St. Charles.

He has accepted a job with Boeing - the airplane company. He'll be using logistics and purchasing skills he's been honing the past 3 years at Altec in St. Joseph, Missouri. (He's sticking with towns starting with St. though...).

Boeing is huge company - employing about 1,800 people in St. Louis alone. That's more people than live in many Iowa towns...

I'm really proud of the kid! He's worked hard to advance and it's paying off. While working at Altec he attended classes to pass his APICS certification. (American Production Inventory Control Society).

He's busy this weekend - attending his buddy Jeff's bachelor party in Minnesota. They're going to ski. So Jud won't have a chance to apartment shop for a while. He starts the new job April 11th while Paul and I will be in sunny Florida. So he just might be sleeping on the floor for a few days until we can help him move his stuff Easter weekend.

Fox

I wish Dave would have had the helmet on Friday - but he was walking, not biking

George Goldsmith, Paul's dad usually called him Fox or Foxy. I'm talking about Dave Fox, our brother-in-law - Paul's sister Jean's husband. He's quite a character. Jean and Dave were the first two of Paul's family members I met when we started dating. I should have gone running to the hills!

No not really. Jean is as nice as can be. Dave is a teaser...a BSer. But under that crusty surface...a great guy. A Viet Nam veteran, he finished a long successful career with the National Guard - traveling all over the world. In his spare time he had a barber shop in Webster City and Jean had an American Family Insurance Business in town. They raised four great kids too.

Last Friday while walking on the trail in the photo - something happened to Dave. He was found laying on the trail with a head injury. His body temp was quite low - and he was wet and muddy though he wasn't found in water and mud. The Webster City Hospital sent him by Life Flight to Mercy in DSM. He had talked a bit but was mostly unconscious. Scary stuff!

Monday he got out of ICU. Jean stayed with us last night - nice to have a chance to hang out with her. I'm happy to report that today, Tuesday, Dave was sitting up eating breakfast. Just wait until his daughter Peg arrives tomorrow. That will confuse him  - I can hear him now, "what the hell are you doing here?" I look forward to hearing him giving me crap again.

Your continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated! I'll keep you posted.

Saturday, Saturday - Trophy Time.....and more help needed

We had to say goodbye to all our friends at the Eagles Club convention at the Embassy Suites Airport on Saturday. Those folks were quite friendly at breakfast and in the elevator, ya'll. We picked up Jud and Kara and headed out late that morning - Kara had an appointment for a brewery tour with her girlfriends. Jud, Paul and I were on a mission to eat some barbecue.

While we were en route to West Port to drop Kara off, we received a call from Paul's sister Jean. I was shocked and sad to hear that Jean's husband Dave had taken a fall during his walk on the beautiful trail where they live in Webster City. He'd been alone and wasn't found right away - so no one is quite sure what happened. He has a head injury and was life flighted to Mercy here in DSM. I was glad to hear that Jean's daughter Annette from Minnesota and Paul's sis Carol were both with them. Dave was not yet conscious at that time but I'm glad to report he is better today (Sunday).

It's likely he'll have some rehab ahead of him though - so again I'm asking for your thoughts and prayers. You did well with my Uncle Bill, so I'm counting on you again dear readers. Thanks. We hope Jean will stay with us during the next week or so as Dave recovers and moves out of ICU and into a regular room. Rumor has it daughter Peg may even head this way next.

So with that in mind (puts everything into perspective of course) back to the KC story...
Oklahoma Joe's already boasted a line out the door by the time we arrived at 11:45 a.m.

Good thing is was a beautiful day! We waited over an hour to eat.

Ugly...but delish

Many Cyclones fans joined us in our barbecue mission. I took a guy's recommendation for the pulled pork sannie with cole slaw on it. "Best sandwich ever" he proclaimed! Paul and Jud had burnt ends.

We headed to the Plaza next - as I'd gotten a text from Paul's brother Kenny. They were in town visiting their daughter and Katie and fam. They were at the Cheesecake Factory. We walked by there and what do you know...of course we saw the whole fam dam. Blinded by the sun when trying to take pics all I got was this crappy one...

Paul with Albert and Baby J. My pic of Kenny and Mary was a video. Argh!

Next we tried to look up my high school homey Candice at J Crew. Alas she didn't seem to be working that afternoon. Next up....pep rally. With like 8,000 of our Clone friends.

Pep Selfie

Paul had picked up a ticket for me the night before - but offered to sit "solo" so I could experience the game with Jud. It was "priceless". First of all - randomly his seat turned out to be right next to his college buddy Paul. #smallworld    I sat next to a woman who was about 10 years older than I who grew up in Exira. #swiowa    Before the game, Jud said, "no matter what, this has been really fun - thanks!" Aww.

He and I are both nervous game watchers. That first 10 minutes weren't pretty. We were happy going into halftime to be only down 5. Okay not happy but it coulda been worse. It wasn't a pretty game. But the last few minutes the shots started dropping. Paul texted. We made free throws. Sweet victory! Jud hugged me. Twice. 

We ran into Stofferahns from Creston right outside the Sprint Center. High fives. Then it started to rain on our parade. Literally. By the time we hit the road it was pouring rain and windy. The temp was dropping. Our plans to drive all the way home were dashed when we heard it was snowing in DSM. We got a room in Cameron. I was asleep in a minute.


I could get used to this championship thing.

Jud was glad to hear we stopped - he was fretting about us driving in bad weather. He and Kara were partying in the Power and Light District (until 3 a.m. - way to represent the Cyclone Nation!). He texted later to say a woman named Julie stopped him to say "hi". Her name is Julie Stroud Kassel, my pal Vic's first college roomie at ISU - Shilling House in Maple. She recognized Jud from pictures in this very blog. That, my friends, is small ISU world. Hello Jules!

It was quite a weekend. I'm exhausted. #worthit

Friday - KC Tourists and the Big Game

In Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament, Paul and I played tourist on Friday. First things first - we shopped! We headed to the Legends Outlet Mall after a quick visit to the mecca - Cabelas where we scored a stainless steel tabletop grill for football tailgating. We'd been scoping it out for several months and it was on sale. Score!

Pablo checks out the cannons

Then - lunch at the Yard House. We like that place, and I must admit it. I needed a nice juicy burger to combat a bit of a hangover. I'm no longer built to withstand sipping adult bevvies all day. That hit the spot! Then we headed to the federal World War 1 Museum. What an interesting place. I learned a lot about a devastating war that I must admit I'd forgotten the much of the history of.

Belgian women embroidered flour bags as a way to thank Americans for sending food - so many starved during this war

The museum veranda overlooks the city - on a beautiful spring day - but as you can see from Paul's hair, it was a bit windy

Jud and Kara has to work Friday until mid-afternoon. I arranged to meet my college roomie Jane at Cyclone fave bar Kelly's in Westport to watch the game. We secured seats by 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m. game. The place was filling up fast! Jud and Paul headed to the Power and Light for the pep rally. They parked and chatted with our Athletic Director Jamie Pollard as they walked to the venue. Nice guy.

The game lined up like this - ISU vs. those other hawks - the Kansas Jayhawks. The Sprint Center was filled with a lot of bright blue, but ISU represented well. Plus all those other fans? Cheering for the underdog - the Clones. All day long - around Kansas City (wearing our ISU clothes) people wished our team good luck beating the Jayhawks. Either they like 'em down there...or not really. People like us in KC...they really like us. And our cash.

Jane and Barb (Iowa fan) - and a few of our friends in the background

Kelly's was filled with Cyclone fans. Enjoying beverages. I did a much better job of sipping my beverages - and drinking water alongside that night. I wanted to savor the game with my wits fully about me! There were several TVs visible. And some interesting Clone fans...we had fun bonding with them. There was:

Hauser Clone

• Cute UNI grad Clone fan (I know...and we thought they were all Hawkeye fans...) with his band of merry men that meet every year to watch the game at Kelly's
• Hauser Junior - the guy who was the "action clone" of my college buddy (and present friend) Steve Hauser. The guy even stood like him.
• Brokefoot Girl - she started out okay but got progressively drunker and shrieked. Sometimes for no reason. Irritating.
• High Five chick - I thought she might break my hand at one point. Then I could be Broke Hand girl. But we did have a lot to cheer about!  

The game. ISU started out hot. Then KU made a run and CFH (Coach Fred Hoiberg) received his second technical ever for doing very little. The game was fantastic - a dogfight early, but I was uncharacteristically confident. The crowd at Kelly's cheered wildly at every ISU basket. There were a lot of them. We made free throws down the stretch. One player left bleeding - but fist pumping.

Cute guy - yellow shirt, shrieker - far right

Paul joined us at Kelly's after the game - big hugs were shared. That was damn fun! I was exhausted and we headed back to our hotel by 11 p.m.  #old Winners. I love this team!

Guess who ran into the cheerleaders after the game....#happyboy

All it's cracked up to be

You never know. When you make plans for a trip - involving sports or not...you just never know. The weather can go bad. Hotels rooms can get screwed up. Or...this is big when you attend a sports tourney - your team can lose. Hey - we're Cyclone fans. We have dealt with all of that and more. Or - worse yet - your name doesn't get called for the dance (bowl game). Then you don't even get to go.

Luckily, in basketball, all the teams get to play in the conference tournament. Despite losing a couple teams from the original Big 8, I'm enjoying the new 10 team Big 12 (don't let that name fool ya). We play each team twice - home and away. It's pretty brutal, but is a true test.

For the first time we purchased two tickets to the Big 12 Conference tourney - for Jud and Paul. You have to buy all sessions so they're kinda pricey. That's why I opted out. Luckily my college roomie Jane and friend Barb are here. And the team showed up in a big way!

Judy and Mike

We headed out of DSM early Thursday and picked up Jud at Kara's. I'll have more exciting job news about the Judson next week - but must keep it on the downlow for now. His girl Kara was flying in from Nashville later that afternoon - she travels often for her job. We headed to the Cyclone pep rally where we ran into Crestonians Mike and Judy Moffitt right off the bat.

We headed to the Power and Light District - a cool covered area filled with bars and restaurants. We saw Mike Archer - our niece Barb's husband (they live in the DSM area) and chatted with him. Jane arrived shortly after we did. Her sis Susan and a friend were attending the game. Barb, Jane and I staked out a spot at a Mexican restaurant. There were TVs but not the best game view - regardless we watched the ISU vs. KSU game there, had lunch and sipped beverages. It was a close one, but the good guys prevailed. Our plans were working out so far...

Jane and me - victorious!

Jud and Paul arrived back at the P&L after the game and after a quick beer we headed back to Jud's place. Our hotel is out by the airport - so Jud and Kara delivered Minsky's pizza to us there. Embassy Suites rocks. We ended up on the cushy floor where you get a code for free snacks from the vending machines. Jackpot ya'll. Does it get any better?


J&P and the P&L

It was fun to see Kara and catch up with the kids. But (insert tears) they had to work the next day. I was tired. It's exhausting drinking, cheering and celebrating all day. Just wait until Friday!