Puzzle time

It's become a Christmas tradition for the Lefebvres and Goldsmiths to do a puzzle on Christmas Day after the gifts have been opened. Last year we'd purchased a cheesy puzzle of Marco Island -way back in April. We left Cindy to finish it and she reported that it was missing a few pieces. She said she couldn't blame the damn cats though, since a few pieces from some other puzzle were inserted. Cheap!

This year I nearly forgot to buy a puzzle! Paul and I purchased it on Monday while doing some last minute shopping in Denver at an outlet mall. No missing pieces this year - it was a nice 1,000 piece puzzle.

Puzzle time was my favorite part of our Christmas trip. At one point Cindy and I were working on it and the kids and Paul were "resting", sitting in the living room nearby. Cindy and I were singing and laughing - driving the others bonkers I'm sure. We entertained ourselves though. It was a relaxing time - even Cindy took time out from cleaning up after the big Christmas Eve "sing-a-long" wingding at her house.

I don't know about you...but I find Christmas very stressful - and I don't even cook or entertain at home! There is such pressure for perfection, amongst the angst of loss. This is a time of year that many of us most miss our loved ones who have died. I think about Christmases gone by. What fun we had when I was a child - the excitement of the belief of the man in the red suit! That's what gets me through the super early build up of the season - knowing that the kids of today are amped up like I was.

I loved seeing our family. We arrived at our daughter Amy's place on Sunday afternoon - kind of a surprise as we'd failed to let her know we decided to drive out a day early. Hello Amy! She took us to hang out with her friends - fun! She and her girlies sang karaoke.

Feeling some Christmas spirit here...

I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of me with my Aunt Marty and cousin Amy. Doh! We stayed with Marty in Centennial, near my cousin's place. My cousin Amy Brownlee so kindly invited the fam over for chili - 2 kinds plus cornbread!

Niece Jordan and her girlfriend Jill were there, along with Brownlee's delightful children Matt and Kate. We got a brief glimpse of the new pup - a 6 month old yellow lab. It was great to see my cousin Richard too. Note: Post Christmas, All of the Lamm fam is in Mexico right now including the San Fran clan - my cousin David and his wife Lisa and 2 kids. Of course Aunt Marty is playing up the Matriarch thing! Hope they have a great time - I think Richard was making them all dress in their Broncos gear today...

Jordan, Jill, Amy

On Tuesday we were off to the mountains. There was a bit of snow to contend with once we got vertical.



Edwards

That night we ate Mexican with my sis Cindo. My endocrine gland and her eyeballs have been acting up and we were glad to see each other. Damn health problems! Good thing the things we have aren't life threatening. Phew! Next up for her - cataract surgery in early 2015. We drank margaritas. Jud and Kara arrived from St. Louis via the airport and rental car that evening. Yay - our gang was all there!

On the 24th, Jud, Kara, Amy and Paul all went skiing. Cindo and I ran errands. I took time later to shop in Edwards at my fave bookstore. That afternoon we attended a candlelight service and sang Carols.

Colby's GF Liv made the gorgeous cookies

The singing just warmed us up for what was to come....the Lefebvre party!

Fam photo 2014 - Amy, Jud, Kara, Paul

Liv, Colby, Cindy

We got out the music books that Bolder's mom sent him back in the 80's when they started these parties.

even Jud donned a grass skirt this year!

The party was a success! As much as it ever can be without the main attraction - Bolder. We sure miss that guy.

Christmas Day was nice - opening gifts at Cindy's place, eating little quiches and a new addition - Duffy Rolls from Denver. Uncle Bill introduced us to them - yummy. I received some cool and thoughtful gifts. Just right. Still...not as exciting as receiving a Johnny West or Secret Sam gun with a message shooter though...

Eric carves

We worked on the jigsaw puzzle noted above and it was very relaxing. The Goldsmith attended the movie, "Wild" - it is really good. Later we went to Pottorff's for Christmas din din. It was awesome as usual. Good food and friends. It was a great way to end our trip.



It's all over but the crowns - prizes after a fab meal

It was a snowy drive out. We ended up staying in North Platte on Friday night as the snow flew. We were glad to get home to snowless DSM. Especially Odie who found the tall snow in Vail daunting. My fam rocks!

Still Champs

Ron has a beard, Steve is on the right with mustache. Nobody has talking to Randy - by Paul, for a while

A couple Tuesdays ago I had occasion to be out of town the night Iowa State had a home men's basketball game. Paul and I have had season tickets for several years - ever since Fred Hoiberg took over the program, so even before we moved to DSM. They're fun tickets to have these days!

Paul had an extra ticket - so he reached out to his Creston buddies. One guy turned into three - and Steve Crittenden, Ron Riley and Jeff McFee (not pictured above as they won the championship during a year when Jeff lived elsewhere) made the road trip to Ames with Paul. The "gang" rode again.

This group makes up Paul's original Creston homies. I worked at First National Bank when we first moved to Creston and Steve was a Loan Officer (now he's in charge of the loan department - our former boss, whom I nicknamed "The Dickster" retired years ago). In 1987 I joined in a women's sorority with Steve's wife Barb and the two guys became friends and discovered their love of hoops. They formed a team and as you can tell - that year they were smart to stack it with youngsters!

I soon found out that "game night" wasn't just about the game. Oh no! The Elms Club followed - and oh the beer they drank. I truly believe it was then that we became Crestonites - learning the lore of the town. Me? I was home raising the children. No ill feelings at all. Right....Okay there was a little angst. But looking back, many good stories have come from those games and nights out.

Like the time Steve's nose was smashed by someone's wayward elbow during a game. Paul says it was flat on his face. He went to the hospital where they gave him some sort of treatment and he came back and played with tape on it. For City League! That's dedication.

Paul really enjoyed his reunion with those fellas. We see Jeff of course, but don't see Steve and rarely Ron. They arrived from Creston that afternoon and decided to go to Brick City Grill in Ames - the place that was voted "Best Burger" in Iowa this year. I had to chuckle when Paul related that Steve and Ron ordered the Farmer Burger:
1/2 pound patty
bacon
1 egg
cheese
and topped with a hashbrown patty
all on a bun!
I wonder if it came with Nitro Glycerin?

Steve always was a big eater...
After the game they stopped at the bar near Kelley (south of Ames) and had Chicken Gizzards. You only live once...and they got a week's work a fat in one day.

In the meantime - at my work trip I went to a restaurant in Davenport where I enjoyed Bison Meatloaf. They meeting I attended went really well and I got to see our former consultant, Laura Fiffick, who is now working for Burlington Northern SF - helping them to install an Environmental Management System at facilities across the county. We toured the Electronic Waste Facility at the Waste Commission of Scott County - where they're now pulling more recycled stuff out to refurbish. Very cool.

Derby Dance School of Psychotherapy

I took another water class at the Healthy Living YMCA this week. I do my best reminiscing in water. Go figure!

It was a type of yoga/stretch/dance class. While I was in an aqua ballet position, the song "It's a Beautiful Morning" came on the boom box the instructor, Yvette, had set up. It reminded me of a time I danced to that song in a leotard with a whole host of others. Prior to the dance recital performance I had trained under the gracious tutelage of Janice Derby who ran a successful dance school in my hometown of Atlantic, Iowa.

I don't recall exactly why I signed up to be in dance in around eighth grade - ninth grade(?) I suppose it was because my friends decided to dance. And just like lemmings had they jumped off a cliff, I would have done so too. I signed up for ballet and tumbling along with my friends Robyn, Sherry and Theresa. I'm sure there were others but the 'ol memory machine can't bring them forth. During this time, sister Betsy also took lessons. There's a lovely picture of the two of us in our recital costumes posing - alas I can't find it. I wonder if Betso has something to do with that.

What I do remember is the classes. Janice Derby was a good listening ear, and my friends and I were full of teen angst. Some of our sessions ended up full of drama as one person or another (Sherry Smith) explained to Jan what the current goings-on were. I was more of an "onlooker" to the drama, but definitely was there. Who said what to whom and how high.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

The big excitement was the annual Dance Recital. I only made it through one. Our group had two numbers. "It's a Beautiful Morning" and the tumbling routine was to the theme from Mission Impossible, where we wore a black leotard with a pink sequin belt and mask - hooha! Whenever I hear those songs I feel like breaking into those dances. I only know the beginning steps.

Of course the real star at the dance recital was older (a whole year) - someone who had been dancing for years - Pat Riggs. She did a solo dance to Witchy Woman. (I might have made song name up but it seems right...she was a graceful dancer, that girl.)

As I completed my water class Wednesday, I thought too of my friend Theresa who is no longer with us. What a kind soul she was - and I feel I didn't really get a chance to know her. Because I was such a kid when I was around her - and she was just there. I took her for granted like I did all my friends back then.

Today I know better. I cherish my friends and am not afraid to admit it. I don't have Janice Derby in my life as a therapist - but those friends - they do pretty well!

Giving is the best feeling

Sure, I remember going with Mom to purchase birthday gifts for my friends' parties. Piggy banks, porcelain cats and horses, toys - we bought it all. Sometimes we forgot to get a gift and at the last minute, Dad would produce a little robe/nighty combo from his lingerie sample bag. No, my father wasn't a cross-dresser. He was a lingerie salesman. Robyn recalls receiving such a nighty. I wonder if we gave her a pack of cigarettes to go with it? haha

But the first actual gift I remember buying all by myself was a Christmas gift for my mother. I must have been around 12 years old - at the age when I realized I could do this. She had mentioned that she needed a new wallet and I wanted to get it for her - without help!

In my hometown, there weren't many options for wallets. I decided to go to Rex Pharmacy, right on Chestnut Street, to see what they had. The place had it all! Laundry soap, Playboy magazine (Laurie Reinertson and I had checked those out to see what the big deal was), perfume, electronics, jewelry and wallets. Plus medicine.

A sales clerk very carefully showed me the selection of wallets. I knew what Mom's present wallet looked like. I wanted to get one shaped like that. I had my eye on one that was made of real "kid" goat skin. It was something like $15 - a lot of money back then. But I was a miser and had been saving up. I purchased the wallet and had the clerk gift wrap it. (I'd not yet met Mr. Paul Goldsmith, gift wrapper, supreme).

I was so excited for her to open the gift - so proud of myself and my purchase. Pleased that I would finally be able to show Mom how much I care for her and how much I appreciated all she did for us.

I don't really remember her reaction when she opened the gift. I wasn't adept enough at reading others' reactions to know whether or not I'd chosen wisely or not back then. So maybe I blocked it out because she didn't. Or maybe I just got carried away with my own gifts in the moment. But I do know that Mom used that wallet for years to come, and that made me happy.

Giving - the gift that keeps on giving!

Christmas Anticipation

When I was a kid we always had an Advent Calendar during the Christmas season. Oh how I loved opening up those little paper doors.

Each one meant we were a little closer to that special day - presents! We distracted ourselves in the meantime helping Mom decorate Christmas cookies (and eating a few along the way). She'd pack the cookies into Lorraine Lingerie boxes and load them into the large upright freezer in the laundry room. Later, Mom would find empty spots on the wax paper where cookies should be.

Recently Ted Simpson posted a picture of cookies his mother, Sue used to make. I recognized them because our moms were in clubs together and would do an annual Christmas cookie exchange. I always looked forward to eating fudge.

We had an ancient gingerbread house that Mom would decorate with each year. We would use the little figurines like Rudolf and elves. We'd have fun playing with them and re-arranging the "angel hair" which was really fiberglass. I'd stare at the presents already under the tree with my name on them endlessly. What could be in there? Shake, shake.

If we were lucky there was snow on the ground and we'd drag out the Flexible Flyer sleds and the aluminum toboggan. My mother was a saint to put up with the in the house out of the house, boots on, boots off action. Mittens and hats went on the big industrial sink in the basement when they were sodden with snow. Back then we had rubber boots that we wore our shoes in. They weren't that warm.

These days the countdown to Christmas is not nearly as exciting. There's no Advent Calendar - just my Google Calendar. The big excitement is getting to see my family - cousins and aunt in Denver and Amy, Jud and Kara at sister Cindy's in Vail. Nephew Colby will be there too along with our pals Bonnie and Eric and the rest of the gang who attend the Christmas Eve bash at Cindo's. Hugs from each of them are better than any present I ever received. I did love my GI Joe jeep though...

Reconnecting with Bobbie and Jeff

My grandfather was a gentleman farmer. Wallace Bullock used some of the proceeds of his job selling children's clothing across Iowa to purchase several small farms around Atlantic. I remember riding with him in his Volkswagon bug (a real farmer's vehicle...) to visit his tenant farmers. We'd smell the hogs (before confinements) and scrunch up our noses. Bubba (our name for our granddad) would say, "That's the smell of money"!

That is not the way our friend Jeff McFee, a cattle farmer work it. He's a real farmer, often working 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold. This year Bobbie and Jeff had a vacation in September and when they got back it was harvest time. He's been running ever since. I'm glad he took some time off to hang out with us.

Paul and I started out yesterday fairly early at our fave breakfast place, the Waveland for sustenance for the day. We had lot of errands to run. We arrived home to watch the Cyclones get their injury-ridden tails whipped. Prior to the game, Paul dug out Christmas lights for the front and back of our town home.

Clark Griswold, Jr.

During the game, to distract myself, I heaped ornaments on the dainty Christmas Tree in our living room. Bobbie and Jeff arrived later in the afternoon after a bit of shopping. It had been many weeks since we'd seen the two of them so we had a lot of catching up to do.

I'd made reservations at Ohana Steakhouse. It is a Teppanyaki cooking house - where they cook on a big hot griddle in front of you. It's fun to watch and we had a good chef - he was quite intelligent and witty. And a good cook! My scallops with lemon sauce were delish.

Bobbie and Jeff check out the veggies

  It was a fun night with our longtime pals. We retired back to our place...and all had a hard time keeping our eyes open while the evening football game played out.

On Sunday we attended the ISU Women's game against Stony Brook University, thanks to free tickets from McFee's daughter Kristina. We met their other daughter Kim for lunch at the new Wallaby's. There I ran into my high school classmate Jeff Becker and wife Sharon with their son. Small world department. We made fun of Roger Underwood. haha

The Cyclones made the game closer than it should have been - but pulled it out in the end. Phew! One place we couldn't go this weekend was the best dive around - the Locust Tap. It's out of commission, shut down by the health department. I have high hopes that all problems will be remedied by the slumlord soon!

Health update: the shoulder continues to improve, I continue to take Methimazole to block the thyroid - I will have another blood test soon to see how the hormones are doing. I feel much better than I did prior to being diagnosed. Graves Disease is a journey and I'm now a warrior on that path.

Long time no post

I know, I know...I haven't posted all week. It's been chock full of activity!

• Paul and I attended the last ISU Cyclone football game. It's been another rough season, but somehow we seem to have fun. After all - we're hardy Cyclone fans through thick and thin.

• I got to see an old friend at the game - Kathy Cornwall Francis. Plus a couple other A-town peeps - Mark Johnson (in high school we called him Chauncey - now he's a doc in Atlantic) and his wife Pam. Their sons play in the fabulous Cyclone Varsity Marching Band.

• My college roommate Jane Flack and her sis Susan met me at the game. I always love to see those ladies - they make any conversation more fun.

Better football days - from the Iowa Game - at the Keg Stand...Jane is behind me and Susan over my shoulder

• After the football game, Donnie, Paul and I met Todd Stofferahn and Matt at the bar just south of Ames. Jane and Susan stopped there too.
• There I got a message that my sis Cindo had suffered a torn retina in Vail, Colorado. Ugh! She had surgery on Tuesday this week in Denver and is sidelined there until next Tuesday. Daughter Amy has helped chauffeur her along with sister Susan. The tears (there were 2) was spontaneous. This is aging thing sucks! I'm thinking of her as she recovers from this injury, poor kiddo!
• Sunday I got some Christmas shopping done. Crowds weren't bad. Paul got our 2 foot Christmas tree out - I've yet to decorate it. I'm not a big decorator. #Scrooge.
• Monday Paul and I attended the Diamond Brooke (our townhouse association) Christmas party at Bravo restaurant near Jordan Creek. I kind of talked Paul into going and we both ended up having a very nice time. There were 20+ people there - some were around our age, some older.
• Tuesday was our baby boy Patrick's birthday. It's hard to believe it's been 23 years since we experienced his short life. Even though it's been a long time, I felt emotional that day - thinking of what life might be like if he were around.

Patrick George 12/2/91

• We attended an ISU basketball game that night. The Cyclones won.
• Wednesday night I had a work meeting at my old workplace at the former landfill - now transfer station between Afton and Creston. That sure brought back memories!

I'm sure you're all very busy too! It is that time of year. Let's not allow business overtake us. Okay?