Places Everyone!

We all knew our spots in the Goldsmith Subaru. Jud drove, with Paul riding shotgun. In the back, left to right it was Kara, me, Amy and Corey - four people packed into a three-person back seat. We didn't want to take two cars as we drove about Saint Louis during the Goldsmith/Park Thanksgiving/Christmas adventure.

We arrived in Saint Louis last Wednesday, starting our jam-packed Thanksgiving holiday adventure. Amy and Corey had arrived the night before. First, we stopped by the Chess store and museum, because I'm a huge chess player and enthusiast. No, not really. But it was a cool thing to see. Did you know art and style to go with the game? I wish I was smart enough to play it. After that, we went to a vodka bar and then on to Pi, a delicious pizza joint.

Cheers! 

Post Turkey walk 

Thursday was Thanksgiving, of course. Boy, do we have a lot to be thankful for! Our family has grown to six, welcoming Corey. We are all thankful Kara is a fabulous entertainer. And Jud helps.  She prepared not one, but two superb holiday meals. Plus the table was gorgeous. The girl had a spreadsheet to help her organize the meals. Paul helped a bit with the turkey and we brought the usual creamy mashed potatoes, but Kara did the rest, including gravy. Sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, even sweet potatoes. Paul supplied the pumpkin pie for dessert. That night, we played a family game where knowledge is king. In team play, chicks ruled. Kara came from behind to roar to a victory.

Kara and Amy pose outside the Frank Lloyd Wright home

Kara made "chick plans" for Amy, me and her on Friday morning. We went to a local coffee shop for a delicious beverage and egg sandwich. Then we had a date with architectural history - Frank Lloyd Wright style at the Kraus House.  Besides the three of us, there were about eight others there, plus the docent, who was quite knowledgeable about the house, family, and architect. It was very interesting and I learned a great deal. FL Wright was innovative, and was a control freak and asked much of people he designed homes for.

Fun chatting with this group at Union Station

Friday was beautiful! We took the dogs (Archie and Henry) for a couple walks that day. Odie preferred to hang out at the house. We also watched the movie about the inception of the McDonald's corporation called Founder. It was interesting. We went downtown to check out the updates to the Arch and walked several blocks to view Union Station, whilst talking about best movies from the kids' childhoods. On the drive home, Jud took us by his new office at Purina. He works on the Beneful product line.

That night we went to Stacked, a burger joint on the south side of town. It was very good. Bellies full, we pointed the Subaru at Budweiser, the beer plant, where a free light show was being displayed. The warm weather brought lots of people out.

Saturday was Christmas! Our family will be with the "other side" (the In-Laws) for real Christmas. We opened presents early because Amy couldn't wait. haha. We had traded names and each person ended up with a lovely gift. We gave each grandpuppy a "dolly" but neglected to get one for Odie, so she spent the rest of the weekend stealing Henry and Archie's. I used my bath salts tonight (from Jud). About 11 a.m. we headed to a series of three local breweries. Schlafly, one with games and Urban Chestnut, where we sat outside in the sun.

Darts!

Saturday afternoon was set-aside for the Cyclone game watch. Except for Kara who slaved over a hot stove. Next time our Christmas may need to be planned for Friday. The huge chunk of prime rib took a bit longer than expected, and the Cyclone game (torture of another sad/close ending that did not favor the good guys) caused Paul to mix up the gravy while the game was still in question.

Dinner was served. The menu - scrumptious corn, twice baked potatoes and prime rib with gravy. Kara's hard work was well worth it. I was on cleanup duty for both family meals. Though I can cook. cleanup is my preferred slot. Saturday night was quiet. Corey and Amy headed downstairs to watch Clemson's big rivalry game with South Carolina. Lucky he didn't even need to hoot and holler much as his Tigers took out their rivals quite easily. The banana cream pie Kara made was a good topper for the evening - but the movie we watched was pretty forgettable.

I love hanging out with these people. Two-thirds of us talk a lot of sports. Kara and Amy aren't into it that much and get tired of the constant patter. I don't do that well at chick talk. Still we had a lot of laughs and fun. The main floor shower broke on Day 1, and the guys figured out how to fix it for less than $20 and a trip to Home Depot. It's nice to have an engineer in the family (Corey).

We took off fairly early Sunday morning, dropping Amy and Corey off at the STL airport on our way out of town. It's likely Jud and Kara went back to bed after we took off. They were probably pretty tired and ready to have their house to themselves again. I know what that's like. Amy and Corey were already in Denver at their place by the time we pulled into Des Moines. I feel very grateful for such a wonderful family.

Ch ch ch changes

Our local newspaper, The Des Moines Register has a "can't miss" section, call "2 Cents Worth". It's a short anonymous blast by readers. Yes, the proverbial train wreck that one can't stop looking at. I admit it's a guilty pleasure of mine. Topics range from politics (local and beyond) to dog poop to thanks for turning that wallet in at the mall.

Recently a post (or a letter to the editor) blasted our local grocery store chain, HyVee, for changing. The poster thought they should "stick to just providing good food". Gee, I'll bet the brain trust at HyVee never thought of that... (this is what I do - read the posts and ridicule them).

The grocery industry is near to my heart because this was my first foray into the working world. Dateline: Gamble Robinson Company, May 1980, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Unsuspecting young college graduate - fresh from four years of fun and "book learning". I quickly figured out that college accounting and economics had nothing to do with the real world of being an Office Manager at a grocery wholesale operation.

The other employees in the office (not 4-year college graduates) were kind enough to teach me everything I needed to know. It was a crash course in real life working world. I grew up a great deal during that year in Sioux Falls.

Today, Gamble Robinson is gone - swept up years ago by another, larger corporation. I miss the Snoboy fruits and vegetables logo! The second location I worked at, Gamble Robinson in Omaha, is now a parking lot at the Old Market.

My point? Times change. The grocery industry is really changing. Prepared meals are a big thing. Amazon purchased Whole Foods. If you don't change - you could become a parking lot. The Fareway Company (another grocery chain - sticks to food, not open Sundays) has a model of not changing. It has worked well for that company to-date. It will be interesting to see if Fareway survives with this MO as Millenials become the largest group.

Giving Back

It's been a while since I put myself out there, volunteering. I've been looking for opportunities and finally, thanks to a conversation with a co-worker, got hooked up with Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI). I'm a  rookie classroom assistant in their English as a Second Language program for refugees. After I contacted them about my interest in the program, the application process was fairly rigorous, including a TB test at the Polk County health center.

I volunteer once a week for two hours in a classroom with an instructor named Sue. She does a great job of being very inclusive - getting all the 12-14 attendees involved. For the first hour, we all work together as they practice listening, speaking and writing. For the second hour, I have had the chance to work one-on-one with a participant - using flashcards and worksheets. That has been especially fulfilling for me - though I need to work on ways to assist the person I'm working with better. I hope it comes with experience!

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for this opportunity to meet new people from places I've never heard of. Paul and I are off to Saint Louis to be with our family. I hope you have a lovely holiday! 

Get A Clue

Oh that hair...a lifelong struggle

It was reported recently that the game of Clue finally made the National Toy Hall of Fame. The game was joined by Wiffle Ball and none other than paper airplanes.

Clue has a special place in my heart. Sure, I played the game with friends throughout my childhood. But the game also had a key role in a vacation my sis Betsy and I took with my parents when I was around 14 years old (making Bets about 9).

Thinking back, our family didn't take many trips together. There were the lake trips - mostly on our way to collect our sisters from Camp Lake Hubert in Minnesota. We visited our cousins in Okoboji too. During two memorable summers, we traveled by car to sunny Saint Petersburg, Florida. Mom was at the wheel, Susi was co-pilot. Dad flew in later.

Mom and Dad made sure that the Bullock girls had summer fun, sending us to camp - first Bar-L-Ranch in Guthrie Center, then Camp Foster and other camps in Minnesota and Colorado. I traveled to Camp Cheley near Estes Park with my pal Sally.

Mom and Dad did not travel that much. I get it - he lived out of a suitcase all week long, thanks to his career as a women's clothing rep. Okay, he was a panty man for Lorraine Lingerie. Mom and Dad did take some trips with friends, leaving us behind to "rough it" with super sitter Lulabelle Herbert.

I'm not sure why Mom and Dad decided to take Bets and me along on the trip to Biloxi. I also remember visiting our grandparents and think it was the same trip - but could be making that part up. Their plan was to golf, leaving us to swim. One problem - it was cold!

Planning ahead (Mom), they took us to a toy store and we each got to buy something to keep us busy. I chose Clue! So poor Betsy was at my mercy in the golf course clubhouse as we played Clue while Mom and Dad knocked a little white ball around. I'm sure I dominated my little sis in the game. No, not really. Betsy always had a knack for being lucky/good at games.

We also went to a Sea World in Biloxi and later traveled to New Orleans where my big memory was my first pair of Adidas - Robert Haillets. So very cool! Betsy remembers the fancy restaurant we ate at where the men's restroom had urinals with crushed ice. I'm not sure why she got to see that...

I love my Clue memory with Mom and Dad. Congrats to the honor of being selected for the Hall of Fame, Clue. You were already in mine.

I'm 60!

So just deal with it. Okay, that's me talking to myself.

I must admit I've had a bit of trepidation about this turning 60 thing. I knocked out 30 like nothing, really. My friends put a pretend casket on my porch when I turned 40. I laughed. When I turned 50, I partied with friends at an ISU football game. It was the last time my beloved Cyclones put a beating on Kansas State. We had a fun day - my buddy Jeff McFee (1 whole day older) was there with me. Let's hope we get KSU this year.

Exercise winners - creative leaders

It was a busy work week - so I didn't have much time to dwell on the upcoming birthday this year. Poor planning for my birthfest week to schedule 2 workshops and an on-site training date. Somehow, I survived. The events all went well. Seeing all the Environmental Management System program participants reminds me why I appreciate them so much. They are passionate about what they do.

DNR's Michelle Wilson did a great job providing leadership training. We all could use a brush-up in that area. It is so much about interpersonal communications and personality types. And who can resist an exercise that involves spaghetti noodles, string, tape and a marshmallow? Shelly Codner, who was not able to attend the meeting, arranged for a co-worker to deliver a bday cake. How nice was that?

By Friday, I was toast. Ready to be "off duty". A few weeks ago, I purchased tickets to "The Color Purple" musical for Friday night. You see, in early October, Paul had asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday weekend, and I started to get worried that he was going to wing it. I'd end up at the Cheesecake Factory (which I love, by the way) for my birthday meal. So I made sure we would do at least something fun and bought tix.

That evening, we snuck into a place at the bar at the Stuffed Olive for a martini and a bite to eat. The place was hopping. Crestonian Nancy Anthony was there with her crew - pre-gaming for the show. It was fun to see her. The musical was excellent - especially the vocals. When we walked in the door to our place about 10 p.m. we had a problem. Intruders! I was shocked to find my lovely children and spouses had snuck in to surprise me for my birthday. Birthday balloons, flowers, and hugs all around. What a lucky girl (or mature 60-year-old) I am! It seems those plotters had been planning this a while - and had fun on Friday prancing around DSM hiding from me. Too funny.

I was so delighted to wake up Saturday morning knowing my kids were all under my roof. Smile. Paul had a plan to do something special - so after breakfast, we loaded up in the car and were off to downtown DSM. That guy - I am so impressed that he pulled off this event. The bar is set high for his 60th - just 4 months from now. The pressure is on.

Ready for the tour

Ceiling view

looking down

door hinge

We arrived at the beautiful gold-domed Iowa State Capitol for a tour. While I've been in the building many times, I've never had the official tour. A group of about 12 of us assembled at 10:30 a.m. and our guide did it right. I have such an appreciation for the place - filled with so many works of art and craftsmanship. I hope those who work there hold their jobs dear to them. The tour was followed by a swing by some other statues on the Capitol grounds, a trip to our fave store Raygun and a stop at Confluence Brewery. We made it back to our place in time for the start of the ISU football game. Too bad the Cyclones didn't come out on top this game, but Corey's Clemson Tigers won.

Shots were not lucky for the Cyclones - but were for me!

That night we sampled the fare at the 801 Chophouse in the Principal Building. I split the lamb chops and scallops with Amy. The lobster mashed potatoes are so yummy too. For my bday, the restaurant supplied gooey chocolate lava cake. Sitting at the table with Paul by my side, surrounded by our children and their wonderful spouses - life was looking pretty darn good at 60. Cheers!

popcorn friends