Warm homes

As I traveled with work pals this week, somehow the topic of housewarming gifts came up. You know how conversations go...one thing leads to another to another. Soon I was regaling the group with one of my many stories. I'm a walking font you know.

When Paul and I purchased our first home we were at that age. Lots of our friends were purchasing first homes too. Vicki and Fred had bought one in Ames - they were always the "test pilots" for everything - marriage, homes, babies.

We waited until we moved to Creston to buy a house. We were in our late 20's and were ready to take on the joys and heartaches of home ownership. By week 2 we figured out we needed a new furnace. Hello heartache!

We were tapped out by the home purchase and therefore had to take out a very special loan from the manufacturer of the furnace unit, through the local installer Holt Plumbing and Heating. All for a mere 20% interest. What a deal! I didn't have a job yet so it was stressful. We sure loved that house though - not a typical starter home, it had belonged to Dr. and Mrs. Brom, longtime Creston residents who apparently loved green. The whole house was that color head to toe, inside and out. We quickly moved to make it more blue - ah, the 90's.

Our college friends eventually came to our home to help christen it. We had a hot tub party on the patio - it was quite fun, though it was Memorial Day and people gathered around the gas grill for warmth. Brrr. When Behrs and Wilts left to travel back to their homes, Paul and I noticed our yard had some new additions. Pink flamingos and plastic yard bees - so funny and what a surprise!

In that house I found a treasure. I wish I had a photo of it...because a description doesn't do it justice. I discovered the Rose Bowl (nothing to do with football) on the back shelf in the walk-in closet in our bedroom. It was hideous. A heavy glass orb filled with murky water and a blackened (likely once beautiful) rose. It sat on a gold metal base. I'm not sure why the Broms kept it, until they didn't - conveniently leaving it behind when they moved.

What to do with the object d'(not) art? I couldn't bring myself to toss it. Hmmm now I know the dilemma Broms faced. Then our friends Moose (Steve) and Kay Wilt purchased a home just outside of Chicago. They needed assistance roofing. Light bulb moment. Wouldn't that rose be lovely in the Wilt home?  Along with pink flamingos and a bee. We had fun sneaking it into the abode and found a perfect spot right in the entryway for the orb. It took them several hours to spot the beautiful gift. I still smile thinking of it.

Later, when we moved to our second home in Creston...I do believe those darn Wilts gifted the damn thing - in even worse shape by now - back. I tossed it. #stinky. Good friends do warm a home!



Love the DSM specialty stuff

Friday I spent the afternoon with my sis-in-law Carol in my favorite place (not) quilt stores! I'm sure they make her heart go pitty pat. Just like the Columbia Store does for me. Or a book store. But it was all for me - as she has agreed to make a quilt for Paul and me for our quilt rack. It was hard to figure out what fabrics to put together - I was flummoxed! Luckily at the Valley Junction store I found a kit I liked and she was happy with it - so it was a go. Can't wait! There are such cute stores in Valley Junction - need to take my sissies (Cindy and Betsy are arriving next Thursday) there.


So cute...don't know where one would put this and it would be impossible to dust
 

Saturday we met Carol and daughter Barb at the Farmer's Market before the rain started. They snagged rolls for Barb's daughter Mandy.

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.

Landslide

Lindsay Buckingham

The year was 1976 - the summer after high school graduation. Paula, Chris and I decided to go to Iowa Jam concert, because we loved music. I don't think they rode with us in Paula's brother Kirk's blue VW bug, but Jeff Weppler and Craig Both were there too. I took a bottle of Tequila Sunrise along for this all day event - but I found out I couldn't take it in the gate, so I spent some time trying to chug it...the weather? Very Iowa hot and humid.

I can't find a listing of who was there - but 2 bands I remember: Kansas and somebody I hadn't heard much from before - Fleetwood Mac.

Kansas of course was a fave of mine, thanks to the Scott Deardorff connection. I love their old stuff - more instrumental. "Bringing it Back from Mexico" and "Can I Tell You Something". That was the stuff they were playing that day. Yes! And one of the band dudes said, "It's hotter than pig fu#* out here." He was right!

We decided to head out before the last band played. It was Fleetwood Mac. They came on just as we were walking out of the gate - and started singing "When the Loving Starts". Even though we were leaving - that song stuck with me and I was an FM fan forever more.

Flash forward 37 years - I finally get to see the band for their full gig! My only sorrow is that Christine McVie doesn't travel with them anymore so I couldn't hear that song - plus all the others that she was lead on. But Stevie Nicks is really my fave - love that gypsy voice. When Paul and I heard the band was coming to town, we asked around to see who else might want to go - and our friends the Crittendens spoke up. Steve got us great tickets in the 38th row on the floor.

Barb is a Creston class of '76 grad

Steve and Barb got here at 5 p.m. that night and we took them to The Standard for a drink and a sandwich before the show. There was no warm up band - and FM was a little late, it seems their plane broke down. I loved the floor seats! It was great to be able to dance around a bit and good photo opportunities.

Buddies - Steve and Paul. They used to rule the bball court

The set was very cool

Mick Fleetwood



Stevie on the big screen
 

They sang Amy's favorite song "Gypsy" and mine - that she doesn't like their version of - "Landslide", plus "Sarah - you're the poet in my heart" the song that always reminds me of a drive to Breckenridge in Fred's Dad's giant car.

It was great to see Steve and Barb - we don't get together with them nearly often enough. Paul misses his pals, so visits from Jeff and Steve in one week have made him really happy. And each time we see a live show, I'm reminded how much events such as movies and concerts fill me with joy - especially when combined with visits from friends.  

Some girls get new Easter dresses

I get Easter shoes.

They were a bargain too. I love loafers! I was admiring these at a store at The Legends Outlet Mall in Kansas City a couple weekends ago when a couple women gazed upon them longingly, sealing the deal. I had to have them. On Sale $, yeah baby.

It's been a busy weekend. Chiya and I went to Oz and Great and Powerful yesterday. We hit Sub City first, where we each got a toasted sub. She likes meatball. I had purchased candy ahead of the movie - to be thrifty. The movie was good - not great. Chiya seemed to like it, and I liked being with her. Paul took the opportunity to head down to South Central Iowa to hunt for shed antlers.

I loved the noise the Little China Girl's feet made when she walked. The characters are the best part of all Oz books - people know the most famous characters: Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and of course Dorothy. Most haven't heard of Tik Tok, the Woozy, Shaggy Man (and his brother) and Button Bright. L Frank Baum, the author of the books, did such a fantastic job of describing his characters - both reoccurring and one-time. He put the reader right in the story.

Speaking of characters. My lil sis Chiya is a great kid. She texted me yesterday a.m. to ask what time I'd pick her up? (I had talked to her grandmother the day before to make arrangements) Then right away she texted again and said sorry - I forgot to say good morning. How cute is that? I will be going on vaca next Saturday so I won't be able to hang out with her for a while. I told her I'd text her some pics. I'm glad she has a cell phone. I'm looking forward to nicer weather so we can do some outside stuff!

Paul and I went to sunrise Mass at 7 a.m. We were surprised that our former priest in Creston - Father Pins was the celebrant. Small world! He is now in charge of recruiting new priests and religious. His sermon was good and he was very gracious when we said hello after mass. A mob of people were already waiting for the 8:30 a.m. mass as we left - there are 9,000 people in our parish.

Mom would have been proud that I used my China and Crystal

Later, we entertained family (not county the kids and Kara) for the holiday - a first in our new home. Paul cooked his famous prime rib and I did party potatoes in the crock pot. I got a couple desserts at Whole Foods. Paul's sis Carol brought the makings of stuffed mushrooms - they were very rich and yummy. Jean and Dave brought 7 layer salad and Barb brought a delish spiral ham along with her husband Mike and daughter Mandy. There was wine. Everything was good.

Mike and Mandy

Mandy, Jean and Carol

Barb trims the ham. Mandy is a ham.

Card sharks showed up after the meal

It was nice to get together with the fam after a long winter. (Let's hope winter is over!) Jean and Dave just found out that their granddaughter Ellie broke her leg skateboarding - the same type of break her dad had in 1979 (Steve was 13 and a headstone fell on him) when Paul and I first started dating. That was when I met Jean and Dave for the first time. They were in Ames visiting Steve in the hospital. I met Carol the next year. Wow...I've known them 30+ years. Goldsmiths are good Peeps - and not the marshmallow kind. Heal quickly Ellie.

The Happy Place Countdown is ON!

1 Week to my flight to happiness - Marco Island. Paul and I will meet Cindo and Colby there next Saturday. The way this winter has gone...for once it's not just about as warm here as it is there. I have been working at warp speed lately it seems. I love my job, but need a total break tree-hugging and from cubicle land.

I did enjoy a break from my cubicle yesterday as I worked with partner in crime Scott Flagg at a conference for landfill people and public works folks at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. Our bosses decided to invest some time and $ into a booth this year. Alex is a carpentry whiz. He whipped up an official Cornhole game. Yes folks that is what it's called - because Angie Googled it and found an actual association - Cornhole!

Scott Flagg with game - note skin with logo

Cornhole is a great tailgating activity! It was good for conferencing too. Alex built an "official" set and Jen had our communications department design a "skin" for it with our section's logo on it, made from sturdy Tyvec material. Angie ordered 4 bags - and yes, they're filled with - corn. It holds up better than beans.

LF Engineer Mike Smith blamed lack of beer for lack of prowess

We also decided to raffle a 4 seater park bench made from recycled milk jugs and plastic bags. This combination made our corner of the packed full exhibit room the "place to be" during session breaks! The sign up for the park bench was a good conversation starter. Those who chose to play the bag toss were eligible for several prizes - left over from last year's State Fair. People had fun with it. New employee Amy B. kept saying - "try the games - all the cool kids are playing!"

Landfill engineer Matt Phoenix, Scott and new girl, Amy Buckendahl(sp?)

Photo looking away from our booth - over 200 attended

Alex - at left is the supervisor of the Solid Waste Section.

I found out this afternoon that the landfill staff at the Iowa County Landfill won the bench and the director, Rick was thrilled! They have a beautiful facility, right by the Amana Colony and are certain to find a great spot to set the bench.

The other nice thing about this conference? Several people told me how they appreciate the attitude at DNR these days - how they feel staff is more committed to working with them. That comes from the top - Director Chuck Gipp was the keynote speaker yesterday and they liked what he had to say. I didn't get to hear it, but he talks at our periodic staff meetings. He gets it.

Enough about work.

We're entertaining for Easter! Paul's sis Carol, her daughter Barb with fam - husband Mike and daughter Mandy and Paul's sis Jean and husband Dave are coming. Paul will be making his standing rib. I'll whip up Mom's party potatoes in the crock pot. I stopped at Whole Foods today and got some yummy bread, and some desserts. Plus these beautiful flowers.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

Tomorrow, Lil Sis Chiya and I are going to the new Oz movie. I'm nervous, because I grew up on Oz - as did my Mom before me. The books are displayed proudly in my room - much beloved. I'm skeptical - but my supe, Jen said she took her 10 year old daughter who loved it. So I'm willing to give it a shot, for Chiya's sake - no 3-D though...that would mess with my head. Even more than I'm messed up already!

Fish 'n Eastern Iowa Transplants (mostly)

Headed to Norwalk - St. John's Catholic Church for their weekly Friday fish fry last night with a couple groups. First, we were invited by my long-time (notice I didn't say OLD)pal, Jane Ertl. I met her in college. She was friends with people who posted a note in the 'vator looking for chicks to go skiing over spring break.

Yep, that's right. My roomie, Vicki and I saw one of those signs in the Maple residence hall elevator - a sign with the little pull off tabs - that said something like: "looking for girls to share expenses for spring break ski trip to Colorado".

Vic and had gone to Vail over spring break the year before. We stayed with my sis Cindo and her roomies in East Vail. Cindy moved to Colorado after graduating from Drake in Art Education. She realized she didn't wish to teach in Bum#$%*, Iowa and some of her friends had moved west - so she followed. I was in my "all about me" me stage at that time in my life (18, preparing to attend ISU) and really didn't pay much attention to what my parents were talking about. Thinking about it now...I'm sure there were many loud conversations between Cindy and them about this development. "What about teaching art?"

Cindy and I have talked about it since then, and she's told how determined she was not to have to admit defeat on "making it" in Colorado. She worked several jobs to make ends meet - determined not to have to move back or ask for help. Cindy lived with a couple gals in part of a roundish house in East Vail. Vic and I shared the fold out couch - um not comfy. At the same time another Atlantic friend visited - Scott Deter, who was in grad school at Michigan State. So it was a full house. I think one of her roomies, Debbie Rouser, stayed with a friend to make room for Scott.

It was fun - we skied a lot and were so exhausted we were really too tired to party. We must have had high hopes in that regard, as I remember dragging hanging clothes on the plane, the bus and shuttle bus to Bart and Yeti's in Lionshead - just one of the places Cindo worked. It's a pub/restaurant - named after the owner's dogs, who really did hang out there. We dragged a lot of fancy clothes we never ended up wearing.

Anyway, back to the 'Vator note. Sophomore year we decided a group trip would be fun, but none of our pals were up for it. Vic pulled the note tab and made the call. The rest is history. I've lost connections with most of the people we traveled with - mostly first floor Maple gals (except Jane) Jolene Magill (sp?), Cindy (CA) Nutt, Deb Enzler, Terry something, and Jane - who was a fam friend of Deb E. Later some of us ended up living at 230 Campus Avenue - where I met Paul G. Goldsmith...Jane grew up in and still lives in Dyersville. She went to high school with Paul at Beckman - the Catholic school there.

Last night Jane was heading to Norwalk to see her guy, Ken Root, who lived in Norwalk for several years and got involved with the Knights of Columbus there - they head up the fish fry. In the meantime, Paul had talked to his sis Carol, from Northwood (Northern Iowa) who was headed down to see daughter Barb and fam - husband Mike and their cutie 8th grade daughter Mandy. Last fall they moved to a lovely townhome on the north side of Norwalk. Paul made arrangements for all of us to go for fish!

Barb grew up in Farley - not far from Dubuque. That's where Carol and her first husband Irv had a farm, before Irv's early death from a form of Alzheimer's disease. Carol, Barb and Jane played the "do you know" game while we ate fish, and Mandy found a friend from school to talk to. Ken is a radio/TV guy - so he can talk about anything! It was a nice time. When it was time to go, Paul even started up a conversation with one of the guys working - he was wearing a uniform, DM Police Dept. It turns out he was the guy who shot the mountain lion last summer. Ken needed to set up for another event the next night so Jane, Paul and I decided to drive over to Cumming to check out the Tap there.

Love this pic of the schoolmates - and couldn't make myself cut out the guy in the bibs in the background...

We went into Norwalk to another local joint when Ken joined us. It is a big karaoke night in town...but we resisted taking the microphone. I didn't have my backup singers - Diana and Bobbie...
Fun night! Note - I was drinking H2O on that night. In preparation for Saturday?