Lean in to Little Joys

Niece Jordan and son Jud got me hooked on Podcasts. If you haven't started listening, download an "app" or application on your Smartphone and open up your world to the many topics out there from soup to nuts (politics, how things work, history, sports, murder). The beauty is that you can do it on your own time. I listen while I drive, do laundry - even clean. Okay, I don't clean that much - but I could!

My "*work husband", Scott and I usually walk together at lunch. Of course, we talk about work topics, along with other stuff like sports, family and weekend activities.
*Scott is a nice young guy - married with a daughter who is nearly two. I call him my work husband because sometimes I can't remember if I told him something or Paul.

In the last couple weeks, Scott has been on vacation and I've been on my own for lunch walks. I listened to Podcasts during my walks. I must admit, the walks go much faster (and farther) with a real live walking partner. But the Podcasts can be enlightening - and there is less bitching by me...

Last week, an Oprah Supersoul Sessions Podcast was on tap, with Sheryl Sandberg on grieving - Life After Loss. Though it's been a while since I've experienced a big loss, I knew this one would offer up some useful information.

In the spring of 2015, Facebook COO and bestselling author Sheryl Sandberg was vacationing with her husband, Dave Goldberg, in Mexico when he died suddenly at age 47. Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/sheryl-sandberg-on-life-after-loss-i-am-awakened-video#ixzz4qFUqjwKG

I liked hearing Oprah and Sheryl talk about grief and life. It made me feel like I was sitting in on a conversation with friends. Somethin, Sheryl spoke about hit home with me. It is something I've been trying to do - appreciate little joys, instead of waiting for the big stuff. 

Here are a few I experienced this week:

I worked at the Iowa State Fair in the Environmental Education Trailer. A young girl of about 8 years in came in with a pink kitten marionette. She walked it carefully across the recycled wooden trailer floor, feet tapping. Being a smartass, I said, "Miss, I'm sorry, you can't bring pets into this trailer." She got a look on her face and started heading for the door...

My fair friend - playing one of the new recycling games

Of course, I quickly told her I was joking and asked her the kitten's name. "Nell," she said - my Mom's (and Betsy's) middle name. My new friend insisted on showing me how to manipulate the furry creature - placing my hand along the wooden "controller". It was really cute. Joy!

Such a group of loved ones resting here

I had a meeting in my hometown, Atlantic, Thursday. It gave me a chance to stop by the family plot, overlooking a golf course and a bar. What more could you want for a resting place? Our son Patrick's sugar maple tree is beautiful and large, providing lovely shade. 

 At the meeting, a foundation set up to raise scholarship funds for Atlantic High School Students, I enjoyed seeing several longtime friends and acquaintances - I'll use maiden names for the women to keep it simple: Cathy Heithoff, Cathy Hjortshoj, Toni Mason, Mike Henningsen, JC VanGinkel, and CJ Heithoff. There were others who I don't know as well but enjoyed talking to also. 

JC and his wife Marci purchased our family home when my folks moved to the condo by the country club. Though JC and Marci no longer live at 202 Crombie, we talked about the house - and I mentioned how I would hit tennis balls against the double garage door - setting up a ladder to collect the balls that settled on the flat roof. CJ told me that was a specially built ladder for the garage. Brad Henningsen now has that ladder. That made me smile. 

Paul and I decided to attend the Solheim Cup - the women's professional golf team play tournament. It's the United States vs. Europe. This year it is in our back yard at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club - just up the street from our house. Friday night a gal from our townhouse association emailed that she had two tickets for about half price. Bingo! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this event - and ran into our Creston pals (now Okoboji residents) Dwight and Marilyn Conover.    

I woke up to a thunderstorm this morning - something we haven't had much this summer. Breakfast at the Waveland before grocery shopping. 

One other thing I picked up from the podcast. Remember the Golden Rule? 
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Sheryl said that she recommends the Platinum Rule. According to the Urban Dictionary:
Platinum Rule understands and accommodates for the fact that not everyone wants to be treated the same way. It says that we should treat people how they want to be treated, regardless of how we might personally want to be treated in similar situations.

She was talking about the situation when she went back to work after her husband died. People didn't know how to treat her - whether or not to talk about her husband Dave or not, etc. That helped her understand that people are different. You could ask the person - "how would you like to deal with this?" and observe their wishes.

Now - back to watching golf on TV.

Best New Years Ever!

Do you remember your best New Year's Eve celebration ever? You'd think mine would be a tale from many years ago when I was a youngster. I did whoop it up time or two back then. Alas nothing seems too memorable.

Roger and Robin with fro

There was this one time in Atlantic - at the Super Bowl. We had probably made the route from one end of town to the other (remember The Villa?) before settling there for a night of bowling and pinball. No, not really - we were boozing it up with noisemakers from the looks of these photos.

Todd Pellett and Chris Deardorff

During our child-raising years in Creston, we often "grouped up" the kids with other people's kids and a babysitter or two, before going out on the town. One year we played Pitch and other games at Cass's until 3 a.m. Another year I recall staying quite late at Crittendens - Jello Shots were served, along with Jagermeister. The guys were horrible at Pictionary.

Christmas Tree at 30 Rock

My favorite New Year's Eve wasn't all that long ago - spent in New York City after the ISU Cyclones lost the Pin Strip Bowl game. It was 2011 and we were there with McKims, McFees and Conovers - a group who knows how to spell FUN! We'd spent the day being tourists - visiting Ellis Island - so fortunate that the weather was unusually warm.

Betty's Name

Ellis Island was a moving experience - especially since Betty Brown, Diana's mother (RIP) had mad her way to the United States from Italy through there. D rubbed her name from a wall in the yard there as the sky tried to weep a bit. We walked around Wall Street that day too - bullish!

That evening we'd made the decision we weren't going to go far from our hotel, which wasn't anywhere near the dropping ball and the mobs! Dwight had scoped out a Korean restaurant for us to try. Sake anyone? We were nearly mowed down by a crazy Korean on a bike after we ate - I still chuckle about the look on Diana's face as she dove out of the way.

Just a couple blocks from our motel a new bar had opened. It was called Churchills - and Winston was even present in the restrooms, giving speeches. We were a little weary around 10ish when we got there - and it wasn't too crowded. We decided to sit in the front room which was quite empty. Dwight tried to get Marilyn to take off after one beer, but she was having no part of his ear tug signal. It was NYE in NYC!

I came up with an idea to assist this new business in attracting customers - if a group actually came in the door (we tried to look welcoming) we'd yell "SCORE!" and clap and cheer! That would make them smile and feel happy and stay. The manager was very thankful.

The place started to fill up. Towards midnight people started to dance - our group included. At one point I realized I was dancing to the New York song in New York! Thanks Frank Sinatra. Diana McKim danced with an African American woman. Then we all did YMCA together - it was very surreal.

Cheers at Churchills

We didn't get back to our hotel until after 2 a.m. The doorman was a former ISU football player - from the Dan McCarney era. We sat in our room and had just one more drink - not wanting the night to be over - it was that good!

It's fun to dance in NYC, right Donnie? 

You know when you plan a big event you have expectations that interfere with your perception of how things play out. That night I didn't have any expectations - and it was one of the best nights of my life!

Of course the next year we were at a bowl game in Memphis - it was cold and rainy. The Cyclones lost again and we didn't feel like going out. So we sat in the hotel with McKims and Conovers playing the Creston Game. We didn't have the best possible players there - Sharon and Jeff...The rules are simple. Give a couple clues and the others have to guess who you're talking about. The guys ended up having to go out for pizza and more liquor...
That was fun too - but not NYC fun...

Paul and I attended the ISU basketball game last night - pregaming at the Ehrecke's house. After the game we had a beer at Scheman with them. I was asleep in my bed by 11 p.m. No dancing for this girl this year. I'm looking forward to a good 2015 though - I'm trying to live it without built up expectations. It's more fun that way.

Packed weekend

Whooo coach - I'm still exhausted. That was a brisk pace for this not quite so youngster. We got up Friday morning and headed south on I-35 towards Oklahoma. There is a toll road through Kansas and they collect some change, boy - $12! But we finally crossed the line into the windy state - and it was whipping on the plains.

About 10 minutes after we checked into the Sooner Legends Hotel, the McKims pulled in the parking lot - Don, Diana along with Diana's sis Barb and Katie's pup Lena. Quite a hotel - full of Sooner memorabilia. Later, Ryan's girlfriend was due to arrive with her folks - they're from Clinton. Laura is still in school at ISU and is a nanny for the children of one of the ISU coach's children.

We stopped at the attached bar for a couple drinks - but we sat outside so Lena could join us. Oklahoma allows smokers in their bars - it was like a time warp. Yuck! We had supper plans for a local legend restaurant - The Mont.

We headed there to meet up with the Conovers. Dwight, Marilyn and their son Phillip had driven down from Des Moines, arriving shortly after we did. They with friends they were staying with from Tulsa who own a condo in town. After we were there a while, Don's sister Denise showed up with McKim's daughter Katie who had stayed been bunking with them. OU Sooner staffer Ryan McKim joined us as well. Along with the Sooner marching band...playing - you guessed it - Boomer Sooner. I had a nice chat with Denise - she is a guidance counselor at a school near Dallas. Nice lady, as are all the McKims.

Saturday was game day baby! Thanks to our local hosts and tickets and a parking pass courtesy of Ryan McKim, we had a great time. If only the Cyclones could have played a whole game! Tailgating at OU is quite gentrified - not at all rowdy as it can be in Ames. That might be due to the early start (11 a.m.) but I was amazed how quiet everyone was. No rowdy music or loud cornhole games going on in the parking lot!

The guys went to pick up our tickets at Will Call and ended up at the Conover's hosts' tailgate location - right by the OU Daily paper building on campus. I enjoyed walking on campus - there were actually trees there! I pushed a strange button on my camera so pay no attention to the weird face on the photo!

 

Marilyn and Phil with Laura (Ryan's GF) and Dee in the background

 

Paul with Laura's dad on the left

Dwight points out the thing to Laura's Mom

Finally, it was game time. The good stuff all happened when we sat in our real seats. We eventually moved down by Laura and her folks - next to all the OU recruits. It's fun to sit that close to the action - but I wish ISU could have supplied some excitement. We did get to see OU coach Barry Switzer up close and personal.  The second half was brutal - OU scored something like 38 points straight.

Love this couple's reaction to ISU scoring first!

Barry Switzer - red shirt

After the game - we needed a drink!

We drove out to see the football coach's mansion (from outside the gate) after the game. Then we watched football in our hotel room and ordered pizza. The next day we had a big ISU basketball game to catch! But that's another blog...

Selfie - an OU guy carved from a tree stump

Donnie's Birthday

Bobbie dropped a ($100) Benjamin at Maverick's Friday night for a drink - and didn't realize she'd only gotten change for a Jackson ($20) until the next day. But that and the last minute of the game - with the final ugly score - were the only bad things about the Donnie McKim birthday weekend. And Bobbie called Maverick's - the restaurant/sports bar near our place on Jordan Creek Parkway - and talked the manager into replacing half her missing $, so $40.

The Mcs - McFees and McKims showed up Friday night about 7 p.m. for a slumber party at our place. We headed right to Mavs cuz we were all hungry. I volunteered to be the designated driver. After messing around with headaches for the past week, I decided I didn't need the additional ammo of alcohol to fuel more head pain. It was fun catching up with the Ms. We hadn't seen Bobbie and Jeff since early September.

Don scored his favorite bev from Conovers for his birthday

Great crowd - despite a dismal record. Hats off to ISU fans!

Saturday we got up early - another 11 a.m. kickoff for ISU. Paul had made a crockpot egg casserole that cooked all night. It was delish! We arrived at Jack Trice to tailgate around 9ish. The wind was brisk, but the sun was shining. Dwight and Marilyn Conover stopped by, along with son Phil who was hanging with Bobbie and Jeff's niece Brittany - whose guy worked with Phil this summer. Ryan McKim's girl Laura gave us passes into the Jacobson Building - the inner sanctum by the football field. She's the nanny for a coach's kids, so she is golden!

Went in the Jake at halftime

The alumni band played in the Jake

After the game we hung out for a while to let the crowd clear out. But the cars kept driving through our area - irritating the birthday boy. He and Bobbie decided to handle it - putting the barricade across, cutting off traffic.

Great pic of Don and Pablo

We stopped at a bar south of Ames, near Kelley, Iowa on the way back to West Des Moines.

I drank my one beer/drink of the whole weekend at this bar
 

Bobbie had to commiserate with this fellow farm wife.

After we drove back to our place - with Paul as Designated Driver. Bobbie was quite chatty and we sang along with satellite radio. We headed 30 miles west to Dexter where a good restaurant, the Rusty Duck awaited. Along with two couples to surprise Donnie - Paul and Donna Pals and Beth and Todd Nielsen. We sang Happy Birthday and Don received ice cream (not a neck rub from the waitress, like he requested...)

Though it was only 9 p.m. when we left it seemed like it should be midnight! Paul and I headed home after that and the rest of the gang talked of stopping in Stuart at a bar. Yawn...we were in bed by 10 p.m.

It was a fun day with good friends. In this month of Thanksgiving, I remain grateful for our wonderful friends.

Game Day Baby

Though our team really only played the first quarter...at least that's how it seemed. But more on that later.

We awoke on the last day of 2012 pondering, "what to wear?" Forecast - chilly, wet. But we were going to be mobile so I didn't wish to carry a ton of stuff. I'm the girl who registers "reptile" on the thermometer when I give blood. Last time my temp was below 97 degrees. So I get cold fast. I couldn't believe I saw guy in shorts and flip flops the day before at the parade. I wish I had circulation like that! Thanks Pat Bullock for crappy veins. Oh well - at least I also got your penchant for sarcasm Mom! I settled on several layers, my Cyclone purselet, scarf, hat, visor (for rain) and wore my Columbia jacket. Paul carried a rain slicker in a pouch for me, and I had my Cyclone snuggy.

The cops did smile when we apprciated their helmet geat

The six of us had purchased tickets for a shuttle bus leaving from the Peabody Hotel, so we headed there. After a bit of confusion - the ISU buses were there awaiting the team - complete with escort motorcycle police with ISU stickers on their helmets. Memphis has gone Cyclone! The bus took about 15 minutes to get to the stadium - through some interesting neighborhoods. Once we arrived we headed right to the Pre-game Tailgate party (held in a huge building that said "Roller Derby) that we had purchased tickets for, skirting around the long Cyclone line by going in the Tulsa door.

We were in the middle - I could take the same photo pointing the other way...

Diana is doing her John Belushi "Animal House" pose here...

The event was a blast! Our friends saved us seats - we sait with Kleins and the Davenport people. We each got a big plate full of barbecue - chicken, pulled pork, beans, good cole slaw - I like the vinegar kind best. And with the $35 tickets, all the beer and drinks were free! Our group worked at making sure we got our money's worth.

The place was packed with cardinal and gold clad fans and a band played on a stage at one end. Then the ISU band took over. We began to see people we knew - like our niece Barb and husband Mike and children.

Johnny and about 6 of his former players were at the game

ISU's legendary former coach Johnny Majors came in to get a bite to eat. While he was chewing, Marilyn asked if we could get our photo with him. I think the old fella was pleased to get all this attention. He was the coach 40 years ago when Marilin and Dwight had attended the Liberty Bowl when ISU played.

We headed to the game about a half hour before kickoff. It was misting lightly. Crap! Our seats were in the same area our regular seats are at Jack Trice Stadium - right on the goal line, though we were closer to the action here, sitting near the families of many of the coaching staff members since McKim's son Ryan, Grad Assistant on the coaching staff had gotten us the tickets. The pageantry of the game was cool! A 9 year old cancer survivor (Thanks to St. Judes) sang the national anthem. I was doing fine until I saw Diana and Paul wiping their eyes...there was a giant flag on the field and the holders made if wave. Very cool!

Very moving opening ceremony. The game made me want to cry too...

Before I put my slicker on

 

Then the game. The first quarter was swell! We had offense, a pick 6. Things were going well! Then it started to rain a little harder and things went down hill. There was not much to cheer about after that. We heard later our quarterback had the flu the night before. That doesn't really explain the defenses lack of tackling ability...but regardless, I was cold, wet and not drinking beer. I was glad when it was over. On our way out of the game we saw paramedics working on a person down on the ground. We heard later a 47 year old Cyclone fan had died that day. It puts things into perspective.

Regardless, we were a bedraggled, grumpy group heading back to our hotel. We re-assembled back at the McKim suite to decide the plan for the evening. Looking out the window - still raining right along. Inside. Vodka, Black Velvet (whisky) and pop and a few munchies. We ended up ordering pizza - it arrived shortly before the new year. We made up a new game - Name the Crestonian! You had to give clues like, "I liked to sit in Berning's Red Room" I wore a crocheted hat made of beer cans" The answer of course? Hollywood Suzie!

Since Conovers lived in Creston from 1984 - 2010ish and McKims and we moved there in 1986, we had a lot to work with! Just think if Higgins and McFees had been there - Creston natives. Sharon and Jeff are scary because they're related to most of the people we gave clues about...

Once again - the bowl trip was a huge success, except for the damn game! The trip home was long - we listened to a somewhat boring book for a while and then enjoyed listening football games on ESPN. We arrived home about 8 p.m. to a happy Odie! Kimmy the dogsitter had done a fine job keeping her alive, with no messes that we know of. Now - on to 2013!

Sunday in Memphis

Cool Sign!

Our hotel had a pretty good breakfast spread! And we really had no right to feel as perky as we did by 8:30 a.m. after walking 10 feet of of Beale on our way back to the hotel the night before...



ducks display mach 1 speed

But by a little after 10 a.m. Sunday we were on our way to the  Peabody Hotel, where the team and all the important ISU people were staying. That hotel has a ducky tradition - literally. Twice a day they parade ducks down the elevator and through the lobby to paddle around in the fountain. We weren't the only ones wishing to view the ducks. Thousands of our Cyclone brethren were also there. Before us. Evidently they weren't out late the night before - party poopers! Some had kids, so they get a pass. The ducks, despite having clipped wings, are super quick! They went by so fast...all I got was this blurry photo. Paul later got the fountain shot.

We heard crowds were even larger for the evening viewing. The story goes that years ago, duck hunters with Peabody connections, got into the Jack Daniels, so they never got out to actually hunt. Instead they snuck their live decoys into the fountain - and a tradition was born.

The Trolley was very cool!

I would like to go back and take some time at the museum near here

Next we decided to walk a block or so and hop on the Trolley for a fee of $1, and take a lap around town. The sun was shining and it was the warmest the city would get. We hopped off at the Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King was assassinated. It's being refurbished. There is a museum across the alley, but we didn't want to take time at that point to go through it.  We walked several blocks back to Beale - noting police presence along the way. There were some sketchy areas around there...

Along the way we came across Elvis. He was "in the house". Of course we had to get our photo with him.

Not a huge Elvis fan, but I did get a kick out of this pic

We located a bar along Beale with a view of the street for the upcoming parade - perfecto! Bloody Marys all around (with little beer chasers thanks to the thoughtfulness of DC). Then we ordered food. Not great, but okay. Our friends Kevin and Carrie caught up with us, and later Phil Conover stopped by. The front of the bar was open air and it was a bit chilly - I wandered out to shop and warm up, and bought a nice little Memphis print as a momento.

A band started playing in the back of the bar - pretty good. The parade - NOT. Lots of beauty queens, bands and a few floats all spaced out unevenly. The VEISHEA organizers could give them lessons! Of course they put the ISU band, cheer squad and Johnny Majors at the end.

Our view for the parade. We didn't miss much...

The pep rally was right after the parade - again, not the best venue. Sound system was bad and the amphitheater was set so we couldn't even see. Our band sounded great though! I was thoroughly cold by then. DC and Marilyn had a date to attend the Memphis U college bball game. McKims, Paul and I went back to the hotel and warmed up.

If I lived in Memphis, I'd join the Boll Weevil Society - those dudes look like fun!

Later we ventured back out to Beale Street - thoroughly taken over by Cyclones - a sight to see! I just love neon signs, and this street is a delight. We went to a pretty generic Canadian restaurant where I had a good salad. Then we just wandered down Beale - plenty of police presence once again. We enjoyed talking to some locals outside one bar. We made our way through Coyote Ugly where beer coated the floor about 1/2 inch deep and people were shoulder to shoulder. I might have enjoyed that at 25 and single...We ended up back at Silky's, watching the piano show, but retired pretty early. Monday there was a game to play!

Bras at Coyote Ugly. Mine was under about 5 layers of clothes and did not join...

And we're off...

We returned from lovely Colorado on 12/26, where they had some snow, to really snowy West Des Moines. Did I ever mention how much I enjoyed last winter where global warming was so much more evident? I put in a couple days at work - it was pretty quiet at the 'ol Wallace Building. I didn't ever go say a final goodbye to our Chief Brian Tormey. I hate goodbyes. So long Big Guy! We'll struggle at times without you, but we'll survive.

Friday night we packed again - I had gotten Blackie out for the Colorado trip. That's my ancient wheelie suitcase I inherited from my mom. It must be one of the original Samsonite bags, and it's so old that the wheels are about shot. But I used it these past 4 years commuting and it's like part of me. Everything has its place.

Dwight and Marilyn Conover picked us up Saturday morning. They are our former Creston neighbors, though they moved to Okoboji a couple years ago and had spent lots of time there even before that. Dwight was the prez of the bank I worked at when we first moved to Creston, so we've known them ever since. Nice people, and as a bonus, huge Cyclone fans - especially Marilyn (we call her Merle). She and I have had discussions about how it's not logical for adult women to lose sleep over college athletics...yet we can't stop ourselves. Ah well...I guess it's better than being addicted to bath salts (that's a drug I saw information about on the news...bad stuff!)

Our drive to Memphis was pretty uneventful. We dropped our car off at the Reynolds home in Osceola. You might recognize that name - yes, our car is now famous because Kim Reynolds is the Lt. Gov. I told Paul that we might return to find my car soaped if Kim knows my political persuasion...but she restrained herself. My Republican friends cautioned me to lock the doors just in case..

Our friends Don and Diana McKim arrived at our motel, Residence Inn just before we did. They were traveling from Dallas where they went just after Christmas to see relatives. Don's nephew and wife gave birth to twin sons on Thursday! Don already had a drink mixed when I rolled Blackie by his door. The hotel was old but rooms were recently re-done and each had a raised bedroom/bath with a sitting area and kitchenette below.

Love this pic of us 3 girls!

Another good shot. Damn we have good school colors!
 

 

We soon ventured out to the streets of Memphis. Barbecue was the meal of choice, so we put our name in at Rendezvous - a wait of 1+ hour so we went around the corner for a drink instead of standing outside in the cold. No heat wave in Memphis - I think Denver was much warmer! When we returned to the restaurant, the food was good and they were quite efficient moving folks in and out.

Waiting for Barbecue

Next stop, the famous Beale Street! Now I finally know just what Marc Cohn is saying in the "Walking in Memphis" song - "walking with my feet ten feet of of Beale" I alway sang pier. But I knew that wasn't quite right!

We went to Silky O'Sullivans, where some tailgating friends were. It's a rickety old structure with some outdoor areas covered with plastic that did nothing to keep me warm! Kevin and Carrie from Davenport were there along with Kleins - parents of our star linebacker, A.J. who will play in the NFL next year. They park their RVs near where McKims park the Pace Arrow for each home game - so through the years they've all gotten to know each other. Small world department Kevin and Carrie's son worked at the landfill at one time and knows Kathy the manager there. Only in Iowa...

Coach Paul Rhoads!

Did I mention Memphis was inundated with cardinal and gold? Cyclone fans were everywhere! I love it. It's like taking the state of Iowa on vacation with you, with lots of familiar faces. I saw Amy's college roomie Rachelle first thing. Later I cruised through the other rooms of the labrynth - the dueling pianos were great! The rest of the clan joined me there - it was much warmer, and ISU's athletic director introduced CPR (Coach Paul Rhoads). The crowd went wild. The singers did Sweet Caroline and a pathetic version of the fight song. A good time was had by all! By the time we left we WERE walking with our feet 10 feet off... 

Isn't that street cool!?!