The weekend

-Friday night - Surf and Turf and Crestmoor courtesy of McKims. Though I grew up a Country Club kid, our kids haven't. I suppose it's because there wasn't a private pool to go along with it as there is at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.

When I was a little kid, Mom would take us out to the pool. Then as a "tweener" (12ish?). I'd swim, then put my clothes on in the lady's locker room and get my putter out of our cart shed and mess around on the putting green. Then I might get a burger and a coke to eat at a table by the pool. Dark Shadows - the corny soap opera was on in the lobby by the snack shop at 2:30 PM so kids would go in to watch it then. Sometimes there would be a card game - spoons. There were always other kids around to play with. There was a phone by the pool to call home when I was ready to be picked up. What a life! And I took it all for granted...later I even played a couple rounds of golf.

Buying a Crestmoor membership was a little pricey for us when the kids (and we) were young. I didn't work full time so we had to make some concessions ya know. But we were able to purchase kids memberships, so they could participate in the youth summer program. Jud especially took part in that. Both kids played some golf - I'm glad about that.

This week was Crestmoor's attempt to get new members - thus Surf N Turf night. We didn't get any big heavy push from anyone to fill out membership papers. I asked Donnie if Jeff and Paul could join as a couple!?! After all, Bobbie is working part time in Idaho, and I'm in DSM. Crestmoor does have a membership where one partner can golf and the other is a social member - and can play up to 6 times. I've encouraged Paul to consider it. While I don't like to think of him sitting in the clubhouse drinking, I do like to think of him golfing at night. He's good!

After a yummy supper that night of turf (a very good filet), we headed to McKims deck until after 11 p.m. to chat. Jeff was there too - Bobbie is in Boise.

Father and son - so alike, so different

-Saturday we headed to St. Joseph, Mo. to see our baby boy Judson. Jud just moved from his ultra cool loft apartment to a kinda dumpy duplex - at about half the price. We didn't even have to help! Paul put a couple pictures up on the wall in his bedroom, but that was it. Kara, his girlfriend left early that day to travel to Vegas (it's not Vegas baby when you're working). So we had him all to ourselves. He showed us around town a bit, and we stopped at Target.

See my cute boy...

Then we went to a great downtown restaurant Boudreaux - Cajun Cuisine.  We sat and talked after we ate - he's fun to talk to, knowledgeable about many topics. I like having a chance to talk to him in person about his job, friends, just how things are going in general. And on the drive home, Paul and I agreed. The kid is turning out swell - we're so very proud of him!

Near Jud's former loft - says "see the bullet hole"

-Saturday night we were still so full, we didn't even need to eat supper - even though it was Cinco de Mayo. I texted my buddy Deb and she and hubby Larry came over for a post Cinco dinner drink. They tried to go to Creston's Mexican restaurant, but ended up next door at the Windrow. We sipped Butterscotch Liquor and got caught up on each others' lives. I need my Debbie fix ya know!

-On Sunday I didn't even get in the car. Finally got some deck time with sun. Odie loved sniffing around. Then we went into cleaning mode again - this time Amy's room, and the closet downstairs. Ended up looking at old photos in Amo's albums. Walk down memory lane. I ended up scanning some of the pics of course. I couldn't part with the envelopes for the tooth fairy.

-Grilled burgers for supper. This was a good weekend.

Don Kirshner, Crestmoor

This picture was taken last summer after Kristina and Caleb's wedding, outside of Crestmoor Clubhouse.

Mike McCauley - my HS BF - really nice guy. Loved his family too. Last I heard he now lives in Michigan.


The "Man with the Golden Ear" has passed to the great rock concert in the sky. Don Kirshner - my guru of all things rock of the early 1970's through 1981. He came to my attention because in the days before cable TV.

I used to drag my boyfriends home on date nights for end of the night necking on the couch to the tunes of Don's late night show. (I know this kinda goes against the "de-sexed" description of my blog. Sorry to anyone who may be related to me whom I may offend with thoughts about their mother in her pre-married days. You may want to skip this part of this blog).

Mike McCauley and Craig Both. That's about it for my HS boyfriend selection. I was, let's say, pretty much a good Catholic girl. So the boys didn't get too far on that couch. Still, I was careful to slide the pocket door to the hallway to my parents' room shut - figuring that would:

1. Cut the Don Kirshner show noise
2. Give time for clothing adjustment in case a parent woke up and needed a drink of water

Don Kirshner was some kind of star picking genius of rock bands, comics, etc. He owned several record labels and had a part in the making of the stardom of Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller, Allman Brothers, Bee Gees, Ramones, the Police and David Bowie. He was also in on the success of the Monkees. Other groups mentioned are Kansas and the Archies - "Sugar, Sugar". And songwriters like Carol King. Talk about a track record.

His show was nothing fancy. He'd come out and introduce the band - just like a concert - thus the name Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. And they'd play. I think they should do more of that these days - I might learn to like more bands. Don himself was no ball of fire - he'd never make it today as an announcer. Today they'd have some flashy, sexy on screen personality. Fond memories of Don and his show - and I read he was married to the same woman for 50 years. Here's to you Don! RIP

Last night, after church we pre-partied at McFees and then proceeded to Crestmoor - invited by McKims for Steak Night. There was a big crowd there. I enjoyed a nice big vodka tonic and chatting with folks I hadn't seen for a while.

Neighbors Kit and Jeff Mostek. Kit was interested in Amy and Jud's latest doings. We heard about what their twins are up to - 8th grade basketball these days. Dave Driskell is always good for a laugh. The Coen fam was celebrating matriarch Dora's 86th bday - Kate and Mike filled us in on their son John and wife Jackie's three children. That couple was one we sponsored in our church. Favorites actually.

Whenever we go to Crestmoor, I can't help but think about the awful thing that happened there. The sexual assault (at least that's what they were convicted of) of a bar maid by two law enforcement officers late one night three years ago. I saw Missy Sickels Friday night at A&G. What a tragedy - no matter what happened the results are that three little girls and a wife are without a father and husband for 17 years. I don't know the victim - and admit I don't know the repercussions to her.

Regardless of the location, we did have a fun night on a cold and snowy, blowy winter night in Iowa. We were home before 10:30 PM. I had a great steak (with leftovers for today) I didn't drink too much - another benefit of Weight Watchers - booze is too many calories! Small towns can be boring. But they have their benefits - last night was a fun night in a small town.