Trip to Double Ds

Wednesday this week I headed to Dubuque for the League of Cities conference. I helped with a booth to market our section's programs to Iowa communities. A co-worker, Becky Ohrtman, from another section in our bureau staffed the booth with me. Ironically, Becky worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service - who Paul works for - prior to DNR. So she knows Paul and lots of his buddies. Trash and dirt - they're simpatico.

I took off Wednesday and arrived at the Grand River Center about 1 p.m. The location is great and it was a beautiful day. I took a few minutes to check out the river side of the center - so gorgeous.

I set my stuff up and attended an excellent session by a woman named Rebecca Ryan who runs a consulting firm that helps businesses and communities figure out how to deal with the next generation. Some of the keys she talked about, that community leaders need to consider are things like schools, vitality and health, leadership, night life, commute time (not really a problem in small towns - but for every 10 minutes one commutes, you lose 30 minutes of volunteer time). Rebecca talked about how the different generations deal with these things in different ways.

It's important for those of us that work with the public, because we can't assume that we are reaching everyone just because we print it in the paper or put it on the radio. That might have worked back when I first started working in this biz. Heck I even started a website, but today that's old news...for today's young people. Twitter, apps, Facebook - we need to find new ways to get information to the people. While not forgetting the Boomers who still read the paper.

I got to see some Crestonites that Wednesday evening, as people went by our booth. Of course Jim helped us in our booth. We gave away nifty chip clips with magnets along with information about our programs. Warren Woods - mayor of Creston, along with his lovely wife went by. Later I saw Mike Taylor, City Admin - and my former boss at Gits Manufacturing. That seems like a lifetime ago! Someone else called out my name as I made my way through the crowd - it was Chad Levi, husband of Renee, former St. Malachy teacher. That fam now lives in the Cedar Rapids area. The oldest of their three daughters is a HS frosh!

Becky with Jim

I stayed at the Hotel Julian - (that is Dubuque's first name). It was refurbished - and it gorgeous. I wish I could have stayed longer than 9 hours...but all too soon I was off to Davenport for an audit. Jim helped with that too.

Audit Team with Scott County staffers

It was a good trip - a long couple of days for an old bat like me.

Fried

I arrived home in Creston today fried to a crackly crunch. I mean toasted. I have not been in need of a weekend this badly in the two years since taking the DNR job. Whew!

The two days of auditing in Davenport and Dubuque were very wearing. The twelve hour days - between traveling and talking, questioning the auditees constantly during the audit. I'm not used to the constant "on" position. Tough on this old broad!

Day one we were in Davenport until 4:30 or so - in a cold room and touring facilities in and outside. The agency there has a delightful young energetic staff. I really like them! We headed to Dubuque, stopping in my college roomie, Vicki's hometown of DeWitt to gas up. Lucky for me Jeff took over driving duties. Pulled into the Fairfield Inn about 6:15 PM and at at Olive Garden next door. I had a nice Lemondrop that night. Slept lousy. Missed my bed (or my Joan bed).

Got lost trying to find the Public Works office in Dubuque - stress right away Thursday a.m. Another tough morning of constant talking. I get sick of hearing myself talk! After lunch we headed to the landfill on the west side of town, another cold visit to facilities. Long drive back with much discussion - I should have held me tongue more. Self flagellation later. We arrived in DSM about 6:30 - I had to gas up the car and arrived back at Joan's about 7:15 - decided not to head to Creston as last time I drove home late on a Thursday I ended up with car damage...

Went to bed exhausted before 9 PM. Woke up at 2:30 AM with my fretter all jacked up. Worrying about writing up the audits. Decided to read a bit to take my mind off of work stuff. Slept in until 6 AM and discovered snowy roads for my commute. Yuck! Headache popped up at work and didn't get rid of it all day. A bit slick on my drive home to Crestonia but my trusty Subaru got me here safely - left work about noon. Glad to be home! Still hurting head and quesy stomach - pizza at A&G with McKims - Ryan and Megan are visiting, and McFees. Pop another Frova and drink pop. Finally feel better. YAY. My weekend is here!

On the road

I'm on the road again. Hit the road at 5:30 a.m. today - picked up my supe and another colleague. We headed to Davenport for an Environmental Management System audit. It was more fun than it sounds. We meet with people from the local recycling facilities and landfill. We get to ask them questions about what they do.

You prolly know by now I am interested about that stuff. I AM the trash lady after all! So I like talking trash.

After our long day, Jeff, Jen and I drove to Dubuque and checked into the Fairfield Inn. We ate at the Olive Garden nearby (I had a nice cocktail) and now I'm relaxing before I hit the hay.

Tomorrow we hit the audit trail again at the Dubuque Solid Waste Agency. I hope we cruise through it and get back to Des Moines at a decent time - like 6 PM. Today sucked for a Weight Watchers participant!