Go Soap!

I remember when my old pal Freddie Behr was just a youngster in the security biz at Iowa State University, he did a gig at Hilton Coliseum for the Amway Convention. He reported later that the huge group did chants like "Go Soap!" We laughed about it, and talked about the fact that Amway must be some kind of cult like Jim Jones's group.

I thought about that this week as I joined Costco (I mentioned this before, I know). We're in the cult! It costs $55 to join, which has always seemed like a lot. But when I saw the liquor prices, I decided we would save at least that much each year. Alkie cruds or thrifty...you make the call.

After I paid for the membership, I took my first walk through as a full fledged cultist, um I mean member. I picked up some decent vodka.

Martinis take a lot ya know. Plus I got what Cindo calls a "Big Girl" bottle of chardonnay. I took a photo of a big 'ol stack a Black Velvet. That's Iowa's fave whiskey ya'll. Donnie told me so. I sent him this pic.

Donnie's dream....

 I did buy some food too, so don't get the wrong idea. And a lamp for Jud's room. So there! I just didn't take pics of that stuff. Do you think people thought I was strange taking pics of the liquor at my new cult clubhouse?

It was date day for the Goldschmidts. Paul and I met for lunch - hitting City Bakery, a restaurant in the East Village between Grand and Locust on 5th Street. He had a sannie and homemade chips and I got the side salad - it's a perfect size with vinaigrette. After work, we were both in the mood for a drink - so I took him to Maverick. That's the new Sports Bar my new DB (Diamond Brooke) friends introduced me to. We had nachos and dirty martinis.

Then we stopped at the cult to pick up liquor for the weekend party we're attending in Creston. I got Fess Parker Chardonnay! Man I loved that guy as Danl Boone.

Can't wait to see my homegirls. And Odie is getting her nails trimmed and her anal glands expressed at Creston Vet Clinic - how fun will that be?? Then she's staying at Lila and Bill's puppy spa - they're so excited to see her, which warms my heart. Looking forward to it!

La Lake!

One week ago today Pablo and I were flurrying around finishing up packing the car to get to one of our "happy places". Bobbie coined the term for Osage Beach - where Sharon and Allan Higgins have a home on the lake there. It's about a 5.5 hour drive and that's what it took us - with a brief jaunt into a Wendy's for a sandwich and then it was back on the road again. You might say we were highly motivated...Higgins and McKims were already there.

Sharon and breakfast...

We arrived about 10:30 PM, in time to have a couple drinks and then we went to bed. And early night in preparation for a big day ahead! The guys got up early and went for breakfast and golf. The gals were more leisurely - Lucy Eckhoff picked us up around 9. Paul E was golfing with the guys. We had a fab gourmet breakfast - complete with a mimosa! Then we were off to shop where the bargains almost paid me to take them! There is a large Marshalls there along with an outlet mall - I had $10 off coupons for Eddie Bauer and Jockey.

Back to Higgins at 2ish and we changed into our lake gear and packed the cooler for a boat ride and nice float in the water - which was at a perfect temp this year. First we stopped by a place called Bucks for a good and greasy burger. Yum.

I decided to drink vodka/soda with a nice lime twist in my University of Margaritaville cup I got last year. It was quite delightful until Paul Goldsmith decided to tell me there were fish all around me. Geez! That creeped me out. Time to go! It was getting cool anyways...so we headed to a place called Larrywood - complete with a sign just like the Hollywood sign! There I switched to weed. Jeremiah Weed sweet tea vodka - so very smooth! A great band was playing complete with a singer who looked a bit like Snoop Dog! We'd had enough to drink by then that we even danced.

Al and Donnie make a Diana sandwich

On the cruise home in Al's boat that night, under the bright stars, in the gentle late summer temperatures, Earth, Wind and Fire began to play my fave "September". We gals began to dance. I thought to myself - it doesn't get any better than this!