Old worker, new tool, television

I've been working in offices since 1974 when Harry Hjortshoj put me to work at his big desk at the Fina gas station in Atlantic, Iowa adding up gas tickets for monthly statements for his customers. (Just one of my many important jobs - donut acquisition, parts pickup, That was back before many people had credit cards and we could trot around visiting stores - simply telling them to "charge it to Dave Bullock". When I worked for Harry I used the one finger style of adding up the statements on the adding machine.

Since then I've learned to use many tools of the trade - adding machines (with all my fingers), using rubber fingers to flip through papers (I won't tell you what my dear daughter thought one of those things was the first time she saw one - inadvertently left in a motel restroom), and use of electric staplers and pencil sharpeners.

So when I found an unusual tool in the desk drawer in my cubicle at DNR when I started working there in 2008, I racked my brain. What did that thing do? Letter opener? Nope...I had one of those too. Still, I left it in the drawer - using it to open my cell phone when it needed to be rebooted. But the mystery remained. Until last week when I needed a file from DNR's records department. The staffer there used a tool just like mine to remove staples! Aha!

I didn't know the Henry Wiltschck tool was a staple puller....like the one above, but different! 

My big sis Cindo got me hooked on The Voice...damn her and her reality shows. I'd seen the show a few times in the past, but hadn't "followed" a season. Now, thanks to being with Cindy and two show cycles in Florida - I'm hooked! Even Paul watched. The judges are good - not obnoxious like some of the talent shows I've dabbled in watching. Some of the singers are really great.

Cindy and Colby pose with the menu at our fave place to eat near Marco - the Little Bar

Cindy's other addiction - HGTV. She doesn't get it at her home in Vail, CO so she watches it non-stop in Florida. There are some good shows on that channel. Property Brothers - loves watching those cuties work with people. Addicted to Rehab - that's a fun show to watch as a cute gal goes all Al Higgins (a friend from Creston who is an excellent craftsman) on places she buys in the Twin Cities area - fixing up homes she buys to resell.

West End Blarney

Homegirl Bobbie Mac texted Friday night that she was heading to the big city from Crestonia on Saturday. Yay! It had been quite a while since I'd seen that girl. She arrived promptly at 10 a.m., just before her sis-in-law, my former roomie Joanie Mac B. Paul enjoyed chatting and catching up with the two. But then it was time to head downtown to check out West End Salvage - of HGTV fame.

The show premiered about a month ago on Thursday night. I actually visited the store 10 years ago - when it was a small corner store. Today it's 4 floors of junk, um stuff plus a coffee shop. And T-shirts (I liked the "cute shoes discount shirt). One could spend hours there. The place was packed on a cold rainy Saturday. Don and Hal - the shows "stars" were in the house.

Bobbie and Hal's back...

Don is on the phone

Joan secretly wants that rocking chair...no not really - she already has one!

Hal and Elk friend. I didn't get a price...I wonder if they'd like a couple deer heads?

 

Bobbie's daughter, Kimmy joined us after she got off her shift at Mercy Medical Center. Then we headed to Noodle Zoo for lunch as Zombie Burger looked too crowded. Love those noodles! A quick stop at Sticks to see all the art/furniture I can't afford.

Then we decided to head across the river to my fave bar The Standard to await Bobbie's daughter Kristina and her husband Caleb. They were doing a pub crawl/run benefiting the Amanda the Panda grief support center. The race had a St. Patrick's theme.

As we stepped in the door at the bar, the guy looked at us funny like we were out of place. Well...we WERE the only ones not in green running clothes/costumes. I tried to huff and puff to pretend I'd been running, but didn't pull it off. We rounded up the last table for 4 and ordered up beautiful dessert martinis (except Joan, our Designated Driver). Not being in costume, and the fact that 3/4 of us were 50+ made us approachable for some reason. Lots of people stopped to talk to us. They liked our martinis - conversation starters.

I had a blast! And probably 1 too many martinis, especially considering it was like 3 in the afternoon. Runners, mostly 20 somethings, were dressed in various costumes. But there were people our age-ish. I think I'd like to do this race next year. I hope the weather is better. The cause is something dear to my heart - as someone who has experienced loss of a loved one. And dealing with children who have lost a sibling. Plus it looked like lots of fun. Check it out.

How would you like to run in that hat?

Talked this poor chap into a photo, and then got photo bombed by the guy behind us, who we'd been talking to earlier

There was a girl in a slinky nightie (with running gear under it) that told me it came from the Ottumwa Wal-Mart. Another fella who talked to us had on Michelangelo's David boxers over his running tights. And they were complete with anatomically correct drawings. Very funny! I need to start looking now for next year's costume!

Needless to say I was quite worthless the rest of the evening, after Joan dropped me off. It was worth it!

HGTV envy

It's my own fault. I keep watching HGTV, and getting ideas about fixing up our house. This watched one of my usual shows where they fix up a place for $2,000 in order to sell it. Usually it's a place that's been on the market but has not sold.

This place had wallpaper and a border. Hmmm. Like our bathroom and office, I thought to myself. The designer said wallpaper is very dating/individual preference. So I thinks to myself - "self - our wallpaper gots to go!" and told myself to break it to Paul. haha

Betso Bean told of scraping wallpaper earlier this year. Didn't sound like fun. But I think we'll give it a shot anyway.

While I was at it, I told Paul of my dream to put a backsplash up in the kitchen. Plus I'd like new appliances and a new ceiling fan in our bedroom. Oh I didn't come up with all this stuff at one sitting - it's been percolating for a while!

Today was another swell weather day. Sorry to say I didn't get out and get a walk in. Should have gotten up early and scooted out there - like Deb prolly did. Just a slacker. Nice to see the neighbor kids out shooting hoops though!