LOTO Jammin'

It was the last of my summer excursions - but one I look forward to every year. We got invited once again to Lake of the Ozarks (LOTO). Paul and I feel so fortunate that we have friends in low (on the map) places.

This year we added one more couple to the mix as Bobbie and Jeff purchased a lake place. We looked at this house with them one year ago. Wow. The beautiful lake home we visited this weekend didn't resemble the ramshackle, not updated for years, filled with knickknacks place we saw in 2017. The McFees have put in some work (mostly Bobbie). Walls have been reconfigured so it's pretty much a whole new place inside the shell. It has 3 full baths and 4 bedrooms, with an open kitchen and all new appliances. Okay, all new everything. Plus they replaced the old rickety deck with a new larger one.

Paul and I did get in on the "fix up" fun. Nothing too taxing for me of course. I was on paint patrol - dabbing those darn missed spots one finds after painting. Paul and Jeff installed knobs and a barn door in the master bath (Joanna Gaines has nothing on Bobbie). Joanie McFee, my former roomie, and Jeff's sis was there. Yay!

I miss Joan. She let me live with her for around 4 years Monday through Thursday as I commuted from Creston to my new job in the big city. Her Waukee home housed many roomies through the years. I shared space with Bobbie and Jeff's nieces Kristina and Kim over the years. It was fun getting to know them better (as adults, not as tiny playmates for our kids). Now that I don't see Joan weekly, I miss her!

At the new lake place, Joan was in charge of painting around the deck door while Bobbie cleaned up the downstairs living room. Bobbie and Jeff are considering renting the place once it's ready for prime time. Check out the view.

view at Bobbie and Jeff's

 On Friday when we arrived at LOTO, we had a great lunch complete with sweet corn. Then we hung out on the boat dock until the McKim party (Don, Diana, and their college pal Wally) picked us up in the party pontoon. I always love cruising on this big lake where you can go for so many miles checking out the beautiful homes and boats. Until you stop at a bar.

We went to Fish and Company first. It was a lovely day to hang out with friends with beverages at a bar on the lake. We listened to Dale Blue a solo performer who is part owner of the joint. He's great at involving the crowd. That afternoon, there was a big group of young women dancing and joining him on stage.

love the photo bombers

Then, at one point they cleared out. He looked at me and said, "Hey visor girl, bring your friends up here on the stage." It was Sweet Home Alabama. I started with a tambourine - but after glancing at the chick to my right with the fake guitar, I knew I had to take action. She didn't know how to fake play it AT ALL. I gave her "the look" and she turned it over to me. She wasn't guitar material. I rocked it! My first and last guitar gig.

Later, we danced. "Survey said, drinks up!" We always have fun at LOTO bars.

At our next stop, we were joined by more buddies. Sharon and Al along with Rita and Jim (more McKim college pals). The gang was here! We got some snacks and drinks and caught up with each other. I miss these people! We got to ride back to Bobbie and Jeff's in a boat in the dark. Cap'n Al at the wheel. So cool.

Saturday we sat on that nice new deck for coffee and breakfast. Then we did that bit of work for our keep. The rest of the afternoon involved hanging out on the dock.

Birthday boy - second from left with his lovely wife and college pals

That night was the big birthday party for Jim at McKims. The same cast of characters plus Lucy Eckhoff. and Bob Snodgrass. Cake and balloons were delivered at 6:30 p.m. Jim was surprised and delighted (I think). Even more than the cake, the birthday boy liked the electric bug zapper on the deck. We all have sore ribs today from laughing at Wally's comedic gigs involving a possum and a trash can and swimming noodles. The guy should quit his day job and do stand-up. We sat on McKim's deck until midnight. Another great day with friends - in the books.

view from McKim's deck at night

Today we drove home fairly early. Joan rode with us. The trip takes just over 5 hours with few stops - so we took advantage by catching up even more on Crestonites and her fam and friends. Weekends like this one - priceless!





 







 

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.

Back to School

We gave out pencils at the Department of Natural Resources fabulous display I worked at last week. It's a mobile education unit built to look like a house - with education about how people can save resources all over our homes like water and energy. And how to recycle and properly dispose of things like chemicals and batteries.

View out the door of the Mobile Education Trailer

We give out "mood pencils". They are heat activated so when kids put their hands on them (or it's really hot out), they turn a different color - like orange to yellow. Pretty cool compared to the #2s I used to get for back to school. Some of the kids I tried to give pencils to said "no way!" like they could get out of going back to school by refusing the pencils. Renegades, ha!

I must admit, I was one of those kids who was ready to go back to school by this time of year - through about age 40. It's true! It took me that long to get over feeling like it was time to go someplace in the fall - to return to a place of learning. All it took was a few cooler days after a long hot summer.

When I was a kid Mom got us ready for "Back to School" in two ways. We'd buzz over to Omaha to shop for clothes. First we went downtown, then Crossroads and lastly, Westroads - the big new mall at the time. It seemed huge! There was a store called Gadabout for preteens with a younger kids store next door that she liked for little sis Betsobean. Mom also liked Brandeis Department Store and we'd get lunch at Bishops Buffet. I loved their French Dip and Chocolate Pie! How nutritious!

Back home we'd get shoes at Family Shoe or Brown's Shoe Fit. Then we'd go to Ben Franklin or Woolworth's for paper products. And paste. Remember paste? Why did we get that? Those little wands always dried up. Later we switched to glue. And we'd shop at Gibson's or Pamida. I loved selecting the eraser pack - they were all clean and ready to go. No mistakes yet!

In our elementary school, Washington, there were two sections of each class - about 60 students total. It was the baby boom years. I don't remember when we found out which teacher we had for the year. If I was filled with angst by being separated from my homies, I must have coped! I'd like to say it made me a stronger person and I made good friends with others. Alas I don't recall.

I enjoyed working at the fair. When I was done, Paul joined me and we visited some of our favorite haunts - like the 4-H Building. We love seeing what the talented youth come up with - especially woodworking. Later, we walked up to see a free concert by the Grassroots. When I was in 7th grade I received a cassette player for Christmas plus one cassette - the Grassroots. Needless to say, I played it over and over! They had a fill in lead singer, but the others looked original. Good memories!

Paul decides what to eat

Fair Time

Last week I worked 46 hours from Sunday through Wednesday hording vacation time to spend with my girls. I worked the first Sunday of the fair, then Monday and Tuesday. And this is what I ate:

• Corndog (token on a stick thing) with lemonade shakeup
• Dutch Letter
• Chocolate Chip cookies from the Pella Bakery - they were stuffed with a brownie like material (1 each day)
• Walking Taco
• Pulled turkey sandwich
• Pulled pork sandwich

I took my own tea each day - saving $ on that. By the last day, I was ready to be done with fair food.

On Sunday, my first day at the fair, I walked all over checking out the stuff I like to see. The 4-H exhibits, the giant pig and bull. Horses, big and small. The Ag and Varied Industries Buildings. One poor guy fashioned his own violin out of wood only to receive a white ribbon. I gave it a blue for effort!

Muralist - working on a fair mural Sunday

beautiful leather rigging for horses

I love the people watching! And interacting with them in the DNR environmental trailer that I work in. This year I told the kids coming through the trailer that they needed to fill me in on what they learned in the trailer to earn a fabulous prize - either a little tape measure or a lime green backpack. They got a mood pencil free. Most of the children enjoyed the prize challenge. They would go check out the light bulbs - incandescent, CFL or LED -which is the most efficient? Or they could watch a short video or read information on the wall.

I'd quiz them - "What can you do at your house to save energy?" If they were stumped we'd talk about turning off lights or shutting off the water when they brush their teeth. It takes a lot of energy to make clean water! I'd ask what kinds of things they recycle at their house. I enjoyed it! My last day to work at the fair, it rained and I was ready to be done by 9 p.m. when my shift ended.

No - not stained glass - windows made from water bottles gleaned from an event I helped with near our home

When I got home from the fair that last night, I packed for my trip to Oregon the next day. Yay!

Step away from the cellie and the Fair

I'm glad cell phones weren't the norm when Amy and Juddy were little tykes. I'm afraid I would have been one of those distracted parents - not living in the moment with them.

who wouldn't pay attention to these cuties?

I fear I would have been reading the New York Times on a swing instead of chasing them around the little kids' play area at McKinley Park. My Facebook friends would have had to suffer through weekly pics of the cherubs - on the glider, sliding with Moki the Wonder Dog and crossing the dangerous swinging bridge. Smile!

The good news is that our children are safely raised. I was there for them when it counted (because I didn't get my first brick-sized cell phone until they were past middle school age). I watched every sports event, went to each doctor's appointment and parent/teacher conference and drove them safely to and fro without talking on a cell phone or using a Smart Phone. They had my mostly full attention (I did rock out to the radio in the car).

Today? My name is Leslie and I've got a Smart Phone thang. When I have spare moments I fill them with information gathering - Facebook, Twitter, NYT, WaPo (Washington Post), DM Register. I'm always on the prowl. I did take 40 days away from Facebook during Lent. It was a good exercise. I now need to go away to a deserted island with no reception for a full information blackout.

I like my FB photo shares. Am I overdoing it? Probably. Oh well - I currently have no plans to change my over-sharing ways. I try to keep it interesting - posting things I think others might like to see or do. Or I post fam stuff for our many relatives' benefit. I like to see your photos after all... If others don't like it they can unfriend me. I won't even know, so it won't lay awake nights wondering why you don't like me anymore...

That said, I know I should put the darn phone away more often. All that information will wait for me. Live in the moment Loose Leaf!(my dad called me that). Love taking those pics though...fun getting Paul to pose for selfies. He's very patient with me.

Fair Fun - Paul and I attended the Iowa State Fair on Friday, a bit later than we'd planned after we got to install a water heater...ours was leaking. At first we blamed Odie for a weak bladder. But she can't pee that much...

We saw lots of people we knew. Former neighbors Benoits, Bob Drustrup who used to work at DNR, our neighbor Vicki, Traci Haley with Betty Hartsook and Lori Vicker, Carol McFee Baudler and Bobbie and Jeff McFee and some others I can't think of. Just like home!

Paul points out all the Goldsmiths listed on the wall at the Iowa State University exhibit - alums living in Iowa. Me, him, Kenny, Mary and many nephews and cousins.

Tums were in order later after we shared: Philly cheesesteak, footlong corndog, breaded chicken on a stick with peppers and onions, funnel cake with chocolate. Plus beer.

We ran into Bobbie and Jeff with their nephew Trey and had a beer with them later. (Trey didn't get one)

The closest we got to the butter cow - Butter Legs
 

Better than butter cow...the bush cow

A girl from Afton received a blue ribbon on this art work she welded. Awesome! Recycling and a horse.
 

My brain is okay, I think...(after 3 days of headaches)

Pablo and I did the Iowa State Fair Thursday night. You see, I'll be working there the next two afternoon/evenings - so I knew I'd get my fix. But Paul - pretends not to like going. But I could tell he secretly was dying to go! He'd say things like, "I suppose you're going to force me to go to the Fair." Which wasn't the case at all...but I pretended, but so he could save face...When you've been married 31 years, you catch on to this stuff.

We rode the shuttle from the Capitol, which is slick! No worrying about where to park. We were both hungry so we headed towards the cattle barns, where we knew the beef sannies would be good. I wasn't disappointed! We trotted around after that just taking in sights and sounds. I forget that he doesn't know his way around like I do - just from my years working there. I was busy scoping it out - trying to decide what I'll it on my subsequent visits! We walked through the Varied Industries Building and talked to Mark Sedlmayer in the DNR building. Paul worked up an appetite to eat something on a stick (a state fair requirement!)

lemonade and chicken on a stick

I later talked him into riding the Skyglider - it was such fun - gliding over the fair with my honeybun. Blue Oyster Cult was playing at the Bud Stage - FREE. We rant into his workmates and hung out with them for a while. Then I talked him into hitting the 4-H building to see the projects - memories of my Glad Girls of Grove days...one year I made my Aunt Jean's recipe, buttermilk chocolate cake. Dang that was good! I was really in 4-H so I could show my horse, but suffered through the other stuff like cooking and record-keeping for the cause.

The woodworking projects were awesome - furniture like tables and desks made by teens! They sew outfits, do educational posters and more. I always come away impressed. After that we were both ready to head home.

An enterprising lad welded an painted the giant friggin' trike with a motor...why?

Friday morning, I awakened knowing the damn headache was gone - kaput! Its 3-day run was over. Phew! I'm always glad to say sayonara to a multi-day brain burner. I had to take some Advil to take the edge off, but that did the trick. I worked Friday morning and ran errands that afternoon. We spent a quiet Friday night - the Packers had a pre-season game, don'tcha know. I was happy reading a new book.

Saturday I headed to my usual haunt - the Farmer's Market downtown to meet a friend, Pam. She works in Paul's office and we've hung out a few times. (gee it sounds like we're dating...) Pam lost her husband a couple years ago to a heart attack. Pam is clawing her way back into life one step at a time - I admire her so much for it!

We walked through the market - checking out the merchandise. Pam hadn't been there for several years and was surprised at how big it's grown. I got a breakfast burrito and another of the workers asked me if I was from Creston and attended Holy Spirit there. It's nice to be recognized. Pam waited and scored a blueberry scone at another booth. There was a steel drum band we sat and listened to later, and she headed to the YMCA about 9 for a class - yep, she's an exercise fanatic like my pal Deb. If only I loved working out like I love books (and writing this blog...).

I had brought my bike downtown with my so I rode north on the trail past the Botanical Center (that is in the middle of getting a multi million $ facelift) on the John Pat Dorrian Trail. I didn't go too far though - even though my iPod was nice, it was a little lonely all by myself. I did get some cool shots of the city riding back south.

DSM looking south from the trail near Botanical Gardens

It was a beautiful morning! I headed home and got some deck time to read my book and drink iced coffee. Odie enjoyed barking at passersby. This is the life!

Scenes from the Iowa State Fair

My workmate Mick opens the door to the Environmental Education Trailer

I worked at the Iowa State Fair today for my job. Hey it beat sitting in a cubicle! I worked with Mick who is an engineer in our solid waste department. I enjoy sitting six hour with a co-worker and getting to know them a bit more. I discovered that he grew up in South Dakota - a place I lived for a year just after college. Mick and his wife (she works for DNR too - in water quality out of Field Office 1 in downtown Des Moines) live in the outskirts of Chariton.

We opened up the trailer and cleaned it up - sweeping the floor and wiping down displays. It features touch screen activities and videos. Our other job was to administer an environmental quiz to families who took time to watch and read stuff. We had prizes for the various types of questions - aluminum water bottles, paper cubes, shopping bags and little tape measures. Most people were quite delighted to receive a prize. A couple were mad they didn't get what they wanted. Oh well.

At lunch I went out for a nice corndog - I had obsessed about it all morning! Darn good too. I didn't get the bacon infused one.

Lunch!

I enjoyed talking to fair attendees about environmental topics. There were some good conversations today. I get to saddle up and do it again tomorrow! After my shift I made the rounds at the fair - taking in the sights. 

My view of the day

A pond outside the trailer hold lovely lillies

Butter cow with 7 dwarfs...

Corn and melons

Not a pony...miniature horse!

Dog and Cathouses at the 4-H Building

This ride looked like fun.

Doobies were muy bueno!

I'm so behind on my posts! Last Tuesday night 14 of us attended the Kansas/Doobie Brothers concert at the Fair. It was supposed to be Lynyrd Skynyrd...but Johnnie Van Zant was sick so they had to sub Kansas. Higgins, Anthonys, Moellers, McFees, Susan Grose and Brian (can't remember her new married name), Petersons, Pablo and me.

Paul rode up to DMS with Deb and Larry Peterson. They picked me up at the Marriott on Jordan Creek Road and we returned to the State Capitol where we rode the bus just like I had earlier in the day when I worked at the recycling trailer. I grabbed a quick corn dog and beer - and we ran into Bobbie and Jeff along with Jeff's sis Joanie (my roomie) and her hubbie Billy. Then it was into the concert - at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand, overlooking the midway with all the rides. After a cloudy day, the evening turned out really nice.

I like Kansas, but we just saw them last year at Red Rock outside of Denver with Amy. And I wish they would play their older stuff like Bringing it Back from Mexico. Still I enjoyed the band. Especially when the gal the seat ahead of us decided we were her new best friend. She started handed us extra beers (at $6 a pop). A guy in her row kept running down and keeping others well (over?) supplied.

In between bands we got to meet out benefactors. Large - the nickname of the guy, was from New York. The group worked at Principal and he seemed to be on a corporate credit card. I don't remember the gal's name, but she was from Ankeny. They were nice!

Then the Doobie Brothers took the stage to "Jesus is Just Alright" - my very first fave song of theirs. They played some stuff from their new album - liked that too. I need to get some new songs from iTunes! Of course they saved some of the best stuff for the end and the encore. There were 2 drummers and a violin player. The lead singers name was Johnson. They even did a good job on the Michael McDonald stuff!

It was a fun night at the Iowa State Fair.

My Fair Lady

I was a fair lady today - as I worked in the DNR Education trailer at the Iowa State Fair. It was a little boring, but fun to people watch. The trailer is an interactive walk through experience - people can use the touch screen computers to answer questions about recycling and about hazardous materials.

I was in charge of changing the DVDs of Bill Nye Science Guy and handing out nice cloth shopping bags. And people watching.

It's amazing how many people have tattoos these days. Old women with Jesus fish on their legs. That lady was legally blind too - she had a cane anyway. How does she know if the fish is even nice looking? Younger women with flashes of tattoos coming out the top of their tank tops. Guys with them all up their arms. Skin art.

I got a half hour break and buzzed over to the potty and to get a bite to eat. Usually I like to savor my choice, but I was on a mission - so I ended up with a chix sanny and yep, fresh squeezed lemonade. Yummy. Not to mention the dutch letter for dessert.

Then it was back to the trailer to finish up the evening. I got to sit behind the counter in the entrance when Laura my co-worker went to supper. That was a more comfy position. I saw a couple of Creston gals - Ginny L in Varied Industries and Brenda S walked thru the trailer. It was fun to see a friendly face (or 2).

At 8ish I headed back to the shuttle bus and our friendly driver dropped me off near the Capitol (I rode it there too), all for $2! The area around the Capitol is pretty quiet at that time of day. I noticed the sidewalk police of Waukee would have a heyday on Capitol Hill! Can you say lawsuit?

All in all a pretty good day for working 14 hours!