Hats off to the workers of this great country

Labor Day 2016. I owe a nice day off to celebrate the working man and woman who make life as I know it possible. Just like many of our holidays, many people don't even care or understand what or who we honor on this day. I do.

I started early in life working with some really awesome people that didn't need a four-year degree from college to make a living. They make it in life with talent, intelligence, and hard work.

My first job was working at a gas station with a talented mechanic who had some of the best customer service skills of anyone I've ever worked with. Harry Hjortshoj loved sending me out for warm donuts from the store a couple blocks away when certain people brought their cars in for service. Or we'd take his old pickup with a tire-covered front bumper to collect their vehicle right from their home. I'd drive their car back to Harry's station, and he liked to bump into me at stop signs. I was a new driver and it freaked me out! He'd smile and wave. What a character that guy was.

When I graduated from college, I landed a job (during a depression no less), at a grocery wholesale biz. There were lots of smart, creative people working there. They taught me about working in an office, banking for businesses and how to get along with a bunch of women in an office. The sales staff and the drivers were pro's. Except the ones who weren't - and everyone worked together to either work around them, or eventually ditch them. Face it, there are losers in all levels of occupations.

After we got married, Paul and I moved to northern Iowa and there I experienced my first factory job - Fox River Mills in Osage. I was in the computer department where Karla Smith and I had entered orders. I've always been fascinated by factories - I think it came from those early kid's TV shows where they showed how to make pencils and stuff. And touring the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling plant in Atlantic. The people working at that factory were (and are) good hardworking people that make excellent socks and gloves right here in the USA.

Fast forward to the mid-1990's when I worked in Creston at Gits Manufacturing as a production planner - one of the most stressful jobs I ever had, (not so) magically making purchased parts and manufactured parts come together to complete a complex part to sell to the automotive and other industries. Workers would take pressed sheets of steel and make them into parts. Others would had bolts and vents. It was tedious work, and could be steamy hot. Some of the people at that shop could fabricate anything. How cool is that? These people, and all the service people make our lives possible. We thank you!

I love Sundays when we have Monday holidays. Yesterday our friends Bobbie and Jeff came up and we rode bikes down by Cumming. Fun time - seeing friends and having a couple beers. Later we sat on our deck and chatted, then watched that exciting Texas Longhorn victory over Notre Dame. Life is good!

Bucket filling

Relationships fill my bucket. This weekend it came pouring in! First my longtime pal Mary traveled to town from NW Iowa with her friend Henry. The bond we have stretches back to my first year in Creston, 1987. Mary was the "welcome lady" for a women's sorority Beta Sigma Phi. Yeah, that sounds a little bit snooty. Mary likes call it "girl's club".

I've mentioned before that I'm an kind of an introvert. Mary's warm personality broke through and an instant friendship formed. I much admire Mary's easy way with people - so empathetic. And she never forgets anything, asking after relatives and friends, your job and health. People like that in a friend. Mary was by my side when I lost my infant son and later my mom.

Friday night we got to show Hank and Mary a couple of places (4) in our little city. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy living here? You can probably tell. One reason is - people come visit us! Our first stop was our "go to" spot, the Stuffed Olive. The food is good there, and the martinis are excellent.

Next we walked in the cold Iowa spring wind over to the Iowa Taproom - the newest bar in town. We were able to secure the end of a table to sip the delectable brew. We discover that Mary had never been to one of the East Village's oldest venues - Locust Tap.

Yes, that's the Capitol emerging from Hank's head.

A server at the Taproom clued me in on a joint I've been wanting to visit in the Sherman Hill area. I'd scoped it out - a bar with no name outside, just neon beer signs. Challenge accepted! Carl's is a little nicer version of Locust Tap. They like the Cubs there. I'd go back - it's homey.

Back home we dug into the desserts I'd picked up at Whole Foods. A lime tart, crème brulee, and some kind of chocolate thing that even the checker assured me was delish. It was nearly 1 a.m. by the time we hit the hay. Late for this girl.

The Farmer's Market was on the menu for Saturday. The weather didn't cooperate - cold and windy. We did snag burritos before I got out of the wind. Our friends Kevin (recently retired from John Deere) and Kari with their pal Lori joined us at CABCO. It was nice to see them. That was where my head nearly exploded with the connections - Kevin and Kari know Don and Diana, and Mary does too. Poor Hank - he must have spent a lot of time pondering his next paddling trip as we chatted about mutual friends. I value my time with Mary and it was nice meeting a new friend Hank - who like to kayak.

And just like that, tag, the next group of friends were here. We met Bobbie, Jeff and my former roomie Joan for lunch at On The Border. It was fun to catch up with Joanie - someone I used to spend so much time with when I called her house my part time home. I met Bobbie at the same time I met Mary - she was in my sorority "pledge class". As part of the sorority heebeejeebee (sp) stuff, we pledged ourselves to loveliness. I think it worked out swell! Our husbands have become the best of friends as well, but they are not as lovely. We have had some fun with this couple, and they have been there through thick and thin with us.

That night we took B&J to the Iowa Taproom. Yep, now we're "regulars". Bar flies. We put our name in to actually eat there (1 hour wait). We ordered a variety of appetizers along with salads. The food was pretty good.

We saw the peddle-mobile pull up while we were there and Bobbie got the card from the driver for future reference. That will be a chance for more bucket filling. 

Today my college roomie Vicki called from Minnesota - with husband Fred, and our friends Steve (Moose) and Kay in the room. They were celebrating the graduation of Alyssa Wilt from the University of MN. She's the youngest child of our little group. Aww, they are growing up. Wilt's oldest daughter Jaime is now Dr. Wilt, PT. Kelli Behr Hoskins is expecting her first child in August. Jud is married. Lauren Behr and her BF are going to Peru this summer. Amy and her BF are settling in to life in PA. They all turned out pretty darn swell, despite us!

Boom! Didn't make it to fireworks

Another successful Independence Day is in the books. I'm exhausted!

Our friends Bobbie and Jeff arrived Friday evening in time to eat at Legends at an outdoor table, prior to the Iowa Cubs game. The weather gets an A+ for the whole holiday. Perfection - much deserved after floodlike rains and below normal temps.

We sat above first base with our gazillion ounce beers with a crowd of over 13,000 people. The Cubs disappointed, frankly - scoring early, then fading. But the experience didn't. Bobbie and I chatted and participated in the whole fan experience - hooting and hollering. Jeff and Paul talked farming, while watching the game. With the last out, the lights were turned off and a barrage of fireworks treated the eyes, with piped in music.

It was over very quickly, and I must pay homage to the Creston Fireworks folks - nothing compares to their show in our eyes. But it was a great way to end the day. Too tired to party on Court Avenue, we retired to the Goldsmith deck for "just one more" before beddie bye. Still it was after midnight before I hit the sack. Pretty late for this old, injured girl.

Farmer's Market fun

The next day we were up fairly early, hitting the Farmer's Market by 7:30 a.m. Jeff wanted to try a breakfast treat other than our fave burritos, and I was game. I got a Bosnian cheese and something quiche like parcel. It was delish and only $3. The Brazilian Twin entertainers were there - I could have listened to them longer, but we were on a mission to bike, so we headed on. Jeff ended up with an egg roll and some type of pastry.

We headed home and loaded up the bikes. Jeff discovered he had a flat - with some issue that precluded fixing it as each tube flattened as well. We drove to the launch spot at Woodward - near the Whistlin Donkey bar. That was where Jeff and I hung out while Paul and Bobbie peddled to the High Trestle Bridge.

Paul and Bobbie at the trestle

In the meantime, Jeff and I made friends with a fun couple from Urbandale. My shoulder makes for a great conversation starter! Bob, the guy, has had 3 shoulder injuries from cycling. I plan on making this my only one...as I eyed cyclists riding in on bikes with 3 wheels. We hung out there all day, trading stories with Bob and his wife. Beer, wings and lunch were all good as we sat on the deck of the outdoor bar, under an umbrella. Perfect!

Paul talked Jeff into putting Bobbie's tire on his bike and taking the ride to the bridge - so off they went. Bobbie and I took a nap in the car as we awaited the wayward travelers, who decided they needed one more beer in the Quonset hut bar in Madrid. It's a good thing nobody wanted to carjack 2 old ladies sprawled out in a Subaru. Guess they were too busy doing healthy things like biking!

That is what I love about the sport - that I hope I can do again soon. As I observed from the WD deck, families came and went. There were couples - young and old. Some people had expensive equipment and others had bikes from the local hardware store. Everyone wore helmets. Biking is something that keeps people active and brings them together. Iowa should invest more in the infrastructure that helps Iowa's small towns and makes living in the state attractive to people.

Jeff had haying to do back in Creston. So about 6 p.m. they started their return trip home. He's probably out there right now making hay. Paul and I were in bed by 10 p.m. as neighbors shot off fireworks in the park across the street. Odie burrowed under the covers. It was a fun day. Thanks to all who make our freedom possible!

Still Champs

Ron has a beard, Steve is on the right with mustache. Nobody has talking to Randy - by Paul, for a while

A couple Tuesdays ago I had occasion to be out of town the night Iowa State had a home men's basketball game. Paul and I have had season tickets for several years - ever since Fred Hoiberg took over the program, so even before we moved to DSM. They're fun tickets to have these days!

Paul had an extra ticket - so he reached out to his Creston buddies. One guy turned into three - and Steve Crittenden, Ron Riley and Jeff McFee (not pictured above as they won the championship during a year when Jeff lived elsewhere) made the road trip to Ames with Paul. The "gang" rode again.

This group makes up Paul's original Creston homies. I worked at First National Bank when we first moved to Creston and Steve was a Loan Officer (now he's in charge of the loan department - our former boss, whom I nicknamed "The Dickster" retired years ago). In 1987 I joined in a women's sorority with Steve's wife Barb and the two guys became friends and discovered their love of hoops. They formed a team and as you can tell - that year they were smart to stack it with youngsters!

I soon found out that "game night" wasn't just about the game. Oh no! The Elms Club followed - and oh the beer they drank. I truly believe it was then that we became Crestonites - learning the lore of the town. Me? I was home raising the children. No ill feelings at all. Right....Okay there was a little angst. But looking back, many good stories have come from those games and nights out.

Like the time Steve's nose was smashed by someone's wayward elbow during a game. Paul says it was flat on his face. He went to the hospital where they gave him some sort of treatment and he came back and played with tape on it. For City League! That's dedication.

Paul really enjoyed his reunion with those fellas. We see Jeff of course, but don't see Steve and rarely Ron. They arrived from Creston that afternoon and decided to go to Brick City Grill in Ames - the place that was voted "Best Burger" in Iowa this year. I had to chuckle when Paul related that Steve and Ron ordered the Farmer Burger:
1/2 pound patty
bacon
1 egg
cheese
and topped with a hashbrown patty
all on a bun!
I wonder if it came with Nitro Glycerin?

Steve always was a big eater...
After the game they stopped at the bar near Kelley (south of Ames) and had Chicken Gizzards. You only live once...and they got a week's work a fat in one day.

In the meantime - at my work trip I went to a restaurant in Davenport where I enjoyed Bison Meatloaf. They meeting I attended went really well and I got to see our former consultant, Laura Fiffick, who is now working for Burlington Northern SF - helping them to install an Environmental Management System at facilities across the county. We toured the Electronic Waste Facility at the Waste Commission of Scott County - where they're now pulling more recycled stuff out to refurbish. Very cool.

Reconnecting with Bobbie and Jeff

My grandfather was a gentleman farmer. Wallace Bullock used some of the proceeds of his job selling children's clothing across Iowa to purchase several small farms around Atlantic. I remember riding with him in his Volkswagon bug (a real farmer's vehicle...) to visit his tenant farmers. We'd smell the hogs (before confinements) and scrunch up our noses. Bubba (our name for our granddad) would say, "That's the smell of money"!

That is not the way our friend Jeff McFee, a cattle farmer work it. He's a real farmer, often working 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold. This year Bobbie and Jeff had a vacation in September and when they got back it was harvest time. He's been running ever since. I'm glad he took some time off to hang out with us.

Paul and I started out yesterday fairly early at our fave breakfast place, the Waveland for sustenance for the day. We had lot of errands to run. We arrived home to watch the Cyclones get their injury-ridden tails whipped. Prior to the game, Paul dug out Christmas lights for the front and back of our town home.

Clark Griswold, Jr.

During the game, to distract myself, I heaped ornaments on the dainty Christmas Tree in our living room. Bobbie and Jeff arrived later in the afternoon after a bit of shopping. It had been many weeks since we'd seen the two of them so we had a lot of catching up to do.

I'd made reservations at Ohana Steakhouse. It is a Teppanyaki cooking house - where they cook on a big hot griddle in front of you. It's fun to watch and we had a good chef - he was quite intelligent and witty. And a good cook! My scallops with lemon sauce were delish.

Bobbie and Jeff check out the veggies

  It was a fun night with our longtime pals. We retired back to our place...and all had a hard time keeping our eyes open while the evening football game played out.

On Sunday we attended the ISU Women's game against Stony Brook University, thanks to free tickets from McFee's daughter Kristina. We met their other daughter Kim for lunch at the new Wallaby's. There I ran into my high school classmate Jeff Becker and wife Sharon with their son. Small world department. We made fun of Roger Underwood. haha

The Cyclones made the game closer than it should have been - but pulled it out in the end. Phew! One place we couldn't go this weekend was the best dive around - the Locust Tap. It's out of commission, shut down by the health department. I have high hopes that all problems will be remedied by the slumlord soon!

Health update: the shoulder continues to improve, I continue to take Methimazole to block the thyroid - I will have another blood test soon to see how the hormones are doing. I feel much better than I did prior to being diagnosed. Graves Disease is a journey and I'm now a warrior on that path.

Class reunions - a dying event?

Amy headed home on Amtrak - arriving Friday a.m. in Crestonia (late as usual - good job Amtrak) for her 10th high school class reunion. Hungry, she walked to S&K Café for a bit 'o breakfast. She recognized a few familiar faces and one smiling one especially. When she tried to pay Chuck, the proprietor, someone had already taken care of it...anonymously. That warms my heart. Good 'ol Creston.

Was it Darwin West auctioneer, bus driver, prom announcer and all around good guy? Amy will never know but is forever grateful. The Denver kid still loves her home town because of things like that!

Amy planned the Creston High School's Class of 2004 reunion from afar. She wasn't the Class president or anything, but hey...nobody else was doing it - and it seemed important to her. Maybe her business mentor, my classmate Roger Underwood (Atlantic High School Class of 1976) is rubbing off on her. He's been great at planning our Atlantic class reunions (except for the last one when I accepted the challenge). I'm glad it's important to Amy as well.

I totally understand it when some people choose to just walk away from high school and wash their hands of the whole thing. They had a bad experience, have become a new person and don't feel like revisiting that time in their lives. Or some people just don't have that much vacation time - and peeling off time for a reunion isn't in the cards. Others just might not want to see a certain someone in the class, or to talk about where they are in their lives at that point. But in my opinion they're missing out.

I'm intrigued by watching people grow up. I must admit, I didn't pay attention to some of my classmates as we moved through those high school years. I had my group of friends and the others were bit players in my eyes. After graduation - when classmates had matured a bit...and maybe I had too - it was fun to talk to them. I hope they didn't think I was a total idiot.

Maybe Amy will never come back to another reunion. Or maybe, like her momma, she'll go to many. She enjoyed this one. She wished more classmates could have attended, but what can you do? There's never a perfect weekend - you just have to pick.

Paul and I chose to chaperone part of the evening at The Lobby along with some of our homies. First we ate at A&G where the Class of 1994 reunion was happening. I wish I would have known that Missy Frank, daughter of our daycare providers Carol and Mark, was there in the party room. We did run into these honeys.

Hudek girls - Megan, Syd and Erin

 We also saw many other familiar faces including Stew Stewart and family and Troy Jay's parents. Katzers came in for a bite with Ron and Dottie Dunphy. It's nice to go where everybody knows your name.

Amy and Kristina McFee Carroll

The crowd at The Lobby was much younger. Tim, the Lobby Owner, had hired a DJ with karaoke capabilities - one of the guy singers was pretty darn good. The girls gathered in the corner so we could keep an eye on the people - a mix since the bar wasn't closed to just the Class of 2004. Just down the street the Class of 1984 had hired a band and they were celebrating in the alley. Wow - 3 decades of former students in town.

unofficial chaperones/stalkers

It was fun to chat with some of the kids from the class who chose to take time to speak with us parents. Soon however the fellas (Jeff, Paul and Donnie) felt the need to keep moving. They walked to the Elms Club to catch up with some of the folks from that class. 1984 was a couple years before we moved to town. Thane Glynn told a couple of hilarious stories and then they were off across the tracks.

When we first moved to Creston, Sidetracked was a dive bar right next to First National Bank where I worked. Then it got "selected" to move when the city decided the area was needed for urban development - Fareway went in there. Sidetracked (named due to proximity to Burlington Northern tracks, or because certain husbands get off course when they go there) moved to the south side of the tracks and has been there ever since. The establishment is run by a CHS classmate of Jeff's (Class of 1976) Randy Hagel. He's a big boy.



we were the only customers by this point...

When I got a text saying the boys were at Sidetracked we decided to join them. I didn't think we really needed to stay for the Class of 2004's whole reunion. Deb decided to head home - her husband Larry and sons (Brett is Amy's classmate) are in Cooperstown, NY at the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony - trip of a lifetime! So Deb was flying solo.

On our way out of the door I stopped to say goodbye to Amy and chatted with Stormy Weis Wilson - longtime bff of Amy. What a sweetheart! Amy stayed at Stormy and Kyle's this weekend and I'm so glad they had a chance to catch up.



Don describes to Diana how to get him to listen to her...

Bobbie, Diana and I walked across the tracks to see what the fellers were up to. Of course when we got to Sidetracked...it was evident - the guys were up to no good! Soon Cheetos were had. Randy shot water at Diana from behind the bar when she tried to order just a water...so she had to settle on a vodka tonic. No limes at that joint...or diet tonic!

We shut Randy down and ended up back at the Elm's Club for just 1 more. Not for me though - I was driving. By the time we got back to B&J's Kristina was there and Odie was able to enjoy some Cheerios with Jeff and her. Bedtime 1:30 a.m. - late for this kiddo!

Bobbie served a lovely egg casserole this a.m. and we picked Amy up in time to do a rundown of the evening - who was there and who was a no-show who had said they were coming. It was a pretty good turnout for a Facebook Invite event with no real "buy in" required by anyone. Everyone there said they'd like to do it again in 5 years. Amy better get some tips from Roger...

Some say class reunions are dying out because people keep track of each other on Facebook. I say bah humbug.

Back blog - we Yankee Doodled with McFees

We left so soon after the 4th of July for our Cannon Beach vacation that I didn't have a chance to blog about the sparkly good time we had with our friends over the 4th of July holiday. This blog will remedy that. I write as I sit on my deck on a fine hot Sunday afternoon. Finally - some heat.

The City of Des Moines hosts an annual celebration on the 3rd of July called Yankee Doodle Pops. The symphony plays and of course, at dark, fireworks ensue. Paul and I attended last year and had a good time. This year we were delighted to be joined for the night by our good friends Bobbie and Jeff. My former roomie Joan came after work to the Pops.

Bobbie, Jeff, Paul and I headed downtown Thursday July 3rd - first stop:
Buzzard Billy's. Their chicken jerk nachos are good. We carried our chairs along as we walked east towards the Iowa State Capitol Building.
Next stop: Locust Street Tap. Yes...it's a dive. Bobbie and Jeff relished in the diviness. Oh wait - that was me.

Jeff talks farming at Lime

Then we went around the corner to Lime - where they mix a good martini. We sat outside because it was a great evening. By then it was 6:30 or so - time to go put our chairs down at the Pops location. We wanted to get a good spot. We headed back towards Locust Street only to see a male 60 year old cross dresser in a blond wig, heels, plaid shorts - was he shirtless? He was working it for a photographer with the brick wall of Locust Tap in the background. Wow! I yelled out encouragement but didn't stop for a photo. What was I thinking?

A salsa band was playing as we placed our chairs. We didn't have a cooler with drinks. After chair placement wiser heads prevailed. More drinks were in order. We walked back to Lime where the cross dresser was sitting on the patio - sans wig, now wearing a hat. And a shirt. Another man sidled by us on a wall and scrambled into a seat near us saying, "You didn't see someone who looked just like me walk by did you..."! It was getting interesting.

We went back to our seats at the Capitol after one more drink. Joan joined us and we found her niece and daughter. We watched people. Then the music started. When the fireworks started we figured out why our seats weren't very good - we were behind a tree! We started headed west walking toward to the car so we could see them.

We were very hungry so we headed west to Bar Louie - and had a bit to eat before retiring for the night. The next day we had breakfast casserole on the deck.

breakfast on the deck

After breakfast we went for a bike ride - going on the trail east of our house. I stopped at Saints while the others went farther. I was already in vaca mode - sipping a brew whilst I awaited my pals.

It was a good 3/4th of July. After B&J left we packed our bags - ready for the early flight the next day. I miss holidays and vacation.

Roadtrippin' to NW Iowa

I'm so mad! I forgot to take a picture with Mary Faber! I thought of it at odd times - when she was driving and when we were eating. Idiot. She looks great for all of you Crestonians out in Blogland.

I went on a trip to NW Iowa with 3 co-workers Tuesday to Wednesday. They are fun peeps to travel with.

• Jeff - is a newlywed (and he's in his late 50's...even older than I am). His husband Nick is a sweetheart who was home trying to get an antique store ready for a big sale this weekend.
• Scott - is someone I travel with quite frequently. He's 35 and is fairly serious and has a sense of humor so dry it needs its own humidifier. Wicked! He's married and his wife is gorgeous.
• Becky is our mommy. Mother of 3 youngsters, I love hearing the stories about the fam as they take me back 20 years. She left her husband home with kids: ages 9, 4 and 8 months! Good for the guy.

Who knew there were this many trees in NW Iowa???

We did a couple site visits on our way to our ultimate destination, Spencer. First we went to a sawmill in Armstrong, Iowa.

sawmill
 

Next we stopped at New Horizons - a sheltered workshop in Emmetsburg. The recently received grant funding to refurbish the belt for their cardboard recycling system. They also operate the can and bottle redemption center - which is tough because those places haven't gotten a raise since the deposit was put into place in 1978.

all have to be sorted by distributor



This Bud's for you - cans awaiting collection by the Bud man
 

I was pleased to hear about the inroads they've made with the casino in the area - they are good recyclers and want to tackle food waste next. I'm betting on them!

We headed to Spencer in the rain after that stop, and Mary came over after that. The McCann children - Jake (Phoenix), Will (Chicago) and Megan (Waterloo) are all doing great. Mary took the DNR gang out to eat at a barbecue place in Spencer as our hope to head to Okoboji were dashed by the rain. I'm a witch and didn't wish to melt, you see...

On Wednesday we met with the folks from the Northern Plains solid waste planning area. They are making progress on their Environmental Management System- yay!

Becky, Jeff and Scott look on as staffer demanufacture electronics

On the way home we all got a bit sleepy and slap happy. We needed to drive 3 more hours...so we played car games. First: car alphabet - name something that starts with an A, but you have to see it. We were lucky when we got to X and were near Webster City. They have Xavier Ave.

Next we played a memory game. I didn't win - but was handicapped by driving. That takes some of one's mental capacity. Right? "I'm going to the zoo and I'm taking" Applesauce, Scott said. Then I had to repeat that and say my "B" thing and Scott's Applesauce - until we go all the way through the alphabet. Doing the alphabet backwards was the hardest part. And remembering - especially when Scott thought of dumb long things for his turn. Jeff was very helpful acting out clues when it was my turn to remember everything. #I'macheater

I got home last night at about 6 p.m. I'm still tired. Next week - 2 day trips and then my sissies (Cindy and Betsy) are coming. Can't wait! 

Honey Creek, Friends, Beer and Fun

It was just what the doctor ordered. And by doctor I mean me. I ordered myself to get away and have some fun with friends. That prescription was filled and I'd like to report the patient is doing better.

We left West Des Moines around 4 p.m. on Friday - dropping Odie of at Logan's house. She got to spend the weekend with teenage twin girls, a 10-year-old girl, a 75 pound boxer, a chinchilla. This group's mother, Leslee, is the daughter of Connie who lives in Diamond Brooke, our townhouse complex.

Then we were off on our South Central Iowa Adventure - to Honey Creek. (click link) It's the resort the Department of Natural Resources built on Lake Rathbun back in 2009ish. Yep - right when the economy bombed. It's been a tough go financially for the place - DNR just paid off the bonds this year, but it's yet to sniff a profit. It's still a pretty well-kept secret if you ask me. Remote? Yes...it's in the middle of no-where. I suppose that's part of the beauty of the place. It's a great place for family reunions and destination gatherings. There was a wedding reception going on this weekend.

There is a huge beautiful lodge with a full restaurant, bar and several meeting rooms. On the other end of the place there is a large water park - the kids were loving that place. The pool closes down for adults only from 9-10 p.m. Good thinking!

We met our longtime pals Bobbie and Jeff McFee there. We thought about asking other friends to go too, but some of them have their own cabins on a different lake, so we figured their lake places would be higher priority for them - not a jaunt to south central Iowa. I did dream about our fave south of the border lake last night - there was a bear involved. (not Bare Don).

I'd been to Honey Creek for meetings before, but not to stay. It had been a while though. I'd forgotten how impressive the place looks when you first drive in. The staff is friendly and we got checked in quickly. The rooms are nothing special, but were attractive and clean. We ended up in disabled friendly King rooms right next to each other. We dragged along enough liquor for 10 people - forgetting that we're now in our mid-50's.

The first night we ate at the HC Restaurant and sat in the spa after 9 p.m. when the cherubs were sent off to bed. We sent ourselves to bed shortly after 10. Breakfast was offered back at the same restaurant - and we enjoyed watching bald eagles swoop over the marina dock outside the window. We chatted long after our food was gone, enjoying good coffee and company.

McFees were in charge of BMs after that. Yep - Bloody Marys in their room. Later, on our way to the car for a tour of 2 area towns, I insisted we do a photo session "out back".  Nobody wanted to sit in the icy Adirondack chairs - so we stood by them.

Bobbie and Jeff



Wish the place woulda been hoppin'

First we headed north to the small town of Albia where the Albia Brewing Company had opened in late 2012. Few patrons were out on a chilly Saturday afternoon so we hogged the owners' attention. Brian and Barbara Lindberg and their daughter gave us plenty of love. (The daughter now lives in Prairie City and knows my co-worker Angie. Small world). We enjoyed 2 paddles of beer plus delish appetizers. We each selected our fave before Brian gave us a tour of the joint. He sells Shelter Insurance but has always loved brewing - so started this venture.

Brian brews on Sundays. I liked the beer called Black Betty

Next we headed to Centerville, 20 miles south in Appanoose County, in search of a bar with a TV so we could watch the ISU basketball game. We ended up at the historic Continental where again we received personal service and attention - until the oldsters started shuffling in for supper at 5 p.m. Bobbie and I walked around the square visiting several excellent gift stores and Browns Shoe Fit (I held back and didn't purchase shoes...so proud). The Cyclones came through with a bball victory. Yay! Maybe I should shop during games more often!



Continental - lobby

Making the turn on the square, Bobbie saw some unfortunate soul's butt crack - and that was our kinky high (or low) light of the day. I was lucky enough to miss it - she didn't shout out fast enough. And it was like a car wreck and she couldn't avert her eyes long enough during the brief view to see if it was a man or a woman. In this weather, I'd think they'd have felt the chill.



Love the sign

Next we walked a block to the Majestic Theater owned by the same group. A guy gives Arthur Murray ballroom dance lessons frequently there we were told. The theater must not be updated to digital. The bar and drink areas are delightful and would be a great place for a small wedding reception or party. We ordered bevvies from the lone bartender (it turned out he knew Creston's Mike Gerleman) and settled into the comfy leather couch/chair area.

Hungry, we ordered pizza from the local Greek joint George and Nick's. It was delivered to be delivered to us there and was quite yummy. I couldn't talk Paul into trying out the dance floor with our newly learned Foxtrot and Waltz moves.

Beautiful dance floor - it was calling to us

We headed back to Honey Creek by 9 p.m. and once again were in bed by 10. Hell, we're old!


We made ourselves at home..at the Majestic

The breakfast buffet this a.m. was great - it included an omelet bar. There were even more eagles than yesterday. We chatted by the fireplace before packing up and heading home. I'd recommend this trip to anybody and Paul and I plan to come back in warm weather with our kayaks! It was sure nice to hang out with our friends - I might make it through a few more weeks of winter now.









Jeff N Nic sitting in a tree

My friend Jeff married his longtime partner Nic in October. They had a small ceremony at their home and invited close friends and family. Jeff brought their photo book into to work and I snapped these pics from it.

Jeff on left, Nic on right

I met Jeff Fiagle in 1997, when I started working in the trash world. My mentor in the biz, Tom Clark with Barker Lemar Engineering Consultants told me that I should go to DNR and meet all the people there and find out what they did. I made an appointment and drove to the big city from Creston. I wore khakis and carried my new soft-sided briefcase from JC Penneys. Man was I a dork! Jeff was one of the people I met. I also met another guy, Tom Anderson.

Fast forward eleven years - to yesterday as a matter of fact. On December 19, 2008 I started working at DNR - the best job I've every had. Jeff and Tom became my co-workers. I didn't take the JCP briefcase along. I'm sure they were leery of me anyway...

My "gay-dar" sounded when I met Jeff all those years ago, so I wasn't surprised when I started working with him and found out he had a long time partner named Nic. I met Nic at a gathering that first spring - nice guy. They're both into antiques and make a great couple.

It took me a while to get to know Jeff very well. I finally had a chance to talk to him outside of work (the Wallace Building anyway) when he agreed to be on the audit team for a program I manage. To do the audits we travel around the state - sometimes overnight. Jeff is funny, smart and caring. He's talked a bit about what it was like growing up gay in Iowa in the 70's. It wasn't easy.

I was surprised when Jeff announced that he and Nic were tying the knot October 6th, as I piloted our van on the way to Spencer last June. They were making it official! Same sex marriage has been legal in Iowa for a few years now - and they decided they wanted in on that. The two ordered matching rings. We co-workers assisted in song selection for the post wedding dance in the back yard. Jeff and I tortured our much younger co-workers with artists like Bobby Sherman!

I'm glad I have friends like Jeff and Nic. And a niece like Peg and her partner Brooke. They help us realize people aren't all that different - despite labels. And love is love.

Must upgrade tailgate experience

That's what Jeff McFee said after last night's game - a loss vs. the University of Northern Iowa. I was expecting a close game - usual against an in-state rival. They bring their A-game to play us. But I wasn't expecting the butt-kicking that felt like. Between that, and the 90 degree heat, it was pretty brutal. Take away the RV tailgating we've grown accustomed to...together with the fact my honey was gone. It was pretty sad.

My day didn't start out badly. I took a nice early morning walk. Then Odie and I drove to the neighborhood Starbucks. I haven't gotten the coffee recipe down for 1 person - it's been too weak since Paul left. He usually makes it in our Bunn-O-Matic drip coffee maker, manufactured right in Creston with Starbucks beans, ground by him. I'll have it down by the time he gets back - then I'll forget again. Anyway - I got a skinny vanilla latte for a million dollars. The barista asked if Odie would like a puppy latte. Um, would she ever! She had to wait until we got home to lap it up and read the paper. haha.

Next we were off to get her nails done. They grow out every three months or so. I like to take her to PetSmart - they use a grinder thing that leaves them smooth. It's $11. The guy was pretty busy - grooming a Westie, so I just stood and waited. Odie moaned the whole time she was on the table! Very dramatic. She was very happy when she was done, and received a nice treat when we got home.

Bobbie and Jeff arrived about 1 p.m. I was packed up and ready to go. I even remembered to put the tickets and parking pass in my purse ahead! It was a lot of pressure doing all this without Pablo to help. We decided to eat lunch at Mavericks before heading to Ames - out of the heat. We were the only Cyclones amidst Hawk fans there, but didn't take any heat.

We arrived at C4, our parking area, about 3 p.m. and there were still many spots to choose from. I think many were avoiding the heat. B & J had picked up Don's tent - to help shade us from the sun. That was a life-saver! We got that set up along with our chairs and plopped down with our drinks sweating. No TV, so we just sat and talked. I wasn't really hungry. We were parked next to ISU punter Kirby Van Der Kamp's family. We noted how they were using a generator for crock pots. We may need to get a generator for a TV and crock pots.

Soon our friends Bob and Sheryl Young walked by with their son Jesse. They stopped to chat. Then Beth and Todd Nielson came. They were our Creston neighbors - good to catch up with them. Hard to believe twins Olivia and Evan are seniors, and Alex, a junior, helped the CHS Panthers defeat Chariton the night before. Then Kimmy McFee arrived with her new roomie and bf. Kim just returned to school at ISU to obtain a degree in genetics. It was nice to see my little buddy - she was using Paul's ticket. She has been dog sitting for us the past year - we'll miss having her in DSM. Putting the tent back in the back before we headed to the game proved to be a team effort, but we got it done (it might not be too pretty though). Don and Diana arrived just in time to head to the game.

Folding up the tent - with Kim and her roomie's BF's help

It was damn hot at game time. They did allow people to take full bottles of water in. It was nice to see our usual seat neighbors - Pam and Randy from Carroll and Andrea and her husband, the enthusiastic guy from Ankeny. Even the lady behind us that Diana chewed out a couple years ago seemed happy to see us! Kim got to hear that lady yell "Run forward" throughout the game, as we have the past few years. So enlightening! Stofferahns sit by us too, but we sure missed Higgins who didn't renew their tickets this year. The place was packed though.

The air seemed to go out of the crowd quickly - between the play of the team and the heat. The Cyclones couldn't get much going on offense and the D could not stop the UNI Panthers. At halftime we were behind, and the UNI band played. They sounded great! The normally excellent ISU band tried to do a medley using the giant video screen between songs - but it didn't work for me. Every time I started enjoying a song, they'd stop playing it. It was like they tried too hard. Maybe that was what was wrong with the football team too - they were trying too hard to tackle so they missed! Right...

Paul texted me a couple times during the game. I tried texting him game updates, but I'm not sure they got through. He's lucky he was spared from seeing this though. Jud too - who is with gf Kara in Nashville this weekend doing the tourist thing. Good choices for my guys. I'm glad they're finding other outlets besides football. What's wrong with me?

By the end of the game, I was a tired, melted, disgusted fan. I just wanted to get home and shower the day off of me. Jeff had a great quote. "I think I'm going to need an improved tailgating experience to get through another game like that." That is fo sho!

Kicking off another season

We're kicking off another football season today! It will be a different one. For one thing, I'll be without my honey. Paul texted Friday to say the hunting group had arrived at their camp near Ouray, Colorado. It's very lush and green there, he said, since they've had lots of rain. A nice change from past years in that area. Good luck me amore. I don't really want a fricking giant elk $ head in the basement - but know how much joy that would bring you.

This year, we will be tailgating at Iowa State Cyclone games without an RV for the first time in several years. Don and Diana have traded up - a home on Lake of the Ozarks for a 1992 Pace Arrow Recreational Vehicle. (Okay they had to get a home loan and the RV cash is really just helping with some of the cost of remodeling.) But the fact is - we won't be tailgating in the RV lot any longer.

Donnie had an ISU skin put on it when the new logo came out - so it looked sharp! (so did we in our snuggies)

 

Paul grilled often - we had the routine down.

The new lake place is a work in progress - but is moving along nicely!

Cap'n Don is at home behind the wheel of his new pontoon, just like he drove the RV.
 

I'm sad that tailgating, as we've been so spoiled to be accustomed to, is over. But that's the way life goes. Life changes all the time. Last fall was different because we weren't there to "pre-tailgate" with the gang on Thursday nights before home games. We moved away and life changed for us in a big way then.

 

Those pre-tailgating nights were sometimes more fun than the actual games because we didn't have the stress of entertaining any other tailgaters - nor the stress of the actual game! (some of us actually care about football - not just the party). On pre-tailgate Thursdays, we delivered food, chairs and liquor to McKim's home in Creston and ended up staying there - setting up lawn chairs in their driveway, if it was nice out - or sitting in the RV if it was chilly. Sometimes we would get pizza delivered. One time Dan Coen brought it to us from A&G because it was on his way home. Ryan McKim usually got stuck with the duty during his year coaching in Creston.  

 

Important decisions were made in those group meetings! We came up with the menu for game day, and split up who would bring what. And a lot of other real, real important stuff. And stuff. Yeah! It was often hard to get up for work on Friday. We had a lot of fun. McKim's neighbors thought we were nuts. Paul Eckhoff was known to stick his head in to give us the Hawkeye perspective now and then.

 

McKims drove the RV up to Ames on Friday nights to get a good spot in D2 in the RV Parking area. Lots of ISU games were early, so Paul and I often found ourselves heading there from Creston bright and early on game days to assist with RV setup and to help cook. One year we went through every type of breakfast food we could think of - burritos, casseroles, Egg Mcmuffins. Good thing we had Pablo's Bloody Marys to keep us company. The RV kept us toasty too - I'll miss that plush velour seating. And the toilet facilities! It was also a plus to have somewhere to be able to change clothes if one needed to - put on longjohns or take 'em off.

 

Our RV connection helped us be in the "popular" group. People from all areas of our lives stopped by to see us at our tailgate.  College, work, Creston, former Creston - they all came and they'd hang around - to have some food, watch the TV Don set up on the side of the RV, under the awning. If they were young cute girls (and of age) Don would set them up with shots. Don likes to make shots for girls.

 

Jud's college buddies went all through 4 years of school spoiled by the RV. And then even after they graduated they found they liked to hang out and play the bags game and eat - even if Jud couldn't make it to the game from his home in St. Joe. Amy surprised me there for one birthday - it was quite a shocker. I was speechless, if you can imagine that. We like seeing her friends Ginger and 'Chelle at games, and the McFee children. Katie McKim brought the "grandpuppy" Lena last year. 

 

We've gotten to know Don and Diana's marvelous parents during these past years of RV tailgating. They didn't come for the games - though they'd watch on the RV TV. They just liked bringing food and hanging with their families. I really have enjoyed that, especially since our parents have left us - too early. There is something about hanging with that generation that is calming. Except when you hang with Margaret - who is an enabler....It's been fun. I'll miss it. I doubt D & D will miss the messes they were left with on Sundays (Mrs. Clean, Diana had to scrub everything down each week), though I know they loved seeing everyone too. Their son Ryan, who has been on the ISU football staff in some role or another (except for that one year when he coached in Creston) since 2006, took a job with the Oklahoma Sooner staff. He's an assistant special teams coach. So no sidelines passes or high-fiving Ryan as he does the Spirit Walk this year. Changes - they just keep coming. It makes life interesting, no?

 

Now we'll come up with a new routine. Maybe we'll be the ones to visit someone else's RV! Paul and I have a parking pass so that's what we're going with tomorrow. Bobbie and Jeff will pick me up. It will be hot as hell so I'm in no rush. We have a tent, so we can get out of the sun. Game time is 7 p.m. Don and Dee will be running late - coming over from Margaret's family reunion near Lincoln, NE. We'll find a way to have fun. Because that's how we roll. Don't worry - you'll see pictures.

Go Cyclones!  

 

 

It made a great backdrop.

On the Pontoooon (in a singing manner)

We got a wee bit 'o work done Saturday morning. Al wanted his Sea-doo out of the water, and Jeff volunteered to ride it around to the nearest dock. What a nice man! Paul and Lucy cooked breakfast (see below). It held us until supper - rib sticking good!

I think she's singing along with her CD...

Bobbie made us each a CD of floating on the boat tunes! We sat on Don and Dee's new (for them) pontoon Saturday listening to it on a quiet cove (not a crazy party cove - yep we're growing up!) on Lake of the Ozarks. It was finally warmer - no sweats and jackets required. The water was chilly though. Ten plus inches of rain the week before dropped the water temp nearly ten degrees!

Jeff acts as first mate

Buddies huddle together for warmth on Thursday

While maybe not as sexy as other types of boats, the pontoon is a great party boat. Especially for old folks! It was quite comfy to get in and out of - no crawling over the side. Two thumbs up from this freeloader. We'll miss the McKim RV tailgating this fall - but the pontoon is a pretty good tradeoff. Donnie was a good captain too - we only got a bit wet from passing cruisers waves. No wall of water!

great pic of our farmer friend

After floating a while (and when we all needed to use the facilities) - we headed to Fish and Company. Dale Blue was the entertainment - and we tried to help! Diana manned the tambourine and I was called "camera girl" by Dale himself. The girls had fun dancing - some Kansas State friends helped too. Fellow Crestonites the Hueys were there with their son - kind of a Brad Pitt look alike. Cute!

Who knew the tambourine had a handle?

Young Mr. Huey talks to Jeff and Paul

The girls drank something blue...they said it was delish

Later we dropped Paul and Lucy off. Then we had another burst of energy. We stopped one more place and Diana sang karaoke! We ate pizza too. It was nearly dark by the time we pulled into the McKim place. 

breakfast at Eckhoffs Saturday a.m. - Paul E. made biscuits and gravy AND with hollandaise - had some great melon with it, so it wasn't all heart attack material

Of course McKims had the flag flying!

It was a long drive home to Iowa yesterday. But we were lucky, and got to hitch a ride down with McKims and a home with McFees. We left our car at WalMart in Osceola and it was still there when we got back. So that was a bonus. Laundry and a wiener dog awaited when we got home. Our dog/house sitter Kimmy McFee is heading back to pick up a second major at ISU. We'll miss you Kim. Odie was always alive when we got home! haha. If anyone knows a dog sitter in the WDM area - let me know.

I got through Monday and I'm still feeling the good vibes from the trip - grateful for our friends. I hope they know they can count on us too - if they need a fab vacation spot in Dez Moinezz. Or any other kind of support. And stuff.