Feeling the love part 4

Four weddings (and no funerals) since late July. Jordan and Jill 9/20/2017. Paul and I were very happy to witness their marriage, together with many of the couple's family and friends. It was grand!

We actually flew to Denver this trip. We've traveled to Colorado by car so many times the gas station attendants along the route know us by name. (no, not really) Paul had never actually exited the Denver airport before - he'd just flown through. Flying was a big deal! Amy collected us curbside in Dave the car. Franklin (the wonder wienie) and Corey were back at the ranch - their apartment not far from downtown Denver.

It's so weird to think of Amy and Corey as husband and wife. I'm still getting used to seeing Jud sporting a wedding ring!

Look at that blue sky! Last year we ate chili in PA with the Parks

On Friday we attended a benefit chili festival put on by firefighters from around the country. It was on Larimer Street on a beautiful Denver day. Amy had helped a guy re-brand his chili powder and he had donated all the bowls for the day. Pretty cool, and the chili was great. 

View from Pottorff's condo

That evening our peeps started to arrive. Logistics boggle my mind, but somehow - through the magic of Uber and Google Maps, we conquered! Cindy hooked us up with awesome accommodations for Friday and Saturday. Our pals Bonnie and Eric (yes, of Christmas Dinner prime rib fame) have a primo place in the Spire in downtown Denver to go along with their lovely home in Edwards. Yep, the best of both worlds! It's super cool, with a view of Rockies stadium and they split tickets to games with other Spire owners. I love how it's decorated - just right for the space and Paul was digging the large TV. We met Cindy there and settled in.

Later we met Jud, Kara, and Kohans (Betsy, Wayne, son Paul and his gf Christine) at a little place called the Corner Office. It was fun catching up. At the last wedding (Amy & Corey's) we didn't get to chat much. Amy and Corey were at the rehearsal dinner. Later, all the youngsters ended at Amy and Corey's place for a few drinks. I love that they like hanging out. My niece Leslie's husband Jordan (not to be confused with her sis Jordan) seems to be a bit of an instigator. He kept them up late, coming up with interesting topics to discuss.

Doing the prep thing

On Saturday, Cindy, Paul and I took a long walk and settled into Sam's 3 for a big breakfast. Then we heard from Amy that Sister Susi (at the venue getting ready) was experiencing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and wished for some visitors. Betso, Christine and I Ubered over to the venue and checked it out. We got to meet Jill's parents and chat with Susi, Jordan, Amy, and Les in the totally cool urban warehouse venue. After, we met up with the rest of the gang at Lucky Strike, a bowling alley in downtown, until it was time to get ready for the main event.

Look at this wedding cake topper - clones of the brides! 

Some jubilant faces

Ashley Alvillar and Amy are beaming, David Alvillar in the foreground

The wedding was so beautiful. Susi looked gorgeous with her lovely silver hair and gown. There was a solo of the song "I Want to Hold Your Hand". If you haven't seen the video, it includes the vows which say so much about how these two people feel about each other. The ceremony was perfect and Jordan's dress was so perfect. Jill was killing it in her outfit - it was so Jill. 

4 of my fave guys. Corey - not so secretly watching the Clemson game...

Susi with grandson James - so fun watching them interact

We got to see so many of our family members again! My cousins, the Lamms, with the family matriarch, Aunt Marty. Again - I love that we dig each other. I liked watching Marty watch her grandkids have fun together. I got to finally meet our great nephews James and Jonah and see David and Ashley Alvillar for the first time in a long while. One of my favorite parts of the evening was watching the three Alvillar siblings dance to - you guessed it, my song selection, "Love Shack".  Tin Roof...Rusted. Kara made sure that Paul, Cindy and I had the appropriate photos taken - for the guest book and at the photo booth. #shessosmart.

With Aunt Marty. Somebody took a cousin pic - but I didn't get a copy, hint, hint

It was much harder to say goodbye to everyone at this wedding - because I don't know when I'll see some of them again. Ugh. But...there is the Kohan wedding next August - so we have that going for us. Getting excited for Alex and Lisa!

Congrats again to Jordan and Jill. They have faced adversity because of who they are. It isn't easy to be someone who because of who they are, they do not conform to other's expectations and closely held beliefs. They are difference makers, helping to show that love is universal. We need more of it.

I swiped this photo off of Facebook - so good. 

We got to get together with just our kids on Sunday after Cindo dropped us off. I have to admit, I wasn't ready to leave! We walked to a food court type place for a bite - then Corey took off to host clients at the Broncos game and Amy delivered the rest of us to DIA for our flights. Can't wait to see them all again for Thanksgiving in STL!

More long pants weather

On Saturday we met Cindo for a quick lunch at Moe's Original BBQ in Lionshead (a Vail suburb) where her son Colby works as the manager. He also has now been promoted to manager at the Eagle store too. Way to go Colby-Monster!

Hands-on manager - does it all, Colby

 We had a southern bbq lunch, ribs, smoked turkey, black-eyed peas, corn bread and more. It was fab. Then we were off to Grand Junction where we knew another yumster meal was in store at the Alvillar home - Susi and Jim are great cooks. It's a lovely drive through the Glenwood Canyon to GJ and Amy, Cindy Paul and I enjoyed chatting on the way.

On the patio - Jim and Susan

Culotte steak was on the menu that night. Susi had been marinating it. The Alvillars told us about their recent European trip, and we enjoyed partaking from their wine cellar. The conversation is always lively with this group!

In the morning I took a walk enjoying the beautiful scenery.

View from the trail behind Susi's home

We piled into Jim's Toyota SUV and headed 10 minutes up to the Colorado National Monument - the daily view of the Alvillars, but a place they hadn't actually entered for years.

The sissies

After our Monument tour, we had brunch at Garfields and then pointed the Subaru back east. We spent a bit of time in Edwards at Bolder's favorite bar - E-town. His portrait is still displayed there.

Etown with Boldie looking down

On Monday, Cindy invited friends over for supper. Skirt steak this time! (we were eating our way through women's clothing). Paul got his yard work jones fulfilled by helping spread mulch on the berm in the yard. We did have an incident on our way to Home Depot.

Paul had selected a can of soda that turned out to be frozen and it erupted slowly like Mount St. Helen's in our car cup holder as we drove. I was afraid it might overflow onto the car carpeting - and leaned down to sip from the can, nestled between the seats, as the sticky liquid trickled out. Paul yelped, "people are driving by!" He was worried about appearances. I howled with laughter! That made it hard to drink. Later, Amy and I took a walk - she wore gloves. Walking is harder at 8,500 feet!

The dinner party was fun! All the usual characters were there - our Vail pals. Bonnie and Eric - Cindo is their sister wife (in name only). The Sanders, Jim and Shiloy and their adorbs son Reeve with his new girlfriend. The food was nummy - Cindy is a good cook. I didn't get that gene either, but am determined to work on it. The conversation was enjoyable. A good time was had by all.

We were up and out of there at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, stopping in Denver to drop our beloved Amy off and to say goodbye. It was a long drive home, but an audiobook kept us company. We only stopped twice! Odie had McDonald's eggs for breakfast because I left the darn food at Cindo's. Oh well. We'll be back! Love my peeps there. Thanks for everything.

Too busy to blog!

I like to spread out my activities - but sometimes you just have to go with the calendar!

Monday was the Diamond Brooke (that's our Townhouse Association) ladies monthly get-together. This month we met at Mary Jo's house - #8, just three doors down from our place. Mary Ann helped and others (not all named Mary) brought food and wine.

The two hostesses on the left. Our neighbor Vicki, and a gal named Sue Tyler (we talked about the Atlantic Tylers) on the right...

They had a great turnout - even some former occupants attended. I enjoyed taking to Kathy, who sold us our place, which we love. She and Bill moved just down the street to a house. They're helping raise their granddaughters who are about 10 and 14 years old. The girls' mom, Kathy's daughter has had some problems in her life, but I'm happy to report that Kathy tells me that she is getting back on track and the girls stay with her some of the time.

I really like getting to know my neighbors. Some are original owners here and some are new like we are. The food was great - pulled pork sannies and lots of other munchies. I had a glass of wine - but it is not my friend, so I sipped slowly. A good time was had by all!

Tuesday I went to Dubuque for work. Love that town, but it sure is a long drive! We didn't get back until 7 p.m. and I was really tired - even though Jeff drove on the way back. I now have more sympathy for the Dubuque staffers who make the trip to DSM for meetings frequently.


Angie couldn't make the party, so I snapped her photo with Jim at work

Wednesday was our Jimless Retirement party for work. Our co-worker Jim Bodensteiner had suffered successfully battled non hodgkins lymphoma before I started working at DNR. The damn stuff came back early this year and it was determined he needed a stem cell transplant. Jim was close enough to retirement age - and wife Jackie had just retired from her job. So Jim decided, during his time off from work that he would take retirement. Jim had to go to Iowa City for his procedure and has to stay away from people (we're germy you know) for quite some time.


Tom is a little upset with Jim for retiring...

So Mick, one of the engineers suggested we have a party without him. We can do one later when he's able to get back into the population. Amy and work and I quickly set the date - thinking sooner is better than later, right? I took my friend Robbie Dob's (Robyn Bredensteiner Uehling) idea to get a head shot photo of Jim and put it on a paint stick. Jim on a stick can stand in for real Jim until he's there for real. I had one photo made and did the other ones with the printer.


Bill Ehm with Jim

There are 2 Jims in this pic!

The party went great! Though Amy Wilken wasn't able to make it because she was under the weather. Staff members had fun and talked about getting together again sometime. Creston's Bill Ehm - our Division Administrator even made it. Everyone got their pic with Jim and wrote down a toast or note to Jim that I'll include in the booklet for him.


Council Bluffs Recycling Center staff with Jim

While preparing for the party, an idea popped into my head, and I got goose bumps - because it's like someone/thing else was guiding me. My brainstorm - people across the state know Jim - who, by the way is the nicest man ever. Jim worked on our Solid Waste Alternatives Program - SWAP. It's a grant, no/low interest loan program for waste reduction/recycling.

Since all these people know Jim, why not let them in on the Jim on a stick thing? I sent Jim's photo out to stakeholders - telling them to take their photo with "Jim". He'll get a kick out of it. Staff members can take Jim along on trips. It might help Jim's pass the time at home. He's a great guy - and whatever we can do to help, I'm all in!
If you would like to have your photo with Jim. Let me know, I'll send the file to you. Be a part of the Jim project!

The Game:

On Thursday, we needed to be in cleaning mode, since Jud and Kara were coming for the big (well...not so big this year, since neither team seems to be too great) Iowa State vs. Iowa game. I also made a couple batches of snack mix - Paul needed some for work, plus game day of course! Meanwhile, in Creston, the other 2/3rds of our tailgating couples were partaking of "halfsies" (when you drink partial highballs, pretending that if you don't drink full glasses, you aren't really consuming much alcohol - it's a Margaret McKim thing I believe), coming up with the tailgating strategy, post RV. Donnie still had the television setup, but no longer had a generator.  That ended up in a quick trip to Costco for Paul and me. (But only 1 halfsie for Paul when we got back - and none for me, since I'd had a couple full drinks in Jim's honor the night before).

By Friday, I was exhausted - but instead of my usual laid back work at home schedule, I had 2 meetings! Argh. I think "assisted living" should come much earlier. My mother used to always say that and now I know what she was talking about. If someone could just take care of the stuff like laundry, cleaning and our meals, I could concentrate on the fun stuff like tailgating and party planning.

Jud and Kara arrived Friday night in a whirlwind - they needed to be downtown for a sorority sister's birthday party right away. So not much time to talk then. McKims and McFees arrived around 9:30 a.m. for a Bloody Mary - and we packed stuff up. Traffic was a nightmare going to Ames, making Jud about half queasy in the back of our car. We parked at Vet Med while McFees and our parking pass went to C4 and got a good spot for our tailgating setup. The joint (Ames) was rocking with cardinal and gold and black and gold - many mixed tailgating groups.

Paul and Jeff talk ag while Jeff grills brats

Not a bad location - unless it rains. Jud's friend crawled through that icky road tube later...for 2 beers. He scared kids on the other side.

Kara and Jud were starving by the time they got to our tailgate



A photo Larry Peterson took - Look! I'm in it!

The tailgate was much improved from game one. Too bad the game wasn't better...in my view, the ISU band did win, playing classic rock songs. The Hawkeyes deserved the trophy after this one. The weather was also a winner, and fan behavior was pretty good where we were. A nice mixed group of Creston High School kids stopped by  - nice to know they can all hang out and be civil. I hope the Cyclones find some offense before the next game - the D seemed to have improved a bit since last game. This season looks to be one where we will look for improvement as small victories. And hope the offensive coordinator gets a clue...

Last time we tailgated by a guy in a kilt...it was much shorter...and we heard tell he was "commando"  

 

After the game, traffic was even worse than on the way in. We dropped Kristina McFee Carroll off in Ankeny on our way home, so we did get to catch up with that chicky during the molasses-like ride. Today Jud and Paul got to do the traffic thing all over again - in Kansas City for the Dallas Cowboys vs. Chiefs game. Kara and I got up a bit later and had a nice leisurely breakfast at Mimi's. Then she headed back to K.C. about noon. Now it's laundry, dishes, put stuff away time. And bloggin'.



Jim

My friend and workmate Jim was scheduled for a stem cell transplant today in Iowa City. I am thinking of him and sending up prayers to a higher power, whoever that may be. I met Jim Bodensteiner nearly five years ago - when I first started working at DNR. I didn't find out that he was in remission from what I believe was non Hodgkins Lymphoma until many months later. I was shocked.

He's a private guy, and just didn't want to share that information. Somebody else actually told me about it. That's the kind of guy he is. Jim is 62 years old, and now that cancer has returned, he's decided to retire from DNR. He has worked as the Solid Waste Alternatives Program coordinator for the past few years - assisting people who apply for grant funding for waste diversion. He was never too busy to answer questions or help someone working on a grant app with a budget.

JaimeBo, as my co-worker Scott and I named him on one of our roadtrips, is the nicest guy ever. We decided we had to come up with a meanish nickname because sometimes Jim really needed to talk a little sense into some of our stakeholders. We thought he should morph into his alter-ego - JaimeBo. It didn't really happen though. Jim was too nice.

I liked talking to Jim about pets. He and his granddaughter volunteered at the Animal Rescue League - handling pets that were to be adopted. Jim loves his cats, and he would enjoy getting a dog someday. Maybe now that he's retired, he can. Jim patiently listened to my stories about my pets - and commiserated with me when Kitty died.

Jim will be in isolation in Iowa City for several weeks, and even when he comes home - they live in Altoona, he won't even be able to open the house windows. We won't get to see him for a long time. My supervisor called Jim to see if he and wife Jackie would consider accepting a benefit DNR staffers would put on for them. Nope - they're doing just fine they say. Jen said Jim sounded good last week when she spoke to him, just before they left for Iowa City.

Mick, one of the engineers on staff suggests we hold a retirement party for Jim "In Absentia". I think Jim might like that. On today's road trip to Cedar Rapids we talked about doing something like that - taking pictures and signing a big card for Jim. I said we could spell out his name in bodies - but Bodensteiner is kinda long...

God Bless you Jim. Thinking of you!

Jim might have considered going JaimeBo here, but didn't...

SW Iowa work trip

I tried out my new camera on our work trip through Southwest Iowa Tuesday. It was my usual trip crew of Jim and Scott, but this time Angie came with us. Angie is our Bureau Chief Brian's Administrative Assistant (she's got some other official sounding title) - she's smart and proficient at many things around the office. She's worked at DNR since college (she's closing in on all of 30 now...) and is really good at getting stuff done. She's married with 2 young boys and lives in rural Monroe (where she grew up) - east of DSM.

Tim in red talking to Jim, Angie and Scott in Kellerton

Throughout her DNR career, Angie hasn't had a chance to get out of the office much, so this year Brian suggested she go along with staff members as they go out in the field. That way when she takes minutes at meetings describing staff activities, she'll have a better idea what she's writing about. Angie was a nice addition to our travel party.

Our first stop was Kellerton where we visited Divine Waste, a trash hauling company that is starting up a curbside recycling program in rural Iowa. Tim, the owner has purchased the carts and is getting the building ready to install a baler. (It's a machine that smashes the materials together into nice big cubes to sell). Tim's plan is to sort material and bale it, then market it in various locations - paper, plastic and metal. Tim's a big dreamer and talker - I am hopeful he can show others how a small hauler can make this model work.

I couldn't resist - had to stop on our way out of town, snapping this shot of Neon Jesus and the bike sculpture across the street - East Village DSM has nothing on Kellerton!

After Kellerton, we headed back east on Highway 2 to the Wayne, Ringgold, Decatur (WRD) Landfill located just south of Grand River. Doug, the all-around guy there filled us in on what was going on. We talked to him about shingle recycling - working with roofers to deliver them to a separate area where they can be recycled into asphalt. It's been very successful in other areas - especially when oil prices are high.

Doug shows DNR staff a product used to "cover" at night - it's mixed with water and sprayed on trash at closing time.

Next we were off to Clarinda, home of Glenn Miller the big band guy. I spent a bit of time in this town - during my own sports career (I was an Atlantic Trojann-yes it's spelled right) and then following the kids. Amy stomped around there during her brief stint in marching band (before she figured out it would interfere with volleyball tourneys). We ate lunch on the square at a place we all thought was quite good - at least until Angie saw the guy who took our cash touch the food he was cooking. Icky! She and I had spaghetti and Jim and Scott each ordered a small pizza.

The town of Coin was our next destination. Alas the town decided they don't quite have enough of it to accept the grant they've been awarded to demolish this derelict building - the former school building. When we drove in we weren't quite sure where the building was, but in a small town like Coin we found it pretty quickly! We were greeted by a posse of small dogs running loose.

Looking for the reported ghost...just kidding. There are still some lightbulbs in the joint.

Coin is a small town with a sense of humor though..

town bar/lunch place

On mainstreet

bales of metal cans

Last we headed north to the Page County Landfill run by Myron Magwitz. I think that's a cool name. Page County received a large grant/low interest loan that helped them build a large recycling facility with a baler. They utilize low cost prison help (non violent offenders - we don't let real bad dudes around our commodities) at the facility. I talked to Myron about shingle recycling too and they filled us in about their operation. This stops are a good time to share information.

Guys in orange shirts - prison dudes

Myron in red with his assistant Mike in bibs.

Jim took Highway 71 back up to Atlantic on the way back - we went by Villisca, resisting driving into town to see the Axe Murder House. We jogged over on 6/83 through Anita and then on up to I-80 arriving back in DSM about 4:15 p.m. It was a good trip with a great team. Fun folks to travel with - providing value to our stakeholders.

Lindsay and Jim got married

It's been a long time coming. Jimmy Ide and Lindsay Grose dated eight years. Yesterday they were married on a beautiful June Saturday in front of 350 people. Father Kenkel, bless his heart, tried to start the ceremony without the bride!

Jim is the son of Dan and Barb Ide. He attended St. Malachy School, just a year behind Amy and is now back working in Creston as a pharmacist at HyVee after graduating from the U of I last year. Lindsay also graduated from Iowa with a 4 year radiation technologist degree. Her mom Susan is one of my homegirls. I admire Susan, who works for the Dept. of Human Services, a great deal. She's fun and easy to talk to. Her husband Brian, besides being a hottie, is really nice.

Back to the wedding: The groom carefully seated all the grandparents and parents. The bridal party walked in the the music played joyfully by Linn Baker. And Father said an opening prayer. I looked at Paul like??? What the??

Then Linn quickly played the bridal march so Dick Grose could walk his daughter up the aisle. I'm sure Father was at first confused (he's in his 80's) and then embarrassed. But he said something like - "whoops, guess we better not do this without the bride!"

Thank goodness the ceremony was co-celebrated with Reverend Pete Brantner, who kept Fr. K on track the rest of the time. Pete did the homily, telling the story of how Jim proposed to Lindsay in a hot air balloon in Arizona. Pete talked about the couple's commitment to each other. I like hearing good speakers - pastors like Pete, talk about marriage. It helps reaffirm my feelings for Paul. Not like I'm wavering or anything...but it's just good to hear a relationship pep talk once in a while. It's been 30 years ago since someone said those words directly to us, you know! We really had no idea what we were in for.

The reception was fun! The speeches by the co-best men, Patrick Walsh and Andy Ide were very touching. You can tell they think so much of this couple. The food was great - barbecued chicken and beef. The cake was great too. There were cookies in the shape of...you guessed it - hot air balloons, thanks to Jim's cousin Kaylie Crittenden.

Nearly all my homegirls were there. Nancy was a bit tired, after running the Dam to Dam in Des Moines (12 miles) earlier in the day. Patti, Deb, Diana, Joan Weis, Mendy.

We were excited that Jud and Kara had decided to stop and stay with us on their way home from Ames that night. We talked them into coming by the reception as Jud knew both the bride and groom. Fun to see him chatting with Creston peeps. And I got to do a little dancin' of course! Love Shack - my wedding fave, and my girls always gotta dance it with me. Good night.

Have a great life Jim and Lindsay! You sure started it right.

Susi is a grandma!

We welcome Jonah David Alvillar, son of David and Ashley Alvillar, into the Bullock family. David has been a part of the fam for 30 years (yikes!). That's how long Susi and Jim have been married.

That's David on the left in the Superman shirt - in Estes Park with the fam

Paul and I remember well the trip to Grand Junction for their wedding. We were engaged to be married in August that year, 1982. Paul had just hurt his knee playing golf - a flair up of a high school football injury. I think he was on crutches, forced to hobble down the airplane steps after we flew into the small Grand Junction airport. Soon after landing, we met our new instant family members. Jim and David Alvillar.

Jim was an intense athletic, swarthy handsome guy. David was a 3-year old cutie pie. He was smart as a whip and Susi already loved him I could tell. David's Mom Betty also lives in Grand Junction, so David spent time with each parent - as many children of divorce do. While he didn't attend all of our family get-togethers, we have been lucky enough to see David quite a bit through the years. Plus Susi kept us up on what he was up to - after High School graduation, Clermont College followed by a career on Wall Street. We got to meet Ashley, by then David's fiance at my niece (his sister Leslie's) wedding in LA in 2010. She seems like a great gal and all the A's love her.

The Alvillars surround Ashley last Thanksgiving when she and David announced baby would be forthcoming

Priceless!

 I'm sure I'll get to meet Jonah someday at a fam get-together. Can't wait! In the meantime there are important questions to be answered. What the hell is Baby going to call the new grandparents? Gran and Gramps? We called our grandparents Momo and Bubba. On Mom's side they were Pops and Grandma. Hmm somehow I don't picture Jim as any of those.

You're on your own Jonah. I'm sure you'll be adorable enough to get away with calling them something cute. I can't wait to see Jim melt into a puddle.