Jimmy Johns Jones and I'm a princess

I seem to have a Jimmy John's Jones lately. At least once a week I'm up for a #2 (Big John - it's roast beef - real stuff not that fakey pressed crap, lettuce, tomato) no mayo/sauce (that's oil and vinegar for you un-educated ones), no cheese. Plus I'm liking their ice tea. I take my Tervis thermal with the screw on lid and pack it full of ice so it will last all day. Then I sit on a bench in the shade on Locust Street and read a publication or my smart phone. Good stuff!

At least I had my nails done at Princess Nails tonight. The last couple times I've had them done (except for that time in Creston, when Curtiss Bird's Mom did them...) the gal that did them kinda ignored me, and spoke her native tongue to the person next to her. I imagined her saying mean things about me...

Tonight - that nice young man, Tran, made me his princess. Because there were no other customers I guess. I got an extra long leg rub. He ask about my family. He turned on the chair "massga" - he couldn't quite say massage.

He couldn't quite get rid of my callus from walking...little toe - okay they may not look the best ever, but he was nice dammit!

Tran is Vietnamese and has lived in this country six years. I could understand nearly everything he said! He was a sweet kid. He kept asking if he was doing okay - I was a little embarrassed. Then he went a little crazy when he painted artwork on my big toe. Like I said - slow day. There has been construction on 22nd Street and I think it's taken its toll on the biz. So if you get a chance, go see Tran - nice guy.

Last night I shopped at Von Maur at Valley West. It's an upscale department store that employs piano players for its Baby Grand Piano. I love hearing them play. I feel rich shopping there - and mostly one needs to be! I did buy an ISU shirt Monday night. Plus I checked out the sandals in the sale room, but didn't see anything. But never fear - Bertha Bruise got her some Merrills at the Fit to Be Tied store.

I always think of Odie when I see this doormat.

I want to lick your face - look into my eyes

Today I was in Subaru Heaven. Got the oil changed in my 2009 Outback - the waiting room was full, and one fam even had a baby. So I sat outside on a gorgeous summer day and gazed upon the selections. I drooled a little.

Sucked back into the vortex

That's what I felt like yesterday as I got closer to Des Moines - I felt like the big city was a muddy pond and I had on slippery shoes. I was too close to the edge. I slipped in. Dang!

I didn't feel it too badly yesterday - I was still basking in vacation glow I guess. But today it hit. Now I'm feeling overwhelmed. My shoulders are tense. Hmmm this may call for a visit to Chris the masseuse.

The good news - I walked down to Jimmy Johns at lunchtime. It was a gorgeous day. I took my #2 (roast beef) no mayo with oil and vinegar and ice tea to Governor's park east of the State Capitol. I sat on a bench there and read a Robert B. Parker novel, and the character ironically flies into the Quad Cities airport. Why ironic you ask? I was just looking at info on that airport yesterday because Jud is doing that internship there and may fly out of there for my niece's LA wedding.

I peeled off my jacket and sat in my shirtsleeves enjoying the sun. Kids walked by clutching their lunch bags scurrying from Capitol tours. A group of four worked out doing yoga in the grass nearby - 3 women and a black guy. I thought to myself that I couldn't see a white guy joining the group, but a black guy fit. Racist? Perhaps. White guys can't yoga...

A thought left over from our flight last weekend. We flew American Airlines - their board spiel goes like this: anyone with special boarding needs can board. Anyone in our platinum club can board. Anyone in the silver and bronze club can board. Anyone in the diamond club can board.
I thought to myself - anyone in the wood club, paper, lint in the pocket club can board.

By the end of today I did feel like pocket lint. I was very tired and I felt the work piling up. Sigh. I guess that's why they call it work.