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.

Girl talk

I've missed girl talk. So when my sisters were here a couple weekends ago and last Saturday when I hung out with Bobbie and Joan, I was happy, I got to chat with gal pals.

Paul is a fab companion. We enjoy many of the same hobbies and can rant to each other about work stuff. But he's no girl! (thank goodness).

Yukking it up in the sculpture park

 

All my life I've depended on my girlfriends to fill me in on the important stuff. Health, hair, decorating, and fashion tips. We even discussed bushes and plants - I mostly listened... 

Art Festival with Bobbie and Joanie

Guys are fun, but one must have friends who have (or formerly had) ovaries. Paul is usually on a mission when we shop at the Farmer's Market. I get to look at stuff with my girlies! Bobbie should have earned a commission from the cutlery stand. A lady who was there when we were bought nearly $100 worth! We didn't buy any art at that festival but we had fun looking! I'm glad I got to hang with my gals.

Later on Saturday Paul and I headed back to downtown DSM after eating at Jesse's Embers.

Some of the vendors didn't open back up after the downpour that occurred about 4 p.m. But it turned into a beautiful evening. We walked across the river to hear Yonder Mountain String band fire up the strings.

The walking bridge over the very full DSM river is starting to accumulate padlocks - European style, for lovers and lost loved ones

It was a good day in the big city.

Paint Gene and my funny Valentine friends

I didn't get it. The art gene I mean. My grandfather had it. Though you never would have known it to look at him or talk to him. He was kind of a crusty quiet guy as I remember - though I was his young granddaughter. So I didn't know him to chat.

After he retired, my grandfather, Wally, (Wallace Bullock) decided to take oil painting lessons in Omaha with his pal Louis Reinig. He turned out to be pretty good! He did his first pic for my sister Susi. Somehow I ended up with it. It's pretty basic - but is historical - and that's why I love it. So maybe there is still hope for me. Bub received awards in local art shows with his paintings - Mom and Dad had several. I chose this southern landscape.

My Aunt Marty is also a good artist. She has done pottery and painted a cute table - nothing along the more classical lines like her father that I know of. She did serve as a docent for the Denver Museum of Art and loves to collect pieces from around the world.

My sister Cindy was the "artsy" sister in our fam, no thanks to Mrs. Nebola the AHS art teacher. I was always so jealous at how easily she whipped up drawings of people. It was a struggle for me, second nature to her. Cindy attended Drake University, graduating in Art Education. Of course she headed right out to Vail,  Colorado after college graduation - refusing to teach art in Bumf#%@, Iowa. She produced some great pieces during her school years - paintings, jewelry and pottery. Lots of talent, my sis.

And then there's our baby girl, Amy Elizabeth. She was practically born drawing. When the local newspaper asked each Kindergartener what they wanted to be when they grew up, she said artist. She nailed it! In 3rd grade when other kids were stressing about poster content during educational fairs, Amy would add that flair to her posters to make sure they "popped". She made the font readable.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to paint. Flop. I do have my creative side...really! But it doesn't seem to involve acrylic paint. Bobbie asked me to go with her and Joan to a place called Social Canvas in Waukee. The place was full - canvas, liquor, paint what's not to like? I wasn't wild about the design but we moved right along - I'm not creative enough to come up with my own design. I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a copy cat!

I nursed a Stella Artois beer and was sad that I had to be so involved in my painting - so I really didn't have time to chat with Bobbie and my former roomie (landlady really) Joan. It took about 2 hours start to finish - $35. I'd like to go again sometime, but would check on the design first. I'm not a "words" person.

Bobbie, left, Joan in the middle - is Bobbie's husband Jeff's sis.

Couldn't go with Live Love Laugh...wish my flower was bigger - just had to go so fast! Are my dots shaped like a kayak? Subliminal...do love my pals and like laughing with them!

That night our friends Jane Ertl and Ken Root came over for Chili. It was great to see them - we chatted and watched the Olympics.

Odie keeps Jane's lap warm

Paul gave Ken one of his shed antlers for a knife hilt - can't wait to see the finished product!

Today Mother Nature let it be known that she's going through "the change". First, rain and 26 degrees. Paul was off due to the Prez Day holiday, so I commuted by myself - icy side streets but the Freeway was okay. After I reached work - where it was misting, it started snowing to beat the band - around 2 inches of wet stuff.

I'd gotten a text from my buddy Julia Hoilien - in town from Boulder on a $100ish airline ticket. She's got longtime friends up near Ames. We'd decided to do an early lunch before her flight home and I asked Jane Ertl who was still in town as Ken had an MCing gig (he's a radio dude -he's got a great radio voice) that day. We went to Smokey Roe for an early lunch together - a delightful time!

I'm the luckiest girl to have such wonderful people in my life. What a great Valentines weekend.

Yessir - that's my buddy! Love my Jules - we've become such good friends
 

Have known this kiddo since sophomore year in college - love and admire her greatly!

Bolder is now present in another place he loved

On Sunday, we headed west - to the place of Cindy's and my birth, Atlantic, Iowa. We headed right to the cemetery - where the Bullock stone marks the resting place of many a family member, five generations - skipping my generation (thank goodness) to our baby boy Patrick. The Atlantic cemetery doesn't spend much time on making sure the grass is growing better than weeds...if we lived there we could take better care of it, but it's not possible this far away.

When Cindy's beloved husband Brian (Bolder) Lefebvre passed away last November 11th, he was cremated. They must have used a different type of process than I've seen before, as he looked a lot like sand in the ziplock Cindo had him in. Planning ahead, Bolder was split 4 ways. His buddies took one bag back to Moab, Utah this spring on their annual golf trip. They so enjoyed having Boldie along as the executive chef on the trip each year.

I think I got a little Bolder power on my tongue...

Patrick's headstone - maybe Bolder will help the grass grow

 

It was a beautiful morning, and there was a  light breeze as my sister began sprinkling Bolder's ashes around the special graves of our loved ones. I tried to remain upbeat, and not cry. This has been so tough - and Cindy has been such a strong, brave woman. I mean she doesn't have a choice - but what life has thrown at her, she has handled with guts and grace.

We drove through the cemetery a bit on our way out - and saw the stones of a few old friends. Bev and Eddie Freese - the best neighbors to name two. Then we were on our way to cruise through town and show our guest Bonnie - who is from upstate New York - the A-town sights. Our home at 202 Crombie - which looks like shit! I think the Clampets moved in. The schools - Washington, the new and old high school, our grandparents house and downtown. Bonnie was duly impressed.

Then we headed to Kay and Ted Wickman's home for lunch. Kay was our father's "friend". Girlfriend sounds inadequate. Companion? Live-in? Anyway - they were together until he died. We were so fortunate that he had scoped her out at the drive-in at the bank, and had asked Kay out on a date before he had his stroke in 2003. Kay visited him as he recovered and when he went home from the assisted living place, she moved in to help him. The rest is Dad/Kay history, thank goodness! They had fun traveling to Florida and kept busy with family - hers and ours. And then Dad died too soon, and we were all very sad.

Kay missed Dad a lot - I think she still does. But life goes on. Ted and Ann Wickman were friends of my parents. Ted's a farmer, and he always seemed like an odd match for Ann who was rather brilliant and refined. Ted is not refined. Their son Kirk is my age and is a great guy! I'm FB friends with son Charlie - he's around Betso's age. Ann became sick, and passed away after a somewhat long illness - she died not long before Dad, I think.

Kay and Ted

Ted was lonely, Kay was lonely - they got together after their partners died. Why waste time being lonely? We are happy for them! And it was so nice of Kay to invite us over. They live in my friend Sally Rodger's former home. Her brother-in-law Dan designed it for two of my fave peeps - her parents, Wayne and Anna Day. Kay and Ted bought the home after they were married. At lunch that day, we had a lovely lunch of chicken salad sannies, and peach cobbler. The Wickmans put a pool in behind the house - such a pretty view from there! It was nice to see them.

Soon it was time to head out - to where? The antique mecca of the western world - Walnut, Iowa! And little did we know, it was the very special Antique Walk weekend. Jackpot! It was hot by then...and we rounded the corner to town and saw all those people with tables set up - full of you guessed it. Junk. Um, I mean fabulous antiques.  

On the brick main street

They had Prince Albert in a can - and I don't think they're letting him out...

Inside at this store I bought a little wood rooster that looks great on top of my kitchen cupboards. They were out of $1s so I got the $18 item for $15. Can you say BARGAIN!

Cindo found a couple items for the small deck outside the master bedroom at her Vail home. A little metal rack and a tin ceiling tile. Bonnie selected a bird similar to mine. We ran into Atlantic friends - Dr. John and Mary Weresh. Paul recognized them - that guy has an eye for people, I tell ya! We chatted with them briefly - nice folks. Then we made the trek back to West Des Moines.

That night Paul grilled rib eye steaks for the visitors. They loved that Iowa cornfed flavor. Fareway makes great twice baked potatoes too - and we served those suckers, but I did fess up that I didn't make them. It was Father's Day so our Daisy Driver got his angel food cake and fab fresh strawberries that Cindy had masticated (or some fancy cooking word).

In the a.m. we walked a couple miles and went to the local dive for breakfast. Cindy loved the hashbrowns - they reminded her of the ones Coral used to make at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. That afternoon we went to the dumbest movie ever made - yes, it was my choice. Don't see "This is The End". I must admit - I laughed a lot - at the movie not with it. Bad!

That night we took Cindy and Bonnie to Jethro's in Waukee. We love the wings there. After we ate - we drove by my old roomie, Joan's place in that town. Guess who was planting flowers out front? Joanie - who I was lucky enough to live with for the past 4 years, until last October. We pulled into the driveway so Cindy could meet her and they gave each other a big hug! That warmed my heart - the two had heard of each other, and therefore, my beloved friends were de facto friends. So cool. I need to get together with Joan soon.

I hated to say goodbye to our Colorado roommates early the next morning. I can't wait to see them for Christmas! I wish I could hang out with them more. Thanks for coming to Des Moines! It was fun.

West End Blarney

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

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

Bobbie and Hal's back...

Don is on the phone

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

How would you like to run in that hat?

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

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

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

A Jud Weekend

Jud arrived right on time, about 6:30 PM Friday evening. Odie was so excited to see him! We were too of course. We didn't have any big gifts for him for his birthday - hope he wasn't disappointed about that. We figured cash is king at his age, so we had sent him a card earlier with a week along with a token or our birthday joy. Plus we had promised him a clothes shopping excursion. GF Kara stayed in KC this trip - she's off to places afar the next couple weeks for work, and decided that a weekend at home sounded like a good idea.

We headed to Jethro's in Waukee for his bday meal - upon his request. I'd texted my former roomie Joan earlier that day about joining us. She was working the late shift at her job as a dispatcher for FedEx, so I knew she'd be getting off about Jethro's time. She called to say she'd be delighted to join us. Yay!

Jud and Paul awaiting a table at Jethro's BBQ

We ordered up 20 wings whilst we awaited Joanie, who was en route from her job on SW 9th. Man I love their wings - so much so that Pablo and I got an order of 10 to go for today's Superbowl - our big party (just me and him...). When Joan arrived we ordered meals and had fun catching up on each other's activities. She and I lived together for nearly 4 years, so we know a lot about each other - fams, friends, work etc.

Paul and I have known Joan since Jud was one year old. We met her, I explained to Jud that night, when we went skiing with a big mixed group in the winter of 1990. Besides Joan the group included her fiance, Albia native Kevin Scieszinski - they lived in Des Moines. Joan's bro Jeff McFee and wife Bobbie introduced us to the couple. Others skiers were Denis and Mendy Ritzman and our college pals Moose and Kay Wilt from Chicago. We stayed in a condo in Silverthorne and skied the whole front range. It was a good time!

Later that year, Kevin, only in his early 30's, had a recurrance of colon cancer - and passed away. So very sad for everyone - especially Joan, his fiance. Joan is still like family to his large family. So long ago now - Jud just turned 24! I told him that he participated in a cancer walk at age 2 (in a stroller most of the time) at Drake Stadium a year after Kevin passed away. Since then Joan moved to Kansas City and back. (Jeff still complains about assisting). And she married Bill Bentley of Diagonal 6? years ago. Joan has watched our kids grow up with her nieces - Jeff and Bobbie's kids, Kimmy and Kristina. So lots of history there!

It was a fun evening. I enjoy hanging with my kids as grown ups. Those of you with young 'ens - look forward to it. It's rewarding. You don't have to wipe their chins...

Saturday we headed across the street to Jordan Creek Mall to clothes shop. Always a challenge with either Amy or Jud - who is especially picky about how pants fit. I know - he doesn't come across as a clothes guy. But I get it - you do want them to feel good and look good. Work pants are hard to find - guys don't have much variation to choose from. Did score a pair of pants, a belt, shoes and some shirts. We had a nice lunch at Cheesecake Factory - no martinis, thank you very much. Love the lettuce wrap chicken Thai Tacos. Oh yea, we did get cheesecake - to go. We stopped by Banana Republic before we left - and ran into Jud's college pal Miranda! She's a school teacher, working part time there. Fun to catch up - she's our neighbor too, as she lives by our fave bar, Maverick's.

Oh...forgot to mention, after 2 visitations, 3rd time was a charm. Bought this baby. The saleslady said (in an Eastern European accent) "You haf been here 3 times -sale iss over soon!" She even knew I had walking clothes on the first visit. It was very cute.

nearly half price with sales - so it was almost like they were paying ME...

That night, it was basketball baby! Jud was anxious to experience Hilton Magic once again. Baylor always has tons of talent, so I was worried. Paul and purchased a ticket so while he stopped by the Will-Call window I took Jud by Johnny's Place.

Hey Coach!
 

I told the guys to sit together in our usual seats - that way they could talk all sports and strategy. I was in Section 215 - not far away. Snapped this photo of them. At halftime Jud got to go to Johnny's with his pal Noelle (former Cy) for a beer.

The last couple games we've seen this over the top fan. I believe he made his own hat with lots of superglue. He's got a big necklace too. Pablo in 15 years?

I started up a conversation with the couple from Keota (near Washington, Iowa) sitting next to me. I know - chatting with strangers is somewhat out of my comfort zone! But it went well. Their son is a sophomore at ISU - pre-vet. The guy was a 1987 ISU grad, very nice couple. And the Clones came through with a nice victory over Baylor, so the all 3 of us were pleased. It was a snowy drive back to WDM.

Jud took off early this a.m. - I hated to see him go. I miss the patter of my two guys talking sports 24/7. Okay, I don't miss hearing it 24/7 - but I do enjoy it some of the time. I like talking to Jud about his future (Amy too). They have unlimited options it seems! I feel so smart now to be able to say - You should do this: set your priorities blah, blah, blah. But did I do it myself when I was their age? No. Did my parents try to tell me this stuff? If they did, I don't remember it...

I let life take its course...if I could do it over, I would be more goal driven. But it's turned out pretty well despite my lack of long term goals. And real life does have a way of getting in the way of plans. No matter what life throws at them, Amy and Jud are survivors - they've got the tools to succeed. ;>)

Joanie's Birthday

Joan

It's my former roomie (I should say landlady) Joan McFee Bentley's birthday today. She never quite catches up with her bro Jeff and me. I love living with my spousal unit and furry pal Odie again, but I sure miss Joanie! I've had some great roomies through the years but Joan ranks up there with the best.

First, I can't leave out Betso Bean. That's my sis Betsy. Even though she is much younger than I am, I was glad to have a roomie. When you're a kid, bedtime - when it's dark, can be kinda scary. There was a light right outside our room that Mom would leave on each night. And then we'd leave the door cracked open. Then one night I noticed something - the light coming through the open door made my shadow look like a dead body on the wall. I was just the age when a kid starts thinking about the possibility of our own death. Scary stuff!

So I was glad to have a little tyke sleeping there right next to me. Some nights I would pull my little record player out from under my bed and pop on my Michael Jackson album. Then I'd talk Betsy into taking turns tickling each other's backs. I could always trick her and tell her she didn't quite do it right, so she'd have to do it again...

My next roommate was during my freshman year of college at Iowa State. I lived on 6th Floor of Maple Dormitory with Loraine Dunn from Pearl City, Illinois. The University housing folks just matched us up - me a small town southwest Iowa jock majoring in Ag and her, a junior majoring in child development without an athletic bone in her body. Loraine was a Mormon, me - Catholic. Surprisingly, it worked just fine once we got to know each other.

Sal, Jane, Vicki

The next year I moved in with the first person I met when I got to ISU for classes. Vicki Gernand (now Behr) asked me if we wanted to go get football tickets and the rest is history. Living together only made our friendship stronger. During our Junior and Senior years we moved into a new apartment on Campus Avenue and added two additional roommates, Sally Rodgers - a longtime Atlantic friend who had just happened to end up living on my dorm floor and Jane Flack, who we all were fortunate to get to know our frosh year. To our friends Moose and Steve, we were known at The Big 4.

Besides Paul Goldsmith (I guess you could count Amy and Jud too), until I lived at Joan's these fine people represent the extent of my experience with roommates. Back then, I was a youngster - so Joanie got me as a jaded old lady. And she put up with me! So for that I thank her. And I miss her. She and I need to get together and celebrate our November birthdays.

Another week past...

The countdown is on. Two more weeks until the movers are here. We'll be putting the "stuff" of our lives into a big truck. That's weird.

Hope he's not a back seat driver!

At this moment 2 deer heads are in my car to take to my former roomie Joan's place (shhh - she doesn't know she'll have a couple little friends staring at her for a while yet). The movers wanted $1,000 each to move them - crating and uncrating. No thanks! There are 2 more in the basement awaiting transport later. Paul parted with one - it's at the Holy Spirit ReRun Shop if you have a burning desire for a deer head.

This week Paul is pheasant hunting in South Dakota with college buddies, Mike Huston and Tom Sullivan. He's done this hunt the past few years and he always has a great time hanging with his buddies, and they get a few birds too. I plan to get together with Joan while he's gone - we need to catch up!

Great ISU game day yesterday with a victory over Baylor! McFees rode up with us and we drove by our new home on the way to the game. Bobbie and Jeff said they think they can find their way back - we'll have a room for them on Cody Drive! This week we purchased the dining table, a love seat and some art from the sellers. On a similar note, we sold our table/chairs and some other stuff to our home buyers. That worked out great! Our realtors have been swell on this regard. Shout out to Roger Saxton and Marg Hull.

Check out radiant heater - ahhhh

Paul chats with Jud's buddy Mitch

 

It was a chilly day, but Don's niece brought a radiant heater. It was great! It was soup day - 4 kinds of soups were perfect! Plus pumpkin and apple bars - and bevvies of your choice. Jud wasn't there (he and Kara were at her cousin's wedding in Tampa) but his buddies showed up in force and we still love them - and they helped us eat soup! Donnie's college roomie Jim and wife Patty were there - they just moved to Denver from St. Louis, because their 2 children live there. Paul and I attended the Spirit Walk to High 5 the players entering the stadium for the game.

The team runs to the students and sings the fight song

And then our beloved Cyclones came through with a glorious Homecoming victory. It was college football at its finest. The 54K crowd was lovin' it! We did The Wave 3 ways - regular, slow and on crack (really fast). It was really fun. The alumni band played with the Iowa State University VARSITY (Not the JV dammit) Marching Band played. The sound system played all the good tunes that old ladies like to dance to. Diana and I stood on one leg to help the defense stop Baylor on third down situations. (We do what we can).

CPR - on left

After the game we had passes (because McKim's son Ryan is on the coaching staff) to go in the "Jake" building where the team locker room is. Former Cyclone great Seneca Wallace was there. Coach Rhoads came out. Everyone was joyful!

The drive home was late, but Jeff has imbibed enough liquor to entertain us most of the way. His head started bobbing about ten minutes from home. We are happy and blessed people!

Brother-In-Law Bolder Report: Bolder was not able to have his first full chemo due to low platelets. He did have a partial one. They'll try again soon. Please keep Bold and my sister Cindy and their son Colby in your prayers. They will need all our strength and good thoughts during this time.  

Eastern Iowa, Goodbye Joan's place

Area behind Marriott, Coralville - gorgeous!

I headed to "the dark side" Monday and Tuesday - Coralville (a suburb of Iowa City) for the annual Iowa Recycling Association (IRA) and Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations conference. Knowing I'd be in the heart of Hawkeye country, I threw in my Cyclone quarter zip. Good thing too, because the Marriott Conference Center was freezing!

The City Carton Recycling folks broke out their Hawk polos across from our DNR booth. Somebody had to represent the good guys. Though nobody else had on the cardinal and gold, I had plenty of supportive comments - and took no crap. I guess it helps when you win the big game 2 years in a row! So proud.

Colleague Scott Flagg and I arrived early Monday for a Bottle Bill meeting. Same 'ol stuff - some glass recyclers plan to submit legislation to expand the bill once again this year. I'm not expecting much, but I do agree with them. The present system is dying on the vine as handlers haven't gotten a raise from the $.01 per bottle/can they got in 1988 when the bill passed. Small town redemption centers are dropping right and left. People are getting frustrated because there are fewer and fewer places to take their deposit items.

The beverage and distributors will fight any expansion. I wish we could find some middle ground that would keep items out of ditches and landfills and keep our recycling rate at the near 90% rate the present system provides. That's a tall order though. I can understand why grocers don't want them back in their doors, but haven't they had over 30 years to come up with alternatives? The outside areas/separate entrances work.

After lunch Scott and I went on a tour of Iowa City's new East Side Recycling Facility. I've reported on it before, since they are part of my program - Environmental Management System. Awesome education facility with a drop off for used motor oil, place where people can get compost. They also partner with Habitat for Humanity and the Salvage Barn.

After that, we toured a couple places that have located in town because Proctor and Gamble manufacture shampoo and other home products there. First we visited ALPLA - they make many of the containers P&G products go in. Blow mold, injection - you name it. They wouldn't allow us to take photos as they make their own equipment. I had a burning desire to use my phone to snap a quick shot, but I squelched it...didn't want my arm broken, or encased in plastic! Very interesting place - operated by surprisingly few people.

Next we walked to Heritage Environmental. They started up in town to assist an un-named client with off-specification products. (Proctor and Gamble is my guess!). The place smelled like shampoo - they de-package it, explaining typically this product is colored wrong, or touched the floor - stuff like that. I decided America needs to get over our "perfection" requirement. How about a store for stuff that's not quite right? Like the old bread store?

Anyway Heritage has found uses for the slickery stuff. They use it to help asphalt slide out of trucks. Genius! They're also coming up with new uses all the time. They are also dabbling in other things like carpet recycling, and water filter recycling. Interesting company - with the home base in Indiana.

That night was schmoozing time. Nice to see people I hadn't chatted with for a while. This is when my history - having been "one of them" for 10 years helps! Got to see my pal Susan Salterberg, and lil buddy Christine Richter - though my conversations with her came in short bursts between interruptions from her clients (they took priority - darn them!). I also talked to Kjrsten Bobb - who I'm FB Friends with - but I hadn't seen in person in forever!

On Wednesday Scott and I went to supper with Susan and a couple women about my age. They tried drilling Scott about the baddest thing he's ever done. It was hilarious - like he was under a bright light. He didn't spill his guts though.

Wednesday was my big day. Consultant Cory Sander and I gave a program "EMS Jeopardy" to market our Environmental Management System Program - my baby. We thought using the Jeopardy format might seem less preachy than the traditional ed format. We were right! Jason, the education guy from Cedar Rapids is good with technology and they have these clickers that we handed out to the 25 people who attended. The computer program kept track of $ scores and we handed out prizes for the top 3 in various categories. Water bottles, flashlights etc. I filled in bits of information on answers of questions. Phew - glad it's over.

When I got back to DSM, I spent my last night in Waukee at Joan's. I am somewhat at a loss about that. It's been such a great situation for me - and I've so enjoyed getting to know Joan better through this past nearly 4 years. She joked that I kept her informed on family stuff (through her bro Jeff, and he said the same thing...) And I sure slept well (most of the time) in the big bed in the basement. It's nice and cool and quiet down there. Even though I know I'll continue to see Joan periodically since we'll be living in town, it won't be the same as living with her. It was hard to clean my stuff out of the drawers. I'll miss her!