Carry On Camping

Do you remember the movie, "Carry On Camping"? 

The movie originally came out in 1969 when I was only 12, and it looks like it was a bit risque. I remember going with Chris Deardorff, but we must have gone when it came around again...can't imagine Pat B and Ginger Deardorff sending us off to a sexy movie at age 12. Since then, besides my Girl Scout day camp years, anytime I've gone camping that film title pops into my head. Not the risque part - just the humorous part. So much can't be controlled! You're at the mercy of nature, neighbors, and bad planning.

Summer vaca in Florida visiting my grandparents - no camping

Growing up, my family was NOT a camping family. Exhibit A - my dad, Dave Bullock. Evidently, his years in the army cured him of any idea that living "rough" was fun. Our vacations involved hotel rooms or at the least, cabins. My sisters and I were in Girl Scouts and attended summer camp, so we got a taste of camping then. I have fond memories of Camp Cheley in Estes Park, CO - an overnight hike and campout. It was quite an adventure.  

My next camping experience was quite memorable - except for the fogginess due to the liquor involved. It happened while I was studying ever so hard at Iowa State University one VEISHEA weekend. Iowans will remember VEISHEA - that wonderful student-run celebration on campus that was parade/party/ showcase. It was doomed because of riots in later years. They couldn't figure out how to party without being overly destructive - grrr. 

That weekend, early in May, a group that included my roomies, Jane and Vicki, and our pal, ISU volleyballer Kelly, rented a tent from campus recreation. We decided to camp at The Ledges, a beautiful state park near Boone - just west of Ames. We took the essentials - beer, chips, cookies, and marshmallows. 

By afternoon we were already feeling the alcohol glow when our guy pals from Stevenson House, including Moose and friends, Shit for Brains, and others with nicknames I don't recall, were canoeing the Des Moines River. I don't know if we coordinated the meeting, but sure wish I had a video of the event.  Picture - Girls: cheering drunkenly on the shore of the Des Moines River as it passes through the Ledges. Boys: drunkenly see us and stand up in the canoe to wave - tipping over into the chilly water. Slow-motion would be great.  

The whole group ended up sitting around our campsite fire ring. Thank God we had Moose the Boy Scout to build the fire. As night fell, it got chilly and seven or eight of us piled into the tent. The guys hadn't planned to stay but driving didn't seem to be a good idea. I remember being damp and chilled to the bone. Wet drunk boys stink. It was epic!

I didn't camp again until the year I graduated from college - when we started our much blogged about trips to Ridgeland, Wisconsin to tube the Apple River. We stayed in a huge tent owned by the Huston family - again, many stinky people. 

That year I graduated and moved to Sioux Falls, SD where I had my first real job. Paul Goldsmith, bless his heart, made the drive there several times. It was then, without the trappings of college, we really got to know each other and learned how much we enjoyed each other's company. And we went camping. 

Does it look like 2 people will fit in that tent? Especially with that hair!

Paul had a pup tent - a tiny thing. We planned a trip to SE MN, a place some of my SD co-workers had told me about. I believe it was this place - Blue Mounds. I remember seeing the Bison. And how tiny and claustrophobic Paul's tiny tent was - the canvass was mere inches from my face.  

Since then, through the years, we camped a few times. I've written before about our Memorial Day camping experiences - 45 degrees and rainy at Jester Park and Pine Lake with our college friends. What is it about sitting around a campfire with friends? Good times! 

During our Creston years, after the kids were a little older, we camped a few times with our friends who rolled a little nicer than tent camping. Higgins had "the Big Unit", a pull-behind camper, Crittendens had a camper, and Bobbie and Jeff had a pop-up camper. We invested in a new tent that fit four people and a dog. I remember fun trips to NE Iowa near Waukon and Saylorville. We biked and canoed and the kids had a ball. It's always good to go with people who know what they're doing and have the right equipment. And attitudes! 

Since then, Paul upgraded the pup tent for a nicer one for hunting trips to Colorado. He's got some more outdoors equipment too. I haven't camped in 20 years! So imagine my surprise when Paul and I were discussing potential Labor Day weekend plans and I suggested tent camping! I know. But consider this: we need to be away from people as we're on "Baby Watch", and we don't just want to sit here. Jud and Kara's baby girl is due 9/12. We're getting antsy! The words came out of my mouth "what about camping?" I was as shocked as he was. 

So that's the plan. He found a remote camping spot in a state forest. Forty years after the first time we camped together we will Carry on Camping. Maybe we'll make this an every 40 year thing! 

Preggo Dreams

On the deck at J and K's 

Finally, after many washed out attempts due to illness and the pandemic, we were able to visit Jud and Kara in Saint Louis. Yay! For those who haven't heard, they are soon to be parents. 💖

Baby Girl G is due in mid-September 2020. They wanted to break the baby news to us in person months ago. Thanks to Covid, we ended up finding out via Zoom call with the whole fam, including Amy and Corey. A new fam member is on the way - yahoo!

It's getting real! Jud and Kara have been working on the baby's room. It's really a large landing that will work as the baby's area while she is little. That way she'll be near their room upstairs. The small crib will fit in the closet opening - leaving room for the changing table, a dresser, and a rocking chair. It will be perfect for the little one.

They also had a few house projects for Paul (soon to be Pops). Yeah, I'm trying out grandparent names - almost as important as the baby name! (No, not really). J&K's cozy 1910 home - with the second floor added thirty or forty years ago, had been updated in recent years - before they purchased it. But you know houses - they always need something. Paul built and installed a couple of shelves. Jud and Kara helped and were on paint duty. There were several trips to Home Depot along the way. I was in charge of WD-40 patrol, spraying squeaky doors. And, mostly tried to stay out of the way - dish and cleanup detail. 

Closet

I didn't realize how much I really missed them. Zoom calls are nice, but they sure don't take the place of "in-person". Two weeks before our visit we really tried to curtail interaction with people to reduce the chances of spreading anything. I took along an enchilada casserole for Friday, we had bratwurst one night and they ordered Pi Pizza with cornbread crust one night - so yummy. So not our usual going to restaurants like we usually do in STL. There are so many good restaurants there. Jud and Kara have a lovely deck that is secluded thanks to lots of trees, bushes, and fences. There are lots of squirrels and birds to watch.

Kara is 7 months pregnant - and looks so darn cute as only preggo chicks with long torsos can. She's been feeling pretty good, though the STL heat in humidity is starting to take a toll. It's nice that they have a fenced yard so they don't have to take their good boys - pups Henry and Archie for walks. But they can if they feel like it around their cozy neighborhood in the little burg, Brentwood population 8,000ish. It's just outside of STL proper.

Kara's pregnancy has taken me for a walk down pregnancy memory lane. Pregnant with Amy, I stayed small for the first 4+ months. Then in the last couple of months, I got huge, eventually giving birth to a 9 pound 7-ounce baby a week past the due date. Similar to my Jud pregnancy though he was only 9 lb 4 ounces. Patrick, my c-section baby was breech, was a totally different pregnancy - only 7 lb 6 ounces. I didn't gain nearly as much weight with him. Wiser? Or just busier with 2 kids?

Bucko

While pregnant, I remember having vivid dreams - such as giving birth to a kitten. Likely because our cat Bucko slept by my legs. Kara said she's had some weird ones too. You know how that thing happens - when you are thinking or talking about something and it pops up in another part of your life? This week I was listening to one of my fave authors, Laura Lippman. The book is called "The Girl in the Green Raincoat". It's part of the Tess Monaghan series, one I had somehow missed reading years ago. In this book, Tess, a seven month pregnant Baltimore private investigator, is confined to her screened-in porch/bedroom due to preeclampsia. In the book, Tess dreams that she gives birth to a radish and everyone tells her it looks like her! Listening to this, I laughed out loud while walking on the trail. The book was a play on Hitchcock's "Rear Window" as Tess tries to solve a mystery stuck in her home. 

We are all so excited - dreaming about the arrival of Baby G! Who will she be? That said - I remember what those first few weeks of life with a newborn. With many employers, parents today get more time off when the baby is born. Especially dads. That should help in the lack of sleep department - a tag team. I recall being delirious at times - Jud was not a good sleeper. He really was a night owl all his life until he started working. Not good with a morning person mom!

In today's Internet age, the pressure is on for parents to present their homes and children as perfect at all times. That's why I always try to share my "fail" stories with young parents. They need to know perfect isn't real! And our home was filled with kid toys and well-worn furniture through those years. It goes by pretty quickly! 

The nutty stuff that I did is what my kids remember. 😶 Looking back, I do wish I'd been more patient. ...Note to future grandma...We took one parenting class and I read lots of books on the topic. I recommend all methods of learning for parents. There are probably lots of online resources. One thing for sure - kids need order. They don't need to be given everything they want. I hear Grandparents have different rules! haha

We got together with our friends the McFees this weekend. We talked and laughed a lot about the days (20 years ago) when Bobbie and Jeff with Kristina and Kim would have Sunday night meals with Paul, Amy, Jud, and me. The kids would play and we'd talk - about jobs, parenting, farming, our parents - everything! It was therapeutic. Hearing that other people struggle parenting too made it easier to accept. 

I miss Bobbie. Such a big hole in many lives. We'll go on, but we will not let her memory die. 

She Called Me Les

San Antonio 2011

Bobbie McFee was one of the first people I met when Paul and I moved to Creston. Rejected by each of the 28 or so sororities when I attended rush as an 18-year-old at Iowa State University, I found my true sisters with Beta Sigma Phi, a women's sorority as a 28-year-old. Bobbie was a new-found sister back in 1987 who later became much more. And she called me Les - a name only my besties use.

After completing the DSM half marathon (walking) Bobbie didn't get the "wear your medal" memo

We're devastated to think this person who was so full of life could pass in a blink with no warning. We are so sad for her husband Jeff - two people who meshed so beautifully. Jeff met Bobbie through her Creston roomie Retta Baker, at Northwest Missouri State University where Bobbie earned her degree. Jeff was a persistent farmer from Creston who attended the local community college, eventually earning his 4-year degree later from Buena Vista.

Those two were truly meant for each other. I keep picturing them swing dancing together - not always technically perfect, but they knew each other's moves and would "go with it" adjusting to what each other did. They were fun to watch - having fun and you could see the love they shared as they moved around the floor.

What a cute family! 

We mourn together with their daughters Kristina and Kim. They are our children Amy and Jud's ages. That is one reason why we spent so much time together as families. On many a weekend evening, one of us would call the other and we'd make a plan to share an evening meal. The kids would play and we "adults" could chat about all things - raising kids, jobs, families, farming, and more. We raised those kids together. We all shared love and admiration for each other - plus a sense of humor! Bobbie and Jeff have always been such positive people - glass half full. Those are people you want to be around.

Kristina and Kim have lost their mother, their biggest fan, listening ear, and their advisor. I'm so sad for them about that. My mom died from lung cancer when I was 40, so older than they are now. Even then I felt robbed of the comfort of a mother - the heart of our family. Jeff is a great dad and will continue to be. Paul and I will try to think of ways we can support this family missing Bobbie.

Kristina has two young daughters under age 5. I'm so sorry that they won't personally remember Grandma Bobbie. I'm sad that now that I'll be a Grandma I won't have the opportunity to get more tips from her! She already told me a couple stories of her times with the girls that I cherish. Just like Bobbie took on all challenges, Bobbie didn't let fussy grandkids fluster her. After keeping the kids overnight in Creston, when delivering the young girls back to their folks in Ankeny, the baby began shrieking in the rear-facing car seat. Not a happy girl. Bobbie didn't stop as she'd already tried several methods to calm the youngster. So she just put some good tunes on the car radio and began to sing at the top of her lungs! Eventually, the little one ran out of steam and konked out. It will be our job now to tell Bobbie stories to the girls - so they know just who their Grandma Bobbie was.

Bobbie did not really believe in allowing herself much leisure time. She was most happy working on projects. She'd just plunge in. Recently, during the pandemic, she painted the inside of their Creston home. Every room! She only got help on the highest peaks of their cathedral ceiling. She loved to exercise, ride bikes and walk - quickly.

We had some good times in Des Moines in recent years when she and Jeff came up to bike with us. We may have overdone the beer to bike mile ratio!

Farmer's Market visit

Don McKim always laughed that Bobbie could be a "sprinter" when we had group gatherings. One legendary time a group of Cyclone fans attended an ISU/KSU football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. A vendor was handing out free Monster energy drinks which Bobbie mixed with vodka. Then she invited herself into a fancy tailgate party with a live band and food! The rest of us were standing behind Higgins' Suburban in the parking lot. Not a super football fan, Bobbie konked out during the game, sleeping with her head on Jeff's shoulder.  I'll miss hearing her version when reminiscing about all those times we've had together.

I enjoyed talking to Bobbie about work. She was a very effective and dedicated comptroller - most recently at a plant in Creston that makes giant equipment that peels potatoes and carrots. They had a branch in Boise, ID so she told us how she got to know that area, mostly on her own. With a previous job, Bobbie and Jeff traveled to far off locations like Germany and Thailand - they loved to visit new places.

I'm so sad for Bobbie's family - her parents Bob and Grace, and her brothers and families. And Jeff's family including my former roomie Joanie. Since we don't have family around Creston, Paul and I have been lucky to be invited to some of their gatherings, so we feel a bit like cousins. Bobbie's loss will hit hard for them all. We will need to try honor Bobbie by keeping our memories of her alive.

Bobbie moved into Creston and won the hearts of Crestonians right away - even with farmers, no small feat. She served on the school board and volunteered for many other things - always dependable. When our son Patrick lived his brief life in 1991, she and Jeff were there for us. She brought ham balls for the funeral - it's a SW Iowa thing. That's what I kept thinking yesterday as we visited the house to see the family. Bobbie would bring ham balls to this. I expected her to drive up and take charge.

Bobbie had a road bike and kept up with the guys. Albie (my crosstrainer bike) and I brought up the rear 

Paul and I traveled to Creston to the house yesterday. Several family members were there and a steady stream of neighbors and friends stopped by to drop off food and to express their sympathies. It's what you do - surround the family with love. This week will be a blur. It will be our job to be there for Jeff and the girls after the funeral too.

We all need reminders of how special each day is. 2020 has worked on that. This reminder hurts so badly. RIP my friend. I  hope you are in your Happy Place forever.

Last year - Lake of the Ozarks - Bobbie's "Happy Place"

Celebrating 35 Years,

This guy

Who could have known? I was such a young thing when I got married. Now here I am, nearly 60 - comfortable, spending time with this fella that worked his way into my life all those years ago. I'm the lucky one. We've woven our lives together so tightly. I can't imagine what life would be like without him.

I've always been one to bristle when people would suggest someones' husband was "their better half". How sexist, I'd think. Each woman should be her own person. Now here I am, not half a person, but interdependent with this dude I've been spending time with for the past 35 years.

These people....heart. 

We spent our anniversary weekend at LOTO (Lake of the Ozarks) with good friends McKims, Higgins, and McFees. It was Shootout Weekend - so the "Go Fast Boats" were going fast all weekend. Capn' Don motored the pontoon into prime race viewing position and we watched the races while floating on noodles. Our friends' lake homes have evolved from works-in-progress to places worthy of Chip and Joanna. Besides hanging out with our friends, my favorite part of the weekend was sitting on the deck in the morning, drinking coffee. That view!

This view

My friend Sandy (a friend from my hometown Atlantic) arranged for us to participate in the annual Meals From the Heartland event at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday. Our Team Name is ForTH - For The Hungry. Perfect. We worked together with another group (Waukee cheerleaders in the next pod) to package 40 boxes of meals. Woohoo. That day over 1 million meals were packaged to be shipped anywhere in the world.

This team

After two hours standing on concrete, a stop at Malo for Mexican Food and a beer was in order. It was nice to get to know our teammates a bit better. Sandy and Steve's daughter Lauren and her husband Adam are super nice. And the others are too. Fun night!

This group of Paul's co-workers - toasting a friend battling cancer

Next up - we were ready for some football! Our beloved Cyclones vs. the UNI Panthers - always a worthy first game opponent. Game time, 7 p.m. It was a perfect day - we enjoyed it immensely, especially the big W this year. Our friends Kevin and Kari are again providing a trailer/tent rig in D2 for tailgating. Perfect for our little group. We grilled brats and hoisted a couple beers. It was fun to see our tailgating "neighbors" and to walk the parking lot, visiting other groups.

This VARSITY marching band

At game time, we walked in with the band. That's living vicariously! The pregame was super. Oh, how I love the pageantry. Soon the moon was shining over the stadium and after a slow start, our team was heading to a victory.

This game day experience

Post game, we allowed the parking lot traffic jam to clear out and took town the tents. Kari and Keven have the real work today - reorganizing that jumble of a trailer. OCD Kevin will need to put it all in order! Then we had a beer by the fire pit telling, telling stories and talking football. Not much overconfidence about next week's game against in-state rivals, the Hawkeyes. But today, we're 1-0!

This hero - Jack Trice 

House Hunters

red haired chair climber

I love house hunting - even when it isn't for me. Last weekend we visited Jud and Kara in St. Louis. It was a weekend filled with many fabulous foods and beverages. In addition we got to go on a couple house hunting visits with them and their realtor, Stephanie a Washington, Iowa native who played college basketball at Wisconsin during the Jenny Lillis at Iowa era (now the Drake coach).

We played the Iowa game with her - an offshoot of the Creston game. "Do you know so and so?" Yes, we used to lived right next door to...and so on. Nice young women. Of course. Iowa nice. Meeting Stephanie made me recall the realtors Paul and I have worked with during our lives. We have been fortunate.

Our first realtor way back in 1986, was recommended to us by Paul's predecessor at his Union County NRCS job (it was the Soil Conservation Service back then). Betty Brown knew her way around town. She showed us several properties during our trip to Creston, all while not quite 1-year-old Amy stayed with my parents in Atlantic for the day. Mom said she was happy climbing in and out of a child-sized rocking chair.

view from the north - degreened the siding to

There was really only one house that we had our hearts set on - the one we purchased. It was at the top of our price range but it was one I could be excited about, though it still needed some work. For one thing - it was all green. With some rosy pink fixtures in the bathrooms. Yippy! How very 60's. There was even flat green carpet in the kitchen. How could you?

Our first home had some wonderful qualities too. I loved the light from the large pictures windows, and the entryway. There was a recently installed hot tub in the basement. Mom had a dream that Amy was drowning in it, and she had a broken leg and couldn't rescue her. That didn't come true. Sure, Amy allowed Jud to linger under the water a bit long one time. And Moki the dog tried to turn himself into a boiled puppy once. Thank goodness no real tragedies occurred - phew.

The day we replaced the kitchen carpet - by then stained with Amoxyl pink liquid antibiotic - with oh so 90's linoleum (cream with country blue check) I was in heaven. Then I learned how grimy those little pockets in linoleum can get! Our wonder-dog Moki discovered how easy it was (where there's a will there's a way) to jump onto a chair and make his way onto the built-in desk and across the cabinets to the kitchen counter to eat left-overs. Jud's Spaghettios didn't stand a chance.

Paul and I attempted exactly one wallpaper job together. Evidently he didn't like working with someone suffering from apoplexy when the edges didn't match up well. He worked better with our friend Cheri Finken. Those two paired up to offer themselves up at auction for wallpapering job for bid at the St. Malachy auction. Cheri is much calmer than I am.

A couple times a year the bar sink down stairs would start to gurgle pretty badly when the washer drained. So I'd call Willets and Woosley to come do the Roto-Rooter thing. Soon after we moved in we discovered the furnace was pretty much shot. So we bought a new one through Carrier - and took on more payments. Welcome to the Money Pit! Our concrete block wall slowly creeped inward. After several years of that, Kirby Berry and crew propped up our house on stilts and re-did that corner of the house for several thousand $$. In the meantime we did our best to re-carpet and de-green the place.

In the driveway

We loved most (not all) of the neighbors too. Sharps lived across the street. Amy was one of our first teen sitters. Her brothers were always playing with trucks in their garden. Reicks lived behinds us - both Jenny and Jonathon went to St. Malachy and were both were sitters for the kids. I've often wondered how Jonathon is doing - he had a stroke like brain injury as a very young man. Don and Betty Tyner lived right behind us and they were like pretend great aunts and uncles, loaning Paul their truck to haul things. Betty would ask Amy to play the piano, gushing over the resulting tinkle of the keys. Jud loved watching the construction of their screened in porch when he was 3 or so. He became the builder's best (or worst) friend. "What are you doing now?" The Owens family lived just north of Tyners. Leanne liked to come play HORSE and other games with our family - such a nice kid.

The location of our first house was perfect for school. We could walk the kids one block (Moki even came along) so they could board a bus to take them right to St. Malachy. One year Jenny Reick stopped by to walk with Amy who was so proud in her Velcro Ariel shoes.

As the kids grew up we had a lot of parties there - mostly for kids. For a while the McFees would come over on Sundays and we'd split up the meal - Bobbie would say, "I've got stuff for salad and some chops." and I'd say, "We have beans and some bread" and we'd make a meal together. I so enjoyed those times.

We loved that house - warts and all. It was our first home. There was a lot of living and love there.

great patio

A Dot on the Ocean er Lake

Riding on a boat on a big lake at night one begins to feel small. It's such a large lake, and the dark blue sky above goes on forever. The Big Dipper and the moon shone down, along with all the other sparkling stars. In the scheme of things we're all small. But I wasn't alone on the boat in the lake. I was feeling happy and pondering how fortunate I was to be sharing that time with good friends on a warm summer evening.

Paul's smile says it all

It was a weekend of fun with friends at LOTO (Lake of the Ozarks). Paul and I arrived at Al and Sharon's "Lake Place" Thursday afternoon and Bobbie and Jeff joined us soon after. We spent some time sitting on the deck enjoying the lake on a hot humid afternoon, while catching up with pals. Later, Paul and Lucy came to pick us up in their boat to go to Paradise for drinks and food. Don and Diana joined us later after they arrived in town. It was the first time we'd seen this group for a while.

Friday we woke up to a dreary day and decided the catch of the day was big breakfast at Stewart's - #massivecinnamonroll. Then the guys split off and the gals did the shopping thing - Outlet Mall. When we got back, we got some dock time in - then the rain came off and on.

McKim's place - Diana is juggling 

We went to McKim's place Friday evening for drinks and dinner (Jeff McFee's yummy homegrown beef). Donnie and Diana have continued to work on their "fixer upper" and have added a kitchen since I was here last. Very nice. They had college friends visit, including Jim with his bride Rita. Most of us had met Jim's first wife Patti - lost to devastating breast cancer. $&#* cancer. We miss you Patti.

We're so happy for Jim and enjoyed meeting Rita, who is of Armenian heritage. Her accent is so sexy. #whymespeaksoplain? Their other friend Wally is somewhat of a nut who once dug sunglasses out of a port-o-potty. That night it rained off and on, but talk and laughter poured out too!

Luckily the sun popped out Saturday morning. Bobbie, Jeff, Paul and I took a 3+ mile walk in the hills around Higgin's place. We were rewarded with a big breakfast served on a table designed and built by Al. It is built with repurposed wood from their own porch, a windmill and other odds and ends. The bench is from Alan's family farm. Sharon picked out the cool chairs. Face it they are Creston's own version of HGTV's Chip and Joanna Gaines.

We parked the boat in a cove and floated on noodles in water that was the perfect temperature. When McKims arrived, Don rolled out the "lillypad", a large foam raft. It was good to have for when the fish were biting. They didn't actually bite me...but I heard rumors and Jeff helped my get my large fanny up on top of that thing until the fish got bored. A couple pairs a glasses bit the water (not dust), including Bobbie's prescription sunglasses. Eye doc Donnie just smiled.

That boat photobombed us...

We hit a couple joints on our way back - ordering appetizers and even dancing a bit. Too bad there wasn't any karaoke! I'm sure we would have killed it. It's funny, we didn't stay out late any night. #notcrazypartiers  Yet, we still had a crazy good time.

Bobbie & Jeff "huddle Up"

Al and Sharon

On Sunday we boated to our fave place, Miller's Landing, for breakfast. One last fun ride on a fairly quiet lake before we had to head home. It's fun to see the other boats and look at the beautiful homes on the lake. Many thanks to our friends who host us and let us share their toys. #feelingthelove

Best New Years Ever!

Do you remember your best New Year's Eve celebration ever? You'd think mine would be a tale from many years ago when I was a youngster. I did whoop it up time or two back then. Alas nothing seems too memorable.

Roger and Robin with fro

There was this one time in Atlantic - at the Super Bowl. We had probably made the route from one end of town to the other (remember The Villa?) before settling there for a night of bowling and pinball. No, not really - we were boozing it up with noisemakers from the looks of these photos.

Todd Pellett and Chris Deardorff

During our child-raising years in Creston, we often "grouped up" the kids with other people's kids and a babysitter or two, before going out on the town. One year we played Pitch and other games at Cass's until 3 a.m. Another year I recall staying quite late at Crittendens - Jello Shots were served, along with Jagermeister. The guys were horrible at Pictionary.

Christmas Tree at 30 Rock

My favorite New Year's Eve wasn't all that long ago - spent in New York City after the ISU Cyclones lost the Pin Strip Bowl game. It was 2011 and we were there with McKims, McFees and Conovers - a group who knows how to spell FUN! We'd spent the day being tourists - visiting Ellis Island - so fortunate that the weather was unusually warm.

Betty's Name

Ellis Island was a moving experience - especially since Betty Brown, Diana's mother (RIP) had mad her way to the United States from Italy through there. D rubbed her name from a wall in the yard there as the sky tried to weep a bit. We walked around Wall Street that day too - bullish!

That evening we'd made the decision we weren't going to go far from our hotel, which wasn't anywhere near the dropping ball and the mobs! Dwight had scoped out a Korean restaurant for us to try. Sake anyone? We were nearly mowed down by a crazy Korean on a bike after we ate - I still chuckle about the look on Diana's face as she dove out of the way.

Just a couple blocks from our motel a new bar had opened. It was called Churchills - and Winston was even present in the restrooms, giving speeches. We were a little weary around 10ish when we got there - and it wasn't too crowded. We decided to sit in the front room which was quite empty. Dwight tried to get Marilyn to take off after one beer, but she was having no part of his ear tug signal. It was NYE in NYC!

I came up with an idea to assist this new business in attracting customers - if a group actually came in the door (we tried to look welcoming) we'd yell "SCORE!" and clap and cheer! That would make them smile and feel happy and stay. The manager was very thankful.

The place started to fill up. Towards midnight people started to dance - our group included. At one point I realized I was dancing to the New York song in New York! Thanks Frank Sinatra. Diana McKim danced with an African American woman. Then we all did YMCA together - it was very surreal.

Cheers at Churchills

We didn't get back to our hotel until after 2 a.m. The doorman was a former ISU football player - from the Dan McCarney era. We sat in our room and had just one more drink - not wanting the night to be over - it was that good!

It's fun to dance in NYC, right Donnie? 

You know when you plan a big event you have expectations that interfere with your perception of how things play out. That night I didn't have any expectations - and it was one of the best nights of my life!

Of course the next year we were at a bowl game in Memphis - it was cold and rainy. The Cyclones lost again and we didn't feel like going out. So we sat in the hotel with McKims and Conovers playing the Creston Game. We didn't have the best possible players there - Sharon and Jeff...The rules are simple. Give a couple clues and the others have to guess who you're talking about. The guys ended up having to go out for pizza and more liquor...
That was fun too - but not NYC fun...

Paul and I attended the ISU basketball game last night - pregaming at the Ehrecke's house. After the game we had a beer at Scheman with them. I was asleep in my bed by 11 p.m. No dancing for this girl this year. I'm looking forward to a good 2015 though - I'm trying to live it without built up expectations. It's more fun that way.

Indian Summer

It was the perfect Indian Summer weekend - on the last weekend of October! Bravo Mother Nature! Pablo was hunting Saturday a.m., so I thought I would attend the last Farmer's Market of 2014.

I hadn't been there five minutes before my tailgating pal Kari Ehrecke hailed me. She was there with some biker chicks - they were going to ride bikes at Neil Smith Nature Area after checking out the Market. It was a beautiful sunny day - already about 60+ degrees at about 9:15 a.m.

I walked another block and heard my name again. This time it was Kristina McFee Carroll, standing on the corner where the Bail Bonds office used to be - I miss the Monopoly sign! Krissy was on the phone talking her mom Bobbie in from her parking spot. Yay - I was joining a McFee girl get-together! Kimmy joined us a bit later. It was fun catching up with my friends. I purchased some Dutch letters and headed home about 11 a.m.

Saturday afternoon I had a chance to catch up with another long-time friend, Jane Buck. She's been laid up with a blood clot in her leg. We had a grand time trading stories and sharing memories - that gal has a steel trap of a memory. Plus we swapped medical histories. It hasn't been pretty for either of us lately. But we're determined to get better!

Not our prettiest picture...but we're still here

Paul and I had a quiet night Saturday. He enjoyed watching the baseball game. I got a kick out of a pic Jud and Kara sent - they were ready for a Halloween Party they were going to - as a Double Stuff Oreo.

There was a later pic of Jud in his Oreo watching the Giants game. That made me laugh out loud. That's my boy!

Sunday Paul headed to South Dakota to hunt pheasants with his college pals Mike and Tom. He's known them longer than he's known me! My Aunt Marty will be happy if he gets one or two - and gives them to her! She likes to cook them up.

Sunday broke as another beautiful day. Paul and I started it at the Waveland. Best Game In Town.

 He left just before noon and so did I - heading to Madison County to meet my BFF Deb for a get-together for her birthday. It's been to long since I saw that girl! We lunched and then took a walk at Pammel Park SW of Winterset, talking non-stop. As with all good friends, we took up like we'd never been apart. I'd run over to Cheesecake Factory (they're our neighbors) and picked up a couple slices - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for her and Tiramasu for me. We ate that before we each headed home. It was a great afternoon! Except Paul was gone when I came home. Good thing Odie was here.


It was so quiet I called Amy and Mary Faber. I'm about talked out. Time for bed!

LOTO 2014

Pablo and I didn't understand the acronym at first when Donnie McKim emailed with the heading LOTO. Lots of terrible offers? Leap Off To Order?

I even googled it. Nothing. Then it hit me. Lake of the Ozarks. Yay - we love going to LOTO! We are friends with people who own property there. (and yes...we'd like 'em anyway without all their cool homes and stuff).

McKims purchased a place two years ago and Sharon and Allan Higgins are working on their third home there. I don't think you can call it "flipping" when you own each place that long. Both fams are turning diamonds (okay maybe they were rhinestones) in the rough into beautiful lake homes.

To save vacation time, I put a whole week of work hours in Monday through Wednesday. Working at the Iowa State Fair helped. I enjoy talking to people about all things environmental. And choosing what to eat during my break. #corndog, #pulledturkey, #lemonade.

On the McKim deck - flying the colors!
 

We took off for LOTO early Thursday. McKims, McFees and Higgins had all arrived prior. The guys got their handyman fix that afternoon - around the McKim place. We girls did some deck time. Later we headed out on the McKim 'toon (that's pontoon for you landlubbers) for wings and brews.

McKims' daughter Katie was there with her nifty doggy Lena - who loves to swim and ride in the boat. She's a golden doodle and the calmest pup ever - except when she sees ducks.

Sharon with Katie and Lena

On Friday, Katie headed out for home - we missed her and Lena. We headed out on the boat towards the dam - to meet our little buddy Judson. He'd never been to this lake. As a Missouri resident for 3+ years now it was about time. He drove down from St. Louis. Nice of Don and Dee to allow us to invite him along. GF Kara was working in Alabama - jealous girl! We met him at a bar and off we went to Coconuts!

We didn't actually stop at the Hillbilly Yacht Club - but the pic is effective

Coconuts - meat market! Fun to watch the activities

We didn't stay for "foam" and the band at 9:30 p.m. at Shady Gators...

Saturday started out a bit rainy. We ate breakfast in town and the boys did "errands". They did stop at a number of manly places like Mennards but I think some beer was involved. The girls went to the outlet mall. By late morning the clouds had mostly parted - it was boatin' time!

We proceeded to Snake Cove (named because of its snakey shape) to show Jud what "floating" is all about. Lake + noodles or some other flotation device and a beverage. We passed a group of dads and sons (ages 8-11ish) with a pontoon that had a diving platform roof. Some boys were doing flips. We applauded and egged them on. This is livin' ya'll.

My boys

After I'd floated for like 10 minutes Jud pointed out a snake swimming about 10 yards away from us - headed across the cove. Then it went under the water. Yikes! There was a made scramble as Bobbie got out of the water. Dee never got in. We were OVER Snake Cove - that was apparently not just named after the shape of the cove...


We ended up motoring to a more open area, tying the Lena (I'm trying out names for the McKim boat) up to a boat owned by a group from Cedar Rapids.  They are younger folks, likely in their early 40's, late 30's. They had a great sound system and were fun to talk to. No snakes. I loved floating with Jud and talking about life. #pricelessmoments

Now I see why it rained a bit on us. A bit cloudy!

That night we grilled hamburgers at McKims - excited to make it past 10 p.m. (I rested my eyes a bit earlier). I admit - I'm one of the first to bail out for bed. Sun, fun and liquor tire me out. In a good way!

We headed home early Sunday, a shade darker than lily white, despite application of oodles of sunscreen. The older I get, the more I appreciate good times with fam and friends. #luckygirl.

The boys...Jeff gave Jud valuable coffee drinking advice. Add Bailey's.