LOTO Jammin'

It was the last of my summer excursions - but one I look forward to every year. We got invited once again to Lake of the Ozarks (LOTO). Paul and I feel so fortunate that we have friends in low (on the map) places.

This year we added one more couple to the mix as Bobbie and Jeff purchased a lake place. We looked at this house with them one year ago. Wow. The beautiful lake home we visited this weekend didn't resemble the ramshackle, not updated for years, filled with knickknacks place we saw in 2017. The McFees have put in some work (mostly Bobbie). Walls have been reconfigured so it's pretty much a whole new place inside the shell. It has 3 full baths and 4 bedrooms, with an open kitchen and all new appliances. Okay, all new everything. Plus they replaced the old rickety deck with a new larger one.

Paul and I did get in on the "fix up" fun. Nothing too taxing for me of course. I was on paint patrol - dabbing those darn missed spots one finds after painting. Paul and Jeff installed knobs and a barn door in the master bath (Joanna Gaines has nothing on Bobbie). Joanie McFee, my former roomie, and Jeff's sis was there. Yay!

I miss Joan. She let me live with her for around 4 years Monday through Thursday as I commuted from Creston to my new job in the big city. Her Waukee home housed many roomies through the years. I shared space with Bobbie and Jeff's nieces Kristina and Kim over the years. It was fun getting to know them better (as adults, not as tiny playmates for our kids). Now that I don't see Joan weekly, I miss her!

At the new lake place, Joan was in charge of painting around the deck door while Bobbie cleaned up the downstairs living room. Bobbie and Jeff are considering renting the place once it's ready for prime time. Check out the view.

view at Bobbie and Jeff's

 On Friday when we arrived at LOTO, we had a great lunch complete with sweet corn. Then we hung out on the boat dock until the McKim party (Don, Diana, and their college pal Wally) picked us up in the party pontoon. I always love cruising on this big lake where you can go for so many miles checking out the beautiful homes and boats. Until you stop at a bar.

We went to Fish and Company first. It was a lovely day to hang out with friends with beverages at a bar on the lake. We listened to Dale Blue a solo performer who is part owner of the joint. He's great at involving the crowd. That afternoon, there was a big group of young women dancing and joining him on stage.

love the photo bombers

Then, at one point they cleared out. He looked at me and said, "Hey visor girl, bring your friends up here on the stage." It was Sweet Home Alabama. I started with a tambourine - but after glancing at the chick to my right with the fake guitar, I knew I had to take action. She didn't know how to fake play it AT ALL. I gave her "the look" and she turned it over to me. She wasn't guitar material. I rocked it! My first and last guitar gig.

Later, we danced. "Survey said, drinks up!" We always have fun at LOTO bars.

At our next stop, we were joined by more buddies. Sharon and Al along with Rita and Jim (more McKim college pals). The gang was here! We got some snacks and drinks and caught up with each other. I miss these people! We got to ride back to Bobbie and Jeff's in a boat in the dark. Cap'n Al at the wheel. So cool.

Saturday we sat on that nice new deck for coffee and breakfast. Then we did that bit of work for our keep. The rest of the afternoon involved hanging out on the dock.

Birthday boy - second from left with his lovely wife and college pals

That night was the big birthday party for Jim at McKims. The same cast of characters plus Lucy Eckhoff. and Bob Snodgrass. Cake and balloons were delivered at 6:30 p.m. Jim was surprised and delighted (I think). Even more than the cake, the birthday boy liked the electric bug zapper on the deck. We all have sore ribs today from laughing at Wally's comedic gigs involving a possum and a trash can and swimming noodles. The guy should quit his day job and do stand-up. We sat on McKim's deck until midnight. Another great day with friends - in the books.

view from McKim's deck at night

Today we drove home fairly early. Joan rode with us. The trip takes just over 5 hours with few stops - so we took advantage by catching up even more on Crestonites and her fam and friends. Weekends like this one - priceless!





 







 

Rob the Cradle

Paul turned sixty years old this week. Now he's my age once again.

As his birthday approached, I sensed he was apprehensive about this age milestone.

Sixty seems like reverse puberty. We'll be going through some changes during this decade. Aging bodies and finishing up our careers. It's exciting! And scary. I wrote the blog about this very thing when I turned sixty. March 1 was Paul's turn to join the 60 Club. He warned me - he wanted no surprises.

What does one do if he doesn't want a "party" for his birthday? We planned a pub crawl of course! Our tailgating pals, Ehreckes and McKims came to DSM to celebrate with us on Friday night. It was Kari's big bday earlier in the week, so we had 2 to celebrate.

Initially, Paul planned about five stops. I reminded him that we're 60 (except those youngster McKims).

We started at Peace Tree. It's a Quonset hut brewpub in the East Village. The place is named after a magical tree in the area that is now Lake Red Rock, near Pleasantville. As you can tell, I didn't think to snap the photo until we nearly drained our beers. We did take our own snacks - something that is welcomed at the places that don't sell food.

Then we went to the larger joint, Confluence in a warehouse area off Bell Avenue near Grays Lake. Paul and I usually enter through the other door, biking in. Confluence sells beer all over the state and one can find their beer on tap many places. After I took this pic, Kevin and Kari's daughter Kacie joined us. She recently moved back to Iowa from California and said she had fun hanging with the oldsters. It was nice to see her.

Our last stop before supper was Carl's Place. Because you need a good dive bar to bring you back to your small town Iowa roots.

Carl's is located near Hoyt Sherman on Woodland Avenue. It was hopping - filled with young people. In fact, Donnie tracked down one other group of older people for us to talk with. They too had noticed that we raised the average age of the joint. We watched the end of the ISU/Oklahoma game on the big screen. The Cyclones young team gives us reason for hope for next year. Plus ISU is really a football school, right? haha

We stopped at Gilroy's Kitchen for pizza on our way home. The conversation had me laughing so hard. Watching Paul laugh was fun too. Kevin can be quite entertaining and is a good artist. When we got home, Odie was so overjoyed to see that we brought friends with us.

Saturday morning we tried a breakfast casserole I put together Friday afternoon. Sausage, hashbrown, eggs, and cheese - nothing fancy, but filling. We are already excited about the football season and tailgating. Seven games this year! This is a good group to be sixty with. 

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 

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.

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.

My favorite Millennials and other stuff

The Pew Research Center reports (Link Here) that change is a comin' ya'll. The Millennials (people now ages 18 to 33) are set to take over. And they're...um, different. Our children Jud (25) and Amy (28) fit into that group. Reading this report makes it very clear - they aren't will likely never be mini-me Paul and Leslie.

We kinda already knew that. Though when Jud was little, he did look like a mini-Paul - at least in looks and build. He was wiry and athletic with sandy blonde hair. Then he turned 15 and grew large Bullock legs and tall.

Amy always had Goldsmith type features but a Bullock build. They're both fair of skin - a trait they get from both sides, those lucky ducks! Genius and athletic skills - we both claim those genes. That's the "nature" part of the equation of who they are.

But those Millennial attitudes, the "nurture" - who knew that would be such a strong piece of who this group of people would turn out to be across America. The Pew Report sheds some light on this. I think we need to take some of it with a grain of salt however - survey anyone at age 18 or 22...they may answer very differently than 10 years later. Or not.

I won't waste time posting data from the report - click on the link - it's easy to read and very interesting. We need to remember - these are generalizations. It doesn't mean every person in these groups is like this. I bet the Silent Generation's (age 69-86) take on my peeps - the Boomers, wasn't (isn't?) necessarily all that flattering either. Talkin' 'bout my generation....

I'll be the first to admit - when considering what Millennials are doing, saying etc. I sometimes must run it through my "filter" before speaking or reacting. I must remember - this is not the America that I grew up in. That "our" formula of securing a job (any would do - even if you didn't really like it), finding a mate and the matching marriage and birthing babies didn't ever really guarantee "happily ever after". Especially if you didn't ever make to the promised land of retirement - or if you didn't have enough cash once you got there to actually enjoy life. You could keel over from a heart attach, become an alcoholic or ...you know the pitfalls....

Again - these are generalizations - Baby Boomers weren't/aren't all like this. But many are - and expect the younger generation to follow that path. Eyebrows are raised when they don't. And if you read this report - they're going to need a brow lift...less church, less belonging to political parties, only 26% married.

Remember Boomers - be nice to them - they'll be taking care of us in the nursing home someday!


Sweet Dreams:

You know that point right when you're falling asleep...and your thoughts are kinda goofy? We had just watched the Oscars and I had Brad Pitt in my head and all of the sudden Ginger Deardorff's smiling face popped in too. What?

 

Isn't that a hoot? I appreciated how cute she was - that great grin! Then I fell asleep. But I didn't forget it by morning. So Ginger might be gone - but never forgotten. And she seems to be haunting me somehow....perhaps she was reminding me to vacuum my house as it HAD been a while. (Ginger was always a stickler for weekly vacuuming/cleaning - her daughter Chris, my friend, has followed in her footsteps - me - not so much).

 

Friday Night we met newly transplanted Crestonites John and Lois Rose at the Rock Bottom Brewery in West DSM for a beer and supper. The Roses were long time teachers in Creston. John also coached football with Dick Bergstrom. They moved to WDM last April. It was fun to shoot the Creston breeze and hear about each others' families. Lois and John are heading to England this spring where John spent a year teaching in the early 80's. Sounds like a cool trip. It was a fun night and the beer was good too.

Spring? Plus Paul paying for my swag...

 

Strong Heart

We headed to Ames, Iowa Saturday - stopping at Jax in West Ames for the spring sale. I enjoyed the little bit of spring in the doorway on the south side - flowers. (and the very cool clothes, socks and sandals)

 

It was Senior Day - and I must admit I was a bit sentimental (translate - teary old woman) when they introduced our senior players. Melvin Ejim has been with this team from the beginning with Coach Fred Hoiberg. He's an Academic All American. DeAndre Kane is a one year player who has made all the difference this year. It's hard to say goodbye.

 

But oh what a game vs. Oklahoma State University. And it was fantastic sophomore Naz Long that made an unbelievable 3-pointer to tie it up when it looked like all was lost - and with 2 stars fouled out the Cyclones found a way to win.

 

Beer was flowing at the Scheman Building (adjacent to Hilton Colesium - home of the Magic) after the game. We met up with our friends the McKims and Davenport peeps Ehreckes and other new friends. Lots of others - the place was packed. Every time the replay of Naz's shot was shown on the many TVs on ESPN the crowd cheered wildly! It was a good day.

Packed weekend

Whooo coach - I'm still exhausted. That was a brisk pace for this not quite so youngster. We got up Friday morning and headed south on I-35 towards Oklahoma. There is a toll road through Kansas and they collect some change, boy - $12! But we finally crossed the line into the windy state - and it was whipping on the plains.

About 10 minutes after we checked into the Sooner Legends Hotel, the McKims pulled in the parking lot - Don, Diana along with Diana's sis Barb and Katie's pup Lena. Quite a hotel - full of Sooner memorabilia. Later, Ryan's girlfriend was due to arrive with her folks - they're from Clinton. Laura is still in school at ISU and is a nanny for the children of one of the ISU coach's children.

We stopped at the attached bar for a couple drinks - but we sat outside so Lena could join us. Oklahoma allows smokers in their bars - it was like a time warp. Yuck! We had supper plans for a local legend restaurant - The Mont.

We headed there to meet up with the Conovers. Dwight, Marilyn and their son Phillip had driven down from Des Moines, arriving shortly after we did. They with friends they were staying with from Tulsa who own a condo in town. After we were there a while, Don's sister Denise showed up with McKim's daughter Katie who had stayed been bunking with them. OU Sooner staffer Ryan McKim joined us as well. Along with the Sooner marching band...playing - you guessed it - Boomer Sooner. I had a nice chat with Denise - she is a guidance counselor at a school near Dallas. Nice lady, as are all the McKims.

Saturday was game day baby! Thanks to our local hosts and tickets and a parking pass courtesy of Ryan McKim, we had a great time. If only the Cyclones could have played a whole game! Tailgating at OU is quite gentrified - not at all rowdy as it can be in Ames. That might be due to the early start (11 a.m.) but I was amazed how quiet everyone was. No rowdy music or loud cornhole games going on in the parking lot!

The guys went to pick up our tickets at Will Call and ended up at the Conover's hosts' tailgate location - right by the OU Daily paper building on campus. I enjoyed walking on campus - there were actually trees there! I pushed a strange button on my camera so pay no attention to the weird face on the photo!

 

Marilyn and Phil with Laura (Ryan's GF) and Dee in the background

 

Paul with Laura's dad on the left

Dwight points out the thing to Laura's Mom

Finally, it was game time. The good stuff all happened when we sat in our real seats. We eventually moved down by Laura and her folks - next to all the OU recruits. It's fun to sit that close to the action - but I wish ISU could have supplied some excitement. We did get to see OU coach Barry Switzer up close and personal.  The second half was brutal - OU scored something like 38 points straight.

Love this couple's reaction to ISU scoring first!

Barry Switzer - red shirt

After the game - we needed a drink!

We drove out to see the football coach's mansion (from outside the gate) after the game. Then we watched football in our hotel room and ordered pizza. The next day we had a big ISU basketball game to catch! But that's another blog...

Selfie - an OU guy carved from a tree stump