People Who Need People

So we went someplace. That was big!

Paul and I made our usual trek to Colorado over Memorial Weekend. Except it wasn't usual due to the pandemic. This year we prepared our own sandwiches to eat on the road. We loaded up with hand sanitizer and wipes for the car. We each made sure we had our masks along with backup masks. And then packed for Colorado weather - Denver and the mountains, so that means summer and winter!

We took off for Colorado the Friday before Memorial Day around 6:30 a.m. On our drive, we talked about the fact that our last trip before the shutdown had been our Colorado ski trip with our college pals. Covid 19 was just breaking out all over the country and we had no idea what the implications would be. It's a different world today.

Most people say derogatory things about the I-80 drive - across western Iowa, all of Nebraska and eastern Colorado. It takes us around nine hours using the Dave Bullock method - few stops.

It was beautiful - and not just because my eyes and heart were yearning for a change from my quarantine sites. Spring is such a lovely time of year and the rolling plains have experienced plenty of rain so everything is popping. When the Interstate Highway was built, plenty of "borrow" pit type lakes were built along the road, making for nice little wildlife, fishing areas. Shallow rivers flow along the road as well. People complain about how boring Nebraska is - not me! I think it's beautiful. Cornhusker fans...well, we won't talk about them.

Eastern Colorado gets a bit stark, but near Fort Morgan you start seeing a shadow along the terrain and realize, those are mountains, not clouds! We made this drive often when I was a kid because our cousins and auntie live in Denver. Dad would say "first person to see the mountains gets a Popsicle!" In the past, Denver often had some pollution hanging over the city. That day it was clear as a bell. Each time I make that drive I always think of those who made the trip in a covered wagon. Can you imagine their first look at those mountains? How did they ever do it? Hats off to the intrepid settlers of our great country. 

I was disappointed that when we stopped to gas up outside of Lincoln. Few people had masks on inside the store. Omaha was a hotspot at that point, with hospitals concerned they could be overwhelmed. The workers are the vulnerable ones. I wear mine for them. And to keep myself from touching my face. Our other stop was in Eastern Colorado at a small station where I couldn't bring myself to go inside as it was crowded with people. I'm just not comfortable being that close to lots of strangers - even when I have a mask on. I don't know when my Covid claustrophobia subside.

It was so good to see Amy and Corey. They've been sticking close to home, with Corey teleworking for his job with Syncroness, an engineering and product development firm, and Amy continuing her graphic design biz Gold Spark Design. She reported business dropped off early in the shutdown but has mostly bounced back. Usually, when we go to Denver we like to check out fab restaurants they like. That night we hung out at their place and they cooked for us. The rooftop deck is wonderful! The shut down has encouraged A&C, like most of us, to cook at home more. My fave was the twice-baked sweet potato Amy made. Corey grilled a nice rib-eye from a local meat market. We enjoyed just being with them and got to take the pups, Franklin and Eros, on a walk.

On Saturday morning we walked to a coffee shop. Wearing masks, we took turns going in for coffee and delish pastries. Who doesn't love an almond croissant? We love our kids and time with them was a much-needed salve.

Then we were off, driving up the mountain to sister Cindo's. We so missed our time together with Colby and her that was scheduled for early April in Marco Island, Florida. And Cindy and I were supposed to be with sisters Betsy and Susan on a cruise in France that week, returning Memorial Day. Paul helped Cindy with hard work - picking up and spreading mulch. Cindy invited a few friends that she sees frequently over for supper. Colby and girlfriend Kathleen came too.

The last night we went to our friends Bonnie and Eric's for a retirement party for Eric and the Sanders, another couple we've spent many Christmas dinners with. Shiloy and Jim Sanders retired from their jobs recently too. I sat at the dinner table that Monday night after a fab meal, just drinking in laughter and camaraderie with friends. Hugs and handshakes were out, but we were still together. Hand sanitizer was provided. There is such simple joy in physically being with others. Zoom has been great, but it will never replace this.

On Tuesday we drove to Iowa - back to our new/old life. I'm putting together a small consulting business aimed at assisting stakeholders that I formerly worked with when I was employed by DNR. Just starting a business has been an adventure! When I tried to set up an EIN (biz tax number) IRS told me Thursday that Social Security told them I'm dead. The national Social Security office guy reassured me that I'm not dead in their eyes, but didn't want to provide paperwork. The nice gentleman suggested I call the local office. I waited and tried filling out the online form on Friday and Yes! Lessarus had risen from the dead in IRS's eyes. Maybe it helped that I "unfroze" our credit. No matter what, I was no longer dead and have an EIN.

Now in addition to my usual schedule of reading, jigsaw puzzles, exercise, and household upkeep, I'll slowly start to market the biz - Goldsmith Environmental Consulting. The Trash Lady is back!

Amy designed this awesome logo for me! 

Note: we talked to Jud recently and got an adorable pic of DIL Kara - now around 25 weeks pregnant. They continue to work from home too. They are working on the baby's room and got a new to them vehicle, prepping to carry the precious cargo and 2 dogs. We hope to see them in June. For now, we'll continue laying low. We hope you and your families are well! Take care.

The shorts were wishful thinking...

Paul and Leslie's excellent adventure was a bit chilly and wet this year. Fortunately, each time we were outside it didn't rain too hard. But I didn't end up wearing the two pairs of shorts I took along.

We started out from DSM on Thursday about noon and hit Ogallala, Nebraska early that evening. The first hotel I'd booked admitted that the pet friendly rooms were really just smoker's rooms. That was a no go. We ended up across the Interstate at a Quality Inn. After checking in, we trekked north through town towards Lake McConaughy and found a delish local burger joint. On the way back we spied this swell sign - a lanky cowboy salute.

I kinda wished we'd eaten at the Front Street Café...

Water was high throughout western Nebraska. Our hotel was perched right on the Platte River and there were sandbags sitting ominously close. I don't recall seeing the rivers so high.

On Friday morning it was strange to head north instead of south back to the Interstate - our usual route to Denver. It sprinkled rain lightly as we got out of the Subaru to view the huge lake, which is about three times as big as Iowa's largest lake - Red Rock near Pella, Iowa. There were just a few hardy fishermen about.

Then we were off to Chimney Rock. We paid $3 whole dollars each to view the museum, set out in the middle of no where in NW Nebraska. The view alone was worth it - along with the ten minute video which was chock full o historical information on the story of the westward trail. The Chimney was a welcome landmark as pioneers made their way across the continent in wagons with oxen and horses. From there, Paul and I headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming - lucking into a fab lunch at a cute place filled with kitsch and memorabilia in downtown called Sanford's. I enjoyed a French Dip in a bun that had been quickly fried - wowwy.

Paul
 and Odie near Fort Collins

Fort Collins was the next destination - a real surprise, as it was much larger than we expected. The downtown was large and full of local and national restaurants and stores, with historical buildings. We drove through the compact looking campus that boasts 30,000 plus students. Two of my great nieces attend the school. ISU's former basketball coach Larry Eustacy calls it home. On Amy's advice we drove west of town to Horsetooth Road onto the dam above the city on the reservoir. Gorgeous view.

It's not far from Fort Collins to Denver - and the area in between the two is nearly all developed. Traffic was constant in between the two cities and our GPS kept saying "Traffic Jam Ahead!" We arrived at Amy's late Friday afternoon. Odie was thrilled to see her sissy and Amy's roomie Megan.

That night Amy took us to a big refurbished warehouse in an industrial area filled with several businesses including a brewery that makes only sour beer. We ordered a sampler "flight". Then we ate with three of Amy's friends - Mexican food from a place that had formerly only been a food truck. It was fun! I hope I didn't bore Gail with my pep talk on "you don't have to be an accountant at your present icky job forever." I told her of my crazy career path to my present dream (not feeling it this week!) job.

Amy with sour beer

I love Denver and have enjoyed exploring new places there through the years that Amy has called it home. The next morning we were off to Vail to pick up Cindo to head to Susan's in Grand Junction.

Nebraska

Enough of the "Dear Diary" posts. I like to do those - kind of a report for those family and friends who are not with me - and are interested. I know they're not the most interesting to many of my tens of readers...on to another type of Blog:

Have you heard of the movie "Nebraska"? I first did whilst watching the CBS Sunday Morning show earlier this fall. Bruce Dern was featured. Paul and I have wanted to attend a movie for quite some time - but we haven't been able to work it in. There are several out we'd like to see.

I surprised Paul though when, after perusing the movie schedule yesterday, I told him I wanted to see the limited run movie, "Nebraska". He'd never heard of it. He'd been hunting when I'd seen the piece on it that Sunday morning. Give it up to the guy though. He didn't argue. That's why we have stayed happily married for 31+ years. I know when to give in and he wasn't dying to see any of those other movies. So he went along with it.

The movie was playing at the Varsity Theater - in the Drake neighborhood, just off University at 25th. I was also feeling a bit tired of Jordan Creek Mall - another reason to go that route. We attended 4:30 p.m. Mass and headed to the Drake area Jethro's for some BBQ. Their wings are our favorite. The waitress was very good and we split a meal for one.

The Varsity is a chain of one - locally owned. Tickets are $7.50 and between those, popcorn and a soda, we paid $20 - half the price of the same stuff at the big chain places. For this particular film, most of the audience was - well, older. The theater itself is narrow but large. There was music playing, but we weren't tortured with any commercials or admonishments to turn off our cell phones. Or even any trailers for coming films. The movie started promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The movie is filmed in black and white. The premise is that Nebraska native Bruce Dern (Woody) lives in Billings, Montana. He's a drinker, a Korean war vet and is around 80 years old. He's received one of those sweepstakes letters saying "You've Won!". And he believes it. He thinks he needs to get to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his prize of $1 Million. He starts walking because he doesn't have a license. He's relentless.

His son Davey, played by Will Forte, of Saturday Night Live fame, bumbles into driving him to Lincoln - to the dismay of wife/mother and older brother. On the way, they end up getting sidetracked to Woody's small-town Nebraska hometown. Mom takes the bus in. They all stay with Woody's brother and they have a family gathering with more family members - a stoic bunch to say the least. Woody lets it leak at the local bar that he's soon to come into a small fortune. Of course this travels like wildfire around the town - which if you've ever spent time in a small town, you'll recognize.
Loved this character: newspaper lady

The mom, played by June Squibb, should get an Oscar in my view - she was deliciously evil and real. What a mouth she had on her - Paul told me there would be a "hunting trip" in store for me if I became that woman. One I wouldn't come home from. I think he was kidding.

The cemetery scene is cutting and then hilarious. Brother Robbie shows up and the whole family visits Woody's homestead - a decrepit house on a farm. Paul could relate to some of the farm scenes. But just when you start feeling a little melancholy - the directory/screenplay adds some hi-jinx, or a comment from the mom or a cousin that makes you laugh.

Nebraska - it's not going to be a popular hit. I kinda dragged Paul there kicking and silently screaming. (and bribed him with Jethro's wings) But we ended up discussing that film more than we have any others we've seen in recent memory. And the ending is perfect!

We came home and watched football. Kansas State kicked Michigan's butts. Big 12! Good night.