The traveler is back (my 1,100th BLOG!)

Light the fireworks - it's my 1,100th Blog! Hard to believe, when I started writing this blog a few years ago, that I'd be where I am today. I'm a happy blogger - no longer the same kind of commuter that I was when I began writing this blog. But glad to still have a forum for my thoughts, memories and words. Thanks readers!

I don't sleep well when my baby is gone. Which seems dumb since he kinda snores - even worse than Odie! I even drag my feet at going to bed when he's not around - staying up later than usual.

This past week I worked on Genealogy stuff on my computer - the Morehead clan (Mom's fam). They originated in Bedford County, Pennsylvania and ended up in eastern Iowa - around Tipton. I know it seems dumb, but I get jacked up when I find a grave or Internet information and can fill in a birth or death date. Right now it's all on a free site - which is dumb. I need to get it all someplace I control. I plan to sign up for a genealogy class West Des Moines is hosting this fall - then I'll get some good tips!

Kevin and Al - hunting mates - both do what Paul used to for the Natural Resources Conservation Services

Paul arrived home from his hunting trip early this morning - causing me to get only a few hours sleep. Odie was pretty excited to see her papa! Of course after he showered (it had been 7+ days - the man was stinky!) he climbed into to bed and we talked for a half hour or so. Then we got up around 7 and hit the Farmer's Market. He's craving carbs and a breakfast burrito hit the spot! We did a bunch of other shopping too. So great to have my partner in crime back home!


That's Al up there

Of course we had to tell each other all the news and stories we stored up throughout the time we were apart. Me - work and other stuff. Him - hunting. You must know this involves all the nuances of hunting. No - you don't understand if you've never been married to a hunter. Jeanne Piel gets it! She and I used to laugh about how Rick and Paul would relate their hunting stories to us: "The (insert animal or bird) turned (insert direction) it went (insert the description of the landscape the creature went through or over). It's head turned (insert). The (antlers/beard/length of fish) was X.

My honey

The only thing nearly as scintillating as that is hearing a play-by-play of your spouse's golf game. I got to hear more today - even the second hand story of Al's big miss. I smile and nod. Hey it's important to him. I'm sure some of the things I tell him are not all that exciting. You've seen the Owl commercial? I love that one - it goes something like this: (I think it's about all men). Her "I'll be home late I'm having a drink with Charlene from work" Him - "Who?" Her: "You know - Charlene" Him "Who?"

Despite the fact that he doesn't often really listen to what I have to say, I'm so very happy to have Pablo back to say "Who?". We went to church tonight at 4:30. Father Jim Kiernan (retired) filled in. He's a chaplain. His phone started ringing as he preached - he finally answered it - we could hear it through is microphone. He said, "they probably want me at the hospital but I'm stuck with you!" He's a funny guy who is old enough he tells it like it is!

During his sermon, he talked right to the kids as well as the oldsters like us. He asked them if they said "hi" to the unpopular kids. Fr. Jim used to teach at St. Alberts High School - He was used to teaching teens and was called upon to talk to younger kids a few times. He hated it. He said third graders all raise their hands like they know everything - then, when called upon, they just say anything that comes into their heads.

Father told the St. Francis girls they were beautiful but  - "you boys are ugly", he said. He said it's his usual line when he works with school kids. He said at one school a boy stood up and said, "but Father, you're one of us!" That got a laugh. Father Kiernan always gives a running description of what each part of the Mass means. I like that. He's a "tell it like it is guy".

After church we went to Granite City for drinks and dinner. We sat outside, and spied Ray and Bev Courtney leaving the restaurant with son Tyler and his fam. Creston connections are truly everywhere in DSM.

Vino Welcome

Francis welcomed us to our new church last night at a Wine and Cheese Party. That's Francis of Assisi and no he wasn't really there.

I love his prayer - my fave prayer of all time.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Now that's a prayer we can all live by.

Twice a year, the largest parish in the state holds this welcome party for newcomers. We are new, and when we attend church, we don't know anyone. So after attending Iowa State's Men's Basketball game that afternoon, we went to 4:30 Mass, and we stuck around for the event that started at 6 p.m. in a room attached to the church via a hallway.

Joan Anderson, newcomer coordinator greeted us. Several parish members were there to help "break the ice". Besides Paul and me, there were about 25 other people. We chatted with several, and then sat down for a short program. Father Bob Hoefler likes roots - he had us all go around to say where we were born. He made 3 columns on the chalkboard. Iowa, Not and Not/Not.

I found it quite interesting to hear where each person in the group was born. There were 3 Not/Nots. One gentleman was from Syria, Father George Koro is from Kenya (not Nigeria) and another young woman attending is from there too. The rest of us were from regular 'ol Iowa and there were a few born in places like Texas, North Carolina and California.

Father Bob has been around. He grew up in NW Iowa and taught school in Indianola for a while. He's battling prostate cancer that is now in his bones. Damn stuff. He made the point that no matter where you are from, the Catholic Mass is universal - it's the same. You can attend it anywhere and pretty much know what you're gonna get.

Joan gave the history of the parish - it's been around just since 1991, started when this area started to grow. The buildings started to go up later that decade on 15 acres on Ashworth Road, a bit east of the Lutheran Church of Hope you see on Jordan Creek Parkway. The parish claims just under 3,000 families - some 9,000 people. Yikes, that's more than Creston's population! There is a school - pre-K through 8th grade.

Next we all had a chance to talk about where we moved from, our background, jobs etc. Many people spoke about why they were joining the parish. They had tried attending some other churches around Des Moines. But they chose St. Francis. Some travel quite a ways each week to this church. They spoke of the sense of community here. For Paul and me - we didn't shop around. For us it's a matter of location - this church is by where we live. We must have lucked out!

We like both priests and the location. It sounds like St. Francis has a nice sense of community and a good school. Now....if the Catholic Church could only solve that Pope issue...I'm with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne.
EJ Dionne column
How about a nun? (Yeah, I didn't mention that last night...)