As I headed into the REI Store today my nose dripped. I was tempted to wipe it with my nice soft gloves. Turning them into - snot gloves. That phrase always brings back memories of college.
Wind up the way back machine - I'm off!
College is about many things. I'm sure that online are very valuable and can lead to very rewarding careers. And commuting to and from college to get one's degree is perfectly acceptable and in many cases necessary.
Call me old fashioned - I think if one can attend college and live there, right on campus, that's the way to go. In my opinion the college experience and the lifestyle are essential aspects of higher education. They certainly were for me.
I grew up in a household of all girls. Though we had bodily functions at our house, let's just say my Mom kept a pretty tight lid on things. My god she had made up names (from her side of the fam?) for all of the "unmentionable" body parts. Skows, pudgy, tinkler and fanny. I think you can figure it out.
So it took going to college for me to actually get to know guys as close friends - in all their male grossness. The two fellas I got to know the best were Steve Hauser and Steve (Moose) Wilt. Those two taught me the term snot glove - a phrase that would have never been bantered about in the early upbringing days of the Bullock girls. Oh, our woolen mittens had lots of snot on them - we just didn't talk about it.
Of course not too long after I learned about snot gloves, while on a ski trip Paul Goldsmith showed me the not-so-delightful farmer's "nose-blow right onto the ground". OMG! (at that point I didn't know I'd marry the guy someday). My father sold lingerie and was never caught without a handkerchief! Paul's family farmed. Digging for a hankie with dirty, greasy hands wasn't an option.
Can one learn all of these delightful bodily fluid related things outside of a four year institution of higher learner. Hell yes! Lots of places. There were many other things about college life that were part of my education - sharing my life 24/7 with others gaining their degrees.
Just a short story with an opinion - helping explain the somewhat warped, sarcastic and goofy person I am today.
Showing posts with label Steve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2015
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Surfin' the Wave again (after the Cyclone loss)
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| All good eggs! Barb, Steve, Jean, Paul, Mike |
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| Mom and son |
You know it's not really even the food - which is good but not fabulous. It's just breakfast and is priced accordingly. Unlike some of the franchise joints...
Our Brother-In-Law continues to progress in in treatment after a brain injury from a fall two weeks ago. Jean and Dave's son Steve, who lives in San Diego with wife Jen and 3 children, was here for a couple days. It was nice to hang out with Steve who was a Mass server at our wedding back in 1982. His mom played the organ.
Steve and fam don't make it back to Iowa much - busy lives raising those kids. The oldest, Will, is on the surf team. Caroline takes dance lessons at a place where Phil Mickelson's daughter does. They sat by the Mickelson family at the dance recital. Jen's mom is a Phil groupie so she got the Phil seat - right next to him. You don't get stuff like that at Leslie's Dance Emporium (Creston) recitals...where Amy was a pickle in her one and only recital. Okay - maybe she wasn't a pickle, but we did recycle the leotard she wore (those things are expensive) into a Vlassic for Halloween.
Our niece Barb (sister Carol's daughter) and husband Mike are back from their spring break trip to Tampa. So they were able to meet us at the Waveland Café for breakfast too. Daughter Mandy - a frosh at Dowling Catholic, was busy.
We're all Cyclone Fans. We had decided to meet at the Waveland at 8:30 a.m. - "crazy busy" time at that place. When I woke up this morning, I knew Pablo and I needed to get there early to stake out the one and only big table in the joint. We hovered over the fam finishing up there. That was a good plan.
Once everyone arrived, the early talk was all about the ISU vs. UCON game of course. Steve and Barb are both ISU accounting grads, Mike - logistics like Jud. So we lamented. No matter what, it sure was a magical season - one where we won many games right at the end. This team loves each other and we love them. Oh sure, if we only had Georges, our player who broke his foot a couple games ago. We mighta...but that's sports. And life. I'm encouraged about the direction of this program. Go Cyclones!
We talked about the real reason we were together - the patient - Dave. He's progressing well but he and Jean will still have struggles ahead. The medical team is trying to get his meds right - so he's not agitated but not droopy. We want to old Dave back! When he goes home he won't be able to be alone for a while, so that will be a burden. My how life can change quickly.
Seeing Steve was fun, though we'd rather do it for a good reason - not an injury! Paul and I agree - it's nice to be in DSM to be able to see family more on occasions like this.
One week until sunny Florida! #countdown.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
More characters
I considered writing about many of the wonderful...and some not so great teachers in the Atlantic School System. There were some of the good ones were - Lowell Clausen, Richard (Senor) Seufort, Jeanne Howarth, Thane Hascall, Larry Lyons. Others...I could go on.
During my college years I met some interesting folks too - there was that gal from our dorm floor who picked her nose in the TV room. She was in vet school - I'll bet she fit right in with the animals.
I know this breaks my vow to not talk about people I still hang out with...but this is about them long ago - so it's like other people right? We first met our friends Moose and Steve Hauser when they volunteered to coach our dorm floor in flag football. They were (are?) quite the characters too. Moose would punch Hauser in the arm and Hauser would yell, "You clipped me Moose at the top of his lungs." We loved hanging out on their dorm floor, Stevenson House in Birch with their friends Pig Farmer, Yellow Fever, Dirger and Dairy Cow and Shit for Brains. They had a broomball team and Vicki and I were their groupies. When we moved to our apartment at 230 Campus Avenue, those two would always flip the circuit breaker when they'd visit - turning out all the lights. Talk about a dramatic entrance!
My first job after earning that college degree was in Sioux Falls, S.D. Just where all the cool kids want to go! I worked for a grocery wholesaler as the office manager. I know - I was just happy as a clam to have a job making a whopping $12,500. Plus I didn't have to go home and live with my parents.
The manager of the Sioux Falls branch of Gamble Robinson was Kermet Torgersen - a good name for Norwegian guy from South Dakota. He seemed pretty old to someone right out of college. He was a WWII vet, and was probably in his early 60's at the time. (yeah, pretty young really!)
Through out my working career, several of my supervisors must have attended the same business school. The one where they teach you to leave the employee alone to self-train for long periods. Then, when an ego boost is needed, call the new employee in to "show 'em your stuff" - how adept you are at a skill, or how much "juice" you have with the company.
Kermet was that kind of boss. I was all of 22 and hadn't had many bosses at that point...but I was learning "on the job". I knew, when he called out "Leslie" clean through the Assistant Manager's office, through two doors and a glass panel that I was to jump up and run in for a "lesson". Kermet loved to pontificate and I was the sponge to soak up his knowledge. I was a greenhorn when it came to buying and selling produce. But Kermet was teaching a PhD level of fruits and veggies.
But in my view the old boy was in the process of losing his marbles. It many ways, it was good for the company! He took his own "Kermet" discounts for was he perceived as bad fruit. As Office Manager, I reconciled the invoices with receipt tickets and wrote huge checks for loads of oranges. And sometimes we did have shipments arrive with a great deal of spoilage. In that case we would have to document what was not sellable.
Both he and I had to sign checks. (He'd sign with a flourish - using the cursive method taught back in the day that was so beautiful compared to my crappy post college crimped note taking writing) One load of oranges could cost $40,000 - and Kermet would out of the blue just cross off the amount on the invoice and deduct, say $5,000 for "bad fruit". He'd say - "some of that one was not good." And he got away with it! They might call and complain when they got the check.
In South Dakota there is a sect of German Americans similar to the Amish called Hutterites. The ones that came into Gamble Robinson could drive trucks - but only black ones. The Hutterites sold truckloads of sweet corn and tomatoes to our company. Kermet liked to get those 'ol boys in his office and put them through their paces too. We usually paid them right when they delivered their product to us.
One time when I was popping into Kermet's office for a signature, he whipped a huge pistol out of his desk drawer, showing it off to the Hutterite guy who must have drawn the short straw and got stuck taking the corn to market in Kermetland. Kermet said "This is what one of your German cousins shot at me with"! I didn't stick around to see if it was loaded or not.
It was shortly after that, Kermet was put out to pasture. I never heard what happened to the guy, since I soon transferred to the Omaha, NE branch of the business. Next time I'll fill you in on the character I met at the Omaha Gamble Robinson. The produce biz is chock full of nuts.
During my college years I met some interesting folks too - there was that gal from our dorm floor who picked her nose in the TV room. She was in vet school - I'll bet she fit right in with the animals.
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| A rare shot of Hauser and Moose washing dishes... |
I know this breaks my vow to not talk about people I still hang out with...but this is about them long ago - so it's like other people right? We first met our friends Moose and Steve Hauser when they volunteered to coach our dorm floor in flag football. They were (are?) quite the characters too. Moose would punch Hauser in the arm and Hauser would yell, "You clipped me Moose at the top of his lungs." We loved hanging out on their dorm floor, Stevenson House in Birch with their friends Pig Farmer, Yellow Fever, Dirger and Dairy Cow and Shit for Brains. They had a broomball team and Vicki and I were their groupies. When we moved to our apartment at 230 Campus Avenue, those two would always flip the circuit breaker when they'd visit - turning out all the lights. Talk about a dramatic entrance!
My first job after earning that college degree was in Sioux Falls, S.D. Just where all the cool kids want to go! I worked for a grocery wholesaler as the office manager. I know - I was just happy as a clam to have a job making a whopping $12,500. Plus I didn't have to go home and live with my parents.
The manager of the Sioux Falls branch of Gamble Robinson was Kermet Torgersen - a good name for Norwegian guy from South Dakota. He seemed pretty old to someone right out of college. He was a WWII vet, and was probably in his early 60's at the time. (yeah, pretty young really!)
Through out my working career, several of my supervisors must have attended the same business school. The one where they teach you to leave the employee alone to self-train for long periods. Then, when an ego boost is needed, call the new employee in to "show 'em your stuff" - how adept you are at a skill, or how much "juice" you have with the company.
Kermet was that kind of boss. I was all of 22 and hadn't had many bosses at that point...but I was learning "on the job". I knew, when he called out "Leslie" clean through the Assistant Manager's office, through two doors and a glass panel that I was to jump up and run in for a "lesson". Kermet loved to pontificate and I was the sponge to soak up his knowledge. I was a greenhorn when it came to buying and selling produce. But Kermet was teaching a PhD level of fruits and veggies.
But in my view the old boy was in the process of losing his marbles. It many ways, it was good for the company! He took his own "Kermet" discounts for was he perceived as bad fruit. As Office Manager, I reconciled the invoices with receipt tickets and wrote huge checks for loads of oranges. And sometimes we did have shipments arrive with a great deal of spoilage. In that case we would have to document what was not sellable.
Both he and I had to sign checks. (He'd sign with a flourish - using the cursive method taught back in the day that was so beautiful compared to my crappy post college crimped note taking writing) One load of oranges could cost $40,000 - and Kermet would out of the blue just cross off the amount on the invoice and deduct, say $5,000 for "bad fruit". He'd say - "some of that one was not good." And he got away with it! They might call and complain when they got the check.
In South Dakota there is a sect of German Americans similar to the Amish called Hutterites. The ones that came into Gamble Robinson could drive trucks - but only black ones. The Hutterites sold truckloads of sweet corn and tomatoes to our company. Kermet liked to get those 'ol boys in his office and put them through their paces too. We usually paid them right when they delivered their product to us.
One time when I was popping into Kermet's office for a signature, he whipped a huge pistol out of his desk drawer, showing it off to the Hutterite guy who must have drawn the short straw and got stuck taking the corn to market in Kermetland. Kermet said "This is what one of your German cousins shot at me with"! I didn't stick around to see if it was loaded or not.
It was shortly after that, Kermet was put out to pasture. I never heard what happened to the guy, since I soon transferred to the Omaha, NE branch of the business. Next time I'll fill you in on the character I met at the Omaha Gamble Robinson. The produce biz is chock full of nuts.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Football memories
An aerial photo of the 1976 Iowa State vs. Nebraska football game was published on Twitter recently. I was at that game.
Video Link - 6 minutes
Check out what is now know as Jack Trice Stadium - it was just a baby then. It was born a year earlier in 1975. I was oblivious to all of this, of course. I was a college freshman - the world was my oyster. They built the place for me!
I attended one game at the old Clyde Williams Field, located on the west side of Iowa State University's beautiful campus. I was with the Rodgers family and was about 12 years old. My friend Sally's older sis Cindy attended ISU, so Wayne and Anna Day (2 of my very favorite people in the whole world) - Sally's folks, took me along to the school several times as a distraction for their youngest daughter. That's when I fell in love with the school - without even realizing it! The old stadium didn't seem much bigger than the Valley High School stadium!
I've said before how one of the first things I did when I started school was meet a new lifelong friend, Vicki Gernand (now Behr) and walk to the new football stadium while sharing life stories to buy a ticket. That year they were General Admission (like they are again now) for students. That meant for big games, some students camped out all night in order to be first in line for the best spots.
You may be able to see in the photo that the stadium was surrounded by a mere chain link fence. I must have gotten up darn early that day. I'm sure it was Vic that insisted we do so. The years we lived in the dorms in Shilling House, we variously attended games with our dorm group matched up with a guys' dorm house and just on our own. I remember that game was over the top! I got a "Huck the Fuskers" sticker to commemorate the occasion. Recall I'm from Atlantic, where Husker fans have tormented ISU fans from the beginning of time.
It was November 13th. We lined up on the east side of the stadium, not far back from the front of the line - perhaps 6 deep. There were no security guards back then - so we carried in anything we wanted to. Most of us had pints of some type of liquor. I think it was some type of vodka for me...this leopard don't change her spots. As the gatekeepers began to approach to unlock the gates, the crowd began to surge, pushing those in front against the fence.
I saw people begin to get crushed - it was scary! A girl got some of her long hair pulled out and began to scream and cry. Paul told me he heard someone lost a finger (the lore!). The gates opened and people ran willy nilly (you can't tell that from the video linked) up the stairs. I saw someone drop their fifth of vodka. Tragic! We ran up the steps and found decent seats with our group.
My Junior year, ISU decided general seating was too dangerous - after several incidents like those described above. Everyone purchasing tickets got their group together and went into a lottery for ticketing location - kind of like how the adults do it. We (my roomies Jane, Sal, Vic and I) bought our tickets with Moose and Steve. We were assigned Section R. That's bad - nosebleed. Steve even came up with a cheer.
We like our Cyclone Football
We like it near not far
So F#*$ the damn computer
That stuck us here in R
I'm surprised computers had been invented! haha. We did that cheer every game. After a few years, I think the administration gave up on assigned seats. I still look at section R to see who is sitting there.
Do I remember much about the game? Sadly not really. I have a blended memory of many games. We had those big plastic cups with soda pop and ice - perfect as mixers with liquor. We usually drank many! Those cups stacked nicely and were reused in dorms rooms and homes for years. There were not enough restrooms at the stadium then. During team warmups, the cheerleaders had big speakers on the field - no Jumbotron, sound system or fancy scoreboard. We listened to Rubberband Man and Shake Your Booty.
The Cyclones forced several turnovers and Luther Blue ran a kickoff back. Dexter Green was great and Mike Stensrud was a stud on D.
Final Score - ISU 37 - Nebraska 28. We students rushed the field. It was crazy and a bit scary. I'll never forget seeing the goalposts heading down Lincoln Way after the game - traffic parted! My freshman year was a good football year, and I didn't even realize it! I was busy getting acclimated to college. Such a long time ago. Football and I have changed a lot. We're both a bit more jaded now! I miss playing Nebraska in football - such a natural rivalry. Ah well - things change.
I can't wait to watch next week's games.
Video Link - 6 minutes
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| That's me in the student section - lower level, upper right (that's the NE side) this photo is from the ISU archives |
I attended one game at the old Clyde Williams Field, located on the west side of Iowa State University's beautiful campus. I was with the Rodgers family and was about 12 years old. My friend Sally's older sis Cindy attended ISU, so Wayne and Anna Day (2 of my very favorite people in the whole world) - Sally's folks, took me along to the school several times as a distraction for their youngest daughter. That's when I fell in love with the school - without even realizing it! The old stadium didn't seem much bigger than the Valley High School stadium!
I've said before how one of the first things I did when I started school was meet a new lifelong friend, Vicki Gernand (now Behr) and walk to the new football stadium while sharing life stories to buy a ticket. That year they were General Admission (like they are again now) for students. That meant for big games, some students camped out all night in order to be first in line for the best spots.
You may be able to see in the photo that the stadium was surrounded by a mere chain link fence. I must have gotten up darn early that day. I'm sure it was Vic that insisted we do so. The years we lived in the dorms in Shilling House, we variously attended games with our dorm group matched up with a guys' dorm house and just on our own. I remember that game was over the top! I got a "Huck the Fuskers" sticker to commemorate the occasion. Recall I'm from Atlantic, where Husker fans have tormented ISU fans from the beginning of time.
It was November 13th. We lined up on the east side of the stadium, not far back from the front of the line - perhaps 6 deep. There were no security guards back then - so we carried in anything we wanted to. Most of us had pints of some type of liquor. I think it was some type of vodka for me...this leopard don't change her spots. As the gatekeepers began to approach to unlock the gates, the crowd began to surge, pushing those in front against the fence.
I saw people begin to get crushed - it was scary! A girl got some of her long hair pulled out and began to scream and cry. Paul told me he heard someone lost a finger (the lore!). The gates opened and people ran willy nilly (you can't tell that from the video linked) up the stairs. I saw someone drop their fifth of vodka. Tragic! We ran up the steps and found decent seats with our group.
My Junior year, ISU decided general seating was too dangerous - after several incidents like those described above. Everyone purchasing tickets got their group together and went into a lottery for ticketing location - kind of like how the adults do it. We (my roomies Jane, Sal, Vic and I) bought our tickets with Moose and Steve. We were assigned Section R. That's bad - nosebleed. Steve even came up with a cheer.
We like our Cyclone Football
We like it near not far
So F#*$ the damn computer
That stuck us here in R
I'm surprised computers had been invented! haha. We did that cheer every game. After a few years, I think the administration gave up on assigned seats. I still look at section R to see who is sitting there.
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| Rocking the big glasses and ISU cowboy hats and button down shirts - Hauser is in front of us - with hair! |
Do I remember much about the game? Sadly not really. I have a blended memory of many games. We had those big plastic cups with soda pop and ice - perfect as mixers with liquor. We usually drank many! Those cups stacked nicely and were reused in dorms rooms and homes for years. There were not enough restrooms at the stadium then. During team warmups, the cheerleaders had big speakers on the field - no Jumbotron, sound system or fancy scoreboard. We listened to Rubberband Man and Shake Your Booty.
The Cyclones forced several turnovers and Luther Blue ran a kickoff back. Dexter Green was great and Mike Stensrud was a stud on D.
Final Score - ISU 37 - Nebraska 28. We students rushed the field. It was crazy and a bit scary. I'll never forget seeing the goalposts heading down Lincoln Way after the game - traffic parted! My freshman year was a good football year, and I didn't even realize it! I was busy getting acclimated to college. Such a long time ago. Football and I have changed a lot. We're both a bit more jaded now! I miss playing Nebraska in football - such a natural rivalry. Ah well - things change.
I can't wait to watch next week's games.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Landslide
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| Lindsay Buckingham |
I can't find a listing of who was there - but 2 bands I remember: Kansas and somebody I hadn't heard much from before - Fleetwood Mac.
Kansas of course was a fave of mine, thanks to the Scott Deardorff connection. I love their old stuff - more instrumental. "Bringing it Back from Mexico" and "Can I Tell You Something". That was the stuff they were playing that day. Yes! And one of the band dudes said, "It's hotter than pig fu#* out here." He was right!
We decided to head out before the last band played. It was Fleetwood Mac. They came on just as we were walking out of the gate - and started singing "When the Loving Starts". Even though we were leaving - that song stuck with me and I was an FM fan forever more.
Flash forward 37 years - I finally get to see the band for their full gig! My only sorrow is that Christine McVie doesn't travel with them anymore so I couldn't hear that song - plus all the others that she was lead on. But Stevie Nicks is really my fave - love that gypsy voice. When Paul and I heard the band was coming to town, we asked around to see who else might want to go - and our friends the Crittendens spoke up. Steve got us great tickets in the 38th row on the floor.
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| Barb is a Creston class of '76 grad |
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| Buddies - Steve and Paul. They used to rule the bball court |
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| The set was very cool |
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| Mick Fleetwood |
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| Stevie on the big screen |
It was great to see Steve and Barb - we don't get together with them nearly often enough. Paul misses his pals, so visits from Jeff and Steve in one week have made him really happy. And each time we see a live show, I'm reminded how much events such as movies and concerts fill me with joy - especially when combined with visits from friends.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Steps to success
My alma mater has some great marketing talent. Recently they purchased the stairs at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines, near where we live. I've noticed that in the past five years since the mall has been here, Iowa State University has put quite a bit of $ and effort into attracting potential students shopping here.
But stairs - that's pretty clever! Other schools have mere banners.
I'm not sure how these phrases hit high school seniors, but the statements on the steps pretty much summed up my college experience. I met several BFFs - Sal, Vic, Jane. Plus my guy friends (see below, under broomball). And my very best BFF - Paul.
I'm not sure I really had one aha moment, but my time at ISU certainly was a growth experience.
I did do a lot of doodling on my notes I took during all those lectures I attended. They really were just doodles. We attended a few late night broomball games at Hilton to watch our friends Moose and Steve play with their Stevenson House team. Until ISU I'd never heard of the sport, played like hockey, wearing shoes and using special brooms and a little ball. Then I actually had a chance to play the game myself - not in a cushy indoor stadium, but out in the cold, behind Beyer Hall with several softball players on a team my Atlantic pal Marci Merrick set up. Fun game - and I bundled up for the chill and for falls on the ice! No helmets back then though.
The view toward the top of the stairs.
The bottom step here says "Hard work that doesn't seem like work". I believe that in retrospect. But at the time, it felt damn hard! Later, when I was juggling a job and a family, college seemed like it must have been a breeze.
Wearing cardinal and gold has become a bigger part of our lives post college. During school we took it for granted! Our basketball team wasn't very good back then so I only went to one or two men's games the whole time I was in school - and no women's games. We attended football - mostly for the party! We didn't have to worry about where to tailgate because we could take liquor right into games back then - nobody checked us.
Through the years I've gotten pretty fierce about my school pride. We enjoy going to football and basketball games and are boosters and financial supporters of the school athletic programs. As my blood donor shirt says - I bleed cardinal and gold.
Students can have a successful experience at any college they go to. But I wouldn't trade my experience for anything! I think Paul, Amy and Jud would tell you the same thing. Iowa State University certainly has been a part of the steps to success of our lives.
But stairs - that's pretty clever! Other schools have mere banners.
I'm not sure I really had one aha moment, but my time at ISU certainly was a growth experience.
I did do a lot of doodling on my notes I took during all those lectures I attended. They really were just doodles. We attended a few late night broomball games at Hilton to watch our friends Moose and Steve play with their Stevenson House team. Until ISU I'd never heard of the sport, played like hockey, wearing shoes and using special brooms and a little ball. Then I actually had a chance to play the game myself - not in a cushy indoor stadium, but out in the cold, behind Beyer Hall with several softball players on a team my Atlantic pal Marci Merrick set up. Fun game - and I bundled up for the chill and for falls on the ice! No helmets back then though.
Wearing cardinal and gold has become a bigger part of our lives post college. During school we took it for granted! Our basketball team wasn't very good back then so I only went to one or two men's games the whole time I was in school - and no women's games. We attended football - mostly for the party! We didn't have to worry about where to tailgate because we could take liquor right into games back then - nobody checked us.
Through the years I've gotten pretty fierce about my school pride. We enjoy going to football and basketball games and are boosters and financial supporters of the school athletic programs. As my blood donor shirt says - I bleed cardinal and gold.
Students can have a successful experience at any college they go to. But I wouldn't trade my experience for anything! I think Paul, Amy and Jud would tell you the same thing. Iowa State University certainly has been a part of the steps to success of our lives.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Diamond Delight - and the Dream
I went to Mandarin Garden last night with my Diamond Brooke friends while Pablo had a date with Jeff McFee. Though I love living with my honey, it's nice to have separate activities once in a while.
Paul invited Jeff to come up to the ISU vs. Oklahoma men's basketball game. It had been a long time since the two had been to a bball game together. Back in the day, Jeff, Paul, Steve Crittenden and various others through the years played on the same team in City League. They have some great stories - like the time Steve got elbowed, and his nose was broken - smashed flat to his face. He went to the hospital to get it set, and came back and played with cotton wads in his nostrils - now that's a playa!
Most of the stories came from post-game; however, tales from the Elms Club or the results. Like the time Paul slept on the rug in the front hall after his buddy dropped him off. A long time ago! Most of the time, I didn't want to hear about what went on (kinda like Vegas...). The basketball team actually won the championship a couple times - of course they had some young talent playing with them. It was during those years that Paul really bonded with his best buddies. They've been through the trenches together. Monday night, Jeff and Paul were just viewers - but they got to see a good game! ISU won by around 20 points, and there was one spectacular dunk.
Meanwhile, Connie from our Townhouse Association, picked me up for our night out. It was a small crowd - which actually made it easier to get to know a few people better. Connie seems to be the social chair - and she's been to most of the restaurants around here. She is retired from a company that ran a cooperative for independent hardware stores, so she knows the Cappels from Atlantic and has even been to the store.
I also sat by Sally and Leslie who live down our street. They reported that a unit down by their places that is for sale may have an offer. Sue lives on the street south of ours. The unit next to her just went on the market - the gentleman that owns it isn't very friendly. See the kinds of things one finds out?
I told them my exercise bike alarm story. Everyone chuckled. Sue had water in her basement due to a backup in her pipes - bummer. Sally and Sue had each eaten at Olympic Flame in the East Village recently - and loved it. This reminds me that I should go back there again. We spent some time figuring out where we might go next month for our night out. I really enjoyed the evening - such nice and interesting people. I'm going to like it here.
Today I was in charge of a meeting at Metro Waste Authority for work. I arrived early to make sure everything was set up. Our consultant Cory was there when I got there and I set my stuff down to talk. Ramona, the receptionist, made a beeline over to view the new purse, my blue Dooney and Bourke. She had me show it to Geri, the Administrative Assistant. We all caressed it. Ahhh.
Ramona mentioned that the Home Shopping Network features these purses sometimes. I know! One time I shouted in delight - "Honey - my purses have their own TV show, just like your hunting shows!" haha. I was happy to meet a fellow D&B lover in Ramona. We bonded. Oh and the work meeting went well too.
Later, since Paul was at a meeting at the Wallace Building (my work) I texted him to meet me at The Continental where I was sipping a $4 margarita waiting for him. It was a pretty good day, for a Tuesday. (It was hard to exercise later, but I did...Live Healthy Iowa!)
Last night I had one of THOSE dreams. You know the kind - falling. Except in this one, a bad guy had me in a room. He was going to kill me. I knew it. I was terrified and had to get away. Instead of getting gotten by him, I decided to jump out of the window - perhaps 4th or 5th floor? So I knew it would be fatal. I remember flying through the air, but I didn't hit. Thank goodness! What was THAT all about?
Paul invited Jeff to come up to the ISU vs. Oklahoma men's basketball game. It had been a long time since the two had been to a bball game together. Back in the day, Jeff, Paul, Steve Crittenden and various others through the years played on the same team in City League. They have some great stories - like the time Steve got elbowed, and his nose was broken - smashed flat to his face. He went to the hospital to get it set, and came back and played with cotton wads in his nostrils - now that's a playa!
Most of the stories came from post-game; however, tales from the Elms Club or the results. Like the time Paul slept on the rug in the front hall after his buddy dropped him off. A long time ago! Most of the time, I didn't want to hear about what went on (kinda like Vegas...). The basketball team actually won the championship a couple times - of course they had some young talent playing with them. It was during those years that Paul really bonded with his best buddies. They've been through the trenches together. Monday night, Jeff and Paul were just viewers - but they got to see a good game! ISU won by around 20 points, and there was one spectacular dunk.
Meanwhile, Connie from our Townhouse Association, picked me up for our night out. It was a small crowd - which actually made it easier to get to know a few people better. Connie seems to be the social chair - and she's been to most of the restaurants around here. She is retired from a company that ran a cooperative for independent hardware stores, so she knows the Cappels from Atlantic and has even been to the store.
I also sat by Sally and Leslie who live down our street. They reported that a unit down by their places that is for sale may have an offer. Sue lives on the street south of ours. The unit next to her just went on the market - the gentleman that owns it isn't very friendly. See the kinds of things one finds out?
I told them my exercise bike alarm story. Everyone chuckled. Sue had water in her basement due to a backup in her pipes - bummer. Sally and Sue had each eaten at Olympic Flame in the East Village recently - and loved it. This reminds me that I should go back there again. We spent some time figuring out where we might go next month for our night out. I really enjoyed the evening - such nice and interesting people. I'm going to like it here.
Today I was in charge of a meeting at Metro Waste Authority for work. I arrived early to make sure everything was set up. Our consultant Cory was there when I got there and I set my stuff down to talk. Ramona, the receptionist, made a beeline over to view the new purse, my blue Dooney and Bourke. She had me show it to Geri, the Administrative Assistant. We all caressed it. Ahhh.
Ramona mentioned that the Home Shopping Network features these purses sometimes. I know! One time I shouted in delight - "Honey - my purses have their own TV show, just like your hunting shows!" haha. I was happy to meet a fellow D&B lover in Ramona. We bonded. Oh and the work meeting went well too.
Later, since Paul was at a meeting at the Wallace Building (my work) I texted him to meet me at The Continental where I was sipping a $4 margarita waiting for him. It was a pretty good day, for a Tuesday. (It was hard to exercise later, but I did...Live Healthy Iowa!)
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| The Continental - mixing my drink! |
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Why didn't Jesus's guys pick beer?
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| A few brews being consumed at the White Rose in Atlantic... |
These are the deep thoughts I have when I get that "I'm solving the world's problems" look on my face. What if the Last Supper had included the hoppy brew instead wine? Would we be sipping Bud Light at communion at St. Francis tonight?
After that brief thought, I started pondering about how much beer has changed since I first started drinking the stuff - when I was 10 years old or so. No, I'm not kidding - and it's my dad's fault. Dad was a Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) or Old Milwaukee (Old Mil) guy back then. When he was home on weekends he'd enjoy a bourbon and water while a beer chilled in the freezer for 45 minutes. He set the oven timer so he didn't forget to take the precious nectar out of the GE.
He called them "beer Popsicles". They came out like slushies when poured into a glass, and they looked so delicious! So he'd let me have a sip. And so I learned to love ice cold beer at an early age. Dad would always say, "You're going to get what I got!" like he had some dreaded disease that I'd get from drinking from his cup. When I'd fall for it and ask, "What?" of course the answer was ice cold beer.
When I got a little older, and my friends and I started drinking alcohol, I didn't drink no stinking Annie Green Springs or Mad Dog 20/20 wine. I drank beer. PBR, Old Mil, Olympia, Hamms, Miller Hilife - I didn't care. We even talked friends into bootlegging Coors for us from Colorado because it wasn't yet available in Iowa. Other people were sipping cherry and lime vodka - I didn't try that hard stuff until a couple years later.
Then I went to college - and the world of dime draws and $1.50 pitchers opened up! Beer got me a grade point barely over a 2.0 my first quarter of school - thank you very much. I had a hard time saying "no" when people asked me to go to the bars pretty much every night of the week. After that I buckled down, and reduced my nights out and beer intake. I didn't wish to flunk out or get on TE (temporary enrollment).
My sophomore year my friends and I all served on our dorm floor cabinet. I was Vice President - I ran for that position thinking it would be mostly be a figurehead. I don't remember what Sal, Vic and Jane were, but we all ended up helping plan and carry out the dorm floor parties that meant ordering kegs for our quarterly floor parties. I think they cost something like $25 (did we get them at Torks? and yes that was for a full size one in 1977). I don't remember brand we purchased, but we went through several each party, serving cups over the ironing board in our kitchenette. I seem to remember Jane rolling her ankle trying to maneuver one of the big beasts. There is a hilarious story that goes with this regarding me calling Mary Greeley Hospital (we thought her ankle was broken) in a less than sober state - too long to tell here.
That same year, we met Moose and Steve - our pals from Stevenson house. They too had great house parties on their dorm floor. They taught me to like "strip and go nakeds" the delightful concoction of beer with lemonade. Sound familiar? It should - Summer Shandy jumped on that bandwagon recently. Those fellas also treated us to bootlegged Red White and Blue for $2.50 a case from Illinois.
Post college we learned to love squaw piss ( know - politically incorrect, but it was long ago and we were young) - Leinenkugels, when we traveled to Wisconsin to float the Apple River. Since those days beer has gone upscale - even Leinie's. I like it! I especially like reading all the names at the big stores that sell a lot of brands.
So now you know...when I get that serious look - I'm not solving the world's problems. I'm just playing the "what it" game and taking a walk down memory lane. But it was fun - hope it brought back some memories of your favorite beverages too.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Rural power walk and loss
I spent a lot of time walking and taking pictures of the scenery when we had our DSM loft period. Friday I decided to take my phone along for my power walk here in Creston - after all the view here can be pretty cool too.
First though, Paul and I met Steve Crittenden for lunch at the Elms Club. We hadn't seen him in well...forever! His wife Barb is the Southwestern Community College President, and the school was preparing for the Second Lady, Jill Biden's visit that night for the college graduation ceremony. The Secret Service had been here all week, scoping things out. Such excitement in Crestonia.
It was nice to get caught up with Steve. I always end up feeling a bit sad though at how his life has changed. How people affected by suicide just have that touch of sadness in their eyes. Steve and Barb's son Eric took his own life at age 19. Eric would have turned 25 in April. I remember when he was born -I worked at First National Bank with Steve then. Steve was so darn proud!
It's been a long painful road since Eric's death. Steve says life has gotten better the past couple years, but he doubts he will never experience the joy he once did. I hope he's wrong - that it gets better and better for Steve and his family. After all he and Barb still have beautiful and smart daughter Kayli - and who knows, maybe grandkids someday.
After lunch I read my book on the deck. Lovely afternoon. Then I couldn't put it off any longer - I needed to walk off those giant cookies from my Iowa City trip, and that homemade cake from Joan's neighbor Paul (who is like 70, but I think he has a crush on Joan).
I did my usual route - up through Calvary - the Catholic cemetery. I like the quiet there. Then I head up the road next to Summit Lake, that isn't really a lake right now since the dam got iffy and they drained the lake to fix it. Looks like it's about done so Deb, Paul and I will be able to kayak there again.
These horses weren't quite sure they wanted me looking at them. I liked the looks of the gray. Then I headded to the street that goes by Todd and Lori Scott's house. It was one that took major damage from the tornado. Bobbie and Jeff were there tornado night when Paul called and got Bobbie on the phone, right after we heard about the storm. Scott's house was pretty devastated (just like they were). Bobbie said the fam was in shock really. Workers were there yesterday fixing the roof and walls.
This last photo is of a house we looked at twice and really thought about purchasing. It had an old not-working in ground pool - they must have jackhammered that out. The lot to the east was also a part of the property then. The house and barn needed a lot of work and was out of our price range. Plus it had lots of steps. I'm glad we waited and got the house we live in now.
First though, Paul and I met Steve Crittenden for lunch at the Elms Club. We hadn't seen him in well...forever! His wife Barb is the Southwestern Community College President, and the school was preparing for the Second Lady, Jill Biden's visit that night for the college graduation ceremony. The Secret Service had been here all week, scoping things out. Such excitement in Crestonia.
It was nice to get caught up with Steve. I always end up feeling a bit sad though at how his life has changed. How people affected by suicide just have that touch of sadness in their eyes. Steve and Barb's son Eric took his own life at age 19. Eric would have turned 25 in April. I remember when he was born -I worked at First National Bank with Steve then. Steve was so darn proud!
It's been a long painful road since Eric's death. Steve says life has gotten better the past couple years, but he doubts he will never experience the joy he once did. I hope he's wrong - that it gets better and better for Steve and his family. After all he and Barb still have beautiful and smart daughter Kayli - and who knows, maybe grandkids someday.
After lunch I read my book on the deck. Lovely afternoon. Then I couldn't put it off any longer - I needed to walk off those giant cookies from my Iowa City trip, and that homemade cake from Joan's neighbor Paul (who is like 70, but I think he has a crush on Joan).
I did my usual route - up through Calvary - the Catholic cemetery. I like the quiet there. Then I head up the road next to Summit Lake, that isn't really a lake right now since the dam got iffy and they drained the lake to fix it. Looks like it's about done so Deb, Paul and I will be able to kayak there again.
Monday, December 6, 2010
True confessions
I'm a closet dance tune liker. I know - I'm the queen of classic rock! But now, I like the top 40 dance tunes. I don't know how it happened. First, I heard a few at weddings I was attending - the DJ slipped them in when I wasn't paying attention. They were fun to dance to. I "Put My Hands in The Air". The next thing I know, I'm listening to 107.5 jiving to Rihanna. How'd that happen? I do like to "Raise my Glass!"
Moose and Steve would not be happy. Those are my college buddies who were rabidly anti-disco! All we had to do to make them snarl was to mention the word disco. One year they went skiing with us, and one of them (I don't even remember which) was sleeping in the room next to us, and talked in his sleep about a disco song. "This song, it sucks!" he proclaimed. I'm sure the dance tunes of today compare to disco. Don't tell them my secret!
And another thing.
I'm not the only one who thinks about Patrick this time of year. Amy was five when Patrick was born. She was in kindergarten and she was very much affected by the turn of events - a little girl who had a great deal of empathy for others. This was the girl who, when visiting the nursing home at age 4 with the Sunday School Kids, thought the old folks would be able to walk again after hearing the children sing!
After Patrick died, nearly every week Amy made a drawing for us and about our family. She tried so hard to make me feel better through her pictures! And even years later, she wrote many stories and papers about this moving event in her life. Even today around Patrick's birthday she is saddened by his loss, and I feel bad that I've not recognized this more - only thinking about myself and Paul as the parents.
Jud was nearly three, but he was young and doesn't remember a thing about that time. He is oblivious except for what we've told him. I'm sure someday - when and if he's a parent he'll understand. Wednesday is the anniversary of Patrick's death - another tough date in our lives.
Note:
My roomie Joan hit a deer with her precious new Jeep that she mostly keeps locked away in her garage. Minor damage only - tiny little crack in a bumper that she won't even need to get fixed. Lucky her!
Moose and Steve would not be happy. Those are my college buddies who were rabidly anti-disco! All we had to do to make them snarl was to mention the word disco. One year they went skiing with us, and one of them (I don't even remember which) was sleeping in the room next to us, and talked in his sleep about a disco song. "This song, it sucks!" he proclaimed. I'm sure the dance tunes of today compare to disco. Don't tell them my secret!
And another thing.
I'm not the only one who thinks about Patrick this time of year. Amy was five when Patrick was born. She was in kindergarten and she was very much affected by the turn of events - a little girl who had a great deal of empathy for others. This was the girl who, when visiting the nursing home at age 4 with the Sunday School Kids, thought the old folks would be able to walk again after hearing the children sing!
After Patrick died, nearly every week Amy made a drawing for us and about our family. She tried so hard to make me feel better through her pictures! And even years later, she wrote many stories and papers about this moving event in her life. Even today around Patrick's birthday she is saddened by his loss, and I feel bad that I've not recognized this more - only thinking about myself and Paul as the parents.
Jud was nearly three, but he was young and doesn't remember a thing about that time. He is oblivious except for what we've told him. I'm sure someday - when and if he's a parent he'll understand. Wednesday is the anniversary of Patrick's death - another tough date in our lives.
Note:
My roomie Joan hit a deer with her precious new Jeep that she mostly keeps locked away in her garage. Minor damage only - tiny little crack in a bumper that she won't even need to get fixed. Lucky her!
Monday, November 9, 2009
My first buddies
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Moose (with pipe) and Steve showed up at one of our parties in their suits, just to freak us out. Vicki's mom Barb sewed us these aprons after. Don't you love the 'fro look on me?
I never really had guy friends until I met Moose and Steve. Tommy Buck doesn't really count - he lived near our house and I mostly like him because he had guy toys - little green army men etc.
My sophomore year of college was when Moose and Steve were lined up to be our flag football coaches. Steve Hauser (also known as Stevad, just to make his name a bit Iranian in order to drive him wild). Moose's real name is also Steve. But his first week of school he was deemed Moose by guys on their dorm floor - Stevenson House in Birch dorm. Stevenson also boasted Dairy Cow, Den Rat (or Dirger), Pig Farmer, and don't forget Shit for Brains.
Stevad was a very intense football coach - drawing up new plays during the week. Moose was more about teaching blocking techniques. We quickly became fast friends with those two guys. Hauser and Sally had a brief romance, but as with many of Sal's romances it was doomed. Sal liked the Bad Boys and Stevad was just too nice. Moose and I "hung out" a bit, mostly at the end of Stevenson House parties when I could finally talk Moose into dancing. After lots of beer.
By our junior year, they were our guy friends. We always knew when they were visiting our apartment because they would trip the breaker for our power. Click. Dark. They loaned us their good stereo and bitchin' albums for one of our parties. They hated disco though so we couldn't play any disco on their turntable.
The spring of our junior year (they were seniors) they surprised us by deciding to go skiing in Breckenridge with us. Five gals, two guys. It's nice having guys along -talking us into going up the poma lift and skiing the very steep Horseshoe Bowl. Wouldn't have happened without them to spur us into it. They took away some of the bitchiness factor you can get with a group of chicks.
Moose and Steve each went to school the fall after their senior year - they were Super Seniors. We were glad they were still around to hang out with! By then I was dating Pablo the fabulous Pool Boy, Vic and Fred with together, Sal was dating he who shall not be named, and Jane might have been dating Stan. The guys got along well with the other men in our lives. I always think of those two this time of year as they furnished a 26 pound turkey (purloined from a frat deep freeze) for my first Thanksgiving meal cooking experience. Okay Jane was really in charge but I'm sure I helped...
After graduation we could have easily lost track of our buddies. Hauser got a job far away - in Florida I think. Moose worked in Ankeny and became pretty good friends with Fred since he and Vic lived in Ames. We all saw each other several times a year.
I've said many times how much I appreciate my sisters, my homegirls and my dear girlies of old. But I'm sure glad I have guy friends.
My sophomore year of college was when Moose and Steve were lined up to be our flag football coaches. Steve Hauser (also known as Stevad, just to make his name a bit Iranian in order to drive him wild). Moose's real name is also Steve. But his first week of school he was deemed Moose by guys on their dorm floor - Stevenson House in Birch dorm. Stevenson also boasted Dairy Cow, Den Rat (or Dirger), Pig Farmer, and don't forget Shit for Brains.
Stevad was a very intense football coach - drawing up new plays during the week. Moose was more about teaching blocking techniques. We quickly became fast friends with those two guys. Hauser and Sally had a brief romance, but as with many of Sal's romances it was doomed. Sal liked the Bad Boys and Stevad was just too nice. Moose and I "hung out" a bit, mostly at the end of Stevenson House parties when I could finally talk Moose into dancing. After lots of beer.
By our junior year, they were our guy friends. We always knew when they were visiting our apartment because they would trip the breaker for our power. Click. Dark. They loaned us their good stereo and bitchin' albums for one of our parties. They hated disco though so we couldn't play any disco on their turntable.
The spring of our junior year (they were seniors) they surprised us by deciding to go skiing in Breckenridge with us. Five gals, two guys. It's nice having guys along -talking us into going up the poma lift and skiing the very steep Horseshoe Bowl. Wouldn't have happened without them to spur us into it. They took away some of the bitchiness factor you can get with a group of chicks.
Moose and Steve each went to school the fall after their senior year - they were Super Seniors. We were glad they were still around to hang out with! By then I was dating Pablo the fabulous Pool Boy, Vic and Fred with together, Sal was dating he who shall not be named, and Jane might have been dating Stan. The guys got along well with the other men in our lives. I always think of those two this time of year as they furnished a 26 pound turkey (purloined from a frat deep freeze) for my first Thanksgiving meal cooking experience. Okay Jane was really in charge but I'm sure I helped...
After graduation we could have easily lost track of our buddies. Hauser got a job far away - in Florida I think. Moose worked in Ankeny and became pretty good friends with Fred since he and Vic lived in Ames. We all saw each other several times a year.
I've said many times how much I appreciate my sisters, my homegirls and my dear girlies of old. But I'm sure glad I have guy friends.
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