Week in review

What a week. First we got to hang out with Jud (soon to be married) for a weekend. Then Amy was here for nearly a whole week! A rare treat when one's children live far (St. Louis) and wide (Pennsylvania). I'm feeling the love!

I like seeing and being with their "others" - Jud's fiancé, Kara, and Amy's boyfriend Corey. But this time we got each of our children alone. And they met each other for lunch Sunday in Hannibal as Jud traveled back to STL and Amy traveled here after Kara's bachelorette party). It was like old times. And just what we needed before the big life change coming up when we happily welcome Kara to the fam.

This weekend is Jud's bachelor party in St. Louis. his buddies from college, who we got to know during those many tailgating weekends, traveled from places afar to party with him one last time as a single man. His local pals from town are there too.

Amy's visit here was a working trip. She's a graphic designer, a small business owner who doesn't have the luxury of "just saying no" to customer emergencies - and they all are, aren't they? "I need that label tomorrow!" There were highlights - Paul's birthday dinner at Smokey D (on Amy), Paul and Amy waxing her car, game watch Friday with Jane Flack at Draught House 50. We had to do breakfast at the Waveland on Amy's last day.

 
Being with our children is certain to bring up memories of them when they were children. Those years went by quickly - in retrospect. I love having adult children and the people they have become. Not younger versions of either Paul or myself, but their own people. Good ones!

Today marks the birthday of my twin nephews Alex and Paul Kohan. I went out to help my sister with the little guys after she had a difficult pregnancy - 3 months bed rest prior to popping out these two guys. Then mastitis. I left Paul in charge of our two cherubs - Jud was just over 1 at the time and Amy was four. Nanny Leslie!

I was only there for a few days, but in that short time I decided that I wouldn't wish twins on anyone! When one would be clean and resting, the other was messy and screaming. Or they both were! They weighed in at about 6 pounds - 2/3s the size as my  babies were. I did what I could to help Betso and husband Wayne to care for the kids, do laundry and their kitties, who were out of sorts because they'd been replaced by screaming meemees. When I returned home to my kids - Jud seemed giant by comparison to A&P!

Fast forward 26 years - Alex and Paul have grown in to fine young man. No doubt thanks to early nurturing by yours truly! I'm looking forward to seeing them at Jud's wedding in a few weeks. HBD guys!

Surfin' the Wave again (after the Cyclone loss)

All good eggs! Barb, Steve, Jean, Paul, Mike

Same song - different verse. It's the Wave on 47th in case anyone wonders. Pablo and I DO need to make our way to the one in Booneville one of these days. But we've grown accustomed to our University waitresses faces.

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.

Big Chill

I'm not ready for this weather...my goodness, I had to start wearing my fingerless gloves at work at least a month early! It's ridiculous I know - but my body temp runs consistently way below the human average 98.6. As I get older, the chillier I feel. I believe a warmer climate is my destiny in years ahead - during the winter anyway!

I heard from my college roommate Jane Flack Conn last weekend. We'd vowed to get together more often, and she wanted to schedule a meeting. We settled on Friday lunch at Cheesecake Factory - which kind of defeated the beauty of that place, since drinks weren't in order. Oh, they serve them then - but we both had too much to do to get sidetracked in a booth at Jordan Creek Mall all afternoon. (Though it sounded great...).

It was nice to see Jane a catch up. She is such a lovely lady - who has had a rough patch lately. I know all her family too, since we have known each other since age 18. Plus she knows all of our mutual college friends and my fam - so lots to discuss! Jane's daughter Morgan is a frosh at ISU - another full circle thing. She has two high school age sons at home in Waukee. Too soon lunch was over and Jane was off to pick up Morgan at school. I hope to see her again soon! With drinks.

Friday night Paul and I had an invite to Grimes to nephew Karl and wife Lee's house. Karl's brother Craig was in town to run in the Living History Farms Mud Run. Craig is a Triathlete and computer engineer working in Cedar Rapids. Karl teaches Chemistry at Valley High School. He entertained us with stories of demonstrations for students. Some involved the loss of hair on his arms. I wish I would have had a chem instructor like Karl when I was in High School - I might not have needed Ellen the Bitchy tutor in college! Lee is a biologist who has worked for an arboretum and has done some education gigs. She's planning to get a new job soon.

It was really fun to catch up with those kids - the boys are Paul's brother Larry's boys. Growing up, they lived at the farm in Earlville, Iowa - Paul's home place. Even though Amy and Jud are younger than they are, they always enjoyed hanging out with our kids and we'd leave the kids at their house for overnights. They'd play Ninja Turtles and explore the farmstead of Paul's youth. I'm glad the cousins bonded like that. Jud was an usher in Karl and Lee's wedding a few years ago.

Boys play and await waffles at Waveland

Saturday Paul and I breakfasted at our fave - the Waveland. I always enjoy people watching there. The red-haired waitress said her husband had filled a flask for her for the KC Chiefs game today. She told some of her customers - who must have been friends that her husband, Shep, called it "pants off juice". I thought that was hilarious.

Then we went to my new fave place to look around - Mills Fleet Farm. They have everything! Paul wanted to go to Sportsman's Warehouse nearby - he's lusting after a cammo down coat. We attended afternoon Mass only to find Father Leonard Kenkel was the celebrant! We were pleased that Fr. Kenkel got through it okay - the guy isn't getting any younger! They didn't even give him a deacon to help.

Paul snubbed purchase of yard deer at Fleet Farm

Paul's always said he'd take rogue wives and children on "hunting trips" and take care of them...

After church we ended up at Legends for a drink and supper (I had gumbo!) before settling into our chairs for the football game. Yes, it was a home game and we could have gone. I vetoed it. I just couldn't do it. Yay for the Cyclones for playing great in tough conditions and pitching the shutout against the Kansas Jayhawks. Bravo to all fans who attended! My green chair is now 2 for 2 - lucky on home games. We won the Oklahoma State Game when Paul and I didn't attend 2 years ago.

Today - it's prep day! Our kids are heading this way for the holiday! I need to clean and get groceries. Also my pal Debbie is supposed to be in town. Now - off to swim laps. There has been a great post on Facebook by Atlantic former swim team members helping me walk down memory lane on that topic. Fun!

Just like that - gone again!

Amy took off this morning after a few days at home. We had a good time - as usual, during her visit. I wish Jud could have come too - but he's been running himself ragged traveling. Today he takes off for Virginia for a few days for work. So it didn't work out to get the whole fam together. ;>(.

Yesterday we kinda dragged Amy out of bed early, though she said she automatically wakes up anyway. We treated her to breakfast at the Waveland Café - a place she'd not visited before. We secured the last three spots at the counter. She liked it of course. Who wouldn't? Unless you're a big fan of expensive chains like Perkins. Hey - I like Perkins too. But I have a weakness for joints like this! The waitresses call everyone "Hon", the wall paintings are sweet and the political signatures and the wall are impressive. Not to mention the window paintings!

Check the chicken eating chicken - above it says "Dude that's just wrong"

Next, we stopped at the Farmer's Market - though not for too long because it was darn chilly! Amy has discovered a new love - Dutch Letters! Flakey pastry with almond paste filling. Yum. We picked up more of that excellent bacon too, along with tomatoes and green beans.

On our drive home, she texted her pal Kelli Behr Hoskins who lives in Minneapolis - only to discover Kel was on her way to DSM for a wedding! A bit later we drove back downtown to see Kelli and Toby - newly married in June. How fun and random is that!?! I spoke to Kelli's mama (my college roomie Vicki) in the meantime. We got caught up - since we haven't talked since Kelli's wedding.

lifelong pals - Amy and Kelli

Last night we hit the Cheesecake Factory. I know - it's a chain. But it's close and we had a good waitress. she even brought a crew over to sing Happy Birthday to Amy, despite the fact that Cheesecake doesn't usually do that. Good thing they didn't know that Amy's bday isn't until the 14th! Amy's friend Rachelle came with us. Those two are always funny - laughing about hijinx from the past.

Rachelle and Amy

Today is a drizzly, catch up kinda day. I should go pack for my trip to Council Bluffs tomorrow - the annual Recycling and Solid Waste Conference. Looking forward to seeing the trash peeps! Paul will get some more hunting in. And painting! Let's hope congress comes up with something so he can get back to work this week.

A beautiful quilted patchwork of friendships

I am blessed with a beautiful quilt of friendships. This weekend I'll be wrapped in it! Friday night, college friends gathered at our new home in West Des Moines. Kay Wilt was driving through with daughter Alyssa on her way from Chicago to her Mom's in Audubon. She contacted Paul to say we should go out to eat. We decided to make it a mini-reunion!

Catching up

Way back when, Paul met Kay even before I did - during our early years at Iowa State. I didn't get to know her well until her "Moose" years. Kay is married to Steve "Moose" Wilt, who coached our dorm floor flag football team my sophomore year. I've been friends with him ever since then. Oh it's really a patchwork thing - Paul's friends and mine all stitched together.

We were a little fuzzy at this point - must be the photographer (Paul)

 Kay lived with Mary Mormon in Willow Residence Hall at ISU. She dated one of Paul's friends. And I lived in Maple Hall on 6th floor with Jane Flack. Eventually, after college, Jane, Mary and Kay lived together in a house Mary's brother owned in Des Moines. I stayed with them one night when I visited the Capitol City for my job with Gamble Robinson. They were visited by a bat that night, and farm girl Kay took care of the thing efficiently. It was quite exciting!

It was fun having the gals over. Poor Alyssa, who will be entering her sophomore year at Minnesota, just got to mostly listen to our tales of yesteryear. We walked down memory lane, discussing people from college, events and the time period that Mary, Jane and Kay lived together in the mid 80's. It seems so long ago - but sometimes, really not so much. We can't really be this old, can we?

Our discussion briefly turned to Long Term Care insurance. Paul and I have been pricing it. Jeez! We just can't make ourselves pull the trigger on something so expensive and distasteful. It's a very volatile market. WTF. I think we'll wait for a conference with our pals when we head to the Lake of the Ozarks in August. That sounds like a good topic after several drinks...Donnie - we need your deep thoughts.

One of the nice things about our new home is the proximity to I-80. People are more easily able to visit. So we need to get better at entertaining! I didn't get that gene like the rest of the sisters did. We muddled through though. It helped that Mary brought a lovely fruit salad with flowers and Jane brought cake. Too soon, Kay and Alyssa had to head out. It was fun having everyone at our home. I hope it happens often!

I love the window art at the Wave!

I couldn't get Paul the Cheesehead Packer fan to stand under this sign...

Jane took this shot

This morning, we had breakfast with an old friend, Jane Buck - who I know from Atlantic. Bucks were neighbors, living near our home at 202 Crombie. Her daughter Linda was a good friend of my sister Susan, so I became pals with her son Tom. I liked Tom's boy stuff - he had a huge array of army men. We took Jane to the Waveland - or she took us, as it was her treat! She's active in historical issues around town - she's an Altoona gal. At age 82, Jane is sharp as a tack. We talked about all things - from current events to historical buildings. The food was good too. We may just have to make breakfast with Jane a periodic event! It was nice to see her in person, she's such a great supporter on Facebook.

Tonight we will host our Crestonian pal Mary Faber. She transplanted to Emmetsburg years ago, but once a Crestonian...in fact she often tells us local C-town news. The girl is "in the know". Mary can try out our new bed. We got new mattresses and box springs delivered yesterday. I blogged about Mary recently - how she is one of those people who makes everyone feel like you've known her forever. Paul and I are looking forward to seeing her tonight.

Sometimes - like this weekend, when different friends are visiting, I struggle to determine if the various friends we're seeing know each other. It seems like they should! But we are really the only link. Except with Facebook today - some of them know about each other! I told my friends last night that we were taking Jane Buck to breakfast and some of them knew of she was because she posts on many of my blogs and updates.

The friendship quilt stitches tighter and I enjoy it.

Amy update: Amy has been ill with a sinus infection and sounds ready to come home. She flies out of Nicaragua tomorrow for New Jersey and will arrive in Iowa on Monday morning. I can't wait to give her a hug!

Southern Visitors, Monsters U

Paul spoke to our fave farmer (Jeff McFee) this week and he surprised us by taking us up on our offer to come up for a night Friday! Bobbie and Jeff (yes he even brought his wife) arrived about 6 that night and we had a drink on the deck - they helped break in the new furniture - before walking over to Jordan Creek to get a bite to eat at Cheesecake Factory. It was such fun to have them come up. The two were our usual Friday night go-to companions, and we sure miss our get-togethers!

After we ate (I had my usual pear/bleu cheese flat bread - not too heavy) we walked south of the mall, along that little engineered pond. It's pretty along there - it was a pretty evening. We made it an early night because we knew we had a big day planned Saturday. It was such fun catching up on family and Creston news.

It was an early morning Saturday - why? Because
a. we're elderly and can't sleep late and
b. we are hard workers and are used to getting up early

So before 7 a.m. we were headed to our fave hole in the wall breakfast joint - you guessed it, the Waveland. Paul heard me talk about taking my sis Cindo there and he got a hankering for their hashbrowns. I had the 1/4 order of "everything" hashbrowns. So tasty with 1 egg.

Then we were on to the Farmer's Market. I know - it's getting to be a real habit with me! There were some righteous young musicians there that morning - guitar, bass and drums. I'm starting to know what vendors to expect - though each week a few are different. This week again we purchased asparagus, strawberries, and bread. I also decided on a couple knives forged in Waverly - cheese and paring, and some pasta that Cindo and Bonnie told me is delish. On the way back to the car, we walked along the Principal Riverwalk.

When we got back to our place, we headed out on our bikes. Somehow after riding east a ways, we ended up at Wellman's near West Glen - on their terrace, drinking bloody marys eating nachos. The waitress very nice - I gave her varicose vein information, she knew Tracy Purdum - ah Iowa, the smallest world. Next we rode west around the campuses of Wells Fargo and Aviva, ending up at Mavericks patio. It was just a short ride home after that, but we'd gone 10 miles.

It was time for B&J to go home. Jeff had cow to preg check and all that farmer stuff, ya know. Paul and I were heading to church at 4:30, so it was a full day - even if we did only watch TV (the movie The Proposal) that night. We were beat! So much fun hanging out with friends. Why couldn't Creston be 15 miles away instead of 70?

Today I had a date with my little buddy Chiya to see Monsters University. She loved the original movie Monsters Inc. and had mentioned when we saw the Oz movie that she'd like to see this sequel. I'd forgotten what it was like to go to kid movies - the previews are so different than the ones you see at big people movies. They still have little cartoons (you can hardly call them that...can you? because they're art!) before the movies - there were two at Monsters U. I loved them. One was about a snowman and an elk, the other about 2 umbrellas in a rain/wind storm. The animation is fabulous of course.

Chiya laughed out loud at the movie - something I don't hear her do a lot. I loved it! The lady next to me was howling. The movie was pretty cute - and the previews make me want to see the ones coming up. Good thing I have a kid to go with now!

I picked up a book for Chiya when we were out in Colorado recently. There is a great little bookstore near where Cindy lives. I figure with summer vaca, the kid has some time on her hands. When I was her age, I lost myself in books. As we drove back to her place and she looked over the book - Chiya told me she'd do a book report when she was done with it. Ha! Do I look like a school marm? I guess she's not used to just reading for enjoyment...I'll have to work on that with her. Any suggestions appreciated.

Marty, Waveland and Jules

I hope I look that good in 25 years! Amy, Marty and Amy's gorgeous 18 year old daughter Kate (takes after her momma and gran)

My cousin Amy just posted this photo of 3 generations of the Lamm/Bullock fam women. It's from my Aunt Marty's 80th birthday party. Our daughter Amy was able to represent the Goldsmiths at the party - as Marty and her husband Bill live in Denver where Amy lives. We sent an Iowa gift bag to her - since that's where Marty grew up, good 'ol Atlantic. The bag even showed Atown on the map, and I included Oinkers Sauce from The Pines. The Bullocks ate many a good broasted chicken meal from that restaurant!

Speaking of food. Saturday Paul and I checked out a new place for breakfast. We'd been at a loss for a good, non-chain joint to go to since Baby Boomers closed last spring. The Sunday before we had tried Mimi's Cafe over by the new Kohl's. It was fine - expensive though. And it just isn't quite what I was looking for - a homey, Creston-like place. My co-worker Alex suggested we try the Waveland Cafe over on University at about 47th.

We woke up fairly early that day - because we're old...it's hard to sleep in! So we headed to the Waveland. Alex told me he eats there nearly every Saturday at 6 a.m. We didn't get there that early! He must have been dining with his father - and they were just on their way out, so we took their little booth for two. The Waveland Cafe had Paul at kitschy Packer decorations. He was sold once he saw that stuff! There were interesting murals on the walls and little drawings here and there - like proud grandparents had stuck them up.

The menu is perfect - you can get half orders of things, which is just the right amount for me! The coffee with rich, and the waitstaff friendly. I bet it gets busy as the morning goes by. I had an egg and a piece of french toast with a piece of bacon for $5.50. Paul had an egg with hashbrowns and toast. It was all good.


Paul is deep in thought...not the old juice machine - I think it's an antique! Love the mural - must be the owners...

Guess who stopped by our place in WDM on Sunday? Odie was thrilled to have her old pal Julia Hoilien come to visit! Jules was in the area visiting friends from her post college years in Iowa. It was fun to see her and to show her our new home. Nice catching up on the Mason fam - she filled me in on what Jeff, Zetta and Marcella are up to. Some of my favorite peeps!

You'd never know she was up late dancing with her girlfriends...what a cutie!