As time goes by

Yesterday was the first work day after "daylight savings" time was over. We rolled our clocks back Saturday night. Monday afternoon I was working hard (not hardly working). It was about 4:15 PM, I noted on my watch - yet so many people were still about. What the hell were they doing there? Usually the joint (the Wallace Building) clears out by 4 PM.

Have I mentioned how much I love driving my own car again? Ah my little silver Subaru - you fit me like a glove. Much better than a dented Toyota Camry. I am avoiding Hickman - I hear it's loaded with deer. (I know it's a little late to have found out about that, but better late than never).

Speaking of time - do you realize how soon the holidays are? Yikes! I think Paul and I are giving each other a trip to Boulder, Colorado for a football game for Christmas. That takes care of that. And shopping for the cherubs will be easy - computers for both this year. Kinda boring, but I like it!

Heading home to Crestonia tomorrow - Thursday is Veteran's Day. Bless our troops and veterans. Not sure what I'll do all day - besides sleep in and get ready for the Colorado trip.


I looked at my clock. A cute little recycled number - made from a tuna can. Yep. 4:15 PM. But - wait. My computer says 3:15! It is on satellite time - I neglected to set my work clock and watch back. Damn! A whole nother hour two hours left to work!

Manic Monday

Another Monday another breakfast with the girls. Today we were celebrating Linda Kilgore's birthday - her first without her spouse Rudy, who passed away last year due to a lung problem. She quit coming to breakfast for a while, so I'm glad she's back.

We were filling everyone in about the big game - ISU/NU in Ames last weekend. Diana was over it (NOT). And was wondering what to give Donnie for his birthday - Tuesday - the same day as Linda's. Bobbie suggested "take him to the ISU game in Boulder!" Bobbie and I said, "We're up for that!"

Stay tuned - we could just head to Boulder on Friday. Diana is checking into it. Pablo says it could work. He's not working this week - (it's hunting time ya know). I have Thursday off and Friday could be a comp time day. Amy is going to be at the game! And it's the last ISU/CU game in Big 12 history anyway.

Work was, well work.

Afterwards I headed to Younkers at Jordan Creek to take back some jeans that Jud didn't like. Found a Columbia vest I liked - cream colored. Then I headed to Scheel's to see what was new there. As I headed out the door to my car, a couple youngs guys went out the door at the same time. Then a woman scooted past me and jumped in front of the guy on my left (his pants were hanging off his ass - one of those). She said "Store security - come with me please!" Yikes! Glad she wasn't talking with me. Makes me glad I don't shoplift - that was scary!

The day flew by

Of course it did! Just like they always do on days like yesterday at the Big 4 Plus More reunion. The event was one of the bigger ISU games in the past couple years. ISU was playing Nebraska at home for the last time in, well that's it. Kaput as the Fuskers take off to join the Big 10.

The More part - crazy! Several other people joining my three college roomies and me. A plast from our past! It all started...(wayback machine/swirly thoughts above Leslie's head) four girls ended up living in Schilling house in Maple dorm in 1976. From this start, lifelong friends were made. I had known Sally Rodgers from childhood, but we didn't plan to live on the same dorm floor. It was karma. Vicki Gernand (now Behr) and Jane Flack (Conn) were two other smalltown girls we started hanging with, thanks to a ping pong table in between the 'vators.

Sally's daughter Lauren was admitted to Vet School at ISU this fall, so Sal called to say she was coming for the November 6th game. Things took off from there. Sal now lives on Portland, Oregon so it has been many years since the four of us have gotten together. Jane lives in Waukee (where I live during each week) and Vicki in Northfield, MN. I warned Vic "if you don't come, we'll talk about you!" haha.

Another ISU Schilling girl in attendance was my good friend Julia Hoilien - Atlantic friend, now living outside Boulder, CO. Another Atlantic buddy Marci Merrick (Hinners) stopped over and brought along her sis Cindy - ah memories of my Sunnyside Pool lifeguard days. It was old home week!

Our buddy Hauser lives in Eagan, MN - he's our buddy from the Big 4 years. In fact he may have started that nickname. We were hoping Moose would/could drive over from Chicago but no such luck. ;>(

When Paul and I got together we successfully melded our two friend groups together - and while he was just hunting with Mike Huston, (best man at our wedding and veterinarian near LaCrosse, WI) he must have waxed very poetically about this weekend. Before you knew it, Mike and wife Paula (also a vet) were on board! Add Tom Sullivan, our Des Moines pal (another vet) and his friend Shirley.

All these people were in addition to the regular crowd - our great Crestonian tailgate crew - McKims, McFees and Higgins. This game Matt Buck had offered to smoke ribs and other meats for the game. I swear I could smell it at Hilton Coliseum when I got out of our car! Our tailgate was a beehive of activity.

Pablo mixed up Bloody Marys asap when we got there. So let's say I was relaxed and happy all day. And those years (it's been 30 since the Big 4 met) do simply melt away. I love those ladies - living together for 3 formative years really bonds people permanently! So no matter what happens - and that we have gone on to become different people with our own busy lives. We's sistas!

The game - that's a whole different story. I didn't go though - stayed out with my girlies and Mike and Tom to catch up. Watched the end on the RV TV. Hauser used my ticket and he had the time of his life. Except ISU lost in OT. Heart breaker - damn fuskers and fans. Just like the Hawks - so satisfying to beat. But this game. This was about my friends. We better not wait another 20 years to get this group back together! (hell we'd be 73!)

A swell birthday

For all my lamenting about my lousy luck in my birth week - you may recall last year I broke my foot. Now this year, the blasted incident with the rental car/deer whilst my car was in the shop being repaired. Then my car wasn't done on time. And I'm not feeling great.

But yesterday was my bday and I was determined to have a great day. I didn't tell people at work that it was the big day, but I stopped by the big HyVee on University and Jordan Creek Road for a couple dozen donuts - one for each section I work in - Financial and Business Assistance (my real section with new boss Jennifer Wright) and the other Solid Waste (with the engineers and that boss Alex Moon).

Last year I had scoured Des Moines for a good place to get Donuts - similar to Quicks in Atlantic or Mr. Donut. But Des Moines doesn't seem to have many of those. I tried Donut Hut on Grand, but that guy was like a donut Nazi - not the most cheerful. I know it was o dark:30 but jeez I'm a paying customer! So I went with an Iowa store this year. The donuts were fine!

People soon figured out it was my day 'o birth (when I spilled my guts). Then Robbiedob called from sunny Orlando (my buddy since 1960 or so...) to wish my a happy day! I was feeling better as I'd gotten some antibiotics the day before. Went okay and roomie Joan took me out for supper Wednesday night and had left a funny card on my purse to start my day right. Then Becky Jolly rounded up a small group of co-workers to go to lunch in honor of my big day. We walked to Jimmy Johns in the East Village.

I called and found out my car wasn't going to be done until 4ish. Fine - I handled it without snapping. I headed to Enterprise to turn in the somewhat dented rental car around 3 PM. The two cute Tylers (20 something guys who checked it out to me - 1 is in training) had to go out and see it. Of course paperwork took a while - but I took it all in stride. Hey - it was my birthday. I (not so cheerfully) paid the $500 deductible.

When I got to Ramsey Subaru my car was done in scant minutes. I paid the $500 deductible (not so cheerfully). Ru looks fabulous - all detailed and shiny. They cleaned her out and put everything in the back - I found that missing book on CD the library asked me about. Yay! Headed home arriving just before the tailgate planners - seeing nary a deer. Paul baked me a cake! Ugly angel food but tasty.

Pablo had a meeting but Dee, Bobbie, Sharon, Jeff and Donnie and I met to discuss food. Then Jeff and Don went to do manly things and it was the girls. I broke out a bottle of chardonnay. Popped on the tailgating music track on my computer. Sally and Jules called - they're in Iowa heading to Ames. I opened my funny cards from my friends and fam. I got lots of Facebook greetings and felt the cyberlove.

When the gals left I called my baby girl, who had tried to call earlier. (Jud had sent a mushy text). And when Paul got home I got my gift from the family - Mary Poppins tickets! Yay - I love the live stuff. Chim Chiminey.

The moral of the story is - I felt really loved. Even while those people were taking my money. I'm a lucky gal!

Sick and fragile ego

I'm sick. Just like many people in cubicle land who are hacking, sneezing and I've heard complaining of illness, I'm sick. Sinus infection - after all fall of suffering through allergy-land. It's finally got me! Or it was all those germy bottles I dug out of the trash last weekend.

Regardless, 1 scratchy throat and drippy nose later I called Sheryl Young ARNP to get some meds. Sheryl used to practice in Creston but moved to DM a few years ago so I saw her here back before my female problems. Then she moved from a clinic in Johnston to a clinic way on SW 9th and I haven't needed to see her - went to another woman in Creston for my physical. But she fixed me up with some drugs to combat these symptoms.

Between my cold symptoms, the election and my fragile, battered ego I hardly slept a wink last night. I kept reliving that "thump" of the deer bouncing off the front of the car. Another $500 deductible. I kept trying to tell myself that we have saved a great deal of money through the years by jacking up our deductible amount. But I'm up to $1,000 in 2 weeks damn it! Think how many shoes that could have purchased...

And feeling angry about all the $$ from outside Iowa spent to unseat judges who made the decision to allow same-sex marriage. Great, now cash is king when it comes to court decisions. I hope those who unleashed that particular monster are happy with the consequences when it goes against them someday. Courts should be above politics!

I didn't take the insurance

Yesterday when I got the rental car, to drive while my own car is being repaired. You may recall I hit some kinda varmint driving home from Des Moines not even two whole weeks ago. It was a smallish deerog (combination dog/deer). I can't quite make myself type dog.

I don't want it to be a dog. Maybe it was a coyote - Wile E. Coyote trying out his Acme rocket skates. Yeah, that's it. And he shot across the highway at the wrong time, hitting the underneath left front side of my Subaru. Breaking my fog light and my wiper fluid reservoir and cracking my bumper. Whatever the hell it was.

My first insurance claim in forever - except the hail damage on our house. And now just scant days later, whilst driving the damn Toyota owned by Enterprise I hit a big damn deer. Right on Hickman near I-35/80. It ran across from the south and the car by me slammed on its brakes and I hit the mushy brakes on this car but alas. Bam! The poor deer spun around on its back and looked like it was going to get up. I sped on hoping against hope there was no damage.

Damn cars - of course there is damage! The whole front end is torked. I think Enterprise will notice tomorrow when I drop it off. Tyler the rental guy made a big deal of walking around the car when I checked it out, noting any damage. F#*$! I called Paul to report that I am officially an accident magnet. I feel bad about the deer - stupid animal.

I feel bad for me. Another $500 deductible. Hope I don't get a nasty-gram from my insurance company!

November 1

Goodbye el carro - I dropped my car off at Ramsey Subaru to be fixed today. It was stressful. I didn't like leaving 'Ru. It was like leaving my child at his first sleepover. On my way into town this a.m. I had to stop at Joan's and drop all of my sh...stuff off - suitcase, hanging clothes etc.

Still - I left my raincoat in 'Ru and a coffee cup. My stuff ya know. I feel lost without my car and my stuff. I'm driving a Toyota Corolla from Enterprise for a couple days - grabby brakes. But hey, it's just a couple days. I can do this.

I got to have my birthday breakfast with my homegals first thing this a.m. Always a great way to start the day - especially when I get funny cards just for me! It was a full house today - everyone was there. We were loud and proud.

I'm happy to report that Nancy has returned to college - she's attending Upper Iowa University, a branch here in DM. I'm so proud of her and for her. She's taking a writing class right now. I love it when people keep learning and growing.

Election Day tomorrow - can't wait to get rid of all the negative ads! What an awful year. From both sides. I am sick of both parties. What will it take to get rid of the big money controlling our government? It's depressing. Paul and I voted a couple weeks ago absentee. The Union County race is as exciting as any - stay tuned!