Retrieval Failure

Governor Rick Perry experienced what the Washing Post calls "Retrieval Failure" a/k/a "brain freeze" at the Republican debate this week. He couldn't come up with a list of government agencies he wants to get rid of when he's elected prez.

You may read the full article here in the WaPo: Washington Post Article

If you know me and my politics, you probably know that I don't agree with much Rick Perry stands for. But in this case I felt a little sorry for the guy. Why? I've suffered from this problem - more as I get older.

I like how the article explains what happens. As I'm aging, my brain is shrinking and rusting - and is overloaded with information. My friends say I have the best memory. Right - I'll be the one that recalls insignificant stuff from high school, but can't remember important names from current events. Helpful - NOT.

It's hard to remember all that crap from the olden days and all this new stuff! I'd say my hard drive size is limited. I could never run for office because it's when I really want something, like a person's name etc. that I can't come up with it. When I give it a few minutes, it seems to percolate to the right place where I can reach it. I remember Dad being like that - great...I'm turning into Dave B.

I liked that Mr. Perry was able to make fun of himself on Letterman last night. That's all one can do about the problem - laugh! But about that presidential run Governor Perry? Forget about it...

Granny Panties

I'm listening to a Stephanie Plum book on CD this week. It's "Smokin' Seventeen". One must be in the right frame of mind when listening to a Steph book. First thing Monday, I wasn't feeling it. Stephanie (the main character in the books) was trying to select which type of donut she wanted...and I had a lot of work issues on my mind. So I had to turn her off.

But I ran into traffic (evidently some poor schlubs ran into each other on the 22nd street bridge) when I go to Des Moines and traffic was at a standstill. So I turned the CD back on again. I love the reader on the Stephanie Plum CDs. She does wonderful voices. Her Lula is especially great! The character Lula is a supersized black woman (former hooker) who wears spandex and helps Stephanie collect bail skips. They generally get into hijinks together.

Stephanie has a problem. She likes two guys. In "Smokin'" she has a hard time keeping her knees together when she's around Joe (hot policeman) and Ranger (hot security guy). So Lula tells her she needs a break from sex - and they head to JC Penney to get secure some "granny panties," that Lula tells her will protect her from thoughts of men, and if not - they (men) won't be attracted to her in them! Ha!

I grew up in Granny Panties! At least until junior high or so. Those things are comfy!

Listening to Stephanie books makes me chuckle out loud. It probably looks pretty silly when I'm sitting in the car. All by myself. Oh well - I'll have Lula zap 'em with her stun gun.

Shoe shoppin'

I felt like a judge at a horse or cattle show. But I was shoe shopping. I had been for an oil change at Ramsey Subaru - and discovered I could make due with simply rotating my tires. I don't yet need $600 worth of tires! Why...that's like getting a raise.

So I celebrated by shopping for shoes at Valley West Mall. I entered the mall through Von Maur - the door near the shoes. Right away I found some ankle high boots, with just the right heels by Born. They were called Rachelle.

 Then mine eyes fell upon the Uggs - the shoe kind, not the boots.

Like any good judge, I picked up the shoes, and looked them over good. (I checked their teeth) But I was not ready to pick a winner. So on I went to the next store. I wandered through a few clothing stores, before looking at Younkers Shoes. After all I had Coupons for Younkers. But nothing there tripped my trigger. I proceeded to Fit to Be Tied. Good shoes there, but the ones at Von Maur continued to call to me.

I went back and tried them on. I felt like a horse shoe judge - picking them to be in the winner's circle. But wait! The Uggs were tight. The next size up - too loose. And I liked them best...but I needed to think it over. And perhaps try them on with some thinner socks another day. So phew, Pablo dodges a bullet! I do like those boots though...

My 10,000th view

This blog hit 10,000+ views this past week. (And I bet only 1,000 or so are my own!) Amazing.

I really didn't know where I was going with this blog thing three years ago when I started up in February 2009. You see, daughter Amy had her own blog. I enjoyed reading hers. I started thinking...hey...I could do that too!

And I missed writing my recycling column for the Creston News Advertiser. I enjoyed writing that column for several years prior to taking the DNR job of my dreams in Des Moines. Each month I'd start thinking of an environmental topic, and would rewrite the thing several times before it actually hit the paper. People would often tell me how much they enjoyed the piece, which tickled me to no end! And even better, they would ask me questions about topics because they had read the things I wrote about.

And I have all that commuting time to think while cruising between Des Moines and Creston. (When I'm not listening to a book on CD).  Sometimes I worry...should I be putting my life out there on the Internet for the whole world to see? But I can't help myself. So I'll keep postin' for all 11 of my followers! And you other random readers. Thanks! Your comments are always appreciated.

How did I pick Blogger.com? Because it goes with Google, and I already had Gmail. I'm kinda lazy like that.

Deep birthday thoughts

Upon entering my 55th year (after my 54th bday)

• What a great Birthday Week (and the weeks prior)!
• It started a couple weekends ago when Amy showed up, surprising me while tailgating in Ames. I, Junior Nancy Drew, and her fearless sidekicks Bess (Bobbie) and George (Diana) (if you have read N. Drew books you know those are Nancy's girlfriend's names - they help her in her sleuthing) did not detect this stealthy surprise. So Jud and Amy were both there at a beautiful tailgating day in Ames, along with our Clone friends. Life is good!
• The celebration of Leslie continued last weekend in Galena with friends from my native town of Atlantic - Chris and Paula. We were in beautiful Galena. I probably celebrated bdays years 5-18 with those chicks. So it was fun to kick off my 54 celebration with 'em (and Pablo and Chris's hubby Larry).
• Onto the quiet of "My Day Off" Monday. I started with my home girl breakfast. Love those girls too. Are you sensing a theme here? Blessed with friends. Of course all of these things (except chick breakfast) were done with my very best friend Paul Goldsmith (aka Pablo the Poolboy). I then had a nice walk around my neighborhood, and the west side of Creston - McKinley Lake and Park. I can't ever walk through McKinley without thinking of:
• Swim meets at the former pool there. The old pool was still there when we moved to town in 1986, and was replaced ten or so years ago with the present pool. One swim meet I was swimming breast stroke (despite my lack of breasts) - and, I recall, (head growing slightly larger) in 2 age groups - 13/14 and 15/16, as our usual swimmer in the older group wasn't able to attend the meet. I had to swim my usual race (which was only 40 yards long). Then the boys swam. Then I had to turn around and do it again. Then I swam it in a mixed relay with our age group. Robyn, Sally, and I can't recall the backstroker - Sue Tyler? For 15/16 it was Barb Hutchinson, and the Merrick sisters - Cindy and Marci.
• And years later, taking our children to the former playgrounds in McKinley Park - back when the toys weren't always so safe. The little swinging bridge. Those animals that could knock a kid clean off their feet if they happen to wander in front of one, as the other - going to town swinging on a dolphin. We always walked up to pay homage to the Civil War statue that is now featured more prominently with the sidewalk placement and flags.
• Tuesday I was back to work. I'm fortunate to work with a highly professional bunch. A few quirks but, no total disfunctions - you know what I mean. At some of my jobs, one person wouldn't talk to another or one totally didn't do their job. This group all functions as necessary. Which makes life easier for all of us.
• I took treats to work Thursday a.m. - Kringle that I purchased at Super Target - in honor of my Scandinavian roots (I have none). I had returned to Target to get myself a Wii - that I need to hook up to our TV today. Yes, I'm going to get FIT.
• By Thursday I was heading home to Crestonia. We had book club that night at A&G Bar - and my bookie friends gave me a gift certificate from Dairy Queen. What swell gals - and I didn't even read the book this month! We do miss member Thea, who is battling the evil Myeloma that is ravaging her body. She is throwing both chemo and radiation at it. Damn stuff all of it-cancer and poisonous treatment. We hope Thea joins us (or we can join her at her home) again soon.
• Book Club was over at 9ish and I hurried to McKim's house to our last pre-tailgating planning party. Sitting in the RV in McKim's driveway has become a lovely tradition this season - all of the fun (read liquor) none of the stress of real tailgating. Planning takes 15 minutes. Solving life's mysteries - a few more hours. This night we were celebrating Jeff McFee's 54th birthday. Yes he's way older than I. I had a lovely oatmeal cookie shot - green apple, caramel apple and Hot Damn. That's all though - too much to do the next day!

• A beautiful trip to Atlantic early Friday a.m. I drove through Fontanelle, a pretty little town on Highway 92, just as the sun was coming up. On the west side of town, I was surprised to see hundreds of windmills waving at me in the dawn. They had popped up since my last trip in July. I met three colleagues - Jen (my supervisor), Jeff and Becky at the Atlantic landfill for an Audit. Then we ate at the Old Hotel downtown for lunch. On the way home I drove through my fave town of Bridgewater - love seeing the Doris Department Store. So cute!
• I was home in Creston by 3ish and stopped at Fareway for my tailgating "assignment". Then worked at bit more on my laptop. I got FB bday wishes. various texts from buddies. Amy called. Jud Called.
• That evening I met up with girlfriends at The Lobby - the local watering hole. Hmmm start out early Monday a.m. with them - and now ending Friday. Sensing a theme? Nancy showed up! Hadn't seen that chick for a long time. The boys (Jeff and Paul) arrived along with Krissy and Caleb. We went to A&G for a bite before turning in. Only had a couple drinks - thank goodness my friends didn't insist on birthday shots - glad 54 is no 21! Hmmm maybe I should pretend that every night. What a great bday!
•  
• Bobbie and Jeff picked us up at 6 a.m. Chilly and windy - guess it is November. But I was definitely an RV sitter today. Gametime - bundled up and it wasn't too bad - snuggled up against each other. The Cyclones were not great - just good enough, and they won the game. That's all we can ask. After the game, we had great "saucy Southerner" sannies, Conovers stopped by. Donnie has outdone himself with his new recycling/trash system and the TV mount on the RV. RV tailgating is the best!

My 50's have been fun. As I grow older I tend to reflect more - I suppose everyone does. I'm watching the CBS morning show as I write this a.m. The topic is the recently deceased Andy Rooney (who worked and lived until age 92) - commenting that he never pretended to be something he wasn't. I try to live my life like that. Yeah, I can make nice. But I don't put up fronts - especially now, in my 50's. What you see is what you get.

There is a guest editorial in the DSM Register today by a priest who is dying from pancreatic cancer. It hit home. It seems that a lot of people I know these days are struggling with illness. As I hope and pray for them, I can't help but wonder how I might confront cancer or some other illness if I ever get that type of diagnosis.

He says, "As a priest I have observed many for whom death was an unwelcome enemy. Frequently it was because they lived only for themselves. And now they faced death by themselves, even though others were physically around them. Many others bravely faced death surrounded by the people whom they had loved and served. They had shared much in life and now they were sharing the dying experience with loved ones."

I hope I'm living my life in a way that I would be strong enough to fight the good fight against cancer/illness. But ultimately, I could be brave and surrounded like the Reverend Hemann. And I wish to serve more - though my present livestyle makes it hard to do so. And I'm being selfish right now - working hard during the week, so I play hard on weekends.

I don't want to end on a downer. We're all healthy. And yahoo - the Cyclones won. Can they sneak out 1 more win? I'm done with the six work audits I needed to complete. So work should calm down. Both kids will be home for Thanksgiving. Life is good!

BFSW and Wii

You probably know the store better as DSW, which stands for Designer Shoe Warehouse. To me, it's that Big F'n Shoe Warehouse. They do gots lots of shoes. But for some reason, it's just too overwhelming for me, shoe lovin' girl. Can't pull the trigger.

So I left with my tail between my legs. And my credit card in my purse. I know...it's a sad story!

I did go to Target after that, and I purchased a Nintendo Wii with Mario Cart. And I went Wii Wii Wii all the way home - to Joan's. I plan to get a Fit - to start working out. Yeah - that's right. Me and the machine. I can't wait! Next I may get a dancing thingy. I'll be in tip top shape in no time.

McKinley and the Magic Paintbrush

I walked around Creston's McKinley Lake and Park yesterday as I took the day off. I was recovering from our wonderful trip to Galena, Illinois with HS homies Paula and Chris along with Chris's hubbie Larry. When one is a commuter, it's brutal to get home on a Sunday and pack up once again to leave at the crack O'dawn the next day.

Monday a.m. I got to spend my morning with my good friend Chuck at S&K Cafe. And my homegirls Deb, Susan, Patti, Pat, Diana, Bobbie and Linda. They all brought me birthday cards - yes, it's my birth week! I got to kick it off in style. After breakfast I headed home to hang out and relax on my day off. Odie was overjoyed to see me. It doesn't take much to please that little wiener!

That afternoon, when the autumn sun was beaming down, I decided to take a walk around the lake by our house. I took the camera along to capture some of the sights of my neighborhood and hometown. Creston is at its finest this time of year! It's as if some higher power dabbed beautiful fall colors around town, making even the most mundane areas flashy and handsome.

She looks very pissed off about being in a bun

It was Halloween of course so I dragged out Odie's bun costume. She hates it, but I talked her into leaving it on long enough to get her photo taken. We only had a few trick or treaters. Mmmm more candy for us