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.

Iowa City Site Visit

Bits and Pieces

At left is their stom water handling system - it has a green, growing roof.

I was in Iowa City yesterday for a site visit. They're participating in the Environmental Management System Program that I am lead on. The consultant we work with, Cory, flew in from Ohio to attend. We met at their brand new Education Center at their East Side recycling collection facility. Too cool!

They planted two biocells - and there are solar and wind elements!

They're going for LEED (top environmental stuff!) certification

Brooke and Cory chat about compost - scintillating!

I had a twelve hour day - had to get up at 4:30 a.m. to take off an hour later. We met at 8 a.m. at the Ed Center, and moved to the landfill at 9, working though lunch - slogging through identifying the environmental impacts stemming from the operations the Iowa City Landfill is in charge of. Because once they do that - they can work on controlling them.

It's exhausting work. The eight staffers who participated were really good sports though, so that helped. And Cory is like a coach - he draws people out. I am the scribe, typing stuff on my laptop. Plus I chime in when needed. We had a great meeting.

But I was tired last night, woohoo coach. And damn those migraines have been a bitch this week - the weather, hormones? Don't know. But I've been doomed to take Frova each day which also adds to my exhaustion. Today I was pretty worthless at work until about noon. My Supe Jen and I hiked down across the river for lunch at Big City Burger. My first time there. I had avocado on mine, and homemade chips. Good food!

We sat outside on a lovely day at Big City

Glad to be home in Creston today. 

Boldie update

Today was my Bro-In-Law Bolder's last day of radiation therapy - treatment for prostate cancer. He was diagnosed over a year ago, had surgery in August followed by chemo because it's an aggressive form of cancer. This followed by radiation.

Oh - and I forgot to mention the removal of one testicle due to on-going infection that just wouldn't go away. But hey, he still has the other one. My sis Cindo said he came out of surgery singing "One is the Loneliest Number" to the nurses. It's been a hell of a year plus fighting this evil disease.

So for his last day of treatment, he took a penis cake - with one testicle of course, for the staff at the radiation center.

I don't know who baked the cake - but I bet the nurses thought it was a hoot!

So -  thanks for all those fingers crossed, prayers to the higher power, faith in science and medicine. Please let this have done the trick! F'ing cancer be gone!

Today's walk

At lunch today, I walked down Grand - snapped this pic at Seed - for my roomie Joan. She loves peacocks.

It was chilly, but the sun was shining. Next I went over the river (not through the woods). I back up Locust by Des Moines City Hall.

the grounds look very nice

I stopped at Jimmy Johns for my usual - a Number 2 with sauce (oil and vinegar) no mayo, and was lucky enough to snag a used USA today at a table. Sat there listening to my iPod, reading and munching. 2 other tables had people I knew at them. Yet I enjoyed being by myself.

On my walk back to the office, I saw these school kids on their way to tour the State Capitol. They were chattering excitedly. I smiled.

The weekend

-Friday night - Surf and Turf and Crestmoor courtesy of McKims. Though I grew up a Country Club kid, our kids haven't. I suppose it's because there wasn't a private pool to go along with it as there is at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.

When I was a little kid, Mom would take us out to the pool. Then as a "tweener" (12ish?). I'd swim, then put my clothes on in the lady's locker room and get my putter out of our cart shed and mess around on the putting green. Then I might get a burger and a coke to eat at a table by the pool. Dark Shadows - the corny soap opera was on in the lobby by the snack shop at 2:30 PM so kids would go in to watch it then. Sometimes there would be a card game - spoons. There were always other kids around to play with. There was a phone by the pool to call home when I was ready to be picked up. What a life! And I took it all for granted...later I even played a couple rounds of golf.

Buying a Crestmoor membership was a little pricey for us when the kids (and we) were young. I didn't work full time so we had to make some concessions ya know. But we were able to purchase kids memberships, so they could participate in the youth summer program. Jud especially took part in that. Both kids played some golf - I'm glad about that.

This week was Crestmoor's attempt to get new members - thus Surf N Turf night. We didn't get any big heavy push from anyone to fill out membership papers. I asked Donnie if Jeff and Paul could join as a couple!?! After all, Bobbie is working part time in Idaho, and I'm in DSM. Crestmoor does have a membership where one partner can golf and the other is a social member - and can play up to 6 times. I've encouraged Paul to consider it. While I don't like to think of him sitting in the clubhouse drinking, I do like to think of him golfing at night. He's good!

After a yummy supper that night of turf (a very good filet), we headed to McKims deck until after 11 p.m. to chat. Jeff was there too - Bobbie is in Boise.

Father and son - so alike, so different

-Saturday we headed to St. Joseph, Mo. to see our baby boy Judson. Jud just moved from his ultra cool loft apartment to a kinda dumpy duplex - at about half the price. We didn't even have to help! Paul put a couple pictures up on the wall in his bedroom, but that was it. Kara, his girlfriend left early that day to travel to Vegas (it's not Vegas baby when you're working). So we had him all to ourselves. He showed us around town a bit, and we stopped at Target.

See my cute boy...

Then we went to a great downtown restaurant Boudreaux - Cajun Cuisine.  We sat and talked after we ate - he's fun to talk to, knowledgeable about many topics. I like having a chance to talk to him in person about his job, friends, just how things are going in general. And on the drive home, Paul and I agreed. The kid is turning out swell - we're so very proud of him!

Near Jud's former loft - says "see the bullet hole"

-Saturday night we were still so full, we didn't even need to eat supper - even though it was Cinco de Mayo. I texted my buddy Deb and she and hubby Larry came over for a post Cinco dinner drink. They tried to go to Creston's Mexican restaurant, but ended up next door at the Windrow. We sipped Butterscotch Liquor and got caught up on each others' lives. I need my Debbie fix ya know!

-On Sunday I didn't even get in the car. Finally got some deck time with sun. Odie loved sniffing around. Then we went into cleaning mode again - this time Amy's room, and the closet downstairs. Ended up looking at old photos in Amo's albums. Walk down memory lane. I ended up scanning some of the pics of course. I couldn't part with the envelopes for the tooth fairy.

-Grilled burgers for supper. This was a good weekend.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

We did some big cleaning out last weekend. I feel good, and bad about it. I blogged about getting rid of Mom's chair. I didn't mention the other big sacrifice - my chaps.

When I was in junior high and high school I was lucky enough to be a horse girl. Mom and Dad bought me Frosty, a white/gray mare, and I later upgraded (with some angst as I loved that old gal) to Jack, a young quarterhorse gelding (that term means no nuts for you non-livestock folks). I was in 4-H, but also traveled around to other area horse shows in Southwest Iowa (Anita, Audubon, Griswold, Cumberland - once we even went to the Block and Bridle show at the fairgrounds) with Wayne and Sally (his daughter) Rodgers.

I showed my horse in the heyday of that activity! There were often updwards of 40 contestants in Western Pleasure classes. They'd have to split the class up to - and more often than not, Jack and I ended up being an also-ran. But a few times I got a nice ribbon. To be dressed for success in the show ring, I had to have the right equipment.

So for Christmas one year Mom bought me the coolest rust colored suede chaps - with fringe on 'em. They went with my beautiful blanket that went under my saddle - the tooled saddle I got in Cumberland for a birthday gift. Yep - you might say I was spoiled. (I parted with the saddle in the '80's - only agreeing to sell it to someone I liked.) I sold my horse Jack the year I left Atlantic for ISU - but was lucky he stayed right in Atlantic.

I'd carted the chaps with me since the '80's when I packed them away in my college trunk. Along with my wool LMB embroidered (my pre-marriage) sweater. Tis week they both went to the Re-Run Shop - used clothing etc. store run by the Catholic Church in Creston. They also got my "Les" tooled western belt. Damn I was proud of that thing and the big 'ol belt buckle! I hope there is another Les out there looking for a cool belt. (I was too cheap to pay for my whole name to be tooled...).

My new attitude tells me - someone should be using this stuff. It's time to quit hanging onto the so many things for sentimental reasons.

Paul tried to talk me into putting them on one last time. You bet he did. Nice try Pablo! But I was in cleanup mode. In a weak moment Paul even decided to give up his Brett Favre jerseys.

Gone Baby Gone. That's the way it's going to be. I'm not sticking my kids with going through this stuff someday. Not all of it anyway.

Tomorrow - if it's rainy. Onto the downstairs closet!

NW Iowa trip

Have I mentioned lately how I love my job? Yeah, sometimes I forget. Days like Tuesday remind me why I enjoy doing what I do - helping cities and counties with solid waste/recycling. I traveled to NW Iowa with my peers Jim and Scott for some site visits. Those two nuts are fun to travel with - they might not think the same about me after our 14 hour day together...

This cute corn was outside City Hall at Rockwell City - our first stop

Scott heads up a program called the Derelict Building Grant Program. Communities up to 5,000 people can apply for grant funding to assess asbestos in old buildings and to ultimately cost share in deconstructing them. They get a larger cost share the more they recycle! It's a great program thats popularity has far out outweighed the amount of funds available.

Scott has been with the department for a year and a half. He is in his early 30's and is funny and sarcastic with a really dry wit - I guess that's why we get along.

Jim is in charge of the Solid Waste Alternatives Grant Program (SWAP), which funds waste diversion projects across the state. Exciting, no? Okay - like derelict building it's not science or brain surgery. Some of the fees paid for each ton of trash landfilled in Iowa goes toward the SWAP program. Keep that in mind the next you wheel your trash cart down the driveway. Jim has worked at DNR over ten years after an earlier career in printing. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met, a real sweetie who laughs at my jokes. Jim suffered from a serious blood illness a few years ago but he's totally healthy now. I think he's starting to think about retirement, but is a year or two away yet.

An old drugstore demolished on mainstreet Rockwell City

Jim on right in orange, Scott holding notebook

Tuesday we were on a mission to visit a few sites that Scott and Jim set up. First we were at Rockwell City, where they were in the midst of a demolition project already. In fact, the contractor  actually teaches a class at Central Community College in Fort Dodge about how to dismantle such buildings. The trick is to gleaning the good stuff like good wood, and bricks which can be worth as much as $.25-$.35 each. Cash like that can help pay for the project! Towns are happy to remove the scary, falling down dilapidated properties. Some replace the eyesores with greenspace, others hope to be able to be able to re-sell the property for a new building.

Both Trash AND Treasures

The courthouse has a beautiful tile roof - gorgeous building

The Rockwell City Clerk is in charge of the paperwork for the grant, so Scott took some time to talk it over with her. During that time, I walked around a bit and took a couple photos (I talked Jim into talking my pic with the corn...see - he's real nice).  I took the opportunity to explain what I do to the clerk, and give her my card - always good to schmooze when one can...

Next we headed to Ida Grove to talk to the City Clerk there about our programs. We met at the Family Table Restaurant. That city was just awarded a Derelict Building Grant. After dining on a tasty Breaded Loin, and checking out a cool sledding hill complete with rope tow, we headed downtown to see the building set to come down. It's the Baxter Hotel (kinda like the Bates Hotel...) - which on the surface, doesn't look too bad. But it's heading downhill fast.

It looks worse from the back - guess it's been abandoned since 2004

Next we were off to our last stop - LeMars where we were meeting about 20 residents of Plymouth County about their solid waste/recycling system. We stopped at their landfill on the way in to town - I'm such a landfill groupie ya know. This one has done a great job recycling things like shingles, wood, metal - saving landfill space. Plus they can sell the shingles!

When we got into town, we lucked into cake at a store celebrating their 4th anniversary. The meeting was interesting. And hot and stuffy. The peeps are quite enthusiastic about recycling. We answered questions - after all - they're our poster children for success and we want that to continue!

After the meeting we walked down the block to the taj mahal of ice cream - the Well Blue Bunny Palace, completed just a year ago. I had a scoop of praline pecan. It wasn't quite this big. But almost...thus my in NW Iowa trip ended with me consuming a week's worth of calories. It was a good trip. Got back to DSM at 9 p.m. Long day!

the money cone - by the bank

My sis Betsy reported that my sis Cindy survived her partial knee replacement surgery. Today Cindo says she started physical therapy. Hope recovery continues on a good path. Her hubbie Bold finishes up radiation soon. ;>)