Characterization

So to continue...I've known some real characters in my life. After Pablo and I got hitched, we moved to Osage - in Northern Iowa. I kept working for Gamble Robinson, the grocery wholesaler, as a traveling office manager. I flew out of Mason City in small planes up to Minneapolis and over to Green Bay, WI. Then I visited various small grocery wholesalers the company owned - helping install IBM System 32 computers and code produce for input into the system. Those computers were about the size of a couch - with a place to sit under the keyboard and a screen not much larger than my current cell phone screen. I didn't imagine back then I would have my own computer in my home one day.

That's the screen - to the left of the paper spindle, left of the keyboard. Tiny!

The first site I visited when I started traveling was in Menominee, MI - it's on the upper peninsula, just past Wisconsin. The branch there was a tiny thing - run by a guy with his aunt who was the office manager. They were nice as pie. In fact they fed me some! Plus all the other great food good Germans know about - man they can cook up there.  

 

How do you get sheets for this?

Aunt Betty was quite the character. A long time widow, she was in her 60's. Somehow I learned she had a heart-shaped bed. With silk sheets. TMI, you're absolutely right. She and I worked together for a couple weeks so I got to observe her office behavior. It was strange. She had badly colored and permed reddish brown hair. About once every half hour she'd begin feeling her head - to pat down her curls. Then Betty would snatch a pair of shears from her desk drawer and snip off a piece of hair - tossing it in the trash. Haircut selfie!

I finished up working in Menominee just before Easter. Betty gave me a box of homemade caramels. What a sweetie! My next stop was Sheboygan, WI where I experienced my first Sheboygan steak sandwich. Bitchin'! Whenever I watch Diners, Drive-Inns and Dives I think of that town. We watched the chef cook the steaks with onions and butter on a hot griddle we sat at the counter. Delish!

I enjoyed my time traveling in Wisconsin. I was in Fond Du Lac one time in July 1984 when I got the call from my dad that my sister Susi had given birth to my niece Leslie. #fondmemories.

One week I couldn't get a motel (it was some big air show), so I stayed with Paul's brother Denny and sister-in-law Kelli in Port Washington - just down from Sheboygan. It's beautiful country up there. I stayed in their daughter Karen's room. I'm sure son Joe was around somewhere along with their little dog Moe. None of them are really overt characters. Just plain nice people.

After nearly a year of travel, I was ready to stay home and live with my husband again. Heck - we were still practically newlyweds. I saw an advertisement in Osage for a computer person needed at Fox River - the woolen mill right in Osage. I got the job - no more traveling for me. I still love wearing their socks today. After keying orders in for 2 years, it took me a long time to forget the color codes. You can purchase their socks several places in Iowa - good stuff.  

Facebook hiatus

I thought about it for a week. Lent was coming up - a time of being thoughtful our priest told us. By writing this blog, I suppose I'm doing what last weekend's gospel reading told us not to - calling attention to myself during this time. But you know me - I'm an open blog. I gotta tell the story. I gave up Facebook for Lent.

It is a difficult thing for me to give up. I've grown accustomed to its face. Facebook has been a part of my life for almost ten years! When Amy went to college she joined Facebook - then open only to people with college email addresses. Somehow I wheedled her password out of her. I loved this new thing - Facebook. Through it I got to know Amy's college friends and learned a few things I probably really didn't want to know. It was nice keeping up with Creston kids too.

Then Facebook opened up the medium to all users to everyone - not just students. I got my own page - and was forced to play with others my own age. I must admit I missed Amy's friends - but thought it might be weird asking them all to be my friends! About that time I started working in Des Moines. FB was a good tool to use to stay connected with friends and family. It also helped me reconnect with some classmates I hadn't talked to for a while.

Through the years, via FB, I have come to know some friends and family better than I ever have before. I have really enjoyed that aspect of the social media - especially the photos! Oh sure - there have been a few mis-steps. I posted those baby pictures of Jud when he was a college freshman and he immediately texted me to say he was un-friending me! I guess I should not have identified (or tagged to use the lingo) him in the photos - but I totally thought they would make him a babe magnet. Of course I'm his mother...

I get frustrated with FB at times - everyone sees the privacy notice warnings. And in the early days the ads weren't as prevalent. I am not a game fan so those I wish I could turn them off permanently. Political stuff - on both sides of the aisle. I don't really wish to see any of it. I'm on FB to see stuff about your family, vacations, weekends. I don't want to see that you hate a candidate, love one or are foaming at the mouth about a topic. I try not to do it - but must admit I'm weak at times.

So here I am whining about my big sacrifice. It's good for me and therapeutic - but know that even though in my heart I know this break from social media (at least FB) is good for me - I sure miss my FB friends. Good thing I still have Twitter!

Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill!

Cissy - (my cousin Amy - a throwback reference to Family Affair again) emailed last night to say your good thoughts and prayers are doing the trick. Ash Wednesday will never be the same for her again, she said. My Uncle Bill Lamm was able to get off the respirator and is now just on oxygen.

The doctors expect it to be slow going - battling the effects of the pneumonia with some other health issues. He will likely be in ICU a couple more days and then will go into a regular hospital room.

Good news indeed. Thanks for caring my friends!

Rear Window memories

I did it again...dragged Pablo to another thing he never planned to do. I walked at Jordan Creek Mall tonight instead of the YMCA. The mall was a nice change from the tight circles and boring views at the "Y". I don't particularly enjoy watching people work out. They either try to act cool and aren't or just aren't. Like me.

As I walked past the movie theater area I notice the "retro" movie playing this week - tonight, was Rear Window - a Hitchcock film.

When I came home from the mall I announced that I'd like to attend the movie. Paul wasn't so sure, but warmed up to the idea when I explained more about the film. I was drawn to the movie for personal reasons - it's one of the first "big people" movies that I recall watching on television with my mom.

Mom liked it when one of us kids would sit on the long couch by her. They would be her (usually unwilling) leg masseuse and foot rubber. Mom had terrible varicose veins and circulation - so I'm sure those little hands did help. Too bad Atlantic didn't have a massage therapist back then. I wish now that I could go back in time and rub those legs just one more time.

At my Grandparent's home in Cedar Rapids

We watched Rear Window (I was rubbing her legs) and the things I remember about the movie were the scary man - played by Raymond Burr and that the poor little dog was killed. Dead animals always got my attention - and still do. Since watching Rear Window with Mom all those years ago I hadn't seen the movie again until tonight - at least the whole thing. So it was like seeing a new movie. Paul said he'd never seen it.

The premise of the movie is that Jimmy Stewart is a hotshot photographer with a badly broken leg. He's stuck in a cast from toes to hip - so he's wheelchair bound in his upper floor apartment that overlooks other "rear" apartments. Instead of watching TV, he watches the neighbors. One is sketchy.  
Grace Kelly was gorgeous and a spunky lass. Her clothes were classy.
The pace of the movie was slow - but not boring
The whole thing was shot on a sound stage, but it was huge
Sound was a big part of the movie - singing, whistling, kids playing - just like a real neighborhood
The gal that played the nurse, Thelma Ritter, was a hoot
Jimmy played a crusty guy who seemed immune to Grace's charms because she's too perfect (Paul tried to tell me that too...)

I enjoyed going to the movie tonight. It was entertaining and I enjoyed seeing life in the 60's that was actually filmed in the 60's. I've been dreaming about my parents lately. The movie made me remember my Mom fondly.

Uncle Bill

If you're old like me, you'll likely remember the TV show Family Affair. The premise was a wealthy bachelor William "Bill" Davis, living in Manhattan with a butler Mr. French. His brother Bob and wife are killed in a car wreck so Bill inherits the children - teen Cissy, and twins, ages about 6, Buffy and Jody. Bill isn't keen on taking on parenthood, but it grows on him as the episodes go by - (especially since Fr. French does most of the tough stuff.)

Photo Courtesy Wikipedia - Buffy (lower right) had a Mrs. Beasley doll - giving me a Jr. High nickname...

I remember the children greeting their uncle running to the door yelling "Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill." I always wanted to do that to my Uncle Bill. Bill Lamm - one of the nicest men I've ever met. Uncle Bill is in the hospital - he has pneumonia and needs your help. Your thoughts, prayers and message to the higher power.

I've known my Uncle Bill since as long as I can remember. He married my Aunt Marty over fifty years ago. She was a single gal teaching school in Denver when they met - her lucky and, and his! The way she tells it, she was fixing to head to Europe and he planned to head off to parts west to be an attorney. Instead, they fell in love and stayed in the Mile High City - raising a great family, my cousins, Richard, David and Amy.

Of course when you're a little kid, you don't pay attention to your relatives much - except when you need something. Uncle Bill was just a guy to me then. It wasn't until I grew up a bit that I took notice. During my college years Marty and Bill hosted us during our travels between Iowa and the ski slopes during spring break. One year they delivered beer to us at our motel near the airport when we were stuck overnight when our flight was cancelled.

These past few years since daughter Amy has lived in Denver, Marty and Bill have invited us to stay with them when we visited the city. Paul and I have so enjoyed the chance to have my aunt and uncle all to ourselves during that time. It's never tough to get a chance to hear my Aunt Martha - even in a crowd. (My mom and dad were never hard to hear either...) Bill is more the silent type, however. So it was a wonderful chance to hear from him.

Uncle Bill is a very spiritual man and he likes to talk about his Catholic faith. He told us about a trip he and Marty took a few years ago through the mountains near Ouray, Colorado. A guy was out working on the roof of the Catholic church and when Bill stopped to chat he found out that was the priest! He covered several parishes in an old Jeep with bald tires - driving over a precarious mountain pass. Marty told us later Bill had sent the guy a check for new tires...that's the kind of guy he is.

Bill is the best listener I know. He'll ask, "Just what is Jud doing now?" or "Tell me how your trip to NY City went" and then listen for an answer with follow up questions. He doesn't zone out, thinking of what he wants to say next. That's something I can be guilty of.

I'm aiming to be more like my Uncle Bill by listening better. To remind myself, I have a foam ear on my desk. So far it's not working very well, but the ear looks cool.

Thank you in advance for prayers or good karma thoughts for the Lamm family and Uncle Bill.

The first characters in my life - cartoons

I love cartoons. Especially the old ones - they're classics. Some of them may not have been very politically correct - but hey, I was a kid. The country was immune from even thinking about such things.

I'm watching the Oscars as I write this - and they're awarding the little statue for Best Animated Short Film. Such talent. Frozen wins the full length animated film. It's times like this that I miss my Little Sis, Chiya who moved back to Boston to live with her mom. I lost my excuse to go to animated films...plus I miss the kid.


bugs does the Monster's hair

When I get the chance, I watch a few Looney Tunes on cable. It's a walk down memory lane. I find cartoons relaxing. Laughing seems to do that. Last week I saw one of my fave Bugs Bunny bits- Hairdresser.  It's about a minute long - so cute. I love Bug's hairdresser voice - I wonder why my stylist Sarah doesn't talk like that. Kinda like the old Palmolive commercials - Madge, "You're soaking in it." Can you imagine nail salons trying to get away with that?

Another cartoon buddy of mine was good 'ol Foghorn Leghorn. And his little buddy the chicken hawk. Another cute clip. Baseball. We all grew up with Foghorns in our lives, didn't we? That coach, teacher or family friend.

I got on board the original Sherman and Peabody train - during the Bullwinkle and Moose show. There is a Peabody movie coming out soon. Watch a clip of this if you're interested. Peabody.  I was always attracted to the dog cartoons - especially this one where the dog is the reversing places with the master.

Tell me this Tom and Jerry Ducky Cartoon isn't the cutest most adorable thing evah. The little quacky duck gets me every time.

To my heros, Popeye (a short clip of laughs only) and Speedy Gonzales - I wish I could have been more like you....(fast, strong and brave). I'd watch you, put on my new PF Flyer tennis shoes and run like the wind (in my mind). I begged my mom to buy spinach. I didn't try to squeeze it into my mouth right from the can though. I wasn't that dumb. I was dumb enough to think canned spinach would taste good and make my muscles bulge. Ha. Ick.

Tex Avery - credit Wikipedia

Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery was a cartoon genius - animator, director, voice actor - he did it all. Avery did my all time fave cartoon - Droopy. Here's a short clip. Don't worry - the bad guy isn't really dead. Creston's Dan Miller and I have had many a deep discussion about just which Droopy episode is truly the bestest. I think there might have been liquor involved.

Oh Wolfie - My college roomie Vicki and I used to get such a kick out of this all those years ago. Then when Amy was born - those early feedings again came during cartoon time. Do you think that might have something to do with how the kid has turned out? Plus now that Paul and I are ballroom dancing fools - I appreciate this clip even more.

Get in touch with your inner child. Find more reasons to laugh this week.

Ash Wednesday is coming right up. Even though winter doesn't want to let go. I laugh at you winter.

More Characterization in the Big O

I'm digging up some Blogger posts I wrote when I first started - back in 2009. When I had 5 whole readers...Paul and Amy. And I don't know who else. People who mistakenly came upon the blog thinking it was porn? I didn't know how to use labels then...so who knows...

This one continues my current theme - about characters in my life through the years...

In 2009 I had just begun working in Des Moines after making a big change in my life. I had accepted a job at the Department of Natural Resources (I'm not blogging about any of those DNR characters for a long time!).

A friend, Joan McFee, had graciously agreed to allow me to live at her place part time - so I didn't have to drive back and forth to our home in Creston. Joan's niece Krissy (Amy's age - grew up in Creston) was living with Joan too. During our shared evenings, Kristina would describe to me the angst of her first job post-college. The discussion helped dredge up memories of "My First Job".

I recently posted about my first job in Sioux Falls, SD at a grocery wholesaler - and the interesting boss, Kermet. What an education! The mechanic, a guy probably in his upper 50's, who worked on the delivery trucks was also quite a character. His name was Laurence. Laurence liked to take a nip or two while he worked. I couldn't complain though - he helped advise me on the care and maintenance of my 1977 Chevy Monza 4 speed. I didn't know a soul in that town except for the people at work. I valued their advice - liquor soaked or not.

After I worked in Sioux Falls for a mere 8 months, I was asked if I'd like to transfer to the Omaha branch of the company as Office Manager there. Let's see - more money and closer to home? Would I? In a heartbeat! It just so happened that my cute boyfriend had taken a job in Oakland, IA - some 20 miles from Omaha. And my baby sis, Betso was attending Creighton University in Omaha. Ah fate and destiny!

With the help of my high school friend Chris Deardorff, I found a great apartment out near Boy's Town that was bright and airy. I visited the famed Nebraska Furniture Mart and purchased a couch, bed and bedroom furniture, and butcher block kitchen table with chairs. On moving day, there was a mix up and it took Betsy's fierce call to the Mart to get the stuff delivered. It took a few more years for me to get the confidence to do my own bitching at people. (Though I still don't like to)

Pic from Vic's bachelorette Party in Omaha 1981 - Wild Night...looks like I had a head start

Once I moved, I was overjoyed to find out that two of my Atlantic friends were also coming to town. Robyn (of Robbie Dob fame) and Chris Deardorff were making the move for love (Robyn was moving with her husband to be Glenn) and jobs. What fun! The 3 amigos got together nearly every week to cook a meal. On Fridays we'd meet at the Rusty Scupper, a bar/restaurant in West O. It was a fun time in my life. Talk about characters - Robyn and Chris. Love 'em!

Oh yeah...the job. The Omaha branch of Gamble Robinson was located in the Old Market (it's now a parking lot near the brew pub). It was a very old building (read dump) that was below street level - you parked and walked down metal steps to the warehouse. But the location was great - the Old Market is one of my favorite places in the world! I loved lunchtime walks.

The branch manager in Omaha was Ron Nearman, a very nice straight-laced guy. No weapons in his desk! The rest of the staff was a lesson in diversity for me!

• Executive Secretary Pat - the 50ish spinster with a boyfriend. Gruff, crusty exterior. Creston, IA native.
• Lila - 40ish lesbian bookkeeper, quirky and nice once she learned to trust me
• Nedda - 300 pound Italian lady with bouffant hair, married, one child - tender heart
• Karen, the cute blond Unwed mother. Hooked up with a truck driver who delivered to our company long enough to get preggers
• And me - the office manager, by then all of 23 - supposed to be in charge of everyone but Pat.

Then there were the salesmen:

• Pete, a kindly older gentleman who traveled in SW Iowa
• Ed a nice guy who traveled the Council Bluffs area
• Dan, a groovy divorcee
• Lester "Red" Eymann - the most homely man you've ever seen who was lewd and crude and you had to love him! In today's world Red would be a walking sexual harassment poster boy! When I would walk through the sales office sometimes Red would make a slurping noise and say, " I could just eat you up or slurp you." There were many more. I learned to deflect comments like that. Today comments like that wouldn't be tolerated!

Last but not least was Jackson - the lumper. Lumpers were not employed by GR, but they were necessary! They hung around to help unload semis as they arrived, and were paid in cash by truck drivers. Jackson was a large black man with a friendly personality. He liked to gamble and drink. When he was flush, he would head to Sioux City to the dog track. There weren't any casinos in Council Bluffs back then and that was the closest track. I heard that after I left, Jackson appeared in the picture window into the manager's office, buck naked after one bender....guess he was on a hot streak....

Out in the warehouse there were lots of good guys. They taught me things about bananas (get your mind out of the gutter). Bananas arrive in the country Kelly green. They must be ripened in special rooms with gas before you get them. Other refrigerated rooms in our warehouse were damp and some were dry. GR employed a crew of mainly African American women who prepared the chopped veggies/lettuce etc. that the company sold to restaurants.

My desk in Omaha was an old wooden one - I pulled it out in the morning and pushed it back in each night. I worked long hours, and worked early every Saturday morning to complete a report. Those were the days of early IBM mainframes so I learned to run the computer with its tiny little LED screen. I "Balanced" the books each month, which was a huge challenge since it seemed huge amounts of produce seemed to disappear. Then I'd be out in the warehouse quizzing the staff.

They must have liked me, because when Paul and I moved (we were married in 1982) to Osage, IA in 1984 they created a job for me, traveling up to Wisconsin to do training in small branches up there. I do love my Snoboy (Gamble Robinson's brand) stuff! I found an old Snoboy wood box in an Atlantic antique store and a Snoboy cranberry ad in Valley Junction. Maybe first jobs aren't so bad after all...