Dad's apple, Jackson Browne

It's hard to break old habits. I was brought up in a house where my father commented on looks and bodies. It was his business after all - he sold lady's underwear! "Hmm...that fanny looks like a size 5" I can just picture thoughts like this going through his head. When he was older, he had no filter - a woman would walk by and he'd blurt out - "her rear-end is wider than two axe handles!" A bit too loudly! Or, "that chick is sure tall like her daddy!"

He came by it naturally. His father, my grandpa Wally (we called him Bubba) used to keep watch over my weight while I was in college. "How much you weigh now, honey?" he'd ask while I was on break from ISU. Yep, I get it Bubba, I'm eating a too much pizza and drinking lots of beer.

So I've had a tenancy to notice bodies. I'm the apple that didn't fall too far. I hope I'm better at not blurting out comments than the men in my family. Our fam isn't alone. People in our country are body obsessed. The craziest thing to me is how openly folks feel they can comment about other people's bodies.

I thought of this today when I went through the check out line at the supermarket. The young woman bagging the groceries was tiny! She was so petite that I watched to make sure she could load the heavy cloth bags into the cart. Then I thought - I bet she gets all sorts of comments on her size throughout the day. Old guys (like my dad) saying, "You're a pip of a girl, aren't you?" I'm sure it gets old! I told her "good job!" and left it at that.

Let's stop bugging people about how they look (in person and the coward's method - online) and concentrate on what is inside. I need to do better at this - and want to constantly remind myself to compliment others more. I'm not good at it. I often think compliments and then don't verbalize them. Dumb, I know. Maybe I should put a string on my finger as a reminder...

Okay, rant over.

Paul and I had fun last night - we tried out a new restaurant (Eatery A) and attended the Jackson Browne concert. The restaurant is owned by the folks who operate Alba - a fave of ours in the East Village. This one is on 29th and Ingersoll. Paul wasn't ready to try Pork Cheeks, so we went with oven fired pizza - chorizo, pineapple and jelly. We also had a baked endive salad. It was loud in there - cool place though.

We headed over to Hoyt Sherman for the concert and ran into some former workmates of Paul's. Sometimes DSM seems like a small town. Jackson Brown was really good and his music is so timeless! The last time I saw him was 1977 or '78 at Hilton Coliseum. He's put out a lot of music since then. The man is quite an environmentalist and is an advocate for those less fortunate than himself. His music reflects as much. My favorites were from the past though - reminiscent of that first concert I saw all those years ago in the '70s - "Runnin' On Empty". The place started rocking when they played that song.

I had a great birthday week and feel so thankful to be 58. Last year wasn't my best - I felt awful, was diagnosed with Graves Disease, had a very painful frozen shoulder and later broke my other shoulder. Ugh. I'm looking for better things this year. All of your greetings, cards and flowers from my cherubs and beloved help!

It's starting out well. My doc's office called to report that my most recent blood work shows me to be in remission. That means I don't have to take the thyroid blocking medication for Graves right now. Do I feel perfect? Nope, but I'm doing just fine. Woohoo!

Ain't no friends like longtime friends

I know, longtime no write. I've got no excuses. But here I am again, laptop at the ready. I can't stay away too long!

Last weekend our college pals came to visit for a football game- an activity that has bonded us through the years. Yep, crappy ISU football. (I'm thinking of the 90's) But this team had a surprise for us!

I finally bought a scarf - now this fashion will be over

I've known these peeps nearly forty years. Crazy thinking about it that way. I met Vicki my first week of college at ISU. I was sitting in my room trying to figure out how to survive week 1 as an introverted college coed when she popped into my room. Vicki wanted to know if I wanted to walk over to the ticket office at the football stadium (then nearly brand-spanking new) to purchase season tickets to attend Cyclone games. The team was pretty darn good in 1976.

We didn't really get to know Jane until later that fall. After meals we began to plan ping pong on our dorm floor. Vic and I would go up against Sal and Jane. Soon our friendship went beyond mere pong and Sal was rooming with Jane. We were fast friends sharing everything - all through four years of school. Sal couldn't come - she's recovering from surgery at her home in Portland. Sending good thought's to our pal Sally!

I met Vic's boyfriend Fred later that year. I'm not sure she knew he was "the one" our frosh year, but the rest of us always liked him. She did okay sticking with that boy.

When Vic, Sal, Jane and I returned for our sophomore year, we signed up for intramural football. Well, not Vicki. She's more of the sit on the sidelines and yell encouragement type. Our Resident Assistant lined us up with a couple coaches from another dorm floor. That is when we met Moose and Steve - they've been coaching me ever since!

Notice Paul hasn't been mentioned yet? It's true. Of all the people I was with all weekend, Paul was one of the later ones I met. Worth waiting for! Moose's real name is Steve - but even now, when he's 58, I can't make myself call him that - unless we're in some serious situation like in front of his parents or at his wedding - stuff like that. Paul actually met Moose's wife Kay early in college - so our group is a bit intermingled. Steve married another ISU grad, but Annie is younger so we didn't know her during our school years. They were tailgating with some other friends so we didn't get to see them for long, but we did enjoy talking to them.

It had been several years since the gang came to a game. Everyone arrived about the same time - around 2:30 pm Saturday for a 6 pm game. It was fairly nice out after a rainy morning. We got together at the usual spot - our friends Kari and Kevin's trailer. It's been a nifty rig all season - just a little trailer with a tent and generator. Tables, chair and other gear are neatly stored in there (thanks to Kevin's photo showing how it all fits - stapled right to the door - he's an engineer, he can't help himself). Don and Diana were there with lil sandwiches. Kari and I made soup. Beer was cold!

Hugging and catching up are priceless. These people are like family - we know each others' stuff. I wanted to bottle the moment. Tailgating again with our friends. I thought of all the times we'd done this in the past. As young adults, with young kids - tailgating very near where we were that day - parking was $5. Wilts brought their daughter Jaime and bf Mike both Minnesota grads. It was fun hanging out with Jaime all growed up. Jane's sister Susan and husband Denny came over to see everyone too - we've know that girl since she was in high school.

Who was Paul texting?

We all sat together in Section L - watching a classic Cyclone victory, a shutout over Texas. When the win became evident, Paul Goldsmith offered to buy season tickets for our friends because they are obviously good luck! (just kidding) we can't afford that...
We did share a few wineskin drinks, and a pint of Fireball - but they were mostly happy drinks instead of sorrowful, which was unusual for a Cyclone fan. WooHoo!

It was a late night for this old girl by the time we got back to our place, Odie greeted everyone and gave the nickel tour of our house. Jane came over the next day for brunch and we drove over to her new house in Waukee that morning. All too soon it was time for Behrs and Wilts to take off. I missed having the kids with us! Shout out to Kelli, Amy, Jud, Lauren and Alyssa. (we did see Jaime) Love you guys.

Jane, Vicki, me, Kay

Paul, Moose (Steve), Fred

 

Port-O-Potty Surprise

The Iowa State football team is less than stellar this year, disappointing fans fresh off another good basketball season. Cyclone fans are a loyal bunch sticking with teams through thick and thin. It's been mostly thin for football lately. Still, we do love to tailgate.

Last Saturday was a lovely day. Iowans have been blessed with great fall weather after a rainy summer. We arrived in Ames after noon for a 6 p.m. game with #3 Texas Christian University. The hits just keep on coming for our team. Couldn't we play Kansas again?

Our tailgating pals the Ereckes had set up the rig in the RV section the night before. Slick! Walking tacos were on the menu. McKims couldn't make the game - a little family thing. Don's folks were celebrating 60 years of marriage. Yep, I'd opt for that over a football game any day. Congrats to Margaret and Fred! Loved the photos of them dancing while at Don and Diana's lake place.

Margaret and Fred - great role models for us youngsters

Since Paul and I had arrived early, we had time to wander around a bit and visit on of our fave guys - Cy. He smiles season after season. Guess it's because he's set in bronze.

The tailgating rig was perched next to one of Kevin Erecke's workmate's group. They are a fun young group to watch and they seem to love sharing with us - yummy ribs that weekend. Our friends stopped by to see us. Always love hanging out with Dwight and Marilyn Conover who discovered Kevin's college friend occupies Dwight's old bank office near Marshalltown. Iowa Nice! A group of Paul's work friends stopped by and it was fun to chat with them too. Tailgating is just like a lil neighborhood. 

I especially enjoy spending time with my friend Kari who is having some health issues right now - she needs your healing thoughts and prayers ya'll. Kevin and Kari are great people and we sure have enjoyed getting to know them - via McKims and this tailgating community.

After a couple hours of tailgating and a couple beers, that time came - I needed to use the port-o-potty. Ugh. There was a group of three not far from our setup, so I headed that way. I don't know about you - but inside one of those things I tend to avoid looking anywhere. I remember thinking that I'd round up a wet wipe for my hands once I went back.

I opened up the door to...the ISU Varsity Marching Band! A group of about 12 wandering minstrels and a director were awaiting my exciting from the vile little box. I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I spied them! They broke into the ISU Fight Song. I did what you'd expect. Took a selfie and sang along.

Despite the eventual outcome of the game (we hung with the Horned Frogs for a half but the dam broke and were our usual inept selves in the second half), I chuckled about the band the rest of the weekend. And basked in the joy of another wonderful tailgating experience. I can't wait for the next game when my college buddies visit! I hope Mother Nature provides another great day. If not...we'll have fun anyway - we are Cyclone Nation!

On Sunday my wonderful friend Deb came up for the Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at Hoyt Sherman Place in DSM. We went out to eat first - and were so busy catching up that we were nearly late to the show. Our friend Mary Faber introduced both of us to this wonderful singer back in the '90s and we've loved her ever since. She sang several of our faves like "This Old Shirt" -which took me back to my days as a young mother at our first home in Creston. Ahh, good memories.

Leaf my imagination alone

Before Dutch Elm disease wiped out the trees lining Crombie Street in Atlantic, we spent lots of time raking each fall. (or Harley Baxter, our neighbor from across the street who did our yard work did).

We had fun with the leaves before they were burned or bagged for the trash. Of course we know now that's not good for environment. It's so wrong, but the smell of burning leaves takes me back to that time. You'd think burning something organic would be okay...but it puts bad stuff into the air, polluting it. Burning can be especially hard on people who have lung problems like asthma. But we didn't know that then...

Maybe Harley took our leaves over to his little backyard farm for organic material. Yeah! We'll go with that for now. Anyway...I digress.

When Mom would send us out to rake leaves, of course we didn't just do the job. Oh, no. It had to end up being so much more than that.

I was usually hanging with my sisters and maybe a stray Reinertson - our next door neighbors. Laurie Reinertson and I grew up thick as thieves. We'd rake the leaves into piles and jump into them! Next we'd rake them into shapes on the ground - like walls for horse stalls. Then with jump ropes we'd take turns being horses and riders. The horse would have the rope around her waist and the rider would steer her around. Great care was taken to choose the horse's name and what she looked like. "I'm black with white stockings and a star on my head." "My name is Star!" I loved being a black horse. (sheep?)

We likely made a bigger mess out of the leaves than they were before we started. But my Mom's true mission was to wear us out. Mission accomplished. This black horse never had trouble sleeping.

Not the Bullock yard (2014 photo)

Give your battle cry

Rob and me in Oregon - August 2015

When I was a kid, the fabulous Atlantic Trojan cheerleaders (including my pal Robbie Dob) had a cheer that I loved.

It called for each high school class to stand and represent  - and it went like this:

"Freshmen, freshmen don't be shy, stand and give your battle cry" and the frosh would stand and yell
V I C T O R Y (spelling the word) that's the Freshman battle cry!
and on through the classes. Of course the seniors rocked it the best.
That cheer really brought out my school spirit.

Yoga brings out my spirit too.

At Yoga this week we were asked to thank our bodies - first our legs and then our arms and so on. We were reminded that even though it may not be perfect, this is the only body each of us is going to have.

As the spiritual music played and I moved through a series of yoga poses, I pondered this fact. My body is a warrior! That thought made me feel quite emotional. I held it together though - I was bending like a pretzel - no time for blubbering!

It's been through a lot, my body. In my early years not so much. I was fortunate enough to be a fairly healthy person. The event of childbirth did take a toll - growing and nurturing three precious bundles, especially when two are over nine pounds of wonderful. More recently, a few health issues have put some dents and dings on the chassis and under the hood. Still, these things are nothing like others have dealt with. I feel fortunate.

Yoga helps me be mindful of many things. I might not be super flexible, but that's okay. I'm working on it! I also hope to build strength and balance. I'm trying to do better at concentration - to keep my mind from wandering away from the task at hand.

Someday I'll get it - and this body and I will shout out a battle cry. (Is there one for nearly 58 year olds?)
Isn't life grand?

August - Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Monday's Child is Fair of Face

October 14th was daughter Amy's birthday. She's 30. She was born on a Monday - 30 years ago. It's hard for me to get my mind around it. I've loved every minute of being a mommy. Her mommy.That's what she still calls me. Mommy. My fair faced daughter is the best. The boy kid is pretty special too.

from our last trip to STL

Last weekend Paul, Odie and I visited Atlanta (where Amy lives) via St. Louis (where Jud lives). We loved seeing the cherubs and their honeys. Last Thursday night was the first time we saw Jud and Kara after their recent engagement. It was fun to hear the engagement story.

Jud asked Kara to go on a hike a couple Wednesdays ago. He has a terrible poker face and couldn't keep from grinning, and she's no dummy. She had an inkling he was going to pop the question. She'd even told her mom and a couple close friends as much...until her mom really fooled her by asking how he'd do that without the family ring. He needed to get that from them she said. Hint - he really already had it. Jud may not be the most romantic fella but he did a great job of picking a partner and asking her to walk through this world with him. Smile! We ate pizza outside on a lovely evening in STL.

We took off early Friday for Atlanta. It was a beautiful drive through Nashville on south along the Smoky Mountains. I saw signs for Ruby Falls - a place my mother took the four Bullock girls when I was a kid. Though I would have liked to stop at that tourist trap - we forged ahead. Odie was excited to see her Sissie! We arrived in the Atlantic Station section of Atlanta about 4 p.m. I finally got to hug my baby girl. She and Paul then unloaded the brand new desk made by love for her 30th birthday by her daddy.

Amy & Corey

Amy and Corey live in a cute apartment complex with a big pool and exercise and clubhouse area. Odie got to hang out there while we went out to eat at a yummy burger joint. Corey drove us there like the Mario Andretti of Honda Fits - Atlanta traffic is something else.

Paul and I stayed in a hotel near Amy's apartment, on the campus of Georgia Tech University. On Saturday morning we walked around the football stadium and other campus buildings. Then Mario, I mean Corey and Amy picked us up to go to the NCAA Football Museum. I was expecting a somewhat interesting place with things in cases - old footballs and uniforms. Wrong! It was high tech and very cool and interactive. The friendly greeter there wanted to make sure I (the little missus) had fun. Little did he know that I'm a huge football fan. I'd recommend the place for anyone who likes the game.

NCAA Museum

That afternoon Corey and Paul watched Clemson at a bar whilst Amy and I shopped a bit - it was her birthday week after all! Mommas gotta buy her baby some stuff. It's a good thing Corey's team is doing well because ours sure can't get anything going. That night we hit an interesting barbecue restaurant. Once we got our food, we ate standing up in a covered outdoor carport. Those ribs were good. We stopped for ice cream on our way back - in an interesting little area not too far from our hotel.

In Olympic Park with my girl

The trip home got a little long - we ended up staying in a hotel just south of the Iowa border. We didn't want to dodge deer at midnight in southern Iowa. Odie didn't mind another night on the road. We must be getting old - better safe than sorry won out over cheap! Ooh we love those kids.

Amy with her new desk

Jud Bud is getting married

And I nearly exploded holding the news in for two whole days! But I survived until last Friday when Jud and Kara announced their engagement. Woohoo! We're having a wedding, and better yet, Kara is officially joining our fam.

Early dating pic

I spoke to my son a couple weeks ago and he told me the time was near - he was going to ask Kara to marry him. I must admit I got a bit choked up when we talked about it. As we spoke, I marveled at what a wonderful person he has grown up to be. (I admit it, I'm as biased as one can get.)

 2011 pic

Jud wasn't always an easy to parent. And I sometimes questioned my own parenting skills when I didn't handle his behavior according to parenting manuals. At least I never saw anything in Dr. Spock about locking one's self in the bathroom in order to prevent one's self from harming the children. Even when they pounded on the door yelling, "let us in!" I was adamant. "You don't want in here right now!" Still, they turned out pretty darn good. And now, Jud's getting hitched!

2011 graduation at ISU

I can't wait to talk to Kara on Thursday when we travel to St. Louis to hear the story of Jud's proposal. He asked Kara's parents permission to marry their daughter recently when they visited St. Louis. Kara was in the shower. Sneaky! He had told me during our phone call that last Wednesday was the night for the proposal. I kept my eye on the phone that night. During my Yoga class I was the picture of concentration. Right. I did breath to: "Jud Kara peace and love"

September 2015

During the drive home from yoga I got the text from Jud with a couple pics. "We're Engaged!" I pulled into the garage and hugged Paul. We were so happy. But we couldn't tell anyone. Amy knew too - so there was that. Gag order! Amy and I were dying - we hate being muffled.

I solved it by telling a few work people - heck, they don't know Jud. Safe, right. That helped. A girl has to share good news. Jud gave Kara a Whited family ring, but they want to get the diamond put into a setting Kara has selected. That's going to take a while. I thought I was going to have to wait a whole nother week to tell even my sisters - but on Friday they relented and announced it on Facebook. Yay! My sis Betso was quick on the draw texting right away. But I heard from all of them in short order. Love my sissies.

2014

Now it's on to wedding planning. The good news is that Kara is good at this stuff, and her mom Renee has been through this twice with her two sons in the past two years. Jud and Kara are already searching for a venue in St. Louis for next spring. They are planning on a fairly small wedding - though they both have pretty big extended fams. This is gonna be fun!  



She said yes!