Walkin' with my honey

Walking with my honey - for exercise - is nothing like walking with my girl friends. This morning Paul and I walked over 4 miles in a hilly area by our house. It was a beautiful morning - light breeze and sunny.

We started at our house, and walked west, taking a loop around my favorite cemetery, Calvary - the Catholic Cemetery in town. We were both wearing iPods, cuz I knew he wouldn't be too chatty. He rarely is. At least he's nothing like my friends when it comes to words per mile! I've read where men use many less words per day then most women and I heartily believe it's true. We's just more wordy!

When I walk with my friends - when I can keep up to them - we usually start catching up on our week/night prior. I hadn't seen Patti, Susan and Deb for several days when we walked last Friday a.m. so we had lots of catching up to do! After we fill each other in, then we cover local gossip/news. Stuff that's been in the paper or on the radio. And then, the story behind the story.


Paul and I usually have already filled each other in on all of the above, so when we walk there is little of that newsy stuff, unless I think of something I've forgotten to tell him. He's very comfortable with silence, and I'm okay with it especially with my iPod filling my ears with all my favorite tunes.

This morning we walked all the way out Adams and up Dogwood to Hwy 25 and back. It was a good workout and as I said before, hilly! When we got home we headed for HyVee for a nice breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns and toast. About that time, the Sunday church crowd from Holy Spirit showed up (we went last night) and we got to visit a bit with Gammells and Kinsellas, and the Myers boys. That's what I like about living here. Homey stuff.


Now I'd better get something accomplished. Or at least go read on the deck while it's nice!


I'm thinking of my friend Deb this weekend. Her mother has lung cancer, and is terminal. She has just moved into the Hospice for an evaluation. But Deb and I talked Friday about it. There are no possible good outcomes for this. No matter what, she's going to lose her mom. I've been in her shoes - with both Mom and Dad. That's why watching someone else go through it is so hard.


You wish for a quick and merciful end to the suffering, but then feel guilty for wishing them gone. Plus the finality of it all is so tough. Once they are gone, it's forever. Deb went through this with her father too. I'm thinking of their family and hoping for some bits of peace and grace to be a part of this sad time for them.

Yukking it up

I had kind of a rough day yesterday. I had to speak at a work meeting of 100 people, including my peers, co-workers and stakeholders from across the state. I was nervous! and didn't sleep all that well the night before. Though I must say I was lookin' mighty springy in my $19 new white pants and lime green, royal blue gauzy blouse over a tee. I didn't even get barbeque on it!

A co-worker, Shelly and I were talking about an application for a new Environmental Management System pilot program we're rolling out as part of our work with a Council of solid waste professionals around the state. Since Shelly works out of her home and travels a large area of the state - up the I-35 corridor Des Moines to Mason City, we didn't get a chance to run through out part together.

I practiced what I thought my part would be several times. I visualized how it was going to go. Of course reality got in the way! Things didn't flow as I expected and that got me flustered and off my game. So I thought I sucked. I stressed about it all the way home to Creston after the meeting. I tell myself the attendees probably didn't think twice about it. But still the mental Mohammed Ali (beat myself up) the whole way home. Geez.

So I was glad to attend book club with my homegirls last evening. Best bud Deb picked Odie and me up at 7. The usual culprits - Dianne, Francie, Angie, Deb and I were there at host Thea's. Plus there was a new person who saw my poster at the library and decided to give it a try. Her name is Ramona.

This month we read "An Ocean in Iowa". It was written by an author who grew up in Des Moines in my era. So I could relate to much of the descriptive stuff in the book - elementary school classrooms, games, television. The book took me on a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.

The plot was pretty sad. The kid - whose last name was Ocean, was a screwed up kid. His Mom - an frustrated artist who lived in an era where women were supposed to be happy housewives - did not have healthy relationships. She drank and eventually bailed on the family.

I took discussion questions along to the meeting, and for the first time on a couple months we actually discussed the book for quite some time. But if you know our group - we tend to veer off into other topics easily. Book discussion ADD I guess.

But oh how we laugh! I took Odie the wonder wienie dog along. She gave everyone Odie lovin' - a wondrous thing if you don't mind puppy slurps on your face. And Thea - what a story-teller. I laugh out loud (LOL - we discussed this last night, what that stands for) thinking about her stories - usually making gentle fun of herself. And all the members are great at relating stories that often pertain to the book of the month.

Ramona - the new kid - seemed to enjoy herself! She brought along a delightful bottle of wine for the hostess. Angie brought some cheap wine that also went over quite well. Oh how I enjoy this group of women - many of whom I would never have met without the mutual love of books. We sure yuk it up!

I miss my house

the kitchen, and our house getting drilled for geothermal heating/cooling - so green!

Who knew I could grow so attached to a bunch of sticks. Okay, those sticks are put together to make my home for the last 11 years - at 1705 Port Rd in Creston. (When we moved here, the addy was 102 S Port Rd., but 911 changed all that - glad I didn't have it chisled into the concrete!).

I love the location - on the edge of town with mostly cool neighbors. There's that one chick (term used loosely as she's a former druggie/chain smoker rode hard...) that has a crush on my spousal unit. She comes up with weak excuses to talk to him. Come on!

The rest of the folks are swell. They don't party late or start their choppers at 2 a.m. (usually). I like to chat with each of them and like it when winter is over and they are out in the yard more. I try to avoid the yard and all its accompanying work (I have allergies - hey it worked for my dad all those years), but I do hang on the deck.

When we moved into our house, we didn't have to rush into doing anything to it, but through the years we have slowly changed/replaced lots of stuff. Nearly every window (just 1 left and it needs to go). Flooring - we did recycle the upstairs carpet to downstairs, and used the kitchen flooring in the hall when we re-did the kitchen with bamboo.

I love that I can live all on 1 floor of the house - never straying into the basement. Have I ever told you about my aversion to downstairs - not just at our house...I pretty much don't like any totally enclosed basement without a walkout. But Paul finished the whole basement - framed up rooms, put in a bathroom and beautiful cabinets. At least that's what they tell me. Just kidding I HAVE been down there. I just avoid it.

Though smallish, our kitchen is gorgeous with the new cabinets and earth friendly floor. And the cathedral ceiling gives the living room a sunny look. I like to look at my wall stuff (the real walls, not facebook) and see things I've collected through the years. A postcard I had framed from Italy, a recycling poster, a photo from Cannon Beach are all hung tastefully low. Too many peeps hang 'em high. My mommy taught me that skill.

I told ya'll how Paul re-did our closet. And the bathroom is great with the terra cotta tile floor that is on a heated timer. Even Odie and Kitty Kitty have caught on to that radiant therapeutic feel.

Yeah - it's not perfect. The garage is small and the laundry can be loud since you can't close it off. But it is on the main floor. Yep, I love my house - and all the people and animals that go with it.

Long weekends

The best thing about long weekends is the short week that follows. Though I did decide to head to roomie Joan's today after shopping with Jud and Paul at Jordan Creek. That way I can get a jump on work in the a.m. since I was in Iowa City/CR last week and went home to Creston without stopping in the office.

Jud needed clothes for a summer in Ames. So we hit American Eagle - the line to try stuff on was long, so he'll try it on at home and take it back if it doesn't fit. He got a couple pairs of shorts, some shoes (Finish Line) and a couple shirts. For Jud, that's going crazy shopping! He doesn't buy much. He's been sick with a sinus infection all weekend, so I hope a few new things perk him up.

Then I looked at suits. Yep, a suit for work. And funerals I spose. But I didn't buy anything - wasn't feeling it. I need to keep looking though cuz I am a speaker at a meeting this week - nearly 100 people will be there. Yikes! I need to practice. I am talking about the application for the Environmental Management System (EMS) - which we (DNR) is encouraging solid waste agencies to adopt. After all, it's not just about trash.

It's about air, water and trash. We're all in this together, and some 30 years after Iowa's Groundwater Protection Act took effect, it's time to move beyond simply measuring how much trash we're sending to the landfill. There are better ways to encourage environmental protection.

So I need something professional looking to where Thursday to the EMS meeting. Suit pants are so damn long and I don't have high heels. I need something that looks professional, but I can wear clogs. Paul will flip if I buy another pair 'o shoes.

So tomorrow night after work - I'll be on a mission. I'm trying Valley West after work.

Hope all of you out there in reader land had a nice holiday weekend.

Just home

Just home from our latest visit to the Atlantic Cemetery. Lots of driving for a very short time.

First we met Kay Harris at Pizza Ranch for lunch. Kay was my dad's "live in" for the last couple years of his life. She took good care of him and he enjoyed all the things he was able to do even after his stroke. So even though she drives me a bit crazy (she's a busybody), I feel like I need to touch base every once and a while.

At the cemetery, Kay had stuck plastic flowers by Dad and Patrick's graves. Ugh. Dad always insisted on real flowers. We had left a wire hanging thing on the hook near Patrick's grave that was worse for wear. Rusty and battered. It was time for it to be gone. Paul used it to secure the new wrought iron firefly to the post.

I was in a sad and mellow mood doing all this today. Most days, when I'm busy with my regular life, I don't think of what I've lost. But days like today don't allow for all the distractions to cover up the sadness I feel. I'll be okay again soon, but am giving myself permission to be sad today.

Memorial Days continued...

I have a distinct memory of coming home from the cemetery one year on Memorial Day in trouble. Mom smacked Cindy's and my legs with the fly swatter. Hope there weren't any fly guts on it! It was before our house got remodeled because the kitchen was on the back of the house.

Don't know why that particular memory stuck with me all these years. I'm sure there were lots of other instances of getting in trouble with 3 sisters!

This year, I plan to head over to the Atlantic Cemetery for the first time in a couple years. It's been hard for me to go there now that our family has no base, no home. I do want to take photos of each stone for my genealogy stuff. I'd also like to stop in Anita at that cemetery to see if I can find the fam plot there.

On to more cheery Memorial Day topics. Before we had kids, our college buddies and we used to try to camp for the three day holiday. It usually ended up being the coldest freakin' holiday of the year! We only had tents in our post college days, and a mish mash of camping stuff.

Pine Lake, up by Iowa Falls is a beautiful Lake and campground. The usual culprits were Moose and Kay, Vic and Fred, and Tom and Allison. Jane and Bob may have been around too. The usual routine was the guys played golf and we girls hung out. One year was freezing cold and rainy, so we sat in a tent eating oreos and drinking bad wine.

Then, when the guys came back from golf they would say "we need ice!" and set off for the nearest town. Of course they were then gone for hours, hanging in dumpy bars drinking beer. We would drink and wait for "our men". It was so dang wet and cold one year that after attending a movie, and going to a bar, it was still raining so we packed up and drove with all our wet stuff to Ames to sleep in Behr's duplex.

When we moved to Creston, we tried to continue hosting an annual get-together and one year we put the hot tub outside for the weekend (it wasn't properly grounded to you could get a tingly feeling when sitting on the edge). All the college buddies came - even Schneid, Paul's college buddy who spent a year or two back in Iowa during this time. Our Creston friends came to the party to0 and I recall everyone being clustered around the grill for warmth.

We haven't really had a set routine since the kids were in school/activities. If they were playing softball/baseball there were usually tournies. Even though they no longer do that stuff we haven't come up with a new holiday activity. I think we need to come up with something madcap, crazy and fun. No tents allowed.

Memorial Days past...

Above - 4 generations of Bullocks - now RIP at the Atlantic Cemetary

As we ready for a long weekend (pause for mental happy dance), I can't help but think about past Memorial Days. Dad's whole family, starting with his great grandfather Adnah David Bullock is buried in the Atlantic Cemetary, overlooking Nishna Hills Golf Course.

Adnah grew up in Sheridan, NY and joined up at the end of the Civil War at age 18. He headed east, and lived in Waukee (where he picked up a wife - Ella) and Rippey before settling in Anita.

Adnah's only child, Wayne and wife Lulu are there, with their two sons Max/wife Mary Lou and my grandpa Wallace Orville and my gran Zora Clayton Stewart Bullock.

Next comes Dad and his two Pats. My mom Patricia Nelle Morehead Bullock and Patricia Taylor a/k/a P2. Our baby boy Patrick is there too. So 5 generations of Bullocks, skipping my generation (hopefully for a long time). I think all the spots are gone anyways.

Adnah was a Civil War Vet, and Dad a Korean War Vet. Thanks to them and to all veterans for their service to our country. Having a son of my own makes me realize what a sacrifice it is for those who do serve and send their sons to serve.

Dad (and his dad before him) always made sure there were fresh flowers on the graves. When we were little he would take us out and we would stand there a bit looking at the stones before trotting off to see "Babyland". Creepy, huh.

Since my childhood I've always been drawn to cemetaries as quiet places I can walk, contemplate life and learn about past history. I find it relaxing to walk through reading the names and wondering what their life stories are.

I'm planning to be cremated and probably won't even have a stone in a cemetary.