Back to work

It's harder to go back to work after five nights at home. I get all settled in or something. Now I'm in Des Moines through Friday as I have a conference call meeting that day. Long Week.

Amy is a good story teller. She entertained me as we drove (I rode) home from Earlville on the phone - thank goodness my cellie didn't cut out in the badlands - the hills north of Creston. The place Amy works, Marzyck's, a gourmet market owned by a couple brothers Pete and Paul Marzyck (thus, the name) provides much of the fodder for Amy's stories. It reminds me of the crazy grocery wholesaler I used to work for. Maybe it's the food business that's nutty. (Nuts ARE food...hmmm maybe I'm onto something)

Today (it's now Tuesday) I began writing this on Monday and didn't get too far. It's November 30, Joan McFee Bentley, my roommate's (landlady actually) birthday. Joan is one of the nicest people I have ever known - but not one of those "so sweet I want to smack her upside the head" sweeties. You know the kind. They make my teeth rot. They seem fakey, like they're putting on an act, and when they get behind closed doors their head swivels all the way around and they breath fire!

Nope, Joan is the real deal. I've known her for twenty years now - since Jud was one - that's how I remember. Back then we went skiing with Jeff (her bro) & Bobbie and Moose & Kay, Dennie & Mendy and Joanie & her fiance Kevin who was recovering from colon cancer treatment. But after that he had a recurrence and unfortunately it got the best of him. She never got to marry the love of her life.

She stayed single for a long time - moved to Kansas City with Fed Ex and back to DSM. Paul even helped Jeff moved her and her gazillion shoes. A few years ago she married a guy from Diagonal whom she dated after high school - Billy Bentley. He's here tonight after bringing her roses and taking her to supper. They spend weekends together, mostly at his place in Diagonal. Happy Bday roomie!

Goldsmith Christmas

Dave and Jean (Santa's elf)

Kids wait ever so patiently for presents! Hannah, Ryan, Eric, Carson and Mark

The day after Thanksgiving has been Goldsmith Christmas for many years now. George and Laura had to compete with lots of in-laws for real Christmas, so they decided long ago that the day after Thanksgiving would be a good time to get together.

We used to meet at their place in Earlville. It was ideal because the basement (or the "cellar" as Laura called it" was fully carpeted - even the walls. Good for sound absorbtion! And George and Laura left the Christmas tree decorated in the furnace room, just covered with a sheet. So setup was easy! Paul's old Hot Wheels set was down there along with a few other toys to entertain the kids.

Some of us out of towners even stayed at the house and there was a bedroom downstairs. No it wasn't carpeted on the walls, but it did contain beds that I think were from the 1940's - I think the mattresses were made with horse hair! If you got to stay down there, everytime someone walked up stairs you heard the floor creaking.

The old kitchen table from the farm was downstairs, so George felt quite at home sitting their during present time. The kids would be very excited of course to open gifts. We usually had a special exchange for them. Then each child usually received a gift from his/her godparent and from G&L. Through the years the adults decided it would be fun to do a system where each person who wanted to participate brought a gift and drew a number. When it was your turn you picked a gift - either from the stack or from someone who already had picked. Each gift could change hands 3 times max. It gets quite rowdy at times!

Once G&L moved to assisted living, we began hold Goldsmith Christmas at the Earlville Mealsite. It works out very well for the large group. The acoustics aren't good but it's nice that our large group can fit in! This year there was over 40 people. Since this year marks the occasion of Carol, Paul's oldest sis's 70th birthday, all 3 of her children were here - a first in many years.

Jud thought all the little kids would drive him crazy! I thought that was funny cuz back when he was one of the loud lil kids - these kids' parent were the college kids bitching about him! They were loud, but they were having good clean fun - no eyes were poked out.
Attendance:

1. Carol Goldsmith Meyer Kragenbrink



2. her son Tom Meyer and wife Misty along with kids Quenntin, and twins Lane and Aaron (they're just 2)



3. her son Terry Meyer and wife Bonnie and son Ryan 5, Hannah 3



4. her Daughter Barb and husband Mike Archer and their kids Mandy 12 and Greyson 13?



5. Jean Goldsmith Fox and husband Dave



6. their daughter Kris Fox Cook and her husband Chris - his kids Aron and Megan - in high school and their son Carson who is 5



7. Dennis Goldsmith and wife Kelli



8. their daughter Karen and husband Andy Krueger and their boys Erick 5, and Mark 2



9. Larry Goldsmith and wife Regina



10. Their son Craig



11. Their son Kurt and wife Erin



12. Pat Goldsmith Vorwald and husband Dave



13. Ken Goldsmith - wife Mary was working at the CR Library



14. Daughter Katie Goldsmith Lee and husband Albert and son Jacob age 1



15. Son John



16. Dorie Goldsmith Nielsen and husband John



17. Son Chris



18. Paul Goldsmith and me



19. Son Judson

It'a always hard to get around and talk to everyone. I never did get to talk to Kris Fox and then it was time for them to go. The exchange was fun - the golfballs I took were popular, and so were the movies the guys took. I ended up with an ISU stocking cap and Paul got some tools. Jud got a nice thermal lunch box. A good time was had by all!

A strange dichotomy

I'm a strange one. I put lots of my life out here online, yes I do. Intimate thoughts at times. Personal stuff. Yet I consider myself an introvert when it comes to some things.

Like having people visit our home. Jud invited his friend Kara to Creston Sunday evening for supper and over night. I'm not a natural entertainer (though I cover it well - I think) and I find it a bit uncomfortable to have people up close and personal like that. At least until I know them better. Though Kara was easy to talk to - it's all my own lack of confidence.

Plus I don't like people up close and personal - in my space. Getting my hair cut is a stretch. I wouldn't like a friend to comb my hair for example and am not comfy rubbing a friends shoulders. I'm just not a touchy feely person.

So I am okay with laying some stuff out there - with words. But other stuff - bodily functions, and touching, are okay to talk and laugh about. Yep, I'm weird.

Thanksgiving was very relaxing and low key with Jud and Paul. Missed our baby girl - she was entertaining guests at her place in Denver. Today we head to Earlville for Goldsmith Christmas. Odie has to stay here as the motel we're staying in has no room in the Inn for dogs (shhh don't tell her!).

Many Thanks

I started out Thanksgiving morn the way I like to - by attending Mass. It's really one of my favorite masses of the year. I always liked Midnight Mass as it was fun to see all the families home for the holidays - though the past couple years we've been in Vail, Colorado. But Thanksgiving Mass is small - it's not a holy day or a Sunday, so people don't have to be there. So it's small.

Why do I like it? Because it's truly a chance for me to take time to give thanks - to whomever is out there...a higher power, nature...for all of the good things in my life. Because even though at the very time I was at church, our water heater was being replaced for $700 (after the old one chose Thanksgiving Eve to leak all over our newly cleaned downstairs).

And there are some other things I'm worried about, and to not be so thankful for. Like our two-party system. WTF!?! They seem to have become the parties of obstruction of each other - not about governing for the best of the people. Supergerms - how are we going to conquer these things? Aging - I can't be nearly in my mid 50's can I? I hope we stay healthy because we are enjoying this stage of our lives. Jobs - what are Paul and I going to do when we grow up? Will Iowa's new Gov cut my job? Is the environment going to hell in a handbasket?

But stuff to be thankful for totally outshines those things - at least on a day-to-day basis!

• Our family - Amy and Jud are growing up to be great, responsible, fun loving people.
• The rest of the fam - Goldsmiths/Bullocks - who could ask for more? No bad actors dipping joy out of our buckets. My niece's wedding in LA last summer was such fun - seeing extended family. We'll see lots of Goldsmiths tomorrow - can't wait! George/Laura & Pat/Dave would be so proud.
• Friends - I've said it before how blessed we are with friends. If friends were cash we'd Oprah and Bill Gates. Starting with friends from early childhood - like Robyn, Sal, and Christie Jo to the rest of my Atlantic buddies - too many to list. What a great group! On to college - the people I really grew up with. Jane, Vicki, Sally (again), Moose and Steve and then Paul and his friends.
• Creston - our hometown and the people here. As we ponder our future - where should we live? It sucks to live in 2 places, we know that much is true. No matter what happens parts of our hearts will always lie here - with the town and the people who helped raise 2 wonderful kids, and helped us mourn for the baby that didn't make it.
• Iowa State University - the place I really grew up. I truly love it there, even though it wasn't easy. I had to learn to study and parcel out my time between social time and school. I learned to cheer for the Cyclones - a very humbling experience which has lead me to wonderful highs and depressing lows. Though I never pressed it I was pleased when both Amy and Jud chose to attend ISU.
• A wonderful warm house - with water that should soon be hot! And for attentive service providers like Glenn Orr who took time out of his own Thanksgiving to install our water heater.
• For Lila and Bill, and the Taylors our pet sitters. They make it so we're able to leave town knowing our pets are safe.
• My job at the Department of Natural Resources - I feel like all my other jobs were leading up to this one! I can't believe I've been there two years already, and hope the new gov is selective about cuts. I love what I do.
• Books! I love to read. My laptop - keeps me in touch and is my creative outlet for things like this blog.
• My Subaru - please little car, don't hit any more critters and keep trucking through anything this winter throws at us!
• Time to go make the Scalloped Corn - another thing I'm thankful for...Mom's recipe. Yum!
• Oh - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Poolboy - my husband Paul. My rock and lover.

Snappy marital repartee

for those of you who aren't into vocabulary, the word means "banter". Paul and I traded texts yesterday that kept me smiling internally all day. Ya see I appreciate cleverness - even if it's my own, but especially when it comes from others close to me.
Paul tried to talk me into coming home Tuesday night from Des Moines - I kept trying to justify it, but felt I needed to be at the office Wednesday morning after being out Tuesday all day at a meeting. Plus I had dropped a glove at Valley West Mall last week (I hoped it was at Joan's but no such luck).

It when like this: I had a wild hair and sent this text to Paul yesterday a.m.
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right....but I must stay here tonight for operation glove rescue at Valley West Mall. And work.

He sent back:
Nice line. now i know i rank just below gloves.

And I said:
you're above mittens though!

He said:
Whew!

Now that's funny! We're good together - he and I, even after all these years. He gets me. And when I start treating him badly - taking him for granted, he finally snaps and treats me badly back so I snap out of it. And when he gets all into himself hunting and watching the Packers, I get bitchy and he figures out that he should be sorry. Give and take - that's what marriage is all about.

In our house there is very little yelling and few angry words - at least directed at each other. I grew up with some of that, and learned I don't much like conflict. Of course I am 53 now and occasionally can be provoked at work or a sporting event - too little estrogen left to oppose all the testosterone I suppose. Or, perhaps it's all those years of squelching my true feelings - all those times I wanted to say, "hell no I don't want to clean up after the men at work and get paid $.50 to their $1.00." But didn't. My muffler slips off every once in a while. But not usually with my beloved Pablo the Poolboy.

I did go on my Glove seach mission - no luck. So I bought a new pair and returned to Joan's place in Waukee. When I popped open my computer and took a look at the weather I saw that today may hold some freezing rain. Crap! I thought it over while I ate supper, and Joan came in. Then I made the break - around 7:45 PM I headed for Creston. Paul got his way after all - and he ranks above those gloves after all!

Turkey week

Memories of turkey day at the Bullocks. It's been so many years since I've celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandparents' home at 909 Poplar in Atlantic. It was a cool old house and we spent many holidays there - the rambling three story place plus an attic.

My grandparents passed away in 1982, and they had lived in a condo on 28th street? several years at that time. But they lived in the old place through my early high school years at least. By the last few years though, Mom was in charge of holiday cooking.

Momo, my gran, was a great cook in her day. The house had a big dining area with a long beautiful table (I think Susi has it now) to fit the whole fam. We even invited Bubba's bro Uncle Max (they called him Nig cuz he was a tan old guy - I know, not very PC). His wife was Mary Lou. They weren't the friendliest folks to kids.

Momo and Bub didn't have lots of toys, but they did have some of Dad, Aunt Marty and Aunt Jean's old game and books. We'd play tiddly winks into a corn bread container. The attic and the basement were each kinda scary! The attic had fiberglass insulation that I was told I would fall through. So I stayed away! There were old prom dresses up there and Nancy Drew books! The basement had a coal chute and and old gas range.

One year Uncle Max was carving the turkey on a card table, when the table collapsed! Mom whisked the turkey back into the kitchen and wiped it off - when she brought it back out she said, "lucky I had a spare!" Witty Zora! Another time she had gotten extra turkey legs to cook with the bird as we always had people wanting legs - and she joked that it was a 4-legged turkey! We loved to put the black olives from the relish plate on our fingers.

After supper I remember Dad laying on the floor complaining about how full he was. The girls always had to help with the dishes. (sexist - no?) I learned to live with it though, and now I'm more comfy on dish duty than cooking.

Thursday this year will just be Jud, Paul and me - but we'll have all those relatives in our hearts!

Colbymeister

Colby Lefebvre is under the knife. He's having surgery on his jaw - a congenital defect that left him without nine permanent teeth. It's a family thing - I'm missing four myself. Three of the baby teeth are still hanging on.

One gave up at age forty when it started causing me problems. Dave Buck pulled it and after it healed I was fitted for a bridge. What a deal that was! I remember going in for a wax impression of my jawline. The mistake I made was eating a giant cheeseburger first! Why oh why did no one tell me the waxy stuff would be causing me to gag - threatening to cause said cheeseburger to reappear in Dave's dentist office.

I was lucky that I got a Maryland bridge - so they didn't have to file down my other teeth like they do with regular bridges. But the thing has come loose a couple times in the past twelve years. One time whilst Debbie P and I were kayaking on the Upper Iowa river. We always take snacks along, (hey we burn lots of calories) and I had a nice box of Milk Duds.

It wasn't a scorching hot day and the Duds were kinda firm - so when I chewed them, my bridge (which is a fake tooth with metal sticking out to attach to other teeth) stuck to the gooey caramel. I proudly showed the gob of candy/tooth mixture to Deb, laughing! I had to put the whole sticky mess in a baggie until we got back to the motel that night. Chuckle. At least it's a ways back in my mouth so I'm not noticeably a Hillbilly.

Back to Colby Breton Lefebvre. He is Cindy (my sis - #2 Bullock girl 3+ years older than me and Brian (Bolder) Lefebvre. They live in Edwards, near Vail, Colorado. Colbs is four months younger than Jud. He is a culinary whiz kid - his chef team won the national competition in high school and he got a scholarship. He attends Johnson and Wales in Denver - finished the culinary part of his school after two years and is finishing a BS in management now.

He and Jud are polar opposites. Even when they were little they didn't get along. Jud would egg Colby on and Colbs would bite him. Ironic as Colby ended up missing so many teeth! They had to wait until his jaw was full frown (he was a late bloomer like Jud - grew several inches after high school). Colby has never been interested in team sports - even watching football doesn't seem to interest him much. Though as the boys grow older they get along better. And Amy and Colby are buddies - especially after she spent a winter living with the Lefebvres two years ago when she worked on the mountain.

His jaw is being broken - top and bottom. The top is being broken in 5 places. ARgh! Cindy is shopping for liquid nutrition. I'm sure it will be wired for several weeks. Then the plan is to eventually insert implants - fake teeth. It's all costing a fortune, very little of which is covered by insurance. Still, his parents have to feel fortunate that it's not some serious illness. I'm sure this doesn't feel to easy about now though!

In a few months, okay maybe it will be years - after all his teeth are screwed in, this will be a distant memory. And my baby teeth will be falling out! I am very careful with Milk Duds...