Post Christmas

Sure is nice to be home for a five-day stretch! It's a rare occurrence since I took the state job. Rare too was the 60 degree day yesterday - quickly replaced by the 20 with freezing rain this a.m. Oh well...it IS Iowa.

No big plans for News Year's Eve for us - I'm just happy to stay home. It's an overblown holiday if you ask me. Sure I've had some fun in years past on NYE. But more often than not, I've had high expectations that have been unfulfilled.

Isn't that the way it goes? I find I have the most fun when I don't set myself up with high expectations - unrealistic expectation in most cases. Do you do that? Picture how much fun you'll have - at Christmas with your perfect family with the perfect food - never a harsh word for each other. All the gifts are great - clothes fit, other stuff is just what the giftee wants/needs.

Reality? Bringing a bunch of adults together - out of their usual routines, cram them together for long time periods - crabbiness is bound to happen. At least on my part. Not all that much - for the most part the Goldsmiths got along pretty well at Christmas.

But we had our moments. That my friends is why adult children grow up and move into their own homes. Everyone needs their space. I need alone time. Hell I even get sick of me sometimes!

Regarding New Years or other big party times - I just don't like large gatherings with lots of people I have to make nice with. I do that all week long - when I need to - at my job. I don't want to dress up. I don't do that all week - jeans are my normal attire at the Wallace Building, though I do put on better clothes when I have a meeting, unlike some of my co-workers.

So I hope all those wild celebraters have a great time. I hope my children are safe. And I wish all of my fam and friends a fab 2011. 2010 was a good one. I'm excited to see what this next year brings!

Watching one's Weight

I've complained for years that I just don't know how to eat healthy. That I need to learn better eating habits. Wa Wa Wa Wa Waaa. (it's the Charlie Brown Mom noise)

So I finally put my money where my mouth (and stomach) are. And joined Weight Watchers at the Wallace Building. Jan, the personnel gal has tried a couple times to get a group started there, but this time it took. We needed 15 people - struggled to get the magic number the first week, but week 2 more showed up.

It's not cheap! $180 for 14 weeks. You get this online tool, with a Blackberry app but frankly it's not too easy to use - I prefer to log stuff on my laptop. And we meet at noon each Monday (11:45 for weigh in) I know - sucky day to get weighed - just after the weekend.

Most of the people in my group are repeat offenders. I mean they've been in WW before. But WW rolled out a whole new program just last month - Points Plus, so it's new for everyone. All the food has new point values, and many fruits and veggies are 0, which does encourage me to eat better.

We weighed in the first day and our rep figured our point total we're allowed. I get 29 points each day - plus everyone gets 49 bonus points every week. That is eye opening for me - just how much each type of food counts and how much a person my size and age is supposed to eat. Not a lot if it's high point stuff!

Of course last weekend with the fancy schmantzy food we ate I was way over my total - didn't even try to track it. As my New Years resolution, I want to include more fresh foods - hard to do with my commuting schedule. But I'll give it a shot! It can't hurt!

Rest 'o the trip

Ah Christmas din din at the Pottorffs. Yum. That EPott (Eric) he knows how to cook a prime rib! He is the guy in charge of all the food places across Beaver Creek and Vail. He's got some "juice". His wife Bonnie is fun - got to know her pretty well the summer after Dad died. She came along with Cindy to Marco Island as we stayed at the Gulfview one last time. Bonnie is fun and funny - I like her a lot. Their son is Byron - a junior at Cal Long Beach.

The rest of the cast of eating characters:
The Sanders family comes every year too - Jim (vegetarian, so the lovely lump 'o meat is wasted on him), Shaloy, Kelsey (who just finished her senior year at NWMSU - a scant hour from Crestonia - with a full ride soccer scholly), and Reeve. Michelle - chatty but nice, works at the van place sending happy (and unhappy) touristas to and fro. And Frank wine guru, who brought his fun filled wine suitcase.

Plus Goldsmiths (who get to horn in thanks to Lefebvres) We had a tasty cranberry salad and a green salad, asparagus and really good vegetarian potatoes with rolls to go with the meat. For dessert, you ask? Bonnie had some ginger cookies that she layered on a beautiful cake dish with real whip cream and chocolate sauce. We served it with lemon sorbet and raspberries. I helped serve - so it was kinda crushed by the time I cut it - nevertheless it was tasty! I told anyone who complained - "hey, I attend agricultural college!"

The prior afternoon the fellas all went with Bolder to the Charlie's warehouse to prepare inventory for all the Charlie's T-Shirt stores for Sunday. Jud got a nice sweatshirt in payment and I even scored a Vail tee shirt. (I didn't do anything!) Cindy and I took Odie for a short walk (I even carried the little lazy girl part of the way). Then we drove to Cindy's office to get free ski tickets (yes FREE) for Jud and Paul.

On Sunday Jud, Amy and Paul got up early and went skiing. I was a little jealous. I could have gone. But I kept reminding myself that I'm the gal that falls down stairs and flips off short stools. I don't need to tempt fate! Cindy came to Riverwalk (where we stay) and we shopped a bit and had lunch at the French Press.

That night Colby and Cindy cooked for us. Colby made Beef Wellington - really good tender beef with puff pastry on the outside covering tender mushrooms. Cindy made some good creamy potatoes. I was stuffed.

Too soon it was time to go. All the sudden I was a blubbering idiot - crying when I had to say goodbye to Amy. I don't know when we'll see her again and I was so sad. I hate goodbyes anyway...
That night I hardly slept - finished my book and finally dozed off about 4 a.m. Paul woke me up to leave at 5:30 a.m. Was there caffeine in those potatoes? Long drive to Iowa. Laundry to do when we got home, but our great neighbors had shoveled our driveway! Another good trip - safe and sound. Love my fam.

Colorado trip so far

We're having a great trip. The weather has cooperated - in fact it's been perfect. Don't miss the cold and snow of Iowa at all! Vail is even warm and sunny. We got to Denver at 5 PM Wednesday and took Amy and roomie Carrie out to eat. So good to see my baby. Then headed to Aunt Martha's for the night. Juddy stayed at Amy's.

Loved having time to talk with Marty and Bill at their home Thursday a.m. Jud, Paul and I went to the movie remake True Grit that afternoon and ate at a barbeque joint, Moe's - where Colby works occasionally. He works at their other branch a lot. We stopped at the liquor store and bought some booze for Lefebvres and got wine at Marczyks and a gift card for Colbs. Last minute shopping!

That night we headed to my cousin Amy Brownlee's house for a great lasagna supper. Her hubby Tom was there along with son Matt - a 7th grader. Gorgeous daughter Kate, a HS soph was off to a Colorado Avalanche hockey game. She's a busy teen ya know. Marty and Bill were there, and my cuzzie Richard Amy's bro. Amy also invited her neighbor Gwen. Our Amy arrived after work. It was lots of fun sharing holiday cheer with relatives! I'm so mad I didn't take any pics.

Friday it was up to Vail after we stopped at Amy's to pick up Odie. Jud waited for Am to get off work at 4, but we took off around 1 PM. Cindo was in party prep mode when we got here. Got checked into Riverwalk and came back for the party - A&J arrived about 6:30 PM - starving! Good thing Colby had brought the Moe's (there's one here in the area too) wings. Plus meatballs, cheeses. We popped in the wiener winks.

People started arriving - the place was hopping! The fun thing is this is year 3 for the Goldsmiths to be here - we know people now. I got hugs and air kisses! Paul and I are honorary Kitchenettes. Amy was exhausted from her work schedule and took a nap. Bolder did the first set of songs about 8 PM. We were awful singers - it was great! About 9:30 the place was at a dull roar. There had been several spills and people were pleasantly liquored up. Not me though - I nursed my drink this year (I know - I surprise myself).

Colby played a drum and led a string of kids in with grass skirts. (tradition) It was mele kalikimaka time! He popped it on the CD player and we all chimed in. It is hilarious! Boldie is so serious in his reading glasses, leading the songs like Lawrence Welk, Jr. Kelsey thought he was struggling and hurried to his side to help. When people don't know the words they sing "hanna hanna hanna"

Too soon - or not soon enough it was over. This year, people didn't bring wild children and allow them to run amok. My sis didn't have to snap. People left at a decent hour. We all enjoyed it! Amy came back to spend the night with us at the motel so we could have some quality time. Jud stayed to bond with his cousin Colby whom he used to torment and Colby used to bite him. Now they love each other! World peace!

This a.m. we came back to open gifts and Amy had to rush off to work at Beano's. Church you ask. I know - there is no Catholic Church here. (okay there probably is, but we don't look it up). Our Christmas is about family. After Amy headed to work, Cindo and I went for a nice walk with Odie (I had to carry her for part of it) and the boys went to Charlie's (Boldie's work) to put together T-shirt orders for all their shops for tomorrow. A nap is in order! Merry Christmas to all!

Heading out

We're going to Colorado tomorrow - get to see Odie's sis (and Jud's too). Can't wait! Planned to leave Thursday but Mom Nature planned some snow that day - so we're heading out early to get ahead of it. Odie is going along and she's quite excited (or she will be as soon as she figures it out).

We're staying with my Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill. Marty is Dad's sis - so it's like a little visit with Dad. We're not heading up to Vail until Friday so we'll need to come up with some tourist activity for Thursday all day. That night we're eating supper at my cousin Amy's - and her fam hubby Tom and kids Kate and Matthew. Hope my cuzzy Richard makes it too.

Friday we're off to my sissy Cindo's. It's the annual ("I'm never doing this again" I quote my sis from last year) Lefebvre Christmas party. My bro-in-law Bolder sets up a music stand and leads Christmas caroling in a pope hat. I kid you not. If you stay late enough, people put on grass skirts for that Hawaiian song. People let their children run wild in a home that is not set up for crazy children. (thus Cindy's vow from last year). I'm looking forward to it. And when I'm tire of it, I'll retire to my motel room.

Christmas Day we'll all gather back at Lefebvres to open gifts. We're dragging ours along. Jud and Paul plan to ski and Amy will snowboard. I will wave at them with my book as I've proven to be too clumsy and brittle to ski any longer - hell I can break my foot on stairs! Plus I'd like to purchase something with my $1 gazillion that it now costs to ski. Shoes...yeah!

Tonight Paul prepared his annual fab Christmas Prime Rib - with special gravy made with grape jelly. Uh Oh - all our jelly is old?!? My God we're def turning into our parents - all our food is old. When Jud's GF Kara was here we served her pop that was best by 2009. Now 2009 and 2008 jelly. My New Years Resolution is to clean out our old crappy food and pop.

foot coverings

I did it again. Bought some more shoes, much to my spousal unit's chagrin. Little does he know - real women have many more shoes than I do! This time of year I'm on the constant lookout for shoes to wear every day - to keep my feet warm at work and at home.

I have notoriously bad circulation. Thanks Pat Bullock. My feet are always cold! They sweat and they are freezing. I walk through snow between the parking ramp at the Wallace Building. I wear good socks - and have a few pairs of shoes/bootlike things I wear regularly. I suppose I could wear real boots and switch into shoes at work. But that's complicated. I'd rather just wear shoes that double as both.

So I'm always on the lookout. I got black Simple shoe/boots this fall at Jax in Ames. (they came with that $1 pair of Dansko clogs) The clogs are great but aren't that warm. I got some brown wool clog Merrills on sale at Marshall's this fall. Wear those a lot. But I'm on the lookout for some other bargains for the rest of the winter.

After Pablo and I met for lunch at Elms Club last Friday we sauntered over to Family Shoe (home of Steve McCann, Dr. Shoe - fam acquaintance for 25 years) to check out his stock. He carries all the good stuff - Merrill, Dansko, Clarks, Born and boots for Paul plus all athletic brands. Nothing on sale in my size upstairs. I decided to hit the "Bargain Basement". Paul decided to skip out to go back to work. His mistake!

I scored these great Merrill Mary Janes - and even though the box said $70, the sticker inside said $50 and Steve agreed to sell them for the Crazee Daze price (it's in July). Okay so they're not warm winter foot coverings. I can wait to wear them!

In the meantime imagine the fun I'll have looking for deals on warm shoes!

Tragedy and Faith

Three years ago tragedy struck Iowa when a plane load of young talented professionals from a firm called Two Rivers Marketing crashed in Illinois returning from a trip. While I didn't have a direct connection with anyone on that flight, I did know the pilot Mitch Trewet, Atlantic native and I know the parents of one of the other people on the plane - Tom Dunphy. Paul and I have known the Dunphy family for 25 years now - since we moved to Creston - Tom's brother Todd and his uncle and namesake Tom and his wife Charlene who are now neighbors of ours.

I remember when the accident happened, how sad I felt for Ron and Dottie, Tom's parents to have lost a son - one who sounded like such a genuinely great guy. I recall reading the stories in the Register about all the amazing people who died that day. I felt so bad to read about Mitch Trewet, the pilot, whom I had known as a kid - we were on the swim team together. Pilot error and overloading the plane were blamed for the accident.

When I started at DNR two years ago, I met Heather Jacobs - and found out she was the widow of Eric Jacobs one of the plane wreck victims. Now she is the single parent of five children - four boys and a baby girl born after her father died. Heather works one day a week for the Pollution Prevention Program in my section at DNR. Our paths don't cross often but when I have had a chance to talk to Heather I've found her to be a very cool lady - funny and...a Cyclone fan too.

Last Sunday Paul picked up a Des Moines Register and I began reading a series in the paper - "Eric's Last Wishes". I was surprised to discover it was about Heather - the story of her life with her husband, his tragic death and her life since then. The most striking part of the series to me was the fact that when Eric died, he left behind a CD - he had recorded just weeks before. He had awakened in the middle of the night with a feeling he could die young. He got up, went downstairs, sat at his computer and recorded a message for his wife and family.

Was it a message from God? That really gets to me! I haven't watched the video. Too painful to consider watching it.
Link to series is here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=specialsection&keyword=erics-last-wishes

Check out photo 22 of photos.
....Another funny thing is that in part 3 of the series, there is a photo from Heather tailgating at an ISU game - and Jud and I are in the background! (it makes my butt look big!)

I talked to Heather on Wednesday at work - she brought her daughter in (she's 3 now and was was wearing a crown and a crazy pink outfit) briefly to fill out a form. I told her the small world thing about me being in her photo. But I also told her how much I appreciated her baring her life for the series. I said that Paul and I had lost a baby and that back then I read everything I could about people who had gone through losing a child. I needed to see that people could survive it. This series will help others I'm sure, I told her.

Heather said she'd already received many supportive emails. I'm glad. It is often easy to lose faith - to begin to think this is it, and then you die. Stories like Eric's help me believe in a higher power!