Partying with the (J)ocular crowd

Our friends the McKims are in town (DSM) for a professional eye association meeting. Dr. Don is on the board, so he's been at the Embassy Suites since Wednesday. Diana rolled in late yesterday afternoon. They had a reception yesterday evening - with all the eye folks, so Paul and I headed to our go-to place, The Standard. The supper special was a swell talapia sannie, and I had tomato soup with it. Their food is very, very good! (4+ Moki heads every meal so far) A band was setting up to play and the place was crowded.

Our buddy, Jeff the bartender has learned our names and fixed us up with drinks

The singer was good!

Donnie texted us to come on over to "socialize" at the Embassy.  They were on second floor where several vendors of eye products and services had set up hospitality suites. I knew we were in the right place when I saw someone with a cloth bag that read "ocular health is cool" or something to that effect.We actually knew a couple people (besides D&D) there - from tailgating at McKim's RV through the years. One vendor had a musician hired who was fun to listen to. We even sang along. In walked Phil Conover from Creston - our former neighbor's son who now works at DSM Golf and Country Club. Yes it was old home week.

Diana and I check out the photo of me riding Marilyn the bike on my cell phone

Don gives Phil advice...

Around 10 PM, Don, Dee, Paul and I decided to head up Locust Street to the Continental for a drink. On our way out the door, we ran into Joel Weis (son of Joan and Dr. Greg - a vet-Weis) from Creston. He's a 3rd year eye doc student at a school in Memphis, TN. He's in town for the convention as well! Jud played soccer with Joel and all sports with his bro, Ben. The Iowa association sponsors students like Joel, in hopes that they end up working back in Iowa with members - what a good deal.

At the Continental, just a short walk from the Embassy Suites, there was had a female singer, who wasn't the greatest really. Then it was on up the street a couple doors to experience Locust Tap - a dive, and a much younger crowd. After a little liquid courage there - it was onto the gay bar, Blazing Saddle.

Why, you ask? I've been walking past the place for 3+ years and frankly, I'm the curious sort. I wanted to know what was in there. Just like I needed to go into the other area bars - House of Bricks & Locust Tap. But a little riskier! It's really pretty much a normal bar - narrow, a few tables with a bar along the left. There were a couple women sitting with guys, but also clusters of guys. Our men ordered beer, and Dee and I switched to water. The guys stayed very near us, lest they be mistaken for...one of them.

Only took one fuzzy photo here - didn't want to look too obvious as a gawker

We sat at a table near a doorway into...what? It was mysteriously dark in the next room with music pulsing. I finally chanced a look - it WAS very dark, couples were dancing at the far end of the room. There was another bar along the left side with additional seating. Back at our table, we saw a nice looking cross-dresser go by. That was the extent of the visit. We slipped out the back door into the parking lot. It was after 1 a.m. by that time, and it was time for the oldsters to head home. Those eye folks do know how to party!

I don't suppose I'll talk Paul into going across the street to the after-hours dance club - the next frontier. Someone did get stabbed there recently, so I guess I'm not all that curious about that place...

Tech enjoyment

I often find myself cursing electronics. Especially computers. The one at work has been especially slow lately, causing me to tap my toe, check my phone and do other things whilst I wait for it's tiny pea-brain to work.

So I'm happy to report this blog is about the good side of electronics! My smaller electronics are bonding together to make me smile this week. ;>)

First my phone is being quite silly. I use the texting method called SWYPE. You simply drag your finger over the keyboard and it must use some algorithm to predict what word you're trying to spell. Or, it's trying to make me laugh! Take last night. My sis Cindo texted that Paul and I shouldn't go to the movie Hunger Games here because she wants to go to that one when we're all on vacation together in April in Florida.

I tried to text her back something like "That's what I planned too!" but my phone had other ideas!
It came out:
Undress
I laughed at that one and tried again and it said
Tarts
So I left both those words on there and posted what I was trying to say - spelling the words out by tapping each letter - the old fashioned way.

She asked if I was alright, and said she did have her jammies on, wondering if instead of tarts I was asking about her large American tatas.
See - you gotta laugh at that whole conversation!

Now today, when I was taking my walk around the block - down 3rd Street to MLK west across the river, I listened to my iPod. I had it set on Shuffle. That's where it randomly selects songs from your playlist for you to listen to.

It made me so happy when it played a couple of my little listened to but very fave songs back-to-back. Elton John's "Your Song", brings back memories of Sally Rodgers and riding around in her black Mercury all over Atlantic, Iowa.

Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" always melts my heart.  I would ride my beautiful quarter horse Jack in rural Atlantic singing the song bilingually. We learned how to sing the song in Spanish class too - with Senior Seufert. (and that brings back lots more memories) That was one of the songs Paul and I chose for our wedding - played by Mrs. McCauley on her violin.

So the next time my electronics act up - and I know they will! I'll try to remember that they make me laugh and smile sometimes too.

Quick Hits Thursday

• I saw this cool bubble wrap dress on my way back to work today after my lunchtime walk to the the loft. It was in the window of a store on Grand, done for a charity function. 
• It's such an early spring - it's not just the tulips that are up! Are those daffodils?
• Tonight we went to Redrosa on University in West Des Moines - West of I-35 tonight for supper. They serve fire-grilled pizza. As their sign says "wood-fired pizza, charred and blistered to perfection. Not as good as Fongs, but good. 3.5 Moki Heads. Though we didn't have one tonight, their salads are good too.

Their wood is stacked right inside the door

We got a sausage pizza with artichokes and mushrooms

Instead of dessert, we decided to walk up to our fave joint - The Standard for a nightcap. The bar hosted live music tonight. A couple guys who were very good musicians. At least for the half hour we got to hear them. They did several Santana songs and a Steven Bishop song. It was really enjoyable listening. They quit at 8 PM. They're old like we are!

Paul and I are going to make terrible elderly companions. Or hilarious ones...last night, whilst writing this blog, I couldn't remember the word "dumpling". Yes, dementia has already begun to set in. I thought he might help me. So I asked him, "what's that word that starts with D - a flour blob that you put in soup?" He said, "Daisys?"  GEEEZ. He was thinking flower, I figured out later, but at the time I was really confused.

You'd think he'd be more intuitive about how my mind works after 30+ years! I keep chuckling about it. I eventually came up with the word dumpling myself, thank you very little.

Great Couple Days

After a chilly Monday, yesterday warmed back up. It was time to rev up the bikes! Paul was so excited. (No not really). But he's been a good sport about my DSM bucket list. We walked over to the Des Moines B Cycle check out spot on the corner of 3rd and Locust. I had scoped it out earlier to make sure there were bikes available.
http://desmoines.bcycle.com/home.aspx

We took a couple minutes to read the directions. Looks like it's free if you use the things for an hour or less! I selected Marilyn, and Paul, Freddie. After we punched a few things into the keypad, and Paul stuck his credit card in. Did I mention that it's $65 if you keep one for a whole day? Let's hope we got credit for returning our little blue friends.

I started peddling with Paul following closely. We didn't have helmets of course, but we were wearing protective visors/hats. There are bike lanes on some downtown streets so we turned onto Walnut and followed that street east to the Capitol Building. Actually I pedaled halfway up the hill and decided my seat was too low. So I stopped to adjust and ended up pushing the bike the rest of the way up that steep hill. We stopped for a photo shoot.

The ride back down the hill was good! We rode on Locust and I waved at smokers outside the Locust Tap. Paul told me later there was a Santa-like guy on the other side of the street waving at me that I totally missed. We turned north at third street and rode in an industrial area, then farther north to the Botanical Center, where Pablo's bike decided to pop a wheelie.


Once we cruised across the bridge to Wells Fargo and then it was time to turn Marilyn and Freddie back in. Quite a workout! We walked across the river to the Royal Mile in the Court Avenue District for a couple brews and appetizers before retiring for the evening. Such fun - hate to see it end.






Tonight we knocked a couple more things off our (my) DSM bucket list. I successfully completed person accountability training at work. This photo is from that. The panda was helpful - Jeff and I entertained ourselves by pushing its face in. The training was quite helpful - all about how each of us can only change ourselves and how we approach life's challenges. Blaming others doesn't help. I needed that reminder!

After Paul came home, we drove by the Metro Waste Authority Recycling facility (no that wasn't on the list), we stopped at Gateway Market - a local gourmet market. Kinda like the place Amy used to work in Denver. Only not quite as cool, and it has a little cafe with it. Then we went to Alba, near my office for supper. There I ate vegetarian hash. It was a perfect marriage of herbs, several vegetables and what tasted liked like dumplings. It came with jalapeno corn bread. Paul got pork medallions that he said were fab too. I've been driving and walking by Alba for over three years - now I know why it's on all the lists of top DSM restaurants! We give it 5 Moki heads. (that's our rating system)

Our meals

Doors on the ceiling at Alba

Hoops

Monday night we got to see a couple NCAA Women's Basketball icons at the Regional Final here in DSM. My buddy Deb met us at the door, as we had scored some cheap tickets thanks to our Monday morning breakfast chatter. Diana McKim had told us that a co-worker had gone to Saturday's game and had 5 tickets he wasn't using Monday night. We snatched 'em up for a whopping $30 total!

Waiting outside the Well for Deb

Tennessee Coach Pat Summit is a coaching legend. She's 59 years old and is suffering from early onset dementia, so this could be her last year of coaching. It's obvious she's no longer the take-charge lady she used to be already. Her assistant is the one in charge on the floor these days.

Griner is the tall one

The other is Baylor's 6 foot 8 inch center Brittany Griner - a huge game changer. Though last night the point guard, a very quick gal who can shoot the 3 ball looked to be a big game changer too. Of course it helps when you have the defense sucked in guarding the big girl. You find yourself open a bit more!

Pat and assistant have a word with a zebra

The crowd was good, it was fun sitting with Deb and Paul. Before the game, Paul and and stopped by our new fave joint, The Standard. The bartender, let's call him Jeff - because that's his name. He knew to make me a lemondrop martini. Is that wrong...that a DSM bartender knows my drink? Oh it will be over soon. He'll have to unlearn it when Paul goes home. Unless...I can talk Joan into going there! It was a fun night.

Wilfred McFee

From Krissy's wedding photo, summer 2010 (from K's Facebook pics)

Got this off Kim's Facebook - Kim must be about 2, Krissy 5 - some carrots!

We're attending visitation for Willie McFee today, and his funeral tomorrow. He is the father of our good friends Jeff (our Creston buddy) and Joan McFee (my roomie). He was 86 years old and was in very poor health for the past year - especially this past winter. He was ready to go.

Willie had been hospitalized recently, and was so weak when Medicare said it was time to go home. Joan told me Home Health Care had evaluated him and said he qualified for Hospice. On Wednesday he said he was ready to go to the Hospice House near the hospital in Creston. He passed away Thursday evening about 9 p.m.

We've known Willie, a farmer, for years, mostly because we've known Bobbie and Jeff for years. Willie and wife Phyllis enjoyed following the grandkids' activities. So we saw them at ballgames, dance recitals, and graduation parties until the kids went off to college. Amy and Jud are the same ages as Bobbie and Jeff's kids - Krissy and Kimmy. We also attended the funeral of their son Craig, who died in 2003.

The McFees have been kind enough to include us in some of their fam celebrations. You see, we're orphans, kinda. Real ones, when it comes to having parents. My dad was the last to go in late 2006. We don't have a lot of family in Iowa either, and none in southwest Iowa. We've been lucky enough to be invited to McFee fam birthdays - big sis Jeannie's 50th, Joan's 50th and of course all the big stuff with Bobbie and Jeff.

Last year we even got to be honorary McFees for Easter - hanging with the McFees, Bobbie's family plus the extended McFee fam. Living with Joan, I got to know more about the relatives, their stories. The family originates from Canada. And there are a lot of them (relatives and stories)! Easter 2011 was the last time I saw Willie. Seeing him really reminded me of Paul's dad, toward the end of his life. Willie was using oxygen, like George, both were sharp as a tack and seemed content to sit and listen to conversation - enjoying the family he had help create.

I hope this funeral can be a celebration of a good life. He was ready to go. From what Joan and Jeff said, the poor guy was miserable and had no quality of life. Those left behind are the sad ones. No one is ever ready to let go of the person who was inside that withering body. It's so permanent. It's one reason I like to get together with my sisters - relishing our joint memories of our parents. I'm glad my children got a chance to know them - though they were pretty young when Mom died.

I look forward to seeing the McFees today and attending Willie's funeral tomorrow. He needs a proper sendoff for a life well-lived.

New look

What do you think of the new Blog look? I felt it was time for a change. Spring and all that. Plus I'd been using the other format for quite some time.

I went with a pre-set template Blogger offers, but did a little bit of my own twist and changed the darker background a little bit, adding the purple title. I kept tweaking for several hours until I liked it. My favorite part is how the format makes the photos pop. (That's a phrase they use on HGTV a lot - POP).

I also changed the description of my blog. I realized that my purpose had morphed somewhat since I started the blog three plus years ago. Back then, I had been used to having a forum for my thoughts - a monthly newspaper column in the Creston News Advertiser. Granted that was a much more formal medium, and was work related. I wrote it for my job as director of Prairie Solid Waste Agency serving Adams, Taylor and Union Counties. I had to tie it in to waste reduction and recycling, but you'd be surprised at how much in life is environmental. When I changed jobs and didn't write the newspaper column anymore, I missed having a forum for my thoughts.

And I had all that commuting time. I don't know about you, but I do some of my best thinking when I'm driving all by myself. It's like my best thoughts are just lurking under the surface and they need that somewhat mundane activity of driving to bring them out. Amy had started a blog and I decided - that's for me! Some people might say it's too much information for public consumption. Well...that's me. I'm an open book, um blog.

• One concern I have with the new blog format is that white on dark is harder to read. What do you think?
• I added a "Like" reaction button. It gives people a chance to weigh in without signing in and writing comments.
• Also did some reorganizing along the right side - there is a spot to check out recent popular blogs and comments. 

Though I do mostly write these blogs for my own selfish enjoyment, I do get a kick out of it when I know others enjoy them too. I'd like your input! Thanks.