Just too funny!!!

I could not resist on this one...Really struck my funny bone! Click on it...should make it bigger.

Free at Last!

Butch and I finished up with Bob's apartment on Wednesday. His auction will take place Oct 1st. It was a big job but we kept at it till it was all done and now we can return to our normal routines. Yesterday was a day of rest and doing only what suited us. We went for a two mile walk, I took a nap in the afternoon,Butch played golf.
I stopped at the courthouse to have my memory refreshed about tax sales and when they take place etc. So next June something may be available for us to buy. Too early to tell now but we were told it is very likely something will be available.
The weather has been uncommonly good. Moderate temperatures with more than enough sunshine every day.
Life is good!

Golf tournament

Randy, Sherri, Doug, Karen, Butch and I played in a golf tournament in Atlantic on Sunday. We came in the money! I felt okay about how I played considering I haven't touched a club since March. It was a fun day and I sure needed one. I am pictured here with my club, a golf ball and a red beer. Doug asked me if I wanted a beer. I said only if you have a V8 for me to mix it with. And he had one!! It is such a rare sight to see me with a beer that they HAD to take my picture. I am with Sherri in this shot.

New Tires plus Bob

We got all new tires mounted on the motorhome today. That was a major bite in the budget. We should be good to go for another 5 or 6 years now.

I am still snowed under with Bob's stuff but I made great strides yesterday when I called the auction people to come give me an assessment. They were very encouraging and I now feel I can see the end of the tunnel. There will be an auction in Atlantic of his things including car on October 1st. It might pay his way in the nursing home for one more month. The whole experience has made me grateful we have nursing home insurance.
It has also once again made me aware of material things and their lack of value. Bob has a list of over 100 items he wants me to bring to the nursing home. He will not have room for even one fourth of his requests. Many of his things will be stored in the nursing home basement where he can "visit" them. Among his requests are 4 mirrors, all of them larger than 2'x 3', 10 to 15 decorative items to hang on the walls, 7 or 8 stuffed animals, 4 personal pictures and a plethora of plastic flower arrangements. He also wants his fishing poles,tackle box, tool box,recliner, marble topped coffee table, desk, home theater system, radio, side chair and 4 lamps. He made me a list. It covers both sides of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper and he writes very tiny. And now you have had a glimpse of my life for the past two weeks. And I haven't even mentioned the law suit he wants to bring against a surgeon and the Cass Co. Hospital. He was really hot to go visit with lawyers on that subject for the first week. I have hopes he has backed off on that one but there is no guarantee the subject will not come up again. The man has trouble letting go of anything!!!
On the positive side- He loves the nursing home food. Says it is top notch.

I will let you all know when I am once again free of the ties that bind.

Yesterday and today

Yesterday was catch up day for me after not being home much all week. So laundry and cleaning took the bulk of the day. And then in late afternoon we went to Spring Lake for a retirees reunion for Iowa Electric/Alliant Energy. Not only did Butch work for Alliant Energy my father was an employee of Iowa Electric before he died. So I knew most of the people there. It was great to see all those people again.

Today we are headed to Atlantic to play in a golf tournament with our friends Randy and Sherri Clark. I haven't played since Texas but I doubt that it matters much. Doesn't to me anyway!!

Another update is that we met with the landowner in Jefferson that we had high hopes would develop into something. It won't. It seems Jefferson is not really very interested in new citizens. We are still looking at Cooper, Jamaica and Yale. Jefferson went even further down the list when Butch found out there is a surveyor who runs this town and the property herein. Even so far as to tell a property owner, the one we wanted to deal with, what he can ask for his property and what he has to do to it to have it ready for sale. This guy goes to every city council meeting and puts his two cents in every time property is discussed. It is no wonder this town is sinking!
Butch checked with another surveyor in another county and the rules the Jefferson guy are instituting are peculiar to this town. So is he making his own rules? We tend to think so.
Maybe we will take a closer look at Cooper.

This is all there is to say...

Today I am off to deal with more of Bob's(step-father) stuff. The good news of that is my lifelong friend Mickey is going with me. That will make it a much more pleasant day.

Yesterday we got the faceplate put on the new car and it is ready to tow so we have been on the move. Angel doesn't like it when we are both gone all the time but she is an easygoing cat and doesn't make us "pay" too much. Now when is the laundry going to get done?????

Turn of Events

My step-father Robert Turnbull of Atlantic Iowa is in the nursing home in Anita Iowa-Colonial Manor. The doctor has put his foot down and says he can no longer take care of himself at home. Bob has no children or other relatives to take care of his loose ends for him so it seems I have the job. I will be getting his small senior citizen apartment cleared out as well as all the other stuff that takes place in this situation. So if there is a gap in communications on the blog you now know why. I would ask you all to help but there is barely room for me in his apartment!!
Deadline: October 1st.

Great time at the Fair

Assembly line onion rings-Patti, Norma, Barb and Leslie are double dipping those onions while the guys are cooking them. They were absolutely delicious of course and not one bit good for my blood sugar.


We had a great time at the fair. The weather cooperated the entire time. My Swedish weaving turned out exactly opposite what I would have thought. My brown "Melody Ann" pattern received a first place and the child's alphabet one received a second. And my pictures won 3 seconds and one third. It was my first time entering and I indeed learned a few things that would help in the future.More photos are located at http://community.webshots.com/user/barbie1943

At the Fair

We arrived yesterday, early afternoon. The fair does not start till Saturday but we come early to get a good campsite and party with friends. Dale and Norma Cooklin and Dick and Leslie Cleaveland are here too. Last night we went for a walk,picked up our fair tickets and then went out to eat. Excellent Chinese restaurant.
We were pleased to learn that the fair has free wifi. So we should be able to post freely as well...with pictures asap!
We had hoped to bring the car this year but we are not geared up yet to tow so left it in Jefferson. That is for all you folks in the area of Spencer that were expecting a visit from us.
Oh yes, we had two new tires put on the MoHo yesterday and after getting a closer look at the remaining ones we ordered four more. They looked much worse than we could see at first. We are warned repeatedly with RV's that the miles are not the important part with tires. It is the age. And five years is old. A blowout on an RV usually includes serious damage to the RV so we want to be as safe from that occurring as possible.
More later...

One of the first...

...leaves to fall.
Not been saying much lately.
Butch and I have returned to our 2 miles a day for a walk. Fortunately the weather has been beautiful. It is amazing how quickly one can take good weather for granted. I am forever grateful for the good days. For one thing I have lived in this part of the country long enough to know how quickly it can change and how long the really icky stuff can hang around for what seems like forever.
Tomorrow we are headed up to Spencer Iowa for the Clay County Fair where we will be meeting up with Magnolia Park friends Dale and Norma Cooklin and Dick & Leslie Cleaveland. I have some photography and Swedish weaving entries this year. Makes it a bit more interesting for me to be there. And it will be good to meet up with old friends.
And today we made another change. We switched our medical doctoring to Jefferson from Atlantic. Eye doctor and dentist have not been changed as yet. It was interesting when I was asked if I was ever a patient there before. I said,"I was born here". So it took awhile but they located all my ancient history.
Till next time...

Cheerleader Nina!

With her Daddy- Anthony

Happy Times

Ethan's Tears

Every now and then a guy just has to cry. Hope you can see the tears on his right cheek.

Pedaled to Cooper and a Butterfly!

Rode a bit

Butch went to Ames yesterday to do some electrical stuff in his brother Leo's rental house. I rode the trail about 4 miles south and back.
As I ride I am scoping out potential spots for us to buy and I do spot one now and then. Found one on the north side of the track in Jefferson.
It is the perfect size lot-would be easy to access with an RV. In a part of town where no one would give a darn if we were there or not. BUT it is a scant half block from the very active railroad. In my mind that is the only negative. Would our friends not come because of train noise? I know we would get used to it. I can sleep in a busy truck stop and have a few times. This is our current dilemma.
So tell me...would train noise keep you from visiting for a week or more? Keep in mind there are three nice,inexpensive golf courses within 7 miles. And a bike trail within a quarter mile.So? Watcha think?

On the bike trail.

Went to Cooper

Went to Cooper yesterday and met Chris Henning who showed us around town and gave us bunches of info. While we were looking around a very large insect flew by us and landed. Turned out to be this Praying Mantis.

Sunday

Butch played in the Bill Franey Golf Tournament and I rode to Cooper on my bike. Stopped and visited with the O'Brien sisters,Colleen and Denise on my return to Jefferson.
The coolness in the air is turning our thoughts southward but a family event is keeping us in Iowa until Mid-October. I have to get permission yet to post the event here. So keep up with the blog to find out what and when.
Our friend Pecan Bill is once again battling staph infection. So help him out with as many prayers as you can spare.

The Babies

Saturday we went to Boone and watched Jason and Laura play with Ethan all afternoon and then we came home and there was a new picture of Nina in our email. It was a great BABY day.

A computer related post

Below is a portion of a Ask The Computer Lady newsletter. It explains exactly why I switched from Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox and never went back.
" Dear Computer Lady,

My computer runs on Windows XP and my e-mail is Outlook Express. I
am having trouble opening links in my e-mails. It comes on and
says Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and must close
down. Can you please help me with this problem. I enjoy all your
help and hints very much.

Thank you, Donna

Dear Donna,

It sounds like you are having a problem with Internet Explorer. When
you click on a link in an e-mail message, your computer is supposed
to open that link in your default web browser. From your
description, your browser is Internet Explorer.

Unfortunately, Internet Explorer is part of Windows, and often times,
the only way to fix it is to actually reinstall Windows XP. This is
a big job that requires you to backup your files and then erase
your hard drive.

Some other options might be to install Mozilla Firefox or Google
Chrome and use one of those programs as your default browser."

Elizabeth

Telling Stories to the Friendly Natives

AT THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

By Walter Mills


Telling Stories to the Friendly Natives

It was a pleasant spring night and there was only a little rain that
came and went, barely enough to wet the ground. My wife and I had been
invited to Foxdale Village, the local retirement community, for dinner,
and afterward I would give a talk to some of the residents.

The Foxdalers are a gracious people, almost like a tribe of friendly
natives greeting 21st century strangers who have washed up on their
shores. Maybe it is their age or their upbringing, but they have learned
the lost art of setting people at their ease. We should send a team of
anthropologists to study them and learn what we can do to improve our
own uncivil society.

We ate dinner with the Yeagleys and the Palmers in the dining room, and
then I gave my talk. I told them about the game my older daughter had
created at bath time when she was four years old in which she would say
“Tell me a story about when you were eleven.” And I would have to
remember a story from that year.

I didn’t have a chance to tell the people of Foxdale everything I wanted
to say about telling stories that night. I wish I had told them that
each life is like a story, and if we don’t tell it or write it down,
then there is a chance we will never understand it.

I might have said that telling a story brings out our innate desire to
make sense of things. As we go through our days, life seems to be just
one random incident after the other. We seldom have the sense that there
is an author shaping the plot of our life. I could have said that we
expect stories to be different, to have point and purpose. That as we
compose our story in our heads or on paper, we will begin to look for
the meaning hidden in the random events.

I recall telling my daughter the story about the year I was eleven and
my family moved to Key West, Florida. How I would take the bus downtown
to the library on Saturdays and then spend the afternoon until early
evening at the movies. As I told her the story I began to see that young
boy again in my memory, the first time I had thought of him in many
years. It all came back clearly – standing outside on the causeway
waiting for the bus into town; gazing at the shelves of books in the
science fiction section of the library; standing in line at the ticket
window for the first matinées.

The images all arise from the depth of memory trailing seaweeds of
emotion. The library is a bubble of pleasure, joy almost. The movie
theater brings back a wave of eager nausea as the older kids make out in
the dark. Later, as I sat at my desk and wrote the story down, I began
to understand this character, this younger version of myself. I saw him
stepping out into the world for the first time, slipping free of the
safety of his family, entering the larger world of adulthood. On the one
hand he is stepping into the great freedom of ideas, of books and
knowledge. On the other he is approaching with dread and fascination the
mystery of sexuality and the burden of having to learn about the
opposite sex.

After the talk was over and the questions answered, we talked awhile at
the doorway before we stepped out into the night. It was cool and
pleasant outside with only a few drops of rain. I was only sorry there
was so much left unsaid. I wished I’d had the chance to tell the
audience that I think there is a meaning to our beginning and our
ending, and that our memories are the secret clues to unlock that
meaning. But there wasn’t time enough for everything. There never is.





(The above column originally appeared in the Centre Daily Times and is
copyright © 2009 by Walter Mills. All rights reserved worldwide. To
contact Walt, address your emails to awmills@verizon.net ).
_______________________________________