the zinnias have bloomed and the monarchs have arrived.
Now, I am hoping the hummingbirds will get here to feed
on the flowers. After my great friend Pinnochio, in Texas,
I am anxious for new hummers in Iowa. Who's zinnias are
better? As for the cannas, I only had one grow and it is
only about a foot tall.......bad luck this year......
The tomatoes are wonderful, I even made a batch of
spaghetti sauce yesterday with fresh toms from the
garden. More to come......
Lunch with Coach Ferentz, the million dollar man.....highest
paid employee for the state of IOWA.....I also met Gary Dolphin
this week, a great week for Hawkeyes!
I just looked at the log, January Feb and March I had the most entries.
Since I returned home to IOWA, my blog has been slow. I guess it is the
fault of the class reunion and getting back with IOWA activities.
this past week I played in the Johnny Romie Orr Alzheimers golf event.
I golf weekly with one of their daughters and every year in the Iowa Games
with another one of their daughters. I was able to meet mom this year finally.
I asked her if she golfs anymore. She said, "You know I have alzheimers." I
replied, Yes, that is why we are here today.....then she told me.......
"I have alzheimers and some days alzheimers has me............."
A lady with a great attitude, knowing where she is in life, at 80 years of age.
A former PE teacher, she is a wonderful lady and was being a mom to her
daughters friends. Big smile and very generous, telling us thank you for
coming to the golf event.
We need to thank her...........
In case you don't know, my wonderful home town of
Ankeny, Iowa, has a huge city wide celebration for
my birthday every year......two parades, a carnival,
beer tent, aka, leisure garden, Miss 16 contest,
karaoke, and finally fireworks. This year we had
a class reunion added on. I am exhausted, but that
is good. 29 classmates and a few spouses came home
for the reunion, it was a great success. Have some
cake.........They spelled my name wrong, it is CYNDY
Last week was busy, a
road trip to Boone to see this big
steam train. It's home is Wyoming and
she was on a midwest tour, through Neb
and into Iowa, with stops in Boone and
Des Moines. I'd say the wheels have to
be at least six feet across. On the way
home, I drove through the Ledges. A car
was stopped on the highway and since I
had my camera ready, I was able to shoot
four pictures before Bambi moved away.
Have a great holiday with parades and
maybe some fireworks..........making babies!
About 15 years ago, Mom and I made
this pie. It was part of her rehab.
It was delicious, strawberries,
blueberries, pound cake, but now I
use angel food cake. I make one of
these flag cakes every year for the
4th of July, very patriotic, I need
more cool whip!
I love to watch the blimps float
around. Last year I chased after
the goodyear blimp in Jefferson, IA.
Of course, you have to see a "butt"
shot of the blimp. Look closely, you
will see the American Flag. The Met
Life Blimp at the golf tournament today
also has a flag on its rear....Sweet...
The cactus blooms are almost done for
this year. I wonder what they do in
Texas. I might have to take some back
with me in the fall. Day Lilly is an
Ankeny Hawk, maroon and gold and the
orange blooms call the butterflies to
it as well as to the larvae plant. Can't
remember its name. I planted ONE 12
years ago and have at least 7 today,
thanks to the neighbors taking down
their trees. I put in some seeds today,
hummingbird and butterfly flowers and
some zinnias. This should have been
done a month ago. Maybe they will be
in bloom into late fall.....
the Outback Blimp was in town
on Saturday. It was getting in
position for the Triathlon on
Sunday. I am boycoting, it is
sponsored by Hy V, who cancelled
their senior women's golf event,
for a triathlon.Truman had their
yearly trip to see the I Cubs.
Bad night, the home team was
slaughtered, all of the good
players are in Chicago carrying
the Big Cubs. Greg, Debe and I
went to Jester to Golf on Sunday.
Beautiful day, I had a 34-31!
Mom brought home the yellow cactus from Texas many
years ago. We used to have the flower bed along
the south side of the house full of cactus. They
bloom only one time a year in Iowa. All told, I
might get a total of about 200 blooms this year.
My Truman rose, as I named it. Purple, for the
Truman Bulldogs, my alma mater. I have six roses
in my butterfly garden, memorial for my mom. Four
have bloomed. The orange bush is getting ready as
is the white liatris. I have a new red flower to
put into the ground. The butterfly bush might
need to be replaced this year.
Just another day on the golf course, not really, My
dear friend Marla, the new "Granny" was home for
the week end from Arizona. We three played a round......
of golf in Dayton, took a cruise on the pontoon on
Miller's pond and feasted on home made rhubarb pie.
a great day with great friends. This was Memorial
week end.
I am wondering what to do about this man BILL..who took the money
from my Aunt and Uncle and from his sister and her husband.....and he
invested the money.....and he put his name on the papers.....so he would
inherit the money when they died..........What does the law say? We don't
want the money, my cousin and I would rather that this man is stopped
from his manipulation. If there are more families involved.......maybe they
should know about this man, so they can change the language and give
their money to charity........I guess a phone call to the attorney general is
in order..........If anything, brother Greg could use some money for new
hearing aides.
Moving right along...........check on your parents and their investments.
Make sure the person who is handling the investments is not doing a
number on them.......get it in writing........pass on the money to family
or mom and dad's favorite charity............
Screw these SOB's.........they will get their reward............
HLO AGN, HLO,
Since the last entry, my last Aunt passed away. She was 92 and lived in Arizona.
She and her husband left Illinois in the 40's and did not come back. He came back
one time and Aunt Dutch came back maybe four times. She was my mom's last
liviing sibling. She is buried in Prescott, AZ, along with the ashes of her husband.
I was able to visit her at her home in Florence, AZ., about five years ago, I assume
the last family member to see her.
I was able to golf with my dear friends Mark and Marla over the week end. Marla
was home from AZ and her grandson. We didnt' play good golf, but we had fun.
Ladies golf league was OK, but we need to talk to some of the women who do not
move along.....When this course opened, we walked 18 holes in just over 4 hours.
In league play, we are lucky to get 9 holes done in three hours!!!! We had a five some
last week, I walked, and we were on the tail of the three some ahead of us all night
long.
The pros are here this week...The Principal Champions event, the senior tour. I hope
to go out for one day. If we had the practice time, we could all be smooth like Freddy,
et al.......
SO...keep your head down and follow through.......have a good week...........C
As I look at my calendar, I see that tomorrow, Sat May 26,
is the one year anniversary of my last day on the
mail route. I can't believe a whole year has gone
by so fast, but I have not been idle as you know
if you have been reading my blog. I will celebrate
with my co retiree from last year, in another
mandatory golf outing.......
I am not happy with Charlotte. I wish
I was back on my island. I must be patient. Due to a
screw up by the powers that be, we bowled on Monday NIGHT,
instead of at 1130 AM. That messed up my schedule in a
major way. AND, no one in this city knows there is a
bowling tournament,it is all Nascar. No who knows how to
give directions. Two ladies from Illinois that were
bowling with us last night missed the first game, they
were lost and made a dozen stops to ask for directions.
They saw several bowling alleys....AND, where is the Speedway?
Follow I 85 and you will see the signs.......wrong!
Guess I will try to catch some sun in the morning after
breakfast and head for the airport by noon. Since I have saved
some money on this trip, I can afford the $5 beers at the
airport!I'll be home on Thursday, to golf. have not taken
hardly any photos and have found NO postcards to send, guess
they are at the airport.......carry on.......
I am trying to figure out how
this program sets up photos
and text. My first posting
tonight had words all broken
up between two photos. The
last one the photos were set
on left side, this one is
supposed to be unknown, let
them do it....The last one is
the devil's tea cup, I think.
Down by a good fishing hole.
Shelly and Issiah and yours truly around
the good fishing hole and overlooking
part of the MO. water ways. I had a
great relaxing time in the Ozarks
after two long days of driving. The
beer is 5 point, not like Iowa's 3.2.
I crashed early on the first night before
I was told about the high point beer.
I'd like to go back for a week, when we'd have
more time to go fishing, or walk around the
tourist areas and watch people. A very
peaceful home....
This is an example of the Texas road trip home.
Lady Bird Johnson started the beautification of
the Texas highways and I am one happy traveler.
I have my camera set for distance and hold it to
my cheek and shoulder and shoot. I have to take
quite a few shots, to get one good photo.
blue bells are so pretty, I wonder if we can grow
them in Iowa,along with the yellow flowers......to
draw more hummingbirds......Just a thought......
Way too much going on in Iowa....I was so sick to hear of the fires on Catalina Island...I was there for a
day. It is awesome, a beautiful island to relax on. I guess the casino and Avalon are OK, but did not hear
about the golf course and the Wrigley mansion.
I am trying to get back into my bowling groove. I practiced last week and bowled in the senior women's
event today. I had my average for the first four games.......then hit the wall.....
Earlier in the week.....
Eye appointment, not enough of a change to need new frames and lenses. Dentist is taking my money,
need a crown on the root canal tooth.........Final product will be installed on Tuesday.
This coming week...pack a suitcase for North Carolina. Golf league week #2 with the Solheim Cup.....
First week of golf didn't show much. Two chunks, three three putt greems, two long putts either
lipped out or stopped one turn short......It is early golf on a decent course, not like what I played all
winter long in Texas. There is grass on the fairways, large flat and smooth greens......sweet golf in
Iowa, at Briarwood.......my wedge was good.......
Class reunion is on the horizon, three months and counting and only a hand ful of responses....we had
a deadbeat class..........I don't understand them.......we aren't 18 anymore, let's have some fun!
I hope to post some new photos soon.....from North Carolina.......take good care my friends...........
I have been home for two weeks. i am NOT organized.
I am not set up with TV in the bedroom. There is a
critter in the house. I leave for North Carolina in
2 weeks. i have to bowl in a tournament next week
end. I am working out. I would like to drop five
pounds before NC. I am wondering if life will slow
down any time soon? I am loving this new job......
a retiree......I am watching the cash flow. I think
I need to have a garage sale to get rid of my "stuff".
Class reunion in July. Let's go play some golf......
I will be home from now on, using my own computer and posting. Brother Jeff did NOT get the DSL
hooked up in Nov, 2006, but we paid for it! Excuses as to why it didn't get done. Anyway, we will
receive a refund and we are hooked up and I am thrilled to be back online at HOME.......
We have another critter in the house.....I have not seen it, but the boys have. I think IT came in
while we were unpacking the car when I arrived home. Greg had IT cornered in the bathroom
this morning. Where it went to, I don't know. We opened the door after a couple hours and no
sign of the brat! I imagine it is in the basement or in the closet hiding.
The Cubs are NOT in last place today/
I Cubs are in 2nd place and doing OK, but no Prior for the rest
of the season. Have not heard how Woody is doing, I can't seem to get organized
yet. Too many piles still and messes. I hear "garage sale" singing to me......then Goodwill.......
Class reunion materials are in the mail, airplane, etc., has been ordered for North Caroliina......
Carry on.........
I am back home, in Ankeny, and ready for
my other life. I guess that's what it will be, forever,
two lives, in two homes. What a great plan for retirement!
I arrived home about 3 PM on Thursday evening, the 19th.
Gas is down, cheaper than Alamo. Played in one golf event
already, we shot a 65 in a four person outing at Honey
Creek in Boone. Nearly made my official hole in one...hit
the flag on one hop, it landed a foot past the cup!
This week, unpack, practice bowling, bowl state team event
on Saturday and get ready for North Carolina. I leave for
Nationals on May 19, return on the 23rd. I will bowl with
women from Virginia in Doubles/singles and in Team, two mother/
daughter pairs from South Dakota and Milwaukee. Sounds like
we will work out just fine. Ages of daughters and moms range
from 37 to 80 and my doubles partner has been to 20 national
events, so she should be about 10 years younger than me.
Brother Jeff did not finish up the work with Qwest, a good
package, telephone, DSL and Direct TV for $102 a month. He
paid for the DSL for five months, without getting it installed!
Now, I have to use the Library for two weeks to keep in touch
with ya'll......So, no photos for a while. I have some great
pix from the drive home and while in the Ozarks for two
days.
Please limit the joke e mails for a while, there were 90 when I
logged onto the AOL address last Friday. Only 40 today.....
Back at ya later....keep your head down and follow thru......
This is the last posting......as a Texan......a winter
Texan that is......I am in Oklahoma tonight and tomorrow
for three days, a Missou visitor......then back home
to my home and family.......FORE..........
I have a vehicle full of sunshine and hot weather, et al......
I have to keep the sun tan...........
OH MY.......says Jan.......back to the next stage of
life.......retirement is just one big time of vacation.
Next trip is to North Carolina in May....I think Alex
and Osakis need to be scheduled and Colorado in Sept....
Back to Alamo in November.......
OH, class reunion in July.......Happy Days...........
I think this is mark and granny.......Mark is doing
well, not so for Granny. Will see in the fall who
is dominate. the other four to follow........
Why should anyone be surprised that there
is a new MASTER'S champ? The real pro, Arnie, did
not win every year. How many men have won
more than one Master's title? Zach was the only
player to go to work on Sunday on the back nine.
He didn't swear or spit or pout, he just went to
work and finished.....Hooray for our Iowa Man and
New Master's Champ.......Zach Johnson............
The last trips to the beach and to Progresso.
Marion and Milo Christiason from Cedar Falls,
family friends from the 1940's. the jetty goes
out about a quarter mile, the pelican is hungry.
I caught it on the last dive. Just what I have
enjoyed this winter....I might have to come
back before November,, I love Mother Nature and
her great artistry...........
HO HO HO......Only two days left in the Valley for
this season. I have to pack the rest of the stuff on
Thursday, Friday, return the cable stuff so I won't
be charged for the next 6 months. I am having a steak
on the grill Thurs night, then throw out the last
of the charcoal. Where did the winter go? December
was full of getting adjusted, I caught a virus, went
to the doctor, was OK for Christmas, Marian was sick
so Milo and I had dinner together. January was rain
nearly every day......no golf......February, back on
schedule, golf at least twice a week, Greg came for
his birthday, we golfed five days, overcast skies, but
we golfed. In the meantime, I went to the beach.
March, I went to Indianapolis for the big 10 BB
tournament. Marlys came from Colorado, Greg and I
went to visit them two times. March saw a lot of
trips to the beach and the two club golf course to
work on the short game. NOW, it is April, time to go
back to my real HOME......i hear there is snow....
First stop on Sat, Austin, TX. Second day, Muskogee,
Oklahoma, next stop, Forsyth, MO., for 2 days with
my Kenworthy Drive neighbor Shelly and her husband
Dan.
I hope the snow is gone in one week when I did the
Interstate for the last road trip. I am about 7 hours
from the Ozarks to Ankeny.......then unpack, start
work on the class reunion, two golf outings, three bowling
events, one a trip to North Carolina in May......
class reunion in July, Colorado in Sept and back to
Texas via Arizona........
I will miss this beach scene......
Girls just want to have fun........travel......enjoy
On the Road again.........Just can't wait to get on
the road again........C
what a tease........I watched Pinochio for about three
hours today. first we feed, fly away, return in about
5 minutes, do this for about 40 minutes. THEN....I
noticed Pinochio was sitting on my cactus, resting,
warming up to feed again. this lasted most of the day.
The last time I caught Pinochio was about 530 PM....
Just sit and warm up and stay out of the rain.....
Mother Nature is wonderful...........
I drive by Stan's Alligator Bar every time I
go to the beach. However, I have NOT stopped
for a cold one. If I had someone to drive
along.....to be the designated driver..........
It would be fun to check out Stan the Daddy's
other source of income........
Pass it along......
My hummingbird, whom I named Pinochio,
was entertaining me this morning. I had
to find some odd jobs while taking video
and still pictures. My neighbor Adrian,
whom I guess I will call my adopted grandson
to keep up with Marla, well, he came over
to visit, along with the new born puppies.
The brown and white one is BETTY and the
bald one is Stormy.......At the beach......
if I chose the best photo, they use a kite
and a surfboard to fly across the water...
I will miss these distractions when i make
the trip back north. My hummingbird was
teasing me today. After feeding, he would
rest on my cactus. I took video and was
tired holding up the camera. What an awesome
sight. My garden in Ankeny will change this
summer, to attract more hummingbirds...
At least one more run to the island is on
schedule for this week........
