Sometimes I Think It's a Shame When I Get Feelin' Better When I'm Feelin' No Pain

Here are some lovely lilies I grew.

So, reading that Louise Erdrich novel is really making me want to write some fiction again. Of course, I have to find the time. It seems like hours and whole days get swallowed up with people and things.

Last night, I thought I might have some time. I was tired and swam in the morning, so I decided not to run or ride my bike after work, and I thought I might be able to write later. Instead, I made Coadster's favorite dinner - cheese tortellini with pesto made with basil from my garden), then my friend G. came over and we had a nice talk on the porch, then I picked Coadster up from class and she was crying from a horrible migraine. I tried all of my tricks to ease her pain, she eventually threw-up and started feeling better, but it took a while. I feel so awful that my messed-up gene pool causes that for her too. Anyway, by that time, it was late and I was fried and had to go to bed. Maybe tonight.

I guess the good and the bad thing about me, is that I love to fill my life up with adventures and projects and passions. Bad - because I can overwhelm myself and create self-imposed pressure when I don't always need another excuse to spaz. Good - because I rarely feel bored or even just ho-hum about my life. I've heard there's this thing out there called balance, but I haven't seen it much with my own eyes....

And You May Find Yourself In Another Part of the World

So, Tour of the Mississippi River Valley was amazing. It was beautiful and long and challenging and grueling at some points, but always fun and what a great ride - all 204 miles of it. When we woke up on Saturday morning, The Guy asked me if I was ready for an adventure. My answer to that was, "Always." And it was a crazy adventure.

We started riding from Bettendorf, Iowa at 7:22 in the morning. The forecast originally called for sunny and 75 degrees, but what we got was cloudy and misty and about 60 degrees. All the cyclists were terribly under dressed.

The first day was the hardest. It was 107 miles of crazy hills along and across the Mississippi River with a tough head wind for most of the day. We stopped at all the scheduled stops for bathroom, water and food breaks, and then finally stopped in Galena, Illinois for a real break where we ate a real meal and drank some cocktails. By that time, it was about 4 in the afternoon and we really needed it.

We finally crossed back over the Mississippi River to Dubuque, Ia. around 6 and reached our final stop of the day and most importantly, the buffet that came as part of our registration. At one point, The Guy asked me if I wanted to go down to the lounge at our hotel for a drink, but I was so tired, I couldn't get up and walk for one more second. Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night.

On Sunday, we only rode around 90 miles, but we were all still tired and sore from the day before. We rode a different route on the way back to Bettendorf. We got a glorious day of 75 degrees and sunny with very little wind.

We ran into these boys raking it in at their lemonade stand. Brilliant.

We found a great small town, Sunday brunch buffet in Preston, Iowa, with all the same kinds of homemade type food you'd find at an Iowa family reunion. We stuffed ourselves and couldn't drink much more than one beer when we went across the street to a bar.

We got separated from our friend Bry and when we hit another small town a few hours later, had to decide if we wanted to just ride the next hour and half and get it over, or stop and have a beer and rest and relax. We chose to stop and I was really glad we did. It was nice to talk to The Guy about how we felt about the ride and what on us was the sorest and meet some of the other cyclists who stopped there..

We made it back into Bettendorf, around 4'ish, and Bry was waiting for us with his camera in hand. He took a great pic of us riding into the parking lot hand in hand and I REALLY want a copy of that, but since he's a guy, he may never get it posted on FB. So, after 204 miles, about 50 bazillion hills, and top speeds of 40 mph, I would say we had one hell of an adventure. I'd do it again in a minute...Well, maybe after my legs heal a little, anyway.

Stealing Down a Wrong Way Street

My friend Bry asked me to send him a pic of all of us in a topless pillow fight, except The Guy. he wanted The Guy to wear a parka. so, we took a pic of the opposite of what he wanted.

So, the dinner party was lovely and fun. I made my veggie enchiladas and refried beans and we had chips and de gallo and guac and sour cream and bean dip... And the tequila tasting.

The Guy helping his ex with the tequila tasting.

We decided 3 - 1 that we liked Don Julio over Patron. Who knew?

Me making my decision.

Tonight I am going running with E. after work, then going to hear Paul Harding (last year's Pulitzer Prize winner) read with my friend K. The Guy is going to his mom's house and Stinky is going to a concert in Cedar Falls. It's weird when we're all out of the house for an evening.

I Don't Believe In Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman

The Guy and I - all bike geared-out.

So, the guy has a bike race tonight. There is a beginner women's race and The Guy asked me if I wanted to try it. I'm definitely interested, but I want to watch it a few times first, because I'm cautious and I hate not knowing what I'm doing in a thing.

I guess my friend Stacy was right when she told me I wasn't the kind of person who could watch people racing and having fun, without wanting to try it myself. Right now, I think my first bike race will be in June. Eek!

That's Entertainment

Here are some more pics of Union Station.

So, today I want to talk a little bit about my Megabus experience. For those of you who don't know, the Megabus is a handy little way to get from certain places to other certain places, quickly and cheaply. It cost us about what we would have paid in gas, but we didn't have to drive in Chicago and got there in about 3 hours and 50 minutes. not bad.

There is pretty much any kind of person on the Megabus. On the way there, we saw an older, seemingly fairly wealthy couple (judging by their clothes and the rock on her finger) as well as plenty of students and also Chicago inhabitants. So, with all those different kinds of folk in a small space, there are bound to be culture clashes.

On the way to Chicago, K. and I sat next to a very geeky guy from Des Moines, who was obsessed with his cell phone and would talk loudly about it to anyone who would listen...Or anyone who was just there. Once we got to downtown Chicago, the Des Moines guy kept saying dorky things like, "We don't have one of those in Des Moines," or "Hey, that looks like the Family Matters neighborhood." At one point he took a pic with his phone and said, "I need to get this on Facebook, right NOW...."

To which, the African American Chicago native sitting behind him said, "You might want to wait to do that until you get off the bus and can take pic of something better. You do know that's a parking garage, right? Yeah. you're gonna see plenty of those." Hilarious.

And yes, Bro-In-Law, it is where they filmed that one scene in the Untouchables.

Going home on Megabus wasn't quite as entertaining...Unless you count being scared shitless as entertainment. K. and I both commented on how unhealthy the bus driver looked the minute we saw him. He was one of those older guys who look 9 months pregnant and almost assuredly had diabetes and a bad heart. He also coughed up some powerful sounding loogies the whole way home (EW!).

Anyway, after we were safely in Iowa, I looked over at the driver and realized he was shaking something fierce. I tried to reassure myself that he was probably just moving with the vibrations of the bus, but it was way more exaggerated than that. Then, when it started to rain, it took him a long time to turn on the windshield wipers. I tried to turn my head away and stop my worst case scenario thoughts like, "He's having a seizure." Or, "He's having a heart attack", or "Holy crap! We're all gonna die!" But then we suddenly started to swerve to the side of the road as an ambulance passed us on the interstate. Soon after, another presumed Megabus employee in a uniform walked up right behind the bus driver and watched him for a bit. He then moved into the seat directly behind the driver and quietly asked, "Bob, are you okay?" I couldn't hear the bus driver's response, but he stopped shaking and the other employee sat behind him the whole rest of the way to Iowa City. Weird, huh?

Don't Get Me Wrong, If I'm Looking Kind of Dazzled

A Christmas Jack-O-Lantern I found while I was shoveling snow.

Christmas morning started with shoveling snow. It wasn't super cold out, so I didn't mind. Then I went running and that felt really nice. I cleaned the house a bit while the girls were at a movie with their dad.

I picked up the guy around 5 and came back to my house. He offered to take me and the girls out for sushi and we headed to Oyama after the girls got back from their movie. We had a nice meal and a great talk. It was lovely to be surrounded by my three favorite people, eating my favorite food. I couldn't have asked for a better evening.

The kitten under the tree.

We dropped the girls off at home after dinner and went to the Dublin to meet some friends. It was a nice night. We normally don't go out that late, so it was great to see some of the folks who go out later than we do. I got tired after a certain point and realized it was time to go home. Apparently, I'm old or something....

Another pic of me with my eyes essentially closed. Typical.

I woke up today with a migraine...Which explained why I was so tired last night. I took my meds and took a nap and it went away for the most part. Of course, the meds just make me so stupid and tired, but I'll take that over the pain any day.

I picked up the guy in the afternoon to go swimming. He asked me if I'd let him buy me some cross country skis. He knows I'm uncomfortable with him spending so much money on me. I feel like he pays for more than I do, but he thinks I do more for him. So, he presented his case, and I let him buy me cross country skis. It was so nice of him. We found a pair of last year's models that were way on sale, but couldn't find boots to fit me. We're going to check a few more stores for those. I'm really excited to get to ski whenever it snows.

We had a great swim and a steam, before the guy went to meet his friend Bry to play pool and I left to pick Stinky up from work. I had a nice relaxing evening at home tonight with my girls. Exactly what I needed.

As If Everybody Here Would Know Exactly What I Was Talking About

Here is the guy drinking from a bota, but finding it is now dry. Wah!

I guess all I have to do is write a blog post documenting Archie's bad behavior and he straightens right up. He was an absolute angel last night and I actually got some sleep. Nice.

Speaking of nice...Wednesdays have become my new favorite nights. I picked up the guy after work. We got to my place and Stinky was still hanging around. We chatted for a bit before she went to her youth group. The guy and I ate the potato leek soup, some salad, smeared the roasted garlic and baked brie I made all over some sourdough bread and washed it down great wine the guy brought over. It was all so very wonderful.

I'm hoping all the cat torturing the guy did for Archie helps mellow him out and I get another gloriously pounce free night at my house.

Now I'm a Fat House Cat Nursing My Sore Blunt Tongue

Here is a pic the guy took of me and Archie when we first visited him at the shelter. The girl crush suggested the name and Stinky really liked it.

So, I got the call today. They liked my application and I got to take the new boy in my life home tonight. He is quite the sweet, spastic, tornado of a cat, I must say. He tore around our house for the first couple of hours - hanging from curtains, running into walls and sliding into tables and couches. He finally wound down and jumped up on Stinky lying on the couch and fell asleep on her belly. I think it's safe to say that Stinky is in love.

Here he is playing with the cat dancer toy the guy got for him.

I have one more day of work before I'm off for Thanksgiving. Let me tell you, I'd love to call in sick tomorrow and just stay home and play with Archie all day. At least the girls will be home. It will be hard to leave him for however many hours to go to my Aunt's house on Thanksgiving. Do you think they'd mind if we brought him along?

And You Follow 'Til Your Sense of Which Direction Completely Disappears

Here is the kitty I'm trying to adopt. I stole this pic from the shelter site.

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a kitten since I bought my house. I waited because I had so much going on. I made the mistake of saying something about it to a woman in my office, who volunteers at the shelter. I asked her not to send me any pics of cute kittens, but she didn't listen to me. That was all it took.

I found two kittens I thought looked really cute. One was younger and female and the other was 3 months old and male. After work, the guy and I went to the shelter and we ogled the cats. The younger female was already adopted, but the 3 month old male was there. The guy and I both played with him and he was REALLY cute and playful and sweet. The guy took some pics with his camera, but I didn't have mine.

I filled out the paper work and I should find out tomorrow. I have to call the shelter before 10 am to let them know that I'm still interested. Then they'll go over my application. If everything looks good, I should be able to pick him up tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. I know I am...

Everybody's Out On the Run Tonight, But There's No Place Left to HIde

Here is a fat cat from the first book store we went to. The other book store had two fat cats that seemed really pissed off at each other.

Tonight I ran after work around 5'ish. I turned the corner onto Scott Blvd and it was just barely dark out. I looked to my right and saw a beautiful crescent moon that turned from a light yellow to almost an orange as it descended. I wanted to be annoyed with it getting dark so early, but with my runner's high, the 60 degree temps in November and the moon as eye candy, all I could be was appreciative.

What is It About This Place, Keeps You On Your Feet?

I'm posting some pics that JS took of me from the fire last night. Thank god, his flash wasn't working when he took this close-up of me...

It was warm today, but I can still feel Fall in the wings. The shadows lie differently on the ground and I find myself going more and more inward these last few weeks. I'm not fighting it. I'm ready for the slow down and a little escape from the external world.

...The lack of flash helped here too, where Bry was being his usual, inappropriate self.

All Summer long I've mostly been doing - running, hiking, kayaking, cycling, mowing, gardening and playing. It was glorious. I have so much energy when it's warm outside. I often forget to eat when I'm so busy doing other things, and then when I do remember, I really just want to grill something anyway.

JS finally got the flash working just as we were leaving. So, at least you all get to see the kick-ass Wolverine t-shirt I was wearing.

Now, I'm back in the kitchen, cooking and baking all the time. I've had to go around, dropping stuff off at my friends' houses, I've been that damned productive.

My inner life is shaping up nicely too. All the books I read, the miles I run and the music I hear take me on a different tangent. I'm reevaluating, examining and processing. This is the time of year where I can finally sit down long enough to write. Sure, it doesn't sound as interesting as all the things I've done over the Summer, but there are all kinds of adventures taking place in my own little world, and I'm excited to sort them all out and get them down on a page in the coming months.

See the World in Green and Blue

I like to call these ghost flowers, because they come out of nowhere and look a little ethereal.

Did you ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? Yeah, well I just had the opposite of one of those. How refreshing.

The cable guy was supposed to come and fix a problem I was having between 8-10. Since my friend asked me to meet her and her mom at 9:30, I was a little worried the cable guy would come at the latter part of the window, but he got to my place right at 8:30 and was gone by nine and my problem was fixed.

My friend drove us out to Riverside and we walked past the smoky slot machine area and then entered the lovely spa that was spewing cheesy new agey type music, but smelled really good. They had a sauna and a jacuzzi and a nice pool that was part indoors and part outdoors. So, my friend and I camped out in really nice lounge chairs while her mom got her first massage ever and then I sat with her mom while my friend got her first massage ever. They are both very wonderful people, so we had great conversations and the weather was absolutely perfect and when it got a little too warm, we just took dips in the pool. We had to leave around 2, because my friend had to take her son to an appointment.

When I got home, I was so refreshed that I decided to just go ahead and run my 10 mile route. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I took the day before off from running, or the weather was so nice, or that I had music to listen to this time, but my 10 mile run felt great. I even kicked it the last mile or so.

I mowed the lawn and that made me happy. I finally came in the house and ate and I felt it. You know, the feeling you had when you were a kid and you went out and played all day and when you finally stopped, your legs ached until you fell asleep? That's what I felt. I can't remember the last time I had that. It was pretty glorious.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to run, renew my license and then go kayaking with some girls in the afternoon if it doesn't rain. I figure if it rains, I'll spend some more time cleaning my place and if it doesn't, I'll go have more adventures and see if I can get another glorious leg ache.

I Know When to Go Out. And When to Stay In. Get Things Done.

Here is Stinky and Coadster in some crazy stage make-up after the play on Sunday.

Boy, a girl sure could get used to this life of leisure deal. It's so nice to have time to play AND get stuff done.

I kind of screwed myself today a little by having those two beers the night before. I had been a little migrainey over the weekend, and when I'm like that, I have to stay far away from alcohol. Of course, I thought I was in the clear but I was wrong. I woke up today with a bad migraine. I took my meds and in a couple of hours I was fine, but it felt like I wasted my morning.

Once I was better, I got some things done. I finally registered my car and did recycling and some other tedious tasks. Then I went on an hour long bike ride and that was lovely. I took today off of running, because I try to make myself take two days off a week. After my bike ride, I tackled the living room. I'm trying to do one room a day - top to bottom. It's so nice to see the room that clean. I'm trying to relish it, because I know it won't last long.

I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday already. Weeks go by so much faster when you don't have to work. Another friend of mine is also taking vacation time this week. Her parents are in town and so she invited me to go with her and her mom to the Riverside Casino. You can get a day pass and use their pool, sauna and jacuzzi. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend a morning. If it's as nice as they say it's supposed to be outside tomorrow, I might just run my 10 mile route when I get back. Tomorrow's chore is the bathroom, not my favorite, but again, it's always so nice to have it done. Now, I better get to bed so I can rest up for more leisure. Ahhhh.

Go On Take the Money and Run

More Spring flowers.

Today I'm going to try to make us all feel better about ourselves by telling you a little story. Yesterday Coadster and her dad went to Iowa State to attend a minority breakfast thingy and to talk to a counselor about different options for majors.

Her dad borrowed his brother's car to take her, and while they were there, someone broke into it. They took the only thing in it, which was a flashlight, but then they also left something. That's right. The douche bag left his wallet in the car. Really? Wow. According to his license, he was from some small town somewhere, so he probably didn't have a lot of street smarts, but to break into someone's car and leave more than you stole is mind boggling. I'd love to sit in on that court date and watch the judge laugh his ass off.

So, if you're having a bad day, just remember: It could always be worse. You could be THAT big of a dumbass

Entertain Ideas of Great Communion

I took this pic with my phone on my walk home from work this afternoon, somewhere on Court Street.

My house was built in 1950. It's full of weird drawers, vents, oddly shaped closets and I just found the coolest skeleton key in one of the built-in drawers that has sent my mind running with all kinds of spooky scenarios about what it could be used for. (to open the gates of hell, perhaps?) On Sunday night, my friend G. came over and we played this game where we wandered around the house and tried to figure out what the hell certain things were supposed to be used for. I really love that about my place. I'm like that with people too. I appreciate the visible signs of aging, scars and especially, laugh lines on faces. Every line tells a story and it's almost always interesting.

There was one huge cupboard/closet thing in particular that I couldn't figure out what to do with. It has pretty thin and not very strong shelves and then in the door there are those metal holders that you find in refrigerators. Most of the people I showed it to, thought it was either another pantry or that those door holders might be for cleaning supplies. Originally, I thought I might use it to store all of my tons of CD's and books, but then I had to be realistic and admit that the shelves wouldn't be strong enough to hold that much weight. While I was working on unpacking boxes, I came across my art supplies. That closet would be perfect to hold all of our paints, fabric dyes, brushes, clay, inks, sponges and handmade paper. I love having a special place for all of that stuff. Now, I just have to figure out where to put all my books and CD's....

p.s. I realize that I ended an inordinate amount of sentences with prepositions in this post, but I'm in a mood to be grammatically defiant tonight.

At Times You Have a Very Unladylike Way of Running Out

Here is another costume from Halloween: Pac Man with Inky and Blinky and Ms. Pac Man.

Sooooo, I have good news and bad news. I think I'll give you the bad news first. The guy who looked at my place, said he'd get back to me in a week or two. In rental terms, that's like him flipping my place the bird. Everyone in this town knows that if you want a place, you have to claim it before you leave, or it could be gone.

It sucks for me. That was the last lead I had. I'm stepping up my efforts now. I just put a sign up in the front yard, I made fliers to tack up all over campus and downtown and any place I can find with a bulletin board. I've never been one of those people who have lived a charmed life. I didn't have rich parents, I paid for college myself by taking out loans and working two jobs over full time and financially raised two girls by myself. I know how to work my ass off. If there's something I want that I can get by working hard, I will have it. Sadly, I've never been particularly lucky (see the lack of a charmed life comment above). So, I can do the work to put fliers up and Craigslist it and get the word out, but I can't make luck happen. If any of you people who have lived charmed lives have luck to spare, I would really appreciate some right about now. Thanks. Love, Churly.

Now, finally for the good news....Coadster was named student of the week at her high school. Basically, she was nominated because she is in three sports, five choirs and three community service organizations and has a positive attitude and is very supportive of her teammates. Apparently, the people in her school have never been around her when she just wakes up...Just kidding. I'm as proud as hell of her and wish I had even half of her energy and compassion. She's pretty damn cool.

Avenues All Lined With Trees

Here is a sign either pointing to Kansas City or showing you the way to the lead singer of the Sunshine Band.

I've always dreamed of houses. Big, rambling, impractical houses with secret passages and miles and miles of twisted hallways. At some point in every dream, I realize that I have an apartment, and so the big rambling house, really couldn't be mine. I wonder if I'll still dream like that if I actually buy my own home.

Today I met with the realtor and her assistant at lunch. They asked me what I was looking for in a house. I assumed they meant, what was I looking for in a home I could afford. I've thought about it a lot lately, as I obsess over the realty sites in my town. Ideally, I'd like a two bedroom bungalow with hardwood floors. It wouldn't have to be that big, as long as it didn't need a ton of work. I guess, if it were possible, I wouldn't mind one of those extra upstairs rooms that Stinky likes to refer to as a teen room. As in, "Hey, mom. If we get that one house, can that big upstairs room be my teen room?" I told the realtors that I didn't have to have a garage, but after being without one during the tornado, a basement would be very, very welcome. Oh, yeah. I don't need a huge yard, but I'd like enough of one to have a garden. I would settle for a decent Ranch style home too.

In order to get the tax credit, the realtor said I had just about 3 weeks to find a house in my price range. Eek! That doesn't give me much time. They seemed pretty confident that I'd be able to find something and they were going to get back to me on when we can actually go out and start looking. I'll keep you all posted on the process.

If I Could Make a Wish, I Think I'd Pass. Can't Think of Anything I Need.

Coadster looking a little annoyed at the beginning of our trip.

Sometimes I wonder why I do it. Is it really worth all of the hassle? All that running around, acquiring things and packing and shopping and forgetting stuff and shopping again. Then there's the driving and the getting lost, or not really getting lost but thinking I'm lost because the Mapquest mileage seems to be off by quite a bit.

Stinky knocking her elbow getting out of the teepee we found during out hike.

Then when we finally get there, we go through that transition period. The girls are suddenly out of their elements and their phones don't work, and there's no computer or friends to talk to and it's all a little bit disconcerting for teenage girls.

There's usually weird attitudes and meltdowns to contend with on the first day too. One kid always seems to want to do the exact thing that her sister just said she hated. I've been through it during almost every vacation, but I always hope we can skip that initial transition phase. It seems no matter what age they are, we still have to suffer through it.

The girls during our kick-ass hour and a half long hike.

Without even being aware of it, the next day things change. Everything is easier and the girls are so much more amenable. We're having actual conversations about books and music, instead of what some dumb boy at their school said or which girls are pregnant.

My daughters finally adapt their "guest" personalities - the ones they usually reserve for other people's parents. They take it upon themselves to help. They decide between themselves what activity they'll be willing to do. Suddenly, we're all going on long hikes and laughing and then cooling down at the beach.

Stinky stuffing herself with s'mores.

On the last night, we've all but forgotten the initial stress of the trip and try not to think about all the musty smelling clothes we'll have and the sand that will follow us back across the state line.

The girls all hopped up on sugar on our last night.

We make s'mores and we all get a little sugar crazed. It's okay, though. Because everything is hilarious and my girls are totally charming. I am in it and aware of it at the same time. This right here makes all the other stress worth it. It's always nice to be reminded that we can all hang out and have this much fun with each other. We're the entertainment and we don't need glowing boxes, or texting or social networking sites. Right then, we're enough.

My girls with my brother in Madison.

We ease back into civilization and home, by way of a visit with my brother in Madison. We wander around State Street and go to a Chinese buffet for lunch and the girls' phones are working again and Stinky goes on a texting rampage to make up for lost time. While we all look forward to going home and blogging and messaging and reconnecting with our friends, we're also glad that we got away from it all for a little while. The perspective is always worth the bother.

Darlin' In My Wildest Dreams, I Never Thought I'd Go

Here is a school bus with a jet engine.

Well, kids. I still have one day left on my vacation, and I also have a ton of stuff to do. I'm sorry if I haven't been very good at keeping up with blogs, but I've had a lot of fun and great experiences with running and hanging out with my girls. I promise to get back to the blogs starting Tuesday.


Here are some girls with corn dogs.

Friday night was nice and mellow. I watched two really long and depressing movies. There Will Be Blood was interesting, and there was some blood, just not as much as I imagined.

Here is the deck that Big 10 Rentals set-up for us.

Saturday, I woke-up early for me. I drove the girls a few places, and then met my friends who were driving me to the Air Show in the Quad Cities. Stinky decided not to go. She opted to go to the Wapello County Fair to see some country singer named Jimmy Wayne (I think?). I kept asking her if that was L'il Wayne's brother and she rolled her eyes at me. Awesome.

She got to ride a camel at the fair. Don't you fret. I'll be posting that pic tomorrow, for sure.

Our friend who hosted the air show, had the best set-up for adults and children. This inflatable slide held the kids' interest the whole time. As you can see here, the planes were a little loud for the youngin's who didn't have ear plugs. They were a little loud for me too, and I thought I lost most of my hearing at hardcore and metal shows.

Here I am documenting my stupidity....Again. I was insane about applying sunscreen every hour or so, but forgot my feet. I have to say, the sunburn pattern with these shoes, is pretty cool.

It was very hot at the air field, but the kids were smart enough to keep cool by bobbing for water bottles in the ice.

My friends were really impressed with how big the propellers were. There was a LOT of power in those planes, and best of all, there was a guy named Sargeant Swinger. We might have to make a habit of going to more air shows in the future.

The Blue Angels flew for the finale. It was cool, but so loud and most of the interesting stuff seemed to take place directly in front of the sun. My friend G., joked that it was sponsored by the Eye Care Clinic of the Quad Cities.

After we got back from the Quad Cities, I took a nice little nap. Coadster had spent the day giving tours of her high school to the class reunion of 1989, and then went to her dad's house, and Stinky was at that fair, so I had that luxury.

After I woke-up, I got a couple of calls from people asking me to meet them out. My friend K., took myself and the girls I went to the air show with, to a karaoke event.

I finally got my friend G. to participate. She always claimed she couldn't sing, and to that I said, "Hooey!" We started off singing "Harden My Heart", by Quarterflash. We wanted to sing "Papa Don't Preach", but they didn't have it. Instead, we sang "Like a Virgin" and G. started the song by saying, "I love reality" into the mic.

I headed home around midnight, but G. told me they didn't get home until 8 am. They made a very early morning trip to Perkins before that. I am such a lightweight.

For useless Twisting of Our Then New Technology

Here is some roadwork.

Do you ever find yourself searching for something on the web? You stalk people on Facebook, peruse blogs, Google shit you don't really care about. You're not even sure what you want. A connection, a sign, the answer to a question you don't even know how to ask? You find yourself frustrated, because out of your hundreds of Facebook "friends", there isn't one who has posted any new photos or had a witty comment thread that went on for hours and stopped making sense about fifteen comments ago.

You are aware that you are a stalker. A voyeur into other people's lives. Not for any scary or violent reasons, you're just nosy. You want to know what other people do, what they think, how they feel about everything. Why not? You put your life out there for public view. It's only fair.

Because you've had this conversation with your friends, especially your single friends, you know you're not alone. No one bats an eye when someone talks about their web stalking habits. Okay, some people do....But you don't. Isn't it only natural? Before the web, there were neighbors and communities spreading the word about people's lives. You chalk it up to the human fear of living in a vacuum.