The Bohemian

Phil has left on a business trip that will last for over two weeks. While he is gone I will live what I call "the bohemian" life.

We started living the bohemian back in the eighties. He would leave on a trip and the girls and I would do nothing but what we wanted. Watch tv, no formal meals, we ate out or ate fun foods, left the dishes in the sink, left the toys on the floor, didn't dust, didn't vacuum, didn't make the beds. We sat outside and visited with neighbors, we played games, we turned the kitchen table into a playdough garden. We were a mess and we loved it.

This bohemian life would come to an end the day Phil was due home. Trying to extend our happy lifestyle, even then we would wait until the last minute. Finally, I would have to do it, I would make the announcement and give direction to each girl. "all of you girls just pick up and put away your own things, no one elses, and then make your own bed" and they would jump up and pick up their items, running and laughing all the way. In about five minutes the floor was cleared and we could move on to the actual cleaning. "Krista you vacuum, Celia and Allison you dust, I will clean up the dishes and wipe the kitchen floor" finally we would tackle the baths, and we were finished. I don't remember anyone complaining, I don't remember any fighting, I do remember us sitting when Phil walked in the door, we were sometimes sweaty and out of breath, but the house looked great!!

I often wonder why our day to day life couldn't be "bohemian" but after thinking about it I know that it wouldn't have been special if we did it all the time, in fact, there are words for living like that---trashy is one that comes to mind. Phil is not a "bohemian lifestyle" kind of guy. He needs the structure I guess. Dinner on the table, the rooms neat, stern talks usually accomplished this, we sometimes resented his rules, we were doing alright on our own, the fun was sometimes gone when the structure came back.

Since he has been gone, I have spent a lot of time doing whatever I wanted, I don't care if the sink is full of dishes, the floor is cluttered with Angie's toys, if there is dust on the furniture and a layer of Pandy hair on the rugs, it can all wait. Monday I spent my time doing laundry only because I had nothing clean to wear, I also printed out lots of photos and put these in frames I bought at Target. I ate peanut butter for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tuesday I went to Ames with the Red Hat Ladies, I am doing three Cook of the Week columns about them and they invited me to come on one of their trips---I had a wonderful, wonderful time, leaving at 8 AM and not getting home until 4:30 PM. I was very tired, I ate some chicken breasts and fresh tomatoes and went to bed early. Wednesday Judy and I went to Clare to visit a florist who is know for her talent and the rest of the day was spent on the phone working out the Kitchen Performance event and doing Cook of the Week Columns and attending a dinner for our pastor who is leaving. Thursday I again spent the day working on columns, did a little clean up, I went to dinner with the golf wives, did a Cook of the Week interview at seven and then went to visit a lady from church who is selling her home she has lived in all her life, and she is 86!!! It is a beautiful, big home on ten acres (which are zoned industrial) so when they sell the home whoever buys it will have to move it to a new location. Big rooms, a staircase that splits into two as you walk down it, one half comeing out into the foyer of the house and the other half heading to the back of the house and kitchen. There was even a wing of the house for field workers. I would have bought that house in a minute if it had been for sale when we were looking. Friday I spent the day outside, clearing out the messy perenniels in my corner garden. I am moving hostas from the corner to the side of my house and replacing everything with stella d'oro lillies, I got a bunch from the woman across the street! Today, Saturday, I moved the hostas and lillies, I may have to move them again if they are not spaced properly, but at least they are moved and in the ground. I am taking a rest right now but plan to head on out later and do some more----but you know, it's the bohemian, maybe I'll do it and maybe I won't.

She's gone already!!

She came on Monday and she left today. We wanted everything to be perfect for Celia's visit. We even bought a new rug for the TV room, to make it cozy. Phil took off early and we went to Ft. Dodge to pick her up, we were early but she was already there, walking across the parking lot, waving at us. We thought we would go to the Sports Page for dinner, but once we got there, had a few beers and some snacks we weren't hungry, so we drove to Humboldt. We vegged the rest of the evening. Monday we took our time getting going, the one thing we did was take a long bike ride around Humboldt. Up to the bike trail in Dakota City, over to Born Free where we stopped to say hi to Phil. Over past the saussage factory and the beautiful white house that is for sale. Down past the hospital, over to the dam, and down along the Cottonwood Trail along the river, then back home. It felt great, but I suffered the next two days!! Tuesday was "ladies who lunch" day. Celia and I met the Tuesday Morning Coffee group at Ampride and sat and talked until noon, then we headed down to Lomita's and had the buffet. The ladies were really nice to Celia, asking her about her life and talking. It was a good day, but we didn't get home until around 2!!! That night we. . . .hmmm I don't remember what we did. Wednesday we got up, dressed, went to breakfast at the Backseat and headed to Des Moines and the fair. We got lost in Des Moines but asked some people and they steered us in the right direction. Once at the fair we parked for $5 and walked to the pig barn where I held a cute little piglet. Then over to see the worlds biggest pig, steer, watched them trim sheep, looked at horses and cows. Then got some corndogs on a stick, Celia got a pork sandwich, I got a porkchop on a stick, Celia got a deep fried Milkeyway. I got ice cream, we got a few beers in between to cool us off. We saw the 4H stuff, the antique stuff, we rode the sky ride (I went alone and was sooooo scared). Celia and Phil went down the big slide. We looked at chickens and roosters and Celia and Phil had a backstage tour. We saw a guy get tarred in feathered with syrup and wheatchex. We watched some kids dance, we watched Vocal Trash, we saw the Pork Queen. My legs gave out at around two, so I flipped out and went to sit and watch some stuff while Celia and Phil walked around some more. We got there at around 11 and headed home at 5, it was a nice time and a good day. On the way home we stopped at the Best Buy in Ames where Celia bought her IPOD with all the gift cards she got for her birthday. Well, that made her soooooohappy. I went to the Border's Book Store and that made me sooooooohappy. We got home, ordered a pizza (can you believe we were actually hungry?) and went to bed. Thursday it rained so we didn't do much, that evening we had Celia's Birthday dinner, chicken on the grill and a cesar salad. We had DQ Blizzards for her "cake". Friday it rained again, we goofed around, I took Celia to the Western Shop, and to Shoppers. We played games. Saturday we went to the Backseat again, then down to Ft. Dodge where Celia got a new outfit at Cato and then over to Target where Celia got some stuff for her IPOD, and I got a book. We came home, Phil cut the grass, Celia and I went for a bike ride, then Celia and Phil took the grass over to the big pile and stopped at Vinny's for dinner. Sunday we got up and went kayacking at Brushy Creek where I slipped on some slime and fell----something I always do when Celia is visiting. I really hut my leg, fell on a pipe and now I have a round bruise. We had a really nice time on the lake, then we rode around, looking at the wildflower growing area and over to another lovely park in Ft. Dodge called Dolliver. Then we stopped at the Sonic and had lunch delivered to our CAR. After that we stopped at the new Humboldt Aquatic Center and Celia and Phil went down the slides, Celia liked that. Home again we played games, Skippo and Phase 10, Celia took a bike ride, Phil played 9 holes of golf with Arley. I made spaghetti and tomato salad and we had a nice dinner. I went to bed at nine and I heard Celia and Phil downstairs playing XBox. Today we got up, Celia packed. The dogs knew something was up, they understand suitcase. I drove her to the airport, her plane leaves right now, at this very minute, she had to be there an hour early. She cried when she left, I miss her already.

The Pandy Chronicles

Pandy has an address sticker on her head. The kind of address sticker you get in the mail when you receive a request for a donation to some charity. I love the stickers but I rarely send a donation. Anyway, Pandy now has ID.

She is so strange, she can't hear a thing anymore and can hardly see. When we moved into this house we had five steps off our porch, on either side of these steps was a brick wall about a foot wide, four feet long. Pandy would walk out on this wall---and right off the end---thump onto the sidewalk about four feet below. This happened a few times before she got the idea. She also would go out to do her business and go to the house two doors down and stand at their front door. I had to go and get her several times---until her smell permeated our front lawn, then she knew which door was her door.

She is 18 years old, that is---let's see---126 years old in dog years. That's just too old. She has taken to wandering, she always was a wanderer. When we lived on Hecktown Road she would wander to the neighbors two doors down. They called her Kramer because she would come--eat their cat's food---and leave. Kramer!! So, when we moved to Iowa I allowed her to wander. She earned the right to wander. If anything happened to her while she was "out" at least she would die doing what she loved to do.

So, last Tuesday I was getting ready to go out for the day. She noticed me getting ready and she knew it meant she would be left in the house. So, when I let her out before I was to leave--she wandered off and didn't come back. For two hours I looked for her. No Pandy. My ride came and I left, I can't change my plans for Pandy. She gets out much more than I do!!! I didn't get home until 5:30 and there she was, walking in the lawn, looking a bit nervous. She was glad to see me and I was glad to see her. My day had been ruined by the thought that I had left old Pandy outside, even though it was a mild 68 degrees and sunny. She was walking slowly and could hardly make it up the steps. Once inside she fell asleep under my desk and didn't move the rest of the night. I looked at my answering machine and there was a call---I listed--it was Dylan telling me he had found Pandy wandering around the baseball diamond across the street from our house, he had brought her home and put her in the yard. He was just letting me know. So, Pandy had been across the street, in the baseball field. How did she get in there, it's fenced!! Hmmm. The next day she was out in the yard and some older kids came by on their bikes. They stopped and were talking among themselves, "that's the dog that was at our school on Tuesday". It was odd that teenagers would stop and talk about something like that. So, concerned, I walked out and talked with them, told them Pandy was deaf and almost blind. They told me she had been at their school, the middle school a few blocks down. They had played with her, and were so concerned about her they asked their principal if she could come in. He didn't allow it.

So, Pandy had quite the day. On Wednesday she could barely get up, I had to lift her down the steps so she could do her business, I had to carry her back up. The following day also. She was so stiff and sore I believe there were many more stories to tell about her day wandering. I'll never know where she had been or what she had been doing. All I know is that now she has a sticker on her head---and it's going to stay there.

Urban Camping

Phil and I just returned from a seven day trip to Washington D.C. to visit with our girls. We took a "Built for Two" that parks easily in a normal parking space and headed down the road.

I love that little "Built for Two", with it's side by side twin beds that go up and down with the press of a button. The first night out we "camped" at America's favorite camping spot---Walmart. We needed some of that toilet paper that turns into mush when it hits water, we also needed some of that make-up that is made specially for old women, it goes on with a sponge that disintegrates after two uses. Anyway, after driving ten or more hours we made it to the edge of Ohio and decided to stop. At 10PM this particular Walmart was filled with different types of people, gang types with nylon head wraps, they wouldn't move out of your way so you found yourself sidestepping through the isles. I wasn't real happy about spending the night in that parking lot, but while I was inside Phil had found a nice spot directly under a pole that held a bright light and security camera. We figured if we were going to get killed there would be a nice video of it for posterity. It was funny, because when we woke up the next day we found ourselves the center of a group of various types of vehicles, vans, cars, other RV's, all of which showed up sometime during the night but we never heard a thing.

We moved on the next day---needing to be in D.C. by at least 4PM. We took the southern route, choosing to not go around Chicago. Phil had made the trip a few weeks before and noticed that the eastern traffic was at a standstill around the city, so we figured it would only be worse over the holidays. Southern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio are. . .well, there is not other word but boring. Nothing to see really, just flat land. Once we hit West Virginia things started perking up and by the time we were in PA, MD and VA we felt the familiar feel of being "home", even though the east coast wasn't our home anymore.

We got lost in D.C., the name of the road was different from what Celia had told us, we drove through D.C. but much had changed since Phil lived in the NE section back in the 70's. We could "see" the capitol but we couldn't seem to "get" there. The map wasn't any help, the roads we were "on" didn't match up with the roads we were "on". Finally, we arrived, there was a parking space right in front of Celia and Margaret's apartment. Celia was waiting to greet us. Ahhhhhh.

The apartment is on a neat, but busy, street lined with interesting shops and restaurants. Across the street is the oldest Army post in America. Celia says every morning she is awakened by "Taps" and band music. I think that's pretty neat. The apartment itself is at the top of two long stairways. It was half way up the second staircase where my knees would give out and I would have to push hard to make it the rest of the way up, huffing and puffing. The inside of the apartment was really nice, high ceilings, a huge brick wall, wood burning fireplace, hard wood floors. The big room consisted of the living area, dining area and kitchen, separated by a huge wooden island. An Ikea purchase Celia and Margaret are fond of. Following the long hallway down and to the left, was their bedroom, and a nice size bath. There is a door and balcony/fire escape off the bedroom, a nice little area for hanging plants or for slipping out the backdoor (if need be).

Margaret and Celia went the extra mile, the apartment was neat and clean, they offered drinks and bits. We visited until it was time to head out to the Melting Pot where we used our Christmas gift from Celia and had a lovely evening of dipping and drinking.

What's nice about urban camping is after dinner we headed down the stairs and out to our RV, still parked in front of their apartment. Closed up the curtains and shades, closed the windows, turned on the generator and the AC, the flat screen TV, laid in our beds, adjusted the bed to a sitting position and we were in our own little, extremely comfortable cacoon. Privacy, no air mattress, no sharing the one bath. I love me an RV.

8th Street off of G in SE D.C. is a busy place at night, there are restaurants and bars, lots of people milling about. At around 12:30 we heard three hard knocks on the back door. Phil got up but by the time he put his clothes on and got out and looked around no one was there. We don't know if it was a cop or just someone playing a joke. We didn't sleep well the rest of the night. Surely, with all the noise outside, the cop wasn't going to tell us to turn off our generator, and we were parked legally. So. . . . we didn't have any trouble the rest of the weekend, but we did move the RV to a quieter, more out of the way spot across the street the next day and for the rest of the visit we were fine.

Saturday morning Phil walked down to Starbucks, something that gives him much joy, and got us two coffees. When Celia and Margaret were up we visited a bit then headed down to the eastern market. What a place, I could have spent so much money!!! Vintage linens, stationery, jewelry, art work. Margaret bought a print of a painting of the eastern market for their apartment. It was beautiful. She, by the way, is starting a new job working for the Washington Post. What a girl!!! We bought Susie an herb pot for a non-sugar Easter and then stopped at a restaurant called Bread and Chocolate for brunch. Oh, it was nice. I got the way I always do, so overwhelmed by sights and sounds that I get almost punch drunk. I can't explain it---but that's what happens, especially since we have lived in Iowa.

Back at the girls apartment we played games and waited for Krista and Allison to show. Krista took a flight from NYC---$40 got her to D.C. but she didn't arrive until five. Allison didn't show until almost 7PM, missing the same road we did, then missing the second and heading west instead of east. Finally she arrived, her and her little dog too! Things went crazy, she was crying, the dog was jumpy, Angie became jumpie--YIKES. Some dog pee and worse went flying and Celia and Margaret became silent. . . . . . .their clean, neat apartment suddenly became bedlam. Phil took Angie to the RV. Allison, emancipated for the last year and a half, finds herself having trouble with the tax man. Celia sat her down later that weekend and talked budget with her, and I believe now all is well.

Easter morning we found that Allison "forgot" her candy and the candy Susie sent with her. Krista never made mention of ever having anything to contribut to the Easter weekend, except her presence. Phil and I brought the candy I had made, little lambs and bunnies, flowers and eggs, placed in cute little bags. Plus some little gifts like chinese umbrellas, little feather clips for your hair (which Margaret forgot she had on when she went outside for something---wondering why everyone was looking at her in a funny way). We ate candy, talked, Margared made crepes (yum) and it was a lovely time. We walked the dogs around the neighborhood every now and again, the houses are beautiful (and expensive) Phil and I remember when we lived in Reston back in 71. They were offering these same houses for $1!!!!! All you had to do was get a low interest loan and promise to have the house fixed up within a year. Well, two young kids, we were too scared to do it, but now the same houses are going for $800,000!!!

Krista left at four, Allison left a little later, we left somewhere in between, allowing Celia and Margaret a little rest-up time from the family before they started their busy weeks again the next day.

Phil had to pick up another RV in Staunton VA and leave our little Built for Two there. The one we picked up was still winterized, no water or holding tanks, so we hoteled it on the company the whole way back. I still use hotels when I have to, but prefer the cacoon of my own RV, my own sheets, towels.

So, we are back, my grass is green, my hostas are up about 4 inches, my tulips ready to pop, bleeding hearts almost ready to pop too. Spring has come to Iowa and it is a glorious time here. We plan to rest up from our trip and do just a little yard work, weather permitting. Holiday over, life goes on here in Iowa.

Lion King

I've waited years to get to see Lion King. When we lived in PA and it was new on Broadway I wanted to see it, but tickets were being sold a year in advance and I never had my life so organized that I could schedule something that far off. So, I never went--then we moved and were not one and a half hours from NYC anymore---so I put it out of my mind.

Now, we are in Iowa and the Lion King is playing in Des Moines---Phil bought me tickets for my birthday. The day finally arrived---last Saturday. We got up early and drove to Des Moines, getting there in a little less than two hours. We took the exit and drove straight to the Civic Center, no problem. There was a parking garage next door---with a special show price for parking---$3.00. Can you believe it? So easy and stress free. Not at all like a trip to NYC, which would involve traffic jams, paying to go through the tunnel, paying to park--a lot more than $3.00. This was actually pleasant. Got into the Center, waited in the big lobby for about 45 minutes, people watching. Couldn't help but notice how different the people are here compared to NYC---so different. When we were finally allowed into the auditorium we found our seats, about five or six rows back, if that, and in the center area. Good---no, GREAT seats. The lady who sat next to me was pleasant, from Kansas City, she and five family members drove up from Kansas City to see the show, they took last minute seats and were scattered around the room.

The show started, and it took me by surprise--I almost wish I could see it again, the woman who is on all the commercials was there, singing those three notes---long and drawn out. At the same time the stage AND auditorium filled up with actors---dressed as the animals of Africa. It was WONDERFUL, the music, the actors, the costumes---it actually brought tears to my eyes--I couldn't help it! A bicycle contraption with antelope figures attached to its mechanics had them jumping across the stage, lions (people with masks on their heads) a woman dancer attached to a cheeta puppet made it slouch expertly across the stage, a huge elephant meandered down the isle---made up of two or more people, it was wonderful. Drummers set up on both sides of the stage played bongos and drums, the orchastra was in is usual place below the stage.

The Lion King story is well known, I didn't really go for the story, but the actors, costumes, music. I was impressed with the actor who played the King---he walked proudly, as you would think a king would, and yet animal like. He had a big booming voice. The actor who played his scheming brother was wonderfully mean, oh, I could go on and on---lets just say I LOVED it.

There were times that took my breath away, set design, costume design. One in particular was when the pride of lionness were greiving for the dead king. They looked out at us, and put their hands to their faces, and pulled long strands of silvery ribbon from their eyes, these ribbons fell from their eyes to the floor, conveying the idea of greiving, tears, crying for their dead king. It did exactly that----it was an exquisite moment, I loved it.

The show got a little long in the second half, kids in the audience were crying and restless, but soon it started the beginning of the ending, again all the animals/actors came on stage and we got to see the show at its best.

The whole thing got me thinking about a Christmas program at our church, using the animal/people idea. Hmmmmmm

HGTV

How often can you say your husband appeared on national TV? The long awaited RV 2006 aired last night and we finally got to see Phil show off the 32 foot Born Free. It was long coming. They filmed it last summer, in 100 degree heat and 100% humidity. Hershey PA was the place, Phil shot for three hours!!! Three hours for what, about 3 minutes of TV time.

It's been around eight months of wondering, wondering if he made the cut, wondering when it would air, wondering if he came off stupid or ok. Yesterday we were worked up into a frenzy. Luckily, we had tickets to see Lion King in Des Moines. Phil bought me these tickets for my birthday in December of 2005. We had two things to do this past year, one was Lion King and the other HGTV, and they both happened on the same day. So, we drove the 2 hours to Des Moines, saw the wonderful, wonderful production of Lion King and headed home, arriving at six pm. That left four hours to live through before air time. We had dinner, cleaned up the dogs mess (from being left alone for 8 hours), watched home makeover, watched Sopranos (Tony's out of limbo having been called back from the brink of death by his pointy looking daughter Meadow). THEN THERE IT WAS!!! RV 2006. The host was a real nice guy, the show was put together really well. They started with Class A's and quickly got to the Class C's. At the beginning of the show the Born Free was used as the sample of the Class C, AND the host was sitting on the bench in front of the Born Free to introduce the show! Phil looked good, very professional. I told him---because I really think this---that he came across better than the rest. He said the leather chairs were "like butter" and we all laughed. The appearance had our phone ringing off the hook, first Susie then Celia, Krista and Allison.

Phil was more worked up that I realized. When it was over he headed up to bed, fatigue taking over. A restful sleep was had by all.

I can't wait to hear what people say at work today.

Phil--a TV star!! If you would like to have Phil appear in your movie---press one---now. If you would like to have Phil be national spokesperson for your product-----press two---now. All other questions----press three----now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;-)

It's Coming, I Can Feel It

I smell it in the air when I walk across my deck. I feel it in my bones when I look at the dead stalks--the ones I never got arount to trimming back last fall. I feel the excitement of what's to come as I look over the hydrangea plant and think about cutting it back so more flowers will come in the spring. My tulips are poking through the dirt, little tips of green against the black. The snow is gone and the pot of mums I never got around to planting appears, lying on its side in the garden next to the garage. It might not be too late for it.

The sun fools your senses, bringing to life the fever inside, the eagerness to get out and work in the garden and yard, and yet, just walking around the outside of the house pinks the cheeks and freezes your fingertips, its too soon, too early, too cold.

Back inside the house I lay with the dogs in the sun light that floods the floor in the living room. It's a secret my dogs know; lay in the sunlight for warmth and nourishment during those long cold winters.

There are some brave souls out and about, a man riding his bike, huddled in a thick down jacket. A woman, walking at a fast pace zips past the house, her ears covered with furry brown circles. But for me, I know the cold will hurt my lungs, burn my skin. Its too early, too soon.

Still, in my mind I can see it, the spring and summer to come. Lilacs blooming in the back yard. Hollyhock stalks standing tall against the garage. Tulips, the first to show their color. Mums growing too fast and needing a trim--for their own good. My herbs in the window boxes, basil, parsley and rosemary, my tomatoes---I hope they do better than last year. The deck, furniture placed just so, the umbrella, pots of flowers, their blooms cascading down the four steps to the concrete. I love spring and summer, made that much more important and glorious out here in Iowa because of the past four months of dreary grayness. It' s coming, I can feel it.

Traveling in the West

I've just returned from three weeks of traveling from Iowa to California and then on to Arizona. I'm taking a new Born Free to big Dog Shows in different states, showing it off and trying to get people interested. My first show was Del Mar California, a beautiful part of the world, but I didn't really get to see too much of it because I was stuck at the fairgrounds most of the time. I'm not really complaining because leaving Iowa for Southern California in February is not a bad thing. The weather was beautiful, I got to people watch and to dog watch for that matter. Dogs of all kinds, sizes, colors. Strange "dog" people, dog merchandise, dog talk, dog dog dog.

I brought Angie along, she pulled the people in with her natural puppie cuteness and then I took over----telling them about this wonderful RV, half people half dog. People in the front, dogs in the back. Most liked it, they came and came and came and came, I didn't have a moment to think. I was tired by the end of the three days there. I left Del Mar at the end of the day and drove out route 8 towards Arizona, stopping one time to camp--but never found the campground so turned around and headed back onto the main road, saw another sign for a campground, drove five miles, couldn't find it, turned around and while driving back toward the main road was stopped by the border patrol. "Are you really from Iowa?" the cop, who was all business, asked me, I had to turn off my RV, give him my license and allow them to search the vehicle. I guess my eastern accent made him wonder. But, all the while I was thinking what a great story this was going to make. Ha! When they were finished checking me out I asked them where the campground actually was, they told me and I arrived at ten that night. But the campground/retreat ended up being very nice, very calm, very quiet. Just what I needed. The people working there were a married couple, an ex nun and ex priest who are full timers who work as they see the country, one state at a time, each state taking years for them to see!!! I also met an indian woman who worked as a massage therapist at the Indian Casino, she was a "healer" and an interesting soul. She told me to make tea out of strawberry leaves and drink it to cure my dry patches on my hands. I'll have to give it a try.

I had one day to relax, do my laundry, clean things up, then I headed to Scottsdale and West World where I camped out on the polo grounds from Wednesday until Monday. More dogs, more dog people, and again they came and came and came and came, from eight in the morning until five at night. I had to close things up tight to get any rest. I made friends with a woman vendor who sat across from me and sold dog collars and clothing. She was a huge woman, could hardly stand up. She knew the answer to everything, was very matter of fact and I kind of liked her. We decided to go to dinner on Sunday at the casino up the road, we had a lovely dinner then went to gamble. It was so crowded I had trouble finding a place to sit and gamble. I like the one arm bandits, I finally found one, it took DOLLARS, I went through $80 in about 20 minutes, so I got up and went to a lounge area and read the paper until she was ready to leave. I usually enjoy the casinos, I guess I should have tried to find a quarter machine. Angie got a job while we were at the dog show, she was a model for a woman who had up-scale dog clothing. Angie looked so cute, everybody stopped to see her. She was given an cute pink coat for her time and trouble.

I was glad to leave West World on Monday when things were finally over. It had been a long six days. I came home with over 50 names of people who were "more than generally interested in the rv."

Once I left Scottsdale I headed north to Prescott, stopped to see my cousin Donna for the day and then headed over the mountains to Sedona. What a beautiful drive, what a beautiful place. I really do need to go back there. I think Phil and I will plan a trip there for our next vacation. I want to get off the road and see it up close and personal, I want to spend more time there. Sedona is a place I want to know more about. The weather wasn't great the day I crossed the mountains, in fact it was snowing most of the way, I had to be careful. The road twisted and turned, but when I got to Sedona it was so worth it. I can't put in words how beautiful the mountains were.

The rest of my trip was non-eventful, I was worn out from working so most of it past in a blur. It was good to be back in Iowa, the snow was gone and the neatly plowed fields were showing again. It was good to see my house and Pandy, Phil was in Pennsylvania so he wasn't home to greet me. My tulips, fooled by a few days of warm weather, were popping through the dirt. A sure sign of spring on it's way. There is nothing like being home, sitting in your comfy chair reading the mail that had piled up over the weeks you were gone. Angie was over the moon being home, running through the rooms, wrestling with Pandy.

We are back, and it's good to be home.

ImbackinIowa

Phil thought a week driving to southern Texas would be good for me. After all I had been sick since Thanksgiving. My job was to deliver a Born Free to a woman who planned on using it to take her Pomeranians to dog shows.

It wasn't what I expected. I took Angie so we could "bond" and I headed down 35, a wonderful road that took me all the way to Dallas without having to turn off.

I was out of Iowa in the blink of an eye, well three hours to be exact, and through Missour in no time, in fact I was almost to Kansas City when I decided to pull over for the night. I stay in Hampton Inn's and only Hampton Inn's. They offer the best room for the money, usually around $89.00 which gives you a great room, movies, HBO, swimming, exercise room and a really nice breakfast to boot.

The next day I headed into Oklahoma, a state I had never visited before. I don't know what I expected, but I can't say it impressed me. It was there that I started seeing the oil wells. One interesting thing, the first rest stop I came to had picnic tables under what looked to be Teepee's, very nice. Then on to Texas and the huge city of Dallas. Now, that was impressive, bigger than I expected, and more "east coast" looking than anticipated. Once through Dallas I headed for Houston. The roads were intricately woven around and through both cities. They seem to love their raised highways in Texas because there were many. It was a harrowing experience to drive that 27 foot RV through those two cities since every road I was on was being worked on and cattle shoots were the norm. I have to say that when I passed the Texas state line the land wasn't very pretty, but between Dallas and Huston there were fields of live oak and grass that looked like landscaped parks, but it wasn't, it was just the way the land looked. Very beautiful. Also, I saw lots of housing developments being built. They build massive entryways to these developments, usually including stone walls, metal sculptures and lots of landscaping.

I got to about an hour north of Lake Jackson, my destination, and took the exit showing a Hampton Inn location, at the end of the exit a sign told me the Hampton Inn was actually four miles down the road. I didn't like that, felt tricked. But I was tired so I drove it, arriving tired and edgy, only to be told there was no room at the Inn. They sent me north a few miles and I ended up at a Hamptong Inn at the airport. Cops in the reception area, lots of men gathered in the cafe. I got settled but didn't feel safe, an unusual feeling for me during my travels. Sure enough, the next day when I left cops were everywhere, checking out what looked to be smashed windows on many of the cars in the lot. The smashers left the Born Free alone----I guess it was fancy stereos that was the draw.

I dropped off the RV, rented a car, a nice little red Vibe, and was scheduled to head to Galveston. But decided not to. I had many people tell me not so good things about the Texas Gulf Coast. The woman I delivered the RV to lived 10 minutes from the beach, but told me she never went. Said her dogs got sandy and the chemical plants made the view not so nice. Others told me I would get oil on my bathing suit, still others told me the water wasn't a pretty blue like in Florida. Adding this information up equaled me heading north that very same day. I took a different route out of Texas, an off road with more country less city, it took me through little towns a few people shy of being ghost towns. I went through one pretty little town with many craftsman style homes in shabby shape. What a shame!

I hit snow in Kansas. Never saw so many trucks and cars rolled over on the side of the road. I guess it was really bad the night before. I had stopped at around six that evening and I waited until ten that morning before I left.

I forgot my music. Radio in the Mid-west and South-west is not so great. Lots of country, lots of latin, lots of hard rock. I scanned and scanned constantly. Awierd thing I noticed on other trips and this trip too, the playing of the same songs on different stations. I believe these stations are owned by the same company with the same play list. Not so good when you are traveling.

I did get to see some good movies though. I saw the one with Viggo Mortensen where he lives a normal life until he stops a robbery in his cafe. Very violent and sexual. But a good story. Another one was the Johnny Cash movie, very very good. Enjoyed the music, enjoyed the actor who played Johnny.

Angie was fun to have along. She stayed in her little traveling kennel during the drive but once she got into the hotel room she had the run of the place. I have trained her on those dog pads and she did pretty well after the first two days. I had to sneak her into the hotel---didn't want to take the chance of having them not allow her in. She was funny and sweet and great to have along. She would sleep when we started out, but after a few hours her little head would poke out the top of her kennel and I could tell she needed to run a bit.

So, now I've been to Oklahoma and I've been to Texas, I know I only drove through, I can't make a final judgement on the states, all I can say is I saw a lot of road.

Christmas Present

You ask where I've been? This is the reason I haven't had time to write. Her name is Angie and she is 6 going on 7 weeks old.

My Christmas was lackluster because I was fighting some sort of cold/flu thing since Thanksgiving. My girls were home and we all had a very nice time, but it wasn't until Angie came on the scene that life really perked up. She runs, she bites, she pee's she poohs, ahhh dog ownership! But look at that face, how can you yell at a face like that??

Celia arrived for Christmas the day before my birthday, Krista and Allison arrived on the 23rd. Celia and Phil, with the help of Krista and Allison, made me a wonderful cheese fondue dinner. Later we played games and enjoyed being together. It was that way the rest of the holiday, playing games, eating, enjoying being together. An excellent holiday.

Now it's over and dreary January is here, but Angie is keeping things bright. I can't wait until warmer weather so we can go for walks together. She loves it outside. Pandy is tolerating her, but barely. Poor thing, Angie attacks her like a little black bullet, Pandy just growls and barks but nothing more. Dogs. . .