It is nice to leave 'one world' and visit another, for a change in pace and to reminisce a little. A visit to Iowa City (my old college town) and Joe's 50th High School reunion was definitely a different world for me.
Friday 10/1 - I discovered later, that it was Patty's birthday today! I got her day off to a good start by having her take me to the ranch at 6:15 and give Amiga and Zorro their second series of fall shots while I held them, LOL. It went much better than expected, with both horses holding very still and not over reacting. In this photo from Patty's car, I was looking back at them and the sunrise, as we headed home.
I was on the road for Courtney's at 7:30, with Joe driving separately (We needed two cars there). He dropped Maggie off at Bed and Biscuit and arrived shortly after I did. We loaded into Courtney's car and she dropped us off at the airport. We then had about a two hour wait for our flight.
Renting a car at the Cedar Rapids airport (which cost more than our flight had) we drove to Iowa City and checked into the Hyatt Place, our 'home' for the next four days. As Dorthy said, 'Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.'
I was blown away by the changes in Iowa City. It is definitely a different world than when I went to college there.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I got word from Polly that she had safely gotten Rio there and he was settling in nicely.
An hour later Yvonne arrived with her horse Maslo and he too was quick to settle in. He and Rio did very well when first meeting each other. I was happy to hear this.
Walking around downtown, I was amazed at how different it looked. I actually got disoriented (lost) a couple of times.
It was fun to see that some of the old places were still viable. Joe's Place is the bar that Joe and I went to with friends we had in common, the night we first met.
This corner is where the store I bought my first cowboy boots in 1973 was. I can't remember the name of the store, but is not in this building anymore. I was quite hungry and feeling weak, so found John's Grocery, that was still in business, and bought a chocolate milk. I downed it and felt much better.
I was back at the hotel 90 minutes after I left, and got ready for the cocktail party with Joe's classmates. He really enjoyed seeing old friends again. I just listened mostly, sometimes asking or answering a few questions. This is Mike, who was Joe's best man. I really enjoyed seeing him and his lovely wife Michelle.
Saturday 10/2 - This is art on the sidewalk that I took a photo of the day before. I am so thankful for the stars that led me to Iowa back in 1973, the end of my Junior year in high school, when I came here for a six week science training program. I was officially accepted into the University of Iowa at that time and returned as a college student in the fall of 1974. I am also thankful that my parents paid for my tuition and housing and Mom encouraged me to go as far from home as I wanted, and to a different world than the safety of the world I knew back in Indian Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.
After hitting the breakfast buffet at 7am and then again at 9:30, Joe and I went to Coralville, to visit Tracy and Teresa who are renting a cute condo there while their new house in Hills is being built. Teresa is recovering from major abdominal surgery, looked good, although weak, and had lost 50 lbs.
Next Joe and I went to the rehab center where his brother Alan is recovering from a 12 foot fall that broke his neck and back. He is expected to make a full recovery, but has a long road ahead of him. Joe helped Alan with his computer to make a payment due on the 3rd. Later we went shopping for some loungers for him to replace the irritating paper pants the hospital provides.
Once back to the hotel, we had an hour to get ready for the reunion dinner at Pleasant Valley golf course. We both could have used a nap, but there wasn't time.
This is the group of 35 who showed up out of the 90 graduates, from the class of 1970 from Regina High School.
We sat with Mike and Michelle for dinner, and enjoyed catching up with them.
I had again felt like a 'wall flower' during the social hour, but met other spouses, like myself, who didn't really know anybody.
The speeches during the program were good, and I better appreciated this group of wonderful people, and what they had and did as 'kids' and the connection they still had.
Sunday 10/3 - I was up before 6am, feeling better rested than usual, having had almost nine hours of sleep.
Joe and I went to his brothers' (Ron and Alan's) trailer to pick Ron up after first seeing their new digs. We also saw the nice storage shed Alan was putting the roof on when he fell. This is a photo of a wall Ron has, showing an actual Japanese Arisaka Carbin 6.5 mm rifle and a photo of the ship Herman served on.
And this is Herman's honorable discharge paper.
We three then went to the Midtown Family Restaurant where we met Mary, Tracy and Teresa for brunch. I had a big toss salad since I had already had two breakfasts. Since I didn't take any photos of us with Joe's siblings, I have posted these photos of Herman's memorabilia.
Joe dropped me off back at the hotel and then went on to play golf with Mike and later run some things out to Alan. I computerized, took a nap, read and played games...
In no time I was there, and inside taking a look around. This is part of the large climbing wall that was being used by several at the time I took this photo.
I soon found the natatorium, and was impressed with it. Back in my diving days, our pool was only 12 feet deep and I had many a times scrapped my chin, knees, and hands on the bottom when not rolling (under water) out of a dive that had a nice clean entry.
I also appreciated the land practice area on the deck with the diving board into the thick mat... and the trampoline right there. We had to go into the gym and borrow the gymnastic's team trampoline.
I continued my walk along the river, reminiscing some more. This is the new Hancher Auditorium and Hancher bridge that replaced the old ones when they got flooded several years ago. Both are much higher above water level now. I remember diving into the river off the old Hancher Bridge as a young and crazy freshman. Also it was on a bench near Hanchor that Joe proposed to me back in 1979.
I circled around (walking both sides of the river) and went past several dorms. Burge Hall was my freshman dorm. Oh the memories from back then, mostly very good, but some I have chosen to forget.
This is the former First Baptist Church Student Center, but now the Bowman House Women's Resource & Action Center. Here, many long nights of studying happened, but also special bonds occurred with Christian friends who made an impact on my life and helped steer me from poor decisions or get me out of trouble.
Our day ended with a nice walk to the Italian restaurant Basta Pizzera. We were early and it was right next to Joe's Place, so we went in to grab a beer for old times sake.
Patty, Mike, and Michelle joined us for dinner. We all enjoyed pasta dishes and good conversation.
On our walk 'home' to the Hyatt Place, we stopped for frozen yogurt. I was now uncomfortably stuffed, but fell asleep fairly quickly once in bed.
Monday 10/4 - I loved being back in my old college town. Everywhere you turned or looked, there were proud displays of Hawkeye spirit. Almost everybody was wearing Hawkeye clothing, while flags, umbrellas, banners, etc were hung everywhere. This is two of the balconies of the apartment across the street from us.
After Joe headed off to Riverside Casino, I went to get some exercise. At the gym I did a mile on the elliptical in just under 15 minutes. Not bad considering how long it has been. This was my view from were I walked/jogged.
This is a view of the same wall from outside. I like this terracing technique for steep hills.
I had seen this wall, all of live plants inside the restaurant next door, but they were closed on Mondays, so I had to get this photo off the internet.
What a cool interior design technique, but probably tricky to maintain.
Once Joe got back, we lost no time in packing up and heading to the airport.
Again, we had almost a two hour wait. Joe seen on his I-pad while I walked around.
I watched our plane land and pull up to the gate. The turn around time for un-loading and reloading with new passengers and luggage occurred quickly and our flight left a little early.
Courtney picked us up and as soon as we got to her condo where our cars were parked, I hit the busy, rush hour traffic, road for home. (Joe was staying for a Tuesday night concert.) I barely got back by the 7pm Bed and Biscuit closing time, to pick up Maggie.
Shirley had taken care of the cats, so thankfully I did not have to worry about that. My sciatica was killing me so I did some stretches, with four cats and a dog on the floor, wanting my attention. I was in bed by 8pm.
At 6:30 I started my normal morning routine with both computers working finally. I transferred photos, did some blogging, and played a few games.
I finished one load of laundry and put the second in the dryer, then ran errands, took care of Patty's cats, and dropped in on Karen who was four days out from hip replacement surgery.
Next I was off to the ranch to check on and care for Amiga and Zorro. Courtney's boy was a muddy mess.
Amiga likes to pick up and toss her food dish when she is finished eating. Zorro usually paws at and knocks his over.
When I led Amiga down to the barn yard, Zorro went berserk. He was running the fence line (the wooden fence at the top of the hill) and yelling (neighing and whinnying) for Amiga.
When I got down to the paddock, Maslo (the bay) and Rio were looking in Zorro's direction and hollering back to him.
This is what our trailer parking looks like for the time being. We will be moving things around once we do more clearing of buried stuff (tires, pallets, metal, plastics, etc.) and then add a load or two of gravel.
I did not plan to ride long or far because it was so muddy, so I just put a bridle on Amiga and went bareback. Boy did I have my hands full. She was feeding off Zorro, who was still having a horsey fit.
I rode Amiga straight back up the drive to their pasture where Zorro was still racing around. He calmed down once he saw us. I let Amiga stand and graze on the other side of the fence which calmed both her and Zorro down.
Next I took Amiga for a ride around the pasture where the boarded horses will be going. They were very interested in her, and she was still a bit riled up.
One reign stops were not entirely effective but helped slow her down. Zorro was still talking to these three horses down at this end of the property, but he did not sound as frantic.
Then, when I rode Amiga around the perimeter of the field adjoining where Zorro was, I discovered this broken fence board. He had to have just done it because I had not seen it when I mucked their run-in shed.
Just another thing to add to the to-do list.
Once I was finished riding, I made this temporary repair of the wood fence. Not sure how long it will last.
Another fix-it I noticed was this branch which had fallen down on the roof of our log shed.
I ran by Patty's for a second cat feeding on the way home and then finished the laundry I had started along with other regular household chores.
I had the house to myself because Joe was still in Nashville. He sent this photo of him with Courtney, her friend Sara, and Sara's mom.
Wednesday 10/6 - I got ten hours of sleep thanks to the little sleep aid pill I took. I was at Patty's before 8am to take a bag of our trash there and put out her trash. I also did cat duty while there.
Joe had gotten home late the night before, but was up and raring to go when I got home. So much for a slow, peaceful, easy morning. He got to the ranch well ahead of me and took this photo of the tree limb down on the back side of the log shed roof.
He had the branch all cut up by the time I got there. It was threatening to rain and sprinkled off and on several times while we were working. Joe worked on some adjustments to the electric fence while I mucked out the run-in shed for Amiga and Zorro.
Then Joe replaced the broken fence board with one of the new ones he had bought. I was thinking we should buy some more to have on hand. Maggie kept an eye on both of us.
Joe headed to poker and I eventually made it to the gym. I didn’t get there until a little after 4 PM so I was not very energized at this time of the day. But I thought getting a little workout in would be better than nothing. I had to do less weights and less reps than when I last worked out and I was huffing and puffing. But after an hour, I was saved by the bell.
Since I was supposed to be seeking shelter in our master closet, and that’s where the dog was hiding, I decided to take the opportunity to rotate my clothing, putting all my summer things way up high on the shelf and bringing down all my winter clothes. I also shifted some other things around and organized everything before I got fed up with being in the closet.
Thursday 10/7 - We did get more storms overnight which woke me a few times, and then I worried about Amiga and Zorro. I hoped they had enough sense to go into the run-in shed.
My azaleas out front at home were blooming again.
I met Polly at the ranch after feeding Patty's cats, to get feeding instructions for her and Yvonne's horses. Then I got to work mucking Amiga and Zorro's run-in. From the amount of manure I had to remove, I gathered they spent a good part of the night in there. In this photo, you can see the new (fixed) fence board, with Joe on the riding mower in the background.
I had let Amiga and Zorro into the other part of their field, where they had more grass. You can see the temporary electric fence in this photo.
Joe had unloaded and helped me get two dog crates, a litter box and cardboard boxes up into the hayloft.
I then set up a temporary cage for a barn cat we will be getting. The one crate has two doors, so I can attach the two end to end with those doors open, and use the side door to feed and water and clean the litter box. I still need to zip-tie the crates together, get bedding, cat litter, food, and water up there.
In this photo of the view of the plant from the other side of the wall in the living room, you can see the disarray of wires for the TV and antenna that Joe had been messing with.
I got Amiga and Zorro back to the smaller side of their pasture and showed Joe how to feed them, which he will be doing on occasion. Then I went down to feed Maslo and Rio. I had to put Maggie in a down stay because she was making the horses nervous.
Rio doesn't get as much feed, so finishes quicker, so I had a lead rope around his neck in preparation to keep him from going over to take Maslo's feed. But it was not a problem.
I slipped Rio's halter on and let him graze while Maslo finished. Notice just behind Rio's tail, Maggie is still in a down stay. She is such a good dog.
Earlier I had gotten mad at Joe for driving off in the gator I was using, but I got over it. Working side by side is not usually easy because we have such a different approach to doing things.
Our evening ended with two episodes of Survivor.
Friday 10/8 - It was another interrupted night of sleep. This has become my new norm. I did take a pre-dawn nap as usual.
I was out the door running errands at 8am. After caring for Patty's cats, I went to several stores shopping for some needed items for the ranch. I was scrambling to get to Wildwood at 10am, and running a few minutes late.
I sort of helped tack up Billy while Mary got Chipolte ready. She really did most of the work with both horses.
Then we headed out for a ride. We took several photos while in the old big bean field. Just look at the view we had. And it was a pretty day with sunshine and temperatures in the 70s.
We took the short trail ride backwards, going past the waterfall (video) on our way down the hill. Chipolte actually slipped on a rock going down on his back knees as Mary bailed off. Luckily both were unhurt.
I unloaded several things and got to work in the hay
loft, finishing up the 'cat cage' for when our new girl comes Monday.
Cats need to be confined for at least a week at their new home, in order
for them to accept it as their new home.
Joe had let Amiga and Zorro into the big part of the pasture when on his way to golf, and even mucked most of the manure. I finished up with cleaning around the loafing shed, got hay and feed ready, and let the two back on to the smaller side of the pasture.
I had made a point to set aside time for the gym. I got there at 4:20. I should have set aside more energy. LOL This is definitely going to be slow going, getting back into my weight workout.
I organized and packed up to be gone for the weekend, with a two day trip to Nashville planned. I was about to embark on a different world, dress shopping.
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