Back to School

So, okay -- it's BACK TO SCHOOL. I know in many parts of the country, this isn't happening yet. But, here in Iowa -- our Governor decided schools would re-open, pretty much on schedule. So -- fingers crossed...that's been the focus. And EVERYBODY was nervous about it.

Because,during a pandemic -- there aren't any good choices for schools...I get that...

But, while talking about actually going BACK to school -- Lilly and Warren were both super-exited.

It's been almost six months since they saw their friends...or played a game with other kids...

One day, Lilly said, "I don't know what it'll be like to see my friends again. I'm a completely different person than I was the last time they saw me..."

And I don't know exactly hat she meant by that comment...but I thought she was nervous about the reopening...

Lilly has always had her own sense of style -- and I am thrilled that her parents are pretty laid back about the clothes she chooses to wear. Right now, she's into WAY oversized man sweaters...paired with some skin-tight leggings...

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND DELIGHT -- when, two weeks ago, she made a sketch of a top she wanted to sew...

We went down to the basement to rummage around for something she could cut up...

And THIS was the result...

She was very pleased with her "design"....

The next week -- we went thrift-store shopping - and she fund a wonderful XL argyle sweater (paired with a Disigual skirt)

Lilly had MANY WONDERFUL, INTERESTING choices for her first day of school. Warren, too. He went shopping with us, and he picked out shirts and shorts...(he is, in many ways, WAY fussier about his clothes than Lilly is).

 So -- what did they choose to wear?

A New Mexican Restaurant!!

There's a new Mexican restaurant in LeClaire, Iowa. Laherradura Mexican Grill. I ate there for the first time last week -- and wrote a Yelp Review. (which I am RARELY moved to do)...

Let me start off by saying I love the art on their walls...

Since it was lunch with MDF -- they had to try the Margaritas ($4.00)

Sue, however, followed my lead...with a tall glass of ice water..

My lunch Chimi was GREAT ($7.95)

And the desserts were delicious as well (who can go wrong with fried ice cream?)

Another failed attempt of a selfie...(there should be a caption). I love the look on Sue's face...

Anyway -- if you ever get into my neck of the woods -- I'll take you to lunch at Laherradura!!

So -- what's the end game for the 'rona?

This is a letter that landed in my inbox...which really made some sense.  And, actually -- it's how I've been feeling about the Coronavirus for a very long time...

Just food for thought.  I did not write it -- and I don't know who did...

***************

As a 30+ year nurse, I have fully supported all of the precautions with COVID-19.  But this post really made me think,... I share it here for your consideration as well:

What is the end game with the ‘rona? Anyone?

What is the magic formula that is going to allow us to sound the “all clear?” Is it zero cases? For a while, the goal was to simply “flatten the curve,” but now that we are disconnecting utilities for gatherings in California, setting up check points in New York, and recommending goggles (what’s next?), it seems as if there is, in fact, no end game. And, truthfully, the only way that we will see numbers drop is if we cease testing and stop reporting. Keep in mind that hundreds of thousands have shown up to be tested, registered, left due to long waits, and still come up positive when they received their results.

Is it a vaccine?  It took 25 years for a chicken pox vaccine to be developed. The smallpox inoculation was discovered in 1776 and the last known natural case was in 1977. We have a flu vaccine that is only 40 to 60% effective (that’s generous- the last two years it was more like 20-25%), less than half of the US population chooses to get one, and roughly 20,000 Americans still die annually due to flu or flu complications.

Oh, you'll mandate it in order to attend school, travel to some foreign countries, etc.? We already have a growing number of vaccine researchers refusing proven, tested, well-known vaccines that have been administered for decades! Do you really believe the majority of people will flock to get a fast-tracked vaccine, whose long-term side effects and overall efficacy rates are anyone's best guess? How long are we going to cancel? Postpone? Reconsider?

Now we are advised against in-person school until second quarter? What if October's numbers are the same as August's? Then what?

Move football to spring? What if next March is worse than this March?

When do we decide quality of life outweighs risk?

We understand this virus can be deadly for SOME, but so are shellfish, peanut butter, and bee stings. We take risks every day without a second thought. 

We know driving a car can be dangerous, but we don't leave it parked in the garage for months on end. We know the dangers of smoking, drinking, and eating fried foods, but we do it, none-the-less. We speed on highways, some idiots still don't buckle their seatbelts, we take medications more than “as directed,” and a good number of individuals don't think twice about unprotected sex.

Is hugging Grandma really more dangerous than rush hour on the freeway? Is going to a bar with friends more risky than four day old gas station sushi? Or operating a chainsaw?

When and how did we so quickly lose our free will?

I want a waiver that says, "I understand the risks, but I choose a life with hugs, smiles, college athletics, the state fair, concerts, and school dances."

I understand that there is a minuscule possibility I could die but, more probable, I will end up feeling like junk for a few days.

I understand I could possibly pass this virus onto someone else, but I can pass ANY virus onto someone else at any time until the end of time.

Are we busy living or busy dying?

It’s hard to tell these days.

The Morning Brew

I've gotta do another shout-out to Mary Mulari for recommending the "Morning Brew"

This little morning news letter explains all kind of business things I would never think about, much less understand...the writing is crisp and funny...and it covers so many topics in todays world...like, why is the Stock Market going crazy?   How will New York City ever recover?  What does the FED do, anyway?  And what is Tik-Tok, and why should I care? 

  ......this was their headline Monday morning...

 

Tik-Tok and the Party Won't Stop

And by party we mean legal action. Over the weekend, Chinese-owned social media giant TikTok confirmed reports that it'll sue the U.S. government today.

The backstory: On Aug. 6, as we all collectively wondered how it was August already, President Trump signed an executive order blocking all U.S. transactions with TikTok owner ByteDance in 45 days. The U.S. government has deemed TikTok a national security threat because of a Chinese law that could compel it to fork over Americans’ personal data to Beijing.

• As we shifted into “wait, does this mean September is next?” mode on Aug. 14, Trump stepped on the gas pedal, inking another order that gave ByteDance 90 days to divest all U.S. TikTok operations. 
• Now TikTok is mounting a defense, saying the president's executive order denied its right to due process. It has repeatedly denied it could be strong-armed by the Chinese government. 

But ByteDance still has to drop TikTok in the U.S.

And the horserace to buy it is very much still on. 

Where it stands: Early leader Microsoft is still “the favorite” at 2–1 odds, says Axios’s Dan Primack, who handicapped the race last Friday. Microsoft broke from the gate first, negotiating with the White House weeks before any of us were the wiser. Plus, it has a war chest worthy of Secretariat. 

• But Oracle (5–2 odds), another enterprise tech company, is only about a length behind. It helps that some execs are buddies with Trump. 
• Twitter (20–1) is in the mix as well, but it’s more like a colt rounding the far turn as the other two thunder toward the finish line. It would need a financial sponsor, and while being Trump's favorite platform, it isn't his favorite company.

Derecho Silver Lining

Okay -- so maybe NOBODY needs three freezers in their basement. It's not like I didn't already know that...at some level, anyway....

BUT IT TOOK A DERECHO and five days with no electricity to actually FACE THE TRUTH....
which was the fact that 75% of the stuff in my freezer was too old to even be considered edible....

AND IT'S TIME TO CLEAN THE DAMN FREEZERS OUT...after 40 years of collecting...

And UNPLUG two of them...permanently...

Looking back at that big, horrible job -- I marvel at how easily it happened.  Some problems in life are just like that.  They come up on you bit by bit....And, taken one at a time, it feels like SUCH A GOOD IDEA.

In my case -- BARGAIN SHOPPING was a big factor.  Who doesn't wanna buy six packages of bacon when it's $1.99/lb?  John used to buy HUGE fresh pork roasts when Fareway was having a meat sale....and I always stocked up on $2.50 Healthy Choice dinners.  In November, I would buy two frozen turkeys when they were 59cents a pound.  Then, too, it never hurts to have some extra packages of buns for hambugers or hot dogs.  And, tell me you would turn down the frequent packages of excellent fish filets from my brother-in-law.  About once a month, I'd freeze a loaf of bread about to go stale, ice cream treats for the kids, ...HOLY COW....WHAT WAS I THINKING??

HOW DID I LET THIS HAPPEN?

And, I'm sure the question on your mind is WHY DID WE KEEP BUYING FREEZERS??

Good question, people.  And one that I have been pondering myself...

After five days of no electricity....John helped me throw away a dumpster full of thawed-out-ill-fated-formerly-edible-now-spoiled-foodstuffs....

THAT was the worst part.  Ugh.

But, the SECOND worst part was actually cleaning the now-empty three freezers.  I did what I could -- and, EMPTY -- it was easy to pull the freezers away from the wall and I even scrubbed the floor behind and below...ugh...  But I couldn't do the bottom of the big chest freezer...or the top of the tall upright freezer

Lucky for me -- HELP WAS ON THE WAY....

This is actually freezer #4....at the bottom of our refrigerator/freezer...

Wow.  This is what it looks like...one Day Two of THE ELECTRICITY IS BACK...

Derecho Video

This video really shows what the Derecho was like last week....and it was interesting for me -- because, as you know -- I WAS TAKING COVER IN A BATHROOM...you can fast forward....hey -- NOBODY HAS 30 MINUTES...but this thing was crazy...

Where I was when the Derecho Hit Iowa.

Here's the thing about our Derecho last week. First of all -- I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HEARD THAT WORD. It's a straight-line wind storm, exceeding 80 mph...(110 in our area)....that comes with a lot of rain...almost no lightening or thunder...just a terrible, sustained fierce, killer wind that can pull 150 year old oak trees right out of the ground.  UNBELIEVABLE.

My friend Deanna told me about a "straight-line-wind storm" that happened last year in Northern Wisconsin -- which destroyed millions of trees and devastated their forests.  At the time, she said nobody heard about it because there are very few people living in that area....but I don't think she used the word "Derecho".

This word is completely new to me...but I'll never forget the day I learned it...  

The thing is -- EVERYBODY WHO EXPERIENCED IT will, for the rest of their lives, be able to tell you exactly where they were the moment it happened.

There are only two event, in my lifetime, that rise to that magnitude of instant memory-recall. The first is the assassination of President Kennedy...I was in 7th Grade Civics class.  And the second is the September 11th terrorist attacks...I was folding laundry in my living room...watching the Today show.

Monday, August 10 started out as a beautiful, summer morning. We had basically no notice.My cleaning lady came, and Carrie and I worked in the basement. I was looking forward to having a porch party on Tuesday...and the house looked great. I did laundry, and hung my favorite sheets out on the line.

Then, I went to the YMCA pool....still TRYING to get back on some kind of better exercise schedule...

As I was driving to town (a 25 minute drive) -- John called and said there was a storm coming our way.

We hear this a lot in Iowa. Our weathermen LOVE to predict storms...and they are wrong as often as they are right. So, I did what everybody else did. I just went about my business...

But -- after 15 minutes in the pool -- the sky got very, very dark. Okay. That was weird...So, I got out of the pool and went out to my car. I had a package in the back seat I wanted to mail (Rhonda Pierce's birthday was Thursday)...so I drove a short 2 blocks to the Post Office.

The rain was coming down hard at that point -- but -- hey -- I was already wet... So I parked my car and took the package inside. Looking back, I remember having some trouble opening my car door...but I really didn't think much of it at that point.

When I came out, John was calling me again to say DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE HOME...trees are falling up in the woods...branches are hitting the house, and he was afraid our roof would blow off.  The wind is blowing so hard, semi-trucks are being blown over, electrical lines are down across roads...STAY PUT...

So, I sat in that parking lot for about 10 minutes -- and then there was a giant WHOOSH...and the car bounced...I looked in my rear view mirror -- my window was filled with green leaves...and it seemed my car had been hit by a falling tree.

A 20' tall ornamental maple tree (from a big row of beautiful trees, right along the street) -- HAD FALLEN RIGHT BEHIND MY CAR. But the car had not been hit...and the wind was still fiercely blowing...I realized I was not in a safe place...

I had to finagle my way OUT of my parking spot...and tried to take this picture as I drove OUT of the Post Office parking lot...

However, there were branches and trees across the road...and I knew I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING. The emergency sirens were going off...and there were very few cars on the road..

After about 6 blocks...I saw the new Kwik-Star...with NO TREES...and I decided to park on the side of that building...which would protect me from the wind.

When I got there, the manager was trying to lock the doors.  The store was without power, and their team was following company protocol...to close the store, lock the doors and send their employees to an inside safe area, with no windows.  Lucky for me -- the manager couldn't find the key to lock the doors (they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)...

I must have looked a fright...soaking wet...and scared out of my mind. I think I said, "...a tree almost fell on my car, I live in Princeton, I can't drive home and I really have to use the bathroom..."

She said, "come on in -- but once I let you in -- I can't let you out until it's safe..."

NO PROBLEM...

I HAD LANDED IN A SAFE PLACE...AND WAS QUITE HAPPY TO STAY PUT UNTIL THEY KICKED ME OUT....

So, that's how I ended up HERE. Spending the next hour sitting in a bathroom -- with the Kwik-Star team.

So -- that's MY STORY. And I will always remember exactly where I was, and what I was doing at the moment the 2020 Derecho blew through Iowa...

It was all over in less than an hour.  Cedar Rapids, Iowa was hardest hit -- and they are still without electricity or cell phone service...Every town around me -- Clinton, Camanche, Eldridge, Bettendorf, Davenport -- took devastating hits.   Our power company, Mid-America -- does a wonderful job.  They are prepared for any kind of natural disaster -- and their response is always prompt and well-organized.  But they have never seen anything like this...and the outages were so widespread -- downed power lines, millions of trees -- some 3' in diameter -- just blown over by their root ball...

Their recording said, "We appreciate the importance of the service we provide.  But the devastation to our power grid is vast and unprecedented.  Our crews are working 24 hours a day to restore service, and we have called in every available outside contractor...If you have a live wire down in your area, please report it to this emergency number..."

And there was NO estimate of when they would be able to restore power.

We got lucky.  We got power back after five days...AND I SWEAR, FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE -- I WILL NEVER TAKE ELECTRICITY FOR GRANTED...

Drone Video

 Monday's derecho damages one third of Iowa cropland: (KWWL) - We've seen first hand the extensive damage inflicted on homes, power lines and businesses at the hands of Monday's powerful derecho. However, perhaps one of the biggest hits from those strong, straight-line winds has been Iowa's farmland.

Derecho

On Monday, a "derecho" blew across Iowa, with winds of over 100 miles per hour...we had almost no notice...everybody was going about their business...I was at the YMCA, in the pool with it started...25

I went to the Post Office, and 10 minutes later...a  20' tree fell right behind my car...it missed me by inches...

This straight-wind derecho did devastating damage...leaving half the State of Iowa with no power.  Semi trucks were blown over on their sides...millions of trees were damaged.  This unprecedented storm formed a line 750 miles long, with winds that would have made it a Cat 3 hurricane...every neighborhood in every town in all 99 counties was affected...

And I'm pretty sure you didn't hear a thing about it... 

We were without electricity for five days...cell service is still spotty...this is the first time I've been able to turn on my computer...(it's Friday night).

There won't be much blogging next week...


https://www.linkedin.com/content-guest/article/historic-failure-journalism-cary-jordan?fbclid=IwAR1-T-9tzjmFX9xsd9Wvo3wnrBH6qrqTwwAuIQ0YZIDliGF0pUdUbaTyd78

Backyard Ninja Squirrel Games

It's not like I always plan ENTERTAINMENT when I'm having company. But, often, there's a "Sew and Tell"...and sometimes, there will be GAMES...an earlier MDF porch lunch -- I gave a Frankensewing style show (hey -- I'VE HAD LOTS OF TIME TO SEW, PEOPLE..!!).

Of course, I've also been giving tours of my pandemic home improvements...the artsy new bathroom floor, the MUCH IMPROVED basement, with our new "hang-out" space...

At last week's lunch -- Sue was talking about how she enjoyed watching the squirrels in her yard even more than the BIRDS...

So, I ramped up this Mark Rober YouTube video....

Well -- HELLO....YOU'VE JUST GOTTA SEE THIS...

Tablecloths and Napkins

Early on, when this whole scary pandemic hit the fan -- I made the decision to spend MORE time with Lilly and Warren..not less. MORE. Make that A LOT MORE...

After our MDF ringleader, Sandy, came home from Florida in the spring (she and her husband both had Covid in March)...she stepped up the MDF luncheon schedule. We went from monthly get togethers to weekly lunches...As it happens -- I was DELIGHTED for some adult company.

Altho we did enjoy that one fancy Rastrelli's lunch (which Lilly got all dressed up for) -- most of the time, they are more comfortable going to each other's homes. Which makes sense....

I have been going to restaurants (mostly with the kids) for months. But these ladies would rather avoid a busy eatery -- where 1000 strangers have been touching things and breathing the air...Hey -- I get that.

And it has given us all a perfect, unexpected excuse to GET OUT THE GOOD CHINA..!!

Last week, it was Sue's turn to hostess...and she admitted it was the first time she's ironed a tablecloth in about 20 years!!

After lunch, we sat out on her patio and watched the squirrels in her yard...

We also met Sue's new neighbors -- a young couple with a 6 month old baby..

August 4, 2020 Dekalb Roadtrip

Another road trip?   I feel like a broken record. But, I mean -- I DO HAVE A NEW CAR...and not many other commitments...

Many times, the road trips are all about Grandma Camp...

But, on this day -- it's something REALLY SPECIAL. I'm spending the day with two of my favorite people in the world...ADULTS....WOMEN FRIENDS I've had for decades...

My cousin Jackie and I grew up together...she was the maid of honor at my wedding...and she's in Iowa, hunkered down with her 90-year old mother during the never-ending pandemic.

We are driving about 2 hours into Illinois to meet up with my old college roommate, Becky -- who has cancelled our summer meet-up at least 3 times.  But -- TODAY IS THE DAY...

We chose Dekalb, Illinois as our meeting spot...

The beautiful Egyptian Theater is closed...but the town is in Phase 4 (don't ask me what that means -- but masks are mandatory)

Dekalb is home to the University of Northern Iowa.  Like so many college towns in this country, it is prosperous, well-maintained, full of beautiful parks and grounds.  And -- they have lots of MURALS in their downtown!!

The architecture is sooo interesting.  I love the concept of apartment living above the retail spaces.

This store was called "Lovers".  We were afraid to go in...(or, disinterested?)

I AM COMPLETELY SHOCKED by how similar Becky and Jackie look.  They could be sisters!. When I was reviewing the pictures -- I kept getting them confused!!

I mean -- WOW -- what a spectacular day we had. We arrived in Dekalb at 10:00 -- and met at the Goodwill store. (in case either party arrives early -- there's interesting browsing!)

Then -- we went to one of Dekalb's beautiful PARKS -- and sat at a picnic table under a shady tree.  It was a stunning, beautiful summer day.  And I had that feeling I love -- you know the one -- "there is no place I'd rather be, and nobody I'd rather be with"...

And we just visited.  That's it.  We talked about each other's lives...our good old days -- and then our current worries and concerns...the day-to-day stuff that women do so well....in that genuine way that only happens with forever friends....  (we kept the virus conversation to a bare minimum)

Of course, there was a delicious lunch...at a wonderful little THAI restaurant.  Pad Thai...yummo...

Muscatine, Phase 2

Lilly was proud of her button-on-card-sewing ability...

I'm afraid I didn't get any good pictures of the Mississippi River when we were in Muscatine. And, certainly -- I SHOULD HAVE.

The Mississippi is the river we live near...it's the reason there ever WAS a Button trade...and Muscatine has done a great job of beautifying their riverfront.

From the second level of the Button Museum -- which is just a block away from the river -- I happened to take this picture.

There is a beautiful renovated old hotel -- with rooms overlooking the river. And, apparently, quite a spectacular rooftop garden.  THAT's where we'll eat our diner today...before we leave Muscatine...

But, first -- we'll do a little shopping. Like many small towns, the downtown has struggled. There is a GREAT little quilt shop (Neal's Sewing Center). 

Also, there is a good selection of tatoo parlors in downtown Muscatine...which, frankly, is always a little jarring for me.  But I've gotta chalk it up to a generational thing...

Luckily -- there was a brand new shop (which opened in June 2020), featuring vintage clothes, right across the street from the Button Museum. 

Lilly tried on about 15 different dresses...

Warren and I sat in vintage crushed velvet chairs, ready to critique her outfits.

This activity was surprisingly entertaining for BOTH of them. Lilly loves, loves, loves vintage clothes...and Warren has quite an eye for fashion. At the end of a half hour, I was calling him "Tim Gunn".  He not only got the reference -- he seemed flattered...

I spent $28 for a sweater-dress I'm pretty sure Lilly will NEVER wear.  But I had to pay homage to the young store owner's optimism....

There's a huge statue, right on the river...with some clamming device (I think)...

TIME FOR OUR PARK VISIT.  Every city or town has a park.  And in Muscatine, we picked their "Discovery Park"

I find a shady spot to sit...and I always bring along a good book...

It's a beautiful park

And the kids loved their equipment

There were lots of plastic animals to find (here, a racoon)

Rock walls to climb, soft ground to jump or fall down on..

GOOD JOB, Muscatine..!!

Muscatine -- Here We Come!!

I asked Lilly and Warren to pose for a picture at our Weed Lake gazebo...they were in good spirits -- we just enjoyed a Kwik-Star breakfast...and it was a stunningly beautiful day.

We were OFF -- to the unknown city of Muscatine, Iowa. (about a 60 minute drive).

Our first stop (and the only thing I had planned for SURE) -- was going to be the National Pearl Button Museum at the History and Industry Center in downtown Muscatine.

From their website:

 The Gold Rush of the Midwest It wasn’t gold, it wasn’t silver, it was mother of pearl. Shells taken from rivers of 19 states around Iowa were shipped to Muscatine by railcar bargeloads to make 1.5 billion buttons annually.

Museums haven't been our first choice this summer.  For one thing -- THEY ARE MOSTLY CLOSED...

But this one was a very pleasant surprise...and sooo well done!!

Lilly and Warren both read about the history of making pearl buttons from clam shells.

There were several stations where the kids were encouraged to do hands-on things...

Like -- this paddle is actually a button-counter!!  Imagine how long it would take to count out exactly 144 buttons of this small size...

There was an interesting 6 minute movie, and many wonderful photographs that showed how this "industry" worked.  For decades...

The fisherman brought in the clams, and, in large outdoor camps, the women and children steamed them open...then, in alley's and homes -- the men cut out the button blanks...

Everybody in the family would be involved...and sewing the buttons onto the cards was done at home, often by older women or young children.

I'm afraid Warren wouldn't have made much money for the family...