A FRIEND IS A FRIEND...

Forty years ago my mom and dad dropped off their barely 18 year old daughter (me) in Kansas City, entrusted to the care of Weaver Airline Training School. I had been taking instruction via the mail for months and this was to be the culmination of my education and the beginning of a career in airline reservations. I had responded to some mail my sister, Lana, had recieved as a senior in high school, and soon enough a salesman showed up at our house. I still remember his last name.... Outhouser..... hmmmm. We bought in to the idea that this should be my future and, although I changed my mind in the middle of my senior year when a teacher said that I ought to be going to college, my folks had paid their money ($200 or so, I think) so that was that.

I spent several weeks in KC being educated and at the end of that time TraveLodge folks showed up there looking for reservationists for their first-ever reservation center that was to be set up in KC. They hired me and 7 other young women to work for them. The first time we all met one another , this tall, cute, energetic girl and I decided to get an apartment together. I don't remember if that was before or after we exchanged names, probably after, but not by much. She went back home and so did I. I returned with my folks and found an apartment in the Country Club Plaza area, on the 6th floor of the Longfellow apartment building. I remember crying after they left me there, very much alone. In a day or two, Paula showed up and the world improved greatly. I think we probably shored one another up. If she was scared, she certainly didn't show it. She even had a guy mooning after her already. What power!

For the next 2 1/2 years or so we were roomies. We moved some and had other roommates as well but no other compared to her. We clicked.

Well, in life you loose people. Jobs change.... people move and get married.... life happens.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to google Paula. I knew she was married but didn't remember her last name. I knew she used to live close to Sikeston, Missouri so I googled that and her maiden name. Unfortunately, what I found was her father's obituary, but it did give me her current name and where she lived. I sat with that information for a few weeks, somehow thinking that she was thinking about me as well. Today I looked up her phone number and, feeling particularly brave, called her up.

Now, several thing could have happened... she might not have been home.... she might have said "Sue who?".... she might have been embarassingly cool (it has, after all, been 40 years since we've talked). What it was, was great! We talked and reminised about the silly things we had done (she still has that young girl's laugh). Funny - some things she remembers so clearly, I didn't remember at all and vice-versa. For 30 minutes or so I sat there grinning into the reciever as we talked and Paula re-appeared. She even said that she's been thinking about me lately, too, and that someone in her family (I think it is her son and members of his family) is on RAGBRAI right now. I just finished riding one day of it with Janet and they overnighted in Ames, where we live.

What a small, marvelous world. Let's stay in touch, Paula!

More Birthday Bash!!

We took lots and lots of pictures at our Birthday Bash so here are a few more photos of the event. Here's our sweety, Ava, playing with Benji's piano.

That's Benji under the Sox hat, checking out his Doodle Pro.

I brought along a hat that used to belong to Ava's daddy when he was small. It's still way big for her, though.

Ooooooo, pretty dress!

Ava got an airplane and...

Benji got a microwave. Go figure. I love it!

Cousins, Ava in Benji's chair (that used to belong to his Dad and Uncle Josh).

Oh, let's share, shall we?

Sharing..............................................

Ok, 'nuff of that sharing stuff................................

Leaving.

Pig-tailed cutieness.

The look you get when you know you're king!

Swimming with Mom! He really likes that.

Our Birthday Bash in Chicago

Well, it seems like half our family decided to be born in October, sooooo we went to Chicago on October 19th for the weekend to celebrate Benji's October 4th birthday, Josh's October 15th birthday, and Ava's October 28th birthday. Ava's 1, Benji's 2, and Josh is 28. Happy birthday everyone!

All the birthday kids had a great time and we got all sorts of wonderful pictures. Josh is sitting next to me right now (they're here for the weekend) teaching me how to download movies to my blog. It's gonna take awhile and I hope I (Marv) remember(s) how after Josh is gone. (Not likely). Anyway, one of my favorite movies is of Benji singing his ABC song into the mic of his little piano, and Ava dancing beside it. It's almost like they're at a piano bar, milk only, of course.

So here's Benji and Ava....

And Rollin', And Rollin'

That's weird.... I wrote that last post over a week ago in a motel lobby and it only just now got posted on my blog. Weird.

I journaled on this trip, which I never do, so I'll let you peek into my book (re-written for this post). I take you back to the beginning of the ride.

...........................................................................................

This was all Janet's idea - she said she needed to do this ride and that she would do it alone if I didn't come along, so.... We didn't really practice, unless you call three 20-mile rides practice, so I was, at the very least, concerned about the outcome.

Friday morning, I awoke to the sound of multitudes of crows outside my window- a raucous, scary noise. When I went out to set up my bike to go, there was a dead crow in the alley. It didn't seem like an auspicious beginning for the trip. It was a good ride, though. We biked 40 miles from Ames to the Boondocks, with a tailwind most of the way. Nice! I lost all my M&Ms to Janet that night playing King's in the Corners.

The next day, Saturday, a black cat walked right in front of us, twice, as we were leaving in the morning. Another great day though. Started cool, but we shed clothes through the day as it warmed up. Yesterday I was having problems with my right hip-flexor (a recurring problem with me) which caused me concern because it normally lingers a while and makes it hard for me to lift my leg (can make it hard to get on the bike, much less pedal). I iced it last night and had no problem with it at all today (or for the rest of the ride). The most trouble has been with our feet. They only seem to want to ride for 25 miles and then they complain - a lot.

Sunday's biking started out really slowly. I was working really hard and figured it was the headwinds. Finally, I noticed a recurring noise at my front tire. There is very little space between my front tire and the fork, too little, and there was a spot on the tire that would rub on the fork every revolution. In effect, it was like I was feathering the brake that whole time. Dang! I let a bit of air out of the tire and all was fine after that.

Did I mention headwinds? AUGHHHH It's awful when you have to fight your way up a hill only to have to force your way back down again. I couldn't coast all day.

Tuesday we had head winds again. The first 5 mile were awful! I was working really hard and still slowing Janet down. Finally, when we stopped to rest, she said," Sue, why are you working so hard. It shouldn't be this difficult for you. It's not that bad! Maybe you should check your tires again." At that, she looked at my rear tire and said, "There's your telephone!" My cell phone had slipped out of my un-zipped (oops) rear pannier, fallen toward the bike, and wedged itself between the frame and the tire. It had been a brake for 5 miles. I wore a flat spot on the edge of the phone and took who-knows- how- many miles off the rear tire. Well, it was much easier pedaling after I removed it. Can't believe it didn't fall off onto the road- and, it still works!
We only had to bike 35 miles Tuesday, but it took us 6 hours to do it because of the wind. We would wait for a semi to come along (in the same direction we were traveling) and kind of ride its slipstream for a bit after it passed. Gave us a little boost.

Wednesday was a short ride to New Ulm, 20 miles. We contemplated riding on to the next stop, but decided against it. Had a pleasant afternoon playing Kings In The Corner and reading. We didn't even use the hot tub that night. I think it was in New Ulm that we stopped at a hardware store and bought some wide, white electrical tape. Our bicycles are called BikeE's and that is written on the side of the flat, rectangular frame. With cutout tape letters, we changed that to PrayBikeEat, which is what we did all day. I realize that I've neglected to tell you about the neatest part of the ride. Janet bought along a list of all those attending the retreat and each day we took 12 or 15 of them (or so), wrote their name on a payer card, attached some beads and waxed thread to it, and prayed for them by name. /when we got to retreat, we attached the cards to our bikes, which were parked in the main hall, and folks could retrieve their prayer card to take home.

Thursday's day started with "THE NEW ULM HILL". It's awful ; steep and long , way long. We were going 3 or 3.5 mph the whole way up. About half-way up the hill was a wreath tied to a post next to the roadway. I was beginning to think it was for me. We had side winds all day that turned into headwinds at Hutchinson. 46 miles and no coasting at all. We had several close calls with the traffic on highway 15 and were glad to get off the road and into a hot tub.

Friday was nice. Not much wind at all and, knowing that it was the last day we had on the ride, we enjoyed it all the more. We got to the retreat center in Paynesville about 2:30, before anyone else was there, in fact.

It was a great ride! Janet and I enjoyed the biking, the challenges, the scenery, the people we met, and each other. There were downsides to the ride, and these we decided to immortalize in a song, which we sang at the talent show. Actually, I sang it and she led the audience in singing the 3-word chorus as she played guitar from her bike. It's sung to the tune of "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Aching backside, knees and toes (knees and toes).
These are all our biking woes ( biking woes).
And bugs that fly right up your nose.
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

Sun that burns and wind that blows (wind that blows).
Wearing all those spandex clothes (spandex clothes).
And bugs that fly right up your nose.
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

Dead things lying on the road (on the road).
Skunk and snake and rat and toad (Yes, a toad)
And bugs that fly right up your nose.
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

All those corn fields to and fro (to and fro),
Keep us hidden as we go (as we go)
And bugs that fly right up your nose.
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

Trucks that blow us off the road (off the road)
Biking with a heavy load (heavy load).
And bugs that fly right up your nose
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

Hills and hills and hills and hills (hills and hills)
Hills and hills and hills and hills (hills and hills)
And hills and hills and hills and hills,
Hills and hills and hills and hills.
(Up your nose!)

This ride coming to an end (to an end).
No more biking with my friend (she's my friend)
And bugs that fly right up your nose,
Aching backside, knees and toes.
(Up your nose!)

Rolling Down The Road

Well, here I am in Algona... or more correctly, here we are. The first day, Janet and I biked 40 miles or so to Williams and stayed by the Boondocks,. Yesterday was another 40 miles or so to Ft Dodge and today we biked 5o miles plus to get to Algona. We have been blessed with tail winds all three days, but don't confuse that with being easy. Hills are hills and miles are miles and sore feet are sore feet. That's what's giving us both the most problem so far.... numb toes, wooded toes, cramping feet, and, at times, all of the above. Of course there's also 'bent butt, achilles tendon soreness, hip flexor problems, tired calves and thighs, and a recurring rash (on my legs- not where you're thinking!)

I have an allergy to laytex and I guess that means spandex, too. Well, there go the biking pants. I'll be wearing some cotton 3/4 pants I brought to sleep in , to bike in from now on.

Everything's going well.... we're having a great time...still talking to one another and everything. We've been spending some quality time in the hot tub everywhere we stay. It's what keeps us on the road.

Tomorrow is our longest day - 55 miles, I think, and there's some rain in the forecast, so we will be setting out earlier than usual.

Today's highlight was the two eagles we saw.

Will write more if I get the chance.

Disc Golfing, A Dangerous Sport. Really!

Marv and I have been playing disc golf since Josh introduced us to the game when he was going to ISU- 8 or 9 years now, I guess. We decided a while ago that we would see how many different states we could play in. Part of the fun of this trip was to add some more states to our list. We had 21 so far, but no western states at all, since most of our states had been added traveling (wandering) to see Matt and Kim and Benji in Virginia and to see Josh and Beth and Ava in Wisconsin.

The first course we played on this trip was in a nice, typical, park setting in the Denver area. We played with Michelle, Joan and Noah (in a back-pack). Noah carried a disc and would put it in the basket when we got real close. It's fun to introduce new people to the game and I think Michelle and Joan will try it again. We all had a good time.

The second course was Red Lodge, Montana.

In the internet, the basket on this course were discribed as being make by "restless natives". What fun! They were some of the oddest things you've ever seen. One actually looked like a real basket so we didn't bother to take a picture of that one.

This has got to be my favorite basket of all time. It's really a work of art, constructed totally of driftwood (except for the chains, of course).

We think this is meant to be a basket. At least we couldn't find anything else.

This one was gorgeous, too. Made of big chunks of wood.

The next course was going to be Casper, Wyoming, but driving there, the weather was rainy and nasty. As we pulled up, though (once we found it) it stopped raining so we decided to play. We pulled on our boots (suggested because of cactus and snakes) and st out to have fun. We forgot our camera so no pictures of this one. It was an arid setting with lots of rabbits, cactus and rocks. I filled my bags with cool stones to bring home. The second nine holes was filled with some kind of critter holes, maybe 6" in diameter and really deep. Didn't ever see anything emerge, so we don't know what lived there.

I kind of strained my back on this course. I don't know if it was the rocks or the 5 lbs. of mud I carried on each boot. I vote for the mud.

Billings, Montana was our last course. (We wandered a lot on this trip.)
It took us a bit to find this course, too. Once we found it, there was another car in the parking area, but we never did see another person there. We're thinking that this might be a course you play, maybe, once a year. It was awesome!

I always thought rock-climbing would be fun, and it is . This whole thing was climbing one rock after another.... Teeing off on top of a boulder..... baskets on top of boulders....trails through boulders....

This is generally what the area looked like.

Me, between a couple boulders.

Here's basket #7, with #8 above it in the distance. Don't look for a path - there isn't one.

Me climbing up to #8. This isn't staged at all, it's how we had to get there!

Standing by #9 basket, looking down to where we had been.

We almost didn't play #9. From a distance, it was really formidable. Looked for sure like we would lose a disc or two, if not our lives, but we had to try it. The stairs you see there kind of floated in space. I know they didn't sit on anything at their base, so they must have been connected to the rock. There was one other hole where you were supposed to tee off from the top of a boulder, but the two ladders they had there to reach the top were both rotten, and the mattress at the foot of the boulder didn't encourage me to try to climb it.

#9 basket. Can you believe this!?

We set off to play this course with no phone (the battery was down) and only half a bottle of water (stupid). Our car is parked just beyond that hill. You can barely see it. If something had happened to us we could have yelled all day and nobody would have heard us. We survived though we only played 9 holes. They were the toughest holes, though. 10 through 18 ran along the rim of the rocks, so they would have been safe unless you threw too far right.

More boulders and rocks. These rocks were too big to carry home.

#9 basket is way up there on the right.


So now it's 24 states we've played in. Who's sending us to Hawaii for our 40th anniversary? ;-)

In case you (reader) haven't noticed, I blogged 3 times today to cover our whole vacation, so don't miss the first 2 blogs, okay? Okay.

Friday, Janet and I are leaving on our bikes for Minnesota. Hope my back is fine by then. We haven't biked hardly at all in preparation for this, but, like I told Janet yesterday, how hard can it be?

Later.

National Parks, Here We Come!

We had no sooner gone through the gate of Rocky Mountain National Park, than we saw some elk in a meadow. We're thinking they were tethered there for the tourists. Well maybe not...

As we were driving there, traffic stopped. I figured - bear on the road or something, right? Once we were stopped for a while, moving in fits and starts, we figured it wasn't that. As it turned out, Estes Park, Colorado has Scottish Days annually and it backed up traffic for 6 miles going into town.

We hadn't made any motel reservations, figuring it was pretty much off-season after Labor Day. Wrong. Every old person in the nation waits until after Labor Day to vacation, it seemed. (I know we were there) We had to search hard to find a room several days. Wednesday night we stayed in Rapid City. We decided to try a Microtel there and try to pay under $80, since we had been paying over $100. The guy at the desk said they didn't have any single rooms left except one with a hot tub, so he gave us that room for $73. Fun! We soaked.

The road out of RMNP was a beautiful drive through steep rock canyons. It was gorgeous and we didn't take picture one. Bubkis. Nada. Just take my word for it, really, really pretty.
Yellowstone Park is just awesome! No other word for it . Really other-worldly. This picture is of one of the many hot pools and the color was just that, a lovely turqouois.

This picture shows the road hanging out over thin air. We said a lot of "Oh, man!" "Oh, crap!" "Oh, God!" "Oh, no!" as we wound our way up and up and up and looked down and down and down.

Marv and I were taking pictures of each other when a young couple offered to take one of the both of us. I kiddingly told them then would have to give us their car keys to hold before I would hand over our camera to them. Later I mused that our camera would be a cheap price to pay for their Honda Element, if we were untrustworthy.

We took 5 pictures of Old Faithful and they all looked like this. The lens didn't open. Wasn't very faithful, was it?

There were signs all over to be cautious of the bears. Yeah right. There are NO bears in Yellowstone Park, or if there are they are all busy s#!$$ing in the woods. Therefore, I took a picture of the woods, figuring there was a bear in there somewhere. I had this vision of all these bears coming out of the woods after our car passed. Marv bought me necklace... a bear claw set in silver with a couple stones of turquois. It was as close as we got to a bear.

Bison, they had. Lots of bison. They're huge and they travel wherever they darnwell please.

Pretty picture

We took David Digby's GPS with us. It has a big screen and "Emily" told us where to turn. These mountain roads wound back and forth on the screen on top of each other, all most. It was wild.

It was all great fun. I was kinda tired and about to fall asleep in the car one day (I do that a lot) but couldn't picture myself sleeping through Yellowstone. I really is beautiful and makes Iowa cornfields pale in comparison. It was still wonderful to be home, though.