Wednesday GUEST Blog

10-5-11 listening brain
Ann has some random thoughts today.... she's been busy as usual doing this and that! ~judy

Random Thoughts


Goodbye Summer, hello Fall. I’ve got some random thoughts that I’m putting on paper:

I’ll miss my weekly outing to Des Moines for breakfast and my walkabout at the Farmers’ Market. Of the 20 markets thus far, I’m sure I got to at least 15. I ran out of time last weekend. Why grow a vegetable garden when you can get all you need and more at the market? Not to mention, seeing my favorite singer, Bonnie Finken at the market.

I’ll miss bargain shopping at garage sales. I love looking but I’m getting good at picking up an item then putting it back down. Last weekend, my finds included a “to go” blanket, Train CD (drops of Jupiter), a cool cookbook “recipes from B & B’s across the USA, several DVD’s including “De-Lovely” the music of Cole Porter, bin full of mason jars and a very cool purse for two bucks.

What is it with men and their machines? I was hooked on watching the big equipment in action over the last two months while they worked on the massive “Ravine Project” out back. The work clearing the trees, grading, installing steel grates, filling in huge rocks and making part of your property a natural “prairie” walkout was amazing. I can’t wait to see the beauty of the foliage as it grows in next year. Yes, our tax dollars at work.

Why is everybody down on Gov Rick Perry and what happened to Michele Bachmann? If you’re a democrat, you should be jumping for joy. That is, unless you don’t think the president will not get re-elected. The next three months, we will be seeing the candidates all over Iowa. And once again, Iowa voters may just pick the next POTUS (president of the united states).

Government, why are you messing with my light bulb? The infamous “light bulb law” going into effective in Jan. ’12. My gut reaction, really ……….. government regulating health care, how much and what I can eat, the capacity of a toilet, now what kind of light bulb to use? I understand this is good thing, but outlawing the light bulb as we know it, well that draws the line. Lastly, two things we can all count on. death and taxes. Time again for property taxes and of course, Dad. It’ll be six months on October 6th. Thanks everyone for cheering me on with my posts. Oh well, happy Fall everyone. Enjoy it!

Chat Later
That Girl, Ann Marie

Pennsylvania Day: part one

10-4-11 vacation reporting brain
Greg and I spent a few days in Ohio, then we went over to Pennsylvania, just south of Pittsburgh where Greg's brother's family lives..... so we could have more family time together. We had an interesting day on Wednesday of last week.... we all went over to the Flight 93 Memorial Crash Site, since this was only about an hour away.

This memorial, out in a Pennsylvania field, has been evolving over the last 10 years, and continues to evolve. Currently there is a long walkway out into the field and a white wall with names of plane passengers, this wall built along the flight path. The crater itself was been filled in and now has prairie flowers and trees planted, and only family members are allowed out in that area. Their are plans to build a Visitor's Center on the hill which overlooks the field.

This is a beautiful memorial site, run by the US Park Service.

Large Rock marks crash site

Look above my head, I left one of my peace art magnats, as others also left personal memorials.

Catching up from time away

10-3-11 Sunday night brain


Much to write about, but not feeling in the mood too much. I’m watching Prohibition tonight …. You gotta love Ken Berns on Public TV. This is an interesting topic for him to tackle, and a topic I don’t know much about. The larger question is can we make laws to dictate how people live their lives? Inebriation was a big problem….. and some Christians got a bit “preachy” with their temperance…. This is fascinating.

Back to my life: over the last week, I’ve spent about 3000 miles in the car…. A vacation to visit Beachy family in Ohio and PA….. and special time with our 5 year old nephew, Brennan.




Last Sunday I spent the day with Brennan, Greg’s mom and Greg’s aunt at the Akron Zoo, while Greg and his brother went to the Browns football game. Bren is a good kid, but it took us three women to keep up with his energy.

Greg and Tim

Greg's Aunt and Uncle



Duo Celebrations

9-30-11 reminiscing brain
Not a God-daughter, but an important girl none the less. Elizabeth age one in 1991. This "Top Cat" sweatshirt is the first thing Greg ever bought me, in 1991 was we were dating.....funny to think now that this cat looks like our Clover cat!

Not sure- but think this is 1992.

Just found these in my picture closet.... which is totally unorganized, but once in awhile something pops out at me when I'm looking for something else. Happy Birthday to Elizabeth who's birthday falls on her parent's Wedding Anniversary, one year later. How cool is that.... making September 30th a very, very special day.

GUEST Blog II

9-28-11 judy still vacation brain

Toronto, Final Leg of the ’11 Road Trip


Dateline July 30, 2011, the finale of my summer road trip, the big Caribana parade. Caribana is a three week festival held every July celebrating Caribbean culture. It ends with a humongous, a million plus, masqueraders dancing down Lakeshore Blvd. The parade runs about ten hours with “bands” split up in several sections. Each band and section have their own music and hundreds of “players” dancing in masquerade costumes. There is a rhyme and reason for the set-up, but in the end, thousands of people walking miles and miles, dancin’ with each other in formats that you will not believe.

Pre-parade events included an “all white” boat cruise around Lake Ontario. So glad I packed a white top/skirt, just need to buy the white shoes (found in Chinatown). Before the cruise, I had my first “trunk-orama” party aka “tailgating”. So funny, we went to the nearby grocery to pick up a few things, and we looked so “Miami Vice”. The food was de-lish, the drinks, well mix it up and drink it. Then we went to the boat for some bumpin’ and grindin’. Let me just say, I’m not a bump n’ grind girl, but it was a ton of fun. It was a long night, well early morning before we got home.

I got to do something fun on parade day, take a boat ride to the harbor, what fun! It didn’t take us very long to meet-up with the family and as usual, my aunt packed a great lunch (roti chicken) for us. The parade started somewhere around 11 am and we left at 5 pm. The day was really fun; eat, drink, eat, drink… and they sure like to see me drink (when they are not looking, the drink is poured out).

To wrap-up the trip, day 1- drove to Punxustawney, PA (900 miles), Days 2-4 NYC (200 miles), days 5-6 New Britain, CT (100), days 7-11 Toronto (500), day 12 back to Iowa via Michigan, Indiana and Illinois (900). I left at 4 am and was back in Ankeny at 6 pm with one pit stop, Michigan to pick blueberries. Not sure what I’m going to do with the berries, but for now, it’s in the freezer.

I got a lot accomplished in 12 days, saw a lot, did a lot, mended fences, secured a few fences all while thinking of Dad and wishing for just one more trip. Honestly, this trip was Priceless. Thanks everyone for cheering me along the 3000 mile journey.

Chat Later,
That Girl, Ann Marie

GUEST Blog

9-26-11 vacation brain
As I spend time with Greg in Ohio visiting his family, Ann will fill in a few days...... and who knows I might even post from the road one day this week.
PS: Greg and I were in Toronto 10 years ago and these pictures make me want to go back.

Canada or Bust, Eh?


I know a lot of you have been to Canada, but have you really been to Canada? Yes, yes, I know a lot of you go for the “amazing fishing” but the major cities have so much to offer. Say like, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

My Canadian connection goes back to the 70’s when my Uncle Frank moved to Mississauga/Toronto (from Trinidad). Since Trinidad has British ties, entry may have been easier back in the day. With 5.5 million living in the GTA, it is one of the most multicultural areas in the world and I can attest to that. Mississauga is one of the cities, with a diverse mix of people. In addition, it has a new claim to fame with the Absolute Towers (5 buildings). The newest towers are 50 and 56 floors tall and the tall tower is nicknamed “Marilyn Monroe”, I wonder why? These buildings are gorgeous, that is if you like buildings.

Over the last few years, I’ve renewed my love for this city and the annual Caribbean festival “Cariabana”. This year I added a few more sights to get accomplished in six days. Daily, I made the drive to Toronto although I really did want to take the train in from Mississauga. Traffic was a nightmare and what would you expect from a city of 5.5 million. The value of mass transit cannot be understated. Some travel 2 hours to get to work (bus to train to subway then back to bus).

I made three trips to Chinatown and I am amazed at the people, the food and their shops. I got caught up at a movie shoot in Chinatown and stood in the drizzle for two hours, just people watching. I forget now who was in the move, but it was so much fun to watch.

I got down to the CN Tower, St Lawrence Market and got a nice shot of their version of the “flatiron” building. I drove up and down the streets of Toronto, in-between, cars/cycles/bikes/electric trams, crazy just crazy.

Then there’s Casa Loma, house on the hill (overlooking the city of Toronto). I’ve been wanting to tour this house-like castle for a long time. Built by Sir Henry Pellat in 1911, it was the largest private home in Canada, boasting 98 rooms, with a cost of $3.5 million dollars to build. And like all good things, he had to leave his dream home due to financial woes in 1923. Today, the Kiwanis Club operates the home. Let me tell you, it’s a beautiful home with lush gardens. Touring the house reminded me of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC (250 rooms) and many of the castles in Europe.

Other than the sightseeing, I enjoyed spending time with Uncle Frank (mom’s brother), Aunt Sheila and my cousins. They are great people, always welcoming me. Aunt Sheila is an amazing lady, street smart for sure, and what a cook. If I lived at her house, I’d never eat out. Of the many things I wanted to buy, I bought 50 pounds of rice. Don’t ask me why, just can’t pass up a good deal. (Aunt Sheila and g’daughter Bella)

 

Up next, the pre-festival activities and the big A$$ parade. If only I looked this good.

Chat Later,

That Girl, Ann Marie

Celebrating TGIF

9-23-11 excited brain

I realized that I’m really getting use to my split life as my new normal, but  THIS month, since Greg and I have been off schedule….. I’ve been missing Greg a lot this week. This is probably just due to the fact that we haven’t gotten to spend as much time together as we usually do. Life has been busy for both of us- my out of town work meetings, him going to Ohio to football game, and me not getting to spend my usual time in KC this month.


This week I’ve been feeling a little bored by living alone so much… but I can’t really see what the next step would be for us. It is hard for either of us to consider giving up a good job when you have one these days. The good news is that Greg and I will be spending the next week together again….. and that makes today a great TGIF. Also I'm excited today because I made my work deadline this week! My 2010 cancer cases are complete! I'll be getting new software in October and a new case-year will begin for me!