The green of Iowa, continued

In the two weeks I've been in Iowa the perfect weather (read: sun and rain) have produced quick growth in the corn and soybean fields on my parents' farm. Soon you won't be able to see down these rows of soybeans.

Green, green, as far as the eye can see.

A simple, yet fantastic day

With a high of 76 and low humidity, I actually liked spending the day pulling weeds out of the rock bed. In the evening I had dinner with Denise and Jason. They had sushi that I tried and liked. While I had an amazing steak.

After dinner I joined Phillip and Sulea.

Today - June 29 - is Phillips 29th birthday. I don't think he asked for a free drink for his golden birthday. If I had thought ahead I'd have made sure we went somewhere where they did the embarrassing birthday song.

Now back to the amazing steak. This slightly out-of-focus pic shows a terryaki sauce on top of medium rare tenderloin slices on top mashed potatoes with glazed bacon & onions on top of shitake mushrooms. Add some asparagus on the side and it was a very memorable meal!

*****

Blogging note: If you click on the picture of Jason and Denise you'll see that I didn't really cut off the right side of Jason's head. I'm not sure why it appears that way.

Change of time

I've changed the time stamp on my blog so it matches Iowa. As it was, any post after 3PM showed on the blog as the next day.

Softball

Tonight I was able to watch friends play softball. Not a big deal in most worlds, but I missed it last summer as I was home in the time between summer ball and fall ball.

Fantastic weather + time with old friends = priceless.

The farm

Despite living here for 40 years I have been awestruck by the wall of green.

In this part of the world farmers grow soybeans and corn. That accounts for the different shades of green.

In the foreground are young soybeans. The debris in between the rows is corn left over from last year. This type of "no-till" agriculture is much better on the soil. In the old days farmers would plow the corn from last year under leaving the soil exposed. Many years of erosion were destroying the land.

Corn takes out a lot from the soil so most farmers rotate: Plant corn in a field one year and soybeans the next.

Approaching storm

I wanted to see weather when I returned and I have not been disappointed.

From the road that runs in front of my parents' house I watched a storm coming from the west.
It created a clearly defined boundary and the wind picked up as the storm came.

A tribute to our easy to prepare foods

One of my simple pleasures is Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff. There are not many things that are easier to make that taste so good. I add some sauteed red onions and garlic, but it's still very simple.

I know many from other countries make fun of the US for our processed food but I, for one, love Hamburger Helper and I should have room to take some back at the end of the summer.

Now there's a traffic ticket!

With Cedar Rapids moving to automated ticketing this should be a warning of what can happen when the system makes mistakes. A Facebook friend in the Emirates posted this:

The key line is the 111790. That's the total fine in Dirhams. That's $30,434. Somehow the computer system screwed up and kept giving him the same ticket over and over. You'd think it would be easy to clear up... but then things are rarely that easy.

Take me out to the ballpark!

Last Wednesday (on my first full day back in the US) I took Aaron Longwell to an afternoon Kernels game. The weather was fantastic; the game not-so-much. The Kernels lost big and couldn't buy a hit.

Tenderloin Tuesday

I joined Ann and her mom for the Tic Toc's Tenderloin Tuesday (Two tenderloins for the price of one.)

The Tic Toc has fantastic appetizers. We skipped the breaded pickles and stuck with mushrooms and onion rings. I'm not sure what type of batter they use but it's pretty good.
I am providing this closer view of the tenderloins because I've learned from east/west coast friends that tenderloins are apparently a midwest delicacy.

Their loss.

We Built Sioux City

My nephew and niece-in-law visited today.  They currently live in Omaha but in a year they need to pick a place to go after Peggy completes her residency as an internist.  Near the top of the list for them is Sioux City, affectionately derisively known by those who lived there by the airport code:  SUX.

I confess I tried to dissuade them of the choice.  As a female internist she can go anywhere she wants.  In a list of cities in the country SUX would not be in the top 100.  In a list of cities in Iowa SUX would not be in the top 8 of 10.  (I think Ottumwa would score lower.)

Tonight I was discussing this with my SUX native roommate and he brought my attention to this video:

It’s as cheesy as can be but endearing as well.  (Probably not worth watching unless you want to play “count the non-white people” game.)  I still don’t want to move back to SUX but I admire the community coming together for a video.  There are times where I think that’s more than can be said for Cedar Rapids.

School dance, 1985

I'm not sure how this picture of me ended up on the internet.

Saline solution

I've commented before that it's odd to live in a country where it is difficult to get saline solution.

Last fall I brought back the bottle in the center from Wal Mart. I spent the year trying to get more. Finally - on the last day - I found a pharmacy that sold the saline bottles used for transfusions. I asked the pharmacist why it is so hard to find. She said, "Who would buy it when you can make it for free?"

I replied, "Who would make it you can buy it for 5 Dh ($1.35)?"

I'm just happy that I don't have to use one of my 100 pounds on saline solution when I go back.

Downtown farmers market

Technically called a "farmers' market" it's really more of a flea market/festival. Live music, lots of crafts and perfect weather drew 13,000 for this morning event.

Quite possibly the best hot dog in the world

I took one bite and had to take a picture of it. Amazing!

It's also quite possible that since it's been a year since I've had a hot dog my judgement is a bit off.

Posting...

... is going to be difficult until I have a reliable internet connection.

Phone

I have a new phone number with AT&T - 319 573 9990.

I like being able to use the IPhone. My addiction is pretty close to a drug.

The weather is great but turning muggy. Still it beats the 118 in Al Ain.

I'm baaack...

Many thoughts:

• Recurring thought for the past 3 days: 293 days is too long to be gone. I'm not sure how I will remedy this in the future; Iowa in January is not a great place and spring break is too short for such a long trip.
• I will never fly British Airways again. I had heard of their bad reputation and they more than lived up to it.
• On the ride to my parents' farm I was completely blown away by the "green" of Iowa. I lived here for 40 years so I have no idea why this I find it so shocking.
• Gus loves me. I wondered if he would remember who I am. He won't leave my side and has attempted to prove his love by humping every part of my body. (Not getting him fixed two years ago is my fault.)
• A great first night: If the rest of the summer goes as well as the first night I'm gonna have a good summer.

I'm rich! I'm rich!

Travis* informed me that his father saw my name on the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.

As I logged into their website I wondered what I'd do with my millions. Alas, it was only a $148 refund from Metropolitan insurance. (Although I don't remember ever using Metropolitan insurance...)

The money will go into my birthday party fund. It will be my last birthday at home for as long as I live abroad so I want it to be good. Given only 4 will come, $148 will go a long ways.

*****
* I originally wrote "Travis, my blood-sucking anti-worker HR friend..." but realized that would be mean. Travis is a close enough friend that I can call him a blood-sucker and he knows I mean it with love. He should not be confused with my other HR manager friend who reads the blog, Adrienne. If I can ever get Travis to come here I'm quite sure the two of them would have stories to swap.

And Travis is not really a blood-sucker or anti-worker.

London - Dubai - Chicago - ________ Rapids

In one hour we will be on the road. A friend and I are taking a taxi to Dubai. Then we will fly to London and on to Chicago on the same planes. (Total coincidence.) From Chicago I will head off to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, while Christine will go to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Here's the complete itinerary:
British Airways flight 106 Dubai to London. Depart 2:40 AM arrive 6:20 London time.
American Airlines flight 99 London to Chicago. Depart 7:55 AM arrive at 10:20 AM Central time.
American Airlines flight 5075 Chicago to Cedar Rapids. Depart 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM.