So last night I had to work at the gym. So at closing time, I locked the gym up and got in my car. I noticed this kid walking through the parking lot, no big deal. Then there was this kid on a bike that he was obviously too small for, casing the bike rack by the gym. AHHH, it was 8:30pm, perhaps time for the kids to be near their homes.
I am proceeding to our house and I pass the kid that is walking. He is using the center of the street as his sidewalk, as do most of the annoying juveniles in the hood. Then I pass the kid on the bike, using the whole road to ride, going from the center to the left side, seriously, use a sidewalk, someone wil hit you!
I sped home hoping the kid on the bike would not see where I was going, as he was near our house. I parked the car in the garage and went inside and got ready to eat supper. I went to open our blinds in the living room and there he was....
The kid that was on foot, was crouched down in the front yard and headed towards Jolene's driveway (neighbor) I told josh to turn off the lights so we could see out and he couldn't see in. By the time we got outside, the kid was no where to be seen....
Then he comes wandering out of our driveway, which kind of wraps to behind our house. Josh asks what he was doing...he says "I was tired" ok??? So Josh tells him there are other places to be and he walks north on Franklin St. If you were tired would you be scoping out the garages in the neighborhood?
So we decide to make a police report, nothing pressing, but if something were to happen in the neighborhood, we would want it on file.
then about 15 minutes later, the police actually drive by....I was stunned! Then the policeman actually stops and chats with us. This draws the neighbors outside and we all discuss the happenings. The police tells us, as we already know about the increasing juvenile crimes and activity in the area. He was very nice. As we were chatting a group of 4 kids walks by in the middle of the street. At least they knew the cops were in the area. Then the cop gets a call about some kids wandering the area and he drives away. We are still outside and see the cop driving by on adjacent streets and a second cop car.
At least on this incident we got some response. So that is the happenings in the hood....anyone got a house for sale?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Stormin' into Motincello
July 24th, we were headed to Monticello, IA. We knew there was a storm brewing, so we kept an eye to the weather radar. Dad, Josh and I were trying to make it to the Jones Co. Fair to see the Steve Miller Band. Dad was running behind as he had a few things to do before he could get to the fair. Josh made a call to the fair and asked what they did when the weather got bad, they said they never have cancelled a concert. SO with all the technology, we see that the storm would hit Monticello at about the start of the concert, so we were guessing they would delay it for a bit. This was good news to dad as he could get all his chores done.
So we headed up to the fair and Josh and I hit the storm. The clouds were crazy and fun to watch, the wind was strong, then came the rains. Trying to drive in all that water was not fun, but we made it to the fairgrounds at the same time as dad. It was about 8:30.
We got into the fair, with the fair admission you can see the concert for free here too, but the rides were not free. Over the PA system they annouce that the concert will go on, but there will be a delay. They were aiming for about 10pm. There was a lot of water on the track where the stage was. They had to take care of that.
SO in the mean time dad was able to grab some delicious fair food for supper and we scored some kettle corn. We were thinking ahead and brought a trusty blue tarp and a blanket to sit on the hillside (why we didn't bring our collapsable chairs, I don't know) We were able to find a spot to sit with no problems. However it was funny, there were many blankets and such that had been staked to the hillside all afternoon, and they were soaked, wonder where those peeps will sit?
We sat and waited for the concert to start. The people watching was fun, as well as the process on the track. A few loads of wood chips had been dropped off to be scattered on the mud and puddles that were on the track. There were gators and skidloaders working like crazy to get things in order.
At about 10:30 the show began! Steve Miller and his gigantic band really know how to put on a show. There were many songs I didn't know, but many I did now. There was even one band member who knew how to shake his groove thing.
The concert ended with a spectaculer fireworks display at about 12 midnight. At this time the sky had cleared up at the stars were shining. It was another cool July evening. We parted ways with dad as he went up to Guttenberg and we headed home. WE can't wait to see who will be playing next year.
So we headed up to the fair and Josh and I hit the storm. The clouds were crazy and fun to watch, the wind was strong, then came the rains. Trying to drive in all that water was not fun, but we made it to the fairgrounds at the same time as dad. It was about 8:30.
We got into the fair, with the fair admission you can see the concert for free here too, but the rides were not free. Over the PA system they annouce that the concert will go on, but there will be a delay. They were aiming for about 10pm. There was a lot of water on the track where the stage was. They had to take care of that.
SO in the mean time dad was able to grab some delicious fair food for supper and we scored some kettle corn. We were thinking ahead and brought a trusty blue tarp and a blanket to sit on the hillside (why we didn't bring our collapsable chairs, I don't know) We were able to find a spot to sit with no problems. However it was funny, there were many blankets and such that had been staked to the hillside all afternoon, and they were soaked, wonder where those peeps will sit?
We sat and waited for the concert to start. The people watching was fun, as well as the process on the track. A few loads of wood chips had been dropped off to be scattered on the mud and puddles that were on the track. There were gators and skidloaders working like crazy to get things in order.
At about 10:30 the show began! Steve Miller and his gigantic band really know how to put on a show. There were many songs I didn't know, but many I did now. There was even one band member who knew how to shake his groove thing.
The concert ended with a spectaculer fireworks display at about 12 midnight. At this time the sky had cleared up at the stars were shining. It was another cool July evening. We parted ways with dad as he went up to Guttenberg and we headed home. WE can't wait to see who will be playing next year.
County Fair Season
Tis the season....for county fairs. Here in Iowa there are a few good, big county fairs and then the big state fair in august. Most of the county fairs are huge in 4-H projects. We like to go to the Delaware Co. and Jones Co. fair becuase they usually have big musical acts.
So we started off the fair season with the Delaware Co. Fair in Manchester. .38 Special was the band of the evening. You could enjoy the concert by just paying the fair admission. So Amber, Dad, and I were ready for a night of fun. We got there in time to get a seat in the bleachers in the alcohol section. It was July 17th and we needed sweathshirts and jeans, it was cold! Of course we had to get some beers, sweet potato fries and kettle corn. Leave it to the fairs to provide the strange food. The concert was good. Our seats allowed us to watch the beer area for the people who were seated close to the stage, they went through 10 kegs of beer or so.
Once the concert was over we were going to hit up the rides. The rides were free this year with the fair admission, however the rides closed up after the concert, so we got to ride nothing. We were very dissapointed! So we got back into the Amb-mobile and headed to Guttenberg. Dad was hungry as he really didn't eat supper so he thought that becuase it was late we could get a frozen pizza at the stadium bar in guttenberg.
We rolled up to the stadium, walked inside, and proceded to some seats at the bar. We put in our drink orders and the lady brings dad back 2 beers, we were puzzled. then the bartender informed us that it was "double bubble" which meant it was two for one drinks. Man we were so lucky. Just what we needed more drinks! After we had our beverages and pizza we went back to the motel and called it a night.
So we started off the fair season with the Delaware Co. Fair in Manchester. .38 Special was the band of the evening. You could enjoy the concert by just paying the fair admission. So Amber, Dad, and I were ready for a night of fun. We got there in time to get a seat in the bleachers in the alcohol section. It was July 17th and we needed sweathshirts and jeans, it was cold! Of course we had to get some beers, sweet potato fries and kettle corn. Leave it to the fairs to provide the strange food. The concert was good. Our seats allowed us to watch the beer area for the people who were seated close to the stage, they went through 10 kegs of beer or so.
Once the concert was over we were going to hit up the rides. The rides were free this year with the fair admission, however the rides closed up after the concert, so we got to ride nothing. We were very dissapointed! So we got back into the Amb-mobile and headed to Guttenberg. Dad was hungry as he really didn't eat supper so he thought that becuase it was late we could get a frozen pizza at the stadium bar in guttenberg.
We rolled up to the stadium, walked inside, and proceded to some seats at the bar. We put in our drink orders and the lady brings dad back 2 beers, we were puzzled. then the bartender informed us that it was "double bubble" which meant it was two for one drinks. Man we were so lucky. Just what we needed more drinks! After we had our beverages and pizza we went back to the motel and called it a night.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Holy Kahrabi!
Wow look at the size of this thing. I hope by eating it i don't turn into some alien life form or develop a second nose or something crazy like that. To get a sense of the size of this i have places a salt shaker next to it, and then one that has a tape measure, and I believe it is around 6 inches in diameter. Josh will love me later as kahlrabi provides for some good burping and farting....fun times!
Monday, July 13, 2009
summertime
Well now that it is July 13th, I better post about the 4th of July. Nothing like being on top of things!
So the 4th of July started on the 3rd for us, we went to the Coralville 4th-fest to see Dennis DeYoung of Styx perform his hits, however he only performed for about an hour and a half. He was alright.
Then for the 4th we planned on going to the parade in Coralville, what else were we going to do? SO we woke up to a fabulous cloudy, rainy day. What the heck lets go sit in the rain. So we pulled into the Starbucks parking lot to get some coffee, threw on our rain ponchos and got our chairs, and went to sit in the rain as we waiting for the parade to start.
We noticed the lack of parade goers, usually the streets are lined with people, and you have to fight the kids for the good candy. This year there was so much candy that went to waste, who wants to pick it out of the rain gutter in the street? Also we scored some sparklers, and a whole case of bottled water.
Lets just say we stayed dry for the most part, those ponchos need better protection for the sides, we had wet shorts. However we should have worn pants, it was cold, more like Memorial day.
That night we decided to go to Hills to see their firework display. SO we got to Hills just about dark and pulled into some housing development, put it in park and set up our chairs, Jolene joined us. We had brought along our sparklers we got at the parade, and lit them all up, like little kids. Notice we are wearing coats and sweatshirts.
It was then time to watch the fireworks, they were a good display.
So the 4th of July started on the 3rd for us, we went to the Coralville 4th-fest to see Dennis DeYoung of Styx perform his hits, however he only performed for about an hour and a half. He was alright.
Then for the 4th we planned on going to the parade in Coralville, what else were we going to do? SO we woke up to a fabulous cloudy, rainy day. What the heck lets go sit in the rain. So we pulled into the Starbucks parking lot to get some coffee, threw on our rain ponchos and got our chairs, and went to sit in the rain as we waiting for the parade to start.
We noticed the lack of parade goers, usually the streets are lined with people, and you have to fight the kids for the good candy. This year there was so much candy that went to waste, who wants to pick it out of the rain gutter in the street? Also we scored some sparklers, and a whole case of bottled water.
Lets just say we stayed dry for the most part, those ponchos need better protection for the sides, we had wet shorts. However we should have worn pants, it was cold, more like Memorial day.
That night we decided to go to Hills to see their firework display. SO we got to Hills just about dark and pulled into some housing development, put it in park and set up our chairs, Jolene joined us. We had brought along our sparklers we got at the parade, and lit them all up, like little kids. Notice we are wearing coats and sweatshirts.
It was then time to watch the fireworks, they were a good display.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Happy Anniversary....belated that is
So I wrote some blogs on June 24th, but I forgot to write that it was our 3 year anniversary. I guess it was all the other things that were going on last week. With the heat, the death of a local football coach, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, then Billy Mays....I guess we just got caught up in all that. Anyway it was nice to remember the fun we had 3 years ago. I have attached a picture of the gerbera daisies I had used to help decorate the barn. The 3 plants I had back then are still alive and well. They don't like the winters so much, as they hate being inside, but as you can see they have blooms. The one picture of the bar from the wedding, if you look to the right of the bar you can see one of the gerberas 3 years ago.
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