Planet X

So I have been discovering things about LeMars that lead me to believe I might actually be on a whole 'nother planet. Clue #1: several weeks ago I was checking out my buys at WalMart. Not my favorite place, but hey, they sell cardstock and computer things cheaper than, well the paper store. But I digress...Since I was waiting to check out I thought it would be a good idea to observe. I am often found wanting in that area so when I can practice observing, I do!... Ahem, yes, well what I observed was the clerk. Something funny there. Hmmm. She? was dressed like a woman, her name tag said 'Joanne' but, well she? really didn't look like a woman. Too, hmm, square if you know what I mean. Voice-several octaves lower than most of my girlfriends. Slight hint of stuble on the face. Double hmmmm....I actualy did the rude thing, I stared. I cocked my head and squinted my eyes and really really tried to figure it out. Ok, so I behaved like what I always told my kids not to do, you know, "Don't stare". Short of directly asking "her" about my observations, I had to move on.
Clue #2: yesterday we had a little old lady in. Not too much unusual in that, but this gal looked to be about 60 and had long flowing black hair. After asking one of the staff to hold her bag she raced back to the bathroom. And went directly into the men's bathroom. Well, that stopped me. And I stopped the next two gentlemen who needed to go in. Goodness aren't the doors clearly labeled? Yes indeed. Our little old lady was feeling like the male that he was born as that day. Come to find out, sometimes he/she will come in and use the ladies.... goodness.
Adding up..an arrest in our entryway. stolen daily papers,colorful characters=planet X!

A Lunch Break

It was a perfect day for taking my lunch to the park. Le Mars has the coolest bike/hiking path and it runs right next to "the pit". Evidently I am the last one to have discovered this place. On a beautiful day like this everyone was sitting out there soaking up the sun and the warmth. Me, I had to have a book, too. I could hardly drag myself back to work. The place is lovely. The ducks were out enjoying the day, butts up in the water. All around me were walkers and birds and I could see the trees leafing out as I sat there. I've found the best place for the sumer for sure.

Things that happened on Tuesday

For having nothing on my calendar today I was overwhelming overwhelmed

Grant writing means I have to keep my calculator handy
Phone calls - line up, convince, confirm,
instant messaging
ACHHH that dumb bill I've been waiting for came back and hasn't been changed one bit. Am I going to have to get irritated about this?
City council meeting where I learn about railroad extensions, sewer projects, hospital aquisitions, and I try to stay awake through it all.
"Sue, yes or no?" I have to say no. It's easier to say yes later when I find out what the question is.
Wow, look at all these books in J that could be YA. We shall move them....Today?
Someone goes home sick. I will have to stay late....at least I'm willing to if I need to.
A trip to Walmart for pictures. I hate Walmart for pictures. What am I talking about, I hate Walmart for most everything. I feel like I am compromising my basic American values by shopping here.
Oh, look they have peanuts. There go my values again.
emails, mail, a beauty of a day, lunch at my desk, time to wait on people and even answer some questions.

Lens

I just got a new camera lens. It's a Tamron, 10-24 mm wide angle lens. If you look at the picture of the courthouse in my header at the top of the blog, you can really see how this thing works. that snowy, courthouse picture was taken with my 18-250 mm lens and I was standing across the street to get the shot. With these middle three pictures I'm practically standing next to the courthouse, yet I can get the whole building in the shot. The first picture of the Dutch front I shot downtown and I'm right underneath the building, yet I can get the whole view in the frame. I am excited about using this lens when I take my trip to Europe with Amy in a few weeks. We will be no doubt be slowed down because Sue is forever taking shots and changing lenses. Well, we'll see anyway.

No regrets

My cousin Carolyn died the day before Easter.
Growing up we were close. You know, sharing secrets as girls, staying overnight with each other, ignoring the boys together....After we were married our lives went in very different directions and I rarely saw her, I met her children only when they were quite little. She developed lung cancer and fought it for five years. But then in January the diagnosis was grim. So it was my brother Tom who called after we'd heard that news, and said, Let's go. We need to visit her. I responded by saying, 'well, I was thinking of sending her a card'. But I knew he was right, so we went together. I'm so glad I did. I would have been so mad at myself if I hadn't made the time to connect with her again. Sorrow and sadness and hard moments can be so important. I wouldn't have wanted anything less. I so appreciate my brother taking the time to do this....
No regrets this time.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Two new kites for these boys for Easter! But appearances are deceiving, they didn't really get them in the air at all! Ok, well, the Lady Bug kite got up just high enough for me to snap a quick picture and for it to look like it might turn into a real "Charlie Brown" kite. Otherwise, the boys managed to get lots of energy out by running around quite a bit. You have to admit, that was the best part! I'm sure they'll pester their dad to try them out again!

Heartland Stragegy

We learned a new game last night. Six of us got together for pizza and this game that seems is sweeping through town. (We're a bit behind I think) The board is octogon shaped and homemade. 4-6 players, a deck of cards and 5 colored pegs apiece. We played as two teams-men v. women. It was a game of strategy and some luck and pretty easy to learn. But I guess I rediscovered that I am just too competitive for my own good. I don't win or lose very graciously. I pout when things don't go my way. I gloat too much when I win. I found out, too that it's far better to just concentrate on helping your partners and not on destroying your opponents, or getting even as the case was for me. You can too easily forget about strategy by seeking revenge instead of the best way to just win by playing a good game.
I don't know, I think our friends will think twice about playing competitve games with us again! That was something learned early by friends in Prairie du Chien, and by our daughters in law who have asked that competitive games be banned during family gatherings. Bother.