I grew up with a family who like to wonder about things — random things that often times had nothing to do with the conversation or topics of the moment. So I thought it appropriate to create a page for me to just post stuff that I was thinking about at the time. I’m not sure what you’ll find here — possibly a funny story I remember about my mom or dad, a cause I’m currently supporting, pictures of my dog. It will be a surprise — to you and probably me!
Thanks for listening!
Musings of My Inner Erma Bombeck: Gordon’s Winter Project
Like many a dad, my father was handy. He could fix things. As a farmer and father of twelve children, nine of them boys, it was a necessary skill. He fixed tractors, cars, windows, electrical problems, washing machines, broken chairs, you name it — he fixed it. But over the years one of the main things he fixed was a plethora of broken chairs, broken by boys leaning back on them, plopping on them and... Read More
Stories of My Mother…Episode #623: The Great Escape
A few weeks ago my sisters and I flew out to Washington for a visit with two of my older brothers and hang out at the lake with them. We spent a lot of time laughing at family stories over delicious meals with lots glasses of wine and beer. We grew up in a crazy, big farm family in Iowa — our parents had twelve kids (9 boys and 3 girls) over seventeen years. A... Read More
Happy Baking Accidents…Blueberry Coffee Cake Kind of Thing…
Or Things That Turned Out Better Than Expected… It was 16 below this morning and after reading a Facebook post of a friend who was making coffee cake, I WANTED some, but I was not willing to drag my sorry self out for any missing ingredients. People die in this weather! So the hunt began — digging through the cupboard, freezer and fridge! I found a can of Pillsbury Blueberry biscuits not yet out date (although that... Read More
Not a Paid Activist, Just an Iowa Farm Girl
Dear Readers, Normally when I write about something other than food or farm weddings, it’s about something I have found amusing or curious. So this is your fair warning — I’m going to be serious. This Tuesday, I went to my first town hall –ever! I went to express my concerns to Iowa Senator Grassley about a number of things, but mostly about the dangers of repealing the ACA without an adequate and quick replacement.... Read More
Why Can’t I Just Throw It Away
As I was getting ready for work the other morning, my husband, in a supportive and loving way — really it was — commented that maybe I could find room for one more bottle of shampoo in the shower. I tossed an endearing gesture back at him and continued my morning rituals. It wasn’t until I was in the shower, looking at 6 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, that it hit me in the face... Read More
I Think There is a Cat in the Furnace
A couple of months ago today, I was headed to the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop, somewhere on I-74, listening to a Maeve Binchy book and dreaming of my new adventure. That’s when it happened — I got the call. My husband was calling, mid-afternoon — alarming anytime, but more so today. Who died or what couldn’t he find — equally possible — and the dreaded thought — what can I do about it in the... Read More
Musings of My Inner Erma Bombeck: An Irish Blessing
“CLEARLY, MARY, WE ARE NOT LUCKY!”, wailed my sister Sue in her best Dirty Harry voice, whipping around to grab my shirt collar and give me stink eye. After a second, and getting over the shock of the statement, we fell into a heap of laughter. Nonetheless, as I think back, perhaps she may have had a point. We were after all, trudging down an Iowa country road away from my stalled 1982 Plymouth Horizon... Read More
Erma Louise Bombeck was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper column that described suburban home life from the mid-1960s until the late 1990s. Bombeck also published 15 books, most of which became bestsellers. Wikipedia
My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch on fire or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one cares. Why should you?”
— Erma Bombeck
