An Ode to Iowa in Pictures

This is the view of the red barn out our living room window by summer, which belongs to the neighbors. Before our little town expanded adding the street we now live on, they used to be surrounded only by farm fields. Now we get to enjoy the charming view of their barn. Too bad next to the barn is a huge gas tank and an ugly chain-link fence, behind which a big St. Bernard and a tiny Dachshund like to bark at us new neighbors. But they're getting used to us...

This picture was taken with one of my other best friends, Bethany, and me when she and her German boyfriend, Jan, made a fun weekend trip to visit when they were in the States in March/April. Our golf course has a walking trail all around it and this big mansion of a house, which belongs to one of the Blue Bunny (see below) family members.

As we continued around the golf course path, these little ducks looked as though they'd just made a trek through a sewer. Luckily this was just a tunnel under the train tracks connecting the small bodies of water.

Our small river, the Floyd River, is mostly brown, but it's water! Beyond it are the Iowa farm fields. The new bike path the town is working on takes us over a bridge at this point of the river.

The bike path then leads out to this building and then back into town. The building in the middle of no where is the new corporate offfice center for our town's ice cream "Blue Bunny" corporation. My mom also works here.

Taken at Easter when my parents and I drove to meet my siblings for dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, who also drove from Iowa City to meet us for the event. This was one of the only restaurants serving Easter dinner, but we were not disappointed. A huge home style place, not only did they have more than enough pumpkin bread on the table at all times, there was a nice "Iowa" gift shop attached. The scarily real-looking man behind in the booth behind my brother shocked us when he mechanically lifted his head every 5 minutes or so to talk about "The Good Ol' Days.."

Outside the "Machine Shed" Restaurant were parked tractors by the pond, making the ambiance even more rural and traditional. It was a gorgeous, chilly April Easter evening.

An Iowa highway with my parents. Okay, not a great representation of Iowa, but good grief - don't highways look the same in almost every country, anyway, give or a take few cracks?

This is a view of the Mississippi River from downtown Dubuque, Iowa. And, what would an American river be without a riverboat casino? ...

The Dubuque Brew Co. building. Behind me was the Mississippi River, only in a different part.

River walk in Iowa City, home of my Alma mater, the University of Iowa. This path leads to the music building I spent most of my college career inside of. But when the weather was this nice, it took all my strength to practice when the alternative was sitting out here, watching the back-pack-clad students, dog-walkers, and roller-bladers go by.

And, finally, the view from the bench, overlooking the Iowa River that goes through the Iowa campus. In the fall it's filled with rowers on the crew team.

See - Iowa has something to offer! It's no mountains, but we have some little stuff plus a lot of green fields! Jen, you can show this to those East Coasters who seem to think nothing exists west of Pennsylvania.. ;)

New Job

I've almost finished the first week of the new job. I'm dead tired, especially since evenings have been filled with more band rehearsals and concerts, but things are going well. It's quite different to be in a biggish office after my little "just my boss and me" last position, but it's nice. Of course there's a transitional period where I learn the ropes, and since it's a legal secretary position, there are additional legal terms and procedures to learn. My last job was legal secretary, too, but I did different types of things, besides, I only had 5 weeks there total with my boss. I'm definitely missing my boss as I step into this new role in an office that isn't his and talk to attorneys that aren't him.

The hardest part of the transition so far, in addition to that, is the early starting time. I have to leave the house by 7:15 A.M. (not that I have achieved that goal yet, and yes, I'm ashamed to say there has been some slight speeding to make up for it) in order to be there by 8:00 A.M. Plus, what would summer be without construction to block traffic, making the route even harrier and the driver even more aggressive and stressed?

Last weekend my solo went well and I even got a very decent mini disk recording. Sure, it's an outdoor park concert, so there are kids' voices in the background laughing and playing on the swings and a very annoyed mother who yelled "MELISSA! Come here!" But the microphone picked up everything well in spite of that. It's the first time the battery hasn't died or been on a weird setting for a performance I've wanted to record.

Right before the downbeat, I saw a friendly face peeping out from the back of the lawn-chair-sitting audience. One of my best friends Megan and her husband Randy popped back to town for a last-minute weekend trip and it was nice to have them there to watch the concert. Though I seemed to miss free ice cream after the concert, she and I got our summer fix at the ice cream parlor afterwards.

The next day we met at a special outdoor church service at the fair grounds where my parents, who play and sing in our church's worship team were playing. This picture was taken of Megan and a slightly closed-eyes me outside an old building at the fair ground's "Pioneer Village". Little did we know that we were being stared down by Mary and Joseph, who, though in storage, were at least given a good view while they wait for their next seasonal deployment.

Summer Band...woohoo!

It's hard to believe that this gazebo fits an entire municipal (city) band, but every summer our town's wind ensemble plays a weekly concert on this small stage for a hometown audience. And yes, it is very tight, indeed.

Our little town has a major dairy corporation and is known for being the ice cream capital of the world, and this weekend is our annual Ice Cream celebration. The event has gotten more extravagant over the years, but the best part is that after the band plays, we get free ice cream! Well, I hope so, anyway; it's been awhile since I've been home for the event. For our town's band concert Saturday night during the festival, I will be gracing the stage, I mean, standing cramped between the conductor and the bassoons, to play a solo with the band as accompaniment. The piece is a kitschy little thing, but perfect for a summer band setting with lots of runs and frills. My parents also play in the band on flute and clarinet. Then on Sunday my parents and I head to Sioux City on Sunday where the three of us also play in that municipal band, on a slightly bigger stage.

Yes, I have officially sold my soul to the devil by agreeing to play in not one, but two outdoor city bands again this summer. After years of suffering through the required hours of college band, I swore never to blast the melodies of a march again where the oboe blends in only slightly better than a sick, lame duck. But, alas, it is America where these summer bands run rampant, and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Besides, it's turning out to be pretty fun and nice to see old music compatriots from years past. Plus, I suppose it doesn't hurt to keep the "chops" in shape, even if it is by playing loud, insensitive band music... (No orchestra snob here, promise.)

Trip Pics!

We're back from our mini-vacation. My parents and I drove first through Omaha, then on to Iowa City, where my brother has just finished his 2nd year at my alma mater, the University of Iowa. We had a nice visit with my brother and I also met up with a friend of mine, Sam, who visited me last summer in Berlin. After that we headed on to Dubuque, Iowa, where my sister, who also just graduated from the University of Iowa, has gotten a job. Since Dubuque is right across the Mississippi River from the quaint, historical town of Galena, Illinois, we spent two nights there visiting the old shops and pretty nature created by the river and bluffs. Here are the pictures from the little trip!

(Click on the pics to enlarge)

Omaha, Nebraska Old Market Area:



A strange little burger joint:


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Iowa City. As the first capital of Iowa, which is now Des Moines, the Old Capital Building is now part of the university:



My brother and me:



View of the university and Iowa River by dusk:


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Dubuque, Iowa downtown area:



On the promenade of the Mississippi River with my sister:


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Downtown historic Galena, Illinois:



Standing under the chocolate store (which I visited twice!) which carried very expensive imported European truffles.

Another shot of Galena, the old steamboat town:

At a very tasty, cozy Italian restaurant in Galena with my sister and parents and a nice final meal of the trip:

It was a very relaxing vacation and fun to see my siblings and some new parts of the Midwest. Of course, I wouldn't be opposed to a European vacation. In fact, I am trying NOT to think about that or I get really depressed that I'm spending my summer in NW Iowa, but nothing tops a good family vacation without any major problems or squabbles. The audition went very well, so I was disappointed not to advance. But, still trying to look up and not worry about the future. Now for a week of vacation left before I start my new job!

The last time...

...that I see this view from the office window. I turned in my key to the office manager on Friday after going in one last time to check for voicemail messages from straggler clients needing to come pick up their files last minute, and packing up my hand sanitizer and lotion and a few keepsakes from my desk. One final glance around the little office that had come to mean so much to me and I was on my way.

The city I work in, Sioux City, is a very industrial town, as one might conclude by looking at the picture and its slight lack of luster. It was originally an important trading post because of its convenient and functional location on the Missouri River, a window to the west. While in its early days the downtown was thriving and filled with action, nowadays, mostly the only action is during the workday where businessmen and -women, who work at the many law firms or banks downtown, mix with the unemployed or "temps" who are in and out of the different temporary job agencies looking for short-term work, or people stopping through the bus depot.

While the downtown has kept some of its speciality shops like a yarn and chocolate shop, as well as some furniture stores, consumerism is all but gone downtown. The last department store reluctantly shut its doors for good after its counterparts all made their way safely to the mall. Malls provide warmth in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, free parking and a shield from the wind, but they certainly lack the charm of shopping outside, downtown! (My opinion, anyway. Obviously many people here prefer malls).

The recently-renovated Orpheum theater is the highlight of the downtown and gives the impression of a palace with charm and history. We play our symphony concerts in this building and it always feels like we're back in the 1920s with its collection of old fashioned dressing rooms and gorgeous chandeliers.

Sioux City has huge stockyards, where livestock are brought in to meet their demise. It is common to be driving on the highway to Sioux City and pass a livestock trailer filled with pigs or chickens being driven to the stockyards. And when you see a little pig snout peeking through the breathing holes, you can't help but feel sorry for that little guy who will soon be on the shelf of the grocery store. Unfortunately the stockyards create quite a pungent smell which, accompanied with the smell of the Chinese food coming from the restaurant below my office, made for some not-so-fresh air when I'd open the windows and try and air out the workspace.

Now that everything in the office has been organized, boxed and labeled, and I have said goodbye to the little office in its charming old building downtown, with its questionable, but endearing view of the Chinese restaurant, I will make my way to my new office in a newer, less-charming, but quite stylish building just over half a block. Until that point in two weeks, first I have my audition (tomorrow) followed a little trip my parents and I are taking to visit my younger sister and brother in Eastern Iowa this coming week. I'm looking forward to the mini vacation and will finally be able to relax when the audition is over!

When I get back, plan on some pictures of the little "village" (don't tell people here I called it that!) I live in, 25 miles north of Sioux City. Until then, take a look at this adorable baby bunny who got stuck in our window well last week! This picture was taken before my mom heroically rescued the poor little chap (with gloves on, of course) and he hopped away, slightly confused by the all the trauma. He was just so cute!