It’s Nice Out…Or, It Was. It’s Raining Now.

Over the past week or so, Des Moines has been graced with some beautiful weather.  Mother nature definitely owes us a great spring after the horrendous winter we all barely survived mentally intact (the jury is still out on a few of us).  In fact, I even managed to get something resembling a tan sunburn.  Damn you, Irish and Norwegian blood.  Whatever.  I’m thoroughly savoring my overdose of vitamin D.  After Lithuania and this past... Read More

Signs of Spring

So, it’s March, and signs of a new season are everywhere. Everything is turning green… If, you look through green-colored glasses… The trees are blooming: In my dreams… The snow is melting: Because, the deck was power washed… THERE ARE FLOWERS IN THE KITCHEN: TRUTH. Ask me again in July…  Read More

Inappropriate Pot Pie

When snow and cold settle in, uninvited, for a record-breaking period of time, creativity becomes paramount in battling intense boredom.  Days are simply filled with work, the often-precarious drive home, and food.  Add in way too many trips to the mall, Target, the grocery store, and, of course, the wine shop, and you can pretty much envision what my life has been like, in Iowa, this winter.  Exciting, I know.  But, friendships have been strengthened... Read More

Los Angeles

Every time I land at the Des Moines International Airport after a trip, I think to myself, “Why do people live here?”.  On Monday, this thought was exacerbated by the bajillionth blizzard of the season and the accompanying crosswinds daring to blow the plane back to where it came from.  I wouldn’t have minded. Apparently, Los Angeles was “chilly”, but I spent the weekend basking in the relative warmth.  Walking?  No... Read More

Ice Storm

This winter has been unbelievable.  And…It’s only January.  Ugh.  Read More