Our grandkids could all function as competent Monopoly bankers before starting kindergarten, doling out the $200, making change, dealing with deeds, etc. And learning that assets (cash) must be put to its highest, best use to do well in life is priceless. But the most entertaining is watching the off-the-board deal-making that transpires as the older ones teach the younger ones valuable lessons, usually the hard way.
Yes, long road trips are like that. You can solve the world's problems by driving alone for a long distance. I like to listen to 104.5 on the radio. They play the '50s and '60s music and so many times I feel my old activist inside start to act up. I want to do something but I don't know what. Our representatives in Congress don't listen, our Governor doesn't listen, . . . I just feel helpless, useless.
Twice I drove to the WI Dells by myself to watch a Moody Blues concert (both times). Since the local radio stations wouldn't last all that way, I took along my Moody Blue's CDs and played them through in chronological order. They got my cat and me all the way there! I didn't solve any problems but it made my trip go faster.
Julie, this is stunning! Your comments on Monopoly and the Tom Jones song...whoa, whoa, whoa is right! I hope people read this and follow the dots to doing what is right. Thanks go to you and the entire Iowa Writers' Collaboratve for keeping us informed and calling out/challenging those who could change things but refuse to do so. Welcome home!
Oh, thank you so much Connie! It's interesting...when I first started contacting writers, I had no idea where this could lead. I had no idea what the political leanings were of many of them, and it didn't matter. I knew I wanted to do something to help Art Cullen keep the Storm Lake Times afloat, and this had potential. I knew if readers were exposed to his writing they'd want to subscribe. All I knew Cheryl Tevis was that she had written for Successful Farming magazine for years, and lived on a farm in Boone County. She is one helluva powerhouse! It's such an outstanding group! Now, even the former managing editor of The Register who hired me in the first place is a part of the Collaborative, and is on fire back at the keyboard producing compelling, well-reported stories. I simply cannot be more proud of what everyone is doing!
And, we are just getting started as we approach year two.
This sent chills. Dammit! What is happening is wrong, wrong, wrong! So I can’t do much anymore with this damned cancer, but surely there’s something I can do besides scream!!
Last year I sent a column after the CR Gazette’s article on Iowa cancer stats, to Observer, enraged about ag chemicals, and all the other crap the governor is shoving down our throats….got nixxed toute suite.
Hell, I’ll be dead soon, but dammit I still care about the hell I'm leaving behind for my family and friends.
Back in our Vietnam war protest days, we erected crosses made of plywood, painted white, on the college campus lawn. Each cross represented an Iowan who had died in the war. Visual depiction hits home.
I wonder how many white crosses there would be on the lawn of the state capitol representing Iowa's second highest cancer diagnosis ranking in the country?
I cannot wait to give you a hug in real time this year, dear Lonni.
Thank you for taking us along, Julie. Your observations and dot connecting is what we should be doing more of right now. Loved the story about your early activism when it came to abolishing “women’s” hours. Thank you.
You and Dudley are home just in time to bundle up again 😉
Road-trip thoughts are extremely important. There are epiphanies that can change the world. My problem is remembering to write them down. So many thoughts, so many actions. Thank you Julie. Loved hearing a bit about your activist past.
Julie, you did right by Dudley and your readers.
Thanks, Ken!
Our grandkids could all function as competent Monopoly bankers before starting kindergarten, doling out the $200, making change, dealing with deeds, etc. And learning that assets (cash) must be put to its highest, best use to do well in life is priceless. But the most entertaining is watching the off-the-board deal-making that transpires as the older ones teach the younger ones valuable lessons, usually the hard way.
Yes, long road trips are like that. You can solve the world's problems by driving alone for a long distance. I like to listen to 104.5 on the radio. They play the '50s and '60s music and so many times I feel my old activist inside start to act up. I want to do something but I don't know what. Our representatives in Congress don't listen, our Governor doesn't listen, . . . I just feel helpless, useless.
Twice I drove to the WI Dells by myself to watch a Moody Blues concert (both times). Since the local radio stations wouldn't last all that way, I took along my Moody Blue's CDs and played them through in chronological order. They got my cat and me all the way there! I didn't solve any problems but it made my trip go faster.
Ah, I remember taking my record player (!) to the art room on campus, playing the Moody Blues, and painting all night. Those were the days.
Andrea, just think of ONE thing you can do. If we all do, it can make a difference.
Julie, this is stunning! Your comments on Monopoly and the Tom Jones song...whoa, whoa, whoa is right! I hope people read this and follow the dots to doing what is right. Thanks go to you and the entire Iowa Writers' Collaboratve for keeping us informed and calling out/challenging those who could change things but refuse to do so. Welcome home!
Oh, thank you so much Connie! It's interesting...when I first started contacting writers, I had no idea where this could lead. I had no idea what the political leanings were of many of them, and it didn't matter. I knew I wanted to do something to help Art Cullen keep the Storm Lake Times afloat, and this had potential. I knew if readers were exposed to his writing they'd want to subscribe. All I knew Cheryl Tevis was that she had written for Successful Farming magazine for years, and lived on a farm in Boone County. She is one helluva powerhouse! It's such an outstanding group! Now, even the former managing editor of The Register who hired me in the first place is a part of the Collaborative, and is on fire back at the keyboard producing compelling, well-reported stories. I simply cannot be more proud of what everyone is doing!
And, we are just getting started as we approach year two.
Fondly, Julie
This sent chills. Dammit! What is happening is wrong, wrong, wrong! So I can’t do much anymore with this damned cancer, but surely there’s something I can do besides scream!!
Last year I sent a column after the CR Gazette’s article on Iowa cancer stats, to Observer, enraged about ag chemicals, and all the other crap the governor is shoving down our throats….got nixxed toute suite.
Hell, I’ll be dead soon, but dammit I still care about the hell I'm leaving behind for my family and friends.
Sign me up for the war that needs to be waged!!!
Lonni
Back in our Vietnam war protest days, we erected crosses made of plywood, painted white, on the college campus lawn. Each cross represented an Iowan who had died in the war. Visual depiction hits home.
I wonder how many white crosses there would be on the lawn of the state capitol representing Iowa's second highest cancer diagnosis ranking in the country?
I cannot wait to give you a hug in real time this year, dear Lonni.
Lonni, you are on the front lines, my warrior friend. Keep writing!!!!
Thank you for taking us along, Julie. Your observations and dot connecting is what we should be doing more of right now. Loved the story about your early activism when it came to abolishing “women’s” hours. Thank you.
You and Dudley are home just in time to bundle up again 😉
Thanks, Kathi. It was a bit of a shock to wake up to snow flurries the next day.
Enjoy your work….keep it going.
Thanks so much for being a part of this community!
Road-trip thoughts are extremely important. There are epiphanies that can change the world. My problem is remembering to write them down. So many thoughts, so many actions. Thank you Julie. Loved hearing a bit about your activist past.
Ah, I even introduced a resolution to abolish the school nickname The Redman. That one took many years to change, well beyond my time. alas.
Thanks so much, Diane. I woke up the day after returning home to snow falling.