ISU v. Iowa

Turning life’s pages

How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss

This weekend our oldest daughter, Pammy, will leave for college and I have to admit it’s been a more difficult and emotional process than I had thought.
Intellectually, for years, we’ve known this day would come, but somehow I found myself completely unprepared for the emotional havoc this simple step in life would have on me.
Where did the time go? When did this awkward kid in braces turn into such a beautiful young lady? Wasn’t it just yesterday I was teaching her to drive in the High School parking lot? It seems it was just moments ago that I watched her march and then make goofy faces after performing with the high school band at halftime. Golf and swim meets, Show Choir and Band concerts. How many hours have I spent waiting for her to get ready to go somewhere?
So now here we are ... and now I’m not ready.
In our hallway sits a pile of suitcases and bags packed and ready to go, a little too anxious in my view to hit the road.
We’re discussing going away parties and getting printers to work at the last minute. I keep busy and stay out of the way and think to myself what I wouldn’t give for just one more week.
I never imagined my parents went through this, but of course they must have. I was independent and anxious to be on my own. I left without fanfare, hardly a good-bye really, and drove off into my life. It must have been hard on them and I wish now I had been more thoughtful. But I was young and in a hurry and I couldn’t be bothered with sentimentality. Now I seem to be drowning in it. There are just so many memories that demand attention. Family vacations, first dates, Prom and “remember whens”.... could they really have all come and gone already?
On Saturday we will drive Pammy, (will it become Pamela now?), to college in Nebraska, unload the suitcases and bags, hook up the printer and wait uncomfortably for the inevitable moment when she steps from our lives into hers.
There will be tears of course but there will also be pride and excitement. We’ve raised a good kid, but she will navigate her own course from here. I know there will be great success and, yes, failure in her future. I know she will fall in love, experience great joy and unbearable sorrow. And as much as I wish we could smooth the path for her, and as painful as it might be for us to watch her pick her way around life’s pitfalls, it would be unfair to her.
You don’t get a practice run in life, you take it as it comes and learn to appreciate the highs and the lows. It’s sometimes difficult but it’s the trick to giving context and meaning to this journey we’re on.
The tears that fall Saturday are the result of the years of laughter and love. And there will be more to come at graduations, weddings, births and deaths. There are those that say life is a journey you must take alone. But that isn’t true. Because always and forever, like a shadow in the background, we will be there, reminding you, “Its ok, don’t be afraid. We love you."

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. ~Frederick Buechner

Off to a good start...

We had our first Schildberg Quarry meeting Wednesday night. There are eight of us so far, not counting Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring and Mayor Dave Jones. I don't know everyone's names yet so I wont list them, but it looks like a good group.
The first meeting was spent kicking around ideas, both long term and short term. The good news is we all seem to be on the same page, especially about being more concerned with action rather than sitting on a committee.
Some ideas that were discussed:
• Installing benches around the trail
• Planting more trees
• Providing a fenced area for dogs to run
• Putting out a couple of Porta-pottys
• Developing a long-term, multi-phase plan to make sure work is ongoing
Lots of good ideas were kicked around, and there was lots of good, positive, energy. I'm hopeful that this committee might actually make a difference.
Kudos to Mayor Dave Jones for moving ahead and to Roger Herring. Herring seems to be committed to the project and has already made plans for some improvements. FINALLY!
If you have any suggestions feel free to contact me, let's make this thing happen!

Committee Meeting...
Tonight is the first meeting of the mayors new Schildberg Quarry Committee. I'm on the committee and will keep you posted on what's happening.

Correction:
It turns out I was wrong when I said the city had to return $500,000 to the state's Vision Iowa program for improvements at Schildberg park. It was actually ONLY $100,000.
Yeah, that should make everything ok.....

Planting the seeds of discontent

So I guess it’s not enough that the city is making NO progress on the Schildberg Park development…. Now they’ve actually decided to begin going backward! City officials announced on Wednesday that the city is in the process of renting out just over 20 acres to be farmed in the park. They say the plan is to avoid costs associated with weed control and mowing while making the city around $2,000 a year.

Great.

You know what else makes money… campgrounds filled with campers. And unlike corn and soybeans, campers buy food, gas and other items sold by local merchants.

The fact is the city has shown little real interest in developing that area and this is just another sad episode in that saga.

Plans for the development of the park have been on the books for years, and little has gotten done. So little in fact, that the city was forced to return over half a million dollars to the state’s Vision Iowa fund.

Some dirt work was done, a trail built and a dock donated. Not bad for six or seven or eight years work … It’s hard to remember exactly.

So now the city is returning a part of the land to agriculture. Only for a year they say…. Uh-huh. Sure. I’m sure it’s all part of the master plan!

(Oh and by-the-way I’m not even sure the city is getting such a great deal since according to the ISU Extension Service, cash rent in Cass County is about twice the $100 an acre the city is charging. Did they go out for bids on this? )

Sarah goes to Tivoli

Atlantic Trojann Golfers ROCK!

Congratulations to the Atlantic girls golf team, (Sierra Worth, Kristen Schuler, Pammy Fixmer, (my daughter!) Kaitlyn Walter, Bailey Walter, Brooke Flecher) which will be competing in the state golf meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Adel!
The girls finished undefeated in conference play, (the only Atlantic team to do so this year!) and placed second in districts and regionals to advance to the two-day championship. Atlantic's Sierra Worth also qualified as an individual by shooting an 87 at the regional meet!
No matter how you slice it, that's an awesome season!
The meet kicks off around 9:30 a.m. ( I think) at the River Valley Golf Course in Adel.

Below are the state's class 3A teams that will be competing with their scores from regionals:

Spirit Lake – 372 – State Qualifier
MOC-Floyd Valley – 398 – State Qualifier
ADM – 364 – State Qualifier
Atlantic – 383 – State Qualifier
Clear Lake – 343 – State Qualifier
Charles City – 351 – State Qualifier
Dubuque Wahlert – 343 – State Qualifier
Grinnell – 356 – State Qualifier

Take a virtual tour of the course here:
http://www.rivervalleygolf.com/hole_by_hole.php

Map to Golf Course

View Larger Map

Just wondering... So why did the school district pop for hotel rooms for the boys and girls track teams last week, but refused to do so for the girls golf team....... curious.

Running Update
The Dam to Dam race is next Saturday and tomorrow I plan on running my first double digits run of the year (maybe longer?). Despite the setbacks I think I will be ready to at least complete the race ... though I doubt a PR is in the picture.
Initially I was concerned about doing 12 miles in the Vibrams, which I've gone to now exclusively, but I think they will be fine. Tomorrow will be the real test.
Plantar fasciitis sucks! But the minimalist shoe thing seem to be working. Wearing regular shoes usually results in foot pain by the end of the day. Occasionally I wear the Vibrams to work, but they are not really work appropriate.
My runs are definitely slower in them, but at least I can run. And I think if I could lose some weight that will help boost the speed. All in good time.
BTW - If you happened to see the 5/26, a deckhand on one of the boats was driven to tears by Plantar Fasciitis and had to leave the deck. OUCH!

The plantar fascia is a very thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. This band of tissue is what creates the arch of the foot. When the fascia is overstretched or overused, it can become inflamed. When the fascia is inflamed, it can be painful and make walking more difficult.

A familiar face takes over P&R
Congratulations Roger Herring on being named the new Atlantic Parks and Rec director! A good man who will do a good job. So much for retirement .....