Capitol City Charm: A Des Moines Weekend

Trip to Des Moines, Iowa

We left for Des Moines, Iowa on Friday morning. We dropped Oliver off where he would stay through Sunday and we were on the road by 7:30. We drove to Des Moines with Erin and Greg and then met up with Laura and Jason where we had lunch and stayed at a Airbnb. We had a great time! We toured the capitol, went to antique place, did a lot of walking, and then we ate and drank a few different places. So much fun! Carrie and I were so tired when we got back home that we both took long naps Sunday afternoon into the evening and likely going to bed early this evening.

State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa

We met Laura and Jason at El Bait Shop and then we headed to the capitol to look around. Carrie and I had been there before (back in 2016), but we wanted to show the others the beautiful capitol in Iowa. The clear blue skies made the capitol stand out against the dark blue background. It was fun going through and seeing the different areas of the capitol. We toured all the floors we could access which was cool. We decided doing a guided tour and looked around on our own which is what Carrie and I did back in 2016 when we toured their capitol.

Drinks at Speak Easy

Oysters on the Half Shell

Group Selfie

We finished the weekend Saturday night at a speak easy. A few of us had a wild night on Friday, so it was low key on Saturday night. The drinks were good and we had a good time hanging out together. We are already looking forward to our next trip back to Des Moines, Iowa and talked about going earlier in the season. We lucked out with the weather for our trip as it was sunny while we were there. A random rain shower moved through on Saturday late afternoon, but that was about it.

Great time and Des Moines was good to us once again. I look forward to going back in the future.

The 2024 Election: A Night of Dread and Uncertainty

Election Night and Wine

With many months of buildup of texts, emails, commercials, and rallies, the 2024 election is finally over. Oddly enough, almost a week later, I'm still receiving texts and email messages asking for money. Okay, time to stop with the texts and emails. Carrie and I spent election night flipping between Fox, CNN, CNBC, BBC, and PBS to watch the various reports. I think my favorite channel to watch for election night was the BBC.

I stayed up late watching the returns, but by 9 or 10 PM, it was clear what was happening. I went to bed around 11 or 11:30 PM and then woke up around 3 AM as I couldn't sleep. I checked the news and found that Trump had won.

The wine was good, but the night of the returns, not so much. If it's not clear, I voted for Harris and did not want another four years of Trump. I thought Trump was a disaster in his first term, and I think the next four years are going to be worse. Trump made a lot of promises over the past few months leading up to the election, and if he carries out even one or two of those promises (e.g., deporting undocumented migrants, changes in the economy with taxes and tariffs on imports, etc.), we will be in a very different America in four years.

I'm frightened by the names of people Trump has said will be part of his cabinet. Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are at the top of the list. From everything I've read and watched of RFK Jr., he sounds like a nut job. Yet, Trump said in various rallies that RFK Jr. will lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This seems like an odd choice and not something to "Make America Great Again." Elon Musk and RFK Jr. are interesting selections from Trump, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Carrie asked me what I wanted written on my glass for election night, and I told her "nervous." I remain nervous about where our country will be over the next four years. I think it's going to be a bumpy four years with Trump as President. Time will tell, and history will tell the story long after his presidency is over, but that's my feeling as we head into the second term of a Trump presidency.

Battling the Elements: A Rainy Homecoming Adventure

Rainy but we have a tent

Saturday was Homecoming at Washburn University. The forecast for the day was rain all day long. That did not stop Carrie and I from going out to tailgate and watch some football. Carrie was a judge in the parade, so we had to get her out there at 9:45 to get instructions on judging. Yes, it rained the whole day and at times it poured so hard it was difficult to see the scoreboard or south end of the end zone. We persevered through the rain and stayed almost to the end.

There were three weather delays because of lightning strikes. We made it through the first two weather delays. However, the third delay occurred with about one minute and forty-five seconds left in the game, with the Ichabods facing a third down and trailing 14-13. When the third weather delay occurred, we decided to head home and listen on the radio. We got everything packed up and we were almost home when we listened to the end of the game.

Cold Carrie with Lots of Blankets

While it rained the whole day, I did not get cold until about the fourth quarter. My feet started to get a little cold after standing in puddles and mud in our corner.  We had to try and keep Carrie warm, so we gathered all the blankets and put them on her for the second half. She is a trooper going out to games with me this year. We had a blast tailgating and cheering on the Ichabods and I think Carrie enjoyed a parade for the first time in her life. She has never been a big fan of parades, but I think she liked judging and being actively participating in the process.

Carrie Judging the Parade

There was a good turnout for the parade even with the rain. The kids that did show up had all the candy they could collect. As we were leaving the game at the end of the day, I could see candy that had been thrown out during the parade on the ground, so it had not all been collected. It had been a while since Washburn had done a Homecoming parade. It was fun with around 95 entries and there was a good crowd around along the route. It was good to see and fun to see others out for the parade.

This will be out last game of the season. We will miss the game on November 9, so we said our good-byes until next season to Jonny who has been our tailgate neighbor for as long as I can remember. We told him there might be others in our spot for next week, but we would miss it. 

A frustrating season for sure for the Ichabods, but we had a great time tailgating and cheering on the Ichabods all season. We even made it to another stadium to watch them this year. We are ready for basketball season to start.

Until next time, have a great week!

Small Town Saturday Night in KC

Carrie and me at Alan Jackson Concert

Carrie and I went to Kansas City on Saturday to see Alan Jackson. Neither of us had ever seen him in concert before and he is doing his farewell tour. I am so glad that we were able to see him in concert. Our seats were great he sang all of our favorites. This made our concert count four on the year and we have another one booked before the end of the year.

Alan Jackson on the Stage

Our seats were straight which we liked better than our seats for the Chris Stapleton concert (see June 23, 2024 post). For that concert, we were on a side and had to turn our heads to see the stage. This was much better and with isle access, it was easy to get in and out of our seats for drinks.

Jon Pardi Opening Act

Jon Pardi opened for Alan Jackson. He was good and I will have to check out some of his songs. I was not familiar with Jon Pardi, but he is certainly worth checking out. 

We stayed at the Hotel Indigo in downtown Kansas City where we have stayed before. Just a few blocks from T-Mobile Center makes it a good spot to stay and still have access to the concert within walking distance.

Alan Jackson on the Stage

After Concert

New Alan Jackson Hat

Great time at the concert and I am so glad we were able to make it work. We got the tickets back over the summer as we were looking for concerts to attend and noted it was his farewell tour. We had a great time and made some wonderful memories.

Sunday morning we went out to get breakfast at a new spot that my brother, Tim, had recommended. Hemma Hemma was just what we needed after concert the concert. The cinnamon roll was the best that I have had out anywhere. I got an egg dish with potatoes and it was really good, but the cinnamon roll was a must have for our morning. 

We are tired on this Sunday evening as I write and likely head to bed early. Fun time in Kansas City for the concert and eating at a new place. Until next time, have a great week!

A Weekend of Blues, Friends, and Family at the King Biscuit Blues Festival

The King Biscuit Blues Festival (KBBF) took place October 10 - 12 in Helena, AR and we had beautiful weather with great friends and family. I did not take a lot of pictures, but I did capture some which I will share from my experience. I work the main stage of the KBBF which I have been working since around 2004. This is only a guess as to when I started going to KBBF. Someone asked me during the festival and I was guessing around 2004 because festival started in 1986, Carrie and I were married in 2001, and I started going a year or two after we were married. So, I estimated that I began attending the festival in 2003 or 2004. 

We arrive on Wednesday for the festival and then we return home on Sunday. Through the years the amount of work we do at the festival seems to have decreased as I recall carrying on a lot of equipment (amps, guitars, drums, etc.), but the last few years, we have not really had to carry on, or off, a lot of items. Most bands use the equipment on stage or they carry their own equipment on or off even though we offer. Still, it is a lot of work and exhausting as we head back to Topeka each Sunday.

Eddie Stone and me at the KBBF

It is fun to see friends I do not get to see very often which includes Eddie Stone (pictured to the right). He has been coming for the past few years and we have a good time working and playing on the main stage. The past two years we have stayed at a house out by the lake which has been fun as it has allowed us to spend more time together. Telling stories, a few drinks, and having a good time throughout the weekend while we are working.

Aunt Carol, Eddie, and Me at KBBF

Aunt Carol came in on Friday to be with us and then she headed out on Saturday. She always makes brownies which are so good and they go fast. Aunt Carol is the mom of Eddie Stone. It so happened that Eddie turns 50 on October 18 (a week later), so we were able to celebrate his birthday while at the festival this year enjoying brownies to celebrate his birthday along with Amy Rose who was also turning 50.

Group at KBBF

Picture of where we hang out while acts are playing sometimes during KBBF which is off of the stage. Although we sometimes also hang out on the stage which is where the picture of Eddie Stone and I are located in the picture above and to the right. I usually take some comfortable chairs for tailgating with us so we have a good spot to hang out if needed. The past few years the festival has set up a tent for us to use which is nice as it can get really hot on the son facing side of the stage.

Selfie at KBBF

Saturday night I tried to take a selfie with Eddie Shirron (Dad Shirron), Tbo (Tommy Galloway), and Eddie Stone [left to right]. Picture did not come out great as I took it at night and it was a selfie, but I wanted to capture the night and end of the festival. We had a great time and listened to some fun acts. Saturday during the day is always a sad day as it starts to sink in that the festival is coming to an end and everyone will be leaving. 

I did not take a lot of pictures during the festival, but I would like to share the whole album which you can flip through below. Click the picture below to go to the full album of the 2024 festival.

Another King Biscuit Blues Festival in the books. It probably took me until Tuesday to feel like I had caught up on my sleep. I was so tired after Eddie Shirron and I returned back to Topeka. Although Mom Shirron fixed us a pot roast meal and Carrie joined us which was much appreciated. When we got home, I was in bed by 9 that Sunday night. Good memories and a lot of blues music. Grateful for the great weather we encountered while we were at KBBF. I am hopeful that next year Carrie, Corrie, and Javier will join us as well as others that have not been in a few years.

Until next time, have a great week and I will talk to you later.

Meatballs, Enchiladas, and Football: A Missouri Camping Trip

Tents at HipCamp Site

We went on our third camping trip of the year with this one in Missouri at a HipCamp called Hickory Forest TV Camp Site and we had a great time. We left on Thursday, September 26 and stayed through Sunday, September 29. We went with Erin and Greg. No dogs on this trip although dogs are allowed, but we planned to attend the Washburn game on Saturday, so we left our dogs at home.

We arrived late afternoon to our camp site. Unpacked our cars and got our tents set up. Then it was time to get the stovetop going so we could eat dinner. We would be cooking two meals while camping which would be Thursday and Friday nights. We planned to eat out Saturday night after the football game.

Meatball Sandwiches on Stovetop

Our plan for Thursday night meal was simple with meatball sandwiches. Carrie warmed the meatballs in the crockpot and then finished everything put together in the stovetop. Our site had power which is something new for us when camping, but it was nice to be able to warm the meat in the crockpot before assembling and putting cheese on the sandwiches. They were perfect and just what we needed for the first night.

Fire pit, Chairs, and Perfection

Following dinner, we spent the evening around the fire pit listening to baseball and music. Prior to our trip, Carrie had everyone provide 5 - 10 songs that were five minutes or longer and she created a playlist. Part of the listening of the playlist was to guess who of the four of us submitted the song. Usually when we camp, we do some type of game around songs and playlists so we have something new for us to listen to while we camp. 

View from Lookout Tower at Weston State Park

Saturday morning we all slept a little late before getting up and going for the day. I think we were all up and going by 9 am. We started the day with cereal and then relaxing around the camp site. A few of us read, relaxed in the hammock, or just sat and chilled. Eventually, we decided to venture out to check out some new sites in the area. We made it over to Weston State Park to check out camp sites although we were not impressed with what was available. We did have a picnic while we were there which was nice. We stopped by a store on the side of the road and picked up some cider, snacks, and other knick-knacks. 

Dutch Oven for Cooking

Friday night was layered enchiladas using the Dutch Oven. It took about thirty minutes to cook with goals on the bottom and top of the Dutch Oven. Worked great! The bottom the enchiladas got a little crunchy, but it was very good. As is usually the case, Carrie finds things to adjust the next time we do these when camping, but overall, everyone ate them up and we all had full bellies. 

Food is Ready

I realized that I did not get a picture of the food plated, but the picture to the right is the food ready to start dishing out. It looks a little soupy in the picture, but it was really good. Nice job, Carrie!

Saturday morning we started the day with Carrie making us pancakes on the stovetop. We were not sure if Erin and Greg would like them as they are made with yogurt, but everyone enjoyed the pancakes and we at all of the double recipe. Again, I did not get any pictures, but Carrie has used this recipe twice that we got from the cookbook of a couple we follow on YouTube that have been camping for a long time. The cookbook is titled Gourmet in the Forest by Kellie Oden. We have used a few of the recipes from the cookbook. The pancakes are one of my favorites.

Missouri Western State University

Part of the reason we picked the Hickory Forest TV Camp Site where we camped was because of the location to where Washburn was playing on Saturday, September 28. We were set to play Missouri Western State University at 2 pm. It was our first time at this stadium. We won the game 24 - 16. 

Selfie at Football Game in Missouri

We started the game on the visitors side, but it was so hot and no wind, we moved over the home side where there was shade and a nice breeze. The fourth quarter took a long time, but we won the game. Following the football game, we had already decided we would eat in St. Joseph at Boudreaux's Louisiana Seafood and Steaks. Carrie and I had been there years before Brenda and her family, but first time for Erin and Greg. Other than it taking a very long time to get our food, it was a good meal. 

Sunset at Camp Site

We enjoyed our time camping in Missouri. The Hickory Forest TV Camp Site was beautiful and well cared for by the owner that we spoke to a few different times during our stay. We would go back to stay there again. Good location and layout of the camp site. We were in heavy wooded areas and I got a lot of bug bites. We are not sure what was getting me, but bug spray did not help. I had bites all over my arms, legs, back, and even the palms of my hands as well as fingertips. Very odd!

I was hoping to get a few more times in camping this year, but it did not work out where we could do more than the three we did this year. We got started early in February with a trip to Texas for camping and then two other new spots for us to close out the camping season. We enjoy the slow lifestyle of camping where we read, enjoy nature, and maybe go on a hike. 

Until next time, have a great week and I will talk to you later.

Home Sweet Home: Oliver's Adventures While We Camped

I hope you had a good weekend. It was beautiful outside the whole weekend, so I hope you were able to get out and enjoy. Carrie and I were out camping and I will have pictures and update of our trip next week. Today is somewhat of a short post as we are both exhausted after being gone since Thursday. 

While we were away, we had Oliver staying with Joan and Eddie. We always love to get pictures of Oliver while we are away so we can see what he is doing. The first one to the left is of him in the bathroom sitting on a mat. Who knows what he is doing or maybe he wanted to find a quiet spot to wonder why we left him.

The next one is a video of Oliver barking at Lucky Dog. Granted, he barks at anything that looks like a dog on the TV which could include but is not limited to dogs, cats, and horses. Funny when he does it when not trying to nap, but he will startle you if trying to sleep and he starts barking at something on the television. Still, it is funny and he has done this since he was a little puppy.

We would have taken Oliver on our camping trip, but we attended the Washburn game at Missouri Western State University and it was best to leave him back in Topeka. More on our camping trip next week.

Like I said, it was going to be a short update for this week. About our dog Oliver and a hint of what we did this weekend that I will post an update for next week.

Until next week, have a great week!