It is what it is.

 

Not... good. No... the 'sting' never fades.

Phone Drama.

: (

Picked up a new phone, today.

Sadly... they Guys at The Phone Store couldn't get my info from my old one.

Trying to navigate a new phone, for me... is Torture.

I'm Not Geared or Wired for 'Devices' of Any Kind.

I'm Old... School.

Have Zero Interest... in 'Computer' Anything.

Period.

{Don't Even... get me started on 'Passwords'. Good Lord!!!}

ZING!!!

I now have a 'phone'... that works, but... no apps, or email.

Can't even get Bluetooth to recognize this phone.

Had to walk away from it, this afternoon.

Told the Kind... Guys, at the phone store, I'd be back....

; )

Told them... I was Done... screwing around with it, needed to Smoke Many Stogies, and Sip a Lot of Tequila, 

before I tackle this 

Mess....

again,

tomorrow.

; )

My head has been spinning, the last several days.

The weather, has been so warm, and beautiful... for mid February, in Iowa.

It's taken me back to 1987.

Too many parallels... with Dad's death.

Way... too many.

Was visiting with Pal, Allyson, this morning.

She'd been trying to reach me all weekend.

<3

{many... have.}

<3

Allyson feels about the same way I do, concerning 'devices'.

'Old School'.

; )

 Was Very Proud of Allyson, for searching out the blog, this morning, and seeing my post, with the 'land line' number.

; )

That's BIG!!

 ; )

I'd been thinking about Allyson, too...

but with the Android down... had no way of retrieving contact numbers.

Still don't. 

Have many numbers in my brain, but... not nearly as many as I easily trusted the Android to store.

In the future, well... I'll be having a 'rolodex', again.

; )

It's very worrisome....

 how dependent we've become on 'devices'.

Not Good.

Not...

good.

: (

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Happy Valentine's Day... to All!! {Android is still down. Here's my land line # 319-846- Eight One Seven Three}

It's a Glorious...

 Warm Day...

in

Iowa!!

; )

50, plus... degrees, today.

<3

Spent about 5 minutes outside. 

: (

From the amount of traffic going by... guessing I'm the only one...

 who stayed Home, today.

: )

Heard quite a few motorcycles fly by.

I'm certain Biker's are Itching to be on The Road!!

; )

 

Above is one of my Favorite 'Valentine's'.

Usually post it every Valentine's Day.

<3

It's SO TRUE!!!

Hahahahahaha!!

An Iowa State Trooper, made my Heart Skip a Beat or Two...

the other day, when me, and Jethro were heading to Iowa City.

; )

We were passing a line of Semis... on Highway 30, 

 then... just over a hill... out of

 The Blue...

Sat The Trooper!!

Ooooooops!!

: )

Must've not been going 'too' fast, The Trooper stayed put.

<3

None the less...

My Heart was Pounding!!

: )

ZING!!!

The Android phone is still not happy.

; (

It turns on, and charges fine, but the touch screen won't respond.

Guess it's going to have to go in.

It really sucks, can't access my email, not even on my computer.

{my email wants to send a verification code to my phone,

 which... I can't open.

It's Enough to Drive Ya 'Round The Bend'!! ; ) }

Had the phone set on 'Do Not Disturb', so, can't tell when I get calls or messages.

{ I've missed some, but can't see by whom. : (}

Grateful for the land line, and old cordless phone, but... it's internal battery was dead. 

Thankfully, after doing Much Digging, found another battery that worked in it.

However... don't know most of my contact numbers by heart.

It's made me very aware of how dependent I am on The Android.

: (

Probably won't get The Android going until Monday, or maybe later.

 Have insurance on the phone, but they may have to send this one in, if that's the case... it could be weeks.

: (

GADS!!!

Hopefully, they can use a wireless mouse to unlock the phone, so I can at LEAST get my email accounts open on my computer.

Gads... I hate thinking about a new phone.

: (

The 'Set Up'... for new devices makes me Crazy!!

: (

oh well.

it is...

what it is.

; )

The Fun... Never Ends!!

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

February...

<3

Best advise, Dad, in a nutshell, gave me... in the 23 years we shared.

<3

Dad... gave me more 'Adventures'...'Knowledge', in a few... short years, than most have endured in their entire lifetime.

<3

; )

fact.

Indeed.

; )

<3

It's been 39 years, since Dad, 'Marion Conner Sr.' went away.

Friday... February, 13... 1987.

I despise... the number 13, to this day.

Not fond... of any 13th, that 'happens' on a Friday.

Not a big fan... of St. Valentine's Day... anymore, especially... 

when the day prior, lands on a 'Friday'.

<3

There isn't a day... that goes by, when I don't think of Dad.

He... was Such a Gift in my life.

<3

'Blessing'.

I lean on Dad, daily.

<3

; )

Dad's words, thoughts.... his 'Life Long' experiences, he shared with me, while bouncin' down old gravel roads... in those old...

 Junk Haulin... Trucks. 

<3

Priceless.

<3

Dad, did the best he could... to prepare me, for 'Life'.

<3

Grateful.

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{ Marion Conner Sr. 

March 15, 1913

-

February 13, 1987 }

<3

Dad's Ashes are buried at The Fairfax, Iowa.... cemetery.

 Back then, felt... I... needed Dad to be 'close'.

<3

These days... I'm trying to figure out how to exhume Dad's Ashes, and

 Headstone, along with Mom's Ashes... 

{I hold Mom's Ashes Dear, here.. with me.}

<3

They need to rest in peace, in Derby, Iowa.

<3

Far, far... away, from Fairfax.

John's Ashes... will Never hit any part of 'Fairfax, Iowa'... ever.

; )

Never Ever.

'Somewhere my Love' Lara's Theme, was Dad's favorite tune.

<3

I asked the pianist to play it only, at Dad's Funeral.

She... found the music, and did.

: )

<3

What a Day.... {If anyone is trying to reach me by phone, sorry. My little Android took a Swim, in a Pail of Water this morning. Giving it a day or two to dry out. Leave a comment here, or Simply Iowa, on FB.}

Been up since Midnight, 

oh my.

; )

Had a 'Meeting' with IDOT's lawyers, and one of IDOT's representatives,  at Lawyer Meardon's Office, early this morning.

; )

that... 

was 

'Interesting', on so many, many... levels.

; )

{IDOT asked for the 'mediation'.}

{bless their hearts}

; )

Just... got home.

Never actually 'met' with 'them', {they were in another room} but met with their 'Mediator', over, and over, today.

; )

He... was Very Nice.

; )

Felt kinda sorry, for him.

The Mediator, in my opinion...

stepped inside a Hurricane.

'Crazy Train'.

{Bless His Heart!!}

<3

Few... people, can 'understand' this wrongful mess.

The Mediator is a former Lawyer, which... I was Grateful for.

Many 'Mediators' aren't... sadly.

{The Rule of Law, in This Country is a Big Deal, in my humble opinion.}

<3

Lawyer Meardon, was Beyond, Beyond...

Meardon.. pointed out every single 'Fact'.

{There are Hundred's of horrible e-mails, concerning this IDOT/Fairfax, Iowa... Wrongful 'Mess'.}

Charles, doesn't, didn't... skip a beat reciting them, from 'memory'... then,

 printing, and 'Highlighting' them,

for

'The Mediator', today.

; )

Sure hope 'The Mediator'... Reads Them.

; )

Make No Mistake....

I don't refer to 'Charles Meardon', as 'Josey Wales'...

frivolously.

 My 'comparison'... to my 'knowledge'. 

Chuck Meardon... has never watched the movie,

I'm guessing.

'The Outlaw Josey Wales',

 I've compared Charles Meardon to, for nearly eight years, while 

Fighting This Wrongful... Battle, with The Iowa Department of Transportation. and Fairfax.

He's a Warrior.

; )

If... there was a

 Living...

 Outlaw, 

'Josey Wales', 

who...

'Protected The Law',

 well...

again,

in my

 Grateful Opinion...

it would be

Charles Meardon.

Wouldn't just be my 'opinion'..

; )

Many...

sat in

 Meardon's Office, today...

with 

Respect.

; )

For the record, speaking as a 'Horse Trader', 'Truck Driver', 'Waitress'... 

'Dishwasher'... 'Antique Dealer'...

'Band Singer'...

'Target employee', 

'Daughter'

'Wife'...

'Mom'....

'Friend'.

; )

in my very humble opinion,

some...

 lawyer's...

 have much to learn.

I'm hoping, we'll have the chance...

to

'Teach' 

them.

bless their hearts.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

and... why do I sip Tequila. ?

The 1997 Iowa Department of Transportation's, 

Condemnation...

of our 

'Land'.

Lawyer, Charles Meardon... attempted to share his Dad's 'File' of the 1997 Iowa Department of Transportation's 'Condemnation' of our land, with me, two month's ago.

I... wouldn't 'accept' that file, from Charles, until yesterday.

: (

Couldn't bear... to see the images, I'd captured, or.... attempted to, back... then.

'Round Two'

with 

The Iowa Department of Transportation, for us.

: (

Heartbreaking, and wrong, on every level.

{my opinion}

Here we go again. Thanks to Fairfax, and The Iowa Department of Transportation.

'Bike Trails'.

?

Looking at 'before and after' images, 

oh my.

People... may often wonder why I sip Tequila.

; )

Please... don't judge me, until You've Stood Toe to Toe, with...

The Iowa Department of Transportation, and... their 'underbellies', called...

Fairfax, Iowa...

City Hall.

; )

{my opinion}

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{meeting with IDOT's lawyers, and Lawyer Meardon, in the morning.}

Always... an Adventure, at Heart of Country.

<3

Always get a little... sideways, this time of year.

Many... reasons, I suppose.

We did Heart of Country... in Nashville, from 2001, 'til the last 'Heart', in 2014.

It was the Most Difficult Show, we ever did, but...

 for so many reasons, it was 

The Most Rewarding.

<3 <3 <3

There's still 'Tailgate' shows going on.

No more...

'Heart'.

: (

Many Friend's are heading to Nashville, now.

: )

I... could've signed up with a 'Tailgate' Show, when Heart was no more...

They are Amazing Events, as well.

but...

Nothing Like 'Heart of Country'.

There will never be another 'Heart'.

It.... was Truly, 

The 'Grand-daddy'.

: )

Pegadoo... along with Many Friends, joined together, at Heart, that year.

Over the years... Many Pal's would join us in Nashville, over Valentine's Week.

The Opryland Hotel.

; )

Lord... Lord, did we have Fun!!

; )

It was Beyond... Grueling Work.

Long Hours.

Stressful...

oh my.

; )

but, we... 'Played' as hard as we worked, at the end of each day.

; )

Above... is our last 'Heart' Booth, in 2014.

<3

Captured the above image... one morning after rolling back in, at Home...

from 'Heart'.

; )

I could write a book, with only 'Heart' stories.

; )

Always thought of the Bob Seger tune, 'Turn the Page', when I got Home from 'Heart'.

; )

Heart of Country was held at The Opryland Hotel, in Nashville.

{If you've never been to The Opryland Hotel, google it. 

It's a BIG Deal.

'Big' is an Understatement. 

In my opinion, the years we did 'Heart', were 'The Glory Days'.}

The first time we attended... we got lost trying to find our room.

; )

Not good, when you've been loading Trucks, for Days...

in the Bitter Iowa Cold,

 and...

 after driving 12 hours, to get there.

There's nearly 3,000 rooms, at The Opryland.

All under one roof. 

It's like Another World.

A

Glorious 'World'.

<3

Beyond... Beautiful.

<3

Promoter, Libby Kramer... Knew What She Was Doing, holding 

'Heart' there.

{Libby... was an Amazing Woman. Miss Her. 

I... admired her, so.}

<3

I'll never forget calling, then... 'Show Partner', and Friend... Julie, asking her if she'd consider going as far as Nashville, and 'do' Heart of Country.

: )

I was scrambling... trying to find an 'Event' for this time of year.

 Called Libby Kramer, 'Heart of Country', thought I was calling one of it's 'tailgate' shows.

 They were all listed in a Country Home magazine, I'd been reading.

Libby, and I talked... for nearly an hour, before she informed me I wasn't talking to a 'tailgate' promoter, I was speaking to

 'Elizabeth Kramer'...

 'Heart of Country'.

I Laughed, said... "I'm so sorry, seems I've wasted your time!!!

; )

 I've heard Much... about your Amazing Show, it's Incredible, I've heard. 

but...

 we're from Iowa, and... don't have any 40,000. cupboards."

; )

Libby replied, "Barb, we don't need another 40,000. cupboard, we need to be diverse.

If you'd like to join us at Heart of Country, let me know."

<3

When I asked Julie, about considering 'Heart', she was flabbergasted.

Hahahahaha!!

Julie, was SURE I was 'Mistaken'.

 Julie, and her Mom... had attended 'Heart' as a Treat, a few times over the years.

Julie...was sure, 'Iowa' wouldn't 'Fit', or... be considered for 'Heart of Country'.

{'Juried' event.}

well...

I assured Julie, we have a Booth, at 'Heart'... if she wanted to make the trek.

; )

We made the trek.

; )

Pulled in at The Opryland Hotel, in a 1981 Ford F350, loaded like The Beverly Hillbillies,

with the

16 foot Trailer, in tow, also... Loaded, 'beyond'.

; )

An Opryland Hotel Valet... walked up to The Ford, asked me if I'd like him to park my Truck.

: )

{There were Limos, and Cabs... sharing the Beautiful... Opryland Hotel's Main Lobby Entrance, with The Ford, and Trailer.}

Hahahahaha!!!!

I Laughed, and... said, 

"Thank You... Sir!!!.... but, no.

: )

 This Old Boy's... clutch... is kinda 'temperamental'...

; )

believe we'll 'check in', and... I'll get him 'parked'."

{I believe... the Kind Valet, was Very Grateful. <3}

; )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

<3

{thinking back... it mighta been kinda Fun, watching The Kind... Valet, trying to park... The Old Ford.

Getting him outta second gear, mighta Fun... watching, Too!!!

; )

but...

that, would've been kinda... naughty.}

; )

There's much more... to this 'Heart of Country' Year One... 'story'.

<3

: )

Always, Always... Wonderful 'Adventures' at Heart of Country, at The Opryland Hotel, in Nashville.

; )

Priceless.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{For the record, at the 'First Heart' Show we attended, my Favorite Cupboard, at Heart of Country, that year...

 Sold... 

on

 'Preview Night'

 for

 68,000.

 Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars.

; )

oh... my.

Somehow... maybe it occurred to me, a little... back then,

'It's not what you know...

It's more about,

'Who'...

ya know.'

but...

what do I...

know? }

<3

Words to Create by.

I've Always been a Huge Fan, of Patsy Cline.

<3

Patsy... sadly, died in a plane crash the year I was born.

Her Music, 'Art'...  has lived on, and on.

<3

Discovered Patsy's above quote... a dozen years ago, or so.

Like Patsy's 'Art', her above... may be one of my Favorite Quotes.

; )

'If Ya can't do it with 'feeling'...

don't.'

In my opinion, those are words to live by.

Certainly... words to 'create' by, or.. don't.

; )

Big Week... 

ahead.

oh my.

; )

Life... in my humble opinion, is all about 

'The Journey', 

and the

'The Details'...

 within.

; )

From the tiniest... to the Grandest, and Gnarliest.

; )

Ultimately, if those 'details'... don't have 'feeling', well...

again,

in my opinion, 

they'll always be seen, heard...

'felt'...

'come off'...

 a little

'flat'.

Patsy... was a Wise Woman.

'True Artist'.

To my knowledge,

Patsy...

 never

 'sang'

 'off-key'.

<3

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Sunday... mornin'.

Wrote a long post... last night, concerning... Polly, above.

<3

{ I rescued Polly, once...

She Rescued me, a Million Times.}

and...

how Grateful I am, for The Amazing People and Critters, who I've been So Blessed to have crossed paths with, on this 'Journey' called 'Life'.

<3

Between the 'Memories', and Tequila, wound up deleting it all.

It got way too deep.

<3

; )

Hope... to re-write it, soon.

What a Ride.

What a Ride.

: )

Crazy... Busy Week, ahead.

Seems many are wound pretty tight, these days.

We're livin' in The Twilight Zone, and Ridin' The Crazy Train back and forth, to it.

oh...dear.

; )

All we can do, is Hold On Tight, and be Grateful...

 we're

 Still in The Game.

; )

Be Grateful... for Those who are Riding With.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.