This past Labor Day Weekend, I was invited by my Steve to accompany him to Holstein, Iowa. Labor Day marks the last big weekend of fun for me before returning to my high school classroom, where cheery, frightening and just too darn cute freshman await for new experiences, fresh starts and new crushes!
Iowa in Steve's home state, and the last time we were there together it was to attend Nate and Shelly's Wedding (October 2008). That trip involved a lot of running around, and was more Wedding focused. This trip however, gave me the opportunity to really spend more time with the Albers and some of Steve's close and dear friends.
The trip started with Steve and I arriving in Omaha, NE around 1130pm. We rented a snazzy Black Chevy Cobalt and rode through an amazing thunderstorm, while dodging pheasants, deers and frogs! It was the best way to start my Iowa trip...Steve looked at me and shook his head.
Arriving into Holstein around 2 am. Kaye and Wayne were up waiting, they were expecting us of course! We shared our perishables from Long Beach, which included dolmas from a Greek Deli, Rossmoor pasteries, Greek olives and figs. The pasteries, which once were just too good looking to eat, had exploded with the flight pressure! Regardless, Wayne and Kaye, along with Steve and I didn't mind having a taste!
The next day we got to visit Josh Newhouse and Laura at their new home in Storm Lake. What a great little college town! Located next to Buena Vista University, this little lakeside town is too cute. They have even built an amazing water park and resort, King's Pointe, where we had dinner. Brewster's was to follow, a local bar that Steve and friends have spent many a nights at. Also, Steve won $31 playing Pull-Tab...very cool!
Friday morning we heading back in to Holstein, where I got to spend some time with Wayne, Kaye and not to mention Jenny, Steve's sister and her 2 boys, Jack and Quinn. What a delight it was to see the boys almost a year later and to see how much they had grown! Such polite and sweet boys! We all enjoyed a game of soccer and baseball in the Albers' huge backyard! Gotta love that Kentucky Blue Grass!
That evening, we planned to visit Grandma and Grandpa Goodwin (Kaye's parents) and then continue up to Sioux City to meet Aunts, Uncles, Nate and Shelly @ the World Famous Miles. A Miles you have no choice but to order there famous "Charile Boy". What this is, is a sandwich or taverna, packed with peppered ground beef, topped with cheese, onion and a pickle. Sandwiched between a soft burger bun, for only $2.75 you can't go wrong. Pair it with a cold schooner of Blue Moon and you're set!
Following Miles, we headed downtown to Buffalo Alice's where we met up with Scott and Ashley Albers, along with Ashley's parents and her brother, Justin and his wife, Heidi. This restaurant/bar was so Long Beach! Eclectic, artsy, good pizza and drinks...not to mention the drinks, anywhere in Iowa, are so cheap! They have a outdoor patio area and a garage like space where there is another bar along with a space for live music. Soon calling it a night in Sioux City, with Wayne as our DD, we headed out. Not even close to leaving the city, Steve, Wayne and I had a near death experience as we turned on a curved road amd all of a sudden heard a train blow it's horn. We had no idea where it was coming from , but it sounded close! We were a little shook up, but laughed about it after wards...it had been a long day for us all.
Saturday was Hawkeye day! Iowa vs UNI. After and quick stop at the Hy-Vee (local supermarket), Steve, Jenny and I whipped up some finger foods and not to mention some Hummus, c/o Mariam, for the game. The rest of the Saturday would be spent in Holstein @ the house. We grilled later that night, inviting many of Steve and Jenny's friends over, along with having Scott and Ashely with us (which threw me off, because I only hung out with them in Long Beach). Following dinner we had plans to hit the local bar, however, there was no one there! There was a class of '99 reunion going on at the Golf Course, and that's where the party and people were at. Plan B went into affect. Here we mixed and mingled, hung out on the patio, overlooking a quiet green, a pond and a bright full moon. It was perfect. A great way to end the last night in Holstein.
Sunday came to soon, and at about 1030am, Steve and I said our goodbyes and thank yous. I wouldn't have wanted to spend time in Iowa any other way. I got to know the family better, I met new faces and I really got a sense of who Iowans are and what they stand for.
I know that many of you may think that it must have been a culture shock, but it wasn't. The wide open spaces and big blue skys are things that we just don't know about living in Los Angeles. The beauty of only needing a 2 lane Highway to get anywhere may be unheard of for many Angelinos. The fields of corn, with their sun kissed tops reaching to the sky, the soybeans and sprouts, the "dirty beans" I learned about (Thanks Steve) and not to mention Tiefenthaler World Famous skinless brats and amazing beef burgers http://www.tqmeats.com/.
So thank you Albers family for making me feel welcome...it's like I've been there more than only just twice! I look forward to future trips, maybe even one involving a little snow?!
And to Steve's friends, you are all so lucky to have each other, regardless how near or far, good friends are friends forever.
