June 2007 - Posts
The last couple of years the Fourth of July as been kind of an afterthought for me. Two years ago I travelled to Georgia to be in a friend's wedding. We were so busy getting our dresses altered, planning the bridal shower and well, getting the bride to the church on time, that I completely forgot there'd been a holiday.
Then last year it was my turn. We got married on July 15. But the time the Fourth rolled around I was neck-high in wedding plans of my own. I barely paused to enjoy the Fourth.
This year, too I keep forgetting that the Fourth of July is around the corner. Normally I'd be looking forward to a day off from work to relax with friends, but I've been so wrapped up with my almost-here vacation that it's once again gone unnoticed.
My husband and I are finally going to visit my family in my homestate, Alaska. It's been three years since I was there and he's never been. I don't know what I'm more excited about, seeing my family or showing him the place I grew up in.
For the first time in three years I'll be celebrating the Fourth with my family. I'm sure there will be grilling, fireworks and yard games. It is the fourth after all. And, judging from the answers people gave to this week's On The Street Question, these sorts of traditions are universal.
I've never been a big fan of barbecue. By that I mean the sticky sweet red stuff that some people love to slather on their grilled or slow-roasted meats.
As a result I've always steered clear of ribs in general. But I love the smoky taste that comes from grilling. In fact, I'd like to grill year-round. My dream kitchen definitely includes an indoor grill.
Grilling, though, can be a bit of a challenge when you don't eat red meat. Just take a look at the people's responses to the question I asked them at the BBQ Roundup Thursday. Easily half said their favorite food to grill is hamburgers. To most people there's nothing like throwing a slab of red meat on the grill. I'd rather pass, though, thank you.
Luckily, the faux meat industry has created delicious hamburger substitutes. There's your basic soy-based burger. Get fancy though with black bean or veggie burgers. I love 'em all. I also love that I can now go to a friends to grill and not have to eat only side dishes.
Beyond the fake meat products, I'm also a big fan of grilled seafood. There is absolutely nothing more delicious than grilled salmon fresh from the ocean. Grilled halibut too is sublime. Then there's shrimp kabobs. I'm getting hungry now just thinking about it.
And, luckily in a week's time I'll be able to enjoy all of this as fresh as it gets. My husband and I taking our first trip to see my family in Alaska. Don't get me wrong. I'm excited to see them. But, I also can't wait to take that first bite.
I don't really think I had much of a choice to be anything but a Cyclone fan. All three of my brothers went to Iowa State, so I jumped on the bandwagon at a very young age inside Hilton Coliseum.
So when I ventured out to Hog Wild Days in Hiawatha, to ask people what they go hog wild for, I thought back to the first ISU game I attended.
Somewhere, there is a photo of me taken after that first game. I've got this foam basketball thing on my head, so if you find it, burn it. I look mad, but not because I look stupid - the Cyclones had lost.
Despite the score that day, I was hooked. I was the kid who taped every Iowa State game, even though I was watching it. If there was a buzzer-beater or game-winning touchdown pass, I was going to have a record of it.
I remember where I was (and what I was wearing) when Iowa State's Justis Thigpen swished a running 3-pointer to beat Colorado on the road. Even today, I could tell you all about it like it was yesterday.
Of course, there have been plenty of times when it's been tough to be an Iowa State fan. There was the 0-10-1 football season, the Hampton fiasco in Boise and Eustachy-gate. Oh, and don't forget 15 straight losses to your biggest rival.
But there have also been highs: A running back who twice ran for 2,000 yards, a legitimate national title contender in basketball with the 99-00 team and Cael Sanderson's gold-medal run.
I realize making a red-and-gold declaration like this isn't the smartest thing on this side of the state. I'm definitely in enemy territory, but even that shouldn't be cause to swallow your school pride.
I'm not originally from Iowa. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate this state's good qualities. In fact, I'd argue that maybe I see more of what Iowa has to offer. A state's residents, particularly its younger ones, can sometimes get so used to their surroundings that they don't see what's right under their nose.
I love Iowa. I moved her to go to college in 1999 and then left for 11 months after a post-college internship here at The Gazette. I went back to Alaska, where I grew up, because there was a newspaper job there that could pay the bills. I told myself I'd stick it out for a year. I only made it 11 months then I moved back because I missed Iowa so much.
When I tell that story to a roomfull of Iowans they laugh at me. Really, it's true. I swear. I think the thing I missed most was the people. I think they're what make this state so great.
Turns out a lot of your fellow Iowans agree. In Coggon Saturday I asked people what they like about small town Iowa. The most common answer was some variation of the fact that people are so darn nice.
I'd have to agree. I may not live in a small town. But, in Iowa I think any town has that small town feel. Here people smile at you in the grocery store. They say hello as they're walking down the street. They wave from their front stoop. I love that friendliness. I wouldn't live anywhere else.
I need more culture in my life. It became apparent Saturday as I asked people about their favorite artists Saturday at the Iowa Arts Festival. Some named local artists, while others took the world-famous approach. I didn't know very many of the artists who were mentioned.
I've never been exposed to much art history. In fact, I can't remember ever taking an art class. Maybe that's why the walls in my apartment are mostly barren.
I mentioned the question for this week's On the Street to a friend earlier this week. She rattled off a few examples: Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Da Vinci. I responded to her that, instead of recalling great works of art, these things jumped to my mind:
1) Ninja Turtles (he wore the red bandana, I believe).
2) Toothpaste, and a town in Iowa where some of my cousins live.
3) A now defunct pizza place in Ames.
If that doesn't scream "You need more culture," I don't know what does.