what i like about having a day off is not needing to be up as early in the morning as normal. i still had things i needed, or wanted, to do today despite it being a holiday. this included grocery shopping,as well as getting some drain opener later on. after watching the video of 'time to kill' i noticed the bathroom sink water hadn't moved. so i had to go to walgreen to get their store brand, 'compare to liquid plumbr'. it took a little longer than 30 minutes, but the drain works fine now. it's nice when there are simple solutions.
as for the movie, it was a compelling one to say the least. i liked seeing donald sutherland in it as the disbarred mentor of the defense attorney. i've liked movies ever since i was a kid, it lets you travel to so many places without having to leave your home. and i knew it was a rare treat then,being from a working-class family, so that made it even more special.
tonight i was checking messages on my cellphone and it was odd to hear the only voicemail, it was a recording of a few minutes of my date from sunday. reminded me of a joke told often by one of my fellow comics. still wondering and waiting for the verdict, but staying busy for now.
i also finished my research on the national register for schools in iowa. besides emerson hough school, there are 84 other schools i found. i decided to look only at public k-12 schools, so it left out colleges and church schools. might have missed a few, but not too many. i was amazed at my findings. just over half of them are no longer used as schools, but as museums, houses, sport facilities, meeting halls, and city halls. maybe this isn't too big of a deal, when much of the state is small towns and rural areas. many small schools have been forced to merge due to declining enrollment.
some are vacant, which is sad. nice that many of them are still in active use, even if not as a school. came as no surprise that polk county had a high number of listings, i found 7 for them. of course des moines is there, and 3 of the 5 high schools made the list- roosevelt, lincoln, and east. but scott county, where davenport is, had the most-at 12. many of them were named after presidents, a common way of naming schools. 2 of the 5 current elementary schools in newton are named after presidents.
other findings included noticing how it was no big deal to see county courthouses listed, as many counties had them added to the register. even some county jails were listed, though i did not check if any of them are still used for that purpose. most notable to me was seeing the iowa state fairgrounds on the list, a place i have been to often though not as much since leaving iowa. another would be the yale bowl in new haven, conn., a place where i saw a yale football game vs. lehigh in 2004. i wanted to visit the school as i was familiar with how the venue did have a brief run hosting an NFL team, the new york giants, for 2 seasons in the 1970s. and of course walter camp, the father of american football as we know it, was a coach at yale. he devised many of the rules still used today. i had wondered if certain sports venues, especially those i had seen an event in, were on the list. sports is part of our history as well.
in my research on emerson hough i did stumble onto one thing, related to the national register. articles i found online connected the national register to the national park service. both would be under the same cabinet-level agency, the interior dept., along with national cemeteries.
and one of them spoke of the national park service being signed into law by president woodrow wilson in 1916, and made some mention of hough as well. so he must have been an influence in getting this act passed, besides getting credit for the law that protects buffalo in yellowstone park. i had already known about his izaak walton connection, but they are not as well known as the sierra club since sierra has a more national network. though i know sierrans do have meetings at ike's clubhouses from time to time. i should know, as i am a sierran.
i am pleased with what i continue to find here, though some doesn't surprise me much. hough was an outdoorsman, so it would make sense if he fought for conservation that it would include not just resources but also land. too bad how he isn't remembered that much now, despite all he did as a writer. i am trying to correct this by deciding to write about the man and the school. somebody has to document and report what happens, to keep people informed. then it's up to the public as to what they do with the information.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
coffee shop
as the title suggests, it was an eventful day for me. i did have a first date at a coffee shop this morning. we spoke for over an hour, i have a good feeling about it but i've had this 'good feeling' before on many previous first dates. and few lead to second dates. she knows i would like to see her again. that's all i should say for now.
had to do some laundry as well, don't like going to a laundromat but sometimes i like listening to the other customers. one of them spoke of studying for a criminal justice degree and working as a juvenile counselor. much like on a previous entry, i find that i have plenty in common with people when i listen to them. she had plenty of tattoos on her, and a kid in tow. but at least i didn't see one right over her cleavage like the hotel clerk last weekend, that was too hard not to notice. good to hear about somebody who wants to work with 'at-risk' kids and get them turned around before they go really bad.
i enjoy baseball a lot, and went to another game tonight. the st. paul saints lost to sioux falls 6-2, and there was a fireworks show afterwards. there was some rain during the game, but not enough to delay it. liked how the fireworks was set to music, the first two songs were 'hallelujah'- probably jeff buckley's version- and 'dyer maker' by led zeppelin. good one by led-zep, but my favorite is 'when the levee breaks'. there was a request for suggestions by email, mine was 'these are days' by 10k maniacs but they didn't play it. maybe for the july 4th fireworks show.
for some reason i kept laughing to myself during the game. it was about a 'flintstones' episode i saw a while back, where the water buffalo lodge leader said that you can't change the bylaws. now i'm laughing again while writing it. fred was saved from embarrassment by somebody beating him to asking if their wives could attend, i think the lodge brother was expelled, or at least chastised, for suggesting it.
there are plenty of odd things at baseball games. saw the 'index finger' gesture and then a woman got up and was escorted out of the seating area, a section over from me, by 2 cops. don't know what for, but she didn't look like she had too much to drink. after the game i go to the bathroom and i check myself in the mirror and a man said 'darling you look marvelous'. i told him he wasn't my server at a waffle house in south carolina, a fond reminder of my april visit to the carolinas. i'm sure he had too much to drink. boarded a shuttle bus back to the bar and grill where i was parked and said how i don't bite to the patron who finally sat down next to me. comedians would also do a joke like 'do i smell?' finally there was a man in a saints jacket who boarded the bus and stayed up front, standing next to the driver, and said he was the big, bad, and ugly. i asked him where the good was. my favorite promotion, between innings entertainment, is the cub foods 'what's in the bag?' it was moved from the 8th inning to the second, but always a good joke. it's a takeoff of 'let's make a deal' and 'price is right'.
driving home, i heard a song on the radio that seemed to nail how i felt as a writer. it was 'breathe' by anna nalick. it was that part about getting it down on paper, before it threatens the life it belongs to. also notable about the day before going to the saints game was going to a goodwill store to check out their book selection. made a nice find, it was the minnesota 150 book. i had meant to get it when at the museum for the ben franklin exhibit, lucked out to find it somewhere else so quickly. also crossed off a movie from my list, finding the grisham movie 'time to kill'. hadn't seen it before, and tried to rent it at blockbuster but they no longer had it. may be a vhs copy but i can watch it, although i haven't watched many vhs tapes recently.
speaking of books, i found out i already had a copy of michael moore's 'downsize this'. found it in a box in the closet. it sounded like one i may have had, good that i checked first. there was one time before when i unknowingly ended up with 2 copies of the same book, both bought at a secondhand store. it was ' i never promised you a rose garden'. so i donated one of them. sometimes this happens though, where i find i book i like and buy it but don't get around to reading it. i try to avoid doing this as much as possible. maybe this is why i like reference books about history- flip to a chapter, and get whatever information i need real quick.
i am still researching the national register, now up to 67 counties in iowa. i expect to complete it soon. checked a few other select areas, like memphis, tenn., since my college roommate lives near there. saw how one place i toured while visiting him about 2 years ago is on the register- the sun records studio/museum. graceland, the elvis presley home, is also there but i didn't tour it while in town. maybe on my next visit. checked new orleans as well, wondering if the b and b from my 2002 visit is there. it wasn't, which was st. vincent's guest house. it had been a home for orphans and unwed mothers. but st. vincent depaul church is on the register.
had to do some laundry as well, don't like going to a laundromat but sometimes i like listening to the other customers. one of them spoke of studying for a criminal justice degree and working as a juvenile counselor. much like on a previous entry, i find that i have plenty in common with people when i listen to them. she had plenty of tattoos on her, and a kid in tow. but at least i didn't see one right over her cleavage like the hotel clerk last weekend, that was too hard not to notice. good to hear about somebody who wants to work with 'at-risk' kids and get them turned around before they go really bad.
i enjoy baseball a lot, and went to another game tonight. the st. paul saints lost to sioux falls 6-2, and there was a fireworks show afterwards. there was some rain during the game, but not enough to delay it. liked how the fireworks was set to music, the first two songs were 'hallelujah'- probably jeff buckley's version- and 'dyer maker' by led zeppelin. good one by led-zep, but my favorite is 'when the levee breaks'. there was a request for suggestions by email, mine was 'these are days' by 10k maniacs but they didn't play it. maybe for the july 4th fireworks show.
for some reason i kept laughing to myself during the game. it was about a 'flintstones' episode i saw a while back, where the water buffalo lodge leader said that you can't change the bylaws. now i'm laughing again while writing it. fred was saved from embarrassment by somebody beating him to asking if their wives could attend, i think the lodge brother was expelled, or at least chastised, for suggesting it.
there are plenty of odd things at baseball games. saw the 'index finger' gesture and then a woman got up and was escorted out of the seating area, a section over from me, by 2 cops. don't know what for, but she didn't look like she had too much to drink. after the game i go to the bathroom and i check myself in the mirror and a man said 'darling you look marvelous'. i told him he wasn't my server at a waffle house in south carolina, a fond reminder of my april visit to the carolinas. i'm sure he had too much to drink. boarded a shuttle bus back to the bar and grill where i was parked and said how i don't bite to the patron who finally sat down next to me. comedians would also do a joke like 'do i smell?' finally there was a man in a saints jacket who boarded the bus and stayed up front, standing next to the driver, and said he was the big, bad, and ugly. i asked him where the good was. my favorite promotion, between innings entertainment, is the cub foods 'what's in the bag?' it was moved from the 8th inning to the second, but always a good joke. it's a takeoff of 'let's make a deal' and 'price is right'.
driving home, i heard a song on the radio that seemed to nail how i felt as a writer. it was 'breathe' by anna nalick. it was that part about getting it down on paper, before it threatens the life it belongs to. also notable about the day before going to the saints game was going to a goodwill store to check out their book selection. made a nice find, it was the minnesota 150 book. i had meant to get it when at the museum for the ben franklin exhibit, lucked out to find it somewhere else so quickly. also crossed off a movie from my list, finding the grisham movie 'time to kill'. hadn't seen it before, and tried to rent it at blockbuster but they no longer had it. may be a vhs copy but i can watch it, although i haven't watched many vhs tapes recently.
speaking of books, i found out i already had a copy of michael moore's 'downsize this'. found it in a box in the closet. it sounded like one i may have had, good that i checked first. there was one time before when i unknowingly ended up with 2 copies of the same book, both bought at a secondhand store. it was ' i never promised you a rose garden'. so i donated one of them. sometimes this happens though, where i find i book i like and buy it but don't get around to reading it. i try to avoid doing this as much as possible. maybe this is why i like reference books about history- flip to a chapter, and get whatever information i need real quick.
i am still researching the national register, now up to 67 counties in iowa. i expect to complete it soon. checked a few other select areas, like memphis, tenn., since my college roommate lives near there. saw how one place i toured while visiting him about 2 years ago is on the register- the sun records studio/museum. graceland, the elvis presley home, is also there but i didn't tour it while in town. maybe on my next visit. checked new orleans as well, wondering if the b and b from my 2002 visit is there. it wasn't, which was st. vincent's guest house. it had been a home for orphans and unwed mothers. but st. vincent depaul church is on the register.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Ben Franklin exhibit
when i eventually left my home i ended up at the local museum, where the ben franklin exhibit is through the 4th of july. more about that later.
i had passed on car washes for a while, though i know they are usually for charity. guess i am used to having my car washed by the rain. but i went over and asked them a few questions and said i would be back once i got some stamps at the post office, and i did. wanted the katharine hepburn stamps, not available. but they had movie cowboy stamps, seemed apt when i am writing a lot about a western writer. i liked listening to some of the people at the car wash, like the 'treasurer' and one of the customers. they spoke of local football teams, one of them was a participant. contrary to popular belief, i do like listening to people. some think i like to talk, which is not always true. i think of myself as an 'everyman', and i tend to be comfortable in most environments. i try to find out what i have in common with people. we should look for what unites us, not divides us. it goes back to my college days, where one of the football players-a defensive end from suburban st. louis- would say hi to me whenever he saw me on campus. i figured i should at least get to know his name since he must be a decent person if he greeted me regularly, since not everybody was willing to do this. kind of like the coworker i spoke of recently.
i had passed on car washes for a while, though i know they are usually for charity. guess i am used to having my car washed by the rain. but i went over and asked them a few questions and said i would be back once i got some stamps at the post office, and i did. wanted the katharine hepburn stamps, not available. but they had movie cowboy stamps, seemed apt when i am writing a lot about a western writer. i liked listening to some of the people at the car wash, like the 'treasurer' and one of the customers. they spoke of local football teams, one of them was a participant. contrary to popular belief, i do like listening to people. some think i like to talk, which is not always true. i think of myself as an 'everyman', and i tend to be comfortable in most environments. i try to find out what i have in common with people. we should look for what unites us, not divides us. it goes back to my college days, where one of the football players-a defensive end from suburban st. louis- would say hi to me whenever he saw me on campus. i figured i should at least get to know his name since he must be a decent person if he greeted me regularly, since not everybody was willing to do this. kind of like the coworker i spoke of recently.
i said it was heaven to me to be at the franklin exhibit. i even had answers for people when they wondered about things. one wondered if he had invented insurance, of course he didn't as the concept has been around for a while. one only needs to think of lloyd's of london. but he did create the first fire insurance company in america. i liked how franklin was a progressive man, unfortunately some who are labeled as such are not well-liked by some. guess it's because some fear change, and of course the root word is 'progress'. there were plenty of different versions of his autobiography on display, translated into various languages apparently. in the gift shop i did get some souvenirs, comes as no surprise to those who know me this included 2 books. one was the autobiography, another was his quotes. the third was a button with his quote how a penny saved is a penny earned. i think many are largely unfamiliar with how he can claim all of those quotes listed since they are so common now. there was one about how the doors to wisdom never being shut was one i wrote down on a homemade poster in my room while in high school. had to be careful about what books to get, since i had been to the franklin home in philadelphia in 2003. i bought the 'poor richard almanac' book then.
after the evening meal of tacos and then watching the end of a baseball game on t.v. i put in a dvd, the other one from blockbuster. it was 'chaplin', a biopic with robert downey. not a big fan of downey but i like bios, i think he did fine. good cast, recognized many of the actors in it. a coworker spoke of it after i said i liked 'great dictator', when chaplin made fun of adolf hitler. i had found 'dictator' at the local library, and was pleased that somebody was willing to do such a politically charged movie. i've liked bios ever since i saw 'la bamba' as a youngster. it led to my family going to a buddy holly weekend in clear lake, ia., where they renamed a street for holly and dedicated a monument outside surf ballroom to the 3 musicians who died in the plane crash. last thanksgiving, i finally went back to the surf.
i did do more research on the national register of historic places, now i've looked at just half of what's in iowa, 51 of 99 counties. recognized one listing in particular, the herbert hoover historic site in west branch. toured it many times already. another was of a turner hall (or turnhalle in german) reminding me of visiting new ulm, minn., for oktoberfest. they have a turner hall there,
and i go have a drink there in the rathskeller while in town. i liked reading about the history of the organization. they believed in things like physical fitness, as it would hopefully keep conquerors like napoleon at bay. quite a few buildings in new ulm are on the register, toured many of them. this includes schell's brewery, the hermann monument, the john lind home (former governor), as well as the wanda gag (pronounced gogg) home. wanda was a children's book writer, and as a writer it meant something to hear her story.
i am pleased at what i am finding is on the register. i wondered what other sports venues were on the list, found out camp randall stadium in madison, wisc., is one of them- a college football stadium. i thought it was odd to hear such a name for a sports venue, until i saw it one time while in town for a hawkeye-badger basketball game. it was a civil war training center as well as a stockade (prison).
i also noticed how there are plenty of sites related to president abraham lincoln, not just schools but also statues in his honor. at first when studying lincoln and the civil war it was hard to understand why he is written about more than any other president. but it made sense eventually, and i gave 3 reasons as to why. he was a common man who became president, though not the first. andrew jackson did it before him. second, the civil war president. the war changed our country forever, with 3 amendments to the constitution. in addition, a civil war in any country is usually written about extensively, be it england, spain, or anywhere else. though the third and final reason is the most compelling one. he was martyred due to being assassinated. books i have read said he was considered to be one of the worst presidents ever while alive.
i did go to order some more emerson hough books, one of them being 'mississippi bubble', his first best-seller. according to the brief description, the 'bubble' refers to finance, and the bubble bursting. likely still has some relevance today. it was said about the dot-com boom of the 1990s, how the bubble burst there, and as somebody once said many became 'dot-bombs'.
the other hough book ordered was 'way to the west', where he wrote about wild west figures like kit carson, davy crockett, and daniel boone. i like how getting used copies means paying less, i tend to do the same with CDs. why pay more if you don't have to? it's usually of similar quality, hard to notice the difference. i thought about ordering one of his movies but couldn't find any on the site, but i can try ebay of course. those are 2 words i've heard often in recent years- 'go online', if one wants to find something. and they're right.
Friday, May 28, 2010
the national register
i went back to work and my boss noticed i was a little sunburned from the outdoor event from the previous day. i liked how the day seemed to go rather quickly, since there is the upcoming holiday weekend.
i got two movies at blockbuster on thursday, watched one of them tonight. probably should try netflix, more convenient i hear. saw 'the big one', a michael moore movie. it was one i hadn't heard of, but good entertainment. it was about his book tour to promote 'downsize this'. liked the songs in it, like 'i've been everywhere' by johnny cash, as well as 'on the road again' by willie nelson and 'times they are a changing' by bob dylan. saw bob and willie in concert about 5 years ago at a minor league baseball stadium. don't think i have any of his books yet, may want to get this one.
still doing research on emerson hough, the man and the school. i had heard how the school may be on the national register of historic places, so i went online to check it out. and i FOUND it! added in 2002, most recent addition in jasper county. there are 12 listings, 6 of them in newton. besides the school, there are 2 houses, 2 churches, and the county courthouse. unsure why the courthouse is there, but i know it is famous for its christmas decorations. i think 1 of the 2 houses is known as 'la corsette', an upscale restaurant. never been there, but i know where it is, across the street from a convenience store i once worked at in high school. attended 1 of the 2 churches, st. stephen's episcopal, but not too often. it was a gray-looking church. never heard of the other one, it is outside of town. but i did become very familiar with the town from delivering pizza for one summer after one year of college.
seeing it on the national register is a compelling reason to keep it open! i mean, it is a school, what else could it be used for? and i checked a few other areas to see what is on the register. went to college in iowa city, and the old capitol is on the list. toured it many times before college, and once while in college. so is the englert theater, saw some movies there. also in jasper county, is the james norman hall house, in colfax. makes sense, since hall was a co-writer in the 'mutiny on the bounty' book series. seen some of the movie versions, various actors have played fletcher christian like clark gable, marlon brando, even mel gibson. also once saw a commercial spoof, for old milwaukee beer, on a tape of old commericals.
the register puts the school in some respectable company. some sports venues are on the list. i heard how wrigley field in chicago is there, and it is. but so is soldier field in the same city.
i read further in some companion articles about the register. it was authorized under the national historic preservation act of 1966. guess that there were many who grew tired of historic buildings being demolished. for a while i hadn't heard there was another wrigley field, in los angeles, where a minor league affiliate of the cubs played. many movies and tv shows were filmed there, being close to hollywood. another is about frequently asked questions, where it states the purpose of the register even further. it recognizes the accomplishments of all peoples who have made a significant contribution to our country's history and heritage.
there is no doubt that this describes mr. hough, which seems to be why the school is on the register. when i go online to research the man and his writings, it says 'also try e.h. elementary'. this suggests to me that the school may be the only one named for him. under criteria considerations, it does give a line to this effect. 'when no other building or structure with the same association has survived'. this may have helped in getting the school added. it is the only school in the county on the register, likely one of the few in the state. will have to research each county- 99 in all- to see how many others are on it. probably not too many. but not all at once, maybe 10 counties at a time.
i decided to help with the effort to save the school in the name of historical preservation. while i am pleased that it had already been added, sadly it didn't seem to be enough to keep it open.
i was a little surprised about a few places in newton that wasn't listed on the register. unsure when it was last updated, i know some websites are not updated that often. there is a historical marker in front of hough's boyhood home, but the home is not the list i found. same is true with the maytag mansion, which i understand became the administration building for the school system. i know there was more than one maytag mansion, a tour guide at the jasper county museum said there was 2 but one was torn down. unsure which one survived, if it was the one for f.l., the founder of the appliance company, or elmer, the son. it is no longer officially known by this name, same with some other buildings like 'm. hotel' (midtown building) and 'm. museum' (jasper county museum). but of course there is still a big exhibit about the company's products there. but the maytag name will definitely live on in newton for years to come, as there is also maytag park, where my graduation was held, and whenever the weather permits. same is true for the bowl, and pool, inside the park. in fact, the graduation was actually just at the bowl. cool to hear how my hometown has a bowl, haven't heard of too many others aside from the hollywood bowl, still a notable venue for musicians.
all of this research reminds me of one observation i've made before about historical figures: it's not always what you do while alive, but how well you're remembered after you're gone. something that these people may have known, motivating them to leave a legacy. many colleges like yale, vanderbilt, stanford, and johns hopkins were named after their benefactors. then there are buildings that are donations to the university. at the university of iowa, where i attended, there are various buildings named for businessman and benefactor roy carver, not just the basketball arena but also a hospital wing. i have traveled to pittsburgh before, and many things there are named for andrew carnegie, and not just carnegie-mellon either, a college. somebody once said that steel city was a big memorial to him, and it seems to be true. then people are more likely to know who they are and what they did that was notable.
we should be aware of our history more, to understand where we're headed.
i got two movies at blockbuster on thursday, watched one of them tonight. probably should try netflix, more convenient i hear. saw 'the big one', a michael moore movie. it was one i hadn't heard of, but good entertainment. it was about his book tour to promote 'downsize this'. liked the songs in it, like 'i've been everywhere' by johnny cash, as well as 'on the road again' by willie nelson and 'times they are a changing' by bob dylan. saw bob and willie in concert about 5 years ago at a minor league baseball stadium. don't think i have any of his books yet, may want to get this one.
still doing research on emerson hough, the man and the school. i had heard how the school may be on the national register of historic places, so i went online to check it out. and i FOUND it! added in 2002, most recent addition in jasper county. there are 12 listings, 6 of them in newton. besides the school, there are 2 houses, 2 churches, and the county courthouse. unsure why the courthouse is there, but i know it is famous for its christmas decorations. i think 1 of the 2 houses is known as 'la corsette', an upscale restaurant. never been there, but i know where it is, across the street from a convenience store i once worked at in high school. attended 1 of the 2 churches, st. stephen's episcopal, but not too often. it was a gray-looking church. never heard of the other one, it is outside of town. but i did become very familiar with the town from delivering pizza for one summer after one year of college.
seeing it on the national register is a compelling reason to keep it open! i mean, it is a school, what else could it be used for? and i checked a few other areas to see what is on the register. went to college in iowa city, and the old capitol is on the list. toured it many times before college, and once while in college. so is the englert theater, saw some movies there. also in jasper county, is the james norman hall house, in colfax. makes sense, since hall was a co-writer in the 'mutiny on the bounty' book series. seen some of the movie versions, various actors have played fletcher christian like clark gable, marlon brando, even mel gibson. also once saw a commercial spoof, for old milwaukee beer, on a tape of old commericals.
the register puts the school in some respectable company. some sports venues are on the list. i heard how wrigley field in chicago is there, and it is. but so is soldier field in the same city.
i read further in some companion articles about the register. it was authorized under the national historic preservation act of 1966. guess that there were many who grew tired of historic buildings being demolished. for a while i hadn't heard there was another wrigley field, in los angeles, where a minor league affiliate of the cubs played. many movies and tv shows were filmed there, being close to hollywood. another is about frequently asked questions, where it states the purpose of the register even further. it recognizes the accomplishments of all peoples who have made a significant contribution to our country's history and heritage.
there is no doubt that this describes mr. hough, which seems to be why the school is on the register. when i go online to research the man and his writings, it says 'also try e.h. elementary'. this suggests to me that the school may be the only one named for him. under criteria considerations, it does give a line to this effect. 'when no other building or structure with the same association has survived'. this may have helped in getting the school added. it is the only school in the county on the register, likely one of the few in the state. will have to research each county- 99 in all- to see how many others are on it. probably not too many. but not all at once, maybe 10 counties at a time.
i decided to help with the effort to save the school in the name of historical preservation. while i am pleased that it had already been added, sadly it didn't seem to be enough to keep it open.
i was a little surprised about a few places in newton that wasn't listed on the register. unsure when it was last updated, i know some websites are not updated that often. there is a historical marker in front of hough's boyhood home, but the home is not the list i found. same is true with the maytag mansion, which i understand became the administration building for the school system. i know there was more than one maytag mansion, a tour guide at the jasper county museum said there was 2 but one was torn down. unsure which one survived, if it was the one for f.l., the founder of the appliance company, or elmer, the son. it is no longer officially known by this name, same with some other buildings like 'm. hotel' (midtown building) and 'm. museum' (jasper county museum). but of course there is still a big exhibit about the company's products there. but the maytag name will definitely live on in newton for years to come, as there is also maytag park, where my graduation was held, and whenever the weather permits. same is true for the bowl, and pool, inside the park. in fact, the graduation was actually just at the bowl. cool to hear how my hometown has a bowl, haven't heard of too many others aside from the hollywood bowl, still a notable venue for musicians.
all of this research reminds me of one observation i've made before about historical figures: it's not always what you do while alive, but how well you're remembered after you're gone. something that these people may have known, motivating them to leave a legacy. many colleges like yale, vanderbilt, stanford, and johns hopkins were named after their benefactors. then there are buildings that are donations to the university. at the university of iowa, where i attended, there are various buildings named for businessman and benefactor roy carver, not just the basketball arena but also a hospital wing. i have traveled to pittsburgh before, and many things there are named for andrew carnegie, and not just carnegie-mellon either, a college. somebody once said that steel city was a big memorial to him, and it seems to be true. then people are more likely to know who they are and what they did that was notable.
we should be aware of our history more, to understand where we're headed.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
mentoring event
i had the day off from work today, so i could attend the year-end mentoring event at a local college. we did an odd thing on the football field, using solar bags. one of them almost was taken away by the wind. we also got to see a speech by a former pro football player that became a judge. i made sure to get a picture of it, as my student in this program was on the stage to accept the scholarship he was awarded at the ceremony. i liked having the chance to see 'millionaire', and 'jeopardy', 2 game shows i like,as the event was done in the early afternoon.
now for more shared research about emerson hough, the man. i liked finding articles last week, and i am looking at the copies as i write. on top is the one about the school's dedication, from january 19,1927. kind of ironic one early comment in it, due to the ordeal we face now about the school board's unpopular vote to close the school. james rhodes thanked the school board for having done their part in perpetuating the name of such an illustrious author, and in their having put the official stamp of approval of the newton schools upon the superlative work done by emerson hough in the field of american literature. other titles in the article included 'practiced law in the west', 'faced all discouragements', 'historian novelist of the midwest', and 'perpetuates history of west'. it's sad how so many are unaware of history. hello, school board, i'm talking to you! same sentiment expressed in a recent newton daily news editorial.
the next copy here is of the first national convention of the izaak walton league, the date manually written on it was april 21,1923. given by the chicago chapter, it lists hough as a guest of honor as he is a national director. hough died just over a week later, on april 30. so this was a busy time in his life, as the chicago premiere of his movie 'covered wagon' was april 23. next one has 2 articles, one is called 'newton claims e.h.' from november 20,1920. apparently he gave a speech back in newton on this date.
the other is about his death, 'famous alumnus, e.h., dies'. it is dated may 4, and said 'news of his death reached newton on monday'. well we all know how news didn't travel as fast then, i know radio became common in that decade but it would have been the greatest media available.
now for the more recent articles. both are from the newton daily news. it is dated august 19,1987, titled 'conservationist e.h. well-known by a few residents'. there is a picture of hough, i recognize it as being one just like in the delbert wylder bio about hough that i have. there are also pictures of the stone marker at his boyhood home, across the street from the school. but no picture of the school, though early in the article it says the school is about the only thing keeping his memory alive today. the biggest picture is of a 'creel', which looks like a wicker basket. the caption says the newton chapter of the izaak walton league displays this memento of one of its founding members. and of course the newton chapter is named for him.
the next big article is from 2001 or later, i think. big headline, 'the legacy of emerson hough'. above the headline is a picture of the school. a small picture of hough, a covered wagon from the 'ft. emerson hough' playground, the cover of 'story of outlaw'- with billy the kid on the cover- along with the cover of 'passing of the frontier'. final picture is of the boyhood home. titles in the article include: e.h. the man, e.h. the author, and e.h. the legacy. the main thing mentioned in the legacy is the school, and the renovation over the years, including construction of the 'fort' playground. also poignant is the final line in the article, stating that many community members may be unaware of the history behind the school, the fort and former resident e.h. but his legacy lives on and awaits discovery through his literary works and his impact on american history. there is only a brief mention of the co-founding of 'ike's' and the newton chapter.
there are other articles here, but i should save them for a later day.
history is not just something one reads in books. it is meant to be experienced and learned and cherished and preserved. i have a lot of passion about this ordeal since i majored in history. from studying it, i understand better how- and why- things are the way they are today. mr. hough's legacy is at stake here! i wasn't about to stand idly by while it is in jeopardy. so it means reporting in this medium here for others to discover.
now for more shared research about emerson hough, the man. i liked finding articles last week, and i am looking at the copies as i write. on top is the one about the school's dedication, from january 19,1927. kind of ironic one early comment in it, due to the ordeal we face now about the school board's unpopular vote to close the school. james rhodes thanked the school board for having done their part in perpetuating the name of such an illustrious author, and in their having put the official stamp of approval of the newton schools upon the superlative work done by emerson hough in the field of american literature. other titles in the article included 'practiced law in the west', 'faced all discouragements', 'historian novelist of the midwest', and 'perpetuates history of west'. it's sad how so many are unaware of history. hello, school board, i'm talking to you! same sentiment expressed in a recent newton daily news editorial.
the next copy here is of the first national convention of the izaak walton league, the date manually written on it was april 21,1923. given by the chicago chapter, it lists hough as a guest of honor as he is a national director. hough died just over a week later, on april 30. so this was a busy time in his life, as the chicago premiere of his movie 'covered wagon' was april 23. next one has 2 articles, one is called 'newton claims e.h.' from november 20,1920. apparently he gave a speech back in newton on this date.
the other is about his death, 'famous alumnus, e.h., dies'. it is dated may 4, and said 'news of his death reached newton on monday'. well we all know how news didn't travel as fast then, i know radio became common in that decade but it would have been the greatest media available.
now for the more recent articles. both are from the newton daily news. it is dated august 19,1987, titled 'conservationist e.h. well-known by a few residents'. there is a picture of hough, i recognize it as being one just like in the delbert wylder bio about hough that i have. there are also pictures of the stone marker at his boyhood home, across the street from the school. but no picture of the school, though early in the article it says the school is about the only thing keeping his memory alive today. the biggest picture is of a 'creel', which looks like a wicker basket. the caption says the newton chapter of the izaak walton league displays this memento of one of its founding members. and of course the newton chapter is named for him.
the next big article is from 2001 or later, i think. big headline, 'the legacy of emerson hough'. above the headline is a picture of the school. a small picture of hough, a covered wagon from the 'ft. emerson hough' playground, the cover of 'story of outlaw'- with billy the kid on the cover- along with the cover of 'passing of the frontier'. final picture is of the boyhood home. titles in the article include: e.h. the man, e.h. the author, and e.h. the legacy. the main thing mentioned in the legacy is the school, and the renovation over the years, including construction of the 'fort' playground. also poignant is the final line in the article, stating that many community members may be unaware of the history behind the school, the fort and former resident e.h. but his legacy lives on and awaits discovery through his literary works and his impact on american history. there is only a brief mention of the co-founding of 'ike's' and the newton chapter.
there are other articles here, but i should save them for a later day.
history is not just something one reads in books. it is meant to be experienced and learned and cherished and preserved. i have a lot of passion about this ordeal since i majored in history. from studying it, i understand better how- and why- things are the way they are today. mr. hough's legacy is at stake here! i wasn't about to stand idly by while it is in jeopardy. so it means reporting in this medium here for others to discover.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
a fish
we have a recognition program at my employer where we give a plush fish to a deserving colleague. today it was my turn to pass it on after having it for a day. i gave it to somebody that is always so pleasant, greeting me whenever they see me. few people do this, so it's nice to see somebody who does. a little kindness does REALLY go a long way in life. in other issues, i sometimes need to be politely assertive. when a colleague tries to jump into a conversation, i tell them that i wasn't talking to them and continue. had to do this today.
what motivated me to start this blog was wanting to write about emerson hough, the man and the school. since i am interested in historical preservation. we need to keep this school not only because it's up to date and renovated, but also to help people in my hometown dream about what is possible. now more than ever, we need to keep this school. like many small towns i've seen, they've been left behind by the economy. way too many empty stores. some of this had happened even before its largest employer, the maytag appliance company (where my father worked) left town after being bought out due to running into financial trouble.
i think of the movie 'october sky' about the man who became a NASA employee after growing up in a west virginia coal town. he was told the only way to succeed there was to get a football scholarship, but he proved it wasn't the only way!
so in many ways, i am becoming an unofficial historian on mr. hough. somebody has to do it. how many other newton natives have a listing on imdb? or have items for sale on ebay, currently 191? not too many. i will likely get another one of hough's books soon, and a movie based on his books. according to ebay, there are copies of 'covered wagon', but only on vhs or those pitiful laser discs. i still have a vhs player, so getting the cassette will have to do. hard to say what the book would be, though i like what i hear about 2 of them. there is 'way to the west', where he wrote about kit carson, daniel boone, and davy crockett. so it proves that somebody made crockett famous before disney did! 'story of the cowboy' is another. it was one that he was encouraged to write by theodore roosevelt and others.
i am pleased at what i can find online, it is a good tool for searching and researching. though some of the best searching is done in person. in my last visit to washington,dc, in early 2009 i decided to go to the crime and punishment museum after getting a flyer in front of the white house from mcgruff the crime dog and his companion. in the western section there is an artifact attributed to hough, and his friend pat garrett (who shot billy the kid).
i will have to admit that i knew little about hough even though i grew up in newton. there were reminders of him every so often, and it served as a springboard to find out more about who he was. the school is the biggest reminder of his legacy, as it is in the middle of town. then there is his boyhood home, with a historical marker in front given by the daughters of the american revolution. it is across the street from the school. the local chapter of ike's (izaak walton league)
also bears his name, but it is at the edge of town. but the smaller things seemed to make more of an impact on me. there was a cover of the 'saturday evening post' magazine in my dentist's office with his name on it. and the encyclopedias that my parents owned had an entry about him. former high school principal h.a. 'pop' lynn, a popular sub teacher, also mentioned him the second time he was my sub, in government class when i was a high school senior. how he was in the town's first high school graduating class, 1 of 3.
though sadly, artists aren't truly honored while they are alive. hough is no different, as many of his honors were posthumous. a few of his books were published this way, and some of the movies based on his books also were released after he passed away. 'the texans', based on his book 'north of 36' and starting randolph scott, was released more than a decade after his passing. and of course the school that bears his name was opened 3 years after his death. hough did see some success during his lifetime, though just barely, with the movie 'covered wagon'. it was written that selling the movie rights was more lucrative than most of his success from the books themselves. i felt sad that he died just a week after attending the chicago premiere of the movie. same is true for being a co-founder of the izaak walton league, an outdoorsman organization, as he only could reap the benefits for a year since it was created in 1922.
but we never know how long we have on earth either, so we must live for the moment as much as we can. i think that is the most compelling reason i found for becoming more serious as a writer, much like why i finally tried my luck at comedy clubs.
what motivated me to start this blog was wanting to write about emerson hough, the man and the school. since i am interested in historical preservation. we need to keep this school not only because it's up to date and renovated, but also to help people in my hometown dream about what is possible. now more than ever, we need to keep this school. like many small towns i've seen, they've been left behind by the economy. way too many empty stores. some of this had happened even before its largest employer, the maytag appliance company (where my father worked) left town after being bought out due to running into financial trouble.
i think of the movie 'october sky' about the man who became a NASA employee after growing up in a west virginia coal town. he was told the only way to succeed there was to get a football scholarship, but he proved it wasn't the only way!
so in many ways, i am becoming an unofficial historian on mr. hough. somebody has to do it. how many other newton natives have a listing on imdb? or have items for sale on ebay, currently 191? not too many. i will likely get another one of hough's books soon, and a movie based on his books. according to ebay, there are copies of 'covered wagon', but only on vhs or those pitiful laser discs. i still have a vhs player, so getting the cassette will have to do. hard to say what the book would be, though i like what i hear about 2 of them. there is 'way to the west', where he wrote about kit carson, daniel boone, and davy crockett. so it proves that somebody made crockett famous before disney did! 'story of the cowboy' is another. it was one that he was encouraged to write by theodore roosevelt and others.
i am pleased at what i can find online, it is a good tool for searching and researching. though some of the best searching is done in person. in my last visit to washington,dc, in early 2009 i decided to go to the crime and punishment museum after getting a flyer in front of the white house from mcgruff the crime dog and his companion. in the western section there is an artifact attributed to hough, and his friend pat garrett (who shot billy the kid).
i will have to admit that i knew little about hough even though i grew up in newton. there were reminders of him every so often, and it served as a springboard to find out more about who he was. the school is the biggest reminder of his legacy, as it is in the middle of town. then there is his boyhood home, with a historical marker in front given by the daughters of the american revolution. it is across the street from the school. the local chapter of ike's (izaak walton league)
also bears his name, but it is at the edge of town. but the smaller things seemed to make more of an impact on me. there was a cover of the 'saturday evening post' magazine in my dentist's office with his name on it. and the encyclopedias that my parents owned had an entry about him. former high school principal h.a. 'pop' lynn, a popular sub teacher, also mentioned him the second time he was my sub, in government class when i was a high school senior. how he was in the town's first high school graduating class, 1 of 3.
though sadly, artists aren't truly honored while they are alive. hough is no different, as many of his honors were posthumous. a few of his books were published this way, and some of the movies based on his books also were released after he passed away. 'the texans', based on his book 'north of 36' and starting randolph scott, was released more than a decade after his passing. and of course the school that bears his name was opened 3 years after his death. hough did see some success during his lifetime, though just barely, with the movie 'covered wagon'. it was written that selling the movie rights was more lucrative than most of his success from the books themselves. i felt sad that he died just a week after attending the chicago premiere of the movie. same is true for being a co-founder of the izaak walton league, an outdoorsman organization, as he only could reap the benefits for a year since it was created in 1922.
but we never know how long we have on earth either, so we must live for the moment as much as we can. i think that is the most compelling reason i found for becoming more serious as a writer, much like why i finally tried my luck at comedy clubs.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
meeting about running naked
my workday included one thing that i don't enjoy and rarely see: bugs. had one just above my eye and then it buzzed away and went into the lights. reminded me of the headlines about a crash on the interstate where bees were released and had to be contained. even spoke of the state fair, how many would stay away from the root beer stand due to the bees attracted to it. just before starting this blog i saw an insect crawling on the carpet, maybe a centipede. when it reappeared i crushed it with my foot. guess it's the time of year when we will see more bugs since it's warmer.
i might be spending a little too much time around comedians. realized this when i spoke with my 'work spouse' since i responded with a quip that would kill at the comedy club. we do job shadowing, and i asked if it was necessary to see me pull files. the response was that she 'had already been in there with me.' i said 'you may want to be careful where you say that'. did i say how i work in a bank vault? to some it would be a great place to do things as discreetly as possible, as one colleague liked to remind me of their favorite scene in the eminem movie '8 mile' being when he has some 'alone time' at the stamping plant with his lady friend. but the most scandalous things done so far have been sharing secrets in there that i want to keep from others, so i don't get peppered with questions about things i don't care to discuss with those who aren't trusted friends.
actually, i did have to speak privately with a manager about something similar. i had claimed that i liked running naked through the vault, and somebody took me seriously, don't know why. had to say 'it's a JOKE!' anyway, how could i pull that off? (no pun intended) there are people constantly coming in and out of the vault during the workday. do you think i would have enough time to get my clothes back on once i heard the beeps from the keypad, somebody entering their code? it doesn't take long for them to enter it, just a few seconds. so i learned how i needed to be careful where i was practicing my jokes, and which ones as well.
i did go to another comedy show tonight, open-mic as usual, this time inside a mall. i liked how one comic did do a joke that i liked about pizza. and i do like getting noticed when i arrive, it is a sign of acceptance, which is a good thing.
at times in my life i've had a hard time fitting in, knowing where i could find acceptance- along with what i was good at and enjoyed doing. must be why i am drawn to music that captures the struggle of life well, and there are so many musicians who do across multiple genres. recently i found the lyrics to 'tennessee flat top box' by johnny cash where this sentiment was in the song. how he couldn't ride or wrangle, but he was happy all the time after being given a guitar.
i eventually learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't matter how long it takes to get to your destination, as long as you get there. nobody gets any extra points for finishing first.
i might be spending a little too much time around comedians. realized this when i spoke with my 'work spouse' since i responded with a quip that would kill at the comedy club. we do job shadowing, and i asked if it was necessary to see me pull files. the response was that she 'had already been in there with me.' i said 'you may want to be careful where you say that'. did i say how i work in a bank vault? to some it would be a great place to do things as discreetly as possible, as one colleague liked to remind me of their favorite scene in the eminem movie '8 mile' being when he has some 'alone time' at the stamping plant with his lady friend. but the most scandalous things done so far have been sharing secrets in there that i want to keep from others, so i don't get peppered with questions about things i don't care to discuss with those who aren't trusted friends.
actually, i did have to speak privately with a manager about something similar. i had claimed that i liked running naked through the vault, and somebody took me seriously, don't know why. had to say 'it's a JOKE!' anyway, how could i pull that off? (no pun intended) there are people constantly coming in and out of the vault during the workday. do you think i would have enough time to get my clothes back on once i heard the beeps from the keypad, somebody entering their code? it doesn't take long for them to enter it, just a few seconds. so i learned how i needed to be careful where i was practicing my jokes, and which ones as well.
i did go to another comedy show tonight, open-mic as usual, this time inside a mall. i liked how one comic did do a joke that i liked about pizza. and i do like getting noticed when i arrive, it is a sign of acceptance, which is a good thing.
at times in my life i've had a hard time fitting in, knowing where i could find acceptance- along with what i was good at and enjoyed doing. must be why i am drawn to music that captures the struggle of life well, and there are so many musicians who do across multiple genres. recently i found the lyrics to 'tennessee flat top box' by johnny cash where this sentiment was in the song. how he couldn't ride or wrangle, but he was happy all the time after being given a guitar.
i eventually learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't matter how long it takes to get to your destination, as long as you get there. nobody gets any extra points for finishing first.
Monday, May 24, 2010
the salt mines
my dad often referred to going to work as 'going to the salt mines'. after my weekend out of town i went back to work in the cubicle maze that is corporate america. waiting for me was 2 tomato plants that a colleague got for me on friday. hope that i do better this time, i had 1 before and it died. it was one of 2 times i did a 'simpsons' episode reference, about when they grew mutant crops of 'tomacco'. the other was when i spoke to my 'work spouse' how i had a lady gaga song stuck in my head, and it prompted me to ask her if her preteen daugter still sings another gaga song, 'love games'. it is one song she doesn't want her to sing due to the innuendo in it about riding on a disco stick. she doesn't know what it means yet. and i thought of when homer was at the zoo and the zookeeper explained to him what the animals were doing, he found out the hard way.
i made a joke how we should have a betting pool as to who becomes today's winner on the simpsons reference, and how early as well. also once wondered aloud if using a stunt double would work at work. if he looked just like me, talked about baseball, history, and the simpsons, would anyone notice the difference? there's a chance that some wouldn't.
i like going to open mic comedy shows, and that is where i went tonight after work, and stopping at a convenience store for food and fuel. had hoped to see the 'sassy' clerk but she wasn't there. she thinks i'm funny, though i'm dour and deadpan things. so i'm funny to her without trying hard. i do like sassy people, if she was a colleague she would be on my 'don't mess with' list.
i have been on stage a few times on open mic night, but even when not picked i like the sense of community there. even if some of them act like people i thought i left behind in school. i just know how to joke around with them better now. one of them said i entered looking the most confident i had ever been, like a pimp. i asked if pimps had denim jackets, i do. guess it was also the haircut and how i carried the denim, draped on one shoulder. i later told the same comic how a large man was looking for him, not realizing how that sounded a little menacing.
i was also holding court with some others a few minutes later and one joined in and wanted to be vulgar on guessing what my story was about. i asked him if he wanted to finish the story since he enjoyed trying to tell it so much.
i was telling a story about traveling this weekend, guessed it was st. louis but of course it was iowa. i do like st. louis though. and i greeted them with my 'cheers' impression of 'evening everybody, norm!' since i seem to be well-known just like the norm character was.
even the bartenders are funny people at times. i kept calling one of them 'barkeep' until he called me 'customer', so i finally decided to call him by his name. he said he got the 'customer' thing from the movie 'half baked', had to watch it so i would understand. had some charm to it, helped that janeane garofalo was in it. i noticed this bartender had that inside joke going with another comic, i must have been the inspiration for it.
i also shared the story of what finally got me on stage, fate had intervened. i realized how life was too short to keep wondering how i might do after going to a benefit event 2 years ago for a coworker who was dying of cancer. i had the winning bid for one item at the silent auction, it was a gift certificate for a comedy club. it reminded me of how i had heard many times over the years how i was funny and should try it. but i lacked the courage, the confidence. and i hadn't done well in speech class in high school and college. but i kept working on it, and was no longer that clueless teenager. one only fails when they don't try. sometimes you have to fail a little before you figure out why, and if you see what lessons can be learned then it will pay off.
i made a joke how we should have a betting pool as to who becomes today's winner on the simpsons reference, and how early as well. also once wondered aloud if using a stunt double would work at work. if he looked just like me, talked about baseball, history, and the simpsons, would anyone notice the difference? there's a chance that some wouldn't.
i like going to open mic comedy shows, and that is where i went tonight after work, and stopping at a convenience store for food and fuel. had hoped to see the 'sassy' clerk but she wasn't there. she thinks i'm funny, though i'm dour and deadpan things. so i'm funny to her without trying hard. i do like sassy people, if she was a colleague she would be on my 'don't mess with' list.
i have been on stage a few times on open mic night, but even when not picked i like the sense of community there. even if some of them act like people i thought i left behind in school. i just know how to joke around with them better now. one of them said i entered looking the most confident i had ever been, like a pimp. i asked if pimps had denim jackets, i do. guess it was also the haircut and how i carried the denim, draped on one shoulder. i later told the same comic how a large man was looking for him, not realizing how that sounded a little menacing.
i was also holding court with some others a few minutes later and one joined in and wanted to be vulgar on guessing what my story was about. i asked him if he wanted to finish the story since he enjoyed trying to tell it so much.
i was telling a story about traveling this weekend, guessed it was st. louis but of course it was iowa. i do like st. louis though. and i greeted them with my 'cheers' impression of 'evening everybody, norm!' since i seem to be well-known just like the norm character was.
even the bartenders are funny people at times. i kept calling one of them 'barkeep' until he called me 'customer', so i finally decided to call him by his name. he said he got the 'customer' thing from the movie 'half baked', had to watch it so i would understand. had some charm to it, helped that janeane garofalo was in it. i noticed this bartender had that inside joke going with another comic, i must have been the inspiration for it.
i also shared the story of what finally got me on stage, fate had intervened. i realized how life was too short to keep wondering how i might do after going to a benefit event 2 years ago for a coworker who was dying of cancer. i had the winning bid for one item at the silent auction, it was a gift certificate for a comedy club. it reminded me of how i had heard many times over the years how i was funny and should try it. but i lacked the courage, the confidence. and i hadn't done well in speech class in high school and college. but i kept working on it, and was no longer that clueless teenager. one only fails when they don't try. sometimes you have to fail a little before you figure out why, and if you see what lessons can be learned then it will pay off.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
the fundraiser
i went to iowa, my native state, this weekend to save a school and see a baseball game with my dad. both events were enjoyable. the iowa cubs won, beat colorado springs 1-0. grew up seeing games there with my dad, likely will always have a special place in my heart for that venue formerly known as sec taylor stadium. though this entry will mostly be about the school. before going to des moines for the game i had my hair cut my the barber who cut it when i was a youngster. his name- charlie brown. i am NOT making this up! coincidental, since in the comic strip charlie's dad is a barber, much like the creator's (charles schulz) was. even read a charlie brown book while waiting, just like as a youngster. still like charlie brown and snoopy.
before the school fundraiser, i went to the local museum and library to research emerson hough, the man. he was a western writer from my hometown, and i am part of the effort to save the school that bears his name. i was pleased to find items at the library like his movie 'covered wagon' on vhs tape, as well as a small file with clippings like the dedication of the school back in 1927. watched the movie right there. though most notable was the caricature of hough by a chicago cartoonist, showing him with a rifle at his side! very appropriate for a western writer!
i am more behind saving this school after touring it. looking inside it is all renovated and very much up to date. and i liked how there was a display case next to the office with some of his books, reminding people of who hough was. even better was the western themes of many things there, like a board with worksheets called 'roping in mighty fine work'. and the playground called 'ft. emerson hough', including a covered wagon and other western items.
didn't take long to get noticed, right after entering i saw a classmate that said 'hi'. and he said his mom showed the letter i wrote when sending my contribution to the fund. i had done it one other time already this year, to the ed thomas fund after the tragedy that claimed the coach in june. both mean something- with this one, my hometown, and with thomas, as an iowan and as a member of my school's football team.
in all, i saw 4 classmates, and many former teachers. well worth the drive back from out of state. may have driven the farthest to be there, but not sure. probably one of the few who never went to or worked at that grade school, as i went to another in town, the now-defunct lincoln school. lincoln was an old 2-story building built just before world war I that was demolished a few months after i started college.
had the winning bid on 2 items, since i like baseball and books i bid on those. a cover band played mostly 50s and 60s music, including hits from the 'clear lake 3'- buddy holly, big bopper, ritchie valens. despite this, i had the song 'alejandro' by lady gaga stuck in my head-from hearing it on the radio fairly often recently. go figure. guess it's a catchy song!
i trust that we will be successful on saving the school. funds raised are going to pay for the legal appeal. it is truly 'fighting the good fight'. it is good to have a reminder of a native who succeeded. as one attendee said, it is wrong to throw one of our own under the bus. i concur. he was in the town's first high school graduating class, and created our alumni association as well. then he became a famous writer who was friends with president theodore roosevelt, pat garrett (who shot billy the kid), and l. frank baum (who wrote the 'wizard of oz'). in addition, he was co-founder of the izaak walton league and helped get a law passed to protect the buffalo in yellowstone park. a true outdoorsman.
we need to dream, and see what's possible with hard work. we are nothing without our dreams, our goals.
before the school fundraiser, i went to the local museum and library to research emerson hough, the man. he was a western writer from my hometown, and i am part of the effort to save the school that bears his name. i was pleased to find items at the library like his movie 'covered wagon' on vhs tape, as well as a small file with clippings like the dedication of the school back in 1927. watched the movie right there. though most notable was the caricature of hough by a chicago cartoonist, showing him with a rifle at his side! very appropriate for a western writer!
i am more behind saving this school after touring it. looking inside it is all renovated and very much up to date. and i liked how there was a display case next to the office with some of his books, reminding people of who hough was. even better was the western themes of many things there, like a board with worksheets called 'roping in mighty fine work'. and the playground called 'ft. emerson hough', including a covered wagon and other western items.
didn't take long to get noticed, right after entering i saw a classmate that said 'hi'. and he said his mom showed the letter i wrote when sending my contribution to the fund. i had done it one other time already this year, to the ed thomas fund after the tragedy that claimed the coach in june. both mean something- with this one, my hometown, and with thomas, as an iowan and as a member of my school's football team.
in all, i saw 4 classmates, and many former teachers. well worth the drive back from out of state. may have driven the farthest to be there, but not sure. probably one of the few who never went to or worked at that grade school, as i went to another in town, the now-defunct lincoln school. lincoln was an old 2-story building built just before world war I that was demolished a few months after i started college.
had the winning bid on 2 items, since i like baseball and books i bid on those. a cover band played mostly 50s and 60s music, including hits from the 'clear lake 3'- buddy holly, big bopper, ritchie valens. despite this, i had the song 'alejandro' by lady gaga stuck in my head-from hearing it on the radio fairly often recently. go figure. guess it's a catchy song!
i trust that we will be successful on saving the school. funds raised are going to pay for the legal appeal. it is truly 'fighting the good fight'. it is good to have a reminder of a native who succeeded. as one attendee said, it is wrong to throw one of our own under the bus. i concur. he was in the town's first high school graduating class, and created our alumni association as well. then he became a famous writer who was friends with president theodore roosevelt, pat garrett (who shot billy the kid), and l. frank baum (who wrote the 'wizard of oz'). in addition, he was co-founder of the izaak walton league and helped get a law passed to protect the buffalo in yellowstone park. a true outdoorsman.
we need to dream, and see what's possible with hard work. we are nothing without our dreams, our goals.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
the beginning
maybe i should start with why i chose the name of my blog. i am a fan of 'the simpsons' and it is a reference to it. i liked a character in one episode, he was a self-made man and determined, a lot like me. one needs to laugh to get through life, and i like the biting satire on the show.
i don't know if there is a street corner or intersection anywhere by this name, i think of it more as a state of mind.
after thinking about what title i would choose, while at a baseball game, it seems to fit me well.
i have friends who have said they would like to read what i write, and blogging in this day and age is the way to go.
and i've learned that i've accomplished more in life when i make a list of goals and attach a deadline to it. i sent my list to a friend as i knew i would try harder if others knew those goals. fate can intervene as well, like it did for me. i am going to a fundraiser to save a school in a few days and want to write about it.
after thinking about it for a while, writing fits me well, better than many of my other ventures in life so far. but i kept running away from it like forrest gump, downplaying it as a hobby. we should do what makes us happy, and i tend to be more at peace when writing. i've learned that i shouldn't ignore my destiny.
so here we go, it's only the beginning for me. i hope that my observations about life are enjoyed by many.
i don't know if there is a street corner or intersection anywhere by this name, i think of it more as a state of mind.
after thinking about what title i would choose, while at a baseball game, it seems to fit me well.
i have friends who have said they would like to read what i write, and blogging in this day and age is the way to go.
and i've learned that i've accomplished more in life when i make a list of goals and attach a deadline to it. i sent my list to a friend as i knew i would try harder if others knew those goals. fate can intervene as well, like it did for me. i am going to a fundraiser to save a school in a few days and want to write about it.
after thinking about it for a while, writing fits me well, better than many of my other ventures in life so far. but i kept running away from it like forrest gump, downplaying it as a hobby. we should do what makes us happy, and i tend to be more at peace when writing. i've learned that i shouldn't ignore my destiny.
so here we go, it's only the beginning for me. i hope that my observations about life are enjoyed by many.
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