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My only IOWA driving story I have this week is that I was heading west
on US 18 towards Cobb and had my cruise set on 61 MPH (SPEEDING!)
and I was being tailgated, really close, by a vehicle. I reached the "slow" lane
for traffic, so I moved to the right (even though I was SPEEDING). The vehicle
that was behind me moved to the left and left me in the dust - must've
been doing at least 70! Of course it was an IOWA licensed vehicle!
*****
Friday night, brother Pat, myself, cousin Jeanette (Atlanta) and husband
Jack Marty, cousin Jean (Richland Center) and husband Joe Halverson plus
their grandson Reese and friends Vicki and Denny Staskill got together at
Bob's BBQ in Dodgeville. We were a group of nine, but had groups of 11
and 18 plus several smaller numbers in front of us. I arrived there at 5:45 and
put our name in. They came between 6:00 and 6:15 and we sat down at 6:30.
Not bad at all. The only problem was that we had a "Crubaugh" as a waitress,
so service was a little shabby! (Just kidding Michelle). I think only two of
the guys had BBQ stuff. The rest had fish and shrimp!
*****
Saturday I had every intention of going to the Highland "Our Town" celebration,
but it rained from the time I was going to go and pretty much all day.
I headed to Richland Center around 4:00 to meet the same group I had eaten
with the night before at the Halverson homestead. I was in a torrential downpour
the entire way from Cobb to just north of Muscoda. If I hadn't known
the road, I would've probably pulled over, at times, to let it subside! When I
went past the ballpark in Highland on my way there, I couldn't believe the
vehicles parked there. They were doing a chicken BBQ, but I don't know
how they could've kept a fire going with all that rain!
*****
We had quite the storm Thursday night too. I headed to Highland to go to
the Iowa County Cattlemens Association's annual steak feed (see above photo
showing people purchasing tickets). It was hotter than blazes for such an
event. I couldn't believe how hot it was around the cooking areas. I got away
from them fast. They had air conditioning inside of the eating shed, so that
made it standable - but the door kept opening to let the "hot" air in. I had to
leave to get back to Centennial Park in Dodgeville and do my own cooking
for a 7:30 p.m. ball game. I got out of there before the rains started, but I
didn't miss them in Dodgeville. We were in the first inning when the storm
from the east - that was going around us - met the one from the northwest.
All "heck" broke loose. The wind blew all the dust off the infield toward the
batter, catcher and home plate umpire. Everybody ran for cover. I did sell
quite a bit of food and beverages in the stand as I had a captive audience of
players and fans - so all was not lost! While it was storming at least three
trees went down outside of the concession stand in the park. One damaged
the fence and tennis courts, but that didn't keep people from using them the
next few days. We had another Home Talent game there Sunday and they
were both being used!
*****
Also, it was just as hot for me cooking hamburgers and brats over the grill
at Centennial Park Thursday night as it was for the guys at Highland cooking
steaks -or it sure seemed that way!
*****
This weekend is the "Linden Frolic". The big day is Sunday, but events
will be happening Friday night and Saturday too. On Sunday they have kids
pedal pull (FREE) starting at 11 - registration will start around 10:15, the
Linden American Legion has a delicious chicken BBQ starting at 11, there
is a carnival that will start at 12 with fun game with prizes, face painting and
cotton candy! Also the parade which is set to start at 2!