“Talking to Strangers”
I got anxious again today.
I think I am getting better at leaving anxiety behind, and then anxiety says, “Not so fast! We have more work to do.”
Opinions
Dear Editor,
“Play Ball!” cries the umpire. It’s that time of year for America’s game of baseball. Whether you like the crack of the bat, the pop of the ball hitting the catcher’s glove, the food and drink at the concession stand, or just absorbing the moment in the stands with family and or...
My husband, Peter, is trying to impress a local collie.
Peter knows better than this. He had a collie for many years. Collies are not easily impressed. They have their own priorities and their own agenda and if it happens to coincide with yours, you can pretend they did something on your behalf—...
For years, leaders in Iowa’s business community have been encouraging lawmakers to do more to address the state’s looming workforce shortage.
While it’s been on the horizon for over a decade with Iowa’s aging population, the pandemic made our workforce shortage even more acute.
There are things...
By now many will no doubt be aware that I am, once again, overseas.
This current venture marks my fifth trip to South Africa to spend my Spring with my sweetheart.
This time, however, will be a first for both of us in one very exciting way: the next flight is one we’ll BOTH be on.
No goodbyes (...
Dear Editor,
As the second funnel deadline approaches this Friday, I encourage you to contact Representative Henry Stone and Senator David Rowley to share your opinions regarding the legislation that both the House and Senate are debating. There are multiple bills that, if passed, will have a...
“Enough Steps”
Anxiety likes numbers.
I only recently realized that a lot of my anxiety fixates on meaningless numbers. I like to know how many there are of a particular thing and then attach meanings—usually sinister, sometimes hopeful, always unreasonable—to these numbers.
How many words are...
All session long, we’ve been working on priorities that a majority of Iowans support and turning those into legislation that will impact the lives of Iowans. We know folks are tired of politics and division. They just want lawmakers to work together to make their lives a bit better.
One of the...
on about the Feb. 19, 2023 pro-Putin rally or the multitude of Republicans and other influential politicians being pro-Putin and anti-support for Ukraine.
Many within the GOP have witnessed their party evolve from promoting isolationism in the 1930’s to moving progressively forward with Dwight...
Dear Editor,
Last week I read a letter by Matt, the librarian at the Lake Mills Public Library, who would like to move the library to where the Truman Helgeson Civic Center is located. While I truly appreciate his ideas of wanting to expand the library and its services, I believe it would be a...
“Tourist Town”
My husband, Peter, and I are staying in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which is, according to a lot of folks, a tourist town.
Sometimes, the person saying this means it is not a place they would want to spend time. This puzzles me. I’m not sure why a town known for meatpacking or...
