Faces of Autumn

A friend of mine from the DC area (and a wonderful contributor to this very blog environment) was recently lamenting the slow arrival of the fall season. It seems as if the constant run of near-80 degree temperatures was not quite bringing about that necessary "chill" in the air that one requires when truly recognizing the entrance of the fall season and the future call of the frigid winter months.

But Sir Hawkins does not live in the midwest. We haven't seen a 70 degree day in weeks. And I doubt we'll see but maybe a handful of these days before truly settling in for the frigid months of December through February. The summer clothes are put away. The winter storm windows have been put in place. And we've already gathered around the fireplace to enjoy our first fire of the season.

While I can't yet offer him the brisk whoosh of ghosts he so badly craves, I can send him the eerie glow of autumn, courtesy of a couple of pumpkins. One face eagerly awaits the rush of cold to follow. The other face grimly attempts to accept the end of toasty warm summer nights.

Child's Play: Chuck E Rises!

I suppose that we've been fortunate. Very fortunate. Despite our daughter Su being over 4 years old, we had managed to somehow avoid entering into that very pit of hopelessness -- despair, if you will -- that is almost sure to entrap most any parents of good conscience. We had somehow positioned ourselves among a wonderful circle of parents. Birthday parties at a child's home. Gatherings in the park. Fun at museums. No McDonald's Playland. No Chuck-E-Cheese.

Until two weeks ago.

Oh, the horror. The blood-curdling screams resonating through the entryway. The crying. The whining. The yelling. And that was just from Anita and myself. Add to that the cheese and sauce mixture they call pizza. The finger-shaped, crusted dairy (I think) product called cheese sticks. Fortunately, they serve beer. Unfortunately, I didn't have any.



Su wasn't too particularly taken in by the noise or the games. She seemed put off by the fast paced action and the volume of the place. But there was no way for Su to resist the lure of...

CHUCK E.

The gasp from her mouth and the wide-eyed look of awe when first introduced to that giant-sized rodent told me that we were not getting out of there early. Nope. We were in it for the afternoon. But all was not totally lost. We were able to exchange all of Su's winning tickets for a sticker, a tattoo, and a quick run for the door.

Gotta Love the Drake

Last week, we embarked on a 5 hour journey to Des Moines, IA. While the original goal of the visit was business, or possibly future business, we did manage to breathe in a bit of the surrounding. If you haven't been to Des Moines, in particular the older neighborhoods around Drake University, it's quite a lovely place. A lot of culture, diversity, and a friendly vibe that is more than welcoming. Also running trails everywhere.

The Shanahan clan elected to spend a couple of relaxing days around a job interview I had scheduled at Drake. We stayed at a beautiful B&B, called the Butler House on Grand. Great accommodations and wonderful service. I highly recommend this spot for a getaway, whether business or pleasure. Stay in The Retreat, a fantastic room with enough space to spread out and relax.

While visiting, we were guided to an eclectic Chinese restaurant called the Cafe Su. Of course we had to investigate this place for two main reason: food and the name. What are the odds we'd go to Des Moines and find a cafe with the same name as our daughter? Wonderful food and a great dining atmosphere, all mixed in with a row of antique shops and gourmet pet treats.

While we don't yet know what the future holds for employment in Des Moines (although one can hope), we were at least treated to a fun and relaxing stay. We need a few more trips like this one.