Laboring in Iowa

For the long Labor Day weekend, I took a trip to the corny state.  Most of the trip involved going to 'vention, but I did spend the Labor Day hanging out with Uncle Bex around her stomping grounds.  The highlights:

1. Soul food.
2. Deep thought chat with Uncle Bex Sunday evening on the drive home.  It's kind of hard to believe, but I've known Uncle Bex less than three years.  It seems like much more than that.  And not because the experience has been so arduous.  Several longish road trips, 'ventions, and a couple international travel experiences help to rapidly increase the bonds of friendship.
3. Meeting one of my lurker blog fans in person, who will be known as Brenda Chicken-On-Shoulder for now.  Thanks for introducing yourself Brenda C-O-S.
4. Spending some time with some other friends that were at 'vention as well - Swanny/Swallace, Jax, and Jenx.  It was also nice to get a little bit more acquainted with a few other people from the corny state.
5. Seeing some of my cousins at 'vention - Windy, Darcy, and Mowla and her family.
6. Morning 'vention walks/runs/skips.  We may have also stopped to spit over the bridge once or twice.  Don't tell our moms.
7. Sweltering heat.  Yes, it was over 90 degrees two of the days that I was there.  I found out again that I don't do well trying to sleep in 80+ degree temperatures.
8. Hiking in Wildcat Den State Park.  It's not on the same scale as Starved Rock State Park in terms of size, but it does have some cool rock formations.  I also learned about the broad leaf plantain plant during this hike.  We may have wandered in the wilderness a bit, but not for 40 years.
9. Biking along the Mississippi River.  Thanks for the bike loan Father Dan.
10. I learned what a tomato bug is and how to properly pluck them and kill them (sorry Uncle John).
11. Iowa sweet corn - is there anything better?
12. Delicious burgers (6-8 minutes on the grill to achieve perfection is what Father Dan says), homemade grilled jalapeno poppers, and guacamole at the Smurf household.
13. I also learned how to make your own vanilla:  put six vanilla beans in a cheap bottle of rum for 6-12 months, then go ahead and use it.
14. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  The great plains have them, don't they?
15. Hearing about God hiding Moses in the cleft of the rock, and then actually seeing a rock cleft the next day.

Some pictures to illustrate the experiences:

Corn, corn corn, corn corn.....

Rock formations at Wildcat Den State Park

Peaceful scene at a bend in the river at Wildcat Den State Park.

More rock formations.

Flat MelBMarvis goes biking along the Mississippi River.