Notes from Iowa

Laura and I just got back from Des Moines on Sunday after attending Todd and Deidra Hibbing's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding all around. It rained that morning, once again ensuring that the wedded couple will live a prosperous life. For those who haven't heard that saying before, I believe Ben Franklin wrote it in his Poor Richard's Almanac. Also if it's raining, the married couple can save some pennies which are also known as pennies earned. Thus achieving the prosperous life down the road when they bring all the pennies into the bank. That Ben Franklin he was a smart one!

Anyways, after about 10AM the weather was great and it was sunny for the rest of the day. Hopefully we have as much luck in April. Or maybe we'll have to settle for living an extremely prosperous life and having a soggy wedding.

Pink was the color of the day and it looked great in the invitations, bouquets, programs, dresses, etc. Everything looked great on both the guys and gals in the wedding too, very classy. James offered us some advice on dressing the groomsmen saying, "I've got two words for you guys... pocket squares." Now I initially thought he said Hot Pockets which I still think would make great hors d'oeuvres (sp?). But as he tugged next to his lapel, I realized I had just heard what I wanted to hear. But I think pocket squares are definitely a possibility as well. Get excited guys! While the girls get to go shopping and get their hair styled, we'll be eating Hot Pockets and dabbing our mouths like debutantes with our pocket squares. The jury is still out on if we will have monicles.

Back to Todd and Deidra's wedding. It was great to see everyone from Drake who was able to make it out to the wedding and the reception out at Saylorville Lake. It was good to catch up with everyone and eat some great pulled pork sandwiches and bowtie pasta salad. Seriously folks, if anyone has the recipe for the pasta salad that had the distinct taste of seven layer salad just without the bacon, let me know. The couple's family and friends outdid themselves with the tasty spread they supplied for everyone. Hopefully our professional chef can match their culinary exploits.

Now Todd and Deidra are headed off to Jamaica for their honeymoon which got us to talking about what we want to do. Considering the time of our wedding, it appears we may go to Mexico or some other warm locale for a week, and then we'll be headed back to Des Moines in time for the Relays. I'm thinking we might even be able to get a car in the Parade, or at least dance with the Isisirettes.

Next week, I'll be headed out to Iowa again for work, but I will be doing some more wedding research while I'm there. You see while some people might go with an ice sculpture or a chocolate fountain at their receptions, Laura and I are going to go one step further. That is why I will be stopping by the Iowa State Fair to meet with the people who create the Butter Cow and other creations. Who knows you might see our portrait carved in Country Crock while you pass the bread at the reception. I'll let you know if I am successful in this endeavor. Until then, congrats Todd and Deidra, and hope to see all you Des Moines folks again real soon.