Cedar Rapids Got Soul (Food)!!

Me, Mommy and Daddy had a little bit of an adventure today. Our mission? Barbecue, pork ribs, lots of sauce...please.

We picked up Dennis and headed over to Al and Irene's BBQ House on the north side of Cedar Rapids. Daddy wasn't too sure it was the place, since it looked like a nondescript strip mall, and the interior decor was....nonexistent.

Mommy said that was the way all good BBQ joints look. "Avoid any place that looks like fine dining if they claim to be a 'cue joint," she said. (Mommy then told me about this place she and Uncle SuperGeorge used to go to for a long time, back when it was on a sleazy corner in downtown Phoenix. She swears it lost something when it moved to a much prettier location, but it's still amazing. Next time we go to Phoenix she and Daddy might take me there.)

Anyway.....Dad got the regular sauce with an Amber Bock, and Mommy got the hot sauce with a Diet Pepsi. Dennis got a combo platter. I got some of Daddy's fries, since I'm still too little to order off of the kids' menu.

Supposedly some idiot food critic said that you could probably find a square dance in Harlem easier than you could find decent soul food in Cedar Rapids.

When's that square dance again, Windy City boy?? Because I really want to show off my sweet moves in the happy poopy dance! ;)

Why do They Call it a Green Card?

Daddy got his last night in the mail. Apparently it is a very big deal, because Mommy called Daddy at work as soon as she got it out of the mailbox.

With luck, Daddy might even become a citizen by the time I get to school!

He can apply for more jobs with his company now that he is a "permanent resident". Whatever that is! But that's not the really confusing thing about it. I don't know my colors all that well, but the card sure doesn't look green to me. Mommy says it's more of a cream color.

I'm just happy Daddy looks better in real life than he does in the picture, if you know what I mean.....

This Season's Hot Accessory Report

I've been to the North Liberty Community Center's playgroup twice this last week. It's fun to run around a big ol' basketball court, especially if you can push a little toy car.

Sometimes, though, I got tired, so I took a little rest right in the middle of the floor with Quackers. Mommy decided to come over and stand next to me the couple of times I did that. She said something about how the older kids on trikes racing around might not see me and might run over me, but they sure would see her and she could block them if she needed to. Which was a good thing, since I almost got clipped twice. She told me not to worry, it wasn't personal, they were just having too much of a good time and that I'd be riding trikes soon with the rest of them.

Mommy finally figured out one of the words I've been trying to tell her for a long time. (Doesn't everyone know that "beeeee" means "ball"?) I got to chase a couple of balls around, too. When the older kids made some baskets in the little hoop I got the giggles hard. So, they kept shooting hoops, and even tossed Quackers into the hoop to keep me laughing. They let me hang out with them a little. There's some nice people in North Liberty!

I'm happy that we are all getting well, so that we can go more places. Last night, I got to check out the Iowa Childrens Museum. That place is fun, and it's pretty close to our house! The last Friday of the month is free admission night. Even though I was only there about 30 minutes, I got to play with the golf balls (Daddy learned what "beeeee" meant as I tossed them around), "directed" the singers at Little Women: The Musical, and checked out Peter the painted turtle.

Mommy says that when I get older, we can enjoy more things on the monthly free night like the mall carousel and the ice skating rink.

But last night was all about what the cool kids were wearing. Yes, dahlink, all the cool kids have a monkey on their backs. Ok, maybe not all the cool kids, since my buddy back in Florida, Mikey, has a bear. There were three of us incredibly cool toddlers running around with monkeys and we were the best looking boys in the place. What can I say? Monkeys are hip in the Corridor. I like mine, because when I was wearing it Mommy and Daddy let me walk around by myself. They said since I'm not a baby any more I can spare their backs and do my own walkin'. Independence rocks!!!

My parents got me a special treat, at the end of the night. I got a giant plastic blue ball for my very own! I was so happy I kept yelling "beeeee! beeeeee!" I wore myself out and had sweet little boy dreams last night.

Life is good, you know?

Happy Easter from Joey Blue Eyes!

I had a terrific Easter! How about you?

It snowed early this morning. I thought it was pretty....looked like a sugar dusting over everything. Somehow it made Mommy and Daddy depressed, though the rain that followed later made them even more homesick for Florida.

Anyway....the Easter Bunny got everything together for my first egg hunt. He even got some wicked cool eggs that looked like sports balls and dinosaur heads for me to find in the dining room. At first, I got a lot of giggles throwing them to the floor, but it was a buzz kill when they didn't open up (must have been the tape around them). Then Daddy picked them up, tossed them to me and I got to put them into my little sand wagon. That was fun!

I am getting really good at climbing stairs, so I thought I'd stand up instead of crawling up them. For some reason, Mommy and Daddy had a "coronary". I didn't know Mommy could sprint up the stairs so fast! Anyway, now I can't crawl up the stairs without them around me any more. Mommy blocked off my access with a huge trunk filled with stuff. It's so heavy I can't move it, and I can't climb over it. Yet.

It's not fair, I tell you!

They did do a great job cleaning up the ground floor, and I've got a bunch of clothes out of the boxes to wear. I wore a bright blue tee shirt with a stegosaurus on it which really brought out the color of my eyes.

Even though they were busy, I got to play a lot of games today. I got this cool stuff called Play Doh that is squishy. I bet it tastes good, too, but Mommy and Daddy put it away every time I try to take a bite out of it.

I also got to run around later with a piece of material on my head. Everyone liked my new "hat".

Daddy's friend Dennis came over for Easter dinner with us. Mommy tried to make mashed potato casserole, but it turned out to be more like soup. They just added little pieces of ham to it and lapped it up. Daddy even had seconds!

The best part of it was the cake Mommy made. It was a coconut cake in the shape of a lamb. Mommy got the cake pan from the local library, of all places! She frosted it with chocolate frosting and sprinkled coconut on it for "wool". I got a little piece and loved it. I hope she makes it again.

I wound up my evening watching Monsters Inc. with Mommy while Daddy drove Dennis home. I like Sully and Mike....they are so funny.

I hope they have Easter every year!

Update on My Girl Back Home

Yep, my girl Brianna is having a rough time. First she got a diagnosis of mono, and today she ended up going to the hospital with pneumonia.

She's resting now. Maybe tomorrow we'll get to talk.

I hope she gets better soon!

Back to Making Mischief!

Well, I've gotten better for the most part. I haven't coughed all morning. I still amuse my parents with my giant booger production. Since I have a small nose, you wouldn't think I could come up with the ones I have. It's impressive!

The snow is mainly gone, but Mommy and Daddy still won't let me out to play in the yard. The front yard is kind of on a busy street, and there's still some ice in the backyard. Plus it's all soggy out there, and the weatherman says we're gonna get something called "flurries".

Mommy said that she and Daddy are gonna let the Easter Bunny inside for my egg hunt. Not sure what that is, but I can't wait to find out. Quackers is gonna help me.

Daddy made Mommy extra happy yesterday when he found her china. They are going to go shopping for new plates soon, because they don't want me to touch the china for some reason. I guess it will make me break out in a rash or something. I hope they get something with monkeys or ducks on it. (Don't tell her, but the china Mommy has is kind of boring. It's just got a gold ring on the edge. My grandmother's is prettier, but I think she knows that. It would look even better with monkeys on it, though.)

They've also gotten rid of some more boxes and found lots of paper. I LOVE PAPER! It's the best thing to play with. I can scrunch it up, I can rip it, and I can stick it on top of my head and hide. No, really! Mommy and Daddy can't see me at all when I do that.

I've also found two more foods I like. Mommy made coconut pancakes yesterday because she found this stuff called coconut flour at this hippie co-op place in Coralville. She added some additional coconut to the batter and made them for Daddy. Daddy gave me a little bite. Coconut is sooooo good that I did my happy poopy dance.

She also let me try a tortilla chip with lime. Yep, more happy poopy dancing!

And no, didn't share any with Quackers. Cookie stole some, though.

So....What's the Happy Poopy Dance?

First of all, I didn't come up with the name. Mommy did. Go figure.

It's what I do when I taste something I like for the first time. I take a nibble, then step back about two steps. I then smile and do a couple squats.

I think I picked that up when I was watching "American Idol". (I don't watch it any more, though, now that Danny's gone home. Carly makes me itch, sorry!) A lot of the singers do that, especially the girls. Watch it sometime if you don't believe me.

Not Too Proud to Beg

Ok, right now Iowa is not a top tourist destination, even though I'm here. That....I don't completely understand.

But if you find yourself here in the Midwest, please stop on by to see me. I love company!!

Mommy and Daddy will find plenty for us to do here. Iowa City is to the south of us, and since it's a university town there is always something odd and unusual. Cedar Rapids is to the north, and there's some good eats and fine beer up there in the Czech Village. There's more good eats to the west with the Amana Colonies.

This summer, I'm gonna see the Butter Cow at the State Fair, too! Might even go with my cousin Alena from Arizona. I haven't seen her in a while. Heard she has pigtails now.

Remember, all of those Presidential wannabes have left for now, so there won't be any annoying political types bugging you.

We've got a guest room in this old house, so....what are you guys waiting for?

Want to Help a Cute Boy Go to College Someday?

Well, you can.....and it won't cost you a thing!

Mommy said if anyone is interested, they can join Upromise and link up a shopping card to our family account. I get all the money in that account, so it all goes to my college savings.

Is that sweet, or what?

I've currently got an account coming over to College Savings Iowa, so someday I can afford to go get edumacated.

Let me know if you are interested. Each little nickel helps!

Welcome to Iowa.....cough, spit, hack!

Wish we could say that we have found Iowa enchanting so far. But for the most part, we have all been trapped inside with a vicious virus that won't give up.

I blazed the trail by getting sick first. Yep, it was the first thing on my "to do" list here. The fact that the movers "lost" my medical records on Mommy made it even more urgent that I get that done.

Now, the people at the urgent care facility were nice. But I was over the whole thing by the first hour or so. I was sick, after all. How long do they expect me to look cute in my little tan corduroy jacket, anyway??

Yeah, I lost my temper. Sorry about that.

The lady was nice when we finally got in, though. She said I had an upper respiratory infection, and that Mommy and Daddy had to keep me hydrated and comfortable. There was some other things she said, but I was too busy beating on a board book in the examination room to pay attention. Good thing I brought Mommy along to take notes. (Having a personal assistant on call 24 hours is terrific!)

Oh, almost forgot....got to step on the big kids scale for the first time! I'm 25 1/2 pounds!

Unfortunately....I got sicker. I was hacking and coughing all weekend. Mommy finally found my medical records, and she got me an appointment with a nice doctor in downtown Cedar Rapids. We even made it to the appointment only five minutes late, after Mommy got lost in St Luke's Hospital trying to find the office! Not bad under the circumstances, since Mommy was sick by then, too.

This doctor's office is a lot different than Dr Farid's back in Melbourne. I think there are like twelve doctors in this practice. There were four receptionists and at least three cashiers. The waiting area was about as big as Cedar Rapids' airport waiting area before you go through TSA.

I could tell Dr Reinerston was waiting all day to see me. He just had that smile. Naturally, I didn't cough at all around him and was a perfect little angel. If he wouldn't have used the stethoscope on me I don't think he could have known I was sick. This time I got a prescription, and Mommy took me home for my nap.

After I woke up somewhat refreshed, Mommy took me to Coralville to get the prescription. Wouldn't you know that the email never got to them?

We ended up waiting an hour and a half for it to get there. I decided to help speed things up by throwing a fit. It worked! Right after I was done, it magically was ready!

I do have to give props to Mommy, though. She asked them what my prescription tasted like before we left. Instead of spending the money on her Diet Coke, she spent it on my prescription so it would sorta/kinda taste like cherries. Anyway, she said it tasted like cherries. (I don't know, never had any....) It would have been horrible without it, I'm sure.

Daddy wasn't sure the drugs were working, but then he got sick too. His doctor put him on the same thing I was on! Is that funny or what?

Mommy must be tough. All she took was Nyquil. She said that tastes like cherries, too.

I guess everything either tastes like chicken or cherries.

I'm ok now. Mommy's got the occasional hacking thing going on. Daddy went back to work after being off for two days. And the snow is pretty much gone.

But it's still in the forties here and Mommy won't let me out. (I did get out once, in the backyard, when Mommy didn't close the door tightly after letting Cookie back in. I slipped on the ice on the patio, right onto my butt. I only hurt my pride.)

This place does get warm weather, right?

St Paddy's Day Massacre at Daddy's Old Job

Mommy and Daddy sure do talk a lot about Daddy's job! Ok, it's mainly about his old one and how Daddy is lucky to be working at Rockwell instead.

Daddy got his notice that he finally got his green card on the 7th. This is apparently a very big thing if you are not a citizen. Mommy assured me that I don't need one, since she got my citizenship all taken care of for me a long time ago. (I love that Mommy is so efficient! It makes my life a lot easier.)

This is a big deal, since there are jobs with Rockwell back in Florida that my Daddy can now apply for after we've been here a year.

Mommy and Daddy really miss Florida, but they are glad that Daddy is not working for his old company any longer. They laid off about twelve people today, and Daddy thinks he would have been one of them had he stayed. He's pretty sure his old boss is going to end up going back to Massachusetts soon.

I think they like Iowa a lot more than Massachusetts, but I don't know why. Mommy muttered something about "Massholes", but I don't know what that means.

If any of Daddy's old coworkers are reading this, I think it would be great if they came up to Iowa, too. Daddy misses his old friends. Mommy misses hers, too.

I hope my friends in Florida are doing well. I miss them a lot!

My Latest Milestones!

I have been doing more than just being sick. More on that later....

I have also given up baby bottles for good! Mom got me some disposable sippy cups that I like. I latched onto them and never looked back. She only had to go through about five different kinds before she found the suitable ones.

I've also got my two little canine teeth poking through on top! They do cause me some aggravation every day around 10:30, but other than that, I'm good. I'll have fourteen of my twenty baby teeth very soon.

And finally....I'm getting into those 3T clothes!! I think Mommy and Daddy will be seriously bummed when I can't wear footie sleepers any more. I do look damn adorable in them, I must admit.

What is This White Stuff, and Why is it so Cold?

My first view of this funny stuff called "snow" came late last night. It was actually a pretty blue because the sun was going down. Now it's just white, with occasional dirty patches where it comes up against the road.

Anyway, it is unbelievably cold here! Daddy muttered that it reminded him of Russia. From the tone in his voice, I guess that is not a good thing.

When Mommy got her first look at this, I thought she was gonna cry. Then she noticed that I learned how to kick off my shoes, and I thought she was gonna start swearing. So I threw my chubby arms around her neck and looked deeply into her eyes with my patented "I adore you most of all" look.

Gets her every time, heh!

Cookie, our dog, wasn't sure what to do with this stuff either, at first.

It's wet, sometimes it's icy, and Mommy is afraid she's gonna slip on it and break her leg. When I try to stick some of it in my mouth, Mommy and Daddy have a fit because there's usually something icky in the chunk I picked.

It is good for something, though. It makes the view from my bedroom window beautiful, and it stretches so far you can't tell where the land ends and the sky begins sometimes. I like to look at it when I am all snug in my crib with Quackers, the world's best stuffed duck.

And someday, when I get bigger and Mommy and Daddy aren't looking....I'm gonna find out what it tastes like.

Hot or Not?

I might only be seventeen months old, but I know what I like!

Hot:

My playgroup buddies Madison, Mikey and Kara. I'm gonna miss them. Hope Mommy and Daddy take me back to Florida soon.

Red sippy cups with a white seal on them.

My best girl, Brianna.

Dogs.

Stuffed ducks.

Cheerios.

Dried apples.

YoBaby yogurt.


Not:

Movers who try to pack my diaper pail with my dirty diapers still in them, but forget to take my wooden blocks that Unca Paulie gave me....twice!

The people who went to check out my house for possible purchase....while the movers were taking out my stuff. Then they went outside and complained that the house was a mess, if you can believe that! Like, duh....even Martha Stewart's house would look trashed under those circumstances. If they were to make an offer, I think Mommy and Daddy should charge them an extra ten grand as a stupidity tax.

Mommy making me take a nap.

Teething.

Lima beans.

Avocados.