_edited.jpg)
WHY IOWA?
Twice in my life, "Why Iowa?" has been a central question, and I'm with you today to offer my affectionate answers. The first time was my own rhetorical "Why Iowa 🤗?!" in my (successful!) 1987 bid for a college transfer; the second was the flummoxed "Why Iowa 🤔???" when friends (and most plaintively E + C) learned we were moving from snazzy Seattle to Iowa City, IA in 2007. Both times, I was prepared with earnest, enthusiastic bullet points extolling the virtues of this s
7 hours ago12 min read
BOOK CLUBS
With sweaty, drippy mid-August becoming the new back-to-school Fall (without any consultation or public approval, I must add 🤨 ), September's old signals of pointy pencils, pristine backpacks, and still-sticky glue sticks have been forced to cede some ground. Thankfully, many time-honored signs of September remain: chillier mornings, apples, football, early-turning leaves, cardigans just in case, and — for the readers out there — the seasonal re-start of many book clubs. Pl
Sep 2712 min read
FIELD TRIP: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH (PART 2)
Hello again and Happy September! We're here with Part 2 of our entry-level tour of Colorado's Rocky Mountains — thanks for returning! To ease back into things, let's start with some COLORADO COLOR. If you ever road-trip to Colorado, just as you cross the state line, you'll be greeted by a similar version of this iconic, folksy sign: It's an exciting moment, but you might notice the surrounding landscape above isn't actually colorful at all, which — contrary to what I once i
Sep 910 min read
