A Look into the Life of IHG - One or Two Questions at a Time

So I was thinking...I interview all these people and other people find them interesting so maybe I could answer my own interview questions and let everyone get to know me a little better. Hmmmmmmmmm...it's a thought. I'm thinking I'll start answering like one or two of my own interview questions a month just for kicks. So here it goes.

Give us a bio about yourself:
I have lived in Iowa my entire life and I'm proud to say I'm an Iowan! I grew up in NE Iowa in a town named Cedar Falls. It was a great place to grow up and I have fond memories of that town.  One of my fondest memories is cruising University Avenue in my Camaro!! I loved that car!  My parents were not motorcycle people but were old car folks so I grew up around vintage cars and went to my share of car events. My favorite was Back to the 50's in St. Paul, MN.  My Mom and Dad still love vintage cars to this day and own an awesome old Pontiac!  I have one Sister who is younger and lives in NE Iowa with her family. I call her "Little M".

I was never really into school but managed to graduate from CFHS and Hawkeye Tech. I worked retail forever while I lived in CF. I finally moved from Cedar Falls after I met my husband Dan. He was ready to move from the town he was living in and said to me, "Do you want to move to Des Moines?" I was ready to discover someplace new so I moved to the capital city with my man and we've lived here ever since! I love Des Moines! It's a great place to call home. I worked a couple retail jobs when I first moved here and then was hired by the State of Iowa. I tired of that gig and was hired by Snoopy.(if you don't understand what I'm saying e-mail me and I'll fill ya in.) I've worked for Snoopy for over 10 yrs now.  Dan and I are "dinks" aka "double income no kids".  


Check back to find out more....

Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill - Waterloo, IA

Last weekend Dan and I took a ride to no particular place and ended up in Waterloo, IA at the Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill. People I know have said great things about the place so I thought, might as well check it out. Located downtown Waterloo at 228 East 4th Street the Screaming Eagle is a great place to get a burger and brew. It's very much a biker friendly bar but there were more non bikers there when we arrived. The food was good and the waitress we had made sure we had everything we needed. Might have to head back some Thursday night because they boast a big bike night that begins at 6pm with Live Music and lots of Cold Beer!

If you are out riding with no particular place to go, head to Waterloo, IA and check out the Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill.

Labor Day Weekend Ride

I was really missing my sister and her family so we decided to ride up to Dyersville in North East Iowa with an out of the way detour to Galena, IL and Dubuque, IA. We got on the road and made our way to Galena, IL. We arrived there around 1pm and of course stopped at the Harley Dealership. We missed the turn and ended up turning around in a gas station parking lot. There were a group of Harley riders relaxing behind the gas station and they were laughing because Dan kept saying...where is the Harley Dealer...I'd say right over there...he said...I'm going to ride down this hill here to get over there. Looks like a good short cut. I yelped...nooooooooooooo...and all the guys behind the station busted out laughing.(I know...where is my sense of adventure, huh?) Well we did go back to the road and drove around to the dealership. Nice place, very tiny. After hanging out at the HD Shop we jumped back on the bike and road to tourist central in downtown Galena. If you don't get there early you have a difficult time finding a place to park. We finally found one and left ZP all alone while we got some lunch and walked around this historic town. Everyone was all curious about this bright red Ferrari. I really could have cared less. I did think it would be funny though to jump in it and take off since I was wearing a Jack Daniel's doo-rag and biker clothes. I think Galena would be a great place for a biker only weekend. It reminds me a little of Deadwood...historic and plenty of bars.

We spent about 2 hours or so in Galena and decided to get back on the road toward my Sister's place in Dyersville. We made a stop in East Dubuque, IL and Dan told me it just wasn't the same there. All the party places and strip clubs were gone. LOL Good information, huh? Funny. We road down by the river and hung out there for a while watching the the boats and the people fishing. Thought of LadyR as we were sitting there. DBQ is her hometown as many of you know.

After about a 1/2 hour or so we were back on the road heading to Dyersville. We hung out with my sister and her family that night. I had totally forgot that the Fireman's Convention was in Dyersville and lucky for my sister and the family it was right across from their house. We sat and watched the firemen that had already set up camp, ride around on their vintage fire trucks and party. From what my sister told my mom it was one noisy event all week long and I'm sure they are glad they have left. I think it might have rivaled a motorcycle rally.

Monday Dan wanted to journey through his families past so we road through Colesburg were we got a pix of the ever famous Willies Restaurant and the home of the Willies Whopper. We road by Dan's grandparent's farm(the Maiers), took pictures of corn, and found the school house that Dan's father went to school at. We were lucky that the gentleman that had the old school house on his farm was outside so we were able to walk around and look at it up close. It's pretty run down but it's amazing that it's still there since it was built in 1862. Dan was behind the school and I was walking around looking at the pretty purple flowers that were growing all over the pasture when I heard a noise. I looked over and there were cows coming at me. I started yelling at Dan...Cows...Cows...let's go there are Cows coming. We got out of the gate just in time. I know they wouldn't have down anything to us but there were quite a few. And being more of a city girl then a country girl...I didn't want to find out what they would do.

Monday was really an awesome weather day. It was fun riding through North East Iowa. We stopped in Oelwein for lunch. Dan road out to where he had dj'd back in the day at KOEL and then we road out to Hazelton to the cemetery that Dan's Gram and Grampa Werner are buried. His folks will be buried there too someday, hopefully not anytime soon!

We had a great weekend riding and hanging with my sister, Tim, and Sydney. We saw amazing things along the way. North East Iowa and Galena are very beautiful places to visit. There are rolling hills, bluffs, and the Mississippi River. There is definitely a lot to do up North. Hope that you all can visit sometime! If it works out we might even ride up and show you around!

I've created a slideshow of the trip. The cute little girl is my niece Sydney!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Let's Rent an Electra Glide

Friday morning Dan says to me...Let's rent an Electra Glide for the weekend. We have those free rentals. Let's see if those bad boys are all that everyone says they are cracked up to be. By Noon on Friday we had a pretty 2009 HD Electra Glide sitting in our driveway.

Dan had to go to work so there was no riding on Friday. Saturday night we rode the EG around in the rain. It was cold so we took it home and got the cage to drive up to watch fireworks. Sunday we were up early and on the road with our pretty rental. I was digging what I will call the Princess seat and I was digging the passenger boards even more. I've used pegs for the past 5 yrs so I felt like I was in heaven.

We rode to the Largest Lake in Iowa, Lake Red Rock. We went to the Cordova Park Observation Tower. Holy Crap it's a haul to the top but I made it! The Tower is made out of the base of an old water tower. Usually you have to pay a quarter to go to the top but we lucked out and the gate was open and free to the public that day. Like a 50 cents would have broke us but sometimes it's nice to get something free.


We took some great pictures while we were at the top of the tower. Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, what's that??? A HUGE LAKE!!!!




Dan was taking the beautiful view in while I was taking a picture of two baggers and a sporty.(oh and a guy in an orange t-shirt)


We got back on the road and stopped in Pella where they have this huge Tulip Festival every spring. People come from all over the world to attend this festival.






On the way back to Johnston we stopped in Pleasant Hill to get gas and there was this cool Hot Rod in the lot. I'm guessing they had been at the Good Guys Car Show that was happening that weekend.

We had a great weekend! Glad we rented the Electra Glide and tested it out. Dan missed his Street Glide and so did I. I love the Zippy Pickle...she's a sweet ride and she's even sweeter now because momma got some passenger boards! FINALLY!

Happy Riding! IHG

Time for a Laugh

Ok...there is a time to mourn and then there is a time to laugh. I heard about this song today and had to find it on youtube. It explains Iowa pretty well. LOL Ok...it's really not this bad but this made me laugh so hard. Hope it gives you a laugh too.

Heroes of the Heartland Charity Bash

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR IOWA’S MILITARY MEN, WOMEN AND FAMILIES
SEPT. 27, 3-10 P.M.
COME SEE MOTORCYCLE BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS IOWA, ALL FOR CHARITY
BENEFITING:
The State Family Program Office in Assisting Iowa military service men and women in deployment and their families by providing meals, travel accommodations, appliances, mental health professional guidance, reunion and reintegration services and basic overall needs.

A special BASH to end the summer on Saturday, September 27, “Bike Down to I-Town,” the Midwest’s largest monthly bike night event partners with Throttler Motorcycle Magazine for a special end of summer night event on the town square of Indianola, home to the famous “Bike Down to I-Town” venue.

See motorcycle businesses from all across Iowa show off their stuff.

Entertainment
Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts who will play that evening, has received critical acclaim, and
finished in the top five of the International Blues Foundation’s “Best Self-Produced Blues album” category in 2006 in Memphis, Tenn. Opening band TBD.

Giveaway and raffle door prizes
Participating motorcycle businesses will raffle door prizes for charity as well as other freebies to the first 5,000 people.

*RAIN OR SHINE

DON’T MISS THIS END OF SUMMER BASH WITH YOUR FRIENDS FROM THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE AND BIKE DOWN TO I-TOWN!

Raffle tickets will be sold prior to and during the event. The raffle of all door prizes will begin at 8 p.m. on the stage. 100 percent of the raffle proceeds will go to The State Family Program Office.

D-Day...did you find an Ark? I need to buy one too!

Hello everyone...thanks to everyone who has been posting and making sure that we are OK here in Johnston. So far I'm high and dry and I think it will remain that way for us. The river is set to crest around midnight tonight so that is why they evacuated parts of Des Moines today. I do have to say that it is a mess and most of Iowa has flooding! Keep us in your thoughts! Iowa will bounce back...we know how to bounce back after mother nature gives us these kinds of challenges!

Thanks again to everyone that has checked on us though....it's great to have a group of friends that care. And the wild part...we've never met! It's awesome!!!

Have a great weekend!!

IHG

You Didn't See Me

I was just catching up on blogs I regularly read and stopped by to read what was going on with KT DID. She had a link to this YouTube video called "You Didn't See Me." I know KT DID won't care that I've posted this too. For some reason this PSA is not anything I've seen here in Iowa to alert cage drivers to pay special attention and look for us. Hopefully some non - bikers will happen upon our sites and see this and it will make them think...WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES!

Throttler Motorcycle Magazine - for riders, about riders, by riders

There is a new Motorcycle Magazine dedicated to motorcycles and the people who ride them, right here in Iowa! It's called Throttler Motorcycle Magazine and it's a free monthly publication that is distributed all across Iowa at your local motorcycle dealership, bars, banks, restaurants, and convenience stores. To find a location near you click on this link: http://www.throttlermagazine.com/throttlerDISTRIBUTE.html

Throttler promises to cover interest stories on riders, rallies and businesses across the state. They are looking for riders across Iowa to help them cover events and contribute photos. This is the perfect opportunity for the motorcycle communities in Iowa to help keep everyone informed about motorcycle issues and events going on across our fine state.

Throttler also has a website that you should visit. There are links to their advertisers that help make this magazine free to everyone. http://www.throttlermagazine.com/index.html I also noticed that if you are unable to pick up the lastest issue you can read a few of the stories on their website. Make sure you try to find a copy though because the pictures are great and their is a section dedicated to Iowans and pictures of them on their bikes. It's similar to "Snaps" in American Iron but the thing I like most about it was that Throttler let the rider write about themself and why they ride what they ride.

Best of luck to Roderick Kabel and his staff at Throttler Magazine. It's a great looking mag and I look forward to lots of great reading and photos in the coming months.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It was a little chilly today for a ride but damn did it feel good! If I don't get to ride for a few days I get really anxious and boy oh boy was I feeling anxious! This is my look during the winter months if we take the Zippy Pickle for a ride in the snow white tundra called Iowa. I know...probably should wear the full face but I don't like being all closed in like that. This works just fine for me and no one ever messes with us because I look like a bank robber. HA!

Bring it on Winter...I'm ready for you. NOT!