Posted by: frumpfighter on: June 21, 2009
A year ago downtown Cedar Rapids was a war zone. When the filthy water of the Flood of 2008 went down, the area was left devastated as the mucking and cleanup began.
One of The Gazette stories I remember the most was written by Erika Binegar. It told of a different scene from the one several [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: May 18, 2009
CEDAR RAPIDS — After the Ellis Boulevard home they were renting flooded last June, Patty Blackwell and her family camped and stayed with relatives until they were able to move back.
This disruption in their routine took its toll on the family, especially on Blackwell’s 3-year-old daughter.
“She threw temper tantrums, was non-compliant,” said Blackwell, 46. “I let her [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: May 17, 2009
Staycation adventure of the week: Beer Fest at Benz and Houby Days in Czech Village.
In my attempt to keep my vacation dollars in Eastern Iowa, especially places recovering from the Flood of 2008, I stopped in at Beer Fest 2009 at Benz Beverage Depot, 501 Seventh Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, and Houby Days in Czech [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: May 10, 2009
During these tough economic times, people are cutting back on entertainment expenses, including travel. Instead of jetsetting across the country, people are opting for staycations closer to home.
But is that really so bad? Sometimes we are so focused on getting away that we take for granted what’s available in our own backyard.
Next Sunday, the annual [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: April 5, 2009
Richard Dedor led a workshop about focus at the 2009 Beyond Rubies Conference in March at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Here is what he says about focusing on yourself:
By Richard Dedor
My first session at the 2009 Beyond Rubies Conference is by far my most popular and the one I enjoy the most. It [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: March 26, 2009
When the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library in southwest Cedar Rapids went under water during the historic Flood of 2008, Gail Naughton, the organization’s president and CEO, was devastated.
But then she got to work.
“When you have a crisis, you need a leader who will stand up and communicate,” she told attendees at the [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: March 19, 2009
Julia Theisen, co-owner of Body & Soul Wellness Center and Spa in Dubuque, opened the 2009 Beyond Rubies women’s conference this morning at Kirkwood Community College with a lively presentation: “Seven Habits for Happiness.
The native of England who relocated to Dubuque with her husband, Scott, said everyone has a happiness set point which is determined [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: March 18, 2009
On Thursday, I will be attending the annual “Beyond Rubies” Women’s Conference at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
I will taking my laptop and take my first crack at liveblogging. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do it – whether it be short play-by-play reports of workshops as they happen or longer overviews [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: March 2, 2009
A year ago in March my husband and I once again had the rug pulled out from under us. Thinking he was entering a meeting to discuss printing options, my husband, Jeff, was told by his business partners that they had voted him out as publisher of the newspaper he and I created in our [...]
Posted by: frumpfighter on: February 25, 2009
The afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, is clearly etched in my mind. The country was under siege, everybody around me was working on a story about the terrorist attacks, and there I sat, writing a story and designing a page about an Italian restaurant in Atchison, Kan.
Insignificant or what? My boss and mentor, Pat Lowry, [...]
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