Okay, yes I used the Music Man reference in my tweet about the last newsletter but look me in the eye and tell me you’re AGAINST RECYCLING? That’s what I thought.
I spent my final morning in Des Moines trying to hit word count at Horizon Line Coffee. It was a little crowded for my Covid Tastes inside, so I sat out of doors alternating between writing jokes and panicking that the window washers climbing ladders in front of me were going to fall and die at any moment.
Turns out, my ‘uh oh’ senses were right to be tingling because at some point soon after, there was an OH MY GOD WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK WAS THAT explosion about a block behind the coffee shop. After we all shook off the initial freak out (I think I emitted a sort of pathetic and strangled squeal like when you accidentally squeeze a hamster too tight) all of our Midwestern butts hopped right out of our seats to “see what all the fuss was about.”
From what I could tell/piece together, no one was hurt, a transformer exploded, and some lights and power were off in some sections of some of the businesses on the street.
Once the hubbub had subsided enough for me to keep working, a young woman approached me. Here is how our conversation went.
Her (So adorable! So smiley!): Excuse me, do you live in this area?
Me: I’m so sorry, I don’t.
Her: Darn it. I’m a reporter and -
Me: **is about to reassure her that I was here when the transformer exploded and will totally give her a statement if she wants**
Her: - there was a stabbing around here yesterday and I just wanted to see if anyone saw anything.
Me: **gathering items quickly and spilling pens** Ah, so sorry I can’t help you out!!
Her: Well thanks any-
Me: **peels out into the street, never to be seen in Des Moines again**
Okay, that last part is actually little bit of a lie because the whole gimmick of Horizon Line coffee - besides great coffee - is that even when you order drinks to-go, they give you a reusable glass bottle! So I bravely risked my life for another 7 minutes to order possibly the best, most ethical Iced Almond Milk Latte I’ve ever had in my life.
Then, I was on the road to Cedar Rapids with a planned stop at a cute indie bookstore in Iowa City. Which I was alerted to by a MAP that I got at an indie bookstore in Des Moines that I didn’t mention in my last post because I was focused on the coffee shops/snooping on that first date.
So - to atone - here is a
TOUR OF THE INDIE BOOKSTORES I HAVE BEEN TO SO FAR!
And before you say anything - yes, I am available to photograph your retail establishment. I know I have a gift.
#1 was Beaverdale Books in Des Moines - They were closed for 13 months during the pandemic but their neighbors kept them afloat with online orders! It is here that I acquired the ‘Indie Bookstore Map of the Midwest’ that has continued to guide my travels! I also purchased a book of poems by a local poet and a Bill Bryson book (because he was born in Des Moines!)
#2 was Sidekick Coffee and Books in Iowa City - I had a lovely iced tea there while I *actually* hit my word count after fleeing StabStreet Roasters LLC. I bought the Sarah Ruhl memoir about her Bell’s Palsy diagnosis + journey!
#3 was Next Page Books in Cedar Rapids - run by the best man in the world, Bart. Next Page Books is going to get a whole separate write up because it was so wonderful, but for now I’ll just say I was supposed to spend 10 minutes there so that I could make it to Madison in time for tele-therapy, but ended up talking to Bart and Sue for an hour and so had to call my therapist from a parking lot in Dubuque.
# 4 was River Lights Bookstore in Dubuque - Y’all, Dubuque is pretty. There are cool brick buildings and its right next to the Mississippi and even though it was rainy and gross, I had such a lovely time there buying books and eating the best most perfect dreary day soup. (the soup was not at the bookstore but it was right across the street!)
Also over the course of my time in Iowa I:
Had my life changed by a Pretzel.
Got a room upgrade at (you guessed it) The Holiday Inn Express and Suites because DeAndre liked my energy and his eyes reminded him of his mom.
(I also discussed this with my sister and we agreed that ‘I like your energy’ is the champion among the ‘Yes, I see your ring’ compliments levied on visibly married women by kind, straight men who are used to being charming)
Overheard two men speaking very empathetically but firmly about their buddy who was spending too much time on his career and not giving his home life the attention it deserved
Almost got into a car wreck because I thought it was a 4 way stop but there was actually thru traffic…
In Conclusion, my loves:
Reading: Nothing…just buying books all the time and never actually opening them… :/
Watching: Season Finale of Ted Lasso… <3 Football is Life
Listening to: This Episode of the SCAMWOW Podcast that I had SO much fun recording. It’s about my take on the Varsity Blues Scandal as an SAT tutor + College Counselor. (I know it is vain to ‘be listening to my own episode’ but my therapist said I’m supposed to listen to recordings of myself even though it makes me anxious so, this isn’t about vanity about MY PERSONAL GROWTH)
Spending Money On: That Venus Razor with the shaving cream already on it because I left my razor at home and it’s shorts weather for another like….2 days.
Love you all!!!
I’m officially out of Iowa and into Wisconsin now! Let me know your Recs for Milwaukee! (I know about New Glarus… I learned about it last night and I woke up this morning feeling like I had TRULY Experienced all of what New Glarus has to offer…) More on that later…
BEL/IEVE