Welcome to the Friday mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“Find a penny pick it up and all day you'll have good luck (Superstitions, Oct. 4, 2023). My now-23-year-old grandson made me a ceramic steam train bank as a small boy. Any money I find laying around such as in a parking lot, I put in that bank. It’s not so much for the good luck but rather the memory of him when he was little and he lived near us. Thank you.” - John

Memories are most certainly priceless. - Shane

“I agree! Having my shoes shined is an unappreciated small luxury (The Shoe Shine Man, Oct. 5, 2023). In high-end hotels, I still see the station, but it is rarely staffed. The airport that is always staffed is Denver, and they do a fantastic job! Atlanta is a close second. If you stay at an Omni, they will shine one pair complementary as a perk of staying there. The Worthington in Fort Worth, Texas, does the same… but only for cowboy boots!” - Dewayne

Saddle up, Dewayne! We are going to Texas! - Shane

“I seldom wear real leather shoes anymore, but the last time I had a shine man polish mine was probably at a high-end hotel near a state capitol (The Shoe Shine Man, Oct. 5, 2023). For example, the Marriott near the Indiana capitol in Indianapolis. Also the hotel on the Plaza in Kansas City. Used a professional shiner when I found them so it was easier for me to maintain them in between. Also, I seem to recall one time having a female shoe-shiner. A couple of times, I found shine stands in shoe repair shops, which are getting harder to find themselves because people don’t wear enough real leather. It got to be tough to find good wax shoe polish. I prefer the Lincoln Wax Stain. Years ago a downtown Des Moines shoe store in the mall had a shine stand and also a shoe repair shop that sold Lincoln Wax.” - Chuck

Lincoln Wax Stain? That sounds like something you might call a Cornhusker fan. - Shane

“Las Vegas still has shoe shiners in the airport and on the streets (The Shoe Shine Man, Oct. 5, 2023). The business is still alive!” - Sara

Viva Las Vegas! - Shane

“As a deputy sheriff, my boots would get spit-shined every two days unless activities dictated more often (The Shoe Shine Man, Oct. 5, 2023). When my uniform got changed out after also usually two shifts, the brass got polished, and the duty belt and all equipment were shined. I even ironed my uniforms. I hated gravel roads because they got my car dusty.” - John

That’s a lot of spit. - Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman 

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

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MLB: Braves 1 Phillies 3: PHI WINS SERIES 3-1

 

NFL: Thursday night game: Broncos 8 Chiefs 19

 

Fuel up the car and load up the camera for one of the best times of year to visit the Iowa countryside.

 

Northeast Iowa's fall color season has been a bit unusual, starting out early with vibrant colors. The color change slowed after recent precipitation. All species, except oaks, are turning color. 

 

Hard maples are showing more orange and some red in north central and northwest Iowa, but not at peak yet. Hackberry, cottonwood and walnut are showing yellow.

 

Colors are coming on in central Iowa, but are not at peak yet. Hickory, walnut, cottonwood, and hackberry are bright yellow. Virginia creeper vines are bright red and crimson.

 

Poison ivy, sumac and Virginia creeper are turning bright red in southeast Iowa. Scattered white ash are showing some purple. Maples are red, yellow and orange.

 

Walnut, cottonwood and silver maple have turned yellow in south central Iowa and are losing their leaves. Hickories are just starting to turn yellow. Sumac and dogwood shrubs are showing bright red to deep purples.

 

Missouri River cottonwoods are just starting to turn yellow in west central Iowa and will put on a very colorful show. Sumacs have turned purple, which generally signals the start of oaks changing colors. Ash are turning yellow. 

 

Oaks are starting to get tinges of colors in southwest Iowa. Cottonwoods turned yellow last week. White ash are turning purple.