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Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Good morning to you!

A few years ago, I wrote a column that seemed to connect with many of you about Tupperware containers and the assortment of lids we have that don’t seem to match anything. I also expressed my frustration in how to store these plastic containers and their tops. My email was full of replies of similar annoyances with a few solutions, too.

At the Goodman home, we have worked through some of the Tupperware troubles, as my wife found a lid sorter that actually works, for the most part. As for what they pair up with, well, that’s still an ongoing match game.

Admittedly, I don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. But when I do, I like to be able to find things. In recent searches, I realized we have a new cupboard dilemma. It seems that our nation’s obsession with carrying water around everywhere we go has reached a new level. A regular glass no longer will make do. Neither will a plastic bottle. Not even a portable mug. And heaven forbid someone actually use a drinking fountain. As many of you know, we now apparently must tote 30 ounces of water around in massive stainless steel insulated tumblers. The brand name Yeti has become synonymous for this type of cup, and it doesn’t come cheap. Fortunately, some knock-off brands have evolved that work just as well. Unfortunately, these things come in a variety of sizes with a variety of lid options that don’t interchange. Sound familiar?

Yes, our cupboards that were full of mismatched Tupperware containers are now full of mismatched stainless steel insulated tumblers. Seriously, how many of these things does one family need?

It seems I am part of the problem, or at least that is what my wife tells me. I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning on my drive to work, and I pour it in a stainless steel insulated tumbler. I don’t like to have those awkward lids that do prevent the cup from spilling but don’t prevent coffee from dripping down my chin each time I take a sip. So I pass on the lid, which I am told creates the initial separation. From there, I don’t know where these things go. I have checked the dryer, and they are not in there with my single socks. I looked under my car seat, but all I found was some loose change and what I think was once a banana peel. I even looked in the cupboards at work, but that only resulted in finding even more of these mismatched cups and lids.

In dealing with our Tupperware container dilemma, I didn’t hesitate to throw the old, crusty ones away. The mismatched lids, too. But these stainless steel insulated tumblers don’t seem to wear out, and they are too expensive to simply discard. So, the collection of mismatched tumblers and lids continues to grow, and I think the Tupperware containers and those dastardly lids are smirking at me.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

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

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

 

Your Clear Mortgage forecast

The sun returns today, and we begin a warm up. Tiny rain chances are ahead Thursday and Friday, with better chances Sunday and Monday.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

 
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines®
 
The results have been tallied and published in the February issue of CITYVIEW and online!

 

Best Local Place to get a Donut

1. Hurts Donut Company

2. Donut Hut

3. ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery

Read all the results now!

 
Featured home for sale
 
Attention, Realtors, post your listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$409,990                                                         14408 Coyote Drive, Urbandale, IA 50111

The Holland D.R. Horton, Americas Builder, presents the Holland plan. This two-story, open concept floor plan provides 4 large bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The main level living area offers solid surface flooring throughout for easy maintenance. At the front of the plan, you'll find a spacious study, perfect for working from home! The kitchen offers stunning, quartz countertops, beautiful cabinetry, a large pantry and a built-in island with ample seating space.

See the listing here.

 
 
See More Homes For Sale
 
From the March issue of Johnston Living magazine
 

Trip of a lifetime
Residents share stories of their dreams-come-true vacations.

By Ashley Rullestad

For some people, vacationing is a part of their routine. They plan, take and enjoy numerous trips to see the sights and “get away” from the usual hustle and bustle of life. They enjoy good times and make fond memories. They share photos and stories, but it isn’t long before they are looking forward to their next excursion. For some others, a vacation turns out to be much more than that — it is a dream come true, and, no matter how many vacations may follow, none will ever compare. It is a trip of a lifetime.

Around the world
Katy Skibberg and her family are new to Johnston. When she was between jobs last summer, she decided to take full advantage of the time off and plan an around-the-world trip.

“I had just finished my residency and was moving west to my new job. I booked everything myself and planned mostly as I went,” she says.

On parts of the trip, she traveled alone. On other parts, she traveled with her husband or her best friend. Still other parts, she traveled with her family of four with her husband and kids, ages 4 and 6.

 
READ MORE
 

The circus is coming back. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey closed down in 2017. Now they are back with changes. Lions, tigers and elephants are retired. To replace them, Ringling went on a global hunt that included the circus academies of Ethiopia and Mongolia where circus still thrives. They hired 75 performers from 18 countries. (WSJ)

Sauce mania. Over the past year, Heinz has debuted at least a dozen new sauce-related products, including “sauce drops” modeled on limited-edition sneaker releases. PepsiCo released a soda-infused “Pepsi Colachup.” Popeyes created a truffle sauce for its chicken sandwiches. (WSJ)

Krispy Kreme and McDonald's announced their partnership will place the former's goodies in the latter's store in the next two years.

Wednesday deals. Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale) has an all you can eat special today on hickory smoked ribs... Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) features $9.95 half pound burgers and wraps on Wednesdays... Kwik Star's excellent fried chicken is $9.99 for eight pieces on Wednesdays.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 

No alligators in the pond this trip (Florida Wildlife removed it as it was becoming too comfortable on people's lawns). I did find a true Florida mailbox by Doctor's Lake. - photo by John Frank, Ankeny

 
Headlines

FROM KCCI: Important dates and deadlines ahead of the June primary election

DES MOINES, Iowa — Tuesday marks 70 days from the Iowa primaries, the first of many primary-related dates and deadlines Iowans should know ahead of the summer election. The Iowa primary is set for June 4. As of Tuesday, county auditor officers can now accept absentee ballot requests for the primary...READ MORE FROM KCCI

FROM WHO-TV: 6 presumed dead after cargo ship causes Baltimore bridge to collapse

BALTIMORE (AP) — A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead...READ MORE FROM WHO-TV

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Des Moines Performing Arts announces 2024-25 Broadway Series

Season passes for the Willis Broadway Series are available for purchase now. Individual shows will go up for sale in the coming months......READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5

 
Birthdays and notables
 

These celebrities were born on this date: Brenda Song, Dave Koz, Buster Posey, Fergie, Mariah Carey, Halle Bailey, Quentin Tarantino, Halle Bailey, Manuel Neuer, Nathan Fillion, Kendra Scott, Buster Posey

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

What is a horse's  favorite state? NEIGH-BRASKA! - Shane Goodman, Peri Van Tassel, Gail Tomlinson. OR MAINE (MANE)- Carolyn Rogers. OR KENTUCKY, THE BREEDING GROUND STATE. - Rex Post

Today's riddle

How do you avoid getting swallowed by a river while white water rafting?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or CITYVIEW, contact:

Mary Fowler
Account Executive
515-953-4822 x311
c: 641-485-0555
mary@dmcityview.com

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