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

“Nothing could possibly be better than The Highwaymen (Concerts, July 30, 2024). Sadly it's something I can never see again as we have lost two of the members. My vote for worst was Josh Groban. I was bored the whole time.” - Dianne

Willie, Waylon and the boys. I never quite understood how Kris Kristofferson fit in with those two legends and Johnny Cash, but it worked. And, I agree, Josh Groban doesn’t work. - Shane

“Good afternoon, Shane. Best concert by far was Garth Brooks (Concerts, July 30, 2024). Worst was the Beach Boys at Sec Taylor (before the name change) because I had to work and missed it. My family enjoyed it, though.” - John

I saw Garth Brooks in concert as well, and he is an incredible performer with hit song after hit song. And I saw the Beach Boys at Sec Taylor, too. Beach balls bouncing around the stadium. I loved it! - Shane

“The best part of your media comes on the first page when you write your editorial. I have just read the one about hugs (I am a lousy hugger, Times Vedette, Aug. 6, 2024). It is outstanding, and it should be required reading for all men. I usually have many spells of laughing throughout the topics on which you write your view. This one did not produce as much laughing as it did extreme truth. It was a message so deserving of an editorial. I wish it became the theme of this contentious political season even. We need more hugs every day. Yes, you are ‘a peach.’ In Iowa, that fruit is descriptive of honor and admiration. Thank you for your wise words always.” - Barbara

You are too kind, Barbara. You deserve a hug. - Shane

“My mom and dad handled other drivers much differently (Dad jokes, Aug. 7, 2024). Mom would encourage people cutting her off or not taking advantage of a chance to turn left as we waited by encouraging them to ‘Go ahead, it's OK, I'll wait while you cut me off’ or ‘That's fine, just take your time, I'm in no hurry.’ My dad, however, took every act of driving discourtesy as a personal afront and the opportunity to express a racial or ethnic based insult. ‘That's a typical (disparaging ethnic or racial insult) move,’ he'd yell at the offender. Minutes later, under the same circumstances, he would yell at an obviously different appearing offender, ‘That's a typical (fill in the racial or ethnic insult applicable to his tirade) move.’ ” - John

I am sure your dad was a great guy, but his jokes don’t seem very funny. - Shane

“When I was a kid (Dad jokes, Aug. 7, 2024), and I'd annoyingly ask my dad what something costs, he would reply, ‘About a dollar three-eighty.’ And when I would tell him a lousy joke, he'd say, ‘You should be on the stage — the first one headed west.’ And then, I became a dad, and I said the same thing to my sons.” - Brad

I am using those jokes. I will send you a royalty check — for about a dollar three-eighty. - 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

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

DES MOINES FORGOTTEN
Des Moines’ first and only elevator death

By Kristian Day

I recently participated in an architecture walking tour of downtown Des Moines. I went with my mother and a handful of her friends for the southern tour of downtown that goes from the Civic Center to the World Food Prize and then makes its way around Court Avenue until it ends at the Kirkwood. My mother, a gem who I love dearly, mentioned at one point that the concrete corner of one of the buildings smelled like urine. She said this in her “outside voice” and quickly moved closer to the air flow.

Ride to live, live to ride
Marsh enjoying his classics

By Darren Tromblay

David Marsh can’t pass up a good ride.
His 1998 Harley-Davidson Heritage Springer motorcycle, for example, isn’t just any bike; it’s a limited edition, 95th anniversary model, number 1,158 out of 3,000 made. Everything about it is special, including the story of how he got it.

“My wife, Randi, has a trike, and we were going to go to a biker bar in Illinois called ‘Poopy’s,’ ” Marsh says. “But hers needed to be fixed, so we took it to Indianola. When we got there, they already all knew me and knew I wasn’t happy. I wanted to go to Poopy’s. Well, Ruby (the 1998 Harley-Davidson) was sitting on the showroom floor there, and the people there told me to go take it for a ride.”

[...]

These celebrities were born on this date:  Deion Sanders, Gillian Anderson, Jessica Capshaw, Sam Elliott, Melanie Griffith, Kevin McKidd, Anna Kendrick, Brett Hull, Eric Bana, Thomas Lennon, Jonathan Kellerman, Kurtis Blow, Rod Laver, Adelaide Kane, Ashley Johnson, Audrey Tautou, Dan Levy

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Why couldn’t the laptop take off its hat? HE HAD THE CAPS LOCK ON! - Gail Tomlinson. Other responses from Carolyn Rogers.

Today's riddle

What do you call a snake in a hard hat?

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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