“Listen.” It’s a simple word. Six letters. Two syllables. So simple, yet so complicated. As the saying goes, “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” Clearly, we are not.
My dad was a handy guy. He could fix or build most anything. He learned how to do these things by listening. One day, he decided to install a shower in our home. He had to slither into a tight crawl space in the basement to run the water lines. Once he made his way in, I handed him the copper lines, the fittings, the solder, a torch and a hacksaw. The remaining job of this 10-year-old kid was to hold the flashlight so he could see. Dad turned the water off on one of the existing lines from a nearby valve. He then began cutting that line, using quick and steady strokes with the hacksaw. What he didn’t realize was that the back stroke of the hacksaw was cutting the water line below the one he was working on, which was not shut off.
I noticed this and said, “Dad, you are…”
He interrupted me, saying, “Give me a minute, Shaner, I almost got this.”
I said, “But, Dad, you are cutting the…”
He exclaimed, “I said give me a minute!”
So I gave him about 15 seconds of silence, and he cut right into that pipe. It started spraying him in the face in those tight quarters, and he used a few choice words as he worked his way out and sprinted — dripping wet — to the upstairs shut-off valve.
“Why didn’t you tell me I was cutting that pipe?” he asked, while toweling off.
“I tried,” I replied. “Twice — and then you told me to be quiet.” That was the end of the discussion.
On that day, Dad wasn’t listening. His mistake. I also messed up by not being more vocal to him. My mistake. We both learned.
I think of that story often when I catch myself in similar situations as a result of not fully listening. I rationalize my actions by stating I have to make hundreds of decisions every day, and if I debated each one, I would not get much done. That’s true, but some situations arise when I don’t listen, and I cut the proverbial water line, too.
An old proverb says we have two ears and one mouth so that we may listen twice as much as we speak. So, I keep trying to improve by focusing on this one simple task — listen.
Have a terrific Tuesday, 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 other columns here.
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A few warm and humid days ahead, with a spotty shower possible in western Iowa. More clouds Wednesday and Thursday, with spotty rain chances in western Iowa. Better rain chances come Friday morning, Saturday and Sunday.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Featured in the SEPTEMBER issue of CITYVIEW | | | POLITICAL MERCURY
Ruth Harkin’s inviting memoir spotlights Iowa life, takes readers inside presidential campaigning
By Douglas Burns
Tom and Ruth Harkin leaned forward in their Fleur Cinema seats in Des Moines in the early evening of July 17 as a film chronicling the civil rights journey of people with disabilities rolled across the screen.
They knew the activists, people with a range of physical disabilities, some here, some departed for decades. And the Harkins sat next to State Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa’s first visibly and permanently disabled legislator that night in the theater. The old political warriors encouraging the new. | | | READ MORE |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Farmers Market
1. Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market
2. Valley Junction Farmers Market
3. Ankeny Uptown Farmers Market
Read all the 2024 results.
Cast your votes in the 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll now! Open until Nov. 22. Results to be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW.
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| Featured home for sale | | |
$453,000 7115 Franklin Ave., Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Welcome home to this classic 2-story located at ''the heart of it all'' in Windsor Heights. This 4-bedroom, 4-bath beauty has just over 3,000 square feet of total finish. Pull up to the double front doors on your circular drive, one of two approaches to the home. As you enter, you are greeted by the formal dining room which takes you into your kitchen that is sure to please.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 615 S.E. ORALABOR ROAD, ANKENY
SALE DATE: 2024-06-27
SALE PRICE: $2,349,058
SELLER: BRAKES PLUS LLC
BUYER: NORTHWOOD HOLDINGS LLC
ACRES: 2.238
SQUARE FEET: 4,904 |
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Tuesday touts
Chef Dom Lannarelli has a special peach and halloumi salad on the menu at Prime and Providence. The peaches are something that Rinehart Farm received in trade for heirloom tomatoes out of state. The cheese is coal grilled.
Slow cooker season begins this week. Wall Street Journal sicced their crack researchers on slow cookers just in time for soup and stew season. They deemed two best in their class: Best overall slow cooker. "De’Longhi’s Livenza 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker was the only cooker in our tests that reached its cooking temperature in the first hour, and it kept that temperature in our four-hour water test and eight-hour cooking test. It was the second best at searing and browning when we cooked ground beef and onions for spaghetti sauce, and it produced a brown crust on a pork roast before braising. The exterior of the cooker also stayed the coolest, reaching just 89 degrees Fahrenheit after four hours of slow cooking. Plus, it has three slow cook settings, so the cook can choose low, medium or high." $152 Walmart; Best under $100 slow cooker. Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker excels. $70 Amazon.
Gavin Runles has placed himself among the very best talents in Playhouse history with his latest leading role in Jersey Boys. That show has another week to run and shines ever as brightly as the traveling Broadway version.
Deals today
• CABCO (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) has steak night on Tuesdays.
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers a 1.25 pound live lobster dinner with Iowa sweet corn for $25 today and tomorrow only.
• Chelsie’s Courtyard (400 MLK, Des Moines) has a $6 tenderloin basket with fries from 4-9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 burgers including a side on Tuesdays.
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) has a $9.99 tenderloin and tequila sunrise deal on Tuesdays.
• Tuesday brings $5.95 gyros to Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines).
• Kids meals are half price all day Tuesday at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).
• Tuesday means $12 hot beef sandwiches at Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction).
• All day happy hour prices, such as half-price oysters, are in effect Tuesdays at Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines).
• Kelly’s Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers really good tenderloins with a side and drink for $11.50 on Tuesdays.
• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines), all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) and Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines). The excellent Beaverdale Farmers Market is across the street from Faustino's on Tuesday.
• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) offers a personal-size pizza with a salad for $10 Tuesdays.
• Aldi stores have avocados priced at $.79 each and Michigan Gala apples at $.63/pound today only.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com
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The 4th annual “Fishing with the Fuzz” Youth Fishing Clinic was held on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Easter Lake Park. Kids learn about fish species, fishing safety, and even how to cast and tie hooks with local law enforcement. Bait and poles are provided. Pictured are DMPD Sgt. Larna Garcia, Dominic Anania, and his daughter, Olivia. Photo courtesy of Paul Houston Photography |
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| Featured in the current issue of Winterset Living magazine | | | Meet Michael Hornback
Winterset grad returns home
By Ashley Rullestad
Michael Hornback graduated from Winterset schools and went on to study music and education at Northwestern College. He has held positions as the high school band director at Knoxville High School and as the 5-12 band director at Boyden-Hull School District, and he returns home to Winterset as the director of bands this year.
“I pursued this line of work because of my passion for music and teaching. One of my mentors told me, during my time at Northwestern, that, to find purpose in life, I should figure out where my greatest passions connect with what I perceive is the world's greatest need. I believe one of those needs is providing high school students with a sense of value and a supportive environment to learn and grow.” | | | READ MORE |
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FROM KCCI: Ankeny rehabilitation clinic adding two new family homes with local developer's help. Hubbell Realty is working to install two more of the buildings in just one week's time. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Perry Middle School shooting threat deemed not credible, two teens charged. PERRY, Iowa — The Perry Police Department on Monday announced that two teens have been charged for allegedly joking about planning a school shooting at Perry Middle School. ... READ MORE
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Des Moines police provide updates on overnight shooting that left 2 officers injured. DES MOINES, Iowa — Two Des Moines police officers are in the hospital following a shooting early Monday, the department said in a press release. ....READ MORE |
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ESPN: Detroit Red Wings sign Lucas Raymond to eight-year contract ...READ MORE
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Kumar Rocker Is Finally Here, Plus Five Overlooked Rookie Hurlers ... READ MORE
CBS Sports: Ranking every NBA coach for 2024-25 season: JJ Redick at the bottom, Pop outside top 10 and No. 1 in own tier ...READ MORE |
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1967: The Who literally spark an explosion on national television. ... Keith Moon was already in the habit of placing an explosive charge in one his two bass drums to detonate during Pete Townshend’s guitar-smashing at the end of each Who performance. But for their Smothers Brothers appearance, Moon packed several times the normal amount of explosives into his drum kit, and when he set it off, a gigantic explosion rocked the set as a cloud of white smoke engulfed Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey... .... READ MORE
2011: Occupy Wall Street begins. On September 17, 2011, hundreds of activists gather around Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan for the first day of the Occupy Wall Street Movement—a weeks-long sit-in in New York City’s Financial District protesting income inequality and corporate corruption. While the movement failed to see any of its goals or policy proposals come to fruition, years later, Occupy Wall Street is still considered a blueprint for decentralized activism.... READ MORE
1983: Vanessa Williams becomes first Black Miss America. On September 17, 1983, 20-year-old Vanessa Williams becomes the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown. Less than a year later, on July 23, 1984, Williams gave up her crown after nude photos of her surfaced. Despite the scandal, Williams later launched a successful singing and acting career, including a featured role on the television sitcom Ugly Betty. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Laura McClatchey and Jeromy Robb.
These celebrities were born on this date: Patrick Mahomes, Mia Talerico, Bobby Lee, Ella Purnell, Auston Matthews, Scott Hoying, Esteban Ocon, Lil Kayla, Jordan Connor, Kyle Chandler, Danielle Brooks, Anastacia
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to yesterday's riddle:
Why shouldn’t you tell jokes while ice skating? THE ICE MIGHT CRACK UP! - Gail Tomlinson, Rex Post. Or, You'd have a cold audience! - Irving Stone. Or, Because you might loose your edge! - William Snyder
Today's riddle:
Why was the CEO brought in by the fashion police?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Indianola, Urbandale or Clive Living magazines, contact:
Gina Chandler
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 323
Mobile: 641-750-6485
gina@iowalivingmagazines.com
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