Welcome to the mailbag, once again a day early. Below you will find some of the many comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity. Look for more tomorrow.

“Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby (Distinct musical voices, April 19, 2023). You don’t hear them often, but every Christmas in some stores you can still hear the original songs and voices that made them ‘Unforgettable.’ Thanks for the memories. How could I forget Bob Hope?” - Donna

Now you are making me smile. Thanks, Donna. - Shane

“Karen Carpenter. (Distinct musical voices, April 19, 2023) John Prine was very underrated but, hands-down, one of my favorite writers/musicians. Sometimes confused for Bob Dylan, but John somehow didn't get the press that Dylan did. Alabama’s music was also a part of my childhood, including the highly recognizable voice of Randy Owen.” - Mike

Imagine them all together? Maybe not. - Shane

“Shane, I read your column about musicians with very distinct voices (Distinct musical voices, April 19, 2023). One of my favorite male vocalist was Freddie Mercury. The guy had incredible range and was very distinct and recognizable.” - Kevin

It’s a crazy little thing called love. - Shane

“Janis Joplin, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison (Distinct musical voices, April 19, 2023), Bob Dylan, McCartney and Lenon timeless, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, the Boss, Bing Crosby, Leon Redbone, Doctor John, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Etta James, Celine Dion, James Brown, Tina Turner, Louis Armstrong, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Billie Holiday, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Calas, Hank Williams, Minnie Ripperton, Nat King Cole, George Beverly Shea, Maria Calas, Barbra Streisand, and this is only a short list.” - Rex 

And now, Rex, I suddenly feel complete. - Shane

“We've switched to all battery-operated candles (Candles, April 26, 2023). You can set them on a timer or have a remote to turn them on. Love them. Went away for a weekend and left the candle burning in the middle of the table. Thank goodness it was a fat candle inside a glass container. No more real candles.” - Gladys

What about birthdays? - Shane

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

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

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Bridal Shop

1. Schaffer’s

2. Something Blue

3. Bridal Boutique

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

Rain chances ramp up this evening and tomorrow evening as temperatures warm. We'll see more rain chances early and again late on an even warmer Sunday. The wetter pattern continues into next week.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

Meet K-9 Sandy. She is a 3-year-old lab and golden retriever mix and works with Detective Kris Lindell at the Ankeny Police Department. K-9 Sandy is trained to detect triphenylphosphine, a chemical in electronic devices, during search warrants for computers, hard drives, SD cards and cell phones in cases involving child exploitation, child pornography and human trafficking.  

       —Photo by Paul Houston

A fortuitous bike ride

RAGBRAI, a storm and a purple bikini… and the rest is history for Medina

By Ashley Rullestad

Jose Medina met his now-wife, Donna, during RAGBRAI 22 years ago.

“I was riding into town, and it was a really hot day, and I remember riding in and looking off to my right, and there was a woman in a purple bikini laying out in the backyard,” Jose says. “Later that night, I went to the Surf Ballroom, and that same girl was standing by the dance floor.”

He asked her to dance, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“We just hit it off right away, and everyone was asking us how long we'd been dancing together,” Jose says. “And I was like, 'About 15 minutes.’ ”

... Read more in the April issue of Ankeny Living magazine.

These celebrities were born on this date: Randy Travis, Lance Bass, Will Arnett, Erin Andrews, Richard Jenkins, Mike Dirnt, Ana Gasteyer, Katherine Jackson, Jamie Dornan, Jackie Jackson, Ron Carter, Demi Moore

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call cattle that tell jokes? COW-MEDIANS! - Kris Laurson, Don DeWaay. Or "Part of a laughing stock." - Gail Tomlinson. Or "Joke-steers!" William Snyder, Carolyn Rogers. Or A STAND UP STEER! - Rex Post.

Today's Riddle

What did the baby robot say to its mommy?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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