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.

“With regard to tipping, when we engaged the services of a Senior Transitioning consultant last year, I was given an unexpected education on tipping practices and expectations in the Des Moines market (Tipping, June 12, 2023). Sarcastically, if it moves, you are supposed to tip! Even the consultant, who moved here from out of state, said she was surprised by the breadth of tipping in Des Moines. People who hauled away junk, people who picked up for donation stores, movers, packers, etc. Not only was the notion of tipping some of these people for routine job performance surprising, a few of them were aggressive in seeking a tip. One moving crew collected their charges due and then stood there staring at me and announced, ‘Now is when you tip us.’ A junk-hauling crew picked up one furniture item from my garage, charged me a considerable amount of money for their employer, and then told me I owed the two men a tip. Say what? It took him longer to write up my ticket than it did to move the furniture from my garage to his truck. If these folks had gone above and beyond to do their jobs, I would have been open to it, but they didn’t. And when they got pushy, I said, ‘Thank you and goodbye.’ Where does the line get redrawn? Do we start tipping medical professionals?” - Chuck

Feel free to send tips to me — and none of that “don’t play in the street” stuff. - Shane

“Shane, all of your choices are in my Top 10 (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023). We are close in age, after all. One more that I catch myself singing is the theme to ‘Happy Days’ (not the first version). I’ve always thought this was a snappy tune!” - Kevin

Oh, yes. Pinky Tuscadero  and the Malachi brothers would agree. - Shane

“I don’t know any of these (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023).” - Samantha

They aren’t on TikToc. - Shane

“Your columns are great. How do you keep coming up with the daily topics?” - Jessica

A wandering mind, I guess. - Shane

“The theme song from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023). I was watching that show when my first daughter was born. Kinda stuck with me after that — the song and my daughter!” - Chuck

An epic choice, little buddy. - Shane

“I have to make sure the ‘Mr. Ed’ theme song makes the list along with ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ and ‘Green Acres’ (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023)! Thanks for putting those songs in my head for the rest of the day!” - Loren 

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside! - Shane

“Songs from ‘Gilligan's Island’ and ‘Friends’ (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023). What's next? Movie tunes?” - Rich

Maybe. - Shane

“Theme from ‘Hogan’s Heroes.’ That opening drum line was awesome (Iconic TV theme songs, June 28, 2023). ‘M*A*S*H*.’ It actually had a title and lyrics — ‘Suicide is Painless.’ ‘Happy Days.’ ‘The Waltons.’ Who doesn’t know that theme? ‘Batman.’ ” - Lori

Holy theme songs, Lori. That’s quite a list. – 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

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 Shoe Store

1. Brown’s Shoe Fit Co.

2. Fit To Be Tied;

3. Fleet Feet

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Celebrate the Fourth of July in Urbandale

“Discover the Difference” at Urbandale’s hometown festival

By Chantel Boyd

It's time again for hometown family fun on the Fourth of July, and the Fourth of July Committee invites you to “Discover the Difference” at this year’s celebration. The committee has been working again this year to present another three-day-long laundry list of family-fun activities.

The festivities, held at Lions Park, 72nd Street and Aurora Avenue, in the heart of Urbandale, begin on July 2, a Sunday and extend through the long weekend with Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4. This will be an excellent time for most event participants because the long holiday weekend will be sure to kick off a fun-filled summer for residents with a parade, carnival, fireworks and a myriad of other summertime fun.The carnival, midway and all vendors open at noon each day on July 2-4. This has been a newer approach by the committee for the celebration, which means event-goers can join in the fun before the evening. The recently created website https://urbandale4thofjuly.org has the details, including the fun run, the parade and the bags and cribbage tournaments. 

Read more in the June issue of Urbandale Living Magazine.

Happy Birthday Jordan Huxford on July 1.

These celebrities were born on this date: Mike Tyson, Michael Phelps, Monica Potter, Matisyahu, Cole Swindell, David Alan Grier, Fantasia, Rick Gonzalez, Tony Rock

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What’s the name of the funniest mountain range in the world? The HIMHILARIOUS! - Gail Tomlinson. Or the HIMILAYAHAHAs - Lori Bluml

Today's Riddle

Why do vain people like going to mountain plateaus?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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