Blogging from the MLI

I thought I would get a quick post out here since I have a bit of time to kill in the Moline airport waiting for my delayed plane to arrive. The city of Cedar Rapids' motto is the city of 5 seasons. We joke that's winter, winter, winter, winter and something resembling spring for a few weeks out of the year. I'm starting to think the motto for the whole state should be Iowa, celebrating 300 days of overcast weather annually. That's probably not as good as Iowa - welcome to the corntacular state! but equally accurate. I suddenly remember what drove me to Florida - it's not the heat, it's the sun. I miss the sun almost as much as I miss Q going on these trips. I do miss the niceness of the people, though. I was walking from the ticket counter to the rental counter and there was some airport personnel working a counter and asked me how I was doing. I was stunned. It literally stopped me in my tracks. I actually wondered if he was talking to me. He was and it put a smile on my face. We chatted for a bit. You get so used to people ignoring you on the east coast that it's insanely odd for someone, a stranger, to be nice to you. It made my whole day. I walk the dog every day and wave to everyone in the neighborhood; people working in the yard, driving, other walkers, everyone. I bet 90% of the neighborhood wonders what my problem is and the other 10% feel obligated, grudgingly, to wave back to that crazy guy who is always walking with the big dog and hot wife. You can take the Spiegelhoffs out of the midwest but you can't take the midwest out of the Spiegelhoffs. We're looking forward to heading home for Easter to spend another holiday with some family. It's amazing how much more you get to see your family by expanding your own. Maybe we'll even wave at some strangers along the way.

Well, just got the update - I'm not making my connection. Sweet. I love Moline! I'm just hoping to make it home in time to see lil' Q-dog before he hits the sack. I'll end my ranting here and post a pic of Quentin looking awfully happy up at mom. (Scene of the crime from the whazzering incident...)