Questions, Questions... (3)

"Time waits for no man," it is said.  Time definitely has not waited for me.  I still have places I want to write about that I visited back in May.  Most recently, however, I went on a trip to St. Louis with my sisters and father.  I will be posting about those eight days, next.

 But while I compose those posts, I'd like to take a moment to thank Laura from Gazing Wonders for nominating me for the Sisterhood of the World Blogging Award back in June.  Laura asked a few questions, which I have answered below.   

Since I have done so many award posts, it is beginning to become difficult to find answers my readers have not heard before.  Consequently, this may be the last award post you will see for a while.  Many thanks to all those who have tagged me!  It has been very fun.

The Keystone Arch Bridge

A couple months ago we gave a concert at a senior citizens' condo.  While visiting over cookies afterward, I asked a few people about their favorites places to visit in Iowa.  One man told me about the Keystone Arch Bridge in Elkader and showed me a beautiful painting he had purchased depicting it.

Pete's Hamburger Stand

Pete's Hamburgers, a family-owned business in Prairie du Chien, claims to make the world's best hamburgers.  For decades, my family has agreed.  After listening to my papa and grandparents talk about these hamburgers, I first gave them a try in 2006.  When we visited Wisconsin for Cryslyn's reception, we had to stop at Pete's again.  

The only thing Pete's makes is hamburgers ($4.25), though they do sell water, pop, and chips, as well as souvenirs.  The hamburgers are simmered in water with onions, which moisten the bun around the burger.  The meat is good quality, moist, and tender.

Expenses, Relativity, and Elephants

Talk with any older person, and he or she will tell you how expensive everything is today.  The value of money has significantly lessened, but I won't argue that a lot of things are expensive.  What defines expensiveness?  

Today I was researching cell phone plans.  One was $30 a month for a 30-month contract.  I gawked, "Argh, that's expensive!  Imagine spending $900 for a phone/on phone bills."  But then, what is $30 worth?

Apparently this plate of mashed potatoes, salad, veggies, a roll, chicken, and a fish fillet is worth $30.   My parents took me out to my papa's high school reunion, where we dined at the Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo.  I am still in shock--thirty dollars for a meal, served buffet style, with no dessert!  It was good, but my mom and grandma can fix meals just as delicious--and they don't charge.    

Ankeny Chess Tournament

We left home for the July tournament in Ankeny early Saturday morning.  On our way we stopped at Casey's for donuts and later at McDonald's to buy McMuffins.  The tournament location, the FFA Enrichment Center, did not seem familiar, but Papa reminded me of a tournament we had attended there several years ago in the large conference rooms. 

Wellsburg Veterans Memorial

Before heading back home after visiting The Wellsburger, we stopped at the Wellsburg Veterans Memorial, pictured below.  It is almost surprising how many small towns in our area have beautiful memorials to our veterans.   

Breakfast at The Wellsburger

A few mornings ago, my sisters, brother, and I decided to take the approximately five-mile bike ride to Wellsburg, Iowa to stop at The Wellsburger for breakfast.

Now that the Wellsburger has been open for two years, we decided it was high time to visit.  In any case, the fact that it's still in business in a small town like Wellsburg proves that the proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Roder, must be doing something right.