The light is green, so you go...

That is usually what happens, right?

Last night we're driving down our road, and about a mile down the road from the house slow to a yellow light, turning red. There is one car in front of us. The light turns green.
The guy in the car in front of us opens the door and gets out of his car. Which is a little weird but there's really no one else on the road. I figure he's going to get something out of the back or trunk. But he continues to walk back to our car and stops, and Cory lowers the window.
And the guys asks if we own the house for rent -- seriously this is already 1 mile down the road! We telll him to contact the company=- their name/number is on the sign-and the guy waddles back to his car and gets in.
REALLY? For real? That is creepy and weird. First, he was AHEAD of us, so how did he even know to stop and ask us? Second, really? You stop your car at the GREEN light, risk causing an accident, to get out and ask about a house for rent? For real? You couldn't go back and stop your car and take down the number?!?
WEIRD. This is probably one of the weirdest things to happen (in Ames).

sp. part ii, etc.

Shoeless guy wore shoes to class on Friday. Maybe it was for the exam? Or maybe it was because it was raining. Don't know. They were those slip-on type slides/sandal things. He has pretty gnarly toes, I gotta say.
Also, the little bunny in our yard is super cute and loves to eat dandelions.
And finally, if you go to the Resource Recovery Plant to dispose of your garbage thru the county
(and not pay stupid prices for private garbage pick-up), be prepared for the stench. It is
overpowering.
And be depressed by some of the stuff people throw out.
Sad. And Smelly.

neighbor

Our neighbor likes to sit in his car, with the music on loudly, every night from around 5:30 pm, for about an hour, before going inside. His music is loud enough such that if you are in the bedroom in the front of the house, you can hear/feel the reverberations of his car stereo.

shoeless paul

Yes, the lesser-known, shoeless Paul. At least I think that is his name.
Today I had the following interaction with a student in my summer-class, who I'll call "shoeless
Paul" for reasons that will soon be very obvious.
I had noticed a few times before that this guy wasn't wearing any footware in class. At first I thought perhaps he just took off his shoes during class, especially since flipflops are so popular in the summer/spring. No, he actually doesn't wear shoes at all.
Today as I was walking to the classroom,I encountered him & he asked me something unrelated & I answered (this being one of the longest & probably only interactions I have had with any of the students in this class, to date). I decided this was as good an opportunity as any to ask about his lack of shoes- I suppose I didn't stop to think that he could not afford shoes, which would have made me feel bad, but otherwise he seemed normally attired for class. I asked him if he was not afraid of stepping in or on things, although I suppose I should have realized he must not, if he chooses to go barefoot all the time.
He didn't seem surprised by my question (surely I'm not the first to ask) and said he didn't really step in things very often and that it only hurt a little at first. Good to know. I asked about stepping on something like glass but I guess this does not happen as often as you might think. I am reassured. But I don't think I will be walking around campus barefoot any time soon.
Also, I'm guessing you actually are supposed to wear shoes inside buildings. I wonder what he does in other places (ie. places like restaurants, bank, etc.).
Oh well... guess I will be left to wonder..

Farmer's Market:

The Saturday Farmer's Market in Des Moines is pretty awesome-- I would guesstimate at least 200 vendors: you could get anything you wanted, from fresh produce to chicken to breads/pastries to fancy soap!
Pretty impressive in its scope and looks pretty popular, based on the turnout I saw.