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I had spent four years in Montana and seen and done a lot. But then Wally wanted to buy a newspaper. And it was the Anaconda Leader, at that. The problem was, Dean Neitz, the publisher of the Leader, didn't want to sell.
Wally always claimed Dean promised him when he hired him that eventually, he'd sell him the paper. When that didn't happen, Wally started looking for another paper to buy. He had come from North Dakota, where he was editor of the Mott newspaper, which was owned by Margie's father and uncle. They didn't want to sell the paper to Wally, either, which is why he went to Montana.
So now the new place was the newspaper in Redfield, South Dakota. It was a small weekly in a town about 40 miles south of Aberdeen, South Dakota. When the sale went through, Wally, Margie and JoNae headed east to South Dakota. I was stuck with a new editor.
Initially, I didn't want to be editor and told Dean so. So he hired this man, I'll call him John No. 1. He told us he had worked at all these big newspapers and had all this experience. I wondered why he wanted to work at a small twice-weekly, but we all have our reasons for moving west. I tried to be as friendly as I could be.
He moved into a small apartment above the Washoe Theater and so one day, when we both had off, I offered him the use of my washer/dryer. I told him he could do laundry and have a drink. Now, by drink, I meant whatever he wanted: Coffee, pop, beer, water, etc. He took it to mean alcoholic drink. This invitation would come back to bite me later.
John No. 1 did laundry, had a couple beers and we visited and got to know each other. No big deal. Several other times, he was seen visiting the bars in town, then going to sleep under his desk (apparently more inviting than the bed in Washoe Theater apartment).
One Monday afternoon, he said he was going to the courthouse to look for some stories. He said he'd see me on Tuesday. OK. I went gathering sports news at the sports complex. Tuesday morning came and went and John No. 1 didn't show up. People tried to call his apartment (still no cellphones) but got no answer. I scrambled to find news to put on the front page - think big photos -- and worried how to get through the rest of the week.
I filled a whole 12-page paper by myself, front to back, with big photos, boilerplate, lots of sports filler and a little bit of news. I worked until 2 a.m. Wednesday, went home for a little sleep, then came back at 7 a.m. to finish up. I worked until 2 p.m., went home for lunch and a nap, then I had a city-county meeting to cover. It was 10 p.m. when I finally got home. And then I started all over on Thursday for Friday's edition.
In the next two weeks, I worked 60 hours (got paid for 40) each while putting out the whole paper. I did all the weekend stuff by myself. By the end, I told Dean I wouldn't mind being the editor. I had done it all myself and thought I had done a good job.
Then he brought in John No. 2. The guy wore holey jeans, smoked up a storm and smelled like an ashtray. Dean disregarded my offer to be editor and hired this guy instead. He lived up in a cabin in the mountains, but would stay in town in the same apartment above the Washoe Theater during the week. He'd do no weekend work. That would be all mine. Gee, thanks. I wouldn't be the editor, but I'd get to do more work for the same pay.
John No. 2 smoked at the computer next to mine, even though the rules of the office were no smoking inside. I have a lot of allergies and asked him not to smoke, but he didn't seem to care. He would run 10 stories on the front page, mostly his, and jump them all. I might get one story on the front.
After a couple of months of this, Dean got a letter from John No. 1. He was in the Veterans Hospital in Sturgis, South Dakota, drying out. Seems he went on a bender one night in Anaconda. He was so drunk, he couldn't find his way back to his apartment. Finally, someone got him to the VA.
Now, here's the zinger: He blamed this all on me, because I offered him a drink. He had been a recovering alcoholic (which I didn't know) and I offered him a drink. Well, I offered him a drink, that's true, but he could have had a pop or water or coffee. He didn't have to have a beer. But, yeah, it's my entire fault.
Between the two Johns, it was clear all I was getting was crap. So I started looking. Unfortunately, I was using the typewriter at work to do resumes and cover letters, and our office manager, Pam, found my trash. So one day Dean asked me if I was looking. I lied and told him no. I was just sprucing up my resume, that's all. Someone asked me for it, for another reason.
After a few rejections, I got a call one day in May from the Aberdeen American News in Aberdeen, S.D. How odd it would be so close to Wally and Margie. I talked to the sports editor, Ron Feickert, on the phone, and the editor, Cindy Eikamp. They were interested in bringing me out there for an interview. Memorial Day was coming up and it would be a good time. I could get out there without too much suspicion.
So the time seemed right to get away for an interview. Mick, our ad manager, offered to cover any weekend assignments, for me (because John No. 2 wouldn't) . Wally and Margie agreed to meet me for dinner one night; it would be good to see them. I was feeling good about this one. I hated leaving Montana, but I needed a fresh start.
It seemed the right time to move back east.
My little brother, Ray, and I embarked on our journey to Aberdeen, South Dakota, on a sticky Fourth of July morning in 1989. I had been hired as a sports writer at the Aberdeen American News, the first daily newspaper to take a chance on me. I was 34 years old with 10 years of experience under my belt. But this would be my first daily.
The cats were sedated but meowing in their carriers in the back seat of the Subaru I had purchased in the fall of 1988. I would start calling the brown wagon "My little brown oven" after this trip, because I had no air conditioning in this car, and it would hit 100 degrees outside. It was not a pleasant trip.
We stopped somewhere along the road for breakfast because I was falling asleep. Megadoses of coffee and some protein, along with closing my eyes for a bit seemed to help. We didn't spend too much time in the restaurant because of the cats. As soon as I could, I got out and let them out for some air. I had bought harnesses and collars for them, hoping to walk them during pit stops, but they would have none of it. If I took them out at all, they sought shade. They wouldn't even try to use the litter box.
I wanted to stop at some historical sites along the way to give Ray some education: Little Big Horn, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse. I had reservations at a Super 8 that had a pool in a town whose name now escapes me. After driving around for a half hour and failing to find it despite following directions, I gave up, my head pounding too much to try any more.
We ended up staying in a no-name motel that was cheap, clean, had two beds and a shower but no pool. It was still very nice. The woman who owned the place with her husband took Ray to the city pool while I took a cold shower and some ibuprofen and put a cold washcloth on my head. The cats dove under the bed for shade, but eventually came out and joined me on the bed.
That night, Ray was happy to see the owners had some fireworks. I told him to keep his hands off and stand back. He had hurt himself once with fireworks and I didn't want him hurt on my watch. We had dinner before the fireworks show, hit the sack early after the long drive and planned not to get up too early.
The next day, we had a short drive to the Mount Rushmore area. We got to our motel, checked the cats in and did our sightseeing. I didn't want to leave the cats in a hot car all day. Kittle and Cinnamon hung out under the A/C unit. Ray and I saw Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
On our third day, we hit Wall Drug, of course, then headed on our last leg. We stopped at a gas station in Fort Pierre, to hit the restrooms and get gas. I took out the cats over by a couple of trees near a picnic area. When Ray got back from his restroom stop, I told him to watch the cats.
I came back and didn't see Cinnamon. I asked what happened to him. Ray said, "He went inside the tree." I didn't quite understand, until he pointed to the big truck tire that was around the tree. Cinnamon had climbed inside the tire, seeking shade. Crazy black cat! I had to get on the ground and pull him out, and he didn't come willingly, either. I had scratches and dirt on my arms and legs.
So we then headed up the highway north toward Hwy. 12, which went east to Aberdeen. Along the way, of course, we hit construction (but AAA sent me this way and didn't mention construction). The road was torn up and it had rained, so it was all mud. We stopped once, so then I had mud on my legs, too.
It was after 3 p.m. when I got to Aberdeen. My hair was windblown, I had mud on my legs and arms, and my arms were scratched. I came into the newspaper looking for Ron Feickert, the sports editor, and Cindy Eikamp, the editor. Cindy would have the information I needed to get into my apartment. I thought, she's going to look at me and regret ever having hired me.
Both were happy to see me. Because the Aberdeen American News is a morning paper, most people were just getting started on their shifts, especially the sports crew. They introduced me around, as is, mud and all. The main thing most wanted to know was where we found the mud, because it had been dry there.
Cindy gave me the key to the apartment and we went to get settled in with the few meager possessions I had. It would be good to be in one place again, even if it meant sleeping on a floor for a couple of weeks. Seeing new places is fun, but being a gypsy isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Hi Jeannie & Julia!
I have had a busy 2 days & consequently have gone off my eating plan. My oldest daughter has been here & eats nothing but junk! All kinds of chips are her favorite by the way.
Anyhow, when I got home from work yesterday she was here munching away. I get home in time for lunch & her snacking makes me crave when I'm not hungry...I get the social head hunger thing...when it's meal time & I am really hungry her snacking makes me reckless...like a dry alcoholic going into a bar!
She needed a ride so I decided to pick up KFC rather than make lunch at home. Bad choice! Then she surprised us with subs for dinner. Thankfully she got me chicken salad, but I ate the damn roll!
I need to find a way to deal with social temptation. Eating beforehand does not help!
Jeannie, glad you got your knee drained & you can move around better!
Julia, good job on the $25 win! Enjoy your family get together...we are supposed to go to my sister's Sunday, but that hurricane coming up the East Coast may be an issue...
Kathy
I hope your knee is fixed soon one way or another! Loved the chip story. I am horrible with chips too.
We are headed to my home town today for a barbecue with the family. I have two brothers and a sister-in-law...so we will have fun. There is no real drama in my family.
Yesterday they turned on our solar panels. I have a little app that shows how much is being generated. It's pretty exciting.
I played Bunco last night and won $25. Another fun party.
Hope you are all doing well!
Breakfast- protein drink
Lunch- pepper soup
Dinner- barbecued chicken, salad
Snacks- fruit and nuts
Hey All,
I've had my knee drained, injected, and drained again. The surgeon wanted to make sure my blood is good before he sets a date for the new knee so I am going to the hematologists next week, and my regular doc has made an appointment for me to get another iron infusion....so if the moon and the stars line up just right, maybe I will bet the knee done....who knows. We close on our house soon and we have contractors coming to do things to it and I just don't want to be recovering from surgery.
On a brighter note, I am able to do a little walking around so I am catching up on the house work that sort of got behind....and I am going to go ahead and freeze some more jalepeno poppers...
Anyway, food hasn't been good for me because I like to drown my pain and sorrow in chips. Yesterday, I put every chip and every cracker in a bag with a note explaining my lack of control and called the neighbor kid over and said take these to your mom....she sent him back with a note that said, Gee thanks, I have no control either but I do have kids who will clean this out in no time.
Todays Food:
Breakfast: Loaded oatmeal 1/2 cup of oatmeal and 1/4 cup of nuts and 3 blackberries on top. 1 tsp of butter and 1 tablespoon of homemade applesauce
Lunch: Potato soup 1 cup
Dinner: Shrimp and broccoli 3 large shrimp 1 cup of broccoli
Snacks: cucumbers and carrots are ready for consumption.
Hi Trish & Yvonne!
I am home from work & determined to clean my non-self cleaning oven! I have done the initial wipe down...still needs scrubbing! Also doing wash!
I lead such an exciting life!
Tri**** seems your sister drops the ball alot in taking care of your mom. It's got to be hard to deal with long distance! Hope she gets her ID taken care of soon.
Yvonne, you were so dedicated to your daily exercise you may need to just change things up! And a break won't hurt as long as you keep moving! I swim in the summer & walk the rest of the year. I do weights a few times a month...can't seem to get my rhythm there! But one thing I am consistent about is not sitting for longer than a half hour. I get up & do Something for 5-10 minutes... sometimes longer!
Jeannie & Linda are so right about how nice it is to be able to walk/move again after surgery...one of my best gifts in life!
B - veggie burger
S - oatmeal
L -egg salad sandwich
D - chicken breast
Kathy
Hi Trish and ladies to follow,
Sorry you are having trouble with your sister again. Hope everything gets worked out.
Lately I've been having a hard time exercising. Feels like I'm burned out. If I do it I feel great but just trying to get motivated to do it is another thing.
B egg whites ham and cheese omelet and string cheese
L cottage cheese, baby carrots and banana
D turkey and sliced carrots
S blueberry light and fit Greek yogurt, Turkey sausage snack sticks and watermelon
Everyone have a good day
Jeannie,
It IS funny how different foods affect us. I wish I could get my grape addiction under control. I don't weigh them like you w the butter & mindlessly nibble. Such a bad habit & I know better!
My husband needed both knees & his ankle replaced over 20 years ago. He kept putting it off. Then his ankle got infected from his support brace rubbing it. Spent a yr going to wound clinic. It wouldn't heal & he isn't diabetic. They decide to do surgery to clean it out...instead gets a serious case of MRSA. He was on antibiotic infusions, etc to get this cleared up, but it only got worse. The pain was so bad they put him on fentanyl & that didn't touch it!
That led to the amputation. He still needs the knees replaced in order to walk, but refuses to risk another MRSA episode. I don't blame him. I'd like the tallest man I have ever been with to walk beside me, but it isn't going to happen. In addition to the MRSA he has a laundry list of other medical problems.. surgery is risky for him!
I know you've been thru the ringer medically both for yourself & w your husband. Just my experience has been to get stuff like this done ASAP before it becomes a bigger problem, ya know?
You want to ENJOY your retirement!
Kathy
You eat mustard and I drank pickle juice. Remarkably it really did help. I assume you eat prepared mustard. wonder if it is the vinegar in both products. I can handle calf cramps but the thigh is awful. Happened in Galapagos as well. Both places are dry and easy to get dehydrated without knowing it. Sometimes I leave for a short hike and forget to take my water but ironically Sunday I had water with me and I drank it. It was also a fairly easy hike. But there were a few inclines of more than 8% and about 20 steps one way. Anyway I am better so I'll profit from the experience.
It is wonderful to be able to go on hikes. I can only do that here and at home during the fall and early spring. The heat and humidity at other times defeats me and I become a cough potato and a prisoner to the AC.
