Baker's heartbeat

      The back patio is cleaned up, an ongoing task. That's because most debris comes from bird feeders, seen at top left.    The full moon shined brightly out back as I softly padded down the stairs, trying not to trip although it's pitch dark. My task is to open the dishwasher that had finished its cycle.    I opened it, pulled out the shelves and shook them a little before I headed back to bed in the very early-morning hours.     I slept dreaming of house-cleaning.     This tendency, present to various extents all 63 years of life, has gone into overdrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is not a surface or item in this house that can't be cleaned, I think.       What else do I have to do?    One might think that empty-nesters -- only two in a house -- might be able to stay pretty clean. I beg to differ: I choose/need to stay busy so that means I clean and  sanitize items much of each day, basically from morning to night.       Some of the daily cleaning is caused by

Snow pack in the front of the Baker home, February 2021, in rural Scott County.      There's a pack of snow on the edge of the driveway that I'm hoping to tackle ... maybe after the snow that's expected tonight. It is irritating, to this driver anyway, and in the way of anyone who wishes to approach our house in a vehicle.     As I do this, I'll be thinking of the shoveling done so far. Couple that with climate experts who predict this winter will mirror that of 1978-79.     Oh my!     Do you remember that winter? You must be of a certain age to think of it, but that season is unforgettable to many.  I was a student at Iowa State University in Ames, majoring in journalism and history. I later had a career as a newspaper journalist so have heard many stories from other reporters.     One way the season started was January 12-14 when  a winter storm dumped 18.4 inches of snow, according to archives of the National Weather Service in the Quad-Cities. It was a record for a

Iowa State fans, like the author, were delighted when the Cyclones won the Fiesta Bowl! Easier (non COVID-19) days: Kirstin, age 13, with her parents, in 2003. Granddaughter Myla, now age 2, is a fan of the movie "Frozen."      The month of January started with fear and dismay but ended much better: We survived a bout of the COVID-19 virus and bounced back to normal in a few weeks.     The month ended Jan. 31 with a celebration of daughter Kirstin's 31st birthday; it was a Golden Birthday for sure. Among other activities: "Papa Steve" got granddaughter Myla, age 2, to eat a bit of a Hostess Twinkie, a treat she's not normally allowed. Daring indeed!      The month started quietly as we dealt with COVID. A bright spot was Iowa State's football victory in the Fiesta Bowl. The Cyclones beat Oregon, 34-17, to cap off the most successful year in school history. Thank you, Coach Matt Campbell!      Myla's birthday is Jan. 6; Kirstin thankfully had sent us