Yes, we have lakes here in Iowa. There is a cluster of large lakes in the northwest corner of the state of Iowa, West Lake Okoboji, East Lake Okoboji, and Spirit Lake being the main ones. This area is referred to as the Iowa Great Lakes, or just the Lakes. The Lakes is a tourist area. The local economy survives on the income brought by summer vacationers. Around the lakes are several small towns with many shops and restaurants and the like, as well as some nice vacation resorts.

I just came back from a professional meeting at the Lakes. This meeting is one of the reasons that I wanted Master to visit at this time of year. The topic is one that interests Master, and the professional association picks up the tab for us to stay at a nice area resort. I wanted him to see the area at its best and enjoy what it had to offer. I thought we could have a nice hotel room, take a walk on the lakeside and drink in the natural beauty of the area.

Our stay wasn’t exactly a disaster, but it didn’t quite go as planned. Our walk on the shoreline was curtailed by windy, cool weather. We decided it would be best to go the hotel room. We had a dinner in the evening, which was nice. Oh, except for the half hour we spent in the basement. A tornado warning was issued, so we all went down these steep steps to a damp, dank basement with wooden pallets on it. This area was obviously never meant for the patrons to see! Nevertheless, Master seemed to enjoy himself, spending the time in conversation with others.

I can’t say that our stay was a wash. We savored each other’s company and the company of others.

The mysteries continue. I wrote a few days ago about losing my glasses. Well, I seem to have continued my losing ways. I lost them again. Once more, for 2-3 days I went without. Master was concerned about whether or not I could drive. (Yes, I’m still legal without my glasses. How long this will last in anybody’s guess.) Master finally found them. They were on the shelf where I “used to” put my glasses, where now old and broken glasses go to die. Perhaps my current pair was visiting and contemplating its future.

Glasses are not the only thing I am having problems with. After spending the night in a hotel for a conference, I seem to have misplaced my…bra. That’s right, now I am misplacing my underwear. I remember Master telling me to take it off. I remember putting it on a nightstand. In the morning, Master and I both looked high and low.

Apparently this problem is contagious. Master brought with him a baseball cap that I had gotten him that says “Master” on the back. I know he brought it; I saw it. Then I didn’t see it. Master and I looked all over for that hat so he could wear it to a local baseball game. In the end, we found another hat for him to wear, but it just wasn’t the same.

Post Script:

In packing our things from the hotel, we found the bra. It was on top of my laptop bag. As far as the hat is concerned, it is still missing.

Have you ever had a health concern? I don’t mean a little thing, like a head cold. I mean something that you thought had major implications, like chest pain, or frequent headaches. You always think the worst. Oh, my God, I have chest pains! Maybe I’m having a heart attack? Another headache. Maybe I’ve got a brain tumor.

I have come to believe that about 95% of the time, things aren’t as bad as what we dream up. For example, a few years ago, I had reoccurring pain in my chest. It occurred to me that I could have a problem with my heart or even my lungs. Better check it out, I thought. I did. What did I find? Something out of alignment. The doctor popped it back into place and cautioned me about having that done too often. He said that if I always ran in and had it popped back, it would pop out more and more easily. But, my fears were calmed. When I get that pain in my chest, I know that it comes from a wrenched back several years ago, not the failure of a major organ.

On the other hand, you must be vigilant and aware. It may be in the 95% category, where it is a relatively small (or at least not fatal) problem. Or, it may be in the 5%. People do die of heart attacks and brain tumors, as well as many other things. It is foolish to say “It’s nothing” and turn a blind eye to potential problems. Many very serious things can be improved or even cured if caught early enough.

So, what should you do? Should you get every little ache checked out? I am getting to the age when the aches are increasing. I could spend a lot of time at the doctor’s office. Hey, Doc, my left arm is stiff. My right knee is catching. After a while, the office will watch for your number on caller ID and when they see it pop up, hook up the answering machine. Not the hypochondriac again!

On the other hand, I don’t want to wait until the little bump on my nose grows into a five pound tumor, and they don’t recognize when I walk in. And I sure as hell don’t want to be the person that doesn’t bother to see a doctor until it’s too late to do anything.

What has brought about these thoughts on health? My Master, of course. He is having health issues, issues with the potential to be very, very serious. We have discussed these. As a matter of fact, I had Master look at this column. I am not making light of his problems. They are painful. They are serious. But, at the same time, I have made up my mind to be positive. Unless I have reason to believe there is no hope for him, I will believe there is. I will believe that Master Bennet, although he may have to live with some chronic health issues, will continue to live and share his life with me. Be proactive, but be positive. I will continue to believe in him, and in us.

Yes, Master is here. He arrived on Wednesday. It’s hard to believe that was 4 days ago.

He was scheduled to arrive at 11:22 am. I arrived at the airport about an hour early, just to be safe. I was very nervous and I made sure to go to the bathroom several times before the plane was scheduled. I didn’t want to be answering the call of nature when Master arrived!

After I took care of everything I needed to do, I sat and waited for Master to disembark. I got to the closest area I could and settled in. I tried to read a book, but I found it difficult to concentrate. I kept looking up: Were people getting off a plane? Was it Master’s plan? Was he coming? I had made a small sign (as people do when they are meeting someone they do not know) that said SOB. We, of course, knew each other, nevertheless we thought the sign would be funny.

When Master came in, he came quickly. He nearly walked past before I had a chance to stop him, despite the fact that I was watching closely. I barely had a chance to show him the sign before we embraced and kissed. I told him we were in other people’s way, and he said he did not care. He did not. All he wanted was to hold me.

Later, in the hotel room, we were once again holding and kissing each other. I was more into it, I suppose because I was less self-conscience. Master told me then that he wanted me to greet him that way when at the airport. I am having trouble describing “that way”. It was not really more aggressive on my part, but more into it. I was holding back at the airport. He doesn’t want me to hold back; what Master wants his slave to hold back from him?

We left the airport. Where to? Wherever Master wants. We ended up spending time at a uses CD/DVD/Book shop. We ate lunch. We spent time at the hotel and bought a few groceries. Our visit has begun!

I must apologize for not having written in a while. MASTER IS HERE! OH, MY GOD, MASTER IS HERE! Master has said that I am to keep up with this blog while he is here, so I am working on it this morning, We have been busy, as you may well imagine.

Okay, you can get your mind out of the gutters. Actually, between Master’s health concerns and the fact that I have children living at home, we haven’t engaged in much of what most people would consider bdsm, although I have a set of handcuffs and he brought me a paddle. There are a couple of stays in hotels coming up (sans children) and I am hopeful we can use them then. Master also has brought a digital camera, and I’m hoping that we can take some pictures in the hotel.

So, what have we been doing? We spent some time looking at used DVD stores, thrift stores and garage sales. Neither of us believes in spending a lot of money for things we can get cheaply. We have been to the movies and out to eat. This morning we are going to try to have a catch up day: I need to wash dishes and clothes and doing some cleaning around the house. It has been a nice, slow day.

So, since this is catch up day, I will try to catch up on my posting.