#53 – Family Center

According to The List,

Drop in’s welcome at Your Family Center, 133 W. Second St., Ottumwa

Ignoring the unnecessary apostrophe on “drop ins”, the family checked out Your Family Center in downtown Ottumwa.

Off The List – Giant Waving Farmer

I don’t know what it is about Ottumwa and giant roadside attractions, but we have our second entrant into the “Off the List” category.

Honestly, nothing says “Come Shop At The Dungeon” like a giant waving farmer on the side of the road.

#82 – View of the River

This one is bittersweet, as anyone who has seen the news in the last month will be aware. The view of the river is currently different than it has been at any time since probably 1993, the last great flood.

The following represent the water at the highest it has been since that time, and hopefully convey the mood. We were lucky in Ottumwa compared to our neighboring towns and communities – the levees held, the bridges were safe, and no major flooding occurred.

#60 – Late Night Shopping

When one reads the list, this item definitely jumps out.  But not for good reasons.

#39 – Gothic Days

Thoughts running through my mind as we made the twenty minute drive to Eldon, Iowa:

• It is the middle of June and 88 degrees according to the car thermostat. This has to be a pretty miserable to be dressed all in black, even if it is for a once-a-year event called Gothic Days.
• Why the hell is Gothic Days celebrated in a town of less than a thousand people, located fifteen miles from anything (with that anything being arguable)? Sure, the fairgrounds are there, but this makes no sense.
• Iowa has a gothic community? What will I find out about next, a BDSM group and a rub-and-tug?
• Why did my wife convince me to bring our son?

Join me after the jump to find out those answers and more…

Off the List – Giant Cock

We begin the tour off the list, actually, with the Red Rooster Rental.

Yes, somethings can not be seen anywhere else but Central Iowa. Such is the case where a company which apparently rents out RVs… using a giant chicken.

Linkable List

Earlier I posted a link to the Chamber of Commerce website list of 101 Things to Do. This will be my own official list to track and cross-link through.