For our friends in Nashville

I made a quick trip to Nashville this week and am currently sitting in the airport waiting for my flight.

I took a quick survey of the waiting room and this is what I see:

A lady sitting across from me holding her purse.  The purse is a lovely black nylon with red crosses and pictures of praying hands all over it…ALL OVER IT.  Pretty.

A man to my left reading ”Four Wheelers” the magazine. 

An older gentleman wearing his WW II veteran hat and an American flag belt (he’s quite cute).

And to top it off…a man just handed me a sticker with an American Flag on it.  As he handed it to me he said, “God Bless America.”

Gotta love airports.

A Quickie From the Trenches

The alarm went off at 4:07am this morning and somehow I was able to convince myself that it was a fluke and that I didn’t actually need to get up.  I did this until 4:32am when I realized, Oh S%$#! I do need to get up, I have to travel this morning!  I skipped the shower (I showered last night) woke Ben up and we booked it to the airport.

After a record breaking trip I managed to jinx us by saying “wow, that was fast!” and then the traffic hit.  I managed to get into the airport on time, I checked my bags and then got in line for the Premier security line.  I had to stand there and wait for about 10 men to go in front of me because no one would let me through.  I had the pleasure of watching as half of them got rejected from the special person line.  That’s what they get for being rude to a lady!

I looked to my left and reminded myself that…Oh! That’s the Corner Bakery that was robbed this weekend!

I then went through security and continued my weekly thoughts on why it takes men so long to to get through the line.  They aren’t supposed to be the prissy ones…I am (or at least my gender is).  Seriously, most men I see take 3 bins plus their carry on plus their computer case.  I take two and get through in about .3 seconds.  It’s quite funny to watch them with all their plastic bags and toiletries all while still trying to look manly.

Then I walked the 12 miles to the F Concourse…F12 to be exact…the farthest possible gate, which can only mean I will be on an itty bitty plane today.  I sit down next to a lady who is easily taking up three seats.  She turns to me and says, “What time is it?” Not, “Excuse me” or “Do you have the time” just a blunt “What time is it?”  I fish out my phone and tell her it is 6:07am and hear “Guhhhh, uh! almost there!”  What?  Then she says, ”Now I know why I never travel.”  Right lady, because YOU had to wake up early and YOU have to sit in an airport, you have it so much worse than the rest of us.  I wanted to tell her that she sounds like a fool for telling me that because she has to wake up early it is reason enough not to travel.  Have fun in podunk USA for the rest of your life.  Okay that was mean but it’s early.

Then she started rocking out to her pink Shuffle with matching pink ear phones.  She is also wearing pink pajamas and is probably close to 40.

Now I am on the itty bitty plane next to a not so itty bitty person.  At least it isn’t Mr. BO that was next to me in the boarding line.  Good thing it’s early and I am going to pass out.

Ode to Ringo

It has been over a week since I posted last and I am blaming it on the fact that for some reason I feel guilty writing about anything other than Ringo.  So, in order for me to move on, I’ve decided to write an ode to my little orange friend who is no longer with us.  You may think it strange to write about a cat and think what you may, but he was with me for 17 years so it is hard not to get attached.

Here goes the story of Ringo…the coolest cat in town.

My grandma (Mimi) found Ringo when he was a kitten outside the school she was working at.  He was starving and had a ring of tar around his tail where it appeared that someone either ran over it or dipped it in the black gooey substance.  Hence, the name Ringo.  His tail was fine, just a little stubby.  Mimi fed him his first meal of zucchini bread and milk and that it when the love affair with Ringo began.

Mimi took care of Ringo for the first year of his life but on one of my visits to her house Ringo and I developed a bond that would never break (cheesy right?)  Mimi soon passed over ownership to me (much to my parents disappointment).  Ringo was a bit of a butt head in his early years and maintained a steady level of orneriness until the end.  One minute he would be asleep around my neck the next he would be circling me ready to pounce.  Nonetheless, at the end of the day he was always by my side.

Ringo had the best of all worlds.  He had a wonderful life inside the house but he also got to go outside to roam the neighborhood.  He was notorious among our neighbors for “killing the Easter Bunny.”  That’s right, the morning of Easter my dad was in the backyard trying his hardest to get Ringo to let go of a baby rabbit.  I’ll save the details but the Easter Bunny didn’t make it back to his home that day.  Ringo is also the only cat I know that could climb trees…that’s right…he climbed trees with no front claws.

Ringo also managed to have a 90 lb black lab terrified of him and averted the advances of our chocolate lab.  You see, Ringo was the king of the castle, period.  When we brought Joe, our black lab puppy home, Ringo was sure to maintain the King status, even when Joe surpassed him size.  When Annie, our full grown chocolate lab came home she was not aware of the ”King” status and only saw a big fluffy toy that liked to run away.  Ringo managed to survive without much trouble.

As Ringo got older he didn’t change one bit.  Most people that met him were shocked that he was as old as he was…even the vet.  The only noticeable change was that he was completely and utterly carefree.  As long as someone was petting him, rubbing him, holding him, touching him, or heck, even looking at him he was a happy little man.  We coined the “Yesss” position where as soon as you started rubbing his chest he would stretch both front legs out, close his eyes, and roll to his side or back…whichever was most convenient.   His favorite position is what we called “Mama Lovin” where I would throw him over my shoulder, snuggle him into my neck, and proceed to carry him around the house as I carried on. He was an expert spooner and always kept me warm during naps.  His carefree nature even extended to his 91lb yellow lab brother, Charlie.  Ringo would allow Charlie to lick him and nudge him until Charlie got sick of it. 

His favorite pastimes consisted of kung foo fighting with Kitty, getting high on “kitty pot” aka catnip, playing with Q-tips, helping me fold laundry, watching the street below from our balcony and many others.  He also liked to help me work on the days I worked from home.  He loved to lay on my mouse pad as I worked on the computer…mind you he could care less if my hand was on the mouse or if there were papers all over his “space.”  This drove me to purchase a wireless mouse so I could accommodate him.  His all time favorite thing to do was to knock things off of Ben’s desk or our kitchen table…phones, pens, Ben’s ID, sunglasses, anything of substance really.  You could just see it in his eyes…if it was in his way it was a matter of seconds before it was swept off with a quick flick of his paw. 

Ringo had a slew of names…here are the ones that are coming to mind: Bing Bong, Bing Bong Kitty, Bing Bong Bitch (Ben’s name for him when he started meowing at 2am) Ring-a-ding, orange hairy beast (the description we used at the veterinarian) and Ringy.

Ringo was seriously the coolest cat in the world.  He started off his life as a starving barn cat with tar all over his tail and ended it getting loving whenever he wanted, sleeping on whatever he wanted, and completely enamoring any human that came in contact with him (except those allergic to him of course).

We laid Ringo to rest in a little park under a blanket of trees.  Ben wrapped him in his favorite blanket (a gift from Ben to me a couple years ago…we always said one side of it felt like Ringo). Through my tears, I had to laugh because we almost got arrested doing it.  I’m not kidding.  I had to explain to a police officer what we were doing because we were caught in the act.  I was absolutely sobbing telling the officer what was going on and that we are 100% aware that it is illegal…he said he was sorry and to go ahead.  I just know Ringo was smiling at us then.

Our little family isn’t quite the same anymore.  Part of us is definitely missing every time we come home and don’t get greeted by Ringo.  Naps aren’t the same without him, mornings aren’t the same, TV/Movie time isn’t the same, and most of all our critter family is missing it’s patriarch.  Ben and I will forever be telling stories about our Bing Bong Kitty and we will miss him dearly.

:(

:(

I changed my mind…this is the worst kind of call. 

Ben called this afternoon to tell me my/our 18 year old cat passed away.  I am currently in Florida on business which could be the hardest part of it all.  I can’t wait to go home…I’ve never needed a hug so badly in my life.

The good news is that he didn’t suffer.  He went out in true Ringo style…chillin in one of his favorite spots just after knocking everything off our kitchen table…his favorite past-time.

We’ll miss you Bing Bong.

Sun, is that you?

I have tried my hardest not to be one of those weather complainers.  This year though, I fell into the trap.  It has been miserable and very emotional if I must say.  At one point it was sunny and 50 and the next day it is snowing and below 30.  It’s very confusing.

I am happy to say that today it is sunny, above 50, and very nice to be outside.  As pathetic as it is…even our dog notices.  I’m serious.  Normally he goes outside and does his business and only really gets excited when he sees his ball in my hand or gets to play with other dogs.  Today we went for a walk sans ball and other dogs and I swear he was smiling.  We also went for a run along the lake and again, he was smiling and running ahead of me when normally he runs beside me with his ears down just waiting for the torture to be over.

I am happy to say that Spring is almost, kinda, sorta, here to stay.

Go Obama!

This post is much different than my usual ramblings about life, traveling, and wedding plans. I am posting this only because I am absolutely blown away at its content and how something like this becomes a chain email. The most disappointing thing about the whole situation is that it came from a very, very, very close family friend.

This is what showed up in my inbox yesterday…NONE of which are my words (let’s make that very clear).

This is from Darlene Millican, wife of the pastor of Trinity Bapt. Church here in Sun City. I have felt for sometime now that Obama is the one person that ‘Frightens Me’. I believe the Bible has warned us that ‘A man will come from the East that will be charismatic in nature and have proposed solutions for all our problems and his rhetoric will attract many supporters!’ When will our pathetic nation quit turning their back on God and understand that this man is ‘A Muslim’….first, last and always….and we are AT WAR with the Muslim Nation, whether our bleeding-heart, secular, liberal friends believe it or not. This man fits every description from the Bible of the Anti-Christ’! I’m just glad to know that there are others that are frightened by this man! Who is Barack Obama? Very interesting and something that should be considered in your choice. If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts…this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United States…better heed this and pray about it and share it. snopes.com confirms this is factual. Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita, Kansas. Obama’s parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, ‘He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.’ Obama’s political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is not a radical. Obama’s introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son’s education. Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world.

Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Do you want someone like this as your PRESIDENT? Let us all remain alert concerning Obama’s expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level – through the President of the United States, one of their own! Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?…… NOT ME!!!

Please read this for a fact check.

First of all, I don’t want this to turn into a political or religious debate because I will be the first to admit that I don’t know enough about either subject to debate it. However, I do have a brain and I went through plenty of school to know a couple things.

A. Because the lady that wrote this is a pastor’s wife MUST make her credible right? Right.

B. Pretty sure she mentions that the Bible says someone will “come from the East” and so on. Pretty sure Hawaii, where he was born is in the West and he has lived most of his adult life in Chicago and I am pretty certain that is in the Midwest.

C. Have the Muslims waged war on the western world? Umm, I’m pretty sure that no one, not even our current president knows why we are at war. First, it was to fight terrorism. Oh wait, it wasn’t them that attacked us. Then we were going after Saddam Hussein. Oh, what’s that? He didn’t have weapons of mass destruction? (I will not deny that Mr. Hussein was a bad man, he was, but it still isn’t a good enough reason for me to give the OK for war.) Now it is called “Mission: Iraqi Freedom” which actually seems to be working but I am still not sure why we are at war. I am positive I am not alone in that sentiment either.

For the record we are currently fighting in the third longest war in US history right behind the Vietnam War (15 years), the American Revolution (8 years), and World War II (6 years).

D. Pretty sure if Obama was a radical religious fanatic that this article is claiming and is ready to take over the universe…some group with a lot of initials would be on to him.

Enough of that.

Whether or not all the listed facts are correct is irrelevant. What is important is the fact that this information is being read and believed probably by thousands of people.

I am an Obama fan. He is the one candidate that has grabbed my attention enough to make me want to pay attention to what he is saying, and what his opponents are saying for that matter. He also makes me believe in him as cheesy as that is. Maybe it is because I read his book (and his second one is currently waiting on my nightstand to be read) or because he lives in Chicago, I don’t know and I don’t care. I think he truly can make the change that every candidate is touting.

I think he and his posse are responsible for getting this country riled up about this election. I also admire a man who truly did start at the bottom of the political spectrum and worked his way up instead of falling into it like other candidates. I gained a whole new level of respect for him when he had the ballscourage to stand up and talk to the nation about race. Not only did he just talk about it but he created the content. He didn’t have his team of speech writers tackle the subject, he wrote the speech. This, in an environment where everyone including our government tip toes around the ever scary subject of race. Go Obama.

I don’t think skin color, gender, or religion should matter in this election. The US is known for being a melting pot right? So why don’t we FINALLY accept someone outside the 50ish white male bible beater?

I’m just sayin…

If you’d like a little extra info on the subject, check this out.

I just had dinner with a famous person!

I am so serious!  I really did.  If you Google him he gets about 10,000 hits (and they are all really him)!  Out of respect for him and Ben I won’t tell you who it was but he is a very BIG name in the medical community. 

This was how the dinner was prepped to me by Ben: “So do you want to have dinner with me and this dude? (and he really called him dude).  He made a reservation for 3 at Morton’s but I don’t really know what it’s about.  You wanna go?”

My response: “Is he paying?” and “sure!”

Low and behold the man has been all over the world, has more degrees and honorary degrees than I can count on two hands, has been involved in some crazy medical issues, was Editor in Chief of one of the largest medical journals in the world, is often on TV and is featured ALL over the Internet!

And the only prep I got was “You wanna go to dinner with this dude?”

And to top it all off he was SUPER cool!