Annoying people

Onward and upward. I'm at Denver International Airport right now getting ready to head back to Chicago after being in Wyoming this past week for my grandmother's funeral. The service was very touching, and it was nice to see all my family again. It will be good to get back home though, and I'm really looking forward to some Chihuahua kisses.

As I went through airport security today, I had a very annoying man behind me in line. What's with people who want to chat with everyone they encounter? In the 5-10 minutes we stood next to each other he informed me that my left Ugg Boot was folded over and then asked where I was heading to. He then said "sorry" because he hates Chicago, but he does love a BBQ restaurant in Barrington. He knows this because he used to have family in Barrington, but they now live in California. He commented on my Ziploc baggie of toiletries, and laughingly said he knows who he should ask if he needs any lotion. He said his wife packs the same amount of stuff. (He's married? Apparently there is someone for everyone.) He then told security 2-3 times that he'd gladly put on some plastic gloves and help them do security checks if they needed. He then proceeded to dump every single quarter, penny and dime in his pockets straight into the security bins. I was able to dress quickly and get out of there, but I later saw him on the same train heading to our concourse. Luckily he was chatting up some woman standing next to him, and didn't see me.

How annoying is he? I pity whoever is stuck next to him on today's flight (I don't know where he's going, because I didn't ask. Why? I don't care.)

I'm about to board and I'm praying for an aisle seat next to a quiet, skinny and clean person. Wish me luck!

I'm truly blessed

Wow, thanks to everyone for your very kind words about my Grandmother. I read the most beautiful messages on Facebook and I enjoyed each one.

To Mike's family-thanks for all your calls, texts and messages. I truly hit the lotto when I gained you all as my own.

To Brooke and Jackie--you pass the friends test with flying colors because you texted me right after I posted yesterday. Much appreciated schmoops.

Love you all. I'm heading to Wyoming tomorrow morning, so I'll be offline for a couple of days.




A life lesson

Here's when even bubbles are fun

At what point in our lives do we lose those innocent child-like beliefs? When does driving fast go from exciting and cool to dangerous and scary, not to mention a sure-fire way to get a speeding ticket? (Which in turn, will likely lead to higher insurance premiums.) My goodness, when did we start worrying about higher insurance premiums?

When does skiing down the black diamond seem less like a thrill, and more like a bad idea that will surely hurt your knees and/or back and/or hip?

In our mid-20's and early 30's, we suddenly realize we are indeed mortal, and man, it stinks. We kick ourselves for laying in the sun with nothing but baby oil on our skin. For some friends, they regret picking up that first cigarette, thinking it was cool, and would now give up most anything to quit. For some, they realize they should have taken better care of their bodies and watched what they put into it. One friend of mine even jokes she wished she would have walked around in nothing but a bikini in her 20's, because she now she realizes her body will truly never look better.

For all of us, losing friends or family members is also a sure-fire way of kicking us in the gut, and making us realize we only have one shot at this thing. Last night my grandmother Crofts passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's. The disease is truly awful. There's no way to explain the pain you feel when your own grandmother doesn't recognize you. But man, she was tough. She was nearly 91 years old. She grew up on an Indian reservation. She later lived on a ranch called "Rattlesnake" which wasn't just a clever name--there were lots of poisonous snakes there. What there wasn't a lot of, however, was electricity which made for some brutally cold Wyoming winters.

My grandmother, known as Grandmommy, taught me how to sew. How to cook. She always made my favorite coffee pies, which I loved more for the massive amounts of whip cream, rather than the java. I used to spend weeks during the summer with my grandfather and her in Lander, Wyoming. I'd spend all day in the creek that ran through their backyard, enjoying the cold mountain water streaming from the Wind River mountain. I had nothing but time and innocence to build little rafts and play with my cousins.

I miss you already Grandmommy, but I feel so much better that you're no longer in pain and I know you're happy to be with Granddaddy again. I'm also very glad I have another guardian angel watching over us.

Oh, and when I see you again, you'd better have a coffee pie waiting for me....




Arianna Huffington: Charming and Humble

Courtesy: Broadrecognition.com

This week I had the chance to listen to one of the world's richest women, Arianna Huffington, speak. She is the founder of the online newspaper, The Huffington Post, which as you may know, just got bought by AOL for a cool $315 million. I know money doesn't buy happiness, but sheesh...think of how much easier life would be with $315 mil. I was hoping by meeting her this week, we would end up "besties" who'd go shopping and lunching together.

Sadly, that didn't happen, but listening to Ms. Huffington was really enjoyable. I found her to be honest, charming and humble. She talked about the importance of volunteering, and how much it has enriched her and her family's lives. She said it's easy to get down on our circumstances-- relationships (she said, Lord knows that's certainly true for her--online is says her ex-husband is now bi-sexual), our jobs, children, etc. She said the quickest way to feel better about ourselves is to volunteer with people who really have it rough. Her daughter struggled with an eating disorder until she volunteered at an at-risk home for children in a tough L.A. neighborhood. Suddenly her daughter didn't think her own life and image issues were so bad.

I really need to learn how to use my camera

Ms. Huffington says volunteering is especially helpful for people who have lost jobs/homes and even self-esteem in the recession (I can totally relate.) She say helping others makes you feel like you're a contributor instead of a victim.

I'm so glad I went to hear her speak, and I'm going to start looking at volunteer opportunities this week. Anyone care to join me? I'm looking for the ones that pay $315 mil--I'll let you know what I find.

The Ole' Mighty Dollar

This is the view from a friend's apt. Isn't it great?

Man on street: "Hi! Would you be willing to support gay rights?"
Me: "Of course."
Man on street: "Great! One of the biggest ways you can help is money, so if you would kindly give me your bank account information, we'll deduct a small donation each month."
Me: "Dream on, buddy."

It's amazing to me how many people on the streets of Chicago have absolutely no problem asking for money. Of course, there are plenty of bums with signs saying they are war veterans and deserve some change. One bum on the corner of Rush and Delaware touts he's a Vietnam, Korea and World War II vet, in between singing one verse over and over again of Sam Cooke's "Cupid" song. (Three wars? Really buddy? You were busy. And really, only one verse? That must get old.) We also have plenty of other bums who will either shout obscenities at you or kindly tell you to have a good day as you walk by. (I'm much more likely to give money to the latter.)

But then, there are also very ordinary looking people asking for money. Last week when it was dipping around zero, there was a man standing near my apartment without any gloves or a hat on. I felt bad for him, so I stopped and chatted for a moment. He told me his mom is a cancer survivor, and he was raising money for a cancer walk last weekend. He just needed one more donation and then he could get in from the cold.

I'm thinking, are there really any cancer walks in the dead of winter in Chicago? A quick google search confirms that is a no.

I asked the man for the website info so I could research it first, and he didn't know what it was. Really? Does anyone give these people money? The answer must be yes, or else they wouldn't be doing it.

At least put some effort into it, like the guy on Michigan Ave. who dresses in all silver (including a painted silver face), stands on a milk crate and does Michael Jackson break dancing moves for tourists. He's at least trying to earn your dollar.

Thoughts and Prayers Going to Lara Logan

Courtesy: NY Times

I normally like to keep this blog light, but something is weighing heavy on my heart. It's the news that CBS reporter Lara Logan was viciously attacked on Friday while covering the political unrest in Egypt. According to CBS, Logan and her crew were surrounded by a mob of 200 people. She got separated from her crew, and "suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before a group of women and about 20 Egyptian soldiers saved her."

I first heard about this awful attack last night, and I cried. Such brutality against women is disgusting, and the fact that I can relate to her being a reporter and wanting to be where the action is, made it even more unsettling.

Logan is an extremely talented and beautiful reporter. She could easily be a main anchor in any market, but instead, decided to take a dangerous assignment that has sent her to the middle of war zones. For that, I admire her.

I hope that Lara can heal physically and emotionally, and eventually can get back to doing the job she loves.

Sixteen Candles Back on the Big Screen

This morning, I woke up with a smile on my face because my Valentine's Day was the. best. ever. (Ewe, get your mind out of the gutter.)

Last week, I found out my all-time favorite movie, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles, was back on the big screen for two nights in select cities. Chicago was one of them, and I was pumped. Even though I've seen the 1984 movie at least 100 times, I had to go. It came out when I was 6 years old, so I'd never seen it on the big screen.

I've blogged before about why this movie is so important and popular for women my age. (This summer I even went to the house where it was filmed. Read here.) In the film, Samatha Baker (Molly Ringwald) is geeky and awkward, and has a major crush on the hottest guy in school, Jake Ryan. In the end, she gets the hot guy, which is exactly what every geeky girl like me dreamed of in our glasses/braces/stringy hair stage.

Can I just say Jake Ryan still has the same effect on every women in her 30's or 40's? In the scene where he's laying in bed thinking of Samatha Baker in a wife-beater (Grandma-that's slang for a white tank top), the women behind us actually moaned a little. I chuckled. And in the final scene where the cars clear and Jake's standing in front of his red Porsche, everyone in the theatre gasped and nervously chuckled. 26 years later, and Jake Ryan still makes us giddy.

What was really cool about seeing it on the big screen, is that I saw things I'd never noticed before. In the scene where Long Duk Dong is eating dinner with the family, he's using his utensils like chopsticks. Have you noticed that? When I was describing this to Mike as we were leaving, the guy in front of me said he'd never seen that either. Also, when the grandparents are getting into the car to go to the wedding, watch the dark-haired grandma. There's actually a blooper there--I won't spoil it for you.

Second to Jake Ryan, the lines in the movie are the best!  Here are a few of my favs--feel free to add your own!

* No more yanky my wanky, the Donger need food!
* What are you bitch*** about? I have to sleep under a china man named after a duck's dork.
* Unbelievable. You make someone a bridesmaid, and they sh** all over you.
* I thought you my new-style American girlfriend
* Lake, big lake!
* I really love Rudy. He's totally enamoured of me. I mean, I've had other men love me before, but not for six months in a row.
* What's happenin' hot stuff?