My Favorite Things #3 & #4: Chicago and Flying

Chicago and flying. Can't wait to experience both next week. Been to the town countless times. Each opportunity leads to new discoveries. The hum, the museums, the neighborhoods, the energy, the flow of this city lures me to return time and time again. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.
The Art Institute is pure magic. A must stop for this girl EVERY time. Each gallery absorbs my senses. I saunter past priceless masterpieces, lingering to capture a glimpse of the artist's soul revealed through the clues their creation whispers. Many, many hours have witnessed my passion for the treasures housed within those walls.
I truly appreciate the engineering feat constructed from an elongated, metal tube with two long, nearly flat appendages and some massive whirly-gigs that easily transports me anywhere, saving hours on the road and creating personal catch-up space. Instead of having to pay attention to traffic, I get to relax and immerse myself in the last few issues of Smithsonian that have been collecting in a stack at home, waiting for my attention. But, best of all, I am the passenger hoping to claim a window seat during each opportunity for sky passage. I cannot tell you how I look forward to the immeasurable delight the view from that small , transparent square bestows on my spirit. The majestic canvas created by the incredible tapestry of colorful landscape patterns flowing beneath this observer is a visual experience freely given, sharing a rare panorama of the innate beauty of the greatest country on earth to any and all who accept the gift.

In High School....for Life

What is it about those four years that continues to intrude into our consciousness throughout the rest of our lives? They nudge us. They push their way in and bother us. They let us relive our triumphs and mull over the regrets. Next year our class should have a reunion. My first thought: What should I wear? (something cute, sassy, trendy, fun -- you know -- want to make the girls wish they look as good as me...and the guys wish they had dated me!!) Second: My hair? (Styled up or down? Make sure the blond highlights look just right.) Third: How's the figure? (hit the gym harder and eat less -- shrink that stomach. Going for the jealousy factor here.) Fourth: WHY am I even worried about these people I haven't seen in YEARS??!?
It is that age-old answer: BECAUSE. Because each and every one of us wants to make the **splash** we didn't make in high school. Because you want to make that guy you had a crush notice you now. Because you want to show them all to notice that you have changed. Because you want them to realize they should have selected you as Homecoming queen (not what's-her-name).
So WATCH OUT , classmates! Come next summer this chick is showin' up and lookin' good. (And, yep, you are gonna kick yourself cuz you SHOULD have asked me out!!)

Sounds of Silence

The title of that famous song by Simon and Garfunkle kept coming to mind last night when I went to bed. Numerous EXTREMELY LOUD, seemingly electronically-charged particles were zipping through my brain in some sort of cosmic orbital dance as soon as I lay down. The pitch-level was astounding. It took over 40 minutes (yes, I checked the clock periodically) for the "disturbance" to quiet enough for me to fall asleep. I kept thinking of what comparison I could use to convey accurately the very sound and intensity of this cacophony so that you could "feel" this phenomenon as I did.
First, being beside a fast speed train encountering the consistent whining buzz of the wheels as they were skimming across the track ties, shining silver body flashing past me came to mind. Then the humming of highly tuned car engines as a constant stream of vehicles whizzed on either side of an invisible me positioned between the lanes of 315 during morning rush hour seemed an equal analogy. And, concentrating more, the vision of someone standing on a runaway in front of huge, rotating propeller blades of an airliner, immersed in the thundering rush of the whirling winds struck me as appropriate as well.
This is not the first time I have heard this overwhelming, albeit annoying, raucous. My brain obviously was not ready to slumber when the rest of my body was and let me know it in no uncertain terms. Next time I'll read...or write a blog entry(!) to work off some of that bubbling, kinetic steam.

My Favorite Things #2: Chocolate

Anyone who knows me well can tell you about my passion for chocolate. Not only do I always have a supply of it near at hand but I have also discovered, through years of thorough and painstakingly detailed experimentation, how to savor this temptation with the most prolonged and savoring of techniques.
Let's say you have a Hershey Kiss to enjoy. Unwrap the foil and put the whole thing in your mouth. No, don't start munching!! Flip the Kiss upside down so that the flat bottom is clinging to the roof of your mouth. Apply some suction to keep it in place. Now take your tongue and rub it back and forth across the tip. Take your time. Don't be hasty. As you wear it down notice how you are experiencing a fabulous, full chocolate rush. Try it!!
The best kept chocolate secret I know is my MOST FAVORITE chocolate indulgence of all -- the TRIPLE MINT from Wittich's Candies in Circleville,OH (google: Wittich). These are, without question, one of the most incredible confections on the planet. Absolutely habit-forming. When you are nano-seconds from putting one of these in your mouth, I can tell you your taste buds will be screaming,"HURRY UP!! AAAAHHH!!". And when you bite down, every single nerve ending in your jaw will EXPLODE with pure joy. Trust me. Eating one of these (or two) is a life altering experience. Therein lies the birth of one of my favorite sayings..."It makes my teeth hurt". (Perfect for a blog title, don't ya think?!)

Why Don't People Walk in Straight Lines?

Has this phenomenon captured your attention as well? I notice this the most in the grocery store parking lot. I'll be in my car driving slowly down one of the lanes trying to find a parking place. Inevitably a shopper will take off with their cart and cuts across right in front of my bumper! Do they scoot straight across which would be shorter and quicker? Oh,no. The path is always at an angle so I sit there having to wait longer for them to reach their destination. Why is that? Or they have gotten out of their vehicle and are walking towards the entrance. Once again they shoot off from the parking area across the two-way lane of driving traffic at a 45 degree angle stopping traffic with absolutely no thought for their safety, totally in their own little world, assuming the drivers forced to sit there are happy (Mmm..don't think so) to wait for them to saunter at their own pace towards their goal.
**(I should have been a sociologist. Betcha I could have applied for a federal grant for thousands of dollars to study this very thing!!!!)

Illustrations "say" it all.

I have a passion for beautifully illustrated children's books. I found that when the pictures tell a story on their own, the written words are more lively, vibrant. After hundreds of trips to the library and combing the shelves in the local bookstores, I have built a family collection that brings smiles just anticipating what is tucked between the bindings. Go to your favorite community book spots and browse between the covers of some of my favorites. I hope you're as amazed as I was when I discovered these "eye treasures". Enjoy.
Tom Thumb - Richard Jesse Walton 1989/Harcourt Brace
The Mitten - Jan Brett (any of hers are wonderful!) 1990/GP Putnam's Sons
Sleeping Beauty - Kinuko Y. Craft 2002/Raincoast Books
Tuesday* - David Weisner 1991/Clarion Books
Ship of Dreams - Dean Morrissey Mill Pond Press/Abrams
Bear and Mrs Duck - Elizabeth Winthrop 1991/Holiday Books

*has very few words thus allows you and the little person opportunities for wonderful conversations

Tiger Woods and the 2008 US Open

Were you as frustrated by the commentators for this tournament led by Johnny Miller as I was?? I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to push that whole bunch right over the side of one of those oceanside cliffs. They were mouthy, condescending, critical, AND pretentious. HEY! Guess what guys?? Your obnoxious behavior was pathetic and spoke volumes of your seemingly obvious envy for one golfer in particular.
It is so easy for some to sit in front of a camera or stroll the course carrying a microphone. Who among us can seriously belittle the game of Tiger Woods. Seriously. This man is truly amazing. Talk about a role model for all ages.
Let's examine his pro's and con's to make sure that I am being impartial about this sports figure.
PRO'S: plays injured, focused, honed his talents, practices, determined, gives back to the community, good father, good husband, professional, diplomatic, well spoken, businessman, great sense of humor, respectful, loves his mother, misses his father, intelligent, gentleman, humble.... Ok, I'll stop now.
CON'S: wins too much?? usually wears black and red on the final day?? Hmmm....guess that's all I can think of....
(Pssst! What's on your list?)