Honey Moon Day One

Yesterday we set out on our Honey Moon Trip. We woke up to lightening, rain, cloudy skies, and pretty miserable weather in general. Needless to say, we were bummed because we wanted to go to lots of outdoor places to explore on our way up to the cabin. So we started crossing destinations off our list because of the weather. We regrouped and decided to visit places we could see indoors. We went to the Windsor Hotel in Americus, GA. When we got there it was raining a lot and there was a giant tour bus parked RIGHT in front of the hotel so I couldn't get a good shot of the front with the canopy that had the name on it. I was all pissed because I had to get all wet going across the road to the hotel and when we got inside it was sort of "haunted mansion" looking inside. Then Mom took us to this staircase where there are supposed ghost sightings of a little girl because someone pushed her and her mother down the elevator shaft and they both died and now they allegedly haunt that stairwell. Then I was trying to take pictures inside and the lighting was so bad that all my shots were coming out too dark, so again I was pissed. Then I was trying to get down this staircase to follow Scott, my Mom and Aunt Jeanne (they traveled up with us on their way to my Aunt's cabin in NC) and these people were blocking my way for about ten minutes and I thought it was really rude because they were just standing there and talking and not letting me pass. Then I got a little lost trying to catch up to my family once I did get past them. Then outside it was still raining and the giant bus was STILL parked right in the middle of my photo opportunity so I got more irritated. Then the drive to the Andersonville Prisoner of War Museum and veteran's cemetery was rainy and horrible. We got there and got out and took pictures in the rain which was screwing up my hair and make-up and spotting up my glasses. The Museum movie made me cry. Then Scott and my Mom were lingering longer than I wanted to. Then we went to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, GA where they filmed the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. That was totally awesome because the rain had stopped and I could take pictures. Then I noticed that Ruth and Idgy's house was CLOSED and so was the GIFT SHOP! What the hell?! Couldn't I catch a break? Then we headed for my Aunt's cabin, but I was out of my allergy eye drops and my eyes were starting to swell up from the different pollen, so we stopped at a pharmacy to see if they could transfer my prescription and the pharmacy counter was closed! We got up to my Aunt's cabin and I drank three rum and dews and we all sat up and talked until nearly 2:00 AM. I went to bed and woke this morning and I spoke harshly to myself and this is what I said, "You are a malcontent, unappreciative, little bitch who takes too much for granted!" I should be glad I even get to go on a trip like this rain or no rain, good photo ops or not, because I don't know very many people who can go on trips for a week to the mountains and stay in a beautiful cabin get to see a lot of awesome stuff on the way. After my harsh words I decided to take a new attitude for the rest of this trip. This morning we saw a bird sitting on her nest right outside my Aunt's front door. Then I saw calves bucking up and playing in the valley below us. Simple things that make the world more beautiful--even if it rains. No time to post pics this morning, we have a full day ahead of us, so I will post some pics maybe tonight. I got some shots of a place called the Dew Drop Inn for my best friend with the same alias. Can't wait to share them, but for now adventure beckons and I must answer its call.

Insomniac

I woke up this morning REALLY early and try as I might, I could not get back to sleep. When you have insomnia, all sorts of things start running through your head. One thing kept replaying in my mind, so I thought, "What the hell, maybe I'll just get up and write about it--I can't sleep anyhow." And so this blog was born:

The other day I was driving Katie to her gymnastics practice (which doubles as a form of comic relief for me) and on the side of the road was a dead Sandhill Crane. I am assuming it was hit by a car, judging by its crumpled position, with feathers jutting out at weird angles. Now these birds are on the endangered species list where I live (or were, I haven't checked it lately) and they are heavily protected. Killing one of these birds can lead to serious fines or even jail time. But that has nothing to do with this story--just thought I'd throw that in for anyone out there thinking of mounting one over their fire place. So anyhow, I saw the bird in the ditch and thought what a pity to see this beautiful animal come to its final resting place like that. These birds live in pairs and mate for life. They are also fiercely protective of their babies (who are incredibly cute and fluffy little red guys). That part of the story comes in later. Standing near the corpse of the bird in the ditch was the mate. The bird kept looking at its dead partner as if it were willing it get up and go destroy someone's expensively sodded lawn in search of buried bugs to eat. But alas, the dead bird would not move. It was really a sad scene. Then I started thinking, "You know what? These birds who are supposed to be lesser creatures than us could teach us homo sapiens a few things about loyalty, devotion, and fidelity." How many people do you know who mate for life, taking no other partners unless their partner dies? How many do you know who would take on a full grown charging bull to protect their mate and/or baby? (I really witnessed this once.) Then I started thinking of ways we could get them off the endangered list and our spouses out of their extra-marital affairs. We could start a Sandhill Crane boot camp for wayward spouses. The cranes could teach them how to not be lying, cheating, bastards and we could feed the cranes in return so people will stop killing them for ruining their perfectly manicured lawns and golf courses. Then we could also start Sandhill Crane parenting classes for the assholes who leave their kids in the car when it's 98 degrees outside while they go shopping for new hot pants to wear to the club tonight, while their pit bull is left home to babysit the kids who survive the sweltering temperatures inside that car. We could have the Sandhill Cranes teach compassion and devotion lessons to all the jerks out there who care more about their sports car or their bank account than their family. I think there are lots of things we could learn from an animal with a brain the size of a walnut. Sometimes I'd rather see humans have better traits than just opposable thumbs and large brains. What good are all those brains and thumbs if you're a greedy, self-centered, thoughtless imbecile? May that deceased crane rest in peace and its partner find a new, equally devoted mate...and may we stop and think of the things that simpler beings can teach us about being better beings ourselves. (Hey I used the word being three times in one sentence--you don't see that every day!) Have a Sandhill Crane day!

Sarcasm Makes Me Smile

Today I was pumping gas and I heard the weather report being announced. I thought, wow, they report the weather over the speakers at the gas pumps now? Then I looked up and saw a big flat screen TV attached to the top of the gas pump! Is our society THAT addicted to TV that we even need televisions on our gas pumps??? Unless you are filling up a tanker or something, it's not like you are going to be there long enough to watch a full episode of a show. I can see it now, I am standing there pumping gas and become mesmerized by Oprah's new show and there are cars lined up behind me honking their horns in anger, yelling expletives out their windows and making obscene hand gestures in my general direction. Then I'll be like, "Hey! Have a little courtesy why don't ya?! I'm trying to watch a program here!" Is that why our gas prices are getting so high, because we have to finance our own unnecessary entertainment? What about the TVs that are in the check out lanes in the stores now? Now I can try to watch TV and keep my kid from jacking something off the candy shelf at the same time--I really need distractions like that. Thanks to that damn TV my kid is going to land in juvenile hall over a pack of gum because I couldn't tear my attention away from a really good rerun of the Cosby show long enough to notice her pocketing that pack of strawberry Hubba-Bubba. Our cars come with TVs on the ceiling or on the backs of the seats complete with DVD and video game hook ups. Air planes have TVs dangling overhead or embedded in the backs of their seats too. Classrooms have televisions, doctor's waiting rooms and exam rooms now have TVs instead of magazines. Most homes have TVs in about every room! They even have them built to install under cabinets to go in the kitchen and in bathrooms. Our cell phones now get live television feeds so we can watch TV on our phones, our lap tops, our I-Pods, our watches!!!!! It feels like we can't go anywhere without a TV staring us down and demanding our attention. How did people a few generations ago survive without having a TV up their ass at every turn? Did they, dare I say, read? Maybe they talked to each other. Perhaps they had moments of quiet reflection. Fewer kids had ADHD and fewer parents weren't looking when their kid snuck that Bazooka gum into their pocket because they REALLY wanted the tattoo inside, but Mom said no. I know our world is becoming wired more and more every day, but I really think our obsession with media is becoming an epidemic. That being said, I gotta go and check my TIVO to make sure it recorded that show I missed while I was out pumping gas....