Tales from the Recycling Center

Oh boy. What a day. So, I recycle my bottles and cans for two reasons: 1) it's good for the environment, and 2) it's fun extra money. I decided to go to the recycling center yesterday, because I had a lot of bottles, and I had let them pile up for way too long! Going to the center is just an experience in and of itself, and yesterday, I was up for the challenge. So I'm waiting in line with my bags (in my sweats of course... there's even a dress code for the recycling center) and I was standing in line behind this gentleman in the red tank top here in the picture above.(I took this photo with my cell phone, I couldn't resist.) He got my attention when he started speaking to the woman next to him giving her advice on how to put the cans in the machine... "you've got to put the CRV label up so that the machine can read it... and above all, you've got to have a little patience." And believe me, patience he had. He was there for a LONG time with all of those bags. 

So I happen to look over at the man (let's call him "Red") and he was desperately trying to inflate one of his bottles that had been flattened. He stood at the machine, and tried every which way to inflate it enough for the machine to accept it. About a minute later, he retired from the process of using his hands apparently, because before I knew it, he had unscrewed the cap of the bottle, put his lips to the rim of the bottle and blew! Well, it worked, the bottle inflated, and the machine accepted it. 

As if that isn't disgustingly entertaining enough, I look over to the other machine in an attempt to avert my eyes, and what do I see? A three year old standing on an upside down trash can, with his mom handing him Coors Light beer cans so that he can feed them into the machine. Sad? Perhaps. Young talent? Absolutely. 

This concludes this edition of Tales from the Recycling Center. I invite you to go to your own recycling center and share your stories... it really is prime people watching! 

He's Back!

I would like to announce, that as of January 2009 Jason Mesnick will be the next Bachelor in his quest for a soulmate. We all fell in love last season (okay, maybe it was just me) with this handsome fella and his sweet son, Ty. And all of our hearts were broken when DeAnna literally left him standing... about to propose. On that dramatic finale, not only was I screaming at the television when she left him brokenhearted, but later that night, I found myself on Delta.com trying to book a one-way ticket to Seattle! Not one of my shining moments. 

Now, we get to see him when the shoe is on the other foot... The tables are turned, and now he has the upper hand to choose. Maybe it's good that I didn't know that they were casting for this... we know he has a track record of liking Greeks right? 

Well, it's time for Jason to move on from the heartbreak, and I'll be right there watching every week. Hopefully, after this season, Jason and Ty won't be sleepless in seattle anymore. Here's to another season of my favorite guilty pleasure TV show, and to the best Bachelor the show has ever had! 

Life's Simple Pleasures

Don't you just love life's little pleasures? Often I think that it is a combination of several small, simple things that make your day. This is one of the reasons why I love the holiday season because this is a time that we often notice these treasures. Here is one of mine: the red cups at Starbucks! Each November, we are greeted by a sea of red in our neighborhood Starbucks, and every time I enter the store and see it, it brings a smile to my face. Not only do these cups hold yummy drinks like pumpkin spice lattes, and peppermint mochas, but they bring a feeling of festivity into my soul. As finals are rapidly approaching, and the end of the semester is in sight, I have been studying for exams, writing papers and working on projects... and I have found solace sitting in Starbucks, in my own little corner sipping on my favorite holiday beverages. I love the hustle and bustle of people coming in and out, laughter, good music, and the smell of cookies, baked goods and spice! 

I love Christmastime, and although I am not quite ready for Christmas music, and to haul out the holly, the red cups offer an entry into the wonderful world of winter. Welcome red cups, welcome winter, now let's bring on the cold weather! :) 

Bonnie and Me

I met Bonnie. I met Bonnie. I met Bonnie. This is the very sentence that I had to keep repeating to myself over and over again last week, and pinching myself to make sure that it was real, and not just another dream. 

Last week, my dear Thia Karen, two of her sweet fun friends and I attended another taping of The Bonnie Hunt Show... but this time, we were VIP guests! We didn't have to wait in line and got to wear those fun passes around our necks and feel like we were really somebody. To our pleasant surprise, Bonnie was coming outside to the audience that day where we wait to get in before the show to do a little pre-show audience taping and talk with some of the audience members about the upcoming election. So naturally I was thinking... Me + Bonnie + talking about things I'm passionate about = Sheer excitement. We were all very elated... especially Karen and I and I'm sure that I definitely scared her sweet friends with my crazy antics. (When Karen and I started talking about the fact that we know that Bonnie dyes her hair from a box from Walgreens, that was our first indication that we may have crossed the line.) 

Anyway, I won't bore you with the details of how this all went down, but here's the bottom line, blog buddies. I met Bonnie. I met Bonnie Hunt. We're not talking a little handshake... she interviewed me on camera, and we had a really fun chat! She put her arm around me, we talked about our hair, she called me 'honey,' we laughed (I mean we might as well just call it a slumber party right?) We also chatted about the election, but don't worry friends, I made sure to make a few jokes in there in addition to talking about my views on things! We laughed together, and I think it's safe to say that it was one of the very best moments. Meeting Bonnie has been on my list of things to do before I die that has been written on my heart for years! Well, actually "lunch with Bonnie" was the thing that is specifically on my list... next time Bonnie (even if it's just a Chicago hot dog before your show!) :) 

So friends, I apologize that it's taken me a week to blog about this marking event, but sadly, it's taken me almost that long to get over it! In times like these however, I can always count on good friends to keep me in check. When I texted Mel to tell her that I met Bonnie, she responded with this message: 

"Oh Clo, please tell me that you were at a taping, and not outside of her house." 

Maybe one day Bonnie will invite me over for coffee, but I would never go uninvited - a girl's gotta have her standards. But I will leave you with my new idea for her next season --- "The Bon and Clo Show" It has a nice ring to it don't you think????