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???? 

A Show Tune A Day Keeps the Doctor Away...

I love Show Tunes. I just love them. I love the theatre, and I love Broadway shows. I'm always the first person to rush the little store and buy the soundtrack and listen to it until I'm blue in the face from singing the amazing ballads and group dance numbers. 

Okay friends, I know it can be tempting to buy the soundtrack, listen to it once or twice, and never really pull it out again. But let me let you in on a little secret blog buddies... a show tune a day does wonders for your soul. There is something amazing that a score from your favorite show or even movie can do for your mood and your day. Whether it's rocking out to a big group dance number from Hairspray, marching into battle with the cast of Les Mis, going through the seasons of love with the cast of Rent, graduating high school with Danny, Sandy and the cast of Grease, or Defying Gravity with Elphaba in Wicked (don't even get me started.) Listening to a favorite show tune can indeed pull you out of a funk, or make your already good mood that much better. 

So friends, take a minute today to dust off that old album, pop it into your CD player,  sing your heart out, and bring out your inner Elphaba. Or do what I do and keep them all in your car so that when the need arises, and you're sitting in traffic contemplating life and wondering where it all went wrong... you can pop in your CD, turn the track to your favorite song and suddenly you're not in traffic on the 5... You're a Broadway star on an amazing set, with a giant orchestra behind you and a packed out house! :) 

Missed Connections and Banana Squash...

So I usually keep my blog free of rantings, however my day yesterday was just too classic to not vent and share with you blog buddies! Yesterday, October 7th, I was supposed to leave for Nashville, TN for an internship interview at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. My flight was supposed to leave at 11:55 so I got to the airport at about 10:15 to give me enough time to check in and get settled before the flight (plus it's always fun to sit with your coffee and people watch - airports are the best!) When I check in, they weigh my bag and it was 54 lbs... 4 lbs. over the legal limit for domestic flights. The nice, older man at the counter (who I think was joking around when he took me by the hand, looked at the absence of a wedding ring and said, "okay hun, now that I don't see a ring on that finger, I think there's something I can do for you.") But hey, I only had to take out a book and he let the rest go, so God bless him!! ;) 

So we're on the plane, getting ready to take off and all of a sudden the captain comes on the PA - never a good sign. He said that the right engine was not starting and that we needed to go back to the gate for the mechanic to take a look at it. An hour later, we take off and I'm trying not to worry about the connection that I have to make in Atlanta which is only an hour layover. We finally arrive in Atlanta at 7:50 p.m. and my flight leaves at 8:06 p.m. for Nashville. Not only that, but it was in a different terminal! By the time I got off the plane (I was in the back of course) it was 7:59. I ran like hell through the airport and got to the gate at 8:03 p.m. only to discover that the doors were closed and my plane that was scheduled to depart at 8:06 had already left. Not only that, there was no representative at the gate!!! So he finally shows up and directs me to the Customer Service Center to see if I can get on another flight. 

So defeated and out of breath, I make my way to the Customer Service Center in the next terminal. After explaining what happened (which they were clearly not interested in my story, but I sure as heck told them anyway) they rescheduled me on the next flight out which was at 9:50 p.m. The name of the center is ironic because there was absolutely nothing customer oriented about this experience, no apology... nothing. BUT, now comes the GOOD NEWS!! I did get a $7 voucher for dinner to use in the food court. I thought to myself... you have got to be kidding me. 

So I make my way over to the food court and decide to get myself some "dinner" - after all it really is about the silver lining. Thank you Delta. So I stand in line at Sbarro and decide to get the #1 combo which comes with a slice of pizza, a side of veggies, and a diet coke for $6.89. So I get up to the counter, give them my voucher, pick up my tray and start to leave with my bags only to discover that my meal came to $7.37. I actually OWED them 37 cents! Of course I didn't have change on me so I had to break a dollar. So I walked over to a table with my bags and my tray and my pocket full of change, and my side of veggies that was primarily composed of cooked carrots and banana squash - (neither of which I eat on a regular basis) and began to pick at my pizza and my side of veggies with a plastic "spork."

So I get to my gate (early I might add) and thankfully right next to my gate is a starbucks. It was like God was sending me a hug from heaven. I make my way over there because I think to myself that the only thing that was going to redeem this day was a venti pumpkin spice latte to take on the plane. I get in line only to learn that they are closing and all they are selling is coffee and tea. So with my dreams of pumpkin spice dashed, I settled for coffee, got on the plane and after another 30 min. weather delay on the runway, I finally got to Nashville!! Hooray for good friends and big hugs to make my day!!! 

So blog buddies... if you ever find yourself walking aimlessly around the Atlanta airport due to a missed connection, eating cold pizza and veggies with a spork, and you have been mistreated by a trusted airline, please know that you are not alone and you have a friend in me. 

Camp Reach for the Stars

I just got back from such a great, memorable weekend in the beautiful mountains of Santa Barbara! I volunteered as a camp counselor at Camp Reach for the Stars which is a camp that is put on by the American Cancer Society every year for children with cancer and their families. It was such a neat experience, and something new which I always love. It's a great weekend away camping in the mountains for families and kids to not have to think about cancer or treatment and just have fun. 

For those of you who know me, this was definitely out of my comfort zone because I'm not typically a "camper" :), but this was one of the most fun, rewarding experiences. I mean, I hiked...in the rain!! I "braved the elements." This was a great experience, not only with the families, but with the other counselors as well...it's always fun to make new friends and meet new people from all walks of life.

Each camp counselor is assigned to a family for the weekend, and the family that I had was incredible. I took tons of pictures, but for legal reasons due the nature of the camp I can't post the pictures of the kids, but I sure can tell you about them! :) I had the privilege of hanging out with an 8 year old boy battling leukemia and his large, but incredibly precious family with 6 kids under the age of 9!!! I definitely had the largest family there by far, and there was never a dull moment that's for sure. I spent the weekend giving piggy back rides, pushing the tire swing, playing games, running, skipping, hiking, treckin' through mud and giggling. 

As counselors, we also hung out with the kids while the parents participated in much needed facials, massages, and support groups with one another. Some of the families have been coming to this camp for years and have built great relationships. In addition to all of the activities, the camp began on Friday with the opening ceremonies where the families bring ashes of the camp fire from last year to kick off this year's camp with the hopes and dreams from the previous years of staff and campers. Throughout the weekend, the families have "wishing scrolls" where they write down their hopes, wishes and dreams and then they share them with everyone if they want to and then throw them into the fire on the last night to close. A lot of the parents wished for good health, and a cure for cancer. Some of the kids got up to share at the closing campfire and it brought tears to my eyes when one of my kids got up there and said, "I wish for no more cancer." 

Not only was this weekend a new, fun experience but it was so neat to get a glimpse into the lives of these families who are battling this disease. Cancer, or any other terminal disease for that matter, really does affect the whole family, and it truly is amazing to learn about how these families cope with it. So although every muscle in my body aches, and I'm beyond exhausted, it was a fun weekend had by all!