Anatomy of a crazy day!

This is me at 1:36 A.M. this morning. It's had been one of those days!

• 8:00 a.m. leave for work
• 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - work
• 1:30 - 3:30 - errands, preparing for arrival of friends
• 5:00 p.m. go pick up rental car
• 5:30 p.m. first of guests arrive from O'Hare
  
• 6:00 p.m. Dinner
• 7:20 p.m. Home again, home again
• 8:00 p.m. Hubby leaves for Midway
• 9:15 P.m. Hubby calls; asks for help locating arrivals
• 9:20 p.m. Check airport arrivals
• 9:22 p.m. Call hubby back -- plane has arrived
• 9:30 p.m. Receive facebook message from one of the arrived party -- cell phone that hubby has # for is dead. no one else has hubby's cell #. Gave hubby's cell # to facebooking guest.
  
• 9:31 p.m. Called Hubby, gave location of guests...guest had already called per number given by facebook
• 9:33 p.m. Happy reunion of hubby and guests at airport.
  
• 10:45 p.m. Hubby arrives with party of 6 guests
• 11:05 p.m. Hit Mickey-D -- only place open for food. Feed guests!!
• 12:00 p.m. Pick up car for guests use
• 12:04 a.m. Take group of 5 guests to their accomodations
• 12:30 a.m. Take group of 2 guests to pick up rental car then to their accomodations
• 1:00 a.m. Return borrowed van to owner (One hubby drove to airport)
• 1:20 a.m. Arrived home
• 1:22 a.m. Facebook
• 1:45 a.m. Time for night-night!!!!
• 6:30 a.m. Will come toooo quickly -- must work tomorrow!!!! !

P.S. What did we do without technology. A dead cell phone-- the only phone number we had and the only phone that had our number -- the contact phone -- would have meant disaster. But Facebook saved the day. If ever I needed an excuse for FB, that was it!!!! Justified!

A lovely Afternoon

I'm sitting on my little patio (no roof, so it's not a porch) in front of the house. A beautiful, sunny, warm summer afternoon drinking a Caramel Collision Coffee Chiller, an invention of Pat Jamin, one of the proprietors of my favorite gourmet Cafe, Al's Cafe in downtown Elgin. I just had the thought, "Life can't get much better." Yet it isn't that EVERYTHING is so wonderful. I can think that "if only..." But the point is that this is one of those perfect moments in time. Relaxed. Sunshiney. Nothing major on my mind at the moment. Bills will be paid tomorrow. Lesson Plans finished later. That problem addressed next week. The other concern travailed over at another time. This moment is one of those perfect ones. Just me, the sunshine, my computer and the neighborhood in which there isn't another soul astir at the moment. Lovely.

Thank you God for an Oasis, a moment in time in which to enjoy your world, your work and contemplate the good things of life. Did I mention the Carmel Collision Coffee Cooler?

Thank you God.

P.S. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of oneself?? It has to be a closeup -- unless one has octopi arms. The first pictures alternately showed: the wrinkles on my neck, the bags under my left eye (not even the under eye bags match!), my droopy left eye, eyes squinted too much, mouth drawn from trying to get the arms out farther for LESS of a close up. Finally my dear hubby emerged from the bowels of the house and agreed to snap this one shot. While I could point out the faults in this pictures as well, I shall not because at least it's not too closeup!! You will agree with me to ignore chubby arms an legs! Yes you will because I said so!

Did I mention that the Caramel Collision Coffee Cooler is delicious? And the day is sunny and bright?

Travel tales

Taste of Chicago today.

On the train via Chicago, the train begins to fill up. We know this through power of deduction. When three thousand people traipse through the car and try to take two seats while two of your party is in the bathroom, if you''re really sharp you'll figure it out: The train must be very full. I'm smart like that.

So the conductor comes on the intercom. "The train is filled past seating capacity. If you are not going all the way to Chicago, please stand up."

We look at each other. Even the 7-year old thought that was an odd request. No one in our car stood up. He only paused for a moment before he continued.

"Then please get off the train." We start to giggle, thinking it must be a joke. Nope. No joke. He continues.

"Deboard the train at this station if your destination is other than Chicago. This will now be an express train. We will make no more stops before Chicago. Please wait on the platform for another train. There is another train 20 minutes behind this one and will take you to your destination."

Well people, please get off. I don't want that train catching up with us!! I'm thinking. But I have to admit I was happy that we were now on an express train.

Don't think I'd be that happy if I'd been getting off somewhere other than Chicago!!!

Travel Notes

There are two choices for behavior in an airport. Some people pretend it's their living room and proceed to talk loudly, chew wildly and fart with affinity. Or maybe I'm the one who has the affinity for attracting such people. A 25-year old (who acts like he's 16) sits in the row behind me in the gate area. I'm quietly working on my computer. I have the noise muted; I'm behaving politely. HE, on the other hand, LOUDLY informs his friend of every move he's making on his video game. It looks like the same hand-held game that my 5 year-old nephew managed very politely in the car. Only this character does a play-by-play of his effort. If a reality show ever included a play-by-play of a video game, switch the channel. Or shut the guy up if it's in person!!

"CAN YOU BELIEVE I JUST DIED ON THE FIRST SCREEN AT THE FIRST CHALLENGE IN THIS..." He goes on.

His friend responds quietly.

"NO YOU DON'T GET IT. I WAS ELIMINATED IN THE FIRST ROUND ON THE FIRST SCREEN AT THE FIRST LEVEL!" He screamed loudly enough to be heard three gates down in spite of maximum Sunday traffic at the airport. His laughter sounded like the screech of a stuck pig, only more annoying.

I got it the first time. Don't know why his friend didn't.

After devising and rejecting several scenarios in which he would be told (by me) to be quiet (not terribly politely but very effectively), I simply moved several rows away right by the window outside which the jets were warming up and right next to a two year old playing in the floor. Much more peaceful there!!

Oh yeah, the other choice of behavior for people at an airport. Act like me. Just like sheep. Don't disturb anybody. Don't tell the rude idiot to behave. Don't rock the boat. Just look the other way and keep grazing. Munch, munch. Baa Baa.

Travel Notes

I forgot my 3-1-1 today. I tried to get a 5 oz bottle -- only half full of hair conditioner through in my carry on. I must have lost the old Southern charm. She wasn't havin any of it! So with reluctance, I tossed a 5 Oz bottle half full of Mizani hair conditioner. That stuff is hard to find. It takes the frizz and the crimp out of my hair. So I'll be frizzy this trip.

Don't forget. It's 3-1-1. Let's see 3 oz of liquid in 1 1-quart baggie. Although I did have mine in a 1-gallon baggie and she let all the rest in. Warned me though. So I guess I'm half charmin'!!!

Gotta get this thing logged off. They should be calling for loading shortly.

More things for which I am Thankful

• That the windshield I saw splintered from the heat was not mine. (And that I'm able to pray for encouragement for the owner/driver.)
• That my house has some air conditioning, in my office, in the bedroom, in the den. Whew!
• That my car has adequate air conditioning...that works after about 20 minutes.
• That my inhaler worked well yesterday to clear my breathing passages in this humidity...and that I haven't had to use it today.
• That I have a job to drive to in this heat.
• That I have a lovely shower with which to wash off all the sweat I'm now capable of producing!

Are these "thankfulness" entries a bit like prayer meetings with prayer requests "prayer for dear so-and-so. You won't believe what I saw her doing?!"

I suppose I'd better behave myself!! But truly, I am thankful for these things that help me cope with the heat!!

Things for which I'm thankful

• That there is air conditioning at summer school which keeps the rooms less than 88 degrees That's truly a blessing when there is a 105 heat index outside.

• That I'm recovering from the effects of chemotherapy and am now able to sweat buckets!

• That my heat flashes are totally obliterated in the hot air...I don't even notice them at all. Maybe I'm not even having any. Maybe all the sweating is just from the heat.

• That I wasn't nearby when the road exploded from the heat. The scattered cement from the crumbled curb looks like it could have done some damage.

• That my car had no trouble going slowly over the 2 foot bump in the road created by the heat buckled pavement.

• That there is a bathroom located only 15 feet from my classroom door so I can run when 4 hours of continuous teaching without a break wreaks havoc with my system. (You guess which system!)

• That I'm still able to run -- okay at least trot a bit.

• Did I mention sweating?

• That it hasn't snowed in 57 days!