Cat Scratch Fever...

Hello all you cool cats and kitties! Take 'paws' as I, the famous Lola Simone Tigerlilly, comes at you as a guest blogger this week. My Mom is having a cat-astrophically crazy week. She is just too busy with her fall projects to drop you a line. Not to be catty, (meow!), but I've barely had my fuzzy little tummy rubbed! I'm 'feline' neglected.. Trust me- the fur is flyin' up in here! Till next time, pussycats, I'll just be purrin' and endurin'....

Blowin' in the wind...

When I was 5 and in kindergarten, the principal of our school came into our classroom and announced that our president had been shot. My teacher broke into tears but, of course, as children, we had a hard time understanding. I remember getting off the bus at my Grandmother's house where my Mom was painting her kitchen. As I burst thru the door as the little bearer of bad news, the reaction was less than serious. A drama queen at a very early age, warranted this response, I suppose. Eventually the television confirmed my news and my Mom and Grandparents were very distraught. I can remember it perfectly. Over the years, I have come to understand the brevity of the death of President Kennedy and it's effect on us personally as well as a country. Watching the funeral live-in black and white-furthered the incredible pain.

On 09-11-01, at 8:45 a.m. I was driving to the gym on what would be the last day of normalcy as we knew it. On the radio, I heard that the World Trade Center had been hit. 5 minutes later, I arrived to find everyone looking at the televisions, while the second plane unbelievably hit. It now was apparent that this was no accident. The images would be repeated thousands of times, but I will never forget that first horrific view, where I was, and who I was with. Gym acquaintances that I had very shallow relationships with, are permanently in my memory, as we shared those first images.

On the 10 year anniversary, I plan to take a moment from my usual personal 'dramas' and remember those who lost their lives, their grieving family's, and the fireman and others who put their lives at risk with the rescue. I am saddened but proud of all of them as well as our great country. In my own way, I have to learn and move on, taking note of everyone I love as well as our freedom.

But I will never forget.

Dog Days are Over...

Happy Labor Day! First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of blog visits this week. A family emergency has kept me too busy to read and check in with all my favorite blog friends. Hopefully this week things will free me up to enjoy your escapism and wisdom.

So the late starting, extremely hot, summer is winding down. I am thrilled to have shut off the air conditioning and have opened the windows for the lovely fall breeze and sound of the crickets at night. At the beach house, some of the leaves are starting to turn and I welcome the rich shades that will soon be upon us. And the glorious smell of sun dried orange leaves! School starts tomorrow and that means that the daily 2:30 p.m. 'carmageddon' at the end of my street will be in full craziness-note to self.

My flowers are looking tired and I will soon replace them with Mums before putting my yard to bed for the winter. My usual fall house re-org projects loom overhead for the colder or rainier days ahead. In addition, I plan to paint all tree doors on the house-hopefully with help from my Mom, who is a painting machine! In addition to spending time with my Little Sister, I'm going to do some volunteer work at the Cass Community project. I will continue to plug away at my Ancestry.com work. (It's getting VERY interesting!)

So much for my planned 'labor'. I will give up lazy days on the boat, and pack up my bathing suits and sandals, in favor of warmer clothes and suede boots. Shopping will be necessary to update the closet-one can never have enough boots!

However, there is one thing that the season will not affect, and that's the power of a good Bloody Mary-or three-with friends. Now if I can just discipline myself to enjoy said cocktail(s) AFTER I've done one of my fall projects! Or not....

Pink...

is my favorite color, warbles Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. Big tough guy. I prefer more a raspberry shade, but for this blog we will just generally say 'pink'!

Note the Mary Kay pink ride gone cra-zazy. This sporty lady was spotted by dear friends, Brian and Kelly while at Detroit's Eastern Market on Saturday. Girlfriend was workin' the hell outta her pink! Totally pinktastic!

I have always had a kind of love/love relationship with pink. It's the color that defined my gender at the moment of birth. Once I suffered pink eye, first in one eye and then the other garnering me a week off work and some serious ugliness to boot. I coveted the pink Barbie Jeep, but (sigh) had to make a pink Kleenex box do. Pink was an unlikely color for the famous panther, but did very little to curb his suave and debonair style. The same could be said for Pink Floyd and Alecia Moore,who's stage name is Pink. My favorite wig is Cleopatra style -and pink! I have 4 pink flamingos in the yard at the beach house-totally kitchy. I enjoy looking at them while sipping a vodka and pink lemonade-so much more festive than the yellow kind!

When on Mackinaw Island, The Pink Pony is a favorite watering hole. Even in my 'black' stage of wardrobe, my lipstick was still Pink Parfait. John Hughes scored big when he named his 80's movie, "Pretty in Pink". When visitors to Key West become over- served, a pepto bismol pink taxi will get you home safely. Victoria's Secret has a whole line of sportswear called 'Pink", and I enjoy lounging in them while reading 'Pink is the new Blog'. I once bought a cell phone just because it was sparkly pink. I have Bazooka bubblegum pink Everlast boxing gloves that make it hard for the men in class to take my hits seriously. Happily, I've never recieved a 'pink slip'. American Cancer Society uses a pink ribbon as their symbol. And as a lover of Valentines day, pink roses and candy tickle me pink.

So where will this madness end? Luckily for you, my dear readers-NOW. Just shows how much I can run on, rant and rave over just one little word! Hope this finds y'all in the pink as you begin another week. Pink kisses to all. xx

Tragedy...

It is very hard for me to justify my usual 'frivolity' this week. I am deeply saddened by the death of Todd Green, who lost his life entertaining us all at the air show this weekend. I watched Saturday's show, from the yard, but thankfully did not witness Todd's terrible fall. Also on my mind is the drive by shooting of a 10 month old baby. It has been reported that the shooting was intentional and a person of interest has been identified. The baby is in the hospital in critical condition. Unimaginable.

Tragic events whether accidental or intentional, are hard for me to comprehend and understand. Why, is my first thought, followed closely by 'what the hell were they thinking'? Altho not exactly the same thing, I have always been fascinated by the abnormal psychology that involves a murder or harming someone. Many bios have been written about serial killers, abusers and the like, and I have read most of them. And I still am no closer to understanding what makes that person tick. Do I even want/need to understand? It's just that we basically start out with the same brains, and environment and heredity do it's thing to such extremes that it scares the hell out of me. And the collateral damage caused to family members as they suffer the life changing aftershocks.

No one has these answers. It's not clear how to handle or punish the people who commit these actions.

Today, I am quietly praying for these people and their families. Also, I am feeling grateful for the blessings and grace in my life. xo

Somewhere over the Rainbow...

Recently I read that at the funeral of Amy Winehouse, Carol King's "So Far Away"was played. Being Amy's favorite song, it was the perfect closing for her sometimes sad life.

This being said/read, I started to consider the kind of droll subject of funeral music. Hmmmmm. Being a good Catholic girl, I think that the choices may be somewhat limited to songs found only in a hymnal--depending on the priest. 'On Eagles Wings', 'Amazing Grace' and the occasional 'Morning Has Broken' are popular approved favorites that I like.

At the funeral of a friend that was a fallen policeman, 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' was the sad and appropriate song played. R.I.P. Byron. My friend Rose has said that she would prefer 'Let it Be'-also a nice accepting song. I have heard 'What a Wonderful World' both a funerals AND weddings. If Louis only knew..

So dear friends, please take a moment and let me know what you would have played at your demise. A favorite song or something that sums up your feelings about your life? Do mourners even notice? Do YOU even care? I used to think 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', the Judy Garland recording, would be mine, but now that Israel Kamakawiwo'ole has overexposed it--I don't know. Maybe a Carpenters tune, 'Superstar' being one of my all time favorite songs. I'm gonna ponder. Let me know darlings.

Have a wonderful week and do not die! At least not until you choose your tune. KIDDING!! xoxo

Moment for Life...

They say that getting there is half the trip. Some say the anticipation is better than the trip. My Mom says that travelling with the girls is a vacation, but traveling with my Dad is a trip... I say getting there IS a trip..

Nothing like a good old fashioned road trip to shock and amaze me. You never know what you will happen across. As a person a little-okay a lot-afraid of most things public, travelling always comes with it's share of challenge. Why is it that someone elses dirt is somehow dirtier than my own? I will admit though, that things are better than they used to be.

In order to save time, we try not to veer off I75 too far, so gas and food and motel choices are sometimes limited. The truck stops are now one stop joints where you can safely get all your business done. In the past I would practically have to be catheterized or risk a bladder infection or bowel obstruction before using a public restroom. Remember when you would have to ask for the key before heading out to a restroom only slightly better than a port-a-john on the sixth day of the State Fair? I am relieved to say that the toities are now inside and for the most part clean. I did however, get mistaken for a 'lot lizard' as I wandered down the wrong hallway near the men's restrooms and showers. A nice dude with a big belly and beard pointed me in the direction of the ladies room.

Back in the day, I would always pack all my own food eschewing all truck stop greasy spoons that were likely to precipitate another trip to the aforementioned outhouse. The Flo like waitress would scowl at me as I asked for skim milk, turkey bacon, egg white omelets, fruit etc. Now the McDonald's have yogurt and finally, decent coffee. At a Subway, I saw red wine vinegar, whole grain wraps and guacamole on the menu. Relatively good for you and fast service to boot.

Even the 'better' hotels still have me petrified of bed bugs and overall funk. I immediately remove the bedspread and keep my flip flops next to the bed for walks over carpet that I do not know when it has last seen Hagopian. I also shower with them on. But they are 'pet friendly', so Lola is happy. And you can get wine delivered to the room. Bonus!!

One thing I hope that never changes is the shopping at the truck stop mega malls. I love to snoop thru what someone thinks is needed for road travel. One place even had an in house movie theatre for truckers over their hour limits. I understand the need for those pills that keep you awake, but Viagra-like meds? Ummmm...I guess that's where the 'lot lizards' come in. All kinds of do rags are available in case you get all sweaty behind the wheel. French fried onions are popular with refillable mugs the size of a pony keg. Anything with a Confederate flag seems to be in style. Krispy Kreme are the donuts of choice. Second rate stuffed animals abound in case you forgot to get someone a souvenir.

So, as you can imagine, getting to my condo with my own bathoom and bed is a relief and well worth the trip. And I am finally free to make it barefoot...xo