caught in the act

<-----  here we have a shot of Mini Me.. intently watching The Princess and the Frog  - a movie released a couple of years ago by Big Brother - wait, I mean Disney. She's not yet realized I've got the camera pointed at her...

<---  a split second later... her senses kick in... she looks up....

<---boo-YEAH! rapid shutter speed has nothing on this girl. Instant Smile. She's been well-trained.  She owes it all to Uncle Loren. Never let them catch you not smiling...





(editor's note: the photos you see here were taken in a 5second period.. boomboomboom smiled the Princess...)

(<-- see: this would be Uncle Loren. He taught all of us how to smile.. )

Aisle Rage

<--  this is me. playing trivia. at a bar. wearing a crown. and apparently thinking very hard. 

where is my invite to mensa?

ok. at the risk of sounding whiny: what happened to summer?   I'm not referring to the fact that every summer seems to fly by faster than the last. In this case, I am referring to the weather. 

We had a crazy heat wave in early July (which of course I loved). And since then, it has been rainy and sort of sunny but not really and sort of warm but not fun warm, just like nasty muggy sort of warm thick air. The most annoying part? I can't fix it! I just want to see the sun, bright and warm, for more than 2 hours. I don't want to look out the window and have it look like it's about 53degrees.  COME BACK SUMMER!  (you know what will happen, right? we'll all be trick or treating in tank tops and flip-flops..)

In other news, a new to Knoxville grocery store opened over the weekend. In some cities this is not a big deal. Here. Well hell. Here if a gas station adds an extra PUMP it's a big deal. So Publix came to town. They've been the first to open in a wave of soon-to-be here-your-city-is growing-up stores: 

• Trader Joe's (sans wine)
• Whole Foods
• Costco

I've been to Publix before. They are the store of choice in Florida. Have always loved Publix.  Still not entirely sure why Bill & I opted to go to the one HERE on its opening weekend. I blame the weather.  So yes, it is sparkly and new and I am in love with their produce section. The people IN the store, not so much. I don't mean the staff. I mean just the general population. 

You know how we have to take tests to get our driver's licenses? I vote we require the same for the right to SHOP.  Who's with me? I will even write the handbook: 

• when getting one's cart, those with kids/large bags/a lot of crap - it is understood you may need a moment to get everything situated. but for the love of pete, get your cart and scoot to the side. standing in everyone's way will only cause a massive backup of humans into the parking lot, and then if someone gets hit by a car you will be to blame. (and i AM allowed to give this rule as I USED to have a little kid and always moved out of the way).
• when looking at apples/potatoes/berries, etc - can you not block the whole display? at least two patrons at any given time should be able to retrieve the product
• free food. if you have arrived at the store with the intention of the Sample People providing your lunch, well we can't stop you.  but seriously, try to not run over the Innocent everytime you catch a whiff of a fresh treat.
• deli/bakery counter. often these areas require a line, a wait. first off, many stores these days offer online ordering, ordering at customer service, etc - just so you don't have to stand there and block up the whole area with your cart and kid who you can't control. but if you opted NOT to make use of such modern conveniences, then it is not our problem. you are not allowed to cause traffic jams. look around and position yourself in a spot out of the way while you wait for your salami. 
• general aisle behavior: this is america. we drive on the right side. we walk on the right side. the fast people get to go in the left lane, pass on the left, and then move back over to the right. you are not allowed to take up the whole aisle. if there are more than two in your party, it is expected you will walk in single file lines. if you are chatting on your phone, quit blocking the Cape Cod chips. if you need to stop to search, do so slowly. otherwise expect a cart in your ankles. if you are about to stop, and see that someone has already stopped just next to you, then MOVE ON. do not stop directly next to this person, thus creating a large backup in both directions. Simply push your cart forward 5-6 feet. You can then take a few steps back to get your desired product. fascinating concept no?
• beepy carts: if you have injured yourself and walking is challenging, or if you are elderly and riding in one of the motorized carts is a better option, certainly this is understood. you do not have the right to run the rest of us over. you do not get to cut in line on the cereal aisle. and God Help Me if you can't get where you are going without constantly reversing - thus causing the ear-splitting beeping alert - then hire a personal shopper! packed stores are challenging enough, adding the high frequency of ALF is not helping.
• parents: i know, there are times when kids are just brats. there are times when they pitch a fit or haven't napped. there are whiny times. so, should your child be having one of those times .. if there are more than one adult in your party, someone take that kid out of the store. if you don't really need to get your supplies for your party two weeks from now, then please come back later. if your kid is whining just because he didn't get a cupcake, then act like the parent you are, give The Look and move along. If you haven't mastered The Look, or heaven forbid, your child ignores it or doesn't fear it- then you are in for some seriously crappy days ahead. 
• parking lots: see 'general aisle behavior.'

So. My take on Publix - it's a grocery store. It has food and stuff. There is another one opening soon closer to my house. At that point I can choose between Kroger, Target, Fresh Market and Publix.  I only know that I won't be going to Publix on opening weekend. For fear of being run over by a badbuggyperson. 

An Op-Ed.. of sorts..

As most of you know, this blog is almost always silly and goofy and a smidge self-deprecating.  It is rare that I mention politics or religion or beliefs. But today I am going to touch on it.  

Anyone who knows me knows that I was raised Catholic, which is to say Christian. They know that I was raised to treat others as I would want to be treated. Certainly the Catholic Church maintains a certain stance, which much of the time I don't agree with. I then married a man with Jewish & Southern Baptist roots, and we have a kick-ass kid. Our marriage didn't work out, but we are very lucky in that our new family unit has four parents and two kids, and all of us working to raise the girls to treat others well, and accept that there are all sorts of lifestyles and religions. Those lifestyles and religions may differ greatly from one another, but it doesn't mean any particular one is more right or wrong than another. 


I have thoughts on gun control, "Obama-care," illegal immigration, abortion, taxing the rich, and so on. I rarely discuss those issues, in part because I know I could stand a bit more education on all of them, and in part because most days I simply do not have the energy.


Gay Rights, however, is an entirely different story. Most of you who know me know that I have been passionate about it for a very long time. Honestly, for as long as I can remember.  I have gay family members on both sides of my own family, as well as in Josh's family. So from day one, I never thought twice about it. Why would it matter who anyone loved, as long as they were happy?! It just wasn't a big deal (which is not to make light of the struggles my cousins had to face - I simply mean that in the way my mom and dad raised us- it wasn't a big deal). 


And now as an adult, I have quite a gaggle of pretty close friends who happen to be gay. Most of whom have been in relationships for years and years. And you know what? They argue about money and who's going to do the dishes and who is going to make dinner. They get annoyed with their in-laws and they share in the misery of realizing we're getting older and suddenly have beer guts. Some go to church. Some have kids and some don't. They have stood by each other through loved one's dementia and moving to a home and ultimately passing away. They have lost mothers very very suddenly to illness at a  young age. They work their butts off and they play hard. They go back to school. They are doctors and artists and business people. They laugh and cry and love. Any of this sound familiar? Sounds just like a heterosexual life/realtionship life doesn't it? 


I am not here to convince you to have an opinion one way or the other. You are allowed your own just as I am mine.  In recent weeks I have been more vocal than usual with regards to Gay Rights/Same Sex Marriage/Equality. Some posts on social media from me have started some fairly passionate discussions. And that is perfectly fine. That is the point, isn't it? 

However, I have also received texts and emails and messages that are not so pleasant. 


Some have taken my posts to mean I am attacking Christians. To be clear, certainly that is not my intent.  I do not agree with someone who calls themselves a Christian and acts unkindly to ANYONE, gay straight or crooked.  But if you happen to be a Christian who does not agree with samesex marriage, certainly that is OK. You may not agree with it, but you also are letting people live their lives. You are not the people with whom I get frustrated. 


I have received messages asking me to not be so vocal and just let people have their own opinions and leave it alone. To put it simply, that is just not how I am wired. I watch friends and family fight the fight every day, and I can't be OK to just stand by and not fight with them.  If someone has a different opinion, certainly it can be expressed by them with just as much passion.  We live in country where free speech is encouraged.  Speech and opinion are one thing-  using those to incite hateful actions, take away human rights, support hate groups-  that is quite another. 


I have received messages from people who feel I am personally attacking them. Or personally attacking a family. What those people seem to be forgetting, or perhaps are not aware of, is that I have been passionate about this issue for years. And years. Longer than I may have known some of the people who are upset with me. For anyone to take it personally simply doesn't know me. And as much as I have going on in my world/head/job/family and so on- and you all know the limited amount of space in my brain anyway - there flat out isn't the energy or brain power for it occur to me to single someone out. 


I have no doubt there are those out there who have blocked me or hidden me or un-friended me. While that saddens me, I can't change it.  I daresay most that disagree with my view of Gay Rights at the same time recognize it is important to me, and respect that.  It is not my intent to alienate, to incite anger, to say I am right and everyone else is wrong. 


Some of the messages/emails/texts that have come to me have been upsetting. I have cried, I have had knots in my stomach, I have lost sleep. I have been angry, sad, depressed, deflated, scared, overwhelmed. It occurred to me though, this little bit I have had to face pales in comparison to what my homosexual friends and family have faced over the years. 


I have no intention of quieting down. I have no intention of turning this into a political fighting arena. I have no intention of ever purposely attacking anyone. I firmly believe those who happen to have a different sexual orientation than the perceived "norm" should be afforded the same rights as the rest of us- marriage, medical benefits, children, and so on. 


You may disagree, you may block me, or ignore me. Just try your best to live by the Golden Rule.