Revolutionary Journey

When I was 17, I had the remarkable opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with my high school. But I didn’t fully appreciate the experience; I was too young and immature. In fact, I clearly remember refusing to look at the White House as our tour bus traveled by because I was mad at someone on the bus. My small-mindedness cost me a magnificent memory and my supposed adversary never even knew I was angry.

Later when I was 32, the Declaration of Independence came to Phoenix on exhibit, but I still didn’t fully grasp its important historical significance. I was growing closer, but still not grown up. What a gloomy commentary.

Now at 45, visiting the Independence Hall replica at Knott’s Berry Farm feels like a reawakening of missed adolescent knowledge I could have fully entered in to. I experienced a deep sense of pride in our country and the astounding men and women who made it all possible.

My favorite part of the “Revolutionary Journey” has been reading Johnny Tremain. Esther Forbes’ novel grabbed me and captured my attention and made me feel as though I was really part of Massachusetts history. Abigail Adams letters were a fascinating glimpse into a marriage filled with sacrifice and forward thinking. She was a remarkable woman. Thomas Jefferson was an inspired writer and thinker, a true patriot. Though the original words of the declaration were edited time and again, I’m sure his flavor still shines through. The movies “Johnny Tremain” and “1776” were a fun visual stroll into the past. Finally, I agree with Firesign Theatre’s statement, "Benjamin Franklin....the only President of the United States who was never President of the United States."

The “Revolutionary Journey” has been a tremendous life affirming rite of passage for me. I’m able to appreciate our great country and the incredible sacrifice of those brave men and women who couldn’t know me but have shaped my future. I am so geared up to delve into the Civil War.

Wardrobe Malfunction

Slapstick is funny because most of us like to laugh at the absurdity of everyday mishaps-not malicious laughter, just good ol' guffaws. If the following account of my wardrobe malfunction gives you a chuckle, then I'm pleased.

Today I wore a comfortable pair of side zip capris to work. (First wrong move.) Side zip clothing is always a mistake. A mistake I find myself making far too often. I suppose I continue to err in this way because I like the slimming long line I achieve when wearing side zip clothing. But I digress-

After using the restroom at 10:30 this morning, I found that I could not pull my side zipper back up all the way. Nylon zippers are notorious for broken teeth and mutiple snags, not to mention difficult to maneuver because of the side position. I determined to pull harder. (Second wrong move.) The zipper pull came off in my hand! Now I have a zipper half-closed and no way to repair it. Fortunately, I was also wearing a vest that covered most of the offending clothing.

Realizing I had to return to the classroom posthaste, I tried not to think about how the 7th and 8th graders I work with might notice my condition. Everything was going fine until lunchtime. That's when I grasped the fact that I could not use the restroom for the rest of the day!

After work, I went to the library to return a book so that it wouldn't be counted as overdue. (Third wrong move.) It was too long since my last bathroom stop. As I rushed inside my house, I grabbed a pair of scissors from the desktop, intending to cut myself free of the offending clothing! The dogs were whining and scratching at the door because they like to be fed immediately upon my return home from work. The phone was ringing and now I have half a pair of capris!

Before today, I had originally intended to wear my other pair of side zip capris tomorrow-I've changed my mind.

Pushing Daisies

My favorite tv show is Pushing Daisies. I love the quirkiness, the pictoral quality and the storyline. So when I found out the Pushing Daisies Touch of Wonder Tour bus was stopping at Westgate last Sunday, September 14, I just had to go. They gave out free cup pies, magnets, pie servers, spatulas, balloons and a chance to win the first season DVD.

I participated in the trivia contest and answered the first question correctly, then went on to the second round, where I was asked an extremely easy question, (the name of The Pie Hole's waitress and I froze!) My mind was a complete blank. As a result, the other contestant won. An hour later, they played another round of trivia and I wasn't even close on that one. An hour later, they played yet again. This time, I was only competing against four other people, not twenty. I ended up winning an advance copy of season one (two days prior to the public release date.)

On my way home with all my free goodies, I stopped by a fast food restaurant for a burger. While I was driving home in my Buick (a car with no air conditioning) I had the front window open, one hand on the steering wheel, the other wrapped around my burger and suddenly my precious mylar Pushing Daisies balloon flew right past my face and out the open window! There went my twenty-years-down-the-road-Ebay-collectible.

If you like quirky, you'll like PD. Try it out - Wednesdays on ABC. And abstain from eating fast food in the car.

Heads of the Family

Four heads are better than one!

Fascinating History

Currently, I'm reading Natalie Bober's fascinating biography on Abigail Adams. Recognizing that they were living and making history, the Adams' purposely saved all their correspondence to each other. Plus, Abigail herself saved letters from others she wrote to. If you like history, you'll like this book!

Political Cartoon

I'm reading Johnny Tremain The Story of Boston in Revolt Against the British by Esther Forbes. Intrigued by what I've read, I decide to make a political cartoon. (This is something like what a teacher in school would assign for credit.) I love doing stuff like this for myself-wacky, I know.

California Trip

Disneyland and California Adventure were awesome! Lezlie, Louise and I were visiting CA from June 1-4. We were all feeling our age, but it was a fantastic trip.

One of the highlights of our Disneyland experience, was receiving a free lanyard and two "Year of a Million Dreams" pins, just because we were in the right place at the right time! All the rest of that day we looked for other park visitors with our same free lanyard-we saw no one. We felt giddy with excitement for the rest of the trip.

After some internet research, I found out that those free promotional pins are not available to the buying public, we just got a special blessing.

Of course, those free items made me want to purchase two more pins for myself, (clever people there at Disney.) I bought the Tinkerbell and Soaring Over California pins to add to my lanyard.

We're already talking about our next trip, (that always happens.)