RIP Liz

Security

I go through airport security about once a week.  Some days it's quick and I walk right through the detectors.  Other days, TSA makes me feel like a criminal and does "additional screening" which includes patting me down in a secured area and searching my entire bag.  I'd love to know what they think I'm carrying with me on the plane that make them think this is necessary.  

I have it down pat by now.  I take three plastic bins, one for my coat, shoes, scarf, and jewelry; a second for my personal item and by ziploc bag of liquids; and the third for my computer and iPad.  I always get in the metal detector lane and for some reason I'm always the lucky passenger who gets chosen to go through the full body screen.  I felt so violated this past Friday while going through the Newark airport.  I was wearing a blazer (that was in a plastic bin), a white tank top, tights, and a skirt that tied on my hip.  Apparently it made the scanner go crazy and the TSA agents pulled me aside to a disclosed area and patted down every part of my body.  I've never felt so violated.

 

For all of you who haven't been through a security check like that before, I wish that you never have to, and if you do... good luck.

Music Monday

Today's song is Elton John's "Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters."  The song was released in 1972 and is off his album Honkey Chateau.  It's also featured in the movie Almost Famous when William and Penny Lane are walking through a park in New York City.  

It's my second favorite Elton John song--enjoy!

Happy Spring!

Jersey Shore, Baby.

No, not that Jersey Shore--I mean the actual shore in New Jersey.

I spent the past week with the Zetas at Monmouth University.  

I had a great visit, and the girls I stayed with are awesome.

The school is not even 10 minutes from the beach--

it was a little chilly, but still pretty to look at.

Monmouth is such a beautiful campus, & the buildings have so much history.  

Did you know part of the original Annie movie was filmed there?

Yup, right on these steps:

Wilson Hall, named after President Wilson, and where Annie was filmed.

Inside Wilson Hall

The garden outside.

The Library was huge--not as pretty inside though.

I miss it there already!  They had their annual philanthropy event "Big Man On Campus" while I was there and raised almost $1500 for breast cancer education and awareness!  

I just got to Rochester Institute of Technology yesterday and I'll be here visiting until Wednesday.

Kiss Me I'm Irish

Happy St. Patty's Day Everyone!

Hope you're all enjoying this wonderful day.  

I'm not really getting to take part in any traditional 
St. Patty's Day activities this year.  

I've been having meetings... all day.

This time last year, I was faking an illness to my professor so that I could get out of class early and join my friends who were celebrating all day outside.  Crazy how things can change in a year.  

Here's some pictures I looked at today
& they reminded me how great this holiday can be:

Enjoy this day, my friends!  Have one of these delicious drinks for me.

Bad Days.

I'm not really having a "bad day," it's just one of those days.

One of those days where I want to get in my car, drive to a friends house with the windows down listening to some great music.  Go grab lunch at some funky little restaurant where you can sit outside.  Stop in the bookstore, buy a new book, then lay outside in the sun and read for hours.  

You know, one of those days.

Unfortunately I don't have that kind of freedom.  I love my job, and I am thankful for every opportunity God gives me; it's just that sometimes, I want to be home.  

But I have to remember, "There are people who would love to have your bad days."

Music Monday

I am dedicating today's Music Monday to the ever-amazing Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  I've blogged about them a few times, here and here, and love them so much I'm going to do it again.  They just wrapping up their winter tour, so they are taking a short break  before the next one starts.  GPN will be at Bonnaroo and Dave Matthew's Band Caravan this summer and I WILL see them at at least one of those festivals.  

Here they are singing "Tiny Light"

and "One Short Night"

Check them out on Facebook and Twitter.  Enjoy : )

Up Up and Away

Every little kid dreams of having a tree house.  

When I was young, my dad built me a playhouse in our backyard,
and I loved it.

But how awesome would it be to have a treehouse as an adult?

A place to relax and get away, have peace and quiet...

Miss Chloe Kristine

I've been super homesick lately.  

I've been on the road over 2 months and I'm ready to see my friends and family. 

I talk to my mom every day and each time I ask her "What's Chloe doing?"

Each time I'm told that she's running up and down the hall, sitting in the window, or laying on Megan's floor.

But the other day, Megan told me how she not only cuddled in her bed with her, she got up and snuggled right under her chin.  She's hasn't done that with me since she was a little baby : (

I can't wait to get back home and see my little kitty and remind her that I am her mommy; ME,  not Megan and not her Grandma.

Looking pretty.

Drinking a beer.

Helping me pack.

Isn't she a gorgeous kitty?

The Land of Cowboys and Cows

Yes, I realize that cowboys and cows often come hand in hand, but I just wanted to make it known that New Mexico has more cowboys and cows than I've ever seen.  It was a beautiful state, even with the interesting odor you could smell the minute you walked outside.  It was different every day so I really couldn't even try to explain it.  

I had a great visit with the Delta Pi chapter at Eastern New Mexico University.  They are a great group of girls and made me feel right at home.  It was a short visit, but we got a lot accomplished!  I've been collecting bumper stickers from every school I visit (no, they are not going on my car), and it completely slipped my mind while I was at ENMU!  I'm so sad, but hopefully I can get one of the chapter members to send me one to add to my collection.

Flying over the mountains in Denver

The ZTA House

The entire chapter, with me in the middle, at New Mexico Zeta Day

Me with the President, Maddy, on my left and the VP3 Recruitment, Devan

I flew into Clovis, NM on that tiny 19-seater plane I talked about here, but I flew out of Lubbock, Texas, home of Texas Tech.  Lubbock was about a 2 hour drive from Portales, and a very interesting one.  There were a ton of Dairy farms along the way, so that means lots of poor little cows who are stuck standing in one place for hours at a time.  

Anyways, I finally got to Lubbock, then Houston, and eventually Dayton, OH.  I'm visiting with the Eta Pi chapter at Wright State until Sunday, then head off somewhere new!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Captain has Turned On the No Smoking Signs...

No, I am not giving Penny Lane's famous speech in "Almost Famous," instead I am quoting the first few words I hear each and every time I get on a plane (an average of 8 times a month including connecting flights).  I'd like to think I'm a pretty experienced flyer by now.  I have frequent flyer accounts for over 10 airlines, and get to see all the different interiors of the planes and the uniforms of the flight attendants.  

To put it nicely, they are boring and ugly.  I wasn't old enough to fly when the uniforms were bright and funky, but I've seen pictures and definitely wish they were still like that.  Today, there are just as many male flight attendants as female... something that was unheard of years ago.  

I love flying, but if the interiors of the planes and the outfits still had that 70s style, I think I'd love it even more.

Best Live Acts of All Time

Each weekend, Rolling Stone asks their "Weekend Rock" question.  This past weekend the question was "What is the Best Live Act of All Time?"  Thousands of readers submitted their choice, and I must say the list is pretty expected.  

Coming in first is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.  Did you know that "Born in the USA" was the first CD pressed in the US?  I did a post about 'The Boss' not too long ago, and think the number one spot is well deserved. 

Next we have none other than The Rolling Stones.  Their legendary American tours speak for themselves.  The Stones bleed rock and roll.

Third on the list is The Who, who's "Tommy" in 1969 transformed them into rock Gods.

At number four on the list, Pink Floyd was the first band to have a traveling light show.  They were the ultimate psychedelic band with the trippy laser show to prove it.

Led Zeppelin was the hard rock band of the 70s, and if you ask me still the best today.  When drummer John Bonham died in 1980, the band knew they could never perform the same way again and decided to call it quits.  We can only hope that one day Robert, Jimmy, and John Paul will come together and show us what rock is all about one last time.

Making up the bottom five are U2, Queen, Pearl Jam (the youngest band making the list), The Grateful Dead, and Kiss.  

A pretty good list if you ask me.  But it does show one thing, bands today just can't rock like those of the 60s and 70s.  You can read the entire article here.  Any bands you think should have made the list?

Music Monday

I've been in the air almost all day, so I guess this is more like a "Music Tuesday."  

This is one of my top Beatles songs.  It's from "A Hard Day's Night," and written in 1964 by John and Paul, but performed by my favorite, George Harrison.  This was in their boy band stage and George wasn't confident enough to write and perform his own material (thank goodness he got over that).  Enjoy : )

You Can Thank The Hipsters For That

I came across this article the other day "10 Great Cultural Contributions by Hipsters."  The list is hilarious and completely true.  We now have some pretty great things thanks to these hipsters.  Here are some of my favorites:

1.  Beards

2.  The Re-Birth of Rock

Although the top selling rock album of 2010 was Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" there are many up and coming bands.  A lot are still gaining their credibility, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?

3.  Live Work Spaces

More people are transforming their house or loft into livable work spaces.  

4.  The New Handmade Movement

Etsy is the best place to purchase one of a kind, hand made items.

5.  Cultural Omnivorousness

It used to be you either liked Rock or Hip-Hop.  Now, thanks to the hipsters, it is normal to have a mix on your iPod.  Hipsters are know for attending the Bonnaroo Music Festival, and even Bonnaroo is offering a mix of artists.  In 2010 both Dave Matthews and Jay Z performed.

Check out the article for the full listing!

Flat Katie

Have you ever heard of the "Flat Stanley Project?"  It's usually done in elementary school, and the students each make their own Flat Stanley and send it to friends or relatives in another state or country.  They then take the Flat Stanley around their city or town and take pictures of him with famous attractions.  Here's some examples:

So why am I telling you all this?  My four best friends from home recently took a mini-vaca to Washington D.C.  This was the first time I wasn't going on a trip with them and they knew how said I was that I couldn't be there.  Well, Erin had the great idea of creating a "Flat Katie!"  They've been home a couple weeks now and all four of them kept this from me until today!  Those little stinkers.  Erin uploaded her pictures and the first one in the album is of Flat Katie.  I immediately burst into laughter and I still catch myself laughing about it.

Here I am in the car ride to D.C. (I always sit in the back because I'm the worst shotgun driver)

On the train going to do something fun.

Out to dinner with the girls.

Enjoying a much needed glass of wine.

I have the best friends ever!  Thank you for including me and cheering me up!  Only two short months and I will be home; so sadly, Flat Katie will no longer be needed.