Window Seats & Alligators = True Love

One of my favorite JuNkfoOd movies (one you can't consume regularly but you CrAvE from time to time) is The Wedding Singer. Here's just one of the exchanges that I love between the main characters played by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Robbie : She wasn't the right one, I guess.

Julia : Did you have any idea she wasn't the right one when you were together?

Robbie: I should have. Uh, I remember we went to the Grand Canyon one time. We were flying there and I'd never been there before and Linda had, so you would think that she would give me the window seat but she didn't and... not that that's a big deal, you know. It's just there were a lot of LiTtLe ThiNgS like that. I know that sounds stupid...

Julia : Not at all. I think it's the LiTtLe ThiNgS that count.

Recently the Hubster and I were at a Gator Farm in Florida...

We had a BlaSt on our AiRboAt ride...and even got to see some of the FiNgEr BiTeRs up close in their natural habitat, the EvErGlaDeS...

We were thoroughly entertained and amazed at the gator show that followed...

And then came the opportunity of a LifEtiMe, a chance to hold a GaToR. Of course we were totally PsYcHeD. It was $2 per person to cradle a small reptile so I scoured my purse for four bucks but was only able to come up with $2, enough for OnE chance to hold this coveted creature.

Me: Honey, you can hold the alligator.

Dan: Are you sure?

Me: Yes, I'm sure. I know you ReAlLy want to hold him. I want you to hold him.

As the Alligator man said his final words I rummaged through my purse just to be sure I didn't have two more dollars...sure Dan would be oblivious because he was listening to alligator man and usually focuses on one thing at a time :)

Dan: Kate, you're gonna' hold that gator, and I'm gonna' take your picture.

Me: No way, you're holding that gator.

Dan: I've already decided. It's done. I want to see YoU with that gator.

And as that gator was within my grasp, I posed for Daniel, and in my HeArT I was reminded that ThIs is TrUe LoVe...seen in alligators and window seats, the things that count, the LiTtLe ThiNgS...


Thank you Honey for loving me in all things big and small. You're definitely the right OnE for me.

$ DuPage County Fair $

Admission to the DuPage County Fair:

$10 a PoP...unless your husband WiNs 4 FrEe tickets from the Library Summer Reading

Program

Massive RaBbItS for your viewing pleasure and AmUsEmEnT:

FrEe with admission

Riding the FeRrIs WhEeL:

A sTeEp $4 per person...but definitely a MuSt do CaRnIvAl classic

Meeting WiLbUr and all of his FaRm friends:

FrEe with admission and a bit of SteNcH

A FuN-FiLleD DaY with FrIeNds...

...CrAcKiNg up at the PiGleT swimming races...

...and the pleasure of TrEaTiNg Nita and Adrian to their FiRsT EvEr CoRnDoG:

PRICELESS

ACHOO, ACHOO, ACHOOOOOO!!

For nearly twenty-seven years of my life I have managed to be allergy free. However, those years of BLiSs are now over, and I am confronted almost daily with ItChY eyes, StuFfy/RuNnY nose, and of course, ACHOO, many, many SnEeZeS.

So many sneezes, AcHoO, that I wake up in the middle of the night sneezing without end...so many sneezes, AcHoO, that my upstairs neighbor says she hears me sneezing all morning...So many sneezes, AcHoO, that one day after one of my attacks, Dan declared, "That's it I'm making you an appointment. You're going to the AlLeRgiSt!"

My sneezing was making him CrAzY...or maybe he was really tired of seeing me look like this(WaRnInG, this is ReAlLy BaD):

I mean, ReAlLy, it's pretty bad when you're sneezing so much you actually capture it with your camera!

At any rate, I went to the allergist with great HoPe of a cure as each little NeEdLe pricked my back and arms, but the result was devastating:

Doctor: You are allergic to CaTs and DoGs.

Me: I don't have any cats or dogs.

Doctor: Well then, it might be the WeAtHeR. We've had an usually cool summer. I'm afraid you'll have to just wait it out with some nose spray...none of the usual allergy medicines usually work with your condition.

My thoughts: What?! You've got to be kidding me!

And let me tell you people, as I sit here now with my roll of toilet paper, watery eyes and stuffy/runny nose, AcHoO, I am DuMbFoUnDeD and ever so aware of my HuMaNiTy, AcHoO, with each and every sneeze and blow of the nose.

And though I'm always grateful for the reminder of my human state and my need to DePeNd on my CrEaToR, I'm hoping He'll decide just as my husband did, AcHoO!, that He's tired of hearing my sneezing.

The End...AcHoO!

P.S.

On Blogging and Getting Over Myself...

Since I've started BlOgGiNg, things in life that at one time might have HoRriFieD or EmBaRRaSseD me have morphed into opportunities to LaUgH HyStEriCalLy, not take myself so SeRiouSly, and be GraTefuL to those in my life who make it far more InTeResTinG than I could ever manage on my own.

Allow me to explain by sharing a somewhat recent incident that occurred at our cousin David and Heather's wedding. It think it IlluStrAteS my point BeAutIfuLly...

The location was GoRgEOuS...

The BrIdE was RaDiAnT...

The company was DeLigHtFuL...

And to top it all off, I had my HaNdsOmE HusBaNd at my side and a NeW dress I had been saving for the PeRfeCt occasion...

The night was nearly MaGiCaL as we LaDiEs enjoyed TwIliGht in the garden...

Then suddenly, the UnThInKaBle happened, and my state of SeReNiTy quickly turned into this...

ReD, that's right, I said ReD wine SpLaTteReD all over my brand new dress! In great confusion, I turned to see my extremely apologetic brother BeN and his nearly EmPtY wine glass sitting on the table.

Now you see... at one time in my life, this incident would have HaD the potential to RuIn my entire evening, BuT this time, instead of being EmBaRrAsSeD and HoRriFiEd, I found myself enjoying the moment and taking advantage of this opportunity fully realizing its BloGgInG potential...See what I mean...

All I could do was LaUgH as my SwEeT sister tidied me up!

Having recently blogged about said sister, she did this dirty job with JoY realizing that doing so would most DeFiNitEly give her another appearance on yet another Blog Post... Thank you for your HuMbLe service dear sister...

In the end, it turns out a bit of SoDa WaTeR and SaLt does WoNdeRs on ReD WiNe dress disasters. I danced the night away without a care in the world...

And thanks to my place in the BloGoSpheRe, I can sincerely say words that at one time in my life would have been UnImaGinAbLe:

ThAnK YoU Ben for spilling red wine on my FaVoRitE, NeVeR BeFoRe WorN DrEsS.

I dedicate this post to you and consider myself forever InDeBteD to you for giving me a MeMoRaBle story to share instead of the standard slideshow of pictures I would have come up with on my own.

A Long Overdue Birthday Present for You Thresa!

Here are 5 attempts at poetry to HoNoR one who ApPreCiaTeS a good LiTerArY work...Though your BiRthDaY was a bit ago, and I am delinquent in posting this PrEsEnT, I hope you will enjoy hearing some of the many ways your life has AdDeD to mine as much as I enjoyed thinking about it!

Poem #1: NaMe PoEm

Thank you for noticing my early TV obsession,

kicking my BuTt off the couch,

and taking me to many a DaNciNg LesSoN.

Home Make-Overs are your specialty.
From FaIrIeS, and PoEmS to BaRbiEs, I adore all of the rooms
you have created especially for me.

Restaurants like Pappasito's and Beverly Hills Cafe are some of our favorite places.

Thank you dear Thresa for giving me a LoVe of delicious cuisine

and FoOd RuLes to follow while StuFfiNg our faces!

Each ChRiStmAs is filled with MaGiCaL fun.

From the PiNbaLl MaChInE to the MaRshMaLloW guns,

when you're around, there's always a SpEcIaL gift for everyone.

Suggesting spectacular MoViEs and BoOkS could be your profession.

Without you in our lives,

we would surely not have such an incredible LiTeRaTuRe collection.

All of these things and many more that you do,

make it a joy to love and appreciate you!

Poem #2: CinQuAin

Thresa

creative, thoughtful,

giving, learning, uniting,

welcome, surprised, amused, known

Boss

Poem #3: HaiKu
The following Haiku addresses a deeper human experience as Haiku's often do. For this Haiku, I've chosen a human experience that Thresa has perfected: ShOpPiNg

ShoPpiNg for DreSsEs

SpArKleS and BloSsOmS abound

PrInCeSs you make me

Thank you Thresa for the many times you have used your ExPeRtiSe to help the WarDroBe of myself and many others! When I wrote this poem, I was thinking specifically about the time you helped me buy my dress for my JuNiOr PrOm...I felt like a PriNceSs, and it was in that dress, that my PriNcE ChaRmInG began to sweep me off of my feet!

Poem #4: A DiAmAnTe of two of my favorite memories with you!

NYC

magical, cultural

exploring , shopping, wandering

Broadway, Christmas, Ribbons, Blossoms

twirling, enchanting, sparkling,

princess, pink

Wedding

Poem #5: LimEricK

Several of my AbSoLuTe favorite things to eat in this world are prepared by the one and only you! For those who haven't tried these DeLiGhTs, I can assure you my attempt at poetry does not do them the justice they deserve...you just have to taste 'em to experience the full pleasure they bring to the palate!

Your chocolate chip cookies are second to none

Multiple chips in my mouth oh such fun!

That white chicken chili

Makes taste buds go silly.

I just can't bear saying, "All done."

The End

There you have it! FiVe poems all about YOU! There may or may not be a significance to the number five...I'll never tell! But for the final time until next May I wish you a very Happy Birthday Thresa! Thank you for all of the wonderful ways you have blessed me and many others in your life thus far, and I wish you many more years to come!

Love you,

Katie