Southern Charm

I'm in Charlotte this week on a business trip. This sculpture stands at the main entrance of my hotel. I think it's quite beautiful.

I don't believe I've ever been to Charlotte. It makes me a little sad that I can't remember if I've visited before. I'm positive I've been to North Carolina twice I just can't remember if I've visited Raleigh twice or Raleigh once and Charlotte once.

Everyone is very friendly here but no one (no one!) has a southern accent.

My cab driver was from Eastern Africa. He had a very thick accent and asked my advice on how to improve his English (which I thought was quite good.) Because I'm a typical American, I said "watch more tv." He just became a U.S. citizen after living here for 11 years. He is looking forward to voting in his first presidential election this fall. He did not reveal his candidate of choice. He did tell me that his 4 year old son is named Raymond and his 16 month old son is Dylan. He explained that it is important to him to name them typical American names! More than once he said how lucky he is to live here. He is a recent graduate of an XRay technician program and he's hoping to find work in the field.

The guy who delivered my room service told me that he is working on his Ph.D. in Family Medical Therapy. He attends UNC, Chapel Hill. Not a single "Y'all" was spoken by him. Turns out he's from Long Island. He informed me that everyone in Charlotte is from somewhere else.

Okay, now to the negative side of Charlotte. I started the day with cute hair and a heart full of hope but both fell flat in the heavy, sticky air. And everyone said "you're from Arizona? You must be used to this weather." No. No we're not. Our heat is oppressive and the expression blast furnace is quite accurate but we use air conditioners and once you are in an air conditioned building, you live life. You do not continue to feel sweat running over every part of your body, gluing your clothes to your back and arms and legs. You don't have to reapply makeup every 2 hours and you most certainly can fluff your hair back into place with a hand comb and a few well placed spritzes of hair spray.

On the upside, I did not have to remember how to get back to my hotel, I just followed my sweat droplets all the way home.

Now It's Personal

I used to fly to Eugene roundtrip for about $200. Not a bad price and the schedule was great. Leave mid morning, return late afternoon. This past year, the price increased and I paid about $340 but still had a great schedule.

I just checked rates to fly home in October and guess what? For $813 and a schedule determined by U.S. Airways, I can go to Eugene.

So I suppose I'll fly into Portland and rent a car so that I don't have to bother my parents to drive back and forth. The airfare will be around the same as what I used to pay to Eugene but with an additional $250 for the rental car.

I don't get it. No one is going to pay $800 to fly to Eugene so won't all the seats be empty? Won't they have to cancel flights? Maybe that's the plan.

Who Knew?

Or maybe I did know. I just finished reading the aforementioned book "An American Gladiator in Rome" which was written by a guy I went to high school with. I always knew my graduating class was above average but who knew it was verging on genius.

This is a very good book. And I'm not saying that because I grew up with the author. It really is good. It is a Y chromosome version of "Eat, Pray, Love" and if the truth be known, a more lively and entertaining version as well. John has done a great job of bringing us into Rome through the eyes of a well-traveled guy from Eugene, Oregon. He tells us about struggling to learn the language and finally succeeding by using a hybrid teaching method. He has great insights into the culture of Rome and the benefits of the healthy Italian lifestyle. I was particularly interested in his insight about Italian men and their dependence on their mothers -- it's not as pathetic as it sounds. The anemic Italian economy almost dictates living at home.

John's girlfriend, Nancy, went with him to Rome and the snippets from their relationship are quite interesting. I would have liked to hear more about Nancy in particular what she looks like. Mostly John regaled us with descriptions of her perfect body which was a tad irritating to this middle-aged mom! I don't recall reading anything about her eyes or even hair color although I may have missed it. But I think this may be true to the male observer. Body first, hair and eye color later!

I hope someone options this book for a movie. Since George Clooney summers in Italy, I think he'd be crazy not to grab this story. I don't see him in the role of John only because the John-character needs to have a fair complexion. As I read the story, I definitely pictured John because I know him but I think someone like Aaron Ekhardt would be perfect. Whoever it is has to fit John's 6'3" frame. If I had a better description of Nancy it would be easier to cast but for now I'm seeing Jennifer Connolly. Assuming there are flashbacks to Eugene circa 1974, Jessica Alba can play the nice, smart yet insecure (2nd tier) friend who ended up in Arizona!

Give 'Em the Axe

A guy I went to high school with wrote a book. I just got it from Amazon. An American Gladiator In Rome. I'm not sure, but I think it's the guy's version of Eat, Pray, Love. Evidently he took a leave of absence from his sportswriter job at the Denver Post and moved to Italy where it says he "found truth about work, love and life."

Apparently it's impossible to find these truths in the good old U.S. of A.

I'm very excited that a fellow Axeman from South Eugene High School has written a book. His picture is on the back and there's no mistaking him, it's John Henderson. The forehead is a tad more spacious but otherwise, he looks the same...exactly the same.

Go Axemen.

Only Me

So today I had an appointment with my counselor. I started seeing her about 1-1/2 years ago when I was having trouble at work. I hated my job and I wanted someone to tell me that I should quit and find something else to do.

I don't tell everyone that I'm seeing a counselor. Only close friends. I don't want anyone to think I'm crazy or anything.

I sat in the waiting room for a few minutes before my appointment and out she walks with her client. A woman from my office. Sweet.

Nurse Leah

Tonight in the shower, I cut my leg shaving. For some reason it would not quit bleeding. Leah came into the bathroom and started handing me kleenexes and bandaids. She was quite concerned -- in fact she couldn't keep her eyes off of my wound.
I got on the bed and held my leg in the air thinking that would help. At that point it had been bleeding for 15 minutes. Leah came in with a glass of water and a board game called HISSSSSSS. She insisted that I take a drink and she fluffed my pillow.
She sat next to me in her High School Musical nightgown and asked if I was okay. Then she sighed and said "I know. How 'bout some cheese?"

4th of July

At Sea World.

As we boarded the Trip to Atlantis ride, the Sea World employee said "Hi Grandpa" to Lynn and Leah as they took the first car. I however, heard no comments about being Leah's grandma. Score one for me.

The Accidental Marketer

When I selected the name for my blog, I thought it was just a clever way to describe who I am. The old mom. At least 10 years older than the oldest mom in Leah's class.
But in doing some blog surfing, I realized that my name was a good choice because I end up at the beginning of many lists by virtue of my double a's.
I love it when I stumble on a good idea.

Second Grade Theology

I don’t know what they were teaching at Vacation Bible School last week but this morning Leah was talking about heaven. She said that in heaven you can get whatever you want for free.

She dreamily described how they would have all the WebKinz lined up and you could pick whichever one you wanted. After that you could go to the ice cream section and select your flavor. I was smiling at her heavenly fantasy, wishing that these conversations would last into her teen-age years.

She continued and said in devil heaven you have to pay $1,000 for whatever you want. What??!!!! Devil heaven?

We attend a Methodist church. A very liberal Methodist church that even includes a gay and lesbian group. We do not attend a fire and brimstone, Tammy Faye Bakker fundamentalist church. I am afraid to ask her what merits a trip to devil heaven.