The Eve of The Trip

It's almost midnight and I'm working on packing for a very well deserved 2 week vacation in Europe. It's a daunting task.

This time tomorrow Ken and I will be flying on an Airbus 333 heading to Rome, which is where our adventures will begin and end.

I'll try to keep you as updated as I can.

Stunning Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, Iceland (Joe Photo)

The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are known as 'Aurora borealis' and are clearly a stunning spectacle.

Hope Ahead

The 22nd annual American Airlines Celebrity Golf and Tennis Tournament took place last weekend in Carlsbad, California, raising more than $250,000 for the Susan G. Komen Young Investigators Grant Program, which funds research for metastatic breast cancer, an incurable form of the disease.

American honored 16 employee survivors and co-survivors at the event.

“It was such a memorable and beautiful weekend. I was so honored to participate and share my story,” said DFW-based flight attendant Lenard Blackwell.

(From left) American honored Lenard Blackwell, flight attendant,

DFW; Erin Frey, manager on duty, CLT; and Gabby Oviatt, flight

attendant, CLT.

Why?
Why do I bother?


What is it?
What is it about him that makes me hang on his words?


He told me to believe.
He asked me to believe.


I want to believe.

Ouch!

This is what happens when it's been years(!) since you've been on a motorcycle and you get (overly) excited when someone with one visits.

Ron stopped by to show us his new (to him) motorcycle. When he asked if I wanted to hop on, I didn't hesitate one second. Unfortunately, I completely forgot that the pipes would be hot. Allan tried to save me, but I'd already gotten burned.

Note to future self: Pants!

A Book Review, "Leave Me"

I can check one off my BookMarks goal list! I finished reading it last night.

I've been in Maribeth's shoes. No, I didn't have a heart attack, but due to perimenopause I'm experiencing anxiety bordering on panic attacks. There are those days when the weight of the world is such that I want to grab some cash and just keep on driving.

Unfortunately real life doesn't work out as neatly as Maribeth's story.

But that's exactly why I liked this book. I was swept away, but only on the surface. There wasn't any depth. I wasn't too immersed or bogged down in the deep and I didn't lose any sleep due to complicated characters or plots.

I enjoyed Leave Me for what it is. Simply, a good book.

‘Sully’ Flies High With $35.5 Million Opening

Sully made a much a bigger splash at the box office than was initially expected, touching down at an estimated $35.5 million for the No. 1 spot in its opening weekend.

Playing on 3,525 screens, the Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow drama made $12.2 million on Friday, boosting three-day estimates that were previously set at $24 million for the weekend. The Clint Eastwood-directed film stars Tom Hanks as hero pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger.

With an 84 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, reviews are solid for the movie about Sully's crucial call to glide an imperiled US Airways jet for a water landing on the Hudson River just minutes after it took off from Laguardia Airport, a decision that saved 155 lives on board in 2009.

CinemaScore polling said opening night moviegoers gave it an A grade on average.

What I'm Currently Reading

An Evening At The Theatre, "Sixty Miles To Silver Lake"

Last night Crystal and I attended Theatre Alliance's staged reading of Sixty Miles To Silver Lake. Ken, who played the father Ky, had alerted me to some of dialogue so I could prepare Crystal.

The material was very mature, allowing both uprorious laughter and some scratchy, ewww moments. The real power of the show is in the lighting and scenic transitions. Although Jamie Lawson read the stage directions, much was lost as just a staged reading.

Ken always does an outstanding job and this reading was no different. Spencer Absher, who played Ky's son, Denny, also did a great job.

I'd love to see this as a full production.

BookMarks 2016

I don't think it's any surprise that one of my favorite festivals is BookMarks. Winston-Salem is indeed very lucky to host this free event.

There's always a $2.00 book table and I purchased 3 books, all by Melinda Rainey Thompson.

1. SWAG: Southern Women Aging Gracefully
2. The SWAG Life
3. I've Had It Up To Here With Teenagers

I attended the NC Book Club Picks talk and was introduced to 3 new authors: Leigh Himes, Megan Miranda and Susan Bishop Crispell.  Each talked about their books. I was so impressed and interested that I left the talk during the Q&A and bought: 

1. Leigh's book, The One That Got Away
2. Susan's book, The Secret Ingredient of Wishes

I went to the Booksigning tent where Leigh and Susan both signed their books. (Susan also offered a mini pie with a tiny heart in the crust!) I talked with Megan and apologized that I'd missed out on buying her book (they'd sold out very early). She did sign her book card for me and it's on my Amazon wishlist.

I was really looking forward to seeing Gayle Forman. I've read two of her books (If I Stay and Where She Went) and have been waiting to read the just one day series. As I was making my 4th or 5th trip through the book sale tent (anyone who knows me understands that I just can't stay away from books!) I realized she had written an adult novel, Leave Me. It sounded interesting so I bought it and then waited 30 minutes in 100 degree heat to get it signed. (I think it's less dedication and more addiction!) She was so very nice!

While I was fine by myself, I really missed Sam. Sam is very much like me in that we love books and have no problem standing in the heat waiting to get our books signed. We both always want All. The. Books. Lol.

In between all the book buying and book signings I had my first ever fish tacos from the Taqueria El Azteca Taco Truck (delish!) and cooled down with Angie's Italian Ice (refreshing orange creamsicle). I also picked up some Pokeman balls and added a Pokeman to my Pokedex.

Six books got added to my library. I'm making it my goal to read all 6 of these new books before I acquire any more. It's a lofty goal, but I'm going to do my best!

A Book Review, "Killing Maine"

Wind power is the use of air flow through turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity. Wind power, as an alternative to burning fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, consumes no water, and uses little land.

That's according to Wikipedia.

According to Mike Bond, it's Killing Maine. I know this because he spent a great deal of time educating the reader on this serious politically corrupt issue.

Between his soapbox sessions, Mike attempts to weave an interesting whodunnit. Unfortunatley the reader is stuck with Pono Hawkins, the main suspect, as he tries to solve the murder mystery and clear his name. While it seems Pono does have a heart, he's more lothario than anything else.

Killing Maine didn't do much more than Kill My Precious Time.

I Won!

From: Cody, Katie
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2016 1:16 PM
Subject: Congratulations! Sully Employee Screening Tickets!

Congratulations!!

You have been selected to receive tickets for you and a guest to attend the special American Airlines employee advance screening of “Sully.”

Here are the details for CLT:

                Where: AMC Northlake 14

                                7325 Northlake Mall Drive

                                Charlotte, NC 28216

               

Date:     Wednesday, September 7

Time:    7 p.m. Showing

                Check in Begins at 6 p.m.

                Theater Doors Close at 6:50 p.m.

               

Additional Info:

Each attendee will receive a $10 concession gift card upon arrival to stock up before the movie. As a reminder, Check in will begin at 6 p.m., and the screening will start promptly at 7 p.m.  Theatre doors will close at 6:50 p.m., and guests will not be permitted into the screening late, so please give yourselves plenty of time to get settled. The movie is expected to run approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes.

The name of the attendee must match the winning employee. We will check identification upon arrival.  

Katie Cody

Corporate Communications Manager – Charlotte

American Airlines Celebrity Golf and Tennis Tournament

No, I don't golf. (After all, you know what "golf" stands for right? Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. Get it?) I don't even particularily like Putt-Putt.

Now, I have swung a tennis racket. I think it was the summer of my senior year when I was thinking about auditioning trying out for the NDSH tennis team because I wanted a letter. Let's just say that I realized my talent was in the performing arts and not tennis.

Despite the above, I've accepted an invitation to be the "plus one" for a guest of honor for this benefit tournament.

American Airlines goes pink during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness month. This annual celebrity tournament raises funds for the Susan G. Komen foundation. The guests of honor are American Airlines employees who are breast cancer survivers. Crystal has survived breast cancer 3 times (!) and she shared her story with the company last year. She was chosen to attend the beneift and asked me to accompany her.

This is just a little snapshot of the event. You can read more about it here.

A Book Review, "Beautiful Maids All In A Row"

We are all flawed human beings chasing our own demons. I am drawn to that type of main herione in desperate need of redemption. 

This book satisfies on all levels. While a little light on the actual mystery it makes up in thrill. It's face pace and a definite "can't put it down" kinda book. 

Oh yes, and a great ending!

A Book Report, "The Heart of Henry Quantum"

"In the bestselling tradition of A Man Called Ove and the beloved film Love Actually, a quirky, socially awkward man goes on a quest to find his wife a last-minute Christmas gift and encounters several distractions—including bumping into his ex-girlfriend who was the one who got away."

It's less Love Actually and more Hector And The Search For Happiness. And I loved the Hector trilogy!

Like Hector, Henry is loveably quirky. His mind is constantly whirling! He realizes that it's 2 days before Christmas and he's not yet gotten anything for his wife, Margaret. He decides to get her a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume. The book details this day in the life in the mind of Henry as he travels all over San Francisco in search of the perfume.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's a cute, sweet love story that made me smile.

Pick Me Up

I came home tonight and this was waiting for me on the table. I had a particularly difficult week and Allan thought the flowers would cheer me up.

He was right. The pretty flowers brought a smile to my face!

A Book Review, "Out: A Courageous Woman's Journey"

I wanted to like this book, I really did.

I applaud those who have the courage to come out and live their true and honest lives in spite of an ignorant, bigoted, judgemental society. I appreciate the heartache Ms. Smoot endured and am very thankful she is helping to educate by telling her story.

I had a difficult time following Lou Anne's journey because I was so damn mad! My dislike of the book had less to do with Ms. Smoot and more to do with the so-called "Christians" who turned their backs and all but thumbed their noses at her. I just wanted to throw the book at the heads of the lot of them!

I Love My Employer!

American joins amicus brief related to N.C. House Bill 2

American has signed onto an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s motion seeking to block the enforcement of North Carolina’s House Bill 2. HB2 mandates that, in all state and local government owned buildings, including public schools, airports, and agencies in North Carolina, individuals must use the restroom corresponding with the gender on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity. Laws that allow this type of discrimination go against American’s core beliefs of equality and inclusion – values that are crucial for the success of our company. So we have joined with more than 60 other leading corporations to express why HB2 is bad for business and will negatively impact our ability to recruit and retain employees in the state of North Carolina. Visit the Human Rights Campaign for more information and to read the full amicus brief.

Fourth of July

I don't think it's any secret that July 4 is one of my favorite holidays. (It's actually my second favorite holiday.) And I'm very fortunate to live in Lewisville which has a very, very impressive fireworks display every year. Also, we live close enough to be able to walk. (It's a nice hike, but you know, exercise.)

This year we decided to take Commander with us. He was fine with the crowds. We all made very sure to hold on tight to his leash (and body). Sam covered his ears when the light show started.

A Book Review, "One Was Lost"

Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.

On a mandatory senior field trip, a flash flood cuts Sera and three classmates off with no way to call for help. But they’re not as alone as they thought…

Someone is stalking them through the woods: drugged them, stole their supplies and wrote on their skin. Is it a judgement? A warning? And if Sera doesn’t find the truth, it’s only a matter of time before the hunter finds her first.

I received an invitation to download an advanced reader's copy of Natalie's lastest book. The email promised me "a new pulse-pounding psychological thrill-ride" and I was not disappointed.

It's been a while since I've read a page-turner. If you like YA novels, this one needs to be added to your list!