On Turning Sixty... and Surprises.

Today I was invited to a combined 60th birthday party... for my friends Donna and Stephanie.  I knew about the party months ago, but THOUGHT it was only for them....  Boy was I WRONG.

The party was for them all right but it was a Surprise Party for MY 60th birthday.

We had already been to a 50th Anniversary party for our cousins, Roseanne and Mill Affleck.  I was watching the clock because the birthday party was to start at 2 pm.

We went to Fishers and I knew we were a bit late. I walked in, and saw the first face belonged to Steve Quinn, my friend and former boss.  I'm thinking "what the hell is HE doing here"... then look at the table he's sitting at and see Roseanne Gleeson, a co worker.  I look to my left and by now everyone is yelling "SURPRISE" but it's not making sense to me.  I look again and see a table with Anne Jones, and next to her is Marc Rapson.  Now my mind is reeling, what are THEY doing here???  I see Bill Thrower snapping photos, and see Donna and Stephanie.  Now I know THEY'RE supposed to be there!!

It took a full minute for me to realize I'd been royally HAD.

I was truly speechless, and for those of you who know me, that's pretty rare.  I actually cried a little, also pretty rare for me.  I've never been a 'crier'.

Anyway, it was a blast of a party, my Mom, Lou, my brothers, sisters in law, nephews, brothers in law and sisters in law (who'd just left the last party, too).  Of course I thank my friends who are also family, Steve Quinn, Jerry and Kathy Reilley, Bill Thrower, my "brotherman".

Of course I'd like to specially thank Anne and Chuck Jones, and my dear Rapson boys, Marc, Ryan and Sean.  (who was supposedly going to check on Ziva!)...  And of course, my sneak-in-chief of a husband, Lou, and his co-conspirators, Donna and Leon Makowiecki, and of course Stephanie Hickman.

I cannot tell you how much it means to me to call you all my family and friends.  I love you all beyond measure.  You are all within my "defending circle" and will always be there.

Thanks again for being there for me, always.

In love,

Patty  xoxoxox

A New Rant: Why I HATE Air Travel, or, the Unfriendly Skies...

Well here goes another one...  Today I returned from a wonderful trip to Florida with my friend of forty (yes 40) years, Donna.  We had a great time together, talking, laughing, visiting with her cousins, seeing her cousin Nick graduate as class Valedictorian.    

The only thing we both dreaded... flying.  Let me be clear.  I am not afraid to fly, but rather after today, afraid that I'll commit murder either getting to the plane or getting off the plane.  It's the people who fly, who think they are the only people in the plane or on the face of the earth that make me livid. 

Donna and I have decided that if we ever have any say in how an airline should be run, and how to make things easier for all concerned, the following rules will apply, with no exceptions:  

1.  There will be a STRICT carry on bag policy.  You will be allowed ONE small bag.  It will need to fit under the seat in front of you.  That's because there will be NO overhead compartments in which to cram your 500 pounds of shit.

2.  There will be NO charge for checking your bags, so you won't be lugging them into the cabin.  However, if you dare to bring a bag that doesn't fit under the seat onto a plane, you will be charged $100.00 on the spot AND it will be checked anyway.  You will pay for inconveniencing everyone who obeyed the rules.  Don't want to pay?  You and your shit get kicked off the plane.  Too bad for you.

3.  You will NOT be able to lounge your seat into the personal space of the person behind you.  There isn't enough room on the damn plane as it is, and now this inconsiderate ass in front of you has to be a jerk.  The seats on our airline will NOT move.  You will just have to sit up straight for the flight.  Don't like it?  Wah. Yeah, there's always USeless Air or one of the other ripoffs.

I cannot stand the fact that the airlines do NOT abide by or enforce their own carry on bag rules.  People drag huge bags onto planes, hold up everyone else when they try to cram them into the overheads.  There's never enough room in them to allow for every inconsiderate buffoon to stuff his or her shit in there.  But they will stand there in the middle of the aisle, and try.  They will stand there, holding everyone up, and powerlift a huge suitcase, duffel bag, skateboards, strollers and every other kind of crap you can think of in those compartments.  And then insist on opening and slamming them 40 times.

When you go to get off the plane (and believe me, after any flight there is nothing you want more than to get OFF that effin' plane) of course the aforesaid inconsiderate buffoons have to wrestle their damn shit OUT of the compartment, yet again holding everyone up who abided by the carry on rule.  

I don't understand why, even if airlines charge for the bags, the convenience isn't worth the money - not to have to lug the shit to the gate, put it on the plane, wrestle it to the compartment, get it down, hold everyone up, drag it out, all the way through the terminal.  All just to avoid... paying  the money?  The baggage claim?  Sorry I just don't get it.  You can't afford it?  Well, you paid for the damn ticket and probably stood in some sorry ass line for a $7.00 Starbucks coffee because you had to be at the airport two hours early.  

And last but certainly not least... someday some airplane builder will realize that a 14 inch seat does not comfortably accomodate a 20 inch butt.  And two feet of space in front of you couldn't possible accomodate a 6'4" person with any degree of comfort.  So you cram yourself into this tiny space, then the effin' jerk in front of you has to put the seat all the way back.  This puts the back of his seat not even a foot from your face, making it impossible to put your tray down or comfortably read.  

In closing, I have found that at least half of the air travelers I have seen are stuck up, inconsiderate, self centered a-holes who think they are the only ones on the plane, and don't give a damn about anyone else's comfort or time.

So if you are an offender of any of the above, don't expect to fly on MY airline.  And stay out of my way.  

Rant over (for now).