Mother Nature Did What?

I was driving home from work pondering the weather this week when it hit me... literally! The wind blew a twig across my windshield and it freaked me out!

This has been a weird week of weather. Last week is was nice nearly all week - I'm not saying perfect, but it was nice. Saturday, you could tell something more was coming... it was dreary most of the day with some lovely misting rain. Then Sunday, it hit! It rained ALL DAY! Per our rain guage, we had just over three inches that day alone. It continued Monday, though not as much... another inch or so. Tuesday and Wednesday, there was no rain, and it slowly got nicer each day. Thursday was pretty much perfect (for this time of year, anyway)... got near 70, beautiful blue sky, and just enough of a breeze. Then Friday (today), another turn... misting rain again and the temperature started dropping about mid-morning... or at least it was getting windier. Tomorrow it's supposed to be even colder with our first frost (possibly) this weekend.

But the rain... that was the story! We had more rain this week than we did the past three months! NO joke! Last week, the weather forecasters were talking about how we were barely above the drought mark and we were dry, dry, dry... now they're talking about how we're above average for the year.

I'm not quite ready for fall. I want the warm temps for just a bit longer. Maybe I'll still see some of them... the weather's been crazy all year thus far... I'm sure more weirdness will come in the form of an Indian Summer... might as well!

Entitlement?

When did we, as Americans, feel we became so entitled?  I am so tired of turning on the TV only to hear about someone suing some large company, or even the government, for 'compensation' they feel they are entitled to.  It's one thing to make sure medical expenses are taken care of when someone else is at fault for something that happened to you, but that's it.  Don't give me this emotional distress BS.  The whole pain and suffering caused by something... yeah, I had that as a child if you ask my parents.  I whined day in and day out about how horribly I was treated and thought I deserved so much more!

I didn't really... nor do most of these idiots out there who claim pain and suffering.  Why is our country in trouble financially? It's because everyone sues each other!  People sue companies and the government, companies sue other companies and the government, even some governments cry foul and sue each other.  No one takes responsibility for their own financial messes anymore... it's always someone else's fault.  And as far as 'having a right' to be 'finanically compensated' for something that happened... I don't think so.

I'm sure it all started innocently enough... for some valid case where someone was not being compensated for something they should be (like medical bills for a work accident or the like)... insurance companies can't make money if they pay claims for every little thing, after all.  At least that's what the lawyers like to say... they're just holding out on you, right?  Gotta love all the 'shark lawyer' ads on TV... they're just your best friend and insurance companies are the most evil industry out there.

Have I been in the situation when I needed to sue someone?  Some people will just claim "I've never been there and I just don't understand."  Well, yes, in fact, I have.  I took this thing called the 'high road' and ignored all the mail I got from lawyers telling me to sue.  Probably would've had a ton of phone calls, too, if I had a landline.  But I was on the back of a motorcycle that was rear ended by some teenagers who were drinking and smoking pot... in their car.  So I have no doubt we could've settled for a pretty penny.  But I walked away from that accident with just some scrapes and bruises.  I could've had a lot of pain and suffering and not known it since I didn't talk to a lawyer, though.

But I'm more annoyed about some of these bigger cases that you hear about... like the lawsuits piling up against the State for the stage collapse at the State Fair back in August.  Okay... #1 - they're still investigating the cause.  It could be 100% the fault of the stage company if it was set up wrong or not properly.  Or, it may have been a freak accident caused by mother nature.  #2 - what the hell does our Governor have to do with a stage collapse??  Does that mean I can name him is a lawsuit from being rear ended on a State Highway??  Can I sue the mayor for a pothole?  #3 - the complaints about the $5 million cap the State has for lawsuits... well, duh!  Of course they're going to have a law in place to keep them from going bankrupt from idiots who file frivolous lawsuits!  If the money is put the the correct use (medical bills, funeral/burial costs) and the lawyers are taken out of the equation, there's plenty.  There's even be enough to give the families that died some extra for 'pain and suffering from loss of a loved one'.  But I'd be willing to bet there was already some life insurance policies in place, so there will already be some other compensation.  Yet, there's a list of lawsuits piling up against anyone who can remotely be tied to this tragedy.  I'm surprised God hasn't been named in a suit.

I think there just needs to be some new laws thrown out there... become a 'no-fault' country when it comes to accident insurance.  Just like car insurance in FL... you pay for your own damages.  Sure, your premiums are higher than those in other states, but if you don't constantly make claims, it goes down.  It's just too easy to sue people in this country... you don't see everyone suing people in other countries.  Greed does some bad things to people and I can completely see how it can destroy a society.

I've Got the Fever!

I'd like to take a blog moment to discuss the sports in this town - we've got a few! But let's take a look at things and put things in perspective... just looking at the 'professional' side of things.

We've got hockey. We used to have a minor league team... couldn't support that, apparently. Now we have an 'amateur' team, which I've heard is pretty damn good. Haven't seen them, though.

We used to have an Arena Football team, for that matter. They didn't have the City's support, either - we lost them quite awhile, ago.  I thought the whole league just folded... but no, there's still teams out there. Just not here.

Did you know Indy has a women's professional football team, the Indiana Speed? Yep... there is a league out there and we do have a team. But they have no stadium... they play at a City park.

So that's the 'rarely heard of' professional sports that, sadly, get no support... at all. Well, very little, anyway... So moving on the the 'known' sports...

We have a minor league baseball team that plays at the best minor league stadium in the nation. The Indianapolis Indians have been in this City for 125 years. Did you know they celebrated that milestone this year? Many don't. They get some good support, as a minor league team... I think they deserve more - they have made the playoffs in year's past, and even came close again this year. Yet, I've never been to a game with the stands even remotely full. And this is America's past time...

Then there's the Indiana Pacers. We're a basketball state. Yet, they even have problems filling the stands in recent years. Why? Well, since Reggie Miller left, they've just had some off years...we all know this City doesn't seem to support a team unless they're "winning". That and I guess the Pacer's had a few years of some controversy. But that really shouldn't effect the fan base that much... not if they're loyal. But apparently, not so much.

Of course there's the Colts. Everyone supports to Indianapolis Colts! Cause they're "Winning"!! Wait... not so much this year. I know ten years ago, you could buy a ticket at the last minute and sit up high... with an entire bleacher bench to yourself that you could lay down and take a nap on. The Colts were horrible when Peyton first showed up... and the City didn't support them like they do now. Now, the NEW stadium sells out and you see a sea of blue throughout. But how long will that last... the Colts will likely be 0-3 after this weekend. Will it soon go back to the way it used to be? Will all the band wagon jumpers once again bail because they are no longer winning? So sad...

Which brings me to the real point of this blog... the one team in the City that seems to be consistently winning, yet no one chooses to jump on this band wagon. Our WNBA team, the Indiana Fever. They've been in the playoffs every year since 2005, and even made the finals one of those years (though they didn't win). Yet, even though they are such a good team, playing a sport that the state is known for, they have trouble GIVING tickets away... literally. Why is that? Why can't this City get behind them as a team? Is it because it's a women's sport? Do people not know about them?

Eric and I have been to 2 games this year - which is nothing to brag about. We're just as guilty as everyone else in not supporting all the other teams out there. But the fact that they can't even fill the lower level for a game... well, that's just sad. There's no reason not to go - it's a good team. We even have the League MVP on on the team. We went to their playoff game on Monday (which they won, by the way), which was the final game of round one of the playoffs. Like any playoff game for any sport, the atmosphere is great - very competitive and the energy just spikes during the last minutes! Everyone gets loud and you can't help but get loud, too!

So my point... if you live in Indy, get out there and support them! I know it's the end of their season, but they ARE in the playoffs - go to a game (or two)! Let's fill up Conseco for them for once! They deserve it. Go see some professional basketball that isn't all about the showboating - it's kind of refreshing watch professional athletes that AREN'T overpaid!

Go Fever!

Concert #4 - Katy Perry

Okay... so this concert came as a bit of a surprise to me... I actually won tickets on the radio! It was one of those 'sign up on Facebook and we'll call out winners on air' contests, so I signed up, never thinking my name would actually be called. But there I was at work, with the radio streaming online as background noise, as always. All the sudden, the radio becomes very clear and much more foreground noise as I hear, "This afternoon's winner is Kara Strickland!" Took a minute for it to sink in, but once it did, I was quick to make that phone call back to the station and claim the free tickets!

So, the show... went into it not knowing what to expect since I've heard nothing about her live performances. I figured LMFAO surprised me a couple of weeks ago, so you just never know! And I love Katy Perry's music! It amazes me how many hits she's had off of her latest CD, Teenage Dream! So I knew, if nothing else, I'd be singing along a lot! (And I was!)

As far as the rankings of concerts I've been to in my life, it falls somewhere in the middle. She can actually sing (and yes, she sung at least most of her songs - not a lot of lip-syncing here), so that was a definite plus. But unlike the likes of Britney and LMFAO, dancing only really happened in the background (aka - back-up dancers). But then that's not really her background, so I guess you couldn't really expect that (or ninjas, as we saw both at Britney's show and LMFAO's show... but not at Buffett). The stage set-up was 'cute' to say the least - Candyland meets Wonderland, essentially. Which was really the whole theme - almost too sweet to take! But when you saw the audience, you understood - most of them don't listen to the lyrics, just liked the blue wigs. LOL

One thing's for sure, her shows can only get better if she keeps piling on the hits! Right now, she doesn't have a lot to pull from. But another CD like Teenage Dream, she'll be set to tour and sing whatever she wants!

Sweet, Home, Auburn!

It had been too long since I made it back to Auburn for a game, so when talk about a mini reunion for a game this year, I was all over it. I needed my Auburn fix!

I flew out on Friday afternoon from IND to ATL. I was SO excited to see all my Auburn peeps, not to mention see an Auburn game live and in person (I SO wish I could've gone to the Championship game last year!). I got into ATL, got my rental car, and headed down I-85. I go into Auburn and it was already getting busy with game weekend traffic It's changed so much, but it still feels like home. I find part of my group and we meet up before heading out to dinner, which we wanted to make sure was a place we could hang for awhile until everyone else got into town.

After everyone was there and anyone who wanted to eat did so, we decided to head out for the real fun! Our initial plan didn't pan out, but that probably was for the better since we instead headed to the War Eagle Supper Club - an Auburn staple! It was a little light on people than what we're used to (early games do that, apparently), but we didn't care. We headed straight out back to the Shot Bus to have a little fun. After everyone was 'all good', we took the Drunk Bus back to the hotel and crashed. hard!

Saturday morning, we all struggled to get moving and head to the game. These 11:20am games are no fun to get to - they're just too early!! But we managed to get there with plenty of time, find tickets for those who didn't have them, and still see Spirit soar (and crash - so sad!). The game itself... INTENSE! Auburn was up 14-0 within the first 4 minutes, so it looked like it might be an easy win. But Mississippi State got their act together and brought it on... until the last play in the last second, when Auburn stopped them AT the goal line (which would've tied it and sent it into OT)! Crazy!

After that game, we were actually little worn out. Well, the game and the night before. So we found a place with a reasonable wait to get some food and ate a little something before heading back to the hotel to chill for a bit and watch some other games. The 'chilling' was the primary goal. We did end up heading out to get some dinner and meet up with some others we hadn't had a chance to see yet, but it was just that - dinner.

Sunday was the day we all had to head out, obviously. So it was a steady stream of 'good-byes' through the morning and we all wen our separate ways. I headed back to campus for a bit for some more pictures. Mainly of the infamous Samford Hall and Toomer's Corner (rolled, of course!). But I, too, had to get on the road to ATL... it was time to head home.

But what a weekend! I so needed this weekend and it was great to catch up with everyone. We always say we need to do this more... and I really hope we do!

10 Years Later...

We all know what today is. The Anniversary of one of the worst tragedies in our lifetime. I debated about posting anything, but I felt I needed to. Just to release after some emotion hit me late in the day.

I flew today. Without any hesitation, really. 9/11 has been 'just another day' for me for the past 10 years. Not because I didn't care, but because I wanted to have life be 'the way it was', even though I know it never will be.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard about (doesn't everybody?). I was driving to the airport, ironically... not to take a flight, but to go to a conference at one of the airport hotels. It was first reported as a small plane. But then reality came to light and what really happened became apparent. The conference wasn't very productive that day. I had only been in Indy for a few months at this point...

I flew into IND today, from ATL, a flight I scheduled without thought of the day it was on. Even with all the murmurs about the 10 year Anniversary, I was fine with flying. And it didn't hit me until I walked into the terminal at IND. It hit me - hard - when I saw a memorial they had set up in the middle of everything, complete with uniformed officer. I just stopped. It was apparent they had some sort of ceremony that went with it all earlier in the day. But the impact was still there. They even have their own memorial installation with a piece of the steel from one of the buildings. At this point, I noticed I was shaking, literally, and near tears. How can a small piece of steel impact someone like that?

The City also unveiled a memorial with two steel beams downtown today. They, too, had a big ceremony to unveil it and, as with any memorial dedicated to 9/11, it impacts you. Eric and I went by after dark and there were still quite a few people lingering and looking at all. And no one was saying a word.

As much as we all would love to say that fateful day 10 years ago didn't impact the way we live, it did. And we will always remember.

Another Successful Chicago Weekend!

Wendy and I have been doing a Chicago Cubs Road Trip for quite awhile now... looking back through pictures, this looks to be year #6 (our first game was 5/14/2006 - we actually did 2 games that year, though). We started this tradition before the men in our lives, and we will continue the tradition for as long as we can. *smiles*

We started out early Saturday morning (though running late, as usual for the two of us), and headed north on I-65. We planned on doing an overnighter again this year, but we wanted to drop things off at the hotel before the game. Hence the earlier than usual 'planned' start time. We did make great time, though, and got to the hotel in the middle of checkout time for the previous night, which made it a crazy time to get there. They didn't have a room ready, but they took our bags and valeted our car as we heading to the Red Line a block down.

The Red Line will probably be our regular tradition now (when we stay overnight, at least). It's so much easier and with the rest of the fans on board, it helps get you amped for the game. Just grab a day pass for the CTA and we're set for wherever we want to go! And the fact that it drops you off right next to the field helps.

Game time. It was hot! Pretty close to the heat that Eric and I had for our game two weeks ago. There was a bit more of a breeze, but not much. The Mai Tais were going down REALLY easy... TOO easy! We did both gobble down a Wrigley Dog before the drinks started flowing, but since we knew there was no driving in our future, we didn't worry about the number of Mai Tais it took to keep us cool. Though, yes, there was water in there, too.

As the game progressed, you could see a storm coming in from the west. It slowly got darker and darker... and then the rain came! They just got the 7th inning stretch in with Jon Lovitz and the guest to sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame', and they called a delay. Cubs were up, 5-3. So if they had to call it, we were in good shape! But we wanted the game to start back up, so we stuck around through the 1 hour rain delay.

They did get the field as dry as they could - they have a pretty cool drainage system for the outfield that they squeegee the water to (as an engineer, I think it's cool, anyway). Then the game commenced! Yay! They even served alcohol for an extra inning - probably since there weren't too many people left! Then in the 9th, form Cub Derrek Lee hit a grand slam to put the Pirates ahead 7-5. Boo! And the Cubs couldn't come back to win it.

Of course, by that point, Wendy and I had already made our memories for the game... the rain just made it this year! We had out ponchos, so we kept mostly dry. Wendy played in the rain a bit with a little boy who was out there - not sure who had more fun. But then, Wendy and I always have fun at Wrigley, no matter the weather!

Saturday night, we went to dinner at one of the places Eric and I tried two weeks ago - Mercadito's. Unfortunately, there was a long wait without a reservation (lesson learned!), but we tried some of their drinks and kept entertained until they had some seats available in their downstairs lounge, which was a pretty cool atmosphere. The food was good, of course, and the people watching was better with the locals having such a strong presence here - very different from a night out in Indy!

Sunday was for shopping! We woke up to a beautiful blue sky a comfortable temps to shop around Michigan Avenue in. We had out big hot breakfast before we left the hotel and headed out as soon as the stores were open. I'd say we had a successful shopping trip with all the Labor Day Sales that were going on. We shopped as long as we could keep our car in the hotel parking garage, which was plenty late enough in order for us to still get home to Indy at a decent hour. Which of course still included a stop at Fair Oaks Farm.

So all in all, another great weekend in Chicago! I love going up there - wish I could get up there more. Maybe another trip in the fall with Eric...

I am a Cubs Fan

What is a Cubs fan?

To start, a Cubs fan is loyal. To the end. And a Cubs fans knows what it means to be an underdog. Every year. A Cubs fan roots for the Cubbies, no matter the time of year, no matter how many games behind they are. Every game means something, even when it means nothing.

Weather plays no factor. A Cubs fan is there in the extreme heat, even when there's no breeze blowing through the bleachers. And a Cubs fan stays through the downpour, as long as they will let them stay. And even when told to leave, they don't go far. When the cold air of early spring or fall brings a chill to the bone, a Cubs fan just adds another layer, but keeps going strong.

A Cubs fan knows that sometimes you just need another Mai Tai. And Old Style just doesn't get the job done sometimes, but it's always good to know it's still there. Especially after a Wrigley Dog, with it's neon green relish.

But most of all, a Cubs fan knows that next year will be our year. The Cubs will prove there's no curse and win the pennant again. And Harry Carey will be proud.