Get Outta Here

Toastmaster Dinner Proves You Can't Take Me Anywhere

2010-05-25T22:04:00.005-04:00

Over the years, my presence at the Toastmasters' high table in District 11 has been an ongoing source of amusement for the crowd. Believe me, it's not where I belong, since I have this magnet for odd things to happen to me.But my husband continues to get himself elected to leadership positions that land his table card up there, and protocol says his guest is seated at his side. The entire set-up

Sports Illustrated Customer Service Sucks

2010-03-09T22:03:00.005-05:00

Sports Illustrated is mad at me. They've sent me quite a collection of nasty letters stating that my account is in arrears, pay up now. They're tired of asking.Now I've had some deadbeat journalism clients in my time, so I understand the frustration. The problem is, their own records say I've paid.It started when I called in to see what it would take to switch my premium from a t-shirt to the

My Best Trip, by Julie Sturgeon

2010-03-04T23:32:00.010-05:00

My blogging buddy Michelle put up a challenge yesterday at her site, Blessed Quiver, that I can't resist. Even at 11:30 p.m. when I haven't wandered upstairs to do my treadmill slavery yet. She chose some prompts at Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop (and yes, it killed me to type cat with a K) and asked if anyone could get something out of this collection:1.) You’re so vain. You probably think this

Seeing George W. Bush Brings Out the Worst in Some People

2010-02-06T22:10:00.007-05:00

I crossed an item off my bucket list today -- I was in the same room with George W. Bush. OK, so were several thousand other folks. But I had a press pass, which gave me very quick access to walk up to his table and snap a few photos of him greeting the association big wigs shaking W's hand. Even if the Secret Service didn't like it and kept telling me to leave. Jealous, aren't you? Well,

Colts Game Gives Me a Heart Attack

2010-01-24T23:48:00.013-05:00

Yes, my heart was racing at the Colts-Jets division championship game today. And it had nothing to do with the play on the field.I've worked for the event management team at Lucas Oil Stadium this season, so I considered the chance to continue my role as a greeter/ticket checker at the upper suites during the playoffs as a reward, not a job. We have a great time up there, welcoming folks, helping

I Don't Want to Blog Every Day

2010-01-19T00:25:00.002-05:00

OK, so the social media experts say I'm supposed to post something every day. If not then, at least three times a week.I guess they haven't figured out the theme of my blog, have they? Good grief, I don't think I could survive a get outta here moment every.single.day. Especially in January when cabin fever has me on edge anyhow. So just hang loose and I promise the next silly, stupid, incredulous

Loving Those Fat Cats!

2010-01-05T21:19:00.008-05:00

This is another one of those posts without relevant pictures. It's too dark under my house for starters, and for a real show-stopper, it's near 0 degrees outside in Indiana and I'm not crawling around with a camera in there to make it work.But the guy who came to fix our Direct TV wires today didn't have that luxury. He was being paid to wear clothes to protect you in Antarctica and dig around in

The Rest of the Johnny Rockets Story

2009-12-16T19:14:00.008-05:00

Over at Uptake.com, I am posting a sweet story this Friday about eating dinner at Johnny Rockets at Greenwood Park Mall and betting on which child would cry on Santa's lap after waiting an hour to see him. (OK, maybe that's not your idea of fun. Given the right stressors, I define it in sadistic ways, I guess.)But I left out a big chunk of the story, mainly because I trashed another restaurant

Disney Finally Apologizes

2009-12-10T18:08:00.011-05:00

I just received an online greeting card from Walt Disney Travel Company, bless their little hearts. I'm going to watch the animated Mickey Mouse ears appear on the snowman, who fades to a frosty castle scene at least 84 times to make sure they're really saying happy holidays this time. You see, last Christmas Eve, we came home from New Albany to find a message from Walt Disney World on our caller

Sorry, Really Wrong Number

2009-11-05T14:10:00.002-05:00

I rarely pick up our household phone line if I don't recognize the caller. On the other hand, I also give it out to clients as an emergency way to contact me, so when the caller id read "New Jersey cell phone," I figured I'd better respond even though I couldn't recall a single New Jersey resident I'm working with at the moment.So I said the usual "Hello," which triggered the strangest recording

Toddlers: Best Audience for a Smart Alec

2009-09-28T21:47:00.004-04:00

This Sunday was my turn to work the nursery during services. It's always a whiff of burning sulfer, designed better than any sermon to keep you on the straight and narrow toward heaven, if you know what I mean.My special challenge this week was Isaac, who is not yet two and going through his separation anxiety stage. Which is a fancy psychobabble meaning, "cries for his mommy until you do, too."

My NYC Terrorist Plot Connection

2009-09-25T10:27:00.003-04:00

I can't believe how small the world is. Yah, yah, I've spent 24 years as a journalist, so you'd think I'd get used to having lots of contacts. But typically, that translates to occasionally calling the same business consultant twice to help me with different stories. (My number one source: a tossup between Tax Mama Eve Rosenberg and Donald Moine, both of whom I've called at least 7 times now).It

Not By the Hair on Her Chinny, Chin Chin

2009-09-18T20:41:00.007-04:00

Friends know me as the one who is always trying something new ... and it is usually has a business/monetary slant. So this fall, I've started working for CSC, which many Hoosiers know as "those people in the red jackets and yellow shirts at the Colts game." Let's see, a job where I tell them when I want to work, and entails being friendly to people, checking their tickets and giving directions

Take Your Dog to the Beach Day is a Wash

2009-08-22T21:37:00.005-04:00

My dog adores water. Dribbler is Mr. Wild Child at the groomer's, until she sticks him in a tub. He loves to play ball with people in the swimming pool, and getting splashed in the face is his favorite part. Once when he was upset at the vet's, I suggested they stick him in a tub and he calmed right down.<---What part of no don't you understand?So for the last five years, we've talked about

Trials of a Night Owl

2009-08-06T11:21:00.003-04:00

It's amusing how many people call themselves night owls, but actually turn in at 11 p.m. or — gasp! — midnight. When I say night owl, I mean I think about going to bed at 2 a.m., just as soon as I get done with my treadmill routine and the All My Children episode I Tivoed that day. Or after I fuss around with my latest scrapbook page or write an article due in the morning. Which makes my average

Well, That Didn't Exactly Work Out

2009-07-24T09:42:00.003-04:00

So I've learned since trying to drum up votes for this Antarctica trip that this is the dumbest contest in the world.Not the prize — the contest.The web designers have made this thing so darn confusing, I wound up not having my own four votes count for myself. You see, after registering, this little button comes up and says "vote," and you click on it, thinking "There's my good deed for the day."

What Was I Thinking?

2009-07-12T20:21:00.018-04:00

The moral of this story: don't sit down at the keyboard at 2 a.m.So Friday night (Saturday morning, technically), I was futzing around on Twitter, looking for interesting people to follow. I clicked through on a blog talking about how you could win a trip to Antarctica with your 300-word blog entry on why you want to see this freezer up close.My husband could probably come up with a plausible

Why Should I Eat at Burger King?

2009-07-07T00:48:00.009-04:00

My husband nearly drove off the road when I suggested grabbing dinner at Burger King the other night. I don't particularly crave their food, but I had a $5 gift card and sometimes you just have to eat cheap. Which explains why I didn't know anything about the XL sandwich, and since my meal was almost free, I figured I would splurge and order the combo deal. After all, its photo looked — well,

I'll Be Back

2009-06-29T23:08:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to drop by and say that I haven't abandoned this blog -- not by a long shot -- but a close friend of ours died suddenly in an accident, and this is a time for mourning at our house. I simply don't feel funny/ironic/sarcastic and I'm not looking at the world through normal glasses at the moment.That will change. It always does. But for now, I need to take care of other emotions.

When in Naples, Look Behind the Bushes

2009-06-04T23:00:00.004-04:00

Naples' big attractions are supposed to be Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. We did both in what you could call “sweating to the oldies” since the volcano involves climbing uphill over loose ash pebbles and the ancient city lacks shade.But the real attention-getter? An impromptu walk along the streets of Naples, where we had the great timing to witness a vendor bust. As in 17 cop cars descended on a

Norwegian Dancer Light on His Feet — and Work Ethic

2009-05-31T17:10:00.003-04:00

My favorite part of cruising starts every evening about 10 p.m. when the curtain goes up on the live entertainment stage. OK, the dude that played the bells that first night was a bit boring after one number. Correction. Make that very boring. We walked out along after 15 minutes of politely trying to care.But I was glued to my seat during the musical nights when the singers and dancers put on

iPhone Addiction Strikes Again

2009-05-29T13:23:00.005-04:00

My husband has Fridays off. I had this fantasy where I, too, would not work on Fridays and thus we'd have wonderful 3-day weekends together. But we self-employed types scramble 365 days a year (yes, I've been known to do work on Christmas) and in the end, it simply wasn't practical.But I could have lunch once in a while. So around noon today, I walked out in the kitchen, where Ron was tapping

Welcome to Spain — We Sell Expensive Toiletries

2009-05-27T16:35:00.011-04:00

Sorry for the long pause in posts. I got caught up in jet lag and holidays this past week ... Which is the same thing that happened to me on the Barcelona end as well. Now this was not my first transatlantic flight by a long shot. I know the rules of jet lag: Force yourself to stay awake and go to bed at the proper time in the country you are now in to get adjusted faster. But I still hit that

No Hablo Espanol -- Please!

2009-05-19T17:40:00.005-04:00

Foreign language instruction in school is a dangerous thing.Oh, I'm all for sitting through two years of Spanish, French or German — as long as you either use it and get better or forget it completely. But if you're lost in the middle, you arrive in Barcelona, Spain and do really stupid things.Like wander into a tapas bar and order paella negro. Heck, they even translated it for me as "dirty rice

Toilet Paper: Wiping Away the Mystery

2009-04-30T17:04:00.006-04:00

Yah, it's a picture of my bathroom closet.Big chunks of time go by in Bloggerville without a good, reportable get outta here moment. Every day is the same: You get up, go to your job, work at whatever pays the bills until dinner, then go to bed and start the cycle again. And then this week, I took a few personal moments, if you know what I mean, to open a magazine. Just my luck — stuck here and

Dennis Schaal Blog: Google, Amex, UpTake Point To An Opportunity for Travel Agents

2009-04-14T20:05:00.000-04:00

Dennis Schaal Blog: Google, Amex, UpTake Point To An Opportunity for Travel Agents

So That's What You Call a Bible Thumper

2009-04-09T20:35:00.007-04:00

I may have officially seen it all.I was standing in the seasonal aisle at Hobby Lobby (yes, I hang out there enough to know it by its technical name), looking for crafts or geegaws or something to put in my niece and nephew's Easter baskets this year. When they start selling this stuff at 50 percent off a month before the holiday, you know it's all cheap crap, but then they are kids. Who cares if

Southern Hospitality a Little Too Friendly

2009-03-30T10:34:00.003-04:00

Today's post will not come with a photo. Believe me, you don't want one.I've always preferred to travel in the South because that famous hospitality thing isn't a myth. Heck, even the mall bathrooms down here are very upscale -- nice tile floors, wide stalls with multiple coat hooks on the side to hang your purse and several shopping bags. But it seems the previous users in these stalls want to

Don't Pinch Me, I'll Be Irish!

2009-03-17T10:04:00.006-04:00

I was standing in the closet, picking out today's clothes with the shower running to make sure the temperature in there was good and steamy, when I remembered the weather man said today would hit 70 degrees.As I pivoted to the rack on the left side -- the one with short sleeves instead of sweatshirts -- I also recalled another fact. I needed to pick something green or I'd get pinched.Yes, grade

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

2009-03-07T20:44:00.006-05:00

Study: Dow’s Decline Is Fastest for a New President in Nearly a CenturyWell, isn’t it just my luck to be around to read that headline? I mean lots of people in this country are born, live their lives, die and never have to deal with an economic meltdown. I don’t know why God chose me in particular to be among the millions on Earth for this event. You’d think if I were cut out for this, I wouldn’t

Taco Bell Logic

2009-02-25T00:49:00.003-05:00

So we drive down to Bloomington an hour before the game to have dinner with Kevin, our friend’s son who has the good luck to be a college student in 2009. Unfortunately, we still didn’t get it right, because Scotty’s Brewhouse was packed. We knew better than to even try Mother Bear’s. There was no other choice than to hike across the street to Taco Bell, where all three of us visibly jumped

Let's Get This Straight

2009-02-21T12:14:00.005-05:00

Yes, it was my decision to perm my hair in November. Now it’s my prerogative to change my mind and want it straight again. Apparently, however, this is not an entitlement.My goddaughter says all I have to do is use a round brush with my hair dryer and blow it out straight. Well, honey, it’s obviously I’m an old person so I know that. And if I had that talent, do you think I’d be hunting all over

A Capital Idea

2009-02-07T15:08:00.006-05:00

I've received press releases that made me giggle, a few that mystified me, and a handful that got my goat in the past quarter century. And then, I opened this little gem this week:dear ms. sturgeon,i would love to discuss with you a storyabout what happens upon graduationfrom a school of hospitality-the question i would like to work with you on to answer is-who is getting the jobs and why?and

Seat Talk, Or How I Nearly Lost My Mind at the IU Basketball Game

2009-02-02T22:56:00.010-05:00

Holding a ticket to a basketball game at Assembly Hall is like winning the lottery as far as I'm concerned.But this past Saturday, the prize wasn't so great. Yah, I know. We lost and I could go on for pages about how I beat Ron's arm black and blue in frustration with most of the calls. But that wasn't what made me roll my eyeballs.OK, I confess: I made fun of the gal singing the National Anthem.

The Text of the Matter

2009-01-29T14:59:00.003-05:00

Checking my agency phone is an expensive proposition these days.Some high school girl practiced in the high drama of how to nag your friends 24/7 has confused my number with someone else’s, and sends me scads of text messages a day. I don’t know what most of them say, because I’m one of those fuddy-duds who did not pay for text service on my phone plan, so it costs me .20 to open each one. But

And the Winner Is

2009-01-27T19:29:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who racked their brains to come up with a name for my vacuum cleaner. Sure, it's stupid ... what else do we have to do the first three months of the year when you live north of the Mason-Dixon line and somewhere between Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon?Truly, all the names were better than what I came up with, but one in particular sparked a wonderfully naughty idea in

Talking Dogs Say the Darndest Things

2009-01-23T12:14:00.005-05:00

My dog is a smart alec.No, I haven't officially gone insane courtesy of Sesame Street songs. And I’ll bet a majority of pet owners know just what I’m talking about: You hold running conversations with your dog.Most of my remarks are what we journalists call closed-ended questions, as in, “Would you like to go for a walk?” “Is it time for some food?” “Let’s go outside and do your business.” Which

Sweeping Up the Pieces

2009-01-21T11:41:00.005-05:00

It’s here! My new Eureka vacuum cleaner, the best ratings for the price appliance my husband could find on the Internet, shipped to me straight from a mysterious warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, where dock hands felt a need to wrap the box in neon yellow tape screaming: Refrigerate Upon Arrival.For some reason, God has decided this is my month to deal with folks' nonsensical tape issues.Now I’m

The End Is Near

2009-01-17T13:42:00.006-05:00

Winter has officially won the battle for my sanity.It was scoring on the little skirmishes all week: I don't especially enjoy mail that comes in from the box feeling like little pieces of dry ice. I'm not a fan of feeling as if the wind is about to break your bones. I don't think it's funny when people send me notes asking if I know it's -11 outside. Yes, I do. That's why I'm wearing three layers

The Post Office Goes Postal

2009-01-13T15:15:00.008-05:00

I went back to the Greenwood Post Office yesterday, where I’m such a beloved patron to start with. This time, I was dragging a box of paperwork from Globus to send to a client, along with a gift I’d wrapped to thank them for their business. Now let me just say that if I’d had a box big enough for all of this, I would have arrived with my stuff already in that box. The fact I was holding it in two

Treadmill Tales: Climbing the Stairway to Infinity

2009-01-08T18:08:00.012-05:00

Contrary to my reputation, I do exercise and on purpose. I've owned a treadmill for five years, and wear a pedometer constantly as my self-imposed requirement to walk 10,000 steps (read: 4 miles) a day.Not to tick you off or anything, but I conquered the challenge of walking while I watch TiVoed episodes of Scrapbook Memories, NYPD Blue reruns, Desperate Housewives and All My Children after the

New Year's Eve Confetti Caper

2009-01-02T14:44:00.009-05:00

I always host the New Year’s Eve party for one reason: I’m the only person in Indianapolis insane enough to encourage guests to throw trash bags full of confetti on my floor. And in my Christmas tree, under my couch cushions, on top of the light fixtures, down the toilets, around the dog’s cage, through the pool table, and hidden in our underwear. Why? Because it’s fun.OK, it was also fun to

5 New Year's Resolutions I Can Live With

2008-12-30T15:50:00.011-05:00

I’m definitely not a New Year’s Resolution kind of gal. For one thing, January 1 isn’t always a convenient time to make a plan. For instance, say you have a large outstanding amount of money in invoices and no one pays you in October. I don’t think I’d better wait three months to resolve “to keep better track of the billing process.”Unless of course I develop a fondness for hiding from the IRS,

What I Got for Christmas

2008-12-27T20:38:00.007-05:00

… is proof that my husband has the attention span of a cardboard box. Now this is not a long-winded rant on how he can’t buy a decent gift, because on that score, Ron makes the gift-giving hall of fame. He remembered I wanted an armoire jewelry stand long after I’d forgotten it was on my list and ta-da! It appeared covered in what had to be an entire roll of wrapping paper under the tree

A Tail End to the Season

2008-12-20T13:13:00.004-05:00

I volunteered to dog sit my friend’s Labrador/Irish Setter/Golden Retriever mix while they visit family for the holidays. That’s hardly noteworthy, as Sean spends a lot of time over here and is the only dog my Dribbler tolerates in his space. We’ve known Sean since he was a pup, so we’re well aware he was taught not to go upstairs and thus whines something fierce if you head to the upper regions

Disney On Hold

2008-12-14T23:09:00.006-05:00

How to kill time while on hold waiting for the next representative at the Walt Disney World agent line to take your call:1. Visit every social networking site and invite more people to link to you for no apparent reason other than to look wildly popular.2. See if you can climb your feet up the side of the desk without moving your butt.3. Forward 14,568 bad jokes to everyone in your address book

Holiday Flight Plan PSA

2008-12-08T17:06:00.005-05:00

I am finished with airline travel for 2008, and I don’t foresee heading back to the airport until at least May. So although my time in the sky is now on hiatus, out of the kindness of my heart, I have a few tips to pass along to make your holiday flights and winter escapes even merrier.It starts with the boarding process: Assume everyone will have the two allowed pieces of carry-on luggage. One

Hairy Dilemma

2008-12-04T23:58:00.003-05:00

I owe Yumi a big, fat apology.My latest “what did I get myself into” moment started in the shower in Las Vegas when I discovered three of the links on a strand of my hair extensions had detached. It doesn’t sound serious, but believe me, the result is a hank of hair hanging lopsided down your back, with this big tab sticking out the back of your head. Fake hair is hard enough to make look good

More Julie Sturgeon Blogs to Enjoy

2008-12-01T12:59:00.006-05:00

Now you can catch my sarcasm twice as often.Yes, in addition to sharing whenever I get around to it at Get Outta Here, I’ll be appearing every Tuesday and Friday afternoons over at UpTake.com. UpTake is someone’s great idea to consolidate comments and ratings floating around on the Internet on myriad hotels, restaurants, and travel activities into one comprehensive site.It’s my number one stop

Trail Blazer Switch

2008-11-30T20:07:00.004-05:00

I’ve been told Hoosiers own the largest inventory of black Chevy Trail Blazers per capita in the country. I can’t confirm that, and after my experience last Friday, I don’t want to. It could turn out to be untrue, and I need the excuse.This embarrassing admission takes place at our new Noodles & Company, which I wanted to check out before taking my friend’s teen-age daughter to the mall. Ron went

Bumming a Beach

2008-11-21T22:06:00.005-05:00

I just read where someone stole a beach on Jamaica’s north coast this summer. For journalists, the big mystery evolves around where it went. I have a more elemental question: How did someone take it in the first place?I’m not a whiz at crime – the only thing I’ve ever deduced that could land me in jail is how to steal a purse from a stall in a women’s restroom. And I promise I won’t try it

Don't Shoot

2008-11-19T18:40:00.003-05:00

I’m never letting my husband touch the camera again.For 25 years, this man has managed to take a photo of my backside on every vacation. Australia and the Great Barrier Reef came out as Julie’s behind floating like a bobber in the ocean. At Disney World, he captured a memory of Mickey Mouse hugging a stranger – oh, wait! I recognize that rear. Must be me.Christmas Eve with the family? There’s his

Run, Julie, Run

2008-11-08T18:01:00.005-05:00

I have never missed a connection in my life.And after what I went through in the Prague airport, that’s not exactly something to be proud of.It’s definitely Czech Airlines’ fault. They scheduled a legal connection of only 45 minutes between landing and my JFK flight – and because travel is always full of mishaps, my flight arrived 15 minutes late. And I was in the back of the stupid airplane, so

Election Night Results

2008-11-08T17:58:00.003-05:00

Election Day has always been an unofficial holiday at our house, so I was torn over taking an Avalon Waterways river cruise down the Danube during the first week in November. Luckily, the ship had an internet connection, which meant if I were willing to get up at 4:30 a.m., I could still be part of the action at home.It was just my luck the internet satellite wasn’t working on this journey – they

Exit Stage Right

2008-10-27T09:27:00.001-04:00

I love flying to Orlando during fall break.I have to admit, I wasn’t terribly thrilled to arrive at my gate and find it crammed with small fry toting Belle backpacks. Obviously, I don’t begrudge families enjoying a long weekend at Disney World – little children excited to see Mickey is very energizing.But not when you’re about to put their energized butts on an airplane with nowhere to go to work

Julie, the Radical

2008-10-14T21:22:00.004-04:00

I wore a new t-shirt today. Yahoo! Grabbing it meant I didn’t have to walk around in my bathrobe waiting on a load of laundry to get a fresh one. And I had a lot of little things on my calendar today – everything from lunch with a friend to a bank deposit to buying more wasp spray and toothpaste.So while I was near the county courthouse, I figured I’d be cheap and drop off my absentee ballot to

Online Hints

2008-10-11T02:06:00.001-04:00

I don’t need a television to clue me on what’s happening on the economy front. I have a spam bucket on my email that makes it perfectly clear.This week, I’ve been tantalized by subject lines offering me my very own bail-out plan. (From what? Doing the laundry? Taking a sample of my dog’s poo to the vet?) One ambitious company dangled a $500 Macy gift card to click on their link. But mostly I’ve

Grammar Queen

2008-09-25T14:58:00.000-04:00

Today is my birthday.And in typical adult/kid fashion, I wanted to know what else I share this important day with. My husband was born on the day they fired on Ft. Sumter in history. OK, it’s not real positive, but it is weighty. I already knew Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas were born on this day, but not being a big Hollywood fan, this didn’t impress me.So I fired up Google and here’s

Pretzel Logic

2008-09-23T18:03:00.003-04:00

I quit. It’s not because I suck at Pilates, mind you. I knew I had no flexibility when I signed up for the class at the Y. I knew I would find muscles in places that shouldn’t have muscles and then proceed to pull them all like a bundle of electronic wires. What I didn’t anticipate was an animosity toward my instructor. This little bald guy sits in front of the class and taunts us. “You think

Brained

2008-09-20T15:34:00.000-04:00

I finally understand sleep dentistry.I’m not especially afraid of the dentist’s chair. When every molar in your head is crowned, when you’ve had root canals and gum grafts and braces, sensitive teeth, canker sores and wisdom teeth extractions so complicated they take pictures as teaching aids in dental schools, you get over it very quickly. So when I walked in to Dr. Pete’s this week for a little

If a Tree Falls in the Forest...

2008-09-16T17:07:00.004-04:00

Sunday afternoon, it was obvious to anyone breathing that Hurricane Ike was blowing through the Midwest. You could hear the wind over the Colts game now and then, this loud whooshing sound that resembled the air conditioner. Only it was too cold to have the HVAC system running, so, being a brilliant sort, I knew it had to be the wind.The next morning we looked out our back window, and there was

Name Games

2008-09-14T18:56:00.005-04:00

I know what you're secretly wondering but are too polite to ask: How did I dream up a company name like Curing Cold Feet?The truth is, I couldn’t stand to lose an argument.It was a 3 a.m. Thursday night/Friday morning epiphany. I’m not a patient person, and I knew when I signed the contract papers with Montrose Travel the following Monday, I would be officially valuable good time if I didn’t have

Sometimes Life Isn't Funny

2008-09-10T18:05:00.014-04:00

And this is one of those get outta here moments that won’t make you laugh, frankly. This story starts with an essay. I’ll wait three minutes while you read it.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/22/AR2008062201867.htmlBeautiful, wasn't it? But keep that Kleenex box close. Because shortly after penning that piece about never leaving her boy, Lori, who is a single mom and

You Can't Hear Me Now

2008-09-05T01:36:00.003-04:00

My phone rang at 10:30 last night. That’s not completely unheard of around here, between Ron’s Toastmaster leadership and friends knowing I’m a night owl. It was who was calling that triggers this blog post. It was a source I was supposed to interview earlier in the day. This guy had been told in advance what the article was about and how his expertise fit. I followed that up with an email

Happy Birthday to Who?

2008-09-03T00:49:00.004-04:00

I needed to mail a birthday gift today. I knew it would cost money. That’s why I took my credit card to Pack n Ship All (if I were in charge, that would be known as Pack n Ship Y’all) during lunch.I handed the man my basket with the XXXX (hey, she might be reading this post and I don’t want to give away the surprise. Especially after you see what I paid for this thing), little decorated flowers

Puppy Angst

2008-08-28T21:20:00.008-04:00

<< Real dog, Dribbler (the one without swim trunks, LOL)I’ve been suckered by Facebook.Sure, it’s my fault I added the Pokey! application to my profile page. But trust me – I’m not the one slathering on the guilt by putting my little imaginary golden Lab fluff ball on the “hungriest puppies” list and asking strangers worldwide to step in and care for him. For Pete’s sake, it’s only been five days

Don't Blink

2008-08-22T21:03:00.002-04:00

Getting my official CLIA card requires more work of me than the next travel agent. You see, they insist on a passport photo. And when the photo is official, you need to have your eyes open.I’m a champion blinker. For years, our albums have featured photos of me with my eyes glued shut, including all but one of our wedding pictures. Professional photographers sweat bullets trying to capture a

Flight of Fantasy

2008-08-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

Don’t listen when someone says flying sucks.Sure, it can be unpleasant. But the industry is still full of human beings, so the odds of a good experience are just as great as those of having a bad day when you show up at the airport.My husband and I showed up at the United counter on Sunday, booked on separate flights and routes from Calgary to Indy. It was going to cost several hundred dollars

Golden Moments

2008-08-18T18:47:00.004-04:00

OK, so maybe in a year or so the “where were you when Michael Phelps won gold medal #8” question won’t be top-of-mind with Americans. But even when his accomplishments fade, I won’t forget mine.My husband won’t let me.You see, I flew up to Calgary for the weekend to surprise him at a Toastmaster convention – a little “gotcha” I cooked up back in March. When I obviously wasn’t thinking Olympics or

Olympic Schooling

2008-08-11T20:16:00.003-04:00

I’ve heard all my life that travel is educational. Cynical me figured it was because some adult wanted to go to Disney World when the crowds are down in October. But I need to give that chestnut more weight – I mean, take a look at what I’ve learned from Beijing in just four days:• Underwater cameras in the water polo pool do not transmit an attractive image.• You can’t make cycling visually

A Carbonated Comment

2008-08-08T12:48:00.000-04:00

My husband was thirsty while we were driving home on I-65 the other day, and used that an excuse to pull into the Taco Bell drive-thru. There’s something about that purple and pink logo that calls his name.But he was good this time and told the little squawk box he only wanted a large Pepsi with lots of ice.At the window, the cashier cheerfully asked us for $3.97. Get outta here – we ordered a

Derby Style in August

2008-08-08T11:36:00.001-04:00

My get outta here moment happens fairly quickly in this little story: I found a hip, cool hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Yah, that’s not a typo. I’m talking about Louisville, city on the other side of the Ohio River on I-65 where my goal is always to leave whether I’m heading north or south.My husband had a death in his family this week, however, that forced us to spend the night. I glanced

Get Outta Here: Look Ma! No Air-Conditioning!

2008-07-30T10:50:00.000-04:00

Just came back from a 16-hour road trip to Kansas City, where I attended the ASBPE convention. (If you’re bored today, try to figure out what that stands for. Or rather, should stand for.) I picked up a colleague at the Indy airport to ride shotgun with me … someone I’ve chatted with for more than two years by email but had never met in person.Now I also roomed with someone with that same status,

Get Outta Here: A Comfortable Hell

2008-07-13T12:48:00.000-04:00

Even travel agents pick the wrong hotel at times. I pulled into the Glen Capri Inn and Suites in Glendale, California, Friday afternoon and immediately began thinking up a reason I couldn’t stay the second night. Now I’m not a hotel snob, but there’s something about outside doors with crooked number plates that don’t inspire safety feelings among women. You also get a strike against you when the

Get Outta Here: The Flying Nun

2008-06-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

So I’m sitting at the gate at Reagan National, minding my own business and trying not to care that the storm on the other side of that window has shut down the airport. (All good stories start with this “minding my own business” gig.) The lady next to me sees me take a break in my book, and starts a conversation.She turned out to be a very nice person – polished make-up, nicely styled hair,

Get Outta Here: The Gift Fairy Bombs

2008-05-29T16:20:00.001-04:00

Worst part about a vacation, hands down: bringing back gifts. I don’t mean Christmas or birthday gifts (I stock up on those, too). I’m talking about remembrances for the folks who are grabbing the mail for you every day and feeding the dog.The first few trips it was easy, because you had the endless stock of souvenir shop items to choose from. Unfortunately, I realized in Costa Rica that I’ve

Get Outta Here: I Paid for a Snipe Hunt

2008-05-27T22:06:00.000-04:00

When you read the tourist brochures on Costa Rica, they’re telling the truth about the wildlife. My husband got to hold a baby sloth crawling along the ground. We were close enough to monkeys to take up the entire frame in the photo without a zoom lens. I watched leaf-cutter ants straight from the Discovery Channel, I dodged lizards falling from the tree next to the pool. I declined to hold a

Get Outta Here: Private Driver Mystique

2008-05-27T22:05:00.000-04:00

I’m a sucker for private transport in a country. I’d much rather deal mano a mano with a local driver as he proudly shows me what is important in his world. We can have a customized conversation in a car, as opposed to a crackling microphone that interrupts my little snooze in the back of the bus.Ah, but then there was Arthur, the gentleman who drove us three hours from Tortuguero to Arenal. Ron

Get Outta Here: Costa Rica Packing Tips

2008-05-27T22:01:00.000-04:00

I just returned from what had to be the hottest place I’ve visited on the planet. Not that I can’t take the heat – when they wrote the line “some like it hot,” they were referring to Julie Sturgeon.What I didn’t like about Costa Rica was my packing choices for this humid, tropical climate. I'll cheerfully pass along my new insights so you can avoid lying naked on a bed, dripping wet, waiting for