Friday From The Road - #4: Wind-Em-Up

License Plate Reads: Liberal

Friday From The Road #3 - Too Cute

Tea Parties and House Calls

From yesterday's Tax Tea Party yesterday:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives incensed over the Democrats' health care overhaul protested at the Capitol on Thursday, arguing that the legislation amounts to a government takeover of the nation's medical system. The crowd, invited on national television by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., was staunchly anti-government - "Politicians lie, people die," read one sign - but loudly cheered the House Republicans who hosted the event. The protest attracted many of the so-called Tea Party demonstrators angry with increased spending and an expanded government role under the Obama administration.

"This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I have seen," House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio told the crowd. "We're not going to leave this Hill until we kill this bill," declared Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.
That's highly unlikely. House Democrats hope to pass the sweeping legislation on Saturday, buoyed by endorsements on Thursday from the American Medical Association and the AARP, the powerful seniors lobby. President Barack Obama makes a final appeal to Democrats during a rare visit to the Capitol Friday.
Republican leaders controlled their event, focusing on what they said were the flaws in the Democratic bill, as they distanced themselves from Bachmann's invitation. On Oct. 30, she invited viewers of Fox News to Washington to roam House office buildings and confront lawmakers.

"I'd love to have every one of your viewers join me so that we can go up and down through the halls," Bachmann said. "Find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, 'Don't take away my health care."' Republicans have offered a slimmed-down health care bill that focuses on reducing costs rather than increasing coverage for millions of uninsured Americans. At the rally on the West Front of the Capitol, they mocked the 1,990-page Democratic bill, bound in a gold cord, on the corner of the lectern. It was so heavy, at one point it thunked to the ground.

The crowd, including many older Americans, carried placards that ranged from pithy - "Free health care isn't free" - to harsh. "Ken-ya Trust Obama?" said one, referencing the president's African roots and claims by some that he wasn't born in the United States. One protester carried a sign reading, "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy," a reference to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who died of brain cancer this past summer.
The demonstrators came to Washington by plane, bus and other means to send a message to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as they press ahead with health care legislation.

"It's upsetting because of where we've come from to where we are today, to see our freedom eroding," said Ben Fourman, 72, of Farmingdale, N.J. The retiree wore a T-shirt that said, "Liberty equals limited government." Actors Jon Voight and John Radcliffe, who played Cliff on the comedy series "Cheers," attended but the real star was Bachmann. "We want Michele! We want Michele," the crowd chanted as she took the microphone.

Bachmann, a favorite of conservatives for her colorful rhetoric, issued a reality check about the bill's outsized chances of passing. But she added a dash of optimism gleaned from Republican victories on Election Day.
"Kill the bill! Kill the bill!" the crowd chanted. "Yes, that's exactly what you're going to tell them," said Bachmann. Capitol Police arrested a dozen anti-abortion protesters in the hall outside Pelosi's office in the Cannon House Office Building.

Elsewhere, Siler City, N.C., resident Paul Kaufman and nine family members stopped by the offices of Reps. Mel Watt, D-N.C., and Walter Jones, R-N.C. "I feel like I'm defending my freedom. I'm defending my rights," Kaufman said, adding that he identified with a sign he saw at the rally that said "I love my country, but I'm afraid of my government."

Friday From The Road #1- Cali Girl

Just driving along, minding my own business...no really, I do most of my non-work related business from the car (because I'm never home) and I found these treasures! I love attitude, or at least a little flair. This Friday From the Road....

It says "Chill out" and the license plate says "Lov Cal" 

Bubbles Off The Port Bow!

Who doesn't love bubbles? But it's not something you see floating by your 12th story apartment window everyday. Looking like the opening to a Disney Movie, Lindsey and I went out to investigate, and apparently so did everyone else on ourside of building. Low and behold, our neighbs below us, full grown adults mind you, were "testing out" the new bubble machine they bought for their nieces. Right...30 minutes later, they ran out of bubble mix. I suggested Linds and I head over to Toys R' Us and "test out" a bubble gun for ourselves.

Ready For Combat

For National Military Appreciation Month, 630 WMAL and Skin-can-do owner Sara Damelio teamed up for a combat-ready drive. She whips up this all-natural skin-balm for her spas in her kitchen and one day found out it really helps on sand-flea bites. You know who suffers the worst from those little crustaceans? Our guys and gals over in the big sandbox (I have a brother and a few friends over there and I've heard first hand.) So she started sending her balm with troops as the left the States. Throw in the do-good listeners from the station and we've got a real mission on our hands.

We were hoping to raise enough to send 500 jars over. By the end of the month long push- we hit around 800. THAT'S EFFING AWESOME. I know it doesn't sound like much, but heck if we can offer anything to help, skin cream or otherwise, why not?! So when Sara laced up to hand out the miracle in a jar at BWI - I tagged along with her.

At first, the Air-Force team seemed a little confused about what we were throwing in their care-packages. For many, it was their first tour and they had no idea what to expect. So not only were we the harbingers of skin relief, we also served as bearers of bad news. Luckily, right behind us were the USO volunteers handing out Girls Scout cookies, a perfect distraction.

HOLY Captain FACEBOOK

Sure, there's 5000 miles between us, but my sister Carly and I usually check each-other's vitals at least once a week. That's why we are on the same cell phone plan. To get the scoop first hand. Then BAM I see this in my news feed. Gimpie brakes her arm and I find out about it A-MONTH-LATER on Facebook? Yeah stick that in your box and shake it.

Friday From The Road # 2: The Mix on the Bus Goes ...

This Friday From the Road....

Agh I'm a loyalist..can't help it. So when I saw one of our stations planted on the back of the metro bus, I got a little psyched. 

No, Really, Thank YOOOUUU, Customer DISservice

My momma raised me well...(she would have used 'good' there, I said she raised me well, not taught me grammar). And a major point in her curriculum included thank you notes and such. I can remember her sitting her spawn down the morning after Christmas or our birthdays with a list, blank greeting cards (she bought in bulk...know anyone like that?), and a pen. And those buns didn't budge from the table until we pumped out a a thank-you to each gift giver.

Last summer, the we Benson clanners trekked out for a little camping action in the Grand Canyon. Being that I am a frequent flier program maven, I booked my reward flight round trip out of Vegas using USAIR. Well oops - I broke my foot - yeah shut up - and my mobility plans were slightly altered, and by altered I mean a complete detour to San Diego with the fam for some ER attention.

Ironic that I can get two helicopters down the face of a canyon to lift me out of a nearly impossible ravine (pilot will back me up on that) but I couldn't get the airline company to reroute my reward flight to leave out of San Diego instead of Vegas. No worries the delightful customer service rep tells me: my flight is good for a year out of Sin City, so I can just book a flight in and use my reward flight out. So I try it.

Silly Jen...it's never that simple..You guessed it. I've got a big fat No sitting at the end of that plan. Not even an "I doubt it." Just a straight up no. So you know where I told them they could stick their reward miles? Yeah that's right...right back in my account.

So I escalate that sucker to the second customer service rep, and get an ok - just need $100. Well wouldn't you know it...I, of course, conduct all of my business on a cell phone while driving - and my purse was in the trunk. (Unlike my friend Liana - I don't have the number memorized. Noted for the next time.)

I call back the next day...credit card in hand. And I'm told repeatedly this time, from half way across the world (Judging from the accents I'm going with Bangalore), how sorry USAir is, but that just isn't allowed. Reeeeealllly? Then why did two other reps clear it and were ready to give me back my miles? Supervisor Please! Oh well my supervisor is going to tell you the same thing...Well FABULOUS...let me hear it from their mouth then.

45 minutes on the phone and three states later in my "office" (MD, DC, VA), I FINALLY reached Phyllis in North Carolina. Boy did we hit it off- she was my Paula Deen in shimmering butter. In her sweet-tea cooing drawl she told me she would talk to her supervisor while I was on hold. Clearly timing is everything and my cell drops the call.

While I'm frantically retracing my steps through the maze of customer DISservicers, brace yourself...Phyllis called me back. She looked up my number on my account and CALLED ME BACK. This is what it's come to - a gesture that used to be expected, I am now eternally grateful for - way to lower the bar millennials! Then she not only put my unused miles back in my account - she refunded my entire trip. Here was a woman who I'm sure listens to RAGErs like me all day, and was still able to use her brain and help a sista out.

You bet I wrote that woman a thank you note.

Saving Second Base

My darling friend Angela has finally figured it out - If you want me to show up..put it on my g-calander. It can be something as insignificant as a grocery shopping trip - or as important as saving the Ta-tas. That's what we did - she signed us up to walk and save the ta-tas. You're welcome.

And yes it was rumoured the new First Lady was down on the mall, getting her pink ribbon on...but we must have missed her. We did however, meet Gordon the Gekko and Angela's mystery man. This is also the day I met Angie's coworker Johnney. More stories to come, but he is quite a character. oooh we call that forshadowing kids...

Always In Moderation

From the woman who brought you words of wisdom like, "you can pick your friends, and you an pick your nose, but you can't pick your friends nose," and...well...me... comes this thank you note.

My brother, sister, and I usually get a gift together for my mom's birthday - but being so close to mother's day and 2,500 -5,000 miles apart from each other makes coordination a little difficult. So this year I ordered her a chocolate cake to be delivered. Here is the thank you note I received in return.

"My dearest daughter Jennifer (always good that she remembers my name and that I am the ham of the family.)
Thank you so much for the fabulous chocolate cake-by-mail! It was delicious! Goodness, I was so surprised as I thought it would be a cake-free birthday, since Goose (grandma) was out of town (on a cross-country RV trip). It was extremely rich....wait for it...so I found that if I kept it refrigerated and/or frozen, I could eat a much larger portion at one sitting! Call me! Love Mommie"

Take A Bow

Helen Mirren on stage in DC. I'm a total theater-moron and I even know that's a big deal. When I first heard the rumors back in the spring... I mentioned it to Linds. Well she about had a heart attack on the spot. Then the details started to trickle in. She would be playing Phedre at the brand new Shakespeare Theater downtown.

It would be the only American appearance for the National Theatre of Great Britain on their International Tour, and they selected DC. Chew on that New York. And guess who will be playing her ill-fated step-son....yep, Dominic Cooper. Ring a bell Mamma Mia fans? He was the fiance in the movie. It gets better.. Wait for it... we managed to get tickets.

It was a perfect night. Linds and I grabbed pizza at Edna's in Gallery Place before walking over to pick up our nearly-impossible-to-get tickets. While we were killing time we splurged and bought copies of the academy award winning actresses' memoir, then made sure to have them signed.

I'm not even going to attempt to give my opinion on the show, other than it was nothing short of perfection. We were watching Helen do for stage, what Maryl Streep does for film. Not just hit the right lines and memorize what must have been impossible dialogue from Jean Racine's 17th century classic, but she completely owned it.

Ben Brantley in The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Mirren remains not only incomparably majestic but also compellingly credible. Her Phedre is a more extreme blend of artifice and conviction, but boy , does she make it work in Nicholas Hytner's modern dress interpretation."

Waiting for us just outside the doors after the third curtain call was champagne for the audience. Linds and I toasted to her brilliance, and our success on a perfect evening.