In Honor of Allison

Today's my birthday.  Even though I've celebrated six birthdays without my twin sister, Allison, I still catch myself feeling a little uncomfortable when I say that phrase.  My birthday.  It used to be our birthday.  Our birthday cake.  Our day.  So as I sit at the computer with my eyes welling up a little bit, I want to dedicate this blog to one of the nicest people who ever lived...my beautiful twin, Allison.  Happy Birthday, Big Al.

Some of you reading this never got the chance to meet her.  I can tell you this much...she was a lot nicer than I am.  (I tell Dylan that and I think he finds it hard to believe sometimes).  When I was flat broke, I used to come to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Boone, where she worked part time as a waitress on Saturdays, and order the cheapest thing on the menu--a single pancake.  I think it only cost 89 cents.  I'd show up early with my two bucks (one dollar for my pancake, the other for a tip), find a moderately cleaned table, and wait.  Allison always made sure to wait on me.  She'd say, "what do you want", to which I'd respond, "you know.  My usual."  She'd roll her eyes and bring me a big glass of Dr. Slice and then a pancake.  But that was just for starters.  She'd use her own tip money to buy me a regular meal:  two eggs, bacon, and hash browns.  Then, she'd plop down next to me and eat.  And she never took a dime from me.  Ever.  But that was just her being her.  When she passed away, ALL of her customers from the Whistle Stop showed up to her funeral to pay their respects.  They loved her.  And I know that those of you who never met her would have loved her too.

And she loved being a twin.  She used to get upset if I rejected her idea of dressing up alike.  "C'mon, that's what twins do!" she'd say.  Yeah.  But we were in high school.  And there was no way I was about to change from wearing hot orange pants and Hawaiian shirts to khakis and 3/4 sleeved shirts.  Nope.  Allison used to get angry when people would say "You guys sure don't act like twins."  Like literally.  She'd cry and get so upset!  "What do they know?"  We used to test our 'twin powers' just to prove people wrong.  She used to say "Heidi, what part of my face am I touching?"  I'd concentrate very hard and make a guess.  "Your...nose?  I mean, Your nose!"  Nine times out of 10 I was wrong.  But we liked to test out our twin-ness once in awhile.  

I could go on and on about how wonderful Allison was.  She was taken away too soon, but I am truly fortunate to have known her for 22 years.  Happy birthday, Big Al!  

Opinion Section

Point/Counterpoint

Oh my god!  I actually went to a cat circus! 

 vs. 

Oh.  My.  God.  I actually went to a cat circus.

Oh my god!  I actually went to a cat circus! by Heidi 

Felines riding on skateboards.  A chicken ringing a bell.  The acrocats.  A woman wearing a cat leotard and proudly sporting cat ears.  Those were just a few of the wonderfully magical items I saw when I went to a cat circus.  A crowd of about 100 people gathered into a medium-sized room in the Des Moines Social Club.  Drinks were offered, cat conversations were created, and eyes grew bright with wonderment.  I never thought I'd see the day when three cats literally played instruments in a band called "The Rock Cats".  Izzy was my favorite cat.  He (or she?) was all white and was alright!  She/he leaped on shoulders.  She/he played the drums.  I fell in love a second time (after Dylan) when I saw her/him eat tuna from the stage floor.  I was only slightly annoyed that we had third row seats.  What?  Is it really necessary to let small children and people in wheelchairs have the front row?  C'mon!  The cats rocked my world.  The chicken and groundhog tried to steal the show...(rude much?)...but Izzy and Custard and Isis and the rest of the cat clan held their own and shined like little diamonds on cheap cat collars.  I just wish it would have lasted a little longer and I would have made the MC get rid of the awkward pauses in her stories.  overall, the cat circus was purrrrrfect.  It was the cat's meow!  I was feline good after the show.    

Oh.  My.  God.  I actually went to a cat circus.  by Dylan

So...when I saw there was a  cat circus coming to town I figured, "what nicer thing to do for Heidi than get her tickets."  While I had no doubt that it wouldn't be my cup of tea, I had no idea the hour of sheer horror I was locking myself into by buying these tickets.  To begin, there were grown women in cat t-shirts and cat sweatshirts, grown women wearing fake cat ears, grown women lecturing Heidi and I on only having one cat, and, of course, little children... many of whom looked just as embarrassed to be there as me.  Over the loud speaker came the music...to get you in the mood, I imagine... Cat Scratch Fever, Stray Cat Strut, and something that sounded not to different from the Meow Mix commercial.  The show opened with a warm up from other animals doing amazing tricks, such as  rats walking around, ferrets walking around, and a groundhog placed on a small car and then pushed back and forth across the stage....Amazing!!!  Then came the host, or ringleader if you prefer, in the traditional full body black leotard with purple rhinestone accents....Just like PT Barnum used to wear.  The circus (and that is absolutely an appropriate title for it) that followed was basically an hour of the equivalent of watching you neighbor try to show you the "great new trick we taught the cat.   Come on Felix....push the bell...come on....push it...do it for mama....I swear he was doing it before....come on now....you have to see it, it's the cutest thing....come on...ring the bell.  Wait, maybe if I put a treat on the bell.  now get it...come on....who wants a treat...push it.  Here, Felix, let me help you.  give me your paw....now lets put it on the bell.... 'RING'....yeah!!!!  Good job Felix.  Wasn't that great?"   Well, let me spare you all the suspense...No, no it wasn't great.  However, we did get to watch the ringleader briefly make out with the ferret - though I'm not sure that was supposed to be the memorable part.

La, la, la....

I'll be honest...this blog really doesn't have a point.  It's just a hodgepodge of ideas...a stream of thought...a filter less rant of recent events.  

1.  Right now, Dylan is in the living room watching The Masters.  I quickly learned that's it's not the best idea to ask questions on subjects that I:  A) have no desire to know the answer of, and B) know will require Dylan to make visual aids and diagrams to help me figure things out.  With that being said, I won't bug Dylan and his golf watchin'.  

2.  I attempted to change the background of our blog.  Because I love bird watching so darn much, I figured I'd go with a bird theme.  I did drag Dylan in here a bit ago to have him look at it.  His reaction?  ''Oh, God".  I think that means he likes it!!!!!  

3.  Speaking of birds, Dylan and I did a bunch of yard work today.  Even though I've been a little under the weather, I thought it would do me some good to dig around in the dirt and set out some bird food.  Dylan mowed the lawn (And yes, we did find a dead snake...in the neighbor's yard!).  We then found an old can of re fried beans with a "surprise" inside.  A video was taken of the aforementioned event, and I am trying HARD to have Dylan put it on our blog.  It's not quite ''Cat in the can" level, but it is a good film with drama, screams, and some laughter.  

4  If I don't hear back from my doctor on Monday, a scarier version of myself may make an appearance.  For every one's sake, please cross your fingers that the doc will call!

5.  I secretly want a squirrel for a pet.  I just think they're soooo cute and crazy!  Dylan, if you're reading this...I either want a squirrel or tickets to the Cat Circus for our one-year anniversary.  :)  Just kidding...

6.  Next time I write a blog, there will be a definite point to it.