Motown's Misconceptions

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Motown, aka Detroit!  Ya, I know you're probably thinking: Detroit, why? WTF for? Did you pack Kevlar? Did you take an armed guard?  These of course were all thoughts that went through my mind, courtesy of the impressions given via media coverage...

The Association of Junior League's International, Inc. held their Fall Leadership Conference in Detroit (they try to hold Conferences in the cities of Leagues celebrating their 100th Anniversary; this year is Detroit's).  I was incredibly lucky and honored to be one of two delegates nominated and chosen to represent The Junior League of Bryan-College Station, Inc. in Detroit, and while I was excited to get to experience an entire conference made up of like-minded women, I wasn't too thrilled about "having" to travel to Detroit because as we all know, the media coverage surrounding the city has been less than favorable.   

But y'all we couldn't have been more surprised!  And, before I get into the surprises, let me start off with a disclaimer: I only got to experience a very small portion of the city and of course there are areas you don't want to go...just as there are areas in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and pretty much any other big city...or heck, even small cities and towns have their "no go areas."

The people are nice and gracious (or at least the ones we ran into), you can stop and ask them for directions, or as tourists ask them to take your picture so you don't have to take too many selfies, you can ask strangers their opinions of where to go, what to see, or what to eat/drink at certain restaurants.  Heck, I'd even go so far as to say it wasn't too different from the South with the locals being friendly and welcoming.  

The conference was held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, also GM's World Headquarters - all 73 stories of it.  One evening we ate dinner at the restaurant housed on the 72nd story (although trying to figure out the elevators, we ended up traveling over 200 stories)...talk about some impressive views of both Canada and the US, how many other buildings can boast that?!?!

  

We got in Thursday afternoon and I was determined to go to Windsor, Ontario.  Apparently Canada is just across the river (and actually south of Detroit - true story...you can look at the map if you want to verify it, or you can just take my word for it!).  With little help from the bellhop, who bless his heart couldn't give accurate directions, we made it across the border via the Ambassador Bridge.  Bucket list checked - I have now been to Canada!

Most of Friday and Saturday were filled with workshops at the hotel where our minds were filled to capacity about how to improve our respective Leagues and develop our members' potential - literally mind blowing (and I'll probably need to devote an entire other post to brag about the JL experiences and ladies)!  Saturday night we were able to decompress on a dinner cruise: bucket list checked I've ridden a yacht abroad (we cruised both the Canadian and US sides of the Detroit River).  And what did we see on this cruise? HUGE homes, docks w/HUGE boats, a beautiful skyline...the complete opposite of what the media shows us: the crumbling, graffiti-decorated, vacant buildings...Why aren't the "good" images on the news? Detroit, please hire you a new PR person or firm (or maybe try and get some services donated) to paint an accurate image of your amazing city!

Thankfully we had chosen a later flight so we could get up and see a little more Detroit before heading back to Texas on Sunday!  After a fantastic breakfast at Plaka's Cafe in Greektown we managed to make it to the Detroit Institute of Art (after a little rerouting from Suri - but hey we got to see even more Detroit)!  Y'all I got to see Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Leger, Kandinsky, and Picsasso (plus A LOT of other stuff I didn't understand #contemporaryartisweird), or at least some of their more famous paintings!!!  Thanks to my French Teacher in High School I was familiar with many of these artists and before visiting Detroit I had only seen these paintings in textbooks - and now I was only inches from them (it literally took every ounce of my being NOT to touch them!).

 

So while Detroit was never really on my radar of things to do or places to go I will say you're really doing yourself a disservice if you turn down an opportunity to go and shame on you!  Just like New York and New Orleans craved tourism post 9/11 and Katrina, respectively, Detroit craves your visit now and would be glad to have you!

The Uncommon Compliment

This past weekend I attended the wedding of my brother-in-law and I got to visit with Sarah, his and the hubs' cousin: someone that over the years I've gotten to know pretty well and would even go so far as to call her a friend (not just one of those people I have to make nice with while at family gatherings).  We both have two beautiful blond boys, with our respective spouses, and having the growing pains that go along with watching our respective spawn grow in common is certainly one of the reasons we've become close.

While at the reception she came up to me and said, "Cassie, there are three things I remember about your and Michael's wedding" (almost seven years ago).  "#1: You told me I was gorgeous, and no other woman has ever told me that.  It put me on Cloud 9; it made me feel so good!"  #2 & #3 aren't really pertinent to this post, and somewhat personal so I won't go into them...none ya!

And as most weddings are one expensive blur (at least if you're doing them right), I have no recollection of telling Sarah she was gorgeous, or really even speaking to her for that matter... 

But, clearly such a small gesture made during a haze of alcohol and random people giving me a hug (oh the uncomfortableness!) and telling me "Congrats" or "You look so beautiful" (I really wanted to ask the majority of them if they'd ever tell a bride she was not beautiful - I'm aware you "have" to say that, but really you don't...I'm sexy and I know it!) made a lasting impression on her.

For those of you that know me, know I'm pretty much straightforward, not too "girly"; some have even gone so far as to say that I should have been a dude (thanks Dad!).  Ya, I don't hand out too many compliments, because well if you're doing something right or well, that's how you should be doing it (don't ever attach your name to something unless you're proud of it!)...if you're wearing a cute outfit, well, you need to be dressing how you want people to see you (classy of course!).  I know this about myself, is it a flaw?  Hmm, maybe to those sensitive types, I don't know... poTAYto, poTAHto...I am who I am, and I try not to make too many excuses for it.  But at the same time, I do get a "lift" myself when I get complimented for dawning a cute pair of shoes or outfit, or a job well done...ahh, finally to point of the post ...

Some have told me that when they do receive one of my rare compliments, they know it's completely sincere because the compliments are just that... so rare: I don't divvy them out to everyone for every little thing...

 Sarah's comments got me to thinking, should I start making a better effort to actually articulate my thoughts when I do see someone wearing a cute pair of shoes or a doing a certain task well?  Would it really make that big of difference?  It did to Sarah.  Or should I keep my compliments uncommon and reserve them for those EXTRA SPECIAL circumstances?

The little one's future is so bright....

OOOhh, look at me: it's been less than week (I think!) and I'm back at the blogpost gettin' my type on!!  

My last post was gushing about the midget, and since there are two Hs, I try my darnedest to make sure everything is equitable.  Of course the midget has almost a three-year head start compared to the little one, so he's always going to have more pictures, more new toys, more new clothes, etc.... but moving forward everything for the HBros is as equal as possible!

So here's a blog post dedicated to the little one...and his new obsession: SUNGLASSES!!!  These particular sunglasses were a party favor the HBros received from attending a friend's luau-themed birthday party a couple of weeks ago - and since then, the little one has worn them pretty much everywhere he goes! 

During snack time!

During outings!

Whilst brushing his teeth!

Whilst checking out some fire trucks!

At the pool...(I mean, sunglasses are expected here!)

The little one is such a funny little dude: he marches to the beat of his own drum, and makes no excuses for it.  He's not even two yet, and he's already got a personality that is unrivaled, his own style (that clearly incorporates shades), and a temper that is unmatched!  His favorite words are "lovie", "mine", and "NO"!  To say that he is the "proverbial second child" would be an understatement!  All that said, he does love to snuggle and still isn't "too big" to divvy out kisses to Mama (I'll take those as long as he'll give 'em!).

While the little one certainly keeps us on our toes, we do enjoy the "challenge" and can't image our life without him!  He's destined for great things just like his big brother: his future is so bright, he's got to wear sunglasses 24/7!!

MARVELOUS MIDGET: Tony Hawk to Michael Phelps

Well hey there y'all!!!  Been awhile, wouldn't you say?  Ya, I'm still uncertain if the blog life is for me...mainly because every time I go back and read a posted blog (ya, ya, 1 of the now 3) I find something I want to change: grammar, a better word, sentence structure and well, ain't no body got time for that!  But I did have to take time out to gush and brag (although it ain't braggin' if it's the truth!) on my midget (H1)!  This weekend he reminded me just how awesome of a little guy he is and incredibly lucky I am to be his mother:  #1 He's a fantastic big brother: not only did he share his precious 4-wheeler with the lil one (H2), but he actually took the time to PATIENTLY try and demonstrate how to drive it!  Hell, my parents weren't that patient OR nice when giving me driving lessons at 15!

#2 He's an incredible athlete!  At some point on Saturday he caught a portion of the Xgames on television...so Sunday morning he got his midget skateboard and immediately started doing midget skate tricks...I mean c'mon he's not even 5 and just picks this stuff up by watching professionals on television for a few minutes (here's a football midget, now let me introduce you to some guys named Brady and Manning)?!?

And then if that wasn't impressive enough he just took off swimming a few hours later while on a quick trip to the neighborhood pool...seriously who does that?  Ya, sure he's had swim lessons (LAST summer and the one prior) graciously and patiently given by his G-Mama, but the last lesson was over a year ago (essentially a quarter of his of life...I'm **cough, cough,** 32, **cough, cough**...I don't know that I could just pick up and do a skill that someone showed me 8 years ago...could you?).  The hubs and I were in the "big pool" and I happen to notice the midget zipping from side to side of the midget pool and got out to make sure he wasn't you know...drowning, and holy hell he was SWIMMING from side to side!  

"Hey, uh midget, do you know you're SUH-WIMMING?!?" 

From Tony Hawk to Michael Phelps all in a span of a few hours?  The midget is certainly destined for great things, now if the hubs and I can just be patient enough and have sense enough to guide and foster his talents... So often we as parents worry about our kids fitting into some "mold" that social media, blogs (pot calling the kettle black?), internet, etc. have created that we lose sight of our midgets being simply AMAZING just the way they are!! And, while they're not perfect, they don't have to be!

Until next time (I promise I'll try and post something a lil sooner than 2.5 months from now...someone please hold me to that!)...Keep it Classy!

I feel a need to plead to the media

This is an open plea to those in the media: Shift your focus!

In just over a month this great nation has experienced incredible back-to-back-to-back tragedies with both man-made and natural disasters: starting on April 15, 2013 at the Boston Marathon, the explosion in West, TX, and yesterday with the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma.  With all the technology today we are virtually experiencing those tragedies right along with those directly affected.  Almost immediately pictures and videos are uploaded to the web for thousands, if not millions to see, social media posts start instantaneously, (please don't think I'm griping - these tools are great for letting family, friends, and even foes - all at the very same second - know that one is OK or in need of aid. etc.) and AP alerts are flashed everywhere from your smart phones to more traditional forms such as television and radio.

My problem with the media is that they focus on the dead, those poor individuals that didn't make it out alive...why?  While it may sound completely heartless and callous to wonder why the media focus on those that have perished, I find it completely heartless and callous that they don't focus on those that have survived, those that are LIVING it, and will continue to LIVE it for the days, weeks, months, and years to come.  I sit here in my living room as I'm typing this and watching the utter devastation in the aftermath of the two-mile wide tornado that ravished Oklahoma for 40 minutes yesterday and they keep flashing "Death toll at 51, expected to rise."  Shame on them!  Why are you focusing on that?  Do you honestly think the family and friends of those 51 want to hear that over and over again?  Why focus on the most devastating part of a disaster?  Why?  Why not focus on the good?  How about you shift your focus and say 1000s, if not 10,000s survived, more survivors expected to be found/rescued?!  There is absolutely nothing more that we can do for those unfortunate 51, except remember them - given the constant flashing and updating with the exact death toll we dang sure won't forget that number anytime soon - well, until tragedy strikes again and there's another number to report.

The media sensationalizes evil, devastation, and tragedy - and that in itself is a real tragedy.  Why not sensationalize good, miracles, and victories?  One of the most memorable (for me, at least) aspects of   the news coverage following the Boston Marathon Bombings were ALL the stories about ALL of the selfless acts of the first responders (both professional and amateur) and how many lives were saved thanks to them, the medical staff that were running the race and kept on running to the hospitals to donate their time or their blood (even now as I'm typing this, tears are a formin'), etc.!  Those stories were so refreshing, is that even the right word?  it's not like it's a nice cool G2 after a good long run in the Texas heat...?  heart-warming, compared to the heart-wrenching stories of the three that were murdered and the 200+ that were injured, some gravely.  These heart-warming stories are where the media need to shift their focus.  Now, please don't mistake this rant post as thinking I'm encouraging the media to abolish ALL coverage on the evils, devastation, and tragedies that occur - that simply cannot happen; as evil, devastation, and tragedy exist (and always will) and we certainly need to be informed so we can hopefully make intelligent decisions about how we react.

So, my plea to those in the media is to shift your focus...PLEASE!  Stop focusing on the dead, and go with the LIVING!  Stop making celebrities out of deviants and devils such as Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias, and the Tsarnaev Brothers; instead, shine the spotlight on the honorable and the heroes like Dakota Meyer, Leroy Petry, and Clinton Romesha.  Let me guess, the last three names aren't familiar to you.  They're the most recent three LIVING recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Point made, that is all!

Blogging...blogging...1...2...3...

Sooooo, what exactly does one BLOG about on their first go at it?!?!  I have know idea, nor do I know why all of a sudden I jumped on the blogwagon....guess we'll see how it goes!  I guess the learner in me wants to tackle something new...maybe I'm bored with what I've "conquered" thus far...maybe I'm hoping that conquering the blogosphere will help me in some unknown future endeavor...maybe I just want to be like all the "cool" kids...HA!  In any case, here I am world of blog, are y'all ready for the CASStastrophe that this could be?!?