Gangsters and Other Beauties

HEADING TO PENNSYLVANIA TO

MEET DA GANG

Everyone's bucket list is a bit different.  Mine happened (until this trip) to include meeting a bunch of women as crazy as I am and the dogs that brought us together. I also checked off another bucket list item - to go shooting with my long time computer friend, Jeane, at Middle Creek.  But first Da Gang.

We were doubly blessed when a friend from New York came down and met us so we got to hang out with her too.  Thanks for making the trip Gwynne & Lynda!

I admit to being one of those obnoxious pet parents who think their dog is the cutest and sweetest in the world - mainly because she is.   She has a Facebook presence and has met other dogs via this social media.  They are an adventurous bunch going on all sorts of adventurers including traveling to England to meet the new princess and take her a "Berbie" doll because all princesses need Berbies, and trips to the Mall of the Americas with our credit cards.  Each have talents that others don't so they work well together - handling the boat, driving the truck or car, event planning, building just about anything, kidnapping and hiding abused animals, and protecting all they can.  They travel through tunnels and can leave Texas and be in Pennsylvania in about 5 minutes, if they stroll.  Total fantasy and total fun but it has forged some great friendships.  So my daughter, Sandi, and I left our gangsters at home and went to meet the rest of Da Gang.

And dey leff me behine wif nuffin bud kibbuls.

(see I told you she was the prettiest and sweetest fur baby EVER!)

Marti - Martina McBride, the Pretty Precious Princess Puppy.  Creator and patent holder on Daid Shikken Soop, a wonderful cure for whatever ails you.  She knows it works because after someone eats just one spoonful they say they are miraculously cured.  Unfortunately the local chicken population decreased after the last flu season to the point she had to look for alternative protein.  Not quite sure what she has found but have noticed that we don't have as many Grackles as we used to have.  She is feisty, quick to place blame or shame someone, and the first to stand beside (or up to if it involves Eddie) Scary to defend another Gangster.  Eddie, mi luff is her long time boy friend and they can get a bit gushy at times.  Her grandmother referred to her as a "little street urchin" and it truly fits her personality to a tee.

Stoopid gurl...tink abowt diz.  Owr Momz are goin be gon fer a hole week  We kin sleep lat, eet wut we want, and not hafta "sit pweddy" fer a treat.  TINK GURL TINK!!!  I needs a nap den I iz kizzin mi Mom bye bye and heading for the cookie jar.

Catfish, named because the first day home he was in the pond playing with the fishes.  Sandi has fun at the vet getting "her Catfish" his rabies shot, etc.  Strange looks she gets.  He is all Boston Terrier energy, silliness and fun and a bit of the Boston aggravating the holy crap out of you.  Love this little boy who tries to be as big as the rest of the male Gangsters but still hasn't quite gotten the hang of the hammer and pliers.  He does have treat tasting down to a science though.

Zolov B. and his sister Princess Oscara invited us to Table (yes table was supposed to be capitalized).  Table is a meeting place in Z & Scary's back yard where world problems are solved over a glass of wine.  I think they were expecting Cox's army because there was enough food and drink to feed said army.  Thanks hostesses!

Z holds the title of the World's Greatest Hugger and had to prove the validity of the title as soon as Sandi sat down.  She confirmed that he is indeed qualified to hold that title! 

Besides being a Grand Champion Hugger, Z is also known far and wide as the Grand Champion Frute Cup Chef and brings them to every pot luck Da Gang has.  He is madly in love with Abbie, a beautiful Poodle that is a Georgia Southern Belle.  Z is the peacemaker of the group, overly polite to everyone having the best manners of all of them, and can sing like Pavarotti.

Scary was very busy taking care of her dad, making sure he wasn't going to float off the chair in the house so she stayed in there sitting on him - the power of a 12 pound Dachshund. 

Photo by Bo of his Princess

Scary wears many hats - she is the religious counsel of Da Gang and leads them in prayer whenever there is a need; she is the Fetchin' Walnuts lead instructor; the antagonizer of "Old Ed" and can get under Marti's skin faster than anyone, but will defend Marti to the death if someone else tries.  She does not cook since she has people for that, but is always eager to help clean up as long as she can "rinse" the dishes.  Hoover the Beagle lives right up the road and makes her heart go pitter patter.

Speaking of Pitter Patter!!  This macho man can sure make Marti's heart go wild.

Eddie, Mi Luff who only has one fault, he won't wear pants and runs around with everything hanging out for everyone, including my sweet baby, to see.  Brewer of Rute Beers, paw holder and master of powr tules, Eddie is the all around guy.  Eddie can build anything the girls want from a train to a swing.  Marti's dad had his paw print run through the national registry and he came back clean other than a barking citation when he was a puppy. 

Further up the road is the Rhoad Gang - Hoover, Jazzy and Lucy. 

Hoover the Beagle, doing what Hoovie does best - watching for food to drop and settling in for a nap.  He has perfected napping and has won many medals for being so good at it.  Z's best friend and Scary's long time boyfriend (whether he wanted to be or not - Scary said he was so he is!).  No party is complete without Hoover's S'mores.  He has a whole file filled with different S'more recipes.  I haven't tried one but hear the liver version is excellent.

His sister, Jazzy has the "kizziest face" ever.  I could just grab her and kiss on that face for hours.

Photo by Susie

Jazzy and her sister Lucy are party planners/givers.  They can plan the most extravagant parties whether it be to watch a movie, have a BBQ or just hang out over night and giggle.  All the Gangsters get excited when the Rhoad girls start planning a party.  As are all the girls they are big into fashion and Berbie's and are excellent hair dressers.  Lucy never quits smiling mainly because she is a happy girl.  BTW, both girls are single if there are any eligible bachelors out there....this just in...there is some flirting going on between Catfish and Lucy...stay tuned for future updates

Although not with us in body, but always in spirit from the Rainbow Bridge is Miss Cookie.  We have lost many members of Da Gang over the years but Miss Cookie is different in that she lives on as an active member of Da Gang.  She is THE watchdog of the group and keeps a close eye on the girls especially making sure they behave like well brought up young ladies - although she will remind the boys of their manners as well.  She is particularly adamant about clean panties and language.  When the girls slip, as all little girls do now and then, Miss Cookie has a sip (or 50 sips) of her "medicinal tea" and then reprimands them.  They all respect and love Miss Cookie and I think a tiny bit scared of her too.

Unfortunately, all Da Gang couldn't join us while we were there but maybe someday we will get to visit with them in their home towns as well.

Thank you Boni, Susie, and Jeane for making our trip so special.  Love you guys to the moon and back.  And a special thanks to Tina for those extra two pounds I brought back with me.

Leaving the Other Beauties for the next page so the guys and gals don't have to share the space.

See you at Middlecreek where there were more bird calls than whispers, but oh well.

Victory at Sea - Chicago

CHICAGO!!!

and the end of a fabulous trip.

A beautiful start to our last day on the cruise.

Our first view of the skyline.

We were welcomed by God Himself as we came into port.  God's rays always reminds me of my oldest daughter who loves them as much as I do.

and this little guy was buzzing around like a mosquito as we made our way to the pier.

We took the architectural tour and that was fascinating.  I was skeptical when I saw it on the agenda - whoop, tall buildings, glass and brick, double whoop.  I repeat it was fascinating.  Our guide knew Chicago, knew architecture, and knew history.  If ever you visit, take the tour and if this man is your tour guide consider yourself  a lottery winner.

No commentary needed - mainly because I was loving what he was telling us but can't remember a bit of it - the joys of old age.

Angles, shadows, colors, design

Of course the one above was my favorite...look at all that delicious rust.  Yummy.

Close second was the layers of this building. 

I liked the contrast of the new with the old.

Final stop on Amazing Race 29

Peek-a-boo

Road map

I can't believe the trip is almost over.....neither could this guy.

After the tour we had lunch at a delightful small Italian restaurant and then off to the Chicago Institute of Art and Millennium Park.  One of the Magnificent 7 wasn't feeling up to par so she and I hung out in the Miniature exhibit instead of doing the traipse through the museum tour.  Not a problem since she is delightful company.  The miniatures were amazing and very very hard to photograph so here are the best of the crappy pictures.  Look at the detail in some of these.   These are doll house size rooms.

They had a large cathedral scene - larger than the rest because, well, cathedrals are generally larger than your bedroom or kitchen.  The detail was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

Whew, I needed a nap and what better place to take one than the Parmer House, a historic hotel close to downtown.  It was built in 1925-1927 and is the largest continually operating hotel in America.  The original hotel was built by Potter Parmer as a wedding gift for his bride.  The hotel was only 13 days old when it burned to the ground during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  He immediately rebuilt the hotel across the street and rumor has it that, while certainly not sparing any expense to make it grand, he also tiled the barber shop with silver dollars.

Not sparing expense in the building and decorating, but not sparing expense in your Quarter Pounder with Cheese is a bit over the top. :)

This is a very very very small portion of the ceiling in the reception area.  wow.

And so ends the tour.  Thank you to everyone that made it so special - The Magnicent 7, the leaders, the staff on the Victory, the guest lecturers, tour guides, and people along the way. 

But we aren't through with Chicago yet!
Pat's aunt and cousins live here and we spent the next day before a late departure for the airport at Navy Pier enjoying their company and what the Pier had to offer.

There is no getting around the Ferris Wheel as you approach.  It is gigormous and we were going to ride it!!

But to get to it you had to walk through the Crystal Garden, a one acre greenhouse.

 and past some pretty flowers

and some interesting tributes to Mick Jagger.....

 and even a little girl climbing a wall....like a champ!

Finally we got to the Ferris wheel and maybe had a second thought or two.  That thing was HUGE!

 And from up there we saw.....

And of course we can't forget our friend, Chuck....

 Too soon it was time to say our goodbye's and head for the airport.  Sorry it was over but what wonderful memories we brought back.   Besides, this was waiting for me....

 and it doesn't get much better than that.