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Cat Show + Kathy Griffin

I had a blast today. Nothing quite like a morning at the cat show, taking in a Chicago Bears win, and then laughing my ass off with my "good friend" Kathy Griffin.

I gotta start out by saying the "cat people" were much more relaxed than the people showing at the rabbit show I went to earlier this year. And if you ask them about their cat, they are more than willing to gab with you until their next showing time. Here's a lineup of just about hairless breed of cats. Sad but true, I didn't actually absorb much of this new cat knowledge.

Here's my friend, Sam, he's a maine coon (one, if not, the largest of the small cat breeds). Maine coon's have the most laid back temperament. Out of the 7 or so that were shown, not one played with the toys the judge kept bopping them in the face with. Can't say that I blame them.

Now if you're an animal person like me and can't resist the cute and fuzzy, then I suggest stopping at your local cat show if you get a chance. I managed to meet my quota for random cat petting all in one day. Good thing because not many people take their cats for walks or shopping at the pet store.


How do you follow-up a morning at the cat show. Well, with an afternoon of Bears football and weekly household chores. I know, I'm living the life! Although I like my Bears, I was just killing time until Kathy Griffin decided to take the stage and grace us with her presence.

(Pre-glow sticks... Carrie, Adam, Me and Sandra)

Here's a photo of Kathy. She would be the glowy human shaped blob that was sporting a bedazzled black shirt that may have read Team Griffin, jeans she stowed in the overhead compartment when flying, and some nice blank and white kicks.

As always, Kathy had me laughing until tears ran down my face. She did her Central Illinois research and picked us apart, cat show and all!!! Loved it!

As you can see from my Kathy photo, our group didn't necessarily have the best seats in the house, so when we found out $200 each could get us a post-show meet and greet with Kathy we simply sighed. How cool would that have been?!? But then again, the 2-hours she did spend with us seemed like catching up with an old friend. I'll just have to take her word for it, that she did sign my new shirt.

Flying Friend

Remembering, #NeverForget

I can't help but read what other people remember from 9/11/01 as I scroll through my Twitter feed today, and I'm left asking myself the question, "What do I remember?"

My memory is pretty fuzzy regarding that Tuesday. I simply remember waking up to the morning news, seeing one tower on fire, and then catching the second one hit. At some point I pulled myself away from the television coverage in an attempt to comprehend what had happened, but simply found myself weeping in the shower.

I was at the start of my senior year of college living in an apartment with Emily. I don't recall what happened in the apartment that day or even if I managed to go to classes. I'm sure I called my parents and brother to hear the voices of loved ones, but the images in my head are those of the news stations and live coverage throughout the day.

What I truly remember is my first visit back to NYC during the first week of November 2001. I was headed there with a college friend over fall break to see the Rosie O'Donnell Show and the rest of NYC. Oh how it had changed from just over a year before.

I saw the crater, the hole, Ground Zero, from the plane as we made our descent into the airport. Below I wrote about the view from the top of the Empire State Building.

Among this, there was a city pulling together, getting back on it's feet.

The NYC marathon ran through Central Park and the NYPD was out in force to secure the event.

Big screen TV's and bleachers filled Rockefeller Plaza as the Yankee's played for the World Series Championship.

I even saw Mike Ditka and co-anchors shooting their NFL pregame out in-front of the CBS Studio.

Yes, the security was tight, I got frisked, searched and bag checked more than ever before, and the lines may have well wrapped around the block, but you didn't see people complaining... there was a sense of unity and the events and shows would still go on... and a certain understanding and realization that this was the new normal we would have to become accustomed to.

I am so very thankful that my parents allowed me to travel to NYC less than 2 months after 9/11. They weren't too wild about me going and thankfully didn't voice their strong concerns until after I returned home. It was one of the most memorable and meaningful trips I've ever had.

FYI, I was lucky to go back again in 2002, but haven't graced the city with my presence since. NYC, my visit is long overdue... you are on my list!