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4C SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2006 Jane Winston The Left Rail JWlNSl939@aol.com Buon giorno a tutti! - Part IV An apology - since I last wrote about Italy and spoke of our bus driver, I discovered the “real” spelling of his name: Gian Battista (my Georgia hearing heard that as John Baptista—sorry Gian). At any rate, once we were unstuck from the overpass we drove into the town of Pisa where we saw the Duomo, Baptistery and Campanile, the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The area was disap pointingly crowded and commercialized, but I over looked all of that as I real ized I was standing in front of the eight-story free standing bell tower—with a considerable list—whose construction was begun in 1174—1174!! I had now seen the Eiffel Tower and The Leaning Tower of Pisa, two structures I had heard and read about all of my life. My folks would be proud! From Pisa we drove on to Stresa nestled on the banks of Lago Maggiore and at the foot of the Swiss Alps. In the middle of the lake are the Borromean Islands, a chain of tiny islands that were turned into sites of lavish villas and gardens by the Borromeo clans. We visited two of the three Islands, Isola Bella (Beautiful Island) and Isola Madre (Mother Island). Isola Madre is the largest and most visited of the three Islands primarily because of the magnificent Botanical Garden there. And while there I actually saw several albino pea cocks—-white as the driven snow, and loud as anything I have heard before! The group went into Milan for the day, but Susan, Carol, Vicki, Cathy and I opted to stay behind and do some mountain climbing! First, a moun tain lesson: der Mont Blanc located in Italy is the highest peak in the Swiss Alps at 15,771 feet. We could not see it from Stresa, but we could see the second highest peak, der Monte Rosa, which is BIRTHS From page 1A Avery Rose Parrish Kevin and Kelly Walsh Parrish ofßonaire announce the birth of a daughter, Avery Rose Parrish, at Houston Medical Center on June 2. Grandparents of the baby are Paul and Joan Walsh of Tyler, Texas and Cary and Karen Parrish of Euless, Texas. Kameron Dennis Williams Denise Williams ofWarner Robins announces the birth of a son, Kameron Dennis Williams, at Houston Medical Center on June 2. Grandparents of the baby are Mary Ann Williams of Warner Robins and the late Yewell Dennis Williams of Warner Robins. Zackhary Lee Cook Ashley and Brandi Oliver Cook of Warner Robins announce the birth of a son, Zackhary Lee Cook, at Houston Medical Center on June 2. Grandparents of the baby are Eddie and Debra Oliver of Warner Robins. Lawrence Williams 111 Nicole Winston and Lawrence Williams, Jr. of Perry announce the birth of a son, Lawrence fir ' y Jm ill; \ if rf’j actually in Switzerland and stands tall at 15,203 feet. Putting it in perspective for me is that while we were stationed at McChord AFB in Washington, on a clear day (not all that many there, however,) we gazed at Mount Rainier that is 14,410 feet high. We five ladies shared a ride on the funivia (cable car-like thing) with men -who take their bikes to the top of the mountain and then ride them down the mountain multiple times a day --to the near top of Mottarone mountain where we disembarked and walked to the peak which was 4,890 feet. A mere mole hill when it comes to mountain sizes; but, none theless, we were winded when we reached the top and thrilled as we gazed down at seven different lakes of the area and gazed up at the various mountain peaks between 4,890 feet and der Monte Rosa at 15, 203 feet. While near the top we enjoyed the most delicious bowl of minestrone soup ever made served by the most authentic Italian waiter ever created. And he served us Coca Cola which they refer to as American wine; he also laughingly shared how the first words out of all Italian babies is Coca Cola, and that all Italians have Coke in their homes. Made me proud to be from the state where Co- Cola is king! Thus ended my wonderful trip to Italy with a terrific group of folks currently liv ing and working in Illinois. We shopped, dined, walked, climbed, laughed, solved Sudoku puzzles and all of the world’s problems along the way. We then flew out of Milan back to Chicago where we were bussed back to real ity in Champaign-Urbana, picked up by loved ones and headed home to try and share with others the beauty of the country, the people and the experience. Until next week and Mackinac Island. Caio Williams 111, at Houston Medical Center on June 2. Grandparents of the baby are Carol Neil of Montezuma; Carlton Argo Winston of Marshallville; Carolyn Williams and Lawrence Williams, Sr. of Americus. Grade Loren Bliss Michelle Berrier and Landon Bliss of Warner Robins announce the birth of a daughter, Gracie Loren Bliss, at Houston Medical Center on June 3. Grandparents of the baby are Christopher Berrier of Warner Robins; Sharon Seabolt of Warner Robins; Frank and Brenda Doss of Warner Robins. tyVon? Open INTERNATIONAL ARTS FRAMES 100 Suite 1 • N. Houston lake Rd. • Centerville, GA 478-971-1303 ORIGINAL OIL PAINTINGS Large Selection Over 350 Canvas/Frames l BRING THIS AD AND • \ RECEIVE A $5.00 DISCOUNT \ Not Valid With Any Other Offer Blind dates and dates that aren't I think it’s safe to say that I am now officially through with blind dates. After all, I am usually the only one blind on the date because chances are that the other person has some kind of acquaintance with me through the media. It is, I have decided, an unfair advantage. I washed my hands of blind dates after a recent one in Louisville, Kentucky. “You’re going to kill me,” my friend, Deb, said when she called my hotel room. I was in Louisville for a speak ing engagement so we had made plans to dine together, along with her husband. Deb had a friend, recently divorced, who asked if he could join us. “I didn’t com mit,” she continued. “It’s up to you.” Since I am an eternal, undying optimist, I agreed. Though I nave never gotten my hopes up over such intro ductions, I am of the opinion that you never know when a prince rather than a frog might appear. The guy was nice enough but halfway through dinner, I realized that something wasn’t right. The only time he glanced in my direction Remembering G.K. and the Bantam Rooster By Janette Ferguson Special to the HHJ Childhood memories. Everyone has them, and I guess each one is unique and yet personal to that par ticular family. When the hot summer days come, the humidity in Georgia gets really bad compared to other southern states. The sun beats down on us children like the heat of a hot pot belly stove. Me, well, I hated the sum mer, for it was usually too hot and humid. I would just try to find shade to sit and read, which was my favorite pastime. We did not have air conditioning back then, we had fans (I guess we are spoiled now with air condi tioning.) When school was out, we were left (my two brothers at that time) wanting some thing to keep us busy - and to have fun doing. We were told to find our own fun, but to stay out of trouble. My parents had always taught us to help each other - to stick up for each other. I was responsible for their actions being the oldest child. I tried to protect them or else my parents would fuss at me. But family stuck up for family. Growing up on a farm, we had all sorts of animals: chickens, a bantam roost er, cows, pigs, and even a goat or two. At one time, we had a horse. Usually the chickens and roosters were in a chicken pen or the barn unless someone let them out. (Usually, G.K., love to let them out. Which meant someone else had to get them all back in - mostly my mother and I had that responsibility. ) They were pretty good about running around the back area for we had 3.6 acres of land. Looking back over the years, I can remember many funny things from my child hood. My idea of fun was different from that of my brothers. Among those, one stands out. That one fateful summer day! One brother, G.K., in particular, seem to enjoy trouble more than the other. G.K. was a very mischie vous, adventuresome, fun loving, and mean child. He could figure more things to get into trouble. Anyway, G.K.decided to have some fun (he was around the age of five.) He decided one day to continue his habit of harassing the chickens and roosters we had. LIFESTYLE Ronda Rich Columnist was when I was bold enough to inteiject myself into the conversation. “How was your date last night?” Karen called to ask the following day. “Terrible. I could recom mend a good book on flirting to him. Do you know that he did not ask one question about me all night?” Two days later, I found out why he hadn’t asked when Deb called. “Steve is furious with me,” she reported. “He said he was in over his head because he didn’t know you were so well known.” “How would he know any thing about me?” I retorted. I was still plenty aggravated over his rudeness to me. “He G.K. was into chasing the chickens - or any animal he could chase, as long as his small legs would hold him up. To him, it was fun to see them run and cackle trying to get away, wings flapping wildly. His favorite pastime was to throw rocks at the animals. Rocks were fly ing, for he usually grabbed a couple of handfuls before he start throwing them. He even decided to pick up a few sticks and throw them if he ran out of rocks. If he could get close to them, he would poke them. Naturally, I was the one that tried to stop him as otherwise; I was the one to get into the most trouble, as his big sister, and the one that was suppose to be responsible since I was five years older than him. vnnptASH! n ts smioi sr MBzpj&a Jm <» 9 % .v *! y a masmmm Spinal Injury From Auto Accidents May Cause Many Different Symptoms Almost every auto accident causes some degree of spinal injury. Watch For Any Of These Conditions: IHEADACHES-DIZZINESS IRRITABILITY 2 NERVOUS TENSION PERSONALITY CHANGES 3 NECK PAIN OR PAIN BETWEEN SHOULDERS 4 SHOULDER AND ARM PAIN OR NUMBNESS SLOW BACK PAIN LEG PAIN OR NUMBNESS Perry Chiropractic Health Center Dr. Brian Gillis. D.C. //I'7Q\QC7 Q Dr - Stacev Carter * DC -1207 Houston Lake Dr. \ ' “-'OOO Perry, Georgia 31069 ■nfiiSUr*' •" r" didn’t ask anything.” “He googled you before the date.” Google. There we go again. I’m always getting googled. It’s an unfair advantage. No wonder the guy didn’t ask any questions. He didn’t need to. Thirty minutes on line and all mysteries were revealed. But once upon a time, I did have a great blind date. Perfect blind date, in fact. It was in the pre-histor ic times before googling had been invented and before, if it had been invented, that I was google-able. Aw, those were the good ole days. I was set up with a guy that his friends called “attractive and nice.” The same words they used to describe me to Usually, his aim was not the best, but it sure scared the chickens and roosters. He would run throwing the rocks, usually aiming for their bodies, but missing the animal completely. It did not matter. It was fun just to chase them, throwing whatever was available. That summer he decided he wanted to give the ban tam rooster the gift of his heckling, throwing rocks and sticks. Until that red and black bantam changed course of history. It appar ently got tired of being chased, because it turned around and started chasing back. G.K. turned around him self and started running. But that rooster was deter mined! It caught up to him and started pecking his little fat legs. He began to scream, If you suffer from any of these symptoms after being in an auto accident consult us. Perry Chiropractic Health Center specializes in examination and treatment of these conditions. WE ACCEPT INSURANCE Your auto insurance pays for examination and treatment of injuries sustained in auto accidents. FOR APPOINTMENT PHONE (478) 987-9666 THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL him. Now, anyone who has ever been on a blind date knows that “attractive and nice” translates to “average and bland.” In other words, don’t get your hopes up. When I answered the door that evening, I was speech less. There stood the most beautiful guy I have ever seen. Tall, lean and muscled with stunning blue eyes and a mop of silky blonde hair that curled quite nicely on the ends. He looked like a movie star. His eyes wid ened. “You’re beautiful,” were his first words. I blinked hard. “And, you’re gorgeous.” Superficial, yes. But every woman, at least once in her life, should have a blind date like Bobby O’Hoppe show up on her doorstep. That first date was followed by another then another then another. Then I - and it was all me - let the most perfect blind date ever slip away. Gee, I wonder where Bobby O’Hoppe is now. Maybe Google will know. Ronda Rich is the best-sell ing author of What Southern Women Know About Flirting and The Town That Came A-Courtin’. and naturally, I thought it was funny. At first. Then, realized it was hurting him. So I picked up a stick and tried to distract it. No good. That bantam was deter mined and kept on chasing G.K. No matter how hard I hit it, I couldn’t make it stop. G.K. was screaming bloody murder! Which also brought me to yelling and hitting, trying to get the rooster to stop. Since I couldn’t get it to stop, I started yelling for our mother. She came run ning, saw what was hap- Eening and quickly grabbed er broom. She then began to hit the bantam. It took several hits before it finally stopped. Needless to say, G.K. gave up chasing the bantam rooster and by the next Sunday, we had chicken and dumplings for dinner. *