Kicked Off The Plane? Really?

In this era of "fake news" I read an article on several seemingly ludicrous ways some people have been removed from their flights. The reporting of the incidents is sort of a he-said-she-said kind of thing and I think a lot of it stems from over reacting by passengers and crew alike but here are a few I found interesting.

I remember hearing about the birthday cake incident. A cake in the box carried by a family as they were preparing to celebrate a birthday at their destination created a dilemma of where to put it. It was first put in the overhead bin but then the crew decided it should go under the seat in front of them. According to the family it was the disagreement between crew members of where the cake should ride that led them to become upset and therefore required to leave the plane.

Saggy pants and showing cleavage can also lead to removal apparently. In one incident a singer from a group called Green Day was asked to pull up his pants which led to his getting removed and in another incident a football player was kicked off the plane and arrested when his pajama bottoms were said to be showing too much underwear. Butt cracks aside, cleavage creates a problem as well. When a Florida woman was asked to cover up, it led to a disagreement and eventually ejection. The crew claimed she was intoxicated.

The one I had to shake my head over though was a report that a man who is a prize winning Ivy League economist was scribbling indecipherable notes on a notepad. The passenger in the next seat felt uncomfortable about that and reported him to the crew. He was asked to leave the plane and was then questioned. Eventually it was revealed that the scribblings were actually math equations and he was allowed to continue on the flight that was now delayed.

So believe it or not, there is probably more than one side to a lot of these stories. But just in case, I'll be sure to wear my pants at the waist and button up the blouse as well as do my writing at home. The birthday cake can get purchased at my destination.

Wordless Wednesday

Books For The Road - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

It's been my good fortune to have come across several good reads lately. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian was a book getting passed among some friends we play Pickleball with. I snapped a picture of the cover and looked it up later. It seemed interesting but I didn't know how intriguing it was really going to get.

Here's the description from Amazon:

When Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography, spending all her free time at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies, Laurel discovers a deeply hidden secret–a story that leads her far from her old life, and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her. In a tale that travels between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century, between Jay Gatsby’s Long Island and rural New England, bestselling author Chris Bohjalian has written his most extraordinary novel yet.

Extraordinary is right. I found it a little hard to follow at first with the Gatsby story line. It's been a while since I've read Fitzgerald's great novel. But enough pieces came back to me that I soon had the story weaving in with what I was reading. The author does an amazing job of story telling and must have quite a good imagination. I was amazed at the way the Gatsby story fit into his story.

In the foreword Bohjalian explains that while his work is fiction, the catalyst for the story's beginning it the true story of a homeless man who actually did leave behind a treasure trove of pictures. I love hearing about how an author begins their writing journey on any given work.

If you are not up on the Gatsby story, I would suggest reading The Great Gatsby first or at least the Cliff's Notes (do they have those any more?) or rent the movie (Robert Redford made a great Gatsby). It will help you enjoy the story so much more.

Great read for the road!

In Living Tribute

 [This was written almost twenty years ago and I believe our trip to Pearl Harbor was even earlier than that. It still brings tears to my eyes when I remember this tender moment.]

             I remember pausing quietly during school for eleven seconds at the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour annually on the eleventh of November. Veterans Day is still significant to me. Growing up in the 50s, while World War II was still so fresh and another conflict in Korea was taking place, the importance of remembering that men and women had died defending the ideals of freedom etched certain dates in my mind. December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, is another.

            So, when we decided to visit our son in Australia, we planned a stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, to tour Pearl Harbor. The beautiful weather exceeded our expectations. The luscious landscape surrounded by deep blue waters could not be duplicated on a painter’s canvas. While the scenery invited us to explore its tranquility, the intrigue of Pearl Harbor, one of the world’s most important historical places, demanded that curiosity be satisfied. 

            Standing on the shore, surveying the harbor, it was difficult to imagine the chaos and destruction of that day long ago in December, 1941. I conjured up scenes from movies of the past. It was difficult to equate this pastoral picture with the horror that rained down that day so many years ago.

            While we waited for our turn to make the trip to the monument built over the U.S.S. Arizona, we toured the U.S.S. Bowfin, a World War II submarine, the only “weapon” untouched by the attack. It was nicknamed “the Pearl Harbor avenger”. We wound our way through the narrow compartments and cramped quarters where the Bowfin crew had worked, eaten and slept during nine perilous war patrols.

            When our appointed time came for our trip to the Arizona, we entered the theater to view an informational movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Joining us were large groups of Japanese tourists adorned in flowered leis still fresh from their recent arrival at the airport. We sat together and listened to the park ranger speak reverently of the monument we were about to visit.

            Discomfort began to set in as I watched with the Japanese tourists the video presentation explaining the Japanese plot to attack the American naval base. The attack began at 7:55 a.m. with the first bomb being dropped on Wheeler Field. At 8:00 a.m., bullets began to rain down on the duty crew of every ship in Pearl Harbor who had assembled for morning colors and The Star Spangled Banner. Within fifteen minutes, the Japanese had either immobilized or sunk almost the whole U.S. Pacific fleet and disabled the total U.S. air capability on Oahu. Five minutes into the attack, a bomb hit the forward magazine of the U.S.S. Arizona, followed by a spectacular explosion that sent the ship to the bottom trapping more than 1,000 men below the surface.

            I watched movie clips of the bombing, the destruction, the loss of life. Emotions arose in me that I never knew were there. The presence of the Japanese tourists made me uncomfortable. Could I be prejudiced? I never considered the possibility before. All my life I had fought off the prejudicial remarks tossed about by some family members and friends as I grew up. Now, I feared perhaps some had stuck.   What do they feel, I wondered?  Why do they come here?  This is our memorial.  I chided myself. I shouldn’t feel intruded upon, as if the visiting team had entered our locker room. After all, it was our fathers and grandfathers who fought that war, not us. This was not a war of the people sitting in this room. Confused and unsettled I filed out with the crowd to the water taxi avoiding eye contact with anyone. I was embarrassed to think that, as a Christian, I could have harbored such feelings in my heart.

            As we slowly moved toward the small boat that would take us out to the U.S.S. Arizona, there was a hushed silence, even among the children. During the short trip over the water, it was explained again that this was a memorial and we should be respectful. Flowers were the only things allowed to be thrown in the water.

            Arriving at the memorial, the passengers disembarked quietly and, in solemn silence, began to spread out onto the walkways. Many stopped, as we did, to look for a familiar name among those on the list of the men who died.

            We strolled out to the area that stretches over the top of the ship. I stood peering out over the base of gun turret #3, the only part of the ship that remains above water level. A buoy marked the end of the bow and another, the stern. Through the crystal water I could see the silent tomb below. Sadness overcame me.

            Lost in thought, I was unaware of the activity around me. The Japanese had found their way out and wandered among us. As I stared at the huge metal coffin buried beneath the water below, a circle of delicate flowers gently bobbed in ripples of water and floated with the current over the length of the ship. Others soon followed it. One by one, the Japanese tourists removed their flower leis and let them slip quietly into the water. A youngster, barely four, following the lead of his parents, removed his lei but then hesitated for a moment. He looked up at his mother and father, a question drawn on the soft face and in the dark almond eyes. They nodded slightly. It was as if God nodded at me as well. In that tender moment, I released the feelings that had surfaced.

Gently the little boy let the prize that had been his for so brief a time slip into the water. Solemnly the pastel hued flowers glided on the ocean’s surface over the length of the ship. The men they honored had given up their prize also, a prize they held for only a brief time.

            A tear escaped the corner of my eye. The beautiful tribute reached the depth of my spirit and kindled the awareness of our humanity. We are all God’s creation.

            The fight for ideals and freedom this memorial symbolizes is more than mere history. It provides the opportunity for successive generations to come together in peace, remembering that we all belong to the same family of mankind. That while we are all different; we are still very much the same. We all need to receive the prize that was given up on the cross. In living tribute to a living savior, we need to strive together to live in peace, a peace to be entrusted to the soft young faces that look to us for direction.

From The Strange Tours File

Last weekend was the big wedding in Great Britain. Meghan and Harry have begun their life as husband and wife. It's the story little girls love--meeting your prince and becoming a princess (actually a duchess). Bring on the unicorns. Like millions of others I watched, at least for a little while. I had to smile as the very solemn faced Brits listened to a very animated pastor deliver a message.

Well now the Brits have given me another thing to smile about. They have a great sense of humor. It's often unexpected and catches you off-guard. For instance there is a London tour company that takes you on unusual themed tours. The name of the company is London Loo Tours. Now if you don't know that the Brits use the term loo for bathroom or toilet it may not strike a chord with you and make you smile. I'm truly smiling as I write this.

So, there are four tours you can choose from, the original loo tour, the Bloomsbury loo tour, the Thomas Crapper's Times and, I'm sure what would be one of my grandsons' favorites, the Fart Tour. The description of the original tour sent me into peals of laughter:

Our classic route runs from Waterloo to the West End, exploring the potty politics of public toilets. From stories of intrigue to practical tips, this tour is an investment in your bladder future! Never be caught short again!

Okay moving on to the Bloomsbury:

We put the Loo in Bloomsbury! This tour travels from Euston Square to Holburn and plumbs the depths of the history of health and hygiene, investigating how the toilet as we know it evolved from scientific discovery and social convention.

Now that seems a bit more educational. Even more educational would be the Thomas Crapper Tour. While he's been falsely credited with inventing the flush toilet, he was still a marvel at depth plumbing inventions and has quite a few patents to his name. Here's the description of that tour:

This tour travels through the Kensington area where Thomas Crapper lived and worked. Learn about the man and the myths and legends that have followed him and his famous surname!

And I finish with the newest tour, the Fart tour:

The Fart Tour with Amber-Loo, which journeys through Soho to celebrate the fun and discover the facts of our greatest bodily function.

So, if you find yourself in London and getting bored with all the usual touristy stops perhaps you'll give one of these a go--if you're flush with some cash of course.

Glamping?

According to the website, Glamping.com, the fusion of glamour and camping equals glamping and is catching on with those who don't want to do camping the old fashioned way. There are lots of places all over the world offering this luxury camping. I remember seeing opportunities to stay in fancy tents on African safari. For the record, we stayed in a very nice resort in a cabin.

I've never been into camping, at least not as an adult. As a teen a group of us girls would on occasion go to a nearby state park and camp overnight. There was nothing glamorous about that but it was fun at the time. Then we did try a couple of camping trips with the teen group from church that we led for a while. To our dismay we discovered what the canoe company meant by "primitive camping." I think that's where we finally drew the line and said our only camping would be done at the Holiday Inn.

And yet there are some beautiful ads that show lovely tents with wooden floors, some with rugs, pretty lights, even couches and of course a nice bed. All in the middle of the great outdoors. Tempting--maybe. And then maybe not. What say you?

Wordless Wednesday

My Phone Was Lost/Stolen!

In the blink of an eye it can happen. My daughter in law set her phone down for a second on the checkout counter at Toys R Us one Christmas season and turned her head for a moment to say something to my son. When she turned back, the phone was gone. No one claimed to have seen it disappear. Suspiciously a few days later there was a phone very much like hers on eBay.

While my brother in law didn't lose a phone, his iPad was picked out of his backpack in the middle of Venice, Italy. Gone in a second in a crowd of people. Several weeks later back home someone emailed him (he'd left a sticker on the back of the iPad with his email address in case he lost his iPad) and asked for his password so they could unlock the iPad. The person complained that they had purchased the device and couldn't get it unlocked.

There is a good article on SmarterTravel about what to do if your phone is stolen or lost while you are traveling. Traveling or not, it would be worth a read through if you don't have a clue about being able to lock or erase your phone so your information can't be used--especially if you have Apple Pay or another app for paying for things on it.

Whatever you do, keep that phone (and iPad) in a secure place on your person. Guard it as you would your wallet. It only takes a second and it's gone.

Books For The Road - My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry

Our book club took a chance on this book. None of us had read it so it was an adventure for all of us to open the pages or fire up the ebooks. I had read another of Fredrick Backman's books, A Man Called Ove, which was good so I had a feeling My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry would be as well. And it was.

Here's the description from the Amazon page:
Elsa is seven years old and different. Her grandmother is seventy-seven years old and crazy—as in standing-on-the-balcony-firing-paintball-guns-at-strangers crazy. She is also Elsa’s best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother’s stories, in the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal.

When Elsa’s grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa’s greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother’s instructions lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and old crones but also to the truth about fairy tales and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.

It brings a laugh in lots of places and by the time you are finished you realize you've learned some things along the way. The very least of which is to not judge people before you get to know them well.

Along the way I copied down a couple of quotes from the book:
"Improbable tragedies create improbable superheroes."
The argument over what is better a printed book vs. an ebook was answered by: "Soup is soup no matter what bowl it's served in."
And my favorite: "I want someone to know I existed. I want someone to know I was here."

I'm waiting to read another of Backman's books. So far he hasn't disappointed me. Try him out. You'll enjoy this read for the road.

And Then There's The Cheese Trail

A few years ago I would have loved this adventure. Unfortunately cheese is no longer a friend to me but that doesn't mean that following this trail wouldn't be fun.

The cheese trail spans about 60-70 miles between Akron and Sugarcreek. There are only five stops along this trail and unlike the donut trail in Butler, there is no passport or T shirt at the end of the trail.

To find the list of cheese stops and a map, go to the Only In Your State website. 

There's also a wine and cheese trail I happened upon but I wouldn't suggest sampling and driving. That's one you may want to designate a driver for.

Butler County's Donut Trail

Got a hankering to feed your sweet tooth? Butler County Ohio has a unique way to do it--by following the trail. No, you don't have to hike although with all the donuts you'll eat or at least purchase, you may want to get the exercise.  Let me explain.

First of all, you'll need to pick up a passport. You can get one at whatever donut shop you start your sweet adventure. Each place you visit after that will give you a stamp in your passport and you can start collecting some of those delicious treats as well.

When you have finished the 80 mile trail and have made at least eleven stops, you go to the Butler County Visitor's Bureau in West Chester and show them your passport. You then get the T shirt!

Butler County is located between Dayton and Cinncinnati. Go to the Butler County Visitor's Bureau website to find the map and list of shops. Have fun!

Wordless Wednesday

Buy Me Some Peanuts And Cracker Jack

Peanuts were growing in the US in the 1800s but were mainly used for oil and fodder for animals. As a food for consumption, it was considered a poor man's food--that is until the Civil War. The peanut was discovered as a convenient snack for the troops on both sides. Eventually the roasted peanut became a popular snack sold on street corners, at the circus and then baseball games.

With the more recent growth in peanut allergies, some ball parks actually have peanut-free areas where families can enjoy the game without the worry of peanut dust in the air. FYI, Americans consume more than 600 million pounds of peanuts a year.

While popcorn has been around for thousands of years it wasn't until 1893 when a couple of popcorn makers, Federick and Louis Rueckheim, decided to add a twist to the same old, same old. They began experimenting with adding molasses and peanuts to the popcorn and created a sweet/salty mix. In 1893 they introduced it at the World's Fair in Chicago. One of the people who tasted it said it was "crackerjack," a slang term of the times that meant "awesome." The name stuck.

The Rueckheims discovered a method of keeping the coated popcorn from sticking together which, it is said, is secret to this day.

The first Cracker Jack box to have a prize in it appeared in 1912. Since then more than 23 billion prizes have been found in the delicious mix. Some of the vintage prizes have been valued at $7,000. Wish I had kept some of those. By the way, July 5 is Cracker Jack Day!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Baseball has been around for a long time. Baseball parks, not as long. Baseball was first played in whatever space was available--race tracks, polo fields, cricket fields, parade fields, etc. It wasn't until around 1860 that the idea began to form that it would be expedient to have a ballpark and profit from it.

The first such ballpark, enclosed with stands and requiring an admission charge, is credited to William Cammeyer. He was a Brooklyn businessman and a politician. He purchased six acres of land and first built a skating rink but in 1862 made it into an enclosed ballpark with stands. Admission charge was 10 cents according to one report.

There were other ballparks that may or may not have been first but it was obvious that in the 1860s baseball was finding homes for their teams to play in. This all happening at a time when our country was embroiled in the Civil War. Check out the article on the Society For American Baseball Research to learn more.

By the way, I read that there was a covered area over a part of the stands for ladies to watch the game.

Thank You Carol Burnett

I love to laugh. At the very least I love things, situations and especially people who bring a smile to my face. This Wednesday night we were able to go to a personal appearance of Carol Burnett and spend an evening laughing and enjoying the wonderful portfolio of her work and life in comedy.

After reading her book, In Such Good Company, and posting about it, a few days later I caught the announcement that she was coming to the Connor Palace in Cleveland. It didn't take any convincing to get my husband to run to the computer and order tickets. He's a fan too and one of the best of the people in my life that make me laugh and smile.

The format of her appearance on stage was the Q&A that she always started her show with. People in the audience were able to ask questions and as in her show, some of them were tender and others were really funny. Even at her age (let's just say she's older than I am) she is quick witted and sharp not to mention inventive and creative with her humor. And it's so refreshing to find a performer with clean humor.

She brought along some of her favorite clips and told many of the stories that are also in her book but just like when it's family and the old stories are retold, we all laughed again.

Thank you Carol Burnett for the evening, for the laughs, for the years of making us smile.

Books For The Road - The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis

It's almost time to start looking for those easy reads and admit it, when you're sitting by the pool or at the beach you really want a romance, right? Here is one of interest--The Last Heiress. Mary Ellis writes many Amish stories but I really like her historical novels better. This one takes place during the Civil War. Here is the teaser:

Amanda Dunn set sail from England for Wilmington, North Carolina, hoping to somehow restore shipments of cotton for her family’s textile mills, which have been severely disrupted by the American Civil War. But when she meets Nathaniel Cooper, her desire to conduct business and quickly return to England changes.

Amanda’s family across the sea deems the hardworking merchant unsuitable for the lovey and accomplished heiress. And when Nate himself begins to draw away, Amanda has her own battle for a happy future on her hands.

As the War Between the States heats up, Nate’s brother, a Confederate officer, comes for a visit. Nate begins to think about joining up—not in support of slavery but to watch his brother’s back. Yet will this potentially life-changing decision put the union between him and Amanda she so wishes for in jeopardy?

I like that it's not a boy-meets-girl-instant-flame type romance. This one builds and amid the backdrop of the South during the Civil War, it presents quite a struggle between the characters and their opinions and beliefs. It would make a good book for the road. . .or the beach.

Wordless Wednesday

The Plane Does Not Fly Itself

Maybe it's because of all the crazy movies and shows over the years but too many people have the idea that once the plane is on autopilot, the pilot isn't flying the plane. Not the case according to a former pilot who has written a book, Cockpit Confidential, and has a website, AskThePilot.com. Patrick Smith says that the automation only does what the pilot tells it to do. So even though it may not be hands on the wheel, it is still pilot in control.

The autopilot was put into use mainly so that a pilot does not have to keep his hands on the "wheel" continually especially during long flights. If you've ever taken a long road trip and driven a long stretch, you can imagine what that would be like on a long overseas flight.

I found several very interesting questions and answers on Smith's website. For instance, the idea that the air in the cabin is seething with germs. The air in the cabin is mixed with fresh air from the outside and there are all sorts of filters it passes through. If you read his answer, it will calm your fears. He claims that the air is probably cleaner than what is in an office, movie theater or classroom.

When you look at a map you assume that the shortest distance between New York and Europe is a straight shot across the ocean. Not so. Smith points out the principle that early explorers were proving--the earth is round, not flat. Therefore the shortest distance between those two points takes a plane over Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland before getting to Europe. It's simply shorter because of the curvature of the earth.

Lots of interesting questions and answers on the website. You might want to check them out before your next flight.

Through My Lens - Spring At The Zoo

Our favorite lunch spot in the Rainforest,

New exhibits coming soon!

Baby Lulu

Nature Trips vs. City Trips

As I write this I am sitting at our kitchen table which is in an area of our kitchen that is surrounded by windows that look out on our backyard. It almost has the feeling of being outdoors and I can enjoy the birds, the small lake in our neighbor's backyard, and a slew of other sometimes unexpected things like the red fox that ran through our backyard yesterday.

Now we aren't located in the middle of the countryside. As a matter of fact, when the windows are open, I not only hear the chirps and songs of birds but the occasional motor cycle and truck gears changing on the main road not far away. You might say our spot is a blend of nature and city.

When it comes to travel though I would prefer a nature trip to a city trip. There are lots of things to be done in a city, museums, restaurants, shows, historical landmarks, etc., but if I really want to refresh and reset, a trip into a natural area is so much better.

There are lots of reasons to get into nature if you truly want a vacation (or as the Europeans put it, a holiday). And if you are looking to restart your creativity, attention span, or reset attitudes, there are studies that say a trip into nature is the way to go.

Sunlight and fresh air are good for you and who knows, you might just be able to jump start a fitness routine as well along those nature trails. Or you might just want to improve your mood and relax near a babbling brook or the seashore where you can listen to the gentle sounds of water.

Have I spiked your enthusiasm yet? I'm headed for the zoo today. It may be a little busy with people but it is relaxing to watch the animals, stroll with my husband along the trails and soak in the sunshine that has finally arrived. Oh, and by the way, while writing this a cute little opossum just crossed our yard and headed to the creek for a drink. Nature, gotta love it!

The Fun Side of Mud

Spring rains always brought agony when the kids were young and we had a dog. Mud was constantly tracked into the house one way or another. Between trying to check that the kids had left shoes in our mud room (an aptly named entryway off our garage) and wiping the dog's feet (which never seemed to get absolutely clean). It drove me to drink! Luckily my drink was coffee.

Now I discover that there is a new sport called mudding. Apparently the generation of kids who grew up with "Take your muddy shoes off!" are taking to prepared mud pits and having the time of their life running their trucks and ATVs through the mud. And if that's not enough fun they get down into the pits themselves and toss globs of mud at each other--literal mud slinging!

How do I know this? I got the lowdown from my hairdresser. Yup. What better source for information. It started with a simple question, what are your plans for the nice weekend coming up? I shared mine which, by the way, was a lot less messy and she shared her excitement of making the trip with her boyfriend to Yankee Lake in eastern Ohio just this side of the PA border.

I tried not to shudder as she talked about previous forays into the pits and what fun they'd had. No matter how much I tried to imagine myself doing that, I could not. It just goes to show that one person's idea of fun may not be the other person's fun day.

I ventured one question when she was done. "Is there some place to clean up?"

"Oh yes," she said. "There are hoses to clean up with."

So, if your idea of fun is to slosh in the mud with others of the same mind, you might want to check out Yankee Lake or search for a spot near you. I'm sure there is more than this one muddy spot to enjoy. Search for mud bogging, mud racing, mud drags or my favorite, mudding. And yes, you can be a spectator at some places. Now that might be interesting.

Wordless Wednesday

Countdown Deal Continues - In A Pickle $1.99!

Looking for some smiles as we wait for spring to fully bloom? Want to start stocking up on summer reads? Check out the eBook deal at Amazon for In A Pickle. Today's price is 99 cents but will soon move up to $1.99. Each day this week the price goes up a bit until it gets back to the current price of $5.99. Don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Already read In A Pickle? Tell a friend and pass the word!

Here's the book blurb about In A Pickle:

Annie Pickels, a 65 year old widowed pickle entrepreneur is in real trouble. One of her city farmers is growing marijuana on his rented plot of land. Annie, thinking it is marjoram, uses it as a secret ingredient in her pickles.

Insisting Tommy is a nice young man, Annie discovers his beloved Mary Jane is not the name of his girlfriend when Annie is arrested for cultivation and sale of marijuana. But Annie knows God always takes care of her. On a cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2, Annie met Arnie, the man who may solve her impending legal dilemma.

Elma, Annie's best friend, knows that Arnie is just what Annie needs in her life. But is he? Annie's niece thinks Arnie is out to fleece her aunt. Is she right? Or is Arnie the one who can get Annie out of the pickle she's in?