PALM HARBOR

2012-02-01T18:20:00.003-05:00

The other day I had a nice thing happen. I had ridden my bike to the Witch's Brew, a nice Spiritual & Tea Shop in Palm Harbor.

There was a young girl, about 5 who said to a woman browsing, "Your hair is longer than my teacher's". It was determined the teacher was less than 30, & the woman said, "what is after 30", & the little girl answered, "40", "that's right". Another heavier lady with long grey hair said, "what is after 40?". "Mmmmm...50", "Right!". This was getting to be a fun game, so I held up 8 fingers and said how much is 50+8. She looked at me, she looked at the lady with long hair (mine is shoulder length), she looked at the lady with long, long dark hair...looked at me again then back to my fingers & I mouthed the words "fifty-eight" as she said them. The mother looked at me, "And said, "you are just beautiful" she said it more than once. I said thank you, of course. Then I said to the little girl that people come in all shapes & sizes. Some can grow long hair, I can't. Some people have grey hair......I don't yet.

Hi Everyone

2011-06-21T12:23:00.007-04:00

Grand Canyon

Last Christmas

I sure do miss my blogging/Journal friends. FB & Twitter is just not the same. It just seemed we had a nice group of friends back then & we were so supportive.

I've been having a rough time with my health & depression. My children have done thier best to alienate themselves from me. And w/o them I hardly feel like living. don't worry I'm seeing a therapist for it & was taking an antidepressant. It's been changed & this new one isn't working. Right now, I have a migraine..same old, same old complaint, right?

Jasmine has big lumps on her chest. Lymph nodes. They have been oozing blood & pus & I'vw gotten quite creative applying dressings. With antibiotics the sores have healed, but she still has the lumps. She has a Vet appt this afternoon. If the Vet still wants to do biopsies & surgery, I'll have no choice but to put her to sleep. She falls frontwards & sometimes her back legs give out. Sometimes it seems she can't see. Lately she has her days & nights reversed. So I take her out to sit on the patio blocks while I sleep in the wicker chair. She just sits there looking around-with a smile on her Maltese face.

Well, my H/A is a little better so I better get out of bed & get ready for Jazzy's appt.

I have so much more on my mind. Maybe writing will pull the junk out.

hugs 'hugs...

HOW ARE YOU & HOW WAS YOUR WKEND?

2009-04-27T10:44:00.004-04:00

In the Graphics Group, LILA, that I belong to we have these daily questions. I love reading what other people write. Since I've had "writer's block" the past few months, I thought I'd write what my answers are.

How are you and how was your weekend?

The good news is that things are really quiet around the RV Park. There are only a couple of SnowBirds that haven't left. The days are sunny and warms (mid 80's) and nights cool (high 60's) . I've really enjoyed the evening walks with the dog and kitty. Mau'i is happier without so many people around. She runs and plays, jumping on picnic tables and, up a tree or 2, down. Then she jumps into clumps of Spanish Moss that has fallen to the ground and rolls around in it, then shoots off with the hair on her back puffed up. I was thinking of growing her some Catnip, but honestly I don't think she needs it.

Now the bad stuff. I've been having migraines every day. Most of the time I wake up with one in the middle of the night and when I wake up in the morning. I know it's my son and the stress is he bringing on me.

He arrived here last week-no money, no food, no soap, no shampoo, no toothpaste. I had to supply quarters for him to do his own wash.

When he did get paid on Friday he had to pay Amscott (a drive in loan company), then go back 24 hours later and borrow money to make a Jeep payment (I think).

Given his money situation...or lack of it, he went to dinner at a friend's and bought and $8 Boston Cream pie. That was Ok.....but then on Saturday night he had a date, got drunk, spent 30 bucks (that I know of) and then was too hung over to do the things I put on the "Weekend list" of things I needed to have done around here.

He slept past noon Sunday. THEN when he did feel better, he went to take a few things to the storage unit, told me he'd be back in an hour and was gone for 5. He stopped a friends to watch the Basketball playoffs.

Well, he got home and I stayed quiet. Gave him a few dirty looks when he tried to justify why he HAD to stop at Jason's.

I told him I didn't have 50 bucks (including the cigarettes he smoked) to go out and blow and neither did he. I gave him all my savings to help him. And I need help around this place.

"You told me you'd help and where are you?" And since he arrived here with no soap, toothpaste, shampoo, food, etc that I was supporting him. AND I expected him to act more responsibly with his money since I am trying to help him.

Also I think I'm going to tell him that we are going to re-evaluate the living situation at the end of the week (when he gets his bonus money and I get my savings back).

See why I am getting migraines?

I've been thinking, too. That maybe I'll let him pay the lot rent and live here this summer and I'll go up to NY for the summer and part of the fall.

I miss the mountains and lakes so very much. I haven't been up there is 15 yrs. It's going to take some planning so I think I'll work on it and see if I can swing up dollar wise.

I work on a few tags this weekend. YaY!!

Donna asked this question. Does anyone want us to do tag offers? It doesn't seem like many people do anymore. Many of the graphics I buy, the termes of use require me to add word art or names to the tags. I have tons of tags that I've done and haven't posted yet. So I guess I am wondering if I should even bother.

Earth Day, Mocking Birds and George

2009-04-23T12:12:00.006-04:00

I learned today that Mockingbird's are also called "Cat Bird's". AND they will attack a kitty without being provoked. One will fly down from the power lines, sit in front of kitty while another will try to peck her butt while she is distracted. Their calls also bring Blue Jay's & Cardinal's to see the comotion.

This is getting to be a nightly occurance when when the dog, kitty and I got for our sunset walk around the RV park.

I have a few Earth Day blinkies I I'd share. I th ink all of them were made by Shelly last year & this year.

The only things I did for Earth Day is tend to my herbs and trees by watering them. I had done the real work last week. Although, I would like to dig up an Azeala bush and plant it somewhere will it will get more Sun. and I have a couple of pineapple plants I'm sure will do better planted in sand rather than in pots.

This past week the rest of the Snowbird's have packed up and moved thier rigs out of the RV park. Ahhh....so nice and quiet. I may even go down to the pool for a while today.

This was sent to me today. I got a laugh from it. I hope you do, too.

WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE.

George Phillips , an elderly man, from Meridian, Mississippi, was going upto bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the gardenshed, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw thatthere were people in the shed stealing things...He phoned the police, who asked, "Is someone in your house?" He said "No,"but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me. Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock yourdoors and an officer will be along when one is available."George said, "Okay."

He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again."Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot them." and he hung up.

Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two FireTrucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips'residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shotthem!" George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"(True Story)

Don't mess with old people

TWILIGHT

2009-04-14T22:27:00.012-04:00

Transparent-to use on white, black or color backgrounds

My son was here last weekend when a friend of mine loaned me her copy of the Twilight movie. We each watched, saying not a one word, neither of us suggested putting the movie on pause. Not once. Marc didn't take a cigarette break. No, not even one. He was on the sitting on the edge of his seat, and I was laying on the couch watching, feeling a bit faint at times...."swooning". I've never used that word "swooning". But, OMG, what a sensuous movie that it was. It took me back to that innocent time in my life when love & sex were an exciting mystery.
*my first boyfriend's name was Edward*

Honestly I was feeling flush and even...hot. I thought at times I was having hot flashes. But.wait, I don't get hot flashes! Now, I there is no doubt that I have to get the books. Bad eyes or not I will get through them. I just can't wait until the next movie in the series comes out.

Today was a rough day in the Tampa Bay area-weather wise. I woke up early remembering the high winds we had yesterday. Hmmm? No rain yet. So I opened up the door, put Mau'i and Jazzy outdoors. Jazzy went potty and came indoors to get her "breakfast bone". I was going to lay back down for a while, but because I was suppose to teach online at 9am, I thought I'd write a note telling everyone that I was hearing rumbles of thunder and a Tornado watch was in effect. As I was writing, the sky which had been that creepy green-gray color turned jet black. I was so dark, that I couldn't see the keyboard in front of me. The wind blew, the rain didn't come down. It blew sideways. The lightening and thunder was so violent the the trailer vibrated. Jazzy was shaking like a bowl of Jello. Within 10-15 minutes the veil of darkness lifted. I hadn't lost power so I had heard the warnings of tornadoes in the Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs area. It was too late for me to go to the Rec hall where the walls are cinder block. The wind and rain were too fierce. What I did hear though is that the darkness was actually a black cloud that moved on shore. Doppler Radar indicated the thunderhead was at ground level and 3,000 feet thick. All is fine with me. but, many people in the Tampa area had cars tossed and flipped over. Roves ripped and Lanai's blown away, holes in the sides of their homes from fence posts and trees being snapped and flung about. There were 2 confirmed tornadoes just north of Palm Harbor. And a few funnel clouds reported by police in the area trying to control the rush hour traffic. The are saying now that the wind shear was 95 mph.

Mau'i? She was outside. Poor kitty must have found shelter under a trailer or under my deck. I had called her, but she must have been chasing a bug or squirrel hunting.

When the rain let up a little I called her. She wailed on me as if it was my fault she had gotten wet. I think the water rose and had her trapped someplace dirty that soon became mud. I wiped the the mud off her white paws with my dish towel. She quickly ate some kitty kibble & went to her crate, where she sleeps at night, to clean herself and take a quiet nap. It wasn't long before another storm came in off the Gulf. Mau'i craweledout of the kitty cave ready to play. She was bouncing off the walls like a toddler with too much energy. So I dug out her kitten toys, the balls, the ribbons, the bottle caps, And we played while Jazzy laid on the couch rollilng her eyes as Mau'i jumped from chair to couch to floor to couch.

another transparent image

Baseball is back at Tropicana Field

The first home game was played last night after the banners were hoisted for the American League and American League East Champions to a full house. And to the delight of us baseball fans we beat the britches of the NY Yankee's.

15-5

SILLY SNOWBIRD STUFF III

2009-04-12T22:11:00.008-04:00

My son came to the RV park to join me for the dinner they have in the Recreation Hall on holidays. He is having problems organizing his life and I'm feeling the effects mentally and financially. More on that later.

My deviled eggs were a hit. I only made dozen this time because there are usually other people who make them. AND...this week when I went to the food bank they didn't have any eggs available. But, they did give me frozen Beef Roast and Jimmy Dean's frozen sausage.

The F.E.A.S.T. program is a local food bank that my friends had told me that I was probably eligible for. It wasn't until about 6 weeks ago did I apply when I went to deliver some canned goods with the President of the Acclivities Committee. And sure enough, I am way under the yearly dollar cap. And it is only about a 2 miles from my home.

I had no idea it was so close!

When I go I receive a bag of canned and boxed goods, a bag of frozen food, and a bag of fresh food. Things like chicken soup, cereal, tuna, rice, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti sauce, The Worker Bee then will ask me if I'd like milk & eggs (if they have them), tea or coffee. Another bag that contains fruits and vegetables fresh pears, apples, tomatoes, avocados, mushrooms (this week), and perhaps a potaoto or 2, may be handed to me. Sometimes there is a Bag O'Salad & once, a bag of Stir Fry Veggies.

Then I go to the bread rack where I can choose 2 loaves of bread (I usually get 1 Rye for morning toast and 1 white for PBJ or grilled cheese) -and then I can take as many rolls and bagels that I can eat. All of the bread is from Publix Bakery and it is delicious. There is usually grapefruit and oranges (probably donated from people who have trees in their yards), dog & cat food from local Vets (Science Diet). The only rules are that I can go twice a month and no closer than 10 days apart. And the Worker Bee's are so pleasant & friendly.

Lots of stuffies

Back to Marc. In February he was riding the neighbor kids skateboard, fell, and dislocated & broke a hand bone at the wrist. 6 days later he had surgery to pin and set the bones. As a result, he was unable to work as an Optician. He did receive disability payments, but somehow he is 3 1/2 months behind on his jeep payments and owes his landlord $500 ::sigh::

Last week his landlord, who he rents a room from, had company come in from out of town and asked Marc if he could stay with me. Off and on through out the week I asked him if he had a room to go back to. He assured me he did. BUT....at once he remarked that he wanted to talk to me about something, but I would "probably put it in my Blog". Hmmmm??

So Thursday evening came and it had been a week. He slept on the couch. Friday, he asked me if he could stay one more night. he didn't feel like going home. Can you see where this is going? Saturday afternoon, he took me to the mall to get my face cream and just hang out for a while. When we got home he put his stuff in his Jeep, came in, sat down and said he needed to talk. He asked me if he could come and sleep on the couch for 2 months until he got his finances in order. He said it was that or go homeless and his Jeep was about to be repo'd. I told him no. Last time he came to stay for 3 months and he stayed for a year and 1/2. I actually told him to go buy a tent and pitch it up on a beach. Then I made a list of homeless shelters that I found online and gave it to him. And I asked several times if he had called his father (who is working).

Well, the next day I had thought about it and wrote down some rules. Including me making a budget for him to adhere to. His life would be mine. he goes to work and comes home. No drinking, no arguing, and a cigarette budget and a small entertainment allowance after a month. AND I asked him where he plans to go after the 2 months. There has to be a plan. Plus if I say OUT, I mean out. Well he agreed to be open and honest about his finances and open to my help. Well hell, he doesn't have a choice.

But, I know when Marc moved in with Brandon and marc said it was there was going to be a revolving door of chicks and 24 hours of partying that this would bite him in the ass.

Today when he came for dinner he told me he was bringing his things tomorrow or Tuesday. What? I thought I had another week!
Plus.....he asked me if I could go to AMSCOT and get a payment loan on my monthly disability check for $300 so his jeep won't be repossessed (sp). Wait-"have you talked with your father-he is working & I can give you a place to live, but not help with money". He said he knew, but this was his last chance. Well, luckily (or not) I could not find my yearly statement which states what my monthly $$ is. He left and I found I did have $350 dollars in the bank between my checking and savings acct. (pretty pitiful, huh?) So my next question is.."how are you going to pay me back?". I guess his company has a their quarterly bonus at the end of the month. So I told him that there went my safety net and if the Mama's not out having fun that he isn't going out either.

OK, on a lighter note. I've got another "Silly SnowBird Stuff " for you. Can you spot what is wrong with this picture?

Spicy

2009-04-11T22:35:00.003-04:00

Well, I suppose by now you can guess what I've been up to the past couple of months. Yes, working on my graphics. Just like when I was in college, when I learned one huge lesson, the more you learn...the more you realize how much you don't know.

Today was warm and beautiful. A perfect 80 degree's with a slight breeze this afternoon, that blew some low clouds away. So perfect since I had planted the Basil, Dill, Cilantro and an Avocado tree last night.

AND guess what?! I thought I had bought Catnip for Mau'i, but when I planted it and took the little plastic tag out to put it in the new pot I realized that it was Lemon Balm. No wonder when I cut a piece and put it in front of her nose, she flipped her head, gave me a dirty look. Humph! "A cat with ATTITUDE", I thought. LOL-Now I know why!

I guess you also notice I am using large type in my journal here. Reading is getting more and more difficult. It really a chore to read anything these days. And I can't seem to find my writing Mojo.

So if I haven't gotten to your Journal yet. I'm working on it.

I think Marc is coming over for dinner tomorrow. Dinner is at the Recreation Hall, where they are serving Turkey and Ham supplied by the Park owner. The Activities committee makes the potatoes, gravy and the residents each bring a dish. I've made my specialty, Deviled Eggs. Not sweet...Spicy,Like me ; )

Easter Snags

2009-04-10T15:36:00.004-04:00

I was asked if I celebrate Easter. No, not Easter per se, but the celebration of Spring and life that has been dormant through the winter months. And yes, even in Florida we have a dormant season.

My Ginger Thomas plant has sprung to life the past couple of weeks as have my crotons. I had been babying an Avocado tree sprig and I think that will go in the ground tonight. I'll see if I can get some photo's.

Where have YOU been? ( Exquisite Spring Snag)

2009-04-09T22:49:00.003-04:00

Hmmm? Where have I been? I guess it has been almost 2 months since I've posted.

Lets's see...about the middle of February I was asked to be moderator/teacher for LearnPSP, the Yahoo group I've belonged to since last June. I had been teaching people by IM for a while anyway, and 4 hours a week didn't sound too bad. And about a month ago I was asked if I would write the weekly newsletter for the RV Park. It has all the activities and scores for Darts, Bowling, Golf & yes, Shuffleboard. And use my PSP art to make the Header and clip art here and there to "make it pretty".

Jazzy is good. Good and fat. I shaved her maltese hair last week and now she looks more like a pink pig pot belly pig, than a dog. Mau'i is a year old now and she has claimed the RV Park as her domain. One of her brothers got hit by a car in the road. Luckily we are on the back road surrounded by a 15 ft fence. Whenever I call her, she comes running, so I know she isn't at the front of the Park where the driveway in & out is. The SnowBirds have really gotten more than a few good laughs from her. Besides running and jumping on and off picnic tables, she rolls in the dirt then looks at people upside down. She tries to get teh squirrels, but just doesn't have her timing down yet. People have told me that they watch as she pursues her prey, waiting anxiously, anticitpating, then...."Ohhh! She missed!!" The SnowBirds laugh and point each evening when I take Jazz for a walk and Miss Mau'i follows and rubs against Jazzy. Mau'i hasn"t allowed anyone else in the Park to pet her, but she isn't running & hiding under the trailer anymore.

I've done my Spring planting. Got the Crotons and Plumeria in the ground. The herbs, Basil, Cilantro, Oregano, Dill and Catnip, I'll do tomorrow morning, I have several Pineapple plants with baby pineapples. They are only going to be 2 yrs old and have fruit already. I'm really surprised. It usually takes at least 3 yrs. But, these were "Dole" tops that I picked up at the grocery store as the guy was shucking them. So maybe Dole has plants that they have made to produce fruit quicker. The Mau'i gold I brought back from Mau'i has fruit. That one I think is going in the ground tomorrow also.

The first exodus of SnowBirds happened April 1st. Feels good to have a little elbow room again.

So the next exodus will be the day after Easter. The Florida Turnpike from east Florida converges with Rt 75 to create a massive parking lot. Sometimes it takes 2 days to untangle, depending on the number of accidents. And then May 1st the last of the SnowBirds leave & "Ahhhh...peace and quiet" until next season (November).

All I Need to Know & Easter Snag

2009-04-08T23:59:00.007-04:00

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket

Walk softly and carry a big carrot

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears

There's no such thing as too much candy

All work and no play can make you a basket case

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits

Some body parts should be floppy

Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans

Good things come in small sugarcoated packages

The grass is always greener in someone else's basket

An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare

To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

NEW PUBLIX GROCERY STORE OPENS

2009-04-06T20:41:00.003-04:00

A new Publix supermarket opened.

It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the sent of fresh mown hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steakswith onions. When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more!

TAG ~ IT'S MAGIC

2009-02-19T16:44:00.003-05:00

PRESIDENTS DAY

2009-02-16T23:12:00.002-05:00

I recieved a quick voice mail from Marc today. He was on his way to the Tampa Airport. He'll call me tomorrow (or text) and let me know what's happening. If neither Nicci or Marc call me, that 's ok. I know they'll be busy. Nicci will probably be the one who helps her Pepere' and Dad. Pepere', caught the flu that Memere' caught after she had a stroke the week before. Pep is in his mid-80's also and although I think he is in pretty good shape, I'm sure his resisitance is down.

As I'm writing this I recieved a call form Nicolle. Things are tense with her Dad. She is at Pepere's house tonight so I told her to see how things go tomorrow. And be by Pepere's side.

NOPE, NOT IN LOVE

2009-02-15T19:10:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the misleading Title on one of my posts. No, I haven't met anyone and no, I'm not in love. It was just the name of the word art on the graphic. I was thinking about it tonight. I just don't go anywhere to meet anyone. The pharmacy, the grocery store and home. That's it.

Last night, I got the news my former Mother in Law died. My 2 kids were the first two grandchildren of their father's He's an only child. Nicolle is flying to Albany from Chicago today. She had looked into flight tickets online for her brother, Marc. But it seems that tickets from Tampa to Albany were almost 3 times the cost.

Have I mentioned he fell of his neighbor's skateboard? Broke & dislocated the hand bones at the wrist? He then had to have surgery to have pins put in it. And, it is the right hand so he has been unable to work. The pins came out on Friday and he is a little more comfortable now. I asked Marc today if he thought about driving up to Scotia.

I'll write a little about Memere' tomorrow. I need to get cards out to my former FIL, her sisters, brothers and X to mail tomorrow.

Isn't this just the sweetest?

Snag to Tag

2009-02-15T01:37:00.003-05:00

A little snag....

This is what it looks like tagged...

FALLING IN LOVE

2009-02-15T01:36:00.003-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2009-02-15T01:12:00.003-05:00

WoW, I can't beleive it's been so long since I've posted. I've really gotten into making Valentine's tags. And then 2 weeks ago I was online when the Owner of the LearnPSP group I'm in asked me if I'd be a modertor.

The group has 50+ members that are mostly beginner's learning basic Paint Shop Pro. So this past week I've been training every day and I'll admit it sure was nice to sleep in this morning.

Monday I'm doing a Blood Pressure Clinic which I do every ohter Monday here in the RV Park. Thursday, I may be going out for lunch with my online freinds, Robin and Carol again. So I'll be finishing my trianing the other 3 days this week.

Bobbie, the moderator will be going into the hospital in 3 weeks for Bypass surgery so once she finished trianing us 2 "new girls", she be able to realx, have her surgery, heal, and do the rehab.

Do I have a Valentine?

No. But I suppose that if I go out tomorrow I will be able to buy my own Chocolate at 1/2 price.

Mmmmm!

COLD AS SNOW

2009-01-25T20:28:00.008-05:00

Yes, it's HAS been this cold!

The possibilty of snow was in the forcast for 3 days this week! Can you believe it? This is Florida~We aren't suppose to get snow. The last time it snowed in the Tampa Bay area was 1988. IN 1977, we recieved 2 1/2 inches!! Imagaine oranges, still on the trees, coated with white snow.

I toyed with the idea of going to Washington D.C.last weekend. My cousins live in Alexandria area. But, no, this Florida Girl would have suffered terribly with the cold and all that walking. Nope, stayed home in my cozy home covered up to the neck with blankets.

I can't tell you how many Palm, Pineapple plants, Herbs, Red Sisters, Lilies, Crotons, and Plumeria I have. With the temperature's plummeting to the mid 20's a at night, I brought as many plants as I could indoors. The Begonia's, and the Avocado tree, and the Christmas Cactus suffered a little damage as did the Palms.

When Nicci was here a couple of weeks ago we did go to the beach after stopping at Publix to get Cuban sandwiches, Terra chips, and fruit.

Look at the sugary sand.

By the time we got there it was 2 pm. The temps weren't too bad,and the sun was high in the sky. But the as the sun got lower, the winds kicked up and we left the beach about 4. Brrrr....

Jasmine loves to swim. Even though I was encouraging her in to the water, all she wated to do is get her paws wet. And that was that! She actually has a little surfboard that she rides.* You can see the green and blue board under Nicolle's bag on the above photo. Jazzy had no inclination to boogie this day!

She did get her tummy wet.

Pretty nice isn't it? Honeymoon Island it the #1 natural beach in the United states, including Hawai'i. The people beach is on the west side of the island. The dog beach on the south side & there can easliy be 200-300 dogs along this 3 1/2 mile stretch of beach. But, not too many at the beach today. LOL~ Just us brave souls!

Honeymoon Island is an Island nature Preserve which the wild life shares with us humans & canines.

Good thing I had put on a pot of Vegetable soup.

This is my little outdoor "oven" I bake, roast and make soup in it. And below is the oak "library table" I used to use for my puter. When Nicci was here I needed to bring the rattan chairs in for seating.

At the end of the day, Soup and Sleep. Awww, look at my "Girl-Animals"-so sweet!

They do look like Angels, don't they?

SILLY SNOWBIRD STUFF II

2009-01-25T19:30:00.002-05:00

The Nova Scotian's on the corner apparently found a little Poodle Poop on their lot. Instead of bending over and picking it up, they went out of their way to find 5 white rocks and surround it as thus.

My friend that lives across the street said that they were waiting for people to ask them why. She told them it might just attract unwanted attention and they'd find more poop. Sure enough, a few days later when I walked by, I saw that instead of 1 circle of rocks, they had set up 8-10 circles. Each with exactly 5 rocks around the offensive Poop.

THIS WAS QUITE A WEEK

2009-01-24T21:49:00.002-05:00

OUR 44TH

Election Day, I cried my little eyeballs out with pride, astonishment and pride the majority of Americans could put aside race & vote for an intelligent, eloquent, distinguished, man of peace. Inauguration Day was a joyous day, a day to look to a new era for America and a day that hopefully will be the beginning where the world looks at us with respect once more. The next few days that followed, new policies were put into motions. Today I heard a quote from President Obama that reinforced my pride, "Being powerful (nation), doesn't mean being forceful".

Thank you Coelha, at Coelha Thoughts , for posting President Obama's Speech in it's entirety.

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents. So it has been.

So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.

Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.

And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled.

In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)." America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."May God give you the strength to lead us.

God bless America!! It's a great day to be an American!

TEDDY SNAGS AND SENSUAL TAGS

2009-01-18T22:37:00.004-05:00

Marc went to a surgical center on Wednesday to have his broken/dislocated hand and wrist bone stablized. It seems from what he told me that they gave him enough tranquilzers that would put a normal person into a stupor for a week.

For pain he was given Vicodin and when those didn't work he was given 2 Percocet, an told to chew them before he swallowed ( he learned a new trick). Marc probably denied he was a drinker because he learned from his last hospital experience that they give more drugs.

Snap! Did I just say that?!

Well, the Dr was 3 hours late to do the procedure, so they gave more tranquilzers more pain meds that didn't work. He was givien a nerve block, that didn't work completely on his thumb and index finger. So the anestetist inserted a long thin needle attached to a TENS unit which was inserted that into his forearm. I guess that DID work and they did the surgery an hour later. Then, instead of cutting and inserting 2 pins under the local anesthia, the Dr decided he needed to cut and insert more pins under GENERAL anesthesia.

At some point his B/P was high with the Systolic in the 190's, so he was given more pain meds. I'm thinking Mama needs to find out who this Doc is and give him the heads up that Marc's B/P has been in the 170's systolically when he eats salty foods & drinks caffiene. And he knows that that pain will also up the B/P, so he may or maynot have been trying ot mimic pain. Yes, my son is a "drug seeker".

Marc did tell me that the Dr offered to renew his pain pills & he told me that he told the Dr he had enough to get him through. Hmmm? Do you think he was saying that for my benefit? I do. Marc's snail mail comes to my address. I think I'll take a peak and see if there is a Dr's name somewhere. I really hate to do that. But, then I would feel worse if he gets addicted again and starts buying off the streets, or worse, overdoses. When he called me he was having some beers with the guys and was going to friend's Brithday party later. At the end of our phone conversation he told me he had to go. go home to ice and elevate his hand.

Am I being played? He thinks so, I'm sure. I don't care because if I act naive I get more info leaked to me because he thinks I'm clueless. Actually his father thought he was so smart that he could tell me anything & I was gullible enough to believe it : D

When the kids were 5/ 7, they found cocaine in thier father's freezer. Their Dad told them it was was powderd sugar, which back fired when they asked if they could put it on thier french toast. So then he told them that it was cocaine that he was going to give to his new BIL for his wedding. "But, don't tell your Mom". LOL~Guess what? The Mom dragged his butt into Family Court. You don't tell kids not to tell Mom. That is what kids do.

I don't usually do Bears or Hearts. Not my style I guess. That or maybe iy's because the bears look like flea and moth ridden. I guess these Bears are "Creddy's" or "Tatty's". The Hearts are definately red. Hehee...made myself laugh!

TROPICAL STORM BREWING

2009-01-16T20:35:00.004-05:00

ESPN.com news services (1 minute ago)

The Buccaneers Friday said that they have fired head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen.

It is a week before the Gasparilla Feastivities where Tampa Bay is invaded by Buccaneer's. The most famous & infamous being the fictional, or maybe not fictional, Jose' Gaspar. Nobody really knows.

Dozens of boats & yachts travel from St Petersburg to Tampa, where men and women disembark dressed as Buccanneer's & wenches. Then they wave thier swords, climb upon floats and travel the Bayshore Blvd throwing "Buccanner coins" of gold, strings of beads, and candy to the kids (an pretty girls). In addtion to Guavaween, Gasparilla is one of Tampa's "Mardi Gra" type clebrations. From January 24th thru March 1st there will be "Gasparilla Balls", dinners, and pirate themed parties.

And here we are. Yes, our Buc's had a disappointing season, yet we are ready to don our festive beads despite. But wait. OUR Buccaneer's, and I mean our football team, is mighty important to us. Yet, the eve before the Gasparilla the Glazer's checked thier wallet's and dismissed Jon Gruden and head coach, Bruce Allen. If nothing else haven't the Glazers realized the with crowd's of thousands gathering that there is sure to be "Tropical Storm"?

UPDATE: Of course, local Sports News crews have interviewed the Glazers who deny any speculations of a new manager. I doubt that.

SILLY SNOWBIRD STUFF

2009-01-16T13:14:00.004-05:00

Pretty flowers, aren't they?

Pretty Fake.

The SnowBirds who live 3 lots up from me have stuck artificial flowers in the ground. Damn Peoples, this is Florida.

Grow your own!!

LUNCH AT WOOLWORTH'S

2009-01-15T12:15:00.011-05:00

Do you remember Woolworth's Five and Dime Stores?

The Lunch counter with the stools?

The menu?

Back in the 1960's, my grandmother and I used to catch the bus in the little town of Scotia, NY, where she lived, to go over the bridge to downtown Schenectady. Grandma used to call it "Going on the Peanut Bust". I don't know why. Except that there was a Planter's Peanut's Shop in Schenectady.

When I was very little I thought she said we were going on a "Peanut Bus". I'd look for people seeling peanuts on the bus and even look under the seats or on the floor hoping to see some. LOL~Never found one Peanut on the bus!

Once over the bridge we'd get off the bus in front of Carl's Department then cross the street to Wallace's Dept Store to see my Great Aunt Bessie who worked as the Account Manager of the store. Occasionally we would go to a movie at the Proctors Theater. It was a Theater built in 1917 during the Vaudeville days and in the 80's Hal Holbrook donated money for renovation of the Theater and a large Pipe Organ to keep it as a Historical as it was when silent films were shown.

photo is not one of mine

Look under the humble facade, is an "Arcade" which is a wide corridor that went from this entrance to the other side of the block where there was another set of double doors. Along the hallway there are Book and Music shops. In the 1960's there were "Head Shops" where we could buy jeans, peasant blouses from India, bongs, pipes and papers. Along the corridor there were also a couple of high end ladies clothing stores.

This is the stage and chandeliers within Proctor's Theater.

photo is not one of mine

In Carl's we usually took a potty break. Would you believe we had to insert a dime into the coin box of the stall door in order to use the to toilet?

They had to get rid of that in the 70's when women all over the country protested that paying to use the toilet was discrimination.

Can you imagine the scenario if men were told they had to pay to use the toilet. Heck, they'd go outdoor's and find the nearest tree. Women used to have to pay at Rest Area's on the highways when we were traveling, also.

Another "Different thing" was that in Proctor's theater there was a Ladies room with it's own Lobby. And there were leather couches where women could lay down when they felt faint when it was "that time of the month".

Sometimes we would eat at a Chinese restaurant, but most of the time we'd go to Woolworth's Lunch Fountain to eat.

We'd wander among the rows of counters where women attend to helping us find the five and ten cent items we were looking for. Threads, needles, shower caps, hair nets, hair pins, bun holders, jewelry, toys, safety pins, pens, writing paper, yarn, aprons, and seasonal Nick Knacks.

I think at the fountain I usually had the Bacon and Tomato Double Decker sandwich, on toast. Then Grandma & I would share an Apple Dumpling with Vanilla Ice Cream.

What a treat! Shopping with Grandma and lunch at Woolworth's!

AQUA MARINE

2009-01-13T21:37:00.003-05:00

Tagged for LiLA's Member of the Week~Chris.

If anyone would like a tag, please leave me a comment with your Email addy, please.

2009-01-13T21:04:00.002-05:00

Ten For Tuesday: 10 Things You Are Really Good At

At the risk of sounding full of myself.....

1. Knowledgeable Nurse

2. Nurturer

3. Photographer

4. Friend.
I could be better. *See my New Yrs Resolutions. One goal is to talk less & listen more.

5. Making grilled cheese sandwiches

6. Procrastinator

7. Art

8. Dancer. Yes, I still dance a little. It's difficult the RA, but it's like riding a bike, the body never forgets.

Hmmmmmmmm?????

Ok, I'll admit it. I am good at.....

9. Eating

10. Holding down the couch

Next Week: 10 Most Memorable Sports Moments

WUNDER B****

2009-01-07T23:26:00.003-05:00

I can't believe they actually sold these things!

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL-2009

2009-01-01T00:43:00.002-05:00

Looks like she has been drinking milk, doesn't it?

Oh well, I've done better.

I didn't go anywhere tonight. Just stayed home. Nicolle is arriving from Chicago tomorrow and I''ve been busy staining the wicker chairs, moving furniture and trying to find some room where there is none to be had. I do have a two 30 Gallon bag of clothes for Goodwill. I don't think I'll ever be a size 7 again. And by the time I am all the clothes will be so outdated. So out they go!

I looked up the temps in Chicago...5 degree's! Nicci lives 1/2 block in from the lake. Brrrr....

I am glad I didn't go up there this year!

Well, I'm wasting time before I go to bed. The fireworks are still booming from the houses on the beach. And many people in the adjacent neighborhood's have firecrackers.

Well wishes to everyone for the coming year. I am looking forward to another year with online friends like you.

TEN FOR TUESAY-10 BEST MOMENTS OF 2008

2008-12-30T12:43:00.008-05:00

MY TEN BEST MOMENTS OF 2008

1. A new President was Elected

2. The Olympics were Awesome! Swimming, Gymnastics, Volleyball-I was on the edge of my seat for 2 weeks!

3. Michael Phelps won his 10,000 metals

4. O. J. Simpson's ass was finally put in jail. Now we don't had to see him using Florida as his Playground

5. Adopting a Feral kitten, Mau'i

6. Meeting online friends : )

7. Starting to Learn PSP & joining LiLA

8. Getting a nice Wooden Deck

9. The RAY's went to the World Series

10. My friends took me out for Breakfast, Shopping, and Dinner on my Birthday

So what are your 10?

Play along by leaving a comment or a link to your Journal/Blogger

Snag it if you'd like

Next Week: 10 Things You Want to do in 2009

Nokomis Beach Drum Circle

2008-12-29T18:13:00.008-05:00

~My Holiday~

My son showed up late for dinner Thursday, and still under the influence from the previous few days and I have no idea what else he was on when he arrived. The holidays do mean a celebration of Love to me. When I was giving my son his gifts he handed me a card that appeared like it was the last lonely card on the shelf at 7-11 and that he probably picked it up on his way here. I found myself wondering if I wanted to give him his last gift, a digital camera. Yes I did. I just couldn't find it in my heart not to.

I am hurt, though. And will have a talk with him about his selfishness and drinking binge. We do talk about these things, but I know that when a person is drunk that is not the time to confront.

Soooo...on to the good part of the weekend!

Shelly (xxRoxyxx), her hubby, and son picked me up and we went down to Nokomis beach Saturday afternoon. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive from here. Shelly and I talked the entire way down. We met up with Sharon (tpiez4me) and Angie (from Ohio). I had never met Angie before. We hugged, sat on the beach, watched the sunset, listened to the drummer's, & watched the dancer's. A great time with great people. Then off to Pop's Sunset Grill for dinner and much more talking. And what did we talk about?

PSP of course!

These are some of the Drummer's at the Drum Circle

Dancer

This dancer was shake, shake, shakin' those ta-ta's

A Snowman made of Sea Urchin's that Sharon's daughter & I found on the beach

Kite flying

Sunny Set

Here you can see Venus, bright and high in the sky. I believe that is Jupiter in the center and right, lower in the sky. But, it could be an Orb. Shelly's photo's were full of Orb's.

After the sun was gone for a while we hung out and listened to the drums for a while and watched the dancing chicks dance with lit hula hoops.

Then went to Pop's Sunset Grill which was a beach bar on the water.

~The Food~

Shelly and Sharon had Coconut Shrimp.

I had some very sweet and succulent Fried Oysters

HERE WE ARE....

3 Amiga's

The flowers in Shelly and Sharon's hair were bought for them by their children.

Well sort of, they begged the money off their Mama's.

Then while we were waiting for our food Sharon went and got one for me. Wasn't that the nicest! Mine is on the right side because I am a single woman. Jake got a case of the giggles when he heard that his Mom and Sharon had to wear theirs on the left because they are married. LOL~ Now that I look at the pic's I laugh too. They are really BIG flowers!

FOR YOU

2008-12-26T21:39:00.008-05:00

This morning I didn't hear Miss Mau'i until nearly 7 am when she was pulling & banging the crate door with her paws. HARD! So I went out and opened the door, picked her up to give her some love and she had wet herself and the quilted bedding cage. Poor girl didn't have enough room to sit upright to potty and got herself all wet. This the first time she had and accident in her bedding. I felt sooooo bad. She usually wakes up at 6 am and may have been banging the door for me to let her out for an hour.

I got her food and water and set it plus the crate out on the deck. I took my usual morning pills plus some Tylenol for the hip and leg pain. I had fallen back to sleep when I heard a "errr-eeeee-OOOOWWWWW!"

I jump out of bed, looked out the sliding glass door and there was "Poppie", the big orange & black tailess cat running away. The food I had put out on the deck when I let Mau'i out was was all gone, the rug was scrunched up, the wicker furniture askew. Mau'i looked up at me and quietly said, "meuwww, meuwww". He obviously had eaten all her food and she was saying "No, you can't have MY food anymore!".

Now I don't know which one of them made the cat screams, but today Mau'i got in her 1st cat fight.

For Lyn

I sure do hope that everyone had a warm and family filled holiday. If I'm not mistaken today is Boxing Day in the UK, the first day of Kwanzaa and the last day of Chanukah.

Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Chanukah!

Holy Moly is it New Year, yet?

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR

2008-12-24T23:48:00.003-05:00

I went to the Holiday Social tonight. It was a BYOB and a appetizer or dessert. I wasn't intending on going, but on the way back from doing laundry a couple I know asked me if I wanted to go and sit with them. I still had clothes on the line and took some guff for doing laundry on "Christmas Eve" day. But, my daughter will be here in a week and I needed to wash blankets and definitely the towels I used for drying the dog after her bath the other day.

I came home, put eggs on the stove for the deviled eggs for tomorrow, rinsed the shower curtain I had bleaching in the tub, took a quick shower. neighbor man stopped by to ask me if I wanted to go for a beer while I was folding the laundry. No, couldn't do tonight.

The social was nice, the eats delicious. My cookies were a hit.
I still have presents to wrap. The house is a mess. And my legs are burning and painful. Luckily, my son said he wouldn't get here until "11:30 to 1:30". Probably 2:30, but most likely 5:30. No worries though. I'm going to dinner in the Recreation Hall at 3. Marc or no Marc. I have no food defrosted, so he won't eat that's all. I'm putting my foot down and reminding him that time with his mother actually does come before his friends. Maybe it won't come to that.

A DOGGY CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

2008-12-23T13:33:00.005-05:00

I love this and just had to share!

TEN FOR TUESDAY

2008-12-23T13:04:00.005-05:00

Every Tuesday I'll post a theme for TEN FOR TUESDAY

If you'd like to play along

TODAY: Ten New Year's Resolution's

Here's mine.....

Try to set things on a better note with my daughter

Get a physical

Lose weight

Listen more, Talk Less

Enocurage my son to stop smoking as he attempts to do it again

Set things right with my daughter

Fix the roof

Paint the ceilings in each room

Get Jazzy's teeth cleaned

Buy a new Awning

Get the trailer and deck leveled

Cha-Ching!

NEXT WEEK: Ten Top Moments of 2008

THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON

2008-12-22T14:39:00.008-05:00

I've had lots of surpirses this year. Firstly, my cousin, Danelle that I haven't heard in 8 yrs sent me a card. She and her b/f are now living in Flordia. And only about an hour away in Orlando. My Aunt & Uncle from North Carolina are going to be visiting her, as well as her brother from Austin. She sent her Email addy and I am hoping some how to try to get over there for a visit.

Saturday, Shelly (xxRoxyxx) from Tampa & her hubby are coming to pick me up. We will then travel south along the coast to a place near Venice, called Nokomis. We are going to a resturant and then to a Drum Circle on the beach with Martha from Sarasota and Sharon (Southern Comfort) from North Carolina.

Did you know Floridians refer to North Carlolina as "Upstate Florida"?

Many native Floridians dream of retirement and go to live in NC. I hear they even get snow there.

I woke up yesterday and I swear I had a bug. Whahoooo, it was a PSP bug. I had found some art I liked and the images were running through my head. So before the holiday season runs out I better get posting.

I also found out that my daughter is coming to visit January 1st. When I asked her where she was staying she said, "With You".

Great : /

I am hardly prepared for Christmas, let alone company. Yes, my daughter is the princess of the family & likes to be treated that way. I better not say anything she doesn't like, because she'll definately set me straight : / This time last year I had gone to Chicago and Colorado. She didn't like the dinner I prepared, I made cream corn. I should have known that she didn't like it (she hasn't lived home in 10 yrs). I said all the wrong things in front of Eric & his family. I was suppose to sit at the dining room table where she told me to stay and not do anything, but when I did was told I was lazy. When she and I went shopping along Michigan Ave. We sat to have dinner at the Bubba Gump's on Pier in Chicago, she let me know all the things I had done wrong that week. Then gave me list of all the wonderful tributes of Eric's family. The girl had me going in circles. And I'll admit I was horribly depressed after that week.

She jokes about how her brother is 31, going on 21. Well, no. She doesn't ever, ever joke. Sometimes I swear she is stuck on that moody number 13. I can only pray she doesn't get her period while she is here in January.

I love my kids. There is no doubt about that. Part of that love is dealing with the ups & downs. I am trying to think if there is a way I can guide her past the issues she carries. The divorce when she was year old, the isolation her father and step mother imposed, the move to Florida, and the restricitons she felt were too harsh when she was a teen.

I am giving this some thought over the next week. Not going to harp on it ,though. I am thinking happy thoughts, being postiive and hoping that motion will stay in motion.

Oh, my silly wart. I chose PINK!

I'll let you know what happens. Probably this weekend. LOL!

Hugs to All....

PURPLE OR PINK?

2008-12-20T22:52:00.005-05:00

There is a show on in the afternoon's called The Dr's or The MD's or something similar. It's a show much like "The View", only with 4 Dr's arguing, each talking over each other trying to prove that their point is the ONLY point.

This week there was a segment on "Home Remedies". One of the "Home Remedies" videos featured a woman who used nail polish on her son's plantar wart. It was old, gloppy & had laid in a drawer forever. She put it on for 3 days, picked off the polish & VIOLA, wart came off.

I have wart on the inside of my big toe, right above where the strap to my flip flops rub. I tried to freeze it off. Didn't work. My question is.....

What color shall I use?

Purple or Pink?

TWNKLE, TWINKLE

2008-12-17T00:04:00.005-05:00

What do you do when you live in the Tampa Bay area?

It's 80 degree's (no boo's, please), and there is no snow?

You put up lights.

Not a string or 2 or 3, but thousand's. Add computers, music, videos, Palm trees. And you have......

DANG!

2008-12-16T23:48:00.003-05:00

I tried to post a You-Tube Video tonight. Apparently I haven't found the right place for the code. Or maybe I used the wrong code.

NAUGHTY OR NICE ~ SAC

2008-12-15T20:35:00.007-05:00

It's Monday

and the results of another LILA "Show Me What You Got" contest are in.

I entered both of these.

And Whahoooo!!

The one below got 3rd place. There are so many entries for this contest now-about 20. I was surprised it got votes because many in the group don't care for SAC.

Me? Most SAC I don't mind most SAC except "crotch shots".

Holy crap, it just dawned on me why! I see enough lady crotches when at work. Gee, I wonder how many that would be over a 25 yr nursing carreer?

Yikes!!

Snag or I can tag

Yes, I've been a bit competitive ::grin::

Maybe it's the only part of my Type A personality that continues to exist. I don't know.

Notice how well these graphics match my Blog Template?

The scrap kit we were given to work with is the same one I had used to create my Journal Background 4 weeks ago! This was not a good thing, as it took me forever to come up with something.

Everything I made looked like this template!

I finally got Nicolle & Marc their big Yule presents today. Nicci had mentioned she wanted a camera. When I asked Marc to find out if she ever got one, he whined "Maaaa, I want one". OK, that was easy shopping this year. I had picked up 4 glass ornaments at the Strawberry Festival last March. One for each kid, one for son-in-law and an extra for a g/f Marc may or may not have. Or to keep if he didn't.

I'll be making cookies and sending chocolates up to the kids in Chicago. Marc will graze on the cookies and chocolates I have here. And I'll be making cookies, or maybe fudge for neighbors.

Can you tell I'm stressed about this. NOT! I had enough stress when the kids were young and I was worried about how I was going to make a nice Christmas for them. I'd try, like I do now, to purchase 1 "big gift" and couple little ones. The funny thing was that no matter how little money there was or how little there was under the Christmas bush. It was all good to them. I think that they enjoyed the little brunch I'd put together more anything.

SWEET DREAMS SNAG OR TAG

2008-12-12T23:18:00.006-05:00

There You Are!!

Yes, Im just posting a couple of tags I've done today. I know I need to do a story hour. It's time. I just can't seem to concentrate in words these days.

I got my twinkle lights up on the deck and on the little "Charle Brown" tree along side the trailer. Poor thing is a Ficus tree that I planted 4-5 yrs ago. As pitiful as it looks, it still survives. Either it doesn't get enough sun or the soil is too nutrient deprived.

Poor Charlie Brown.

Still haven't gotten my cards out yet. I guess I better get with the program. I need to get the Post Office and do some shopping also.

Has your weather been rainy and blustery? I actually thought it was going to snow this morning. We has a fine misty rain on a cold morning. Forties...I know not cold enough, but we never get a misty rain.

We have sun or downpours. Nothing in between. Hey, if it snows in New Orelans, it could happen here. I've heard that it did snow here, back in the 80's, from a friend that has lived here all her life.

Well, I'm off to get the girl-animals settled for bed, then myself.

I'm posting a couple of the tags I've done. Gosh, I done tons of them & if I don't post them they'll sit in my folders.

Awwww heck, here is another. I'll tag LIL MOOSE also.

LOL! He twinkles!

I promise a story this weekend. Promise : )

OOPS

2008-12-07T19:30:00.003-05:00

Marc had stopped by yesterday to take me to Dog Lover's, where I bought the "Girl-Animals" their food for the month. Mau'i is keeps getting bigger and bigger through the middle. I only feed her 1/2 cup of dry food in the morning, 1/2 in the evening. I think someone else maybe feeding her as I find it hard to beleive that she is getting fat on bugs and lizards. Instead of Meow Mix, I bought some "Professional" kitten kibbles. At least this way she'll get nutrition if she is "eating out"

Poor Jazzy has hot spots and has been itchy. I noticed after being out yesterday my little place smelled like "wet dog". I htought initially it was the carpet that had a dog smell, but now I think it is from her licking her hair so much. Gave her a bath today, dried her & I put some Tea Tree oil on the hot spots. She won't lick that stuff. It smells a bit like eucalyptus. AND my palce no longer smells like wet dog, it smells like Vicks Rub.

Thank you Missie. Your card with the first holiday card I recieved this year : )

I didn't feel like fighting the crowds at Walmart today so I stayed home and just doodled with PSP. I guess I am thinking about all the Yule shopping to do for the kids, friends and family. And how I am going to be doing last minute wrapping and shipping again this year.

If you'd like one of the tags above, please leave a comment and I'll need your email addy please.

Hugs to all, and to all a good night : )

GIRLS LUNCH IN DUNEDIN

2008-12-05T18:02:00.011-05:00

Yesterday, Carol, who most of you know as Lazarai, Robin aka RobinGabster, and I met in Dunedin for shopping & lunch. Dunedin is a nice community with a Main Street of really nice shops. Not the usual tacky beach shops full of the same 'ol cheap junk. Some are antique stores, Celtic Shops, & some with Beachy signs and wind chimes. Many of them have wine tasting. And don't you know we were just in time for Happy Hour-10 am!

Gosh I need to drink more often. I was getting buzzed after a few little cups. The first "shot" Robin and I had was a Chocolate Raspberry Port. Mmmmm, I was intrigued : ) Doesn't it sound Luscious? And oh, it was!Then we tried a Kiwi Pear Ice wine, then another ice wine with had a Plum raisin taste. We were about to stop there until the woman opened a bottle called Orange Sunset. How could we resist? What I didn't notice, and Carol point out later, is that the woman opening the wines was drinking with us and usually pouring twice as much for herself behind the counter. LOL!

We wandered through some little shops. Yick- yakking all the way. Those 2 were mocking me because I had bought a pair of rose colored sketcher's the day before that happened to have a skull on the side. Seemed like every time we turned around there was something with a pirate theme and yes, skulls. Skull t-shirts, skull bracelets, skull hats, skull sunglasses, cutsy skulls, sexy shulls, creepy skulls, ugly skulls. I never noticed how "IN" skulls were. Nor would I have noticed except those 2 were teasing me about my new shoes. Then we went over to a place called Kelly's Chic-a-Boom for lunch.

The web site is kind of cool. Run your cursor over the shops and click Kelly's and you will see the patio where we had lunch.

*Kellys, For Just About...Anything*

Carol had an appointment to have her hair cut at a hairdresser on the same block. We hugged good-bye and I crawled up into Robin's Monster Truck. What do I see? She had skull floor mats, skull dangling thing from the mirror, and then she plugged in a night light thing in to the cigarette lighter. What else? A glowing SKULL!

We pulled off Main street and took a quick look at the Sunset Park where there Marina and Bon Appetit Restaurant is. Saturday is the Holiday Boat Parade. I've seen the night time boat parade with the boats light up with sound systems reveling carols.

We then headed north on Alternate 19, about 2 miles, took a right onto the Dunedin Causeway where I insisted she must see Honeymoon Island, the #1 beach in the country. We drove out the island road, we saw the fishermen waist deep in water fishing with long rod's, kayak's, sailboat's, and cars parked along the causeway beaches on our right and left. We approached the State Park entrance, asked if we could take a quick drive in to see the beach. The woman said No and it cost 5 bucks for the 2 of us for the day. robin asked if we could just turn around and I said yes, she is from Tampa and has to pick her daughter up from school. Truth, yes. And she cocked her head & said "Go Ahead". I insisted that we must put our feet in the sand and I think Robin was glad I did. We waked down the wooden walkway the winds through the Oat Grass where at the end was the bluest of blue water, & the sun glistening off theater. Robin took a few picture's of the beach water and wild life as I quickly looked for sand dollar's or some unique shells for Gabby. No luck. But, the pic's that Robin took reflect the crisp blues and whites of the beach.

You can see the picture's Robin took HERE: *The Yellow Brick Road*

I think she is hooked now!

Yes, Clearwater Beach is nice, so are some of the beaches of Tampa Bay. Honeymoon Island State Park is "old time" Florida with natural beaches and wildlife preserve. Robin said that she knew Michael would love it. So I hope she brings her hubby, and little dog, Princess.

Robin brought her camera & Carol talked the waiter into taking a picture. Cute guy, nice bod. Poor guy didn't have a chance to get away from us three. Carol did it again...closed her eyes.

Or maybe she is winking at the waiter!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2008-12-02T23:53:00.005-05:00

This was one of two tags I entered in LILA's "Show me What You Got" contest. I absolutely love the scrapkit that we were given to work with. I am not one for pastels,but this kit has the most fabulous Papers & elements. No, I didn't win, or even come in the top 3. Although the woman who runs the competion said that the results were extremely close. The ladies that did win are new to the group and extremely talented. Gorgeous, gorgeous tags.

This tag reminds me of Donna holding her "Bear" in the photo's she posted of her Thanksgiving. ::waving HI to D::

Other news. I know I never talk about my patients. Mostly because of me...feeling that I don't want to invade my patent's privacy by putting it out there on the "Inter Web". It's just a thing with me, I guess. This wkend I was 2nd on-call instead of 3rd on-call at the Birthing Center. We had 6 women "ready". I don't know what it is about Thanksgiving weekend, but we always get a frenzy of births. I had got a call a Mom was coming in for her second birth. Mom arrived got comfy.

Well, in bed. I don't know how comfy she was. She WAS having a baby afterall.

Twelve minutes after she arrived she delivered a 9 lb 3 oz baby baby. I thought she was throwing a football at me. Whew!! That was a close one. Good thing she didn't wait any longer to come in.

Holiday babies are special. I've always loved being in the hospital on the holidays, its such a warm feeling to give a little extra to patients who can't be home for the holidays.

*Stay warm y'all. I know if WE have frost warning, you all are freakin' freezing.

A "DIFFERENT" KIND OF THANKSGIVING

2008-12-02T00:18:00.005-05:00

When my son planned the day he told me he was going to pick me up to go to most recent g/f's house at 9:30 am. Actual pick up time...11:30 am.

Deena is the one who is 8 yrs older than Marc. One day while she was visitng at my place, I was talking with Deena. Marc was outside having a cigarette when he texted me with a note saying that he "can tell what she is going to look like when she gets old, because she already IS!"

She has a 7 yr old Autistic son. He is nonverbal except for "Ga" for "Go" and I-O-Aww sounds. He doesn't like to look at people, but I expected that. He did do a "fist bump" with me when I put my hand up. Later he did come & lean up against me to see what I was working on in PSP on my laptop, when everyone else was sleeping on the couch and floor. Then later when Marc and I were leaving, his Mom told him to give me a hug and he leaned into me so I could hug him. That is what he does with his Mom also.

His thing is to fast forward and back track the DVR, over and over the same scene of a movie or commercial. He loves the credits at the end of movies and would rewind, watch and rewind the credits over and over & over & over. And there is a Disney commercial with Firworks that he absolututely loves.

Everyone in the room had fallen asleep, but he & I. Iean bag seat on the floor in front of the TV. All of a sudden the volume went to a loud roar. Then the sound would go quiet just as fast as it went loud. LOL! He was operating the channels and rewinding using the remote while he was turning the sound up and down using his toes.

And then there was the friend, Becky who had a 16 yr old daughter and a 9 yr old son with ADHD. He was being very good, playing soldiers with those little plastic guys in the Lanai. The 16 yr old went out to sit in the Lanai and the mother tells her to play "soldier's" with the boy. The daughter said, "But, Mom it's soooo Boring" Then the mother tells her not to say that. "Well, Mom it is".
Well, yeah! What 16 yr old girl wants to play "soldiers" with her 9 yr old little brother. Come on, we know her idea of fun is talking with her B/F on the phone.

After dinner the 9 yr old got a little bored & was doing some somersaults on the living room floor. To which the Becky said, she is afraid he son is going to break his neck. She was serious.

Oh, and then when the 16 yr old was in the kitchen Deena poured her a glass of wine. Not a wine glass, but a water goblet. The 16 yr old sat down at the counter & drank the wine quietly while everyone else was watching TV (sort of-see above). I looked up ( I was the only one who could see her) she went back for 2 refills......then she also fell asleep on the floor.

The food? We didn't have turkey. Deena said she didn't know how to roast one. She had bought a Honey-Baked Ham. That's Okay. But, Deena didn't know she should warm the ham up in the oven, so we ate it cold. The dressing, the carrots were also cold. My son made the mashed potatoes. He's been doing them since he was about 9 yrs old. He makes wonderful mashed taters : ) The items I brought, scalloped oysters, asparagus with cheese sauce, pumpkin pie, well, I could put my hands on them and I warmed them for serving. Deena's son didn't eat with us. He sat at the counter on a stool and had pizza. He likes to pinch off a piece to put in his mouth, smell it, taste it, then take small nibbles until it is gone. It all relates to the sensory stimulus he needs.

I tried to stay away from the kitchen, but if we go there for Yule, I'll be stepping into the kitchen and to make sure every thing is timed to be warm at serving time. We sat at a glass table with a tall candle in the middle with a glass hurricane tower around it. We had to duck to the right or left in order to talk with one another. I've got a round table dark red table cloth and it will be a sit down dinner.

So, yes, it a different kind of Thanksgiving: /

I ended up totally exhausted by the time I got home around 9 pm. Friday, apparently the FM and RA caught up to me. I not only slept in, but didn't do anything all day but move from the bed to the couch and back again.

Wa-hoooo!! I finally got the tag I had trouble with yesterday to upload for me.

Hugs*

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PHOTOBUCKET?

2008-11-30T23:05:00.007-05:00

It appears Photo Bucket is not downlaoding my graphics in full size or else it makes my animations quiver like a bowl of Jello.

~Non-Animated~

Well, isn't this special!

There are teeny tiny snowflakes in there. That is if you can see them : /

~Animated~

I won't bother showing you what the "Jello" looks like.

It's not pretty : (

Guess I'll just blame it on Cyber Monday.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE

2008-11-29T23:05:00.005-05:00

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

CLICK ME~> Turkey Shoot

Lovin' Autumn Tag

2008-11-25T00:04:00.014-05:00

Yes, I am lovin' Autumn!

Not because Florida has bright and vibrant colors of fall, we don't. The leaves on our Southern Oaks turn brown and just fall.

Why am I lovin' Autumn??

Because the tag above was voted as 1st Place among LiLA's eighty-some members who voted in what we call a "Show Me What You Got" contest. We were just given a "sheet of leaves" to work with and I just got an idea in my head and went to town Friday night.

I don't know why I do better writing and playing with graphics late at night, but I do.

I've come in 2nd many times, but never #1.

It's like getting my first "A" in college!

The other good thing the happened this weekend was that Cindi of Wishing for my turn and John of My Brain Is In Pain Again felt me worthy of the Marie Antoinette Award. And Like Donna, I am sure by this time most of the Blogs I visit already have one. I am still having problems keeping up my online friend's with entries because it seems like I get feeds for some and not for others. Ugh!

If you haven't visited Cindi and John's Journal's, please do. I think both deserve this award far more than myself.

As do my online friends listed on my sidebar.

I have a few other tags I am going to add here in case anyone would like me to tag them....or you can snag.

To tell you the truth they look better with names on them because I deliberately leave room for tagging.

The Twilight movie came out this weekend, so here is another Twilight tag...

YOU ARE MY LIFE....

DANCING IN THE SHADOW'S...

Well, this one was an experiment with a photo we were given in "LiLA".

I was trying to make it look like a still life painting.

THANKSGIVING PIE OIL PAINTING...

Reflecting, I realize how close our displaced community of 'JLanders" really are. I am thankkful for each and everyone of you and wish you bright blessings

So much support, prayers, and friendship. Things I know nothing about a year ago. We really do cling to one another by being individuals.

Be careful if you are traveling this week.

Each and every one of you would truly be missed.

LIL CROW...

EXTREME MAKEOVER

2008-11-19T21:34:00.010-05:00

Notice anything different?

HMMMMM???

An Extreme Makeover perhaps?

Yes, I've figured out the precise measurements to make a decorative backgrounds for "Stretch Templates" and I figured out the HTML codes : )

Yes, I am a grin'in fool!

I wanted color & also a white background so that my graphics would blend in. I think I did it! Of course, I am hoping that you all will like it, too.

It's hard to believe that on the eve of Black Friday Autumn will officially be over and the Yule season begins. I really love Autumn. Loved it when I lived in the Mohawk Valley of NY, and even more when I lived in Glens Falls at the foot of the Adirondacks. The kids and I actually lived at the base of West Mt Ski Resort just a couple miles west of Glens Falls.

I guess the nip in the air tonight is making me feel nostalgic. It's 47 degree's right now and we are expecting a hard freeze. *Below 32 degrees for more than 3 hours.

Is this really west central Florida? Land of the warm sun that brings out the 'Peter Pan' in all those that experience her land??

The chill feels good. I have my electric blanket & a warm puppy to keep me warm. Miss Mau'i has foregone her hunting ways the past few nights & slept indoors in her crate. She loves her dark little kitty cave. No fuss, I say "time for bed", gently guide her cat butt in, and shut the door. She really is a good little cat.

Little? Did I say little??

A month ago, when she had her first dose of tapeworm medicine she weighed 7.5 lbs. Her back bone & hips were down right bony. I thought this little girl was going to be petite. Since that initial dose of worm medicine, the outline of her spine and hips has disappeared. *No more "wiggly linguine" BTW.

In fact there are times where I actually feel her tummy to see if there is fetal movement. LOL-I am such the Mid-Wife. She is filling out & if I didn't know better, I would swear she is with kittens.

If that be the case, Animal Control who did the spaying will be receiving a delivery. Yes, that is how much I think about her and IF she is expecting.

Then I've thought if she is, it would certainly be from an incestuous relationship with the bobbed tail, black & orange male that eats from her outdoor bowl from time to time. I call him 'Poppie", as I am certain that he must be her Daddy.

There was an orange male hanging around last winter and spring, that I haven't seen in ages. Thinking about it, he must be Maui's four brother's daddy, as they are all large muscular orange tigers.

Wondering? Are calico's markings less prevalent than other markings?

The SnowBirds seem happy to have a cat in the back of the RV Park. Apparently many returned to their RV's to find squirrel & mice nests with damage to wiring & refrigeration units. I thought I was going to hear a lot of grief about her not being on a leash! Even the grumpy old souls have remarked how nice it is to have a cat around to keep the squirrel and Fruit Rat populations down. I watch her attempt to hunt in the evening hours. She is such a clutz! The squirrels are still more muscular than her. But one day, she get her confidence & prowlness.

I know I'll probably be on the receiving end of kitty presents when she gets a bit stronger.

When the SnowBirds first started arriving a month ago, Mau'i would run under my deck & hide. Now she follows Jasmine & I down the middle of the road when we go for walks, just like before. She runs from tree to tree, peeking at me from above. As Jazzy and I continue our walk she'll run sideways, her tail poofed out. Then she'll hide under a trailer or bush, then jump out at us.....

Surprise!!

Windows 7

2008-11-14T22:18:00.003-05:00

I've been doing some reading about the new Windows 7 program that is expected to replace Vista.

I kid you not. It was announced October 28, 2008 that at the end of 2009 Microsoft is releasing a more "program friendly version of Vista". Can't you just wait for a new Windows Program? Just when we are getting used to Vista? ::sorta::

Features of Windows 7 (in a nutshell)

1. Taskbar buttons are bigger but will take up less horizontal space and include devices printers, scanner, and so on) as well as applications. Hovering your mouse over the taskbar button brings up horizontal preview thumbnails of each document open in app. And hovering over one of those brings up a full screen size preview of the document. You can drag the icons anywhere on the taskbar you like, instead of where the OS wants to put them.

2. Desktop themes chooser now highlights the ability to change windows borders "glass edge. You have the choice of 18 color tints for you glass with accessibility themes also available as well as more themes downloadable for online.

3. As soon as you connect to a Wifi network your area you are asked whether it is home, work, or a public network. If you choose home you can set up file and printer sharing in a couple of steps. If you tap your home laptop to work, the OS will automatically switch to a nearby printer rather than requiring a visit to printer set up. (This is a night mare in Vista, believe me!)

4. Blutooth will be supported using a 3 step wizard. What could be easier?

5. For Laptop users, Battery Life on Windows 7 will improve battery life on the same hardware relative to Vista.

6. The confusing pop up that appears when you plug in a camera, DVD or CD will be more user friendly.

7. When it comes to Windows Live there will be few walls before getting to the task you wish to accomplish such as word processing and will be compatible with more blogging sites such as Yahoo, Gmail, and others. You can use one mailbox to integrate all or you can use separate mailboxes. It's your choice.

8. Photo Gallery will integrate well with third party Photo sites such as Flickr.

9. Performance will be improved over Vista. As you open more windows in Vista the program slows and eventually shuts down. Windows 7 will behave much better and hopefully the systems memory performance will remain constant as more windows are opened.

10. Apparently the various teams working on Windows Vista started their respective projects at different times resulting in a disjointed collection of programs for the OS. All of the teams started at the same time for Windows 7 and are focused. Something that Windows admits wasn't true of Vista. ( WTF??!!) Microsoft claims that Window 7 will be what windows 98 was to 95, and what Windows XP was to Windows 2000. And it will be developed based on user feedback. which wasn't the case with Vista. Oh course Windows wants to seek redemption for the bad rap vista has gotten, real or perceived. Windows 7 looks like Windows stab at redemption.

11. The best for last....The Windows 7 program will reboot in 1 minute. Now that would be nice!

Inside Windows 7 Pre-Beta - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

Tag Offer-My Little Box Of Treasures

2008-11-10T18:37:00.009-05:00

Good Grief ! It's been a while since I've done a REAL entry.

Halloween Eve I was doing dishes when I was startled by someone on my deck. Hmmm? A man I went out with 4 years ago, another George. He had a g/f at the time and had intentionally left out that little detail when we were together. After dating a month or more, we were at a Christmas party at a friend's house. Across tha BayI saw a red car pull up to his trailer. When he disappeared I asked someone who that was and was told, "Oh, that's his g/f".

It was no big deal, he always had a lot of drama going on which kept me at arms length. Too much to worry about for my liking & hardly worth it, in my opinion.

Then he came here to this RV Park about 18 months ago. Said he was driving by and just stopped to see me. After a little visit he asked if could call me. Or if I would call him? I don't remember. I knew my number had changed since our dating days and that day I deleted his number from my cell phone hoping not to hear from him again.

So do you think he has changed? Nooo...I heard about his newest surgery, his turmoil with the "girlfreind, Laurie", who he claimed he hasn't seen in 6 months, and about some "dissing" of the people we used to hang out with. He wanted me to go out that evening to some a bar on the Anclotte River "where "everyone hangs out". Only no one was around that night because they were at the Breast Cancer walk in St Petersburg AND he didn't feel like being alone.

No I didn't go. I didn't want to be rude and I didn't want him in my house. So I insited that the dog need a walk. After listening to his woes, I told him that I had things to do that evening and no thanks I wasn't going out. I did have things to do. It was Samhain Eve & I need to see if I could find someone to take me to the polls for early voting. He asked me out for the following weekend, Friday AND Saturday night. I told him to Email me to confirm. And as it turned out I really couldn't see myself dealing with this man at all, he wasn't wven good comapny. In my Email I told him I wasn't interested.

Most of you may remember when Jasmine, my Maltese, was so ill last July and the Vet I took her was so rude. I did decide to pay him $10 a month. Apparently, he is not happy with that. I received a letter from the office saying that he is going to close my account, unless I pay the remaining $100.00, and to send the account to collections. I was thinking of sending him a letter saying that if he hadn't been so rude he would have had his money the next week when I got my disability check. But, if he does take me to court, which I doubt because it would cost him more out of his pocket than I owe, I don't want it in writing that I was holding back money maliciously.

I did get a super "sweeet" award yesterday after entering one of my graphics in a weekly graphics contest. My animated graphic came in 2nd after being voted on by it's sixty some memebers. I'm elated. This group has group members whose graphics I've admired since I started in JLand a little over a year ago.

The change in my Journal is because I would like to add graphics that are larger than 400 pixels wide. I was told I need to stretch the template. I see where I button to click to expand the sidebar, but don't seem to be able to find it for the main body. With all the playing I've been doing I decided to try with just a white backgound until I get it figured out.

** I think I found that button!!

The graphic below is also one that I did. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this

IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR AMERICA EVERYONE!

2008-11-04T23:02:00.002-05:00

AMOUR TAG & AN EVENING WITH MARC

2008-10-29T00:13:00.008-04:00

My son came to see "The Mama" tonight for a visit. We were watching the History Channel, the History of Chocolate. Which gave me the idea to make Chocolate cookies : ) It's been ages since I've baked. In fact, it may have been last November when I made a bunch of Apple pies with the apples my mother brought with. The cookies, not so good. They just tasted a little off. It wasn't until I had the 2nd dozen in the oven that it dawne on me that I hadn't added the vanilla. Added vanilla and they tasted much better.

Then about 9:30 Marc said he was too tired to drive home & needed to lay down and take a little nap so he wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel. OK, he grabbed a couple pillows, snuggled up with Jasmine. Soon Mau'i cuddled up in the crook of his legs. He slept until 11:15. What a Baby!

He asked me to make a list of things I'd make for Thanksgiving dinner at Dina's house. I don't think I told you about Dina. She is 8 yrs older than Marc. He is 31, she 39. Whe he started going out with her 6-8 weeks ago he asked me if I thought she was too old for him. I told him that women her age are emotionally more stable and less likely to flip out about the little things. She is also the single Mom of a 7 yr old Autistic son and with Marc having to deal with Learning Disabilties she said Marc is patient, talks one to one iwth the little guy when he gets out of control. She was telling me some of the things she has to do with help her son cope. Many of the things she described are things I had to do with Marc. I guess it's because both have to do witht the Neurological System. We talked about the daily structure, dealing with the educational system, foods & thier effects, & the supposrt systems we as single Mom's need to cope with a special needs child. Of course her situation is beyond what I dealt with. Marc wasn't expected to graduate for High School. Or is he did I was told by the Psycologist and counselors it would take 5-6 yrs instead of 4. Notonly did Marc graduate in 4 yrs he also attended Vocational school and got another diploma in Culinary Arts.

One Saturday Marc a & Dina came over and the 3 of us went out for pizza. OMG! The best pizza I've had since my trip to Chicago! Country Inn Pizza....AND they deliver!!

Dina was "delightful". And she has come with Marc to visit a more couple times when her son was visiting his father. Little guy doens't do well with strangers in a strange place. Thanksgiving I am going to their house as not to stress he out too badly.

More SnowBirds have arrived. The people the next lot up from me got here just before noon today. The man cleared the lot of leaves with a leaf blower. Blowing leaves & sand onto MY deck and patio that I had sweeped & tidied up last evening. Ugh! Well, I know from past experience that for the next 6 months he continue to blow sand and leaves on my patio. Then when he pulls his motor home out to go to lunch or dinner I have to get out my blower, clear my patio of sand, & blow it all back. His lot is all sand anyway, but it will be a "Battle of the Blowers"!

THEN he cant' just back into his lot without backing up over my nice grassy lot. AND before he backed today he removed 2 of the pavers on my walkway. I don't know why he backs up and has to drive over my lot to get to his. I may ask him one day.

The tag I worked on today.....

This was the tag I worked on today. I wanted to do another one tonight, but Marc was here and using my Laptop to go to his My Space account. He wants me to "pimp" his My Space with a template. Cool!

When Marc saw the above tag he said "Holy Shit! Look at those Boobies!!" What a GUY! LOL!

hugsss...

COME WITH ME

2008-10-27T23:01:00.004-04:00

Silly little tag I know : )

2008-10-26T23:25:00.003-04:00

One before Breast Cancer Awareness month is over

I am really trying to journal a little more often these days. You know, I like the word "Journal" better than "Blog". Do you all know where the word Blog comes from ::yep, me, Miss Smart pants is back!:: It comes from the 2 words Web and Log put together. Web log, Weblog, Blog. I still prefer to think of my place as an online diary though. Since that is really what I use it for. I go back and read my entries (and sometimes cringe) to help me recall incidents that happened. Like that incident last February with Art. Yes, that is his REAL name. Last time I mentioned him I changed his name because I believed Sandy was trying to find my Journal online Which in not hard to d at all.

Anyway, I want to say Hello/ Bon Jour to the nice woman from France who left me a lovely comment. And Hello to Bill, if you still are reading of my adventures. Bill was a man I dated once or twice after "Neighbor Girl" had convinced me to try the personal's on Craig's List a couple of year's ago. Nice man who's wife had died the year before. And he had been encouraged by a co-worker to post and ad in Craig's List. I guess I was one of the few who wasn't not offering lonely men "servicing". Oh hell, call it what it is, prostitution.

The Tampa Bay Ray's and Philadelphia area playing the 4 th game of the World Series tonight. First Game, Wednesday 10/22, was won by Phillies , Game 2 Thursday - TB Ray's. Saturday, Game 3 Phillies. And Game 4 is on now.

Grrr, the Buccaneer's played this afternoon against the Dallas Cowboy's. Dallas won 13-9. So that makes 5 wins so far this season, 3 losses.

LOL! sounds like I've been sitting on my butt all day. Well, almost. The Series game wasn't over until about 2 am last night. I was up by 9, took the "Girl Animals" for a walk. Worked on PSP, then took another walk with Jazzy. Mau'i followed bit, but more SnowBirds are coming everyday & Mau'i purr-fers to stick close to home. She has actually found that the cushion on the wicker chair o the deck is a mightly comfy place to cat nap during the day. Have y'all noticed the "Kitty Widget" on my side bar? Run you cursor over, around, and under it.

I took Jasmine for another walk during half-time. When I stopped to say hello to SnowBird Annie sunning herself. As I stood there in the sun I mentioned how hot the sun still was. She said yes, but her hubby was out of town. So I helped her pull down the awning on their 5th wheel. I've put mine up & down so many times I can do it in my sleep. And HAVE when it has suddenly gotten windy in the middle of the night. Yes, & many a gust up of wind has blown my little nighties or T-shirt up around my waist : / Good thing it's dark & all the SnowBirds's go to sleep early.

My daughter sent me a birthday present. Five month's late! Sorry to say this as I never intentionally pay the "guilt card", but she had told me a few times since May that she had gotten me a REALLY good present. So I waited & waited. A couple of weeks ago we were talking on the phone and I said, "You know Nicci, I've been really depressed lately. Then I sounding pitifully sad I said, "I really need good birthday present". Again she said it was a good one. Well, I know I could have left it there, but when I was in Chicago visiting last Christmas I had walked around one Saturday & done some shopping on Broadway. The post office maybe 200 feet from the apartment. She had told me she didn't have time with school & work. So I said, "Ni, all you have to do is take Yampa (her Chocolate Lab) for a walk, go around the corner, take a right on Broadway, down a block & it's on the right". How's that for a heavy handed hint?

So the really goo gift was a GOOD one. It's this "TO GO" insulated tumbler the contains a stainless steel basket for loose tea. It IS really unique, works fabulously, and I love it! There were also several packages of loose tea's. Carolina Honey, Sangria, & the one I've opened Ginger Peach. In the spring/summer/fall, I drink Ice Tea in the mornings, Solar Tea. Twice this week the morning temps were below 70 so I had hot tea.

Here is the photo. Nicci gave me the Blue one.

Hugs & Blessings all...

2008-10-24T23:34:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday Everyone!

I've been working on more tags and also learning how to do Templates for Blogs. I just completed my first one. It's not perfect, but I don't think it looks too bad either. It's dark, it's called Samhain Nights if anyone would like it leave me a comment and I will include a tutorial on how to add these to your Blog.

Imagination Can Take You Anywhere

Also did a couple of Blinkies....

2008-10-21T23:27:00.003-04:00

This Monday's Blinkie Challenge in the 'Group' was "Spider's.

Many of the SnowBird's are returning to the RV Park already. Is the weather turning cold early up north? I do have to thank you all for sending a nice 'cold front' to us. The temp's at night have been in the mid-60's. during the day in the low 80's. Perfectly comfortable.
Hillbilly Bobby has been trimming trees the past few days. Normally I wouldn't mind, but I've been waking up with a migraine the past couple weeks. It's not until noon do I feel halfway decent. I did take Jazzy for a wlk this afternoon & ran into HillBilly Bobby and asked him if I could gather up some of the wood in my yellow wagon for my fire pot. He looked at me & told me I couldn't have a fire on the ground. NO duh!
Heck with the price of things and my lack of transportion buying brickets seems pointless if I get use free wood. I'm planning on putting a pile on the west side of my little place where the sun will bake off the moisture. Cool, huh?

New subject...

I rarely dream. Then all of a sudden 3 weeks ago I started dreaming. Most of my dreams were about my grandmother. Nice dreams. I admired her emmensely. She as so kind and gentle. I always felt safe in my Grandma and Grandpa's home. I called my mother & asked her the date my grandmother died. Sure enough it was THAT very day. You see at the time my grandmother died I had a 2 yr old with ADHD, a husband who abuse me, and a 6 month old baby I was nursing. I had no idea of the actual date she died. Days just blurred together.

My Grandmother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in the spring of 1979 when I was pregnant with my daughter. My son and I used to accompany her to her various Dr and diagnostic appt's until we go the morbid news. The cancer was too far gone for surgery and chemo would be useless. She felt uncomfortable, but denied any pain.

My son and I would take her to Jumpin's Jack's, a popluar Drive-In Burger/Soft serve ice cream place located on the Mohawk River in Scotia. We lived on the out skirts of Schenectady at the time. As I'd drive across the bridge that corssed the Mohawk River to Scotia I'd say to my son, "Shall we go get Grammy. too". After that my son always referred to that Grammy as "Grammy 2". My mother was just plain "Grammy".

After lunch we'd sit on her patio enjoying the sweet smell her rose garden & the delightful afternoon warmth. One afternoon Grammy 2 watched Marc play while I walked up the corner to pay a Dr's bill. When I got back to the yard I went to sit & "OPPS! I think I went my pants a little" or could it be my water broke (?). My daughter was born that night.

The rest of the summer was more of the same. Grammy 2 was afraid to hold Nicolle because she was so weak. So I'd put the baby on the couch on her tummy for a nap & Gramma would sit in a rocking chair where she could easly reach over and stroke Nicolle's back. She's smile & talk about how sweet my baby girl was. Marc, on the other hand, she said was "A Card". I think that may have been the way her generation dubbed someone as a "Joker". He was a little devil boy.

Six months went by when I got a recieved a call from my mother who had moved in with Grammy 2 as her health declined & her weight to about 85 lbs. It was 6:30 am on a Saturday morning when I got a phone call. Mom said if I ever wanted to see Grandma alive I better get there NOW. I quickly change Nini's diaper, put her in a pink snowsuit, stuffed her fat little legs in and zipped her in. Put her in the car bed and drove like hell with flasher's flashing. Because it was early Saturday morning there was no traffic. I did run a few stop signs in Scotia. All the cops in town knew my family so I wasn't worried. You know I don't recall seeing a single car. Or maybe too focused.....

When I arrived she had already taken her last peaceful breath.

This morning I had another "Gramma Dream". When I awoke with the migraine I thought "UGH! I think I have an appt with the Rheumy today". I opened my calender, no, it's not week. Phew! I looked & there was written... today is the date of Grammy 2's Birthday. I thought about the year....2008. She was born in 1908. She would have been 100 yrs old today.

Now I'll admit I'm not good at remembering Birthday's or Aniversaries. In fact I am really bad. But it is strange how deep in my brain somewhere there was a little trigger that gives me a signal to pay attention to.

Thanks for listening
Hugs to All....

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPION'S

2008-10-20T02:39:00.004-04:00

RAY'S-3 BOSTON-1

AND the
Tampa Bay Ray's are the American League Champions 2008

I held my breath for for the last 3 outs until we actually had the game.
Didn't want to see a repeat of Game 5. The boys worked so hard for this as they do every year, but it all came together this year.
Yes, this it Sweeeet!!

Now on to the WORLD SERIES!

Just Sitting Here

2008-10-18T23:29:00.004-04:00

I am sitting here watching the Tampa Bay Ray's play the Boston Red Sox. This iss hte 6th game of the 7. It's the bottom of the 8th inning, the score is Boston-4/Tampa-2. This is agonizing. I know my boys have it in them.

Did I tell you that my Son in law played for the Ray's. Five years, I htink. First Base. He was in Spring training in St. Petesburg when he met my daughter one night at a bar in St. Pete.

Miss Mau'i had been sick. A week ago I was brushing her outside on the deck & brushed what I thought was linguini off her fur. And thought, "Hmmmm, how she get spegghetti from dinner last night on her butt?". When it happened again later I stopped an looked & it was moving. Ugh!! I knew immediately-Tapeworm segments. Sometimes it's not such a good thing to have so much microbiology.

I called the clinic to see if the Hook & Round worm medcine she had the day before as part of her immuniaztion package was killing them and was told no. She must have ingested a flea. Hmmm? She was without her flea preventiion for a month. I looked at her little tummy and no flea's of flea dirt to be found. But her white tummy fur is pretty dense. I was told I'd have to bring her in for a shot Sunday. I called Sunday because I had a feeling the girl gave me the wrong information. Sure enough-no clinic that day. I was going to get Jazzy the shot too. Just in case she ate an infected flea also.

Jazzy is going to have her immunizations in November so I'll be sure to get her taken care of then. She was off her flea medicine for a few months last winter. So she may have them, too. No linguine though.

I went over the the Cat Hospital across the street and got some pills for Mau'i. Only 2. And I asked the vet tech if she had time to give the first one to her. The tech took her to the back of the office where she gave it. When she returned she remarked what a good little kitty Mau'i is. *me is beaming with pride* Everyone says that.

Game over. The Red Sox & Ray's are tied with 3 games each in the playoff's. This is killing me. I really want the Ray's to go to the World Series!!

You see Tampa Bay sports used to be a joke when I moved here 15 yrs ago. Then the TB Lightening won the Stanley Cup, the Buc's, the Super Bowl. This has been a great baseball season.....finger's crossed we go to the series. Tomorrow's another game. It will be the Sox or US.

BTW, all my tags are snagable. It's nice of you all to leave a note if you snag. You don't have to ask. But, thank you though : )

Have a wicked good weekend!

2008-10-16T21:52:00.001-04:00

It seems like 20 & 30 something yr old's are anxiously awaiting a Movie call Twilight due to be released November 21st. It's as big with the X generation as Harry Potter is among the "tweens".

I have an audio copy that one of the "girls" in my Group sent. Here is a little info on the story in keeping with the "Season".

Twilight is a young adult vampire/romance novel written by author Stephanie Meyer. It was originally published in hardcover in 2005. It is the first book of the Twilight series , and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. The novel is followed by New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.

Thank you everyone who help me with the Graphic problem. I messed with it a bit and I guess I will have to concede that I will not be able to post graphics over 400 pixels. So "The Mama" has to get a pair of spectacles!

I was asked what "Haller" is. It is actually spelled "Holler", but pronounced "Haller". Now I know all of you southern Ginger Snaps know a "holler" is a little valley between mountain ridges where there may be a hand built shack or house at the end of a steep dirt road or path. And I mean waaaayy up in the mountains. Sometimes the road is so steep and the trees so thick that the only way in may be to leave the truck and walk a dirt path in. the word is a shortened version of "hallow". The hollers is where mountain men", "hermits", and where Jodie Foster of "Nell" are from deep in the Appalachian chain.

My friend Sandy was brought up in the Smoky Mountains in Kentucky and was actually born in a coal mining camp. The people in the camp were considered high socialites compared to the mountain people of the hollers.

In the hollers is were Moonshine and Marijuana sprouted. The hollers are so far up in the mountains & woods that the DEA had a hard time controlling the production of moonshine and the marijuana crops. The mountain men knew the territory of the hollers & there was no way the DEA could sneak up on them without being shot.

I have much knowledge about a whole lot of creepy nothing....

LOL!

Welcome to the Haller tag

2008-10-15T23:05:00.005-04:00

HI Everyone!

I've taken a break from my Groups, LiLA and LearnPSP so I could work on some Halloween tags. As always, my tags are snaggable.

Does anyone know why when animated graphics are downloaded here on blogger that it doesn't add just one. It keeps adding and adding while I am franticly hitting the DONE button. Sometimes I have to hit DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE. LOL! I think I had 36 of these little witches to delete.

Maybe I already have a reputation on Blogger as being a "B-WITCH"

A BIT ABOUT ME....

2008-10-11T13:28:00.004-04:00

About me: I am the child of 2 parents who were in the military. My father installed electronics components in Ballistic missiles in the late 60's. Remember the cold war? The "missile silos"? And Cheyenne Mountain. My father was involved in all that. We moved so many times most of my childhood is a blur. We lived in 26 states between the time I was born and age 12. We did spend 2 yrs in Alaska and 3 yrs in Kansas outside of KC. Then my father was recruited to install communications equipment in Viet Nam when the war escalated. That is when my mother, brother & I moved to the small town of Scotia, NY and in with my Grandparent's. That was the best year of my life as my father had horrible temper and would belt my brother & I for the pettiest things & he had been sexually abusing me since I was about 3-4 yrs old. It's hard for me to remember...a self preservation mechanism I suppose. In order to stay away from him I was always taking lessons: Ballet, Baton, Jazz, Modern Dance. And I was always at the theater or church. *No worries now though. He died of long Cancer 20 yrs ago and psychologically I've been for counseling and been told I'm fine. And I feel fine. It happened, it's over.

I was married young and divorced young. My kids were 3 and 1 when I decided to kick his drug seeking/abusive a** out. I had almost miscarried my daughter while I was pregnant after being rammed into a wall. His favorite saying while he had me in a head lock, pulling me backwards, with his knee in my lower back was "I can hurt you & hurt you bad without leaving a mark". I had had back surgery a f couple yrs earlier and been hospitalized a couple times since with back problems while pregnant. So it was my weak spot. Besides I was way too young not to experience GOOD SEX.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD/LD/Central Auditory Deficit/Dyslexia/ OCD. Both kids had asthma. My son's trigger's are allergies. My daughter's are when she catches a cold or Strep throat. So we spent many sleepless nights together.

I never thought about it before but I was one active girl back then. I had gone to nursing school so I worked full-time as an Obstetrical nurse, then into Pediatrics and Neonatal Special Care (NICU and Labor and Delivery of high risk babies). I took night courses in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at the State University of NY at Albany. Mostly for my son's sake, but also for work. And later when the kids were in their early teens I went back to college to get a higher degree.

I was also a dancer taking ballet and would travel to NYC for dancing gigs off Broadway and in the 80's, a couple of videos you'd see on MTV. As I grew older I did Country/Ballroom/Salsa. And worked at Disney World at the Wild Horse Saloon, doing choreography and teaching dance after the kids & I moved to Florida. Dancing was a passion a couldn't get out of my blood. Still can't.

Way back in the early 80's I had been diagnosed with Arthritic Lupus and Migraine/Cluster Headaches. The arthritis controlled with medications. The cluster headaches not. At age 42 I was having trouble sleeping & was WAking up several times a night. Then one day was having some heart flip-flops, the next jaw pain, that next shoulder pain. I was admitted into the hospital where I underwent a week's worth of test's. The problem; my sleeping heart rate was 30 because of Sick Sinus Syndrome and AV node Dysfunction. Later...Atrial Fib. The "cure"... a pacemaker and medication.

In 2000 I was declared unable to work any longer. The main diagnoses were Arthritic Lupus/ Fibromyalgia/ Cluster headaches and migraines/ Neuropathy of hands and legs. I do pick up some little jobs here en there. Last year I made meals for a blind man (DOBS), paper work for a hurricane inspector, and on-call as an Assistant Mid-wife.

Boy this entry needs a good shot of happiness. those of you that know me know that I'm not so negative. And some of you know bits and pieces of this.

Oh let's see. I moved to Florida fifteen yrs ago for my health having lived in the Albany/Schenectady/ Troy area and also Lake George/Glens Falls area of New York. I was working as a dialysis nurse by day, and doing private duty nursing with infants with heart problems and Genetic defects on weekends. I had been offered a job in Tampa developing and Acute Dialysis program for two of Tampa's Hospitals. From that position I was hired by Vivra/Gambro and put in an Administrative position where I contracted 10 hospitals and had 10 nurses to manage in Pinellas county.

That's my little life in a nutshell. Politically-I'm Independent. I'm a thinker, reader, nurturer. I mother. I mother animals, plants, new mothers. It's my thing. I am a child of the Earth. Spiritually-I'd be described as an Independent Eclectic Wiccan.

Now...I am happily single. I occasionally date. My heart still dances. My kids are grown. My daughter lives in Chicago with her husband and my son lives in a nearby town here in Florida and visits his momma at least once a week. I live in and RV Park in Palm Harbor and have a Maltese named Jasmine (Jazzy) and a former feral kitten that was found under a trailer named Mau'i. I enjoy my computer time, PSP and working with animation, walking nightly with Jazzy and Maui to the beach, concerts on the beach, some dancing, especially West Coast Swing, Cha, Salsa.

I take "On-Call" at a local Birthing Center every other weekend where I assist delivering babies. It's good.

I Made It!

2008-10-08T21:49:00.002-04:00

Yes, I'm here : )

Still ironing things out. I was able to get an image on here, but what is up with the multiple images the pop up faster than the button can be pushed to day "DONE!" or was it "Enough!!".

At least I have animation and I am purty pleased

with myself. ::pat on back::

I was almost brave enough to post a "Blogger Video" on here. It will have to wait for another day. And I am hoping the spell check works better here than AOHell.