I am begging you!

As you see from this pic, we love our critters..in fact that is an understatement! We love, love, love our critters!!!

Please do not tie your dog in the back of a pick up truck and drive 40 mph down the road! I am begging you!

This morning when I was driving to work, I saw a pickup with a dog tied, to the side of the truck, in the bed, on a very short leash. The dog, a beautiful Lab Retriever mix, was naturally very curious. He kept leaning over the rails of the truck, and at one point, it looked like he was going to jump. Anyone with dogs, realizes how energetic and curious they can be..they have very little sense of caution or fear. Their senses and desires simply overwhelm them with eagerness to explore the world and surroundings. And they are so eager to please! Many owners assume that their beautiful dog will simply lay down in the pickup bed for the ride and everything will go safely!!

WRONG!!! WAKEUP!!

This dog has no sense of right or wrong, caution or misfortune...as soon as the owner placed him in the pick up bed, he took away any intuition of safety! He replaced it with the joy of riding in the wind and the desire to take in all the world has to offer!! What if the driver had to slam on the brakes? What if the dog decided to attempt to jump out?

I was so upset watching that dog owner this morning, put his beautiful, loyal pet at risk. It actually made me feel ill to think of the injury that could have occurred.

And I am not talking about a little ride down to the next field to check the horses! I am talking about a busy 4-lane road, at rush hour traffic traveling at speeds of 40 mph. If people do not have enough common sense to protect their pet, I believe the police should intervene!!!

I kept trying to roll down my window to call out to the driver! Probably lucky that I was not able to catch his attention..for a driver with so little concern for that pet, probably has even less patience with his fellow driver and their opinion!!

So I ask that stupid, ignorant, careless person! ( yes, tell me how you feel!) How would you like me to tie you to a short leash, put you back, in the bed of a truck and drive 40 mph in 30 degree weather, YOU MORON!!!


So I pray.....Please, God of all critters.... protect our precious animals, for they are yours too, the great and the small, from the evils of irresponsible pet owners. Please God, protect them from injury and watch over them daily! Amen

Grooveshark link to right.."All creatures great and small"

Back to Normal?

It seems that the snow has stopped and along with it some of the snow shoveling frenzy has slowed to a normal pace, at least until the next blizzard!

We were able to catch this hardworkin', snow scrapin' bobcat, resting up at the local watering hole....Perry Bar and Grill. Can't blame him! It has been a snowy four days. And with the wind and continual drifting, the scraping and shoveling was never completed to satisfaction!! LOL!!

Thanks to all the folks (highway crews and locals)for giving up their Holiday weekend to come to our rescue! They have earned their break...so have a cold one!!!
(Hmm, maybe something hot would taste better!!)

Mrs X and her dog

I apologize about the X...this is what happens when you have your husband take a picture. Everything about the pic was really nice except...I had my eyes shut. TWICE!!! Yes, he took two pics and I had my eyes closed in both.

So now, I have a picture of me and the dog! It looks like I have entered the witness protection program!!! I spared you the awful face and shared with you my lovely Christmas coat, which I have had for six years!!! I remember we bought it at a TJ Maxx in Boston! And I say "we" because my husband picked it out. We were there for a sailing regatta of my son, when he was on the college sailing team. I was freezing, I had not prepared for such cool weather. We took a quick break to shop for a coat and gloves! I have really enjoyed this coat, tacky and pretty as can be, dragging it out each year for the Christmas season.

I will be putting it away again and will probably be pulling it out for at least 20 more years, which at that time it will be considered "vintage"!! Right??

Ice Cream at the Vertical Limit

Still snowed in at Lake Perry, we decided to watch a movie. My husband had brought along a varied selection ranging from scary and suspenseful to sappy and sad! He tried to bring movies that he knew I would enjoy. Well, "Vertical Limit" was in the stack and it seemed like a natural in this snowy setting.

If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. It is thrilling with a slightly evil twist to the plot. as a self-centered billionaire attempts to conquer the mountain.

The Karakoram Range in Pakistan, is the setting, K-2 the destination, a 28,250 foot mountain range.

Sometime during the movie,( I think it was when the climbers decided they were going to ration the water) my husband decided we should make snow ice cream!!! How decadent!!! We are so lucky! Here we are in a warm cabin, at an altitude of approx 1000 feet! We are not rationing water but we beginning to wonder if the wine is going to last! Not to mention the Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum!!!

Doc bundled up and headed for the door with a big plastic bowl. I reminded him to take the flashlight, so maybe we could avoid any yellow snow!

He returned and whipped up a big bowl of eggnog/spiced rum flavored snow ice cream. It was so good, we devoured it. I had never had snow ice cream but had read about it when I was young. I also recall reading the story of maple syrup candy...the hot maple syrup would be drizzled over ice cream and harden into little ribbons of deliciousness!

Snow ice cream..who knew?!

Snowy Day in "Perrydise"

The snow is beautiful, but be careful what you wish for! I wished and dreamed of a White Christmas and look what happened!!! And I was hoping to get "snowed in" and sure enough here we are! Drove over yesterday, late afternoon and got here without mishap. Then as we turned to go up the final hill to the cabin, we drove right into a snow drift that was at least 4 feet deep!!! It was beautiful but cold!! The wind was howling off the Lake. The wind chill felt like five degrees below zero!

Doc and I made one trip walking up the hill to the cabin bringing supplies from the truck! After one trip, we were winded, tired and very cold. We rested for a while to warm up and plan our next move. We then attempted to dig the SUV out but that was futile at best. We again rested and began thinking, thinking....Doc decided the only reasonable, safe thing to do was call a tow truck to pull us out....he called three tow services, no answer! (imagine that, on a snowy Christmas Day!)

We heard a sound and "when,what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer"

Well, it wasn't a sleigh but a tow truck, "with a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick"

"He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread"

"He spoke not a word but went straight to his work"

He quickly pulled us out and drove off before Doc could give him some cash he had hastily pulled from his wallet.
"But I heard him exclaim, "ere he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"


With complete and utmost credit and respect to Clement Clark Moore ( 1779-1863) the author of this beautiful poem.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! My dream came true!! I was hoping for a White Christmas and we got it! It is just beautiful! I am so sorry that it interfered with travel plans for many....but it really completed my Wish List!

The sled pictured was mine from childhood. My brothers moved Mom into a retirement apartment this month. The boys had been trying to get the house emptied out...54 years of accumulation, a monumental task!! I rescued the sled from the trash pile, I don't think my brothers were interested in this sled, if I remember right they had a larger one. The girls had to share this little Silver Streak! I do remember riding down many snowy hills with my sister, both of us squeezed on for ride! We especially loved sled riding at night...the neighbor would flip on their porch light so we could avoid the tree and shrub obstacles as we flew down the hill!!!!

I had recently purchased a Radio Flyer sled at a garage sale. It looked like it had never been used! But I really prefer my Silver Streak from childhood! With a little luck I can still hang on when we hit the sledding hill! I will keep you posted!!!

North Face...just in time for the blizzard!

I was out shopping the thrift stores again and found another North Face! You may remember my earlier posting on my North Face collection....This one was $5.00 but the pink fleece was so gray, I doubted it was salvageable. I bought it anyway and brought it home...I let it soak in a bucket of water and Clorox II for about an hour...the water turned absolutely brown!!! Then I rinsed it and rinsed it, followed by a run through the washer with more detergent and Clorox II. I hung it up to dry and the thing turned out as clean and bright as could be!!!!

Wow, pink and gray! My favorite retro color combination.....there was a house at Lake Lotawana painted the most beautiful shade of gray with pink shutters (and accents of black)..almost identical to the colors of this jacket! I used to love to drive by that little cottage! It was the cutest thing..looked like a flash back to the
"50's". I imagined a single woman as the owner or perhaps, a very clever, married woman! Just think of the negotiating skills that would be required to convince a husband to paint the shutters pink!

The darling cottage remained pink and gray for approximately five years...now I am not sure what color it is..it is so drab, that I haven't even bothered to pay any attention. Curb Appeal!!!

North Face! Great Curb, I mean Curve Appeal!!!

Rescued!

Here it is..really the last surviving remnant of a beautiful home, which was torn down to make room for a new, modern box. This is the house marker, and I know, it is NOT an antique...but it marked the spot where a Log Home stood, one of the original Lake homes. It was built probably around 1930 or 1935..I don't have the history but I do know that it was lived in by some really nice people the past decade!!!

So Cathy, "here's your sign!"

Well, the cruise to celebrate Mattie Lee's (AKA Mom) 90th birthday has come to an end. We had a great time...who knew a 90 year old woman could be so much fun!? My husband and I have been on several cruises but I can honestly say this was the best!
We spent a day at Sandals Resort. What a beautiful place..so clean and bright, the food was delish and the booze was free flowing and free. We also spent a day exploring a Botanical Garden in Freeport, a very pleasant experience and a chance to mingle with nature and view some local flora and fauna. ( did I say that correctly?)

I would highly recommend the four day Carnival Cruise as a great starting place, if you have never cruised or just want a quick get-away. Of course it is necessary to go with the right attitude..one of excitement and anticipation, also an open mind is important, because you need to get on "island time", to fully experience the cruise. ( also, it is critical to enjoy being around a lot of people that are having the "trip of a lifetime" You will see lots of smiles, with occasional grumpiness, especially if a sunburn is involved)

Click on my grooveshark link..Put the "lime in the coconut"

Carnival Sensation

Well, here we are again on a Carnival Cruise! We brought my mother-in-law Mattie Lee to celebrate her 90th birthday! Cruises are such fun! Lots of food, entertainment and happy people! The weather is a bit cool but we are hoping it will warm up a bit as we sail south!

I have already had my required fru-fru drink the "Fun Ship Special" which is a combination of several liquors and fruit juice. Yum!! This is where the cruise ships make their money!!! You get your bar bill at the end of the trip and sometimes it is a pretty shocking amount, especially if you have been buying rounds for the table!!

Oh Well...... Bon Voyage!

"Under the Sea"

I am not packed and not ready to leave tomorrow on our trip! We are taking my mother-in-law on an ocean cruise to celebrate her 90th birthday!!! She is so much fun, we will have a great time! She is the original party girl, so you know we are going to have a blast!!

As most of you know, Doc and I travel a lot but I always have my little anxiety attack prior to leaving. I worry that is something happens and we never get back home, what will the kids think!? Our house is a mess, things are disorganized, my car is full of work stuff and who will adopt the dog? Coupled with fretting about my job, my wardrobe, my budget and just obsessing about everything in general,I become almost dysfunctional the night before we leave!!

The "seaweed is always greener in someone else's sea". I imagine that everyone else has organized lives and homes!! Maybe that is a fantasy, sort of like Disney World or something! LOL!!!

I usually just give up, go to sleep and wake up early to deal with it in the morning!
Works almost everytime, unless we have an early flight! Tomorrow is perfect..flight is not until noonish and then non stop to Orlando. So good night all! And kids, if anything happens to us.....just sort through what you want and give the rest to Goodwill!!! And don't forget about the Boston Whaler up at Lake Perry!!! And the kayaks down by the Lake, and the vintage trailer over in storage and, and, and..... you get the picture!

The Bridge

The lyrics of "Wasted on the Way", written by Graham Nash, are better then the best self help book. Take time to listen to it...you will just be amazed at the message.....Maybe middle age has given me a better understanding of "so much water moving underneath the bridge".

"So much time to make up, everywhere you turn, time we have wasted along the way"
How can one man have so much talent? The ability to write music and lyrics that can bring me to tears with the sheer beauty of words and harmony.

Facts: Graham Nash, British singer-songwriter, born February 2, 1942.
Founding member of "the Hollies" 1960
Joined up with Crosby and Stills in 1968, for CSN
1969, the band became CSN and Y, joined by Neil Young,
and performed at Woodstock

Click on my Grooveshark link to hear "Wasted on the Way"

"Holiday...Celebrate....."

Sweet! This is my big reward for going out shopping this Sunday at the Disabled Veteran's Store!!! Many others shopped Black Friday or visited the mall...not me, I was at the thrift store and the deals were flowing! I say it is truly a higher form of re-cycling!

This very special, 1959 copy write, 7th printing ( 1968) cost me twenty-five cents! Yes $0.25!!! and it is in perfect condition!!! I love it!! And just in time for the Holidays!!! Wow, I am a lucky girl!!! ( my husband thinks he is a lucky man to be married to a gal that shops the flea markets and is thrilled with a 25 cent cookbook!)

A wonderful addition to my vintage cookbook collection!

"Holiday"..take some time to celebrate! Click on the Grooveshark link!

Boat Owners

Have you heard the comment, "The happiest two days in a boat owner's life. the day he bought it and the day he sold it!"???

Well, bye bye little boat. Today it went to a buyer out of Minnesota. He was absolutely thrilled! Drove all the way from Minnesota to buy this sweet Laser Vaga. And my husband was equally thrilled, because now he gets to start looking for a replacement boat. Those of you that know Doc, he love to negotiate a deal on a boat as much as he loves to sail! I have actually lost count of how many boats he has bought and sold!!!

And then there is me, who likes to hang on to things forever....like my 1959 Winnie, case in point!!! It made me sad to see the boat pull out of the driveway but my husband's smile and excitement over beginning the next boat search balanced the moment!!!

So stay tuned! I would predict, by the spring 2010 sailing series, there will be another boat in our life!!

Click on Sloop John B "Hoist up the John B sail, see how the mains'l sets"

"Away from Her"

"Away from Her" , a movie, was given to me by a friend. Wow....watch it, she was right...it is a powerful movie, guaranteed to open some dialogue between you and your husband, significant other and/or family.

Being a nurse, working with Alzheimer's patients, I thought i had reviewed every angle but this movie provides even more insight into the strange and disturbing disease..how will your family cope if it should affect you?Probably a good thing to talk about and explore, even as painful as it may be.

click on grooveshark "Helpless" Crosby Stills Nash and Young

Thanks Sheryl # 777... a soul stirring movie!

Hippy Chick!

When we were riding out bikes through Key West recently, I spotted this RV. I looked everywhere for the owner, because I already knew...I gotta have it!!! I wish I could have seen the inside, although it was probably pretty rough! A fixer upper I bet!!!

I took this pic because now I am inspired! I have decided this is my next purchase and in fact I have even found the RV... just haven't told my husband yet!!!
And I was really hoping to wait one more year..it fits into our time- line much better!!!

I have found an older model like this one, low mileage in really good shape! But I know there will be lots of opportunities to find one...it seems they are very available! I think families purchase these recreational vehicles with high hopes of hitting the "open road"! However, often life gets in the way, we put our plans n ice, at least temporarily and sometimes permanently.

I have used my little Winnie far more then I ever thought I would. I can say I am almost obsessive about planning and wishing for the next trip. Tonight I brousing the internet, looking at the Missouri State Parks and laying out camping plans for 2010. One float trip already scheduled and a lot of camping in the early planning stage.

"Baby, you can drive my car!" ( RV!!!) Click on Grooveshark!!!

Trudy, my friend, a police widow

This is Trudy! ...she has a beautiful smile. But she has a sad story..she is a police widow. Her husband was killed in 1998 by a drunk driver, who injured three other people in his drunken killing spree. His blood alcohol level was greater then three times the legal limit one hour after the accident! And he has served 10 years of his sentence..he is seeking parole, he has not shown remorse, taken the alcohol abuse classes or accepted responsibility for what he did!! We believe he should serve his entire sentence, for justice to be served. Officer Tom, put his life on the line every day to serve his community and ensure our safety. Now it is time for us to ensure that his killer serve his sentence as decided by the jury in a court of law. PLEASE click on the web site and sign the petition..it only takes a few minutes!!

Think about Officer Tom..what if he had been your husband? Your brother? Your son?
Let's send a strong message that our judicial system must prevail!! Let's keep the drunken drivers off the streets!!!

Her letter:
On January 12, 2010 our family has the unfortunate experience of facing another parole hearing for inmate Larry Bittick. On January 14, 1998 at 10:54 AM Larry while driving approximately 80 mph and 3 times the legal limit killed my husband Officer Thomas R. Meyers with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. We feel it is extremely necessary that we work hard to get the support of the community with this being a 12 year hearing. Missouri Department of Corrections Division of Probation & Parole has agreed to accept our website of names as an acceptable petition. There is additional info/links on the website concerning Officer Tom Meyers and the inmate, if after reading you feel that you can support the Meyers Family we would be enormously grateful. Please forward this email to family, friends and Tom’s Law Enforcement brothers and sisters. State of Missouri accepts signatures from out of state and country

www.saferbehindbars.com click over to the right for a direct link!!!!

THANK YOU for your time.
Trudy Meyers
trudy.meyers@policesurvivors.net

Our "Place" in Key West

Most of you now how much Doc and I love Key West. A few years ago we received notice of a really neat promotion on property in the island. And made of brick! Of course Doc was all over it, bought it sight unseen and couldn't wait to show it to me!!

It was an anniversary present and I was totally surprised!!! Also, I was very happy to find out that Doc had only spent about one hundred dollars instead of one million dollars! I don't know, call me crazy but it just seemed to fit into our budget more comfortably!! LOL

Our property.. a brick in the park by Mallory Square!! And the proceeds from the sales of the commemorative bricks were dedicated to the upkeep and restoration of the statues in the park.

So when we travel to Key West, this is always one of our first stops! It just feels good knowing we have a little "place" there! Some where to go visit and stay a while!

Click on "She's a brick house!" and get ready to boogie down!

St Mary, Star of the Sea

St Mary Star of the Sea....."Since it first shed it's light in Key West it has like a star of the sea to the wandering mariner, been a star of hope and comfort in times of despair and sorrow and a star of joy to those who have lived in it's teachings"


The Star of the Sea Catholic Church....so pretty, we always make a point of riding our bikes over, walking the grounds and peeking in the doors, between Mass. It is considered the oldest Catholic Parish in South Florida.

On October 25,1901, Father Friend S.J. purchased a parcel of land for $8,000, on Windsor Lane. The new Catholic Church was dedicated on August 20, 1905. The stone blocks used to build the church were cut from the coral rock, dug from the ground where the church stands.

On May 25, 1922 Sister Gabriel designed a Grotto out of natural rock which was gathered on the school grounds just adjacent to the church. Sister Gabriel had survived three major, devastating storms ( 1909,1910 and 1919) in Key West. She built the Grotto to seek protection from Our Blessed Mother Mary against any further storms or hurricanes. She said, "Key West would never experience the full brunt of a hurricane as long as the Grotto stood". There has not been a devastating storm on the island since that time, 1922!

When you visit the Grotto you will find many candles lit with prayers for protection of Key West. It is a very touching memorial.

A very pretty "Star of the Sea" by Mediaeval Baebes, click on Grooveshark

Friday the 13th

No pic tonight...I am just going to sleep and hoping next week will be different..note I did not say better, I said different!!! This is an interesting song click on Groove shark..it will keep you wondering for a while and make you forget that I didn't write tonight!

Grooveshark "numero trece" remember your highschool Spanish? Number 13? uno, dos, tres, quatro I really do want to become fluent in Spanish.... it is on my bucket list and I am going to to get started TOMORROW!!!

I love this electronic sounding music!

Someone's singing, Lord!

Can you listen to this song without singing along? I doubt it! Try it, go ahead, you know you love a challenge! If you can make it through the song, without singing along, let me know! I will by you a "non-alcoholic beverage" or a candy bar, your choice!!

Oh my goodness! As soon as the children started singing along I was there!!! Immediately transported back to summer of 1967, sitting in the church van, traveling to Camp! Our van was called the "Holy Roller". No kidding! I went to a very cool church! It was a full size van, a 350 Econoline /12 passenger van. The van had been professionally painted with "Holy Roller" on the back, the church info on the side...we had a lot of good times in that van!!!

We would arrive at Little Grassy Lake Church Camp, in southern Illinois, ready for adventure and fun, some of it even of the religious nature!! We did our little bit of trouble making but never too much because we were afraid we wouldn't be allowed back the next year and it was the highlight of our summers!!!

Last weekend Doc and I saw this boat in Sunset Marina on Stock Island. Doc immediately broke into song, of course, he grew up in southern Illinois. In fact, he even went to summer camp at Little Grassy Lake. We always wonder if our paths crossed at that time?

Click on Grooveshark..I dare you!!! "Kumbaya Lord, Kumbaya"

Veteran's Day 2009

This has been an poignant Veteran's Day. So soon after the incidence at Fort Hood, it has caused us to pause and think about and value the commitment of both women and men that have served, are serving and will serve in the future, to ensure our freedom and the great liberties we enjoy and so often take for granted.

Tonight scrolling through Facebook, I was overwhelmed reading the posts of so many expressing their thanks, prayers and kind thoughts to Veterans, Active Service and their families. I felt a chill of humility when I read over and over as writers expressed thought from the heart. It gave me faith that our country will survive the many challenges that we are facing.

I am very proud of my family's part in serving our country. My father, Nelson, served in the Army as a young Private, during the War. My brother, Lee, served in the National Guard, during the post Vietnam Era. My brother-in-law, Dale was a Navy Seal in Vietnam. Brother-in-law, Bobby served and was wounded in Vietnam. My father-in-law, Glen, while serving as a pilot in the Army Air Corp was shot down over Germany. He survived, but was held for one year as a prisoner of war, in a German prison camp.
After he was reported as MIA and suspected as dead, his wife Mattie Lee never gave up hope. He returned home to Mattie and the two of them raised five children and had a full life. It was his retirement years before he would talk of the war and his prison experiences. He had the POW license plates and proudly wore his POW ball cap.

His son Jim, my husband, served as a Corp man in the Coast Guard. Our son, David is a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard, our daughter-in- law, Krysten, also a LT is in the Coast Guard Reserves, having just completed her Tour of Duty.

My list could go on and on to include Uncles and even Aunts, who served in the Wacs! Recently, I learned a sad fact....a friend of mine lost her college sweetheart/husband when he was sent to Vietnam and was killed in action.

I wanted to write this tonight to think about how many lives have been touched directly by those who have served their country. I believe in my heart there is no more noble calling then those who choose to serve their country and offer to pay the ultimate price for our freedom.

May God Bless and Protect the Military and their families!!!

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free......"
click on Grooveshark Link

Key West Aquarium

One of the oldest attractions in Key West is the Aquarium. It was built between 1932-1934 by the WPA ( Works Project Administration) the government thought it would help draw tourists to Key West, to improve the economy. At that time, Key West had become very depressed, having once been the richest town in Florida.

The Aquarium was one of the first and largest at the time....it is now nearly twice the size as when originally built, since the addition of the Atlantic Shores exhibit and the large outdoor holding tanks.

The main draw to the Aquarium is the historical significance. It is small and rather quaint, but very charming...especially the Shark feedings which occur daily at
11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:30pm!!!

They also have shark cams!!! Check out the web site www.keywestaquarium.com

although it was pretty quiet tonight, when I last looked!!!

And don't forget the "Jaws Theme" click on my grooveSHARK link!!!

Blue Heaven

The gals are already planning to make this an "official" sisters trip for 2010, so talk to Sharon or me right away, if you are interested...Key West books up fast that time of year....Parrot Head Weekend!

Our trip is over, I am in the Chicago airport waiting for the last segment of my journey to Kansas City....and as always I am in no particular hurry to get home!
I sneaked my husband on this last "girls" trip. Being in Key West, it was perfectly acceptable for him to cross-dress and fit in as one of the "girls"!!! NOT!!!!
just kidding, LOL!

Actually, he realized that he would be in Florida at the same time I was, so I convinced him to come on over to Key West for the long weekend! I gave up my space at Casa 325, where the other gals were staying and elected to stay with my hubby at his hotel! So my usual force to return home, missing my husband, didn't apply on this journey..so to re-state the obvious...

I sure wish I were on the way to Key West instead of returning home today!!!!!

The weather was windy, sunny and warm. The seas were too high for water sports, so we concentrated on long bike rides, dips in the pool, museums and shopping.

We even saw a play at the Waterfront Theater, "Shut Up, Sweet Charlotte". It was a funny, twisted, comedy which we really enjoyed.

With a heavy heart....from Key West

So much sadness today regarding the tragedy at Fort Hood. Hard to believe there can be such insanity and violence so close to the ones we hold dear in our hearts. To those who have chosen to serve our country..I pray for your safety and thank you for your brave work. It is shocking that the enemy is even within your numbers, ones that you thought you could trust and rely on....one can only believe that this man was insane, beyond help..there is no other explanation for such disrespect and waste of human life.

I am so sorry that those that have passed will never get the opportunity to enjoy another day of beauty and sunshine, of a meal with family and friends...simply because this weak, ill man took it upon himself to end their lives. They, the fallen, will never get to experience the beauty of a tropical vacation or a day on the beach. May you rest in peace and know that you are not forgotten and you are greatly grieved.

Florida!

I love Florida! My love affair started when I first took my boys to Disney World. Kevin was just two and a half, David was seven. It was just the three of us taking on Mickey! We had a really good time... we rode the rides and ran all over that park. My favorite was "It's a Small World". The boys liked "Pirates of the Caribbean" The next day we visited Sea World which I enjoyed as much or more then Disney! The third day we drove to the Ocean and visited the Space Center and then played on the beach. Kevin, the baby, got surprised and knocked down by a couple waves but then he figured it out!

When I married my husband, Doc, we took the entire family, my boys, his girl on our honeymoon! We got married in the Keys, on a sailboat in Marathon, stayed there a while and then back to the mainland for another visit to Disney. This time Kevin was nine and David was thirteen, Ashley was twelve. It was an "interesting" fun trip as we all became a blended family.....the kids were the only ones at our wedding, with the exception of Nelson, David's best friend from back home and the Captain and his wife, who performed the ceremony. Hope it was all legal! LOL!! Nelson happened to be in Florida at the same time ( another story) and came along as our camera man..to film the event. By the way, he did a very nice job....thank you, Nelson!

So, back to Florida being one of my favorite places.....later we moved our sailboat ( I hate to call it a Yacht, because it sounds so pretentious, but it is what it is!) to Naples and then to Key West. We spent a lot of fun time there, with the kids and also just the two of us! Our yacht served as our floating motel, party barge and portable galley. Grilled fresh fish became our favorite meal. The kids would jump into our inflatable dinghy, with the little motor and tour the area, whether we were anchored out in in a marina. We saw shark, manatee and lobster....frequently all the same day! We did a lot of snorkeling and all became PADI Scuba certified...good times!

Now, we have a lot of good memories and love to visit Florida every chance we can, it is still our plan to retire on a "yacht" and join the modern day Gypsy's, aka "yachties" or "liveaboards"

And this weekend..Key West..the most favorite of our Florida destinations!

Key West..here we come!

Janetsue blogging from Lake Perry Marina at the firepit, next adventure.....

Thursday morning we are flying to Key West for the Meeting of the Minds...aka Parrot Head Weekend. It will be a busy crazy time in Key West..there are nine of us going and planning on a really great extended weekend doing the Duval Street Crawl!

I am really annoyed with myself for procrastinating on tanning and for not losing 10 pounds before this weekend!! After all we have been planning this trip since February..it didn't just sneak up on me! So you won't be seeing me blogging from Key West in a swimming suit, but you might just get a glimpse of me on the beach..fully clothed, of course!! According to the weekend forecast the weather may be a bit on the cloudy side and perhaps even a little rain but it won't slow us down.

But life goes on Tan or not!! But no "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" for me!

Phantom of the Night

Had a fun time at the Golf Club..Mulligans



Wow! Great Halloween Weekend!

"The truth isn't what you want to see
In the dark it is easy to pretend
That the truth is what it ought to be"



See the Grooveshark link, to the right

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire?!

I wish I could say that roasting chestnuts was an old family tradition..but the truth is, we have only done it a couple of times. I am not sure why so rarely, because they are delicious!

We are packing for our Halloween "campout" at Perry Lake. Actually, we are "camping" in those cute little "trailer home/cabin/rustic shed" or whatever you would call them. I call them darling, warm, clean and comfortable!!! Complete with a queen size log bed with a very comfy mattress!!!

My husband did the grocery shopping today..and he is always adventurous and daring in the kitchen or over an open fire! He bought all sorts of delicious, fun things to eat. These chestnuts really caught my interest.

I googled a few websites to refresh my memory on a "chestnut roasting technique". The most important tip..you MUST cut a slit or X in each nut before you roast it, so the steam can escape and the whole nut won't explode! (and "put your eye out", but I digress..that is another Christmas movie! Comment, please, if you know which one!!! LOL)

Put the chestnuts in a pan that has holes in the bottom. Or if you use a skillet or flat pan be prepared to flip them over several times. Even in the open grid-type pan, you should flip them a little, for even roasting. No oil is necessary..they will steam in their own natural moisture.

Now, build your fire and when the flames have died down and you have that really hot bed of coals, place the pan over the embers, not directly on. Roast for about 25 minutes...then let sit for 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to burn your fingers, let them cool enough to peel the shell/skin back and remove the nut. Yummy!!! A glass of red wine or apple cider goes nicely.

It is a little early for Christmas music..but I had to throw in
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire......"click on the Grooveshark link
"And I really hope Jack Frost is not nipping at your nose" on Halloween night!!

The Past, The Present and The Future

I recently had a nice chat with a friend from the past....remember the song "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold" ??

An old friend is going through something I made it through, almost twenty years ago. I am not going to say the word, but most of you know or can guess...the big 'D" word. It is not something to be undertaken lightly. ( didn't they say the same thing about marriage?) The "D" makes a huge impact on your life, one from which you can never really recover...it impacts everyone around you and causes us to question even the simplest but yet the most complicated of emotions... love.

Those that have not experienced this awful tragedy can probably not understand and may even treat it with disdain. Those of us that have fought the fight, lost the battle and retreated to go on to build healthy and happy lives, truly understand the grief and sadness that accompany the "D".

But yet it is an exhilarating landmark too! A time to try new things, new ways of living, coping and surviving. Life gets on and contentment or at least acceptance becomes the norm.

When the dust settles and the final tears are shed....no, that is wrong, the final tears are never shed....they last a lifetime. And the tears appear when you least expect them...like when you listen to "The Way We Were". Sorry, don't click on the groove shark link unless you want to shed a thousand tears!!! if you haven't heard the Percy Faith arrangement from " A Summer Place", then you haven't heard it!

When Autumn leaves start to fall.....

Well fall is here and winter soon approaching. My favorite month of the year, October, is almost finished.

This autumn has been unusually wet..lots of rain and cloudy days. But apparently we have had enough sunshine to cause the leaves to change. The trees have been especially colorful this season.

The website "Environmental Education for Kids" had a lot of interesting information about leave color. Some facts we learned in grade school but have probably forgotten:

There are three pigments that color leaves. Chlorophyll is responsible for the green, carotenoid for the yellow, orange and brown and anthocyanins create the red.

Chlorophyll allows the trees to use sunshine to produce food. Chlorophyll and carotenoid are in the leaf cells during the entire growing season. The chlorophyll covers the carotenoid which is why the leaves are green in the summer.

Anthocyanins are produced in the autumn and only only under certain conditions. Not all trees can produce anthocyanins.

Trees respond to decreasing sunlight by producing less and less chlorophyll. The tree eventually stops production of the chlorophyll. At that point, the carotenoid can finally show through, causing the display of yellows, oranges and browns.

Some identifying tree leaf colors:
Oaks: red, brown, russet
Hickories: golden, bronze
Dogwood: purple, red
Birch: bright yellow
Poplar: golden yellow
Maple: a whole range of colors, orange, glowing yellow, bright scarlet

Soon the leaves will be gone and we will be contemplating snow and ice! Until then...
HAPPY AUTUMM!!!
click on grooveshark for "Autumn Leaves"

Goodwill..Good Stuff!!!

Another great Friday after work shopping trip to the Goodwill. I scored this nice tea pot for MK for her vintage camper...MinnieHaHa. The tea pot is in just perfect condition and "Made in America", which is now rare. and the price was right...$3.00!

MK loves her cup of tea at camp. While most of us are drinking beer or wine, she is pristinely sipping on a cup of herbal tea. I couldn't drink that stuff unless it had a shot of Vodka or Rum, but then it wouldn't be healthy, would it?!

I had been looking for a while, thinking she should have a tea pot dedicated to her camper..she has been hauling hers from home and the more stuff we can leave permanently in our campers, the easiest it is to leave on a minute's notice! If I could figure out how to keep my clothes in the camper and stock the non perishables, it would be great.

I kept trying to plan this afternoon so I could still make it away for the weekend..but just couldn't get it done. Plenty to look forward to in the next few weeks, so I am not going to complain .....Halloween weekend at Lake Perry, a trip to Key West in November, a short cruise in December, "Saddle Up" in Feb in the Smokey Mountains and Hawaii in May.. and, of course, there is that trip to Alaska this spring to see my new little grand baby!!!

Listen to "Tea for Two" click on my link!!!

George Orwell's "Nineteen Eight-Four"

I have my bandanna packed and I am ready to run away! Thanks goodness tomorrow is Friday and we have the weekend to look forward to!! However, I want to "run away", yes, I do, I want to hook up my trailer and camp for the weekend.

The problem? I have a lot to do here at home and hubby has a full social calender planned for us for the weekend. He didn't know but I reserved this weekend a long time ago, so I am in a dilemma..what to do? Go or stay?! Tough decision, but with the weather changing so rapidly there are fewer and fishing and camping days left.
So I am "semi-packed" as you can tell from my bandanna on the stick!!! I have a few clothes thrown together and my reservation was made months ago.....I have a mental meal plan and the cooler is still by the front door from our last overnight to the Lake. Just in case!

Do you remember this song "Runaway" by Real McCoy? Wikipedia was my info source on this, so I can't be sure of the accuracy. The lyrics to this song were based on George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eight-Five". I never knew that and was fascinated..now I have to read the novel again. ( which we all read in 8th grade, right?) This song was released in 1995 by the German eurodance group, Real McCoy. It achieved #3 on the Billboard charts after becoming immensely popular in the USA.

Who Knew??? The lyrics to this song have always puzzled me, but I really love them and think they give a message. Well, now we know....."Nineteen Eight-Four" and Big Brother is still watching us!

Grooveshark link to the right so you can "groove" on Runaway

Bad Hair vs Good Hair

Every day is a new day for me in many ways! Especially in the hair category. Since the day the song,"Take the Ribbon from Your Hair" became permanently embedded in my brain, I have made the commitment to let my hair grow long! Don't laugh!! I can imagine pulling a beautiful Satin ribbon through my graying, split-end locks and just decided that was my next goal this year and into 2010.

So now I am fighting the battle of in- between...not long, not short, what's a girl to do??? I will keep you posted on this important life changing event!!! LOL

I posted the pic, MaryK took it when we were camping a few weeks ago, I thought it was a nice tousled effect!!! I had been concentrating on tying a fishing lure and drinking a Woodchuck Hard Cider. MaryK reminded me that I had been working on that same knot for about an hour......this fishing stuff is not easy, ya know!

Bet you haven't heard this in a while!!!
Click on the Grooveshark link "Almost Cut my Hair Today"

Here are the stars!!!

At least here are a few of the stars from my slide show! Some of the pics got lost in cyber space or somewhere on my computer! If you would like to see the slide show set to music, leave me a comment with your e mail and I will send you the link. We sure do love our pets!!!!