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