It Is What It Is

Vaneks Christmas Party

2010-12-22T22:15:00.006-05:00

The Vaneks have a Christmas party each year
I know they spend so much time decorating
Because their home looks like a fairy tale of
Snowflakes and Santa, reindeers and many
Themed Christmas trees. Food is on every
table and counter in every room and the bar
is well supplied too. It amazes me to think
of what it takes to put on a party like this
each holiday season. I am just thankful
we are invited.

One of the fun events at the party is gift
Exchange. They play a game that makes
The time lots of fun and it gets pretty
Rowdy out by the pool where the exchange
Happens. There’s always a favorite gift
Item that makes its rounds and it’s
Impossible to guess what that gift will
Be. This year everyone was taking a Sponge
Bob Snuggly. LOL

 Frank Vanek built
Our home that Jeni and Tom now own.
His wife, Linda, is our title woman at
The car lot. Going to their beautiful
Home really puts us in the Christmas spirit.

Jeni’s Surprise 40th Birthday Party

2010-12-13T19:55:00.003-05:00

We really pulled off the surprise! Tom, and two of Jeni’s friends, Jojo and Charlene, and Bill and I planned a surprise party for Jeni’s 40th. We pulled it off. Everyone worked to make it so and Jeni was really surprised. There were 50 people and lots of food, drinks, and a cake that looked good and tasted good, too.
We built a pit fire in the back yard and there was music and dancing and lots of celebrating Jeni’s big 4-0. We had so much fun and Jeni called today and she’s still on cloud 9 she said. I know it’s a birthday she won’t forget.

Susie and Mike, Bill’s brother and sister, came from Texas to attend and some of Tom’s friend’s came from PA, too. Jeni was really surprised to see them and so pleased to see all her family and friends that came.

I’m so thankful for the last forty years we’ve had with Jeni. She has been such a blessing to us from day one. She is my heart. She is beautiful inside and out and that just shines through everything she does. Happy birthday, Jeni!

Kaylee Addison DeLaby

2010-12-06T07:38:00.004-05:00

I am a great grandma to Kaylee Addison DeLaby. She is a healthy baby girl who weighed 7lbs. 9 oz. at birth (Nov 30. She is without a doubt the most beautiful baby I have seen.

She is in Tennessee and I am in Florida. I feel this ferocious tug at my heart to get up there to hold her and see her in person. However, common sense is winning out most days. I would have to fly and right now that’s big bucks. I would be able to stay only a few days and that would stink. If I wait until January when all the hoopla here is over, I could take my car and spend what time I wanted to. I’m opting for January but it’s a struggle to wait.

Valerie and Jon (my new grandson-in-law) produced a star. Kaylee is absolutely precious and has so much hair; they put a bow in it when she was born. I can’t get over how perfect she looks. Her little face is so perfect. Her eyebrows look like they’ve been plucked. They look so perfect.

Yes, I am a dotting great grandma that she will call Mimi. I love that name and now will look forward to the day she calls me that.  I know her Mom and Dad are on cloud 9 as well as her Grandma (Gigi), my daughter, Angie. Kaylee looks so much like Angie did. I remember the nurse asked me if they could use Angie as a model to show everyone how to bath their new babies in a class. They said she was so beautiful and had so much hair she would be perfect. She was.  Angie got her first modeling job then the day after she was born. LOL

Hang on to that baby look and smell until January, Kaylee. Your Mimi is on her way!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-27T09:22:00.002-05:00

We gathered at Jeni and Tom’s home this year. Tom’s mom and her husband were there. I always look so forward to seeing them when these snowbirds come down in time for Thanksgiving. They are such wonderfully friendly and loving people. It’s a joy just being around them. They are so active in their community. They are ball room dancers and we took a cruise with them and some of the rest of their family. What a fun time that was. We took dancing instruction from them but we are hopeless cases. Still, the camaraderie and fun was still there. We loved each moment of it. Bill and I celebrated our 40th anniversary on that cruise through the Baltic countries. Amazing.

Tom’s sister, Pam, her husband, Greg and their three children were there. Their children have all grown so much through the years we have known them and they shock us in how much they have changed. Seth, their oldest child, has been too sick to attend the last couple of celebration so it was such a great feeling to have him there with us this year. He recently celebrated his 16th birthday. Marc is such a handsome boy and is fun to be around. Leah gets more and more beautiful. She has almost an exotic look (like her Mimi I might add) and she has the personality to match that beauty. Greg and Pam look wonderful but they always do.This year Greg’s mom and dad, Kitty and Jon and his aunt and Uncle Deanna and John were here. They were a delight to get to know and such a warm addition to this family.

Jeni and Tom were awesome hosts and their house and the grounds looked incredible. They have done
so much to the house in this last six months that they have lived there. It looks spectacular and is very warm and inviting.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Kay, Pam, and Kitty made practically the whole dinner at Pam’s house the day before. Jeni and Tom provided mashed potatoes and many desserts. I made desserts. What a life I lead, huh?

This is the first time I haven’t cooked Thanksgiving with an occasional exception in 40 years. I might miss
it someday, but not this year. It was a delight to just show up with my desserts and get all that joy in return.  The weather was perfect, too.
Oh, I should also say that Bill cooked one of the turkeys outside in the infra-red thingy cooker. It’s harder to tell when it is done that way so he took it out the first time too soon but then it cooked up nicely the second time around. Everything was just perfect.

Happy Birthday Bill! November 10

2010-11-19T11:33:00.001-05:00

Bill said he had one of his best birthdays ever. He received cards, phone calls, and three celebrations from family, friends, and employees. When he went to work at the car lot the guys there had a cake for him and gifts. He was able to share cake with customers at they came in that day.
I cooked dinner for him (that was a big shock for him! LOL). I made burritos and a chocolate cake. I gave him a leather jacket he can wear on his Harley. He’s stylin now. 
Then, we went to Jeni and Tom’s house for yet another celebration with ribs
And a cherry cheesecake!! This man had enough cakes this year for sure! Jeni and Tom gave him a bag full of gadgets and tools. He was a happy birthday guy.
While at Jen’s we also went through some Christmas things...the last bit of stuff we needed to go through at the house. That does it, we are officially moved out now for sure. Jeni and Tom let us keep it there until we got some extra time to go through it.
Bill is sixty-three years old now. I’m happy about that because I’m older than he is for four months...now, at least until July, we are the same age. 

Happy Birthday Sweetheart. I love you!!

Mary McBroom and Kevin Davis Wedding

2010-11-15T16:03:00.004-05:00

My niece, Mary McBroom, and Kevin Davis were married on the 30th of October. The wedding was at a tractor barn in SC. I was baffled by what kind of place that was to be married in but when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty and the wonderful setting of this venue. There were fall flowers, pumpkins, and so many colorful fall decorations. The wedding site was next to a pond that had a waterfall.
Alvin brought his old black Ford truck that was so shiny and pristine and a perfect backdrop for photos. One of the many wonderful things that happened was that Mary and Kevin hired Bonnie McBroom Clinton and her husband, James to photograph the wedding. Bonnie is my father’s brother, Lindy’s, youngest daughter. I had never met her before and it was a delight to finally meet her after talking to her on face book. She and her husband are such genuine and wonderful people .I look forward to spending more time with them. Bonnie seemed like my long lost family BUT the surprising part is that her husband, James, looks so much like dad. My brothers and
I were amazed at the resemblance; even down to some mannerisms. I kidded him that I hugged him so much he started hiding from me. LOL That was really strange for all of us I think but then by the end of the night he was just my cousin (in-law) and I would just see Dad occasionally in him. I think Bonnie and I would be close if we lived nearby. She would be fun to be around and we are so much alike in so many ways...that was another rather eerie thing.
We had so much fun from beginning to end. First just seeing family members and friends we haven’t seen in a while and then the ceremony itself and the reception after was so relaxing and just fun. I even joined in the dancing and I don’t dance. I just couldn’t help myself.
Mary was stunningly beautiful. I was so proud to be her aunt and so glad we could be there for this important day. She is so happy and I hope and pray it will ever be so. She is the last of Alvin and Brenda’s children to get married.

Lisa, Mary’s sister, was nine months pregnant and we did wonder if she would have the baby before the wedding...or even during. She is such a beautiful pregnant woman and though her belly looked ready to pop, she didn’t appear to be uncomfortable at all.
My brothers and sisters in law that were there made it even more fun. Alvin and Brenda, of course, and David and Rita were there, along with Mike and June. Betsey and Tom came along with Marcy and her new (and serious it seems) boyfriend.
Bill and I thought after the wedding that it was so nice of Al and Brenda to share their friends with us. So many of their friends are our friends now but we would never have met them without Al and Brenda. I can’t imagine not knowing Snook and Co, Jerry and Judy, and Cathy to name a few. Then there is Brenda’s family who seems like our family and has for almost 40 years. Susie, her sister, is a hoot and so much fun to be around. They have a large family now and plenty of grandkids and Brenda and Susie’s mom, Gladys is 90 years old and as active as anyone I know. They all are family to us as well.
It was a joy and a pleasure to be at this wedding and celebrate with Mary and Kevin and wish them a lifetime of happiness. I love the way it made me feel afterwards and still does. The happiness and love felt there was almost understandble, but the fact that we were able to take it home and let it live on in our memories is priceless.
Clara Elaine was born on November 9, 2010 and she is gorgeous. I can’t wait to see her and hold her.

Mary & Kevin's Rehearsal Dinner Oct 29, 2010

2010-11-01T22:11:00.000-04:00

My niece, Mary and her husband-to-be had their rehearsal dinner at a park in Columbia, SC. It was a beautiful setting and the weather was perfect.

Kevin and his family provided a Low Country Boil for everyone and there were homemade desserts, hotdogs and lots of wonderful food. In my next life I am going to be a good cook. There was a fresh baked apple cake with cream cheese icing that was to die for. Honestly, I think everyone in this family cooks like this and so do all their friends! I do know that a close friend of theirs
(Brenda, Alvin and the family) made that cake. Judy Cooper is such a good cook, so is Co Sizemore and Cathy Brooks. Oh, my. I’d weigh a thousand pounds if I was around them long.

Bill went on about how beautiful Judy is and how nice she is but I knew all along that he just got a taste of that cake and it was all over for us! Oh, my, I have digressed totally onto food. I am a sick puppy.

So, back to Mary and Kevin. I was sorry I only got one photo of Mary and it is blurry. She was busy and so was Kevin so I just stopped taking photos.

We met Bonnie and James Clinton. Bonnie is my cousin that I united with on Face Book. I never knew Bonnie but there was a connection on FB and I just knew we would hit it off. She was like family already..pretty cool..since she IS family! ;) I just loved her when I saw her..just like I knew I would. I told her that she must be my long lost sister since we were so much alike. Since Marsha was going to be my brother, Mike’s name, if he had been a girl (after five boys we were SURE I’d finally have a sister. ) but NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO. I wouldn’t take anything for my baby brother but I still have visions of him in a skirt. LOL Now here is the weird part. I thought so from looking at his photo on FB but I couldn’t be sure. But, when I saw her husband James, my jaw dropped. Everything else on my bod has already dropped so I guess that jaw was the only thing left to sag. Sigh I told Bonnie, “HE looks like a McBroom!”. LOL Then Alvin said, “he looks like Dad”. OMG. He does! He looks like Dad and Mike. He has the same expressions. It blew my mine and my brothers as well. I had to hug him a couple more times until I suspected that James was hiding from me and I behaved myself. We STARED though, for we just couldn’t help ourselves. That was amazing to witness and be around. We got settled down as the evening wore on but James looked more like dad the more I was around him. Even his mannerisms, build, eyes, and hair were so much like dad’s (mostly absent on the hair). What a nice guy, too. I’d say that wasn’t too much like dad but everything else was. LOL

We had such a great time seeing family and old friends and meeting new family members.

The kids (young ones) have grown up so much and Lisa and Scott are expecting their little girl any day now after two boys. We are all so excited for them and they are so excited themselves.LOL Lisa is a tiny woman but her stomach is HUGE.
I hope she does have Clara soon or she might pop! They are such good parents, this will be one lucky little girls, spoiled by everyone including her two older brothers. Everyone should have such a blessed beginning.

One funny thing from my funny husband. There was a strange contraption on the picnic table beside us that had billowing steam like stuff coming out. Bill picks it up and takes a deep breath. “What is this he asks, studying it intently. He took a big breath of the steam and says, “It looks like something for asthma doesn’t it? “ Kevin comes over and takes it out of his hand explaining that it is a mosquito killer. Geez. What a guy, huh? LOL Bill is none the worse for wear and he gave us a laugh for the rest of the night.

I hope Mary and Kevin are always happy and build a wonderful life together. They make a wonderful family and look so happy and in love.Kevin has a couple of children, two and maybe three. He has a beautiful daughter and a handsome son. They both are so intelligent and the boy is an artist. He is a junior in highschool and the daughter has graduated. Mary just loves them to death and they her. That is as it should be for sure.

Mary McBroom's Bachelorette Party

2010-10-25T19:40:00.004-04:00

My niece, Mary, is getting married next weekend. This past weekend was her bachelorette party in Waynesville, Asheville, and Maggie Valley. Becky, her twin sister, planned the event and they invited their Mom and two of their aunts.
I was one of those aunts and Susie, Brenda's sister, was the other. I was delighted to be invited and we had such a good time.
Friday Bill and I met some of the girls coming in earlier, including Mary and Brenda, at Smackers. Then I went over to Al and Brenda's cabin where the lingerie party was being held that night. Mary got some cool things.

I had a hard time deciding between flannel PJ's and footed PJ's. I decided on flannels. LOL

We played pin the kiss on the hot guy and watched the Tennessee Alabama Game on TV. That game was not a wise choice because TN was beaten soundly by Alabama. sigh

Brenda, Susie and I came to our cabin here in Maggie so the girls could have the cabin to themselves.

The next day we spent in Asheville and went to the Spa of Biltmore for a bridal shower time. We had spa treatments and shopped at the Village.
The weather was perfect once again. Saturday night we had fondue at Al & Brenda's cabin and desserts and drinks.
Brenda, Susie and I came back to our cabin and Bill cooked breakfast for all of us the next morning. They all came over and we had a wonderful relaxing breakfast and coffee with the leaves in all shades of autumn on the mountains.
The bachelorette party is just a wonderful memory now and we all look forward to the wedding next Saturday. The wedding will also be a two day affair and three days for those who arrive early enough. Friday night there will be a Low Country Boil in a nearby park and I'm really looking forward to that.
Mary looks wonderful. She will wear her mother, Brenda's wedding dress, which really touches me. I didn't realize it was Brenda's wedding gown.
The wedding will be rather casual and I'm still trying to figure out what to wear.
Something fall-ish I hope if the weather remains cool.

Happy, Happy

2010-10-20T21:59:00.005-04:00

In October each year my daughter, Angie, and I decided to have a Happy, Happy celebration in Tennessee where she, my granddaughters, their partners, and my great grandsons live. It's called Happy, Happy because we celebrate everything Bill and I miss during the year including birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
This second annual Happy, Happy touched me so deeply. My daughter and granddaughter cooked lasanga one night and then for Happy Happy my daughter and all my granddaughters cooked dinner for us. It's gratifying to know what good cooks they are. They do not get that from me. LOL Everything was made from scratch and incredibly delicious.
Bill and I gave them all gifts and they gave us some precious ones as well. We were so touched with the thoughtfulness in the gifts. We had said no gifts for us but they didn't listen. We will have to be more forceful next year. ;)
I have started to upload my photos. I have had computer problems but cable guy fixed them today so I should be able to upload them now.
For now, Bill and I are still floating on a cloud thinking about the time we spent there with our loved ones and the memories we made. Our great grandsons are so precious. We just see their faces whenever we think of them. They are so cute (did I already say that?)LOL It's hard to think that I won't see them probably until next summer. We sure have some good memories to see us through though.
I am so proud of my granddaughters and the men they have chosen. When I'm not there I'm thinking about them. Life is really grand and now my family is growing in leaps and bounds. We are so looking forward to the new addition, Kaylee. It won't be long now.

October

2010-10-10T22:36:00.002-04:00

Bill made it here from Florida on Saturday in record time. It is so glad being with him and having him in the house here. Lexi and I are fighting over him I think. LOL Today we went to church in the morning and then out to breakfast and scouting out a few places that might have spas for my niece, who is having her sister's bachelorette party here in a couple weeks. My niece will be getting married in about three more weeks and we are all really looking forward to that. So many good things happening this month. Another niece, sister to the two I mentioned is having her baby around the end of this month as well.
Speaking of exciting times and celebrations; getting ready to head for Tennessee and the Happy Happy celebration that we have at my daughter's to celebrate all the holidays and occasions we miss throughout the year. I'm so excited I can hardly sleep but tomorrow is going to be a busy day so I'd best get some sleep.
This place is so gorgeous with the leaves changing colors. We took Lexi and went to Lake Junaluska for a walk and the place is just mesmerizing and every step we took provided another beautiful view. That is such a beautiful place. We are fortunate to live so close to the lake here AND be in the mountains. The view from the house here over the mountains is breathtaking as well. Life is so good.

EWomen Simulcast

2010-10-06T09:16:00.002-04:00

I attended the Extradordinary Women Simulcast at Long's Chapel on Saturday. What a motivational and inspirational bunch of women. I will add men to it by saying that Charles Billingsley and New Song provided music and singing. Some of the women speaking: Karen Kingsbury, Sheri Rose Shepherd, Chondra Pierce, and Angela Thomas. I had never heard any of these women speak or the singers sing so it was all a treat for me. I feel motivated and inspired for sure. I am amazed that they are so accomplished as speakers and women and they have each been through their own hells of one kind of another. Makes me realize we are all alike in so many ways; but they came through the fire to become more. I wish that for all of us.

Writing Workshop in Waynesville

2010-09-26T21:45:00.004-04:00

I went to the Mountain Writers Workshop from 9a.m. until 4p.m. on Saturday. The classes I signed up for were interesting and informative. I wish I could have taken classes from each instructor because I think they are all really good. One of the best parts of these workshops is meeting and talking to other writers. Most were from the area in the groups I was in. That's a good thing because I met women I am sure I will see again.
What took the winds out of my sails and is now funny to me is the key-note speaker at the luncheon. He is Charles F. I was looking forward to hearing him.
Well, his whole lecture was on how you can't make it in the writing business any more. He said well known publishing houses that have been eager to publish his work in the past say they have budget cuts and all they are taking is pop culture or popular fiction and they take very little of that. He said it's all going to digital, e-books, etc. I expected a good pep talk like stay with it and you'll make it but he stated that we were wasting our time (that's my synopsis of what he said). Then he went further to insult genre writers that weren't writing "serious literature". LOL I'll probably regret putting this in my blog but it's the truth so I'll stick by it. LOL He also stated that he was an old fashioned guy and he wanted books in his hand and not a kindle, etc. and he didn't get it.
At the end I raised my hand with a question. I said, "I get what you are saying but why wouldn't you sale to Kindle or Nook or any e-book if that is what is selling?" He said that actually he has sold two of his books to e-books but he only gets seven cents a copy sold! That was pretty sobering. Actually, the whole thing was pretty sobering to be a workshop for writers.
Thank goodness there were wonderful uplifting instructors there so the classes were marvelous. Wish I could take classes from a couple who teach creative writing at colleges or universities around Asheville.

Yamelis, Guillermo, and Wayne

2010-09-21T19:23:00.002-04:00

My sister-in-law, Yamelis, became a United States citizen this past week. I am so proud of her. She has worked so hard to study, to learn the language, and adjust to another way of life these last five years.
Her son, my nephew, Guillermo, is in the United States Army and just got back from serving our country in Afghanistan. I am so proud of what he has done;realized his dreams. He decided while still living in Venezuela that he wanted to be in the US Armed Services. What a guy. He is at Fort Bragg now in NC so we will be able to see him.
Wayne turns sixty this year and I'm happy he is alive and well. We have a lot to be thankful for. Wayne had lung cancer but he's doing so well now.
What a great family that keeps plugging away after the last year of fear and their son leaving home for the first time when he went into the service. His mom has had a rough time seeing her only son leave the nest. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger so this is one strong family this year. :)
Congratulations to all three.

A Good Day

2010-09-21T19:07:00.004-04:00

You can't have a bad day when you have Eggs Betty, grits with goat cheese, and fresh black raspberry jam on a mile high biscuit for breakfast. The Sweet Potato pancake were calling me but I choose Betty instead. I'll have to go back.
Now if I get in sweet potato fries and a glass of wine at the outdoor cafe of Carmel's this trip, I'll be set for another year!
Love Asheville, love this place.
I have been able to almost catch up on my writing and painting since I arrived. I've done little else but I feel most good about the writing. I have gone months without writing a word. Feels good to be back.
Things I think about this week.
My friend, Lynne, had the same surgery that I did to have her knee replaced but she broke her femur and is having such a hard time recuperating. I feel so bad for her and waiting now to hear whether she will be able to get go home to recuperate or will have to stay at the facility for rehab.
My brother Wayne turns sixty years old on the 26th. Woo-hoo. So glad he made it and so glad he is doing so well. Here's to the next forty or so years for Wayne. I can not believe my younger brother is sixty. What's up with that??? That means I have three more brothers that will turn sixty consecutively over the next three years. What's up with that. I think they are trying to make me feel old is all. :) Happy Birthday Wayne!
My reading for Imagining Heaven has been postponed to Jan or Feb..drats. I was ready. I know everyone was disappointed but Jan or Feb is good.
Both books (anthologies that I am in) are doing so well in sales and publicity. Wow, can't believe it.
Nancy Simpson from Net West emailed me to ask if she could print a poem she liked about Brian on her website, "Living Above The Frostline". She is such a great poet, and well known,influential person here. I am honored. Of course I will let you know when it appears on her site. :)
Loving this life in the mountains and my friends here.

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge

2010-09-16T22:03:00.003-04:00

I am holding in my hand for the first time, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. The stories, essays, and poems are by some impressive people to say the least. Wow! I picked several up at the Blue Ridge book store in Waynesville. They probably guessed I was included in the book by the smile that wouldn't leave me. I thought for a while my face might be frozen with that look. :)

Nancy Simpson, the editor, chose to divide the book into the four seasons and that makes it so easy to read and just wander through.

Echoes is amazing, beginning with the cover that contains a scene somewhere in the Southern Appalachians. I’m still struck by the sheer joy of being published in this impressive anthology.

Apple Orchard

2010-09-13T15:45:00.002-04:00

Barbers Orchard is open and I’ve decided to go on an apple diet. Honey Crisps are ripe now and so I started with those yummy best apples ever. They are in for such a short time that I feel lucky when I hit the orchard at just the right time. The rest of my apple diet consists of apple turnovers, apple muffins with nuts and raisins, apple caramel cookies and a slice of apple pie. That should do it for this week. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stick to this apple diet but if it’s true to par for other diets for me; It should last a day or two. Viva la apple!

Rainy Day Saturday

2010-09-11T19:25:00.001-04:00

It rained most of the day. I went to a bookstore/coffee shop to write. I didn’t get too much done but had a good time just feeling a part of the coffee shop scene. It felt good to get back to writing after being engulfed in the chores of the move in Florida.
It’s Thunder in the Mountains weekend in Maggie; motorcycles are everywhere. I think of Bill and how he would love to be here for that. The fairgrounds has a festival for the bikers and the businesses cater to them. I sure don’t like it when Bill rides in the rain though. Cycles are scary enough on dry ground.
I went to Ingles grocery store. I wish we had one in Florida. I know in PA we had Wegman’s Grocery and that was similar to Ingles. I walk in cold and wet and Starbucks greets me. I had a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Yum! Then I walked the aisles in case I found something I wanted. I like just walking through the store because the smells are intoxicating. They are always cooking, baking, fixing up something that smells like home in the fall or during the holidays.
I got home and Lexi and I watched the Florida Gators, USF Bulls game. Gators won..GO GATORS! I love football season. Just another sign that fall is here or technically it is coming.
I’m ready.

North Carolina Home

2010-09-11T12:19:00.001-04:00

As soon as I squared away our new home in Tampa and felt comfortable with what we had done to prepare it to be our home, I headed north to NC. That was on September 9, which is my brother, Bob’s, birthday. He would have been 64 years old. That day has become a contemplative one for me so being on the road seemed like a good place to be.
When the mountains come into view I’m always blown away by the beauty. There’s something so basic in me that it reaches. Maybe it is just the need for beauty and change.
The first morning, yesterday when I awoke it was 56 degrees. Even though I knew that I still dressed in my summer clothes and didn’t dream of taking a jacket with me. I must be a creature of habit because all the signs given to me to hint at wearing different clothing were ignored. After all, this is still summer time.
I was so cold all morning and just laughed at the absurdity of it all, the absurdity of me loving this cold blast in the early morning. People were wearing long sleeves and sweaters but that still seemed out of the question to this Floridian.
By mid afternoon (off the mountain) the temps reached 80 degrees and I felt just fine in my clothes. I would have to remember the layering look that I adopt each time I come here this time of year.
I am home. This is the same thing I say when I leave NC in the winter and head for Florida and see those sparkling beaches and feel the warmth of the sunshine. Life is good.

HCC Reunion

2010-06-23T09:35:00.003-04:00

I just returned home from the HCC Reunion in Asheville. What an incredible week it was.

HCC is Half Century Club that Mary started online about 14 years ago when we were that age or not far from it. We have met each year in a different state and have always had such a great time. We also meet in small regional groups throughout the year. HCC has been such a gift to me and everyone who has been involved I am sure. It’s a wonder to have this contact with women my age throughout the USA. Women who have been there/done that in just about any situation. We have concentrated on our likenesses and rejoiced in our differences these many years. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned from these women and how much they have added to my life. I get teary eyed just thinking about them and all we have been through in the last 14 years. We’ve lost several members to death and we’ve been there for each other as some have faced diagnosis and illnesses. Most of all we are all adventurers who intend to make the best of each day. The main ingredient is not the tears but rather all the laughter and support, caring and sharing, love and the ability to put ourselves in another’s shoes. This group of women is so important to my life still. I always have a woman to talk to about anything from the saddest to the tremendous happenings in my life. Somebody stop me. I can’t say enough about these wonderful women.

Peggy and Paula came to the mountain house before the gathering. We had five days of wonderful. I showed them around my area here and we did a lot of enjoying of the mountain house. We sat on the deck watching the scenery change as the sun danced across the mountains. We visited a few local small towns and ate at some good country food places. What a joy to have them here and make memories in this place that I love so much.

Therese, Sherrie, and Terri came to the house on Wednesday and we started out our day at Joey’s Pancake House. Then we spent the day in Maggie Valley and Waynesville. What a great day of shopping, walking, talking, and wrecking. Well, one t-ninesy fender bender when I went to pull out of a parking spot. The women were all astounded about how nice everyone was and how slow the police were to get there and get us back on our way. There wasn’t a scratch on my car but there was a small dent in the van we hit.

We went to Asheville to the hotel that Terri had picked out for us in downtown Asheville. She did a great job in getting a good location at a great price. We stayed at Four Points by Sheraton.

Jessie came in later that night and Sharon drove in on Thursday. Sharon was my roommate for this trip and we were a good duo because we were both familiar with Asheville.

It was great seeing these seven women. We were really sorry that more couldn’t come but there were some benefits to a small group. We didn’t have to make reservations to be able to go out to eat for instance but we missed all that weren’t there. Comparing it to the 44 women who were in Seattle, for instance, gave us a feeling of closeness to each other. In Seattle it was hard to spend time with everyone.

We went to the Biltmore Estate one day and our “big” dinner this year ended up to be lunch buffet at the Grove Park Inn which Sherrie planned. We were all blown away by the wonderful food choices and atmosphere for $20 each. Another neat eating place that Sherrie suggested was the Fiddlin Pig. Delicious BBQ and live music and dancing by a square dance/stomping team and also the guests at the restaurant. I look forward to taking Bill to the Fiddlin Pig when he’s back here in a week.

Terri planned a Lazoom Comedy Tour that was funny and very informative. We really enjoyed it and a couple of us won prizes. The tour went to a lot of places that I want to return to including the River Drive arts district where all the studios are open.

We had so many fun times and laughs and made lots of memories of this group gathering. I love that we were in the area that I love so much and where I get so much inspiration.

Everyone put in an effort to make this a wonderful gathering for us all and it was an amazing time.

I picked Lexi up this morning at the kennel and came on home. I sure miss everyone. Peggy and Paula left me several containers of the delicious chicken soup they made the last night at the house here and I thawed a bowl for tonight. Yum.

I went into Peggy’s room when I got back and there was a card with her red hat photo on it. Cracked me up. This woman makes me laugh even when she’s not here. LOL

Graduation

2010-06-06T21:53:00.005-04:00

What an incredible evening. I received an invitation to A’s graduation after she contacted me via internet. She said she had been searching for me. I was A and her sister’s guardian ad litem for five years and that was over ten years ago.

I am so often reminded what little it takes to make an impression on a child we come in contact with. Loving A and her sister were a given. They were so precious and we fought long and hard to get them where they needed to be in life. They were in about five foster homes in the five years I was their guardian. It seems that everything that could happen to these precious girls did and we just had to stick with the legal system until we could be heard.

It finally happened when A was seven. She was two years old when they became a ward of the state and I was appointed their guardian.

A and her sister are teenagers now and have grown into beautiful, self-assured young women. Their adoptive parents are beyond my dreams. I knew the love and total devotion they received in their home and I knew I’d never have to worry about them again.

I could see those same little faces in the grown up young women that I saw some 15 years ago. That was so amazing. A will be going to college in the fall. She has a 4 point something GPA.

One never really knows what will imprint on a child's memory. A asked us to promise to have them over to make a gingerbread house for Christmas. They remember that from all those years ago. They told Bill how they remembered the card games he taught them and told him about the tricks to prove they remembered.

What a blessing these girls were in our lives and my heart runs over with the thought of having contact with them now. It was wonderful seeing their adoptive mom and dad after all these years, too. What a great job they have done. Ashley's dad made a toast to A and there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. I'm still trying to settle down from this emotional day.

Imagining Heaven

2010-05-17T13:04:00.002-04:00

Friday night, May 14, the publicity party and book signing for the anthology Imagining Heaven took place at the Palmer Building in Charlotte, NC. All the contributors to this book were invited to the party and we were advised that we could bring a guest. Bill and I left to drive to Charlotte on Thursday and planned to have a nice travel and time together in Charlotte before the party on Friday night.
We were enamored once again with the looks and feel of the town of Charlotte. We had a hotel room close to shopping and restaurants and the Palmer Building in South Charlotte. The weather was beautiful and our whole time there was just the best. We love Dean and Deluca and spent mornings there for coffee and breakfast. Wish we had one here.
The party on Friday night was dream like. The books were delivered while we were there and it was our first look at them. The woman who had the whole concept for this project, Linda Matney, is doing such a wonderful job of supporting hospice. All the proceeds of the book go to hospice. That is why they chose not to sell the book on Amazon or anywhere besides the website they have set up at imaginingheaven.com. That way they can say that 100% of the proceeds go to hospice.
The cover is a serene scene painted by artist, David Thompson. They had the original watercolor on display at the center. The book was edited by Maureen Ryan Griffin. I took one of Maureen’s classes at John C Campbell and it was she that suggested that I send the story I wrote in that class to Imagining Heaven. She is a wonderful instructor and I learned so much in her class, Thinking Like DiVinci. I was so delighted when my prose piece, Fly Away Home, was accepted and now I see that there will be a part two to the book so I’ll probably submit something to that as well. Information about that is on the website or will be. I haven’t actually seen it but there is information in the back of the book.
Back to the party: There was entertainment by three women who played wonderful background music. I can’t even remember what instruments they played but it was beautifully done. There was an open bar with the best bar tender and the food was catered by (love this name!) La Te Da. The waiters walked around making sure everyone had one more delicious bite of something and it was all really good. They had one little appetizer that was really different. They had tiny little ice cream cones filled with cheese or chicken salad and different little treats. It was funny seeing everyone eating these little cones and very convenient to be able to carry it around with us while we walked around meeting new people. We met so many interesting people from hospice and all the people that were involved with getting this book off the ground. I was impressed and glad to be a part of it all.

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T10:07:00.001-04:00

I had an incredible mother’s day weekend. Jeni took me to dinner at Cheesecake Factory, one of our favorite places, on Saturday. We had a wonderful time and she also gave me a beautiful card and some Daisy perfume. (She’s a Daisy to me)I received a beautiful card from Angie and she called me on Sunday. I was also surprised by a wonderful handmade card from my granddaughter, Alyssa. I feel very blessed and loved. Both my girls are talented in their writing and ability to make me feel so special.

On Sunday Bill took me out for breakfast and then to an arts and crafts show in Lakeland. The sun was shining bright but there was a breeze off Lake Morgan where the show was. Summer was showing it’s colors; green, blues, and cloud white. The swans on the lakeside looked so regal and the ducks were busy doing what they do, providing a background for the show as they glided by on the lake.

Bill and I walked and talked and looked at the art work in the booths as well as the homes along the lake. One home had a rose garden with yellow roses proliferating close to the sidewalks and thee smell was intoxicating. I try hard to grow one yellow rose but these people grow them by the yards full.

We walked the whole art show and it felt good being out and about with people on a regular Sunday. I was half way through the walk when Bill and I both realized I was still walking. No pain in the knees and I had walked the whole art show. We gave each other a high five and talked about what these new knees could mean to me in the future.

I’ve always loved walking as an exercise and now I can see me walking again. I can think of me going shopping and doing all the things I love to do again.

I also had to have a talk with myself and remind me that I’d still be 62 when the knees are completely healed. I’ll still be as tired or limited as a 62 year old would be compared to a 20 or 30 year old. I had begun to envision myself as superwoman before the day was over so I had to make it real. However, the joy I felt that day when I realized I was walking all that time without pain won’t be minimized. I can’t imagine that I will take this for granted for some time.
I'm back!!!

Golden Moment

2010-04-07T20:23:00.000-04:00

We have been trying to grow some kind of yellow flower near Brian’s Gazebo ever since we got it. Yellow was Brian’s favorite color. We have planted so many yellow flowers there, especially roses, but not one has made it. Most died but one beautiful yellow rose turned white after the first blooming. Honestly. Other varieties of yellow flowers simply did not make it because they are not indigenous to this area or my non developed green thumb was at work to hinder the growth in some way.
The other gazebo we had made as a memorial for Brian is at Mom’s house in SC and for several years she had the same problem. Mom has a green thumb and can grow just about anything. She also has deer there that hinder the growth around the gazebo there.
Two years ago we purchased a tree. It is supposed to produce yellow blossoms but it is still spindly with hardly a leaf on it. We have had it for two years now and have finally realized that this tree just isn’t going to make it in this area. We think it’s time to give up and just take cut flowers out once in a while.
Yesterday I took Lexi for a walk in the back yard. I have been housebound (almost) since my knee replacement surgery on March 16. This last week was particulary rough and I’ve been storming the heavens for some little light at the end of this tunnel . Mostly I hope the pain will subside, I will obtain full range of motion in both my knees and that some day, some how, I will get my life back. Not the life I had pre-surgery but the new one where I have two good knees. Lately there has been no light and I’ve had a field day of poor me’s and what if’s.
I walked in my slow gait through the back yard and Lexi ran circles around me and I paid careful attention to each step. I looked up at the gazebo in the distance and saw that it was in the shade now and would be a good place to sit a bit. What caught my eye next was the sun shining brilliantly on the spindly tree next to it, Brian’s tree. Illuminated there was one huge yellow blossom at the top of the tree, bathed in that sunshine as though it were on stage. Wow! I thought I would cry but what I did was to stare at that one perfect flower on that imperfect tree. I wanted to implant that vision in my mind’s eye for always.
Lexi and I walked on after stopping there and I saw that our lemon tree was in bloom with fragrant blossoms and it dawned on me that one more yellow tree was growing there and it’s obvious the lemons will make it.
What a beautiful day and I am convinced it’s a day of hope. My glass feels half full again because I saw a flower bloom.

Third Annual Skywriter’s Retreat

2010-03-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

I belong to a group of women writer’s called the Skywriters. We have been an online group for ten years and for the last three we have had a retreat/workshop in different places. This time we had the workshop in Palm Springs, CA.
I have never been to Palm Springs so that was a real treat to see what life in the desert was like. The most unbelievable part was that while in the desert we could look up and see the snow covered mountains. The flowers were all gigantic and in Technicolor. The grass and trees, shrubbery and leafs were all green. The frost had not affected this place like it has even in Florida. The desert flowers were so unusual and strangely appealing though some of them didn’t have much color. So much contrast here and so much beauty.Amazing! Thanks to two of our members, Diane and Mary, we received lodging at an incredible resort and had the use of two villas. We spent a whole glorious week at this resort. We cooked two meals in and ate out at some great restaurants. One in particular was memorable for not only the food served there but for the name, “Shame on the Moon”. We also had a delicious champagne brunch that Sunday at a Mexican restaurant.
We had a wonderful time but accomplished so much as well. Each of us had a day that we would make a presentation of some aspect of writing that we thought might help and inspire the others. Each of us also had a theme that we tried to write on that week. We did this last year and had two publications come from it. One from Peggy Goetz, Africa Unfinished, is an amazing book with her photography and poetry. The covers were so eye catching and everything was perfect. We also saw the finished product of Dolly Hawkins book about Costa Rica. This book is also incredible, made more special as a memento from our dear friend who passed away last year. I’m so glad her loved ones and friends were able to get her book completed. It was important that we honored her with a ceremonies and remembrances. That was a help to all of us.
We sure did accomplish a lot. We wrote, learned from each presentation, and got to know each other even better. I am adding these wonderful memories to the many others I have of these eight women. Thanks Diane, Mary, Lynne, Ann, Peggy, Diane B, and Victoria. I am so fortunate to be a part of this wonderful group of women who write.

We Got It!

2010-02-28T13:02:00.003-05:00

We got the house!!! I can't believe it. The realtor was willing to take less percentage so that the seller got what he wanted out of the house and we didn't have to pay more than we were willing. Woo-hoo. Did you all hear me screaming??? Life is good...

The home is in Tampa Palms. We have gone back full circle now. We began our Florida life in Tampa and we are going back now. North Tampa is growing like crazy and there are so many advantages to living in a place where there is so much new.

The shopping around us there is incredible. We live in the middle of everything. We live on four acres here in Plant City and we'll be moving to a subdivision again with little room between homes. I love that all the lawns are taken care of by the community. It's much like a 55 plus community (the good parts) but all ages live there. There is a community pool, golf course, club house, and tennis courts.
There will be so many changes that I can't even imagine what will be involved yet.
The house is half the size of the one we live in. I think we will move one room at a time from here to there; deciding as we go what will make it to the new house and what is garage sale. The big part of the changes I spoke of is the fact that we will have much less space and we will be forced to simplify our lives. I think I'm ready though.

This is the first home we have looked for where we look just for room for us. Not for all the company that MIGHT come, for all the parties we MIGHT have, for all the room we MIGHT need. This is a home for Bill and I to live and have little upkeep and just enjoy.

We will have a lot to do on the house before we move in. We'll start with the floors and put tile throughout. We have to put in new appliances and paint the outside. Since Jeni and Tom are buying this house we are in, we can take our time getting over there.

We will close the last day of March.
I have my surgery on March 16 so I won't be much good at anything for about a month I imagine, after the surgery. So, now that we have the house we will be taking our time because Jeni and Tom aren't in a hurry either. This new home will give me the push to get over my surgery quickly so I can get things done for the house.

Quilting

2010-02-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

A quilting class in Kissimmee is the most likely choice for learning to sew on my Bernina and taking a quilting class. I signed up and am going to beginning quilting for four classes. I will miss two of those four because I’m going to Palm Springs next week and the week after that is my pre-surgery Doctor’s appointment. So, I will be able to make those classes up later.
The women in the class are so much fun. I am enjoying just being with them; especially the instructor who is my age and her life seems to parallel. Wish I could find classes like these closer. The drive is over an hour and not practical in any way. I’ll take these four classes and search for something closer. If I learn to use this sewing machine, I won’t have to be so choosy about which class will teach Bernina. The machine practically runs itself so I guess what it really needs to work well is my time and effort to learn it. I had an old Singer before Jeni was born that I made her layette with and sewed her cloths and mine for years. The machine finally stopped working all together and that was the end of my sewing career. I did enjoy it. There is no comparison between this machine and the old Singer though. Oh, my. If I had had this machine back then I just marvel at what a difference it would have made. I had to coax and prod the Singer to work and spent so much time trying to keep it in order. Instructor keeps telling me that I don’t have to feed the material through the machine, just guide it. It’s the simple things that make life great. 
I hope to add a photo of my first lap quilt in another few months. (Hope)

Guillermo's Home

2010-02-26T17:59:00.004-05:00

My nephew, Guillermo, is home on leave from Iraq. He came home to celebrate his twenty-first birthday. His mom and dad said they have seen little of him. He spends most of his time with his friends (of course) but it sure is nice seeing him.
Guillermo, Yamelis, and Wayne met Bill and me at Cheddars near Jeni's work so she could visit with him a bit on her lunch break. It turned out to be quite a long lunch break but it was so nice being together. We missed Tom but he had a meeting at his job and couldn't make it.
I'm still smiling from our time together though. What fun to be together even for such a short time.
Jeni has been sick for about a month now. She looks as beautiful as ever but very tired. She is going to work and school full time so that's a good reason to look tired. I sure hope she is better soon. She said she's had a headache for a month now. I hate that she is sick so long. I always want to make it better but I can't.
Guillermo looked tired as well from all his turning twenty-one celebrations. He looks so much more grown up. He also seems taller to us. He sure is changing and that is the way it's supposed to go. His mom is having a hard time though since he is her only child. I sure remember those empty nest days and what an adjustment it was for me. I feel for Yamelis but she is keeping busy.

Home Hunt

2010-02-26T17:52:00.001-05:00

We have been searching diligently for a new home. We absolutely love our home here but it’s too big for the two of us. I want to live in a neighborhood surrounded by people, too. I have missed that living in the country on our property here in Plant City.
We looked first at 55 plus communities. We went to Sun City, Ave Maria, and Sarasota. We didn’t look any further away because Bill still works every day.
Conclusions: We don’t want to live in a 55 plus community. It’s just what we want on the one hand: convenience of all the amenities in the area, workout room, swimming pool, tennis courts, and activities...LOTS of activities. However, these people are old. I don’t think we met any 55 or 60 year olds. I know I’m stepping on toes to write this but it’s just not what we expected. Each home we looked at in Sun City had a lonely man or woman who had recently lost their spouse and had to sell to go be near their children. It was a bit depressing. I know we didn’t give it a fair trial or look but we left feeling that although they were very active communities, they were too old for what we had dreamed. Jeni’s in-laws live in one and it’s wonderful and I’ve never met more youthful acting, looking, feeling people as these two, and they love it there. I know it’s just us but for now, I don’t think that is for us.
We began to search in new communities where we thought there would more likely be younger old people. LOL In Sarasota some of the homes weren’t even built yet and everything was new and beautiful. However, we did think that the drive would be a lot on Bill in addition to his long days at work and auction. We decided to look closer to home, no further than Tampa.
So the hunt was on. South, North, and New Tampa became our hunting grounds.
South Tampa has beautiful areas but the homes are older ones. We realized we weren’t crazy about older homes (60’s and 70’s) . I don’t like older homes any more than I like antiques for me. I love to see them, walk in them, and appreciate antique furniture and furnishing. I’m truly awed by them. However, more modern surroundings and new makes me feel better if I’m living in it.
Our search has narrowed considerably. New Tampa. The search is on in a concentrated area that gets more concentrated as we look more. We found one in Tampa Palms and made a bid, it was rejected, they countered, we rejected, and now it’s back in their ball park. We don’t have much hope that they will take our offer now but we are sure that is the area we want to live so we will keep looking.
This place is like a 55 plus community in that they have a lawn service that everyone shares; they have a club house, golf course, tennis courts, and work out room that everyone living there has access to. The people are the young working to young with children to older and then old. Sounds just right for us right now. Now, if only we can get a house there. 
You’ll hear me screaming if we get one. I’m ready to move.

Rainy Day Saturday

2010-02-07T21:06:00.002-05:00

Bill got off work early so we could go to Lakeland's First Friday. This Friday they had dancing in the streets. The restaurants and stores would be open late for the event plus there was a car show. It had been raining hard during the day and we decided since the weather was good now that we'd take off for Lakeland. Before we got there the rain started pouring down. We were sad for the merchants and vendors, car enthusiasts and dancers because we were sure it would be called off. It was. However, we saw some restaurant lights on and a light on at Brooke Pottery. We weren't ready to turn back so, armed with our malfunctioning umbrella, we went to Brooke Pottery. This place is amazing, artists sell their works there. It's very pricey but so much fun to look at; rather like an art gallery. We enjoyed roaming around and found out it was their 22^nd anniversary. They had wine and cheese and anniversary cake. We browsed, ate, and gabbed to others there and the store clerks. Since it was the only show in town, there was quite a crowd. They had a man who made balloon creations and he made a lady bug for me. Too bad it's going to deflate...it's so cute!

Neither Bill nor I purchased anything but we did have fun and since my eye is still black and blue, purple and yellow, we fielded some questions about it. I told them Bill socked me a good one. Bill's reply? "She just won't listen to me!" LOL When I told the shop owners the story of my souvenir black eye from Cancun they were laughing and would bring others over to hear the story. LOL I didn't know a black eye could be such an ice breaker. I told them the story of wiggling my fingers (on my hand for every Dr. and then they finally told me, "No, wiggle the fingers on your feet!" LOL I signed up for a certificate for $220.00 as I left.

About the time we came home after dinner we received a call from the Brooke Pottery. I won the $220 gift certificate. How could that be? It had to be the rain!

After First Friday came First Saturday (cool huh?)and the Women's Expo was at Lakeland Center. I went and loaded my free expo bag with freebees from the vendors. What fun. Afterwards I went to pick up my gift certificate and trade it in for the clock I wanted. I still can't believe it even though I have the beautiful handmade clock from the shop in my home now. I would never have spent that kind of money but...I won it! I am too happy for words. This is a gift that keeps giving every time I look at my clock.

I can't believe it still but I do want to thank the rain! Without it I would be cheerless and clockless.

Sink Holes

2010-01-30T22:11:00.001-05:00

Twenty-four sink holes in Plant City recently..and counting. There's a 100 foot deep sink hole under a school.

The reason? Farmers have watered the strawberry fields to keep them alive during the extreme cold (for Florida). They will turn the sprinklers on the fields and leave them on if there is to be a freeze during the night. I read that the aquifers went down 60 feet in Plant City. This is a rare and dangerous occurrence.

We have been fortunate in that neither we, nor anyone we know has been affected by the sink holes. We have driven by several of the sink holes though and it's frightening to see all the devastation. It's like an earthquake in that the earth just opens up and swallows homes, roads, whatever is in the way. The financial impact is incredible. When people try to sell homes that have been affected by a sink hole at any time in any way, the owner or realtor has to state that fact. That makes selling the property almost impossible.

We were affected by that watering also. Our well went dry and the pump burned out. We have other friends whose wells went dry as well. That is a temporary thing but because the pump burned out, we have to replace it. The well guy said that in the future if we know the strawberry fields are being sprinkled we should turn out pump off during the nights. Makes sense and wish we had thought to do that before. I didn't dream the water used for the fields could drain wells though.

I don't know what is going to happen but I know something will be done whether it is finding a way to monitor the aquifer levels or they will figure out another way for farmers to keep the strawberry crop from freezing.

Central Florida has already lost so many orange fields to the cold and because it was no longer profitable for some orchard owners to stay in business. Now I'm wondering what the future holds for the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Life situations continually change and we are lucky if we can keep up. I wonder if Florida winters are getting too cold. Hard to think so when we are having such sunny mild days now but several freezing nights can change Florida's landscape and perhaps future as well.

My Doctor

2010-01-30T21:15:00.001-05:00

I went to the Dr. at Bill's insistence. I really felt fine and didn't see the need. My injuries would just take time to heal. I was thinking that perhaps the insurance would more likely pay if I had verification here of my injuries, too, so I went.

Well, wonder of wonders, my ankle is broken! I can't believe I could walk on anything broken but Dr said obviously sometimes you can. I was there most of the day. The healing of my ankle has already begun but he said they are going with what we have and try to see if physical therapy will keep the ankle from being rigid. Sigh Lots of exercise (painful) plus they put me in an air cast so that I can walk. I like it so much because I can take it off to get a bath and will just have to go in once a week for an adjustment and to see if I have range of motion. They will have to put on another type cast if this doesn't work so I'm going to do everything I can. It's more painful to walk in this cast but I still think it's preferable to a plaster one.

Also, they might have to call off the surgery on March 16. I have a hematoma, where the blood has pooled in the sack under my knee cap. All the bruising and swelling is just the runoff from the hematoma under my cap. I don't understand, since they will be cutting everything off in the surgery, why that would affect the surgery but it has something to do with blood clots. The hematoma takes from six weeks to three months they predict to heal. It's upsetting because I have psyched myself out for the March date but "it is what it is".

My eye is fine and so is my shoulder. I wear my shades everywhere now, looking very mysterious I think. Not too mysterious probably because you can see the bruise above and below. People look at me and turn away fast and then they stare at Bill!! LOL I have a feeling they are wondering why I'm still with the abuser. LOL I'm getting all kinds of story lines out of this one.

So, that's the whole story and I just have to go with it until it's all healed and there's just no telling. I have to go ice creaky places and draw the alphabet in the air with my toe. Cool, huh?

Delayed Homecoming

2010-01-24T22:49:00.005-05:00

The flight from Cancun to Miami was a breeze, on time and every thing. Then we even got on board the plane for Tampa and buckled in before the pilot comes over the intercom. "We are experiencing electrical problems on the plane and we will have to get it fixed before we can go". Marlene, Judy, Jean and I looked at each other and started laughing hysterically.
I felt like announcing to the poor unsuspecting people that they were jinxed simply by being on the same plane with us! Three out of four planes we were on during the this trip experienced mechanical problems! After waiting probably an hour we were told to get off the plane and they would bring another plane for us. Next message was that they couldn't get us another plane and we'd have to line up and get reservations for another flight or even another airline.
We found a plane leaving at 10 PM instead of the 3 PM we originally were supposed to be on. We were also told we could go standby on a filled to capacity flight at 6:45. We stood by.
At the last moment we were called to the gate and we got the last four seats available. We were feeling lucky all of a sudden. THIS plane did make it out of Miami and into Tampa. Home sweet home!
Bill and Jim (Marlene's husband) were there to greet us. What a day and what a trip we have had. To say it is memorable will be an understatement. We are already laughing about it. What can you do..it is what it is.
Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with my Dr to see if all the parts are working. I'm feeling great but it will be good to get a good bill of health from someone that knows we don't have fingers on our feet. LOL
I will say that we had a wonderful time, bottom line. If we can have such a great time with all the calamity that befell us, then we are doing pretty darn good.
Jean is still here at the house with Bill and me. She had intended to spend the night before heading back to Hilton Head but had to stay one more day. The reason she stayed that one more day was the final straw to our saga of flights and misadventures. Our luggage didn't show up on the 6:45 as we were told and that we expected.
We had to line up in another LONG line and put our claim in for missing luggage. Today, as promised, our luggage was delivered to our door and so we finally can put an end to this trip.
Now we are wondering where we will go next. Stay tuned...

Crash, Boom, Splat on Foreign Soil

2010-01-21T12:05:00.002-05:00

Just an update. Here's my latest photo from Cancun. Don't you wish you were here?? LOL

What happened: Tuesday I fell on the side walk between the two sections of the resort. There was one step that I did not see though I was paying special attention to watching where I walked because things aren't as clearly marked here. There will be one tiny step and no indication that it is different from the rest of the sidewalk. Same color, no signs, no differences. I twisted my right ankle, fell on my left knee, my left shoulder, and then clonked myself on the left side of my head. What I heard is that people could hear my head hit the cement and they were there right away and the resort Dr and security were called right away. There was also a Dr. that was at the resort on vacation and later a nurse that was there with me. Talk about having lots of help. The ambulance was summoned and I do remember being told that I was surrounded by some very handsome men. :)
This is what I remember, I remember starting over and saying"oh, no" to myself because i knew I was falling. I remember bits and pieces, I remember my friends, Judy and Marlene at my side and hearing Jean's voice. I remember being in the ambulance but no more until the hospital. Jean went with me and stayed with me the whole time. I was never worried or scared. She stayed by my bed (standing the whole time) for hours. When the Dr came in he told me that he needed to do cat scan on head, knee and ankle and that I needed to stay 12 to 24 hours. Oh no. I thought of my vacation being spent in the hospital, a Mexican hospital, and more than that my friends vacation where they had to worry about me. sigh I then talked to Jean and she finally agreed to break out with me. We told them my wishes and they said they weren't responsible for what could happen, yadda, yadda, yadda. I said OK, I will sign whatever and get a cab back to the resort. We signed out, paid $600 for the Dr. and hospital, $400 for the ambulance ride that I did not even enjoy for pete's sake! LOL Jean spotted me the $400 and I charged the $600.
Let me say this about this hospital. They took me to an American hospital, called such because they spoke english. They didn't, not so you'd notice anyway. They kept telling me to wiggle my fingers. I wiggled, and wiggled, and wiggled. They never seemed happy about it. Finally the doctor says, no! wiggle the ones on your feet. (seems that the word for fingers and toes in spanish is the same word so they thought fingers were on our feet as well as our hands I guess) LOL
The hospital was so cleanand every one SO nice that it stood out to me. OK, since I was more aware of my surroundings I will also say that the drs and assistants were SO handsome, even the nurses were beautiful. Jean noticed that when a Dr or assistant would leave the room they would kiss the nurse. Hmmm. Wonder if that is sanitary. LOL VERY friendly people. I like this Mexican culture more and more. I do know they are so family oriented.
Since I got back to the resort, I've been pampered unbelievably. It's a bit embarrassing but not enough for me to stop the process. LOL I go by wheel chair everywhere. Jean said she's so glad she's my friend because they take us through places we would never see otherwise. They find the best route to the places I want to go and can't be helpful enough. I have my own runner each day that comes when I call 64 on the phone and takes me where I want to go and act like I dont call them enough. I don't get to the door before they are knocking, ready for transport.
I am feeling better each day and it hasn't hampered the vacation at all for any of us. Marlene and Judy have gone to the Mayan ruins today as they had planned and Jean and I are going to have computer time then go to the beach ...all things we had planned the first day. Thank God. Bill and I saw the ruins when we were here last time and it was wonderful. Now they aren't even allowed to climb to the top of the temple though because of damage to the ruins.
I was prepared to go home and get my own Dr to look at me if things didn't seem like they were working. Everything is great though. I just look funny and walk even funnier than I used to but I wear dark glasses and I'm in the wheel chair for the long walks so ...all seems pretty normal in my very abnormal ways. :) Adios Amigas e Familia. From Paradise:Judy
Royal Solaris where we are staying. You can probably tell why I chose to rough it out here. LOL

More of Same and Then..Paradise

2010-01-18T17:52:00.002-05:00

After we boarded the plane in Miami finally and thought we were on our way we were held on board for almost two hours. Why, some of you might wonder as we did? Because it was raining. I had no clue that they kept planes from flying because of rain. We sat there and sat there and shook our heads as we mopped up the sweat because there was no air conditioning of course. sigh
By the time we landed in Cancun we were beyond tired. The Shuttle we asked for had given up on us I guess and was not there. We did finally get a cab and hoped we would end up where we were supposed to be. We did and we were bouyed by the beauty of the resort we saw as we drove up. FINALLY, about 24 hours after we were supposed to be there, we were at Royal Solaris. Wow! The beauty of the aqua blue clear ocean and the snow white of the sand really lifted our spirits fast, not to mention the champagne we were offered!Then we began our check in process which lasted over two hours!!!! We could not believe it. We were astounded that they had to give us all this information and hold us captive there for two hours while they slowly (we are on island time here...every thing is slow) checked us in. It was a process and they weren't going to deviate from it even though it was obvious we were beyond tired. We had the same clothes on since we left Tampa two days ago and had not seen our luggage since. Looks like they would be happy to get rid of us so we could go freshen up. We were starved and tired. Finally they released us BUT we had to wait in our room until our bags arrived before we could eat lunch We waited and waited and finally our luggage arrived.
NOW, the fun can begin. We got cleaned up and scoped the place out. The resort is HUGE! It's hard to walk the whole property. There are swimming pool next to the beach and the sights are spectacular. We have a VILLA! We have private balconies and practically our own house. Two bedrooms, kitchen, living room and two patios. Our home away from home for a week accept with this home we get housekeeping every day and all the food and drinks are included! We just try to orient ourselves after we have lunch.
For dinner Jean and I went to one of the many restaurants and Marlene and Judy chose to go to a special dinner with show in town that they offer to take you too. I was way too tired to go anywhere else. Jean and I made the good choice because Marlene and Judy said the food buffet where they were was just ok and there was so much noise and so many people where they went. Jean and I ate at an international restaurant and they had about five courses and you order anything you want...no prices. This could be real dangerous, like a cruise as far as so much food available at all hours. The food was even more incredible than we thought. It was a good sign of things to come.

Say What???

2010-01-17T09:22:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe BUT we are at MIA waiting to board aircraft because it's having mechanical problems &they do not have any idea when we will depart . I'm looking for the candid camera lens!

Stranded in Miami

2010-01-16T21:02:00.002-05:00

We meant to be on the beaches of Cancun this p.m. but instead we are in a Holiday Inn in Miami. There were mechanical problems with our plan in Tampa and it was delayed until we missed our connection from Miami to Mexico.
It's not all bad though because we have been put up in a nice hotel in Miami we were given vouchers for free dinner and also free breakfast in the morning before they fly us out to Cancun. We had dinner at a nice Cuban American restaurant here called. The food was delicious.
Back to the bad part. We do not have our bags so that means no PJ's, no toiletries, nada. They gave us little packages of necessities like tooth brush and tooth paste.
So, since we are, well, us, we are making the best of things. We are camping out. Sleeping in the clothes we wore all day and, oh, yes, that we will wear to Cancun tomorrow also. Oh, my. I hope they sit all of the ones that missed their flight in the same area of the air plane because we are going to be one messy looking bunch. In our kits is this tiny little comb that we are supposed to do something with our hair with tomorrow. This really will be interesting, donchathink?
It's very warm in Miami. I figure this is the way it will be in Cancun and it is definitely beach weather. A lot of people have been stressed out today about all this but we just say, " It is what it is" and enjoy the crazy parts because by tomorrow this will all be funny. After a glass of wine over dinner tonight we were already thinking things were pretty darn funny and memorable.
Our flight leaves in the morning and we have to figure out how to get our free breakfast in before we have to go to the airport in the morning. See..lots of figuring, thinking and regrouping going on here. It's not all fun and frivolity.
We are all exhausted right now so I am going to crawl into my bed and pretend I'm in my clean p.j's and hopefully sleep tonight. No guarantees though because my cold medicine is also in my bag at the airport. Which airport is anyone's guess.
Adios familia, amigas, and amigos.

2010-01-15T09:02:00.004-05:00

I have been spending my online time in Facebook so much that I had to set blogging more as my goal!
My friend, Jean, arrives here this afternoon. She lives with her husband in Hilton Head and will be driving all this way today. We will meet up with two other friends , Marlene and Judy, at Tampa International Airport and fly to Cancun Mexico on Saturday. We will stay at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun for a week. I look forward to seeing my friends. They all live fairly close but it seems like we don't see each other unless it's some far away place. LOL
To start the week off wonderfully well (not) I have a cold. Drats. I don't even have a voice today. I promised Jean I would not loose my voice and I would be better when she saw me. I have until 3 p.m. today to carry through with those promises! Thankfully I am thought the worst of the cold and will finish out the residuals of it in Cancun sun and fun. We will take side trips and attend shows, etc, but most of the time will be just relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere.
I'm thinking of my daughter right now who was married and honeymooned in an all inclusive resort. That is the first time I had heard of them. It sounds incredible, especially for me since my friend Marlene has points from her time share that will get us there and we will be there or a week for a price that is incredible. I feel so fortunate. I have traveled with these women several other times and we've always had a great time.
I especially like the fact that I just relax and go along. Two of the women are wonderful planners for travel and one is an x travel agent so I really have it made..this time in Cancun.
Enough of that. I am going to check to see if I should throw out my Zicam that I just heard is causing permanent smell and taste loss in some. I have taken so much of it the last week it's probably too late anyway. I was counting on it cutting my cold short but since it's day six now and I'm still sick, it hasn't done a stellar job of that anyway. Hope I can still smell the flowers in Mexico.

Mystery Trip

2010-01-05T21:00:00.008-05:00

Monday, January 4, 2010, we went on a mystery trip. My daughter's in-laws and some of their friends go on mystery trips. The host of any particular trip does all the planning. All they tell the guests is how long they will be gone and what to pack. Dale and Barb Finney were the hosts of this particular mystery trip. We were told to meet them at their house, bring smart casual clothes, and plan to spend the night.

We met Dale and Barb on a cruise we took with Alan and Kay this past year and also spent time with them at A&K's home in PA when we were there. Alan and Kay are Jeni's in-laws and they are like family to us as well. We sure are thankful to them for sharing the rest of their adventurous and interesting family and friends with us.

We started out at Dale & Barb's winter home in Bonita Springs. Kay and Alan arrived about the same time we did and we got to see the community they live in and enjoyed appetizers, drinks and conversation before we all went out to dinner.

Dinner was at the British Open Pub in Naples, Florida. Bill had fish and chips and I had a delicious Shepherd's Pie. We sat out on the patio with heaters going. It was very pleasant though very cool temps had come in and looked as if they were going to stay with us awhile.

Then we were taken to "The Phil" harmonic Center for the Arts in Naples. We saw "American Voices" on the billboard and found out that the entertainers of the night were Andy Cooney (Irish American's Favorite Son) who sang so many favorite Irish songs and his "Danny Boy" left everyone in silence for some long seconds before the applause began. I found I couldn't move because his rendition was so moving!

Larry Gatlin sang a lot of songs I was not familiar with. I was thinking it was Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers which I really like, but he was not as good by himself. They are known for songs like "Broken Lady", "All the Gold in California", 'She Used to Be Somebody's Baby", etc.

Crystal Gayle came on last and she was impressive with her distinctive voice and hair. Her hair would be sweeping the floor if she hadn't had on very high heels. Seeing her live gave rise to new questions about her hair and how she must care for it. I don't see how she keeps from having headaches with that much hair. LOL Thankfully, her singing distracted me from the hair though. She sang "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue" and many other songs that she is known for and some I did not know. Another of her sisters was on stage with her singing back up and she had the spotlight a few times but I didn't think she was good at all. All the Webb sisters look different. Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, and this new sister I saw on stage that night did not favor IMHO. By the way, Crystal Gayle's name is Brenda Gayle Webb and she was given her stage name by her sister, Loretta, along with her first hit song that was written by Loretta Lynn. The show was very good and I enjoyed seeing these three people that I have never seen on stage before. We all hauled ourselves back into the car for the trip home. We all wanted to travel in the same car so we took Dale and Barb's SUV which meant one of us had to sit in the back where the luggage goes.
That would be Dale. We laughed so much at him. We thought we were going to lose him a few times when Bill would hit a bump. Dale is a character. We always laugh when we are with them. We can be in the most mundane of situations and we will be roaring with laughter before it's over. I love being around people like that. Alan and Kay are also people that are so upbeat and see the positive in every situation. What valuable people to have in your lives, the optimists of the world. These people always bring us up and we feel good just to be alive.

Tuesday morning, Dale was leading a stretch exercise class at the rec center and so we went there to stretch along with Dale. The Farmer's market was setting up outside the rec center when we came out and we had to buy some ugly tomatoes (that's the name!) and other fresh produce and herbs.

We went back to the house where Dale and Barb made us an wonderful breakfast with fresh squeezed orange juice from the oranges on their tree and a casserole that was incredible.

This is our first Mystery Trip and we hope to be on many more with these fun people .I wanted to plan one for the Strawberry Festival but we couldn't work out our schedules for that. I think we will definitely plan one for our mountain house in NC this year some time. There aren't any rules for the Mystery Trip. The hosts have to do all the planning and reservations, etc. The others are along for the ride and you just take turns so that everyone becomes a host. What fun and what marvelous possibilities this opens up for us.

After we left the Finney's, we went down to Immokalee to check out the community of Ave Maria. Bill and I are checking on 55 + communities that we would be interesting in moving to. Ave Maria itself was a nice community but there is NOTHING around it. We drove what seemed like forever inland and then this beautiful place pops up out in the swampland. Oh, well, we have to check them out. We will look into Sun City near here, a community in Sarasota and probably the Villages and one place in Hilton Head. We are just in the thinking, planning stages but we are ready to make a move I think. Dale and Barb are in a mobile home community but we realized we wouldn't be interesting though there are so many beautiful motor home communities in Florida.

New Year's Party

2010-01-03T16:40:00.002-05:00

Frank and Linda Vanek had a New Year’s party on Saturday night, January 2, 2010. I thought it was nice to have the party on a weekend night and after the holidays.
Frank is the man who planned and built our home. He lived here before he sold it to us. He has a construction company and he took all the ideas of the best parts of the homes he has made and made it into this home. I think it’s unique in that the outside is country looking and the inside is modern. Since we live in a country town, I love that the outside goes with our surroundings but I can be eclectic inside. Frank also builds good sound homes. His wife, Linda, is our title person at the car lot and she works at an auction as well. So, they are both involved in our life in some ways. Frank’s company is also the one that built the upstairs addition over a year ago.
Their home is beautiful. Frank’s well known for his construction company but we did not realize Linda is an incredible decorator. They complement each other in the building industry for sure.

Each room is warm and decorated so tastefully. We really loved that they have a fireplace out by the pool. Everyone was gathered around the fireplace, too, when it became cooler as the night went on. I can imagine the amount of work that went into setting up for the holidays and this party. We sure appreciated all the work that went into it and this gift that they give to their friends each year.
It was nice meeting a lot of people that we have heard about and surprisingly enough, we met a whole family of Roney's! There were about four sisters that were Roney’s. We will have to figure out if we are related.Here is Bill with one of the Roney's.

Happy 2010

2010-01-01T17:41:00.001-05:00

I remember thinking of year 2000 or 2010 and figuring out what age I would be then. My twenty-five year old self would think how terribly old I would be then so I'd best do a lot of living before those years creep up on me. I was right in my thinking that I should do a lot of living but I was wrong about the old part. I know what age I am mentally but I also know what fun and what joy there is in life for a sixty-two year old woman who chooses to keep squeezing out the good in every day.

If Bill and I stay up until midnight to usher in a new year, it's more a fluke than planned. Yesterday evening we went out to the Catfish Country, a restaurant that we had heard about and wanted to try. As is our tradition, I brought paper and pen and over drinks we wrote out our new year's goals. We've refined the process over the years to come up with concrete things and ways to achieve them. Bill usually chooses one self improvement item to work on so that he can be sure he gives it a good work out throughout the year. More than that and he says he doesn't keep them. I'm glad the old boy keeps working on himself. He tries to talk me into doing the same thing but I don't fall for it. LOL

I choose a self improvement, an artsy one, and then one that I believe will improve my life in general and one that is farfetched. I have found that writing them down clicks somewhere in the subconscious and I'm working towards that goal even when I don't know it. I take out my list every couple months to see if I'm on track. That works for me. I sure have a lot of them written down this year. If I don't succeed with something, I take it on to the next year. I find that I don't have many carry overs though. The one thing that sticks out for me is that one year I had to carry over "take golf lessons". I'm glad I didn't get specific about it, like "be able to play golf after the lessons" or something like that or it would still be on my list. I have had years when I only had one thing on my goals list. That's usually when something very important needs to be addressed.

So, on the way to Catfish Country we were dazzled by the blue moon. I had heard it called blue moon but wasn't sure why. It was a full moon and glowing so bright it was quite a show. Then the cloud formations around it kept changing it into these marvelous water colors of brilliant light and shadow. It took our breath away. What a perfect way to end 2009. The restaurant turned out to be really good. Our expectations weren't real high but we were surprised with the huge chunks of fish and coleslaw and hush puppies. I could eat there again tonight. However, the Gators (who are number 5 now) play their bowl game tonight so we can't get too far from the TV.

I failed at my first goal which was to update my blog so I'm current on Jan 1, 2010. The holidays are such a busy time that although they are ripe with events and happenings to write about every single day, I just can't find the time. So, I will start at Jan 1, 2010 here and go BACKWARDS for a bit and hit Jeni's birthday and our Christmas. I hope to be caught up in no time.

P.S. Go Gators!

Lexi Was Attacked

2009-12-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

Lexi in her hot pink cast.

Face book has taken over and I have not even been keeping my blog up to date. Shame on me.

So here I am trying to catch up and determined to keep my blog up better. I am beginning with Lexi and the crisis we had with her around the middle of December. I took her outside for her normal exercise, potty break. The dogs next door at Russ and Terry's came out and Lexi went flying around the side of the house to play with them through the fence. I was annoyed because I was more than ready to go back in and finish what I was doing. Then I heard a God awful sound that told myself couldn't be Lexi because I had never heard her in that kind of pain and fear that the sound invoked. I headed to the side as fast as I could go but I felt I was in slow motion. Then Terry drove up from work at the precise moment and yelled at her dog to drop Lexi. He did. Thank God he did. Lexi went skulking into the bushes by the house and I knew she was terribly hurt. I tried to get her and she got as far into the bushes as she could get. When I finally reached her she cried out in pain and I knew I wouldn't be able to get her. I went into the house to grab a blanket to throw over her so I could pick her up. When I opened the door she came running inside. She was practically crawling on her belly and I saw the blood. I put the blanket over her and got her into the car as soon as I could. I wish I could say I was cool calm and collected but that wouldn't be true. I guess Lexi had gone into shock because she just fell back against me so I drove with her in my arms. I put the flashers on hoping the other drivers would know there was a mad woman on the roads.

I got her to the vet and the doors were locked and I finally got enough focus to me to read the message. It said in case of emergency, take the pet to an animal hospital in Brandon. I felt sure Lexi would not make it to Brandon. I couldn't believe it. I kept trying to remember the address in Brandon so I could put it into my GPS…wasting precious time because nothing was working in my brain to get the number set. I finally calmed down enough to do this and got back on the road. Then I remembered the vet I took Lexi to at first. He was in Plant City still and had a larger place now.

I went there hoping they would be open before I went on to Brandon. He was! He was. I went running inside with my bundle of mangled puppy and no one was at the desk but I could hear them talking in the back. I screamed out that I needed help and a woman came out and took her from my arms. She led me to a seat where I could stay while they worked with Lexi.

After an eternity, they came into the room and told me that the puncture wounds from the bite would heal but the problem was the shaking the dog had done once he got Lexi firmly pinned in his mouth. It had torn soft tissue, muscle and skin up inside. There was internal bleeding and they couldn't be sure if the organs weren't affected. They needed to keep her for the first 24 hours and if she did not develop breathing problems in that time, she might make it. I thought I would die, truly. I hated to think what Lexi went through those few horrendous moments when she was in that dog's mouth. The dog has got out of the fence and into our yard many times before without incident. He has played with Lexi before. This time he attacked immediately when he got under his fence and into the yard. This dog is a big rescue dog that they said was a pit bull mix of some kind. This proves to me what I've known all along, how unpredictable this breed can be. Why would anyone have such a dangerous dog? Everyone that owns them always says the same things…he's so loveable, so mellow, serene, the best dog in the world. Humph. These dogs are bred to kill. I don't understand the reasoning. If I had a wish it would be that people who have these types of dogs would have to have a huge insurance premium at least. In my heart I'd much rather see them outlawed all together. I don't know what people can be thinking. Anyway….this did not help my concept at the entire breed. Not long after this happened, a Rottweiler killed a little baby boy in Tampa. It, too, was the sweetest dog in the world and loved this baby boy. Right. I think the parents should be brought up on child endangerment at the least. There, I've said it. I try to keep those beliefs to myself but these vicious dog breeds just baffle me. I do believe, in my heart of heart, that everyone has a right to have whatever breed dog they prefer but when others are in danger (and that would be anyone around that dog) then something else needs to be done. JMHO really…now I'm done and I'll go on my merry way without hate or fear.

Lexi made it those first harrowing 24 hours and then we had to worry about the bleeding internally. The vet did not want to do surgery yet; he was hoping to handle the situation with aggressive treatment and laser work. He also put her in a hot pink cast. That was to keep things in their place while they had a chance to heal and to put pressure on the bleeders.

After a week I was hoping she'd get the cast off and he'd say she was out of danger but that wasn't the case. He did take her out of the cast today and watched her for a bit but then had to put her back in one because there is this gully in her side and then this huge ball the size of my fist pooching out. He said that was muscle that was disconnected from the chest area and is now a ball in the abdomen. The danger is that the body will reject this muscle tissue as a foreign entity and that would cause a lot of problems, abscess being the beginning. Now he is giving her meds and procedures that will hopefully keep the body from rejecting that mass and keep it viable so that she will just be a bit deformed with that big not and gully in her body. Deformed is preferable to dead so I'm all for that.

After two weeks he took the cast off and the mass of muscle was attached and viable so that was very good. In a few more days when I took her in he noticed there was a pocket of fluid under the mass and now there is a bulb of the fluid poking out. He's going to wait until Tuesday to see if it might absorb but this is Saturday night and it is getting larger. He said he would put her under and insert drainage tubes in her side and see if that would work. If not, that will only leave surgery to remove the muscle and all the tissue that was displaced by the attack. Whew. She's been through so much. I was certain we'd get a good bill of health for her but I guess it's going to still be a process. I have to think one day at a time and enjoy the now but it is sure hard. She has a great Christmas with lots of pampering and spoiling by everyone here. You sure wouldn't know anything was wrong.

Thanksgiving, Take Two

2009-11-29T10:37:00.004-05:00

I was going to write about my Thanksgiving (day after) celebration with my mom, my brother, Wayne, and my brother Alvin, Sister-in-law, Brenda, my three nieces and their families (my nephew and his family celebrated in Tennessee.). What a great time I had. I wrote a poem about it so I will just post that because I think it has the smells, thoughts and feelings of that day.:)

Family Sounds

My mother’s voice welcomes me home this sun
shiny day after Thanksgiving, two thousand nine.
I hug her for a long while and say "Happy
Thanksgiving" and she says it right back. The coffee
pot is perking softly in the back ground and the clock
strikes the hour. I open a diet coke and catch up with
the happenings before I go to the celebration.

The carpet of brown leaves crackle and crumble under
foot as I walk next door to my brother and sister
in-law’s country home where the feast will be. The
screen door opens and I enter.

I'm welcomed by each one I embrace with words
of greeting and a cool drink splashes
into my glass as it's placed in my hand. I visit
with each member of this family I adore. My nieces are
all grown up and adult conversations happen around me
though I still sometimes expect their child
voices to come from them."I love you" are the words
spoken by my youngest niece and I take them into my core
with this scene playing out before me.

The smells waft throughout the house and escape outdoors
amidst the chatter of humans and birds, kids and dogs
all at play, all proclaiming the significance of this day.
I hear the click of the cameras around me and the one I hold
as I try to capture bits and pieces of this Rockwell scene.
I grab my niece for a close up as we laugh at photos I click
of our shoes or just one face.

My sister-in-law is in the kitchen and our eyes meet
in the knowing of this happy scene and what it means,
she of like mind and dreams as I. She is surrounded
by her three daughters engaged in a flurry of motion
and easy talk. They know their tasks there at hand as
they mix, whip, pour, stir, and create a Thanksgiving
feast. They make light work of the huge work of art
they present in clinking bowls, casseroles and steamy pots.

The men are gathered round a huge cooker filled with
a golden brown turkey that glistens in the sun. They
joke and talk about subjects I don’t take in, I’m too
enamored by the camaraderie and deep voices of these
handsome husbands of my nieces and the newest addition,
my niece's fiancee that I met for the first time. I leave
a background of hunting stories and the clink of bottle.

It's time to gather together as we take each others
hand in prayer. A cacophony of voices buzz
in the background as we eat the grand meal and catch
up, all talking at once, sometimes in a rhythm you
can feel. Closer conversations come in more clearly
now as seven year old Hudson tells me a joke
about turkeys and little brother Harrison’s
laughter chimes in with full gusto. My niece shows
me her engagement ring and the light in her eyes
out sparkles any diamond. My brother is at the table
the one who we almost lost to cancer this year. He
looks good, though weak, and I keep sneaking peaks
to make sure of him.

Groans and moans and full bellies moved from the table
as we move around enough to make room for the desserts.
My brother throws the football to my nephews outside.
I heat them yell, “Watch Aunt Judy” as the ball falls
into their hands and they beat their papa to the tree
for a “touch down!” Their laughter rings out with along
with back slaps and congratulatory shouts. I soak
up all the sounds, smells, and feels of this day in
Prosperity, South Carolina where family noises
are free and clear and I am in a state of Thanksgiving.

Judy Roney

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-26T22:18:00.004-05:00

Today was such a non-traditional but great day for me. I went with my friends, Eunice and Dawn, to The Biltmore Estate for the Thanksgiving buffet. The food was incredible…every single thing was so good. The place was decorated for Christmas and the buffets looked like works of art. The windows of the Deer Park Restaurant were from ceiling to roof and it just brought the outdoors in. The whole atmosphere reminded me so much of Tavern on the Green in NYC when my family and I had dinner there one night before Christmas. The day was cool, crisp, and sunny. We had perfect weather, not to mention the wonderful friends I had to spend the day with. This was such a special day for me and although I missed my family, it was a nice change for Thanksgiving day. I find it's good to break with tradition occasionally and step outside the box and that has proven true for this year's celebration.

I'm thankful for so much and so many in my life. I am so truly blessed with family and friends, too. I love each one of you. My husband, Bill; children,, Brian(who is always with me though not here on earth), Jeni:, my son-in-law, Tom and all his family who are now our family as well; my daughter, Angie, my granddaughters, Alyssa, Valerie, Brittanie, and Paige; and my great grandsons Jordon, Logan and Jake. I'm thankful for my brothers, and my mom, Bill's sisters and brother, and our extended families. For all my dear friends, too, I wish a very happy Thanksgiving and holiday season. I want to name you all but there is the fear of missing someone so I'll just say that all of you are a blessing to me.

The Holidays Begin

2009-11-26T21:58:00.002-05:00

Wednesday Evening: November 25, 2009

Today was the beginning of the holiday season for me. I have knitting class here in Asheville NC at Yarn Paradise each Wednesday. I have made a lot of very dear friends here and we always celebrate birthdays. Since I am not there for half the year to celebrate some of the birthdays I decided to have hot chocolate and cookies for them on this, my last day at knitting for the season.

I played Barista and we had a wonderful evening of knitting, lots of laughter, friendship, hot chocolate and cookies. Eunice, Dawn, Terri, Hope, Rosie, and Sandra were there and we had such a nice beginning to the holiday season. I missed the ones that weren't there. I will this wonderful group of women until I'm back in the spring.

Fall Trip to TN 11-09

2009-11-17T20:06:00.005-05:00

What a weekend. My sister-in-law, Brenda was going to Tennessee to celebrate her Mom’s (Gladys) ninety-third birthday and I decided to go to see my daughter, Angie and granddaughters. I didn’t think I’d be able to see them again before I left for Florida for the winter and spring.
There was a rock slide on I-40 sometime in October and so we had a choice of two detours to take. We knew it would add many hours onto our travel time. Brenda and I took separate cars so we formed a loose convoy. Loose because we did not follow each other much but when we would arrive at a place that looked interesting or if it was meal time, we would call each other and meet at the place that looked most interesting. The trip was relaxing and fun since we got to see different scenery than usual on our detours.
My problem happened about four hours into the trip when I realized that I was coming up on Joey’s Pancake House in Maggie Valley, where I had started out!! Oh, my. My heart sank into my gut. I called Brenda and told her I would catch up to her again or see her in Tennessee. I headed back out and enjoyed the trip. I caught up with Brenda before Gatlinburg. We ended up taking a short cut she knew from having Gladys’ parties each year in Gatlinburg. She chose a great place to eat that was also a gift shop that was a lot of fun. The restaurant is called The Moonshine Café and it was a lot of fun. There was a deer head on the wall (of course) but also a deer’s butt on the other wall.
We arrived at Angie’s house about 11 or 12 hours after we left the house. We were laughing first about me getting lost and ending up at Joeys after all that driving, and also that we could have made it all the way to Florida in the time it took us to get to Nashville. LOL
How wonderful to see Angie and hug her again. Then to see my granddaughters, Valerie and Alyssa and their boyfriends, Jon and Ira…life was good and it made it worth the trip for sure. We all went over to see Valerie and Jon’s new home not too far from ours in Mt. Juliet. They closed a couple of weeks after Angie and I closed on ours. They have done so much and it’s so cute. Valerie is a wonderful decorator I think. Their home was very comfortable and homey. I’m so glad they are so close. We all went out to O’Charley’s for dinner then and Brenda got to know everyone and we enjoyed just being together.
The next morning Alyssa and Ira went to their first football game, the Tennessee Titans and thankfully they won that game. Angie and I just enjoyed talking and catching up over coffee for a few hours before I had to leave for Gladys’ party.

The party was at Matt and Shauna’s beautiful home. Matt is Susie’s oldest son and Shauna is his wife. It was a treat to meet all of Susie (Brenda’s sister) family including grand children.

Matt is a fabulous cook and I tasted the best ribs I have ever had in my whole life. Yum! He also cooked a delicious ham on the grill. Susie’s grandchildren were so precious. Three girls and three boys. I hear about them so much and now I will be able to place them after seeing them in person.
I left and went back to Angie’s to spend some time with her before bedtime and I would have to look at another drive back to NC the next morning. Ira bought Pizza for everyone and later that night we all went out for Coca-cola cake and ice-cream. Yum! The night went too quickly and Monday morning came quickly.
I met Brenda at Panera Bread for coffee at 8a.m. We took another route home but it took the same amount of time. We didn’t get here until 7p.m. What a journey we had though. We stopped at Stonehaus Winery and we had lunch at a nice tea house outside Knoxville. As tired as we were, we also enjoyed it tremendously. We decided we would have to take these trips in the summer when I’m back here. Of course we are planning for when I-40 is open again. As much fun as we had we would not be quite as excited if we had to make these detours again. LOL
I’m so glad I got to see my daughter and grands one more time before I head to Florida for the winter. I’m also thrilled that I was there for Gladys’ 93rd birthday. It was a busy but worthwhile trip. I’m so glad we went. I already miss my family but I have more wonderful memories.

Maybe Next Year

2009-11-04T23:48:00.002-05:00

November fourth won’t have the power
of the past. I’ll sleep through
the night, won’t wake up in
the fetal position head pounding
in the rhythm of despair and dread.

What will save me from this acid torch
in my gut every November fourth? What
will make the day just slip by without
grief or remembrance of a son that
brought me pure joy.

How long does loss hang on and haunt
those left behind? How long before
his precious face, that comes to me
in my dreams, bring me delight in
remembrance rather than the ache
and emptyness of his absence.

This year was the life is good
this is a perfect day ruse.The
air is cool, the sun is shining
and I planned an evening with
friends day.The I won’t think
won’t acknowledge any pain day.

This isn’t the year I hit on the right
combination, the right ploy to make
this just another day of cool weather
and blue skies.Maybe next year
will be the year I find my way.

Judy Roney
November 4, 2009

Jeni & Tom’s Wedding Party in PA

2009-10-27T22:52:00.007-04:00

I wrote this blog about the wedding and lost it when I spilled a cup of hot coffee onto my motherboard. Hate when that happens. They (Geek Squad) are trying to retrieve my writings from my fried computer, but I know I can’t count on it. I’ll try to recapture the feelings, sights, tastes, and sounds of our time in Erie which is Tom’s home town.

Kay, Tom’s Mom, and Alan, her husband, picked us up at the airport. They live very close to the airport and every amenity, yet they were in a beautiful neighborhood that was so quiet and beautiful. All the lawns were so well manicured. The grass was more like golf course grass than the type grass we have in Florida. The house is large and I was surprised to find it was the same size as ours in FL. I think it is the way it’s designed that makes it look larger. The feeling was warm,homey and inviting. The smells coming from the ovens helped with that, too.

The first night there we had dinner at Kay and Alan’s with just the family invited. What a dinner it was. Kay is a wonderful cook and so are ALL her sisters. 160; We had met Chris and George and Lynn and Dave on the cruise we took with them. We were able to meet Mary Jane and her husband, Joe, this time as well.
Back to food. Kay made beef stew on this very cold day but she cooked it in pumpkins. She cut the tops off, cleaned the seeds out, rubbed the outside with olive oil that would give the pumpkins brown/gold sheen that looked as good as it smelled and tasted. Yum! I look forward to trying it myself. There were also homemade pies and desserts made by the family.

Dale and Barb are long time family friends who are more like family.
Dale grew a huge pumpkin that weighed about two hundred pounds. What an amazing thing to see. The guys brought it in on a sling and we were so afraid they would drop it.

Bill and I stayed with Chris (Kay’s sister) and George. They recently moved about three or four houses down from Kay and Alan and their house and grounds were just as stunning. Their backyard backs up to a creek and there are two bridges that cross it. It’s like a painting with all the beautiful flowers and trees. Chris is a wonderful cook too, so we had plenty to eat there as well.

It was wonderful getting to know everyone better and getting to be more a part of this incredible family. I feel like I’ve always known them.

Now to the reason for our trip there…a celebration of Jeni and Tom’s marriage. I am so thankful for Tom and for his whole family in our lives. We are so blessed. Thanks Jeni for making our lives more. We love seeing Tom and Jeni together. They are such a loving and handsome couple. Being with them makes me feel so happy for them and for us as well.We are always happy when our children are, I know.

The next day, Saturday, Kay and Alan had brunch at their home after we had coffee at Chris and George’s.They had an egg casserole and a coffee cake to die for. Fresh fruit, juice, coffee, and homemade sausage casserole and cinnamon buns. Yum. I was in heaven, pure and simple. I wish I had taken photos of their grounds. The settings were beautiful and we even saw a deer outside. They back up to a wild life preserve and it’s a dream.

Pam, Tom’s sister, took Jeni and I shopping and also for a tour of the place they grew up and their schools and the college they all graduated from, Mercyhurst. The college campus was breathtaking. I’m so glad we got to see where they grew up and places that we hear them talk about. The shopping was really good, too. Pam and I got a make up application at Macy’s so we were ready for the party before we even got back home.:) It was fun getting to know Pam better, too. I knew she was a great wife and mother but now I know how much fun she can be one on one as well.

The party was held at a beautiful place on the grounds of Mercyhurst (I think) called Sunset Inn. I ‘ll find out from Jeni to make sure. I was kind of in a fog through the whole thing. The night after dinner, Alan and Kay taught us some dance steps for dances that we could all do at the party. They were line dance type like the Electric Slide only there was a bit of the Cha Cha Cha and other dances. I have never been to a party when so many were dancing. Alan and Kay dance like they are floating on air. I don’t even pretend to know how to dance but dance I did. LOL LOL

The food was great with lots of choices and the cake was white on white traditional. The flowers were white roses and everything was simply beautiful.

I don’t know the song Jeni and Tom danced their first dance to (I’ll find out), or what the song was when the groom danced with his mother. That’s always such a touching thing for me to see. I do know that Jeni chose “Daddy’s Hands” for her dance with her dad and then the DJ announced that Tom would dance to “It’s a Wonderful World”. What a perfect song to sing to. I’ll never forget dancing with my handsome son in law and being so proud of him and my daughter and the life they have together.

We met so many of Tom’s family, coaches, and old friends from as far back as elementary school, college roommates, and friends of the family. What a joy to meet each of them and to be at this family celebration.

Bill and I enjoyed every minute and still hum the songs and do a few dance steps (just a few slides), and we still bask in the beauty of that time in Erie that went by way to fast. I can’t wait to get back there and explore some more. They aren’t that far from Niagara Falls! Bill went touring with Alan and George and they went to see the trout swimming upstream. I thought it was only salmon that did that. There were just rows of fishermen there.

I’m so glad to be a part of this family and I feel very much a part of them and their lives. They make everyone feel that way. They are sure opening up our lives to places and people we would never have been to or met. We are blessed.

Home Sweet Home

2009-10-26T20:06:00.004-04:00

Bill and I went to Tennessee on Wednesday to spend some time with Angie and Alyssa and get the house squared away. Bill had not seen it yet. He really liked it and thought it was well built. He worked on a few things that needed done while we got the bathroom decorated for the most part and got ready for the Happy, Happy party on Friday night.
We called it Happy, Happy because there was so much to celebrate. Angie, Alyssa, and I got the house in Mt. Juliet and got the furniture and everything that we needed right away. Bill and I even got our bedroom suite for our bedroom picked out and ready to deliver. The whole house is in shades of blue and browns. Hmm I guess that's not so. The walls are shades of olive green to gray in the bedrooms. I guess you'd have to see it to get a picture of that. It's artistically done so it all goes together. The couch is a light brown with blue and green pillows and rugs. The dining table is tall and we all really like that. I just love the way it looks and the feel of it. Angie and Alyssa said it already felt like home.
Angie and Alyssa had everything moved in and livable in a week. We were in shock. We thought there would be so much to do.

It was so nice seeing Teddi (aka Harley) again. He is the toy poodle that is Lexi’s brother. Lexi wore herself out as usual when she is with him. I think she’s still sleeping from her days spent there with her puppy brother. He is so sweet and still looks like a little teddibear.
It was so nice spending the time with my daughter and granddaughter there at the house, bonding with them in their new place and with the house itself.
Alyssa gave up her very comfortable bed since we didn’t have one there yet. We were so appreciative of that since we weren’t up to sleeping on the floor again like we all did before any furniture was there. They live in such a nice neighborhood. I am so excited and happy for all of us. The possibilities are endless. Getting to know and spend time with Angie, my granddaughters, and our great grandsons is beyond my dreams.

Valerie came over each day we were there and we had so much fun being with her. She is so beautiful and one of our celebrations was celebrating her and her boyfriend’s new home that they will be closing on soon. We already got to see it and it is such a nice and large home in a very nice neighborhood and we are thrilled for them.
We met Jon and Bill met Ira for the first time. That is Valerie and Alyssa’s boyfriends. Bill was as impressed with them as I was. They are both full of motivation and great plans for their future.
We were sad that Brittanie wasn’t able to come and bring the grandsons for the party. She has started a new job that is demanding but very hopeful for her career choice. I am so glad she loves her job. That is a real blessing for anyone.
The other celebrations were Alyssa and Jon’s birthdays that were coming up. We had such a wonderful time being with everyone and found out that Ira and Jon both enjoy BBQ’ing so that is a load off our shoulders because neither Bill nor I enjoy that. LOL

Every time I see this photo of Alyssa I laugh. She is not only gorgeous but she has such a great personality and just loves life.
I loved the theme for our party so much. Happy, Happy. I thought that should be my life’s theme really. It sure makes me smile just thinking about it.

Mark Menendez

2009-10-09T19:03:00.005-04:00

We had a nice birthday celebration for Mark at the Craft Collection in Waynesville where we take classes. We purchased a peanut butter cake from Whitman's and it turned out to be wonderful. The icing was peanut butter tasting with fudgey iceing on top BUT it wasn't so rich as it sounds. Just right. :) Mark is a wonderful instructor and we wanted to celebrate him on his special day. He's so easy going and patient and has become a good friend to all of us. He even had Bill drawing his motorcycle and painting but he hasn't made it back to class to finish it. Then my daughter, Angie, went to a class and it changed her whole mind on her ability to draw and paint. I had a group of women from my half century group that went to a class with me and we learned to use colored pencils and we all made very presentable little chickadees. :) Oh, and Rebecca my niece took a class there with me on Acrylics and we had so much fun. So, he's getting to know my whole family and my good friends as well. :) He turned fifty-three on the 6th. Happy Birthday Mark!

My Brother, Wayne

2009-10-08T09:32:00.002-04:00

Yamelis and Wayne
My brother, Wayne, was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had surgery in September and had 1/3 of his lung removed. Three weeks later he was back in the hospital going through another surgery. He had an staph infection that evidently began with the first surgery. They had to remove more of his lung and they left his whole side open so they could make sure the infection was abating. They found another pocket of infection in his shoulder and had to cut that open and put a tube into drain. He was in ICU for many days and now is in a room. He's had a few set backs but everything is looking good right now. He had to be given blood because they couldn't get his count up and that is fine now so they are doing surgery today to close the side up. They will take skin from his abdomen and use that to cover the opening.
It's been such a rough way for him to go and he's not a happy camper because he can't work and can't golf and bowl and do the things that he loves. He's a very busy person and this relaxation doesn't seem to suit him well at all. He says, "everyone says how lucky I am. If I were lucky, I wouldn't have cancer and I wouldn't have had the surgery at all." He IS so fortunate and blessed and I'm sure he knows that. People in the McBroom side of the family are lucky to reach 60. They get lung cancer and die in their 50's. It's a fluke that this cancer was found in time. Always in the past, by the time they have symptoms, it's too late. They found the growth and removed it. Then he got the very serious infection and couldn't even eat for three weeks. He didn't die from that and they finally found it and found an antibiotic to work against the infection.
I'm so thankful that my brother is alive and will be well again soon. We lost our oldest brother, Bob, to this same lung cancer when he was 59. He wanted to be 60 but it wasn't in the cards. My Dad would have given anything to live out his retirement fishing and boating but he died at 57.
I could make this about smoking because this is about smoking but it would not be well received by Wayne or my other brothers, three of whom smoke. I'll give up the lectures. I am 62 and thought I would prove that not smoking could help you see 60. There are always other reasons besides smoking to the smoker though...things like you didn't get it because you are a girl! Where have I heard that. LOL Or you don't have cancer because you have more of Mom's blood in you than Dad's. Well, I won't argue the case with anyone. I do wish my brothers were not smokers but I love them just like they are and Lord, I want them to live. The older I get the more important they are to me. I don't want to loose any more. Wayne has a good chance now and after surgery he can heal and live to receive his social security. I don't know if he will smoke again. I only know I love him and I want to enjoy each day with him and my other brothers and my mother (who is also a smoker) in good health.
I'm so thankful that things are going on a good path for Wayne right now. I think he's very lucky and so am I.

Fly Away Home

2009-10-07T12:04:00.003-04:00

My short story,"Fly Away Home", has been accepted for publication in the book, Imagining Heaven that comes out in May of next year. I just can't believe it. I am so happy about this.
I have thought of myself as a poet but now I will expand that to just writer, or as my friend, Jean mentioned, author. :)
I am walking on sunshine. Oh, yeah!
Another great piece of news is that the proceeds from the book will be going to hospice. I know that organization is a wonderful one and I'm so proud to be a part of it in this way.
The story is about Brian so it means so much to me and I couldn't be prouder that it will be published in this book. I just feel so honored and absolutely thrilled right now.
I have been SO fortunate lately. First my poem being accepted in the anthology Echoes Across the Blue Ridge and now this. I don't know if I can handle the joy of it all...yes, I can! lol

Fall falls on Maggie

2009-10-05T11:18:00.003-04:00

I love this time of year. I imagine most do. I would hate for anyone to miss out on this feeling I have as the leaves begin to turn and the air is crisp and clear (when it's not raining!). What a beautiful place. What a beautiful life. That's what fall does to me.
Yesterday after church I went back home and picked Lexi up. I dressed her in her candy corn blouse (yes, I dress my dog.LOL)and took her to Sylva for Bark in the Park. I entered her in the kissing contest because when we are home she's a kisser. Naturally, she made a fool of me in that field. She was the only dog that didn't even look at me, much less pucker up. I should have known because when Angie, my daughter, and I took Lexi and her dog, Teddi, to a similar event, Lexi would not perform for anything. Now I finally get it. LOL
It was good enough just having her so gorgeous dressed up like the sweetness she is. She met a lot of other dogs and was beside herself with the joy of it all. Of course it could have been just because she loves fall as much as I do and this was a beautiful fall day.
Here's a photo after she was so exhausted from holding court all day at the park. LOL

I Found a House

2009-09-28T00:27:00.004-04:00

Angie, my daughter in Tennessee and I are going to share a home. I went up there and looked at houses this weekend again and found one. We will close on it on the 12th of October.
It will be nice to have a place there in Mt.Juliet where I can spend time each year and get to know my daughter, grandchildren and great grandsons better. Angie has no room in her place now and it's so far out from everything. This home is closer to groceries and necessities.
I didn't even recognize Mt. Juliet. My aunt and nieces and nephews lived there and it was so far out it seemed. Now it's a bustling little city and a nice safe place to live we are told.
The house is really cute. Hardwood floors, granite counter tops and we will each have our own bedroom. Angie, Alyssa, my granddaughter, and me and Bill when we are in town. We will each decorate our own rooms the way we want but decorate the common areas together.
I have a friend, Victoria, whose daughter just moved in with her and her husband. There is a name for that co-housing but I've forgotten it. We will be doing that on a lesser level. Lesser level because Bill and I won't be there but maybe four times a year or so.
We are all very excited about this house and the possibilities it represents to us all. I will go back on the 12th to close and then Bill and I will go up north for Jeni and Tom's wedding party in Tom's home town) and when we get back, we will get what we need to set up housekeeping because Angie and Alyssa will have moved in while we are gone.
Life has so many twists and turns and our life continues on this journey.
Another exciting part about getting this house is that I will be able to visit family in Cookeville as I travel through now. So many possibilities.

Following

2009-09-23T11:05:00.000-04:00

I wish that if you do read my blog that you would become a follower. I like to know who I'm talking to. :) I know so many have commented and I hope that you will let me know you are there. Thanks you all. :)

A Spiritual Journey - in part

2009-09-23T10:54:00.003-04:00

I finally got back to church on Sunday. I have been faltering, wandering, wondering since Brian's death. Everything I knew to be true about God, about my life, turned out not to be so. It's been a long hard journey to get back to church, to find one I thought I could be in and understand; figure out who or what God is. I never doubted his existence but I couldn't figure out what kind of God would let my son die. The only prayer asking for things I prayed was "take care of my kids". Well, I did pray for Bill and after I got him, the only prayer was for our health and that God please watch over my kids. I still don't know who God is. Probably none of us do. But I want to know.
Fast forward through the years of doubt and anger and searching: I found a church in Maggie Valley that I felt comfortable in. Not completely but I felt it was a beginning.
Since I returned to Maggie (I'm only here half the year), one thing after another came up on Sunday (usually traveling) that kept me from going there and reconnecting.
I went Sunday and was filled with an energy, the energy of all those voices singing and all those heads bowed and all those people worshiping the same God I knew and loved so much. I felt more balance in my life than I have felt in so long. Because I have been away from church for so long, I think it might just be a fluke but I think not. I love feeling a part of this body all loving and seeking Him.
I'm so glad to get back. I still don't know any more answers than I did but I'm running on faith again and that feels comfortable and so very, very good to me.
Thank you Lord for leading me gently through that storm that doesn't seem to let up for very long. As long as I know you are there...I think I'll figure out the rest.

BBQ and Hotrods at Long's Chapel

2009-09-20T22:30:00.005-04:00

To make up for my evening of being a looser at the Bingo table, I met Brenda, my sister in law and my brother, Al, and my nephew, Ben at Long's Chapel for a BBQ and Classic Cars. I always enjoy being with them and today was no acception. There weren't a whole lot of classic cars but what they had was really nice. The food was very good. The dessert was really cute. I think the next time I have a BBQ I'll make them. They had pink icing and half a marshmallow was the snout, two mini choc chips were the nostrils, and the eyes were caramel chips. Too cute.
The people who came to sit at our table asked us where we were from. Brenda told them she lived around Chapin. The elderly couple told us what a wonderful experience they had in Chapin. Their AC in their car went out and they stopped at a car repair off the interstate and the people were so nice, the couple told everyone about it for the last twelve years. The owners drove the couple to a hotel while they waited on a car part and then the owners wouldn't even charge them for their work. That car repair was my brother and sister in law's business there in Chapin. what a small world. The couple thanked my Al and Brenda for being so nice to them when they were in a tough spot. How nice it was to have that happen and the couple were so glad to be able to say thank you now for the help.

Friday Nite Baskets and Bingo

2009-09-20T17:48:00.003-04:00

A church group had an event at the Haywood County Fairgrounds called Baskets and Bingo. They had great prizes like Vera Bradley bags and Longerberger baskets full of goodies. I had my heart set on winning. I sat down with four women I had not met before but by the end of the evening we exchanged names. We realized we had something vital in common...we were ALL loosers.LOL We agreed that we would come back next year though because eventually we had to win something. The women had a great sense of humor and it made our ego deflating evening hilarious. LOL I love these events that seem to abound here in Haywood and surrounding counties. I love that it's such an artsy place and that there are so many local writers that I am getting to know. I look forward to readings and events and also submitting my work to the many publishers around here. One of my poems has been accepted in "Echos Across the Blue Ridge" that will come out in the winter and I have that to look forward to. It's wonderful to see so many venues around here for our paintings and art work and crafts. I can stay as busy as I want. I love this place!
It has been so rainy the last week. The street going into Waynesville was flooded friday night and when I got back from BINGO the lights were all out in the house. They were out for about two hours. I have flashlights all over the place now because it happens a lot when it rains. The photo is a lousy one but the white car behind the post was stuck with water up past the bottom of the door.

Angie

2009-09-17T21:50:00.005-04:00

Bill and I went to see my daughter, Angie, and my granddaughters and great grandsons in Tennessee. We were only able to see Angie and two granddaughters this time.
We spent most of the time house hunting. My daughter lives so far away from town and we have decided to get a place closer to everything.
Our hope is to share a home with them so that when we go there we will have a place to stay, and most of all to get them near stores and doctors, etc. We have bid on two condos but our offers were not accepted. We have just bid on a house now and I hope we will get that. We have a realtor working with us there so we will eventually get something.
Our granddaughters are doing so well.
Brittanie, our oldest, drives an ambulance and hopes to be a paramedic. Her boyfriend’s name is Coty. Brittanie is 24 and has three sons, my three handsome great grandsons.
My second granddaughter, Valerie, is 22 and is a dental assistant. Her boyfriend’s name is Jon. I have forgotten to take my camera in both times when we have met Valerie so I have no photos of her.
Alyssa is 18, just graduated from high school and is still at home. She hopes to go to college in the spring session. In the meantime she works at a McDonalds for a few days. If she gets closer into town she can work where she can get more hours. Her boyfriend’s name is Ira.
I have four granddaughters and three great grandsons; I just can’t believe it. There are so many wonderful happenings in my life right now. I hope we can get a place there in Tennessee so we can spend more time with everyone.
Brittanie owns a home and Valerie will be closing on a house this month. I am so proud of them and they are all such a blessing in our life.
I already miss them.

Alvin's 58th Birthday

2009-09-13T13:20:00.005-04:00

Alvin celebrated his 58th birthday on September 3 and we celebrated him that weekend.
Alvin, Brenda, Co, Snook, and Jerry and Judy came up to the mountain house and we had such a nice time.
One of the first things Jerry and Snook did was to go into the forests on our property and found a huge amount of ginsing. They are naturalists who really know the plant life around here.
We decorated the house for Al's birthdfay and had purchased old fashioned things like Play dough, animal crackers, Mickey Mouse bouncy balls, etc. We sure know how to give a party, don'tchathink? LOL
Co and Snook brought steaks for the birthday dinner and Bill and Co BBQ’d while we relaxed and had a drink and enjoyed the scenery and each other. For the sake of seating (limited in spots) we women ate in the house and the guys ate on the porch. Talk about old fashioned! LOL It gave us women time to catch up so that was all good.
We had a contest with the Play dough. Everyone was to make something from their can of dough and see what people came up with. We were so impressed I can’t tell you. The guys sat outside talking away while we were slaving at our craft. LOL BB finally went out and got them started by building Al (birthday guy) a “Bud Man” that was wonderful. She’s good at this dough stuff!! LOL Jerry made a red fox, Snook made a snake ready to strike, and Bill, my in-house artist made a black pretzel. I don’t know.
Then the men tried to figure out which object da art the women made. It was hilarious. They tried to figure it out so scientifically. LOL Finally, after giving them a hint way too easy, they figured it out.
Party time; Judy Cooper brought out a wonderful, beautiful, luscious coconut cake for dessert. After Al made his wish we dug in. Yum. It was spectacular! All three women here are excellent cooks so I love it when we get together!
Jerry holding Lexi.

We had such a wonderful weekend. We had planned to go to Waynesville Block Party on Friday night but we got to Smackers and eating and talking took precedence over the evening.
Happy Birthday to my baby brother, Alvin. Just a baby, only 58!!! LOL Talk about a baby, David, my brother in Tennessee is next and he’s only 57. Just babies; all of them. LOL

John C Campbell Folk School

2009-09-11T20:09:00.002-04:00

Aug 30 – Sept 5, 2009

Bill and I enrolled for a week at the camp and we both enjoyed it. Bill took stained glass and did some amazing pieces but he said he wouldn’t make anything else. He liked taking the course though and he has always been interested in stained glass so he was glad he took it and now he will take it off his bucket list.
I too “Thinking Like da Vinci “class with Maureen Ryan Griffin as the instructor. She has a new writing book out called “Spinning Words into Gold “and I look forward to reading it.
The class was very interesting and had a different take on writing and I always enjoy different ways of looking at things. The instructor was very good and engaging. She held our attention and I could tell she loves her work.
The classmates were the icing on the cake. We all got along so well and I think we will keep in touch. We had people from Ohio, Georgia, NC, SC and Kentucky in the class.
The whole experience was like a camp for adults. Our accommodations were very nice though. We stayed at the Farm House which is new and has a bathroom in the room and was more like a hotel room. That was not the case the last time I stayed there. We would both go again.
From Morning Song at 7:45 until the last event at night, it was a good experience. We were surprised at how exhausted we were but we went from early morning until late at night. The food was country food style and pretty good. We both figured out what classes we would like to take next. Bill wants to take black smithing and I want to take about ten other classes. LOL

Date Night

2009-08-21T13:31:00.003-04:00

I had a date with the handsome guy in my life yesterday. He picked me up at 4 pm and we went to Clearwater Beach. We were astounded at the changes being made since we were there all those years taking our kids and their friends there. The hotel we always stayed at was there still. We ate at the Pizza Place there that we often ate at.
To clarify matters, Bill and I weren't actually alone. We took my Little Sister (Big Brothers/Big Sisters), Hanna, with us. Oh, well, we still aren't quite used to being childless even after all these years. LOL Hanna begins fifth grade on Tuesday and she loves the beach so we thought we'd take her for a bit of beach time before school begins. She was so happy; it was a joy just to watch her. We did a sea star sand sculpture with her in the center. She was very happy with that. I forgot my camera though so I am hoping that I can somehow get Bill's photos he took on his camera onto my computer but it's not looking good so far.
Bill showed her how to body surf in the gulf waves and we just sat around taking in the scene of everyone gathering on the pier and on the beach to watch the sun slowly make it's way down to a sizzle on the water. :) It was beautiful even though some cloud coverage obscured the last bit as it disappeared. It was a nice way to put an end to summer for Hanna we though.
Hanna and I sat on the beach with hats on like a couple of old curmudgeon's. LOL I need to get her a younger Big Sister. LOL I have mentioned that a couple times. It's not only that but I'm also gone so much to NC but Hanna's moms and her case manager seem to think it's working just fine.
We had to stop at the beach ice cream shop for a scoop before heading on home across the bridge. All the lights were sparkling from other bridges and the shore and it was a gorgeous sight.
Bill and I love to do this but we do it so rarely. We have to go to the beach more often. I don't care to roast there but to go in the evening to watch the sun set and have dinner at one of the restaurants on the beach is amazing.

Book Mania in Waynesville

2009-08-09T19:10:00.002-04:00

I had a very interesting day in Waynesville at Book Mania. Margaret Osondu hosted another year of authors coming to the area for classes, talks, and to bring the author to the area for book signings and one on one time with each of them. I had one on one time with authors I knew and those I know through FaceBook and I was able to meet them in person.

I met authors like Jayne Ferrer, Susan Reinhardt, Dr. Lin Step, Angela Dove, Kathryn Magendi, Barbara Duncan, Bahia Abrams, Mindy Friddle, Rose Senehi, Celia Miles, and so many more I can’t remember all their names.
I was able to hear Angela Dove speak about her book, No Room For Doubt,and the process she went through to write it and I was impressed and I look forward to reading her book. As a matter of fact, I want to read all of their work and all at one time. Guess I’ll have to settle for one at a time and enjoy them that way.
I just love this area and the arts available here. I feel so lucky to be here in the Maggie Valley, Waynesville, and Asheville area.
Now, back to reading Kathryn Magendi’s , Tender Graces. I can hardly set it down; it’s such a riveting book full of characters that I feel I really know.

Girlfriends

2009-08-09T18:22:00.003-04:00

Nothing takes the place of girlfriend time. I probably should say women friends or something more age appropriate but girlfriends sounds right to me.
My sister-in-law, Brenda (aka BB) and our friends, Co(aka Colleen), Cat (aka Cathy), Brenda’s sister, Ree (aka Susie), and me (aka DD), got together for several days here at the mountain house. We could definitely be the Ya Ya Sisterhood, but we are trying to find a suitable name for our group. We did think the Poodles would be a good name for us but not all agree so we are still in search of a name.

When we met last year we went white water rafting and stayed here at the mountain house.
This year we just ate, talked, laughed, went shopping, painted pottery at “Let’s Get Fired”and ate some more.
The time we met before this was in Florida and we went to the Strawberry Festival and saw Lonestar, took a tour of Tampa and lots more of the same above…eat, talk, laugh, shop, repeat. We always enjoy spending time together and look forward to our next gathering.
When we went to paint pottery we were sure we’d have fun because we always do when we are together, however, what did blow us away was our artwork on the pottery. Ree was especially impressive. She painted a bowl and it was SO artistic with leaves and flowers painted on. Beautiful! I can’t wait to see them all because I must admit, they ALL looked very good.

When we went to Biltmore Village, we stopped in Blue; a handmade art place that has incredible jewelry and pottery, etc. We met Jack there and he was a lot of fun. He eventually gave Co a free ring and we teased her plenty about it. We were quite a lively bunch and the shop owners appreciated that I think. :)

BB even read a night time story to us. It was an adventure with Walter the Farting Dog. We are one bunch of women who KNOW how to have fun!!! What a narrator BB is; full of emotion and action like a book like Walter needs. Awesome!

What an incredible group of women. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They live close by each other in SC with the exception of me here in NC and Ree in TN, so they do a lot together. They walk for breast cancer research and just for their own good health in SC. It sure would be nice to live closer to all of them. I won’t be greedy though; I’ll be thankful for our gatherings as they are, when they are.

Summer Writing Residency

2009-07-27T11:26:00.004-04:00

I attended the Squires Summer Writing Residency in Swannanoa, NC. this weekend. Cathy Smith Bowers was the instructor for the poetry class. I had not heard of her or read her poetry but I’m certainly a fan now. She teaches creative writing at Queens College and teaches workshops.

As you can see the dorms were bare necessities and the whole floor shared two bathrooms;thankfully there were several showers and toilets in each bathroom. My bed is the one on the right. This was an interesting college that is ecologically minded for sure. The meals were tofu and orzo style, vegetarian and one meat choice for those of us who dare. The students have to work at the college for part of their tuition. I thought that was a wonderful idea.

I learned so much simply from seeing how she critiqued my work and those of my fellow workshop attendees. We all critiqued each other’s work after Cathy first critiqued it herself going by certain criteria that she gave us.
The following are things to look for when writing, critiquing, or judging poetry.

1. Feeling – she reads it aloud the first time just to see how the poem makes her feel. If it doesn’t have feeling, she’s not interested in going further. She hears it with her heart before she reads it with her mind.
2. Story – What’s the story?
3. Language – words chosen.
4. Line – How the poet puts the work on the page; words, lines, stanzas.
The idea is to create tension or enhance tension that’s already there in each of these categories as you write.

You start out with an abiding image (not idea) and write everything you can down; directional stream of consciousness that has to do with that image. Then you take that hunk of stone (like Michelangelo) and make a poem of it. Lots of editing and drafts involved to make it into a poem. It doesn’t just happen.

That was her basic message and then in our critiques we used that technique.

I am really glad I went to this residency and I have rarely felt that way. I always love meeting and being with other writers and that’s why I want to go but this workshop really added a lot more.

I had a reading on Saturday night at Sutton Hall and it went well I think. At least people who approached me that night and the next day said my work really touched them. I was on cloud nine and so glad I did the reading. I was so nervous before because I had never given a reading at a college before but it turned out that just the residency students were there, creative non-fiction, fiction, and poetry so I was in good company.

Cathy Smith Bowers said my work touches her. What a compliment from a poet that I really like now. I love her poetry. I would go again if I had the opportunity to. She and another professor from the college she teaches at gives workshops periodically in Black Mountain. She said they wanted to reach people who did not go for their masters in literature or creative writing to get some of the information. Wow, I’m ready.

The first night we heard an author, Keith Flynn, who gave an interesting talk on what he thought was necessary to be published. He said every time there is an opportunity, read your work. He said we writers were an egotistical lot; we felt like we had something to say that was worth hearing. He said we should act like it when we go for a reading. He said there are very few authors who make money from their craft. He said if you expect more than free copies of your book for your work, you are probably going to be disappointed. You might make a few bucks if you sell to a huge journal magazine. Do what you have to do to get published in any publication, that's building your resume so the next one will be easier to sell.

Rich Rennicks is a marketing associate and he told us that even if the author is a very good writer, if he or she is not personable, they won't bother. You have to get out there and sell yourself, sell your work.

Brenda and Becky

2009-07-15T20:20:00.003-04:00

My sister in law, Brenda and my niece, Becky spent the night here before continuing their trip to Tennessee to see Brenda's Mom, Gladys, who is 93 years old now and more of their family. It's always nice spending time with Brenda and with Becky. They took me out for a birthday dinner (my birthday just keeps going I know.) and we went all out and had dinner at "Butts on the Creek".

It was fun catching up and we found out that a bunch of people from Florida were in the restaurant and some from Plant City. So many Floridians here take advantage of the cooler temps in the summer. We finished the evening on the deck with drinks and the view as night set.

They got to meet Harley.
Becky has a Harley, dog not cycle, too. That's where I got the name for my Harley. Harley sure is active and had fun playing on the floor playing keep a way with Becky.

This morning we resumed our talk on the deck with coffee and sunrise over the mountains. The morning was cool but the sunlight fell on us as it filtered through the trees and we warmed up enough to stay out. Brenda brought SC peaches and nectarines and we had a taste before we finally decided to make our move and go out to breakfast. Naturally we went to Joey's Pancake house and gabbed some more and make plans for future meetings. It was SO good.

As you can tell there was lots of food, talk, food and talk. Love it~

My Birthday

2009-07-13T22:08:00.007-04:00

This is my social security year. There are a few benefits for the aged. LOL
I had such a nice birthday with so many good wishes and calls from Bill and Jeni, cards and emails and birthday wishes on facebook.

Then when I got to knitting class that night, the woman had a surprise birthday party for me. Eunice made some to-die-for dip and we had a scrumptious cakes, hilarious cards, and gifts from everyone. What a great group of women and what fun they brought to my birthday.
Bill met me in St. Simons Island for the weekend. He brought the puppy, Harley, and we had a spectacular time on this island. We had never been before but what a treat it was to discover. We will go back. There are memories of the gazebo, the light house, the ocean and the beach. We stayed at Sea Palms Inn and it was nice, especially for a hotel that accepts dogs. What a clean, lovely town this was, very beachy and so many unique shops and things to do that we never got around to.It was just a perfect place for us and we have some wonderful memories there already. There was even a wedding going on at the lighthoue and that was really neat to see.
Bill went to check out Jekyl Island after we left and he said it wasn't as nice as St. Simons. He also got me some perfume. Jeni and Tom were going to give me my gift when I got home but decided to send my gift to me here so I am looking forward to seeing what that is now.
I didn't take many photos at St. Simons. None really accept the photo of me with both dogs. I hope they will get along and so far it's been OK this time.
Thanks to all who had a hand in making my birthday so special. I am so blessed and I know that. Thank you.

Knit and Paint

2009-07-10T12:56:00.005-04:00

A bit of my life here in NC as far as classes go.

I love knitting classes though I’m still not much of a knitter at all. I love meeting at least once a week with this wonderful group of women. Eunice is the patient instructor and good friend to us all. We have so many laughs and talks, treats and more talks, and of course we learn a lot, too. I decided to do a garter stitch shawl to get gently back into knitting after being away so long. Well, I was convinced I wouldn’t need to ask Eunice a question every five minutes; that I could do this one easily. I tried to start with the help of one of the women there, and then I realized I wasn’t sure what a garter stitch is. We all got a laugh out of my blasphemous statement that I wouldn’t need Eunice this time. LOL We has a great time every time. I go Wed and Fridays there to Yarn Paradise in Asheville. Don’t you just love that name? It is good to get back.

Then there is the art class in Waynesville with Mark Menendez. It has been a couple years since I was there and it was like picking right back up. It was wonderful seeing Mark who lost his brother in May, whom I also knew. He was my age; another sobering thought. Mark is a great artist but also a great teacher. It’s wonderful being with these people again. Life is good. There’s so much of this in the NC Mountains and you just have to make choices about what artsy things you have time for. I love that about this region. I finished the daisy that came to mind after Jeni’s wedding so I was ready to start on something I have had in mind since Scandinavia. A bike. I’ve never seen so many in one place. Everyone there rides bikes! I also want to paint a scene from Tallinn streets because that was one of my favorite towns. Lots of ideas. I love when this happens after I have had quite a dry spell in inspirations to paint. I’m back in the groove already.

2009-07-08T23:12:00.003-04:00

My brothers, sisters-in-laws, and I went to SC to celebrate Mom’s 83rd birthday. We had such a great celebration that started the 4th and went on through the 5th. It was nice being there together to celebrate for the first time in decades I’m sure. Mom looks good; like she feels even better than the last time I saw her. She wasn’t in the best of moods though. I overheard her on the phone telling someone how we all came to celebrate her birthday so I think she was glad we were there but maybe she’ll have to look back on it to be happy.LOL When she gets like that (cranky), it’s really hard to be around her and I don’t know why she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t understand why people don’t come.
She made a wonderful ham (her claim to fame, that and peanut butter fudge)and Brenda, my sister in law made potato salad, squash casserole, and honey bun cake, blueberry pound cake, and peach cobbler. I made some baked beans and got Mom a birthday cake that turned out to be a good one. Brenda is an incredible cook and she made it really special for all of us really. Mom got a lot of gift and cards.
My niece Mary and her boyfriend and his two children stopped by and we got to meet him for the first time. My niece Lisa and her husband, Scott came by with their two boys, Hudson, and Harrison. Hud and Harrison are growing up so fast and are so precious. The most moving moment of the day was when Al, (Papa), got out his harmonica and also Hud and Harrisons and they played. It was too wonderful for words.
Mom picked a sprig of her crepe myrtle and put it on the table in a vase; that was also a moment.
It was so nice being there with everyone and I’m glad we were there for Mom. I just wish I knew better how to deal with her moods. I think I have a handle on it mentally and emotionally but then I don’t. I sometimes think she could use an anti depression med or therapy but I doubt she would go for either one of those options. I worry about her sometimes, especially when her irritability seems to get worse. She seems so full of rage and it comes out at the strangest times over the smallest things.
Onward to the mountain home in NC.

Fourth of July

2009-07-08T15:18:00.003-04:00

The fourth was a nice day. I arrived at Mom’s in SC and two of my brothers and sisters in law were already there. Al&Brenda, Mike& June had waited for me before going to the Lexington County Peach Festival. There was an antique car show that the guys really enjoyed. When I think antique car I’m thinking a 30’s, 40’s car. Well, surprise for me, they are all cars from my childhood and young adulthood. What’s up with that???

We went through the arts and crafts part of the Festival but the shows were nice because they were under lots of shade and very pleasant. The O’Kaysions were good and sang the oldies.

The best part was the homemade peach ice cream, peach smoothie ,peach tea, peach shake, peach cobbler, peach muffins, peach bread, peach pound cake, and the plain old juicy tasty South Carolina peach…yum!

We arrived back at Mom’s and Wayne arrived shortly. We had a huge dinner. Mom had made a ham that was wonderful and Brenda made potato salad and she had made several cakes and a peach cobbler that was to die for.

We heard the fireworks going off from her porch but couldn’t really see any. It was nice sitting out on the porch on this summer day filled to the gills with ham and cobbler and enjoying being together on this holiday.

What a Trip

2009-07-07T21:41:00.007-04:00

What a trip, figuratively and literally. Bill and I went to places we have never seen before and have a stock hold of memories to enjoy for always. We met so many people from so many places. We will remember them in times when something will trigger a memory. From Cabin Stewart to family member we met for the first time, they come in view from time to time and we smile or laugh at something they did or said. Jeni’s new family members that were able to come, Kay and Alan, Chris and George, Lynne and Dave, were incredible. We felt right at home, even on this huge ship because they were there and they were family. I felt like it was always so. We look forward to meeting more of Tom’s family in October when we will travel to PA to see them and celebrate Jeni and Tom.We met so many of their friends that became ours as well on this cruise. Barb and Dale , Jeanette and Jim, Clarke, Evlyn, Doris, Yvonne and Phillip, and the two other women’s name have escaped my memory as names often do but I remember them and thankfully, I have their names written down at home.
We danced, we went on shore and took in the sights and sounds, smells and culture of these places that we now have great memories of. Amsterdam, Netherlands; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Amsterdam again. When we hear the names we will see the cities and countries in our mind. That is truly priceless. I’ll think of bikes, canals, lovely parks and flowers, town centers, all the history in these places just speaking to me as I walked where great and infamous people walked and where the good people of these lands lived generation after generation loving the places I saw with my own eyes. We dressed up and dressed down, dressed for cold weather after being in 90degree weather, took umbrellas and raincoats everywhere ready for the rains that eventually came. We watched the people of Scandinavia and Russia and tried to see who they were and how like us they were in most ways; they just live in another place. That shouldn’t surprise me but it usually does. I expect the differences, the likeness surprises.
I was surprised at how fit and green Scandinavia and its peoples are. They ride bikes, have a lot of organic grown, I didn’t like their food but I know that was because it was so healthy in comparison to how we eat here in the states. I think they exercise more, eat better, think more about the environment and life on the healthy side. They take pride in that as well. They recycle power, use windmills, find ways of powering their worlds in a more earth friendly way. I am talking about Scandinavia in most of these descriptions, Russia was a whole different place in my mind and I have to process that more. I know we only saw very small pieces of these countries and we can’t paint the whole country in that light, but I have a better idea than I did. I see why traveling is such a good education.
I was ready to come home but I just wanted to bring my new family home with me. I miss them and think about them often now. I look forward to going to PA. We had hoped to go this month but it was just too soon after our three week absence. Bill had to get back into the business and get caught up there and I had to take off to SC for my Mom’s birthday and then on to North Carolina for the summer. Ah, the life we live: I am thankful.

Some of our wonderful memories:

Doris, Yvonne, and Bill became thespians or showed that side of them. Some singers chose Doris to sing to and then Yvonne and Bill became actors in a skit that had us rolling in the floors. I did not know about this side of my husband. He really cracked us up. “I’m going to KEEL you with venom” was his famous line. LOL The comedian kept calling him Phil which just made us laugh harder.
Kay showed a side to her that I think her children were more aware of than we. Pam said she sent them to catholic school as a ruse to cover up. LOL I laugh every time I think about this. Don’t you just love how she coordinates her clothes with her ride? What a stylish lady, er, x-star!
The dance lessons were harder than I thought but something clicked enough times to make it exciting and the desire to be able to do it was stronger than the ability. We learned that it takes a lot of energy and thought and practice, practice, practice to do these dances. The seed has been planted and we do want to learn more. It’s wonderful to have an in-house dance instructor(s) in our family now. It’s our own fault if we don’t learn with all these benefits. This is a secret dream of both of us, to dance. Bill has always been able to move around on the dance floor, nothing formal, but I feel like two left feet and have always been that way. I am convinced now that I can learn though so that is a gift.
Bill and I had acupuncture on board. We had some laughs over that I do think it might have helped some but it was more the act of trying something new that was appealing and fun. I even came away with some Chinese herbal remedies for my knees so that will surely mean I won’t have to have surgery if I take them. This trip could have saved us a lot of money.  Bill did not listen to the woman’s promises and so he came away with just a relaxing time spent in the darkened room after the needles were inserted and considered himself ahead.
This trip has enriched our lives for sure. I’m so thankful for the opportunity and the benefits we received. I even won $85 at the casino but promptly put it back in and lost it. I have to learn to stop while I’m ahead.
After our cruise from hell that we took 30 years ago, this is as different as night and day. I’m so glad we went.

Full Circle - Amsterdam

2009-07-07T18:40:00.005-04:00

Back to the Netherlands. Bill and I spent the night at the Sheraton Airport Hotel before flying out the next day. We didn’t want to be stressed if it took longer to get off the ship than we anticipated. Our first cruise took forever and we were fit to be tied when we finally got off. This time the disembarkation (or whatever it is called) went smoothly and quickly and we could have easily caught a flight out in time. We are glad we stayed the extra night though because the airport there was wonderful.

We didn’t realize how tired we were from our grand vacation. It had a whole mall inside and a 24 hour coffee shop. It was amazing and perfect. We rested, people watched, enjoyed our coffee and meals and some calming down time together. We began reliving our cruise already.
There was a prototype electric car at the airport that looked futuristic and interesting,

I am so glad we were able to stay over the extra day because we were able to go to the Van Gough Museum. I was blown away by all the famous paintings I have seen in pictures through the years. To see the originals was mind boggling. While leaving the museum we saw several people get off a bus with bikes folded.
I was also able to get some souvenirs for people that I wasn’t able to find before. Things were so high and cheaply made it seemed or you could buy the incredibly expensive stuff which didn’t appeal to us at all. We were able to get some delftware for my dish collection in NC, some tulip bulbs from Holland for Mom, and something for shirts for Jeni and Tom and some chocolates from Amsterdam for the employees. I was even able to get Hanna (Little Sister) one of the stacking dolls from Russia. There just weren’t a lot of choices throughout our trip. I was surprised about that.
Back to the real world. We noticed that no one called us madam and mister when we got off the boat, people wanted us to pay for our meals and they weren’t even gourmet. We had to go to sleep in a bed that wasn’t gently rocking to the sea. This could be quite a culture shock for us.

Going home sweet home.

Copenhagen Denmark

2009-07-06T18:17:00.003-04:00

This first photo is remarkable because the woman in purple, Evlyn, is ninety seven years old. There weren't many that could out dance her. A few times after dinner she would ask someone where they were going after dinner. I would reply, "to bed!", but she was ready to dance. Her daughter, Doris, in the blue is seventy eight. She sure has her Mother's genes, she doesn't look near that age. The man in the middle is Clarke Watkins who was also an instructor.

Alan and Kay, our hosts and instructors on the cruise AND my daughter's new in laws.

Following is our whole dance group.I sure do miss these people. How enjoyable it was getting to know them all.

Wed, June 24, 2009

Land of Hans Christian Anderson, The Little Mermaid, and Tivoli Gardens.

Denmark is located on two islands connected by two bridges.

One of the major highlights in Copenhagen is The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue), a world famous bronze sculpture that reclines on a rock on the shore. She has come to represents Denmark to many. The story goes that she is a sea king’s half-human and half-fish daughter, who must wait on her rock for 300 years before she can enter the world of humans. She’s been sitting there since 1913 so she has a while to go. In the meantime, she’s had her head cut off (this became a murder case in Denmark that was solved, head found and reattached), and lost an arm in the same way with the same results and it was reattached. Someone painted a bra on her once and on one occasion she was stolen from her perch altogether (with the use of dynamite). She had to have a lot of plastic surgery when they rescued her from the sea. The little mermaid has been through so much that Denmark decided to send her on a vacation. We were fortunate to be there when we were and see her in person because she will soon be in China so they can enjoy her beauty before her return to her homeland in a couple of years.

The most common name for all Denmark kings has been Christian and Frederick. Queen Margarette has been the Queen now since 72 but her son is the crown prince, Frederick, and he will become the next king. The Danish monarchy is the oldest unbroken one. Unbroken for 1,000 years. The official residence of the Royal Family is Amalienborg Palace. The Palace is actually four separate palaces in the heart of the city; recently the royal apartments were open to the public.

The Museum of Danish Resistance is dedicated to the resistance in 40-45 against German occupation and the Danish commitment to the Danish people to help save many Jews from becoming victims of the Holocaust.

In a couple of downtown buildings that have so many windows, they refer to the building as Blue Eyes or Green Eyes, whatever color is reflected in the windows. I’ll have to look at our buildings in Tampa and see what color eyes our glass buildings have. I know we have one old blue eyes.

There are so many fairy tales and Gods and Goddess references in Copenhagen. It gives the whole area a magical quality when you hear all the tales and the Gods attached to each monument, building, or ship.

The Kastellet military fortress is 300 years old and covers approximately 50 acres. One of its centerpieces is the Gefion Fountain, which shows a goddess commandeering four oxen. The story goes that the goddess was offered more land for Denmark by a God. She could have as much land for her country as she could plow in one night. She turned her four huge sons into oxen and began to plow land large enough to become Denmark.

It’s very expensive to live in Copenhagen. When asked the cost of condos we passed, we were told they begin at two million dollars.

We saw where Hans Christian Anderson lived and wrote.

All education in Denmark is free, even college.

We went to Tivoli Park and Gardens. This is the park that inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland and World. It’s a very small garden and amusement park, but I can see why someone would think to build bigger and better. The laughter of children and excited voices were throughout the park. We had a very small hamburger there that cost $8.00. One fashion statement was capri’s for the men. They looked strange at first but then I thought they made perfect sense and looked good, especially next to some of the shorts we saw worn there. The people were striking. Blonde, blue-eyed children and parents were predominant. So many of the young men and boys gelled their hair for that tussled look. Copenhagen was another city where I saw very few overweight people unless they were tourist.

We noticed was more hustle and bustle of the city in Copenhagen than any other Scandinavian city we were in. Almost 40% of the transportation used in Copenhagen is bikes. This makes so much sense here, too, especially for places like NYC and big towns; I wonder why we don’t do that more.

When students graduate from high school they wear a white cap with a cranberry colored band and they wear them with pride through the summer. We saw so many of them and I think it’s a great idea.

Licorice was sold everywhere in so many forms. They had salted licorice everywhere which I didn’t like but I liked every other kind. There were kiosks set up selling nothing but licorice.

Tallinn, Estonia

2009-07-01T14:55:00.005-04:00

Our tour guide’s name was Aino, pronounced I-know. Well, had a giddy group we were doing the old routine of “What’s the tour guide’s name”, answer, “I know.” “I know YOU know but I want to know. What’s the tour guide’s name?” I’m telling you, we were a wild and crazy bunch!

Estonia was a surprise to us because it turned out to be one of our favorite places. The people seemed happy and the scenery was beautiful. There were so many green parks, trees, flowers, lush green grass. Things I expected from a place that has so much rain.One of the strangest and ugliest trees was the horse chestnut. The fruit is poison and the tree looks like it has cancerous growths all over it. There was a beauty in that ugly tree though. I know Mom has talked about horse chestnut trees before and we have them (at least in Tennessee), but I had never seen anything like these trees.
There are 22 churches and 22 libraries in Tallinn.
We were told that they were spiritual readers.  Our guide took us to her church (Lutheran) and it has the largest display of coat of arms carved in wood in the world.
In town if there is a green and yellow flag on a building, which means it’s a meeting building. So, if you are alone or just want to talk or hang out you go to that building with a flag. She said that older people often take advantage of it because it provides them with company and conversation and just a place to go to get out of the house a while. I just love that whole concept and think we could all use meeting buildings in our cities.

Estonia used to be a part of Russia but now they are proud of the fact that they are a member of NATO and they are free. Russian KGB processing building was in Estonia where Russia’s prisoners were processed and sent to Siberia. 60,000 Estonians were deported and that left only 1/3 of the population.

We saw remnants of the wall of defense and a moat around the city of Tallinn. The moat freezes in winter and the children of Tallinn ice skate there now.

There were Russian style buildings all around and not so attractive Russian houses built but most of the houses and places we saw were quaint and charming looking. I felt like I was in a medieval set.

Soccer is huge there and they are proud of their team. Their arch rival is Sweden and they say that Estonia is the BEST team but Sweden has the most LUCK. LOL

Every five years they have a huge singing festival. This tradition sprang from their Song Revolution. In 1988 the Estonians amassed 300,000 people to a singing revolution there in Tallinn. They sang national songs and sang the songs they were not permitted to sing under Soviet Rule. That revolution was called “The Song of Estonia”. Every five years they have that huge singing festival and they were gearing up for it while we were there. The guide said that you can hear a hum over all of Estonia when the song festival begins. Aino said “we are a singing nation, going along the roads singing whatever we want to sing. We weren’t permitted to sing for so long and that is our independence celebration.” She also said they are a nation of off key singers because everyone likes to sing. When the Song Festival begins, they carry a torch on horseback and carry it to the town hall and brought to a stage for the beginning of the festival. She said when famous people loose their voices, they come to Estonia. LOL I felt honored to be at the Tallinn Song Festival Arena where that revolution took place.
Estonians retire at 63 and they want to change it to 65 or 67 but she said these people were brought up in the war and revolutions and their health is not good like the children growing up now. Sixty five is a long life when you are brought up in war and the poverty and restrictions.

Russia

2009-06-30T07:34:00.006-04:00

This is my favorite photo. It really shows the mood of all of us on this trip. Alan did get in the next photo but I neglected to get back to the photo shop to get it...so, minus Alan in only this photo, we are here in a very cold, windy Russia. Unbelievable!

Russia:
Stark, drab and dark. A lot of dirt rather than grass in places.

I never dreamed in my lifetime that I would be in Russia, nor did I desire to be. There is a fear attached to being in Russia that I did not know I had.

Our tour guide was a young woman with long red hair and she was very nice. That wasn't the case with all Russians I encountered. Most looked sad to me.

St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, next to Moscow. It is supposed to be the most westernized, planned city. This port city was founded by Tsar Peter the Great and is considered one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Russia. That was a revelation to me once I toured the city because it did not seem beautiful or romantic. I did see museums and buildings that were really elaborate, but they were all in different states of disrepair.The over all feel of the place was pallor and a depressed state. The buildings were old, peeling and dirty looking. I came to find later in Estonia that it was a particular Russian style building that the Russians also built there when they controlled Estonia. (So they made them to look like this?) I'd say more like no style; putty colored cement buildings with no design to them and several commented that they looked like projects.

The tour guide told us on a couple of occasions to make note of the colorful buildings and we would look outside at dull yellow and drab pink buildings among the gray ones. This girl had not been out of Russia so to her the buildings probably were colorful. She said it might be depressing there if it were not for all the beautiful buildings.

Russia is located on forty-two islands. The majority of Russians live in the apartment buildings that lined the street in Saint Petersburg as we drove in. There were rows and rows of gray, stark, dirty white, carbon copies apartment buildings everywhere. We were told that the apartments were very small and the only ones that have homes are the very rich.

Downtown someone spotted a Gucci store and asked the guide who could afford some of those stores. She replied that the “Golden Youth” were the ones who shopped in places like that. In the early 90’s after Soviet rule ended, gangs and organized crime proliferated and they became rich. The children of these people are rich and spend the money now in stores that most can’t afford.

Saint Petersburg used to be called Leningrad.

The city was called “The Venice of the North” because there were so many canals. Most of the canals were later filled in and are now roads.

There are only 30 sunny days a year in Russia. It also rains a lot. It poured while were were there, would clear up,then rain some more. It was very cold and windy. We were told that was normal but that we were having a good day because the day before we got there it was 9 degrees!

We had lunch at a restaurant in town and we, the tourists, were the only ones there. It was in a huge building with off white walls and absolutely no decorations. No pictures, photos, nothing on the walls. We were entertained by a Russian Folkloric group and were able to see some of the beautiful costumes and instruments used. The act seemed to be a comedy but I really didn’t understand it. It was either the accents or the sound system at fault or both. We were served Vodka with our lunch along with our water. We weren’t asked if we wanted it, we were just served. We understand that is normal to drink vodka with every meal. We expected the vodka to burn our throats or be really vile tasting. It was, in fact, very good. We had caviar on our salad. The meal was mediocre, chicken stroganoff with salad and desert of ice cream. One thing about the food in Scandinavia and Russia is that it was all rather bland. The potato and sausages was the only local foods that I could really note as local dishes.

We went to the Hermitage (Her-ma-TAGE) Museum. There was a huge crowd and the museum was incredible. The Hermitage is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. We saw a very small section of the museums and were duly impressed by the architecture and paintings of the greats. Six buildings make up the Hermitage and one is the Winter Palace of the Russian Tsars. There are 3 million pieces of art in the buildings. The art works in the museum were owned by the Russian Tsars and were only opened to the public in the 19th century.

The guide told us that in Russia if you see five brides in a day, you will have good luck. I thought that was an impossible happening until I found out the traditions for brides and grooms on their wedding day. They go to be photographed by as many monuments or famous buildings that they can reach on that day. We saw more than five in wedding gowns and their entourage with them getting photos taken. They all looked very tired and with all the monuments I imagine they are on the go all day! It was fun to see so many brides and grooms on their special day.

There are 200 museums in Saint Petersburg. There is a museum for everything. A museum for vodka, one for bread; then there is the museum of chocolate. I think I would have tried to see the latter if I’d been free to do so. You can’t go into Russia on your own like we could the other places. We have to be on sanctioned tours. I went through a check point on my way back to the ship at one point, thinking that we only had to check in on the way into Russia. Not so. The woman started yelling at me in Russian and started slamming her fist down on the desk. Shades of Kruschev and his shoe floated through my mind. I could not say anything to appease her or explain myself so I sat through a lecture in Russian and kept nodding my head and she finally let me through. Whew. I was glad to be on that ship again but was also looking forward to being out of that port.

The minimum wage in Russia is equal to $200 in American dollars. $500-$700 is a good wage. $1,000 a month is excellent pay and made by The more experienced doctors, etc. The very small apartments are expensive. $10,000 per square meter or $3,000 per square meter for the very old tiny apartments with one bed. Land is extremely expensive and only the very rich have land and houses. Few people have cars. Almost all Russians smoke cigarettes and a lot of them drink. In comparison to the states, Russian cigarettes are inexpensive and they can afford them.

Here are Dave and Chris, George and Chris standing at the Neva River. Across the river is the Peter and Paul fortress and Cathedral. Part of the fortress was once a political jail that held people like Dostoyevsky and many well known people. The Peter and Paul Orthodox Cathedral is filled with caskets of royalty buried there. There were no seats, people had to stand during the services. The Cathedral spire is the highest building in St. Petersburg and the weather vane at the top (angel holding a cross) is a symbol of St. Petersburg.

Stockholm Sweden

2009-06-29T12:04:00.008-04:00

June 17 - Today we went to an Ice Bar in downtown Stockholm. What an experience. We had to don heavy coats with hoods and put on insulated gloves. We went into the bar where the walls, tables, bar, seats, and sculptures were all made of ice. We were served Vodka with passion fruit juice in cups that were…ice. How unique and the Vodka drinks tasted like wonderful fruit juices. Yum.

So much of down town seems to be dedicated to or surrounds Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prize. We saw where the banquet was held each year.

Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite was instrumental in building roads and by-ways through the Scandinavian countries. There are many tunnels in Stockholm and the tunnels are thanks to Nobel’s invention. Each of the Scandinavian countries were full of canals and reminded me a bit of Venice.

Stockholm is situated on 14 islands so there are also many bridges. Fifty bridges connect Stockholm!

One difficult situation for us was the inability to make out the names on so many buildings and places like bathrooms and drugstores and groceries, etc. The names are just so different than anything we have seen and the words just don't look pronounceable.

I thought it was cool that in Stockholm, artists and writers got the apartments by the sea because it is believed that they will get more inspiration there. I mean, what a beautiful thing to be taken seriously and treated so well as an artist and writer.

Lutheran is the official religion of not only Sweden but also the other Scandinavian countries we visited. The second denomination was the Orthodox church. We were able to see several beautiful churches of both denomination. We went to one church that was carved out of huge rock. This is a functioning Lutheran Church today.

There was one hotel in Stockholm that you can stay at that used to be a jail. They still have cells and for a price, you can go into the cell stay for the night. We weren’t even tempted. LOL

The Royal family lives on Queen’s Island and the Queen’s daughter, Victoria, will marry next June. That is going to be an incredible event and we saw the church where she will be married. Should be fun to see the event next year. The Queen has lost some satisfaction with the monarchy points when she asked the Swedes to help pay for the wedding. We saw the changing of the guard there and I was awe struck at these young men and their jobs.

It only takes a few minutes to marry in Sweden and only seconds to get a divorce. You don't have to have a good reason, just that you don't want to be married any longer. Fewer people get married in Sweden per capita then Americans but the divorce rate for those that do marry is considerably lower. Same sex marriage is legal here.

We were there for the holiday, Midsummer. Everyone celebrates by cooking out and drinking. All the stores and many businesses were closed. We were told that there are so few summer days that they are celebrated heartily with food and drink.

The outfit for women seemed to be long blouses or dresses and black tights with boots. It was cold and rainy there so add to that coats and umbrellas of every description.

Doctor visits and hospitalizations are free there but dentist is not free and in fact they are VERY expensive. A lot of Swedes go without dental care. The Swedes pay 33% in taxes and closer to 60% if they are rich.

Back to the dance lessons. We have two a day when we are at sea. Dancing is hard work and that's even if you are just taking a stab at it. We tried not to stand out in our ineptitude but were never successful in that endeavor. We stuck out like sore thumbs but we got all the kudos we needed from Kay, Alan, and the rest of the group to keep at it and feel good if we learned one step each day. Kay and Alan have taught dancing for maybe 20 years and it shows. They are not only wonderful dancers but good teachers as well. We had fun doing the line dances even if it was a waltz line dance at the end of the lesson. I think the waltz was my favorite as a matter of fact. The most fun was watching the others dance at events and when Kay and Alan danced the whole dance floor stopped to watch. They were amazing. I can't imagine being able to dance so well. I have a better idea of how much practice and work it is to be that good.

Before our first formal night on the ship, we had drinks in Kay and Alan's room. It turned out that the drink was champagne and they drank a toast to Bill and me for our 39th wedding anniversary. We had ran into Kay and Alan that morning decorating our door with wedding bells. That night at dinner was incredible. We had champagne and a wonderful chocolate cake for everyone at the three tables that we took up. What a memory. We felt so fortunate to be there to celebrate these years together and we couldn't have found better people to celebrate with. They gave us a Lenox candy rose bowl that is just beautiful and we will cherish it as a momento of that time.

Bill and I were amazed by the similarities in looks of the three sisters that were there. Kay has five sisters, one passed away not long ago. I have five brothers and one passed away a couple of years ago. Here is a photo of the three sisters that were on the cruise looking gorgeous on formal night.

I admitted before we ever started the cruise that the thought of being on a ship made us wince after our one experience with cruise ships; “the cruise from hell”. Well, if that was hell then we just experienced heaven. What fun. Advantage of cruises: you take your hotel with you. You don’t have to carry your suitcase into each country, you leave it and go back to your bed each night on the ship. You just relax, enjoy your family and new friends, go to sleep at night and wake up to a new country, a new adventure. That’s not even considering the way you are totally pampered. We are still worried about our reentry into the real world where we don’t eat gourmet dinners each night and where our bed and room are not cleaned up for us each time we leave it. What an experience that was 180 degree change from our first experience. The obvious difference to us was going with Kay and Alan and meeting some more of Tom's family and getting to know them all better. Add to that fact was the meeting of so many of Kay and Alan's friends on board as well. Knowing someone on the ship or going with someone is definitely a help but going with these people was a total treat for both of us.

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I Can Rumba

2009-06-15T10:35:00.004-04:00

Hey family and friends! I can Rumba. I won't say I'm good (because I'm not)but it's the closest I've come to dancing. These dance lessons will be considered a success from this day forward even if we never learn. The feel of Bill and me dancing was good enough. I still can't believe us. Learning this stuff is even harder than we thought and I realize we won't learn that much because we aren't good studies, but it is fun and when we learn how, I can see how it would be a lot of fun.

We have seen Kay and Alan ( our Consuegras) in a whole new light. They are not only incredible dancers but they are wonderful teachers as well; very patient and easy to learn from. They have so many on board the ship that know them and appreciate what they do. Believe me, there aren't many people that could teach me or Bill how to Rumba. What fun. I am amazed about how beautiful Kay is in this venue and how handsome Alan is and how well they do together. This is definitely their calling. I did not look on them as the gurus that they are. :) This has been so much fun already just getting to know them and meeting more of their family and friends. Everyone is having a great time and getting to know each other is the best part of all.

Amsterdam was quite a treat and different than anything I can relate to. The red light district was incredible. I couldn't help but feel sorry for these girls but they all seemed so sure of themselves. They stand in the windows selling their wares and althought it sickened me (truthfully), it also intrigued me. How these women could stand so brave and "out there" and not flinch or think anything about it. Or so it would seem. The guys figured out pretty quickly that all the women were not women(by seeing their adam's apple of course!).

There are so many young people in Amsterdam and oh, my the bikes.
There must be more bikes than any mode of transportation. Bikes have their own stop light system but not a whole lot of them pay attentionto signs. We had to watch out for cars, bikes, skaters,and each other because we didn't know which direction they would come from. Bicycles have the right of way. Our cab driver told us there was at least one biker death a week because they don't stop or use the signals or slow down for anyone.The bikes are rigged to accommodate any amount of passengers. There are baby seats that will carry several children, carts attached for carrying products. Most of the bikes are very old and rusty looking but there are decorated ones, rusty ones, and some that don't even resemble bikes any longer. I saw bikes carrying whole families.

Some coffee shops sell marijuana cigarettes or hash (I'll have to research, I thought they were the same thing).They also sell dessert...hash brownies. You can also get a cup of coffee if you wish.Darrell, your post cracked me up but honestly, I think I talk like you suggested anyway, so people probably wouldn't be able to tell I was happy after a cigarette at the coffee shop. LOL

What surprised me: It is cold, rains most of the time, and the flowers that are planted in window ledges, apartment building sides and every available spot. They are beautiful...every color, every hue. They have canals that they traverse by boats and there are so many house boats where families live.You can take a canal boat and get on and off whereever you want in the city. I wonder how they keep the houseboats warm. There are S shaped metal buildings along the city sidewalks. These are for men to go to the bathroom in. They are quite open and you can see the men standing inside and they come out zipping up their pants. I guess it's better than going on the sidewalks as I know some do in places like NYC and New Orleans. I guess the metal potties would be an improvement. There is a six hour time difference. We know this because Jeni called back to say we called her at 2, 4, and 6 a.m. to share some interesting tidbit with her. She couldn't have been too happy with her traveling parents. LOL

The place we stayed (The Kap hotel)was so tiny and that seems to be the way places are there...very tiny. That prepared us for our ship room which seems very roomyin comparison. There was no lift at The Kap so we lugged four suitcases up stairs that looked like a joke at first. That was the roughest part of the trip, getting the suitcases up and down those very narrow stairs and then walking over them in our room. The place was very clean and reasonably priced compared to other places and the location was perfect for getting around. Another big pay off was the quaint little garden in the back of the building where we had our breakfast. A lesson learned here is that if a person from Scandanavia say, "oh, you can walk it easily", you know that means that if you have trained for years you might be able to walk. Scandanavians seem to be very healthy. I think it's all that bike riding. Their food seems a lot healthier as well.

We went to a place to eat in town where you could get a $10 Argentina steak and sit at tables outside. I loved the atmosphere. We learned from this experience to be wise about what's happening at dinner. Mario served us each bread and butter before the meal came out. Later we found out that he was charging us five dollars for that bread. To make a long sad story short and sad, we were taken and that was the most expensive $10 steak we ever had. We were charmed by Mario throughout though and we we were thankful that at least we had such a charming waiter who made us laugh before he stiffed us. LOL

We saw the place where Anne Frank and her family hid out in 42-44 in Amsterdam. Her father, Otto, was the only survivor of the concentration camp and he talked via video of Anne Frank and his family. He said he talked to Anne a lot but he never knew she was thinking the things she put down in her diary. I guess that shows that we really never do know our children (or they us). He is the one that was instrumental in getting her diary published. I didn't know the diary was red plaid and it was a good feeling to see it and see her writing. We talked to a woman who hid, as Anne Frank did, (but she didn't write a diary. She was there visiting and Bill struck up a conversation. The most interesting part was listening to her stories I think. To think of all the people who were hiding just as Anne Frank was is truly mind boggling. What a horendous time for the world. I understand what our exchange student from Germany was telling us when she talked of the deep shame she had, that Germans had still over the atrocities. It's something Germany will never outlive she said. I felt shame while I was there that human beings could do that to other human beings. Well, the visit to Anne Frank's hiding place was certainly something that touched us deeply. I'm glad I went.

As we headed home one night after being downtown, I shared a tram seat after a day on the town with Thor (I don't make these things up) and his dog, Urk. The dog and he had been to the beach all day and were very tired but Thor picked Urk (Benji like dog) up and put him in his lap so I could sit down. What a handsome man AND dog! Both blonde, disheveled, and gorgeous blue eyes. sigh Ok. I admit to being a bit jealous of Urk.

The sun rises around 4 a.m and sets around 10:30 p.m. We will be onboard on the longest day of the year so I'm ready to see what that will feel like since there seems to be so many daylight hours as it is. Often I have thought it was about 6pm and it will be 10pm.

Food here is different. (Amsterdam at least) We had pancakes that were the size of car wheel and I made the mistake of ordering a hamburger which we found out was not exactly beef. The x-meat inspector that was with us said it was horse meat but the woman showed us the package that said half of it was pork. They don't have the same stringent rules and regulations about their food that we do. We were trying to figure out what parts of the cow and pig they added to make ground beef. I refuse to labor the point any longer, I will not order beef in Holland. Good to know -since we will be staying in Amsterdam on the return trip as well.

We boarded the ship, the Celebrity Century, yesterday and it's been 'pampered, spoiled, taught and shown beauty every minute so far. The food has been incredible and getting to know our friends and fammily in the dance class has been incredibile.

I can't begin to tell you how different this cruise in from the one that we took previously. I have a room with flowers (even a pink rose in the bath room), champaign that we haven't even opened yet, and our bed turned down each night and chocolates put on our pillows. If that first trip was from hell, this must be heaven. Someone just knocked on my door and delivered appetizers..tiny little pates and crackers. I know it's heaven now.
One last thing. sigh Admitting here that I really can't Rumba but I did learn a few steps and it feels a lot like the Rumba to me.
I must return to my life here on board the Celebrity cruiseship.
Tomorrow: Sweden. Ja Ja

I Can't Believe It

2009-06-10T03:29:00.003-04:00

This is my last day to get ready for the cruise. I'm almost packed and almost ready so today will be a finish up day. Since I can't sleep tonight, it might be a rough day!
I can't believe that Bill and I have been married thirty-nine years (May 2) and that we are celebrating with a cruise.
I can't believe we are actually going on a cruise again after swearing we'd never get on a ship again after our first one. LOL
I can't believe that I will see Holland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark and Russia. I've never been to any of those places so this will be exciting just to see something so different.
I can't believe we are going on a dance cruise when we don't dance. We will be taking lessons on board, I can't believe that either.
I can not believe that we are going on a cruise with my daughter's new in-laws (our consuegras) and some of their family and friends. I should be a bit nervous about this and perhaps I will be later but right now I'm just excited.
I can't believe our total travel time to get to Amsterdam is 15 hours and 10 minutes. Yikes. I will make sure I have sound reduction ear phones and maybe some Tylenol PM. I want to make sure I sleep some of that 15 hours. Actually I'd like to be knocked out until we arrive there but that's not going to happen. LOL
We will have computer access on the ship. That is comforting. :) I think if we had had communication to the land on our first cruise from hell, we would have faired much better. That, and the hurricanes, and frigid weather, a bizillion kids on board, not being able to get off the ship in port, and everyone's short tempers did not make for good cruising.
Bill is reading up on the places we will be seeing and has been filling me in on some things. For instance, I can't believe that in Amsterdam you can go into a coffees shop and order a coffee and a marihuana cigarette. No lie! It gets more interesting after that.
I can't believe the art museums I will be able to visit on this trip and whodathunk I'd ever see Russia. Not me. Just the name invokes a bit of fear in me, probably in my generation.
I'll have lots to talk about I'm sure so stay tuned if you dare.

Dinner with Bill, Jeni, Tom and Father Mike

2009-06-02T21:05:00.005-04:00

Father Mike wanted to meet Tom, our son-in-law and so we all met at Outback for dinner last night. It's always so nice being together and spending time with Jeni and feeling the joy of having Tom for a son-in-law. In the photo above: Father Mike, Me, Jeni, and Tom.
The dinner was very good. We haven't been in so long and the menu has changed quite a bit. Just a wonderful evening, catching up with Jeni and Tom since I left for NC a month ago.

Florida or Bust

2009-06-02T20:15:00.004-04:00

I came back to Florida by way of Mom's in SC. Mom and I went shopping at Wal-mart, Dollar Store and Piggly Wiggly (where they asked me if I had my pig card and I was offended! LOL) She loves to be out and about and she was appreciative of me running her around.
Alvin has the soul responsibility of taking her to all these places, plus so many others like her Dr., the pharmacy, etc. He is amazing really. It's not easy and he does it every week. The rest of us are always SO thankful for him and Brenda. What a big responsibility and they take it in stride after many adjustments at first. I have to say that Brenda is even more amazing because she goes along and it's not her mom. (She did have to give over the tasks to Al to save her sanity eventually but Al just doesn't put up with or listen to her "stuff" and it all works out somehow. I'm so thankful that it does. Thanks Al and BB! I really don't think any of the rest of us would be up to the task (Mom, not the shopping - going part). I love her dearly but she's not easy to get along with and I know that.
I had a wonderful visit though and Al and Brenda came over so we could spend a little time together as well. I miss visiting with Al and BB when I go through there but Mom gets very jealous. She's like a child sometimes I think.

I had such a nice, relaxing trip home. I stopped at the Harley Davidson dealership in Daytona Beach to get a jacket for Bill and got a photo of Lexi with Elvis there. :) Bill loves his new jacket. I tried to get over to see Harley (our dog to be) but they weren't home so I missed that opportunity.
It was SOOOOOOOO nice getting back home into the arms of my husband and in my home. I feel so fickle about houses. I love getting to NC and home there and just bask in the magic of being back home here in Florida again. I guess I shouldn't question it. They are two such different and amazing places and I love them both.

Dolly Hawkins

2009-05-22T00:08:00.004-04:00

Dolly Hawkins, my friend, died a few days ago. I’m still in shock because it was so sudden. She had a burst aneurysms in her brain and a few days later she was gone. All of us who knew her grieve today for this woman, so full of life, who left here much too soon.
Dolly was my age and she followed her dream to live in Costa Rica when she and her husband retired.
She lived in Georgia when I first knew her probably 13 or so years ago. She was a creative designer of homes and rooms and her husband was a builder. The last several years she lived in Costa Rica with her husband, George and her mother, Dory. They ran a B&B from their spacious home and I had the privilege of being there last year and this year as well. First was a trip with friends who also knew Dolly and this second one, one year later, was with my brothers and sister’s in law. We had a wonderful time staying at their place in Alleueja and meeting people they knew and touring the country.
Dolly was also responsible for helping Bill and I to plan the graduation trip for Brian to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Her advice and suggestions helped to make it a perfect vacation.
Dolly wrote beautiful poetry about nature and her philosophies on life. We were in the same writing group, The Skywriters, for probably 10 years.
She was at my house this year for a writing retreat with other women in the Skywriters, I’m so glad I had that opportunity to be with her. I can hear her reading her poetry to us so clearly and see her sitting yoga style on my couch listening or composing poetry.

I feel her presence in her home state, Georgia, in many states where we traveled along with the other HCCer‘s as a group, in Las Vegas which is a place she loved, in Costa Rica, and in my home in Florida. So many memories flood in as I think of her not being here any longer to enjoy these times with. I hope the essence of her will always be in my mind as I envision or walk in these places. I wasn’t ready to say good-bye.

Poetry and Coffee

2009-05-14T23:44:00.001-04:00

I took a trip to Hayesville where the Netwest Writers and Poets meet for coffee and poetry reading at their local bookstore. What a perfect combination, coffee, and the written word, especially when you add some yummy little desserts to go with it. Brenda Kay Ledford was the guest poet who read her poetry. She is an amazing poet from that area, the kind of poet who lived in the same type places that I did and she knows how to say it so you can see, feel, and be right there with her. I really enjoyed this whole group of women, just reading and enjoying the comradery of other poets and writers. After Brenda Kay Ledford read, there was an open mic and many of us read a poem. I read one about my Grandpa Sid and everyone laughed at the right places and were wide eyed at the right places. LOL When I was through, a couple of the women told me they wanted to know more and wondered if I thought about writing a short story about Grandpa. I have thought and am working on a chapbook of character sketches. Now I’ll have to call it family character sketches because that’s what they have turned out to be so far.
The bookstore in Hayesville is a dream. They have arts and crafts (all local) as well as many wonderful regional and local writers books. I couldn’t get out of that bookstore! It’s a long drive to Hayesville so I won’t go often, but every now and again, I will look forward to the trip over to meet with this group of poets again. I want to walk into every little shop on the main street as well. There’s a wonderful knit shop, a bakery that I did try and is out of this world (Annie’s Natural), and lots of places to eat that I want to try as well.
Being with other writers always inspires me and this was no exception. What fun!
I have so many books and ideas for books that never get much further than that but they are all there, waiting to be put in order or written when I get around to it. As long as I don’t run out of things to write about, I guess I’ll be fine and my passion for writing will stay with me, even if nothing ever comes of it.

Mother's Day Weekend

2009-05-11T09:46:00.004-04:00

I had a nice trip to SC to spend Mother’s Day with mom. It was wonderful seeing her flowers and seeing her. She looked older and more frail than when I saw her last, not that long ago. I feel good for spending this time with her and doing for her for a few days and I hope to spend more time with her. Her body and hands are cripled and bent by arthritis and she tired more easily than before. Thankfully, she still likes to shop at Wal-Mart and we spent quite a long time there while she got groceries, and other things. She just becomes another person when she is going in the car somewhere but I can see a time when she won’t even be able to shop any longer. I want to enjoy it with her while she still can. She has a pink rose bush that is the most incredible I have ever seen. It's so full and heavy with roses. She loves her flowers and garden. I'm so glad she has a passion for them and it shows. Jasmine is around everywhere; up in the trees,all over the woods. They give off a heavenly scent and the whole area in SC is just beautiful.
On the way there I stopped at Sharon Harris’ home and spent some time with her catching up and finally, I met her husband after knowing her for probably 13 years now. Jerry is a handsome man and he put up with our chatter and laughter and even spent some time outside with Lexi. Of course I know how nice Sharon is but it’s nice to know how nice Jerry is, too. I saw photos of her kids and grands and learned something new about her . She goes all over with a group of women to Alan Jackson concerts. She’s a real groupie. LOL Anyway, she explained that Alan Jackson was irrelevant to her traveling all over. The big deal , though she does love Alan Jackson’s singing AND his looks, is that she does get to travel with this great group of women and she keeps meeting new people. Well, I would no doubt be a groupie now that I understand that. She sure has fun traveling the country and I’m glad to learn more about it. Distressing news is that her local bowling alley closed and Sharon is an avid and good bowler. This is a funny photo because I still don't know how to use my new camera and when Jerry tried to take photos of us it didn't work but I pointed the camera at us and there was that green light so I got the shot myself LOL
On Mother’s Day, I was going to take mom out for brunch but she was pooped. I understood because I wore myself out as well. LOL So we just had coffee and talked. Mom talked a lot about her childhood and she kept repeating stories but I listened to them and realized that the hardened arteries were probably a factor to her slight dementia. I say slight because I don’t believe it’s Alzeimers. I can see a time when she won’t be as self sufficient but for now, she is doing well and enjoying life. She has a small garden planted and takes care of her flowers , those things are her love. Her flowers were beautiful and spring time is definitely there in her area.
I’m very glad I have a mother this year to celebrate.
Jeni and Tom said they will celebrate mother’s day with me when I get back to Florida so this Mother’s Day is not over yet. They had Bill over for a steak BBQ today and they had a really nice day.
Bill sent me photos of Harley, who is our new dog that isn’t weaned yet and we won’t take home with us until the end of June. He’s a phatom poodle and he has a lightening bolt in white on his chest. Unusual and I think pretty coloring. Bill spent time out there with him and says he’s really cute. He has his eyes open and his hair is getting longer with more distinct markings. I can’t wait to see him and I am so curious about how Lexi will be with him.
Lexi had Leila, my brother’s dog, to play with at my Mom’s and she just loved that. Laila is much older and bigger but she is really good with Lexi. I’m dog crazy I guess. I would never have dreamed that we would ever have two dogs. I hope it works out well for us. He has to be a good traveling dog like Lexi or he won’t work out for sure. Lexi is the best traveler. I put her in her car seat and she’s a happy girl.

Wedding Anniversary

2009-05-08T12:28:00.004-04:00

Since I added my long stem red roses to my blog on the mountain house, I thought I should give these roses equal time, at least.
Bill and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary on May 2. It's been a ride and most of it wonderful. The bad didn't have to do with our relationship but we do believe the bad times made ourmarriage stronger. Even the horror of the death of our son didn't change the way we felt about each other or the love we share. Again, it made us stronger. Our thinking is that if you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.
This man is the love of my life and all the sappy phrases and thoughts apply here. I really am blessed and am thankful every day of my life that I met and married this man.
This anniversary we are taking a cruise to Russia and Scandinavia. We go in June and really look forward to it. In the mean time, he sent me roses and they are still gorgeous one week later. It was a nice surprise since I knew we weren't celebrating until next month.
Life is good and I'm hoping for another thirty-nine years with this man.

North Carolina Sunrise

2009-05-04T07:59:00.006-04:00

I woke up to an orange and yellow sunrise over the mountain tops. A bird was outside my window on a tree with leaves the new green of spring. The weather is cool and a breeze makes the thin branches look like mobiles swaying; the bird song gives the mobile it's chime. I'm overcome with the beauty of it all. The mountains are so rich with the color of green in a thousand shades. It takes my breath away.
Speaking of birds, I have a cardinal here that keeps running into the window...crashing really. It's been going on for days and I don't know how to stop him. I've opened the window, really thinking that would be a better alternative to the bird dying.
So then he goes over to the patio window and starts crashing into that. I can't put cardboard or something outside on that window because it's one I can't reach for the decks. I've had a few talks with this self destructive bird, tried shewing him away, and Lexi had a good talk with it last night and I thought that did the trick until he started crashing again this morning. There is a bird house store in Waynesville and I'm going to stop in there to see if they have any suggestions. What a phenomena. I've never seen or heard of anything like it before.
I'm thinking about making it a little crash helmet but, you know birds, I can't be sure he'd wear it. sigh I'll figure this out somehow.
It's glorious here with spring coming to the mountain. The dogwoods are blooming thick and dotting the countryside with white.
I've had my cup of coffee so will be off into town to run some errands and get set up for a few of my classes. I'm not going to get too involved since I will only be here a month at most. I'll come back in July and really dive in.
Yesterday I went to Wordfest in Asheville. It was the last day of it at Malaprops Bookstore (my fav!) and I'm so glad I was there. I heard the poets Paul Allen, Jr, Landon Godfrey, and Debora Kinsland Foerst read their poetry. It was wonderful sipping a capachino and hearing their words from their mouths. I am still singing one of the songs Paul sang today. (Wish I could get it out of my head!) LOL
I love the thought expressed on the Wordfest t-shirts. "Poetry Changes Things".
Off for more adventures today.

Happy Birthday, Yamelis

2009-04-29T07:48:00.002-04:00

We had a celebration for Yamelis last night for her birthday. Her best friend's family is visiting here from Venezuela and it was so neat meeting them and having them here. Rebecca (Yamelis' best friend) will be here at Christmas time again. The one photo I have of all of them includes her Rebecca's mom on the phone to her so, in effect, Rebecca is there, too. LOL We had a wonderful time. Happy Birthday Yamelis (who I believe is going backwards in her age, but who am I to tell .She came here at age 40 and now she's in her 30's. LOL Thirty-nine this year after spending almost six years here. I'll have to find her secret.

Beach Day

2009-04-26T22:36:00.002-04:00

Bill packed the car today after we had coffee and sat on the porch for a bit soaking in this beautiful weather. I had mentioned a Peddler's Market and thought we would go there but we ended up at the beach. What a wonderful day full of memories of all our beach days as the children were growing up. We went to Pass-a-grill beach near the Don Cesar (pink hotel).
Just to put my feet in the sand and in the gulf was really wonderful. We ate lunch at the Hurricane restaurant on the beach. We spent a lot of time going down memory lane but also just enjoying the day and the beautiful weather. It's a shame that we have not been to the beach in probably, at least, ten years and we live right here. We vowed to change that. We both love it there.
We had lunch at the Hurricane and the photo (in case you can't tell by Bill's face) is of him singing to me in the Hurricane Restaurant. LOL Love that man!

I think the main reason we stopped going was the skin cancer fear. We did plenty of sun bathing before the warnings came out so strong about the fear of skin damage and even cancer. I am still very aware and afraid of that enough to keep me from being in the sun too long or without sun screen and a huge hat but maybe we could go more if we went at the right times of day. I had forgotten how good it feels to spent time there. How the ocean and the sand transports you to another world and how it takes you away from everything for awhile. There's something spiritual about the ocean, just as there is about the mountains to me.

Hawaiian Luau

2009-04-26T22:28:00.002-04:00

We went to the YMCA Hawaiian Luau last night. It was nice seeing people all dressed in Hawaiian garb and we donned our lais as we arrived. The event began at 6 and ended at 11 pm. There was an auction, silent auction, Chinese auction. You could buy tickets to just about any and every thing. I thought the entrance fee was the donation but the whole thing was really set up for donations. I felt beaten up by the time I left. LOL I guess I'm a little weary of all the fund raisers in my life right now. We give to causes of our choice, especially children's causes, and I feel good about that, but I did not feel so good when I left the Luau. I'll be better prepared next time and know more what it's all about. It's always nice spending an evening out with Bill and we did enjoy that.
We also thought it was pretty neat that we already had Hawaiian type clothes for the Luau since we wore it to Jeni and Tom's party. :)

Wedding Party Photos

2009-04-24T19:23:00.003-04:00

This is the site of Mike McCoy's Photography. He was the photographer for the wedding party and he is really an artist IMHO. Take a look. He keeps putting more up so you can check back. http://mike-mccoy-photography.smugmug.com/gallery/7985490_PKveu#518955451_wfAr6

You Won’t Believe This

2009-04-24T13:13:00.002-04:00

But then again, you probably will. Bill took me out to Kissimmee yesterday to the breeder's house where we got Lexi. We are getting another dog, tiny toy poodle, a phantom (markings like a Doberman with red and chocolate brown). It's a little boy. We put the down payment down so he's ours. He's only a week old, doesn't have his eyes open yet and we can't have him for 8 weeks. We will pick him up the end of June. I am going to try not to be too excited because 8 weeks is a long time. I want him here now. The neat thing is that he is Lexi's step brother. They have the same father who we saw again yesterday. It's neat seeing the parents and how they look. It's the mother who has the phantom markings. I'll have to think of a male dog name. I'm thinking Zach, Zeus, Levi, Captain, Bolo..and on and on.

The big decision came about because we took this dog, Gracie, who was supposed to be 9 years old. We only had her one day, took her to the vet the next morning and then took her to animal rescue. Turns out she was closer to 15, has so many medical problems that it was rather hopeless unless we spent thousands just to get another years life for her. I couldn't handle that roller coaster ride. It was really heartbreaking to take her back but animal rescue has the resources to get her the medical care and only put her to sleep if she doesn't have quality of life. She went to a foster home.

Perhaps having her for a day was a very good thing, because the sadness of giving her up again was enough to spur Bill into going along with getting another healthy puppy from the breeders of Lexi. Woo-hoo. I can't wait. I wonder if Lexi will love him and get along with him. Time will tell. I can visit him once a week until he's ready to come home. He is the smallest in the litter of three so that's why we chose him but he really has the cutest markings, also. He has white on his chest, along with the phantom markings. Sooooooooo cute.