NEW BEGINNINGS

            Hi Everyone!     Some of you know that I now have a new "Journal" on Blog Spot.  I actually have 2.  One is my test Blog named "Imagination",  but I may use that for my Graphics.  I haven quite decided yet.   The main one I'll post on is I left the name the same as here on AOL because of lack of "imagination".  For some reason I just can't think of a cute or attention getting name.    So I go for simple.  LOL!   So here she is....Palm Harbor   or

http://harborofpalms.blogspot.com/

 

As of October 15th I am discontinuing AOL.  I maybe be able to get Email thru AIM.

 

Also if you see an Email addy of ShdwDancer@ymail.com that is me.

 

ShdwDancer is my original screen name from way back in 1993 when I first went online & I was dancing every night.  What can I say, I like that name : )

 

And my attitude is much better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugs & Blessings...

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An Ah-Ha Moment

I called AOL this time. instead of online Tech Support.  It took another 1 1/2 hours.  What I accomplished is that I now know HOW to get AOL completely out of my computer when my time runs out here. 

 

That AND a bit of information....I said to Techie "I hear that AOL will be no more as of January". 

He said, "We are not allowed to comment on that issue". 

While waitng for all the Uninstalling, Restartind, deleting program files, restarting  I said to Techie that it certianly appears with AOL closing Journals and pictures and sending us all to Google that either there is a merger taking place or Google is buying out AOL.  ::silence::

I don't Techie really knows.  I've been with companies that were sold and even with me being in management I wasn't priviliged to any information.

Certainly if it wasn't true AOL would give instructions to say it isn't true.  Not an "We aren't allowed to comment".

 

~So Much For A Positive Attitude~

I am having AOL problems.  I don't think I'll be on AOL much longer. In fact I told the to terminate my account because my Email is all messed upand none of thier techs know how to fix it. I can't reply or forward mail.  Can't download attachments.  

Just wanted to say g'bye if I don't come back. I think I have most Blog Spot Addies and will try to catch up with you there.

 

I haven't been able for figure out how to do much with blog spot.  The aggravation of Sprint, HP (printer problems), AOL and Blog Spot has me so totally frustrated I think I am throwing in the towel.  Will try to plow through it, but not having much luck. 

 

Blessings and hugs to all... 

 

 

~Here Kitty~

 

This was a lesson challenge.  I had to do it this way-not sure I like it.

.

It might not have been a mouse, but it was a little critter.  I edited out the part where I had to open her mouth to do a swipe and swoosh.  

 

Oh, Mau'i is a REALLY good cat.  She has never jumped on the counters, climbed the curtains, the shower curtian, or the screen door.  She doesn't beg for food & has never pee's or poohed in the house.  After she started going out in July I never had to empty the box again.  So that thing had been gone for a couple months now.   Every night she sleeps in her crate and at 6: 15 she meows a couple times for me to take her out.  I put her out with fresh water and kibble and I go back to bed.  Yep I tell her to "Go eat a Bug"!

 

And except for the morning wake up call she only meows outdoors to me.  Indoors not a peep. Isn't that an odd thing?

 

  This morning I heard the tink, tink, tink of her tags and thought this is good I'll just go get her before she meows.  Ha!  She didn't have to.  She had somehow gotten out of the crate.  I must not have completely had the door latched in.   This video is only 45 seconds long.  She is one wild & crazy girl.

 

 

 

 

Today I saw 3 of Maui's 4 brothers and was able to pet them.  Miss Mau'i is only about half as big as the one Ingrid calls "the Runt".  They are all orange tigers,  coats are rough & coarse.  Their heads large & are all very muscular.    I do brush Mau'i a couple times a day for a few minutes to get the dirt and hair off her before I let her in the house & have noticed a big difference in how nice & sleek she is looking.  

 

Before I get razzed for totally spoiling her I must tell you that she has claimed the couch has her own (well, the spot between Jazzy & I).  She cleans the dirt from her paws & fur on the sheet covering it.  I was cleaning up the fur & sand she left behind a couple times a day.   Not only that, but one evening after she ate & then commenced to clean herself she jumped up & urked on me & the laptop. All in one gracful motion.

Think that's gross?   Ya should have been on this side of the screen :  /

With me brushing her she is not grooming nearly as much an I am no longer giving her a full serving of kibble when she comes in at night.   Yes, I'm trainable!

 

 * If you a re having trouble viwing You-Tubes they've been doing maintenance off & on for a week.    

~Blazing Palms & Fences~

 

 

 

 

 

Where to start....

 

One night last week I was out with the "girl-animals" around dusk when HillBilly Bobby and his wife stopped to say hello after their return from Kentucky.   That was nice ((??)  The REAL reason HillBilly Bobby stopped was to spread the word that Sandy had quite her Park Manager's job and was moving out of the Park.  Really no news to me, I had seen Flo in with Ingrid behind the desk of the office that day after a bus trip to Tarpon Springs.  Intuition told me that was probably the case.

 

The next night while I was out walking with Jazzy and Mau'i I heard Sandy calling from her front door as I was heading up the hill towards home.   I turned around and went in and she told me how she couldn't take the disrespect from the owner of the Park and HillBilly Bobby anymore.  Not only that, but I guess the "Snoop Sisters" had been particularly nit-picky and it just hadn't let up.  And I think the crap with "Art"  added to it.  I am sure there was more.  But, I didn't ask. 

 

She told me that she and hubby were moving just north of Tarpon Springs to a Park that cost less per month and is three times as large.  It's a good thing.  It's really a shame that a job that should have been so easy an cushy turned out to be so stressful.  Sandy's birthday is in a few months and she will be able to collect Social Security.  And she plans to get a part-time job doing "what-ever" comes her way. 

 

We talked a little & I told her I really missed our friendship.  She said she was leaving everything up to me and I just hadn't been around.  I went down the next evening to ask if she needed help with her plants.  Sunday, with help of Jerry & John who live across the street from me the trailer was moved.  It's a "Park Model" like mine. Large, but movable.

 

 

 

 

Two winters I've told HillBilly Bobby that I had seen burning embers falling from Palm frones (leaves) of a neighboring house onto the roofs and ground of the RV Park.  Then again this spring.  when I told him that I feared there be a fire he dismissed my concern.

 

 

The other day the wind was coming for the north, which was very unusual.   And don't you know some frones hit the power wires, the tops of all 4 palm trees caught fire,  the frones then fell hitting the power lines bringing them down catching the lawn and fence on fire. 

 

Luckily Elaine was coming back from the pool and spotted the fire. And her husband called 911 using a cell phone which meant he had to go thru the Orlando 911 then transferred to Palm Harbor.  Meanwhile HillBilly Bobby grabbed a hose and climbed on Jerry's trailer to water down the fence. 

 

All this is going on outside my door and I didn't realize it until a fire truck pulled up.  Then before the fire men could get the hoses connected to a pumper tanker the entire fence flashed into a huge fire as did the 4 palm trees. 

 

I didn't have time to get my video cam out until afterwards.  You can see the 4 charred palm trees.  Then fence is gone.  I believe the firemen were chopping it up in the yard and hosing it down.  Jerry's  trailer had a good deal of burn damage to the awning and roof from falling embers.  He has a couple of Hairless Rat Terriers and was called at work and told of the fire.  He only works about a mile away & came home immediately to check on the dogs and trailer. 

 

The next day the morning light revealed areas that look like cigarette burns in my awning.  I called the fire Marshal, but he said that because it was the next day there was nothing that could be done. 

 

Just some video I took from my deck.  Sorry it isn't better video...the temperature was 93-94 degrees that day and the rising heat can be seen.  Please forgive my sarcastic/disgusted tone.  This fire could have been avoided.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Teresa

 

~Celebration of the Late Autumn Harvest~

         

 

 Yesterday was the Day of the Autumn Harvest/Mabon/Fall Equinox. September 22nd marked the day where the day and night are equally divided.   I spent the day nuturing and loving my Plants as I repotted them.  The Herbs and Pineapple are doing great.   Jasmine & I went across the street to Crystal Beach to collect some Shells  & Sand to Renew the replace the Sand and Shells I have in the Earthenware container that sits next to my door.  In the other terra cotta planter I have Rosemary.  I picked a few Avocados from the tree along the fence as they are just coming into season now. It's so nice of this wonderful Tree to provide me fruitful nourishment through the Fall months.

 

 

 

 

 

For my little feast I roasted a Cornish Game Hen with Rosemary,  baby Carrots, & Red Potatoes, homemade Applesauce , one of  the Avocados sliced,  and cinnamon sugar cookies (Snicker Doodles).  On the table I placed  cinnamon candles that I pulled from the cupboard along with my little corn husk men and purple and orange Indian corn along with a couple of Miss Tree's fruit, lite the Candles and and put some Orange Oil in the tart burner.  A small alter which was so nice to reflect upon my life the past year and the changes that have taken place....I gave thanks for friendships, the plants that  grow so naturally for me, and the Animals I nurture.  I ate my little feast of Mabon as I felt closer to Mother Earth and at Peace.

 

 

  

Snags and Tags

 

 

Sorry I haven't been around much. I've been very tired and have even taking afternoon naps.  I guess I need to get into the doctor & have my blood counts checked.  I'm feeling that I am more anemic than "my normal anemic".

 

I accidently missed my last appointment.  So I know my chart indicates I was a "No Show".  I'm sooooo embarassed.  As a nurse I should know better and not be a "No Show". 

*Note to Self ~ call Monday  & reschedule

 

Anyway, I have been doing some PSP and did a few decent tags this past week for Fall.  It's still in the mid  90's here in Plam Harbor during the day so it's a little difficult to get into the spirit of "Autumn". 

 

You may snag these if you like and this time I'll even offer to tag them. 

 

 

 

           

 

           

 

What these look like with names...

 

                         

 

 

Hugs to All!

 

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~WHEN WE WE HAVE PEACE?~

 

 

 

 

 

Today is September 11th, a day like all Americans I also remember the needless  end to the 3,000 souls that took place seven years ago.   It is also a day I feel profound sadness that I've to been witness to some (3 out of 4) of the greatest advocators of peace of all time that were assassinated  for their inspirational words & strife for world peace. It is 60 yrs after Ghandi was assassinated, about 45 yrs after MLK and JFK, and 28 yrs after John Lennon and we at still at war.  

 

 

Unfortunately, I can't defend the decisions of our President.  So much information is "Classified".  It is my opinion that our special forces units such as the green berets and the navy seals should be able to find Osama bin Laden & disban al-Qa'ida.   But, I do know that I won't wish death on any other human being.  Yes, terrorism should be put to an end.  But, doesn't violence beget violence?

Shouldn't peace beget peace?

If our country is so great shouldn't we "Lead by example"

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautiful tribute found at Teresa's Journal-Remembering to Exhale 

 

 

 

 

 

I happened to be camping in Canada at the time and didn't have access to a TV for a few days.  The attitude of the Canadian people astounded me! They actually believe "Americans deserve what happened". And Americans are so " arrogant"!  'We' (Americans) believe we can police the world, cause war, and install chosen leaders in whatever country we want".   The destruction was right in front of their eyes and yet, the people around me truly believed those innocent people "deserved it".

 

You all know I do not use my journal as a political, religious platform or a soapbox.  I am saying what I feel here, now, today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Ike~

We've been getting wind gusts up to 30 mph and rain off & on from Hurricane Ike. Key West has evacuated for the 3rd time in 6 weeks. So many watch where the EYE is and don't realize that these hurricanes are 100-200-300 or in the case of Ike~ 900 miles wide. He's a biggin'. I sure hope the people in Texas evacutate because by the time he crosses the Gulf he's going to be one big monster. I've noticed that when my weather widget is done on my sidebar, it when a tropical storm or hurricane is in the area. Geezzz, just when I need the Doppler radar I can't get it.

I've been on the west coast of Florida for 15 years not, and although I am fairly used to things getting churned up this time of year, it's still a real pain in the tush! But, like I told y'all last winter....looks like paradise here in the winter, but we pay our price in the summer and fall.








So I have 2 reasons to really want to be in New York this time of year. One to ditch the Tropical storms. The other to see the season change into vivid colors of orange, red, yellow against the backdrop of the blue sky and green evergreens.


And I do miss the small town of Scotia where my grandparents lived & whom I felt safe with, but I actually lived there for the 6 years I was in Jr High & High School. Then stayed in New York for college. I miss lakes without alligators, I miss apples that are crisp and fresh, the smell of a wood burning fire on a crisp morning with the smell of baking bread.


Oh, September 11th, is my blogiversary! I am one year old.

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~Saving Kitten Bucks~

            Little Miss Mau'i had her immunizations today. When I was checking out Doggie Diet Food for Jazzy last month at Dog Lover's  Pet Store, I picked up a Flyer for a reduced price on Cat immunization's. At the Cat Hospital an office visit and immunization's cost over $130.00.  At Dog Lover's today a Vet saw her, gave the deworming medicine & all the immunizations except Rabies, which she had when she was spayed.  All for $38.00. I am feeling mighty Smug right now!    Would you believe Mau'i  is 6 months old now? She still goes in her crate at 11 pm.  Wakes up about 7am.  I get her a bowl of water and push her skinny little kitty butt out the door.   She must find bugs a & enough  lizards to keep her amused until 11 am,  She comes in, eats her Kitty Kibble & sleeps until 5 pm.  Then out she goes until 10 pm.    She sounds like a Diva already doesn't she?    

~The Head of the Matter or Part 3~

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARNING: NOT DRAMA FREE!

 

 

This is where things come to a "Head" 

 

After reading my previous 2 entries you know I went out with Mr A, who had a 4 yr old daughter last winter.  Stopped seeing him mainly because he had an obvious drinking problem.  Sue, along with other people in the Park are not only acting like I don't exist, but like I had a contagious disease.

 

 

 

 

One day shortly after noon I walked down to the front of the Park to visit Sue at her place during her lunch break from her office duties.  Still thinking that her moodiness is attributed to a little depression or family problems, I am trying to be a concerned, yet an upbeat friend.  After a few minutes she pushed herself up in her chair and away from me and said, "Bethe, I need to ask you something". 

"Sure, anything"

"Did you report A to the Department of Child  Family Services?"

"Of course not",  I said & asked why.

 

She then went onto tell me that she felt like she could tell me about it now because A was moving out of the Park and it was all my fault.  Apparently, someone reported him to DCF and S said that she was angry because they should up on her doorstep one day asking her questions about his drinking.  She then went on to say that I had told her that I was going to report him.  Which was entirely not true, because I never had a thought of doing that.  Besides I know that the drinking alone isn't a reason to deny visitation.

 

I had talked with S during one of our shopping trips that I was surprised that the school the 4 1/2 yr old goes to doesn't question why the child is still in diapers.  I even asked him one day if Miss H ever resisted the idea of diapers.  He said "No" & that he couldn't do anything about it because he didn't have any cooperation on the mother's side.  I had been witness to her asking to go to the restroom when the 3 of us were out one day and A told her to "go pee" in her diaper.

 

 

Now I have had all the Child abuse and Neglect courses that nurses and Dr's have to take.  There wasn't really anything to report.  And having four years of Child Psych in college, I know that as soon as Miss H's classmate's call her attention to the fact she is wearing diapers she will potty train herself.  Peer pressure. 

 

When I told S "no". She balked at me and said that everyone in the Park knows I did.  So here is someone whom I considered a very good friend not believing me.  She told me not to bother talking to Mr A about it because he wouldn't believe me.  Knowing enough about him, he does blame everyone around him for his misery.  Workman's comp for taking pictures and video, work for setting him up to carry heavy things so WC could video him, his Ex wife, his Dr's, the "Snoop Sister's" & "HillBilly Bobby" who razzed him about going out with me.  He felt in February that people in the Park  watched him. 

So why not blame me for his misery, too??

 

 

 

That night I thought about it.  It occurred to me that Mr A was questioned by DCF.  He then talked with  Glenda (a drinking buddy), and Glenda told S.  And S believed it because it sounded like something I had told her.  Well, it did because it came from Mr A's mouth.

 

Needless to say my innards were in a twist I was so upset about this fallacy.  Upset that this effected my friendship with S.  The next day I went down and talked with her and told her how upset I was. When I wen to sit down she reached over and closed her laptop.  She knows I keep a journal and I think she was trying to find it online.  I read my entries from back in January and February and never did I mention anything about reporting the man to DCF.  She seemed cold and despite my protests to the accusations my word's rolled off her like rain off a duck.

 

I did see Mr A driving by a few times, moving his things I suppose.  I heard later that he had sold his small trailer.  He waved to me during one of his passes.

 

The following weekend I talked with my son about all this. And even considered moving myself because of the tension.  I couldn't eat or drink, I couldn't;t sleep.  While Marc & I were talking he said to me that men handle things differently than women.  What he would do is go to the source & ask why they were talking smack about him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few weeks went by before I happened to see Mr A here at the Park visiting.  I called out to him.  He kept walking as if he hadn't heard me.  I caught up to him as he wen to pull out of the parking lot.  I said few words.  Only that it wasn't me and that it was someone else in his life & that I wanted him to be aware of that for the future.   I never wished any thing bad to happen to the man. 

 

The next day I saw Glenda cleaning her car as I was walking Jazzy.  She was the one who I particularly channeled bad thoughts.  I hated to approach her in the worst way.  She is a rather "tough little cookie" and if anyone could rip my face off it would be her.  And I am just not the sort to confront.  I did though, I walked over to her SUV & asked if I could talk with her, then asked if there was something bothering her.  She said yes, and that she was really "pissed off" at me.  I told her that I had sensed that, but had been clueless as to why.  She talked, I listened.  I told her that S had told me that A thought I reported him to DCF  and that I had talked with Mr A & told him it wasn't me.  She & I actually had a good talk, her body language relaxed,  and after 15-20 minutes she actually said she was going to talk with A.   I asked her if "we were good" and she said, "yes".   I left feeling a whole lot better about that.

 

 

 

 

 

Things are still strained between S and I.  I don't go down to the office except to collect my mail or pay the rent.  She is polite and cool.

 

Bill came over last weekend to help move the deck along with Glenda's roommate and a couple of guys from across the street. Bill said that she is still depressed and doesn't feel like being around anyone.  Just to give her time.

 

Last winter when HillBilly Bobby was on my ass about this & that & everything, S had just asked me to "be good" because it ultimately came back on her.  He would go to her & tell her "You've got to talk with Bethe!".   I understood.  For months, maybe up to 18 months, there were 2 places I would be.  Home in my little place or with S.  I do have a problem with trusting her now.  How can I talk to a "best friend" knowing down the line she may twist my words & turn things against me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there's the "Head" of the problem  The blemish on my reputation.   I am doing OK.  Taking the bus instead of shopping with S.  And in this heat it really takes it's toll.  I've lost nearly 15 lbs between the heat & the stress.  Yes, I am one of those people who can't eat when stressed out. 

 

Now that I am feeling better about things, and it's taken a good month. So no worries there.   I will probably start journaling again. I know a few of you noticed that I changed the names of the people.  I just thought it would be a good idea since S has probably found this journal by now. 

 

So that is that.  Thank you for reading all this.  I guess I needed to get this writtenbefore I could go on.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for the graphics Winivere!

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~Inflammation-Part 2~

    

 

 

My good friend Sue and her hubby's anniversary was the end of June and I told her I'd like to fix them dinner.  Something simple...chicken, dumplings, candied carrots and salad.  Nothing special.  Just something nice so she didn't have to think about fixing dinner after work that day.  Intuition told me she really didn't want me to.

She had an odd cool tone when she told me that I didn't have to.  She repeated this several times over the weeknd and was unusally quiet during dinner.  She talked about depression an dhow she gets in a low place that she can't ig herself out of.

 

Then when I offered to wash her little car for her one day, again she told me I didn't really didn't have to.  She has taken me for appointments and here and there and I had been promising to do it for a long time.  I finally felt really good one day& I knew I could finish the job once I started. Besides she and I go everywhere.  It womething I could do since she doesn't allow me to pay for gas.  I got this "feeling" that she didn't want me to.  I mean really bad vibes coming my way and I had no idea where they were coming from or why I was feeling this cool aura.  I was giving of myself, and my little efforts seemed to be hitting a block of ice. 

 

 

Other things were happening around me.  I would be down in the Park Office and when woman Glenda would come in, she wouldn't look at me or say Hello after I greeter her as she always had before.  I even mentioned to Sue that it seemed like Glenda was ignoring me.  This happened 3-4  times.  "Weird", I thought, & shrugged it off.

 

Then July 4th there was a picnic/pool party here in the Park.  I was helping Sue clean up afterwards, doing dishes, wiping down tables, putting food away.  As we were working another woman in the park was telling Sandy how her b/f's band was offered a job playing at a local restaurant.  I had mentioned that I'd love to hear them.  A bit later Inge, the assistant office manager, came in. Sandy and Inge made plans for the 2 of them and their husbands to go to hear the band.  Am I getting it yet??  Nope, dense I am!  I'm thinking...Okay married peeps want to hang around married peeps.

 

*It's something you live with when you are a single woman. 

 

Sometime later I did ask Sue if there was something I did to upset her.  She said no, she just had a lot on her mind (the family problems).   I even asked Sue's husband when I was walking Jazzy one day, if there was something I did.  Sue seemed angry.   He said "no" and the that sometimes she gets that way.  The best thing to do is just let her have her space.

 

 

My thoughts were that maybe she felt that along with her family problems and managerial duties here in the Park that I was an added responsibility. 

So I didn't hang around as much.  She didn't seem to have much to say to me anyway and there's only so much cheerfulness that I can spew.  But,  I tried to carry on as normal.  Trying to be a bit cheery for Sandy, and I didn't asked for any rides to the grocery store or Dr's appt's.  Until that day Jasmine was so sick.   I had to get her to the Vet and I had not way to get there. 

~Jazzy is so sick~

 

 

Taxi, yes, but the Vet's office said that I'd have to be there within a half hour.  After making several calls to my usual drivers and they couldn't come. I called Sue. She said she'd come -  I waited, waited, waited.  And the time was getting close.  One of my neighbors was leaving for work.  I asked her if she was going south.  She was and I asked if we could get a ride.  I called Sandy, told her that neighbor lady was giving us a ride.  "Well, I'm on my way!", she said. As I am on the phone with her we drive past Sue's parked car.  Hmm,  me thinks, "doesn't 'on my way' mean you are en route?"   She did say that if I need a ride home to call and if her grandson and her hadn't left for the water park yet, she'd come get us.

 

Now that day I had a Dr's appt that had been made a month before. Sue had said she could give me a ride or if she & her daughter had plans I could use her car.  sue's daughter wasn't here, but I found out when she picked Jazzy & I up at the Vet that they planned to go to the water park that morning.   That was okay I had canceled the appt anyway as  Jazzy was too sick and as you all know the visit with the Vet visit didn't go so well.  But I know she hadn't forgotten the date of my appt.  She remembers those things.

 

Do I get it yet??

Nope, not a clue!

~The Big Red Bump-Part 1~

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I mentioned in a previous entry that things in the Park are slow.  It's summer in the south and besides the threats of storms the mood is low key and lazy.

 

 

Until one gets a ZIT.  A blemish the becomes a boil.

I guess I finally feel somewhat comfort talking about this now and it will probably end up being a 2 or 3 "part-er".

 

Remember way back in December, January, and February when I was seeing the "Adam"?

 

 

Remember the incident when he asked me to stay with Heather while he went to the store?  And when he got back he was talking to me about some things that were upsetting him about his workman's comp, lawyers and work.  He welled up with tears and reached under the sink and pulled out a bottle-whiskey or scotch from the size & shape of the bottle.  Then literally cried on my shoulder telling me it wasn't me, it was him.....

 

Entry ~They always come back~

 

 

Then one day wewere sitting on the porch.  A glass in hand "Adam" again was telling me how he was getting screwed by Workman's Comp.  His voice getting louder and louder from the brown liquid in his glass.  Remember I told Art he was only adding to his problems by drinking.  And the liquor was not going to solve his problems?  I said my piece.  That was that.  We even went out a couple times afterwards because Heather wanted me to come along.

 

Entry - Brutal or Brutally Honest??

 

 

Well, life went on.  He went his way, I went mine.  I'd see him or Heather around the RV Park, wave "Hello" or take Jazzy over to Heather so she could pet her.  I did notice that when I did stop to talk "Adam" would never look me in the eye.

 

Ehhhh ~ no worries, right??

 

 

OLYMPICS~THE END

 

 

 

I can't believe the summer Olympics is over.  My hope it is that they will find that the controversy over the age of the Chinese Women's Gymnastics team is resolved.  Of course by the time is it, the U.S. women would have lost their golden moment in the sun. 

 

I can't believe it is still raining.  Fay, Fay go away! Fay has been to the south of us, the east of us, and the north.  We've had 2-3 inches a day last Sunday.  Those feeder bands blowing through every couple of hours is sure getting tedious.  It's raining with sharp thunder right now.  I was able to take the tarps off my outdoor furniture to let the patio dry for a couple of hours.

 

I can't believe my next door neighbor left Tennessee & drove thru Fay to come to Florida to take her 5th wheel back there.  She wants to sell it & wants $30,000 for it.  It's the best set up I've ever seen, but the market has dropped out of the RV business.  She is giving me her wooden deck. The one her son who is in construction built.  And it IS built to last 100 yrs!   Now I have to figure out how to move it.  I think I'll have to partially dissemble it.  Totally, if i cant round up a few good men to help move it.   I can work a drill to remove the screws then move the planks of wood over to my lot one by one.  I'll have my Sharpie handy to number each piece to reassemble.   One think is for sure.  I have to have it done before HillBilly Bobby (the RV Park Grounds manager) gets back from Kentucky.  He'd tell me it won't fit my lot just so he can take it and sell it.  As he has done with so many others.

 

Took a break from writing this entry  to take Neighbor Nancy's 4yr old great grandson and their 12 week old Bull Mastiff puppy for a walk around the block after the shower.  Ugh!  We got caught in another down pour.  Lightening, thunder, drenching rain.  We had to run to get back to the RV's.

 

Bull Dozer, the Bull Mastiff puppy is 12 weeks old, 25 solid pounds & a head taller than Jazzy.  He wanted to play and poor Jazz tried to let him know with nip that she was just not going to put up with his roughness.  Of course, he thought it was all a game and lots of fun!

 

 

BLINKY THEMES THIS WEEK

 

BUTTERFLIES~  

 

      

 

  

 

 

 

DOGS~

 

 

 

Tags: 2008 Olymics tag, Butterfly Blinkies, Dog Blinkies

VOTES NEEDED!

 

 

I have been asked to do something very special!

 

 

Click here!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what do you think?  Shall I join in??

 

 

THE FICKLE FINGER OF FAY

She may be just a Tropical Storm, but she sure looks like a hurricane to me.  Yes, Fay moved inland and gained strength.  That is not suppose to happen.  Fay has been off the east coast of Florida today.  Winding up, no doubt.

 

This was yesterday....

    

 

 

Today....

 

 

This one shows the feeder bands and that big blob of yellow in the Gulf is what we had this evening.

 

She is loopin around and coming back at us.  The "Storm Man" is on the local news right now and it looks like it'll  hit one county up.  It's always a wait & see game. 

 

And watching the drama on the Weather Channel can make one reach for tranquilers.  Oh, the DRAMA!!

 

My daughter called me Sunday night and asked if I was nervous and if I was packed.  No, I don't get nervous.  If I have to leave, I have to leave.  Packed?  I pack a bag the 1st of June with my photos and important papers and there they stay until November 15th.  This was just the first storm of the season.  We'll have more.

 

In the winter Florida is a really nice place to be.  But, we do have a trade off for living in paradise.   Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes.  At least we know when the bad weather is coming and we can head for the hills!

Or just order room service....

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MY SUMMER OF LOVE

The summer of '69. I had just turned fifteen.

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In July my family drove from northern New York to Coeur 'd Alene, Idaho to pack up my Grandfather's house on his Bing Cherry Farm. He was in a nursing home & had sold the old farm were my mther & I used to climb the trees & eat the cheeries until we had our fill. We also set up a sign that year, "PICK YOUR OWN CHEERIES-25 CENTS A QRT".

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Boys were noticing me for the first time.

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Neil Armstrong walked on the moon while we were in Coeur d'Alene-With my last name being Armstrong, at last I was never to be asked again if I was related to Louis Armstrong. Not that that's a bad thing, there just wasn't a minor resemblance to this blonde, blue eyed girl.

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And the summer of '69 I went my first Big Adventure HUGE. We had been back from Coeur d'Alene for a week or so. My father worked 3rd shift and went to work at 10:30 pm, Sunday thru Thursdays. My mother, a nurse, worked 2nd shift and didn't get home until almost midnight. By this time I tried to stat away from the house as much as possible. Didn't get hurt if I stayed out of the way.

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There was a concert that weekend & I knew if I left Thursday evening. Mom would think my father knew where I was. And father would think my mother knew where I was. Or they just wouldn't notice.

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Yes, I was 15. Yes, I hitchhiked to Bethel, NY ~ 100 miles away with nothing but a 2 Man pup tent rolled up in a blanket. And a water bottle.

Why? The Woodstock Concert.

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I started out Thursday evening and my plan was to get there early to find a camping spot. I did & met up with some friends. Twenty four hours later, 300,000 people were there & there was no going home. Traffic on the thruway was standing room only and I was stuck. People were walking in & later we found out the number of people was closer to 400-500,000. It was a sea of people. It an ocean of people. It was a small country of people. *Hehee ~ Stoner/Hippie people

.

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I had pitched my tent stage left in a wooded area on the hill. it wasn't raining yet. I just like out of the way places. Good thing I picked the hill, I didn't get mudded up. And it did rain. Heard great music and met lots of musicians, smoked a lot of pot and hash. Went hungry and used "the woods" for a few days. AND it was so worth it!

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I was there from when Ritchie Havens started playing Friday evening to after Jimi Hendrix played Monday morning. What a weekend with Folk, Blues & Psychedelic Rock. Those of us that hung on to the last note hung around a while hoping for just one more "surprise".

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Maybe the Beatles? Maybe the Stones?

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I read that the Beatles didn't come because John Lennon set a stipulation that Yoko Ono's band also had to be on the bill. And the Stones I think we told that not very many people would be there and it would be a bad career move. HA!!

Give me Janis Joplin. Mountain, CCR, Grateful Dead, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, Johnny Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears and JIMI!

.

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It was late Monday afternoon when I packed up & went home. My plan worked....Ma and Pa Armstrong never missed me.

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AND it was....

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SWIMMING

        I am a total Swimming team Mom.     When my daughter was 9 yrs old I had enrolled her for swim lessons at the After School Program at the YMCA.  Being one of 2 nurses working for the only Pediatrician in Glens Falls I got word from one of my patient's Mom's that the swim coach wanted my daughter for the Swim Team.  A couple days later the After School Program Director came in with her son and told me herself that the swim coach really wanted Nicolle.   I had taught Nicolle to swim, but other than that no swim lessons and having asthma, I doubted it would work out.    So I went down to the YMCA and talked with Coach.  He said she had the perfect body.  "No bubble butt",  like so many kids her age. He wasn't the YMCA coach though.  He was the recruiter for the United States Swim Team-Northeast Division.   Four days a week she had swim prictice.  Twenty laps of Free Style, 20 of Butterfly, 20 of Backstroke, 20 of Breast stroke.  And that was just the warm up!   Next came 40 laps of Free Style then 40 of Back stroke or Breast stroke, then another 40 of Free Style.  Then there would be a  set of 4 Relay Races.  Then the warm down of the 20 or each stroke like in the warm up.      The best thing about the swimming is that Nicolle's asthma disappeared.  I was always there with her nebulizer machine and oxygen.  For 2 years, no hospitalizations and no trips to the ER.  Physically, her looks changed.  Her neck and shoulders got muscular and broad.   Back Stroke and Relay Racing were her specialties.    Unfortunatley when we moved back to Scotia she got herselfa little "attitude" and quite swimming.  The Glens Falls team was known to be a winning team.  The Schenectady Team, according to her were losers.  And then there was the fact that swim practice was at 5 am. Nicolle never was a morning person so she stopped the Team racing.  I tried ot stress that if she joined the team she would become an asset.    Later when we moved to Florida she worked at Safety Harbor Health Spa and as an employee she was able to use the Lap Pool to work out.   With Michael Phelps swimming I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time.  Go-Go-GO! YaY!!     Hmmm? I am wondering if my daughter will name her first born son after Micheal Phelps?  I named my son after Mark Spitz.    Here we go agian ~ This just popped up on my screen.   Time to finish my hurricane preparations.             

CRYSTAL BEACH, FL

Weather Warning

Hurricane Watch /O.EXA.KTBW.HU.A.1006.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-TAMPA BAY WATERS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLEARWATER...ST. PETERSBURG...BRANDON... TAMPA 546 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT... ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... A HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM BONITA BEACH IN LEE COUNTY TO TARPON SPRINGS IN PINELLAS COUNTY...INCLUDING TAMPA BAY.

PROJECTS THIS WEEK

For the LiLA Group we had 2 challenges for Blinkies.  Monday's theme ~ GARDEN

 

 

 

And the theme on Wednesday was COFFEE

 

 

In my LearnPSP Group the lesson involved a rather strange frame.

The Photo is actually one of Martha's...

 

 

And I learned how to do blinking eyes...

 

 

 

 

This one is a Calico like Mau'i ...

 

 

 

 

I have been practicing TUBE-ING pictures &  I add an animated border to this sidebar.....