The Days of My Life

I've been here in Florida for almost a week now, and my days have somewhat of a routine...

Smart Floridans do all outdoor work in the early mornings...before the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes escalate to unbearable proportions.

One of my (least) favorite projects each time I visit is to play the "Find the Sprinklers" game. I seriously, seriously hate this - but it's a necessary evil, as our "lovely" St. Augustine grass (and I call it "grass" in the loosest sense of the word, as it's really nothing more than a pretty weed) loves nothing more than to grow super-duper fast and choke off my sprinkler heads. Bleh.

I have about 20+ heads in the yard...and in order to find them, I must turn them on, let the water spray, get soaking wet, and hunt for buried treasure. Double bleh.

Here's an example...can you see the hidden sprinkler in this photo? Trust me. It's there.



After locating these hidden heads, I must dig them out of the choking grass so that they can perhaps, just perhaps, do their job that they were intended to do...



Ta da! See...? There it is!

I also spent some time weeding the flower beds...in which I've discovered that my left hand/fingers has some raging arthritis...painful, trust me. Aleve has become my bff.

Time has also been spent cleaning the garage floor...it went from looking like this:


Eww...fluid guts from my car...

...to looking like this (with a bit of vinegar and elbow grease):



Mornings are also spent socializing with the neighbors, as just about EVERYONE is outside in the Florida sunshine. Whether they're doing yard work (like me), or walking their dog, or riding their bike - it's quite the social scene. Here's where you catch up on events and gossip - it's our own little Peyton Place, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Eventually, the heat and humidity chases me (and everyone else) indoors, where I might indulge myself with a bit of necessary television:


Love my football....!


Or...it might chase me to the backyard, where I can lounge and relax:


My favorite place to read...


Here, I've been slogging my way through a book entitled, "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler. I downloaded this on my Kindle a month ago, and I'm STILL READING IT. Holy smokes...that's the bad thing about a Kindle...you don't have ANY idea how long a book is, since you don't get a physical sense of it. I've only now discovered this book is a mere 912 pages long...YIKES. I hope to have it finished by Christmas...but we'll see.

This is what the view from my backyard normally looks like:


The Caloosahatchee River shimmering in the distance...


Yesterday afternoon, a "flash-boom" came up...one of those sudden, very LOUD, Florida thunderstorms that are intense but short...and my backyard view took on a strange, Monet-like impressionism look:



If that's one thing I've learned about Southern living, it's never dull...

Between the plants...the wildlife...the weather...whatever - it's always an adventure.

Now...back to my Saturday afternoon college football games....

Peace.

Trans-Continental Ponderings

I just drove 1,386 miles.

By myself.

People always wondered if I was crazy, and this little adventure is pretty much proof-positive that yes, I am INSANE.

I was charged with bringing down my convertible Mustang from Kansas City to our home in Ft. Myers - where she'll be much happier, with the warmer weather and all. I loaded her up with stuff that is too big to pack on airline flights, and left early yesterday morning. A brief night spent in Chattanooga, so I could get some rest, and it was back on the road all day today.

Twenty-three hours in a car - solo - gives one lots of time to ponder, and I came up with the following observations:

1. There really is some AMAZING beautiful country out there...I've always loved Tennessee, and it didn't fail to deliver...what with the trees and rolling hills. Gorgeous.

2. Kentucky has the worst roads...ever. I used to think Missouri did, but the Show-Me State recently repaved I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis, so now Kentucky gets top honors.

3. I hope there's a special place in heaven for Ivan Getting...the guy attributed with inventing GPS and the Garmin. My Garmin was my BFF the entire trip, and never led me astray.

4. I hope there's a special place in Hell for the engineers who designed the highways in downtown Atlanta...even at 9:00 am on a freakin' Sunday morning, it was a NIGHTMARE. I can't imagine what it's like during a regular rush hour. Yikes.

5. The drivers in Florida are Kamikaze maniacs who drive under the mistaken assumption that they're at Daytona....the minute I crossed the state line into the Sunshine State, the speeds of my fellow drivers ramped up to a knuckle-clenching 90 mph. Holy Heart Attack, Batman...it was scary.

6. Peanut butter M&M's and Diet Dr. Pepper provide enough sugar and energy to fuel me for a 24-hour trip...I wonder...because it's "diet" - would that be considered "unleaded"?!

7. It's my scientific observation that 40% of the population does not know what the passing lane is...and 30% of the population is too stupid to be driving. Seriously. How do some of these people have licenses??!!

8. The world's rubber shortage could be solved if all the discarded tire treads were picked up off the highways and recycled.

9. Re-connecting with a ton of CD's that I hadn't listened to in FOREVER made for a fun trip...oldies, new stuff, country - even an audio book in the mix - and I was jammin'.

10. I am exhausted. For doing nothing but sitting on my butt for two days - I am really, really tired.

The good news...I am flying back to Kansas City. Never again will I make this drive.

Peace.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Candles!!!

So...I gave Hubby a good laugh this morning....

It seems I do that alot...amuse him, that is. Certainly not intentionally...but every now and then I'll say or do something that he finds hysterically funny.

It began innocently enough....

Hubby participates in our local Investment Club, a monthly gathering in our neighborhood of men who like to dabble in the stock market. They gather in someone's home to discuss the ups and downs of all things NASDAQ and Dow, which sounds SO thrilling and exciting. Not. Oh, and they eat desserts, as well, as Hubby quickly reminds me. If he thinks that makes it sound any better, it does not. It still sounds dull.

Anywho, it's Hubby's turn to host this little soiree, and he's been in a tither trying to make sure that we have the house clean, the desserts and drinks bought, and the beer iced down. And when I say "we" - I mean me. As in moi.

I don't mind setting up for a party, as I LOVE to entertain, in all honesty. This passion began way back in college when I was tricked into becoming the Social Chairman of my sorority my freshman year - and it was either learn how to swim or sink. I learned. And it's paid off, as I love to throw little bashes all year long. I love to plan all aspects of the gathering...the food, the drinks, the decorations, the music, the ambience...it's a stage that I get to direct...and it's a passion to do it right and to do it well. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.

Tonight, though, I'm in a bit of a quandry...as I have ANOTHER bash I'm throwing. Tonight's the annual picnic that our local American Red Cross chapter holds for our volunteers, and I'm kinda', sorta', in charge of getting it all set up. For fifty people. Hmmm...can't be in two places at once, so I did the best I could.

I tried to do as much as possible at home this morning, before leaving to come into the ARC office, where I'll be for the rest of the evening, getting THIS bash set up.

I called Hubby at his office this morning to lay out the plan:

"Okay...I've got the house cleaned...the ice cooler and beer cooler are set out...plates and napkins for the pies are set out...it's all ready to go," I said.

"AWESOME!" Hubby said.

I then added, "All you have to do when you get home is set the drinks out, and then light the candles."

Complete silence on Hubby's part.

And then...."BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! CANDLES???!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

I thought he was going to have a coronary, he was laughing so hard.

Oh. Silly me.

Stock Market Investor Guys don't NEED no stinkin' candles at their monthly gathering.

An innocent "Men are from Mars, and Women are from Venus" moment, in my defense.

So. No candles at the party tonight. Duly noted.

Peace.

On My Soapbox: Facebook

Image from HERE...

Never has a topic been so passionately discussed...debated...defended...derided....

Supporters will vehemently offer up myriads of reasons of why it is so beneficial...while detractors will sneer and throw out all the reasons of why it is the bane of our society...

...of what am I referring to?

Why, Facebook, of course.

I'm actually in the supporter camp, myself.

Well. I USED to be, anyway. Times are a'changing, and I'll explain why...(stepping up on my soapbox)

Over the last few years, I have enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, as well as making new ones...

...I have enjoyed learning of the myriad of causes that my friends and coworkers are passionate about...as, over the years, I've expanded my awareness of autism, March of Dimes, cystic fibrosis, breast cancer, disabilities, and pet adoptions - just to name a few....

...I have traveled around the world vicariously through the photos and postings of my friends, with special note taken of places I know that I, personally, will never have the opportunity to visit "in real life"....

...I have enjoyed photos shared of children, pets, possessions, activities, and food... reveling in the fact that, although I wasn't there in person, I can still celebrate life's joyous occasions such as Homecoming, birthdays, prom, births of grandchildren, etc....

...I have been tickled with numerous jokes and funny photos, getting daily chuckles from the clever witticisms and humor that is so pervasive online....

...I have been inspired by daily inspirational messages from people from all walks of faith, from all over the world, which has sometimes led me to examine my own faith more closely....

...I have kept up on news, pop culture, and trends as fast as the messages of social media can share...as well as keeping up on the activities and news of my numerous friends, family and coworkers....


With all that said, however, there is ONE area that I passionately dislike about Facebook...and that, my dear readers, is...politics.

Bleh.

Every day, especially now that our country's election is getting ever-closer, my Facebook wall is bombarded with political messages, cartoons, links, etc., by perhaps well-intentioned friends...but has me shaking my head in bewilderment.

When it comes to politics, my theory is as follows:

You have your opinion, and I have mine.

Nothing you can say will ever change my opinion, as nothing I can say will ever change yours.

Add in the fact that our country is so divided at this time, it amazes me that people will post the slams, the diatribes, the insults, the negativity, knowing (or perhaps not knowing??) that they're upsetting about 50% of their Facebook audience....

Why would they do that?

Why would they post something that's going to alienate half of their audience?

I realized the other day that I was not even ON Facebook during the 2008 elections, so perhaps this is why this is driving me a bit nuts...it's still all a bit new to me, I guess.

And until the elections are over, I've somewhat distanced myself from Facebook...

...so pardon me if I miss pictures of your grandchildren...or your recent trip to Costa Rica...or your latest joke.

It's not that I don't care. I DO, actually.

It's that I just can't take the negativity that's also out there at this time.

November can't come soon enough in my little world.

That is all. I'm off my soapbox now.

Peace.

Weekend in Review: The Pioneer Edition

For a weekend that began on a somewhat sour note, it turned out to be better than expected...

Friday morning, my daughter had an 8:30 appointment with an orthopedic doctor...since she decided to break her foot while baking chocolate chip cookies.

Don't ask.

Anyway, I was pretty steamed when we didn't actually see the doctor until 9:20. With no apology. And no explanation.

Grrrrr.

She'll be wearing a lovely boot for the next 10 weeks now, which is quite the fashion statement when you're 13 years old and in 7th grade. She's thrilled about it. Not. I think the boot looks like something a Stormtrooper would wear (from "Star Wars"), so I can't help but call her 'Darth Vader' when I see her approaching.

Friday evening, Hubby was working late, so I spent a quiet evening at home, engrossed in a genealogy project that I began a few weeks back. My oldest son had requested any and all information I had on our family history, and I've been passionately pursuing this, as I have found some really interesting stuff from way-back-when. Every day, I can't wait to share another story of another ancestor, and I can't wait to put it all together in a book form to give to my kids later. I've been able to trace both my parents' sides back to our first ancestors who came over from Europe...and I've found some huge surprises in the history that have me a little stunned. Such as - my family has strong roots with Kansas and Jayhawkers.

Argh.

Being an avid Missouri supporter my whole life, and having grown up with a huge disdain for anything Jayhawk-related, imagine my chagrin to find this in our family tree. I'm still coming to grips with it, trust me.

Saturday, Hubby and I attended a wedding of the daughter of a former co-worker of mine. The wedding was held in a small town nearby, and I LOVED it when I saw the groomsmen wearing blue jeans, with vests in a camouflaged theme. The bridesmaids wore cowboy boots. Yee haw. This was MY kind of wedding, trust me.

I sat with my former boss, and it was amazing how much better we get along when I don't work for her anymore. I caught myself laughing several times, which was just...so unexpected. But awesome, all the same.

Because of daughter's Confirmation classes, we are now attending Sunday morning church, rather than Saturday night services. There's an awesome singer on Sunday mornings who reminds me of Sting. Last week, he had us singing The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends." This week, he had us singing Sting's "Message In A Bottle." Apparently, even HE knows that he sounds just like Sting. Go figure.

It was pretty cool...and as much as I enjoy praise music, I like this music even better.

Sunday afternoon, I watched the first two quarters of the Chiefs game...and when it became pretty evident that it was going to be a debacle of mass proportions, I turned it off and got out my brand-new bread maker. Daughter and I baked our very first loaf - which turned out amazing - and we are now going to become baking fools, as we try out bunches of new recipes.


Our first attempt...delicious!

This was partly inspired by reading all of our family history, and getting into that true "pioneer" spirit of my ancestors. Of course, baking bread in the 21st century is a little different than baking bread in the 18th century....

Sunday evening was spent at our local Mexican restaurant, as is our family tradition. For the last several years, it's our go-to place on Sunday evenings...the wait staff know us and expect us, and we enjoy not only their company, but the food, as well.

A great weekend...spent with food, family and friends...and coming to grips with my Jayhawker roots.

Peace.