Good friends Good times

Posting from Paradise

We have been having the best times with our friends Kim and Jerry, Steve and DeeDee. Steve and DeeDee are friends of our from St. Louis who flew down to Orlando/Titusville to stay with Kim and Jerry (whom we also taught with in Hazelwood) and the six of us go way back with long, terribly funny intwined lives.

I use to coach Cheer leaders and Jerry was the Freshman
Boys' soccer coach. Steve was the Freshman football coach and Kim's daughter was one of my Freshman cheerleaders. One thing led to another and 2 years ago Kim married Jerry and they retired to Titusville. This all sounds terribly incestuous and convoluted but it is what it is.

Yesterday we went to a wildlife preserve and watched two gators doing the horizontal mambo (we think), then headed to the infamous Ron Jon's Surf Store where I got really cool sandles (eat your heart out Kipster) Then we headed off to the Coacoa Beach Pier for food and drinks. Repeated same at 4 restaurant bars at Port and watched the big cruise liners leave. and Clare, my Cosmo at the matini bar came with a little plastic mermaid and my friend got a cute monkey (thought of all the Howling Monkey Girls of course)

We're off to St. Augustine today for a repeat performance of yesterday with a bit of history thrown in for fun. Later, gators!

Ghosties on my blog

Maybe it is just me, but when I pulled up my blog to post, nothing from yesterday shows up but "The D..." hmmmmmmmm. Wonder what is up with that.

Can't wait until Comcast replaces my modum for big puter Harry. As much as I love the lap top, Minnie, she has her shortcomings. And I am anxious to try out all Harry's new toys from Santa!

Enough grumping! Have a great day.

The Day After

We did not have what one could call your typical Normal Rockwell Christmas. All my life I have strived for a tinge of class and fallen a trifle short for one reason or another. But I never in my life imagined the "white trash" Christmas we had on the 24th.

All was well until my 30 year nephew and his 46 year old girlfriend showed up stoned and over 2.5 hours late for the event. It was bad enough he broke my sister's heart one more time, but his 4 year old niece was there to witness the behavior. We had such a great time until they showed up.

At one point, she had a catacism of my great aunt's out that was 110 years old, leafing through it madly trying to make sense of it...it was in German but I think even English would have been a challenge at that point. They left shortly after my honey reminded her it is always nice to ask before removing items from curios...

The rest of the family made the holiday still redeamable. And then my cable modum went out. I am posting off my lap top and through a connection somewhere out there (sing it...lol). and don't know when I can reconnect. Cable co. comes Jan 2.

Merry Christmas all...we are thinking of heading to the Bahamas for next year's holiday. Do you think "they " will find us there?

It's Christmas Time in the City

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of that Jolly Ol' Soul here in Paradise. The guys are watching the Bucs play the Falcons and I'm listening to Christmas music on the lanai and reading a book. We don't get started with the festivities until later this evening so we are making time pass as fast as we can. From our house to yours, Merry Christmas Eve...

Posting from Paradise

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It's getting to look a lot like Christmas

all around our house. Here is our front porch all lit for the holidays.
This seems to be the season for light problems. We've blown fuse after fuse and lights on an off, timers not working so we no lights or lights at 3:30 pm. The inside has been no better. I've rewired the stairs garland twice since we put it up in November.

But, despite it all, I love the whole thing. The cats and I sit often on the front porch, lights aglow (with any luck) and listen to the Christmas music.

Happiest of Holidays to you all. And remember, only 5 more shopping days til Christmas!

One week til Christmas Eve

This has been an exciting week for us here in Paradise. We signed a contract on a lot and house in Connerton just outside of Land 'O Lakes and Lutz and about a half hour east of the kids. We'll be right next to the biking/hiking path and took a walk down the boardwalk Thursday. It is home! or will be in about a year.

I had to put up this pic of Goof, one of our two "boys". He has used our fountain on the front porch as his personal drinking fountain ever since we got it installed. He cries to have me turn it on and jumps right up. He has been known to dip his paw in the water to remove floating leaves.

Happiest of Holidays to all...

It's getting to look a lot like Christmas

This was last year's centerpiece surrounded by my new Snow Couple, a gift from my honey! I wired the wreath with red lights and inside the hurricane glass are some vintage looking ornaments that remind me of some that my grandmother had. All of her ornaments were misplaced when her house was sold. For all I know, they are still in her ornament box in the attic of her wonderful house on (aptly named) Home Park Bvd, in Waterloo Iowa. I have often been tempted to write the current owners and send them a copy of one or two of the pictures that I have inherited. We had the best Christmases there when I was a child. Oh, such lovely memories.

Favorite Christmas songs

Everyone has their favorite Christmas songs. When I lived in St. Louis, I could not always get to Florida to visit with my parents. This sometimes made for a lonely Christmas for me, especially if my ex had the kids. My mom and my favorite song was "I'll be home for Christmas" and a couple of times I would find the means to fly down and surprise her. I'd play this song on the phone and just hang up!

When my dd was still in St. Louis and we lived here, our song became "Would you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island" and I made sure she could make it down with a ticket for a holiday gift. It was just as much a gift for me. When my son could make it home from Fl. while we were still in St. Louis and we were altogether (as we are now) my life was full.

I use to tease my high school students and tell them that my favorite Christmas song was that favorite old ballad, "Grandma got run over by a reindeer"!
Last Christmas we found this cutie who sits in Grandma's rocker and belts out this tune. Who could resist? Not me!

One week closer to Santa's visit

Last year for Christmas, my father gave me the usual gift of a check. Its a bit impersonal but it works. My honey and I had just started collecting the glass blown and hand painted ornaments made in Germany for our tree. We only collect ones of vintage Santas and the store where normally get these did not have any new ones. On a whim, I took my cash and went to SFAvenue which has a store here at my favorite outdoor mall. Low and behold, there was this lovely and very large Santa calling to me clear across the store.
And he was on sale for half price, exactly what my check from Dad was for. He is very content hanging from our tree. See his smile!

Snow Gal Clare and her Boy Toys

When Kip and I found these sassy Snow gals last year, we both thought of Clare immediately. The boa, the foo foo outfit, the feathers, and most of all, the snow gal is just downright adorable. Here is my Clare Snow Gal, who has a twin living in St. Pete! These are her admirers, her Boy Toys. I must have over 30 Snow People now. I love these festive folks!