News, Blues and Smooze

Yesterday was a great day for me. It was quiet at work, restful at home and a perfect start to the weekend. Old friends came by that I hadn't seen all summer, and there's a buzz at school that starts about now, anticipation of school starting.

First of all I have to mention the two summer custodian ladies who cleaned the windows on our side of the hallway. They also did the trophy cases. Those trophy cases haven't been cleaned in the four years I've been there! They dusted each glass shelf and every trophy! It just gleams! I didn't get their names, but I thanked them every time I walked by them. I may have to find some goodies for them!

Here are our world famous NAVY precision flying team, the Blue Angels! This is Blues on the Beach weekend. They did an airshow yesterday and will do one today, weather permitting. Only 4 of them got to fly yesterday as one of the pilots had sinus trouble. Seems to be going around here right now.

We won't go to the beach, we will go to the homecoming airshow in November with all the cousins that will be here for the family reunion that week. They are awesome if you ever get a chance to see them.

You can tell that the teachers know that it's about time for the schedules to be done for classes. It was like old home week yesterday. I got to see a few of my favorite people, including the newlyweds, Cheyana & JW. They just got back from their 5 week honeymoon trip in Europe. They backpacked most of it, staying in hostels and camping. They sure did alot! JW ran with the bulls in Spain (and got hurt, cracked two ribs and skinned up good, but okay now), they saw the Coliseum, Venice and Rome, and Spain. Chey said Spain was her favorite. They also said they must be getting old as the people in the hostels partied too late into the night for them! Ah yes kids that's the first sign!

I'm just glad they took this trip now while they are young, in-love, etc. How many of us dream of doing something like this and never do? I really admire them for taking off like this!

I'm so glad too that they took the plunge and got married. I helped Chey plan the first prom at our HS. Oh and the poinsettia sale! How could I forget how we financed the prom. Chey's classroom was a mass of poinsettias. So beautiful and we sold every one. Well the kids helped tooo!

I had adopted JW when he was a lonely, first year teacher here from Nebraska. He was so skinny and stayed so busy coaching and teaching that I worried about him and brought him leftovers. This was after he told me he would make a huge bowl of spaghetti on Sunday and eat on it all week! Poor kid! Now they are so happy together and such a cute couple! But what do I do with the leftovers?

JW is a CUBS Fan like me, I told him if the Cubs start losing now that he is home, his butt is going back to Europe on the next plane! GO CUBS!

Have to show you these tooo! Aren't the the cutest little pencil sharpeners? I found them at CVS while I was waiting for my sinus medicine. 3/99 cents! I think I will throw one in my scrapbag, one in my desk at work and one here at the house in the desk.

We can never find a pencil sharpener around here! Even my electric one has been put somewhere in all the computer desk shuffling we did. I wonder how long it took a little Chinee to put them together? And really how much could they have cost to make? Anyway they are cute and I had to have them!
Well, I guess house work is not going to quit calling me until I answer the call. I'm off to vacuum, do some laundry and UGH! Clean the bathroom. TaTA!
:J

Let See What I Can Say Without Being Dooced!

It has been such a good week! Well as good a week as you can have after spending the previous week on the beach. That little trip is just a small spot on my memory now. Darn, need to do that more often!
Finally connected with the new boss. We've had info to share, things to do. Also had our pre-registration meeting to go over our registration process with everyone involved. Some one said they would have to "check my schedule" to see if they could do something they were asked to do for that week. THAT didn't go over well. It was obvious this person was trying to get out of having to WORK with the rest of the TEAM. It was a good moment for alot of us!
I see alot of changes on our horizon. Most of them I think for the good. I'm sure I won't like them all, after all this isn't my perfect world is it? But I think I can live with the changes I won't like, in order to have the changes we do NEED. I look foward to the next few years.
Enough on that.
I have come to the point I come to every summer where I am starting to hate air conditioning. Stale air, cold, sometimes too cold. I am ready to open my windows again for fresh air. I want to be in my yard all day and not sweat like a pig. I know I have the pool, but not the same. I think what I really want is a trip north. I always get this way when back to school time comes around. Back to school up north means cooler temps, falling leaves and football!
Enough on that.
But speaking of football, how bout Michael Vick. Well when you play with fire you are going to get burned. If you own property, have an idea of what your tenants are doing on said property. I think they have something on him or he wouldn't have been arrested.
Enough on that.
No, not, I have to say this. If you live your life in the limelight and get paid millions to do what most people do for fun and free, you are a role model. Whether you want to be or not, you are. So if you are playing with fire, at least be man enough to tell the truth. "Yes I was, I know I shouldn't have, but I did." That is what defines a real man. Which brings me to why I brought this back up. It is just one more reason Brett Favre is the MAN! He was addicted to Vicodin, admitted it, went to rehab saying he'd come back better, and he did.
And that is " 'Nuff Said!"

:J

A New Week in my Life

Yep, I was going along good, blogging most every day last week, then yesterday I stopped. Did anyone notice? No one noticed I said Dr. Pepper can in the post I did about Rick's new coffee mug. It was a Mountain Dew can.
So another day dawns and I have the whole day to do what I want. Well, I have to clean the bathroom and cook dinner, but the rest of the day is mine, mine, mine! Yesterday was mine too! I eyebatted my way into two mags at BAM from hubby. We got home just in time for a huge deluge of rain so I cuddled up on the loveseat with the new mags, read and napped. What else does one do on a rainy day?
Even Patrick stayed with us until bedtime. Which if you don't have older kids, means it's time to go out and Par-tay! He spent all day with us, chillin' and then at 9:30 p.m. went to a friend's to "play video games" Uh-huh, right kid. I'm not 50 yet, my mind is not totally gone. I KNOW what y'all were doin'! But he is almost 21 (can you beleive that!) so it's all good. He only has a few short weeks til school starts again, working two jobs and school will put an end to the PAR-TAY!
I feel like I have been on vacation for weeks, oh wait, if you don't count the 6 hours I worked on Friday, I have been on vacation! LOL! I love this rested feeling. I have almost forgotten what stress feels like! Ah! the simple pleasures!

:J

As Promised, Top 5 Vacations

One of my favorite scrapsites, has posted a blog challenge of listing your favorite 5 vacations. Wow! That's a toughie for me. Anytime I can be on a vacation has to be my favorite time. But I can name a few from that list here. It should be my favorite 1o vacations, that would hit the tip of my vacation iceburg.

1. Number one has to be family reunion time. Whether it's in Wisconsin with the in-laws, West Virginia with my mother's side of the family, Illinois with my immediate family, or when everyone comes here and we rent a beach house, reunions are my favorite vacation. I love being with family, just hanging, taking pictures and listening to stories.

2. When you think of reunions, second best reunion type get togethers are girls weekends! I think girls weekends were introduced to me by my sister. She and a friend of hers came down here and the 3 of us rented a beach condo for a weekend. It was so nice to get away from all the testostrone in my house and be with the girls. Since then, girls weekends are a necessity, whether it's with my sister, my best friend Karen in Jax, or the HT girls. Girls weekends Rock!

3. Saints/Packers game in New Orleans with Rob & Steph. My hubby has been a life long Packers fan. Rob is a lifelong Saints fan. Rob & DH were stationed together in HS-11 and then we all made a transfer to Pcola for shore duty. When the Packers played the Saints in New Orleans one year we went "home" with Rob & Steph to attend the game. No kids. We had a blast. Touring NO, the game and eating every two hours. Not just eating, but eating cajun food! The best part, more Packer fans in the Superdome than Saints fans and cheering the Packers to victory!

4. My first cruise. May 2007. Determined to "experience it all" I did. Well all but the parasailing. That wasn't my fault tho, Linda and I were signed up but the boat broke down. But I did everything else on this scrapbooking cruise, including getting my hair braided, getting hypnotized and kissing Senor Frog! Such fun!

5. Going to Colorado with DH no kids. Okay so the wedding was cancelled. But we went anyway. Spent a day in Estes Park, saw relatives, and had fun without having to worry about anyone but ourselves.

Vacations are the best of times. So many new experiences, I loved watching the kids discover new things when they were little. So much of this America yet to see. Now that I have my passport, I will travel!

:J

Spending a Hot Summer Day

Patrick knows how to spend a hot summer afternoon. This is where I found him when I came home Friday afternoon. He cuddled up with his cat, Boots and a good book on the loveseat. He really is awake and reading. Isn't he just a handsome boy! I wish I could snuggle and cuddle him like I used to when he was little. Now I just get a hug and a "love ya mom".

We had a busy 24 hours while he passed the afternoon reading. Shortly after I took his picture, his Aunt Susie and Uncle Truman arrived. They were here to pick up their camper. Always generous to their nephews, they lent DS1, Daniel, their camper for the weekend while he was here.
Susie and I had to shop while we were together, it's just unAmerican if we don't. So we hit HL, JO's, Mike's and Target. Halfway through the HL visit, the hubbies called and said they were HUNGRY! So we met them at the Shrimp Basket for yummy dinner and went back to HL after. Of course I always spend more money than she does! I did find this cool container at Target. Actually, Susie, being the good sister she is, showed it to me. Great storage for my stamps! I can also buy another set and it will attach to the bottom of these and I can go on and on and build a tower! Great for crops! This one is about 6 x 10 and the bottom tier has two trays that divide it into six sections. But you don't have to use the trays. I'm hoping they will go on sale this week as they were in the "Back to College" section. But even at 6.99 they were a bargain!

When Felicia and Dan were here she left me a Thank You card for all the scrapsupplies I gave her. DH said she loved being in my room. She will have to come over another time when I can give her more stuff and tell her how to use it.

Today, we went over to my friend Jackie's. Jackie gave Susie a huge huge bookcase thingy that Susie is going to put in her scraproom. It will be really nice for her. I just didn't have room for it in my room, it was that big! I do need the storage tho! My scraproom is a MESS!
We also ran to Gigi's to see what scrapstuff she had. It was really busy in there, lots of beach vacationers in there. Gigi carries alot of local laser cuts and beachy stuff for that crowd. I didn't buy much tho!
All the shopping made me hungry so after Susie and Truman left, I scrounged in the cupboard for something to tie me over til dinner. I found plaintain chips I had forgotten I bought last comissary trip. YUMMY! Now I just can't eat the whole bag like I want to!

I'll post my answers to the blog challenge later. My 5 favorite vacations. What are yours?

:J

Cuppa Joe Anyone?

I certainly have enough to share! We can all drink out of the same mug! It's certainly big enough don't you think? DS1 brought this to Rick this week when they came to visit. Yes that's a regular size Dr. Pepper can next to it, along with a bottle of wine, just to give you an idea of how big it is.
Rick is known for his love of coffee, and that is probably about the right size cup for him. But with coffee in it, he would be hard pressed to drink out of it as it is HEAVY! I guess it was a display for advertising Harley coffee mugs and Daniel got a bargain on it. Wonder what I could get for it on Ebay? LOL! We are going to use it to collect change.

I thought the resort I stayed in had a cute way to mark their parking lot spaces. They really did go all out with the beachy tropical theme. I would stay there again if they "made" me!

Kip, Jules and I went to lunch at Caddy's on the beach. We were treated to a rather good singer while we ate lunch. Kinda reminds me of Kenny Chesney in 20 years. Sang as good also.

I told you my hotel thought of everything. This is the phone in my bathroom. I didn't have the chance to use it, thank goodness. That's a pet peeve of mine, talking to people while on the toilet. UGH! Just gross! And frogbreath does it to me all the time. We'll just be talking along and then I hear the toilet flush on her end of the phone. She knows it grosses me out too!

So, I'm home, glad to be here and I probably won't get to blog as much as I have this week. Normal life gets in the way ya know. But it was a blast while it lasted!

:J

More from the Beach

I thought that I loved my beaches where I live, but I am starting to really like the beaches here in St. Pete. Maybe because staying right here on the beach makes the beach life so convienent. I really don't get to the beach as much as I would like at home.
During one of my walks, I came across this castle someone built on the sand. Isn't it gorgeous!

 

Last night we drove to Ft. DeSoto to see 2005's Number One Beach. It was gorgeous! We walked til sunset and then turned around and walked back. Not a fast walk, just leisurely, picking up shells, letting the waves dance on our toes. Ahhh! the life! The closer it got to sunset, the more birds came around. I think this is a blue heron, or some kind of heron. He watched us and posed for several pictures before we both parted ways.

 

Last night's walk made me think about how I take my beach for granted. It's rare I take a break to just go walk the beach. A little sand between the toes can make all the world's stress disappear, and put everything back into perspective. Go be a tourist in your town. Appreciate your world. It will make a world of difference!

:J

A few more pics and another side of the story

I'm sure most of you saw this pic of me claiming my room with my sign on Jules blog.

 

But what you didn't see was what someone did when I wasn't there. They threw my sign on the floor! I'm sure it was an immature act of jealous rage! It made me feel so bad that in respect for my elders, I let the same person win at volleyball in the pool later.

 

E's famous potato salad, which Teri and I fought over.

 

E's delicious salad from my private dinner he fixed only for me and Jules.

 

What a time it was! Loved it!
:J

Fun in Paradise

Another blogger joins the web! The Ft. Lauderdale girls have a voice now in blogging! Here the other Hilltop girls check out Lauri's new blog! Welcome Lauri! The courtyard at the winery! I could dally here with a good book and a glass of wine all afternoon. It brought back memories of my childhood and spending summers playing under the grapevines that grew over our patio at home. Yes, my dad made wine from them too!

Swans that swim around the hotel. This scene is just a few feet from someone's (not mine!) patio here in the hotel. Just how cool is that? There are ducks too, but can you imagine swans????
Love this place! I Highly recommend it for a vacation getaway! Oh and also for important business meetings ;)

:J

Let's talk about E words

It was a day filled with E!

Of course E, Jules husband, a chef EXTORDNAIRE! I keep threating to kidnap him and take him home. But then I would weigh 400 lbs. He has cooked us the most fabulous meals.

EXCITEMENT My first trip to Ruban Rouge! What a store! I just love the way it is set up! Sooooo much neat stuff! I got away cheap really $108 and change. Of course I didn't know the Revolution was half price! I may have to go back for that tomorrow!

EXERCISE! Jules and I took on Kip and Linda in pool volleyball. Let's just say Linda & Kip were ahead when we finally gave up! We let them win.

EXCELLENT! Best Riesling wine I have ever tasted at the Castle Winery. Then the food from Mama's was delish! And the sunset cruise was EXTRORDINARY!
OH MY MY MY!

EXHAUSTED! It was an awesome day! So much laughter, good friends, sharing, growing, so much bonding! I don't want to leave! I'm so tired!

I'll post pictures later, my camera batteries went dead!

:J

Claiming It As My Own

 

Yep! The guest room at Jules' house is now mine! At least for the next few days anyway! I made this cute little sign so everyone would know, IT'S MY ROOM!
Ever since Jules & E have been searching, and now acquired, a new home, several of us have been asking which room is ours. I think Janet was the first to stay in "the room" but I'm making it official, at least for now, IT'S MY ROOM!
Looking forward to the next few days, seeing the girls, getting some girlfriend's bonding time in. Be careful if your ears are ringing, it may be you we're talking about! LOL!

:J

Happy 4th of July!

I hope your day is filled with Celebration and fireworks. I'll clean and bake this morning, pack this afternoon and then later this evening we will join some friends for a cookout.
We are lucky to live in the greatest nation in the world, able to celebrate the day any way we wish. I wonder if our Founding Fathers knew how great we would become when they started their rebellion 230 years ago. See a little rebelliousness can be a good thing!
Happy 4th!

:J

My Saturday Night with Big Joe

Yes, I think I have found love. Big Joe. He's on the Polka Show on the RFD channel. Yes it's Saturday night and Yes, I'm bored.
So Rick is sitting here flipping through the channels, he's bored too. He found Big Joe, and paused. Then flipped. "No!" I said "Turn it back!"
Do you know how long it's been since I've polka'd? I think I was 12. Before I found out it wasn't cool. Maybe Rick and I have polkaed once. Polka is big where he is from. They all polka there.
So here I sit, watching Big Joe and the old people in Minnesota polkaing? Am I even spelling that right? Old people in Minnesota aren't as good as polkaers as they once were.
They have a special TV offer from the "Polka Nuts" from Colorado. Two DVDs for $50! I wanted to order them. Rick said No with that look he gives me when he thinks I have absolutely lost my mind.
So then I'm sitting here listening and watching and surfing my blogs when I come across Kip's Blog and she has up this Lollapolooza head and it's dancing. The dancing is matching the music on the TV, the polka music, and I am dying laughing. So I show Rick. He's laughing. Then he gets serious and has second thoughts about my weeklong trip this week. HMMMMMM!
All this and no tequila. What a Saturday night!

:J

More Me

Just got back from a scrumptitous (sp) dinner with hubby. We hit our favorite local cheap seafood place, The Shrimp Basket. So yummy! I don't know why but we drove clear across town to go there. They have opened one closer to our house, but old habits are hard to break. We just went.
Worked out for me just fine tho, as it is next door to JoAnn's. I ran in there for a few sheets of patriotic paper for a project I'm working on. I thought I found some Jolee's embellies marked way down, but when I got home I saw that I paid $2.50 for them. I don't need them that bad, so I'm taking those back!
I have got to clean this house this weekend. It's picked up, but it needs cleaning! I think I just have toooo much stuff. I am way to attached to stuff. I'm sure I don't qualify as a pack rat, but a pack mouse, I may be. I'm ready to downsize. I started a bit in the scraproom today, cleaning out things that I don't use or have another machine that does the same thing. I'm going to give them to my son's fiancee, as she is a scrapper. They will be here from Louisiana next week, but I will be in St. Pete. Darn it! They hardly ever come home, and now I have to be gone!
No big plans for the weekend. I'm trying to win MontgomeryGentry tickets for Tuesday night. Not that I'm a huge fan, but it would be fun to go. They are giving them away every hour on the radio station. Cross your fingers!
Well I'm off!
Oh one last thing, CONGRATULATIONS TO WEST FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL for their 3RD CONSECUTIVE A in the School grade calculations. We got our grades today and another A! WFHS has only been in existence for 6 years. Not too shabby!
I think someone said we had the highest HS writing scores in the state! WOOHOO!
With that I'm done,
Happy day!

:J

Thoughts on the First Weekend of Summer!

Where do I start? Linda and her Hilltop Crew added another fantastic weekend to my memory! WOW! I just love them and wish we were soooo much closer in distance.

Linda never ceases to amaze me. She cooked us fabulous meals all weekend without a stove and sunday we got pancakes & sausage from her Tim Holtz kitchen! Just when I think she can't do anymore fantastic give aways, she piles the table. When I think I have seen all the best classes, Elle, Di and Jules come up with a few more! Michele & Dee are always the best customer service and friends a girl could have. And the table mates! OHHHH those BAD girls! I love them all!

It was so much fun having my sister, Susie with us. That would be "Jayne's Sister, Susie". All my life everyone has known me as Jayne, Susie's little sister. After this weekend she is now Susie, "Jayne's sister. Thanks Michele for the help on that!
But to me from this crop forward, Susie will be known to me as "frogbreath" LOL! She can explain that one!

One of my biggest thrills was having Michele's mom, Alice, tell me she reads my blog everyday! WOW! Really? I have such a boring life! Alice is a sweetie and I was glad to finally meet her. Michele is such a sweet person, now I know why!

It was such a great weekend all around. So much fun with such phenomenal women. They all continue to inspire me to be a better woman, each of them in their own way. I am so lucky to have such great people as friends!

I came home to more flowers blooming. Sorry no pictures as of yet, but maybe tomorrow. My pink hydrangea was blooming, as was the red hibiscus. The oleander is blooming for the first time in years. It's a beautiful red. Finally, my pink amarylis is also showing it's beautiful color.

I walked into work Tuesday morning to no air conditioning. Talk about hot! Even the fans didn't help. Thankfully, I was able to go to one of the other buildings to prepare for the retirement celebration and that building had air! Over the weekend a squirrel got caught in some wiring and burned out the chiller for our building. Poor Squirrel! But all is fixed now and the retirement celebration went off without a hitch. Our principal was surprised, and it was nice to see so many of his old friends show up to wish him well. I will sure miss him, and wish him many happy, safe roads to travel and hours of giggles as "Grandpy" becomes his main job.

So that should catch you up with little ole me. I need to get busy cleaning, unpacking and putting away all the "stuff" I brought home with me. Tons of cool scrap stuff, new stamps (I hit the sale bin at HL, got 6 new stamps!) and of course, more storage to put it in.

I'll try to be a better blogger this next week. That is until they send me to St. Pete for that conference that I really didn't want to go to, but they twisted my arm! The things I do for my job, seriously!
Have a wonderful summer day!

:J

Ah! The First Day of Summer!

The first day of summer! Who can believe how fast this year is flying by? The first day of summer signals fun, adventure and vacation. Which is exactly how I am going to celebrate it!

This morning I'm beginning an adventure with my sister. It's not our first, we've had many. But today we are packing up her camper and heading south. Our trip will include a few stops for bathroom breaks, and convienently the best bathrooms are located in scrapbooking stores! I'm so glad they keep such clean restrooms! LOL!

Our destination is Dover FL to meet up with the Hilltop girls at the birthday crop. It's my sister's first time meeting these wonderful ladies, and I hope she has as much fun as I do with them! Such a great group of women!

So I'm excited and nervous all at once. I'm driving and pulling the trailer. THAT should be fun. I just worry about parking it etc. and driving slow enough! I'm used to flying down the road.

Well it's time to get moving. I hope you find something special to do to celebrate your first day of summer today. Eat ice cream, drink lemonade, run through a sprinkler, pick flowers, have a picnic, go swimming, fishing or biking. Walk the beach, walk a trail or just walk your neighborhood and say hi to everyone! Celebrate your first day of summer!

:J

Humping Through the Week

I have stayed busy all week. Humping right along through work and here at home. I'll be gone all weekend, DS2 and FDIL will be here for the weekend for a friend's wedding. So I've been packing, cleaning and everything in between!
Tonite I leave for my sister's, and then tomorrow we head out to go to the Hilltop Birthday Crop. I'm all packed for that. I take kits to work on as there is so much going on that my ADD kicks in and my creativity kicks out! But it shall be fun no less. DH was so funny last night when I was packing. He said, "This is really more of a social thing right? Ya'll don't do much scrappin', one scraps and the others just socialize and say "Aw, that's purty!"" He's too funny. Of course we scrap dear. We are busy little scrappers the whole time!
And about that land I have for sale......
DH has assured me that the house will be clean when the kids get here Friday. As he says, "It will be so clean that Kevin will think you cleaned" Gee, if only it could be that way when I get home.
Last night I baked the Pioneer Woman's Texas Sheet Cake to take to today's Potluck Luncheon at work. I could hardly sleep in anticipation of eating it today! Yummy!
Well, speaking of that nasty four letter word, I must get going. The sooner I go, the sooner I can go, the sooner the party begins! I'll try to blog this weekend. We'll see!
Stay safe til I return.
:J

Another Wonderful Summer Weekend

 

Nothing says summer like an evening of balloons! This weekend was the Balloon Fest in Foley Alabama. Rick and I spent Saturday evening watching balloons take off and land. It was so relaxing watching these giants glide silently in to land.
These ballons are powered by propane. It was neat to watch them inflate the huge canopies. Each canopy costs 10 thousand dollars! Wow! The Baskets really are made of wicker too! We thought this one was going to hit the trees!

 

The balloon were from all over the south with most of them coming from Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Now they didn't fly in from there, they took off and landed all in Alabama. But wouldn't it be cool to just get in your balloon and float a few states away! I wonder how far you could go in a half day?
Even tho the name of this one was Sunrise it sure looked pretty in the sunset!

 

We just stood and ate our fresh Kettle Popcorn and watched the balloons come in and out. Sooooo relaxing!

 

Sunday we had breakfast with friends, grocery shopped and then Rick mowed the lawn. Such is life when your boys are grown and living all over! Afterwards we imitated whales wallering in the pool for about an hour. Sooooo nice. I laid on my raft and watched a dragonfly perched high in a tree as he watched us! LOL!
Patrick came home in time for dinner and we grilled T-bones. I made mushrooms & onions for toppers, boiled some shrimp & corn for sides, and we were in heaven!
So my short week begins! 3 days of work and then I'm off to the "boonies" to camp and scrap!
Enjoy the day!

:J

Happy Father's Day Pa!

 

First of all I need to say no one will ever replace my Dad. No One. I miss him every day, every hour, Every minute. He is the mold for Dads that was broken the minute God was finished him. There will never be another like him. I love you Dad!

That said, now we'll talk about the man who runs a close second, my Pa, Wally. Wally is really my father in law, but in the past 15 years he has become my Pa. My husband says he was a tough dad. He didn't take any crap from anyone, from his kids, to city councilmen, to cops, or even the Priest at their local parish. Now he says his dad is just an old man trying to be nice and get into heaven.

I can't vouch for the time past the last 22 years I have known him. If he was as gruff as my hubby says, then I think he's wrong. Pa is a hard working, God loving, family first man. His love for his wife and family are undeniably one of his greatest characteristics. I know that part of the reason my husband dotes so much on me is because of the love Pa showed Ma all these 55+ years. Her and I both know we are Queens of the house, no matter how much we deny it!

Pa will give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. At 75 years old he delivers Meals on Wheels to the "old people". We call him the "Grand Poobah" as he is so involved with his church and the KCs that he has been honored many times by both. But he doesn't do all of this work for the accolades. He does it to be involved, to make the world a better place.

He loves all of his grandchildren from the littlest great grand to all the older grands. He has the patience of a saint, but when you've made him reach the end of that patience, he lets you know with his trademark "Enough Now!" I have learned to be a better parent from him.

Pa and I share a special banter. He loves to tease me, and I love to tease him back. Sometimes neither of us is sure the other isn't serious. But it's all in good fun and very much love! He always tells me, "If I didn't love you, I wouldn't tease you!" I love to rag him about the Packers, the Brewers and everything else in between. He teases me about still being a Bears fan after all these years I've been a Packer fan. But, I tell him right back "The only reason I became a Packer's fan, is to keep peace and harmony in the family and to stay in the will!"

I know he knows how much I love him and appreciate him. We talk on the phone at least once a week. I wish we were closer in mileage. I know we are close in heart.

So Happy Father's Day Pa!

Ahhhh! It's Friday!

Which means it's the weekend! The AP let me leave at 2:15 as it was only her and I left in the building other than the custodians. I had finshed my list of things to do, and cleaned my desk! "Go Home" she said. So I did!
I met Patrick pulling out of the neighborhood as I was pulling in, and signaled him to come back home. Today is Patrick's 20th Birthday! MY BABY is 20! His day didn't start so good, at 5:30ish a police officer knocked on the door to return his wallet to him. Apparently he had left it in the car and the car unlocked. They got all his tip money for the week, he wouldn't tell me how much, and his driver's license and military ID also a few gift cards he had in his wallet. The Military ID has his and hubby's ss# on it. So that has sent panic into our world. It's such a violating feeling. And a crappy way to begin your 20th birthday.
So when he came home I gave him a pair of new Reef Sandals and $50. I thought he was going to cry. Instead he told me what the metal piece in the bottom of my Reef Sandals is for, it's a bottle opener! I did not know that! I thought it was some kind of cool support for my arches. Dang, not only does my baby turning 20 make me feel old, but thinking that is cool support for my arches and not a bottle opener makes me feel real old and as my brother would say, "losing my cool". I just know my Reefs are comfy. Now I can open all the Coronas I want! He told me some pairs even have flasks in the heel. What will they think of next?
So Happiest of Birthdays to you my son, world-wise that you are!
:J

10 Things I Will Never

From Kip's Blog, another challenge. There are not too many things I won't do, so finding 10 may be hard!

1. I will never bungee jump.

2. I will never eat oatmeal.

3. I will never jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

4. I will never finish this list. Just can't think of anything else. What do you think I will never do?

:Jayne

Is It Thursday Already??

Wow! I do love these short work weeks! I can't believe that one week from today I am heading down to the Birthday Crop at Hilltop! I am a excited and also a bit nervous, as I'm taking my sister down to meet the girls! And I never know how either of them will behave! LOL!
It's been busy at work and lazy at home. I got my plane tickets etc for the Data Conference in St. Pete in July. I'm going down a few days early to hang with the girls before I have to learn all about Data. For the Hilltop girls reading this, I'll be there July 5th! WOOHOO!
Last night I watched "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" on HBO. Very good film! It is sad what our Government did to the Indians. That's fact, not a slanted film version. We took their lifestyle and heritage away from them, stripped them clean to adapt to our ways. Starved them to do it. Sad. If you get a chance to watch it, do. I remember reading the book in High School and liking it then.
No plans for tonite. Our welding teacher is bringing in more corn today! I'm getting half a bushel, so I know what we will eat for dinner! I could eat my weight in sweet corn!
Well that's my life!
Have a good day!
:J

My Weekend is Over! :(

Like all good things, my long luxurious weekend has come to an end. Tomorrow is back to work, back to putting out all those little fires that pop up when I'm gone (and when I'm there). But on the bright side, only 4 days to another weekend!
I spent the day finishing up odds and ends, laundry mostly. I even did Rick's laundry. For the record, we mostly do our own laundry. His is too nasty dirty to do with mine, he is afraid to wash some of my clothes, so we just do our own mostly. We're wierd, I know, but it works for us. I still need to iron the kitchen curtains and hang them back up. I guess I can still get that done.
Patrick was here for a few hours while I was home. So I baked a ham, cooked black-eyed peas and corn for dinner. I could have eaten my weight in the corn and peas! But I didn't. So that was good. Enough left to take some for lunch tomorrow. Yum! He stays so busy on the weekend with two jobs. I miss having him around so much. He said when school starts back he is getting an apartment with 3 other guys. I'm glad he has good friends, but I still worry!
I finished up a LO from the cruise pictures. I just noticed tho that the title looks crooked, so I guess I will have to fix that too. But here it is. It looks like we did everything on the cruise but scrapbook. But we did scrapbook, some.
When I got home Rick was surprised we even did scrapbook! Too funny!

 

Well let me go iron those curtains and clean the scraproom. It's amazing the work I can get done when there is nothing to watch on TV! Have a good week!

Your Weekend is Over, Not Mine!

Okay, I'm not trying to rub it in. But I am going to enjoy it! Just one more day. How many weekends have you had where you wished for one more day off? I know I have wanted many. I just wanted to stay home ONE more day. Well tomorrow is my day!
I worked last Monday which was supposed to be my first day off. But it was registration for summer school, so I went in like the dedicated person I am. After all, I put the schedules in the computer, so I have to be there! Since we work a 4 day, 10 hour day week, I got to take Friday off. Then tomorrow, Monday is my regular day off. Most everyone wanted Fridays off and the only way we could do the 4/10s is if someone wanted to work Friday. So let's think about this. Friday is normal go home early day, so if I take Monday off and work Friday, with hardly anyone there, I can get more done and get out early! Sign me up!
I got alot accomplished this weekend. Lots of much needed house cleaning. Of course I would need a month off and a gallon jar full of speed to get my house totally clean, like I would like to have it clean. But living with two guys, a long haired cat and a dog, my house will never stay clean. I love my dog, but I cuss his black hair everytime I clean! So in between goofing off a bit, I got most everything done, including the ceiling fans, windowsills and blinds. I cleaned the pantry a bit, throwing away microwave popcorn that was 2 years over date! I got ride of about 3 dozen magazines. Mostly Southern Living, I keep those for the recipes. So I tore out all the recipes I thought I might use and pitched the magazines. I'm sure my husband wishes I would get rid of some scrappin' magazines. Don't hold your breath dear!
After pitching, I scrubbed. My favorite thing to clean my floors with is this.
 
I discovered it my first trip to Key West. Alba was just finishing mopping her floors when we arrived. Her house smelled so good and fresh, I had to ask what she used. It was Mistolin, Gardenia scent. I usually don't like Gardenia scent, but now it's all I use on my floors! I guess when I go to South Florida in a few weeks I will have to look for some more. Usually I want to know here the scrap stores are, but this trip I need to know where to get Mistolin. This is my last bottle!
Yesterday while on a cleaning break, DH and I watched "A Night at the Museum" I really enjoyed it! Wouldn't it be awesome if that really did happen? I won't say what happened in case you have not seen the movie. If you haven't, you need too, it's good! Later I'm going to watch "Because I Said So" Rick didn't want to watch it, it's a chick flick.
And also in my spare time, I finished the mini book I made for FIL for Father's day. Since he doesn't read my blog, I can show you. Here's the cover,
 
and here is the rest of it! I sure hope he likes it! Not everyone in the family is in it. That kind of bothered me, but I don't have recent pictures of everyone because they haven't been able to come to the reunions. So maybe I'll have to do a second edition.
I think now I'm off to my movie, and to fold some clothes. Mostly towels, so that will be easy

TGIF!

And it's my four day weekend! WOOOHOOO!
I'm off this am to the LSS to see what they have new, and what's in the clearance room. Maybe a stop by Big Lots, Hobby Lobby and a few stores in between to see what inspires me.
I was showered with fresh veggies yesterday at work. Lori brought me fresh cucumbers and cherry tomatoes from her garden by the bay. Dale, our welding teacher, came 35 miles into town to bring me fresh sweet corn and black eyed peas from his farm. YUMMY! We had the corn last night for dinner! OMG GOOD! I could eat my weight in sweet corn. I think tonite I'll just make a huge salad, cook up the blackeyed peas, and some sweet corn and call it supper!
Well, I'm off to start my weekend! More later!

:J

Well Just a Few Things

My day was fairly uneventful really. I managed to keep my cool when I really wanted to strangle on old lady who came in my office with attitude first thing this morning. So maybe that was kinda eventful. Meanwhile, my friend who was standing beside me while all this was going on, yes my calm, cool, see the good in everyone, and save them all friend, was holding back even harder to not put her fist in the lady's face. Talk about a switching of personalities, we would have never thought I was the calm one and she the upset one. But it is done, and it is what is.
I want to welcome MARY to the blogging world. She is so hilarious, I love her perspective. She is a cropping buddy from the Hilltop Gang.
Another perspective I just love is THIS
Every month Mama writes a letter to her growing daughter. I love the way she writes, her view is not typical motherhood view. But I love that every month she shares her thoughts to her daughter, and us. I wish I had thought to do that with the boys. Oh well, maybe someday if there are ever grandchildren....
That's all I have today. Hopefully I will be back tomorrow, unless the big guy downtown calls me in to ask why I was the calm one and Becky was the upset one.

Tuesday Tithering

Not much going on in my household the past few days. We got some very much needed rain on Monday. Monday was also the first day of summer school so that kept me busy with registration. It went smoothly despite the retirement of my reliable guidance counselor.
I had prepared dinner on Sunday for Monday night. We came home warmed it in the microwave, and it was gone! I'll leave you the recipe, one of our electrician instructors gave it to me. He's an official coonass cajun, so I knew it would be good. oooooooeeeeeee!

Crawfish Casserole (I substituted shrimp)

3/4 stick of margarine
1 (10 ounce) can Rotel with chillies
1 (5 ounce) package saffron yellow rice
1/2 large green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pound Crawfish tails (louisiana brand are best) but I substituted shrimp
1/2 c grated cheddar cheese
Tony Chachere's to taste

Cook rice to directions. Set aside. Saute onion & pepper in margarine, add tomatos and simmer 10 minutes. Add crawfish or shrimp and simmer 10 minutes. Take off heat and add soup, stir, add rice, stir, and add Tony Chachere's to taste. Put in a casserole dish, sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
OOOOOOOEEEEE!

I hope you enjoy this. Have a wonderful day!
:J

Happy 95th Dad!

Owen began life in a small farmhouse in rural Illinois. The third child born to Roy & Lula Moore. The Moore's were farmers, Roy was also a carpenter, a jack of all trades as most farm men were in the early 1900's. Dad was born before cars, indoor plumbing, telephone, tv and most other things I take for granted. He was educated through the 8th grade in a small one room school house where he had perfect attendance and Honor Roll grades.

 

Despite these humble beginnings, he was the smartest man I've ever known. He could conquer any project he started. He did with patience and precision, measure twice, cut once. He purchased his first car, a brand new Model A, with cash he had saved working at his Uncle's dairy. I still have his first "chauffer's license", which is where I got this picture. It lists his height at 6'1" and his weight at 165. He was long and lanky and his ability to run fast earned him the nickname "Spider" in school, as he was all legs when he ran. His athletic ability earned him recognition on the baseball field also. He was asked to join farm teams run by the Major leagues, but WWII came and he answered his call to duty. He joined the Navy and was sent to New Guinea for his stint in the war.

 

He was a father of 5, two sons and three daughters, grandfather to 18 and great grandfather to more than that. He was the type of father every child wishes for. He was 49 when I was born. His older age brought patience, kindness and love to my life. He taught us about animals, plants, trees and life. We always had a garden. He always had time for our questions and most of all, he played with us.
We could always talk him into pitching a ballgame for us, fishing with us, eating ice cream with us and he read books to us most every night before we went to bed. There were alot of nights he was away from us, working shift work at the nearby Army Depot, but we were always in his heart.

 

Today he would have been 95 years old. I've lost track of exactly how many years he's been gone. I'd say 15 if you made me guess, but it's not something I really like to think about. He did get to meet all of his grandchildren, some of his great grands and he was loved by them all. At his funeral, I didn't realize how many people's lives he touched by his selfless acts he performed without recognition. He was very active in his community but not like the guys you would see in the paper, on committees and doing fundraisers. He was quiet in his way of doing things whenever help was needed. Always a jokester, he loved to tease.
He expected Honesty, Hardwork and Fairness for everyone. The worse thing you could do to him is lie. He said if we told the truth he would always stand beside us, but if we lied, we would have to take our punishment alone.
Happy Birthday Dad, the world is better place because of you.

Pictures:
Top; Ned, age 2 and Owen age 4, 1915
Middle; Owen age 15 from his first "driver's license"
Bottom; Owen with 4 of his grandsons, clockwise from top, Danny, Kevin, Patrick and Kyle 1989

Shopped til I Dropped!

This morning my friend Chris and I ventured out on a semi annual shopping spree. While we had no particular plan, we knew a few stores we wanted to hit, with a few things in mind.

I was looking for some "professional" clothes with a tropical, relaxed look. We headed to Coldwater Creek as I had spied a few things in their latest catalog that I loved. Armed with a 40% off coupon I was in the mood to shop.

You can't begin shopping without a full stomach, so our first stop was Rousso's at Eastern Shore Plaza. Chris had the grouper po boy, I had the shrimp po boy. Not exactally breakfast, but it nourished us! Rousso's is an awesome seafood place, the food was delish! While we dined on the patio, we watched about 30 kids under the age of 6 play in the fountains in the plaza square. Oh to be six again, they were having such fun!

Coldwater Creek was our next stop, but I was disappointed they didn't have the outfit I wanted to particularly see. I tried on a few things, but nothing screamed buy me like it did in the catalog. The salelady was the nicest and told us about the CC outlet about 10 miles south of where we were. Best part? My 40% coupon was good there too! So off we were to Tanger Outlets in Foley. They didn't have my outfit either, but I did order it online from the store. Doing that saved me $50+! Shipping is free if you order from the store!

Of course we had to explore a few other stores and I scored a pair of Clark sandals in coral, Skeechers sandals to go with anything and a pair of Reef sandals to match my swimsuit. I also found bra and a pair of blue jean capri's at Lee outlet. My other jean capris are just too big! I found Patrick a pair of black Reef flip flops that I'm putting back for his birthday in a few weeks. Disney was having a great sale and I got 3 beach towels for the pool for $20! Nemo, Power Rangers and Pirates of Caribbean! My biggest score was in one of the gourmet food stores. I found Fireworks brand Savanna Gold popcorn. It's grown in my hometown!!! I can't wait to pop some! I'll try to take pictures of everything later!

Exhausted from shopping we called Rick to see if he wanted to meet us for dinner. It was after 5 p.m.! Time had flown! We met him at our favorite rib dive for dinner. It was yummy and I was so stuffed I was miserable! I sure hope those new capris still fit! LOL! btw, down from a size 22 to an 18!

Well, I'm worn out. More later!

My Very Own Weatherman

Actually he is so much more than that. He is my protector, my jokester, my companion. He is usually first to greet me when I come home from work in the afternoon. He needs me as much as I need him. He also has a gift for knowing bad weather.
Tuesday morning when DH got up to go to work, Dakota, like usual, jumped up in our bed. Instead of laying near the foot as he always does, he snuggled right up next to me. As next to me as he could get without being on top of me. Later after I got up and was ready to go to work, he refused to go outside like usual. The sky was darker, as if we were going to get some much needed rain that day. But it didn't rain.
Wednesday morning, the tv weatherman began talking about a tropical front down in the gulf. I did get Dakota to go outside that day, but when I came home he was by myside. Not lay at my feet like he always does by my side, I mean glued to my leg by my side. It had rained most of the day, but it was a gentle rain with no lightning or thunder. He had spent most of the day inside with Patrick. So his sticktomeness was troubling.
Thursday I tricked him into going out by grabbing a ball and heading out the door myself. I threw it a few times and then told him "enough, I have to get to work."
Again, when I got home he would not leave me alone. He was at my side everywhere. I was doing laundry and he stayed with me every step of the way.
So here it is Friday and TS Barry is in the Gulf. Where is Dakota? On my foot as I type this.
He senses weather. I think he knows as soon as a storm begins developing in the gulf. He evacuates with me every hurricane. He has his own storm mode. He is my weatherman,

Forcing Myself

It seems like lately if I have more than a few days off, I take off for parts unknown or known. My gypsy blood must be flowing freely, because I love to pack a bag and go.
It's probably the fact that the kids are on their own, or at least self sufficent. I have no practices to taxi to, no homework to help with, and no booster club meeting I am needed at. My husband and dog would love for me to stay put. We love each other's company. The dog always wants someone to throw his ball for him. But to me there is such a wonderful world out there yet to explore, places to go, people to see.
But I'm forcing myself. Beginning June 8th, I have four days off in a row. The itch to travel is burning. I even thought about traveling north to visit my brother. Even looked up flights and can get a pretty good deal. But then I stopped and thought about it.
I just got back from a cruise, and another weekend visiting Karen in Jax. I'm going for a girl's scrap weekend at the end of June, two weeks later I go to St. Pete for a conference for work, then the first of August I'm going to another scrap weekend.
So I'm forcing myself to ignore this gypsy blood in my soul. I'm staying home. As much as I want to see my brother, as much as I want to visit my hometown, the Mississippi River, black dirt, houses more than 25 yards apart and some gravel country roads, I have to stay home.
I can get alot done in 4 days at home. My house could get cleaned, I could get my flower beds cleaned out, more flowers planted. I could cook 4 meals in a row! I could scrap. I could go to the beach. I could clean closets. I could lay in the pool and read a book all day. So it would be good to stay home for 4 days.
But then I'll keep checking flights....just in case there is too good of a deal to pass up!
:J

What a Day!

What a day! We started with breakfast with the Career & Technical people from all over the county. Such a great group who are often overlooked for their contributions to educating our growing workforce. Awesome speaker from the Chamber of Commerce, he spoke on the trends in our area for demanding jobs, Nursing, Elder Care, Hospital care,(let's face it, the baby boomers are getting old!) and the other job? Computer languages! He spoke of a recent high school graduate from West Tech who was offered a 6 figure income straight out of HS! Computer related! So when is my West Tech grad with interest in both the medical field and computers going to get one of those jobs and support his mama??? LOL!
Our retirement luncheon afterward was a blast! Of course I saw all the little details that I thought were wrong, but everyone else didn't and had a wonderful time! Many great stories about the retirees where shared, tears shed and memories made. I will truly miss the both of them once the offical time comes, Jackie later this week and Mr. S later in June. Wonderful people, born leaders who loved what they did!
I am glad it's over, only one more luncheon to go at the end of June. WHEW! Afterwards I went back to work to finish some stuff up for the teachers and then I came home and took a long nap!
I leave you with a tag that is going around. I think Dee got me, I tag Cindy & Shar, Wendy & Ruth!

My Name: Jayne

1. Famous Singer/Band: Jackson 5
2. 4 letter word: Just
3. Street: Jump Street ( okay I know it was a TV show)
4. Color: Juniper
5. Gifts/Presents: Jewels!
6. Vehicle: Jeepney
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Junk!
8. Boy Name: Jason
9. Girl Name: Jelaney
10. Movie Title: Jericho
11.Drink: Jim Beam
12. Occupation: Justice of Supreme Court
13. Flower: Jonquil
14. Celebrity: Jim Belushi
15. Magazine: Jet!
16. U.S. City: Jacksonville
17. Pro Sports Teams: Jaguars
18. Fruit: Juicyfruit
19. Reason for Being Late for Work: JailTime!
20. Something You Throw Away: Junk!
21. Things You Shout: JEEZ!
22. Cartoon Character: Jiminy Cricket

I am Chocolate Cake

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Fun, comforting and friendly? Sure, must mean I bring home stray anything. True Classic, must mean I'm old and going to end up in the dollar bin soon. Hmmm, not super,cutting edge? That's depressing, I try to stay on top of things. High Quality? Was there any doubt? Love my company? Who doesn't? get addicted to me? Hmmmmm, kinda scary, stalker scary, tho it may explain the vultures circling. Don't you want to know what kind of cake you are?

Memorial Day Weekend

I would say Happy Memorial day weekend, but when you think about it, it's not really a happy occasion. The true meaning of this weekend is to honor those who have fought and died on fields near and far, for our freedom.
Those much younger than I, sons and daughters of our nation, gave their lives for our greatest gift, the freedom to be ourselves. I don't know if I could willingly give that gift. I don't know if I want my children to give that gift. I have been a Navy wife, and while I am appreciative of my husbands service to his country, he didn't give that ultimate sacrifice. He would of if he were asked, but thankfully he wasn't.
So as we settle down for a hotdog and a beer, shop our sales or just laze around and enjoy an extra day off of work, remember those who laid down their lives so that we could choose what we wanted to do this weekend.

:J

PS if you are in the Pensacola area this weekend, you may want to stay away from the beaches and the beach establishments this weekend. Not family atmosphere, but people exersizing their freedom of choice.
Which is why DH and I will be in Jacksonville.

Morning Coffee

 

Morning Coffee. It is as necessary to me as the blood that flows through my veins. Like friends. Occasionally, usually on Thursday and Friday mornings the two are brought together in one of the offices where I work. Over coffee we catch up on each other, solve the problems of our work world and encourage each other to keep going on.

Nothing like morning coffee and friends. We celebrate each others joys and commiserate each others woes. Today we will put another school year into the file cabinet over coffee. Another lesson learned, another year to plan. But this time as we sit down for a cup, it will be one of our last as our group. Next week at this time, Jackie will officially retire.
Some things will never be the same.

I learned alot over coffee with Jackie. I learned so much about my job, my place I work, and life itself from Jackie. We celebrated her becoming a mother in law over coffee, we celebrated her becoming a grandmother over coffee, we celebrated her teacher of the year award. We celebrated. And we cried. We cried over the misery of Ivan. We cried over office gossip. We cried when Tom, Jackie's husband died suddenly two New Year's Eves ago. We watched principal's come and go, cried over some and celebrated others.

We solved the problems of our workplace, tried to be a part of the solution instead of a part of the problem. A tradition I hope to continue once Jackie is retired. I tease her that she must pray for me every day extra hard, because without her and her wealth of knowledge my job will not be as easy.

So that she will always remember the morning coffee meetings of Jackie, Linda and Jayne. I bought us each a coffee mug. So now every time we pour a cup, we can think of each other, pray for each other and find a solution to what life hands us. It will be soothing to my soul to think of the three of us at morning coffee. Strong women, strong coffee.

:J

My thoughts on AI

Jourdin will win. She has the God given voice. Stage presence like Blake's can be taught. Either way, both are very talented, and will have huge successful careers.
Can't wait to see!

:J

Our Weekend in Pictures

It was such a weekend! We did so much and got soooo much done!
One is of dear hubby as he makes his coaching debut as Defensive Ends Coach at WFHS. He is part of the coaching staff working for the Coach who coached our two oldest boys. It was at a different HS, and Rick was Coach G's QB Club President then, but we had alot of great times. Rick is thrilled to be back with Coach G.
The boys before the game, united as a team. They looked so strong, so disciplined! They won! Our first win in two years!
Coach G's grandson lost a tooth midgame. Good thing we have a great Athletic Trainer, Miss M took care of that hole where the tooth was!
Rick repairing the deck. He figured if he held his tongue just right the nail would go in just where he wanted it to!
C'est Bon is my newest Cajun Hibiscus. It's beautiful orange and pink blends so perfectly together! I want a dress in these colors.
The red and white is another of my Cajun Hibiscus. I forget it's name right now.
Rick grilling brats. What a perfect summer meal. We watched the sun go down while we stuffed ourselves. The tree in the background is over 18 ft around and estimated to be over 250 years old! It provides us with perfect shade!
Boots the cat found a perfect place for a nap. He climbed our six foot plant holder and snoozed the evening away.
It was such a perfect weekend. Weather was just perfect. Not too hot, no humidity. I would take a hundred days like today.
I hope yours was just as good.

Okay I got this from Kip!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

What do you think? Is this ME?

Midwest Summer Evenings

I need a Midwest summer evening. If you live or have lived in the Midwest, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a soul calming, peaceful type of evening. Where you drive down the main road of a small town and everyone is resting on the front porch and everyone's front yards are perfectly manicured, flowers blooming in the gardens.

I grew up in one of those nondescript small towns in the Midwest. There was something about those evenings that put life all in perspective. Your belly was full from a homecooked dinner, your homework was done and the end of school was in sight. The lilacs were blooming in the park as the baseball teams began practice in anticipation of a full summer season.

I was free to ride my bike whereever I wanted in the evening. And I could ride anywhere, as traffic was minimal. It was one of those towns where they "rolled up the sidewalks" at six p.m. You didn't dare misbehave anywhere you went, as everyone knew your parents and your parents believed any reports of misbehavior reported to them.

On those rare nights when I wasn't kicked out of the house for a few last hours of outdoor play, I was put in the bathtub right after dinner. How refreshing it was to come out with all of the day's sweat and dirt scrubbed off! Into the jammies I went and then out to the front screen porch to sit with my family on the glider to watch the world slow down and settle in for the night. When darkness fell, it was time for bed, but not before a bowl of ice cream to keep my tummy full for the night.

I need a Midwest summer evening again. I think about it every day as I leave work, facing a traffic filled drive home. I wish for just a bit to go back home for one of those evenings. A quiet, soul calming, warm bath and cool breezy, summer evening.

No Smoke in Our Eyes

Since we have family all over the US, family who watches the news, everyone has been calling. "Are those fires anywhere near you?" I appreciate all the concern, but really people pull out a map!
When I tell people I am from Florida, the first thing they say is, "Oh we'll come visit when we go to Disney World!" The look of sadness on their face when I tell them it is 7 hours to Disney from my house, tells me it wasn't ME they wanted to visit, they were looking for a free bed while they visit Mickey!
So the answer is Yes, we are near the wildfires, there is one burning about 6 miles from where I am sitting right now. But it is not the wildly burning one that is blocking all the DISNEY traffic, or featured on the World News.
We are safe, no woods near us, occasionally there is smoke from the local wildfire but today it was clear.
Thanks for all the concern. If I need a water buffalo, you will be the first to know. And, if you want to see sugar white beaches, the Naval Aviation Museum, or just to see what how "the other Florida" lives, I have a spare room.
Too all my friends who live in the "real Florida" stay safe, I hope the winds blow the smoke away from all us.
:J

Wonderings & Ramblings on the Past 24/7

My gosh has it really been a whole week since I got home from the Cruise. Darn! I'm ready to go back!!! I can repack very quick and no one will miss me!
So on I go blubbering on random thoughts.
It's too hot already! I haven't finished planting flowers in the yard and now that it's hot I won't want too! We are in such need of rain that I will have to get out at least once a day to water everything also. But I love my flowers, it just calms me to walk out and be greeted by their beauty!
Mother's Day was quiet. Patrick had the day off, but he slept most of the day as he worked til 4:30 am. He did get me a cute card and spent the rest of the day after he got up with me. Kevin & Daniel called me. It's always nice to hear from them. Daniel & Felicia sent me two ecards that were Daniel to a T! I laughed so hard!
Rick spoiled me rotten as he always does. He cooked breakfast and then we went shopping for a pool float for me. The whole day he kept saying, "what do you want to do now, it's your day" like we don't do what I want everyday. He did take me to Steak N Shake for my favorite Chocolate malt. I wanted to just make up places to go and then change my mind once I got there, just to see how many places we could go!
After we got home we rearranged the scrap room and put my new (used) table in there. It gives me a ton more room to lay stuff, plus I kept my old table in there to use for sewing, painting and such. I got rid of the computer desk so now everything in the room is mine, cept for one file cabinet. Soon, if I have my way, that will go too!
I am so blessed with all I have. Independent kids, a great husband, nice house, good job and many, many inspiring women for friends. Gawd, I love this life!!!
:J

A Few More Things You need to Know about ME!

Two Names I Go by
1. Mom
2. Miss Jayne (what the coaches & kids call me)

Two Things I am Wearing Right Now:

1. my comfy yellow night gown (you asked!)
2. my anklet from the cruise

Two Things I Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. Honesty
2. Laughter (Love is a given)

Two of My Favorite Things to do:
1. Travel
2. Spend time with my family

Things I Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. A clean house
2. To find a million dollars in my bank account

Two pets I have:
1. Dakota, my very spoiled lachow or chowla (labchow mix)
2. Boots, the cat who drives me nuts

Two things I did last night:
1. Drank a few beers
2. Talked with friends

Two things I ate today:
1. Coffee
2. Nothing else yet

Two people I just talked to last:
1. Rick
2. Linda

Two Things I'm doing tomorrow:
1. putting on my swimsuit
2. floating in the pool

Two longest car rides:
1. Pensacola to Wautoma WI Christmas Eve 20 hours nonstop Christmas 05
2. Illinois to Pennsylvania in 1976 in the back of a Datsun 210 with my brother.

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Thanksgiving
2. My Birthday!

Two favorite beverages:
1. Mojitos
2. Margaritas

Last but not least, two thoughts on American Idol:

1. It's great now that the Sanjaya fiasco is over

2. Iim picking Jordin to win!

Of Course WE Scrapped!

Well in between our other activities! Seriously, if you want to scrap go on a CKMB cruise or something. But if you want to have a wondermous time with a great group of women, come with us! WE even scrap! But first we had to make some memories to put in those pages!
The Lido deck was a great place for fun, excitement and dancing! We spent alot of time there, as you can see by our tower. But that was only because each of us sacrificed our souvenir glasses. Honest mom, we only had one!

 

And when you are young and cute, all the waiters want to dance the Macarena with you! Amy & Robin showed them how to do it! You go Girls!

 

I, of course, had to have a margarita at the world famous Senor Frogs! When in the Bahamas do as the bahamanians do! I also had my first Sex on a Beach there, but thankfully no pics of that! In the corner of the pic you can also see the awesome Prada bag Linda got! She scored a great price for that bag! We were all jealous!

 

I promise to show pictures of some scrappin' we actually did! We also got to meet the latest designer for Tiffany's! Yes the jewelry company! Pics to follow later! We were even presented with the creation Tiffany's did in honor of her joining the design team!
Another great time had by all!

:J

Yep! It was FUN!

I spent a few days this past week Cruisin' the Bahamas with some of the best women I know. Yep! We told them we were going to "scrapbook" but what we really did was make some great memories! Yes there was everything you would expect in a cruise, food, fun and ....liquids.
 
The entrance to the Midnite Buffet was enticing. The fruit was yummmy! I loved how they carved everything into tropical art. I took pictures because I know that I can recreate this at home in a few short hours with my classic kitchen knife. Yep, look for this at the next family breakfast. I bet that will impress the in-laws!
Equally impressive was the tower of our souvenir glasses from an afternoon on the Lido Deck. You never know when you will need to build a glass tower. I think we should have continued obtaining glasses until we could build a layer of pink, a layer of green and a layer of clear. But then who would build the tower? It was a fun afternoon, poolside,k with our own private dancer.
 
The highlight of my trip was supposed to be parasailing at Half Moon Cay. Well I didn't chicken out, but I (and Linda, the only other daredevil in the group) were unable to complete our fete. The wench that pulled in the sail broke on the excursion an hour before ours. We were so disappointed! But better then than when one of us were up there!
 
It was a great trip, one I will talk about for months! I'm already saving for next year's trip, and I have a few more pictures to show you, but I am going to enjoy a few more minutes of ME time. DH is off working on a car, and Patrick is off for guys night poker. He's wearing his surrender the booty Tshirt I got for him in Nassau. He's hoping it will bring him good luck!

:J

OHHHH What a Beautiful Mooorning!

It's absolutely gorgeous out here on my deck. The birds are singing, it's cool here in the shade and I am glad I have my laptop that goes anywhere. I've set here for the past hour, drinking my coffee, listening to the birds and catching up with everything I've missed since I was on the cruise.
I hate to quit all this and go to work, but I must. I have a few more things to catch up before I can take another day or two off for some more fun! I made alot of progress yesterday at work, now I need to make great progress here at the house! I've got a load of laundry in the washer, and one ready to go in when that one is done.
The guys survived the weekend without me. Although there is alot of frozen pizzas in the freezer. I think that is what they ate the whole time I was gone. Rick did say he cooked breakfast on Sunday morning.
My flowers all survived also and most are blooming beautifully. I wonder if I will every get this backyard looking like the haven I want it to be. HMMMMM! Maybe if I had a yard boy at my service for a few weeks. And probably about the time I get it the way I want, we will decide this place is just too much work and sell it for something smaller. LOL
I must go, Dakota is dropping his ball at my feet, a sign that he thinks we need to play. He keeps picking up his ball and dropping it, as if I don't hear it bouncing on the deck.
Enjoy the day!
:J

Yes, I'm alive!

I know most of you think I have forgotten how to blog. That is if anyone is still reading this. No, I haven't forgotten, just busy getting some adventures under my belt to tell you all about.
Just returned yesterday from 4 nights, 5 days in the Bahamas on a cruise. All I can say is OMG! IF you haven't treated yourself to this vacation, it is a must do! I had the best time, probably one of the best vacations I have ever had! Alot of it had to do with the women I was with, such totally awesome girls. Everyone should have friends like these, ones you can totally do anything with and as the saying goes, "What happens on vacation, stays on vacation!" We had such a time. It was so fun being footloose and fancy free! More about that later.
I've missed my blog and I promise to be a better blogger!
Pass the word, Bahama Mama is back! Rasta braids and all!

:J