My Favorite Reads So Far This Summer

I am an avid reader, if it stands still long enough I read it! I subscribe to several magazines. I read while cooking, waiting, outside, in the bathroom, in bed, at work, you name it I've probably read there. Okay, not then! I love to curl up with a good book and lately I've hit the jackpot.

I'm not a big reader of scary books, but I do like crime books. I'm not a big reader of historical romance books, but I love biographies of famous stars. I've been known to enjoy a good spy novel and even a war novel or two. Lately my favorites have been books about growing up and enjoying life as a woman whose kids have left the nest. Coming of age books for us women who have learned a lesson or two about life.

My favorite author this summer is Kris Radish. I've read three of her books. My first and favorite was Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. It's a story about a woman who dies and then sends her 4 best friends on a journey around the country to scatter her ashes. First of all the book appealed to me because I have always said when I die I want my friends to take my ashes and scatter them in their favorite place. And this is what Annie did, only she sent her friends to places she had been. On the journey they learned about Annie's life, while growing within themselves. I highly recommend this read! She did an awesome job telling of the bonds women have, with themselves, their girlfriends, and their many journeys they travel.

The second book I read of Kris' was Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. I enjoyed this about a woman who after a long marriage finds her husband in bed with another woman, watches, and then leaves him and begins her life over after being the loving, dutiful wife and mother and she does it successfully, finding happiness and mending fences as she goes. It was a great book on Life, love and friendship while learning to be true to yourself and not society. Another Awesome read!

Her third book touched my heart, set in rural Wisconsin, one of my favorite places, a women's study group decides one night to go out for a walk that lasts several days! They walk the roads of rural Wisconsin, refusing to talk to most anyone but themselves. Their story grabs national attention as they walk. They live off the kindness of other women they meet on their journey. Women who feed and house them while protecting them from the outside world. Along the way they talk about their lives, learning from each other and the women who help them. I loved this book, and assure you, the next time DH & I are in Wisconsin, he'll be watching for me to take off on my walk.

There you have it, I think Kris is an awesome author and I think I am going to check out another of her books, Birth Order Effect. I think there's alot to be said about birth order. I can't wait to read her take on it. If I have your curiosity up, check out her website, www.krisradish.com Enjoy your summer reading and tell me about it!

:J

Mid Week Meanderings

Well here it is, Hump day. Two days til my 4 day weekend. What's going on with me?

I have taken off most of my fake nails. I have 3 left on my right hand, that's it. Debating on whether or not to get a new set tomorrow or give my hands a few weeks rest. It is wierd typing with no nails. I have had them for about 5 years. Usually in the summer I give them a two week break and get a new set. But with it being a holiday weekend, and going to my sisters, I'm debating to put them back on right away. HMMMM! My sister has gorgeous natural nails. She always says that I got the brains, beauty and the boobs, but she got the nails. Darn!

Office Air. Let's just say I have not had flowing air conditioning in my office all year. It's a choice, and my office isn't really sweltering hot. It's a big office and I get air from the hallway, and the office next door to me. I don't have it on because my office becomes a deep freeze with it on. But with our 90 degree+ heat lately, I asked our maintance guy to go ahead and turn on my air vents. We go through this every year. He turns them on, I freeze and we turn them off. So this year we sealed off the two vents above my desk, and left two open. Well, by 3 pm my office was a deep freeze. I guess tomorrow we will shut them back off. UGH! there has to be a happy medium!

Fourth of July plans. DH and I leave Saturday morning for the 4 day weekend at my sisters. It will be good to get away. I may take my new bunco game, just for fun. We will spend the weekend shopping and I hope to help her set up her new craft room.

My excitement so far this week, other than getting all my classes scheduled for the upcoming year, is that I am signed up to go to the Creepover on Halloween weekend. I could do cartwheels I am so thrilled! It's at a great state park here in Florida. I haven't camped there since DS3 was about 3 years old (he's 19) but from the pics it still looks the same! I love it there!
I will get to meet a few of my fellow monkey girls, so I know we will have an awesomely havoc wreaking time!

Teenagers! He wants to be an adult but can't follow simple instructions.
Me: What time do you work today?"
Him: 4:45
Me: "Good, here's $20, take those two packages on the desk and mail them for me to your cousins"
Him: "Okay"
I come home from work, and what is still sitting on the desk? You guessed it! But he had time to mess up my kitchen, and play on the computer.
Ugh Kids!

Enough meandering, If you are looking for a few good books to read, Check out Kris Radish's books! "Annie Freeman's Traveling Funeral" "A Elegant Gathering of White Snows" and "Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn" Great coming of age stories for us lively women! Start with Annie's or Dancing Naked. You will love them! More on that later,

For now,
:J

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for ME!

He promised to show me where Johnny Depp was! I didn't care about hidden treasure, gems or his pieces of eight. I wanted to see Johnny Depp in his Pirate finery! Can't wait to see the new movie, I was so captivated by the Pirates of the Carribean! I was not a Johnny Depp fan until I saw that. Matter of fact, I didn't understand the hype of JD. But once I saw PoC, I was hooked. It was the role he was born to play! What little girl doesn't dream of being captured by pirates and the adventures that hold? I was! That movie fulfilled all my dreams. Now, guide this ship to find Johnny!
:J 

Happily Ever After

Here they are the Bride & Groom! Jen & John have been sweethearts for about 6 years now. They were High School Sweetharts, College Sweethearts and are now Mr. & Mrs.! I'm so excited for them. DS2, Kevin (the dark haired one) was a part of the wedding party. All three have been friends since HS when John was the Quarterback & Kevin was his reciever.

John and Kevin played football and baseball together growing up. Later they worked at the same restaurant at the beach, Zeke's. John is an English teacher now and a Coach. Jen is a nurse. I wish them many years of happiness. It's been great watching them grow up!
I leave them with this piece of advice,
"A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together. It is when an imperfect couble learns to enjoy their differences." - Moorer.
Enjoy each other!

:J

 

Another Challenge

Another Challenge from Kip.

I WANT: One more day, So that my words will be spoken and my feelings known.
I HAVE: Many, Many blessings!
I WISH: That people would see they don't need "things" to be happy.
I HATE: Nothing, it's a waste of energy
I MISS: my Parents, being with family
I HEAR: Nature sounds, Some of God's greatest songs
I WONDER: If I have done enough to make my sons better men.
I REGRET: Not finishing College
I AM NOT: As independent as I think I am.
I DANCE: Deep in my soul, every moment I am.
I SING: Too my heart's content, too bad it's so awful!
I CRY: At the National Anthem playing anywhere.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: As outgoing as people think I am.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: A home for my family and crafts to satisfy my creativity!
I WRITE: to remember, so those who come after me will know me.
I CONFUSE: Myself easily, (it's not hard!)
I NEED: to be healthier!
I SHOULD: be healthier!
I START: With good intentions!
I FINISH: Not near as many things as I should!
How about you?

What are YOU looking for?

Lately I have had quite a few hits from people blog hopping, looking for goings on about a few MBs I belong to. If that's your case, you can make this your last visit. While I agree with my fellow monkeys, I won't waste my time, breath or blogspace on how you have ruined a great community. I won't give you fodder for your bashing me or my friends. I'm so over what has happened to what was once a great and caring place. I've packed my bags and moved to a new community and behind us we have locked the gates to keep the riffraff out.
So consider this my one and only post concerning you. If you want to know what's going on, you know where to look and can read my comments on their blogs. You are welcome to keep looking here to read about my life, but nothing will ever be mentioned about CK, ELMB or you! So if that is your mission. GO AWAY!
:J

You Aren't Considered a Couch Potato If......

you aren't sitting on the Couch! This is DH taking it easy on his Father's Day. At least he started out that way. He has since given up and has vacummed the pool and washed the car. He just can't sit still.
I remember the days when we longed for weekends like this. Nowhere to go, nothing on the agenda. We had baseball, football, soccer, scouts, camping, field clean up days, school activities and then there were the weekends at the beach. It seemed we were always somewhere with our 3 sons.
I wouldn't have had it any other way. You came into my life when I already had two sons. You knew from the start it was a package deal and that I was a hands on, involved parent. You jumped right in from the start, taking on the Dad duties. The boys will tell you who their Dad is. I thank you so much for that, and I thank your dad for that too. You learned from him, you are both a couple of great guys. You didn't have to.
So sit for awhile and enjoy your day. You deserve it, this one's for you!
all my love, from the deepest part of my heart,
:J

This says SUMMER!

Nothing says summer like a new set of toes! These are my new toes, pedied and fresh from the salon! I love the color! It matches all the coral I wear, and had enough red in it that I don't look funky when I wear red. (two of my fav colors!) The flowers are a new thing Patty talked me into, and the centers are even jewels! Can you believe it! New toes make me feel so good!
I'm ready for summer, are you? What says summer to you?
Wondering from the Western Gate,

:J 

Sweet Days of Summer, the Jasmine's in Bloom

There is something about the smell of Jasmine that signals the beginning of summer. In the north it is the smell of Lilacs, but here, in the south, it's the jasmine. It fits in with the cooling evening breezes, the mockingbird's call, and the hum of the cicadas.
Last night we sat on the patio until the jasmine was in full bloom. The smell was captivating. As the street lights came on, like children we retreated into the house, away from the breezes, the cicadas and the mockingbird. Back to the reality of life, the dinner dishes, air conditioning and TV. As for me, I take the outdoors.
All of my hard work in the garden is finally paying off. Let's hope we don't have a summer visitor that blows it all away!
Enjoy your day!

:Jayne 

Happy 95th Birthday Dad!

It's hard for me to believe, but if my Dad were still on this earth, he would have been 95 years old today! It's hard to also believe he has been gone almost 13 years. Dad saw so many changes to this world in his lifetime. He was a good man, with a kind and generous heart. He knew no enemies, and had a community of friends.
This is the earliest picture I have of my dad, taken when he was 4 years old in 1915. The baby next to him is his brother, Ned. My Dad was born on a farm in Northwestern Illinois in 1911. His parents were farmers as where their parents before them. He went to a one room school house for his education and only went as far as 8th grade. I still have his report cards, on which he earned all A's and A+'s. You never would have guessed he only had an 8th grade education.
The picture below is of him and Ned again. The are a little older and my dad is still the taller one. They also had an older sister and brother, but I don't have a picture of them together as children. My Dad loved the outdoors and sports. He was a tall and lanky young man who was quite a ball player and runner. He loved to hunt and fish and always had a garden.

This is my dad and I at my High School Graduation. I always looked up to him. He was always busy puttering with something, and never turned down a request I had to fix or build something for me. He took us hunting and fishing. He took us to the ballpark. He played Hide and Seek. Many nights he would read to us at bedtime mostly "The Happy Hollisters" mystery stories. On rainy days we would gather on the front porch and he would tell us stories of his childhood and Navy days. He loved to talk about his first car, a 1929 Model A. He would sing us the craziest songs. Many nights we would pile in the car for a trip to Bimm's for Ice cream, the real, handdipped kind.
All the kids in the neighborhood would gather in our backyard after dinner to play baseball. My Dad would pitch to each and everyone of us. He taught us to play fair and to play with together as a team. He was the greatest Cubs fan in the world.


Sorry I don't know how to do pictures right. This is a photo of my Dad and Mom with my boys. Many of my Dad's grandsons carried his name, Owen, as their middle name. He had 10 grandsons, 8 granddaughters and two great grandchildren.
I miss my Dad. I miss his smile, his jokes, his guidance and even his snoring. He was a great man, well respected by everyone who knew him. I see parts of him in my brother, my sons, and even my husband. His legacy lives on in all of us.
Happy Birthday Dad. You said it yourself when you told me you were dying of cancer, "I have lived a long, wonderful life."

:J

Mourning at the Western Gate

Today the Western Gate mourns the loss of a great man. He was our mayor, our family man, our car dealer and the man well respected and revered by all who knew him.
Mr. Vince Whibbs was Mr. Pensacola. He died May 30th of a heart attack in his home.

He was the man who coined the phrase from which I often quote and named my blog. "Western Gate of the Sunshine State." His entire quote, which he used many times to greet visitors to our magnificant city follows,
"On behalf of our elected City Council, those ten masterful men who manage our magnificent municipality; and on behalf of the chairman of our county commission and his four commissioners who constantly deal with the changing, challenging conditions of our county; and on behalf of our wonderful people who populate the Northwest Florida area, it is my privilege and pleasure as mayor to welcome you to Pensacola, the western gate to the Sunshine State, where thousands live the way millions wish they could, where the warmth of our community comes not only from God's good sunshine, but from the hearts of the people who live here. Welcome to Pensacola, America's first place city and the place where America began."

He was an ambassador of all of our city. He performed many good deeds in his lifetime including raising a wonderful, community minded family with his wife, Anna. Vince helped to put Pensacola on the map as a place to work, live and vacation. Besides owning a car dealership and serving as Pensacola's Mayor. Mr. Whibbs was a supporter of many community projects here. His current pet project was the Pensacola Maritime Museum and Park, which would bring more tourism and business to downtown Pensacola, as well as give us a place to honor our history as a port and a home for our beloved Pensacola Pelicans baseball team.
Mr. Whibbs was a well honored and respected man. Pensacola was blessed to have had him.
From the Western Gate of the Sunshine State, where thousands live the way millions wish they could, thanks and God Bless. Heaven holds a special place for you.
:J (photo courtesy of the Pensacola News Journal)

Palm Trees Belong in South Florida

There has been something truly irritating me for about eighteen months now. During post hurricane recovery it has become fashionable to replace our majestic oaks of northwest Florida with the palm trees of south Florida. I, for one, don't like the look. Northwest Florida is not the Florida of picture postcard Florida. NW Florida is more typical of the Old South. Palm trees are not native to this area. What is native is the majestic oaks covered in hanging moss more typical of the old southern plantations.

Now that everyone in NW Florida is "remodeling" after Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, the trend is to replace those majestic oaks with palm trees. It makes me want to scream "We are not South Florida!" The palms have their place here, perhaps out on the beaches. But when you come across the 3 Mile Bridge onto the mainland, the oaks should continue to stand where they naturally grew.

Now everywhere you look, oaks are being torn down and replaced with palms. The Mall, the hospital, and now even WalMart has replaced the oaks and crepe myrtles with palms. The area I live in is Myrtle Grove. It is so named for all the crepe myrtles that grow naturally in the area. They turn the area into a sea of pink, white, red and fuschia in the spring with their beautiful blooms. When our neighborhood WalMart was built, crepe myrtles decorated the parking lot, providing beautiful blooms and shade for parking. No longer is this so, this spring WM replaced perfectly good crepe myrtles with what else? Palm Trees.

The area where I work is known as Pine Forest. Why? It was so named for the Native longleaf pine trees that grow naturally in this region. We were built around the mills and forests that harvested this lumber to build the south. Pine Trees, Oak Trees and Crepe Myrtles. They belong in NW Florida.

Please don't get me wrong. I love to look at the palms when I visit South Florida. They are majestic with their fronds waving in the sea breeze. But they belong in South Florida, where they grow naturally! The palms invoke the idea of what the rest of the world thinks all of Florida is, a tropical vacationland. NW Florida has many things to offer vacationers. I just don't think Palm trees should be one of them.

Just my wonderings,
:J

My Veteran

This is my dad. He served his country in the US Navy during World War II. He was drafted, but qualified for deferment because he was a head of household with a family. But he went anyway. He went to boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, leaving behind a wife and two children. He became a Machinist Mate and was stationed in New Guinea. He spent most of the war repairing ships in the Pacific. He would tell the story about how he narrowly missed being bombed. Every day his work crew would board a boat and travel to ships docked offshore to repair them. On this day one of the men realized he forgot his work pouch just the transport boat was getting ready to leave. They waited as he ran back to the bunkhouse to get it. When he returned as they left the dock, they watched as a Japanese plane flew over and bombed the ship. Had the man not forgotten the pouch, they would have been working on the ship. Thank God for that!

I, of course, was nowhere in the picture, not even the twinkle in his eye. But I remember the pictures and stories he told of being there and in the war. There were two pictures that I recall as my favorites, One of him in a grass skirt and one of his other "family", a native New Guinea black woman and a slew of kids. They weren't really his family, he just loved to tease us.

My dad never questioned his obligation to go, it was his duty as an American man, and he was proud to have served. I was equally as proud, later on, as his daughter, that he served his country well. He of course came back from the war to his family and went on to have another family.

As a little girl, one of my favorite things on rainy days, was to sit on the front porch and listen to his Navy stories and sing his Navy songs. I still have his Blue Jackets Manual, the book issued to every Navy man in boot camp.

He was a well respected man in our little community. I don't think he had an enemy in the world and liked every one. He was always willing to help someone in need and didn't speak ill of anyone. His theory was if he didn't like someone, he just didn't talk about them at all.
That's my dad, I'm proud of him, I love him, and I miss him everyday.
:J

What did you do today?

I planted! I love surrounding our patio and decks with flowers! Hurricane Ivan reeked havoc on our yard 18 months ago and we are finally getting it back to the pre hurricane days.
Yesterday I went to the nursery to see what new and exciting plants they have this year. I didn't come away empty handed either!
This is my Lady in Red Hydrangea. Isn't it beautiful! It is probably the most expensive single plant I have ever purchased. It was almost $24! But the Lady will make a beautiful addition to the backyard. She will join our Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Double pink Forever & Ever, and Blue Forever & Ever Hydrangeas. Our Oak Leaf is one of the few that survived Ivan.
The guys at the Nursery know me, and know I love different plants. Although I plant Torenia every year, the new guy asked me if I knew it was called the "wishbone flower". I didn't! Can you see the wish bone inside? How cool! I got some of these in purple and pink. They grow like wild all summer. I love them!

The new guy, I have to get his name next time. Also asked me if I had ever had "Bat Faces" in my garden. No I hadn't, but I do now! Aren't they adorable? Too Cute!

New guy also shared why I can't ever get Clementis to grow. They like sun, but the roots like shade. So I am trying again and have planted them correctly this time. I have been a busy girl, and hope to have more pics soon.
Nature is so beautiful!
:J 

10 Shows Tag from Kip

To shows I love to watch:

Grey's Anatomy
Boston Legal
Fox Football's Pregame show ( Love Howie!)
CSI
MASH
Desparate Housewive's (reminds me of when I lived in Military Housing!)
60 Minutes (I watched this as a kid, with my dad even)
Paula Deen's Show on Food Network
Made in America on the Travel Network
Who Wants to be a Millionaire

10 Shows I didn't Watch
Survivor
West Wing
Lost
Law & Order
Amazing Race
Seinfeld
Friends
American Idol (only in the ending weeks do I watch it)
Bernie Mac Show
probably anything on FOX or UPN except the Fox Football Pregame show

What are yours?
:J

10 Sounds I Love

1. The sound of a summer thunderstorm as it rolls into town, drenches everything and leaves.
2. The Beach, it's breezes, crashing waves, gulls chatter, and children laughing.
3. An Autumn football game, the crowd cheering, coaches yelling, cheerleaders Rahing, Announcer's play by play and of course the band.
4. Children, from their suckling sounds of a newborn, to their coos and giggles, their first words, their laughter, their midnite giggles with friends, and their glees of excitement in their teens.
5. My husbands voice, telling me about his day, saying he loves me, talking to his sons, teasing his dog, singing when he thinks no one is listening, cheering his favorite football team and calling my name.
6. Trains. Their lonely warnings of crossing roads, their clang and clatter of hitching cars, their long whines as they leave the switchyard, the clackity clack of rolling wheels.
7. Nature. Birds singing, breezes blowing, creeks flowing, falls crashing, fish jumping, crickets lulling me to sleep.
8. Hymns sung in a church with the pipe organist playing in the background.
9. Words of comfort from loved ones, making the worse things in the world better with words.
10. I love you, in any language, from anyone.

Was It the Last Day of School?

It just didn't seem like it was. The only kids there were ones who had to take final exams. The seniors have been gone since last week. Teachers and staff still have 3 more days. It just didn't seem like the last day of school.Maybe next week, as all the teachers leave and say good bye. It will seem like school has ended.
Good Bye, all the good ones leave. Some say because there are those who do, and those who don't and they are tired of always being asked to do because they do. I can relate. The good ones go. Not all of them, thank goodness, but this year too many are. Why is that? You can be a screw up, not care about the kids, not do your required paperwork, and rarely they let you go.
It's always the ones who teach well. Not just the school book stuff, but the life stuff. The things the kids really need to know. Things like responsibility, citizenship, caring, community, accountability, integrity, and so on. Those life things. The ones who teach well burn out. They do the proms, chaperone the field trips, coach, sponsor the class, sponsor the community club, put on the play, THEY DO. They do after they teach 7 hours in a classroom, grade papers until midnite, and eat lunch on the run. Because they DO. I will miss the DOers that are leaving us this year. I wish they would stay. Sure someone will pick up the slack of those DOers who leave, but it will be the rest of us, DOers.

:J

Another Day, Another Thought

I guess it's a good thing all my visitors do not leave comments. From reading other friends blogs where their visitors have left messages, I do consider myself lucky. As my daddy used to say, "it is better to not speak and be thought a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubts." But of course he copied that from someone else, Ben Franklin, I believe.
Then as momma used to say "don't try to teach a pig to sing, it wastes your time, and annoys the pig". Which she probably didn't originate either, but copied
I guess that was their way of saying don't waste your time on such petty issues, life is too short. There will always be someone out there who thinks they are right and others don't see their side, so of course we don't see it the right way. Some people will be the way they are and the way they always have been, no matter what they protest and say now. It is a sad statement on their lives that they want to have what they can't. And they can't be happy with what they have. Course I guess I wouldn't either if I were in their shoes. Sad thing is they have wrecked a good thing once before, and this time they don't have a snowbuzzard's chance in hell of ruining anything this time.
So, you may think I am the one who has removed all doubt. Doesn't matter, it's just the way I wonder sometimes.

:J

It Bloomed on Mother's Day

As I was growing up, my mother always had a flower garden. She grew poppies, roses, lilacs, geraniums, sedum, peonies, daisies, jack-in-the-pulpit, Dutchman's britches and lilies of the valley to name a few. She always kept a pot of water lilies on the front porch. She diligently kept them watered, and seperated the bulbs when the container grew too full.
When she died, and we seperated her household belongings, one of the plants I wanted was that original pan of water lilies. So I brought them home with me, not knowing if they would even survive the heat of Florida. I am not so good at watering them as she was. I haven't ever seperated them even though they are now crammed in the pot. But they have survived the heat and my neglect.
Every once in awhile they bloom. Mostly after a hard rain, as they did after Ivan, reminding me that life will go on. Once they bloomed after I had had a bad week at work, culminating with a disagreement with a co-worker whom I detested. Again today, on Mother's day, when I have been thinking of my Mom, and missing her.
I think sometimes when they bloom it is she who has been watering them. It's Mom's way of letting me know she is watching me and that things will be better another day.
Wondering,
:J 

Happy Mother's Day!

It's hard for me to believe I have been a mother for 26 years. It's been a job I have had the longest, never missing a day. It's also hard for me to beleive these 3 young cherubs, whom I loved, played with, disciplined, worried over, prayed over, taxied, cooked for, coached, taught, diapered, read to, fought with, cried over and shared 26 years of life with, have grown into 3 fine young men.
Kevin, Patrick and Daniel July 1987
There were days I didn't think I would make it. There were days I wanted to be sent to MY room. There were days I laughed till I thought I would burst, and days I thought my heart would burst from tears.
We have learned so much together. We have loved together. We have been best friends. We have been cowboys and indians and Princess and Kings together. We have camped in the woods and swam in the ocean. We have climbed many mountains both figuratively and in real life. Our travels and adventures have taken us places I only dreamed of going.
I wouldn't have traded it for the world.
These are my sons, Daniel, Kevin and Patrick. They have brought me joy beyond words. They are the greatest gift I have ever gotten Mother's day, Christmas and every holiday rolled into one.
I only hope that they become as good as fathers as sons they have been for me. I am proud of what they have become. Their dreams are yet to be reached. But I know, if not another day comes, they have been great sons to me.
Kevin, Patrick and Daniel at Patrick's graduation May 2005