Sunday, February 26, 2006

Here's to Tiamo....

And Gigi, Jerry, Sandy, Pebbles, Thomas, Wilby, Zipper, Hans, Lady (both), Woody, Rocky, and of our other dear little animal friends....

The Rainbow Bridge story
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together

.... Author unknown

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Ladies Night Out

February 23 was Ladies Night Out for mothers of the school and others who wanted to support education (and win a basket). Appparently the money raised goes to technology of some kind.
I arrived at The Crown Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn) with Annette and my friend Stephanie. Mac was home with Charles and Stephanies two boys (ages 9 and 11). We bought raffle tickets. $3 or ($5 for the bigger gifts). The baskets and gifts included airline tickets, a laptop, portable dvd player, pampered chef baskets, autographed skateboard, camping supplies, bikes, tons of restaurant gift certificates, spa packages, movie baskets, etc.
After an ok dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans, the tickets were called for the basket prizes. None of which we won. They also had a raffle for a pair of earrings in a shell box which you chose and hopefully won the earrings (which we didnt). We also bought tickets to support breast cancer research in dedication to Mom and Gigi and in hopes of winning a huge breast cancer basket. They raised $1500 in that alone.
There were several auctions. One of which was to be principal of the school for the day. Another friend, Maureen, actually bid $460 and won. She was telling me her son (who was in one of Charles classes) wanted to wear a suit and bring a brief case to school the other day so that was perfect for him. They also auctioned off P.E. Teacher for the day and a home cooked meal for 10 by a professional chef. That went for $2,000! Wow!
The DJ played the Macarana, Electric Slide and other "OLDIES". I consumed 2 long island iced teas, Maureen had 4 glasses of red wine (Carroll would LOVE her), Stephanie had 1 glass of white wine and Annette had a ginger ale.
Between Annette and I, we spent $194 which included the $30 for each dinner and entry ticket (which had drawings for door prizes-which we didnt win)
Maureen and I hit the dance floor, Steph and Annette chilled and then we meandered home around 10:30 to find Tiger and the kids camped out in the living room with empty pizza boxes and soda cans.

Music, Grub & Liquor; Not a Bad Combo!

I received two free tickets (a nice perk) from Heike for a Brevard Symphony Orchestra Wine and Beer Tasting with culinary samples from over 30 restaurants.
Being that I can't get Tiger out of the house for any cultural events I invited my neighbor who had previously taken me to see "Forever Dead"... I mean "Forever Plaid". She was more than pleased to accompany me. We dressed up and left about 4:30 since it started at 5pm.
When we got to the King Center for the Performing Arts, where all the big shows are held in Melbourne, we were immediately given a complimentary glass of champagne in a beautiful keepsake wine glass to use for the wine tasting. We then hunted down these great plastic engraved appetizer dishes which they were selling for $5. Since Brevard Live is a sponsor we got them for free. Another nice perk.
They ushered us to a line with a table with 4 different kinds of cheese spreads, crackers and pinwheels. I was like "where's the food?" since there was supposed to be over 30 restaurants giving samples. We made small plates, caught up with Heike and her friends and went into the theater for the concert.
They Played:
•Slavonic Dance No. 8
•Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
•Thunder and Lighting Polka
•A Hollywood Salute (over 30 different Hollywood film themes-really cool)
•The Syncopated Clock
•Raider's March (from Raiders of the Lost Ark)
•The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons.

I do love a good show. Aside from the Rolling Stones, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra is one of my favorite concerts! Minus Mick Jagger, they are just as entertaining. Ok, whatever. I DO, however, love to check out each and every person. You can see and feel the passion of music in their performances. I have seen them several times. I love the harpist and the little drummer guy was a cutie. By the time they got to the jetsons, you could tell everyone was ready to eat and all their wine glasses were empty!

IT WAS FINALLY TIME TO EAT!!
It was very crowded as everyone stood in line to get into the Rotunda where the food and wine vendors were. When we finally got in it seemed like there was a line at every table and the only thing that was easy to get to was what else, but the wine!
I really like white, sweet wines so I tried a nice Pinot Grigio. Trouble is, they only give you about 4 (big) sips so you have to keep refilling rather nonchalantly but there are several tables so you can circle around.
After 2 or 3 glasses of wine, we were finally able to make it to a food table. Too bad it was desserts. We would visit later for sure! I saw mini cheesecakes.
Anyway, at least we had some food on our cute little plates, it wasn't so bad waiting in the lines that way. We finally got moving and here are of the foods I tried;
Mini gyros, various pasta dishes, baked ham, sweet and sour meatballs, goulash (very good), kraut and sausage, mini burritos, wonderful crab cakes, moussaka, baked brie, tuna sashimi, marinated shrimp skewers and pulled pork and my favorites; (which I went back for 2nds on) pear & cheese stuffed pasta w/ mornay sauce and escargot stuffed mushroom crowns w/ boursin cheese sauce. What better to stuff a fungus with than a snail and curdled milkfat!

I was pretty full with "dinner" items but they also had fresh mozzarella, beef carpaccio, veal Ossobucca (marinated pork shank), quiche, chicken bordelaise, steak mojito, citron honey salmon w/ mango salsa, gazpacho, mole', jambalaya, lots of breads (which I stayed away from), and much more!

We made our way to several other drink stations and I tried some mango wine and some cedar beer. The wine was much much better. I am definitely prefer wine over beer! And did I say I prefer sweet to dry?

Luckily we happen to save just enough room to sample some of their many desserts. They had tons of strawberries with every kind of chocolate dip including fondue. We did a few of those and then each of us had a chocolate cup w/ swiss chocolate mousse and a blueberry and a couple of those mini cheesecakes.

On our way out we grabbed a cup of coffee that came from a machine that made 20 different items with fresh ground coffee beans. I had a machiatto but it also made french vanilla cappuccinos, expresso, lattes, tai teas and several other things. Very cool.

We decided to leave and made it home full-tummied by 8pm.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

SOMEBODY STOP THE CLOCK!

I havent had any time to blog!
Sleeping•Eating•Working•Volunteering•Working•Walking•Brevard Symphony Orchestra Culinary Wine and Beer Tasting•Cleaning•Working•Sleeping•Catching up on Survivor, Dancing w/ Stars, Desperate Housewives•2 hrs. at beach on weekend•Eating•Ladies Night Out Coming up.......Will elaborate more sometime this decade.
Also, my unavailability to post pics from home is discouraging and has taken the excitement out of blogging. I will come around after deadline time.
Bear with and keep bloggin!

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Simon

My puppy turned 1 year old on Saturday February 18th!! Happy Birthday Simon and those of you celebrating your birthday this weekend!

Saturday, February 11, 2006

In Response to Comments

Thank you all for reading my blogs and leaving your comments. I sure apprectiate them. I would, however, like to respond to some of them.
In reference to the issue of who Mimi caters to. I'm not so sure that black is more politically correct than colored. Some would beg to differ that black is really not a color, but white is. For some reason I am trying to raise my son not to say black. We actually say brown. Let me rephrase;
"Mimi caters to mainly brown people."
Is there any color that is offended by this statement?

Also, regarding the Madonna/Mimi comment. I think Madonna has certainly set the bar in the entire entertainment industry. She has shown that you dont really have to know how to sing in order to be in the music business. Don't get me wrong, she has had some good singing songs that were in her range but she is known, I believe, as more of a showgirl. Which is great. We really need more of that. I only compared her to Mimi because they seemed to be the hottest women of this year. Madonna refuses to lay low and I admire that in her. I also admire her desire to do more than just sing and dance.
Poor Gwen. This wasnt your year. I love ya girl. Have that baby and get back out there! I do think you are far more beautiful than ANY one of the other women! Prego or not!
As far as the best singer of the night, Mary was great and has a great unmistakeable R&B voice but clearly the best singer of the night was either Kelly Clarkson or Christina Aguilara (with Herbie Hancock). Now THEY really have some pipes. Kelly was picked not cause she can dance or look pretty, but because she can really SING! Luckily for her, Beyonce didnt sing one of her hits. I think she has some pipes too and Kelly would have had a run for her money. Have you seen Beyonce do classical? OMG!!
And what the heck has happend to Jamie Foxx!? During the Grammys, the shows of Madonna and the "brown" people were plainly more exciting than that of Bruce, that country dude that Nicole is dating or even Paul McCartney. (Another person who refuses to lay low-even though he should)

P.S. Bono Rocks too!

Friday, February 10, 2006

CONGRATS ANNETTE!!

You are now able to leave comments. Keep em commin!! O, and what about Mimi delivers??

Thursday, February 09, 2006

GRAMMY OBSERVATIONS

I taped the Grammys (music awards) last night and havent watched the whole entire thing yet but I do have several observations so far to post.

The Differences between
Mimi (Mariah Carey) and Madonna

Mimi can SING!
Madonna can DANCE!
Mimi seem humble
Madonna seems self-righteous
Mimi has boobs
Madonna has a BUM!
Mimi delivers to colored folks
Madonna delivers to mainly caucasian
We don't know who Mimi slept with
We KNOW who Madonna slept with
Mimi made a come back
Madonna never really went away
Mimi wore alot
Madonna wore next to nothing
Mimi is kinda boring
Madonna is kinda exciting

(Please accept encouragement to to add your own observations in the comments)

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BREVARD LIVE MAGAZINE

Don't forget! For those of you that are able and interested. You can download a copy of the magazine I work for from the website at www.brevardlive.com. It will automatically open up in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Be sure to look at:
page 19 - Extreme Dinosaurs (Charles and I are going)
page 53 - Grant Seafood Festival Ad (huge and getting bigger every year!)

My jobs are:
Art and Entertainment Calendar Section (pages 25-32)- input of all new information and upkeep of the Location Directory.

Ads I designed are;
Pg/ad
10/Fishlips & Bankers
18/Calabrias
31/MP Mortgage
35/Mangroves
36/East Coast/Planet Replay
37/Captain Katannas
38/Cigar Bobs (my account)
40/Planet Cupid & Tip a Few
41/Lucky Spins (also my account)
46/Chirpractor, Van Goghs & Heaven and Health
47/Slim and Tone
Also, I came up with the cover color scheme and did some of the clipping.
Hope you check it out! If you live in the Melbourne area call for and Ad!!

scroll for Update blogs

MCDOUGALL UPDATES

SUPERBOWL-We went to the neighbors (Morgan and Judy) to watch the big game on t their 52" big screen HDTV. Jerome smoked some ribs and they had some other appetizers. The game was great! The halftime show was great also - One of our favorites, The Rolling Stones. Mick still has the moves of a 25 year old. He has the skinniest bum I've ever seen. I really liked some of the commericals. Like the one for fed ex or something like that with a cavemen, The one with Fabio turning old and of course the classic with the Clydesdales. This one featured a baby Clydesdale "thinking" he was pulling the beer sleigh thingy when actually there were bigger Clydesdales pushing it.

CHARLES TOOTH - Charles lost his front (not middle) left tooth. I'm sure it has some name like molar or eye tooth does. This tooth was hanging in there for dear life. There was another tooth coming in right behind it and Charles refused to wiggle it out.
He went straight to the "box" where the "tooth fairy" usually puts the money and it was empty. The "tooth fairy" looked at the other "tooth fairy" in the room and mouthed the words, "I forgot". So we assured him that she was busy and would get to him the next night.
The next morning it almost happened again until one "tooth fairy" stalled the kid and the other "tooth fairy" slipped $5 in the box unnoticed luckily. Whew!

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More Blogs by Charles

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is about food. And you eat turky. Turky is very good because it tastes like chicken. Chicken is very good because it tastes like chiken nuggets. (you get the point.) That is why I like thanksgiving.

The Dentist
I went to the dentist. The dentist was relly nice. And I met some new friends. One of them are Thomas and I don't know who the other kid is. The dentist is relly cool. I went to the dentist bcause I was about to get a cavitie. But I didn't get a cavitie. I feel very happy.

Great Teacher
Mr. Baily is the best teacher ever! bcause he is a boy. And he has an assistant teacher named Mr. Starric. Mr Baily and Mr Starric are very nice. That is why I like them.

HAIKU "A Japanese form of poetry"

Usually about nature, the poems follow this structure;
Title
First line - 5 syllables
2nd line - 7 syllables
3rd line - 5 syllables

Learned at school, this is Charles' poem;

Dinosaurs
They eat meat and plants
Carnivores are sometimes nice
Spinos have loud roars.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Woman Gives 'Mouth to Beak'

Arkansas -- Sometimes a chicken does have lips, just not her own. Marian Morris saved her brother's exotic chicken, Boo Boo, by administering "mouth-to-beak" resuscitation on the fowl after it was found floating face down in the family's pond.
Morris, a retired nurse, said she hadn't had any practice with CPR in years, but that she was interested to see if she still could do it.
"I breathed into its beak, and its dad-gum eyes popped open," Morris said. "I breathed into its beak again, and its eyes popped open again. "I said, 'I think this chicken's alive now. Keep it warm.'"
Morris said she was pleased to find that the bird she saved was an exotic. The chicken is called Boo Boo, because she is easily frightened.

BLOGGING SOON!! UPDATES ON;
• Superbowl get together
• Charles tooth
• Magazine info

Saturday, February 04, 2006

The Dinosaur

The dinosaur
Was once
But isn't
Anymore.
 
If I were,
You must agree,
Then you
And I
Just wouldn't be.
 
I confess
It's much more pleasant
To know
That he's
The one who isn't.

By Margaret Hillert