LIfe Chapters and Thinkin's

ME
I enjoy my walks. If I did them everyday I could probably be considered slenderer (lol). 3 days a week is good enough I suppose. Weight training would be good too but I'm just not into that now. The gym is more fun in the winter. I enjoy the outdoors. This week I have seen swarms of skates/sting rays and several dolphins. Jerome and I have talked about getting a kayak or two. To explore more of nature.

Anyway, my exercise attire usually consists of the same thing. blue shoes, white low-cut socks, spandex grey bike pants (for the thigh friction) with blue shorts that say Nascar over them, a white sports bra that says "Blackhawk Motorcycles", a red tank top that says "YMCA" and a visor that says "Roush Racing". I am 5'10' and not petite, curvy rather... I think I look like a dike.

Or maybe it is a great example of a true woman? One who could look as if she just got done playing flag football and later turn into a well-dressed, classy diva? The time in between tom boy and diva is usually spent in boxers and tank tops. I guess that would be the real "me" stage. Right in the middle.

IS PLUTO GONE FOREVER???
Did you hear they actually took Pluto off our planets list??? How can this be?? It's like saying Santa Clause doesnt exist! . . .Or the Easter Bunny!!

"Pluto was shafted by the world's astronomers today, demoted to the lowly status of "dwarf planet" and leaving the solar system with its original eight true planets plus countless other objects that must now be called "small solar system bodies."

After more than two years of controversy that started when astronomer Mike Brown of Caltech announced his team had discovered a "10th planet" and was finding many more far out in the icy region billions of miles beyond the sun where comets are born, the International Astronomical Union voted a set of rules defining just what a planet is and what it's not."

Whats going to happen to the ol trick;
My Very Efficient Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas

I know everyone has their own. Tell me your what your new one will be. Mine now is;
My Very Efficient Mother Just Sent Us Nothing

Here Pluto, this is your Eulogy (and for those of you that didnt know the "old" pluto)
PLUTO, named after the Roman and Greek god of the underworld, is the coldest, smallest, and outermost planet in our solar system. Pluto and its moon, Charon, are called “double planets” because Charon is so large it seems less of a moon than another planet. Pluto was predicted to exist in 1905 and discovered in 1930. It is the only planet that has not yet been studied closely by a space probe.

During each revolution around the sun, Pluto passes inside Neptune's orbit for 20 years, making Neptune the outermost planet for that time. Pluto passed inside Neptune's orbit in 1979 and remained there until 1999.

Size: Less than one-fifth the size of Earth in diameter
Diameter: 1,423 miles? (2,290 km?)
Surface: A giant snowball of methane and water mixed with rock
Atmosphere: Methane
Temperature: between –369° and –387°F (–223° and –233°C)
Rotation of its axis: 6 days, 9 hours, 18 minutes
Rotation around the Sun: 248 Earth years
Your weight: Not known
Distance from Earth: At the closest point, 2.67 billion miles
Mean Distance from Sun: 3,666 million miles (5,900 million km)
Satellites: 1
Rings: ?

RANDOM QUESTIONS FOR YOUR BRAIN...
Why is it that when you tell a man there are 400 billion stars he will believe you, but
when you tell him there's wet paint he has to touch it?

If the #2 pencil the most popular, why is it still #2?

Why are a wise-man and a wise-guy opposites?

Worthwhile Causes

Aquarius - Jan. 20-Feb. 18 (for the week of 8/18)

Sometimes it isn't easy to be patient with others less intuitive than you. But you must do it. One of the main keys to your success is to bring those wonderful deep feelings to the surface. Then begin to nurture them and help them grow, and you will see your creativity soar. Your extra large heart and depth is something that others cherish and love about you whether they tell you or not. You know that yours is an honorable life built on worthwhile causes. This is the most important thing.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow.

DON'T MESS WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Our neighbors had a fun little get together for National Night Out. We cooked out burgers and everyone brought a dish. Next thing you know, all the policemen were stopping by to say "Hi". I guess we even attracted the newspaper. Charles and I are in the upper right hand corner.

TIME GOES BY SO QUICKLY NOW

I guess I will blog about some of the things going on in my life due to the responses of some who actually check my blog to see if it is updated. As you all know my life is not one of the most exciting but it is life and every bit of it helps me learn and grow. I guess I'd rather live it and remember it than to live it and blog about it. Seems remembering takes so much less time.

Anyway, Charles started school last Wednesday and he likes his teacher so far. Bobby, you will be happy to know she also got her degree at UCF. She did her undergraduate at U of Tenn and she just qualified as a 3rd grade expert, whatever that is. I guess when you have been teaching 3rd grade for 12 years that makes you an expert. She has been at Indialantic Elem for the entire time. There are only 14 kids in his class so I think he will get a lot out of this 3rd grade experience.

I recently had a visit from both of my Mothers. My Mom came to Melbourne for a job interview at the Palm Bay Campus of UCF as an administrator. It was nice to see her if even for a few days. She looks great and has a great attitude towards her big move. She bought a house in NW Palm Bay. It is a neat little split floor plan with 3/2, vaulted ceilings, 2 car garage, wood floors in the living room and brand new carpet in the bedrooms. I think it is a great home for the value! I want to wish her good luck on the job search and I am looking foward to doing a "girlie" shopping/lunch date.

While she was here we went out to lunch with Carolyn and Steve. We went to the New England Eatery down near the Inlet and had LOBSTER! As Rachael Ray would say, "yummo!" Mom and Steve had a lot to talk about being that they are both into diving. The next day we packed up ALL the beach stuff and headed to the beach for 3 hours. I made cold tuna sandwiches which ALWAYS taste really good at the beach for some reason. We saw a guy catch a nurse shark and a huge snook! Too bad it wasn't snook season or he could have kept it and boy is it good eatin"!
I let Mom loose in Melbourne with a rental car on Monday and what did she do? She went for her interview and then went SHOPPING. That's my Mom!! As long as she made it back safely...

Mum Mcdougall came over on Saturday of this past weekend. I guess she just needed to get away for the night. We all went to Texas Roadhouse and enjoyed a GREAT lunch. Annette ordered Charles his first ribeye. I think he will be a steak and potato kind of guy. We were all stuffed. And what's the best thing to do when you are stuffed?? GO SHOPPING!! So we dropped Jerome off and took off to the Viera shops. I was actually looking for some Bermuda shorts but was unable to find any. We all picked a shop we wanted to go to so I picked Old Navy, Mum picked Super Target and Charles picked Planet Replay (a used video game store). Thanks so much for my curtain rod, shirts and stuff. We came home tired and hungry. I made Mum and I tomato, basil & mozzarella salad, crab-stuffed portabellos and left over steak. YUMMO!
She had to leave early the next morning to take care of Granny but she is welcome back ANYTIME!

So I am just sitting here at work waiting on Heike to get back. I am now waiting on her in order to do MY work. That's how it goes. Our sales lady was let go so we have extra work but seem to be ahead anyhow. Take care all and peace. I never know when my next blog will be.

Hi World!

*For an update on our weekend see Bobby's blog. We enjoyed his visit.

For thought:

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.

A NICE VISIT TO TITUSVILLE

We got to see a manatee up close!

"TO MY ALARM CLOCK " BY AMY F. BAKER

Every morning I lie there innocently sleeping
When the peace is ruptured by a horrible beeping.
My serenity ripped asunder, sudden and drastic
By this evil, demonic, red-eyed piece of plastic.

I roll over in pain and pound on the snooze,
Groaning, moaning, thinking 'What's there to lose?'
'Don't make me get up, just nine minutes more.'
The same thing I've said every morning before.

It's not that I hate mornings or dread the new day.
It's just that I loathe waking up in this way.
I'd much rather simply rise up with the light,
Glowing in the window, chasing away the night.

But the sudden screaming, the incessant fuss,
Makes me want to yell and cry and simply to cuss.
Especially the knowledge that all of my sorrow
Will be repeated the same time, same way, tomorrow.

MY FIRST TIME

The sky was dark
The moon was high
All alone
Just her and I
Her hair so soft
Her eyes so blue
I knew just what
She wanted to do
Her skin so soft
Her legs so fine
I ran my fingers
Down her spine
I didn't know how
But I tried my best
To place my hand
On her breasts
I remember my fear
My fast beating heart
But slowly she spread

Her legs apart
And when she did it
I felt no shame
All at once
The white stuff came
At last it's finished
It's all over now
My first time
Milking a COW!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Here is my office building in 1925. The picture was in the paper with an article about its history as explained in a recent blog of mine.

GENTLE GIANTS

In my tri-weekly walks over the 192 Bridge I usually spot a dolphin or two but lately it has been manatees. I just love their gentile nature.In my younger days (that makes me sound so old), I used to go to Blue Springs a lot with my parents to ride in the inner tubes and camp but my favorite parts was watching the manatees glide by in the crystal clear water.

I don't recall encounters during any of our rather eventful canoe trips and they wouldn't let you in the water with them at the Springs unless you were a certified scuba diver.

In my early 20's I had a (really cool) bright yellow, inflatable kayak that I had earned from accumulating Marlboro Miles in my smoking days. My friend and I set out on a flat, clear summer day to paddle around the shallow edges of the Atlantic Ocean. As we were cruising lazily, she taps me on the shoulder and points, eyes wide, to the water. Since the sea water was clear as a bell, the first thing I saw was GIANT, black blob underneath the kayak. I immediately freaked and so did she. Visions of the red float, "jaws" and then the red, bloodied water flooded my mind with fear. We paddled away from it as fast as we could slowly realizing that it was really a big manatee but once we were spooked, he was spooked.

Getting a bit more courage to approach this beast we paddled near it but it had had enough of us and swam (very quickly) away. At the time, I convinced myself that the reason I didn't jump in and swim with it is not because of the $500 fine I could receive but because of the theory that I could possibly have been the first person ever eaten by a manatee... Ok, maybe not. Now that I know how gentile and lovable they actually are, I really want to swim with one.

One fourth of July a few years ago, Jerome and I were riding our bikes to the foot of the bridge and there was a "teenage" manatee in the water in the middle of several kids. We stopped to see if the manatee was in danger but actually the real story is that the manatee would swim away and swim back in the middle of all the kids to roll over so they could scratch his
belly.Again, I wanted to jump in and touch and play too but I really wanted him all to myself.

Another time at Sebastian Inlet about 2 years ago, Charles and I got to touch one but Charles was in my arms and I was in fear of being swept out by the current into the inlet as we were petting it. Charles was amazed by the size of the creature.

So this brings my story to a day last week when I "dragged" my boys to the rivers edge to a secluded spot near one of the first little bridges right down the street. You wouldn't want to swim there, it is rather murky but it's a great spot to explore for wildlife. Right off the bat we spotted a small sting ray in about 1 foot of water and then found a little hermit crab that we thought about keeping but decided not too due to the stench.

But the highlight of the trip was seeing the nose of another "teenage" manatee underneath the middle of the bridge. I kept a close eye on him and seriously tried "tapping" the water in hopes of it getting the best of his curiosity. Jerome would never get within a foot of one but I sure would. I would have jumped right in if he had come any closer. $500 fine? You can pay $200 at Disney and that's not even including the gas to get there. If in the future, I see another manatee within swimming distance you can be sure I will be right behind him and hopefully with the absence of any ranger.

We eventually ended our exploration with a nice swing on the new one put up in our own "Indialantic Park" and a quick walk home.

MEMORIAL DAY ELABORATION

We enjoyed having family down for a pre-holiday celebration. Jerome's uncle Steve and his wife Carolyn and Annette and Mack came over. There were oysters, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, corn on the cob, italian bread and peach cobbler. Not a healthy menu but damn American if I might say so. We went shopping. Annette found a nice black dress and I found a cool skirt that goes from lime green at the hem to white at the waist. I am also looking for two cushiony club chairs for my living room but am having difficulty finding matching ones for a reasonable price. No deadline, will keep looking. All in all it was a nice day to spend with loved ones.

Also,
I'd like to give;
a shout out to Bobby in congrats on a trying year at school in a totally new environment,
a shout out to Annette (now called Mum) for being such a strong family woman and for traveling without hesitation,
a shout out to Mom for the bravery to be on your own and for accomplishing goals,
a shout out to Aunt Corrie for making changes
a shout out to Dad for sharing his sense of humor
a shout out to Charles for having my heart
a shout out to Jerome for being such a great Dad
and of course a shout out to Granny in hopes of life. Pray for her.

SHARK BAIT

This is what a fisherman caught with a fishing pole on the beach yesterday just 5 miles north of where we were SWIMMING all day!! It was caught up near Eau Gallie Blvd. It was a 385 lb. Tiger Shark. (mean fish) approx 11 ft long and with Charles only weighing about 55 lbs that makes him some good chum! Rather Scary-wont be swimming in the ocean for a while. Mac did say the bait was running yesterday and I wondered why he wouldnt go swimming. Nice of him to let us go! haha!

Pray for Barbaro!!

Preakness was sorrowful today. Barbaro, the winner of the Kentucky Derby broke his ankle an they may have to put him down. They will do surgery and know for sure by the end of Sunday. It makes you not want to watch horse racing anymore. God, just let him have his horsey life...

Random Thoughts Vol. 1

AM IDOL: I am really glad to see Taylor and Katherine in the top two. Really, I think America votes for humble people. When your head gets too big, it shows! Taylor may not be the best vocalist but he is sure damn entertaining. And sort of sexy in a weird way.....lol. At this point I don't really care who wins they will both be successful no matter what and chances are, I will buy both their cd's.

LOST: I happened to catch the first several shows and I have been watching the latest episodes due to the convenience of having a dvr. It is totally weird show but a good storyline. I like how it keeps you wanting the "real story". I hope Walt is on the sailboat in the final episode. Will they all be rescued or is there another season?

SURVIVOR: I am not suprised that Aras won the million dollars. It was a pretty boring season. Without the antics of Sean, it wouldnt have been worth watching. Even the abs were unimpressive even though I will say that Terry is "refined like wine" and certainly a dilf?? Just joking family who know what that means! (hint anyway: opposite of milf)
Since Aras admitted he was "homeless and loafing off of his dad" I'm sure that he and his, ahem. . . "partner" will be much better off.

LATELY: On Thursday Jerome and I were invited to lunch by some parents of kids from school. Jerome decided not to go because he was hoping to use a pressure washer a friend who had borrowed it from their Dad.
The group was meeting at the same place in downtown Melbourne that my neighbor Judy and I went to before the play "Forever Plaid" called The Mainstreet Pub. I'm assuming they picked it because it had a bar. I was working downtown that morning so it was convenient for me. The group consisted of two women in their late late 40's Sandy and Leah. Ive known them both a while (the ladies I rode in the limo with on Ladies Night Out 2004). Also Leahs parents, Sandy's husband Rick, Thomas' (boy with Terets Syndrome) Mother-Dayle, and a recently divorced black man named Tom from Trinidad. (Jerome, Charles and I went to a rather wild party at Tom's house with Sandy, Leah and their famlies a year or so ago). They are all fun, outspoken and thirsty individuals. I think they make me look responsible. Ha! It is a group of people we have remained close with since Charles has been at Indialantic and I enjoy their company. We ate and I drank one glass of wine and after school all of us met up at Sandy's house for the kids to play. Sandy was uh, should I say.....TRASHED. Hopefully she doesnt do that every night. Leah just likes to smoke so she was fine and Tom was handling his liquor like a man (Even though I dont' think he should have driven with the kids in the car). I had one more glass of wine, eventually lost interest in "friendship bonding" and we came home to have dinner and unite the family unit once again.

SUMMER: Charles' last day of school is Tues. (5-23). Wow this year sure did go fast. For some reason I bet Bobby's year didnt seem to go this fast. At least you hung in there Bob!! We really don't have any big plans. Just stay close to home and make use of the Atlantic ocean as well as a cool local pool with a waterslide. We will also see several movies and maybe go horseback riding with the Holsteins. (Friends of ours with 3 kids). We will probably go to PD Penquins (Ice skating, food and games) and Andretti (go carts, laser tag, games, mini golf). There are some neat ceramic painting shops and of course the library is always free.
I also have a free ticket to go to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and tickets for Wonderworks on Intl. Drive so there may be some time spent in Orlando. I think Charles might enjoy Wet and Wild or one of the bigger waterparks too!
We may try to get away at the beginning of July or at the end of July. Get away just means going out of town and staying at a hotel somewhere but fun anyway. Like Gigi says, "We're just gonna play it all by ear."

TODAY: Today is an extremely boring and lazy day for all of us. After a hectic week, sometimes that is most rewarding. Jerome went fishing early this morning and caught nothing. Charles has the sniffles and has been fighting something for the past few days. The last 2 days of school will be the most fun and he doesnt want to miss it. He will really miss his teacher. Yesterday at school, Mr. Bailey gave me a tote bag with all the kids handprints and names. It says: "Thanks for everything, Indialantic Elementary. 2005-2006" . (Charles told me the class only made 3) It is so special...
Anyway, today we did one load of laundry and layed around all day. Mainly to get Charles better but because Jerome woke up so early, he was tired too and I just felt plain L-A-Z-Y. I had plans of shopping, gardening, and beaching. Maybe tomorrow.
Tonight I am making beef enchalada plates with beans & rice and cheddar cheese melted on top. We all love Mexican food. I just wish Jerome liked Italian food as much as I do. I have figured out that any combination of tomatoes, meat, cheese, onions and garlic suits me fine!

PEACE • LOVE • FRIENDSHIP • PASSION • WEALTH • HEALTH • WISDOM • LOYALTY • KNOWLEDGE • COMPASSION • FREEDOM • STRENGTH
(feel free to add to this list of wishes for all!)

Thank You America!!!!

Dog With Braces

Here is yet another masterpiece from my future artist. What a time comsuming processs this must have been.

Happy Mother's Day

Yep, I say Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers, Muthas and Muddas! Enjoy your special day! All I know is some poor lobster is going to meet his doom today.

My Day

All the Moms were invited to the classroom today for muffins and juice. We were given keepsake papers filled out by our kids. The capitol letters represent what was on the paper and the lower case represents the comments Charles added verbatum:

MY MOM IS SPECIAL BECAUSE
she is a mom

I LIKE IT WHEN MY MOM
rusles with me

MY MOM CAN DO MANY THINGS! I THINK SHE'S BEST AT
taking off shoes

MY MOM HAS A PRETTY SMILE! I LIKE TO MAKE HER SMILE BY
hugging her

MY MOM IS AS PRETTY AS A
rose dipped in french toast

MY MOM IS SMART! SHE EVEN KNOWS
what 24 + 24 is

I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE READS ME
the bible

I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE HELPS ME
play checkers

I LOVE MY MOM WHEN SHE MAKES ME LAUGH BY
getting arguments

I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO
do potty training

I LOVE TO HEAR MY MOM SING
madonna

I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE FINDS TIME TO
(go to work was crossed off and something unledgible was written...)

I KNOW MY MOM CARES BECAUSE SHE
hugs me

I KNOW MY MOM IS SMART BECAUSE SHE
graguated in collage

I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE WORKS SO HARD AT
work

THEN THEY WERE ASKED TO WRITE DOWN THE RECIPE (WHAT THEY THINK IS IN IT) FOR THE BEST THING MOM COOKS. IT IS AS FOLLOWS:

french toast

1. 2 eggs
2. 2 spoons of shuger
3. 1 cup of milk
4. half of butter
5. lots of cimmon

1. there is 2 eggs cracked
2. lots of cimon added
3. you poar 1 cup of milk
4. you put a half of butter
you put in 1 cup of shugar

yum.

Poety with Emotion

This moving poem was sent to me by my mother on Christmas of 2003.


IF WE WERE DOLPHINS

If we were dolphins, you and me
We'd play all day in the open sea
Jumping through waves, stirring up sand
While dancing to a crustacean band
Just you and me and me and you
Can you just imagine what we would do
Sing with the mermaids, tease all the fish
Just being with you is what I wish


Whenever you see a dolphin pair
Just think of me and I'll be there
Imagine that it were you and me
At play together in the open sea
Think of us and how we'd play
Jumping offshore a Caribbean Cay
We'd swim and we'd frolic until it was night
Then rest for a bit and swim out of sight

Maybe someday as dolphins we'll be
But just for now, please think of me
The joy and the smile that a dolphin displays
Will remind you of me in all kinds of ways
For my spirit will always be with you
Every day in all you do
Some beautiful day when you see dolphins at play
I'll be there with you then - and everyday.