Pink Clouds and a Half Moon

I always wanted to write a book entitled Pink Clouds and a Half Moon...just haven't gotten a story to go with it yet. I saw pink clouds and a half moon tonight as I sat looking at the sky from my favorite bench on my favorite dock. The moon was high in the sky and at first I couldn't see it. When I looked further south and saw the filmy pink clouds I started searching for the moon. There was cotton candy and mashed mango clouds interwoven with the lower silky gray rain clouds. I had seen the moon on the weekend and it was a sliver of a moon so I knew it was close to being a half moon by now, but I couldn't see it yet. Then the wind blew the lower gray clouds south and behold exactly what I was looking for; a half moon to go with my pink clouds. There must be a depression around Puerto Rico that is affecting us since the wind was quite brisk tonight. No manatees, but a hovering osprey that I watched until he dove in for his dinner....saw that little fish fighting for his life in his talons. Off behind me in the shallows, a great blue heron landed in the fishing area of a snowy white egret and displaced him to another spot on the beach with a throaty squawk. The energy that comes off the water when the wind blows like that is so attractive to me! I feel more alive in the wind when I am on the water. Don't know why, probably those negative ions tickeling my primeval brain.

Seven Years of Marriage!

Wow! We have been married 7 years as of tomorrow July 19th. It has been a wild time. If you had asked me on our wedding day where we would be today I would never have guessed this would be our life. It hasn't all been perfect, but it has been wonderful and I am honored to be married to my Lou! We celebrated with a night out. We had a couple or restaurants in mind, but we decided to stay local and go to Cello's right here in Safety Harbor. They only take reservations, they only accept cash, and they do not offer alcohol, although they will provide glasses if you BYOB. Had a lovely filet mignon and shared a piece of key lime pie. Fun to dress up. Sat out on the dock (of course) later as the sun set. The breeze was lovely after such a hot day.

Friday night we also went out! Jeanne (my T Tapp instructor) came over with her husband Lloyd. We had some margaritas; blended by yours truly and some of my famous nachos. Then we walked over to Main St. for 3rd Friday celebration.....street fair night in Safety Harbor. The couple of dress shops that Jeanne and I went into were a lovely respite from the heat, and this was after 8pm! We ended up in Taste, a cafe/wine bar listening to a very good singer and guitarist combo. Since we really were on our "first date" with Jeanne and Lloyd it was a good place to get to know each other better and it was a blast. Seemed like we got along famously and had a lot of similar interests. Jeanne sent me a text Sat. morn to that effect too. We feel like we are no longer strangers in a strange land. They both came from Brooklyn about the same time we came from California.

Today is lazy day again! Sunny and warm again and wishin' we had a boat, but that will come in time.
A nice chat with Kate this morning added that extra love to my day.

Old Bull Manatees

Last night at the dock....it was after 8 and that pink/blue air was growing more intense. I always watch the water for movement; fish jumping, dolphins, or manatees. I got the manatees last night. It seemed like a group of three old, slow moving bulls were hanging out together, feeding on the bottom grasses. Since it was only about 2 feet deep I could look down into the water and even in the diminishing light I could see one big guy cruising just below the surface. His back was severely scarred from props that have hit him over the years. His breathing noise was at a minimum and none of them hardly moved the water as they slid under the dock and around the adjacent calm waters. I figured they had learned how to be stealthy from a lot of years of practice and that is how they have survived so long. The manatees I usually see are playing wildly or doing what manatees do to communicate, so they are quite visible even from a distance.

Friday Nite---date nite!

We met Dana and Nancy for dinner on Friday night at the Bonefish Grill. It was first time in months that we have gotten together. They were in Hawaii and we had been in Calif. Then they went up the East coast on the train and we went to work! No fair!!! It was a good dinner. We exchanged souveniers and I drank my first lemon drop martini...so yum! We all "dolled" up for the night out, but no photos to share.
Saturday was T Tapp clinic...all day. Starting at around 10am until I ran out of steam at 3pm...it went on till 4:30, but I just couldn't do another step! I felt a little bad about leaving, but mostly I felt empowered taking care of myself and not pushing it so hard to make myself miserable. That is what I would have done in my younger days to make everybody happy, everyone that is, but me. Great clinic! Got a lot of detailed instruction on how to do the movements to make them work for me and most importantly to keep from hurting myself. We walked over to the pizza restaurant across the street at lunch time and Jeanne treated us all to lunch. (included in the price of the clinic) It felt like a treat and we had some good girl talking time!
Lou got a Harley ride in to Spring Hill to visit Dana at the Railroad Shop. I really don't think we are going to be selling that motorcycle any time soon. Too Much fun for Lou!

In the evening Saturday Lou and I headed off to the Threshers baseball game. Just a short drive from the house. Perfect evening, no rain, not too hot and we were sitting in the shade! Ate our ballpark food with gusto! I had a beer with my cheese fries and Lou had a pepsi with his philly cheese steak. The Threshers are a training, minor league team for the Philadelphia Phillies. Fireworks after the game, 5-0 Threshers! Fun time! Lou went to find ice cream and came back with blue italian ice! Weird and sweet!!

Sunday off to Winter St. to start the housekeeping chores. Our guests had just left that morning. OMG we lost money on this one. The thermostat was at 60 degrees when we walked in and it was filthy! Even the dishes in the dishwasher had to be rewashed! I cannot imagine leaving a home in that condition. It will take me all week to refresh it and spot paint the doorways and clean the walls and floors where coke was dried. Sad that kids are growing up with that kind of modeling for other people's property. They are definitely a NR!!
I am hoping by this time next year we won't have to do this rental thing and just use it whenever we want. Taking everything that wasn't nailed down is beyond my comprehension too!
Busy week.....got my thyroid check in this morning, lab work mostly. Then I was going to meet with the adjuster about the car; we had a aluminum chuck fall into the road from a flat bed tow truck in front of us on the highway last fall...we replaced the tire and wheel, but now it seems that the bearings may have been damaged. Figured that we pay a million dollars for insurance we might as well find out if there is coverage for that incident. Now they want me to take it to my guy to have it checked out. I was mistakenly thinking they would check it out for me....wrong!
So this afternoon is my final check on my front tooth implant...whoo hooo!! Maybe by the end of this month I may have the permanent tooth in place. I am so flipping tired of this mouthpiece!!!
At least I don't have to walk around with a tooth missing. Although in this part of the country I would fit right in.....meow!

My Mom gave me this

Back in 1998 when we were living with my Mom, she gave me a plaque with this on it. I hung it in my office all the time I had my insurance agency and now it is on the "wall of fame." It is the "code" I have lived by and it has seen me through the worst time in my life. I think you will get it.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

New Exercise Shoes

I broke down and finally went to Sketchers and got myself some good leather exercise shoes. Jeanne had suggested I wear better shoes and I kept meaning to go get them but then I finally had to. An old ankle fracture started making noises at me after I worked out. They had the 2nd pr half off so I got Lou a pair of shoes too. He may have to exchange them, but I got 'em anyway.
Sitting here after finishing housework. I also got a nice newsy letter off to Ben. I try hard to just share life from my perspective. I know I probably come off a little preachy and didactic at times, but I keep trying. The important thing to me for him is to keep "talking" to him since I missed so may years of really having an authentic conversation with him. He never writes back, but he does tell me when he calls that he is liking them and saving all of them. I feel honored.
So, I am sitting here pooped from housework, looking out on the beautiful day and just feeling that wonderful feeling that more often than not accompanies a nostalgic memory; where you feel all is right with the world. I communicated with both my kids in one form or another today. I ate lunch with my husband who is so good to me and got a new pair of shoes to boot! How lucky am I?
Lou and I have an emergency plan; if the world all goes to hell, we'll just take off in the truck, leave it all behind and just travel around the country; stopping to work when we need the money. We'd probably want a trailer and one of the motorcycles. Its funny, when you have a backup plan, nothing scares you.
T Tapp tonight. I look forward to that sooooo much! and I get to wear my new shoes.

ps Well the new shoes made such a difference in the intensity of my workout.....what was I thinking. I came home feeling the wonderful endorphin rush. Made dinner for the two of us and then out to the dock to watch the sunset with our orange/cream popcicles. What a life!

Monday in the Kitchen

Another rainy day....slept in way too late. Lou was home so he let me! I felt domestic today so after my morning ritual of two cups of coffee I got to work; Laundry, bed making, kitchen tidying, grocery list making and then off to the grocery store. I usually forget my grocery bags and this time was no different. I try to be so good about it, but after 56 years of depending on the store to provide the bags I have to work hard to trick myself into remembering them. If I get them into the car there is a good chance I will remember to take them into the store, but even with that I get my basket filled and realize I left them in the car....in time?!
Julie wrote and posted a picture of a pavlova she learned how to make. I did a little googling and found out how to make them. I love meringue and recently bought one at Whole Foods Market, it was exquisite! So I got all my ingredients at the store including some New Zealand Kiwi fruit...homage to Julie.
I defrosted a london broil and spiced it up with Monterey grilling spices, Lou barbequed it on our tiny little portable. Some sweet corn on the cob perfectly cooked and baked potatoes. He was in his "meat and potatoes" glory..his favorite food stuff.
I brought out the pavlova before I served it and he was delighted....I was fulfilling his dream of perfect housewife....and I love doing that! We gobbled down 1/2 of our pavlova and didn't even feel a tinge of guilt.
Steak sandwiches for lunch tomorrow!

July 4th 2010

The day started out raining cats and dogs. We slept in late easily with the dark morning. It was a good day to not have to go anywhere early. We had talked with our neighbors about going to breakfast but hadn't firmed up on the time, then we heard a knock on the door and knew we needed to get our rears in gear. Ready within a half an hour, we were hungry too, and out into the rain with Darius and Loretta. Fun time with them and a good breakfast. The rain kept coming down most of the day. About 4pm I went out to the dock to just shake my cabin fever. It was gloomy still, but I stayed out an hour until I heard distant thunder and felt a few raindrops. It let loose soon after I came back inside. We seriously doubted that there would be fireworks tonight. At 8pm we headed back out to the dock with our folding chairs. Our neighbors started showing up and soon that dock was swamped with more people than I could count.
The fireworks didn't start until around 9:45, but it was worth the wait. 15-20 mins of showy splendor. I don't think we'd witnessed July 4th fireworks any of the last 5 years and possibly since we got married 7 years ago. It actually got a little cool out there on the water, which was wonderful considering it has been so hot and humid.

Rainbow and Manatees

Lou and I saw some sunlight sneaking through the trees at sunset. We jumped up and headed out to the dock. We haven't seen much sunlight all week. It was gorgeous! The water was like glass and reflected the glowing clouds. A couple of manatees were feeding nearby. Then a rainbow bloomed
T Tapp last night. Up early and then off to Winter Street to finish prep for today's guests. We ordered delivery for dinner.
Looking forward to a nice calm weekend. No plans except to be lazy.

hot water heater blues

Oh Joy, the repair man is here to replace the hot water heater. This is when having work close to home makes such a nice difference. They give me a 20 min. heads up on their arrival, my head was full of colorant at the hair dresser (3 blocks away) so I called Lou at the shop and he comes to the house to meet the guy. Danielle washes the color out and sends me on my way with my wet hair and smock to head home to relieve Lou so he can return to work. So all I have to do is wait for the repair guy to replace this little 30 gal water heater and I will go back up to the hair salon and get my hair styled and change back into my blouse! Cool huh!? This is the first time in my life I have lived close to work and most of the other essentials; dentist, optomitrist, grocery store, gas station, etc. I love it!
So tonight is T tapp night. On Tues. I felt like the workout was so much more intense. Jeanne says it is because I am getting the form better and that makes the workout more effective. Makes sense to me. A week from Sat., July 10th Jeanne is having an all day seminar with lunch ....I signed up for that. Just having time with the girls is as much value to me as the exercise!