Countdown...

The countdown begins...now! All the rentals have been returned...check.

Next:

• I see Adah in Auburn in 3 days
• She's home, in Florida, for good, in 4 days (delight)
• Celebrate Marc's real b-day/Mother's Day in Tamper in 5 days
• Charleston - Girls Beach Week in 6 days (Asheville Gang all present...yeh!)
• School's Out in 17 days
• Trip to Ashevegas in 18 days
• After that...Sum-Sum Summer Time begins....YEAHHH!!!!!!

Birthday stuff

Ok...Marc's birthday party happened...that was the big surprise...and because I didn't use my camera...this is the only photo I have right now (taken with my phone) Many many more are coming...Whitney the photographer was on staff all evening capturing all the "great moments". haha

My beloved was completely surprised...golfing all day with his brother Ira, while we "set up"...he walked right into this fabulous setting without a clue. We had great friends, great weather, Latinos catering, a betty cake(of course), and Emi's cupcakes (of course)!

My buddies Gator Valerie and Gator Scott hosted this fine event...we borrowed their great backyard (and ALL their stuff including the sound system)...there were tiki torches, a fountain, twinkle lights, new landscaping (thanks to many laborious hours by GV, me and her landscape team ($$ thanks GS)), balloons, fabulous table coverings, candles,... EVERYTHING a party needs...woohoo...

Oh yeah there will be more to this post later...the pictures will be worth 10,000 words.

I love my man....he loved his party. :) Our friends are fabulous! Thanks Lord for your favor...we don't deserve it ...but we'll gladly take it.

a sad farewell

Joseph S. Algranti

February 8, 1925 - April 28, 2009

The passing of this man makes me very, very sad. He was a test pilot for NASA for 40 years flying, among other aircraft, the DC-3, Gulfstream 1, Boeing's KC-135, as well as the 747 that carried the Shuttle....once all the way to the Paris Airshow and back. But, to me he was that White Knight in Shining Armor that rescued me...when abandoned with a newborn baby girl this man spent years taking me to buy groceries while his wife loved on my child. He bought my gorgeous girl beautiful clothes and made sure I looked amazing too. When I later remarried and had another little darling...they took this child into their hearts as well...showering them both equally with love & affection, time and attention... and gifts. He never ever spoke a harsh word...he just lived a life of unconditional love, gentleness and kindness.

I will miss you Joe Algranti....you were a dear, dear man....it was your son who abandoned me...but you never did. In your path you leave behind a whole host of people who think you are amazing and who feel amazing themselves because you loved them so fully. Bye Joe...you are soooo loved...and I miss you already.

Obituaries : Joseph S. Algranti www.lagrangepost.com

Scientist's can't see the yellow...

Today I discovered that I am not an Artist...it was during my first art class that this became apparent. I am taking "art class" with my buddy Gator-Valerie...she is an artist (I remembered AFTER I signed up with her that she mentioned she had taught Art at Whitney's school....argh). There are others in the class that are fun too (Pretty Christa and Lively Lori)...Lori was painting a full scene...she is years ahead of me.

This revelation is not a surprise but still kinda disappointing. You see....my Mother and all her siblings and some Uncles are artists...as well as a large # of my cousins.....my Siblings AND their children are artists....Adrianne is a creative genius....she writes, she draws, she paints. Whitney too loves to work with her hands and creates amazing memorabilia.....I like facts and figures and information. I like explanations that are concrete...I like Math and Chemistry....

Todays assignment was to paint (with acrylics) an apple

and a vase with all the shading..blah blah blah...could I see the different shades in the apple? Uh, no. Couldn't I see the yellow in the top of the vase? What? The vase was torquoise...what yellow (so I added yellow???!!!)? I realized I wasn't artsy when all I wanted to do was to finish up so we could paint another something...I was not interested in the shades or whether my vase was the right width and height...what? Does it matter? That's when I decided this WAS a fun class becase I am not competitive and, painting is fun!

So... I will continue with my new little class.....enjoying this peaceful time...painting, talking and singing along to the music (sometimes out of tune and with a new melody). I am not an artist.... I'm a night owl scientist.....ha

..but just now...in these wee early hours I look again at my work...and maybe it's the time....but now... I think they are beautiful....

dreams dashed

...almost forgot...enjoyed my day in the yard so much .....my dream home here in Slowcala sold....Gator Valerie reminded me that I am not forgotten...and when God finally does sell our house and gives us our new home....well, let's just say He really is the best Realtor and He really does know the desires of my heart....I will be patient. But...I will never sleep in that room or bathe in that tub or cook (occasionally) in that pool.....drats!

just craziness

Ok..this week is just going to be crazy...but first I have to make one statement...Suzy & Scott Kerns have the coolest house in Ocala...good grief..enough playrooms for 130 people...not to mention the 1 1/2 story covered pool area complete with koi pond, salt water pool, palm trees galore AND guest house...all INSIDE...loved it...grand time! Nothing like great people, SUNNY'S BBQ, and fellowship...I enjoyed seeing my Pastor jump feet first, fully clothed into the pool...He's just that fun!

Back to the week ahead...I'm helping GatorValerie with her yard (because I still don't have one) and also because we are planning a little surprise that I cannot mention because I'm not sure it's safe to say it out loud yet...BUT....when the surprise is revealed...it will be very cool...a day to definitely remember.

I start my "painting class" in the morning...I am not an artist.

I go to Tallahassee on Wednesday (and I forgot until an hour ago) to apt. hunt for Adah.

Thurs and Fri are VERY BUSY days because of the surprise...and Saturday will be the surprise. I'm very excited...more explanations and pics to follow...

THEN....drum roll please....NEXT week I'm goin to Auburn to bring my darlin Tiger home..she will be sad because she is leaving her beloved School and roomies....they will have to visit often.....THEN, it's Marc's birthday, Mother's Day ...and "Girls Beach Week" in Charleston...hurrah, guppag...I get to see my NC buds...no men, no children, no dishes, no cooking....oooooooohhhhhhhh delight! pics to follow....

Thats all for now....

thoughts swirling

My Sister Linda, Mom and Me Ok..I have a lot on my mind...this has been a difficult week emotionally...it happens to coincide with "that week" so I don't know why I always get surprised with my emotions being so INCREDIBLY OUT OF WHACK!!!!!! But they are and they have been...I've been snappy...every member of my family have noticed...2 have complained.

1) This was my week to head back to Tamper...wooooooo 2 days with 3 Aunts, 1 Uncle, my Sister, Mother and cousin.... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay tooooooooo much estrogen in that Tamper Bungalow...but we did have a good time...LOTS of seafood, fellowship and bungalow shopping. My Mother now has everything beachy for her "Florida Room"...she also has a "beautiful room"...that's where she puts all her flowery and fluff stuff...my Sister and I made her separate the flowers from the beachy stuff (because we don't like the flowery stuff but she REALLY does (pictures to follow)

Bungalow living is not normal tho'...there is no cable or VCR; no computer (Mother does not own nor want to know how to use a computer (puta)...she also does not have a cell phone with her (thought she wouldn't need it)...so the only thing you can do is visit...I like it...

The "Sister's looking at treasures...

Me, Mom, Darleen, Aunt Vee, Aunt Eva, Aunt Eileen and Linda

2) We started a new Bible Study this week...we're watching Louie Gigolo's videos called "Indescribable"...see the side bar for a sample...it's amazing! God is awesome and he's big...and He thinks I'm awesome...I want to wrap my head around that one thought...because with that...nothing else really matters.

3) Marc sang with a group of 250 Worship Leaders tonite here in Slowcala. They are called the Florida Baptist Singing Men....wow...250 Sanguines all singing together ...that's not just a normal choir...that's 250 great singers who are outgoing like otters...woohoo...it moved people to their feet...you felt compelled to stand...very, very nice...it surprised me because initially I didn't even want to go.....remember, I'm cranky this week AND anti-social...

4) I love Chris Tomlin's music...I think that every Sunday we sing one of his songs...and I keep forgetting how much I like him...I'm glad I remembered long enough to write it down...I was doubly reminded this week because it is his song that plays in our Bible Study..."Indescribable"....see side bar

thats all.

JUST A DREAMIN...

Ok...house showings in NC's "Ramble" are picking up....so Marc and I have been dreamin again..you know...dreamin of Florida home ownership...NOT North Carolina home ownership......



I'm dreamin of sitting around this pool...






at this house...


and sleeping in this room....

and soaking in this tub....



and occasionally cooking in this kitchen...

and entertaining all of Centerpoint from this outdoor kitchen...

and that's all I have to say...I'm just dreaming....

more food and fellowship

Soooooooo...what tops a great day of food and fellowship with great friends? Why, of course, it's another evening with more food and fellowship with OTHER great friends!!

Our dear Buddy, "Dixie's" Daddy went home to be be with Jesus this week, so a small gathering of us took, of course, FOOD (the majority created by none other than Gator-Val, ultimate comfort-food-creator-extraordinaire) to their home so we could love on them a little and help try to ease the pain of their loss (still fresh in my memory). When you pray...remember Pete, Dixie and their kiddos....

After we left ...tears shed, hugs & prayers given, we decided it was time for ....more food.

We tried to be cool and go to Slowcala's newest hotspot called "Pi" (like the symbol) BUT....all the other cool people were already there leaving no room in the Inn....so we went to a less cool place "Harry's" because Gator Scott wouldn't spring for Marc's Steakhouse :).....and still had a great time because we are fabulous! (Right Pastor?)

We snapped these pics with my phone...(note to self...bring real camera when with friends) so the quality is not there...but the memories remain!

Ok Mom...here it is again..."The best things in life are not things...they are people!"...ie Gator Valeri, Gator Scott, GatorFlame, GatorFlame Lover, and My Man !

...all this fun and I haven't even made it to Tamper yet...that comes Tuesday...

Over the river and through the woods....

Ok, so there wasn't a river BUT there was some woods.....Ocala National Forest, yeah....to "Grandmother's House" we went...well, it wasn't OUR Grandmother...but it was to the Grandparents' house of our WONDERFUL NC Mtn friends that we went.....and they live on a river...well, THEY call it a river...this isn't what I picture in my head when someone says, "River"....but they do...so we will.

I'm sitting in the middle...my buddy "Cyndi" is on the right, and "Grandmother" is on the left...we're solving alllll of life's mysteries at this gathering.....:)

These wonderful people (Jim & Doris) were so gracious to open their "pleasure island" to us for the day...we had so much fun...every room in their home looks out onto this "River"...and every room has great chairs on which to sit and gaze at this site....it was a fabulous day...great beauty, great fellowship, great food and fabulous friends.....Thank you God.

Cindy 1 and Cyndi 2

The best things in life are definitely not things...but friends and fellowship!....my Mother would be so proud that I just wrote that...she LOVES cliche's and she loves people who, like her, speak in cliche's....they kind of make me crazy but this one time....I like it!

Whitney & Hannah

Our wonderful day lead into a wonderful eve full of...yep....the best ever...MEXICAN FOOOOOOD!!! Can you say, "More chips please?" YES YOU CAN!...and so we did!!

Then, sadly it was time to go...our time was up...we were tired and still had a long drive back to Slowcala...so we were off...pictures taken, hugs given...and off we went....only to be called back 6 miles later....we'd forgotten the infamous makeup bag.....you KNOW we couldn't leave that behind...and so...because of the roadway system and my new driver....it took us an hour to get that bag.....always more awful when you are tired......We got the bag, got one more hug from my favorite gal-pal....and off we drug....to Slowcala....nothing like your own pillow.

Whitney and I are refreshed and renewed....a wonderful day with our wonderful buddies from NC (Cyndi, Hannah and Kate)...and their family which we've grown to love as well!!! HUGS!...see you on the beach in Charleston soon C2!