August and Everything After

One thing I will never get used to living in the tropics...the onset of fall/autumn/winter. Today was 93 degrees with humidity at about 90%, I came out of my local supermarket and passed the window of the Dollar store. The Manager was arranging scarecrows and colored leaves on the display board. In the rest of the country, August is the last of the dog days of summer, but here we are just at our hottest...it couldn't feel less like fall if it tried. ~sigh~

I'm a Jersey girl and frankly I miss the change of seasons..I miss shopping for boots and sweaters. I miss the smell of fallen leaves in piles and the cool crisp nights of October, my birth month.

When I was a kid, by mid August you just knew that the summer was almost over..we didn't go back to school until the week after labor day. Here they go back 2 weeks before Labor day and in some places even earlier. In August you held on to each day knowing that it would soon be cool..you'd be back at school, so we lingered a little longer at the pool..or the beach or the lake. We saw the scarecrows in the windows and we'd groan knowing we'd have to go to school, but there was an excitement to it too. New clothes, new school supplies. I loved getting a new notebook (blue canvas ring binder), it was a clean new palate just waiting for writings & Drawings in blue bic pen ink. The smell of new paper and books. I still love the smell of a new book...I always smell the inside when I buy one. Book covers, you could buy them at the 5&10 for about a dime each, or you took some of Mom's brown grocery bags and made the folds then slipped right on your school book. We'd get fined if our books weren't covered. I don't think kids get books anymore..my daughters school had a classroom set they used in class and they took home work sheets for homework or had work books. Kids MUST still get school books...mustn't they?

In any case..I am waxing nostalgic..it must have been the scarecrows today.

This is worth reading...really

Yes, We Can All Be Insured

By Jane Bryant Quinn

Newsweek

July 30, 2007 issue - Prepare to be terrorized, shocked, scared out of your wits. No, not by jihadists or Dementors (you do read "Harry Potter," right?), but by the evil threat of ... universal health insurance! The more the presidential candidates talk it up, the wilder the warnings against it. Cover everyone? Wreck America? Do you know what care would cost?

READ THE WHOLE STORY

LEELEE'S NOTE: I really believe we should start thinking like other industrialized nations that actually take care of their own people. It doesn't have to break the bank..I mean look how much money is being spent on rebuilding Iraq? Not to mention the record profits drug and insurance companies are making in this country.

Star TREATMENT

I see that the young star Lindsey Lohan has been arrested yet again for DUI..AGAIN being the operative word here. Is it only obvious to me that this young lady has a major addiction problem? This is not a star being spoiled or petulant, although I fear that is how it started. But her problem has sadly grown into a major addiction, and if she is not off the streets soon and in a real treatment program, she will likely kill herself or someone else.

Having has quite a bit of experience with addiction problems, I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say, I have seen a lot of it in my lifetime. My heart does break for this young lady, because it's obvious that no one in her immediate circle is facing the truth about her problems.

Her father is once again on the talk show circuit, telling all how, she had a wonderful childhood. Whether or not she did is really moot, it's obvious that there are some deep issues in this girl's life.

Her mother has been out on the scene with her since she was a teen, allowing her to drink and party and keeping right up there with her. Drink for drink, party for party. How sad! and yet they wonder why she is behaving this way.

The rehabs she has gone too, certainly don't seem to have any impact on her behavior and to me they look like obscenely expensive spa's that don't allow drinking or drugs. I'm quite sure they are not working on deep emotional issues or assisting her in seeing that she is an alcoholic/addict.

I do know that no rehab or treatment program will work miracles..it is definitely up to the addict to make the choice whether or not to continue using, but many programs will delve deeply into some of the emotions that run these behaviors. It's all about knowing or understand at least the "why's" of one's behavior, then dealing with it.

I'm troubled by this..it's so frighteningly sad to watch someone self destruct..believe me, this I know from first hand experience.

I hope someone out there recognizes that this girl's days are numbered, unless she gets some real help.

Monday

I don't know why I feel so damn upbeat today..I feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and now it's not..Maybe it's the planets..I don't know..

I had a nice weekend, saw a movie, bought the new Harry Potter book, started it, gonna savor it..

Trying to teach myself how to crochet..I figure with all these grandchildren, I should be making booties or blankets or something..so far I can make a chain but can't seem to do a stitch..I'll try again tonight..

Had a nice day with my hubby yesterday..spent a rainy afternoon in a local art museum..always fun..went out for an early italian dinner.

I feel relaxed and happy..It's good, I'll take it.

SUMMER SONGS

Now Playing On Kitchen Concerts!

Bring your lawn chairs..it's FREE!

A picture is worth 1000 words

I've been thinking for days and days what to write about..I realized I have nothing to say. So I'll just post some pictures.

My youngest grandson after Ice Cream Cake..Tom Carvel would be proud.

Up close and personal, one of the 2 goats that my step-daughter inherited when they moved to the country house in NC. Now hubs and I are looking to puchase a 2nd home up there...no, we will not be getting goats!

4 of my 6 grandchildren, and yes I really like being called Grandma, but only by THEM!

BIG SMILES!!

Conchs!

What can I say??

I caught this 23 lb dolphin! It was delicious!

I guess that's a bit of what has had me occupied this summer..it's been busy, but fun. Thanks for sticking with me.

HUGS!!

With the bad, often times comes the good...

There has been a wonderful series this week on MSN called Charity In Iraq. I can't tell you how my heart swells with pride and admiration for the soldiers who are over there doing what they can to assist people ravaged by this awful war.

Please take time to give it a read...these folks deserve our knowledge of what they are trying to accomplish. There is such continual bad news, that it does my heart good to read the positive. I pray that peace and something positive will finally come out of this horror.

Charity In Iraq

Great Moments In Presidential Speeches Compilation

Dear God...PLEASE help us!

Oh Goody

Oh goody, I suppose the next few weeks in the media will be filled with everything I never wanted to know about the Beckhams...goody!

Helpful Hints

A Dog's Purpose

Well, I find I really really miss my dog. It's been a couple of weeks now, but there is such an emptiness in the house. Sometimes I think I hear him.. :-(

Before we went on vacation we stopped at the Vet's office to pick up his ashes, which we had encased in a bronze memorial box my husband found years ago at a house sale. We brought Buster with us to the Keys. weird? I don't think so, we wanted him to join us one last time.

Yesterday my step daughter sent me this email. I thought I'd post it here. Funny how some things come to you exactly at the time you need them:

A Dog's Purpose

Being a veterinarian, I was called to examine a 10 year old Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa & their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker & they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker & found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker & offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron & Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the 4-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life...like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The 4-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

Live Earth

R U WATCHING?? IF NOT....GO WATCH IT, THEN SIGN THE PLEDGE...C'MON, CAN'T HURT CAN IT??

LIVE EARTH

Centerfolds For The Girls

I got an email from a friend, who happens to be a guy..titled

Now I don't know if I'd go quite THAT far, but I DO like what I see..

I thought some of my readers (you know who you are girls) might enjoy this as much as I did. A girl can dream, can't she?? ENJOY!!

I think this one is my FAVORITE!!

Monday

Can you see the waterspout right in the center of the picture?

Keys Sunset.....wow!!

Banana Boat..yeah no kidding..see the name??

Full moon...in the morning!!

Saturday

Oh my eff'n god, how'd that eff'n Ace of Clubs get on my eff'n hat???..that's EFF'N Scary!!

Greetings from the Keys

I'm too tired to "talk" so I will just post photos as I go along..suffice it to say...so far so good, this is just what the Dr ordered!!

Went fishing today, caught snapper, made snapper francese and ceviche...it's beautiful here and I feel relaxed already!!

This is what I see when I walk out the front door.

The View from the bow today..nice!!

ah...a like minded soul...wonder what he caught??

Three Old Grandmas

Three old mischievous Grandmas were sitting on a bench outside a nursing home. About then an old Grandpa walked by, and one of the old Grandma's yelled out saying, "We bet we can tell exactly how old you are."

The old man said, "There ain't no way you can guess it, you old fools."

One of the old Grandmas said, "Sure we can! Just drop your under shorts and we can tell your exact age."

Embarrassed just a little, he dropped his drawers.

The Grandmas asked him to turn around a couple of times, asked him to jump up and down for a little while and then they all piped up and said, "You're 84 years old!"

"How in the world did you guess?"

The old Grandmas snickered and laughed. Slapping their knees and grinning from ear to ear, all three happily yelled in unison, "Because we were at your birthday party yesterday."

OK, that's it..I am pulling myself up by my boot straps..I've been in a funk for days now...alright maybe I was allowed to be, afterall, we did put out dog down last week and it's had a big affect on me, which I keep on stuffing down. I've also had a mixed bag of emotional crap I've been dealing with...family issues, life issues, both good and bad.

The new car was a big high..the dog a big low..a family member with a health scare...then getting a good report...empty nesting, loving it and hating it...ya know, stuff like that...and it's been going on for months...up and down. I'm f*cking exhausted.

The good news is.....we are off this week on our yearly trek to the Keys for vacation...even though we didn't make it to California in May..we will make it to our hideaway down there for 10 days. A time to recharge my batteries...time to put some life stuff in perspective...a time to sleep....read...fish....sleep more...read more...fish more....lol...yeah, it's what I'm needing right now... in a big way.

I feel better already! :-)

Faster than the speed of Light

Over the weekend I put a 1 GB memory chip into my 3 year old Dell laptop...I cannot believe how fast it is now...

Is it sad that this excites me? :-)

La Vie En Rose

GO SEE IT!!!!

Then let's discuss it...wonderful film!!!