Everything was moved out of my old townhouse on Tampa Bay into the new condo on the intercoastal Monday, February 13th. It is within walking distance of the beach. I can't wait to add daily walks along the Gulf to my daily schedule.

Although I still live around boxes yet to be unloaded and put away,I have also managed to recover from some oral surgery that had a bit too much anesthetic and a bout with the flu. I am starting to feel back to my happy, healthy self. Hurray!

Next stop some classes next week and participation in an exciting day of motivation from speakers: This show is so hot it sizzles. America's #1 Motivator, Zig Ziglar, will be joined by this Dynamic Team of Experts:

* Mayor Rudy Giuliani will show you how to live a life of courage
without compromise.
* Legendary Soldier-Statesman, General Colin Powell, will show you how
you can be a "take-charge" leader.
* Success Strategist™, Peter Lowe, will propel you to new levels of
business and personal success.
* America's #1 Authority on Selling, Tom Hopkins, will strengthen your
sales and negotiation skills.
* Forbes CEO, Steve Forbes, will show you strategies that thriving
corporations use to stay ahead of the pack.
* World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, George Foreman, will show you how
to sharpen your competitive edge.
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback, Chris Simms, will show you how to
lead your team to victory.

Before next week's educational opportunities arise, I have the Strawberry Festival to look forward to this weekend.

I am hoping that by then I will be off my less than terrific diet of scrambled eggs, chicken broth, mashed potatoes, peas, jello, pudding and milkshakes. Not exactly a government approved nutritional pyramid. It may not be the tastiest but it has felt the most comfortable in my fast healing mouth. I imagine if I continued on this diet I would eventually resemble a pyramid. No way - I will soon be back to my jumprope and diet, fitness plan.

I enjoy the Strawberry Festival and hope to be able to splurge and enjoy a dark chocolate covered strawberry. They are my favorite decadent delight, succulent, yummy.

Today I wish I could beam myself up to Murfeesboro, Tennessee to see my beautiful granddaughter, Hope, in a play. I know she is going to be awesome. She is definitely multi-talented as is her brother Noah. He was recently selected to be in a movie. Both are talented in acting, sports and everything they set their minds to accomplish.

Unfortunately, since Star Trek isn't real so I can't beam myself up anywhere. Instead I will go to the Laundromat and when I get home unpack some more boxes. There or not I know Hope will be fantastic.

It is a beautiful day here in St. Petersburg and I am feeling better. I am a very lucky lady. I hope you too have had a nice day and that things are always getting better and better for you.

On this windy, rainy Sunday I think my son Tom has a recipe that would be perfect. Unfortunately, I am recovering from oral surgery and trying to lose weight, so I won't be taking advantage of this succulent choice but thought you might enjoy it.

Ingredients:
Telephone
Cash or Check

Directions:
Pick up the phone.
Dial your favortie local pizza number.
Order the desired style.
Sit in your favorite chair until the door bell rings.
Have your children answer the door and pay the delivery person.
Don't forget the tip!
Thank God for pizza.

Mother Nature is showing off today in St. Petersburg. There is a light seabreeze and lots of sunshine. The temperature is going to reach the upper 70's and there is very little humidity.

Sometimes in our hectic, fast paced lives it is important to just "talk about the weather".

According to my sons, Curious George was responsible for the mischief that took place in our home.

Always avid readers, this was the one book that their reading backfired on me.

The movie has just come out and although I am not fond of this "get into everything" monkey, I sent money to each of my grandchildren so they may go and see the show. I am hoping that the tradition of passing along the blame for mischief on to Curious George will continue and perhaps make Jim and Tom a little crazy.

I love this and hope you enjoy it too. May you find lots of reasons to enjoy today and smile often.

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends. Now you pray:

"Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."

"That is correct."

"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely."

"Very good.. You have understood everything so far."

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.

"You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.

The problem with blazing a new path, creating a new life adventure, is that you don't have bread crumbs to guide you.

I have read the history of Saint Valentine and the evolution of this romantic holiday. However I think maybe it is a holiday to stimulate the sale of flowers, candy, jewelry, cards and fill restaurants.

It seems over the years this holiday has become more about the man giving and/or being romantic to the woman. Hmm, shouldn't the woman give equally to her man? Unfortunately, the stereo typical situation is that the man is in a mine field on this day. He has to be careful to do and say just the right thing. In essence he must become a mind reader to please.

I have had some terrific and not so terrific experiences and gifts on Valentines Day and loved them all. Fortunately, for me I have been shown love and caring when I am remembered on Ground Hog's Day and the First Day of Spring. So far Hallmark hasn't discovered these fantastic days for celebration. When I am remembered on these days I feel very, very special.

This Valentine's Day I find myself still unpacking boxes and moving things from one room to the next to see if I can magically figure out how to store 50 pounds of treasures in a 20 pound condo. My valentines will be sent out belatedly. I am so sorry. I feel especially bad because I have been the fortunate recipient of Valentines today.

The point of my rambling today - yes, unbelievably there is a point (LOL)- is that everyday is an opportunity to create a special holiday. I hope you enjoy this day and tell the ones you love that you care. Saying, "I Love You" is a phrase I don't say often or lightly. I need to be better at making sure that people I love know I care. This is one of the changes I am hoping to incorporate in my metamorphosis.

To all my readers, thank you for taking time to visit my blog. I know you have busy lives and wish you a most excellent Valentine's Day!

My fingers were crossed. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe when I awoke this morning I would discover that little elves would have snuck in and emptied my plethora of boxes and managed to put everything exactly in the place I imagined.

Unfortunately, no such luck. As it turns out with further investigation the elves specialize in shoe repair. On top of that they belong to a Union and work under specific guidelines.
Consequently, it is uppacking,arranging and putting away for me today!

The one thing I didn't expect was that my move would involve becoming a detective and going on a scavenger hunt to discover where things have been unloaded.

I wasn't at the condo when things were unloaded so now I am having an adventure exploring and finding where things are. Then the trip is to find out where to put them.
No doubt this task should keep me out of mischief for a few days. The process will have to be on hold for a couple of hours though while I run errands and get my exercise done. The temptation is to pass on exercising because of all the lifting and moving but I don't want to get out of the habit and maybe the combination will accelerate results.

Last day before the movers come tomorrow morning. I feel achey all over, my throat is sore, and my head hurts. I think I may have developed "situational hypochondria".

It will be nice to move - correct that, it will be nice to be moved in.

They say (I wonder who "they" are) when you feel like I do today, that I am under the weather. More likely, I would like to be hiding undersomething to avoid the work.

By Sunday everything will be done - hurray!

By Patty Hansen

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil. The first seed said,
"I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!"

And so she grew.

The second seed said, "I'm afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will find in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts. It's much better for me to wait until it is safe."

And so she waited.

In the early spring, a hen scratching around for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

Moral: Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.

Have you been asked that question by anyone who cared enough to listen without judgment?

Have you asked that question of anyone when you truly cared to listen to the answer with an open mind and caring heart?

Most importantly, have you ever asked yourself that question and listened silently and patiently for the answer?

I am working to reinvent myself, not just change careers and move to a new home, but make sure that I am the best version of me that I can be. Yesterday I sought advice on diet and exercise from a terrific friend who has to stay in top physical condition because he is a pilot and has a lovely young bride. He takes pride in his fitness for good health.

Dave's tips were helpful and his words motivating. I thought I would share a sampling with you.

The best addage for eating is: Eat a little, a lot. Meaning, have 5
small meals a day versus 3 meals. Every 3 hrs, snack on something
small. When you eat a little, a lot, your body doesn't have to dive
into the fat stores when you start running out of energy. Now, that
may sound like a good thing, but the problem is the body is going into
starvation mode so any extra calories you eat during a meal go back to
replenish the fat cells. When you eat a little, a lot, the body will
let the fat slough off because its getting all it needs by your
constant replenishment of nourishment.

2 12-minute exercises are just as good as 1 20-minute exercise.

You have to combine aerobic and anaerobic workouts...i.e. alternate.
When you perform an aerobic workout, you stop burning calories above
and beyond the norm the moment you stop exercising. When you lift
weights, your body continues using calories at a higher than normal
rate because the body is working to replenish and rebuild the muscle
fiber all day long

Hope this helps a bit. There's really a lot of simple things you can
do. The best nutritional advice is: don't eat processed foods. If
it's in a box, skip it.

If you exercise, watch your diet and eat right 6 days of the week, on
the 7th day treat yourself to whatever you want (Body For Life advice
from the book)...it gives you the motivation to eat right for 6 days.

Don't keep weighing yourself...when your body starts toning, you
actually look worse. Simply get in the rhythm of better eating and
exercise. I may need to print this warning and post it on my scale and refrig and mirror!

I hope you might find some of Dave's tips helpful. I wish each reader much success in being the best version of YOU that you can be. Have fun today and smile. I guarantee that will do wonders for your health and overall outlook.

Pittsburgh won tonight. I watched the game as I ironed curtains to go into my new residence. The best part of the Super Bowl experience was seeing Roger Staubach introduced as the MVP for Super Bowl Six.


Roger was the best man at my wedding. He attended the Naval Academy with my to be husband. Roger signed with the Dallas Cowboys just a few days prior to my wedding day. As a result, when we came out of the Naval Academy Chapel following the ceremony, members of the press were waiting to interview Roger. A fun twist to a wedding to have it covered by sports writers.

Roger went on to serve in the Navy, including a tour in Vietnam. During his years with the Cowboys he was kind enough to invite my family to attend his games. My sons even got to meet other players, it was terrific.Wonderful memories flashed when I saw Roger this evening and it was especially terrific when he was also one of the players chosen to read Dr. Suess with Harrison Ford. One of my favorite books.

Despite all the "have tos" that filled my day, my trip down memory lane was terrific.

I am not actually a "stuff" person. Ever since I sold everything and moved to Florida years ago, I haven't aquired much stuff. This week I am packing and preparing to move to a new condo. Not because I need more space for more "stuff" but because the area I currently live has been sold.

Sorting and packing reminded me of a funny routine that I heard George Carlin do years ago. I found it and have added it to my blog. Please excuse the language. It is his not mine but the thoughts are funny and ring true even when you consider yourself not a "stuff" person. I hope you enjoy it. Now back to sorting and packing for me.


George Carlin on Stuff

Actually this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That's all, a little place for my stuff. That's all I want, that's all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody's got a little place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that's your stuff, that'll be his stuff over there. That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time.

A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you're taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody's got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff. And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother with that crap you're saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff!

Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore. Did you ever notice when you go to somebody else's house, you never quite feel a hundred percent at home? You know why? No room for your stuff. Somebody else's stuff is all over the damn place! And if you stay overnight, unexpectedly, they give you a little bedroom to sleep in. Bedroom they haven't used in about eleven years. Someone died in it, eleven years ago. And they haven't moved any of his stuff! Right next to the bed there's usually a dresser or a bureau of some kind, and there's NO ROOM for your stuff on it. Somebody else's shit is on the dresser.

Have you noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff? Damn! And you say, "Get that shit offa there and let me put my stuff down!"

Sometimes you leave your house to go on vacation. And you gotta take some of your stuff with you. Gotta take about two big suitcases full of stuff, when you go on vacation. You gotta take a smaller version of your house. It's the second version of your stuff. And you're gonna fly all the way to Honolulu. Gonna go across the continent, across half an ocean to Honolulu. You get down to the hotel room in Honolulu and you open up your suitcase and you put away all your stuff. "Here's a place here, put a little bit of stuff there, put some stuff here, put some stuff--you put your stuff there, I'll put some stuff--here's another place for stuff, look at this, I'll put some stuff here..." And even though you're far away from home, you start to get used to it, you start to feel okay, because after all, you do have some of your stuff with you. That's when your friend calls up from Maui, and says, "Hey, why don'tchya come over to Maui for the weekend and spend a couple of nights over here."

Oh, no! Now what do I pack? Right, you've gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The third version of your house. Just enough stuff to take to Maui for a coupla days. You get over to Maui--I mean you're really getting extended now, when you think about it. You got stuff ALL the way back on the mainland, you got stuff on another island, you got stuff on this island. I mean, supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain. You get over to your friend's house on Maui and he gives you a little place to sleep, a little bed right next to his windowsill or something. You put some of your stuff up there. You put your stuff up there. You got your Visine, you got your nail clippers, and you put everything up. It takes about an hour and a half, but after a while you finally feel okay, say, "All right, I got my nail clippers, I must be okay." That's when your friend says, "Aaaaay, I think tonight we'll go over the other side of the island, visit a pal of mine and maybe stay over."

Aww, no. NOW what do you pack? Right--you gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The fourth version of your house. Only the stuff you know you're gonna need. Money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hanky, pen, smokes, rubber and change. Well, only the stuff you HOPE you're gonna need.

All material written and owned by George Carlin.

I hope you always have a warm and happy place for you and your "stuff".

A quick follow-up to my jump roping.

1. The rope was too long, I wound it around my hands and then it was fine.

2. My ability to jump looked more like a kindergarten attempt.

3. Practice and a couple of stumbles and tripping and I got up to 27 jumps in a row.

4. It is a great workout and I will continue jumping. So far I can only do 12
minutes but I plan to work up to 20.

5. Good luck to any and all fellow jumpers!

Here is your horoscope for Friday, February 3:

Are you paying attention to what you really want or are you letting a million things distract you from the real task at hand: finding what it is you were put on this earth to do? Learn to slow down.

The life lesson I am learning has turned up in my horoscope today.

During my lifetime there have been moments when I wanted to make time stand still.

There have been times when I have loved my day so much that I wanted to relive it over and over.

There have been times that I wished I could have a "do over" since I needed to improve and/or do better or different.

There have been dejavu moments in my life.

All that taken into consideration, plus my enjoyment of celebrating Ground Hogs Day, no wonder I like the movie Ground Hog's Day!

I hope my sons, Jim and Tom celebrate with their families today. Winter is colder for them in West Virginia and Tennessee and I know that since he saw his shadow they may not be happy with Punxsutawney Phil, still he reminds us that Spring is coming. It is a fun holiday. I like that it is uniquely ours and Hallmark hasn't merchandised it.

I hope you and your family enjoy and celebrate too.

Phillip the Weather Groundhog
Tune = Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer
© 1991 by Don Halley

You know Bambi and Lassie and Goofy and Winnie
Smokey and Porky and Mickey and Minnie
But do you recall the most famous mammal of all...

Phillip the weather groundhog has a very chilly task
And if you ever watch him, be sure to wear your ski mask
All of the other groundhogs stay inside their cubbyholes
They never help poor Phillip look for any shadows
On the second of this month, Phillip comes to say
"Winter with your arctic blasts, won't you go away at last"
But if he sees his shadow, then we know that it will be
Six weeks or maybe more, till the winter's history