My brother gave me a Fandango gift card and Dianne gave me a Visa gift card. I am going to use them to enjoy dinner and a movie this weekend. Have to decide what I want to watch.

I hope anyone reading my blog has a fantastic Friday and wonderful weekend. Enjoy!

I am so grateful to have this opportunity to not have a traditional job and write. I am however very aware of the turbo speed with which time is passing and the need to not only complete my book but squeeze as many memories and fun into each day as possible.

It is tricky because you also need income (smile). Money may not buy happiness however it pays for the gas that does.

Recently, I have been considering the idea of seasonal jobs at various places. On paper it sounds good. They provide meals and housing and I would get to see new places and meet new people. I would have to downsize much more and would need a plan.

Plans are born out of my curiosity.  I may need to investigate these possibilities further. I have a resource for these jobs, however I think they are targeted on the young.  Perhaps that is because they don't know there is enthusiastic, experienced people available. I can write whereever I am.

Hmm, think my new "carrot" is to continue my goal to finish my current manuscript by May 4th and as the reward investigate what would be required to take the leap and shake up my lifestyle with seasonal jobs.  

There are 3 biblical quotes that I think of when I think of my amazing grandson, Noah.

Joshua 1:9 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 19:26 – With God all things are possible.

That is because Noah will try anything and is willing to learn and hone whatever skill is necessary to be a success.  He has shown that he is a leader and a team player. He can be studious and laugh-out-loud fun.

He babysits. He is able to be a positive role model for little ones. He can be in control and also get down and play with them.

When it comes to sports, I can't imagine any he couldn't do if he set his mind to it. Hmm, maybe hockey, his dad wasn't fond of ice skating. He used to say it hurt his ankles so maybe Noah might have inherited those ankles.

He is a talented and skilled soccer player, baseball, and basketball and even gave football a try although that sport wasn't his thing. I admire that Noah, isn't afraid to try new things. He has an adventurous spirit.

It should be noted that in addition to playing sports, Noah is an avid sports fan. It is especially fun when he is rooting for a team that is playing one of his sister, Hope's teams. She loves the Lakers and he is a Heat fan. In most cases though they support the same teams.

Although it was super cold, unseasonably cold, when I went to visit in El Paso,  I loved watching the Sun Bowl.  

Noah is a devoted, loyal friend.

It was my pleasure and privilege to see Noah in a play. The others that were in it with him said that Noah had actually read the whole play and knew everyone's part. He was a star with his sister, Hope and his dad.

I have some pictures from the play and some of Noah in his sports gear and playing however I don't know how to scan them in so I am using pictures that were already online, in the computer.

One of my fondest memories was driving in Tennessee with Noah, Hope, Tom and Shelia on our way to a Renaissance Festival. Noah and Hope sang, great voices. One of the songs was "Had a bad day" this song has played during some of the most awesome times when I needed to be reminded of that day. For example the day I was diagnosed with Cancer and my first day of chemo. As it turned out Jake (one of my other grandsons) also sang it years later when he was riding in my convertible in West Virginia as we waited for his Mom to deliver Jonah.  The point of this rambling is to point out that among Noah's many talents he can sing.

To excel at learning is an understatement.  I think it is terrific that Noah is self-motivated to learn and in addition to being analytical he is creative. No part of Noah's brain goes unused.

As I said at the beginning, I believe that Noah's faith and his fantastic family core of great parents and spectacularly talented sister are at the heart of the amazing person he is. I am very proud!


I loved that Noah and the whole family came here last September and shared a few days creating memories with me. I am still beaming. I am looking forward to going to El Paso to watch Noah play baseball.     
 

I had a fantastic birthday yesterday. Postcard perfect weather and I met some very nice people on the ferry over to Caladesi. I went to the far side and it was as though I was stranded on a deserted island. The surf was up so I even go to play in the water. It is unusual to have any kind of wave action in the Gulf on a calm day.  Mostly, they appear when its a windy day.

I stopped at the little cafe/gift shop after a couple of hours of fun in the sun and enjoyed my burnt hot dog, chips and diet soda. I pulled out my papers and made great progress on my book. It seems that an outside office especially on a picnic table with water in my view makes me productive.

I was touched by the numerous Happy Birthday wishes I recieved. It was a fantastic day.  Now I am ready to celebrate Tuesday! This is an extra special day because it is my grandson, Noah's birthday!   

I am thrilled to be alive today. 

Thanks to Jack Peavy I am going to Caladesi Island today. He generously purchases me a pass to the Florida State Parks. It is a gift that zings me every year.

David has to work and Mark is taking his lady Christina to the dentist so I am solo to enjoy this monumentus day. As anyone who know me would expect, I am headed to the water.  Not just across the street but about an hour north. The pass gets me onto Honeymoon Island at the end of the Dunedin Causeway. From there I take a ferry to Caladesi.  It is like being on the most beautiful deserted island in the world. They do have a little gift shop/cafe as you arrive on the island and they serve the best burnt hotdogs with chips and diet soda.

David filled the convertible with gas and I have hotdog and ferry money so I am off for fun in the sun. I am so very blessed to be alive and feel healthy as I celebrate this day.

As the cancer society's commercial goes More Birthdays are a very good thing. I hope you enjoy my very special day. Thanks for checking and reading my blog. Now that is also a "zinger" gift! (smile)
                                                   Welcome to Caladesi Island State Park


It is one of the few completely natural islands along Florida´s Gulf Coast, Caladesi´s white sand beaches were rated America's Best Beach in 2008. Beach lovers can enjoy swimming, sunbathing and beachcombing. Saltwater anglers can cast a line from their boats or surf fish. Nature enthusiasts can spot wildlife while hiking the three mile nature trail through the island´s interior or paddling a three mile kayak trail through the mangroves and bay. Picnic tables and shelters are located near the beach, and picnic pavilions can be reserved for a fee. The park has a marina with electric and water hookups, as well as a snack bar and gift shop. The park is accessible by boat or ferry. Ferry service is provided by the Caladesi Island Ferry (727) 734-1501 and departs from Honeymoon Island State Park.

  

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I always want to spend time with my family and/or friends and create fun memories. Shared time is my most favorite gift. Even when I was younger, going someplace and doing something was always the best. If it was something I was doing for the very first time then it was especially awesome.

I have been thrilled to receive a pass to the Florida State Parks for my birthday for the past several years. It has been used and thoroughly loved.

I got a Visa Gift Card at Christmas and instead of using it at stores I have happily and thankfully used it to purchase gas for road trips and exploring.

I was surprised by the generous gift of funds to purchase the Ft. DeSoto Pass. I love this park.  Until this year it was free to go there. Now this fantastic, county park charges $5 a day or $75.00 for the year. The beaches are beautiful. It is almost like being on a secluded Island. It inspires me there and I have made tremendous progress writing there. I guess I have to face it I love being outside.

Now there are some unexpected things that appear on my gift wish list below that are much different than the ones mentioned above.

Recently, I was given a new toilet seat. I had been wanting one for a long time. Yes, I know I could have bought one for myself but somehow I thought it belonged in the gift category. I also want to have my bathtub reglazed. I love the condo where I live but the plumbing and especially the showers and tub have seen healthier and better days.

More than anything I appreciate the gift of being alive and healthy. I am grateful for the blessings of healthy families and the chances I have had to share time with them. I know it sounds like I am giving the politically correct answer or sounding like a beauty pageant contestant but the truth is know that the people you love and care about are well and happy is the best gift ever!

This is a taste of the arrival of Spring. It will be here on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Hope you have a wonderful day!

I vividly imagined becoming "unstuck" this time. I was confident I would keep my commitment to exercise and eating healthy. I was sure this would become my reality.

Unfortunately, my determination and resolve seem to have evaporated.

The say will power is "the ability to do what you really want to do when part of you really doesn't want to do it. It's remembering your bigger goals, in the face of your immediate desires."

I have a birthday one week from today and I am very excited at the prospect to be alive to celebrate! Despite the setbacks I've allowed so far this year, my gift to myself is to prioritize temptation with reward and boost the odds of my success to reach my goals. I need to become better prepared for those times that temptation appears. I need to anticipate my own excuses.

I will put healthy snacks in the house and make sure I have my extra running shoes in my car with an extra set of shorts and top so I don't have the excuse I can't walk.

I don't intend to beat myself up if I have a setback however I do intend that a setback no longer gives me permission to let one little misjudgement mean its okay to go ahead and add to it. It will no longer become, "oh well, I'll start again next week."

If all goes well, next week on my birthday I will be celebrating one week of staying true to my resolve. That will be an awesome gift to myself.

At the top of my daydream list would be to get together with my sons and their families and all share a fun few days together. Some of the wild things I have thought we could share would be to take a cruise to Alaska over the 4th of July holidays (usually my sons both have vacation time then). Another was to go White Water Rafting maybe at the New River Gorge.
I do hope to go to El Paso and Huntington to visit them sometime and get to enjoy time with my spectacular grandsons and granddaughter.

I even wondered how long it would take me to ride my bike to El Paso. When I asked David Logan how long he thought it would take he said, "Do you want me to include the stops at the ER?"  He does unfortunately have a point (smile).

I want to participate in one of the color runs. We tried for the one in Atlanta but it was filled. It would have been especially fun there because my nephew, Josh, said it goes in front of where he lives.
I have wanted to see a Moose in person.
I would love to return to the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival held the first weekend in October.
I have always wanted to visit Yosemite National Park.

It would be fun to meet my my brother, sisters and their families plus my sons and their families at Disney World for a family reunion.



I have been wanting to return to Panama City Beach for a visit for a long time. I have some cherished memories of times I have shared there.
As you can see I am definitely in day dream overload and these are just the tip of the iceberg of things that come to mind, adventures I would like to take and people I would love to visit. There are dear friends I haven't seen in many years that would be wonderful to share a day or evening with catching up, laughing and having fun.


Right now though I will take my papers and head to the beach. I will count my many blessings and as I try to concentrate and write, I will enjoy this postcard perfect day here in paradise.

"Good Morning," this is God, "I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help so have a good time. I love you."

The sun is still shining!  I am thrilled. The pool at this condo closes at sundown, now that it stays light later, I can go to the pool after a day of writing.  Yay!

Double/full 54in × 75in

This is not big enough. Poor Mickey (who is over 6 feet tall) was unable to share the bed with his lovely lady, Tanya. Apparently on night one he slept on the floor. On night two he tried to sleep on the couch but the wind was so loud and the sun rose so bright and EARLY that sleep wasn't good. Tonight we are going to try to put two cots end to end.    

This weekend has brought an assortment of weather across the country. As cleanup begins and people deal with the aftermath my heart goes out to them.


The first reaction is that of relief that people are safe and only "stuff" was lost. But when the "Stuff" is your home, your car, your "stuff" it is devastating

"God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things done."

  Harry Emerson Fosdick

God provides food for the birds, but he doesn't throw it into their nest. It is up to them to go out and gather their food.
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I saw this picture posted on Facebook today and laughed. It is so true that words can take on an entirely different intent by the listener or reader. It is especially easy to do with texts, emails and other written communications because we don't hear the inflection in a person's voice.

The old saying, "It isn't what you say, it's how you said it" has taken on a new importance in today's world of social media. I guess that is why people include emoticons and lol so the reader will have a sense of the emotion that goes with the words.

I'm not savvy when it comes to these new forms of communication and sometimes fail to realize that if a message is brief it may be taken as abrupt. If it sticks to the facts it may seem uncaring. If I repeat a question previously asked it may appear to be nagging instead of caring.

I like this picture and may not be responsible for what someone's understanding of my words are BUT I care and hope that if my words aren't clear or are misinterpreted I will be given the opportunity to make things clearer. I will also give others the benefit of the doubt when I read their messages and question if I don't understand.