Its Just Water

Forks Over Knives

2011-09-10T15:11:00.002-04:00

To be vegan or not to be? That is the question of the day.

'Forks Over Knives' is another good movie to watch if your concerned about your health. The documentary makes a lot of sense about the amount of meat products we eat in the United States. Over the last 70 years as meat consumption in the United states has risen so has an alarming increase of obesity, cancer and heart disease. At 47, I am relatively healthy but by medical standards I am morbidly obese. I have worked on changing my diet over the last few years and have eliminated a lot of bad habits including reducing my intake of sugar and adding exercise to my life. In the past few years I have managed to rid myself of a little over 25 pounds. It has taken me years to get this way it will take me years to get it off. I don't trust fast weight lose as it tends to come back plus some. I know this from years of yoyo dieting.

Happily, my sugar levels have become stable but I am still fighting high cholesterol. I have increased my intake of fruits and vegetables but my love of animal products in all forms is undeniable. Beef and chicken are staples in my kitchen and there is nothing better in this world then my husbands grilled beef fillet. Add a baked potato and slather it with butter and sour cream with a side salad covered in a sour cream based dressing. An awesome meal or an epic failure in a nutritious diet?

I will be adding more fruits and veggies to my daily routine and continue to reduce my intake of meat and dairy. I will never be a vegan or a vegetarian but I see organic soy milk in my future over my cheerios and more vinaigrette dressings on my salads.

Scuppernong Grapes - Jelly Adventures

2011-09-03T07:21:00.006-04:00

Scuppernong Grapes, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

As a child, I remember the huge grape arbor that grew in our back yard when I was about 8 years old. When the grapes were in season we plucked the sweet fruit from the branches and ate them as we played cowboys and Indians and chased each other around the back yard shooting each other with our imaginary bow and arrows using the grape arbor as forts and teepees with never a second thought of what they were. The grapes were good and thats all we cared about. This wonderful little fruit with its tough outer hull was a sweet treat on a hot north Florida afternoon.

This is the first year in our new home and I noticed almost too late that the grapes were ripe and ready to harvest. The grapes grow under the canopy of leaves and if I hadn't looked I never would have known they were there. I was able to harvest a gallon bag of ripe fruit before the birds made off with the rest. And then it took forever to decide what to do with them. I finally decided to make jam. Only it was after I had juiced the grapes did I realize I needed the pulp of the fruit to make jam. Thought to remember....find recipe then process fruit. I had to regroup and settled on the only other option and made jelly. Jam will have to wait until next year.

I was able to juice a little under 5 cups of juice which will make approximately 4 pints of jelly. I poured the grape juice into a large pan and heated it up to boiling and added one package of low sugar pectin and approx ¼ cup of sugar and stirred until the pectin was all blended about 5 minutes then added the rest of 4 cups of sugar and almost ½ cup of orange blossom honey. Stirring constantly I brought this to a hard boil then let it cool down being careful to keep stirring until the mixture was no longer boiling.

Somehow during all this I managed to prepare my jars. I used 8 - ½ pint jars and had them clean and sterilized and ready for jelly by the time the grape mixture was ready. I carefully filled up the jars leaving ¼ inch of room from the top of the jar. I made sure the lips of the jars were clean before I put the lids on to ensure a tight seal. I filled all the jars and then processed the jelly by boiling the jars for 5 minutes.

I carefully removed the jars and set them aside to cool. Allow the jar to set for at least 24 hours.

OMG!!! This is the best stuff. There is nothing like homemade jelly.

Approximate cost of each 1/2 pint - $1.59

Hanging Pictures

2011-01-27T11:08:00.003-05:00

I have spent the last two weeks of my vacation packing, loading, unloading and unpacking stuff that we have no room for. It is amazing how much crap you can accumulate in 5 years.

Today is my last day of vacation and I am using it to tidy up and give our new dwelling those endearing touches that make a house a home.

I love these old pictures of my children and my husband. It is hard to believe that we were really that young once.

But enough of this for today I am running out of walls and hangers which is bad because I still have boxes of pictures I need to find a home.

Did I mention I love moving.

January's Photo Outing

2011-01-26T11:20:00.006-05:00

Not once but twice this month I was lucky enough to be invited on a field trip with my good friend Rachel. She has taken a huge leap in her life and is braving the new world of entrepreneurship with her new business -Fins & Lens Photography - http://finsandlens.com/ .

For her birthday we went to the Morikami Gardens for the zen experience and a photo shoot. We arrived fashionably late and we only had an hour to tour the gardens before the park closed.

Although our time was limited we still took some pretty decent shots as the day turned into late afternoon. I tried to capture the shadows and low light settings and the sun started to set for the day.

The Morikami Gardens are very beautiful even with the large crowds that attended that weekend for the 10 year anniversary festival so we decided to make another trip. Luckily the Gardens were offering a free admissions day so we pulled out our schedules determined that we were free and pinky swore that we would go.

Our second trip was almost a disaster; we arrived early along with the the storm clouds and cold rain but we unloaded our gear and headed into the gardens determined to find zen or at least a good time and a few good pictures before we were frozen and or drenched.

As if the weather wasn't bad enough, our bad luck continued as both of Rachel's cameras malfunctioned. We later found out as the clouds moved off and the sun warmed up the day that her camera seems to have issues with the cold and caused her shutter to stick. We were back in business.

We missed the Bonsai exhibit on our first trip as we walked towards the bridge the security guard chased us off and pointed us towards the exit. We spent a good portion of the morning of our second trip looking at the tiny sculptured trees.

The bonsais were so oddly shaped I had a hard time focusing and this is the only picture I was satisfied with to post so I guess I will keep practicing.

We thought it was odd that we did not see any koi on our first trip in any of the lakes or ponds but apparently they were hiding by the bonsai. These fish are huge and you can feed them if you like. I know the fish don't mind.

We toured the small museum that displayed Japanese culture and heritage and its growth in South Florida.

We found out of the way paths that lead to bamboo fountains

and tranquil beauty.

The gravel paths are shaded with benches to sit at your leisure. The view over the small lake is pretty and conducive to calm and relaxation.

It was an amazing day and I thoroughly enjoyed having Rachel's son Christian with us. What an awesome little boy.

I cant wait for our next photo outing.

2011-01-11T19:10:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!!!! (Better late than never.)

This year I vow to take more pictures, pay attention to my blog, eat better, exercise more, spend more time with my family and pay more attention to me and my needs.

Invasion!

2010-06-12T13:26:00.003-04:00

I have been invaded by these huge bloated little buggers. Caterpillars have made their home on my tomatoes.

I was not alarmed by the few holey leaves I was seeing here and there and when I discovered that it was caterpillars causing the damage to the leaves I removed them quickly. I am trying to stay organic so I am not using pesticides however I did "Google" for a few organic options including a garlic spray.

But apparently I may have waited to long, in just a matter of 2 days my plants have become bare.

The little buggers have become huge which makes them a lot easier to find but they are a lot hungrier.

They are now eating my tomatoes.

Will I ever win?????

Bucket Gardening

2010-05-19T09:24:00.015-04:00

I have a lousy time with gardening. My husband swears I have a black thumb. Every spring I plant and something always goes wrong. I have learned by trial and error that vegetables do not fair well in my back yard. Apparently I can't grow grass there either. I have a sprinkler system and I would use it if someone would quit running over the sprinkler heads. I turned on the water last week and flooded the front yard. The weeds seem to like my yard better and I guess some green is better than none at all.

I like to think of myself as determined, a problem solver or what my family refers to as hard headed. My goal is to grow fresh vegetables for my family and I am not giving up so I go back to surfing the internet for ideas. I researched raised garden beds but I knew that idea wouldn't work unless I was able to surround the raised beds with a steel mesh cage. My dogs would not let a little height stand in the way of watering my tomatoes or digging them up in search of the neighborhood mole. There is also the problem of invading nasty looking horned caterpillars. !!Yucky!!

I tried an experiment with Aquaponics last year and had very good success in starting several types of tomatoes, herbs and leafy veggies. I tried to grow these starters in containers and I did have some initial good luck. I was able to harvest about a dozen small cracked fruits off my bushes but my herbs eventually died from lack of attention which means I forget to water them.

I tried something different this year with my aquaponics/aquarium system and took a terrarium approach to gardening. I filled the tank half way and floated Styrofoam rafts in the tank using the aquarium lights as the light source. It works fairly well but only on one half of the tank. I have had a problem with too much moisture on the side of the tank with the filter. I was thinking of using a piece of plastic to cover the down spout but I haven't gotten around to that yet. The aquaponics projects have been fun and a learning experience but it can be complicated and is not the best for growing tomatoes and like vegetables.

During my research on youtube, I discovered self-watering containers. Eureka! There was hope for me after all. I proceeded to do a little price checking. I found and purchased 3 small hanging plant containers that were on sale. I also found the large pretty hunter green or terracotta self watering containers that seemed to be the rage but I was not willing to fork out the $50.00 per container price tag. So I went back to researching youtube and I came across several do it yourself containers. I finally decided on what is called the bucket system or "Global Buckets".

Two 5 gallon buckets some pvp pipe and a plastic cup. I like the plastic drive through cups just so I feel like I am recycling. So far, I have made 5 buckets: 1 with my blueberry bush that my husband bought me, 3 tomato plants and the last one is for my basil as soon as its tall enough to transplant. So far my dogs have left the containers alone, there is no sight of caterpillars and I only water the plants every third day or so. The big plus plus is that it is impossible to over water. I think I found the cure to my black thumb back yard gardening problem. I am so excited.

For my next project, I have purchased 2 (two) 50 gallon rubber maid containers I found for $15 each. I'm thinking carrots, radishes and green leafy veggies. I'm on a roll...........

My Girls

2010-04-18T23:54:00.008-04:00

It is amazing how quickly my girls have grown. They will soon be adults and I am having some issues. I believe it is called the empty nest syndrome. I cry sometimes when I think about them leaving me but I also cry during sad commercials. They will tell you I am over sensitive but actually I am just a big cry baby.

They are so different my girls so much like myself and my brother. My brother with his white blonde hair and blue eyes and me the brunette with hazels eyes.

Ellie so much like me. She is my twin in almost every way. She is so responsible, very serious, she knows everything and argues her point until you are just tired of arguing and it is easier to just walk away. She has my temper explosive and wrathful yet she is so loving and wears her heart on her sleeve for everyone to see. There is no guile about her. What you see is what you get. She is her daddy's princess.

Erin has my brothers coloring but that is where the likeness ends. Intelligence hide behind those blue eyes and be prepared for a tongue lashing if she is in ear shot of a blonde joke. She will argue that she has to work harder for her grades because no one takes her seriously. She is a goof at times and a trend setter. She can be a cool as a cucumber impossible to know what she is thinking. She is charitable, kind and giving. She is my baby.

I love them both so much it breaks my heart to think that they will soon be grown and will no longer need me. Ellie off to the Navy soon already so grown up. Even though I protest loudly her decision to go into the military, I am still so very proud of her. She is ready to begin a new chapter in her life and I know I can not hold her back. I was on my own at 17 and I remember how strongly I felt about my independence.

However, Erin has a few more years before she can leave and I am kinda feeling sorry for her. I will have to smother her with all my affection and she really hates that.

The Steak House Ninjas

2010-04-09T17:46:00.010-04:00

It being our last night in New Orleans my husband wanted to take us all out for a fancy dinner. For several days he asked around trying to find the best steak house in New Orleans. After a few mixed reviews he decided on the restaurant and made reservations. He decided on Dickie Brennan's Steak House in the French Quarter. I think a large part of his decision was based on the delicious food and service we received at The Palace Cafe which is owned and operated by Dickie Brennan, Steve Pettus and Lauren Brennan Brower.

The night started off well. As we were seated, my poor daughter was attacked by "The Ninjas". "The Ninjas" as my daughter called the wait staff. The poor young waiter went to place a napkin in Ellie's lap and she almost jumped out of her chair. He was so embarrassed, he didn't know what to say and he tended to stay away from her side of the table throughout the rest of our meal. I can't say that I blamed him. For the rest of the evening when we weren't eating we made a game of alerting Ellie when a "Ninja" approached the table so she would not jump and scare the poor waiters.

I have to say my hubby made an excellent choice in restaurants. We have been disappointed in the past paying too much for a piece of meat that no amount of steak sauce could save. We were all delighted with our meals. I ordered the chef's special Twin Filets over grits with a spicy garlic sauce. This was a very brave move on my part but I was intrigued by the choice grits served with this entree. Initially I found the reduction sauce over the filet very peppery almost too much but once I added all the flavors together the dish blended perfectly. I love my grits, I eat them with my eggs and my fish regularly but I have never eaten them with beef. I would never think to eat them with a filet. It was an awesome experience and a perfect dish for this old southern gal.

For 90 minutes, we were pampered and fed wonderful food and can't remember a moment during the entire evening when there wasn't something to eat on our table. The bread was warm and crusty. Fred ordered a starter of Portobello Fries. The salads were delicious - no ranch dressing here. And for dessert we had Bananas Foster over bread pudding, I have not enjoyed Bananas Foster since I was a teenager in Miami. I have to admit I was a little disappointed they did not prepare it at the table with the flame but it was very good none the less.

Life seems so dull now that we are back at home. Food doesn't taste the same, its tasteless and boring but after so much good food I see salads and other non-fat dishes in my future for a long time.

My Feet Hurt

2010-04-04T20:18:00.004-04:00

I am guessing we walked well over 3 miles today and my feet hurt. I have discovered over the last few days that I am seriously out of shape. In Puerto Rico I blamed my shoes. I bought a pair of walking Crocs called Trailbreaks and they are ugly but comfortable until I have to walk any distance. I have discovered muscles in my feet and ankles that I did not know about. They are also useless trapsing through the woods. Our first day in New Orleans, after bursting into tears from the leg cramps trying to walk in my Crocs. my hubby made me stop and purhace a pair of flip flops. My feet and calves felt much better but after a few hours I developed blisters between my toes.

Thankfully, I brought my old boots. I have had them for years and they have not failed me yet. My old red clay covered boots saved me. They are not exactly the prettiest pair of shoes and I can't wear them with capris or shorts but they have allowed me to walk again. Disaster averted.

Working on the Farm.

2010-04-01T08:51:00.004-04:00

We have spent the last several days working around the house. It is so pretty with everything starting to bloom. There is so much to do but little ambition from my crew. We are all addicted to our electronics and trying to get us off our phones and computers can be hard but some how we managed to get a few things accomplished.

Erin and I made a little headway on the yard cutting back bushes and helping Eleanor pull weeds. My back protested loudly on the weed pulling. This body does not bend and pull anything but I made those muscles work anyways. The yard is so pretty right now the camelias are in bloom although a little damaged by the earlier frost, along with the azaleas and the daffodils. The bumble bees are everywhere. It's funny watching Erin run from these poor critters like they even know she's there.

We worked on cleaning out the storage shed and loaded up the trailer for the dump and while we were making the run to the landfill, the girls finished painting the backside of the garage.

I found this little critter among some old carpet remnants that we took to the dump. He was very nice to just sit there and let me take his picture unlike the Bumble Bees who wont sit still for more than 2 seconds.

We only have one more day left to get things done. Today, I believe the men are putting up a chair rail on the front porch. I will be in charge of laundry washing and car cleaning because tomorrow we leave for New Orleans.

Spring Break - Alabama

2010-03-27T21:12:00.007-04:00

After spending the most of the last 2 days in a car, I took some time this afternoon to walk around the farm . The weather is good; we woke up to 37 degrees this morning but by this afternoon it was up to the low 70's. The wind was blowing almost gusting at times as I looked for interesting things to photograph.

I loved the bird house by the front field.

The blueberry bushes are budding. I hope they bloom before we leave Friday.

An abandoned beehive, I found several behind the old shed.

The Barn.

One of the back fields.

Farm equipment.

The pictures are a little washed out but the sun was going down. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get some morning shots and maybe walk out to the back field. It is a treat to see spring in action.

20th Wedding Anniversary: Puerto Rico Part 3

2010-03-24T21:12:00.011-04:00

We slept in on the 18th and being our anniversary, neither one of us was in a hurry to get up. My legs and feet were still aching from all the walking the day before. We fortified our selves with the last of the bananas in our room and headed back into San Juan.

Hubby wanted to go back to Sigal XX for breakfast and again we were not disappointed. I had and egg and cheese omelet with the Puerto Rican version of toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Yes I said freshly squeezed. Hubby watched the waiter squeeze the oranges. The juice was a little tart but excellent.

Our failure in finding Don Q the day before, we decided to visit the Bacardi Distillery. It was not easy to find and after a few wrong turns we finally located the front gate. By noon I was feeling very happy. I love Rum. The tour was very informative and the last part of the tour included a mixed drink demonstration. I wish I had taken notes because my rum spiked brain retained very little. Hunger drove us back to San Juan and I know this is hokey but we decided to eat lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. We had to pick up the glasses for our collection and t-shirts for the girls. We cut our trip short because of a back ache and headed back to the Villa.

I had nightmares all night worrying about hubby's back. All night I went over our emergency plan. We would get up, quickly pack and find the nearest massage therapist. Thankfully he woke up feeling much better. I was so happy and relieved because there was so much we still wanted to see. We said our good byes to Carole and thanked her for a wonderful time. I really hated leaving.

We found a place to eat breakfast in Rio Grande called Antojitos. It was a very pretty restauraunt. The atmosphere was awesome unfortunately the food was not. It was average at best and the service was slow. After eating at Siglo XX, I was very disappointed. The family next to us raved about the food. I guess I should have ordered pancakes.

We hurried back towards San Juan but this time we took the beach road - PR187 back. I still had a few gits to purchase and pictures to take but the clock was ticking. We had to be at the airport by 5pm.

The traffic was hideous. There were school children and school buses every where. I have to mention that I love the school busesin Puerto Rico. We had a terrible time getting to the parking lot but once we were back on the street we caught a trolley and headed to Fort San Felipe De Morro.

We spent a beautiful afternoon taking pictures at the fort. We took dozens of pictures the place was awesome. It was windy and overcast and several times it threatened to rain but we kept going up to the last minute. It sprinkled a little as we rode back to our car in the trolley but had passed by the time we pulled up to the airport. We had a lovely trip and I really enjoyed myself but next time we will definitely stay longer.

20th Wedding Anniversary: Puerto Rico Part 2

2010-03-15T16:46:00.008-04:00

I loved waking up in the morning to the cool breeze that blew through the window of our room. I am still amazed at how cool is was in the mountains yet not too chilly to bathe once you get past the cricket that resided near the drain. We dressed and were off fairly early headed towards San Juan, the main objective for the morning was to trade in our rental car. The Suzuki we rented was too small and we were tearing up the brakes running up and down the mountains. Enterprise was very cooperative and we were in Old San Juan in no time.

As we drove in to the Old City we ran into heavy Rescue and Law Enforcement presence. I still don't know what was going on that day at the Capital - Google has failed me on this one. Traffic was backed up a little but as we passed the convention area it eased up until we reached the old city.

The streets of the old city are narrow and steep. Living in Florida for so long I expected an island of flat sandy beaches like the Bahamas but Old San Juan is anything but level. And finding parking on the narrow streets was impossible but with the help of the local policia we found a parking garage and a Starbucks. Life is good again for a short while. I have discovered that I am truly a flat foot. I can spend an afternoon walking through the mall, Walmart, Sam's, etc with no problem. I have spent entire days at Universal Studios keeping up with my teenage daughters. Granted my feet hurt afterwards but this was nothing compared to the extraordinary cramps I felt in me ankles and calves trying to walk up the steep hills and stairs of the city. It became worse as we toured the fort.

Castillo San Cristobal is beautiful but I rested the first hour of our tour. Fred hiked out onto the north east section of the fort while I enjoyed the company of the local iguanas. Other tourist kept me entertained chasing these poor creatures all over the front lawn of the fort. I am amazed no one was bit.

The view out onto the ocean and across San Juan was awesome. You can see the capital to the east and to the south the docks for the cruise ships. The court yard of the fort was old but well kept and quite fascinating. It was easy to find subjects to take decent pictures and I took a bunch.

Hunger finally lured us away from the fort and again we found the local policia and were given directions to an Italian restaurant that was suppose to be good. Thankfully we went with hubby's instincts and found and authentic Puerto Rican deli called Siglo XX. We were thinking S/20 aka crazy so we ate there. We later found out it actually translates to 20th century. The food was awesome. There where vegetables on my plate that I did not recognize but it was delicious.

Full and content after a few medalla lights, we decided to head towards Ponce and try to find the Don Q Rum facility that I had seen on a Three Sheets episode. We headed south on PR52 nothing like an adventure which is what it turned out to be. We had to cross the Cordillera Mountains and made good time into Ponce. The Mountains were pretty but hazy and it was tough taking pictures at 60 mph.

I love my Iphone but I have learned GPS is not all its cracked up to be. I located the Don Q family home on the internet but later learned that the distillery and home place were to different locations and that there were no tours of the distillery. We did not find either one after looking for almost an hour so we decided to head back to Rio Grande. I really should have paid more attention to the Three Sheets episode on Puerto Rico. I'll know better next time.

Part 3 to follow.

20th Wedding Anniversary: Puerto Rico Part 1

2010-02-24T19:41:00.006-05:00

Feb 18th, 2010 was our anniversary. My husband and I chose to celebrate by spending 5 days in Puerto Rico. I have never found it easy to just hop on a plane and go but leaving behind frigid Florida weather for the sunny tropics was easy. The first thing I did when I stepped off the plane was to stash my sweater never to be seen again until we were back in the arctic circle aka south Florida. My hubby beelined to the nearest car rental bus, picked up our rental and off we went. Fred drove while I navigated. Our host Carole suggested we take the beach road or PR187 because it was more scenic. It was beautiful.

We traveled through the small towns of Suarez and Vieques on narrow two lane roads. The traffic was crazy and for some reason my husband was having the time of his life whipping down the narrow road and giving me heart failure. I soon discovered my husband's driving was no different than anyone else on the road. I learned to stay focused on my surroundings and ignore the driving. We made it to Rio Grande in one piece and found Carole's Villa without to much trouble. Her house was the last house on the right as you enter the Bosque National El Yunque on PR9966. This is a long twisty steep road that winds up into the mountains it is barely a two lane road with many of the residents parked in the street.

I was afraid at first the place was so far away from civilization. It was rustic almost rudimentary. There was electric but no air conditioning. No T.V, no wifi, OMG there was no shower curtain. It was like nothing I had every experienced before. It was romantic and beautiful. It was perfect. A cool breeze blew through the large window that looked out into the jungle. The room had a king size bed, a small fridge with water, a fan and a dish full of fresh bananas. What more could you want.

We found Carole on her front patio with her dogs Gaya and Sabina. She is an awesome host and she makes the most delicious banana smoothies. We chatted for a while enjoying the cool breeze blowing off the ocean and admiring the view. I wish my pictures could convey the true beauty of our mountain perch view, the unique smells of moisture and earth, or the sounds of the creatures in the jungle as the sunset.

I wish I could say we slept in but we were up bright and early and ready to explore. Explore meaning getting lost and riding in circles a lot. We made our way quickly down the mountain went east on PR3. We headed into Luquillo and stumbled upon the famous Luquillo Kiosks. We stopped and Fred took some black and white pictures. I can't wait to see how they turned out.

We took off again and ended up on another mountain road that eventually took us back to PR3. As it was getting close to lunch so we made our way to the kiosks and enjoyed lunch. Fred had salted fish with rice and chickened out and ate an empanada which was good but not as good as my sons. Stuffed and happy we made our way east to Fajardo.

The day was cool and very overcast but we were enjoying our adventure. As we drove into Fajardo we spotted a sign for a ferry. We followed the signs through heavy traffic areas including a hospital and school but finally made our way to the coast. We found the ferry but it was passengers only so decided not to cross. Parking would be an issue that we weren't willing to deal with so we took advantage of the photo opportunities of the area.

The Bahia De Fajardo and the Parque La Juventud north east of Fajardo were beautiful. There were several beaches but the area was dotted with numerous marinas to the north side and to the east. All the boats seemed to be pleasure crafts and I don't remember seeing any fishing vessels or any stores that specialized in fresh fish or shrimp which strikes me as very odd.

As the afternoon wore on we headed back towards Rio Grande but we weren't quite ready to call it a day. The sky started to clear up and bit and the sun finally came out. We finally found the side road that leads to the Bosque Nacional El Yunque.

Everything is green and moist. There are water falls everywhere. Pretty red flowers fall from overhead and vines dangle from the trees. We stopped at the parks Welcome Center and picked up a map, asked about the hiking then made are way further up the mountain. Again Fred loved the steep twisty turning roads and as long as no one slowed him down he was happy.

We found the first tower and climbed all the way to the top. My legs screamed as we approached the top but we made it and the view was well worth the climb.

Ascending the tower was a little scary, my legs threatened to give out. My feet were very insistent that there would be no more hiking today. Which was too bad because there were so many trails and so much to see. I was hoping maybe another day but it was amazing how quickly the days flew by. We did make it to the top of the mountain turned around and descended in half the time it took to drive up. I was tired but happy with all we accomplished when we finally made it back to Carole's Place but Fred was not done.

About half a mile up the road is a bridge that crosses a creek that runs down a steep rocky area and if you descend down a steep path cross the creek and down a second steep path you will find a private waterfall. So camera in hand, we made it down the steep path crossed the creek and saw the second steep path only to get rained on.

Carole warned up about flash flooding and the sun was starting to go down behind the mountain so we decided to try again another day. We made our way back to our room and settled in for the night falling to sleep to the noisy chirps of the crickets and the Coqui frogs.

Haiti Donations

2010-01-23T17:32:00.003-05:00

I've set up a link from TCPalm that has been keeping up with news from the devastated nation and things we can do to help.

or go here

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jan/20/how-to-help/

Reflecting 2009.

2009-12-31T14:53:00.006-05:00

This seems to be an ongoing theme with me which is odd because I like to think of myself as an optimist so reflecting on the past may not seem so optimistic however, I know that before I move on I need to learn from the past so I choose this day to reflect and embrace all that is good in my life.

I am grateful to my children and adopted children who have made my life so rich. The fact that my children have grown so much this year really scares me. They are turning into wonderful adults and I have had to face the fact that they will soon be leaving me. I contemplate more often what my life will be like when they are all on their own and it’s just me, hubby and the dogs. I know with the support of my husband and best friend, I will somehow survive. Of course there are grandchildren to look forward to in the coming years. Just not Yet!!!!

I am proud to say that I have actually completed a few things this year. I did lose my projected 10 pounds for the year but managed to gain it back. However, I can’t stand the taste of coke anymore and I rarely eat candy bars. I still love my ice cream but I eat it less frequently than before. (We won’t discuss my chocolate milk shake issue.) I still love my Starbucks but I settle for Grande instead of Venti. I occasionally skip the appetizer when we eat out. I prefer to be full and not stuffed. I eat lots of tuna and have added more dairy to my diet. We created a home gym this year now I need to use it. I am trying to be more careful with what I consume as diabetes is right around the corner and it scares me.

This year, I have learned a lot about Aquaponics and have succeeded in creating a small but successful water garden. I can grow arugula and oregano like nobody’s business. My fish are healthy and happy but I really need to clean out the tank. I am checking into composting seems it goes hand and hand with gardening. I all can say to that is Yuk worms but we’ll see.

As for work–my job-my chosen profession, I still have those days when I would rather pull out my fingernails than go to work although they seem to get fewer and farther apart. I am trying harder to think of the pain in the ass issues as a challenge to be overcome. I can see that there are some issues that I cannot overcome now so I have put them way and will save them for another time and another battle. I am learning to play the game in my own way I guess. I am also trying to be nicer and more understanding but have noticed my patience often correlates to how much over time I work. Too much over time leaves me tired and cranky which is not a good combination. Tired, cranky and sick makes for a bad day all around and means I should stay home in bed instead of dealing with idiots. I may keep my job longer too. Write ups suck and too many will get you fired. Nuff said.

To my co-works, my shift in particular, thank you for a wonderful year. I am so looking forward to another year of friendship and camaraderie in 2010.

I have found some wonderful friends this year. It is not so much that I found them but that I have finally allowed myself to let them in. I want to thank all my friends for making 2009 a great year for me and thank you for including me in your life even if it is only on the internet. I love Facebook it makes me feel more social but on the other hand I’m on the computer all the time playing games. Sigh…. Thanks in general for being there and supporting me when I felt all my hard work was for nothing. Thanks for letting me know that even in a small way I am making a difference. Thanks for making me take the photography class. It was a little disappointing for me at the end but I learned so much.

I have discovered a lot about myself and that I am not so much detail oriented as I thought but I can learn to be depending on the project. It’s like any other learning experience I should say. Practice makes perfect, so I will practice more. I am still a little set in my ways but I am working on improving that. I am still a stickler for rules but it is more obvious that sometimes rules were made to be broken and sometimes you have to. Sometimes you have to improvise to make sure what is suppose to be right is also fair. I am trying hard to look at both sides of every problem. It has made me more cautious of late and gives me time to think instead of react. Not always but more often. Being “fair” is so important to me lately.

I know I have a difficult and challenging year ahead of me. Our life will change drastically and I am doing my best to prepare for it. All I can do is hope that all I have done in the past will make it easier and that in the end everything will turn out the way it is suppose to. Fate can be a bitch sometimes.

Happy New Years!

The Wheel of Time still turns.

2009-11-13T21:31:00.001-05:00

Robert Jordan may be gone but his story still lives. This is the first of the last 3 books of the series I have been reading for over 20 years

I will be very busy this weekend.

Pioneer Woman Cookbook

2009-10-29T17:34:00.001-04:00

Yeah my cookbook arrived today. It is such an awesome book. The colors, the pictures, the stories and the recipes make a wonderful combination that makes this book so much more than just a book of recipes. Thak you Ree!

Making Risotto

2009-10-27T18:28:00.001-04:00

Instead of potatoes .

And Aquaponics continues....

2009-10-23T22:47:00.001-04:00

GeoTagged, [N27.42030, E80.34631]

This poor cilantro is all that survives from my last attempt. The spinach was a bust. My tomatoes are potted but not doing so well.

I have purchased some new seeds. Sage, thyme, true lavender, caper and bietola de coste (a green leafy veggie). I'm not sure if I will try them all but diffinately starting some sage , thyme and the leafy stuff.

Testing Photo Attachments

2009-10-23T18:40:00.001-04:00

GeoTagged, [N27.41997, E80.34609]

This so cool.

Remote Blogging

2009-10-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love my phone. I just down loaded a new app. That allows me to post remotely. This should be cool.

Testing testing.....

Now how do you add pics?

Obama wins the Nobel Peace Price?

2009-10-10T17:09:00.003-04:00

I try very hard to stay in the middle of the road when it comes to politics. But I don't feel this at all. I like President Obama, he gives uplifting and compassionate speeches. He is working very hard to make changes. He is our first minority president. He has done some amazing things in the past year but he has also made a lot of mistakes and tends to waffle on his own policy. I very much want to be proud of my country for its accomplishments and know that I should be proud of our president for winning this award but I sincerely can not. It makes no sense intellectually nor do I feel it in my heart. There are more deserving candidates.

There were 205 Nominees: among them Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai former trade union activist and opposition leader current prime minister in a national unity government with Mugabe since February 2009, jailed Chinese dissident Hu Jia, Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba who has campaigned for a peaceful solution to the almost 50-year-old conflict in her country, Afghan doctor and women's rights activist Sima Samar, French-Colombian ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt , Jordan's Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad Bin Talal, an advocate of inter-religious dialogue, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and democracy advocate Thich Quang Do, Chechen human rights lawyer Lidiya Yusupova, and Russian activist Svetlana Gannushkina.

This is the same president who snub a visit with the Dah li Lama, the most peaceful man on our planet so as not to offend China. A national with some of the worst human rights violations. I know how important global unity is and President Obama has made some very energetic speeches but not Nobel Peace Price Caliber. I look at all Jimmy Carter has accomplished in his life time and know this man deserved it but I am not so sure about Obama.

Neandercon - What does it mean?

2009-09-06T08:30:00.007-04:00

I keep seeing this term used by some of my Democratic friends and not wanting to look like a stupid Republican, I decided to research this term Neandercon on my own.

Of course the first thing I do is Google Neandercon. No luck it apparently has no definition as it is not a real word. So next I Wiki. No luck. Several web references but nothing that has helped me define this word.

I go through Twitter were I first noticed Neandercon no luck their either. Dems are using it liberally but no clues to what it means.

Then I found this.

Ten signs you've been seated next to a family of Neandercons.

1. As you enter the restaurant you notice a family getting out of a car that is plastered with dozens of pro-life bumper stickers…..but through most of your meal, you get to hear them bitch about how girls like your very young, apparently single, very pregnant waitress shouldn’t be allowed to have kids and that illegal immigrants, foreigners, gays, liberals etc, etc, should be lined up and shot.

2. When the meal arrives, the family bows their heads and the man at the head of the table leads the family in prayer, which begins with, “Dear Lord, we thank you and George W.”

3. A man stops by their table to say “Hello” and upon mentioning that’s he’s about to leave town for a fishing trip, he’s immediately asked “Casting or dynamiting?”

4. One of the children at the table asks “Daddy Joe” for the steak sauce.

5. After a child spills his milk at the table, he is told not to worry about it, it is Bill & Hillary Clinton’s fault.

6. While talking to his wife and children about the sanctity of marriage becoming the “Jack” of family values in America. “Daddy Joe” can’t keep his eyes off the large breast of the very young, very pregnant single waitress as she passes behind them on her way back to the kitchen. You suddenly grateful that after your experience with him at the urinal, he didn't pinch your ass too!

7. Your children learn more graphic details about gay sex from over hearing the parents rant against gays and “what they’re teaching kids in public schools these days “ then they would have learned watching 'Brokeback Mountain'.

8. By the end of your meal. You’ve heard a more complete list of who’s going to hell that God himself has yet to oblige and you’re on it at least 7 times.

9. After bellowing loudly for a full 30 minutes about how they could do a better job of regulating social security than the government their debit card is declined.

10. After requiring more service from your waitress than any other three tables in the restaurant they leave a $2 tip for the very young, very pregnant waitress.
(This is not an exact copy of what I found on the web. I cleaned it up a bit a re-phrased a few of the sentences and used language that I thought was a tad funnier.)

Tote bags I copied from for sale at this web site.

http://bags.cafepress.com/item/neandercons-tote-bag/60989184 -

I am so relieved to discover I am not a Neander-con family. I do not fall into this category at all. Maybe a little bit. We do joke from time to time about fishing with dynamite but what good old southern fisherman hasn't had thoughts about that method of fishing.

If I was to take an educated guess Neandercon is the word used for uneducated, hypocritical backwoods sometime Christian male which apparently to some Dems represent a large part of the Rep party????? maybe??

What do you think?

Then I found this - Extinction of the Neandercon
.....this is funny.

The two most important events in all of mankind's history were:
1. The invention of beer by Liberals and...
2. The invention of the wheel (by Liberals again)
The wheel was invented to get man to the beer,
and beer to the man. Prior to the invention of the wheel,
beer was lugged about by Conservatives in hollowed out
stones
These two events formed the foundation of modern civilization and
together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two
distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals
2. Conservatives.
Once Liberals invented beer , it required grain which
led to the beginning of agriculture.
Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were
invented yet, so while our early human ancestors were sitting around
waiting for these items to be invented, they just stayed close to the
brewery.
That's how villages were formed.
Some men spent their days chasing and killing varmints
so they could have varmints to eat. But not for this simplistic
endeavour, these men would have starved to death.
This was the beginning of what is known as
the Conservative movement.
Other men who were more intelligent learned that they
could use the beer they invented to get the simple
minded Conservatives do almost anything. Unfortunately,
fetching, varmints was about all that the Conservatives were
good for.

Extinction of the Neandercon

Source: http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.guitar.amps/2008−02/msg00648.html

Then this

The Neandercon oath - First, do harm.

From: humbubba@xxxxxxxxx (Rick Hohensee)
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 08:51:53 -0000

Apparently there is a NeanderConLand but... 'you can't find a neandercon in a haystack without the proper coordinates' ..... — The Gazetteer

But I finally found my answer in this article....a Canadian explanation.
http://wwefreakjon.blogspot.com/2009/06/rise-and-fall-of-neander-con.html

Definition - The neo-conservative movement.

Okay maybe I am a bit of a Neander-con but I am always open to new ideas just not ones run by the government.

President Obama's Speech Sept. 8 2009

2009-09-04T09:52:00.002-04:00

Read article Attached.......

I am a little puzzled by all the hoopla on this one. As far as our president giving a speech to our school children and encouraging them to work harder and succeed as adults, I am all for it. President Bush did something similar years ago along with Mrs. Bush to encourage education and reading. I remember this and was all for it. Children need this type of encouragement and I am sure Pres. Obama will do just as good a job if not better. He has two children and he understands the worries and responsibility of raising children in our world today. However, not all children have the luxury of two parents and those children need someone to look up to. They need a role model and I see nothing wrong with looking up to our President as a model of what a good education can accomplish.

I am a little puzzled by the reaction of some of the members of the Republican party. Being a registered republican and not always agreeing with our President's policies, I am very confused by all the doom and warnings of a presidential brainwashing. I know there are some shady propaganda programs being pushed by some pro-Obama groups but I have to tip my hat to there ingenuity and thinking outside the box to push there agenda. Is it illegal? I don't think so. Are they using public funds to push this propaganda? Possibly but until I see proof I will with hold my opinion.

Personally, as a registered republican my party needs to make me happy by finding cures to improve the government mismanagement. Unfortunately mismanagement needs to start at home with our local governments and at the top at the federal level. We can't keep throwing money at a problem and expect it to work unless of course it is education. If the government wants to throw money at our children and young adults to better their education. Go for it. In the mean time I wait anxiously for Sept 8 for our Presidents speech.

I broke my iphone.

2009-08-05T20:05:00.002-04:00

I really loved my phone. Its at a friends house and he is trying to fix it but I am pretty sure its done. I only had it maybe three weeks but it was a wonderful device. It was a hand me down and didn't cost much but I still loved it.

I am back to using my Pantech and oh boy what a piece of technology this phone is. It wont let me access the internet or my mail.

I guess I'll live.

I did this to myself. I lost my temper something I haven't done in a long time but I did and my phone which I love is now broken.

Why do men have this unbelievable ability to shut down rational thinking and turn a happy women into raging psychotic who then breaks her phone.

It made a horrible cracking noise when it hit the wall.

I miss my phone. I may trade my man in for a new one.

City lays off 8 police officers.

2009-07-18T14:55:00.002-04:00

I am stunned I am having a really hard time understanding the logic behind this.
I have watched my husband train some very promising young people. It is breaking my heart that the City I live in has betrayed these young people and fired them before their careers have barely begun.

I googled "laid off police officers" and I am shocked by how rampant this has become. Our society has sunken so low that we are now getting rid of our first line offense. Our first responders are becoming the first to go.

I have been scanning reads comments when I saw this comment "911 is next."

How close are we to listening to 911 phones lines ring unanswered and when the line is finally picked up then who is going to respond?

I know it is not that bad yet but think about it. What if our economy doesn't improve. Whats next?

60 days

2009-07-10T14:26:00.002-04:00

Today I have decided to harvest. I wont actually do it until tomorrow I think but I am definitely going to take make a huge salad in the next day or so.

Nice Oregano going on in the background.

Arugula, I think. A little spicy I found out the hard way.

This is just 23 days in the Aerogarden. I'm thinking about trying some spinach. I could have a nice batch of baby spinach every 20 days.

A little oregano. It was buried under the loose leaf lettuce that's why the lettuce is squashed.

Fourth of July

2009-07-06T16:13:00.002-04:00

I worked all weekend but I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy the fireworks downtown.

Even better we enjoyed the show on a dock on the river.

These are the only 2 pictures I can share they are the best of a bad lot but I will try again next year. I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th.

Aerogarden - Day 32

2009-06-18T11:00:00.003-04:00

I feel safe to say that my little project is doing very well. I have been anxiously waiting to see if all my fish were going to die. They started dieing off not too long after I put the plants in the water. This was also about the same time my hubby added more fish to the tank because I did not have enough in it. I just knew it was because of the nitrates. Then I decided it was ick or some other fish disease but I was afraid to add medication to the water because of the plants. I did not want to kill the plants in the process of trying to save the fish.

I waited it out and all seems to be well. What ever it was has run it's course. I think the last batch of fish had a sick one in it because the plants are doing great. It is definitely not the water.

The plants are not as thick as I thought they would be but they are growing very well. The tall plant in the back is the basil.

The oregano is on the right and is still a little small but doing well.

Nice leafy lettuce.

Now back to the beginning. More leafy Lettuce, Basil and Oregano.

The only thing I did different this time is add more seeds to the containers and I did not separate the leafy lettuce seeds. Can't wait to see how this next batch turns out.

Areogarden - Day 14

2009-05-31T17:46:00.004-04:00

Today, I decided to make the leap from aerogarden to aquaponics.

Using an old styrofoam cooler I traced a pattern using the medium cups.

In hind site, I should have left the lid in tact and floated it on the aquarium. I ended up having to use tooth picks to add a bit more buoyancy to my float.

I found a local hydroponics store in Vero and purchased the medium cups and the clay balls I needed.

Now to transplant these poor buggers.

Almost done.

Ready to float my raft.

TA DA!

View from below. Fishies seem to like it. The plants are sitting a little low in the water so again I used tooth picks to pull them up out of the water a bit.

For light I am using my hubby's photography light set using a regular light bulb.

Now we wait and see...... Next installment Aquaponics Project.

Flower and Fly

2009-05-30T12:19:00.000-04:00

Playing around with camera on my patio. I never saw the fly until I pulled up the pic. Cool......

Aerogarden Project - Day 12

2009-05-29T11:19:00.003-04:00

Today is day 12 of my project and everything is doing well so far.

Lettuce

Basil

The Oregano is still very small but growing just fine.

And a shot of my tomatoes that I am growing on the patio in the back yard. They are so pretty.

I am such a Geek.

2009-05-25T19:53:00.001-04:00

I borrowed my son's monitor and hooked it up. This is so cool.

Dualing Monitors..................Hulu and WOW. Life is good.

Areogarden Project - Day 6

2009-05-23T16:49:00.006-04:00

The oregano has been a little slow in coming up but it's there.

Not too shabby.

I have my rebel back up and working so pics should be a lot better from now on. Camera phones are nice in a pinch but that's about all there good for and My Canon SD is great but its not a rebel.

Aerogarden - Day 5

2009-05-22T09:36:00.001-04:00

Aerogarden Experiment - Day 1

2009-05-17T17:42:00.009-04:00

I have been reading up on hydroponics the last several weeks. I bought a 55 gallon aquarium 2 weeks ago as a start up project. I have a few fish in it making plant fertilizer; I plan on floating lettuce/leafy greens in the aquarium as soon possible. I borrowed this unit from my mother and I am using left over nutrient she had left over.

The old Aerogarden machine cleaned up easily and it's ready to go.

I did not have the filler for the hydroponics cups and the holes are to big for standard clay or gravel filler.

So I used what was available. A bunch of orchid moss I had left over from my last gardening adventure.

I soaked the moss in tap water. (Note to self use distilled water next time.)

I picked Basil seeds because they are very easily grown in hydroponic systems.

I placed the seeds in the little nest I made.

My Basil is now ready to go.

I also planted Oregano because I love it.....

and an assortment of green leafy veggies for salads. If these grow they will be floating in my aquarium in the very near future.

Everyone is snug in their nice little green houses. I now get to wait and see if anything grows. Wish me luck!

Happy Mother's Day!!

2009-05-10T20:56:00.002-04:00

I slept all day and back to work at 7pm. My children cleaned the house and made dinner.
My husband brought home an orphan bunny and a red rat snake. We will keep the bunny but the snake goes back to where he came from. The life of a busy MOM.

Happy Mother's Day to all!!!!!

The 2nd Ammendment..

2009-04-27T16:18:00.004-04:00

I am going to skip the 1st amendment for the moment. It is very important but today I felt more inclined to focus on the second amendment. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." It is more of a topic in my part of the world than anything else right now.

We are not card carrying members of the NRA (National Rifle Association) but my hubby and I both grew up handling and shooting hand guns and rifles. He of course is a lot better at it than I am but it also a part of his livelihood. Rumors have been around for years that the government wants to take away a citizens rights to keep and bare arms. Again it is just rumor and the Constitution is fairly blunt on this subject, however it has not stop law makers from imposing laws and taxes on firearms and who is allowed to legally carry them.

It is a fact we need laws that govern firearms and it is not necessarily the current laws that I have issue with. It is the increase of rumors that threaten gun owners with higher taxes, the talk of making homeowners carry liability insurance for accidental discharge and the banning of ammunition that troubles me. Again these are all mostly rumors but based on current and past legislation in our United States that have touched on all these issues.

I am pro hand gun safety. I have had guns in my before I had children. Our children have grown up shooting and handling guns as soon as they were old enough to hold a gun. Like many children in the U.S. mine too have been desensitized by T.V. and video games but they have a healthy sense of respect and awe when it comes to guns and gun safety. They know the power and understand the damage a firearm can cause and it has made them cautious. Knowledge is the key to gun safety. It worked for me and my parents as I grew up in rural America and it works for me and my children in the Suburbs.

My worry at the moment at least is the price of ammunition. It's not that we can't find ammo to purchase however the price is ridiculous. Peoples fears have them stock piling the stuff. We enjoy target shooting every once in a while but with the price of ammo we can no longer afford it. Shotgun shells are still relatively cheap but even those prices have gone up. Thankfully I can hit the broad side of a barn so I really don't need that much target practice. I like clay shooting but I wont be doing much of that until I get the proper equipment.

My point is that millions of Americans are responsible arms owners. There are a few people who spoil the privilege for every one else by being careless. I however do not blame the vehicle for the accident. It is the driver that is to blame. I am not saying that sometimes there is a mechanical failure but a skilled driver can usually overcome the handicap. I firmly believe that guns do not kill people do. If guns did not exist people would find something else to use as a weapon. I should know I see it almost daily what people will use to harm themselves and others. It is usually not a gun although people in general use the threat of guns very often. In my experience, the most common form of death is old age or disease.

Unfortunately, the only cure for violence would be the dissection of aggression from human nature. I know this sounds cliche but it has always made sense to me. If the government manages to legislate and tax its citizens out of the ability to own arms; the only people who will have guns will be the police/military and the bad guys. I personally do not want to rely on the response time of a police officer when the bad guy is busting down my door.

A nations whose citizens can not protect it self from its government is usually referred to as a military state or a dictatorship.

Just some food for thought.

My husband's latest obsession!!!

2009-04-27T03:27:00.003-04:00

Not that I mind. I had a good time and as soon as I get a shotgun I can shoot comfortably, it maybe my new obsession.

My hubby has always been very handy around guns and rifles but he was recently introduced to sport clay shooting and he really likes it.

Our son enjoyed it too and gave his father a run for his money.

I only hit 27 clays out of 100 but I am amazed I hit any at all.

This is a very nice shotgun but it turned my chest and arm into mush. The bruises are just starting to fade. If only it had a shorter stock life would be sweet........

I feel so stupid.

2009-04-18T06:22:00.002-04:00

NO pictures today.

I left my camera at home.

The girls and I took a trip to Orlando to visit Universal for the day.

8 hours of fun in the glorious Florida sunshine.

Nice cool balmy spring weather with no rain.

I was really bummed. I left my camera at home.

Digging through my purse guess what I found.

In the little pocket where I always keep it is My Camera.

I had it with me the entire day.

Thankfully, I will carry the memory of the awesome day with me forever.

P.S. My daughter and I had a conversation that made me cry. She will be 18 in 15 months. I had to share this. Let me know if you need tissues.

My Orchids.

2009-04-14T16:45:00.000-04:00

When we moved into our home more than several years ago, we inherited a house with assorted fruit trees and hanging plants. Due to the age of the trees and a Hurricane, we have lost all our fruit trees. The last of the hanging orchids were gathered and stuck in a corner after our tangerine tree was cut down and hauled away last year. We have no more trees in our back yard to hang them on and somehow they have survived with no help from me.

I have nothing but good intentions. The poor things have run amok and there roots are plastered to the sides of their containers.

Dead branches from years of old blooms.

I gathered my supplies and dig in.

Who needs dirt when you can use wood chips and little styrofoam balls

I pulled out my little OneNote so I could follow the replanting instructions to the letter..... Okay maybe not to the letter but the instructions were helpful.

Eventually I gave up the fight of trying to peel the Orchid gone wild from its plastic home and just hung it back up on the tree. It may live longer than the ones I transplanted.

Here is one of the poor Orchids I transplanted...... Please pray it lives.

Shopping at the Home Depot!

2009-04-10T17:04:00.002-04:00

Very Scary!!!!

The Preamble of Our Constitution

2009-04-04T14:32:00.002-04:00

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This statement establishes that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, as amended. The Federalists thought that during this time there was no need for a bill of rights as they thought that the preamble spelled out the people's rights clearly.

It is interesting to note that I have always been aware of the Federalists Papers but apparently I was asleep during that class and did not realize just how important these 85 articles were to the creation and ratification of the original constitution. So I will be reading a few of the more important articles over the next several days and see what I learn.

I will no longer be a sheep.

2009-04-03T10:32:00.004-04:00

I have tried very had to stay out of politics but as winter turns into spring and I observe to condition of our Union and the direction our Law Makers are taking, I find myself afraid for my children adn their future for the first time of my life. I can no longer bury my head in the sand but neither will I lay blame on any specific individual. If I lay blame I must blame myself for being little more than a sheep. I have heard the term more frequently and at first I was angry. I insisted I am not or never have been a sheep but in reality that is exactly what I have become. I look up every once in a while to see whats going on and deem it unimportant and promptly go back to grazing.

I can not do this anymore.

I have decided to not only educate myself but to pass on to anyone that is interested. I am going to try to be biased but I am a Republican so I will try to do the best that I can. I don't think I could do any worse than our news papers. I will try to stick to the truth.

I am going to start by learning about our constitution. Over the next several weeks I am going to post our constitution and all its amendments. It is time to leave the safety of the mob, open my eyes and think for myself for a change.

Fort Pierce Carjacking.

2009-03-20T08:28:00.005-04:00

For some reason our little town just can not stay out of the national news. If it's not the Chicken McNuggett incident its fleeing felons shot on the interstate. Yes we had a carjacking yesterday and I was sitting in between the two main dispatchers that handled the city and the county units involved. I helped as much as I could. We were all pumped up. You could have cut the adrenaline flowing in the room with a knife. It affected everyone even our Operations Managers who were busy monitoring and notify the big bosses over Public Safety. The chase ended abruptly with "shots fired" and "man down". I was positive it was the bad guy shot just by the tone of the officers voice and I was right.

Am I an adrenaline junkie. Oh Hell Yeah! and this is why I am a dispatcher still after almost 17 years.

I-95 north bound and south bound were closed for hours after the incident which meant we had to go back to field calls of the non-emergency sort. Traffic jams and the people stuck in it.

LOL

The McNuggett Incident

2009-03-03T19:44:00.002-05:00

Only in Ft Pierce and it gets better. We made TMZ.com amongst others. Click on the title for the news article or go to the TMZ site. The audios are all there.

This incident typifies the kind of calls 911 center get everyday. These are the kind of calls that cause dispatcher burn out and apathy. This is one of the reasons the 911 lines are clogged to the point that emergency lines ring unanswered.

Accidents will Happen.

2009-02-17T13:46:00.001-05:00

Last week was a bad week. This was the least of my troubles but the world to my 16 yoa daughter. I wrecked her car. I'm fine. I am more embarrassed than anything else. I have not ever caused an accident. My Yukon was getting new shocks and I was running errands in her car. Little cars don't have the same traction as a 2 ton Yukon equipped with high end mud and snow tires. Live and Learn.

The last day of 2008 - bring out your noise makers!

2008-12-31T07:07:00.005-05:00

This is the last video/picture I took this year so enjoy it. This is my baby and she is awesome but Mommy forgot to charge her camera battery. For some reason I never took my camera out of my purse after this, not at work not at home and not driving around town. I never seemed to be able to get into the Christmas mood so I took no pictures. I made my purchases and bought everybody what they wanted. We had a beautiful Christmas Dinner prepared by my hubby and children but I still wasn't into it. Work was great but my Christmas presents still sit in the back of my car. Call me Scrouge I guess. I just don't feel it.

I am glad this is the last day of 2008. I need 2009 to be better. I need less stress and more cooperation at home and at work. I need the economy to get better but I know it wont. I need peace in my part of the world but I know I will go to work tonight and the people in my jurisdiction will just try to kill themselves or each other because 2008 was just too much for them to take. The suicides and the attempts are unbelievable this year.

2008 has been a year of desperation for many. I am not desperate, my life is pretty much what it has always been, making ends meet. Living on the edge but managing to hang on day after day is what I do. It would be nice to feel more secure about my life and finances but I don't think that will ever happen so I will keep on doing what I always do but in 2009 I will try harder to pay more attention and to not always leave everything to fate. Sometimes a phone call or the right question can make a world of difference in my day or for someone else. I will try to make sure the trains in my part of the world move a little bit faster and more on time. I don't know if I can do it but I am going to try.

Happy New Years Eve! Good Bye 2008, it's been fun and I'll miss you but I'm ready for to see what 2009 has in store for me. I might even take more pictures.

To all my family, friends and the occasional reader I wish you a wonderful holiday season and the hope that 2009 brings you peace and joy in your part of the world.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Waiting.

2008-12-02T08:11:00.005-05:00

I spent yesterday waiting. No sleep, dog tired and my brains in hyper mush mode, I drove to Sanford/Orlando Airport to pick up my hubby from his hunting trip/vacation from his family. I left early and arrived as not one but two Alleigent airplanes hit the runway. I have to admit I was very excited when I saw those planes coming in. I have missed my husband a little. He keeps me and our children balanced.

Thanksgiving was not the same with him missing from the kitchen. My turkey was okay but he is a much better cook than I am. He is scratch and I am instant.

Not thinking about the text message he sent me about them leaving Springfield late, I drove through the unloading zone harassing the airport police at least a hundred times. It finally dawned on me after I received no responses to my text that it was possible his plane had not landed.

So I waited, and waited and waited some more. The plane finally landed and Hubby is home. We did'nt get home until 5:30pm but we did make it home.

I hate sharing pillows, he is such a bed hog, he harasses the children and he occasionally stinks but it is so nice to have him home.

The Desert Inn

2008-10-26T15:37:00.004-04:00

We took a break from work this weekend and traveled to Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios barring a little hiccup with dog sitting, the weekend was pretty good. However the highlight of our eating experience during this trip was on our way home at a quaint little scary looking infamous place called the Desert Inn in Yeehaw Junction. I have driven past this place for years but have never been brave enough to stop.

The hand of fate (an argument over Golden Corral vs Denny's) guided us to this little oasis in the middle of no where. This small greasy spoon is a family business. Mom cooking and daughter serving. I heard a small child in the back playing.

The interior was very unique. We were greeted by two Native Americans, they looked to be Seminole from their dress. They were polite and very quiet.

There was what I like to call an anti graffiti manikin in the ladies bathroom and spiders hanging from the ceiling by threads. I scared Erin and all I had to do was tell her to look up.....

The service was slow and needs improvement but the food was home cooked and good. It was hot and filling and exactly as I excepted it to be. I love grits... no instant here. Hot and right off the burner. I did not have the sausage and gravy but the boys seemed impressed and left very little trace of it on their plates. Kasia had waffles that were fresh from the iron. They were fluffy and golden brown. Beth was pretty sure the biscuits were hand made.

I believe the next time we travel up the turnpike we will wait for the Yeehaw Junction exit and eat at the Desert Inn.

P.S. It is also report that this structure is haunted. It was used as a bordello in the 1930s and a few people died here. We did not see anything during our visit but who knows what we might see or hear the next time.

Alien Fungus Amongst Us!

2008-09-04T18:47:00.000-04:00

My daughter found this thing growing in our yard this afternoon. After a brief google search I believe this is what is called a stinkhorn mushroom.

Busy Day

2008-08-20T16:10:00.010-04:00

I know I promised more pictures today and I know its getting late. I finally managed to upload on Flickr and I am trying to finish uploading on Youtube but the internet is so slow today.

I spent all morning standing in the rain in front Isolla Bella off 25th st. Our friends are on vacation out of state and their house flooded. There was at least 3 feet of water inside the house. My brave family had to wade in chest deep water to get to the house.

They recovered a lot of property but only managed to find one of their cats.

The media was every where. CNN showed up and took an air boat through the worst hit areas off Bell Ave.

Ellie and I tried to stay out of their way. Al though I was a little disappointed they did not capture Erin carrying a cat through waist deep water. I was lazy and only caught her walking up through the cars. My brave baby was drenched but happy she found at least one of the cats.

For all Ellie's friends, here is your school. It looks wet but seems okay even if it was built near a swamp.

I got the call a little while ago, our EOC was activated. A state of emergency has been issued. There is the threat of 6 more inches of rain over night and tomorrow. Which means more houses will flood and more people will be displaced. It is going to be a long week.

I hope the EOC parking lot is not so flooded tomorrow.

P.S. See my Youtube for videos.... There lame but who cares. Just Click on the Title Busy Day. For some reason 5 of 5 wont upload so I will try again later.

Can you believe it is still raining!

Faye, Faye Go Away

2008-08-19T23:26:00.004-04:00

It is still raining. I just let the dogs out in the pouring rain because they could not stand it anymore. I have no idea when they went out last. It stopped raining about 4pm maybe a little earlier but not by much then it started up again at about 6:30. It has not let up. There was no school today and there will be no school tomorrow. St Lucie County is closed all the roads are flooded.

Our parking lot is flooded. I almost had to wade to my car this afternoon.

But Susan was nice enough to wade through the water in her goulashes and drive it up to the back door of the center. I Love Susan!!!!

I was able to drive home almost totally dry. Thank you Susan. I will add video tomorrow bit tonight I am tired so off to bed I go. I hope it's not raining in the morning.

Vacation in Missouri

2008-08-05T09:40:00.006-04:00

Why Missouri? Why not!

We have friends that have purchased a cabin in the Ozark Mountains near a town called Brixey population 5. They are constantly talking about how great it is in the Mountains. They also told us about a house and acreage that was for sale for the right buyer. So we went to take a look.

This trip was an adventure to say the least. I thought I was never going to find a decent place to stay. I finally found a cabin in a place called Dawt Mills. It was a thriving little town many years ago. Now it is a jumping point for canoing, rafting and trout fishing. They have a campground, hotel and two cabins. We stayed in the Dinnell Cabin. It was originally a one roomed structure that has been added onto over the years. It was very rustic but very comfortable.

They have a small store, restaurant and the old mill and sits right on the water. Very cold water I might add.

Once we were settled; we started exploring the area. We ate at the Tecumseh Grill our first night in town. I wish I took a picture of the restaurant; it was very unique. We had a decent meal of Cornish Hen and the owner's special was fried fruit pies. Elizabeth fell in love with the peach fried pie.

We went into Gainesville the next morning population 632 which is the county seat of Ozark County. This is a very small town. We left there after eating breakfast at Skeeter's and went to see if we could find Brixey. We wanted to take a look at the house. We did not find it or should I say we could not find the trail that took us up to the house. We went back to Dawt Mill and grilled out that night and hung out in the cabin. Erin kept trying to catch fireflies.

Then next morning we went to Rockbridge so Fred could fish for Trout. We had to ride through Brixey and this time we found the hidden driveway and drove our brand new Chrysler 300 touring edition rental car up a heavily overgrown driveway .6 miles until not one but two trees in the driveway made us stop.

We were able to move the first obstacle among many we encountered but the large oak put a stop to our car and we walked the last 100 or so feet to the house.

We were pleasantly surprised at how well maintained the house is. It is only a 2 bedroom 1 bath but it is nice. It needs some work but not much.

It has a huge garage and several other out buildings that I was too afraid to look at. There were spiders every where and I pulled 2-3 ticks off me. Yukky.

We have decided we can not pass up this opportunity.

The going back down the driveway after the difficulty drive up was easy once the trail was blazed but the poor car needed some TLC.

Fred did try to go fishing. After going through all the trouble of registering and finding a spot then unpacking his gear he climbed into the water and went almost immediately into hypothermia. We found a spot where he could stand on the bank and fish. He had no luck. It was too hot for the fish to bite we were told.

That's okay we still had fun and I took a lot of pictures.

Our time in Missouri flew by and after the little disaster with Cujo running off made the rest of our time in Missouri good at best. We packed up Saturday morning and spent the night in Springfield. We shopped all afternoon then ate dinner downtown at a trendy steak joint called the flame.

The Flame was expensive but awesome. Erin my very picky steak eater ordered the 8oz fillet. It was awesome to watch her face light up with delight at the first taste of her steak. I ordered the 14oz Kansas strip and was not disappointed. We had an appetizer of fried portabello mushrooms that were also awesome. Everything seemed to be freshly prepared and the service was great. We will definitely eat here again next time we are in Springfield.

The flight was almost uneventful. It was fun the crew as very funny and spent the majority of the flight selling raffle tickets and handing out souvenirs as the prices. We won a Florida towel Yeah! The only bad part was the young couple I sat next to. Thank God it was only a 2 hour flight is all I am going to say.

We had a good time overall and I can't wait to go back again.

Cujo is home.

2008-08-04T10:05:00.002-04:00

We don't know where he was but he came home about 1:30am this morning. Seamus and Zach woke me up barking. Cujo was standing at the front door no worse for wear. He was very tired and very thirsty.

After three days we were loosing hope. We are happy and a little amazed that he is home and the first thing we do today is make sure the fence is fixed.

Cujo - Lost Dog

2008-08-02T19:58:00.003-04:00

We are still in Missouri trying to enjoy what is left of our vacation.

Yesterday our dogs got loose. Seamus and Zach were brought home but Cujo is no where to be found. He was last seen in the area of 19th/Virginia Ave. If anyone sees him please let us know.

He looks like a large Lab but is a Great Dane/Rottie mix. He is black but has a white blaze on his chest. He is @ 100lbs and is wearing an orange collar. He will be 4 years old tomorrow.

We will be home tomorrow and would love to have him there to greet us.

The Mall

2008-07-23T13:56:00.003-04:00

My children dragged me to the mall last weekend. We were there for over 4 hours shopping. First we browsed. We started at one end and went to the other looking and comparing prices. I even tried on a few items and made a few purchases.

Then we stopped for lunch.

We headed back to the other end of the mall stopping, trying on more clothes and making more purchases.

Shopping is exhausting and now I remember why I don't like to shop. Not only did my feet hurt after it was all over but I had to call the fire department to put out the fire in my wallet. My credit card will never be the same.

My daughters ran from my camera but I snapped this pic while Lizzie's friend wasn't looking.

Our new addition - Seamus

2008-07-14T17:05:00.005-04:00

My husband found a puppy on the street the other day and of course my answer to his question was no puppys! I know they are cute but they chew on everything. We are going on vacation in about two weeks and having a new puppy roaming unchecked in the house while we are gone is not my idea of a relaxing vacation. I will be worried enough leaving the dogs home with my son in charge.

Sorry...... off track a little.

My husband is dropping off the puppy at the humane society and he sees a beautiful German Shepard. He grabs Cujo and the girls the next day to see this very pretty dog. I get a phone call several hours later and I am told we have a new family member. My girls love him and Cujo is tolerant. Zach, well Zach is happy as long as there is no thunder involved.

Seamus is a great dog. He is 4 years old. He gets along with everyone. Unfortunately, he likes to sleep on things like the beds and the couch. Mostly, he sleeps in the hallway at night in between the kids rooms. He like to inspect Erin's room at night and in the morning when she gets up. He has a few quirks but he does not chew. My shoes are safe and hopefully so is the furniture.

Seamus

Internet Pirates on YouTube Beware!!!!

2008-07-06T22:21:00.007-04:00

YO HO! YO HO! A Pirates Life for Me!!!!! (Click on title for News Article)

Actually, I have never uploaded anything on YouTube but I frequently browse it's user's videos. I love the funny commercials especially the European ones.

It just amazes me how Viacom (dictator of all that's holy and sacred), continues to poor cash into fighting piracy. This is not even real piracy. You turn on your T.V. and entertainment is relatively free as long as you don't forget to pay your cable bill. T.V is nothing more than airwaves that are plucked out of the sky and reassembled on your T.V. In fact, satellite is free if you have the right equipment (equipment which is legal to buy but illegal to use very much like fireworks in Florida).

Now there is this new web site called HULU.com (t.v. on demand). It is the best thing since key lime pie in my book. So I have to watch a few commercials, I can deal with that. If Viacom is not already a part of HULU.com then they should be. And maybe they could learn to over look the few couch potatoes that get a kick out of recording T.V. for replay on YouTube. I mean come on join the real world of Tivo and 24 hour schedules. We no longer live in an 8-5 world anymore.

Viacom needs to spend there money on producing entertainment and making more money and stop worrying about the little people. This lawsuit is nothing more than another witch hunt like the RIAA'S. They spent a ton of cash suing people who had nothing????? Okay, I have to give Viacom a little more credit they are suing YouTube /Google but after they finish off YouTube and acquire all YouTube's user information (mine included), who do you think this giant is going to go after next?

Change the World......

2008-06-28T17:08:00.001-04:00

with a random act of kindness. It's as easy as smiling and saying "Hi". Hold open a door or say "Thank you.", just be nice. It is amazing how much better I feel about myself when I am nice. It is amazing how one small gesture can change a person's out look towards life. Just one simple random act of kindness can change not only the world but even the way we individually look at people and ourselves.

Be nice, it really is easier than being mean..........

A Day in the Life of 911

2008-06-07T08:19:00.000-04:00

Here we sit day after day
waiting to hear all the people complain
"the neighbor's dog is barking too loud"
or "a group of kids are starting to crowd"
We listen intently to every word
the screaming the crying the poor injured bird
Dreading that call, when it comes in
where you have to locate the next of kin
It is in those days my sadness grows
my feelings and spirits brought to new lows
I tell myself that what I do is in need
and the things that I hear day after day i should heed
Child molesters, murderers, rapists and such
some days to bare it seems too much
Twelve long hours of tears, fears and rage
how quickly the stress does have me age
Am I appreciated for the job that I've done?
A day in the life at 911

By Annessa Tompkins

My friend wrote this the other day after she took a disturbing call. I really love it and she said I could share it.

Fog? No it's Smoke!

2008-05-19T10:06:00.002-04:00

Or Smog maybe. I woke up this morning to the nasty smell of smoke. I open my bedroom door and my sinuses started running. Even my dog Zack has issues with the haze that laid in my yard this morning. He went out adn right back inside. There are brush fires all over Florida and this smoke is coming from Pahokee. Not that we havent had our own flare ups all weekend.

I tried to get a decent picture of the smoke. This one will have to do. If you look there is a phone tower in the distance.

Look. Look hard. It's there. Double click on the picture to get a better view.

The breeze has picked up some and we are hoping for rain but until now it stinks around here.

A day of Relaxation.

2008-05-05T07:28:00.003-04:00

This is my favorite sunrise photo. When I look at it I imagine myself sitting on the cold early morning sand with my arms wrapped around my legs trying to stay warm. The cool ocean breeze gently caressing my face. If I close my eyes I can smell the salty tang of the ocean. The tide is just starting to recede leaving pristine and untouched beach sand waiting for the first footprints of the day.

I am so glad I have a day off. I am so tired. I am training and it is going very well but I was starting to get stressed from answering phones. It was starting to show. Silly people drive me nuts.

My schedule has been a little hectic this week and I have put in as much overtime as I can work and I am just done. Today is a day of rest and tomorrow I start it all over again.

I think I am going to sit here for a while relax, listen to the seagulls and the crashing of the waves.

Spring Sunrise!

2008-05-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

Another georgeous sunrise from the Treasure Coast.......

Lakewood Park Brush Fire

2008-04-27T14:52:00.004-04:00

We left 'Archies' after a wonderfully glutinous lunch of beer, bacon cheeseburgers and wings. As we drove over South Bridge we noticed smoke. Where there is smoke there is fire so we drove north west looking for the 'inferno'. We finally found it up on Indrio Rd in Lakewood Park......Sorry no flames I tried to con Fred into trespassing but the kids kept begging to go home. There bellies were full and they were tired. Teenagers and their nap times can be frustrating.

Forestry Chopper dropping water

The sky is so pretty.

FHPL blocking the road for Fire Department....Where's SLCSO?

Victory Forge Military Academy in Port St Lucie

2008-04-26T13:05:00.005-04:00

I vaguely know of this facility. I only am aware of it through my job so I am not surprised that many residents do not know it exists. I have had parents on different occasions ask about military academy's for their children and have had little information to give them but what one can locate in the yellow pages or the internet.

Now I am very familiar with DCF and these are regular folk like you and me trying to do their job. Unfortunately, this type of job can leave little room for error like my own. There is no room for personal opinions and beliefs. I need to know has the law been broken?

Just because as a parent I give my permission to the handcuff and detain my child, is my written permission enough?

I went through Florida statute and I can't find anything that indicates this is specifically illegal. However read Florida State Statue 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and screening.

Loose definition - Abuse is determined by DCF and the Sate of Florida.

Federal Guidelines dictate:

"The new protections establish two sets of standards, depending on the type of facility. One applies to "non-medical community-based facilities for children and youth." The facilities will be defined in regulations and will include group homes and the like. The other set applies to any health care facility that receives federal appropriated funds, such as a public or private general hospital, an intermediate-care facility or other health care facility. All must comply with the general principle of protecting and promoting the right to be free from restraints and seclusion for purposes of discipline or convenience.

The statute requires that seclusion and restraint be used only:

* to ensure the physical safety of the individual or others; and
* subject to a written order by a physician or other licensed practitioner permitted by the facility and state law. In most cases, the written order will be obtained soon after the restraint or seclusion is initiated by staff. "

Personally and my children know this and believe this, I will use restraints to keep them safe and will give permission for the same to a military academy if I felt the need to send my child to one. However, I hope I have raised my children with respect and given them enough freedom to choose for themselves the path of right and wrong. I will do what ever I have can to make sure my children abide the law and it is no ones business how I raise my children as long as they are not harmed or in any danger of being harmed excluding corporal punishment - spankings (I am a firm believer in 'spare the rod spoil the child'). It would be nice if Florida law was a little more specific like federal guide lines. I know it would make me feel better than having to rely on another person's opinion or beliefs as to whether I was abusive or not.

You Can Run But You Cant Hide...........

2008-04-22T07:21:00.003-04:00

My daughters are the worst. They are so pretty and I love to take pictures of them but bring a camera anywhere near them and they throw up the arm, turn away or flat out run away.

I keep trying though.

I will get my pictures whether she likes it or not.

Maybe not......................

Winner - Florida Shine Team wins a phone call from Bucky Covington and Name that Picture Contest.

2008-04-17T09:32:00.004-04:00

And the winner is Moon with "Where the heck is Rocky going with MY bike?"

Congratulations!!!

Moon needs to send me her address for her 8X10 glossy!!!!!

My team the gals from Florida Shine did it again. We posted the mostest so we win a phone call from Bucky Covington. I want to thank anyone who helped by posting or visiting the widget. I also want to thank Bucky's fans for working so hard at taking Bucky into the top ten by holding a little contest. I took this picture of Bucky in Zellwood, Florida last summer. It is the most popular picture on my flickr account.

This picture needs a name.

Please send me your great ideas. I will pick the best name with the help of my very picky daughters and send the winner an 8 x 10 glossy of this picture.

I will make the deadline Sunday evening 11pm on April 20th eastern standard time and announce the winner on Monday afternoon April 21st.

Good Luck!!!!!

I have a new title!

2008-04-16T02:30:00.003-04:00

I mentioned earlier that I had some news but I have yet to figure out if this is good news or bad news. I am excited but a little upset all at the same time because my "promotion" for a lack of a better word came at the expense of another.

I am now the "Assistant Training Supervisor".

I get to train. I get to train from point A to point Z.

What have I gotten myself into.

I have less than 2 weeks to ammend my training manual for one on one training. This was the idea that I came up with so SURPRISE! I get to implement it. I am very pleased and happy that my boss likes my ideas and has given me so much support. But, I really think I have chewed off a large chunck. I admit I am not prepared for complete and total control over such an important aspect of the center.

I do not want to let this go to my head as if that was possible. I am terrified I am going to screw up. There are so many things I would like to see change but I am afraid if I move to fast I will be pushy but if I choose to move cautiously I will be over run. I guess I will settle for doing the best job I can and hope for the best. Wish me luck!!!!

Procrastination

2008-04-15T17:06:00.004-04:00

I am going to call this one 'Procrastination'. Yesterday, my hubby and I took a trip to Okeechobee. We enjoyed a nice ride, one stretch included a very bumpy, dusty dirt road that took us out into cattle fields. Hubby sees this structure off in the distance so we park and start hiking. Now my husband is 6'5 and I am 5'2, yes it looks funny but I love him anyways. Hubby takes a direct path through the thickest part of the field. He has long legs the only thing he is worried about is feral hogs. I could care less about feral hogs. I am meaner than a feral hog. It's those large reptiles I don't like. My ears and eyes are sharp listening to that tell-tale rattle or hiss. I am carefully scanning the tall grass looking for that large monster rattle snake that is going to jump out of the palm scrub or abandoned gopher turtle hole and bite me. I really don't mind snakes in general but I hate rattlers.

Luckily we saw no giant rattle snakes and I eventually found a cleared path and I was happy again. We finally make it to the silo. I was thinking it was old and falling down but no it's worse. It was under construction and never finished. The steel rods at the top as you can see are falling off. It was a sad sight and I think this pictured turned out fairly well with a little light adjustment. All my pictures came out too bright. I will learn one of these days but my hubby still shakes his head. and tells me to go take a class.

"I will." I always respond. The queen of procrastination has found her totem. Her mantra "One of these days."

I am proud of myself regardless because I did finish my taxes today. I finally made copies of my return. I found all the correct paper work that goes with it, placed it in an envelope, addressed the envelope, found stamps (A NIGHTMARE IN ITSELF)and had my hubby mail it before 4pm. Sadly, I really finished our taxes several weeks ago hubby had to move the papers off the printer to use it. On top of the printer they have laid until this afternoon and believe it or not, this is an improvement for me. I usually don't file until May sometimes later...........

Fort Pierce City Hall and Eric Pierre-Jerome's Family

2008-04-14T15:38:00.003-04:00

I happened to see this article and found it very upsetting. There are so many things I would like to say but I will let the article speak for itself.

Early Morning

2008-04-11T21:40:00.001-04:00

This picture is a little dark but I love the way the rising sun reflects off the water. I love sunrise. I love the sky and the brilliant color palette as the sun rises over the horizon.

I was up early this morning and made sure I grabbed my camera so I could get a few shots of the sunrise as I made my way up the highway towards Orlando. I found a nice grove of palm trees, the clouds little cotton puffs against a lovely orange and purple background. I whip out my camera, focus and take the shot. I repeat only this time nothing. I fiddle with the camera turn it off then back on but I get a blank screen. Damn, the battery is dead. I need to make sure I check that battery thing more often because I don't have a spare battery. I did have my daughter's little Cannon One Shot so I took a few road shots as I traveled up SR 441. I needed to do something at 8 am this morning to keep me awake. I still haven't looked at those yet maybe tomorrow.

I spent most of the day in Orlando waiting for my mom to be released from the hospital. Made it home a little after 1pm nap at 4pm back up at 6:30 pm more nap now back up with little to do but write about it. I need to go play WOW. ('World of Warcraft' for u noobs) TaTa!!!!!

The Beach

2008-04-10T16:13:00.002-04:00

The Beach March 2008_0048, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

There is nothing like a warm day at the beach. Enjoy!

A few posts ago I mentioned a new beginning, boy was that the understatement of the year. I will fill everybody in over the next week or so on what is going on.

Back on Midnights

2008-04-10T05:53:00.003-04:00

I answered phones, came up with a training schedule, and read blogs (in between answering phones).

A large thanks to all the great blogs out there on the internet. I am entertained!!!!!!

What a week!!!

2008-04-09T15:00:00.002-04:00

I am posting another picture I took Sunday morning on my outing with my hubby. I like the way this one looks in black and white.

I think I am looking forward to going back to work after my very interesting 10 day vacation. I have to start working on my training manual as usual it needs to be update already and more detailed I think. It will also take my mind off what has been going on in my life these past few days. Mom is in Orlando in the hospital she has had a stroke but will be home Friday. She will recover slowly but she will recover. I saw her yesterday and will be back up to get her on Friday. Everyone in my house seems to be doing okay but I do not know what the future holds and I think that is what scares me the most.

A Beautiful Sunday Morning with a Little Rain.

2008-04-06T22:24:00.001-04:00

Fred had me up early this morning to watch the sunrise. There wasn't much to see with all the clouds but Fred took some gorgeous shots as usual. This is mine the better of a bad lot. I can't get that ISO thing right.

The day cleared up and was sunny for a few hours but now thunder rocks the house upsetting poor Zack. He is trying to lay on Fred while Cujo sleeps through it all. Kids are back to school tomorrow and I have two more days of vacation. Lucky Me!

April, A New Bginning!

2008-04-05T10:00:00.008-04:00

This last week has kept me very busy. I took the week off to spend time with my family, catching up on badly needed chores and I ended up with more than I expected. Day one my husband was admitted to the hospital for a rapid and irregular heart beat. Five days later they released him. He is fine but they have him on blood thinners and have changed his blood pressure medicine. He has also stopped smoking, quit drinking alcohol and has limited his caffeine consumption. He feels better and we like him better this way.

Now during hubby's stay at the Holiday Inn at Lawnwood Medical Center, I took the girls to Universal Studios. We promised them at least two days this past week and actually made plans to stay Sunday to Tuesday possibly Wednesday depending on how much money we spent. We drove up early Monday spent the night and all day Tuesday at Universal/Islands of Adventure.

I hated leaving Fred but he kept thinking the Dr. was going to let him go home and was actually looking forward to some quiet time. We left him the van and off we went. We had a good time. The girls walked my legs off. I ended up with blisters all over my feet.

We made it home Tuesday night and Fred finally came home Wednesday morning. Life is getting back to normal. Elizabeth has decided to take Warrens old room and spent most of the week painting. She just finished last night and will be moving in this morning which is a good thing because Warren will be staying with us for a few months until he can get caught up on his bills. His last job did not work out. He starts a new job in Vero on Monday but until his finances are more settled he has decided to stay at home.

I just printed out my taxes - done. I painted my bathroom - done. I need to repaint my bedroom and the hallways of the house - hopefully done soon. I have not felt so good the last few weeks and even though so much has happened this week I think it has all happened for the good. There was a lot of drama here this past week as you can imagine. However, I am feeling better and I am looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

I am streaming Bucky Covington all day! See Link!!!!

2008-03-28T08:31:00.003-04:00

My computer is back up and running but my laptop blew the video card so I am down to one computer again. (My mother board took a dump on my PC.) I spent a week in hell having to sneak onto my husbands computer when he wasn't looking just to read my email. UPS finally showed up with my parts and three days of nagging finally placed my PC back on my desk and another two days of reinstalls and I am good. My pictures are stuck on a hard drive I cant get to so today I will repost from Flickr. I also want to brag a little. Floridashine Team won again when Bucky Hit #15 on the charts. I have a signed t-shirt and a autographed pictured signed 'Kathy Thanks Bucky Covington'. I love them. Bucky is climbing the charts and is approaching # 10 with 'It's Good to be Us'. I am streaming on CMT, YES.com and looking for new places to post the widget. We want another win at #10 so if you haven't voted please do today. Go to amazon buy 'It's Good to be Us' on MP3 only .99 or listen free at CMT. Play Bucky we want him at #!.

Bucky Covington @ Germain Arena 03/15/2008

2008-03-17T07:57:00.001-04:00

St Lucie County cuts back.

2008-03-14T10:01:00.005-04:00

The fall out from 'The Save Our Homes' legislation has the municipalities and the county government in an uproar. There is no extra money to spend and the powers that be are demanding up to 20% cuts in department budgets. Employees tend to be the largest part of a budget which means the potential loss of 20% of employees from each department being cut. County employees where initially told there would be no layoffs but then the rumors of potential cuts in the IT department and Public Safety have started filtrating into daily conversations in the center. 911 is safe so far but the commissioners are screaming about the overtime. I was told our overtime budget was 5x higher than any other department but we are also the only 24/7 department under the BOCC. E911 is still under staffed and have minimum employee requirements on a daily basis that have to be fulfilled.

The county administrators just finished a two day brainstorming meeting and now the sheriff is threatening to lay off 115 deputies. The clerks office is rumored to being laying off 8 employees based on job performance but I can't find anything to substantiate this rumor. The state has already proposed a drastically reduced budget to the governor and the court system is taking a pretty hefty cut. There will be layoff. It's coming but no one knows when.

I took the liberty of borrowing this list of items in the county from the Ft Pierce Tribune. Maybe it will give an idea of what the county admins are doing to economize. I read the opinions people spew and at one time I put my two cents worth but even I got tired of bantering with idiots how don't research or read before that make stupid comments. I linked this entry to the latest Tribune article. I feel bad for the admins who have to decide who leaves and who stays that can't be easy. The only good thing about this situation that I can think of, is if cuts are based by performance a lot of dead weight is trimmed that needed to be otherwise I feel bad for those who may loose their livelihood.

N THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

•Continue the employee hiring freeze (savings: $2.7 million).

•Stop paying for school resource officers (savings: $600,000).

•Close all libraries (except the main Fort Pierce library) one day per week (savings: $163,752).

•Cut money for outside agencies (such as the Council on Aging and Healthy Start) by 10 percent (savings: $2.2 million).

•Stop mowing medians and county right-of-ways (savings: $620,710).

•Cut money for financial recovery fund (savings: $2.75 million).

•No new capital projects or equipment purchases (savings: $11.8 million).

•No budget increases for clerk of court, supervisor of elections or sheriff's office (savings: $2.7 million).

COUNTY BUDGET NUMBERS

Projected shortfall in all county areas: $29.9 million

Projected shortfall after factoring in money set aside and other cost savings: $15 million

Projected general fund shortfall: $17.3 million

Projected general fund shortfall after factoring in money set aside and other cost savings: $6.3 million

Projected shortfall because of property tax reform over next five years (number provided by the state): $94.9 million

St. Lucie County (numbers subject to change)

The New Microwave!

2008-03-12T22:17:00.004-04:00

My microwave broke the other day infact my husband accused me of breaking it on purpose because a friend of mine at work is selling her over the counter microwave and her french door refridgorator for a very resonable price. I have been dying for a new fridge and I just drool over the new french door design so when 'Donut" needed to rid herself of these items at more than half the retail price I jumped on it. My hubby was the voice of reason this time even though she is literally giving these items away, we still cant afford them.

Of course when our microwave breaks only 2 days later, it is my fault. I broke it on purpose. The fact that the microve/convection oven is over 13 years old has nothing to do with it's death. I broke it.

My family has suffered with out a microvewave for almost a week. My husband can't heat up water for his tea. My children can not reheat left overs or pizza, no one knows how to defrost meat, and of my goodness how do you cook a bag of popcorn. My hubby broke down and bought a temperary replacement until a new over the counter microwave/convection oven can be replace.

I am next planning the demise of my refridgerator. Please don't tell my husband!

Bucky all night long!

2008-03-09T22:06:00.006-04:00

Okay maybe not all night long but I have been sitting at my computer for the last several hours streaming Bucky Covington's new single 'It's Good to be Us' on CMT. My daughter yelled at me because I am also streaming on my husband's computer. I know I'm pathetic but my team 'Floridashine' has won two of the 3 contests the fan club is running. I will be getting another t-shirt and another autographed picture of Bucky. Yeah!!!!!!

We must be doing something right because his single is at number 15 and still climbing. I get to see him again this coming weekend in Estero, Fl., but this time I will take my daughters camera and hopefully I will get better pictures than last time. It would be really great if all my readers would give Bucky your vote for the CMA's and stream 'It's Good to be Us' on CMT. We really want to see him make it all the way to number one.

911 and Advice

2008-03-08T20:57:00.003-05:00

I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public x1000

One of these days I will learn to keep my mouth shut maybe, hopefully, okay who am I kidding.

I am a mom so naturally advice spews from my mouth. It is very hard to be quiet when a few choice words of wisdom might change the course of history.

Of course this is only in a perfect world and last time I checked I lived in the alternate reality which is Fort Pierce/Port St Lucie area where phrases like "I am educated" issue from someone who can't tell the difference between a real check and loan advertisement and send me the 'PO PO' is more common than I'd like to admit to.

The public wants to know what they should do but I am not allowed to tell people how they shoud live their lives. I know from years of experience that 'Thank Yous' are few and far between and advice is never taken if even listened to. The majority of the public that calls 911 just want the police to make it stop and go away, they dont want excuses, they want it now.

I like to think that I am doing better with my attitude. I am nicer and I listen better and interupt less but trying to damn the advice is almost impossible.

I swear I will learn to keep my mouth shut. Okay realistically, I will try harder to keep my mouth shut. I swear really!!!!!

I love Librivox.org

2008-03-06T21:15:00.003-05:00

My daughter will argue that you can't get the same enjoyment from a book by listening to someone read it versus reading it yourself. I have gone around the block with her over this argument and it may not be the same but I still enjoy it maybe even more that actually reading the book myself. I am no longer tied down. I am mobile. I can go anywhere and still reap the benefits of reading. I have listened to more books in the last week than I have read in the last 5 years.

I have read/ been read 'Alexander the Great' and 'Peter the Great' by Jacob Abbott. 'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austen, 'Poetics' and 'Politics' by Aristotle. I am currently downloading Anderson's Fairy tales and looking for more. I think 'A tale of two cities' is next. I never read it in high school. Regardless of my daughter's disdain I love Librivox.org I can read again.

There's a snake on my patio.

2008-03-06T00:23:00.001-05:00

If you are unlucky enough to find a snake this large on your patio or in your yard then please call 911 and someone will come out and get it. Boa Constrictors and Pythons are not natural predators in the United States. They are also dangerous. Rattle snakes and coral snakes are also dangerous and if one is found in a yard or patio please call 911 especailly if you have children or small pets. However rat snakes, whips and ring necks are not dangerous and if you leave them alone they will leave you alone. They eat mice, lizards and other small rodents. If they are inside your house or an enclosed patio an officer will come and get it but if it is in your yard slithering away from you please do not call 911. First of all by the time the phone call is made and the officer is dispatched the snake has most likely left the area. By the time the officer arrives 15-20 minutes later the snake has long gone. It seems like there are more calls on snake sightings here lately. It could be the rain. The last time I found a snake in my pool I scooped him out, tossed him in the yard and never saw him again. Snakes don't bother me, it's spiders I hate but even then I can deal with them. I don't understand the person who looks out their house window, sees a snake sunning himself then calls 911 in hysterics. I don't get it.

Now if by chance you leave your back door open and a racoon wanders inside and decides to sit down and watch T.V. please call 911. An officer will also come out for this and yes this did happen the other day. However if you get a bat in your house or rats in your attic you need to call an exterminator.

Gators are everywhere and unless they are actively trying to eat your dog or likes watching you eat dinner from your sliding glass door please dont call. Gators live in the canals. It will soon be mating season and they will be moving from their wallows and finding a mate. Gators can and will cross 4 and 6 lane highways. They will walk through your yard to get to the next canal. They will hang out in a retention pond until they decide to move on. If there is a pond in your back yard I can guarantee there is a gator in it. Please don't call 911 if there is a gator in your pond call a trapper.

Panthers and bob cat sighting although rare still occur. Do not call 911 unless the animal is injured. Consider yourself very lucky to have seen one and keep your small pets inside. If a panther or bob cat is near it's probably because they are hungry and house cats are good eating so I have heard.

What do your taxes pay for?

2008-03-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

I understand that locking your keys in the car is an inconvenience and it can be expensive, but when did it become an emergency. What kind of person calls 911 then complains when refused service because neither a child nor pet was locked inside the vehicle (this is considered an emergency) and infers that this is what they pay taxes for?
A normal person like me would call and have someone bring me a spare. If that is not feasible I would then call a lock smith or a tow company to pop the lock. In the past I have done all three of these things and paid for it like a regular person without complaint. It is my fault I locked my keys in my car therefore I will take care of it. I can think of many things that my taxes should pay for and unlocking a car door is not one of them.

Car Show

2008-03-01T07:58:00.001-05:00

Fort Pierce has a variety of little shows that are held in the downtown area. Last night I took Ellie and her friends to the car show after feeding them soda and pizza. This little mustang was my favorite car. It is tricked out to the disproval of my mustang crazy daughter. She is such a purest.

I was disappointed wiht the pictures I took. First I grabbed the wrong lens. It was dusk but I did not want the glare of the flash so I used a non flash setting and I ended up with unfocused and smeared pictures.

Putting out another call for the MGD Team!

2008-02-26T19:32:00.003-05:00

Mark, Genny and Dahmer where are you? All web sites have been quiet for the last 2 months. Has anyone heard anything? I was hoping they were coming back to the Buzz in West Palm. Loper snd Smity are cool no doubt but they are not MGD.

Audio Books

2008-02-21T09:04:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately, I have computer issues. I have a serious addiction. I can't stay away from this box. It has kidnapped me almost completely. I am totally and completely hooked on electronics. I have still resisted the call of the IPOD but I can hear it calling me in the distance. It is the natural progression to my latest obsession. My eyes are not so good anymore and I don't read as I used to. I miss it. I have purchase a few books on CD and I like being able to listen to a story as I still surf the internet, play games or work (yuk). However, I like free and have discovered Librivox.org. I can listen to all the classics my heart desires. I am currently listening to Pride and Prejudice. There is a wonderful list of free titles including the Bible. Unfortunately, I am still stuck to the computer and so I see an MP3 player in my future. I would prefer an Aesus EEE but I have to wait for my birthday if I get it at all.

The Lunar Eclipse - Florida

2008-02-20T23:19:00.002-05:00

181a, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I took over 350 pictures of the eclipse. Trying to choose the right one is impossible so here is one of my better shots.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T20:32:00.002-05:00

068, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I took almost 100 pictures before I finally took this shot as you can see the eclipse has not begun. I have no idea what setting I used. Trail and error......

Going to see Bucky Covington in Pompano!!!!

2008-02-15T11:55:00.000-05:00

Can't Wait!!!!!

Bucky Convington's New Single

2008-02-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

We put Bucky in the top 20 now working on number one......Everyone call your local Stations and request Bucky.

My Handsome Husband

2008-01-13T10:01:00.001-05:00

My Handsome Husband, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I have been a little lonely this week. I have enjoyed the company of my daughters when I have seen them. Erin on the sofa watching T.V. and Elizabeth on the computer most of the time. It has been very quiet mostly. No squealing or tattling on who did what. Erin so bored Saturday, she cleaned the house. I guess she has a limit to how much T.V. she can watch.

In a way, I have enjoyed the peace not being annoyed or harassed. I have the bed to myself, all 4 pillows and ALL of the comforter. No stench or disgusting bowl noises. Its been a bit of a vacation.

However I miss my husband, it is too quiet. I crave a little chaos and mayhem. I miss his smile and horrible sense of humor. I miss his ugly big feet and his warm loving hands. I miss him.

He will be home late tonight and life will go back to normal.

A Good Day.

2008-01-12T20:19:00.000-05:00

My job is all about getting information and sometimes it pays off. See link.....

Tax Time

2008-01-01T10:40:00.001-05:00

Tax Time, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I am starting out my new year by getting all my tax records in order. I might as well get it done now no use procrastinating. Taxes are inevitable.

Last Sunrise of 2007

2007-12-31T08:10:00.001-05:00

Dec 31, 2007 Sunrise - Indian River 3, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I had thought about writing a long dissertation about my life this year and all the things I have learned. Needless to say, I have learned much about myself and the others I share my world with. I am not happy with what I see but instead of ranting and boring everyone with silly details I think I will end my year as I began it. I love the sunrise and I hope you will love it too.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

2007-12-25T16:23:00.000-05:00