Damn hurricanes are coming later and later in the season every year. I remember in 2004 when I pretty much moved over 3,000 miles back to FL we had four stinking hurricanes roll over us in one year-NO FUN. The city looked like a bomb went off. Our state govenor was President Bush's brother so we got QUICK state of emergency cooperation. When I was a young girl growing up here hurricane season was over in August, hardly ever had one later. In 2004 they all hit in Sept or later. No electricity with the brutal heat can darn near be fatal.
Had some major hurricanes since then but I personally experienced little damage, some discomfort but little damage. A scary moment when I didn't know how my son fared but in the end he did well.
As I blog I have a pleasant rain with small gust of winds here and there from hurricane Michael as he lands in the panhandle of my state, Florida. My city is going to experience some flooding and will have property damage but the Panhandle is going to be years in recovery. Georgia and North Carolina, it's coming your way but will be much weaker then when it slammed into our land.
I have a friend from MD up there in that panhandle, I texted him this morning but no text back yet. I'm going to guess he jumped in his boat and ran at least I hope so. I was going to offer him safe haven here but I haven't heard from him. Crossing my fingers for his safety.
Good luck to any other US east coasters.
Many times I've written about how my body like to wake up oh it can be anywhere after midnight and it doesn't matter if I fall asleep early or late. The sleeping hours were more of a challenge when I used to have to drive to an office but being semi retired not so much.
Although I'm getting quite used to this new life style I don't often blog about the many things that just pickle me tink first thing in the morning while the rest of the world on this side of the planet snores but trust me, sometimes I feel so damn happy over something little I just want to shout it out. Not many people like a morning person so I refrain, my brother especially get annoyed if I wake him when excited. In his mind I'm like one of my tiny dogs all excited running around stuck in third gear all dressup with no where to go.
So this morning's trigger was on FB. One of my co-worker who I only got to work a few months with stole my heart with his story of adopting two siblings from our state, Florida's child welfare division. He started the process long before I met him. His wife works with disabled children and for whatever reason they wanted to adopt and were most likely going to adopt a child with challenges. When we worked side by side I knew he put in for a kid or two but for whatever reasons the adoptions did not go through.
Finally (after I moved away from the job) two small siblings became available with a horrible past from a drug infested Mom's life style. After the trial runs he got that little boy and girl. The state put him through hell to qualify but he has to pay nothing for this adoption nor will he have to pay their medical and the kids get a state college free education if they want, those are HUGE perks.
Back to my happy trigger this morning. It's dark, I've done my chores, got a cup of Fall's pumpkin spice coffee and looked at Facebook. Came across Josh's pictures which I hadn't seen in forever and went to his page to see tons of pictures of two children that came to him shy, afraiid with faces of no expression to sooo many faces of giant Chesshire Grins in either family outings, fishing, picnics and so much more along with a thankful tribute from the Mom about how happy their lives have changed. I swear the little boy is starting to look like his adopted father. The father's grin is so big that is all you see when you look at his face, one big grin.,
It just made me so happy I had to come blog it out of my system before I do my pole dance.
Enquiring minds want to know.
I'm jonesing - need a fix please
I woke up early in a great mood. The little dog and I enjoyed the dark early cool morning then I came inside, got the morning routine done before figuring out what I wanted to do the rest of the day.
since Mom's fingers are now full of arthritus I figured I would chop up some onions and bell peppers for her to have at the ready. I grew some sprouts in a jar and was going to take them over to her for salads or sandwiches.
DAMMIT I grew too many sprouts and now I can't get them out of the jar. I'll know better next time but I've got my panties all twisted in a wad right now dammit. I've searched on line only to get HOW TO grow bean sprouts, well I figured out how to grow them which doesn't help much if I can't harvest them.
I'm annoyed so I blogging to get rid of my attitude before I go back in the kitchen with a shot gun to blow up that mason jar.
I bought a couple of raised garden boxes this weekend with the help of a friend from my old city who came up for a visit. What a great time we had. The did their darndest to get me to drink but I didn't like the booze they brought up. The following day they got some tasty booze for their coffee (drinking in the morning) okay I tried that and I may now be addicted.
Who knew something as tiny as a bean sprout would kick my arse.
On MD I used to blog alot but that is not happening on CS. I blog but not that much at least I don't think I blog much but I do post on other blogs. Not sure why that is. After thinking on it, I think it is because I read the blogs first and my brain goes in so many different directions by the time I am done reading I have no desire to write.
I'm still adjusting to the life of retirement and fighting how easy it is to take naps which I'm trying to avoid. I thought for sure when I retired I was going to switch from drinking coffee in the morning to starting my day with bloody marys but that hasn't happened. I have had a couple of mary's for brunch though. I've stocked up my liquor cabinet in case I change my mind and want to drink. I have to give my last ex credit for being the best bartender ever. If I did want a drink, all I had to do was suggest it and away he went to fix great drinks, strong enough to put me lips to the curb. Now I may want a drink but my arse is too lazy to go fix it.
I'm struggling with turning my black thumb to green. I've murdered so many seedlings and a few rose bushes too but I give my self credit for being persistent as I keep trying. I want to find another hobby yet I have no clue what I want to do. The sky is the limit and I'm brainless.
It does feel good to know that I'm available 24/7 in the event my folks need me. On occassion they do but for the most part they are still taking care of themselves. Mom is having her hands full with my Dad's dementia. We all go out to eat once a week which is when I hear all the episodes which could make for a comedy/drama series.
All in all I still feel like a happy camper free to do whatever I want. It just would be nice if I knew what the hell I wanted.
Today hasn't even started and already it is amazing me. I went to a super early meeting this morning at 6am where I learned something new that's been around awhile I guess. It's called Silver Sneakers, I asked for an explanation of what it is.
I'm told it's a free gym adminttance (like membership) for seniors that 90% of medicare suppliment insurance pays for Nationwide. Usually I think of Retired Americans getting ripped off especially in the world of prescription medications. However something that is healthy is being offered for free so I just want to shout it out. I hope I take advantage of it too dammit. Several people at the meeting seemed surprised I hadn't heard of it and were more than willing to talk about how much they use and enjoy it.
Color me surprised and happy. I came home, Googled Silver Sneakers and was so happy something so nice is being offered to seniors and so many are taking advantage of it. It's damn healthy and prevents needing a doctor so much if one exercises.
After that blast of excitement I took the tiny fur diva for a walk. Recently the neighbor told me the creek I walk along has had gator spottings, especially near any drain pipes. As my path was turning one direction, the creek bent to the opposite direction, then I saw it. I saw the picture I know the Imp or Rogue would have captured. I'm a native from the land of Palms, Palm trees and shurbs I've seen all my life, they are second nature, yet today I saw the most beautiful Palm shrub (it was huge and flawless) growing in a jungle like section that is so rare to see, it just simply blew me out of the water. Things that look junglely in Florida usually have gators, snakes, spiders and tons of bugs so I didn't leave the path to get closers. The scene made me wish I was rich enough to pay the Imp to fly down here to shoot how she would see it soI could blow it up to hang on the wall.
I went and bought bagels and cream cheese to drop off at my parents door but just now remembered I need to let them know, tsk tsk, glad I remembered that. Now to see how the rest of the day is going to unfold.
Enjoy it dammit. (I think I'm going to name my next pet Dammit) not sure why I like that word but I do.
Now that I'm back to being a homeowner I find myself having to go to Lowes (home improvement store) quite a bit. Beings I HATE shopping I try to get it out of the way first thing in the morning. Today I was buying poison. I'm not fond of poison but according to my neighbors there is stinkvine growing in my yard and it is pretty out of control. It is coming from my neighbors yard so I'm going to poison her yard as well as the part of my yard it is dominating. I never heard of stinkvine before and because my house was vacant the last couple of years, that dang weed flourished.
I'm taking the word of a professional on how to kill it and it is going to take poison for the amount I'm dealing with. So I bought the sprayer and the chemical, tomorrow with a clear head I will proceed with poisoning this vine. I have a knot in my stomach about it but I don't know what else to do so I'm just going forward.
The tiny dog won't be allowed on that side of the yard for a long time. Oh by the way a damn owl tried to get her this morning when we were walking. I had to scoop her up and carry her home. It happened in an area that is closest to the woods which one neighbor warned me to be careful for the snakes and another said there are wolves. I'm a native Floridian and I've never seen wolves down here, foxes rarely but never a wolf. No one warned me about the owl but I figured it out.
I go for my walk and always wonder as I look at stuff like the little creek I walk along side, what would Imp see? I look and look and I see nothing I want to take a picture of. It makes me look so forward to the pictures she or the Rogue posts because they see so much of what I don't see.
Every now and then I fall off the healthy eating wagon and need to be a bad girl. When I was having my broken arm pity party months back I went to a Fried Chicken place that I saw advertise a decent price meal. Drove through the drive through, then passed a woman begger with a sign. I am adamant about NOT giving money but I try to give food, water or hygiene products. I just figured the sign was to get money so didn't pay much attention.
I didn't stop and continued home but just as I passed the lady begger it dawned on me the sign had one word on it which was "Hungary". I thought about turning around just to give her a piece of chicken but I didn't.
Lawdy lawdy me not giving that piece has haunted me like crazy. I've never gone back to get chicken but I have driven through that plaza looking for her not to see her again. Who knows if she was really hungry but I don't care I have no problem feeding a hungry person without judgement I just won't give money because I'm not trusting and won't enable a drug or drinking habit.
I normally try to eat healthy. It has been feeling good lately to save all my veggie matter to take to the community garden, then it dawned on me to use some of it in my own yard around veggies I'm trying to grow. Makes great compost.
Well this morning after running around doing my chores I stopped at a First Watch restaurant (noted for healthy menus) Bear in mind healthy does not mean low calorie so I have to watch that. I ordered a chia power bowl. I did not know that there was something called Chia Pudding made from chia seeds but that is what I had mixed with granola and fruit. Oh my goodness it was to die for. I came home to immediately google Chia Pudding Recipes and you can just blow me out of the water. Chia, coconut milk, vanilla, honey, soak overnight and in the morning you have Chia pudding. Many other recipes but I got so damn wet I had to come here and shout it out.
Eating Chia and flax seeds I've done for years but I didn't know Chia seeds swelled up sort of like tapioca. OMG I love it. My brother gave up sweets almost a year ago for diabetes, I will make this for him and use stevia instead of honey and he will be able to indulge without guilt or sugar. I'm so happy
And folks being happy is where it is at, I tell you.
Of course watch me make this recipe and it bombs, ha ha.
I feel comfortable enough on this CS site to blog and find most people enjoyable and interesting although I still feel like a noob with much to discover.
I'm trying to get used to responding to posts on a blog if I write one but half the time I forget or can't find my blog.
What I dislike is when reading blogs, many go to page 2 and I have to scroll down the page to hit the 2 to turn the page. When I open a multi paged blog I wish the option to go straight to another page would be at the top of the blog. Maybe it is and I can't find it.
Man I just realized how lazy I am....I'm griping about having to scroll down a page like that is hard work or something. Even the little dog rolled her eyes at me.
We all do things we are proud of as well as some things we are ashamed of. When I was in the working force two of my favorite questions when interviewing a potetial employee were:
1. What is your best quality, followed by what is your worst? (ok that's 2 questions in itself)
2. What do you do that you are most proud of.
I ask those questions here - knowing many cannot will not answer. I'm okay with that.
I moved from one city 100 miles south to another city about two months ago. I actually moved to the town of my birth on the gulf of Mexico coast line.
I love my place, it's even located in my old neighborhood and the community has many of my friends from 40 years ago. I'm off track. Yesterday I drove back to Orlando, the town I just left to see an old friend and then to go out to a fine dinner with my co-workers last night. It was wonderful.
When asked how I'm doing, I said everything is falling into place with the exception that I haven't figured out what volunterring I wanted to do yet. Next thing I know the boss said while I'm trying to figure it out to go ahead and figure out what the company should do like for the holidays. We always take on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter sponsorship to hardships.
Well rats if I can't figure out what I want to do why would you make me have to figure out a larger problem on the same scale? Challenge accepted. ugh
Ideas for me in one city and ideas for a group in another. I'm pretty thankful for Google about now.
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