Thankful Thursday....

I'm thankful that Thursday is here and I have tomorrow off.  We are going to St. Augustine to spend the weekend with our son, Joey and daughter-in-law Darlene.  They have a mobile home there, close to the beach, that we haven't seen yet. They are getting ready to sell it or move it, so we wanted to take advantage of the location while we can, AND spend some time with them.  We still haven't seen their new home in Georgia, so that has to be next.

Grandson Tristan was going to come up and go with us, but he decided driving three hours to Lakeland was not something he wanted to do.  It would have been fine for us to drive down and pick him up (which he asked us to do) putting us on the road for seven plus hours, but he can't be bothered to come our way.  We told him we weren't coming to pick him up.  That was the disappointment referenced earlier this week.  Tristan is 18 years old and has his own BMW.  He rarely gets to see his dad.  It just makes me sad and I have been a bit angry too.  Still praying.  Are we wrong to not want to spend 14-15 hours of our 3-day weekend on the road?  I don't think so.  If he couldn't drive it would be different, but he can and is a lot younger than us.

Anyway, it is what it is.  We are going down to Naples on the 14th for his "off to college" party, so we will see him then.

I am going to leave my computer at home this weekend, so I won't be blogging until next week. I will have photos and stories to share, though!  Thanks for checking in!  Peace & hugs.

It's a Hodgepodge Hodgepodge!

Thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for another fun Hodgepodge!!  She gives us the great questions and we write the answers!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 230

Hello Hodgepodgers! One item of business to note: There will not be any Hodgepodge next week (August 4/5) as we'll be wrapping up some travel, and then moving into our apartment down south.

Or as I like to call it-Phase 3.

The Hodgepodge will return the following week (August 11/12), so thanks for understanding! Now back to this week...answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with your peeps.

1.  I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-

Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most?  Probably overcoming my fears (public speaking, specifically).  Which one comes most easily to you?  Resting and relaxing, indeed!

2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?  Lunch with friends.

3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet...which 'trip' have you experienced or dealt with most recently?  Probably round trip.  Explain.  New Orleans, the beach, and this week St. Augustine.  Round trips all.

4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?  At my age.... can't think of a thing.  

5. As July draws to a close, let's take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you...been swimming?  Yes. enjoyed an ice cream cone? Yes. seen a summer blockbuster? Yes. camped? Never.  eaten corn on the cob?  Yes. gardened? Nope. deliberately unplugged? Yes! watched a ballgame? Yes.  picked fruit off the vine?v No  taken a road trip?  Yes. read a book?  Several, yes. Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?  None of no answers is on my must-do list.

6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What's your question?  How will you bring God back into our country?  (I have a long, long list, but you only asked for one.)

7. What's your most listened to song so far this summer?  I don't listen to music that way.  Spotify plays on my computer at work, but I don't really hear it.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  It is such a shame that SOME kids today feel entitled and privileged and share no responsibility for family or even themselves.  I am sad and disappointed in someone and it has been a struggle for a couple of days now.  I need to give it to God. 

---------------------------------------------------

I appreciate your visit today!  Prayers for my #8 will be appreciated too.  Peace & hugs!

Tuesday Tidbit....

Just one 'tidbit' today. Work is crazy this week. We are interviewing for a part time position in our Education office and have seven qualified applicants. Did two today, have two tomorrow and three on Wednesday.  All of that along with payroll, audit prep, a grant report to do financials for, and I am off on Friday.  It's all good, but I'm old and just thinking about it makes me tired!!  Have I mentioned that I am ready to retire?

I found this on Facebook and it spoke to me.

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your visit and comments!  Peace & hugs!!

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers....

I have been honored with a nomination for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award by my friend Michelle, from Grammie Time.  Please visit her wonderful blogs HERE!!  Thank you Michelle!

So here are the rules: 

• Provide a link and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.  (See above.)
• Answer the questions about yourself.  (See below.)
• Nominate 10-12 blogs.  (I am choosing to not do this because I could easily nominate all of my readers.  Join in if you would like to participate!!)
• Provide links to these nominated blogs and let the recipients know they have been nominated.  (See above.)
• Ask them ten questions of your own.  (Feel free to use Michelle's questions for me.)
• Include the award logo within your blog post.  (That's it at the top!)

Michelle's questions for me are:

1. How long have you been blogging and why did you begin?  I started blogging on Yahoo360 back in 2007.  I began blogging because of a woman I met on our trip to Italy (Genny O).  She got me started.  Yahoo360 went bust so we moved to Multiply.  When it also went bust, I and many of my friends moved to Blogger.

2. List three words that would describe you?  I asked Joe. He said caring, compassionate,  selfless and loving.  I told him that was four.  He said that I am all of those things.  Wow.   

3. How long have you been married?  30 years and 2 months.

4. Where did you go on your honeymoon?  We didn't have a honeymoon.

5. What is one household chore you dislike doing?  Ironing.

6. Your best "chick-flick" movie is ...?  Sleepless In Seattle. 

 
7. What is one BEAUTY item you can't live without?  Moisturizer with sunscreen.

8. Where has your favorite vacation been so far?  Italy.

9.  You're given $100.00 just for YOU, how would you spend it?  On a purse.

10. Do you prefer reading books or magazines?  Books.

Thank you, Michelle, for nominating me!  It was fun.  Thanks to all of you for stopping by today!  Happy Monday!  Peace & hugs.

Sunday Stealing Time....

I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly Meme

Stolen from: Gabs survey


1. Have you ever had a pen pal?  Yes, in high school and that was before home computers/internet.

2. What’s your favorite breed of dog?  I like all dogs, but especially big ones. Loved my collie.

3. Can money buy happiness?  No.

4. Do you listen to music when you’re down?  Not down very often. Music always helps any mood, though.

5.What is one thing you spend way too much money on?  Dinner out, because we go too often.

6.Can you honestly say you’re okay right now?  Yes.

7.What was the last thing you spent money on?  Ice cream, Friday night.

8.Is your current hair color mostly your natural hair color?  Yep - I've given up on color.

9.Who have you texted in the last 24 hours?  My friend, Melody.

10.Were you in a good mood last night?  Yes, I was.

11.Do you have a reason to smile right now?  I always have a reason to smile. Praise God!!

12. How often do you hold back what you want to say?  Not often, but I do - usually at work.

13. Do you think that in the end, everything will fall into place?  It always does.

14.Are you currently looking forward to anything?  Yes, our trip to St. Augustine next weekend.

15.Do you have any TV shows on DVD?  We have the John Adams mini-series on DVD, but no TV shows that were in a series.  That's what Netflix is for!

Thanks to Kwizgiver for another great Sunday Stealing!!  You can find this MEME here!

Our Saturday was quiet, which was fine since we had rain all day. Church was (as always) the high point of our Saturday.  We always go to the Saturday 4:00 Vigil Mass.  Nothing planned for today either, as it's also a rainy day.  Makes it easy to stay inside and veg.  (Yes, it's laundry day.)

I appreciate that you stopped by on this Sunday!  Wishing you a good end of the weekend and week ahead!  Peace & hugs.

Saturday:9 with Frank Sinatra!

Thanks to "Crazy Sam" for another fun Saturday:9!!  Join in the fun HERE!

All the Way

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: All the Way (1957)

... because The Gal Herself is into Sinatra

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Frank sings, "who knows where the road will lead us?" Which leads Sam to ask, does your vehicle have GPS?  No, not built in, but I have a Magellan GPS that hangs on the dash.

2) Sinatra introduced "All the Way" in the movie, The Joker Is Wild. During that film he also sang "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)." A few years later, in the movie Robin and The Seven Hoods, he declared Chicago as his "kind of town." Besides Chicago, can you think of another city Frank immortalized in song?  New York, New York!
  
3) When Frank was 19, he saw a pretty girl sitting on her front porch, giving herself a manicure. He went and got his ukelele and serenaded her. That girl became his first wife, Nancy. Tell us how one of your romances began.  My greatest romance...I asked Joe to dance!

4) Both Frank and Nancy grew up in New Jersey. When you think of NJ, what else comes to mind?  Atlantic City and the Boardwalk.

5) Sinatra made Las Vegas as famous for entertainment as for gambling. He was so identified with the Strip, that when he played Caesar's Palace the marquee simply said, "He's Here." Have you ever been to Vegas?  No, but it's on my 'bucket list'.

6) Thin for most of his life, Frank was blessed with a metabolism that allowed him to eat whatever he wanted without gaining weight. He especially enjoyed clams posillipo. What's your favorite Italian dish?  Simple spaghetti and meatballs.  Yum.

7) Perhaps because of his hardscrabble childhood, Sinatra was a soft touch for charities devoted to kids. One of his favorites was Variety, which sends disadvantaged children on day trips to museums, zoos and sporting events. Here's your chance to tell us about a cause that's near and dear to your heart.  The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life and also giving blood on a regular basis (I've done 10 gallons).

8) Sinatra was a neat freak who couldn't stand dust or clutter and showered at least twice a day. He got this from his mother Dolly, who was compulsive about housecleaning and hygiene. Can you think of a time when you caught yourself doing something and thought, "I'm just like Mom/Dad!"  Sometimes when the refrigerator is crammed full I tell Joe we have Helen's 'fridge; I turn into my dad behind the wheel.

9) In 1998, Sinatra was buried with the things he always had in tow: a bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Camels, a Zippo lighter and 10 dimes. Why the dimes? According to his daughter, "He never wanted to be caught not able to make a call." Of course, 17 years later cell phones have replaced pay phones. Anyway, tell us what you always carry.  My cellphone, keys, chapstick, gum, sanitizer and my wallet.  There is more, but those are essential.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

 

Lunch was fun with my girlfriends yesterday. It's always good to catch up with them.  Cindee may be going to Ireland and France.  She is very excited.  It is a business trip for her husband, and may not happen, but she is hoping!  I'm excited for her and hope they get to go.  I sure didn't have any news that would top that!  LOL

Yesterday was the 26th anniversary of the closing on our house here in Lakeland.  The time has gone by so fast!  To celebrate, we went out to dinner, then up to the north end of town for dessert at Twistee Treat.  It is a place we frequented when we were learning our way around and waiting for our furniture to be delivered.  The ice cream is delicious and we both splurged on a large cone. Yum!!

There were no Twistee Treats in Virginia, so it was new to us.  Also new to us (believe it or not) was Wal-Mart!  There were no Walmarts in Virginia (or Ohio or Pennsylvania) 26 years ago.  We bought so much from there - waste cans, cleaning products, etc., etc.  Back then, everything in Walmart was made in the USA,  Such a shame that has all changed.

Thanks for stopping in today!  Wishing you a good Saturday!  Peace & hugs.

Happy Friday!

I don't really have anything more than that today.  I am having lunch with my girlfriends, Shirley and Cindee, but I mentioned that yesterday

No plans for the weekend.

Work is busy with the audit coming fast (August 3).  I've been getting information sent to the auditors.  They give me a list that they need before they arrive and it is extensive.  Always happy for it to be over.

I wish you all a good day and weekend ahead!  Thanks for stopping by!  Peace & hugs.

Thankful Thursday Time....

Just a couple of thoughts for Thankful Thursday!

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.  --Tecumseh


Thanks for popping in today!  Happy Friday Eve!  The week is flying by.  Looking forward to lunch with my girlfriends tomorrow and then another quiet weekend!  Some fun times coming, though!

Peace & hugs!

It's a Groovy Hodgepodge!

The AMAZING Joyce has given us another list of great Hodgepodge questions to answer!  To join the fun, visit her HERE!!  Thank you, Joyce!!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 229

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there! 

1. Is your home air conditioned?Oh my goodness, YES.  I live in Florida!  If it's not air conditioned, is that by choice? Did you grow up with air conditioning?  No, there was no AC at our house.  I grew up in Central Ohio.  If not how did you cope with the heat?   We had window fans, but it really didn't get that hot.   Share about a time or place you remember as being too hot-the temperature kind of hot, lest anyone be confused.  July and August in Florida are the two hottest months, with horrid humidity and I don't remember it ever being more hot than it is here.

2. What's something in your life right now that falls under the heading 'up in the air'?   I really can't think of anything that is up in the air for us right now.  We are pretty grounded.  Ask me in a couple more years, when I am getting ready to retire.... 

3. Your favorite light and airy dessert?  I love custards.  They are perhaps not real 'airy' but they are delicious.  Flan, Creme Brulee, any custard pie.....

4. When did you last feel like you were 'floating on air'?  At the beach, two weeks ago, with all my wonderful family around me!  I still haven't landed fully!

5. Airport, airmail, airtight, airhead...which have you most recently encountered? Explain.  Airport, when we took our son there to fly home to Virginia after our beach vacation.

6.  Have you ever been to the Alps?  No, but I have flown over them!   If so where did you go? If not, is this a destination on your must-see list? I would love to see them again.  If you were headed that direction this summer, which of the following would be your preferred activity...a gentle walk, a serious walk, a bike ride, a boat ride around one of the lakes, or summer snow skiing?  Definitely the boat ride.

7. What is one saying or phrase that was considered 'cool' when you were growing up?  Groovy; cool; peace; right on; you bet your bippy; flower child; dude; hang loose; bra burner..... (sorry, you asked for one!)

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Some of you saw this on Facebook, but I am so happy for my beautiful niece, Sara, and her FIANCE Matt!!  They got engaged last weekend!!  Sara is a teacher and Matt begins his residency next month.  They met at Ohio University and have been going together for a couple of years now.  Matt's sister was there to take the photos, and Sara's brother, Mike, took a video (which I haven't seen yet).  It is fun that the siblings were in on it.  Sara thought it was a dinner date in Athens.

Thanks for checking in today!!  I want to say thanks to everyone for your sweet comments on my post yesterday, and for your continued prayers for my friends.  I wish you a terrific Wednesday!!  Happy hump day!  Peace & hugs.

Sad news on this Tuesday....

A few days ago, I asked for prayers for my co-worker's wife, Elaine, who was fighting lung cancer.  I found out Sunday night that she had been taken to the hospital in great pain.  She died yesterday morning.  That fast.  So sad.

She had been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, which is not good at all. Lung cancer is a vicious one to fight in the early stages, let alone in an advanced stage.  She had been doing chemo treatments every three weeks and had one more to go.

All of us at work yesterday had a hard time with the news.  We really are like family there and Elaine worked for us, part time, for a few years awhile back.

One of Joe's colleagues died over the weekend too.  He was just 66, in good health, but had a heart attack while riding his bike.  The man was in good shape and no one would have suspected heart trouble.  Just went that fast.  He was a well-known local businessman and it has been on the front page of our newspaper for the last two days.

We really just never know.  I guess we all need to be ready.  Don't leave any loose ends and be sure to tell your loved ones that they are loved!

Prayers continue for Fran (breast cancer) who starts radiation next week, and Karen (esophogeal cancer) who is also fighting her battle.  Please keep them on your prayer lists!  I'm also keeping my brother-in-law Bruce and sister Tammy in prayer. They are doing better!

Sorry for the downer blog, but I needed to put it out there. Your prayers are so needed and appreciated!

If you have a prayer request, I will gladly add it to my prayers.

Peace & hugs!!

Monday Mishmash....

• I reported on our Saturday, yesterday.  Sunday was relaxing and much needed. We slept late again, had a late breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage.  Joe and I spent a couple of hours in and out of the pool. The weather was great.  I even finished reading my book and started another. I made stir-fry veggies with beef and a cucumber salad for our dinner.  And yes, I got the laundry done.

• I used to have iced tea in the 'fridge all the time, then just got away from it.  For some reason, I decided to make a pitcher of iced tea this past weekend. It sure does taste good again! Not sure why I stopped making it.

• We had to trim the cats' claws this weekend.  Whewie....what fun.

• My Monday morning starts with fasting labs. The lab appointment is at 7:15. My regular appointment with my doctor (every 4 months) is next week.  I'm feeling pretty good about the appointment.  The cardiologist was happy with my EKG and weight loss, so hoping Dr. A. will be pleased too.

• The message at church this weekend was about getting rest.  Our Catholic Diocese has a website (http://www.befaithfit.org/) and I want to share a tidbit from the site with you because it had meaning for me....

“The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:30  (This was part of the readings at Mass.)

Body:  Are you resting enough each day? Sleep plays an important role in your physical health. For example, sleep is involved in healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.  (I know I don't get enough sleep.)

Mind: Do you rest your mind? Too much screen time can make it hard to sleep at night, raise the risk of attention problems, anxiety, and depression and raise the risk of gaining too much weight,

Soul: Sunday is the day of rest. Rest in the Lord by participating in the celebration of Mass (or worshipping as you are called to worship!).

I wish you all a good Monday and week ahead!  Thanks for checking in today!  Peace & hugs.

Sunday Stealing - Let's Not Be Difficult

Thanks to Kwizgiver for another interesting Sunday Stealing Meme!

Let's Not Be Difficult

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme. 
Cheers to all of us thieves!!! 

Let's Not Be Difficult Meme

Stolen from: Surveysurveysurvey

1. Do you like your movies and books to be more lighthearted or serious?  Movies lighthearted; books can be more serious.

 2. What’s more important, first impressions or lasting impact?  First impression. You can only meet someone for the first time once.

 3. Order these areas of psychological health from what you need the least improvement into what you need the most improvement in: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual.  Emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, physical.

4. Do you react appropriately to things and control your feelings?   Yes, most of the time.

5. Do you have stable relationships?  Yes.

6. Do you need to be in a relationship to feel good about yourself?  No.

7. Which is the clearest and most concise, your thoughts, your speech or your writing? Which is the least clear and concise?  Thoughts, writing, speech.  I am a terrible speaker!

8. Are you always trying to learn new things?  I hope so!

9. Do you feel at peace?  Yes.

10. Do you have strong morals and ethics that you believe in and adhere to? Definitely.

11. Do you think of the needs of all humanity or just the needs of yourself and those you know?  I think of the needs of my family first.  I vote Republican for humanity.

12. Do you recycle?  Yes.

13. Are you active in your community?  Not as much as I used to be.  Hope to do more when I retire.

14. Are you sensitive to the needs of others?  I hope so.

15. Do you dress up to go out?  When it is appropriate.

16. What could make you lose respect for someone?  Lies and deceit. 

17. If you won $1,000 every week until you die, would you still go to work?  Nope!!  Bring it on!

18. What trend has been getting on your nerves lately?  It is political and I just don't have the energy to try to be diplomatic here so I will leave it at that.

19. Do you forgive yourself when you make a mistake?  Mistakes are learning experiences, so yes.

20. Is ignorance really bliss?  Sometimes, but ignorance is no excuse.

21. What can be described as ‘even better than the real thing’?  Real is always better!  Not sure what this means, actually.

22. What’s in your wallet right now? $21.00. a couple of credit cards, stamps, AAA card, etc., etc.

23. Do you write letters that you never send?   No.

24. Do you ever get the feeling people are laughing at you?  Not that I can remember. 

25. Who’s the one person you’d like to drop a house on?  There is someone, but I can't put a name here!!  LOL

------------------------------------------

Yesterday was a lovely day. We slept late (8:30), went out for breakfast, Joe got a manicure and I had gel polish (I got gel for the beach vacation) removed at the nail salon. We went to Mass (4:00 Vigil) and then to Publix for groceries. I cooked cabbage and sausage for dinner.  Laundry tomorrow and not much else!  Hurray!

I can tell you that we had a very exciting phone call from my niece, Sara!!  She became engaged to Matt on Friday night!  She told me it was very romantic, and there were photographers there filming it all. I can't wait to see the photos and video!  My brother would be so happy.  Matt is a wonderful man.  He is just starting his residency. They seem to have targeted June 2016 for the wedding.

Thanks for stopping in!  Wishing you a good Sunday and week ahead!  Peace & hugs.

Saturday:9 Time....

Thanks to Crazy Sam for another fun Saturday:9!!  I've never heard of Colbie Caillat, but the questions can still be answered!

Bubbly

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Bubbly (2007)

... because Jodi suggested Colbie Caillat

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Singer Colbie Caillat says this song was inspired by a trip to "the beach and having a wonderful day with a person you like." Have you been to the beach yet this summer?  As a matter of fact, yes and most people reading this have heard about my family reunion beach vacation last week!

2)  Are you careful about applying sunscreen?  Yes, I am. I burn in 10 minutes.

3) Colbie made her TV debut in a 2009 episode of Saturday Night Live. Are you a big SNL fan?  Not any more.  The original cast was great however!

4) "Bubbly" is often a synonym for champagne. When's the last time you enjoyed a glass of bubbly?  I don't care for champagne, so even when it is available I don't drink it.

5) Colbie sang the National Anthem at the third game of the Red Sox/Cardinals World Series in 2013. How is your favorite baseball team doing so far this season?  I don't care for baseball, but my Joe is a Phillies fan, so that makes me one by marriage.  They are having an awful season.

6) In 2005, Ms. Caillat tried out for Season 4 of American Idol but was eliminated very early in the process, before she could even audition for Simon, Paula and Randy. The winner that year was Carrie Underwood. Are you a Carrie Underwood fan?  She is okay, but I can't say I'm a fan.

7) In 2007, when "Bubbly" was popular, actress Yvonne deCarlo died. She was best known as Lily on The Munsters. If you had to choose (and yes, this Saturday you have to), would you rather hang out with Lily Munster or Morticia Addams?  Morticia.

8) In 2007, MySpace was faced with a serious challenge from Facebook, and it's obvious which social network won. Did you have a MySpace account? If so, do you still post to it?  Yes, I had one but I deleted it years ago.

9) Random question: Which have you had longer, your ironing board or your plunger?  LOL!!  Probably the ironing board.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Wishing you a good Saturday/weekend!! I am sleeping in, getting my nails done and we will go to the grocery after Mass.  It will be a relaxing weekend for me (I hope!).  Prayers continue for Fran, Karen and also Elaine (not my BFF but the wife of a co-worker who has Stage III lung cancer).

Finally Friday!

 Joe and I LOVE the Acorn channel on our Roku.  It is British TV and we have discovered so many good shows there.  The one we are currently hooked on is called "A Place To Call Home".  If you have access (it is also on-line) give it a chance. It takes place after WWII and into the early 1950s. The writing is wonderful and the characters so great.  Check it out here:  A Place To Call Home

I am going to share some photos I was given permission to download, from my nephew's girlfriend's Facebook page.  They are from the family reunion beach vacation.

 Kailee, Nephew Mike, Niece Sara

Nephew Mike and Kailee

Brother-in-law Greg, Sister Patti, Son Jeff, Sister-in-law Jo Anne, Cousin Vicki and Nephew Mike

 Kailee, Niece Sara, Virginia (Kelly's friend), Nephew Mike, and Niece Kelly

A beautiful sunset on St. Pete Beach

Rain out on the Gulf.

So many wonderful memories of our week with family!  I even had a lovely card in the mail from Cousin Pam yesterday, saying how much fun they all had. Still basking in the glow of a terrific week!

Thanks for stopping by!  Love & hugs to all. Happy Friday!!

Thankful Thursday...

Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for. The more we seek gratitude, the more reason the angels will give us for gratitude and joy to exist in our lives.

 Terry Lynn Taylor

It's just a thankful day.  I'm thankful for your visit!!  Have a good Friday Eve!!  Peace & hugs.

An Absolutely Amazing Hodgepodge!

Thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for another Hodgepodge!  Joyce, I don't know how you are doing it, with all you have on your plate, but thank you very much!  This meme is much loved and anticipated each week!  Thank you!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 228

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then link back here to make the middle of the week a little less middle-y. See you there!

1.July 15th is National Give Something Away Day.  What can you give away? Will you?  I had no idea today is National Give Something Away Day.  Too late for today, but I MUST clean out my closet. MUST.  And I always donate to one or two local shelters.

2. Do you have a mantra?  Not really.  Please share with the class if you feel comfortable doing so.

3. Who does the grocery shopping in your house?  I do, but Joe is usually with me.  How many times a week do you shop?  Always once a week, sometimes twice.  Do you make a list or pray for inspiration in the produce aisle?  I make a list and then end up with twice as much.

4. Is there a TV show you're embarrassed to say you watch?  Not embarrassed, but some of you will laugh!  You're going to tell us what it is, right?  Swamp People.  I love the people!

5. A recent article listed fifteen words we should eliminate from our (written) vocabulary in order to sound smarter-  

that, went, honestly, absolutely, very, really, amazing, always, never, literally, just, maybe, stuff, things, and irregardless

Of the fifteen, which word is your most overused?  Honestly and amazingly, I absolutely never say stuff like that!!  Irregardless of what you might think!! (giggle)

6. So apparently dying your hair gray (in your youth!) is a thing right now. It's called 'The Granny Hair' trend. Your thoughts?  I think it's kind of silly, but I have let mine go natural and it is nearly all gray now.  I AM a grandma, though.

7. A while back Buzz Feed asked members to share the most beautiful sentence they've read in a piece of literature. A hard thing to narrow down, at least for me, but let's try. What's one of the most beautiful sentences you've ever read in a piece of literature?   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  --I Corinthians 13:4-7  (Does the Bible count as literature?)

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I got my hair trimmed last night, after work.  It was good to catch up with my barber (also my friend) Teena.  She is my inspiration for the Low Carb High Fat diet.  We talked about recipes.  It really is not a hard plan to follow.  She has lost 80 pounds!  I have to do it if I ever want to get my knee fixed!   Working on it.....

Thanks for checking in today!  Happy Hodgepodging!  Peace & hugs.

Tuesday Two..

Two things are about all I have for today.  Work is crazy busy, with month end, quarter end, and also our year end.

• I'm thankful that family members are sending me photos they took last week. I shared mine with all of them.  I want to do a Shutterfly book, so hope to gather more photos to share.

• The last load of laundry is in the dryer.  I made steak on the Forman Grill tonight. It was good with some broccoli and a salad.

Joe and I are both tired.  Getting back to a more normal routine is the pits.  I am so ready to retire. Sigh. Thankful for my job that I love, but I am ready to retire.

Thanks for coming by.  Prayers are still being lifted for my two friends who are fighting cancer and I thank you for keeping them on your lists, too.  Fran and Karen, the prayers are flowing!  Peace & hugs.

Monday Mishmash....

• Back to work today.  Vacation already seems like it was a month ago.  Sigh.

• Nine loads of laundry.  How in the world did we make that much dirty laundry?  Bathing suits, cover-ups, beach towels and about two outfits a day. Crazy.  Will finish the last two loads tonight.

• Joe had bad heartburn one night last week, after eating Mexican food and hot peppers.  My brother-in-law told him to take a big spoonful of mustard.  Joe was willing to try anything, and by golly the mustard worked!!  Greg carries mustard packets in his car so he always has mustard handy when he suffers heartburn.  Joe is thrilled.  It worked so fast. Have any of you heard of this?  It really worked for him.

• I did not follow my new eating plan (still not using the "D" word) all last week, but I did get a lot of exercise by walking on the beach, walking through shops, and bouncing around in the waves and/or the pool.  Still expected to have gained 3-4 pounds.  Surprised myself by losing almost two more pounds!  I was THRILLED and could hardly believe it.

• That's all I have for today.  I need to get started on my Shutterfly memory book now, but I still want to get photos from everyone else before I really get started.

Thanks for peeking in today!  Wishing you a good Monday!  Peace & hugs.

Sunday Stealing!!

I Want To Be Famous

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

I Want To Be Famous Meme

Stolen from: Surveysurveysurvey

1. Would you like to be famous?  No.  In what way?   No way.

2. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? No. Why?  I guess I don't worry about it, or have never had to worry about it.

3. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?  I just had several, Sunshine. Beach. Family.

4. When did you last sing to yourself?  Usually alone in the car.  To someone else?   I wouldn't put anyone through that!  LOL

5. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?   Actually, neither.  If I had the mind of a 30-year old with the body of a 90-year-old, I would be miserable and the same if reversed.

6. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?  Never give it any thought.

7. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?  God. Love. Family. Home. Job. Friends.

8. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?  Not a thing.

9. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?  I'm sure I could come up with quite a few, but I would love to be able to play the piano.

10. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?  Nothing. It isn't for us to know.

11. What does friendship mean to you?  Friendship means the world to me.  People are so important in my life.

12. What roles do love and affection play in your life?  The most important thing in my life is love and affection.  I got lots of hugs and kisses this past week and it sure pumped me full of happiness!

13. When did you last laugh?  Everyday of this past week!!

14. Are you a morning person or a night owl?  Morning.

15. Seen anything weird lately?  Lots of weird shaped people in bathing suits they should not be wearing!!

Thanks to Quizgiver for another fun Sunday Stealing Meme!!  Thanks to you for stopping by today!  Peace & hugs.