Saturday, December 30, 2006

Still Got The Bug...

Still got the bug...


Still packing...




Still tired of packing...




Hoping you have a great New Year!





Whoopie

The movers are coming on January 2nd...

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Friday, December 15, 2006

Still Stuffing Boxes Into Storage



1 box, 2 boxes, 3 boxes, four
stuff them and tape them
and go get some more

1 box, 2 boxes, 3 boxes, four
five boxes, six boxes
stacked on the floor

1 box, 2 boxes, 3 boxes, four
five boxes, six boxes
shove them out the door

1 box, 2 boxes, 3 boxes, four
take them all to storage
and quickly shut the door



Yes, I am still packing up boxes. I am now packing up clothes, kitchen items, and anything that I won't need over Christmas while the kids are home. I think that I will need to get another storage unit. After Christmas I will finish moving the majority of furniture out of the house. Then I will try to exist with one bed, a chair, some paper plates, and just a few kitchen things. Of course, I will leave my computer hooked up as well and maybe the TV. With a very basic wardrobe and a few basic household items, I should do fine for a bit.

I am hoping for a quick sale of the house. Hopefully, I will find a new home soon! I am mentally ready for this move even if I am not totally packed. I am ready to get this whole move thing over with! I feel like I have been packing boxes most of my life. It will be nice to have the boys home so that I can get some of the bigger pieces of furniture moved into a Pod for the duration. The "For Sale" signs go up on January 5th.

I'll bet that most of you will like me to blog about something other that packing boxes as well!

Friday, December 08, 2006

Jingling


Jingle Bells, jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to see
The shoppers try to pay

Jingle bells, jingle bells
The malls are all aglow
With sparkling lights and later nights
To make the spending flow

Jingle bells, jingle bells
The season's music plays
The kids can't wait to celebrate
They're counting off the days

Jingle bells, shmingle bells
What does all this mean?
It's up to you to keep it true
Let His love be seen




I love this season. I try to have all of my shopping done before the craziness begins... that way I can enjoy the music, the decorations, advent preparations, and the joy of anticipation of what is always a special day. If I could get away with it, I would play Christmas music throughout the year (and sometimes I do). So I hope that you have allowed time for soaking up some of that joy. If you will be celebrating Hanukkah, enjoy that time with your family and friends. God gave us these celebrations to enhance our lives and bring us closer to Him. Enjoy the time and don't forget to include Him in your celebrating.

Monday, December 04, 2006

The Lost Has Been Found



Well my best jeans have reappeared. I will not divulge how, but let's just say that son Jason's good name has been cleared. They will be in the next washload as we are getting some "cold" weather tonight and they will be needed. That is Florida cold weather... you know like upper 40s F. I might get to put a log in the fireplace!

Saturday, December 02, 2006

One Dilemma Solved, But Uh Oh...



When things were winding down after Thanksgiving and son Jason and I returned to Clearwater, we initially put our suitcases near the front door. Since Jason was returning to Hartford very early Monday morning packing was done quickly. However, when I returned from taking Jason to the airport, I discovered a pair of his jeans (brown cords) on the floor. He had evidently forgotten them. Or so I thought...

I have been searching like a mad demon for my best pair of jeans. I knew they needed to be laundered after Thanksgiving weekend, and I have been putting together things for a dark load of laundry. My jeans have been no where to be found. I thought perhaps Jason had packed them by mistake. But my jeans are blue denim, and his jeans are brown cords. His pant legs are a gazillion miles long. How could he possibly have gotten them confused? And then it hit me like a ton of bricks... Was this his way of breaking the news to me gently?


Could son Jason possibly be starting a life of cross-dressing?



I know he has often been fond of putting on hats...


Should I tell someone?


What about his beautiful girlfriend?
Should I tell her? What will she think?

Perhaps he has developed a jealously of her wardrobe
from her pageant days?


What's a mother to do?

He always seemed like a normal guy.

What will his answer be when asked this question...


?




Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Ranting Again...



It has taken me longer than I had anticipated to get to composing this rant, so some of the steam may have escaped. However, I think that the main points are still intact. Here goes...

Illegal immigration woes are an often debated subject these days. Especially the problem with illegal immigrants from Mexico. I don't disagree that illegal immigration from Mexico is creating many problems here in the USA, and places many burdens on communities that try to provide health care, education, and other services for the illegal Mexicans. On the other side of the coin, these illegal immigrants are providing cheap labor force for industries that need it. Those arguments are not what I am ranting about.

I had the opportunity to chat with a very well educated, legal Mexican immigrant who has previously worked in our area as part of a faith-based organization called FAST (Faith and Action in Service Together). This group organized people to lobby local politicians to provide for community needs such as safer school bus stops. He left our area to work for a national immigration committee. My conversation with this man opened my eyes to a source of some of our illegal immigration problems.

It seems that at one time small individual or family businesses employed 90% of the work force in Mexico. Mexico has a minimum wage that was typically significantly lower than what the majority of the workers earned in these small businesses. Enter the American corporations... Small towns across our country have experienced a bit of what has happened in Mexico. WalMart, Home Depot, or similar types of superstores move into town and with lower prices, drive the smaller stores out of business. In Mexico these corporate gars generally do not pay much above the Mexican minimum wage.

Once again we see the results of corporate greed and arrogance. Fewer jobs, lower wages, and the lure of better things across the border tempt many Mexicans to risk their lives in an attempt to find work in the USA. If they make it (and many don't), they are able to send money home to Mexico to provide for family members left behind. The unlucky ones die crossing or get stuck in sweatshops or other underground jobs that treat them as slaves.

When we complain about these illegal immigrants, I think we need to consider the fact that it is some of our own corporations that are exacerbating the problems. They get to pay lower wages and make higher profits at the expense of both Mexican and American workers. Perhaps before our country spends exorbitant amounts of money on building a wall along the border, we could somehow address what could be done to reverse what our corporations have done in Mexico. If the number of illegal immigrants declines, we will be better able to deal with the smaller numbers and concentrate on those crossing that provide a security risk or are intent mainly on criminal activity.



Sunday, November 26, 2006

Saturday, November 25, 2006

In Recovery


It tasted soooo good going down!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Getting Ready For Thanksgiving



This month has just flown by, and I find myself surprised that next week is Thanksgiving. I guess that I had better get myself organized to make my part of the big dinner! As soon as that happens I have a Rhodent Rant that I want to post! Hope you USAers are all looking forward to your Turkey Day, too!




Saturday, November 18, 2006

A Quick Look At The Cruise...





Caribbean Princes


St. Martin/St. Maartin


Promenade decks


View from our balcony...
at one point I saw some flying fish and several huge Dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi)


Mom's favorite pastime and spot!


Tim showing his umbilical cord attached to the machine.
This was Tim's favorite pastime.





Views and sunsets were always gorgeous from our balcony!


Atlantis Submarine, St. Thomas
This submarine holds 48 passengers comfortably.
I would go on this excursion again and again!
We saw sharks, Barracuda, sting rays,
2 types of sea turtles,
all kinds of brightly colored fish,
coral, sea sponges,
and even an eel!
It was terrific!






The food was all very yummy!


Teresa and Cathy watching the food coming.


Jerry, Lori, and Fr. Pat


Olson serving our soup at dinner


Sawad bringing mom another bottle of wine


Fr. Pat, me, my mom


Giovanni stopping by to say hello



Baked Alaska


Happy cruisers


Some of us got a little risque...
Jeanni's boss was happy to find out it would wear/wash off in seven days!


Waiting for Godot... aka Cruise Connection Bus


Hours later... still waiting for Godot...
(note to self: next time fly or leave from another port close by)


A little lighter than before the trip


More to come when I catch up on things...