tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47422022809738136432024-03-26T05:19:29.363-04:00VodkamomVodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.comBlogger1196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-69438384558203584842022-02-21T15:20:00.001-05:002022-02-22T08:29:48.432-05:00The Octopus Teacher, Part 3. (aka All Good Things Must Come to An End.) <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0nq8IQNcXgTF2Mo9xYWrJMKmlF25qQ87Q2jRhQNai9vMZp8efBcb2eBznUd56nTpWEz2p0K1qk_SJoR_-ohRkhMSaWBmK3lc71BERWMwVNpbBcz8vT-NT6I0WXbewJFBEBv59d-6pr1bJseSQD3rqzb2tpYsO7WeJ7gs4Cv17lLaB6a14G98hdJ87Mw=s3598" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="3598" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0nq8IQNcXgTF2Mo9xYWrJMKmlF25qQ87Q2jRhQNai9vMZp8efBcb2eBznUd56nTpWEz2p0K1qk_SJoR_-ohRkhMSaWBmK3lc71BERWMwVNpbBcz8vT-NT6I0WXbewJFBEBv59d-6pr1bJseSQD3rqzb2tpYsO7WeJ7gs4Cv17lLaB6a14G98hdJ87Mw=w640-h514" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have felt incredibly lucky that my friend and I have been able to experience our own “Octopus Teacher”. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-958e6b1b-7fff-ec37-6990-39260912370b"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much to our great surprise, on one of our snorkels in January we stumbled upon an Octopus out in the open and we were stunned. I have seen them in nooks and crannies here and there while snorkeling over the years, but NEVER have I seen one out in the open. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spotted Octavia in mid January, and then noticed a few more tucked in nooks and crannies around the spot where we snorkel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the days progressed, we made it a point of snorkeling there every day and found where she was living. We knew it was her by some particular markings on her, either by an arm she re-grew or by a bite from another sea creature. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were very patient each time we saw her, hovering over her den and waiting endlessly for her to come out. One day - maybe three of four days later- she emerged and went for a swim with us. We were so excited and stunned. She returned to her den eventually, and we swam away.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We continued this daily ritual as best we could, weather permitting, and it went about the same way. She would eventually work herself out of her den, follow us as we drifted away from her den, and then when we thought we were a bit far from her home, we would turn and she would FOLLOW us back to her lair. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IT WAS INCREDIBLE! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She got so used to us, that she wouldn’t even attempt to camouflage herself, or spread out and change colors if we got close. She did that the first couple of times, but then didn’t really care how close we got to her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One day last week we went to see her, as per our usual daily snorkel, and she was a bit reluctant to emerge. She did, however, after we decided it might be nice to just leave her alone, and </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">followed </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">her</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this time. I’m so glad we did, because she put on a beautiful, colorful show for us. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She spread her arms, first in her natural, brown and white colors, and then began what can only be described as posing. I swam down to the bottom (of three feet of water, mind you) to take shots of her from the side. It didn’t matter how close I got, she simply looked at me each time, displaying the beautiful colors we had seen when we first encountered her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After about 20 minutes or so, she began making her way back to her lair, and we followed. We waved goodbye, and were thrilled at the show. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjorB3fCKhXAg-Xsh3x1xY59Pz3vX5T22J014v4nsvCvkfbZSsxgrG_OSrU3UAcLgKUmg_i-QYDcXBOqNrTndRK5OckuXdanihjlAfCM1knQClSNNH1N_6uHe_tgQbN3vDyV8R9jRhnKb6nqGTMRBZybQXPF5iGuz6YwDE-6YFP90h_y6ERnI-IqCR1rA=s1711" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1711" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjorB3fCKhXAg-Xsh3x1xY59Pz3vX5T22J014v4nsvCvkfbZSsxgrG_OSrU3UAcLgKUmg_i-QYDcXBOqNrTndRK5OckuXdanihjlAfCM1knQClSNNH1N_6uHe_tgQbN3vDyV8R9jRhnKb6nqGTMRBZybQXPF5iGuz6YwDE-6YFP90h_y6ERnI-IqCR1rA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3uDJmUAsfxFsfeeiVb_hbN92MmXJWGLktXHAbEP96uWYiZSA3EhfMQfMuZd-DBTVhWNWL1OdlLThM_PjH-o9EnOTUkzTzP5lFIQUDHruBSUxRO0UeipNVGlfyLDx7bE30tkASTMoDjK0bt_QXqfBuikbY_I_Tqfn6phREygdLhuthlK1xKEDpbKNMbg=s3205" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2243" data-original-width="3205" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3uDJmUAsfxFsfeeiVb_hbN92MmXJWGLktXHAbEP96uWYiZSA3EhfMQfMuZd-DBTVhWNWL1OdlLThM_PjH-o9EnOTUkzTzP5lFIQUDHruBSUxRO0UeipNVGlfyLDx7bE30tkASTMoDjK0bt_QXqfBuikbY_I_Tqfn6phREygdLhuthlK1xKEDpbKNMbg=w640-h448" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTOj5D3v3PRWu-8_V7g9aFa6V2dwHwHwhp8Q2FX4FX-jjgSfW2vKF0FzHEjhOEY_mcIVYowvC3PcXuKmBDmuQwFR4_-tBojx-zWKmdsdgVHIP0HZaOe5VvXyHxwVL4Ge_D99tpGcqW3i6mUpg0jVhqULmIfnUzePq88Chl6URtSvqFmvgsIK98cZ6g5g=s2212" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1659" data-original-width="2212" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTOj5D3v3PRWu-8_V7g9aFa6V2dwHwHwhp8Q2FX4FX-jjgSfW2vKF0FzHEjhOEY_mcIVYowvC3PcXuKmBDmuQwFR4_-tBojx-zWKmdsdgVHIP0HZaOe5VvXyHxwVL4Ge_D99tpGcqW3i6mUpg0jVhqULmIfnUzePq88Chl6URtSvqFmvgsIK98cZ6g5g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTEBoO6SK3zW1jnIC5PTr_8C_TFuW7aJoYBVTfZ1hQkAIT-Oa_KiZDMTEP93rpNx8u8hEaShtQRFOdeTb7vywOm6E8wG_6LxhpDsW__kiLN76IEVUmIe4FjVeyG4wRlOOrBmF3vWRY9RtI1LbUftT6uKh-o-EQJMax7WnwstfLrxpSj3LoCd-ZLo8Zjw=s3364" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="3364" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTEBoO6SK3zW1jnIC5PTr_8C_TFuW7aJoYBVTfZ1hQkAIT-Oa_KiZDMTEP93rpNx8u8hEaShtQRFOdeTb7vywOm6E8wG_6LxhpDsW__kiLN76IEVUmIe4FjVeyG4wRlOOrBmF3vWRY9RtI1LbUftT6uKh-o-EQJMax7WnwstfLrxpSj3LoCd-ZLo8Zjw=w640-h464" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsbYLNHNtD4EZjBDPOvUpdq7zPnsiAv9FrQ8wOIo4WBYeTQe2kbojMC5IY-7tL64kpKg2VubClywNDe1W3jYnDsH2Z8YWlllWFarDBn32SRJqEyxd0M7novDjzhH_bB1WVEk07zu-YjdN5p3e3JvVMKloXCL4ruLDQZD2vvmmLrrr6Y1ESSfI3l1RCgQ=s1744" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsbYLNHNtD4EZjBDPOvUpdq7zPnsiAv9FrQ8wOIo4WBYeTQe2kbojMC5IY-7tL64kpKg2VubClywNDe1W3jYnDsH2Z8YWlllWFarDBn32SRJqEyxd0M7novDjzhH_bB1WVEk07zu-YjdN5p3e3JvVMKloXCL4ruLDQZD2vvmmLrrr6Y1ESSfI3l1RCgQ=w564-h640" width="564" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjALeE8I85hkuA6jbUhQSfQ_0KeUOATBbTUINBCi9NBhS1QgFpxuLPhJiTWJLT-DwMG8PHhSlwVR2m4N0809p34ldPBhu4OFE-uu5dbuyXp4_MzyOYcAR7GTFVMqHc6pxu2ONoCqcf_eNfsiLUXxPmDTEYaaz0hhzIwVd6f6k8Rkgaes3d53-jjZgPxNw=s2402" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="2402" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjALeE8I85hkuA6jbUhQSfQ_0KeUOATBbTUINBCi9NBhS1QgFpxuLPhJiTWJLT-DwMG8PHhSlwVR2m4N0809p34ldPBhu4OFE-uu5dbuyXp4_MzyOYcAR7GTFVMqHc6pxu2ONoCqcf_eNfsiLUXxPmDTEYaaz0hhzIwVd6f6k8Rkgaes3d53-jjZgPxNw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPhFtjLSiIGUDRzmdPazvIS3E8LudUYbgnA6rXydLeMEnU9Tiwa2Uv0-EBqBkEMJ_gojqLZaLo9cLFGNJ90p52y8KvQCgg_D9TZ6DPgBM0FskLeNwcLWRstu4lnRFr1fAEgoRsUXqwnHPOWGm2FiD9oQWWd1Lxya5kMg6-NBoqaqDmhcqnf4zCE2VB7g=s3277" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="3277" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPhFtjLSiIGUDRzmdPazvIS3E8LudUYbgnA6rXydLeMEnU9Tiwa2Uv0-EBqBkEMJ_gojqLZaLo9cLFGNJ90p52y8KvQCgg_D9TZ6DPgBM0FskLeNwcLWRstu4lnRFr1fAEgoRsUXqwnHPOWGm2FiD9oQWWd1Lxya5kMg6-NBoqaqDmhcqnf4zCE2VB7g=w640-h540" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1cfhB9KwNPMZG7jQP1oA_kdVB1wtnvymV86fZx4Ur94XWX677ZqkT7d4spy1TL1hQvPyKCaPjAhN-ZFYlS0SM0gwhGhJDpI2FySCH5-PyoDP7qqDrkV5c-1GdFeClygesrVMmXwT0ienvIpidAyNmsk3n8cotEG-KtTvKEe3eluRW_4HH7AlkE4AyGg=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="4000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1cfhB9KwNPMZG7jQP1oA_kdVB1wtnvymV86fZx4Ur94XWX677ZqkT7d4spy1TL1hQvPyKCaPjAhN-ZFYlS0SM0gwhGhJDpI2FySCH5-PyoDP7qqDrkV5c-1GdFeClygesrVMmXwT0ienvIpidAyNmsk3n8cotEG-KtTvKEe3eluRW_4HH7AlkE4AyGg=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3Hay81rpyBwZHVPXAcjVaDBMq7aEfRipuQNHzp8aT64MPYJshONsxFobhj7wrDF9Z4VxrYEeDjfFMW2dSL-1SDFG4f4b_BEFGhQ-hwjSuu0hSpMm5Mr6qTnav1uvQlHmkFrN5v8a-e9TX8XjvzWuL10WlwCO1agVR5maBLqsCCgHF0dwBE6_e2j_MyQ=s3204" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3204" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3Hay81rpyBwZHVPXAcjVaDBMq7aEfRipuQNHzp8aT64MPYJshONsxFobhj7wrDF9Z4VxrYEeDjfFMW2dSL-1SDFG4f4b_BEFGhQ-hwjSuu0hSpMm5Mr6qTnav1uvQlHmkFrN5v8a-e9TX8XjvzWuL10WlwCO1agVR5maBLqsCCgHF0dwBE6_e2j_MyQ=w640-h486" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFSJo1kVyiEKCl_G54yikLfhYWwlQDeM8_5y-YVHjOyr7bWbcBfkg6Pvh-B41mzoaLy3h9l6rHYCTZOUBcr3VTtJmQPi2CVEhzbxO7FLbc9tLkMAI4tFYg1d6Zk7beT6MNdvTXHh7nkS6SjBJbZlBdP23WnToaZDWcvsUmeq2yqJko1kAev6Hjnamn8Q=s2979" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2979" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFSJo1kVyiEKCl_G54yikLfhYWwlQDeM8_5y-YVHjOyr7bWbcBfkg6Pvh-B41mzoaLy3h9l6rHYCTZOUBcr3VTtJmQPi2CVEhzbxO7FLbc9tLkMAI4tFYg1d6Zk7beT6MNdvTXHh7nkS6SjBJbZlBdP23WnToaZDWcvsUmeq2yqJko1kAev6Hjnamn8Q=w640-h396" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGizzbPCeyRFB5ic4pE4Yg-pvwkgMt_NqihbQwpOZ46Wj2yzfhhVobFwEGQjggZL4Q6Dw0rEU0oXZEpx5vZg4BEj9tmMMjm5sdsQRGxT3hR7NJdMlFRt4qqJqeAcKABiM3EXw0v76vECwEEe89gP3vFpoEGAvwt0pfOiyEjjFXlQsMuzOsH9KVHanktA=s3582" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2686" data-original-width="3582" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGizzbPCeyRFB5ic4pE4Yg-pvwkgMt_NqihbQwpOZ46Wj2yzfhhVobFwEGQjggZL4Q6Dw0rEU0oXZEpx5vZg4BEj9tmMMjm5sdsQRGxT3hR7NJdMlFRt4qqJqeAcKABiM3EXw0v76vECwEEe89gP3vFpoEGAvwt0pfOiyEjjFXlQsMuzOsH9KVHanktA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlzBdL-Es186AiMJouMNBscp25vZcGrYnqv346TqocdHcIFl0dIn38N3cD53GtH2gq4sINY7Nvbd7m4mHB6tU_RGffoSXryC3P-wvElsWX1w_p6G5lS2i1c1yA9GjrlcwPK-GlBl5MJuUH7YRynHXOp9zKPg7UW6cFUt7Lo1vdEPATuKH6nFxCBTxxxw=s2965" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2965" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlzBdL-Es186AiMJouMNBscp25vZcGrYnqv346TqocdHcIFl0dIn38N3cD53GtH2gq4sINY7Nvbd7m4mHB6tU_RGffoSXryC3P-wvElsWX1w_p6G5lS2i1c1yA9GjrlcwPK-GlBl5MJuUH7YRynHXOp9zKPg7UW6cFUt7Lo1vdEPATuKH6nFxCBTxxxw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEOADCkXgooaaKwzcMybIluuKoWts9cchKvxOxYeg8YaVWvOlyseoEMr8RQqVRFduRn3PJmAzB0IwpIBKD-9QLkFV4_p1h1wGGOYJ_SklU0FVVytpBhsUirHGbKR-g7orpWkC2J8FoZhN5jnYe37JfTCFbptu6Cu1_QCYS1cFkE8h4vn6psnxqaRl1jg=s2040" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1819" data-original-width="2040" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEOADCkXgooaaKwzcMybIluuKoWts9cchKvxOxYeg8YaVWvOlyseoEMr8RQqVRFduRn3PJmAzB0IwpIBKD-9QLkFV4_p1h1wGGOYJ_SklU0FVVytpBhsUirHGbKR-g7orpWkC2J8FoZhN5jnYe37JfTCFbptu6Cu1_QCYS1cFkE8h4vn6psnxqaRl1jg=w640-h570" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoD1bNBHGc5Qtxci36GjcbrLwvM99AvoXIqYl7Zs13wsEqiqN7xWMi93sDsyk5lCoQ2JxLHmBSRJ29wwMmWAUcTsM0Co5azDF1wNjeWC772aqSBQEZrFnDln8WlYFIxGX-KMz5iuIZBe0ZvOoNH768ciZjt-Nc_idILPoQUY8V2fNtmWZiVa7zMYeaoA=s3536" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3536" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoD1bNBHGc5Qtxci36GjcbrLwvM99AvoXIqYl7Zs13wsEqiqN7xWMi93sDsyk5lCoQ2JxLHmBSRJ29wwMmWAUcTsM0Co5azDF1wNjeWC772aqSBQEZrFnDln8WlYFIxGX-KMz5iuIZBe0ZvOoNH768ciZjt-Nc_idILPoQUY8V2fNtmWZiVa7zMYeaoA=w640-h474" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXOSctaDXBD6e06iwI7EcDkOBrZe8D2ScNiHNK3RjrwuIuXQWVeK6HPBiRn1rzKOsa_v3iEHtI904tpaEkscQ6gBEfGuTXzCayTNmTU8GqyHYP_DGjDOGoIvn8uRNZF519FI4hy1MTcQ3m1AcK7RL9YVOkamKKv8tZbXDcLDRrsqRtvuw2vV7RXI9zQ=s2962" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2018" data-original-width="2962" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXOSctaDXBD6e06iwI7EcDkOBrZe8D2ScNiHNK3RjrwuIuXQWVeK6HPBiRn1rzKOsa_v3iEHtI904tpaEkscQ6gBEfGuTXzCayTNmTU8GqyHYP_DGjDOGoIvn8uRNZF519FI4hy1MTcQ3m1AcK7RL9YVOkamKKv8tZbXDcLDRrsqRtvuw2vV7RXI9zQ=w640-h436" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPSKli_7QTwiF0sMeVpQqszF-SbiZawl4ZwJcn_RbbMhdl_X59v1dij63OyV_HzNfLoUugIPBvi52qbTN_oC0z8Y_dX0XUAvLA1xFNioggKj7dDxVdf6evrFFgWQMByzbY-GvuGjEYg6_oEVPChA6S3KHQhJH3kJmWQnLG5cZ3A3ynaITT8sJzabArXg=s2197" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="2197" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPSKli_7QTwiF0sMeVpQqszF-SbiZawl4ZwJcn_RbbMhdl_X59v1dij63OyV_HzNfLoUugIPBvi52qbTN_oC0z8Y_dX0XUAvLA1xFNioggKj7dDxVdf6evrFFgWQMByzbY-GvuGjEYg6_oEVPChA6S3KHQhJH3kJmWQnLG5cZ3A3ynaITT8sJzabArXg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiScZ6DVvgIBe0nT-dlLoZSMHlr_AewpfnJweb5Qgr9UKsFgceat3-E-h0wD3858o-FDR39Lm6Op2tkxOTciBLniEaWRpdrZGo8Xij_mATKDqgzSAgYx6eRGyImvbG8O0onRvMsGTaYQ84_U28mk43cDahUHeN7s0O9XVIrRcCq1N6SUyHiRhuUmLox7Q=s2591" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="2591" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiScZ6DVvgIBe0nT-dlLoZSMHlr_AewpfnJweb5Qgr9UKsFgceat3-E-h0wD3858o-FDR39Lm6Op2tkxOTciBLniEaWRpdrZGo8Xij_mATKDqgzSAgYx6eRGyImvbG8O0onRvMsGTaYQ84_U28mk43cDahUHeN7s0O9XVIrRcCq1N6SUyHiRhuUmLox7Q=w640-h448" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We returned the next day, and we were disappointed to find her cave empty. We thought perhaps she was out hunting for food, and returned the next day. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was empty. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have since returned daily in the hopes of seeing her, but alas, her lair is completely empty. Except for the large, bully squirrelfish that has since made it his home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve decided that she simply went to find a new and nicer home, and will leave it at that. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing, magical experience that she gave us. She reminded me that at any day, at any given time, you need to be ready for a little bit of magic. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Open your eyes, and get ready. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-41130428428799735182022-01-12T07:39:00.003-05:002022-01-12T07:39:53.836-05:00Our own "Octopus Teacher" encounter, Cayman style. <p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiortuq_rfE7s-CmXqCd5uDZWlPMMcpaau1adiMjwQAI0doBoOnMglX-Jl6Nasi4Wh84UKvT-jytbdNCqaMNQ3mcP3YImNxbIgHlqqtGS1s05pemHtlty5P_vvG194dEr77Si1mu0lYNc-1j4r69lGYAKsNaKMWg5sMyDa7tYk70LQNC6GOzs7El49XUg=s3598" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="3598" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiortuq_rfE7s-CmXqCd5uDZWlPMMcpaau1adiMjwQAI0doBoOnMglX-Jl6Nasi4Wh84UKvT-jytbdNCqaMNQ3mcP3YImNxbIgHlqqtGS1s05pemHtlty5P_vvG194dEr77Si1mu0lYNc-1j4r69lGYAKsNaKMWg5sMyDa7tYk70LQNC6GOzs7El49XUg=w640-h514" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had an incredible, once in a lifetime snorkeling experience yesterday with my friend Janice here in the Grand Cayman Islands. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0a26d054-7fff-7767-2c01-2918ec51d555"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am fortunate to be staying in a lovely home right across the street from the beautiful beach, and Janice lives right next door. We grab our gear and walk across the street almost daily to enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean. We are often lucky enough to see turtles, lobsters, stingrays and so many other creatures right in our own front yard. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one of our favorite snorkeling areas we have found several large pieces of rock or coral that have provided safe homes for the two or three octopuses. (Yes, the plural form IS octopuses.) We have seen several out in the open recently- another FIRST- and returned yesterday to see what we might find. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one of the octopus’s “homes”, we saw one tucked in the hole with one of its large eyes watching at us as we hovered above. The water is only about 2 feet deep in this spot, so we were very close to the beautiful creature. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hovered there for a while, maybe ten minutes or so, and I decided to swim around the area to see if I could find another one out in the open. (I'm a bit restless, you see.) A very patient Janice stayed right where she was, very vigilant in her quest to coax the octopus out of its hole. We are both fans of the Netflix movie "My Octopus Teacher", and are convinced that these creatures are intelligent and curious. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eventually I came back to her right when her efforts began to pay off. The creature inched its way out of the hole, forming a kind of teepee as it emerged. It came out inch by inch, watching us watch him. It came all the way out, and elegantly swam slowly into the turtle grass! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We followed it carefully, shocked and elated to see what was happening! It swam slowly, as curious about us as we were about him. It only swam about six feet away from its home, and then stopped and spread its arms out. We were captivated and delighted by this show. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few minutes later it made its way slowly back to its home, finding his way into a smaller crevice beside its original shelter. It obviously didn’t fit, so it slowly came out again and went right next door to the larger hole and settled in, watching us the whole time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Janice and I were stunned and exhilarated by the whole experience! Honestly I have never seen anything like it, and I am still stunned. I learned several lessons that day about patience, curiosity and the beauty of the ocean and the creatures that live there. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m going to share the pictures that begin with spotting it, then its curious emergence and its journey with two thankful and ecstatic snorkelers and its return home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were blessed for sure. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enjoy!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhgj6ZZx3zQDR_h3s1VQu8s4YgdgE2weJlRDtAwCA0uIyPtXM26-LNXHBaWYo8yS8MZ4YhumEZCWMoCNp0zI7BlDmGzg55JS2gE02KpGXDDSeHE74sy7rB0QbT9YSt5HqjmkGOxh9ga8n-obww4XiTosJbZyGlQWys4BOYIrnVDm2wkS-1_f2_450FSw=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhgj6ZZx3zQDR_h3s1VQu8s4YgdgE2weJlRDtAwCA0uIyPtXM26-LNXHBaWYo8yS8MZ4YhumEZCWMoCNp0zI7BlDmGzg55JS2gE02KpGXDDSeHE74sy7rB0QbT9YSt5HqjmkGOxh9ga8n-obww4XiTosJbZyGlQWys4BOYIrnVDm2wkS-1_f2_450FSw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1OGSUPL9D6vD0oBglsP8SVgSMcXYW2FNVlOwoIXCPk9joC-EobnqPj367DnNDoiKEccWdQJRbKiFz41lumf71ZVuPdR8D2jhOnO_y2vBcdOCSGfW9cezfIijp-tMtxklL4Uq1W-gXIB1Qw7qKJt1L1LQYl7xVJ1-gXppbyove5zbFijyPVGN87bfssA=s3260" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2449" data-original-width="3260" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1OGSUPL9D6vD0oBglsP8SVgSMcXYW2FNVlOwoIXCPk9joC-EobnqPj367DnNDoiKEccWdQJRbKiFz41lumf71ZVuPdR8D2jhOnO_y2vBcdOCSGfW9cezfIijp-tMtxklL4Uq1W-gXIB1Qw7qKJt1L1LQYl7xVJ1-gXppbyove5zbFijyPVGN87bfssA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXHE_juony7Vpj0PuOQBEvrdxGeMjZLekuMqLVR47fCU9q4gVAZxBmfmkavWO_JDamLxbnZz6J5SdYUYmMK7sEfk2UiNEoz3at_my-YGRxxY_56NORfoCtn_-8lOjir3joQ9N5wAIz_m422K5m7USGgTuUwqxGuBMe8ahXZQ2uynNrmZaX7ObEZMKSLg=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXHE_juony7Vpj0PuOQBEvrdxGeMjZLekuMqLVR47fCU9q4gVAZxBmfmkavWO_JDamLxbnZz6J5SdYUYmMK7sEfk2UiNEoz3at_my-YGRxxY_56NORfoCtn_-8lOjir3joQ9N5wAIz_m422K5m7USGgTuUwqxGuBMe8ahXZQ2uynNrmZaX7ObEZMKSLg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-tb8rXmK09suz4yV3cg03BF47pA8nzNOSfFkcrwAwQsqgukK1hFfuAzw0zhfozFIPwaQude1ETLiQ3GRLKKfQMGPiXBqlZMAp4f-5DE29TXI0a83JYAEmWFzCVNwTrRjJS3nu5hwmNi-CLKD6P_OW43R5WWWwqvYtKf38SXsdz2FRF4RuY4eZ99WVfQ=s1839" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1839" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-tb8rXmK09suz4yV3cg03BF47pA8nzNOSfFkcrwAwQsqgukK1hFfuAzw0zhfozFIPwaQude1ETLiQ3GRLKKfQMGPiXBqlZMAp4f-5DE29TXI0a83JYAEmWFzCVNwTrRjJS3nu5hwmNi-CLKD6P_OW43R5WWWwqvYtKf38SXsdz2FRF4RuY4eZ99WVfQ=w640-h500" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmUWd9UTaOQNgRqdq3Z9LwqxruxZlzgNWAEgT-2QItO0TwH33S3rr8PDkzzvRgKTYYtVfx-tdU7S8ybJEXg6dIoYzHYlqu4SzvGNfSbrA2h11FIWLoPs6N5exuZI07mJiOGUB_NOc2JQJArEoScP6SVAlvNzCukY8TW8Y3doDK7bg7DdBnzbFzrpGa0w=s2770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2078" data-original-width="2770" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmUWd9UTaOQNgRqdq3Z9LwqxruxZlzgNWAEgT-2QItO0TwH33S3rr8PDkzzvRgKTYYtVfx-tdU7S8ybJEXg6dIoYzHYlqu4SzvGNfSbrA2h11FIWLoPs6N5exuZI07mJiOGUB_NOc2JQJArEoScP6SVAlvNzCukY8TW8Y3doDK7bg7DdBnzbFzrpGa0w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifhP3uSgy7oRIqFD0bZJQNdFUN-UO4xbUw4SQjmqeXlqKgwaE9tva13f3ORIXVc5magNfgeqNrVJIGAwWmjsijG4b_WxOLwKqyT-EBVmKh9X4PBXa6x-1Z24ozcVwNgDXxsp_JQpOFeTA9b9-IvRmKprdXRlyxVU9eIEpDeDy7QO9FqQPrKEXPg10kzA=s2160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifhP3uSgy7oRIqFD0bZJQNdFUN-UO4xbUw4SQjmqeXlqKgwaE9tva13f3ORIXVc5magNfgeqNrVJIGAwWmjsijG4b_WxOLwKqyT-EBVmKh9X4PBXa6x-1Z24ozcVwNgDXxsp_JQpOFeTA9b9-IvRmKprdXRlyxVU9eIEpDeDy7QO9FqQPrKEXPg10kzA=w634-h640" width="634" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX6xeN5ds-oo0zHs-h4Fo0b8AaRGMejW6YYSu6fDIgAAXd0ZnlYwmjdbpSJQuGbXeBV2zFaPX_qJw7sckjNSN_liCvfdhmOnld1m7VEVSTkjhgHxkCN5_0Iokf719Sezsh4csoxN--IEj4vl0ztLJb_nSDogCR2lnJgQ-4-fcrieQqN9WSBLQ3f96dHw=s2434" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2122" data-original-width="2434" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX6xeN5ds-oo0zHs-h4Fo0b8AaRGMejW6YYSu6fDIgAAXd0ZnlYwmjdbpSJQuGbXeBV2zFaPX_qJw7sckjNSN_liCvfdhmOnld1m7VEVSTkjhgHxkCN5_0Iokf719Sezsh4csoxN--IEj4vl0ztLJb_nSDogCR2lnJgQ-4-fcrieQqN9WSBLQ3f96dHw=w640-h558" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX4mZmephBRWX7r6sBguS-J0hnRfJJHwhvgekV5D-uCGF8Vv8yp3aKNlirqNOCceQUZVJJQa3Pg9VgSyyHgm9CJuvvXHh881brB38MnNYDYlLlobj2XkhUzqZ4LPCVZvH_xZ4Ros0rhOlhzlTlpHoDZ1jxQ1GMhCiGlnz6J5twIh2_2i1ZPUj5zuVKnA=s2675" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="2675" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX4mZmephBRWX7r6sBguS-J0hnRfJJHwhvgekV5D-uCGF8Vv8yp3aKNlirqNOCceQUZVJJQa3Pg9VgSyyHgm9CJuvvXHh881brB38MnNYDYlLlobj2XkhUzqZ4LPCVZvH_xZ4Ros0rhOlhzlTlpHoDZ1jxQ1GMhCiGlnz6J5twIh2_2i1ZPUj5zuVKnA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgol9JTJVn-Oee7uP6El_uqEyZwpWbU-Q7W3ubgCc1LbPSo7eC8sM4GJQEkhvx_7TdOsDOn8Iwv_xTXUft81oH6KtV62Q9wFV3WQ5R-I-CvVA1j8ZaZxiMHs-4bpzh44V3eWFyQBqlKeh_wyfdunPhZOjM4-r5yuAs_HmHK9wVYr0z9E3xdMlHoOBLryg=s3475" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2534" data-original-width="3475" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgol9JTJVn-Oee7uP6El_uqEyZwpWbU-Q7W3ubgCc1LbPSo7eC8sM4GJQEkhvx_7TdOsDOn8Iwv_xTXUft81oH6KtV62Q9wFV3WQ5R-I-CvVA1j8ZaZxiMHs-4bpzh44V3eWFyQBqlKeh_wyfdunPhZOjM4-r5yuAs_HmHK9wVYr0z9E3xdMlHoOBLryg=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo9G4cu5hpH3PzWW0waEljtshIblgmeOR1LnWWb2rENlCsikz_qdAQmXoWMDXwBPQV9JN1EJ5LQcHQxjI4gtvFDiyKbW18Q56qRHfeTp7aumdu3DYQd8RYuswENbsWfVYTWC_bRdQuSZNKdLbSa0rbYx3kzJWmUg5imjCwJvY83GJ0-hd8m7jfm3oyoQ=s3501" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2215" data-original-width="3501" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo9G4cu5hpH3PzWW0waEljtshIblgmeOR1LnWWb2rENlCsikz_qdAQmXoWMDXwBPQV9JN1EJ5LQcHQxjI4gtvFDiyKbW18Q56qRHfeTp7aumdu3DYQd8RYuswENbsWfVYTWC_bRdQuSZNKdLbSa0rbYx3kzJWmUg5imjCwJvY83GJ0-hd8m7jfm3oyoQ=w640-h404" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtaaJ6PShudNlBtM3MmJQ5qVW2yRYBnYxnQW24BEicb6ISvcu7WS7h-Q9lMn7OAkivMXMuGDL28Gdmhl1aaGAI6rzhRoybDGAXRul2VpDj7eFn5VUMYAhDsULn9CS1Dd2GLPq4Jnh6RxMjg7MmLVcdlUk9BrCTYiimCoVPvw4MK56QxHso07HlY6S6zg=s2886" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="2886" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtaaJ6PShudNlBtM3MmJQ5qVW2yRYBnYxnQW24BEicb6ISvcu7WS7h-Q9lMn7OAkivMXMuGDL28Gdmhl1aaGAI6rzhRoybDGAXRul2VpDj7eFn5VUMYAhDsULn9CS1Dd2GLPq4Jnh6RxMjg7MmLVcdlUk9BrCTYiimCoVPvw4MK56QxHso07HlY6S6zg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfVstUbMBYg06OPBbQKNtCh_ZPyPgPXjZb1MZ3DgJ1DrRQ5AFj3YEnSq_NsnxQCEiKN5TI21EvohO-P2A0UWz20aNdaF2AdZJdVE_4ZtRjBCQeKAi0w18ZP4uE55hWAD_QNfCzM0kx7hKfkrfpS3dMOv3XTt3XAmqTWFC_bCtJ4W10rBN-cvq0DRansw=s3245" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3245" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfVstUbMBYg06OPBbQKNtCh_ZPyPgPXjZb1MZ3DgJ1DrRQ5AFj3YEnSq_NsnxQCEiKN5TI21EvohO-P2A0UWz20aNdaF2AdZJdVE_4ZtRjBCQeKAi0w18ZP4uE55hWAD_QNfCzM0kx7hKfkrfpS3dMOv3XTt3XAmqTWFC_bCtJ4W10rBN-cvq0DRansw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjklI14ZsNVDYwlntRow_MCM9JQPQUZH_wi_kmc9b4Mtx0NC2TNm18wd7Sz8HfnYHKd_toXd6nTGr-GWU9tQHi1prqMShVRCxj9MYGMBQbK-Doy-qbZjqWzTdAY8Xo_XTvEw82hXMPzxbdRufkAHLQ-Zorks600ArB243DH7F0PP8PDfmpOLTpeo9JEgg=s3043" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2327" data-original-width="3043" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjklI14ZsNVDYwlntRow_MCM9JQPQUZH_wi_kmc9b4Mtx0NC2TNm18wd7Sz8HfnYHKd_toXd6nTGr-GWU9tQHi1prqMShVRCxj9MYGMBQbK-Doy-qbZjqWzTdAY8Xo_XTvEw82hXMPzxbdRufkAHLQ-Zorks600ArB243DH7F0PP8PDfmpOLTpeo9JEgg=w640-h490" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggs3QipjelPKZOhrQWCK8A5Sv2rvn0jmw-Ok9ZcL_7xags60JTZrDCJs3sYhGvOt1Pewqvwt6mbQ7h3li8rCS6rXqpdg8wUQp0xeLMcIIGCYV5JkrwA_4izo7t6IyegJRZjtRCf08xhwtqLc2TW8sv-DQ3cWY8hLbpw6YpEYpeSgbLeTxWhRYTyoCsUQ=s3102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="3102" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggs3QipjelPKZOhrQWCK8A5Sv2rvn0jmw-Ok9ZcL_7xags60JTZrDCJs3sYhGvOt1Pewqvwt6mbQ7h3li8rCS6rXqpdg8wUQp0xeLMcIIGCYV5JkrwA_4izo7t6IyegJRZjtRCf08xhwtqLc2TW8sv-DQ3cWY8hLbpw6YpEYpeSgbLeTxWhRYTyoCsUQ=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-c4u6c1kK2J_ZTSCEIhAxss4X4YteAG2PsMBL_nanDE_7IFoHLtXvV5k7DxaN8ewlwNSM38ItFOm84ySar3l1QWKqrjobQ3APVw3QY5OB11-Buxmx5mS9hjZawNPGN1cZtrTw5lmno0HnZAQAx-iFO2vQeJMnmRdxLvWVcMGu7qCH8mDIwUjtV4VMjQ=s2986" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2239" data-original-width="2986" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-c4u6c1kK2J_ZTSCEIhAxss4X4YteAG2PsMBL_nanDE_7IFoHLtXvV5k7DxaN8ewlwNSM38ItFOm84ySar3l1QWKqrjobQ3APVw3QY5OB11-Buxmx5mS9hjZawNPGN1cZtrTw5lmno0HnZAQAx-iFO2vQeJMnmRdxLvWVcMGu7qCH8mDIwUjtV4VMjQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh7Rv57kVoIiOYnLlEX_z--WSLeshvIzz1bUedeBIXglHugmnZHdd98zEcDXfMmrg48ZGPsNcQv04Av59t4xsPAlzw7mnmQnyKj-BtFRpEJ-oGUb3xkfC5JAJxhy04dQqrXPvwvOzxnvPFvYVYRU9HzjLncARv0qDTrkpCuHiZR3qn66q7R43rSwNbsA=s3726" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="3726" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh7Rv57kVoIiOYnLlEX_z--WSLeshvIzz1bUedeBIXglHugmnZHdd98zEcDXfMmrg48ZGPsNcQv04Av59t4xsPAlzw7mnmQnyKj-BtFRpEJ-oGUb3xkfC5JAJxhy04dQqrXPvwvOzxnvPFvYVYRU9HzjLncARv0qDTrkpCuHiZR3qn66q7R43rSwNbsA=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>What a day!!<br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-63245704652548137182022-01-03T12:29:00.006-05:002022-01-03T13:30:33.942-05:00This Whale of a Tale has Fur<p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last seven years, it’s that my life with Fred is never, ever boring. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f1d923b4-7fff-e69c-9858-e0ef35bee194"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We've been in the Caymans for a month now, getting settled in. We decided to take our Kentucky friends who are here diving for a few weeks for a boat ride the other day - hoping to catch the beautiful sunset. Fred captained our Formula boat out of the bay as I pulled in the fenders and put the lines, etc. in their proper places. We settled in with Steve and Vickie for a nice ride as Fred put the hammer down and motored into the North Sound. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We always open the door to the cabin below deck when we get onto the boat- to air it out and push this button or that button. We have a latch at the bottom that keeps the door open while we are under way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was sitting at the rear of the boat enjoying a lovely conversation with Vicky, when I saw a BLACK CAT shoot out of the cabin!! It ran frantically around the boat, and finally ran onto the bow of the boat. We were all yelling and screaming at this point, and when he was eyeing up the water we were ALL shouting, “Don’t Jump!! Don’t jump!” (Because we assumed it was an English speaking cat, of course.) </span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He immediately jumped into the water and started swimming for dear life. There was a fairly strong current, and he looked clearly in distress. He swam in circles, trying to figure out where to go. I ran into the cabin to find something to throw to him, thinking he could get on top of it. I found our life ring, and took it to the back of the boat. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ooQohdee85bOuFVm88O7C-DLLNYwgDfQA0zHk8DyJAFTiXTfX_ahEW2Wc1TFfDhQaSvohpficXKKhY0do-nVA4m0XLqtk8wuxtdVvD2YJmGGxvNp9oeYbb4wRsRGW0YHXIOngXtzwSWu_OYveOVAKU-KUzNCeCMavP0ikBPYZyk_ILSjIeRP1nxKPA=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ooQohdee85bOuFVm88O7C-DLLNYwgDfQA0zHk8DyJAFTiXTfX_ahEW2Wc1TFfDhQaSvohpficXKKhY0do-nVA4m0XLqtk8wuxtdVvD2YJmGGxvNp9oeYbb4wRsRGW0YHXIOngXtzwSWu_OYveOVAKU-KUzNCeCMavP0ikBPYZyk_ILSjIeRP1nxKPA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the meantime, Fred tried to maneuver the boat closer to the cat, who seemed to be going farther and farther away from the boat. I saw him looking for us, and could tell that he regretted his decision to jump. When we got close enough, I threw him the life ring which he quickly climbed upon. He balanced on it like a pro, still watching for us. It didn’t take me long to realize that I hadn’t secured the ring onto the rope, so now the cat AND the ring were bobbing farther and farther away. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcXBlpsgEZ8AEbfZOUNl_APfMwn4r_PfuQu1TK4RRA3PMIGsMdP2XPsEUiIX6nG8BbvQWO2IzKYgsg3OSfXxAe2e2ZctacBMOcDC7sKGx895enzKR-GoC-k2GXda-HEVMI0J2ZgBTYTn_OrGPFCb7qxRDtjPbW6Kvj9f1YIRtNAqnp8HSSErcBWGrUBg=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcXBlpsgEZ8AEbfZOUNl_APfMwn4r_PfuQu1TK4RRA3PMIGsMdP2XPsEUiIX6nG8BbvQWO2IzKYgsg3OSfXxAe2e2ZctacBMOcDC7sKGx895enzKR-GoC-k2GXda-HEVMI0J2ZgBTYTn_OrGPFCb7qxRDtjPbW6Kvj9f1YIRtNAqnp8HSSErcBWGrUBg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguSEe0QsSPgqyYS_Z3J8IeFqr5nOo4nWqlDnmlHuw-lvB4AyOioi1V2hceB-XxkKFMWRQgD34rZOH0-D3aK0el-2r0kE-80FP-XxZO1crK7DjkN_cshI9VUrwDxKkOYCt7EgZiMDhWU1dksq6926JAYfhMTrh9ipXtrd4eCE9XO1UU8HeLGst1bVS-uQ=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguSEe0QsSPgqyYS_Z3J8IeFqr5nOo4nWqlDnmlHuw-lvB4AyOioi1V2hceB-XxkKFMWRQgD34rZOH0-D3aK0el-2r0kE-80FP-XxZO1crK7DjkN_cshI9VUrwDxKkOYCt7EgZiMDhWU1dksq6926JAYfhMTrh9ipXtrd4eCE9XO1UU8HeLGst1bVS-uQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred managed to get the boat closer to the cat, and I used our boat hook to catch the small rope attached to the ring itself. I pulled him close to the back of the boat. He tried to get from the ring to the bat, but kept falling back into the water, perilously close to going under the boat. He managed to get back on the ring, I lifted it up onto the boat and then he jumped onto the boat and made his way BACK to the cabin. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steve and Fred pulled the screen door shut, and we tried to regain our senses. We were flabbergasted at what had just happened. We made our way, still in shock, back to our dock. As we secured the boat, Fred and Steven conducted a search of the cabin. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No cat. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They searched every single nook and cranny to no avail. Finally, I brought some tuna down to the dock and left it on the dock. We left the cabin door open again, and proceeded to have some well-deserved libations. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, the food was gone and we HOPE that the cat is also. All we can tell at this point is that there is a black cat roaming Rum Point with 8 lives left, and a whale of a tale to tell. </span></p><br /><br /></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-75334959214590586742021-12-18T20:16:00.006-05:002021-12-19T08:10:43.009-05:00If you are going to write a Christmas Newsletter, for God's sake please tell the truth...<p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember the “Christmas Newsletter” that would come with all of our Christmas cards back in the day? We would receive Christmas cards and a long typed page would fall out. It would fill you in on how amazing each family was, and how perfect each child was. I think my own mother wrote some- and what I wouldn’t give for copies of those right now! </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-76406e31-7fff-148b-0e82-030cbd03614e"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started writing my own newsletters early on in my marriage when the kids were young, just to keep my extended family of aunts and uncles apprised of what was happening in my family. My parents were gone, and I thought that perhaps they might be interested in what was happening. (I was probably wrong about that, but what the hell.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a year or two I had an epiphany. Why are all of these newsletters so amazing? Jesus, you can’t tell me that these parents aren’t fighting with their kids, that they aren’t sneaking out at night or fighting over boyfriends who are losers? REALLY? I would just like to read one newsletter that told it like it really was. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I decided one year to write a newsletter that was real. After that, well, I just couldn’t help myself. I thought, perhaps, that I might be offending people. But then I saw my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Larry and my uncle said that it was the one thing he looked forward to every Christmas. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> While I might not have copies of the early ones, I will start with one that I DID find on my hard drive. I am sharing this in honor of my Uncle Larry, who reminded me that it was cool to be real. He really was the best, and I will never forget that he made me feel loved for who I am. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enjoy- and if you write a Christmas Newsletter, PLEASE tell it like it is!!</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The good news is I finished my Christmas newsletter early this year. The bad news is, the girls found it and were so mortified that they stole all my copies and shredded them before I could get them out. We proceeded to have a screaming match that ended up with me making all sorts of promises. So, here it is: I am not allowed to talk about anyone being arrested, any phone calls from parents during sleepovers (use your imagination), screaming hormonal teenagers, calls from the high school, fighting with siblings, or anything that would embarrass them. That leaves me with nothin’. However, in the spirit of the Christmas newsletter tradition, I am willing to give this a shot. Here goes…</b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Bitchy is 18 now, and loves it here at home. She is the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen. She just loves her job at Wegmans making subs for the community at large, loves paying for her own gas and coffee at Starbucks, and can often be found playing board games with her sister and brother, after they’ve helped with dishes, laundry, cleaning and running errands for their mother. She is having so much fun in high school, and is sad about graduating and going away to school. In fact, she’ll probably go to Penn State and live at home because she loves us so much. Sassy is also just a doll. Aren’t all 15 year-old girls the best? She is sweet as can be, never yells at any of us for no reason, and can often be found sharing her clothes with her sister whenever she asks, or romping in the yard with her adorable 9 year-old brother. (They are very close.) She never yells at us, and is best friends with her older sister. The Golden Boy just adores his sisters as well. They never pick on him, hold him down, tickle him until he cries, spit on him, or treat him badly in front of his friends. They always go to his football games, and sometimes even go to his practices just to see him. And, when they held him down last week and told him there was no Santa, they were just kidding. He’ll probably stop crying real soon. </b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I am having a blast writing a monthly column for the local paper, and am trying to keep up with an accompanying blog. I still love teaching kindergarten, but am very exhausted at the end of the day, mostly from laughing, but also from keeping 20 six-year olds from hurting each other, peeing all over the bathroom floor and eating things off the carpet. Bob is enjoying his work on I-99 as a roadway supervisor, but has nothing to do with the road not opening on time! I’m keeping him busy trying to get him to finish all his jobs around the house, but he keeps sneaking off to camp to finish all the project out there! (Frankly, I’d rather he live THERE.)</b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We continue to pray for Kathy, Bruce, AnnaBelle and David, as they try to find their way through this time of such terrible sorrow. We also send prayers to Tim Kavelak as he wages his own battle with cancer. Yep, we thank God every day for His blessings, and pray He is keeping our departed loved ones close at hand. </b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Well, as always, peace and love to you all – The Patrick family</b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>P.S. If you want to read the original letter, it’s on my blog, and was read by over 400 people. (psst…don’t tell the girls) </b></span></p><b><br /><br /></b><br /></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-8994592116547002192021-12-18T08:06:00.000-05:002021-12-18T08:06:01.217-05:00Candy houses, Menudo and amazing memories...<p> The christmas columns, Day #2! Enjoy, and let me know if YOU make gingerbread houses! </p><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">On a snowy, December train ride into Cleveland, Ohio, in the year 1922, a five-year-old girl’s life would be changed forever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She and her mother had a chance encounter with a feverish young soldier who insisted that the girl sit on his lap.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It seemed he had recently bid goodbye to a daughter just her age as he left for duty.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She became deathly ill several days later with diphtheria.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fortunately for her family, they had a close friend who was a doctor that worked at the W.R.U. School of Medicine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They had a new serum that doctors were only beginning to use that would later become the diphtheria vaccine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was one of the first children to receive the injections, for fourteen days straight, and by what was always called a Christmas miracle she lived.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That little girl’s name was Genevieve, but we always just called her Aunt Jimmy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">She and my uncle Paul, along with their two boys, lived on a very sharp turn on a very busy Superior Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although we didn’t see them very often, our yearly visits were always preceded by great anticipation. As children we looked forward to these visits for many reasons, most important of which was that she was the best baker in town. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">We knew that she would have freshly baked goodies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We knew that she would have lovely books for us as gifts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We knew that our Uncle Paul would take us to his musty basement and show us his newly polished stones, or other fascinating scientific discoveries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We knew we would be able to snoop through our cousin’s rooms- that were always filled with amazing toys and more scientific gadgets that they used in all their mad scientist experiments!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We also knew what we thought our parents didn’t – that hidden in her attic, and tucked under large layers of clear wrapping paper was a magical, mystical, incredible candy-filled city. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">My aunt and uncle were known far and wide (in Cleveland) for their incredible candy creations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They weren’t your ordinary candy houses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Oh no, to these young nieces and nephew they were mansions!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The biggest and bestest candy houses ever known to mankind! My sister and I would sneak up into the attic when we thought no one was looking and begin the hunt. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">We would find these creations and peel away the coverings to gently reveal the treasures underneath – exposing each architectural wonder. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We stood and gazed at them for what seemed like hours, and to this day I can remember the smell and the feeling I had gazing at these wonders.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">I am reminded of Aunt Jimmy’s candy houses each time I get ready to tackle the task of making them in my classroom.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although we’ve had to re-name them over the years (Christmas cottages, holiday houses, candy houses and finally, teddy bear cottages) the spirit in which they are made remains the same.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">With candy, icing and confectioners sugar flying, the children burst with the excitement and joy of the season.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And during the cottage construction, if you’re really lucky, you’ll be privy to some enlightening conversations:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“I don’t know why Joseph and Mary couldn’t have slept on a pull out couch at a friend’s house. That’s what we do.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“I DID see Santa.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I am not kidding.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“Mom my made me give a dollar to Jesus. Now I only have nine.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“My cousin celebrated Hanukkah and they lighted a Menudo.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“And I know there was a star.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And when you follow the star, it leads you to SANTA!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">And finally, I sent the children out the door covered with confectioners sugar, glitter, and a package of “reindeer food” that we magically mixed together with glitter, marshmallows and love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One of my little girls was asked by a child in another room what it was.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her response?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“I think it’s for the goats.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-25902420066767967272021-12-17T11:19:00.002-05:002021-12-17T12:51:58.972-05:00When magic lived in our hearts...and Santa knew what we REALLY wanted...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqNGuHad3QMB6KMQjU9krq5TI0-Y7PWQgjpnYZfo7puZm_ARM9KrjpOI16q5s_R8pJ8KF2wLiDN3eIzeIICpDSHMOHkemmmABvxUogDJa6niym0ek_pkVG6Yupi0Jq1SxOmFC56KAE8g05Svz1nUWTyW1-Btn3oFkXdJDW4UNHaucPqPdF-rY-mEUvQA=s414" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="414" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqNGuHad3QMB6KMQjU9krq5TI0-Y7PWQgjpnYZfo7puZm_ARM9KrjpOI16q5s_R8pJ8KF2wLiDN3eIzeIICpDSHMOHkemmmABvxUogDJa6niym0ek_pkVG6Yupi0Jq1SxOmFC56KAE8g05Svz1nUWTyW1-Btn3oFkXdJDW4UNHaucPqPdF-rY-mEUvQA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjWAVjnr8TMywY2okquaclxsdjNj8CadxwAk6FxsHngfvIBTE-_YDq8k0HpvIPsdX5URssj-uhYy9hvHZ0gx5Ysc9U-NVJpYsH-Xu_n8QHAQJDclowSqxqNZLLRMZ1P71XR8AS9H8gB8nVRfaPqM2VH7dctEcPPt-ikeyKCy4db2hgMaP0z6eII61GQQ=s414" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="414" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjWAVjnr8TMywY2okquaclxsdjNj8CadxwAk6FxsHngfvIBTE-_YDq8k0HpvIPsdX5URssj-uhYy9hvHZ0gx5Ysc9U-NVJpYsH-Xu_n8QHAQJDclowSqxqNZLLRMZ1P71XR8AS9H8gB8nVRfaPqM2VH7dctEcPPt-ikeyKCy4db2hgMaP0z6eII61GQQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>I am working hard these days putting together my third book- a compilation of all of my monthly columns that I so joyfully wrote for our local newspaper. I am re-reading them and enjoying every minute- even if now and then I cry a little. </p><p>I thought I would share my December columns here, so that some of you might get a chuckle or two. </p><p><br />Enjoy!!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When I was nine years old, I won the life-sized stocking that was in the window of Cowdrick’s Drug Store in downtown Clearfield.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It sat in the display window of the shop and each time I walked past it while walking to my dad’s office I would PRAY that I would win it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was stunned when I received the phone call the day before Christmas!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Never mind that it was stuffed with 20-cent plastic toys and tons of candy, it was LIFE SIZED!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I felt as if I was floating on air as my whole family got into the car to go downtown to claim the prize.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was SURE that some greater being had a hand in my winning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Honestly, I am still shocked by it, and it is with a big grin on my face that I recall this lovely memory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think that many warm memories of the holidays are the ones that are magical. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I still remember when I believed in magic, do you?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Magic, when I was little, was when the tooth fairy remembered there was a tooth under my pillow and left me a shiny quarter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Magic happened on balmy summer evenings on Lemon Road, when the fireflies lit up the backyard and we captured it in mason jars.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Magic happened on Christmas morning when, under the tree, was the handy dandy nifty disguise kit I so DESPERATELY hoped Santa would bring.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I hadn’t told ANYONE except Santa in the letter I wrote under my covers one night while writing with my Underdog flashlight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I placed the note in our outgoing mailbox when my mother and father weren’t looking.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I remember that kind of magic that filled your heart with wonder and joy. That wonder and joy are what surround me every day when I am here at school. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As we know, “Most grownups don’t believe in magic. It just, sort of, grows OUT of them. “<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s what Judy the elf told Scott Calvin, in the Santa Clause (a CLASSIC, people) when he stated that he stopped believing in Santa a long time ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, I’m here to tell you that Santa is alive and well and greatly anticipated by most of the children in Room 120 in Park Forest Elementary school.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We seem to end up discussing Christmas and Hanukkah every day these last two weeks leading up to the holidays.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(I have one fellow who officially celebrates Hanukah; three who SAY they do, and one kiddo who says he doesn’t celebrate either of those.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He celebrates presents.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is ALL that the children are thinking about. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“You know, Santa has turbo reindeer that take him all over the world. “</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“No, it’s special fairy dust that he puts on the reindeer, and it makes them go fast.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“He uses a magic whip to get them to go fast!”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Hey, I saw that whip under my mom’s bed!”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“No, the reindeer have special magic flying dust! Santa sprinkles it on them and they,,,,,”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“It’s magic BEANS!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They eat magic beans!”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Hey, I had beans last night…”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Hey, I know the bean song.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Beans, beans, the magical..”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“STOP!! STOP!!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And with that sleight of tongue, I maneuvered our conversation back to where we had started.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As I look forward to the holidays this year, I am reminded of all the magical, enchanted Christmases I spent as a child, and am thankful for the magic that is alive and well in my own heart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No matter what you celebrate or what you believe, I think the most important thing to hold close to your heart is the belief, deep in your soul, that magic IS real.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And, as we say in the Patrick house, if you don’t <i>believe</i>, you don’t <i>receive</i>….</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-32306747831845726332021-12-03T12:33:00.005-05:002021-12-03T16:52:08.420-05:00The gift that keeps on giving. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu8uAHGv8dymWp7VplKJikieNXIjEMkPmXKvEuafb39vlxgLkVz6X2klS2BZq55PpDSrBAA1bdR6FA6AyaNuH3-8Mj8S3LWgxO09P67-f6Qorh1feA7lFiu97L2bVNgoAO7NEz6sgH_frCjsp9E1bAcVxgsTVgqjae33FXHm9OUOpfeNH1HeYSIvWoWQ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu8uAHGv8dymWp7VplKJikieNXIjEMkPmXKvEuafb39vlxgLkVz6X2klS2BZq55PpDSrBAA1bdR6FA6AyaNuH3-8Mj8S3LWgxO09P67-f6Qorh1feA7lFiu97L2bVNgoAO7NEz6sgH_frCjsp9E1bAcVxgsTVgqjae33FXHm9OUOpfeNH1HeYSIvWoWQ=w376-h640" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is often difficult to navigate this life without parents. I know there are far too many of us out there who were “orphaned” as young adults, and it’s a club in which no one want to belong. That being said, I think it’s even more emotional to navigate life without your mother. This becomes even more challenging when you become a mother yourself and often need and want some comforting advice from someone you love and trust. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e9fbbf7d-7fff-31be-42b7-d7540d27a85f"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The holidays are especially difficult, but each year when I find my heart hurting a bit I distract my sadness by surrounding it with thoughts of my own children - and am reminded of how much joy they bring me. Now that we aren’t fighting about the wrong Christmas presents, curfews and other teenage trials, the happiness bubbles right to the top of my heart. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, I received an unexpected surprise that brought me so much joy. A few months ago my cousin Greg reached out to me and told me that he was in possession of his mother’s high school prom gown. He thought this might be of particular significance to me, because apparently my mother had purchased this prom gown in France for my aunt to wear to her prom. We were living in Nice, France at the time when my father was stationed there as a part of the JAG division of the Sixth Fleet. My mother bought the gown for my aunt, and had it shipped to her in time for her prom. I never knew this story, and was stunned. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My cousin then went on to say that the dress was going to be passed to one of his four daughters, none of whom ever appeared interested in wearing it to any of their proms. They are tall, athletic beauties who never fit into my aunt’s petite dress. That, or it simply wasn’t their style. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He then asked me if I would like to have the dress, since my mother had been the one to purchase it. I was ecstatic! Of course I wanted it! I immediately began looking for an old fashioned dress form that I could use to display the dress. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went to many antique shops until I found the perfect dress form. I had to squeeze and push together the rusted pieces of metal used to expand and squeeze together the various parts of the form in order to get the dress to fit on the form. My aunt was very tiny and petite when she went to her prom - her waist must have been 22 inches! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now as I look upon the beautiful dress, I think of what my mother must have felt when she went looking for this for her sister. It must have filled her heart with joy to be able to do this for her. My mother, a young woman from a small coal mining town in the middle of the mountains of Pennsylvania was now the wife of a Navy lawyer living in the south of France- where she went shopping for a beautiful dress so that her sister- still living in that tiny coal mining town- could wear something special to her high school prom. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir2G931FYjqjLBXXiDSSM_tpQmc1B660VB3jo1h8eobe2TU8RRWMybgvhMaezhHkBa3Mz0Es8hgkISWrpkTzjkMKgMdOvmLalabjSkaebiYGuG_RKuSDg1qdvLzXtwNIfFnF6YDVfrYN8oCQIkt93_gSJQLvaBt9k4BKd_U1RlFgzqc_8uBOYsxiV3Ww=s3583" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3583" data-original-width="2646" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir2G931FYjqjLBXXiDSSM_tpQmc1B660VB3jo1h8eobe2TU8RRWMybgvhMaezhHkBa3Mz0Es8hgkISWrpkTzjkMKgMdOvmLalabjSkaebiYGuG_RKuSDg1qdvLzXtwNIfFnF6YDVfrYN8oCQIkt93_gSJQLvaBt9k4BKd_U1RlFgzqc_8uBOYsxiV3Ww=w472-h640" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Incredible. </div><br />Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-83583202363509574242021-02-22T14:54:00.004-05:002021-02-22T14:55:16.962-05:00The cement jungle. (And it really is a small world.)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-hrhY43VE4ZAjQ_k6dAjvhdNfr4yRSXxSexNgmH-wBMadTxBCJ73FLiqnVdRmo9NQfaYGU5tnw6pe52jv1bd2_SBKT1miRvmaoZm_FelOw26vkVXUQVQCHy5kDO9Y3Mn-Qhr8tdcWAt/s2048/1FAE38EE-EBEC-45FE-B8B7-BFFFE7A6A724_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cbUWGCTP4H1Ff3Bg_mVWA7QaeHSBBl9r1LkOpVFooTP0kbtBMmNPH7wbPv57fF-iNmEhG7JYEuPiD5zfe0V_7vkbtbtNa9szdRgcOeEUZd6G_bOI0RrRlwqsbj9cjShvFvFWsSdOF0aE/s2048/C4FC3FA4-8805-46EA-9B87-341EBE60A5B4_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cbUWGCTP4H1Ff3Bg_mVWA7QaeHSBBl9r1LkOpVFooTP0kbtBMmNPH7wbPv57fF-iNmEhG7JYEuPiD5zfe0V_7vkbtbtNa9szdRgcOeEUZd6G_bOI0RrRlwqsbj9cjShvFvFWsSdOF0aE/w640-h480/C4FC3FA4-8805-46EA-9B87-341EBE60A5B4_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-80589add-7fff-cb7c-1cab-20253be0eef4"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred and I often bike ride in the mornings now, and we travel the one road that takes us from Rum Point through Old Man Bay and down towards East End here in Grand Cayman. The island has only a few main roads that take you from one end of the island, all the way around to the other end. There is one point where you can cut across the middle of the island, and that means that the road from the half-way point from one end along the coast to our end is typically somewhat deserted. </span></p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-80589add-7fff-cb7c-1cab-20253be0eef4"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have made the drive many, many times around East End, as this is the way to the Health City hospital where Fred had both his hips replaced. (At different times, fortunately.) It’s a beautiful drive, but to be honest there are no drives on this island that are not amazing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each time we are on this particular stretch of Queen’s Highway, we are amazed by one particular yard that we pass. It’s a large sandy yard that stretches for almost half of a football field, and is filled with amazing sculptures. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a large sign in front of the yard, near the road, that welcomes anyone passing to park and admire the sculptures. One day last week when biking I took them up on their offer! Fred and I stopped and placed our bikes in the little parking area and walked from sculpture to sculpture. I was floored at the beauty and whimsy, and found many more pieces tucked here and there that weren’t as large and obvious as the ones you can easily see from the road. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were Cayman chickens and roosters, iguanas, an octopus and so many other things that are native to the islands. I took as many pictures as time would allow, and then we went on our way to continue our bike ride. We’ve seen this yard so many times, and I was so pleased that I stopped to take a closer look. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XzeB12VGMBmxea_u6RjOrZInnuafGKWfarTBwXZ8uc2oo3yejsLMEFtgsIr3rnlUsGNXR50gt06PkwGww49I76Ht4jy5mm_2TKabA8LeBaMpq3tCsCtX4Kb0iSarBpcsAkw7mS4TC9V0/s1904/197FFB63-13AB-4897-A516-65E705165833_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1904" data-original-width="1859" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XzeB12VGMBmxea_u6RjOrZInnuafGKWfarTBwXZ8uc2oo3yejsLMEFtgsIr3rnlUsGNXR50gt06PkwGww49I76Ht4jy5mm_2TKabA8LeBaMpq3tCsCtX4Kb0iSarBpcsAkw7mS4TC9V0/w624-h640/197FFB63-13AB-4897-A516-65E705165833_1_201_a.jpeg" width="624" /></a></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last night we made our cocktails, and walked across the street to watch the sunset. We try to do this every single night, as it gives us a chance to reflect on the day. It also is a nice way for us to slow down and remember how very grateful we are to be able to be here in among this beauty and serenity. We certainly don’t take a single day for granted. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we made our way back across the beach with our neighbors, we noticed a couple carrying a cooler and making their way to their car which was parked right next to our unit. As we approached them they said hello, and we said hello back. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Wasn’t that a gorgeous sunset?” we remarked. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes! And this is the first time since we've been back on island that we’ve left our own place to come over here,” they said. “We live over towards East End.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh,” said Fred, “We ride our bikes that way almost every day. Which house is yours?” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We live in the house that has the cement jungle.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred and I both looked a bit confused, and they added, “You know, the place with the sculptures!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh My God!” I said. “We were just taking pictures there the other day! We love going by your place!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, I am Dave and this is Kathy. Please, please stop and chat with us the next time you go by. We would love to chat with you. You can also see the NEW creation I am working on!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, because I wanted to believe him, we assured him that we would stop. I couldn’t believe that the only other people watching the sunset that night at Rum Point was the couple from the coolest yard on the island. I can’t WAIT to hear his story, and find out what magical creature will be popping up next in his magical cement jungle! Stay tuned!</span></p><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-hrhY43VE4ZAjQ_k6dAjvhdNfr4yRSXxSexNgmH-wBMadTxBCJ73FLiqnVdRmo9NQfaYGU5tnw6pe52jv1bd2_SBKT1miRvmaoZm_FelOw26vkVXUQVQCHy5kDO9Y3Mn-Qhr8tdcWAt/s2048/1FAE38EE-EBEC-45FE-B8B7-BFFFE7A6A724_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-hrhY43VE4ZAjQ_k6dAjvhdNfr4yRSXxSexNgmH-wBMadTxBCJ73FLiqnVdRmo9NQfaYGU5tnw6pe52jv1bd2_SBKT1miRvmaoZm_FelOw26vkVXUQVQCHy5kDO9Y3Mn-Qhr8tdcWAt/w602-h640/1FAE38EE-EBEC-45FE-B8B7-BFFFE7A6A724_1_201_a.jpeg" width="602" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjVAuJpNgRzmFyxwHIiyCmS8N-nnMTAdat-obbP_JwwnL1ZSXmciOi9HnI_QoZ7jgnpzQOCP4sFp0NAzfE71wNiofZiIi5OZEfYezik6BxTt143cEYKrelaL1dWjM9cnkgfC4QuBWMYqA/s2048/DDAE5B03-AB34-46FF-885E-8123D1A95CA3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="2048" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjVAuJpNgRzmFyxwHIiyCmS8N-nnMTAdat-obbP_JwwnL1ZSXmciOi9HnI_QoZ7jgnpzQOCP4sFp0NAzfE71wNiofZiIi5OZEfYezik6BxTt143cEYKrelaL1dWjM9cnkgfC4QuBWMYqA/w640-h483/DDAE5B03-AB34-46FF-885E-8123D1A95CA3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhCqiZBSunqklolfesn92yeMaZtwOvByL4INvdBwkesMrMTnbXJ2b3DiPSUrDzGPVymEIyV4d5-A6F2fRamlRUeQt_f3pLnTU6HmthbaYEc54_t4jvollTN4LPGaUakkHc_tfaZ7CiCSn/s2048/2E67AC94-D76F-47A4-90F5-FF63D59EF929_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhCqiZBSunqklolfesn92yeMaZtwOvByL4INvdBwkesMrMTnbXJ2b3DiPSUrDzGPVymEIyV4d5-A6F2fRamlRUeQt_f3pLnTU6HmthbaYEc54_t4jvollTN4LPGaUakkHc_tfaZ7CiCSn/w440-h640/2E67AC94-D76F-47A4-90F5-FF63D59EF929_1_201_a.jpeg" width="440" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0d1RQuxMOLvUX9TDttDj2aetavzX0XQATkrzf8sc8NvDppZvHw0Fah9KxUzNyr8IiWVJW3ZdwFfwGPaEYJ2i1dzXwQvJ3VdA_R_rAs2O02Qb5jg-gmAS3P4anZhZlJeX3F0H-Z1rl3Hf/s2259/6DE80096-5A95-4547-87B4-8B4A031CC864_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="2259" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0d1RQuxMOLvUX9TDttDj2aetavzX0XQATkrzf8sc8NvDppZvHw0Fah9KxUzNyr8IiWVJW3ZdwFfwGPaEYJ2i1dzXwQvJ3VdA_R_rAs2O02Qb5jg-gmAS3P4anZhZlJeX3F0H-Z1rl3Hf/w640-h262/6DE80096-5A95-4547-87B4-8B4A031CC864_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxZ4n0pYIbQkaJktl7b-LFxFlZ8Ugnn2tRjH72ys6jgIdytgPtQW3TqXKU4AZlq2rZS7kz6Kp2wxYZgDg9Hgg26ByOkP5Dw8jes1zXnNmyi3X_NT0AaP8-qvYZnOFletjfDlYng-3FIX7/s2048/96939EDA-894E-4853-A179-E64C27011099_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxZ4n0pYIbQkaJktl7b-LFxFlZ8Ugnn2tRjH72ys6jgIdytgPtQW3TqXKU4AZlq2rZS7kz6Kp2wxYZgDg9Hgg26ByOkP5Dw8jes1zXnNmyi3X_NT0AaP8-qvYZnOFletjfDlYng-3FIX7/w640-h466/96939EDA-894E-4853-A179-E64C27011099_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsERpJgJTj5eC4d1JkTB4_rloTzC9sLWmtaB0ZGm8yaqlHUrK5e42FFfRS7hJRSYXrFkTCd8blK6Eb96qvYErogB3tohM6dZVKt9UJ6qQ3XFY7F9qSU2pe2SsBa_lshVVQvMT3V4CvWWC/s2048/8D3A33CD-F2E8-47B0-AA9A-33E7CA118382_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1180" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsERpJgJTj5eC4d1JkTB4_rloTzC9sLWmtaB0ZGm8yaqlHUrK5e42FFfRS7hJRSYXrFkTCd8blK6Eb96qvYErogB3tohM6dZVKt9UJ6qQ3XFY7F9qSU2pe2SsBa_lshVVQvMT3V4CvWWC/w368-h640/8D3A33CD-F2E8-47B0-AA9A-33E7CA118382_1_201_a.jpeg" width="368" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2e6ZGIRULIGmnH0HcAwWFKPTC3upD_6uYuzqmKyvPsRRAIsx-EnmzdFldaFyVhbQsrfpe3zmkA8XOlr31zw2_BnFjZ0mNZz1IAQtrfgsbJhbOPdK_6SCLnQd44eVDKvPegw95i_8-ekr/s2048/38ABFF46-5E34-43BF-8A00-BCF5ED8445B1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2e6ZGIRULIGmnH0HcAwWFKPTC3upD_6uYuzqmKyvPsRRAIsx-EnmzdFldaFyVhbQsrfpe3zmkA8XOlr31zw2_BnFjZ0mNZz1IAQtrfgsbJhbOPdK_6SCLnQd44eVDKvPegw95i_8-ekr/w480-h640/38ABFF46-5E34-43BF-8A00-BCF5ED8445B1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7pWqxOGyEOyx8meZvxEpZIr6lYn2UDYEyXyWMljADK6woKl6wYMB18f5rwLDM3U1AMQsbJd8-gCeP3tRC9dkdulppVQLfA4v6Zvmo9DhJBwNowEG2PZXgsZ1k64smIA1FmHc-TZaiYWv/s2048/33440084-D805-497C-B34D-62C1B9DE0241_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2048" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7pWqxOGyEOyx8meZvxEpZIr6lYn2UDYEyXyWMljADK6woKl6wYMB18f5rwLDM3U1AMQsbJd8-gCeP3tRC9dkdulppVQLfA4v6Zvmo9DhJBwNowEG2PZXgsZ1k64smIA1FmHc-TZaiYWv/w640-h477/33440084-D805-497C-B34D-62C1B9DE0241_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1jbW4Y-8HQNDJO2BhxDJDOSvgLiMbxVA3rSiognTp_PqW1jQe3ZuQr3zeIHymo4QQpjwLg6HmZpfAyCgUYxJ6MWbNZNdM-ywIAmDt6mxO_srY6A8LsMZY71f0wS8n60maW15taK3D6_Y/s2048/903B44D4-20D9-4ACA-BCD0-E6C5DACC3FF3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1jbW4Y-8HQNDJO2BhxDJDOSvgLiMbxVA3rSiognTp_PqW1jQe3ZuQr3zeIHymo4QQpjwLg6HmZpfAyCgUYxJ6MWbNZNdM-ywIAmDt6mxO_srY6A8LsMZY71f0wS8n60maW15taK3D6_Y/w640-h480/903B44D4-20D9-4ACA-BCD0-E6C5DACC3FF3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtqEMDKRRrDnZNYoYZu-jOCeaYfa6_PXF8UHRh_ta2pHBR6cvbAa7-MdJV-4cE6Anw_CDBg_a7liEvl-0fG3luFP8yG2yea-PcdfpkIBJpfE9Mpo1TI7JCKMUgBLbPyY71wnfvJ_ubrHu/s2048/813CF292-01C9-4793-BA81-DD204385B211_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtqEMDKRRrDnZNYoYZu-jOCeaYfa6_PXF8UHRh_ta2pHBR6cvbAa7-MdJV-4cE6Anw_CDBg_a7liEvl-0fG3luFP8yG2yea-PcdfpkIBJpfE9Mpo1TI7JCKMUgBLbPyY71wnfvJ_ubrHu/w522-h640/813CF292-01C9-4793-BA81-DD204385B211_1_201_a.jpeg" width="522" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyWQhpOnQLELckYN2o4gpLGs8_sJeGMrhHKWCy7pdEYuZiVTUg6dAW-jG54Ako1xIEWLirPLRgd7VTP9KQM9REzspR-SEnE96vR6zxByB6Cw5kRTsQDzJm-0B2agI4gDonwn6G3p_mWcr/s2048/C174AF55-DCDF-41B4-9D8D-44952DA2492B_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyWQhpOnQLELckYN2o4gpLGs8_sJeGMrhHKWCy7pdEYuZiVTUg6dAW-jG54Ako1xIEWLirPLRgd7VTP9KQM9REzspR-SEnE96vR6zxByB6Cw5kRTsQDzJm-0B2agI4gDonwn6G3p_mWcr/w640-h480/C174AF55-DCDF-41B4-9D8D-44952DA2492B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqulpX6v4cWZy09n6G3Fur_ZdManpXPlcdj29PuSlx4rflPMP1eQMpsqfxeemsOVz-jvkmOlf2r_IEF-DMUnCFR8hj5o-Glo9J_0IROd5zR-kbG7Da7XxzbtbLknv9JD0tPcTxpg-2fvwE/s1838/DC16B2CC-6AAA-46E8-89E1-A5F0F52A22AF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="1790" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqulpX6v4cWZy09n6G3Fur_ZdManpXPlcdj29PuSlx4rflPMP1eQMpsqfxeemsOVz-jvkmOlf2r_IEF-DMUnCFR8hj5o-Glo9J_0IROd5zR-kbG7Da7XxzbtbLknv9JD0tPcTxpg-2fvwE/w624-h640/DC16B2CC-6AAA-46E8-89E1-A5F0F52A22AF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="624" /></a>
</div>
<b><i><b></b></i></b>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-71937399849495842642021-02-11T08:56:00.006-05:002021-02-11T08:58:01.965-05:00When the birds fly the nest and try new things.. (Aka Sassy's new project)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFxN7nr0e4Iv0rYy8P3ykUNegUUZKH6Ums1gGjwisWuva1AmqPR14duGoWtzqTXZ92LG2tVqAPQFoKI_lf5bZK8QWqjlMu1LtZwCN4GoatwES8z0MeO1VmiIxUnSdke3LQgObfJ_JwCzm/s270/9A9AC1F3-131E-457B-81CE-B70186E4FE11.heic"
style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "
><img
alt=""
border="0"
width="400"
data-original-height="270"
data-original-width="270"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFxN7nr0e4Iv0rYy8P3ykUNegUUZKH6Ums1gGjwisWuva1AmqPR14duGoWtzqTXZ92LG2tVqAPQFoKI_lf5bZK8QWqjlMu1LtZwCN4GoatwES8z0MeO1VmiIxUnSdke3LQgObfJ_JwCzm/s400/9A9AC1F3-131E-457B-81CE-B70186E4FE11.heic"
/></a>
</div>
Those of you who have been following this blog for the last bazillion years,
know the characters who are the loves of my life. It’s been an interesting
journey watching as Bitchy, Sassy and The Golden Boy grow into respectable, hard
working adults. The road has been bumpy and twisted, laden with heartbreak,
frustration, joy and awe. (Not necessarily in that order.) Anyone with children
knows exactly what I mean- and can understand why this blog was named vodkamom.
Anyone without children is probably a bit richer, calmer and undoubtably very
well-traveled. But that’s another story.
Today I want to send a shout out to
Sassy- who is showing amazing courage by hosting her own Podcast. This is a
grand feat for someone who has suffered from anxiety for most of her life. To
say I am proud of her is an understatement. Most of you might know that our
relationship has been tested over the years. However, the love you have for your
child is the strongest tether known to man - and we have found our way back to
each other and are stronger for it. Back to Sassy’s story. She has started a
Podcast called Sippin’ with Sassy, and you can find it where ever you download
your podcasts. Do me a huge favor and give her a go. This mom would appreciate
it. And, thanks for coming back every now and then. It’s beautiful to hear from
old friends who have weathered many a storm with this old vodkamom.
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-67763063159682857272021-01-19T10:53:00.011-05:002021-01-20T08:57:43.483-05:00Blessed with a capital B. (aka 1 more day in quarantine...)(I apologize ahead of time for the formatting issues here. I can't get it to format properly, and I'm too tired to re-write this! Enjoy, but it reads like you're running a marathon...)
I am sitting here in the Grand Cayman Islands, waiting for our 14 day quarantine to be over. We will report to the testing center at 8:00 a.m. on this side of the island. Then, we will have to wait for an email letting us know if we tested negative before we can remove the monitoring devices from our wrists. After that, we are free to move about the island just like we used to do pre-Covid. That means no masks, no limit to the number of people who can congregate and no worries about hugging your friends and neighbors.
Life as we knew it will return to normal, at least in this tiny corner of the world.For this, we are truly blessed. HoweverI feel even more blessed than most, and I thank God every day.
For many mornings during this quarantine period I have been able to sit and reflect on the life I am living and the life I once had. I am usually up before 6:00 and have been able to watch the sun as it rises. It’s spectacular, and not something I take for granted.
Many mornings my mind wanders back to another life, the one that was filled with 3 busy children and hectic days trying to balance work and motherhood. It was a life filled with stress, penny-pinching, soccer games, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Ramen Noodles, yard sales and the Goodwill. While I wouldn’t change a thing, there are many memories that still sting.
I remember struggling to find money to pay for the soccer fees. I remember putting aside my pride and calling family members to ask for a bit of money for a dance class, or for flag football fees. I remember asking the kind woman in charge of the local soccer program for a discount- which she always granted me with a smile and hug. I remember waking up at 4:00 in the morning on Black Friday so I could find something to give the kids for Christmas. I remember being the <i>only</i> parent attending said soccer games, field hockey games and parent conferences. (But that’s all I’ll say, out of respect for Bitchy, Sassy and Golden Boy.)
I also remember going downtown to the local Plasma center, hoping that I wouldn’t see anyone I knew. I would get hooked up to a machine that would take my blood and give me $50 each time I went. I could only go 2 times a month, but it sure helped. I also remember saving our aluminum cans from school and home, and driving to the can man in a nearby town to get a small amount of change. I remember taking any clothes I had that were at all decent, and selling them to the consignment shop. I remember going to yard sales looking for clothes for the kids, and things I could give them for Christmas.
These are some of the tricks that many mothers probably learned, but ones I never dreamed I would have to use. But, because I would have done anything for my children, I did them without complaint and with a sense of pride that I could find ways to add to our budget. Of course I did this also because for most of that life I was the breadwinner of the family. (That would come to bite me in the ass when it was time for a divorce settlement.)
Today I am incredibly thankful that Bitchy, Sassy and Golden Boy have become hard-working members of society. They have found themselves in places all around the country, and I don’t see them as much as I would like-but I am incredibly proud of who they are. I thank God every day that they don’t do drugs, that they haven’t had any issues (that I KNOW of) and that they have all been able to continue to work during this time of Covid layoffs.
These days my life is filled with lots of love from my guy, plenty of travel, winters in Grand Cayman for God’s sake - and summers filled with gardening, biking, and lots of adventures. I have money in the bank, I only sell things because I have no room or need for them and not because I have to buy Ramen Noodles or hot dogs. I can sleep through the night and not worry about paying the mortgage or buying shoes and Christmas presents for the kids. Of course now that I CAN, they tell me not to!!
I really do feel like Cinderella.
I say this not only because I am living a life I never EVER dreamed, but also because I am truly loved. I am respected for who I am and for my accomplishments. I am told daily how much I am valued. I am hugged and treated with respect. We don’t always see eye to eye on everything and we have our moments like every other couple, but when you are secure in your relationship these moments are fleeting. My heart has found a happiness I didn’t think was possible.
And now as I sit here in the Cayman Islands waiting for the sunrise, I will count my blessings once again.
And that, my friends, will never, ever get old.
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-13078756270491296642021-01-06T12:33:00.001-05:002021-01-06T12:33:18.522-05:00Escaping back to paradise...and praying for everyone else. <p> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My prince, Fred, has a home in Grand Cayman. He has been coming here since 1979, and has owned his Cayman home since 2002. I have been lucky enough to be coming here for the last 7 years. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-74ebc916-7fff-e4a9-f844-45f0963cb2fa"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last year when the world first realized we were in a pandemic, we got marooned here after they closed the borders. The truth is, we were already here since we typically arrive around Christmas Day, and we knew we could leave before the borders closed. We truly believed we would be safer here, and chose to ride out whatever might come in this tropical paradise. I knew my own children were with their partners in a safe environment, and they were all equipped to work from their homes. We couldn’t see them anyway, and who WOULDN’T want to be marooned on a Caribbean Island? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did fly home at the end of June of last year, and stayed hunkered down in our home in Pennsylvania taking all necessary precautions to continue to stay safe and COVID free. While many of our friends and neighbors ended up getting it, we thank God that none of them suffered too much and that they are still alive to talk about it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We booked our return flights back to Cayman when we learned they were allowing homeowners back into the country, with some restrictions. If you return you must quarantine IN YOUR HOME for 14 days, wear a monitoring device, be available for phone calls and random check-ins and be tested when you arrive and on day 15. We are happy to comply, because once they remove your devices you are able to go about your business on the island with no mask or restriction. They have managed to keep COVID off the island, and have found ways to keep it that way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our journey to get here was another story....stay tuned. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-49218415272592084492020-12-25T12:17:00.003-05:002020-12-25T12:49:11.285-05:00A Holiday Miracle, thanks fo Scott!<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spend a lot of time around the holidays reminiscing about family holidays long since passed. It’s bittersweet, however, as the memories are wonderful but the feelings of family long gone are a bit sad. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b390705-7fff-fedd-b3ef-23da1859d162"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year my daughter spent six weeks with us, quarantining first and then working from home in our extra suite. Because she was here with us and not in her own home, she had extra time on her hands. This was a blessing for me because she was able to help me organize all of my treasures that have been packed in our basement. I moved into this home with the love of my life five years ago, and all of my furniture and worldly goods have been sitting, neatly packed, in a far corner of a 1,000 foot basement. While this may sound fine, I should add that my incredible partner is a collector. I don’t just mean a casual collector, I mean he has been collecting radios, clocks, jukeboxes, antique furniture and anything else you can imagine for over 70 years. He’s a professional! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I digress. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Bitchy was here, she helped me dig through my treasure to find pieces of furniture that are very important to me. My darling partner helped to find room in our living space for these pieces, and we spent hours rearranging furniture and cleaning up these remnants of a past life. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJljyU3kKd2pS5MSbQT4IwGh8kJUqRhbUpDyHubckHjpUILoGLH5DO08O4XASe5q-spZg2smLKFhR88m6yO5uHciev88kE4XZE1nXCV01HiFj1AJMJ6fWPaRT32uFIZQpPMOUzJIR-31in/s2048/32CB8B4F-D120-4EA4-8247-3AB0F5422F67.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJljyU3kKd2pS5MSbQT4IwGh8kJUqRhbUpDyHubckHjpUILoGLH5DO08O4XASe5q-spZg2smLKFhR88m6yO5uHciev88kE4XZE1nXCV01HiFj1AJMJ6fWPaRT32uFIZQpPMOUzJIR-31in/w480-h640/32CB8B4F-D120-4EA4-8247-3AB0F5422F67.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8Q5X_Lx2zzkF-tduPg3DcSJPVAzbnz8qKOPnLRt6-1duP62hRl53z4qqYpvZvLuwOVsuxNWEGv6FcsbnyBqvyGZi9L7dwskleLfTEdbi5yYESoeovu7QSHoAJyhIUpHinntA61ELRIDG/s2048/CFDF25FC-7567-4F38-838B-7B6ADDFFA442_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8Q5X_Lx2zzkF-tduPg3DcSJPVAzbnz8qKOPnLRt6-1duP62hRl53z4qqYpvZvLuwOVsuxNWEGv6FcsbnyBqvyGZi9L7dwskleLfTEdbi5yYESoeovu7QSHoAJyhIUpHinntA61ELRIDG/w480-h640/CFDF25FC-7567-4F38-838B-7B6ADDFFA442_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was thrilled when I was asked to partner with <a href="https://www.scottsliquidgold.com/">Scott’s Liquid Gold furniture</a> products a few weeks ago, and didn’t realize how important that partnership would become! Bitchy and I used the products to clean up tables, cabinets and a couple of jukeboxes. It worked like I KNEW it would, and the furniture is glowing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn0mNM78nl5ef2CiX4FG_Wt0toC6dvORvSmaOnmt3uP5qETzgLctRqU_JbkPqy-QLHfL3MN3GJnISAjnrTnMgQBgyX0jWsGLcOdT54OUUtRXrepR7NRwSjpmoayrBctUfWiUYYUNYdBmK/s2048/EE133D90-718E-4961-A7AE-110C76D6D15F.heic" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn0mNM78nl5ef2CiX4FG_Wt0toC6dvORvSmaOnmt3uP5qETzgLctRqU_JbkPqy-QLHfL3MN3GJnISAjnrTnMgQBgyX0jWsGLcOdT54OUUtRXrepR7NRwSjpmoayrBctUfWiUYYUNYdBmK/w480-h640/EE133D90-718E-4961-A7AE-110C76D6D15F.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, not only did I bring up pieces that I have placed around the house, I was also able to shine up some other pieces of furniture that I quickly sold on-line. They looked so nice that it didn’t take long for people to snatch them up! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34MhifAfiOc0gHgXIDy2onTQ94dk_8U6FYoojY5W34iM1bXUrWUFkSjy6FAOwEt1iDnhY-Go3mGsc7-l771UmANXPc5jEneqZKzGxc8or561HrYu-XdMnZidXYbQ8oOKApfPayBuatZP9/s2048/2ACD52B2-0CF8-41A3-8FB4-C30140A11FF6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34MhifAfiOc0gHgXIDy2onTQ94dk_8U6FYoojY5W34iM1bXUrWUFkSjy6FAOwEt1iDnhY-Go3mGsc7-l771UmANXPc5jEneqZKzGxc8or561HrYu-XdMnZidXYbQ8oOKApfPayBuatZP9/w480-h640/2ACD52B2-0CF8-41A3-8FB4-C30140A11FF6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now as I walk through our home, I smile as I look upon these treasures that are so important to me, and I am thrilled that I have been able to bring them back to life! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61581qnVmk6fcCQEFDg9frJWpSNtV3ZI7Sap-G-KJEtEj2_k3Eofh02wiL11U2phqppsMOFYtXOPuS_-8fu_drFv5OXvPLLxnxbHuIPHVmwIehyCal7EXLQdaQjrLKB8yXJXk_Ic2IkNV/s2048/130C99F7-C1B6-4132-B6A1-6946AE02CE4E.heic" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61581qnVmk6fcCQEFDg9frJWpSNtV3ZI7Sap-G-KJEtEj2_k3Eofh02wiL11U2phqppsMOFYtXOPuS_-8fu_drFv5OXvPLLxnxbHuIPHVmwIehyCal7EXLQdaQjrLKB8yXJXk_Ic2IkNV/w480-h640/130C99F7-C1B6-4132-B6A1-6946AE02CE4E.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZrnTGZo8fAScUuosf5Gg2nfeln5ibuApJsox8e3_jkWtkzaMd0pCzI8aPAS38BbvtnELZsnx8fnVoNYK19ZGWMZgMq-djTMwvgWEWEJcrlCrAyjvFUcUkyVDd0fbZyencURsDXNHjYRY/s2048/B5190EBA-5160-42CE-A0B2-3F738C2A4055.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZrnTGZo8fAScUuosf5Gg2nfeln5ibuApJsox8e3_jkWtkzaMd0pCzI8aPAS38BbvtnELZsnx8fnVoNYK19ZGWMZgMq-djTMwvgWEWEJcrlCrAyjvFUcUkyVDd0fbZyencURsDXNHjYRY/w300-h400/B5190EBA-5160-42CE-A0B2-3F738C2A4055.heic" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I’m off to find something else in the basement! I know they’ll look almost brand new once I’m done with them. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-37841767080456996822020-08-16T11:05:00.006-04:002020-08-16T13:25:48.487-04:00Signs of Life (aka silver linings amid a pandemic)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyd69KBAnkof8Nr_I4-0d21L0g1D-ofPYRsA7611ASO4UZD2a-Mvk-hdYkpGsq1zJPXtCRtSOkscYu5TVidaFQEepfSz5WWyic-_CP6L1U8QkAjVXGhu0WrampWS4F7_uz84hLmadnqYE/s2048/EE924DB6-95C8-4994-9674-7F56CE5EBE76_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1886" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyd69KBAnkof8Nr_I4-0d21L0g1D-ofPYRsA7611ASO4UZD2a-Mvk-hdYkpGsq1zJPXtCRtSOkscYu5TVidaFQEepfSz5WWyic-_CP6L1U8QkAjVXGhu0WrampWS4F7_uz84hLmadnqYE/s640/EE924DB6-95C8-4994-9674-7F56CE5EBE76_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most traumatic events in our world leave fall-out in their wake. Emotional events leave us trying to clean up the debris for years to come. Most of us know that we never, ever come away clean. Other traumatic events do the same. There will undoubtedly be ramifications from this pandemic that are felt near and far, tendrils that will snake through the towns and cities across the globe touching us all in one way or another. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a0782bd9-7fff-4ce2-f858-fdf56f79f743"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve all been experiencing changes in our own little worlds during this pandemic. One change that we’ve embraced in our home is the coming together of a neighborhood. We have seen our neighbors walk the streets seeking some sort of change of scenery, or a small amount of human contact-even if it IS from a distance. As people, we thrive on some amount of contact, whether it’s a voice in the phone or a shout across a driveway. We want- we NEED- some signs of life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While we aren’t in the middle of nuclear fallout, it certainly feels like it. Today when we see a neighbor walking along our road our first instinct is to reach out with a wave and shout, and we find ourselves laughing and chatting across the pavement and the grasses, relieved that there is someone out there to talk to OTHER than the people we’ve been imprisoned with for 6 months. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need signs of life. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our search for life, we have discovered wonderful and magical things about the people that live in the houses near ours. Had it not been for this global event, we could possibly have gone on forever with many wonderful surprises hidden from us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My surprise today was wrapped inside a beautiful woman named Linda. She lives in cul-de-sac next to our house, and in fact we can see her front door from across our lot. We chatted with her and her husband one day last week, and we discovered that she raises bees. She has a beehive that is flourishing in her backyard! She has always been interested in bees, as her son and his wife have been keeping hives for years. It was during the pandemic when our local university offered a free online course on bee hives that she decided to dive right in. Her hive was delivered and the bees introduced to their new home in the early spring. She offered to give me a tour the next day, as she was scheduled for the ten day inspection of the hive. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was thrilled! I am also fascinated by bees and have always secretly wanted a hive. I also know that a few more of our neighbors would love this experience, and contacted them after Linda encouraged me to bring some friends. I wanted to invite only those that have been part of our “quaren-team”, so as not to break any pandemic protocol. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We gathered in her backyard, which is beautifully landscaped to mirror an English Cottage Garden. It is laden with flowers such as flox, petunias, purple coneflower, hollyhocks, blue globe thistle and cosmos, just to name a few. She gave us an animated history of her journey and the life of honeybees. It was wonderful. She then handed us hats with netting that she has fashioned for her bee loving guests. We had already been instructed to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts, and the netted hat would complete our bee proof ensemble. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She led us to the back corner of the garden, and tucked behind the bee balm and the zucchini plants was a beautiful brown hive. You could see the entrance to the hive in the lower right corner, and we watched, enthralled, as she unwrapped the hive like an onion- one layer at a time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following shots will walk you through our field trip to the beehive. You will see the vertically stacked drawers of the hive (supers) that house about ten hanging frames per super. Typically there is a screen called a queen excluder between supers, to keep the queen in the brooding box which should be on the bottom. Our hive had the screen between the top layer and the middle layer, so many of the frames in the middle super and the bottom super had both honey combs for honey and combs for the broods. There is so much more to learn and more to share, but I think I’ll simply share pictures so that you can be a part of today’s successful search for signs of life. These magical discoveries in my own neighborhood have helped me heal amid this traumatic event...even if for a moment. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2HCLf7f1uGr1owz5O7c-kzzURCo0dz83Fx1C3EFESThQYW2HGFMnKH6X-jKz-JtJ0lendj5vXbYxbpd4JJesxV313k5jQVmIMuo7Sd6L8VrXbHd4ddyipvBzJAxMiomadTpYkBZI7LQ/s2048/F5AAC22A-6BEE-40BB-B90A-950BDADDA9AF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2HCLf7f1uGr1owz5O7c-kzzURCo0dz83Fx1C3EFESThQYW2HGFMnKH6X-jKz-JtJ0lendj5vXbYxbpd4JJesxV313k5jQVmIMuo7Sd6L8VrXbHd4ddyipvBzJAxMiomadTpYkBZI7LQ/s640/F5AAC22A-6BEE-40BB-B90A-950BDADDA9AF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOxdicX20KOvuqTtEDuHNxS9ojzK_Bgf8SbdxykVx_ArrQG-R8t4FCaQcyh2oWv6yg9KUmC2qDbuyDXiyve5VcByJuGGFiqS4ykipiasbV_TFb8IwSb9dM9Rz6DO7QrncFXHBwWAxHeh/s2048/118D5474-13A6-4BDA-BD99-0AB27ED22755_1_201_a.jpeg" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOxdicX20KOvuqTtEDuHNxS9ojzK_Bgf8SbdxykVx_ArrQG-R8t4FCaQcyh2oWv6yg9KUmC2qDbuyDXiyve5VcByJuGGFiqS4ykipiasbV_TFb8IwSb9dM9Rz6DO7QrncFXHBwWAxHeh/s640/118D5474-13A6-4BDA-BD99-0AB27ED22755_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0kmDkOFclgA8dPNXAfBwMnxEqTEb3VlRF5ohTUn9947LUl03tpBZyalxsuA8dVUv_BO_4bdbip50oZSW_47S2d-c4O7dW9k2hCElMFMHvoGndsfYEQvM4jP9RGi-jhGgGIFalV9zkexm/s2048/D9759925-0D74-4518-9B00-3BBA0D842BF7_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0kmDkOFclgA8dPNXAfBwMnxEqTEb3VlRF5ohTUn9947LUl03tpBZyalxsuA8dVUv_BO_4bdbip50oZSW_47S2d-c4O7dW9k2hCElMFMHvoGndsfYEQvM4jP9RGi-jhGgGIFalV9zkexm/s640/D9759925-0D74-4518-9B00-3BBA0D842BF7_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eKhAmaswCCL7v4USzrQFP-szcG0fkOXlCIGxW58dUicK7t9awGWyBuTHJgMoeh7Sx_Uw6XgkD9YxU_DZbO4D5PmIaNQtbXFusUoO71IEFEelfggLO0kVUmjsm2Jo1YJeWjmqeP98rTD6/s2048/C15F7FBF-5B59-4ED5-9CA8-392CD0E53EEC_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eKhAmaswCCL7v4USzrQFP-szcG0fkOXlCIGxW58dUicK7t9awGWyBuTHJgMoeh7Sx_Uw6XgkD9YxU_DZbO4D5PmIaNQtbXFusUoO71IEFEelfggLO0kVUmjsm2Jo1YJeWjmqeP98rTD6/s640/C15F7FBF-5B59-4ED5-9CA8-392CD0E53EEC_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linda, our extraordinary bee lady. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWJTpq8UEsce3V83yDVU-Q6JjZm0QXGFvYebnoL7A6LuqmbgaNSGaoKF8KmGWRAi3-aJcNNpdb97b5RdfY96RfDSDTUopzrjWCT4i_kj8FEC3MSYwdSpMyHAaUPl2TmPRQVmnGCiavTbd/s2048/56E1C127-E100-46D1-BC1C-1D7D146BAD3C.heic" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWJTpq8UEsce3V83yDVU-Q6JjZm0QXGFvYebnoL7A6LuqmbgaNSGaoKF8KmGWRAi3-aJcNNpdb97b5RdfY96RfDSDTUopzrjWCT4i_kj8FEC3MSYwdSpMyHAaUPl2TmPRQVmnGCiavTbd/s640/56E1C127-E100-46D1-BC1C-1D7D146BAD3C.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt40DVe7zcxCV8CR0s0d30zolRvHSu5FML9jH16jH5HyhBdbsjXyMkQ9queMj2wE22jPiZ3VqKkGOVm1uEBf9B8aIUK2IzAPVZuqo09FSkHlKKl8d7D7dg8w5QM2znyo9OAR4RpUT27QYU/s2048/BC674D76-05DC-41A9-9A71-EAEC076C1430.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt40DVe7zcxCV8CR0s0d30zolRvHSu5FML9jH16jH5HyhBdbsjXyMkQ9queMj2wE22jPiZ3VqKkGOVm1uEBf9B8aIUK2IzAPVZuqo09FSkHlKKl8d7D7dg8w5QM2znyo9OAR4RpUT27QYU/s640/BC674D76-05DC-41A9-9A71-EAEC076C1430.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what the queen arrives in. She has to eat her way out of the end of the box, which Linda put marshmallows in. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yyN9-Ytlfe0iQLroJQjpElUOEuprKdOvxO-DjHbATmSPgqMmTnO9gq3GWkeo3rXoHxaTzAV4IfmjVTGVqFXti0YiJGTcS56orgE_FpQATqwUgxHktWN5NSENxNIMQyCLjMT1DSZsmW0e/s2048/80F783DF-0233-42A1-A15B-BD2B3CDBA973.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yyN9-Ytlfe0iQLroJQjpElUOEuprKdOvxO-DjHbATmSPgqMmTnO9gq3GWkeo3rXoHxaTzAV4IfmjVTGVqFXti0YiJGTcS56orgE_FpQATqwUgxHktWN5NSENxNIMQyCLjMT1DSZsmW0e/s640/80F783DF-0233-42A1-A15B-BD2B3CDBA973.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1jKZ6u0Qu9-EpdwakFm2YnP17RIBWCgGq_g2WSJvtf3zdONuLS7w12X2iR2VJpvSGLW7Vtn8j24LQdNq_4QJ7SPWf-up6DItLSph1IKdpAkizfwb9bDsZeAr1bQQBMSZo7NkYpMQY6T7/s2048/2E7F5498-3510-4EAE-9A7E-910AE0579D6F.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1jKZ6u0Qu9-EpdwakFm2YnP17RIBWCgGq_g2WSJvtf3zdONuLS7w12X2iR2VJpvSGLW7Vtn8j24LQdNq_4QJ7SPWf-up6DItLSph1IKdpAkizfwb9bDsZeAr1bQQBMSZo7NkYpMQY6T7/s640/2E7F5498-3510-4EAE-9A7E-910AE0579D6F.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN6s0LecXXlGIxCDAznFyFSybz0DCXfV2y_u3y3GPUPk-D8AYJS5jaOAP0Cv8R2J1s-LvrhE-fAXRC2Xrw9pV8rdYT1I19qO4c5zC4VtTzOEGgvpourn1NPCe65Jihh0IZ9t3QfQ06J_V/s2048/09BFAEAC-7509-4379-ABDE-7BCE6DEBD188.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN6s0LecXXlGIxCDAznFyFSybz0DCXfV2y_u3y3GPUPk-D8AYJS5jaOAP0Cv8R2J1s-LvrhE-fAXRC2Xrw9pV8rdYT1I19qO4c5zC4VtTzOEGgvpourn1NPCe65Jihh0IZ9t3QfQ06J_V/s640/09BFAEAC-7509-4379-ABDE-7BCE6DEBD188.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A_czcjG4hgHLacYmznf0SLJuJpw0ctTAxAyNB4zCoWLEDA8k8g1Z8gDlvsJePGl2s2Z3b0u0OVozfxaxPr_P6oKIN1yG1eQacfXB4z0BpaqDYtLQKlfT9ij0hzUPyRKGPWpShF269Cer/s2048/30D4A98B-5F37-4363-8B48-431B25C063FF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A_czcjG4hgHLacYmznf0SLJuJpw0ctTAxAyNB4zCoWLEDA8k8g1Z8gDlvsJePGl2s2Z3b0u0OVozfxaxPr_P6oKIN1yG1eQacfXB4z0BpaqDYtLQKlfT9ij0hzUPyRKGPWpShF269Cer/s640/30D4A98B-5F37-4363-8B48-431B25C063FF.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWErPL9QKAsWrh94Aet-0acz1A5TlfjqeQ2o5Pzn9PHk80wOou0qj0HpiPVG86SBK3pEkiHoOdxAbjCtFbud8ozX5qHhJYOrax_nRrJH7aOUkZG6g7wPQW2AWr6NhZAyaoJ8Z3jSKRADau/s4032/F4AACEBC-E387-45BB-80E5-786E6C277467_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWErPL9QKAsWrh94Aet-0acz1A5TlfjqeQ2o5Pzn9PHk80wOou0qj0HpiPVG86SBK3pEkiHoOdxAbjCtFbud8ozX5qHhJYOrax_nRrJH7aOUkZG6g7wPQW2AWr6NhZAyaoJ8Z3jSKRADau/s640/F4AACEBC-E387-45BB-80E5-786E6C277467_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUIaUm1Eull9c3aMyMEfJXkO0bKS4YwQ6rq1Jc8O_A5r2Dk8A5s4uYqrp-BmtkC4WRlC7Q9030EK-xLnZGWWQOOZloXKk9IvOfOaU1wU3dGdKMFLBKlUdp_Y_BdbCycj9vlVJ28_vOJ3A/s1397/EAA8BDBE-14BD-47E1-A7DA-3F88CE2A5D41_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUIaUm1Eull9c3aMyMEfJXkO0bKS4YwQ6rq1Jc8O_A5r2Dk8A5s4uYqrp-BmtkC4WRlC7Q9030EK-xLnZGWWQOOZloXKk9IvOfOaU1wU3dGdKMFLBKlUdp_Y_BdbCycj9vlVJ28_vOJ3A/s640/EAA8BDBE-14BD-47E1-A7DA-3F88CE2A5D41_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RC2bd2oLi8o_Tprr2O3tcWH8RIaVTpgPbzhw3J-oL69QGTyEs3XU5WpowEaXIuHLue1I7sPHAMoVkVeGZ9VWS0_mB7RW2oULUTuOpRuiJkfQ4B2quNo6oyb_zWnalpDDx9f-kU1HL3M3/s4032/C33B836F-BA41-4584-AD89-2515DC597F77_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RC2bd2oLi8o_Tprr2O3tcWH8RIaVTpgPbzhw3J-oL69QGTyEs3XU5WpowEaXIuHLue1I7sPHAMoVkVeGZ9VWS0_mB7RW2oULUTuOpRuiJkfQ4B2quNo6oyb_zWnalpDDx9f-kU1HL3M3/s640/C33B836F-BA41-4584-AD89-2515DC597F77_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvljkYV4O891cb_-qoXKXUZqzAXMWYNJR49-U-FD5fxVjS5Jhp4FbNKeCXYx2CSdrpuzw_8K7s4fBUWKSIywhbdAuchjROgI5EgYxLKJ2Auzl-FhCjKROIY8b9T3DySFTQnxOR6ACNlJt/s2048/B4C94880-4F4B-4E0C-9FFD-5A96E887596D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvljkYV4O891cb_-qoXKXUZqzAXMWYNJR49-U-FD5fxVjS5Jhp4FbNKeCXYx2CSdrpuzw_8K7s4fBUWKSIywhbdAuchjROgI5EgYxLKJ2Auzl-FhCjKROIY8b9T3DySFTQnxOR6ACNlJt/s640/B4C94880-4F4B-4E0C-9FFD-5A96E887596D.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt6zJmCnqfKCKpON8Ez3E40UIGlGUQjArJc8vRqrgKu2Phe4T0fnuQPm0v2A1-bkuQIFT9-MvLS1svCFNTHm7x4RA6vh7PtQUNEx-tPThJap-ns4VVU6NPo9trEJ2gEIcdkCQ-qW1_KBK/s4032/A50C7155-7726-46C7-AB33-8DB617F1B925_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt6zJmCnqfKCKpON8Ez3E40UIGlGUQjArJc8vRqrgKu2Phe4T0fnuQPm0v2A1-bkuQIFT9-MvLS1svCFNTHm7x4RA6vh7PtQUNEx-tPThJap-ns4VVU6NPo9trEJ2gEIcdkCQ-qW1_KBK/s640/A50C7155-7726-46C7-AB33-8DB617F1B925_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0EkBNOarII64xg8pXEYQ-qNh02TwSNwJvxlmmnlDdlESchqAtdFiAjtoooClrhZj9xmTWbTo80n1wN7ztPSjZ86wii6eZ9kFyp4fwg9shRKbmhONF61st7qTBq3U3aKEXKy8Yyy4Ixck/s2048/A7D820A3-7B5D-4BC8-BACC-6C9646AE5775.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0EkBNOarII64xg8pXEYQ-qNh02TwSNwJvxlmmnlDdlESchqAtdFiAjtoooClrhZj9xmTWbTo80n1wN7ztPSjZ86wii6eZ9kFyp4fwg9shRKbmhONF61st7qTBq3U3aKEXKy8Yyy4Ixck/s640/A7D820A3-7B5D-4BC8-BACC-6C9646AE5775.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmAu-W8MWfp74HJOzdrmwz_l55ZWTIlpYPHnWrWnwaWg5EOUcpvX0KXTMsbJ-K36WTDhRDRdwrHCIuVdQz8xfMiEokSS7rth1Sc381hz6iMMGDDO2E2m71ssWj6IAPRYDV0_WEXQcE3Id/s2048/48621723-AD68-44FF-AD2D-1A16B78CF255.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmAu-W8MWfp74HJOzdrmwz_l55ZWTIlpYPHnWrWnwaWg5EOUcpvX0KXTMsbJ-K36WTDhRDRdwrHCIuVdQz8xfMiEokSS7rth1Sc381hz6iMMGDDO2E2m71ssWj6IAPRYDV0_WEXQcE3Id/s640/48621723-AD68-44FF-AD2D-1A16B78CF255.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHnChlsXrrUIqb54tOv_YS_DhEzY_ywNQiejLORlHb9PZ6Uj8-3ZhZR_srSnohqKYym96k7GNIzxj73Yfgh7NrzM81NcbwDRtW8TOyOmN6AT4QC56ew9oKnH7hllSDDO5OcBC1-1Wf0wC/s2048/95757EFF-92B3-4C84-9E7A-E1F4886F4384.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHnChlsXrrUIqb54tOv_YS_DhEzY_ywNQiejLORlHb9PZ6Uj8-3ZhZR_srSnohqKYym96k7GNIzxj73Yfgh7NrzM81NcbwDRtW8TOyOmN6AT4QC56ew9oKnH7hllSDDO5OcBC1-1Wf0wC/s640/95757EFF-92B3-4C84-9E7A-E1F4886F4384.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXK8OmOAJBlBmq2ecaj7m8OOoh9ZqgbE7fUsjUlCa9_kk7qglFMT0TFs6kMF4Yh8HRxcHJvxRFqwaGM61JSI8aZ2uh9U44hX4Ml-z3wrkZVUjjvWm1cEXi5Eb9hXQYwBmFr03Ws2fKOmM/s2048/46887AB0-DCC8-4BFA-9BE8-68B25137E410_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXK8OmOAJBlBmq2ecaj7m8OOoh9ZqgbE7fUsjUlCa9_kk7qglFMT0TFs6kMF4Yh8HRxcHJvxRFqwaGM61JSI8aZ2uh9U44hX4Ml-z3wrkZVUjjvWm1cEXi5Eb9hXQYwBmFr03Ws2fKOmM/s640/46887AB0-DCC8-4BFA-9BE8-68B25137E410_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfh0vXebjC3m-wg3VMWeFEGUTMnUdtmLYMqgzeO9FfJ3IhfUw4poJr9HaH5iW0IsG-uCsDwA-ED8pcttI0mLyw4Cs7kpQXL0kQss79U405PlU9uBv4JOwUXbYP4rXA-lvL0ECVKyG0Vw9/s4032/8488DCB5-390C-4620-8AFF-874616A6B6DC_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfh0vXebjC3m-wg3VMWeFEGUTMnUdtmLYMqgzeO9FfJ3IhfUw4poJr9HaH5iW0IsG-uCsDwA-ED8pcttI0mLyw4Cs7kpQXL0kQss79U405PlU9uBv4JOwUXbYP4rXA-lvL0ECVKyG0Vw9/s640/8488DCB5-390C-4620-8AFF-874616A6B6DC_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6D8s1BGZET8blEM59lSls4f98-LKipSBnNDDIYNKpIL2Bx2C8NH3_vTrel-kUkR8v_XttFQ0AAEj-dPa6JJQPty4EcR7E0YGBsXzkrxX7-2KzR7PY6xv6AXN5ReiWk0ytslj-neGTPJf/s2048/623F7E60-C778-4EE5-8DC5-CC4C394D53F5_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6D8s1BGZET8blEM59lSls4f98-LKipSBnNDDIYNKpIL2Bx2C8NH3_vTrel-kUkR8v_XttFQ0AAEj-dPa6JJQPty4EcR7E0YGBsXzkrxX7-2KzR7PY6xv6AXN5ReiWk0ytslj-neGTPJf/s640/623F7E60-C778-4EE5-8DC5-CC4C394D53F5_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm3RWzRHiA_n4LloDnt2rTIf6Dss3WdpxeD7GcA3rh3GhzwQgibpjP-z89MbsR8cWJ_k8gpZxD_aMbNhjjMJ4lCTPmi9AQuiHJidhD5EbvQKbOo48GdMcPb8-y4gOpovPyAEyun-t03jE/s1760/532FB104-102B-425B-BC85-59E93F981147_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="1320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm3RWzRHiA_n4LloDnt2rTIf6Dss3WdpxeD7GcA3rh3GhzwQgibpjP-z89MbsR8cWJ_k8gpZxD_aMbNhjjMJ4lCTPmi9AQuiHJidhD5EbvQKbOo48GdMcPb8-y4gOpovPyAEyun-t03jE/s640/532FB104-102B-425B-BC85-59E93F981147_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJqrJ2aGcHXpL3bsYsL8yPfkmap4rBRG4YWRbd4nKWSJ3kGg_9-iJYmLN0LMI2HJonUCKo-_cLqCjwoNISWqlXy9GbqW_GbcRpqsoY-ueqIzAHzUSJzpG9Pj_sVIzMq8AQTRNI4NbuN1T/s1920/227EA025-D0AB-42C5-B9C6-A7D4DFD5FC86_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJqrJ2aGcHXpL3bsYsL8yPfkmap4rBRG4YWRbd4nKWSJ3kGg_9-iJYmLN0LMI2HJonUCKo-_cLqCjwoNISWqlXy9GbqW_GbcRpqsoY-ueqIzAHzUSJzpG9Pj_sVIzMq8AQTRNI4NbuN1T/s640/227EA025-D0AB-42C5-B9C6-A7D4DFD5FC86_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOfprxlDqVwraEQDR0zIAlUgAiDiRgFyxRrOQJ_NDeMQYT0WMpDAq3J8nC7MX7luSSedWu18Fq-wPcpgP-jk_DHqh8Nql5VhQL6pA5_HM4y1Mf6k6WiZ_8ZsFM04qNX4z4t5F-cutsFTc/s2048/183AE732-1A5F-4B84-8755-8B9788765358.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOfprxlDqVwraEQDR0zIAlUgAiDiRgFyxRrOQJ_NDeMQYT0WMpDAq3J8nC7MX7luSSedWu18Fq-wPcpgP-jk_DHqh8Nql5VhQL6pA5_HM4y1Mf6k6WiZ_8ZsFM04qNX4z4t5F-cutsFTc/s640/183AE732-1A5F-4B84-8755-8B9788765358.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r9tW4szhyphenhyphenIIOHHMvwGtf7dGUSA4FbdNK3LFyYz8jsomUnN4PCvjPKnmtmKDSy0VcMQnn_EZD1Uy7Vdpls30cSOiWCXONBGRPPjggl2pXeGwOBXpByNFFv6e1UdJv6j1DrrQP2LinBt_8/s2048/56B049F8-83B8-403E-A2F3-EEC29D33062D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r9tW4szhyphenhyphenIIOHHMvwGtf7dGUSA4FbdNK3LFyYz8jsomUnN4PCvjPKnmtmKDSy0VcMQnn_EZD1Uy7Vdpls30cSOiWCXONBGRPPjggl2pXeGwOBXpByNFFv6e1UdJv6j1DrrQP2LinBt_8/s640/56B049F8-83B8-403E-A2F3-EEC29D33062D_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHRdJoyzxUPAtT8qCxgvQNZH6gBbXPsUcayERLh00HyX-bD3H_osao3lkn3gCwsvjP5O2B3JHMtDTc_8Jqo_Gm-QxbnKZEMj8eKBD14b6VGCpkaQM6dwzMmnaVyKFejUR5Whafrz0n_ed/s2048/8F245B2A-8A22-43A5-9FC6-A01AA344FEF4.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHRdJoyzxUPAtT8qCxgvQNZH6gBbXPsUcayERLh00HyX-bD3H_osao3lkn3gCwsvjP5O2B3JHMtDTc_8Jqo_Gm-QxbnKZEMj8eKBD14b6VGCpkaQM6dwzMmnaVyKFejUR5Whafrz0n_ed/s640/8F245B2A-8A22-43A5-9FC6-A01AA344FEF4.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHQRcc1XDdogD0JOfYeg6pcxQSyJxZM3z288s9wY8pmyYTYys11Ityxm7kL2MGLg6PyauXhgOink774bz6OspMFWXqWAQGgoibWco2lDenU6cpMcJfFQDoJb-03Vs78uTjDhFSRgu_FQl/s2048/7FAF9CEA-86A7-4098-8C20-D25BDEDC55B0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHQRcc1XDdogD0JOfYeg6pcxQSyJxZM3z288s9wY8pmyYTYys11Ityxm7kL2MGLg6PyauXhgOink774bz6OspMFWXqWAQGgoibWco2lDenU6cpMcJfFQDoJb-03Vs78uTjDhFSRgu_FQl/s640/7FAF9CEA-86A7-4098-8C20-D25BDEDC55B0.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9faTmr9y8atSTdXfIs8R49vzRfGlbCPA-n5laHerzUJGugCdIAUMua-6iuOjdgUat0EsHFoweEG1CwSiECPuHYd5QtV68OO2s6-KDkZf-XNlHdeGf9fSFJn3HrPIuX01daBQdVWgfox_/s2048/6EB56656-7D9D-4997-A2A8-ED68A2F53B5C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9faTmr9y8atSTdXfIs8R49vzRfGlbCPA-n5laHerzUJGugCdIAUMua-6iuOjdgUat0EsHFoweEG1CwSiECPuHYd5QtV68OO2s6-KDkZf-XNlHdeGf9fSFJn3HrPIuX01daBQdVWgfox_/s640/6EB56656-7D9D-4997-A2A8-ED68A2F53B5C.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmblF5tddkXZTOrzhC-BTbPTl8zw5rHHyL7hr8RMsbIuPV9C304dmyhHRikqaaXKvt5NK49GDK34RF-2cfAwT0E8fEWeZ6UjnteG28rynWzefZFPB1km3P9cwfBUYmQw8_6ZjDW9_lZ-Th/s2048/6B5CE16A-7785-4E88-BF5C-863DFEFCE424.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmblF5tddkXZTOrzhC-BTbPTl8zw5rHHyL7hr8RMsbIuPV9C304dmyhHRikqaaXKvt5NK49GDK34RF-2cfAwT0E8fEWeZ6UjnteG28rynWzefZFPB1km3P9cwfBUYmQw8_6ZjDW9_lZ-Th/s640/6B5CE16A-7785-4E88-BF5C-863DFEFCE424.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVxBdhHD0PJBiyJ5jGFO1eAEssOaNt0tbybPi_e1JGQlO4P9sk3EBkVsJpJ3qYNrrDmJV0ZfDgzsE5J4l_jXBMb1niCVDsv2-IiUc6XWimsZhzRdk7e2L2g_ZEKAxd5-kj5RuCb7Ao62E/s1804/6B0B7D7C-137F-4CE5-B496-7AF3AF228C8F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1352" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVxBdhHD0PJBiyJ5jGFO1eAEssOaNt0tbybPi_e1JGQlO4P9sk3EBkVsJpJ3qYNrrDmJV0ZfDgzsE5J4l_jXBMb1niCVDsv2-IiUc6XWimsZhzRdk7e2L2g_ZEKAxd5-kj5RuCb7Ao62E/s640/6B0B7D7C-137F-4CE5-B496-7AF3AF228C8F_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What have you done today in your search for signs of life? </span></div>Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-19702279467679826662020-04-14T11:02:00.000-04:002020-04-14T13:44:58.874-04:00Finding wonder in the (confined) world around me.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Well it’s April 14<sup>th</sup>, day #whothehellknows for the shelter-in-place, hard/soft lockdown, beach closures, water closures and no one leaves their home orders. We are (mostly) all following the requests that the government has made to keep the people on this island safe, healthy and alive. However, because there are those who just don’t GET IT, the lockdowns never seem to end, and only become more and more confining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Of course, there are always those few naughty kids who ruin recess for everyone, and as a retired teacher I sincerely apologize for all the times I allowed that to happen. I will admit that towards the end of my career I realized that it really WASN’T fair or smart to expect that the fidgety, restless and impulsive children would really understand why the whole class was punished, and I found other ways to “help” the challenging student figure out why he needed to learn to control his behavior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">It doesn’t work when there’s a pandemic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">So, since I haven’t been able to walk the beaches to look for treasure and to ease my mind and my soul, I have revisited the tour I took of the Queen’s Botanical Gardens here in Grand Cayman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">I visited one day on my own and was thrilled and shocked to discover amazing beauty along the many paths in the Gardens. So, I am going to share these images in the hopes that it gives you a brief moment of pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">I think that this “great pause” is one that for me, is giving me even more reason to find things to be happy about each day. I am using this time to really look around me and enjoy the wonder of my world. I hope that you are able to find moments of joy throughout your days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">If you try very hard, you might be able to hear the parrots as they squawked in the trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjn2BbfGZwNLjbGCnO6z7OPTuANCBHhgOOcMmkW2XSp2uGySu6UwAlt487CV-bdu-nBJnOWMkS05nFJYrIqY8eonuBJb5DDf5vg8YZqSiU-YW7sSjB6_Ktb0uqEG6at35Cf4yZRkdyCVb/s1600/0AF7FADF-0EEA-4943-92F6-8FFC2E867C5D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjn2BbfGZwNLjbGCnO6z7OPTuANCBHhgOOcMmkW2XSp2uGySu6UwAlt487CV-bdu-nBJnOWMkS05nFJYrIqY8eonuBJb5DDf5vg8YZqSiU-YW7sSjB6_Ktb0uqEG6at35Cf4yZRkdyCVb/s640/0AF7FADF-0EEA-4943-92F6-8FFC2E867C5D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQS2jn6lrqN_LIEqPE_IQvYK3vbZYF8vUO-C62CHRK_FSs8yzvSS5VbCtnSf9xlie9wG3UfAzeiq_udaNQFLrCIKswGUwOsJ2xhuwWiAt1DWWTd0arsVIe5S7NaKC4OPWbbkFNeLMxZ5_/s1600/1B0D5F81-7877-46E3-8547-8333DD5A8B7E_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQS2jn6lrqN_LIEqPE_IQvYK3vbZYF8vUO-C62CHRK_FSs8yzvSS5VbCtnSf9xlie9wG3UfAzeiq_udaNQFLrCIKswGUwOsJ2xhuwWiAt1DWWTd0arsVIe5S7NaKC4OPWbbkFNeLMxZ5_/s640/1B0D5F81-7877-46E3-8547-8333DD5A8B7E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2GxYrgCkCXL_LX9LCebyL9T_aU4wJR-JaNJ30EsM_SOjnidBj3zN0uxJJfuaEj0XMNLFRPn75SIfbXcYDZPn6_2tbg9vrbcRRxnHkJy6-foeinq-gPH_gKRXHfGIiknxQn1NRt36ncGg/s1600/3A66AD70-A17A-4BBF-B5F3-D2D2D1253055_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1476" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2GxYrgCkCXL_LX9LCebyL9T_aU4wJR-JaNJ30EsM_SOjnidBj3zN0uxJJfuaEj0XMNLFRPn75SIfbXcYDZPn6_2tbg9vrbcRRxnHkJy6-foeinq-gPH_gKRXHfGIiknxQn1NRt36ncGg/s640/3A66AD70-A17A-4BBF-B5F3-D2D2D1253055_1_201_a.jpeg" width="588" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6wgIaPHy-t41rSSLUi0vSPfk_-A6jj-1OsRv-klOf2Kyu87kE136KP4x9mRcd86lB531wRqcaOjQHYT08Kir20_g-fBxcXm99s68kuud44ytLLNhiGg41cLMmTOZy0tFQZPy5dE-XK0P/s1600/4D4F7D3E-3BCD-43CA-89A8-B1E95DC143B3_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6wgIaPHy-t41rSSLUi0vSPfk_-A6jj-1OsRv-klOf2Kyu87kE136KP4x9mRcd86lB531wRqcaOjQHYT08Kir20_g-fBxcXm99s68kuud44ytLLNhiGg41cLMmTOZy0tFQZPy5dE-XK0P/s640/4D4F7D3E-3BCD-43CA-89A8-B1E95DC143B3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDlMoa8TbRaQY5jZTV8vowG3MjTOQ02XWwQP0idt_ZH67HXY2rvY8MJiTTRkGMEAZYTjmppPFRuCxyeSCEyBqWvrpAtRQ8ZcnFiAAKXGfl3o_LiT7eG-Z6YNvIXhT3NFDBVRIcq038vP/s1600/9A8216F9-B960-48E3-BDC7-A44C0F9230CE_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDlMoa8TbRaQY5jZTV8vowG3MjTOQ02XWwQP0idt_ZH67HXY2rvY8MJiTTRkGMEAZYTjmppPFRuCxyeSCEyBqWvrpAtRQ8ZcnFiAAKXGfl3o_LiT7eG-Z6YNvIXhT3NFDBVRIcq038vP/s640/9A8216F9-B960-48E3-BDC7-A44C0F9230CE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS3TR72FgknxMrec95OwbsnbsN85xdtgvVAsz4p80s7NUUn52eKbs5c2xHLd18ps9mFj6yoegkCOnAbYxRxkgrc8Zi3Vijl43PdCoAlg4IYkeK3BYblK9ZB6zlLQqZl1v81ymoMS5tC-y/s1600/26B8D1B1-B4C7-477E-A66A-DD12536F8037_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS3TR72FgknxMrec95OwbsnbsN85xdtgvVAsz4p80s7NUUn52eKbs5c2xHLd18ps9mFj6yoegkCOnAbYxRxkgrc8Zi3Vijl43PdCoAlg4IYkeK3BYblK9ZB6zlLQqZl1v81ymoMS5tC-y/s640/26B8D1B1-B4C7-477E-A66A-DD12536F8037_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G906glg7g1DpSMM-fdM_bn9aNLyKRPuDalZcreESIvkBfznmh2H201YnZen9mE1lusVODzpBE7yTExUm7GCD8vhwkkqDzSR9V2P27Paa9hUK37nqHxsnXc26RfcnuVc45UKs_2Nv6WT-/s1600/224CF8BB-989B-4FAC-B3AE-6128506DB31D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G906glg7g1DpSMM-fdM_bn9aNLyKRPuDalZcreESIvkBfznmh2H201YnZen9mE1lusVODzpBE7yTExUm7GCD8vhwkkqDzSR9V2P27Paa9hUK37nqHxsnXc26RfcnuVc45UKs_2Nv6WT-/s640/224CF8BB-989B-4FAC-B3AE-6128506DB31D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrM2vNq6RL-w1xe2SsBkyjP4fqYbR2oDcfZ9XJIOOFcmKSTgwNHV5FTuzIug0YayssEtwczsc3IC1dodkFYhJ-Q0X19UIlNr8q3Fb5i8BMaINH8qTgqjW-38Eh6X3m6qc2thj2UorU6Eh/s1600/294D4479-4C0B-472D-A988-CFF393D69ED1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrM2vNq6RL-w1xe2SsBkyjP4fqYbR2oDcfZ9XJIOOFcmKSTgwNHV5FTuzIug0YayssEtwczsc3IC1dodkFYhJ-Q0X19UIlNr8q3Fb5i8BMaINH8qTgqjW-38Eh6X3m6qc2thj2UorU6Eh/s640/294D4479-4C0B-472D-A988-CFF393D69ED1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4plowjTS_4ENxZehq5gmIEtobmJshUFwY6rTZY667DdEpaoKS1nMSIzEPnldn5gIR-zUNxZ0_tDr6_Tkyu5kAttVbMoboxKzsQdZTc4C53jD2uBePlb9KmZ3AprlKgdWhVatV_UbTEr3/s1600/340CE3EE-109E-4DAB-96B5-8759325F5FD0_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4plowjTS_4ENxZehq5gmIEtobmJshUFwY6rTZY667DdEpaoKS1nMSIzEPnldn5gIR-zUNxZ0_tDr6_Tkyu5kAttVbMoboxKzsQdZTc4C53jD2uBePlb9KmZ3AprlKgdWhVatV_UbTEr3/s640/340CE3EE-109E-4DAB-96B5-8759325F5FD0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7Q8Iz5xmz1PesJY0Aq0yZeV6kCLQnnV8P5_OpJCWSF3lhTIjUpNR9E2ZOVhkb6ye1HsPm5LUcYV8YZzkX3XF7skzZSBBPpzWCIsKGM2bhDJGHvk1XT61fTjIA-UNDSl4lRkLrw3t5U9v/s1600/492DEFAE-187C-48AB-9C2F-7753E920FDF2_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7Q8Iz5xmz1PesJY0Aq0yZeV6kCLQnnV8P5_OpJCWSF3lhTIjUpNR9E2ZOVhkb6ye1HsPm5LUcYV8YZzkX3XF7skzZSBBPpzWCIsKGM2bhDJGHvk1XT61fTjIA-UNDSl4lRkLrw3t5U9v/s640/492DEFAE-187C-48AB-9C2F-7753E920FDF2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr9lNcBAo7cq3bIReaHnou5L-3JjfvzNeaIsVlILCktO4vmjFv4AcFM3owhvly1TtHG395GFdQECYfC1UwS4X6o813-ccg6awk2AM72oBSlb6WcMpU_vfrjKszDomSLPAmO5qMjkekuAU/s1600/7430EB6C-EAF2-4865-B8C1-DA4CE47B9520_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr9lNcBAo7cq3bIReaHnou5L-3JjfvzNeaIsVlILCktO4vmjFv4AcFM3owhvly1TtHG395GFdQECYfC1UwS4X6o813-ccg6awk2AM72oBSlb6WcMpU_vfrjKszDomSLPAmO5qMjkekuAU/s640/7430EB6C-EAF2-4865-B8C1-DA4CE47B9520_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6eWCB7ha3q2X0oH6UlEQeQapH6hMRyOy-2eqGEoUHAh9iZ071Zie8RSbgqq9fyfPcPuxzv0b9L6hq9P7IrsKATL7y9sZaa3aHxBP21xC_1Pha9sxWOWcANeOGMVVJZ-_sAKUJFU5vkli/s1600/383333F9-BE43-4975-9504-EFA8DDF66A95_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6eWCB7ha3q2X0oH6UlEQeQapH6hMRyOy-2eqGEoUHAh9iZ071Zie8RSbgqq9fyfPcPuxzv0b9L6hq9P7IrsKATL7y9sZaa3aHxBP21xC_1Pha9sxWOWcANeOGMVVJZ-_sAKUJFU5vkli/s640/383333F9-BE43-4975-9504-EFA8DDF66A95_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6BscT8oN0Kmb-yLrjw4gmZ0NypkrYqFjcmPg2lNCEynHGrgApRBYfW1RmeBMUEwS-VF5wK2ScpBG9RxZprKq9SOMLvc_L2CgKbwQbr6KGiYsGbrky9pL7mlU71tImXVjD8p_n_MoVdsB/s1600/ABE575AF-0AD9-4A37-9BB7-BB0FBE9126EC_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6BscT8oN0Kmb-yLrjw4gmZ0NypkrYqFjcmPg2lNCEynHGrgApRBYfW1RmeBMUEwS-VF5wK2ScpBG9RxZprKq9SOMLvc_L2CgKbwQbr6KGiYsGbrky9pL7mlU71tImXVjD8p_n_MoVdsB/s640/ABE575AF-0AD9-4A37-9BB7-BB0FBE9126EC_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRBkOeMmet9eJV-p0kwq-jNyKCnSlWGsZNcS9YOx1psrBARjfWGdDXavllfPOEBngeg5Fe8Zc_kwS8BYmd1YbJTP7nRrIb4v0E_L_zxoTG-hr9lZu63EhIcj_53LLc5W7h0DsL0FSC81l/s1600/BD659DEA-7713-4638-9D69-EF68081C3E07_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRBkOeMmet9eJV-p0kwq-jNyKCnSlWGsZNcS9YOx1psrBARjfWGdDXavllfPOEBngeg5Fe8Zc_kwS8BYmd1YbJTP7nRrIb4v0E_L_zxoTG-hr9lZu63EhIcj_53LLc5W7h0DsL0FSC81l/s640/BD659DEA-7713-4638-9D69-EF68081C3E07_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhbNssbkvKxa4KAYo6Otufg54-nNJgzHrft9LMVZoEg_oD6mzIaBgc-ZHVEXDXithiutYg5nUb_5oZXtqIoh2vbJVU3HFU-jKZ2z6OBZtnQAXGi9fhf2SeqqfYVa95RxiXyjyxPQpGArf/s1600/BFCE41CC-9EE4-418A-A694-87DE9EA35BCD_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhbNssbkvKxa4KAYo6Otufg54-nNJgzHrft9LMVZoEg_oD6mzIaBgc-ZHVEXDXithiutYg5nUb_5oZXtqIoh2vbJVU3HFU-jKZ2z6OBZtnQAXGi9fhf2SeqqfYVa95RxiXyjyxPQpGArf/s640/BFCE41CC-9EE4-418A-A694-87DE9EA35BCD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd6c2k1rp_8iA12cDse2A-iJUISyPKsOHLi_CBzrGTGUlWNHRNwqEpzwvjaFZYZI_zYGU4ecChFhF0hf-C7LqAMV_dHvpm-CQyN5GH9YBLMseWWhAeAp7EbqhjvK7fXEYXxWTtI_SuodA/s1600/C6F09F55-AA47-4588-9F5A-2B31A8FF1CF4_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd6c2k1rp_8iA12cDse2A-iJUISyPKsOHLi_CBzrGTGUlWNHRNwqEpzwvjaFZYZI_zYGU4ecChFhF0hf-C7LqAMV_dHvpm-CQyN5GH9YBLMseWWhAeAp7EbqhjvK7fXEYXxWTtI_SuodA/s640/C6F09F55-AA47-4588-9F5A-2B31A8FF1CF4_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-bg-oKxQQt4PITggFV9l5NSP9LiE_bragytRTVcIe0LLiZiKlGfy_kcwieb7LcrA4IsU7Yj_nxlph6A5edyh_wfid6Dq4yjp2la6P0YluBwSP_PInXO_8_g7yykBk6m89wPwueBXSqE7/s1600/C76A91B4-7F42-432A-8F07-F97A724BE442_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-bg-oKxQQt4PITggFV9l5NSP9LiE_bragytRTVcIe0LLiZiKlGfy_kcwieb7LcrA4IsU7Yj_nxlph6A5edyh_wfid6Dq4yjp2la6P0YluBwSP_PInXO_8_g7yykBk6m89wPwueBXSqE7/s640/C76A91B4-7F42-432A-8F07-F97A724BE442_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T1PXd2wG8EvrmqLA8Nr28MH1yOO9X27K7dBzKeUpNd1bsUUfdQ6Ls8ai-_PPlVeDGb39LiyI4WpdUBGDC7bYKDzuzy7HtKnXNZvFunhREcR2HBUPTgd5VW3YY35QTNsLWKYIWcWUpDWj/s1600/CF8159FF-7161-434D-9965-3187B9BB1A35_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T1PXd2wG8EvrmqLA8Nr28MH1yOO9X27K7dBzKeUpNd1bsUUfdQ6Ls8ai-_PPlVeDGb39LiyI4WpdUBGDC7bYKDzuzy7HtKnXNZvFunhREcR2HBUPTgd5VW3YY35QTNsLWKYIWcWUpDWj/s640/CF8159FF-7161-434D-9965-3187B9BB1A35_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMpPm0ph13Mliwi72bqAh3PCTHX_w1oEnmX2gd3LAzLN4poms3n4ihWLeO7uQ3dsOafZGXyu3C7MmRnqRqAX1_yDHsnecVNohk-nvhN1GBXoZXOxRr51nJGUDl-5YSjfmLCubTsuP7OsU/s1600/DB08EDE1-162C-4916-AAC2-6FEE1C809541_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMpPm0ph13Mliwi72bqAh3PCTHX_w1oEnmX2gd3LAzLN4poms3n4ihWLeO7uQ3dsOafZGXyu3C7MmRnqRqAX1_yDHsnecVNohk-nvhN1GBXoZXOxRr51nJGUDl-5YSjfmLCubTsuP7OsU/s640/DB08EDE1-162C-4916-AAC2-6FEE1C809541_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cEEVyPiy3AbFGunwlPavbt4hiLMedWx6X2hV55L8bTTGuxnX44q2F2nTw__WEn7R2lVRX4uS0SFvmQenQdjaOW9l7KbTCD8ALQKP-otXbi2O37qbK0Vgp7HPKn4WtMDXo2laqOka4big/s1600/F02609EA-6B67-4A23-B86D-2597A116C315_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cEEVyPiy3AbFGunwlPavbt4hiLMedWx6X2hV55L8bTTGuxnX44q2F2nTw__WEn7R2lVRX4uS0SFvmQenQdjaOW9l7KbTCD8ALQKP-otXbi2O37qbK0Vgp7HPKn4WtMDXo2laqOka4big/s640/F02609EA-6B67-4A23-B86D-2597A116C315_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbvQc4nR9jO4FJxA2e3C2zjRszb1Yqv_YjkH43KNthGQYfukvpwsXVoewwrOc57YpCrRMOL1fJBtsEyXQjXhJ10FaXTZFzLw51UvgAvrFIC4FXHvQp3EKF5HDPBnmgUiX0Y71A8m8QwZM/s1600/F74098B9-A98B-46C9-A1DE-B723B63E1068_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbvQc4nR9jO4FJxA2e3C2zjRszb1Yqv_YjkH43KNthGQYfukvpwsXVoewwrOc57YpCrRMOL1fJBtsEyXQjXhJ10FaXTZFzLw51UvgAvrFIC4FXHvQp3EKF5HDPBnmgUiX0Y71A8m8QwZM/s640/F74098B9-A98B-46C9-A1DE-B723B63E1068_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">I hope you can share with me your moments of joy today. #BeSafe #StayHome</span></div>
</div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-91324393322238828402020-03-26T12:02:00.002-04:002020-03-27T14:22:31.012-04:00Open your eyes, please. The joy is right in front of you.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaLh_k42a0Eh4wVfN79j9a4PhTNgjgKJ-8ST12hz16UTHyyWcZHNS1hrG2m-8g6gPeALtAFj7FDnS6TJ6GvvJeJi7kG8CTQvVnQHRRs-MhJsUm037_f4-be3cWKiPKKN8egXrbpu8XFLj/s1600/5EA4CDFD-02AD-436F-9F52-B97219161B3C_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaLh_k42a0Eh4wVfN79j9a4PhTNgjgKJ-8ST12hz16UTHyyWcZHNS1hrG2m-8g6gPeALtAFj7FDnS6TJ6GvvJeJi7kG8CTQvVnQHRRs-MhJsUm037_f4-be3cWKiPKKN8egXrbpu8XFLj/s640/5EA4CDFD-02AD-436F-9F52-B97219161B3C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">While we are here in Grand Cayman, I always begin my day with a walk. I know it’s probably not the SMART thing to do, but I always take the same route. Sure, it’s the opposite of what I tell my daughters to do every single day, but oh well. I love the path, and I am a creature of habit. (I will try to work on that.) </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I take a walk each morning along the road to a particular place that has public beach access. I walk up the steep steps to the opening, and make my way to the beach. It’s a lovely, lovely sight to see the sun just as it rises across Caribbean. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I then turn and make my way home along the beach at the water’s edge. The sound of the water gently rolling on the shore is incredibly peaceful and calming. Because there is a coral reef that surrounds most of the island, the waves do their initial crashing along that reef, which makes the tide that comes onto the beaches relatively calm and soothing. The water is the most beautiful blue you’ve ever seen, and the smell is fresh and salty. In fact, the fresh smell from the water is unlike any I’ve experienced on a beach. It almost has no smell at all, except what I can only describe as fresh and clean. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I walk the sand between the high tide line and the incoming water. I do this so that I can see what treasures the water has brought from the sea, and I am almost never disappointed. I’ve discovered many treasures that come up from the beach- many different small shells, sea sponges, sea fans and sea urchins. It’s the urchin shells that I treasure, because they are so fragile and somewhat hard to find! </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_Ycms7ro228HPUHb5-jZVoTOKU5FW6OQ6QDyTxiXTfiUobgTTiGzhCXA_c7dfhO6u_31ELyZaisVXxZgmvxap8rLij-yHpHSEUMjBJMXqI81Sbgx1C43YoFX7MbXLC62uIwZJFr2Sp3G/s1600/773FE7B8-245D-4224-BC72-AC0C8C535054.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_Ycms7ro228HPUHb5-jZVoTOKU5FW6OQ6QDyTxiXTfiUobgTTiGzhCXA_c7dfhO6u_31ELyZaisVXxZgmvxap8rLij-yHpHSEUMjBJMXqI81Sbgx1C43YoFX7MbXLC62uIwZJFr2Sp3G/s640/773FE7B8-245D-4224-BC72-AC0C8C535054.heic" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I have discovered that there are a few places that seem to have at least one or two each morning. I’ve learned through some research that sea urchins inhabit shallow reefs and sea grass beds that are somewhat protected. When the beach veers to the left as I’m walking, I know that it might be an area where some sea urchins will be washed ashore. They are often nestled in the turtle grass that comes ashore with the tide, and because they are so light, they are often on top of the grass. You have to know what you’re looking for, as some can be very tiny! They are usually white, but will sometimes have a green tint due to the algae. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRMRiHSWFkq-BjyWyGPprlXlswJci1RQSwe97uGqO54gR6SjEc9m2d4O-8jHS8aW-PF_84tVHh3-mB_y4Fv6PPBKM238laR2G8nQUsa0-PyKcwWeqVQfdRHrurT1sGtyp7gc-OanzInUy/s1600/28CB427A-AD42-4D1F-8034-2394B562A5AA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRMRiHSWFkq-BjyWyGPprlXlswJci1RQSwe97uGqO54gR6SjEc9m2d4O-8jHS8aW-PF_84tVHh3-mB_y4Fv6PPBKM238laR2G8nQUsa0-PyKcwWeqVQfdRHrurT1sGtyp7gc-OanzInUy/s640/28CB427A-AD42-4D1F-8034-2394B562A5AA.heic" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Lately I’ve also discovered some urchin shells in places that I haven’t found any before. Once in a while as I’m walking, I’ll see one perched alone on the sand as if it had just been left by the wave that rolled in. My heart always skips a beat when I find one, and it brings me joy. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mzh7usrQk0kATBCJ-eGi83PQ9LWcWcuiozmmlW_3IsoSeFUuLnlMLyejOBg7SiRMaG8-81uOM1oOFJejI0WpRrg7k0R0gJDe3YUgzEeDHmFSl2Er62FZMRilWeX4u5cl-rmTMAUEVpjA/s1600/5FE4D15F-CD00-4E24-A655-3037965188EF.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mzh7usrQk0kATBCJ-eGi83PQ9LWcWcuiozmmlW_3IsoSeFUuLnlMLyejOBg7SiRMaG8-81uOM1oOFJejI0WpRrg7k0R0gJDe3YUgzEeDHmFSl2Er62FZMRilWeX4u5cl-rmTMAUEVpjA/s640/5FE4D15F-CD00-4E24-A655-3037965188EF.heic" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I find these moments of joy throughout my day because I am open to them. I delight in them and my heart is thankful for them. I think that if you look for your <i>own </i>moments of joy each day, it makes this life a blessed one, indeed. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIF_ZIiNiZhlK0gYfnLsIAczp2nzFYByqEMEN6CvA2bn3aheF5i78EhM_G67ipeIlkP3irMuKRhYLzh7DZyCzUaA4Tg7qTlphOdVrtW30xT-FOKGJ1uGViwsb1BlLPKp_UWDuyt5d834hK/s1600/9B2E9236-078B-44E5-99C9-FC3F59E3F601.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIF_ZIiNiZhlK0gYfnLsIAczp2nzFYByqEMEN6CvA2bn3aheF5i78EhM_G67ipeIlkP3irMuKRhYLzh7DZyCzUaA4Tg7qTlphOdVrtW30xT-FOKGJ1uGViwsb1BlLPKp_UWDuyt5d834hK/s640/9B2E9236-078B-44E5-99C9-FC3F59E3F601.heic" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> How do YOU find your joy? </span></div>
</div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-87208988688222524212020-03-20T10:44:00.001-04:002020-03-23T06:54:40.727-04:00Flatten the Damn curve. Please. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">March 20, 2020 </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YvnSVaxrXZ2Tj-vV_YFAER0huNisu1K1DLGrkPWmACfTzP9OTGfRot3Q3j8r-0-pKOM65a8OilfQxw2RcZEcHRKcLmGpOKO4cfylKxvmNgX5ShcEg7MZb8UkrzA984z7GoIqa6hkQlFO/s1600/B7D57B32-BD1E-47F3-9F84-73B48DEFC3D4.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YvnSVaxrXZ2Tj-vV_YFAER0huNisu1K1DLGrkPWmACfTzP9OTGfRot3Q3j8r-0-pKOM65a8OilfQxw2RcZEcHRKcLmGpOKO4cfylKxvmNgX5ShcEg7MZb8UkrzA984z7GoIqa6hkQlFO/s400/B7D57B32-BD1E-47F3-9F84-73B48DEFC3D4.heic" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">March 20, 2020 </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e2009313-7fff-8b49-7ec8-4577640cf610" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We came to The Cayman Islands on Christmas Eve, as we have been spending that particular holiday </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">here for the last five years or so. My adult children seem to always have other plans at Christmas, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">so instead of moping about at home in Pennsylvania, we decided to come to Fred’s home in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Grand Cayman instead. It has worked out very well, indeed. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who doesn’t want to be in the sunshine surrounded by clear blue water? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We didn’t know at the time- as many of us didn’t- that we would be staying here a lot </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">longer than we had planned. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">We left briefly a few times in February - once for a funeral and once so that Sassy could</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">pick out her WEDDING GOWN. (That's another story entirely.) We hope that her wedding</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">will go on as planned, but we know that the events leading up to a wedding will most likely </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">be postponed or cancelled altogether. She is prepared for whatever this future brings. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We have done what we can here at Cayman to prepare to hunker down for the long haul. We hope it’s a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">short haul, but are prepared emotionally and physically for a long haul. We have purchased just enough</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> food to last a few weeks or more, so that we can abide by the social isolation rule. We are not hoarding, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but want to have enough so that we don’t HAVE to shop or have anyone deliver to us. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We have puzzles, games, booze, snorkeling gear and the Caribbean in our front yard. I would say we </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">are far better off than most folks, and my heart goes out to them all. While we could have returned to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the US this week, we felt that it was in our own best interest to stay here. I am 60 with high blood </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">pressure and a family history of heart disease, and Fred is 75. He just recovered from pneumonia in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">February, has a heart condition and high blood pressure and other various underlying health concerns. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was adamant that he stay put and not expose himself to anyone in airports or on airplanes. We </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have to ALL be vigilant and make the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">best choices that we can. I am worrying about my own children</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">daily, but am sure that they are making good choices. I am threatening them with bodily HARM IF</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">THEY DON'T. I have ALWAYS told them to make good choices, but kids never listen, do they? Well</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">now their lives depend on it- and the lives of others around them.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You know the curve everyone is talking about? THAT’S what we should all be contributing to -- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">flattening the curve and decreasing the amount of personal contact and helping save the lives </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">of all around us. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t be stupid. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t be selfish.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don't be reckless.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t make spur of the moment decisions. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Be smart. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Be kind. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Be smart. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Think long and hard about going anywhere. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Love from afar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Flatten the damn curve. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-60408272572973191862020-02-19T13:14:00.001-05:002020-02-19T13:14:40.839-05:00I love surprises. (aka Squidward Tentacles is alive and well)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been trying to snorkel every day since we've been here at Grand Cayman. Fortunately my fella has a home right on the water, so it's incredibly easy to meet my goal. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcR1GtwUHBdjCRiRyLtxeVoMkBw7N1tuXvzRubrtqYT1sB5UMDnpwzuhkl09shGVAlYkjgqQRb-7AEP-BFLHW3cGUKVkjlUutbUBvA9nDQmYm4VVLudbAb6K77vdClQQsTJqzGbLzquDZ/s1600/97ED54C0-A83A-402E-8C62-31C27A6B39BE_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcR1GtwUHBdjCRiRyLtxeVoMkBw7N1tuXvzRubrtqYT1sB5UMDnpwzuhkl09shGVAlYkjgqQRb-7AEP-BFLHW3cGUKVkjlUutbUBvA9nDQmYm4VVLudbAb6K77vdClQQsTJqzGbLzquDZ/s400/97ED54C0-A83A-402E-8C62-31C27A6B39BE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="335" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
See that view? It's from the front door.<br />
<br />
I've been seeing some amazing things every single day. I snorkel in almost the same area, but am always thrilled when I see something new. Today is was this fella.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo-kzxNU-T91B0GmiPIVerJ374SxIbNhRmFaFzSaECw_s4IIf945fDFOTWPKFNadRe8CQ3n-FJQY02DBhiUFUUWVbLU1YssDBqBgzYYDq8O39tjLrvcnsTKYNe2svSHhvhgkCMbSubW1o/s1600/1EF62C0D-502A-4A33-860A-32577FB8D205_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo-kzxNU-T91B0GmiPIVerJ374SxIbNhRmFaFzSaECw_s4IIf945fDFOTWPKFNadRe8CQ3n-FJQY02DBhiUFUUWVbLU1YssDBqBgzYYDq8O39tjLrvcnsTKYNe2svSHhvhgkCMbSubW1o/s400/1EF62C0D-502A-4A33-860A-32577FB8D205_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0KRgNV-DN_ymQhPA4EgBEQkpbbNcnxxmYJ44vMqy1RVDnc68mmVmOoMndAAjMY5VAC4wY6A3ezouBGnoUX5mlDsJs9FwUXr36bEaCHO1IeEDPWrExR1YiNLK98LU4bkUqdWaUV5ccDCc/s1600/7F248EAD-66CE-467E-8073-2BCFBEF6F37C_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0KRgNV-DN_ymQhPA4EgBEQkpbbNcnxxmYJ44vMqy1RVDnc68mmVmOoMndAAjMY5VAC4wY6A3ezouBGnoUX5mlDsJs9FwUXr36bEaCHO1IeEDPWrExR1YiNLK98LU4bkUqdWaUV5ccDCc/s400/7F248EAD-66CE-467E-8073-2BCFBEF6F37C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3c-3DEFV3PnBpZTI4c12t5zqTfgnr3ROLRxpzqpwehO2EQNhs5NAv6jfuo3MSxhafnB141G8FfnXeT2Em7n0UXw92I7uTPzLfEspL8xx5j1BMly2LtmV7sBM3ZU7V9KBkM5XhWr1CD9W/s1600/440408A5-343B-4735-B6A0-3F6ADF31BBE2_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3c-3DEFV3PnBpZTI4c12t5zqTfgnr3ROLRxpzqpwehO2EQNhs5NAv6jfuo3MSxhafnB141G8FfnXeT2Em7n0UXw92I7uTPzLfEspL8xx5j1BMly2LtmV7sBM3ZU7V9KBkM5XhWr1CD9W/s400/440408A5-343B-4735-B6A0-3F6ADF31BBE2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He's a Caribbean Reef Squid, and he changed colors and directions as I chased him around. At one point he went from swimming forwards to backwards and turned a deep red. You would THINK that I would have figured out that something big was happening. Then, he squirted a COOL bunch of ink and swam off VERY quickly. Of course that was the ONE shot I missed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, I'm hoping to spot Sponge Bob tomorrow. Wish me luck. </div>
<br /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-87072913101747056012020-01-23T19:17:00.002-05:002020-01-23T19:18:13.605-05:00While you're here, please leave a tip.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey all you people from Russia who are visiting my site daily, listen up. While I GREATLY appreciate the visits, please be assured I will never vote for DonalD Trump. Never in a hundred million ZILLION years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, while you're here, you might as well click on the ads for me. It's the LEAST YOU CAN DO.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Dasvidaniya</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></b></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-3315932150596080452020-01-17T19:49:00.003-05:002020-01-18T09:07:51.939-05:00Postcards from the Edge.....of Grand Cayman <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYWpSScUV_X8jQRBamiO8apoTNPjS65KTrQ4H9GuGopAOwN4HyL6UkL6QlalsaRcn3AWVLPirPk3xEsdHEWc5cEPU2eOCCgwxWQwgpYSc0RKsm7xGcSXBJuOj_6PsUL2IGPPId3f3x3y1/s1600/IMG_4861.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYWpSScUV_X8jQRBamiO8apoTNPjS65KTrQ4H9GuGopAOwN4HyL6UkL6QlalsaRcn3AWVLPirPk3xEsdHEWc5cEPU2eOCCgwxWQwgpYSc0RKsm7xGcSXBJuOj_6PsUL2IGPPId3f3x3y1/s400/IMG_4861.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Anique is a petite, delightful waitress at one of our favorite restaurants here on Grand Cayman. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’ve known her for 6 years, but Fred has known her for at least 20. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She has been on island here for 24 years and has worked all of them at her brother Phillipe's </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">r</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">estaurant.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">The original The Edge restaurant in Bodden Town was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He now has Over The Edge, the place he built here near Rum Point after the hurricane. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaDD18B3vepTj0tW54HOE5usUBX5SRCCKyy2mVvKoPztNOuhdPQKjaNp68TZj3KCvLJ5oPU3rQsQkw5fxEyqRYGCVdJQMqnLd-XhQeU2E6f7Bva8RjYVaT72V9UI_S_evvV6itY_tQGOt/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="258" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaDD18B3vepTj0tW54HOE5usUBX5SRCCKyy2mVvKoPztNOuhdPQKjaNp68TZj3KCvLJ5oPU3rQsQkw5fxEyqRYGCVdJQMqnLd-XhQeU2E6f7Bva8RjYVaT72V9UI_S_evvV6itY_tQGOt/s400/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7ad98435-7fff-763b-9edd-9bda11dc96ac" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“I was born in a little town near Lyon. I am 68 years old you know!” Trust me when I tell you, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">she doesn’t look 68. “I have traveled ze world,” she told me in her beautiful French accent. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“I’ve been to Yugoslav, Belgium, Russia, United States, Ukraine and also Egypt. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“I MUST tell you about Egypt. I was there with my husband. Did you know I was married for </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">three years before he died of a massive heart attack? Well, I was.He was 29 years old when he died.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But, once we were in Egypt and I wanted to go to ze pyramids. I have always wanted to see ze pyramids. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So, we went to ze pyramids. And right when we were about to STEP into ze pyramids, I had a horrible </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">feeling that something terrible happened to me in there! I would not go in! I said ‘No! Something </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">terrible happened to me in there’, and so we went to another pyramid. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“In that one, I did not get ze horrible feeling and we went in. Then, in one place ze light beams</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> shown down on me, and I heard a voice that was speaking to me. It told me things about my life in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Egypt. I will tell you about it some time when we can go to lunch. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“I am very mystical that way.” </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-77217548386248794272019-10-01T08:12:00.001-04:002019-10-01T08:21:36.429-04:00The Book of Stella....finally....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, while we were all celebrating Bitchy's wedding last weekend, I forgot to mention one tiny little thing.<br />
<br />
THE BOOK IS DONE! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxAwqGY9YX7fxl8kHgrXaQaixyWbPpnzBoR4EGxFEt1LXAYrZV4USgkTDkXtrj2He4ahhY8hsaP9QkTliekfmyQG41_mTYDLovEGoJV8bA3zyiIsntFaAhKWuxwokRHZ_mWpd6jnuWHA4/s1600/IMG_3351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxAwqGY9YX7fxl8kHgrXaQaixyWbPpnzBoR4EGxFEt1LXAYrZV4USgkTDkXtrj2He4ahhY8hsaP9QkTliekfmyQG41_mTYDLovEGoJV8bA3zyiIsntFaAhKWuxwokRHZ_mWpd6jnuWHA4/s400/IMG_3351.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now available on Amazon, if you are so inclined, is The Book of Stella. I worked on this during my last year of teaching (I retired in JUNE!!) and it is, in fact, a love letter to all of the Stella's I've had over my career. They are the reason that teaching is the BEST job ever. Well, except for the meetings. And maybe the paperwork....and a few administrators that perhaps should have found another career...other than THOSE things, it truly is the best job ever.<br />
<br />
I've been working on this for years, and like every other author, I have finally decided that I can't keep checking it and simply have to pull the trigger. MANY thanks to Sara Henry (the amazing author and editor) for her unwavering patience.<br />
<br />
So, without further ado, here is the link:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Book-Stella-Debbie-Marsh/dp/1081998148/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BI6SGHXDJQG8&keywords=the+book+of+stella+by+debbie+marsh&qid=1569931612&s=gateway&sprefix=The+Book+of+Stella%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1">The Book of Stella..</a>..<br />
<br />
<br />
and one final request. If you DO read the book and you DO like it, please leave a review on Amazon. That is very important. If you DO read the book and you HATE it, then we will never speak of it again.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-8155722125805140552019-08-29T07:35:00.001-04:002019-08-29T07:35:28.515-04:00Forgotten Beasts...what a great surprise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GEtHqLDM3UXj8VqVscSxNTYsdePs_Pjf_EYzffgq3BOwm2DLKDcVc-M5D-EtteWJGfLrBf4p9aAnjUDhPqMJuhUXkGLVKBQt1fusN26tbhE_URmpfpUIHW8XbGlIe88Tew4MT7Ymm3tO/s1600/91yI3JGBMOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1272" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GEtHqLDM3UXj8VqVscSxNTYsdePs_Pjf_EYzffgq3BOwm2DLKDcVc-M5D-EtteWJGfLrBf4p9aAnjUDhPqMJuhUXkGLVKBQt1fusN26tbhE_URmpfpUIHW8XbGlIe88Tew4MT7Ymm3tO/s400/91yI3JGBMOL.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the fantastic perks of being a writer (in addition to a teacher) is that many publishing houses are eager to send me advance copies of amazing books. I am careful about choosing to review books that seem to fit what I feel I would use in the classroom, or books I think some of my friends would love. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4ef70738-7fff-4399-4910-9439bf0fc732" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was so excited to receive the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Beasts-Matt-Sewell-author/dp/1843653931/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LBB3C1UYAHM8&keywords=forgotten+beasts&qid=1567011702&s=gateway&sprefix=forgotten+beasts%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1">Forgotten Beasts by Matt Sewell. </a> I have learned over the years that children have a huge fascination with dinosaurs, monsters, mythical creatures and the like. Frankly, so do many adults I know! I know that I do. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This book is larger than your typical book, which immediately lets you know that you are about to enter a larger than life world. The book’s actual title is Forgotten Beasts, Amazing Creatures that Once Roamed the Earth. The title alone lures you in. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful illustrations that are colorful and beautifully done. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uZyhjRQbVv82StUpnMGjcNekqMqI5NcNujVgoSpfhwMsmo0oW4sEv-ba2Z-Ud_-aocUDjVwRPZushVyC8MwpHMrRKD5gJHgT22QCPuuM62qyxDC2qoqLtxXXwgYrpiSsnHefB9WPDMoP/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uZyhjRQbVv82StUpnMGjcNekqMqI5NcNujVgoSpfhwMsmo0oW4sEv-ba2Z-Ud_-aocUDjVwRPZushVyC8MwpHMrRKD5gJHgT22QCPuuM62qyxDC2qoqLtxXXwgYrpiSsnHefB9WPDMoP/s400/images-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejNjhznjTtrHGJpTUwWacH59hYx-qGABZTKgANADuD7rdcySm90T1PX9bjSkPNe-PoDEyTDOSB7gCKUPcuo1Zek8_lRtsjT6xwrBOSo5cuxiR05UMSnmlAkWR6-VH3MpAgPqOFREFJnzs/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejNjhznjTtrHGJpTUwWacH59hYx-qGABZTKgANADuD7rdcySm90T1PX9bjSkPNe-PoDEyTDOSB7gCKUPcuo1Zek8_lRtsjT6xwrBOSo5cuxiR05UMSnmlAkWR6-VH3MpAgPqOFREFJnzs/s400/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOJZLF9RPkyTdlCTynzPeiEb83nYsXdvOQzixHcwYFrpt2_WA3lOkoOwtsUnMUYAm_jJoYRt7b0GA6sjz41sz9ibHyRqbjUuHasoYfGAiV4mXYtW6MPRjOljuDaaBa1iTHmhG7jhZ7Dh0/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOJZLF9RPkyTdlCTynzPeiEb83nYsXdvOQzixHcwYFrpt2_WA3lOkoOwtsUnMUYAm_jJoYRt7b0GA6sjz41sz9ibHyRqbjUuHasoYfGAiV4mXYtW6MPRjOljuDaaBa1iTHmhG7jhZ7Dh0/s400/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6FcPUxpgI4qvKz1nHXBalAvrFVhTyJIJCdmsy-Qy70L4wMoZmnMTVoMwIXJmQEKDjZ_q1rYzXOYsOLtdNaX77l8xSy3YhfYu8wHk2ya9xMpMjcLk2TxGTE-gHhrHLBqp1o_GJQRqX4Ww/s1600/Unknown-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6FcPUxpgI4qvKz1nHXBalAvrFVhTyJIJCdmsy-Qy70L4wMoZmnMTVoMwIXJmQEKDjZ_q1rYzXOYsOLtdNaX77l8xSy3YhfYu8wHk2ya9xMpMjcLk2TxGTE-gHhrHLBqp1o_GJQRqX4Ww/s400/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YbYAEza9y25ZLXtp4j9_69bnkfLy5hA2_dq-hBxfD-0xNbbc8N1DZLKdn4epO8saNhrWifFyINsZ9I9XKgFs3YGi5B2Pf3LqFRNL90rgYwSH2wUgAbBKrnxNmnP3-kLjg8cOeBQ-N-uR/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YbYAEza9y25ZLXtp4j9_69bnkfLy5hA2_dq-hBxfD-0xNbbc8N1DZLKdn4epO8saNhrWifFyINsZ9I9XKgFs3YGi5B2Pf3LqFRNL90rgYwSH2wUgAbBKrnxNmnP3-kLjg8cOeBQ-N-uR/s400/Unknown.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnn06uurMDEtG1o2uozcgUY7KhBDMWQp7vRd9BJBChyVKQVrXirPKcqY7xn_UjXyaxHfnLvYl6D1suxwhzmoFeGgtufzr4uqKRzO55dtLH1S3b5vmep5x065X4coSox5xMEZxO8sQ4wEv/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnn06uurMDEtG1o2uozcgUY7KhBDMWQp7vRd9BJBChyVKQVrXirPKcqY7xn_UjXyaxHfnLvYl6D1suxwhzmoFeGgtufzr4uqKRzO55dtLH1S3b5vmep5x065X4coSox5xMEZxO8sQ4wEv/s400/Unknown-3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The author uses almost all of the space on the pages to bring the creatures alive- and the size is a nod to the larger than life theme of the book. The text is just long enough to engage readers of many ages, and yet packed full of fascinating information about each creature. He provides information such as size and weight of each creature, but also compares each to the current animal that it is in close relation to. This helps the reader make important connections which is what we as teachers are always trying to help the children with. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I particularly love the 8 foot turtle called the Meiolania, the Pygmy Mammoth and the 9 ft. Diprotodon. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this online. It will not disappoint. </span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-4290556101141834662019-08-18T09:57:00.000-04:002019-08-18T09:57:05.886-04:00Beware the buzz at the pool....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Sniff. Sniff. Can you smell it? You know what I mean. That smell is here; the smell of new pencils, new books, new crayons and markers, the smell of new shoes, new clothes, and a new backpack and you know what that means. School is in the air! Perhaps the biggest sign that school is right around the corner is the buzz that is flying around the pool, in the supermarket and at your local fall sporting practices. Who will get the Best Teacher of All? Who will be the lucky kids to get in the Best Teacher of All’s class?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Remember on Mary Poppins, when Jane and Michael wrote a letter and asked for the perfect nanny? The father was stunned when Mary Poppins handed him the list that he had thrown into the fire. It went something like this: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
(Start humming…) “If you want this choice position, have a cheery disposition; rosy cheeks, no warts; play games, all sorts. You must be kind, you must be witty, very sweet and very pretty; take us on outings, give us treats, sing songs, bring sweets.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i>That’s</i>what keeps going through my mind at this time of year. That super duper wish list. The wish list each parent and child has. Here’s what I think the wish list is for the perfect teacher. Wanted: teacher; must be sweet, even-tempered, hip, funny, pretty, smart, young, experienced and energetic. Must never yell, get mad, throw things or lose her temper. Must be very patient, wear stylish clothes, have a lovely laugh and smell like fresh baked cookies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
So, basically, that would count me out. (And, perhaps, everyone I know.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
While we teachers may not all be young or hip or very tall, there are some things we have in common. We are committed to our jobs and to your kids. These are some of the things we can promise you. We will get to know your child inside and out; we will learn about his pets, his siblings, his likes and dislikes and will always notice when he gets a hair cut. We will push him to be independent, self-sufficient, confident and responsible. We will help guide him when things don’t go his way and will laugh with him (and applaud) when they do. We will push him until he reaches the potential that we know he has, and we will be there when he falls, to pick him back up, dust him off and start him back up that hill. That’s our job, and that’s what we love to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Contrary to what my kindergarteners recommended to our student intern, we will not be teaching kickboxing, having cinema time every day; they cannot ride mechanical bulls in class, skateboard off the roof (with kneepads, of course) and we will not buy them happy meals for lunch once a week. (I gotta give them credit for trying, however.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
As a mom, I’ve learned that often the teachers who work with my child every day know more about what is a good match for him than I do. I have learned that it is important for me to keep my mouth shut on some occasions and it is equally important to voice my concerns at others. I have learned that a teacher that was not the best match for Mrs. Jones’ son (that darned Mrs. Jones—always so hard to keep up with), was the perfect teacher for my son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Yeah, we teachers don’t all look alike. Some of us are tall, short, skinny, chunky, old, young, and black and white. However, we all love kids and want what is best for these young souls. So please; trust us, respect us and join us in making this the Best Year Ever for your child. One more thing - beware the buzz at the pool. Sometimes that bee will come right back and sting ya. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-65497522871191361992019-07-06T12:45:00.002-04:002019-07-06T12:45:46.195-04:00A funny thing happened on my way to my hip replacement...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was supposed to be a fairly easy procedure. Well, at easy as a hip replacement could be. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c3a88c4e-7fff-d322-5ea5-82cc2e4120b5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They would knock me out, go in and replace the old, arthritic hip and replace it with a shiny new one. Bing,Bam, Boom. Easy, Peasy Lemon Squeezy. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I planned on having it done June 27th- which would give me plenty of time to heal. Hell, after the last one I was walking without a cane OR a limp when I went for my 2 week suture removal. I would have time to heal, recover by mid-July, go wedding dress shopping for Bitchy’s September wedding and all would be well! </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, we all know better than that. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things were going way too well. I had made it through the year, had several amazing retirement parties, attended a kick-ass bridal shower for Bitchy (more to come) and was just gonna check this last </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tiny </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thing off my list.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was the first one for surgery on the 27th, which meant an arrival time at the hospital of 5:30 a.m. (This is when being a morning person comes in a little handy.)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred and I are getting a bit used to these kinds of things, so after checking me in and wheeling me back to the pre-op area he decided to head back home for a few more winks. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was very comfortable with my surgeon, for he has replaced not only my other hip but both my knees. Now don’t go thinking he’s surgery crazy, because he’s not. In fact he normally goes the conservative route- except when he knows there is no recourse. He is also very well known for his low rate of infection and the nurses in the hospital all rave about him. Frankly, I’ve been raving about him for years. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I woke up in my room after who knows how many hours of surgery and recovery and Fred was by my side. I felt okay, but certainly groggy. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZKFWjPUKHYyFZcpWyZs_bQ4n5tfkZaGVQZK31cR-UzhtCBhFPh825QyPYcxdUpAQ-SH2ZwFDkjwV6CHO2AVT8SCEaxSLpm_0xrOrGNZjW_ek_gC2cIj00vO9PWiqHXLmRoqbQo5cVgmb/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZKFWjPUKHYyFZcpWyZs_bQ4n5tfkZaGVQZK31cR-UzhtCBhFPh825QyPYcxdUpAQ-SH2ZwFDkjwV6CHO2AVT8SCEaxSLpm_0xrOrGNZjW_ek_gC2cIj00vO9PWiqHXLmRoqbQo5cVgmb/s320/IMG_1560.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re fine honey,” he said. “But there was a bit of a complication.” I was still a but fuzzy, but he continued. “Apparently when they were hammering the joint into your bone, your bone fractured. “ </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, okay.” I said, and went right back to sleep. It wasn’t until later that afternoon when the doc came to see me that I fully understood the ramifications of said bone fracture. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, I don’t want you putting any weight on that foot for 6 weeks.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“WHAT?” I said. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I said, I only want you to use a walker and toe touch on that side for six weeks.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“SIX WEEKS? Six. Weeks??” I looked a him. I was really trying to wrap my head around this. “Oh. Okay.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He shook his head, “These things happen sometimes. Your bone was very brittle, and it fractured. We need to be very careful so it can heal. We will take a look at it in 2 weeks and see if it’s healed enough to put any weight on it. But I want you to be prepared for the fact that it MIGHT take 6 more weeks.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here I am, a week and some change into recovery, and reminding myself that things could be way worse. Well, to be honest it was Fred that reminded me. As I was having a pity party yesterday, he said, “Hey, are you done working? Did you just retire?” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do we have a great thing here together?” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do we live in a beautiful home and get to go on wonderful trips?”</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And are we having a beautiful wedding here soon?” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes!” I said. “Okay! I get your point! No more whining!!” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, if anyone out there hears me whine ONCE, come on over here and slap me. </span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-38565683208679799022019-07-02T13:33:00.002-04:002019-07-02T13:33:16.322-04:00Even I would rather have chocolate...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve said before, I had an UNUSUALLY challenging class this year. That being said, I would face each day with the words, “Today will be a better day”. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9d42ec06-7fff-b062-2f7d-5ba947f054d5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mostly it wasn’t. But each morning I had hope!. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mornings are so very important to any classroom, as they set the tone for the day. I tried everything to keep the mornings somewhat quiet and calm. I put classical music on, I had somewhat easy morning work on the tables, I separated them to different tables every day or so to try to find a way to keep them all working somewhat quietly. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I failed miserably. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were a friendly and talkative group. And what I mean by that is, if one person got in a fight with one group, they could </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>easily </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">move on to another group and create even more chaos. More than one of my cherubs has that particular talent.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had two fellas in particular whose names were Alex and Zack. They knew each other from pre-school and their families were fast friends who would often socialize together. Normally that is a plus. Except when that friendship is more like a love-hate relationship that ends creating chaos in its wake. Alex was very LOUD and looked for Zack as soon as he entered the classroom each morning. He also liked to copy every single thing that Alex did- from ordering the same lunch, to not listening to the teacher, to running around the carpet to having the same breakfast or anything at all basically. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zack had breakfast at school each morning, due to the fact that his parents left him at before school care each morning too early for him to eat. We have a great breakfast program that allows anyone to purchase a breakfast. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alex, on the other hand, always eat breakfast at home. I like to guess each morning what he had based on what was around his mouth or down the front of his shirt. This “at home” breakfast never deterred him from purchasing one each morning, based on what Zack was eating. And, without fail, they usually ended up with chocolate milk as their drink of choice. Now I’m sure there isn’t enough sugar in the chocolate milk to get them too cranked up, but I still “strongly encouraged” them to get regular 2% milk. (“Zack, I’m BEGGING you to get white milk. PLEASE You KNOW Alex needs all the help we can give him to try to remain calm.”) After a few weeks of going back and forth, Zack began getting white milk. However, much to our dismay, Alex continued to grab the chocolate. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I gave up, knowing it was a battle I would never win. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks before school was out, Zack came into the classroom with his breakfast, yelling for me at the top of his lungs, “MS. Marsh, MS.MARSH!!” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I quickly made my way towards hi, hoping to “quell the yell.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is your lucky day!” he shouted anyway. “The kitchen is OUT of chocolate milk!” And with that the rest of class started cheering. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We began the day with rowdy laughter, but this time I was in on it. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> kind chaos makes it all o.k. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742202280973813643.post-55400733696322099432019-06-25T12:55:00.004-04:002019-06-25T12:55:46.304-04:00Wedding planner extraordinaire, kindergarten style. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of the kids in my class this year were so excited about Bitchy getting married. They screamed at the top of their lungs the Monday after she got engaged. The girls were especially obsessed with the wedding details- but none more so than Bella. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-25e172d6-7fff-0fea-e84d-2de341a3f927" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bella not only loved tutus and cowboy boots, she also </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>loved </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love. In fact, she told practically every boy in the classroom that she was going to marry them. But that is another story entirely. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Near the end of the year she kept giving me suggestions to pass on to Bitchy and her fiance regarding the wedding. The idea of a sparkly rainbow unicorn on top of the wedding cake was probably the most brilliant. In fact, I’m sure they are considering that as we speak. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Then, she has to wear lots of gems and sparkles and diamonds on her dress,” she said dreamily. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is she having a flower girl?” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes,” I replied, “I think she is having TWO!” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, good,” she said with a smile. Then, her eyes opened wide, “And tell her she NEEDS a ring mayor! Everyone has to have a ring mayor. They take the rings up the aisle, you know. Make sure you write that down, Ms. Marsh.” </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(If I could convince Bitchy to put Bella in the wedding, I would do it in a hot SECOND. She’s all the entertainment one needs at a wedding with a unicorn cake and a ring major.)</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
Vodka Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.com5