Birthday Book

I love my Kindle Fire as much as the next guy. I really do.

But as long as they make books that look like this-

With frontispieces like this:

How could I EVER give up the real thing??

Thank you, Kimberly. Happy birthday to me! :)

Giving it Another Go

I was talking to someone who used to read my blog and I remembered how much I enjoyed writing it. It has been way too long since I did it. I am trying it again with no expectations or guilt. We'll see how it goes. Cheating with this first post, as I just posted the same thing on FB. No guilt!

You know what I love? When it is September and you find "Brownies in a Jar" that a friend gave you for Christmas and you bake them after all this time because your grandchildren are coming and they make your house smell all delicious and chocolatey? (The brownies, not the grandkids!) Yes, I love that.

And you know what else I love? When you write someone a letter (yes, I still do that sometimes) and you find the perfect sticker for the back of the envelope. And it is the last one on a sheet that you bought probably like 30 years ago? Yep. I love that too.

I know. I am a simple woman. 

My Business - Possible TMW* Alert

Today I go to talk to my accountant about some tax problems we are having.

It makes me sad that I have these problems. I have always tried to pay my taxes, huge amounts of them in my humble opinion, on time and in the right amounts.

Now that the economy has tanked and we have been struggling for FIVE YEARS to keep our little underground utility company open and working, barely keeping our heads above water and - providing employment for others and a valuable service at the same time-we apparently owe tens of thousands of dollars MORE in taxes!! How can this be??

When I see my almost sixty-year-old husband drag his droopy-drawered bottom through the door at night totally and utterly spent from digging with a shovel in 110 degree+ heat, doing a job that most people wouldn't even consider so that we can have clean water and get rid of our waste, it breaks my heart.

How can good people who try to do the right thing be in this position???

It just doesn't seem right.

There, that is off my chest. I'll keep you posted.

*Too Much Whining :)

Florida Family Reunion

Every year for the last ten years my mom's family has gotten together in Cocoa Beach the first part of July. Last year was my Aunt Betty's 90th birthday, so a "surprise" party was planned for that week. For the first time in 25 years we went to Florida to be a part of the celebration. You might remember that THIS is what happened:

We promised Jeff if he was a good boy and wore his broken-neck brace for the three months he was supposed to we would go back to Florida this year for the vacation he missed last year.

And, yes, he did have a much better time this year. He literally paddle-boarded or surfed 8-11 hours a day, every day except Sunday and the day we MADE him go to Universal Studios. (It was such a trial.)


 
He taught my cousin John to SKUPboard and I think he has a new convert!

John's daughter Kayley also picked it right up.

I reconnected with my cousins Anne and Bert. Also my dear cousin Carol Beth, but the picture of us was hideous (me, not her!)

Maddie realized her dream of visiting Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios.

She was as giddy as a child and "just wish[ed] it was all real."

 It WAS pretty cool!

A GIANT "thank you" to Aunt Arline, Aunt Betty, and Mom for making it happen!

We hope to go again in 2015 when a certain unnamed aunt will also turn 90! Doesn't she look GOOD?!

Where in the world...?

Ten points if you can guess where we were this past weekend. Specifically, in this photo...Ten more points if you can give it the correct current name.

Gratitude Journal

I have been keeping a gratitude book this year. I know it is not even the end of January, but so far I have written one thing a day for which I am grateful. It is a hard thing to do. Not because I can't think of one thing a day, but because I can't narrow it down to one thing a day.

I have noticed a common theme this month, however. Many of my entries have centered around these people above. I truly am a blessed woman.

35 Years of Wedded Bliss

Man. We are old! Celebrated our anniversary yesterday. Sure doesn't seem like I've lived with this man for that long. I'm glad we still love each other, are still friends, and still enjoy each other's company. I hope we have a good long time left together. Like eternity, maybe?

Happy anniversary, honey.