By Word of Mouse

bicycle for old woman and dog

2011-09-02T22:59:00.000-04:00

There was a time when snazzy sports cars turned my head. These days I have other dreams of what I would do with lottery winnings.

When the summer sun beats relentlessly, I dream of this classy vehicle. What a time my Beau and I would have touring the neighborhood park.

How much is that doggy in the window

2011-08-31T20:52:00.000-04:00

I don't know how much they are asking for the dog at Old Navy, but the sign says Kids from $4.

I wouldn't take a million dollars for any of mine though.

Wacky is wonderful

2011-08-27T20:27:00.000-04:00


Newest member of the barbershop quartet

Don't you just love people with a slightly wacky sense of humor?

A date to remember

2011-08-16T19:33:00.000-04:00

When we were married I had our wedding date engraved inside our rings. There was no excuse to forget our anniversary. I shouldn't have worried.

Each year grows sweeter. We enjoy our celebration with our children and finally we celebrate as a couple.

This year's anniversary was one of the best in my memory. It featured a beautiful sunset, a cool breeze, the river, salt air, succulent lobster and lots of hand-holding.

I want to remember it always.

Small adventures are big fun

2011-08-11T20:43:00.000-04:00

All the world is an adventure when you are a child.

Our Grandson enjoyed getting dressed for a snorkeling adventure. He couldn't even wait to put on his swim trunks first. Too bad we weren't in the Keys where he could pick up a few lobster. One of these days we will be down there for sport season and it will be good weather too. I hope it will be soon.

Come again?

2011-08-08T13:29:00.000-04:00

During a recent trip to Pt. Jervis, NY, we came up to an overpass that was a bit puzzling. As we got closer, I noticed that the signs seemed to contradict each other.

I also noticed that the underside of the bridge had many nicks and scrapes along the edge. My husband told me a childhood memory of watching a truck that was stuck under that bridge. It was only a few inches over the height limit and letting air out of the tires was all that was needed to ease it out of that tight spot.

"It's always best to err on the side of caution" Mom would have warned.

My lucky day

2011-08-04T17:19:00.000-04:00

Today was my lucky day at my favorite post office. I dropped 5 packages into the outgoing drawer and my eBay shipping was done for the day. Just as I reached the doorway, I heard "Oh Miss? Did you deposit this?"

As I got closer, the postal clerk explained that I had used a flat rate box rate, but the box wasn't a flat rate box. The minute he showed it to me, I knew he was rigt ht. The small flat rate boxes are just a little smaller than the priority boxes abouthe size of a VHS tape I had used. Fortunately his eagle eyes had spotted this problem before I left and was kind enough to stop me or my customer could have ended up paying postage due. He even repackaged it for me as we talked. That's the kind of service we all want, I thought.

He remembered that on a hectic day during the Christmas rush last year, I had brought him a Mountain Dew soft drink after hearing him say the previous day that their vending machine was out. This particular guy was always the life of the post office when he was behind the coujnter. His smile was quick and his temper even. If he didn't know the answer to our questions, he would find the answer without complaint.

I am so glad this post office that was not on the cut list.

A light at the end of the tunnel

2011-08-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

Only drivers of large trucks are alerted when they see this sign in Port Jervis, NY warning that the bridge ahead has a nine foot clearance.

But locals know that everyone should proceed with caution.

Ahead lies a dark curved tunnel that accommodates only one car at a time.

It isn't until the last minute that newcomers realize the truth and might find themselves in a state of panic when they see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes, life is like that too.

K.I.S.S. for all times

2011-08-01T15:29:00.000-04:00

Have you ever gone nuts wondering what to give your mom or dad for a birthday gift? It can be really hard to find the right thing especially when they have "everything." And, by a certain age, most seniors have stopped accumulating things.

First off... you have to remember to K.I.S.S. that is "Keep it Simple Stupid."

Think of something they really look forward to. This lady's daughters knew a Belgian waffle topped with ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream was one of the few things their mother looked forward to. The waitress made it extra special by adding a candle when she found out a birthday celebration was in the offing.

It also helps to be a little crazy!

Long-lost twin sister found

2011-07-29T10:32:00.000-04:00

CatPurry's body double

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see yourself as you really are? What do you really look like to others?

Many years ago I had a "twin" (or doppleganger) who often gave me problems by ignoring my friends when they called out. Next day, I would get questions about why I had been somewhere the day before... someplace I hadn't been. I thought they were seeing things.

Then one day, as I pulled out of a parking lot onto the street, a car just like mine pulled out the parking lot across the street and paused, facing me. The driver was a young woman about my age with dark hair and fair complexion. We stayed there for a long moment staring, then drove on our separate ways.

I wonder if I got her in as much trouble as she did me!

Three shower days

2011-07-28T19:57:00.002-04:00

It's late summer in Florida, and we seek out even our own shadows for relief from the heat.

Stop Rolling and Gather Some Moss

2011-07-02T20:38:00.001-04:00

There is something to be said for not being a rolling stone, and for once gathering a bit of moss.

For the past month or so, i have been forced to slow down and breathe deeply in more ways than one.

The best part of this is noticing what I had been missing and remembering how to just enjoy the moment.

I hope you are not taking this life for granted. Breathe deeply and enjoy the moment. It is precious to be able to do.

Reading buddies

2011-04-29T09:01:00.006-04:00

My two youngest grandsons (cousins) have found a bond through a love of books. My heart was warmed by this sight a few days ago. The older boy was thrilled to be able to read stories from the book he struggled over only a few years ago. We read that one book over and over at his request. The familiar stories gave him confidence as he struggled through his dyslexia to make sense of the scrambled letters.

Once a child has learned the thrill of reading he is happy to share it.

Breakfast choice for life

2011-04-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

I have been slowly improving my life by making some healthy choices. This idea came from the other side of planet Earth where I have a dear friend in Australia.

Instead of my usual scrambled eggs and toast, she urged me to try this cool approach. Since it was a steamy hot day (when isn't it in Florida?) the idea appealed to me.

Mix about 1/2 cup of raw old fashioned oats into a cup of vanilla yogurt, add 1/2 cup of walnut pieces, stir and top with fresh blueberries. What could be easier!

I have been hooked on this breakfast for almost a year now and have taken off a few pounds that I'm sure are victim to this diet secret.

Antz

2011-04-27T08:53:00.002-04:00

Spring brings all kinds of surprises. Some are beautiful, some, at first glance are pretty disgusting.

The view from the patio was disturbing. I thought I saw sticky handprints on the window between the living room and the patio. "Little, sticky handprints," I thought. "Probably peanut butter," I thought.

But as I got closer, I could make out tiny white dots on the glass. What!??? Still closer. There were tiny ants surrounding the white dots. They were guarding eggs!

How and why, the nursery had been set up on a window I can't imagine. The blinds had been closed making the glass dark and warm in the afternoon sun. When I tapped the glass, several ants rushed to pick up each egg and carried them off. Down the glass, onto the window sill, down to the floor they scurried. I couldn't bring myself to destroy these devoted nursemaids so I just watched in awe as they made their way to the edge of the patio. under the door and outdoors to safety.

Spring always brings one thing for sure... new life!

eBay on Location Las Vegas

2011-04-26T00:32:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about buying and selling on eBay, is being a part of the eBay community. As many as our differences are, we all have a big part of our lives colored red, blue, yellow and green.

Six of us met and formed bonds at earlier eBay events. We kept in touch between times to share ideas and solutions to problems. So when we each knew the others were headed to Las Vegas earlier this month, we decided to show the eBay world a united front as the Six Amigos.

Forming a Facebook group of our own, we planned some things that would bring us even closer together. With encouragement from the other 5, one of our members designed and ordered special t-shirts that said "eBay Takes Las Vegas 2011" on a tie-dye background. We also got matching gold-toned "Elvis" sunglasses and each of us added personal embellishments in the basic eBay colors. Shoes, bracelets, and should I reveal... a tutu showed our colors.

We had a wonderful time networking with eBay staff and members over the 2 day event, making new friends, learning new techniques and finding inspiration in the success of others. In addition to great learning sessions, there were plenty of opportunities to talk face to face with eBay staff members and thrash out problems. You could even get personal one-on-one advice on how to make your eBay sales more profitable.

Many of us stayed on a day or two to see Las Vegas. It was my first visit, so I had a lot of ground to cover just getting the quick tour in two days. Seeing all those gorgeous resort hotels and casinos only whet my appetite for more. And we were treated to a performance by comedian Louie Anderson that left me with cheek cramps from laughing so much. We walked and walked, and yes, we did play a few casino games too. Some of our group played golf on an amazing course there too. I admit, we didn't get much sleep, but every minute was well accounted for and worth the jet-lag when we got back home.

Another "eBay on Location" is being planned for the Fall and will be held somewhere on the east coast. So stay tuned and sell, sell, sell to build a little travel fund so you can go.

How to put a video in your eBay listing

2011-04-25T21:49:00.000-04:00

One of the best ways to convince a prospective buyer to go ahead and take the leap is a demonstration of the product that proves it is what you say it is.

Still photography can only do so much, even if you take a picture of the item from every angle. Showing your item actually working, or flattering, or being functional is a sure fire way to convert to a sale.

This is much easier than you might suspect. For this sale, I enlisted my grandson to set up the train tracks and put the train together. He didn't seem to mind since he was itching to play with the train. As he sat in the middle of the tracks, remote control in hand, I set my camera to video, braced my elbow on my knee for a steady focus and gave him the signal to begin. Remember to move the camera slowly if at all and don't go crazy with the zoom feature.

As you see, this is a very basic video. If you are handy with video editing software, you could edit out any rough spots, add music, and read a script explaining the features of the item and any short-comings. Next time, I will plan better. This time, I sent it up raw.

Once the video is done, upload it to your Photobucket album. Next, copy the "embed video" link go to your eBay listing, get into the description box, click the HTML tab and paste the embed code into the description field .

That's all there is to it. Try it, you will be surprised how easy it is, and how much it helps sell your items.

Say hello to my little green friend

2011-04-08T00:39:00.000-04:00

Green anoles are native to Florida and dwell in trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, about the time Castro took control of Cuba, their cousins, the brown anole hopped a ride with incoming Cuban refugees and pushed the smaller greenies out by competing for their main food source: insects. The only advantage the green anoles have is their preference for higher ground.

Having grown up with the appealing little greenies, I have a soft spot in my heart for them and I was thrilled to spot this one inside our screened porch.
I'm hoping for a family of them soon.

The last February birthday

2011-04-05T11:51:00.005-04:00

Somehow this post was not published during March as I planned. Now April Fool's Day has come and passed and there it is. Still waiting to be published. Oh well!

Our youngest granddaughter celebrated her 17th birthday on the last day of February. The last February Birthday... for this year. She has fallen deeply in love with cake baking and decorating so we all showered her with books, equipment and accessories. I think she was pleased.

Funny part is, birthday season is over here until June. We had 5 birthday parties here between the end of January and the end of February. Lots of cake. Way too much cake.

I am dreaming up a cake to outdo TV's "Cake Boss" for next year. She will have plenty of time to practice anyway.

Spring flowers because of March showers

2011-04-04T19:25:00.000-04:00

March is usually a dry season here in Florida, but we just got a bonus of rain and it couldn't have come at a better time. In addition to dousing several big forest fires that were causing havoc on the interstate with all the smoke, we are green again.

It was an ideal time for grandfather and grandson to bond over the flower beds and they did a bang up job of it. Said grandson worked all Saturday and Sunday earning him a crisp ten dollar bill and an invitation to bowl with granddad at Sunday practice.

Bonus... lots of pretty flowers around the porches and pool and some grimy, but happy guys to feed.

Life is good!

eBay and True TV not for sissies

2011-03-03T14:35:00.001-05:00

When I listed an action figure of Ben Affleck (from his 1998 role as AJ Frost in the movie "Armageddon") on eBay, I had no idea the handsome plastic prince would bring so much drama to my life.

The action figure was paid for on February 21 and shipped out to Santa Monica, California with little fan-fare on February 22 via USPS Priority Mail. On March 2, I received a frantic email from the buyer. It was one of those "Dude, where's my stuff!?" messages that set my heart racing. It seems "Ben" was needed as a TV show prop that was to be filmed the following Monday and she had to have him by Friday at the latest... that is, Day after TOMORROW!

Looking at the tracking information, I saw that the package had been delivered and a notice left, which usually means the recipient wasn't available to receive the item. After a few phone calls I left a message on the buyer's phone mail. Within the hour I received a phone call back and we agreed that it looked like the Ben was headed back to me. The buyer and I could not understand why it was held only a few days in Santa Monica Post Office before it was sent it back to me. I agreed to get it back to the post office and ship it Express mail immediately to get it to her the next day, her deadline was pressing.

This morning was spent with my usual eBay morning routine, getting shipping labels printed, researching the next items to put up for auction, and taking care of the 1,001 other details that all eBay sellers have to attend.

Noon came and went, no postman! One o'clock, still my postal box was empty. I began to really worry. I had the label printed (this time with the suite number which had been left off the original shipping information) and had researched the cost to Express mail "Ben" back to California. Suddenly, I decided to check the tracking information one more time. To my amazement, it showed the item had been received in Orlando (headed for my place), then sent back westward and received in California about 11:30 last night. Hooray!

I called the buyer (who from the sounds of it was in a meeting) and she told me she had called USPS with the tracking # and told them the problem and that she needed the package sent back to California. I managed to wheedle the details of the TV filming and found out it is to be a prop on TRUTV (network) in an episode that will probably be titled "Forbidden Storage". TruTV airs such shows as "Hardcore Pawn" a show that I personally enjoy which next airs Tue, March 8 at 10P and the very popular "Operation Repo" which airs Wednesdays @ 9pm. I will be looking for "Ben" on the upcoming show and will let you know more details as I get them.

Lessons learned today:

As a buyer, make sure your complete address is in the Ship To: address field.
The Post Office will not hold an item more than a few days if address is incorrect or incomplete
Never underestimate the importance of getting a tracking # and putting on each item you ship
eBay is successful, for one thing, because it encourages buyers and sellers to communicate. You won't find that on Amazon!

Meet the In-Laws Princess Style

2011-02-01T14:50:00.004-05:00

When our daughter and son-in-law announced that they were expecting a baby, we decided to get to know them as a couple more intimately and treat them to a Princess Eastern Caribbean cruise while they were still carefree. We were lucky enough to find balcony staterooms right next to each other on the Crown Princess and it worked beautifully. Whenever one couple or the other was ready for the next adventure, we only had to lean around the balcony wall to see if the other was up and ready to go. As it happened, our clocks were almost perfectly aligned so there was no debate on scheduling.

There were so many choice excursions that we tried to split up and do them separately, reporting back in the evening with pictures and tales of our adventures. They hiked and snorkeled while we took the tour bus and submarine trip. Then we all snorkeled and basked on the beach at Princess Cay together. We also enjoyed shopping together at the ports of call and on the ship.

The food was hands-down, the best we could imagine. I had seafood of some kind every day (heaven for me) and many times it was lobster in some form. We really appreciated the informality of anytime dining and the attentiveness of the staff.

We could not have asked for a more friendly, helpful staff everywhere we went on the ship and believe me, we explored it from stem to stern. We swam in all the pools, played mini-golf, saw an outstanding show every evening, danced until midnight, even caught the end of a great movie on deck as we enjoyed 1am pizza one time.

Our only regret is the voyage was over before we could get to the spa for a couples treatment.

Now, our little grandson is three years old and we still enjoy reminiscing about that wonderful time when we truly bonded with their parents in a magical time in the Caribbean. Someday we hope to take him on a Princess cruise.

The next thing on our bucket list is a trip to Australia/New Zealand. A friend, who had been an email pal for 15 years, came to visit us here in the states last summer and she assures me it is Australian law that we must now visit with them in Australia! It would be wondrous if you could make this wish come true. We don't want to be in trouble with the Australian government after all.

If you want to help us win this trip, you can vote for our entry from February 11th-25th (limit one per day)! The entry with the most votes will win the grand prize—a Princess Cruises dream vacation for two, including roundtrip airfare! If we win, we’ll get to choose from one of eight unforgettable destinations: Europe, Asia, Tahiti, Australia/New Zealand, the Holy Land, Panama Canal, Alaska or South America.

You can see my entry in the contest gallery here:
http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/1308

Monday the 13th worse than Friday the 13th?

2010-12-13T22:52:00.000-05:00

There hasn't been much time to enjoy social media, or socializing in real time for that matter. Since Thanksgiving, my huggy and I have been frantically busy helping Santa by making lots and lots of toys and fun things available for our eBay friends to buy. It has been challenging, but a lot of fun, especially when I look at our happy feedback. So far no grumpy Gus complaints.

But today was a bit over the top when it comes to crazy. We had about nine items ready to ship before going to bed last night. That is, we sorted though all the storage bins and pulled out the toys that were paid for Saturday and Sunday and printed out the first bit of paperwork to make the shipping process quicker. One was an international shipment... to Italy! I went to bed feeling very smug about my preparatory efforts.

But morning had other ideas. After shivering through Beau's early morning trip to the park (by car today) and a quick cup of coffee, and my usual breakfast of yogurt, oats, walnuts and blueberries I casually and confidently walked into ... a hornet's nest.

First the computer would not communicate with eBay, Yahoo, Google, Twitter ... no go. Panic began to rise in my throat. The grandkids' computer booted up to a strange "security warning" and I thought "VIRUS" great! I'm sunk! The iPhone was able to get a connection to eBay and everything else... but it doesn't communicate with my printer... which I needed to print shipping labels. The laptop was able to communicate with everyone too. "ALL RIGHT!" I thought "I'm back in business" My relief was short lived. The printer didn't want to talk to my laptop. PANIC!

I called my next door neighbor (a reporter) to ask if he was having problems with his internet service (RoadRunner like mine) "No problems here today." he reported. Luck was with me though, he was quick to offer the use of his system since he was busy elsewhere. I took him up on his offer. Found boxes and weighed out all my shipments, wrote the weight on the paperwork that matched it, gathered the nine pages and headed out the door, taking along an armload of recyclables that had somehow escaped the recycling bin that morning. The wind and chill reminded me of early spring in Michigan (I am in Florida) and, as I dropped the load into the bin, that same evil wind took all my paperwork and blew it down the street. As I chased it I heard beer cans and coffee cans rattling and rolling behind me. The bin had been tipped by the wind too. After a breathless chase and a good Samaritan neighbor who stopped, blocking traffic to help me, I retrieved all nine pages. With a sigh of relief and a sudden need to find a bathroom, I ran to the neighbor's door.

Except for a long, but friendly line, at the Post Office the rest of the adventure was pretty calm. The real problem I found, when I was not in a panic, was the most common problem of all. CABLES! My computer's cable link to the modem had somehow worked it's way loose.

Then tonight, I got to the bottom of the whole mystery when I read Layla Morgan Wilde's "The Boomer Muse" The whole problem can be blamed on Mercury in retrograde. Communications nightmare! As a recovering astrologist I should have realized that bright light in the clear black sky last night was up to no good!

Green Shipping Rocks... even MORE

2010-12-07T21:21:00.000-05:00

eBay's Green Team recently started a pilot program to encourage sellers to recycle shipping boxes and materials. (nothing new to me, I never buy boxes, but sometimes they look a bit ratty) I first heard about the cool Green Boxes in San Jose during eBay On Location. The Green Team demonstrated how the sturdy, fully recyclable boxes work. Those who signed up were sent these special recyclable boxes to use and are asked to tell the buyers who receive the boxes to reuse them again. As a further incentive, the buyer who sells something on eBay, then re-uses the box to ship to their buyer will receive a dollar when they register the box. Each person adds a note to the lid of the box telling where it came from. It should be good for up to five shipments and if each person adds a little note it can be tracked along its adventure. More about “simple green shipping” can be found here.

The demand for the boxes far exceeded the Green Team's expectations so mine arrived only yesterday. I had been looking forward to them and they came at the perfect time. Our eBay sales have been sizzling the past few weeks and I have had my whole family scouting the stores and their work-places for shipping boxes.

You can see my reaction to receiving these boxes and my first experience using one now ... Green Shipping Rocks Today I had a toy to ship to Vancouver, WA. The buyer had not wanted to wait for the auction to end on a toy her 13 year-old wanted and asked me to add a buy-it-now price to my listing so she could get it right away. I agreed to her offer price and complied which got me a quick, super-happy response. I wanted this experience to be extra special all the way and shipping it in the "Green Box" seemed perfect. She had paid for Priority shipping so there was no problem with using the 13.6 ounce box. The toy brought the weight to just under one pound.

The boxes are really cool, with lots of "green" shipping tips and covered with the Green bird logo. That was my only problem in fact. I had a hard time finding a blank spot to affix the shipping label. I have a feeling my allotment of boxes will not last through Christmas. Sure hope they continue the program and ramp up the production soon.

But Mom, use this Butt stuff

2010-12-03T17:01:00.003-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whenever I see a baby squirrel or bird at the park, I am reminded of the day my grandson was born. Can we humans have any other day in our lives that even comes close to the birth of a child or grandchild? From the moment I first held him and looked at his tiny face, I knew my life would never be the same.

I had to re-learn to change a diaper in the early days after he came home and it was a far cry from the diaper changes of my daughter's babyhood. The disposable diapers of that time were for emergency use only!

The first diaper change I did, my daughter brought out a foil packet of something called Boudreaux's Butt Paste. WHAT? "Trust me Mom," she said " this stuff is awesome! The doctor recommended it." I was concerned about the sticky residue left by products of my day. "No," she reassured me "it wipes off clean with the next diaper change and all my friends say it prevents diaper rash better than anything." Visit their site to try a free sample of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. See for yourself that this is the best.

I know my daughter is pretty savvy about these things, she read and listened and read some more doing research for this baby just like he was a Master's Thesis she was working on.

Next time I was shopping, I picked up one of the tubes with the flip top cap and a few more of the travel size packets to tuck in my purse when I get to baby-sit. I was surprised by the pleasant scent. And... (can you keep a secret?) eventually, I found it works great for those little irritations I get from the leg bands of my underwear on hot sweaty days.

Well, our little boy is ready to potty train now and I can truthfully say that he has never had a serious diaper rash. We used it faithfully with every diaper change when he was a newborn. Later, at the first hint of a pink bum, we applied the Boudreaux's Butt Paste and it would clear up in a few hours. I can't say that for the products I used on my children. Oh, how they suffered!

Nowadays, when I am making up a gift package for an expectant mother, I put in a selection of sizes of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. They love it!

Call me Wicked Fresh

2010-12-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tom's of Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am always on the lookout for products that are made without testing on animals. My daughter is responsible for that. She became socially conscious at a very early age and raised my awareness too.

So, I was interested when I heard about Tom's Of Maine and their product line which includes not only a variety of soaps but toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss and other dental products.

It was good news that it is available at many of the stores where I already shop like Walgreens, CVS, Target and Publix. Or, I can order it on-line from their web site.

I found that Tom's of Maine's New Wicked Fresh Toothpaste is made from all natural ingredients for longer-lasting fresh breath as well as decay prevention; stain removal and flavor. These natural ingredients keep the toothpaste moist and the texture consistent for a good feel in the mouth.

Tom's of Maine's New Wicked Fresh Mouthwash is also made from all natural ingredients: vegetable and corn; aloe for comfort; natural mint oils and other aromatic plants for flavor; apples or cinnamon leaf/bark provide the preservative. Put all this together and you have a mouthwash that helps stop bad breath without the burn.

We have been using the same toothpaste for many years but I had to try the New Wicked Fresh Toothpaste and Mouthwash. From the first trial, I was hooked! It really delivers all its promises. My mouth has never felt fresher and no burn with the mouthwash. That is huge! The whole experience was comfortable and even energizing.

If you have already found Tom's of Maine, share your Wicked Fresh moments for a chance to win Wicked Fresh!™ Prizes at That's Wicked Fresh contest page .

Join Tom’s of Maine on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter @TomsofMaine. I found that my son Tom is already a friend of theirs.

At their website you will learn some surprising things about this forward-thinking, environmentally responsible company. Tom's is dedicated to conducting business in a way that brings positive change both socially and environmentally. The company donates 10% of profits to charitable organizations and encourages employees to use up to 5% of their paid time, to volunteer at non-profit organizations.

Tom's also has joined the efforts of Preserve Gimme 5 to help recycle #5 plastic products and keep them out of landfills. Gimme 5 will have recycled 100,000 pounds of #5 plastics by the end of this year.

Winter wishes and wishful thinking

2010-12-01T11:57:00.000-05:00

December 1st and It looks like snow today. Low hanging gray clouds cover the sky and the wind is whistling around the eves of the house. The temperature dropped overnight and this morning brought 60 degree air to Florida. Okay, the snow is just wishful thinking. But, if I close my eyes, I can remember my first snowy Christmas in Pennsylvania.

That wasn't so long ago. December 1991, I sat in my cozy living room watching the line of huge blue spruce across the road gathering huge flakes of snow. Within a few hours, there was the miracle of a winter wonderland before my eyes. I was a child again. We were in Indiana, PA which bills itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" (also the boyhood home of Jimmy Stewart) so we had to have a live tree. We went to the Christmas Tree farm just over the hill and chose the perfect tree. The house smelled wonderful when it was erected in the living room and it looked beautiful covered in the ornaments with a star at the top. But, I preferred to look at the real trees outside covered in snow.

Being Florida natives, we arrived without boots, coats, hats, gloves or even socks and had to make an emergency run to the Goodwill store to outfit ourselves for the winter ahead. That was exciting too. Boots! I love boots. As a child I wore cowboy boots and mother would pry them off my feet at bedtime despite my protests.

I do need a winter wonderland fix!

That's just nuts!

2010-11-30T22:13:00.001-05:00

We have a bumper crop of acorns this year. I always heard that was a sign that a hard winter was ahead, but the meteorologists on TV got all logical and said it was due to the heavy rains last year.

One thing is for sure, the squirrels are happy. I caught these two, and one more that is hiding in the branches, chasing circles around the trunk of an oak tree. They look good and fat now. A big change from last spring when they were looking gaunt and losing tufts of fur. There seems to be about three times as many of them too.

I know the neighborhood terriers enjoy their renewed energy, but they get a pelting of acorns. I can hear the nuts showering down as the squirrels scamper through the top branches of the trees. My Beau is not impressed with squirrels, or cats for that matter. If they look him in the eye, he kind of huffs at them and stamps his front paws so they skitter away, but he would never chase one up a tree and bark at it. Just not his game, thank you!

Dreaming of Christmas photos already

2010-11-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wanted to take a picture of yourself, or your group but your arm is just not long enough? Have you ever been at a concert and wanted to take a picture of the stage but aren't tall enough to see over the heads in front of you?

I won an XShot at IZEAFest a few years ago from "Ben Spark" Drew Bennett and it has been my constant companion when I am out and about with my camera. It telescopes from 9" to 37" so you can attach your camera and extend your reach to take pictures of yourself, your group, or hold your camera up above the heads of the maddening crowd to get a clear shot of center stage. It fits all compact cameras and is light enough to poke into your pocket or bag and go anywhere.

But now, I have an iPhone and it takes great pictures and videos but doesn't fit onto the XShot. At the suggestion I downloaded a free app called Photo Timer, and all I need now is the new All-in-One XShot iPhone Case (for 3G or 4G) that will fit it onto my XShot Extender and I am good to go. The Phone Timer app allows you to set an audible countdown seconds interval to give you time to get the iPhone into position.

The All-in-One XShot iPhone 4 Case features:

Protection : Sleek hard case with full enclosure to protect the iPhone 4 and also acts as a bumper for good reception.
Innovation : Features a universal tripod adapter that can be used in both landscape and portrait modes on any tripod, XShot camera extender, or monopod to take great pictures, videos, and self-portraits.
Versatility : Two-piece slim case that is easy to snap on and remove to use with docking devices and speakers.
Functionality : Ideal for use with the new FaceTime feature and dual cameras. Excellent for iPhone 4 camera stabilization especially when taking photos and making HD films.
BONUS!Comes with a mini flex tripod perfect to view or record great content.

Look for the XShot logo at left and click to find out more... or buy it if you want to give it to me for Christmas. (Hint, hint!) I do have to warn you that if you click that link and buy an XShot for me (or someone else) I will get a commission on the sale.

My kids stink!

2010-11-17T10:38:00.001-05:00

Oh they may be good at sports, science and debate, but face it, all kids STINK after sports, stressful times, or just as time wears on. In fact, they probably stink within hours of stepping out of the shower. But I just had a huge "AH HA!" moment and I couldn't wait to tell you about it.

I will never forget the day I got a call from the school clinic to come pick up my sick grandson. He was really sick. Running a fever, headache, the whole "I don't feel so good..." thing. I was lucky to get an appointment with the doctor on the spot and took him directly to the doctor's office from school. I didn't get a good whiff of him until we got into the examining room. Phew! I could just imagine the look on her face when she went to examine him. It was warm in the room, so I quickly stripped off his shirt thinking that would help. It didn't ! I leaned out into the hallway and asked if the nurse had some baby wipes or something. She didn't. In a panic, I wet some paper towels at the sink and began to try and scrub him down a little. Nothing helped! Poor kid! Poor doctor. She was kind about it, but I could see the nose wrinkle. There's no missing it. Her look said "your kid stinks!"

If I had known then what I know now! I could have pulled out a small packet of QwikShower Wipes from my purse. These beauties are a must-have for active children and pubescent tweens and teens who get soiled, sweaty, stinky and self-conscious. These portable single-use disposable washcloths offer an easy, convenient and economical way to help kids get clean and eliminate embarrassing grime and body odor after gym class, sports, outdoor play and other physical activities. QwikShower Wipes are also great for adults for use after the gym, a jog, when traveling, during a long shift at the office, or even after work en route to another engagement. Purchase online at www.QwikShower.com

QuikShower sent me a handful of these to test on my family and I can tell you truthfully that the product totally lives up to its reputation. And my manly 14 year-old grandson is very happy with them and is begging me to buy more. He went to his first dance a few weeks ago and said he really needed one then.

You can believe there will be a handful of these little gems in my grandkids backpacks from now on. In fact, I will never be caught without a few in my car and purse for emergencies. We are not talking tiny little baby wipes here. When you open that small packet you will find, a large, moist, single-use disposable cloth with a subtle “teenager-approved” scent and economical price point.

-Convenient. Each wipe is individually wrapped for portability and to ensure it never dries out. Kids can slip it into a backpack or purse and go!

--Effective. With a large 10” x 12” dimension and a resilient cloth-like material, QwikShower Wipes are big and study enough to clean the entire body - also leaving a slight fresh scent behind that’s been tested and well-received by teenagers and their parents.

--Green. Environmentally friendly, QwikShower Wipes are non-aerosol and emit zero fluorocarbon emissions unlike popular body sprays. This also ensures the scent won’t invade the personal space of others or overwhelm a locker room.

--Economical. With an affordable price point starting at just 49 cents each coupled with the company’s free shipping policy, QwikShower Wipes have made it easier and more affordable than ever to keep kids clean and body odor-free.

--Versatile. QwikShower Wipes are not just for gym class! They’re great for use after sports practices and games, a day at the beach, or an impromptu restaurant outing with the family. Also a stellar solution for adults, the wipes are perfectly suited for boaters, campers and fitness enthusiasts. They are also a must for emergency preparedness kits in the event of water outages.

--Fundraising. When partnered with a sponsoring organization, QwikShower Wipes will support local communities throughout the U.S. by contributing 10% of sales to a PTA, booster club or non-profit organization of the buyer’s choice. Contact QwikShower for more information.

The long road home

2010-11-16T22:23:00.000-05:00

After long months of waiting and longer weeks of preparation, my daughter and son-in-law have begun moving into their new home. It is a sweet victory for us all.

They were sure of what they wanted and would not settle for a cookie-cutter, neighborhood association-ruled, deed-restricted house that did not suit them. Instead they opted for a larger piece of land, a little off the grid, with challenges they will find and meet as they go along.

We all fell in love with the land they found, almost an acre of it, complete with mature oaks, grapefruit and avocado trees and what may be a healthy lime tree. There is plenty of room for our soon to be three-years-old grandson to drive his miniature cars, wagons and fire truck. Dad can have a big storage shed for his treasures and mom can have a nice home for entertaining their widely varied friends and family. There's even room for a vegetable garden should anyone find time to tend it.

There is nothing quite like finding a place you love, staking your claim, outfitting it to suit your life and calling it HOME.

Reflections of summer

2010-11-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

I love the crisp cool mornings, and being able to ride my bike in comfort before sunset these days.

But the sight of a deflated beach ball, abandoned bubbles bottle, dart board and drooping party lanterns make me a little sad.

The reflection of the lake and pool in the glass remind me of the sunny days behind us when we had so much fun splashing in the water.

Time to put all that behind us for this year and embrace the fun of winter.

Walk Now for Autism Speaks

2010-11-10T16:33:00.003-05:00

Photo Stock Xchng: Artm

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. This weekend you have an opportunity to learn more about autism and to support Autism Speaks. The link above will take you to information about activities in your area this weekend.

The 2010 Orlando Walk Now for Autism Speaks is Saturday, Nov. 13th. It is a great day for the whole family- children on the spectrum and those that are not. There will be games, food and entertainment so invite your friends to come along and celebrate our children! Don't forget there will be a resource fair full of information and providers that are willing and able to assist those affected by autism.
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IMPORTANT WALK INFORMATION:
Cranes Roost Park at Altamonte Springs, FL
Registration: 9 a.m.
Walk starts: 10:30 a.m.
Walk length: 5K (3ish miles, three laps around park)
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My daughter recently invited us to join her in this meaningful pursuit. For the past two years she has worked with young adults making better lives for themselves and working through their issues with autism spectrum challenges at the Brevard Campus of College Internship Program.

Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 110 children born today. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 15 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3) Tax Id #: 20-2329938
Autism Speaks contact information:
Email Address: orlando@autismspeaks.org
Contact Name: Amy Helgeson
Phone: (407) 478-6330

Matching gift program: Many companies provide their employees with matching gifts. Please consult your employer on its matching gift guidelines and attach matching gift forms accordingly.

You can donate to Walk Now for Autism Speaks and/or join my team online using the links at the bottom of this page. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks.
Follow This Link to visit my daughter's personal web page and help in our efforts to support Autism Speaks,

Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism.

Patterson Foundation to Match Statewide Donations to Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

2010-11-06T20:22:00.000-04:00

SARASOTA, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2010) – The Patterson Foundation, a Sarasota, Florida-based New Realities Foundation, recently announced that it would match every dollar raised by the Florida Arthritis Foundation through its series of 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk events up to $250,000.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this unprecedented opportunity from The Patterson Foundation,” said Anne Fair Forest, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation’s Florida Chapter. “The Patterson Foundation/Arthritis Foundation partnership, which begins with this match, will make a significant impact against the leading cause of disability in the country.”

Because Dorothy Patterson endured rheumatoid arthritis for many years, The Patterson Foundation selected Arthritis as one of its initiatives to honor the family heritage. The matching donations begin an endowment fund that will help move beyond the present to a world free of arthritis pain.

“In her later years, Dorothy Patterson lived with the debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis daily,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “As we honor her legacy through this initiative, we also strive to inspire innovative, collaborative and efficient philanthropy that will help the Florida Arthritis Foundation have greater impact.”

The festive Jingle Bell Run/Walk events will take place in seven cities across the state of Florida, including Pensacola Beach, Punta Gorda, Fort Walton Beach, Tampa, Bradenton, Orlando and Jacksonville. For more information or to register for a Jingle Bell Run/Walk near you, please visit www.arthritis.org/chapters/florida.

About The Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is the leading health organization addressing the needs of the 50 million adults and 300,000 children living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. The Foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; supporting research and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation, based in Sarasota, Fla., seeks to motivate others to think and act beyond today’s reality and strives to generate philanthropic impact by finding innovative ways to join together with individuals and entities. The Foundation’s ultimate work can be divided into two parts. The first is to transform communities by taking novel approaches to the challenges they face. The second is to provide relief to individuals during times of crisis. For more information, please visit www.ThePattersonFoundation.org .

Starbucks daze

2010-11-04T12:26:00.001-04:00

I don't often allow myself the luxury of a Starbucks coffee. And yet, today I needed an attitude adjustment, and when I saw my youngest son's truck parked outside, I swung right into the parking lot and joined him.

This morning was that perfect kind of day we get here in Florida in October. Not yet cool enough for a jacket, but pleasant breezes just right for sitting outdoors in the shade. Fortunately our closest Starbucks has a generous patio area with tables and chairs and additional chairs and tables under their trademark green umbrellas.

He was surprised to see me pull in even though I have been threatening to catch him at his favorite lounge and join him for some time now. I got him to snap this picture so I could share it with my friends through We Reward.

I had an Americano with sugar and cream and have been quite busy ever since. It was awesome tasting too!

Sweet rewards for a little time

2010-11-03T15:20:00.000-04:00

One of the best bonding experiences I have had with my 12 year-old grandson lately came at the spur of the moment.

As we planned for Hallowe'en festivities last weekend, Dylan said sadly "I didn't get to go to the Fall Festival at school this year Grandma!" When I asked him when it was, he said, it's today from 10 to 2 and I know we don't have time. "

He sure has me pegged! Next thing you know we were off and running to get there before it was all over.

The first thing he wanted to do was have me meet his teachers. Both of them seemed so pleased to see him and I could tell he is not one of the kids they wish was in someone else's classroom. His remedial reading teacher made a point of telling me his many good qualities as he ran off to play a ring toss game and get his prize from the big tub of candy. I felt so proud to be his grandmother and pleased that we had been able to get there in time even though we arrived at the last hour of the event.

This is a low-budget public school so the only "ride" they had was a bounce house and he is too big for that now they said. But they had many simple hand-made games, bean bag toss, ring toss, table bowling,and musical chairs to win cakes and donuts.

We had to have a cotton candy as we left the festival of course. That was a sweet reward.

Halloween is creepy good fun

2010-11-01T15:58:00.004-04:00

As promised, I took pictures as we made Snakes to Eat for our Hallowe'en feast.

(See my earlier blog post)

It really wasn't complicated and everyone was hungry so we each had a whole snake to make, decorate and devour. Much better than letting them eat you!

my hubby's rainbow snake-very poisonous

Some of the spectators got a little creeped out, but before you know it, everyone had their hands in the dough and food coloring, laughing and having fun.

a Vanity snake?

While the snakes were in the oven, we made spiders too. We substituted chocolate donut holes for the bodies to save time and it worked out great. But I had a terrible time finding licorice wheels to use for the spider legs. It was so much fun, no one remember to take any pictures and all the spiders were eaten before I knew what was happening. That's what happens with growing kids around. They will eat anything that doesn't take a bite of them first!

Everyone seemed to enjoy eating this delicacy along with a big platter of fruit and a cup of witches brew (apple cider) to wash it all down. Then it was dessert time!

What could be better than dirt pudding with big juicy (gummy) worms poking through. (Chocolate pudding with crushed Oreo cookies on top)

Next it was time to get on the costumes and go "Trick n' Treating."
I had a long wait before the little ghosts and goblins began to appear and before you know it, I melted into a pile of bones and it was more like the Mexican holiday celebrated on this day: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

The kids were out collecting candy so long, I jumped on my bike to check on them and had a nice ride around the block looking for them. A big spooky looking doctor jumped out at me with bloody scalpel in hand and I had to pull up my granny panties and challenge him saying "my broomstick may be broken, but my magick powers are still with me, so look out!" I think that scared him off, at least he ran away!

There was a lot of candy left, I have plenty to stuff Christmas stockings. And I am the only one who knows where it's hidden. Mwah-ha-ha!

I don't like spiders and snakes

2010-10-28T12:15:00.000-04:00

Hallowe'en must be fast approaching. In this picture, Beau seems to hear the Grim Reaper's footsteps slipping up behind him.

Even the sun was obscured as we walked through the fog this morning. It was truly creepy!

But it did get me thinking about the Halloween party I am planning for the grandchildren this weekend. I watched Paula Deen on Jay Leno's show a few nights ago and they made bake and eat snakes. The boys would love that! A trip over to the Paula Deen site to see her recipes and the ideas were cooking in my evil little mind. She also has a recipe for Spider Bites. Oh yeah!

Tune in for the full story and pictures after this weekend. It should be great fun.

Early voting ROCKS!

2010-10-27T16:28:00.001-04:00

In the early days of America, I would not have been allowed to vote because I am a woman.

Once the vote was secured for women, in 1919, it still took a mighty effort to get to the polls. Only the affluent had cars in those days, so a horse or mule would have likely been involved. Of course, I would have had to finish boiling the wash in lye soap and put it out to dry on the lawn, swept and mopped the floors and prepared a meal or two. Only then would I be allowed (maybe) to harness the cart and go into town, with an escort of course.

The modern poll place became a social event and today it is still a mark of pride for those who volunteer to poll-sit.

With ease comes apathy and laziness (at least in my case) and I admit to missing out on my patriotic privilege of voting in several elections. "Who has time?" I'd plead. "There's no place to park," I'd whine.

Now, there are NO excuses. I went to the courthouse a week before official voting day, walked right in, showed my picture ID, pulled out my sample ballot and bubbled in the choices I'd already made days in advance.

Early voting ROCKS!

Hallowe'en food and fun with children

2010-10-26T19:47:00.002-04:00

The best part of any holiday is having children around to show you how to enjoy the best of everything.

Fortunately for me, nearly every year, my grandkids have been around to help with the decorating and baking and candy distribution for their favorite spooky holiday, Hallowe'en.

The spooky haunted house these three made with their dad and me was really a work of art. We started with a basic gingerbread house and they decorated it using black and orange icing and a variety of candies. A few of the yard decorations you see were hand made, some were left over from cupcakes of years past. They even thought of gummy bear trick n' treaters!

I keep boxes filled with odds and ends for each holiday and they look forward to raiding that Halloween box each year looking for cool things to use for costumes and decorations.

Just in time for this fun holiday, About.com is holding another blog carnival. This one is "Kids in the Kitchen," and it's hosted by the Guide to Kids' Parties, Megan Cooley. There will be great ideas and fun for all. Check it out!

My granddaughters have pretty much outgrown this and I expect it will just be the boys this year. But we will have a new recruit when the almost-three-year-old joins us in the kitchen. I can hardly wait.

Friday is fun day

2010-10-21T14:48:00.002-04:00

Well, it isn't my granddaughter's idea of shopping fun as you see here. But the excitement of finding a treasure to sell on eBay can't be beat to my way of thinking. I look forward to Friday fun because that's when the Estate Sales begin.

On Thursday morning, I can hardly wait to get into the local classified ads and find my treasure chests. I look for "whole house sale" announcements as well since an estate sale manager told me the charge for advertising causes her to advertise that way instead of saying Estate Sale.

I also make a note of any church or school rummage sales that will be held on Saturday. Just in case I have a few dollars left from Friday's adventures. These are often great places to find newer items at great prices. The organizers of these sales often don't know how to research pricing and you can really get good deals there.

One eBay seller I know makes a practice of getting to these sales a day early to make a contribution (things he couldn't sell on eBay the week before) and while he is there, he may make an on the spot offer on some items. They can't resist because that means less work displaying and marking. Some of the things I look for at estate and rummage sales include:

Silver (especially sterling)
Costume and fine jewelry (look for makers marks)
Postcards from small US towns
Pre-1970s vintage Hallowe'en and Christmas decorations
Art Pottery (again... look for a mark on the bottom)
Vintage buttons
Vintage clothing (with cool buttons too)
Clocks
Guitars and other stringed musical instruments
Old signs
Needlework kits and books
Household items with vintage advertising logos and slogans

You will want to look for items in categories you know about of course. But those are a few items to be on the look out for.

Well, I'm off to make my route plan. Happy hunting!

Disney World 1953 re-visited

2010-10-21T14:01:00.001-04:00

Florida (Regional Guide)

When I was a child, Florida had few "tourist attractions." If Walt Disney dreamed of building castles to the sky in the heart of Florida's wilderness, he hadn't told anyone.

The one tourist attraction I remember best is miraculously close to what I experienced in that time of innocence: Silver Springs. The springs pump out 550 million gallons of sparkling-clear water a day. Enough to supply the entire city of New York. And I'm talking 99.8% pure water as you see by the photo here.

Three different river cruises (included in the admission price) in glass-bottomed boats still give the best view of the ancient river-bed beneath pretty much as it was seen 70 million years ago.

Glass bottomed boats let you see the springs

Many species of fish, turtles, alligators, clams, crawfish, shrimp, and snails swim past as you sit shaded from the sun watching the wonder below.

The water is a constant 72 degrees year around.

Many movies (Creature from the Black Lagoon is one) and TV series (Sea Hunt most notably) were filmed here.

In addition to a carousel and a few other rides that even toddlers can enjoy, there are wildlife exhibits and nature shows given on a regular schedule.

And of course there is a petting zoo. Watch out for the llamas though. They spit!

This was my first time seeing a Kodiak bear. The Pooh-like creatures are startlingly large and fascinating to watch.

Kodiak bear over 1,000 lbs.

And, have you ever seen a white alligator? A look into their pink eyes is said to bring luck for the next year. There were panthers and giraffes as well as crocodiles, cayman, tortoises, snakes, spiders, birds and monkeys.
The best part of all this is that the animals are kept in as natural a habitat as possible and you are kept safe on an elevated walk-way or by distance and moats between you and the wildlife.

Since it was early October the weather was delightful. But even in summer there are huge shade trees throughout the park and all the riverboat cruises are covered to keep you cool and comfortable.

What a great day we had in the park. I hope you will visit next time you are in Florida. This is the REAL Florida.

Wearing my PowerSellingMom shirt at Silver Springs, FL

What is your learning style?

2010-10-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Most people learn best in the classroom setting. When you open a book, watch a video, or listen to an audio presentation it can be easy to let your mind drift. In the classroom, you are involved, it's real, you're there!

Danna Crawford knows that. And equipped with the knowledge gained becoming an eBay Education Specialist, and many years of experience, she keeps her students attention by involving them and making sure she is addressing their unique concerns.

My husband and I are fortunate enough to live a short drive from Danna's Ocala classroom, so we attended her intensive one-day "Basics of Selling on eBay" class a few weeks ago. The amount of information she managed to pass on to her students that day amazed me. I really didn't think it could be done in such a short period of time. After all, there is a lot to cover. But in her usual zen-like way, she zoomed in on the really important topics and gave just enough detail to get a beginner successfully selling on eBay immediately.

Most people don't have the luxury of zipping down to Ocala, Florida for a class however and Danna has thought of that too. She started an on-line learning center called Virtual On-Line Learning . eBay selling is only one of the topics you can choose from if you become a member of this group. Recent topics have included:

Skype
Twitter (and one on using Hootsuite for Twitter)
Tweaking your blog
Google Alerts
Selling (various types of items) on eBay
Marketing your online business
How to burn a CD/DVD
How to use photo editing software (including Irfanview, Piknik, Photoscape, Picasa)
How to make money or help a charity with My Likes
Setting up eBay Store pages
Social Blogging
Setting up a domain
International Selling
Running an on-line radio show
Marketing your business with Linked-In
Setting up and joining affiliate programs
How to run a lean and "green" business
eBay Trading Assistant business
Group Marketing
Blog marketing with EntreCard
Auction Promotion Strategies
Understanding and using WordPress (and one on BlogSpot)
Social Bookmarking
Auction Templates for eBay sales
Working with Spreadsheets for eBay and PayPal
Tour of TeraPeak
Using Stumble Upon for marketing
eMail Marketing
Wholesale Items and Drop Shipping
PhotoBucket
YouTube
Facebook Fan Pages

... and much, much more was covered during the first year of Virtual On-Line Learning.

These topics are covered in on-line meetings with you sitting in the comfort of your own home watching the magic on your computer screen while listening to Danna or another experienced user explain and teach. Questions and discussion are often a part of the class. Many of these classes are free and some are at a modest charge (usually $15 or less).

Danna has also made many of the topics available on CD for purchase if you missed the meet-up and/or the "missed class" link she supplies next day. This link allows you to view the presentation on your own time but is available only a day or two.

There's also a monthly Skype Meet-up hosted by organizer James Kirk Pace. This is more of a social meet-up. Everyone introduces themselves and why they joined Virtual On-Line Learning. Then, James sets up a group chat and all members are brought into online skype chat room. We talk live through our mics and or typing on the chat board. For those with no mics you are welcome to listen in and type on the chat board.

There is truly something of value for everyone in becoming a member. I can't urge you strongly enough to join us at:

Wake up call

2010-10-21T12:06:00.001-04:00

If you grew up in the 1950s like I did, seeing a sight like this might give you a jolt back to the past.

Was your first impulse "Duck and cover" as we were taught in school?

We grew up in the shadow of the cold war where kids said to each other "IF I grow up, I'm gonna' be (insert fireman, ballet dancer, etc.) Not WHEN I grow up, but IF. What a specter to grow up with.

We managed to get through that time, even witnessing Khrushchev banging his shoe on the table of the United Nation threatening "We will bury you!" And it instilled in us a sense of pride in being Americans and being able to stay steady and strong in spite of fear.

We held onto our faith in the American way and we fought for other countries who were trying to gain independence from tyranny. Still, we must always keep our edge and remember that the threat is as real today as it was then. Say "Thank you!" to the next soldier you see. Don't forget!

What? Salad can be worse for you than a hamburger

2010-10-21T11:28:00.002-04:00

How is that we can even make the word S-A-L-A-D a dirty word? It seems like as soon as I find myself enjoying food that is supposed to be good for me; BINGO, the chemists swoop down and find the magic ingredients that make it taste so good are essentially the equivalent of 4 Tasty-Creme donuts? Geez, if I had known that, I would have just stopped off at the do-nut shop for lunch.

My husband and I have been battling the bulge pretty consistently this year. We work out at a full-service fitness center 3 times a week, bowl one evening a week, and I try to hit the health-center swimming pool for water aerobics class twice a week. Still, it is slow progress. (or should I say loss)

Then, I read that the additives put into food we eat in restaurants are the real culprits. It isn't the romaine, the tomatoes or the celery that is making us fatter. It isn't even the chicken breast we top it off with, or the basic low-fat salad dressing. It is all the little tasty bits that are added and the way the chicken breast is marinated, fried and dressed, that is to blame.

It isn't the hamburger, or even the cheese, and it certainly isn't the lettuce that is to blame. It is that special sauce, and the soft white bun and the well-oiled grill the patty is fried on.

Our eyes opened, we began to be more choosy, and settle on a more spartan presentation. We order only water to drink (which turned out to be a big money saver too) and asked more questions, and made a few more demands.

Last weekend I tried ordering the breakfast I usually enjoy here at home. I was pleasantly surprised that the server prided herself on filling my order even though she had to get very creative to do it. My order? Half cup of uncooked oats, a serving of low-fat vanilla yogurt, a banana and a few tablespoons of walnuts (no not the candied pecans) and wheat toast. It was liberating I tell you. Total cost was way under $5 which is about a third of what we usually spend for one breakfast there.

We also discovered that we could make a fantastic salad out of greens, tomatoes, onions, and chunks of leftover baked chicken. Very satisfying. So, something good has come of our family's realization that we must tighten our belts: We are re-discovering the many benefits of a home-cooked meal. Not only are we saving money, we are losing weight.

Regain independence through NMEDA

2010-10-13T16:22:00.035-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many times over the past few years, I have watched my neighbor struggle to help his disabled wife get into their car. I just learned about NMEDA (a non-profit trade association) and how they educate consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.

If I had known about NMEDA at the time, I would have told him there is an organization that is qualified to help end that daily struggle. Each person has different needs, so buying an adaptation for your vehicle or a pre-equipped van might not suit your needs. The NMEDA member dealers give your personal needs their expert attention and recommend exactly what you need. Many elderly and disabled people have regained their independence after following the recommendations.

See if there are NMEDA dealers in your area. I found one near me in Orlando. Please leave a comment and let me know how many you found near you. NMEDA dealers are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled people.

For added peace of mind, I can tell you that NMEDA has Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers as well. The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

Go to NMEDA for assistance today and rest assured that your decision will be based on the professional experience and caring guidance of fully qualified people.

Signs of Autumn in Florida

2010-10-07T13:54:00.004-04:00

This morning was crisp and cool, no more than 70 degrees and breezy. The birds (that have been absent or silent for months) were singing and arguing in the trees. And I saw a brightly colored leaf on the ground beneath the crepe myrtles.

Unlike our friends to the north, we citizens of Florida are not treated to a wide pallet of color this time of year. The sun is at a different angle though and the light is just "different."
(More... click on title)

About the only other sign of Autumn at our house is fur. There is much more fur. The fur is everywhere. Soon I will be brushing the Furry Curry and adding to my collection of fur. I really do have a bag of accumulated fur that will be carded, spun and woven into a cape for me in my old age. Until then, I keep one of those sticky rollers in every room and the cars so that we can occasionally wear dark colored clothes.

Still, this is my favorite time of year, no matter where I am. There is something of the spirit of renewal in the air in the fall. I have made many important decisions in the Octobers of my life.

Don't say cheese too loud

2010-10-05T21:59:00.003-04:00

What is there about a camera that turns "grown ups" into children with the word "cheese?"

That's papa in the background putting bunny ears over the heads of two of the "kids."

Has anyone ever figured out why this is such a great past-time?
(more... click on title)

You can see the glee on his partially eclipsed face. He is getting even at last!

This picture was taken at a birthday dinner for the bunny on the left. The only intoxicants present were shrimp and scallops but as you see, that was plenty! Even his brother-in-law is enjoying the fun.

That's why I prefer to be on the other side of the lens when the flash goes off.

Fall Do-it-Youself projects

2010-10-01T12:40:00.004-04:00

If your family is like mine, your nesting instincts really kick in about this time of year and the "Honey-Do List"gets longer and longer.

Now that the air is turning crisp and cool, our minds are turning to home projects that would have just taken too much energy and sweat during the summer months.
(more... click on title)
If you, like one member of our family, finds yourself fixing up a new home you know that the list seems endless and you can spend days just looking for the right cabinet pulls or kitchen and bath faucets.

Amazon has come to the rescue with their Do It Yourself Fall Sales event and you can save lots of time and money buying what you need right there! Did you know you can even find reconditioned tools on Amazon? I just found that out today!

I hope your dreams for a finely-feathered nest are realized this fall. And don't bang your thumb with the hammer this time, OK?

The hitchhiker

2010-10-01T09:44:00.003-04:00

Lucky for this little anole that I had a chance to pull over quickly after I noticed it clinging perilously to my windshield wiper.

Its long toes were wrapped tightly around the blade making me think of old-time air shows when the dare-devils would climb out onto the wing of a bi-plane clinging desperately to the struts.

As much of a fly-girl as I was, I could never imagine what prompted them to do that.

This little fellow (or girl) was happy to see green, green grass underfoot within seconds of this picture.

Rain don't go away

2010-09-29T23:10:00.000-04:00

The rain came and went too soon... again. The lakes are so low fish nests are exposed and water plants are dying of thirst.

Even though stormy weather gives me a headache and sends my dog cowering in the closet, I long for it to clear the dust and pollen from the air and make the grass and leaves look Disney green.

Rain, rain, don't go away, or come again another day.

Affiliate Summit Unconference 2010

2010-09-27T23:14:00.005-04:00

CatPurry and Heather Smith enjoy a Shamu Ice Cream bar

Brett Bumeter Coca Cola man

CatPurry and Murray Newlands

There must be something about Sea World that brings out the writer in me. Maybe it is just that the last two blogging conferences I attended were in the Port O' Call at Sea World. You must admit the quiet, natural beauty of the place encourages thought and draws inspiration.

Both were in strong evidence and wrapped in a warm human touch as old and new acquaintances met for Affiliate Summit UNconference.

The format was self-guided for the most part with the audience driving the agenda. It worked better than anyone could have imagined. We listened and talked and hatched ideas fine, outlandish and large. We laughed, we found out new things about and from each other, and we shared knowledge with abandon. Affiliates were born, writers were blessed, business was conducted.

It will be a while before my brain comes to terms with all that new information, my notes are sorted out and business cards put to work where my Poken failed to perform. (I did get a new one that was designed to look like a cat.)

Meanwhile, I will look at these pictures and remember a wonderful day thanks to Missy Ward, Affiliate Tip and Sea World. My appreciation is also extended to those who put their efforts into expanding our knowledge and exciting our imaginations. Speakers like Brett Bumeter, Murray Newlands, Tim Jones and others gave us so much.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-22T22:00:00.001-04:00

The sun is at a different angle now. The shadows are long by 7:30 in the morning. Can cooler weather be far?

eBay On Location San Jose - my perspective

2010-09-15T16:10:00.001-04:00

It has taken nearly two weeks for me to get back to normal after this exciting experience.

When my hubster and I boarded a 6:30am flight out of Orlando to San Jose September 1st, I had no idea what lay ahead.

There is no way I could have been disappointed on this trip. I knew it would be inspiring and it was. The surprise is that it inspired my better half even more than it did me! I have been trying to get him involved in my eBay enterprise for about a year so this is definitely good news.

As seen on TV - Nightline program
Yeah, that's me in the video (as shown on TVs "Nightline" Oct. 7, 2010) I sell "Treasures" and that's my tee-shirt being autographed by CEO John Donahoe.

Since our flight was in before noon, we had plenty of time to settle in at the Santa Clara Hyatt and Convention Center (where the event was held) and were among the first in line to register and get our cool bags, lanyards and badges.

Right away I met up with old friends including Scott Shepherd (left) Steve Meyers (2nd from right) and met Steve's wife Kim for the first time. (My husband Lon is at far right)

I don't know how many new friends I met. A few people I had talked to by phone or email, but never met face to face. Funny how they seemed to meet up to my expectations completely. The only surprises were good ones.

The first evening was totally fun. We sang Happy Birthday to eBay (which is now 15 years old) ate cupcakes, celebrated and danced. Girls in flashing costumes walked on stilts or skated around the hall and a magician flashed cards, his clothes and even a smile.
We drank, socialized and ate until the time change caught up with us and we realized it was nearly 2am our time.

Lorrie Norrington, John Donahoe and "Griff" Jim Griffin led the birthday song followed by a trio of eBay and PayPal employees who harmonized a few familiar tunes with an eBay frame of reference to the lyrics. Very cool. Since I was sitting near the front of the hall, I was able to "rush the stage" and get the autographs of these 3 eBay icons. I had started an eBay autograph T-shirt in 2008 at eBay LIVE in Chicago but these three had escaped me.

Next day, we were up bright and early to start learning all we could cram in a single day. Although the conference was geared to small sellers, there was a surprisingly complete set of topics covered. Some were more advanced so I took notes in those break-out sessions while Lon wrote a surprising number of pages of notes on the more basic sessions.

Between sessions we visited the booths of vendors who offer solutions to eBay sellers, such as United States Postal Services, eCommerce, PESA, RRBradio, Pitney Bowes, Indicia, doba, Kabbage, and ReplyManager. Always nice mementos in those booths! In addition, PayPal, eBay Green Team, ProStores, eBay Classified and eBay Mobile had a presence and presents for us. Customer Service had a room set up for consultations away from the main activity. Hubster's diligence as a student (and a good question) won him a brand new iPod with eBay branding. This being our first "i" device, we are having a ball figuring it all out. Very cool!

We took away many exciting new concepts and ideas, but one of the best parts of the trip was re-connecting with old friend PowerSellingMom (Danna Crawford), my pal. Danna lives about 150 miles from me but we rarely get a chance to meet up in person.

I have a feeling I may someday feel as close to some of those I met in San Jose for the first time. Check out photos on my Facebook page (CatPurry) if you get a chance.

No way I could do this event justice in words. Next time, I will follow up with some fun we had over labor day weekend in San Jose and San Francisco with eBay friends. What a blast!

Aim for the STARS!

2010-08-28T14:08:00.000-04:00

Do you hear jubilant cheers wafting up on southern breezes? They may be coming from my house. As an eBay seller, I am over the moon about their new STARS policy.

In case you missed eBay's announcement, I am repeating it here: "Starting in October, when you offer free shipping, you could automatically get 5-star DSRs for shipping costs when your buyer chooses free shipping. Listing with free shipping can also get a boost in Best Match for Fixed Price (where applicable), and visibility in Free Shipping search filters"

Many sellers have long complained that it is unfair to allow a buyer to grade a seller "poor" on shipping and handling cost when they received their purchase with FREE shipping and handling.

There have always been sellers who don't understand the DSR system and how low marks can damage a seller's reputation and even raise the cost of selling on eBay. Sometimes buyers give a seller low DSR's because they don't understand that 1 star means poor performance not "you are number ONE!" In some cultures, giving an "average" rating is all that is expected.

This policy change is one more example of eBay's willingness to flex and change when change is needed. Thanks for listening eBay!

Look before you leap

2010-08-21T14:40:00.000-04:00

I used to grind my teeth when my mother recited what I considered banal quotations.

"You'd better look before you leap," she'd warn. I could have used her advice this morning when I was about to set a reusable shopping bag on the stove. Those smooth surfaced stoves are a great work surface when they are cool.

Mom was right. Again!

The bag bottom melted onto the surface and a plastic container of spinach was deformed by the heat.

The good news is: smooth surfaced stove-tops can be cleaned of melted-on plastic with just a razor blade and made good as new. Only the bag was a total loss.

Signs of desperation

2010-08-18T12:17:00.000-04:00

Anyone who doubts the seriousness of the economic downturn should check out the empty parking lots of restaurants and shopping centers, and notice the "sign spinners" standing in the steamy August Florida heat to make a few dollars advertising apartments with "FREE rent for a month" and "Going Out of Business" signs. I'm just sayin'!

So long, old chums, see you on the other side of the Earth

2010-07-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

Sad to see my friends head back to Australia http://sixties-chick.blogspot.com/2010/07/last-look-at-native-florida.html

What a great time we had together!

Proud gator keep on floating!

2010-07-08T17:57:00.000-04:00

To infinity and beyond!

2010-07-05T20:43:00.001-04:00

The best of the Space Coast = Day 3

Eeeek, there's a MAN in the house!

2010-07-05T09:11:00.001-04:00

What a scary wake-up my friend had. Eeeek!

The last launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis?

2010-07-02T16:03:00.001-04:00

April 20, 2010

My cousin Jean grew up on the "Space Coast" of Florida. Her mother worked in the Office of Downrange Affairs at nearby Patrick Air Force Base from the time manned space flight was only a dream until long after that dream was realized. I grew up in Orlando wishing I lived on the Space Coast. We both moved around the country as adults, but ended up here in recent years, she a snow-bird with her main home and family still in Wisconsin, and I a full-time resident with all my family nearby.

She and her husband were still in their winter abode in April when the last launch of space shuttle Atlantis blasted off magnificently to visit the International Space Station one last time. We talked about watching the launch from their dock on the Indian River then decided at the last moment to get on the highway and drive as close to ground zero as we could get to watch this thrilling event. Both of us have been shaken from our beds by the noise of a Space Shuttle breaking the sound barrier overhead upon approach to the landing strip. Neither of us has ever been close enough to feel the ground shake and see the plume of smoke on the ground at a launch. This might be our last chance.

We drove like fury as far north as we could, listening intently to the radio announcer reporting the count-down. When he announced T minus 3 minutes, we began to look for a gathering of cars and people with binoculars along side the river. Someplace, anyplace where we could witness this historic moment. After parking we waited only a minute before scrambling to the best vantage point we could find and watching the horizon to the east-northeast. We heard the low rumble before the announcer told us the candle had been lit but then we saw it, beginning to rise steadily into the sky.

A close-up look through the camera lens showed it flying straight and true. As someone who eye-witnessed shuttle Challenger's heartbreaking explosion on lift-off April 4, 1983 from Orlando, my heart is always in my mouth until the last of the vapor trail is gone. I had also watched Columbia's terrible loss on re-entry Feb. 1, 2003 on TV. The world grieved the terrible losses in these tragedies but the grieving was palpable here on the Space Coast. Seeing Atlantis soar as she did this day brought tears of joy to my eyes.

All around us people stood, eyes sheltered as they looked skyward, in absolute awe of the sight they had witnessed. We watched until the last of the vapor trail had become vague wisps in the cloudless blue sky.

Slowly they began to move, to look at each other, then applause broke out across the crowd followed by cheers and whistles. My skin prickled with goose-bumps.

This was a moment of triumph nothing can take from us. The space program as we know it may be at an end soon, but I am still hopeful the long career of Atlantis is not at an end. There are still 2 more launches between now and the end of February 2011 and even the possibility of another Atlantis launch.

If not, I hope she will be displayed and studied by those of us who love her, our children and grand-children.

If you would like to buy a patch for this mission STS-132 go HERE
(this is not a paid endorsement and I have no connection whatsoever with this site)

This is a quote from that site:

The STS-132 mission will be the 32nd flight of the space shuttle Atlantis. The primary STS-132 mission objective is to deliver the Russian-made MRM-1 (Mini Research Module) to the International Space Station (ISS). Atlantis will also deliver a new communications antenna and a new set of batteries for one of the ISS solar arrays.
The STS-132 mission patch features Atlantis flying off into the sunset as the end of the Space Shuttle Program approaches. However the sun is also heralding the promise of a new day as it rises for the first time on a new ISS module, the MRM-1, which is also named 'Rassvet,' the Russian word for dawn.

Ozzies' first taste of Florida

2010-07-02T10:26:00.003-04:00

http://sixties-chick.blogspot.com/2010/07/first-taste-of-florida.html

Almost arrested at the airport

2010-06-30T11:37:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it? Read the story here.

Photo courtesy of Drew Bennett

Why I love Facebook

2010-05-17T15:54:00.000-04:00

I know some people who think social networking is just a big time suck! I could not agree less.

One of my daughter's good friends had her baby shower yesterday and I was unable to attend, but thanks to Facebook and her friend's quick work, I was able to read about it and see pictures of her and her twin, who is also pregnant and due about the same time. I could see by the smiles what a great time they must have had.

As a bonus they posted a great picture of my little grandson at his charming best. Because she thought to "tag" the photo with my name, I was made aware of the photo. I wish Facebook had a "send to" instead of just "tag" as that technique was not obvious to me until recently.

I don't spend a lot of time on Facebook or Twitter, but it is a great way to stay connected.

No drama zone

2010-05-10T11:46:00.000-04:00

My dear friend Danna Crawford has always advised "when you see drama...RUN!" In that spirit, she has launched a new site called Run Drama Run and I am proud to announce that she asked me to be a contributor. I just posted some thoughts and pictures of yesterday's Mother's Day celebration to the site and would love to have you check it out.

See you there!

Making Easter memories

2010-04-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

Like so many other families, we spent time making memories with our children and grandchildren over the Easter weekend.

It has become traditional to take the grandchildren to the nursing home where my husband works, to let them interact with the residents and enjoy a beautiful day of egg hunting, and picnicking. The old folks line the walkways and parking lot early waiting for the first of the children to arrive and find the plastic eggs they have filled with candy and coins. The wrinkles on their faces fade, replaced by smiles and happy anticipation.

It is fun to look back on pictures from previous years and see how much the kids have grown and changed. Last year, at age one, our grandson had no fear of the six foot Easter Bunny, but this year, he hid his face timidly in his mothers shoulder. There was no dampening his enthusiasm for finding the brightly colored eggs though.

We had a little practice run first thing in the morning at home where even the dog helped him rehearse. As it happened, no practice was needed. As soon as he saw the Easter basket and spotted the first colored egg (lying out in the open on one of his toys), he was off and running, looking in every corner until his basket was brimming with color.

Later in the day Grandpa (who had grilled over 350 hot dogs), came home and put a big ham on the grill, while the kids enjoyed a canoe ride on the lake.

Here's hoping your weekend was a real memory maker too.

Lunch of champions

2010-04-02T14:07:00.000-04:00

This may not look like the usual lunch. No hamburger, no fries, not even a sandwich and chips.

A few days ago, I was sitting in the doctor's waiting room watching one of those special programs they have on doctor's waiting room TVs. There was a series of brief programs about health-related issues. One of the programs was about a new website called SparkPeople .

The crazy thing is, at the time I was watching this program, my husband was being told he is on a fast roll to becoming a diabetic, something my doctor had told me at my last visit with him.

We knew we needed to change our ways. Our mirrors told us. Our friends told us. Our pants told us. We started working out at a fitness center over a year ago and have been pretty good about going 3 times a week unless one of us was really sick or injured. He has almost stopped drinking beer altogether and I have been drinking water, milk or iced tea almost exclusively, leaving behind the beloved hazel-nut iced-coffee from McDonald's and Starbucks lattes. But the weekends still revolved around barbecues and lasagna and big pots of chilli. And a lot of our meals out were at the all-you-can-eat buffets my husband loves.

This is not our first rodeo. A few years ago we tried going to Weight Watchers. It was very helpful and we both lost weight. He did better than I and we didn't mind the food. But it was very difficult to set aside the time to plan our menus, make a shopping list and prepare the food we knew we should eat. Before you know it, we were right back to the fat food.

After signing up with SparkPeople (which is FREE by the way) I got busy making a meal plan and exercise plan so I could keep track of it all. I can't say it was easy, it took me a whole evening to list the foods I had eaten that day and plan 2 days ahead. I pulled a report on what I had eaten the first day... a non-diet day and was surprised to find that the report told me I just hadn't eaten ENOUGH. What I had eaten was out of balance even though I hadn't really had a lot of calories... under 1500 for the day.

Today, I ate the planned breakfast and I was so full I forgot to eat until almost 1:30pm. I had a two egg omelet with a big handful of spinach and two ounces of shredded cheddar, a piece of toast, and a banana along with my coffee.

You see my lunch above. I had quite a plate full with 3/4 cup of cottage cheese, pineapple chunks, baby carrots, 1/3 cup of hummus, wheat crackers, a big spoonful of peanut butter and a can of V8. I gotta tell you, it tasted a lot better than it looks. And, I know I am on the right path to a healthier life.

eBay changes; a good thing?

2010-03-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

eBay's March Newsletter was full of cool tips for sellers and helpful explanations of the new fee structure and other changes.

Although the new fee structure has caused me to rethink my business model, I think it will be a good thing in the long run for eBay and its sellers. Personally, I have closed my store because I don't have the volume or high-priced sales that would justify keeping it open even at the lowest level.

Instead, I am going to focus on using the auction format to sell items which is "Free unless it sells" for up to 100 items.

But one announcement had escaped my notice until now and it will have huge implications for me:

Only domestic DSRs count. Since only DSRs on your transactions with U.S. buyers count on eBay.com, you can sell globally without worrying about customs or international delivery affecting your eligibility for Top-rated seller or PowerSeller status.

More control over ship-to locations. Specify countries you don't want to ship to quickly and easily. Exclude countries you don't want to ship to right in the listing, or just change your shipping preference in My eBay

This means I can offer my auctions worldwide again. I have not been able to do this for about two years without fear of DSR damage. This could make a huge difference in my sales and I am really looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

eBay has been a lot of fun for me these past few years and it will only get better I'm sure!

Wild West Days of Social Networking on-line

2010-03-25T07:08:00.001-04:00

My friend Danna Crawford (aka PowerSellingMom) just wrote a great post on Practical eCommerce titled eBay Pioneered Social Networking that is well worth the time to read. I missed the wild west days of eBay but sure enjoy the social aspects that remain today. They were certainly leaders of social networking in the eCommerce arena.

I remember being active on Compuserve forums in the very early 1990s and learned the value of "tribes" there. I was most active in cancer survivor support forums on Compuserve and am still in touch with some of those members today. We banded together to give support to a very young brain cancer survivor and his family as he traveled to Canada for last hope treatment.

A thread was started on the forum, titled "Any Angels in Canada?" and several members who lived near where he was to be treated, met him and his mother at the airport and visited them during their stay giving support where they could. Many others wrote cards and posted to the forum where he could read their messages. A few years later this boy's mother sent me a memento from his memorial service and a handwritten note thanking me for being a friend at this very difficult time. She was convinced that forum support was a big factor in giving him hope and strength to endure for a few more precious years.

One of the friends I met on that Compuserve forum lives in Australia and we will meet for the first time this summer when she comes to visit in my home at long last.

2010-03-01T14:17:00.000-05:00

It had been many years since I played Monopoly, so when one of my grandkids pulled this out of the closet I had to read the rules first.

It turns out this was the Dot.Com version. What had been the utility company was a bit different from days of old.

But the concept was still the same, buy some property, add a building (office in this case) and charge rent to anyone who stops on your space.

The bank held all the money beyond a starting purse and we had to scheme to get a little more added to our stash. It was actually great fun but the new version had one major stumbling block in common with the original. It takes FOREVER to play this game to conclusion. I soon noticed that one of the older grandkids was "forgetting" to charge rent. She was also texting under the table and when I accused her of staging a bankruptcy, she blushed and admitted that she was hoping to meet up with friends soon.

One thing that will never change about Monopoly, it is still fun and a great way to bring up grown-up ideas such as investing wisely and knowing when to stop buying and save your money.

Wonderful Italian-Style Chicken Soup

2010-02-05T12:54:00.002-05:00

On a cold blustery day (we do have a few in Florida) I love to make this hearty soup and invite a few (dozen) friends over to enjoy it.

If you are lucky someone will volunteer to bring the wine and breadsticks! (click on title for more...)

Wonderful Chicken Soup

This recipe calls for one or two chicken breasts. You can use leftovers, or cook the chicken ahead for a quick-fix meal.

Ingredients:

2-3 bone-in chicken breasts, cooked
1 can cannelloni beans, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 can Italian style green beans
½ package of frozen chopped spinach
½ box of pasta (shells or rotini), cooked
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic
1 Tbl. Olive oil
1 Quart chicken broth, low-fat
Morton’s Natures Seasoning to taste (or salt and pepper)
Pinch of Oregano
1-2 Cups Romano cheese

Directions:

Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic in olive oil in bottom of large soup pot. Add uncooked chicken breast and a quart of low-fat chicken broth. (if chicken is pre-cooked, just remove skin and fat, cube it and add when soup is all assembled). Cover and cook chicken over medium heat until done, then remove and cool. Remove any skin and fat, de-bone and cube. Skim fat from chicken stock after it cools.

Heat chicken stock, add all canned ingredients and pasta (you can cook the pasta separately if desired) bring to a boil and add chicken. Reduce heat to medium and cook until pasta is done, about 15 minutes. Cook until soup is a bit thickened if desired. Remove from heat and add ½ Cup grated Romano Cheese.

Serve and enjoy.
Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Running on empty

2010-01-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

The truck beside me had an interesting graphic representation of a cow holding a cell-phone in one hand and carrying a briefcase in the other. There was a tie around its neck I noticed the product it was trying to hawk was Red Bull and most surprising of all, the truck was owned by a local company known mainly as a beer distributor.

This set me to thinking how times have changed for the up and coming business person. Instead of looking forward to a time to relax with a beer, they are thinking how they can boost their energy enough to take another call and another meeting.

I'm not going to judge the benefits of either drug. Just noticing the swing of yet another pendulum during my lifetime.

Read to me Daddy?

2010-01-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

My toddler grandson is lucky enough to have two parents who read to him all the time. They have already instilled a love of books in this child that I don't think can be destroyed even by the exciting sounds and pictures of TV and video games. He enjoys the flashing lights for sure, but he would much rather sit beside you and read a book. He had chosen "Not The Hippopotamus" as his favorite by the age of one and now at almost two, he is enjoying the Dr. Seuss books most of all.

I have a feeling "grandma's day" will often find us at the library!

Rainbow wedding feast

2010-01-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken at one of my favorite hang-outs: The Brevard Zoo. They have a fantastic free flight aviary where you can walk among the birds in a natural setting and even offer them cups of nectar or wooden sticks coated with birdseed that are provided at the bird concession stand.

This pair of Lories seemed to be saying their "I Do's" with the colorful Justice of the Peace chirping "you may kiss the bride."

Being included

2010-01-10T19:57:00.002-05:00

Someone once said "children hear and see like beings from another planet" and that came to mind when I shot this photo of my toddler grandson trying to break into the circle of a group of children dancing in a ring. I had said "aren't they having fun dancing?" and he immediately wanted to join in but the children stubbornly refused to open their hands and let him break into the group, even refusing to make eye contact with him.

I hope he never feels this sense of not belonging when real people are involved. I hope he will find that one warm hand reaching out and welcoming him. I pray it will be there for him as it so often has been for me. I have been blessed with so many great people in my lifetime. It seems at every turn there was encouragement and appreciation just when I needed it most.

Sea World Orlando - not just for summertime fun

2009-12-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

It wasn't the kind of day that comes to mind when you think about Florida. The day after Christmas was chilly and damp and there wasn't much blue sky visible but our dispositions were sunny as we entered the gates to Sea World Orlando. One of the first things that greeted us was a mammoth Christmas tree decorated by huge brightly colored ornaments.

The park's Voyager's Smokehouse restaurant was delightful to see with upside down Christmas trees mounted from the ceiling beams. There was a real holiday spirit everywhere and several special Christmas shows.

I had borrowed a hover-round for the day due to a bum knee and it gave me a whole new appreciation for those who depend on scooters and wheelchairs for mobility. Sea World is very carefully laid out to accommodate everyone traveling through the areas we visited but I would have had a rather limited view of the Whale & Dolphin show from the small area designated for wheelchairs. Since I was able to walk up to regular seating it was no problem. The real problem was caused by thoughtless pedestrians. I had to be constantly vigilant of people stepping into my path as if I were immobile when actually I was motoring along at a slow pace. It was quite unnerving!

We saw improvements and enhancements to the exhibits every where we went. I have always loved Sea World's natural Florida look. And they figured out very early on how to keep their guests cool on a hot summer's day with mist and fans. But I was happy to see they also know how to warm things a bit when needed. What could have been a cold dank chamber was a comfortable dry walk when we visited the indoor aquariums and penguin exhibits.

We have Florida resident annual passes, called Fun Cards, so when our under-two-year-old grandson got tired and cranky after just a few hours, we didn't feel bad about heading home. There's always tomorrow.

Saying goodnight to Christmas Day

2009-12-25T19:59:00.001-05:00

We have had two days of pure joy but it is almost over for this year. The special glasses decorated with holly and the plates with Santa and his reindeer will be packed away along with the tree and lights and nutcrackers and everything will be hauled back up to the attic by next weekend.

The joy will be close at hand though, thanks to digital photography. We got great shots of everyone in the family and they will be right here for me to look at anytime I like. Chris Brogan is hosting a Holiday Photo Project , so if you would like to join in some fun and possibly win some books and cool stuff, check out his blog entry and post your own cool holiday photos and video.

One of my favorites is of all five of the grandkids opening their stockings this morning. One of the girls looks amazed when she pulled out a long string of gift cards.

Food is a big part of most get-togethers at our house and Christmas is the biggest. Okay, so the Christmas cookies were all eaten before the big day and the ginger cake fell in the middle. You should have seen the pies! Thanks to winning a prize of Dove chocolates from The Dirty Shirt blog, we had two extra-special desserts to share. One was a very large box of graham crackers coated in this scrumptious chocolate. Half were coated with Dove dark chocolate (my favorite) and the other half was thickly coated with their famous milk chocolate. Pure, sweet silky chocolate on the tongue with a crunchy center in both cases. The second box was mixed nuts covered in both milk and dark chocolate. Ummm, these were like bites of heaven. My granddaughters also gave me 2 bags of Dove dark chocolate Promises so I don't have to worry about running out between now and my birthday in February. I guess everyone in the family knows of my addiction to Doves.

But the best part of Christmas for me is seeing the sparkling eyes of happy children and hearing their voices. The video of our youngest grandson discovering his new fire truck comes with flashing lights, sirens and a loudspeaker to drive us nuts with all day. I had to keep reminding him "no running 10-18 in the house!"

Snatching happiness from the jaws of depression

2009-12-22T09:25:00.002-05:00

I really wasn't in the mood to have a good day yesterday. Several family members are dealing with life and death situations, a friend is suffering deep losses on all fronts and my husband has to work on Christmas Day!

I wanted to just sink into my recliner and dare Kelly Rippa to cheer me up. Fortunately for me, my 11 year-old grandson woke up determined to make it a good day for everyone he saw. This little guy has a heart full of sunshine and a smile as big as the ocean.
(More...click title)

He was worried about not having a Christmas gift for his father, favorite uncle, mother, step-dad, brother and 2 sisters. After trying to get me to hire him to clean "the whole house" and wash both cars to no avail. We began to search for a solution he could manage. Making a gift was out of the question, we only had a few hours to do this. "Could you write out a promise to each one and wrap it up pretty?" We were unable to find good promises he could stand behind that they would enjoy as well. Finally, I said "what about buying each person on your list a snack? Something they can enjoy while they open their other presents? I will put up the money if you don't go over $2 per person." This idea got a resounding YES and we were off to the store. The most fun he had was when he found a sack of coal candy for his older brother who he said has been very bad all year.

After we had secured the booty and brought it home, we found boxes just a little too big for each gift to throw everyone off the track. Each box was carefully taped, wrapped, labeled and finished with the smack of a bow on the top. Mission accomplished.

As I put away a few canned goods I'd bought during our outing, he asked innocently "are you going to bake cookies this year?" As a matter of fact I had bought a sugar cookie mix (and chuckling to myself proud of my forethought) said "do you want to help bake some cookies?" Oh YES! was the answer. It has been years since I tackled sugar cookies and it took a bit to find the rolling pin. We had no end of trouble getting the sticky mess to roll out and then after cutting out the shapes, we couldn't get them to lift in one piece. More and more flour went into the mix. I tried chilling it. Added more flour. No way! Finally, we rolled out the dough onto the baking sheet, pressed in the cookie shapes with a big wiggle at the end and cut away the excess with toothpicks and a knife. By the time we got the 4th cookie sheet into the oven my back was experiencing spasms!

Somehow, baking even this tedious, couldn't dampen our enthusiasm. But when the pre-mixed colored icing in a tube turned out to be be totally dried out, it came close. We continued undaunted, making our own icing from powdered sugar, butter and hazelnut coffee mate. There wasn't a drop of heavy cream in the fridge. What? It worked! We added food coloring, managed after several false starts to get our colored icing squirting out of the pastry tubes, pulled out the sprinkles and started to work.

That was the fun part of course. After a few minutes we both had blue teeth and green fingers and red smears on our faces. We finished just in time before Dad had to take him home.

Some days just don't go as you think they will. Sometimes that is a good thing.

Bus stop art for the ages

2009-12-17T19:34:00.000-05:00

I had to pull my bike up short when I found this piece of art, on the trunk of a palm tree, beside the bus stop where the middle schoolers in our neighborhood wait.

My phone camera didn't really capture the detail of this sweet colorful collage. It is an assemblage of varied colors and flavors of chewing gum and a single, faded blossom.

Who knows how long it took the artist or artists to get to this point. I wonder if it is a way of marking off the days until Christmas vacation. Or is it a joint statement of rebellion made by youngsters determined to enjoy that last sweet chew until the very last moment when they are herded off to yet another day of incarceration.

The possibilities made me feel free in my retirement. I took another lap around the park in celebration of freedom.

Product reviews and give-away

2009-12-15T16:25:00.002-05:00

Since becoming a member of Vocalpoint, I have had the chance to try out two new products and revisit an old favorite. Reviewing all three products were pleasant experiences. There were generous coupons included as a reward so I want to share them with you.

Vocalpoint sent me a nice sized jar of Olay Professional PRO-X and invited me to test it to see if it doesn't help my skin look younger and reduce fine lines. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I do believe it has helped bring back a certain youthful glow. In addition to the jar of cream Vocalpoint included FIVE $10 off coupons on the next purchase. I am keeping only one since they expire Feb. 28, 2010 and I will happily share the other four with you if you follow the rules outlined below. (Duplicate winners will be decided by a drawing) Coupons will also be included for Del Monte fruit and Pantene shampoo or conditioner. (More... click on title)
Vocalpoint also sent $2 and $1 coupons for Pantene shampoo and conditioner requesting that I try my choice of product type and let them know which one I chose and how I liked it. I had used Pantene for when I colored my hair and found it to be a superior product that I was loyal to for many years. While letting my hair go natural, I purposely used a shampoo that would strip out the remaining color and got into the habit of buying that product. After this trial, I assure you, I am back with PANTENE for good. My hair looks and feels silky and shiny, very healthy and strong.

In addition, Vocalpoint included some $1 coupons and a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE coupon for Del Monte SunFresh or Orchard Select jar fruit. I love fruit and in the winter I feel kind of limited on choices since I don't like canned or frozen fruit. Let me tell you, I am hooked! The fruit is almost as good as fresh, without the preparation hassle and I am using the big glass jars the fruit comes in too. My daughter gave me the idea to mix up dry ingredients for a batch of cookies and put them in the jars for Christmas gifts. I set up jars for 2 different types of cookies, typed up the recipes and attached them with a pretty ribbon, ready to give to a neighbor and a friend.

CONTEST RULES:

MAIN RULE – Tell me in comments why you would like to be a winner in this contest. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
1 Extra Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
1 Extra Entry – Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on the left sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.
1 Extra Entry – Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste – @CatPurry is giving away $10 off coupons for OLAY Pro-X http://tinyurl.com/y99q83q. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
2 Extra Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog.

The most memorable gifts of all

2009-12-13T18:23:00.001-05:00

This time of year I am always stumped trying to think of the perfect gift for each member of the family. Long ago we made a Thanksgiving Day afternoon tradition that made shopping a bit easier for all of us.

The kids sat down with newspaper ads and catalogs and cut out pictures of the toys they wanted. Each child put his name at the top of a sheet of paper (like school but way more fun) and taped these snippets of desire onto the pages. They were encouraged to include the store name where it could be found, and after all hope of Santa had dissolved, we asked them to jot down the price as well for comparison shopping.

It is hard this year. The kids have kids of their own. Even one of the grandkids has kids of his own. And the rest of the grandkids are getting big so fast, they are growing away from my influence with all their busy days. I'm not as in touch with their wants, needs and day-dreams as I was a few years ago so it is hard to choose just the right thing. I only have one toddler left to buy for and that is just plain fun!

So, I find myself wondering what would Mama do? Grandmothers are supposed to be tops when it comes to gift giving.

The grandmother gift I will never forget is one my mother gave my oldest son. It was a bird's nest, complete with hatched robin's egg shells (mostly there). He looked at me like "is she mad?" but he still has that birds nest... at age 47. It is one gift neither of us can forget.

Buy the kid a gift he will really enjoy!

2009-12-10T14:25:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was approached by a representative of CSN Stores to review a toy for them here. After looking at dozens and dozens of tempting, colorful toys at their Swing Sets & More site, and with Christmas bells ringing in my head, I had a hard time choosing JUSTONE TOY that my grandchildren could help me review.

Then I saw a TV story about the "hottest toy on the market this season." The announcer was touting an electronic toy but the film clearly showed a little girl about three years old, standing behind him, playing with a simple plastic toy that I had seen on the Swing Sets & More site called the bilibo Play Shell. So I selected that toy. (click title for more...)
A short time later, the plastic Play Shell arrived and sure enough my almost two-year-year old grandson was immediately fixated on it amid all his other toys. Even my 11 year old grandson had to try it out. Since he is a bit small and slim for his age, he was able to mimic his little cousin, walking on hands and knees with it on his back like a turtle and spinning in it until I became dizzy watching.

Then a very bad thing happened. I somehow deleted the pictures before uploading them to my computer! We were away on vacation, then didn't see the grandchildren again until last weekend.

So, I had to wait, and wait, and wait until yesterday when I could let him play with the Play Shell again and recapture the moments of discovery. As you see in the pictures, he found a lot of ways to use his imagination in playing

with this cool toy. He could pull his other toys around in it, or send them for a spin, wear it over his back pretending to be a turtle (his 2nd favorite animal besides dogs), or wear it on his head like a hat and play peek-a-boo with me. There were lots of variations on this theme and I was very happy to see that the thrill didn't wear off. If anything, he went to it like an old friend and found new imaginative ways to play with it.

The Play Shell comes in blue, red, pink, yellow, orange and green and the light-weight but sturdy plastic shell seems indestructible.

So far, I have done 95% of my shopping on-line this year and I highly recommend it for a stress-free, fun way to buy.

Check out Swing Sets & More for a good stock of popular toys for kids of all ages, and a very happy buying experience.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Grandma's about to be run over by a reindeer

2009-12-05T23:18:00.002-05:00

I have fine tuned all the pictures from our Thanksgiving week trip and put them into a slide show on photobucket. Now I can relax and reminisce as I look at them and remember what a wonderful time we had together.

It was totally different going to the Keys at Thanksgiving this year. For the first time ever we didn't fill the house with family to feast on turkey and all the traditional dishes. Well, we did have a large turkey breast the weekend before. And, we did get the Christmas tree up, a wreath on the door and a few other must haves before leaving. I think my husband would not have been able to enjoy our trip if that wasn't done on schedule. Quite a paradox for a fisherman like him. Click on title for more...
Ah Christmas! Every year my husband and I drag down boxes and boxes of stuff from the attic. He lines the roof with icicle lights all in white, the bushes too, and they must flash at just the right speed. it would be okay if our house didn't have such a high roof-line. Then he fills the plant shelves inside with his nutcracker collection, an array of Madonnas, boughs of artificial greenery and lights. The piece de resistance is the biggest plant shelf, in the kitchen at the center of the house. That space is reserved for a menagerie of animals amid a forest of artificial greens, lights, a porcelain group of Elizabethan carolers a musical Santa, and three well-worn elves on a ladder leading to a small Christmas tree decked out with ornaments and lights. He is Monk-like in setting this up. It must exactly match the final version of the previous year's display. This is in addition to the seven foot tree in the living room.

We have enough doo-dads to deck out 4 or 5 normal homes music and all. I must admit to being at fault in this bloated collection of decorations. We have made a tradition of buying one new ornament (at least) each year. Usually it has the year written on it and we tried to make it fit our situation that year. The years in Pennsylvania are remembered by a rustic red rocking horse ornament and and orange kitty cat. Michigan is remembered with the igloo ornament, the silver snowman and the pink enameled ribbon from 1994. The year I survived breast cancer. So that accounts for 33 ornaments on top of the boxes of bulbs and balls and my inheritance of mother's stash.

After Christmas most years, we are stunned by the half-price sales. Oh, our tree skirt is really getting worn, we should buy this. And more gift wrap, and cards. But, gift bags are much easier and recyclable! And, there is never enough time to send out Christmas cards these days. So, when Christmas comes, we just have to put up the poor worn out tree skirt one more time, after all my mother made it for our first Christmas together. This year I found 3 brand new, still in the package, tree skirts. I really should sell them. Maybe an after-Christmas half-price sale on eBay. Or maybe I will pull a fast one and take some of those boxes to Goodwill before they end up in the attic again.

You know, one thing that really gets to me sentimentally is looking at all the ornaments we don't put up. Some of them are so old and moth-eaten, or so delicate and special, I don't want to risk losing them. There are the tatted angels my mother made and the crochet baskets holding little bears that my oldest sister made. The clear plastic snowflake with the picture of my daughter and mother is one of my favorites and it does make the tree, front and center, every year.

Well, I must go. Got to get the turkey in the brine soak for tomorrow's post-Thanksgiving Day feast. Oh yeah! I can't wait.

Paradise found again: the rain is ended

2009-12-04T21:36:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow we will be heading home again. The past few days have been full of fun and laughter and sunshine. Some of the days were rather colder than we hoped for, but we took our adventures wherever we found them and are ending this vacation with a satisfied feeling.

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The pool finally warmed up to where we could enjoy it, although the air was still a bit too cool when we came out of the water.

We had hoped to go fishing aboard the "Sea Squared" but the weather did not cooperate on the dates we had planned. However, that loss was more than made up for (at least by my measure) when we joined Capt. Chris Johnson and wife Chrissy aboard the "Sea Squared" for a delightful sunset cruise. I cannot recommend this adventure highly enough. There were five adults and our toddler grandson on the boat witnessing the most important ritual of the Florida Keys: Sunset. Every sunset in the Keys is unique and memorable and this one was no exception.

We found that the Marathon Lady was going out for a half-day of fishing even though they had only seven people paying to go out. The catch was enough to feed the four of us twice and we still have leftovers to freeze and take home. We always seem to go fishing on the Lady at least once each visit. In the summer, the night trips are great for those who can't tolerate the heat and/or sun.

We had lobster tails TWICE! Our oldest son and daughter stopped to buy fresh lobster on the way to the house the first night and prepared a delicous dinner for us here at the rental house. The next day was Thanksgiving and we ate dinner at one of our favorite restaurants on Marathon, the Island Fish Co and Tiki Bar. My son and I each enjoyed a very generous portion of coconut fried lobster tails while our daughter and my husband enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner complete with pumpkin pie.

We visited the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center just north of Marathon on Grassy Key. The facility once was home to the original "Flipper" TV show popular in the 1950s. Some of Flipper's descendants still live and perform there and the guides say that the skill of these dolphins outshines that of the newer residents. The facility has been improved a lot in recent years and now boasts a winding nature trail and a childrens discovery area as well as new piers and benches along the viewing areas.

This adventure is a must see every time we visit the Florida Keys. They do offer a "dolphin encounter" but it tends to be booked up as much as a year ahead A very few people each day are allowed to swim with the dolphins after attending a training session that teaches them to approach the dolphins in a respectful manner. The dolphins had not seen many people since it is off-season and we were encouraged to pay attention to them, talk, clap, and whistle to interact with these beautiful animals. When we arrived about 9am, the wind was about 30 knots out of the north and the temperature hovered around 45-50 degrees. We wore layers of shirts since we hadn't brought jackets. It was too cold to stay very long but we had our hands stamped so we could come back later. As it turned out, Darren and I were able to return while the others went on the half-day fishing excursion. By mid-afternoon the weather had improved and the wind died down so we were able to spend more time watching the new baby dolphin, born less than a week ago, as her mother and help-mother swam beside her helping her to surface and breath.

Next day, we went to another favorite spot, Bahia Honda State Park, just across the famous Seven-Mile bridge south of Marathon. The guys were all about fishing under the bridge there while we girls and the grandbaby enjoyed the beach and toured the Discovery Center and the butterfly garden. Bahia Honda won the distinctive title of Best Beach in America at least once. There are camping facilities for tents and RVs as well as a few cabins which tend to be booked a year in advance. We camped there in an RV in August 2008 and despite the relentless heat and omnipresent mosquitoes, we had a wonderful time.

We found the wonderful Field of Dreams Rotary childrens playground that was tightly spiraled to include children from toddler age to tween-agers all having fun in and around each other. A perfect family experience and shady too. That is practically a miracle in itself here in sunny Florida. Not a problem with the weather so cool, but it is always a plus here where sunburns are a real danger all year round.

We stopped at the Turtle Hospital since the little one loves turtles so much. But it turns out that the tour is prefaced by a rather long video and talk that the volunteers didn't think he would be able to sit through. Since this was required prior to the tour, we had to be satisfied with looking at the displays in the entry area/giftshop. Several huge sea turtle shells were mounted there and we were all amazed at the size of them.

The kids enjoyed kayaking in the canal behind the house yesterday and this morning the ultimate kayaking experience... the ocean. Dad was fishing nearby, while grandson Darren and I explored the beautiful Sombrero Beach and the playground there.

My first-born said he could not face his friends unless he at least drove through Key West so off we went. The round-trip journey which included one stop for latte on the way in and a stop for soft drinks on the way out took about two and a half hours since we made the broad circle around the outer perimeter of the island. This time of year the pedestrians and scooter riders were few and we didn't see a single chicken downtown.

The kids all left on Sunday leaving Dad and me to say goodbye to paradise. The weather by then was absolutely perfect so we were able to make a little side trip to Pigeon Key. Pigeon Key is a mysterious little island only accessible by boat, bicycle or on foot over a long span of the old seven-mile bridge that once connected Marathon to what is now Bahia Honda State park. Each time we see the island in passing we plan to go but our plans never worked out until this year. We were transported to the island by boat, a trip of about 15 minutes and greeted by a guide who walked us through the main points of the island explaining its various lifetimes of service. Originally used as housing for workers by Henry Flagler for the legendary railroad that made Key West accessible by land. In the 1970s it served as oceanographic study site for the University of Miami and now stands as a museum and memorial to that vast project. The island is only about 5 acres and houses about a dozen buildings that once served the workers. A ramp from the island leads up to the old seven-mile bridge and offers a wonderful view. Many families take a lunch, snorkling gear or fishing equipment and spend the day on the island. We spent nearly 3 hours enjoying the area before catching the hourly boat back to Marathon. This is one of the best and least expensive adventures in the area, costing only $11 apiece including the boat ride.

We managed to have seafood every day of our vacation even though my husband was hankering for a big old hamburger, but I didn't want to break the spell. We decided to have our last meal at Keys Fisheries, a place I had been wanting to check out on the Gulf side at 35th street. There we found a concession stand order window where I was happy to order lobster salad wrap. I was so fascinated by this beautiful big red pepper wrap stuffed with delicious lobster salad (for the price of a hamburger), I didn't even notice what he ordered! Persistent gulls had to be chased away from the big picnic tables where we were enjoying our lunch by one of the servers. Huge tarpon swimming in the water beside us tempted people to share their lunch, which attracted the unwanted birds. As we left we exchanged cameras with another couple and had typical tourist pictures taken.

One more thing and we were on our way. We had to stop at the front of the Keys Fisheries and buy lobster tails and stone crab claws to have when we got back home.

Paradise but no cheeseburger

2009-11-25T12:35:00.000-05:00

Picture a man who drove long tedious hours to get to paradise, went to bed early and now faces a day without off-shore fishing. This is the picture of disappointment!

We arrived in Marathon (in the Florida Keys) about 3pm yesterday, drove around the neighborhood to check out the area, picked up lunch supplies and southern fried chicken for dinner to eat quickly so the fisherman could try his luck on the dock at the canal behind the house we are renting for the week.

The neighborhood includes a beautiful 1/2 mile stretch of Atlantic front caribbean blue water called Sombrero Beach. The park is lined by a wide expanse of white crushed coral and shell that serves as sand in the keys. There are three bath/dressing houses in the park; one large and many small pavilions,;a huge volleyball pit; and a large playground. A paved walkway weaves its way through the swaying palm trees from one area to another and ends at a small fishing pier. After walking the entire length of the path and returning to the car, we were ready to head for the supermarket for supplies and then to the local take-out for a bucket of fried chicken.

After woofing down some finger-licking good, the fisherman went to work. A huge Iguana scuttled through the tree branches as I arrived at the pier and disappeared into the leaves. After catching a few nice-sized catfish and a small barracuda, he was ready to have some cookies and milk and head off to bed. We had a big day to look forward to.

Sea Squared Captain Chris Johnson and wife Chrissy had contacted me by email just before bedtime to confirm an 8am departure on their beautiful fishing boat (pictured above) and we were really looking forward to a half-day fishing excursion.

About 2am I thought I heard rain and remember thinking "no, rain isn't forecast it must be the air conditioner noise." Then at 3am a huge bolt of lightning woke me and the power went out for a minute or two setting all the clocks to flashing.

By 6am, it was still raining. A tall tumbler left at the bottom of the stairs was full to the top when we went down this morning. Despite Christy's email telling me "no fishing today... maybe Friday." we decided to head on down to the marina and see what was up, then get some breakfast.

Maybe tomorrow... cheeseburger in paradise. (to us that means no rain and lots of fishing)

Packed my bags last night preflight zero hour 9am

2009-11-23T23:14:00.000-05:00

Vacation starts tomorrow. Early. Very early. I am not packed and I should go to bed right now, sleep tight and get up early to get everything into the car and go. I know... I am just asking for a stressful start to what should be a wonderful relaxing time. But, I can never sleep the night before an adventure. I worked harder today than I have in the past 2 weeks, just trying to wrap up loose ends that I had left lying around hoping they would tidy themselves up. The lists in my head are growing with every breath. But as Scarlett said "tomorrow is another day." ... and I'm gonna' be high aye as a kite by then.

Have a very Dove-ly Christmas

2009-11-16T15:14:00.002-05:00

I don't think there is a single member of my family that doesn't know my favorite indulgence is DOVE chocolates! My weakness being dark chocolate Promises. Oh, I know I am supposed to be watching my weight, but this chocolate is so wonderful, I can be happy with just one or two pieces after dinner. I melt them on my tongue for long pleasurable minutes. All the while, my poor doggy, Beau is drooling on my knees and otherwise making a pest of himself. I swear, that dog can smell chocolate 100 yards away. I sneak in there so quietly, lifting the top off the glass candy dish, and before I can peel back the wrapper, I feel his hot breath on my kneecap.
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I know Dove has been offering some new products and already fell in love with the sugar-free dark chocolate mint promises, but I had no idea of all their new offerings until today when I read a post in The Dirty T-Shirt .

There are so many new things to try I don't know where to begin. Check out The Dirty T-Shirt and follow the links to see what I mean! With Christmas coming up, you are bound to find some really special ideas for gift giving.

Great ideas for Fall Festival

2009-11-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

One of the nicest things about being a grandparent is going to your grandkids' schools for special events. We love to take the kids to book fairs, see them in plays, encourage them to enter science and art fairs but best of all we like to take them to the Fall Festival. (click on title for more...)

For one thing is it cool enough to enjoy being outdoors. It is also a great atmosphere in which to meet their teachers and coaches for the first time. Everyone is more relaxed and in a good mood, ready to have fun, and not concentrating on the serious business of education. It opens the door gently to any concerns the teacher (or you) might have so you can follow up later.

This year's Fall Festival at Golfview Elementary in Brevard County was bursting with happy children and friendly adults. There was a bounce house, face-painting, cotton candy and sno-cones, a cake walk, bean-bag throw, Foos-Ball table, even a bowling table game and a basketball throw sized for little ones to succeed. A large troupe of girls in darling green and gold uniforms came up on stage in formation and showed what they had learned as junior cheer-leaders. This was new to me seeing elementary school cheerleaders and they were terrific. You could see the pride they took in their school and their skills as they cheered and jumped.

I want to tell you about something that was unique to Golfview's Fall Festival. At least, I had never seen it done before. In the middle of the room someone had set up a table and spread greeting cards all over it. A sign invited everyone to take a card and write a holiday message in it, to be delivered to a soldier overseas during the holidays. One of my grandsons has already decided he wants to be a soldier when he grows up so I explained the purpose of the cards. At first they were puzzled about the idea, but it was a good opportunity to get them thinking about our troops overseas and how lonely it must be for them during the holidays. Finally, we selected a Christmas card, signed it and wrote a little note inside.

The older of the two boys, who had been reluctant to go to the festival, won the most prizes and enjoyed the $1 meal of cheeseburger, chips and lemonade the most. Unless you count grandma and grandpa, who left feeling good about the world thanks to the many volunteers and employees who made this day event a huge success.

Here comes Christmas, elves and all

2009-11-06T16:31:00.002-05:00

We have not even bought our Thanksgiving turkey and there are jolly little elves dragging magical-looking green and red wrapped gifts across my computer screen. Yep, it wasn't my imagination, here they come again with their impish little faces, reminding me it is time to get cracking with the gift shopping.
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With 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren to shop for this year, it can be a challenge finding something unique, fun, useful AND affordable for each one. My toddler grandson's mom is already hinting that a swing set would be nice for this year and I found a great assortment of swing sets to choose from at CSN Stores. I must admit, she was right when she gave me hints last year. I wonder if she was the one who put the toy store sales flyer under my windshield wiper. It did appear just after she left here last Sunday. Hmmmm.

One of our traditions (started by that same daughter) is having the kids make a gift wish scrapbook. This happens on Thanksgiving day as they wait for the turkey to come out of the oven. The house is heavily scented with nutmeg, cinnamon and the pungent undertone of poultry seasoning. The TV is tuned to the Christmas Parade and the kids' eyes are sparkling with wonder and excitement at the prospect of having all their wishes come true.

They sit at the breakfast nook table, or outside on the porch if it is warm enough, supplied with sales flyers, notebook paper, scotch tape, scissors and a pen. The process sounds easy enough "make a wish flyer showing what, where and how much it costs." But it is complicated enough to keep them from underfoot for several hours. If they remember to put their names on each page it works well. Of course, we have to remind them that there are no guarantees in life.

Jingle bells, jingle bells... okay, I think I feel the mood coming. Look out elves, here I come!

Howl at the moon every chance you get

2009-10-27T12:21:00.001-04:00

We didn't plan to have a Hallowe'en party this year but I the Great Pumpkin had other ideas. One of my older grandsons (age 13) is a very talented artist and wanted to try his hand at carving a pumpkin this year. The first one he did was a small traditional looking Jack o' Lantern. The second one, a larger pumpkin, was to be an ugly warty witch, making use of the lumpy texture of the shell. Unfortunately, the big pumpkin also had a very thick shell and was extremely difficult to cut. In the end he put the Star Trek logo on it and called it done!
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There is a lot more to pumpkin carving than meets the eye and we explored all the nuances of those details. I was not to be bullied into making a pie of the innards (who does that?) even though my daughter assured me I would NOT find any canned pumpkin filling this year as it is already in short supply. However, I did salt and roast the seeds. Too bad she had left before we sampled them as they are delicious! The stringy, mushy stuff went out into the backyard to feed the birds and ducks that are always looking for a handout. I don't know how long the fresh cut pumpkins will last in this heat wave we are having but they look nice for now.

The picture of the haunted gingerbread house at the top of this post was taken a few years ago. What fun my son and three of his six kids had working on this project. It was an all-out masterpiece and this picture is one of my favorites.

One of the things the kids enjoyed doing this year was making caramel apples. The mother and grandmother of a kid down the street had taken one of my grandsons with them when they went to the annual Brevard Boo at Zoo event. This has become an annual tradition with us, but we hadn't gotten the tickets yet. When they returned from the not-so-scary Boo, with a bag full of candy, they were hungry. Go figure! So we made caramel apples. Our local supermarket had kits this year that contained caramel to be heated in the microwave and 3 kinds of sprinkles to add the finishing touches. It was sticky but delicious!

This is just the warm up for the main event. Next stop: Costumes! And, more candy.

Having fun with your grandchild in a restaurant

2009-10-20T16:48:00.001-04:00

You want to hear people say "what a sweet child," when they pass your table, not witness the exodus of half the restaurant to a corner far away from your annoying brat. But that is not as easy as it might seem.

Of course, when you are expecting that sweet bundle of joy, you just know he or she will be a perfect angel. That child that eats every pea and carrot while smiling politely and dabbing at the corners of their mouth with the napkin. The won't spill their drinks, or throw utensils on the floor and they will never, ever spit out their food or scream at the top of their lungs shattering every glass within 3 blocks. (More ... click title)

Well, I hate to break it to you, but that child does NOT exist. Children are born to test our patience, our stamina and yes, even our moral fiber. Grandchildren are much better than children, but that is only because they are usually presented at their best and can be given back at any time.

It can be a real test taking a toddler out to eat, but it is also an interesting experiment. Recently while tooling through a "dollar store" I found some items I thought might keep our almost-two-year-old grandson happy for a few minutes. For $3 I bought a small 5x8" sketch pad and a packet of about 2 dozen stickers of animals at the zoo. I also bought him a small zoo animal book, the kind made with cardboard pages.

He began squirming the minute we sat down at Perkins for breakfast and had dispatched both the crayons and the "color me" paper placemat given out by the hostess within 5 minutes. As we waited for our order to arrive, I read the book to him. Fortunately, he loves books and animals so that kept him settled for at least a few minutes.

When the food arrived, we tried letting him stand in the booth while we ate breakfast, but his hands were much faster than our eyes. Bring on the high-chair. He isn't one to sit still for long, but as soon as he saw the stickers, he was engaged. This was something brand new to him so I had to take a minute to peel one, get him to name the animal, and show him how to stick it to the page. Take a bite, peel a sticker, take a bite, peel a sticker. Fortunately, it wasn't a very big meal so 24 bites was enough. Sometimes the tinyiest stickers stuck his fingers together frustrating him, but all in all, he was delighted with the art. His finished product amazed us. He had pasted the matching animals in rows next to each other.

Next, I think we will try Play-Doh. (evil smile) At least it won't end up on MY floor!

Go wash your hands the flu is here

2009-10-19T22:52:00.000-04:00

If you haven't gotten your regular flu shot this year, don't delay any longer. There is a good supply this year, and the vaccine is widely available so there should be no problems. Walgreens Drugs offers the vaccine for $24.95 at the most. Most people with Medicare advantage plans or insurance get their shot free.

Walgreens also gives you a cool little red heart-shaped sticker. The idea is that you are getting your shot to benefit your special someone. I put my husband's name on the sticker and stuck it on top of the band-aid on my arm. He thought that was really sweet. (more...click on title) Print articles and TV doctors are saying that older folks aren't as liable to get the swine flu or H1N1 virus as younger people, but if they do get sick, older people are hit harder. The LA Times stated: "Experts at the Centers for Disease Control suspect this group might have gained partial resistance by being exposed to previous, though different, swine flu epidemics." The article goes on to say that this virus is more easily spread than the usual seasonal flu so we need to be even more conscious of hand-washing and covering sneezes and coughs.

This is one good thing about the fist-bump fad, and people seem to be much more careful about sneezing and coughing into their elbow rather than covering with the hands, but it is a hard habit to break.

This flu season has tested the limits of already short-handed agencies and seems to have forced schools and medical facilities to be more organized in planning and prioritizing the immunization clinics. In this area, they are offered at fitness centers, walk-in clinics and pharmacies with a wide variety of times and dates.

If we all pay attention and follow the medical community's suggestions, we should be FINE. Now go wash your hands.

Four ways to keep up with your grandchildren

2009-10-19T12:24:00.002-04:00

If you think the internet is just for the young, you are wrong. Every day more people over age 55 are signing on, linking up and getting hooked up with the digital society. Of course it can be intimidating, but there is hope and help. (More - click on title)
If you want to try before buying a computer, check with your local public library. Chances are they have a few set up for public use and may even have basic classes you can attend. Just be careful about putting your personal information on public computers.

There are new ideas and new tools coming out daily in technology. However, there are only a few you need to keep up to date with your family.

email - an electronic form of correspondence that isn't too different from the pen and ink kind of mail. You just need to learn a new
approach. email can include pictures and directions to others thoughts and pictures as well as your thoughts.

Facebook - a place on the internet where you can hear from family and friends, share pictures, stories and other information. Kind of like having your own personal bulletin board that can only be seen by those you choose.

Photobucket - (or other photo storage site) a place on the internet to store precious photographs from your digital camera and the cameras of other family members and friends. A photo album that easily spreads out to allow you to add pictures from many sources.Also as private as you need it to be.

ecommerce - Buying and selling on eBay and other sites across the internet.Once you get the hang of it you will LOVE it. I promise. I cruised eBay for a year or so before buying and another year before starting to sell. Now, I'm hooked.

There are now several new sites dedicated to helping seniors get in touch with their inner geek, or at least learn to keep up with their family on-line. One was started by former Brady Bunch TV star, Florence Henderson. Named Floh Club, her North America-based site offers support from highly trained experts, friendly, patient people able to help you get the results you want from your computer. With your permission, they can even access your computer make necessary changes to resolve the issues as you watch. Plans start at $25.

I have often found the "... for Dummies" series of books helpful. They approach the subject with expertise while explaining it simply and with a good sense of humor. You might find help in the book "Computers for Seniors for Dummies" and "Using the Internet Safely for Seniors for Dummies" . Both are offered at Amazon.com .

Jump in there, don't miss another minute of fun.

Digesting IzeaFest 2009

2009-10-12T21:38:00.002-04:00

Sometimes anticipation is the best part of an adventure. Not so in the case of IZEAFest 2009. The event exceeded my wildest expectations by a huge margin. And don't let anyone tell you that you don't enjoy something unless you pay for it. I won my ticket to the event courtesy of business developer, writer, blogger, and social media marketing guru Brett Bumeter. (More - click on title)

Brett's personal blog There's Something About Harry is a wonderful model as are his business blogs. His Softduit Social Media talks about IzeaFest and BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas where he talked next .

From Ted Murphy's first "WHOOOO! " to the last hurrah, the days and nights were filled with positive energy, great tips and exciting concepts. It will take a month for the buzzing in my brain to settle down enough to the point where I can outline all that I learned at this year's conference. I didn't see how it could outshine IzeaFest 2008, but it did!

My good friend Danna Crawford (right) and I were room-mates again this year and that helps reduce the anxiety of meeting new people. (I am wearing one of her PowerSellingMom shirts in the picture above.) Connie Roberts is on the left.

I jumped right in with the Doterati "Blogging Meets Marketing" panel discussion on Thursday afternoon. My friend Connie Roberts (@ConnieFoggles ) who writes "Brain Foggles", "My Chronic Life", "Connie's View" and "Mickey FANatic" was on the panel. This group is loaded with very knowledgeable people on both sides of the equation so I definitely want to stick with a winning combination like that.

Danna and I decided to skip the Howl O' Scream as it sounded like it would keep us up too late and we wanted to get optimum information from the first session to the last of IzeaFest. It didn't help with going to sleep any earlier though as we talked late into the night catching up on what we have been doing, family, eBay and blogging.

I can't say enough about the great speakers both days of Izeafest and Ted Murphy's energy was brightly reflected by master of ceremonies Bob Kodzis (founder and CEO of Flight of Ideas) who was a fantastic entertainer and quick witted guide to the days' steady feed of knowledge.

Maybe it was the Penguin Pizz that I drank in the Ice Bar but my energy level was amazingly high all through both IzeaFest parties and no problems getting up for conference the next day. My usually sleepy self never nodded off during the sessions. There were top speakers all the way. The party at Howl at the Moon included some awesome music both inside and on the patio but I assure you, I was not the lady playing the drums in the bar. I asked around after the 3rd person high-fived me for being "so cool" (and saying "thanks") and found out the drummer who looked like me was an English lady who entertains there every year about this time.

Near the close of day two of IzeaFest members of the audience were invited to talk about their current projects for the "Five Minutes of Fame" segment. It is always good to see what others are learning and building, but the most amazing speaker was 14 year-old Tommy Fishback who had left us open-mouthed with several of his very knowlegeable questions during the day.

Tommy gave me such a burst of hope about the future of our world when he spoke. His delivery was energetic and clear with a purposeful dialog. And what was even more amazing than this young man's intellegence was his easy confidence and charismatic appeal. I felt a prayer forming in my heart that Tommy will be protected and guided to the greatness he seems destined for. That his positive energy not be stifled by a world full of negativity and that he be able to sail right past the pettiness and drama that is sure to stand in his way at times. Then I had to laugh at this child doing the cake-plow along with the other boys. A regular guy to boot!

Danna and I enjoyed sleeping until almost noon on Sunday, an unheard of luxury. I had not slept until noon since ... well, not sure I ever have before. No hangovers, but we had closed the bars two nights in a row, even had breakfast at Denny's in the wee hours of Sunday with our new friend @Jentifa (Jennifer Leet who writes "The Dirty T Shirt") and had kept up the pace at the sessions both days. It was steaming hot by the time we were ready to move Sunday afternoon. Since we both live close enough to enjoy Sea World any time, we decided to skip the Sea World take-over and enjoy it with our families at a later date. The ticket to Sea World that was generously included in our IZEAFest package is good through December of this year.

During the action packed days and nights of IZEAFest, I met amazing people everywhere I turned. It was wonderful to share ideas and knowledge and fun and make new friends. Some of us are already trying to plan to meet up again soon. Others have formed virtual bonds with me that will surely become even stronger in the year ahead. Now to put all this valuable insight to work for me.

Grandma's big bed

2009-10-10T23:20:00.004-04:00

All my grandchildren have been fascinated with my bed when they are little. The mirrored headboard drew them like bees to a flower.

They loved lying on their tummies gazing at their beautiful reflections in the smoky mirrors. They also loved rolling and bouncing on it, especially when it held a waterbed mattress.
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The waterbed mattress has been replaced by a firm standard mattress with a thick memory foam topper, but my youngest grandchild enjoyed his first roll around on it during our visit yesterday. He lay back on my pillow, pulling the covers up under his chin and pretended to sleep for a few seconds only to pop straight up and greet me with a chirpy voice. Then I pretended to sleep and surprised him by popping up wide awake. We both lay there talking and enjoying the luxury of slow movement and closeness for several minutes.

Finally, Beau, the dog, jumped up to join us in play and brought his ball along. It was several minutes before that led to climbing out of the big comfortable bed.

Next, I will follow the bed tradition by putting surprises in one the drawers that make up the platform of the bed as I did with the grandchidren that have come before him. With the boys, it was small fast-food toys that co-workers and I collected for their visits. With the girls, it was a heart-shaped candy box topped with lace and silk roses. At garage sales, I found barrettes, ribbons and strings of beads to fill the box. I also kept small mementos of their visits in the drawer. Our favorites were the hand-drawn cards they had given me. Recently, one of my granddaughters, now a teenager, asked me if I had any beads she could wear. When I said no, she reminded me of the box in the drawer under the bed. We looked together and sure enough, there was still some treasure in the heart-shaped box.

The biggest treasure was the closeness I felt knowing that this simple memory had been meaningful to her.

Four tips for dinner in a flash

2009-10-10T11:33:00.002-04:00

I really thought that by retirement age, life would be more simple and slow down a little. Not so. If anything, it has gotten more complicated because of the wide variety of ages and interests our family members have. (I am not admitting to slowing down personally). (More - click on title) Now, we try to get in a work-out three times a week, but my husband has a wierd work schedule, going in early and staying an hour later every other week. We try to get together with our daughter, son-in-law and their baby at least one evening a week for dinner. Their baby spends every other Wednesday with me and our younger son's children spend every other weekend with us. Our older son comes to visit at least twice a month and occasionally my oldest grandson, his wife and their two kids make the one hour trip to see us. Yeah, great-grandkids... and they really are GREAT.

This does not even take in to consideration the complicated tastes and eating habits of the various family members. The teen girls only eat salad, yogurt and fruit... unless there is pizza around. One of the boys will not eat vegetables or fruit in any form except pie and forget about casseroles. Our daughter insists on "healthy" foods while her husband lists meat as a hobby on his Facebook page. One son gets physically ill if any artificial sweetener is added to his beverages or food.

You can see why we are always looking for new ways to get a healthy, tasty meal on the table with a minimum of fuss. And it would really help to have a big new Samsung French Door refigerator to store the groceries in. I saw a chance to win on in a Sweepstakes on TwitterMoms and decided to enter the contest for the best hints for getting dinner ready in a flash.

Here are a few pointers you might find helpful:

Try the supermarket samples, they usually have a neatly written recipe card and ingredients are usually close by the demo cart so you can quickly grab up the idea and all supplies.
Before heading to the grocery store, make a list of what you have on hand that will make a meal and jot down which day you plan to serve it on the list. That's one less thing to worry about.
Shop around the perimeter of the supermarket first to get the basic meal ingredients in your cart, then make strategic aisle strikes to fill in the side dishes and grab supplies.
Take the kids along and don't let them go to the toy aisle until they give you one usable idea for a meal you can all enjoy. My grandkids like most anything they can assemble themselves so tacos, pizza and subs are popular here.

Don't discount eating out. Just watch for coupons and "kids eat free" specials around town.

Poken and Tweetin' - what's next?

2009-10-06T11:08:00.001-04:00

Just as I am getting used to using the word Twitter as a noun, along comes POKEN. As opposed to POKING, Poken (which is also a noun) does no physical harm to the POKED. In fact it is more of a PING, than a POKE. (More - click on title)

Now that I have totally confused the uninitiated, Poken is a gadget that allows you to introduce yourself without handing out business cards. For some people, one business card is sufficient, but most people who work on the internet have multiple-persona syndrome and need a pocketful of different cards to give out depending on the person receiving the card.

So, POKEN came along with a great idea. You can put your contact information on this gadget and transfer it to another POKEN by giving it a High Four. You could conceivably have several of these gadgets if you have severe multiple-persona syndrome and use each one as the occassion dictates.

At a recent Tweet-Up (hosted by @PokenGirl and @BenSpark) in Boynton Beach, Florida, I exchanged electronic business cards with nearly everyone there by touching or High-Fouring the other person's Poken. There are several different designs to choose from, and a personality quiz to help you decide. I chose the Panda even though the quiz said I am really a Pinky (and I agree) because I wanted to customize it to look like my CatPurry logo. The results were amateurish but gets the point across and in the dim light of social meet-ups most people didn't notice the crudeness of my customization job.

@BenSpark (Drew Bennett) and @PokenGirl (sisters Juliett and Vanessa) hosted the Wings & Pings Tweet-up at Bru's in Boynton Beach, Florida September 29, 2009. We all met up a few days later at IZEAFest in Orlando at the Marriott Renaissance Sea World for a few days of all out learning and laughing. (more on that next post!)

The desperation of lost treasure

2009-09-28T19:50:00.006-04:00

My heart nearly stopped, breathing halted as I stared at my wrist. My gold bracelet... GONE! How could that be? When did I last see it?

My mind raced as I thought back to the errands I had run; the bank, coffee shop, Wal-Mart (I was all over that store browsing), gas station, where else?
Photo: Stock.xchg / wax115
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Had I snagged it on anything? I couldn't remember any tug at my wrist. I couldn't remember when I had actually seen it last. Maybe I lost it days ago, riding my bike, walking the dog, in the fitness center or pool. I took a half-hearted look around the room and silently kissed it goodbye, hoping the finder would appreciate its beauty and value. Maybe it would be the find of a lifetime for someone, a small moment of good fortune to bless an unfortunate life.

Then, on a hunch, I tipped over my favorite chair. Voila! There it was, under the chair where it must have slipped from my wrist, into the space between the arm and seat, and onto the carpet. What good fortune kept it from falling into some obscure, sealed place between the seat cushion and the springs?

As I put it into jewelry into cleaning solution I realized that this was a gentle lesson I needed to learn. How easy it is to take precious things and people in our lives for granted. Sometimes, we need to come close to losing them to remember how much they are cherished.

Give your sweet tooth a new sensation

2009-09-22T21:27:00.010-04:00

It's been a long time since anyone thought of an upgrade to the humble marshmallow. Do you remember when the newest thing was pastel colored marshmallows? Not a big hit in the long run. Then there were the teensy, tiny marshmallows. Now, you must admit, those are nice to float in your cocoa. But there is a new kid in town and look out because Plush Puffs are going to be a huge success. At least that is my humble opinion. Made from all natural ingredients, the puffs come in 1 inch cubes rather than the traditional ottoman shape. (More - click on title) Kids who are always ready for S'mores and will love the new Plush Puffs Chocolate Chipetta marshmallows. They puffed up still more after a few seconds in the microwave of our test kitchen and spread themselves nicely over the Graham Cracker melting the chocolate squares along with the tiny chocolate chips inside the Puff.

The Peppi Mint flavor Puffs (a delightful pink confection) was a nice surprise on S'mores, but it was nothing short of fantastic floating in a cup of hot cocoa. Hot tea should also be improved by
one of these yummy puffs.

Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs turned out best liked in S'mores but there was a strong debate about whether or not it was best in hot coffee.

All three flavors of Plush Puffs that we tried are nothing short of wonderful eaten straight out of the package. They have a fine, soft texture, and it is easy to imagine the pleasure of dipping one into a fondue of dark chocolate or melting it atop a scoop of ice cream.

Other flavors currently include Vanilla Bean, Sydney's Cinnamon, Simply S'mores and Luscious Lemony Meringue and there is a possibility that Toasted Coconut and Pumpkin Praline flavors may also be available. With any luck you will find these sweet indulgences on your supermarket shelves very soon!

When you do find them, their site has some delicious recipes including some that suggest you use a kitchen torch to melt puffs atop the various desserts.