Winding Down

Well, sister about to leave - we are both snockered as my friends would say - looking somewhat demented - tonight we are visiting memory lane with the help of the Bee Gee's and Santana. Whooo - are we old, or WHAT? Not too flattering photos - but hey, we are an absolute mess tonight - ever go through your whole past with your sister - wept together, set the world aright with your sister - - - yes, those are really GIANT margueritas - - - we are home waiting for "H" to come in from work, all "old folk" in our second childhood, each with our own private fantasies that we are living or dreaming of - - - and looking death in the eye - - - "steely eyes."

Visiting the 60's - the revolution - the drugs, the "free" love - the war - many of our buddies now coping with PTSD from Viet Nam, some of us, veteran protesters, war vets full of PTSD - still stoned - dear Lord, I'm thinking, thank goodness this isn't all there is!

Ok, yes, we are depressed in the bittersweet memories - were they any better than those who have the memories of other decades.........tell me, my friends.

Fun.............

Ok, yes, I am continuing on one grand bout of fun..... lst photo - slumber party! Yay! No, you are never too old for a slumber party. Not co-ed of course, just the girls, silly, serious, wonderful fun!

Second photo, grandaughter's sixteenth birthday - her boyfriend is a doll, we all love him. She is smiling and enjoying life so much more - so happy for her - a good way to see in the 16th birthday!

Third photo - dinner and drinks at Lulu's - Jimmy Buffet's sister's place on the bay - ooooohhhh my, watching dolphins swim by, the best Margaritas in the universe, a sunset to cry for, and fabulous food and laughter and fun - what more!

Fourth one - sister is visiting from Seattle, I linger in the isles of the tourist souvenier store trying on sunglasses and taking silly photos, crazy ol' lady havin' fun - hey folks, never give up hope - it gets better!!!
And better

And better

Fifth photo: We are smashing, no?

Viva la Caribbean and Florida

Wake up, Mama, Wake Up.

The sun is setting in Florida tonight and it is equisitely beautiful

Perhaps the fact that I'm seeing that tonight means I am coming back, comin back in.......I hope!

My friend once told me, "Gardenia, your head is racing across the dessert, but your camel is parked in the garage." Yes, Yes, it is. Anchored by husband, kids, grandkids, an aging mother. A grandson who is wanting to use my laptop and some supper. I guess I had better bring my head back, go feed the poor hungry camel who gets little exercise and get to bed early so I can clean house tomorrow. Feed the boy. It was a nice dream. Wake up, Mama, wake up.

Back to painting and writing. My favorite line the last few days, is "Wake up, Mama, wake up."

Where Heaven is Hidden

Oh my heart! It is still in the Caribbean! The people! The landscape! The villa! Charlestown! The sea, the rainbows, the clouds and mist - the jungle! The monkeys!

I am so laid back and relaxed I can barely move as well as very brown and very happy. The only way to get to the island is by ferry - riding on top of the ferry, where the wind blew as wild as Wyoming wind, and the heavens let loose curtains of rain! We laughed and laughed - and that was the last time I put makeup on or did my hair on the isle.

I was informed that with me, came the rains, much needed rains each day. Afternoons were filled with lying back on the veranda watching clouds and the sea. I am a hyped up Type A and never dreamed I would be content to watch cloud formations for five hours at a time.

We toured ruins from the slave era, took hundreds of photos, used the sling shot on the monkeys that scampered about trying to steal fruit, I walked through pine needles about a foot deep that felt like a bed for animals or human and lay, stretched like a panther, on the cement walls overlooking the sea, literally drinking in the place and space in time. I think I've never been so happy.

While volcanoes erupted elsewhere, I lay cradled in the arms of lush dormant green volcanoes in wept my weary tears into the earth.

So that was my time away. Years of stress and held onto anxieties have melted away. I cried with gratefulness off and on - joining tears into the rain. Life exploded in technicolor and painted my being with its intensity of immense love, I danced with the hills, the mountains, the wind, the ocean all at the same time. I can say no more words. I live with exquisite joy and gratitude.

My heart has found its place, perhaps, and I will set it to think about going back. Life is not full of telephones, TV, McDonalds, Walmarts - only markets, the sound of goats and birds and insects and rain and recycling and reusing and growing food, of living just because its good and a privilege to be alive. No coats, no gloves, not much in the way of shoes. Three months, please, and a sip of rum.

My sister will be here Wednesday and we'll see if we can find a patch in the sunshine here to feed life back into us. We will find some, I'm sure.

Pre Flight Panic but Peace in Nature

This is spring in my area. Almost everywhere one drives, the array of blooming bushes, trees, and flowers is dazzling.

This morning I went out to attempt to trim the orange tree. Because of my bouts of dizziness, I dare not climb the ladder - then found it takes strength to clip large branches while holding clippers up over the head. At any rate, I ended up with a lot of orange blossoms in my hair, down my shirt - the fragrance was incredible! But, alas, the top of the tree is still scraggly!

Two full days ahead before departure for tropics. I am TOTALLY organized - I bought one of those passport/organizers - why, oh, why did I not do that years ago? It is so wonderful! Holds everything a massive bag with "stuff" rumbling around all over the place, and things are easy to find! Not like a large, sexy purse, but hey, will the monkeys care? Noooooooo. In fact, it is probably much less likely that a monkey will attempt to steal this ugly little thing than an awesome designer bag. Did I mention that my sweet friend who is cleaning her closet also gave me another pair of boots - four inch heels, yes! - and three bags that are something I would drool for, but never buy myself? Oh, so grateful I am. I should post pics - I will when I get back!

I have printer cartridges for my computer store deprived friends, CD's transferred to my laptop - design programs loaded (as much as possible - I still can't get my old copy of Photoshop 7 to load into Windows Vista) - clothes packed, no plane snacks yet - have to go to store and get some Atkins (I hope) bars, some apples, and food to prepare ahead for two of my men ("H" and youngest grandson who will be here on weekends) so they can do the bachelor thing. "H" has started to read every night to grandson when he is here - and it is such a calming influence on him. Him - well, maybe both of them. Where oh where are the days of just throwing in a few things, to heck with it if you've forgotten something and taking off?

Copies of passport made and left under magnet on fridge in case of earthquake and I get lost -

did I mention bouts of acute anxiety? Mmmmmhmmmm.

Next post will be pics of the tropics!

Post Easter

My soon to be sixteen year old granddaughter - and her boyfriend. I'm so happy for her because she looks happier than I've seen her for a long time. She's the one that had the rods inserted in her back, and they were extremely painful for several years until she once again had surgery to remove them. She is doing pretty well - some pain issues but not nearly as much!

The kids dyed four dozen eggs - youngest grandson helped.

The weather was exquisite - the Saturday before youngest grandson and I joined Hattigrace and some friends at a park and the kids all hunted Easter eggs and ate hotdogs and all around had so much fun.

I made the feast - a simple one in stages - and "H" cleaned up after the dinner - thank goodness, I was only good for bed by then. Our Wyoming friends were here, but had to leave suddenly when his operated on foot started oozing we know not what - I am waiting for cheap cell phone hours so I can call and find out what is going on - no bad infection, I pray!

Oldest daughter raided my closet - we often trade clothes back and forth. The only thing I bought for Easter besides food was a new summer bag for granddaughter and 3 Dove chocolate bunnies for each grandchild. I did buy myself some "PEEPS" - I love those things!

My stomach, head, etc., all but stamina has perked up considerably and stamina is coming along - four days after today to the countdown to catching the plane for the Caribbean - eeeeeeeeek! It will be very interesting - I can't wait for hopefully fabulous photos to share with everyone. What to wear, what to wear? Bathing suit - check, wraps - check, crop pants - check, tank tops - check - a packable skirt and slinky black top for - - - what? Check! Shoes, supplements, meds, hair stuff, toothpaste - and to think I left for Costa Rica with two Walmart knit outfits, a tooth brush-paste, and comb in a borrowed bag - (I was only a few miles from New Orleans airport and remembered that I forgot my suitcase!) The Costa Rica trip was an adventure - none of the reservations were working out - I ended up in the Barrio in a $30 a night hotel (if I ever take a vacation in San Jose, I know exactly where to stay!) and shopped the stalls until, with no Spanish except "Si!" I negotiated a chicken leg and a coke.

There were absolutely no folks but locals - but I did stumble upon the bus station and found I could take a bus to the resort area, if I still could not get on the little plane - depended hugely on this wonderful taxi driver who literally saved my trip for me - Wow! That trip also netted a web design job - so if this is a forecast of the future - trips to the Caribbean to design websites, I'm on!

Sooooo - tonight scalloped potatoes and ham - leftovers from Easter dinner, grandson still with us, need to call him in from play for dinner and get him settled for the evening. His spring break is over - the kids are in their last quarter - hoorah - summer is coming!!!!!!

Sorry again about the paragraphs - I am flat refusing to put the HTML in by hand again!

April, Old Florida, and My Bonne Island

My grandson got me this mirror (sorry about the "night pic" although its kind of neat) from a garage sale and even had it delivered. It is "old Florida" to the max, and is about three and 1/2 feet tall all the way around with long-legged birds - could be egrets, flamingos, or herons - not sure, but I sure do love the mirror. The only problem will be getting it hung. I will probably have to go buy a stud finder and consult with a sales person how best to hang such a weighty mirror. I think I want it in the bedroom, maybe I will get a palm tree for either side, inside palms, since they are on sale and go with a new theme in the master bedroom. Paint some mermaids to hang on the wall ala Weeki Wachie - where I hope to go someday while it still exists. I thought it so sweet he rescued the mirror for me. He is really proud of himself.

Good Friday today - trying to decide what that means, have been studying the Four Gospels today and various viewpoints from various religions. At any rate, we shall celebrate Easter - we'll go to early church, then the kids are all coming - even the big ones want to dye eggs this year and some friends, the ones from Wyoming who have "wintered" down here are coming as well. I will have to be careful and not expend too much energy as all of a sudden I have crashed physically again.

Simple buffet lunch - ham, five cup salad, potato salad, green salad, sugar free angel food cake with cherries, coolwhip frosting.

I got sick Wednesday, and had been doing so well, walking and enjoying cool morning air, felt marvelous and wham. Everything hurt from head to knees, chills, etc. I'm sleeping a lot, resting - or at least trying to, think I caught "H's" virus - I thought, no, no, no, not before my trip. So I don't know if I'm going or not. Certainly not if stomach is still so fickle. At least no chilling for 24 hours so that probably means fever is gone. So we'll see, I pray for health ASAP!

Found out my sister will visit at the end of the month - yay! Will be nice to just bum around, no one to take care of - we only get to see each other every five years, unless my mother has an emergency and we meet in Wyoming. So, its going to be a full month - then in May everyone starts having birthdays - and I will be behind on yard work if I get my trip - I don't want my sister to work as she has rheumatoid arthritis, and I want her to rest in my big magnetic bed, and on the warm sand!

We did an impromptu garage sale last week - across the street from the bird mirror, and grandson manned the table and made $70.00! It was kind of fun - the most fun part was getting rid of almost everything we wanted to get rid of for now. Now, we have room to keep working out there. I want to have a set of storage shelves built for art work, my study/studio is full as can be.

Hopefully I can post before I leave, should I really leave! If not, have a good holiday, and I'll post island pics when I get back, if I don't go, I will post pictures of me pulling weeds and planting herbs.

Nevermore Resurrection

Enough! OUt WiTh GloOm and DoOm! Nevermore rides again. Frustrated with second rate flamingos and stuck on this one which had horrible composition problems in the beginning - I think I got it! Fun. Now to let it dry and glaze and put it up on the block for some poor angsty goth type person to take a whimsy too. What fun!!!! On to the next one!

Treason

Getting people sick indirectly (or directly) is big business in the U.S. Maybe other countries too, I don't know. Drug companies and the medical industry and food industry have a huge interest in keeping us sick and addicted to chemically altered and produced foods.

The door opened to nationalized health care last week. Politicos move at the state level to block it. But the door is open a crack. There is a long battle ahead. What can we do to protect our health before we need health care we can't afford? Be very alert and very careful and very studious.

Recent statistics have the occurrence of cancer as high as one in three persons during their lifetime. Diabetes and heart disease is raging. Going to the hospital risky because of super bacterias. Our environment is poisoned and our food and water is poisoned by corporate giants who want more money in their pockets.

I took a nice long walk yesterday while the Blue Angels performed over our heads and wondered what the risks of inhaling loads of jet fuel residue were. And I would be unpatriotic to even ask, let alone think it.

Beware of what you eat and drink - it might make the difference between dying happy or miserable after years of suffering. Yes, organic is expensive. Gardens hard to grow in some areas. Buy locally grown produce when possible - even if you ingest some pesticide, at least you are not eating chemicals engineered by scientists in some freak lab that are proven to cause gene mutations that cause cancer and other disease, just hit the antioxidants a bit harder! I think of planting a garden and wonder about the effects of the jet fuel that layers into our soil and plants twice a week, year after year?

I looked up the word, Treason, and wonder why the companies that sell poisoned food are not arrested and halted for the good of the people. I guess its the same process that make people think that the earth is self renewing and we do not have to take care of it and that to do so is some kind of political insanity. Money for corporations. We are poisoning the earth and ourselves and most of the population is in denial because the corporations are smart, they turn our questioning into political wars - Republican against Democrat, and it all come down to money.
http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/regulated-or-not-nano-foods-coming-to-a-store-near-you/19401246?icid=mainmaindl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fnanotech%2Farticle%2Fregulated-or-not-nano-foods-coming-to-a-store-near-you%2F19401246

I do not want to die of cancer, diabetes, obesity, or any other disease that is rampant in our society today. I want to just keel over at 99 after having had a reasonably healthy life, not after making drug companies and the medical profession and the corporate giants richer while my money dwindles away on their products that kill me.

We have to swim upstream. Sometimes in small groups or even alone to stay well. And sometimes ostracized as a nut. Who cares! I want to be known as a healthy nut! At least the part where I have some control is where I will start. And I don't care if I'm called names.

Training and Recovery from Too Many Brandys

Well, a few pounds off gained from the nights of Two Many Brandys, I don't feel so sluggish and depressed, today Grandson took me on an hour and one half walk through the swamp. I swear off brandy except for very special occasions. Oh, I'm in bad shape, barely made it home. I can now put the bottom of my feet on the floor without pain. Actually held up pretty well!

It is not the lush summer swamp, we too are in throes of spring - someone reminded me this is the first day of spring - we saw hawks soaring and huge ravens - we laughed so hard at the ravens. They are really beautiful!

B.S. - that is before swamp, we went to a gathering of artists, creative people at some people's house who are from Sweden. The house was wonderfully minimalist, industrial, light, arty - and the grounds covered in controlled natural habitat - she is a natural healer - had a marvelous time, and grandson ate, I think, almost a loaf of fresh garlic bread. Such cool people, we had such a good time.

Yesterday I went to the beach for three hours and I'm July tan! Ready to travel - count down - three weeks, now! Hopefully I can keep up walking for about an hour a day (the other night, I wandered the subdivision for an hour and got lost at 10:00 p.m., but finally found my way home, duh!) and will be fit to go monkey hunting with my camera.

Still painting like crazy, I love this! I haven't watched TV for days and days - and weeks, which makes me happy as TV makes me lazy - I don't know why, because I do not know what balance is probably - just swing from one end to the other - too much or too little. Current events? You mean there are some? I wouldn't know.

Mysteriously, I have been able to get up in the morning, and straighten up in 1/2 hour - hmmmm, miracles!
And no one grumping! Sooo pleasant.

Turkey in the oven - starting to smell REALLY good. Guess I'll go peel some potatoes and make mashed potatoes with garlic after a few visits.

The Nights of Two Many Brandys

All of a sudden, I realize I am really going on a trip. I also realized that I haven't done any web stuff for quite some time and the business side of me has become too sloppy. I ordered business cards this morning and am working on getting a decent personal/business website up. It's up, just wimpy right now. So that's what I'm doing. Oh, yes, and painting nudes.

Cleaned house like a crazy woman yesterday, and then had a go to with "H" as he walked in house in oily meat shoes, strung sandwich makings out all over clean kitchen, over the carpet, around the house, sort of like a Hansel and Gretel type, perhaps he was afraid he would lose his way back to the kitchen, blew up something red in the clean microwave, threw food crusted dishes in the clean sink for me to clean - I said, "Wait, can you pick up after yourself? I already did all the cleaning." Fireworks. Whooooo. Thas' ok. Life goes on, just because I don't work outside the home, I am not a second class citizen nor a personal servant. Yep.

Neighbor notices I am leaving the house more often and is back to request babysitting. Why do I have trouble with boundaries? I am far too good natured most of the time I guess. I will have to put my guard up - sometimes there is just a season of boundary pressing!

Forgot, one doesn't inhale clorox when cleaning small ventless places, however, the neti pot is a great soother for rapidly swelling sinuses, no coughing today and all is well.

Had a super gathering with friends, Hattigrace's little dog, Isabella decided she would grace me with her presence for a little while, and for a moment, I almost wanted to get a dog, but oh, my, I have too much on my plate now anyway, THAT would be silly. Big Mamma and poor hallucinating, Psycho cat are quite enough, and my messy "H". I am reminded every time I clean their potty area.

Ah, every creature poops. Even the caterpillars that come to my garden. Yep.

I have spent, since Friday night, drinking "two many brandies." Thank goodness the bottle is now empty and I will once again become healthy and drink water before bed instead of getting looped and worrying about what I may have posted on the internet.

With that, I must make my bed, get dressed and start the day. I will be back to visit all.

Looking Forward

West Indies
Partially finished red nude

She flew in one day

Ahhhh - finally spring around the corner

nice day to sunbathe

Life is event-full lately. Finally tonight taking a breather - having to watch being easily exhausted and remember to calm down. Hildegard Von Bingen is singing on my computer and is soothing - I'm in bed with new canvas to start - my paint supplies arrived - twelve 16" x 20" canvases, cerulean blue (boy I hadn't realized how expensive paints were now.

I spent two hours at Barnes and Noble Friday night reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Sckloot, one of the most fascinating books I've read.

Then we went to Alice in Wonderland 3D - it was great - Depp at his Mad Hatter best. The tea party was mad and delightful. Alice's costumery was stunning as was Depp's makeup! I want to see it again!

Passport arrived on time, I have tickets and the trip to West Indies is on! I've 3/4 packed even though its five weeks away. I need it. I feel emotionally drained. Being close to the equater will be refreshing, refilling, on top of a volcano in the clouds will be soul restoring. I plan to get enough pictures to paint for a long time.

A new week has started - though tomorrow is Tuesday - haven't had time much to Farm - and TV has been cut down 85%! I wonder through the house playing either worship music or Bingen or Forbidden Songs about My Bonne Island by Tom Kenyon - - - watching grandson a lot, planning a trip to my other daughter's on payday - and ready to dig in the warming dirt outside.

And I'm counting down the days.

Making the Mess

Painted all day yesterday and today - today got sick - ran out of medium and used turpentine in a closed in room. Duh. I sure have a mess going in the study. Taxes 90% ready for tax guy, a million (it seems) unsolicited catalogs, lots of paperwork I still need to condense and sort - why do I save it - it must be in the DMV book by now as a disease - paper hoarding, haha.

Doing a website on Weebly.com which has free sites and a respectable amount of add-ins. Want to download some pics to make a movie to import to home page. I haven't hardly watched any TV for a month and am shocked at how much time it has freed up.

Tomorrow have to go pick up a friend's friend from outpatient and take him home after surgery. Then, I don't know what. Maybe see Alice in Wonderland with my daughter, maybe not. If not, probably maybe go to a potluck at friends' home.

This month is going fast already - little things in the garden are starting to pop up.

My sister should be coming the end of April, so April will be an eventful month. I am for sure going to the Caribbean. I have my tickets and passport just came today. It will be a heaven sent trip for a week, no one but myself to think of, nothing to do but take pictures, and plan a website, and visit with friends. I might be repeating myself - blaming it on the turpentine inhalation and hand bath.

I would send my last painting, but it is a nude, so I daresn't send on internet. I want to do a series, this one has a green background. I want to do one in purple as well - and I started one with red orange background, but it won't go with the skin tones I'm using.

Bedtime

Kids are easier to control than cats. And that's saying alot. I call bedtime, two show up, only one stays. Of course, the kid stays - cats always do what they want, right?

Really, most of the time he stays. He's worried about the rain tonight, but he'll go back and go to bed. He sleeps in. The boy gets up, gets ready for school and the crazy cat keeps on snoozing until he hears breakfast called. "Cat Foods!" "Cat Foods!" He comes running like crazy.

But then, we're all sort of 'teched, this family.

Oh, yeh - he's telling me to give his regards to Maximus Spittimus....so here's regards.

:Life Lessons from Painting

Still working on this darn thing, determined to make it work. I think because I am working with transparent colors, that when I get done they seem to disappear into the canvas. I'm not familiar with working with night scenes - and the light source is coming from the front....wrestled with the dang thing last night and parts of it got better, parts got worse.

Painting is a lot like life - you start something, excited about it, and all of a sudden realize its not working so well, and now its a big problem to solve. Now, I'm sure more experienced painters would know exactly what to do with this.....so really, I guess it comes down to education and problem solving skills. Then somewhat, finding what one is really good at and focusing energy into that area.

I paint from emotion - usually. I think what I need to do, since I relate to the flamingo and the flamingo's soul, is to just paint a flamingo, without landscape - a portrait of a flamingo - look in its eyes and let it speak to me, and paint. Sooo will that work -? I looked in the eyes of the parrot and all I have is a pretty picture. I want the magic!

Ok, getting ready to go to church - I am a bit huffy as "H" is getting all showered, perfumed and is running off to church without me. I have to go to second service, because that is the only time grandson's age group meets. I feel hurt - I tell him - he pays no attention - a source of contention from long ago - church as avoidance. Ha, ha, I tell myself, put that one in your hat, and paint it.

Never paint with negative feelings in your heart. I started an angel and got in a tiff with someone else who means a lot to me - it was a pencil drawing and I was touching it ever so lightly with washes, and my hand got heavier and heavier and I made it mediocre, the hotter I became in temper, the more I ruined it. Its ok, but its not "wow" so its going to garbage. I think that is another life lesson.

Will be glad when I have a more peaceful spirit and tolerance. Its Lent now. I miss the traditions that point to the importance of the coming of my Savior and the reasons, and the cost, and the emphasis on the whole importance of the Easter season. Mardi Gras and the partying are gone - I've never quite figured out how the craziness and extremities of Mardi Gras fit in with the concept of Christianity - not that I haven't gone to the tamer celebrations (I am not into having someone peeing on my shoes at the wild parades and parties!)

Ok, the old grouch is going in for her shower and perfume and the second church service. Perhaps God will meet me there and soothe the grouchiness, maybe even turn it to joy.

A Cat Named Psycho

Secrets, Herons in the Night, Tired too.

Eaaaghhhh. I have spent the last 3 weeks it seems running up and down the road in my car and buying gasoline. I am so tired I can't even sleep - I didn't get to the pharmacy today to pick up some Ambien - and here I am, bright eyed and bushy tailed at bedtime again. I haven't even watched TV for three weeks.

Today, I took a fancy. I never have secrets. But now I have a secret. A very big secret. So I went to Target and bought a big locket that I've been looking at, hoping, jus hoping I could find a secret to put in it. Now, I'm going to carry my secret next to my heart in the locket. And see what happens. It will work for me as I smile mysteriously at locket compliments, if I don't die prematurely.

Picked up my grandson - took him to Shrimp Basket where he ordered huge basket of friend er- yes I'm tired, I mean, fried crawfish. I ordered veggies and glad for it, because I feel nice and clean inside. Yeh, weird, huh? The older I get, the more I am enjoying the enjoyment of being free to be weird.

This beautiful stately bird was waiting on the entryway to the restaurant - a Blue Heron - it was like a moment of magic. After dinner we fed him/her french fries, left over crawfish and, weird person that I am, I told him how beautiful he was. Or she was. I wish it had not been so dark when grandson snapped his photo.

I am excited - the son of my best friend in the whole world back in Iowa contacted "H" today on Facebook - I hope I can find my long lost friend once again!

Finished.

I'm such a procrasinator - its always a triumph when I actually finish a piece of work!

This is oil on canvas.

The Casa Pantheressa

Just taking some pictures around the house. I finally cleaned it this month, haha.

Mojo Workin'

Where have I been? In a strange, but definitely not unpleasant place. In the last two weeks I have done two paintings - the guy in the hat needs a houndstooth pattern added which hope to finish tonight. And I think the flamingos need a second going over - we'll see. Just so pleased to have the urge to paint again.

Lots going on with family, and lots going on with me, none of which I can really talk about but I think the ends will all be positive.

Have been driving off the weight gain of the holidays - from henceforth I will remember how easy it is to put on and how hard it is to get off. Only five more pounds to go - but that can be a lot.

Cats have been chewed up and had to have vet treatment. Steering shaft out of car and had to have new tires - four car accidents in the family between my two daughters and grandkids. That's just a sampling.

Also I might have a web design job which would necessitate me spending a an expense paid week in the West Indies - now that makes me truly happy!!!! I hope it works out with another must do appointment in April.

Spending hours on computer with finding old files, preparing for CD's, offer, etc.