Thursday...

Isn’t this the prettiest little baby? Okay, so I’m biased, as she is the offspring of my BFF!

Here are the boys. The blur is Stephan. This was the best picture I could get of him this weekend. I got to say he definitely is what I would call a “Strong-Willed” child. Man, that kid can throw some tantrums. His parents definitely have their hands full. They usually take the kids for walks in the evening. Well, Saturday night it was storming really bad, and we couldn’t go out. I swear that kid screamed for an hour. NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING consoled him. As a last resort we put the Wiggles on, and he calmed down slightly. Until Mom left to go take care of the baby. Then it started all over again. Oh, boy!
I did go to IKEA on Sunday. I gotta be honest, I almost didn’t. When I got there, the parking garage was full, and the line for the remote lot was wrapped all the way around the building. But not one to give up, I found a spot in the shopping center next door. But when I got inside, they were out of shopping carts, so that limited what I could carry in the bags, and out to the car, so I had to limit myself.

I got a few little things. A little clock and some candle holders for 99 cents. I got the wooden drawers, similar to Jayne’s, but with the long drawers, instead of the little bitty ones. Some magazine holders, for $4.99, those will come in handy. I found DH an album crate thing, for his LP’s. Some more of those mirrors that Diana made at Winter Retreat. And a few other odds and ins, I can’t remember. I must say, the place was overwhelming. I only did the bottom marketplace, I didn’t wander the show room, I was trying to keep it short. I can’t wait until we get our own!!

The birthday crop is Friday, and I’m shocked to say I am almost ready. Yes, me, the queen of procrastination packed most of my scrap stuff last night. All that’s left is my clothes, adult beverages, and my air mattress, which seems to have gone into hiding. YAY ME!

Is there anything better....

On a hot summer’s day than an ice cold IBC root beer, straight from the bottle. Hmm..mmm. What is it about glass, is it that it makes it a good cold conductor? Who knows. But wonderful Publix last week had them on their BOGO deal last week, so of course, I couldn’t resist. I actually like root beer better than Coke, but Coke has caffeine, so that is my “drug” of choice, so to speak. (Speaking of BOGO, Publix has Twizzlers on sale, get there now!!! MISS LINDA!!!)

So, today is the first day of summer. Only the first day??? What have we been having the last several weeks, a teaser? OY! It’s Hot, Damn Hot, Real Hot!!! Seriously, I’m soaking wet when I get home, from the heat. Incredible. I’m getting too old. LOL!

Well, today, I’m on my way down to SoFla, to see the baby. Awwwww...I can’t wait to meet her for the first time, I’m so excited. I left her gift at home like a dummy, though! (A pink Gator onsie), so I’ll have to mail it down to them when I get home.

I’m also planning an IKEA excursion on Sunday. Any must haves? (Wonder if they sell patio furniture..hmmm)

Here’s hoping for an uneventful end of the week. YAY!

Mornin' Folks!

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. Hope everyone had a good day. Sounds like it. We visited DH’s grandfather and had dinner with them, and then his dad stopped by while we were there, so it was a good day.

Dh’s uncle is taking the grandparents on a cruise the first of November. Dh’s dad and step-mom have decided to go to. You see where this is going, don’t you? Well, his uncle has a balcony all to himself, but says in order to do that, he had to pay two fares. I’ve never heard of that. Kip may have to refresh my memory, but I remember the first Hilltop cruise, she was by herself, and she paid a premium, but not double the fare, KWIM? So, I think he’s getting screwed, if they are making him pay for two.

He did offer the extra space to DH if he wanted to go, since it’s already paid for. DH is thinking about it, since it will probably be his grandparents’ last vacation. But, of course, where does that leave me? Probably at the dock, waiving good bye. Yeah, I know, but how can he turn something down if it’s free, ya know? If we could afford both to go, we would, but it’s just not in the budget now. (with all the things we need for the house, patio furniture, new tile, maybe a new microwave, paint of course.) It’s a different itinerary too; it goes to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, but also to Roatan, Honduras, and also to Belize, two places we’ve never been before. But, it will be tight quarters for the two of them, plus his dad will be there. I just don’t see that going down good!

In the meantime, I’ve been on a search for barstools for my lanai. I’m striking out everywhere, I just can’t find anything. I did find a set that wasn’t too bad at a place on Bearss. The cost? $672...A PIECE. No, not for the pair, a piece. Well, I laughed at the woman, and said I’d go elsewhere. She said, “well we have others”. In the $100-$200 range? Uh, no. Buh-Bye. Nothing at Sam’s Club either (although, I found a couple lounge chairs I may go back and get this week). I can’t be the only person who has an outdoor bar, can I? Where do people buy their chairs????

I caught Meet the Press yesterday morning, and saw the Tim Russert tribute. He seemed like such a fair, likeable guy. I feel so bad for his family, my heart goes out to him.

I also tried to watch the Tony Awards last night, as well as Ice Road Truckers. I fell asleep through both. Sigh! I did wake up on time, but I am still so exhausted. It’s so hard to get through the day.

Well, that’s the Monday report. Have a good week!

Step right up, get your tickets here!

I have order forms for Sing Live tickets, so get them while they’re hot!!! (Don't know why the colors are off on this, it was originally a JPEG)

The prices are $25 (mezzanine), $35 (orchestra) and $39 (front orchestra, I think). Here is a map of the stage, etc.

Our performance is July 12th at 7:00 pm. We’re doing a lot of cool stuff, including a 10 minute Wicked medley. I know some of the soloists, and man, they are good. Everyoine has been working so hard, and we have great directors. It’s going to be a good show, and you don’t want to miss it.

You can pay by check, cash, Visa or Mastercard. I’d like to take the orders all in together, so y’all can sit together, but if you don’t that’s fine, too. I can email you the form. You can also order on Ticketmaster, or the box office, if you are so inclined, but they will charge you surcharges.

Don't Look...Pity Party inside...

I know, you're thinking, what the heck are you doing up at 11:30? You dodo, you have to get up in 5 hours.

You know, it's funny how one thing leads to another in your train of thought. DH and I were watching Ax Men on History Channel. One of the guys names is Gustafson. I asked DH why everywhere else it's pronounced GUS-tafson, but it's Gus-TAF-son Farms. Which lead to dairy farms, and MacArthur Dairy. Who used to have cows on 441, who I drove by and loved to see when I was a little children...which lead to the fact that it was next to Lauderhill Mall, which lead me to a blog about shopping centers, specifically old ones, which haven't been remodeled in 30 years. Which lead people to leave comments about the Mall and surrounding areas, including the old Ground Round a few blocks away. I went to a birthday party for a classmate in 5th grade at the Ground Round.

It was the only birthday party I ever went to.

You see, I wasn't allowed to grow up and be a normal kid. Birthday parties were not allowed. When my grandmother grew up, they didn't have birthday parties. So she didn't see the fuss, so I didn't go to any. Oh, don't get me wrong, I was invited to all of them. Even though I was picked on, I think the parents felt sorry for me and wanted to make sure I was included.

There was always an excuse. "Well, we don't know so&so." I went to a small, private school, where everybody knew just about everybody. It wasn't hard to go up to someone and say "Hi, Joey's Mom, I'm Mary's Mom. I understand you're having a party, let's chat."

Or they lived to far away. I learned that anything more than 10 miles was "far away".

Or they had a pool. "Oh, my god, you might drown" Or a park "oh, my god, you might wander away and get kidnapped" (This was the 70's, well before the Adam Walsh story).

You get the picture.

I didn't have parties either. Oh, we celebrated birthdays. After dinner, we'd have cake and open presents, but it was always just my mom, step-dad and grandmother. Sometimes, not too often, if it was on a weekend, my step-mom might drop my sister off.

I did have a slumber party once. It was a disaster...fodder for another day's blog.

My sister had parties. She lived with our dad and her mom (My step-mom). I did go to a few of those. One was at the rec center across from my dad's house. Helicopter mom was there, watching my every move (I think I was 10 or 11). I bet my step-mom appreciated that.

She had a slumber party once. I think dad and step-mom stepped in and said she's staying and that's that. I don't know why they never did that for me more often. I think because they were afraid of my grandmother. And god forbid, my mother ever act like a parent and say "Hey, this is my kid, I'm in charge here".

And one year we went to a skating rink up in Palm Beach. I think my step-mom and aunt had helicopter mom distracted long enough so I could actually (GASP!) skate!!! Yeah, I never really skated. My dad and step-mom bought me a pair of skates for Christmas. But I never wore them outside the house. I would (GASP!!) fall down. I might twist an ankle, I might skin a knee. All heavens would explode if that happened. I never rode a bike either. Pretty much for the same reason.

Oh, I was oh-so-delicate (eyeroll). I had a hip condition (a condition which three different doctors said was a non-issue). I'd fall down and hurt something (Ever met a kid who didn't?) Sigh!

Yes, mom, so while you had your 20+ years of therapy, thanks for saving a little of it for your daughter. And sticking up for her once in a while. And letting her be a kid, for cryin' out loud, consequences be damned.

And such is my feeling sorry for myself tonight. Sigh!!!! Maybe now, I can get some sleep.

The week(end) that was...

Okay, my all-time favorite reality show (well, really, the only reality show I watch) came back on last night. Ice Road Truckers. It’s all about these guys who drive their big rig trucks and heavy materials over frozen lakes to get equipment to mines and such. This year they are driving across the Arctic Ocean, to some oil drilling sites up near the North Pole. Fascinating stuff, let me tell you. But, my cutie pie Jay isn’t back this season, so that’s a bummer. It’s all old guys this year. Ah well, still entertaining, in a geeky sort of way. (And we all know I’m a big geek at heart).

It was also a sad weekend in the sports world. Jim McKay died at age 86. Another childhood icon is gone. I always remember watching him as a kid, and that little skier guy who took a tumble. You’d think that the guy would get sick of seeing himself fall over and over again every week, but I watched an interview back in the 80’s, I think and he thought it was pretty funny. What a thing to be known for?

Did anyone watch the Belmont? What a disaster that was? All the hype and then the horse comes in last place? The jockey said that it was like there was no horse there, he wouldn’t respond to anything. Makes you wonder....

Finishing up the cruise, our last day was at sea, and we spent most of it just hanging around, checking out all the stuff on board. I made sure to get pictures of everything. One thing I loved was the artwork that is everywhere. My favorite was these glass sculptures near Bolero’s and the Champagne Bar. It reminded me of some of the Chihuly Sculptures I have seen. They must spend big bucks on all this artwork.

I did catch one of the Parades they do in the Promenade a couple times during the week. I wouldn’t call it a parade, but more of everyone in costumes dancing around. But it was cute, I’d do it again.

And we saw the Ice Show one night. That was really good, too. They did a really good job, I was impressed. Still, the Dick Button in me still wants to critique everything, LOL! (Oh, you two-footed that landing, Ut-Oh, that should have been a double instead of a single). But, considering the space they have to work with, and we had some bumpy nites, sea-wise, they did a good job. Another neat spot (again for the geeky) is the "peek-a-boo" deck, out near the pool area, where you can actually see the bridge and check out all the goings on.
Yes, our last two nights at sea were pretty rough, but nothing I couldn’t handle. It was kind of neat watching the seas and the weather off in the distance. The rockin’ kind of helps you go to sleep.

So, now we’re back to reality. Ahhhh...I’m ready for another vacation.

Oh, and of course, if you haven't had your fill of pictures...Here's all of them

Back with some more

Well, first, a shout out to Melanie! Hope you had the bestest of birthdays. You deserve it. Thank you guys so much. We enjoyed it. (A margarita night is definitely in our future, Top Shelf!)

Anyways, back to cruising. We had dinner one night at Chops Grille, the onboard steakhouse. It was an extra $25 a person, but so many people had recommended to try one of the specialty restaurants that we just had to take the plunge. So glad we did. It was fantastic. One of the highlights of the cruise. I would definitely pit this against a Bern’s or an Armani’s or any similar type steakhouse, in service, presentation, and food! Tremendous. DH says that this will be a must-do on any cruise from here out.

Take a look at this dessert. This was the Mississippi Mud Pie, and it was delicious. So dense, and so rich, I could barely finish it. (But we tried, oh did we try!)

Another one of my favorites was the cheese-onion soup I had for an appetizer. Now, I’m thinking this is a cheese soup, with some onion flavor. No, it was onion soup (think French Onion), with the hugest, thickest layer of cheese I had ever seen. And y’all know what a cheese-a-holic I am. HEAVEN! Interestingly enough I had the French Onion soup in the dining room, and it wasn’t nearly as good.

But I won’t say the dining room food was bad...it was pretty good, considering what you have to do to feed 3000 guests at the same time. DH’s steaks were hit or miss admittedly. There were some good things though. I do love their escargots. I never had escargots, until I went on a cruise. And it’s not something I order out because A) they are usually pricey and B) there’s usually another appetizer I want, like calamari or something that I would rather have. So, that’s a treat. The mahi-mahi was especially good this time around, the breading wasn’t nearly as heavy as it was last year on Enchantment. Oh, and my all-time favorite dessert is the Grand Marnier Souffle. And the tiramisu...and the chocolate brownie cake...and the Key Lime Pie...Oh heck, I just like dessert, period! LOL!

Next day was Cozumel...not much to tell...kind of the same old, same old. We went to Paradise Beach for a little bit, but the water had been churned up and was kind of murky. I heard on line, though, that apparently the water gets that way this time of year, which I didn’t know. Oh well. Afterwards, we went to Carlos and Charlies to get a bite to eat and some drinks, and then did a little shopping.

One more day until back to civilization.

We've been to Hell and back...

No, really, we have. See:

This is a cool little place in Grand Cayman that has these weird rock formations that look like, well, Hell.


We had a lot of fun in Grand Cayman, we did the land tour this time around, and went to Hell, drove by the Governor's mansion, the little cottage (I forget what that's called), and the Turtle Farm. I found a cute Coach bag at a little strip center next to the Turtle Farm, totally by accident. And then of course, the beaches, where the water is just a beautiful shade of blue.


One of the things I find interesting is how the cemeteries are right there on the beach. Our tour guide told us that after Ivan a few years ago, the water was washing up on the beach and the graves were being carried across the street into people's front yards!!! Freaky Deaky!!

After the tour, we went and shopped around a little, and I got a snack. A beef patty and a soda. Someone in line was eating one when we were waiting to get on the bus, so I had a craving. YUM! Now, growing up in South Florida, we had little Jamaican joints were I would get some of those from time to time. And you can by the frozen one's at Wal-Mart, but there is something to say about having a fresh one. It's kind of like an Empanada, but the breading is a little different, (more biscuity, I think), and spicier. But it made a good snack.

But the Caymans are one of our favorite places, and if we ever get the money, I'd like to spend a couple of days down there. (It's verrrrry expensive!)