Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Home Girl

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It's been awhile since home girl has graced the pages here.  I thought it time she and I had a little photo shoot.

Last night I had a great blog post rattling around in my head.

This morning?

Poof.  Gone.

I hate when that happens and I am reminded that I am no longer thirty.

On a side note, our internet is indecisive and testy of late.  It comes.  It goes.  Can't seem to make up it's mind if it wants to work or not.  But I think I'm going to get lucky this morning and get this thing posted.

Oh, and one last thing.  Today is The Kid's birthday.   Happy Birthday Babe...I love you.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Skinny Jeans


The Art Teacher:  "They bought skinny jeans?  At Walmart?"

Me:  "That's what they said.  They were out buying red and blue skinny jeans at Wamart."

Thus the obsession began.

The half of the 7 AM Walkers spending their winter up north have been busy.  They have continued to walk through sleet, snow and freezing temperatures.  Meeting each morning in the gray light of dawn, layered in down, trudging down the snow covered lane in an no holds barred effort to stay in shape (and make me look pathetic).  Apparently this winter has been so bad that they have not been able to get to the grocery store on a regular basis.  It seems they have also starved themselves.  Skinny jeans!  Humpph

On the other hand the girls of BAA south have taken a more relaxed approach.  They have slept-in.  Lounged by the pool.  Wined.  Dined.  And generally frittered away their days in a melatonin stupor that has left them... let's just say, less than fit.

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So there we sat, out to dinner on Valentine's Day, eating pizza, drinking wine (well that was me) and obsessing over the fact that our compadres up north had purchased red and blue skinny jeans while we were just trying to locate pants in our closets that would button.   

The Art Teacher: "Skinny Jeans?  Seriously?"

The gauntlet had been dropped.

Me:  "We can't go back looking like this."

The Art Teacher:  "We better kick it up a notch sister."

Me:  "We have until the end of April to get into shape.  Do you think we can do it?"

A pact was made.  There were high fives across the table to seal the deal.

The next morning we met at 7:45.  Picked up the pace.  Doubled our route.  

We began to sweat.

skinny jeans,  skinny jeans,  skinny jeans

The chant spurred us on.

skinny jeans, skinny jeans, skinny jeans

I have my eye on hot pink ones.

skinny jeans, skinny jeans, skinny jeans

I sure hope they don't go out of style before I get this weight off.

skinny jeans, skinny jeans, skinny jeans

If all else fails, I'll wear them to the next Halloween party.

I'll be the frumpy hooker.

skinny jeans,  skinny jeans, skinny jeans








  

Friday, February 22, 2013

The BAA and Skinny Jeans

After I referenced the "southern belles of the BAA" in Monday's post, The Kid reminded me that most of you probably have no idea what I am referring to when I mention the BAA.  I thought I had covered that little item in a previous post but after a thorough search of the archives it appears that I did not.

One half mile down this country lane lies the BAA.

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The magical little world where we discovered Little Red three summers ago.   It has also been referred to on these pages as the "The Place Where the Dandelions Grow."

The BAA received its name many years ago by the then teenage daughter of one of the residents.  It stands for Bay Area Association and means absolutely nothing to anyone except those who reside within its borders.  Nestled along the shore of our quiet lake are three year-round homes, three summer cottages (two of which are uninhabited & falling into disrepair) and Little Red.

It is inhabited for six months each year by four pair of 60-somethings:  The Dentist & The Art Teacher, The Coach (a.ka. the Sheriff) & the Accountant, The Colonel & The Principal; and of course The Mower & The Photographer (that would be me in case you were wondering), two dogs, two cats, a flock of wild turkeys, and a gaggle of Canadian geese that varies in size from year to year but is omnipresent.

The BAA is a tranquil place, its occupants fun loving and friendly.  As the newbys, The Kid and I were welcomed with open arms and soon found ourselves ensconced in the day to day of BAA life.    Community business is usually settled on early morning walks along with a myriad of other issues including decorating dilemmas and who's bringing what to the next dinner.

Seventy-five percent of the neighborhood packs up and heads south for the winter...south as in southwest Florida.  And you can imagine our surprise to learn that the Dentist & the Art Teacher are also our neighbors on Marco.  We live a mere two miles apart and never knew of each other prior to our move to the BAA.  And you guessed it, Florida is now known as BAA south.

The ladies of the BAA have been referenced here on many occasions and exist under several pseudonyms i.e. The 7 AM Walkers, The Design Team, The Apron Ladies, BAA Babes Salvage and the Belles of the BAA.  They make salvage runs in the rain to rescue hundred year old doors from the trash truck and are known for their day long forays into the hinterlands in search of buried treasure  where there is always ice cream on the menu.  They make community decisions regarding mother of the groom dresses and are dog walkers extraordinaire.

And there you have it.  The BAA in a nut shell or should I say a blog post.  The stage has been set.  You know the whys and the wheres of it and you know the players.  But, since it has taken me five days to get this post written I'm afraid you are going to have to wait another day or two to get the rest of the story.

To be continued....






Monday, February 18, 2013

A Sad State of Affairs

Before I left on our two week adventure to the Caribbean I was a blogging machine.  In the groove.  Hitting on all four cylinders.  The sun was shining and I was making hay.

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And now.

Nothing.

The well has gone dry.

I suppose I could share that they served spaghetti AGAIN at the Manor for Sunday dinner.

Or that The Kid was on jury duty last week and threw the book at the crook.  Not to be confused with throwing the book at the cook which he wouldn't dream of doing.

I might mention that the southern belles of the BAA have stepped their walking up a notch.  They kicked it into high gear, picked up the pace and extended their route.  Then promptly took two days off.  Wouldn't want to over do it you know.

That reports indicate work on Little Red is progressing.  There has been talk of sheet rock and kitchen cabinets that are on order.

And that when the design team was sent in for an inspection the locks had been changed.

I could also tell you how cold it has been here the past two days.  There was talk of sweatshirts, heat and hot soup.  But I'm afraid that with that tidbit I would see twelve (thank you Resha) pair of eyes rolling in unison at my plight.  So I have decided not to mention the frigid 50 degree weather.

No I'll keep that sad state of affairs to myself.










Friday, February 15, 2013

Tomorrow is Another Day

My house needs a good cleaning.

The laundry basket is overflowing.

The refrigerator is empty.

And Henna wants a walk.

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Fiddle dee dee.  I can't think about that now.  If I do I'll go crazy.  I'll think about it tomorrow.

After all, tomorrow is another day.

Don't you just love Scarlett?




Thursday, February 14, 2013

Second Thoughts?

I know most of you are wondering if I have second thoughts about cruising, what with the Carnival Triumph limping back to port not so triumphantly.

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My answer.  Don't be silly.  I can be packed by Saturday if you find a good deal.

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Conditions on board that ship must be deplorable.  But just like with anything else only the negative is reported and hyped.

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For every major cruise ship incident there are hundreds of accident free cruises every day, all over the world.

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And as long as I'm on one of those I'll be happy.

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If trouble happens to find us.  We'll manage.

There is one thing though.

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Do you think the casino would still be open?

That could be a deal breaker.


Photos are scenes from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Birthday Wishes

I missed a phone call early yesterday morning.  I was startled by the early hour, even more so when it was revealed the caller was my mother.

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Atlantic coast, Barbados

Receiving a call before 9:00 AM from my mother never bodes well.  Either she was ill or more than likely there was drama at the manor.  Minnie had probably thrown Mom's bath basin again in a fit of rage because the bathroom wasn't restored to  its usual pristine condition soon enough to please her.  Or perhaps the gentleman down the hall was spotted pushing his girlfriend around in her wheelchair at an unacceptable hour.  "You know they must be up to no good.  Where could they possibly be going at this time of day?"

Curiosity (and concern) got the best of me and like the dutiful daughter I am I returned the call.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me:  Good morning.  What's up?

Mom:  Oh good morning.  I just called to wish you happy birthday.

Me:  Thank you.  But it isn't my birthday.

Mom:  It's not?

Me:  No, Wednesday's my birthday.

Mom:  No it's not.  Today's the 11th.

Me:  That's right and Wednesday is my birthday.

Mom:  It is?  Are you sure?  Today is the 11th.

Me:  Mom, my birthday is Wednesday, the 13th.  Or at least that's when you told me it was my whole life.

Mom:   Giggling.  Oh that's right, it is the 13th isn't it?

Me:  Don't you know?  After all you gave birth to me.

Mom:  More giggling.  I think I'm confused, I could have sworn it ws the 11th.

It's pretty bad when your own mother can't remember you birthday.

However she did remember to tell me that Minnie was in the bathroom six times yesterday.

My future is bright after all.







Monday, February 11, 2013

Released

I was released by my captives on Saturday as promised.... much to my despair.

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Released after fourteen days at sea.

It was heaven.

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Some have asked how I managed to live confined on a ship for two weeks.

I managed just fine.  Thank you.

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If I were honest I would admit that for five minutes at 3:22 in the afternoon on day 9 I was ready to go home.

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And then my friend Barb called and asked if I was ready to go to the casino?

And the feeling passed.

Just like that it was gone.

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If you have never seen, up close and personal, the turquiose blue water of the Caribbean, you are missing out on an amazing sight.

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So amazing that I've heard rumor that it may be added as the eighth wonder of the world.

Yes, it is that beautiful.

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And clear.  And calm.  (At least it was calm when I was there.)

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There were eight stops in fourteen days:

St. Thomas, St. Marten, Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Granada, Aruba and Curacao.

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A busy itinerary for sure.  But in between there were five relaxing days at sea.

Five days to sleep in.  Five days to be pampered.  Five days to take in a movie, visit the casino, watch a show, enjoy live music.

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And now it's over.

I know that because I have been waiting for three days for someone to make my bed, clean my bathroom and prepare my dinner.

Reality really does bite, doesn't it?