If you'r not here in 15 minutes, you can find a new best friend.

Last night after everything finally quieted down and I was all done with my awesome massage (Thank you Tommy!) I decided I was in the mood to be carried away and since there is not a grain of Calgon in this house I decided to use movies as my escape.

They are really good for this.  And really good for me.  Especially when you pick movies from your childhood.  The ones that take you back to a time and place that you remember with sweet nostalgia.  By the way if I ever invent a perfume that is what I am going to call it.  Sweet Nostalgia.  Hello, Sweet Honesty has already been spoken for. 

So last night, after my exhausting day was finally over, I snuggled up with the Captain and we zipped back to the 80's through a few of our favorite flicks.  By the time we had worked through two of them we were both mellow and relaxed.  It was just the kind of evening everyone needs to reset their clocks.  We each selected one of our favs and laughed ourselves silly.  Something that has been sorely lacking in our house this week. 

As you can tell by the photos I uploaded we settled on Caddyshack and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.   If it had been up to you and yours to select for us, which two movies would we have been watching?  Enquiring minds want to know!

Do you do it?

As most of you know I attended a funeral yesterday.

The service was tailor made for my friend. 

Two of her favorite singers performed two of her favorite songs.  To say the singing was angelic is not testament to the fact I was in a place of worship.  This gal's voice soared and would give Celine Dion a run for her money.  Okay, Celine isn't really a good example, but you get my point.

The pastor quoted scripture directly from my friends personal bible.  Passages that she herself had underlined and dated, frozen in that specific moment in time.  I found it lovely how she had just as many sticky notes, notes in the margins and pieces of paper jammed between the pages of her bible.    You can take the educator out of the classroom but you can't take the educator out of the educator.

Afterward as we made our way home and the sun was shining through the clouds drying the tears that had somehow leaked during the service, I found myself thinking of all of the good works she had been know to do and the turn out of people she had at her visitation and funeral service.  I'd seen fewer people at rock concerts.

Well, it made me question why I had stopped my service of volunteerism.  When I was in the Navy I had been very involved with the Red Cross chapters at the bases where I was stationed.  I was certified to teach CPR and conducted this class once a month.

I also volunteered for a navy program called Saturday Scholars.  We went to the schools on base and worked with kids who were having difficulty in subjects as tutors.  It was a fun and rewarding experience.  Working in conjunction with the teachers to get these students excited about school.

I think I want to get back to that.  Find something I can be passionate about now and dedicate some time to it.  I have been revisiting going back to the Red Cross and even volunteering as a Guardian At Lit.  I am doing some research right now to see what would be the best fit for me and my time.  I don't have a lot of it, but I would like to make the most of what I do have.

Any suggestions?

A kangaroo walked into a bar...

I have decided to take a walkabout. 

For those who don't know what that is let me explain.  A walkabout refers to a rite of passage in which you undergo a journey where you live in the wilderness  while communing with nature and getting in touch with your spiritual side.  (I may or may not have just adjusted this definition to suit my own needs today.)

Now, I know what you are thinking.

What you talkin' bout?  (I just heard that in Gary Coleman's voice too.)

Seems I need to spend some time communing with nature and getting in touch with said spiritual side. 

Again.

So, in the true tradition of my people.  No wait, that's the Aborigine and I'm Irish.  If I was following in the true path of my ancestors it would include a couple of pints of Guinness and no walk in the woods.  Well, I guess they could have had a walkabout in the woods after they consumed too many pints.  Hey, I might be on to something here. 

I can just go to the Irish pub here.  Have a couple of pints, wonder around for awhile and hope that divine inspiration will strike.  Wait!  It just did. 

There are no bathrooms in the wilderness.  Okay, that settles that.  I will just stick to the pub and the pints.  That's right, pints.  Plural.  I guess if I take the long way back and forth to the ladies room that could kind of count as a walkabout?  Right? Maybe?

Hey, it's my spiritual journey.

Today Angels Walk Among Us

You know I really like it when days start out all bright and shiny and Saturday was a great example of that. 

As the morning lent itself to afternoon we learned news that saddened us greatly.

On Friday afternoon a friend passed away.  She was 53 years old and after less than a year from diagnosis, lost her battle with cancer. 

Karen Farr was married to my co-worker and good friend, Houston Farr, Jr. for almost 33 years.  They were a lovely couple to witness.  Still very much in love and enjoying their lives, the kind of couple you strive to be after that many years together.  Still able to find enjoyment and so obvious in their delight with each other.

Karen was a teacher and influenced many lives.  She worked for the same school system for 31 years and passed her love of education to her two children who are both college graduates.  Something she took great pride in.

She was a bright light that extinguished far before she should have and is remembered and survived by her loving family.  Her husband Houston; her children, Allen and Kristen and their spouses Ashley and Trey.  Her brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. 

Sadly, she will be laid to rest tomorrow afternoon.  There is no way for me to convey to my friend how my heart hurts for him and his children today.  Nothing I can do to alleviate the sadness that will permeate the very fabric of their spirits in her absence.  It is my hope that they find some comfort in knowing she was surely granted her wings upon her entrance into heaven. 

It was my privilege to know her. Rest in peace Karen, rest in peace.

Always Remember

Can you believe Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11?

Me either. 

Recently I took part in a discussion where a friend mentioned she hated that they referred to it as an anniversary.  In her opinion this was the wrong word.  An anniversary is something you want to remember.  Something to celebrate.  Something to find joy in.

I don't know.

I didn't have an answer for her at that moment.  In retrospect I guess my silence was my answer.


The morning of September 11, 2001 I had a dental appointment and got to work late.  When I arrived at the office the first tower had just been hit.  I heard it on my car radio as I pulled into the parking lot.  I remember thinking it must have been a joke.  The guys on this particular radio station liked to pull practical jokes and while it wasn't in good taste, I still assumed that's all it was.

It wasn't.

I remember going in and the silence that greeted me.  Everyone had gathered around the desk of one of the girls in the back because she was a news junkie and had it steaming to her computer when the announcement was first made.

My boss had not arrived yet that morning.  He was scheduled for an outpatient procedure and when I got  his wife on the phone she insisted we close the office and come to their home to watch the TV coverage. 

I can remember the quiet of her house as we all sat around the TV and witnessed the first and then the second tower collapse.  The gross magnitude of what we were bearing witness to was not truly comprehensible to any of us.

Around two that afternoon I finally decided to head home.  No business had been conducted that day.  In fact I think it is safe to say no work was done that day across the world.  All I wanted to do was go home and hug my husband. 

I remember getting home and waking up the Captain.  He had been working nights and hadn't gotten to bed until about 7:00 that morning.  Luckily we had turned off his cell phone and unplugged the house phone so he wouldn't be disturbed.  When he heard the news he was dumbfounded.  We parked ourselves in front of the TV and watched the coverage into the wee hours of the morning praying that survivors would be found.  Praying for the families of the lost.  Praying for peace.

Of course we stayed close to each other because we needed to ensure the other was safe and sound.  Tragedy has a way of making you realize what you have and appreciating it a little more.  As we snuggled together in bed that night I remember him whispering to me, "I went to sleep this morning and all was right in the world, when I woke there was only terror and I didn't even know it until I turned on the TV."

September 11 of this year marks the 10th anniversary of that horrific day.  It falls on a Sunday.  I find a little bit of peace in that.  I think that's the Catholic in me.  We plan to spend the morning on the water communing with the fish.  There is peace in that for us.  Remembering, talking and getting a little lost in thought.  I  hope everyone takes a moment to reflect and remember.

Wishing on my lucky charms

Did you hear the squealing coming from my part of the world yesterday?

Yes, it was loud.

That was me wussing out as I tried to give Rocky his fluids.  Remember, it involved needles?

I think it was hurting me way more than it was hurting him.  Finally he just gave up on me.  I think if he could have taken the needle in his own palm and stuck himself he would have done it.  That really would have worked for me.

So I get to try again today. 

I don't know if I have enough wine in the house for this.  I mean, for after.  Because believe me, I will need it.

I'm thinking we need to go to the vet and get another crash course in  how to do this.  The Captain missed the first one so he totally wouldn't do it.

Wish me luck.

I need a Calgon Moment.

It seems as if the only things I have been reading lately involve cats and grubs.  No the two are not connected.  Or at least I don't think they are.  Crap, now I have to go and look that up.

This weekend I'm hoping to find some me down time and spend it reading.  I have a bunch of stuff on my to TBR list but am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.  I guess I need help.  Tell me what your reading and if its not on the depressing-as-hell side, maybe it will give me an idea where to start.

If all else fails I will do a re-read, but I'm hoping to find something new to get lost in.

Tomorrow starts my new scheduled with the little one that's sick.  I have to start giving him subcutaneous fluids.  This should be fun.  Did I mention it involves needles?  Did I mention I hate needles?  Well it does, and I do.  If you hear whimpering, don't worry, it's just me.  Sympathy is appreciated.  Hey, don't judge me.

When MIA doesn't mean Missing In Action

Hello Friends:

Yes it really is me.  I know, I know.  Where have I been?  Well, I have been dealing with a very sick little cat.  As you guys know; or maybe you didn't, Rocky was diagnosed with Feline CRF.  In layman's terms it means his kidney's are giving out. 

So I haven't really been missing in action so much as I have been on My Intermission Away.  (Applause sign lights up.)

I've had a very difficult time coming to terms with this and it has made my on-line presence seem unimportant as of late.  Or at least for the time being. 

Obviously we are trying to spend as much time with him as we can since we are sure his time is limited to days and not necessarily months now. 

I thought it would be easier this way.  The knowing that he is going to be leaving us soon, but I can honestly tell you that's just a big load of BS.  The knowing has not helped. Or at least it hasn't helped me.  I think it would almost be better if we had just woken up one morning, noticed something was amiss and taken him to the vet only to find out that he was already in the final stage. 

But no, I have to be a conscientious pet owner and take my cats in regularly.  Of course we diagnosed it early.  Unfortunately, we can't cure it.  He will die of this disease and there is nothing I can do.

Frustration anyone?

I will try to pop in from time to time and maybe even make an appearance on twitter.  I know ALERT my twitterati.  They will be so thrilled. 

"Dammit, this is me smiling."  Rocky after a long photo shoot.

And if you pray, say one for Rocky.

Adding a little bling to the blog

Last week I created a favicon for my blog.  How do you like it?

What is a favicon you ask?

Really?

Okay, I didn't know what they were before last week either, but lets pretend I did.

It's like adding a little something-something extra to the blog.  Making your brand that much more recognizable.

See up there in the address line of my blog.  You should see a little KB preceding the address.  That's a favicon.  

I stumbled across a post for a web design site talking about key components to your site.  The favicon was one of the things I had never heard about.  But I started to play with the idea of creating my own.  I knew what they were because I had seem them all over the web but had no idea what they were called. 

After some more fun research and begging, pleading and bribing IT Guy I stumbled upon a site that offered up a way to create one for free.  And you know I love me some free stuff.

So now the question is; do you like it?  Chances are you would never have noticed it had I not pointed it out, but lets just pretend you did notice it.  Is the KB pretty clear?  Do you think the colors are good?  Just a little feedback so I can get it tweaked.

Also just an FYI.  If you decide to play around with a favicon and add one to your blog it takes a couple of days for it to show up after you have uploaded it.  Originally I thought I had done something wrong until I learned that it can take sometimes two or three days for the favicon to show up.

Bookhungy: Needed a Saltwater Fix

Bookhungry spent this month on the high seas.

Our selection come from Ms. Karla Nellenbach over at The Last Word

We reviewed Tawna Fenske's debut novel Making Waves.

I spent a Saturday reading this delicious tale about a crew of dysfunctional pirates, a crazy cook and one quirky heroine. 

The blurb from amazon reads as follows:

She always wanted to belong...just not to a dysfunctional pirate crew

Juli has trouble fitting in, though she'd prefer to keep the reasons to herself. But when she mistakenly stows away on a ship of misfit corporate castoffs, her own secrets become the least of her concerns.

He knows plotting a diamond heist may be considered unusual behavior...

But Alex isn't feeling very normal when his unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb. Meeting Juli doesn't do much to restore normalcy to Alex's life either, but it sure is exhilarating!
As Alex and Juli bare their secrets-and a whole lot more-they find that while normal is nice, weird can be wonderful.

This book was a satisfying read from start to finish.   Kind of like watching a hurricane name Juli run roughshod over an unsuspecting man on a mission.  The plot of this book was original and the hilarity that ensures is sure to keep you laughing through the entire story. 

A funny thing happened to Juli on her way to spread her Uncle's ashes.  Yep, that's a good way to start this review.  Add in a wacky rendition of the Newlywed Game, an allergic reaction to some seasickness medication, a couple of pirates a boat loaded with diamonds and you got yourself a madcap laugh-yourself-silly story that only Tawna could tell.

But don't take my word for it...read it for yourself.  This is one read you don't want to miss.

Sometimes it's the little things

A few months ago when we were in Miami I found a magazine that I fell in love with.

It's called Olive.

I had desperately wanted to get myself a subscription to this magazine but since it's a British publication was having a difficult time.  At least until I found it on Amazon.  The only problem was they wanted $134.00 for a one year subscription. 

Yes, really.

Hello, I didn't like the magazine that much!

So imagine my surprise last night as I was pursuing the internet looking for fun and funky new apps when I stumbled across a magazine app that allows me to buy my favorites in a digital format. 

And they offered Olive.

O.M.G.

Guess what I am doing today?  I am taking a much needed day off to lounge by the pool and catch up on my magazine reading.  No only was I able to buy a new yearly subscription but, I was also able to purchase back copies of the magazine as well.

In case your wondering the app is Zinio and it's free (one of my favorite words when it comes to apps).  The subscriptions aren't.  I'm okay with that though, because if I could I would have purchased the printed version.  This way I save some money and make my carbon footprint just a little bit smaller.  God, I love technology.

Happy Birthday BookHungry

This month BookHungry turns One.  Okay it was technically last month as we formed the book club in July of last year.  But since our first review was in August I'm going with August.

How cool is that?  

A year ago during a twitterfest session with some of my favorite tweeps an idea was born.  It was quite brilliant in its simplicity.  We enjoyed sharing we all loved to read so why not start a book club.  Of course this book club wouldn't be your normal type.  

We weren't going to take turns hosting dinner or debating over who should bring the wine.  In fact I had never met any of the other book club literary lovers since we all cover different areas of the United States there was definitely a challenge here.

But one we were willing to rise to.

And rise we did.

Through emails and blogs we have managed to "meet" to discuss our selections and debate what we did or didn't like about each title.  And let me tell you it has been interesting. Every month a new member brings their selection to the table.  We read and discuss and every third Thursday of the month we post our review via our own blogs.  

But last night we introduced a game changer.  And I think it was appropriate that it happened now.  Right when we are turning a year old, growing and changing.  We conference called with each other and this months book selection author.  It was awesome.  The best part was after this months author left the line the Bookhungry ladies stayed on the call for another thirty minutes just chatting.

I for one am hoping this becomes part of our monthly norm.  I realize we won't always be able to have said book author join us, but after last night we're sure gonna try.     

So Happy Birthday BookHungry and thank you to all the ladies of Bookhungry.  You give me something to look forward to each and every month.  

Going the Distance

I had a conversation with a lovely young women that has met that special someone.  She is in love.  For years she has been asking me how did I know?  When I met the Captain, how did I know he was the one?

Like any smart women I went with the standard patent answer; you just do.

Because really, that is how it worked.

She laughed.  And went on to explain why that couldn't possibly be the right answer.  First of all there had to be something that attracted me to him?  Well duh, of course there was.  His chiseled good looks.  Those electric eyes that look like blue flames when he is in an amorous mood.  That smoking hot body.  That's right I said it, boy's butt is so tight you can bounce a quarter off it. 

Too much information?

Seriously, it wasn't just his good looks that convinced me he was the man of my dreams.  The one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  Quite simply, it was how I felt in his company.  That magic, make-my-heart-beat-at-the-speed-of-light-think-I-could-fly feeling that started that day some twenty years ago and has never left.

Then she asked if I knew why I was one of the lucky ones.  Lucky ones?  What?  You know, how some women are lucky enough to find that one person they are meant to spend the rest of their lives with?  How did I get to be one of those women?  Honestly, I don't consider myself lucky.  I consider myself a hard worker and lets be clear here, marriage is the hardest job you'll ever have. 

Recently another friend said if she had met her husband later in life and not when she was twenty, she doesn't know if she would have been so courageous to have leaped.  Me, I think I agreed for about a minute.  Then I remembered that no one has ever loved, challenged, encouraged, infuriated, supported and exhilarated me all at the same time quite like the Captain has.  

And in the end love is ALWAYS worth the risk.  

Something to sink your teeth into

Today I had a dental appointment.  I had to get a crown delivered.

Why do they say it that way?  And by they I mean everyone in my dentist's office.

Receptionist at dentist office, "Good Morning Ms. Breakey, I see your here for your crown delivery."

That's a little freaky for me.  Your taking out the temporary and installing the permanent one.  How are you delivering anything during this process?  And if you are delivering something during this process how come I'm the one in all the pain?  

These are the things I ponder.  

And it does hurt.  

Okay the deliver part didn't actually hurt.  Doh, now they have me doing it.  No while I was in there getting delivery of one I had to have two more teeth prepped for another delivery.  Or would that be deliveries?  No clue.

They shaved the teeth down and let me look at them.  I really wish I could delete that visual from my brain.  It totally grossed me out.  I will have dreams that this is how I now look, I know it.

Then I got a look at the instruments on the tray.  Some of that stuff was more intimidating than what my gyno uses.  Seriously.

By the way if this write up doesn't make sense I have a perfectly good explanation.  I'm on pain meds.  

Whipped into a frenzy

Life seems to be moving at the speed of light lately.

And I gotta tell you I don't like it.

I'm the kinda gal who likes to stop and smell the roses but at the rate in which things are going I don't even recognize the roses lately.  Instead I have been wearing the rose scented perfume.  Yeah, its a little like cheating.  But it makes me feel better.  

Monday night we had a hellish storm come rolling through.  There was lightning dancing across the sky and water was being dumped on us at a rate that was reminiscent with the water falls I had experienced in Jamaica.  It was stunning to watch from the inside of our home. 

But like foreplay the best part of the storm was right before.

The sky started to darken and the clouds started to rise.  There were flashes of light high up in the tops, in the lightest part.  I watched as the palm trees started to sway to music only mother nature could provide and only they could hear.  As the pace started to increase and the clouds changed their direction, diving away from each other and rolling out like dark ominous waves about to crash down on us, I couldn't help but stand right there and watch.  

It was amazing and it was beautiful.  Reminding me of how small I really am.  Then the rain started lashing out as if to say, "you idiots, get into the house" and the lighting streaks were no longer shooting up toward the heavens but snaking down toward the ground.  We were directly in their path.  Finally we listened and headed into the house.  

But right before we closed the door I could have swore I smelled...no it wasn't roses.  But that would have been ironic huh?  No instead, I smelled the grass as it started to drink the rain.  One of my favorite smells.  Reminds me why I love summer so much.  Who needs roses anyway? 

Cheer me up Charlie

Because he makes me smile.  Every. Time.

It has been decided.  When I die I want to come back as one of my cats.  They have the perfect life.  And quite frankly, I am jealous.

This is Charlie...and he is taking his afternoon Siesta.  He does it every day at the same time and in the same place.

Jealous, right?

Getting my Read on!

Today's Friday and I am sooooooooooooooo glad.  

This week has been super-crazy-busy-nuts!  That should really be capitalized.  But I am just too tired to worry about it.

Work has been gangbuster.  Things are starting to pick up which is good news for the company but means that I am burning my candle at both ends.  And let me just say that I am pretty entertaining when my hair catches fire, not when my nether regions do.  Let's just say; it ain't pretty.

There are like 100 things on NetFlix I want to be streaming to my TV and watching but I am too busy for that right now and by the time I have the time to watch it NetFlix will no longer be offering these title for stream.  Wait, did that make sense?  Whatever...too tired to worry that as well.

I have about 1000 books in my TBR pile that keeps getting bigger and bigger and the time I get to spend with said pile keeps getting smaller and smaller.  Of course my TBR pile is actually all of the titles that I have downloaded to my kindle but have yet to read.  

Yes people 1000 is a large number and I have many interest and diverse taste in subjects and authors so when I say 1000 I mean 42.  I know this because I counted.  Good God, when I am going to find the time to read 42 books that I am sure will have grown before the end of the day because something else will have snared my attention.

So this weekend I'm thinking it's going to be all about me.  I am going to spend some quality time alone.  Hanging by the pool with my kindle and reading.  I am going to finish at least three books this weekend or hurt myself trying.  

Wish me luck. 

I'll never see a bicycle the same

Here's what I got for video Thursday.

Say what you will...but this was pretty amazing even using spotters.

I can't even dance in sync with my hip hop abs DVD.  No way in hell could I ever do this.

AquaPalooza was AquaFabulous

Saturday we spent the day on the boat.

Gasp!  Shock! 

I know.  You can't believe that I spent a whole day out on the water.  

Anyway, this is a story I want to share with you guys...but I think I want to do it in pictures.

So here they go.

It was a great day.  Okay, the hamburgers they served were a little to raw for me, but Nae' liked them.

That's what friends are for...

I've started a new tradition.

I like tradition.  I'm a big fan.  Every year at Thanksgiving we fry our turkey.  And at Christmas time I put up four trees and no that is not excessive.  When the Captain has a birthday he gets to wear a crown.  Come on, I have to let him be king for at least a day.  For my birthday every year the Captain treats me to a wonderful lunch at my favorite restaurant.  

See, tradition.  I like them.  So now lets talk about my new one.

From now on; instead of buying gifts for my girlfriends when their birthdays roll around I'm doing something out of the ordinary.  I'm buying a gift for myself.

Blows. Your. Mind.  Right?

I know what your thinking.  This could be a new trend and I always wanted to be a trend-setter. 

At the end of July Muffy had a birthday.  She turned 27.  Again.  I wrote about it here.

Since I posted I received the shoes and here is what they look like on. 

Pretty smokin' hot don'tcha think?  Yeah, they kill but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do for this look.

Well yesterday; another friend had a birthday.  Angie...I  think she turned 30.  Again.

So in honor of her birthday I decided to celebrate with another pair of shoes for myself. See, tradition.  I'm loving this new idea. 

Here is what they look like.  

Yeah, I like these too.  So Happy Birthday Angie.  Hope it was a good one and just know that every time I wear these...well I'll just be looking hot, hot, hot.

And I just love that.