Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday.  People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year.  And then discover once a year is way too often.  ~Johnny Carson

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelve minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coincidence.  ~Erma Bombeck

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.  ~Theodore Roosevelt

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It is really hard to tell when it’s Fall here in South Florida.  We had a few days of what I consider to be Fall weather and now…it feels like summer again.  It’s just strange to be in the middle of November and the high temperature is still in the mid 80s.  What’s it like elsewhere around the country where my friends and family are enjoying Fall? 

Let’s see… 

How are my friends in Fort Worth?  They’re wearing sweaters since it’s 57 degrees there!

Austin?  A lovely 62. 

What about Los Angeles?  66

Baltimore? 49

Nashville?  57

Las Vegas?  66

You get the idea.  It’s warm here – and there are no fall colors.  I really miss the oranges, golds, and even browns, that signify Autumn back in Texas and around the country. 

Today I saw an iguana run across the street. 

Maybe that’s a sign for Fall here in South Florida. 

As the wise, round-headed kid known as Charlie Brown would say, “AGH!” 

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted.  I really have no excuses.  I guess that’s a good thing…that means I’ve been really busy, right?  Nonetheless, I’m back today.  I will do a better job of posting – Scout’s honor!

I thought I’d create a list of 5 things I really want right now just to get things going. 

1.  COOL weather.  Apparently, a cool front will be here in sunny south Florida this weekend.  I can’t wait for highs in the low 80’s…  I know, you have no sympathy for me.  I live in Paradise, so I’ve heard.  Sure, if I lived in Fargo I would probably be hoping for a little sunny south Florida weather…but I don’t.  Therefore, I’ll wish for cool weather. 

2.  I really would like it if someone would come up with some no-calorie, no-fat, no-unhealthy-anything pizza.  Pizza is one of my favorite foods and I make it about as healthy as you can – using reduced fat cheese and lots of veggies…but sometimes, I just want the real thing.  It would be the same with hamburgers, fries – basically anything considered unhealthy or fattening but I won’t be greedy.  I’d just like a healthy pizza today.

3.  I’d really like a new car.  My 2005 Suburban is still fine, don’t get me wrong.  However, as long as I’m wishing…I’m wishing for a new car.  I want something a little sportier (wouldn’t that be basically any other car than a Suburban?) and something that wouldn’t guzzle so much gas.

4.  I would like Aggie, my almost-11-year-old daughter, to pick up after herself and put everything where it goes after she’s used it.  Oh, I almost forgot…without me asking!  That’s the clencher.  I ask and ask for her to pick things up.  It’s just her nature though.  She’s like Hansel and Gretel – wherever she goes, she leaves a trail behind her – only it’s not because she needs to find her way out of the forest. 

I have to add a disclaimer here.  Of course, I’d like world peace, as well as no more environmental pollution or polar ice deterioration, and even no more abused animals and children.  However, this is a “for fun” list…so there you go. 

5.  With that said, I’d like my own personal chef.  Sure, the chef could create meals (and healthy snacks) for the rest of the family – that would be fine.  Wouldn’t it be great to have someone do all of that thinking and preparing for you and your family?  What a time saver.  A girl can dream, can’t she?

Now that I’ve put together my list of 5, what are yours?  Come on…just give me 1!

(P.S.  The disclaimer applies to you too!)

Hope you get all the goodies you want on Halloween. 
Happy Trick-or-Treating!

(I have to be upbeat…it’s 90 degrees here. Those poor little trick-or-treaters are going to melt in their costumes!).

I think it’s time I took matters into my own hands, literally.  I’m going to have to grow my own vegetables…and maybe get a cow.  Here’s why:

dangerous foods

Unfortunately, I don’t have a particularly green thumb…nor do I have room in my back yard for a cow.   Now what?

This morning, I woke up as usual after 2 punches of the snooze alarm.  Still following my usual routine, I let the dogs go outside to take care of business while I filled their bowls inside.  It was then I heard the dogs making some terrible noises (in addition to a few barks here and there).  It wasn’t quite light outside yet, but I could Lucy jumping on the fence in the back yard as if she had something in her sight.  Jackson was behind Lucy, supporting her efforts with his guttural noises.  As I looked more closely, I saw what they were after.  It was a possum – about 1 1/2 feet long. 

photo source

What a sight!  That thing was frozen…but it wasn’t rolling over to play dead since it was precariously walking the tightrope top edge of the fence.  As Jackson (aka “the big dog”) jumped up on the fence, the possum decided it was time to move…or lose.

Lucy, the little dog, who started it all

Jackson, the big dog

The possum moved forward along the top of the fence until it was able to escape into some palm trees at the end of the line.  You never know what you’re going to see in you backyard here.  Now, THAT’S what I call “getting your morning going” …South Florida style!

It’s been a while since we had a visit in the pool by a giant iguana but we can hardly walk out the door without seeing lizards dash away to avoid our steps.  Our dog, Jackson, has come to love lizards.  Unfortunately, the lizards don’t love him.  They don’t have a chance against his relative Godzilla-like size and force.  Jackson simply cannot control himself when he spots a lizard though.  Lizards most hold the same attraction for dogs (well, at least Jackson) as does catnip does for cats.  Lucy, our younger dog, is interested in the lizards but is not obsessed like Jack.  I think she actually prefers watching Jackson chase the lizards.  She enjoys “hunting” squirrels and the occasional stray cat on the neighbor’s roof much more than the numerous tiny reptiles. 

Here’s how a typical day goes for Jackson. 

Jack thinks he has spotted a lizard  – note the intense gaze and initial panting as he prepares to dash outside.

Where is the lizard?

This is the poor little guy on the back left corner – how does Jackson even notice him?

I think Jack has doggie ADD – he’s already distracted by something else….but his attention eventually returns to the sofa and out the door he goes!

“I know I saw him…where did he go?”

“Was he in the basket?  Oh yeah, that was yesterday….”

“I’m getting the scent…he’s here somewhere!” 

“Getting warmer….” 

“This is it!  This is the spot – wait, where did he go?  I must be too late…what’s that over there?…”

“Wasn’t there a lizard here last week?  Let me look again…” 

“A little help, please?”

Here’s the best part – although I took these photos 45 minutes ago, Jack is still out there ‘hunting.”  I can at least say he knows how to entertain himself. 

(Please note:  No lizards were harmed in the making of this blog).

…in perfect harmony…  grow apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves…

Remember that song?  For me, it always brings back memories of the 1970’s commercial for Coca-Cola.   That is something Coke does well – marketing.

We participated in one of Coke’s more interesting marketing strategies while in Atlanta, Georgia recently – The World of Coca-Cola (aka The Coke Museum).  This is not a place to go if you dislike pop culture or Coke products.   On the other hand, it’s a fun place to explore and enjoy some memories.   However, it does feel as if you are walking through one giant Coke commercial, so be prepared.

my favorite pop art!

a little nostalgia

even the exterior is artistic

an ode to Texas

American Gothic, Coke-style

Have a Coke and a smile!

I can’t believe summer break is already over and school is back in session.  We took a vacation just a few short weeks ago to Atlanta and Nashville.  Actually it was a road trip from South Florida!  We had a great time on the drive there since it seemed to pass quickly. The drive back home was much different -it seemed to last forever.  I guess we were so excited to get to our destinations on the way to Georgia and Tennessee that time passed quickly.  

One of our favorite parts of our trip was the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.  It was just amazing.  The whale sharks are awesome.  If I remember correctly, there are 4 there.  They are enormous (17 – 22 feet long now) but are also so gentle.  I just stood there watching them for at least 20 minutes.  It was very relaxing to watch the tank where the whale sharks were.  First of all, it’s huge so there is no bad view.  Secondly, it’s just beautiful.  There is a variety of fish, rays, and sharks to watch as they swim around.  We timed it so that we could watch the feeding of the whale sharks which was very interesting.  I also enjoyed the beluga whales.  One of the volunteers told us that you can hear them communicating in the evenings or mornings when there are no visitors and they appear to watch the visitors as much as the visitors watch them!  I highly recommend this aquarium – I believe it is the top-rated aquarium in the nation.  

I thought I’d share a few of my favorite pictures from the aquarium.

cute little fish

hammerhead shark

a wobbegong shark

a whale shark

Awesome  – they really are gentle giants.

It’s blazing hot here in South Florida.  I think the high today is 93.  Now, 93 may now sound terribly hot (I’ve experience worse myself!)…but the humidity here is a killer!  I broke a sweat just walking out of Target today (how embarrassing).   Maybe I’m just ready for cooler weather but I know that will not be for a little while longer.  I am happy that Hurricane Bill has given us a pass so I think I’ll just try to stay positive. 

In an effort to feel cooler, I’m trying to think “cool.”  Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

Polar bears

Popsicles

Igloos

Margarita

Ice cream

Snow

Snow skiing

Ice skating

Iceland

Snowman

Snowballs

Glacier

Ice

What else???

I think I’m melting.