another day gone in the speed of light.....

How is it that life can pass buy so slowly at times yet speed by as if it were the Indianapolis 500 Grand Speedway at other times? It just seems that the days go faster and faster when I'm just moving on trying to keep up. Today was an ordinary day like any other, though I did sleep in a bit later than usual, but it's catch up time on sleep that I loose trying to keep up with my homework and to squeeze in time keeping updated on emails and the latest digiscrap stuff. Callie wanted to spend a day with her friend. I can't believe that she is growing up so fast...did I mention she promised to stay 4 forever, she'll be 14 next month!! I won't let her cross the street, but I did give her permission to take the public transportation to the Mall. I thought that was rather brave of me. I have to give her some freedom, she is after all, my baby....She looked so beautiful today, a slight hint of make-up on and her hair done, and co-ordinated clothing....sigh, I'm just not ready for this....I've been through it all before, it's just a few blinks of the old eyelashes and it's a drivers license and off to college! I think I better put on my safety belt, since I think this is going to be the fastest 4 years of my life!!!

I did go and work out...I'm getting this down pretty well. The switch from Curves to the Gym was a bit of a transition, but I'm plodding along. I've got a bit of a routine going now. I do the bike for 35 minutes so I can burn over 200 calories, I'm up to an 8 level and I do sweat....eeeeeewwwwwww! And then I do 45 minutes on the equipment some days I focus more on the arms others more on the legs, but it all gets covered. I'm getting more comfortable with this arrangement. I'm going to be brave and take a spin class with one of my friends...it's been a while, remember my past experience? ;-)

The icing on the cake (du glaçage sous la cerise) so to speak, was meeting the GLF's for dinner and cathching up. It's been awhile since I've seen them (several months ago we met and celebrated Christmas...see how fast life goes by). It is so much fun. My sides end up hurting we laugh so much. Of course, we solve the worlds issues in just a matter of hours. It's been long over due for a girls trip so plans must be made for another adventure! I was treated to Panera for dinner and I got some awesomely wonderful birthday gifts. They have such good taste! Good friends certainly make life joyful! Judi and Debbie, you're the best!!

And so another month draws to a close. I have a new desktop digi calandar to work on. This keeps my skills up and I get to learn new skills so that I can eventually put my collection of digi-scrapbooking supplies to good use, and it keeps me some what creative.

A Fun Day!

Today was a Fun day. I left early this morning to drive up and get Callie from Camp. We went shopping and had lunch and then went to Highlands Hammock State Park.It was rated as one of the nicest parks in the country. I've been by this park many times and decided, why not stop. Well wouldn't you know that sometime ago Callie went to this park! It was very nice, there are examples of all times of flora and fauna. We enjoyed the walk on the boardwalk in the swamp area. We saw some cool bugs. One was a colorful grasshopper type bug and then there were dragon flies all around and we got some close up pictures of them. Part of the walk was unnerving because there as a low rail on one side and no rail on the other and the the walkway was only four skinny boards wide of course with space between them so that I was able to see the water with some type of creatures in it! My friend Lisa called as I got to a nice spot with a bench, we talked for a bit and off we went to finish the walk. By the end of this we were sweating. We left, one of the neat things about driving in the park are the trees that are bent over the road! We stopped at DQ and then headed home. I try different ways all the time to get home and with a map (no GPS) we took some county roads home and got some great pictures of cows! Yes cows! Big farming areas. We went and made a quick stop to show Callie where her school is. Once home it was back into the mundane tasks of unpacking and doing laundry, as for me...homework! Please keep my family in your prayers. God Bless!

Ave Maria

Ava Maria is the newest community with a University. It has been in the planning stages for quite a while and now is actually coming together very nicely. In the center by the University is the Oratory (a building set apart for private prayer)and it is surrounded by the La Piazza which has shops, which is really nice because one can walk and enjoy the 17,000 acres of preserved ground. There is a small water park, tennis courts, schools, and several housing developments, golf course, etc. I was impressed. I particularly liked the homes with a front porch. The town was a collaboration of Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza and chairman of the Ave Maria Foundation, dreamed of creating the first major Catholic university in the United States in more than 40 years and the Barron Collier Companies.
The church is made of steel and has one a national award for design. It is made up of 1,270 tons most of steel which is exposed inside and outside the building! It really is amazing! It cost 24 million!!! The 65 foot crucifix is still in the making will be to the left of the church will be made of red tinted glass and aluminium! While we were walking around the clouds came in and big gusts of winds whipped through knocking over chairs at The Bean. Then lightning and downpours as we left. So much for the Sunshine State!

Birthdays....

I think the older I get the more uncertain I am about this birthday thing. Basically my issue is that it's a number and it doesn't represent who I am, just that I'm older. I don't want to be older!!! Did anyone ask me if I wanted to increase my numbers? It's sort of like the "weight" number, I don't like that one either...maybe I just don't like numbers! Birthdays are like anniversaries, a remembrance of an occasion....

Some interesting things happened on this day:
On July 9, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment became part of the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing all citizens “equal protection of the laws.”
A Tsunami, where giant waves rose to a maximum height of 1,720 feet (516 m) at the head of Lituya Bay, Alaska on July 9, 1958, were generated by a combination of disturbances triggered by a large, 8.3 magnitude earthquake along the Fairweather fault.
There are several famous people born on this day like Tom Hanks.

The best things that happen with birthdays is getting greetings from family and friends. It doesn't matter how far away they are, or what they're doing, they stop and take the time to remember you! I woke to coffee and a Panara's bear claw! Family has been contacting me over the past week...very special! My friends Liz and Candy made my day special by taking me out to dinner and out did themselves with gifts...the best gift is the gift of friendship! They took me to the Elephant Bar and the food was wonderful! The dessert was enormous!!! Lisa called and is arranging something at a shop here in town...hmmmm sneaky!
The day continued with going out to Gasparilla Island and Boca Grand. It is lovely, very peaceful! I enjoyed the beach! Dinner was in Punta Gorda at River City Grill, good food as always. Punta Gorda is coming back after all the damage it suffered from Hurricane Charley. The economy is slow, so some businesses are closed for the summer.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I won't add numbers to my age, I think that I'll pick and age and stay with it, of course that may vary depending on how I'm feeling or my mood, it'll be at my discretion! So that could be anywhere from 28 to 100 depending on the day ;-) however, each day is a milestone, getting through, doing ones best, being productive, having a good laugh....I'd like to travel more often, have time to read a book (not homework!!!), spend more time on hobbies, and just plain having fun. So here's to all the birthdays past, present, and future to a good life, family, friends, humor, joy, love, CHEERS!!!

Sight seeing....

Okay, so it's summertime and I'm antsy and want to get away, but it's not a particularly good time with school and economic conditions. Day trips to get away and sight see help to break the monotony. Today we were taking Callie to camp again, so we decided to throw in a little road trip to Lake Wales. A couple of years ago we attempted going to Bok Tower Gardens and Sanctuary, but it was late in the day, so we passed up on it. Today was the day. It was great weather and off we went. Mr. Edward Bok purchased the land which is the highest point in Florida and wanted to preserve it, he also had a winter home here. Fredrick Olmstead, Jr. designed the gardens. I love walking although my travel buddies (husband and daughter) weren't so thrilled with the idea walking, but they did. The gardens were lovely, and we found that we have several of the endangered plants in our yard at home! The Carillon (the singing tower) played music, it is so refreshing to hear the bells and familiar tunes. The views of the town were nice, I'm so glad there are still orange groves since many in the state have fallen prey to development. There were many butterflies and I captured a few in pictures. We left and headed to Spook Hill, it is one of those oddities of must do's....simple but fun, we did cross the white line and the car did roll back each time when in neutral! However, we were in fact rolling back uphill not downhill!!!
Loving old Florida and retro we were to have lunch at Chalet Suzanne. Now for years whenever we have passed the signs, I've always wanted to stop and eat there. Well this time we made it there, but the times changed and we missed brunch by 20 minutes! The buildings are very small and low ceilings, and there is an old musty smell (they have been taking in guests for over 70 years), though it remains very quaint. I'll have to go back!

Traveling along we came upon this sign for a motel....so OLD FLORIDA!!!! I love it! I've probably taken pictures of this very sign many times before...

With the daughter safely at camp we head home. There were a few clouds and sprinklings of rain, and enjoying the peaceful scenery including cows or steer (beef, it's whats for dinner!). Now home, it's back to reality and mundane tasks....I can't wait for the next Road Trip!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!

....Sweet Land of Liberty....we are blessed and should appreciate all that we have and remember those forefathers that led the way for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have today. Always remember and pray for the brave men and women of our armed forces that fight for our FREEDOMS everyday! Stars and Stripes forever!!!

Across the country friends and families will be gathered together for a summer Bar-B-Q and enjoy swimming, good food, fun, games, and even enjoy the peacefulness of lying in a hammock during the day while enjoying the colorful fireworks at night. I will be at work. I'm not sure how many of the 4th's I've had to work, but it's been quite a few. The odd thing is, we didn't plan today to have a picnic at work....unusual for us!

The kids will be in different places with friends. May everyone have a fun and safe day. God Bless America!!



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