Presidential Politicing

Due to work, I was able to attend the Republican Presidential debate in St. Petersburg last night. I have to say it was a good time. It was fun just to people watch. From the national media, including the very svelte Anderson Cooper to tough-guy Chuck Norris (who has freakishly white teeth and is surprising short)to senators and representatives and the "executives" from UTube. But there were just lots of white middle-aged and older wealthy people. There was definitely lack of diversity.

One cool item, the back of my husbands and my head were on CNN. Kinda cool.

What I came away with was the knowledge that I know who I really really dislike and would never in a million years vote for. Namely Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. Yuck times 10. And I felt bad because I wanted to like John McCain. But the poor man just looked beat down, tired - heck I thought his coloring was a little on the gray side.

Anyhow, it was an interesting to watch. Interesting indeed.

Shoppers - Start Your Wallets

So Mom and I braved the retail world early this morning. We were at our first shop around 7:30 or so and finished before Noon. There were deals to be had - in fact there were a few gifts for myself along the way. Exciting things, drapes and two shirts. But I made a nice dent in the holiday shopping. I even got Hubby into the act by sending him to Target. Mom said she wasn't sure she wanted to go this year, but I told her it was tradition. That she could sleep in the afternoon. Happy Black Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm starting to change my take on Thanksgiving. I think this holiday has gotten the short shrift in the holiday season mix. Rather than people enjoying the day for what it is and really thinking about what they should be thankful for, people are putting up their Christmas decorations and thinking first and foremost what they will buying tomorrow morning. In the stores Christmas music has been playing for more than a month and finding something that looks like Autumn or with a turkey is not easy.

So take a moment to sit and really take stock of all the blessings you have in your life. I know I don't do that enough.

So I'm here to say that I have some pretty great things to be thankful for this year:

1. I am relatively healthy.
2. I am gainfully employed with good benefits and the chance to move up.
3. I am happily married to my best friend.
4. I live in a safe neighborhood in a cozy little home.
5. I have a great family - parents, sisters and brother-in-laws, not to mention all the aunts, uncles and cousins around the country.
6. I've got a core of wonderful friends who I can always rely on.
7. I was blessed so much that I was able to go on two vacations this year and see a little more of the world.
8. I'm thankful for my faith that keeps me grounded and helps me see that I should give thanks every day rather than only once a year. I want to strive to get gratitude more into my life.

So Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Take some time and really think about what you are thankful for. I bet it's more than you think.

Your Moment of Cat Zen

This was Tiger fast a sleep yesterday afternoon. Get your inner awwww on.

So Much Stuff..Where to Start

I have decided we have too much crap in this house. I am sure that at the time when we acquired a lot of it, it was really cool. But now, so much of it is shoved into closets where I can hardly find anything. And I am really beginning to understand I don't need lots of it.

So I am looking to go through it and decide what stays and goes. But it MUST happen. I am starting to understand I feel more restful when my surroundings aren't such a mess.

It's funny because I never thought I'd believe that. Messes used to never bother me. Maybe I am starting to finally understand it's not stuff that makes you happy. So I need to go through my stuff and keep only the stuff that I really love, the rest can find a new home where someone will love it.

Ooo! It's Chilly Outside!

So Winter came to the Tampa Bay area yesterday. It was may 65 today and tomorrow morning it is supposed to be in the lower 40s. Brr!

I love it!! It's an entirely new wardrobe. Jeans without sweating, a sweater, pajamas, slippers and maybe even a jacket in the morning.

I know there are many people up north who would laugh at me. That mid-60's is not cool enough for a sweater, let alone a jacket. But to those of us who have lived in Florida for a long time, this is cool. We Floridians will gladly pull out those heavier clothes, I'm sure tonight there will be people with hats, scarves and mittens outside. But hey, if we didn't do it now, when would we do it?

I know in a short time it will be warm again, but I'll take this while I can. Besides, all those Northerns laughing at me now, who is laughing in January when you are freezing and wishing the sun would just come out? Um, could it be me? :-)

Movie of Note

Last night we watched A Mighty Heart. It's the story of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered in Pakistan by terrorists I didn't know what to expect from it and I'm not a really big Angelina Jolie fan. But I have to say this movie was excellent and Jolie was great. I know, I can't believe I just typed that either. I just cannot imagine the pain Marianne Pearl went through and how she soldiered through the investigation and losing her husband eventually.

Plus, it reminds everyone the danger journalists around the world have and continue to face as there are many countries around the world that do not protect the rights, let alone the lives of journalists.

Anyways, what I am trying to say is go see this movie.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I wanted to take a moment to wish my Mom a very happy birthday today. We just had a little shin-dig where we celebrated it up. There was a lovely dinner, champagne and cake. Yum!

So happy birthday Mom. We love you!

One Thing Leads to Another

So it started innocently enough. I have been noticing that my six-year-old comforter was looking pretty shabby. Some of the seams were coming apart and it was faded and spotted. So I decided to get a new one. Along came my birthday and some Tar-gey gift cards and there was an opportunity to get a new one for a little bit of money. So $10 of my dollars later, I have a lovely new comforter set.

I finally got around to putting it on this morning. The bed looks great! And now everthing else looks old and shabby. First there needs to be new curtains - which makes sense since they are the wrong color now and they are more faded than the comforter was. But in the back of my head I am thinking, darn, this furniture looks so dated and I really don't like it any more. With that there's also thoughts of, I wonder what the walls would look like with a fresh coat of paint in the new color scheme I have created?

I think the new comforter has created a monster. And I have learned something today. Once you get something new, it makes your the rest of your shabby things look even shabbier.

Hmmm...the bathroom next to master is also looking bad...paint? New tile? What about a new shower door? No wonder Lowes and Home Depot are so successful!

Look Ma, No Wires!

So the Husband and I finally came into the 21st century this week. We now have wireless at home. Sp far I like it. I can sit here and surf the net and be sitting on the couch. And for work purposes I do not have to be chained to office. Although, in a sense, it makes it easier to become chained to the job because I can just open the laptop up and work whenever. So maybe that part isn't the best.

In other news, a belated Happy Birthday to my Dad. On Wednesday we celebrated the big day with him. Had lots of fun. So Happy Birthday Dad!

And Fall officially came to the Tampa Bay area. In fact it was about 50 in the morning yesterday. Cool enough that I should have not worn open-toed shoes to work. My toes out in the open were COLD!

Well - Happy Friday everyone!! And Laura, sorry I haven't been "saysing" enough for you. It's just when you sit in front of a computer all day, most days the last thing I want to do it type again. But now with the laptop and wireless..who knows??