Harry Potter Mania

So the other night I finished my re-reading of all the Harry Potter books. It is amazing how much I had forgotten. And you would think it would be the first ones that I had forgotten the most. But it wasn't. It was the year 4-6 that I was just amazed how much I missed the first time through. I think it was that I wanted to know so badly how they ended that I glanced over many parts. And now that year 7 - Deathly Hallows is what, 29 days, away (I didn't know that number off the top of my head, I had to head to MuggleNet, a premier Harry Potter fan site to look at the clocks at the top ticking off time till the movie and the book release) I had to come into the final book with a clear understanding of the many plot lines. It's not just about who dies at the end, but why so many things happened. But I feel like I have to give up reading the Internet for the next month. I don't want to read about people posting hacked endings to the book. I don't want someone else to tell me how it ends. I want to find out. So I think I will have to carefully tread through the Internet, a slowly open certain parts of the paper to make sure I don't find out.

I know it's a children's series, but it's solid reading that's a lot of fun. And I am here to admit that at the moment I am caught up in the hype. I'm ready to see Order of the Phoenix (in Imax of course!) and shortly after, to buy my copy of Harry Potter first thing in the morning so I can take it work and read it at lunchtime. People may laugh...but I don't care. I'm ready!

Happy Belated Birthday Babies....

So the Quads turned 1 a few weeks ago. I don't know if you remembered my mention of my cousin's wife gave birth to twins less than two years ago and followed them up with quads. These lovelies above are the Motter Quads. I wish I knew which was which (I haven't had the chance to meet them personally) but they are: Connor, Elizabeth, Grace, and Dylan.

So happy birthday Motters!

Tropical Storm Barry

So we were took a direct hit from Tropical Storm Barry today. And were we ever pleased. Rain has been in very short supply here in Florida. It was more than a month since we had any rain. Even the stinking weeds were shriveling up. I wasn't even going to try to plant anything - I've learned that working against Mother Nature just does NOT work. The eye came directly over my county. It was very strange. It was raining and then suddenly there was blue sky. It was lovely.

Barry is the kind of storm we'd take here any day. But I know I don't want to tempt fate. The experts keep saying we are going to have a very active season and that Central Florida's time is coming. I hope Barry was our tropical brush of the year. I really do. Thinking about something worse gets my stomach all out of shape. It's just scary stuff.

On another topic, I'm writing this blog entry from my buddy Aaron's laptop. He was reading this blog early on and often gave me grief when the space wasn't changing much. So I think it's pretty cool that I'm working from here. I'm not going to try to add a picture. I'm not too good without a mouse since I rarely use a laptop. Hi Aaron! :-)

A Quiet Week

My hubby took a trip out west to visit his friend Mike in Vegas. Well, there was also the side trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe, which to his surprise was all of 30 degrees one morning forcing him to buy an over-priced sweatshirt.

I had all these plans this week to do while he is away. But with work kicking my butt as it is, I've been exhausted and very happy to watch a movie, read a book and get to bed early.

But it's lonely. There have been days this week when I really needed a hug, a neck rub to get the tension out and just someone there to listen. I am actually looking forward to his return. Not only because I don't love cleaning the cat's litter box, or that I miss the coffee he makes every morning or his nagging me in the morning to get out of bed (not so much the last one :-) or the presence of him somewhere in the house and I just know he's there. Wow - that got sappy real quick. But it's how I'm feeling.

Saturday night I'll be a happier woman.

Rest in Peace Peps

I never had the chance to meet my grandfathers. Both were gone before I was born. But I have been blessed to know many other peoples grandfathers and today a great one passed away. Peps had a quick wit, a biting sense of humor, love for the Red Sox (I didn't hold it against him), and a greater love for his family. Earlier this week he told his daughter-in-law his gift for his wife on Mother's Day would be him being home with her. He knew his time was short. And shortly after four this afternoon, he went home to his beloved wife and God. Peps, I am so blessed to have known you. And I am blessed to have been there when you left your earthly family. God Speed. Here's a prayer I offer for you.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Off to the North...

Tomorrow night we head way north to Jacksonville to celebrate the graduation of my brother-in-law Greg. So in my head it's Thursday night. I'm ready to go! Sometimes it is just nice to get away a little. To not think about how dirty my home is and that my Mom-in-law will be taking care of the kitty and thinking, how dirty my home is.

Anyways...I'm sure there's lots of fun to be had. I will have my camera at the ready!

2007 Park Tour Continues

We continued our Pinellas County Park tour at the Boga Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole. I was interested in seeing the nature sculptures that had been installed, but we were also interested getting out on a Sunday afternoon, getting some exercise and seeing a slice of our county that we haven't explored. Below is my favorite of the sculptures. They weren't named, but I think she might be mother nature. Her hair was pine cones, she had a map of the world on her back and her dress was made of humanity's hands. Pretty cool I thought. And I thought like she was holding onto the tree for dear life, as if trying to save it.

While I came for the sculptures, I loved this park for it's pristine landscape on the inter coastal waterway. There were meandering boardwalks that take you by mangroves, and when you get off the path you can walk up to the water and find legions of crabs like below.

What was really cool was as you were wandering the paths you really forgot you were surrounded by development. It was quiet, minus the sounds of people having fun and nature. You really could spend a day out there. With the trails, dog park, fishing, playgrounds and lots of trees to relax under, this small piece of paradise, we are lucky in Pinellas County that they didn't bulldoze it and put up a parking lot.

Life Intimidating Art? Or the Other Way?

These are two of the Dilbert comic strips that ran today and yesterday. I read them both and burst out laughing. The more I work in the corporate world, the more I understand this comic strip. And this week, I feel like the strip is my life. For most of 9 hours, five days a week, I'm sitting in a chair, and I feel like I have developed a case of "chair buttocks" to go with my typers elbow and hands. Unless you sit at a computer all day you'd never guess the soreness that can come with sitting and typing a lot. And here I am at home, sitting and typing. Gotta go and sit and eat some dinner...

Words heard around the waterin' hole...

Recently my boss was overheard saying he was "stirrin' up the monkeys." Or causing trouble, I guess. For some reason that stuck with me and I think I shall steal it. So here I am ready to stir up them monkeys... now I just need to find something that deserves such a catch-phrase!

Lucky Number 700

This is Sarah Says 700th post. I can't believe I've had that many. It just seemed like yesterday that I joined the Blog sphere. Wow. I am impressed that I'll still doing this. I've kinda had a blog renaissance. I just enjoy a little creative writing. It's my only outlet really. I do wonder who is reading this stuff though. Maybe it's only a few of you, but thank you for doing it. And now, in honor of 700 posts, here's my 700 Haiku:

Seven hundred posts.

My life is between these lines.

Anyone out there?

Shalom

This past weekend my cousins children were baptized into the Catholic Church.

Brad (pictured on top) and Cody (on the bottom) sons of David and Kim got slightly wet - OK - that wouldn't be correct. They got pretty darn wet.

My Aunt Pat tells us she was very touched by the entire process.



I just wanted to offer my congratulations - or Shalom which in Hebrew is a very powerful blessing/prayer for peace, for completeness, wholeness. And this baptism brings wholeness to them.
Cody and Brad - Shalom!

Happy Birthday to Jooeee!!

I want to send out a very big Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law Joe. Today he turned the BIG 26. Yes, today he is officially closer to 30 than 20.

This picture was from yesterday as we celebrated with him before he and my sister took off for home in Jacksonville. It was his birthday tour. He had cake on Friday at work, a baseball game on Saturday (as well as golf with the menfolk) and cake yesterday. There was even some leftovers for him to take home for a some cake for tonight.

So once again Joe, hope your big day was great!

You know it's Easter-time when...

When the heavenly smell of cinnamon rolls/tea rings fill my Mom and Dad's home. Yesterday I made the all-important rolls, they are easier to split than the tea rings.

There are few things that take me back to childhood more than the smell of these pasteries. They are only made two times a year - Christmas and Easter.

Not that they are hard to make. In fact - they are really easy. It's just that they are so special because we only have them twice a year.

Yum.

Three Days of Rememberence

Catholics are in the midst of the Easter Triduum. That is the three days that lead up to Easter. Holy Thursday (the celebration of the Last Supper which instituted two sacrements of the church, the Eucharist - "This is my body, this is my blood" and Holy Orders "Do this in remembrance of me.") Good Friday, the only day of the year when no mass is said where the church grieves the loss of Christ - where there is no celebration that is associated with mass. And finally Holy Saturday - which culminates in the Easter Vigil, the most high mass of the year. Where out of darkness (mass cannot begin until the sun sets) a light comes forth in the form of Jesus' resurrection.

These are the most holy times for the church. Ancient traditions continue that have gone on for two thousand years such as the songs that are sung and words that are read.

Today we grieve, but soon we rejoice. Amen I say to you.

I believe.

2007 Park Tour Begins

Laszlo and I visited Sawgrass Park in St. Petersburg yesterday. I was there once before that I remember when my good friends Kathy and Dave chose the park to get married. It was a very different day as Hurricane Frances was clobbering many parts of Florida at the same time and we were only hours away from rain and wind.

We decided it would be nice to take a walk outside while the weather is comfy and check out one of the local parks we had little experience with.

The small park does have lots to offer. From meandering boardwalks that showcase Florida's nature to hills and picnic benches where you can chill out and have a nice afternoon.

I really enjoyed the Oak Hammock trail which we found few people enjoying. There were lots of side trails that the adventurous could take.

The biggest downside? The park sits right next to Interstate 275. And in many areas you are very aware of it.

Even with the roar of a busy highway, it is still nice to be able to see nature in the middle of a very crowded county. And all the wildlife too. This alligator was taking a break from the sun under the outlook tower. And we saw many birds, spiders, turtles and fish.

I think I want to make it to more of the areas parks. So this really kicks off our tour. Laszlo gets to chose the next one since I chose this one. In such a tiny county you might be surprised how many parks there are.

Let me know of any suggestions for where we need to visit in the Tampa Bay area. We're up for it!

A Flower and Some Thoughts

I took this picture of a hibuscus flower out front last night. I've always thought they were lovely flowers. With their showey colors and broad leaves. At the same time I always thought them a little sad. These beautiful flowers are here for only one day. By morning they are curled back up getting ready to fall away from the plant.

I liken it to our lives. We are young and beautiful for only a short while really and then we too fade away, only to be replaced by another young and beautiful one. But the most important thing really is that we are alive and that we should take advantage of the time we have here. To show the beauty that we have inside to every one we can. And to stop making excuses why tomorrow would be a better time to do things you keep putting off. Who knows when your flower will fade?

OK, enough philosophy for one day. Just do what Nike's been telling us for years.

Just Do It.

Spring Training in St. Pete

I attended a Tampa Bay Revil Rays spring traininf game on Saturday. It was my employee day at the ballpark so I brought along the hubby, my parents and my Aunt Pat and Uncle Tony who are visiting from Ft. Wayne, Ind.

There could be some newer parks that may be more high-tech and more comfy, but Al Lang Field at Progress Energy Park is a great one. It is intimate, every seat is good, easy to access and the view, as you can see by the photo to the left is spectacular.
I also attended part of a game on Tuesday with my team at work. It is fun to see so many workers from downtown taking a "five-inning lunch." But heck, it's spring training, and playing a little hookie from work isn't that bad. And in the 5th inning, the Rays hit in 6 runs. So it was also extra entertaining.

I may go on Saturday to watch the Rays take on the Red Sox. The only problem with those games is the amount of people rooting for the other team. It is like the Rays are playing out of town rather than a few miles from the stadium they play in the regular season. But the seats are really good, and free. Even if it's only for a few innings, spring training lasts only so long and you have to take advantage of it while you can.

Borat Funny? Notsomuch...

So we watched the Borat movie last night on DVD. I wasn't sure what to expect. I had seen the promos and his schtick on some of the talk shows.

I knew it was be crass, vulgar, and rude. It was disturbing. It showed American's trying to welcome a foreigner and honestly help him understand this country.

He made fun of them, insulted them, broke their things and is getting paid lots of money off of their pain.

OK. The college guys and the old guy at the rodeo should have kept their mouths shut, they were just dumb. I just didn't see the humor. And I felt bad for many of the victims. And oh my, I really didn't need to see Sasha and his side-kick running around naked. And what is it with Sasha showing men's genitals but not his own? I don't get it.

I think that is what I am coming down to with this movie. I just don't get it.

On the bright side, we saw Garden State with Zack Braff. I have to say I really enjoyed it. I was impressed his his first foray into writing and directing. And the music was awesome. It's a little rough, but I liked the depth.

Any suggestions for our movie-to-see list? We are really behind and trying to remember all the movies we've missed is hard. I'll try anything - minus really gross horror flicks. I don't need that at all.

A Haiku on Oak Tree Pollen

Little orange wisps

Float down from my neighbors tree

A southern blizzard.

My car is orange with some blue showing from beneath. My driveway is lined with orange fuzzy "drifts" of oak tree pollen. And my nose itches. Ahh, it is Springtime in Florida. I don't go by the calendar to tell me when Spring is here, I wait for the oak trees to lose their leaves and to become heavy with orange pollen and everything around to be covered in the stuff. But heck, the sky is blue, the temperatures about 80 so I can't complain. Although I'll be glad to stop sneezing and I refuse to wash my car until the stuff stops falling. It's only an exercise in futility otherwise.

On a Clear Day I Can See Forever

I recently moved into a new building at work. Before I spent more than 8 hours in the middle of a depressing building with the closest natural light wayyy down a hall, I'd have to squint to see the window.

But now I can turn my chair around and see the world outside. In distance the Sunshine Skyway, or Tampa Bay or on a clear day the other side of Pinellas County on the Gulf of Mexico.

It is wonderful. Natural light really does wonders for a person. I had missed it terribly since leaving my last job where there were floor-to-ceiling windows every where.

And it is cool when the sea fog is dense. A week ago I came into work and looked out the window and could see nothing. Just dense fog. Which was really neat. I really like fog.

But right now it's blue sky's, blue water and views as far as I can see.

On another topic, the hubby and I have signed up for Blockbuster on-line. We rarely see movies, they cost a lot and our timing seems to always be off in getting there. So we thought this would allow us to catch up a little. Since yesterday we have seen the Aviator (which I actually HAD seem), which was really good, and The March of the Penguins which was awesome. I told hubby that would be a movie to be seen on a fancy TV because it was a beautifully filmed movie. Plus the documentaries that came on the DVD were as cool as the movie itself. If you haven't seen this movie, I would recommend it. Besides being beautiful, it is fascinating.