tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61113712661229291312024-03-14T04:43:08.759-04:00Little Miss Sunshine StateI'm Over the Rainbow and every day something makes me say "Toto, we're not in Massachusetts anymore!"Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-76324120663546358602012-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:002012-09-13T00:18:20.844-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 13 #500 For My DadI do not believe in coincidence. I believe everything happens at the perfect time. Like this blog post.<br />
<br />
18 years ago today, my Dad died very unexpectedly. Today is my 500th blog post. Look at today's writing prompt...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who is someone you wish you could see again?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb9n20mvBtexk3koxC-cdelt0Yz1JFdVqomJWfNzUjYRXcSXAMDOnB85CRbSW36ueMS48_n1aqoya-yqzz5NoeVR3I9JkSegAH3SmYDYj2j4YtECnzoPYEw6lvWjU0mRNf8Vsm0L8Dsq9/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb9n20mvBtexk3koxC-cdelt0Yz1JFdVqomJWfNzUjYRXcSXAMDOnB85CRbSW36ueMS48_n1aqoya-yqzz5NoeVR3I9JkSegAH3SmYDYj2j4YtECnzoPYEw6lvWjU0mRNf8Vsm0L8Dsq9/s320/053.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first, it blew my mind and then it made perfect sense. Of course I would choose Dad.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://littlemisssunshinestate.blogspot.com/2009/06/things-i-learned-from-my-dad.html"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the post about what I learned from him. </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://littlemisssunshinestate.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-i-hate-september.html"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the post about the day he died </span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still miss him so much that it makes my heart hurt. When he died, my kids were 6 and 9. I would want to tell him all about the adults that they are now. He loved my kids so much and he would be proud of them. Especially the part about how kind they are. I would also tell him about my brother's kids.All 5 of them were born after he died.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want him to know that I read the Hemingway books, but just couldn't get through the C.S Lewis.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still listen to the CD's that I brought home after the funeral. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">He needs to know that Mom had a really hard time, but she deserves a T-shirt that says "You've come a long way, baby". She has become more independent than I ever thought she could be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">My high school friends still tell me things they liked about him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We still watch Jeopardy! every night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still make that awesome Stuffed Quahog recipe he taught me.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still tell people two of his favorite quotes..."The guy who graduated dead last in the Medical School class is still called Doctor" and "Hospitals are no place for sick people".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember when he used to call my pathetic Karmann Ghia "that little gem". (Imagine that comment followed by a sarcastic laugh). I can hear him every time I see one on the road.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">He never met Tigger or Lily, but he would love them, because he never met a cat he didn't like.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">On this anniversary, I'll be at Disney World. At some point during the day, I'm almost sure I'll see something that reminds me of him. I may smile through tears, but I will smile.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-43868003577694304222012-09-10T18:47:00.001-04:002012-09-10T18:49:48.592-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 10<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Different memories have different triggers for me.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mr Sunshine started smoking cigars and whenever he lights one it always makes me think of my grandfather. He smoked cigars the whole time I was growing up. My grandmother comes to mind when I'm making a French Meat Pie. I learned to make it from her. It's the smell of the spices. Christmas Tree pine takes me back to picking out the tree with my Dad every year. Carnations are my wedding day.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Certain pieces of music remind me of times I sang in church or school concerts. Classical music and Big Band music were Dad's favorites.He was in the military, so parade marches and patriotic music makes me think of him. Hearing Southern Gospel makes me think of Mom. Norah Jones is the Bank Of America Pavilion on the waterfront in Boston, James Taylor is the Providence Civic Center, Kenny Wayne Shepherd is the Mohegan Sun in CT and Eric Clapton is the Tweeter Center in Mansfield MA.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lobster with butter tastes like Cape Cod. Maple Syrup and Sharp Cheddar Cheese taste like Vermont.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fried Clams taste like Massachusetts. Monkey Bread and Omelettes taste like Christmas morning. Fireballs taste like the candy store stop on the way to high school marching band practice.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Petting Lily's soft kitty fur makes me think about Buddy and Miller and Tigger. I think of Mom when I'm rolling meatballs. Walking on soft white sand on the beach takes me right back to Cozumel.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wordsworth called memory the "inward eye." Are your memories more
sight-based, or do they concern sound, taste, touch, or smell<span style="font-size: large;">?</span></span></span></span></div>
Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-24370449274094518462012-09-07T10:19:00.001-04:002012-09-07T10:26:35.977-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 7Today's question: Are you okay with letting people see you cry?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozRuA5SSS86vljCND479zEccDFAPCLPrGEsj6egnQOKgjOFxR7aZUlEaZ915mfhaSVMJpvdYUyJ_KGsEJ4VI_83RapQFBy8gRyfBcljkEj9EgfwtpRbC_sXY27aNTvelYO40V_JPKvmnw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozRuA5SSS86vljCND479zEccDFAPCLPrGEsj6egnQOKgjOFxR7aZUlEaZ915mfhaSVMJpvdYUyJ_KGsEJ4VI_83RapQFBy8gRyfBcljkEj9EgfwtpRbC_sXY27aNTvelYO40V_JPKvmnw/s200/001.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Funny question. I've been crying for an hour and there's nobody home to see!<br />
<br />
Yesterday I was cleaning the floor behind the toilet. I was on my knees, lost my balance and cracked my head on the ceramic toilet paper roll holder. I had a medium-sized headache all day. Since I woke up this morning, I have been dizzy and slightly nauseous every time I move my head.<br />
<br />
Can you picture that on my medical records? THE KLUTZ PRINCESS GAVE HERSELF A CONCUSSION ON A TOILET PAPER HOLDER.<br />
<br />
At any given moment I'm a minute away from crying. I wear my emotions very close to the surface. When my Dad died suddenly,18 years ago, I think I cried every day for over a year. I want to cry if someone raises their voice at me, criticizes me, I'm hungry, I'm tired, I have a hangnail.<br />
<br />
I have learned to swallow my tears. It doesn't make me feel better to cry over small things and it just upsets the people around you.<br />
I'm also on a really good medication for anxiety/depression. Let's call it FUKITOL (that's what we call it in our house). It keeps me from crying over trivial things (we're out of peanut butter) but lets me release the tears when it seems important for me to get it out of my system.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfGJ0tpm2zuNo0SRNvn1kWT2_KNlM6H-p8t4eWo6tQVX9_Uowz8oCyJF_AAax9rskd0ANmy_do2p7lCjqx0gzw7YHySDHq0Z_H6UafPrrXkJYfnHY3Cijm4BRZca-ctrSZtFZeooQjW1S/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfGJ0tpm2zuNo0SRNvn1kWT2_KNlM6H-p8t4eWo6tQVX9_Uowz8oCyJF_AAax9rskd0ANmy_do2p7lCjqx0gzw7YHySDHq0Z_H6UafPrrXkJYfnHY3Cijm4BRZca-ctrSZtFZeooQjW1S/s200/002.JPG" width="194" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Like when I crack my head on the Toilet Paper Holder Of Doom.Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-51613368807981563662012-09-06T08:47:00.001-04:002012-09-06T08:47:35.543-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 6I'm a day behind! My internet connection was wonky yesterday.<br />
<br />
Today's question: Bob Marley asked: "<span class="huge">Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?" How would you answer him?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="huge">I feel like I've spent a big chunk of my adult life helping people. I raised two kids. After my Dad died, my Mom needed a lot of attention. I had a job doing home care for people with Alzheimers, dementia and a variety of physical illnesses. Some of my patients ended up being Hospice cases and I stayed with them through their final days.</span><br />
<span class="huge"><br /></span>
<span class="huge">When my kids were young, I was mostly a Stay-At-Home Mom. I was a Co-op Nursery School Mom, I taught 1st and 2nd graders at church and spent a lot of hours swimming in the car pool.</span><br />
<span class="huge"><br /></span>
<span class="huge">My brain was satisfied with the life I was living. Everyone told me I was blessed with a "caregiver gene". </span><br />
<span class="huge">I wasn't making a difference on a global level, but the people in my life knew I cared about them.</span><br />
<span class="huge">On a local level, I put in a few hours at a food pantry and the county volunteer services.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="huge">The only person I wasn't caring for was myself. I have Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. I haven't experienced a day without pain since 1980. I finally ended up weeping at a therapist's office. She asked me to list all the people I take care of and pointed out to me that I wasn't even on the list.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="huge">Fast forward to Dec of 2010. I put myself on the top of the list. I quit working. I take care of myself. I'm 55 and my "caregiving" consists of making sure my husband and daughter have clean clothes. I pick up their prescriptions and cook (most days). Next week, my son is moving in with us and I'll have another person to take care of (He's in need of some mothering these days).</span><br />
<span class="huge"><br /></span>
<span class="huge">If I think about whether I'm making a difference in the world, I'm not satisfied. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="huge">I'm making a difference in the life of my family by being a better wife and mother. I have to be satisfied with that.</span><br />
<span class="huge"><br /></span>Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-84373149489442916712012-09-04T10:02:00.002-04:002012-09-04T10:02:35.165-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 4Today's question: When you are speaking with someone, do you prefer to look them in the eye or talk over the phone?<br />
<br />
What? What did you say? Say that again?<br />
<br />
The hearing in my right ear is not 100%. I blame it on the crunchy granola OB-GYN who wouldn't let me take a decongestant when I was pregnant, 27 years ago. I rely a little on lip-reading when I'm having a conversation in person.<br />
<br />
I like seeing a person's face when I'm talking to them. When you're on the phone, you can't see if they are reading the paper, rolling their eyes or even walking away from the phone when you're in the middle of an interesting story.<br />
Don't even get me started on people that use the toilet while they chat with you. Especially the ones that TELL you they're on the toilet. The only person that gets a pass on that situation is my Mom and her 78-yr-old bladder.<br />
<br />
There's another person that keeps me from being on the phone a lot. Meet Wilma...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX21GRdvpx7zqFwNCPk4dVby_zmEexkugh0u5IEiB6JkYujDfktbvIKoBv4XJ8G2yCbAAWYa_gVBkoJEP9zEqyZmri1UFYvoFdannf2PcqztTygXkIk6ikzv5Ap6nod_e1afg0ka5K_cbN/s1600/Fall+2007+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX21GRdvpx7zqFwNCPk4dVby_zmEexkugh0u5IEiB6JkYujDfktbvIKoBv4XJ8G2yCbAAWYa_gVBkoJEP9zEqyZmri1UFYvoFdannf2PcqztTygXkIk6ikzv5Ap6nod_e1afg0ka5K_cbN/s320/Fall+2007+002.JPG" width="179" /></a></div>
Her full name is Wilma Flintstone Phone. I'm not saying Wilma is dumb, but she is certainly NOT a smart phone. Her (ummm, my?) biggest fault is that I forget to lock her when she's in my purse and she takes advantage of the situation by making calls without permission. She also makes my ear really hot when I talk and I get all hypochondriac about frying my last remaining brain cells.<br />
<br />
Let's have a chat. But not on the phone. I'll take you out for frozen yogurt. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-89030022819798820812012-09-03T13:17:00.001-04:002012-09-03T13:21:35.383-04:00NaBloPoMo Sept 3I haven't done a NaBloPoMo for a long time. The September prompts are all about the senses, so I'll be writing about photos, memories,tastes, beauty and colors.<br />
<br />
Today's prompt: Write about one object you see at this exact moment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zNX-nPrQHu995CwAqYLC543K1EGINAFft5jGMZG9HoY7-q9-mh5uc1bhOj1BahDuI65WTL0azHqNr-dpdQ00vZ_MS97yocLeMecFRayLPFxLkVhfVsnI9sWb5k-uVph63yqKBK9acMwp/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zNX-nPrQHu995CwAqYLC543K1EGINAFft5jGMZG9HoY7-q9-mh5uc1bhOj1BahDuI65WTL0azHqNr-dpdQ00vZ_MS97yocLeMecFRayLPFxLkVhfVsnI9sWb5k-uVph63yqKBK9acMwp/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zNX-nPrQHu995CwAqYLC543K1EGINAFft5jGMZG9HoY7-q9-mh5uc1bhOj1BahDuI65WTL0azHqNr-dpdQ00vZ_MS97yocLeMecFRayLPFxLkVhfVsnI9sWb5k-uVph63yqKBK9acMwp/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
On any given day, if you ask me how I feel, I'll say "fine". Truthfully, I probably feel like crap. It has turned me into a hermit. I'm perfectly happy if I only leave the apartment once or twice a week.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
My computer is my tether to the outside world. I don't have a smartphone. My phone is so old that I call her Wilma Flintstone. I have family and friends who might get on their computer once a week. If you send my siblings an email you might get an answer next week.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
If you looked at my bookmarks you would think I'm on the computer at least 8 hours a day, and you would be pretty close.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Every day I read at least 15 or 20 blogs and my blog bookmark has at least 65 entries. I have newspapers and magazines, craft websites, pinterest, diabetic cooking, Holiday cooking, Dinner recipes and Dessert recipes. Do you need some Florida Tourism info? I have sites for that. There are organization websites, airline websites and the manual for my 35 yr old sewing machine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The last time I took a typing test for a job interview, I clocked in at 85 wpm.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I heart my laptop.<!--3--></div>
<br />
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-65782753533552676592012-08-28T09:48:00.000-04:002012-08-28T09:55:36.921-04:00The Basket Of Lost CausesI have a basket by my favorite chair. Things get tossed in there and I forget they're in there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3PdKR1hqasx_QSmsH5UuWUnYXTr7YI1WjyAxBDuOnA5TpKa9neT2tl8GoTH-4gqaoXYLU-18v5-j7SdhUfUJXyVbqYsHU_IZmhiDuQz1pqLA0a2Hc9X20vEzctmHRBoadULtF9frA7Uu/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3PdKR1hqasx_QSmsH5UuWUnYXTr7YI1WjyAxBDuOnA5TpKa9neT2tl8GoTH-4gqaoXYLU-18v5-j7SdhUfUJXyVbqYsHU_IZmhiDuQz1pqLA0a2Hc9X20vEzctmHRBoadULtF9frA7Uu/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's like The Bermuda Triangle. Let's peek at what's in the Pit Of Procrastination!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbTUi_3LnfLipPHsdhXiKjWyIgcGP62gNXeSFORf8FwpgwaFk3liNOupjpCJy576I3Q7pQs9zCOcQu10Oua-G-vcuJEgek449MxxDbZ3WZnaitv3Nkn1Aqw7TdJcMZhTDpLRAUKF1TZNd/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbTUi_3LnfLipPHsdhXiKjWyIgcGP62gNXeSFORf8FwpgwaFk3liNOupjpCJy576I3Q7pQs9zCOcQu10Oua-G-vcuJEgek449MxxDbZ3WZnaitv3Nkn1Aqw7TdJcMZhTDpLRAUKF1TZNd/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
I haven't done any scrapbooking in over a year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sqwM89KpfhDc-KsqVFKhXm-Zgo-Op4Q24D4OM6oneAgsNuLYFF93ZOKs0g3R21EZfVDVK3hLbGTvyuIYj7EsNjWT6p_sh5MeZoAPw_9sJ3o9pFJ4HDKKtnpkwfLqz_TdzqGkG_AbCwJp/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sqwM89KpfhDc-KsqVFKhXm-Zgo-Op4Q24D4OM6oneAgsNuLYFF93ZOKs0g3R21EZfVDVK3hLbGTvyuIYj7EsNjWT6p_sh5MeZoAPw_9sJ3o9pFJ4HDKKtnpkwfLqz_TdzqGkG_AbCwJp/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I didn't buy anything from L.L.Bean last Christmas and I don't have a Dream Home to design.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uiqSgDnybYC2yspzoFI7sO6NpjVMmk9VNPVFkSLEEK6yTR8kNplvrgvHUAKWb_lZ-06hCxwOQ9Et-lbKIfb8H5JvKL1os6T58FEwoWikCgXJ-Md4nl3w_mJVOOIFZqpVNC-6U0zL3QR8/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uiqSgDnybYC2yspzoFI7sO6NpjVMmk9VNPVFkSLEEK6yTR8kNplvrgvHUAKWb_lZ-06hCxwOQ9Et-lbKIfb8H5JvKL1os6T58FEwoWikCgXJ-Md4nl3w_mJVOOIFZqpVNC-6U0zL3QR8/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I live in Florida. Am I planning to wear mittens? Or go on a Northern Winter Vacation?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIOvOl_e9piBimczKM90J7_c5GD0v7WbSS1FUT_EuZxGIkfb5BjpDVr0TIndgZO0QyPgD9HUOalUV13tbmVsKf-KAjL5O_rOzD2g1YzdPTDtMpFPGF0blM267iibodabElfEtyDuyq6T8/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIOvOl_e9piBimczKM90J7_c5GD0v7WbSS1FUT_EuZxGIkfb5BjpDVr0TIndgZO0QyPgD9HUOalUV13tbmVsKf-KAjL5O_rOzD2g1YzdPTDtMpFPGF0blM267iibodabElfEtyDuyq6T8/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Speaking of vacation, I spent 3 days researching Caribbean vacations...in September...during Hurricane Season. Vacation has been cancelled because CAPE COD KID IS MOVING TO FLORIDA!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsEVTdAfhO3iExF9vvnLwI42UcaWvDMXxZKEO-yLS96fDaD0Cy9GKTubDHyTFtp8g0AmRZpeHkIg5Znr7L1kEwD0DYu9MbgpLDj6xYI24yqxEDacqusUO_yyE4jd71liOY65cLK8Q565o/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsEVTdAfhO3iExF9vvnLwI42UcaWvDMXxZKEO-yLS96fDaD0Cy9GKTubDHyTFtp8g0AmRZpeHkIg5Znr7L1kEwD0DYu9MbgpLDj6xYI24yqxEDacqusUO_yyE4jd71liOY65cLK8Q565o/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
2011 Christmas Letter was never written.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iK7JqSuNQxviDNmTKJ3CvWcCZTEcElkZZCxw_OJxzBmdcoxpRSF4-sQ0Sn_JAYJEiGKJUwxPCp55dIRX6dCr7lB4k6RfsDrOH184H_6apvgTHUO-nY8CIaZBrAH9WfKTePXFQuUnFvHu/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iK7JqSuNQxviDNmTKJ3CvWcCZTEcElkZZCxw_OJxzBmdcoxpRSF4-sQ0Sn_JAYJEiGKJUwxPCp55dIRX6dCr7lB4k6RfsDrOH184H_6apvgTHUO-nY8CIaZBrAH9WfKTePXFQuUnFvHu/s320/020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Why is the September Vogue in the bottom of the basket? OHHHH, that was September of LAST YEAR!<br />
I must have despaired of ever making it through the entire issue. There are still 3 days left in August. I could DO IT! <br />
<br />
I put it back in the Basket Of Lost Causes. On top.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-59448139015917294342012-08-23T13:40:00.000-04:002012-08-23T13:41:45.799-04:00Stuff You Can Do While On Hold With Jet BlueI was on hold with Jet Blue for 20 minutes. Because I'm a freaking airhead. Or on Vicodin. Or Both.<br />
<br />
I was buying a plane ticket for Cape Cod Kid because HE'S MOVING TO FLORIDA!!!!!<br />
<br />
I spaced out for a minute and forgot to book the flight on the TODAY ONLY 20% OFF SALE webpage.<br />
A call to Jet Blue Customer Service was necessary. There's a lot you can accomplish while on hold for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Listen to Neil Diamond sing a pop version of a song from Les Miz (gag)</li>
<li>Give Lily the Kitty a backscratch</li>
<li>Doodle in your Hello Kitty notebook</li>
<li>Exfoliate your feet</li>
<li>Notice that your toenail polish is chipped from crashing into the foot of the bed in the dark</li>
<li>Go to the bathroom</li>
<li>Take your pen out of Lily's mouth</li>
<li>Do a bed dance to Aretha Franklin singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T</li>
<li>Take your Debit card out of Lily's mouth because she is chewing off the corner</li>
<li>Look at the squirrel outside the bedroom window</li>
<li>Try to decide if there's enough dirty clothes to wash a load</li>
<li>Think about the possibility of a Hurricane/Tropical Storm on Monday</li>
<li>Listen to stomach rumble and think about what to eat for lunch</li>
<li>Save $16.40 on the plane ticket by staying on hold for 20 minutes</li>
</ul>
Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-76697806704942735072012-08-16T11:31:00.002-04:002012-08-16T11:31:59.053-04:00I Throw A BadAss Funeral Grab a drink, sit down and get ready for a long story<br />
So, my aunt died a month ago.<br />
<br />
She was the youngest of 3 sisters. My Mom is the stereotypical Middle Child and her older sister is the Control Freak.<br />
<br />
When the funeral director arrived, there was a family meeting that included my Mom, aunt, Husband of my aunt that died, his sister and me. Mom and my aunt already knew that their sister would be cremated, but they assumed it would take place after a funeral. You know what happens when you assume?<br />
<br />
They were informed that there would be no funeral and the ashes were being claimed by my aunt's sister-in-law's 16 year old daughter (who has a "collection" of family cremains...because the urns are pretty). When this announcement was made I looked to my right. My Mom was sinking in her chair and turning white. My Control Freak aunt was turning purple and started arguing loudly through her clenched teeth.<br />
<br />
Our side of the family got my uncle's side of the family to agree to a short visitation at the funeral home, after the cremation. There would be a Catholic priest to say a few prayers and my Mom would read a poem. I saw that Mom was okay with this, but my aunt was still furious.<br />
<br />
I drove my Mom and aunt home. I spent the 30 minute ride worried that one or both of them would have a stroke.<br />
<br />
I laid awake until 3am, wondering if there was a way to give Mom and my aunt a better sense of peace.<br />
I hatched a plan.<br />
<br />
At 9am I called the funeral home and asked if I could have a small portion of the ashes. They said it was possible if my uncle would sign an agreement. My Mom gave me a small porcelain box that would probably hold 2 tablespoons of ashes. It was white and had pretty pink porcelain flowers on the lid.<br />
<br />
I went to the nursing home, sat on my uncle's bed, held his hand and asked him if I could have a small amount of ashes. He said "You loved your aunt and she loved you, and I would never say no to you".<br />
He and I wrote up an agreement for the funeral home and he signed it.<br />
<br />
I called my siblings, told them I was throwing a funeral and they were invited. They know I'm the family-designated BadAss.<br />
<br />
I decided I wanted to bury the ashes in the family plot, in the Catholic cemetery where all my family has been buried for almost 100 years. We would dig a small hole at my grandparent's grave and bury the little box of ashes. The cemetery charges $800 to open a grave and I said "EFF that!!" and began researching the Massachusetts law regarding disposal of such things.<br />
<br />
One of the many cemetery laws in MA says something like...blah,blah,blah, A small amount of ashes of a family member may be buried in a family plot WITHOUT APPROVAL OR CHARGE BY THE CEMETERY...more blah,blah,blah.<br />
<br />
BINGO. I took that as all the permission I needed. The funeral director presented me with the porcelain box with the ashes. They had sealed it for me with ceramic glue. I wrapped it in bubble wrap (yep, I'm classy. I didn't want the box to get all dirty) and wrapped it with a pink ribbon.<br />
<br />
We went to the cemetery. I get out of the car with a garden trowel. Uncle Husband of Control Freak gets out of the car with a giant hole-digging shovel. I told him we were trying to be a little more discreet than that. Control Freak aunt said the gravesite was too far to walk, so we said "so stay in the car".<br />
<br />
Our little procession was Uncle Giant Shovel, me, Mom, my sister, my brothers and my sister-in-law. I carried the box and my sister carried flowers. Even though I knew what section we were looking for, it took us a little while to find the plot. When we found it, my brother said "Now HURRY before we all get arrested". My sister, the sensible one, kept shaking her head at me. My uncle dug the (pretty deep) hole, put the box in, covered it and put the circle of grass back on top.<br />
<br />
We said a few prayers and ended with the traditional Catholic funeral prayer...<br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;">Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, <br />and let perpetual light shine upon them. <br />May the souls of the faithful departed <br />through the mercy of God rest in peace. <br />Amen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">We put the flowers down and said our goodbyes.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">As we were leaving the cemetery we told our uncle to hurry up and get that shovel out of sight. He said "Why, you had permission"</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">I said "Ummmm, not really"</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">He said "WHAAAATTTTTT???" and nearly ran to his car.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Mom said "Now I'm at peace". </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">My brother said "Gee,no one will ever know she's there. I work at Staples. I could write her name on a Post-it note and stick it to the family headstone."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Then my brothers and I went on a search for all our dad's relatives. We were looking for our Great-Grandfather Prosper, who did not, and is buried in the old Pauper Section. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #5e5b71;"><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">My Mom was grateful that she raised at least one BadAss child and my sister is horrified that I'm a BadAss and my brothers are amused by their BadAss sister.</span></span></span></span><br /> </span>Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-9682059752866206632012-08-02T15:16:00.000-04:002012-08-02T15:16:31.800-04:00Mama's Home With Photos!I'm home again after another trip to MA. I had posted on facebook that I was making a sad trip to be with my family while my aunt was dying.<br />
<br />
I've written about it before. She is 10 years younger than my Mom and 12 years older than I am, so it was always like I had a big sister/aunt. She spent the last 2 years suffering from the effects of many years of diabetes and complications. I got a phone call on a Friday morning and arrived in MA that night, as she was going into a coma. When I gave her a kiss and told her I was there, she gave me a definate sign that she heard me. We spent the next 36 hours talking to her and holding her hand. I couldn't let go until her fingers turned blue and the funeral director came into the room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXfwuw-8XEp9uVZSdmJRxj72S8LMT7Q7yk0Es0u2XMp9BmM4Yy85RAjPFYhJZkc8PO_bzoyNpn8zwn5u70VA42_bGVqHn3siS-KpAza93c13TqlXuI8AvhiKfLPwsUjV5Y6fdaQodZY0s/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXfwuw-8XEp9uVZSdmJRxj72S8LMT7Q7yk0Es0u2XMp9BmM4Yy85RAjPFYhJZkc8PO_bzoyNpn8zwn5u70VA42_bGVqHn3siS-KpAza93c13TqlXuI8AvhiKfLPwsUjV5Y6fdaQodZY0s/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
May 1968</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I spent some time with this guy...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6zkIo8xIcAuleex1iX8iilA5Emowsnf02b82dpHPkd3-zk-sIuybhsd252dut2Nd8O0_QLn0wpvp32noO7QEw3cCKyR1qczcylmE1HEbncyzgTjnXg5QVv14XVHx1hn90LwT60ULoS3U/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6zkIo8xIcAuleex1iX8iilA5Emowsnf02b82dpHPkd3-zk-sIuybhsd252dut2Nd8O0_QLn0wpvp32noO7QEw3cCKyR1qczcylmE1HEbncyzgTjnXg5QVv14XVHx1hn90LwT60ULoS3U/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_NDKKrGLNnub-0gnG5MVJ1x9iFYA4u0-kJtc9QHr8g71vCowJcbZdhLMWo64NE1SRpt0nf2F7Rky-AxAQmbz1gSzkVSqUeDvg162_9ei_Jn91Oa0-6-_WZouKYs2qMy_tkYAl5gzwiv/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_NDKKrGLNnub-0gnG5MVJ1x9iFYA4u0-kJtc9QHr8g71vCowJcbZdhLMWo64NE1SRpt0nf2F7Rky-AxAQmbz1gSzkVSqUeDvg162_9ei_Jn91Oa0-6-_WZouKYs2qMy_tkYAl5gzwiv/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I came home with this in my carry-on. You can only get it in that neck of the woods.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQt7FjpzL5KGgfh10VwP9AG-I2ARH-d7TrbVykeE-RBE_RR18xf4z5__2ypQ6SbFWvdK_lNt7GsWvwZLAJJSAYuThWoFzH1zTHu5v_bny881EFn3GLDTIQfYyR34d-P-jLMileFH2uIsf/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQt7FjpzL5KGgfh10VwP9AG-I2ARH-d7TrbVykeE-RBE_RR18xf4z5__2ypQ6SbFWvdK_lNt7GsWvwZLAJJSAYuThWoFzH1zTHu5v_bny881EFn3GLDTIQfYyR34d-P-jLMileFH2uIsf/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I ate way too much of this...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZbwLMrplNdVb9GUhi6VzECTwtSjJPx9domHsWdqaOsAeATO1E3vSwevi4pX1Bzt1Dl4qcr4yo7ZO2MTnESbLt4bTEv44iLzEniP5tAObso_04wGD5LIC_nnpdhpJMnVt1-OfYLM43Ova/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZbwLMrplNdVb9GUhi6VzECTwtSjJPx9domHsWdqaOsAeATO1E3vSwevi4pX1Bzt1Dl4qcr4yo7ZO2MTnESbLt4bTEv44iLzEniP5tAObso_04wGD5LIC_nnpdhpJMnVt1-OfYLM43Ova/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Fried fish, fried shrimp, fried potatoes, fried clam cakes(fritters), Clam chowder, stuffed clams.<br />
I nearly fried myself into a gall bladder attack.<br />
<br />
I came home to find that Mr Sunshine and Sorority Girl had replaced the 52-inch portal to sports and movies with this new toy...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xVBk8XC0s2ZXlZTZX8aez1HhGS7K-T-mhEIDCRJ4q4LXzOIpBYWx4joWGJ0i8SwaO8HuOxNJotqgV1T-WLCxa_wkCv2pn_46V7mWjsG7nFi4OaMHWRPHRrM1i5CIvgEFvhKKG3X1XZn7/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xVBk8XC0s2ZXlZTZX8aez1HhGS7K-T-mhEIDCRJ4q4LXzOIpBYWx4joWGJ0i8SwaO8HuOxNJotqgV1T-WLCxa_wkCv2pn_46V7mWjsG7nFi4OaMHWRPHRrM1i5CIvgEFvhKKG3X1XZn7/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...and Little Miss Lily had loved her puppy to death...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06RDIT3K6PELK9n9OfbwPIqikCX6JfT7e3C8ic3I5iDAhmfJEaekMp3ydY0CacL119FQKfi0P59AQH1v5C21BX00YgZIFYNaSyPJyFmKNZsXp9IYz2aTEIKfOKmXNbalcDKC0PgzCXj1F/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06RDIT3K6PELK9n9OfbwPIqikCX6JfT7e3C8ic3I5iDAhmfJEaekMp3ydY0CacL119FQKfi0P59AQH1v5C21BX00YgZIFYNaSyPJyFmKNZsXp9IYz2aTEIKfOKmXNbalcDKC0PgzCXj1F/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Anybody want to hear the story about the Private Bad-ass Funeral I threw for my aunt?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-59853472381343081182012-07-06T19:16:00.000-04:002012-07-06T19:16:17.271-04:00July 6 Photo Of The Day ChallengeJuly 6 photo of the day challenge. CHAIR.<br />
It used to be the rocking-the-baby-to-sleep chair. Now it's the rocking-on-the-porch chair.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr_d1CbgsXv6QCtK3gg-H1_qOQQPJce1IKHKwzRWTggkxUIaWDC0o1mkiOu_R-_EkJPEMaF4ZBJ-AN3-DXEMBdaayoizgznMGpCaEUGJbc9BEycqwbalLwzmaxcd-IIiD6M1x9iKGF2l1/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr_d1CbgsXv6QCtK3gg-H1_qOQQPJce1IKHKwzRWTggkxUIaWDC0o1mkiOu_R-_EkJPEMaF4ZBJ-AN3-DXEMBdaayoizgznMGpCaEUGJbc9BEycqwbalLwzmaxcd-IIiD6M1x9iKGF2l1/s320/001.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-56433871794102508062012-07-05T14:24:00.001-04:002012-07-05T14:24:44.284-04:00July 5 Photo Of The Day ChallengeJuly 5 Photo of the day challenge. FLOOR.<br />
<br />
Evidence of kitty shenanigans. I found this on the FLOOR. Nowhere near the kitchen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbZjnGC0pq5Zedq5U9vIEf12h7G3aTfm7mgPqw7-G-d_j5JdwNGftgkDLGHPDpZIfWRUeQBppSvDGKYVbktEZOI6EsUWKEfLFio_Ki6RI1dFAkVpm7j5bthKj3PKGPqx0IcMHFGpkCSiZ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbZjnGC0pq5Zedq5U9vIEf12h7G3aTfm7mgPqw7-G-d_j5JdwNGftgkDLGHPDpZIfWRUeQBppSvDGKYVbktEZOI6EsUWKEfLFio_Ki6RI1dFAkVpm7j5bthKj3PKGPqx0IcMHFGpkCSiZ/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-9919700703843050972012-07-02T12:02:00.001-04:002012-07-02T12:09:54.571-04:00Road Trip To Ybor CitySunday, we headed to Tampa to have dinner with Cape Cod friends who were there for a week. We had planned to meet them around 5:00, so we got into town early to go to Ybor (pronounced EEBOR) City.<br />
<br />
Ybor City is the Latin Quarter of Tampa.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfBkNpddcERJs-rKy1j8jkHgP41OU2wBxrU7lmy9bHdzKp0Ksc4LsqRoX6GtDhdkpFuyxuaIKeakpJTuffd1cK28G7oyM85jjFnBf6DvBgN33_fLCiEgsyW12w8ZE-XC-OmdVE4xyxz4O/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfBkNpddcERJs-rKy1j8jkHgP41OU2wBxrU7lmy9bHdzKp0Ksc4LsqRoX6GtDhdkpFuyxuaIKeakpJTuffd1cK28G7oyM85jjFnBf6DvBgN33_fLCiEgsyW12w8ZE-XC-OmdVE4xyxz4O/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
In 1886, Ybor City was established as the center of cigar production in the United States.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwodIXCcVDfXOBW4sONC96eXClS9SJqiGYjGAO9vTbHuVeygfyN2ZNsIPnD06EYlddXJzj8Q25i-OwbSgwoSfNnDwSswm3Khq9r3EKVS4u3Jhn1p4PkJF5efvUqLz0gNmfsqMtTk7A5T6o/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwodIXCcVDfXOBW4sONC96eXClS9SJqiGYjGAO9vTbHuVeygfyN2ZNsIPnD06EYlddXJzj8Q25i-OwbSgwoSfNnDwSswm3Khq9r3EKVS4u3Jhn1p4PkJF5efvUqLz0gNmfsqMtTk7A5T6o/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There is a small State park with a museum...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGNKWEiC6wJe6kgzoEZ5aV3qCfE7QAs2s9NDmUvUlejrALQOFacy44nBXVgMnu7LBM0neRXEQJK0hGkQCk7cmM-n_p1Bd_eYOfKQUj7xD_YMsqEzrb7x2Ih1aHB34NCova6xtCAGeFhvz/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGNKWEiC6wJe6kgzoEZ5aV3qCfE7QAs2s9NDmUvUlejrALQOFacy44nBXVgMnu7LBM0neRXEQJK0hGkQCk7cmM-n_p1Bd_eYOfKQUj7xD_YMsqEzrb7x2Ih1aHB34NCova6xtCAGeFhvz/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
...which was once an Italian Bakery...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p1vIfA36St5eY0dIB8VAGoKYo4To3p0Ng_XJk_1THwooWs-Eqb5EsXJ6B2xFMPS-Sk9NSw085MSyGr1cHyz8qKMalREcvaMa2935m-zCIZQZa84TLsOEq5ebWKDXQxc1DybfW1X9ID2H/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p1vIfA36St5eY0dIB8VAGoKYo4To3p0Ng_XJk_1THwooWs-Eqb5EsXJ6B2xFMPS-Sk9NSw085MSyGr1cHyz8qKMalREcvaMa2935m-zCIZQZa84TLsOEq5ebWKDXQxc1DybfW1X9ID2H/s640/007.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
...a small courtyard where people can sit at tables and play dominoes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtygXYwtcQZbV2W-Dm8a0JuMBtStB4CYvGEfoQJV9glSB5B-NYhbsDoQAIcQatuBz-GiqNCn1oYREBOL54wrswRx5frKLACGNz8bZkLtcmPIm4ZcC0aNolwGUXWLQXVxA0REN804bvVog/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtygXYwtcQZbV2W-Dm8a0JuMBtStB4CYvGEfoQJV9glSB5B-NYhbsDoQAIcQatuBz-GiqNCn1oYREBOL54wrswRx5frKLACGNz8bZkLtcmPIm4ZcC0aNolwGUXWLQXVxA0REN804bvVog/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You can rent the courtyard for small weddings.<br />
One of the casitas was open to the public. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XNBZR0iOSP6_wsBc4JCMCGiQqHBy84Xl__zldlcJX8fJZfeLcXlFfijsFPF-qAr0VVFuP-aVjjFgv37AqDOtF9i5koLqznQv-jJy79ceE8B3cSYezv3YOUyIYsVzVC1ad-ifZBbXspNj/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XNBZR0iOSP6_wsBc4JCMCGiQqHBy84Xl__zldlcJX8fJZfeLcXlFfijsFPF-qAr0VVFuP-aVjjFgv37AqDOtF9i5koLqznQv-jJy79ceE8B3cSYezv3YOUyIYsVzVC1ad-ifZBbXspNj/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Surprisingly, it was a comfortable, 2 bedroom house that was affordable enough, at $400, to be bought by a worker with small deductions from his paycheck.<br />
<br />
The art on the cigar boxes is really beautiful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtyItdsy7TUWPGSViySXQvQaXUbtj_mYk8r_BJ0p2v1CJDNbtWMXS5i48S-w7qxL2nr_t97YiwB5pucLY2Ik2ouaegEBbQIKwLGJbNEKaVcHU472a6D1ASr1OBlBOB3Ja48bSnHd6bA5U/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtyItdsy7TUWPGSViySXQvQaXUbtj_mYk8r_BJ0p2v1CJDNbtWMXS5i48S-w7qxL2nr_t97YiwB5pucLY2Ik2ouaegEBbQIKwLGJbNEKaVcHU472a6D1ASr1OBlBOB3Ja48bSnHd6bA5U/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YTQwUA1JPNEX_yhkr2736l9S38GolkXgthZSiApC7WyxHC8zasF6n3EgUr8fTxNe4UQvkPqfvL6pgr9qeEOT-ZcEBjc7KMmtBAzUIKc01i1XJ09LmZoH_lEDSDY0FvsrFOoeB0pLKj9I/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YTQwUA1JPNEX_yhkr2736l9S38GolkXgthZSiApC7WyxHC8zasF6n3EgUr8fTxNe4UQvkPqfvL6pgr9qeEOT-ZcEBjc7KMmtBAzUIKc01i1XJ09LmZoH_lEDSDY0FvsrFOoeB0pLKj9I/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We walked 2 blocks over to the entertainment district of town.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbFcN9hF4UISOn4KWC63mQTDvyZzBj4W-zGjjMZxwR08rHWbK8r3Ru4YfJr1wFp53brmX985t0kzfELNja5j-hN7m-s03q_1nUp13VZYjadC-CluYk7YKpUdmZRP49GfFLli5E0PlGLlt/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbFcN9hF4UISOn4KWC63mQTDvyZzBj4W-zGjjMZxwR08rHWbK8r3Ru4YfJr1wFp53brmX985t0kzfELNja5j-hN7m-s03q_1nUp13VZYjadC-CluYk7YKpUdmZRP49GfFLli5E0PlGLlt/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We ended the night with a great dinner in Clearwater and a beautiful sunset on Clearwater Beach.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGBq5nBDClEylvPcgSCm9AmWZ5rmPsrIheIALfVarSijGAsSsgOZ1PH3fNOvnNSMkXy4ohDWdgalduz3eOt569h3EJAkzIJ1DyIS6KoOlLTsGvl_YvCaTgBtynrXsEVFLb11pxiTiwOb2/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGBq5nBDClEylvPcgSCm9AmWZ5rmPsrIheIALfVarSijGAsSsgOZ1PH3fNOvnNSMkXy4ohDWdgalduz3eOt569h3EJAkzIJ1DyIS6KoOlLTsGvl_YvCaTgBtynrXsEVFLb11pxiTiwOb2/s320/024.JPG" width="309" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-20011979106543148402012-06-22T12:08:00.002-04:002012-06-22T12:08:57.679-04:00Photo Of The Day June 22Photo of the day challenge. FROM A HIGH ANGLE. Hi little turtle dude!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkaFC9BbJO8NFnR9CngnyT6H7iWrlSX2DolUcqgr3MTCO74QCYXlqLUcdSgMo5LhQVhURNlM-767jjchsKitJigg83QqlCpFAxoEHUz7KgkcoMIzh1ccWcIgk-HrcmVg9YgKNeSh_KSey/s1600/turtle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkaFC9BbJO8NFnR9CngnyT6H7iWrlSX2DolUcqgr3MTCO74QCYXlqLUcdSgMo5LhQVhURNlM-767jjchsKitJigg83QqlCpFAxoEHUz7KgkcoMIzh1ccWcIgk-HrcmVg9YgKNeSh_KSey/s1600/turtle.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-30984302219317022712012-06-12T19:02:00.001-04:002012-06-12T19:02:46.895-04:00June 12 Photo Of The DayJune 12 Photo of the day challenge. FROM A LOW ANGLE. Shrimp Fishing Monument. Amelia Island Florida.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77ibQ3xOahgUoPUnnsPHg4aJryhN8eYiu5XOn17wv423KKNqtD0IuBkhJNajm6wrYnCWCbqxryJNW-YIOHbVcVP4II9GC_YmRaAbCDZlUTM11mZD_c5yC055ChFqJDuUnxkLjyFHm8XY/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77ibQ3xOahgUoPUnnsPHg4aJryhN8eYiu5XOn17wv423KKNqtD0IuBkhJNajm6wrYnCWCbqxryJNW-YIOHbVcVP4II9GC_YmRaAbCDZlUTM11mZD_c5yC055ChFqJDuUnxkLjyFHm8XY/s320/088.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-58460694500714181822012-06-11T20:34:00.001-04:002012-06-11T20:34:21.756-04:00June 11 Photo Of The DayJune 11 Photo of the day. DOOR.<br />
<br />
Boston Public Library<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCt3m42x5Dnyg-9GF5voDsyF_tXQtFi0s3V-GLuqlk1I3RwizNIRfrMg8Co7vJPW8WxeH9SkdT87lzabwSC650YY9ahkbaAXQ8k0IK8EuOJ_JMr8dPSe7z7dXnXTMr6bkB3HnzYrB7ag3/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCt3m42x5Dnyg-9GF5voDsyF_tXQtFi0s3V-GLuqlk1I3RwizNIRfrMg8Co7vJPW8WxeH9SkdT87lzabwSC650YY9ahkbaAXQ8k0IK8EuOJ_JMr8dPSe7z7dXnXTMr6bkB3HnzYrB7ag3/s320/022.JPG" width="197" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-61680408952524476682012-06-07T17:42:00.001-04:002012-06-07T17:42:27.254-04:00June 7 Photo Of The DayJune 7 photo of the day. DRINK.<br />
<br />
What comes from Tennessee, in a Mason jar?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbOI6SrLoecgK-29LDeptpWkKPltSPBHqgBVESWrHzoDalMYU-6eW2f5OT0IcQi4dCQ7TdyAR1RFSdKVhMxNOZlD8wPqbDbbe-SnMazYJ5Eh5ISRq_NTJETR2BF9QTtn9SRRa5P0lxWW3/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbOI6SrLoecgK-29LDeptpWkKPltSPBHqgBVESWrHzoDalMYU-6eW2f5OT0IcQi4dCQ7TdyAR1RFSdKVhMxNOZlD8wPqbDbbe-SnMazYJ5Eh5ISRq_NTJETR2BF9QTtn9SRRa5P0lxWW3/s320/004.JPG" width="196" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-31988304501886291052012-06-06T21:03:00.000-04:002012-06-06T21:03:10.933-04:00June 6 photo of the dayJune 6 photo of the day. HAT.<br />
<br />
My bad hair day/going for a walk in the winter/pouring outside/sometimes beach hat<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OiCBWGy744ILlngyOzApdM3rRSQVOLlohaeQHm0oUfVmYr8f_eZl6vCaKNmPXdRjnO_4nEgKw7MKgd6vkyYswiX6AcXhczhRG3-L2GgJ05k-Hv4-LnDecXQmj9ty_1oAWx7RtLpsfMnl/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OiCBWGy744ILlngyOzApdM3rRSQVOLlohaeQHm0oUfVmYr8f_eZl6vCaKNmPXdRjnO_4nEgKw7MKgd6vkyYswiX6AcXhczhRG3-L2GgJ05k-Hv4-LnDecXQmj9ty_1oAWx7RtLpsfMnl/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-69318230857529362072012-06-05T13:16:00.002-04:002012-06-05T13:16:41.412-04:00June 5 Photo Of The DayJune 5 photo of the day. SIGN<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafX7p3JmMEiEeBoSRmDaWk6zXVxJTlQaOhQRB8eZTImzmSFYIp9uS0vVxLQJoB-lpCkFlz1Ph8oq6zekVpXGmjs6v0QsZdh4hu3d5LSsbqFLZg2VTRgcwpk7c8GGcV9fu3MZmNKA_j-Pb/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafX7p3JmMEiEeBoSRmDaWk6zXVxJTlQaOhQRB8eZTImzmSFYIp9uS0vVxLQJoB-lpCkFlz1Ph8oq6zekVpXGmjs6v0QsZdh4hu3d5LSsbqFLZg2VTRgcwpk7c8GGcV9fu3MZmNKA_j-Pb/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Want to see the BIG NOODLE SCULPTURE?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0KBmFSWtDFKI1ojLOCDE5QZtFjiJ5F5I9gh9KFQl76WzUsxdwPrqFyOqsEz4iSQSgyrI9Ce1bhL6CdaF4V45nH30Leu4xo0j9VzgnW2tuRk9TFYJcRhQhvYD0960XXPkIXnjFe-GLZnF/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0KBmFSWtDFKI1ojLOCDE5QZtFjiJ5F5I9gh9KFQl76WzUsxdwPrqFyOqsEz4iSQSgyrI9Ce1bhL6CdaF4V45nH30Leu4xo0j9VzgnW2tuRk9TFYJcRhQhvYD0960XXPkIXnjFe-GLZnF/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Quincy Market. Boston. May 2012Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-39664269593893904732012-06-04T10:49:00.002-04:002012-06-04T10:49:53.501-04:00June 4 Photo Of The DayJune Photo of the day challenge. CLOSE-UP<br />
Little lizard dude. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl7OkLq09E8eV2otalYYHppBSD9GVrcNJ1ZbASSOvnT2jEg0_z7qsHfrS0hL3-gcHpcTIWSlnpAAqCf0n27rqnj5aG8OAolEpv6FNRsvk1vN4hYC8lPbvjiRYb2JD31IbF7LGMcn7NfWB/s1600/Fall+07+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl7OkLq09E8eV2otalYYHppBSD9GVrcNJ1ZbASSOvnT2jEg0_z7qsHfrS0hL3-gcHpcTIWSlnpAAqCf0n27rqnj5aG8OAolEpv6FNRsvk1vN4hYC8lPbvjiRYb2JD31IbF7LGMcn7NfWB/s320/Fall+07+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-30278313490941940352012-06-01T09:30:00.000-04:002012-06-01T11:03:37.384-04:00June Photo A Day. MORNINGJune Photo A Day. MORNING.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYWCs8HVZ2cv189wNnnFxHu2qn0FMdor6Jiuta180bavwPKrke4dhwG3Ml3mtEYT3KWD-TkSQ974iejXcQybeeOuOqvDAEDZDcydUY7HdXiyAlIz3otOvvn92z_D464H7ZDp0BffAglk/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYWCs8HVZ2cv189wNnnFxHu2qn0FMdor6Jiuta180bavwPKrke4dhwG3Ml3mtEYT3KWD-TkSQ974iejXcQybeeOuOqvDAEDZDcydUY7HdXiyAlIz3otOvvn92z_D464H7ZDp0BffAglk/s200/041.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
I am NOT a morning person. In fact, I was born into a family with NO morning persons.<br />
<br />
My dad used to wake up 4 grumpy children every morning. He said if he ever got fired from his job as a Senior Systems Analyst he could get a job at the zoo, waking up the lions and tigers and bears, Oh My.<br />
<br />
If you're looking for me in the morning, and my bed is empty, I'm in the comfy chair, with my laptop, a vat of coffee, watching Kelly and Co-host of the the day.Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-59206899186165584092012-05-29T16:06:00.003-04:002012-05-29T16:11:20.151-04:00Best Exotic Marigold ClothesThis weekend was rainy and all tropical-stormy in Florida. My friend and I went to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It didn't make me want to go to Mumbai, but it did make me want to start dressing like the character Evelyn, played by Judi Dench.<br />
<br />
She embraces the Indian style of dressing with a lot of long tunics and flowy pants. Most of her outfits included a scarf or pashmina.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsmo7ZSo0MdylFTNN2KRlHub40w1e-v9POVVeKb8lUDosM0QwxuAZfNDmW197gy0Vl1zQPELaZLg_Z7bfdnBIhW_UVhQ8DFgCUhhB2o-2m9DcO9kUaq5ukqIqfweQ-DXRrj66ldNVwAZd/s1600/dench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsmo7ZSo0MdylFTNN2KRlHub40w1e-v9POVVeKb8lUDosM0QwxuAZfNDmW197gy0Vl1zQPELaZLg_Z7bfdnBIhW_UVhQ8DFgCUhhB2o-2m9DcO9kUaq5ukqIqfweQ-DXRrj66ldNVwAZd/s1600/dench.jpg" /></a></div>
I did a little googling to find some Indian-inspired clothes online. I love these skirts I found on Amazon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sn-iMIKBJMqyuJG3NG33JqFBErUDIx17l5a7eQgyQ48KBY_bAhNBV-POS6RDPfK5fkD_KXlS3Zpin0FJcV_xjsxNCFM-poBk1LEfe3w2DwxVIW3SN-g5aalMF4-xxtYAiUToMiCzUcXb/s1600/Long+India+Skirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sn-iMIKBJMqyuJG3NG33JqFBErUDIx17l5a7eQgyQ48KBY_bAhNBV-POS6RDPfK5fkD_KXlS3Zpin0FJcV_xjsxNCFM-poBk1LEfe3w2DwxVIW3SN-g5aalMF4-xxtYAiUToMiCzUcXb/s1600/Long+India+Skirt.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ybqT1lMpuPfz4ZbeCvUxiqrZChbcCyiAKLhf5GOL4W4iVEg_iK3AURWx1DyvSbJS1yKI8xPAZo6wxYQAlh_bo8CgWXi_1HwnMicHPhoZiOZusQZzcUexT-3RVCV5O9J1e1gtJCdAOATv/s1600/Long+skirt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ybqT1lMpuPfz4ZbeCvUxiqrZChbcCyiAKLhf5GOL4W4iVEg_iK3AURWx1DyvSbJS1yKI8xPAZo6wxYQAlh_bo8CgWXi_1HwnMicHPhoZiOZusQZzcUexT-3RVCV5O9J1e1gtJCdAOATv/s1600/Long+skirt+2.jpg" /></a></div>
I know I had a similar one in my past, but I'm sure it was sent to Goodwill at some point.<br />
The tunics I'm finding online were all over $75 and I KNOW I could make it for a lot less. I may tune up the sewing machine and whip up some of these...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvG9Q8gXizon7lZoNpit6RRaQGuaHkQj94j453Mob48t0WkxmzZ5R6MIOQwKiK3BhVhhv5ykNzRn9yN03icekQAbU182_yP_ja4LUx3H8-USbTQ5Ev82P2-ALWEsCQZdVCo971AjZzGhw/s1600/top+pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvG9Q8gXizon7lZoNpit6RRaQGuaHkQj94j453Mob48t0WkxmzZ5R6MIOQwKiK3BhVhhv5ykNzRn9yN03icekQAbU182_yP_ja4LUx3H8-USbTQ5Ev82P2-ALWEsCQZdVCo971AjZzGhw/s1600/top+pattern.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
"B" in a gauzy fabric with a little more length is what I have in mind.<br />
<br />
My other favorite thing in the movie was this quote.<br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Evelyn: Nothing here has worked out quite as I expected.<br /> Muriel: Most things don't. But sometimes what happens instead is the good stuff.</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6>Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-19131006214078943972012-05-05T18:17:00.001-04:002012-05-05T18:17:45.691-04:00May 5 Photo Of The DayMay 5 Photo of the day. BIRD. In the window at Books Plus on Amelia Island.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2KeUMNJ-pJp_u-5D6d9ONdTsjU5nuZG3LFrfktEpaFpgyJgJKRWv90AB9GWmWGbONOcxTo6RwOlnjvkmWioBxH1x0Y3t9Ophm7cyigAJ65uHwdRlEjvqfMjhEiX5yEYWYmaG5XAzohv/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2KeUMNJ-pJp_u-5D6d9ONdTsjU5nuZG3LFrfktEpaFpgyJgJKRWv90AB9GWmWGbONOcxTo6RwOlnjvkmWioBxH1x0Y3t9Ophm7cyigAJ65uHwdRlEjvqfMjhEiX5yEYWYmaG5XAzohv/s320/091.JPG" width="279" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-33639520290808696622012-05-04T18:23:00.001-04:002012-05-04T18:23:27.209-04:00May 4 Photo of the DayMay 4 Photo of the day challenge. FUN!<br />
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter is FUN even if (like me) you haven't read the books.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIhzM9VNo-3jRPjvNVyAjR8NVEDsfT_rkRxG0-sNnrTpIoqJsTWT9pS7_KXmeRXuCRxlhZrCrCFTKRSSFkJZ4PGbYwcyoCKv6Gs2LZ2B_im8euuSl3zopPYKAkKtmuMHZRAIiB3DqId3D/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIhzM9VNo-3jRPjvNVyAjR8NVEDsfT_rkRxG0-sNnrTpIoqJsTWT9pS7_KXmeRXuCRxlhZrCrCFTKRSSFkJZ4PGbYwcyoCKv6Gs2LZ2B_im8euuSl3zopPYKAkKtmuMHZRAIiB3DqId3D/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6111371266122929131.post-20744415736740222942012-05-03T20:03:00.000-04:002012-05-03T20:03:17.973-04:00May 3 Photo Of The Day Challenge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEVljZECJ_CyIlBy0a-I0kxQwPZtgCNaP87fhyphenhyphen1GzZjUShrb8QOGNyltovNttEkd0U5p42SDKyxyUZDXi2xylzIGoVGj6DZEDeDOnwDn43BZTv7aGq2NkXd0Zr14sCtz0nJY00e2kmUqr/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEVljZECJ_CyIlBy0a-I0kxQwPZtgCNaP87fhyphenhyphen1GzZjUShrb8QOGNyltovNttEkd0U5p42SDKyxyUZDXi2xylzIGoVGj6DZEDeDOnwDn43BZTv7aGq2NkXd0Zr14sCtz0nJY00e2kmUqr/s320/001.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
May Photo of the day challenge. SOMETHING YOU WORE TODAY.<br />
I love this ring. I bought it about 10 years ago from a Navajo dealer.Little Miss Sunshine Statehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17711983216022805951noreply@blogger.com1